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Ukraine's surprise assault on Russia earlier this month has weakened Vladimir Putin's grip over Russia, the Defence Secretary has said.

In an article for The Telegraph, John Healey said the Russian dictator could be facing mounting internal pressure following Volodymyr Zelensky's Kursk operation earlier this month, which is considered to be the largest foreign attack on Russian territory since WWII.

This has caused Russians to question Putin's legitimacy as leader, Healey said, writing that 'it has sown doubt inside Russia, exposing Putin's Kremlin cabal to the consequences of the aggression'.

It comes after Kyiv launched what is believed to be the largest ever drone strike against Moscow on Wednesday since Putin's invasion began in February 2022.

Russian officials managed to shoot down 11 drones flying to Moscow, but were forced to fend off a further 23.

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the Security Council via video conference at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence, outside Moscow, Russia, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024

UK Defense Secretary John Healey said Ukraine's surprise assault on Russia earlier this month has weakened Vladimir Putin's grip over Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attends talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (not pictured) at 10 Downing Street in London, Britain last month. Zelensky last week asked Keir Starmer for permission to use British-donated missiles to 'turn the tide of the war' against Russia

Moscow was forced to temporarily close three airport as a result, but a ring of anti-aircraft and anti-drone missile systems meant Moscow city centre was unscathed.

Even so, a large-scale attack so close to the Kremlin is likely to increase pressure on president Vladimir Putin. Only eight drones were involved in Kyivs attack on Moscow in May last year.

Video footage showed Russian air defence systems working overtime through the night, with anti-aircraft systems abruptly blowing up drones across western Russia, leaving them as little more than fireballs and debris.

Many of Ukraine's drones that targeted Moscow were destroyed over the city of Podolsk, which lies 24 miles south of the capital.

Last week, Ukraine asked Keir Starmer for permission to use British-donated missiles to 'turn the tide of the war' against Russia.

A Ukrainian tank on a road in the Sumy region. Ukrainian troops have taken control of 1,150 square kilometers of the territory of the Russian Federation

Volodymyr Zelensky visits a training centre at an undisclosed location in Ukraine

Ukrainian servicemen hide from shelling, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the Russian border in Sumy region, Ukraine August 13, 2024

Kyiv would use the long-range missiles to target Russian supply lines, an advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had told The Telegraph.

If Britain were to loosen the restriction on the so-called Storm Shadow missiles, Ukraine would be able to increase the intensity of their strikes on Russian territory, potentially speeding up the end of the war.

Zelensky had said his forces were 'strengthening' their positions in Russia's Kursk region, where Kyiv has been mounting a major ground offensive for more than 11 days.

Ukraine's forthright appeal to the British could help to strengthen their position further.

Defence Secretary John Healey said the UK 'should be proud' of British weapons being used by Ukraine.

Mr Healey said Ukraine's right to self-defence includes carrying out operations inside Russia, as long as they are compliant with international law.
Sir Keir Starmer told Chinese President Xi Jinping he hoped they could have 'honest' discussions about thorny issues as they held the first call between leaders in more than two years.

The conversation comes amid a period of strained relations between London and Beijing over espionage allegations and Beijing's tightening control over former British colony Hong Kong.

According to a Downing Street readout of the call, Sir Keir expressed hope that he and Xi 'would be able to have open, frank and honest discussions to address and understand areas of disagreement when necessary'.

Such issues include 'Hong Kong, Russia's war in Ukraine and human rights,' No 10 said.

China was Britain's fifth-largest trading partner as of 2023 but diplomatic relations have been icy.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer (pictured in 2021) wishes to hold 'honest' talks with China

The Prime Minister is due to discuss thorny issues with Chinese president Xi Jinping (pictured) during the first call between leaders in more than two years

Soon after taking office in October 2022, Rishi Sunak declared an end to the so-called 'golden era' of UK-China relations trumpeted by former Prime Minister David, now Lord, Cameron.

Mr Sunak characterised China as a 'systemic challenge' to UK values.

Espionage allegations have since presented additional hurdles to repairing relations, with Beijing saying in June that MI6 recruited Chinese state employees to spy for the UK.

That came after Scotland Yard, in April, charged two men under the Official Secrets Act, accusing them of spying for China.

Xi was said to have emphasised to his opposite number that China aimed to 'make mutual benefits and common wins the fundamental tone of China-UK relations', according to state broadcaster CCTV's report of the phone call.

His comments also appeared to call for resetting the relationship.

'China is willing to conduct equal dialogue with the UK side on the basis of mutual respect... (and) expand cooperation in the fields of finance, green economy, artificial intelligence, etc,' Xi was quoted as saying.

Soon after taking office in October 2022, Rishi Sunak (pictured) declared an end to the so-called 'golden era' of UK-China relations

David Cameron (right) drinks with Chinese president Xi Jinping (left) at The Plough Inn near Chequers in 2015. UK-China relations were trumpeted by former Prime Minister David, now Lord, Cameron

Chinese Premier Li Qiang (pictured) was the first senior leader from the country to publicly congratulate Keir Starmer following July's election victory

Chinese Premier Li Qiang was the first senior leader from the country to publicly congratulate the Labour leader following July's election victory.

Yesterday's phone call - which CCTV said came at Sir Keir's invitation - is the first to be reported between Chinese and British leaders since Xi spoke with former prime minister Boris Johnson on March 25, 2022.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy is planning to visit China next month.
Ukraine's daring 'mini-invasion' of southern Russia is not expected to push any further into the country, Western officials have said.

Speaking for the first time about the surprise incursion, they suggested that the Kyiv regime will chiefly aim to hold on to the territory it has already seized.

Officials indicated that the area of the Kursk region involved could be used in a potential trade-off by president Volodymyr Zelensky to recover Ukrainian land captured illegally by Moscow.

There are fresh hopes that negotiations could end the war after India's prime minister Narendra Modi visited Kyiv yesterday.

Mr Modi is a key figure diplomatically due to his close relationship with Vladimir Putin but he was widely criticised last month for hugging the Russian leader during a Moscow visit which coincided with a missile attack on a Ukrainian children's hospital.

There are fresh hopes that negotiations could end the war after India 's prime minister Narendra Modi visited Kyiv yesterday

Mr Modi is a key figure diplomatically due to his close relationship with Vladimir Putin but he was widely criticised last month for hugging the Russian leader during a Moscow visit which coincided with a missile attack on a Ukrainian children's hospital

The Indian leader, who has offered to act as an intermediary in any peace talks, said yesterday: 'The road to resolution can only be found through dialogue and diplomacy. And we should move in that direction without wasting any time. Both sides should sit together to find a way out of this crisis.'

Although Mr Modi again refused to publicly condemn Russia's 2022 invasion, he said he supported Ukrainian sovereignty.

Meanwhile, Western officials insisted Ukraine's rate of advance in Russia was 'slowing'. They said: 'It is too early to tell how it will play out, whether the Russians will push them out. But the incursion has already been a success, lifting the mood in Kyiv and changing the narrative.'

A Russian soldier fires from D-30 howitzer towards Ukrainian positions in an undisclosed location in Ukraine on August 22

Ukrainian soldiers take part in a casualty simulation training exercise

The exercise was operated by Britain's armed forces, as part of the Interflex programme, in southern England, on August 22, 2024

Russia is yet to launch a significant response to what was the biggest incursion into its territory since the Second World War.

But the Russian ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov, warned yesterday: 'I tell you sincerely that the president has made a decision. I am firmly convinced that everyone will be sincerely punished for what has happened in the Kursk region.'

Western officials said five brigades of Russian troops were being reassigned to reinforce Kursk. They estimate Russia is losing 1,000 troops every day.

In a separate development, Moscow suspended a ferry service between south Russia and Crimea after a Ukrainian attack hit a vessel loaded with rail cars carrying fuel.
Gavin Newsom appeared to take a swipe at Kamala Harris' controversial path to the Democratic presidential nomination.

When asked about the selection of her as the nominee, the California Governor joked he was 'told to say' it was 'a very inclusive process.'

Last month, Joe Biden made the bombshell announcement he would not be seeking reelection, later endorsing Harris.

It lifted her to the top of the ticket, and over the past month, her campaign has seen a spike in fundraising and polling.

But many critics say the Democratic Party's maneuvering thwarted the will of the people, as Harris has never won a vote or a primary.

California Governor Gavin Newsom appeared to take aim at Vice President Kamala Harris ' controversial path to the Democratic presidential nomination

Last month, President Biden made the bombshell announcement that he would not be seeking reelection, and he subsequently endorsed Harris

Although Harris' nomination remains controversial, Governor Newsom seemed amused by it during his appearance on Pod Save America, which was posted on Friday.

After being asked about 'the switch,' by the hosts of the podcast, Newsom laughed.

'We went through a very open process, a very inclusive process,' he seemed to joke.

'It was bottom-up. I don't know if you know that. That's what I've been told to say,' he added.

Later in the clip, Newsom chuckled that the Democrats had held a 30-minute convention between the moment Biden tweeted that he was leaving the race and the moment he tweeted that he had endorsed Harris.

'It's been amazing,' Newsom said, before pivoting and changing his tune.

'What is amazing is how unified everybody is,' he said, solemnly.

Although Harris' nomination remains controversial, Governor Newsom seemed amused by it during his appearance on Pod Save America, which was posted on Friday

'We went through a very open process, a very inclusive process,' Newsom seemed to joke of Harris' nomination

Leading figures within the Democratic party like Nancy Pelosi have claimed that the nomination wasn't rigged in Harris' favor.

On Friday, the clip of Gavin Newsom, who's thought to harbor presidential ambitions of his own, provoked the ire of people across social media.

Journalist Glenn Greenwald uploaded the clip to his X.com account and offered a brutal take on Newsom's risible demeanor.

'The Party of Democracy sits around guffawing at how anti-democratic and vote-free and secret was their process for choosing and then imposing the new Democratic presidential nominee on the country,' Greenwald said.

In the comments section, many viewers expressed their indignation at Newsom's apparent blithe attitude about the nomination process.

Leading figures within the Democratic party like Nancy Pelosi have claimed that the nomination wasn't rigged in Harris' favor

'I don't even have words for how disgusted I am,' one user wrote.

'This is amazing. They are actually joking about it,' someone else commented.'

'It was surreal watching a candidate accept the nomination without ever winning a primary,' another observed.

In March, Biden secured the party's nomination with little competition. After the president's abysmal debate performance in June, many Democrats called on Biden to step aside.

At the time, people speculated that Newsom could replace Biden on the presidential ticket.

In late November, the California Governor raised eyebrows when he debated Ron DeSantis, who was seeking the Republican nomination for president.

When Biden stepped aside, people speculated that Newsom could replace Biden on the presidential ticket

On July 21, though, hours after Biden had dropped out of the race, Newsom endorsed Harris on X.com.

In his tweet, he wrote:

'Tough. Fearless. Tenacious. With our democracy at stake and our future on the line, no one is better to prosecute the case against Donald Trump's dark vision and guide our country in a healthier direction than America's Vice President.'

On Thursday night, Harris formally accepted the Democratic presidential nomination.
Shein discovered two cases of child labour in its supply chain last year as the Chinese fashion giant gears up to trade shares in the UK.

Scrutiny over the company has been growing as it nears a 50billion market debut on the London Stock Exchange.

It made a 1.5billion profit last year but its ultra-cheap prices  including 5 dresses  have raised eyebrows. After previous criticism for mistreating workers, Shein has insisted checks on factories have increased and that it takes action against dodgy suppliers.

In a new sustainability report, it said there were two instances of child labour last year.

Shein discovered two cases of child labour in its supply chain last year (A model walks the runway during the Shein's 'Endless Summer Show' 2023)

Shein, founded in China and now headquartered in Singapore, has been criticised for using suppliers who exploit low-paid workers in China. (Pages from the Shein website)

Both cases were 'resolved swiftly', with the firm saying it took action to terminate the children's contracts, pay outstanding wages and organise medical check-ups.

The manufacturers were allowed to resume work after strengthening ID checks for new staff following the incidents between January and September.

But the company insisted that tougher rules now meant any instance of child or forced labour were grounds for contracts to be immediately cancelled.

Shein, founded in China and now headquartered in Singapore, has been criticised for using suppliers who exploit low-paid workers in China to sell its clothes at knockdown prices. And by shipping directly from Asia to online shoppers, it avoids custom taxes.

Its market debut would be one of the City's biggest in history. The group has reportedly filed papers with the Financial Conduct Authority  the first step to a listing.

The Government is thought to be supportive of the flotation as it would help to revive the troubled London markets. In recent years, the City has suffered with a slew of companies being taken over by private equity sharks or moving their listings to New York.

But the British Fashion Council has expressed concerns over the plans amid worries Shein uses unethical practices to undercut other retailers.

The company plans to increase the amount of clothes manufactured in Turkey  a move it hopes will reduce criticism. (Pictured: workers producing garments at a textile factory that supplies clothes to fast fashion e-commerce company Shein)

A backlash in the US, including from industry group the National Retail Federation

Fashion campaigner Venetia La Manna and writer Grace Blakeley's petition to 'Say No' to Shein's listing has already got more than 43,000 signatures.

It says Shein's bargains come from exploiting its workers and dodging taxes. Retail guru and 'Queen of the Shops' Mary Portas is among the big names to back the campaign. But Shein said that last year 3,990 audit checks were conducted on Chinese suppliers and subcontractors, mostly by third-party agencies.

The company plans to increase the amount of clothes manufactured in Turkey  a move it hopes will reduce criticism.

A backlash in the US, including from industry group the National Retail Federation, was one of the reasons Shein ditched its original plans to float in New York.

Founded in 2012, Shein has enjoyed an explosion in popularity thanks to budget-conscious younger shoppers in 150 countries. (A general view outside the SHEIN VIP party at Creamfields North)

It also faced opposition from the likes of Florida senator Marco Rubio, partly due to claims that it has used cotton from forced labour in China's Xinjiang region. Shein insisted it has a 'zero tolerance policy for forced labour'.

And a report in May from advocacy group Public Eye revealed some workers endure 75-hour weeks. In the UK, Shein has hired top PR firms and joined the British Retail Consortium in a bid to win over the business community.

Donald Tang, the company's executive chairman, has held talks with the London Stock Exchange and Labour Party officials.

Founded in 2012, Shein has enjoyed an explosion in popularity thanks to budget-conscious younger shoppers in 150 countries, using what it describes as a unique business model and efficient supply chain to keep prices low.

Last year it bought UK brand Missguided from Mike Ashley's firm Frasers. Its designs have been advertised by celebrities including reality TV star Georgia Toffolo.
A grandfather who used a bicycle to fend off a police dog as he joined a far-right riot while shopping for a funeral suit has been jailed for 20 months.

Michael Campbell, 56, was only in Hull city centre to buy himself the formal clothing when he became involved with the violence on August 3.

The ship loading supervisor used his bike as a 'makeshift cordon to deflect police officers' and 'fend off a police dog', before the animal bit him on the leg, the court was told.

During the 12 hours of 'mob violence', 11 police officers were injured and huge financial damage was caused when rioters gathered outside the Royal Hotel, Judge John Thackray KC said.

Sentencing Campbell, the judge described him as a 'family man' whose behaviour had been 'out of character'.

Michael Campbell, 56, was only in Hull city centre to buy himself a suit for a funeral when he became involved with the violence on August 3

Far-right protestors stand off with police in Liverpool on August 3

Police and police dogs stand at a protest in Liverpool on August 3

Likewise two brothers who were at the front of a mob attacking police officers guarding a hotel housing more than 200 asylum seekers have each been jailed for three years.

Luke and Paul Sissons were involved a range of violent incidents outside the Holiday Inn Express, in Manvers, Rotherham, on August 4, including an attack on a police dog van and violent confrontations with riot officers, Sheffield Crown Court heard on Friday.

Paul Sissons - who is a tunnelling team leader on the HS2 project - was filmed over a period of nearly four hours, first in a mob shouting at police and chanting 'Tommy Robinson', a judge was told.

Sissons, 37, of Two Gates Way, Barnsley, was then captured as part of a group that violently rocked a police van with officers and a dog inside, and was later seen throwing missiles at a group of cornered officers.

Body-worn camera footage from an officer holding a riot shield was also shown to the court of Sissons angrily kicking and pushing at the police line as they tried to push the crowd back.

His brother Luke Sissons, 34, of The Green View, Shafton, Barnsley, was also part of the mob rocking the van, and footage was shown of him at the front of group goading officers with riot shields who were pinned against the hotel wall.

Video was also shown to the court of Luke Sissons talking to a police officer before the main violence began.

He tells the officer he is a 'w****r' and then asks him: 'Why do you run away from immigrants, but when we do anything you f****** cosh us?'

Sissons also tells the officer: 'I f****** hate police officers. You're grasses,' and: 'I f****** hate immigrants.'

Dermot Hughes, defending both brothers, pointed out that they were both hanging their heads in shame on the videolink as the footage was shown to the judge.

He said they are both 'thoroughly ashamed of their parts in this'.

Both men pleaded guilty to violent disorder at a previous hearing.

The Sissons brothers (pictued) who were at the front of a mob attacking police officers guarding a hotel housing more than 200 asylum seekers have each been jailed for three years

The Sissons brothers are the latest of more than 20 men who have now been jailed at Sheffield Crown Court by Judge Jeremy Richardson KC following the Manvers disorder, which saw 58 police officers, three police dogs and a police horse injured, and involved rioters breaking into the hotel and trying to set the building alight.

Judge Jeremy Richardson KC also jailed a 47-year-old man yesterday for racially abusive shopkeeper in an incident 'with the loosest of connections' to the disorder in various towns in early August.

Drunken Darren Clayton screamed at a mini-mart owner in Barnsley 'are you ready for tomorrow' after taking his shirt off and subjecting the man to a stream of racist abuse.

The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, heard how Clayton shouted at the man on August 7 'what is your nationality', 'where do you come from' and 'this is my town, my country'.

Clayton also said: 'You need to go back to your country.'

The court heard how Clayton returned later and was caught on CCTV pushing over shelving outside the shop.

He also kicked out at police who arrested him nearby.

Clayton admitted racially aggravated harassment and criminal damage as well as assaulting an emergency worker. He was jailed for six months.

Police officers detain a man during an anti-immigration demonstration outside the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham

More than 20 men who have now been jailed at Sheffield Crown Court (pictured) by Judge Jeremy Richardson KC following the Manvers disorder

Sheffield Crown Court also heard the case of a self-employed gas fitter who watched hours of rioting outside a Rotherham hotel while filming the violence on Snapchat turned on officers when he was bitten by a police dog 'in an area of particular tenderness'.

Christopher Rodgers, 38, of Millmoor Road, Barnsley, was jailed for two years on Friday by a judge who heard how he did nothing but film for most of the events of August 4 outside the Holiday Inn Express, which was housing more than 200 hours.

But, as officers were trying to clear pockets of those involved, Rodgers was in group of people who threw missiles at the police in a nearby housing estate.

The court heard how he was also aggressive towards officers as they were arresting him.

Adrian Strong, defending, told Judge Jeremy Richardson KC his client had seen the afternoon as something of a 'social occasion', adding: 'There was chatting, there was talking, there was high spirits and alcohol started flowing.'

Mr Strong said his client's attitude changed when he was bitten three times by police dogs, one 'in an area of particular tenderness'.

The court heard how, after he was bitten by the dog, Rodgers shouted: 'Why are you refusing to take an Englishman to hospital?'

The barrister said: 'He can't apologise enough for his behaviour on that day and to the police officers in particular.'

Angela Rayner visits the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham where cleanup efforts are underway following a recent riot

Christopher Rodgers was jailed for two years on Friday by a judge who heard how he did nothing but film for most of the events of August 4 outside the Holiday Inn Express (pictured)

Just over 80 miles away at Liverpool Crown Court, a racist thug who hurled a window frame, bricks and bins at police after travelling almost 100 miles to join a violent mob in Southport, smirked as he was jailed on Friday.

Rory Allington-Mott was at the forefront of the 1000 strong hostile crowd near a mosque just an hour after a peaceful vigil in memory of the three little girls tragically killed the previous day while attending a Taylor Swift themed dance class.

Told by a judge that there was no justification for the mob attack on the mosque and its community 'who were completely blameless', the 34-year-old shook his head in the dock.

'You shake your head,' said Judge Denis Watson, KC, 'That shows your entrenched racist views which are repulsive to all right minded thinking people in this country.'

Allington-Mott received a 24 week prison sentence in July last year for that offence of racially or religiously aggravated criminal damage suspended for 12 months and is still on post sentence supervision.

Meanwhile two men who threw missiles at police during riots in Hull have been locked up after pleading guilty to violent disorder.

Ben Chapman, 20, threw a bottle at officers and attempted to remove a bin that was fixed to the ground during the disorder on August 3.

Rory Allington-Mott (pictured) was at the forefront of the 1000 strong hostile crowd near a mosque just an hour after a peaceful vigil in Southport

People gather for a counter demonstration in Southend-on-Sea

The court heard Chapman wanted to emphasise that he was not there for the initial protest and 'got swept up by the violence of the mob'.

He was sentenced to 28 months detention in a young offenders institution for violent disorder, and an additional four months for a previous offence of assaulting an emergency worker.

Joshua Hobman, 33, who threw a drinks can at police and aimed a punch at an officer's shield, was jailed for two years.

Judge John Thackray KC said Hobman's sentence had been reduced as he had sole custody of his nine-year-old son.

At Teesside Crown Court a 'well-balanced young man' who kicked out at a police officer and set fire to a wheelie bin during widespread disorder in Middlesbrough has been jailed for 20 months.

Louis McGrother, 22, of South View Terrace, Middlesbrough, was filmed joining in attacks on police in the town on August 4.

When footage of his offending was published by the media, he handed himself in to police, bringing with him the clothes he wore that day, said Rachel Masters, prosecuting.

Louis McGrother (pictured) was filmed joining in attacks on police in the town on August 4 in Middlesborough

Joel Wootten, defending, said McGrother went along to the protest at the Cenotaph intending only to join a peaceful protest.

McGrother admitted a charge of violent disorder and Judge Francis Laird KC jailed him for 20 months.

The judge said he had read references from his employer, partner and mother which described 'a well-balanced young man who takes his family responsibilities seriously, and who has a good work ethic'.
A police officer was told not to bring his psychiatric assistance dog to work

A police officer has been given the green light to take his force to an employment tribunal for discrimination after he was ordered not to bring his dog to work.

Detective Sergeant Mathew Parker told bosses he needed his psychiatric assistance pet Koda with him to help with his autism and other mental conditions.

But when he brought the animal in without permission, he was sent away by a detective inspector who told him to come back without the animal, an employment tribunal heard.

DS Parker sued Hampshire Police for disability discrimination, claiming that three other staff members had been allowed to bring assistance dogs to work.

After a preliminary hearing, he has been given permission for his case to be heard in full to decide whether the forces treatment of him was fair.

The tribunal held in Southampton, Hampshire, heard that DS Parker has worked for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary since 2004.

Stock image of a service dog. Detective Sergeant Mathew Parker told bosses he needed his psychiatric assistance pet Koda with him to help with his autism and other mental conditions, but was told he couldn't bring his dog to work

The experienced officer suffers from autism, ADHD, PTSD, depression and anxiety, the hearing was told.

At the time he made his claim he worked in the forces digital investigations team.

DS Parker first asked to bring his dog to work in in December 2021 but after his manager made enquiries he was later told he could not bring Koda to work.

However, the tribunal heard that during the early part of 2022 the officer brought Koda to a digital forensic lab and was told by Detective Inspector Alex Hall to leave and return without his dog.

In January 2023, DS Parker asked again if he could bring his assistance dog to work and was told by the forces Human Resources department that further occupational health advice was needed.

The tribunal heard that there were two other police officers and a staff member who had PTSD and did have assistance dogs but this was the exception, not the rule.

Employment Judge Catherine Rayner said: The fact that some individuals were able to convince the (police) that they should be allowed to bring the dogs in, was an exception to the usual practise of not allowing assistance dogs into the workplace.

Whilst there was no formal policy there was a practise as indicated by the treatment of [DS Parker] which I am satisfied would also have applied to others.

DS Parker has also alleged that Hampshire constabulary created a pressured environment with their process for promotion to Inspector and that deliberately ambiguous questions were asked.

Interviewees go through a scenario-based process where they are given the questions half an hour before the interview.

DS Parker said this criteria disadvantages neurodiverse employees because it is harder for them to process the information in that time.

EJ Rayner concluded that the force did use this process but did not make a judgement on its impact at this stage.

The full tribunal will be held at a later date.
A hoard of coins that was unearthed by a metal detectorist who was inspired by Indiana Jones is to be sold at auction with an estimate of 75,000.

George Ridgway made the find in a recently harvested barley field in the grounds of Helmingham Hall near Stowmarket, Suffolk, in 2019.

The 34-year-old, who works for the family butchers business, said he 'couldn't believe' what he found.

He said he called his father to guard the site until the arrival of an archaeological team when he realised the scale of the discovery.

The collection of 748 gold and silver coins is estimated to date from as early as 206 BC through to the Roman emperor Claudius in 46/47 AD.

Mr Ridgway said: 'I was inspired by my childhood hero Indiana Jones to start history hunting when I was four years old, and I dreamed of finding a Roman hoard since my grandmother bought me a metal detector for my 12th birthday.

George Ridgway (pictured) made the find in a recently harvested barley field in the grounds of Helmingham Hall near Stowmarket, Suffolk, in 2019

The 34-year-old (pictured age five), who works for the family butchers business, said he 'couldn't believe' what he found

The collection of 748 gold and silver coins is estimated to date from as early as 206 BC through to the Roman emperor Claudius in 46/47 AD

'It was an awe-inspiring moment when I realised that I had found one.'

The proceeds from the hoard are being split between the landowner and Mr Ridgway.

When asked what he would like to do with the proceeds, the detectorist said: 'Firstly, I would like to buy my dad a pint.'

More than 680 of the coins are to be sold at auction by Noonans Mayfair in London on September 18, less 63 of them that were claimed by museums for their collections.

Mr Ridgway, who lives at Ashbocking - a few miles from the hall, said he decided to investigate an 'unusual crop mark' in the field with his Garrett AT Pro metal detector.

'I knew that a Roman road ran close to the field and was hoping the two might be related, but after scouring the area nothing turned up,' he said.

'I moved away 30 yards, and recovered two early Roman bronze Colchester type brooches dating from the mid first century AD.

'Another clear signal nearby from the detector then revealed a silver denarius, a coin that had been issued by Julius Caesar in 46 BC.

More than 680 of the coins are to be sold at auction by Noonans Mayfair in London on September 18, less 63 of them that were claimed by museums for their collections

The proceeds from the hoard are being split between the landowner and Mr Ridgway

'I couldn't believe that over the next three hours of searching, I found 160 more Roman silver coins, with a few of the coins stuck to pottery fragments.

'I knew I had made an important archaeological discovery and called my dad to guard the site overnight while we waited for an archaeological team to arrive and excavate the site.

'It took three months to recover the hoard.'

He said that Iron Age gold coins of Cunobelin, the king of the Catuvellauni and Trinovantes tribes, were also found.

There were 748 gold and silver coins in total, he said, with 63 of them claimed by the British Museum and the Colchester and Ipswich Museum for their collections.

Alice Cullen, coin specialist at Noonans, said: 'This is one of the largest hoards containing both Iron Age coins and Roman coins found in Britain, with the latest coins of Claudius and those of Cunobelin in virtually as-struck condition.

'The location of the hoard together with the date range suggests the coins may have been buried by a long-serving Legionary soldier from the XX Legion, who were stationed at nearby Colchester.

'In 47 AD, the East Anglian Iceni tribe rebelled after the Roman governor Ostorius ordered them to disarm, resulting in a fierce battle that was likely held at Stonea Camp in Cambridgeshire, which the Romans won.

'Is it possible our hoard was concealed by a victim at this conflict?'
There is shock and anger in a local community following the destruction of an 800-year-old natural wonder.

Local tour guide Peter Murphy said he was leading some French tourists to visit a centuries-old eucalypt tree in the Ferguson Valley, about two hours south of Perth, when he discovered the tree had been cut down to a stump.

'I took them down there to see the tree, unaware that it was gone,' he told 6PR Perth's Gary Adshead on Friday.

'I was devastated. I'm just gutted.'

The tree, nicknamed the 'Bob Brown' tree after the Tasmanian environmentalist and former Greens senator, is believed to have stood in the spot since the 12th century.

Calling into 6PR, Mr Brown said he was 'appalled' at the loss.

'I've seen this repeatedly where trees have been destroyed, sometimes to get back at environmentalists, but often for no good reason,' he said.

'Why on earth they wanted to trim a natural tree when putting a fence around it to keep visitors at bay (from) falling branches, is beyond me.

The 800-year-old Bob Brown tree in Western Australia's Ferguson Valley after it was cut down

The 12th century tree was a popular tourist attraction and sacred to the local Noongar people

'That's what you do with other trees, that's what you do with ancient ruins, that what they've done at Stonehenge.'

The WA government's Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions has acknowledged it hired a contractor to trim the Wellington National Park tree to keep falling branches away from visitors, but it did not intend for the tree to be felled.

'DBCA contracted an arborist to remove the fallen branches and address the risk,' the department said in a statement.

'DBCA met the contractor on site prior to any work commencing to identify the scope of what was required.

'DBCA has liaised with the contractor and there has been an obvious breakdown in communication on the contractor's behalf, as the instructions on the pruning works to be undertaken was clear.'

Politician Bob Brown believes it should be criminal to fell such a historic and significant tree

Mr Brown suggested those responsible should face legal proceedings.

'I think it's a criminal piece of behaviour,' he said.

'This tree was there in the 12th century, if the ageing of it is correct. It has great significance for the Noongar people.

'It was a great source of inspiration and wonder, potentially for a century or two more to come. But that wasn't taken into account.'

Mr Brown said he had written to WA Premier Roger Cook about the incident.

'The locals are devastated,' Mr Brown said.

Mr Brown equated the situation to the felling of the iconic 'Robin Hood' tree in Britain last year, speaking to 9News.

The centuries-old tree in Sycamore's Gap was toppled into the World-Heritage-listed Hadrian's wall in September 2023.

The famous tree attracted thousands of tourists and landscape photographers each year and featured in Kevin Costner's 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. The overnight lopping caused widespread outrage at the time.

Two men were later charged over the incident.

'They arrest people for defending trees, it's time people got arrested for destroying trees,' Brown told the network about the Ferguson Valley tree.
Donald Trump booted the president of the Arizona Police Association off the stage at his rally - telling him 'you gotta go.'

Justin Harris joined the former president on stage at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale on Friday night.

He endorsed the Republican presidential nominee and slammed Kamala Harris for her comments on 'reimagining' public safety.

After speaking for nearly 10 minutes, the crowd grew restless and began chanting from Trump to take back the microphone.

Harris looked at Trump standing behind him and the former president told him to wrap it up, saying 'you gotta go.'

Donald Trump booted the president of the Arizona Police Association off the stage at his rally

Robert Kennedy Jr. pledge his support to Trump at the Arizona rally

At the explosive rally, Robert Kennedy Jr. pledge his support to Trump before a raucous crowd of adoring supporters.

'Tonight I am very pleased to welcome a man who has been an incredible champion, Trump said of Kennedy. 'We're both in this to do what's right for the country.'

He then launched some new policy ideas with Kennedy in mind.

'In honor of Bobby... I will establish a new independent commission on assassination attempts,' Trump - an assassination survivor himself - said.

The panel would also investigate Trump's July 13 shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania.

'And we will release all the documents pertaining to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.'

Trump announced new policy ideas with Kennedy in mind such as a panel to investigate presidential assassinations

Trump floated a new policy after seeing demonstrators burn U.S. flags at protests in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention.

'They oughta make it illegal to burn the American flag,' Trump said, before suggesting a new law.

'You burn the American flag, you go to jail for one year,' he said to cheers.

The ex-president also bashed Vice President Kamala Harris's campaign - ripping her border policies.

'325,00 migrant children are missing, they are gone,' he said. 'She allowed them to be trafficked into this country.'
READ MORE: Videos mother posted before allegedly slashing her daughter dead

Horrified community members rally to help her father

Friends and community have rallied to support the father of the 10-year-old schoolgirl allegedly murdered by her own mother.

Sophie Wang died at her home in Emerald Lakes on the Gold Coast, on Tuesday, August 14 leaving one of the most confronting crime scenes detectives said they had ever seen.

The brutal death rocked the year 5 Emmanuel College students tight-knit local community, whove now set up a fundraiser to support Sophies father and family.

Sophie Wang was a kind-hearted, diligent, and dedicated sweetheart at home. At school, she was known for her compassion, care, and bright spirit. Sophie had a deep love for reading, music, and all things Harry Potter,' the Gofundme page reads.

Her passing has left her family heartbroken and devastated, and her loss is deeply felt by her friends, peers, and the entire community.

Your generous contribution will allow Sophie's family the space to grieve, heal, and begin to rebuild their lives without the immediate pressure of financial burdens.

'Every donation, no matter the size, will make a significant difference in supporting Sophies family during this time.

The appeal has already raised more than $6,000 dollars for the grieving family.

Friends and community have rallied to support the father of 10-year-old schoolgirl Sophie Wang, allegedly murdered by her own mother

Sophie Wang died at her home in Emerald Lakes on the Gold Coast, on Tuesday, August 14 leaving one of the most confronting crime scenes detectives said they had ever seen

Sophie's father, Yun Wang, a science professor at Griffith University, arrived home at 6pm to find his daughter and called triple zero, but despite the best efforts of paramedics, she could not be saved.

Hours after finding his daughter, the associate professor put on a blue forensic suit and helped detectives piece together the alleged murder.

Police will allege the Year 5 student's mother Yingying Xu slashed her daughter's throat at their Emerald Lakes home, in Carrara, on the Gold Coast, before fleeing the scene.

Xu, 46, was arrested in a nearby street more than four hours later - at 10.25pm - and was then charged with murder.

Detectives are investigating religious TikToks Xu posted the same day she allegedly killed her own daughter.

Xu had posted three videos to the platform earlier on Tuesday, showing her muttering in Chinese about religion.

In the clips, Xu talks about Christianity and how the 'trinity' is the 'only true god' and 'Jesus is the incarnate son of man'.

Amanda, who lives across the street from the Xu-Wang home, described Sophie as a 'really friendly little girl'.

'She was in the same class as my grandson. He always spoke about her and they got on very well,' Amanda told Daily Mail Australia.

They were in the orchestra together. My grandson played the violin and she played the piano and the recorder.

I could always hear her playing music from the street.

She was always walking to school and back. She was really friendly and would say hi. A really friendly little girl.'

Yingying Xu (above) allegedly cut her daughter's throat after posting bizarre videos online

Detectives will allege Sophie was killed by her own mother after they caught Xu near the home

Amanda, who has lived in the area for 12 years, said she didn't notice anything unusual happening in the street until police officers swarmed the street around 6pm.

It wasn't until the incident hit the news later that evening that she learned about what had happened.

I didnt know the husband but I saw the wife walking in and out, Amanda said.

She was very into herself, when you walked past her she didnt say hello or anything.

The whole community is in shock today.

Members of the community flocked to the home to lay floral tributes outside the home.

Classmate Oliver Hayes, 11, who arrived at the home with his mother and other school friends said Sophie was academically talented.

'She was one of the smartest kids in our school,' Oliver told Daily Mail Australia.

'There's so many words to describe her. She was very nice, she really cared about people a lot and she was very kind.'

Sophie's classmates lay wreaths and left flowers to mourn the year-5 student's death

Peers and teachers called Sophie a gifted and kind student, as they grapple with the tragedy

Father Yun Wang (above) arrived home to his daughter dead, while Sophie's mother was gone

The tragedy also rattled staff at Griffith University, where Prof Wang works in the chemistry and forensic science department, specialising in renewable energy.

'We are deeply saddened to hear about the tragic death of the daughter of a valued member of the Griffith community,' the university said in a statement.

'Our thoughts are with the family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.'

Emmanuel College Principal Dan Brown earlier penned a school community letter to share his condolences.

'It is with a heavy heart that I inform you of a tragic incident that occurred in a home within Emerald Lakes last night, resulting in the passing of one of our beloved students,' the letter said.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s former Harvard University classmate has accused him of selling cocaine as a student.

The bombshell claim came from author Kurt Andersen on Friday in scathing column for The Atlantic.

Earlier in the day Kennedy suspended his third party presidential campaign and endorsed Republican nominee Donald Trump.

Andersen claimed as a Harvard student in the 1970s he purchased cocaine from RFK Jr. and his brother Joseph P. Kennedy II for $40 in a dorm room.

'Sometime during my freshman year, I tried cocaine, enjoyed it, and later decided to procure a gram for myself, Andersen said. 'A friend told me about a kid in our class who was selling coke. The dealer was Bobby Kennedy.'

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (pictured in 1973) has been accused by a former Harvard University classmate of being a cocaine dealer

Author Kurt Andersen (pictured) claimed he bought cocaine from RFK Jr. and his brother Joseph P. Kennedy II for $40 in a dorm room

The writer alleged he reached out to RFK Jr. and he told him to come over to his room in the Hurlbut dorm that the nephew of Democratic President John F. Kennedy shared with future journalist Peter Kaplan.

'[RFK Jr.] poured out a line for me to sample, and handed me an inch-and-a-half length of plastic drinking straw. I snorted. We chatted for a minute. I paid him, I believe, $40 in cash,' Andersen said.

'It was a lot of money, the equivalent of $300 today. But cocaine bought from a Kennedy accompanied by a Kennedy brotherthe moment of glamour seemed worth it.'

The author claimed he accidently left the dorm with the straw used to sample the product and Kennedy called him demanding he bring it back.

'I walked it back to his room. He didnt smile or say thanks. It was the last time I ever bought coke from anyone,' he said.

Andersen said he decided to reveal his experience because of RFK Jr.'s endorsement on Trump.

'If [Trump] becomes president as Kennedy is now working to make happen, wants to start executing drug dealers. He said so in a speech as president in 2018,' he said. 'He said it again in 2022 when he announced his current candidacy.'

Kennedy suspended his third party presidential campaign and endorsed republican nominee Donald Trump

Andersen said he decided to reveal his experience because of RFK Jr.'s endorsement on Trump

DailyMail.com reached out to the Kennedy campaign for comment.

The book 'Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Dark Side of the Dream' detailed his long history of 'compulsions and addictions' that goes back to his adolescence.

At just 14, he began burying his anger and sadness in marijuana and psychedelics, and soon turned to hard drugs, including heroin.

His first, but not his last, arrest involving drugs came a couple of months after he was expelled from one of his prep schools for drug involvement.

Decades before marijuana became legal in many states across the country, he was arrested on Cape Cod in August 1970 on a charge of marijuana possession, along with the son of JFK's sister, Eunice Kennedy Shriver.

When he was 29, RFK Jr. overdosed on a flight and was found by police carrying heroin. He was charged with heroin possession and required to perform hundreds of hours of community service and stay within the confines of New York State.
Northern Territory Country Liberal Party leader Lia Finocchiaro has celebrated a 'new day' for the top end after handing Labor a landslide election defeat after eight years in power.

The CLP emphatically won with at least 15 seats in the 25-seat parliament, while Labor has been reduced to just four seats at the close of counting. Independents hold two seats so far.

Outgoing chief minister Eva Lawler also lost her seat.

The routing of Labor in the Top End will likely raise concerns federally, as the Albanese government prepares for an election by May next year.

Federal Nationals leader David Littleproud said the result showed the Labor Party was 'under a bit of pressure' at the moment.

'Crime is just out of control in the Northern Territory. Their economic circumstances are plummeting and the PM has been front and centre of that,' Mr Littleproud told Nine on Sunday.

'So obviously there's some big lessons for us all.'

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles deflected questions on what impact the result had federally, saying local issues such as crime were the driver of Labor's loss.

Northern Territory Country Liberal Party leader Lia Finocchiaro has celebrated a 'new day' for the top end after handing Labor a landslide election defeat after eight years in power

'We're just focused on getting the job done at hand,' Mr Marles told Sky News Sunday Agenda.

'There is no doubt the biggest issuing facing australians now is cost of living.'

On Saturday night, Ms Finocchiaro told party faithful Territorians had voted to hold 'a bad Labor government to account'.

The granddaughter of Italian migrants said the result was a 'turning point in the Territory's future', vowing action in particular on the region's high crime rates.

'Territorians have used their voice to stand up against Labor who have taken them for granted for far too long,' Ms Finocchiaro said, with her husband and two children in attendance.

'Territorians have stood up against nearly two decades of escalating crime and economy going backwards and the erosion of our once iconic lifestyle. But tomorrow is the start of a new day.'

Ms Finocchiaro, who is projected to become the NT's 14th chief minister, said residents had spoken 'loud and clear, they want to live in a safe community where police are supported by better laws'.

Defeated chief minister Ms Lawler also lost her own seat of Drysdale after massive surprise swings to the CLP.

Fighting back tears, Ms Lawler told the party faithful shortly after 9pm that after a 'tough, hard fight in this campaign... unfortunately, we haven't gotten across the line tonight'.

'It has been an absolute privilege to be chief minister of the Northern Territory. It's also been an absolute privilege to be the member for Drysdale,' Ms Lawler said on Saturday.

The routing of Labor in the Top End will likely raise concerns federally, as the Albanese government prepares for an election by May next year

'Tonight is a tough night for Labor, a truly tough night for Labor. It wasn't the result that we wanted to see. But I think some of those votes, some of those decisions, were made a long time ago.

'I know Territorians wanted change. We've heard that loudly and clearly... I do believe that we leave the Northern Territory in a much better position than previously.'

Ms Lawler said she had congratulated Ms Finocchiaro and that Labor would not 'run down the Northern Territory' in opposition, and would be constructive'.

Taking over from Natasha Fyles, Ms Lawler was seeking to extend Labor's eight year hold over the top end, with 25 seats up for grabs when counting official kicked off at 6pm.

But, shortly after 8pm, ABC Chief Elections Analyst Antony Green called the election for the CLP shortly after 8pm with a 13.7 per cent swing to the party after large swings.

Former chief minister Natasha Fyles told the ABC the result so far, with CLP sitting at 10 seats and Labor at four shortly after 8.30pm according to the ABC, as 'extremely disappointing'.

Ms Lawler has been critical of her predecessor's decision to let restrictions on alcohol to lapse in mid-2022, legalising booze in dozens of Aboriginal communities for the first time in 15 years.

Asked whether the move was a mistake by the ABC on election night, Ms Fyles said 'the short answer is yes', before adding that 'hindsight is a wonderful thing' and that alcohol was 'legal product'.

'We know the harm that it causes, but at the same time allowing people that choice to opt out of being a community that could have alcohol, as opposed to making communities dry and then they have to go through a process that allows them to have alcohol... So it's incredibly complex,' Ms Fyles told the ABC.

'We know that alcohol mandatory treatment doesn't work. It's hugely expensive. But, these are policies the CLP have said they'll scrap, which health professionals around the world have applauded here in the territory.'

Despite criticism, Ms Fyles defended her successor as the first votes started to be tallied, stating that 'she certainly hasn't held back' and was respected for her work before the election.

As of about 8pm, Ms Fyles was already discussing the prospect of Labor taken 'second or third place' as CLP took a significant early lead with six seats as opposed to Labor's two, according to the ABC.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles deflected questions on what impact the result had federally, saying local issues such as crime were the driver of Labor's loss

Both Labor and the Country Liberal Party have campaigned on a platform of being tough on crime, with stubbornly high crime rates and disadvantage, and curfews in Alice Springs centre stage.

The week before the election, Ms Lawler said Labor would deliver a 'common sense plan to lower crime' and improve community safety, including a $570m boost to NT Police.

Ms Finocchiaro told SkyNews live debate earlier this week that the CLP's plan for crime was instead to strengthen bail laws and lower the age of criminal responsibility.

The NT's struggling economy, high costs of living and stagnant population growth are also seen as being in the CLP's firing line, as it tries to show a change is needed after eight years of Labor.

The election has also thrown open the door to a number of independents, including self-proclaimed laksa queen Amye Un who claimed 'Labor had to go ... Only Amye Un can clean up'.

The NT as made headlines in recent years due to high crime rates, including the imposition of night-time curfews in NT, including after two off-duty police were allegedly attacked in July.

The election also comes ahead of a contested race in Queensland later this year where Labor will again defence its record, as well as a looming federal election due to be called next year.
Yusuf Khan was allegedly attacked in Perth on Friday

Two men have now been charged over the alleged stabbing of a businessman and socialite.

Yusuf Khan, 34, was allegedly attacked near the intersection of Perth's Newcastle and Lord Streets while sitting in his Mercedes-Benz at 5pm on Thursday.

Mr Khan is one half of the glamour couple behind Modco Residential, a home builder business which entered into administration in July 2023.

Police believe up to two alleged knifemen targeted Mr Khan while he was waiting at a red light.

He was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital with leg injuries and has since been discharged.

One man, 41-year-old Pham Dang Nguyen, has already been charged for his alleged role in the incident.

The Bayswater man was charged with one count of unlawful wounding and one count of common assault.

Another 37-year-old from Dianella was also charged with one count of unlawful wounding and one count of common assault after he was arrested on Friday.

Yusuf Khan, 34, was allegedly attacked near the intersection of Perth's Newcastle and Lord Streets while sitting in his Mercedes-Benz at 5pm on Thursday

Two men, 41 and 37, have been arrested for their alleged role in the attack

Mr Nguyen has yet to enter a plea and was refused bail by the Perth Magistrates Court on Friday.

He will next appear in court via video link on September 20.

The Dianella man will face court on Saturday.

Mr Khan and his wife, Cynthia Lu, launched Modco in August 2020, promising 20-week timelines for construction projects.

After the builder announced it had ran out of money, tradies claimed they were still owed pay and half-finished builds were left across the city as customers grappled with insurance claims.

During the height of the couple's construction career, they reported gross sales of $80million from 84 customers within a year of launching Modco Residential.

As many as 50 creditors were left $4million out of pocket, which includes Ms Lu herself who claimed that as a primary shareholder she was left $2.1million in arrears.
Disturbing details are emerging in the investigation into a young man's death in a suburban park in Melbourne.

The man, 28, was found injured at Balmoral Park off the Lennon Parkway at 4.20am on Saturday.

Emergency services performed CPR on the man, however he died at the scene.

Victorian Police Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said homicide investigators had discovered 'several knives' in Balmoral Park at Derrimut, about 22km west of the CBD, and the man appeared to have suffered stab wounds.

'I believe several knives have been found in the area,' he said.

'Again, are they connected to this? They will have to be forensically examined.'

Inspector Thomas said the man was last seen by his sister about 9pm in the Derrimut area, and it is believed he was in the company of four other males.

The police are now trying to piece together the movement of the men and they have appealed to members of the public who might have dashcam footage or may have seen something suspicious in the area to come forward.

Detectives have found knives near to where a man was found injured in the early morning

Inspector Thomas also said the police believed there may have been people in the park present with the victim who have 'dispersed'.

'We really don't know but we believe there may have been a number of people here, who may have dispersed and run off,' he said.

Some people in the park performed CPR on the victim before the arrival of emergency service personnel.

The call to the police came from a person in the park, Inspector Thomas said.

'They appeared in the park and obviously we're trying to piece all that together, to find out what connection they do have to the deceased,' he said.

He said the police did not have any evidence to suggest the incident was gang related.

Some people in the park performed CPR on the victim before the arrival of emergency service personnel

'It appears our (victim) does not have any links to any gang but again, it is still early,' he said.

The police notified the victim's family in the morning and it is understood the mother of the man attended the park scene in a distraught state.

Forensic police officers continue to scour the park for evidence.

'The most important thing is that we don't rush it,' he said.

'We need to ensure we don't miss anything.'
Voting is underway across the Northern Territory - from rugged Central Australia to Darwin and the sparse populated tropics - with a tight race expected between Labor and the Country Liberal Party.

Northern Territory Chief Minister Eva Lawler is seeking to extend Labor's eight-year hold over the Top End, with 25 seats up for grabs when counting officially kicks off at 6.30pm on Saturday.

Both Labor and the Country Liberal Party have campaigned on a platform of being tough on crime, with stubbornly high crime rates and curfews in Alice Springs centre stage.

The week before the election, Ms Lawler said Labor would deliver a 'common sense plan to lower crime' and improve community safety, including a $570 million boost to NT Police.

Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro told SkyNews live debate earlier this week that the CLP's plan for crime was instead to strengthen bail laws and lower the age of criminal responsibility.

The NT's struggling economy, high costs of living and stagnant population growth are also seen as being in the CLP's firing line, as it tries to show a change is needed after eight years of Labor.

The election has also thrown open the door to a number of independents, including self-proclaimed laksa queen Amye Un who claimed 'Labor had to go ... Only Amye Un can clean up'.

The NT has made headlines in recent years due to high crime rates, including the imposition of night-time curfews after two off-duty police were allegedly attacked in July.

The election also comes ahead of a contested race in Queensland later this year where Labor will again defend its record, as well as a looming federal election due to be called next year.

Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro (pictured) based her campaign on strength against crime
A 19-year-old Australian surfer on his first solo trip overseas has suffered serious burns to 13 per cent to his body after a boat explosion in Indonesia.

Jensen Kirby was on holiday on the idyllic Telos islands off the west coast of Sumatra when he decided to catch a speed boat out to a surf break on August 11.

The Perth teenager said he was engulfed in a burning hot 'fireball' after the skipper mishandled a boat battery which began spewing petrol flames.

'The mechanic was putting the battery on and plugging it up. He plugged the negative to the positive, so it was wrong, and as soon as it clicked it just sparked and ignited the petrol fumes in the boat,' Mr Kirby told the ABC.

'All I saw was the spark and the next moment I just saw the flames around me and I was like "Oh my god, what the hell do I do?" I was in the middle of this fire.

'I just remember hearing the big whooshing sound going past me. It was crazy, like out of a movie.

'I just turned around and jumped straight into the water because I was so scared and got away as far as I could in case there was another explosion.'

Mr Kirby said it felt like a 'sunburn times 100' and he ran straight back into the sea to get relief but unfortunately his leg hit sand and tore skin off.

Jensen Kirby, 19, suffered burns to 13 per cent of his body after the speed boat he was on exploded near the Telos islands off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, on August 11

Mr Kirby (pictured) had been on his first solo trip overseas when the incident occurred

The Perth teenager (pictured) said he was engulfed in a burning hot 'fireball' after a skipper mishandled a boat battery and it began spewing petrol flames

'It was like someone peeled paper off a stack of paper sheets, it was pretty crazy,' he said.

Mr Kirby ran to the showers to get under cold water and rang his mother in Perth.

'I said "Mum, please don't freak out" and she said "What happened?" and I said "The boat just exploded" and she was freaking out,' he recalled.

The young surfer suffered serious burns to his face, chest, arms, hands and legs.

Mr Kirby said his main concern was how difficult it would be to get to a hospital from the remote island before his burns became infected.

On the 45-minute boat trip to a medical outpost - with the mechanic who largely escaped the inferno unscathed - Mr Kirby said he stopped himself from passing out by taking deep breaths.

'Am I going to live? Am I going to live but not be able to surf again? Am I going to have to get an amputation... because of an infection? And then I also had a thought of "Am I going to die?" It's a crazy, crazy thing to experience,' he told 7News.

At the medial centre the talented surfer was given some tablets and his wounds were dressed with gauze and cream.

He later awoke to find blisters all over his body.

The young surfer suffered serious burns to his face, chest, arms, hands and legs (pictured)

The picturesque Telo Islands off the west coast of Sumatra is a popular surfing destination

Mr Kirby was fortunately able to get a plane ticket to Padang in Indonesia and then to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia where his 'legend' mum was waiting for him.

Their pair then flew to Western Australia where he spent three days in Fiona Stanley Hospital where he fortunately avoided having surgery or skin grafts.

'My face was fully peeling. I was really scared to look at my face and when I did I looked like I had aged 30 years,' he said.

When asked by ABC radio Drive host Jo Trilling when he planned to go back in the water Mr Kirby replied 'Next week, hopefully'.
READ MORE: Possible trigger for massive quake revealed

It was followed by magnitude 4.4 quake 24 hours later

Residents on Australia's east coast have been rocked by tremors after a magnitude 5.0 earthquake left thousands without power just 24 hours earlier.

A magnitude 4.4 quake struck 8km north of the town of Denman, in NSW's Hunter Region, at a depth of 9.6km just after 6.30am on Saturday.

It came just hours after a magnitude 3.2 earthquake shook the nearby town of Muswellbrook at 1.10am with another magnitude 2.5 quake felt at 2.30am.

Experts warned aftershocks would follow the larger quake on Friday with Australians living over 170km away in Sydney reporting feeling tremors.

'Anyone else just feel another tremor?' a woman posted in a Facebook page for residents in Sydney's eastern suburbs at 4.45pm on Saturday.

Geoscience Australia senior seismologist Hadi Ghasemi earlier warned aftershocks would be felt throughout the day on Saturday.

'Generally speaking, the largest aftershocks tend to occur at the earliest stages of the sequence,' he told Nine's Weekend Today.

'As the time goes by, the frequency of the aftershocks start to decay too.'

Residents on Australia's east coast have been rocked by powerful tremors after a magnitude 5.0 earthquake (pictured on the map) left thousands without power

'Anyone else just feel another tremor?' a woman posted in a Facebook page for residents in Sydney's eastern suburbs at 4.45pm on Saturday (pictured)

Lavis Mitre 10 in Muswellbrook posted a photo of items strewn through its aisles after a magnitude 5.0 quake hit the town of Denman just after 12pm on Friday

Just over 24 hours earlier, mining operations were briefly halted after an earthquake struck the Mount Arthur Coal Mine just outside Muswellbrook at 12.01pm on Friday.

A spokesman for BHP said several miners had been injured.

'A few team members at Mt Arthur Coal required first aid for minor injuries from falling items, thankfully no one was seriously hurt,' he said.

'All areas at site are conducting inspections before we safely restart operations. We have offered our support to the Muswellbrook Shire Council.'

A power outage hit an area in South Muswellbrook with the NSW State Emergency Service receiving 11 calls relating to minor residential damage and reports of minor infrastructure damage in Maitland and Muswellbrook.

As of 2pm of Friday, the largest aftershock had a magnitude of 2.9.

The tremors were felt hours away in Sydney's west and southwest, the Central Coast and regional towns across the wider Hunter region.

UNSW geophysicist Stuart Clark said the quake was the biggest of six to hit the local area, a coal mining hub, in the past 50 years.

'It's a little smaller than the Newcastle earthquake, and there was another one 5.3 (magnitude) in 1994,' associate professor Clark said.

'The cause is compressional forces across the continent but the trigger is potentially coal mining.'

He warned of aftershocks in the next two days, saying 'there might be a cluster of aftershocks typically a little bit smaller than this one'.

'They don't have to follow major earthquakes but they can.'

The remnants of a chimney that collapsed in Muswellbrook, in NSW's Hunter region, on Friday

Bricks are seen on the pavement outside homes in Muswellbrook on Friday

Muswellbrook Shire Council mayor Steven Reynolds said he was lying in bed when the house shook hard.

'I tell you what, I thought the roof was coming down on me,' Mayor Reynolds said.

'You couldn't miss it, it was big. We have the blasts here from the mines and I immediately knew it was nothing like that. I thought for sure it was an earthquake and there could have been some severe damage.'

Sydney residents also reported feeling shakes.

'My apartment just moved.. who else felt it (earthquake) in Sydney?!' posted one.

'Was there just an earthquake in Sydney, or did my building just shake for fun?!'

A third said: 'Just felt an actual earthquake in Sydney. Wall mounted TV was shaking as was the bed I was sitting on. Wild!'
Shoppers were forced to evacuate on Saturday

Terrified customers have been forced to evacuate a popular shopping centre after thick smoke started to fill the underground carpark.

Emergency services including paramedics rushed to Redland Bay Village on Broadwater Terrace in Queensland at about 1.20pm on Saturday.

The fire  believed to be a car alight  was brought under control shortly before 2pm with no shoppers reported to be injured.

Angela Soward had been in the carpark when the fire started.

'The fire broke out on the back wall of the car park, well away from the entry to the shops themselves,' she wrote on Facebook.

She said her brother thought it was a car on fire.

'My brother was about ten metres away from it when it happened, he said it looked like a car, but from the angle he couldn't tell what make.'

Another person shared on social media the situation was 'so scary'.

Terrified customers have been forced to evacuate a popular shopping centre after thick smoke started to fill the underground carpark (pictured, Redland Bay Village carpark on Saturday)

Emergency services rushed to the Redland Bay Village on Broadwater Terrace in Queensland at about 1.20pm on Saturday (pictured)

Shoppers were encouraged to avoid the area until smoke disappears with reports of a 'burnt chemical smell' in the air.

Redland Bay WholeLife Pharmacy and Healthfoods told its customers on social media the store would be closed until 9am Sunday.

'We are currently closed and unable to access the pharmacy,' the pharmacy stated.

'The officials have said it may be a few hours before they can say it is safe to enter so unfortunately the pharmacy will remain closed.'
Hannah Lynch, the 18-year-old daughter of tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, was found alone in her own cabin on board the super-yacht Bayesian after it sank 50 metres below the surface of the Mediterranean, rescue workers have said.

Five others, including her father, were found in a separate compartment on the Bayesian superyacht, fire service commander Girolamo Bentivoglio Fiandra told reporters at a conference in Termini Imerese, close to the sinking site off Sicily.

The 30million vessel lopped onto its side as it sank - and Mr Fiandra said it became apparent to divers that the victims of the disaster had tried to seek shelter in the higher side of the ship, where there may have been air bubbles, before they died.

Hannah had been on board the ship with her father and mother as well as other high-profile businessmen and their spouses when the ship was struck by a suspected downburst - a violent downward plume of wind - in the early hours of Monday.

Their bodies were recovered over the course of this week, taking the death toll from the disaster to seven after the ship's cook was found in the water close to the wreck site shortly after the disaster unfolded. Autopsies are yet to take place.

A manslaughter probe has been launched and lead prosecutor Raffaele Cammarano said officials had not conducted alcohol and drug tests on the survivors, but said that they would be interviewed to find out exactly why seven lives were lost.

'We are going to discover how much they knew or to what extent all the people were warned,' he vowed.

It comes as:

Hannah Lynch pictured with her father Mike, who had just been acquitted of fraud charges in the US and was celebrating on board the Bayesian yacht when they both died

Prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio (centre) confirmed a question of 'manslaughter' had been hypothesised following initial investigations into the sinking on Monday August 19

Firefighter commander Girolamo Bentivoglio Fiandra revealed Hannah Lynch had been found alone in a cabin on the side of the yacht facing the surface

Hannah Lynch, the 18-year-old daughter of tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, was found dead in her own cabin 50 metres below the surface of the Mediterranean

Rescue workers standing by after recovering the body of Hannah Lynch off the coast of Porticello yesterday

A handout photo made available on August 19 by Perini Navi Press Office shows the 'Bayesian' sailing boat, in Palermo, Sicily, Italy

The press conference was assembled on Saturday as prosecutors blamed Italian civil codes for a previous lack of forthcoming information

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The Bayesian is believed to have sunk at the stern after being upset by a downburst that spread out with force as it hits the ground after being produced in the clouds, before coming to rest on its right-hand side as it capsized.

Fire chief Mr Fiandra said in remarks reported by Sky News: 'You may want to know where we recovered the bodies of the victims. I can tell you... that the ship sunk and was laid onto its right hand side at the bottom of the sea.

'It's quite clear that the people were trying to hide in the cabins on the left-hand side and we found the first five bodies in the first cabin on the left-hand side and the final body in the third cabin on the left-hand side.

'There were six cabins: three on the left-hand side and three on the right-hand side. We found them on the highest part of the ship going towards the surface.'

Investigators have so far declined to comment on why five of the dead were found in the same room. Those on the panel said the cabin room they were found in was not theirs.

Prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio confirmed a question of 'negligent shipwreck and multiple negligent manslaughter' had been raised following initial investigations into the sinking on Monday August 19.

However, he stressed to reporters that inquiries remained at an early stage - but appeared to suggest there were questions for the crew of the Bayesian to answer.

One person had been on watch in the cockpit when disaster struck. They have been interviewed and are not required to remain in Italy - but authorities say they expect them to fully cooperate with the probe.

The yacht's captain, James Cutfield, has already been interviewed by investigators. Prosecutors say they will examine why the crew was able to get to a lifeboat when the passengers couldn't.

Mr Cammarano told the press Mr Cutfield had been 'extremely cooperative' to date. He is likely to be questioned again.

The prosecutor added: 'There are various stages we have to look at in more detail: the behaviours of the crew, the meteorological situation, what the weather was doing at the time, there are all aspects we have to look at.

'The statements made by the crew are fundamental as far as the inquiry is concerned. We can't divulge what they have said as it would be very prejudicial as far as the inquiry is concerned.'

Mr Cartosio later added: 'We can't just deal with this quickly. It's likely there could have been some crimes committed, that it could be manslaughter, but it's a question of who is responsible and we can only do that if you give us time.'

Prosecutors say they want the Bayesian to be raised from the water so the wreck can be examined but responsibility for this lies with the ship's owners.

Rear Admiral Raffaele Macauda of the Italian coastguard (right) suggested there was a desire to raise the wreck of the Bayesian from the sea bed

The prosecutor taking direct charge of the case, Raffaele Cammarano (pictured), said the survivors were being questioned

The press conference was arranged to brief the international media due to the global interest in the Bayesian's sinking

The 185ft British-flagged yacht sank in the early hours of Monday after, investigators believe, it was struck by a downburst, a violent downward plume of wind often mistaken for tornadoes and commonly created during thunderstorms.

The emergency services were alerted shortly after 4.30am - but by the time they had arrived, the ship had already sunk.

The time taken by rescue services to reach the wreck will also form part of the investigation - though authorities said today the sinking had been extremely rapid.

The crew of a nearby Dutch sailing ship, the Sir Robert BP, were able to send a liferaft to rescue 15 of the 22 people on board. Among the survivors was British woman Charlotte Golunski and her one-year-old daughter, who she held aloft in the water.

Mr Cartosio added that it quickly became apparent to those who witnessed the disaster it would be 'impossible' to save those still trapped in the yacht as it sank to the sea bed.

He told reporters: 'The Public Prosecutor's Office of Termini Imerese has registered a file with the state against unknown persons, hypothesising the crimes of negligent shipwreck and multiple negligent manslaughter.'

He added: 'Generally a prosecutor is never satisfied to give this information at this stage, precisely because developments could change.

'We cannot exclude anything at all but what, there has been a lot of media interest with regards to the people were involved. But at the same time I believe it is right to anticipate developments of this inquiry can be very variable.'

There had been questions as to why it had taken so long for Italian authorities to inform the public in detail of its rescue operations.

Mr Cartosio told reporters Italian civil codes had prevented him from releasing more information about the search while it took place, highlighting that he personally believed it created 'notable obstacles' to transparency with the public.

However, the press conference was staged because of the major international interest in the disaster - and because of the high-profile identities of the victims.

The prosecutor added that it would be 'painful' if, theoretically, 'this tragedy, this terrible tragedy, was caused by behaviours that were not perfectly in order with regard to the responsibility that everybody had to have (on) the ship.'

The press conference took place in the town of Termini Imerese, a town close to Porticello where the boat sank

Hannah Lynch and her father Mike Lynch (both pictured above) were on the yacht celebrating Mr Lynch's acquittal on US fraud charges

Search vessels returning to shore on Friday after Hannah Lynch's body was discovered

The operation was made more complex by the depth of the wreck - 50 metres below the surface - and low visibility (pictured: rescue workers on Thursday)

Divers searched for a total of 72 hours underwater to find the bodies of those who died during the disaster (pictured: diving equipment used by the search teams)

The coastguard deployed helicopters to assist with the search throughout (pictured: search parties on the water on Wednesday)

Hannah and her father Mike Lynch, alongside Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy Bloomer, Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo were lost when the yacht sank at around 5am local time on Monday.

The body of Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, who was working as a chef on the superyacht, was recovered at the scene of the sinking on Monday.

Their bodies were taken to the nearby village of Porticello, about 11 miles from Sicilian capital Palermo.

Rear Admiral Raffaele Macauda of the Italian coastguard confirmed Thomas' body was found close to the ship.

Mr Fiandra, the fire service commander, added that it had taken time to find the other bodies because of the complexities of reaching a ship 50 metres below, the size of the yacht itself, and the lack of visibility so far from the surface.

'Over four days to have obtained the result we have obtained? Let's say that represents how professional these divers were,' he said.

There is no timeline for when the yacht may be recovered from the water to assist with the ongoing investigation.

'We want to be able to recover the wreck in coordination with the prosecutor because there will be inquiries and they have shown the will to recover the wreck,' Rear Admiral Macauda said.

'We carried out an extraordinary operation and everyone worked in an amazing way. But this is a very sad moment as seven human lives have been lost.'

He later added: 'What of course we wanted to do is save human lives at sea. That's why we carried on with the search from the surface. We were still hoping to find somebody alive.'

Recaldo Thomas, chef on the Bayesian, was the first person to be recovered after the yacht sunk on Monday

Judy and Jonathan Bloomer died on the Bayesian as it pitched over in the water

The bodies of Neda and Chris Morvillo, pictured in 2018, were retrieved earlier this week

Both the hull and the superstructure, the part above the main deck, were made from aluminium

Divers heading into the water on August 23 to find Hannah Lynch's body in a handout picture from the Italian coastguard

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The main question investigators are focusing on is how a sailing vessel deemed 'unsinkable' by its manufacturer, Italian shipyard Perini Navi, sank while a nearby sailboat remained largely unscathed.

A total of 27 divers, including 11 cave experts and eight deep sea divers, were called in to aid with the search across 72 total hours of searching underwater across 123 dives.

In a statement, the family of Mr Lynch and Hannah said: 'The Lynch family is devastated, in shock and is being comforted and supported by family and friends.

'Their thoughts are with everyone affected by the tragedy.

'They would like to sincerely thank the Italian coastguard, emergency services and all those who helped in the rescue.

'Their one request now is that their privacy be respected at this time of unspeakable grief.'

The Lynch family also issued a photograph of Mr Lynch and Hannah alongside their tribute.

Hannah's sister Esme paid her own tribute, saying: 'Hannah often burst into my bedroom and lay down with me.

'Sometimes beaming with a smile, sometimes cheeky, sometimes for advice.

'No matter what, she brought boundless love to me.

'She was endlessly caring, passionately mad, unintentionally hilarious and the most amazing, supportive and joyful sister and best friend to me.

'And on top of all this, she had even more love to give endlessly to all her friends and passion to give to her incredible studies and goals.

'She is my little angel, my star.'

Vincenzo Zagarola, of the Italian Coastguard, said the search for Hannah was not 'easy or quick', comparing the sunken yacht to an '18-storey building full of water'.

The bodies of all six missing passengers have now been brought to shore in the small fishing village of Porticello, around 11 miles from the Sicilian capital of Palermo.

Of the 22 passengers and crew on board, 15, including Mr Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, were rescued after escaping on to a lifeboat. She owns the yacht through a private company.

The boat trip was a celebration of Mr Lynch's acquittal in a fraud case in the US.

The businessman, who founded software giant Autonomy in 1996, was cleared in June of carrying out a massive fraud relating to its 11 billion dollar (8.64 billion) sale to US company Hewlett Packard.
Dramatic video has captured the terrifying moment a car plunged over the edge of a motorway overpass into the path of oncoming traffic.

The dashcam footage shows the white Nissan SUV falling nose-first onto the M5 Motorway in Bexley North in Sydney's south at 4.50pm on Thursday.

Emergency services were called to the M5 motorway to attend to the male driver who was rushed to St George Hospital in a serious condition.

Miraculously, other drivers on the motorway were able to avoid the Nissan SUV.

In a statement, NSW Police said officers attended the scene of the crash 'following reports of a single vehicle crash' on Thursday.

Aussies were quick to respond to the footage after it was uploaded by Facebook page Dash Cam Owners Australia the following day.

'I was in the tunnel when it happened, they started to announce it in the tunnel and I luckily made it to the Princess Highway exit before the traffic piled up,' one said.

'That's very lucky it could have been worse if it landed on another car.'

A white Nissan SV was captured plunging onto a busy Sydney motorway on Thursday

The male driver of the vehicle was rushed to St George Hospital after the incident on Thursday

'Don't know what I was expecting, but it definitely wasn't that - hope they're okay,' a second commented.

A third shared: 'Hope the driver is okay. Imagine emerging from the tunnel to see a car fall in front of you.'

'Jesus totally caught me off guard. Wasn't expecting a car accident to be vertical,' a fourth wrote.
Two cars were set ablaze following an explosion next to a synagogue in France today in a clear criminal attack on the Jewish place of worship.

Firefighters, police, and the gendermerie arrived at the scene near Beth Yaacov synagogue at around 8.40am local time on Saturday morning.

Emergency services discovered two doors as well as two cars set alight, with a policeman hurled to the ground by the explosion.

The police officer was injured in the incident, which occurred in La Grande-Motte - a southern seaside resort close to Montpellier.

The alarm was raised at around 8.30am, said an investigating source. There was at least one violent explosion, and flames touched the door of the synagogue.

Two cars were set alight near a a synagogue in France today in what has been described as a clear criminal attack on the Jewish place of worship by officials (Picutred: The blaze near the synagogue)

Firefighters, police, and the gendermerie arrived at the scene near synagogue at around 8.40am local time today. The fire has since been brought under control and no reported injuries (Pictured: Smoke rising into the air)

A gas bottle was clearly stored in one of two cars parked directly outside the synagogue, and thats what caused the explosion.

A policeman who attempted to secure the area was badly injured and rushed to hospital.

According to The Mirror, CCTV footage captured someone fleeing the scene before the inferno began. A gas bottle was later discovered inside one of the burnt out vehicles.

By 10am firefighters had brought the blaze under control, with no further injuries reported.

It comes as tensions have risen in France, along with anti-Semitic incidents in recent months, due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East.

France has the largest Jewish community in Europe, made up of around 500,000 people.

Gerald Darmanin, Frances Interior Ministry, said the incident was a clear criminal attack.

He wrote on Twitter X: I want to assure our Jewish fellow citizens and the community of my full support and say that at the request of the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, all means are being mobilized to find the perpetrator..

Both Darmanin and Prime Minister Gabriel Attal are to travel to the site of the explosion later today, according to AFP.

France's Minister of Interior, Gerald Darmanin (Pictured) described the incident as a clear criminal attack

Law enforcement officers and firefighters stand in front of the synagogue building following the fire and explosion in La Grande-Motte

Firefighters attended the scene, and by 10am the fire had been brought under control, with no further injuries (Pictured: law enforcement at the scene)

Hussein Bourgi, a Socialist Senator in the Herault department, where La Grande-Motte is situated, said: I would like to express my full solidarity with the Jewish community of La Grande Motte as well as its president, Sabine Atlan.

In May, an Algerian immigrant who was in France illegally was shot dead by police after throwing a Molotov Cocktail through a synagogue window.

The 29-year-old, who was armed with a knife, was hit four times by an officer who discharged his service revolver outside the building in Rouen, Normandy.

A judicial enquiry was opened into arson with an anti-religious motivation and intentional violence against persons holding public office, and is ongoing.

This comes shortly after a Holocaust memorial in Paris was defaced with red hands in an apparent reference to the rising civilian death toll in Gaza and the West Bank.
Large parts of southeast Australia will be smashed by damaging winds and severe thunderstorms just hours after millions enjoyed unseasonable hot weather.

Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said severe thunderstorms are expected across Victoria and much of southeastern Australian on Sunday following a very windy period over the last number of days.

It comes as current damaging wind warnings remain in place for parts of NSW, including the Blue Mountains to the west of Sydney and the Dividing Range to the south, as well as some of those southeast alpine areas of NSW.

'In those areas, we may see further damaging wind gusts through the course of Saturday, strong enough to bring down trees or branches across roads, potentially leading to dangerous driving conditions,' Ms Bradbury said.

'If you are you travelling into those more elevated parts of the state, beware of those risks today. It should ease back below warning threshold later this afternoon, with a much gentler night on the way where winds are concerned.'

But come Sunday, millions are being warned to stay inside as a cold front and a trough sweep across the southeast bringing widespread thunderstorms on Sunday.

'Storms are possible all the way up through western NSW, extending down to southeast South Australia and Victoria too,' Ms Bradbury said.

'Tasmania is less likely to see thunderstorms tomorrow.'

Victorians warned severe thunderstorms are on the way as trough passes over the southeast (pictured, a woman struggles with her umbrella in Melbourne's CBD)

The Bureau of Meteorology says severe thunderstorms are expected across Victoria and much of southeastern Australian on Sunday (pictured)

'What I really want to focus on though... is the yellow and red areas indicating where severe thunderstorms are likely or possible.

'They extend from southern parts of the Eyre Peninsula through southeast South Australia into Victoria and southern NSW, impacting some of our major populations centres, including Adelaide and Melbourne.'

The warnings also forecast damaging wind gusts or large hailstones throughout the day, with heavy rainfall possible but less likely.

'The thunderstorms will be pushing down into the far northern suburbs of Melbourne and as far north as the southern Riverina of NSW,' Ms Bradbury said.

Now in that area, severe thunderstorms are likely through tomorrow afternoon and evening. We may even see destructive wind gusts as these storms move through.'

Meanwhile, a cold front is forecast to sweep through southeast South Australia throughout Sunday morning, reaching Adelaide late morning or around midday.

Melbourne is forecast to be drenched with showers over the next few days before the wet and wild weather clears further into next week (pictured, women share an umbrella in Melbourne)

Strong winds are also forecast for large swathes of the southeast (pictured)

'Now that's were we're going to see the strongest winds and the storms on that leading edge of the system,' Ms Bradbury said.

'It will move through the western parts of Victoria in the afternoon, sweeping through Melbourne in the late afternoon or early evening.

'It's worth noting we're seeing continued showers and storms in the wake of the system, but the most intense impacts are likely to be along the line of the trough itself.

'It'll move into eastern Victoria and southeast NSW through the evening and overnight period with less storms for the way from Monday.'

It comes as the Bureau also warned people to check their forecasts as 'really intense warm conditions' could break temperature records in some places across Central Australia, with one town set to reach 40 degrees.

The warning comes as unseasonal warmth continues to impact central and eastern Australia this weekend and into next week, according to the Bureau.

Unseasonal warmth is impacting central and eastern Australia this weekend. Picture: BOM

Hottest places forecast across Australia at 4pm on Saturday: 39 degrees in Oodnadatta, South Australia 37 degrees Birdsville, Queensland and Catherine, NT 35 degrees in Darwin, NT 33 degrees in Bourke, NSW, and Charleville, Queensland 31 degrees in Broome, WA Advertisement

'Typically, August is when we see spring weather building, but this extreme and prolonged heat is unusual,' the Bureau stated.

New August maximum temperature records could also be broken in many areas over the coming days.

Unseasonably warm weather is expected across large parts of the country on Saturday.

The extreme heat is also forecast to stick around on Sunday, with Fitzroy Crossing in WA expected to reach 40 degrees at 4pm.

The Bureau stated if that occurs, it will be the first 40C temperature of this season.

Fitzroy Crossing in WA is forecast to each 40 degrees at 4pm on Sunday (pictured, a BOM map)

Meanwhile, a severe weather warning for damaging winds remains in place for parts of Western Australia.

It comes after a strong cold front came close to the Esperance area on Saturday morning, creating a broad stream of gusty showers and thunderstorms across southwestern parts of the state.

Damaging wind gusts with peak gusts of 90 to 100km/h on and near the front are possible about the far eastern Great Southern and South East Coastal districts across Saturday.

Similarly, damaging wind gusts of 90 to 100km/h are also broadly possible with isolated thunderstorms across southwestern parts of the state.

These conditions are expected to ease about the Perth area by around midday, and should contract to southwest of a line from Bunbury to Bremer Bay by mid afternoon.

Exposed coastal areas between Augusta and Walpole may also experience periods of sustained with damaging averaging 60 to 70km/h.

Conditions are expected to ease completely by Saturday night.

Areas which may be affected include Albany, Bunbury, Busselton, Esperance, Katanning, Mandurah, Manjimup, Margaret River, Mount Barker, Narrogin, Northam and Perth.

Damaging winds recorded across NSW on Saturday 107 km/h wind gust recorded at Cape Leeuwin at 6.26am 106 km/h wind gust recorded at Busselton Jetty at 6.10am 100 km/h wind gust recorded at Rottnest Island at 3.50am 98 km/h wind gust recorded at Ocean Reef at 8.07am 98 km/h wind gust recorded at Ocean Reef at 8.24am Advertisement

Bureau metrologist Angus Hines reminded residents to stay alert during strong winds.

'When we have winds this strong, there a number of impacts that may occur, including some of these here,' Mr Hines said.

'We could see trees and branches down, potentially across roads and maybe onto property as well.

'There's the potential for power outages around southwestern WA this weekend.

'And maybe to damage to lose structures, like outdoor furniture, trampolines, fences and maybe the odd roof tile if it's not tethered down correctly.'

Sydney

Sunday: Cloudy. Medium chance of showers. Light winds becoming N/NW 15 to 25 km/h in the late afternoon. Min 16. Max 26.

Monday: Sunny. Winds northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h turning west to southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h during the morning then becoming westerly 15 to 20 km/h in the late afternoon. Min 17. Max 24.

Tuesday: Sunny. Winds northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h turning west to southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h during the morning then becoming westerly 15 to 20 km/h in the late afternoon. Min 17. Max 24.

Melbourne

Sunday: Partly cloudy. Very high chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm from the late morning, possibly severe with destructive winds, large hail and possible heavy falls in the northeast suburbs. Winds northerly 20 to 30 km/h increasing to 30 to 45 km/h in the morning then turning west to northwesterly 25 to 35 km/h in the evening. Min 12. Max 23.

Monday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers about the Dandenongs, medium chance elsewhere. Winds westerly 20 to 30 km/h turning northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the evening. Min 12. Max 18.

Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower in the evening. Winds northerly 35 to 55 km/h. Min 11. Max 20.

Brisbane

Sunday: The chance of fog in the early morning. Sunny day. Light winds becoming north to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the early afternoon then becoming light in the evening. Min 14. Max 29.

Monday: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower in the west in the late morning and afternoon. Near zero chance of rain elsewhere. The chance of a thunderstorm in the late morning and afternoon. Winds north to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h tending north to northeasterly in the early afternoon then becoming light in the evening. Min 16. Max 31.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny morning. The chance of a thunderstorm in the west in the afternoon and evening. Light winds. Min 16. Max 28.

Perth

Sunday: Cloudy. Slight chance of a shower, most likely in the morning and early afternoon. Winds westerly 15 to 25 km/h becoming light in the late afternoon. Min 12. Max 21.

Monday: Cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. Winds north to northwesterly 25 to 35 km/h tending west to northwesterly 25 to 40 km/h during the afternoon and evening. Min 11. Max 22.

Tuesday: Cloudy. Very high chance of showers, most likely in the morning. Winds westerly 20 to 30 km/h tending southwesterly 25 to 35 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening. Min 15. Max 20.

Adelaide

Sunday: Partly cloudy. Very high chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm, possibly severe. Winds northerly 15 to 25 km/h turning westerly 35 to 50 km/h in the late morning and early afternoon then decreasing to 25 to 35 km/h in the evening. Min 15. Max 20.

Monday: Mostly sunny day. Medium chance of showers in the evening. Winds northerly 15 to 25 km/h increasing to 25 to 35 km/h during the morning then turning west to northwesterly 30 to 45 km/h during the day. Min 11. Max 25.

Tuesday:

Hobart

Sunday: Partly cloudy. Very high chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. Light winds becoming northerly 15 to 20 km/h in the middle of the day then becoming light in the evening. Min 9. Max 18.

Monday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning. Winds west to northwesterly 25 to 35 km/h. Min 10. Max 16.

Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Very high chance of showers, most likely in the evening. Winds northwesterly 35 to 50 km/h. Min 11. Max 19.

Canberra

Sunday: Cloudy. Very high chance of showers, most likely in the evening. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds becoming northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h in the middle of the day. Min 7. Max 21.

Monday: Medium chance of showers, most likely in the early morning. Mostly sunny day. Winds westerly 20 to 30 km/h tending northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the evening. Min 6. Max 17.

Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Light winds becoming northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h during the morning. Min 3. Max 17.

Darwin

Sunday: Sunny. Light winds becoming northeast to southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h in the middle of the day then tending north to northeasterly in the late afternoon. Min 24. Max 34.

Monday: Sunny. Light winds becoming easterly 20 to 30 km/h during the day then turning north to northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the afternoon. Min 23. Max 35.

Tuesday: Sunny. Light winds becoming northeast to southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day then tending north to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon. Min 23. Max 34.
A mother who faked her child's terminal cancer diagnosis conned a cancer charity out of 4,000.

Charlotte Blackwell, 40,contacted the mother of Morgan Ridler - who died of a a rare liver cancer just days before his fourth birthday - to ask for financial help from her charity just months after Morgan died.

Natalie Ridler and the Morgan's Army Charitable Foundation have raised thousands to help families such as hers who are affected by childhood cancer.

One such family Ms Ridler thought she was helping was Blackwell's who contacted the 33-year-old.

Blackwell said her child - who had previously been ill - was poorly again, receiving palliative care and set up a GoFundMe for help. she then received 4,000 from the charity before Ms Ridler discovered Blackwell was lying.

Natalie Ridler pictured with her son Morgan. Charlotte Blackwell, 40, conned Ms Ridler's charity out of 4,000 after she faked her own child's cancer diagnosis

Morgan died of cancer on June 28 last year, days before his fourth birthday. It was just months after his death that Blackwell got in touch with Morgan's mother to ask for financial help

Blackwell, of Bridgend, South Wales, admitted fraud and was handed a suspended sentence.

Ms Ridler said: 'A number of months ago I was approached by an individual who was very upset because their child had relapsed. The family is known to us as a cancer family, and that's how they passed our initial checks.

'They were very upset about the prospect of going through things again but also about the odds that had apparently been given to them.

Natalie said Blackwell told her they were raising money for treatment in Germany.

She said: 'I supported this individual emotionally for a number of weeks, because they said the child was essentially being put on palliative care and, unless they could get this treatment, there were no other options for them.'

Morgan's Army donated to the fundraising page but Ms Ridler learned Blackwell had also been directly messaging her charity supporters asking them for money too

She said: 'This was not something I would have ever told anyone to do. It's not how I operate or run the charity.'

The mother became concerned when she learned Blackwell had asked other organisations for money but resisted help from them and when she investigated further, learned of the con.

She added: 'It transpired that some years ago, a child of the individual had suffered with cancer and was treated at Noah's Ark which was why they slipped through our initial checks.

'However, they had been in remission for some time with no active treatment, no terminal prognosis, and were in layman's terms 'all clear'.'

'Thankfully all funds released to the individual were frozen and recovered at the point of the fraudulent activity having come to light, causing no financial loss to the charity.

Cardiff Crown Court where Blackwell, of Cefn Glas, Bridgend, pleaded guilty to fraudulently receiving funds from Morgan's Army in an attempt to gain 4,000 for herself at Bridgend magistrates

'They had behaved abhorrently over a number of weeks, knowing they were lying and knowing they were taking advantage of me.

'They had essentially groomed me for two weeks while my heart was breaking for them.'

Blackwell, of Cefn Glas, Bridgend, pleaded guilty to fraudulently receiving funds from Morgan's Army in an attempt to gain 4,000 for herself at Bridgend magistrates.

Blackwell was handed a 10 month suspended sentence and given a four month curfew monitored by a tag when she was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court.

She must also complete 180 hours of unpaid work and pay 150 costs and a surcharge.

Morgan died of cancer on June 28 last year, days before his fourth birthday. He had been diagnosed with a rare and complex form of cancer in October 2021 at the age of two.

After sentencing, his mother said: 'This particular individual was a parent of a child in remission and it astounds me that someone who has been through it could do it to another cancer family.'
A woman tourist stabbed to death 'by her Tinder lover' on tropical island Mauritius had her tongue cut out 'so she could not call for help'.

A post mortem examination revealed university teacher Zaliya Shamigulova, 29, revealed multiple wounds to her chest.

But it was found that her tongue and throat had been cut from her mutilated body, which was found naked in a shallow grave.

Detained suspect Puryavirsingh Sundur, 29, an IT engineer from Mauritius, met the tourist via dating app Tinder, according to Russian reports.

He 'confessed' to her killing and explained how he had stabbed and mutilated the tourist, according to law enforcement sources.

Zaliya Shamigulova, 29, was stabbed to death while on holiday in Mauritius. Her badly mutilated naked body was recovered from a shallow grave

A post mortem revealed that Shamigulova's tongue had been cut out. Investigators believe that was to prevent her from screaming for help

Police have arrested 29-year-old Puryavirsingh Sundur on suspicion of Ms Shamigulova's murder

Ms Shamigulova was a torch bearer ahead of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi

Detectives were still seeking to find the missing body parts and also her clothing, said local media outlets.

Despite this a funeral ceremony was held for the tragic tourist before her body was to be returned to Russia.

Detectives suspect the killer had intended to cut up her body but in the event buried it in a makeshift grave on the island.

The suspect was reported to have led police to the grave in La Marie, a residential area.

He confessed to the killing after her blood was found in his car, and alleged that he had discovered she had been unfaithful to him.

She was last seen wearing a white and blue dress on video getting into a blue Toyota car.

It was the last time she was seen alive, and she was reported missing by a female travelling companion.

Her relatives in Russia received messages purportedly from her saying she had decided to disappear and not to contact her.

One report said the suspect 'went to take the Russian woman sightseeing on the island, but in a fit of jealous rage, he pulled out a knife and brutally killed his lover before stripping her and burying her body.'

The dead woman had recently posted that on her Mauritius holiday she was 'catching happiness every day.'

She had been a torch bearer ahead of the Winter Olympics in Sochi in 2014.

She was a university teacher from Chelyabinsk in the Urals.

She had been due to travel to Madagascar on September 1.

It is believed Ms Shamigulova, pictured onboard a fishing boat, met her alleged killer after being introduced on internet dating app Tinder
The first vertical satellite launch from European soil has been set back months following an engine explosion which engulfed the aircraft.

The aircraft's test launch at a SaxaVord Spaceport on the most northerly inhabited island in the UK went up in flames last Monday.

German spacecraft company Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), which built the engine, revealed that no one was injured during the incident.

However, the blazing blunder means launching in the coming weeks or months is 'no longer possible', according to the RFA.

The RFA One rocket was destroyed in its first stage, with a replacement needing to be brought from Germany.

The first vertical satellite launch from European soil has been delayed by months after an explosion engulfed the aircraft last Monday(Pictured)

A replacement for the rocket (Pictured prior to the explosion) will need to be brought from Germany

A RFA spokesman said: 'Unfortunately this has happened in that very important stage test and unfortunately this has taken out the entire stage.

'This comes at a really critical time, we wanted to launch within the next few weeks and months and this is unfortunately no longer possible.'

The shocking footage of the explosion shows flames extending horizontally from the base of the rocket, suggesting a problem with one of the engines.

A spokesperson has since confirmed the firm were able to determined the explosion was caused by a 'very unusual' oxygen fire in a turbopump.

An emergency stop and fire suppression systems were simply not enough to contain the fire, according to the spokesperson.

He also revealed that the remaining fuel and liquid oxygen on board the vehicle ignited.

'We actually ignited eight motors, unfortunately one of these motors has developed an anomaly,' he said

'We know now from the debris analysis that we have conducted that this anomaly was a very unusual one. It was most likely a fire in the oxygen pump.

'That's really difficult to contain, that spread on to neighbouring engines.'

He said that no 'major' parts of the launch site infrastructure were damaged in the explosion, and the RFA are confident their engine design is 'very sound'.

A spokesman for SaxaVord said: This was a test, and test campaigns are designed to identify issues prior to the next stage.

We will work with RFA to understand and learn from the causes and support them as they move forward to the next phase of their preparations.

RFA is not the only company that hopes to be the first to achieve an orbital satellite launch from the UK, though its plans are thought to be the most advanced.

Another German company, HyImpulse, also has plans to launch from SaxaVord, as well as the US-based ABL Space Systems.

The company has since confirmed the firm were able to determined the explosion was caused by a 'very unusual' oxygen fire in a turbopump

He also revealed that the remaining fuel and liquid oxygen on board the vehicle ignited

SaxaVord is the UKs newest spaceport based at Haroldswick on Unst, after it was given regulatory approval to launch rockets in December last year (Pictured: The Shetland launch pad)

A company called Orbex also wants to blast off into th_e sky from a different spaceport in Sutherland.

Professor Malcolm Macdonald of Strathclyde University, an expert in space technology, revealed failures on new rockets designs are not uncommon.

He said: 'Obviously things like this get quite high profile and get a lot of interest, but I think most people within the space sector would be expecting setbacks.

'We build the capability over a number of years, and launch is just a small part of the overall space sector.'

The failed test comes just three months after an initial test was deemed a success when RFA fired its rocket engines for eight seconds.

SaxaVord is the UKs newest spaceport based at Haroldswick on Unst, after it was given regulatory approval to launch rockets in December last year.

Earlier in 2023 the remains of what was believed could have been a Bronze Age ritual cremation cemetery were discovered during ground works for the site.
The devastated family of a tradie who suffered critical head injuries following a horror moped crash in Bali is preparing to turn his life support off.

Shane Ramsey, 30, had been visiting the Indonesian island for a wedding and was riding a moped in Seminyak on Sunday when he crashed into a roadside pole.

He was not wearing a helmet and does not have travel insurance, which would have only cost about $50 a week.

Mr Ramsey was rushed to hospital where he underwent brain surgery and has been in a coma ever since, wracking up huge hospital bills.

His family paid $70,000 for him to undergo emergency neurosurgery and secured a medical evacuation flight, believed to cost around $150,000.

Mr Ramsey landed in Perth shortly after 5pm on Thursday and was taken by ambulance to Royal Perth Hospitals intensive care unit.

In a tragic update on Saturday, Mr Ramsey's family will be forced to say their final goodbyes after being told the tradie will not regain brain function.

His mother, Catherine Ramsey, flew from Perth to be by her son's side immediately after the crash told 7News she feels 'numb'.

Shane Ramsey's family will prepare to turn his life support off (they are pictured in hospital)

Shane Ramsey, 30, had been visiting Bali for a close friend's wedding and was riding a moped in Seminyak on Sunday when he crashed into a roadside pole

However, Ms Ramsey says she takes comfort in knowing her son is an organ donor and will give the gift of life to other Australians.

She previously told Daily Mail Australia Mr Ramsey had suffered three bleeds on the brain - necessitating the surgery - and a fractured skull.

'He is stable at the moment but the actual extent of the damage to his brain is unknown at this stage,' she said.

'He's still in a coma and we won't know for a few days yet what the end result will be.

'All I know is it's extensive damage and we don't know if he will come out of the coma or if he will have lasting issues.

'We're holding on, we just feel numb at the moment.'

Mr Ramsey was on his way to watch a UFC fight with friends when the accident happened.

His mother earlier told Nine News she would sell their family home to pay for his medical bills if she had to.

'I just want to get him home, we're in a strange country,' she said.

Doctors remain unsure of the extent of the damage caused to his brain.

Mr Ramsey had plans to buy a property when he returned home.

The family of Perth carpenter, Shane Ramsey (pictured), have revealed the horrifying extent of his injuries after crashing his moped while on holiday in Bali

The young tradie has been in hospital since Sunday and his family say they don't know the full extent of his injuries

A GoFundMe was launched on Monday to help pay for Mr Ramsey's medical bills and the potential medical evacuation home.

More than $120,000 has been raised at time of publication.

Mr Ramsey had just completed a three year apprenticeship and was looking forward to the future ahead.

The carpenter's former boss also took to Facebook on Monday to raise awareness about the fundraiser.

He recalled bumping into his former apprentice a few weeks ago.

'You forget how f***ing fragile life can be (and) how quick everything can change,' he wrote.
Downing Street officials have drawn up plans for when 'chief mouser' Larry the Cat finally runs out of his nine lives.

Codenamed 'Larry Bridges', a nod to bridge operations for the death of prominent royals, preparations have been quietly put in place for when the 17-year-old passes away.

Larry has been the one constant resident at Number 10, amid the recent revolving door of prime ministers and chancellors.

In his time as 'chief mouser' Larry has seen six prime ministers come and go, from David Cameron to current occupant Sir Keir Starmer.

He arrived at the famous address after being taken in from Battersea Cats and Dogs Home back in 2011 as a pet for Mr Cameron's children.

Plans have been quietly made by Downing Street officials on how to announce the death of Larry the Cat when the sad moment arrives

Larry involved in a tussle with his former nemesis Chief Mouser Palmerston, the Foreign Office cat in 2016

Larry has seen six prime ministers during his time living behind the famous black door

But he has since outlasted the tenures of Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, before welcoming the current Labour government.

Officials have now ironed out details as to how to break the news to the nation when the sad moment arrives, the Times reported.

Queen Elizabeth II's funeral plans were codenamed Operation London Bridge, while the plans for the King's death are known as Operation Menai Bridge, after the eponymous strait in Wales.

Larry's official role is described as 'inspecting security defences and testing antique furniture for napping quality', as well as 'contemplating a solution to the mouse occupancy of the house'.

The tabby cat's record-breaking tenure as 'chief mouser' was confirmed when he beat Peter III, who lived at Downing Street from 1947 until 1964.

No stranger to the odd tussle, Larry has had testy relationships with other Government cats - including a long-standing four-year feud with his former nemesis, the Foreign Office's Chief Mouser Palmerston, who retired from his post in 2019.

Police also had to break up a fight between Larry and then chancellor George Osborne's cat Freya.

Not shy with his attitude towards politicians, the famous feline also gave short-lived prime minister Liz Truss the cold shoulder while the former leader was introducing him to her Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy strokes Larry as he arrives at Number 10 for a cabinet meeting on August 6

Larry looks out of the window from inside 10 Downing Street following the results of the July general election

Since Sir Keir entered the black door, Larry has been joined by the Labour leader's rescue cat JoJo.

The Prime Minister has spoken of his fondness for JoJo, who his family got from a rescue centre, even joking that the cat 'is treated with far more respect in our household than I am'.

He said: 'When I walk through the door I have to put the baggage of being leader of the Labour Party down, I'm Dad and I'm fair game for the kids to ridicule me, laugh at me.

'But JoJo, on the other hand, if JoJo wants food, or a seat on the settee, or to sit on the kid's bed he's got pride of place.'

Responding online to speculation about his funeral plans, Larry's parody account, which has over 800,000 followers, suggested he would like to be stuffed and placed above a fireplace at No 10 as a reminder to future PMs not to 'do anything stupid'.

A post on the spoof @Number10cat profile said: 'Plans are being made for how to announce my passing when that sad day comes.

'My wish is to be stuffed and placed above a fireplace in Downing Street as a constant reminder that the inhabitants shouldn't do anything stupid.'
A masked 'blade runner' vigilante was filmed axing a ULEZ camera to the ground in the latest attack on Sadiq Khan's controversial scheme.

The man, thought to be part of a group known asas 'Blade Runners', opted for his own version of justice in footage that emerged online on August.

The shocking footage shows the suspect on Waterloo Road in Uxbridge confidently stroll up to the camera with his electric saw.

Before the man dressed in all black begins hacking his way through pole, another individual filming can be heard saying: 'ULEZ about to be on the deck.'

After the metal pole crashes to the ground, the thug goes in for round two slicing away beneath the camera.

The man then flees the scene carrying the camera away while waving his saw in the air in victory.

A disgruntled masked vigilante hacked away at ULEZ camera armed with an electric saw (Pictured)

As the masked man hacks away at the pole, he goes in for a second round removing the camera (Pictured)

It comes as a spate of ULEZ camera attacks have occurred in recent months as the group protests against the 12.50 charge for Londoners who take their cars to certain parts of the city.

Members of the public have voiced their opinions on the controversial ULEZ cameras, on the most recent incident.

One said: 'The London rate payers are footing the bill for this. You are not a hero but a criminal hurting everyone. If you have an issue talk to your MP, Councillor or vote.'

'Vandalising public property in 2024,' a second quipped.

Another added: 'Excellent work by that bladerunner.'

Whilst a fourth chimed in: 'Great work lads.'

However one person bemoaned: 'London council tax payers are going to love this, just going to go on their council tax bill next year. Bit of an own goal really.'

A Metropolitan spokesperson said: 'Police were called at 18:00hrs on Thursday, 22 August to report social media footage of traffic lights and a ULEZ camera being damaged.

'The incident is believed to have taken place around 17:20hrs that day in Packet Boat Lane, Uxbridge.'

Enquiries are ongoing. No arrests have been made at this stage.

This comes shortly after a member of the infamous blade runners gang vowed to coninue destroying Sadiq Khan's hated ULEZ cameras last October.

In an interview with Talk TV, the masked maverick - who used Ben as a fake name - claimed to have wrecked 150 of the traffic cameras since they were expanded across the capital's boroughs on August 29.

Ben, wearing a balaclava and hood, is seen in the footage using an angle-grinder to cut down a Ulez camera mounted on a traffic light in just four seconds.

The father-of-three, aged in his forties, said he goes out in the dead of night several days a week flouting the law to carry out what he calls 'unpaid voluntary work'.

Speaking to TalkTV, Ben claimed he's behind a near total blackout of enforcement cameras in the Bromley area, one of the Greater London boroughs where the scheme has been extended.

Believed to have occurred in West London, the man celebrated waving the camera in victory

The incident was in retaliation to Sadiq Khan's ULEZ scheme which sees Londoners charged 12.50 for driving to certain parts of the city

Ben insisted support among the public was widespread with many hailing them as heroes, saying, 'We are the voice of the people. You experienced the cheers against ULEZ right there and then you can see we are reflecting the voice of the public.'

Ben - who has been a member of the group for several months, and said membership is growing: 'It started off as a small group of people and it has gradually grown.

'Since the expansion went live on August 29, numbers have increased significantly. We're like a pack of lone wolves. We sometimes work together, we work in isolation, and we all have this common goal.'

Ben said mayor Sadiq Khan is targeting the most vulnerable people at the worst possible time as they struggle through a cost of living crisis.

He explains: 'The members of society that have less disposable income are hit the hardest because if they can't afford to change their vehicle, they'll be subject to that daily charge no matter what.

He claimed the ULEZ network has been installed to 'catch everyone out'.
A man who masqueraded as a doctor for a decade faces 10 years in jail for allegedly performing botched plastic surgery without a license.

Cristian Adrian Perez Latorre, 53, fooled patients, celebrities, and news outlets for years as he ran his surgery in Los Angeles.

But his ruse collapsed on Thursday when he was arrested and accused of 'inflicting great bodily injury' on a woman during three surgeries in 2021.

Latorre claimed on his social media accounts to be a board certified plastic surgeon in Argentina and a 'registered nurse first assistant and facial specialist' in the US.

Whether he was certified in Argentina but lacked the required US registration, or was entirely unqualified, is unclear.

Cristian Adrian Perez Latorre, 53, fooled patients, celebrities, and news outlets for years as he ran his surgery in Los Angeles

His ruse collapsed on Thursday when he was arrested and accused of 'inflicting great bodily injury' on a woman during three surgeries in 2021

Latorre claimed on his social media accounts to be a board certified plastic surgeon in Argentina and a 'registered nurse first assistant and facial specialist' in the US

Latorre appeared from his social media activity to have been living in LA for at least the past decade, and wrote in one post that he was originally from Barcelona.

Bizarre photo shoots with models promoted his services, showing him mock bandaging them, or the women lying next to him with surgery outlines marked.

He posed with celebrities including the infamous 'Human Ken Doll' Jessica Alves, who had more than 100 plastic surgeries to look like the Barbie character, and later had more to become a transgender woman.

Even major TV stations believed he was legitimate, including CNN, which interviewed him for its Espanol edition in June 2014.

Latorre was extensively interviewed on Spanish-language TV last year about the illness and subsequent death of Argentinian actress Silvina Luna.

Luna died on August 31 last year from a kidney illness related to a botched Brazilian butt lift she got in 2011 from disgraced surgeon Anibal Lotocki.

Latorre appeared from his social media activity to have been living in LA for at least the past decade, and wrote in one post that he was originally from Barcelona

Latorre poses with actor Mickey Rourke

Bizarre photoshoots with models promoted his services, showing the women lying next to him with surgery outlines marked

Other promotional photos showed him mock bandaging models after 'surgery'

He injected Luna with a liquid that contained polymethylmethacrylate, which is banned by Argentina's National Administration of Drugs, Food and Medical Technology.

The substance is a transparent and rigid plastic which manufacturers utilize as a substitute for glass in vehicle parts, lenses, panels and windows.

Luna required medical attention in 2015 when she was treated for kidney stones. Doctors diagnosed her with renal insufficiency and hypercalcemia, and was placed on weekly dialysis treatments until she could get a kidney transplant.

Latorre operated on her in 2016 to remove the dangerous substance from her buttocks after she met with him in Miami, though it was not clear where the surgery was performed.

Luna appeared alongside Latorre in an interview with Todas las Tardes just weeks before her death.

During another interview with Telefe Noticias, he claimed Lotocki 'poisoned' Luna with his procedure, and gave her a 'death sentence'.

'These autoimmune diseases caused by liquid silicone can be more complicated than cancer, because sometimes you can remove the cancer, but once it enters the bloodstream it can no longer be eradicated. You have killed the patient,' he said.

Latorre operated on Silvina Luna, who appeared alongside Latorre in this interview with Todas las Tardes just weeks before her death

Luna died on August 31 last year from a kidney illness related to a botched Brazilian butt lift she got in 2011 from disgraced surgeon Anibal Lotocki

Silvina Luna poses backstage in the press room at the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards Latin America at the Jackie Gleason Theater in Miami

Latorre was extensively interviewed last year about Luna's illness and death on Spanish-language TV as he operated on her in 2016 to remove the dangerous substance from her buttocks

A year later, he is behind bars charged with six counts of practicing medicine without a certification, and one each of assault with a deadly weapon and battery with serious injury.

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon said Latorre faced a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison.

Latorre allegedly performed the surgery on the woman on July 13, 2021, then treated her for infections related to the procedure on July 23, and again on August 13 for additional complications.

'When an individual masquerades as a doctor and performs medical procedures without a license, it not only endangers lives but also erodes the essential trust between patients and legitimate healthcare providers,' Gascon said.

Latorre posed with celebrities including the infamous 'Human Ken Doll' Jessica Alves (far right), who had more than 100 plastic surgeries to look like the Barbie character, and later had more to become a transgender woman

Latorre is behind bars charged with six counts of practicing medicine without a certification, and one each of assault with a deadly weapon and battery with serious injury

Even major TV stations believed he was legitimate, including CNN, which interviewed him for its Espanol edition in June 2014

'This act of deception threatens the integrity of our healthcare system and the confidence that the community has in those dedicated to their well-being.

'We are committed to seeking justice for the victim, holding Mr. Latorre accountable and restoring the trust that has been so grievously violated.'

The case was investigated by the California Department of Consumer Affairs, whose division of investigation chief Kathleen Nicholls said there was no excuse for Latorre's alleged behavior.

'Anyone who violates the law and endangers the health of others must face the consequences of dangerous and selfish actions,' she said.

'We are grateful for our law enforcement partners and investigators who worked tirelessly on this case.'

Latorre allegedly performed the surgery on the woman on July 13, 2021, then treated her for infections related to the procedure on July 23, and again on August 13 for additional complications
August 23, 2024: For nearly a year NATO nations have been training Ukrainian pilots to operate the American-made F-16 jet fighters. Most of the Russian-made MiG and Sukhoi aircraft Ukraine had in before the invasion are gone. Some east European NATO members that were controlled by Russia during the 1949-91 Cold War still had some retired Russian aircraft and gave these to Ukraine. What Ukraine wanted was F-16s, the most widely used jet fighter in the world since the Cold War ended. Now Ukraine has received the first of over a hundred F-16s and is using them against Russias declining air power. Economic sanctions have made it difficult and sometimes impossible for Russia to build more of some types of aircraft. A lot of F-16s are available in Europe and America because the F-35 is in full production and rapidly replacing the 1970s era F-16s.

The F-16 first flew fifty years ago, and the Americans didnt realize how many F-16 fans were pilots in the Ukrainian Air Force. A growing number of Ukrainian pilots have been trained to operate F-16s and deliveries to Ukraine began in the last few months.

F-16s have been the worlds most popular post-Cold War combat aircraft. Communist governments and the Soviet Union collapsed by 1991 and eastern European nations, recently under communist rule, wanted to join NATO so the Russians, Communist or not, would be less likely to return. During the last three decades these former Communist-controlled nations joined NATO and have been replacing their Russian weapons with Western models.

The Ukraine War that began in early 2022 was often a desperate battle for Ukrainians. Nevertheless, Russia suffered heavier casualties and huge weapons losses. Aircraft losses were also heavy, with over 600 manned and unmanned aircraft lost by both sides. Currently Russia has about a thousand fighters and strike aircraft. Russia is a large country and most of these aircraft are stationed in distant areas of Russia with about a third of the aircraft concentrated against Ukraine. Russia started this war with a larger air force than Ukraine had. Russia has an aircraft production industry. While crippled by sanctions, Russia can still build a few new warplanes each year but can repair and refurbish even more of them. Currently Russia is running out of damaged aircraft to refurbish. Most Russian aircraft losses now are total. Thats because Ukrainian air defenses and pilots are getting better while Russia is running out of spare parts for its remaining aircraft.

Ukraine depends on its NATO allies for replacement aircraft. Eastern European NATO nations once used Russian warplanes and have finished replacing them with Western models like the F-16. These NATO nations have already donated dozens of their older Russian warplanes to Ukraine. This is done as they receive newer Western aircraft, mainly F-16s.

Ukraine noted this and asked for preference to receive F-16s and convinced the Americans that they could quickly adapt to them. Ukrainian MiG and Sukhoi pilots demonstrated that they could quickly adapt to F-16s.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has lots of experience with MiG-29s and Su-27s and uses them extensively. Some have been modified to handle Western anti-radar missiles as well as GPS guided bombs. While the Ukrainians have made good use of their MiGs and Su-27s, they always wanted Western aircraft, especially F-16s.

The F-16 and MiG-29 are both considered 4th generation, 1970s aircraft. The 5th generation, so far, consists of the American F-22 and F-35 as well as Chinas J-20. Each generation has been about twice as expensive, on average, in constant dollars, as the previous one. But each generation is also about twice as safe to fly and cheaper to operate. Naturally, each generation is more than twice as effective as the previous one. The Russians had a hard time developing their 5th generation, although some of the derivatives of their Su-27 are at least generation 4.5. Other nations did the same and it wasnt until the 2020s that there were three different fifth-gen fighters purportedly in service. There were several decades between fourth and fifth generation aircraft, which is partly due to the end of the Cold War in 1991 and China not becoming a major military power until two decades later.

The MiG-29 dates from the 1980s and was the last aircraft designed by the now defunct MiG company. Rival Sukhoi later introduced two new aircraft, the Su-24 and Su-35. Both performed poorly in combat over Ukraine.

The MiG-29 entered service in 1983. Some 1,600 MiG-29s have been produced so far, with about 900 of them exported. The 22-ton aircraft is roughly comparable to the F-16, but it depends a lot on which version of either aircraft you are talking about. Russia is making a lot of money upgrading MiG-29s. Not just adding new electronics but also making the airframe more robust.

The MiG-29 was originally rated at 2,500 total flight hours. At that time, Russia expected MiG-29s to fly about a hundred or so hours a year. Didnt work out that way. India, for example, flew them at nearly twice that rate, as did Malaysia. Eventually Russia offered an upgrade to the airframe so that the aircraft could fly up to 4,000 hours, with more life extension upgrades promised. This has not been easy, as the MiG-29 has a history of unreliability and premature breakdowns, both mechanical and electronic, which indicates a flawed design.

Western warplanes are built to last longer. The F-16C was originally designed for a service life of 4,000 hours in the air. Advances in engineering, materials, and maintenance techniques extended that to over 8,000 hours. Because of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, F-16s sent to these areas flew over a thousand hours a year more than what they would fly in peacetime. That led to a refurbishment program to extend F-16C flight hours to 10,000 or more.

The U.S. Air Force had to refurbish several hundred of its 22-ton F-16 fighters, because their replacement, the 31-ton F-35, did not arrive on time. Most existing F-16s are old, and by 2016, many were too old to operate. Back then the average age of F-16s was over 20 years, and the average aircraft has over 5,000 flight hours on it. In 2009 the first Block 40 F-16 passed 7,000 hours. In 2008 the first of the earliest models, Block 25 F-16s, passed 7,000 hours. While older F-16s are being retired for their age, they tend to have at least twice as many flight hours as their Russian counterparts. Because of greater durability and ease of maintenance, the seemingly more expensive Western fighters are actually cheaper over the lifetime of an aircraft because they last longer and are easier to maintain than equivalent Russian designs.

New East European users of the F-16 purchased spares, maintenance equipment, training, aircraft accessories, like look and shoot helmets plus tech support and assistance in setting up maintenance and support facilities. These can be used for other aircraft types and are a good investment. The sale includes air-to-air missiles and smart bombs as well.

The F-16V was introduced in 2012 as the last model of the F-16. Production of the F-16 did not end as planned in late 2016 because possible further sales of the F-16V unexpectedly appeared. Additionally it became possible to upgrade some or all of the older F-16s to the Block 7o standard. These Block 7o upgrades are not always possible, or practical, for the oldest models of the F-16. These upgrades include replacing many structural elements as well as installing more powerful engines and the most modern electronics and fire control systems available.

Although production of the F-16 ceased temporarily, its manufacturer Lockheed Martin (LockMart), continues to do upgrades and refurbishments, and produce new F-16Vs due to buyer demand.

The changes in the V model are considerable. The airframe is upgraded and strengthened to enable 12,000 flight hours per aircraft. The electronics undergo an even more extensive upgrade which involves replacing the mechanical radar with an AESA phased array radar, an upgraded cockpit, a Sniper targeting pod, a Link 16 digital data link and upgraded navigation gear. The newly redesigned cockpit is all digital and flat screen touch displays that replace dozens of gauges and switches and make it much easier to fly. AESA and the new fire control system make it possible to track multiple aircraft at once as well as track vehicles on land or vessels at sea. The targeting pod enables the pilot to confirm visually what is on the surface and promptly attack it with smart bombs or missiles. LockMart initially expected to get orders for at least 700 newly built F-16V or less expensive upgrades. An upgrade brings in as little as $10 million per aircraft while five or ten of these upgrades equals the price of one new F-16V. But when you have orders for hundreds of F-16V upgrades you have a lot of F-16 work.

The F-16 thus follows the path of previous best selling fighters. During the 1947-1991 Cold War Russia built over 10,000 MiG-21s and the U.S over 5,000 F-4s. After 1991 warplane manufacturing plummeted about 90 percent. However, the F-16 has been popular enough to keep the production lines going strong into the 2020s. The U.S. still has about 1,200 F-16s in service, with about half with reserve units. F-16s built so far went to 27 countries before Ukraine requested them. America has hundreds in storage, available for sale on the used airplane market. The end of the Cold War led to a sharp cut in U.S. Air Force fighter squadrons. Moreover, the new F-35 is on its way to replacing all U.S. F-16s by the late 2020s. The U.S. has plenty of little-used F-16s sitting around, while many allies need low cost jet fighters. Many current F-16 users planned to replace the F-16 with the F-35 but that aircraft costs more than twice as much as a new F-16V so air forces are seeking to operate a mixed force of F-35s and late model F-16s. A current example of this is Poland, which has sent its older MiG-29s to Ukraine. These have a few good years left, which is all Ukraine needs.

Since the 1990s most F-16s produced were for export and some cost as much as $70 million each, like the F-16I for Israel. Some nations, like South Korea, built over a hundred F-16s under license. The 16 ton F-16 also has an admirable combat record and is very popular with pilots. It has been successful at ground support as well. When equipped with 4-6 smart bombs, it is an effective bomber. Since first entering service some 4,600 F-16s have flown over 12 million hours. Despite fears that a single engine fighter would be less safe, F-16s have, in the 21st century, suffered an accident rate (loss or major damage) of 2.4 per 100,000 flight hours. The U.S. also sent Ukraine a lot of the most effective guided missiles and bombs used by F-16s.

The most successful F-16 user is Israel which set a number of combat records with its F-16s. Israel plans to keep some of its late model F-16s flying until 2030 as it retires the oldest ones. At the end of 2016, Israel retired the last of its 125 F-16A fighters. The first 70 were acquired in 1980 and 1981 and included 8 two-seater F-16B trainers. One of the F-16As achieved a record by being the single F-16 with the most air-to-air kills, 6.5, all achieved in 1982 using three different pilots. Israel received 50 used F-16As in 1994 including 14 B models and used these mainly as trainers.

The Ukrainians are well aware of the F-16s track record, especially when compared to the MiG-29. Thats why Ukraine keeps asking for more F-16s.
A Massachusetts judge ruled that Karen Read will be retried for allegedly killing her cop boyfriend with her SUV, quashing her attempts to have the case thrown out.

Days after the case ended in a mistrial on July 1, Read's lawyers claimed a number of jurors said they planned to acquit her of second-degree murder and fleeing the crime scene.

They further claimed these jurors were only deadlocked on the manslaughter charge, but Norfolk County Judge Beverly Cannone rejected this.

'Because there was no open and public verdict affirmed in open court rendered in this case, the defendant was not acquitted of any of the charges,' Cannone's decision read. 'The only unanimous act of the jury here was their representation to the court that they were "at an impasse" and unable to agree.'

David Traub, a spokesman with the Norfolk County District Attorneys Office, told the New York Post that her retrial for the murder of John O'Keefe is expected to kick off on January 27.

Karen Read, 44, is scheduled to be retried for the murder of Boston police officer John O'Keefe on January 27 after her prosecutors' first go at her ended in a mistrial

Judge Beverly Cannone rejected arguments from Read's lawyers to toss out her second-degree murder charge, stating that the former college professor was not acquitted

Cannone added that Read's attorneys didn't initially raise any concerns about the mistrial being declared and said they had multiple opportunities to do so while the jurors were submitting notes indicating their disagreement with one another.

Prosecutors accused Read, 44, of running over John O'Keefe during a January 2022 snowstorm in a bid to escape their toxic relationship.

On the evening of O'Keefe's death, he and Read had been drinking with a group of friends at the Waterfall Bar and Grill in Canton, around 14 miles south of Boston, and were invited to his friend Brian Albert's home for an afterparty.

Read, who prosecutors say drank several alcoholic drinks beforehand, decided to drop her boyfriend at the afterparty before she went to his home - that O'Keefe shared with his orphaned niece and nephew - to sleep at around 1 am.

Court documents revealed that the couple had been bitterly arguing for weeks beforehand, and on the night O'Keefe died, Read left him a voicemail calling him a 'f****** loser', and telling him: 'John, I f****** hate you.'

John O'Keefe, 46, was found dead 6am on January 29, 2022, outside a house where Read dropped him off for an afterparty about 12.45am

Read and O'Keefe had been out drinking on the night of his death, before she drove him to an afterparty while she went home to sleep. He was found dead on the lawn of the afterparty's home hours later

The couple had been dating for two years at the time of O'Keefe's death. He had been serving on the Boston Police Department for 16 years.

According to Read's version of events, she woke up at 4am to find that O'Keefe never returned home, leading her to frantically drive out to try and find him.

After finding O'Keefe's body outside Albert's home, which party attendees claimed he never entered, first responders on the scene alleged that Read repeatedly told them she hit him while in a panicked state.

Vehicle data also found that Read reversed her SUV for 62 feet at 24mph near to Albert's home. O'Keefe's cause of death was listed as blunt force trauma and hypothermia, with pieces of Read's taillight found around his body, prosecutors said.

Read, a financial analyst and former professor at Bentley College, has been described as America's 'happiest murder defendant' because of how often she would smile and even wink at cameras during her trial.

As her trial began, Read received a slew of support from true crime fans and locals who camped outside the courthouse with signs reading 'Free Karen Read'

Amid intense media scrutiny and large demonstrations that surrounded her hearings, public opinion on Read's innocence was split - with some calling to 'free her' and others accusing her of being a villainous murderer

Amid intense media scrutiny and large demonstrations that surrounded her hearings, public opinion on Read's innocence was split - with some calling to 'free her' and others accusing her of being a villainous murderer.

Just two weeks after the mistrial was declared, Read decided to list her 2,000 square foot colonial style home in Mansfield for $849,900.

Her realtor revealed that she hadn't been living in Mansfield since last year and 'wishes for another family to enjoy the property she spent many years enhancing.'

Read has maintained her innocence from the start, claiming she was framed by police and people who attended the party on the night of O'Keefe's death.
Northern Territory Chief Minister Eva Lawler has concede defeat for Labor and in her own seat of Drysdale after massive surprise swings to the Country Liberal Party in the Top End.

Fighting back tears, Ms Lawler told the party faithful shortly after 9pm on Saturday that after a 'tough, hard fight in this campaign... unfortunately, we haven't gotten across the line tonight'.

'It has been an absolute privilege to be chief minister of the Northern Territory. It's also been an absolute privilege to be the member for Drysdale,' Ms Lawler said.

'Tonight is a tough night for Labor, a truly tough night for Labor. It wasn't the result that we wanted to see. But I think some of those votes, some of those decisions, were made a long time ago.

'I know Territorians wanted change. We've heard that loudly and clearly... I do believe that we leave the Northern Territory in a much better position than previously.'

Ms Lawler said she had congratulated opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro and that Labor would not 'run down the Northern Territory' in opposition, and would be constructive'.

Taking over from Natasha Fyles, Ms Lawler was seeking to extend Labor's eight year hold over the top end, with 25 seats up for grabs when counting official kicked off at 6pm.

But, shortly after 8pm, ABC Chief Elections Analyst Antony Green called the election for the CLP shortly after 8pm with a 13.7 per cent swing to the party.

Northern Territory Chief Minister Eva Lawler (pictured) has concede defeat for Labor

NT Country Liberal Party Leader Lia Finocchiaro is seen celebrating her win on Saturday night

An hour later, the tally sat at 15 seats for the CLP.

Former chief minister Natasha Fyles told the ABC the result so far, with CLP sitting at 10 seats and Labor at four shortly after 8.30pm according to the ABC, as 'extremely disappointing'.

It comes after former NT Chief Minister Natasha Fyles has admitted allowing alcohol restrictions in remote Aboriginal communities to lapse was a mistake.

Ms Lawler has been critical of her predecessor's decision to let restrictions on alcohol to lapse in mid-2022, legalising booze in dozens of Aboriginal communities for the first time in 15 years.

Asked whether the move was a mistake by the ABC on election night, Ms Fyles said 'the short answer is yes', before adding that 'hindsight is a wonderful thing' and that alcohol was 'legal product'.

NT Country Liberal Party Leader Lia Finocchiaro, 39, is pictured

'We know the harm that it causes, but at the same time allowing people that choice to opt out of being a community that could have alcohol, as opposed to making communities dry and then they have to go through a process that allows them to have alcohol... So it's incredibly complex,' Ms Fyles told the ABC.

'We know that alcohol mandatory treatment doesn't work. It's hugely expensive. But, these are policies the CLP have said they'll scrap, which health professionals around the world have applauded here in the territory.'

Despite criticism, Ms Fyles defended her successor as the first votes started to be tallied, stating that 'she certainly hasn't held back' and was respected for her work before the election.

As of about 8pm, Ms Fyles was already discussing the prospect of Labor taken 'second or third place' as CLP took a significant early lead with six seats as opposed to Labor's two, according to the ABC.

Both Labor and the Country Liberal Party have campaigned on a platform of being tough on crime, with stubbornly high crime rates and disadvantage, and curfews in Alice Springs centre stage.

The week before the election, Ms Lawler said Labor would deliver a 'common sense plan to lower crime' and improve community safety, including a $570million boost to NT Police.

Political rivals Ms Lawler and Ms Finochhaiaro are seen before a final debate on Tuesday

Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro told SkyNews live debate earlier this week that the CLP's plan for crime was instead to strengthen bail laws and lower the age of criminal responsibility.

The NT's struggling economy, high costs of living and stagnant population growth are also seen as being in the CLP's firing line, as it tries to show a change is needed after eight years of Labor.

The election has also thrown open the door to a number of independents, including self-proclaimed laksa queen Amye Un who claimed 'Labor had to go ... Only Amye Un can clean up'.

The NT as made headlines in recent years due to high crime rates, including the imposition of night-time curfews in NT, including after two off-duty police were allegedly attacked in July.

The election also comes ahead of a contested race in Queensland later this year where Labor will again defence its record, as well as a looming federal election due to be called next year.
A Wyoming city has been left rattled after carefully arranged animal carcasses have been repeatedly found at the same intersection.

Cheyenne Animal Control has been called to the South Greeley Highway and East Nation Road intersection at least six times in the last four months to deal with dead animals that have been deliberately arranged next to the remote roadside, the Laramie County Sheriffs Office said in a Facebook post.

'One incident involved two raccoons and a skunk, found neatly arranged side by side,' it wrote. 'This is a pattern that has caught the attention of both Cheyenne Animal Control and local residents.'

It is illegal in the state to 'deposit or place dead animals into rivers, ditches, railroad right-of-ways, highways, or [on] public grounds,' according to police.

This isn't the first time the Laramie County Sheriff's Office has noticed the unusual sighting as they saw additional reports back in 2022 at that location.

Cheyenne Animal Control has been called to the South Greeley Highway and East Nation Road intersection at least six times in the last four months to deal with dead animals that have been deliberately arranged next to the remote roadside

Animal Control Officer Johnny Kindsvater (pictured) said it doesn't appear the animals had been hit by a car or were killed by other animals

However, this year, there 'definitely seems to be a pattern to it,' Animal Control Officer Johnny Kindsvater told Cowboy State Daily.

'Its certainly concerning,' he said.

At first, officers were just picking up the carcasses without a thought, but now they're curious as to why these animals died and they're being placed at the specific location, which is rather remote with only a concrete business nearby.

Animal Control does plan to investigate, although it does not have the resources to autopsy every animal found.

They face further challenges as there are not a lot of cameras nearby and it's in an isolated part of Cheyenne. In addition, they believe the animals are being dumped at night, Kindsvater told Cowboy State Daily.

It is illegal in the state to 'deposit or place dead animals into rivers, ditches, railroad right-of-ways, highways, or [on] public grounds,' according to police (pictured: stock image)

The animals started appearing in April this year and at some point, they were called out two days in a row

'It's certainly bizarre,' Kindsvater said.

The animals started appearing in April this year and at some point, they were called out two days in a row.

Kindsvater told Your Wyoming Link that it doesn't appear the animals had been hit by a car or were killed by other animals.

'They don't appear to have lacerations or any other crazy signs of trauma,' he told the outlet.

Law enforcement is now encouraging Cheyenne residents to report any 'suspicious activity in the area' to police or animal control.
The man suspected of attacking a synagogue in France today has been pictured after he was caught on CCTV wearing a Palestinian flag and carrying two bottles of liquid as he fled the scene.

The explosion and fire at the synagogue is being treated as terrorism, as a community leader denounced the incident as an 'attempt to kill Jews'.

Two cars were set ablaze following the explosion next to the Jewish place of worship.

Firefighters, police, and the Gendermerie arrived at the scene near Beth Yaacov synagogue in La Grande-Motte at around 8.40am local time on Saturday morning.

Emergency services discovered two doors as well as two cars set alight, with a policeman injured after being hurled to the ground by the explosion.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said the attack at the southern seaside resort close to Montpellier, was being dealt with by specialist anti-terrorist prosecutors.

The man suspected of attacking a synagogue in France today has been pictured after he was caught on CCTV wearing a Palestinian flag and carrying two bottles of liquid as he fled the scene

Two cars were set alight near a a synagogue in France today is being treated as terrorism (Pictured: The blaze near the synagogue)

Firefighters, police, and the Gendermerie arrived at the scene near Beth Yaacov synagogue in La Grande-Motteat around 8.40am local time today (Pictured: Smoke rising into the air)

France's Minister of Interior, Gerald Darmanin (Pictured) described the incident as a clear criminal attack

'Police are currently looking for suspects, and reporting to anti-terrorist prosecutors' said Mr Darmanin.

He also confirmed that the police officer involved was badly injured in the blast near the town's synagogue.

Mr Darmanin called for the 'immediate reinforced protection' of all Jewish places of worship in France.

Yonathan Arfi, the president of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France (CRIF) meanwhile described the incident as 'an attempt to kill Jews'.

He claims a gas cylinder was detonated 'in front of the synagogue of La Grande-Motte at the expected time of arrival of worshippers'.

Regarding the attack, investigating source revealed: The alarm was raised at around 8.30am.

There was at least one violent explosion, and flames touched the door of the synagogue.

A gas bottle was clearly stored in one of two cars parked directly outside the synagogue, and thats what caused the explosion.

A policeman who attempted to secure the area was badly injured and rushed to hospital.

According to The Mirror, CCTV footage captured someone fleeing the scene before the inferno began. A gas bottle was later discovered inside one of the burnt out vehicles.

Yonathan Arfi, the president of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France (CRIF) described it 'an attempt to kill Jews'

Law enforcement officers and firefighters stand in front of the synagogue building following the fire and explosion in La Grande-Motte

Firefighters attended the scene, and by 10am the fire had been brought under control, with no further injuries (Pictured: law enforcement at the scene)

A Gendarmerie officer stands guard after cars were set on fire in front of the city's synagogue,

By 10am firefighters had brought the blaze under control, with no further injuries reported.

It comes as tensions have risen in France, along with anti-Semitic incidents in recent months, due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East.

The French government has regularly denounced an increase in anti-Semitic acts while Israel prosecutes its attacks on Gaza and the West Bank, in occupied Palestine.

More than 40,000 Palestinians, including thousands of women and children, have been killed, and many more wounded, since the October 7 Hamas assault on Israel.

Hamas gunmen went across the Israeli border and killed 1,200 people on October 7, among the victims were children, the elderly as well as 364 attendees at Nova music festival.

A United Nations report published earlier this year said that 'sexualised torture' such as rapes and gang-rapes had been carried out by Hamas thugs amid the atrocities which saw over a thousand people killed and 250 taken hostage.

Anti-Semitic acts have almost tripled since the beginning of the conflict, with '887 incidents' recorded during the first half of this year, according Mr. Darmanin.

France has the largest Jewish community in Europe, made up of around 500,000 people.

Gerald Darmanin, Frances Interior Ministry, said the incident earlier today was a clear criminal attack.

He wrote on Twitter X: I want to assure our Jewish fellow citizens and the community of my full support and say that at the request of the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, all means are being mobilized to find the perpetrator..

A policeman injured after being hurled to the ground by the explosion outside the synagogue

The most recent indicent comes as tensions have risen in France, along with anti-Semitic incidents in recent months, due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East (Pictured: authorities at the scene in France)

Armed officers outside the blaze which was believed to have been caused by a gas bottle was stored in one of two cars parked directly outside the synagogue

Law enforcement officers sit inside a black transit van in front of a synagogue

Both Darmanin and Prime Minister Gabriel Attal are to travel to the site of the explosion later, according to AFP.

Hussein Bourgi, a Socialist Senator in the Herault department, where La Grande-Motte is situated, said: I would like to express my full solidarity with the Jewish community of La Grande Motte as well as its president, Sabine Atlan.

In May, an Algerian immigrant who was in France illegally was shot dead by police after throwing a Molotov Cocktail through a synagogue window.

The 29-year-old, who was armed with a knife, was hit four times by an officer who discharged his service revolver outside the building in Rouen, Normandy.

A judicial enquiry was opened into arson with an anti-religious motivation and intentional violence against persons holding public office, and is ongoing.

This comes shortly after a Holocaust memorial in Paris was defaced with red hands in an apparent reference to the rising civilian death toll in Gaza and the West Bank.
Prosecutors investigating how the 30million superyacht Bayesian came to sink off the coast of Sicily say they have as-yet-unanswered questions for the crew who escaped the sinking ship as seven others died.

Six passengers - including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his daughter Hannah - died alongside one member of the crew when the British-flagged pleasure yacht capsized and came to rest on its side 50 metres below in the early hours of Monday.

A press conference held earlier today after search efforts concluded raised more questions than answers as investigators admitted they were still piecing together how exactly the ship came to sink - and why so many passengers died.

Italian prosecutors have admitted they did not conduct alcohol and drug testing on the vessel's crew - all but one of whom survived - because they needed treatment and were in shock. They have vowed to question the sailors intensively.

A weather phenomenon known as a downburst - a violent downward explosion of wind that then expands outwards as it hits the ground, often produced in thunderstorms and mistaken for tornadoes - is now believed to have played a part.

But the coastguard says no tornado warning had been issued that night, contrary to previous reports, and the ships' captain James Cutfield reportedly told Italian newspaper La Repubblica of the sudden weather change: 'We didn't see it coming.'

It comes as:

Hannah Lynch, the 18-year-old daughter of tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, was found dead in her own cabin 50 metres below the surface of the Mediterranean

A handout photo made available on August 19 by Perini Navi Press Office shows the 'Bayesian' sailing boat, in Palermo, Sicily, Italy

Rear Admiral Raffaele Macauda is keen for the shipwreck to be retrieved as soon as possible to aid the investigation

Hannah Lynch pictured with her father Mike, who had just been acquitted of fraud charges in the US and was celebrating on board the Bayesian yacht when they both died

Prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio (centre) confirmed a case of 'manslaughter' had been hypothesised following initial investigations into the sinking on Monday August 19

Rescue workers gearing up to begin searching for those who died on the Bayesian. Coastguard chiefs said today they had initially began with a hope of finding survivors

The prosecutor taking direct charge of the case, Raffaele Cammarano (pictured), said the survivors were being questioned but had not been tested for drugs and alcohol

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Public prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio said he thought it was 'probable that offences were committed' surrounding the sinking of the yacht. He has opened a case of shipwreck and manslaughter that, at present, is not directed at any individuals.

According to a live translation provided by the BBC, he told reporters that the sinking could have been the responsibility of the captain, crew, individuals in charge of supervision, the ship-builder, or others.

He added: 'We will establish each element's responsibility - that will be done by the inquiry, so we can't do that prematurely.

'For me, it is probable that offences were committed - that it could be a case of manslaughter - but we can only establish that if you give us the time to investigate.

'Media timing is completely different from that of a prosecutor. We need a minimum amount of time to come to a proper scientific conclusion.'

Who died in the Sicily yacht disaster? Jonathan Bloomer, the chairman of investment bank Morgan Stanley and past chairman of Mike Lynch's software firm Autonomy

Judy Bloomer, Jonathan's wife and a lifetime psychotherapist

Christopher Morvillo, a partner at law firm Clifford Chance and Mike Lynch's lawyer

Neda Morvillo, Christopher's wife and a jewellery designer

Mike Lynch, British tech tycoon who had just been cleared of fraud charges in the United States

Hannah Lynch, Mike Lynch's 18-year-old daughter

Recaldo Thomas, a chef working on board the Bayesian yacht Advertisement

Mr Cartosio, while stressing that enquiries remain at an early stage, appeared to suggest there were questions for the crew to answer.

He added that it would be 'painful' if, theoretically, 'this tragedy, this terrible tragedy, was caused by behaviours that were not perfectly in order with regard to the responsibility that everybody had to have (on) the ship.'

He added: 'Individuals or people would potentially be culpable, negligent, lack of prudence, lack of responsibility... We can't just deal with this quickly.'

Lead prosecutor Raffaele Cammarano added of the crew: 'We are going to discover how much they knew or to what extent all the people were warned.

'This event was completely unexpected so the inquiry which as the prosecutor previously said is going to be based on recovery of the wreck, when we'll be able to examine the wreck and possibly get some answers to questions that at the moment cannot be answered.'

The disaster killed six passengers and one member of crew. Among the survivors are six other passengers and nine members of the crew, including the captain, James Catfield, and the first officer.

Questions remain as to whether those who died had been warned the boat was in trouble - and how long it took for the Bayesian to sink while the 15 survivors were rescued after a passing ship sent out a lifeboat.

Stephen Askins, a partner at maritime law specialists Tatham & Co, previously told MailOnline the forecasted bad weather likely meant the crew were already up and working when the Bayesian sunk, allowing them to quickly escape in a liferaft.

The time it took the boat to sink, combined with the actions of the crew as it became apparent it was in trouble, will likely form the core of any manslaughter inquiry.

The yacht is believed to have sunk at the stern after being upset by a downburst that spread out with force, coming to rest on its right-hand side as it hit the sea bed.

Hannah Lynch and her father Mike Lynch (both pictured above) were on the yacht celebrating Mr Lynch's acquittal on US fraud charges

The press conference was assembled on Saturday as prosecutors said Italian civil codes prevented them from sharing too much information too soon

Rescue workers standing by after recovering the body of Hannah Lynch off the coast of Porticello yesterday

Rescue chiefs said it was apparent to divers that victims had tried to seek shelter in one side of the upturned boat, where there may have been air bubbles, as it sank.

Hannah Lynch, the 18-year-old daughter of tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, was found alone in her cabin while five others, including her father, were found in a separate compartment.

It remains unclear why they were in the same room, and prosecutor Raffaele Cammarano suggested that they may have been 'asleep, whereas the others weren't'. The timeline for the ship sinking also remains unclear.

Fire service commander Girolamo Bentivoglio Fiandra told reporters at a conference in Termini Imerese, close to the sinking site at Palermo: 'You may want to know where we recovered the bodies of the victims. I can tell you... that the ship sunk and was laid onto its right hand side at the bottom of the sea.

'It's quite clear that the people were trying to hide in the cabins on the left-hand side and we found the first five bodies in the first cabin on the left-hand side and the final body in the third cabin on the left-hand side.

'There were six cabins: three on the left-hand side and three on the right-hand side. We found them on the highest part of the ship going towards the surface.'

One person had been on watch in the cockpit when disaster struck. They have been interviewed and are not required to remain in Italy - but authorities say they expect them to fully cooperate with the probe.

The yacht's captain, James Cutfield, has already been interviewed by investigators. Prosecutors say they will examine why the crew was able to get to a lifeboat when the passengers couldn't.

Mr Cammarano told the press Mr Cutfield had been 'extremely cooperative' to date. He is likely to be questioned again.

The prosecutor added: 'There are various stages we have to look at in more detail: the behaviours of the crew, the meteorological situation, what the weather was doing at the time, there are all aspects we have to look at.

'The statements made by the crew are fundamental as far as the inquiry is concerned. We can't divulge what they have said as it would be very prejudicial as far as the inquiry is concerned.'

Mr Cartosio later added: 'We can't just deal with this quickly. It's likely there could have been some crimes committed, that it could be manslaughter, but it's a question of who is responsible and we can only do that if you give us time.'

Prosecutors say they want the Bayesian to be raised from the water so the wreck can be examined but responsibility for this lies with the ship's owners.

Firefighter commander Girolamo Bentivoglio Fiandra revealed Hannah Lynch had been found alone in a cabin on the side of the yacht facing the surface

Rear Admiral Raffaele Macauda, maritime director of western Sicily (right), suggested there was a desire to raise the wreck of the Bayesian from the sea bed

The press conference was arranged to brief the international media due to the global interest in the Bayesian's sinking

The 185ft British-flagged yacht sank in the early hours of Monday after, investigators believe, it was struck by a downburst, a violent downward plume of wind often mistaken for tornadoes and commonly created during thunderstorms.

The emergency services were alerted shortly after 4.30am - but by the time they had arrived, the ship had already sunk.

The time taken by rescue services to reach the wreck will also form part of the investigation - though authorities said today the sinking had been extremely rapid.

The crew of a nearby Dutch sailing ship, the Sir Robert Baden Powell, were able to send a liferaft to rescue 15 of the 22 people on board. Among the survivors was British woman Charlotte Golunski and her one-year-old daughter, who she held aloft in the water.

Mr Cartosio added that it quickly became apparent to those who witnessed the disaster it would be 'impossible' to save those still trapped in the yacht as it sank to the sea bed.

He told reporters: 'The Public Prosecutor's Office of Termini Imerese has registered a file with the state against unknown persons, hypothesising the crimes of negligent shipwreck and multiple negligent manslaughter.'

He added: 'Generally a prosecutor is never satisfied to give this information at this stage, precisely because developments could change.

'We cannot exclude anything at all but what, there has been a lot of media interest with regards to the people were involved. But at the same time I believe it is right to anticipate developments of this inquiry can be very variable.'

There had been questions as to why it had taken so long for Italian authorities to inform the public in detail of its rescue operations.

Mr Cartosio told reporters Italian civil codes had prevented him from releasing more information about the search while it took place, highlighting that he personally believed it created 'notable obstacles' to transparency with the public.

However, the press conference was staged because of the major international interest in the disaster - and because of the high-profile identities of the victims.

The press conference took place in the town of Termini Imerese, a town close to Porticello where the boat sank

Search vessels returning to shore on Friday after Hannah Lynch's body was discovered

The operation was made more complex by the depth of the wreck - 50 metres below the surface - and low visibility (pictured: rescue workers on Thursday)

Divers searched for a total of 72 hours underwater to find the bodies of those who died during the disaster (pictured: diving equipment used by the search teams)

The coastguard deployed helicopters to assist with the search throughout (pictured: search parties on the water on Wednesday)

Hannah and her father Mike Lynch, alongside Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy Bloomer, Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo were lost when the yacht sank at around 5am local time on Monday.

The body of Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, who was working as a chef on the superyacht, was recovered at the scene of the sinking on Monday.

Their bodies were taken to the nearby village of Porticello, about 11 miles from Sicilian capital Palermo.

Rear Admiral Raffaele Macauda, maritime director of western Sicily confirmed Thomas' body was found close to the ship.

Mr Fiandra, the fire service commander, added that it had taken time to find the other bodies because of the complexities of reaching a ship 50 metres below, the size of the yacht itself, and the lack of visibility so far from the surface.

'Over four days to have obtained the result we have obtained? Let's say that represents how professional these divers were,' he said.

There is no timeline for when the yacht may be recovered from the water to assist with the ongoing investigation.

'We want to be able to recover the wreck in coordination with the prosecutor because there will be inquiries and they have shown the will to recover the wreck,' Rear Admiral Macauda said.

'We carried out an extraordinary operation and everyone worked in an amazing way. But this is a very sad moment as seven human lives have been lost.'

He later added: 'What of course we wanted to do is save human lives at sea. That's why we carried on with the search from the surface. We were still hoping to find somebody alive.'

Recaldo Thomas, chef on the Bayesian, was the first person to be recovered after the yacht sunk on Monday

Judy and Jonathan Bloomer died on the Bayesian as it pitched over in the water

The bodies of Neda and Chris Morvillo, pictured in 2018, were retrieved earlier this week

Both the hull and the superstructure, the part above the main deck, were made from aluminium

Divers heading into the water on August 23 to find Hannah Lynch's body in a handout picture from the Italian coastguard

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The main question investigators are focusing on is how a sailing vessel deemed 'unsinkable' by its manufacturer, Italian shipyard Perini Navi, sank while a nearby sailboat remained largely unscathed.

A total of 27 divers, including 11 cave experts and eight deep sea divers, were called in to aid with the search across 72 total hours of searching underwater across 123 dives.

In a statement, the family of Mr Lynch and Hannah said: 'The Lynch family is devastated, in shock and is being comforted and supported by family and friends.

'Their thoughts are with everyone affected by the tragedy.

'They would like to sincerely thank the Italian coastguard, emergency services and all those who helped in the rescue.

'Their one request now is that their privacy be respected at this time of unspeakable grief.'

The Lynch family also issued a photograph of Mr Lynch and Hannah alongside their tribute.

Hannah's sister Esme paid her own tribute, saying: 'Hannah often burst into my bedroom and lay down with me.

'Sometimes beaming with a smile, sometimes cheeky, sometimes for advice.

'No matter what, she brought boundless love to me.

'She was endlessly caring, passionately mad, unintentionally hilarious and the most amazing, supportive and joyful sister and best friend to me.

'And on top of all this, she had even more love to give endlessly to all her friends and passion to give to her incredible studies and goals.

'She is my little angel, my star.'

Vincenzo Zagarola, of the Italian Coastguard, said the search for Hannah was not 'easy or quick', comparing the sunken yacht to an '18-storey building full of water'.

The bodies of all six missing passengers have now been brought to shore in the small fishing village of Porticello, around 11 miles from the Sicilian capital of Palermo.

Of the 22 passengers and crew on board, 15, including Mr Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, were rescued after escaping on to a lifeboat. She owns the yacht through a private company.

The boat trip was a celebration of Mr Lynch's acquittal in a fraud case in the US.

The businessman, who founded software giant Autonomy in 1996, was cleared in June of carrying out a massive fraud relating to its 11 billion dollar (8.64 billion) sale to US company Hewlett Packard.
Romanian police seized cars with a combined value of almost 1.2 million from Andrew Tate's Bucharest home early today.

Officers removed a Ferrari Stradale SF90 with its Plug-in Electric hybrid engine along with a conventionally powered Lamborghini Huracan on the back of two trucks.

Both of the super cars are able to travel in excess of 200 miles per hour and are worth 380,000 and 235,000 respectively.

A third car, a Lada Riva, was also removed from the property. The Riva was based on a 1960s Fiat 124 and has a cult following.

Unlike the Ferrari and the Lamborghini, the Lada would struggle to pass 80mph

Romanian Police removed this Ferrari Stradale SF 90 from Andrew Tate's house in Bucharest earlier today. The car is worth an estimated 380,000 and has a top speed of more than 200mph

This Lada Riva was also put on the back of the truck. The Soviet-era car was based on the original design of the Fiat 124

This Lamborghini Huracan was also put on the back of a truck. It is worth in the region of 235k

Andrew Tate, who is originally from Luton, Bedfordshire, is living in Bucharest, Romania where he is currently under house arrest

The seizures come two days after Tate and his brother were placed under 30 days' house arrest.

Prosecutors are investigating a sprawling new case that involves allegations of human trafficking of minors and sex with a minor.

On Wednesday, prosecutors detained six people including Tate, 37, and his brother Tristan Tate, 36, after masked police raided four homes in Bucharest and nearby Ilfov county.

Prosecutors had asked the court to remand the brothers in custody for 30 days.

Tristan has been placed under judicial control, which typically involves geographical restrictions and reporting periodically to the police.

The brothers' spokesperson, Mateea Petrescu, responded to the decision by saying the judge denied the prosecutors' request due to the brothers' 'exemplary behavior' while previously under preventative arrest measures in a separate case, and that they firmly deny all of the allegations against them and 'remain steadfast in proving their innocence.'

The Tate brothers, both former kickboxers and dual British-U.S. citizens, are already awaiting trial in Romania in a separate human trafficking case along with two Romanian women. Romanian prosecutors formally indicted all four last year.

In the new case, Romania's anti-organized crime agency DIICOT said it is investigating allegations of human trafficking, including the trafficking of minors, sexual intercourse with a minor, forming an organized criminal group, money laundering, and influencing statements. The alleged crimes date between 2014 and 2024.

Later photographs showed this Mercedes S Class - worth more than 120,000 being taken away

Police also got a Ferrari 812 Competizone - which has German plates - from inside Tate's compound - worth 450,000

As well as the cars, investigators took a motorbike, laptops, cash and data storage devices

Andrew Tate, who has 9.9 million followers on the social media platform X, is known for expressing misogynistic views online and has repeatedly claimed that prosecutors have no evidence against him and that there is a political conspiracy to silence him. He was previously banned from various social media platforms for misogynistic views and hate speech.

During the police raids on Wednesday, which also involved scouring the Tate brothers' large property near Bucharest, authorities seized 16 luxury vehicles, a motorbike, laptops, thousands of dollars in cash, luxury watches, and data storage drives.

The latest case against the Tates adds to a litany of legal woes against them.
Jeremy Clarkson's new pub has been such a smash hit that he is now advertising for more staff.

The TV host and farmer turned publican arrived at his new venture, The Farmer's Dog, on its second day of opening. as fans queued for 90 minutes in the pouring rain to get in.

Friday saw hundreds travel for miles to the picturesque spot and queue for four hours before Clarkson opened the pub.

Today fans braved the downpours with umbrellas, while expensive cars, including Ferraris and Aston Martins filled the car park.

The new watering hole, located next to Clarkson's Diddly Squat farm shop, has been such a success that Clarkson is already hiring more staff.

Jeremy Clarkson smiling as he turned up to his new pub for its second day trading today

People were queueing for up to 90 minutes to get into The Farmer's Dog in the Cotswolds today

Some arrived in expensive cars, including Aston Martins and Ferraris to get a glimpse of the TV star turned publican

The Farmer's Dog is located next to Clarkson's Diddly Squat farm shop in the Cotswolds

The pub is now advertising for a local chef de partie or sous-chef to join the team.

The ideal applicant for the 35,000-a-year role would be 'experienced at running a high volume site' as well as 'fast on their feet, smiley, unflappable and genuinely excited to be part of a new team', the job listing on Indeed reads.

But the chef must live locally as 'there is no accommodation available', and be ready to start this week.

In a video posted on the pub's official Instagram page, three kitchen staff members promoted the latest position.

Describing the new role, they said: 'We opened the pub yesterday and it was so successful. But we need some more staff.

'We are looking for a senior chef de partie or a sous chef to join our team. If it's you, please get in touch today and let's have a chat about that.'

Visitors queue up in the rain to get a glimpse of the former Top Gear presenter and to try his exclusively British menu

The exterior of the The Farmer's Dog, set in a picturesque spot where Clarkson purchased the Windmill pub for just under 1million two months ago

The pub features an outdoor terrace, for diners only and benches on the lawn

Visitors to The Farmer's Dog brave the pouring rain as they queue outside Clarkson's new pub

The TV star said he hoped to make a success of The Farmers Dog but added using only British produce meant that profit margins would be much lower. He said using pork from his Diddly Squat farm would cost 0.74p to turn into sausage to be sold at the pub

Clarkson opened the doors to his latest venture at noon on Friday to a large crowd.

Pointing to an A-board outside the establishment he said: ''Pay attention to this. Every single thing you are going to consume in here was grown by British farmers, apart from the quinine and the tonic.'

Clarkson's new pub, set in a picturesque spot near the village of Burford, Oxfordshire where the former Top Gear presenter bought what was the Windmill pub for almost 1million just two months ago.

It features a stylish decor, complete with an eye-catching centrepiece - a tractor hanging from the ceiling.

Clarkson said becoming a publican was a step into the unknown and joked that his next venture might be to open a cinema.

While he said he hoped The Farmer's Dog would be a great success, he added that using exclusively British produce would mean much lower profit margins.

Citing an example, he said it would cost 0.74p to turn pork from his farm shop into a sausage to be sold at the pub, far more than the 0.18p it would cost using imported pig meat.

Clarkson opening his pub on its first day yesterday. The TV host was followed around by film crews as he launched his newest venture

A board placed outside The Farmer's Dog stressing that everything served and sold at Clarkson's pub is produced in Britain

One of his shop's most popular items was a candle in a tin with the less than flattering name of This smells like B******ks. Each candle

Beers on offer at Clarksons pub include five varieties and a cider from his co-owned Hawkstone brewery.

The IPA is the most expensive at 6 a pint while Hawkstone Session lager is 5.50 a pint, alongside the Hawkstone Pils, Hawkstone Breeze, and cask ale.

Products available at the Diddly Squat farm shop next door include mechanics hand soap at 6.80, Jeremys Hot Seed Beer mustard at 6.80 a jar and Habanero Chilli Chutney also at 6.80.

But one of the store's most popular items is a candle in a tin with the less than flattering name of This smells like B******ks.
One of America's most well-known families has a history of feuds, and the latest chapter has unfolded publicly as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspends his presidential campaign and endorses Republican nominee Donald Trump.

RFK Jr. suspended his 2024 campaign on Friday and officially broke the Kennedy family's longstanding tradition of backing Democratic parties by endorsing Trump.

Within minutes, his siblings issued a quick statement backing Harris and condemning RFK Jr.

'We want an America filled with hope and bound together by a shared vision of a brighter future, a future defined by individual freedom, economic promise and national pride,' the siblings wrote.

'We believe in Harris and Walz. Our brother Bobbys decision to endorse Trump today is a betrayal of the values that our father and our family hold most dear. It is a sad ending to a sad story,' they concluded.

The letter was signed by his siblings, former Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Courtney Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, Chris Kennedy, and Rory Kennedy.

But this isn't the first time the Kennedy family hasn't seen eye-to-eye. Previously, Caroline Kennedy, John F. Kennedy Jr.'s sister, were said to have deeply disliked Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy because she didn't think she was 'good enough' for her brother and JFK Jr. even thought some spouses were 'milking the family name.'

RFK Jr. suspended his 2024 campaign on Friday and officially broke the Kennedy family's longstanding tradition of backing Democratic parties by endorsing Trump. Within minutes, the family feud began as the family issued a quick statement backing Harris and condemning RFK

But this isn't the first time the Kennedy family hasn't seen eye-to-eye. Previously, Caroline Kennedy were said to have deeply disliked Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy because she didn't think she was 'good enough' for her brother and JFK Jr. even thought some spouses were 'milking the family name'

When news hit that JFK Jr. was dating Calvin Klein's director of publicity Carolyn, the entire world was captivated.

While a star-struck media covered their every single move, there was one person who didn't approve of the pairing: JFK Jr.'s older sister, Caroline.

According to friends, Caroline - who is now the United States ambassador to Australia - refused to accept her brother's new romance, and even after they married, it was clear that she wasn't too fond of the fashion guru.

JFK Jr.'s pal Sasha Chermayeff revealed in the new book, JFK Jr.: An Intimate Biography, that Caroline didn't like that Carolyn came from an 'upper-middle-class background that wasn't blue blood.'

'Carolyn was beautiful, intense, funny, smart, but if you could pick on her for one thing, it would be that she came from... a Connecticut upper-middle-class background that wasn't blue blood,' Sasha wrote.

'It became clear to me that Caroline was not going to accept Carolyn until the very last minute, until she had no choice - until she was standing at the f**king altar and there's no doubt whatsoever [that she was] in the family.'

Sasha said Caroline found her husband's sister to be 'condescending,' adding, 'I don't think there was much love lost between [Carolyn] and Caroline.'

Caroline Kennedy (second right) didn't think Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy (far left) was 'good enough' for her brother JFK Jr.

According to friends of the late couple, Caroline refused to accept her brother's new romance until the wedding, and even after they tied the knot, she wasn't too fond of Carolyn

Steven M. Gillon, who previously studied JFK Jr.'s life in detail for his own book, America's Reluctant Prince: The Life of John F. Kennedy Jr., agrees with the author.

'Caroline did not think Carolyn was good enough for John - she and [husband Edwin Schlossberg] just found her temperamental and selfish,' he said.

He recalled a time when the two couples met up to celebrate Christmas together - but Caroline was left feeling 'disrespected' after Carolyn and Ed left the get together early.

'Carolyn was so concerned [about impressing Caroline] and she had all these gifts for them,' Steven shared.

'They go over and Caroline and Ed left within an hour to go to some sporting event or something. Carolyn thought that was so disrespectful.'

There were also growing tensions between JFK Jr. and Caroline's husband Ed.

They allegedly fought over an auction that John Jr. was planning to sell 'his mother's goods after she died.'

'They needed to pay taxes - a lot of money - on Martha's Vineyard, so they needed to sell a lot of items,' Steven said.

'John wanted a private auction - he didn't want the media attention of a public auction.

'Ed thought a public auction would raise more money, and rightly so. What John resented was that Ed was making the decision - he believed that he and Caroline were the only people who should make decisions related to the family.

'And he resented that Caroline delegated some of that responsibility to Ed.'

Steve said John Jr. also 'flipped out' after Ed volunteered him to narrate an HBO documentary about his dad, late President John F. Kennedy, on the anniversary of his assassination.

'John was mad because they had basically proposed him as the narrator, without asking him,' RoseMarie Terenzio, JFK Jr.'s former assistant, added.

JFK Jr.'s friend Rob Littell said the budding attorney felt like Ed was 'milking the family name.'

Sasha said Caroline found her husband's sister to be 'condescending,' adding, 'I don't think there was much love lost between [Carolyn] and Caroline.' The couple pictured in 1999

Sasha also interjected: 'John thought Ed was entitled, and he was driving a wedge between him and his sister.

'John was so close with his sister, and then they were not speaking. Up until that point, nobody drove a wedge between John and his sister, and John resented the hell out of that.

'Carolyn was like, "F**k them. They belittle you, they boss you around." She was going to amp that up, because her thing was protection.

'John was sticking with Carolyn. Caroline was sticking with Ed. The rift was a deep wound.'

According to the book, there were also growing tensions between JFK Jr. and Caroline's husband, Ed. Ed is seen with Caroline last year

JFK Jr. and Carolyn tragically passed away in a shock plane crash in 1999.

Throughout the tome, friends also revealed the hilarious way Lee Radziwill got back at JFK Jr. and Carolyn after they failed to invite her to their wedding.

The couple tied the knot in secret in September 1996, but Lee - JFK Jr.'s aunt - was not present at the nuptials.

According to RoseMarie, JFK Jr. didn't invite Lee because 'he didn't trust that she would keep the confidence.'

And the socialite made her disdain for their decision known when they met up to celebrate Christmas a few months later.

'That Christmas after the wedding, they exchanged gifts, Carolyn and Lee at their apartment,' Rose explained.

Throughout the tome, friends also revealed the hilarious way JFK Jr.'s aunt Lee Radziwill got back at him and Carolyn after they failed to invite her to their wedding. She's seen in 1976

His assistant said Lee (seen here with JFK Jr.'s mom) gave the couple 'scrunchies and hair clips' for Christmas that year, and said, 'That was [my] f**k you for not inviting me'

'Carolyn gave her a Hermes blanket and Carolyn opened her gift from Lee and it was a box of hair clips from Duane Reade. Scrunchies and hair clips from Duane Reade - like Goody hair clips.

'Carolyn said, "I actually think this is hysterical." [Lee] was like, "You know what that was, don't you, honey? That was [my] f**k you for not inviting me to your wedding. How dare you."

'I'm sure Lee, who was all about appearances, was embarrassed that she wasn't invited to John's wedding.'

DailyMail.com has contacted Caroline's representatives for comment.
He was the first to discover the 10-year-old's body

Friends and the community have rallied to support the father of a young girl who was allegedly murdered by her own mother on Queensland's Gold Coast.

Sophie Wang, 10, was declared dead by paramedics at her home in Emerald Lakes at Carrara shortly after 6pm on August 13 after she was found by her father, Yun Wang.

The Emmanuel College student's mother, Yingying Xu, 46, has since been charged with her murder and remains in custody on remand ahead of her bid for bail.

The brutal alleged killing rocked the tight-knit community at Emmanuel College who have since started a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for the girl's father.

Organiser F Sheldon described Sophie as a kind-hearted and 'dedicated sweetheart at home', while at school she was known for her compassion and 'bright spirit'.

'Sophie had a deep love for reading, music, and all things Harry Potter. Tragically, our beloved little angel Sophie was taken from us,' the organiser wrote.

'Her passing has left her family heartbroken and devastated, and her loss is deeply felt by her friends, peers, and the entire community.

'As Sophie's family navigates this incredibly difficult time, we invite you to join us in contributing to a fund that will support them in any way possible during this period.'

Emmanuel College student Sophie Wang, 10, was declared dead by paramedics at her home in Emerald Lakes at Carrara shortly after 6pm on August 13

Yingying Xu, 46, has since been charged with Sophie's murder and remains in custody. Police allege Ms Xu slashed her daughter's throat before fleeing from the home

Hundreds gathered for a candlelight vigil for Sophie at Emerald Lakes main fountain last week

The campaign has so far raised almost $8,000 as of Saturday night ahead of its goal of $20,000, with single donations ranging from $50 to as much as $1,000.

The funds will allow Sophie's family 'space to grieve, heal, and begin to rebuild their lives without the immediate pressure of financial burdens'.

The child's alleged murder has sent shockwaves through the otherwise quiet Gold Coast town, with Detective Acting Inspector Kent Ellis describing the scene as 'incredibly confronting' for first responders.

Police allege Ms Xu slashed her daughter's throat before fleeing from the home. She was later arrested by police in a nearby street more than four hours later.

The campaign comes more than a week after hundreds gathered for a candlelight vigil for Sophie at Emerald Lakes main fountain, which included a minute of silence.
A Franciscan friar has been accused of being a conman after he allegedly used $650,000 on plastic surgery and trips to the Hamptons while claiming he was helping injured people in Lebanon.

Pawel 'Paul' Bielecki, 48, of New York City, was charged with wire and mail fraud by the US Attorney's Office in the Southern District of New York for allegedly 'defrauding victims by falsely representing that he was a medical doctor who runs medical clinics in Beirut, Lebanon,' the complaint read.

He allegedly transferred more than $600,000 to two credit card companies for personal expenses, including a $334-a-month gym, multiple trips to the Hamptons, and for dining at high-end restaurants.

He also transferred $50,000 to his personal bank accounts and spent $15,000 on plastic surgery.

He gained the money through donations between 2015 and 2024 as he claimed to be a surgeon with multiple PhDs who ran two medical clinics in Lebanon.

He exploited the 2020 chemical explosion in Beirut that killed 218 and where Bielecki claimed he was injured and his clinic was badly damaged.

Pawel 'Paul' Bielecki, 48, of New York City , was charged with wire and mail fraud by the US Attorney's Office in the Southern District of New York for allegedly 'defrauding victims by falsely representing that he was a medical doctor who runs medical clinics in Beirut , Lebanon'

The Southern District of New York found that Bielecki had left the US between December 2019 and April 2022 and during the time he told patrons he was injured, he was actually making purchases at coffee shops and restaurants in New York City, where he lives.

'As alleged, Pawel Bielecki exploited his position as a friar to gain the trust of victims across the country and steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from them,' US Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement. 'Bielecki is now facing federal charges for allegedly illegally profiteering on the trust his victims placed in him.'

Bielecki took a vow of poverty when he joined the Capuchin Order, a White Plains-based religious organization, where he agreed to not hold any property or bank accounts in his name for personal benefit.

The friary provided its godly workers with $250 a month for personal expenses, as well as gave them a credit card for work-related expenses, according to the US Attorney's Office.

Between 2016 and 2019, patrons from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Georgia, and Florida, were directed to send donations in the form of checks with the memo line reading: 'Fr. Paul Bielecki's Mission.'

He exploited the 2020 chemical explosion in Beirut (pictured) that killed 218 and where Bielecki claimed he was injured and his clinic was badly damaged

From April 2021 onward, he had them send checks to 'St. Francis in Beirut Inc.,' a nonprofit established in March 2021 that was based at the Capuchin Order's NYC friary.

He also used crowdfunding sources to raise $78,000 and Zelle payments to receive donations, according to the complaint.

In December 2021, Bielecki emailed a donor from Pennsylvania, wishing them a happy holiday season. A few weeks later, he told them he was going to be 'buying a new ambulance' that would 'allow [him] to visit villages far north and provide medical help.'

The victim replied on January 15, 2022, saying their 'many prayers for an ambulance were answered' and said a $10,000 deposit would be send him to 'next week.'

A few days after receiving the large sum, he Googled 'laser-assisted liposuction' and then attended an appointment for a 'body contouring examination' on February 15, 2022. While there, he scheduled a $15,000 plastic surgery procedure, the complaint alleged.

He allegedly transferred more than $600,000 to two credit card companies for personal expenses, including a $334-a-month gym and multiple trips to the Hamptons. He also transferred $50,000 to his personal bank accounts and spent $15,000 on plastic surgery (pictured: Beirut in 2020)

The same day as his consultation, he emailed the Pennsylvania donor, saying that he had already assisted a 'few villages with medical help.'

'People were crying,' he wrote. 'Almost a year we could not reach out to them. We did not have ambulance, and thanks to you we have it now :).'

Around March, 15, 2022, he emailed the donor again, telling them he was doing he 'best to keep surgeries running' and to continue to 'visit villages.'

Meanwhile, financial records show he had actually paid for a New York taxi, spent more than $430 at a high-end men's clothing store in the city, and used his debit cards for multiple other purchases, the complaint said.

By the end of his scheme, the donor and her husband had given Bielecki $84,000 and exchanged more than 150 emails.

On his tax returns from 2020-2022, which were shared with the friary, he listed United Nations work, which he claimed was from performing advanced scientific research for them.

He gained the money through donations between 2015 and 2024 as he claimed to be a surgeon with multiple PhDs who ran two medical clinics in Lebanon

'I believe that BIELECKI has used his purported UN-DARPA work to disguise income he received from his fraudulent scheme,' special agent, Sean Smyth, wrote in the complaint.

The friary attempted to verify his claim and on August 11, 2022, they received an email claimed that 'Dr. Bielecki' did work for them.

When they requested an in-person visit, the allegedly 'dr. PHaakon Sonderburg-Glucksburg' said he was based in South Asia and could not do so. When they asked to meet with Dr. Sonoda, who Bielecki's 'contract' was signed with, Glucksburg said she had retired.

Both of their email addresses were attached to a recovery account that belonged to Bielecki. The accounts were also made the same day the friary inquired about his scientific work.

The Polish-born friar also went by many pseudonyms, including Paul [His Royal Highness] Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.

In addition, Bielecki's file at the friary contained a fake diploma from medical school that was dated May 2020 and a handwritten entry that said he received the degree in Paris, France in 2007, when he would have been a missionary in Lebanon at the time.

The friar's own order turned him in August 2023 after Father Robert Abbatiello reported him for suspicious behavior to the US Attorney's Office. Bielecki faces 40 years in prison if convicted

The friar's own order turned him in August 2023 after Father Robert Abbatiello reported him for suspicious behavior to the US Attorney's Office, according to the New York Post.

'Until recently, there was no reason to suspect the veracity of his credentials,' Abbatiello said. 'The province conducted a vigorous internal investigation which revealed Friar Paul was not who he represented himself to be.

'The friars are offended and scandalized by Father Pauls betrayal of our trust and those of the other people he deceived.'

Bielecki faces 40 years in prison if convicted.

He joined the Capuchin Franciscans in Krakow in 1994 and some of his New York constituents were shocked to hear he was a fraud.

'Are you serious?' Ralph Succar, 66, who helped raised thousands to aid the Middle East, told The Post.

'Oh my God, thats the worst news Ive heard in years.'
August 23, 2024: The NATO alliance supporting Ukraine in its battle against Russian invaders believes that Ukrainian victory is inevitable. This is based on the fact that the NATO alliance provides Ukraine with far more military resources than Russia produces and can do it for a longer time than Russia can handle. The NATO coalition represents a huge economic capacity equal to nearly half the global GDP. Russia is on its own, is dealing with economic sanctions and their only allies are equally sanctioned outlaw states North Korea and Iran. While Russia has nuclear weapons, so do several NATO members as in the Americans, Britain and France. If Russia used nukes the retaliation would be much larger and Russia would cease to exist while most of NATO would still exist. Few Russians are in favor of national suicide, so nukes are not an option.

This means Russia will lose in Ukraine despite its optimistic press releases. As a result the NATO coalition is preparing to accept Ukraine as the 33rd member of NATO. The large quantities of military aid Ukraine has been receiving from NATO will continue, but at lower levels depending on the level of threat Russia provides. While doing this Ukraine will continue to replace Soviet era Russian weapons and equipment and replace it with European or American items that NATO members use. Standardization is one of the key elements of being a NATO member. It means that NATO members can use the same or similar weapons and equipment as well identical ammunition. Tactics and military organization are similar throughout NATO. While not a participant in the Ukraine War, massive NATO supplies of weapons, munitions and economic aid enabled Ukraine to stop the Russian invasion and now force them out of Ukraine.

NATO has been aiding Ukraine for ten years. The assistance began in 2014 when Russia seized Crimea and positions of two eastern provinces from Ukraine. There was low level fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces in those eastern provinces until 2022 when Russia invaded in an effort to seize all of Ukraine, not just the 25 percent they grabbed in 2014. In 2021 Russia believed a full scale invasion of Ukraine would work because they believed the Ukrainians were demoralized by years of futile fighting. The Russians miscalculated and the unexpected fierce resistance of Ukrainian forces in 2022 caused Russia to lose most of its tanks, many of its combat aircraft and several hundred thousand troops. The Russian attacks and heavy losses continued into early 2024 but now the Russians realize they are out of troops and will soon be out of tanks and artillery.

Russia still insists it will prevail in Ukraine and reunite their conquest as a Russian province. Even the Russian minority in Ukraine does not want to be part of Russia again. Many Russians agree that their government started a war that Russia cant win. Russian leader Vladimir Putin started the war and, so far, he refuses to acknowledge the possibility of defeat. Now that defeat is a reality, Putin is trying to improvise some reasonably convincing story about how Russia actually won. If he cant do that, Putin risks seeing his 24 year-long rule of Russia come to an end.




The surface of the intricately carved chess piece is worn - as you might expect from a Lewis Chessman Warder made from walrus ivory in Norse times.

On the artefacts underside is a code: NS 29 written in black ink over the textured dentine innards of the whittled tusk.

As I roll the priceless medieval chess piece in my hand, the magnitude of this experience is pulled into sharp focus.

For, no, I have not broken into the National Museums of Scotland archives to manhandle one of the 11 out of 93 Chessmen retrieved from the sandbanks of Uig that they hold in their care.

Instead, I am in a state-of-the-art alternate digital reality created by scientists at Glasgow University who hope to make Scotlands most treasured artefacts more accessible to the public.

A new XR (Extended Reality) experience being developed by the University of Glasgow is hoped to enhance the offering of traditional museums

As part of a 5.6million project named Museums in the Metaverse, academics at the institution have created  with immaculate precision  digital versions of the Lewis Chessmen that can be held, played with and moved about in a new extended reality museum that only exists in the virtual realm.

Other objects which have been digitised include an enormous walrus skull, as well as a Goliath Beetle which was found floating off the mouth of the River Gabon in Africa by the captain of a merchant ship in 1766 and bought by the Scottish anatomist and collector Dr William Hunter. It was later bequeathed to the Hunterian Museum.

As the first journalist invited to see the new digital copies of such ancient and precious objects, I approached the universitys Extended Reality labs, based off the busy Byres Road in Glasgows leafy West End, with a huge amount of curiosity and, admittedly, a dose of scepticism.

Aged 29, I consider myself reasonably tech-savvy and have been aware of Virtual Reality (VR) and Extended Reality (ER) taking a hold in the gaming and film industry. The global market is estimated to be worth around $250billion.

Despite that, the day before my visit I told a friend: It will be an experience, but I cant imagine it will be that real if you know what I mean.

It is with this attitude of measured excitement that I enter a white, windowless box room down a secured corridor on the ground floor of the universitys Advanced Research Centre.

On the far side of the room is a large green screen. The only furniture is a small coffee table set up with four fabric stools in the far right-hand corner.

I am greeted by a beaming Professor Neil McDonnell, the principal investigator (PI) on the Museums in the Metaverse project, and a Professor of Philosophy and XR Technology.

Dr Pauline Mackay, co-investigator (Co-I) on the project and Senior Lecturer in Scottish Literature and the Director of the Centre for Robert Burns Studies, is also here.

Both are excited to tell me about their teams creation: What this ought to do, Professor McDonnell says, given the technology that were using, is allow people to see objects they couldnt see otherwise.

'Now, sometimes thats because they cant get somewhere to see them. Sometimes thats because they cant get to see them from another country. Sometimes it is to do with a mobility consideration.

'Sometimes people might have anxiety, agoraphobia, or any other reason, that might stop them from going to see an object. You can do it in your living room with this.

While a lot of VR has been marketed towards the younger generation  to make fighting games more thrilling, or horror movies more blood-drainingly frightening  this project could deliver Scotlands cultural heritage to the elderly generation, those stuck in care homes or those who live in rural areas, Dr Mackay says.

Will they need an expensive headset, which market at around 300?

Ours will be available at home, Professor McDonnell smiles, weve got a model that can go on the web and can go on a phone.

Georgia, wearing her immersive VR (Virtual Reality) headset at the University of Glasgow's Advanced Research Centre

Like the plot of blockbuster film Night at the Museum, the pair recount the process of bringing the digital objects to life.

It involves placing the real artefacts carefully in special domes and then allowing them to be photographed hundreds of times by a robotic arm attached to a rig. All of those photos are sent to a gaming company which compresses them into a single 3D image.

From there, specialist graphic artists refine the objects. The process can take around two or three days per artefact, with some more detailed ones taking two weeks.

Although a streamlined and slick-seeming operation, there have been some hiccups.

Any form of taxidermy is really, really difficult, or anything glass, which we just dont even try, actually, because it needs too much reconstruction Professor McDonnell says.

Shiny things used to be the kind of bane of our existence, but there is a new, modern technique that allows us to get past that. Recreating hairy objects remains a challenge; each hair must be carefully and precisely drawn in.

Awe I felt was more real than a physical museum experience

As they talk with enthusiasm about their project, I become even more excited to try the technology, which has come to fruition with the help of funding by the UK Government, Historic Environment Scotland and National Museums Scotland.

First, I am shown how to use two remote controls that fit in the palms of each of my hands that will help me pick up objects and handle them when I am in the alternate reality. Then, the headset is then placed tightly over my eyes and velcroed over the crown of my head to keep it in place.

At first, all I can see is a black background with something that resembles a loading screen from the old Microsoft computer my family had in the early 2000s.

And then, it happens.

At the click of a button, I am no longer in a sparse room in the University of Glasgow, but a bright, airy museum foyer.

A grand central staircase with intricate brass and dark wood hand rails draws my gaze to a mezzanine floor above.

I look down at my feet to see I am standing on a smartly polished grey and white marble floor.

I look up quickly to see if the technology can keep up with my vision - and it does, with no delay or lapse.

Sure enough, there is the ceiling, metres and metres above me, creating the sense I am in a vast and capacious Georgian room.

At the top of the stairs is an enormous walrus skull. Flanking the stairs are two Lewis Chessmen, the Queen and the Warder. I turn in a circle to see more and more objects, including the Goliath Beetle.

Suddenly, I experience a rush of euphoria; I realise that I am here, in this non-place, surrounded by non-objects which are not real, but which are, at the same time, right in front of me.

I feel like the world will change forever with this technology! I exclaim, to my slight embarrassment - such is the profound awe I am experiencing.

Giggling, Dr Mackay tells me to use my right hand control to pick up the almost 250-year-old walrus skull at the top of the stairs. I bring it down in front of me, so that it is resting in my right hand.

In real life, the public cannot access the artefact, believed to have been found in 1766, because it is in the Hunterian Museums storage facilities. Even if it was displayed, they would not be allowed to pick it up - and probably wouldnt want to, owing to its bulk.

Yet here I am, in my serene, quiet Metaverse, holding it in my hand.

I can enlarge it by pushing my hands apart and make it smaller by bringing them together. I can swivel it to the side to peer past the tusks up into the walruss nasal canal. I can turn it over and see that behind the enormous protuberances are dainty, smaller teeth.

Stunned, I say: I want to walk around the room and see more.

You can! Dr Mackay says. Just take a step as you normally would.

I turn around and take a step. It works. I begin to walk across the museum foyer, headed towards the Goliath Beetle.

I am a Londoner, and as such, creepy crawlies are not in my wheelhouse, but I am here for the experience, so I pick it up.

It is terrifyingly real, with its hard, shiny shell and spindly legs. The underside is almost worse (or better if you like scary creatures) as the intricate makeup of the bug is revealed.

After accidentally enlarging it - and letting out a shriek - I quickly put it down and tell the team Id like to look at something else.

And so I arrive at the two Lewis Chessmen by the stairs.

These ancient chess pieces, one Warder and one Queen, were two of 93 pieces found buried in the sands on the Isle of Lewis in 1831.

It is believed they hail from the twelfth century when the Western Isles was the Kingdom of Norway. Their ivory is thought to have come from Greenland.

In the virtual museum, I am able to pick them up and study the carvings, which resemble those found in 12th and 13th century Norwegian churches, that bring the figurines to life.

The Queen is crowned and holding a drinking horn, seated on throne. The Warder wears an aketon, biting the top of his shield with his sword raised and a helmet on head.

A Lewis Chessman piece, this one is a warder or rook as a berserker, wearing an aketon, biting the top of his shield with sword raised and helmet on head, standing. It is made of walrus ivory

On the underside of both artefacts is a code NS 29 which must have been placed there latterly by archivists.

It is a fact I could never had known had I gone to see the figures in real life, as I would not be allowed to pick them up.

I draw a deep breath and carefully place the Warder down to look around. This virtual space is not just enormous in its size, but its scope; for spine-tingling experiences, for research, for play, for education.

I do not want to leave, but I am aware I will have to spend another 4 on the West End parking metres if I outstay my welcome.

So I lift off the headset, and put down my controllers. I am returned to the white box on the University of Glasgow campus.

My hosts, Professor McDonnell and Dr Mackay are just as elated with my participation as I am.

And I realise that what I have experienced may have been fake, but the awe, delight and overwhelm I felt was more real than that which has been elicited by any physical museum experience I have ever had in my life.

The team hope others will be able to share in my wonderment by March 2025, when access to the archives, and Glasgows special digital museum, will become public.
As Barack Obama's rise to the White House looked more and more certain in late 2008, members of the Ku Klux Klan plotted to assassinate the man who would become America's first black president.

That's according to the newly released memoir of Joe Moore, the undercover FBI agent who stopped them.

Moore infiltrated the Wayward, Florida, chapter of the KKK in 2007, impressing his fellow Klansmen with an exaggerated military record as an honorably discharged army veteran.

Once he was successfully embedded in the group, he witnessed the planning process to kill Obama just days before he would be elected president.

They identified the day, time and location of the hit; obsessed over the then-Illinois senator's motorcade schedule; obtained .50-caliber rifles; and planned to destroy the assassin's vehicles once the deed was done, the New York Post reported.

A Florida chapter of the Ku Klux Klan was plotting to kill Barack Obama shortly before Election Day in 2008. Joe Moore, right, was able to thwart the assassination attempt by embedding himself in the organization as an FBI informant

Moore's fellow Klan members selected him as the one who would shoot and kill Obama, completely unaware he was betraying them

Moore, who played up his expert marksmanship as a former army sniper, was selected as the man who fire the killing shot at Obama.

'I had to follow [my orders] and do whatever it took to prevent the assassination of Barack Obama,' Moore wrote in his new book, 'White Robes and Broken Badges'.

'Because I was the only one who could.'

This marked the first time the FBI mounted an undercover operation to target America's oldest hate group, and the stakes couldn't have been higher.

Moore would ultimately feed misinformation to his 'brothers' in the Klan, which potentially saved Obama's life.

In a recent NPR interview, he said he concocted a story about the Secret Service having drones to scare them out of killing Obama.

Moore describes his undercover operations with the Ku Klux Klan in his recently released memoir titled 'White Robes and Broken Badges.'

Pictured: Barack and Michelle Obama appear at the 2024 Democratic National Convention

'I said, "Hey. What are y'all going to do about the drones?" And then they looked at me with a shocked face, and they looked at each other and looked back and said, "Drones? What drones?"'

He continued: 'I said, "...Now that Obama is the candidate, he has an elevated level of Secret Service protection, and at this level, that includes drones. I didn't know it did, but they didn't either.'

But before he could be in the position to thwart their plans, he was forced to attend cross burnings, stand by and tolerate savage acts of violence and participate in twisted rituals - all while stashing a recording device on his person.

After years of pretending to be chummy with racists, Moore discovered there were police officers, prison guards and sheriff's deputies across the state of Florida who were active members of the KKK.

One Klan member showed him arsenals filled with firearms and tactical gear. Another showed off a backyard incinerator he called 'my own personal crematorium.'

Moore was forced to attend cross burnings, stand by and tolerate savage acts of violence and participate in twisted rituals - all while stashing a recording device on his person.

Moore discovered there were police officers, prison guards, and sheriff's deputies across the state of Florida who were active members of the KKK

He said living this double life took its toll though, writing that he'd often do method-acting techniques to psych himself up before going back undercover.

One of his favorite things to do to get into character was listen to Guns N Roses' pessimistic cover of 'Ain't It Fun' while wearing an American flag-embroidered cap.

'The deeper I became entrenched in the Klan, the more of a challenge it became to leave all that at the door when I went home to my wife and son,' Moore wrote.

'All I could visualize were members kicking in the door to come get me after learning my true purpose.'

His fears didn't stop him from diving right back into an undercover stint with the KKK in Bronson, Florida, in 2013.

The Bronson chapter was located 100 miles away from the Klan chapter in Wayward, where authorities pulled him out prematurely four years earlier due to a risk of getting exposed.

Moore's expertise was needed more than ever at the time.

Obama's ascension to the presidency and the backlash associated with the 2014 police killing of 18-year-old black man Michael Brown, right, in Ferguson, Missouri, saw enrollment numbers in white supremacist groups across the country make a startling jump

A member of the Confederate White Knights speaks during a rally at the Antietam National Battlefield September 7, 2013 near Sharpsburg, Maryland

Obama's ascension to the presidency and the backlash associated with the 2014 police killing of 18-year-old black man Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, saw enrollment numbers in white supremacist groups across the country make a startling jump.

Moore implicated four prominent Klansmen who were set to murder a black man named Warren Williams over a personal grudge.

That led to a SWAT team apprehending the would-be perps outside of a Home Depot in Alachua, Florida.

This good deed unfortunately forced Moore and his family to assume new lives and shed their old identities for good.

'I'd lie awake nights thinking that my payback for the most successful infiltration of the Ku Klux Klan in FBI history was losing my house, almost all my possessions, my friends, and by all accounts, my future,' Moore wrote.

All four Klan members were tried, convicted and sentenced to prison in 2017.

Moore wrote that after the Klan members were convicted, KKK numbers plummeted. Many of them moved to groups like the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers. Prosecutors allege that the people circled above in a picture taken on January 6, 2021, were Oath Keepers present during the riot on the Capitol Building

Moore issued a grave warning, writing that he, more than anyone, understands how fractured America, identifying former President Donald Trump as a instigator of this division. He believes there is a through line between white supremacists and January 6, pictured above

The KKK's many chapters got spooked by the verdict, leading many of them to abandon the group altogether.

Some joined alt-right groups such as the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys.

'I take great pride in dealing a hateful organization a devastating near deathblow,' writes Moore, who now lives with his family in an undisclosed location. 'The overall movement in general, though, was far, far from dead or even in decline.'

Moore issued a grave warning, writing that he, more than anyone, understands how fractured America, identifying former President Donald Trump as a instigator of this division.

He connects the KKK to modern white nationalist groups and the January 6 riot on the Capitol.

'The Klan and the like-minded groups it has produced have learned to balance bullets with bluster and pistols with paper, both of which have the potential to do far more irrevocable damage on the state of our democracy than the former,' he wrote.

'With the 2024 election looming, and democracy itself on the ballot ... we should be very afraid.'
Ukraine has struck Russia with a deadly new type of rocket-drone weapon as President Zelensky claims thy will soon be able to hit any target within Russia.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the deployment of the secretive and devastating Palyanytsia drone as the country celebrates Ukrainian Independence Day.

It is believed the drone hit a target within Russian-occupied territory - possibly Crimea - but the target has not been specified by Zelensky.

Separately, Ukraine today struck an ammunition warehouse inside Russian territory, in the border region of Voronezh.

Zelensky vowed that Ukraine would soon be able to reach 'any point in the Russian Federation that is a source of danger to the life of our state or our people'.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the deployment of the secretive and devastating Palyanytsia drone as the country celebrates Ukrainian Independence Day. It is believed the drone hit a target within Russian-occupied territory

Little is known about the Palyanytsia, which has been developed by Ukraine during the war apparently as a means of striking deep into Russia at high speed. Images purport to show the rocket-drone, but its final shape remains unclear

A Russian pro-war Telegram channel Zhivov Z showed pictures of alleged debris of an alleged Ukrainian weapon implying this may be the Palyanytsia

Separately, Ukraine today struck an ammunition warehouse inside Russian territory, in the border region of Voronezh

This came as Vladimir Putin was seen holding an emergency meeting with his top military commanders including Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov.

The start of the session was muted for security reasons, and it came after a succession of war setbacks including the humiliating Ukrainian incursion deep into Kursk region.

And today saw an exchange of long-term PoWs - 115 on each site.

'Today was the first successful combat use of our new weapon,' said Zelensky in his televised message marking independence day revealing use of the new weapon.

'A completely new class of Ukrainian rocket-drone, Palyanytsia - this is our new method of retaliation against the aggressor.

'The enemy was defeated.

'I thank everyone who made this possible, all the developers, manufacturers and our soldiers.

'I am proud of you! And we know that it will be very difficult for Russia.

'It's hard to even say what has arrived It is difficult to counteract, but still very easy to understand why.'

Vladimir Putin was seen holding an emergency meeting with his top military commanders including Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov

Zelensky said during a televised message: 'A completely new class of Ukrainian rocket-drone, Palyanytsia - this is our new method of retaliation against the aggressor. The enemy was defeated'

Released Ukrainian prisoners of war. Today saw an exchange of long-term PoWs - 115 on each site

Today also marks two and a half years since Putin started the war on 24 February 2022.

Alexander Kamyshin, Kyiv's minister of strategic industries, said:

'Ukraine shapes the future of defence tech.

'We have mortar drones, artillery drones, and now, we introduce a completely new class of weapon  rocket drones.'

He appeared to indicate that the attack was not known visible hit in Voronezh region by saying: 'The rocket drone Palyanytsia was successfully used today, striking a military target in temporarily occupied territory.'

Yet a Russian pro-war Telegram channel Zhivov Z suggested the devastation in Voronezh region may have been caused by the new rocket-drone, also called by some sources a missile-drone.

The channel showed pictures of alleged debris of an alleged Ukrainian weapon implying this may be the Palyanytsia.

'The enemy began using the Palyanytsia drone-rocket against targets on Russian territory,' reported Zhivov Z.

'It was probably the fragments from this drone that hit the object with explosive materials which led to numerous explosions.'

Zelensky also warned Russia: 'Our enemy will know what the Ukrainian way of retaliation is.

'They will know that, sooner or later, a Ukrainian response will reach any point in the Russian federation that is a source of danger to the life of our state or our people..

'And the one who wanted to turn our land into a buffer zone should think about preventing his country from becoming a buffer federation.'

Ukraine is marking the country's Independence Day. Today is also two and a half years since Putin started the war on 24 February 2022

Little is known about the Palyanytsia, which has been developed by Ukraine during the war apparently as a means of striking deep into Russia at high speed.

Images purport to show the rocket-drone, but its final shape remains unclear.

It is named after a type of Ukrainian bread, round loaf and dense.

A rocket-drone generally suggests a UAV propelled by rocket engines or carrying rockets as its primary weapon.

It may use rocket propulsion, for higher speeds or longer distances, making it harder to shoot down.

The drone itself could be a rocket-powered platform designed to deliver a payload.

Missile-drones may be able to loiter over an area, gather intelligence, and choose the optimal moment to strike.

In the strike on the military warehouse in Ostrogozhsk district there were repeated explosions and a major blaze.

Regional governor Aleksandr Gusev admitted 'detonation of explosive objects' and claimed the ignition came from the falling debris from a drone hit by Russian air defences.

Russian channels confirmed that an ammunition warehouse had been struck and shells were exploding in the sky.
The BBC has come under fire for describing a series of Hamas suicide bomb attacks that killed Israeli civilians as 'military operations'.

A media monitoring group has criticised the news site after it reportedly referred to attacks organised by Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif, which claimed the lives of 93 people, including 80 civilians aged 13 to 83, as 'military operations'.

Deif was killed in an Israeli an airstrike last month, but under his command Hamas carried out dozens of suicide bombings against Israelis on buses and at cafes since the 1990s.

In a story following his death, BBC Arabic reportedly stated Deif 'took part in several military operations against Israel starting from kidnapping soldiers and rocket attacks' which culminated in the October 7 attack, according to The Telegraph.

But the corporation has since defended its coverage and argued it has 'made clear throughout' its reporting that Deif was listed as a terrorist by the US and the EU.

Mohammed Deif, the chief of Al-Qassam Brigades, was killed in an airstrike last month

An emergency personnel works to extinguish the fire after rockets are launched from the Gaza Strip, on October 7

The committee for accuracy in Middle East reporting and analysis (Camera) also accused the BBC of whitewashing Hamas as it claimed BBC Arabic's reporting suggested the attacks were aimed at soldiers instead of civilians.

Camera told the Telegraph: 'Downplaying Palestinian groups' responsibility for targeting innocent civilians as mere 'accusations', which only Israel and the US supposedly aim at them, has been a BBC Arabic habit for years.

'Even when the Palestinian groups themselves boast about similar murders, BBC Arabic reporters would often use their own voice to falsely describe them as 'military operations' carried out against 'soldiers' or 'gunmen'.'

Camera was founded in Washington in 1982, with the organisation claiming it was originally set up to respond to the Washington Post's 'general anti-Israel bias'.

It now claims to be 'devoted to promoting accurate and balanced coverage of Israel and the Middle East'.

A BBC spokesperson said: 'BBC News Arabic has made clear throughout our coverage that Muhammad Deif was listed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the US and the EU.

'We quoted the Israeli military describing Deif as a terrorist and that they hold him responsible for the murder of Israelis, and we referenced the serious accusations he faced around the 1996 attacks.

'Our audiences were in no doubt about Deif's actions and the fact that he had been called a terrorist, including by Israel.'

A man stands in front of a damaged shop in Tel Aviv, after it was hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip on October 7

The aftermath of the October 7 attack on the Supernova music Festival in the Negev desert in southern Israel

Residents look at the wreckage of destroyed vehicles in Ashkelon following a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel on October 7

It was revealed earlier this month that Deif was assassinated in an airstrike on July 13 a day after group leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Iran.

'IDF fighter jets struck in the area of Khan Yunis, and following an intelligence assessment, it can be confirmed that Mohammed Deif was eliminated in the strike,' the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant added that the strike that killed Mr Deif was a 'significant milestone' toward achieving the goals of the war.

'The results of this operation reflect that Hamas is an organisation in disintegration,' he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Israel believes that Deif and Yahya Sinwar, the top Hamas leader in Gaza, were the chief architects of the October 7 attack.

The head of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas's armed wing, Deif had been among Israel's most wanted man for nearly three decades and on a US list of 'international terrorists' since 2015.

Israel had reportedly tried to kill him at least eight times - including in 2001, 2002, 2006, 2014 and in May 2021.

The attempts saw both of his legs and an arm blown off and his wife and two children killed.

Amid the ongoing war in Gaza, Israel targeted Deif in a strike on July 13 that hit a compound on the outskirts of the city of Khan Younis, but there had been no immediate confirmation he was killed.

More than 90 other people, including displaced civilians in nearby tents, were killed in the strike, Gaza health officials said at the time.

The house where Deif was believed to have taken residence was hit with a 2,000lb (900kg) bomb, leaving a giant crater.
Passengers on the doomed Bayesian superyacht scrambled desperately for the last remaining air pockets as the vessel sank to the seabed, investigators believe.

But while five of the victims' bodies were recovered from one cabin, the youngest, 18-year-old Hannah Lynch, was found alone in a bedroom two doors away, it emerged yesterday.

The horrific last moments aboard the sinking 30m ship were pieced together at a crowded 90-minute press conference yesterday (SAT) hosted by the prosecutors who have launched a manslaughter and shipwreck investigation without specifying suspects.

Emergency service personnel and divers also spoke in detail for the first time of the incredibly complex five-day long rescue mission 160ft below the sea of Porticello in Sicily, which turned all-too quickly to one of recovering the dead.

Divers from the specialist fire brigade cave rescue team gave a gripping account of the peculiar difficulties they faced more than 50m below the surface, with the boat on its side, full of floating debris and mirrors reflecting their head torches back at them.

Hannah Lynch is pictured with her father Mike, who had just been acquitted of fraud charges in the US and was celebrating on board the Bayesian yacht when they both died

While five of the victims' bodies were recovered from one cabin, the youngest, 18-year-old Hannah Lynch, was found alone in a bedroom two doors away, it has been revealed

Divers from the specialist fire brigade cave rescue team gave a gripping account of the peculiar difficulties they faced more than 50m below the surface. Pictured: (Left to right) Vincenzo Nardoni, department of fire fighters divers in Naples, Giuseppe Frison, head of department of cave divers, Vicenza, Guiseppe Petrone, National director

Divers enter Porticello harbor near Palermo, with the body of Hannah Lynch, the last missing person at the back of the boat on August 23

Divers heading into the water on August 23 to find Hannah Lynch's body in a handout picture from the Italian coastguard

Stellar student Hannah  about to start a course at Oxford University - had been on board the ship with her father Mike and mother Angela, accompanied by lawyers and friends of the tycoon to celebrate his acquittal on fraud and conspiracy charges in the US in June after a long legal battle.

Mrs Lynch survived the accident, along with 14 other people, including the boat's captain, New Zealander James Cutfield, 51, and eight of his crew, when the ship sank in the early hours of Monday.

Bentivoglio Fiandra, chief of Palermo's fire brigade and part of the divers' rescue team, explained that the Bayesian sank stern-first and then rolled onto its right side.

'As a result, the victims sought refuge on the left side of the boat, where the last air pockets remained as the vessel was sinking,' he said.

The divers found five bodies in the first cabin on the left and one, Hannah's, in the third cabin on the left.

It was clear that the discovery of Hannah's body on Friday was a distressing moment for the fire brigade divers who brought her back to shore and gently passed her up to colleagues on the dock.

Chief Prosecutor for the district of Termini Imerese, Ambrogio Cartosio, leading the investigation, confirmed that Hannah's body was recovered on Friday, adding: 'Hannah Lynch was recovered on August 23, which deeply moved the rescue team, prompting a spontaneous round of applause.'

Asked about the applause when the news came back to shore that her body had finally been located and recovered, Inspector Vincenzo Nardoni, a diver drafted in from the fire brigade's unit in Naples, said: 'It was an emotional liberation, a relief of stress.

'Because stress is our daily bread. We work on call and in emergencies, and we intervene immediately. So stress is our baggage, is what we bring with us.'

Hannah Lynch and her father Mike Lynch (both pictured above) were on the yacht celebrating Mr Lynch's acquittal on US fraud charges

Recaldo Thomas, chef on the Bayesian, was the first person to be recovered after the yacht sunk on Monday

Judy and Jonathan Bloomer died on the Bayesian as it pitched over in the water

The bodies of Neda and Chris Morvillo, pictured in 2018, were retrieved earlier this week

He said the divers had to 'recalibrate' to adjust to everything being on its side in the boat  'we had to revise the scene from a different angle from the way we'd normally see it, and that made everything more difficult.'

'We entered the confined spaces, having already performed evaluations on the safe point to enter inside the yacht. We found the safest spot and got inside from there.

'But inside it was a very confusing place, with wardrobes and furniture whirling all around us, and lots of mirrors reflecting back our lights at us.

'The bodies were all wedged in tight spots, with furniture on top or beside them. They were all stuck there.'

The 30 divers were limited to 12-minute spells at the seabed, on a continuous cycle, from dawn until dusk. Some of the divers were also involved in the 2012 recovery of the sunken Costa Concordia liner.

Giuseppe Frison, Head of the Department of the Fire Fighters' Divers, leading the cave divers, told the Mail: 'Let's say that this event has brought back some memories, having done nearly 50 dives on the Concordia incident.

'Inside the cabin, it revived the same sensations. But in terms of scale, everything was very different. Plus this dive was so much deeper, so we had to severely restrict our time at depth.

'It felt a little like rerunning the movie in our heads, but it was more intense.

'It was like visiting someone's house turned at 90 degrees, with everything on its side.

'Since everything was revolving around us, we had to proceed slowly, first securing floating items for safety.

'We operated methodically, whether the spaces were large or small, searching everywhere until we found what we were looking for.'

He added: 'We were in a room full of debris, with a mixture of wooden furniture and other objects, but there was this new factor, as the space was full of mirrors, making it very disorientating, as you enter with the light on our heads, you seem to see yourself coming toward the boat, so it was very confusing.'

The body of Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, who was working as a chef on the superyacht, was recovered at the scene on Monday.

A handout photo made available on August 19 by Perini Navi Press Office shows the 'Bayesian' sailing boat, in Palermo, Sicily, Italy

Both the hull and the superstructure, the part above the main deck, were made from aluminium

Search vessels returning to shore on Friday after Hannah Lynch's body was discovered

The operation was made more complex by the depth of the wreck - 50 metres below the surface - and low visibility (pictured: rescue workers on Thursday)

Chief Prosecutor Mr Cartosio, flanked by around two dozen emergency officials, said in the press conference at the town's court that his office has opened an initial investigation into manslaughter and negligent shipwreck.

He added that they are conducting an investigation against unknown persons.

Asked whether the captain and crew will remain in Sicily, Mr Cartosio said: 'There's no obligation but they should be available for the investigation.'

Prosecutors have confirmed that Captain Cutfield, who has already been questioned for two hours by the prosecution team, will undergo more questioning.

They added that he had been 'extremely cooperative'.

Lead prosecutor Raffaele Cammarano said officials were interviewing survivors, adding that they would be interviewed to find out exactly why seven lives were lost.

'We are going to discover how much they knew or to what extent all the people were warned,' he vowed.

They also indicated that British and American authorities are involved in the investigation.

'Well the inquiry is Italian... [but] yes, things are underway from the foreign judicial authorities,' said Mr Cartosio.

The passengers who died were probably asleep, prosecutors said, and this is the reason they failed to escape.

Officials suggested that 'they were asleep whereas the others [referring to the crew] weren't'.

Maritime director of western Sicily Rear Admiral Raffaele Macauda said that there is 'no information so far that the yacht was wrongly placed' when it sank.

Questions on the weather at the time of the sinking have also been raised by journalists in the press conference.

The yacht had been hit by a downburst, according to Raffaele Cammarano, the prosecutor of this specific case.

He told the press conference 'from the information we have, it is a downburst we are talking about'.

Downbursts are powerful winds that descend from a thunderstorm and spread out quickly once they hit the ground.

Rescue workers standing by after recovering the body of Hannah Lynch off the coast of Porticello yesterday

Divers searched for a total of 72 hours underwater to find the bodies of those who died during the disaster (pictured: diving equipment used by the search teams)

The coastguard deployed helicopters to assist with the search throughout (pictured: search parties on the water on Wednesday)

Your browser does not support iframes.

He also added more details about the weather at the time of the sinking.

'Apart from extreme events which are being verified by the prosecutor, there was a great deal of visibility,' the official said.

'And as you can see from the internet there was forecasts from midnight to 4am, winds of a strength of five from the north-west and the west and a storm alert.

'But there wasn't an alert of a tornado.'

He added: 'Given that the conditions were such, there wasn't anything to suggest there could be an extreme situation arising.

'There are vessels that can monitor, after all, these events and one would have thought that the captain had taken precautions.'

Meanwhile, the skipper from a nearby yacht who rescued 15 passengers from the Bayesian leapt to the defence of Mr Cutfield.

Veteran sailor Karsten Borner, who was captain of the smaller Dutch-flagged cruiser the Sir Robert Baden-Powell, told the Mail on Sunday he did not believe Cutfield had made a mistake - and that the tragedy was down to the length of the Bayesian's mast.

Mr Borner, 69, whose vessel was berthed nearby when the storm struck, said there was a much simpler explanation than human error.

'There is a lot of blame on the crew - that's very wrong,' he said.

'I think they did what they had to do, to try and close the hatches and get people out from inside. The captain went back out searching.

But the difference is obvious - my masts are 29 metres and the masts of the Bayesian are 73 metres.

'That would have had a bigger impact. She capsized - then she filled up with water quickly. Then the hatches cannot be closed completely.'

Mr Borner described how he and his crew were prepared for the storm and started their engine to keep the cruiser in the anchor position - critical to operating ships in adverse weather.

He added: 'We kept the ship in position by engine and the Bayesian was very close to us. They did the same, as far as I know.

'We kept an eye on them because they were behind us, very close.

Prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio (centre) has confirmed a question of 'manslaughter' had been hypothesised following initial investigations into the sinking on Monday August 19

Rear Admiral Raffaele Macauda of the Italian coastguard (right) suggested there was a desire to raise the wreck of the Bayesian from the sea bed

The prosecutor taking direct charge of the case, Raffaele Cammarano (pictured), said the survivors were being questioned

'Then we didn't see them anymore. My first mate said she floundered - indeed she was sunk.

'I saw a red flare go up - where we were, you get the wind but not the waves.

'Then we jumped into the tender, my first mate and me. We saw the life raft with 15 people on, including a baby. The ship was upside down yet they got the inflatable up, it was incredible.

'They were quite quiet, I think they were in shock for sure. They came over to our tender and we took care of them.'

Mr Borner said he gave evidence to the state prosecutor before sailing his cruiser away.

Additional reporting Ryan Hooper and Valeria Ferraro


Murdo Fraser yesterday performed a humiliating climbdown over his doomed bid to become Tory leader without a contest.

Days after his extraordinary attempt to win the top job in a coronation was roundly rejected by fellow candidates Russell Findlay and Meghan Gallacher, he meekly insisted yesterday that he was just being cheeky.

And his desperate backroom deal to try and secure the leadership was also condemned by the audience at yesterdays first Tory candidates hustings.

Tory cardholders grilled Mr Fraser over the attempted power grab - which would have left them without a vote during the contest - at the Glynhill Hotel in Renfrew.

They also dismissed his plans for a commission which could allow a vote on the Scottish party breaking away from the English outfit, with one member saying: Whenever anyone talks about commissions I want to reach for my revolver.

Russell Findlay (left) Meghan Gallacher and Murdo Fraser arrive at the hustings in Renfrew yesterday

Despite that, Mr Fraser refused to answer if he would vote for such an amendment when speaking to reporters, claiming it was a hypothetical question and he would have to look at the case put forward for dividing the party.

Several dozen party members and councillors gathered to question the three leadership hopefuls, who were each given half an hour to make an opening statement before taking questions from the floor individually.

Asked by members if Mr Fraser would take back calls for the other candidates to stand aside so he could be installed without a vote, he attempted to row back on the comments, and said he was just being cheeky.

He said: I was being a wee bit cheeky, I was being a wee bit cheeky, right?

However, he appeared to then justify the controversial comments, adding: But behind it, there are a couple of serious points. The first is, were going back Holyrood a week on Monday.

'For four weeks, Douglas Ross is going to be our leader on the front bench. Thats going to be a bit awkwarda bit awkward for him, a bit awkward for us, so short circuiting that might be helpful.

He added: The other issue is, weve only got 20 months until the Holyrood election. We can spend the next five weeks fighting each other, or we can get on with fighting the opposition.

'But listen, Im really happy about having a contest, right? Im delighted to be here.

Mr Fraser was asked directly if he still wanted Mr Findlay and Ms Gallacher to stand aside, to which he responded: No, were past that.

During his speech, Mr Findlay comdemned his rivals bungled takeover bid and said it was good to see democracy in the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party alive and kicking.

He added it was absolutely vital members had a say in who led them, as opposed to being beholden to a backroom stitch-up.

Referencing Mr Frasers failed plot, one East Ayrshire member asked Mr Findlay if the party had been engaging in a form of political self-harm, to which Mr Findlay agreed.

He said: I know and you know that this harms the party  our members dont like it, the public dont like it, and its just so harmful and unnecessary.

'My job here isnt to engage in blue on blue attacks or to plot and to undermine other candidates, but to set out a positive Conservative vision based on aspiration, based on our core values, and building policies so that when we go into the 2026 election we will persuade vast swathes of Conservative voters that we are a serious proposition.

At the event yesterday morning, Mr Fraser also came under fire for his confused position on a proposed breakaway Scottish Conservative party, separate from the English outfit.

The long-serving MSP suggested the idea in 2011, when he ran unsuccessfully against Ruth Davidson for the party leadership.

He has since said he no longer supports the move but has suggested launching an independent commission to examine the partys future.

Concerns have been raised the watering down of his stance may in fact be a Trojan Horse campaign to be elected as leader, allowing him to then bring about the change by stealth via his commission.

One member was yesterday scathingly dismissive of the proposal, saying: Whenever anyone talks about commissions I want to reach for my revolver.

However Mr Fraser was determined to sell the benefits to members, and said the commission could also explore new levers that would allow MSPs to oust their own leaders at Holyrood more easily.

Bemoaning the fact he felt it was almost impossible to remove an underperforming leader under the current Scottish Tory constitution, he suggested creating a body similar to the Westminster Tories 1922 committee, which allows MPs to register letters of no confidence in their leaders.

Asked by reporters later if, in the case of the commission putting forward a motion on splitting the UK party, he would vote for it, he accused the Press of being obsessed and said it was a hypothetical question.

He said: Its a very hypothetical situation. Id have to see what the case was. Id have to see what arguments they made for it...

Mr Fraser said any constitutional change the commission recommended would have to be supported by a two-thirds majority of members.

Nominations for the leadership race have now closed and ballots will be sent to members on September 4.

The winner will be announced on September 27.
They are global superstars who regularly rub shoulders with the great and the good of Hollywood.

However, its clear Ewan McGregor and his wife Mary Elizabeth Winstead are just as comfortable embracing their new life in rural Scotland.

Photos have emerged of the pair, who own a 2 million property in the Carse of Gowrie, meeting with locals at the Crieff Highland Gathering last weekend.

The couple were there with McGregors brother Colin - with all three choosing to wear their own individual choice of tartan.

In one sweet image posted on social media, North Carolina-born Ms Winstead, 39, poses with a member of the public, looking decidedly relaxed and at ease in her surroundings.

Ewan McGregor with his wife Mary Elizabeth Winstead

She also looked the part, wearing a skirt made from a material with a tartan-style design featuring charcoal and off-white tones.

Her husband was also more than happy to meet with people on the day, posing for numerous photos with pipe bands, cadets and police to name a few.

The images showed him decked out in traditional attire, including a kilt in the ancient Crieff tartan.

His brother meanwhile wore a kilt that appeared to be in the modern hunting MacInnes tartan as well as a dark pullover.

The famous couples appearance at the event was not only a boon for organisers and locals but will also help promote Scotlands fashion and textile industry.

Craig Halley, who heads up family-run Scottish kilt maker Slanj with his brother Brian, said: It is great to see Ewan out wearing his kilt.

We supplied him with trews many years ago, but most Scots actors, if they wear a kilt at all, wear quite unusual versions of the kilt, so it is very refreshing to see such an icon of cinema wearing his home towns traditional tartan and classic outfit so proudly.

To see Colin in a pullover jumper also shows how versatile a kilt is, as it doesnt have to only be worn formally and looks great when worn much more casually.

These pictures will go across the world, so seeing Ewan in a kilt cant help but be a good thing for us kilt and tartan merchants.

Ms Winstead was happy to pose for pictures with locals at the couple's outing to the Crieff Highland gathering

The McGregor brothers and Ms Winstead joined thousands of people in Crieffs Market Park for the annual event last Sunday.

McGregor, 53, was born in the town and has been reacquainting himself with the area since he and his wife - with whom he shares three-year-old son Laurie - bought their Scots home last year.

McGregor grew up in Crieff, in Strathearn, where he attended the local private school Morrisons and where his parents still live.

And since snapping up the property he has been spotted out and about in a number of local haunts.

In January, he was seen on Dundee Waterfront outside a street food van where he bought a coffee, a doughnut and a bagel, while later in the month he stopped by Perth double glazing firm Balhousie Glazing to thank staff for installing windows at his new home.

McGregors return to Scotland has certainly been a long time coming. He left the country at 17 to go to drama school in London where he then settled following his breakthrough success in Danny Boyle films Shallow Grave and Trainspotting, and hasnt lived in the UK since 2008, swapping the English capital for Los Angeles for decades.

In a recent interview, McGregor revealed he longed to reconnect with his roots.

He said: Ive lived in Scotland for less time than Ive lived away from it, but Ive never lost my love for it.
Police are urgently searching for a missing 15-year-old girl who was last seen meeting up with a man after leaving a hotel.

Hind Ouchbik, 15, left the Premier Inn on Newgate Street in Newcastle City Centre in the early hours of Friday morning.

Northumbria Police say she left the Premier Inn at 1.20am before meeting up with a man outside The Gate - a popular shopping centre a short one-minute walk away from the budget hotel.

The pair were then seen walking in the direction of Rye Hill. They now believe Hind may be in the Benwell area.

The force are 'growing increasingly concerned' for the young girl's welfare.

Hind Ouchbik (pictured) left the Premier Inn on Newgate Street in Newcastle City Centre in the early hours of Friday morning

Hind was last seen leaving a Premier Inn in Newcastle in the early hours of Friday morning (Stock Image)

A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: 'If you've seen her, please get in touch by sending us a DM.

'Use the live chat function on our website or visit https://orlo.uk/544Ek quoting reference NP-20240823-1041.'
SpaceX founder Elon Musk says his Starship rocket will make 'multiplanetary' life a possibility hours after it was announced that NASA would be relying on SpaceX to rescue Boeing's Starliner-1 crew Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams.

After an X user shared a tweet of the Starship rocket and called it 'humanity's only hope for interplanetary life,' Musk wrote, 'I hope others succeed too, but at least there is one rocket where success in making life multiplanetary is one of the possible outcomes.'

Musk's tweet comes after it was announced that he astronauts who've been stranded on the International Space Station since early June will return to Earth on a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule sometime in February 2025, NASA revealed.

The astronauts' mission was supposed to last just eight days, but based on this timeline, they'll end up being in space for going on eight months.

Top NASA officials, including Administrator Bill Nelson, gathered Sunday in Houston and decided to use SpaceX's upcoming Crew-9 launch to be the vehicle through which the stranded astronauts will be freed, NBC reported.

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, pictured on July 2 aboard the International Space Station, will be coming home on a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule sometime in February 2025

Elon Musk wrote, 'I hope others succeed too, but at least there is one rocket where success in making life multiplanetary is one of the possible outcomes'

'Spaceflight is risky, even at its safest and most routine,' NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement.

'A test flight, by nature, is neither safe, nor routine.

'The decision to keep Butch and Suni aboard the International Space Station and bring Boeings Starliner home uncrewed is the result of our commitment to safety,' NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement.

NASA previously signaled that the most likely way to get Wilmore and Williams home would be to attach them to a different mission.

During a press conference at the NASA's Johnson Space Center, officials revealed they freed up two seats on the Crew-9 space craft for Wilmore and Williams.

Pictured: The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule approaches the International Space Station for docking on April 24, 2021

Pictured: Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, which had serious problems during its launch into orbit, is seen docked outside the space station on July 3, 2024

The Crew-9 flight is currently scheduled to launch on September 24 from NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The faulty Starliner, meanwhile, will be dislodged from the space station and reenter Earth in early September.

This represents a crushing blow for Boeing in its space race with Elon Musk's company. Even before their two astronauts went into orbit on June 6, the Starliner program was more than $1.5 billion over budget and years behind schedule.

This is only the latest in a series of failures for Boeing, which last month accepted a $243.6 million plea deal that would see the company avoid a criminal trial over two deadly 737 Max crashes.

That's on top of numerous Boeing commercial planes having terrifying malfunctions midflight, company whistleblowers mysteriously dying and former CEO Dave Calhoun delivering poorly received testimony on Capitol Hill.

This Alaska Airlines flight, a Boeing 737 Max, took off on January 5 and one of the door plugs, pictured, blew out in the middle of the flight

Pictured: The crash site of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302. The plane was a Boeing 737 MAX 8 and it crashed six minutes after takeoff on March 10, 2019. All 149 passengers and 8 crew members died on impact

John Barnett, left, was a Boeing whistleblower who killed himself earlier this year. Joshua Dean, right, died at the end of April from a sudden illness

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun takes his seat to testify before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Investigations with protestors in the audience

Wilmore and Williams flew into space aboard the Starliner on June 5, but NASA and Boeing engineers quickly realized that a problem with the craft's thruster system meant it wouldn't be safe to undock and bring them home.

NASA officials said that one of their biggest concerns is that Starliner would burn up in Earth's atmosphere as it tried to re-enter - which would incinerate anyone on board.

The helium leaking from the propulsion system was an issue mission managers were aware of before it launched, but it appeared to worsen during the flight.

NASA and Boeing engineers spent weeks analyzing these problems using a test engine built for future flights.

Two 'hot fire tests' were conducted in space, which involved firing the Starliner's thrusters while it was docked on the space station.

This flight was supposed to be Boeing's last hurdle to overcome before NASA would feel comfortable certifying the Starliner to ferry astronauts to and from the space station on a regular basis.

SpaceX, for instance, has been taking NASA astronauts to the space station since 2020.

It's unclear how NASA will move forward with the certification process of the Starliner.
Family friends of Mike and Hannah Lynch have said the father and daughter were part of a 'united, vibrant, loving family' - with the teenager remembered as a 'diamond in a sea of stars' and the tech mogul as a brilliant storyteller.

The pair were among seven people who died after the luxury superyacht Bayesian sank off the coast of Sicily early on Monday morning.

Mr Lynch was the creator of software giant Autonomy and had been cleared in June of carrying out a massive fraud related to its 11 billion dollar (8.64 billion) sale to US company Hewlett Packard.

His daughter Hannah had recently finished her A-levels and was due to study at Oxford University.

The 18-year-old's body was found alone in her own cabin on board the super-yacht after it sank 50 metres below the surface of the Mediterranean, rescue workers have said.

Five others, including her father, were found in a separate compartment on the Bayesian superyacht, fire service commander Girolamo Bentivoglio Fiandra told reporters at a conference in Termini Imerese, close to the sinking site off Sicily.

Tributes have been paid to 18-year-old Hannah Lynch describing her as a 'diamond in a sea of stars' following her death after her father's luxury yacht Bayesian sank in a storm

British tech tycoon Mike Lynch pictured with his daughter Hannah

Firefighter commander Girolamo Bentivoglio Fiandra revealed Hannah Lynch had been found alone in a cabin on the side of the yacht facing the surface

The 30million vessel lopped onto its side as it sank - and Mr Fiandra said it became apparent to divers that the victims of the disaster had tried to seek shelter in the higher side of the ship, where there may have been air bubbles, before they died.

Sasha Murray, chief stewardess of the Bayesian, said: 'Those who knew her will know that Hannah was a diamond in a sea of stars. Bright, beautiful and always shining.

'What most people may not have seen was the extraordinarily strong, deep and loving relationship she shared with her parents, whom she adored more than anything.

'While swimming with them she often said, if anything ever happened she would save them.

'I have no doubt that the Irish, Latina fire that burns in her soul kept that spirited determination alive.'

A handout photo made available on August 19 by Perini Navi Press Office shows the 'Bayesian' sailing boat, in Palermo, Sicily, Italy

Hannah pictured with her father Mike Lynch

Sasha Murray, chief stewardess of the Bayesian, said: 'Those who knew her will know that Hannah was a diamond in a sea of stars. Bright, beautiful and always shining'

Rescue workers standing by after recovering the body of Hannah Lynch off the coast of Porticello yesterday

It is understood Ms Murray was rescued after disaster struck the yacht earlier this week.

Susannah Gurdun, a close family friend of the Lynch's from Suffolk, shared a series of heartfelt stories about Mr Lynch and who he was beyond being one of Britain's biggest tech moguls.

She said she first met him at a dinner party and was 'daunted' at the prospect of sitting next to 'some important big tech corporate alpha male'.

'Within a minute of sitting down, however, all my fears evaporated,' she said. 'Because of course I discovered that Mike is so much more than the corporate cliche.'

'He was riveting. He was funny, and kind, and endlessly interesting; capable of talking about anything and everything.'

Search teams at the site of the Bayesian sinking as they prepared to continue looking for Hannah Lynch

Ms Gurdun told of his 'thrilling ability' to explain difficult and complicated concepts in a way people could easily understand.

'In particular, he was wonderful with children,' she said.

'I will never forget hearing him explain to a group of them - including our ten-year-old son - the physics of why the sky went pink at sunset.

'We were on the boat after a beautiful day. He was using a half-peeled orange as a visual aid. They sat like little sparrows, fixed to his every word.'

The close friend said she realised Mr Lynch was a 'true genius' on a joint holiday in Spain.

His wife, Angela Bacares, and his daughters were telling Ms Gurdun of his ability to 'conjure beautiful stories out of thin air'.

The following evening, Mr Lynch told a story as the dinner plates were cleared about a hero, who was the same age as Ms Gurdun's son, embarking on adventures in search of treasure.

She called it 'magical'.

She added that she was not surprised to learn that Hannah had begun showing 'serious literary promise'.

'It is beyond tragic that we will never know where her own particular brilliance might have led... but I still feel blessed to have shared that time with them in Spain,' she said.

'Not just because I witnessed Mike's incredible storytelling; but because I was given a chance of understanding what that moment said about all four of them as a united vibrant loving family.

'To those of us who knew him in that way, this family achievement - in partnership with Angela - was every bit as special and beautiful as the ones he pulled off in the world of tech and science.

'Perhaps even more so - in that he did it all simultaneously.

'He was an extraordinary human being and it was - truly - a privilege to have known him.'
August 24, 2024: China recently put into service Jidi, its third icebreaker ship. This 5,600-ton vessel can break through ice up to a meter thick and do so while moving at a speed of about three kilometers an hour. The ship has accommodations for 60 personnel, which includes crew and specialists to operate the air, surface and subsurface drones carried. Jidi has sufficient fuel and other supplies to stay at sea for 80 days. The surface drone can transport 250 kg of supplies for trips to nearby bases surrounded by shallow or otherwise unsuitable conditions for Jidi to get close enough to unload cargo.

Chinas first icebreaker, Xue Long, entered service in 1993. This ship was built as an Arctic cargo icebreaking ship in Ukraine, then a part of the Soviet Union. Xue Long was a 21,000-ton vessel that could carry up to 160 crew and passengers along with a helicopter. This ship was converted by China in the 1990s to operate as a polar research ship. The ship underwent a major refurbishment in 2007. A second icebreaker, Xue Long 2, entered service in 2019. Similar but slightly smaller than Xue Long , the new ship was more capable and served as the model for Jidi. This was a remarkable achievement for China, which built these ships in part to make effective used of the new Russian ice-breaking design.

In 1899 Russia pioneered the design and production of ocean-going icebreakers when it introduced the 10,000-ton Esmark. The United States, Canada and most European nations with Arctic waters also obtained icebreakers so they could enter and explore iced over waters and provide resupply for Arctic, and later Antarctic bases.

Chinese coastal waters are largely ice free. But in the north, the Bohai Sea (near the capital Beijing) and the Shandon Sea to the south, there are iced over waters during the winter months. This ice is usually no thicker than a meter or so and without icebreakers there are some periods during the winter that ships must either wait for the ice to melt or land their cargo at an ice free port and have it moved by truck or train to its destination. After the Chinese communists took power in 1949, they found northern China had no icebreakers and was unable to support all the shipping activities in those areas when there was ice. Until 1945, Japan handled ice breaking activities off the Chinese northern coast but only had one icebreaker, which the Americans captured in 1945 and later turned over to Japan to be used as a Museum Ship. Currently, Japan has two icebreakers.

Until the 1980s, political disputes within the Chinese government as well as money shortages prevented China from developing its own Arctic research program, or obtaining icebreakers to handle winter periods when coastal waters are iced over. Some cargo ships are built to break through thin (less than a meter thick) ice. Some cargo ships that operate in areas that are sometimes iced over are built with reinforced hulls to handle some ice but depend on icebreaker ships to open ice-free channels.

The nations with the longest Arctic coastlines are Canada, Norway, Danish Greenland, Russia and the United States. Russia has the longest Arctic coastline that is regular in use for commercial traffic. This is the 5,600 kilometer long Northern Sea Route (NSR), which became operational in 2010. For cargo moving by ship between East Asia and Europe, the NSR cuts transit time by about a quarter. Its predominant users are China and Russia. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Western shipping ceased to use the NSR, leaving the NSR handing mostly Russian and Chinese ships. There are no fees charged for using the NSR and Russia is trying to revive Western use of the NSR despite the war in Ukraine. The NSR is a cheaper alternative to the Suez Canal for many northern hemisphere countries. Currently Yemen Houthi rebels are firing on shipping headed north towards the Suez canal, so most commercial shipping has stopped using the canal and taken the longer and more expensive route around the southern tip of Africa.
An army dentist who sent revenge porn to her SAS hero ex-boyfriend's new partner has been allowed to return to work after having her suspension revoked.

Jennifer Wilson pleaded guilty to harassment and malicious communications after bombarding Tobi-Jayne Cadbury with aggressive messages and naked pictures of Ms Cadbury's new boyfriend  Wilson's ex  Christian Craighead.

The 42-year-old, who is attached to the Royal Army Medical Corps, was given an 18-month ban from practising by the General Dental Council (GDC) in June last year.

She was due to be suspended until December this year.

However, at a review hearing last week, the ban was revoked, the Dental Professionals Hearings Service has revealed.

Ms Cadbury, 37, a distant relative of the chocolate dynasty, said she and Mr Craighead were 'stunned' by the decision to allow Wilson to return to practising early.

Jennifer Wilson pleaded guilty to harassment and malicious communications after bombarding Tobi-Jayne Cadbury with aggressive messages and naked pictures of Ms Cadbury's new boyfriend  Wilson's ex  Christian Craighead. Pictured: Tobi Jayne Cadbury and Christian Craighead

42-year-old Wilson, who is attached to the Royal Army Medical Corps, was given an 18-month ban from practising by the General Dental Council (GDC) in June last year

Craighead (right) was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for the bravery shown in the attack on the DusitD2 Hotel complex in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2019. On that day that five terrorists stormed the hotel complex in January 2019 and 21 people died

She said: 'I've contacted the GDC asking them to review the decision as [Wilson] has been ordered by the court to attend a stalking prevention course designed for perpetrators who obsess and fixate on victims. I've not been given a reason for the decision.'

She said Mr Craighead, who was awarded a Conspicuous Gallantry Cross after fighting off Islamic terrorists who stormed a hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2019 was 'not happy' about the decision.

'She [Wilson] put us through hell by what she did and we believe she should fully serve her suspension as part of the punishment for what she did,' Ms Cadbury said. It is believed that Wilson has returned to serve in the Armed Forces.

Last December, Wilson pleaded guilty at Aylesbury Crown Court to the charges which related to revenge porn and social media messages.

She was ordered to carry out 100 hours of community work and given a 10-year restraining order banning her from contacting her victims.

Back in the 2010s, Wilson had been in a relationship with Mr Craighead for about four years. But after finding out that he had a new partner, she began bombarding him with messages.

She then turned her attention to Ms Cadbury. 'She bulldozed into my life under the disguise of 52 anonymous social media accounts,' Ms Cadbury told the MoS earlier this year.

Last December, Wilson pleaded guilty at Aylesbury Crown Court to the charges which related to revenge porn and social media messages. Pictured: Wilson with the Royal Medical Corps

Ms Cadbury and Mr Craighead started dating in 2021. She is the great-great-great granddaughter of chocolate baron Richard Cadbury

Back in the 2010s, Wilson had been in a relationship with Mr Craighead (pictured) for about four years

'It was relentless. Every time I blocked one, a new account would appear, sending me more disgusting messages.'

A British Army spokesman said: 'We expect very high standards of behaviour of our personnel  whether they are on or off-duty.

'All those who are found to have committed an offence  are dealt with through the disciplinary process.

'Those who have fallen short of [our] high standards are dealt with administratively and may face sanctions, including dismissal.'
Trump supporters on social media are just now coming across a Kamala Harris campaign ad that's been airing on TV for weeks - and it features two images of the border wall.

For years, the vice president has attacked former President Donald Trump's insistence on having a wall at the US-Mexico border, calling it 'a stupid use of money' in 2017 and claiming it 'wont make us any safer' in 2020.

Those previous proclamations didn't stop her from portraying herself as a 'border state prosecutor' in her ad as an image flashes of a wall cutting through a grassy terrain. At a later point in the ad, another image of a wall is shown alongside a caption that claimed Harris prosecuted border gangs.

Even though Harris didn't explicitly say she supports the wall, Mike Howell, the executive director of the conservative Heritage Foundation's Oversight Project, screenshotted the two wall images in the ad and seized on her supposed hypocrisy.

'What is that in this ad?' he wrote in a post on X. 'Looks like the @realDonaldTrump BORDER WALL to me!'

Throughout the ad, Kamala Harris sought to portray herself as 'border state prosecutor' and someone who 'prosecuted border gangs'

This aerial picture taken on December 8, 2023 shows the US-Mexico border wall in Sasabe, Arizona

It's not entirely clear if the sections of the border wall shown in the Harris ad were constructed before Trump's presidency - as there was already barriers in place prior to 2017 when he took office.

There is also the distinct possibility that these images could have been taken from sections constructed under President Joe Biden, who continued building 20 more miles of Trump's wall.

Nonetheless, a number of people replied to Howell's post, most of them angry that Harris was flip-flopping or that she was at least partially adopting Trump's more hardline stance on immigration.

It's no secret that being tough on the border is more popular at the moment, with a March poll from Gallup finding that 48 percent of Americans are 'highly concerned' about illegal immigration.

One user replied saying: 'I was told walls don't work though...Was I lied to again by democrats?'

It's not entirely clear if the sections of the border wall shown in the Harris ad were constructed before Trump's presidency

It's not entirely clear if the sections of the border wall shown in the Harris ad, pictured, were constructed before Trump's presidency - as there was already barriers in place prior to 2017 when he took office

Another wrote: 'She did nothing. Now she flip flops completely and says she will do the opposite of what she has done? Pray to God the people in this country are smart enough to see through the lies!'

Someone else posted an AI generated image of her holding a tampon with a wrapper that said #TamponTim, a reference to her running mate Tim Walz' decision as Minnesota governor to have feminine products in boy's bathrooms at schools.

Others made vague allusions to Harris stealing other Trump policies, a narrative that's been gaining traction in Republican circles as of late.

For instance, she promised two weeks ago that she would abolish tax on tips for service workers if she wins the election in November.

Trump vowed to do the same at a Las Vegas rally months before Harris caught on, even pitching the idea to congressional Republicans days later.

Something potentially similar happened when Trump's running mate JD Vance said he supported a 'a child tax credit that's $5,000 per child' on August 11.

Days later, Harris came out with a plank of policies, one of which included a $6,000 child tax credit for newborns.

It is important to note that Vance, who is a senator from Ohio, failed to cast a vote on August 1 for a bill that would expand the existing child tax credit.
Sipping green tea outside a cafe in Notting Hill, Dr Najah Al-Otaibi is scrolling through pictures of her 19-month-old daughter Victoria.

She alights upon one strikingly cute image and holds up her phone. 'She looks so much like him,' she says. 'It's the lips, they're the same.'

The 'him' in question is former Arts Minister Lord Vaizey of Didcot, a favoured son in former Prime Minister David Cameron's government.

The Mail on Sunday can reveal today that the married Conservative peer is Victoria's father  a subject on which he kept his counsel in April when approached by this newspaper after it had emerged that his name was on the child's birth certificate.

Rather mischievously, or so it seemed at the time, Dr Al-Otaibi, 42, a Middle East expert and author, included the 56-year-old politician's name on the document but not in the section marked father. That was left blank. Instead, she listed her daughter's name as Victoria Vaizey Edward Al-Otaibi  containing a reversal of Edward Vaizey.

Najah Alosaimi who is raising her daughter as a single parent, the father being Lord Ed Vaizey, formerly MP for Wantage

Najah Al-Otaibi has been left feeling aggrieved as Lord Vaizey wants nothing to do with 19-month-old daughter Victoria

It was something of a compromise, she says now. A father's permission is needed to be officially named on a birth certificate, which the peer simply wasn't prepared to give.

Lord Vaizey would neither confirm nor deny paternity in April. Dr Al-Otaibi was similarly unforthcoming and there the matter might have rested, as an intriguing episode that fleetingly set Westminster tongues wagging. Many people fairly assumed, given Victoria's middle names and Vaizey's non-committal response, that Vaizey was indeed the father.

But today, Dr Al-Otaibi is feeling aggrieved. In fact, she has felt that way for some time.

Too decorous to kiss-and-tell, however, she says of her nine-month relationship with Lord Vaizey, which ended in the summer of 2022, that they first met at a work function, sharing a high-minded discussion about soft power. Occasionally they visited theatres and galleries; their first date was a concert at Wigmore Hall. Mostly they spent time at her flat, cooking for each other and listening to classical music.

They discussed a future together, she says, and 'Ed wanted to take me on a six-week holiday to Australia'. But her pregnancy, which she insists wasn't planned, soured what she regarded as a happy and fulfilling relationship. 'I'm upset and angry. He wants nothing to do with Victoria. He has never met her.

Birth certificate of Najah Alotaibi daughter named Victoria Vaizey Edward. A married Tory peer's name has turned up on a baby's birth certificate in Saudi Arabia, sparking curiosity in Westminster over the father's identity

Ed Vaizey MP (R) and wife Alex Holland attend the 2017 annual V&A Summer Party in partnership with Harrods at the Victoria and Albert Museum on June 21, 2017 in London

'This is about the difficulties I am facing raising a child on my own, and difficulties other single mothers face.'

Once, he asked if she wanted children. She replied that she wasn't entirely sure. He made clear that he did not. Still, when she told him she was pregnant, he seemed  outwardly at least  surprisingly relaxed. 'Perhaps he was in love with me,' she says of that moment. 'I remember saying that I needed time to think and he said, 'Listen, it's your decision  I will support this child in all ways possible'.'

As a senior Minister, Oxford-educated Lord Vaizey was associated with the so-called 'Notting Hill set' of West London-dwelling Tory modernisers who served under Cameron. Others included George Osborne and Michael Gove, who was later his best man.

Before his own political career took off, he worked for the Tory MPs Kenneth Clarke and Michael Howard as an adviser on employment and education issues. He practised as a barrister in family law and childcare before becoming an MP.

'It is childcare that worries me,' says Najah. 'I'm doing everything on my own and it is extremely difficult.' Having initially made supportive noises about her pregnancy, Najah says Lord Vaizey's attitude 'completely changed'.

Recalling a conversation in Battersea Park, she says the former MP for Wantage in Oxfordshire told her that he would have been open to discussing children but only two years into their relationship.

According to Najah, the peer did not believe that the pregnancy was accidental and accused her of trapping him. 'It was so painful for me to hear this,' she says.

'It was so insulting to say to an educated woman  I'm better educated than him in fact  that you trapped me. If I was going to trap a man he wouldn't be on the list.'

Besides, she says, she was just emerging from a messy divorce  she was married to newsreader Tim Willcox for three years  and had a career which involved flying all over the world attending conferences.

'Children weren't on my mind,' she says. 'In the beginning I was 50:50. I wasn't sure. I travel so much, I love my work, I wondered how could I combine it with motherhood.' It was partly Lord Vaizey's intransigence over the issue that convinced her to go ahead with the pregnancy. 'He turned his back on me and that made me really want to keep my daughter,' she says.

Dr Al-Otaibi is a Middle East expert and author - and said Lord Vaizey was surprisingly relaxed when she told him she was pregnent

'It is the best decision I have ever made. But that period was so hard. He kept on calling me, and I was suffering morning sickness, and he was shouting on the phone. When he wants to be rude he calls rather than texts. He accused me of taking advantage of him.'

They had once talked, she says, of living together. Even now, despite her anger, she recalls their days together fondly. 'We saw each other all the time,' she says. 'Mostly at weekends.'

'He was lovely, very funny. When we first met, neither of us flirted, but we exchanged numbers and followed each other on social media. I liked one of his posts and he contacted me privately and asked me to a concert. This all happened on the same day. I thought, why not. I love classical music.

'It took off straight away. I was divorcing at the time and I didn't want to go out that much. So we stayed in a lot.

'Ed loved spending time at home. It's funny when I went out with my ex-husband, who was a party guy, everyone knew him, but nobody ever recognised Ed, which is why I felt so comfortable with him.'

Saudi Arabia-born Najah says that in Arab countries, fathers are expected to take responsibility from the outset. 'They contribute as soon as the woman becomes pregnant, but here it is different. From day one you should know you are the father and do your duty. There are expenses to consider  clothes, bedding, a nursery environment. I got no help to start with from Ed. He accepts he is the father now but he waited until after the birth.'

Indeed, she is keen to campaign on the need for a 'child support for foetuses' law, similar to legislation recently announced by some US states. 'It is incredibly difficult to recover pregnancy expenses in the UK  something which is often underestimated by our courts.' she says. 'When Victoria was born  five weeks early because I was so stressed  I sent [Lord Vaizey] a picture. He replied, 'Beautiful' but did not ask how we were. That made me very sad.

'I have never made big demands and it has been a struggle. Yet I now attend children's centres with Victoria and I can see other women, single mothers, who are less fortunate than me.

'So many men are in denial. And I've found that this is why a lot of women terminate because they are scared because they might not be supported, both financially and emotionally. Not every woman has the legal know-how, the time or the strength to fight.'

Growing up, Najah was close to her father 'so I always wanted Victoria to be close to Ed but it hasn't worked out like that'. For Father's Day, the children at her daughter's centre made cards, but, she says, the handprint card that Victoria had made was sent to her father to no reply. 'I don't know what to say to my daughter,' Najah says. 'I show her his pictures. When he is on television I point him out to her. I was hoping that he might speak to her on Zoom but he seems uninterested. My daughter should not be a victim of this.

'I have deleted him recently from social media because I didn't like that he was able to see her pictures, see her growing up, without having to make the effort to meet her. Ed places a great emphasis on family but he is now telling me not to contact him.

'I struggle to think of who he is expecting me to contact on matters relating to his daughter? Victoria will turn two next December and I still have faith that the two will meet. She's so intelligent, so cultured and which is why she should be celebrated and loved.'

With the mystery over the curiously amended birth certificate now cleared up, other questions remain. Not least Lord Vaizey's intentions regarding his baby daughter. But when contacted by this newspaper, he declined to comment.

Additional reporting: Chris Hastings
Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 115 prisoners of war each as Kyiv yesterday marked its third Independence Day since the invasion.

Volodymyr Zelensky, in comments to mark 33 years of its post-Soviet era, mocked Vladimir Putin as the 'sick old man from Red Square'.

He confirmed the prisoner swap on social media, saying: 'Another 115 of our defenders have returned home today. These are warriors of the National Guard, the Armed Forces, the Navy and the State Border Guard Service.'

The Russian defence ministry said its 115 freed servicemen had been captured during Ukraine's attack in the Kursk region. The swap was the first since Ukraine launched its offensive in the region over the Russian border.

A Ukrainian prisoner of war (POW) reacts after a swap, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine

The Russian defence ministry said its 115 freed servicemen had been captured during Ukraine's attack in the Kursk region

The swap was the first since Ukraine launched its offensive in the region over the Russian border

Zelensky confirmed the prisoner swap on social media, saying: 'Another 115 of our defenders have returned home today'

A Ukrainian prisoner of war lies on the ground after being released from captivity in Russia

Mr Zelensky also hailed a new Ukrainian 'drone missile' that he said would strike hard against Russia. The weapon, Palianytsia, was faster and more powerful than any Kyiv has so far used to strike Putin oil refineries and airfields, he said.'This is our new method of retaliation against the aggressor,' he added.

He said the new class of weapon had already been used successfully, but did not say where. Describing Russia's 71-year-old president and the nuclear rhetoric from Moscow, he said that 'a sick old man from Red Square who constantly threatens everyone with the red button will not dictate any of his red lines to us'. Mr Zelensky has been pressing allies to allow him to use Western weapons deeper in Russian territory.

'I want to stress once more that our new weapon decisions, including Palianytsia, is our realistic way to act while some of our partners are unfortunately delaying decisions,' he said.

Ukrainians say the word Palianytsia is too difficult for Russians to pronounce. It has been used as a password to tell soldiers apart.
Kirstie Allsopp last night spoke of her outrage after she was quizzed by social services for allowing her 15-year-old son to go Interrailing across Europe.

The Mail on Sunday can reveal how, in an extraordinary intervention, a social worker contacted the TV presenter to inform her that a file had been opened after child protection concerns were raised over her youngest child, Oscar.

To the 52-year-old's fury, the social worker demanded to know what 'safeguards' had been put in place when she allowed Oscar to travel for three weeks on the continent alongside a 16-year-old friend.

Astonishingly, she was told that the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC), her local council, could keep the file open 'in case there was another referral and we needed to come to your house and look into this further'.

Speaking exclusively to this newspaper, Ms Allsopp branded the council's actions 'Orwellian' and 'absolutely outrageous'.

Kirstie Allsopp has said she was outraged at being quizzed by social services for allowing her 15-year-old son to go Interrailing across Europe

To the 52-year-old's fury, the social worker demanded to know what 'safeguards' had been put in place when she allowed Oscar (seen) to travel for three weeks on the continent alongside a 16-year-old friend

At 12.40pm on Thursday, Ms Allsopp received the above text message from a social worker from 'Kensington and Chelsea children [sic] services'

She said that officials had failed to understand she had been targeted by a 'malicious' complaint from someone falsely alleging neglect.

'I just felt sick  absolutely sick,' she said. 'Then I was cross. I was very, very cross. It was just so extraordinary. I was in a parallel universe where they were actually taking this seriously.

'I have broken no law and nothing about allowing my child to travel around Europe is neglectful.'

Last night the shocking case sparked accusations of a 'nanny state' and threw a spotlight on how councils can be hoodwinked into opening probes into neglect on the basis of 'vexatious' complaints.

Sir Alec Shelbrooke, a Tory MP and former minister, said: 'This is the nanny state gone mad. Any parent thinking of allowing their teenagers to travel will be terrified by this Orwellian development.

'Surely, these council officials must have better things to do than intimidate a mother who knows best how she can trust her son?'

Dame Karen Bradley, a Tory MP and the mother of sons aged 18 and 20, added: 'It seems like the worst kind of box-ticking and a waste of effort and time by council officials who should be focused on children who are at genuine risk.

'Kirstie knows her son and what he is capable of and took the same decision that many other parents would take for a child who wants to celebrate the end of his exams.'

The extraordinary episode began last Monday when the Location, Location, Location presenter wrote on X, formerly Twitter, of her pride in Oscar after he and his friend returned from a nine-stop trip by train around Europe.

Tory MPs Sir Alec Shelbrooke and Dame Karen Bradley both slammed the interferance, with the former (left) saying: 'This is the nanny state gone mad'

Ms Allsopp defended Oscar Hercules, now 16, saying that he and his friend independently organised the nine-stop trip around Europe

During an interview on Wednesday on the BBC's Today programme, she insisted that mobile phones and better healthcare meant travel was safer than in the past and 'in previous generations people did things far younger'.

But at 12.40pm the following day, Ms Allsopp received a text message from a social worker from 'Kensington and Chelsea children [sic] services', which stated: 'I am wanting [sic] to have a conversation with you re a referral we have received in relation to your son.'

Ms Allsopp said: 'I immediately rang the number and said "I cannot tell you how angry this makes me". I was very agitated. I said I could not be more upset. How on earth have you got time for this? How on earth have you got the resources? Where the hell did you get my telephone number?'

A referral takes place when someone contacts children's services because they are concerned about a child's safety and well-being.

Coram, a children's charity, says on its website that anyone can make a referral and that children's services then have 24 hours 'to determine what type of or response is required'.

It says that the 'majority of cases' will begin with a social worker carrying out an assessment, which must be completed in 45 days, to 'analyse the needs of the child as well as the nature and level of any risk of harm'.

Ms Allsopp, who has two sons and two stepsons, was not told how the referral had been made or by whom. The social worker insisted that every referral must be looked into and confirmed this meant a file had been opened on Oscar.

'And that was when I felt sickest,' Ms Allsopp said. 'I was proud of what Oscar did and I thought it was an important point  that's why I did that tweet. Then I thought "Oh my God, I've let him down". I felt devastated.'

The social worker then told the TV presenter she 'wanted to know what safeguards you put in place for your son's travel'. An 'incandescent' Ms Allsopp informed the official it was none of her business and that she was ending the call.

Later that day she was called by a second RBKC official, who insisted there would be 'different views' on the decision to allow Oscar to go travelling. When she asked that the file be deleted, Ms Allsopp was told to contact the council's data protection team, who would have to 'establish whether that is the right course of action'.

Kirstie Allsopp and her children in November 2014 for the launch of Hyde Park Winter Wonderland

Ms Allsopp said the 'sucker punch' was the knowledge that the council would keep the file on her son open in case there was another referral, despite this one being 'malicious'

'For me that was the sucker punch  the idea this file might continue existing,' she said.

'What [the official] said to me was "If in six months there was another referral and we needed to come to your house and look into this further, it would be important that we had kept a note of the first referral". That was the Orwellian moment. The fact it was maliciously done wasn't coming home to her.'

Oscar, who turned 16 the day before his mother was contacted by social services, said: 'When Mum let me go Interrailing she was probably like "I'm giving him a great experience, he'll enjoy it".

'Then to get called and have someone claim you were neglecting your child is pretty disgraceful and must be horrible to hear.'

RBKC said it was 'standard practice' for records to be retained until 'a child's 25th birthday' but residents 'can request for this to be removed from our records'.

A RBK&C spokesperson said: 'Safeguarding children is an absolute priority. We take any referral we receive very seriously and we have a statutory responsibility for children under 18 years of age.'
Prince Andrew faces an extraordinary public humiliation as the National Portrait Gallery is set to acquire a photograph from his fateful Newsnight interview.

It could mean putting it on display with millions of visitors able to see a record of what is widely considered the most disastrous interview in royal history, when the BBC's Emily Maitlis grilled the Duke of York on sex allegations made against him.

His failure to apologise for his friendship with paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein led to him being stripped of his royal title and duties.

The gallery  a public body linked to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport  last night said it is looking to add the image to its permanent collection.

The photograph records the moment after the interview when the Duke naively declared to his interrogator 'that went well didn't it' as they walked together through Buckingham Palace.

Prince Andrew pictured with BBC Newsnight's Emily Maitlis before their interview in which he spoke for the first time about his links to Jeffrey Epstein

Prince Andrew and Virginia Roberts Giuffre, aged 17, pictured together at Ghislaine Maxwell's townhouse in London on March 13, 2001

Virginia Roberts Giuffre speaks to press outside a Manhattan court in 2019 following the death of Jeffrey Epstein in his jail cell

The late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Andrew watch a flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping The Colour, the Queen's annual birthday parade, on June 8, 2019

Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell pictured together in New York in 2005

Royal commentator Margaret Holder said having the image on display would be a 'symbol of his disgrace [and] of his downfall as the son of a monarch, the brother of a monarch and a father'.

The gallery's royal patron is the Princess of Wales but she has no say over what works are added to the gallery's collection. After six months of private talks, gallery chiefs are expected to make a final decision soon. But sources said a verdict has been on hold while a new chief curator is appointed.

The image was first assessed by the gallery's curatorial team after being offered by photographer Mark Harrison, who already has images there.

It passed the 'first curatorial acquisitions meeting', which the gallery's website says means it 'believes that an offer should go forwards for acquisition'.

A print is due to be delivered to the gallery and viewed, before being considered by a second curatorial acquisitions meeting and the board of trustees, which makes the final decision.

Emily Maitlis during the controversial interview with the Duke of York about his involvement with Jeffrey Epstein

Prince Andrew pictured with his wife Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, and their daughters Beatrice and Eugenie

The board is appointed by the Prime Minister and includes Carphone Warehouse co-founder David Ross, historian Simon Sebag-Montefiore and artist Jonathan Yeo, who painted the first official portrait of King Charles since his coronation.

The gallery, which welcomes more than 1.6million visitors a year, says it is the 'national museum responsible for the history of British portraiture. Its mission is to maintain a collection of portraits of the most eminent persons in British history.'

Gallery sources said no decision has yet been made over public display of the photograph. But all acquisitions are automatically displayed on its website.

It follows reports the duke will be forced to leave Royal Lodge, with the King no longer prepared to fund security costs, believed to be 3million a year. Ms Holder said the acquisition of a photograph linked to 'a pivotal moment' in the duke's 'downfall' could embarrass the Princess of Wales.

She added: 'I would ask the gallery to consider whether they actually want to create problems for their patron.'

She also said the acquisition was a 'further humiliation for Prince Andrew at a time when there is considerable coverage of the King wanting him out of Royal Lodge'.

The Duke of York as he hosted a Pitch@Palace event at Buckingham Palace in London in June 2019

Virginia Roberts Giuffre speaks to Savannah Guthrie, along with several other women, on Dateline NBC show Reckoning on the night of September 20, 2019

Prince Andrew leaving Chinawhite nightclub in London on July 28, 2000

Royal biographer Hugo Vickers told The Mail on Sunday he had no issue with the gallery acquiring the image but there was a question about whether it should be put on public display.

He said: 'The Newsnight interview was an iconic interview  my instinct would be to acquire it but then place it in the library. They don't have to display it, they can just keep it. But in a hundred years time it might prove to be particularly interesting for one reason or another.'

Mr Harrison last night said he was surprised anyone knew about his talks with the gallery which he added had taken place 'over the last six months'.

Andrew Lownie, who is working on a biography of Prince Andrew and the Duchess of York said the gallery should acquire the image.

He said: 'I am sure Prince Andrew is not going to be happy with this because the interview was not his finest moment. But the interview and the photograph is a piece of history.

'This is an iconic image, and should be in the collection. The gallery's job is to record images and history and this photograph is part of that.'
When my 15-year-old son Oscar told me that he wanted to go travelling in Europe by rail, my first thought was: 'Only if I'm coming with you.'

But that wasn't because I didn't trust him to act responsibly and stay safe. He was asking permission to set off on a three-week Interrail adventure, with a friend who is a few months older, to visit some incredible cities  Berlin, Amsterdam, Munich and Barcelona among them.

And I admit I felt a pang of envy, for I've never been lucky enough to visit some of those places.

I felt a twang of maternal regret too. Like all mums, I want nothing more than to watch my children grow up happy and independent. But it's still a wrench to see them getting ready to embark on their own lives.

At no point, though, did I wonder whether he was old enough. I know my son. He's mature and competent for his age, and more than capable of coping in the adult world. If I'd had any serious doubts about the wisdom of the trip, I wouldn't have let him do it. Instead, I trusted him  and he repaid that trust, as I knew he would.

KIRSTIE ALLSOPP: 'When my 15-year-old son Oscar told me that he wanted to go travelling in Europe by rail, my first thought was: "Only if I'm coming with you"'

Ms Allsopp is seen with Oscar (right) in 2021 at Winter Wonderland Hyde Park

She said though she was envious of her son Oscar (pictured), but 'at no point' worried if he was old enough to go travelling across Europe

My husband Ben and I ensured he'd be as safe as possible, with all the necessary numbers on his phone, full travel insurance and one of my credit cards for emergency use only.

He and his friend planned the trip themselves  they found every hostel and made every connection without help.

Only once did they sense a hint of trouble, when in Amsterdam a man who was obviously a pickpocket started following them. The boys held on to their bags, kept the guy in their peripheral vision, and pretty soon he realised they were aware of him and left them alone.

While my son was away, I thought about him often and told myself not to fret. We didn't speak every day, but more than once a week. Naturally, they had a brilliant time and Oscar even made it home for his 16th birthday last week.

A couple of days before that, I wrote on social media how proud I was of him. 'If we're afraid, our children will also be afraid,' I tweeted. 'If we let go, they will fly.'

At first, most people who responded shared my enthusiasm. They told me how formative their first holidays without their parents had been, and what incredible lifelong memories they'd made. Many of the messages were lovely and life-enhancing.

But as the story was picked up, the feedback became more critical and hysterical. People accused me of exposing my son to risk, of being reckless and uncaring.

I accepted an invitation to go on Radio 4's Today programme and talk about how important it is, for the sake of our children's mental health, to help them attain independence. I thought I had explained myself quite well.

Ms Allsopp wrote on social media how proud I was of him . 'If we're afraid, our children will also be afraid,' I tweeted. 'If we let go, they will fly.'

The following day, the above text arrived from 'Kensington and Chelsea children [sic] services'

More fool me. The following day, this text arrived: 'Hi Kirstie, I'm a duty social worker for Kensington and Chelsea Children [sic] Services. I'm wanting [sic] to have a conversation with you regarding a referral we have received in relation to your son. Kind regards.'

A social worker. Children's services. My son. That made absolutely no sense. But over the phone, as I listened with rising anger, a social worker for the borough council informed me that an anonymous member of the public had reported me for child neglect.

'You must be able to see this is malicious,' I said. 'Please tell me that you are not intending to open a case file on my child.'

And that's when the nightmare became worse still. The file was already open, she said, and if I wanted to have it formally closed I would have to contact the data protection office. It in turn would 'review the situation'.

To say I was volcanic is an understatement. How could they inflict this Orwellian ordeal on a family that is stable, loving and safe? Have they nothing better to do?

When I put down the phone, I cried from the sheer shock of it. Then I called my husband, who thought the idea that Oscar might be 'neglected' was hilarious. His laughter helped me calm down.

But it isn't funny. The repercussions of having a flag against our family's name on the social services computer could be serious, for instance if Oscar should apply for a visa to visit the US.

I'm staggered that someone can do this to us, either out of a hopelessly misguided sense of what parenting should be or simple vindictiveness. And I'm heartbroken that my intrepid son's first big foray into the wide world should trigger such awful consequences.

A generation ago, 16-year-olds were regarded as young adults, which is exactly what most of them are. It's up to parents to decide who is or isn't grown-up enough to start spreading their wings.

Back in the 1980s, a good friend, penniless but desperate to be in Ibiza with his mates after his O-levels, crossed the Channel as a foot passenger on a ferry and hitchhiked to Spain, aged 16. I wouldn't let either of my sons do that  but my pal had the time of his life.

My brother spent months solo in France at 16, learning the language, before touring Europe for most of his late teens. He's now fluent in several languages, a boon for his career in contemporary art.

I don't believe girls should be treated any differently, either. I certainly wasn't  at 17, my parents trusted me enough to leave me in charge of my much younger sisters for the day in New York. We went roller-skating in Central Park.

That's nothing compared with what my parents and their generation did in their teens. My husband's mother, who sadly passed away in June, went to university at 15. And his father joined the Merchant Navy during the Second World War at 16. He sailed with the Arctic Convoys, a level of bravery and hardship I don't think any of us can fully imagine today.

Oscar's generation have lived through an ordeal of a very different sort. He and his friends were just starting secondary school when lockdown struck. They were deprived of normal life by a terrifying pandemic that nobody yet understood. Only now are we discovering the true cost to the mental health of a generation.

Continuing to mollycoddle them and fill them with fears of real life beyond their bedrooms, is the worst thing we could possibly do.

On Friday, a TV producer invited me to join a discussion on whether 16-year-olds should be allowed to attend music festivals such as Glastonbury without supervision. The idea anyone should even ask that question is madness.

Yet, Sir Keir Starmer was committed to giving 16-year-olds the vote. How are we supposed to trust them to choose a government, if we don't trust them to go to a pop concert? Every young person is different but one thing is certain  the danger is in underestimating them, not in setting them free.

A RBK&C spokesperson said: 'Safeguarding children is an absolute priority. We take any referral we receive very seriously and we have a statutory responsibility for children under 18 years of age.'

Kirstie Allsopp has not been paid for this article or for any information relating to this story.
Traffic was at a standstill along Florida's interstates this morning after officials in the Tampa Bay area warned residents to 'flee or die' as Hurricane Milton closes in. However, some residents have claimed they cannot follow evacuation orders because it could be 'more dangerous' to hit the roads, alleging traffic is too congested and gas stations in their communities are 'out of fuel'. Other concerned locals have said they are unable to afford the cost of either driving or flying their way out of the state ahead of the storm, which is expected to be massive and bring devastation to Florida's Gulf Coast. Milton's centre could come ashore Wednesday in the Tampa Bay area, which has not endured a direct hit by a major hurricane in more than a century. Mayor Jane Castor issued a stark warning to residents that if they don't evacuate, 'you are going to die'.
A British gallery may be forced to give up a prized 500,000 Renoir after claims it could have been seized from its original Jewish owners by the Nazis.

The Mail on Sunday can reveal that Manchester Art Gallery is now treating the Impressionist painting  known as Seated Nude, from around 1897  as a potential looted or 'spoliated' object.

The gallery has been approached by claimants who believe they may be the rightful owners of the oil painting.

If their claim of ownership is proved, the gallery could be forced to hand over the artwork.

Details of the investigation are included in a document obtained by the MoS under freedom of information laws.

The Impressionist painting Seated Nude, from around 1897, could have been seized from its original Jewish owners by the Nazis

It states: 'This painting is under investigation as a spoliated object, which means it may have been stolen from or sold under duress by its Jewish owner during the period of Nazi power in Europe.'

Both sides agree that the artwork was once the property of Richard Semmel, a German-born Jewish art collector and entrepreneur.

Semmel and his wife Clara, who fled Germany for Holland in 1933, managed to arrange for the sale of about 70 of their artworks to pay for their living expenses.

It is believed the Renoir nude was offered up for the sale but did not sell.

In 1934 the painting was acquired by Lady Marks of Broughton, who bought it from a consortium representing a number of international art dealers.

Manchester Art Gallery and legal representatives acting for the claimants are now looking at the circumstances in which the consortium acquired the artwork, and in whose name it was acting.

It is known that assets owned by the Semmels, including some of their artworks, were targeted by the Nazis. The couple, who escaped to the United States just before the German invasion of Holland, spent their latter years in New York.

Manchester Art Gallery is now treating the Impressionist painting as a potential looted or 'spoliated' object

They had no children and Semmel, who died a widower in 1950, named family friend and companion Grete Gross-Eisenstadt as his heir. Her grandchildren, who are now based in South Africa and Israel, believe they may have a rightful claim for the Renoir.

Over the years, the Gross-Eisenstadt heirs have been successful in establishing ownership of works in both public and private collections. In 2012, the private owners of another Renoir painting, called Paysage Pres De Cagnes, agreed to pay compensation to the heirs. Two years later, they persuaded the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne to relinquish a work known as Head Of A Man, once attributed to Van Gogh.

It will be up to the Government's Spoliation Advisory Panel to advise on the validity of any claim in relation to Manchester Art Gallery, which was presented with the Renoir in 1972 by the executors of Lady Marks's will.

A spokesman for the gallery declined to comment.
The multi-millionaire founder of luxury fashion chain Jigsaw has been charged with animal cruelty offences on his 12million country estate, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

John Robinson, who played a key role in Prince William and Kate's love story and is a close friend of the Middleton family, faces nine charges under animal welfare legislation.

The 77-year-old appeared at Swindon Magistrates' Court on Friday accused of permitting the suffering of animals on his sprawling 300-acre farm in Wiltshire.

Also appearing in the dock was farm manager Charles Williams, who faces ten charges under animal welfare legislation.

Robinson is accused of permitting the unnecessary suffering of animals on three occasions, including to a lamb when he allegedly failed 'either to seek veterinary advice or to humanely destroy' the lamb despite knowing it would suffer.

John Robinson, multi-millionaire founder of luxury fashion chain Jigsaw, has been charged with animal cruelty offences on his 12million country estate, The Mail on Sunday can reveal

Jigsaw is a fashion clothing retailer with store and concession partners across United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands and Australia

He is also accused of failing to ensure 'the needs of an animal for which you were responsible' and of failing to provide a farm inspector with mortality records.

The charges relate to a period between November 2022 and January this year. Emma Carroll prosecuting on behalf of Wiltshire Council said: 'This case is in relation to animal welfare offences against sheep which were owned by John Robinson and kept by Charles Williams, who was employed as the farm manager.

At the time of the offences both individuals were living on the site of the farm. The offences relate to inspections which have taken place on the farm.

'There were complaints from members of the public who have seen very sick or unwell sheep on the land. A number of sheep had to be culled because they were suffering and there have been issues around the animal carcasses not being disposed of.'

The 77-year-old appeared at Swindon Magistrates' Court on Friday accused of permitting the suffering of animals on his sprawling 300-acre farm in Wiltshire

Robinson founded Jigsaw in 1970 with his now ex-wife Belle. Their wealth has previously been estimated at 130million by the Sunday Times Rich List.

They count the Middleton family among their close friends, and their instrumental role in the Kate and William's courtship began when they hired the now Princess of Wales to work at their head office in 2006 when she finished university.

Robinson gave Kate the use of his luxurious hilltop villa on Mustique, in the Caribbean, for private romantic holidays with the young Prince. Mr Robinson and his then wife also attended their wedding in 2011.

Neither Robinson nor Williams entered pleas to the charges. They will next appear at Swindon Crown Court on September 27. Both men are on unconditional bail.
August 24, 2024: Russias heavy infantry losses in Ukraine have led to growing problems in obtaining new soldiers. Many Russian military age men have either left the country or gone into hiding to avoid death or injury as a soldier in Ukraine. In the last year Russia tried offering larger and larger amounts of cash for those who would join. This didnt work because it was common knowledge that the chances of any soldier going to Ukraine and returning unharmed were low.

This led to the recent practice of army recruiting officials raiding businesses looking for Russian men or foreign workers who have avoided registering their status with the government. Businesses have gone along with hiring, and concealing, unregistered men because the heavy losses in Ukraine have caused a growing labor shortage in Russia.

In addition to the raids, which are resisted by employers desperate to keep their operations going, recruiters also stop military age men on the street and demand to see their identification and documents related to their military status. Men who have already served can only be returned to the military if they volunteer. Few do despite the large cash bonuses offered.

The government does not punish firms that actively hide their military age workers because the war-related economic sanctions have weakened the economy and forced the government to concentrate on keeping Russian businesses operating. This included allowing large numbers of foreign workers to enter Russia from nearby countries, including India and Central Asian states. These foreigners are prime targets for the rapacious recruiters. The government does not punish these recruiters either because leader Vladimir Putin insists that the war continue, even though Russia is losing and Russia has started carrying out more raids into Russia. For over a year these were air raids by Ukrainian drones but now Ukrainian troops are raiding into Russia.

Ukraine tried to minimize their own casualties and were aided by the fact that, during the first two years of the war, Russia did most of the attacking and so far, has lost over a half a million troops to death, disability, desertion, capture and disease. Russia still makes some of these attacks but has a hard time finding enough troops willing and able to make such attacks and endure the heavy casualties.

In the end, Ukraine has enough troops to guard the largely quiet 1,200 kilometer front line and allocate some soldiers for raids into Russia.
Federal authorities have provided a huge update in their investigation into two men who were caught on camera destroying a protected and delicate natural rock formation.

Wyatt Clifford Fain, 37, and Payden David Guy Cosper, 31, have been indicted by a grand jury for allegedly pushing 'large chunks of ancient rock formations over the edge of a cliff onto the ground below' at Lake Mead National Recreation Area in April, the US Department of Justice announced Friday.

The incident reportedly occurred while the two men were hiking on or near the Redstone Dunes Trail, and a video taken by a witness to the event allegedly shows the two men working hard to shove the rock formation - estimated to be 140 million years old - off the edge.

A young girl, the daughter of one of the men, could be seen standing behind them, horrified, and screaming intermittently as the rocks fall.

'Daddy, don't fall,' she yelps as the two men push boulder parts over the edge and watch them break as they smash down the side of the cliff.

Two men have been indicted by a grand jury for allegedly pushing 'large chunks of ancient rock formations over the edge of a cliff onto the ground below' at Lake Mead National Recreation Area in April

Payden David Guy Cosper, 31, (pictured) and Wyatt Clifford Fain, 37, are each facing one count of injury and depredation of government property and one count of aiding and abetting

Officials at the time called the behavior extremely damaging, noting that the ancient stones cannot be fixed.

John Haynes, a public information officer for the park, told KVVU: 'Its one of my favorite places in the park and theyre up there just destroying it. I dont understand that.'

'Why would you even do something like this? Like, why on Earth would you do this? This almost feels like a personal attack in a way,' he added.

Federal prosecutors now say Fain and Cosper's actions resulted in damages in excess of $1,000.

As a result, the two men are each facing one count of injury and depredation of government property and one count of aiding and abetting.

The men were allegedly caught on camera working hard to shove the ancient rock formation off the edge of a cliff

They were arrested by the US Marshals Service, and the pair made an initial court appearance on Friday, in which they both pleaded not guilty, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

They were then released on their own recognizance - meaning that only an oath is required in order to be released.

But court records obtained by DailyMail.com show Fain has previously been arrested for charges including assault with the use of a deadly weapon, reckless driving, destruction of personal property and domestic battery by strangulation.

If convicted on the new charges for allegedly destroying the ancient rock formation, both Fain and Cosper could face up to 10 years in prison.

Their jury trial has been scheduled for October 8.

In the meantime, officials ask Lake Mead parkgoers to be vigilant.

The Lake Mead National Recreation Area, which is just outside of Las Vegas, sees about 6 million visitors each year.

Park staff cannot be physically present across the entirety of the 2,344 square mile area, which means they sometimes rely on the public to keep watch over some of the sites in the park.

'It is 1.5 million acres. We have two big lakes, a chunk of the Colorado River. It gets pretty difficult based on our staff levels to be everywhere all at once,' said Haynes.

To help the park staff keep an eye on the public, the National Park Service operates a tipline that receives thousands of submissions every year.
Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary has warned Democrats that they may have made a 'huge mistake' in bestowing the nomination on Vice President Kamala Harris.

Speaking with Fox News' Rachel Campos-Duffy on Saturday, O'Leary argued that the Democrats might be getting ahead of themselves.

The financial guru said there was a good chance that they now have a second version of Hillary Clinton on their hands after 'assuming [Kamala] would win'.

He told the outlet: 'Its 50-50, she may win, she may lose. This whole party, the Democratic Party, is going to revisit what happened here because they did the same thing with Hillary Clinton.

'It was assumed she would win, they anointed her, she lost. Harris is assumed a winner by atonement.'

Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary gave a major warning to Democrats

The 70-year-old said there was a good chance that they now have a second version of Hillary Clinton on their hands after 'assuming [Kamala] would win'

He continued: 'If she loses, the party will never do this to itself again because they missed the opportunity to run a process and suck up another week of airtime  and they didnt do it.'

O'Leary then went on to reference California Governor Gavin Newsom who has seemingly mocked the process of Harris being picked as the nominee.

Speaking on Pod Save America, Newsom was asked about the 'switch' from Biden to Harris, and sarcastically repeated points that Democrats have said about it.

He said: 'Now, we went through a very open process, a very inclusive process', shifting his tone in voice much to the delight of the hosts.

Newsom continued: 'It was bottom up, I don't know if you know that. That's what I've been told to say.'

O'Leary said what Newsom had joked about was one of the few points him and the Governor agree on.

He continued: 'Im not saying shes going to lose, but I would have never let that happen if Im selling a business.

'I tell my managers, never bring me one offer, bring me a process, show me theres no other bid out there that I want, then Ill make a decision if Im selling. I was amazed they didnt do that here.'

Speaking on Pod Save America, Newsom, seen here on the podcast, was asked about the 'switch' from Biden to Harris, and sarcastically repeated points that Democrats have said about it

O'Leary, seen here on Shark Tank, also referenced California Governor Gavin Newsom who has seemingly mocked the process of Harris being picked as the nominee

Harris garnered the endorsements of several high-profile Democrats after Biden announced his shock decision to stand down from the election.

Other candidates had been seemingly floated by members of the party including Newsom, and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.

Despite this, none of the supposed candidates outside of Harris made any real traction, and Biden's endorsement of her caused others in the party to follow.

On Thursday night, Harris officially accepted the Democratic presidential nomination after a week of rallying the party faithful in Chicago.
Telegram messaging app founder and CEO Pavel Durov has reportedly been arrested at a French airport after stepping off private plane.

Police swooped on the billionaire shortly after landing at the Bourget airport, outside Paris, following a flight from Azerbaijan, French outlet TF1 info reported, citing an unnamed source.

Durov was travelling aboard his private jet and had been targeted by an arrest warrant in France, the news site added.

The 39-year-old tech tycoon was reportedly arrested at around 8pm local time while accompanied by his bodyguard.

Telegram messaging app founder and CEO Pavel Durov has reportedly been arrested at a French airport after stepping off private plane

Durov Founded the app in 2013 along with his brother Nikolai (Stock image)

Despite being born in Russia, Durov has not lived there since Vladimir Putin's invasion of Crimea and the Donbas area of Ukraine in 2014.

Durov now lives in Dubai where Telegram is based and holds dual citizenship of both France and the United Arab Emirates.

He was quoted by TechCrunch in 2014 as saying: 'I don't have any business in Russia and have no plans to return there. I have no Russian citizenship anymore.'

Durov Founded the app in 2013 along with his brother Nikolai. It now has 950 million active users who can send messages, photos and videos, take part in chats for groups of up to 200,000 people and broadcast to unlimited audiences.

Intended as a rival to WhatsApp, Telegram users can have 'secret chats', in which messages are stored on devices rather than the cloud, and messages can also be set to self-destruct after a certain time period.

Mr Durov who is estimated to be worth around 12 billion, said in an interview earlier this year Telegram would remain a 'neutral platform' and not a 'player in geopolitics.'

But the UK government has insisted social media companies such as Telegram must do more to stop extremists using their services for criminal means.

The campaigning organisation Counter Extremism Project said Telegram has taken some action to reduce the use of its platform by terrorists but commented on its website 'it is clear that more can and should be done.'
A man has died after allegedly being assaulted on a staircase at a London Underground station.

Officers were called to Southwark Underground Station in south-east London on Thursday at 9.44pm after reports of an assault on the stairs.

The 28-year-old man was later admitted to hospital in critical condition in hospital but died on Saturday evening, with his family by his side.

Rakeem Miles, 23, of Southwark, was arrested the morning after the incident and remains in custody, the British Transport Police said.

He had been charged with grievous bodily harm with intent but detectives are now seeking to update the charge following the man's death.

A man has died after allegedly being assaulted on a staircase at Southwark Underground Station (pictured)

The British Transport Police said officers were called to the station in south-east London on Thursday at 9.44pm after reports of an assault on the stairs (Stock image)

Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Paul Attwell said: 'There is no place for violence on the rail network and I am urging anyone with information, who is yet to speak to us, to get in touch.

'We have specialist family liaison officers supporting the victim's family and my thoughts remain with them at this incredibly difficult time.'
Labour has been accused by its own MPs of 'running scared' by planning to push through cuts to pensioners' winter fuel payments without a Commons debate.

It emerged this weekend that controversial proposals to strip 10 million over-65s of winter help worth up to 300 could be approved without any debate.

But last night Labour rebels branded the move 'a disgrace' and claimed the Government was only doing that to avoid a rebellion over the issue.

One senior backbench MP told the MoS: 'They're running scared. They don't want to run the risk of giving us the opportunity to protest.'

The MP added that the shock plan  unveiled by Chancellor Rachel Reeves last month as part of plans to tackle an alleged 22billion 'black hole' left by the Tories  was proving 'disastrous' with older voters.

The MP added that the shock plan  unveiled by Chancellor Rachel Reeves last month as part of plans to tackle an alleged 22billion 'black hole' left by the Tories  was proving 'disastrous' with older voters

It emerged this weekend that controversial proposals to strip 10 million over-65s of winter help worth up to 300 could be approved without any debate

He said: 'I've got three times as many letters on this as on the riots, and it's not just Left-wing MPs up in arms.'

The row over the move deepened last week after confirmation that the energy price cap would rise this autumn by ten per cent  an average household energy bill rise of 149.

And yesterday the Tories sought to use parliamentary procedure to shame Labour into holding a Commons debate and vote on the winter fuel plans.

Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said: 'Since coming to power, Labour have handed out top civil service jobs to their party donors and 14 billion to trade union paymasters. To do that while ripping away the winter fuel payment for millions is disgraceful.'

A Labour source said last night it was following the same parliamentary process as previous governments.
Sir Keir Starmer will this week warn of more pain to come as he claims that the state of modern Britain is 'worse than we ever imagined'.

In his first major speech since entering No 10, the Prime Minister will say that 'things will get worse before they get better'.

And he will claim as well as inheriting a 22 billion blackhole from the Tories, Labour had also been left a 'societal blackhole'.

But Sir Keir will vow not to 'shy away from making unpopular decisions' to restore the country, and fix the 'rot' left by the Tories.

Last night Labour sources denied that was code for punishing tax hikes expected in this Autumn's Budget, saying the PM was 'trying to be honest that the change people voted for will take time'.

Sir Keir Starmer will this week warn of more pain to come as he claims that the state of modern Britain is 'worse than we ever imagined'

However, Tory party chairman Richard Fuller accused the Prime Minister of 'fabricating' financial problems 'to con the public into accepting tax increases'. The PM's keynote speech will come one week before Parliament returns after its Summer recess.

It also comes with his Government accused of caving into the union barons by agreeing huge wage deals at the same time as it cuts winter fuel payments for 10 million pensioners. But Sir Keir justifies the pay deals, saying 'we've ended the strikes that have crippled our country for years.

'Because I defy anyone to tell me that you can grow an economy when people can't get to work  because the transport system is broken. Or can't return to work  because they're stuck on an NHS waiting list.'

The PM will also seek to link this Summer's riots with 14 years of 'populism' and Tory failures, claiming 'people torching cars, making threats' were exploiting the country's 'broken' system.

'They were betting on it. They were gaming it.'

Sir Keir also claims years of Tory failure  including 'not having enough prison spaces'  meant that dealing with this summer's riots was 'much harder' than tackling the 2011 disturbances when he was Director of Public Prosecutions.

To back up his claim that 'frankly, things will get worse before they get better', he will say: 'I didn't want to release prisoners early...

'But to be blunt, if we hadn't taken that difficult decision immediately, we wouldn't have been able to respond to the riots as we did.'

Tory party chairman Richard Fuller accused the Prime Minister of 'fabricating' financial problems 'to con the public into accepting tax increases

Boasting that 'we've done more in seven weeks than the last government did in seven years', he will accuse the Tories of 'still not being honest' about the 22billion black hole.

But last night, Tory chairman Mr Fuller dismissed the claim.

He said: 'Just two months in and Keir Starmer has taken winter fuel payments off 10 million pensioners, showered billions of taxpayers' money on his union paymasters and is now engulfed in a cronyism scandal after parachuting donors and supporters into top taxpayer funded jobs.'

Mr Fuller added: 'The soft-touch Labour Chancellor is squandering money whilst fabricating a financial black hole in an attempt to con the public into accepting tax rises, and literally leaving pensioners in the cold.

'The Prime Minister really should tell his Chancellor to reverse course or step in himself to reverse her decision.'
Labour's 'amnesty' for illegal migrants will add up to 44,000 people to Britain's welfare bill, a government assessment reveals.

Of 63,053 people previously earmarked for deportation, as many as 70 per cent will now be allowed to stay in Britain with 'full access' to the welfare system. This could hit taxpayers with a 17.8billion in extra costs over the migrants' lifetimes, critics have warned.

The previous Conservative government passed a law banning arrivals on small boats from claiming asylum. It introduced a Duty to Remove, marking them for deportation either to Rwanda or their home country.

Last month, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced she was repealing the measures and said this would save 7billion.

She has now been accused of 'hiding' the true cost of the measures after Home Office documents show that a vast majority of the claimants could end up in the UK's benefits system.

In this drone view an inflatable dinghy carrying migrants makes its way towards England in the English Channel, Britain, August 6, 2024

A group of people thought to be migrants wade through the sea to clamber aboard a small boat off the beach in Gravelines, France

An 'Impact Assessment' document, published alongside Ms Cooper's announcement, illustrates the pressures this could have on Britain's welfare system, saying it 'may lead to an increase in Universal Credit costs', as well as extra cost of transport, health and housing.

It says that of the 126,106 illegal migrants who have claimed asylum since March 2023, as many as half were subject to 'Duty to Remove' provisions. Of these, as many as 70 per cent  or 44,137  are now likely to be granted asylum, the document admits. It says: 'Any asylum seekers who are granted asylum will have full access to, and obligation to contribute towards, the welfare system to support them while out of employment.'

Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick said: 'Sir Keir has surrendered to the people smuggling gangs with an amnesty for illegal migrants. And it's the British taxpayer who will be made to pick up the eye-watering bill for his capitulation.

'Sir Keir's decision will only add to the problem of waiting lists for GP surgeries, the shortage of social housing and pressure on school places. Instead of prioritising Brits, Labour is set to overwhelm local authorities with tens of thousands more illegal migrants they should have instead removed.'

On a number of costs associated with granting tens of thousands of extra asylum claims, the document refuses to specify amounts. It says: 'Local authorities incur costs associated with supporting asylum seekers in their communities, though the Home Office has not been able to establish a generally useable figure'. Of the asylum claims that are rejected, the assessment says: 'The Home Office may continue to support a number of these (e.g. where they are destitute families).

'Returning failed asylum seekers will incur costs to the Home Office which will depend on whether returns are voluntary or enforced'.

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, by Border Force earlier this month

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, by Border Force following a small boat incident in the Channel earlier this month

Conservative MP Nick Timothy said: 'These papers reveal the truth about Labour's immigration policy. Come to the country illegally, and you will get to stay here for good.

'Labour's plan is to rush all these cases through the asylum system and then park migrants on benefits, hiding the tens of billions they will cost from the public.'

He accused the Home Secretary of 'hiding the far greater cost of her own plans' while announcing savings from scrapping the Rwanda scheme, and said that assuming all 44,000 asylum seekers enter the benefits system could cost the taxpayer 17.8bn over their lifetimes.

But a Labour spokesman said: 'This scenario does not match with reality. Under the Tories, everyone who arrived here, no matter what their nationality was staying permanently in taxpayer-funded accommodation, including asylum hotels, with absolutely no prospect of removal. Carrying on like this would have cost us 30-40 billion  double our policing budget.

'Figures released last week show that their chaotic approach has created a record asylum backlog  over 220,000 are now in the asylum system.'
Cocaine with a street value of more than 40 million has been seized by the Royal Navy in the Caribbean Sea.

It is the sixth bust made by HMS Trent this year, which has confiscated close to seven tons of drugs worth 551.5 million.

The warship was pressed into action on August 8 after being alerted to a speedboat that was smuggling cocaine off the southern coast of the Dominican Republic.

With a US maritime patrol aircraft overhead, the Portsmouth-based ship closed in and dispatched the Royal Marines and US Coast Guard on board to intercept the vessel.

Pictured, armed forces move rapidly to intercept the suspected drug trafficking boat to seize its cargo

A suspected smuggler puts his hands on his head as he is led away. HMS Trent was alerted to a speed boat suspected of smuggling cocaine

The Portsmouth-based ship closed in and dispatched the Royal Marines and US Coast Guard on board to intercept the vessel

Some 1,115lb of the narcotic was seized and three alleged smugglers handed over to the US authorities

The smugglers threw their cargo overboard during the operation, but thanks to HMS Trent's swift response all contraband was seized

HMS Trent (pictured) has made its sixth bust this year. It has been working closely with the US Coast Guard and the Joint Interagency Task Force

The smugglers threw their cargo overboard in an attempt to prevent it from being captured.

Some 1,115lb of the narcotic was seized and three alleged smugglers handed over to the US authorities. Commander Tim Langford hailed the 'successful operation with our American partners', adding: 'Every member of my team can be proud.'

Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard said the operation 'highlights the Royal Navy's vital role' in upholding international law in the region, adding: 'We are sending a clear message to drug traffickers that... we will disrupt and dismantle their operations wherever they are in the world.'

HMS Trent, which has been working closely with the US Coast Guard and the Joint Interagency Task Force (South), has now seized 6,995kg of drugs in 2024.

The ship is still patrolling Caribbean waters.

The Royal Navy said the aim is to be a reassuring presence to British Overseas Territories during hurricane season (from June to November) and to stem the flow of illegal cargo through the region.
The Royal Family raked in 1.3 million from generous government farm subsidies in two years, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

King Charles was one of several high-profile landowners to benefit from the payments, alongside entrepreneur Sir James Dyson and presenter Jeremy Clarkson.

Designed to help farmers and landowners, the subsidies were a mixture of EU and UK government funding, paid out between October 2021 and October 2023.

The newly released figures show that Sandringham Farms, which comprises nearly 15,000 acres of farmland in Norfolk and is owned personally by the monarch, banked more than 765,000 in subsidies over two years.

The Royal Family has raked in 1.3 million from generous government farm subsidies in two years, with King Charles raking in more than 765,000

Princess Anne gained 97,376 for her 700-acre Gatcombe Park Estate in Gloucestershire.

And the Duchy of Cornwall, which provides an income to Prince William, received 72,713 in rural development subsidies.

British inventor Sir James Dyson received 1.7 million for his farms in Lincolnshire and Gloucestershire, and Jeremy Clarksons Diddly Squat Farm in Chipping Norton claimed 82,720.

The payments were phased out after Brexit, and farmers no longer get subsidies for producing food. Instead, they can receive money for turning their fields into wildflower meadows or grassland.
Meghan Markle often pays tribute to Princess Diana through her fashion choices.

She recently wore an entire outfit that seemed to come straight from her late mother-in-law's wardrobe.

Dining at an upscale Italian restaurant in Santa Barbara, Meghan wore a white shirt by Anine Bing tucked into La Ligne mom jeans, reflecting Diana's iconic off-duty style.

Meghan accessorised her outfit with Chanel ballerinas and a Lady Dior bag - two of Diana's favourites - as well as a Cartier watch inherited from her.

Diana was frequently seen carrying her quilted Lady Dior bag, prompting the design to be renamed from 'Chouchou' to 'Lady' in her honour.

Here, we look back at the times the Duchess has replicated her mother-in-law's style.

At an upscale Italian restaurant in Santa Barbara, Meghan Markle donned an entire outfit that seemed to come straight from her later mother-in-law Diana's wardrobe

Diana championed off-duty style, pairing a white shirt with mom jeans, and often carried a Lady Dior bag

Butterfly suite

Princess Diana's charming butterfly suite comprises earrings, a necklace and bracelet.

She debuted two pieces from the set during an official visit to Canada in 1986.

While in Vancouver, Diana accessorised her royal blue Catherine Walker suit with the butterfly earrings and a gold necklace, featuring a matching slide enhancer.

The yellow gold design is set with dark blue gemstones, believed to be sapphires.

Meghan Markle has worn earrings from Princess Diana's butterfly suite on a number of occasions. Above: Diana wore the butterfly earrings and necklace during a trip to Vancouver, Canada, in 1986; Meghan wearing the earrings during a royal tour of Australia in 2018

A textured cuff bracelet, decorated with diamonds and sapphires, completes the parure.

The princess notably wore this bracelet for a visit to the Lord Gage Centre in Newham in 1990, and continued to wear it over the next decade.

In 2018, following her marriage to Prince Harry, Meghan showcased Diana's earrings and bracelet in Sydney, during their royal tour of Australia.

She has since repeated both pieces, including at the launch of her clothing collection with the charity Smart Works, and a charity performance at the Royal Albert Hall.

A textured cuff bracelet, incorporating diamonds and sapphires, completes Diana's butterfly parure. Diana wore the gold textured cuff while visiting the Lord Gage Centre in Newham, East London, in 1990 (left). Right: Meghan has worn Diana's cuff at numerous events, including the launch of her clothing collection with the charity Smart Works in 2019

Off-the-shoulder neckline

In 1987, Princess Diana sported a spectacular pink satin evening gown, featuring a deep off-shoulder neckline that showed off her decolletage.

The dress, designed by Catherine Walker, was selected for a Gala performance by the Royal Ballet at the Berlin Opera House.

This look appeared to be a source of inspiration for Meghan's Trooping the Colour ensemble in 2018, where she chose a Carolina Herrera dress with a similar neckline and hue.

Diana's 1987 look appeared to be a source of inspiration for Meghan's Trooping the Colour ensemble in 2018, where she wore a Carolina Herrera dress with a similar neckline and hue

Cartier Francaise watch

Diana wore her Cartier Tank Francaise on several occasions, including a 1997 visit to London's Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu Temple and an engagement at the British Lung Foundation that same year.

At the time, the yellow gold timepiece was priced at 17,800.

Diana wore her Cartier Francaise Tank watch several times throughout the 1990s. Meghan has worn the same watch countless times since marrying Prince Harry

It is said that, following Diana's death, Prince William chose to keep the watch, while Prince Harry opted for her engagement ring.

However, the brothers swapped when William decided to propose to Kate Middleton.

Harry later gave the Cartier watch to Meghan, who has worn it on countless occasions. It is a clear favourite from her inherited collection.

Strappy red dress

Attending the 2021 Salute To Freedom Gala in New York, Meghan oozed glamour as she graced the red carpet alongside Prince Harry.

The Duchess's dress, a bespoke design by Carolina Herrera, was reminiscent of one worn by Princess Diana.

In 1995, the late princess attended a swanky dinner party in Argentina, donning a strappy scarlet dress by Catherine Walker.

The glamorous lace mini dress incorporated a plunging off-the-shoulder neckline and strap detailing, creating a distinctive aesthetic.

In 1995, Diana wowed in a strappy scarlet dress by Catherine Walker for a swanky dinner in Argentina. Meghan opted for a Carolina Herrera dress with a similar neckline at the 2021 Salute To Freedom Gala in New York

Aquamarine ring

Among Diana's extensive jewellery collection was a striking emerald-cut cocktail ring.

The piece, a gift from Lucia Flecha de Lima, was made by Asprey in the 1990s.

She memorably teamed the ring with a blue one-shoulder Versace dress for a fundraising gala in Sydney, Australia, in 1996.

Diana wore the emerald-cut design only on one other occasion: a party celebrating the launch of her dress auction at Christie's, in London, the following year.

Meghan re-introduced this stunning ring, last worn in 1997, on her wedding day.

She paired the jewel with a sleek Stella McCartney ivory gown for her evening reception at Frogmore House.

Diana owned a collection of aquamarines, including a striking emerald-cut cocktail ring

White pencil dress

During her 2018 royal tour visiting cities in Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand, Meghan opted for a sophisticated white pencil dress by Karen Gee.

The simple, figure-hugging design echoed one worn by her late mother-in-law, some two decades earlier, in 1995.

Hailing from Versace, Diana's dress incorporated a near identical neckline and silhouette, albeit with a slightly shorter length.
They poured $70k into their 'dream life' and built their small home from scratch

'Choosing to move off the grid gave us mental and financial freedom'.

So says Zoe Durant, a 28-year-old mother and content creator who lives in the eastern rainforest on the Big Island of Hawai'i with her husband Brian and her two daughters, Zaina and Isla.

The family is completely detached from modern reality and lives on a one-acre homestead in an 'untouched jungle'. Zoe and Brian poured $70,000 (54,000) into their 'dream life' and built their 16x20ft small home from scratch. They now spend their days waking up to the sounds of ducks and chickens, dancing on the beach and trading food with their neighbours.

Zoe, who documents her life on the farm on her TikTok account (@junglefairyland), reveals how she saves 70 per cent of her income living off the grid and no longer needs to worry about the cost of living or bills.

She told MailOnline Travel why she thinks off-grid life beats 'civilisation' hands down - though she does have to watch out for lava flow from a nearby volcano, daily earthquakes and pesky mongoose.

Zoe Durant, a 28-year-old mother and content creator, lives in the eastern rainforest on the Big Island of Hawai'i with her husband, Brian, and her two daughters, Zaina and Isla. She says: 'Choosing to move off the grid gave us mental and financial freedom'

Zoe documents her life on her farm on her TikTok account - @junglefairyland. She spends her days waking up to the sounds of ducks and chickens, dancing on the beach and trading food with their neighbours

What inspired you to choose an off-grid lifestyle?

Zoe says: 'The idea of being away from our kids, working a nine to five, paying bills every month, retiring at 65 only to enjoy freedom at an old age was just not our goal. This way, we can live a simple life and not have to work ourselves into the ground or spend priceless time away from our children.'

What does a typical day look like for you and your family on the homestead?

'There is no typical day. It's constantly changing,' Zoe says. She explains she usually makes 'day in the life' TikTok videos and the rest of the day is spent as 'fun time' with the kids. She says: 'Their favourite thing is to dance on the beach in the drum circle with other kids.'

How did you build the homestead?

Zoe reveals her homestead sits near the active Kilauea volcano in Lava Zone 1, the area most affected by its lava flow.

They purchased their lot in cash. Zoe says: 'The risk is too high for banks to let you pull out loans for building and buying. We could have built it cheaper, but we wanted to do it right and not have to go back and fix things.'

While building their house, the pair relied on information they found online. Zoe adds: 'We didn't use heavy equipment to clear and build. Our hand tools were battery-powered, and we used a machete to clear a space for our house and driveway. It dumps heavy rain every day, and that made it a bit difficult while building.'

Zoe reveals that her DIY homestead sits near the active Kilauea volcano in Lava Zone 1, the area most affected by its lava flow

While building their house, Zoe and Brian relied on information they found online. Zoe says: 'We didn't use heavy equipment to clear and build. Our hand tools were battery-powered, and we used a machete to clear a space for our house and driveway'

The couple spend around $1,000 (778) a month. Their biggest expense? 'The kids'

The family's shower unit, revealed on a TikTok house tour

What do you love the most about living off-grid?

She says: 'The peacefulness. The nature sounds. It sets a beautiful tone to everything you do.'

How do you manage the financial aspects of living off-grid?

Zoe explains that they have cut their living expenses by around 70 per cent and now spend around $1,000 (778) a month.

She says: 'My partner is a handyman, and I make money as a content creator. Our biggest expenses are the kids. It's nice not having to worry about so many unnecessary bills. We can save a lot of money this way and put our money towards quality of life. We have money for new experiences, our future and if anything breaks we can replace it without worrying about other bills.'

How do you deal with any medical emergencies?

The nearest hospital is an hour and a half drive from their house, but if there's a serious issue 'you have to be flown to another island [Oahu]'.

Zoe adds: 'I was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer when we were in the middle of buying our tiny house.

'It made things harder, but I firmly believe that being submerged in the jungle was the most healing place to be. I was devastated because I was given six months to live a year and a half ago. We had just started building our dream life and were ready to try for baby number three. It was a long year but I defied the odds, survived and beat it.'

Zoe explains that living expenses have been cut by around 70 per cent by living off-grid. Pictured above is their outhouse/kitchen

Pictured above is their bathroom in the process of being built

Pictured left is Zoe and Brian's bedroom. In the righthand image, her dog and cat in the living room

Zoe is pictured left above making bread in her kitchen. The right image shows her dancing in her living room

What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced living off-grid?

Living next to an active volcano, Zoe explains there are 'lava tubes all over the lot' - a natural tunnel formed by flowing lava beneath the hardened surface of a lava flow, which can continue to carry molten lava.

She says: 'If you're not careful with your steps you might just fall into one. Steam comes out of these tubes too. It's really noticeable when it's raining.'

They're also exposed to the elements and have to navigate earthquakes, which happen almost daily, torrential rain and severe storms, which can cause damage to their house.

How do you generate electricity?

Zoe says: 'We harvest solar power. Our panels can run our house while simultaneously charging our battery banks. We have plenty of power to run all the typical household appliances that people on the grid have. We started with a small setup and upgraded to more panels and better batteries over time.'

Living next to an active volcano, Zoe explains there are 'lava tubes all over the lot'. She says: 'If you're not careful with your steps you might just fall into one'

Zoe shares the homestead with nine ducks, three roosters, 15 hens, four cats and one pitbull rottweiler

FOR MORE FROM ZOE... For more visit Zoe's TikTok account -tiktok.com/@junglefairyland. Advertisement

Where do you get your food from?

Zoe says they get most of their food from land or trading with their neighbours. They have connections for fresh milk, cheese, beef, chicken, lamb and fish and trade the eggs their hens lay.

They also grow their own papayas, avocados, turmeric, bananas, lilikoi [passion fruit], and guava. She says: 'The only thing we buy at the store are our grains and treating kids from time to time with an ice cream or candy bar.'

Have you ever come across any dangerous animals?

Alongside her husband and children, Zoe shares the homestead with nine ducks, three roosters, 15 hens, four cats and one pitbull rottweiler.

She says that she has lost quite a few of her farm animals to mongoose, adding: 'They are a huge problem out here and the smell of compost attracts them. We have to try very hard to outsmart them. We spend most of our day outside and guard the farm.'

Would you ever return to life on the grid?

'Absolutely not,' she says.

'The cost of living for being on the grid vs off the grid doesn't even closely compare. We have every amenity that on-grid people have and it's more reliable.'

What advice would you give to anyone considering living off the grid?

Zoe says: 'Go for it. Learn to let go of materials and unlearn all the nonsense that society is trying to convince you is normal. At first, it's tough, it's a huge shift but so worth it.'
A flight attendant has revealed the chilling hotel safety tips she swears by - but viewers have pointed out some major flaws.

A flight attendant named Ally Case has sparked debate with her hotel safety check tips, shared as part of her '14 Days of Travel Tips' TikTok series in July.

Case captioned one video: 'Hotel safety check tips from a flight attendant. I do this every trip, for work and leisure.'

Her routine began by propping the door open with a suitcase while checking the room for any hidden intruders.

'When I first get to my room, I use my suitcase to prop the door open so I know I'm not locked in the room with a murderer while I'm doing my checks,' Case explained.

One flight attendant named Ally Case has sparked debate with her hotel safety check tips, shared as part of her '14 days of travel tips' series in July

Her routine begins by propping the door open with a suitcase while checking the room

She then scanned the entire space, including cabinets, curtains and under the bed.

'I first do a scan of the room and then I check the cabinets to make sure there are no people hiding in them,' she says.

'I go over to the curtains and I tap tap tap on both sides to make sure there are no people hiding behind the curtains as well.'

Case continued: 'Of course, you have to check under the bed, no one hiding under there. And then, I go over to the bathroom - we're all clear and safe in here.'

After completing her checks, she removed the suitcase from the door before locking and deadbolting it.

While some praised her caution, others called her neurotic and pointed out flaws in her system.

One viewer was quick to point out a potential danger of her process.

'What about someone walking in while the door is propped open?' the user commented.

Others shared their own chilling experiences, with one saying: 'This happens... A guy was hiding in my mom's room in Mexico... She saw the curtain move, and ran from the room. The guy was kicked out from the hotel.'

Some found her checks excessive, with one user joking: 'I am more worried about bedbugs than murderers hiding in my room.'

In another tip video, Case advised flipping luggage tags backward to protect personal information.

'I cannot tell you how many people I see on a daily basis with their information displayed for anyone to see - their name, their phone number, their home address,' she explained.

'What you can do instead is fill out the information card and flip it backwards,' Case suggested.

'That way when you're on the plane, on the train, you're not just giving your information to everyone but if your bag is actually lost someone can flip this over and get your information.'

A former baggage service employee disagreed. 'As a former baggage service employee, we will not flip it. We will assume that it's empty. Just include your email and not phone or address'

'You can also write "flip over" or something like that as well,' she continued.

However, one former baggage service employee disagreed.

'As a former baggage service employee, we will not flip it. We will assume that it's empty. Just include your email and not phone or address.'

Other viewers suggested alternative solutions, such as using a work address and office phone number or setting up a dedicated email address for luggage tags.

'I put my work address and office phone on it. I assume that if my bag is lost and there's no readily available info, they'll think I forgot to fill it out and not flip it over,' one user commented.

Case's final tip was to use an AirTag in checked luggage for tracking in case it get's lost

'I also don't put my home address on that tag. I've set up a dedicated email address instead,' another wrote.

Case's final tip was to use an AirTag in checked luggage for tracking in case it get's lost.

'If your bag gets lost, you can track it right from your phone,' she explained.

In response one user commented: 'I suck at changing the battery, seems so simple but I feel like I'm not doing something right.'

Although many called her out for being overly thorough, Case's concerns aren't entirely unfounded.

Christy Bautista, 31, of Harrisonburg, Virginia, was stabbed around 30 times by career criminal George Sydnor Jr., 43, in April 2023 after he broke into her hotel at 6:45pm

Bautista had checked into the Ivy City Hotel just an hour before and had parked her car directly in front of room 116, where she was staying

Hotel crimes appear to be on the rise, with a 2023 report showing a terrifying crime wave of rapists allegedly targeting women in hotel rooms at well-known chains across the US.

A woman was stabbed to death in a Washington, DC, hotel room last year by an armed robber who was out on bond and was caught trying to smoke a cigarette covered in blood.

Christy Bautista, 31, of Harrisonburg, Virginia, was stabbed around 30 times by career criminal George Sydnor Jr., 43, after he broke into her hotel at 6:45 in the evening last April. She was there to attend a concert.

In 2022, a woman was raped at a Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Gonzales, Texas, after a man was able to enter her room after convincing hotel staff to give him a key card.

A lawyer representing the victim told The New York Post: 'The woman was asleep and she woke up to the man crouched at the foot of her bed with his pants undone and a condom out.'
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It's known for its glamour, influencers and record-breaking architectural projects. But Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, was once a simple village.

Up until the 1950s, residents relied upon fishing and pearl-diving to make money. However, the invention of artificial pearls in Japan hastened the end of Dubai's pearl industry.

Then, everything changed. Oil was struck in the Persian Gulf in 1966 - and the enriched city was thrown into a period of rapid development.

Dubai Creek - a natural seawater port - was widened to increase trade and the Dubai World Trade Centre was completed in 1979.

More recently, Dubai has turned its attention to tourism. A network of artificial holiday islands, known as The Palm, was finished in 2007 and the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa (830m/2,723ft), opened in 2010. Dubai was even named the world's best destination in Tripadvisor's 2024 Travellers' Choice awards.

Here, MailOnline Travel has selected a series of photographs that demonstrate the extreme transformation of Dubai from fishing village to oil city. Take a look. And no, your eyes do not deceive you...

MailOnline Travel has selected a series of photographs that demonstrate the extreme transformation of Dubai from fishing village to oil city. The top image shows Dubai Creek in 1937 when the area 'was still wholly reliant on fishing, trading and pearl diving', says Visit Dubai. It's a far cry from the Dubai of today, seen in the lower image, where the Burj Khalifa stands centre stage in the city's downtown

This image shows ships unloading cargo from Dubai Creek in 1967. Unesco says: 'The creek was likely the actual raison d'etre of Dubai's creation and early development as a trading port'

Cement workers (above) are captured at Dubai's cement wharf in 1967. Following the discovery of oil in 1966, the city began major building projects, which required plenty of building materials. Vast amounts of cement were brought in on ships, which moored offshore. Barges then transported it to the wharf, where it was carried into the city by individual workers

Visit Dubai says: 'The Dubai Creek has changed and evolved many times over the centuries, and continues to be developed today.' This photograph, taken in 1967, shows workers on the waterway on wooden barges

Ships are pictured here on Dubai Creek in 1967. While the area has changed, it remains 'the heart and soul of the city' says Visit Dubai. The tourism board adds: 'Despite the development of modern ports for huge ships, the shores continue to see dhows [traditional masted sailing vessels] arrive laden with everything from textiles to technology'

This image shows the banks of Dubai Creek in 1977 with a construction project ongoing in the background. Abras, traditional wooden ferry boats - once the only way to cross the Creek - are still in use today and tourists can hop aboard for an 'affordable and authentic experience', says Visit Dubai

The Jumeirah Beach Residence is a luxury waterfront community in Dubai Marina. The top photo shows construction on the project in 2005. It was completed in 2007 and is shown in its finished form in the lower image

Sheikh Zayed Road is one of Dubai's main throughways, situated a few streets away from the waterfront. The area around the road has seen rapid development over the years - as demonstrated by the changes between these two pictures. The top photo was taken in 2005 and the second in 2020. Agoda.com says: 'Sheikh Zayed road is home to some of the most impressive skyscrapers in Dubai'

The Palm Jumeirah is an archipelago of artificial islands, designed in the shape of a palm tree. Work began on the project in 2001 and the top image reflects the progress made by 2003. The bottom photo shows the completed project, which is home to around 30 hotels and more than 4,000 houses

The Emirates Towers on Sheikh Zayed road, pictured in the top image during construction in 1999, are a 'primary feature on the Dubai skyline' says Visit Dubai. The area has since developed further and the Museum of the Future - the circular silver building in front of the towers in the lower photo - opened in 2022

Construction on the Jumeirah Mosque began in 1975 - the top photo shows the project's progress by 1977. It was completed in 1979 and its finished form can be seen in the lower photo. Visit Dubai describes the mosque as one of Dubai's 'most iconic landmarks' and the only mosque that 'welcomes non-Muslim guests six days a week'

The Deira Clocktower pictured in 1974 (top) and 50 years later in 2024 (bottom). Visit Dubai says: 'The tower is a key landmark signifying the first land-crossing between Deira and Bur Dubai (two sides of the city once split by the Dubai Creek) across the Al Maktoum bridge'

The top photograph shows a sunbather at a hotel in 1974, before tourism truly took off in Dubai. Visitor numbers were boosted by the creation of the Dubai Commerce and Tourism Promotion Board in 1989, which promoted the city as a luxury destination. According to Visit Dubai, the city welcomed 9.31million tourists between January and June in 2024. One of the most enticing places to stay is the Burj Al Arab five-star luxury hotel (centre, bottom), which was completed in 1999 and claims to be 'Dubai's most iconic hotel'
'Mykonos, I do believe, has a problem.'

So says 63-year-old solo traveller, writer and vlogger Christina Ford (@insearchofmrdarcy and A-Broad in London.com), following experiences on the Greek island that have left her vowing never to return.

One was being handed a 'rip-off' hotel bill, with staff pressuring her to pay extra tips on top of tips she'd already paid.

Christina, who lives in London, recounts the tale in a TikTok video, telling viewers: 'This is insane. Mykonos, I don't know what the hell's going on with you.'

The solo traveller describes how she received her hotel bill when she was checking out, which included the cost of the hotel, taxes on top of that, government taxes, the price for food she'd ordered to the pool, plus taxes, and a tip for that.

Christina Ford says experiences she had on the Greek island of Mykonos (pictured above) have left her vowing never to return

She continues: 'I'm putting down my credit card, but they leave a little spot and they're waiting for me. Two people standing over me. I go, "What's this?" They say, "Oh, to leave a tip."'

Christina continues in the clip: 'This tipping service, this culture is getting crazy. Has anyone ever been asked to leave a tip on your room cost and tips you've already left? Mykonos, you're out of your mind.'

The keen traveller tells MailOnline she stayed at the hotel for three nights, at a room rate of around 700 euros (593.77/$777). Although she really liked the hotel, she says she was left 'shocked beyond belief' by the tip request and didn't pay it.

Christina says: 'In all my years of travel, I had never seen anything like this. I also believe that if I were Greek and not Canadian - often mistaken for American - I wouldn't have been asked.'

As a former waitress, Christina tells MailOnline she's a 'generous tipper if the service is good' but 'really resents a whopping amount being added to your bill, forcing you to go through the awkward effort to get it removed or reduced'.

Her Mykonos nightmare didn't end there.

In another TikTok video, Christina warns solo travellers to avoid the Greek island due to the negative experiences she had at several bars.

Christina, pictured above on a recent holiday in Marrakech, is a keen solo traveller

In the video, she recalls trying to get a drink at a bar to watch the sunset. She explains that as she was on her way to meet friends, she only wanted one drink. Christina says the first bar she tried was about a 'third full' with 'lots of empty seats', but staff told her there was a 100-euro (84/$109) minimum order.

At a second bar, which was almost 'completely empty', she was told she needed a reservation and was quizzed on whether she was a solo traveller before being turned away.

In the video, Christina describes the experience as 'discrimination' and says she could only get a table at the fourth place she tried.

Separately, she tells MailOnline the Greek island was her worst experience as a solo traveller, explaining: 'Mykonos, in its obvious desperation to make a buck, discriminates, I believe, against solo travellers. They were not willing to seat one person at a table for two, even if the place was empty.'

Christina's videos proved controversial, with some 'trolls' even addressing her as a 'Middle Aged Karen'. However, she tells MailOnline: 'Those trolls telling me to "go back to Texas, Karen" were outnumbered by people who had similar experiences and were only too happy to share.

'It also sparked another debate among Greeks: those who defended their overpriced island of Mykonos (a minority) by stating that it was me and my kind that was the problem, not Mykonos, and those Greeks who loudly declared, "Mykonos is not Greece."'

Christina reveals to MailOnline that one Mykonos restaurant even privately messaged her to check it wasn't their venue that had turned her away - it wasn't - as it found the treatment of her 'appalling'.

Christina has now blacklisted Mykonos.

She tells MailOnline: 'I would give Mykonos a complete pass. To quote Oscar Wilde, once is curiosity, twice perversion.

Christina tried to get a drink to enjoy the island's sunset views but was turned away from three bars (stock image)

'What made the island popular in the first place has slowly been replaced with overinflated prices and entitlement. I can afford to pay for great food and service, but no one likes to be ripped off or taken advantage of, regardless of their budget.

'If you want to drink a 180-euro (152/$200) bottle of Whispering Angel rose while paying 110 euros (93/$121) for the privilege of lying on a sunbed on an average beach, go for it. But the world is filled with better places to see, where they are genuinely happy to serve you.'

And one of those places? Nearby Hydra, another Greek island - where Whispering Angel is just 60 euros (50) - and a spot Christina recommends in her video.

She adds to MailOnline: 'Hydra was lovely. No cars, you walk everywhere, and they greet you gladly.'

Christina also loves Seville in Spain - 'an amazing destination for solo travellers' - and Italy - where people treat women 'like you're somebody's sister or daughter'.

The solo traveller also recalls a fantastic experience at Balthazar restaurant in London, telling MailOnline: 'I placed my order, and before my food came, the waiter brought a glass of Champagne. I said, "Excuse me, I didn't order that," and he said, "It is our gift to you for being on your own," and offered something else if I didn't drink. This is the restaurant's policy on how they treat solo diners. That experience stayed with me.'

She adds: 'Treat the solo traveller the same as if you were a table of 10. Spend a little time and talk to them - plus, that free glass of Champagne doesn't hurt.'
No matter how good the housing market is, 5,000 for a home sounds like the bargain of the century.

But according to one Homes Under The Hammer contestant, this was not the steal he expected when he appeared on the beloved BBC show.

Developer Jordan Robb, who appeared on the show in May, claimed the purchase had hidden costs that viewers don't think about.

Homes under the Hammer follows houses from their sale at auction to their striking renovations from their new owners.

Hosts Martin Roberts, Dion Dublin and Martel Maxwell are loved by viewers on the fan-favourite show.

Developer Jordan Robb, who appeared on Homes Under The Hammer in May, claimed his seemingly bargain purchase had hidden costs that the show have kept hidden from viewers

Homes under the Hammer follows houses from their sale at auction to their striking renovations from their new owners (Jordan pictured with show host Martel Maxwell)

The show, which first aired in 2003, broadcast an episode in which current presenter Martel Maxwell took the auction-based show to Dunfermline, Scotland.

This is where she met Jordan, who shocked BBC viewers with his extensive experience in the business.

But after learning the tricks of the trade since he was 19, he has now revealed to The Sun that the market process is nowhere near as easy as the show made it out to be, and they left out some important costs.

'What they don't realise is right away your mortgage is maybe a few hundred pounds,' he told the publication.

'Then you've got all your running costs. Things people don't think about is you've got your insurance on the property and other expenses.

'You've then obviously got your margin for all your repairs and maintenance, you've got to find tenants who will pay, you've got vacancies in between tenancies and stuff like that.

'So there's all these things that they need to consider, that 650 comes down to 250 before you know it. Then if you have a couple of repairs on that property by the end of it you're not really left with a great deal.'

He told the publication that there is a misconception that people can buy one or two properties and the money will roll in.

The show, which first aired in 2003, broadcast an episode in which current presenter Martel Maxwell took the auction-based show to Dunfermline, Scotland

This is where she met Jordan, who shocked BBC viewers with his extensive experience in the business

But after learning the tricks of the trade since he was 19, he has now revealed to The Sun that the market process is nowhere near as easy as the show made it out to be (Pictured: the bathroom in the house)

On the show, fans watched in amazement as he transformed a previously 'uninhabitable' home - where the guide price sat at only 5,000.

The one-bedroom ground-floor flat had no kitchen, the plasterwork was crumbling apart, and parts of the ceiling were missing.

He eventually bought it for 52,000, and by the time he finished completely transforming the house, its value had been revealed to be between 85,000 and 95,000.

But while the 33,000 hike in value seems like a nice investment, Jordan revealed that the hidden costs are not explained on the show, and many people overlook them.

he explained he spent over 20,000 in renovations and so his overall investment profit sat a less impressive 13,000.

On the show, he revealed to Martel that he embarked in the property business because he wanted to be self employed and have his own business.

Homes Under The Hammer first aired in November 2003 and has been popular among BBC viewers ever since.

The likes of Martin Roberts, Jacqui Joseph and Tommy Walsh are beloved by viewers for their work on the show.
The grandson of Hollywood star Paul Hogan is back in jail after police allegedly caught him with illicit drugs after alleged petty theft and shoplifting sprees.

Daily Mail Australia has obtained exclusive photos of once-handsome Jake Paul Hogan looking skinny and ice-ravaged before police seized him on an arrest warrant.

The 34-year-old is now behind bars at Parklea prison, having traded a comfortable city motel bed for a cell at the infamous western Sydney correctional facility.

Hogan had been free and serving a community order after his dad Todd made a mercy dash with Jake's sister Lara from New Zealand to plead for his release in May.

He promised to help Jake stick to court-imposed conditions, including abstaining from drugs and alcohol, not committing other offences and appearing in court as required.

But within eight days of his release, police arrested Jake for an earlier alleged theft of a bike.

And shortly before midnight on July 27, Hogan was arrested again in Glebe in Sydney's inner west.

He was charged with possession of 1.5g of methamphetamine and also possessing housebreaking implements including an adjustable spanner.

Crococdile Dundee star Paul Hogan's once good-looking grandson Jake Hogan (above) looks worse for wear since an alleged return to ice after his release from prison

When Jake was freed from Silverwater jail after a mercy dash by his dad Todd, he looked more like his younger self

Hogan was ordered to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on August 2, but Magistrate Clare Farnan issued a warrant for his arrest when he failed to turn up.

He was arrested six days later and charged with another earlier crime - stealing a black Trek Marlin mountain bike, reckless destroying a bike cage fence and entering enclosed lands at Woolloomooloo in February.

He was also charged with shoplifting a Red Bull energy drink and two oat health slices worth a total of $9.60 from Woolworths in July.

The Proactive Crime Unit in Kings Cross also charged him with possessing vehicle breaking implements at Kingsford in June, and he is also charged with contravening an AVO.

After being released from Silverwater prison in May, Hogan went to live with his father at Edgecliff Lodge Motel in Sydney's east.

But Hogan reportedly snubbed a quiet life of family dinners, preferring instead to meet up with friends for nights out on the town.

Jake and his dad Todd in Sydney before the young carpenter allegedly went off the rails on the drug ice and began breaking into premises and stealing bikes

A recent photo of Jake Hogan after his release from prison and allegedly returning to methamphetamine use amid an arrest for several theft and other charges

The former carpenter once had a nice home, car, steady job and a girlfriend he hoped to marry - but his life took a downward spiral earlier this year when the relationship ended.

Jake's father Todd is one of Paul Hogan's five children with first wife, Noelene.

The famous grandfather, who has won the Golden Globe Best Actor in a musical or comedy for his breakout role of Mick 'Crocodile' Dundee in 1987, lives in Los Angeles.

Paul Hogan has also faced adversity with his son, Chance, who he had with second wife, and Crocodile Dundee co-star, Linda Kozlowski.

Todd Hogan, the son of Crocodile Dundee star Paul Hogan, and his daughter Lara leave Downing Centre courts after coming to the rescue of Jake, and securing his freedom from jail

Paul Hogan, above with his second wife Linda Kozlowski in 2013, found Hollywood stardom for his role as Crocodile Dundee

Jake's decline is partly blamed on the fact he allegedly never got over the death of his mother, Marie, who suffered from multiple sclerosis and died when Jake was aged 17 in 2006.

Todd Hogan eventually remarried to registered nurse Jane, and the couple live in New Zealand while Jake remained in Sydney.

In May, Deputy Chief Magistrate Sharon Freund told Todd Hogan and Jake's sister Lara that she was more inclined to release Jake from behind bars because of the family's show of strength.

'This is a young man who needs some scaffolding,' the magistrate said. 'He totally has the opportunity to turn his life around.'

The magistrate gave him a stern warning that if he breached the conditions of his Intensive Corrections Order, he could go back into jail, 'and nobody wants that'.

Jake Hogan will return to court, via AVL from prison, on August 28. If found guilty and convicted, he could face several years in jail.
The Block's tradies have revealed who the 2024 season villain is and shed a light on their shocking salaries.

The 20th anniversary season of the Channel Nine competition kicked off earlier this month, with the teams each taking on a huge renovation project on Phillip Island.

However, it was not all smooth-sailing and the show has brought its usual dose of drama, with an insider hinting at tension behind the scenes between the cast and their tradies.

Daily Mail Australia can confirm that houses one, two and three all kick off their tradies, with it being the 'most hectic' season yet for people getting fired and re-hired.

While every team had their difficulties, it has been claimed that house two's Grant was the 'villain' of the 2024 series, according to one workman.

The claims come recent scenes saw Grant and his wife Courtney clashing with their builders in a tense altercation over time management and costs.

One builder confirmed he 'hated' working with Grant, telling Daily Mail Australia: 'Courtney and Grant were pretty cut throat during their time in Phillip Island.'

'It is fair to say that every house has their ''villain'', with the girls admitting themselves that the 2024 season has a certain type of power dynamic in terms of the way they assert themselves,' they added.

The Block's tradies have revealed that Grant (pictured with his wife Courtney) is the 'villain' of the 2024 series and shed a light on their shocking salaries

Recent scenes saw Grant and his wife Courtney clashing with their builders (pictured) in a tense altercation over time management and costs

A long-standing producer also confirmed that the show's tradesmen were forced to deal with 'poor communication and some childish behaviour' across the board.

'The tradies this year will tell you that House One (Paige and Jesse), House Two (Courtney and Grant) and House Three (Ricky and Haydn) were the most difficult to work with,' they claimed.

'There were ongoing issues throughout those builds in Phillip Island. With tradesmen pointing out "poor communication and some childish behaviour".'

'The builders were treated quite poorly and you could tell it affected the mood on set,' they added.

One tradie claimed the workmen mostly walked away 'disappointed' with their experiences on the show and shed light into exactly how much they are paid.

It was claimed they have a set wage which is agreed on at the start of every season, with experienced builders earning $75 per hour this year while apprentices worked for as low as $25 per hour.

Builders are believed to pay for their own travel and accommodation to be on the show, with some reporting that it actually costs them money to be there.

They can work six days a week and be on task for 12-hour days, with 'tools down' usually falling at 6pm, with some earlier finishes at 4pm due to council restrictions.

A long-standing producer also confirmed that the tradesmen were forced to deal with 'poor communication and some childish behaviour' across the board (pictured: Jesse and Paige)

Ricky and Hayden were also cited among the contestants who were most difficult to work with, after it was claimed host Scotty Cam was not happy with their 'diva antics'

It was also claimed that builders are not allowed to be tagged in social media posts, meaning their businesses are getting 'less exposure than in previous seasons'.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Nine for comment.

The bombshell claims come after Grant was seen having a tense altercation with his builders during a recent episode as they clashed over time management.

Grant and his wife Courtney hired four tradies rather than the usual two and were left fuming over 'consistent delays' to their project.

'The budget last week... the consistent delays has then turned into us paying for plasterers that are waiting to be here,' Grant told Foreman Dan.

'I've got to the point of going, ''This is when you promised, this is when they started, this is the delay and this is what's coming out of you bill''.'

An enraged Grant told the builders that he wouldn't be paying their invoice when it came in $15,000 over budget as he fumed they weren't as productive as the smaller teams.

The tradies said they would volunteer two men for the day of work if Grant didn't want to pay as he insisted his refusal wasn't about the money, but their delays.

The builders told how they would stay to get the job done as Grant walked off the site fuming in the very tense moment.
Matthew Perry did not intend to die. What is clear, after reading the official documents from the criminal investigation which followed his death, is that he was, however, recklessly and habitually seeking narcotic oblivion when he eventually met his end.

The day he died, October 28, 2023, was meant to be just like the four days which had preceded it  a day spent being injected with the dissociative drug ketamine, which is FDA-approved for the induction and maintenance of general anaesthesia during surgery.

Court documents reveal that on each of those days the much-loved Friends star ordered his live-in assistant, Kenny Iwamasa  known as Alfred to Perrys Batman  to inject him with the drug six times a day.

Some days he even injected him eight times.

According to his statement to prosecutors, on the day his employer died, Iwamasa  who had no formal medical training  injected him at 8.30am, and then again at 12.45pm while Perry watched a movie. He was then asked to prepare Perry a hot tub before being commanded: Shoot me up a big one.

Iwamasa admits he did as he was told, when Perry was either near, or in, the hot tub at his Pacific Palisades mansion. He then went out on errands for two-and-a-half hours.

On his return, he found his employer face-down and unresponsive in the water.

Matthew Perry with assistant Kenny Iwamasa, who injected him with drugs

The coroner found the actor, 54, died due to the acute effects of ketamine with drowning a contributory factor.

Following his death, those who loved Perry have been clamouring for answers to a number of disturbing questions about his lifestyle and ultimate death.

However, as prosecutors seek justice against those in Perrys circle who, they allege, played a part in his death, even more questions keep arising.

Chief among them: why was the actor left alone in his house to die? Would it have made a difference if his nursing team, whod been on his payroll for years due to his addictions and health issues, had not been let go?

Why and who did let them go?

And, crucially, what if he had not been cared for solely by Kenny Iwamasa, whose previous work experience was as an executive assistant (essentially a secretary) to Perrys agent Doug Chapin?

What if hed been looked after by someone with experience of being a sober companion  and by someone who had worked with drug addicts before?

Questions abound about Perry too, described by multiple sources as manipulative and at times angry and cruel. To what extent was Iwamasa railroaded by his employer?

This complicated quandary was summed up by one friend, who said: Dont get me started on my opinion of Kenny and Kennys actions or decisions. There is a special place in hell for someone who is willing to stick a needle full of drugs into another human being who just published a book about sobriety. But the friend adds: Im by no means saying Matthew is a victim.

Another source close to the actor points out that Perry had very few people around him late last year, and was very isolated.

Previously, hed had two assistants plus a nursing team on hand to supervise the taking of prescribed medications and in case of medical emergencies.

At some point in 2023 Perrys nursing care was discontinued. His friends and family dont doubt that getting rid of the nurses was his decision. US Weekly magazine reports that he was verbally, emotionally and physically abusive to at least one of them.

However sources point out that Perrys taste for ketamine, which seemed to have taken over from a decades-long struggle with oxycontin, came with its own deadly consequences which any medical professional could have foreseen.

Questions abound about Perry too, described by multiple sources as manipulative and at times angry and cruel

As is noted by the district court bringing the charges against his pushers: Due to the medical risks associated with ketamine, it was widely accepted in the medical community that a health care professional was required to monitor a patient who had just been given ketamine.

The court adds: While monitoring a patient who had been administered ketamine, it was necessary for the health care professional to have access to certain lifesaving equipment, including a defibrillator, a supply of supplemental oxygen, equipment to monitor the patients heart rate and breathing, and medication to ensure patient safety.

None of this was present for Perry at the time.

That this was a huge risk must have been evident. In his plea agreement with prosecutors  a deal struck between the prosecution and defence teams in which a defendant agrees to plead guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for a more lenient sentence  Iwamasa concedes that in the month leading up to Perrys death he found him unconscious at least twice due to his drug use.

The plea agreement even states: Victim MPs death was a natural and foreseeable consequence of the conspiracy based on, among other things, the frequency and amount of ketamine that defendant was administering to Victim MP, defendants observations of Victim MPs adverse reactions to ketamine injections in October 2023, and the fact that defendant was administering ketamine injections to Victim MP with no medical training, or any access to medical equipment necessary to counteract an adverse reaction to ketamine.

His death was no bolt from the blue, then, but a foreseeable consequence of a rampaging addiction. Now some are saying that Perrys addiction must surely have been obvious from his financial records if nothing else.

Iwamasa concedes that he met alleged drug dealer Dr Salvador Plasencia seven times and handed over $55,000 in total in a 29 day period.

All his staff  indeed all expenses  were apparently approved and paid by Lisa Ferguson, his long-term business manager. Perry reportedly had a $120 million trust fund and Lisa looked after all of his financial outgoings.

Did Ferguson know? A pal tells me: Lisa or Lisas office handled all of his finances. Everything, every bill, every credit card. So I would imagine there is someone that saw what was going out. We are not talking about an amount you remove from an ATM.

It should of course be stressed that Lisa may not have known and there could be some other explanation.

Indeed, in a text message from early October 2023 reproduced as part of the indictment, Iwamasa tells Plasencia that he was struggling to get to the bank quickly and often enough to keep up with the funds Perry was spending.

Ferguson did not respond to requests for comment about Perrys staff, and neither did publicists for his estate or foundation.

So what is the truth about his circle?

One assistant, Briana Brancato, quit in 2023 after seven years. While the previous year his live-in sober companion, Morgan Moses, had left his employ, too.

She had joined his team in 2018, from her previous job in a rehab clinic. She left after an angry confrontation when he shoved her onto a bed.

Iwamasa was hired not long afterwards. He faces up to 15 years in jail, reduced as he pleaded guilty to supplying the drugs which killed his employer.

San Diego physician, Dr Mark Chavez, has also pleaded guilty to one count of supply, as has drug distributor Erik Fleming.

Dr Plasencia has pleaded not guilty to ten charges including conspiracy to distribute ketamine.

Alleged drug dealer, the so-called California Ketamine Queen Jasveen Sangha has pleaded not guilty to all charges of possession and distribution of ketamine.

As the charges and accusations continue to mount, and the truth about Perrys nihilistic lifestyle is revealed, another, even more pressing question emerges: how did he last so long?
Simon Baker looked downcast as he was seen for the first time since being charged with two drink driving-related offences.

The Boy Swallows Universe star, 55, kept a low-profile as he left a warehouse in Alexandria, Sydney, on Friday.

Baker, who is due to appear in court in less than two weeks' time, cut a casual figure in a blue jumper and baggy jeans, which he styled with brown sandals.

The Mentalist actor framed his face with a pair of tinted glasses and was seen texting as he stepped out during the low-key outing.

It marked the first time the Hollywood A-lister has been seen since being charged with two drink driving-related offences.

Baker is facing charges that include attempting to drive while under influence of alcohol, and driving a vehicle under influence of alcohol.

He was granted bail with no conditions and will appear in Mullumbimby Local Court, in northern NSW, on September 4.

The Devil Wears Prada star has frequently been photographed driving around Byron Bay in a Tesla.

Simon Baker looked downcast as he was seen for the first time since being charged with drink driving offences

The Boy Swallows Universe star, 55, kept a low-profile as he left a warehouse in Alexandria, Sydney, on Friday

He is well-recognised for his portrayal of Patrick Jane in The Mentalist between 2008 and 2015, which earned him a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2013.

He also narrowly missed out on a Logie Award on Sunday for his leading role in the Netflix adaptation of Australian author Trent Dalton's Boy Swallows Universe.

Though he was absent from the ceremony, Baker was nominated for the Silver Logie for best lead actor in a drama.

However, he was beat to the gong by his co-star Felix Cameron, 15, who also took home the Graham Kennedy Award for most popular new talent.

Also nominated in the category were Love Me's Hugo Weaving, Total Control and RFDS's Rob Collins and Sam Reid from The Newsreader.

Cameron starred as lead character Eli Bell in the seven-part Netflix series, based on the popular novel by Trent Dalton about a Brisbane family torn apart by a drug lord.

Boy Swallows Universe cleaned up on the night, taking home an impressive five awards in a landslide victory, beating all other Aussie productions.

Baker, who is due to appear in court in less than two weeks' time, cut a casual figure in a blue jumper and baggy jeans, which he styled with brown sandals

The Mentalist actor framed his face with a pair of tinted glasses and was seen texting as he stepped out during the low-key outing

Baker is facing charges that include attempting to drive while under influence of alcohol , and driving a vehicle under influence of alcohol

He was granted bail with no conditions and will appear in Mullumbimby Local Court, in northern NSW , on September 4

Baker is well-recognised for his portrayal of Patrick Jane in The Mentalist between 2008 and 2015, which earned him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2013

Bryan Brown took home the Silver Logie for best supporting actor, while Sophie Wilde won best supporting actress and the series as a whole also nabbed best miniseries.

Baker, who played Robert Bell in the Netflix hit, was previously married to Rebecca Rigg but they confirmed their separation in 2021 after 29 years of marriage.

It is believed the couple quietly separated in 2020, months before officially confirming the news publicly.

They have three children and own a property together in Nashua, near Byron Bay.

Baker has a long history in the NSW northern rivers region, having spent much of his youth in Lennox Head.

Following his marriage breakdown, he briefly dated Byron Bay activewear designer Laura May Gibbs.
Coleen Nolan has revealed it has become a daily ritual for her to check for signs of cancer everyday after the tragic effects the disease has had on her family.

The Loose Women presenter, who is one if six sisters, candidly admitted she is terrified she will be the family member targeted by the disease next.

Cancer has significantly affected the Nolan family after the sisters lost Bernie, 52, in 2013 after a three year battle with breast cancer.

Meanwhile both Anne, 73, and Linda, 65, have also both battled breast cancer with Linda's becoming terminal after it returned in 2017.

Speaking to The Mirror Coleen opened up about the preventative measures she takes as she explained: 'We have had so much heartache... I'm always checking. I still have this thing when I think, "What if I have missed it?"

Coleen Nolan has revealed it has become a daily ritual for her to check for signs of cancer everyday after the tragic effects the disease has had on her family

Cancer has significantly affected the Nolan family after the sisters lost Bernie, 52, in 2013 after a three year battle with breast cancer. Meanwhile both Anne, 73, and Linda, 65, have also both battled breast cancer with Linda's becoming terminal after it returned in 2017

'Whenever I'm in the shower, I will have a good feel and check and if there is ever a time when I think "I don't like that", I will go to the doctor straight away. And they will say "It's fine, it's a little cyst or an infection".

While Coleen hopes she doesn't get the disease, she explained that if she is unfortunate she wants to catch it early.

Revealing how much she spends on health care, she admitted: 'My breast specialist is 225 a year. People say, "It's all right for you, you've got money". But you could probably spend that in a year on takeaways, down the pub or on cigarettes.'

The TV star pays for regular appointments with a breast specialist, in addition to her NHS mammogram every two years.

The eldest Nolan sister Anne, 73, was first diagnosed with cancer in 2000 and then two decades later revealed she had been diagnosed with stage three breast cancer.

Fortunately she revealed she was cancer free in December of that year after undergoing a course of chemotherapy.

Meanwhile their other sister Linda, 65, was first diagnosed with stage-three breast cancer in 2005 before getting the all-clear in 2006.

But the disease sadly returned in 2017 and spread to her liver and brain.

Coleen opened up about the preventative measures she takes as she explained: 'We have had so much heartache... I'm always checking. I still have this thing when I think, "What if I have missed it?" (pictured with Linda in 2016)

In 2013, Bernie Nolan passed away after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010, and despite being given the all-clear the disease returned in 2012

Coleen told the publication that Linda has now admitted she waited too long before getting checked, whereas both times Anne found a lump it was only the size of a 'grain of rice' and she has never needed a mastectomy.

Meanwhile Anne was recently was overcome with emotion as she opened up about her health battle earlier this month.

Speaking to host Christine Lampard about her battle with the illness she explained: 'I am so lucky, I had my first cancer in 2000, I had my chemotherapy, radiotherapy and an operation.

'After six months of chemo, I was fine, then 20 years later almost to the day, it came back again in a different breast.'

Anne explained that when the cancer returned two decades later, it was two separate cancers and she underwent more chemotherapy, radiotherapy and another operation.

Holding back her tears, she added: 'I'm happy to say that, I'm clear. I've got another year before I'm actually discharged.

'But I'm clear of cancer at the moment thank goodness. I count myself really, really lucky.'

'Whereas sometimes you see families with three children and they've all had cancer. If you look at it like that, we're kind of lucky in a way as well that only three of us have had it.'

Meanwhile Anne was recently was overcome with emotion as she opened up about her health battle earlier this month after her breast cancer returned two decades later

Meanwhile their other sister Linda has also been diagnosed with incurable cancer after she was first diagnosed with stage-three breast cancer in 2005 before getting the all-clear in 2006 (pictured together in August 2020)

In March, Linda revealed her latest cancer scan has shown 'no progression in the disease' after learning her tumours had shrunk.

Paying tribute to her sister, Anne said: 'And Linda's not very well at the moment, although she's fantastic, she's so upbeat about it all. She has moments, she calls them her duvet days.

'But she still goes out, she does things with the family and gets out there. She doesn't let it get her down too much, she's amazing.'

Anne previously said it was the 'best thing' having her sister Linda by her side during her cancer treatment.

Discussing their cancer battle in a joint interview with New! magazine in 2021, the sisters said it has brought the family 'closer' and they also discussed their new 'emotional' book Stronger Together.

Anne admitted it was a 'relief' to have Linda by her side as due to the coronavirus pandemic, she was unable to bring anyone with her to the hospital and usually her two daughters Amy and Alex would have attended treatment with her.
John Legend got the crowd on their feet as he performed Prince's hit Let's Go Crazy with Shelia E. during night three of the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Wednesday.

But there's been mixed reactions to Legend's rendition, with some fans of the late Prince describing it as less than 'legendary' and out of his range.

Others felt that Legend wasn't the right fit for the song and that Shelia E. should've performed solo.

Now, Prince's former manager and attorney, L. Londell McMillian, is weighing in on the online scrutiny, and it turns out he's more forgiving than Legend's detractors.

McMillian, 58, who saw Legend's DNC performance in-person, told TMZ he thinks he did a fine job.

John Legend got the crowd on their feet as he performed Prince's hit Let's Go Crazy with Shelia E. during night three of the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Wednesday

But there's been mixed reactions to Legend's rendition, with some fans of the late Prince describing it as less than 'legendary' and out of his range

However, he shared a disclaimer that there's only one Prince.

McMillan was thrust into the limelight back in 1996 when Prince hired him to free him from his multi-year contract with Warner Bros., ultimately winning the case, giving his career a huge boost at just 30, Crain's New York Business reports.

The New York City native  who has had such other high-profile clients as Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Lil' KIm and Chaka Khan  said he feels everybody is entitled to their own opinions about Legend's performance.

He went on to marvel at Prince's ability to craft a powerful message with his music, and even though he has since passed on in April 2016, his message was again felt at the DNC in Chicago.

Let's Go Crazy served as the opening track for Prince And The Revolution's now classic studio album Purple Rain, as well as the second single off the album that was released back in June 1984.

The track turned out to be one of those enduring hit that was a staple at his concerts and often used as a segue way into his other songs.

The song has the distinction of being Prince's second number one hit to top the Billboard Hot 100, all while topping such other charts at the time as the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and the Hot Dance Club Play chart.

Others felt that Legend wasn't the right fit for the song and that Shelia E. (left) should've performed solo

Now, Prince's former manager and attorney, L. Londell McMillian, is weighing in on the online outcry, and it turns out he's more forgiving than Legend's detractors; McMillian seen with Prince

McMillian, 58, who saw the DNC performance in-person, told TMZ he thinks Legend did a fine job; seen in 2023

Let's Go Crazy, which served as the second single and opening track off Purple Rain, went on to become Prince's second number one hit

Sheila E. (born Sheila Cecilia Escovedo), 66, started to collaborate with the Minneapolis, Minnesota legend after she broke off with her old band in 1983.

The experience would help the so-called Queen Of Percussion pave out a solo career, leading to her debut 1984 album that included her biggest hit, The Glamorous Life.

While Legend is similar to Prince in that he's a well-rounded musician that can play instruments and sing, his music has leans more on smooth and jazzy, with lots of R&B flavor.

The EGOT winner is poised to release his 10th studio album, My Favorite Dream, on August 30, which marks his first foray into children's music.

He already dropped the first single, L-O-V-E, two weeks ago, featuring wife Chrissy Teigen, their six-year-old son Miles and eight-year-old daughter Luna.
Laura Byrne has revealed she wants to 'move to Noosa' after spending more than $2million on her 'dream' house on the New South Wales south coast.

The Bachelor star, 38, and her husband Matty J Johnson have just purchased a rundown house in Ulladulla, south of Sydney, as part of a big renovation project.

However, Bondi-based Laura hinted that another big move isn't off the cards as she admitted she would be interested in relocating to Noosa in an Instagram video.

Speaking to camera during a sun-soaked girls' holiday to the beachside spot, Laura admitted it might be hard to get her husband Matty on-board with her plans.

Showing her fans the views, she gushed: 'I am not being paid by Noosa tourism to hock Noosa but - I mean I wish I was - look, I'm sorry, there's people down there stand-up paddle boarding.

'This is paradise! I wonder how it's going to go when I get home and try to convince my husband that we should move to Noosa. Wish me luck.'

Laura also took to her Stories on Saturday to share an array of snaps of herself enjoying the sights of the popular tourist spot.

In one shot, Laura cut a sporty figure in a grey oversized T-shirt and black bike shorts as she had the time of her life on a coastal walk around Noosa.

Laura Byrne has revealed she wants to 'move to Noosa' after spending more than $2million on her 'dream' house on the New South Wales south coast (she is pictured in Noosa)

During a holiday with her pals to the beachside spot, Bondi-based Laura hinted that another big move isn't off the cards as she admitted she would be interested in relocating to Noosa

She also showed off her incredible figure in a blue two-piece as she hit the beach with her friend to enjoy the winter sun in another picture.

Laura is currently based in North Bondi but she and Matty are eyeing up a move to the NSW south coast after splashing out $2million on a rundown house in the area.

The pair, who met on The Bachelor in 2017, have added to their multi-million property portfolio by with the home in Ulladulla, about 230 kilometres south of Sydney.

The dilapidated home holds special meaning for the couple as it is down the road from Cupitts Estate winery, where Laura and Matt tied the knot in November 2022.

The clifftop house has sprawling ocean views and is appropriately called Chante-Mer, which is French for 'sing the sea'.

The three-bedroom, two-bathroom property is spread across two levels and was last sold in 1984 for $62,500.

The historic residence previously belonged to a United Nations translator, who died in 2021, and Laura and Matt paid $2.19million for the pad, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Laura is currently based in North Bondi but she and Matty are eyeing up a move to the south coast after splashing out $2million on a rundown house in the area (pictured)

The rundown house is set on 746 square metres, and is encircled by large glass windows, giving sweeping views of Racecourse Beach below.

The couple plan to completely overhaul the 'old beauty' to its previous standard and confirmed the exciting news in a post shared to Instagram this week.

'A couple of months ago we bought a dilapidated old house down the south coast. A little glass house on the seaside filled with stories, and history that had been left locked up and empty for the past two years,' they wrote in the caption.

'The south coast is a magical place to us, it's where we got married, and now it's where we will make memories as a family.'

They have set up an Instagram page where they plan to keep their fans up to date on the massive renovation project every step of the way.

They have already shared photos of their daughters Marlie-Mae, five, and Lola, three, visiting their future 'dream home'.

They have set up an Instagram page to keep their fans up to date on the massive renovation project (their daughters Marlie-Mae, five, and Lola, three, are pictured at the home)

The reality television stars currently live in a four-bedroom semi in North Bondi, which they purchased for $5.2million in 2023.

They also boast a stunning $1.8million holiday home in Bangalow, near Byron Bay.

After getting engaged in Fiji in April 2018, Laura and Matty finally tied the knot on the south coast in November 2022, five years after meeting on The Bachelor.

They are one of the most successful couples to come out of the show and welcomed their daughter Marlie-Mae in 2019, followed by Lola in February 2021.
Slipknot's Sid Wilson was hospitalized with 'serious burns' after a fire explosion, he shared on Friday.

The musician, 47, revealed he suffered from second-degree burns all over his face and arms after the shocking incident, which occurred while he was working on his and his girlfriend Kelly Osbourne's farm.

The turntablist for the heavy metal band took to Instagram to share an update with his fans and said he is currently in the hospital recovering as nurses dressed his wounds.

He also showed off his gruesome wounds, which included blisters and inflamed, red skin all over his arms, his cheeks and even on his lips.

The flames of the fire even singed off his mustache, he said, as he joked about how he ultimately decided to shave it off before getting in the car and going to the hospital.

He captioned his posts: 'Ouch' and 'Im going to be ok everyone. Love you all.'

Slipknot's Sid Wilson was hospitalized with 'serious burns' after a fire explosion, he shared on Friday

On the same day, Osbourne shared her own clip on her Instagram Story and explained how Wilson got injured. 'This is why you don't f*** with burn piles,' she said, chiding him as she sat beside his hospital bed. 'He literally set himself on fire [and] exploded everything'

He later shared another video from an Instagram Live in which he joked with a fan about how he got his 'eyebrows done for free' and 'got some real sideburns.'

'My lips got f***ed up pretty good. It's cheap Botox,' he joked.

On the same day, Osbourne shared her own clip on her Instagram Story and explained how Wilson got injured.

'This is why you don't f*** with burn piles,' she said, chiding him as she sat beside his hospital bed. 'He literally set himself on fire [and] exploded everything.'

Then, she shared another post of herself with her hand on her forehead, shaking her head, and placed a 'I have no words' sticker over her video.

She panned the camera to show her toddler playing with toys.

She smiled a little bit hearing her two-year-old son Sidney attempting to sing and babbling.

Then, she turned the camera to show Wilson, lying down in a hospital bed and scrolling on his phone.

The musician, 47, revealed he suffered from second-degree burns all over his face and arms after the shocking incident, which occurred while he was working on his and his girlfriend Kelly Osbourne's farm; seen in april

The turntablist for the heavy metal band took to Instagram to share an update with his fans and said he is currently in the hospital recovering as nurses dressed his wounds

He also showed off his gruesome wounds, which included blisters and inflamed, red skin all over his arms, his cheeks and even on his lips

The flames of the fire even singed off his mustache, he said, as he joked about how he ultimately decided to shave it off before getting in the car and going to the hospital

He later shared another video from an Instagram Live in which he joked with a fan about how he got his 'eyebrows done for free' and 'got some real sideburns'

He shared a video of himself in the hospital while medical professionals were attending to him, examining and dressing his wounds. He also explained said he was in the process of getting an X-ray exam to make sure he didn't 'inhale any flames'

He shared a video of himself in the hospital while medical professionals were attending to him, examining and dressing his wounds.

'Hi, everybody, I had an explosion in my face,' he said. 'I'm ok, I'm gonna be ok, but I did have some serious burns to my face and my arms.'

He also explained said he was in the process of getting an X-ray exam to make sure he didn't 'inhale any flames.'

'I'm singed everywhere. Eyebrows are singed. My mouth is blistered. My arms [are] pretty bad. Both of my arms.'

Wilson then reassured his fans that he is OK and plans to recover quickly so he could join his Slipknot bandmates for their tour, which resumes in September.

'I'm gonna be alright and I don't care what it takes, I'm gonna see you on tour,' he asserted.

At the end of the video, he talked about having gone through other painful experiences in his life.

Wilson told a nurse that the last time he got his tetanus shot was when he chopped off his finger a few months ago around New Year's Day.

Then, she shared another post of herself with her hand on her forehead, shaking her head, and placed a 'I have no words' sticker over her video

She panned the camera to show her toddler playing with toys. She smiled a little bit hearing her two-year-old son Sidney attempting to sing and babbling

Then, she turned the camera to show Wilson, lying down in a hospital bed and scrolling on his phone

Just a few hours later, the DJ and keyboardist went on Instagram Live to share another update with his fans and also posted the footage on his grid.

He joked that he is 'OK' but 'just hungry' and talked about how he would have to get his long hair shaved off.

'I'm OK,' he said. 'Obviously if I'm on here talking to you the way I am, it's not [too] terrible, right?'

He assured his fans that he is in 'good hands,' and that he 'feels OK right now' but is not sure he will continue feeling that way.

He shared updates and chatted with fans while he was sitting in an ambulance and being transported to another hospital.

In the 13-minute clip, he responded to their genuine concern: 'I will say ... I do know better.'

'Everyone out there, be really safe when you're messing with fire,' he said with a chuckle but also in a serious, earnest tone.

He explained the incident occurred when he was working on the farm and lighting a burn pile, and the fire exploded.

'It's something I've dealt with tons of times, and of course, the one time I second guess and go, "Oh I'll be alright..."'

Just a few hours later, the DJ and keyboardist went on Instagram Live to share another update with his fans and also posted the footage on his grid. He shared updates while he was sitting in an ambulance and being transported to another facility with a 'better' burn unit

He explained the incident occurred when he was working on the farm and lighting a burn pile, and the fire exploded. As for his injuries as well as Slipknot's ongoing Here Comes the Pain tour, he assured his fans: 'This ain't gonna stop me'

Near the end of his video, he thanked his fans for their support and sent his love to them all, saying that he would continue giving updates as to not worry his fans too much.

'Thank you to everybody for the get well wishes. Don't worry about me, I'll be OK. I'm gonna be alright.'

He later added: 'You guys take care of yourself, and I will take better care of myself. I'll see you soon.'

As for his injuries as well as Slipknot's ongoing Here Comes the Pain tour, he assured his fans: 'This ain't gonna stop me.'

The North American leg of Slipknot's tour resumes September 1 at Rocklahoma in Pryor, Oklahoma.
John Fury is standing by his son Tommy's side amid his messy split with fiancee Molly-Mae Hague.

Earlier this month, Molly-Mae, 25, left fans stunned as she announced her shock split with the boxer, also 25, after five years together - with it since emerging that he allegedly 'cheated' on her.

And while her close circle of friends and family have rallied around her, Tommy's brother Tyson Fury and sister-in-law Paris insisted they not 'taking sides' amid reports they are 'gutted' over the break-up.

However, while some members of the family are remaining impartial, father John, 59, has publicly shown his solidarity with his boy as he joined Tommy and daughter Bambi, 20 months, during a family walk on Friday.

They were joined by Tommy's other brother Roman as the Love Island star spent quality time with his daughter amid the breakdown of his relationship.

John Fury is standing by his son Tommy's side amid his messy split with fiancee Molly-Mae Hague as he joined his boxer son on a walk with daughter Bambi on Friday

Earlier this month, Molly-Mae, 25, left fans stunned as she announced her shock split with the boxer , also 25, after five years together - with it since emerging that he allegedly 'cheated' on her

John looked in good spirits on the outing, flashing a smile as he strolled alongside his sons and granddaughter.

And as John supports his son publicly, his wife and Tommy's mother Chantal - who prefers to shun the limelight - will no doubt also be standing by her son behind closed doors.

John and Chantal are parents to Tommy and brother Roman, while John has sons Tyson, Shane and John Jr from his first marriage to ex-wife Amber.

His support for Tommy comes as it's been discovered that John eerily predicted his son's future with Molly-Mae as he made a brutal swipe about her not being a wife.

In resurfaced footage from the family's Netflix show, At Home With The Furys, John seemingly foresaw the end of the couple's romance as he made a remark about them not being married.

Filmed in the summer of 2022 while Molly-Mae was still pregnant with daughter Bambi - the influencer was seen approaching John to tell him she'd learnt some traveller lingo to impress him.

Speaking to his son's then girlfriend, John said: 'Its a boxers life, its a boxers wife', to which Molly-Mae replied: 'Not a wife yet, one day!'

John then made a savage dig about Molly-Mae's relationship status as he quipped: 'If youre not now, in the condition youre in, youre never gonna be, are ya?' before the pair then both laughed at him comment.

While some members of the family are remaining impartial, father John, 59, has publicly shown his solidarity with his boy (pictured together in 2022)

As John supports his son publicly, his wife and Tommy's mother Chantal - who prefers to shun the limelight - will no doubt also be standing by her son behind closed doors [Chantal and Tommy pictured on Love Island in 2019]

While Molly-Mae's close circle of friends and family have rallied around her, Tommy's brother Tyson Fury and sister-in-law Paris insisted they not 'taking sides' amid reports they are 'gutted' over the break-up

It comes as Tommy's sister-in-law Paris reached out to Molly-Mae following her shock split from Tommy.

The couple are said to be 'gutted' by the break-up news of Molly and Tommy's split, MailOnline has learned.

A pal close to the reality star couple has said they 'adored Molly' and that Paris had reached out to message the influencer.

The source told MailOnline: 'Paris has sent a message just saying she's there for her. Her and Tyson adored Molly and Tommy and are gutted it's not worked out.

'They're not taking sides and Paris just wanted to make sure Molly was OK.

His support for Tommy comes as it's been discovered that John eerily predicted his son's future with Molly-Mae as he made a brutal swipe about her not being a wife [John pictured]

Two years before their split, former professional boxer John seemingly foresaw the end of the couple's romance as he made a remark about them not being married

Speaking to his son's then girlfriend, John said: 'Its a boxers life, its a boxers wife', to which Molly-Mae replied: 'Not a wife yet!'

John then made a savage dig about Molly-Mae's relationship status as he quipped: 'If youre not now, in the condition youre in, youre never gonna be, are ya?'

'Things are obviously really hard and raw at the moment and all of Molly and Tommy's friends are rallying round.

'Paris and Molly spent a lot of time together. They've both had to deal with long periods alone while their men were away training so Paris became a really good friend to Molly.

'When they were together Molly and Tommy enjoyed a number of holidays and nights out with Paris and Tyson.

'She was "fully accepted" into the Fury fold and treated like one of the family.

'Molly loves Tommy's family and hopes she will be able to stay in touch. They will still be a part of their daughter's life moving forward even if Tommy and Molly won't be together anymore.'

Since news of the split, Tommy has since been at the centre of cheating claims and has been accused of sending 'flirty messages' to another woman after a night out in Manchester.

Molly-Mae has also been said to have been growing tired of Tommy 'gallivanting around the world while she was looking after their child'.

It comes as Tommy's sister-in-law Paris reached out to Molly-Mae following her shock split from Tommy

The couple are said to be 'gutted' by the break-up news of Molly and Tommy's split, and had 'adored Molly'

A source told MailOnline: 'Paris has sent a message just saying she's there for her. Her and Tyson adored Molly and Tommy and are gutted it's not worked out. They're not taking sides and Paris just wanted to make sure Molly was OK'

In recent months Tommy has travelled to Germany, Hungary, Dubai and North Macedonia.

And friends of the couple say the split was a 'long time coming' as Molly-Mae grew tired of his lifestyle while she looked after Bambi, The Mirror revealed on Sunday.

A source said: 'Problems had been growing for a while. Increasingly, it seemed like they were living two very different lifestyles.'

On August 7, just seven days before their split, Molly-Mae posted a YouTube video in which she said she had been 'struggling' and 'solo parenting' Bambi.

In a candid video posted on social media the Love Island star said she had spent weeks looking after their daughter Bambi on her own while her fiance was working elsewhere.

And on Wednesday the Danish partygoer who Tommy reportedly kissed during a wild holiday before his split from Molly-Mae spoke out about the situation.

Reports have claimed Tommy was dumped by his fiancee after he 'cheated on her with a Danish woman he met while downing vodka' on holiday (stock image)

Reports have claimed Tommy was dumped by his fiancee after he 'cheated on her with a Danish woman he met' on a holiday in North Macedonia (pictured on the trip with a fan)

Jewellery assistant Milla Corfixen, 20, has now denied kissing the Love Island star and insisted: 'He was a proper gentleman'

Tommy jetted abroad for a holiday in Ohrid, North Macedonia earlier this year where he reportedly kissed a blonde woman in a nightclub with onlookers claiming the boxer 'didn't seem to care' who saw him brazenly kiss the blonde as he downed vodka and partied at a nightclub at 2am.

However jewellery assistant Milla Corfixen, 20, has now denied kissing the Love Island star and insisted: 'He was a proper gentleman.'

It comes after it was reported that devastated Molly-Mae is 'bracing herself' for more girls to come forward with claims that Tommy 'cheated on her' following their shock split.

Molly-Mae is convinced more women will speak up and claim 'Tommy cheated on her with them'.

'Molly-Mae isn't just worried about it, she's expecting it,' a source told The Sun.

'She thinks girls will come forward and claim Tommy cheated with them. She's devastated.'

MailOnline have contacted Molly-Mae and Tommy's representatives for a comment.
Oasis and The Who drummer Zak Starkey has reportedly been banned from staying at an Airbnb in Buckinghamshire after he accidentally let it slip he was planning a party.

The musician, who is the son of Beatles star Ringo Starr, was hoping to rent a six bed pad in the Chilterns to celebrate his wife Sharna Liguz's 40th birthday.

However it seems Zak's rockstar reputation let him down on this occasion, as when cleaners found out he was planning a party the Airbnb cancelled his booking.

Scoping out the house, Zak, 58, went to look around the plush property before his stay when he told cleaners about his plan for the party, which had a star-studded guest list including Liam Gallagher and The Smiths star Johnny Marr.

Zak told The Mirror: 'The Airbnb hosts cancelled after Googling me and seeing Oasis and The Who  the two worst-behaved bands in the history of rock 'n' roll . It would look great on a T-shirt.'

Oasis and The Who drummer Zak Starkey has reportedly been banned from house by Airbnb after planning a rockstar filled party for his wife's 40th birthday

It seems Zak's rockstar reputation let him down on this occasion, as when cleaners found out he was planning a party the Airbnb cancelled his booking (pictured touring with The Who in 2017)

However, the Airbnb hosts have reportedly insisted the reason they cancelled his booking wasn't quite so dramatic.

They explained to the publication: 'Zak booked our property through Airbnb last week, saying it was to be a three-day getaway from the kids for his wife's 40th birthday.

'He then said it was really important to see the property beforehand, so he actually came while the property was being cleaned.

'Based on the conversation he had with the cleaners, it was clear that he was planning to host a party, which is unfortunately not permitted under Airbnb rules. Airbnb then subsequently cancelled his booking.'

Zak and his wife are gutted to not be staying in the house but have been able to find a new venue for the party at the last minute.

Zak said Sharna was 'absolutely gutted' not to be staying at the Airbnb in Cadmore End, Bucks, but they had been able to find a new venue at the last minute.

MailOnline have contacted Zak's representatives for comment.

Zak is the first-born child of the Beatles drummer Ringo, real name Richard Starkey, and his first wife, Maureen Cox.

Zak said: 'The Airbnb hosts cancelled after Googling me and seeing Oasis and The Who  the two worst-behaved bands in the history of rock 'n' roll . It would look great on a T-shirt'

Zak said Sharna was 'absolutely gutted' not to be staying at the Airbnb in Cadmore End, Bucks, but they had been able to find a new venue at the last minute (pictured together in 2021)

However, the Airbnb hosts have reportedly insisted the reason they cancelled his booking wasn't quite so dramatic and the booking was cancelled as they have a no party policy

Zak is the first-born child of the Beatles drummer Ringo, real name Richard Starkey, and his first wife, Maureen Cox

He has been The Who's full-time drummer since their Quadrophenia Tour in 1996 and joined Oasis in 2004 after Alan White's departure.

Zak and Sharna, who is also known as Sshh, tied the knot in 2022 in front of rock royalty at the legendary Sunset Marquis in West Hollywood.

The lovebirds - who chose their 12-month-old daughter Luna Lee Lightnin's birth date to get hitched - were given away by Ringo, 84, and Sharna's father Andrzej Ligu.

Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder and Johnny Marr were Zak's best men, though the former Smiths rocker couldn't be there in person and was seen appearing via video call on a tablet.

Reggae star Pato Banton officiated the ceremony, the first of two, with the couple later going on to celebrate in Jamaica and the UK.
Gemma Cairney has welcomed her first child with partner Cameron Mcallister.

The presenter, 39, known for her stints on BBC Radio and BBC Radio 6 music took to Instagram to share a snap of herself and Cameron cradling their new arrival.

Captioning her sweet post, Gemma revealed that their baby was born two weeks ago before gushing that she's 'never felt love like this.'

She penned: 'TWO WEEKS of the best madness, blessings, bliss, breathes, prayers, tears & momentous delirium.

'I cant offer enough thanks to our friends / kin, midwives, soothsayers, staunch support!'

She continued: Never ever felt love like this. We are a fresh fam of 3, yipeeeeeeeee.'

Gemma Cairney has welcomed her first child with partner Cameron Mcallister

The presenter, 39, known for her stints on BBC Radio and BBC Radio 6 music took to Instagram to share a snap of herself and Cameron cradling their new arrival [pictured in May]

Gemma's post was met with a plethora of congratulatory messages from her followers and showbiz pals.

Music legend Annie Lennox commented: 'Heartfelt congratulations Mama Gemma!!!! .'

While fellow radio star Fearne Cotton shared: ' Heaven sending so much love to you gorgeous woman.'

'I CANNOT GET ENOUGH', wrote an excited Dawn O'Porter.

'Congrats so happy for ya! Xxx' penned Laura Whitmore.

While BBC presenter Angela Scanlon added: 'Cannot wait to meet her xxx.'

Clara Amfo, Pixie Lott and Laura Mvula were among other well known names offering their well wishes.

Gemma has been keeping her followers updated with her pregnancy in recent months on Instagram.

Captioning her sweet post, Gemma revealed that their baby was born two weeks ago before gushing that she's 'never felt love like this'

Gemma's post was met with a plethora of congratulatory messages from her followers and showbiz pals

In June, she looked every inch the glowing mother-to-be as she cradled her bump while posing in a glam black dress.

Speaking about her changing body, she wrote in the caption: 'Our bodies are outstanding ya know, Im rollin in awe of mine and yours.'

While in May, she shared a snap of her silhouette against a window as she looked down at her growing stomach.

She penned: 'What an extraordinary time. Making, growing, connecting.

In June, she looked every inch the glowing mother-to-be as she cradled her bump while posing in a glam black dress.

While in May, she shared a snap of her silhouette against a window as she looked down at her growing stomach

Gemma met partner Cameron in Malawi, where Cameron, who owns an independent coffee project, sources his beans from smallholder farmers.

Gemma, who's taken a step back from the limelight of late, kickstarted her career on Kiss FM and Channel 4 Radio before moving over to the BBC, going on to join Radio 1Xtra in 2008.

The broadcaster has also hosted Glastonbury over the years and even had her own weekday afternoon show back in 2011.

The Birmingham-born presenter, who is now based in Scotland, has also hosted radio documentaries and also launched a successful production company
Famed British comedian David Walliams has slammed 'cancel culture'.

Speaking ahead of a series of live shows in Australia next month, the 53-year-old author and co-creator of the cheeky satirical TV series Little Britain said that comedy needs to have an 'edge' for it to be 'explosively' funny.

'The whole thing is exhausting isn't it?' he told The Daily Telegraph of the 'woke' trend that has seen shows removed from broadcast and comedians cancelled.

'Things that are explosively funny are often on the edge, aren't they?' the funnyman continued.

'[The issue] is complicated, but you just look at each joke as it comes really.

'Obviously if you were worried about every single thing you said or did might offend someone, that you wouldn't be able to say or do anything on stage.

'I kind of think people haven't lost a sense of humour in the way that it's often portrayed.'

Elsewhere in the chat Walliams said that he thought the point of comedy was to 'make people happy'.

Famed British comedian David Walliams (pictured) has slammed ' cancel culture'

Walliams found himself on the rough end of 'cancel culture' when the show he co-created with Matt Lucas in 2003, Little Britain (pictured), was yanked from Netflix in 2022

Walliams found himself on the rough end of 'cancel culture' when the show he co-created with Matt Lucas in 2003, Little Britain was yanked from the air in 2022.

The hit sketch show, which poked fun at British social stereotypes included segments that featured white actors in black face.

In an apparent reaction to the Black Lives Matter protests, Netflix pulled the show along with Come Fly With Me, also created by Walliams and Lucas.

Later the BBC and BritBox both confirmed they had also decided to remove Little Britain saying 'times have changed' since the show first aired.

The hit sketch show, which poked fun at British social stereotypes included segments that featured white actors in black face

The shows include scenes where the comedians portray characters from different ethnic backgrounds with the use of make-up.

The UK comedian will debut his An Audience with David Walliams World Premire Tour in Sydney at the Darling Harbour Theatre on September 6.

It comes after Walliams and Kate Ritchie revealed the truth about rumours of on-set flirting while they starred together on the 2022 season of Australia's Got Talent.

The UK comedian and Australian radio star, 45, reunited on Nova 96.9's Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie in May to discuss the rumours, and Kate couldn't resist heaping praise on her co-star.

'When I sat next to David we bonded over so many things... we bonded about his wardrobe,' she gushed.

'Like, I mean, move over Chris Hemsworth wearing Tom Ford at the Met Gala, the other day.'

'I was hoping that the next time you're going to be in Australia we would be alongside each other on the desk sharing stories and talking fashion!' she added.
Tara Moss has been living with a disorder that leaves her in constant pain for eight years.

The model-turned-author suffers from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and it has left her at times bedridden, at others using a wheelchair or cane to get around.

The 50-year-old shared with Stellar Magazine this week that while she has come a long way, she still deals with the debilitating symptoms.

'Your body is in fight or flight and you feel like you're being burned alive' she told the publication.

'Your body doesn't know you're not being burned alive. You're actually having that experience in a real sense' she continued.

'You're not healing because your body is busy trying to give you energy to get out of your life-threatening situation'.

Tara has recently changed her name to Tara Rae Moss and says it reflects how her life has changed.

'I don't feel like "Tara" in the same way, and I'm embracing it rather than denying it' she said.

Tara Moss has been living with a disorder that leaves her in constant pain for eight years. Pictured in this week's issue of Stellar Magazine

Over the years, Tara has undergone several types of therapy, including foot spas, physiotherapy, and body work.

The Canadian-Australian described her long journey, last year, writing What a remarkable time in my life.

'Week seven at the Spero Clinic, after perhaps 150 hours of treatments, care, pain and miracles.'

Tara went on to say that such a simple task as walking without a mobility aid up stairs is a dream come true for her.

The model-turned-author suffers from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and it has left her at times bedridden, at others using a wheelchair or cane to get around

The 50-year-old shared with S tellar Magazine this week that while she has come a long way, she still deals with the debilitating symptoms

'I walked for over an hour this week, on my own. It was beyond. Treatment is tough, but so worth it,' she declared.

Tara has been open about her struggle with pain over recent years, documenting her use of a cane and wheelchair on Instagram.

In 2021, the model gave a tell-all interview where she revealed that being in constant pain has changed the way her brain works.

The raven-haired beauty told Body and Soul magazine: 'I've come to learn that chronic pain is really neuroplasticity  brain changes  gone wrong.

'Now I want to use the brain's adaptability to work in my favour, and retrain it not to be so loud and vocal about my pain'.

'Your body is in fight or flight and you feel like you're being burned alive' she said

Elsewhere in the interview, the author was critical of the lack of accessible spaces for disabled people.

Tara began modelling at the age 14, before turning her attentions to writing, publishing her first novel, Fetish, in 1999.

She is now a bestselling author who has published 13 books in 18 countries and 13 languages around the world, and is considered one of Australia's best crime novelists.

The former model lives in the Blue Mountains with her Australian poet husband Berndt Sellheim and their 12-year-old daughter Sapphira.
The Tommy Fury messaging scandal has taken a shock twist as a woman who accused him of sending her flirty DMs has claimed she was 'catfished' by an imposter.

Earlier this month, Tommy's fiancee Molly-Mae Hague, 25, left fans stunned as she announced her shock split with the boxer, also 25, after five years together - with it since emerging that he allegedly 'cheated' on her.

This week, a woman called Kay Keogh accused Tommy of 'messaging her after spotting her on a night out in Manchester' while engaged to Molly-Mae.

At the time, she took to TikTok to share a screenshot of a message from an account which was allegedly Tommy's, which read: 'Are you in Manchester?'

However, she's since returned to the platform to confess she was duped by a fake account and says it wasn't Tommy who messaged her at all.

The Tommy Fury messaging scandal has taken a shock twist as a woman who claimed he was sending her flirty DMs has claimed she was 'catfished' by an imposter.

Last week, a woman called Kay Keogh accused Tommy of 'messaging another woman after spotting her on a night out in Manchester' while engaged to Molly-Mae.

Sharing a video, Kay told how she'd received a message from someone who told her that they were behind the messages and not the Love Island star.

She claims to have fell for the messages after being at an event in Manchester with someone who 'could've passed for' Tommy, adding that she was 'really confused'.

Speaking in the clip, she says: 'I obviously got catfished. Someone was basically, definitely tolling me because another fake account has messaged me and they've literally said to me "you actually thought that was him? that was me."

'And obviously people are gonna be like "but you said you saw him?" but like I said, I was really confused already. And it was also really weird that I was just in Manchester and we had gone to a private event and there was a group of guys and one of the guys could have passed for being him.'

She continued: 'Like I said, I don't even now know what he really looks like. I know he has brown hair and is like really muscly. But yeah this person has messaged me and basically told me they were trolling me.'

Kay added her apparent surprise that people can now 'buy verifications and change their name' on social media.

MailOnline have contacted representatives of Tommy for comment.

Kay had previously called out Tommy for messaging her, as she said on TikTok; 'I was thinking about whether I should make this video or not, but I am going to,' she said. 'So, me and my friends were out in Manchester and we actually met him [Tommy] one night.

However, she's since returned to the platform to confess she was duped by a fake account and says it wasn't Tommy who messaged her at all.

Kay She claims to have fell for the messages after being at an event in Manchester with someone who 'could've passed for' Tommy, adding that she was 'really confused'

Earlier this month, Molly-Mae, 25, left fans stunned as she announced her shock split with the boxer , also 25, after five years together - with it since emerging that he allegedly 'cheated' on her

'Basically, we were on a night out with a group of guys and I didn't really put two and two together of who he really was.

'One of the guys asked for my Instagram, which I gave to him. We were all together, but basically after looking at my phone and seeing his name pop up, that's when I realised who he was.

'Obviously, after I saw his name pop up I was thinking 'What the hell'. Then I obviously realised who he was, but I literally have DMs and I don't know whether I should put them out or not.'

In a second video, Kay added: 'So this is part two of the Tommy situation, my friend was there so she is going to explain what happened as well.'

Her friend then said: 'I am not from the UK so I did not recognise him until we looked at the DM and obviously we were on his page.'

Kay Keogh accused Tommy this week of 'messaging her after spotting her on a night out in Manchester' while engaged to Molly-Mae

Kay took to TikTok to share a screenshot of a message from an account which was allegedly Tommy's, which read: 'Are you in Manchester?'

It came as a Danish partygoer who Tommy reportedly kissed during a wild holiday before his split has spoken out.

Boxer Tommy jetted abroad for a holiday in Ohrid, North Macedonia earlier this year where he reportedly kissed a blonde woman in a nightclub, leading Molly-Mae to announce their split last week after five years together.

Onlookers have claimed the boxer 'didn't seem to care' who saw him brazenly kiss the blonde as he downed vodka and partied at a nightclub at 2am.

Jewellery assistant Milla Corfixen, 20, has now denied kissing the Love Island star and insisted: 'He was a proper gentleman.'

Speaking to The Sun Milla said she was shocked when she found out about Tommy and Molly-Mae's split and insisted she will try and talk to the Influencer to share her side of the story.

Milla has revealed she has a boyfriend, while Tommy has previously denied he has cheated on Molly.

'I am the girl but nothing happened. We just had fun,' she has explained. 'I dont know what hes been doing but someone else must have kissed him.'

Danish partygoer Milla Corfixen who Tommy reportedly kissed during a wild holiday before his split from Molly-Mae has also spoken out

Tommy jetted abroad for a holiday in Ohrid, North Macedonia earlier this year where he reportedly kissed a blonde woman in a nightclub, leading Molly-Mae to announce their split last week after five years together (stock image)

Jewellery assistant Milla Corfixen, 20, has now denied kissing the Love Island star and insisted: 'He was a proper gentleman'

Speaking to The Sun Milla said she was shocked when she found out about Tommy and Molly-Mae's split and insisted she will try and talk to the Influencer to share her side of the story (pictured with their daughter Bambi)

Amid the drama, Molly-Mae has been supported by her friends and loved ones, who have been rallying around her at her 3.5million Cheshire mansion.

Molly-Mae was also said to have been growing tired of Tommy 'gallivanting around the world while she was looking after their child', it has been revealed.

In recent months Tommy has travelled to Germany, Hungary, Dubai and North Macedonia.

Friends of the couple say the split was a 'long time coming' as Molly-Mae grew tired of his lifestyle while she looked after Bambi, The Mirror revealed on Sunday.

A source said: 'Problems had been growing for a while. Increasingly, it seemed like they were living two very different lifestyles.'

On August 7, just seven days before their split, Molly-Mae posted a YouTube video in which she said she had been 'struggling' and 'solo parenting' Bambi.

In a candid video posted on social media the Love Island star said she had spent weeks looking after their daughter Bambi on her own while her fiance was working elsewhere.

In recent weeks friends have revealed the couple had gone through a rocky patch and have been leading increasingly separate lives with cracks showing in their normally tight-knit relationship on social media.
Molly-Mae Hague has broken her social media silence with a jaw dropping bikini post as she took a savage dig at ex Tommy Fury.

The former Love Island couple sent fans spiralling last week after they announced their shock split and called off their engagement after five years together.

And now Molly, 25, has returned to social media as she showcased her incredible physique in her latest promotional clip for her tan brand Filter.

Looking sensational in a strapless brown bikini, the influencer displayed her flawless complexion while rubbing the tan into her body.

And the star seemed to aim a savage dig at her ex boyfriend, who has been accused of allegedly cheating on Molly, as she played the song Jealousy by Rubii over the top of the video.

Molly-Mae Hague has broken her social media silence with a jaw dropping bikini post on Instagram on Thursday as she took a savage dig at ex Tommy Fury

The former Love Island couple sent fans spiralling last week after they announced their shock split and called off their engagement after five years together

The song contains the pointed lyrics: 'Said I don't like it when I'm on my sh*t. Cause I'm just so much better than you' and 'Love and all vibing 'till they see a girl like better somehow.'

The track continues: 'They say way way too good to me. So that they never stay. I've been told differences... but I think that it's jealousy.'

After taking to Instagram last Wednesday with their separate statements confirming their split, the couple have kept a low profile on social media.

Yet fans were happy to see Molly's return as they took to the comments to share their support.

They wrote: 'The Queen herself we love you Molly'; 'Here she is'; 'Sexy momma'; 'slay queen'.

Since news of the split, Tommy has since been at the centre of cheating claims and has been accused of sending 'flirty messages' to another woman after a night out in Manchester.

Molly-Mae has also been said to have been growing tired of Tommy 'gallivanting around the world while she was looking after their child'.

In recent months Tommy has travelled to Germany, Hungary, Dubai and North Macedonia.

Looking sensational in a strapless brown bikini, the influencer displayed her flawless complexion while rubbing the tan into her body

The star seemed to aim a savage dig at her ex boyfriend, who has been accused of allegedly cheating on Molly, as she played the song Jealousy by Rubii over the top of the video

Since news of the split, Tommy has since been at the centre of cheating claims and has been accused of sending 'flirty messages' to another woman after a night out in Manchester

And friends of the couple say the split was a 'long time coming' as Molly-Mae grew tired of his lifestyle while she looked after Bambi, The Mirror revealed on Sunday.

A source said: 'Problems had been growing for a while. Increasingly, it seemed like they were living two very different lifestyles.'

On Friday Tommy spent some quality father and daughter time with Bambi as the pair enjoyed a walk in the park alongside his dad John Fury.

He was also seen visiting the pair's house last weekend for a total of 55 minutes as he popped by to see his daughter.

On August 7, just seven days before their split, Molly-Mae posted a YouTube video in which she said she had been 'struggling' and 'solo parenting' Bambi.

In a candid video posted on social media the Love Island star said she had spent weeks looking after their daughter Bambi on her own while her fiance was working elsewhere.

And on Wednesday the Danish partygoer who Tommy reportedly kissed during a wild holiday before his split from Molly-Mae spoke out about the situation.

Tommy jetted abroad for a holiday in Ohrid, North Macedonia earlier this year where he reportedly kissed a blonde woman in a nightclub with onlookers claiming the boxer 'didn't seem to care' who saw him brazenly kiss the blonde as he downed vodka and partied at a nightclub at 2am.

However jewellery assistant Milla Corfixen, 20, has now denied kissing the Love Island star and insisted: 'He was a proper gentleman.'

Jewellery assistant Milla Corfixen, 20, has now denied kissing the Love Island star and insisted: 'He was a proper gentleman'

Speaking to The Sun, Milla said she was shocked when she found out about Tommy and Molly-Mae's split and insisted she will try and talk to the Influencer to share her side of the story.

Milla has revealed she has a boyfriend, while Tommy has previously denied he has cheated on Molly.

'I am the girl but nothing happened. We just had fun,' she has explained. 'I dont know what hes been doing but someone else must have kissed him.'

Danish Milla spends her summers in Ohrid where she has family, and is said to be regular on the party scene in the region.

She revealed that she partied with Tommy and his friends on three separate occasions during the boxer's holiday after meeting him through members of his security team, who she is friends with.

She recommended night spots and beach clubs for the group to party at and later saw them at Latin bar Cuba Libre.

'They invited us to his table and we had fun and that's it. We did not do anything. I would never have done anything with a married man, as he's basically married, with a little child.'

She also saw Tommy on his last night of the trip at Omnia club, but she explained: 'We were at the same places but we were not together, although at Cuba Libre we were close. He didn't flirt with me, he was just being friendly.'

Just hours after Milla spoke out, Tommy was also accused of 'sending messages to another woman after spotting her on a night out in Manchester', while he and Molly-Mae were engaged.

A woman called Kay Keogh has shared that while the pair were still together, Tommy sent her a direct message after they met on a night out - and she says she has proof.

Kay took to TikTok to share a screenshot of a message from an account which was allegedly Tommy's, which read: 'Are you in Manchester?'

However Kay has now claimed she was 'catfished' by an imposter on a fake account and says it wasn't Tommy who messaged her at all.

Sharing a video, Kay told how she'd received a message from someone who told her that they were behind the messages and not the Love Island star.

She claims to have fell for the messages after being at an event in Manchester with someone who 'could've passed for' Tommy, adding that she was 'really confused'.

Speaking in the clip, she says: 'I obviously got catfished. Someone was basically, definitely tolling me because another fake account has messaged me and they've literally said to me "you actually thought that was him? that was me."

Just hours after Milla spoke out, Tommy was also accused of 'sending messages to another woman after spotting her on a night out in Manchester'

However Kay has now claimed she was 'catfished' by an imposter on a fake account and says it wasn't Tommy who messaged her at all

Molly-Mae's Instagram post in which she says she is 'extremely upset to announce that mine and Tommy's relationship has come to an end'

Tommy shared a separate post in which he asks his followers to 'respect our privacy as we navigate through this difficult time'

'And obviously people are gonna be like "but you said you saw him?" but like I said, I was really confused already. And it was also really weird that I was just in Manchester and we had gone to a private event and there was a group of guys and one of the guys could have passed for being him.'

She continued: 'Like I said, I don't even now know what he really looks like. I know he has brown hair and is like really muscly. But yeah this person has messaged me and basically told me they were trolling me.'

It comes after it was reported that devastated Molly-Mae is 'bracing herself' for more girls to come forward with claims that Tommy 'cheated on her' following their shock split.

Molly-Mae is convinced more women will speak up and claim 'Tommy cheated on her with them'.

'Molly-Mae isn't just worried about it, she's expecting it,' a source told The Sun.

'She thinks girls will come forward and claim Tommy cheated with them. She's devastated.'

MailOnline have contacted Molly-Mae and Tommy's representatives for a comment.
MBABANE  AG Timothy Matsebula has been ordered to provide Sincedzile Magwaza and Fortunate Bhembe with documents relating to the appointment of Funduzi Forensic Services (Pty) Ltd for the drugs shortage investigation.

Magwaza and Bhembe are the two senior health officials who approached the Industrial Court in June 2023, to challenge their appearance before Funduzi Forensic Services investigators during the investigation of the circumstances around the shortage of medical drugs in public health institutions. Magwaza is the Principal Procurement Officer in the Ministry of Health and Bhembe is the Deputy Director-Pharmaceutical Services. After they filed their founding affidavit, the respondents (Ministry of Health and its principal secretary, auditor general (AG) and Funduzi) filed answering papers.

However, according to Bhembe and Magwaza, certain documents referred to in those answering papers were not attached. Bhembe and Magwaza demanded the papers before they could file their replying papers. Since June 2023, this has not happened, except for some documents filed by Funduzi. Yesterday, Judge Abande Dlamini of the Industrial Court ordered the AG and Funduzi to furnish Bhembe and Magwaza with the necessary documents within 10 days of the judgment. The court condemns the senior health officials for not filing their replying affidavit timeously. The court also ordered that after filing of the requested documents, Bhembe and Magwaza should file their replying papers within seven days.

Requesting

When the applicants (Bhembe and Magwaza) received the answering papers from the respondents on June 22, 2024, their attorney, Zweli Jele of Robinson Bertram, wrote to the AG requesting the following documents:

(a) the contract that was concluded between the AG and Funduzi, (b) the application that was made by the AG that facilitated the appointment of Funduzi (in terms of Section 6 of the Procurement Act) and (c) the shortlist of the tenderers who were submitted by the AG in fulfilment of the limited tendering procuring method.

This request was in terms of Regulation 39(1) of the Public Procurement Regulations 2020.



The applicants also wanted (d) the justification that was submitted by the AG to the Tender Board in accordance with Regulation 39(5) and (e) the submission that was made to the Tender Board in relation to the procurement of Funduzi to carry out the forensic audit.In respect of Funduzi, Bhembe and Magwaza requested the annexure which was apparently referenced as attached in the answering affidavit, deposed to by one Thulani Mabuza, the statement purportedly filed by one Charles Kwezera and a copy of the contract concluded between Funduzi and a certain Boyce Mkhize.

These are the documents that the AG and Funduzi have been ordered to furnish the applicants.The applicants sought to compel the AG and Funduzi to produce the requested documents to assist them in their replying affidavit to address the respondents allegations as contained in their (respondents) answering affidavits.

Affidavit

The court had issued a timeline that Magwaza and Bhembe should file their replying affidavit by close of business on June 27, 2023, which is more than a year ago. When the matter was heard on May 22, 2024, the court was informed that Funduzi had complied with some of the applicants request, but some documents were still outstanding.The AG and Funduzi were opposed to the applicants application. In so doing, they raised points of law, such as that the matter was prematurely before court as the AG was still awaiting the court to make a ruling on whether it had jurisdiction to deal with the matter.

They also argued that the documents sought were not in their custody. At the start of the arguments, Jele, on behalf of the applicants, informed the court that Funduzi had produced some of the documents, but there were still two critical documents not yet produced, despite that they had referred to them in their answering affidavit. Judge Dlamini, on the issue of the jurisdiction of the Industrial Court, said the court considered that once all the pleadings had been filed in its record, it was then that it would consider whether it has the requisite jurisdiction to hear and determine the matter on the merits.

The judge further said the refusal by the respondents to avail the requested documents and annexures amounted to what is commonly referred to as ambush litigation. This arises where one of the parties in a court case conceals from the opposing side evidence, with the result that there is little or no chance for that opposing litigant to come up with an adequate defence or response to allegations against him or her in the pleadings. I point out that fairness is paramount in any proceeding in this court, and trial or litigation by ambush will not, under any circumstances be countenanced by the court because it is deplorable, said Judge Dlamini.

Meanwhile, Judge Dlamini noted that three judges recused themselves from this matter. The matter came to court under a certificate of urgency. It has been on the court roll for well over a year.In fact, it has been listed as pending in this courts roll for more than a year now. In the year that it has remained unresolved, it has been to at least three of my brothers, who have all, for various reasons, recused themselves from hearing and determining the dispute of the litigants in these proceedings.

Resolve

As a concern on the side, I point out that in my more than 14 years on the bench of this court, it is surely a first of its kind that we have, not one or two, but three judges deciding that they cannot play any role in assisting the litigants resolve their dispute. There have been threats against life and various other reasons that have seen the other judicial officers decide that they cannot sit in this matter. This is surely a concerning state of affairs, and cannot be taken lightly, said Judge Dlamini. He said judges are expected and required to approach each case with an open mind and render unbiased judgements. He said they are required to be impartial and non-partisan. Therefore, as judges, we have to look over our shoulders before deciding a case because of fear, we are in trouble, deep trouble. This can never be acceptable, and should be nipped in the bud before it gets out of control.
Paris Hilton gushed about the bond that her son Phoenix, one, and daughter London, nine months, share with the heiress' longtime friend Britney Spears.

The 43-year-old socialite and her businessman husband Carter Reum welcomed Phoenix and London via surrogacy last year.

Britney and Paris have enjoyed a longstanding friendship of two decades, sticking by each other through various ups and downs.

They used to be seen in the mid-2000s indulging in nights on the town in Los Angeles, sometimes accompanied by Lindsay Lohan.

Now Paris has revealed that Britney stopped by her house 'a couple weeks ago' as 'she loves visiting the babies, especially little baby Phoenix,' on Talk Shop Live.

Paris Hilton revealed her longtime friend Britney Spears visits her often and 'loves' spending time with her small children

'So it's just so cute seeing her with the babies. She just loves kids so much,' she added, adorably sharing that Britney has danced with Phoenix to Paris' upcoming sophomore studio album Infinite Icon.

Britney has had a checkered relationship with her own sons Sean Preston, 18, and Jayden James, 17, whom she welcomed with her ex-husband Kevin Federline.

She temporarily lost custody of her children during her mental breakdown in 2007, which prompted her controversial 13-year conservatorship.

DailyMail.com exclusively revealed in June that Britney has finally reconciled with Sean Preston and Jayden, in a rapprochement facilitated by her brother Bryan.

Paris has spoken fondly of her over the years and lent her public support to the #FreeBritney movement to end the pop star's conservatorship, which a judge ultimately released her from in 2021.

Last December, Paris warmly wished Britney happy 42nd birthday and shared a series of throwback photos of the pair together in the 2000s.

In her caption, she noted that she and her pal have had 'so many fun memories together.'

'Love you so much,' she gushed as she addressed the Toxic hitmaker directly. 'Sending you lots of love on your special day! Keep shining sis'.

The 43-year-old heiress and her businessman husband Carter Reum welcomed their son Phoenix, one, and daughter London, nine months, via surrogacy

The socialite took to Instagram to wish the pop icon a happy 42nd birthday in December and shared a series of throwback photos of the pair together in the 2000s

In celebration of her birthday, Britney spent the day with mother, Lynne, as the pair appear to now be on good terms after years of being estranged following her 13-year conservatorship.

Britney and Paris have had a long history of friendship dating back to their days of partying with Lohan in the mid-2000's.

Paris has been consistently supportive of Britney over the years and has been a frequent presence in her friend's Instagram comments.

The songstress even gushed over the Simple Life star and said she was one of the 'kindest' people she's ever met in her memoir, The Woman in Me.

During an appearance on Kelly Clarkson's talk show in late November, Paris recalled 'crying' when she read about the things Spears wrote about her.

Kelly noted that Britney had written in her tell-all that 'one of the people who was kindest to me when I really needed kindness was Paris Hilton'.

Britney had also written that Paris 'encouraged me to have fun for the first time in a long time.'

In response, Paris  who also released a memoir earlier this year  said it 'meant a lot' to her.

'I was crying when I read that,' she said. 'That really touched me.'

In her caption, she noted that she and her longtime pal have had 'so many fun memories together'

Spears and Hilton have had a long history of friendship dating back to their days of partying with Lindsay Lohan in the mid-2000's

Hilton even channeled Spears and dressed up as her for Halloween this past October

For one of her costumes, she wore the same outfit Spears wore in her iconic Toxic music video

Spears had written in her memoir, The Woman in Me, that 'one of the people who was kindest to me when I really needed kindness was Paris Hilton'

She continued gushing about her pal: 'She's just so strong. I love her so much, and I'm just so proud of her for speaking her truth and writing this whole book.

'That quote meant a lot to me when I read it,' she added.

Paris even channeled Britney and dressed up as her for Halloween this past October.

For one of her costumes, she wore the same outfit Britney wore in her iconic Toxic music video.
Vicky Pattison is married!

The former Geordie Shore star has officially tied the knot with Ercan Ramadan in a lavish ceremony at Marylebone Town Hall.

The podcaster, 36, looked sensational as she opted for a white mini dress for the legal ceremony as she emerged from the registry office with a huge grin on her face.

Completing the look with some platform white heels and simple short veil, the happy couple were met with a smattering of confetti as their family and friends celebrated the special day.

The pair were joined by Pete Wicks who led the famous faces as he hugged Vicky after taking on the duties of flower girl.

Vicky Pattison and Ercan Ramadan are officially married

The former Geordie Shore star looked the absolute picture of happiness as heart-shaped confetti rained down on her

Pete Wicks was among the famous faces at the ceremony as the couple's pal congratulated Vicky

The TOWIE star, 36, scrubbed up well for the occasion as he donned a charcoal suit which showed off his neck and chest tattoos.

Meanwhile Ercan, 30, looked smart in a classic black wedding suit and bow tie as he beamed beside his wife.

Vicky has kept her followers fully involved in her wedding preparations after Ercan first popped the question while on holiday in Dubai in February 2022.

And after a summer of hen do's and a sensational Sten, a joint hen and stag do, Vicky looked delighted to be enjoying her big day.

Sharing a smooch in front of the crowd the pair were fully loved up as Vicky clutched her stunning white flower bouquet.

The pair tied the knot at the Marylebone Town Hall which has become known as the Rock & Roll Wedding venue.

Sir Paul McCartney and Nancy Shevell, Liam Gallagher and Nicole Appleton, and Antonia Banderas and Melanie Griffith have all said I do among its plush surroundings at the Marylebone Town Hall.

Vicky held hands with her mum Caroll as the pair filled up with emotion

The whole family gathered for a snap on the stairs of the venue as Vicky held her mum and niece's hands

The star rented a old fashioned red London bus as the form of transport for the ceremony

The decorated bus was decorated with white flowers while the destination read 'Wedding Special'

The star wowed in stylish white mini dress after tying the knot with her fiancee in a lavish ceremony at Marylebone Town Hall

Vicky has kept her followers fully involved in her wedding preparations after Ercan first popped the question while on holiday in Dubai in February 2022

Sharing a smooch in front of the crowd the pair were fully loved up as Vicky clutched her stunning white flower bouquet

Vicky's niece Mavie was seen throwing confetti as the couple emerged from the venue

Vicky previously teased that she would be wearing a sixties-inspired gown for her UK wedding and said she loved the short veil and big sunglasses look

The TOWIE star, 36, scrubbed up well for the occasion as he donned a charcoal suit which showed off his neck and chest tattoos

The reality star, who was recently revealed as part of the Strictly line up, was seen smoking a cigarette once outside

The star looked to be crying happy tears through the confetti

While the weather in London wasn't quite what Vicky may have had in mind, the wedding party were undeterred by the rain as they stood outside with their umbrellas

Vicky pulled a face as she shook her flowers in the air

The pair tied the knot at the Marylebone Town Hall which has become known as the Rock & Roll Wedding venue

While the weather in London wasn't quite what Vicky may have had in mind, the wedding party were undeterred by the rain as they stood outside with their umbrellas.

However the pair aren't just celebrating with their London nuptials.

They will also soon be jetting off to her lavish Italian wedding in Puglia.

The reality star previously shared her 'heartbreak' over the amount of money she has forked out to pay for her and Ercan's 'dream wedding'.

She revealed that the eye-watering price she splashed out on both weddings costs 'the same price as a house' - but it still 'wasn't enough budget' for what she wanted.

From purchasing four wedding dresses to wear on her big day, to two stunning locations and a jaw-dropping welcome dinner, Vicky is certain to pull off a once in a lifetime day.

While she tried to be a little sensible in places - by lowering her budget for flowers - Vicky was adamant she wanted to change into four dresses for a big day.

She previously teased that she would be wearing a sixties-inspired gown for her UK wedding and said she loved the short veil and big sunglasses look.

Ercan looked smart in a classic black wedding suit and bow tie as he leaned in to kiss his wife

Pete looked stylish as he donned some light shades and kept his unruly locks down

Pete recently worked with Vicky in reality show, The Underdog: Josh Must Win

Boarding the bus after tying the knot, the front read: 'Just married Vicky and Ercan, Congratulations!'

Vicky looked full of excitement as she peeked her head around from inside the bus

Vicky was seen arriving to the venue as she tried to conceal her appearance under an umbrella

Pete Wicks recently revealed he had been assigned the all-important role of flower girl for the wedding as he joked that Vicky 'ropes him into doing anything'

Despite the rain it looked as though the sun had begun to shine as the pair left the registry office

Vicky couldn't wipe the smile off her face as she greeted her guests

The newlyweds tied the knot in front of 150 of her friends and family on the August bank holiday weekend

Preparing ahead of her nuptials on Saturday morning, Vicky shared a sweet throwback snap of her first date with with Ercan.

And before saying 'I Do' to her love, Vicky was in a nostalgic mood as she shared a look at the day they first met, with the star noting on Instagram that despite being initially hesitant to attend the date, she soon realised he was 'the one'.

The image in question sees Vicky looking stunning in a red gown as she shares a giggle with a dapper Ercan - who on Friday was seen stocking up on booze and supplies from a wholesalers ahead of their wedding celebrations.

Captioning her loved-up snap, she penned: 'Our first date... I wanted to post this picture of our first ever date so it sits right next to our first one as man and wife.

'I almost didn't go on this date, I wasn't in the best place and wasn't sure if it was right to be dating again when I didn't feel fully healed. But there was something special about Ercan... So I went.

'And we chatted and laughed and had the BEST first date ever, it was like we'd known each other years.. But it was more than just getting on with each other and fancying him (ALOT).. there was a kindness to erc aswell, I felt very safe.

They will later be jetting out to Puglia for another lavish ceremony which will air on Channel 4 on new show Vicky Pattison: Destination Wedding

Pete gave Vicky a peck on the cheek

Ercan strode threw London ready for his big day after his first date with Vicky nearly six years ago

Sir Paul McCartney and Nancy Shevell, Liam Gallagher and Nicole Appleton, and Antonia Banderas and Melanie Griffith have all said I do among its plush surroundings at the Marylebone Town Hall.

The white mini dress is the first of four wedding dresses Vicky is set to wear

The back of Vicky's dress featured some delicate white buttons

The reality star previously shared her 'heartbreak' over the amount of money she has forked out to pay for her and Ercan's 'dream wedding'

'Anyway, I remember he went to the toilet and I messaged all my pals in the group chat and said 'lasses, he's the one. Buy a f**king hat!' 

'And here we are, nearly 6 years later... I knew @erc_ram, from the very first date, I just knew I'd be your wife. See you at the altar today petal... I'll be the one in white.'

Vicky's message was met with a plethora of supportive messages from fans, with many wishing her the best of luck for the big day.

The TV star also took to her home account, Oaks House, to share a sneak peek of the finishing touches to her wedding.

Vicky uploaded a snap of the huge black and white board featuring her and Ercan's name, which was also adorned with pretty white flowers.

She also shared a glimpse of the personalised confetti envelopes as well as black and white sugar cookies featuring their initials.

Vicky shared a sweet throwback snap of her first date with with Ercan as she prepared to marry her fiance on Saturday

Ercan meanwhile was seen stocking up on booze and supplies from a wholesalers on Friday ahead of their wedding celebrations

The Geordie Shore favourite, 36, is set to tie the knot with the builder-turned-internet personality, 30, in a lavish ceremony at Marylebone Town Hall over the weekend for the UK part of their nuptials (pictured at Vicky's hen do in early August)

Vicky was in a nostalgic mood as she shared a look at the day they first met, with the star noting on Instagram that despite being initially hesitant to attend the date, she soon realised he was 'the one'

Meanwhile, Ercan was getting into the party spirit on Friday as he loaded up his car with a huge selection of alcoholic beverages

Meanwhile, Ercan was getting into the party spirit on Friday as he loaded up his car with a huge selection of alcoholic beverages.

The social media personality was seen with a pal as he pushed a large trolley out of a wholesalers and toward his vehicle.

Among the booze included was prosecco, beer and cans of pre-mixed cocktails, indicating that he and Vicky certainly plan to let their hair down with their guests after becoming man and wife.

Dressed down in black zip-up top and grey joggers, Ercan looked full of concentrated as he ticked the task off his list ahead of the wedding.

Vicky will tie the knot in front of 150 of her friends and family, before jetting out to Puglia for another lavish ceremony which will air on Channel 4 on new show Vicky Pattison: Destination Wedding.

The Im A Celeb winner, who was announced as Queen of the Jungle in 2015, will then cut her Italian honeymoon short, so she can begin filming a brand new dating show.

The TV star also took to her home account, Oaks House, to share a sneak peek of the finishing touches to her wedding

Vicky uploaded a snap of the huge black and white board featuring her and Ercan's name, which was also adorned with pretty white flowers

She also shared a glimpse of the personalised confetti envelopes as well as black and white sugar cookies featuring their initials

The reality television star will tie the knot in front of 150 of her friends and family, before jetting out to Puglia for another lavish ceremony which will air on Channel 4 on new show Vicky Pattison: Destination Wedding

Vicky and her beau Ercan will join a long list of celebrities who have held their nuptials at The Old Marylebone Town Hall

It comes after Vicky took to Instagram on Friday to admit she felt 'depressed' and 'anxious' - just hours before her wedding.

Vicky told how her premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PDD), which gives women more severe symptoms of premenstrual disorder (PMS), is affecting the run-up to her special day.

She shared photos of herself in her underwear looking bloated as well as heartbreaking selfies of herself crying.

Vicky wrote a lengthy caption with the post, and it began: 'PMDD and life's significant moments..'

She continued: 'This most won't make sense to a lot of people, to some it may seem dramatic, & if this doesn't resonate with you at all, that's ok.. you can keep scrolling. Because this post is not for everyone.

'One in 20 women suffer with PMDD. However the actual figure is believed to be so much higher due to women being misdiagnosed, ignored & gaslight into thinking they're hysterical.

'So if you are one of that one in 20, or if for a week to 10 days of the month, that luteal phase before your period, you simply don't recognise yourself- then this post is for you.

'Believe me, in the week before my wedding I didn't want to be this person... you imagine being excited & happy, having little dickie birds pop your dress on for you... instead I've been depressed, anxious & self critical filled with feminine rage, hopelessness & exhaustion.

'That's what PMDD does. PMDD is like building a sand castle of good habits, positive moods, & a loving personality then watching it all get swept away to leave depression, anger, hopefulness, & anxiety in its wake. The wave recedes. You begin to rebuild, just as a new wave crashes.

It comes after Vicky took to Instagram on Friday to admit she felt 'depressed' and 'anxious' - just hours before her wedding

Vicky told how her premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PDD), which gives women more severe symptoms of premenstrual disorder (PMS), is affecting the run-up to her special day

She shared photos of herself in her underwear looking bloated and also heartbreaking selfies of herself crying

'And you know the REALLY annoying thing? Is just as your period ALWAYS seems to fall when you're going on holiday.. that spicy PMDD week always manages to be when you have something significant going on, something where you could really do with being your bright, shiny, BRILLIANT self.. rather than this anxious, suicidal little shell of a woman

'We can't control when that wave crashes.

'I've had messages from women saying that PMDD has robbed them of loads of things.. it's shown up on birthdays, graduations, job interviews, it's stopped them being the mother they wanted to be a lot of the time, it's made relationships strained, it's stolen moments that should have been happy.

'I wish there was a super upbeat conclusion to this post, that I was going to end it by saying 'but I've found this pill & now I'm feeling great' but there isn't, instead , I'm just going to say that to anyone suffering- I see you, I get it and I am sorry.

'But you know, as powerful as those thoughts & hormones can be.

Vicky continued in the comments: 'But you know, as powerful as those emotions and hormones can be.. I'm adamant they aren't going to take this moment from me. I might be slight more prickly of a bride than I was intending.. think less Cinderella and more Ursula the sea witch.. but so what?!

Vicky wrote in the caption: 'PMDD and life's significant moments..This most won't make sense to a lot of people...if this doesn't resonate with you at all, that's ok'

Vicky wrote: 'Believe me, in the week before my wedding I didn't want to be this person...I've been depressed, anxious & self critical'

'That floaty old hag deserves her happily too! I mean, maybe she was just misunderstood anyway

'MAYBE SHE HAD PMDD??? (That would actually explain ALOT!) What has helped me tremendously through this journey is getting my friends and family to understand and know what I'm going through.

'So if you're struggling with PMDD and fear the person it makes you, you're scared of people not understanding.. help them understand- explain what you're feeling, how scary it is.

'And even if these significant moments don't look exactly how you imagined them or wanted them.. with people by your side, who love, support and are trying to understand.. things just are a little bit easier. Love you all.'

Before Ercan, Vicky was previously engaged to John Noble [pictured], but she was left devastated after learning he cheated on her just weeks before their wedding

Before Ercan, Vicky was previously engaged to John Noble, but she was left devastated after learning he cheated on her just weeks before their wedding.

John, who proposed to Vicky in July 2017, was filmed at Dubai nightclub Billionaire Mansion getting close to a blonde woman identified as part-time model Poppy Owen, as well as two other unidentified ladies.

At the time of the scandal, Vicky had already bought her dream wedding dress and organised the venue. She was also filming a documentary about the nuptials.

John's proposal was Vicky's second, after her Geordie Shore co-star Ricci Guarnaccio proposed to her during a Cancun MTV special in 2012.
He had hoped to light up the Strictly ballroom in Italy after quitting the BBC dance show amid complaints from his partner Amanda Abbington.

But The Mail on Sunday can reveal that Giovanni Pernice has been told by the Italian shows bosses they cant sign him up for this years series because he has yet to be exonerated by investigators four months after they launched their inquiry.

Mr Pernice, 33, had been in talks with chiefs of Ballando con le Stelle for several months and they were thrilled at the prospect of him joining as one of their professional dancers.

But they are devastated at having to pull the offer - worth around 100,000 to the Italian dancer - because the BBC are yet to clear him after the internal inquiry into Ms Abbingtons claims he bullied her during rehearsals.

It can be revealed Mr Pernice is also now unlikely to appear on ITVs reality show Im A Celebrity in a deal which could have earned him around 250,000.

Giovanni Pernice had hoped to light up the Strictly ballroom in Italy after quitting the BBC dance show amid complaints from his partner Amanda Abbington (pictured in March)

The Mail on Sunday can reveal that the dancer has been told by the Italian shows bosses they cant sign him up for this years series because he has yet to be exonerated by investigators

The channel had hoped to make the most of his popularity with BBC viewers.

It is likely Mr Pernice will launch legal action against the Corporation, where he could cite a failure in their duty of care because they carry out no psychological tests on contestants. He is absolutely furious the BBC have made him wait so long.

A source told The Mail on Sunday: Gio was so excited that he was going to keep on dancing and what made it so much more lovely is that it would have been in his home country.

'But the deadline was looming and the Ballando bosses just couldnt wait any longer for the BBC to announce their verdict. They are as gutted as Gio is.

It is absolutely horrendous for Gio. He has been stuck in limbo and has been unable to move on with his life.

'He has so many offers on the table but without the BBC clearing his name he cant move forward. Nobody can understand why this is taking so long.

He is losing money hand over fist. He was presented with Amandas claims weeks and weeks ago, there was nothing there that proved he was a bully, as he has been insisting all along.

He has a clear case against the BBC here. They put him in a room with a woman without doing the most basic of checks which ultimately put him in a position where his career is potentially ruined and his income stream is cut off'.

But they are devastated at having to pull the offer because the BBC are yet to clear him after the internal inquiry into Ms Abbingtons claims he bullied her during rehearsals (Giovanni and Amanda Abington pictured in October 2023)

They added: Gio had to leave Strictly because of Amandas claims and now it has ruined his chance to move on.

Ballando con le Stelle launched in 2005 - a year after Strictly began in the UK - and is filmed in a magnificent 19th century theatre at the RAI Auditorium at the Foro Italico in Rome.

Mr Pernice hired legal firm Schillings in April after Ms Abbington made a formal complaint to the BBC.

One source said: He certainly has the infrastructure in place to sue should he decide to take that route, which right now is a huge possibility.
Kanye West surfaced in Seoul with his 11-year-old daughter North and his wife Bianca Censori - who was uncharacteristically covered up.

Bianca, 29, has risked flouting the law in more than one country with her flesh-flashing outfits, but has been dressing conservatively while in South Korea.

She and Kanye have been accompanied by his three older children - North as well as her brother Saint, eight, and sister Chicago, six.

The 47-year-old rapper, who shares all his children with his ex-wife Kim Kardashian, has not been seen with his five-year-old son Psalm in Asia.

For her latest sighting, Bianca was draped in what looked like a large beige cape with a hood, complementing her husband's cream sweatsuit.

Kanye West surfaced in Seoul with his 11-year-old daughter North and his wife Bianca Censori (center) - who was uncharacteristically covered up in a beige hooded cape

During his latest outing in the South Korean capital, Kanye could be seen posing for pictures with fans and stopping at a local Starbucks.

He also took his little girl to a toy store that was filled with goodies ranging from miniature tanks to stuffed animals.

Kanye could be seen sweetly leaning down to be at North's level as she browsed some of the items in the shop.

Earlier this week, Bianca was seen in an unusually sober ensemble including high-neck midi dress when she and Kanye arrived in Seoul with the children.

They were there for Kanye's Vultures 2 listening party with Ty Dolla $ign, held Friday at Goyang Stadium, to be followed by another event in Taiwan on Sunday.

Kanye last performed in South Korea 14 years earlier while at the Summer Week&T music festival back in 2010.

In February, a source revealed to DailyMail.com that Kim had asked Kanye to have his wife cover up when around their children, which might explain her clothing choice.

'Kim instructed Kanye to never let Bianca dress like that around their kids. She is truly surprised that Kanye would let his wife leave the house like that.'

The insider added: 'Kanye did the same thing he is doing with Bianca to Kim throughout their marriage. The difference is that when Kanye dressed Kim, he was respected as a person  as an artist.'

The couple are in South Korea ahead of Kanye's Vultures 2 listening party with Ty Dolla $ign.

He also took his little girl to a toy store that was filled with goodies ranging from miniature tanks to stuffed animals

Kanye could be seen sweetly leaning down to be at North's level as she browsed some of the items in the shop

Bianca and Kanye have been accompanied by his three older children - North (right) as well as her brother Saint, eight, and sister Chicago , six

During his latest outing in the South Korean capital, Kanye could be seen mingling with fans, posing for pictures with a group of them

Kanye, pictured at a Starbucks in Seoul, was there for his Vultures 2 listening party with Ty Dolla $ign Friday, to be followed by another event in Taiwan on Sunday

Kanye, pictured in Seoul this week, last performed in South Korea 14 years earlier while at the Summer Week&T music festival back in 2010

The couple are in South Korea ahead of Kanye's Vultures 2 listening party with Ty Dolla $ign (seen in February in Milan)

The event will take place on Friday, August 23 at Goyang Stadium, following by another party in Taiwan on August 25.

Ahead of their trip to South Korea, the rapper was seen taking his scantily-clad wife to grab a quick bite to eat at a Kentucky Fried Chicken in Los Angeles.

As they entered the popular fast food restaurant, all eyes were on the Australian architect, who left little to the imagination in a tattered grey bra and satin underwear.

In a photo, which appears to be taken from the KFC security camera, the Grammy winner could be seen sporting a white hoodie and black pants.

While it is unclear when the pair visited the KFC, Censori's sister, Angelina, posted a snap of her wearing the same revealing outfit to her Instagram Story on Saturday.

From LA to Tokyo and Berlin to Paris and Venice, Bianca's increasingly shocking and shrinking outfits have been getting her in troubles with the authorities around the world.

Two weeks ago, Bianca's most 'extreme' outfit yet was the latest in a long list of outraging public decency incidents around the world - and has seen her teetering on the very edge of the law.

The music artist shares North, 11, Saint, eight, Chicago, six and Psalm, five, with ex-wife Kim Kardashian

In February, a source revealed to DailyMail.com that Kim had asked Kanye to have his wife cover up when around their children , which might explain her ensemble (pictured in July)

Ahead of their trip to South Korea, the Stronger rapper was seen taking his wife to grab a quick bite to eat at a Kentucky Fried Chicken in Los Angeles with Bianca in a tattered grey bra

Her decision to go topless in LA raises yet more questions about whether on the orders of husband Kanye because of a PR war with his ex-wife Kim.

Mark Borkowski, arguably Britain's leading PR guru, told MailOnline: 'Where does it end? She clearly is very comfortable with her public image and demonstrates it with this extreme fashion statement.

'I can only think this is a considered act. It feels to be a desperate attempt for publicity. It feels like a living embodiment of the Empress has no clothes'.

Bianca has continued to push the boundaries of fashion to the very limit since she got together with Kanye - and there are questions about whether she is the source of the ideas or simply West's muse.
Jenna Ortega weighed in on the downsides of AI on the latest episode of The Interview podcast with The New York Times.

On Sunday, the actress, 21, recalled seeing fake, sexually explicit images of herself as a minor on multiple social media platform.

'I hate AI,' she stated. '... Did I like being 14 [years old] and making a Twitter account because I was supposed to, and seeing dirty edited content of me as a child? No. It's terrifying. It's corrupt.'

She continued: 'It's wrong. It's disgusting.'

The Wednesday star went on to describe the use of artificial intelligence as opening 'Pandora's box.'

Jenna Ortega weighed in on the downsides of AI on the latest episode of The Interview podcast with The New York Times

'Well, it is what it is. It's out there now. We're gonna have to deal with the consequences,' the performer said.

Still, she acknowledged the good AI has done 'incredible things' like 'detect breast cancer' before its progression.

'That's beautiful  Let's keep it to that,' she told listeners. 'I would like [AI] to be used with good intent, but we could say that about anything and everything.'

Ortega also revealed that social media can be a dangerous place for children as she looked back on receiving 'an unsolicited photo of a man's genitals' age age 12.

'One of the first actually, the first DM that I ever opened myself when I was 12 was an unsolicited photo of a man's genitals, and that was just the beginning of what was to come,' she said.

The Disney Channel alum explained that after years of seeing fake photos of herself and receiving explicit images of others, she has a tendency to stay off social media.

'I ended up deleting [some of her social media accounts] about two, three years ago because the influx, after [Wednesday] had come out, of these absurd images and photos,' she revealed.

Ortega added: 'They're just so repulsive, and I already was in a confused state that I just deleted it because it was unnecessary, and I didn't need that.'

On Sunday, the actress, 21, recalled seeing fake, sexually explicit images of herself as a minor that spread rapidly across social media platform

Ortega explained that she was encouraged to keep her accounts to 'build' her 'image' but the explicit images prompted her to delete X (previously known as Twitter).

'I would make political statements or, just personal ones or just talk about excitement for jobs, and then I was greeted with this stuff. And it was just disgusting, and it made me feel bad. It made me feel uncomfortable,' she said. 'It's awful. ... So one day, I just woke up and I thought, "Oh, I don't need this anymore." So I dropped it.'

When asked if she is still in the process of learning how to 'protect' herself, Ortega said she was 'still' working on it.

Last year, Ortega broke down in tears while detailing her struggles to show her authentic self on social media during a vulnerable chat with Elle Fanning during Variety's Actors on Actors series.

'I hate AI,' she stated. '... Did I like being 14 [years old] and making a Twitter account because I was supposed to, and seeing dirty edited content of me as a child? No. It's terrifying. It's corrupt'

As the women chatted about navigating childhood stardom, early adulthood and past toxic workplace dynamics, the star revealed that her relationship with Instagram can get 'ugly.'

After the Teen Spirit actress, 26, confided that her own time online can feel 'toxic' at times, Ortega, who got her first big break after landing the role of Harley Diaz on the Disney Channel series Stuck in the Middle, began to cry as she discussed how her 'sarcastic' and 'dry' sense of humor makes it 'very easy' for her to get herself 'in trouble.'

'I want people to be able to get to know the people behind the camera and realize that people should never be put on a pedestal,' the performer explained. 'And the more Ive been exposed to the world, people prey on that and take advantage of that. They see your vulnerability and twist it in a way that you dont always expect.'

At this point, Ortega began to get choked up, as she reflected on how 'strange' it is trying to be 'honest without jeopardizing your own health and safety.'

Ortega started as a child actor on the Disney Channel (seen above on the show Stuck in the Middle)

'Its very easy to feel almost out of control,' the Golden Globe nominee, who has 40.6 million Instagram followers, admitted.

Fanning replied: 'You have to protect yourself, and also just know when to put it away and know it doesnt matter. Thats not the real world.'

'I still have this really intense urge to be human and honest and authentic,' Ortega said, before noting how 'gross' it makes her feel to be told to 'smile' or have 'more energy.'

She concluded: 'I dont want to feel gross. I would rather people see me cry and do whatever than be something Im not.'

The Palm Desert native divulged that even after shooting Wednesday, when auditioning there was still hesitation over casting her because people didn't know if she had 'enough of a name.'

'I hate AI,' she stated. '... Did I like being 14 [years old] and making a Twitter account because I was supposed to, and seeing dirty edited content of me as a child? No. It's terrifying. It's corrupt'

'Social media, what it does to anyone our age, its such a comparing game. It influences bandwagon mentality. Its very manipulative. After the show, Im really nervous to post or even say anything on there or even be myself.'

Ortega also reflected on her media training at Disney, where she was told to 'post three times a day' to 'build followers' and engage with fans to 'promote' her show.
Pregnant Charlotte Dawson has revealed the quirky way she made her fiance Matthew Sarsfield apologise to her late dad Les.

The reality star, 31, has been with the rugby league player, 32, for eight years but was left hurt and humiliated after finding out two weeks ago he had sent intimate texts to another woman.

As the couple, who are expecting their third child together, work through the hurt, Charlotte told of how she made Matthew apologise to her family.

While he has 'a lot of making up' to do with the TV personality's mum, Tracy, he also had to 'say sorry' to her dad, Les.

Comedy legend Les, a household name during his 1970s and '80s heyday, died of heart failure on June 10 1993, aged 63 - just eight months after Charlotte was born.

Pregnant Charlotte Dawson has revealed the quirky way she made her fiance Matthew Sarsfield apologise to her late dad Les after he sent intimate texts to another woman

Comedy legend Les, a household name during his 1970s and '80s heyday, died of heart failure on June 10 1993, aged 63 - just eight months after Charlotte was born (pictured in 1991)

Speaking about the scandal in an interview with OK! Magazine, Charlotte explained: 'My family, as angry as they are, dont want me to be on my own with three children. They want me to be happy and if we try and work through this, theyll be supportive, but theyre very, very disappointed in him.

'I made Matthew go and say sorry to the life-size cardboard cutout I keep of my dad. And he has a lot of making up to do with my mum, too.

'When he apologised to the cutout of my dad, I said, What have you got to say for yourself? And Matthew said, Im so, so sorry for what Ive done to your daughter. And I told him to be glad Dad couldnt speak back!'

The couple share one-year-old Jude, and Noah, three, and are 'considering couples counselling' with the Swinton Lions now player living back at the family home.

Just days ago Charlotte recalled the devastating moment she found out her fiance Matthew had been sexting another woman.

Speaking out for the first time on her My Naughty Corner podcast, she said: 'I don't get why he's done it, it drives me mad because he's got everything. He doesn't want to lose his family over this.'

The television personality was walking to meet Matthew at the barbers when she got a call from her manager who broke the news of his betrayal.

'My whole world came crashing down, I was so shocked. I felt really shocked, hurt and disappointed. His family were really shocked with him,' she said.

Charlotte explained: 'I made Matthew go and say sorry to the life-size cardboard cutout I keep of my dad. And he has a lot of making up to do with my mum, too'

Just days ago Charlotte recalled the devastating moment she found out her fiance Matthew had been sexting another woman.

The reality star said she sat there shaking unable to get through to her mum and sister on the phone. Meanwhile, Charlotte's manager rang Matthew to tell him the news.

She recalled: 'He rings me and he said "please speak to me". I said: "I'm done". He said he was drunk and begging me not to leave him.'

Charlotte revealed Matthew had met the blonde woman through rugby as he played on the team with her ex, with them messaging on Instagram.

She said: 'I've seen the message they're not nice, it really hurt'.
Jennifer Garner looked relaxed as she headed home from a romantic dinner with her boyfriend John Miller on Friday evening amid her ex-husband Ben Affleck's divorce.

The actress, 52, who recently dropped her oldest child off at college, donned a large gray sweater in the unusually cool Malibu temperatures.

The Deadpool & Wolverine star wore natural looking makeup and pulled her chestnut locks into a half-ponytail.

The Family Switch star accessorized with a white and yellow gold pendant on a thick chain.

She was accompanied by her partner of several years, who looked handsome in a white T-shirt under a light blue and white flannel button down.

Jennifer Garner looked relaxed as she headed home from a romantic dinner with her boyfriend John Miller Friday evening

Miller, about 46, brushed his light brown hair forward and sported a scruffy beard.

He casually hooked his dark framed glasses on his shirt neck.

Miller is an attorney and is currently serving as the CEO of CaliBurger and its parent company CaliGroup.

The couple were seen laughing with someone nearby as they made their way to their car.

It's been reported the actress offered her friendship to Affleck, 52, in the lead up to his divorce from Jennifer Lopez, 55, after two years of marriage.

However, Garner attempting to help Ben caused a 'divide' in her own relationship with Miller, with a source telling DailyMail.com earlier this week that they are now working towards being in a 'better place.'

'John doesn't like sharing Jen and there is a divide when it comes to her and Ben,' the insider expressed, adding that Miller had concerns with how much time the 13 Going On 30 actress put into the Ben and Lopez split.

'He wishes it wasn't like that because he understands they are a family, but it gets to him like it would anyone.'

The actress, 52, donned a large gray sweater in the unusually cool Malibu temperatures

'John doesn't have any fears that they are getting back together  but it has been tough coping with her support for Ben during his split from JLo,' the source continued.

In the wake of the divorce news, the insider said of Garner and Miller's relationship: 'Bumpy roads recently are looking to be smoothed out.'

'Both Jen and John are hoping for that. It is just going to take a little time. They both want to be in a better place, but some work needs to be done.'

The actress and Miller 'haven't split' and expressed that their 'friends feel that they will be together for a long time. They are very private.'

Since their split in 2018, both Garner and Affleck have worked to have a good co-parenting relationship for the sake of their children Violet, 18, Fin, 15, and Sam, 12.

'His kids are taking it fine as are [Lopez's]. Everybody is ready to move on', a source told Page Six. Lopez shares her twins Emme and Max, 16, with her ex-husband Marc Anthony.

Garner has several projects listed as being in pre-production on IMDB.com, including the crime series Can't Go Home.

She stars as fugitive recovery agent KD Williams, who, along with her partner, played by Tom Mariano, finds herself in too deep with the criminal gangs of Boston.

The show is scheduled to debut December 29.

In keeping with her lighter side, the versatile actress will be getting into the holiday spirit and demonstrating her comedic skills as Mrs. Claus.

It's been reported the actress offered her friendship to Affleck, 52, in the lead up to his divorce from Jennifer Lopez, 55, after two years of marriage; seen in 2014

The movie, which will reportedly stream on Netflix, is being produced by Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine company, according to Deadline.

Hello Sunshine was also behind her the eight-part thriller The Last Thing He Told Me.

Garner lobbied for the role of artist Hannah Hall, whose husband mysteriously disappears, after Julia Roberts dropped out due to scheduling conflicts.

That series has already secured a second season on Apple TV+ with Garner in the starring role.
Eamonn Holmes took his girlfriend Katie Alexander to visit his hometown of Belfast this week amid claims they are 'in it for the long haul.'

The presenter, 64, and his estranged wife Ruth Langsford, also 64, announced their plans to divorce after 14 years of marriage in May and it later emerged that he was dating the blonde relationship therapist, 42.

Eamonn is currently on a summer break from his GB News Breakfast show and is set to return next week.

During his time off, he has been spotted by locals in Carrickfergus, dining at the same budget restaurant, Papa Browns, for four days in a row, The Sun reports.

A member of staff at the American diner told the publication: 'He came in four days in a row. I noticed his girlfriend had an English accent. They looked happy.'

Eamonn Holmes took his girlfriend Katie Alexander to visit his hometown of Belfast this week amid claims they are 'in it for the long haul'

They continued: 'He appeared quite frail and it took a minute to recognise him, but he was always very polite and friendly.

'Both of them appeared at ease with being seen together. Eamonn really enjoyed it.'

He is set to make his comeback on GB News Breakfast next week with co-host Isabel Webster, who has been hosting the show solo during his time off, reports the Express.

Eamonn is said to be smitten with Katie and their relationship has been 'taken to the next level', MailOnline previously revealed.

Friends claimed they are now spending most weekends together at his Richmond flat after his marriage to Ruth ended.

Eamonn and Katie are mulling over when to take their relationship public and are said to have been offered 'big money' for the official first pictures of them together.

The source told us: 'They've been offered some decent money for the first pictures of them together.

'Katie and Eamonn are definitely in it for the long haul. She says she loves him and he loves her.'

The presenter, 64, and his estranged wife Ruth Langsford, also 64, announced their plans to divorce after 14 years of marriage in May and it later emerged that he was dating the therapist (Ruth and Eamonn pictured in 2018)

Eamonn is said to have sent his estranged wife a reassuring message that he wasn't engaged - after it was reported he was set to wed Katie.

The GB News presenter was at the centre of rumours he had popped the question to Katie after she was spotted wearing a sparkling diamond ring.

In a bid to protect Ruth's feelings, Eamonn is believed to have contacted her to pour cold water over the engagement speculation.

A source told MailOnline: 'There are other people in this and I know Eamonn had to message Ruth to say there was nothing in the engagement speculation.'
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.
The Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi held a protest in Latur on Saturday as part of its Statewide stir against the sexual assault on two girls in a school in Badlapur in Thane district and the Maharashtra Governments alleged mishandling of the case.

Workers of the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) wore black arm bands and masks to cover their mouths as part of the protest, which was held at Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Chowk in the morning. They shouted slogans against the State and Union Governments and said concrete steps must be taken to tackle crimes against women. The MVA had called for a Maharashtra bandh on Saturday but it had to be withdrawn after the Bombay High Court on Friday restrained all parties and individuals from proceeding with it.

Meanwhile, BJP workers on Saturday demonstrated in Thane against the Maha Vikas Aghadi, accusing the Opposition parties of trying to politicise the alleged sexual abuse of two minor girls at a school in Badlapur.

Protesters, led by BJPs Thane district president Sanjay Waghule and MLA Sanjay Kelkar, assembled in front of Ahilyadevi memorial amid rains and demanded swift justice for the victim girls.

This is a severe incident which has devastated the family members of the victims. However, leaders of MVA are busy politicising this tragedy. They are trying to defame Maharashtra, Waghule alleged.

Kelkar alleged that MVA leaders are eyeing power and lack sensitivity.

Local BJP leaders, former corporators, women wing members, and other office-bearers joined the protest.

The MVA staged protests across Maharashtra, accusing the Mahayuti Government of inefficient handling of the Badlapur incident, which triggered a massive rail roko demonstration on Tuesday.
MANZINI - Eswatini Air customers once waited for about an hour in a flight as it was purportedly waiting for a certain princess.

This was revealed by one of the stakeholders during a consultative meeting which was hosted by Eswatini Air at The Gorge Hotel, yesterday morning. The stakeholder first congratulated Eswatini Air for last years achievements. He then expressed his disappointment to the airline based on what he experienced at King Mswati III (KMIII) International Airport. He said he and other customers of Eswatini Air had booked their flight well on time, but they were made to wait for about an hour, as the flight was waiting for a certain princess.

He said as customers, they were affected and some of them missed their flights as they were connecting to other destinations, like Dubai, among others. My plea to Eswatini Air is that it should take us (clients) seriously, the stakeholder said. He also advised the airline to leave politics out when doing business and have a suggestion box, where its customers would write their suggestions on where and how the organisation could improve. Otherwise, he said the company has great potential to grow and contribute to the development of the country.

Improve

On the other hand, Eswatini Air management assured the stakeholders that they would improve their services. They also highlighted that they already have a site where customers send their suggestions. They said the back of their flights have a Quick Response (QR) Code, which when they scan, would direct them to the site where they could drop their suggestions, experience and complaints. On the other hand, Royal Eswatini National Airways Cooperation (RENAC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Qiniso Dhlamini, was asked about the concern that was recently raised by parliamentarians in Parliament on why Eswatini Air flight to OR Tambo International Airport had more empty seats than the one operated by Airlink.



In response, the CEO said one of the main purposes of the stakeholder consultative meeting was to inform them (stakeholders) that their fares of the competitor had been reduced as a reaction to Eswatini Airs market entry.Therefore, he said they encourage the stakeholders to continue supporting them so that they could remain in business and that would mean the fares would also stay low. However, he said if they do not get the support they need, they would be pushed out of business and this would mean there would be monopoly in the business and air ticket prices might go up gain.

Stressful

The CEO said one of the contributing factors was that initially, when a passenger who wants to connect at OR Tambo International Airport, but had bought two tickets or more, separately, they have to do a luggage-check even in Johannesburg and this was stressful for them, thus they ended up choosing the competitor. However, he was quick to highlight that now they have found a solution to the challenge. The CEO also said another contributing factor was connecting times, as some passengers had concerns that they wait long hours to connect. He said this could be addressed if their stakeholders could support them, as this would increase their fleet, which would see the airline also increasing the frequency of flights. He said when the frequency of flights was increased, connecting time would definitely decrease.
A time bomb going by the name of Mullaperiyar Dam is ticking away in Keralas Idukki district. The 130-year-old dam is sure to burst anytime causing unimaginable devastation in five districts of the State. The deluge that the sudden bursting of the overaged dam would swallow 4.5 million people and their properties, say experts who are closely monitoring the safety of the dam.

Mullaperiyar Dam built in 1880 across Periyar River by the then British Government in power in the Madras Presidency at a high cost to the princely State of Travancore has been a burning issue in South India ever since it went operational in 1895. The mortar used in construction of this rickety dam was a mix of surkhi (burnt brick ground to a powdery substance) and limestone on 8,100 acres of dense forest area in the Western Ghats. It outlived its estimated life decades ago, and the only option left is to build a new dam after decommissioning the existing one, MS Menon, former director general of Central Water Commission, told The Pioneer.

He said, Safety aspects apart, the controversy over the crumbling dam has degenerated into politicking of the worst kind putting the lives of millions of people at high risk. The dam is built across Periyar River which is not an inter-State river. The Government of Kerala does not require any green signal from Tamil Nadu to go ahead with the construction of a new dam.

Professor AK Gosain, eminent hydrologist and former head of civil engineering department of IIT, Delhi, who undertook a study on the safety of Mullaperiyar Dam said that the reservoir is in a dilapidated condition and could collapse at any time. Our study conducted during late 1990s was based on the Rain Atlas formulated by the Government of India. The maximum precipitation recorded during the study period was sufficient to topple the dam in those days itself. The situation has become worse over the last decade because of the changes in probable maximum precipitation due to major changes in the intensity of rainfall, Dr Gosain told The Pioneer on Saturday.

According to Dr Gosain, the dam is sure to burst any time. But it is not possible to forecast the exact date and time of the collapse of the dam, he said

The mixture of surkhie and limestone has been washed away over the years, pointed out Menon. Though Tamil Nadu claims to have repaired the dam, its averment

has to be taken with a pinch of salt.

Why should Tamil Nadu be concerned about the safety of the people of Kerala? It is for our ministers and MPs to press the matter and get the work for a new dam going, said P C George, seven-term MLA who as head of various petition committees had demanded the construction of a new dam.

Tamil Nadus five districts are fully dependent on Mullaperiyar Dam for their drinking water supply, irrigation and power production requirements. The districts of Ramanathapuram, Theni, Dindigul, Sivaganga and Madurai are fully dependent on water from this dam, which otherwise would have flown westward to the Arabian Sea. Tamil Nadu got a dam free of cost as the entire catchment area and dam were built on land owned by Kerala. Though the Tamil Nadu Government claims that it was John Pennicuick, a British engineer, who built the dam with funds from his home, it is bunkum, said George, who has been in the forefront of an agitation demanding the construction of a new dam.

A 2021 study by United Nations think-tank, INWEH, has found that Mullaperiyar Dam, built 881 metres above sea level, is situated in a seismically active zone and has many serious structural flaws.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is busy mobilizing funds and resources to rebuild Wayanad, which was recently devastated by landslides. He is waiting for the Mullaperiyar Dam to burst so that he could launch another fund collection drive, said a dejected George disappointed over the apathy of the State Administration.
Delhi Police on Saturday issued an advisory for traffic arrangements at Laxmi Narayan Mandir on the occasion of Krishna Janmashtami on August 26. Janmashtami - an annual festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna - will be observed on Monday.

Entry to the main temple will be from Mandir Marg which can be approached either from Kali Bari Marg side or Peshwa Road, the advisory said.

Hand bags, briefcases, parcels, food packets, cameras, mobile phones and other battery-operated equipment are not permitted, it said.

As is well known, visitors to the temple will have to remove their footwear before passing through the metal detectors leading to the temple gates. Arrangements have been made for depositing the footwear by the temple authorities in stalls adjacent to Kali Bari Marg and Hindu Maha Sabha office on Peshwa Road, the advisory stated. Entry to the Geeta Bhawan and the Vatika will be through main temple gates. All other entry gates to the temple complex will remain closed, it said.

There are two exit gates from the temple complex. All people approaching Kali Bari Marg will proceed via Vatika Geeta Bhawan, exit (Vatika opening) lane leading to Kali Bari Marg, the advisory said. All people wanting to move towards Peshwa Road should use gate number 3 for exit on the Geeta Bhawan side. No entry is permitted from gate number 3. No vehicular traffic will be allowed on Mandir Marg between Panchkuian Road roundabout, Park Street roundabout on Kali Bari Marg, Udyan Marg and Peshwa Road, it stated.

An assistance booth has been set-up near the main gate of the temple. Delhi Police assures and wishes a safe and happy celebration of Janmashtami to all, it added.
A BJP delegation, led by Delhi Pradesh Vice President and Councilor Yogita Singh on Saturday inspected the building and medical infrastructure at the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) run Kasturba Gandhi hospital, after reports of death of a child on ventilator and maternity deliveries taking place in mobile torch light as the hospital faced a major power cut of nine hours three days back.The delegation included Delhi BJP Media Head Praveen Shankar Kapoor, Councilors Neema Bhagat, Satya Sharma, Dr. Monica Pant, Neeta Bisht, Smt. Alka Raghav, and Manisha Punia.

Kapoor has simultaneously sent a letter to Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Kasturba Hospitals pathetic state of affairs. In the letter, he mentioned that the Delhi BJP President, Virendra Sachdeva, has formed a team of five councillors, led by state Vice President Yogita Singh, who will visit the hospital for inspection.

The letter details a power outage at the hospital on August 22, which was to last from 1 pm to 4 pm got extended until 7.45 pm. The outage caused the failure of ICU services, leading to the death of a child on a ventilator.

Additionally, three deliveries were conducted by candlelight due to malfunctioning backup systems.

In the letter, Kapoor stated that Kasturba Gandhi Hospital is the largest maternity hospital in Asia. He also accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of not providing funds for the hospitals maintenance for the past 10 years and said that once a specialised hospital for women, it is now in poor condition.

During the visit, the BJP delegation went around the hospital, talked to several patients, attendants, doctors, medical staff and noted several infrastructure deficency issues at the hospital. The delegation also talked to a woman whose surgery was performed in darkness ans she told that light came only when her surgery had completed around 8 pm.

They reported to Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva that the building was in a poor state, lifts are not operative in a maternity hospital, inadequate sanitation all around and waterlogging in the basement could be seen.
In a poignant display of empathy and solidarity, Chief Minister Hemant Soren, accompanied by his wife MLA Kalpana Soren, visited the residence of former MP late Sunil Mahato and former MP Suman Mahato in Sonari, Jamshedpur, to pay his respects to their late daughter, Ankita Mahato.

The Chief Minister, deeply moved by the tragic loss, paid a floral tribute to a photograph of Ankita Mahato, expressing his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. With folded hands and a bowed head, Hemant Soren offered prayers for the peace of Ankita's departed soul and for strength to be granted to her grieving family to endure this immense loss.

Upon arriving at the Mahato residence, Chief Minister Soren and his wife, MLA Kalpana Soren, met with Suman Mahato and other family members. During their visit, they extended their deep condolences and spent time consoling the family, emphasizing the government's support and their personal commitment to standing by them during this difficult time.

In a brief interaction with the media, Chief Minister Soren expressed his sorrow and extended his sympathies, saying, "Ankita Mahato's untimely passing is a profound loss not only to her family but to all of us. I stand with the Mahato family in their grief and pray for the strength they need to cope with this tragedy."

Several prominent figures from the state's political arena also joined the Chief Minister in paying their respects. Minister Deepak Birua, Minister Baby Devi, Minister Deepika Pandey Singh, MP Joba Manjhi, MLA Ramdas Soren, MLA Sukhram Oraon, MLA Savita Mahato, MLA Sanjeev Sardar, MLA Sameer Mohanty, MLA Mangal Kalindi, and others were present to offer their condolences and participate in the tribute ceremony.

Each of them offered flowers at Ankita Mahato's photograph, symbolizing their shared grief and solidarity with the Mahato family. The atmosphere was heavy with emotion as leaders from various political parties set aside their differences to mourn the loss of a young life taken too soon.

Ankita Mahato, the daughter of Suman Mahato and late Sunil Mahato, was remembered by all as a bright and promising young woman whose life was tragically cut short. Her passing has left a deep void in the hearts of those who knew her, and her memory continues to inspire her family and friends to carry forward her legacy with love and determination.

The Mahato family, visibly touched by the overwhelming support, thanked the Chief Minister and other leaders for their visit and their heartfelt words of comfort. "This is a very difficult time for our family, and we are grateful for the support and prayers from everyone," said Suman Mahato. "Ankita was a beloved daughter, and her memory will always remain in our hearts."
CMD, CMPDI, Manoj Kumar flagged off six fully insulated food distribution vehicles which were provided to Akshaya Patra Foundation, Ranchi by CMPDI under CSR project Improving nutritional level of children by providing six number of food distribution vehicles to provide mid-day meal to Govt. school students of Hazaribagh, Jharkhand.

Shankar Nagachari, Director (Tech./CRD); Ajay Kumar, Director (Tech./P&D); Satish Jha, Director (Tech./ES); Achyut Ghatak, Director (Tech./RD&T); Sumeet Kumar Sinha, C.V.O, CMPDI; GM/HoDs, CSR team of CMPDI (HQ) and representatives from Akshaya Patra were also present.

The major objective is to ensure transportation of mid-day meals to Govt schools of Hazaribagh district, Jharkhand. Approximately one lakh school going children from Hazaribag and adjoining areas would be benefitted from this project. These vehicles will help in transportation for on time delivery and increase the reach of the Akshaya Patra Foundation to deliver the mid-day meals thereby, helping in enhancing the nutritional status and attendance of the children in Govt schools.

CMPDI has signed an MoA with Akshaya Patra Foundation, Ranchi on 04.03.2024 at CMPDI (HQ), Ranchi for the project. The MoA was exchanged between R.K. Mahapatro, GM(HRD/CSR), CMPDI and Vyompada Das, Regional Director, Akshaya Patra Foundation.
Dr. Amla, Dhanbad based Veterinary Officer has been awarded Vetiko Queen of India in a pageant organised under the aegis of Indian Veterinary Association(IVA) that was held at Lucknow recently.

Talking to the media over her achievement Dr Amla said it was the first season of the pageant along with Vet Icon Awards. And youth icon award by the IVA.

This program was organized by Dr. Nidhi Rawat, president chairperson of the ladies wing of Indian Veterinary Association.Celebrity Jury, Pradeep Pali, Producer of Crime Patrol TV Series crowned her as Vetiko queen during the pageant.

It's worth mentioning that Dr. Amla is Touring Veterinary Officer, Topchanchi cum Incharge Junior Veterinary Officer, Dhanbad.

Dr Amla graduated from Ranchi Veterinary College in 2017 and joined as a Touring Veterinary Officer in Dhanbad in November 2023.
Renowned Bollywood director Sajid Ali, known for his work on films like "Laila Majnu" and "Wo Bhi Din The," visited his alma mater Loyola School on Friday morning to address the inter-school event, Azionare. Ali, who has carved a niche for himself in the film industry, credited the values and ethics instilled in him during his time at Loyola as the foundation of his success.

Recalling his early days, Ali shared a memorable experience from 2003 when he performed his very first skit at Loyola School. "The skit was organized in honor of the then Principal, Father Pius Fernandes, and it was based on the Domicile issue," Ali reminisced. "That performance made me realize my talent and passion for storytelling."

Speaking to this correspondent, Ali reflected on his journey from a schoolboy in Loyola to a filmmaker in Mumbai. "When I moved to Mumbai, I truly understood the importance of the extracurricular activities that Loyola organized. Those activities played a crucial role in shaping my personality and helped me discover my talent," he said. "Father Pius has always been a guiding force in my life."

Sajid Ali, the younger brother of the well-known Bollywood writer-director Imtiaz Ali, began his career in the film industry by co-writing the romantic comedy-drama "Cocktail" alongside his brother. The film, starring Saif Ali Khan, marked his entry into Bollywood. In 2018, Ali made his directorial debut with the romantic drama "Laila Majnu," which he also co-wrote. His latest release, "Wo Bhi Din The," premiered on an OTT platform and received widespread acclaim for its fresh take on the coming-of-age genre.

During his visit, Ali also shared that Loyola School holds a special place in his heart. In fact, the school was the backdrop for his latest film, "Wo Bhi Din The." The 2024 Hindi-language coming-of-age romantic comedy, co-written with Saurabh Swamy and directed by Ali himself, reflects his deep connection with the school and its values.

Father Vinod Fernandes, Principal, Loyola School and Vice Principal Jayanti Sheshadri played a key role in the success of the event.
A fake call centre being run in three flats of Flora Avenue 33 society on Sohna road was busted with the arrest of 20 people, including 4 women, police said on Saturday.

The accused were duping foreign nationals on the pretext of providing online technical support, they said, adding that 25 mobile phones, 16 laptops and Rs 50,000 cash were recovered from their possession.

According to the police, they got a tip off that a fake call centre is being run in flat A-20, 21, and 22 in Flora Avenue 33 society wherein foreign nationals are being defrauded on the pretext of online technical support.

Following the tip off, a raid was conducted by the team of cybercrime south police station on Friday night where the men and women were found busy on laptops and mobiles, they said.

Most of them were busy making calls in English using their headphones. On asking they could not show any valid OSP licences of Department of Telecommunications or any other agreement/MoU related to their work, said police.

Twenty people, including 4 women, from the fake call centre. Most of the accused are natives of Manipur, Nagaland and Nepal. An FIR was registered against the accused at cybercrime south police station under relevant sections of BNS and IT act, said police.

During police interrogation, it was revealed that Mahender Bajrang Singh is the manager of the call centre which is being run from May in these rented flats.

The accused send bulk voice mail / messages and duping foreigners through pop ups in the name of technical support. By taking remote access to their computer, laptops through Dialler/X-Lite Application, they take about 100 to 500 dollars per customer to get the computer system repaired after detecting the technical fault in the computer.

They had charged an amount of 100-500 US dollars through a gift card. We are questioning the accused, ACP cyber Priyanshu Dewan said.
Discipline is the collective responsibility of all of us, said Director General of Sarla Birla University, Prof. Dr. Gopal Pathak on the occasion of the conclusion of the two-day awareness program cum photo exhibition organized in the university auditorium here on Saturday. The program was organized on National Space Day under the aegis of Central Communication Bureau, Ranchi.

Speaking as the chief guest in the program, he explained the importance of discipline to the students and emphasized its importance in life. Referring to the famous scientist and father of India's space program Vikram Sarabhai, he said that it was the result of his efforts in the sixties that the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) was established in the country and today India is moving towards creating new records in space. He advised the students to focus on academic subjects with dedication and discipline.

Dr. Ranjit Kumar Singh, Principal of Model College, Rajmahal, informed the audience about the achievement of Chandrayaan. Singh said that Chandrayaan-3 mission has revealed interesting secrets of the moon.

He further said that the most important information given by Chandrayaan-3 is that the south pole of the moon was once covered with liquid molten rocks. That is, there was only lava inside and outside the moon. This is called magma ocean. Scientists say that the moon was formed 4.5 billion years ago, after which it started cooling down. Light minerals called ferron, anorthosite started floating in it.

APXS also detected a higher than expected presence of minerals in the upper soil on the south pole of the moon, which are usually found in the lower layers of the moon. This means that there may be a mixture of different layers of the surface of the moon.

Possibly due to an asteroid impact that created the South Pole Aitken Basin. These findings are significant as Chandrayaan-3 is the first mission to conduct in situ experiments near the Moon's poles, providing new information in these regions.

The uniformity of the surface near Chandrayaan-3's landing site can help calibrate instruments and plan future missions.

Future missions targeting the South Pole can also assess lunar meteorites originating from different parts of the Moon. Thus APXS measurements make a significant contribution to our understanding of the origin and evolution of the Moon.

Overall, the findings of Chandrayaan-3 present a clear picture of how different layers within the Moon's crust may have interacted over billions of years. This information not only enhances our knowledge about our nearest celestial neighbour, but also helps refine models predicting its geological history.

The data collected by APXS will be important for future missions aimed at learning and understanding more about lunar meteorites and their origin. By studying these meteorites, scientists can learn more about both the history of the Moon and broader planetary science.

Chandrayaan-3's APXS has made a significant contribution to lunar science by uncovering new aspects of the Moon's structure and geological processes.

On this occasion, essay and drawing competitions were organized for three consecutive days in which students of the University, Acharya Kulam Vidyalaya and Sarala Birla Public School participated enthusiastically and were also presented Sanskrit and the winners of the competition were honoured with certificates.

While giving vote of thanks at the closing ceremony, Shahid Rehman, Head of Office, CBC, Ranchi said that the positive and active cooperation of the prestigious Sarala Birla University for the program and photo-exhibition on an important topic like 'National Space Day-2024' is commendable and it will be beneficial for the future of science.

On this occasion, SBU's acting Vice Chancellor Hon. S. B. Dandin, Registrar Prof. V. K. Singh, Dr. Neelima, Dr. Sandeep, Dr. Pankaj Goswami, Dr. R. M. Jha along with other teachers of the university and students of various schools were present.

On the organization of the program, Chancellor of the University Bijay Kumar Dalan and Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Pradeep Verma sent their best wishes.
The Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) is rolling out a comprehensive strategy to address encroachments across all its units, with Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL) leading the charge. This multi-faceted approach not only focuses on reclaiming SAIL's properties but also emphasizes educating the public about the importance of adhering to property regulations.

As part of this initiative, BSL has already begun mapping its housing units and aims to complete the process within two months to identify and address unauthorized occupancies. Once completed, legal actions will be taken through the Estate Court to vacate illegally occupied properties, with the possibility of seizing occupants' belongings during the eviction process.

Beyond housing, the crackdown will extend to illegal constructions on land owned by SAIL and BSL. Eviction orders already issued by the Estate Court will be enforced, while new legal proceedings may be initiated to clear unauthorized developments. This methodical approach is designed to reclaim and protect SAIL's assets.

To bolster these efforts, SAIL BSL will also launch a public awareness campaign aimed at educating the community about the legal consequences of encroachment. This campaign is crucial in preventing future violations by informing residents of the risks involved in unauthorized occupations.

Additionally, BSL is stepping up efforts to recover outstanding dues from plot holders who have not met their financial obligations. Non-compliance with payment notices may lead to legal action under the Public Premises (Eviction) Act, including the potential cancellation and reclamation of plots.

Notably SAIL also plans to monitor the effectiveness of these initiatives closely, with monthly progress reports being submitted to the corporate office.
MBABANE  It is free, but not free for others.

This is the case of some pupils who are paying full school fees for primary level education, despite the fact that government introduced Free Primary Education (FPE) in 2010. It has been established that thousands of children still do not have the necessary documentation to qualify for the governments FPE programme. Previously, head teachers denied enrolment of pupils without birth certificates. Others failed to register for the external examinations because they did not produce the required national documents.

Failed

This time, thousands of pupils without birth certificates, it has been discovered, enrolled for primary education without the certificates but failed to enjoy the exemption in which pupils at primary level do not pay school fees in terms of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Swaziland (Eswatini). Eswatini News can reveal that whenever a new school term begins, many parents are faced with the harsh reality of having to pay for their childrens education, even though it is supposed to be free. Investigations unearthed that many such parents were those with children in rural schools, but this predicament cannot be limited to them, as they may be some cases in other settings of the country.

Documentation

Some head teachers revealed that many of these children were allowed to learn in the schools without documentation until Grade VI. They faced difficulties in proceeding to Grade VII, where the national documents are required for registration purposes. It is a must to have a birth certificate to register with the Examinations Council of Eswatini, the head teachers revealed. Dumisani Mbuli, the Indvuna Yenkhundla of LaMgabhi revealed how some of the children in his constituency did not have birth certificates and could not benefit from the governments FPE programme.

Serious

He said this was so serious that the inkhundla had to intervene on behalf of parents, so that their children could be allowed to register in the local primary schools. The initiative was part of governments effort to fulfil the constitutional mandate of providing free education to all children at the primary level.The programme is aimed at removing financial barriers to education and ensuring that all children in the country access basic education, regardless of their familys economic status. The initiative is aimed at ensuring that no child in the country would be denied access to education due to financial constraints.Government undertook the responsibility of paying school fees directly to schools on behalf of the enrolled children, thereby easing the burden on parents. According to www.ourworldindata.org, almost 60 million children of primary school age are not in school around the world.

Progress

It reported that though the world had made progress in recent generations, millions of children were still not in school. Also, www.heartforafrica.org reports that when considering the entire world, there are 264.3 million children, adolescents and youth who are not in school. It further reports that one of the countries that are suffering the most is Eswatini.

In Eswatini, a child cannot benefit from the FPE programme if he or she does not have a birth certificate. Birth certificates contain a unique 13-digit figure known as the personal identification number (PIN). This is also the same number used for one to apply for a national identity document (ID). Without a birth certificate, a child is not registered in the system and, as a result, is excluded from the benefits of free education.

Benefit

This is said to be the situation for thousands of children who are not able to benefit from the programme. There are currently 600 primary schools, including private institutions, in the country, with an enrolment of over 239 793, according to the government website www.gov.sz. The total enrolment from Grade I to VII in 2009 was 230 242 and in 2010 it was 242 037. The governments FPE includes text and workbooks, stationery, furniture, programmes and infrastructures and exercise books. All these are provided for free as part of FPE. However, without FPE, this results in parents having to pay for all these, including food and textbooks.

Majority

This publication discovered that the majority of children who did not have birth certificates were in rural communities and that many were living with their grandparents. One concern, which was raised by some of the grandparents, was that Births, Marriages and Deaths (BMD) Department offices were not available in rural communities. BMDs is a department within the Home Affairs responsible for issuing birth certificates. *Sontfo, a grandmother to *Nelly and *Sipho, said her grandchildren only recently managed to acquire birth certificates, but that they had not been benefitting from FPE as they had not been registered. She said the challenge was that they were left by her son and that he had not been available to get them registered.

Further, she said travelling to Manzini from Buhleni is costly. Further, she said she only benefitted because of the recent mopping-up exercise by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The challenge with children struggling to acquire birth certificates was not just unique to LaMgabhi, but this publication gathered that it was a countrywide problem. More affected constituencies included Mhlangatane, Ntfonjeni, Zombodze and many others that are further from urban areas. Parents in these communities are now being forced to pay for what is supposed to be free education, straining their already limited resources.

Gradually

Noteworthy, previously, children were allowed to benefit from the FPE programme without birth certificates. This, however, was later gradually changed until it was eventually not allowed. One of the primary reasons cited by parents for the lack of birth certificates is the unavailability of Home Affairs services in their communities. This publication gathered from some parents that one of the major reasons is that they travelled long distances to acquire birth certificates. The parents also said the situation was particularly dire for families with multiple children. Imagine having to pay for three or four children to go to school when it is supposed to be free. It is a huge financial burden, and many parents are struggling to cope, they said.

Struggled

Meanwhile, this publication recently published a story about children around Mhlume Inkhundla, who could not go to school because they struggled to acquire birth certificates. The children were from an area popularly known as Mgidzangcunu. Children from this area as well as surrounding communities, were not able to attend school until the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM), Thulisile Dladla, intervened through her office. This resulted in several children who had never been to school getting an opportunity to do so and availed of FPE.
The Mass Communication Department of Karim City College organized a special lecture and Q&A session today under the initiative Cine-Chaupal, featuring renowned Hindi film director Sajid Ali. Known for his acclaimed films "Woh Bhi Din The" and "Laila Majnu," which recently achieved great success upon re-release, Sajid Ali shared his insights and experiences with the students.



The event began with a screening of Sajid Ali's film "Laila Majnu" at 1 pm, attended by students from various departments, including Mass Communication, BBA, BCA, and BSc IT. The screening was well-received, sparking enthusiastic discussions among the students.



Dr. Neha Tiwari, Head of the Mass Communication Department, warmly welcomed Sajid Ali, highlighting the long-standing relationship between him and the department. She noted that several alumni have been associated with Sajid Ali since the production of his first film, with many making successful careers in Mumbai's film industry thanks to his guidance and support.



In his address, Sajid Ali expressed his deep connection with the Mass Communication Department, referring to it as his "second home in Jamshedpur." He praised the department for fostering a vibrant film culture in the city and applauded the achievements of its students in the Mumbai film industry.



During the Q&A session, Sajid Ali shared intriguing behind-the-scenes details about the casting process of "Laila Majnu," revealing that lead actors Tripti Dimri and Avinash Tiwari were selected after a rigorous process involving around 1,000 auditions. He also elaborated on the philosophical underpinnings of the film, explaining its exploration of love as a path to spiritual enlightenment.



The students engaged Sajid Ali with a variety of questions, ranging from the technical aspects of filmmaking to his personal creative choices. When asked why he didn't opt for a happy ending in "Laila Majnu," Sajid Ali explained, "In my view, it was a happy ending because both characters reached a state of Nirvana." He encouraged the students to look beyond conventional narratives and embrace deeper, more meaningful storytelling.



Sajid Ali also shared his thoughts on the role of a director, the importance of collaboration with cinematographers, and the challenges of managing multiple departments during film production. Reflecting on his decision to shoot "Laila Majnu" in Kashmir, he spoke about his personal connection to the region and the significance of its breathtaking landscapes to the film's narrative.



In a parting piece of advice to aspiring filmmakers, Sajid Ali urged the students to minimize their reliance on mobile phones and engage more with the world around them to create authentic, relatable stories.
Ten top-performing students from The Pentecostal Assembly School returned on August 23rd from a memorable five-day, four-night educational tour to Malaysia. These students, who scored 95% and above in their 10th and 12th CBSE Board exams, were selected for this exclusive trip, a visionary initiative by Founder Director Dr. D. N Prasad. The tour was organized and led by Administrator Daniel Michael Prasad.



During the trip, the students visited Malaysia's iconic landmarks, including the Petronas Towers and Genting Highlands, and enjoyed an exciting day at Sunway Lagoon. They also had the opportunity to explore Singapore's Changi Airport attractions during a layover.



Principal Dr. Karuna Prasad emphasized the value of the experience, stating that travel offers educational insights beyond the classroom. School topper Arpan Kumar expressed his gratitude, calling the trip both educational and exhilarating.



This initiative has set a new standard in rewarding academic excellence by combining academic achievements with international exposure.
As devotees gather to honour his birth, the tale of Krishna's miraculous arrival inspires hearts, reminding us of the enduring power of faith and the timeless victory of good over evil, writes DIVYA BHATIA

In the stillness of the midnight hour, when the world is wrapped in darkness, a divine light descends upon the earth, heralding the birth of Lord Krishna. Janmashtami, a festival that transcends time, celebrates this miraculous moment when the cosmos rejoiced, and the universe conspired to bring forth a savior destined to restore dharma and vanquish evil. As the bells ring out and devotees gather in reverence, the story of Krishna's birth is retold-an epic tale of love, courage, and the triumph of righteousness. It is a night when the heavens dance in celebration, and hearts are filled with the timeless wisdom of the one who forever changed the course of humanity.

Krishna Janmashtami, also known as Krishnashtami, Janmashtami, or Gokulashtami, is a major Hindu festival celebrated with devotion across India and by Hindu communities worldwide. This occasion marks the birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu, whose life and teachings inspire millions. Observed on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the dark fortnight (Krishna Paksha) in Shravana Masa (amanta tradition) or Bhadrapada Masa (purnimanta tradition), Janmashtami typically falls in late August. The festival is not just a religious event but a celebration of the values Krishna embodied.

Krishna's birth is a tale of divine drama in Hindu mythology. Born to Queen Devaki and King Vasudeva in Mathura, his arrival was marked by peril. Devaki's brother, the tyrant King Kamsa, imprisoned the couple after hearing a prophecy that foretold his death at the hands of their eighth child. Kamsa had already killed six of their children. To protect Krishna, Vasudeva secretly transported the newborn across the Yamuna River to Gokul, where he was raised by Nanda Maharaj and Yashoda.

Krishna's escape and triumph over Kamsa symbolize the victory of good over evil, a central theme of Janmashtami. The festival reminds devotees of the eternal struggle between righteousness and wickedness, urging them to uphold virtue. Krishna's life represents divine intervention that restored justice, reinforcing the timeless value of standing against injustice.

The metaphor of Janmashtami is rich in symbolic meaning, depicting the eternal battle between good and evil and the soul's journey toward spiritual awakening. Kamsa symbolizes the destructive ego, while Devaki represents human consciousness carrying divine potential. Vasudeva symbolizes human will aligned with divine purpose. Krishna, the incarnated soul, nurtured in a righteous environment, eventually overcomes the ego (Kamsa) to establish peace and harmony, reflecting the soul's journey to transcend ego and realize its divine nature.

Sadhvi Tapeshwari Bharti Ji of Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan eloquently describes the metaphors surrounding Krishna's birth, noting that Kansa represents the ego, with its demon-like qualities such as arrogance, pride, and ignorance. According to her, Devaki symbolizes the part of the human self that harbors consciousness, while Vasudeva represents the will attuned to divine command. Krishna, as the incarnated soul, must separate from the ego to fulfill his purpose, much like the soul must detach from worldly desires to attain spiritual enlightenment.

Divya Guru Shri Ashutosh Maharaj Ji, founder of Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan, further elaborates on this symbolism. He suggests that the soul, nurtured in a holy and righteous environment (symbolized by Yashoda and Nandlal), must evolve to ultimately overcome the ego, leading to inner peace and harmony.

Sri Gaur Prabhuji, Vice President of ISKCON Temple Dwarka, Delhi, emphasized that Janmashtami is a profound reminder of Lord Krishna's teachings for humanity's upliftment. Celebrating the 5251st anniversary of His appearance highlights the enduring relevance of the Bhagavad Gita, guiding lives toward devotion, humility, and love. In today's world, marked by pandemics and conflict, Krishna's divine wisdom is essential. This festival is a key moment to reconnect with dharma and strengthen the bond with the Supreme Personality.

In today's chaotic world, Krishna's teachings provide insights for managing stress, leading an ethical life, and fostering personal growth. The Bhagavad Gita's emphasis on equanimity and detachment offers tools for navigating modern pressures. Krishna's principles of selfless duty and moral values guide ethical decision-making and achieving a balanced life. His focus on self-realization encourages introspection, helping us understand our true selves amid distractions.

This philosophy extends to Janmashtami foods, chosen to reflect Krishna's principles of balance, purity, and nourishment. The simple, nutrient-rich ingredients like fruits, nuts, seeds, and grains not only sustain the body but also maintain mental clarity and spiritual focus. Just as Krishna's teachings guide us toward a balanced life, these foods nourish both body and soul, reinforcing the connection between what we consume and how we live.

Dr. Sangeeta Tiwari, Clinical Nutritionist at Artemis Lite, NFC, New Delhi, explained that Janmashtami foods are designed not only to sustain energy during fasting but also to offer numerous health benefits. Ingredients like fruits, nuts, seeds, dairy, and gluten-free grains such as buckwheat and amaranth provide essential nutrients that support overall well-being. Fruits are rich in vitamins and antioxidants, aiding hydration and digestion. Nuts and seeds offer healthy fats and proteins for sustained energy and brain health. Dairy ensures gut health and muscle support, while grains like buckwheat provide slow-releasing carbohydrates to maintain energy levels. Together, these foods ensure balanced energy, digestion, and hydration during the fast, promoting overall health.

Janmashtami is more than just a celebration of Lord Krishna's birth; it is a profound reflection on the eternal struggle between good and evil, the importance of righteousness, and the path to spiritual awakening. As devotees come together to celebrate this festival, they are reminded of the timeless wisdom that Krishna imparted, wisdom that continues to guide humanity toward a life of purpose, peace, and harmony. In a world that often feels disconnected from spiritual values, Janmashtami serves as a beacon, illuminating the path of righteousness and divine love.

Where to celebrate?

DJJS Shri Krishna Janmashtami 2024 at Dwarka, New Delhi

Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan (DJJS) celebrates Shri Krishna Janmashtami Mahotsav 2024 under the theme "Darshan Itihaas Ka, Parivartan Aaj Ka" (Recalling the Values of the Past & Transforming the Present) on August 25th and 26th, 2024. The festival will be held at DDA Ground, Sector 10, Dwarka, New Delhi, starting from 7 PM each evening.

This year's celebration features several unique and innovative elements designed to enhance the festival experience. A major highlight will be the Environment Conservation initiative, showcased through a remarkable Govardhan Mountain 3D Model. Echoing Lord Krishna's dedication to environmental preservation in the Govardhan Leela, this massive, cutting-edge model will incorporate digital and lighting elements. The model will also feature Sankalp/pledge placards representing various commitments to environmental conservation.

The event will unfold with captivating performances, including 15 dance ballets and theatrical presentations depicting significant episodes from the life of Jagatguru Shri Krishna. Key performances will include dramatic interpretations of the 'Slaying of Tyrant Ruler Kansa', 'Virat Roop Darshan of Shri Krishna', 'Slaying of Kaliya Snake', 'Paundraka-The Fake Krishna', 'Devotion of Social Reformer Meera Bai', and 'Joyful Birth Celebration of Lord Krishna'.
A 22-year-old woman college student was allegedly harassed by an unidentified man near Mumbra railway station in the district, police said on Saturday.

While the incident took place on the evening of August 22, police are still trying to ascertain the culprit's identity, said an official.

The incident came amid widespread outrage over the sexual assault of two kindergarten girls at a school at Badlapur in the district.

The woman was walking home from college around 6.30 pm when a young man -- about 25 years old, thin with long hair -- stalked her, as per the complaint.

When the woman tried to call her brother for help, he gave her a shove. She raised alarm and some passersby chased the man but he succeeded in escaping, the police official said.

A First Information Report (FIR) was registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 74 (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 78(1) (stalking) and 79 (word, gesture or act intended to insult modesty of a woman).

"We are taking this case very seriously and have launched thorough investigation," said an official of Mumbra police station.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday said it is a pity that instead of taking action against culprits involved in crimes against women, the Maharashtra government, which he termed shameless, was standing with them.

Addressing party workers during a demonstration over crimes against women, and the alleged sexual assault on two kindergarten girls at Badlapur, Thackeray said it is imperative to dislodge the Mahayuti government to ensure the safety of women in the state.

It is a pity that instead of taking action against the culprits it is standing with them, Thackeray alleged. He said Maharashtra has never seen a government as shameless as the incumbent dispensation.

Mahayuti is a coalition of BJP, Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and NCP headed by Ajit Pawar.

In a veiled attack on CM Shinde, Thackeray said the Kansa Mama', a reference to a character in Mahabharat, is busy getting rakhis tied on his wrists and asked when he will get justice for the nieces.

Thackeray, his wife Rashmi and their son and former Maharashtra minister Aaditya staged a demonstration at Shiv Sena Bhavan in the Dadar area along with party workers by wearing black ribbons and black bands on the mouth to protest against the Badlapur incident.

The party also staged protests in several parts of the state.

A male attendant has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting two 4-year-old kindergarten girls at a school in Badlapur town of Thane district recently. The alleged crime had sparked a massive protest in Badlapur on Tuesday.

The Bombay High Court on Friday restrained political parties from going ahead with the bandh called by the opposition grouping Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) on August 24 to protest against the Badlapur incident.

Thackeray asked his party workers to run a signature campaign with the slogan Bahin Surakshit tar Ghar Surakshit' (home is safe if sisters are secure) which will be then presented to the Bombay High Court.

The court stopped our bandh, but cannot suppress our voice, Thackeray said.

He said the government made its cronies approach the court to stop the bandh called by MVA. Thackeray said when all doors are shut, people have no option but to hit the streets.

Thackeray also demanded that the Shakti bill passed by the Maharashtra legislature, which is pending with the Centre, be given Presidential assent so that it can be implemented in the state.

Both the House of Maharashtra legislature had passed the Shakti Criminal Laws (Maharashtra Amendment) Bill, 2020, and the Special Court & Machinery for Implementation of Maharashtra Shakti Criminal Law, 2020, three years ago when the MVA was in power with Thackeray as the CM.

The Shakti bill proposes the death penalty for heinous offences of rape and gang rape.
Thousands of protesters attempted to storm Indonesias parliament Thursday, tearing down a section of fence and throwing stones at police, and forcing the legislature to delay a vote on controversial changes to election laws that could further enhance the political influence of outgoing President Joko Widodo.

Parliament was to meet in an emergency session in order to overturn one decision made by the countrys Constitutional Court on election procedures, while amending another. Protesters held banners and signs, while others started a fire and burned tires.

The Constitutional Court court on Tuesday dismissed a challenge to an age limit that prevents people younger than 30 for running for regional governorships, which would prevent the Widodos 29-year-old youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep, from running in a regional contest in Central Java.

The court also made it easier for political parties to nominate candidates by cutting back a requirement that they hold 20% of a local legislature.

Parliament passed an emergency motion to changing the minimum age to serve as governor to 30 at the time of inauguration and further ease nomination requirements on Wednesday, and planned to ratify the vote in a plenary session on Thursday.

The moves triggered widespread condemnation on local social media and raised concerns about a potential constitutional crisis. The legislature was forced to delay the vote after failing to achieve a quorum. Widodos eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, is the incoming vice-president after the same court created an exception to the age limit for the post for former regional leaders, while Widodos brother-in-law was serving as chief justice. He was criticised for participating in a case involving a close relative and later dismissed. Activists, students, workers, and a number of Indonesian celebrities and musicians also joined the protest, voicing concerns about democracy in Indonesia.

Protests were also reported in other big cities, including Bandung, Yogyakarta, Surabaya and Makassar.

In Yogyakarta, at least 1,000 protestors including students and workers rallied in front of Yogyakartas Parliament building, the state palace and the citys ceremonial centre. Their demands included voting down the regional election bill, respecting the Constitutional Courts ruling and rejecting political dynasties.

The simultaneous protests in the major cities showed anger at Parliaments efforts to overruled the Constitutional Court decision to allow more candidates to compete in the regional elections, said Yoes Kenawas, a political analyst at Atma Jaya Catholic University. They also opposed the dynastic politics carried out by President Jokowi, Kenawas said.
Premier Path Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new stake in CBRE Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBRE  Free Report) during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm purchased 2,255 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $201,000.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Mather Group LLC. increased its stake in shares of CBRE Group by 8.7% during the second quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 1,717 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $167,000 after purchasing an additional 138 shares in the last quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. lifted its position in CBRE Group by 18.1% during the second quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 941 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $84,000 after buying an additional 144 shares in the last quarter. Humankind Investments LLC boosted its position in shares of CBRE Group by 5.3% during the 4th quarter. Humankind Investments LLC now owns 2,900 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $270,000 after acquiring an additional 146 shares during the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its holdings in CBRE Group by 0.4% in the 4th quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 42,490 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $3,955,000 after purchasing an additional 149 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV lifted its holdings in CBRE Group by 18.0% in the second quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 1,023 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $91,000 after acquiring an additional 156 shares during the last quarter. 98.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

CBRE has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Raymond James increased their price objective on shares of CBRE Group from $122.00 to $124.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a research report on Thursday, July 25th. UBS Group decreased their price objective on CBRE Group from $100.00 to $95.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, July 3rd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price target on shares of CBRE Group from $110.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Thursday, August 1st. Evercore ISI upgraded CBRE Group from an in-line rating to an outperform rating and increased their price objective for the company from $100.00 to $123.00 in a report on Friday, July 26th. Finally, Morgan Stanley started coverage on shares of CBRE Group in a research report on Thursday, July 25th. They issued an equal weight rating and a $105.00 target price on the stock. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $110.29.

CBRE Group Stock Up 3.7 %

NYSE:CBRE traded up $4.18 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $117.03. The stock had a trading volume of 1,637,954 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,656,356. The company has a current ratio of 1.12, a quick ratio of 1.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $99.85 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $93.49. The company has a market cap of $35.91 billion, a PE ratio of 36.46 and a beta of 1.40. CBRE Group, Inc. has a 1-year low of $64.63 and a 1-year high of $117.65.

CBRE Group (NYSE:CBRE  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 25th. The financial services provider reported $0.81 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.69 by $0.12. CBRE Group had a return on equity of 12.74% and a net margin of 2.79%. The firm had revenue of $8.39 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.31 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.82 earnings per share. CBRE Groups revenue for the quarter was up 8.7% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts predict that CBRE Group, Inc. will post 4.84 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity at CBRE Group

In other news, COO Vikramaditya Kohli sold 1,074 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $108.89, for a total transaction of $116,947.86. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 69,226 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,538,019.14. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, COO Vikramaditya Kohli sold 1,074 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $108.89, for a total transaction of $116,947.86. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 69,226 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,538,019.14. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CAO Lindsey S. Caplan sold 2,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $109.87, for a total value of $219,740.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 16,606 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,824,501.22. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 17,232 shares of company stock valued at $1,912,087 over the last three months. 0.54% of the stock is owned by insiders.

CBRE Group Profile

(Free Report)

CBRE Group, Inc operates as a commercial real estate services and investment company in the United States, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The Advisory Services segment offers strategic advice and execution to owners, investors, and occupiers of real estate in connection with leasing of offices, and industrial and retail space; clients fully integrated property sales services under the CBRE Capital Markets brand; clients commercial mortgage and structured financing services; originates and sells commercial mortgage loans; property management services, such as marketing, building engineering, accounting, and financial services on a contractual basis for owners of and investors in office, industrial, and retail properties; and valuation services that include market value appraisals, litigation support, discounted cash flow analyses, and feasibility studies, as well as consulting services, such as property condition reports, hotel advisory, and environmental consulting.

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GXO Logistics, Inc. (NYSE:GXO  Get Free Report) has earned an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the eleven brokerages that are covering the company, MarketBeat reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold recommendation and ten have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $67.45.

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. UBS Group cut their price target on shares of GXO Logistics from $71.00 to $66.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, August 7th. TD Cowen lifted their target price on GXO Logistics from $80.00 to $82.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, May 9th. Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating and issued a $70.00 price objective on shares of GXO Logistics in a report on Tuesday, May 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on GXO Logistics from $61.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, July 9th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on shares of GXO Logistics in a report on Friday, June 7th. They issued an overweight rating and a $58.00 price target on the stock.

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Insider Transactions at GXO Logistics

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

In other GXO Logistics news, CEO Malcolm Wilson acquired 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 11th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $49.95 per share, for a total transaction of $499,500.00. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer now directly owns 100,814 shares in the company, valued at $5,035,659.30. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website . Corporate insiders own 2.20% of the companys stock.

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. International Assets Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of GXO Logistics in the 4th quarter valued at about $554,000. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in GXO Logistics by 6.6% during the 4th quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 25,938 shares of the companys stock worth $1,586,000 after buying an additional 1,595 shares during the last quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System acquired a new position in shares of GXO Logistics in the 4th quarter worth approximately $2,043,000. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank increased its holdings in shares of GXO Logistics by 9.8% in the 4th quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 25,254 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,545,000 after acquiring an additional 2,252 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group Inc. raised its position in shares of GXO Logistics by 1.3% during the 4th quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 23,207 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,419,000 after acquiring an additional 297 shares in the last quarter. 90.67% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

GXO Logistics Price Performance

GXO stock opened at $48.93 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.63 and a beta of 1.60. The company has a quick ratio of 0.94, a current ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. GXO Logistics has a 52-week low of $46.07 and a 52-week high of $65.48. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $50.38 and its 200-day simple moving average is $51.08.

GXO Logistics (NYSE:GXO  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 6th. The company reported $0.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.57 by ($0.02). The business had revenue of $2.85 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.73 billion. GXO Logistics had a return on equity of 10.60% and a net margin of 1.68%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 18.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.70 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that GXO Logistics will post 2.78 EPS for the current year.

GXO Logistics Company Profile

(Get Free Report

GXO Logistics, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides logistics services worldwide. The company provides warehousing and distribution, order fulfilment, e-commerce, reverse logistics, and other supply chain services. As of December 31, 2023, it operated in approximately 974 facilities. The company serves various customers in the e-commerce, omnichannel retail, technology and consumer electronics, food and beverage, industrial and manufacturing, consumer packaged goods, and others.

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Banco Macro S.A. (NYSE:BMA  Get Free Report) shares traded down 2.9% on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $55.65 and last traded at $56.00. 121,383 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 67% from the average session volume of 367,762 shares. The stock had previously closed at $57.68.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have issued reports on BMA. Bank of America upgraded Banco Macro from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and increased their price target for the stock from $53.00 to $62.00 in a research note on Thursday, August 8th. StockNews.com cut Banco Macro from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 13th.

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Banco Macro Trading Up 2.1 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 1.05. The stock has a market cap of $3.43 billion, a PE ratio of 3.17 and a beta of 1.91. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $54.67 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $51.43.

Banco Macro (NYSE:BMA  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 22nd. The bank reported ($4.01) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.49 by ($5.50). The company had revenue of $1.03 billion during the quarter. Banco Macro had a return on equity of 37.91% and a net margin of 16.33%. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.69 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Banco Macro S.A. will post 11.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Banco Macro Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 23rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 16th will be given a dividend of $1.798 per share. This represents a $21.58 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 40.26%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 16th. This is a positive change from Banco Macros previous monthly dividend of $1.74. Banco Macros payout ratio is 127.41%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Banco Macro

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Mackenzie Financial Corp raised its stake in shares of Banco Macro by 32.9% during the second quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 10,988 shares of the banks stock valued at $630,000 after acquiring an additional 2,718 shares in the last quarter. Duquesne Family Office LLC increased its holdings in shares of Banco Macro by 30.9% in the 2nd quarter. Duquesne Family Office LLC now owns 273,130 shares of the banks stock valued at $15,659,000 after acquiring an additional 64,400 shares during the period. Marshall Wace LLP increased its holdings in shares of Banco Macro by 72.3% in the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 165,558 shares of the banks stock valued at $9,491,000 after acquiring an additional 69,494 shares during the period. Seven Eight Capital LP bought a new position in Banco Macro in the second quarter worth about $1,344,000. Finally, Beverly Hills Private Wealth LLC raised its stake in shares of Banco Macro by 6.2% during the 2nd quarter. Beverly Hills Private Wealth LLC now owns 5,505 shares of the banks stock worth $316,000 after acquiring an additional 323 shares in the last quarter.

About Banco Macro

(Get Free Report)

Banco Macro SA provides various banking products and services to retail and corporate customers in Argentina. It offers various retail banking products and services, such as savings and checking accounts, time deposits, credit and debit cards, consumer finance loans, mortgage loans, automobile loans, overdrafts, credit-related services, home and car insurance coverage, tax collection, utility payments, automated teller machines (ATMs), and money transfers.

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BCK Partners Inc. grew its position in shares of NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE  Free Report) by 3.8% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 3,687 shares of the utilities providers stock after buying an additional 135 shares during the quarter. NextEra Energy makes up about 0.1% of BCK Partners Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 28th biggest position. BCK Partners Inc.s holdings in NextEra Energy were worth $261,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of NEE. Janney Capital Management LLC increased its position in NextEra Energy by 9.5% in the 4th quarter. Janney Capital Management LLC now owns 46,673 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $2,835,000 after acquiring an additional 4,047 shares in the last quarter. AJOVista LLC bought a new position in NextEra Energy in the 4th quarter worth approximately $162,000. Intech Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in NextEra Energy by 35.7% during the 1st quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 100,308 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $6,411,000 after buying an additional 26,382 shares in the last quarter. Camden National Bank lifted its holdings in NextEra Energy by 10.2% during the 4th quarter. Camden National Bank now owns 156,631 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $9,514,000 after buying an additional 14,477 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fulton Breakefield Broenniman LLC boosted its position in NextEra Energy by 15.5% in the 4th quarter. Fulton Breakefield Broenniman LLC now owns 379,968 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $23,079,000 after buying an additional 50,899 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.72% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on NEE shares. Barclays upped their price target on NextEra Energy from $75.00 to $76.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, August 16th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on shares of NextEra Energy from $74.00 to $84.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 12th. Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of NextEra Energy from $69.00 to $84.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, June 27th. Wells Fargo & Company restated an overweight rating and issued a $95.00 price objective on shares of NextEra Energy in a report on Wednesday, June 12th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of NextEra Energy from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, May 2nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, NextEra Energy currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $80.00.

NextEra Energy Stock Up 0.9 %

NEE stock traded up $0.74 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $79.66. 4,999,611 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 11,233,079. The firms 50-day moving average is $74.56 and its 200-day moving average is $68.66. NextEra Energy, Inc. has a 12 month low of $47.15 and a 12 month high of $80.56. The company has a market cap of $163.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.71, a PEG ratio of 2.84 and a beta of 0.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15, a current ratio of 0.49 and a quick ratio of 0.41.

NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 24th. The utilities provider reported $0.96 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.93 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $6.07 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.29 billion. NextEra Energy had a return on equity of 11.75% and a net margin of 24.45%. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.88 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts expect that NextEra Energy, Inc. will post 3.39 earnings per share for the current year.

NextEra Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 16th. Investors of record on Friday, August 30th will be issued a dividend of $0.515 per share. This represents a $2.06 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.59%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 30th. NextEra Energys payout ratio is 56.13%.

Insider Activity at NextEra Energy

In related news, EVP Nicole J. Daggs sold 658 shares of NextEra Energy stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.97, for a total value of $50,646.26. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 100 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,697. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.18% of the stock is owned by insiders.

About NextEra Energy

(Free Report)

NextEra Energy, Inc, through its subsidiaries, generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric power to retail and wholesale customers in North America. The company generates electricity through wind, solar, nuclear,natural gas, and other clean energy. It also develops, constructs, and operates long-term contracted assets that consists of clean energy solutions, such as renewable generation facilities, battery storage projects, and electric transmission facilities; sells energy commodities; and owns, develops, constructs, manages and operates electric generation facilities in wholesale energy markets.

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Boston Scientific Co. (NYSE:BSX  Get Free Report) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the twenty-one ratings firms that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eighteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $85.24.

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on BSX shares. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $85.00 price target on shares of Boston Scientific in a report on Thursday, July 25th. BTIG Research upped their price target on Boston Scientific from $80.00 to $84.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, July 15th. Truist Financial upped their price target on Boston Scientific from $86.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, July 16th. Barclays upped their price target on Boston Scientific from $78.00 to $86.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on Boston Scientific from $82.00 to $85.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, July 25th.

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Boston Scientific Trading Up 1.0 %

NYSE BSX opened at $79.58 on Friday. Boston Scientific has a 12 month low of $48.35 and a 12 month high of $79.92. The company has a 50-day moving average of $76.54 and a 200-day moving average of $72.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a current ratio of 1.66 and a quick ratio of 1.14. The company has a market cap of $116.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 66.87, a P/E/G ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 0.78.

Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 24th. The medical equipment provider reported $0.62 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.58 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $4.12 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.02 billion. Boston Scientific had a net margin of 12.00% and a return on equity of 16.80%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 14.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.53 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that Boston Scientific will post 2.4 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Wendy Carruthers sold 6,983 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, June 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $75.33, for a total transaction of $526,029.39. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 45,628 shares in the company, valued at $3,437,157.24. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Boston Scientific news, EVP Arthur C. Butcher sold 14,011 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $75.34, for a total value of $1,055,588.74. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 20,197 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,521,641.98. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Wendy Carruthers sold 6,983 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, June 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $75.33, for a total value of $526,029.39. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 45,628 shares in the company, valued at $3,437,157.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 34,960 shares of company stock worth $2,638,984 over the last ninety days. 0.50% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Boston Scientific

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. CVA Family Office LLC increased its position in Boston Scientific by 7.4% in the second quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 1,909 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $147,000 after buying an additional 131 shares during the period. International Assets Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Boston Scientific by 0.6% during the second quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 22,596 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $1,740,000 after purchasing an additional 139 shares during the period. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Boston Scientific by 8.0% during the second quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. now owns 1,923 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $148,000 after purchasing an additional 143 shares during the period. Pinnacle Associates Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Boston Scientific by 2.0% during the first quarter. Pinnacle Associates Ltd. now owns 7,478 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $512,000 after purchasing an additional 148 shares during the period. Finally, Transcend Capital Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Boston Scientific by 2.2% during the second quarter. Transcend Capital Advisors LLC now owns 6,773 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $522,000 after purchasing an additional 148 shares during the period. 89.07% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Boston Scientific Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Boston Scientific Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets medical devices for use in various interventional medical specialties worldwide. It operates through two segments, MedSurg and Cardiovascular. The company offers devices to diagnose and treat gastrointestinal and pulmonary conditions, such as resolution clips, biliary stent systems, stents and electrocautery enhanced delivery systems, direct visualization systems, digital catheters, and single-use duodenoscopes; devices to treat urological conditions, including ureteral stents, catheters, baskets, guidewires, sheaths, balloons, single-use digital flexible ureteroscopes, holmium laser systems, artificial urinary sphincter, laser system, fiber, and hydrogel systems; and devices to treat neurological movement disorders and manage chronic pain, such as spinal cord stimulator system, proprietary programming software, radiofrequency generator, indirect decompression systems, practice optimization tools, and deep brain stimulation system.

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Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:BR  Get Free Report) has received a consensus recommendation of Hold from the seven brokerages that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $213.33.

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the company. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions from $239.00 to $246.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, August 7th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, July 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions from $224.00 to $225.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday. Finally, DA Davidson reaffirmed a neutral rating and issued a $185.00 price target on shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions in a report on Tuesday, June 11th.

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Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Broadridge Financial Solutions

Broadridge Financial Solutions Trading Down 0.6 %

NYSE BR opened at $209.04 on Monday. Broadridge Financial Solutions has a 12-month low of $166.73 and a 12-month high of $223.81. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $205.88 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $201.65. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.55. The stock has a market cap of $24.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.56 and a beta of 1.04.

Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE:BR  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, August 6th. The business services provider reported $3.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.49 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $1.94 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.96 billion. Broadridge Financial Solutions had a return on equity of 40.88% and a net margin of 10.92%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 5.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $3.21 EPS. On average, analysts forecast that Broadridge Financial Solutions will post 7.72 earnings per share for the current year.

Broadridge Financial Solutions Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 3rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, September 12th will be issued a $0.88 dividend. This is a boost from Broadridge Financial Solutionss previous quarterly dividend of $0.80. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 12th. This represents a $3.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.68%. Broadridge Financial Solutionss payout ratio is presently 60.07%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CEO Timothy C. Gokey sold 25,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $209.11, for a total transaction of $5,227,750.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 200,675 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $41,963,149.25. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In related news, President Christopher John Perry sold 31,539 shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $207.37, for a total value of $6,540,242.43. Following the sale, the president now directly owns 67,215 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,938,374.55. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Timothy C. Gokey sold 25,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $209.11, for a total value of $5,227,750.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 200,675 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $41,963,149.25. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 92,648 shares of company stock worth $19,297,633. Company insiders own 1.60% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Broadridge Financial Solutions

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions by 0.3% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 13,991,206 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $2,866,238,000 after purchasing an additional 39,537 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its stake in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 0.7% during the first quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 4,168,197 shares of the business services providers stock worth $853,898,000 after buying an additional 28,180 shares during the last quarter. Capital International Investors grew its holdings in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 0.3% in the 1st quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 3,061,983 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $627,278,000 after buying an additional 7,970 shares in the last quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. increased its stake in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions by 3.0% in the 1st quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 1,496,678 shares of the business services providers stock worth $306,609,000 after acquiring an additional 43,958 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bahl & Gaynor Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions by 0.6% during the 2nd quarter. Bahl & Gaynor Inc. now owns 1,108,867 shares of the business services providers stock worth $218,447,000 after acquiring an additional 6,634 shares during the period. 90.03% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Broadridge Financial Solutions Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc provides investor communications and technology-driven solutions for the financial services industry. The company's Investor Communication Solutions segment processes and distributes proxy materials to investors in equity securities and mutual funds, as well as facilitates related vote processing services; and distributes regulatory reports, class action, and corporate action/reorganization event information, as well as tax reporting solutions.

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Premier Path Wealth Partners LLC increased its holdings in Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ  Free Report) by 2.2% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 5,246 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 111 shares during the period. Premier Path Wealth Partners LLCs holdings in Constellation Brands were worth $1,350,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Capital International Investors grew its stake in shares of Constellation Brands by 39.4% in the first quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 11,685,249 shares of the companys stock worth $3,175,583,000 after purchasing an additional 3,304,709 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in Constellation Brands in the 4th quarter valued at about $443,844,000. Capital World Investors increased its stake in Constellation Brands by 8.7% during the 1st quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 9,040,669 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,456,892,000 after buying an additional 723,549 shares during the period. Boston Partners bought a new stake in shares of Constellation Brands during the 4th quarter worth about $156,358,000. Finally, Manning & Napier Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Constellation Brands in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $119,394,000. 77.34% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Transactions at Constellation Brands

In other Constellation Brands news, CFO Garth Hankinson sold 13,583 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $240.00, for a total transaction of $3,259,920.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 11,702 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,808,480. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, EVP Kaneenat Kristann Carey sold 977 shares of Constellation Brands stock in a transaction on Friday, July 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $261.00, for a total transaction of $254,997.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 2,706 shares of the companys stock, valued at $706,266. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CFO Garth Hankinson sold 13,583 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $240.00, for a total value of $3,259,920.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 11,702 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,808,480. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 16,414 shares of company stock worth $3,982,922. Corporate insiders own 12.19% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

STZ has been the subject of several recent research reports. Truist Financial reiterated a hold rating and issued a $265.00 price target on shares of Constellation Brands in a research report on Wednesday, July 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Constellation Brands from $291.00 to $320.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, July 5th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on shares of Constellation Brands from $310.00 to $311.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, July 5th. Roth Mkm lowered their price objective on shares of Constellation Brands from $305.00 to $303.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, July 5th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $308.00 target price on shares of Constellation Brands in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $300.28.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Constellation Brands

Constellation Brands Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:STZ traded up $1.51 on Friday, hitting $245.21. 637,073 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,175,121. Constellation Brands, Inc. has a one year low of $227.50 and a one year high of $274.87. The firm has a market capitalization of $44.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.27, a PEG ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.75. The companys 50 day moving average price is $250.01 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $253.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a current ratio of 1.19.

Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 3rd. The company reported $3.57 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.46 by $0.11. The company had revenue of $2.66 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.67 billion. Constellation Brands had a return on equity of 23.72% and a net margin of 22.70%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.91 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that Constellation Brands, Inc. will post 13.57 earnings per share for the current year.

Constellation Brands Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 23rd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, August 14th will be paid a $1.01 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, August 14th. This represents a $4.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.65%. Constellation Brandss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 30.10%.

About Constellation Brands

(Free Report)

Constellation Brands, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, produces, imports, markets, and sells beer, wine, and spirits in the United States, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, and Italy. The company provides beer primarily under the Corona Extra, Corona Familiar, Corona Hard Seltzer, Corona Light, Corona Non-Alcoholic, Corona Premier, Corona Refresca, Modelo Especial, Modelo Chelada, Modelo Negra, Modelo Oro, Victoria, Vicky Chamoy, and Pacifico brands.

Further Reading

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Everhart Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in Coterra Energy Inc. (NYSE:CTRA  Free Report) during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund purchased 9,081 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $242,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Fifth Third Bancorp increased its stake in Coterra Energy by 0.6% during the 2nd quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 71,138 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,897,000 after purchasing an additional 399 shares in the last quarter. TCW Group Inc. raised its holdings in Coterra Energy by 4.0% in the 2nd quarter. TCW Group Inc. now owns 10,447 shares of the companys stock worth $279,000 after acquiring an additional 404 shares during the last quarter. Redwood Wealth Management Group LLC lifted its position in Coterra Energy by 2.3% in the 1st quarter. Redwood Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 18,974 shares of the companys stock valued at $529,000 after acquiring an additional 429 shares in the last quarter. Quent Capital LLC lifted its position in Coterra Energy by 8.1% in the 1st quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 5,923 shares of the companys stock valued at $165,000 after acquiring an additional 445 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Financial Advisors Network Inc. boosted its stake in Coterra Energy by 3.6% during the 4th quarter. Financial Advisors Network Inc. now owns 14,575 shares of the companys stock valued at $372,000 after purchasing an additional 501 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.92% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on CTRA shares. Wolfe Research started coverage on Coterra Energy in a report on Thursday, July 18th. They set an outperform rating and a $35.00 price target on the stock. Bank of America restated a buy rating and set a $34.00 target price on shares of Coterra Energy in a research note on Friday, June 14th. BMO Capital Markets raised shares of Coterra Energy to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, July 3rd. Piper Sandler lowered their price objective on shares of Coterra Energy from $39.00 to $31.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, August 15th. Finally, Truist Financial cut their target price on shares of Coterra Energy from $35.00 to $34.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Monday, July 22nd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $33.56.

Coterra Energy Stock Performance

Shares of CTRA stock traded up $0.30 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $24.16. 3,569,652 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 6,367,413. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $25.76 and a 200 day moving average price of $26.63. The company has a market cap of $17.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.97, a P/E/G ratio of 1.49 and a beta of 0.24. Coterra Energy Inc. has a 12-month low of $23.18 and a 12-month high of $29.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16, a current ratio of 1.49 and a quick ratio of 1.46.

Coterra Energy (NYSE:CTRA  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The company reported $0.37 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.39 by ($0.02). The firm had revenue of $1.27 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.32 billion. Coterra Energy had a return on equity of 10.49% and a net margin of 23.18%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 7.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.38 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Coterra Energy Inc. will post 2.02 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Coterra Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 29th. Investors of record on Thursday, August 15th will be issued a $0.21 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 15th. This represents a $0.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.48%. Coterra Energys dividend payout ratio is presently 48.55%.

About Coterra Energy

(Free Report)

Coterra Energy Inc, an independent oil and gas company, engages in the development, exploration, and production of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in the United States. The company's properties include the Marcellus Shale with approximately 186,000 net acres in the dry gas window of the play located in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania; Permian Basin properties with approximately 296,000 net acres located in west Texas and southeast New Mexico; and Anadarko Basin properties with approximately 182,000 net acres located in Oklahoma.

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Great Portland Estates Plc (LON:GPOR  Get Free Report) crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 735.50 ($9.56) and traded as high as GBX 767.50 ($9.97). Great Portland Estates shares last traded at GBX 735.50 ($9.56), with a volume of 442,820 shares.

Great Portland Estates Price Performance

The company has a current ratio of 0.54, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 24.29. The company has a 50 day moving average price of GBX 735.50 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 735.50. The company has a market capitalization of 1.87 billion and a P/E ratio of 124.66.

About Great Portland Estates

(Get Free Report)

We are a FTSE 250 property investment and development company owning A2.6 billion of real estate in central London. We proactively manage our portfolio, flexing our activities in tune with London's property cycle to deliver long-term out-performance. We create in-demand spaces that people want to be part of; helping our occupiers, local communities and the city to thrive.

Further Reading

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Pgs Asa (OTC:PGEJF  Get Free Report) and Dril-Quip (NYSE:DRQ  Get Free Report) are both energy companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, risk, valuation, institutional ownership, earnings, analyst recommendations and profitability.

Profitability

This table compares Pgs Asa and Dril-Quips net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Pgs Asa N/A N/A N/A Dril-Quip -5.69% -2.48% -2.12%

Institutional and Insider Ownership

38.9% of Pgs Asa shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.7% of Dril-Quip shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Earnings and Valuation

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Pgs Asa N/A N/A N/A C$0.34 2.67 Dril-Quip $474.23 million 1.16 $600,000.00 ($0.64) -24.89

This table compares Pgs Asa and Dril-Quips top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Dril-Quip has higher revenue and earnings than Pgs Asa. Dril-Quip is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Pgs Asa, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for Pgs Asa and Dril-Quip, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Pgs Asa 0 0 0 0 N/A Dril-Quip 1 0 1 0 2.00

Dril-Quip has a consensus target price of $30.50, indicating a potential upside of 91.46%. Given Dril-Quips higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Dril-Quip is more favorable than Pgs Asa.

Summary

Pgs Asa beats Dril-Quip on 6 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Pgs Asa

(Get Free Report)

PGS ASA, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a marine geophysical company primarily in Norway. The company provides a range of seismic and reservoir services, including data acquisition, imaging, interpretation, and field evaluation to oil and gas companies, as well as carbon storage and offshore wind markets. It also operates in the Asia Pacific, Canada, Egypt, the Americas, Angola, the United Kingdom, Greece, Cyprus, Ukraine, Brazil, South Africa, other African countries, the Middle East, and internationally. The company was formerly known as Petroleum Geo-Services ASA and changed its name to PGS ASA in May 2019. PGS ASA was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Oslo, Norway.

About Dril-Quip

(Get Free Report)

Dril-Quip, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, sells, and services engineered drilling and production equipment for offshore and onshore applications worldwide. The companys principal products include subsea and surface wellheads, specialty connectors and associated pipes, subsea production trees and systems, mudline hanger systems, production riser systems, dry tree systems, subsea manifolds, line hangers and expandable liner systems, multi-frac well connections, conventional wellheads, thermal wellheads, completion packers, and safety and kelly valves; and rig equipment comprises drilling riser systems, wellhead connectors, diverters, and cement manifolds. It also provides technical advisory assistance, and rework and reconditioning services, as well as rental and purchase of running tools for use in the installation and retrieval of its products; equipment installation and monitoring, storage, maintenance, and repair services; and downhole tools comprise of liner hangers, production packers, safety valves, and specialty downhole tools that are used to hang-off and seal casing into a previously installed casing string in the well bore. The companys products are used in the exploration and production of oil and gas from offshore drilling rigs, such as floating rigs and jack-up rigs; and for drilling and production of oil and gas wells on offshore platforms, tension leg platforms, Spars, and moored vessels, such as floating production, storage, and offloading monohull moored vessels. It sells its products directly through its sales personnel, independent sales agents, and representatives to integrated, independent, and foreign national oil and gas companies, as well as drilling and other oilfield contractors, and engineering and construction companies. Dril-Quip, Inc. was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

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Whitbread (LON:WTB  Free Report) had its price objective boosted by Jefferies Financial Group from GBX 39 ($0.51) to GBX 40 ($0.52) in a report published on Tuesday morning, MarketBeat Ratings reports. The firm currently has a buy rating on the stock.

WTB has been the subject of a number of other reports. Shore Capital restated a buy rating on shares of Whitbread in a research report on Tuesday, June 18th. Berenberg Bank lowered their price objective on Whitbread from GBX 4,200 ($54.57) to GBX 4,000 ($51.98) and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, May 29th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated an overweight rating and issued a GBX 4,200 ($54.57) price objective on shares of Whitbread in a research report on Tuesday, June 25th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of GBX 3,122.50 ($40.57).

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Whitbread Price Performance

About Whitbread

WTB stock opened at GBX 2,848 ($37.01) on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 144.72, a current ratio of 1.02 and a quick ratio of 1.74. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 2,889.68 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 3,085.66. The firm has a market capitalization of 5.08 billion, a PE ratio of 1,780.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of -3.09 and a beta of 1.11. Whitbread has a 1 year low of GBX 2,723 ($35.38) and a 1 year high of GBX 3,714 ($48.26).

(Get Free Report)

Whitbread plc operates hotels and restaurants in the United Kingdom, Germany, and internationally. It operates hotels with rooms in the United Kingdom; Middle East; and Germany under the Premier Inn, ZIP by Premier Inn, and hub by Premier Inn brands. The company operates restaurants under the Brewers Fayre, Beefeater, Cookhouse & Pub, Bar+Block Steakhouse, Thyme, and Table Table brands in the United Kingdom.

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Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC  Get Free Report) has received a consensus recommendation of Hold from the sixteen brokerages that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $214.25.

A number of analysts have weighed in on the company. Roth Mkm raised their price target on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $200.00 to $220.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, July 19th. Bank of America lifted their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $223.00 to $233.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 22nd. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $228.00 to $232.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Friday, July 19th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $210.00 to $230.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, July 11th.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Marsh & McLennan Companies

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Marsh & McLennan Companies

In other Marsh & McLennan Companies news, SVP Paul Beswick sold 2,169 shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $220.00, for a total value of $477,180.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 11,861 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,609,420. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website . In other Marsh & McLennan Companies news, SVP Paul Beswick sold 2,169 shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $220.00, for a total value of $477,180.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 11,861 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,609,420. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website . Also, VP Stacy Mills sold 4,101 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $225.77, for a total value of $925,882.77. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 2,923 shares in the company, valued at approximately $659,925.71. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 27,735 shares of company stock valued at $6,151,377. 0.30% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies by 0.3% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 43,917,270 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $9,046,079,000 after acquiring an additional 119,236 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 3.7% in the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 10,624,073 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,188,348,000 after buying an additional 380,828 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $1,048,077,000. Legal & General Group Plc lifted its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 5.2% in the 2nd quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 4,530,716 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $954,712,000 after buying an additional 223,257 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Parnassus Investments LLC lifted its stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. Parnassus Investments LLC now owns 4,259,567 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $807,060,000 after buying an additional 11,459 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.99% of the companys stock.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Up 0.5 %

Marsh & McLennan Companies stock opened at $225.47 on Friday. Marsh & McLennan Companies has a 1-year low of $184.02 and a 1-year high of $227.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 1.17 and a quick ratio of 1.17. The stock has a market cap of $111.09 billion, a PE ratio of 28.61, a P/E/G ratio of 3.20 and a beta of 0.94. The stocks fifty day moving average is $217.12 and its two-hundred day moving average is $208.22.

Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MMC  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 18th. The financial services provider reported $2.41 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.40 by $0.01. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a return on equity of 33.92% and a net margin of 16.97%. The company had revenue of $6.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.31 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.20 earnings per share. Marsh & McLennan Companiess quarterly revenue was up 5.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Marsh & McLennan Companies will post 8.73 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, July 15th were issued a $0.815 dividend. This represents a $3.26 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.45%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, July 25th. This is a positive change from Marsh & McLennan Companiess previous quarterly dividend of $0.71. Marsh & McLennan Companiess payout ratio is currently 41.37%.

About Marsh & McLennan Companies

(Get Free Report

Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc, a professional services company, provides advice and solutions to clients in the areas of risk, strategy, and people worldwide. It operates through Risk and Insurance Services, and Consulting segments. The Risk and Insurance Services segment offers risk management services, such as risk advice, risk transfer, and risk control and mitigation solutions, as well as insurance and reinsurance broking, strategic advisory services, and analytics solutions, and insurance program management services.

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National Australia Bank Limited (OTCMKTS:NABZY  Get Free Report)s share price crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $11.49 and traded as high as $12.89. National Australia Bank shares last traded at $12.63, with a volume of 23,962 shares.

National Australia Bank Trading Up 2.6 %

The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $12.13 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $11.51.

National Australia Bank Company Profile

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National Australia Bank Limited provides financial services to individuals and businesses in Australia, New Zealand, and internationally. The company operates through Business and Private Banking; Personal Banking; Corporate and Institutional Banking; New Zealand Banking; and Corporate Functions and Other segments.

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PROG Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:PRG  Get Free Report) shares hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $46.50 and last traded at $46.03, with a volume of 198089 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $45.42.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Loop Capital raised shares of PROG from a hold rating to a buy rating and increased their price target for the stock from $41.00 to $55.00 in a research report on Monday. TD Cowen increased their price target on shares of PROG from $40.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, July 25th. BTIG Research assumed coverage on shares of PROG in a research report on Friday, June 7th. They set a neutral rating on the stock. Finally, KeyCorp increased their price target on shares of PROG from $44.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, July 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $45.40.

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Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on PROG

PROG Trading Up 4.0 %

The companys fifty day moving average is $38.10 and its two-hundred day moving average is $35.09. The stock has a market cap of $2.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.28 and a beta of 2.09. The company has a quick ratio of 1.80, a current ratio of 3.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.02.

PROG (NYSE:PRG  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, July 24th. The company reported $0.92 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.70 by $0.22. PROG had a net margin of 4.57% and a return on equity of 26.30%. The firm had revenue of $592.16 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $573.23 million. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.92 earnings per share. The firms revenue was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts predict that PROG Holdings, Inc. will post 3.34 EPS for the current fiscal year.

PROG Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 3rd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, August 20th will be issued a dividend of $0.12 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, August 20th. This represents a $0.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.02%. PROGs payout ratio is currently 19.59%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On PROG

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Algert Global LLC grew its position in shares of PROG by 136.0% during the second quarter. Algert Global LLC now owns 63,051 shares of the companys stock worth $2,187,000 after acquiring an additional 36,336 shares during the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC grew its position in shares of PROG by 497.6% during the second quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 160,896 shares of the companys stock worth $5,580,000 after acquiring an additional 133,972 shares during the last quarter. D. E. Shaw & Co. Inc. grew its position in shares of PROG by 0.8% during the second quarter. D. E. Shaw & Co. Inc. now owns 896,075 shares of the companys stock worth $31,076,000 after acquiring an additional 6,803 shares during the last quarter. Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of PROG during the second quarter worth approximately $88,000. Finally, Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC purchased a new position in shares of PROG during the second quarter worth approximately $123,000. 97.92% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

PROG Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

PROG Holdings, Inc (NYSE:PRG) is a financial technology holding company based in Salt Lake City, Utah with three business segments: Progressive Leasing, which offers lease-to-own transactions primarily to credit-challenged consumers through e-commerce and point-of-sale retail partners, via online, mobile, and in-store solutions; Vive Financial, which provides consumers who may not qualify for traditional prime lending with a variety of second-look, revolving credit products through private label and branded credit cards; and Four Technologies, which provides consumers of all credit backgrounds Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) options through four interest-free installments via its platform, Four.

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Roots Co. (OTCMKTS:RROTF  Get Free Report)s share price shot up 36.1% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $2.00 and last traded at $2.00. 2,000 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 41% from the average session volume of 3,418 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1.47.

Roots Stock Up 36.1 %

The firms 50 day moving average price is $1.59 and its 200-day moving average price is $1.67.

About Roots

(Get Free Report)

Roots Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, designs, markets, and sells apparel, leather goods, footwear, and accessories under the Roots brand in Canada and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Direct-To-Consumer, and Partners and Other. The Direct-to-Consumer segment sells products through the company's corporate retail stores and ecommerce.

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Sather Financial Group Inc lessened its stake in Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. (NYSE:PB  Free Report) by 8.6% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 16,027 shares of the banks stock after selling 1,500 shares during the quarter. Sather Financial Group Incs holdings in Prosperity Bancshares were worth $980,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its stake in shares of Prosperity Bancshares by 59.6% during the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 474 shares of the banks stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 177 shares during the last quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Prosperity Bancshares by 835.9% during the 4th quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 730 shares of the banks stock worth $49,000 after purchasing an additional 652 shares during the last quarter. Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Prosperity Bancshares by 12,433.3% during the 1st quarter. Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC now owns 752 shares of the banks stock worth $49,000 after purchasing an additional 746 shares during the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC increased its stake in shares of Prosperity Bancshares by 171.5% during the 4th quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 744 shares of the banks stock worth $50,000 after purchasing an additional 470 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mather Group LLC. acquired a new position in shares of Prosperity Bancshares during the 1st quarter worth $50,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.69% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

PB has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Truist Financial raised their target price on shares of Prosperity Bancshares from $68.00 to $81.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, July 25th. Piper Sandler raised their target price on shares of Prosperity Bancshares from $73.00 to $80.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, July 25th. Compass Point raised their target price on shares of Prosperity Bancshares from $73.00 to $80.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, July 26th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Prosperity Bancshares from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, August 15th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on shares of Prosperity Bancshares from $70.00 to $74.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Thursday, July 25th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $74.81.

Prosperity Bancshares Stock Up 2.9 %

Prosperity Bancshares stock traded up $2.04 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $73.32. The company had a trading volume of 661,703 shares, compared to its average volume of 580,183. The company has a 50 day moving average of $65.99 and a 200-day moving average of $63.65. The firm has a market cap of $6.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.85, a PEG ratio of 1.46 and a beta of 0.91. Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. has a 52 week low of $49.60 and a 52 week high of $74.67.

Prosperity Bancshares (NYSE:PB  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 24th. The bank reported $1.22 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.20 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $458.95 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $290.06 million. Prosperity Bancshares had a net margin of 25.10% and a return on equity of 6.32%. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.21 EPS. On average, analysts predict that Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. will post 5.07 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Prosperity Bancshares Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 13th will be issued a dividend of $0.56 per share. This represents a $2.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.06%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 13th. Prosperity Bancsharess payout ratio is 51.61%.

Prosperity Bancshares Company Profile

(Free Report)

Prosperity Bancshares, Inc operates as bank holding company for the Prosperity Bank that provides financial products and services to businesses and consumers. It accepts various deposit products, such as demand, savings, money market, and time accounts, as well as and certificates of deposit. The company also offers 1-4 family residential mortgage, commercial real estate and multifamily residential, commercial and industrial, agricultural, and non-real estate agricultural loans, as well as construction, land development, and other land loans; consumer loans, including automobile, recreational vehicle, boat, home improvement, personal, and deposit account collateralized loans; term loans and lines of credit; and consumer durables and home equity loans, as well as loans for working capital, business expansion, and purchase of equipment and machinery.

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1620 Investment Advisors Inc. bought a new position in Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. (NYSE:SHO  Free Report) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 4,992 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock, valued at approximately $52,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. raised its holdings in Sunstone Hotel Investors by 318.0% in the 2nd quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. now owns 1,367,061 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $14,299,000 after buying an additional 1,039,986 shares during the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. raised its holdings in Sunstone Hotel Investors by 342.9% in the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 7,406 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $83,000 after buying an additional 5,734 shares during the last quarter. Vanderbilt University bought a new position in Sunstone Hotel Investors in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $145,000. AlphaMark Advisors LLC bought a new position in Sunstone Hotel Investors in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $314,000. Finally, Diversified Trust Co raised its holdings in Sunstone Hotel Investors by 5.8% in the 2nd quarter. Diversified Trust Co now owns 36,571 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $383,000 after buying an additional 2,018 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 99.37% of the companys stock.

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Sunstone Hotel Investors Stock Performance

Shares of SHO stock opened at $10.21 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.08 billion, a PE ratio of 11.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.19 and a beta of 1.24. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $10.17 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $10.49. The company has a current ratio of 3.75, a quick ratio of 3.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43. Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. has a 12 month low of $8.61 and a 12 month high of $11.59.

Sunstone Hotel Investors Dividend Announcement

Sunstone Hotel Investors ( NYSE:SHO Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.11 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.27 by ($0.16). Sunstone Hotel Investors had a net margin of 19.51% and a return on equity of 9.75%. The business had revenue of $247.50 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $248.12 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.33 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 10.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. will post 0.89 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 30th will be paid a $0.09 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 30th. This represents a $0.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.53%. Sunstone Hotel Investorss payout ratio is 35.56%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

SHO has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Wolfe Research raised shares of Sunstone Hotel Investors from a peer perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $12.00 target price for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 10th. Compass Point raised shares of Sunstone Hotel Investors from a sell rating to a neutral rating and increased their target price for the company from $10.00 to $12.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 7th. Baird R W raised shares of Sunstone Hotel Investors to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 28th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Sunstone Hotel Investors from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Thursday, August 1st. Finally, Robert W. Baird upgraded shares of Sunstone Hotel Investors from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $11.00 to $12.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 28th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating, two have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $10.75.

Read Our Latest Research Report on Sunstone Hotel Investors

Sunstone Hotel Investors Profile

(Free Report)

Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc is a lodging real estate investment trust ("REIT") that as of the date of this release owns 14 hotels comprised of 6,675 rooms, the majority of which are operated under nationally recognized brands. Sunstone's strategy is to create long-term stakeholder value through the acquisition, active ownership, and disposition of well-located hotel and resort real estate.

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Diversified LLC lowered its stake in Invesco S&P 500 Top 50 ETF (NYSEARCA:XLG  Free Report) by 5.2% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 32,316 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,773 shares during the period. Diversified LLCs holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Top 50 ETF were worth $1,478,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in XLG. Per Stirling Capital Management LLC. bought a new position in Invesco S&P 500 Top 50 ETF in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $1,133,000. Spire Wealth Management lifted its position in Invesco S&P 500 Top 50 ETF by 9.9% in the 4th quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 5,666 shares of the companys stock valued at $220,000 after acquiring an additional 511 shares in the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. lifted its position in Invesco S&P 500 Top 50 ETF by 77.6% in the 4th quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 2,581 shares of the companys stock valued at $97,000 after acquiring an additional 1,128 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. lifted its position in Invesco S&P 500 Top 50 ETF by 21.6% in the 4th quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 223,298 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,423,000 after acquiring an additional 39,663 shares in the last quarter. Finally, International Assets Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Invesco S&P 500 Top 50 ETF in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $2,362,000.

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Invesco S&P 500 Top 50 ETF Trading Up 1.1 %

XLG stock traded up $0.52 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $46.69. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,362,768 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,496,228. The company has a market cap of $4.55 billion, a PE ratio of 2.92 and a beta of 1.08. Invesco S&P 500 Top 50 ETF has a 12 month low of $32.74 and a 12 month high of $47.99. The firms 50-day moving average is $45.75 and its 200-day moving average is $43.24.

About Invesco S&P 500 Top 50 ETF

Guggenheim Russell Top 50 Mega Cap ETF (the Fund), formerly Rydex Russell Top 50 ETF, seeks to replicate as closely as possible the performance of the Russell Top 50 Index (the Index). The Index is an unmanaged capitalization-weighted index consisting of the 50 largest companies in the Russell 3000 Index.

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Galway Metals Inc. (CVE:GWM  Get Free Report) Director Robert Hinchcliffe acquired 40,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 21st. The stock was purchased at an average cost of C$0.61 per share, for a total transaction of C$24,400.00.

Robert Hinchcliffe also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Monday, August 19th, Robert Hinchcliffe purchased 10,000 shares of Galway Metals stock. The shares were purchased at an average cost of C$0.67 per share, for a total transaction of C$6,698.00.

On Wednesday, August 14th, Robert Hinchcliffe acquired 25,000 shares of Galway Metals stock. The shares were acquired at an average cost of C$0.54 per share, with a total value of C$13,387.50.

On Monday, August 12th, Robert Hinchcliffe acquired 10,000 shares of Galway Metals stock. The stock was bought at an average price of C$0.52 per share, for a total transaction of C$5,160.00.

On Thursday, August 8th, Robert Hinchcliffe bought 40,500 shares of Galway Metals stock. The shares were acquired at an average price of C$0.46 per share, for a total transaction of C$18,634.05.

On Tuesday, August 6th, Robert Hinchcliffe acquired 30,000 shares of Galway Metals stock. The stock was acquired at an average price of C$0.43 per share, for a total transaction of C$12,900.00.

On Tuesday, July 30th, Robert Hinchcliffe purchased 10,000 shares of Galway Metals stock. The shares were purchased at an average price of C$0.45 per share, for a total transaction of C$4,500.00.

On Wednesday, July 24th, Robert Hinchcliffe bought 25,500 shares of Galway Metals stock. The stock was bought at an average price of C$0.40 per share, for a total transaction of C$10,307.10.

On Monday, July 22nd, Robert Hinchcliffe purchased 10,000 shares of Galway Metals stock. The stock was acquired at an average cost of C$0.39 per share, with a total value of C$3,850.00.

On Friday, July 19th, Robert Hinchcliffe acquired 15,000 shares of Galway Metals stock. The shares were purchased at an average cost of C$0.39 per share, with a total value of C$5,850.00.

On Wednesday, July 17th, Robert Hinchcliffe purchased 10,000 shares of Galway Metals stock. The stock was bought at an average cost of C$0.40 per share, with a total value of C$4,000.00.

Galway Metals Price Performance

GWM stock opened at C$0.61 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of C$0.43 and a two-hundred day moving average price of C$0.38. The company has a market cap of C$51.80 million, a PE ratio of -12.20 and a beta of 1.76. Galway Metals Inc. has a 12-month low of C$0.23 and a 12-month high of C$0.68. The company has a current ratio of 2.69, a quick ratio of 4.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20.

About Galway Metals

Galway Metals ( CVE:GWM Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, May 30th. The company reported C($0.01) EPS for the quarter. As a group, research analysts predict that Galway Metals Inc. will post -0.04 EPS for the current year.

(Get Free Report)

Galway Metals Inc engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral resource properties in Canada. The company primarily explores for gold, zinc, copper, silver, and lead deposits. It holds a 100% interest in the Clarence Stream project located in southwest New Brunswick, Canada; and Estrades mine, related Newiska concessions, and adjacent Casa Berardi claims located in western Quebec, Canada.

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GYL Financial Synergies LLC trimmed its stake in Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) by 20.5% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,719 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 1,478 shares during the period. GYL Financial Synergies LLCs holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $340,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Core Wealth Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in Wells Fargo & Company during the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Tennessee Valley Asset Management Partners purchased a new position in Wells Fargo & Company during the 4th quarter worth $29,000. Valued Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in Wells Fargo & Company by 53.7% during the 2nd quarter. Valued Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 630 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 220 shares during the last quarter. Transcendent Capital Group LLC purchased a new stake in Wells Fargo & Company during the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, Atlantic Edge Private Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Wells Fargo & Company during the 4th quarter valued at about $34,000. 75.90% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Wells Fargo & Company Price Performance

Shares of Wells Fargo & Company stock traded up $0.67 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $56.63. 1,151,147 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 17,912,420. The business has a 50-day moving average of $57.56 and a 200 day moving average of $57.29. Wells Fargo & Company has a fifty-two week low of $38.38 and a fifty-two week high of $62.55. The stock has a market capitalization of $197.43 billion, a PE ratio of 11.50, a PEG ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 1.17. The company has a quick ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11.

Wells Fargo & Company Increases Dividend

Wells Fargo & Company ( NYSE:WFC Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Friday, July 12th. The financial services provider reported $1.33 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.29 by $0.04. Wells Fargo & Company had a return on equity of 12.30% and a net margin of 15.17%. The business had revenue of $20.69 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $20.29 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.25 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up .8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts predict that Wells Fargo & Company will post 5.14 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, September 1st. Investors of record on Friday, August 9th will be issued a $0.40 dividend. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.83%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 9th. This is a boost from Wells Fargo & Companys previous quarterly dividend of $0.35. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 32.85%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

WFC has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their price target on Wells Fargo & Company from $62.00 to $61.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, July 15th. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Wells Fargo & Company from $64.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 30th. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on Wells Fargo & Company from $55.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research note on Thursday, July 11th. Evercore ISI restated an outperform rating and issued a $67.00 target price (down previously from $70.00) on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research note on Monday, July 15th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group downgraded Wells Fargo & Company to a hold rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $62.00 to $59.00 in a research note on Friday, August 16th. Thirteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $59.63.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on WFC

About Wells Fargo & Company

(Free Report)

Wells Fargo & Company, a financial services company, provides diversified banking, investment, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through four segments: Consumer Banking and Lending; Commercial Banking; Corporate and Investment Banking; and Wealth and Investment Management.

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StockNews.com lowered shares of Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE:ICE  Free Report) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report sent to investors on Wednesday morning.

Several other equities analysts have also issued reports on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their target price on shares of Intercontinental Exchange from $152.00 to $154.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Thursday, August 15th. Rosenblatt Securities restated a buy rating and set a $164.00 price target on shares of Intercontinental Exchange in a report on Friday, May 3rd. Barclays upped their price target on shares of Intercontinental Exchange from $159.00 to $167.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, August 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of Intercontinental Exchange from $147.00 to $151.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, May 3rd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Intercontinental Exchange from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their target price for the stock from $143.00 to $167.00 in a research note on Monday, July 1st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Intercontinental Exchange currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $154.93.

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View Our Latest Analysis on ICE

Intercontinental Exchange Trading Up 0.9 %

NYSE ICE opened at $160.01 on Wednesday. The stocks 50 day moving average is $147.29 and its 200 day moving average is $139.28. The company has a quick ratio of 1.01, a current ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The firm has a market capitalization of $91.78 billion, a PE ratio of 36.70, a P/E/G ratio of 2.68 and a beta of 1.06. Intercontinental Exchange has a twelve month low of $104.49 and a twelve month high of $160.25.

Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE:ICE  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The financial services provider reported $1.52 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.49 by $0.03. Intercontinental Exchange had a net margin of 21.43% and a return on equity of 12.70%. The firm had revenue of $2.32 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.31 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.43 EPS. The companys revenue was up 22.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts forecast that Intercontinental Exchange will post 6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In related news, CTO Mayur Kapani sold 395 shares of Intercontinental Exchange stock in a transaction on Monday, July 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $141.13, for a total transaction of $55,746.35. Following the transaction, the chief technology officer now directly owns 64,471 shares in the company, valued at $9,098,792.23. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, Director Judith A. Sprieser sold 2,267 shares of Intercontinental Exchange stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $134.57, for a total transaction of $305,070.19. Following the transaction, the director now owns 28,849 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,882,209.93. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CTO Mayur Kapani sold 395 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, July 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $141.13, for a total value of $55,746.35. Following the completion of the sale, the chief technology officer now owns 64,471 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,098,792.23. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 64,992 shares of company stock valued at $9,197,801 in the last quarter. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Intercontinental Exchange

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Scarborough Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Intercontinental Exchange during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Annapolis Financial Services LLC boosted its position in shares of Intercontinental Exchange by 1,018.8% during the first quarter. Annapolis Financial Services LLC now owns 179 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 163 shares during the last quarter. New Millennium Group LLC bought a new stake in Intercontinental Exchange in the 2nd quarter valued at $25,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in Intercontinental Exchange in the 2nd quarter valued at $25,000. Finally, Fairscale Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Intercontinental Exchange in the 2nd quarter worth $25,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.30% of the companys stock.

Intercontinental Exchange Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of market infrastructure, data services, and technology solutions for financial institutions, corporations, and government entities in the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Singapore, India, Abu Dhabi, Israel, and Canada.

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Retirement Systems of Alabama decreased its stake in shares of CubeSmart (NYSE:CUBE  Free Report) by 0.8% in the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 605,469 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 4,700 shares during the quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabamas holdings in CubeSmart were worth $27,349,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. increased its position in CubeSmart by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. now owns 34,500 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,599,000 after buying an additional 266 shares during the period. Covestor Ltd raised its stake in CubeSmart by 11.8% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 2,637 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $119,000 after purchasing an additional 278 shares in the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC boosted its holdings in CubeSmart by 72.5% in the 4th quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 695 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 292 shares during the period. Fifth Third Bancorp grew its position in shares of CubeSmart by 14.7% during the 2nd quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 2,425 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $110,000 after purchasing an additional 311 shares in the last quarter. Finally, HHM Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of CubeSmart by 53.1% during the 4th quarter. HHM Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,035 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $48,000 after purchasing an additional 359 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.61% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling at CubeSmart

In related news, CEO Christopher P. Marr sold 37,000 shares of CubeSmart stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $48.45, for a total transaction of $1,792,650.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 576,836 shares in the company, valued at approximately $27,947,704.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, CEO Christopher P. Marr sold 37,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $48.45, for a total value of $1,792,650.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 576,836 shares in the company, valued at $27,947,704.20. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider Jeffrey P. Foster sold 7,739 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, August 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $47.30, for a total value of $366,054.70. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 182,460 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,630,358. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 88,217 shares of company stock worth $4,244,344. 1.68% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Truist Financial boosted their price target on CubeSmart from $44.00 to $50.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Friday, August 16th. Scotiabank initiated coverage on CubeSmart in a research report on Thursday. They set a sector outperform rating and a $53.00 target price for the company. Raymond James raised their price target on CubeSmart from $48.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on CubeSmart from $46.00 to $48.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, July 26th. Finally, Evercore ISI increased their price objective on shares of CubeSmart from $44.00 to $45.00 and gave the stock an in-line rating in a research note on Monday, July 15th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $47.83.

Get Our Latest Report on CUBE

CubeSmart Price Performance

Shares of CUBE traded up $1.03 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $51.48. The company had a trading volume of 1,116,552 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,288,003. The company has a market capitalization of $11.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.61, a P/E/G ratio of 9.22 and a beta of 0.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03, a quick ratio of 0.03 and a current ratio of 0.03. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $46.97 and its 200 day simple moving average is $44.53. CubeSmart has a 1-year low of $33.17 and a 1-year high of $51.60.

CubeSmart (NYSE:CUBE  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The real estate investment trust reported $0.41 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.64 by ($0.23). The company had revenue of $266.20 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $260.68 million. CubeSmart had a return on equity of 14.37% and a net margin of 38.07%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 2.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.66 EPS. Analysts expect that CubeSmart will post 2.64 EPS for the current year.

CubeSmart Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, October 1st will be issued a $0.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, October 1st. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.96%. CubeSmarts payout ratio is presently 113.33%.

CubeSmart Profile

(Free Report)

CubeSmart is a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust. The Company's self-storage properties are designed to offer affordable, easily accessible and, in most locations, climate-controlled storage space for residential and commercial customers. According to the 2023 Self-Storage Almanac, CubeSmart is one of the top three owners and operators of self-storage properties in the United States.

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System1, Inc. (NYSE:SST  Get Free Report) major shareholder Cee Holdings Trust acquired 37,477 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, August 23rd. The stock was acquired at an average price of $1.21 per share, for a total transaction of $45,347.17. Following the acquisition, the insider now owns 8,704,423 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,532,351.83. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Major shareholders that own 10% or more of a companys shares are required to disclose their transactions with the SEC.

Cee Holdings Trust also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Tuesday, August 20th, Cee Holdings Trust purchased 1,500 shares of System1 stock. The shares were purchased at an average price of $1.25 per share, for a total transaction of $1,875.00.

On Thursday, August 15th, Cee Holdings Trust purchased 14,142 shares of System1 stock. The shares were purchased at an average price of $1.08 per share, for a total transaction of $15,273.36.

On Tuesday, August 13th, Cee Holdings Trust purchased 965 shares of System1 stock. The shares were purchased at an average price of $1.10 per share, for a total transaction of $1,061.50.

On Thursday, July 11th, Cee Holdings Trust purchased 6,749 shares of System1 stock. The shares were purchased at an average price of $1.45 per share, for a total transaction of $9,786.05.

On Tuesday, July 9th, Cee Holdings Trust purchased 45,616 shares of System1 stock. The shares were purchased at an average price of $1.45 per share, for a total transaction of $66,143.20.

On Friday, July 5th, Cee Holdings Trust acquired 2,355 shares of System1 stock. The shares were bought at an average price of $1.45 per share, for a total transaction of $3,414.75.

On Wednesday, July 3rd, Cee Holdings Trust acquired 248 shares of System1 stock. The shares were bought at an average price of $1.45 per share, for a total transaction of $359.60.

On Monday, July 1st, Cee Holdings Trust acquired 66,290 shares of System1 stock. The shares were bought at an average price of $1.44 per share, for a total transaction of $95,457.60.

On Friday, June 28th, Cee Holdings Trust acquired 23,136 shares of System1 stock. The shares were bought at an average price of $1.45 per share, for a total transaction of $33,547.20.

On Wednesday, June 26th, Cee Holdings Trust acquired 43,307 shares of System1 stock. The shares were bought at an average price of $1.45 per share, for a total transaction of $62,795.15.

System1 Stock Up 10.0 %

Shares of System1 stock opened at $1.32 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $118.94 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.58 and a beta of 1.35. The companys 50 day moving average is $1.35 and its 200 day moving average is $1.59. System1, Inc. has a twelve month low of $1.04 and a twelve month high of $3.02. The company has a quick ratio of 1.46, a current ratio of 1.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.04.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

System1 Company Profile

An institutional investor recently bought a new position in System1 stock. XTX Topco Ltd purchased a new position in System1, Inc. ( NYSE:SST Free Report ) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm purchased 24,160 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $37,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.50% of the companys stock.

(Get Free Report)

System1, Inc provides omnichannel customer acquisition platform services through its proprietary responsive acquisition marketing platform in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, and internationally. It operates through two segments: Owned and Operated Advertising, and Partner Network.

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WPP plc (LON:WPP  Get Free Report) has been assigned an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the six ratings firms that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold recommendation and five have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 1 year price target among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is GBX 910 ($11.82).

WPP has been the subject of several research reports. Shore Capital reiterated a buy rating on shares of WPP in a research report on Wednesday, August 7th. Citigroup reissued a buy rating on shares of WPP in a report on Friday, June 28th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price objective on WPP from GBX 990 ($12.86) to GBX 950 ($12.34) and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Friday, August 9th.

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Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on WPP

WPP Price Performance

WPP Cuts Dividend

Shares of WPP opened at GBX 718.20 ($9.33) on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 190.55, a current ratio of 0.89 and a quick ratio of 0.89. WPP has a 1-year low of GBX 656 ($8.52) and a 1-year high of GBX 856.80 ($11.13). The stock has a market cap of 7.76 billion, a PE ratio of 3,780.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 13.47 and a beta of 1.14. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 727.71 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 756.13.

The company also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 1st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 10th will be given a GBX 15 ($0.19) dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 2.09%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 10th. WPPs dividend payout ratio is currently 20,526.32%.

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.

Further Reading

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Bulldozer action by BJP-ruled states targeting minorities is deeply troubling: Kharge

New Delhi, Aug 24 (UNI) Congress Pesident Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday termed the bulldozer action carried by the BJP-ruled states as ''inhumane and unjust'' and said that the party targeting minorities by such act is deeply troubling.

On his social media handle X, Kharge said, "Demolishing someone's home and rendering their family homeless is both inhumane and unjust. The repeated targeting of minorities in BJP-ruled states is deeply troubling. Such action have no place in a society governed by the Rule of Law.

"The Congress Party strongly condemns the BJP state governments for their blatant disregard of the Constitution, using bulldozing as a tactic to instill fear among citizens. Anarchy cannot replace natural justiceoffences must be adjudicated in courts, not through state-sponsored coercion," he said.
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The Windsor Framework has sparked debate and discussion, but what does it really mean for Northern Ireland's constitutional status and future relationship with Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland?

Next Tuesday evening (27th August), Holywell Trust will host a public seminar on the Windsor Framework as part of its Future Relationship Conversations series. The event will explain the terms of the agreement and explore the practical implications of its measures for Northern Ireland in the wider context of the constitutional question.

The discussion will be led by Lisa Claire Whitten, Research Fellow and author of Northern Ireland and the UK Constitution, and David Phinnemore, Professor of European Politics at Queens University, Belfast. Both academics will explain what the Windsor Framework means in practice.

Holywell Trusts Future Relationship Conversations project aims to present a clear and unbiased, fact-based outlook on some of the big topics around the constitutional status of Northern Ireland. The series aims to move the conversation beyond identity-focused assumptions and pre-conceptions.

Holywell Trust director, Gerard Deane said: We believe its possible to talk about the constitutional issue in a non-divisive way. We think that when the community is engaged and informed, we can talk about these issues in a constructive manner.

Its our hope that this project will contribute to a more reconciled community, who may still disagree, but will better understand each others perspectives.

Other topics in the programme will include the North West Economic Region looking at Derry-Londonderry as a border city, and The Constitutional Question Throughout the UK, which will set our constitutional debate in a wider context of similar conversations in England, Scotland and Wales. A previous session examining Cross-border healthcare was held in July.

The Windsor Framework seminar is at 7.00pm on Tuesday 27th August at the Holywell DiverseCity Community Partnership, Bishop Street, Derry.

To find out more on the Future Relationship Conversations events, or to register for the Windsor Framework event, visit www.holywelltrust.com/events
Kyiv/New Delhi, Aug 23 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that India is for peace, and firmly believes that dialogue and diplomacy are the only way forward to resolve the Ukraine conflict, and no time should be lost in pursuing this path, even as he said that India is willing to provide any humanitarian help that Kyiv wants.

In his media statement, after holding talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, PM Modi said that as a friend he is willing to play any role in his personal capacity for resolution of the Ukraine conflict.

With his voice laden with emotion, the PM said that his visit to the Martyrologist Exposition, a memorial built in memory of children killed in the conflict, had moved him very deeply.

You know well and so does the world that in the war we (India) have adopted the path of two kinds of roles, and have tried to stick to them.

In times of such calamity there are departments, that India, keeping in mind the humanitarian aspect, has tried to fulfil its role.

And I assure you that in the humanitarian aspect whatever role is needed from India we will always stand by your side, and walk two steps ahead.

The second path we have chosen is to keep far away from war.

With great conviction we have kept away from war, but that does not mean we have been indifferent or neutral; we have been on the side of peace.

We are from the land of the Buddha where war has no role; we are from the land of Mahatma Gandhi who has given the message of peace to the whole world.

I have come to Ukraine today bringing with me the feelings of 140 crore of my countrymen.

And they are inspired by the feelings of humanity.

I have come to Ukraine with the message of peace.

I addressed the Global South conference where 130 countries were represented. On their behalf too I have brought the message of peace.

You know and so do the people of Ukraine that India has played a positive role in peace.

You also know that our approach has been people-centric.

I want to assure you and the world that Indias commitment and we believe, that respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is foremost for us, and we support it.

Some time back when I met with President Putin, then I said that this is not the time for war.

During my visit to Russia I said the same thing, that no resolution can be found in a battlefield.

Solution can only be found through talks, through dialogue and diplomacy.

And we must move on that path without wasting further time.

We should sit with both sides (of the conflict) and find a way out of this hour of crisis, and find a path forward.

I want to assure that in the path toward peace, India is willing to play any role.

We want that the sun of peace rises in Ukraine.

UNI RN
The Biden administration filed an emergency appeal with the Supreme Court on Tuesday, urging the justices to reinstate its latest student loan relief plan.

This appeal seeks to temporarily overturn a lower court ruling that currently blocks the implementation of the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan, which aims to restructure repayment terms for student borrowers.

"The rule is a straightforward exercise of the [Education] Department's express statutory authority to set the parameters of income-contingent repayment plans - just as it has done for three decades," U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar wrote in the appeal, according to The Hill.

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' 3-0 ruling on Friday extended a temporary halt on the SAVE plan, calling it a "vast assertion of newfound power" and criticizing the administration for lacking clear congressional authorization.

The administration's track record with student loan relief appeals to the Supreme Court has been problematic; last year, the justices rejected President Joe Biden's plan to cancel $10,000 in student debt per borrower in a 6-3 decision.

In a Wednesday statement, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona reiterated the administration's commitment to "supporting borrowers and fighting for the most affordable repayment options possible for millions of people across the country."

Borrowers currently affected by the ruling have been placed in an interest-free forbearance while the administration fights the legal challenge.
Natalies first day of classes had her walking under a cloudy sky, and she eyed it warily as she stepped outside, but the light shade of grey seemed to suggest a dry day ahead. At the very least, she made it to campus without incident.

The student orientation had introduced the ORahilly Building as the campus labyrinth, so Natalie planned to arrive half an hour early to accommodate any wrong turns.

That extra time was spent wandering the ground floor before conceding and asking reception, who kindly informed her that, unlike in the United States, the ground floor and the first floor were in fact two different things and she just needed to go up a flight of stairs.

The professors had called for an early morning meeting to give the students of their program a chance to mingle before class. After introducing herself to all of the students within earshot, she settled into conversation with a fellow student named Serena, another international student who came from Florida. They had the same professor for Economics, so they agreed to sit next to each other just in time for their professors to call the room to attention.

I know nine oclock is a heinous time to be up, called one of her new professors, bringing the room to a quiet hush, and I promise I wont do this to you ever again.

Natalie heard a sigh of relief and a few chuckles from her fellow students. After four years of having to be present and seated in a classroom at precisely 7.15, she had to admit the ten oclock classes had sounded too good to be true. Her brothers college horror stories surrounding the dreaded 8am lecture gave Natalie the impression that shed been lucky to score such an indulgent schedule.

After their first class, Serena happily joined Natalie for a quick stop at the campus Coffee Dock before heading to her next class in Dean. After a week of bitter experimentation, Natalie had found quite a fondness for a good mocha, while Serena opted for frappucino.

A treat for our first day, shed said, bringing her cup against Natalies in a cheer. They exchanged contact info before they parted, but Natalie had another hour before she needed to be back upstairs. She didnt want to risk losing her way by leaving ORahilly to walk around campus, so she figured shed get started on some of her homework in the common area next to her next classroom while she still remembered how to get there.

She settled down on one of the couches, tossing her notebook onto the ottoman while she dug through her bag for a pen.

Excuse me.

Natalie looked up to find another student with a creased brow and books tucked into his arms. They shared the statistics class this afternoon. James, if she recalled correctly.

Oh, hello, Natalie gave a small wave in greeting, which she came to regret as she watched the young man struggle to shift his notebooks onto one arm so he could return it. Can I help you?

Do you know how I can get out of here? he asked, brow scrunched in a way that reminded Natalie of a lost puppy

She did remember how to get outside, theoretically. She looked around, trying to remember which hallway she came from this morning. She was pretty sure she came in from the right, but then what?

After a few seconds of watching the guys panic grow in his eyes, she decided to switch tactics. She pointed to the door between the bathrooms. Those stairs should take you to the Starbucks.

It wouldnt quite lead to the reception desk, but Natalie had seen a door in the Coffee Dock leading to an outdoor patio, so at the very least it should lead the poor guy outside. Where thatd put him on campus was anyones guess, but it was progress and James seemed to be glad for any direction at all as he hurried through the indicated door and rushed down the stairs.

Two class periods later, Natalie followed suit, leaving the lecture hall and making it outside with blessedly little difficulty. She was surprised to find the pavement soaked and covered with puddles. Shed heard a few raindrops while the professor went over the syllabus, sure, but by the looks of things the heavens had opened while she was inside. The sky had cleared a bit though, with patches of blue among grey clouds.

She walked to the Student Centre, carefully avoiding the dips in the pavement and wondering if wearing flats wasnt the best idea.

She took her time in the campus bookshop, picking up all of the notebooks she needed, eyeing the sky while she waited in line. Should she go out and buy a raincoat before heading home? Natalie frowned at the thought.

Shed stayed on campus longer than shed expected and it was well into early evening. She wasnt even sure the shops were open past five anyway. She could make it home without much fuss.

When she was next in line, Natalie grabbed an umbrella before stepping up to the counter. It should be fine, the umbrella would keep her dry in the meantime.

Probably.
An American couple were the toast of Cork Airport this week after their arrival on Leeside saw passenger numbers through the terminal this year pass the magical two million mark.

Greg Baxter, of Nebraska, and his wife Adrienne were greeted with champagne and a hamper as they emerged through the arrivals gate on Wednesday afternoon, after their KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight KL1127 from Amsterdams Airport Schiphol touched down on the Cork runway.

An airport spokesperson said: The good news from Cork Airport just keeps on coming this week.

Today was a particularly momentous occasion for all at the airport as we welcomed our two millionth passenger this year.

They said that Greg and Adriene Baxter had flown from Nebraska to Cork with Delta Air Lines and KLM, connecting in MinneapolisSaint Paul and Amsterdam en route.

Holiday

The couple chose Cork as their destination as they are starting an Irish holiday with friends in Killarney, Co Kerry.

They were welcomed on their arrival at Cork Airport and presented with a special hamper by Tara Finn, head of aviation business development & communications; Pat OConnor, retail operations manager at Cork Airport Duty Free, and Yehor Siziukhin, passenger services agent, Swissport.

Congratulations Greg and Adriene, said the spokesperson.

We hope you have a great holiday in Ireland and thank you for choosing to fly into Cork Airport.

The airport enjoyed the busiest year in its 62-year history for international passenger traffic last year, with 2.8 million passengers travelling through, a 25% increase on 2022 levels.

Passenger numbers are already up 11% at Cork Airport when compared to this time last year, with the airport on course for another record-breaking year with a total of three million passengers expected to pass through over the course of 2024.

Passenger numbers will be boosted by the addition of a number of new flights this year, including to Brussels Charleroi, Rhodes, and Zadar this summer. In addition, the airport this week announced a new four-times-weekly service to Glasgow from October 27 and three additional flights to Bristol.
Issues regarding fire safety, the complaints procedure, and the building premises have been addressed in a nursing home in Youghal following a recent inspection.

In May, the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) carried out an inspection at Youghal Community Hospitals Designated Centre for Older People.

The centre was marked compliant in eight areas, and the inspector noted that there was a homely atmosphere in the facility and all residents were observed by the inspector to be content and, in general, appeared satisfied with their care.

However, the centre was marked not compliant in three areas namely; complaints procedure, premises, and fire precautions.

It was marked substantially compliant in a further five, which means some action is required to be fully compliant.

Complaints

The report noted that a record of complaints was not available to the inspector, and records of recent complaints could not be sourced, leaving the inspector unclear if complaints were ever documented.

It said the centre consisted of a two-storey building on an elevated site which had sea views, and renovations had been undertaken in recent years while awaiting the commencement of a new building.

However, stained, indented, and scuffed flooring in some bedrooms, some damaged wardrobe doors, radiators rusty at the base, and privacy curtains needing replacement in a shared bedroom were noted, as well as issues with some call bells.

Staff training was found to be not fully up to date, including in infection control and responsive behaviour, and four staff required annual fire safety training.

There was a range of other issues pertaining to fire safety which led to the centre being marked not compliant in this area including that not all fire doors closed properly, the report said, and a smoking area that had been set up for one resident had no fire blanket or extinguisher.

Fridges used for the storage of medicines were not locked, and not all medicines were signed for when administered, creating a risk that all medicines would not be safely accounted for, it noted.

Access to the occupational therapist and the physiotherapist was described as problematic with delays ensuing, due to vacancies  though one post had been filled recently, access for residents was described as poor and limited.

Rights of residents

While the inspector observed that, in general, the rights of residents were respected, the centre was marked substantially compliant in the area.

One resident had recently moved room and it was unclear if appropriate consultation had taken place prior to this move.

Additionally, in a number of care plans reviewed, activity involvement had not been recorded regularly for a number of residents, particularly those who were in bed or in their room.

The last activity entry for one resident was recorded as occurring on March 16, 2021.

Finally, renovations had been completed in a new dining room, but it was only used on a limited basis, meaning that residents were eating their meals in the bedrooms or in communal rooms.

The report showed that work had taken place since the inspection to address some of the issues raised.

The centre noted that since the inspection, staff are actively encouraging and promoting the use of the newly decorated dining room to residents, adding that this will also be raised at the next residents meeting.

Additionally, call bells and privacy curtains are now in place and the areas requiring attention under the premises section have been addressed, as well as all issues highlighted with regards fire safety.

Complaint logs are now available, the medicine fridge is now locked, and all staff who needed further training have now completed it or are scheduled to.
Gardai in Cork city are investigating a number of incidents which occurred on the northside on Friday evening.

In a statement, they said they were investigating what they described as "an incident of criminal damage" at a property in the Shanakiel area at approximately 5.40pm.

No injuries were reported relating to this incident.

A short time later, at approximately 6.10pm, a road traffic collision occurred on the Churchfield Road when a motorcycle collided with a pedestrian.

The pedestrian was later taken to Cork University Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

The motorcyclist and pillion passenger failed to remain at the scene.

A suspected firearm was seized by gardai and a man in his 20s was arrested afterwards by Gardai.

In a statement released on Friday night, the garda press office said the man was detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939 at a garda station in the Southern Region.

Gardai are appealing to anyone with information in relation to these incidents or road users with video footage to contact them.

Anyone with information relating to these matters is urged to contact Gurranabraher Garda Station on 021 494 6200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.
A man aged in his 50s died after getting into difficulty at Inch Beach in East Cork yesterday afternoon.

It is understood he had gone to the aid of a number of young people who were in the water.

The man has been named locally as Stephen OCallaghan from the St Lukes area in Cork city.

The Irish Coast Guard in Valentia, Co Kerry, said they had received a notification that five people had got into difficulty in the water off Inch Beach around 3pm on Friday.

The search and rescue Coast Guard units at Guileen and Crosshaven along with the RNLI from Ballycotton and Crosshaven were alerted, a spokesperson for the Coast Guard said.

Rescue Helicopter 117 from Waterford was also tasked to go to the scene.

Gardai and the Fire Service were also at the scene and assistance was offered by the Irish Naval Service.

The spokesperson said that four people were rescued from the sea by members of the public and one person was subsequently recovered from the water in a serious condition.

The man was taken from the water by a member of the coast guard and a member of a local surf school just after 3.30pm and brought ashore.

He was attended by paramedics on the beach and subsequently transferred by the National Ambulance Service to Cork University Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

A garda spokesperson said gardai had responded to the call at around 3pm.

"A number of people had gotten into difficulty in the water at the location," a statement from gardai said.

"A man, aged in his 50s, was removed from the water. He was later pronounced deceased.

"Arrangements will now be made for a post-mortem and the local coroner has been notified."

Midleton-based Fianna Fail county councillor Ann Marie Ahern said there was a cloud over east Cork on Friday evening following the news.

The community is trying to come to terms with this tragic situation, and theres a real sense of shock and disbelief in the area, she said.

Your heart would just go out to the loved ones of the person who lost their life helping to save other people.

His own safety wasnt thought of when he was trying to save other peoples lives, which is the most commendable thing you could say about anyone.
MTU students pitched ideas from cryptocurrency to carpooling and animation to air frying during an event at the Universitys Bishopstown campus.

The students, participants in Munster Technological Universitys Student Inc summer programme, shared their business ideas with a room of potential investors, members of the business community and support agencies.

The showcase gave the budding entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch their businesses, having completed the 13-week entrepreneurial incubator programme.

Student Inc, which is Irelands longest-running student accelerator programme, is open to all MTU students of all years and disciplines and runs annually from June to August.

It allows students to explore the first steps in developing their own business and assess the feasibility of their enterprise idea in a supportive, student-focused setting.

Participants are provided with seed funding and access to a network of entrepreneurs, trainers, mentors and investors across the south-west region, and they also gain 10 ECT academic credits for taking part.

The Student Inc class of 2024 includes participants from across the university and the projects are just as diverse, covering a wide range of topics.

Graduates of the programme have done degrees in a wide range of topics including music, architecture, engineering, computer science and Spanish.

Many past participants of Student Inc have gone on to run successful businesses after taking part, with the programme offering vital support in the initial stages of students entrepreneurial journeys.

Carole OLeary, regional programme manager for third level student entrepreneurship, said: We are delighted to see the progress and growth of all the students and their ideas over the last 13 weeks.

Ms OLeary explained that throughout the summer there were 35 training sessions, 30 mentoring days, five lunch and learn events with seasoned entrepreneurs, as well as the opportunity to pitch to Angel Investors.

She said: The programme is enabled by the unwavering support and facilities of the Rubicon Centre and its team, which is part of the Innovation and Enterprise Office, and we are delighted to see three of the 12 student businesses progress to New Frontiers in the Rubicon to continue on their journey. The other students are returning to study in September but will continue to work on their businesses.
Gardai in Cork are appealing for information following a number of incidents including criminal damage at a property and a road traffic collision which occurred on Friday evening.

The incident involving criminal damage at a property in Shanakiel which took place at around 5.40pm on Friday. No injuries linked to the incident were reported.

A short time later, at approximately 6.10pm, a road traffic collision took place on the Churchfield Road when a motorcycle collided with a pedestrian.

The motorcyclist and pillion passenger failed to remain at the scene, a statement from the Garda Press Office said.

The male pedestrian (60s) was taken to Cork University Hospital for treatment following the collision. His condition is currently described as serious.

A suspected firearm was seized by Gardai and a man in his 20s was arrested afterwards.

The man is currently being detained under Section 30 of the Offences against the State Act in the southern region.

Gardai have issued an appeal for anyone with information in relation to these incidents or road users with video footage to contact them. People with information can contact Gurranabraher Garda Station on 021 4946200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.

Investigations are ongoing.
A Cork student has said she jumped for joy believing she had received six H1s in the Leaving Certificate, only to be informed by her mother that she had also received three more.

Robin Caren of Rochestown Road, a student at Scoil Muire in Sidney Place, told The Echo she was already stunned that she realised she had achieved six H1s but was not prepared for further good news.

I was shocked, I have to say, I was hoping for six H1s, but you dont know how these tests will go, so when I opened it, I was ecstatic, I read the six subjects, I jumped up, I was over the moon, but my mum then scrolled down and read the last three, so yeah, we were over the moon, Ms Caren said.

Having received the maximum points in every subject, there was no point in asking what her best subject was, but she said she did have favourites.

I did actually enjoy all my subjects but I really enjoyed maths a lot and I loved German, so they were probably my top two, but I loved them all.

With the CAO results expected next week, Ms Caren described her options as a mixed bag.

Ive got stuff mainly in the medical field, dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, and then Ive got finance and maths and stuff thrown in there, so Im just waiting and hopefully see what happens, she said.

The 18-year-old has a 16-year-old sister, Astrid, who is also a student at Scoil Muire, and a 15-year-old brother Dalton, who is a student at Christian Brothers College, and she laughed when it was suggested she hasnt made things easy for them.

She added that she wasnt planning on heading out to celebrate immediately.

Id say Ill probably take it a bit easy for the moment and then Ill see, maybe next week, she said.

Im kind of tired. Its been a long day.
Despite concerns that the 2023 U.S. Supreme Court rulings on race-conscious admissions would deter minority students from applying to college, recent data from the Common App shows that minority applications have not decreased.

College applications from underrepresented minority groups, international students, and those from low and middle-income backgrounds saw a significant increase during the 2023-24 school year, according to the end-of-season report released Thursday.

Applicants identifying as a minority race or ethnicity increased by 11% compared to last year. The most significant growth was observed among American Indian or Alaska Native, Latinx, and Black or African American applicants.

There were also no significant changes found in the types of schools minority students chose to apply to, whether highly selective or less selective, except for a "leveling-off" of Asian applicants' applications to the most selective schools.

"In general ... we do not observe any appreciable changes from ongoing historical trends," the report concluded.

Applicants coming from low- and middle-income backgrounds also jumped 12% over the 2022-23 school year. Notably, international applicants continue to outpace domestic growth, rising 12% since 2022-23, with the biggest increases from Haiti (102%), Ghana (80%) and Mongolia (57%).

Applicant growth was strong across rural, small-town and micropolitan areas as well, the report showed, with increases of 9% to 11%, while metropolitan areas saw a 6% rise. The Southwestern region of the country led with 23% growth, with Nebraska (81%), Oklahoma (49%), and Texas (23%) showing the highest gains. Washington, D.C., also saw a 27.1% jump in applicants.

The number of first-generation applicants grew 5% between, which was slightly lower than the 7% growth among continuing-gen applicants, the report said. However, the number of first-generation applicants has more than doubled in the last decade.

The report did not address admission rates this year for minority applicants, though some institutions have begun releasing those statistics.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology recently reported a significant decrease in the percentage of Black, Hispanic, Native American and Pacific Islander students in its incoming class of 2028, the institution's first undergraduate class admitted since the Supreme Court's decision to ban affirmative action.

For the class of 2028, about 16% of students belong to these minority groups, the university announced, down from a baseline of approximately 25% in recent years.

However, community colleges and less-selective four-year institutions  where most minority students enroll  are unlikely to see similar impacts from the court's decision since most did not use affirmative action before the ruling.
Hundreds of protesters, led by students from UCC, marched through the streets of Cork on Saturday to show their support for Palestine and demand action from the Irish Government and Irish universities to oppose Israels bombardment of the enclave.

The protest, now in its 46th week, has been taking place in Cork since the week after the attack by Palestinian terror group Hamas on a pop concert attended by Israeli music fans on October 7 last year.

More than 1,200 people were killed on that day.

More than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in the 11 months since the October attack.

Calls for a ceasefire by many world leaders have not been heeded but attempts to broker a truce are ongoing at present in Cairo, the Egyptian capital.

Leading the protest this week was the Global Justice Society of UCC and many marchers were carrying pots, pans, drums and other musical instruments in an effort to make as much noise as possible for the Palestinian people.

Global Justice Society of UCC co-chairperson Freddie Phipps told the protest that he and other students were tired of watching a genocide occur right before our eyes.

Hannah Morrissey, the co-chairperson of the society, added that this was just the beginning for student-led Cork Palestine Solidarity rallies.

We are calling on students from across the county to come along and get involved, said Ms Morrisey.

UCC Students Union President Katie Halpin-Hill highlighted what she described as Israels systemic attack on Palestines educational infrastructure and said it struck a chord with students across the world.

As Student Union officers, we have a moral obligation to ensure that our universities play their part in the face of genocide, said Ms. Halpin-Hill.

Palestine will be rebuilt and we all have an integral role in the rebuilding of Palestinian education.

Students involved in the Boycott Divest Sanctions campaign also spoke at the rally.

In May and June there was an encampment on the quadrangle at UCC for six weeks which was only discontinued after what were described by a UCC spokesperson as constructive discussions between the university authorities and Boycott Divest Sanctions UCC.

As the semester restarts in the coming weeks, it's more important than ever to unify as a collective student movement as we continue applying pressure on the College, the UCC BDS group said in a statement.
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

Flooded villages in the Mohipal area of Feni district in Chittagong division, Bangladesh, on Aug. 23, 2024. Zabed Hasnain Chowdhury / NurPhoto

In an extreme flooding event across eight districts in Bangladesh, roughly three million people have been left stranded.

According to Bangladeshi newspaper The Daily Star, locals reported not having seen such severe flooding in 37 years.

I havent seen so much water in the last 20 years. Everything in my house is wrecked because the water has risen to waist level, said Mohammad Masum, Feni district resident, as Reuters reported.

Feni was among the districts most affected by the flooding, along with Moulvibazar, Chittagong, Habiganj and Comilla. According to the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC), five major rivers in the area were above danger levels.

The local administration is working in coordination with the deputy commissioners of the flood-affected districts, the coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, the army and volunteers, said KM Ali Reza, a secretary with the ministry of disaster management and relief, who expressed concern that there would be more flooding in the coming few days, as reported by The Daily Star.

Reza said food and relief materials had been sent to the affected districts.

Musammat Shahina Akter, a Feni senior official, said high schools and government buildings had become makeshift shelters, with more than 25,000 taking shelter in relief camps, CNN reported.

We dont expect people to be able to return home anytime soon, Akter said, adding that the rain was slowing down, but that water levels could not recede until the rainfall stopped, as reported by CNN.

Heavy monsoon rainfall led to residents evacuating their flooded homes by boat. The FFWC warned that continued rains meant water levels could keep rising in the next 24 hours, Reuters reported.

Roads were washed out or submerged in several regions, interfering with relief efforts in isolated communities, officials said.

Flooding is common in the Indian Peninsula because of the monsoon rains. The monsoon winds enter the Indian Peninsula by July and continue till October, Subhadip Majumdar, a writer in Delhi, India, told EcoWatch. Bangladesh is a land of great rivers, like the Padma, Arial Khan and Meghna, and that is why the country is ravaged each year by floods. India and Bangladesh are very fertile lands because of such rainfall. In the North, the river Brahmaputra is a braided river with heavy sediment deposits that also causes floods. Often the dams on those rivers are kept open during the monsoon, which causes tremendous flooding in Assam, Bengal and Bangladesh.

A 2015 World Bank Institute analysis estimated that in Bangladesh 3.5 million people were at risk of flooding each year, reported Reuters. Scientists have attributed the intensification of catastrophic events like flooding to climate change.

We would like to point out that the catchment areas of Gumti River that flows through India and Bangladesh have witnessed the heaviest rains of this year over the last few days, Indias foreign ministry said, as Reuters reported. The flood in Bangladesh is primarily due to waters from these large catchments downstream of the dam.

Twelve people died in the state of Tripura, India, due to floods and landslides, disaster management official Suman Deb told Reuters.

Amit Shah, Indias interior minister, said on social media that the countrys government had sent disaster management teams to Tripura to assist with rescue and relief operations.

Multiple residents living near Cumillas Gomati River told CNN that India was to blame for the flood. A large portion of Bangladesh is comprised of Himalayan river deltas from the Brahmaputra and Ganges, which begin in India and flow through Bangladesh to the sea.

This flood came from India, because India opened the dam. If this water goes over, it will flood the whole area and Comilla city, said Shariful Islam, a resident of the area for the past 25 years, as reported by CNN.

The Ministry of External Affairs in India dismissed accusations that the flooding had been caused by the opening of a Gomati River dam. The river flows through Tripura, entering Bangladesh by way of Comilla. The ministry said the flooding was caused by the heaviest rains of this year over the last few days.

We have seen concerns being expressed in Bangladesh that the current situation of flood in districts on the eastern borders of Bangladesh has been caused by opening of the Dumbur dam upstream of the Gumti River in Tripura. This is factually not correct, the ministry said in a statement.

The statement said Tripura state was experiencing a power outage, which it said had brought about problems of communications, but did not provide further details.

Floods on the common rivers between India and Bangladesh are a shared problem inflicting sufferings to people on both sides, and requires close mutual cooperation towards resolving them, said Indias foreign ministry, as Reuters reported.
(Photo: Ecumenical News / Peter Kenny)St. Andrew's Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, Kyiv. Photographed on October 2, 2014.

Two World Council of Churches leaders are urging Ukraine to act with 'caution' regarding a law passed by the country's Rada, the parliament, that has banned the activities of religious organizations associated with Russia in Ukraine.

WCC general secretary Rev. Jerry Pillay and WCC moderator Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm are in a joint statement urging caution about the law passed by the Rada.

Ukrainian leaders have accused the Moscow-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church of supporting Russia's 30-month-old war on Ukraine by spreading pro-Russian propaganda and housing spies.

In the Rada, 265 lawmakers passed the bill, and it banned the Russian Orthodox Church from Ukrainian territory, Reuters news agency reported.

The law says a government commission will compile a list of "affiliated" organizations whose activities are unacceptable.

Ukrainian lawmakers on Aug. 20 passed the law envisaging a ban on the activities of the Russia-linked branch of the Orthodox church.

Kyiv has accused the church of complicity in Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, Reuters reported.

"The government of Ukraine has the sovereign right and responsibility to defend the nation's territorial integrity and to protect its citizens, even more so in the face of Russia's illegal invasion and armed aggression," said Pillay and Bedford-Strohm.

The WCC has consistently condemned Russia's war against Ukraine, and "we remain steadfast in that position," they said.

"Ukrainian authorities have a right to protect Ukraine's sovereignty and independence and to prosecute individuals guilty of crimes against the interests of Ukraine."

Still, they said, "The WCC is deeply alarmed by the potential for unjustified collective punishment of an entire religious community and violation of the principles of freedom of religion or belief under a new law approved by the Ukrainian Rada on 20 August 2024."

The new law needs the signature of President Zelensky to be ratified into law.

"We call again on the Ukrainian government to exercise caution in relation to measures that risk violating the fundamental right to freedom of religion or belief and undermining social cohesion at this time of national emergency," said Pillay and Bedford-Strohm.

"We note the six-step process prescribed by the new law before a religious organization can be banned and plead that there be a fair and unbiased approach to any such investigation and that due consideration be given to the principles of international law, natural justice, and due process in undertaking any actions under this new law."

The WCC leaders said, "Neither the crimes of some individuals nor the historical affiliations of a particular religious entity can be a sufficient basis for measures tantamount to collective punishment of a living worshipping religious community in Ukraine.

"The government of Ukraine is responsible for protecting the rights of all its citizens."

Ukrainian officials have accused the church of aiding in influence operations and espionage during the country's war with Russia, according to Reuters.

The schism between the two Russian-backing churches and the pro-Ukrainian one has been accentuated during the war launched by Russia with its military invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, escalating theRusso-Ukrainian War.

Orthodox Christianity is the most prevalent religion in Russia and Ukraine, and until the Soviet Union's breakup, both belonged to the same hierarchy under the patriarch in Moscow.

The Orthodox Church of Ukraine broke from the Russian church more than 30 years ago and answers to a prelate in Kyiv, but many parishes in Ukraine opted to remain aligned with the Russian church.

The Russian Orthodox Church is the single church with the highest numerical representation in the WCC.
Jon Voight wishes his daughter Angelina Jolies bitter divorce battle with Brad Pitt would be over.

Jon Voight wishes his daughter Angelina Jolies bitter divorce battle with Brad Pitt would be over

The Midnight Cowboy actor, 85, spoke out about the former couples long-running disputes over custody of their six children and French vineyard  before issuing a public plea to actor Brad, 60, to put a stop to the disputes with 49-year-old Angelina.

Jon told Fox News Digital Friday: I wish that would be over. Its tough. I wish they found a way to make peace.

The actor added he is worried about how the warring couples legal woes has affected his grandchildren, with Angelina and Brad  who have been broken up since 2019  sharing children Maddox, 23, Pax, 20, Zahara, 19, Shiloh, 18, and 16-year-old twins, Vivienne and Knox.

Hollywood veteran Jon went on: I think that the kids need some stability. I love the kids and I love my daughter, and I want Brad to step up, too (and do) what he has to do (and) end this nonsense.

Angelina filed for divorce from Fight Club actor Brad in 2016 and the pair were awarded joint custody of their kids by a judge in May 2021.

After the ruling, Maleficent actress Angelina decided to sell her shares of her and Brads Chateau Miraval winery which has sent them into another legal dispute.

A source told Page Six Brad was refusing to let go of the fight over the business as he sees it as an asset for his children.

The insider added: Its important that people realise that Brads motivation is to ensure that his kids can maximise the benefit of this asset.

Once it was sold, thats no longer the case and it significantly decreased their inheritance.
Chinas home textile exports to ASEAN countries were recorded at $2,245.265 million during the first half of 2024. This represents a 2.8 per cent decrease compared to the $2,310.617 million shipped during the corresponding period of the previous year.

In 2023, China exported $4,436.329 million worth of home textiles to ASEAN countries, with the trade peaking at $5,283.012 million in 2022. However, it eased in the following year. Trade data indicates that ASEAN countries became significant buyers of Chinese home textile products during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and thereafter. Chinas home textile exports to the bloc were noted at $2,696 million in 2019, before the pandemic. This figure surged to $4,708.593 million in 2020 when consumers were confined to their homes due to long lockdowns and restrictions, according to Fibre2Fashion's market insight tool TexPro.

China's home textile exports to ASEAN countries decreased by 2.8 per cent in the first half of 2024, totalling $2.245 billion, down from $2.311 billion in the same period last year. Despite a peak of $5.283 billion in 2022, exports have since eased. During the pandemic, the bloc became a significant buyer, driving exports up to $4.709 billion in 2020.

Interestingly, global demand for home textile products eased in the subsequent years. Consumers demand for these products reduced after the pandemic as they no longer needed to stay at home. However, Chinese shipments of home textiles to ASEAN countries did not decrease. Shipments further increased to $4,996.658 million in 2021 and $5,283.012 million in 2022.

Product-wise, China's export of home textiles to the bloc showed that bedding remained the most exported product in the first six months of this year. Bedding exports from China to ASEAN were valued at $426.753 million during this period, accounting for 19.01 per cent of the total home textile shipments. Among the top five products, bathroom and kitchen textiles were exported at $378.692 million (16.87 per cent), made-ups at $360.121 million (16.04 per cent), flooring at $210.644 million (9.38 per cent), and sacks and bags at $180.942 million (8.24 per cent). The total share of the top five products constituted around 70 per cent of the total home textile exports to the market, according to TexPro.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)
The much-anticipated period drama Thangalaan finally has an official release date for its Hindi version. After garnering amazing response and becoming a superhit in Tamil, Thangalaan is set to release in Hindi on demand from exhibitors from north territories. The demand of the film from exhibitors in the North has been coming to release the film in Hindi. After its successful release in cinemas in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam languages on 15th August, the film is now slated to hit theaters in Hindi on 30th August .

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Studio Green (@studiogreen_official)

The makers of the film shared the announcement on their social media handle, accompanied by a striking new poster revealing the release date with the caption, The Son of Gold Arrives in North India on August 30th. Prepare to experience the epic story of #Thangalaan.

Directed by Pa. Ranjith, the film stars Chiyaan Vikram, Parvathy Thiruvothu and Malavika Mohanan in prominent roles. The music of the film is composed by G.V. Prakash Kumar. The film has garnered significant attention for its intense action sequences, powerful performances, and Pa. Ranjith's signature storytelling.
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CAVA Group, Inc. (NYSE: CAVA) ("CAVA Group" or the "Company"), the category-defining Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant brand that brings heart, health, and humanity to food, today announced financial results for its fiscal second quarter ended July 14, 2024.

" Our results in the second quarter continued to demonstrate the strength of our category-defining brand and our unique and compelling value proposition," said Brett Schulman, Co-Founder and CEO. " During the quarter, traffic grew 9.5%, we opened 18 net new restaurants and, driven by the power of our unit economic engine, generated average unit volume of $2.7 million. In addition, we launched our new grilled steak main, once again exhibiting our excellence in culinary innovation. Grilled steak is significantly outperforming our expectations and giving guests another reason to visit CAVA and come back more often."

Fiscal Second Quarter 2024 Highlights:

CAVA Revenue grew 35.2% to $231.4 million as compared to $171.1 million in the prior year quarter.

grew 35.2% to $231.4 million as compared to $171.1 million in the prior year quarter. Net New CAVA Restaurant Openings of 18, bringing total CAVA Restaurants to 341, a 22.2% increase in total CAVA Restaurants year over year.

of 18, bringing total CAVA Restaurants to 341, a 22.2% increase in total CAVA Restaurants year over year. CAVA Same Restaurant Sales Growth of 14.4%, including traffic growth of 9.5%.

of 14.4%, including traffic growth of 9.5%. CAVA AUV of $2.7 million as compared to $2.6 million in the prior year quarter.

of $2.7 million as compared to $2.6 million in the prior year quarter. CAVA Restaurant-Level Profit of $61.3 million or growth of 37.3% over the prior year quarter, with CAVA Restaurant-Level Profit Margin of 26.5%.

of $61.3 million or growth of 37.3% over the prior year quarter, with of 26.5%. CAVA Digital Revenue Mix was 35.8%.

was 35.8%. CAVA Group Net Income of $19.7 million compared to net income of $6.5 million in the prior year quarter.

of $19.7 million compared to net income of $6.5 million in the prior year quarter. CAVA Group Adjusted EBITDA (1) of $34.3 million compared to $21.6 million in the prior year quarter.

of $34.3 million compared to $21.6 million in the prior year quarter. Net cash provided by operating activities of $48.9 million with Free Cash Flow(1) of $22.7 million.

CAVA Fiscal Second Quarter 2024 Review:

CAVA Revenue was $231.4 million, an increase of 35.2% compared with the second quarter of fiscal 2023. The increase was primarily driven by 78 Net New CAVA Restaurant Openings during or subsequent to the second quarter of fiscal 2023, which are exceeding our performance expectations, and CAVA Same Restaurant Sales Growth of 14.4%. CAVA Same Restaurant Sales Growth consists of a 9.5% increase from guest traffic and a 4.9% increase from menu price and product mix.

CAVA Restaurant-Level Profit Margin was 26.5% compared with 26.1% in the second quarter of fiscal 2023. The increase was due to leverage from higher sales, partially offset by incremental wage investments and input costs associated with the June 3rd launch of grilled steak.

CAVA Group Fiscal Second Quarter 2024 Review:

General and administrative expenses were $28.3 million, or 12.1% of revenue, as compared to $23.3 million, or 13.5% of revenue, in the second quarter of fiscal 2023. General and administrative expenses, excluding equity-based compensation and certain non-recurring public company costs in the prior year quarter(1), were $24.7 million, or 10.6% of revenue, as compared to $20.4 million, or 11.8% of revenue, in the second quarter of fiscal 2023. The decrease of 120 basis points was primarily due to leverage from higher sales, partially offset by investments to support future growth and increased recurring public company costs.

Net income was $19.7 million, or 8.5% of revenue, an increase of $13.2 million as compared to $6.5 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2023.

Adjusted EBITDA(1) was $34.3 million, or 14.7% of revenue, an increase of $12.7 million, or 59.0%, compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2023. The increase was primarily driven by the number and strength of performance of Net New CAVA Restaurant Openings during or subsequent to the second quarter of fiscal 2023, 14.4% CAVA Same Restaurant Sales Growth, and leverage in general and administrative expenses.

__________________ (1) General and administrative expenses, excluding equity-based compensation and certain non-recurring public company costs, Adjusted EBITDA, and Free Cash Flow are non-GAAP financial measures. Reconciliations to the most directly comparable financial measures presented in accordance with GAAP are set forth in the tables at the end of this press release.

Fiscal Full-Year 2024 Outlook:

CAVA Group announced today that it has raised fiscal full-year 2024 guidance, as follows:

May 28, 2024 August 22, 2024 Net New CAVA Restaurant Openings 50 to 54 54 to 57 CAVA Same Restaurant Sales Growth 4.5% to 6.5% 8.5% to 9.5% CAVA Restaurant-Level Profit Margin 23.7% to 24.3% 24.2% to 24.7% Pre-opening costs $12.0 to $13.0 million $12.0 to $13.0 million Adjusted EBITDA $100.0 to $105.0 million $109.0 to $114.0 million

Actual results may differ materially from CAVA Group's fiscal full-year 2024 guidance as a result of, among other things, the factors described under "Forward-Looking Statements" below.

A reconciliation of the forward-looking fiscal 2024 Adjusted EBITDA to net income cannot be provided without unreasonable effort because of the inherent difficulty of accurately forecasting the occurrence and financial impact of the various adjusting items necessary for such reconciliation that have not yet occurred, are out of our control, or cannot be reasonably predicted.

About CAVA Group:

CAVA is the category-defining Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant brand, bringing together healthful food and bold, satisfying flavors at scale. Our brand and our opportunity transcend the Mediterranean category to compete in the large and growing limited-service restaurant sector as well as the health and wellness food category. CAVA serves guests across gender lines, age groups, and income levels and benefits from generational tailwinds created by consumer demand for healthy living and a demographic shift towards greater ethnic diversity. We meet consumers' desires to engage with convenient, authentic, purpose-driven brands that view food as a source of self-expression. The broad appeal of our food combined with these favorable industry trends drive our vast opportunity for continued growth.

Earnings Conference Call:

The Company will host a conference call on August 22, 2024, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time to discuss second quarter 2024 financial results as well as provide a business update. Investors will have the opportunity to listen to the conference call live through the webcast from the Company's website on the investor relations page at investor.cava.com. A recorded webcast will be available on CAVA's investor relations website shortly after the call and available for up to one year.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, our operations and financial performance. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements relate to matters such as our industry, business strategy, goals, and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, capital expenditures, liquidity and capital resources, and other financial and operating information. These statements may include words such as "anticipate," "assume," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "future," "will," "seek," "foreseeable," "outlook," the negative version of these words or similar terms and phrases to identify forward-looking statements in this press release.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on management's current expectations and are not guarantees of future performance. The forward-looking statements are subject to various risks, uncertainties, assumptions, or changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict or quantify. Our expectations, beliefs, and projections are expressed in good faith, and we believe there is a reasonable basis for them. However, there can be no assurance that management's expectations, beliefs, and projections will result or be achieved. Actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to changes in global, regional, or local economic, business, competitive, market, regulatory, and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. We believe that these factors include but are not limited to the following: our operation in a highly competitive industry; our ability to open new restaurants while managing our growth effectively and maintaining our culture; our ability to successfully identify appropriate locations and develop and expand our operations in existing and new markets; the profitability of new restaurants, and any impact to sales at our existing locations; the impact of changes in guest perception of our brand; our ability to successfully market our restaurants and brand; the impact of food safety, health department regulations, and food-borne illness concerns together with our ability to adequately address such concerns and meet regulatory obligations, including at our manufacturing facilities; our ability to maintain or increase prices; our ability to accurately predict guest trends and demand and successfully introduce new menu offerings and improve our existing menu offerings; the risks associated with leasing property; our ability to successfully expand our digital and delivery business; our ability to utilize, recognize, respond to, and effectively manage the immediacy of social media; our ability to achieve or maintain profitability in the future, especially if we continue to grow at an accelerated rate; our ability to realize the anticipated benefits from past and potential future acquisitions, investments or other strategic initiatives; our ability to manage our manufacturing and supply chain effectively; the impact of shortages, delays, or interruptions in the delivery of food items and other products; our ability to successfully optimize, operate, and manage our production facilities; the risks associated with our reliance on third parties; the impact of increases in food, commodity, energy, and other costs; the impact of increases in labor costs, labor shortages, and our ability to identify, hire, train, motivate and retain the right team members; our ability to attract, develop, and retain our management team and key team members; the impact of any cybersecurity breaches and our ability to respond effectively to technology threats or events; the impact of failures, or interruptions in, or our inability to effectively scale and adapt, our information technology systems; our ability to comply with, or changes in, the extensive laws or regulations requirements to which we are subject, including those related to privacy; the impact of economic factors and guest behavior trends; the impact of evolving rules and regulations with respect to environmental, social and governance matters; risks associated with our ability to secure, and protect our intellectual property; risks associated with civil unrest, acts of terrorism, threats to national security, the conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East and other geopolitical events, including potential discriminatory perspectives towards certain cuisines; the impact of climate change and volatile adverse weather conditions; and each of the other factors set forth in "Part I-Item 1A. Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, and in other reports filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, all of which are available on the investor relations page of our website at investor.cava.com

The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release speaks only as of the date of this press release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements included in this press release. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures:

In addition to our consolidated financial statements, which are prepared in accordance with GAAP, we present Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, general and administrative expenses, excluding equity-based compensation and certain non-recurring public company costs, and Free Cash Flow in this press release as supplemental measures of financial performance that are not required by, or presented in accordance with, GAAP. We believe they assist investors and analysts in comparing our operating performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that we do not believe are indicative of our operating performance. Management believes Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, general and administrative expenses, excluding equity-based compensation and certain non-recurring public company costs, and Free Cash Flow are useful to investors in highlighting trends in our operating performance, while other measures can differ significantly depending on long-term strategic decisions regarding capital structure, the tax jurisdictions in which we operate, and capital investments. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, general and administrative expenses, excluding equity-based compensation and certain non-recurring public company costs, and Free Cash Flow to supplement GAAP measures of performance in the evaluation of the effectiveness of our business strategies, to make budgeting decisions, and to compare our performance against that of other peer companies using similar measures. Management supplements GAAP results with non-GAAP financial measures to provide a more complete understanding of the factors and trends affecting the business than GAAP results alone provide.

Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, general and administrative expenses, excluding equity-based compensation and certain non-recurring public company costs, and Free Cash Flow are not recognized terms under GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to net income, net income margin, or general and administrative expenses, as applicable, as measures of financial performance or cash provided by operating activities as measures of liquidity, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP. Additionally, Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow are not intended to be measures of free cash flow available for management's discretionary use, as Adjusted EBITDA does not consider certain cash requirements such as tax payments and financing cash flows, and Free Cash Flow does not consider certain cash requirements such as financing cash flows. Our non-GAAP measures have limitations as analytical tools, and you should not consider them in isolation, or as substitutes for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are:

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect our cash expenditures or future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;

Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow do not reflect cash flows from financing activities of our business;

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect period to period changes in taxes, income tax expense, or the cash necessary to pay income taxes;

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the impact of earnings or cash charges resulting from matters we consider not to be indicative of our ongoing operations;

although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements; and

other companies in our industry may calculate Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, general and administrative expenses, excluding equity-based compensation and certain non-recurring public company costs, and Free Cash Flow differently than we do, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures.

CAVA GROUP, INC. UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS Twelve Weeks Ended Twenty-Eight Weeks Ended (in thousands, except per share amounts) July 14,

2024 July 9,

2023 July 14,

2024 July 9,

2023 Revenue $ 233,495 $ 172,894 $ 492,501 $ 375,977 Operating expenses: Restaurant operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization) Food, beverage, and packaging 68,839 51,000 142,786 110,118 Labor 58,388 42,417 124,901 94,571 Occupancy 15,917 13,400 36,339 29,999 Other operating expenses 27,991 20,646 60,749 45,294 Total restaurant operating expenses 171,135 127,463 364,775 279,982 General and administrative expenses 28,281 23,321 62,121 52,345 Depreciation and amortization 13,733 10,709 31,055 23,568 Restructuring and other costs 70 1,853 352 4,068 Pre-opening costs 3,302 3,400 6,681 9,399 Impairment and asset disposal costs 830 386 2,120 3,105 Total operating expenses 217,351 167,132 467,104 372,467 Income from operations 16,144 5,762 25,397 3,510 Interest income, net (3,824 ) (699 ) (8,738 ) (674 ) Other income, net (60 ) (118 ) (138 ) (292 ) Income before income taxes 20,028 6,579 34,273 4,476 Provision for income taxes 287 40 539 78 Net income $ 19,741 $ 6,539 $ 33,734 $ 4,398 Earnings per share: Basic $ 0.17 $ 0.23 $ 0.30 $ 0.34 Diluted $ 0.17 $ 0.21 $ 0.29 $ 0.29 Weighted-average common shares outstanding: Basic 114,130 28,366 114,040 13,098 Diluted 118,291 31,279 118,088 15,212

Financial information for the Company's reportable segments was as follows:

Twelve Weeks Ended Twenty-Eight Weeks Ended (in thousands) July 14,

2024 July 9,

2023 July 14,

2024 July 9,

2023 Revenue CAVA $ 231,384 $ 171,089 $ 487,674 $ 367,850 Zoes Kitchen - - - 3,867 Other 2,111 1,805 4,827 4,260 Total revenue 233,495 172,894 492,501 375,977 Restaurant operating expenses (1) CAVA 170,119 126,473 361,793 273,251 Zoes Kitchen - - - 4,044 Other 1,016 990 2,982 2,687 Total restaurant operating expenses 171,135 127,463 364,775 279,982 Restaurant-level profit (loss) CAVA 61,265 44,616 125,881 94,599 Zoes Kitchen - - - (177 ) Other 1,095 815 1,845 1,573 Total restaurant-level profit 62,360 45,431 127,726 95,995 Reconciliation of restaurant-level profit to income before income taxes: General and administrative expenses 28,281 23,321 62,121 52,345 Depreciation and amortization 13,733 10,709 31,055 23,568 Restructuring and other costs 70 1,853 352 4,068 Pre-opening costs 3,302 3,400 6,681 9,399 Impairment and asset disposal costs 830 386 2,120 3,105 Interest income, net (3,824 ) (699 ) (8,738 ) (674 ) Other income, net (60 ) (118 ) (138 ) (292 ) Income before income taxes $ 20,028 $ 6,579 $ 34,273 $ 4,476

__________________ (1) Restaurant operating expenses consist of food, beverage, and packaging (excluding depreciation and amortization), labor, occupancy, and other operating expenses.

CAVA is our single operating brand for our operations as we have converted and wound down our Zoes Kitchen operations, with the last conversion restaurant opening on October 20, 2023. As a result, we have highlighted the CAVA segment distinctly from CAVA Group results throughout this press release.

The following tables summarize the results of the CAVA segment:

Twelve Weeks Ended July 14,

2024 July 9,

2023 Change (in thousands) $ % of

Revenue $ % of

Revenue $ % Revenue $ 231,384 100.0 % $ 171,089 100.0 % $ 60,295 35.2 % Restaurant operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization) Food, beverage, and packaging 67,989 29.4 50,181 29.3 17,808 35.5 Labor 58,388 25.2 42,417 24.8 15,971 37.7 Occupancy 15,917 6.9 13,400 7.8 2,517 18.8 Other operating expenses 27,825 12.0 20,475 12.0 7,350 35.9 Total restaurant operating expenses 170,119 73.5 126,473 73.9 43,646 34.5 Restaurant-level profit $ 61,265 26.5 % $ 44,616 26.1 % $ 16,649 37.3 %

Twenty-Eight Weeks Ended July 14,

2024 July 9,

2023 Change (in thousands) $ % of

Revenue $ % of

Revenue $ % Restaurant revenue $ 487,674 100.0 % $ 367,850 100.0 % $ 119,824 32.6 % Restaurant operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization) Food, beverage, and packaging 140,184 28.7 106,635 29.0 33,549 31.5 Labor 124,901 25.6 93,065 25.3 31,836 34.2 Occupancy 36,339 7.5 29,491 8.0 6,848 23.2 Other operating expenses 60,369 12.4 44,060 12.0 16,309 37.0 Total restaurant operating expenses 361,793 74.2 273,251 74.3 88,542 32.4 Restaurant-level profit $ 125,881 25.8 % $ 94,599 25.7 % $ 31,282 33.1 %

The following table presents selected quarterly financial and other data:

Twelve Weeks Ended Sixteen Weeks Ended Thirteen Weeks Ended Twelve Weeks Ended Twelve Weeks Ended July 14,

2024 April 21,

2024 December 31,

2023 October 1,

2023 July 9,

2023 ($ in thousands) (Q2 2024) (Q1 2024) (Q4 2023) (Q3 2023) (Q2 2023) Net New CAVA Restaurant Openings 18 14 19 11 16 CAVA Restaurants, end of period 341 323 309 290 279 CAVA Same Restaurant Sales Growth(1) 14.4 % 2.3 % 11.4 % 14.1 % 18.2 % CAVA AUV(2) $ 2,689 $ 2,608 $ 2,639 $ 2,640 $ 2,599 CAVA Restaurant-Level Profit $ 61,265 $ 64,616 $ 39,309 $ 43,580 $ 44,616 CAVA Restaurant-Level Profit Margin 26.5 % 25.2 % 22.4 % 25.1 % 26.1 % CAVA Restaurant Operating Weeks 3,963 5,086 3,929 3,432 3,276

__________________ (1) CAVA Same Restaurant Sales Growth for Q4 2023 is presented excluding the impact of the 53rd week of fiscal year 2023. To achieve an optimal comparison of fiscal weeks in the CAVA Same Restaurant Sales calculation in fiscal 2024, giving consideration to holiday periods, each week of fiscal 2023 was shifted by one week. As a result of this shift, approximately $3.9 million of revenue is not included in CAVA Same Restaurant Sales Growth for Q1 2024. Had this shift not been made, CAVA Same Restaurant Sales Growth would have been 4.3% in Q1 2024 and immaterially impacted in Q2 2024. (2) For purposes of calculating CAVA AUV for Q2 2023 and Q3 2023 the applicable measurement period is the trailing thirteen periods ended July 9, 2023, and October 1, 2023 respectively. For purposes of calculating CAVA AUV for Q4 2023, Q1 2024, and Q2 2024 the applicable measurement period is the trailing thirteen periods ended December 31, 2023, April 21, 2024, and July 14, 2024, respectively, excluding the 53rd week of fiscal year 2023.

The following table presents the Company's selected balance sheet data:

(in thousands) July 14,

2024 December 31,

2023 Cash and cash equivalents $ 343,748 $ 332,428 Total assets 1,038,542 983,757 Total liabilities 443,105 412,955 Total stockholders' equity 595,437 570,802 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity 1,038,542 983,757

The following table shows the growth in our company-owned CAVA restaurant base:

Twelve Weeks Ended Twenty-Eight Weeks Ended July 14,

2024 July 9,

2023 July 14,

2024 July 9,

2023 CAVA Restaurants Beginning of period 323 263 309 237 New CAVA restaurant openings(1) 18 16 33 43 Permanent closure - - (1 ) (1 ) End of period 341 279 341 279

__________________ (1) New CAVA restaurant openings during the twelve and twenty-eight weeks ended July 9, 2023 include converted Zoes Kitchen locations.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The following table reconciles net income to Adjusted EBITDA and net income margin to Adjusted EBITDA Margin:

Twelve Weeks Ended Twenty-Eight Weeks Ended (in thousands) July 14,

2024 July 9,

2023 July 14,

2024 July 9,

2023 Net income $ 19,741 $ 6,539 $ 33,734 $ 4,398 Non-GAAP Adjustments Interest income, net (3,824 ) (699 ) (8,738 ) (674 ) Provision for income taxes 287 40 539 78 Depreciation and amortization 13,733 10,709 31,055 23,568 Equity-based compensation 3,571 1,778 8,741 2,983 Other income, net (60 ) (118 ) (138 ) (292 ) Impairment and asset disposal costs 830 386 2,120 3,105 Restructuring and other costs 70 1,853 352 4,068 Certain non-recurring public company costs - 1,113 - 1,113 Adjusted EBITDA $ 34,348 $ 21,601 $ 67,665 $ 38,347 Revenue $ 233,495 $ 172,894 $ 492,501 $ 375,977 Net income margin 8.5 % 3.8 % 6.8 % 1.2 % Adjusted EBITDA Margin 14.7 % 12.5 % 13.7 % 10.2 %

The following table reconciles general and administrative expenses to general and administrative expenses, excluding equity-based compensation and certain non-recurring public company costs:

Twelve Weeks Ended Twenty-Eight Weeks Ended ($ in thousands) July 14, 2024 July 9, 2023 July 14,

2024 July 9,

2023 General and administrative expenses $ 28,281 $ 23,321 $ 62,121 $ 52,345 Equity-based compensation 3,571 1,778 8,741 2,983 Certain non-recurring public company costs - 1,113 - 1,113 General and administrative expenses, excluding equity-based compensation and certain non-recurring public company costs $ 24,710 $ 20,430 $ 53,380 $ 48,249 Revenue $ 233,495 $ 172,894 $ 492,501 $ 375,977 General and administrative expenses, as a percentage of revenue 12.1 % 13.5 % 12.6 % 13.9 % General and administrative expenses, excluding equity-based compensation and certain non-recurring public company costs, as a percentage of revenue 10.6 % 11.8 % 10.8 % 12.8 %

The following table reconciles net cash provided by operating activities to Free Cash Flow:

Twelve Weeks Ended Twenty-Eight Weeks Ended (in thousands) July 14,

2024 July 9,

2023 July 14,

2024 July 9,

2023 Net cash provided by operating activities $ 48,909 $ 21,431 $ 87,295 $ 47,110 Purchases of property and equipment (26,195 ) (33,381 ) (59,882 ) (72,478 ) Free Cash Flow $ 22,714 $ (11,950 ) $ 27,413 $ (25,368 )

Glossary:

The following definitions apply to these terms as used in this press release:

"Adjusted EBITDA" is defined as net income adjusted to exclude interest income, net, provision for income taxes, and depreciation and amortization, further adjusted to exclude equity-based compensation, other income, net, impairment and asset disposal costs, restructuring and other costs, and certain non-recurring public company costs, in each case, to the extent applicable in a given fiscal period. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA for the twelve and twenty-eight weeks ended July 14, 2024 and July 9, 2023;

"Adjusted EBITDA Margin" is defined as Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue;

"CAVA Average Unit Volume" or "CAVA AUV" represents total revenue of operating CAVA Restaurants that were open for the entire trailing thirteen periods, and digital kitchens sales for such period, divided by the number of operating CAVA Restaurants that were open for the entire trailing thirteen periods;

"CAVA digital kitchen" is defined to include kitchens used for third-party marketplace and native delivery, digital order pickup and/or centralized catering production, and that has neither in-restaurant dining nor customer-facing make lines;

"CAVA Digital Revenue Mix" represents the portion of CAVA Revenue related to digital orders as a percentage of total CAVA Revenue;

"CAVA hybrid kitchen" is defined to include kitchens that have enhanced kitchen capabilities to support centralized catering production and that also have in-restaurant dining and customer-facing make lines;

"CAVA Restaurant Operating Weeks" represents the aggregate number of weeks each of our CAVA Restaurants has been open in a given period;

"CAVA Restaurant-Level Profit," a segment measure of profit and loss, represents CAVA Revenue less food, beverage, and packaging, labor, occupancy, and other operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization. CAVA Restaurant-Level Profit excludes pre-opening costs;

"CAVA Restaurant-Level Profit Margin" represents CAVA Restaurant-Level Profit as a percentage of CAVA Revenue;

"CAVA Restaurants" is defined to include all CAVA restaurants, including converted Zoes Kitchen locations and CAVA hybrid kitchens, that are open as of the end of the specific period. CAVA Restaurants exclude restaurants operating under license agreements and CAVA digital kitchens;

"CAVA Revenue" is defined to include all revenue attributable to CAVA restaurants in the specified period, excluding restaurants operating under license agreements;

"CAVA Same Restaurant Sales Growth" is defined as the period-over-period sales comparison for CAVA restaurants that have been open for 365 days or longer (including converted Zoes Kitchen locations that have been open for 365 days or longer after the completion of the conversion to a CAVA restaurant);

"CPG" refers to consumer packaged goods;

"digital orders" means orders made through catering and digital channels, such as the CAVA app and the CAVA website. Digital orders include orders fulfilled through third-party marketplace and native delivery and digital order pick-up;

"Free Cash Flow" means net cash provided by operating activities less purchases of property and equipment;

"guest traffic" means the number of entrees ordered in-restaurant and through digital orders; and

"Net New CAVA Restaurant Openings" is defined as new CAVA restaurant openings (including CAVA restaurants converted from a Zoes Kitchen location) during a specified reporting period, net of any permanent CAVA restaurant closures during the same period.

We operate on a 52-week or 53-week fiscal year that ends on the last Sunday of the calendar year. In a 52-week fiscal year, the first fiscal quarter contains sixteen weeks and the second, third, and fourth fiscal quarters each contain twelve weeks. In a 53-week fiscal year, the first fiscal quarter contains sixteen weeks, the second and third fiscal quarters each contain twelve weeks, and the fourth fiscal quarter contains thirteen weeks. References to "thirteen periods" are to the 13 accounting periods we have in each fiscal year, with each accounting period being four weeks, except in a 53-week fiscal year which will contain one accounting period of five weeks.

Certain numerical figures have been subject to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, numerical figures shown as totals in various tables may not be arithmetic aggregations of the figures that precede them.

Contacts

Investor Relations:

Matt Milanovich, SVP, Finance

(202) 984-2558

matt.milanovich@cava.com

Media Relations:

Lynne Boschee, VP, Communications

media@cava.com
Stephen and Sue Rees say they're 'experienced cruisers' but were let down after both bookings were cancelled without being told.

Stephen Rees and his wife Sue had two cruise holidays cancelled on them for the same reason. Source: Kennedy News and Media

A couple say they feel "deflated" after being booted from two cruises for a reason they say is "totally wrong," claiming they're aware of it "happening quite frequently" to other holidaymakers too.

Stephen Rees and his wife Sue booked two cruises through a travel agent at the start of the year  one with Cunard and the other P&O. Stephen suffers from motor neuron disease and recently became a wheelchair user so they booked ahead of time because of the 'accessibility' the cruise ships are said to offer.

But the 65-year-old retiree claims he and his wife had their bookings cancelled with both cruise lines allegedly claiming there weren't enough evacuation chairs onboard. These seats are a mandatory requirement for guests on both cruise lines who are bringing a wheelchair or mobility scooter.

Claims cruise bookings cancelled over passenger's 'disability'

The grandparents, both "experienced cruisers", only learned of the cancellation after hearing reports other cruisers had experienced something similar, prompting the UK couple to contact their travel agent. It was then they were informed their 12-day cruise with Cunard in November was cancelled allegedly because of Stephen's disability.

Then, in a "deflating" blow, they learned the P&O cruise they'd booked for March 2025 had also been cancelled for the exact same reason.

"It's totally wrong. It seems to be disabled people are the ones that are suffering. I only became a wheelchair user within the last 12 months," he said.

"If we hadn't chased them up we would've gone to boarding in November and been refused entry because they didn't have an evac chair. I don't know what state we'd be in if we had got to the port and been turned away. We could've been stuck".

"You're looking forward to a holiday and you get deflated because you've just been told it's cancelled," he continued.

P&O Cruises (left) and Cunard (right), who are both part of Carnival UK, responded to the couple's claims. Source: Kennedy News and Media

"We're experienced cruisers. Our booking agent was aware I'm a wheelchair user because we particularly asked for a fully accessible wheelchair cabin on the boat which you have to book way in advance.

"As soon as it had been confirmed and they accepted our deposit, we did as we were told which was to complete the online onboard needs form. That gives you the chance to say you're in a wheelchair and need an evac chair. We sent that off in January."

Cruise couple chasing refunds for cancelled holidays

The couple had heard of other situations where the cruise lines "refused to refund money saying it's their fault". Despite being refunded for their AUD$9,700 (4,999) Cunard trip, the wheelchair user had to fight for his AUD$1561 (800) deposit.

"They said they will refund the money we paid but are refusing to refund the deposit," he said of teh local booking agent ROL Cruise.

"If we cancelled the holiday I'd understand them keeping the deposit, but they've cancelled the holiday so why should I get fobbed off. ROL has now said they would refund the deposit as a gesture of goodwill."

Stephen and Sue say they're experienced cruisers and are deflated over the recent cancellations. Source: Kennedy News and Media

There was a similar outcome for their P&O booking too.

"This appears to be happening quite frequently. I understand that cruise lines only have a certain number of evacuation chairs on a ship," he said. "But I don't see how they don't know from the bookings how many of their chairs have been allocated.

"They just continue to take bookings and sort the problem out at boarding. They should be checking to prevent situations like this. It's just not right that they're not contacting people."

Cruise lines responds to couple's cancellation claims

Responding to the couple's claims, a spokesperson for ROL Cruise said: "We are sorry that Mr and Mrs Rees have faced this situation.

"We acknowledge that additional checks from our team, following their booking, could have ensured the travellers completed & returned the required online medical form to the cruise line, in relation to the requirement of an evac chair.

"We sincerely regret any inconvenience caused and can confirm that the customers have received a full refund."

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for P&O Cruises and Cunard, who are both part of Carnival UK, said: "We are so sorry that Mr & Mrs Rees were unable to travel with us."

"Whilst cancelling the holidays was certainly not the outcome Mr & Mrs Rees or we would have wanted we need to adhere to the regulations for assistance in the unlikely case of an emergency which protects the safety and wellbeing of everyone on board, guests and crew alike," they said.

"Although this type of situation is very unlikely, it is regulated by this policy. This mandatory requirement does not permit us to have a more flexible approach, as much as we are pleased to welcome guests of all abilities and mobility on board as we must sail safely and in accordance with the required maritime regulations."

Kennedy News and Media

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Agreements come months before next collective bargaining round, giving covered employees early assurances on significant future improvements to pay, health care, and vacation

ATLANTA, Aug. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC), in partnership with BNSF Railway, has reached tentative, five-year collective bargaining agreements with the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen Division/TCU (BRC), the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers - Mechanical Department (SMART-MD), and the Transportation Communications Union/IAM (TCU). Norfolk Southern also has reached tentative agreements with multiple General Committees for the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers - Transportation Division (SMART-TD).

The agreements, which are subject to ratification, cover approximately 30% of Norfolk Southern's union workforce and come four months before the opening of the next collective bargaining round, giving covered employees unprecedented certainty about upcoming enhancements to their pay, health care, and vacation.

"Our craft railroaders are the heart and soul of Norfolk Southern, and we are committed to supporting our colleagues who power our network every day," said Alan H. Shaw, Norfolk Southern president and CEO. "I want to thank the labor leaders who share our commitment to our craft colleagues and helped us reach this deal early, ensuring peace of mind with clear knowledge about upcoming pay, healthcare and vacation improvements. We look forward to reaching similar agreements with the rest of the unions at Norfolk Southern."

The tentative agreements provide a 3.5-percent average wage increase per year over the next five years. They also offer railroaders more vacation earlier in their career and make meaningful enhancements to an already robust suite of health care benefits.

"I appreciate Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw stepping up to the plate and doing the right thing," said Artie Maratea, National President TCU. "Ensuring our members and Norfolk Southern front line employees have solid agreements in a timely manner is a huge step in the right direction and we look forward to continuing to work together in the future."

"BRC is proud to reach this agreement with Norfolk Southern," said Don Grissom, General President BRC. "Alan and his team worked hard and we appreciate their commitment to make this a reality. This agreement proves that we can make great progress working together for our members."

"The tentative agreements provide real wage increases, substantial improvements to paid time off that the railroads have historically fought us on, improvements to health and welfare benefits with an added benefit option for those that want it," said SMART Directing General Chairperson, John McCloskey.?"These tentative agreements, if ratified, take away the uncertainty of when the next round of national negotiations will be completed, and if and when annual pay increases will be implemented."

"I am so proud of the progress we continue to make with Alan Shaw and the Norfolk Southern team as we partner to improve the lives of our members," said Jeremy Ferguson, National President SMART-TD.?"Our members told us they wanted to be recognized for the value of their contributions without going through another long and protracted bargaining round. With these tentative agreements, together we have honored that request, removing the delay and rewarding Norfolk Southern employees with the pay and benefits they deserve."

About Norfolk Southern

Since 1827, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) and its predecessor companies have safely moved the goods and materials that drive the U.S. economy. Today, it operates a customer-centric and operations-driven freight transportation network. Committed to furthering sustainability, Norfolk Southern helps its customers avoid approximately 15 million tons of yearly carbon emissions by shipping via rail. Its dedicated team members deliver more than 7 million carloads annually, from agriculture to consumer goods, and Norfolk Southern originates more automotive traffic than any other Class I Railroad. Norfolk Southern also has the most extensive intermodal network in the eastern U.S. It serves a majority of the country's population and manufacturing base, with connections to every major container port on the Atlantic coast as well as major ports in the Gulf of Mexico and Great Lakes. Learn more by visiting www.NorfolkSouthern.com .

SOURCE Norfolk Southern Corporation
During his visit to Kyiv, PM Modi extended Indias support to the war-struck nation in a meeting with Ukraines Volodymyr Zelenskyy. But how did the media react to his trip? read more

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made history with his groundbreaking visit to Ukraine, becoming the first Indian PM to set foot in the country since diplomatic ties were established in 1992.

During his visit to Kyiv, Modi met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, shared a warm embrace and held a moment of silence at a memorial dedicated to children who lost their lives in the ongoing Russian invasion.

PM Modi also extended Indias support, offering to help bring peace to the war-struck nation and positioning himself as a friend to Ukraine, igniting hope among many who see India as a potential mediator in the conflict between the two nations.

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This visit, which came just months after Modis trip to Moscow, has attracted considerable global media attention, with many reflecting on its potential implications for the conflict and Indias foreign policy.

From being labelled as a balancing act to being called a symbolic gesture, heres how international media reported on PM Modis visit to Ukraine.

Reuters

The agency reported that PM Modis Ukraine visit comes at a volatile juncture in the war launched by Russia in February 2022, where Moscow is making slow gains in eastern Ukraine as Kyiv presses a cross-border incursion.

It also reported the Ukraine visit had optics that closely resembled Modis visit to Moscow last month where he called for peace and embraced Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Reuters said Modis Ukraine visit had optics that closely resembled Modis visit to Moscow last month where he called for peace and embraced Russian President Vladimir Putin. Image courtesy: PTI, AP

It further said that this stance had angered Ukraine, especially after a Russian missile attack struck a childrens hospital in Ukraine on the same day Modi met with Putin.

Previously, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser in Zelenskyys office, had told Reuters that Modis Ukraine visit was significant because New Delhi really has a certain influence over Moscow and it was extremely important to build relations with such countries to explainwhat the correct end to the war is and that it is also in their interests.

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The New York Times

The outlet said, Modi has carefully calibrated his countrys relations with the two warring nations.

It quoted Harsh V. Pant, a professor of international relations at Kings College London as saying that Modis Kyiv visit was about positioning India as a voice of the global south on the war in Ukraine.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India arrived in Kyiv on Friday, furthering a long diplomatic effort by Ukraine to engage non-Western nations in potential settlement talks in the war with Russia. https://t.co/biW4Ffmgkr  The New York Times (@nytimes) August 23, 2024

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Pant further told the NYT that Modis trip created a chance to talk about, in some ways, the impact this conflict has had on poorer nations.

AP

The American news agency said the visit to Ukraine could be an attempt by Modi to strike a more neutral stance after what has been seen as his lean toward Russia.

A Ukrainian analyst told AP that the outcome of Modis first visit is likely to be modest, as this is just the beginning of a complex dialogue between India, Ukraine, and Europe."

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Establishing relations with India will be challenging and a long process, said Yurii Bohdanov on his Telegram channel. But stressed the importance of this relationship for Ukraine.

Bohdanov also noted that if India supports Ukraines peace efforts, it could strengthen Kyivs influence in the Global South, where India competes with China for influence. He added that this support could increase pressure on Russia."

BBC

Modis visit to Ukraine is more about signalling the world that while India will continue to have strong relations with Russia, it will still work closely with the West, the British media outlet wrote in a report titled, Diplomatic tightrope for Modi as he visits Kyiv after Moscow.

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It also quoted Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Centre think-tank in Washington, who said the trip will further reassert Indias strategic autonomy.

Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Centre think-tank in Washington, who said the trip will further reassert Indias strategic autonomy. File image/Reuters

India isnt in the business of placating Western powers, or anyone for that matter. Its a trip meant to advance Indian interests, by reasserting friendship with Kyiv and conveying its concerns about the continuing war, he said.
The contagious mpox virus has spread across many African countries and new cases are being detected in Sweden, Thailand, the Philippines, and Pakistan. While mpox shares some symptoms with COVID-19, such as coughing and flu-like symptoms, the viruses differ in fundamental ways read more

Mpox is a viral disease that can spread from animals to humans, but also human-to-human through sexual or close physical contact. File Photo/Reuters

The World Health Organization has issued a global health emergency as mpox spreads across several African countries.

The outbreak, which started in the Democratic Republic of Congo and has claimed at least 450 lives, has now extended to Central and East Africa. The Clade 1B strain is moving beyond the continent, with new cases emerging in Europe and Southeast Asia, including Sweden, Thailand, the Philippines, and Pakistan.

Since 2022, the WHO has reported 99,176 Mpox cases and 208 deaths across 116 countries. But with the recent spike in cases, the UN health body has urged healthcare professionals worldwide to be vigilant in detecting symptoms of monkeypox.

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As the crisis deepens, a global health alert has also been triggered. While mpox shares some symptoms with COVID-19, such as coughing and flu-like symptoms, the viruses differ in fundamental ways.

Heres a closer look


















PM Narendra Modi was on a two-nation trip this week. After visiting Poland, he took a 10-hour train ride to reach war-torn Ukraine, reiterating Indias stand of resolving the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. Heres all this and more in this weekly wrap read more

This week India marked its first National Space Day to commemorate Chandrayaan-3s landing on the south pole of the lunar surface, a feat no other country has accomplished. Indias giant leap to the Moon brought global appreciation for India and its space agency.

Apart from this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi went on a two-nation tour to Europe. After visiting Poland, he arrived in war-torn Ukraine with his message of peace.

A report on sexual harassment in the Malayalam film industry has shocked Kerala. The Hema Committee report has sparked strong reactions in the state, with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan assuring action.

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Heres all this and more in our weekly roundup of explainers from India.

1. PM Modi embarked on a two-day trip to Poland, where he met his Polish counterpart, Donald Tusk. This was the first visit of an Indian prime minister to the European country in 45 years. The two nations, celebrating 70 years of diplomatic relations, elevated their ties to strategic partnership.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (right) and PM Narendra Modi address a press conference after talks at the Polish Prime Ministers Office in Warsaw, Poland on August 22, 2024. AFP

From Poland, Modi took a 10-hour train ride to Ukraine. He held bilateral talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the iconic Mariinskyi Palace in Kyiv. The two leaders also shared a solemn moment during their visit to the Martyrologist Exposition on children at the National Museum of History.

The museum was set up for the children who lost their lives in Russias war with Ukraine. According to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Modi reiterated Indias consistent stance of resolving the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. What else happened during Modis crucial trip to Ukraine? Read our explainer to find out.

2. On August 23 last year, India scripted history as its Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft landed on the lunar surface, becoming only the fourth nation to do so. Celebrating the first anniversary of this achievement, India marked the National Space Day on Friday.

People watch a live stream of Chandrayaan-3 spacecrafts landing on the moon, inside an auditorium of Gujarat Science City in Ahmedabad, August 23, 2023. File Photo/Reuters

India established itself as a force to be reckoned with in the global space sector with the success of the Indian Space Research Organisations (Isro) Chandrayaan-3. From carrying rocket cones on bicycles to achieving a feat no other country has, Isro has come a long way. We take a look at the Indian space agencys journey in this story.

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3. Amid pressure from the opposition and its allies, the Centre withdrew the latest lateral entry advertisement seeking to fill positions at various levels in the Union government. This came after voices within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) objected to lateral entry into bureaucracy.

The opposition also targeted the NDA government and called for reservations in the lateral entry scheme. Days after the ad stirred a major controversy, Union minister Jitendra Singh shot off a letter to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) chairperson, recommending cancellation of the lateral entry hiring. Read our story to find out how the ad triggered a political storm.

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4. The Hema Committee report has unearthed the rampant sexual harassment plaguing the Malayalam cinema industry. It has documented unsettling accounts of sexual harassment, exploitation, and ill-treatment of women in the industry. From casting couch to harassment, men in cinema are making the workplace unsafe for women.

The report also sheds light on the existence of a powerful lobby of 10-15 men, who wield significant control and call shots across the Kerala film industry. The findings have led to strong reactions from film stars, politicians and the womens panel. We give details about this important report in our story.

5. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation into the brutal rape and murder of a young trainee doctor in Kolkatas RG Kar Medical College and Hospital has revealed disturbing details. The psychoanalysis test of the main accused, Sanjay Roy, has found that he is a pervert and severely addicted to pornography.

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As per a CBI officer, the prime suspect had an animal-like instinct, and showed no remorse for the heinous rape and murder of the 31-year-old trainee doctor during questioning. What is a psychoanalysis test and what has it disclosed about the accused? We explain in this report.

6. A new drug has reached New Delhis party circuit. Mescaline, commonly used as a party drug, has been seized in the National Capital. The Delhi Police arrested a Nigerian woman for allegedly smuggling and supplying psychotropic substances and 3.87 kilogrammes of mescaline worth around Rs 15 crore.

What is this drug getting Delhi high? Read our explainer to know more.

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You are all caught up for this week. If you like our explainers and want to keep a tab, you can bookmark this page.
A viral TikTok trend has left grocery shelves empty and shoppers scrambling in Iceland. Cucumber sales have surged so rapidly that supermarkets have been caught off guard, prompting an emergency shipment of the veggie from the Netherlands read more

Kronan, a major grocery chain in Iceland, revealed that cucumber sales surged so rapidly they were caught off guard, prompting an emergency shipment of cucumbers from the Netherlands. Image for Representation. Pixabay

Its a cucumber conundrum in Iceland, and TikTok is at the heart of it.

What began as a playful online trend by a popular influencer has spiralled into a nationwide cucumber shortage, leaving grocery shelves empty and shoppers scrambling.

Kronan, a major grocery chain in Iceland, revealed to the BBC that cucumber sales surged so rapidly they were caught off guard, prompting an emergency shipment of cucumbers from the Netherlands.

Meanwhile, Hagkaup, another leading supermarket, reported that cucumber purchases have more than doubled, with customers racing to stock up on the elusive vegetable.

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What sparked this unexpected frenzy? Lets dive into the story behind Icelands veggie upheaval.

The cucumber boy effect

It all began with Canada-based TikToker Logan Moffitt, known as cucumber guy, who started sharing his irresistibly tempting cucumber salad recipes on TikTok. With over 5.5 million followers, Moffitt has been posting daily cucumber recipes since July.

Sometimes, you just need to eat a whole cucumber, Moffitt declares at the start of his videos, before slicing cucumbers with a vegetable slicer.

He then mixes the grated cucumbers with a variety of flavour-enhancing ingredients, which can include sesame seeds, soy sauce, sour cream, chili oil, cheese, tomatoes, onions, paprika, salmon, garlic, rice vinegar in a plastic container.

Thanks to his videos, people in Iceland are now chopping, pickling, and consuming cucumbers like never before. The #Cucumber has over four million posts (most of them featuring salad recipes) on Instagram alone, with around 150,000 videos shared on Medium.

Its all sold out!

The recipe has been such a hit that farmers in the country have been unable to keep up with spiralling demand, reported BBC citing Icelands farmers association - the Horticulturists Sales Company (SFG).

Daniel Sigthorsson, 30, from Reykjavik, was eager to try a cucumber salad but was surprised to find no cucumbers available at his local grocery store. I was like, Thats weird," he told The New York Times (NYT). Thats one of the things we never run out of in Iceland. And then I saw the news.

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Kronans online store reported that apart from cucumbers, there is a staggering 200 per cent increase in searches for ingredients commonly used in the viral recipes, such as sesame oil, rice vinegar, and fish sauce. Icelandic media also noted that sesame oil is now sold out in some stores due to the doubled demand.

A few people can have a lot of influence, Haflidi Halldorsson, who works in marketing for the countrys sheep farmers told NYT.

The recipe has been such a hit that farmers in Iceland have been unable to keep up with spiralling demand for cucumbers. File Image/AFP

While Iceland prides itself on its self-sustaining agriculture, dealing with food supply shortages is particularly challenging as much of its staple produce is grown in geothermal-powered greenhouses.

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In cases of shortages, the island, isolated in the far Northern Hemisphere, has to import to fill the gap and can prove to be much more expensive than it might be elsewhere in Europe.

Kristin Linda Sveinsdottir the marketing director of SFG, which represents vegetable farmers in Iceland told the NYT that the timing of the cucumber frenzy is particularly bad.

Why?

Hagkaup told the BBC that the cucumber shortage in Iceland isnt solely due to the viral TikTok recipe. Its actually common to experience shortages of Icelandic cucumbers around this time of year.

Kristin Linda Sveinsdottir from the SFG also expressed scepticism, pointing out that several factors are at play. She explained that some cucumber farmers are in the process of replacing their plants at this time of year, meaning production is temporarily lower.

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Farmers in Iceland, which has a population of 393,600, typically produce around six million cucumbers annually, Ms Sveinsdottir told the British publication.

Adding to the strain, schools are returning from summer holidays, leading to bulk orders for their kitchens, which further pressures the supply.

Everything is happening at the same time, said Sveinsdottir, while acknowledging that the social media trend remains one of the main contributing factors.

With input from agencies
The court noted Nayaks cooperation with the trial proceedings and directed the trial court to expedite the case of murder of Gauri Lankesh. The SC informed of provisions for bail cancellation if conditions are breached read more

The Supreme Court has dismissed a plea of Kavitha Lankesh against a Karnataka High Court order that granted bail to an accused in the murder case of her elder sister and journalist Gauri Lankesh.

A bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and S C Sharma noted that the accused, Mohan Nayak, has cooperated with the trial court in the proceedings and has not sought any adjournment.

Under the circumstances, we are not inclined to interfere with the impugned orders passed by the high court. However, it is directed that the trial court shall expeditiously conduct the trial and all the parties shall cooperate with the trial court in concluding the trial.

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It goes without saying that if the respondent accused does not cooperate or asks for unnecessary adjournment(s) or commits breach of any condition, the State of Karnataka or the complainant shall be at liberty to apply for cancellation of bail, and if any such application is filed, the same shall be decided on its own merits and in accordance with law, the bench said.

Kavitha had moved the top court against the high court order dated December 7, 2023.

Senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, appearing for Karnataka, told the court that so far, 137 witnesses have been examined by the prosecution, 137 witnesses have been dropped and the prosecution is also likely to drop 150 more witnesses, and now about 100 witnesses are still to be examined.

Lankesh was shot dead outside her residence in Rajarajeshwari Nagar in Bengaluru on September 5, 2017.
Undertrial first-time offenders who have served one-third of their maximum detention period under the new Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita-2023 (BNSS) are set to benefit from the decision read more

The Supreme Court has, for the first time, retrospectively applied Section 479 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita-2023 (BNSS) in India.

As per Section 479 of BNSS, undertrials may be granted bail if they have been detained for up to one-third the maximum period of imprisonment specified for the offense under that law.

In line with that, the apex court has directed jail superintendents all across the nation to release all the undertrial prisoners who have now finished one-third of the maximum detention period specified under Section 479 of BNSS.

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Centres submission to Supreme Court

The bench, comprising Justices Hima Kohli and Sandeep Mehta, issued the order after Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, told them that section 479 of the BNSS, which replaces section 436A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, will apply to all undertrials irrespective of the fact that the crime is registered before July 1, 2024.

Senior Advocate Gaurav Agrawal, who serves as amicus curiae in the case, had highlighted the urgency of implementing Section 479, noting that it would significantly aid in reducing the strain on the prison system.

The Court acknowledged this submission but focused its directive on ensuring that the retrospective application of the law benefits those currently detained.

Focus on decongesting Indian jails

The directive from the Supreme Court came when the Bench was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) initiated to address the issue of overcrowding of prisons in India.

This decision is likely to alleviate overcrowding in prisons, with the Court stressing that the process should be completed as quickly as possible, ideally within three months.

The directive comes amid Supreme Courts ongoing efforts to address the issue of prison overcrowding, a matter the Court has been monitoring since it took suo motu cognisance of the problem in October of 2021.

With inputs from PTI
A key diplomatic engagement that has not garnered enough attention is the 2+2 ministerial dialogue between India and Japan in New Delhi that concluded on Tuesday. Image: X / @DrSJaishankar

This week India has a very eventful diplomatic calendar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a visit to Poland and Ukraine, which has come a month after his visit to Russia in the backdrop of the Ukraine-Russia war. Meanwhile, he also hosted Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim early this week with a much-needed reset in ties achieved in the relations with Malaysia, Indias maritime neighbour.

Amidst all this, a key diplomatic engagement that has not garnered enough attention is the 2+2 ministerial dialogue between India and Japan that concluded on Tuesday. The third edition of this dialogue was led by Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh from the Indian side and Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Defence Minister Kihara Minoru from the Japanese side. It comes two years after the countries foreign and defence ministers had last met in Tokyo.

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Since then, a lot of new developments have taken place across the world where, although Russias war with Ukraine has taken precedence over other geopolitical matters for the rest of the major powers, for both India and Japan, the theatre of the Indo-Pacific remains of key importance.

The rise of China and its expansionist designs in the East China Sea besides the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait is a matter of perennial concern for Japan. Whereas a similar attempt by Beijing to usurp Indian territory in the Himalayas by making outrageous claims as well as its growing footprint in the Indian Ocean continues to worry New Delhi.

Interestingly, both countries have become close partners in ensuring overall security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region with Indias Act East policy as well as PM Modis vision for Indo-Pacific coinciding with Japans own Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP). Interestingly, Japanese PM Fumio Kishida launched his new policy plan for FOIP from New Delhi last year, calling India an indispensable partner. This signalled how important a rising India is to Japans strategic vision in the region. Though the original architect of FOIP would rightfully be PM Shinzo Abe, who first mentioned the term Indo-Pacific on the floor of the Indian parliament in 2007 and launched the FOIP officially in 2016. Since then, it has become the cornerstone for Japans China policy in the region, where it considers a strong partnership with India as a necessary bulwark against Chinese misadventures.

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While noting the importance of India-Japan bilateral ties, Japans Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa has also written a column for an Indian national daily on the eve of her visit for the 2+2 Ministerial dialogue. This is her first visit to India after becoming the foreign minister of the country, but she has been a long-term advocate for India-Japan friendship. In the column, she has called the two countries co-creators of new solutions with their friendship built on a foundation of long historical ties as well as their common status as democracies.

As guided by their overall convergence, India and Japan have broadened their relations, covering diverse sectors in the last decade ranging from defence to economic ties. The overall thrust of their relations is obviously on security, since with the Chinese policy of expansionism, both countries have a common strategic threat.

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As a response, in the last few years their defence cooperation has grown manifold with joint military exercises and high-level engagements. During this years 2+2 dialogue as well, India has requested Japan to remove bottlenecks in the sharing of advanced defence technology as it is in the process of acquiring the UNICORN technology from Japan, which will be fitted in Indian warships, and give it a superior capability to evade detection by the enemy forces. The two countries are also exploring ways to jointly produce key defence equipment as a part of the Make in India (Defence) initiative. India has stressed joint production, research, and design of defence platforms with Japan rather than simply being a buyer in the equation.

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In the domain of economy, India has become a great beneficiary of Japans interest in the countrys northeast. Unlike other development partners who look for easier projects, Japan has shown an earnest commitment in developing the northeastern states of India, which not only have societal complexities but have a difficult geographical terrain as well.

India and Japan are working on developing an industrial value chain by linking the region with the Bay of Bengal via Bangladesh using its Matarbari seaport. Discussions were held over this project during this weeks ministerial dialogue as well.

Japan has emerged as the largest foreign development partner for both Indias northeastern states as well as Bangladesh. Its project to develop an industrial value chain is the culmination of its long-standing involvement in the region, where it was earlier treating India and Bangladeshi projects separately. So far it has developed infrastructure such as roads, etc, but now the proposal of an industrial value chain has given the involvement a new dimension altogether.

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Besides this partnership between India and Japan in the Bay of Bengal, Japan is also helping India build its first high-speed railway corridor coming up between Mumbai and Ahmedabad. It is based on the famous Japanese Shinkansen technology, enabling trains to run at a speed of around 320 km/hour. An industrial corridor backed by Japan is also shaping up on the western flank of India, which links seven Indian states from Delhi to Mumbai. It would not only provide Japanese companies access to Indias large labour market in view of its own ageing population but would also boost Indias participation in the global value chains. Twenty companies began operation last year from this corridor, including many multinational corporations from East Asia.

Although the tailwinds to take India-Japan relations to a new level are still strong, there may still be a few challenges. First of all, PM Kishida, under whom India-Japan relations have flourished a great deal, is no longer a popular leader in Japan due to the outbreak of multiple corruption scandals against his ministers. His days in power will be numbered, as he has announced that he will step down in September. There will be a short-term uncertainty regarding the new governments approach to India-Japan ties, but overall strategic convergence will likely prevail over it.

Then there is also the question of a slight blink in Japans outlook on China. This is because its 2023 National Security Strategy surprisingly outlined a narrative of a mutually beneficial relationship with China as against the 2022 NSS, which outrightly called the country the greatest strategic challenge.

Interestingly, the whole idea of a national security strategy goes back to the growing Chinese belligerence in Japans backyard in 2013. It was the China threat that led Japan to establish a national security council in the first place. However, today Japan may be tempted to follow a slightly conciliatory policy towards China owing to its economic dependence.

Despite all the talks of decoupling, Japan and China are part of mega trade initiatives such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), signalling that the trend in their relations is more integration and not less. This year, Japan, South Korea, and China have even revived a trilateral free trade agreement, which further points towards more economic cooperation between them.

A lot of Japanese companies have even adopted the China for China strategy, where they are building on deeper investments in the country to service the large Chinese domestic market. In a nutshell, the economic relations would continue to reflect in Japans overall approach to China, which in turn would affect the glue that binds India and Japan together in the Indo-Pacific.

Still, India and Japan themselves have a lot of independent drivers taking their bilateral relationship forward. This includes Indias emerging middle class and the allure of its vast consumer market for Japan. India also values Japanese technological know-how, its expertise, as well as investments in making India a global manufacturing hub. It has set a target of five trillion yen as investments from Japan over the next five years. For now, there is enough for the two countries to chase a deeper partnership, and meanwhile, Chinas aggressive posture would keep giving a timely reminder to Japan to de-risk its dependence on China and look at India instead.

The author is a New Delhi-based commentator on geopolitics and foreign policy. She holds a PhD from the Department of International Relations, South Asian University. She tweets @TrulyMonica. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Although India maintains a cordial relationship with the West, especially the United States, there are subtle currents of distrust present. PM Modis visit to Ukraine may also have acted as a means to mitigate any negative perception read more

Prime Minister Narendra Modi just concluded his much important visits to Poland and Ukraine. The world was especially watching with keen interest his trip to Kyiv  the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Ukraine since the country became independent in 1991. It further gained significance because it came soon after PM Modis Russia visit in July this year.

Prime Minister Modi, before leaving for Ukraine, on Wednesday said India is a supporter of peace in the volatile region as he reiterated this is not an era of war and any conflict should be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue. PM Modi, who visited Ukraine at the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, discussed with the Ukrainian leader various viewpoints on achieving a peaceful conclusion to the continuing conflict.

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PM Modis visit to Ukraine on its National Flag Day is a significant milestone for an Indian prime minister and offers India a distinct chance to pursue strategic collaboration and partnership with Ukraine, specifically in the field of defence manufacturing. This will be a mutually beneficial outcome for both countries, as India requires marine engines for its naval vessels and seeks to enhance its extensive air transport fleet and technology, specifically in the area of propulsion.

Ukraine recognises that collaborating with India will generate essential funds for its defence enterprises, which are facing financial difficulties and are greatly affected by the conflict with Russia. Russia has conducted airstrikes on the Antonov Serial Production Plant in Kyiv and the Zorya-Mashproekt complex in Mykolaiv, which are important defence facilities in Ukraine.

The Indian Air Forces (IAF) extensive fleet of An-32 military transports, which was scheduled for an upgrade as part of a contract signed in 2009, has been significantly affected. The Antonov facility manufactures the model. The arrangement entailed the enhancement of 40 aircraft in Ukraine and an additional 65 in India, with Ukrainian oversight. The ongoing war has disrupted the supply chain, resulting in the delay of upgrading the last five out of the 40 aircraft in Ukraine. These aircraft are currently unable to move from Kyiv. Additionally, the local upgrade in India has been halted due to the departure of Ukrainian experts and a shortage of necessary spare parts. The Zorya-Mashproekt complex in Mykolaiv is crucial for the manufacturing of turbines that are utilised by navies around the globe, including the Indian Navy. The current conflict has further intensified these difficulties, as it has severely impaired their ability to function effectively. The impact on Zorya-Mashproekt is particularly significant for India, which relies on these turbines for its naval vessels.

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Considering these disruptions, Modis trip to Kyiv has presented a crucial opportunity for India to explore new opportunities and potential for cooperation with Ukraine. An area of possible collaboration involves the formation of joint ventures in India, where Ukrainian technicians might collaborate with Indian counterparts to create manufacturing units. Bharat Forges recent purchase of a majority ownership (51 per cent) in Zoryas Indian subsidiary has the potential to serve as a basis for a partnership between the two companies.

The Indian government has consistently advocated for dialogue and diplomacy as the preferred approach to address the problem. The Ministry of External Affairs has restated that Indias interactions with both Ukraine and Russia are autonomous and substantial and not a situation where one countrys gain is another countrys loss.

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By leveraging this official visit to establish strategic alliances in defence manufacturing and participate in a forthright discussion about the ongoing conflict, India can establish itself as a significant participant in defining the future of the area.

Operation Ganga deserves a special mention here; prior to the commencement of the large-scale conflict in Ukraine, India had approximately 19,000 students who were actively pursuing their education in Ukrainian universities. After the Russian invasion in February 2022, India, Ukraine, and Poland collaborated to evacuate a majority of the affected individuals in a coordinated operation.

The United States and other Western nations are displeased with Modis favourable attitude towards Russia and his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This adds to the complexity of geopolitical calculus. Nevertheless, the Western countries are also keen on preserving Indias influence in Moscow, as India may potentially act as a strategic counterweight to China in influencing the Kremlin.

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Although India maintains a cordial relationship with the US, there are subtle currents of distrust present. The visit to Ukraine may also have acted as a means to mitigate any negative perception. India maintains strong diplomatic relations with Russia, but it is also cautious about not distancing itself from the Western countries. Though the Ministry of External Affairs, India, had stated clearly that New Delhi had no intention of presenting a peace plan in Kyiv, India is prepared to provide assistance in facilitating the discussion of a peace deal. The discussions also covered defence and economic cooperation, as well as Indias role in the future reconstruction of post-war Ukraine.

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The author is a geopolitical analyst and a doctoral candidate at the centre of Canadian, US and Latin American Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Whether it is the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor, its oil and gas pipelines, or the Kyaukphyu deep seaport, without political stability and control over ethnic armed organisations, Chinas alternative to its Achilles heel  the Strait of Malacca  will remain compromised read more

The chaos in Myanmar is here to stay; there is no guarantee that elections will abate the conflict either. Image: Reuters

Myanmar has been in a state of chaos since the coup in 2021 by the Tatmadaw. The sudden developments in Myanmar became a matter of concern for the neighbourhood. India was specifically concerned about its ongoing infrastructure projects in the country that were to become the springboard for Indias ambitious Act East policy.

But that was not the only concern; Chinas relationship with the military junta and their involvement in Myanmar through their own infrastructure projects were also a matter of scrutiny for Myanmar observers. However, geo-strategic relationships with complex countries like Myanmar are never easy, if India has its concerns, the relationship with China is not all that it seems.

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It was almost three years after the military coup in Myanmar that Operation 1027 was launched against the Tatmadaw by the Three Brotherhood Alliance in the northern part of Shan state. Their success against the Tatmadaw encouraged the launch of Operation 1107, bringing together insurgent groups across the country. This was perhaps one of the rare occasions in the troubled history of Myanmar where Ethnic Armed Organisations (EAOs) from a variety of ethnic groups had come together in a meticulously coordinated attack against the junta. While many observers saw this as a victory for democracy , the truth was far more complicated.

The city of Laukkaing, in the self-administered region of Kokang, Shan State, was home to the infamous four main families. These families headed by Ming Xuechang, Wei Chaoren, Liu Zhengxiang, and Liu Guoxi (who died in 2020) were not old money elites of Shan State but rather the four men who played a part in converting this dusty town into a scamsters paradise.

The transformation of Lukkaing began to attract many gamblers from neighbouring countries, especially China, where gambling is illegal. The four main families expanded their business to trafficking, money laundering, and telecom scam centres, amongst other illegal activities. This, of course, would not have been possible without the support of the local police and the Tatmadaw.

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With online scams not just luring Chinese citizens but also these gangs attracting them with high paying jobs in controlled environments, commonly known as cyber slavery, China, bearing the brunt of this wild town, began to put pressure on the Tatmadaw to rein these families in.

But with billions of dollars at stake, the Mings, among the others, resisted. With Chinas frustration with the Tatmadaw unabated and its concerns unaddressed, China decided to activate the Three Brotherhood Alliance last October with the very successful Operation 1027.

This was easy to achieve as the leader of MNDAA was the original warlord of Laukkaing, Peng Jiasheng, also known as the King of Kokang. Peng had been ousted by none other than the present prime minister, Min Aung Hlaing, who led the coup in 2021. Hlaing had used Bai Suocheng, who was Pengs deputy at the time to overthrow Peng Jiasheng. Once they managed to expel Peng, who took refuge in China in 2009, Bai Suocheng rose as one of the four families of Kokang. Pengs contentious relationship with the military junta was exacerbated by his proximity to China and his Chinese ancestry. After all, he was the one who negotiated the deal that led to Kokang becoming a special administrative zone, with Yuan as the currency and Mandarin as the language.

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Interestingly, China has refrained from recognising Myanmars junta leader, Senior Gen Min Aung Hlaing, indicating continuing mistrust between the two countries. Previously, too, when President Thein Sein decided to open up Myanmar to the world, China was wary of its plans towards the West and vice versa.

Beijing saw it as Naypyidaw sidelining China for the West, or at the very least trying to play both sides. However, with Aung San Suu Kyi, relationships improved for a while. In fact, it was right before the elections in 2015 that brought her to power. China invited her on an official visit, where she met President Xi Jinping. Furthermore, her policy towards the Rohingyas saw a huge backlash from the West, bringing China back to the centre-stage of Myanmar with President Xi Jinping visiting Myanmar in 2020, the first Chinese premier to do so in over 20 years.

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Though this blossoming friendship was short lived with Aung San Suu Kyis growing proximity to the military junta during the Rohingya crisis as well as public sentiment in Myanmar turning against China because of the visible Chinese migration. There have also been major concerns in Myanmar over Chinas illegal mining for critical rare earth minerals, leaving areas the size of Singapore in northern Myanmar uncultivable and rivers poisonous, resulting in mass protests against China.

Additionally, Chinas concern with the Tatmadaw is more than just the cybercrime and gambling rackets operating from Myanmar. The problem for China is the fact that the Tatmadaw has not been able to stabilise Myanmar nor consolidate its power effectively; as a result, Chinas infrastructure investments are being jeopardised. Whether it is the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC), its oil and gas pipelines, or the Kyaukphyu deep seaport, without political stability and control over EAOs, Chinas alternative to its Achilles heel"the Strait of Malaccawill remain compromised. Though China has made its way to restarting some of the projects with their influence on EAOs, Myanmars balancing act has once again made it anxious.

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The Tatmadaw has chosen Russia to build its Dawei deep seaport located in the Tanintharyi region on its east coast, making it a gateway for the Greater Mekong region. China sees this development as undermining its Kyaukphyu deep seaport, with benefits for India. Russias interests in Myanmar will bring in a third player in the infrastructure projects aligning with Indias interests in containing the growing influence of China, paving the way for a secure Indian Ocean.

On August 15, Wang Yi, Chinas foreign minister, met Senior Gen Min Aung Hlaing and discussed border security and Chinese investments in Myanmar. There was a time when officials from both countries called their deepening relationship pauk phaw, meaning a fraternal brotherhood, but relationships have their limitations. In this case, China is concerned and frustrated with Hlaings inability to control the deteriorating situation with EAOs. It is also well known to them that Hlaing is particularly suspicious of China.

A second Operation 1027 was launched in June this year. While it is known that China backed the first Operation 1027 and subsequently brokered the ceasefire between the Three Brotherhood Alliance and the military junta, there are strong signals that China is opposed to another Operation. However, the fact that a second operation was launched is indicative that these EAOs are not fully under the control of Beijing.

On the other hand, Hlaing too has given statements accusing foreign countries backing EAOs with weapons and not humanitarian aid. In most likeliness, he was referring to China. In an interview given to the Associated Press, Richard Horsey of the International Crisis Group said, There is a deep well of anti-Chinese sentiment in Myanmar, particularly in the military, and Min Aung Hlaing is known to harbor particularly strong anti-Chinese views. I dont think China really cares whether it is a military regime or some other type of government in Myanmar. The main issue with the regime, in Beijings view, is that it is headed by someone they distrust and dislike, and who they see as fundamentally incompetent.

China will undoubtedly continue to safeguard its geostrategic investments in Myanmar. But ideally China would want a Tatmadaw that can control Myanmar but at the same time accommodate Beijings involvement in the country. For example, tacitly supporting Operation 1027 and brokering a ceasefire for it.

While India should keep a close eye on developments in Myanmar, it also must realise that Myanmar is not a walkover for China. India perhaps shares more goodwill with the military junta, the National Unity Government, as well as some EAOs than China ever will. The general public sentiment would also be more tilted in favour of India rather than China. The chaos in Myanmar is here to stay; there is no guarantee that elections will abate the conflict either. Therefore, Indias best bet is to engage with stakeholders and protect its own interests in Myanmar while extending all humanitarian aid and indulging in the existing goodwill across the spectrum.

Rami Niranjan Desai is an anthropologist and a scholar of the northeast region of India. She is a columnist and author and presently Distinguished Fellow at India Foundation, New Delhi. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Firstpost.
The 30-year-old says she confronted the man who stole her earphones, but authorities have warned against following in her footsteps.

An Aussie woman's dramatic chase to find her AirPods after they disappeared from her bag has sparked a confronting warning from authorities and a technology expert. Alexandra Parmenter has told Yahoo News Australia about how she managed to track down her earphones to a stranger's house by using the Find My app on her iPhone.

Victoria Police have urged Aussies not to follow Parmenter's example after the 30-year-old realised her headphones were missing while shopping in a charity shop in Hawthorne in the Melbournes east, which she points out is one of the richest areas of the city. She tracked them until she found the home of the person who she claimed took them.

We would always recommend calling Triple 0 in these instances and not taking matters into your own hands, a spokesperson told Yahoo News.

But Parmenter said she was prompted to act because the police were "quite unhelpful" when her Prada wallet was stolen from her car earlier this year. She said she opened her Find My app and could "see them moving".

I assumed that the person was walking so I went down the road chasing where these AirPods were," she said.

Woman causes scene after discovering AirPods location

Parmenter said she kept pinging them for about 20 minutes, until she arrived where they were  at a line of six townhouses.

I could tell that the AirPods were there so I rang all of the doorbells for probably five to 10 minutes straight, she said, admitting she caused a bit of a scene.

People were walking down the street and were asking exactly what I was doing, because I obviously looked a little bit stressed, pinging my phone, and I looked a bit confused.

Alexandra Parmenter said it appeared the AirPods had been bitten. Source: Supplied

I said that someone had stolen my AirPods and there ended up being a little bit of a crowd around me. I think by ringing all of the doorbells and the person realising that I wasn't going to give up and that it would embarrass them in front of their neighbours was the thing that got my AirPods back.

A short time later a man walked out of one of the flats with the stolen goods. He said, Here they are and they wont stop making this noise, Parmenter said.

But then when he handed them back to me they were incredibly damaged. And I said: Theyre damaged, and he said: Oh yeah, I found them like that, which I do not think was the case.

By damaged, the 30-year-old explained that the AirPods have what looks like bite marks on them, but miraculously theyre ok. Even though they have bite marks, they still work, still charge (although the case doesnt close properly) and I use them every day, she said. Im still yet to buy another pair!

Aussies urged not to take on thieves

Technology expert and founder of Ready Tech Go Lisa Du said unfortunately, there is an increasing trend of people using the Find My app to track down goods that are missing or stolen despite the potential risks.

"I have heard of more people doing this, but it could be very dangerous," Du said. "You should always be wary when approaching strangers and putting yourself in a situation like this.

"People have this new tool in their hands and can find their missing items and want to act on the information straight away, but it's not always a good idea.

"If it were me I would not be going to someone's home, or I would at least bring a friend with me. Calling the police with the location information would definitely be the better approach, but I don't know if they would really even take on a matter like this."

Parmenter's husband and friends were surprised by her decision to hunt down the man she accused of taking her AirPods. Source: Instagram

Husband, friends shocked by woman's exploits

It wasnt until Parmenter got home that she realised how dangerous her brave exploits could have been.

When I told my husband and my friends, they told me to never do that again, she said. But I just figured that I would catch the person walking and ask for them back. I know it seems dangerous to go about finding your stuff yourself, however this was on a main road in Hawthorn.

Its not something I would do later on in the day or at night, and not something that I would advise anyone to do. However, I just wanted my stuff back and I could see where they were.

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The police noted that the 66-year-old Ronald Syvrud has several outstanding arrest warrants from Wisconsin. He was subsequently booked into the Cochise County jail on a felony warrant from Graham County in Arizona for failure to register as a sex offender read more

A man from Arizona who threatened to kill former US President Donald Trump on social media was arrested on Thursday. Cochise County Sheriffs office confirmed the arrest of the man who was on the wanted list for other crimes as well. Incidentally, the arrest took place the same day Trump was in Cochise County when he was visiting the US border with Mexico as part of his campaign.

The authorities identified the man as 66-year-old Ronald Syvrud. The police noted that Syvrud has several outstanding arrest warrants from Wisconsin. He was subsequently booked into the Cochise County jail on a felony warrant from Graham County in Arizona for failure to register as a sex offender and two counts of threatening for this case," the sheriffs office averred. The man will continue to remain in custody until further adjudication.

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Donald Trumps reaction

Trump also reacted to the arrest of the man who threatened to kill him on social media. I am not that surprised [by the threat] and the reason is because I want to do things that are very bad for the bad guys, Trump said on Thursday when asked about that threat against him in Arizona. Not only this Vice President and Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris has also received death threats during her campaign trail.

Earlier this month, a man from Virginia was charged with threatening to kill Harris. Before and after surviving the infamous assassination attempt, the former president received multiple death threats ahead of the November polls. A man from New Hampshire man was arrested in December after he threatened to kill the Republican Presidential nominee.

Amid the chaos, the US Secret Service has come under major scrutiny following the assassination attempt on Trump which ultimately resulted in the resignation of the federal bodys director. Despite all the threats, Trump has maintained that he has great respect for the Secret Service and the job they do. He added that they made mistakes, which they will learn from.
Cases have been filed against many officials or ministers of the ousted Hasina-led government after she resigned and fled to India on August 5 following massive protests against the quota reform system in Bangladesh. read more

A Bangladesh court on Saturday sent Salman F Rahman, private industry affairs adviser to ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former law minister Anisul Huq, former social welfare minister Dipu Moni and two others on different terms of remand for interrogation in four murder cases.

According to a report of _Daily Star Newspape_r Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Jashim passed the orders in the cases. Apart from the three, former chief whip ASM Feroz and former army officer Major General Ziaul Ahsan were also placed on remand in murder cases.

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Salman, Anisul and Ziaul were placed on a fresh 10-day remand in two murder cases filed with New Market and Lalbagh police stations. Dipu Moni was placed on a four-day remand in a case filed with Badda Police Station and Feroz was placed on a seven-day remand in a case filed Bhatara Police Station.

Many Hasina-led Awami League party members are in jail after the new interim government led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus took charge on August 8 following the fall of the previous government.

On Thursday, five more murder cases were filed against former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her former cabinet members and top police officials on Thursday, taking the total number of cases against her to 49.

Out of the total cases, 40 cases were lodged for murder, seven for crimes against humanity and genocide, one for abduction, and one for an attack on a Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) procession.

Hasina, the 76-year-old Awami League chairperson, resigned and fled to India on August 5 after unprecedented anti-government student-led protests against her government over a controversial quota system in jobs.

Hasina and 46 others were sued for the killing of a street hawker during protests in Ashulia on August 4 in Dhaka.

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, former AL lawmakers Md Saiful Islam and Talukdar Mohammad Towhid Jung Murad and former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun were among the accused.
Benins Brigadier General Fructueux Gbaguidi, chief of general staff of the Beninese Armed Forces, expressed gratitude upon receiving the donations and said that the equipment would help strengthen the militarys arsenal and was a strong symbol of the friendship that binds the Chinese and Beninese peoples read more

In an effort to expand its influence in Africa, China has donated military equipment to the Beninese Armed Forces, helping their efforts to fight terrorism in the region. Chinas ambassador to the African nation Peng Jingtao confirmed the news and stated that Beijing has mostly donated howitzers and their accessories to the region.

Benins Brigadier General Fructueux Gbaguidi, chief of general staff of the Beninese Armed Forces, expressed gratitude upon receiving the donations and said that the equipment would help strengthen the militarys arsenal and was a strong symbol of the friendship that binds the Chinese and Beninese peoples.

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The armed forces of the African nation are currently embroiled in fighting jihadists in the north of the country near the border with Burkina Faso and Niger. Benin insisted that the equipment would enable the units of the Beninese army to better respond to operational challenges on the ground in the fight against the terrorist threat.

This support from China is part of military cooperation between the two countries which is strengthening and diversifying every day, the army furthered, South China Morning Post reported.

Not the first time

Interestingly, the move came a year after China donated around four Norinco PMR-50 drones to Benin. The drones were gifted so that the African nation could improve security in the border areas. For years, China has sought to improve military ties with African nations by both selling and donating lethal and non-lethal military equipment.

Not only, this China has also provided several African countries with training and financing infrastructure and military aircraft. Experts believe that with these donations, the Chinese leadership are finding ways to provide cost-efficient ways to build trust and promote strategic cooperation between the Peoples Liberation Army and other armed forces.

Donating arms, training and equipment is viewed in Beijing as a way to foster mutually beneficial relations with African countries, and to promote economic and political exchanges in the long term, Dr Ilaria Carrozza, a senior researcher at the Peace Research Institute Oslo told SCMP. In the case of equipment that is, allegedly, being used to fight terrorism, this is also seen as an opportunity for boasting that China contributes to the provision of global public goods," she added.

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In the past, China has donated vehicles and engineering equipment to Kenya. Last year, China gave Zimbabwe equipment worth US$28 million that included armoured vehicles, patrol boats, sniper rifles, machine guns and minibuses. Meanwhile, Nigeria and Sierra Leone have received navy patrol boats from China, while Ghana early this year received rocket artillery and armoured vehicles from Chinese defence company Poly Technologies.

As per the Peace Research Institute Oslo report, published in 2022, China has provided nearly all African nations with security force assistance, worth millions of dollars, in an effort to build strong ties.

This is part of Chinas strategy to build relations with the continent, said David Shinn, a China-Africa specialist and professor at George Washington Universitys Elliott School of International Affairs. He noted that African nations are welcoming these donations since they would help curb terrorism in the region.

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Only ending the root causes of terrorism will rein it in  not the provision of artillery howitzers, he added.

With inputs from agencies.
Cognizants subsidiary TriZetto has filed a lawsuit against Infosys in a Texas federal court, accusing it of stealing trade secrets and misusing data from its healthcare insurance software. Infosys has denied the allegations and stated it will defend its position in court read more

IT major Cognizants subsidiary TriZetto has slapped a lawsuit on Infosys in a US federal court, accusing the Bengaluru-headquartered company of stealing trade secrets and information related to healthcare insurance software.

Infosys, in a statement, denied all allegations. The company asserted it is aware of the lawsuit and will defend its position in the court.

Cognizant in a lawsuit filed in Texas federal court has accused Infosys of illegally accessing data from TriZettos software  Facets and QNXT  and using the same to develop and market a competing product.

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Cognizant offerings include TriZettos Facets and QNXT, which healthcare insurance firms use to automate tasks. Teaneck, New Jersey-based Cognizant has the bulk of its employees in India.

Cognizant has reportedly alleged that Infosys misused TriZettos software to create Test Cases for Facets, which repackaged its data into an Infosys product.

Further, it has reportedly alleged that Infosys created software to extract data from QNXT, that contained confidential TriZetto information.

It is interesting to note that just this week, Cognizant named former Infosys executive Rajesh Varrier as global head of operations and India Chairman and Managing Director, following the resignation of Rajesh Nambiar, who is set to take over as Nasscom president.

Moreover, Cognizants Chief Executive Officer Ravi Kumar S is also an Infosys veteran, whose 20-year career at the Bengaluru-based firm saw him holding various leadership roles, including as President from January 2016 through October 2022.
La Grande-Motte Mayor Stephan Rossign said that the fire spread rapidly leaving the front door of the synagogue in shambles read more

A massive explosion erupted outside the Beth Yaacov synagogue in southern France on Saturday morning, injuring a police officer at the location. The explosion took place after two cars were set on fire outside the synagogue. Things escalated because one of the cars that was set on fire was containing a gas canister.

La Grande-Motte Mayor Stephan Rossign said that the fire spread rapidly leaving the front door of the synagogue in shambles. The firefighters are still on the spot and are tackling four blazes in the area, AFP reported. While the Mayor confirmed that the policeman was injured, no details were given about the condition of the officer.

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Outgoing Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin condemned the attack and expressed support for the Jewish community in the country. An attempted arson attack, clearly criminal, hit the synagogue of La Grande Motte this morning. I want to assure our Jewish fellow citizens and the municipality of my full support and say that at the request of the President of the Republic

@EmmanuelMacron, all means are being mobilized to find the perpetrator, he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

PM Attal to visit the site

Both Darmanin and Prime Minister Gabriel Attal were to travel to the site of the explosion later on Saturday. According to AFP, the towns surveillance cameras captured images of individuals who attempted to set fire to vehicles that were parked in front of the synagogue.

The fire brigade was called to the scene and alerted the gendarmerie at around 8:30 am (local time). Le Motte, where the synagogue is located, houses 8,500 permanent residents and is touted as one of the top tourist locations in France. It is visited by more than 100,000 tourists every year.

Earlier this month, Darmanin said that the French government had counted 887 anti-Semitic acts in France in the first half of 2024, nearly three times as many as in the same period in 2023.

With inputs from AFP.
Two cars parked at the Beth Yaacov synagogue in the seaside resort town of La Grande Motte near Montpellier were set ablaze on Saturday morning, injuring a police officer. read more

Frances acting interior minister Gerald Darmanin said the incident was being treated as an attempted arson that is clearly a criminal act. Image- Reuters

France has ordered police reinforcements to protect Jewish places of worship after a suspected arson attack Saturday on a synagogue in a southwestern Mediterranean town.

A police officer was injured when a blazing car exploded in the car park of a synagogue in the southern French town of La Grande-Motte on Saturday, officials said, calling the incident a deliberate attack and saying security at Jewish institutions would be stepped up.

Police were hunting for a suspect and the anti-terrorism prosecutors office was put in charge of the investigation, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said.

Frances acting interior minister Gerald Darmanin said the incident was being treated as an attempted arson that is clearly a criminal act. One of the cars allegedly contained a propane gas tank, local media reported.

I want to assure our Jewish fellow citizens of my full support and say that at the request of President Emmanuel Macron all means are being mobilized to find the perpetrator, Darmanin said in a post on X. He ordered more police deployed at Jewish places of worship around the country following a surge of antisemitism since the start of the Israel-Hamas war last year.

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Darmanin is expected to travel to Le Grand Motte later on Saturday along with Frances acting Prime Minister Gabriel Attal.

With inputs from agencies.
The latest Gaza truce talks in Cairo have shown progress, with US officials and key regional players working to bridge gaps between Israel and Hamas. Despite constructive discussions, significant issues remain, including the presence of Israeli troops on the Gaza-Egypt border, which is complicating the path to a final agreement read more

Displaced Palestinians, who fled Rafah after the Israeli military began evacuating civilians from the eastern parts of the southern Gazan city, ahead of a threatened assault, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, travel on a vehicle, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip May 6, 2024. REUTERS/File Photo

The United States said Friday that progress had been made at the latest round of Gaza truce talks, after the presence of Israeli troops on the Egyptian border emerged as a major sticking point.

The White House said CIA chief William Burns was among US officials taking part in the discussions in Cairo, joining the heads of Israels spy agency and security service.

There has been progress made. We need now for both sides to come together and work towards implementation, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.

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Preliminary talks that began Thursday were constructive in nature, he said, adding that reports that the diplomacy was near collapse were inaccurate.

An Egyptian source close to the negotiations told AFP the Egyptian and Qatari intelligence chiefs were also taking part.

The discussions are taking place in Cairo in preparation for an enlarged round of negotiations which will begin on Sunday, the source said.

Washington is discussing with mediators new proposals to bridge the gap between Israel and Hamas and for mechanisms to implement the plan.

According to the White House, US President Joe Biden discussed the upcoming talks by telephone Friday with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Qatari emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

The Egyptian source said Sundays negotiations would be a pivotal step in formulating an agreement that will be announced if Washington can pressure (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu.

Representatives of Hamas, whose unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel triggered the war in Gaza, were not attending the Cairo talks.

An official from the Islamist movement, Hossam Badran, told AFP Friday that Netanyahus insistence that his troops remain on a strip along the Gaza-Egypt border called the Philadelphi Corridor reflected his refusal to reach a final agreement.

Egypt, Qatar and the United States have for months tried to reach a deal to end more than 10 months of war between Israel and Hamas.

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Previous optimism during months of on-off truce talks has proven unfounded.

Fighting raged on Friday, with witnesses reporting combat in northern, central and southern Gaza.

An overnight strike on a house west of the southern city of Khan Yunis killed 11 people  including four women and four children  and wounded a number of others, Gazas civil defence agency said early Saturday.

- Exhausted and terrified -

The United Nations said tens of thousands of civilians had been on the move again from Deir el-Balah and Khan Yunis after Israeli evacuation orders, which precede military operations.

The war has displaced virtually all of Gazas population, often multiple times, leaving them deprived of shelter, clean water and other essentials as disease spreads, the UN says.

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Civilians are exhausted and terrified, running from one destroyed place to another, with no end in sight, Muhannad Hadi, the UN humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories, said late Thursday.

Hamass October 7 attack on southern Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,199 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

Israels retaliatory military campaign has killed 40,265 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run territorys health ministry, which does not give details of civilian and militant deaths. The UN rights office says most of the dead are women and children.

Palestinian militants also seized 251 hostages, of whom 105 remain in Gaza, including 34 the military says are dead.

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Israels military recovered the remains of six hostages from a tunnel in the Khan Yunis area this week.

Netanyahu faces regular protests by hostage supporters demanding a deal to bring them home.

Ella Ben Ami, whose father is a hostage, said after meeting Netanyahu Friday that she left with a heavy and difficult feeling that this (ceasefire deal) isnt going to happen soon, according to a statement from campaign group the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.

- Now is the time -

Diplomatic efforts to reach a Gaza truce and avert a wider war intensified following the killings of two senior Iran-backed militants last month that sparked threats of reprisals from Tehran and its allies, who blamed Israel.

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Lebanons Iran-backed Hezbollah movement and Israeli forces have exchanged near-daily cross-border fire since the Gaza war began.

Lebanon said Israeli strikes killed eight people, including a child, in the south on Friday, with Hezbollah saying the other seven dead were fighters.

A war monitor said Israeli strikes on central Syria Friday killed three Iran-backed fighters.

Accepting her Democratic Partys presidential nomination in Chicago, US Vice President Kamala Harris said now is the time to get a hostage deal and a ceasefire deal done.

The basis of talks has been a framework that Biden outlined in late May, which he described as an Israeli proposal.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited the Middle East this week and said Netanyahu was on board with a US proposal to bridge gaps and reach a ceasefire.

National Security Council spokesman Kirby said Washington continued to believe that Netanyahu accepted the proposal and appealed again to Hamas to do the same.

Hamas official Badran reiterated Friday that the group accepted the Biden plan as originally outlined, and said Washington must pressure Netanyahu.

He said Hamas would accept nothing less than the withdrawal of occupation forces, Philadelphi included.

Netanyahus hard-right coalition relies on the support of members opposed to a truce, and his office rejected as incorrect media reports that the prime minister has agreed that Israel will withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor.
The delegation will meet senior Egyptian intelligence officials and will be briefed on developments in the ongoing round of Gaza ceasefire talks. The development comes after the US said progress had been made at the latest round of talks read more

Hamas has maintained from the get go that it wouldn't participate in this round of talks that began in Doha. Image used for representational purpose/Reuters

A senior Hamas official said the Palestinian militant group was sending a delegation to Cairo on Saturday but that they would not attend Gaza ceasefire talks in the Egyptian capital.

Egypt, Qatar and the United States have for months tried to reach a deal to end more than 10 months of war in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas.

The delegation will meet with senior Egyptian intelligence officials to be briefed on developments in the ongoing round of Gaza ceasefire talks but this does not mean it will take part in the negotiations, the Hamas official told AFP on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to talk publicly on the issue.

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Hamas has said from the beginning that it will not participate in this round of negotiations, which began last week in Doha.

Hamass decision to send a delegation to Cairo comes after the United States said progress had been made at the latest round of talks.

Previous optimism during months of on-off truce talks has proven unfounded, and this time Israels insistence on keeping troops on the Egyptian border has emerged as a key sticking point.

The Hamas official said the Islamist group insisted that Israel withdraws its forces from across Gaza, including from the border area with Egypt a zone known as the Philadelphi Corridor.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted on keeping the troops along the corridor between Egypt and Gaza.

On Friday, the White House said CIA chief William Burns was among US officials taking part in the discussions in Cairo, joining the heads of Israels spy agency and security service.

The discussions are taking place in Cairo in preparation for an enlarged round of negotiations which will begin on Sunday, an Egyptian source close to negotiations told AFP on Friday.

Washington is discussing with mediators new proposals to bridge the gap between Israel and Hamas and for mechanisms to implement the plan.
Among the dead were 11 members of a family, including two children, after an airstrike hit their home in Khan Younis, according to Nasser Hospital, which received a total of 33 bodies from three strikes in and around the city that also hit tuk-tuks and passersby. Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital said it received three bodies from another strike read more

Multiple Israeli airstrikes killed at least three dozen Palestinians in southern Gaza, health workers said Saturday, as officials including a Hamas delegation gathered for high-level cease-fire talks in neighbouring Egypt.

Among the dead were 11 members of a family, including two children, after an airstrike hit their home in Khan Younis, according to Nasser Hospital, which received a total of 33 bodies from three strikes in and around the city that also hit tuk-tuks and passersby. Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital said it received three bodies from another strike.

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The Israeli military said it was looking into the reports.

First responders also recovered 16 bodies from the Hamad City area of Khan Younis after a partial pullout of Israeli forces, 10 bodies from a residential block west of Khan Younis and two farther south in Rafah. The circumstances of their deaths were not immediately clear, but the areas were repeatedly bombed by the Israeli military over the past week. An Associated Press journalist counted the bodies.

Some residents returned to Hamad City, walking between destroyed apartment buildings.

There is nothing, no apartment, no furniture, no homes, only destruction, said one woman, Neveen Kheder. We are dying slowly. You know what, if they gave a mercy bullet it would be better than what is happening to us.

The war in Gaza began when Hamas and other militants staged a surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 people, primarily civilians. More than 100 hostages were released during a cease-fire last year, but Hamas is still believed to be holding around 110. Israeli authorities estimate about a third are dead.

Israels retaliatory offensive has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count. The ministry said Saturday that a total of 69 dead and 212 wounded had been brought to hospitals across the strip over the past 24 hours.

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The conflict has caused widespread destruction and forced the vast majority of Gazas 2.3 million residents to flee their homes, with many cramming into shrinking humanitarian zones.

Experts were meeting Saturday on technical issues ahead of Sundays high-level talks in Cairo on a possible cease-fire mediated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar. CIA Director William Burns, Qatars foreign minister and Egypts spy chief were meeting Saturday evening in Cairo, according to an Egyptian official with direct knowledge of the talks.

A Hamas delegation arrived Saturday in Cairo to meet with Egyptian and Qatari officials, senior Hamas official Mahmoud Merdawy told the AP. He stressed that Hamas will not take part directly in Sundays talks but will be briefed by Egypt and Qatar.

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An Israeli delegation that arrived Thursday included the heads of the Mossad foreign intelligence service and Shin Bet security service and top general Maj. Gen. Eliezer Toledano.

The CIA director and Brett McGurk, a senior adviser to President Joe Biden on the Middle East, are leading the U.S. side of negotiations amid major differences between Israel and Hamas over Israels insistence that it maintain forces in two strategic corridors in Gaza.

The U.S. has been pushing a proposal that aims at closing the gaps between Israel and Hamas as fears grow over a wider regional war after the recent targeted killings of leaders of the militant Hamas and Hezbollah groups, both blamed on Israel.

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The chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. CQ Brown Jr., was visiting Egypt, Jordan and Israel over the next few days to stress the importance of deterring further escalation of hostilities, a statement said.

Biden called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday to stress the urgency of reaching a deal and discussed developments with the leaders of Qatar and Egypt on Friday.

A major impasse has been the Philadelphi corridor along Gazas border with Egypt and the Netzarim east-west corridor across the territory. Netanyahu has insisted that Israel retain control of the corridors to prevent smuggling and catch militants.

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Merdawy said Hamas position had not changed from accepting an earlier draft that would include the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
Netanyahu has been under heavy pressure to reach a deal from families of some of the Israeli hostages who remain in Gaza and many have been strongly critical of the failure to reach a deal, joining critics have accused him of hindering a deal for his own political purposes. read more

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus firm stance on retaining control over the Philadelphi Corridor highlights the strategic importance Israel places on preventing Hamas from smuggling weapons and fighters into Gaza from Egypt.

The Philadelphi Corridor is a narrow strip along the Gaza-Egypt border, and Israel has long viewed it as critical to its security efforts. Netanyahus refusal to relinquish control of this corridor has been a significant point of contention in ceasefire negotiations, which Egypt, Qatar, and the United States mediate.

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Netanyahus insistence on maintaining checkpoints in the Netzarim Corridor further underscores Israels focus on preventing the movement of armed Hamas fighters within the Gaza Strip, particularly from the southern to the northern regions.

These demands are at the heart of the ongoing disputes in the ceasefire talks, as they touch on Israels broader security concerns and its efforts to limit Hamas military capabilities.

The person said Netanyahu had agreed to shift one Philadelphi position by a few hundred metres but would retain overall control of the corridor, despite pressure from members of his own negotiating team for more concessions.

The prime minister insists that this situation will continue, contrary to pressure from certain elements in the negotiating team who are willing to withdraw from there, said the person, who has close knowledge of the negotiations.

Israels Channel 12 television reported this week that Netanyahu had been bitterly critical of the negotiating team, led by David Barnea, the chief of the Mossad intelligence service, for being willing to make too many concessions.

More than 10 months after the Oct. 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war, the United States has been pressing Israel for an end to hostilities.

Hamas-led gunmen killed some 1,200 people and abducted around 250 hostages on Oct.7, according to Israeli tallies, while Israeli bombardments have laid waste to Gaza and killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in the enclave.

But with pressure from hardliners in his own cabinet against any concessions, and with opinion polls indicating a pick-up in the disastrous ratings he had at the start of the war, the prime minister has said repeatedly he aims for total victory over Hamas.

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With inputs from agencies.
Drivers across the country are being warned about the roundabout rule which police say is often ignored.

There are many myths about road rules associated with roundabouts, authorities warn. Source: Getty

No matter how comfortable you feel driving on Aussie roads it appears many are still making one major mistake. Drivers in New South Wales are being warned of a common road rule they're likely breaking  and it could cost them $277 if caught.

Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, part of the NSW Police Force, has reminded drivers of the roundabout rule this week, claiming it's one of the most misunderstood on our roads. It's not just NSW residents though as similar rules applies across the country.

Drivers are required to indicate their exit from the roundabout with their left blinker, even if going straight at a multi-lane roundabout. "This indiscretion could land the driver liable for a $227 fine and 2 demerit points," police shared on Facebook this week.

This also applies if you're going right around the roundabout before exiting. In this scenario, drivers are required to indicate right before switching to left upon exiting.

Drivers going right around the roundabout must still indicate left when exiting, as shown by the white car. Source: TfNSW

Roundabout myths on Aussie roads

Police said "there are a number of myths surrounding roundabouts". Another common one is "who gives way to who," police said.

"The rules are clear, when entering a roundabout drivers must slow or stop to give way to any vehicle already in the roundabout," they explained.

"The myth that drivers need only give way to vehicles on their right has long persisted and is completely wrong. Believing this can lead to collisions, insurance claims and action from police".

Similar rules apply across the country with roundabouts often proving problematic. Last month, a Perth teacher raged over a common scenario at roundabouts, arguing about who should give way when entering.

Setting the record straight, a spokesperson for Western Australias Road Safety Commission rules told Yahoo News Australia, "Most roundabouts have give way lines at each entry to remind drivers that they must give way when entering."

"However, even without the lines, the rule will still apply," he added as all vehicles entering a roundabout should give way to oncoming traffic.

Aussies react to little-known road rule

Responding to the post, many drivers were shocked to learn they must indicate when exiting a roundabout. One person described it as "the worst rule" suggesting "it causes too much confusion, mainly with elderly drivers using their right indicator even when going straight through".

While another said "That rule works on the very large roundabouts only". "Indicating on exit on the small roundabouts is impossible when you have other things to cope with," they said.

Meanwhile, many suggested they didn't know it existed admitting they don't often indicate.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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In an interview, Keller-Sutter extolled Switzerlands disciplined finances, which she said had enabled the country to deal with the economic challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and Russias invasion of Ukraine read more

Debt levels in the United States and Europe are a risk for international financial stability and for Switzerland, Swiss Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter said in a newspaper interview published on Saturday.

In an interview with Swiss daily Blick, Keller-Sutter extolled Switzerlands disciplined finances, which she said had enabled the country to deal with the economic challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and Russias invasion of Ukraine.

By contrast, other countries are so indebted theyre hardly able to act any more, she said, giving France as an example.

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Or take a look at America. Thats a time bomb. The mini-crash on the stock markets at the start of August was a warning shot, the minister was quoted as saying.

It was an expression of investors fear of a recession. Debt levels in the U.S. and Europe are a risk to international financial stability and a risk for Switzerland, she added.

Keller-Sutter also discussed a government proposal to make Swiss bank UBS hold more capital in the wake of its acquisition of former rival Credit Suisse following its collapse last year.

She defended the additional capital requirements as necessary to protect Switzerland from another banking meltdown.

UBS CEO Sergio Ermotti has criticised the proposal, and she was asked whether she was in touch with him about it, saying:

No, I havent been in contact with him any more. This is now a normal political process.

The paper also asked what she thought about speculation that UBS could shift its headquarters abroad if it felt conditions in Switzerland were no longer right for it.

The Federal Council (cabinet) believes its good for the economy to have a large Swiss bank. But the bank must decide for itself how it wants to position itself.

UBS has said repeatedly it is committed to Switzerland.
On Friday, RFK Jr announced that he was ending his bid for the White House and went on to endorse Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump read more

Multiple members of the famous Kennedy family have denounced Robert F. Kennedy Jrs endorsement of former US President Donald Trump for the upcoming 2024 US Presidential Elections. The family which is touted as the American political royalty slammed RFJ Jr and called the endorsement a betrayal.

On Friday, RFK Jr announced that he was ending his bid for the White House and went on to endorse Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. Throughout the presidential race, the Kennedy family has supported the Democratic Party candidates for the 2024 polls. They collectively endorsed US President Joe Biden and after the POTUS announced that he wont be running for re-election, the family rallied behind the now-Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.

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We want an America filled with hope and bound together by a shared vision of a brighter future, a future defined by individual freedom, economic promise and national pride, said a statement signed by five of the former independent presidential candidates siblings.

Kennedy family reiterated support for Harris-Walz campaign

In the statement, the family maintained that they will continue to support Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. We believe in Harris and Walz, the family averred. Our brother Bobbys decision to endorse Trump today is a betrayal of the values that our father and our family hold most dear. It is a sad ending to a sad story, the statement further reads.

The statement included signatures from Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Courtney Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, Chris Kennedy and Rory Kennedy. Robert F Kennedys grandson Joe Kennedy III also supported the statement shared by the family and wrote Well said.

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Meanwhile, the former candidates cousin Jack Schlossberg said that he has never been less surprised in my life. Been saying it for over a year  RFKjr is for sale, works for Trump. Bedfellows and loving it, he posted to X. Kamala Harris is for the people  the easiest decision of all time just got easier, he added. Schlossberg is the son of US Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy and grandson of former US President John F. Kennedy.

Never been less surprised in my life. Been saying it for over a year  RFKjr is for sale, works for Trump. Bedfellows and loving it.



Kamala Harris is for the people  the easiest decision of all time just got easier.  Jack Schlossberg (@JBKSchlossberg) August 23, 2024

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Robert Kennedy Jr withdraws from the race. but there is a condition

On Friday, RFK Jr. ended his bid for the presidency. However, he said that he would only remove his name from the ballot in about 10 battleground states where my presence would be a spoiler. The political scion went on to encourage voters in states where he remain, to continue supporting him.

These are the principled causes that persuaded me to leave the Democratic Party and run as an independent, and now to throw my support to President Trump, he said during his Friday remarks. The causes were: Free speech, the war in Ukraine, and the war on our children. Responding to RFKs endorsement of Trump, Harris campaign chair Jen OMalley Dillon said that the vice president is for any American out there who is tired of Donald Trump and looking for a new way forward.

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Even if we do not agree on every issue, Kamala Harris knows there is more that unites us than divides us: respect for our rights, public safety, protecting our freedoms, and opportunity for all, she said in a bid to reach out to the RFK Jr supporters.

With inputs from agencies.
The ruling Frelimo party has won every national election in the country since the end of a brutal civil war it fought with Renamo, the main opposition and a former rebel group. Frelimo also controls an overwhelming majority of local authorities. read more

Voters will cast ballots for president, parliament and regional authorities in the October 9 poll in which President Filipe Nyusi, 69, is ineligible for re-election due to term limits.

The ruling Frelimo party, which has dominated Mozambican politics since the civil war era, seeks to extend its winning streak. Frelimo has consistently emerged victorious in national elections and currently holds a strong majority in local government positions, setting the stage for a competitive contest against its main rival, Renamo, a former rebel group turned opposition party.

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The presidential contest will see the ruling partys Daniel Chapo, a 47-year-old provincial governor, face off against Renamos Ossufo Momade, 63.

The other two candidates for president are Lutero Simango, 64, from the countrys second opposition party Democratic Movement of Mozambique, and former Renamo member Venancio Mondlane, 50, who is running as an independent.

Electoral commission president Carlos Matsinhe on Friday called for a peaceful campaign, urging candidates to refrain from inciting hatred.

We must avoid physical violence and other forms of injustice, because all candidates are fellow countrymen and only occasional opponents, said Matsinhe, who is an Anglican bishop.

In October, at least two people were killed in protests over the results of local elections, which saw police open fire on demonstrators in several cities.

Renamo called the protests after Frelimo was declared the winner in 64 of 65 local authorities, crying fraud and claiming it had triumphed in the capital Maputo.

Renamo has never won a national election since the end of the war for independence from Portugal in 1975.

The electoral commission approved the candidate lists of 35 political parties running for parliament and 14 parties and citizens groups standing for local authorities.

Fought between Renamo and Frelimo, Mozambiques civil war lasted from 1977 to 1992, devastating the economy and leaving nearly one million people dead.

The country ranks seventh from bottom on the 191-nation Human Development Index compiled by the United Nations Development Programme.

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With inputs from agencies.
Irans new Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has announced plans to manage tensions with the United States to ease the impact of crippling sanctions. In an interview, Araghchi emphasized reducing hostility and focusing on strengthening relations with neighboring and African countries, as well as China and Russia, while criticizing European nations for their policies toward Iran read more

Displaced Palestinians, who fled Rafah after the Israeli military began evacuating civilians from the eastern parts of the southern Gazan city, ahead of a threatened assault, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, travel on a vehicle, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip May 6, 2024. REUTERS

Irans new government will seek to manage tensions with its arch-enemy the United States to help reduce pressure and neutralise crippling sanctions, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said.

What we have to do is manage the tensions and hostilities between Tehran and Washington, he said in an interview late Friday on state television.

Iran and the United States have had no diplomatic relations since 1980, the year after the Islamic revolution that toppled its Western-backed Shah Mohammed Reza.

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A landmark 2015 deal between Tehran and world powers granted Iran sanctions relief in return for curbs on its nuclear programme.

But the deal quickly collapsed and tensions reignited following the United States unilateral withdrawal from the accord in 2018.

In foreign policy, we have a duty to reduce as much as possible the cost of this hostility and reduce its pressure on the nation, said Araghchi, who was one of the key negotiators of the 2015 agreement.

He added that Irans foreign policy will prioritise neighbouring countries as well as African countries, along with China and Russia, among others.

Araghchi criticised European countries for having adopted hostile policies towards Iran in recent years.

He said they would only become a priority when they abandon their wrong and hostile policies.

During the interview, the foreign minister expressed Tehrans unwavering support under any circumstances for the so-called axis of resistance, a network of Iran-aligned armed groups across the Middle East opposed to Israel.

A career diplomat, Araghchi became Irans new foreign minister after parliament voted Wednesday in favour of the new cabinet presented by reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Pezeshkian had advocated for a more open Iran but has been criticised by some among Irans reformist camp for not including enough women in his new cabinet.

On Tuesday, he named Shina Ansari as his vice president for the environment, the third woman to hold this post since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
Attorney General Tarek William Saab, who is considered a Maduro ally, had foreshadowed the summoning Friday, saying Gonzalez Urrutia would have to explain his disobedience of the authorities read more

Venezuelan prosecutors have summoned opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia for questioning Monday as part of a criminal investigation following the countrys disputed presidential election claimed by strongman Nicolas Maduro.

Citizen Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia is summoned on August 26 at 10 am for an interview, prosecutors said Saturday, as part of an investigation into the oppositions publishing of electoral records which it claims show Maduro was clearly defeated.

Attorney General Tarek William Saab, who is considered a Maduro ally, had foreshadowed the summoning Friday, saying Gonzalez Urrutia would have to explain his disobedience of the authorities.

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Saab said the oppositions website, by posting what it said were authentic election results, had usurped the powers of the official CNE electoral council.

The CNE, which declared Maduro the winner of the July 28 election with 52 percent of votes cast, is also seen as friendly to Maduro, but it has refused to publish detailed results, claiming cyber-hackers had corrupted the data.

Maduro has called for the arrest of Gonzalez Urrutia, who has not been seen in public since he led an opposition march on July 30.

The United States, European Union, several Latin American countries and multilateral bodies have refused to recognize Maduros victory claim without seeing the detailed results.

Protests in the hours following the vote left 25 people dead, nearly 200 injured and more than 2,400 under arrest.
The Philippine government has accused China of firing flares dangerously close to a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries plane during South China Sea patrols in August. The incidents reflect escalating tensions between Beijing and Manila, with both sides trading accusations over maritime confrontations and territorial claims read more

This screengrab from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) handout video taken on August 19, 2024, and received on August 24, 2024, shows a Chinese air force fighter jet deploying flares near a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) plane that was conducting a maritime domain awareness flight near China-controlled Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. AFP

The Philippine government accused China on Saturday of firing flares at one of its aircraft as it flew patrols over the South China Sea this month.

Beijing claims most of the strategic waterway and has been involved in tense maritime confrontations with Manila in recent months, sparking fears of armed conflict that could draw in the United States, a Filipino military ally.

A Chinese fighter jet engaged in irresponsible and dangerous manoeuvres on August 19 as the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) plane made a maritime domain awareness flight near Scarborough Shoal, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea said.

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The unprovoked Chinese harassment included deploying flares multiple times at a dangerously close distance of approximately 15 metres from the BFAR Grand Caravan aircraft, the task force added in a statement.

Flares were also launched near the same plane from the China-held Subi Reef on August 22 as the patrol craft was monitoring and intercepting poachers encroaching upon the Philippines Exclusive Economic Zone and the territorial seas of the Philippines, it added.

Flares are usually employed by military aircraft as decoys to protect them from missiles, but also for illumination.

Chinas foreign ministry said on Friday that two Philippine military aircraft flew into its airspace over Subi Reef, which Manila also claims, on August 22.

The Chinese side undertook necessary countermeasures in accordance with the law, in order to protect its own sovereignty and security, it said in a statement.

The Philippine government said the BFAR plane was a civilian Cessna aircraft.

The Chinese statement did not mention any August 19 incident over Scarborough Shoal, which China seized from the Philippines at the end of a 2012 standoff.

The Scarborough Shoal incident occurred hours after Philippine and Chinese coast guard vessels collided near Sabina Shoal, with the Filipino side reporting structural damage on both of its patrol ships.

The shoal is located 140 kilometres (86 miles) west of the Philippine island of Palawan and about 1,200 kilometres from Hainan island, the nearest Chinese landmass.

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The Philippines has also accused a Chinese air force plane of making a dangerous manoeuvre and dropping flares in the path of a Filipino air force plane that was patrolling over Scarborough on August 10.

In June, the Philippine military said one of its sailors lost a thumb in a confrontation off Second Thomas Shoal when the Chinese coast guard, wielding sticks, knives and an axe, also confiscated or destroyed Philippine equipment including guns.

Beijing has blamed the escalation on Manila and maintains its actions to protect its claims are legal and proportional.

It has continued to press its claims to almost the entire South China Sea despite an international tribunal ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.

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Manila on Saturday urged Beijing to immediately cease all provocative and dangerous actions that threaten the safety of Philippine vessels and aircraft engaged in legitimate and regular activities within Philippine territory and Exclusive Economic Zone, as well as freedom of navigation and overflights.

Such actions undermine regional peace and security, and further erode the image of the PRC (Peoples Republic of China) with the international community, the task force statement said.
The Friday bombing killed Gulistan Tara, 40, a Kurdish journalist from Turkey and Hero Bahadin, 27, an Iraqi-Kurdish video editor, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists read more

Protesters lift portraits of slain women journalists Hiro Bahadin (L) and Golestan Tara during a rally by journalists, activists, and citizen protesting their killing a day earlier, at Azadi Park in Sulaimaniyah in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region. AFP

Several dozen demonstrators gathered on Saturday in Iraqs autonomous Kurdish region to protest a drone strike that officials blame on Turkey, which killed two women journalists working for outlets funded by Kurdish militants.

The Friday bombing killed Gulistan Tara, 40, a Kurdish journalist from Turkey and Hero Bahadin, 27, an Iraqi-Kurdish video editor, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Another person was also injured.

While both an Iraqi security source and the counter-terrorism service in the regional capital Arbil attributed the strike to Turkey, the defence ministry in Ankara, when contacted by AFP, stated that it was not the Turkish army that carried it out.

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The martyrs will not die, chanted the crowd of around a hundred people gathered in a park in Sulaimaniyah, the regions second-largest city, while holding up posters of the two women.

The CPJ said the journalists worked for Kurdish media production house CHATR, which operates two news channels funded by the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

The PKK, which has fought a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state, has rear-bases in the mountains of northern Iraq.

The Turkish army maintains a network of bases in the region to fight the Kurdish militant group, which is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the European Union and the United States.

Turkish bombings affect everyone in Kurdistan, the civilian populations are victims, said activist Robar Ahmed.

Life in the countryside has almost stopped because it is not possible to live with strikes day and night, every minute and every hour, she said, speaking at the protest.

Following a visit to Baghdad by Turkish officials, the federal government declared the PKK a banned organisation in March.

Earlier this month, Turkey agreed a military cooperation pact with Iraq that includes joint training and command centres to fight the Kurdish militants.
Libyas recent security agreement in Tripoli offers a temporary reprieve from the escalating violence, but the underlying political and economic tensions continue to threaten the countrys stability. Anxiety over a civil war remains high read more

Libyan armed groups and authorities have reached an agreement to secure critical infrastructure in the capital city of Tripoli, the countrys Interior Minister Imad Trabelsi announced on Friday (August 23).

This move comes amid growing concerns over escalating tensions and recent clashes that have reignited fears of renewed civil war in the North African nation.

Oil-rich Libya has been split between a UN-supported government in the capital, Tripoli, led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, and rival authorities based in the east, backed by military strongman Khalifa Haftar. Each side has been backed by different armed groups and foreign governments.

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Security accord in Tripoli

The agreement, reached in coordination with the Ministry of Defence, involves securing airports, land borders, and government institutions in the capital. In coordination with the Ministry of Defence, we have brought together all the security services of Tripoli and managed to reach an agreement to secure the airports and land borders, as well as the headquarters of government (institutions) in the capital, Trabelsi said.

He added that armed groups and security services expressed their immediate willingness to implement the accord.

The swift action to secure government buildings, including Libyas central bank, may be a key step in preventing further destabilisation in the country, which has struggled to recover from years of conflict following the 2011 Nato-backed uprising that ousted longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi attends a ceremony marking the birth of Islams Prophet Mohammed in Tripoli in this February 13, 2011 file photograph. Reuters

Military mobilisation and rising tensions

The security agreement follows a series of alarming developments across Libya. On July 23, forces aligned with the Government of National Unity (GNU), led by PM Dbeibah, moved westward, prompting a mobilisation of the Libyan National Army (LNA), commanded by eastern military strongman Haftar.

The LNAs subsequent unilateral movement toward southwestern Libya on August 9 heightened tensions, sparking Western forces and groups to mobilise and assert their readiness to respond to any attack. While the LNA later clarified its purpose in moving these forces was to secure the southwestern border, its move raised concerns with Libyas neighbour Algeria.

Simultaneously, on August 9, violent clashes erupted in Tajoura, east of Tripoli, between two armed groups, resulting in nine fatalities and significant property damage. Local mediation efforts defused the situation. Later, local media reported that the clashes had been motivated by an assassination attempt on one of the militia leaders.

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In a statement, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said it was monitoring with concern the recent mobilisation of forces in various parts of Libya.

Longtime Libya watchers were more direct, suggesting that, after around four years of relative calm in the country, civil war might be about to break out once again, according to DW.

Political turmoil and leadership changes

Libyas political landscape has been equally turbulent.

In early August, Mohammed Takala was elected as the new head of the Tripoli-based High State Council (HSC), unseating Khaled al-Mishri, who had held the position since 2018.

The leadership change in this key political institution has introduced further uncertainty into an already divided political scene.

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Over the last decade, the rival governments have attempted wresting control from the other. This month, too, something similar happened.

On August 13, some members of the House of Representatives (HoR), meeting in Benghazi, voted to end the mandate of the GNU and the Presidency Council, transferring the role of Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces to the Speaker of the HoR. They also endorsed the HoR-designated government in the east as the only legitimate executive authority, a move rejected by Western leaders.

The following day, armed groups mobilised in Tripolis Souk Al Jumma district, responding to reports of attempts to seize control of the Central Bank. The situation was diffused by early morning on August 15, but tensions remain high.

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Struggle for control of the central bank

Libyas central bank, the sole internationally recognised depository for the countrys oil revenues, has become a focal point in the ongoing power struggle. Seddik al-Kabir, the banks governor since 2012, has come under fire from figures close to PM Dbeibah over his management of oil resources and the state budget.

On August 18, the abduction of Musaab Muslamm, head of the banks information technology department, by an unidentified party further escalated the crisis.

The kidnapping, believed to be an attempt to force al-Kabirs resignation, led to the temporary suspension of the banks operations. Muslamm was released the following day, allowing the bank to resume its functions.

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The same day, on August 18, a controversial move, the Tripoli-based Presidential Council removed al-Kabir from his position. However, the eastern-based HoR and Haftars camp rejected the dismissal, insisting that al-Kabir remains the legitimate governor. They warned that the conflict could escalate, potentially leading to further economic destabilisation, including the freezing of Libyas assets and a collapse of the Libyan dinar, according to arious local media reports.

As of now, al-Kabir has not officially stepped down, and the situation remains tense.

Libyas recent security agreement in Tripoli offers a temporary reprieve from the escalating violence, but the underlying political and economic tensions continue to threaten the countrys stability. With armed groups on high alert and the struggle for control over the central bank unresolved, anxiety over a civil war remains high.

With inputs from agencies
The Starliner vehicle, which carried astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore to the space station in early June, encountered significant issues during its first crewed test flight and stranded in space for about 80 days. The mission faced setbacks due to helium leaks and thrusters that unexpectedly failed on the initial leg of the journey. read more

A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule will bring two NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams who flew to the International Space Station in June aboard Boeings faulty Starliner capsule, to Earth on a SpaceX vehicle early next year, NASA chief Bill Nelson said on Saturday.

NASAs announcement that it wont use a troubled Boeing capsule to return two stranded astronauts to Earth is a yet another setback for the struggling company, although the financial damage is likely to be less than the reputational harm.

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Once a symbol of American engineering and technological prowess, Boeing has seen its reputation battered since two 737 Max airliners crashed in 2018 and 2019, killing 346 people. The safety of its products came under renewed scrutiny after a panel blew out of a Max during a flight this January.

And now NASA has decided that it is safer to keep the astronauts in space until February rather than risk using the Boeing Starliner capsule that delivered them to the international space station. The capsule has been plagued by problems with its propulsion system.

NASA has decided that Butch and Suni will return with Crew-9 next February, NASA posted on X.

"NASA has decided that Butch and Suni will return with Crew-9 next February."@SenBillNelson and agency experts are discussing today's decision on NASA's Boeing Crew Flight Test. Watch live with us: https://t.co/M2ODFmLuTj pic.twitter.com/J2qvwOW4mU  NASA (@NASA) August 24, 2024

Talking to the media in Houston, Nelson said that he discussed the agencys decision with Boeings new CEO Kelly Ortberg.

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Boeing is also struggling with quality issues in the production of commercial planes, its most important products. Boeing had hoped its Starliner test mission would redeem the troubled program after years of development problems and over $1.6 billion in budget overruns since 2016.

Veteran NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, both former military test pilots, became the first crew to ride Starliner on June 5 when they were launched to the space station for an eight-day test mission. But Starliners propulsion system suffered a series of glitches, triggering months of delays. Five of its 28 thrusters failed and it sprang several leaks of helium, which is used to pressurize the thrusters.

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In a rare reshuffling of NASAs astronaut operations, the two astronauts are now expected to return in February 2025 on a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft due to launch next month as part of a routine astronaut rotation mission. Two of the Crew Dragons four astronaut seats will be kept empty for Wilmore and Williams.

Starliner will undock from the ISS without a crew and attempt to return to Earth as it would have with astronauts aboard.

Boeing struggled for years to develop Starliner, a gumdrop-shaped capsule designed to compete with Crew Dragon as a second U.S. option for sending astronaut crews to and from Earths orbit.

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Starliner failed a 2019 test to launch to the ISS uncrewed, but mostly succeeded in a 2022 do-over attempt where it also encountered thruster problems. Its June mission with its first crew was required before NASA can certify the capsule for routine flights, but now Starliners crew certification path has been upended.

Since Starliner docked to the ISS in June, Boeing has scrambled to investigate what caused its thruster mishaps and helium leaks. The company arranged tests and simulations on Earth to gather data that it has used to try and convince NASA officials that Starliner is safe to fly the crew back home.

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But results from that testing raised more difficult engineering questions and ultimately failed to quell NASA officials concerns about Starliners ability to make its crewed return trip - the most daunting and complex part of the test mission.

NASAs decision, and Starliners now-uncertain path to certification, will add to the crises faced by Ortberg, who started this month with the goal to rebuild the planemakers reputation after a door panel dramatically blew off a 737 MAX passenger jet in midair in January.

With inputs from agencies.
Taiwan has approved an NT$284 billion (US$8.88 billion) budget to build seven new submarines over the next 14 years to strengthen its defense against China. Critics have raised concerns about proceeding with the budget before the prototype submarine completes its sea trials read more

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen attends the launching ceremony of Narwhal, its first domestically built submarine, in Kaohsiung, Taiwan September 28, 2023. REUTERS

Taiwan has allocated billions of dollars to build seven additional submarines over the next 14 years as part of its strategy to bolster defense against potential threats from Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA).

The cabinet approved the budget of NT$284 billion (US$8.88 billion) on Thursday, with the proposal expected to be reviewed by legislators later this month.

The move highlights Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-tes commitment to defending the island. However, some analysts have criticised the decision to proceed with such a significant expenditure before the prototype submarine has completed its sea trials.

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Cabinet spokesman Chen Shih-kai stated that the submarines would be constructed between 2025 and 2038 under the Indigenous Defence Submarine Programme. He stated that the initiative aims to enhance national defense capabilities and maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

The prototype submarine, named Hai Kun or Narwhal, was unveiled in September last year. Built by CSBC Corporation Taiwan, the prototype cost about NT$26 billion and features a unique X-shaped rudder design for shallow water operations.

It is equipped with a combat system from Lockheed Martin and will carry US-made MK-48 torpedoes. The prototype is nearing completion of its harbour acceptance test and is expected to undergo sea trials next month, with delivery anticipated by November next year.

The planned expansion of Taiwans submarine fleet comes amid escalating tensions with Beijing, which views Taiwan as part of its territory. While most countries, including the United States, do not officially recognise Taiwan as a separate state, Washington supports the islands defense and opposes any forceful attempts to alter its status.

Taiwans decision to build seven more submarines reflects its determination to enhance its defensive capabilities. Analysts suggest that these submarines, alongside ground-based and ship-launched missiles, could effectively deter potential amphibious attacks from the PLA.

Despite these benefits, military commentator Lu De-yun has expressed concerns about the governments approach. He argues that proceeding with such a large budget before the prototypes sea trials is premature and could lead to inaccuracies in the final budget due to expected modifications during testing.

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Chieh Chung, secretary general of the Association of Strategic Foresight, supports the additional submarine construction but urges a more cautious budget allocation process. He notes that typically, multi-year military budgets are approved in smaller increments, allowing for adjustments based on testing outcomes.

The initial funding for the project will be NT$2 billion, with further allocations subject to legislative approval.
Jazz Thornton was shocked to see the 'end of a rainbow' while taking her dog for walk. A sight even experts say is 'beautiful'.

Jazz Thornton was shocked to see the end of a rainbow at her local dark park this week. A sight that's rarely witnessed. Source: Supplied

A woman walking her dog has described the "magical moment" she witnessed while at her local park this week, saying it was "wild" to have seen "the end of a rainbow" right before her eyes.

Jazz Thornton, an author and activist from New Zealand, told Yahoo News Australia it took her a moment to realise what she was seeing while standing in the rain at Auckland park this week. But she was sad to learn "there was no gold" as the folktale goes.

"I have only ever seen rainbows go behind things, so to see the end was insane," she said. "As we got closer it didn't move either, usually they go further away".

The 29-year-old shared an incredible photo with Yahoo showing where the rainbow appears to meet the grass as the colourful rays shoot through the moody sky.

Can you really see the end of a rainbow?

It's often theorised the end of a rainbow will never be seen as it doesn't exist because the rainbow itself is just an illusion. But here "the end is quite clear and in front of the ground," quantum physics professor Andrew Greentree told Yahoo.

"Rainbows are, in fact, always circular, its just that we usually dont see the bottom side of the rainbow. Because of that theres always an end to the rainbow somewhere".

How does a rainbow form?

"Rainbows are formed by light bouncing off droplets of water in the air. At the same time the light is reflecting, it is also being bent  like millions of tiny glasses," Greentree explained.

"The incredible thing about the water is that each colour of light gets bent differently from each other, and so the reflected light is separated into colours. This video shows a very clear rainbow, as well as a second rainbow (double rainbow), and dark band between the bows."

He explained the bending of light is usually pretty small, which is why we usually only see rainbows when the water is a long way away. "But there are always rainbows provided the sun, viewer, and water are at the right positions," he said.

"Here, the water that the rainbow is reflected from is quite close  closer than the trees and the background. This is why the bow is relatively small."

'Never before seen' sight amazes social media users

Thornton captured the amazing moment on camera before sharing it on social media. The incredible sight shocked many who called it "cool" and " beautiful" with several admitting they'd never seen the end either.

"Never in my 50 years of life have I ever seen the end of a rainbow. That's so cool," one commented on the video. "Beautiful I've never seen the end of the rainbow," said another.

"Never in my 31 years have I seen one," a third added. "Thank you for this. Can tick it off my bucket list"

Even Greentree was amazed by the unique discovery, calling it a "beautiful rainbow". "There may not be a pot of gold at the end of this [video], but there certainly is a beauty that will last longer".

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Myanmars junta has been accused of systematically using starvation as a means to subjugate the local population and weaken support for the Arakan Army (AA), a powerful ethnic rebel group read more

A man cooks dinner for his family in a shanty dwelling during lockdown to slow the spread of coronavirus infections in Yangon, Myanmar, October 21, 2020. File image/Reuters

Amid Myanmars escalating civil war, the military junta has adopted a cruel strategy to crush resistance in Rakhine state: the deliberate weaponisation of hunger.

With the conflict spreading, civilians caught in the crossfire find that food scarcity is becoming as lethal as the bullets fired by soldiers.

Rakhine state, long a powder keg of ethnic tensions, is now witnessing a new level of human suffering as the junta tightens its grip on aid routes and humanitarian access.

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The militarys actions have drawn sharp condemnation from observers, who accuse the regime of systematically using starvation as a means to subjugate the local population and weaken support for the Arakan Army (AA), a powerful ethnic rebel group that controls significant territory in the region, CNN reported.

The juntas blockade strategy

The juntas blockade strategy, which includes imposing checkpoints, blocking roads and waterways, and denying access permits to humanitarian groups, has drastically reduced food supplies to areas controlled by the AA. The result is a growing humanitarian catastrophe in which nearly 900,000 people are at risk of starvation.

They are using food as a weapon, a senior aid official told CNN. That much is clear.

The situation is particularly dire in northern Rakhine, where aid agencies report that fewer than a quarter of the 873,000 people who need food assistance have received any. Prices for basic staples like rice, fuel, and cooking oil have skyrocketed, driven up by shortages created by the juntas control of supply routes. With the junta refusing requests to transport goods into the region, even those who still have money cannot afford the inflated prices.

People are surviving on the bare minimum, Ejaz (pseudonym), a local aid official. Ive seen it with my own eyesfamilies reduced to eating rice and salt, and even that is running out.

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Struggle in displacement camps

Reports from the region paint a harrowing picture of the suffering endured by civilians. In a makeshift displacement camp at a crowded monastery near the regional capital of Sittwe, a lone monk struggles to feed about 300 people who have sought refuge there after being driven from their homes by the conflict.

There are days when we have no food, even though we are hungry, CNN quoted Khin Mar Cho, a mother who fled to the camp with her young son after soldiers stormed her village, detained the men, and shot her brother, as saying. I cannot feed my kid anything more than meals donated by people because I dont have a job or income, and all the male family members have been taken away.

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Crackdown on aid efforts

The juntas strategy extends beyond mere blockades. Aid workers have reported that local humanitarian groups caught trying to deliver food and supplies without permits have been arrested. In some instances, relief cargoes have been seized or destroyed by the military, further exacerbating the food crisis.

In June, a World Food Programme warehouse in Maungdaw was looted and burned, depriving the community of urgently needed food aid.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has attempted to negotiate with the junta to lift the blockade and allow aid to reach those in need, but progress has been slow. Informal talks with senior junta officials in the countrys capital have yielded little more than vague assurances, and no travel authorisations have been granted to humanitarian partners to operate outside of Sittwe township since November 2023.

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Despite the overwhelming evidence of the juntas role in the crisis, Myanmars government continues to deflect blame. In a statement to CNN, Myint Kyaw, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Myanmars Ministry of Information, claimed that rebel groups, not the military, were responsible for restricting aid. The Myanmar government is committed to the equality of all citizens, the statement read. Every citizen has the right to travel freely without any restrictions.

International community: A silent bystander

As the junta continues to tighten its stranglehold on Rakhine, the international communitys response has been alarmingly muted. The UNs humanitarian response program in Myanmar is among the most underfunded in the world, with only 20 per cent of the necessary $1 billion raised for aid efforts through 2024. We have become invisible, lamented a senior UN aid official in Myanmar. Donors will find it difficult to fund missions that are invisible.

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For the people of Rakhine, the consequences of this invisibility are all too real. As hunger becomes a weapon in this brutal conflict, the lives of countless civilians hang in the balance, dependent on a world that seems increasingly unwillingor unableto help.
The attack occurred during the citys 650th birthday celebrations. While fatal stabbings and shootings are relatively rare in Germany, the country has experienced a rise in knife attacks over the past year read more

Police officers secure the area of an incident, after several individuals were killed on Friday night when a man randomly stabbed passers-by with a knife, at a city festival in Solingen, Germany, August 23, 2024. Reuters

Three people were killed and four others severely wounded in a knife attack at a festival in Solingen, in North Rhine-Westphalia state in Germany, on Friday (August 23), according to a police spokeswoman in nearby Duesseldorf.

The attacker indiscriminately stabbed people with a knife, according to the Bild daily.

Authorities have launched a major operation to apprehend the suspect, who remains at large, according to the spokeswoman. She said that a wide area had been cordoned off.

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An AFP photographer reported seeing special forces and a helicopter on the scene of the attack during police action.

Motive unknown

The incident took place at the Fronhof, a market square where live bands were performing as part of the citys 650th birthday celebrations. The Festival of Diversity, which was expected to draw up to 75,000 visitors over three days, had just begun when the attack occurred.

It now stands cancelled.

Herbert Reul, North Rhine-Westphalias interior minister, visited the scene. He told reporters it was a targeted attack on human life but refrained from speculating on the motive.

Tim-Oliver Kurzbach, Solingens mayor, expressed the citys shock, horror, and great grief in a statement. He said, It tears my heart apart that there was an attack on our city. I have tears in my eyes when I think of those we have lost, adding, I pray for all those who are still fighting for their lives.

Rise in knife attacks in Germany

While fatal stabbings and shootings are relatively rare in Germany, the country has experienced a rise in knife attacks over the past year.

In a similar incident in late May, a police officer was killed, and five others were wounded during a knife attack at a far-right rally in Mannheim.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has vowed to crack down on knife crime.

The German government has been working to toughen regulations on the carrying of knives in public by reducing the permitted blade length.

With inputs from agencies
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy touted a newly developed Ukrainian drone missile on Saturday that he said would take the war back to Russia and scornfully derided Russias Vladimir Putin as a sick old man from Red Square. read more

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Ukraines operation into Russias Kursk region is complex but going according to plan. The incursion, which started in early August aimed to protect the northeastern city of Sumy and capture Russian soldiers for potential prisoner exchanges.

The first prisoner swap involving those Kursk-area POWs took place on Saturday with each side exchanging 115 soldiers.

I am looking very positively how this operation is going, Zelenskiy told journalists in Kyiv as reported by Bloomberg, standing alongside Polands president and Lithuanias prime minister, who visited the capital to mark Ukrainian Independence Day.

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The operation is complex, it is important that it is going according to our plan, the Kyiv Independent quoted Zelensky as saying. Those who seek to sow evil on our land will reap its fruits on their own soil, Zelenskyy said in his address. And those who sought to turn our lands into a buffer zone should now worry that their own country doesnt become a buffer federation. This is how independence responds.

Ukraine quickly seized considerable Russian territory, including scores of small towns, and captured hundreds of Russian soldiers, part of an effort to counter Russias grinding advances in eastern Ukraines Donetsk region.

The Ukrainian military now claims to hold 1,200 square kilometers (480 square miles) of Russian territory, and in the past week, has launched drone attacks on strategic bridges and on Russian airfields and drone bases.

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife Olena lay flowers at the Memorial Wall of Fallen Defenders of Ukraine in Russian-Ukrainian War during celebration of the Ukrainian Independence Day in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024.- AP

A visit to Kyiv by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who met Friday with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, was being closely watched. There are Ukrainian hopes that Modi, who has maintained cordial ties and economic relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, could play a role in forging a mediated peace.

The incursion into Russia has highlighted Russian vulnerabilities but also further stretched Ukrainian forces, who already were fighting on a frontline running hundreds of kilometers (miles). It has possibly compromised Ukraines ability to hold back Russian forces who have slowly but steadily gained ground in the Donetsk region, diverting Ukrainian forces who otherwise could bolster defense there.

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Its not clear how long Ukraine will be able to hold the land it has seized in Russia.

The Russian Defense Ministry on Friday said that its troops turned back Ukrainian attempts to advance on the Kursk regions villages of Borki and Malaya Loknya. The ministry also reported taking out a reconnaissance and sabotage group near Kamyshevka, 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of Sudzha, which the Ukrainians took.

Russia launched an offensive in the Kharkiv region in May that led to some gains but soon stalled. Fighting in that area has diminished as the Russian army has concentrated its efforts in Donetsk, part of the industrial Donbas region that Moscow formally annexed but does not fully control.

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Russias springtime advance on Kharkiv was seen as a sign that Ukraines position was weakening amid the delays of Western military aid.
In a joint statement, the governments of Argentina, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay and the US rejected the Supreme Court verdict and called for an impartial and independent audit of the vote read more

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro delivers a speech after a march in support of his victory in the July 28 elections, at Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela, on August 17, 2024. Reuters File

As Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro continues to clutch on to the power, the United States and 10 Latin American nations categorically rejected his presidency. The rejection came a day after the Venezuelan Supreme Court certified Maduros win in the polls held last month.

However, the Thursday verdict by the Venezuelan court was widely questioned internationally and from across the political spectrum. In a joint statement, the governments of Argentina, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay and the US rejected the Supreme Court verdict and called for an impartial and independent audit of the vote.

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Not only this, the Latin American nations also expressed profound concerns over human rights violations committed during Maduros post-election crackdown. Earlier this month, it was reported that over 1,600 people were detained and at least 24 others killed in the violence that ensued after the election.

We are dealing with dictatorship: Chiles president

Chiles President and Maduros biggest critic Gabriel Boric slammed the Venezuelan courts judgement and described Maduro as a dictator. We are dealing with a dictatorship that falsifies elections, Boric said after the supreme court ruling, rejecting the idea that Maduros regime was leftwing.

The Maduro regime is not democratic and we do not recognise its fraud, Guatemalas centre-left leader, Bernardo Arevalo averred. Meanwhile, the United States also raised a voice of concern insisting that the ruling lacked all credibility, given the overwhelming evidence that [Maduros rival Edmundo] Gonzalez received the most votes in the 28 July election.

Continued attempts to fraudulently claim victory for Maduro will only exacerbate the ongoing crisis, Vedant Patel, a State Department spokesperson, told reporters on Friday. The European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also made it clear that its 27 member states would not recognise Maduros re-election without seeing a verifiable result.

Similar sentiments were also echoed by Brazil, Colombia and Mexican leaders. Brazils Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Colombias Gustavo Petro, whose diplomats have been exploring possible ways of defusing the growing crisis, are expected to issue a separate joint statement over the matter.

Meanwhile, Maduro and his allies have rejected international criticism, with Venezuelas foreign minister, Yvan Gil, calling Boric the laughingstock of Latin America and who is a submissive pawn of North American imperialism.

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Maduro is expected to be sworn in for his third six-year term as president on 10 January.

With inputs from agencies.
The slow arrival of the shots  which have already been made available in more than 70 countries outside Africa - showed that lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic about global healthcare inequities have been slow to bring change, half a dozen public health officials and scientists said read more

Mpox is a viral disease that can spread from animals to humans, but also human-to-human through sexual or close physical contact. File Photo/Reuters

The first 10,000 mpox vaccines are finally due to arrive next week in Africa, where a dangerous new strain of the virus - which has afflicted people there for decades - has caused global alarm.

The slow arrival of the shots  which have already been made available in more than 70 countries outside Africa - showed that lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic about global healthcare inequities have been slow to bring change, half a dozen public health officials and scientists said.

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Among the hurdles: It took the World Health Organization (WHO) until this month to start officially the process needed to give poor countries easy access to large quantities of vaccines via international agencies.

That could have begun years ago, several of the officials and scientists told Reuters.

Mpox is a potentially deadly infection that causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions and spreads through close physical contact. It was declared a global health emergency by the WHO on Aug. 14 after the new strain, known as clade Ib, began to proliferate from the Democratic Republic of Congo to neighbouring African countries.

In response to Reuters questions about the delays in vaccine deployment, the U.N. health agency said on Friday it would relax some of its procedures on this occasion in an effort to now accelerate poor countries access to the mpox shots.

Buying expensive vaccines directly is out of reach for many low-income countries. There are two key mpox shots, made by Denmarks Bavarian Nordic and Japans KM Biologics. Bavarian Nordics costs $100 a dose; the price of KM Biologics is unknown.

The long wait for WHO approval for international agencies to buy and distribute the vaccine has forced individual African governments and the continents public health agency - the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  to instead request donations of shots from rich countries. That cumbersome process can collapse, as it has before if donors feel they should keep the vaccine to protect their own people.

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The first 10,000 vaccines on their way to Africa - made by Bavarian Nordic  were donated by the United States, not provided by the U.N. system.

Helen Rees, a member of the Africa CDCs mpox emergency committee, and executive director of the Wits RHI Research Institute in Johannesburg, South Africa, said it was really outrageous that, after Africa struggled to access vaccines during the COVID pandemic, the region had once again been left behind.

In 2022, after a different mpox strain spread outside Africa, smallpox shots were repurposed by governments within weeks, approved by regulators and used in roughly 70 high and middle income countries to protect those most at risk.

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Those vaccines have now reached 1.2 million people in the United States alone, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

But no shots have been available in Africa outside clinical trials. A key reason: Vaccines needed to be greenlit by the WHO before they could be bought by public healthcare groups including Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

Gavi helps poorer countries buy shots, supplying childhood vaccines in this way routinely. It administered a global scheme for all vaccines during COVID-19 and has up to $500 million to spend on mpox vaccines and logistics.

The Africa CDC has said 10 million doses may be needed across the continent.

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But the WHO only this month asked vaccine manufacturers to submit the information needed for the mpox shots to receive an emergency licence - the WHOs accelerated approval for medical products. It urged countries to donate shots until the process was finalised, in September.

The WHO said it is working with the authorities in Congo to put together a vaccination plan, and on Friday said Gavi could start talks while it finalised its emergency approval.

Sania Nishtar, chief executive of Gavi, said the WHOs aim to now act quickly on approvals and improvements in funding showed the somewhat brighter side of where we are compared to COVID. Asked to comment on the approval delays, she said, Hopefully this is another learning moment for us.

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Who criticised

The WHOs role in approving medical products has revolutionised supply in low-income countries, which often lack the facilities to check new products themselves, but it has also faced criticism for its slow speed and complexity.

The Geneva-based U.N. health agency said on Friday it did not have sufficient data during the last mpox emergency in 2022 to start an approval process for the vaccine, and it has been working with manufacturers since then to see if the available data warranted approval.

Mpox, which includes several different strains, has caused 99,000 confirmed cases and 208 deaths worldwide since 2022, according to the WHO. The tally is likely an underestimate as many cases go unreported.

Infections have been brought under control in rich regions by a combination of vaccines and by behaviour change among the highest-risk groups.

With the main earlier mpox strain, men who have sex with men were most at risk, but the new clade Ib variant seems to spread more easily through other close contacts, including among children, as well as through sexual contact among heterosexual people.

The country currently hardest hit by mpox is Congo. Since January 2023, there have been more than 27,000 suspected cases and 1,100 deaths there, according to government figures, mainly among children.

But the first 10,000 vaccines donated by the United States are not destined for Congo but for Nigeria, as a result of several years of talks between both governments, according to a source involved in the process who was not authorised to speak to the media. Nigeria has had 786 suspected cases this year, and no deaths.

The Nigerian health ministry did not respond to a request for comment; the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) said it has also donated 50,000 doses to Congo but the arrival date is not yet finalised.

Children at risk

In Congo, the countrys administration is another part of the problem. Grappling with conflict and multiple competing disease outbreaks, its government has yet to ask Gavi officially for vaccine supplies and took months to talk to donor governments. Its medicines regulator only approved the two main vaccines in June.

Neither Congos health ministry nor Japans, which is working to donate large amounts of KM Biologics vaccines, responded to requests for comment for this story.

Bavarian Nordic said this week it needs orders now to produce vaccines in volume this year.

Congos government has told reporters it hopes to receive vaccine donations next week, but three donor sources told Reuters it is not clear if that will happen. Europes pandemic preparedness agency said by email its 215,000 doses will not arrive before September at the earliest.

Bavarian Nordic and Congo are still discussing pre-shipment requirements necessary to ensure proper storage and handling, said a spokesperson for USAID. The vaccines have to be kept at -20C, for example.

In eastern Congo, around 750,000 people are living in camps after fleeing conflict, including seven-year-old Sagesse Hakizimana and his mother Elisabeth Furaha. He is one of more than 100 children to have been infected by mpox in one area near the city of Goma, in North Kivu, according to doctors.

Imagine fleeing war and then losing your child to this illness, said Furaha, 30, rubbing ointment on her sons rash and adding that his symptoms were easing. He was being treated last week in a repurposed Ebola treatment centre.

We need a vaccine for this disease. Its a bad disease that weakens our children.

Even when shots arrive, questions remain about how to use them: Bavarian Nordics vaccine - the most widely used worldwide - is only available for adults. The KM Biologics vaccine can be given to children but is more complex to administer.

Adding to those questions, scientists have not yet agreed what groups should be vaccinated first, although a likely strategy is ring vaccination, where contacts of known cases are prioritised.

We saw with COVID-19 that the vaccine was available but the population didnt want it, says Jean Jacques Muyembe, co-discoverer of the Ebola virus and director of the Institut National de Recherche Biomedicale (INRB) in Kinshasa.

He and other scientists said other public health measures like awareness raising in Africa and better diagnosis were also key to stopping the spread of mpox; vaccines are not the only solution.

Priorities

Some global health experts say the WHO and others should have focused earlier on improving access to mpox vaccines as well as tests for the disease and treatments.

The processes [at WHO for vaccines] and funding for diagnostics for mpox should have started a few years ago, said Ayoade Alakija, who co-chairs a global health partnership aiming to make the mpox response more egalitarian.

She said her comment was not a critique of the WHO, which can only prioritise what its member states want. It is a matter of what the world considers to be a priority, and [that is not] diseases that primarily affect black and brown people.

In a statement, the WHO said it was urging all partners including countries, manufacturers and communities to mobilize efforts, increase vaccine donations, reduce prices and provide other necessary support to protect people at risk during this outbreak.

Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa CDC, said he is working to get African vaccine manufacturers involved to boost supply and lower prices, but that will take time.
The state government also warned that forest fires could spread rapidly from gusts of wind, potentially razing large areas of natural vegetation read more

Volunteer firefighter members of the Alto Pantanal Brigade are seen on a tractor as they work to extinguish a fire rising in the Pantanal, the world's largest wetland, in Corumba, Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil, June 14, 2024. File Image: Reuters

Brazils Sao Paulo state said that wildfire outbreaks were affecting or closing in on 30 of its cities on Friday evening, adding two people had died in an industrial plant trying to hold back the flames.

The cities have been affected by dry, hot weather in recent days, the government said in a statement.

The state government also warned that forest fires could spread rapidly from gusts of wind, potentially razing large areas of natural vegetation.

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For now, the government has not reported flames directly reaching the city of Sao Paulo, Latin Americas largest by population with more than 11 million residents.

Still, local media reported smoke blocking out some parts of state capitals sky.

The government said two employees at an industrial plant in the city of Urupes had died on Friday while fighting a fire, without providing more details.

Earlier in the day Raizen (RAIZ4.SA), the worlds largest sugarcane processor, said that industrial operations at a plant in Sertaozinho had been halted since Thursday due to fires in sugarcane fields around the plant.

The Sao Paulo state government has created an emergency committee to handle the fires, which had also blocked some 15 highways either fully or partially.

Brazils wildfire season typically peaks in August and September.

This year wildfires started unusually early in Pantanal, the worlds largest wetlands, in late May, while the number of fires in the Amazon rainforest surged to a two-decade high for the month of July, government data showed early this month.
Zelenskyy approved the bill, slammed by Russia, on Kyivs independence day from the Soviet Union and two and a half years into Russias invasion of Ukraine read more

A monk walks past the Uspenskyi cathedral at Kyiv Pechersk Lavra in Kyiv on August 20, 2024. AFP

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday signed a law banning the Russian-linked Orthodox Church in Ukraine, with the decision published on Ukraines parliament website.

Ukraine has been seeking to distance itself from the Russian church since 2014 and the efforts have accelerated since Russias 2022 invasion.

Zelenskyy approved the bill, slammed by Russia, on Kyivs independence day from the Soviet Union and two and a half years into Russias invasion of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian leader said the move will strengthen his countrys independence and in an address on Saturday declared: Ukrainian Orthodox (church) today is taking a step towards liberation from Moscows devils.

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The Ukrainian Orthodox Church officially broke away from the Moscow patriarchy in 2022, but Ukrainian officials repeatedly accuse its clerics of staying loyal to Russia.

Russias invasion has been backed by the countrys Orthodox Church leader Patriarch Kirill, a staunch ally of President Vladimir Putin.
Hollie Marie had been on holiday for a few months when her hair began to fall out. Now, thanks to an Aussie hairdresser, she's learned the likely cause.

Hollie Marie began to lose her 30-inch long blonde hair (left, before) during her stay in Bali and was eventually forced to shave it off (right, after) Source: Kennedy News and Media

A young woman has detailed the "horrifying" moment she realised her hair was falling out in "huge chunks" after holidaying in Bali. Hollie Marie, 27, claims the "hard water" on the popular holiday island is what caused it to happen having spent months there with some friends.

The business owner said her 30-inch long blonde hair began falling out every time she'd brush it, leaving her with bald patches. She resorted to wearing wigs after refusing to leave her house because she felt "so ugly".

Originally putting her hair loss down to stress, the sun or even alopecia, Hollie claims an Australian hairdresser later revealed the "hard, poor quality" of Bali's tap water was to blame. She visited the island in 2021.

"It's horrifying. You just take a lot about yourself for granted, it's such a shock when things like this happen," Hollie, originally from Cardiff, UK, said.

"I noticed I was losing hair, but because I had so much hair initially it took a while to notice how drastic the change was. Three months into living in Bali I went on a trip and on the drive back my hair fused together.

"The texture of my hair changed and my hair strands literally melted together, it was really scary. The bonds of my hair had changed. It had matted so badly that the people at the hairdressers couldn't do anything with it so they had to cut it all off.

"Everytime I brushed it, huge clumps were coming out. I noticed I had a bald patch and thought 'what the f**k is going on?'."

Her hair would fall out in chunks each time she'd brush it, leaving her with bald patches (right). Source: Kennedy News and Media

Woman details 'traumatising' few months

The content creator, who is a natural blonde and has never dyed her locks, revealed she was losing so much hair she decided to shave it all off on Christmas Eve 2021. She'd already been "wearing wigs for months" but at this stage still hadn't found what was causing it.

"I had about one-fifth of my hair left on my head. The texture was horrible, it was so matted all the time. I thought 'let's start again, completely fresh'," she explained, describing it as "traumatising".

"I didn't go out for about two months. I didn't go shopping, I didn't go to the gym, I stopped socialising because I just didn't want to see anyone. I just felt so ugly."

Traveller learns the cause of her hair loss in Bali

It wasn't until months later in April 2022 that Hollie says an Australian hairdresser in Bali revealed her hair loss was caused by the water.

"She told me this happened to a lot of people. The quality of water here is so hard that it can really affect your hair and skin," she said.

'Scary' Bali ordeal leads to business venture

The ordeal led her to create a business of her own, Travel with Hair  a travel-friendly water filter designed for showers. Now sporting shoulder-length hair, Hollie vows to "always use a filter" and wants to spread awareness to others.

"It's scary. The last thing anyone wants is to come back from their holiday and find they've lost all their hair. I suffered something really traumatising and I can help people not go through the same thing," she said.

"If you're coming for 10 days, you should be fine. If you're coming for two weeks or longer it's quite important to get a filter. The filters are actually designed especially for the water found in South East Asia.

"It's small, you can carry it on the plane, and it's easy to attach, it literally takes 30 seconds. It'll also prevent any heartbreak, because who wants that when they go on holiday?"

Kennedy News and Media

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Explore the rich history and architectural beauty of Trinity Episcopal Church in this captivating tour given by Reverend Jimmy Abbott. Join J.R., Lisa, Erika, and Reverend Jimmy in uncovering the layers of history, from its founding in 1841 to its role in wartime and natural disasters.
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Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2024.
Wine bottles from the cellar Babaneuris Marani

Quelle: Roberto Magni Daniela Comi By Foto ReD Agency

The origins of winemaking in Georgia intertwine with the history of humanity itself. It is estimated that ancient Georgians began cultivating vines and producing wine around 6000 BC. Archaeological excavations have revealed ancient winemaking tools, grape seeds, and Qvevri, providing tangible evidence of the winemaking practices of the time. This South Caucasus country is considered the Cradle of Wine and has developed a unique method of wine production, which has been recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. The earliest evidence of winemaking in Georgia dates back to the 6th millennium BC, with the discovery of grape seeds and ceramic fragments containing traces of wine. These archaeological findings demonstrate that Georgia has one of the oldest winemaking traditions in the world. During the Soviet period, Georgian wine production suffered a severe blow due to the demand for large quantities of low-cost wine. However, in recent decades, there has been a revival of traditional techniques, with a renewed interest in quality and authenticity.
I have a dim and distant memory of two Bullseye contestants winning the darts game shows star prize, which, perhaps or perhaps not unusually, wasnt a speedboat but a car.

As it was surprise-revealed to them (and this is where I wish I could be more confident in my memory, which yesterday couldnt find my keys), I think one of the pair said slightly dismissively its a Proton!, to which host Jim Bowen replied it doesnt matter, its a car!.

Alas, my YouTube searching hasnt yet revealed whether my recollections are accurate. But how would you, do you think, feel about a Proton being revealed to you today? What does the name still mean to you, if anything?

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I ask because weve learned that Proton co-owners Geely and DRB-Hicom Berhad are planning to invest billions into the brand as part of a major global expansion that will bring it back to the British market.

Part of the appeal for the owners is that while Geely is Chinese, Proton is Malaysian. It builds its cars in Malaysia, and exports from that country have softer established trade and import links with Europe than those from China.

But are you excited? Were you excited when MG returned to the UK? How do you feel about Omoda and Jaecoo? I tend to think that names matter. That MG means something, that Proton means something and that I wouldnt fancy being the brand manager for Omoda and Jaecoo, which thus far dont mean a jot.

At the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed, we interviewed Victor Zhang, the UK chief of Chery, which will soon be trying to sell its Omoda and apparently more upmarket Jaecoo cars here.

In the UK, people still consider MG a British brand, right? he posited, which I think is true. And I tend to think that, in addition to the price offering, knowledge and memory of the brand, even if its as dim as my recollection of Bullseye, matters to buyers.

Last year, MG took a UK market share of more than 4%, outselling Skoda and Peugeot and almost matching Hyundai.

Story continues

Zhang doesnt necessarily think that having unknown brands is a problem, though. In five years time, he would like to have a similar market share to Kia, which is currently the sixth-best-selling brand in the UK, with a 5.7% share.

Possible? Its quite challenging, admitted Zhang, who thinks its best to aim high and miss than aim low and still miss. My initial reaction is to think Chery will miss by a lot, that names and brands matter. But is that because Im too invested in the business?

Last year, Cupra sold almost as many cars in the UK as Seat, the brand that spawned it. And what did the average British car buyer know of Cupra five years ago? Likewise Polestar, which last year sold almost as many cars here as Lexus and Jaguar?

I wonder if I, you and people in and around the business do sometimes lose sight of what the average car buyer thinks.

I remember (because I took notes at the time) a spokesman at the launch of a Kia Rio in the early 2000s saying that the Hyundai group wanted to be a top-five global car maker in short time. Pfft, I thought, having spent time in the Rio. And, of course, last year it was the third-biggest.

So while I think that established brands are important, and somehow it feels important to me that I care about it, maybe I think about it too much and all most buyers are interested in are product, price and pleasant dealer experiences.

That said, Im still not sure Id want to try to sell a Yangwang.

]]>
This is the second installment of a Sentinel series on the victim service funding shortage. The first story is currently on gjsentinel.com.

Victim service providers work with people amid trauma, destruction and turmoil; enabling them to recover and return to normalcy requires extensive time and resources.

However, the funding those providers depend on to acquire the proper staff and resources is rapidly drying up.

Without significant intervention, this funding decrease will cause a sizable impact on nearly every victim service nationwide.

The upcoming reductions primarily stem from the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant, a federal funding mechanism supported by fines and penalties deposited into the federal Crime Victim Fund.

According to Colorado Office of Victim Programs Manager Kelly Kissel, the amount of fees contributing to the fund has repeatedly dropped over the past several years, resulting in a historic and critical low for the 2025 fiscal year.

It is likely that agencies will have to cut staff and/or programming to keep their doors open during this shortfall, Kissel said.

She added that some initiatives have mitigated that cut: one-time budget increase requests from Colorado legislators and Gov. Jared Polis, the states use of the pandemic-era State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds and a federal VOCA fix from 2021.

Between those federal and state initiatives, Kissel said the initially anticipated VOCA funding cut has shrunk from 45% to 27%.

Kissel said the office is making several efforts to assist those depending on the grants, such as hosting webinars and sending regular newsletters that provide information and updates on the funds and potential alternatives.

Still, service providers through the community and Mesa County DAs Office anticipate the funding shrink will substantially affect their ability to provide victims of crime with the desired extent of care and depth of resources.

Hilltops Latimer House is one of the few providers with a guaranteed supplement for that budget cut, but that doesnt mean the service will leave the next fiscal year unscathed.

MORE THAN A HOME

The Latimer House is most commonly recognized as an emergency safe house for those escaping intimate partner violence. However, Hilltop Vice President of Community Programs Hollie VanRoosendaal said the program is much more than a safe house.

According to VanRoosendaal, the program offers crisis intervention through its hotline, medical case management, community case management, victim advocacy and prevention through education.

Were not here to steer them in a certain direction, VanRoosendaal said. Were here to inform them of their options and empower them so that they can make the decisions they want and need to make for their life.

While the safe house component of the Latimer House is located in Grand Junction, every other aspect of the program is offered to residents of Mesa, Delta, Montrose and Ouray counties. According to Latimer House Program Manager Kal Greenman-Baird, the large service area enables them to ensure as many people as possible are safe, regardless of whether they live in a rural area or not.

They said that in 2023, Latimer House staff answered 2,724 crisis calls and conducted case management for 138 adults and 64 children. Greenman-Baird said 80 adults and 53 children resided in the safe house for a total of 1,810 nights through the course of last year.

It really does fluctuate, but most of the time were at capacity, or when (the building is at capacity), were putting people in a hotel or motel to still meet that need because we dont want to turn people away, Greenman-Baird said.

For the Latimer House, VanRoosendaal said they are anticipating around a 40% cut, or $100,000 less, in next years VOCA funding. According to VanRoosendaal, they are largely pursuing supplementary funding through private donations and foundations. However, the Latimer House does have a last-resort backer: its parent organization, Hilltop Community Resources.

HOPE ON THE HILLS

Hilltop allows us to go into these negative budgets, VanRoosendaal said. They will handle it so that we can continue running these services because its the heart of what we do at Hilltop: its helping us create connections so we can build a community where everyone belongs.

Hilltop is a regional provider and coordinator of human services, ranging from infant and maternity assistance to brain injury care programs. Between its many programs, the nearly 75-year-old organization is well-recognized and supported by foundations, donors and grants in the Western Slope.

Still, VanRoosendaal said they would focus supplemental money from Hilltop on advocacy and direct support via staff while relying on private donors to fund other components, like supplies for participants.

She said that Latimer House guests dont always have their essentials after fleeing from a dangerous situation, so clothes or a cell phone can be a major help.

While the Latimer House isnt facing an immediate danger to its direct services, the same cannot be said about most of the other victim service providers.
Courtesy of Jason Hughes

Jason Hughes in his happy place on the river. The owner of Wet Dreams River Supply originally got into the supply business when he noticed gear that would often fail in the same way. I saw the function of the equipment, but I also saw where things continually had issues, Hughes said. Maybe one pad had the same failure all the time or I had an idea where we could just tweak a dimension or an angle. I decided to buy a sewing machine and started making stuff.
LOS ANGELESIt was unintentional, but Milo Miles picked the perfect last name for his porn persona. At a young age, he had already traveled more than many people do in a lifetime. Conceived in Connecticut but born and raised in Colombia, he then moved back to Connecticut (this time, actually outside of his mothers womb) before settling in his current home of Toronto.

And thats just one of many fascinating facts about the rising industry star, whose life seems destined for an upcoming Hollywood biopic filled with childhood power plays, internal struggle, a coming of age, and (yes, really) political intrigue.

I was a little troublemaker growing up. I gave everyone a hard time. I had so much energy, Miles says. It was difficult to get me to sit still. I loved hanging out with the neighborhood kids and creating little packs of children that would get into trouble on the street.

Like when he was 6 years old and broke into a construction site with his friends and started a paint fight.

For some reason, I was always the leader. One time, someone tried to replace me, so they threw a brick at my headlike an assassination attempt by one of the neighborhood kids, Miles laughs. My childhood was a little crazy. I was a little rascal.

While some of Miles family lived in Connecticut, most of them lived in Medellin, Colombia, where he was raised. He moved to Connecticut for a year around age 6, where he learned how to speak English.

But the problem was it was around when 9/11 happened. Life suddenly got more difficult for immigrants, and we feltat least my parents didthat there were limited opportunities for me and my brother. That was a big part of the reason we moved to Canada, Miles says. I learned at a young age how to adapt to moving around a lot. I went to like eight different schools before I graduated high school, and that made me a lot more resilient as an individualwhich has paid off into adulthood as Ive built careers.

Coming of Age

But Toronto presented a new set of challenges: Miles became the man of the house at age 13 after his parents divorced, and he lived with his motherwho worked all the timeand younger brother.

I didnt really have a male presence or mentor in my life during those crucial years of teenage development, so I tried to find other ways to kind of look for people who would be willing to offer guidance, Miles says. Thats why summer camp played such a crucial role in my childhood. For a few weeks every summer, I was able to hang out and learn things from camp counselors.

But it wasnt easy. Miles shares that he went through school with undiagnosed attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder until an assessment in college, when different testing consistently put him in the 95th to 99th percentile of ADHD severity.

To think that I went through school with undiagnosed ADHD makes sense, because I was the class clown growing up. I struggled a little bit academically, but I was able to make up for it in other ways. At the same time, I found myself being the teachers pet when I wasnt being the class clown, so it was almost like living a double life in school, he laughs. I loved the attention that teachers would give me, and I think over time that contributed to an overall passion to give back to the community.

That led to a stint on the school council. Miles also dabbled in track and field, but swimming was his go-to sport. I definitely liked being surrounded by hot guys in Speedos, he laughs. I play water polo on a league here in Toronto, and I feel like at least a quarter of the reason I joined the team was the communal shower thing.

Despite his active school life, Miles was always more interested in what was happening outside of it.

Part of that was also having been a closeted gay kid who was petrified of being outed or considered gay. There was definitely a persona that I was trying to adhere to, as not to create any risk or attention that could have negative consequences. I was dealing with a lot of internalized homophobia. It wasnt until I finished high school that I finally felt a bit more freedom to explore and be myself.

Miles majored in political science for his undergrad and then public policy for his masters degree. But it was the other lessons in life that proved more valuable.

College was when I was able to start embracing my sexuality and come to terms with what I wanted to do career wisewhat I thought was important, how I wanted to position myself, the types of people I wanted to surround myself with. And it wasnt until I finished grad school that I fully embraced my identity.

After his undergrad, Miles got elected to a four-year position on a local education board (serving as the youngest and only openly gay politician in his city), during which he also simultaneously started working for the federal government for two years. He says his years as an elected official were extremely rewarding, and hes grateful for the opportunities to have an impact on his community.

Im very proud of the work that I did. The experience was also very validating, because having achieved such success at a young age made me realize that Ive already proved to myself what I can doand Ive proved to others that I can do things.

But he soon arrived at a crossroads.

A Sense of Belonging

The year Miles finished his masters degree was a re-election year, so he had to decide if he was going to continue his career in politics or pursue other passions.

By that point, I had gotten a taste of what its really like to find a sense of belonging within the gay community, and to have actual gay friends and do a bit of traveling. I started to realize theres other things that I want to dothings that I can only do if I take time away from a career that was a lot more demanding than it needed to be. Theres also not a lot of money in politics. I was working like a dog for little financial return, he says.

I started realizing that what I thought would bring me happiness didnt bring me happiness. At the end of that term, I realized that there were other things that would make me happy, and I wanted to explore those opportunities. I really got a sense of what I was passionate about, and it created a foundation for me to springboard off of and try new things that could be considered morerisky.

Miles had considered modeling for years (When I was 15, I was messaging underwear brands, and I never get a response back, he laughs), and the idea of doing porn first entered his mind after turning 18.

But I was so far down the internalized homophobia spectrum that there was no way that that would even be a possibilityor be accessible to me. It wasnt until I had a career and was ready to move away from itand was in a place where I could consider things outside of the boxthat it seemed like a real possibility.

That was aided by the sudden rise in fan site platforms, so Milesbefore he left his political careerfinally made the leap. He dabbled with making content on OnlyFans and JustFor.Fans.

I didn't show my face for the first few months; I found it difficult to do because it was like trying to build a brand with both hands tied behind your back. So three months in, I decided to start showing face, and thats when I started playing things close to the chest because if it ever got out that I was sitting on a school board and doing porn on the side, Im easily the butt of the joke on Jimmy Kimmel and other late night shows, conservative media would have pounced on me. But I also knew if you dont take risks, you dont really get ahead in life.

A Gay Renaissance

Just reaching that point was a major victory for Miles, who for years had internal issues over his appearance.

My brother struggled with something similar, because were both short, and we both look younger than our current age. Growing up, we compared ourselves to the heteronormative definitions of what handsome was in Hollywood and pop culture. Im like, Im not a white guy, Im not tall, I dont have muscle, I dont look masculine. So I struggled with body image, thinking of myself as having no sex appeal or being cute.

Now with more life experience and reflection, Miles better understands why.

I wasnt a part of gay culture at the time. I wasnt exposed to the other definitions of cuteness. It wasn't until I moved to Toronto and started my gay renaissance that I had that realization. Hanging out with other gay people, the attention I was getting at parties was unique and specialI finally realized, Oh wait, I am cute! That happened a few months before I started my porn career.

And being a closeted person of color presented other challenges that he didnt realize he was facing at the time.

For a big part of my childhood, I went to a pretty white school. So being surrounded by so many white people, I never really saw myself as a person of color because I was pretty much at that point a product of a Canadian upbringing. So while my ethnicity was rooted in Colombia and I had the immigrant experience, by the time I was in middle school, I spoke perfect English. The only thing that would give me away was the color of my skin tone and my name, says Miles. Looking back now, there definitely was discrimination, but I was oblivious to it.

Miles started to become more aware of it later in his life in the working world, when he was expected to be the voice and leader whenever diversity issues arose.

In politics, for example, I had a platform when I got elected. I had all these things I wanted to do, but as soon as I got elected and we had to deal with more race- and equity-related issuesespecially around the George Floyd stuffthats when I realized, Ohpeople are seeing me as a person of color first, and I guess Im going to have to be that champion for now.

A New Family

After Miles realized this new venture could actually be profitable, he started contacting studios. Legrand Wolf quickly got in touch with him. And before he knew it, Miles was in a Fun-SizeBoys shoot.

I had the time of my lifeand realized this is what I wanted to do. The whole thing felt like a dream come true, but it also felt very surreal. Like, What is this life I'm living?! I fantasized about doing this when I was younger, but I never thought it would be possibleand then it happened.

Miles calls his experience with the Carnal family phenomenal, noting that he had no idea how much his world would change after becoming an exclusive.

Its been really nice to make new friends and work with some of my biggest porn crushes in the industry. Its been fun to work with passionate people who really enjoy the work. I am literally having the time of my life. I love that Im traveling a lot, and love that Im having amazing sex.

When Miles started working for Carnal, he didnt even consider the walls he was breaking down in a largely white industry.

I was like a kid in a candy store. But it wasnt until my studio content stated being released and I saw some of the things being written about my worklike how people would describe me as this Latino twink, or how they described my skin tonethat I was like, Oh, wait a secondI forgot. I am a person of color, Miles says.

I think at that time, I was one of the few people that had done work with Carnal who was a person of color, and when people started pointing that out, that's when I started reflecting, doing research and realizing that there really arent a lot of people of color in the industry, let alone people of color that are doing studio work.

Miles has grown to embrace it like a badge of honoraccepting a newfound responsibility.

My experience has been just as rewarding as anyone elses experience, with the bonus of also feeling a bit more proud that Im also helping to create more representation. Now Im a lot more mindful of wanting to remove barriers that prevent people from entering the industry. Were making progress.

And dont be surprised to see Miles clock in more travels soon. He looks forward to another big year with Carnal, and sees the inevitable outcome of his career as sex work advocacy. Just maybe somewhere a little moresouth.

The one thing I can do without is the cold. Its like my kryptonite, he laughs. But its been a good payoff. Im not bored with Toronto yet, so Im happy living here for the time being. But I might move to the United States at some point. If the opportunity comes up, I would seriously consider it. But definitely not Connecticut againits too cold!

Photography courtesy of Carnal Media
Western Colorado Pediatrics Dr. Megan Stinar gives a few words about the work that the Kids Aid program does to send kids home with meals over the weekend when out of school, and how they raised over $5,000 to donate to the program, photo taken on Aug. 22, 2024.
Taiwan sentences 8 military officers to prison for spying for China

By Adrianna Zhang August 23, 2024

The Taiwan High Court on Thursday sentenced eight Taiwanese military officers to prison for spying for China in exchange for financial gain. Experts say the case shows a shift in China's espionage tactics in Taiwan.

The sentences range from 18 months to 13 years in prison, making it one of Taiwan's largest espionage cases in years.

The court said in a statement that the defendants were "willing to collect intelligence for China that caused the leak of important secrets" and that "they were seduced by money."

An individual named Chen Yuxin was found to have contacted and recruited the defendants at key military sites to form a spy network for China. Chen was believed to have fled to China and remained there.

The defendants were also accused of planning to fly a CH-47 Chinook military helicopter to a Chinese aircraft carrier in the Taiwan Strait and of shooting a video indicating they would surrender to Beijing in the event of war, according to Taiwan's official Central News Agency. Beijing used virtual currency to make payments to the defendants, according to Bloomberg.

Timothy Heath, a senior international defense researcher with the RAND Corporation, told VOA in an email, "The impact could have been severe if Taiwan's authorities did not stop the espionage and defection of military assets like a helicopter in time.

"It is demoralizing to read of Taiwan soldiers voluntarily making videos that advertise their willingness to surrender to China," he said.

Other cases of spying

The sentencing of the eight military officers is the latest in a growing number of espionage cases authorities say were carried out by China on the democratically ruled island.

Russell Hsiao, executive director of the Global Taiwan Institute and senior fellow at the Jamestown Foundation, said the sentences on Thursday reflect a shift in tactics by Chinese intelligence.

"This group of convicted agents involves relatively younger persons than in prior cases that have often targeted older retirees from the military," he said in an email to VOA.

He said that while the older targets in previous cases were more driven by a mix of ideology reinforced by financial gains, "the motivation of these recent cases appears to be primarily financial."

He also noted that while the sentences handed down by the court are arguably more severe than in prior cases, given the relatively limited value of the intelligence collected and passed on by these agents, this may be intended to send a deterrent signal to would-be spies.

China claims democratic Taiwan as its territory and has ramped up military and political pressure in the Taiwan Strait in recent years. The two sides have been spying on each other for decades.

Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said, "This is not a foreign policy issue, but a question concerning the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, which belong to the one and same China."

Hsiao said there has been an upward trend in espionage cases involving Taiwan military personnel over the past decade.

Taiwan's Control Yuan, the government's oversight branch, confirmed this on Thursday. In a statement, it said that in recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of espionage-related cases uncovered by Taiwan's military security units, and the targets and forms of infiltration are different from those in the past.

The Control Yuan statement said that from 2011 to 2023, there were 40 espionage cases, three times the number from 2001 to 2010. Those cases involved a total of 113 military and civilian personnel, and many "top secrets" were leaked.

"This certainly shows that Beijing is intent on penetrating Taiwan's military and security services, so Taipei will have to stay vigilant against these efforts in the years ahead," Zack Cooper, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, told VOA in an email.

A Taiwanese sergeant who worked at a navy training center was indicted last month for allegedly photographing and leaking confidential defense information to Beijing.

In June, the court upheld the sentences given to two retired Taiwanese Air Force officers for helping or attempting to help China recruit intelligence assets in Taiwan.

"The cases show that Chinese-directed subversion and espionage remain major threats to Taiwan," Heath said. "The biggest impact is the continued erosion of the public's trust and even U.S. trust in Taiwan's government and military to control the threat of Chinese subversion and espionage."

In its statement, the Control Yuan urged Taiwan's government to increase its defense budget to help prevent China's espionage activities.

Taiwan's Cabinet announced Thursday that defense spending for 2025 would increase by 7.7% to $20.25 billion.

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Northern Viking 2024 exercises defence of Iceland

Government of Iceland - Ministry for Foreign Affairs

23 August 2024

From the Northern Viking exercise in 2022.

The Northern Viking 2024 defence exercise will take place in and around Iceland from 26 August to 3 September. The main purpose of the exercise is to practice the defence of vital national infrastructure, the sea routes around Iceland, search and rescue, host nation support and the coordination of relevant agencies in Iceland.

The exercise has been held since 1982 and is based on the provisions of the 1951 Defence Agreement between Iceland and the United States.

In addition to Iceland and the United States, troops, aircraft and ships from Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Portugal will participate in the exercise, as well as a part of the Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1).

The exercise will mostly take place in and around Keflavik Air Base. It aims to strengthen interoperability and force readiness between the U.S., Iceland, and Allied nations while enhancing the ability to command and control joint and coalition forces in defence of Iceland and Sea Lines of Communication in the Greenland, Iceland, United Kingdom (GIUK) gap.

The exercise is thus aimed at facing traditional military threats on land, at sea and in the air, but also multi-faceted threats and acts of sabotage, which will test the Icelandic authorities and the response capacity of Icelandic agencies.

Specific exercise events include an amphibious landing, expeditionary and construction capability, and search and rescue and humanitarian assistance.

A total of about 1,200 participants are expected to take part in the exercise, of which about 200 are from Iceland's Department for Defence of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Coast Guard, Icelandic Commissioner of National Police, Civil Protection and Emergency Management and other institutions.

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Navy's Marine Battalion Landing Team 1 deployed to Zambo City

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno

August 23, 2024, 3:27 pm

MANILA -- The Philippine Navy (PN) has deployed its Marine Battalion Landing Team 1 (MBLT-1) in Zamboanga City to boost security in Western Mindanao.

The MBLT-1 arrived at the Naval Station Romulo Espaldon in Zamboanga City on Thursday and was welcomed by Naval Forces Western Command (NFWM) head, Rear Adm. Francisco Tagamolila Jr., the PN said in a news release on Friday.

The unit will be placed under the operational control of Joint Task Force Zamboanga (JTF-Z).

"(Tagamolila) also commended MBLT-1's expertise and capabilities, stating that their presence significantly strengthens JTF-Z's ability to address security challenges in Western Mindanao," the PN said.

The MBLT-1 was previously deployed in Tawi-Tawi province, where it played a key role in external defense operations.

The team's reassignment to Zamboanga City marks a strategic move to position the unit in response to the region's evolving security needs. (PNA)

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Israeli strikes kill eight, including child, in southern Lebanon

Iran Press TV

Friday, 23 August 2024 6:46 PM

Israeli airstrikes have claimed the lives of at least eight people, including a child, in southern Lebanon.

Lebanon's Health Ministry announced the fatalities on Friday, saying the victims were killed in Israeli drone attacks that targeted various locations across the south.

It said an "Israeli enemy drone strike" had killed two people, including the seven-year-old minor, in Aita al-Jabal, with Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA) saying the aircraft had targeted a house in the village with "two guided missiles."

Israeli strikes also claimed the lives of six other people in different locations in the south. Five fighters of the country's Hezbollah resistance movement were among them.

Hezbollah has identified one of the victims as Mohammad Mahmoud Najm "Karrar", whom the Israeli military referred to as a "significant" member of the movement's Rocket and Missile Unit in southern Lebanon.

The regime has been conducting near-daily attacks against southern Lebanon since October 7, when it launched a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.

The attacks have reportedly claimed the lives of around 600 people in Lebanon.

Hezbollah has been responding with strikes aimed both at retaliating against the regime and supporting the war-hit Gazans.

The regime, which waged wars against Lebanon in 2000 and 2006, has repeatedly threatened 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, political leader of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas.

The resistance figures were martyred in separate assassination operations conducted by Tel Aviv in Lebanon's capital Beirut and the Iranian capital Tehran late last month.

On August 16, it revealed a new underground missile facility featuring a convoluted tunnel network, missile launchpads, and blast doors opening outwards, hinting at its operational readiness to stage the reprisal.

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Over a dozen Israeli troopers killed, wounded in resistance fighters' retaliation in Gaza

Iran Press TV

Friday, 23 August 2024 4:07 PM

At least three Israeli troopers have been killed and twelve others injured in fresh retaliatory operations by resistance fighters in war-torn Gaza.

The casualties were confirmed in what the Israeli military described as a "major security incident" in the Gaza Strip, Quds News Network reported on Friday.

Reports indicate that the operations were carried out in the al-Zeitoun neighborhood in eastern Gaza City amid fierce fighting.

Hamas resistance movement said its fighters engaged in fierce clashes with the enemy forces penetrating south of the Zeitoun neighborhood.

Earlier, Israeli media reported that five Israeli helicopters had landed in hospitals in the occupied territories carrying the casualties. The reports said between 10 to 15 IOF were transferred, including critical cases, after they had been targeted by anti-tank shells.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military on Friday updated its death toll of the Gaza onslaught, saying that 696 soldiers have been killed and 645 others seriously injured.

The occupation force said 4,357 soldiers and officers have also been injured, including 2,232 during the ground operation in the Gaza Strip.

It said 185 officers and soldiers are still receiving treatment in hospitals, including 21 seriously injured.

The regime is widely accused of under-reporting the number of its casualties in the Gaza war, even by the Israeli media.

In August, Yedioth Ahronoth reported that at least 10,000 Israeli soldiers had been killed or wounded while fighting in Gaza and that about 1,000 new soldiers were physically and mentally wounded every month.

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Israeli genocide displaces 90% of Gaza population, 250,000 in August alone: UN

Iran Press TV

Friday, 23 August 2024 3:52 PM

The Israeli military has forced 250,000 displaced Palestinians to move again and leave their areas this month, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says.

"During August alone, the Israeli forces have issued 12 evacuation orders - on average, once every two days - forcing as many as 250,000 people to move yet again," Muhannad Hadi, Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory said Thursday.

The statement noted that "successive mass evacuation orders issued by Israeli forces amid hostilities have displaced 90 percent of Gaza's residents since October 2023, often multiple times, exposing them to harm and depriving them of the essentials to survive."

The statement referred to the recent displacement of tens of thousands of civilians from four neighborhoods in Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis.

If evacuation orders are meant to protect civilians, "the fact is that they are leading to the exact opposite."

The evacuation orders are "forcing families to flee again, often under fire and with the few belongings they can carry with them, into an ever-shrinking area that is overcrowded, polluted, with limited services and - like the rest of Gaza - unsafe."

"Civilians are exhausted and terrified, running from one destroyed place to another, with no end in sight."

"This cannot continue," Hadi said, stressing that international humanitarian law should be respected.

The statement came as Gaza's Government Media Office said the Israeli regime is cramming 1.7 million Palestinian civilians into just one tenth of Gaza's overall area, amid its ongoing genocidal war on the besieged strip.

According to the media office, Israel has tightened the area it previously designated as the so-called "safe humanitarian zone" from 63 percent of Gaza in November to only 9.5 percent of the Strip.

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.

The regime's bloody onslaught on Gaza has so far killed more than 40,265 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 93,144 others. Thousands more are also missing and presumed dead under rubble.

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Hezbollah strikes Meron Air Base, destroys Israeli spying devices

Iran Press TV

Friday, 23 August 2024 10:35 AM

Lebanon's Hezbollah says it carried out a strike on the Meron military base, targeting Israel's spying devices.

In a brief statement, the resistance group said it destroyed espionage equipment inside the headquarters of the air surveillance unit and the air operations command at the base on Friday morning.

The operation, it said, came in support of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and their resistance fighters, and in response to Israeli strikes on the towns and villages in southern Lebanon.

Additionally, the Lebanese resistance fighters shelled the Israeli al-Malikiyah military site and precisely struck the designated targets.

The Lebanese health ministry announced on Thursday that 564 deaths and 1,848 injuries had been recorded from last October to August 20 as a result of Israeli raids and shelling of southern Lebanon.

The ministry said in a report that 84 percent of the injuries were males, and 93 percent of them were Lebanese nationals, adding that 53 percent of the injuries were under the age of 44.

A total of 42 percent of the injuries were caused by shock, 43 percent by an explosion, and 15 percent by chemical exposure, said the ministry.

A state of anticipation prevails in Lebanon following the assassination of senior Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr in an Israeli airstrike on a building in the southern Beirut suburb of Dahieh on July 30.

Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has vowed retaliation for the act of terror.

Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging deadly fire since early October last year, shortly after the regime launched the genocidal war against the Gaza Strip in response to a surprise operation by the Palestinian Hamas resistance group.

The Lebanese resistance movement has vowed to keep up its retaliatory attacks as long as the Israeli regime continues its war on Gaza.

Hezbollah officials have repeatedly said they do not want a war with Israel while stressing that they are prepared in case it occurs.

Two Israeli wars waged against Lebanon in 2000 and 2006 were met with strong resistance from Hezbollah, resulting in the retreat of the regime in both conflicts.

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Aug 22: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation

Iran Press TV

Friday, 23 August 2024 7:21 AM

By Press TV Website Staff

Amid Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed nearly 40,200 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 Thursday, August 22, are as follows:

Al-Qassam Brigades' operations on August 22:

- Targeted the Israeli military's command, control, and mobilization center in the "Netzarim" axis using a Zouari suicide drone.

- Detonated the entrance of a tunnel previously booby-trapped with explosives, targeting an Israeli force in the "Abla" area, west of Hamad City, north of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

- Detonated explosives against Israeli occupation forces in the Al-Ghanem neighborhood of Tulkarem, in the occupied West Bank, following the destruction of a D9 bulldozer.

- Engaged in fierce clashes with Israeli occupation forces in the Shuhada neighborhood of Tulkarem city, in the occupied West Bank.

- Targeted two Israeli military Merkava tanks with Al-Yassin 105 shells near the "Abla" site, west of Hamad City, north of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades' operations on August 22:

- In a joint operation with the Mujahideen Brigades, targeted the Israeli military's supply line in the "Netzarim" axis using 107-type rockets.

- Targeted an Israeli military command and control headquarters in the "Netzarim" axis with two 107mm rockets and heavy-caliber mortar shells.

- In a joint operation with the Mujahideen Brigades, targeted Israeli forces in Deir Al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, with mortar shells.

- Engaged in intense clashes with Israeli forces on the Muraba'a and Balawneh axes in Tulkarem, in the occupied West Bank, using machine guns and explosive devices.

- In a joint operation with Al-Qassam Brigades, targeted a D9 bulldozer in the Al-Akasha neighborhood of Tulkarem camp, in the occupied West Bank.

Al-Quds Brigades' operations on August 22:

- Targeted the Israeli military headquarters in the "Netzarim" axis with heavy-caliber mortar shells.

Martyr Omar Al-Qasim Forces' operations on August 22:

- Ambushed a group of Israeli forces in the vicinity of Al-Salam neighborhood, east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, detonating a large explosive device, followed by intense gunfire.

- In a joint operation with Al-Quds Brigades and Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, targeted Israeli military positions and supply lines in the "Netzarim" axis with heavy mortars.

- Targeted a group of Israeli soldiers and military vehicles around the Al-Qastal Towers, east of Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, with mortar shells.

Martyr Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades' operations on August 22:

- In a joint operation with the Al-Ansar Brigades, targeted the Israeli military's command and control headquarters in the "Netzarim" axis, in the northern Central Governorate, with heavy-caliber mortar shells.

Hezbollah's operations on August 22:

- Targeted the "Branit" barracks with heavy artillery shells.

- Launched an aerial attack using a squadron of drones on Israeli positions in the "Kiryat Shmona" settlement.

- Targeted Israeli espionage equipment at the Jal Al-Alam site with an attack drone.

- Targeted Israeli military positions around the "Metulla" site with appropriate weapons.

- Targeted Israeli military positions around the Ghajar site with appropriate weapons.

- Targeted the Al-Malikiyah site with artillery shells.

- Targeted the Al-Marj site with appropriate weapons.

- Targeted buildings used by Israeli soldiers in the "Metulla" settlement with appropriate weapons.

- Targeted buildings used by Israeli soldiers in the Manara settlement with appropriate weapons.

- Targeted buildings used by Israeli soldiers in the "Zarit" settlement with appropriate weapons.

- Targeted an Israeli military deployment around the "Avivim" barracks with appropriate weapons.

- Targeted the Al-Samaqa site in the occupied Lebanese Kfar Shuba hills with rockets.

Yemeni military's operations on August 22:

- Targeted the oil tanker 'SOUNION', owned by a company associated with the Israeli regime, in the Red Sea using ballistic and cruise missiles, after it violated the ban on entering the ports of occupied Palestine.

- Targeted the ship 'SW North Wind I', also owned by a company associated with the Israeli regime, with ballistic and cruise missiles while it was sailing in the Gulf of Aden, after it violated the ban on entering the ports of occupied Palestine.

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SNY Kidcaster Kingston Nahm-Korn offered some broadcasting advice. Photo Credit: SNY

Many 9 year olds are still mastering multiplication and memorizing U.S. state capitals.

Kingston Nahm-Korn is already mastering the art of MLB broadcasting.

The New York City fourth-grader won this years SNY Kidcaster competition and got to announce one inning of Monday nights game between the New York Mets and Baltimore Orioles.

Nahm-Korn earned rave reviews for his work in the booth. And he earned more big-league media experience Friday with an appearance on MLB Networks MLB Central.

Ron Darling (SNY analyst) said youre the best Kidcaster hes ever seen, show host Lauren Shehadi told Nahm-Korn. How did you get so good, Kingston?

I just tried to practice and I practiced and practiced and eventually got really good, Nahm-Korn said.

Nahm-Korn also offered some sage advice for aspiring broadcasters.

Dont eat too much before announcing and dont be a fan in the booth, he told the show.

Dont eat too much before announcing and dont be a fan in the booth.  SNY Kidcaster Kingston Nahm-Korn recaps his flawless inning of commentary and offers some advice to the #MLBCentral crew ahead of their call on tomorrow nights #MLBNShowcase! pic.twitter.com/QgFV7smPia  MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) August 23, 2024



Nahm-Korn got in a little dig at Mets star Pete Alonso after he advanced from second to third on a ground out during Mondays game.

Hes not too fast. But hes faster than a real polar bear, Nahm-Korn said, referencing the sluggers nickname.

Kingston says Pete Alonso is faster than a real polar bear   @HSpecialSurgery pic.twitter.com/DBwCDSLG2W  SNY (@SNYtv) August 20, 2024

We have had so many amazing kids, but Kingston Nahm-Korn was the best, Darling told The New York Post. Not only his play-by-play calls, but his humor on air and with us in the booth. Just an amazing kid.

[MLB Network]
Yemen army targets Israel-linked ships in Red Sea, Gulf of Aden

Iran Press TV

Friday, 23 August 2024 6:02 AM

The spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces says the country's naval units have carried out separate attacks on two ships affiliated to Israel as part of a maritime campaign in support of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Delivering a televised speech broadcast live from the Yemeni capital Sana'a on Thursday evening, Brigadier General Yahya Saree announced that the Yemeni forces had targeted Sounion oil tanker as it was sailing in the Red Sea waters.

He added that the ship was precisely struck, and it is now at the risk of sinking.

Saree noted that Sounion "belongs to a company that has ties with the Israeli enemy, and violated the ban decision of entry to the ports of occupied Palestine."

The European Union's Red Sea naval mission "Aspides" confirmed on Thursday that the Greek-flagged oil tanker was evacuated by its crew after being attacked in the Red Sea.

Sounion was targeted by multiple projectiles off Yemen's strategic western port city of Hudaydah on Wednesday. It was the third vessel operated by Athens-based Delta Tankers to be attacked in the Red Sea this month.

Delta Tankers said in a statement that the attack caused a fire onboard, which the crew extinguished.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said on Wednesday that the attack led to the loss of engine power. On Thursday, UKMTO said the vessel was at anchor and all its crew evacuated.

The vessel was now anchored between Yemen and Eritrea, a maritime security source told Reuters.

As for the second operation, the spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces said the SW North Wind I vessel, which belongs to a company that has business relations with the occupying Israeli regime, was hit precisely while sailing in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.

The UKMTO said the SW North Wind I vessel reported an explosion close to it that caused minor damage after an encounter with an uncrewed surface vessel (USV) 57 nautical miles south of Yemen's port of Aden.

Saree highlighted that the Yemeni forces would continue their pro-Palestinian operations as long as the Israeli regime sustained the war and a siege that it has been simultaneously enforcing against Gaza.

The regime's bloody onslaught on Gaza has so far killed at least 40,265 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured more than 93,000 others. Thousands more are also missing and presumed dead under rubble.

Since the onset of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, the Yemeni forces have carried out scores of operations in support of the war-hit Gazans, striking targets throughout the occupied Palestinian territories, in addition to targeting Israeli ships or vessels heading towards ports in the occupied territories.

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Harris says she will not cozy up to dictators like North Korea's Kim

The Democratic contender also took aim at Republican rival Trump, who has long boasted about his ties with Kim.

By Taejun Kang for RFA 2024.08.23 -- U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris said she will not "cozy up to" dictators like North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, whom she said was "rooting for" her Republican rival Donald Trump.

In her nomination acceptance speech in Chicago on Thursday, Vice President Harris targeted Trump, who has long boasted about his personal ties with Kim, saying North Korea knows that the former U.S president is "easy to manipulate."

"I will not cozy up to tyrants and dictators like Kim Jong Un who are rooting for Trump," Harris said on the fourth and final day of the Democratic National Convention.

"They know he is easy to manipulate with flattery and favors. They know Trump won't hold autocrats accountable because he wants to be an autocrat himself."

Trump spearheaded an unprecedented diplomatic push on North Korea when he was president in an effort to get it to abandon its nuclear and missile programs. He met Kim three times but the effort brought no tangible progress and North Korea has been relentlessly building up its nuclear arsenal and developing the missiles with which to carry the bombs.

Trump has recently referred to his efforts on North Korea, implying he could make progress if he returned to the White House.

Harris, clarifying her foreign policy vision, affirmed her commitment to reinforcing U.S. global leadership and standing strong with NATO.

"I will make sure that we lead the world into the future, that America, not China, wins the competition for the 21st century, and that we strengthen, not abdicate, our global leadership," she said.

"Trump, on the other hand, threatened to abandon NATO. He encouraged Putin to invade our allies, said Russia do whatever the hell they want," she added.

She was referring to Trump's remarks during a campaign rally, where he said that if reelected, he would "encourage" Russia to do whatever it wants to "delinquent" NATO members that fail to meet their defense spending commitments.

She also highlighted her determination to safeguard American values.

"As president, I will never waver in defense of America's security and ideals because, in the enduring struggle between democracy and tyranny, I know where I stand, and I know where the United States belongs," Harris said.

During the convention, Harris was officially nominated as the Democratic presidential candidate for the Nov. 5 general election.

Her nomination came after a tumultuous period marked by an assassination attempt against Trump last month and Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race just over three months before the Nov. 5 election, while China, Russia and North Korea are growing closer and strengthening their ties.

Edited by Mike Firn.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content August not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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UN experts challenge Vietnam's treatment of Montagnard minority

Rapporteurs call for a response to concerns following the trial of 100 people in connection with a 2023 attack.

By RFA Vietnamese 2024.08.23 -- United Nations experts are calling on Vietnam to answer their concerns over the trial of 100 Montagnards in January, in connection with a 2023 attack on government offices in which nine people were killed.

The special rapporteurs wrote to the government on June 14, and released the letter after a customary 60 days.

They said there were indications the Jan. 20 trial in Dak Lak did not meet fair trial standards under international human rights law.

They addressed allegations of illegal arrest and detention in connection with the case, torture and ill-treatment of Montagnard suspects, unexplained deaths in custody, allegations of terrorism, restrictions on freedom of expression and media participation, discrimination against indigenous peoples and repression of Montagnards' religion and beliefs.

Montagnard is a term coined by French colonialists to describe a grouping of about 30 ethnic minorities in Vietnam's Central Highlands. Since 1975, after the Vietnam War, the government has implemented a migration policy, bringing more than three million people to the region.

According to government statistics in 2019, indigenous Montagnards accounted for 39% of Dak Lak province's total population of 5.8 million.

The January trial followed attacks on June 11, 2023 when dozens of Montagnards, divided into two groups, attacked the headquarters of the People's Committee and the police of Ea Tieu and Ea Ktur communes in Dak Lak province. Four police officers, two commune officials, and three civilians died in the attacks.

The trial was attended by 94 defendants with19 lawyers, while six defendants were tried in absentia. U.N. experts noted that the six had no legal representation in court.

At the end of the trial, 10 people were sentenced to life in prison on charges of terrorism against the government.

Forty-three people received prison sentences ranging from six to 20 years on terrorism charges. A further 45, including the six tried in absentia, received prison sentences ranging from three-and-a-half to 11 years on terrorism charges. Two others were sentenced to prison terms ranging from nine months to two years on charges of concealing criminals and helping others illegally enter and exit Vietnam.

The rapporteurs said most coverage by Vietnamese media relied on information provided by the Ministry of Public Security under the direction of the Central Propaganda Department, leading to censorship and self-censorship.

"Senior Vietnamese government officials made highly prejudicial pretrial public comments about the defendants' perceived responsibility for terrorist crimes, and state-controlled media (including television) both reported on the defendants as 'terrorists' and published images of some of the recently captured defendants," the experts said in their letter.

The rapporteurs also questioned the use of a "mobile court" for the Dak Lak trial.

"Vietnamese law has never sought to regulate the use of mobile court procedures, such that they lack an adequate legal basis and are necessarily arbitrary in operation," they said, noting that the court didn't follow procedures prescribed by international law, which requires similar cases to be treated the same way.

"An apparent purpose of 'mobile trials' is to 'educate' the public about the law," the rapporteurs said.

"However, we are concerned that the proceedings did not perform a legitimate educative function but resulted in publicly embarrassing, shaming, humiliating or degrading the defendants and their families before other members of their community."

On Aug. 15, Vietnam's Permanent Mission to the U.N. requested a two-month extension to respond to the questions in the letter. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not answer RFA's calls seeking comment.

'Ethnic divisions'

The U.N. experts said they were also concerned the defendants didn't have adequate access to lawyers during their long detention and when the trial took place, only 19 lawyers were assigned to 100 defendants who didn't have the right to choose their own lawyers.

They also said there were indications that some arrests weren't based on reasonable grounds backed with evidence.

"We are concerned that the heavy security response after the 11 June 2023 attacks, including the state's co-option of civilian vigilantes (of majority Kinh ethnicity), may have resulted in the arrest of innocent people," they said.

"These risks were accentuated by ethnic divisions, with Montagnards being publicly blamed by state officials and media, encouraging potential profiling and arrests on the basis of minority ethnic status. We note that arrests of detention on discriminatory grounds are arbitrary and unlawful."

Vietnam accused all those involved of having links with U.S. and Thai-based Montagnard organizations who they say helped plan the 2023 attack..

On March 6, 2024, the Ministry of Public Security designated the group Montagnards Stand for Justice, or MSFJ, a terrorist organization. It was established in Thailand in 2019 with a representative in the U.S.

Vietnamese authorities said the group operates by spreading propaganda to recruit members, providing training and funding attacks with the aim of establishing an autonomous state in the Central Highlands.

The government said MSFJ organized the 2023 attack with the aim of establishing Montagnard state.

MSFJ rejected the charges saying they are aimed at preventing the group from documenting rights abuses against Montagnards.

Founding member Y Quynh Bdap, who has been living in Thailand since 2018, is on remand in Bangkok, facing possible extradition at Vietnam's request, to serve a 10-year sentence for "terrorism" in connection with the attack. Vietnam sent public security officers to attend his trial.

The rapporteurs said they were worried for the safety of Montagnards in Thailand given reports of illegal abductions by Vietnamese security agencies of activists such as blogger Truong Duy Nhat and freelance journalist Duong Van Thai.

They said international human rights law prohibits forcing people back to places when there are grounds for believing they would be at risk of "irreparable harm on account of torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, or other serious human rights violations."

They concluded by noting signs of continued discrimination against Montagnards in the Central Highlands.

"The excessive response to the 11 June 2023 attack, the unfair mass trial of January 2024, the listing MSFJ as terrorist in March 2024, and the alleged intimidation of Vietnamese refugees in Thailand in March 2024 seem to be part of a larger and intensifying pattern of discriminatory and repressive surveillance, security controls, harassment and intimidation against the Montagnard indigenous minority peoples."

Translated by RFA Vietnamese. Edited by Mike Firn.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content August not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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CIA Chief Meets With Kurti At End Of Kosovo Visit

By RFE/RL's Kosovo Service August 23, 2024

CIA Director William Burns held talks on August 23 in Pristina with Prime Minister Albin Kurti before concluding his two-day visit in Kosovo, the Kosovar government said in a statement.

Kurti thanked Burns for Washington's continuous support for Kosovo and voiced Pristina's dedication to deepening bilateral cooperation while reaffirming his country's unwavering commitment to democracy, rule-of-law, and Euro-Atlantic integration, the statement said, calling Burns' visit "historic."

On August 22, Burns met with Kosovar President Vjosa Osmani and the head of Kosovo's Intelligence Agency (KIA), Petrit Ajeti, according to a Facebook post by Osmani, who wrote on August 23 that her country's alliance with the United States was "a guarantee of security, peace and success."

Burns, who arrived in Kosovo after reported stops earlier this week in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Bulgaria, and North Macedonia during an unannounced tour amid concerns about U.S. relations with Kosovo and Russian influence in the Balkans, did not make any comment at the end of his visit.

According to the flight-tracking website Flightradar24, a U.S. military plane believed to be used to fly the CIA chief made stops in those countries although his tour was not confirmed officially by U.S. authorities.

Burns' visit to Kosovo follows concerns about the partnership between the United States and Kosovo, especially regarding the government's handling of issues related to the country's Serb minority.

In an interview last week with RFE/RL's Kosovo Service, U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo Jeffrey Hovenier said the U.S. administration had been "challenged" by Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti and his government and the "quality of our partnership is not what we would hope it would be on some of these issues."

The U.S. State Department has urged Kurti to return to "constructive and close engagement" with Washington, the European Union, and NATO.

Due to security concerns, the United States is also urging Kosovo not to reopen a bridge in Mitrovica which divides the northern city into an Albanian-majority southern side and a Serb-majority northern side,.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/burns-cia-kurti -osmani-kosovo/33090034.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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Harris Accepts Democratic Presidential Nomination Vowing To 'Stand By Ukraine'

By Todd Prince August 23, 2024

WASHINGTON - In a historic speech at the Democratic National Convention, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris promised to continue military support for Ukraine and strengthen NATO as she accepted the party's nomination for the 2024 presidential race.

The 59-year-old Harris, the first woman of color to top the presidential ticket of a major U.S. party, sharply criticized her Republican challenger Donald Trump for cozying up to authoritarian leaders.

Speaking to thousands of cheering supporters on the fourth and last day of the convention inside the United Center in Chicago, Harris, just a month after President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid and endorsed her to replace him atop the Democratic ticket, accused Trump of disowning Ukraine and allies and of denigrating the United States.

"As President, I will stand strong with Ukraine and our NATO allies," Harris, said on August 22 during the 40-minute speech.

"I will never waver in defense of America's security and ideals, because in the enduring struggle between democracy and tyranny, I know where I stand," she added, contrasting her position with Trump and running mate JD Vance, who have repeatedly questioned U.S. backing for Ukraine.

Harris, the first Black woman and first person of South Asian descent to accept a major party's presidential nomination, delivered an upbeat view of the United States and its standing in the world, a sharp contrast to the doom-and-gloom picture Trump painted at the Republican convention last month.

"I see a nation that is ready to move forward, ready for the next step in the incredible journey that is America," she said.

Craig Allen, a communications professor and political commentator at Arizona State University, told RFE/RL after the speech that while Harris was "inspiring," especially when she spoke about family and her personal journey, her comments on Ukraine weren't anything "that Biden hadn't already said."

"She did not elaborate on what she was going to do for Ukraine," he added.

Turning to the war between Israel and Hamas, which has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union, Harris vowed to work toward ending the conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people in the Gaza Strip.

The vice president said that as president she would "always stand up for Israel" and would "never hesitate to take whatever action is necessary to defend our forces and our interests against Iran and Iran-backed terrorists."

The address, watched by millions of Americans around the country, is the first time many voters have gotten to see the new Democratic candidate up close.

Harris emerged as the party's frontrunner on July 21 when Biden took the unprecedented step of bowing out of the race after winning the primaries.

The 81-year-old president faced intense pressure from senior party officials to withdraw after he appeared frail and confused during a June 27 debate against Trump, deepening widespread concern he was too old to serve another four years.

While Harris oversaw key issues such as illegal immigration and abortion rights, like most vice presidents, she had been largely out of the public eye during her more than three years in office.

In a recent poll, more than a third of Americans said they don't know Harris or her positions well.

Wearing a blue suit, Harris talked about growing up in a middle class family of immigrants and going on to become a prosecutor to protect people.

She laid out some of her priorities as president, including increasing the supply of affordable housing and protecting abortion rights.

"They are out of their mind," Harris said about the Trump's campaign stance on abortion.

The former president took to social media and then called into Fox News to comment further, to criticize the speech for not talking about China, oil fracking, or crime, issues that Trump has pushed consistently.

"It was a lot of complaining," he said.

"Why didn't she do the things that she's complaining about?"

Independent polls taken days before the August 19-22 Democratic National Convention showed Harris, who if elected would become the first female president in the history of the United States, slightly edging out Trump in a hypothetical national vote.

Analysts say even 100,000 votes across a few swing states could determine the outcome of the November 5 election.

Harris' campaign has enjoyed a momentum not seen by a Democratic candidate since former President Barack Obama's first bid in 2008, party members say.

Even though Trump and Biden easily won their respective primaries earlier this year, a significant number of American voters said they wanted new candidates on the ballot. The two men faced off in 2020.

Harris's entry into the race has energized some voters - especially younger women - who had shown little enthusiasm for either Biden or Trump, experts said.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/harris-dnc-speech- ukraine-nato/33089454.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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Israel, Egypt, US Hold Talks in Cairo on Philadelphi Corridor

Sputnik News

20240823

MOSCOW, August 23 (Sputnik) - 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 hostages.

Representatives of Israel, Egypt and the United States were holding talks in Cairo to reach an agreement on how to ensure security on the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip and reopen the Rafah border crossing, the Axios news portal reported on Thursday, citing US and Israeli officials.

Earlier this week, The Wall Street Journal reported that Israel insists on building a wall along the Philadelphi corridor on the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt to prevent Hamas from building tunnels.

At the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's adviser Dmitri Gendelman told Sputnik that Israeli Secret Intelligence Service (Mossad) Director David Barnea and Israeli Security Agency Director Ronen Bar arrived in Cairo to participate in a new round of talks on a Gaza ceasefire deal scheduled for the coming days.

 Sputnik

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On the ruling of Venezuela's Supreme Tribunal of Justice

US Department of State

Press Statement

Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy Spokesperson

August 23, 2024

Venezuela's Supreme Tribunal of Justice ruled yesterday that Nicolas Maduro won the July 28 presidential election against democratic opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez. This ruling lacks all credibility, given the overwhelming evidence that Gonzalez received the most votes on July 28.

The publicly available and independently verified precinct-level tally sheets show Venezuelan voters chose Edmundo Gonzalez as their future leader. The will of the Venezuelan people must be respected. Now is the time for the Venezuelan parties to begin discussions on a respectful, peaceful transition in accordance with Venezuelan electoral law, and the wishes of the Venezuelan people.

Continued attempts to fraudulently claim victory for Maduro will only exacerbate the ongoing crisis. The United States calls on Maduro to release those who have been detained for exercising their right to free expression.

The United States and the international community will continue to stand up for the Venezuelan voters whose will and rights have been continuously undermined since July 28. We stand ready to support an inclusive, Venezuelan-led process to re-establish democratic norms.

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Gaza: First polio case confirmed in war-shattered enclave

23 August 2024 - A 10-month-old girl paralysed by polio in Gaza has become the first confirmed case of the deadly disease to be detected in the war-ravaged enclave in 25 years.

Head of the UN World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed deep concern at the development and said that the infant, from Deir Al Balah, developed paralysis in the lower left leg but is now in a stable condition.

In an online post, Tedros added that the UN health agency had confirmed via genomic sequencing that the girl's infection was linked to the poliovirus type 2 variant, detected in environmental samples collected in June from Gaza wastewater.

High risk of spread

He said that given the high risk of poliovirus spread in Gaza and the region, the Palestinian health authorities together with the WHO and the UN Children's Fund, UNICEF, "are working to implement two rounds of polio vaccination in the coming weeks to halt transmission".

The UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, added that its medical teams will support the delivery of vaccines to its clinics and mobile health teams, in partnership with WHO and UNICEF.

UNRWA is the largest aid agency in the Gaza Strip and remains a major actor in the health sector, providing health services across 10 primary health centres and up to 100 mobile medical points.

The development comes as the UN's top aid official in the Occupied Palestinian Territory warned that mass evacuations in Gaza "choke (people's) survival" and continue to severely constrain aid operations.

During August alone, Israeli forces "issued 12 evacuation orders, forcing almost 250,000 people to move yet again", said Muhannad Hadi, Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Running into danger

"If evacuation orders are meant to protect civilians, the fact is that they are leading to the exact opposite," he insisted. "They are forcing families to flee again, often under fire and with the few belongings they can carry with them, into an ever-shrinking area that is overcrowded, polluted, with limited services and - like the rest of Gaza - unsafe."

Because of being repeatedly uprooted, people are also unable to access services "essential for their survival, including medical facilities, shelters, water wells and humanitarian supplies", Mr. Hadi continued.

Evacuation orders continue

WHO has procured more than $400,000 worth of infection prevention and control supplies, including chlorine tablets, hygiene products, and gloves. These items have already been delivered to five hospitals, with plans to reach two others in the coming weeks, the UN Spokesperson told correspondents on Friday in New York.

"However, we keep sounding the alarm that repeated evacuation orders continue to severely disrupt aid operations in Gaza", said Stephane Dujarric.

Meanwhile, the amount of food assistance that has entered southern Gaza in July was one of the lowest recorded in the past 10 months, according to aid partners.

"They warn that active hostilities, damaged roads, access constraints, and a lack of public order and safety have led to critical food shortages."

Acute malnutrition soars

The number of children in northern Gaza who were diagnosed with acute malnutrition soared by over 300 per cent last month compared to May - and by more than 150 per cent in the south of the Gaza Strip.

The World Food Programme (WFP) said as of a week ago, the agency had reached some 370,000 people with partial food parcels and wheat flour this month, Mr. Dujarric continued. However, distribution in Rafah is "unfortunately rare" as a result of fighting between Palestinian militants and Israeli forces.

WFP also distributed more than 4.4 million hot meals across Gaza so far this month, through around 60 community kitchens.

The humanitarian affairs agency OCHA also reported on Friday that in July, the percentage of humanitarian movements denied by Israeli authorities more than doubled from seven to 15 per cent, severely hampering aid efforts.

"This is despite the overall number of humanitarian missions coordinated by the Israeli authorities increasing from 414 in June to more than 540 in July."

OCHA said 43 per cent of nearly 150 planned humanitarian assistance missions to northern Gaza were facilitated by Israeli authorities this month. The rest were either denied, impeded or cancelled.

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Navy to Commission Future Littoral Combat Ship Kingsville

US Navy

23 August 2024

From Commander, Naval Surface Forces, Pacific

Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Kingsville (LCS 36) will be commissioned, Saturday, August 24, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. CDT in Corpus Christi, Texas.

The Honorable Russell Rumbaugh, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Financial Management and Comptroller, will deliver the commissioning ceremony's principal address. Remarks will also be provided by the Honorable Vicente Gonzalez, U.S. Representative, Texas' 34th District, the Honorable Michael Cloud, U.S. Representative, Texas' 27th District, Vice Admiral Brad Skillman, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Integration of Capabilities and Resources, the Honorable Paulette Guajardo, Mayor of the City of Corpus Christi, Texas, the Honorable Sam Fugate, Mayor of the City of Kingsville, Texas, and Michelle Kruger, President, Austal USA. The ship's sponsor is Katherine Kline, a member of the sixth generation of the King Ranch family, descendants of steamboat captain Richard King who founded the King Ranch, located in Kingsville, Texas, in 1853.

Kingsville is the 18th Independence-variant littoral combat ship (LCS) commissioned in the United States Navy, and the first U.S. Navy ship to bear this namesake. USS Kingsville highlights not only the city of Kingsville and Naval Air Station Kingsville but also shows the efforts of two communities working together.

The LCS class consists of two variants, the Freedom and the Independence, designed and built by two industry teams. Lockheed Martin leads the Freedom-variant team, the odd-numbered hulls, in Marinette, Wisconsin. Austal USA leads the Independence-variant team in Mobile, Alabama, for LCS 6 and the subsequent even-numbered hulls.

Littoral combat ships are fast, optimally manned, mission-tailored surface combatants that operate in near-shore and open-ocean environments, winning against 21st-century coastal threats. LCS ships integrate with joint, combined, manned, and unmanned teams to support forward presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence missions around the globe. The ceremony will be live-streamed at www.dvidshub.net/webcast/34091. The link becomes active approximately ten minutes prior to the event at 09:50 a.m. CDT.

Media may direct queries to the Navy Office of Information at (703) 697-5342. More information on the littoral combat ship program can be found at: https://www.navy.mil/Resources/Fact-Files/Display-FactFiles/Article/2171607/littoral-combat-ship-class-lcs/



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White House reports progress in Gaza cease-fire talks

By VOA News August 23, 2024

A White House spokesman said Friday there has been progress made in Gaza cease-fire talks in Cairo as intensive fighting continues between the Israel Defense Forces and Hamas militants in the embattled enclave.

In an off-camera briefing Friday, U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters the talks had been "constructive" and said all sides, including Hamas, need to come together to work toward implementing a proposed agreement.

Kirby said the talks were continuing Friday, with CIA Director Bill Burns and U.S. Middle East envoy Brett McGurk representing the United States.

Earlier Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said a delegation from the country was in Cairo to resume efforts to salvage a cease-fire deal. The talks include negotiators from Israel, the U.S., Egypt and Qatar, but not Hamas.

Earlier in the week, Hamas indicated it would not take part in this week's talks because the so-called "bridge agreement" reached last week by mediators contained additional demands from Israel it found unacceptable.

Kirby said Friday despite their objections, Hamas should be there. "We're in Cairo. They're in Cairo. We need Hamas to participate, and we need to get down to the brass tacks of locking in these details." He indicated the talks would continue through the weekend.

Kirby also said Friday the U.S. believes Iran is still prepared to retaliate against Israel for the killing of Hamas official Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last month, which it blames on Israel. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied the accusation.

The NSC spokesman told reporters the U.S. continues to monitor Iran and "Is not taking anything for granted."

Earlier Friday, the U.S. Defense Department released details of a phone conversation held late Thursday between Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant.

In a readout of the call, the defense department said the two discussed continued exchanges of fire on the Israel-Lebanon border between Israel and Hezbollah militants, and the risk of escalation from Iran, Hezbollah and Iran-backed terrorist groups across the Middle East.

In the statement, Austin reiterated that the U.S. continues to monitor attack planning from Iran and its proxies and has established a defense posture across the region to defend Israel and protect U.S. personnel and facilities.

The department said Austin underscored the importance of finalizing a cease-fire deal and the release of all hostages, including eight Americans, held captive by Hamas in Gaza. The statement said the two also discussed the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the need to address the potential spread of polio.

On Friday, fighting continued across central Gaza. Tank shelling and gunfire could be heard in a video recorded by The Associated Press showing deserted streets and buildings near eastern Deir al-Balah.

Also Friday, Israel's military released video it said shows a strike on a Hezbollah militant cell in southern Lebanon. The military said in a statement that a Hezbollah cell was planning to fire projectiles from the area of Tayr Harfa in southern Lebanon.

The army said that after the strike "a projectile launch was identified from the area, indicating the presence of weapons and rockets." Israel and Hezbollah have traded near-daily strikes for more than 10 months against the backdrop of Israel's war against Hezbollah's ally, Hamas, in Gaza.

The war began with the October 7 Hamas terror attack on Israel that killed about 1,200 people and led to the capture of about 250 hostages.

Gaza health officials say Israeli airstrikes and ground operations have killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children. The Israeli military says the death toll includes thousands of Hamas fighters.

Nearly three-quarters of Gaza's 2.3 million population is displaced, and nearly the entire population is at risk of famine, according to the United Nations.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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UN criticizes Pakistan's mass eviction of Afghans lacking legal paperwork

By Ayaz Gul August 23, 2024

A group of independent experts from the United Nations raised concerns Friday about Pakistan's large-scale deportations of undocumented Afghan migrants and called for measures to minimize the dangers faced by vulnerable people among them.

The U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination issued findings of its review of Pakistan at an online news conference in Geneva, saying it was "alarmed by the mass exodus" under the country's Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan.

Michal Balcerzak, the chair of the committee, said that a staggering 700,000 people, including 101,000 between April and June, were deported or returned to Afghanistan as part of the plan.

Pakistani authorities launched the deportation campaign late last year, attributing a surge in nationwide militant attacks to "elements" residing among undocumented foreigners, primarily Afghans.

"The committee highlighted reports of harassment, forced evictions and the detention of 28,500 Afghans from September to December 2023, which have driven many to return to Afghanistan out of fear," said Balcerzak.

He emphasized that Pakistan should assess "refoulement risks" and take measures to reduce dangers faced by vulnerable groups, such as the risk of unaccompanied children being trafficked or exploited.

VOA contacted but could not immediately receive a response from the Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson regarding the U.N. findings.

Islamabad rejects criticism of its deportations of foreigners lacking proper paperwork, stating that the campaign is not aimed at a specific nationality and asserting that most of the Afghan returnees departed voluntarily. However, the returnees and Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have questioned those claims.

Balcerzak stated that the U.N. committee "expressed regret for the lack of a legislative and institutional framework in line with international law" and recommended that Pakistan ratify the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Optional Protocol.

According to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, Pakistan is not a party to the global convention and has not enacted any national legislation to protect refugees nor has it established procedures to determine the refugee status of people seeking international protection within its territory.

Pakistan also hosts about 1.4 million official Afghan refugees fleeing years of war, persecution and economic hardship in poverty-stricken Afghanistan.

Moreover, nearly 900,000 Afghan citizenship card holders also live in the country. The migrant community received the identity documents several years ago after undergoing a registration process backed by the Pakistani and Afghan governments and financed by the International Organization for Migration.

Last month, Pakistan extended until June 2025 the stay of the 1.4 million Afghan refugees in the country legally.

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Sudan peace talks end with breakthrough on humanitarian aid

By Lisa Schlein August 23, 2024

U.S.-brokered peace talks on Sudan have failed to end the country's 16-month conflict but have succeeded in gaining greater humanitarian access to millions of people who have been deprived of food, medicine and other essential relief for many months, according to a senior U.S. official.

In wrapping up a first round of peace negotiations Friday in Geneva, Tom Perriello, U.S. special envoy for Sudan, told journalists "it is extremely important that we have found breakthroughs on humanitarian access for millions and millions of people in Sudan.

"But this is just the beginning," he said. "We need to see the results from the parties, whether that is on protection of civilians or humanitarian access and we need to continue to build where we can."

Search for humanitarian corridors

Over the past two weeks, representatives from the United States, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, the United Nations, African Union, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates have focused on reopening three humanitarian corridors  the Western border crossing in Darfur at Adre, the northern Dabar Road from Port Sudan, and the southern access route through Sennar.

Perriello said the three routes combined "would open up food, medicine and lifesaving services for 20 million people in Sudan," adding that negotiators got commitments from the two warring parties, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) to send aid through both the Adre and Dabar routes.

"We are in active negotiations with the parties on multiple potential routes for Sennar, which would open up another 11 million with access," he said.

Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, told journalists that United Nations and humanitarian partners continue to engage with the Sudanese authorities to ensure the sustained and scaled-up delivery of supplies into Sudan.

"This is crucial to meet people's most urgent needs at the height of the rainy and lean seasons in Darfur," he said, adding that the 15 trucks that crossed into Sudan from Chad via the Adre crossing this week "were a step in the right direction."

"But the fighting and deepening hunger crisis in Sudan means there has to be a steady flow of food, nutrition, water, sanitation, hygiene and medical supplies for people at risk of famine in more than a dozen areas," he said.

Hundreds of thousands on brink of famine

The World Food Program reports more than half of Sudan's population, some 25.6 million people, face acute hunger, including more than 755,000 people on the brink of famine.

The RSF sent a delegation to the talks. However, Sudan's military has stayed away because of the participation of the United Arab Emirates, which it accuses of supporting the RSF and of fueling war by sending arms to the paramilitary group.

While not responding to these accusations, Lana Nusseibeh, head of the UAE delegation, said that the position of her country has been clear.

"We see the future of Sudan as one that requires a peaceful civilian transition of power. We are dedicated and committed to engage in these talks and use all our efforts to bring about the cease-fire that the Sudanese people so desperately need and so desperately deserve," she said.

While acknowledging the difficulties of negotiating a cease-fire with only one of the warring parties present, U.S. mediator Perriello said it has been possible to make progress in other areas because "we were able to engage with the SAF many, many times a day virtually by phone."

The Geneva talks also have focused on implementing the Jeddah declaration, which calls for the protection of civilians and respect for international humanitarian law even in wartime. Both warring parties signed the agreement on May 11, 2023, but a week later they breached a subsequent agreement which called for a seven-day cease-fire.

Underscoring the importance of complying with the Jeddah declaration, Perriello said, "We have all seen the horrific atrocities of rape, sexual slavery, starvation used as a weapon of war, shelling, bombing and daily terrors that are realities of the Sudanese people."

He said the delegations have been working hard to achieve a compliance mechanism that can work for the existing Jeddah declaration and have presented that to the parties for consideration.

In the meantime, he said, "We got agreement from the Rapid Support Forces for a code of conduct that will be issued to their soldiers.

"It will have many of the basics of international humanitarian law, including protections of women and protections related to farming and the harvest so we can look at the issues not only of the current famine, but how we begin to help the Sudanese grow out of this."

The U.S. envoy said no formal date has been set for the next round of peace talks because "the urgency of this crisis is one in which we do not want to [be] constrained by the formal dates of when we can get on airplanes."

"We know that there are decisions today that are going to be the difference between whether we start to see hundreds of trucks go across Adre or whether the brakes are thrown on. That is a today thing and that is a tomorrow thing," he said. "We are very committed to seeing this as a 24/7 operation in the face of a famine that the world has largely ignored."

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Somalia: Ethiopian troops cannot be in AUSSOM, unless Somaliland deal nixed

By Mohamed Olad Hassan August 23, 2024

Somalia Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre said Thursday that Ethiopian forces would not be part of the upcoming African Union Support Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) unless Ethiopia withdraws from a controversial memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with Somaliland earlier this year.

"If Ethiopia does not withdraw from its MoU agreement with Somaliland, its forces will not be part of the upcoming operation. If they remain, it will not be under the African Union mandate," Barre said Thursday during a town hall meeting in Mogadishu.

Answering questions from a town hall audience in Mogadishu, Barre said that the Somali government has effectively outmaneuvered Ethiopia concerning its intentions to implement the agreement with Somaliland.

"Ethiopia is now in a precarious position regarding the MoU agreement. When we rejected it, they turned to Kenya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and eventually to our Turkish brothers. We accepted these agreements on the condition that if someone attempts to impose something on us, we will resist," he said.

"You are all aware that Somalis across the country, from Berbera to Hargeisa, Burao, and Borama, rejected the agreement. This (MoU) is not something Somalis anywhere can accept," the prime minister emphasized.

The MoU which triggered the ongoing dispute between the two neighboring countries grants Ethiopia access to 20 kilometers of the Red Sea coastline in exchange for the potential recognition of Somaliland's independence, which Somalia views as a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Due to its tensions with Ethiopia, Somalia postponed the next phase of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) troop withdrawal originally planned for July to September, citing security concerns stemming from Ethiopia's actions as the main reason for the delay.

Last week, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 2748, which allows ATMIS troops to stay in Somalia through December 2024.

Somalia says all Ethiopian troops should be out of the country by the end of 2024, especially after the expiration of ATMIS.

In response to Somali accusations, Ethiopia's foreign ministry asserted its right to self-defense.

"There is no power that can stop Ethiopia from taking necessary action without asking permission from anyone," stated Nebiyu Tedla, Ethiopia's foreign ministry spokesperson, during a news briefing last week.

"Ethiopia has been contributing troops to Somalia for over a decade. Ethiopia has security concerns arising from al-Shabab; therefore, Ethiopia is following the issue closely," Nebiyu added.

Despite ongoing efforts to resolve the conflict, including two rounds of negotiations facilitated by Turkey this summer, no resolution has been achieved. The core issue remains Ethiopia's refusal to annul the MoU with Somaliland, with a third round of talks scheduled for September in Turkey.

The international community, including the United Nations, the African Union, and the Arab League, has expressed support for Somalia's sovereignty and called for a peaceful resolution to the dispute. In the meantime, Somalia is coordinating with allies, including Egypt and Djibouti, to ensure that the new peacekeeping mission, AUSSOM, effectively addresses the nation's security needs without Ethiopian involvement.

At a news conference in Mogadishu on Thursday, Somalia's minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, accused Ethiopia of derailing Turkish mediation efforts to solve the dispute.

"Ethiopian leaders' recent remarks could exacerbate the existing situation and hinder progress towards Turkish diplomatic efforts to resolve the issue at stake," Fiqi said. "I want to clarify that Somalia is only open to beneficial agreements with Ethiopia. We will not tolerate any military incursions or attempts to establish control over our waters or land, whether temporary or permanent," he warned.

Ethiopian military presence

Ethiopia and Somalia have a long history of territorial and political disputes, which stem from the Ethiopian Empire's expansions into the Somali-inhabited Ogaden region during the late 19th century.

The Ogaden War, also known as the Ethio-Somali War, was a military conflict fought between Somalia and Ethiopia from July 1977 to March 1978.

Somalia collapsed into anarchy following the overthrow of the military regime of President Siad Barre in 1991, creating fiefdoms controlled by clan militias and Islamic fundamentalist groups.

Ethiopia's first military border crossing into Somalia began in 1997, to support Somali militia allies in the country's Gedo region to drive out Islamic fundamentalist group Al-Ittihad Al-Islamiya.

They again invaded Somalia in 2006 during the rise of Union of Islamic Courts, which ruled large swathes of south and central Somalia for six months.

Several thousand Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) troops, with tanks and heavy military hardware, went into Baidoa city located in the Bay region, southwest of Somalia, citing national security concerns aimed at preventing the creation of a hard-line Islamist state on its borders after Islamist insurgents had won control of most of the country.

The troops then spread across the country and engaged in a deadly battle with Islamists and nationalist groups in the country's capital, Mogadishu, before leaving the country on Jan. 2, 2009.

Speaking in Addis Ababa at the time, then Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said that there would be no turning back.

"There is no need to rush, and I suspect our troops would want to pull out without rushing," said Zenawi. "That said, the withdrawal process has begun and there is no turning back."

The Ethiopian troops re-entered Somalia in January 2012 and became part of the AU mission, ATMIS.

Under the mission, at least 3,000 Ethiopian soldiers officially operate as part of an African Union peacekeeping mission fighting al-Shabab, but another 5,000 to 7,000 Ethiopian soldiers are stationed in several regions under a bilateral agreement.

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Trials ordered in 20-year-old Thailand military, police 'massacre'

By Zsombor Peter August 23, 2024

A court in Buddhist-majority Thailand decided Friday to try seven former military and police officials for their roles in the deaths of 85 Muslim men at a protest that took place 20 years ago.

The seven are charged with murder, attempted murder and unlawful detention. The statute of limitations on the charges expires in late October, exactly two decades after the events of the so-called Tak Bai Massacre.

"I feel relieved that the duty of the lawyers and the duty of the plaintiffs is accomplished," Pornpen Khongkachonkiet, a human rights activist and lawyer representing one of the plaintiffs in the case, told VOA after the court announced its decision.

"We [were] hugging each other ... and I think they are very happy," she said of the other plaintiffs as well.

Lawyers for the accused could not be reached for comment.

The case concerns the events of October 25, 2004, in Tak Bai district, Narathiwat province, in Thailand's predominantly Muslim and ethnic Malay deep south.

Soldiers and police shot and killed seven people while responding to a protest demanding the release of suspected Islamic militants. Human rights groups say the officers forced many more protesters into police trucks destined for a military camp some 140 kilometers away, leaving them packed inside and forced to lie on top of one another for hours. Seventy-eight of them died.

A state inquest later determined that they had suffocated. It also concluded that security forces used inappropriate measures to disperse the protesters and that commanding officers failed to adequately supervise the movement of the detainees. But authorities did not pursue charges and police claimed force majeure, a legal term referring to events beyond their control.

No one was ever previously charged over the deaths or injuries.

Hoping to change that, 48 survivors and relatives of the dead filed a lawsuit with the Narathiwat provincial court in April against nine officers, all since retired, involved in the security forces' response to the protest.

Pornpen said the court on Friday decided against taking two of the nine to trial on the grounds they were not responsible for use of force.

Even so, she said the court's decision to put the other seven on trial was a welcome surprise in a country where senior police, military and government officials are widely seen to act with impunity.

"We had so many times in history that the call for democracy, call for change, anything like [a] protest always ends up with violence and no one is [held] responsible," she said. "So, to bring the perpetrator to justice according to Thai law is not easy, and I think we did it."

In a statement, Amnesty International called Friday's decision an overdue but "crucial first step towards justice" for those who suffered what it called the "excessive use of force" at the 2004 protest.

"The victims and their loved ones have spent almost two decades waiting for justice and accountability for the heinous crimes committed," the rights group said. "Thai authorities must immediately enforce the court decision and take necessary measures to ensure the case's statute of limitations does not expire."

Amnesty International said at least one of the defendants must be brought to court to hear the charges by October 25 for the case to proceed to trial.

Pornpen confirmed that the defendants must still appear in court before the statute of limitations runs out for the trial to proceed.

She said the court would issue subpoenas ordering the accused to appear on September 12, but was concerned they may try to stall and avoid an appearance until the statute of limitations runs out.

Anchana Heemmina, director of the Duay Jai Group, a non-profit that monitors human rights abuses in Thailand's deep south, said she also worried the accused may yet avoid a trial.

But she welcomed Friday's decision nonetheless and said it could begin to restore some faith in the courts among southern Thailand's Muslims.

"They feel like the Thai government, or the military don't want to protect Malay Muslims who are civilians in the country and feel like we are the second class," said Anchana.

"Now, for today, for the Tak Bai case, it's a little bit first step that makes the people believe or trust the justice system," she added.

Once the seat of a Muslim sultanate, the southern provinces of modern-day Thailand were deeded by the British to the then-kingdom of Siam in 1909. Rejecting the transfer, several armed ethnic Malay Muslim groups have waged a long-running guerrilla war against the Thai state in hopes of winning independence for the provinces.

More than 7,000 people have died in related violence since fighting intensified in 2004.

While bombings, assassinations and shootouts across the south continue to occur alongside police raids and arrests, the pace of the violence has waned over the years, and the government is in talks with some of the rebel groups over terms of a possible cease-fire.

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On-the-Record Press Gaggle by White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby

August 23, 2024

10:35 A.M. EDT

MODERATOR: Good morning, everyone. Thanks so much for joining. I'll turn it over to Kirby for a few words at the top, and then we'll take your questions.

MR. KIRBY: Hey, guys. Happy end of the week here. I don't really have a whole lot to say at the top except to note that tomorrow is Ukraine's Independence Day, 33 years. And I expect you'll hear from us officially on this a little bit later today. But obviously, we continue to support Ukraine's fight for their independence, an independence that they have had to defend pretty mightily here over the last two and a half years.

And so, I suspect that as we officially mark their independence day  and again, I think you'll hear more from us a little bit later today  you'll see that we will back up that philosophical support for their independence with more tangible support as well, including more security assistance coming to Ukraine to help them as they defend themselves.

And again, I think you'll hear more from us and more from the President later today.

With that, I can take some questions.

MODERATOR: First up, we'll go to the line of Aamer Madhani.

Q Hey. Thank you both. Could you just give us an update on Brett's meetings in Cairo and how they're going and where things stand?

And then, related to that, is there plans for some sort of, I guess, like high-level summit led by Director Burns in the region on Sunday?

MR. KIRBY: I think all that is kind of mixed in together with your first question, Aamer. They had constructive discussions last night in Cairo, and those discussions are going to continue today. Director Burns is there today to join those discussions.

So, the process is actually moving forward. It's moving forward in the way we had outlined earlier in terms of these next rounds of talks. Now, what's critical is that everybody participate in these talks and that sides continue to work towards implementation; that everybody comes to these discussions with an eye towards actually closing out these implementation details and getting after it.

And so, again, early signs in Cairo  and these are early signs  is that the discussions have been constructive. But there's more talks to come here over the course of the weekend. As I said, Director Burns is there. Brett McGurk is there. And so we'll be staying in touch with them, of course, over the next couple of days and seeing how things shake out.

But things are moving forward. There's been press reporting out there that, you know, they're near collapse. That is not accurate. There has been progress made. We need now for both sides to come together and work towards implementation.

MODERATOR: Next up we'll go to Steve Holland.

Q Thanks, John. Just following up on that, is Israel still insisting that it be allowed to keep forces along the Philadelphi land corridor between Egypt and Gaza?

MR. KIRBY: Yeah, look, Steve, I'm not going to get into the details of the implementation. I think you guys can understand why I wouldn't do that. But what I can say is that when you go back to the 27 May text, there's clear responsibilities for both sides here. And what we want to see is that both sides meet those commitments, meet those requirements.

And as I said earlier, the preliminary talks that we had going into Cairo last night were constructive in nature. So we want to see that same, sort of, momentum continue here over the next couple of days. But I don't think it would be useful for me to get into the details of it.

The last thing I want to just say, and I know this will just sound like things I've said before and might be easy for reporters to dismiss, but I hope you don't: Think about what this deal will do for the people of Gaza. It gets them a period of calm and a potential end to the war and the violence and the bloodshed. It also gets them, because of a stop in the fighting, an incredible opportunity for all of us  and I mean all of us, including the United States  to dramatically increase the humanitarian assistance that's getting in, all the things that they still so desperately need. And it gets those hostages home with their families.

And I know I say all these three things all the time, but I just hope you don't drive past that, because, you know, we're at a point here where if these talks do go well, and if both sides really come to the table and are willing to talk about implementation, that that  that's a reality, or that could be the reality. And that's what we're going to keep driving at.

MODERATOR: Next up we'll go to the line of Tamara Keith.

Q Hi. Thank you so much for doing this. Two questions. When you said we're going to hear from the President later, are we going to see the President later, or are you saying that there's going to be a paper statement?

And regarding Jake Sullivan's travel to China, is that any sort of prelude to a possible POTUS-Xi meeting before the end of the administration?

MR. KIRBY: It'll be a paper statement.

And as for Jake's trip to Beijing, this was a follow-on coming out of the Woodside summit back in November of last year. The idea of having Jake head over to Beijing actually came out of that meeting. And so, this has been months and months in the planning. And it's also reciprocal to  I think you know Wang Yi came here in October, so it's reciprocal to that.

There is an awful lot on the agenda. I wouldn't speak to any specific outcome, but I do want to stress that we do expect that Jake will want to talk to his Chinese counterpart about things that we have begun to work together on  the mil-to-mil communication channel, fentanyl precursor preventative measures.

And I think Jake will also talk to Minister Wang about things, obviously, that, you know, we're still struggling with, in terms of this relationship with China: Chinese companies support Russia's war in Ukraine; tensions in the South China Sea, certainly with the Philippines; tensions across the Taiwan Strait. All of that will come up as well.

But as for whether this lays the tracks for another meeting with President Xi, I just don't have anything specific to point to with respect to that. I mean, these are, as you know, two leaders that have spent a lot of time with one another, and it's an important  most important bilateral relationship in the world right now. And we're going to keep trying to manage this relationship in a way that's consistent with our national security priorities.

MODERATOR: Next up we'll go to the line of Nadia.

Q Thank you, Eduardo. Good morning, John. A couple of questions. When you say that both sides need to compromise, was it a mistake or a rush decision to say that Netanyahu has accepted the deal, as Secretary Blinken said?

And do you believe that an Iran potential attack is on hold now, as long as that negotiation is still going on?

And finally, there were some reports that Sinwar wanted a guarantee during this deal that his life will be spared if they agreed into the deal. Do you have any confirmation on that? Thank you.

MR. KIRBY: I don't have any confirmation on that last claim.

On your second question about Iran, we continue to monitor this every single day. As you know, we've added additional military forces in the region, improved our deterrent posture, and we're not taking anything for granted when it comes to being able to protect our troops and our facilities, and also to help Israel defend itself.

We haven't seen, obviously, Iran attack yet, but we're not taking anything for granted. We're laser-focused on making sure we can defend ourselves and defend Israel if it comes to that. Hopefully it won't come to that.

At the same time, we're laser-focused on trying to get this deal in place, which is why we're back again in Cairo, having these discussions.

And then that goes to your first question. Secretary Blinken's trip was an important muscle movement in this process. I can't say it better than him. He came out of the meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu and said that the Prime Minister has accepted the bridging proposal, and that's accurate. But what we've got to do is get to the details of how you implement that proposal.

So the major muscle movement, if you will, is the bridging proposal itself, but the minor muscle movements are just as important, and that's what we're trying to work out through Cairo. And as I go back to what I said before, it's important that both sides are willing to move forward on those sorts of details.

MODERATOR: Next up we'll go to Nick Schifrin.

Q Hey, guys. Thank you. Happy Friday. John, just to follow up to that, is there any assessment that Iran has changed its plans in terms of an attack? You've stated publicly that Iran made preparations for an attack. Have they undone any of those preparations? And is the threat remains high or higher  I guess it's up to you, whether you're able to characterize it  of a Hezbollah attack on Israel? Thanks.

MR. KIRBY: Yeah, look, Nick, you know I'm not going to get into intel assessments one way or another. I mean, it's still a very perilous situation. I can't predict what Iran is going to do or not going to do. We believe they're still prepared to do something if, in fact, they choose to do something, and that's about as far as I'll go.

Therefore, we got to be prepared, and we are. We have bolstered our military capabilities in the region, and we're watching it every single day. So, taking nothing for granted here.

And as for Hezbollah  again, I won't get into a specific intelligence assessment, but we certainly have to take seriously the rhetoric coming out of Hezbollah. We know that there's an exchange of fire almost every single day up there that also you just can't blow off.

So, no  I can't point to anything specific at this time that would connote some sort of imminent action. But to foot-stomp what I said before, we're taking this potential threat very seriously, as you would expect we would.

MODERATOR: Next up we'll go to the line of Michael Hernandez.

Q Hi, John. Thank you for taking the question. I wanted to ask about whether or not the administration believes that Netanyahu is negotiating in good faith. I know there have been statements out of Israel, including from opposition leader Yair Lapid, indicating that that is not the case. So what is the administration's take on that?

MR. KIRBY: Well, I would just say that we've had constructive conversations with our Israeli counterparts in the last few days, and that includes, quite frankly, the phone call the President had with the Prime Minister just a couple days ago. I would characterize those as constructive conversations.

But as I said before, I'm happy to repeat: We're in Cairo. They're in Cairo. We need Hamas to participate, and we need to get down to the brass tacks of locking in these details. And that's what we're focused on here in the next coming days here, over the course of the weekend.

MODERATOR: Next up we'll go to Shaun Tandon.

Q Hey, John. Thanks for this. Can I ask you two different issues? The Emiratis, the UAE, have accepted an ambassador from the Taliban. I believe it's the first country since 2021, after China, to do this. The UAE, of course, has a good relationship with the U.S. Do you have any take on this? Have there been any communications on it?

And could I also ask you for your take on Prime Minister Modi's visit to Ukraine, talking about some sort of peace initiative, peace settlement? Do you see this as potentially being productive or not? Thanks.

MR. KIRBY: Look, on the UAE, every country has to decide for itself what its diplomatic relationships are going to look like and who they're going to recognize and why they're going to recognize it. And we'll let the UAE speak to that. Obviously, you know we have not recognized the Taliban, and there are no plans for us to do so. But I can assure you that this isn't going to change our relationship with the UAE.

On your  what the hell was your second question? Oh, it was on Modi, right?

Q Modi, yeah. Modi going to Ukraine.

MR. KIRBY: Yeah, sorry about that. I should have been writing this stuff down, but I didn't do it.

You know, look, my answer on that is not dissimilar from my answer to your first question: that every country has to decide for itself what diplomatic conversations they're going to have.

And as I've said many, many times when it comes to the Ukraine war: If there's another country out there that is willing to be helpful in terms of trying to end the war in Ukraine, we welcome that. But by being helpful, we mean it's got to include conversations with the Ukrainians, and it's got to start from an understanding of where President Zelenskyy is on this.

We say it all the time, and it sounds like I'm slapping a bumper sticker on it, but I don't mean to: Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.

And so, Prime Minister Modi  India is a strong partner for the United States, and the Prime Minister is as well. And, you know, him going to Kyiv and having conversations with President Zelenskyy about where this all ends and how it ends  if that can be helpful to getting us to an end to the conflict that comports with President Zelenskyy's vision for a just peace, well, then we think that would be helpful.

MODERATOR: Next up we'll go to the line of Joshua Keating.

Q Hi, John. Thanks so much. I want to ask about remarks that President Zelenskyy made earlier this month  earlier this week, sorry  which he said that the Kursk incursion showed that concerns about red lines had been illusory and that there was a philosophical shift taking place amongst Ukraine's Western allies. Do you think that the Kursk incursion has changed any of your thinking about escalation risks or so-called Russian red lines?

MR. KIRBY: We've been watching escalation risks since the beginning of this conflict, and that ain't gonna change. We're always going to be concerned about the potential for the aggression in Ukraine to lead to escalation on the European continent. That's something that we've been watching, again, since the beginning, and we still do. And I think it's too soon to know right now about what's going on in Kursk, you know, what that looks like.

I'll tell you, the Russians have flowed some resources to that area to try to thwart what the Ukrainians are doing. And so, how effective that's going to be, what the outcome that's going to be, we don't know yet. Therefore, it's too soon to know whether what's going on in Kursk is  with a potential impact that that could have in terms of escalation. But it is something that we remain concerned about.

MODERATOR: Next up, for our final question, we'll go to the line of David Sanger.

Q Thanks, John, for doing this. A little either confused or behind the eight ball here on where our current rules are on the use of U.S. weapons in Russian territory. So, when we last left this, the President had made a decision, of course, to allow Ukraine to use U.S. weapons (inaudible) in the Kharkiv area. Now we are seeing some reports of use of HIMARS in their new operation. Has the area been expanded by the U.S., or are the Ukrainians just doing this on their own accord?

MR. KIRBY: I can't confirm the reports of HIMARS. I can tell you that there's been no change to the guidance that we've given the Ukrainians about where and how they can use U.S. weapons to defend themselves just across the border.

Q Are you examining a question of whether or not they are using these in the current operation?

MR. KIRBY: We've been having routine conversations, as you might expect we would, dang near every day here with the Ukrainians about what they're doing.

As you know, I mean, they are allowed to use U.S.-provided material to defend themselves against Russian aggression. And as you know, the President allowed them to use U.S. munitions across that border to deal with imminent threats. But we're still having conversations with them. I have no policy leanings one way or another to speak to today, and certainly no new policy decisions that have been made.

MODERATOR: Thanks, everyone. That's all the time we have for today. Feel free to reach out to the team for any questions we couldn't get to. Talk to you all soon.

10:55 A.M. EDT

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Egyptian, U.S. presidents discuss Gaza ceasefire talks

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 10:40, August 24, 2024

CAIRO, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and U.S. President Joe Biden discussed the Gaza ceasefire negotiations on Friday during a phone call, focusing on the mediation efforts led by their countries.

The Egyptian Presidency stated that the two leaders reviewed the "intensive" efforts to secure a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and facilitate a hostage exchange. Sisi and Biden underscored the need for all parties involved to overcome obstacles and demonstrate flexibility to reach an agreement.

Sisi highlighted the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to prevent further regional military escalation.

On Thursday, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office confirmed the arrival of the heads of the Israeli Security Agency and the Mossad intelligence service in Cairo to participate in the negotiations for a hostage release deal.

Last Friday, the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, the mediators of the Gaza ceasefire talks, announced the conclusion of two days of discussions in Doha. They plan to reconvene in Cairo within a week to finalize a deal aimed at ending the conflict.

The mediators characterized the talks as constructive and conducted in a positive environment. However, Hamas, which did not participate directly in the Doha negotiations, accused Israel of adding new conditions to a previously supported proposal and expressed skepticism about the negotiations' outcome.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 23 August 2024 - Day 912

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that today is the first anniversary of the death of several key Wagner Group leaders, including its owner Yevgeny Prigozhin and founder Dmitry 'Wagner' Uktin, who were killed in a plane crash almost certainly due to an explosion on board. Since then, the Wagner Group has become increasingly fragmented, with many surviving senior figures leaving the group.

Andrei 'Sedoi' Troshev, Wagner's former chief executive, joined the Russian Ministry of Defence (MOD), likely as part of the Russian MOD's Redut Private Military Company (PMC), tasked with forming Volunteer Corps units to fight in Ukraine. Alexandr 'Ratibor' Kuznetsov, former commander of Wagner's 1st Assault Detachment joined Chechen Special Forces (Spetsnaz) volunteer unit 'Akhmat'. Boris 'Zombi' Nizhevenok, former commander of Wagner's 3rd Assault Detachment, assumed leadership of the 'Vostok-V' volunteer unit in May 2024.

Numerous veteran Wagner personnel have followed these and other former Wagner leaders in transferring from the group. In comparison to its peak personnel count of around 50,000 in 2023, Wagner now highly likely maintains around 5,000 total personnel across its residual deployments in Belarus and Africa.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Defense Forces of Ukraine continue to repel attacks. The situation in the Pokrovsky direction remains tense. Russia is carrying out active offensive actions, in an attempt to improve the tactical position, Ukrainian defenders are causing the enemy significant losses in live strength and technique.

So far, 125 combat clashes have taken place in the current 24 hours. On the territory of Ukraine today, Russia launched two missile strikes with the use of three missiles, 52 aviation strikes, dropping 72 cab. In addition, the zombies launched 479 kamikaze drones for strikes and carried out more than 3,000 shells at the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements using different types of weapons.

In the Kharkiv direction, Russian terrorists are trying to appease Ukrainian units in the areas of Vovchansk and Glybokoye. The battle is ongoing near Vovchansk.

Today, Ukrainian defenders in the Kharkiv direction managed to eliminate and injure more than 70 Russian invaders, destroy four artillery systems, two combat armored vehicles, 48 aircrafts, four automobile units and five special equipment units, and a tank, artillery system, a combat armored vehicle and five occupant cars were also damaged.

15 times Russian forces attacked Ukrainian positions in the kupans 15komu direction. Near the settlements of Petropavlivka, Kurylivka, Sinkivka and Stelmakhivka, the Defense Forces units repelled eleven offensive actions. The situation is tense, four clashes are ongoing.

In the Lyman direction per day Russian troops 11 times attacked Ukrainian defenders in the areas of Makiyivka, Druzhelyubivka, Novosadovoye, Nevsky, Torsky and Terniv. The fights continue in two locations.

The enemy seven times, by assault actions, tried to push Ukrainian defenders out of positions in the areas of Verkhnyokamiansky, Viimka, Bilogorivka and Spirny in the Siver direction. All attacks are repelled, Russia was unsuccessful.

In the Kramators komu direction, Ukrainian soldiers repelled 20 Russian attempts to advance near the Chasovoye Yar, Kalinivka and Ivanivsky. Eight clashes are ongoing. The situation is under control.

In the Toretsky direction, where aviation-backed occupiers attacked Ukrainian positions near Nelipivka and Toretsky seven times - six clashes are already over. The fight is going on near Nelipivka.

The main efforts of the Russian enemy directs Pokrovsk, here, during the day, Russian forces attacked 33 times in the areas of Vozdvizhenko, Kalinovoye, Novogrodivka, Hrodivka, Ptychogo, and Green Field. 22 attacks Ukrainian defenders have already repelled, 11 more combat still ongoing. According to preliminary estimates, the Russian occupiers in this direction lost more than 220 soldiers killed and wounded today.

In the Kurakhiv direction at this time of the day, Ukrainian defenders repelled 14 Russian attempts to attack Ukrainian positions. Zagarbniki tried to advance near Konstantinivka, Georgiivka, Krasnogorivka and Karlivka. The fights do not stop, there are currently five boezitknen .

In the Vremivs komu direction today, Russian forces nine times tried to storm the front edge of defense in the direction of Vodany and Vugledar. Ukrainian soldiers stopped four Russian attacks, five more attacks are ongoing.

Today in the Orihiv and Pridniprovskyi direction of active activities of the Russian occupiers is not marked, but Russia launches aerial strikes and shells the territory of Ukrainian cities and villages.

Defense Forces of Ukraine continue operations in the Kursk direction.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that from 17 to 23 August 2024, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out 16 group strikes by high-precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles against airfield infrastructure, depots storing ammunition and missile and artillery munitions, repair facilities for AFU weapons and military hardware as well as hangars for storing the NASAMS surface-to-air (SAM) missile systems.

In addition, the strikes hit bases supplying fuel to military hardware of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), areas where reserves were concentrated, and temporary deployment areas of nationalist formations and foreign mercenaries. All the assigned targets have been engaged.

Over the past week, the Sever Group of Forces have carried on an operation to neutralise AFU units in Kursk region.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and artillery inflicted fire damage on detected clusters of manpower and military hardware of four mechanised brigades, two airborne assault brigades, and three territorial defence brigades. The enemy's attempts to deploy reserves were thwarted.

In Volchansk and Liptsy directions, Russian troops inflicted losses on manpower and military hardware of one mechanised brigade, two assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, one marine brigade, and one National Guard Brigade.

In the past week, enemy losses in the Sever Group's area of responsibility have included up to 3,090 troops, 29 tanks, 167 armoured fighting vehicles, including four infantry fighting vehicles and one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, 75 motor vehicles, seven MLRS launchers, including those made in the USA, and 32 field artillery guns.

In addition, Russian troops destroyed IRIS-T (made in Germany) and S-125 anti-aircraft missile launchers, one German-made TRML-4D multi-role radar station, one Norwegian-made NAMAMS SAM radar, and eight electronic warfare stations.

Over the past week, the Zapad Group of Forces has taken more advantageous lines and positions, and routed four mechanised brigades, one assault brigade, and two territorial defence brigades. Nineteen counter-attacks launched by the Armed Forces of Ukraine were repelled.

The enemy suffered losses amounting to up to 3,400 troops, three tanks, 19 armoured fighting vehicles, including two U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carriers, ten U.S.-made MaxxPro armoured vehicles, as well as 48 motor vehicles.

Moreover, 30 field artillery guns, including sixteen 155-mm self-propelled artillery systems and howitzers made in the USA, Germany, and Poland, were also hit. Three electronic and counter-battery warfare stations as well as nine field ammunition depots were eliminated.

The Yug Group of Forces has improved the situation along the front line by neutralising manpower and hardware of five mechanised brigades, two motorised infantry brigades, two infantry brigades, one assault brigade, two airmobile brigades, and two territorial defence brigades. Two counter-attacks launched by enemy assault detachments were repelled.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine have lost up to 4,530 troops, 32 motor vehicles, 68 field artillery guns, including 36 self-propelled artillery systems and howitzers made by NATO countries, five MLRS combat vehicles, with two of them the Croatian-made RAK-SA-12. Nineteen field ammunition depots and three electronic warfare stations have been destroyed.

As a result of active actions, the Tsentr Group of Forces has liberated Sviridonovka, Artyomovo, Novgorodskoye, Zhelannoye, and Mezhevoye (Donetsk People's Republic). Strikes hit units of four mechanised brigades, one jaeger brigade, one airborne brigade, and one assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and two territorial defence brigades. Twenty-seven counter-attacks launched by enemy formations were repelled.

The AFU losses in this direction amounted to up to 3,855 troops, six tanks, 13 armoured fighting vehicles, 43 motor vehicles, and 51 field artillery guns.

The Vostok Group of Forces has taken more advantageous lines and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of two mechanised brigades, one motorised infantry brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and two territorial defence brigades. They repelled seven counter-attacks launched by AFU assault groups.

The enemy losses included up to 800 troops, two tanks, 37 motor vehicles, and 13 field artillery guns. Moreover, six field ammunition depots and four electronic warfare stations were neutralised.

The Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted damage on formations of two mechanised brigades, one infantry brigade, one mountain assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, one marine brigade, one coastal defence brigade, and one territorial defence brigade.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 480 troops, 30 motor vehicles, 15 field artillery guns, including six U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzers.

Russian troops eliminated two launchers and one transport-loading vehicle of the U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS, one launcher and one transport-loading vehicle of the U.S.-made MLRS, four launchers and two AN/MPQ-65 radars of the U.S.-made Patriot SAM system, three electronic warfare stations, and five field ammunition depots.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Groups of Forces, air defence facilities of the Russian Armed Forces have eliminated one Su-24 front-line bomber, one MiG-29 fighter jet, and four helicopters (one Mi-17 and three Mi-8 helicopters) of the Ukrainian Air Force over the past seven days.

In addition, one Neptune-MD anti-ship missile, 18 French-made Hammer guided bombs, 87 U.S.-made HIMARS projectiles as well as 340 unmanned aerial vehicles, with 147 of them outside the special military operation were shot down.

Twenty-nine Ukrainian servicemen have surrendered on the line of contact during the past week.

In total, 640 airplanes and 283 helicopters, 30,390 unmanned aerial vehicles, 575 air defence missile systems, 17,547 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,425 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 13,566 field artillery guns and mortars as well as 25,104 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.



The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation also reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue to repel the AFU attempt to invade the territory of the Russian Federation.

The Sever Group of Forces supported by Army Aviation and artillery fire repelled attacks launched by enemy assault detachments towards Borki and Malaya Loknya, as well as thwarted the enemy's attacks in the direction of Komarovka, Korenevo, Martynovka, and Russkaya Konopelka. The AFU losses have amounted to up to 70 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, two armoured fighting vehicles, and one motor vehicle.

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue reconnaissance and search operations to locate and eliminate enemy small sabotage and reconnaissance groups attempting to get to the depth of the Russian territory. A sabotage and reconnaissance group of the enemy was detected and neutralised near Kamyshevka. The enemy lost 5 militants and one motor vehicle.

Army Aviation and artillery strikes and actions of troops inflicted losses on manpower and hardware clusters of the AFU 22nd, 61st, and 115th mechanised brigades, and 80th air assault brigades near Apanasovka, Aleksandria, Vishnevka, Guyevo, Mikhailovka, Lyubymivka, Malaya Loknya, Plekhovo, Snagost, and Yuzhny.

Operational-Tactical Aviation delivered strikes at the enemy's reserves in concentration areas of manpower and hardware of the AFU 41st, 54th mechanised brigades, 82nd and 95th air assault brigades, 36th Marine Brigade, 101st, 103rd, 106th, and 129th territorial defence brigades as well as 69th Rifle Battalion near Aleksandrovka, Bachevsk, Buyankino, Vorozhba, Glukhov, Kamenka, Miropolye, Mogritsa, Novaya Sloboda, Obody, Pervomayskoye, Pavlovka, Svessa, Seredina Buda, and Tolstodubovo.

In the past 24 hours, the AFU losses amounted to up to 400 Ukrainian troops and 17 armoured vehicles, including one tank, two armoured personnel carriers, 14 armoured fighting vehicles, two artillery guns, one MLRS launcher, two mortars, and 10 motor vehicles.

Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk region, the AFU losses amounted to up to 5,137 Ukrainian troops, 69 tanks, 27 infantry fighting vehicles, 55 armoured personnel carriers, 350 armoured fighting vehicles, 158 motor vehicles, 34 artillery guns, five SAM launchers, 11 multiple-launch rocket systems, including three of HIMARS system and one of MLRS system, six electronic warfare stations, as well as four units of engineering vehicles, including two counterobstacle vehicles and one UR-77 mine clearing vehicle.

The operation to neutralise the AFU units is in progress.

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Battle of Kursk II - August 2024

Operational surprise is clearly still possible despite proliferation of drones. Kievs troops crossed into Russia from Sumy Region 06 August 2024. Ukrainian forces used at least three German Marder fighting vehicles in the Kursk Region, the first German armor advance onto Russian soil since the Great Patriotic War. Something of this magnitude has not occurred in the Soviet Union/Russian Federation since the German attack on June 22, 1941. When the news of Marders entering Kursk emerged, many internet users labeled it the greatest irony of the century.

The first Battle of Kursk, fought between July 5 and August 23, 1943, was one of the largest and most significant battles of World War II. It took place on the Eastern Front near the city of Kursk in the Soviet Union and involved a massive confrontation between German and Soviet forces. The Battle of Kursk followed the failed German offensive at Stalingrad and was intended to regain the initiative on the Eastern Front. The Battle of Prokhorovka, fought on July 12, 1943, during the Kursk campaign, is often cited as the largest tank battle in history. The Battle of Kursk marked the last major German offensive on the Eastern Front and a decisive victory for the Soviet Union.

A bit more than eight decades years after Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia fought the first Battle of Kursk, a second battle is underway in Kursk following a surprise offensive launched by Ukrainian forces. One common element in both battles is the use of German armored vehicles against Soviet armor.

Ukrainian Presidential advisor Mykhailo Mykhailovych Podolyak on 14 August 2024 named 4 political goals of Ukrainian offensive in the Kursk region:

Ukraine is waging a defensive war, squeezing Russian artillery to the required distance; Cut the logistics routes; Show the inability of Russian leadership. Transferring the war to Russia.

The Ukrainian maneuver warfare incursion into Kursk Oblast appears to have culminated around 20 August. The notion of a culmination point is identified with Carl von Clausewitz, who described it as the moment when the remaining strength is just enough to maintain a defense and wait for peace. Culmination did not receive proper attention until operational art was revived during the late 1970s and early 1980s. In an article entitled Why Strategy Is Difficult that appeared in Summer 1999, Colin Gray discounted the utility of the concept of culminating points. On the Kursk salient, the culmination came as Russian forces were rapidly inserted, precluding further thunder runs by Ukrainian lightly equipped and agile Sabotage and Reconnaissance Groups.

The fighting began 06 August 2024 in the Sudzhansky and Korneevsky districts of Kursk Region. Russian forces prevented an attempted border incursion by a Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group, the acting governor of Kursk Region, Aleksey Smirnov, said. Russian military bloggers claim that the city of Sudzha in the Kursk region had been captured by Ukrainian forces, and that Ukrainian troops are now as much as 25km deep into Russia. Radio silence in Kyiv. If true, Ukraine captured more land in the last 48hrs than in the entire summer 2023 counter-offensive. If Kyiv can hold it, it can perhaps trade it for occupied Ukrainian land  say in Kharkiv. Russian military Telegram channels are in full panic mode  vibes of the August 2022 collapse in Kharkiv and Kherson. Russia lost two combat helicopters and at least two tanks. Ukraine lost a number of Strykers and Humvees. Russian forces were caught by surprise, there is recrimination aplenty.

Ukrainian forces numbering 300 soldiers and 30 armored vehicles crossed into Russias Kursk Region on 06 August 2024, the Defense Ministry in Moscow has said. Half of the enemy armor has been destroyed so far, according to the ministry. The attack took place in the morning local time in the area of Nikolayevo-Daryino and Oleshnya, along the Russia-Ukraine border, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement. Ukrainian forces launched artillery and drone strikes before attacking with up to 300 troops of the 22nd Mechanized Brigade, supported by 11 tanks and 20 other armored vehicles. Operational-tactical and attack aviation carried out strikes on concentrations of Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel and equipment in the areas of Basovka, Zhuravka, Khoten, Yunakovka, Belovody, Khrapovshchina in Sumy Region, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Ukrainian forces took a good number of Russians prisoner in Kursk. This seemed to be the largest single Russian surrender of the war so far. ChrisO_wiki suggestsed "Very likely teenage conscripts, who would have approximately the fighting ability of a lettuce."

The first stage of the incursion used maneuver groups in armored vehicles, driving deep forward and then waiting for the arrival of reserves to consolidate, which were already occupying the territory following those who had gone forward. Rob Lee noted 06 August 2024 "Some early thoughts about this operation. The most important factor in the war right now is Russia's manpower and force availability advantage, in particular with infantry. That is the primary reason why Ukraine is struggling to hold back Russian advances in Donetsk oblast. The 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.

"The situation on the Pokrovsk and Toretsk fronts is serious. The war has not seen large swings of the front line since 2022, but Russia's advances on the Pokrovsk front over the past three weeks have been relatively rapid for the 2023-2024 period. So the question is how this operation will affect the fighting elsewhere and whether these forces could have been employed more effectively in Donetsk oblast.

"Compared to previous crossborder operations, this one is notable in that it appears to involve Ukrainian conventional forces and not just from GUR. Ukraine likely also is not able to employ HIMARS in support of the operation because the US only authorized strikes in Belgorod oblast relevant to Russia's Kharkiv offensive.

"Ultimately, the two previous large crossborder operations in May-June 2023 and March 2024 had little effect on the fighting on the priority axes. The 2023 operation caught Russia by surprise and may have been a relatively effective economy of force mission (though it did not force Russia to redeploy significant forces from priority areas) but the March 2024 operation was far less successful.

"Since then, Russia stood up a Northern Group of Forces leading the Kharkiv offensive, and has strengthened its forces on the border. So Russia already has greater forces/conventional capabilities in the area, better command and control, and it has conscript units that can be deployed, which are not used in Ukraine. It is unlikely this operation will force Russia to pull significant forces from Ukraine.

"Russia has improved its dynamic targeting with persistent ISR coverage from UAVs behind Ukrainian lines, which are used to locate targets for Lancets, Krasnopol, Iskander-M, and other PGMs. Russian UAV footage of Ukrainian units moving across the border suggests this problem has not been solved, which can make it dangerous to mass armor.

"A limited operation might be able to achieve limited goals, but a more ambitious operation carries greater risks. It is unlikely this operation will have a significant effect on the course of the war, and previous crossborder operations did not have serious domestic political ramifications for Putin. We only have limited information right now and the size and scope of the operation isn't clear, but largescale crossborder operations are more difficult now than they were in 2023 and Russia continues to advance in the Donbas.

"Offensive operations also risk taking higher casualties than in defense at a time when Ukrainian forces are stretched thin. Ukraine needs to maintain a favorable attrition ratio given the manpower situation, so taking heavy losses in this operation could make it more difficult for Ukraine to hold back future Russian assaults if it saps Ukraine's limited reserves."

The Russian command appeared to have refrained from ordering a major diversion of forces from the Pokrovsk area to the Kursk region. Russia apparetnly took battalions from each Regiment or Brigade and deployed them towards Kursk. Splitting higher units should decrease their combat capability. However, it appears that the Battalion Tactical Groups never went away. Russia simply started using Brigades and Regiments as administrative units rather than combat maneuver units. Russia took forces from all areas except the Pokrovsk Direction, further indicating that that is their main axis of attack, as there was a reduction in Russian attacks in South Ukraine which should mean that they have moved more forces from there.

One of the objectives of Ukraine's Kursk Oblast operation was to divert a significant number of Russian forces from other sectors, primarily from the Pokrovsk and Kurakhove sectors in Donetsk Oblast, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on 27 August 2024. Speaking at the "Ukraine 2024. Independence" forum in Kyiv, Syrskyi said that Moscow has redeployed about 30,000 of its troops from other sectors to the Kursk direction, "and this number is growing." At the same time, Russia deployed its most combat-ready units in the Pokrovsk sector.

"The enemy is trying to withdraw units from other directions, and on the contrary, it is increasing its efforts in Pokrovsk sectors," Syrskyi said. According to the general, Russia has reduced its activity in Ukraine's south, but continues to advance in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, trying to regain positions near the village of Robotyne. In partially occupied Kherson Oblast, Moscow's forces are trying to regain control of an island zone near the Dnipro River's delta, he said.

Ukrainian forces are intent on retaining the territory in Russias Kursk region they seized in their incursion for some period of time and any Russian counteroffensive will be a difficult fight, Deputy CIA Director David Cohen said on 28 August 2024. The announcement came after the Kremlin dismissed talk by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about a plan to end the war and said Russia would continue what it calls its special military operation in Ukraine.

WarTranslated (Dmitri) reported 07 September 2024 that Russians state that initial assessments of the Kursk incursion underestimated the scale of the invasion, revealing issues with defense preparedness and leading to personnel changes. The Ukrainian forces continue to attempt breakthroughs and there's no chance of knocking them out any time soon. "1/2 For a month and one day, the Russian Army has been repelling the armed invasion of the regular Ukrainian Armed Forces into the Kursk region. Initial assessments of the scale of the invasion by respected agencies quickly turned out to be not entirely objective; personnel decisions are being made, but not at the level that many expected given the unpreparedness of the second echelons of defense and the ongoing arrests of high-ranking "old" employees of the Ministry of Defense. So far, the showdown is taking place in the administrative and economic sector. The enemy in the Kursk region is tied down in battle, but does not give up trying to push through our defense, pulling reserves into the region.

"In the Russian Army, the problem of coordinating disparate units and subdivisions, supplying the front directly with drones, communications, and modern technical surveillance equipment has not been fully overcome in this direction. Nevertheless, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are suffering serious losses under the blows of our missiles, aviation, and artillery, which permanently reduces the likelihood of further movement to Kursk and Rylsk. At the same time, the river crossings in the Glushkovsky district are under attack, which complicates logistics against the background of the destruction of our bridges. The enemy is consolidating the occupied lines and the liberation of the territories occupied by him is not expected in the short term. Heavy fighting is underway.

"The question of terminating military-technical assistance to Kyiv by people the West is not on the table. Europe, under pressure from the United States, is preparing to transfer dozens of Leopard tanks, air defense systems and other equipment. The trophies of our troops in the Kursk region show that the invasion group of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was largely provided by NATO, which once again indicates the direct involvement of the Alliance in the war with Russia. The shelling of Kursk, Belgorod, and the DPR with Western weapons and the promotion of information about permission to strike our territories with air-launched missiles to an ever greater depth also demonstrate that the North Atlantic Alliance does not feel any discomfort about the escalation of the conflict, while continuing to conduct military exercises near our borders, preparing its countries for mobilization and rebuilding military factories.

"There are no grounds for an early end to the war. There are still many difficult days left before achieving the declared and periodically changing goals of the SMO, which range from complete denazification and demilitarization of all of Ukraine to the liberation of the territories of new regions from the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Meanwhile, the West is trying to wear down our military and economic potential on Ukraine, to destabilize the domestic political situation, which could be an even more serious threat to Russia. And the liberation of the Kursk region is not expected in the coming week. "

WarTranslated (Dmitri) reported 07 September 2024 that evaluating Kursk, Russians noted a severe personnel shortage that prevents them from "pushing out" the forces in Kursk zone and implementing further offensive plans in Donetsk Oblast. The risk of additional incursions remaine. "Tactically, unfortunately, it is turning into a push-pull, not because the hohols [Ukrainians] are so good, but because we simply do not have enough forces and resources. There is a lack of human resources. There is enough artillery, we are more or less overcoming the shell shortage with varying degrees of success, we are trying to do something about fpv. Good, bad, but it is clear that solutions are being found. The problem is that there is no systemic solution for personnel. Lack of people! And why are the operational plans of the command both in the Donetsk and Kursk directions not yet being implemented as we would like? Because... there is no one! And this is the main problem. What will the hohol plan for the next step? He has two options. This is an attempt to cut off Crimea from the mainland, landing troops in Crimea, although from a military point of view this is sheer madness, because the storm season is coming, and how will the infrastructure for the landing be provided? This is a one-way landing - "go and die". From the point of view of PR and the capture of a settlement like Yalta they can very well do this, simultaneously striking the bridge and shouting that they cut the bridge and captured the city.

"Another option a dangerous one is an attempt at an incursion in the Bryansk direction, because from the border to Bryansk there are practically forests. If you bypass Bryansk, then there are forests to Kaluga. The enemy is hatching plans to bring serious light infantry sabotage and reconnaissance groups into the forests to organize sabotage actions ambushes, cutting off infrastructure, attacks on columns, military units, government agencies. This is pure Basayevism, similar to the attack on Budyonnovsk in 1995. It is correctly called a sabotage or sabotage-terrorist raid. Such actions are not undertaken in groups of 5 people. Now the enemy is tempted to bring groups of 150-200 people. Considering how they can conduct tactical landings using helicopters at extremely low altitudes, this cannot be ruled out. If the infrastructure of the landing in Crimea causes skepticism, then all options must be taken into account here.""

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Iran arrests 14 Daesh terrorists in four provinces

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Aug 23, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's Intelligence Ministry has announced the arrest of 14 Daesh-Khorasan terrorists in four provinces across the country.

In a statement, the ministry said the terrorists were arrested in the provinces of Tehran, Alborz, Fars, and Khuzestan.

"Fourteen elements of the US-Zionist-led group known as Daesh-Khorasan (ISIS-K) were identified and arrested by the order of the respected judicial authority," read the statement.

It added that the terrorists had entered the country illegally in the last few days with the aim of carrying out terrorist operations.

"Of these, 7 Daesh elements were arrested in Fars province and 7 terrorists were arrested in Tehran, Alborz and Khuzestan provinces," the ministry explained, adding that the results of the investigations and interrogations will be published later.

4354**2050

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Iran captures 14 Daesh members seeking to carry out terrorist attacks

Iran Press TV

Friday, 23 August 2024 9:03 AM

Iran's Intelligence Ministry says it has arrested 14 members of the Daesh terrorist group, foiling their plots to carry out terror attacks inside the country.

In a statement released on Friday, the ministry said that it had after a series of operations identified and apprehended 14 terrorists "led by the US-Zionist grouplet called Daesh Khorasan (Daesh-K)" in four Iranian provinces of Tehran, Alborz, Fars, and Khuzestan.

Those arrested, it added, had illegally entered the Islamic Republic in the past few days with the aim of carrying out terrorist attacks.

The ministry also said that seven of the terrorists were arrested in Fars and the rest in Tehran, Alborz, and Khuzestan provinces.

The outcomes of investigations and interrogations will be published later, it noted.

In 2014, Daesh captured large swathes of land in Iraq and Syria in lightning attacks, declaring the areas it controlled as "caliphate."

However, Iraqi and Syrian forces, with the help of Iran, managed to reverse Daesh's gains and ultimately liberate their countries from the terror outfit some three years later.

Still, Daesh's remnants keep staging sporadic attacks in different countries.

The terror group claimed responsibility for the terrorist bombings in the southeastern city of Kerman on January 3, 2024, that killed 89 people and injured 284 others.

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FBI raids home of Russian state TV commentator in election-meddling probe

By Alexey Gorbachev August 23, 2024

An FBI raid on a house about an hour outside Washington this month renewed focus on U.S. efforts to combat foreign interference in the 2024 election.

FBI agents raided the Huntly, Virginia, home of Russian American Dimitri Simes, with agents taking items from the 131-acre estate over several days and loading them into trailers.

When VOA traveled to the property last week, agents were still on site. VOA saw around six vehicles, including some with covered license plates.

Simes hosts a political talk show on Russian state channel Channel One and until 2022 led the Center for the National Interest, a foreign policy think tank in Washington. In 2016, he provided informal foreign policy advice to the 2016 Trump presidential campaign, according to reports.

He told Russian state media he was out of the country at the time of the raid and had not been officially notified of it.

A spokesperson for the FBI confirmed to VOA that the bureau conducted "court-authorized law enforcement activity" but declined to comment further, citing an ongoing investigation.

Broad investigation

U.S. media later reported that the Department of Justice has launched a broad criminal investigation into Americans who have worked with Russia's state television, including Simes and former U.N. weapons inspector Scott Ritter.

An FBI spokesperson told VOA the agency had no updates on the investigation. VOA also reached out to the Department of Justice for comment and updates late Friday, but as of publication had not received a response.

Russia is the "predominant threat" to November's elections, according to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

In a July assessment, the office said it "continues to observe a range of foreign actors conducting or planning influence operations targeting U.S elections this November."

Citing Russia, Iran and China as threats, the office said it anticipated that there would be efforts "to promote influence narratives seeking to undermine democratic institutions, foment discord, and/or change public opinion."

The report noted that Iran has stepped up its efforts. "Tehran relies on vast webs of online personas and propaganda mills to spread disinformation and have notably been active in exacerbating tensions over the Israel-Gaza conflict," the report found.

U.S. intelligence officials on August 19 said they were confident Tehran was behind a hack of the Trump 2024 presidential campaign. Earlier this month, Microsoft said it had seen increased influence campaigns linked to Iran, and Google flagged Iranian hacking attempts that targeted both former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden.

In July, before Biden withdrew from the race, U.S. intelligence officials said in a report that Russia continues to try to boost the campaign of Trump by disparaging Biden.

Russian state media cited Simes as saying he didn't know what was behind the search of his home. Simes said that he left the U.S. in 2022, a few months after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"I have not been to the United States since October 2022. So, there is absolutely nothing that could be there that is connected to my current professional life or my other activities," he told the Kremlin-backed network Sputnik.

Simes and the Center for the National Interest featured several times in the 2019 Robert Mueller report into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Both were cleared of wrongdoing.

In 2016, Simes provided informal advice to the Trump campaign on foreign policy, including advising on a speech Trump gave on the need for greater cooperation with Moscow, The Guardian reported.

Matthew Kupfer contributed to this report, which originated in VOA's Russian Service.

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An Indian will land on the surface of Moon, fifteen years from now, in the year 2040, announces Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh

India PIB

Department of Space

India Marks First-Ever National Space Day, Celebrating Chandrayaan-3's Historic Landing

India's Space Economy Set to Soar: $44 Billion in the Next Decade, says MoS Space Dr. Jitendra Singh

Space Vision 2047: India Aims for Its own Space Station and Moon Landing by 2040

Celebrating National Space Day: Dr. Jitendra Singh Highlights Six Decades of Space Milestones

Posted On: 23 AUG 2024 3:40PM by PIB Delhi

In a momentous celebration marking the first-ever National Space Day, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh announced here today that an Indian will land on the surface of Moon, fifteen years from now, in the year 2040.

Addressing the nation in the august presence of President of India Droupadi Murmu, Dr Jitendra Singh reflected on India's remarkable achievements in Space exploration and its ambitious future goals in a majestic programme held at Bharat Mandapam.

Dr Jitendra Singh highlighted the historic landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon's South Pole, a feat that astonished the world and established India as a leader in space exploration.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Minister recalled, had announced that August 23rd, 2023 would be celebrated nationwide as National Space Day, and the landing site of Chandrayaan-3 would be named 'Shiv Shakti Point.' The theme for this inaugural celebration, "Touching Lives while Touching the Moon: India's Space Saga," resonated throughout the event.

"In the last six decades, India has not only touched the lives of its citizens but also reached the Moon," said Dr. Jitendra Singh. He emphasized the significant progress made in the past decade, including the successful Mars Orbiter Mission, the launch of AstroSat, Chandrayaan-2, and Chandrayaan-3, the upcoming Aditya-L1 solar mission, and the XPoSat, an X-Ray astronomy mission.

Dr. Jitendra Singh traced India's Space journey beginning only 55 years back in 1969 when the US astronaut Neil Armstrong had already set his foot on the Moon. He lauded the scientific community for their unwavering dedication, which culminated in India becoming the first nation to land on the Moon's South Pole.

The Minister of State for Space credited the policy support and leadership provided by Prime Minister Modi since 2014 for accelerating scientific missions and unlocking the potential of India's scientific community. He also noted the significant increase in Space startups, now numbering nearly 300, following the opening of the Space sector to private participation. He echoed the Finance Minister's projection that India's space economy will grow from $8 billion to $44 billion in the next decade.

Dr. Jitendra Singh praised PM Modi for "unshackling" the space sector and making it more accessible to the public, as evidenced by the over 5,000 spectators and nearly 1,000 media personnel who witnessed the Chandrayaan-3 launch live at Sriharikota.

Looking ahead, Dr. Jitendra Singh outlined the Space Vision 2047, which includes the commissioning of the Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS) by 2035 and Indian astronauts landing on the Moon by 2040. He expressed confidence that what begins with human spaceflight in Low Earth Orbit will expand to India's own scientific activities onboard an indigenous space station, leading to further lunar exploration and beyond.

Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted India's end-to-end capabilities in Space transportation, platforms, and ground stations were highlighted as a key aspect of the country's self-reliance in the space sector. Dr. Singh also underscored the impact of space applications on sectors such as fisheries, agriculture, natural resource management, disaster management, and satellite communication, which have all benefited from India's space advancements.

As the nation celebrates its first National Space Day, Dr. Jitendra Singh expressed confidence that this annual event will inspire greater awareness and enthusiasm among citizens about India's space journey and its future endeavors.

****

KSY /PSM



(Release ID: 2048125)

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Latest Australian defence industry facility opens in Geelong

The Hon Richard Marles MP

Deputy Prime Minister

Minister for Defence

23 August 2024

Some of the world's most advanced defence capabilities will be produced in Geelong, with the Hanwha Defence Australia's Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence (H-ACE) officially opening today.

Construction of the facility was undertaken by national construction group, Built. The delivery of the first phase of this facility has created approximately 100 new local jobs.

The delivery of 129 locally built infantry fighting vehicles alone at Hanwha's H-ACE is forecast to support approximately 2,100 jobs inclusive of 1,800 direct jobs.

The H-ACE will provide critical facilities supporting the production and sustainment of tracked armoured vehicles, including multiple assembly lines, a 1200-metre test track, a deep-water test facility, an obstacle course and a research and development centre.

This will include the production of self-propelled howitzers, armoured ammunition resupply vehicles and the Redback infantry fighting vehicle.

The H-ACE will see Australian manufacturing provide protection for Australian soldiers and bolster Army's capabilities.

Australian industry will contribute to the enduring sustainment of the capability and the delivery of ancillary supplies including munitions, spares, facilities and communication systems.

Quotes attributable to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Hon Richard Marles MP:

"This is the state of the art facility right here in Geelong, providing well paid, secure jobs, all the while manufacturing key capabilities for Australia's Army.

"Approximately 100 local jobs were created during the construction phase of this facility- creating a boost for the Geelong economy.

"The Republic of Korea is an important partner to Australia, and today's opening of the H-ACE reflects the strong government and industry collaboration between our two countries.

"This facility establishes a sovereign production and maintenance capability while allowing Australian companies to participate in the global supply chain, supporting local jobs and Australian defence industry.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery, the Hon. Pat Conroy:

"The acquisition of armoured vehicles is part of the Government's modernisation of the Australian Army to ensure it can respond to our challenging strategic circumstances.

"Building armoured vehicles locally will support thousands of high-skilled jobs across the industry and support Australia's strategic imperative to develop sovereign defence manufacturing capabilities.

"This is part of the Albanese Government's commitment to keeping Australians safe while also supporting a future made in Australia."

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HMAS Broome's final port call

By Lieutenant Commander Rebecca Williamson

23 August 2024

For its final voyage, HMAS Broome conducted one last port visit to its namesake town in Western Australia ahead of its upcoming decommissioning later this month.

During the four-day port visit to Broome, the ship's crew engaged with the community, participating in activities that have defined its 17 years of service.

Meeting with participants of the Skill Engineer Program was one of the highlights.

The crew toured the workshop and met with the Skill Engineering team and participants who are currently manufacturing their own electric scooters as part of the program.

The program is a community-based opportunity for young people to learn vocational skills. It equips participants with employability skills, boosts wellbeing, imparts invaluable life skills, and fosters confidence and resilience.

Leading Seaman Marine Technician Joshua Kelly said the skill development was evident.

"It was impressive to see the range of skills participants are developing through the program and the dedicated team that aids them every step of the way," he said.

"As they shared some tales of their experiences with us, we could really see the pride they felt in what they are doing and learning."

Members of Broome also enjoyed a roller disco event led by the Broome Police and Community Youth Centre at an event that attracted about 50 young people to skate and dance.

During the evening, the crew engaged with volunteers and the local Western Australia Police, and some enjoyed a roller skate themselves.

After an eventful few days, Broome departed the port visit for its return passage to Darwin to undertake final preparations for the upcoming decommissioning.

Commanding Officer Broome Lieutenant Commander Christopher Wardle said it was a reflective and memorable end.

"Broome's final voyage provided the crew with a period of respite and reflection on the tenure of both their time on Broome and their own careers. Honestly, it's been a privilege to share the final voyage with this crew," Lieutenant Commander Wardle said.

"Broome's last trip was one to remember and will mark the ending for its proud and impactful years of service. Fight and endure."

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Australia - AH-64E Apache Sustainment Support Services

Media/Public Contact: pm-cpa@state.gov

Transmittal No: 24-68

WASHINGTON, August 23, 2024 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Australia of AH-64E Apache Sustainment Support Services and related equipment for an estimated cost of $300 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.

The Government of Australia has requested to buy AH-64E Apache sustainment support services, including U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; technical data and publications; personnel training; and other related elements of logistics, and program support. The estimated total cost is $300 million.

This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States. Australia is one of our most important allies. The strategic location of this political and economic power contributes significantly to ensuring peace and economic stability in the Western Pacific. It is vital to the U.S. national interest to assist our ally in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense capability.

The proposed sale will improve Australia's capability to meet current and future threats by providing the necessary sustainment support to successfully employ its AH-64E Apache helicopters. It will also improve Australia's capability to support coalition operations and contribute to mutual security goals in the region. Australia will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment and services into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The principal contractors will be The Boeing Company, located in Mesa, AZ, and Lockheed Martin, located in Orlando, FL. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of up to four U.S. Government and contractor representatives to Australia for a duration of up to five years to support sustainment of the AH-64E Apache.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

The description and dollar value are for the highest estimated quantity and dollar value based on initial requirements. Actual dollar value will be lower depending on final requirements, budget authority, and signed sales agreement(s), if and when concluded.

All questions regarding this proposed Foreign Military Sale should be directed to the State Department's Bureau of Political Military-Affairs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, pm-cpa@state.gov.

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China and Belarus Sign Free Trade Deal, Other Agreements On Security And Energy

By Reid Standish August 23, 2024

Sanctions-hit Belarus has announced that it will sign a free trade deal with China for services and investment, as well as agreements to strengthen cooperation in security, energy, and finance.

The new pact was announced in a joint statement released on August 23, a day after a visit by Chinese Premier Li Qiang to Minsk where he met with Belarusian Prime Minister Raman Halouchanka and authoritarian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka, and promised to deepen cooperation to improve industrial supply chains and reduce costs.

"One of them can definitely be called historic -- an agreement on the creation of a free trade zone for services and investment," the statement quoted Lukashenka as saying about the agreements.

Belarus said that the trade deal would create "transparent and predictable rules," which would help the country's economy by increasing its exports to China by at least 12 percent and boosting Chinese investment into Belarus by 30 percent in the next five years.

Speaking with Li, who arrived in Minsk after a multiday visit to Moscow, Lukashenka said he wanted to see a "large influx of Chinese technology" into Belarus over the coming years -- a move that could signal an increasing reliance on Beijing for trade and economic growth moving forward.

China is already Belarus's second-largest trading partner after Russia, with the state-run China Daily saying that bilateral trade surpassed $8.4 billion in 2023.

Belarus has been one of Russia's closest allies following its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, providing logistical support and air bases for the war and recently deployed Russian tactical nuclear weapons on its territory.

But while Minsk still relies heavily on Moscow for political and financial support, it has also looked to balance that dependence with closer ties with Beijing.

That need for diversification has grown in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine with Moscow directing its political and economic resources toward the war.

Cut off from Brussels in 2020 following a crackdown triggered by his disputed reelection that the opposition and the West denounced as rigged, Lukashenka has courted China for loans, investment, and, increasingly, military and political support.

In July, Belarus became the 10th member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and also hosted Chinese troops for joint military exercises in the western part of the country, some 5 kilometers from the Polish border.

Once an active investor in Belarus for infrastructure, manufacturing, and technology ventures, China had not offered a new project or loan to Minsk since 2019 and seemed to have stepped back from the country amid its domestic crisis, which cut Lukashenka off politically from the European Union and made him a less appealing economic partner for Beijing.

But despite the years of limited economic engagement, Beijing and Minsk have maintained close political ties, which have now led to Lukashenka securing fresh Chinese investment.

Among the various agreements included in the series of deals, five industrial projects totaling $1 billion are set to be launched and 12 more industrial projects worth $2 billion are under approval, according to the joint statement.

Theagreements signed also plan to set up closer cooperation between Belarus and Chinese provincial governments in Chongqing and Shaanxi.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/china-belarus-free- trade-deal-investment/33089876.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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China-Belarus high-level development of partnership 'exemplary model'

Global Times

Sci-tech, supply chains, service trade cooperation in focus

By GT staff reporters Published: Aug 23, 2024 11:01 PM

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Friday concluded his visit to Belarus, during which Beijing and Minsk pledged to further promote practical cooperation in various fields ranging from trade, finance, security and agriculture to science and technology, and education, according to a joint communique released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday.

Analysts said Premier Li's visit to Belarus demonstrates a high-level political mutual trust and the momentum of close cooperation between the two countries. The expanding China-Belarus cooperation will also inject impetus into the steady development of bilateral relations and also play an exemplary role in the region.

Li arrived in Minsk on Thursday after co-chairing the 29th regular meeting between the Chinese and Russian heads of government in Moscow and a visit to Russia.

During a meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday local time, Premier Li said that China stands ready to work with the Belarusian side to push for the high-level development of their all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership to better benefit the two peoples.

Li said that China-Belarus relations, regardless of how the international situation changes, have always shown vigor and vitality since the establishment of diplomatic ties 32 years ago.

Noting that China will continue to firmly support Belarus in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions, Li said that China stands ready to further synergize development strategies with Belarus, solidly advance cooperation in various fields, steadily expand trade scale.

Lukashenko hailed that Belarus-China relations are enjoying a strong momentum of development and are at an all-time high. He said that Belarus stands ready to maintain close high-level exchanges with China, and to deepen practical cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, agriculture, science and technology.

In meeting with Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko, Li said China stands ready to work with Belarus to firmly support each other in defending core interests and remain each other's true friend and good partner.

In the joint communique, the two sides also expressed that they will firmly oppose external forces' interference in other countries' internal affairs under any pretext.

The communique said that Belarus reiterates its firm commitment to the one-China principle, firmly opposes any form of "Taiwan independence" and firmly supports the Chinese government in achieving national reunification.

On regional hotspot issues, the two sides expressed support for peaceful resolution of conflicts and constructive bilateral dialogue between countries.

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 that Premier Li's visit to Minsk highlights a high-level political mutual trust and the momentum of close cooperation between China and Belarus, which will continue in the future.

Premier Li's visit is also part of frequent political interactions between the two countries in recent years. President Lukashenko visited China twice in 2023. He also met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, in July 2024.

Zhao Huirong, an Eastern European studies expert from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that exchanges at the government level will effectively implement the strategic plans of the two heads of state, consolidate political trust and provide new impetus for the steady development of bilateral relations.

"China-Belarus relations are a role model of a new type of international relations," Zhao said, "The two countries uphold mutual respect, mutual benefit, and share the same views on the international order and affairs, which is why they have achieved fruitful results in both bilateral and multilateral cooperation."

Expanding scope

In terms of practical cooperation, the China-Belarus joint communique said the two countries will enhance cooperation in industrial supply chains, and cooperation in service trade and e-commerce.

The communique said the two sides will jointly promote the high-quality development of the China-Belarus Industrial Park, and agreed to strengthen cooperation on China-Europe freight trains by promoting infrastructure connectivity, and jointly ensuring the safety of the China-Europe freight train transport corridor.

The two sides have also expressed willingness to strengthen cooperation in agriculture and welcome each other's high-quality agricultural products to enter their markets.

In addition to the traditional cooperative sectors, the communiques said the two countries will carry out mutually beneficial cooperation in the fields of information and communication technology.

The two sides said they will deepen cooperation in biomedicine, culture and tourism, sports, news and communication.

The communique said that the two sides will support practical cooperation between scientific research institutions, universities and enterprises, and encourage the establishment of joint laboratories, joint applied research centers, joint ventures, high-tech parks and other scientific research institutions.

The document said the two countries will expand interbank credit and financial cooperation and expand channels for bilateral financial cooperation. The two sides hope to increase the proportion of local currency used in bilateral trade, investment, credit and other economic transactions and establish an effective local currency settlement system.

According to Yang, the communiques demonstrate three characteristics of China-Belarus cooperation: "rich in content, pragmatic, and high in quality."

China-Belarus cooperation also reflects the concrete measures taken by China to implement the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which includes further expanding high-standard opening-up and expanding high-quality international cooperation.

"Belarus appreciates the development experience of Chinese modernization and hopes to learn from China's experience in governance," Zhao said, adding that cooperation with China in various fields can also help Belarus effectively maintain national stability and economic development.

On Thursday, the two countries also inked an agreement on trade in services and investments, which will further tap the potential of trade in services and investment cooperation and promote the high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Cui Hongjian, a professor from the Academy of Regional and Global Governance with Beijing Foreign Studies University said that China-Belarus cooperation will play an exemplary role in the region, as Belarus is not only an important partner but also a crucial hub for BRI and China-Europe freight trains.

Through some institutionalized, long-term frameworks, the two sides can further activate the potential for sustainable development in the areas of trade in services and also some emerging industries such as new energy and digital economy, Cui said.

According to data from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, China is the second-largest trading partner of Belarus and its largest trading partner in Asia, with bilateral trade exceeding $8.4 billion in 2023.

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Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong Talks about China's Expectations for FOCAC Development

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: August 23, 2024 22:20

On August 23, 2024, Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong, upon request, introduced China's expectations for the future development of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) at a briefing for Chinese and foreign media on the 2024 FOCAC Summit.

Chen Xiaodong said, thanks to the joint efforts of both sides, over the past 24 years since its establishment, the FOCAC has developed its features of equality, practicality and efficiency. China-Africa cooperation within the framework of the FOCAC has yielded significant results, which are widely recognized by both the Chinese and African peoples and have been highly praised by the international community. The Forum has become a prominent brand for China-Africa cooperation and a banner for promoting the spirit of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, forging the collective strength of the Global South, and leading international cooperation with Africa. It has provided important driving forces for building a community with a shared future for mankind. China has the following expectations for the future development of the Forum:

First, embark on a new journey toward jointly building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future. This Summit is a meeting that builds on past achievements while opening up a new future, and upholds fundamental principles while breaking new ground. On the basis of taking stock of and summarizing past achievements, the Summit will lay out new designs and formulate new blueprints for the future development of China-Africa relations. The leaders of China and Africa will discuss major cooperation strategies, explore cooperation plans together, and strengthen exchanges on state governance, which will provide important guidance for the development of the Forum in the next stage.

Second, gather new momentum for deepening China-Africa cooperation in various fields. China and Africa will actively implement the outcomes of the Summit, give play to each other's strengths, and ensure that practical cooperation in various fields becomes increasingly substantive, creating a model example of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. China is ready to take this Summit as an opportunity to seek greater synergy with Africa's development strategies and work out a broader path of mutual benefit and common development between China and Africa.

Third, continue writing a new chapter in the mutual understanding, affinity and friendship between the people of China and Africa. The brotherhood between China and Africa is time-honored, time-tested and ever-stronger. The Summit will introduce a series of new cooperation initiatives to deepen mutual understanding, respect and affinity between the people of China and Africa, so that the China-Africa friendship will be passed on from generation to generation and the flower of China-Africa friendship will blossom with renewed brilliance.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on August 23, 2024

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: August 23, 2024 20:03

Dragon TV: Over the past few years, China's wind and solar power generation has been on the rise. Foreign media noted that China added as much new clean energy generation in the first half of this year as the UK produced from all sources in the same period last year, and the rapid growth of China's renewable energy could be the world's best hope yet of staving off climate catastrophe. What's your comment?

Mao Ning: The burgeoning new energy sector has made China one of the countries with the fastest energy intensity reduction in the world. China has built the world's largest and full-fledged industrial chain of the new energy sector, and provided the world's 70 percent of PV components and 60 percent of wind power equipment. This gives a strong boost to global energy transition and green, low-carbon and sustainable development. In particular, China's new energy products effectively boosted the green transition in countries of the Global South and enabled significantly better life for the local people. The many clean energy projects undertaken by China in Africa are helping more and more African countries get on course to green and low-carbon development. Kenya's Garissa PV power plant undertaken by a Chinese company reduces CO2 emissions by 64,000 tonnes every year, and Guinea's Kaleta hydropower plant has greatly eased the electricity shortage there.

The third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China stressed the need to ramp up the green transition in all areas of economic and social development, prioritize ecological protection, conserve resources and use them efficiently, and pursue green and low-carbon development. When pursuing green development at home, China will also continue to contribute to addressing climate change and improving global environmental governance. It needs to be pointed out that some countries use "overcapacity" as a pretext to go after China's green industry. This is not conducive to the global response to climate change. The world needs no green barrier but joint effort for global green transition.

Reuters: An analyst at an institute overseen by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences has said the Philippines is showing the "distinctive characteristics" of what it commonly does before "stirring up trouble in the South China Sea" in expanding military infrastructure on the disputed Zhongye or Thitu Island. Would the Foreign Ministry like to comment on this?

Mao Ning: I'm not familiar with the specific comment you mentioned. On the disputes between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, we've made clear China's position on multiple occasions. I'd refer you to those previous statements.

Global Times: China's economy has grown continuously over the years, and become an important engine for the global economy and a source of development opportunities for the world. However, We noted that recently, however, some say that as the Chinese economy is set to stagnate, countries that benefit by riding China's rise may now be facing risks. What's your comment?

Mao Ning: China has for many years been among the fastest-growing major economies in the world and accounted for around 30 percent of global growth. It has become a major trading partner of over 140 countries and regions. This year, China's economy continues to be on a generally steady, sound and upward trajectory.

The third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China put forward over 300 reform measures, which charted the course for the sustained and sound growth of China's economy and sent a clear message of expanding high-standard opening up and advancing high-quality development. China will further ease market access, take proactive steps to further open up, and open our doors wider to the least developed countries, so as to make the pie of opening up bigger and the list of cooperation longer, and promote an open world economy through our own opening up. We will continue making active effort to support other developing countries' capacity-building through international development cooperation. By "teaching others how to fish," so to speak, we will help fellow developing countries foster the capability for self-driven development, and contribute to the common development of the world through our own development.

With a mega-size market, full-fledged industrial system and a sound business environment, China will provide greater dynamism for the world economy. We stand ready to work with all parties to jointly build a modernized world that enjoys peaceful development, mutually beneficial cooperation and common prosperity.

Reuters: Are you able to tell us whether China has invited Eswatini which maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan to the upcoming Forum on China-Africa Cooperation?

Mao Ning: On the FOCAC Summit, there will be more details that we can share in due course. Please stay tuned. Let me stress that the one-China principle is a prevailing consensus in the international community. Around the world, 183 countries have established diplomatic relations with China on the basis of the one-China principle. We hope the very few countries who still maintain so-called "diplomatic ties" with Taiwan will see clearly the trend of history and make a right decision that truly serves their own interests at an early date.

Bloomberg: I will just follow up on the FOCAC summit. My question is about mpox which has become a topic at least on the global health scene. How might that impact FOCAC and are there any plans to introduce sort of restrictions or guidelines or safety measures?

Mao Ning: Preparations for the FOCAC Summit are well underway. We will closely follow relevant developments and make sure the Summit will be a full success.

TV Tokyo: Tomorrow is one year since Japan began releasing "treated water" from the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Japan continues to call for the immediate lifting of the ban on seafood import. Are talks between the Japan and China government progressing toward resolving the issue? Is there any concrete progress?

Mao Ning: Without full consultation with neighboring countries, Japan unilaterally started the discharge of the Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water into the sea, spilling the risk of contamination worldwide. This highly irresponsible move is a breach of Japan's commitments, of international law and of the right way for neighboring countries to get along with each other. China firmly opposes the discharge and has expressed grave concerns to Japan more than once. The precautionary measures taken by China and some other countries in response to Japan's move are aimed at protecting food safety and people's health. These measures are entirely legitimate, reasonable and necessary.

China and Japan maintain consultations on the issue of the discharge. Let me stress that the more transparent and open Japan is on the issue, the easier it will be for Japan to alleviate international concerns. China once again calls on Japan to seriously respond to international and domestic concerns, fulfill its responsibilities and obligations, and offer full cooperation in setting up an independent international monitoring arrangement that remains effective in the long haul and has the substantive participation of Japan's neighboring countries and other stakeholders.

Kyodo News: The head of Taiwan's office of external affairs Lin Chia-lung and secretary-general of Taiwan's security council Wu Jaushieh will arrive in Washington this week for talks with senior US government officials. This is Taiwan's senior officials' first visit to the US since Lai Ching-te took office as "president" in May. What's China's comments?

Mao Ning: First of all, there is no such thing as "president" of Taiwan. As for your question, China firmly opposes any forms of official exchange between the US and Taiwan. This position is consistent and clear. We urge the US to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiquAs, deliver on the commitments made by the US leaders on the issues related to Taiwan, handle the Taiwan-related issues with utmost prudence, stop any official exchanges with Taiwan, stop upgrading its substantive relations with the region, and stop conniving at and supporting "Taiwan independence" separatist activities in any form.

AFP: A Philippine media outlet released a video of what they said was the Chinese side shooting a flare at a Philippine plane near Subi Reef in the South China Sea. Can you confirm that this incident took place and what comment does China have on this incident?a

Mao Ning: I'm not aware of what you mentioned.

News 1 Korea: August 24 marks the 32nd anniversary of ROK-China diplomatic relations. How does China view its relations with the ROK? Is there any plan between the two governments to hold any commemorative event?

Mao Ning: China and the ROK are close neighbors and each other's important cooperation partners. Since diplomatic ties were established more than 30 years ago, the two countries have, under our joint efforts, enjoyed close and fruitful exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and established the strategic cooperative partnership. Maintaining and growing the friendly and cooperative ties serves the interests of both countries, and contributes to regional development and prosperity. China is ready to work with the ROK to deliver on the important common understandings between the leaders of our two countries, cherish the commitment that brought our two countries together 32 years ago, keep to the friendly ties and deepen mutually-beneficial cooperation for the sustained, sound and steady development of our bilateral relations.

AFP: Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic US presidential nomination on Thursday. What's the Foreign Ministry's comment on it?

Mao Ning: The presidential elections are the United States' own affairs. We have no comment on that.

AFP: Thailand yesterday confirmed what seems to be Asia's first case of the new mpox strain. Can you tell us what measures China has taken so far, and if China will take any new measures to stop the spread of mpox?

Mao Ning: I'd refer you to the competent authorities on that question.

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Top White House official to visit China

The Nov. 5 US presidential election will be 'in the background' but 'not the point' of the three-day trip.

By Alex Willemyns for RFA 2024.08.23 -- The Nov. 5 U.S. presidential election will be on the agenda but "not the point" of a three-day visit to China next week by President Joe Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, for talks with Foreign Minister Wang Yi, a senior White House official told reporters on Friday.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the Aug. 27-29 trip, said the pair would discuss a range of topics including areas of disagreement, such as Taiwan, Ukraine and the Middle East.

"I wouldn't tie this trip or associate it too closely with the election - that's not the point," the official said, adding that Sullivan and Wang had aimed to meet earlier in the year and were behind schedule.

Still, the official acknowledged the high-stakes election was "always in the background in any engagement we have with foreign officials concerned about what comes next" in terms of U.S. foreign policy.

"But this meeting will be focused on the topics and the issues that we are dealing with now," they said. "There is a lot we can get done."

It will be the fifth in-person meeting between Sullivan and Wang in 18 months, when tense ties began to thaw, and their first in Beijing. The previous talks were held in Vienna in May 2023, Malta in September 2023, Washington in October 2023 and Bangkok in January.

The last U.S. national security adviser to travel to the Chinese capital was Susan Rice under President Barack Obama in 2016.

Harris or Trump?

The White House official declined to comment on Sullivan's likely response to what they called "the continuity question" - whether the winner of the Nov. 5 election would change their policy in regards to China - even as they acknowledged it would likely be discussed.

"It's up to the next administration to determine China policy and how they intend to use some of these channels of communication," the official said. "What we can speak to is how we intend to manage the balance of this administration ... [and] manage the transition."

However, the official did say it "bears repeating that U.S. diplomacy and channels of communication do not indicate a change in approach" to China from the the White House, or a softening of relations.

"It really is about clearing up misperceptions and avoiding this competition from veering into conflict," the official said. "Even amidst competition, we can find constructive ways to work with each other."

Edited by Malcolm Foster

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content August not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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China's Xi praises Deng Xiaoping but won't continue his reforms

'Signaling right but turning left,' Xi is engaging in political theater on Deng's birthday, analysts say.

By Kitty Wang and Qian Lang for RFA Mandarin 2024.08.23 -- Ruling Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping has lauded his reformist predecessor Deng Xiaoping, nodding to his ordering of the 1989 Tiananmen massacre and vowing to continue his reforms, although political commentators said Xi's praise was largely for show.

China's state media marked the 120th anniversary of Deng's birth on Aug. 22 with a welter of complimentary prose, and Xi hailed Deng as "an outstanding leader with high prestige recognized by the whole party, the whole army and the people of all ethnic groups in the country."

Xi also called Deng "a great Marxist" and "a great internationalist who made great contributions to world peace and development."

"Comrade Deng Xiaoping firmly defended the glorious banner of socialism," Xi said in a copy of his speech published by state news agency Xinhua. "Against the backdrop of the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the dramatic changes in Eastern Europe, a serious political turmoil occurred in this country between spring and summer in 1989."

"At the critical juncture, Comrade Deng Xiaoping led the party and the people to stand firmly against turmoil and resolutely defend the power of the socialist state," Xi said, in a reference to the 1989 military crackdown on the weeks-long pro-democracy movement on Tiananmen Square, in which hundreds, possibly thousands, died.

While Xi also called for the continued "creative use and application" of Deng's ideas, which kick-started four decades of breakneck economic growth and turned China into the "workshop of the world," analysts said this was unlikely to be implemented on the ground as Xi steers China towards a socialist-style planned economy that is less dependent on the rest of the world.

Many commentators also took issue with the popular characterization of Deng as a liberal-minded reformer, saying he paved the way for far more authoritarian rule under Xi.

"First of all, Deng Xiaoping wasn't China's Gorbachev," U.S.-based former Party School professor Cai Xia told RFA Mandarin in a recent interview, in a reference to the former leader of the Soviet Union whose reforms paved the way for the collapse of communism in Russia and across Eastern Europe.

"His suppression [of the Tiananmen protests] proved that," Cai said. "Gorbachev preferred to let his country move forward than to put the interests of a [political] party first."

'Deep down, he doesn't agree'

Comments on an RFA Mandarin X post seeking opinions on Deng's anniversary appeared to agree.

"Deng Xiaoping and Emperor Xi are of the same lineage," said one comment, while another added: "All Deng wanted was to save the Chinese Communist Party."

Another said: "Everything we have in the party-state today is the inevitable result of Deng's designs."

Current affairs commentator Cai Shenkun said Xi appeared to be putting on a show of ideological strength by praising Deng amid the current economic downturn, which has left many ordinary people struggling.

"There could be think tanks telling him to solemnly commemorate Deng Xiaoping in a high-profile manner to appease the voices of his opponents," Cai said, citing "serious issues of instability in party and military ranks," as well as popular dissatisfaction.

"But deep down, he doesn't agree with Deng Xiaoping's ideas, and he has been gradually abandoning Deng's reforms and opening up policies," he said.

Big disconnect

State media and institutions have nevertheless been pushing the boat out for Deng, with a new set of commemorative stamps, an 8,000-character piece in praise of Deng in the ideological journal Qiushi and videos and quotations from the former leader across websites and social media platforms.

Independent writer Ye Fu said there is a big disconnect with what the party under Xi does and says, when it comes to Deng Xiaoping's economic strategy.

"It's hard to say whether they will return to reform and opening up [to the international community] at a later time," Ye said, suggesting that Xi will continue along the lines of Marxist economics, and only pay lip-service to the market economy and international trade.

"It's likely that what they're doing is signaling right and turning left, as the saying goes," Ye said.

Cai Shenkun said Xi's idea of reform is to "take back all of the power that the party has relaxed or loosened in the past, giving the party firm control over all fields and industries, as well as all socioeconomic groups."

Too much credit

Meanwhile, independent political journalist Gao Yu said Deng has been given too much credit for his economic prowess, when other Chinese leaders including late disgraced premiers Hua Guofeng, Hu Yaobang and Zhao Ziyang actually did far more to open up the market economy in the 1980s.

"They're the ones who changed China's course, which was reflected in the political and ideological, in the diplomatic line and in economic policy," she said.

Gao said Deng had also signaled the end of a period of relative freedom in China when he ordered the People's Liberation Army to fire on unarmed civilians in Beijing in 1989, blaming him for "leading China down the path of crony capitalism" instead, in the years that followed.

According to Gao, Deng also paved the way for indefinite rule by Xi Jinping when he insisted that other leaders step down after two terms, but then remained in the driving seat behind the scenes for years after relinquishing most of his official posts.

Cai Xia said Deng was a symbol both of success and failure, crediting him with having ended the political turmoil of the 1966-1976 Cultural Revolution, but blaming him for failing to take his reforms one step further and allow a more democratic political system in China.

She said the party's history of "unforgivable crimes" and "major mistakes" had likely been what stopped him.

"If they'd given the people the right to choose, the Chinese Communist Party might have lost power," Cai Xia said. "And that's precisely why I think Deng put reform of the political system to one side, and gradually stopped talking about it."

She said the Tiananmen protests and massacre were a turning point in contemporary Chinese history.

"All of the problems we see today, from the collapse of the economy to the widening gap between rich and poor, to large-scale unemployment, the re-suppression of thought and speech and the harsh crackdown on political dissidents ... can actually be traced back to Deng Xiaoping's Tiananmen massacre on June 4, 1989," she said.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content August not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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US national security adviser to hold talks with Chinese foreign minister

By Nike Ching August 23, 2024

U.S. President Joe Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, is heading to China next week for talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, according to a senior administration official.

The discussions are expected to include a potential meeting between Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping later this year.

This would be Sullivan's first trip to China as the White House national security adviser. The planned meetings, scheduled from August 27 through August 29, would also be the latest in a series of high-level diplomatic moves aimed at stabilizing U.S.-China relations.

In response to a VOA question, the senior administration official told reporters during Friday's background briefing, "The purpose of this strategic level of communication" is to clear up "misperceptions and avoiding this competition from veering into conflict."

The senior official also said the United States will raise concerns about China's "increased military, diplomatic, and economic pressure against Taiwan" in next week's talks. "These activities are destabilizing and risk escalation, and we're going to continue to urge Beijing to engage in meaningful dialogue with Taipei."

Sullivan and Wang have met previously, in Bangkok, Malta and Vienna, to discuss broad and strategic issues facing the two countries.

Issues and agenda

Key issues in the U.S.-China relationship, including counter-narcotics cooperation, military-to-military communication, AI safety and risk management, are expected to be on the agenda for Sullivan's talks with Wang.

These discussions follow China's suspension of talks with the U.S. on nuclear safety and security. China said in July it had halted nascent arms-control talks with Washington.

"The United States remains open to developing and implementing concrete risk reduction measures with the PRC. However, it requires a PRC willing to manage strategic risks," a State Department spokesperson told VOA, referring to the People's Republic of China.

"The U.S. would like to deepen discussions on strategic stability, but the Chinese are reluctant. They prefer to discuss an agreement on the no first use of nuclear weapons, but the United States is not prepared to adopt such a doctrine," former CIA China analyst Dennis Wilder, now a Georgetown University professor, told VOA.

"As a result, there's been a bit of an impasse, with little progress made in the few working group meetings that have occurred," he said.

The militarization of space is another emerging concern shared by U.S. officials, who worry it could become the new frontier for warfare. Wilder cited a report by the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency that China and Russia are moving rapidly toward space warfare.

South China Sea

Another area of concern is China's activities in the South China Sea. On Monday, a collision between Chinese and Philippine coast guard vessels occurred near a disputed reef in the sea. The incident left a gaping hole in a Philippine coast guard vessel near Sabina Shoal.

Known as Xianbin Jiao in China, it lies within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, or EEZ, although China claims the partially submerged reef as part of its territory.

The nations have clashed over three shoals that lie within the Philippines EEZ but are claimed by China even though the claim has been rejected by an international tribunal.

In Beijing, Chinese officials accused the Philippine coast guard vessels of intruding into China's "territory" without permission from the Chinese government.

In Washington, the United States expressed support for its ally, the Philippines.

"These actions are the latest examples of the PRC using dangerous and escalatory measures to enforce its expansive and unlawful South China Sea maritime claims," the State Department said in a statement on Monday.

Zack Cooper, a senior fellow at the Washington-based American Enterprise Institute, told VOA that he doubts the U.S.-China talks will make the disputes over the South China Sea go away.

"But the communications could provide clarity to Chinese policymakers that pressing Manila further will not force Washington to back down. In that way, high-level interactions could decrease the chance of a conflict erupting," Cooper said.

The Mideast

Next week's talks come as the U.S. works with Qatar and Egypt to mediate a cease-fire and hostage release deal between Israel and the Hamas militant group.

There is an increased urgency to reach an agreement amid fears of broader regional escalation if Iran and its Lebanese proxy, Hezbollah, retaliate against Israel for the assassination of a top Hezbollah operative in Beirut and Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

"I think there are some shared concerns about instability. But I think it's fair to say that two sides a the U.S. and China a approach the issue very differently," the senior administration official told reporters Friday.

U.S. officials also said they want to hear directly from Chinese officials following China's announcement in July that it had brokered reconciliation talks among representatives of 14 Palestinian factions. Rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas are reported to have signed a declaration in Beijing to end years of discord and form a national unity government.

VOA White House bureau chief Patsy Widakuswara contributed to this story.

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Survey: Hong Kong laws contribute to decline in media freedom

By Tommy Walker August 23, 2024

Press freedom in Hong Kong is at its lowest level in at least 11 years, according to the latest survey of its members and the public by the Hong Kong Journalists Association.

One of the biggest factors in that decline is the introduction this year of Article 23, which penalizes anything deemed as sedition or external interference, the association, known as the HKJA, found.

The law has "more severe restrictions on media" than previously existed, Selina Cheng, chair of the HKJA, told VOA. It includes substantially tougher penalties for sedition, which Cheng described as "the main legislation that's been used against speech and media work" since the implementation of a new National Security Law in 2020.

The findings are part of an annual survey by the HKJA in conjunction with the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute. The journalists association sent surveys to 979 members, and the research institute collected opinions from 1,000 phone interviews, selected at random.

Both groups surveyed were asked to rank press freedom in Hong Kong. The 250 journalists who responded to the survey ranked it at 25 out of 100, with 100 being a perfect score. It is the lowest ranking since the annual survey was started 11 years ago. The public score came in at 42.

The survey findings came the same week that Hong Kong denied a work visa to journalist Haze Fan. The reporter for Bloomberg News was detained in Beijing on alleged national security violations in December 2020 and held for about 13 months. Bloomberg has said Fan will be transferred to its London office.

In the HKJA survey, 92% of the journalists who responded to the survey indicated press freedom had "significantly" been impacted by the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, known as Article 23.

Passed in March, it prohibits acts of treason, secession, sedition, subversion and theft of state secrets, and prevents foreign political organizations from conducting activities or establishing ties with local political bodies in Hong Kong.

Penalties for sedition under the new law increased from two to seven years, or 10 years if a foreign force is involved.

Authorities have insisted that journalists are safe to carry out what they call "legitimate" reporting activities. But critics say the vaguely worded legislation creates uncertainty for journalists.

Cheng said the law's reference to state secrets is wide, too, which could be a concern.

The law is using Beijing's definition of state secrets, according to Human Rights Watch.

Under Article 23, what is deemed a state secret "encompasses [a] pretty wide spectrum of things, including information about economy, technology, society, so on," Cheng said.

"It could be that the government considers the findings of a think tank or an academic institution a state secret, then that would become a crime of national security," she said.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to the HKJA findings, saying Hong Kong's national security laws are not meant to target journalists who do not break the law.

Cheng noted that only about a quarter of HKJA members responded to the survey this year, which could be a sign of how the media environment is declining.

"The response rate is not great and is a reflection of the sort of self-censorship even when it comes to discussing or reflecting reporters' views on press freedom," she told VOA.

"At some organizations that might be seen as more pro-Beijing or pro-government reporters, the contact people we have at those organizations will worry if they might face retaliation if they send out [the] HKJA questionnaire. I think people are scared to do it, because they're afraid of retaliation," she said.

Cheng believes she personally was retaliated against for her association with the HKJA. Her contract at The Wall Street Journal, where she covered the auto and electric vehicle industry, was terminated in July, in a move she said is connected to her being elected chair of the HKJA.

In a statement issued at the time, Cheng said she had been told by her supervisor that having Journal employees advocate for media freedoms would create conflicts of interest because the newspaper reports on related topics, including the ongoing trials of Hong Kong journalists and media organizations.

The Journal confirmed to VOA at the time that personnel changes had been made but said it could not comment on "specific individuals."

Journalists also highlighted overt calls for journalists to use caution in their reporting.

In a note to columnists at the pro-Beijing Ming Pao newspaper, chief editor Lau Chung-yung urged people to be "prudent" and "law abiding" in their writing. His note was posted on social media on August 15 by one of the paper's columnists.

Eric Wishart, the standards and ethics editor at Agence France-Presse in Hong Kong, says such comments concern journalists.

The Ming Pao note, he said, "is another example of the chilling effect that recent developments have had on journalism in Hong Kong."

Johan Nylander, a Swedish journalist in Hong Kong, said it is no surprise that press freedom is at a new low.

"The national security law and Article 23 have created an atmosphere of uncertainty and self-censorship among many reporters and media companies," he told VOA.

"It's quite clear where the trend is going. The situation regarding press freedom is very depressing in Hong Kong, and nothing indicates that it will get better anytime soon."

Media groups such as the HKJA have been criticized by authorities and Chinese state media for allegedly having links to activist organizations.

But Wishart said it was important for the HKJA to continue.

"It's important that the HKJA and other organizations continue to monitor the state of press freedom in Hong Kong and that media professionals continue to respond to these surveys," he said.

Hong Kong's ranking on the World Press Freedom Index has declined rapidly since the national security law was enacted in 2020.

It currently ranks 135 out of 180 on the Reporters Without Borders index, where number 1 represents the best environment. In 2019, the year before the national security law took effect, Hong Kong ranked 73.

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Background Press Call on Administration Travel to China

August 23, 2024

8:33 A.M. EDT

MODERATOR: All right, we'll get started here. Thank you all for joining us early this morning for this background call on administration travel to China.

So everyone understands the terms of the call, we're going to hold this call on background, attributable to a senior administration official. For awareness, but not for reporting, that senior administration official is [senior administration official].

And the call will be held under embargo until 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, at which time I anticipate the formal announcement of the anticipated travel will go out.

So with that, I'll hand it over to [senior administration official] for some opening remarks, and then we'll take some questions. Thanks.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thanks so much, Kate. And thanks to everyone for joining us early on a Friday morning. Quite a way to start the end of the week.

I wanted to take this opportunity just to brief you on the upcoming travel. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will travel to Beijing for meetings with PRC Foreign Minister, Communist Party Politburo Member, and Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission, Wang Yi, August 27th through 29th.

This is the fifth meeting between Wang and Sullivan. This strategic channel of communication between the two has played an important role in responsibly managing competition and tensions.

First, a bit of background on this channel before I get into any details on the trip itself.

Mr. Sullivan and Director Wang met four times over the last year and a half. The first meeting was in Vienna in May of 2023, where they reestablished channels of communication and laid the groundwork for the diplomacy that then followed, including Secretary Blinken's trip to the PRC in June of last year.

They also met in Malta in September of 2023 and in Washington in October of 2023 to prepare for the Woodside summit in San Francisco in November of that year.

Their last meeting was in January this year, in Bangkok, where they worked to advance outcomes from the Woodside summit, including resumption of mil-mil channels, counternarcotics cooperation, and the AI talks on risk and safety that were then held subsequently in Geneva a few months later.

They also discussed at that time areas of difference, as we always do, and set up a call between the two leaders that took place on April 2nd.

Each time the two have met, they have typically spent about 10 to 12 hours over two days covering bilateral issues, global regional issues, and cross-Strait issues. We expect to follow the same format in Beijing next week.

This channel between the National Security Advisor and the Director has been an important channel throughout this administration. Mr. Sullivan also met four times with Director Wang's predecessor, Yang Jiechi.

We've said this before but it bears repeating that U.S. diplomacy and channels of communication do not indicate a change in approach to the PRC. This is an intensely competitive relationship. We are committed to making the investments, strengthening our alliances, and taking the common steps a commonsense steps on tech and national security that we need to take. We are committed to managing this competition responsibly, however, and prevent it from veering into conflict.

Mr. Sullivan's trip to China next week was discussed by the two leaders at the Woodside summit last November. It is the first trip to China in this administration by a national security advisor. The last national security advisor trip to China was by Susan Rice in 2016. It is also a reciprocal trip. Director Wang visited Washington in October of last year.

As I mentioned earlier, I expect these meetings will cover roughly the same format as we have in previous rounds, discussing key issues in the U.S.-China bilateral relationship and advancing counternarcotics cooperation, military-to-military communication, and AI safety and risk discussions a all outcomes of the Woodside summit.

I expect we will also spend some time on areas of difference, as we always do. Mr. Sullivan will raise U.S. concerns about China's support for Russia's defense industrial base, the South China Sea, and various other issues. I expect the two will also exchange views on other global issues, like DPRK, Middle East, and Burma. And I expect they will also discuss cross-Strait issues.

Let me pause there and turn back to Kate for any questions.

MODERATOR: Great. Our first question will go to Kayla Tausche with CNN. Kayla, you should be able to unmute.

Q Can you hear me?

MODERATOR: Yes, we can.

Q Great. Thank you both for doing this. Maintaining the relationship has been a goal since the outset of the administration. I'm wondering what President Biden has conveyed that he sees as unfinished business with China between now and January, and whether he's communicated that he would see value in another bilateral meeting with President Xi.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thanks so much for that question. Look, I think I would phrase it less as unfinished business and more about the intensity of the competition. The challenges in the bilateral relationship mean that is a constant effort to manage those tensions and manage that competition.

So I think we'll continue to use these high-level engagements, first, to push forward for actual, concrete outcomes on the three areas the two leaders agreed to at the last summit.

Mil-mil communications: We've run through the list of the ones the two agreed to, with the exception of the theater command; we'll continue to press on that one. There are other things we can do in that mil-mil space that we think would be helpful in terms of communications and ensuring the resilience of those communications.

I think, on counternarcotics, as we all know, the fight against illicit precursor chemicals and fentanyl is also a constantly evolving trade, and so there are always things we need to push forward and work with the Chinese to try to get additional scheduling, additional law enforcement actions. We've seen some good action in that space over the last couple of months, including the scheduling for the first time in quite some time of three fentanyl precursors. But there's always more we can do.

And of course, AI safety and risk is also a rapidly evolving topic that I expect the two leaders would also want to continue to discuss.

And then, aside from that, you know, Russia, Ukraine, Middle East a all of these issues require some levels of discussion between the two sides.

We've been clear, and I think both sides have been clear, the value in those leader-level touch points to ensure that we're talking at the very highest levels. I would expect that to continue, and we look for opportunities to continue that through the end of the year.

MODERATOR: Okay, next we'll go to Aamer with the AP. Aamer, you should be able to unmute.

Q Hey, thank you both. I just was hoping to get your sense of how much Jake and others who will be on this trip will be conveying to their counterparts about what or what may not be the impact of the elections here.

And to what extent can some of the things, and how high of a priority, I guess, is to solidify just some of what was

sort of pushed forward at Woodside? And how much of it can the President really solidify at this point that can't eventually just be undone by whoever is the next president? Thanks.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Yeah, thanks for the question. Look, I wouldn't tie this trip or associate it too closely with the election. That's not the point. We've tried to do these Wang Yi/Jake Sullivan touch points about once a quarter. The last one was in January. We had actually tried to schedule this trip a little bit earlier, and just with the two schedules, it was hard a it was not a we were unable to land it before next week.

So, again, I would not associate it too closely with the election. I think that is always in the background in any engagement we have with foreign officials concerned about what comes next or what the transition will be like. But this meeting will be focused on the topics and the issues that we are dealing with now. There is a lot we can get done before the end of the year in terms of just managing the relationship. I think that will be the focus.

MODERATOR: Next we'll go to Trevor Hunnicutt with Reuters.

Q Hey, good morning. Could you talk a little bit about where China is on some of these key Mideast issues, especially Gaza war and the situation with Iran? How effective have they been in pressing towards a positive resolution there? And will you be pressing them for more on that?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thanks for the question. Middle East and, of course, Iran has been a topic that has come up, I would say, pretty much every time we've met, even before October 7th, of course, raising concerns about Iran as well.

I think a I don't want to characterize the Chinese position here or get into the conversations that happen behind closed doors. I think there are some shared concerns about instability, but I think it's fair to say the two sides, U.S. and China, approach the issue very differently.

We'll be looking to hear from them, of course, their assessment of what's going on, the role they have been playing, or some of the talks that have happened in China on this issue set.

But again, I think we're approaching it fundamentally from some different directions. And I think you've seen that play out in the press as well, with the position or their lack of condemnation on the October 7th attack.

MODERATOR: Next we'll go to Alex Ward with the Wall Street Journal.

Q Thanks. Will you guys be going to China with some proposal of a prisoner swap perhaps? I mean, obviously, we know there's, if my memory is correct, around 200 or so Americans, some more known than others. Are you a will you be discussing some sort of proposal for a swap and hoping to bring Americans home on this trip?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Look, we raise the Americans that are detained in China in every single senior-level engagement. But, no, I have no expectation of that on this trip.

MODERATOR: Next we'll go to Patsy with VOA.

Q Hi. Thank you both for taking my call. And sorry if I missed this, but was there a specific deliverable for the visit beyond pushing what was achieved in Woodside?

And if I may: Throughout the administration and the various meetings between Jake and Wang Yi and the leaders, how would you characterize the current trajectory of U.S.-China ties? Have things improved at all since President Biden came into office? And what is the expectation or the groundwork that you expect to lay for the next administration? Thank you.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Yeah. Thanks for the question. Look, I think we're in a different point in the relationship than we were 10, 15 years ago, where we're talking outcomes and deliverables for engagements like this.

The purpose of this strategic level of communication is really to get into details on how, on intent of poli- a our strategic intent, intent of policy, how we see different situations. It really is about clearing up misperceptions and avoiding this competition from veering into conflict more than anything else.

We have identified some areas where we think it is important and we have shown we can work together. We think this is important not just to show that, even amidst competition, that we can find constructive ways to work with each other, but it's also important because there are some challenges that we just can't adequately tackle without the PRC, and one of those would be the fentanyl crisis, right? China is the source of the bulk of precursor chemicals flowing towards the United States and Mexico. And so, being able to have those law enforcement-to-law enforcement conversations, disrupt through law enforcement action, work on scheduling, do information exchanges a that is critical as part of an approach to a transnational issue.

So I would frame it more in that way a that we're diving into these difficult, tough topics, making sure no misperception, pushing forward some of the work that we have been able to get done together.

In terms of how we set up for the next administration: Look, I think we're clear-eyed about the threat that the PRC proposes a or poses to the international order, and we expect that to be the case for the foreseeable future. Our strategy is designed to meet that challenge.

And I think what has been so successful in this administration is our China policy is not about changing China at its core, right? It's about positioning the United States to make the investments, build the alliances we need to succeed and grow stronger. And that really is the focus here. Part of that, then, is also ensuring we've got open channels of communication and high-level diplomacy to manage the risks of competition.

MODERATOR: Next we'll go to Nick Schifrin with PBS.

Q Hey there. Thank you. I want to go back to Aamer's question and ask just a specific thing. You're saying that the focus is not the election, nor is the timing about the election, but the Chinese will ask about the election. So, when asked if Harris would represent continuity, or when asked about Harris's policies, will Jake engage with the Vice President's future policies should she become president?

And while we have you, I just wanted to get your sense of Lai Ching-te so far. You know, we got an announcement this week of increased defense spending, over 7.5 percent. William Lai is in Kinmen Island today. Just wanted you, if you're willing, to give an assessment of Lai Ching-te's presidency so far. Thanks.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thanks so much for that question. On the first one, look, I a sorry. Hold on just a moment. I got another call come in. Sorry about that. I had another phone ringing.

Look, on the continuity question, I think this is, as I said, a subtext or a question, regardless of who you are meeting with, that this tends to come up right as they try to figure out our own system.

I will say a and I think you've seen this in the MFA briefings on the Chinese side, in some of their public comments: They are not engaging on this in any sort of meaningful way. Essentially, their line has been: This is a U.S. domestic issue; we're not going to get involved; we're not asking questions.

I think we won't aim to speak for whatever administration comes next. That will be up to the next administration to determine China policy and how they intend to use some of these channels of communication. What we can speak to is how we intend to manage the balance of this administration, how we intend to manage the transition. And I think we can focus on that piece in some of the conversations.

But again, it'll be up to the next administration and those that are national security advisor and other key foreign policy roles to decide how they carry it forward from here. We can, of course, give recommendations, but it'll be up to them.

MODERATOR: And our last question is going to go to Lili Pike with a

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I'm sorry, I think he also asked a question on Taiwan, which I neglected to answer.

Let me just, on that point a and thanks for the question. We've been pretty consistent, I think as you know, that the U.S. remains committed to the One China policy guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, Three CommuniquAs, and Six Assurances. Been clear we oppose unilateral changes to the status quo from either side. Do not support Taiwan independence. And we expect cross-Strait differences to be resolved peacefully.

I expect in these conversations next week we're going to raise concern about the PRC's increased military, diplomatic, and economic pressure against Taiwan. These activities are destabilizing and risk escalation. And we're going to continue to urge Beijing to engage in meaningful dialogue with Taipei.

I think, look, everything that we have seen come out of Taipei indicates that the current leadership remains committed to maintaining status quo and peace and stability. They've emphasized that in their public statements. So I will leave it at that and refer you to Taipei for any additional questions on travel, et cetera.

MODERATOR: Now we'll go to Lili Pike.

Q Thank you. Just following up on Taiwan. In recent months, we've seen rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait, in the South China Sea. Is this strategy of increased high-level diplomacy between the U.S. and China actually working to achieve that goal of managing tensions?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Well, you know, by its definition, I think it's a constant process. There is no end point or achievement of the goal. It requires constant conversations on both sides. Again, our view is still that direct and meaningful dialogue between Taipei and Beijing is the only way to address these issues head on. But we, of course, as I mentioned before, expect to raise this with China.

And, look, I think you have seen in recent multilateral statements a whether it's G7, whether it's Quad, the trilat a the issue of cross-Strait peace and stability is one that's increasingly being watched closely by the rest of the world. The economic impact of instability in the region would be overwhelming. And so, I think it's clear at this point that there is a global stake in continued peace and stability and status quo.

MODERATOR: That concludes our call. Again, this call is held under an embargo until 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, and is attributable to a senior administration official. Thank you all.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thanks so much. Have a great weekend.

8:52 A.M. EDT

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Statement by NSC Spokesperson Sean Savett on National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Trip to Beijing, China

August 23, 2024

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will travel to the People's Republic of China from August 27 through August 29, for meetings with senior PRC officials to discuss bilateral, regional, and global issues. These meetings are consistent with efforts to maintain this strategic channel of communication to responsibly manage the relationship and are a product of the November 2023 Woodside Summit between President Biden and President Xi. This trip follows high-level diplomatic meetings between National Security Advisor Sullivan and Director Wang Yi in Vienna in May 2023, Malta in September 2023, Washington in October 2023, and Bangkok in January 2024.

###

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North Korea Condemns US Decision to Approve Sale of 36 Apaches to South Korea

Sputnik News

20240823

MOSCOW, (Sputnik) - The North Korean Foreign Ministry condemned the US State Department's decision to approve the sale of 36 AH-64E Apache helicopters to South Korea, North Korean state-run news agency KCNA reported on Friday.

On Monday, the State Department approved the sale of 36 Apache helicopters and related equipment and services to South Korea for $3.5 billion.

"We strongly oppose and reject the U.S. and its vassal forces' arms buildup posing a grave danger to the regional security environment and escalating the military tension and warn them seriously of the consequences to be entailed by it," the ministry was quoted as saying by the news agency.

The sale of American weapons to US allies in the Asia-Pacific region is an unacceptable challenge to the security of the region, the report read.

A Sputnik

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August 23, 2024

Transcript

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Hosted Bilateral in Honor of Indian Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III; Rajnath Singh, Indian Minister of Defense

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE LLOYD AUSTIN: Well, Minister Singh, good morning and welcome back to the Pentagon. It's great to see you again. We're meeting at a time of great momentum in the US India partnership. We share a vision of a free and open Indo Pacific, and our defense cooperation continues to grow stronger and stronger. We're expanding our defense industrial ties and working to co-produce more capabilities and strengthening supply chain resilience through the INDUS-X initiative, we're accelerating defense innovation among both countries' private sectors. I look forward to a robust report on the program's progress after its third summit next month in Silicon Valley.

We've also increased our operational cooperation across all domains, and our exercises have grown more complex and more sophisticated. And just last month, India was one of 29 countries that participated in a successful RIMPAC exercise in Hawaii, and the Indian Navy remains an important security provider in the Indian Ocean. Indian sailors have helped mariners in distress and defended global commerce, so we are committed to deepening naval cooperation, to doing more together with unmanned technology and to strengthening undersea domain awareness.

And finally, Mr. Minister, I want to thank you for your leadership as we repatriate the remains of some of our fallen service members from World War II and finally bring them home. So Minister Singh, thanks again for making the trip, and thanks for all that you're doing to strengthen our partnership.

MINISTER SINGH: Thank you very much. Secretary Austin, it is great pleasure to meet you again. I recall (inaudible) your visit to India in June and November last year. India and the US enjoy a comprehensive global strategic partnership, covering almost all areas of human endeavor. This is driven by shared democratic value, convergence of interest on a range of issues and vibrant people-to-people contact. I can see our bilateral relationship has also seen a growing convergence of strategic interest and enhanced defense security and industrial cooperation.

Secretary Austin, our leaders share an excellent rapport and are working together on several global issues, apart from the vast and growing bilateral agenda. We have had regular high-level interactions, and this includes our prime minister's state visit to US in June 2023, where he also addressed a joint meeting of US Congress. President Biden visited New Delhi in September 2023 to attend the G-20 Leaders Summit. PM Modi also met President Biden on the sidelines of G-7 Summit in June in Italy.

Secretary Austin, you now have the floor. Thank you very much.

MR. AUSTIN: Well, thank you. We're delighted to have you here, and I look forward to a great discussion. Thanks, everybody.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3883413/

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August 23, 2024

By Joseph Clark, DOD News

Austin Lauds U.S.-India Ties in Meeting With Counterpart

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III praised the momentum behind the U.S.-India relationship today as he met with Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh at the Pentagon.

Austin noted the countries' increased cooperation on a range of defense issues, including efforts to strengthen critical supply chains and interoperability between their militaries.

"We share a vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific, and our defense cooperation continues to grow stronger and stronger," Austin said. "We're expanding our defense industrial ties and working to coproduce more capabilities and strengthen supply chain resilience."

He added that the countries have increased operational cooperation across all domains and highlighted India's participation in this summer's Rim of the Pacific, a large-scale exercise led by the U.S. Navy in Hawaii that brought together 29 partner nations.

"The Indian navy remains an important security provider in the Indian Ocean," Austin said. "Indian sailors have helped mariners in distress and defended global commerce. So, we are committed to deepening naval cooperation, to doing more together with unmanned technology, and to strengthening undersea domain awareness."

Singh said the growing cooperation covers "all areas of human endeavor."

The defense minister noted the robust people-to-people ties, shared democratic values, and the convergence of interests between the U.S. and India on a range of issues.

Austin and Singh's meeting came a day after the countries finalized an agreement aimed at mitigating unanticipated supply chain issues to meet national security needs.

Under the nonbinding "security of supply" arrangement, the United States and India have agreed to provide priority support for goods and services that promote national defense.

"This security of supply arrangement represents a pivotal moment in the U.S.-India major defense partner relationship and will be a key factor in strengthening the U.S.-India Defense Technology and Trade Initiative," Vic Ramdass, principal secretary of defense of industrial base policy, said in a statement.

"I look forward to [the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment] hosting the next [U.S.-India Defense Technology and Trade Initiative] meeting this fall to deepen cooperation between our respective defense industrial bases and pursue bilateral codevelopment, coproduction and cosustainment initiatives," Ramdass said.

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Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh & US Secretary of Defense Mr Lloyd Austin hold bilateral talks in Washington DC

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Discuss defence cooperation, industrial collaboration & regional security

Posted On: 23 AUG 2024 10:17PM by PIB Delhi

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh held a bilateral meeting with the US Secretary of Defense Mr Lloyd Austin in Pentagon, Washington DC on August 23, 2024. They held wide-ranging discussions on bilateral defence cooperation, industrial collaboration, regional security and other international issues.

Shri Rajnath Singh highlighted the various co-development and co-production opportunities in India in the areas identified in the India-US Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap, which was adopted last year.

Both Ministers expressed happiness on the conclusion of the Security of Supplies Arrangement (SOSA) between India and US. The SOSA signed yesterday in Washington DC encourages the defence industrial ecosystems of both countries to work together, and enhances the supply chain resilience. They also welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between India and US regarding the Deployment of Liaison Officers. India shall be accordingly deploying the first Liaison Officer to the Headquarters Special Operations Command in Florida, US.

Both Ministers appreciated the progress made in operationalising the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness, a Quad initiative and lauded the ongoing efforts by India to enhance the Maritime Domain Awareness for the partners in the Indian Ocean Region. They welcomed the ongoing Indian participation in the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) and noted that India shall deploy Indian Navy personnel in CMF's Combined Task Force 150 headquarters in 2025.

The Raksha Mantri and Secretary Austin commended the efforts of the India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) for establishing the Defence Innovation bridge between the two countries. They appreciated INDUS-X establishing robust networks across start-ups, industry, academia, and governments, accelerating the adoption of cutting-edge technologies and enhancing war-fighting capabilities of both sides. The upcoming INDUS X Silicon Valley Summit in September 2024 shall witness announcements of several key initiatives.

The meeting at Pentagon was preceded by a solemn wreath laying ceremony by Shri Rajnath Singh at the Arlington National Cemetery. The Raksha Mantri and US Secretary of Defense looked forward to meeting again at the next India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.

***

ABB/Savvy

(Release ID: 2048377)

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Deputy Secretary Verma's Meetings with the Government of India in New Delhi, India

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

August 23, 2024

The below is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel:

Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard Verma met with senior Indian officials in New Delhi from August 17-22. His meetings with External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Minister of Commerce Piyush Goyal, senior advisers to the Prime Minister, and other senior officials advanced strategic cooperation between the United States and India on issues of mutual benefit and cooperation, including security, the digital economy, and clean energy supply chains. The officials also discussed U.S.-India coordination in multilateral fora such as the Quad. While in India, Deputy Secretary Verma was also joined by Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy John Podesta and Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy David Turk to meet with Minister of Power Manohar Lal Khattar, senior Government of India officials, climate advocates, and business leaders to discuss how the United States and India can further our climate partnership. These engagements reflect the breadth and depth of the U.S.-India partnership and helped deepen enduring people-to-people ties.

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Araghchi: New Iran government's mission is to neutralize illegal sanctions

Iran Press TV

Friday, 23 August 2024 9:47 PM

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the government has been given a mission by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution to neutralize illegal sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic and their possible impacts on the Iranian nation.

Araghchi, a former nuclear negotiator, made the remarks in a television interview on Friday, two days after he won a vote of confidence from the parliament as the new Iranian foreign minister.

"Our foreign policy will be active and not passive. We'll try to be present on international forums. If a new order is being formed, we should not be passive. We must play a role for our own interests, for the region and the Islamic world," the foreign minister said.

Araghchi said that Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei emphasized two missions: "The first mission is to neutralize sanctions, which the whole government should follow. Our first goal is to neutralize the sanctions and its impacts on the people."

The new Iranian foreign minister added, "Our first priority is our neighbors. Our second priority is to expand the field of diplomacy to Africa and East Asia. The third priority is the countries that stood by Iran in difficult situations."

In a telephone call with the European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Thursday, Araghchi also exchanged views on negotiations to lift sanctions against Iran.

Earlier, Araghchi announced Iran's willingness to manage tensions with the United States and restore relations with European countries, provided that they stop their hostility towards the Islamic Republic.

He explained that as a crucial step toward removing sanctions on Iran's economy and normalizing its trade with the international community, the Foreign Ministry will seek to manage tensions with Washington and rebuild ties with European states, but only if they abandon their "hostile approach" while aiming to revive the 2015 nuclear deal and lift the bans.

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Iran asserts will continue to support Syria, pro-resistance states against Israel

Iran Press TV

Friday, 23 August 2024 3:08 PM

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the Islamic Republic will continue to support Syria and all pro-resistance countries in the confrontation against the Israeli regime.

Araghchi made the comment in a Friday phone call with Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad, who congratulated the top Iranian diplomat on his new mission.

Mekdad said Damascus is resolved to improve strategic relations with Tehran.

The top Iranian and Syrian diplomats stressed the need to proceed with mutual consultations on ways to promote relations in various fields.

Araghchi and Mekdad emphasized the importance of standing against the Israeli regime's acts of aggression and crimes, as well as supporting Palestine.

The two ministers invited each other to pay visits to Tehran and Damascus.

Iran will continue to support Lebanon in face of Israel: Araghchi

Also in a phone conversation with Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib on Friday, Araghchi said the new Iranian administration's approach is based on providing more support to the Lebanese government, nation and resistance in the face of the Israeli regime's aggression.

Bou Habib extended his congratulations to his new Iranian counterpart and expressed hope that the two countries will further strengthen cooperation.

The Iranian and Lebanese foreign ministers exchanged views about the latest developments in the region amid the Israeli regime's war crimes in Palestine over the past 10 months and its attacks against Lebanon.

Both sides expressed their readiness to continue consultation on various issues of common interest.

Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging deadly fire since early October last year, shortly after the regime launched the genocidal war against the Gaza Strip in response to a surprise operation by the Palestinian Hamas resistance group.

The Lebanese resistance movement has vowed to keep up its retaliatory attacks as long as the Israeli regime continues its war on Gaza.

Hezbollah officials have repeatedly said they do not want a war with Israel while stressing that they are prepared in case it occurs.

Two Israeli wars waged against Lebanon in 2000 and 2006 were met with strong resistance from Hezbollah, resulting in the retreat of the regime in both conflicts.

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Iran Tries To 'Storm' U.S. Election With Russian-Style Disinformation Campaign

By Michael Scollon August 23, 2024

Iran is striking out left and right in an attempt to interfere with the U.S. presidential election in November with the help of slick-looking websites, hackers, and phishing attacks.

The objective of the sophisticated campaign, U.S. intelligence and cyberthreat experts say, is to fuel distrust in the U.S. democratic system and to exploit and heighten social divisions.

As the November 5 election nears, Iranian hackers have been accused of targeting the e-mail accounts of both the Republican candidate, former President Donald Trump, and his Democratic rival, Kamala Harris.

U.S. intelligence assessments and researchers say both political campaigns have been targeted by phishing attacks carried out by a group with suspected ties to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), the elite branch of the armed forces.

And experts say an Iranian network dubbed "Storm-2035" operates multiple inauthentic news sites on the web and social media that use AI-generated content to agitate conservative and liberal dissidence.

"Iran's main goal in this space is to sow discord and chaos and to undermine the integrity of the United States' electoral system," said Simin Kargar, a senior nonresident fellow at the Washington-based Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab).

"If they can pull this off, even at a very small scale, it would be a testament to Iran's long-held rhetoric that democracy is a 'flawed Western concept' and even the U.S., which has often accused Iran of rigged elections, is susceptible to election-related controversies," she added in written comments.

At least four "Iran-run covert news sites masquerading as news outlets" operated by Storm-2035 have been identified by the Microsoft Threat Analysis Center (MTAC) as "actively engaging U.S. voter groups on opposing ends of the political spectrum with polarizing messaging on issues such as the U.S. presidential candidates, LGBTQ rights, and the Israel-Hamas conflict."

In an August 9 report, the MTAC singled out three of the sites by name-- Even Politics (evenpolitics.com), Nio Thinker (niothinker.com), and Savannah Time (savannahtime.com).

With Trump and Harris in a tight race 11 weeks before the vote, Even Politics was publishing content focused on the ongoing war in Gaza, alleged threats against democracy, and the influence of religious groups. Much of the content on the site appeared to be steered against Trump.

Nio Thinker, which emerged shortly after the beginning of the Gaza war in October, has since shifted its focus from that conflict to the U.S. election. Its content caters to "liberal audiences" with "sarcastic, long-winded articles insulting Trump," according to the MTAC, including one calling him an "opioid-pilled elephant in the MAGA china shop."

Hot-Button Topics

The site also goes after Harris's alleged unwavering support for Israel, the vice-presidential nominees for both parties, and stokes the flames on hot-button topics like corporate influence and immigration.

One article presented as an op-ed lays out "Why Harris's Stance On Palestine Cost Her My Vote." A story titled "J.D. Vance And The Rise Of The Sperm Cups" mocks Trump's running mate over his "family values" positioning, which it described as a "one-way ticket back to the 1950s." And another written from "an FBI agent's perspective" alleged that Harris's running mate, Tim Walz, has a "'longstanding connection' to China and its government."

The third site, Savannah Time, presents itself as originating from the city of Savannah in the key swing state of Georgia. That site, according to Darren Linvill, co-director of the Watt Family Innovation Center Media Forensics Hub, is clearly intended to appeal to the right, with stories bashing Harris and her supporters.

Harris's economic policies are often in the crosshairs of Savannah Time, with one article describing them as "fiscally reckless crayon economics that would make even a drunken sailor blush." Another accuses her of "a dangerous flirtation with communist-style price controls."

Most of the articles published by the three sites are written by "staff," and the Open AI artificial intelligence research company said in an August 16 report that Storm-2035 relied heavily on ChatGPT to generate its content.

Experts suggest that in many ways Iran's approach to influencing the U.S. electoral system mirrors that of Russia, which employed troll farms to flood social media with disinformation and divisive content during the 2016 presidential election, broadly favoring Trump over Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

"What we've seen from these websites suggests a sort of Russian-style [campaign], where they have set up websites that are targeting communities on both the left and the right," Linvill said.

"[They want] to potentially use those websites to target these communities to spread disinformation and perhaps make our politics more extreme than they would have been otherwise and facilitate the process of us fighting amongst ourselves," he added.

'Remarkably Well Done'

Linvill also said the Iranian websites in some ways surpass their Russian counterparts, and have improved over the years.

"They're really remarkably well done. They clearly use AI in really interesting ways to create their content, but they're really well put together," Linvill said.

Iranian efforts to influence the U.S. electoral process have been observed since as early as 2018, when inauthentic personas were used to impersonate candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives and to pose as journalists, according to the cyberthreat intelligence specialists Mandiant.

Analysts suggest that the campaign increased in scope following the assassination of IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani in a U.S. air strike in Iraq in January 2020 under then-President Trump.

Two Iranian nationals, for example, were charged by the United States for their involvement in a cyberenabled campaign to influence U.S. voters in the 2020 election, which Trump lost to President Joe Biden.

Mandiant noted that Iranian actors sent threatening e-mails to voters in the United States during the 2020 campaign. Mandiant and other cyberexperts also said that Iran used media sites like Even Politics to attempt to influence the 2022 midterm elections.

Aside from the use of media platforms, U.S. intelligence agencies and cyberthreat experts say that Iran is currently making use of hacking and phishing attacks in an attempt to disrupt the November presidential vote.

The Trump campaign on August 10 blamed the Iranian government for a hack of some of its internal communications, prompting a federal investigation.

A joint assessment by three U.S. intelligence bodies released on August 19 confirmed "increasingly aggressive Iranian activity during this election cycle," including the "recently reported activities to compromise former President Trump's campaign."

This came after the U.S. director of national intelligence in July suggested that Tehran's efforts to influence the election was "probably because Iranian leaders want to avoid an outcome they perceive would increase tensions with the United States."

Considering the assassination of Soleimeni, the unilateral U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear accord with Iran, and the souring of relations under the Trump administration, many experts suggest that Tehran would not favor another Trump presidency. The Trump campaign, following the hacking it blamed on Iran, suggested that it was due to past hostilities with Tehran.

'Hyper-Polarized Climate'

Kargar of DFRLab said in written comments that she had not "seen enough evidence on favoring one candidate over another." But Kargar said that "given Trump's first term policies vis-a-vis Iran, it would only make sense that Iran would want to avoid a second Trump term at any cost."

But Harris's campaign has also been targeted. The joint U.S. intelligence report this month also said that it was confident that "the Iranians have through social engineering and other efforts sought access to individuals with direct access to the presidential campaigns of both political parties."

And a Google threat analysis group on August 14 said that APT42 had used phishing campaigns in an attempt to compromise "the personal [e-mail] accounts of individuals affiliated with President Biden, Vice President Harris, and former President Trump, including current and former government officials and individuals associated with the campaigns."

Tehran is going after both the Republican and the Democratic camps because "Iran is looking for ways to sow discord and drive wedges between different communities of voters in a hyper-polarized climate," Kargar said.

Russia, Kargar added, did the same in 2016.

The bigger question is whether Iran's campaign has had any impact in an election that is already divisive on its own.

Little is known about the hacking attacks confirmed by U.S. intelligence, although Trump wrote on social media that the hackers were "only able to get publicly available information" and U.S. media did not publish documents purportedly from within Trump's campaign that were sent anonymously.

In the case of the inauthentic websites operated by Iran's Storm-2035 campaign, Linvill said that "nobody's talking about them."

"It seems likely that they had been set up for some future purpose to help some future narrative laundering campaign that hasn't been undertaken yet," Linvill said.

Such campaigns usually have a very specific goal in mind or a specific story that the actor wants to spread, Livill said, but "we just can't say what that might be."

Linvill said he expects that to be cleared up as the election gets closer.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-election-disinformation- harris-trump/33089022.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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August 22, 2024

Release

Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Call With Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant

Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout:

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke Aug. 22 with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant.

Secretary Austin and Minister Gallant discussed continued exchanges of fire on the Israel-Lebanon border and the risk of escalation from Iran, Lebanese Hizballah, and Iran-backed terrorist groups across the Middle East. Secretary Austin informed the Minister that the United States continues to monitor attack planning from Iran and its proxies and is well postured across the region to defend Israel and protect U.S. personnel and facilities. The Secretary underscored the importance of finalizing a ceasefire deal and release of all hostages, including eight Americans, held captive by Hamas in Gaza. Secretary Austin and Minister Gallant also discussed the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the need to address the potential spread of polio.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3882388/

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Pro-junta ethnic army finishes training for 10,000 in southern Shan state

New fighters with ethnic Pa-O National Army will shore up the junta's depleted forces.

By RFA Burmese 2024.08.23 -- More than 10,000 freshly-trained fighters from an ethnic army are on their way to replenish Myanmar's depleted junta forces.

On Wednesday, the pro-junta Pa-O National Army, or PNA, completed a military training program for the new recruits in southern Shan state.

The graduation ceremony, held in Naungtayar town, within the Pa-O Self-Administered Zone, was attended by the militia's chief of staff, military regional commanders and officials from the Pa-O National Organization party.

The training was primarily aimed at supporting the military junta, which has suffered numerous battlefield setbacks in Shan state in recent months, according to a political analyst who requested anonymity for security reasons.

"The primary objective is to demonstrate strength and power," the analyst told Radio Free Asia. "This display suggests that they will likely participate in conflicts in the border region, seemingly acting as a proxy for the military council."

Founded in 1976, the Pa-O National Army, or PNA, signed a ceasefire agreement in 1991 with a previous military junta, the State Peace and Development Council.

It later transformed into a state-backed people's militia force and merged with other Pa-O paramilitary groups in 2009. The following year, the area under its control was officially designated as the Pa'O Self-Administered Zone, or Special Region 6.

The Pa-O people, the second largest ethnic group in Shan state, are split between pro- and anti-junta factions.

Earlier this year, a different militia - the Pa-O National Liberation Army, or PNLA - fought several battles against junta troops in southern Shan State and the PNA conducted counterattacks on behalf of the junta during this fighting.

The newly trained 10,000 troops are intended to protect the military junta, PNLA spokesperson Khun Rain Yan told RFA.

RFA attempted to contact Major Than Kywe, the spokesperson of the Pa-O National Organization, to inquire about the new trainees but received no response.

Translated by Kalyar Lwin. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content August not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Junta stops 50 young people from departing Yangon airport in single day

The military began blocking youths from flying earlier this month - even those with valid documents.

By RFA Burmese 2024.08.23 -- Junta officials stopped about 50 young people from departing Yangon's international airport in one day as the military continues its efforts to control the number of citizens leaving for employment opportunities abroad.

Authorities under the ruling junta began preventing young adults from flying out of Yangon about three weeks ago in an attempt to halt the outward flow of citizens due to the civil war, economic downturn and military conscription.

In May, the junta temporarily banned all men from working abroad amid widespread public concern over the implementation of a military conscription law.

The 50 young people - between the ages of 23 and 35 - were denied departure on Aug. 19, even those with valid passports and travel histories, a Yangon resident told Radio Free Asia.

A staff member at Yangon's airport, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told RFA that travelers who hold Passport for Visit, or PV, documents were being scrutinized to determine if they were actually leaving for overseas jobs.

"Even if they have return tickets that were recently purchased, they still have to return to their homes," he said. "They couldn't do anything."

The Yangon resident who was at the airport on Aug. 19 told RFA that authorities checked the travel history of all outbound passengers.

"If an individual had no overseas travel history, if the passport was issued this year, or if they were carrying large luggage suggesting they might be going for an overseas job despite holding a PV, they were denied departure," the resident said.

A young man who was denied departure at the airport told RFA that he and three others were turned away, even though they showed officials their hotel bookings and return flight tickets.

RFA attempted to contact junta spokesperson Major General Zaw Min Tun and Deputy Minister for Immigration and Population Htay Hlaing for comments, but they didn't immediately respond.

Numbers of displaced persons

As battles for control of towns have intensified across Myanmar, more people have recently fled to major cities such as Yangon, Mandalay, and Taunggyi for safety, according to observers.

Displaced persons have reported being free from airstrikes but have also had to face higher commodity prices and apartment rentals, which have abruptly doubled in recent months.

In western Rakhine state, the number of internally displaced persons has surpassed 500,000, according to civil aid groups.

In northern Shan State, some local civil groups report that more than 100,000 people have been forced to flee due to intense fighting there since late June.

There are currently more than 3 million displaced people across Myanmar, according to a report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs released on June 31.

Translated by Aung Naing. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content August not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Guterres calls for end to Myanmar violence, persecution of Rohingya

23 August 2024 - Seven years since the forced mass displacement of Rohingya and other communities from Myanmar's Rakhine State, the UN Secretary-General has called for an end to the violence and full protection of civilians across the country which is now engulfed in a brutal civil conflict.

Around one million Rohingya are sheltering in Bangladesh and over 130,000 more have sought safe haven across the region without immediate prospects for return, said AntAnio Guterres in a statement issued by his Spokesperson on Friday - just ahead of Sunday's grim anniversary.

"The dire security and humanitarian situation with ongoing access challenges has exacerbated pre-existing vulnerabilities of the people of Myanmar, including the Rohingya, who continue to face discrimination and persecution as the armed conflict escalates in Rakhine State", the statement said.

The Secretary-General called on all parties to the conflict - being fought between troops loyal to the ruling military junta and numerous armed groups fighting for autonomy or independence - "to end the violence and ensure the protection of civilians in accordance with applicable international human rights standards and international humanitarian law.

Deteriorating situation leaves 'no path to safety'

Thousands of civilians in Myanmar's western Rakhine State have been forced to flee on foot as Arakan Army separatists continue to herd them into locations that offer scant safe haven, human rights chief Volker TArk also warned on Friday.

This violence has left hundreds of civilians reportedly killed as they tried to flee the fighting.

"As the border crossings to Bangladesh remain closed, members of the Rohingya community are finding themselves trapped between the military and its allies and the Arakan Army, with no path to safety," Mr. TArk warned.

The situation has only worsened over the past four months, as tens of thousands of people, many of whom are members of the Rohingya Muslim minority, have fled a major offensive by the Arakan Army rebels, an ethnic armed group that aims to take control of townships from the Myanmar military.

Historical tragedy continues

The human rights chief highlighted that this August marks seven years since the military operations in Myanmar drove 700,000 across the border into Bangladesh.

"Despite the world saying 'never again' we are once more witnessing killings, destruction and displacement in Rakhine," Mr. TArk said.

In one of the deadliest recent attacks along the Naf River bordering Bangladesh on 5 August, dozens were reportedly killed, including by armed drones, though it remains unclear which side was responsible.

"Parties to the armed conflict are issuing statements denying responsibility for attacks against the Rohingya and others, acting as though they are powerless to protect them. This stretches the bounds of credulity," Mr. TArk continued, stressing obligations of all parties under international humanitarian law to protect the Rohingya against risk of further harm.

'Unequivocal response' needed

Serious human rights violations and abuses have been committed against the Rohingya both by the military and the Arakan Army, including abductions, forced recruitment, indiscriminate bombardments of towns and villages using drones and artillery, and killings - some involving beheadings.

There have also been an increasing number of Rohingya, nearly half of whom are children, seeking assistance for conflict-related injuries, including those dying of diarrhoea due to lack of access to clean water alongside grossly inadequate living conditions.

"These atrocities demand an unequivocal response - those responsible must be held accountable, and justice must be pursued relentlessly," said Mr. TArk.

"Recurrence of the crimes and horrors of the past must be prevented as a moral duty and a legal necessity. It is the responsibility of the international community, with ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] at the forefront, to take all necessary measures to protect the Rohingya and other civilian victims of this cruel conflict," the rights chief concluded.

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Pakistan's Internet 'Firewall' Aimed At Crushing Dissent Upends Livelihoods

By Abubakar Siddique August 23, 2024

Millions of Pakistanis have for weeks experienced slow Internet connections and problems with accessing social media platforms.

Activists say the authorities are installing a China-style national Internet firewall aimed at exerting more control over the online space and crushing dissent.

Islamabad has denied allegations that it is behind the Internet slowdown, which has disrupted businesses and triggered widespread complaints in the South Asian country of some 240 million.

Pakistanis have been unable to promptly send emails or use the messaging application WhatsApp, which is used by tens of millions of people. Businesses and entrepreneurs say the Internet slowdown has disrupted their daily work.

Among them is Omeed Khan, a freelance video editor from the capital, Islamabad.

The 21-year-old said he has been unable to download or upload lengthy videos for weeks. Unable to meet the deadlines set by his mostly international customers, his livelihood has suffered.

"This Internet slowdown is detrimental to our work," said Khan, who used to earn several thousand dollars per month. "Our clients will quickly move to freelancers in neighboring India and Bangladesh."

Financial experts have warned that the Internet disruptions could exacerbate the severe economic crisis in Pakistan.

The government estimates that the country earns more than $2.5 billion annually from digital exports of products and services.

Pakistan Software Houses Association, which represents IT companies, said in a statement on August 15 that the disruptions could cost the already fragile economy around $300 million.

"This is not going to invite investment into the country or business," said Farieha Aziz, co-founder of the nongovernmental digital rights group Bolo Bhi.

'Stricter Controls'

For weeks, Islamabad refused to comment on the slowdown. In recent days, officials have provided contradictory remarks about the reason behind the disruptions.

Information Technology and Telecommunication Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja admitted on August 15 that the government was tinkering with the Internet, revealing that it was "upgrading a web-management system" it had previously installed.

Khawaja had previously blamed the Internet disruptions on more Pakistanis using virtual private networks (VPNs) to circumvent government controls.

On August 21, Hafeezur Rehman, the chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), claimed that a faulty undersea Internet cable was to blame for the disruptions.

Activists say there is no doubt that the government's alleged implementation of a national firewall to monitor and regulate content and social media platforms is to blame.

They say the building of a China-style firewall and filtering system is designed to increase surveillance and stifle dissent, especially criticism of the country's all-powerful military.

The civilian government is backed by the military and the PTA is overseen by a retired general.

The alleged implementation of the firewall comes as Pakistan's military, which has an oversized role in the country's domestic and foreign affairs, says it is battling "digital terrorism."

Military officials in recent months have alluded to the threat posed by the opposition Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaf political party led by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan as well as civil and political organizations in the restive provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that have been critical of the army.

Aziz of the digital rights group Bolo Bhi said the alleged building of the firewall has raised questions about its impact on Pakistanis' fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, the right to privacy, and access to information.

"There has to be disclosure, transparency, due process, none of that we've seen," she said.

Ramsha Jahangir, a senior policy and communications associate with Global Network Initiative, a Washington-based global digital rights watchdog, said that "placing stricter controls will now add significant privacy concerns with increasing surveillance of Internet activity."

'Web-Management System'

In recent years, Pakistan has built what officials have called a web-management system, which the authorities have used to block websites, including foreign news websites.

But activists say the alleged firewall is likely to be more sophisticated and capable of identifying individuals who upload or share content on social media platforms.

The PTA is reportedly seeking mandatory local registration and licensing for Skype, WhatsApp, Viber, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Netflix.

These companies must comply with removing and blocking content Islamabad declares unlawful under its controversial cyberlaws and regulations.

According to Freedom House, a U.S. global rights watchdog, Pakistan is already one of the countries where the Internet is "not free."

"Authorities routinely use Internet shutdowns, platform blocking, and arrests and harsh convictions to suppress unwanted online speech," the organization said in its 2023 report.

The report noted that "online activists, dissidents, and journalists are often subjected to harassment" and in some cases "physical assault and enforced disappearances."

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, a rights watchdog, on August 20 called on Islamabad to immediately scrap the alleged firewall.

"The right to connectivity is a fundamental right -- not a privilege," it said in a statement.

HRCP said that, lacking job security or alternative incomes, the slowdown of the Internet is proving detrimental for freelancers.

The watchdog said it was "unacceptable" amid a cost-of-living crisis "in a tottering economy."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-internet- slowdown-firewall-dissent/33088623.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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Gang Kills 11 Police Officers In Restive Pakistani Region

By Pamir Sahill August 23, 2024

As many as 11 policemen have been killed and 10 others injured in an August 22 ambush by robbers in Pakistan's eastern Punjab Province, one of the deadliest attacks against law enforcement in the restive region in recent times.

The robbers, armed with rocket-propelled grenades and guns, attacked the officers while the two vehicles they were traveling in stopped along the road after one experienced mechanical problems, the police said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack and ordered "immediate and effective action" against the bandits. Maryam Nawaz, the Punjab Chief Minister, said in a statement that the attack "will not go unavenged."

The ambush comes three weeks after six police officers from Punjab and Sindh provinces were killed by robbers in two separate attacks in the region on July 31.

The riverine region along the border of Punjab and southeastern Sindh Province is considered a no-go zone for citizens, and law enforcement agencies do not have much control of it.

The area, a combination of forests and uncultivated land owned by the state, is spread out over hundreds of square kilometers on both sides of the Indus river.

Armed bandits have been present there for many years, engaging in kidnapping for ransom, extortion, and murder. Police and other law enforcement agencies began operations to combat their activities in 2021.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, a non-governmental, independent body, said in its fact-finding report last year that at least "300 cases of kidnapping for ransom were registered" in 2022. The robbers make an estimated 1 billion Pakistani rupees ($3,580,400) a year from their illegal activities.

Experts believe that local influential politicians and landlords are behind the gangs as they seek to profit from the land.



Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-police- killed-punjab/33089427.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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Commerce Tightens Export Controls, Targets Illicit Procurement Networks For Supplying Russian War Machine

Bureau of Industry and Security - US Department of Commerce

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Friday, August 23, 2024 | Media Contact: OPCA@bis.doc.gov

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is taking aggressive action to further restrict the supply of both U.S.-origin and "U.S. branded" (i.e., labeled) items to Russia and Belarus for the Kremlin's illegal war on Ukraine. Today's actions will further constrain Russia's ability to arm its military by targeting illicit procurement networks designed to circumvent global export controls.

Key actions include:

Further tightening controls on Russia by expanding the scope of the Russia/Belarus Military End User (MEU) and Procurement Foreign Direct Product (FDP) rule and imposing additional license requirements on operation software for computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine tools; Cutting off exports to foreign companies on the BIS Entity List; applying the expanded Russia/Belarus MEU and Procurement FDP rule to dozens of entities outside Russia; Restricting trade to additional foreign addresses and issuing guidance to exporters on identifying suspicious transactions related to foreign corporate service providers and listed foreign addresses, strengthening recently implemented restrictions on shell company addresses; and Providing guidance and recommendations on contractual language referencing export regulations (the Export Administration Regulations, or EAR), specifically, restrictions that target unlawful reexports to Russia and Belarus.

"BIS has taken aggressive actions, in concert with our allies and partners, to impose strict export controls in response to Russia's illegal, unprovoked, and full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Today's action is an extension of this critical and ongoing work,"said Undersecretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Alan Estevez. "We will continue our multilateral approach to attack this problem from all sides and use every tool in our arsenal to prevent Russia from gaining access to the advanced U.S. technology needed for its weapons."

Tightening Controls on Russia

Expanding the scope of the existing FDP rule allows BIS export controls to capture entities outside Russia (and Belarus) that help procure not only U.S.-origin but also U.S.-branded items that support Russia's illegal, unjustified, and unprovoked war in Ukraine. This expansion is intended to target the transshipment of microelectronics and other items that bear the brand of a U.S.-headquartered company, even if manufactured outside the United States. Additionally, BIS is adding controls on certain software needed to operate CNC machine tools to prevent the provision of software updates to controlled tools in Russia and Belarus. This will have a delayed effective date of September 16, 2024.

Entity List Additions

BIS is also adding 123 entities under 131 entries to the Entity List-- 63 entities in Russia or the Crimea Region of Ukraine, 42 in the People's Republic of China (PRC, including Hong Kong), and 14 entities in TArkiye, Iran, and Cyprus-- for shipping U.S.-origin and U.S.-branded items to Russia in contravention of U.S. export controls or for engaging in other activities contrary to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests. Since March 2022 (and including today's action), BIS has added 1,056 entries to the Entity List in response to Putin's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine and ongoing aggression against the country.

"Russia has been at the forefront of our policy decisions for the entirety of the Biden-Harris Administration. Our mandate is to use export controls to strategically and proactively address national security, technological, and political threats posed by our adversaries. This is especially true of Russia and its unjustified attacks in Ukraine," said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration, Thea D. Rozman Kendler. "Today's action is an important step forward in bottlenecking the procurement networks Russia has turned to in the face of aggressive U.S. and allied export controls. We will not stop until Russia has nowhere to turn."

Targeting Shell Companies

In addition, BIS is further targeting diversion through shell companies by adding four high-diversion risk addresses in Hong Kong and TArkiye to the Entity List, therebyrequiring a license for transactions involving parties using those addresses. BIS will continue to aggressively target entities around the world that ship U.S.-origin and U.S.-branded items to Russia.

Three addresses in Hong Kong and one address in TArkiye were added to the Entity List in connection with significant transshipment of sensitive items to Russia, building on changes made by a June 12, 2024 rule.

New Guidance for Exporters and Re-exporters

BIS is also issuing guidance and recommendations to U.S. exporters on language in sales contracts or other export documents involving items subject to the EAR to prevent diversion to Russia or Belarus.

Guidance to exporters on contract clauses: We are providing guidance to exporters regarding language they can include in their sales contracts or other export documents. Language used in these instances should ensure that overseas customers understand that BIS export controls under the EAR continue to apply to the items after the initial sale and that most items cannot be reexported to Russia without a license from BIS. This is similar to the European Union's "No re-export to Russia" clause, which requires EU companies to include similar language in certain sales contracts.

Guidance to foreign corporate service providers: Corporate service providers in places like Hong Kong or TArkiye provide their clients with a registered place of business - i.e., an address they can use for billing or receiving goods. Although corporate service providers have legitimate business purposes, some bad actors use them to mask their identities and divert items to embargoed destinations or restricted parties. We are providing guidance to corporate service providers to help them avoid providing services to such bad actors - e.g., screening against U.S. Government restricted parties lists and scrutinizing their customers who ship to Russia or to Iran and other embargoed destinations.

"Today, we took action against more than 100 shell companies and transhippers that put profit before principle by aiding the Russian government's illegal war against the Ukrainian people," said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod. "The fact that nearly half of these parties are located in countries outside Russia should serve as a stark reminder: it doesn't matter whether you're in the People's Republic of China or TArkiye -- if you send Common High Priority List items (or a range of other items) to Russia, you risk being added to the BIS Entity List."

Today's actions are taken in concert with similar actions by the Departments of State and the Treasury targeting Russian procurement networks in third countries around the world. U.S. export controls and sanctions have significantly impacted Russia's ability to build weapons systems for its unjustified war against Ukraine: Russia is forced to rely on lower-technology, often obsolete, foreign-produced items below the threshold of controls specified in multilateral export control regimes for its weapons systems and must pay two to four times pre-war prices for the key foreign-produced items it is able to obtain through complex, multi-hop procurement networks. Despite attempting to dramatically increase its military production, Russia still falls billions of dollars short in the imports needed to meet its stated production goals.

Additional Information:

In response to Russia's war against Ukraine, BIS imposed extensive sanctions on Russia and Belarus under the EAR effective February 2022. During the last two years, BIS has published a number of additional final rules strengthening the export controls on Russia and Belarus, including measures undertaken in coordination with the 38 U.S. allies and partners of the Global Export Control Coalition.

Taken together, these actions under the EAR reflect the U.S. government's position that Russia's war against Ukraine (with Belarus's complicity) flagrantly violates international law, is contrary to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests, and undermines global order, peace, and security.

Additional information on BIS's efforts to respond to Russia's war against Ukraine is available on BIS's website at: https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/policy-guidance/country-guidance/russia-belarus .

Additional Background on the Entity List Process

The Entity List actions were taken under the authority of the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 and its implementing regulations, the Export Administration Regulations (EAR).

The Entity List ( supplement no. 4 to part 744 of the EAR ) identifies entities for which there is reasonable cause to believe, based on specific and articulable facts, that the entitiesaincluding businesses, research institutions, government and private organizations, individuals, and other types of legal personsahave been involved, are involved, or pose a significant risk of being or becoming involved in activities contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States. Parties on the Entity List are subject to individual licensing requirements and policies supplemental to those found elsewhere in the EAR.

Entity List additions are determined by the interagency End-User Review Committee (ERC), comprised of the Departments of Commerce (Chair), Defense, State, Energy, and where appropriate, the Treasury. The ERC makes decisions regarding additions to, removals from, or other modifications to the Entity List. The ERC makes all decisions to add an entity to the Entity List by majority vote and makes all decisions to remove or modify an entity by unanimous vote.

Additional information on the Entity List is available on BIS's website at: https://bis.doc.gov/index.php/policy-guidance/faqs

For additional information, please visit: www.bis.gov

###

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Meeting with permanent members of the Security Council

Vladimir Putin held a briefing session with permanent members of the Security Council via videoconference.

August 23, 2024

15:10

Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow Region

The discussion focused on the situation at the maximum security penal colony No. 19 in Surovikino, Volgograd Region, where several prisoners have taken prison employees hostage.

Taking part in the meeting were Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Anton Vaino, Secretary of the Security Council Sergei Shoigu, Presidential Aide Nikolai Patrushev, Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Director of the Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov, and Special Presidential Representative for Environmental Protection, Ecology and Transport Sergei Ivanov.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues, good afternoon.

The Head of the Federal Penitentiary Service has briefed me on the ongoing situation in one of the prisons in the Volgograd Region. In this regard, I would like to hear what the Interior Minister and the FSB Director have to say. Mr Zolotov [Director of the Federal Service of National Guard Troops] will be here for a meeting soon and provide his assessments.

After that, let us proceed to the regular issue that Mr Kolokoltsev planned to discuss.

Let us begin our work by hearing from the Interior Minister. Mr Kolokoltsev, please share your assessment of the situation in Volgograd.

<... >

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Working meeting of delegations of Defence Ministry of Russian Federation and Defence Ministry of Uzbekistan takes place in Moscow

23.08.2024

During a working meeting, delegations of the Defence Ministry of the Russian Federation and the Defence Ministry of Uzbekistan discussed issues of military cooperation in Moscow.

Department for Media Affairs and Information

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New Measures to Degrade Russia's Wartime Economy

US Department of State

Fact Sheet

Office of the Spokesperson

August 23, 2024

Today, the United States is sanctioning nearly 400 entities and individuals for enabling Russia's prosecution of its illegal war in Ukraine. With this action, the Department of State is imposing sanctions on more than 190 individuals and entities. Concurrently, the Department of the Treasury is designating nearly 200 individuals and entities. For information about Treasury's actions, please see their press release.

The Department of State's designations aim to disrupt sanctions evasion and target entities in multiple third countries, including the People's Republic of China (PRC). The Department is also taking new steps to sanction entities supporting the development of Russia's Arctic LNG 2 and other future energy projects. Additional designations target Russia's military-industrial base incorporating sanctions on Belarusian entities and individuals supporting Russia's war machine. Multiple designations focus on Russian air cargo logistics entities supporting Russia's war effort and subsidiaries of State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom.

All targets are being designated pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14024 , as amended , which authorizes sanctions with respect to specified harmful foreign activities of the Government of the Russian Federation.

The United States will continue to use all tools at its disposal to disrupt support for Russia's military-industrial base and curtail the Kremlin's ability to exploit the international financial system and generate revenue in furtherance of its war against Ukraine. We continue to stand in solidarity with Ukrainians in defending their homeland from Russia's aggression.

DISRUPTING SANCTIONS EVASION AND BACKFILLING EFFORTS

The Department seeks to disrupt the networks and channels through which Russia can procure technology and equipment from third countries to support its war effort. Today's designations target producers, exporters, and importers of items critical to Russia's military-industrial base. Those items include microelectronics and computer numerical control items (CNC) on the Common High Priority List (CHPL), as identified by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) alongside the European Union (EU), United Kingdom (UK), and Japan. Entities based in the PRC, Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, and Turkiye, among other countries, continue to sell these items and other key dual-use goods to Russia, including critical components that Russia relies on for its weapons systems.

Targeting PRC Entities Supporting Russia's Military-Industrial Base

We remain concerned by the magnitude of dual-use goods exports from the PRC to Russia. Russia continues to leverage sanctions evasion and circumvention networks to procure CHPL microelectronics and CNC tools (machine tools), which it uses to make weapons. Imports from the PRC are filling critical gaps in Russia's defense production cycle, thereby enabling it to produce weapons, ramp up defense production, and bolster its military-industrial base.

Today, the Department is also designating several PRC-based entities that have supplied goods supporting Russia's war effort, including ones responsible for developing, producing, and supplying manufacturing equipment to entities based in Russia. Specifically, these designations target producers and exporters of CNC items critical to Russia's military-industrial base, including entities that have shipped goods directly to U.S.-designated entities in Russia.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i) of E.O. 14024, as amended, the following entities are being designated for operating or having operated in the manufacturing sector of the Russian Federation economy:

DONGGUAN SHENGYIN CNC EQUIPMENT CO LTD is a PRC-based company involved in the supply of more than $12 million worth of CHPL items such as CNC machine tools and components to Russian companies from June 2023 to at least April 2024, including the U.S.-designated, Russia-based LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY I MACHINE TECHNOLOGY.

is a PRC-based company involved in the supply of more than $12 million worth of CHPL items such as CNC machine tools and components to Russian companies from June 2023 to at least April 2024, including the U.S.-designated, Russia-based LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY I MACHINE TECHNOLOGY. GENERAL TECHNOLOGY GROUP DALIAN MACHINE TOOL IMPORT & EXPORT CO LTD is a PRC-based company involved in the supply of more than $4 million worth of CHPL items such as CNC machine tools and components to Russian companies from February 2023 to at least January 2024, including the U.S. designated, Russia-based LLC MASHIMPORT.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i) of E.O. 14024, as amended, the following entities are being designated for operating or having operated in the technology sector of the Russian Federation economy:

CHENGDU JINGXIN TECHNOLOGY CO LTD is a PRC-based company involved in the supply of more than $3 million worth of CHPL items such as electronic components to Russian customers from April 2023 to at least December 2023, including the U.S.-designated, Russia-based NAUCHNO PROIZVODSTVENNOE PREDPRIYATIE ITELMA.

is a PRC-based company involved in the supply of more than $3 million worth of CHPL items such as electronic components to Russian customers from April 2023 to at least December 2023, including the U.S.-designated, Russia-based NAUCHNO PROIZVODSTVENNOE PREDPRIYATIE ITELMA. SHENZHEN HUASHUO SEMICONDUCTOR CO LTD is a PRC-based company involved in the supply of more than $600,000 worth of CHPL items such as electronic components to Russian customers from April 2023 to at least December 2023, including the U.S.-designated, Russia-based NAUCHNO PROIZVODSTVENNOE PREDPRIYATIE ITELMA.

is a PRC-based company involved in the supply of more than $600,000 worth of CHPL items such as electronic components to Russian customers from April 2023 to at least December 2023, including the U.S.-designated, Russia-based NAUCHNO PROIZVODSTVENNOE PREDPRIYATIE ITELMA. AGU INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CO LIMITED (AGU INFORMATION) is a Hong Kong-based company involved in the supply of more than $58 million worth of CHPL items such as electronic components to Russian customers between January 2023 and October 2023, including the U.S.-designated, Russia-based EASTERN TRADE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY and OOO VNESHEKOSTIL. AGU INFORMATION supplied technology products to EASTERN TRADE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY as of January 2024.

is a Hong Kong-based company involved in the supply of more than $58 million worth of CHPL items such as electronic components to Russian customers between January 2023 and October 2023, including the U.S.-designated, Russia-based EASTERN TRADE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY and OOO VNESHEKOSTIL. AGU INFORMATION supplied technology products to EASTERN TRADE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY as of January 2024. TIME ART INTERNATIONAL LIMITED is a Hong Kong-based company involved in the supply of more than $9 million worth of CHPL items such as electronic components to Russian customers from February 2023 to at least January 2024.

is a Hong Kong-based company involved in the supply of more than $9 million worth of CHPL items such as electronic components to Russian customers from February 2023 to at least January 2024. GUANGZHOU CHIPHOME INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY LIMITED is a PRC-based company involved in the supply of more than $3 million worth of CHPL items such as electronic components to Russian customers from April 2023 to December 2023.

is a PRC-based company involved in the supply of more than $3 million worth of CHPL items such as electronic components to Russian customers from April 2023 to December 2023. YIWU WEISHUO IMPORT AND EXPORT CO LTD is a PRC-based company involved in the supply of more than $3 million worth of CHPL items such as electronic components to Russian customers from April 2023 to at least January 2024, including the U.S.-designated, Russia-based LLC IQ COMPONENTS.

Targeting Special Technology Center's Procurement Network Used for the Manufacture of the Orlan Drone

The Department is designating entities and individuals involved in supplying microelectronic and engine components to the Russia-based, U.S.-designated SPECIAL TECHNOLOGY CENTER (STC), the company responsible for the manufacture of the Orlan series of surveillance and reconnaissance drones, which are commonly employed by Russia in its war against Ukraine. STC relies on a large procurement network of Russian intermediaries and companies based in the UAE, PRC, Hong Kong, and Turkiye to evade sanctions and supply the Russian Ministry of Defense and Russian military entities with drone and anti-drone systems. This action follows the Department's May 19, 2023, designation of eight entities engaged in the procurement of engine parts and export-controlled components for STC.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i) of E.O. 14024, as amended, the following entities and individuals are being designated for operating or having operated in the technology sector of the Russian Federation economy:

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY LEGION KOMPLEKT (LEGION KOMPLEKT) is a Russia-based technology company that is receiving foreign-origin shipments, including CHPL items such as microelectronic components from UAE and PRC-based companies. LEGION KOMPLEKT plays an integral role transferring microelectronic components to STC for the manufacture of Orlan drones ultimately deployed in Ukraine by Russian forces.

is a Russia-based technology company that is receiving foreign-origin shipments, including CHPL items such as microelectronic components from UAE and PRC-based companies. LEGION KOMPLEKT plays an integral role transferring microelectronic components to STC for the manufacture of Orlan drones ultimately deployed in Ukraine by Russian forces. KIRILL VIKTOROVICH MARKIN is the general director and owner of LEGION KOMPLEKT.

is the general director and owner of LEGION KOMPLEKT. O G SERVICES FZE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY is a UAE-based company that sent more than 700 shipments of CHPL between August 2023 and December 2023 and more than 600 shipments of CHPL between January 2024 and April 2024 to LEGION KOMPLEKT. These shipments included CHPL items such as microelectronic components.

is a UAE-based company that sent more than 700 shipments of CHPL between August 2023 and December 2023 and more than 600 shipments of CHPL between January 2024 and April 2024 to LEGION KOMPLEKT. These shipments included CHPL items such as microelectronic components. DONGGUAN BINONG TECHNOLOGY CO LTD is a PRC-based company that, between March 2023 and December 2023, sent multiple shipments of CHPL to LEGION KOMPLEKT, which included microelectronic components such as U.S.-origin integrated circuits.

is a PRC-based company that, between March 2023 and December 2023, sent multiple shipments of CHPL to LEGION KOMPLEKT, which included microelectronic components such as U.S.-origin integrated circuits. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY ELESAR GRUPP (ELESAR GRUPP) is a Russia-based technology company that has imported more than $5.3 million worth of shipments of electronic components via PRC and Hong Kong-based companies, including LETT TRONIC GROUP LIMITED and SHENZHEN SHENCHUANGHUI TECHNOLOGY CO LTD. These shipments included CHPL items such as microelectronic components. ELESAR GRUPP received funds from STC and plays an integral role in the transfer of microelectronic components to STC for the manufacture of Orlan drones.

is a Russia-based technology company that has imported more than $5.3 million worth of shipments of electronic components via PRC and Hong Kong-based companies, including LETT TRONIC GROUP LIMITED and SHENZHEN SHENCHUANGHUI TECHNOLOGY CO LTD. These shipments included CHPL items such as microelectronic components. ELESAR GRUPP received funds from STC and plays an integral role in the transfer of microelectronic components to STC for the manufacture of Orlan drones. ALEKSANDR SERGEYEVICH ERSHOV is the general director and partial owner of ELESAR GRUPP.

is the general director and partial owner of ELESAR GRUPP. SHENZHEN SHENCHUANGHUI TECHNOLOGY CO LTD is a PRC-based company that sent more than 1,000 shipments worth more than $2 million of CHPL items such as microelectronic components to ELESAR GRUPP between January 2023 and January 2024.

is a PRC-based company that sent more than 1,000 shipments worth more than $2 million of CHPL items such as microelectronic components to ELESAR GRUPP between January 2023 and January 2024. LETT TRONIC GROUP LIMITED (LETT TRONIC) is a Hong Kong-based company that sent more than 300 shipments worth nearly $2 million of CHPL items such as microelectronic components to ELESAR GRUPP, including U.S.-origin integrated circuits, between June 2023 and January 2024. LETT TRONIC sent shipments of CHPL items to several U.S.- designated, Russia-based companies including ROSTAR RESEARCH AND PRODUCTION ASSOCIATION LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, MAKRO TIM LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, NAUCHNO PROIZVODSTVENNOE PREDPRIYATIE ITELMA, and BEE PITRON LIMITED. LETT TRONIC has sent shipments of CHPL items to Russia on behalf of U.S.-designated, Turkiye-based ASAY IC VE DIS TICARET LIMITED SIRKETI.

is a Hong Kong-based company that sent more than 300 shipments worth nearly $2 million of CHPL items such as microelectronic components to ELESAR GRUPP, including U.S.-origin integrated circuits, between June 2023 and January 2024. LETT TRONIC sent shipments of CHPL items to several U.S.- designated, Russia-based companies including ROSTAR RESEARCH AND PRODUCTION ASSOCIATION LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, MAKRO TIM LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, NAUCHNO PROIZVODSTVENNOE PREDPRIYATIE ITELMA, and BEE PITRON LIMITED. LETT TRONIC has sent shipments of CHPL items to Russia on behalf of U.S.-designated, Turkiye-based ASAY IC VE DIS TICARET LIMITED SIRKETI. HWACHENG CO LIMITED is a Hong Kong-based company that sent more than $1 million worth of shipments between 2023 and 2024 that included CHPL items such as microelectronic components to U.S. designated, Russia-based UNISERVICE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. UNISERVICE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY plays an integral role in the transfer of microelectronic components to STC for the manufacture of Orlan drones.

is a Hong Kong-based company that sent more than $1 million worth of shipments between 2023 and 2024 that included CHPL items such as microelectronic components to U.S. designated, Russia-based UNISERVICE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. UNISERVICE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY plays an integral role in the transfer of microelectronic components to STC for the manufacture of Orlan drones. M STAR INTERNATIONAL TRADING CO LTD (M STAR) is a Hong Kong-based company that sent more than 400 shipments worth more than $2.5 million to U.S.-designated, Russia-based LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY SMT-ILOGIC between January 2023 and November 2023. M STAR also sent nearly 500 shipments to U.S- designated, Russia-based UNISERVICE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. These shipments included CHPL items such as microelectronic components. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY SMT-ILOGIC was designated on May 19, 2023, due to its involvement in a large-scale procurement network to obtain technology for the STC's manufacture of Orlan drones.

is a Hong Kong-based company that sent more than 400 shipments worth more than $2.5 million to U.S.-designated, Russia-based LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY SMT-ILOGIC between January 2023 and November 2023. M STAR also sent nearly 500 shipments to U.S- designated, Russia-based UNISERVICE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. These shipments included CHPL items such as microelectronic components. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY SMT-ILOGIC was designated on May 19, 2023, due to its involvement in a large-scale procurement network to obtain technology for the STC's manufacture of Orlan drones. BEIJING TIMINGTRON CORPORATION is a PRC-based company that sent at least $1.5 million worth of shipments between 2023 and 2024 that included CHPL items such as microelectronic components to a Russia-based company that has sent a significant quantity of shipments to STC. These shipments included G7-origin components from Japan, Germany, and the United States.

is a PRC-based company that sent at least $1.5 million worth of shipments between 2023 and 2024 that included CHPL items such as microelectronic components to a Russia-based company that has sent a significant quantity of shipments to STC. These shipments included G7-origin components from Japan, Germany, and the United States. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY STUDIYA PIKSADZHIO (STUDIYA PIKSADZHIO) is a Russia-based technology company that has imported Japanese-origin engines, in addition to CHPL items such as microelectronic components. STUDIYA PIKSADZHIO is integral to STC's ability to manufacture Orlan drones.

is a Russia-based technology company that has imported Japanese-origin engines, in addition to CHPL items such as microelectronic components. STUDIYA PIKSADZHIO is integral to STC's ability to manufacture Orlan drones. RUI EN KOO TECHNOLOGY CO LIMITED (RUI EN KOO) is a Hong Kong-based company that sent more than 100 shipments worth more than $1 million of CHPL items such as microelectronic components to STUDIYA PIKSADZHIO, including U.S.-origin integrated circuits, between January 2023 and October 2023. RUI EN KOO was added to the BIS Entity List on October 6, 2023, for providing support to Russia's military and/or defense industrial base, by supplying Russian consignees connected to the Russian defense sector with U.S.-origin integrated circuits.

is a Hong Kong-based company that sent more than 100 shipments worth more than $1 million of CHPL items such as microelectronic components to STUDIYA PIKSADZHIO, including U.S.-origin integrated circuits, between January 2023 and October 2023. RUI EN KOO was added to the BIS Entity List on October 6, 2023, for providing support to Russia's military and/or defense industrial base, by supplying Russian consignees connected to the Russian defense sector with U.S.-origin integrated circuits. MEDITERRANEAN INTERNATIONAL TRADING DIS TICARET LIMITED SIRKETI (MEDITERRANEAN INTERNATIONAL) is a Turkiye-based company that sent shipments of internal combustion engines of Japanese origin to STUDIYA PIKSADZHIO, which are ultimately used to power STC's Orlan drone, between October 2023 and November 2023. MEDITERRANEAN INTERNATIONAL sent shipments that included CHPL items such as microelectronic components to other Russia-based companies.

is a Turkiye-based company that sent shipments of internal combustion engines of Japanese origin to STUDIYA PIKSADZHIO, which are ultimately used to power STC's Orlan drone, between October 2023 and November 2023. MEDITERRANEAN INTERNATIONAL sent shipments that included CHPL items such as microelectronic components to other Russia-based companies. NET SISTEM DANISMANLIK VE EGITIM HIZMETLERI LIMITED SIRKETI (NET SISTEM) is a Turkiye-based company that sent shipments of internal combustion engines to STUDIYA PIKSADZHIO, which are ultimately used to power STC's Orlan drone, between January 2023 and November 2023. NET SISTEM sent shipments that included CHPL items such as microelectronic components of U.S.-origin to STUDIYA PIKSADZHIO between January 2023 and June 2023.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i) the following entity is being designated for operating or having operated in the manufacturing sector of the Russian Federation economy:

LIMITED LIABILITY RUSTEKH TD (RUSTEKH TD) is a Russia-based manufacturing company that regularly imports shipments from STUDIYA PIKSADZHIO, in addition to foreign-origin shipments that include CHPL items such as microelectronic components. RUSTEKH TD received more than $1.5 million from STC and has played an integral role in the transfer of microelectronic components for the manufacture of Orlan drones.

Targeting Maxim Marchenko's Illicit Procurement Network

The Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested Maxim Marchenko, a Russian national, in September 2023 for money laundering and smuggling dual-use, military grade microelectronics from the United States to Russia-based end users. Marchenko had previously used Hong Kong-based, U.S.-designated companies NEWAY TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED and RG SOLUTIONS LIMITED to facilitate the illicit procurement network of microelectronic components.

The Department is taking further action to designate other elements of Maxim Marchenko's illicit procurement network that were developed to acquire dual-use items in support of Russia's war against Ukraine. Marchenko leveraged Turkiye-based KAYRA ELEKTRONIK LIMITED SIRKETI (KAYRA), Hong Kong-based ALICE COMPONENTS CO LTD (ALICE COMPONENTS), and Russia-based RADIOFID SYSTEMS (RADIOFID) for these procurement activities. KAYRA shipped CHPL items such as microelectronic components, including tens of thousands of dollars of goods that were shipped to ALICE COMPONENTS. ALICE COMPONENTS shipped more than $475,000 worth of CHPL items such as microelectronic components in January 2024 alone to companies based in Russia. RADIOFID received at least $475,000 worth of CHPL items such as microelectronic components from ALICE COMPONENTS.

ALICE COMPONENTS and RADIOFID are being designated pursuant to section 1(a)(i) of E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the technology sector of the Russian Federation economy. KAYRA is being designated pursuant to section 1(a)(vi)(B) of E.O. 14024 for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of ALICE COMPONENTS.

Targeting Companies Facilitating Sanctions Evasion in Russia, Turkiye, UAE, Kyrgyz Republic, and Kazakhstan

The Department is designating the following Turkiye-based companies and their Russia-based trading partners:

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entities are being designated for operating or having operated in the technology sector of the Russian Federation economy:

OBSHCHESTVO S OGRANICHENNOY OTVETSTVENNOSTYU 1M is a Russia-based company that received more than $220,000 worth of CHPL items such as microelectronic components, including from LGM PROCESS DIS TICARET LIMITED, between March and April 2023.

is a Russia-based company that received more than $220,000 worth of CHPL items such as microelectronic components, including from LGM PROCESS DIS TICARET LIMITED, between March and April 2023. LGM PROCESS DIS TICARET LIMITED is a Turkiye-based company that sent more than $220,000 worth of CHPL items such as microelectronic components of U.S. origin to companies in Russia, including OBSHCHESTVO S OGRANICHENNOY OTVETSTVENNOSTYU 1M, between March and June 2023.

is a Turkiye-based company that sent more than $220,000 worth of CHPL items such as microelectronic components of U.S. origin to companies in Russia, including OBSHCHESTVO S OGRANICHENNOY OTVETSTVENNOSTYU 1M, between March and June 2023. DEIN DANISMANLIK PAZARLAMA VE TICARET ANONIM SIRKETI (DEIN DANISMANLIK PAZARLAMA) is a Turkiye-based company that sent more than $18 million worth of shipments that included CHPL items such as microelectronic components to companies in Russia between January and December 2023.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entity is being designated for operating or having operated in the manufacturing sector of the Russian Federation economy:

META CNC SANAYI VE TICARET LIMITED SIRKETI is a Turkiye-based company that has sent approximately $300,000 worth of shipments that included CHPL items such as CNC machine tools and manufacturing components to companies in Russia between October 2023 and January 2024.

The Department is designating the following UAE-based companies and their Russia-based trading partners:

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entities are being designated for operating or having operated in the technology sector of the Russian Federation economy:

S M S TELECOM FZCO is a UAE-based company that facilitated shipments to Russian companies totaling approximately $10 million between December 2023 and January 2024, including CHPL items such as microelectronics and computing devices. S M S TELECOM FZCO lists U.S.-designated, Iran-based MAHAN AIR and Russian airliners as clients.

is a UAE-based company that facilitated shipments to Russian companies totaling approximately $10 million between December 2023 and January 2024, including CHPL items such as microelectronics and computing devices. S M S TELECOM FZCO lists U.S.-designated, Iran-based MAHAN AIR and Russian airliners as clients. SKY WALK COMPANY FZCO is a UAE-based company that facilitated shipments to Russian companies totaling approximately $55 million worth of goods between July 2023 and January 2024, including CHPL items such as microelectronic components.

is a UAE-based company that facilitated shipments to Russian companies totaling approximately $55 million worth of goods between July 2023 and January 2024, including CHPL items such as microelectronic components. COMUS FZCO is a UAE-based company that has sent approximately $700,000 worth of CHPL items such as microelectronic components and radio navigational equipment to companies in Russia, including LLC TU RITEYL, between April and July 2023.

is a UAE-based company that has sent approximately $700,000 worth of CHPL items such as microelectronic components and radio navigational equipment to companies in Russia, including LLC TU RITEYL, between April and July 2023. COMUS INTERNATIONAL FZCO is a UAE-based company that sent approximately $120,000 worth of CHPL items such as microelectronic components to companies in Russia between October 2023 and January 2024.

is a UAE-based company that sent approximately $120,000 worth of CHPL items such as microelectronic components to companies in Russia between October 2023 and January 2024. DIGTLWORLD LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY is a UAE-based company that sent approximately $900,000 worth of CHPL items such as microelectronic components and radionavigation equipment to companies in Russia, including LLC TU RITEYL, between June 2023 and December 2023.

is a UAE-based company that sent approximately $900,000 worth of CHPL items such as microelectronic components and radionavigation equipment to companies in Russia, including LLC TU RITEYL, between June 2023 and December 2023. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY TU RITEYL is a Russia-based company that received approximately $900,000 worth of CHPL items such as microelectronic components and radionavigation equipment between June 2023 and December 2023, including from DIGTLWORLD LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY.

is a Russia-based company that received approximately $900,000 worth of CHPL items such as microelectronic components and radionavigation equipment between June 2023 and December 2023, including from DIGTLWORLD LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. EXGO INTERNATIONAL FZCO is a UAE-based company that facilitated shipments of CHPL items such as microelectronic components to companies in Russia between February 2023 and October 2023.

is a UAE-based company that facilitated shipments of CHPL items such as microelectronic components to companies in Russia between February 2023 and October 2023. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY MENSOR GRUPP is a Russia-based company that received shipments of CHPL items such as microelectronic components, including in the care of EXGO INTERNATIONAL FZCO, between October 2023 and February 2024.

is a Russia-based company that received shipments of CHPL items such as microelectronic components, including in the care of EXGO INTERNATIONAL FZCO, between October 2023 and February 2024. WORLD VISION FREIGHT SYSTEMS FZE is a UAE-based company that sent approximately $250,000 USD worth of BIS CHPL-identified microelectronic components through LGM PROCESS DIS TICARET LIMITED to companies in Russia, including PEARL LOTUS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, between March 2023 and April 2023.

is a UAE-based company that sent approximately $250,000 USD worth of BIS CHPL-identified microelectronic components through LGM PROCESS DIS TICARET LIMITED to companies in Russia, including PEARL LOTUS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, between March 2023 and April 2023. PEARL LOTUS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY is a Russia-based company that received nearly $260,000 worth of CHPL items such as microelectronic components, including from WORLD VISION FREIGHT SYSTEMS FZE through LGM PROCESS DIS TICARET LIMITED, between March 2023 and January 2024.

The Department is designating the following Kyrgyz Republic-based company pursuant to section 1(a)(i), for operating or having operated in the technology sector of the Russian Federation economy:

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AKFORTA (LLC AKFORTA) is a Kyrgyz Republic-based company that sent approximately $700,000 worth of CHPL items such as microelectronic components to companies in Russia in January 2024.

The Department is designating the following Kazakhstan-based company pursuant to section 1(a)(i), for operating or having operated in the technology sector of the Russian Federation economy:

CATU TECH LIMITED LIABILITY (CATU TECH) is a Kazakhstan-based company that has sent more than 30 shipments of CHPL items such as microelectronic components to Russia-based companies between January 2023 and at least January 2024.

The Department is designating the following Russia-based companies pursuant to section 1(a)(i), for operating or having operated in the technology sector of the Russian Federation economy:

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY SOL GROUP (SOL GROUP) is a Russia-based company that has imported approximately $8.5 million worth of shipments that included CHPL items such as microelectronic components between April 2023 and December 2023.

is a Russia-based company that has imported approximately $8.5 million worth of shipments that included CHPL items such as microelectronic components between April 2023 and December 2023. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY KATRADE (KATRADE) is a Russia-based company that has imported approximately $7.5 million worth of shipments that included CHPL items such as microelectronic components between March 2023 and December 2023.

is a Russia-based company that has imported approximately $7.5 million worth of shipments that included CHPL items such as microelectronic components between March 2023 and December 2023. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY STOTECHNO (STOTECHNO) is a Russia-based company that has imported approximately $7.8 million worth of shipments that included CHPL items such as microelectronic components between November 2023 and December 2023.

is a Russia-based company that has imported approximately $7.8 million worth of shipments that included CHPL items such as microelectronic components between November 2023 and December 2023. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY SPETSPROEKT 2 (SPETSPROEKT 2) is a Russia-based company that has imported approximately $52 million worth of shipments that included CHPL items such as microelectronic components and radio navigation equipment between March 2023 and November 2023.

is a Russia-based company that has imported approximately $52 million worth of shipments that included CHPL items such as microelectronic components and radio navigation equipment between March 2023 and November 2023. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY COMBIT (COMBIT) is a Russia-based company that has imported approximately $64 million worth of shipments that included CHPL items such as microelectronic components between January 2023 and December 2023.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following Russia-based entities are being designated for operating or having operated in the aerospace sector of the Russian Federation economy:

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OBYEDINENIYE POSTAVSHIKOV (OBYEDINENIYE POSTAVSHIKOV) imported approximately $19 million worth of shipments that included CHPL items such as microelectronic components and aviation components of U.S.-origin between March 2023 and December 2023.

imported approximately $19 million worth of shipments that included CHPL items such as microelectronic components and aviation components of U.S.-origin between March 2023 and December 2023. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY PROTEKTOR (PROTEKTOR) imported approximately $91 million worth of shipments that included CHPL items such as microelectronic components, radio navigation equipment, and aviation components of U.S.-origin between January 2023 and September 2023.

imported approximately $91 million worth of shipments that included CHPL items such as microelectronic components, radio navigation equipment, and aviation components of U.S.-origin between January 2023 and September 2023. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY QUANTUM (QUANTUM) imported approximately $11.6 million worth of shipments that included CHPL items such as microelectronics and aviation components of EU and U.S.-origin between January 2023 and December 2023.

Targeting a Tunisian Port Agent Supporting Blocked a Russian Vessel

The Department is designating one company that provided ship agent services to a blocked Russia-flagged vessel, MEKHANIK MAKARIN, which is owned by the U.S.-designated NORTHERN SHIPPING COMPANY. STE SOKAMAR SHIPPING AGENCY (SOKAMAR) is a Tunisia-based entity that served as a consignee and port agent for MEKHANIK MAKARIN on at least six occasions.

SOKAMAR is being designated pursuant to section 1(a)(vi)(B), for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of NORTHERN SHIPPING COMPANY, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024.

DISRUPTING RUSSIA'S FUTURE ENERGY PRODUCTION AND EXPORTS

The Department is designating multiple companies related to the Arctic LNG 2 project to further disrupt the project's ability to produce and export liquefied natural gas (LNG), as well as the project's ability to procure critical LNG carriers. These designations include entities involved in the illicit loading of LNG from the Arctic LNG 2 project in early August. The Department is also designating multiple companies involved in the development of other major Russian future energy projects.

Targeting Shipping Companies that Loaded and Transported LNG from the Arctic LNG 2 Project

In an attempt to circumvent U.S. sanctions on, and revitalize, Russia's Arctic LNG 2 project, Russian companies have engaged in efforts to procure secondhand LNG tankers, predominantly through front companies in third country jurisdictions, to make up for a critical shortage of available tankers for the Arctic LNG 2 project. Pioneer and Asya Energy are LNG carriers that were recently acquired by OCEAN SPEEDSTAR SOLUTIONS OPC PRIVATE LIMITED (OCEAN SPEEDSTAR SOLUTIONS). Pioneer and Asya Energy entered Russian territorial waters in late July 2024 and proceeded to engage in a number of deceptive shipping practices, such as shutting off the vessels' automatic identification system (AIS), as well as manipulating the vessels' AIS to broadcast false locations. While producing a false AIS signature, Pioneer proceeded to the Utrenneye terminal at the Arctic LNG 2 project and was captured by commercial satellite imagery loading LNG from the Arctic LNG 2 facility from August 1 to August 3, 2024. Similarly, from August 9 to August 11, Asya Energy was captured by commercial satellite imagery loading LNG from the Utrenneye terminal at the Arctic LNG 2 facility. Today's actions demonstrate the Department's commitment to enforcing our sanctions on the project.

The Department is designating the following entities pursuant to section 1(a)(vi)(B), for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of LLC ARCTIC LNG 2, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024.

ZARA SHIPHOLDING CO (ZARA SHIPHOLDING) is the registered owner of PIONEER, an LNG carrier that has engaged in the loading and transport of LNG from the Arctic LNG 2 project.

is the registered owner of PIONEER, an LNG carrier that has engaged in the loading and transport of LNG from the Arctic LNG 2 project. OCEAN SPEEDSTAR SOLUTIONS is a company responsible for the management and operation of PIONEER and ASYA ENERGY, two LNG carriers that have engaged in the loading and transport from the Arctic LNG 2 project, as well as one additional LNG tanker.



The following three vessels are being identified as property in which OCEAN SPEEDSTAR SOLUTIONS has an interest:

PIONEER

ASYA ENERGY

EVEREST ENERGY

Targeting Additional Companies Related to the Arctic LNG 2 Project

The Department is designating NOVATEK CHINA HOLDINGS CO LTD (NOVATEK CHINA HOLDINGS), a PRC-based company established in August 2023 involved in the implementation of a marketing program for LNG from the Arctic LNG 2 project. NOVATEK CHINA HOLDINGS is being designated pursuant to section 1(a)(i), for operating or having operated in the management consulting sector of the Russian Federation economy.

Additionally, the Department is designating LIMITED LIABILITY COMPAMY EKROPROMSTROY (EKROPROMSTROY), a Russia-based construction project management company used as a special purpose vehicle for the sale of equity stakes in U.S.-designated LLC ARCTIC LNG 2 to foreign project investors. EKROPROMSTROY is being designated pursuant to section 1(a)(i), for operating or having operated in the construction sector of the Russian Federation economy.

Finally, the Department is designating WATERFALL ENGINEERING LTD (WATERFALL ENGINGEERING), a UAE-based company that provided gravity-based structure parts to U.S.-designated LLC ARCTIC LNG 2 throughout 2023. WATERFALL ENGINEERING is being designated pursuant to section 1(a)(vi)(B), for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of LLC ARCTIC LNG 2, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024.

Targeting Russia's Procurement of LNG Tankers

The Department is designating WHITE FOX SHIP MANAGEMENT FZCO (WHITE FOX), a UAE-based ship management company which manages four LNG carriers that have transshipped LNG from Russia's Yamal LNG project, despite being originally intended for use with the Arctic LNG 2 project. The acquisition of these four vessels represents an expansion of Russia's existing LNG fleet and export capacity, an expansion that we have committed to blocking. Further, this transshipment of LNG by vessels with obfuscated ownership could eventually help Russia circumvent EU restrictions prohibiting the transshipment of Russian-origin LNG through European ports.

WHITE FOX is being designated pursuant to section 1(a)(i), for operating or having operated in the transportation sector of the Russian Federation economy.

The following four vessels are being identified as property in which WHITE FOX has an interest:

NORTH WAY

NORTH AIR

NORTH MOUNTAIN

NORTH SKY

Continued Targeting of the Vostok Oil Project

The Department is designating 10 companies involved in the continued development of pipeline infrastructure for Russia's Vostok Oil project. The Vostok Oil project is a major Russian oil development project from which Russia plans to export upwards of 100 million tons of oil per year. Today's actions are intended to slow down or halt further construction and logistics operations within the Vostok Oil project.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entities are being designated for operating or having operated in the construction sector of the Russian Federation economy:

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY MEZHREGIONSTROY (LLC MRS) is a Russia-based construction company that is engaged in the construction and installation of pipelines for the Vostok Oil Project.

is a Russia-based construction company that is engaged in the construction and installation of pipelines for the Vostok Oil Project. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY STROYITELNAYA DNOUGLUBITELNAYA KOMPANIA (LLC CDC) is a Russia-based subsidiary of LLC MRS. LLC CDC provides services for the construction of the Vostok Oil project's marine oil terminal at the Bukhta Sever port.

Pursuant to Section 1(a)(vii), the following entities are being designated for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, LLC MRS. They are all subsidiaries of LLC MRS:

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY MEZHREGIONGIDROSTROY

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY MEZHREGIONSTROY RVS

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY REGIONALNYE PROEKTNO STROITELNYE SISTEMY

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY EPLEKS GRUPP

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INTERREGIONGASCONSTRUCTION

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY SD RUD

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY TECHSTROYKOMPLEKS

MEZHREGIONSTROJ OOO MAGYARORSZAGI FIOKTELEPE

Targeting the Yakutia LNG Project

The Department is designating entities involved in the development of LNG production and subsequent energy export from the Yakutia region of Russia to the PRC, including the future Yakutia LNG project, one of the largest prospective LNG production projects in Russia.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entities are being designated for operating or having operated in the construction sector of the Russian Federation economy:

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY POWER OF YAKUTIA (POWER OF YAKUTIA) is a Russia-based company that was newly created for the construction and facilitation of LNG-generated electricity exports to the PRC.

is a Russia-based company that was newly created for the construction and facilitation of LNG-generated electricity exports to the PRC. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY YAKUTSTROIPROEKT (YAKUTSTROIPROEKT) is a Russia-based company responsible for constructing well pads, pipelines, electrical infrastructure, performing geodetic surveys, and preparing seismic profiles for exploration work in the Yakutia region of Russia.

is a Russia-based company responsible for constructing well pads, pipelines, electrical infrastructure, performing geodetic surveys, and preparing seismic profiles for exploration work in the Yakutia region of Russia. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY LIQUIFIED NATURAL GAS YAKUTIA (LNG YAKUTIA) is a Russia-based company conducting site preparation for a future project intended to export LNG to the PRC.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entity is being designated for operating or having operated in the metals and mining sector of the Russian Federation economy:

PUBLIC JOINT STOCK COMPANY YAKUTSKAYA TOPLIVNO ENERGETICHESKAYA KOMPANIYA (YATEC) is a regional natural gas producer implementing the Yakutia LNG project, one of the largest LNG production projects in Russia. YATEC is responsible for management, construction, and operation of the 810-mile pipeline route to deliver natural gas from Yakutia to the Sea of Okhotsk for liquefaction and export.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(vii), the following entities are being designated for being owned or controlled by or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, YATEC. They are all Russia-based subsidiaries of YATEC:

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY YATEK LOGISTIKA

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY VOSTOCHNO SIBIRSKAYA KOMPANIYA

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY MAIGEOPROM

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY YATEK INVEST

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entity is being designated for operating or having operated in the marine sector of the Russian Federation economy:

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY REMSTAL is a Russia-based seaport infrastructure company, responsible for the construction of the first marine terminal for the transshipment of liquefied petroleum gas in Russia's far east Sovetskaya Gavan port.

TARGETING AN ENTITY INVOLVED IN A DARK SHIP-TO-SHIP OIL TRANSFER WITH A BLOCKED TANKER

The Department is designating JIANG PING SHIPPING INCORPORATED, a Panama-based company that owned and operated a crude oil tanker that facilitated a ship-to-ship transfer with a blocked JSC SOVCOMFLOT-owned tanker, SCF PRIMORYE. SCF PRIMORYE conducted this ship-to-ship transfer with both vessels' AIS de-activated in an attempt to conceal the activity.

JIANG PING SHIPPING INCORPORATED is being designated pursuant to section 1(a)(vi)(B), for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of JSC SOVCOMFLOT, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024.

TARGETING RUSSIA'S METALS AND MINING INDUSTRY

The Department continues to designate companies in Russia's metals and mining industry to further constrain Russia's revenue generation capacity and degrade its military-industrial base. Today, the Department is designating top Russian coal producers and exporters, as well as one of Russia's largest diamond and jewelry retailers.

Stroyservis Coal Network

The Department is designating the following entities pursuant to section 1(a)(i), for operating or having operated in the metals and mining sector of the Russian Federation economy. They are all Russia-based companies within the Stroyservis group of companies:

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY RAZREZ BEREZOVSKIY is a coal mining company in Kuzbass, Russia.

is a coal mining company in Kuzbass, Russia. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY RAZREZ PERMYAKOVSKIY is a coal processing company in Russia.

is a coal processing company in Russia. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY SOVMESTNOE PREDPRIYATIE BARZASSKOYE TOVARISHCHESTVO is a coal producer.

is a coal producer. JOINT STOCK COMPANY RAZREZ SHESTAKI is a producer of coking coal.

is a producer of coking coal. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY SHAKHTA N 12 is a coal producer.

is a coal producer. JOINT STOCK COMPANY STROISERVIS (STROYSERVIS) is the main coal mining company within the Russia-based Stroyservis group of companies.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(vii), the following entities are being designated for being owned or controlled by or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, STROYSERVIS.

STROYSERVIS TRADING LIMITED is a Cyprus-based subsidiary of STROYSERVIS.

is a Cyprus-based subsidiary of STROYSERVIS. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY KAPITAL GRUPP is a Russia-based subsidiary of STROYSERVIS.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entities are being designated for operating or having operated in the transportation sector of the Russian Federation economy. They are both Russia-based companies within the Stroyservis group of companies:

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY BELOVSKII PROMYSHLENNYI ZHELEZNODOROZHNYI TRANSPORT (BELOVOPROMZHELDORTRANS ) provides freight transport services on behalf of STROYSERVIS.

) provides freight transport services on behalf of STROYSERVIS. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY BELTRANS provides repair and maintenance services for cars and mining equipment on behalf of STROYSERVIS.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following Russia-based entities are being designated for operating or having operated in the manufacturing sector of the Russian Federation economy:

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY BRIZANT is a manufacturing company

is a manufacturing company OPEN JOINT STOCK COMPANY GUBAKHINSKIY KOKS is a chemical production facility.

Mechel Mining Coal Network

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entity is being designated for operating or having operated in the financial services sector of the Russian Federation economy:

JOINT STOCK COMPANY MECHEL MAINING (MECHEL MINING) is a Russia-based holding company of a large coal mining and export network.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(vii), the following entities are being designated for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, MECHEL MINING. They are both Russia-based subsidiaries of MECHEL MINING:

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY CHELYABINSKIY ZAVOD PO PROIZVODSTVU KOKSOKHIMICHESKOY PRODUKTSII

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY MECHEL INFORMATSIONNYYE TEKHNOLOGII

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entity is being designated for operating or having operated in the metals and mining sector of the Russian Federation economy:

JOINT STOCK COMPANY HOLDING COMPANY YAKUTUGOL (YAKUTUGOL) is a Russia-based coal mining company and the main coal exporting company within the MECHEL MINING network.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(vii), the following entity is being designated for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, YAKUTUGOL:

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY SAKHA DOICH DIAMANT is a Russia-based subsidiary of YAKUTUGOL.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entities are being designated for operating or having operated in the metals and mining sector of the Russian Federation economy. They are all Russia-based companies within the MECHEL MINING network:

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY YAKUTSKAYA RUDNAYA KOMPANIYA is operator of the Sivaglinsky iron ore deposit.

is operator of the Sivaglinsky iron ore deposit. PUBLIC JOINT STOCK COMPANY KORSHUNOV MINING PLANT is an industrial complex and iron ore processor.

is an industrial complex and iron ore processor. PUBLIC JOINT STOCK COMPANY UGOLNAYA KOMPANIYA YUZHNYI KUZBASS (YUZHNYI KUZBASS) is a company which extracts, processes, and enriches coal.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(vii), the following entity is being designated for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, YUZHNYI KUZBASS:

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY SP ROMANTIKA is a Russia-based subsidiary of YUZHNYI KUZBASS.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entity is being designated for operating or having operated in the management consulting sector of the Russian Federation economy:

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY UPRAVLYAYUSHCHAYA KOMPANIYA MECHEL MAINING is the Russia-based management company of YAKUTUGOL, the main coal exporting company within the MECHEL MINING network.

SDS Ugol Coal Mining Network

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entity is being designated for operating or having operated in the financial services sector of the Russian Federation economy:

JOINT STOCK COMPANY HOLDINGOVAYA KOMPANIYA SDS UGOL (SDS UGOL) is a Russia-based holding company for the SDS UGOL network, a top Russian coal export enterprise.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(vii), the following entities are being designated for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, SDS UGOL. They are all Russia-based subsidiaries of SDS UGOL:

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY SIBIRSKIY INSTITUT GORNOVO DELA

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY SERVISNYY TSENTR SDS UGOL

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY TORGOVYY DOM SDS TREYD

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY SDS INNOVATSII

JOINT STOCK COMPANY SIBUGOLINVEST

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entities are being designated for operating or having operated in the metals and mining sector of the Russian Federation economy. They are all Russia-based coal mining companies within the SDS UGOL Network:

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY SHAKHTOUPRAVLENIYE MAISKOYE

JOINT STOCK COMPANY CHERNIGOVETS

JOINT STOCK COMPANY SALEK

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY SHAKHTA LISTVYAZHNAYA (SHAKHTA LISTVYAZHNAYA)

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY ENERGETICHESKAYA KOMPANIYA SIBMAINING

Pursuant to section 1(a)(vii), the following entity is being designated for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, SHAKHTA LISTVYAZHNAYA:

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY TVK is a Russia-based subsidiary of SHAKHTA LISTVYAZHNAYA.

Targeting Russia's Diamond Industry

The Department is designating the following entities pursuant to section 1(a)(i), for operating or having operated in the manufacturing sector of the Russian Federation economy:

OPEN JOINT STOCK COMPANY MOSKOVSKII YUVELIRNYA ZAVOD (MOSCOW JEWELRY FACTORY) is a Russia-based company that manufactures and sells medals, diamonds, and jewelry made with diamonds and other precious stones.

is a Russia-based company that manufactures and sells medals, diamonds, and jewelry made with diamonds and other precious stones. JOINT STOCK COMPANY PROIZVODSTVENNOE OBYEDINENIE KRISTALL is Russia's largest diamond polisher and a leading high-tech center for the production of diamonds that have been mined and cut in Russia.

MAINTAINING PRESSURE ON ROSATOM

This is the ninth Russia sanctions action that includes designations of State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom (Rosatom) subsidiaries. The Department continues to designate Rosatom entities and individuals involved in Russia's nuclear weapons complex and defense sector, nuclear power plant construction exports, development of advanced technologies and materials, extractive industries and associated businesses, and Rosatom's malign activities including the occupation of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine. Today's targets include Rosatom entities and individuals involved in the production of nuclear weapons and construction of Rosatom enterprises.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entity and individual are being designated for operating or having operated in the defense and related materiel sector of the Russian Federation economy:

K A VOLODIN INSTRUMENT ENGINEERING PLANT FEDERAL STATE UNITARY ENTERPRISE (IEP FSUE) is a subsidiary of Rosatom that has been involved in state defense contracts for the production of nuclear weapons.

is a subsidiary of Rosatom that has been involved in state defense contracts for the production of nuclear weapons. VLADISLAV VLADIMIROVICH BELOBROV has been the General Director of IEP FSUE.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(vii), the following entity is being designated for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the Government of the Russian Federation:

ISTOK ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION JOINT STOCK COMPANY is a subsidiary of Rosatom involved in engineering and construction services for Rosatom enterprises in Russia.

FURTHER CONSTRAINING RUSSIA'S MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL BASE

The Department continues to designate companies supporting Russia's military-industrial base and manufacturing industries and will remain steadfast in its efforts to identify suppliers of key raw materials and finished products used in Russia's war against Ukraine. Today, the Department is designating the following companies involved in the import of critical minerals for the production of aerospace-grade titanium, and entities involved in the manufacture of cranes, heavy machinery, bullet proof glass, protective armor, and optics.

Continuing to Target Russia's War Time Titanium Production

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY ASR (ASR) is one of Russia's largest importers of titanium ores, a key precursor in the production of aerospace-grade titanium. ASR imports titanium ores for large Russian aerospace-grade titanium producers supplying the Russian military-industrial base. ASR is being designated pursuant to section 1(a)(i), for operating or having operated in the metals and mining sector of the Russian Federation economy.

Targeting Russia's Heavy Machinery and Crane Production

The Department is designating the following entities pursuant to section 1(a)(i), for operating or having operated in the manufacturing sector of the Russian Federation economy:

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY URALKRAN is a Russia-based manufacturer of heavy lift equipment, including bridge and gantry cranes.

is a Russia-based manufacturer of heavy lift equipment, including bridge and gantry cranes. JOINT STOCK COMPANY EXMASH is a Russia-based manufacturer of heavy equipment, including excavators that are used in the mining and construction industries.

is a Russia-based manufacturer of heavy equipment, including excavators that are used in the mining and construction industries. JOINT STOCK COMPANY TECHNOROS is a Russia-based manufacturer of lifting equipment, including mining cranes and excavating machinery.

is a Russia-based manufacturer of lifting equipment, including mining cranes and excavating machinery. JOINT STOCK COMPANY GALICHSKII AVTOKRANOVYI ZAVOD is a Russia-based manufacturer of mobile cranes.

is a Russia-based manufacturer of mobile cranes. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY ITECO KRAN is a Russia-based manufacturer of lifting equipment, including bridge, gantry, and other special purpose cranes.

is a Russia-based manufacturer of lifting equipment, including bridge, gantry, and other special purpose cranes. CLOSED JOINT STOCK COMPANY SMM is a Russia-based manufacturer of heavy lift equipment for ports, shipyards, and industrial enterprises.

Targeting Russia's Bullet Proof Glass, Armor, and Optics Industries

The Department is designating the following entities pursuant to section 1(a)(i), for operating or having operated in the manufacturing sector of the Russian Federation economy:

JOINT STOCK COMPANY OKTOGLASS is a Russia-based manufacturer of smart glass and bulletproof glass.

is a Russia-based manufacturer of smart glass and bulletproof glass. JOINT STOCK COMPANY NAUCHNO ISSLEDOVATELSKII INSTITUT STALI is a Russia-based manufacturer of steel armor and other protective materials used in tanks and other light armored vehicles.

is a Russia-based manufacturer of steel armor and other protective materials used in tanks and other light armored vehicles. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY ARMOR ENGINEERING is a Russia-based manufacturer of armored bullet-proof glass and windows.

is a Russia-based manufacturer of armored bullet-proof glass and windows. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY MTM PRO is a Russia-based manufacturer of bulletproof and protective metal structures and glass.

is a Russia-based manufacturer of bulletproof and protective metal structures and glass. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY MTM PROIZVODSTVO is a Russia-based glass company that regularly produces fabricated metal products such as fire or burglary resistive steel safes and vaults.

is a Russia-based glass company that regularly produces fabricated metal products such as fire or burglary resistive steel safes and vaults. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY PROFI GLASS PLUS is a Russia-based manufacturer of bulletproof glass.

is a Russia-based manufacturer of bulletproof glass. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY TRADE INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX RZM is a Russia-based manufacturer of chemicals used in the optics industry and is a contractor for U.S.-designated JOINT STOCK COMPANY VOLOGODSKY OPTIKO MEKHANICHESKY FACTORY.

Targeting Russian Individuals and Companies Affiliated with ROSTEC

The Department is designating the following entities and individuals pursuant to section 1(a)(i), for operating or having operated in the engineering sector of the Russian Federation economy:

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY KLER END KLARTE (KLER END KLARTE) is a Russia-based company that has received engineering consulting contracts worth millions of rubles from the government of the Russian Federation, including from U.S.-designated STATE CORPORATION ROSTEC.

is a Russia-based company that has received engineering consulting contracts worth millions of rubles from the government of the Russian Federation, including from U.S.-designated STATE CORPORATION ROSTEC. PAVEL ANDREYEVICH BELOUSOV (PAVEL BELOUSOV) is the Executive Director and co-owner of KLER END KLARTE alongside his wife, YEVGENIYA ALEKSEYEVNA BELOUSOVA. PAVEL BELOUSOV is the son of U.S.-designated Russian Minister of Defense ANDREY REMOVICH BELOUSOV.

is the Executive Director and co-owner of KLER END KLARTE alongside his wife, YEVGENIYA ALEKSEYEVNA BELOUSOVA. PAVEL BELOUSOV is the son of U.S.-designated Russian Minister of Defense ANDREY REMOVICH BELOUSOV. YEVGENIYA ALEKSEYEVNA BELOUSOVA (YEVGENIYA BELOUSOVA) is the Commercial Director and co-owner of KLER END KLARTE alongside PAVEL BELOUSOV.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(vii), the following entity is being designated for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, YEVGENIYA BELOUSOVA:

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY MINT is a Russian software development company owned by YEVGENIYA BELOUSOVA.

Belarus-based Networks Supporting Russia's War

The Department continues to designate entities and individuals related to the Lukashenka regime's support for Russia's illegal, full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Today, the Department is designating a Belarusian enterprise and associated individuals supporting Russia's war effort by providing critical components for armored vehicles to Russia-based defense entities.

Additionally, we are designating a Belarusian company and its director for providing munitions to the U.S.-designated JSC 558 AIRCRAFT REPAIR PLANT. The Department is also sanctioning the director of JSC 558 AIRCRAFT REPAIR PLANT. These actions build upon previous efforts to sanction Belarusian entities providing support to Russia's war against Ukraine, most recently on June 12, 2024 and August 9, 2024 .

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entities and individuals are being designated for operating or having operated in the defense and related materiel sector of the Russian Federation economy:

JOINT STOCK COMPANY 41 CENTRAL PLANT OF THE RAILWAY TECHNOLOGY is a Russia-based company that has supplied railway repair complexes and armored vehicle sights for the Russian Ministry of Defense.

is a Russia-based company that has supplied railway repair complexes and armored vehicle sights for the Russian Ministry of Defense. OPEN JOINT STOCK COMPANY ROGACHEVSKY ZAVOD DIAPROEKTOR (DIAPROEKTOR) is a Belarus-based company that has supplied parts to Russia-based JOINT STOCK COMPANY 41 CENTRAL PLANT OF THE RAILWAY TECHNOLOGY for opto-electronic sights used in armored fighting vehicles.

is a Belarus-based company that has supplied parts to Russia-based JOINT STOCK COMPANY 41 CENTRAL PLANT OF THE RAILWAY TECHNOLOGY for opto-electronic sights used in armored fighting vehicles. ELENA VLADIMIROVNA TITOVA is the Deputy Director for Commercial Affairs at DIAPROEKTOR.

is the Deputy Director for Commercial Affairs at DIAPROEKTOR. GENNADY ANATOLIEVICH FILIPPOV is the Director of DIAPROEKTOR.

is the Director of DIAPROEKTOR. ANTON KONSTANTINOVICH LAVRENTIEV is the Deputy Director and Chief Engineer of DIAPROEKTOR.

is the Deputy Director and Chief Engineer of DIAPROEKTOR. IGOR VLADIMIROVICH KUZMENKO is the General Director of U.S.-designated Belarus-based JSC 558 AIRCRAFT REPAIR PLANT.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(vi)(B), the following entity is being designated for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of JSC 558 AIRCRAFT REPAIR PLANT, an entity whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024:

STATE SCIENTIFIC AND PRODUCTION ASSOCIATION OF POWDER METALLURGY (GNPO PM) is a Belarus-based company that has manufactured fragmentation warheads likely intended for the Chekan armed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed and produced by U.S.-designated JSC 558 AIRCRAFT REPAIR PLANT.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(iii)(C), the following individual is being designated for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of GNPO PM, an entity whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024:

ALEKSANDR FEDOROVICH ILYUSHCHENKO is the Director General of GNPO PM.

Constraining Russian Air Cargo Logistics Transporting Military and Dual-Use Components

Today, the Department of State is designating numerous entities and individuals associated with the Volga Dnepr Group of companies that have provided logistical support to Russia's sanctions circumvention efforts. Included in this group is the managing company LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY VOLGA DNEPR MOSCOW (VOLGA DNEPR MOSCOW) and three associated air cargo companies, LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY VOLGA DNEPR AIRLINES (VOLGA DNEPR AIRLINES), AIRBRIDGECARGO AIRLINES LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY (AIRBRIDGECARGO), and ATRAN LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY (ATRAN), and senior management. A number of the entities and individuals associated with Volga Dnepr Group that the Department is designating today have been designated by the United Kingdom, European Union, and Canada.

Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Russian Ministry of Transport and the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency approved the use of Russian air cargo companies to transport military goods. These companies included ATRAN LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY VOLGA DNEPR AIRLINES, AIRBRIDGECARGO AIRLINES LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, as well as the previously U.S.-designated companies JOINT STOCK COMPANY THE 224TH FLIGHT UNIT STATE AIRLINES, JSC AVIACON ZITOTRANS, and LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY ABAKAN AIR.

Additionally, following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY VOLGA DNEPR AIRLINES signed an agreement with a Russian government entity to create a delivery channel to Russia for critical items in an attempt to circumvent sanctions. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY VOLGA DNEPR AIRLINES planned to continue to deliver to Russia electronics, production equipment, high technology and other priority goods.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entities and individuals are being designated for operating or having operated in the aerospace sector of the Russian Federation economy:

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY VOLGA DNEPR AIRLINES is a Russia-based airline company that has provided air transportation of extra-heavy and oversized cargo. Additionally, VOLGA DNEPR AIRLINES has attempted to circumvent sanctions by planning to surreptitiously transfer two AIRBRIDGECARGO-owned Boeing 747 aircraft to a PRC-based aviation company. VOLGA DNEPR AIRLINES has transported Russian aircraft parts within Russia on behalf of the U.S.-designated IRKUT CORPORATION JOINT STOCK COMPANY, which develops Russian fighter aircraft. VOLGA DNEPR AIRLINES aircraft have also conducted deliveries of Russian-origin helicopters to foreign customers on behalf of the Russian government.

is a Russia-based airline company that has provided air transportation of extra-heavy and oversized cargo. Additionally, VOLGA DNEPR AIRLINES has attempted to circumvent sanctions by planning to surreptitiously transfer two AIRBRIDGECARGO-owned Boeing 747 aircraft to a PRC-based aviation company. VOLGA DNEPR AIRLINES has transported Russian aircraft parts within Russia on behalf of the U.S.-designated IRKUT CORPORATION JOINT STOCK COMPANY, which develops Russian fighter aircraft. VOLGA DNEPR AIRLINES aircraft have also conducted deliveries of Russian-origin helicopters to foreign customers on behalf of the Russian government. AIRBRIDGECARGO AIRLINES LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY is a Russia-based airline company that has been involved in air cargo transportation. Additionally, AIRBRIDGECARGO has coordinated shipments of microelectronics manufacturing equipment from the PRC to Russia since Russia's further invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which were later transported on VOLGA DNEPR AIRLINES flights. AIRBRIDGECARGO and VOLGA DNEPR AIRLINES have coordinated numerous shipments of electronics from the PRC to Russia since Russia's further invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. AIRBRIDGECARGO and VOLGA DNEPR AIRLINES also attempted to obfuscate a shipment of non-lethal military equipment from the PRC to Russia in November 2023.

is a Russia-based airline company that has been involved in air cargo transportation. Additionally, AIRBRIDGECARGO has coordinated shipments of microelectronics manufacturing equipment from the PRC to Russia since Russia's further invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which were later transported on VOLGA DNEPR AIRLINES flights. AIRBRIDGECARGO and VOLGA DNEPR AIRLINES have coordinated numerous shipments of electronics from the PRC to Russia since Russia's further invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. AIRBRIDGECARGO and VOLGA DNEPR AIRLINES also attempted to obfuscate a shipment of non-lethal military equipment from the PRC to Russia in November 2023. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY VOLGA DNEPR MOSCOW is a Russia-based company that has been involved in the maintenance and repair of aircraft and the transportation of superheavy and oversized cargo. Additionally, VOLGA DNEPR MOSCOW is the majority owner of VOLGA DNEPR AIRLINES.

is a Russia-based company that has been involved in the maintenance and repair of aircraft and the transportation of superheavy and oversized cargo. Additionally, VOLGA DNEPR MOSCOW is the majority owner of VOLGA DNEPR AIRLINES. ATRAN LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY is a Russia-based airline company that has performed scheduled international cargo flights.

is a Russia-based airline company that has performed scheduled international cargo flights. ALEXEY IVANOVICH ISAYKIN (ISYAKIN) holds a majority ownership stake in AIRBRIDGECARGO and ATRAN. ISAYKIN was the former President of Volga Dnepr Group. Additionally, ISAYKIN remains heavily involved in the management of VOLGA DNEPR AIRLINES through ownership in its subsidiary, AIRBRIDGECARGO and its affiliate, VOLGA DNEPR MOSCOW, despite publicly distancing himself from the company.

holds a majority ownership stake in AIRBRIDGECARGO and ATRAN. ISAYKIN was the former President of Volga Dnepr Group. Additionally, ISAYKIN remains heavily involved in the management of VOLGA DNEPR AIRLINES through ownership in its subsidiary, AIRBRIDGECARGO and its affiliate, VOLGA DNEPR MOSCOW, despite publicly distancing himself from the company. IGOR BORISOVICH AKSENOV ( AKSENOV) is the General Director of VOLGA DNEPR AIRLINES and is one of four equal shareholders in VOLGA DNEPR MOSCOW. Additionally, AKSENOV has been involved in efforts to circumvent sanctions.

( is the General Director of VOLGA DNEPR AIRLINES and is one of four equal shareholders in VOLGA DNEPR MOSCOW. Additionally, AKSENOV has been involved in efforts to circumvent sanctions. NIKOLAI ALEKSEEVICH KOROBKO is the General Director of VOLGA DNEPR MOSCOW.

is the General Director of VOLGA DNEPR MOSCOW. SERGEY ADOLFOVICH DYACHKOV is the former Vice President for Purchasing of VOLGA DNEPR AIRLINES and is one of four shareholders in VOLGA DNEPR MOSCOW.

is the former Vice President for Purchasing of VOLGA DNEPR AIRLINES and is one of four shareholders in VOLGA DNEPR MOSCOW. VALERY ALEXANDROVICH GABRIEL is one of four equal shareholders in VOLGA DNEPR MOSCOW and has been on the company committee for VOLGA DNEPR AIRLINES.

is one of four equal shareholders in VOLGA DNEPR MOSCOW and has been on the company committee for VOLGA DNEPR AIRLINES. VILDAN KHANIFOVICH ZINUROV is one of four equal shareholders in VOLGA DNEPR MOSCOW and has worked at the company.

is one of four equal shareholders in VOLGA DNEPR MOSCOW and has worked at the company. SERGEI IVANOVICH SHKLIANIK has been the Deputy Chairman of the Volga Dnepr Group.

has been the Deputy Chairman of the Volga Dnepr Group. DMITRII SERGEEVICH SOROKIN is the General Director of AIRBRIDGECARGO.

Targeting Producers and Procurers of Russian Weapons Systems and Military Components

The Department continues to apply pressure on those providing support and equipment for Russia's illegal, full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Today, the Department is targeting a number of entities and individuals involved in the production of armed UAVs, missiles, fighter aircraft, vehicles, defense electronics, and ammunition that are being used to fuel Russia's war effort. Additional targets include entities and individuals supporting procurement on behalf of Russian defense entities.

These efforts include entities and individuals involved in the defense and related materiel, aerospace, manufacturing, and electronics sectors to stem the flow of goods and equipment being used by Russia on the battlefield.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(vi)(B), the following entity is being designated for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of the MAIN DIRECTORATE OF DEEP SEA RESEARCH (GUGI), an entity whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024:

GREDSTONE PTE LTD facilitated payments for the purchase of sensitive equipment ultimately destined for the U.S.-designated end-user GUGI. GUGI reports to the Russian Ministry of Defense and is the maritime equivalent of a military intelligence agency. GUGI was designated, on February 24, 2023, by the Department of State pursuant to section 1(a)(i) of E.O. 14024.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(iii)(C), the following individual is being designated for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of GREDSTONE PTE LTD, an entity whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024:

ALEKSANDR OLEGOVICH KALININ is the Director of GREDSTONE PTE LTD.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entities and individuals are being designated for operating or having operated in the defense and related materiel sector of the Russian Federation economy:

JOINT STOCK COMPANY SCIENTIFIC PRODUCTION ENTERPRISE SALYUT is a Russian state-owned company that has produced shipborne radars for the Russian Navy and military-industrial base.

is a Russian state-owned company that has produced shipborne radars for the Russian Navy and military-industrial base. JOINT STOCK COMPANY STRATIM is a Russia-based company that has developed and manufactured armed UAVs being used by the Russian military against Ukraine.

is a Russia-based company that has developed and manufactured armed UAVs being used by the Russian military against Ukraine. JOINT STOCK COMPANY EKA is a Russia-based military-industrial company that has developed and serviced weapons and military equipment.

is a Russia-based military-industrial company that has developed and serviced weapons and military equipment. JOINT STOCK COMPANY OKTAVA has developed and manufactured the Obereg body armor used by Russian soldiers in Ukraine.

has developed and manufactured the Obereg body armor used by Russian soldiers in Ukraine. JOINT STOCK COMPANY ZAVOLZHSKY CRAWLER VEHICLE PLANT has developed the GAZ-3344-20 Aleut all-terrain vehicle used by the Russian military in Ukraine.

has developed the GAZ-3344-20 Aleut all-terrain vehicle used by the Russian military in Ukraine. JOINT STOCK COMPANY SCIENTIFIC PRODUCTION ASSOCIATION ORION has designed and manufactured items for optoelectronic systems and complexes used in the interests of Russia's military-industrial base.

has designed and manufactured items for optoelectronic systems and complexes used in the interests of Russia's military-industrial base. FEDERAL AUTONOMOUS ENTERPRISE  CENTRAL AEROHYDRODYNAMIC INSTIUTE NAMED AFTER PROFESSOR N.E. ZHUKOVSKY (TSAGI) has participated in joint research programs on Russian military aircraft including the Su-27, MiG-29, and MiG-31.

has participated in joint research programs on Russian military aircraft including the Su-27, MiG-29, and MiG-31. KIRILL IVANOVICH SYPALO is the Director General of TSAGI.

is the Director General of TSAGI. FEDERAL STATE ENTERPRISE AMUR CARTRIDGE PLANT VYMPEL is a Russian state-owned enterprise that has manufactured weapons and ammunition for the Russian military.

is a Russian state-owned enterprise that has manufactured weapons and ammunition for the Russian military. FEDERALNOE KAZENNOE PREDPRIIATIE AVANGARD has manufactured explosives, weapons, and ammunition.

has manufactured explosives, weapons, and ammunition. FEDERALNOE KAZENNOE PREDPRIIATIE GOSUDARSTVENNYI NAUCHNO ISSLEDOVATELSKII INSTITUT KHIMICHESKIKH PRODUKTOV (FKP GOSNIIKHP) has manufactured explosives, weapons, and ammunition.

has manufactured explosives, weapons, and ammunition. MILITARY ENGINEERING CENTRE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY (OOO VITS) has developed, modernized, and researched products from the U.S.-designated LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPANY that are developed and supplied to the Russian military. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPANY was designated on February 23, 2024 by the Department of State pursuant to section 1(a)(i) of E.O. 14024 for its role in developing and manufacturing armored personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles, and armored cars for the Russian military.

has developed, modernized, and researched products from the U.S.-designated LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPANY that are developed and supplied to the Russian military. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPANY was designated on February 23, 2024 by the Department of State pursuant to section 1(a)(i) of E.O. 14024 for its role in developing and manufacturing armored personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles, and armored cars for the Russian military. JOINT STOCK COMPANY RESEARCH & PRODUCTION SPACE CENTRE PROGRESS (AO RKTS PROGRESS) has contracted on satellites for the Russian Ministry of Defense.

has contracted on satellites for the Russian Ministry of Defense. DMITRII ALEKSANDROVICH BARANOV is the General Director of AO RKTS PROGRESS.

is the General Director of AO RKTS PROGRESS. RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES SIBERIAN BRANCH KHRISTIANOVICH INSTIUTE OF THEORETICAL AND APPLIED MECHANICS (ITAM SB RAS) is a Russia-based military-industrial entity that has been involved in the development of hypersonic missiles.

is a Russia-based military-industrial entity that has been involved in the development of hypersonic missiles. JOINT STOCK COMPANY ELECTRONIC COMPANY ELKUS is a Russia-based company specialized in military-applicable radio-electronic components.

is a Russia-based company specialized in military-applicable radio-electronic components. SERGEI TIMOFEEVICH KHVOSHCH is the General Director of JOINT STOCK COMPANY ELECTRONIC COMPANY ELKUS.

is the General Director of JOINT STOCK COMPANY ELECTRONIC COMPANY ELKUS. JOINT STOCK COMPANY RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR AUTOMATED APPARATUS NAMED AFTER ACADEMICIAN V S SEMENIKHIN (AO NIIAA) is a Russia-based defense company that has been the managing organization of the automated control systems division of U.S.-designated OPEN JOINT STOCK COMPANY RUSSIAN ELECTRONICS (RUSELECTRONICS) for end-use by the Russian military. RUSELECTRONICS was designated by the Department of the Treasury on June 28, 2022 pursuant to section 1(a)(i) of E.O. 14024 and was previously added to the Sectoral Sanctions Identifications (SSI) List in 2015, pursuant to Directive 3 of E.O. 13662.

is a Russia-based defense company that has been the managing organization of the automated control systems division of U.S.-designated OPEN JOINT STOCK COMPANY RUSSIAN ELECTRONICS (RUSELECTRONICS) for end-use by the Russian military. RUSELECTRONICS was designated by the Department of the Treasury on June 28, 2022 pursuant to section 1(a)(i) of E.O. 14024 and was previously added to the Sectoral Sanctions Identifications (SSI) List in 2015, pursuant to Directive 3 of E.O. 13662. DESIGN BUREAU OF CHEMICAL MACHINE BUILDING KBKHM (AO KBKHIMMASH IM AM ISAEVA) is a Russia-based company that has specialized in liquid-fuel propulsion systems for Russian satellites and has maintained military equipment.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entities and individual are being designated for operating or having operated in the aerospace sector of the Russian Federation economy:

STRATIM LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY is a Russia-based company associated with the armed UAV producer JOINT STOCK COMPANY STRATIM.

is a Russia-based company associated with the armed UAV producer JOINT STOCK COMPANY STRATIM. JOINT STOCK COMPANY STRATIM TECH is a Russia-based company associated with the armed UAV producer JOINT STOCK COMPANY STRATIM.

is a Russia-based company associated with the armed UAV producer JOINT STOCK COMPANY STRATIM. OBSHCHESTVO S OGRANICHENNOI OTVETSTVENNOSTIU REINOLDS is a Russia-based entity that has developed gas-turbine engines for ultra-small aviation and recently announced plans to merge with the U.S.-designated Russian state-owned entity JOINT STOCK COMPANY UNITED ENGINE CORPORATION (UEC). UEC was designated by the Department of the Treasury on June 28, 2022 pursuant to section 1(a)(i) of E.O. 14024. UEC was previously added to OFAC's SSI List in 2015, pursuant to Directive 3 of E.O. 13662.

is a Russia-based entity that has developed gas-turbine engines for ultra-small aviation and recently announced plans to merge with the U.S.-designated Russian state-owned entity JOINT STOCK COMPANY UNITED ENGINE CORPORATION (UEC). UEC was designated by the Department of the Treasury on June 28, 2022 pursuant to section 1(a)(i) of E.O. 14024. UEC was previously added to OFAC's SSI List in 2015, pursuant to Directive 3 of E.O. 13662. REINOLDS INZHINIRING is a Russia-based entity that has repaired and maintained aerospace equipment.

is a Russia-based entity that has repaired and maintained aerospace equipment. NIKITA VLADIMIROVICH GUSEV is the CEO, co-founder, and majority shareholder of OBSHCHESTVO S OGRANICHENNOI OTVETSTVENNOSTIU REINOLDS and the sole owner and General Director of REYNOLDS INZHINIRING.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i) the following entities are being designated for operating or having operated in the manufacturing sector of the Russian Federation economy:

OBSHCHESTVO S OGRANICHENNOI OTVETSTVENNOSTIU NORGAU RUSSLAND is a Russia-based manufacturer of instruments for measuring, testing, and navigation.

is a Russia-based manufacturer of instruments for measuring, testing, and navigation. JOINT STOCK COMPANY GEOFIZICA COSMOS (GEOFIZIKA KOSMOS) has developed, manufactured, and tested optoelectronic devices and sensors for orientation and navigation systems of Russian spacecraft.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entity is being designated for operating or having operated in the electronics sector of the Russian Federation economy:

CHIP EXPERT LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY is a Russian electronics wholesaler which has supplied components to U.S.-designated Russian instrument engineering entities and advertised its ability to procure western components to evade sanctions.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entities are being designated for operating or having operated in the engineering sector of the Russian Federation economy:

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER ECOPROMSERTIFIKA (NPTS EKOPROMSERTIFIKA) is Russia-based company that has conducted geological surveys and operated in the field of hydrometeorology.

is Russia-based company that has conducted geological surveys and operated in the field of hydrometeorology. JOINT STOCK COMPANY RESEARCH PRODUCTION ENTERPRISE KVANT (AO NPP KVANT) is a Russia-based company that has engineered, manufactured, and provided power supply sources to numerous Russian spacecraft.

PROMOTING ACCOUNTABILITY FOR MALIGN ACTORS

The Department is designating three leaders of ALL RUSSIAN PUBLIC STATE MOVEMENT OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH (MOVEMENT OF THE FIRST), an organization funded by the Government of Russia, chaired by U.S.-designated Russian President VLADIMIR PUTIN, and designated by the Department on June 12, 2024, pursuant to section 1(a)(ii)(F) of E.O. 14024, as amended, for being responsible for or complicit in, or having directly or indirectly engaged or attempted to engage in, activities that undermine the peace, security, political stability, or territorial integrity of the United States, its allies, or its partners, for or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, directly or indirectly, the Government of the Russian Federation.

The following individuals are being designated pursuant to section 1(a)(iii)(C), for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of the MOVEMENT OF THE FIRST, an entity whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024:

GRIGORIY ALEKSANDROVICH GUROV (GUROV) is the chairperson of the board of the MOVEMENT OF THE FIRST. Under GUROV's leadership, the MOVEMENT OF THE FIRST has been involved in the attempted militarization, pro-Russian education, and issuance of Russian passports to Ukraine's children.

is the chairperson of the board of the MOVEMENT OF THE FIRST. Under GUROV's leadership, the MOVEMENT OF THE FIRST has been involved in the attempted militarization, pro-Russian education, and issuance of Russian passports to Ukraine's children. DENIS SERGEYEVICH CHERNOBAY (CHERNOBAY) is the chairperson of the U.S.-designated so-called DONETSK PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC branch of the U.S.-designated MOVEMENT OF THE FIRST. Under CHERNOBAY's leadership, the DONETSK PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC branch of MOVEMENT OF THE FIRST has been involved in the attempted militarization of Ukraine's children, including through sponsorship of augmented reality war games, known as Zarnitsa 2.0, which train children how to operate drones and weapons.

is the chairperson of the U.S.-designated so-called DONETSK PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC branch of the U.S.-designated MOVEMENT OF THE FIRST. Under CHERNOBAY's leadership, the DONETSK PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC branch of MOVEMENT OF THE FIRST has been involved in the attempted militarization of Ukraine's children, including through sponsorship of augmented reality war games, known as Zarnitsa 2.0, which train children how to operate drones and weapons. ANNA STANISLAVOVNA MOLCHANOVA (MOLCHANOVA) is the chairperson of the Sevastopol regional branch of the U.S.-designated MOVEMENT OF THE FIRST. Under MOLCHANOVA's leadership, the Sevastopol regional branch of the MOVEMENT OF THE FIRST has been involved in the pro-Russian education of, and issuance of Russian passports to, Ukraine's children.

SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS

As a result of today's sanctions-related actions, and in accordance with E.O. 14024, as amended, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to the Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Additionally, all entities and individuals that have ownership, either directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.

All transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons are prohibited unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC or exempt. These prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any blocked person and the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.

The power and integrity of U.S. government sanctions derive not only from the U.S. government's ability to designate and add persons to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior.

Petitions for removal from the SDN List may be sent to: OFAC.Reconsideration@treasury.gov. Petitioners may also refer to the Department of State's https://www.state.gov/sanctions-delisting / page.

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As Russia Feels Effects of Multilateral Sanctions Campaign, Treasury Takes Further Action Against Russia's International Supply Chains

U.S. Department of the Treasury

August 23, 2024

One day ahead of Ukrainian Independence Day, Treasury continues implementation of G7 sanctions commitments in support of Ukraine

WASHINGTON a Building on the sanctions already imposed on Russia in response to its continued war of aggression against Ukraine, today the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Department of State targeted nearly 400 individuals and entities both in Russia and outside its bordersaincluding in Asia, Europe, and the Middle Eastawhose products and services enable Russia to sustain its war effort and evade sanctions. The United States government will continue to support Ukraine as it defends its independence and hold Russia accountable for its aggression.

"Russia has turned its economy into a tool in service of the Kremlin's military industrial complex. Treasury's actions today continue to implement the commitments made by President Biden and his G7 counterparts to disrupt Russia's military-industrial base supply chains and payment channels," said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo. "Companies, financial institutions, and governments around the world need to ensure they are not supporting Russia's military-industrial supply chains."

Treasury is targeting numerous transnational networks, including those involved in procuring ammunition and military materiel for Russia, facilitating sanctions evasion for Russian oligarchs through offshore trust and corporate formation services, evading sanctions imposed on Russia's cyber actors, laundering gold for a sanctioned Russian gold company, and supporting Russia's military-industrial base by procuring sensitive and critical items such as advanced machine tools and electronic components. Today's sanctions further limit Russia's future revenue from metals and mining. Treasury is also targeting Russian financial technology companies that provide necessary software and IT solutions for Russia's financial sector.

Treasury is aware of Russian efforts to facilitate sanctions evasion by opening new overseas branches and subsidiaries of Russian financial institutions. Foreign regulators and financial institutions should be cautious about any dealings with overseas branches or subsidiaries of Russian financial institutions, including efforts to open new branches or subsidiaries of Russian financial institutions that are not themselves sanctioned.Treasury has a range of tools available to respond to the establishment of new evasion channels.

The State Department is targeting entities and individuals involved in Russia's future energy, metals, and mining production and exports; sanctions evasion; Russia's military-industrial base, including armed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) production, Belarusian support for Russia's war effort, and air logistics entities; additional subsidiaries of State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom; and malign actors involved in the attempted, forcible "re-education" of Ukraine's children.

SANCTIONS EVASION, CIRCUMVENTION, AND BACKFILL

Consistent with commitments made by President Biden and G7 leaders, Treasury continues to target transnational networks that supply Russia with military materiel and sensitive dual-use goods like those included in the multilateral Common High Priority List, jointly developed by the United States, European Union, Japan, and the United Kingdom. Treasury is also targeting multiple networks that facilitate or enable illicit financial schemes and sanctions evasion on behalf of Russian revenue generators and oligarchs. Many of today's designations were enabled or informed by extensive coordination with Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Today's action targets almost a dozen distinct networks, designating more than 100 individuals and entities across 16 jurisdictions, including the People's Republic of China, Switzerland, TArkiye, and the United Arab Emirates.

For more information on these targets, please see Annex 1.

RUSSIA'S TECHNOLOGICAL BASE

Today, Treasury is targeting more than 60 Russia-based technology and defense companies that are critical for the sustainment and development of Russia's defense industry, including entities involved in weapons development and modernization, automation and robotics, development and acquisition of dual-use electronics, digital surveillance, Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence. These sanctions target Russia's defense industry while protecting the access by Russian citizens to crucial telecommunications and other digital technology.

For more information on these targets, please see Annex 2.

LIMITING RUSSIA'S STRATEGIC METALS AND MINING SECTOR

Guided by commitments made by President Biden and G7 leaders to reduce Russia's revenues from metals, today Treasury is targeting entities involved in Russia's metals and mining sector, including steel, iron, and coal mining firms and auxiliary firms that provide specialized services to Russian metals and mining companies.

For more information on these targets, please see Annex 3.

RUSSIAN FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY

Today, OFAC is targeting Russian financial technology companies as a part of implementing G7 commitments to curtail Russia's use of and access to the international financial system to further its war against Ukraine.

Atol is a Russian technology developer involved in services related to payments.

Centre of Financial Technologies Group (CFT)is one of the largest software companies in the Russian market. CFT provides an array of software products for banking and payment solutions for the Russian financial market.

Diasoft Ltd (Diasoft) is one of Russia's largest developers and suppliers of information technology (IT) solutions for the financial sector.

Atol, CFT, and Diasoft were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the technology sector of the Russian Federation economy.

ANNEX 1: SANCTIONS EVASION, CIRCUMVENTION, AND BACKFILL

Ammunition Procurement Network

Italian national Giulio Sfoglietti (Sfoglietti) has been involved in a procurement network involving a TArkiye facilitator to purchase more than $150 million worth of military equipment, ammunition, and ordnance for the Russian military from potential suppliers in Africa, Asia, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and Iran. TArkiye national Hayri Tahirbeyoglu (Tahirbeyoglu) is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of TArkiye-based ammunition, weapons, and military materiel company Taha Savunma Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi (Taha Savunma) and has worked with Sfoglietti on the procurement of ammunition and weapons for likely Russian end-use. Sfoglietti has also worked to procure microelectronics and chips for Russia-based end-users.

Sfoglietti associate Russian national Marat Khanbalevich Gabitov (Gabitov) has worked with an employee of U.S.-designated Russian defense conglomerate State Corporation Rostec to procure microelectronics related to radio frequency (RF) equipment. Gabitov has also worked to procure microelectronics, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and other machinery and equipment for Russia-based end-users.

Sfoglietti was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the defense and related materiel and technology sectors of the Russian Federation economy. Tahirbeyoglu and Taha Savunma were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the defense and related materiel sector of the Russian Federation economy. Gabitov was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the technology sector of the Russian Federation economy.

Promtekh Supply Chain

U.S.-designated Russia-based Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo Promyshlennye Tekhnologii (Promtekh) has used a network of companies located in TArkiye, France, and Hong Kong to send high priority goods to Promtekh's subsidiaries. Russia-based Aspectriym Limited Trade Development (Aspectriym) is a subsidiary of Promtekh and is a defense procurement firm involved in the wholesale of electronic equipment and parts.

France-based Industrial Technologies Group France (ITGF) is a sister firm of U.S.-designated Promtechcomplekt JSC, a subsidiary of Promtekh, and has worked with Aspectriym to procure foreign- and U.S.-made electronic components. Hong Kong-based Interasia Trading Group Limited (Interasia Trading) is the sole owner of ITGF. Russian national Igor Aleksandrovich Reutov (Reutov) is the Executive Director of ITGF. Reutov is also the owner of Estonia-based Free Sky Solutions OU (Free Sky) and the Managing Partner of France-based Aerialia. Aerialia was established in January 2024.

ITGF also created a TArkiye-based firm, Enutek Makina Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi (Enutek). Enutek has made hundreds of shipments of technology, including high priority dual-use technology such as electronic integrated circuits and ceramic capacitors, to U.S.-designated Promtekh subsidiaries, including Promtech Ulyanovsk, Dubna Switching Equipment Plant, and Promtech Irkutsk. Enutek was established in December 2022.

Other foreign suppliers to Promtekh subsidiaries include:

TArkiye-based Confienza Gida Pazarlama ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi (Confienza) has sent over 200 shipments to Aspectriym, with shipments including high priority dual-use technology.

(Confienza) has sent over 200 shipments to Aspectriym, with shipments including high priority dual-use technology. Hong Kong-based Grun Group Co Limited (Grun Group) has sent shipments totaling over $3 million to U.S.-designated subsidiaries of Promtekh, including shipments with high priority dual-use technology.

(Grun Group) has sent shipments totaling over $3 million to U.S.-designated subsidiaries of Promtekh, including shipments with high priority dual-use technology. Hong Kong-based Hong Kong Yayang Trading Limited (Yayang Trading) has sent shipments totaling over $9 million to U.S.-designated Promtekh subsidiaries Dubna Switching Equipment Plant and Aspectriym, with shipments including high priority dual-use technology.

(Yayang Trading) has sent shipments totaling over $9 million to U.S.-designated Promtekh subsidiaries Dubna Switching Equipment Plant and Aspectriym, with shipments including high priority dual-use technology. Hong Kong-based Kira International Trade Co Limited (Kira International) is a partner of Aspectriym. Kira International has sent shipments totaling over $1.5 million to Aspectriym, with shipments including high priority dual-use technology.

(Kira International) is a partner of Aspectriym. Kira International has sent shipments totaling over $1.5 million to Aspectriym, with shipments including high priority dual-use technology. Hong Kong-based Most Development Limited (Most Development) has sent shipments totaling over $1 million to Aspectriym, with shipments including high priority dual-use technology.

(Most Development) has sent shipments totaling over $1 million to Aspectriym, with shipments including high priority dual-use technology. Hong Kong-based New Wally Target International Trade Co Limited (New Wally Target) has sent over $4 million worth of shipments to Aspectriym, with shipments including high priority dual-use technology.

Aspectriym, ITGF, Enutek, Interasia Trading, Reutov, Confienza, Grun Group, Yayang Trading, Kira International, Most Development, and New Wally Target were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the technology sector of the Russian Federation economy. Free Sky and Aerialia were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Reutov.

Sanctions Evasion Through Switzerland and Liechtenstein Trust and Corporate Services Providers

Swiss national Anton Daniel Wyss (Wyss) is a major enabler of Russian cash flow in Switzerland and Liechtenstein and has used his Liechtenstein-based trust and corporate services provider (TCSP) Audax Consulting Trust Establishment (Audax) to obfuscate Russian beneficial ownership and investments into foreign ventures. Through their co-owned Liechtenstein-based company One Asset Management AG (One Asset), Wyss and his Austrian national associate Alexander Franz Josef Lins (Lins) provide asset management and reallocation services to sanctioned Russian nationals. Lins uses his own TCSP, Liechtenstein-based LMG Lighthouse Trust Reg (LMG), to facilitate sanctions evasion schemes for Russian clients. Audax, One Asset, and LMG are all located at the same address, and both Audax and LMG advertise their services in Russian-language brochures. Austrian national Stefan Anton Wolf (Wolf) is a director of Audax.

Wyss, Audax, LMG, and Lins were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the trust and corporate formation services sector of the Russian Federation economy. Wolf was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of Audax. One Asset was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Wyss and Lins.

PRC-based Suppliers to Russia's Military-Industrial Base

The following entities were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the technology sector of the Russian Federation economy:

Hong Kong-based machinery distributor Smart Kit Technology Limited (Smart Kit) has shipped high priority items, including chip-making machinery, to Russian companies including Inzhiniring Grupp OOO (Inzhiniring Grupp). Inzhiniring Grupp imports industrial machinery and equipment into Russia and has supplied manufacturing equipment to Russian government-owned labs.

(Smart Kit) has shipped high priority items, including chip-making machinery, to Russian companies including (Inzhiniring Grupp). Inzhiniring Grupp imports industrial machinery and equipment into Russia and has supplied manufacturing equipment to Russian government-owned labs. Hong Kong-based Siliborn Technology Limited (Siliborn) is an electronic component distributor that has shipped high priority items, including electronic integrated circuits, to Russian companies, including U.S.-designated electronics company Staut Company Limited.

(Siliborn) is an electronic component distributor that has shipped high priority items, including electronic integrated circuits, to Russian companies, including U.S.-designated electronics company Staut Company Limited. Hong Kong and PRC-based YLH Electronics HK Co Limited has supplied high-priority goods, including electronic integrated circuits, to Russian company Zakrytoe Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo Nauchno Vnedrencheskoe Predpriyatie Bolid , a Russian manufacturer of sensors and security equipment.

has supplied high-priority goods, including electronic integrated circuits, to Russian company , a Russian manufacturer of sensors and security equipment. Hong Kong-based Hongkong Chip Line International Co has supplied high priority goods, including electronic integrated circuits, to U.S.-designated Russian microelectronics manufacturer Matriks Elektronika and Russian technology company Maveriks , another importer of high priority goods.

has supplied high priority goods, including electronic integrated circuits, to U.S.-designated Russian microelectronics manufacturer Matriks Elektronika and Russian technology company , another importer of high priority goods. Hong Kong-based Hengye Tech Limited has supplied high priority goods, including electronic integrated circuits, to Russian electronic components manufacturer Elektroradiokomponenty Severo Zapad .

has supplied high priority goods, including electronic integrated circuits, to Russian electronic components manufacturer . Hong Kong-based LL Electronic Limited has shipped electronic integrated circuits and multilayer ceramic capacitors to U.S.-designated Russian electronic component importer Limited Liability Company Kvazar.

has shipped electronic integrated circuits and multilayer ceramic capacitors to U.S.-designated Russian electronic component importer Limited Liability Company Kvazar. Hong Kong-based Allchips Limited has supplied high priority goods, including electronic integrated circuits, to Limited Liability Company Micropribor , a Russian wholesaler of electronic equipment.

has supplied high priority goods, including electronic integrated circuits, to , a Russian wholesaler of electronic equipment. Hong Kong-based Fepood Electronics HK Co Limited has shipped electronic integrated circuits and multilayer ceramic capacitors to U.S.-designated Russian electronic components supplier LLC Spetselservis.

has shipped electronic integrated circuits and multilayer ceramic capacitors to U.S.-designated Russian electronic components supplier LLC Spetselservis. Hong Kong-based Xin Quan Electronics Co Limited has made thousands of shipments of high priority goods, including electronic integrated circuits, to Russian company Snabinter , a Russian wholesaler of electronic equipment.

has made thousands of shipments of high priority goods, including electronic integrated circuits, to Russian company , a Russian wholesaler of electronic equipment. PRC-based Jinhua Hairun Power Technology Co Ltd produces cutting machines, carburetors, and pistons and has made hundreds of shipments to Russia, including engine parts, transmissions, and gear components.

produces cutting machines, carburetors, and pistons and has made hundreds of shipments to Russia, including engine parts, transmissions, and gear components. Hong Kong-based Ace Era Co Limited (Ace Era) has shipped electronic integrated circuits, multilayer ceramic capacitors, and tantalum capacitors to U.S.-designated Russian electronic equipment wholesaler Streloi Ekommerts. Ace Era has sent over $3 million worth of shipments to Streloi Ekommerts.

(Ace Era) has shipped electronic integrated circuits, multilayer ceramic capacitors, and tantalum capacitors to U.S.-designated Russian electronic equipment wholesaler Streloi Ekommerts. Ace Era has sent over $3 million worth of shipments to Streloi Ekommerts. Hong Kong-based Shenzhen Royo Technology Co Limited and PRC-based Qingdao Hehuixin International Trade Co Ltd have shipped technologies to U.S.-designated Russian defense company Limited Liability Company Drake, which is contracted to receive UAV parts, components, and materials from Iran for use in Iranian-designed, Russian-manufactured UAVs.

and PRC-based have shipped technologies to U.S.-designated Russian defense company Limited Liability Company Drake, which is contracted to receive UAV parts, components, and materials from Iran for use in Iranian-designed, Russian-manufactured UAVs. Hong Kong-based HK Cinty Co Limited (HK Cinty) has shipped electronic integrated circuits, multilayer ceramic capacitors, and electrical parts of machinery to Russia-based end-users. HK Cinty has sent over $2 million worth of goods to Russia-based end-users, with shipments including high priority goods. HK Cinty was established in July 2022.

(HK Cinty) has shipped electronic integrated circuits, multilayer ceramic capacitors, and electrical parts of machinery to Russia-based end-users. HK Cinty has sent over $2 million worth of goods to Russia-based end-users, with shipments including high priority goods. HK Cinty was established in July 2022. PRC-based Foshan Golden Age Motor Technology Co., Ltd. supplies technology, including electric drives and servo motors, to Russia-based Limited Liability Company Mekhatronika , a computer numerical control technology developer and importer of integrated circuits.

supplies technology, including electric drives and servo motors, to Russia-based , a computer numerical control technology developer and importer of integrated circuits. Hong Kong-based Asia Material Solutions Company Limited (Asia Material) has shipped electronic integrated circuits to Russia-based end-users. Asia Material has sent shipments worth just under $1,000,000 to Russia-based end users. Asia Material has been identified as a cover company for Russian intelligence.

Fighter Jet Supply Network

Russia-based Exiton has imported foreign electronic components into Russia and supplies U.S.-designated Russian company Joint Stock Company Experimental Design Bureau named after A.S. Yakovlev, a manufacturer involved in the production of Sukhoi fighter jets. Russia-based Limited Liability Company Eksiton (Eksiton) imports high priority goods, including electronic integrated circuits. Hungary-based Matrix Metal Group Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag Felszamolas Alatt (Matrix Metal) has supplied high priority goods, including electronic integrated circuits, to Eksiton. Additionally, Russia-based military contractor and developer of anti-aircraft systems Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo Displei Komponent (Displei Komponent) has received regular shipments of electronic components from both Matrix Metal and Cyprus-based Noratec Holdings Ltd.

Exiton, Eksiton, Matrix Metal, Displei Komponent, and Noratec Holdings Ltd were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the technology sector of the Russian Federation economy.

Alexandre Orloff

Swiss-Russian national Alexandre Orloff (Orloff) has been working with a Russian government covert procurement network for years to acquire high-value, foreign-made semiconductor-related equipment and technology for Russian military end-users. Orloff has also been part of a scheme to acquire specialized thermal cameras for a Russian end-user.

Orloff owns and is the director and secretary of an eponymous United Kingdom-based company, Alexandre Orloff Ltd (AO Ltd). AO Ltd, in turn, owns Hong Kong-based Zvigeni Technological Systems Limited (Zvigeni) and Dougong Trading Hong Kong Limited (Dougong) and Canada-based 9105 2829 Quebec Inc. Orloff is also the founder and CEO of UAE-based Digital Marketing Awards FZ LLC (DMA).

PRC-based Shanghai Techinital Materials Co Ltd (Shanghai Techinital), a producer of components for semiconductor manufacturing equipment, has made dozens of shipments to U.S.-designated Joint Stock Company Scan (JSC Scan), including of high priority dual-use technology such as signal generators and oscilloscopes. JSC Scan designs microelectronics and has its own center for designing integrated circuits. Shanghai Techinital has open contracts to provide JSC Scan with technology, despite the latter's designation. In 2023 alone, Zvigeni transmitted more than $1.5 million to Shanghai Techinital.

Orloff and Shanghai Techinital were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the technology sector of the Russian Federation economy. AO Ltd, Zvigeni, Dougong, 9105 2829 Quebec Inc, and DMA were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Orloff.

Russian Evasion of Cyber Sanctions

In June 2018, the Department of the Treasury sanctioned a network of entities working at the behest of the Russian Federation and its military and intelligence units to increase Russia's malicious cyber capabilities. Since that time, individuals associated with those entities, including Ilya Medvedovsky (Medvedovsky), Dmitriy Evdokimov (Evdokimov), Yevgeniya Klimina (Klimina), Dmitriy Chastuhin (Chastuhin), Taranjeet Kambo (Kambo), and Gleb Cherbov (Cherbov) have established, developed, and supported a complex network of technology companies to continue their work unimpeded. The front companies set up by these individuals, at times registered in the names of family members, operate primarily in the technology sector of the Russian Federation economy, with efforts being taken by individuals such as Chastuhin and Klimina, to establish a technology presence outside of Russia. Included in these companies is OOO Soft Plyus, a Russia-based firm that sells cyber security software and is formerly known as OOO Hexway, for whom Chastuhin has claimed to be the founder and CEO; Cloudrun LLC, a Russia-based company founded by Evdokimov that develops computer software; Didzhital Komplaens, OOO and Kiber Servis, OOO, both of which offer cyber security services and were founded by an individual believed to be related to Medvedovksy; Didzhital Sekyuriti Servisis, OOO; and Machine Learning Labs S.R.O., founded and owned by Klimina. Medvedovsky, alongside Chastuhin, Cherbov, and Klimina, have been involved in decision making related to the operation of Soft Plyus and other related companies, whereas Kambo and Cherbov have worked together to service customers of Soft Plyus.

Medvedovsky, Klimina, OOO Soft Plyus, Cloudrun LLC, Didzhital Komplaens, OOO, Didzhital Sekyuriti Servisis, OOO, and Kiber Servis, OOO, were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the technology sector of the Russian Federation economy. Chastuhin was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of OOO Soft Plyus. Evdokimov was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of Cloudrun LLC. Cherbov and Kambo were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, OOO Soft Plyus. Machine Learning Labs S.R.O. was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Klimina.

Alikhanov Machine Tool Procurement

Italy-based machine tool manufacturer Fagima Fresatrici SPA (Fagima) has worked closely with U.S.-designated Russian procurement agent Dmitrii Vladimirovich Alikhanov (Alikhanov) to facilitate the shipment of Fagima-produced machines through various third-country intermediary companies for Russian defense end-users. Fagima's owner and CEO Massimo Falchini (Falchini) and Fagima marketing executive Fulvio Salvadori (Salvadori) have helped fulfill orders for Alikhanov's network and evade sanctions, including after Alikhanov's designation in June 2024.

Fagima, Falchini, and Salvadori were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the manufacturing sector of the Russian Federation economy.

Illicit Russian Gold Trade

UAE-based, UK-sanctioned Paloma Precious DMCC (Paloma Precious) is a precious metals trading firm that has helped move Russian gold abroad. Paloma Precious and U.S.-designated Taube Precious HK Limited played a key role in numerous illicit Russian gold trading and laundering schemes, including with U.S.-designated Andrey Dmitriyevich Sudakov (Sudakov). Sudakov, an employee of U.S.-designated Russian gold producer Public Joint Stock Company Polyus, and his Hong Kong-based associate Mu Xiaolu (Mu), engaged in a complex, multi-layered laundering scheme whereby payments from the sale of Russian-origin gold were converted into fiat currency and cryptocurrencies through numerous UAE and Hong Kong-based front companies.

UAE-based Russian national Vladislav Faridovich Guzey (Guzey) has worked closely with Sudakov and Mu to launder proceeds of Russian-origin gold through UAE- and Hong-Kong based entities. As part of their effort to move Russia-origin gold, Sudakov and Mu utilized UAE-based front companies Shams Gold Trading FZE (Shams) and Swiss Luxury FZE (Swiss Luxury), and Hong Kong-based front companies Universal Gold Hong Kong Limited (Universal Gold) and Bright Universe International Limited (Bright Universe).

UAE-based Trio Jewells LLC (Trio) has made dozens of shipments of precious metal ingots to and from a Russia-based precious metals producer and processor.

Paloma Precious, Guzey, Shams, Swiss Luxury, Universal Gold, Bright Universe, and Trio were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the metals and mining sector of the Russian Federation economy.

Petrov Covert Procurement

TArkiye-based Whitestone Bilism Tic Ve Sanayi Ltd Sti (Whitestone) is owned by U.S.-designatedEvgenii Stanislavich Petrov (Petrov) and has been used by Petrov to process payments for Petrov's procurement activity for Russian end-users linked to Russia's intelligence services. Petrov has acted as a covert procurement intermediary and has worked to obtain export-controlled foreign-made products on behalf of Russian-end-users. Whitestone was established in October 2023. Treasury also previously designated TArkiye-based MSO Lojistik Tic Ve Sanayi Ltd Sti for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Petrov.

Whitestone was designated for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Petrov, a person whose property and interest in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024.

Dalkos

Russia-based machinery and spare parts provider Dalkos Co Ltd (Dalkos) has orchestrated a transnational sanctions evasion scheme to deceive foreign machinery manufacturers into inadvertently sending machine tools into Russia via third countries. Dalkos customers include Russian companies that produce drones, tanks, and air defense units. Dalkos co-owners Konstantin Svyatoslavovich Kalinov (Kalinov)and Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Pushkov (Pushkov) also own Estonia-based SPE OU, which Dalkos has used to acquire millions of dollars of goods.

Dalkos, Kalinov, and Pushkov were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the manufacturing sector of the Russian Federation economy. SPE OU was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Kalinov and Pushkov.

TArkiye-based Manufacturing Equipment Suppliers

TArkiye-based Hidropark Hidrolik Pnomatik San Ve Tic Ltd Sti (Hidropark) sells hydraulic and pneumatic equipment and has supplied computer numerical control (CNC) machine tools and machining centers to Russian end-users. Hidropark has sent shipments totaling over $800,000 to Russia-based end-users, which is more than its reported annual revenue.

Turkiye-based Feva Dis Ticaret Limited Sirketi (Feva) has supplied CNC machine tools to Russian end-users. Feva has sent over 500 shipments to Russia-based end-users, with shipments including manufacturing equipment. U.S.-designated Russian firm Limited Liability Company AK Microtech sought to evade sanctions by purchasing goods through Feva. Feva was established in April 2022.

Hidropark and Feva were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the manufacturing sector of the Russian Federation economy.

Technopole Procurement Network

On December 22, 2022, the U.S. Department of State designated Technopole Company (Technopole) and the P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Shirshov Institute) pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the marine sector of the Russian Federation economy. Technopole produces a navigation system for the use of Russian military vessels and provides equipment for a variety of ocean exploration, oceanology, oceanography, and hydrography activities, among others. The Shirshov Institute is the largest Russian oceanology research center. The Shirshov Institute also develops remotely operated and autonomous robotic tools that support the surface and submarine forces of the Russian navy and other Russian government agencies. Russian national Alexander Petrovich Voronkov (Voronkov) has been the Director of Technopole since 2007 and is the 100 percent owner of the company. Russian national Viktor Georgiyevich Spiridonov (Spiridonov) is the Deputy Director of Technopole and is actively involved in Russian procurement of western-origin equipment.

Idronaut S.R.L. (Idronaut) is one of Technopole's foreign partners and facilitates the procurement and sale of equipment, on behalf of Technopole and other Russian military end users, including the Shirshov Institute. Flavio Graziottin (Graziottin) owns Idronaut and has worked to circumvent U.S. and European Union sanctions through Idronaut to acquire equipment for Technopole.

Idronaut and PRC-based company Shanghai Oceanen Environmental Science and Technology Co. (Shanghai Oceanen) have worked to circumvent sanctions on Technopole and have procured equipment on Technopole's behalf. Shanghai Oceanen is the distributor for Idronaut in the PRC and has acted as a middleman to ship Idronaut's equipment to Technopole and the Shirshov Institute. Shanghai Oceanen has historically assisted Technopole in procuring dual-use equipment for Russian end users. In early 2023, Shanghai Oceanen sent a shipment to Technopole containing surveying equipment, including hydrographic, oceanographic, hydrological, meteorological, or geophysical instruments and appliances. PRC national Liu Yang is the Technical Director for Shanghai Oceanen and uses the company to facilitate the procurement of foreign equipment.

Russia-based Technomar offers advanced measurement oceanographic and hydrographic equipment in the fields of oceanography and hydrology from the world's leading manufacturers.

Voronkov and Spiridonov were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Technopole. Idronaut was designated pursuant to E.O.14024 for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, technological or other support for, or goods or services in support of, Technopole and the Shirshov Institute. Graziottin was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Idronaut. Shanghai Oceanen was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, technological or other support for, or goods or services in support of, Technopole. Liu Yang was designated pursuant to E.O.14024 for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Shanghai Oceanen. Technomar was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the marine sector of the Russian Federation economy.

ANNEX 2: RUSSIA'S DOMESTIC WAR ECONOMY

The following Russia-based persons were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the defense and related materiel sector of the Russian Federation economy:

46th Central Research and Development Institute of the Ministry of Defense (46th CRDI) is a Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) research organization that develops systems to modernize Russia's weapons. The 46th CRDI also studies electronic warfare and military applications of artificial intelligence.

(46th CRDI) is a Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) research organization that develops systems to modernize Russia's weapons. The 46th CRDI also studies electronic warfare and military applications of artificial intelligence. Federal State Governmental Institution 4 Central Research Institute of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation (4CRI) is a Russian entity involved in the development and implementation of dual-use technologies in the creation of new types of weapons. 4CRI provides scientific and technical support for missile systems.

(4CRI) is a Russian entity involved in the development and implementation of dual-use technologies in the creation of new types of weapons. 4CRI provides scientific and technical support for missile systems. Federal State Governmental Institution 27 Central Research Institute of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation is a Russian MoD scientific research institute thatconducts military scientific research, provides military scientific support for the creation of automated systems and complexes, and creates samples of military equipment.

is a Russian MoD scientific research institute thatconducts military scientific research, provides military scientific support for the creation of automated systems and complexes, and creates samples of military equipment. Joint Stock Company KT - Unmanned Systems (KT - Unmanned Systems) cooperates with the Russian MoD and U.S.-designated Federal Security Service (FSB). KT - Unmanned Systems supports software used for Russian weapons development.

(KT - Unmanned Systems) cooperates with the Russian MoD and U.S.-designated Federal Security Service (FSB). KT - Unmanned Systems supports software used for Russian weapons development. Joint Stock Company Special Design Bureau of the Russian Ministry of Defense develops unmanned robotic combat vehicles.

develops unmanned robotic combat vehicles. Obshchestvo S Ogranichennoi Otvetstvennostyu Konstruktorskoe Byuro Vostok is the developer of the Scalpel UAV, which is used by Russian forces in Ukraine such as the Vostok Battalion. The Scalpel UAV is a one-way-attack platform that can be equipped with a payload weighing up to five kilograms.

is the developer of the Scalpel UAV, which is used by Russian forces in Ukraine such as the Vostok Battalion. The Scalpel UAV is a one-way-attack platform that can be equipped with a payload weighing up to five kilograms. Prikladnye Tekhnologii has indicated a willingness to procure Chinese-origin engines with cruise missile applications for the Russian weapons sector.

has indicated a willingness to procure Chinese-origin engines with cruise missile applications for the Russian weapons sector. Tekhekspertiza AO has worked with the Russian weapons sector to arrange the purchase of engines with cruise missile applications.

has worked with the Russian weapons sector to arrange the purchase of engines with cruise missile applications. TRV Engineering JSC is the official authorized procurement agent for Russia's U.S.-designated Tactical Missiles Corporation (KTRV) and its subordinate companies. TRV Engineering JSC receives a commission for goods supplied, work performed, and services provided to KTRV, its subordinates, and other members of Russia's defense industrial base. TRV Engineering JSC has been directly involved with supplying products and services in support of Russian state defense orders, including providing machine tools to KTRV subordinates such as U.S.-designated State Machine-Building Design Bureau Raduga. TRV Engineering JSC's General Director Mikhail Vladimirovich Kolesnikov was directly involved with fulfilling TRV Engineering JSC's state defense orders and other procurements in the interest of companies in the Russian defense industrial base.

Russia-based electronic parts wholesaler LLC Semicor is a subsidiary of U.S.-designated LLC Laser Components (Laser Components). LLC Semicor has offered to supply engines on behalf of LLC Laser Components in support of Russian cruise missile development. LLC Semicor was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided material, financial, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Laser Components.

The following Russia-based persons were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the technology sector of the Russian Federation economy:

Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo Korporatsiya Galaktika develops digitalization platforms, including for U.S.-designated Russian defense giants Rostec and Uralvagonzavod.

develops digitalization platforms, including for U.S.-designated Russian defense giants Rostec and Uralvagonzavod. Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo Opytnoe Konstruktorskoe Byuro Eksiton is involved in experimental design work and research with the Russian MoD, including related to the assembly of microcircuits.

is involved in experimental design work and research with the Russian MoD, including related to the assembly of microcircuits. Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo Zavod Rekond specializes in the production of electronic components, microcircuits, and semiconductor devices, particularly sensitive dual-use devices such as ceramic and tantalum capacitors.

specializes in the production of electronic components, microcircuits, and semiconductor devices, particularly sensitive dual-use devices such as ceramic and tantalum capacitors. AO NPP SAIT (Sait), a producer of technology such as memory units, has received Russian state funding and is involved in the manufacture of computers and peripheral equipment. Sait works with U.S.-designated Russian defense entity Federal State Institution of Higher Vocational Education Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, which has been recognized by the Russian MoD for developing technologies in the interest of Russia's military.

(Sait), a producer of technology such as memory units, has received Russian state funding and is involved in the manufacture of computers and peripheral equipment. Sait works with U.S.-designated Russian defense entity Federal State Institution of Higher Vocational Education Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, which has been recognized by the Russian MoD for developing technologies in the interest of Russia's military. Autonomous Non Profit Organization Artificial Intelligence Research Institute conducts research in the field of artificial intelligence and has developed neural networks related to unmanned vehicles.

conducts research in the field of artificial intelligence and has developed neural networks related to unmanned vehicles. Elprom Limited Liability Company supplies microcircuits and other electronic components, including to a Russian UAV producer.

supplies microcircuits and other electronic components, including to a Russian UAV producer. Federal State Budgetary Institution Technological Institution for Superhard and Novel Carbon Materials develops advanced manufacturing technologies and high-tech components used by several U.S.-designated Russian defense entities.

develops advanced manufacturing technologies and high-tech components used by several U.S.-designated Russian defense entities. Federal State Institution Federal Research Center Informatics and Management of the Russian Academy of Sciences (FRC CSC RAS) conducts research and development in the fields of computer science, informational technology, and systems analysis. A FRC CSC RAS researcher has developed mathematical modeling technology for analyzing financial flows for Russia's military-industrial base.

(FRC CSC RAS) conducts research and development in the fields of computer science, informational technology, and systems analysis. A FRC CSC RAS researcher has developed mathematical modeling technology for analyzing financial flows for Russia's military-industrial base. FGUP PO Oktyabr , one of the largest radio-electronics companies in Russia,produces radar systems.

, one of the largest radio-electronics companies in Russia,produces radar systems. Joint Stock Company 31 State Design Institute for Special Construction (31 State Design Institute)designs complex antenna systems, radio equipment, radio electronic equipment, and facilities with network computer control systems, information security systems, and intrusion protection and detection systems. 31 State Design Institutehas built central and command posts for the Russian MoD.

(31 State Design Institute)designs complex antenna systems, radio equipment, radio electronic equipment, and facilities with network computer control systems, information security systems, and intrusion protection and detection systems. 31 State Design Institutehas built central and command posts for the Russian MoD. Joint Stock Company Akmetron (Akmetron) develops and produces electronics and specialized software. Akmetron has procured dual-use technology for a Russian UAV producer.

(Akmetron) develops and produces electronics and specialized software. Akmetron has procured dual-use technology for a Russian UAV producer. Joint Stock Company Aerocon develops manufacturing, design, and engineering software and aeronautic systems for fighter aircraft and designs UAVs.

develops manufacturing, design, and engineering software and aeronautic systems for fighter aircraft and designs UAVs. Joint Stock Company Research and Production Center NII Microdevices , a resident of U.S.-designated Joint Stock Company Special Economic Zone Technopolis Moscow,specializes in the development and production of light-technology products based on light-emitting diodes for nautical technology.

, a resident of U.S.-designated Joint Stock Company Special Economic Zone Technopolis Moscow,specializes in the development and production of light-technology products based on light-emitting diodes for nautical technology. Joint Stock Company Research Institute of Polymeric Material develops technologies and equipment for processing polymer materials.

develops technologies and equipment for processing polymer materials. Katod manufactures electronic components and optical instruments, including night vision devices.

manufactures electronic components and optical instruments, including night vision devices. Kribrum JSC develops hardware and software for monitoring social media and has signed a contract with the Russian Government's main censorship body to automate internet monitoring.

develops hardware and software for monitoring social media and has signed a contract with the Russian Government's main censorship body to automate internet monitoring. Kugel Limited Liability Company develops robotic solutions for welding.

develops robotic solutions for welding. Limited Liability Company 4Test has imported high-priority items, including high-value electronics and manufacturing, production, and quality testing equipment for electronics components, circuit boards, and modules.

has imported high-priority items, including high-value electronics and manufacturing, production, and quality testing equipment for electronics components, circuit boards, and modules. Limited Liability Company Afinor supplies control-measurement equipment and software and has contracted with the Government of the Russian Federation for missile-related activities.

supplies control-measurement equipment and software and has contracted with the Government of the Russian Federation for missile-related activities. Limited Liability Company Alfa Instruments imports and wholesales high priority goods, such as oscillographs and signals generators, including to the U.S.- designated Institute of Laser Physics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

imports and wholesales high priority goods, such as oscillographs and signals generators, including to the U.S.- designated Institute of Laser Physics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Limited Liability Company Eksikyushn Er Di Si (Execution RDC) operates in the field of enterprise automation. Execution RDC works with Russia's main censor on a neural network that uses artificial intelligence to scan the Internet.

(Execution RDC) operates in the field of enterprise automation. Execution RDC works with Russia's main censor on a neural network that uses artificial intelligence to scan the Internet. Limited Liability Company ETM Photonics imports high priority goods, including integrated circuits, and a wholesaler of technology, including through Russian state procurement contracts.

imports high priority goods, including integrated circuits, and a wholesaler of technology, including through Russian state procurement contracts. Limited Liability Company Khaverim wholesales electronic equipment and has imported high priority electronics, such as electronic integrated circuits, into Russia.

wholesales electronic equipment and has imported high priority electronics, such as electronic integrated circuits, into Russia. Limited Liability Company Head Point provides an Internet of Things (IoT) platform that can be used by law enforcement and supports Russian government surveillance systems.

provides an Internet of Things (IoT) platform that can be used by law enforcement and supports Russian government surveillance systems. Limited Liability Company Palitrumlab (Palitrumlab)develops machine-learning and linguistics algorithms and software that can be used to monitor social networks and social media. Palitrumlab is involved in Russian censorship activities.

(Palitrumlab)develops machine-learning and linguistics algorithms and software that can be used to monitor social networks and social media. Palitrumlab is involved in Russian censorship activities. Limited Liability Company Vektor Iks (Vektor Iks) develops neural networks and algorithms that are used in Russian censorship activities.

(Vektor Iks) develops neural networks and algorithms that are used in Russian censorship activities. Limited Liability Company Intem Lab (InTheme) specializes in the digitalization of logistics processes. InTheme provides business process automation services to several U.S.-designated Russian entities.

(InTheme) specializes in the digitalization of logistics processes. InTheme provides business process automation services to several U.S.-designated Russian entities. Limited Liability Company Green Chip supplies radio-electronic components for the development, production, and repair of industrial, special-purpose, and energy enterprises.

supplies radio-electronic components for the development, production, and repair of industrial, special-purpose, and energy enterprises. Limited Liability Company Umnyi Sklad (IQSklad)provides logistics and warehouse automation solutions and develops its own technologies, including a hardware and software system for production and logistics processes. IQSklad has completed a project for U.S.-designated Russian defense company Concern Morinformsystem Agat Joint Stock Company, which specializes in the design and production of missile systems.

(IQSklad)provides logistics and warehouse automation solutions and develops its own technologies, including a hardware and software system for production and logistics processes. IQSklad has completed a project for U.S.-designated Russian defense company Concern Morinformsystem Agat Joint Stock Company, which specializes in the design and production of missile systems. Limited Liability Company Tsifra (Zyfra)develops and implements industrial digital solutions. The Zyfra Industrial IoT platform has been used by U.S.-designated military engine producer Joint Stock Company United Engine Corporation to monitor production and simulate testing for turbo jets for a combat-capable trainer aircraft.

(Zyfra)develops and implements industrial digital solutions. The Zyfra Industrial IoT platform has been used by U.S.-designated military engine producer Joint Stock Company United Engine Corporation to monitor production and simulate testing for turbo jets for a combat-capable trainer aircraft. Limited Liability Company Dronoport , using the trade name "HIVE," develops autonomous drone solutions for monitoring and has developed a neural network to analyze input data, including thermal imagery and special indicators.

, using the trade name "HIVE," develops autonomous drone solutions for monitoring and has developed a neural network to analyze input data, including thermal imagery and special indicators. Limited Liability Company PT Elektronik is an electronics distributor that has supplied a Russian UAV producer.

is an electronics distributor that has supplied a Russian UAV producer. Limited Liability Company Simbirskoe Konstruktorskoe Byuro Piranya is a computer programming company that develops drones used by Russia's military.

is a computer programming company that develops drones used by Russia's military. Limited Liability Company Amitron Elektroniks produces military-certified coaxial radio components.

produces military-certified coaxial radio components. Limited Liability Company Uraldronzavod is involved in computer programming activities and has developed a UAV used by the Russian MoD.

is involved in computer programming activities and has developed a UAV used by the Russian MoD. Limited Liability Company KB Rus manufactures electronic components and has created a drone helicopter that is planned for use by Russia's military.

manufactures electronic components and has created a drone helicopter that is planned for use by Russia's military. Limited Liability Company NPK Tesart develops and manufactures technology, including radio-measurement systems, and its products are advertised on the website of U.S.-designated Scientific Equipment Group of Companies, a Russian company that provides high-tech equipment to industrial enterprises.

develops and manufactures technology, including radio-measurement systems, and its products are advertised on the website of U.S.-designated Scientific Equipment Group of Companies, a Russian company that provides high-tech equipment to industrial enterprises. Limited Liability Company Company Scan is a wholesaler of machinery and electronic equipment, including to the U.S.-designated Russian technology research institute Federal State Financed Institution of Science Physics and Technology Institute Named after A. F. Ioffe of the Russian Federation Academy of Sciences.

is a wholesaler of machinery and electronic equipment, including to the U.S.-designated Russian technology research institute Federal State Financed Institution of Science Physics and Technology Institute Named after A. F. Ioffe of the Russian Federation Academy of Sciences. Limited Liability Company TC Element is a wholesaler and technical services provider for machinery, computers, and analytical equipment, including spectrometers.

is a wholesaler and technical services provider for machinery, computers, and analytical equipment, including spectrometers. Limited Liability Company Vector is a manufacturer of electronic components that imported millions of dollars' worth of high priority electronics, including electronic integrated circuits.

is a manufacturer of electronic components that imported millions of dollars' worth of high priority electronics, including electronic integrated circuits. Nauchno Issledovatelskaya Laboratoriya Aerokosmicheskoi Tekhniki DOSAAF (DOSAAF) has a research laboratory for aerospace technology, and manufactures radar equipment, radio navigation devices, and remote-control radio apparatuses. DOSAAF has also contributed to a project led by U.S.-designated Russian defense entity JSC Academic M.F. Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems.

(DOSAAF) has a research laboratory for aerospace technology, and manufactures radar equipment, radio navigation devices, and remote-control radio apparatuses. DOSAAF has also contributed to a project led by U.S.-designated Russian defense entity JSC Academic M.F. Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems. Nauchno Proizvodstvennoe Predpriyatie Tomilinskii Elektronnyi Zavod manufactures microchips allegedly used in missile production.

manufactures microchips allegedly used in missile production. Nauchno Proizvodstvennoe Obyedinenie Gran manufactures robots and other robotized vehicles used by Russian assault teams in Ukraine and for remote-controlled minelaying.

manufactures robots and other robotized vehicles used by Russian assault teams in Ukraine and for remote-controlled minelaying. OJSC Vladimir Radio Communications Design Bureau develops software and hardware systems, as well as radio communication systems for the Russian MoD.

develops software and hardware systems, as well as radio communication systems for the Russian MoD. Open Joint Stock Company MStator produces high-tech electromagnetic components, including inductors for the Russian MoD.

produces high-tech electromagnetic components, including inductors for the Russian MoD. Proteh Co Ltd (Proteh) modernizes production facilities in the radio-electronic and instrument-making industries. Proteh works with U.S.-designated Russian defense conglomerate Rostecand has helped the U.S.-designated Russian UAV producer Special Technology Center acquire foreign-made components.

(Proteh) modernizes production facilities in the radio-electronic and instrument-making industries. Proteh works with U.S.-designated Russian defense conglomerate Rostecand has helped the U.S.-designated Russian UAV producer Special Technology Center acquire foreign-made components. Radioline Ltd (Radioline)designs, develops, and produces positioning systems for industrial robots. Radioline has also made agreements to procure technology for U.S.-designated Russian UAV producer Special Technology Center.

(Radioline)designs, develops, and produces positioning systems for industrial robots. Radioline has also made agreements to procure technology for U.S.-designated Russian UAV producer Special Technology Center. Research and Production Association Lepton manufactures remote sensing cameras and high-resolution telescope cameras that can provide military and intelligence collection capabilities.

manufactures remote sensing cameras and high-resolution telescope cameras that can provide military and intelligence collection capabilities. Russian Artificial Intelligence Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAIRI) develops systems related to artificial intelligence. A leading RAIRI researcher has presented on robotic systems at a Russian military forum.

(RAIRI) develops systems related to artificial intelligence. A leading RAIRI researcher has presented on robotic systems at a Russian military forum. Scientific and Production Association State Institute of Applied Optics , a subsidiary of U.S.-designated Russian defense entity Joint Stock Company Shvabe,develops and produces advanced optoelectronic systems.

, a subsidiary of U.S.-designated Russian defense entity Joint Stock Company Shvabe,develops and produces advanced optoelectronic systems. Scientific Production Association Computing Systems manages IT infrastructure for the Russian MoD and the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs.

manages IT infrastructure for the Russian MoD and the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. Scientific Research Institute for Optoelectronic Instrument Engineering (OIE) develops, creates, tests, and calibrates optoelectronic and laser devices. OIE has filed a patent related to defense technology.

(OIE) develops, creates, tests, and calibrates optoelectronic and laser devices. OIE has filed a patent related to defense technology. Scientific Research Center Resonance Joint Stock Company develops radar systems for the Russian MoD.

develops radar systems for the Russian MoD. Speech Technology Center Limited (STC) develops facial, voice, and biometric recognition software and systems. STC works with the FSB and Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs.

(STC) develops facial, voice, and biometric recognition software and systems. STC works with the FSB and Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. STC Innovations Limited is an STC subsidiary that develops biometric and person-identifying technologies, including for government agencies.

is an STC subsidiary that develops biometric and person-identifying technologies, including for government agencies. STC Soft Limited is an STC subsidiary that provides biometric search capabilities to Russian authorities.

is an STC subsidiary that provides biometric search capabilities to Russian authorities. Sfera JSC (Sfera) develops software and facial recognition surveillance systems. The Russian Government has used Sfera surveillance systems to detain protestors.

(Sfera) develops software and facial recognition surveillance systems. The Russian Government has used Sfera surveillance systems to detain protestors. ZAO Svetlana EP develops microwave radiation-resistant semiconductor devices and technology for next-generation radar systems.

ANNEX 3: RUSSIA'S STRATEGIC METALS AND MINING SECTOR

The following Russia-based companies are involved in or provide services to Russia's metals industry.

Russian metals and mining companies

The following Russia-based companies were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the metals and mining sector of the Russian Federation economy.

Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo Evraz Kachkanarski Gorno Obogatitelny Kombinat mines iron and metal ores and non-metallic minerals.

mines iron and metal ores and non-metallic minerals. Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo Evraz Nizhnetagilski Metallurgicheski Kombinat (NTMK) is one of the largest integrated steel production plants in Russia. NTMK's production and processing cycle includes coke production facilities, blast furnaces, steelmaking units, and seven rolling mills.

(NTMK) is one of the largest integrated steel production plants in Russia. NTMK's production and processing cycle includes coke production facilities, blast furnaces, steelmaking units, and seven rolling mills. Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo Evraz Obedinenny Zapadno Sibirski Metallurgicheski Kombinat is the largest steel producer in Siberia.

is the largest steel producer in Siberia. Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo Evraz Vanadi Tula produces vanadium pentoxide that includes specific additive alloys for the manufacture of high-strength steel.

produces vanadium pentoxide that includes specific additive alloys for the manufacture of high-strength steel. Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo Obyedinennaya Ugolnaya Kompaniya Yuzhkuzbassugol is a bituminous coal and lignite surface mining company.

is a bituminous coal and lignite surface mining company. AO Evraz Market is a leading provider of steel for infrastructure projects, and a trading company involved in the supply of rebar, and flat, tubular, and rolled steel.

is a leading provider of steel for infrastructure projects, and a trading company involved in the supply of rebar, and flat, tubular, and rolled steel. Limited Liability Company GRK Bystrinskoe is an ore mining and processing plant.

is an ore mining and processing plant. Obshchestvo S OgranichennoI Otvetstvennostyu Raspadskaya Ugolnaya Kompaniya 's activities include coal mining services, surface and underground coal mining, and the wholesale of coal, ores, and other minerals.

's activities include coal mining services, surface and underground coal mining, and the wholesale of coal, ores, and other minerals. Obshchestvo S Ogranichennoi Otvetstvennostyu Shakhta Alardinskaya develops coal mining sites and prepares, cleans, washes, screens, and sizes coal.

develops coal mining sites and prepares, cleans, washes, screens, and sizes coal. Obshchestvo S Ogranichennoi Otvetstvennostyu Shakhta Esaulskaya 's activities include coal mining services and the wholesale of coal, ore, and other minerals.

's activities include coal mining services and the wholesale of coal, ore, and other minerals. Publichnoe Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo Raspadskaya (Raspadskaya) specializes in the production and sale of coking coal.

Russian metals and mining support services companies

Russia-based Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo Norilsk Avia (Norilsk Avia) provides helicopter transportation services. Norilsk Avia was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the aerospace sector of the Russian Federation economy.

The following Russia-based entities were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the financial services sector of the Russian Federation economy:

Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo Norilski Gorno Metallurgicheski Kombinat Im AP Zavenyagina is involved in holding company and securities management.

is involved in holding company and securities management. Obshchestvo S Ogranichennoi Otvetstvennostyu AP Invest (AP Invest) specializes in real estate transactions, particularly in secured lending and mortgage services. AP Invest has partnered with more than 20 banks.

(AP Invest) specializes in real estate transactions, particularly in secured lending and mortgage services. AP Invest has partnered with more than 20 banks. Obshchestvo S Ogranichennoi Otvetstvennostyu Evrazkholding Finans is engaged in financial intermediation, deposit banking, business credit, and financial transactions processing.

The following Russia-based entities were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the transportation sector of the Russian Federation economy:

Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo Taimyrskaya Toplivnaya Kompaniya is engaged in the retail, sale, wholesale, storage, and transshipment of chemical products.

is engaged in the retail, sale, wholesale, storage, and transshipment of chemical products. Obshchestvo S Ogranichennoi Otvetstvennostyu Norilski Promyshlenny Transport is engaged in freight transport services, including general and specialized freight trucking.

The following Russia-based entities were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the technology sector of the Russian Federation economy:

Limited Liability Company BaseAlt is involved in custom computer programing services, software development, and the creation of operating systems. BaseAlt entered into a technology agreement with a Russian metals and mining conglomerate to develop and promote domestic digital products, including the development of an operating system with built-in information security tools.

is involved in custom computer programing services, software development, and the creation of operating systems. BaseAlt entered into a technology agreement with a Russian metals and mining conglomerate to develop and promote domestic digital products, including the development of an operating system with built-in information security tools. Limited Liability Company Nornickel Sfera is engaged in critical information infrastructure security and software product publishing.

is engaged in critical information infrastructure security and software product publishing. Limited Liability Company Nornickel Sputnik is involved in IT design and operational activities that support digital transformation efforts.

is involved in IT design and operational activities that support digital transformation efforts. Serenity Cyber Security Limited Liability Company (MTS Red) is involved in computer programming, computer consultancy, and information security. MTS Red and a Russian metals and mining conglomerate signed a 2024 cooperation agreement on information security for the development of cybersecurity products and services for the industrial sector.

The following Russia-based entities were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the construction sector of the Russian Federation economy:

Limited Liability Company Nornikel Technical Services constructs buildings, roads and highways, and engineering structures in Russia.

constructs buildings, roads and highways, and engineering structures in Russia. Obshchestvo S Ogranichennoi Otvetstvennostyu Pechengskoe Stroitelnoe Obedinenie is involved in building construction and civil engineering works.

is involved in building construction and civil engineering works. Obshchestvo S Ogranichennoi Otvetstvennostyu Vostokgeologiya constructs, reconstructs, repairs, and maintains roads, railways, and road structures. It is also engaged in the construction, operation, and repair of limestone mining facilities.

constructs, reconstructs, repairs, and maintains roads, railways, and road structures. It is also engaged in the construction, operation, and repair of limestone mining facilities. Obshchestvo S Ogranichennoi Otvetstvennostyu Zapolyarnaya Stroitelnaya Kompaniya specializes in the construction and reconstruction of underground facilities and surface mine infrastructure.

The following Russia-based entities were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the engineering sector of the Russian Federation economy:

Obshchestvo S Ogranichennoi Otvetstvennostyu Institut Gipronikel provides general design services, customer engineering services, and field engineering services.

provides general design services, customer engineering services, and field engineering services. Obshchestvo S Ogranichennoi Otvetstvennostyu NN conducts engineering surveys and engineering and technical design and provides construction project management, construction control and supervision, and technical advice.

The following Russia-based entities were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the manufacturing sector of the Russian Federation economy:

Obshchestvo S Ogranichennoi Otvetstvennostyu Norilski Obespechivayushchi Kompleks manufactures metal structures and provides spare sparts and other equipment and products to enterprises engaged in mining, processing, metallurgy, construction, and maintenance.

manufactures metal structures and provides spare sparts and other equipment and products to enterprises engaged in mining, processing, metallurgy, construction, and maintenance. Obshchestvo S Ogranichennoi Otvetstvennostyu Norilsknikelremont provides repair and maintenance services for metallurgical and concentration plant equipment; mining equipment; automotive vehicles and rolling stock; self-propelled diesel equipment; and instrumentation and automation systems.

MMK

Russia-based Publichnoe Aktsionernoe Obschestvo Magnitogorskiy Metallurgicheskiy Kombinat (MMK) was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the metals and mining sector of the Russian Federation economy. MMK is the largest iron and steel works company in Russia and a leading steelmaker globally. OFAC previously designated MMK pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the financial services sector of the Russian Federation economy.

SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS

As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of the persons above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. All transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or blocked persons are prohibited unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt. These prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any blocked person and the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person. Non-U.S. persons are also prohibited from causing or conspiring to cause U.S. persons to wittingly or unwittingly violate U.S. sanctions, as well as from engaging in conduct that evades U.S. sanctions. OFAC's Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines provide more information regarding OFAC's enforcement of U.S. sanctions, including the factors that OFAC generally considers when determining an appropriate response to an apparent violation.

In addition, foreign financial institutions that conduct or facilitate significant transactions or provide any service involving Russia's military-industrial base run the risk of being sanctioned by OFAC. For additional guidance, please see the updated OFAC advisory, "Updated Guidance for Foreign Financial Institutions on OFAC Sanctions Authorities Targeting Support to Russia's Military-Industrial Base," as well as OFAC Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 1146-1157.

The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC's ability to designate and add persons to the SDN List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, please refer to OFAC's FAQ 897 here. For detailed information on the process to submit a request for removal from an OFAC sanctions list, please click here.

Any persons included on the SDN List pursuant to E.O. 14024 may be subject to additional export restrictions administered by the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS).

For identifying information on the individuals and entities sanctioned today, click here.

###

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Lai calls for unity, defending ROC on anniversary of Kinmen bombardment

ROC Central News Agency

08/23/2024 08:23 PM

Taipei, Aug. 23 (CNA) President Lai Ching-te () on Friday called on the people on Taiwan to "stay united" and defend the Republic of China (ROC), during a visit to Kinmen to mark the 66th anniversary of the 823 Artillery Bombardment.

The bombardment, which triggered the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis, began on Aug. 23, 1958.

It was Lai's first trip to the outlying county, which lies less than 10 kilometers off the southeast coast of China, since assuming office in May.

Addressing the attending veterans and their families at a luncheon, he said the Taiwanese people must carry on the spirit of the soldiers who fought against Chinese forces in the 823 bombardment so that their sacrifice will not be lost in vain.

According to Taiwan's historical records, 475,000 artillery shells were fired at Kinmen over the next 44 days but the ROC forces resisted the Chinese bombardment.

During the speech, Lai called on people to defend the ROC and protect Taiwan and its outlying islands of Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu.

As China steps up its infiltration and propaganda activities on Taiwan while employing tactics to cause social division in the country, he said the people on Taiwan must stay united to resist China's threats and expressed hope for peaceful development across the Taiwan Strait.

Lai added that the country wants to continue its free way of life and rejects being ruled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The CCP also has a more far-reaching goal, which is to change the rules-based international order, the president added.

In recent years, the government has been continuously improving the military's combat capabilities, he said, indicating that Taiwan's military budget will be increased next year not only to provide better care for its personnel, but also to improve training and purchase new sophisticated weapons.

Taiwan is willing to work with democracies around the world to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the Indo-Pacific region, he added.

Prior to the luncheon, President Lai also laid a wreath to commemorate victims of the 823 bombardment at a memorial shrine in the morning.

The event was also attended by Kinmen Magistrate Chen Fu-hai (), Ou Yang Yi-hsiung (), Kinmen's deputy legislative speaker, Defense Minister Wellington Koo () and other military officials.

(By Wu Shu-wei, Wen Kuei-hsiang and Ko Lin)

Enditem/ASG

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PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2024/08/23

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

Date

6 to 6 a.m. (UTC+8) Thursday to Friday , Aug. 22-23

PLA activities

41 PLA aircraft, and 7 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 32 of the aircraft entered Taiwan's northern, southwestern and eastern 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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Meeting on the situation in the Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk regions

Vladimir Putin held a meeting, via videoconference, on the situation in the Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk regions.

August 22, 2024

14:50

Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow Region

Taking part in the meeting were First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Maxim Oreshkin, Minister for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Natural Disaster Relief Alexander Kurenkov, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, Governor of the Belgorod Region Vyacheslav Gladkov, Governor of the Bryansk Region Alexander Bogomaz, and Acting Governor of the Kursk Region Alexei Smirnov.

* * *

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues.

Today we have convened to discuss the latest developments in the border regions of Russia. Joining us via videoconference are Government members, including Denis Manturov, whom I asked to personally address all the socioeconomic issues in these territories, as well as the heads of the Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk regions.

Let us get down to work. Mr Manturov, you have the floor.

(The President then heard the report from First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov on key issues the Government was currently dealing with in connection with the situation in Russia's border regions. This was followed by reports from the heads of the Kursk, Bryansk and Belgorod regions, as well as presentations by Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin, Minister of Healthcare Mikhail Murashko, Minister for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Natural Disaster Relief Alexander Kurenkov, and Minister of Finance Anton Siluanov.)

Vladimir Putin: I have one more question for Mr Smirnov. What is happening with the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant?

Acting Governor of the Kursk Region Alexei Smirnov: The situation is stable and under control. Mr Kiriyenko [First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office] has arrived in our region, and we held a meeting with him and senior Rosatom executives. The plant is operating as usual.

Vladimir Putin: Good.

The adversary attempted to target the NPP with strikes last night. The International Atomic Energy Agency has been alerted of this. They promised to visit the facility and send their specialists to assess the situation. I hope they will finally do this.

Let me repeat that I ask you to draft the corresponding instructions and begin implementing them immediately. I suggest that we maintain ongoing communication to ensure timely responses to all issues we face. Of course, I am primarily referring to social sector and being effective in providing assistance to the people. It goes without saying that these people need us to support them.

As for security matters, the security agencies are in charge here, and this is a separate topic. I do hope, however, that the local and regional government bodies, as well the federal Government, security agencies have established a framework for working together, just as we heard in today's reports. This could also have a positive bearing in terms of achieving our goals in this regard. I will not go over these objectives again, since they are more than obvious.

I would like to thank all of you. Let us stay in touch on these matters. As I mentioned earlier, I will have a separate conversation with Mr Smirnov now.

All the best to you.

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August 23, 2024

Release

Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Call With Ukrainian Minister of Defence Rustem Umerov

Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout:

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke with Ukrainian Minister of Defence Rustem Umerov today regarding Ukraine's ongoing operations and priority capability needs. Secretary Austin congratulated the Ukrainian people as they prepare to celebrate Independence Day on August 24 and reaffirmed the enduring support of the United States to help Ukraine fight Russian aggression. Secretary Austin also provided an update on U.S. security assistance, including the $125 million Presidential Drawdown Authority package announced by President Biden today.

The two leaders pledged to remain in close contact.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3883542/

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For as long as it takes: Germany's support for Ukraine

Germany Federal Foreign Office

23.08.2024 - Article

Germany is providing substantial financial support - more than 33.9 billion euro to date - to people in Ukraine, and it stands firmly by their side, making available much more than just military equipment. Read on for more information about what Germany is doing to help.

Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine has brought immeasurable suffering to millions of people. The war is directly affecting not only Ukrainian soldiers who are defending their homeland on the front lines, but also the civilian population, including elderly people, women and children. The Russian armed forces' targeted attacks on civilian infrastructure, including on the power plants that produce heat and electricity, as well as on the water supply, are particularly problematic. Russia is thereby attempting to deprive people in Ukraine of the basic necessities of life. This is why the German Government is giving top priority to providing concrete assistance to the Ukrainians in these fields.

Since the outbreak of the war, the German Government has made available more than 33.9 billion euro in bilateral support for Ukraine; this aid includes a substantial winter assistance programme, helping those who have fled Ukraine, and assisting efforts to investigate war crimes as well as humanitarian assistance and mine clearance operations.

For a regularly updated overview of bilateral support, click here (in German).

Military support for Ukraine

Ukraine must be able to defend itself against Russia's war of aggression. Germany is therefore supporting Ukraine by supplying arms and equipment from its Bundeswehr stockpiles, as well as from defence industry deliveries that are paid for with funds from the German Government's budget. When providing assistance, the German Government tailors its aid to the needs of Ukraine and continuously explores where it can step up its assistance, e.g. with regard to air defence.



Germany is also the largest contributor to the refinancing fund of the European Peace Facility (EPF), which so far has enabled the provision of 7.1 billion euro from across Europe; these funds are to be made available between 2022 and 2026, to support the delivery of military equipment from EU member states to the Ukrainian armed forces.

For a current overview of military support click here.

Use of windfall profits to support Ukraine

The EU and the G7 countries stand together at Ukraine's side offering support in the face of Russia's war of aggression - also in the third year of Russian aggression and for as long as it takes. In reaction to Russia's attack on Ukraine violating international law, assets of the Russian state were immobilised in the EU . Furthermore, it is clear that Russia will have to pay for the damage it has caused in Ukraine. The UN General Assembly emphatically reaffirmed this duty based on the principle of state responsibility recognised under customary international law in a resolution adopted on 14 November 2022.

Furthermore, the G7 Heads of State and Government agreed back at the G7 Summit in Hiroshima in 2023 only to release immobilised assets when Russia has paid for the damage in Ukraine. In the meantime, the EU has agreed on a regulation to skim off the windfall profits of the central securities depositories. The regulation on windfall profits adopted by the EU has a solid foundation in EU law and is in accordance with international law. On this basis, the G7 recently agreed to provide Ukraine with a loan of more than 50 billion US dollars from the G7 by the end of 2024 at the latest using the windfall profits. We are working intensively to implement this mechanism together with our partners.

An unprecedented sanctions regime

For as long as Russia continues to brutally attack Ukraine, there must be consequences. Germany and its European partners have responded by imposing massive and unprecedented sanctions: restricting Russian access to international financial markets, substantial export bans, especially in the spheres of advanced technology, industry and energy infrastructure, a price cap for Russian oil exports to third countries, wide-ranging import bans, e.g. on Russian coal, petroleum, iron and steel products, as well as gold and diamonds from Russia, tough measures targeting Russia's aviation sector, and sanctions targeting Russia's President Putin, Foreign Minister Lavrov, further political and military decision-makers, war criminals, propagandists and the network of oligarchs that supports them.

For more on the sanctions that are currently in effect, click here.

Documenting war crimes

With its war against Ukraine, Russia is also committing severe violations of international humanitarian law and massive human rights abuses, such as the killing and torture of civilians. The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has promptly initiated investigations. Germany is supporting the investigation effort, both financially and by seconding experts. The German Government is also assisting the Ukrainian authorities in this regard, for example by helping them obtain forensic equipment.

Reconstruction and humanitarian assistance

In view of the billions of euros of damage that Russia's war of aggression has caused in Ukraine, it is important to put plans for the future in place at an early stage. That is why, together with Ukraine and our partners in the EU and the G7, the German Government is beginning to map out how Ukraine can rebuild. In December 2022, the G7 states and Ukraine agreed to establish an international Donor Coordination Platform for the country's reconstruction. Although reconstruction will require significant international efforts, it also presents a great opportunity to invest in Ukraine's future, that is, to modernise the state and the economy, bring about ecological transformation and, not least, to implement national reforms and make progress towards EU accession. Together with Ukraine, Germany hosted the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin in June 2024.

As the second-largest donor and the largest donor in the EU , the Federal Foreign Office is supporting partner organisations in Ukraine and neighbouring countries in the field of humanitarian assistance. This alleviates the acute suffering the people are experiencing as a result of the Russian war of aggression. We and our partners are providing assistance all across Ukraine, above all to those who had to stay behind near the front lines - such as the elderly, the seriously ill or people with disabilities - as well as internally displaced persons. A unique feature of German engagement here is the focus the country is placing on mental and psychosocial support for Ukrainians, as well as assistance following gender-based and sexual violence.

Find out more about the reconstruction of Ukraine here.

Tremendous willingness to help

Many people in Germany have strong sympathy for the fate of people in Ukraine, and the tremendous willingness to help is also reflected in civil society. The large number of donated items has resulted in aid organisations needing to do a significant amount of coordination work. The German Government therefore supports the appeal to refrain from donations in kind and whenever possible to donate money to established aid organisations instead. Donations can be made via Aktion Deutschland Hilft and the Disaster Relief Alliance. By adding the memo "Nothilfe Ukraine" (emergency aid for Ukraine) to bank transfers, the money will be spent on relief measures for people in Ukraine.

Your local German authorities can provide information on what refugees need in their temporary shelters and how one can take people in who have fled the fighting. For more details, click here.

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Prime Minister's meeting with the President of Ukraine

India - Press Information Bureau

Prime Minister's Office

Posted On: 23 AUG 2024 6:33PM by PIB Delhi

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met President of Ukraine, H.E. Mr. Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv today. Upon arrival at Maryinskyi Palace, Prime Minister was received by President Zelenskyy.

The two leaders discussed the whole gamut of bilateral ties and exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest. Following the meeting, a Joint Statement was released.Click here to see.

The two leaders witnessed signing of four agreements. These include (i) Agreement on Cooperation in the field of Agriculture and Food Industry; (ii) MoU on Cooperation in the field of Medical Products Regulation; (iii) MoU on Indian Humanitarian Grant Assistance for Implementation of High Impact Community Development Projects; and (iv) Programme for Cultural Cooperation for 2024-2028.

*******

MJPS/ST



(Release ID: 2048240)

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India-Ukraine Joint Statement on the Visit of Prime Minister of India to Ukraine

India - Press Information Bureau

Prime Minister's Office

Posted On: 23 AUG 2024 6:41PM by PIB Delhi

Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi undertook a visit to Ukraine on 23 August 2024, at the invitation of the President of Ukraine, H.E. Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This was the first ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine, since diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in the year 1992.



Political Relations



Both Leaders expressed mutual interest in working towards elevating bilateral relations from a comprehensive partnership to a strategic partnership in the future.



They reaffirmed their commitment to further developing bilateral ties for the benefit of the peoples of both countries based on mutual trust, respect, and openness.



The Leaders reviewed the steady and positive trajectory of bilateral ties that have strengthened significantly over the last three decades, and appreciated the role played by regular engagements between India and Ukraine at various levels, including their meetings in Apulia in June 2024 and in Hiroshima in May 2023 on the margins of the G7 Summits, the visit of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to New Delhi in March 2024, multiple interactions and telephone conversations between the External Affairs Minister of India and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine; between the National Security Advisor of India and the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, and the 9th round of Foreign Office Consultations held in Kyiv in July 2023, in enhancing mutual understanding, trust, and cooperation.



The Leaders appreciated the participation of Ukrainian official delegations in the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024, and the Raisina Dialogue 2024.



Ensuring a Comprehensive, Just, and Lasting Peace



Prime Minister Modi and President Zelenskyy reiterated their readiness for further cooperation in upholding principles of international law, including the UN Charter, such as respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of states. They agreed on the desirability of closer bilateral dialogue in this regard.



The Indian side reiterated its principled position and focus on peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy, as a part of which, India has attended the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, held in Burgenstock, Switzerland, in June 2024.



The Ukrainian side welcomed such participation by India and highlighted the importance of high-level Indian participation in the next Peace Summit.



The Ukrainian side conveyed that the Joint CommuniquA on a Peace Framework, adopted at the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, could serve as a basis for further efforts to promote just peace based on dialogue, diplomacy, and international law.



The Leaders appreciated various efforts to ensure global food security, including Ukrainian humanitarian grain initiative. The importance of uninterrupted and unhindered supply of agricultural products to global markets, especially in Asia and Africa, was emphasized.



Prime Minister Modi reiterated the need for sincere and practical engagement between all stakeholders to develop innovative solutions that will have broad acceptability and contribute towards early restoration of peace. He reiterated India's willingness to contribute in all possible ways to facilitate an early return of peace.



Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation



The Leaders discussed enhancement of cooperation in areas such as trade and commerce, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, defence, education, science & technology, and culture, apart from exploring a stronger partnership in domains such as digital public infrastructure, industry, manufacturing, green energy etc., including through greater involvement of business and industry from both nations.



The Leaders emphasized the importance of the Indian-Ukrainian Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical, Industrial and Cultural Cooperation (IGC) in facilitating a future-oriented and stronger economic partnership between the two countries.



They appreciated the review of the IGC conducted during the visit of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to India in March 2024 and the efforts to hold the meetings of the Joint Working Groups with a view to early convening of the 7th Session of the IGC at a mutually convenient time in 2024. The Ukrainian side welcomed the appointment of the External Affairs Minister of India, Dr. S. Jaishankar as the Co-Chair/Chairperson of the IGC.



In the light of the significant reduction in the annual bilateral trade in goods since the year 2022 due to the challenges related to the ongoing war, the Leaders directed the Co-Chairs of the IGC to explore all possible ways to not only restore bilateral trade and economic relations to pre-conflict levels but expand and deepen them further.



The Leaders emphasized the importance of enhancing the ease of doing business for mutual economic activities and investments, apart from removing any impediments for greater trade and commerce between India and Ukraine. The sides also encouraged greater engagement at official and business levels to explore joint projects, collaborations, and ventures.



The Leaders recalled the strong ties between the two sides in the domain of agriculture and the desirability of enhancing bilateral interaction and market access on the basis of strengths in complementary areas, including the harmonization of standards and certification procedures.



Recognizing cooperation in pharmaceutical products as one of the strongest pillars of the partnership, the Leaders reaffirmed the desire for greater market access and facilitation of investments and joint ventures including through testing, inspection, and registration procedures. Both sides expressed the desire for broadening cooperation on drugs and pharmaceuticals, including in training and sharing of best practices. They welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of the Republic of India and the State Service of Ukraine on Medicines and Drugs Control, and the holding of the 3rd Meeting of the Indian-Ukrainian Joint Working Group on Pharmaceutical Cooperation in August 2024 in virtual mode. The Ukrainian side also appreciated India as an assured source for the supply of cost effective and quality medicines.



The sides agreed to expedite work on expanding the legal framework of bilateral relations, particularly regarding mutual protection of investments, and exploring mutual recognition of educational documents; academic degrees; and titles.



Noting the successful implementation of the agreement between India and Ukraine on scientific and technological cooperation, effective functioning of the Indian-Ukrainian Joint Working Group on Scientific and Technical Cooperation, and completion of bilateral research projects, the sides encouraged holding of regular exchanges and programmes, especially in areas such as ICT, AI, machine learning, cloud services, biotechnology, new materials, green energy, and earth sciences. The sides welcomed the 8th Meeting of the JWG on Scientific and Technological Cooperation held on 20 June 2024.



Defence Cooperation



Underlining the importance of defence cooperation between India and Ukraine, the Leaders agreed to continue to work towards facilitating a stronger relationship between the defence entities in both countries, including through joint collaborations and partnerships for manufacturing in India and cooperation in emerging areas. The sides agreed to hold the 2nd meeting of the Indian-Ukrainian Joint Working Group on Military-Technical Cooperation, established under the 2012 Defence Cooperation Agreement, in the near future in India.



Cultural and People-to-People Ties



Recognizing the key role played by cultural and people-to-people ties in the enduring friendship between India and Ukraine, the sides welcomed the conclusion of the bilateral Programme of Cultural Cooperation, and the decision to hold festivals of culture in India and Ukraine. The Leaders emphasized the importance of sustaining and further expanding people-to-people and cultural exchanges, including through scholarships offered under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme and the General Cultural Scholarship Scheme of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.



The sides agreed to explore the possibility of mutual opening of branches of higher education institutions to meet the educational needs of citizens of both countries.



The Leaders appreciated the contribution of the Indian diaspora in Ukraine to the development of friendly relations and people-to-people contacts between the two countries.



The Indian side reiterated its gratitude to the Ukrainian side for its help and support in the evacuation of Indian students from Ukraine in the early months of the year 2022 and ensuring the safety and well-being of all Indian nationals and students that have returned to Ukraine since then. The Indian side requested Ukrainian side's continued support on easier visa and registration facilities for Indian nationals and students.



The Ukrainian side conveyed its gratitude to the Indian side for the humanitarian assistance provided to Ukraine and welcomed the conclusion of the Memorandum of Understanding on High Impact Community Development Projects between India and Ukraine which will enable the development of mutually agreed projects through Indian grant assistance.



The sides agreed to explore the possibility of involvement of Indian companies in Ukraine's reconstruction and recovery, in a suitable manner.



The Leaders were unequivocal in their condemnation of terrorism. They called for an uncompromising fight against terrorism and extremism in all their forms and manifestations, noting the importance of increasing cooperation in this area on the basis of international law and the UN Charter.



Both sides called for comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council to reflect contemporary global realities and to make it more representative, effective and efficient in dealing with issues of international peace and security. Ukraine reiterated its support for India's permanent membership of a reformed and expanded UN Security Council.



The Indian Side looked forward to Ukraine's joining of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).



The Leaders' comprehensive discussions on the entire spectrum of bilateral ties and exchange of views on regional and global issues of shared interest reflected the depth as well as mutual understanding and trust that mark India-Ukraine relations.



Prime Minister Modi thanked President Zelenskyy for the warm hospitality extended to him and his delegation during the visit and invited him to visit India at a mutually convenient opportunity.

***

MJPS/ST

(Release ID: 2048245)

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Expands mutually beneficial cooperation in the fields of agriculture and food industry by promoting ties in areas of information exchange, joint scientific research, exchange of experience, cooperation in agricultural research, creation of joint working groups etc.

Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of Ukraine on cooperation in the fields of Agriculture and Food Industry.

Envisages cooperation on medical products including regulation, improvement of safety and quality aspects, mainly through information exchange, capacity building, workshops, training, and exchanges of visits.

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and the State Service of Ukraine on Medicines and Drugs Control on cooperation in the field of Medical Products regulation.

3.

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government of the Republic of India and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine regarding Indian Humanitarian Grant Assistance for implementation of High Impact Community Development Projects.
Russia compares Ukraine to Daesh, says Kiev killing civilians, staging 'nuclear terrorism'

Iran Press TV

Friday, 23 August 2024 2:41 PM

Russia has likened Ukraine to Daesh, claiming that Kiev has devised numerous terrorist plans similar to those of the Takfiri terrorist group aimed at targeting civilians.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, similar to Daesh, Kiev "has in its arsenal extensive schemes of terrorist activity a from blowing up civilian infrastructure and killing civilians to nuclear terrorism," she told Russia's Sputnik news agency on Friday.

Zakharova warned that the Zaporozhye and Kursk Nuclear Power Plants in western Russia were "objects of criminal terrorist acts of the Kiev regime." Zaporozhye is Europe's biggest nuclear plant, while the facility located in Kursk is the third-largest in Russia.

Earlier in the day, the Russian Defense Ministry said Kiev had tried to attack the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, denouncing the attempt as an act of "nuclear terrorism."

The ministry said its air defense units had shot down three invading Ukrainian drones overnight in the region.

In separate remarks, Zakharova said the attack required an immediate response from the United Nations nuclear agency, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

On August 6, Ukraine staged an invasion in the Kursk region with around 1,000 forces, prompting the Kremlin to declare a state of emergency there and evacuate 3,000 civilians.

Fierce fighting has raged in the region since the Ukrainian invasion, which marked the biggest one to be carried out against Russia since World War II.

Putin's firm response

On Thursday, Russia's Ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov said President Vladimir Putin had formulated a response to the invasion.

"I tell you sincerely that the president has made a decision," Russia's ITAR-TASS news agency quoted Antonov as saying. "I am firmly convinced that everyone will be severely punished for what has happened in Kursk region," he added.

In February 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine partly to prevent NATO's eastward expansion after warning that the US-led military alliance was following an "aggressive line" against Moscow.

Western countries have been fueling the flames of the war with their unchecked delivery of weapons to Ukraine.

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Modi's Balancing Act Continues With Ukraine Visit

By Dragan Stavljanin August 23, 2024

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Ukraine on August 23 in a trip seen as a diplomatic balancing act following Modi's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow last month, which raised eyebrows in Kyiv and in the West.

Modi's visit is the first trip by an Indian leader to Kyiv since the countries established bilateral relations more than 30 years ago.

The United States was particularly concerned with Modi's two-day visit to Russia as it sees New Delhi as an important pillar in its strategy to contain an ascendant China.

Indian analysts say a primary reason for Modi's visit is to offset the damage from the July 8-9 Moscow trip, which coincided with a deadly Russian missile attack on a children's hospital in Kyiv that elicited harsh international condemnation.

In a rebuke to the Kremlin, Modi said the death of innocent children is "painful," reiterating India's stated stance that political problems cannot be resolved "on the battlefield."

More importantly, Modi's visit to Ukraine should be viewed as part of India's multifaceted foreign policy of "strategic autonomy."

In pursuing that goal, New Delhi treads a fine line courting a closer security partnership with the West -- such as its Quad security grouping with Australia, Japan, and the United States -- as a bulwark against leading foe China.

At the same time, India maintains historically warm relations with Russia, relying on weapons and oil from Moscow at a discounted price. For that reason India has taken a neutral stance and neither condemned nor condoned Russia's war in Ukraine, stating that the conflict should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.

New Delhi fears that if it condemned Russia and joined Western sanctions against Moscow it would alienate the Kremlin and push it closer to China and Pakistan, India's archrivals.

By the same token, India doesn't want to alienate Ukraine but rather position itself as an impartial stakeholder. In its carefully crafted balancing act, Modi has ruled out the role of India as a mediator aimed at ending the war, Bloomberg reported, citing an inside source. New Delhi has agreed to relay messages between Putin and Zelenskiy, it said.

From Ukraine's vantage point, India has been instrumental in luring some states from the so-called Global South to either remain neutral toward the war or show support for Ukraine, according to Bloomberg.

Expanding Economic Cooperation

Modi and Zelenskiy last met in June on the sidelines of the Group of Seven meeting in Italy. They have also spoken several times by phone since the start of the war.

Apart from talks on geopolitics, which is set against the backdrop of Ukraine's recent incursion into the Kursk region of Russia, the leaders are due to focus on expanding economic cooperation.

Bilateral trade between India and Ukraine reached $3.3 billion in the 2021-2022 financial year, according to the Indian Foreign Ministry, a fraction of the $65 billion annual trade turnover between India and Russia.

Ukraine wants to strengthen economic ties with India, particularly in the agriculture, aviation, pharmaceutical, and industrial spheres, Zelenskiy said earlier this year.

In turn, India needs defense products from Ukraine, especially aircraft and marine engines.

Modi's visit to Ukraine could evoke a negative reaction from Russia in a manner similar to how his visit to Moscow drew Washington's ire.

The challenge for Indian diplomacy is to calibrate its private messaging to assuage concerns from both countries, while also portraying the trip as a bold new initiative, wrote Shashi Tharoor, a former Indian minister and diplomat.

"Pulling this off would be a geopolitical triumph. But if the visit goes awry, it could cause incalculable damage to India's global standing," Tharoor said in an August 13 commentary for Project Syndicate.

Before Ukraine, Modi visited Poland, a strong ally of Kyiv, on August 22, the first trip by an Indian leader to Warsaw in more than 40 years.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-modi- visit-balancing-act-russia-india/33088949.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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Biden Voices 'Unwavering' Support For Ukraine With New U.S. Aid Package

By RFE/RL August 23, 2024

U.S. President Joe Biden reiterated America's "unwavering support for the people of Ukraine" in a phone call with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on August 23, the eve of Ukraine's Independence Day.

Biden made the comments in a statement that also announced a new package of military aid for Ukraine that includes air-defense missiles, equipment to counter drones, anti-armor missiles, and ammunition.

News reports quoting an unidentified U.S. official said the package is worth $125 million, although the White House statement didn't provide a figure.

Earlier on August 23, the United States announced new sanctions on nearly 400 entities and individuals who Washington says are enabling Russia's illegal war and supploying Russian military industries.

"These actions build on a series of historic steps we have taken with our Allies and partners over the last few months to support Ukraine -- from transferring F-16 fighter jets, to committing to deliver hundreds of air defense interceptors over the next year, to quickly surging security assistance to the frontlines following the passing of our National Security Bill," Biden said in the statement.

Zelenskiy said Ukraine is in critical need of the new U.S. military aid, especially air defense, Zelenskiy's office said.

Zelenskiy earlier on August 23 urged his country's Western partners to deliver promised military support, saying in his evening address that on the front lines "we fight with shells and equipment, not with words like 'tomorrow' or 'soon.'"

Ukraine is waiting for packages with weapons or equipment "that have been announced and decided upon but not yet delivered," he said.

Biden praised Ukraine for repelling "Russia's vicious onslaught" and remaining "unbowed in the face of Russia's heinous war crimes and atrocities." Day after day, he said, Ukrainians "have defended the values that unite people across both of our nations and around the world -- including independence."

Biden also reiterated that the United States and its allies and partners "will continue to stand with [Ukraine] every step of the way." He said that "when the war began, Ukraine was a free country. It still is today and will be when the war ends."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-biden-zelenskiy- russia-war-military-support-defense/33090402.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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India's Modi Calls For Peace During Historic Visit To Ukraine

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service August 23, 2024

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 23 again called for peace as he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy during a historic first visit to Kyiv as the war triggered by Russia's unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine neared the two-and-a-half-year mark.

Modi, who arrived by train from Poland, sat down for talks with Zelenskiy after both men visited a memorial exhibition in Kyiv dedicated to the children killed during the war.

"We have stayed away from the war with great conviction. This does not mean that we were indifferent," Modi, seated alongside Zelenskiy, said in remarks to the media posted on his X account.

"From day one, we were not neutral. We have taken one side, and we stand firmly for peace."

Modi did not elaborate on his vision for a peaceful resolution of the war, which was started by Russia, traditionally India's ally.

India came under fire from some Western countries after he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow last month, which coincided with a deadly Russian missile attack on a children's hospital in Kyiv that elicited harsh international condemnation.

The United States was particularly concerned with Modi's two-day visit to Russia as it sees New Delhi as an important pillar in its strategy to contain an ascendant China.

Zelenskiy at the time had harsh words for Modi's trip, too, saying it was a "huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world's largest democracy hug the world's most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day."

On August 23, Modi offered his country's humanitarian support for war-wracked Ukraine.

"Whatever help is required from a humanitarian standpoint, India will always stand with you and will go above and beyond to support you," Modi said.

Zelenskiy did not make any remarks, but posted a message on X accompanied by a video of him and Modi visiting the exhibition commemorating children who have died in the war.

"Today in Kyiv, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and I honored the memory of the children whose lives were taken by Russian aggression. Children in every country deserve to live in safety. We must make this possible,"Zelenskiy said in his message.

Modi's trip is the first by an Indian leader to Kyiv since the countries established bilateral relations more than 30 years ago. He has said he plans to also discuss "deepening the India-Ukraine friendship."

In comments to Reuters, Zelenskiy's presidential aide Mykhaylo Podolyak said Modi's visit to Kyiv was significant because New Delhi "really has a certain influence" over Moscow.

"It's extremely important for us to effectively build relations with such countries, to explain to them what the correct end to the war is -- and that it is also in their interests," Podolyak said.

Meanwhile in Washington, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh at the Pentagon.

Austin noted the countries' increased defense cooperation, including efforts to strengthen critical supply chains and interoperability between their militaries.

"We share a vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific, and our defense cooperation continues to grow stronger and stronger," Austin said in a news release. "We're expanding our defense industrial ties and working to coproduce more capabilities and strengthen supply chain resilience."

He highlighted India's participation in the recent Rim of the Pacific military exercise led by the U.S. Navy in Hawaii that brought together 29 partner nations.

"The Indian Navy remains an important security provider in the Indian Ocean," Austin said, adding the U.S. is committed to deepening naval cooperation and "doing more together with unmanned technology, and to strengthening undersea domain awareness."

Singh said the growing U.S.-India cooperation covers "all areas of human endeavor." He noted robust ties between Indians and Americans and shared democratic values and interests on a range of issues.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-india-modi-visit-peace- humanitarian-aid/33089624.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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Ukraine Loses 5,137 Troops During Operation in Kursk Area - MoD

Sputnik News

20240823

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Ukrainian armed forces have lost a total of 5,137 servicemen and 69 tanks since the beginning of the operation in the Kursk area, the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) said on Friday.

"In total, during the military operations in the Kursk direction, the enemy lost 5,137 servicemen, 69 tanks, 27 infantry fighting vehicles, 55 armored personnel carriers and 350 armored combat vehicles," the MoD said in a statement.

Over the past day, Ukraine lost up to 400 servicemen and 17 units of armored vehicles, including one tank, in the region, according to the statement.

Additionally, the Russian armed forces repelled and thwarted attacks by Ukrainian troops near six settlements in the Kursk Region, the ministry said, noting that Kiev lost up to 70 soldiers.

Russian forces also destroyed a Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group in the Kamyshevka area of aathe Kursk border region over the past day, with Ukraine losing five fighters, the statement said.

A Sputnik

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Zaporozhye, Kursk Nuclear Plants Targets of Criminal Terrorist Acts of Ukraine

Sputnik News

20240823

Last week, Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev, in a phone conversation with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) cheif Rafael Grossi, drew attention to the deteriorating security situation at the Zaporozhye and Kursk nuclear power plants due to the reckless actions of the Ukrainian side.

The Zaporozhye and Kursk nuclear power plants are targets of criminal terrorist acts of Ukraine, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Sputnik on Friday.

"The Zaporozhye and Kursk power plants are objects of criminal terrorist acts of the Kiev regime," Zakharova said, adding that Kiev, like the Islamic State terrorist group*, "has in its arsenal extensive schemes of terrorist activity a from blowing up civilian infrastructure and killing civilians to nuclear terrorism."

Earlier, the Zaporozhye plant's communications director told Sputnik that the backup high-voltage line of the plant had been disconnected by the Ukrainian side, but the exact reasons were unknown.

"The high-voltage power line 'Ferrosplavnaya-1' was disconnected by the Ukrainian side. Damage is on that side. The exact reasons are unknown," she said.

International Atomic Energy Agency experts have been informed about the situation, the communications director added.

Rosenergoatom, a subsidiary of Russian state nuclear energy corporation Rosatom told Sputnik on Friday the Kursk nuclear power plant was operating normally, the radiation situation at the site was normal.

"The station is operating normally. The radiation background is at natural levels," the subsidiary said.

*IS is a terrorist organization banned in Russia.

A Sputnik

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United States Announces Significant New Military Assistance for Ukraine

US Department of State

Press Statement

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

August 23, 2024

As Ukraine celebrates thirty-three years of independence, the United States is announcing another significant new package of urgently needed weapons and equipment to our Ukrainian partners as they defend against Russia's ongoing attacks.

This additional assistance, provided under a drawdown from Department of Defense stocks, includes: counter-unmanned aerial systems equipment and munitions, additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds, Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor missiles, Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles, small arms ammunition, ambulances, demolition equipment and munitions, and spare parts, medical equipment, ancillary equipment, services, training, and transportation.

This announcement demonstrates the United States' enduring commitment to Ukraine's self-defense against Russia's brutal aggression. We will deploy this new assistance as quickly as possible to bolster Ukraine's defense of its territory and its people. As President Biden has made clear, the United States and the international coalition we have assembled will continue to stand with Ukraine.

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U.S. President Congratulated Ukraine on National Flag Day and Independence Day

President of Ukraine

23 August 2024 - 22:40

On National Flag Day and on the eve of Ukraine's Independence Day, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a telephone conversation with U.S. President Joseph Biden.

The Head of State thanked for the congratulations and unwavering American support.

"On behalf of the Ukrainian people, I express my gratitude to you personally, your administration, Congress and all the American people for the support that the United States has been providing to our country since the first days of the war. This support enables us to withstand and preserve our statehood," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

He thanked the United States for adopting another sanctions package today, that targets Russia's fuel and energy sectors, metallurgy, finance, and military-industrial complex; he also emphasized the importance of continued sanctions pressure on Russia.

In addition, the Ukrainian leader noted the allocation of a new defense assistance package.

The President said that Ukraine urgently needs the delivery of weapons from the announced defense packages, in particular, additional air defense systems to reliably protect cities, communities and critical infrastructure.

The parties coordinated further bilateral contacts.



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Andriy Yermak Discussed Strengthening Cooperation in Defense Production with Public and Business Representatives

President of Ukraine

23 August 2024 - 22:24

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak met with representatives of public organizations, business and authorities to discuss cooperation in the production of weapons and ammunition.

The event was attended by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yuliia Svyrydenko, Deputy Prime Minister for Innovation, Education, Science and Technology Development and Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov, Minister for Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kamyshin, First Deputy Minister of Defense Ivan Havryliuk, Deputy Minister for Strategic Industries Anna Gvozdiar, and Advisor to the Head of the Presidential Office Dariia Zarivna.

Andriy Yermak emphasized that the state, the public and the business community should establish a dialogue on strengthening Ukrainian defense production. He also spoke about agreements with partner countries on military assistance to Ukraine.

"We realize that the assistance we receive today is not enough. Therefore, we have no alternative to our own production. I believe that we have made great progress in certain areas. But we need joint work that will give us the desired result," the Head of the Presidential Office said.

He urged business representatives to contact the Council for Support of Entrepreneurship during Martial Law under the Head of State with proposals and projects in the field of defense production.

The participants of the meeting discussed ways of interaction between the public and the authorities regarding contracts for the manufacture of defense products, the formation of tactical and technical characteristics, and the timing of state orders, taking into account the current tasks facing the Defense Forces of Ukraine.





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India Fully Supports Ukraine's Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity and Is Ready to Make Its Contribution to the Cause of a Just Peace - Andriy Yermak

President of Ukraine

23 August 2024 - 20:33

The topic of Russia's war against our country was the main one among those discussed by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi during their meeting in Kyiv. This was revealed by the Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak on the air of the United News Telethon.

"The President of Ukraine directly voiced all our messages, our principled positions. It is very important that Prime Minister Modi stressed that India has always been committed to international law, the UN Charter, and India has a very clear position on supporting Ukraine's independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty," he emphasized.

Andriy Yermak noted: it is extremely important that the Prime Minister of India saw what is happening in our country today, and heard the stories of murders and abductions of Ukrainian children.

According to the Head of the Presidential Office, today, a very important step has been taken to ensure that India's role and concrete actions will help Ukraine.

In particular, India is ready, and it will support the processes of implementing President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Peace Formula; it also wants to make its contribution to the cause of a just peace restoration for our country.

Andriy Yermak reminded that the day before, in the pursuance of the inaugural Peace Summit, the first thematic online meeting of the working group dedicated to the implementation of the Energy Security point of the Peace Formula had taken place.

"This means that we have started a process that should result in the preparation of a joint plan. This plan will contain detailed steps for each point of the Formula. And it is after such thematic conferences that the joint plan will be ready. I think this will happen in the near future," he said.

In addition, according to the Head of the Presidential Office, during the talks, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Narendra Modi agreed to enhance the communication process on various platforms and at various levels to ensure that bilateral relations between Ukraine and India develop very quickly.

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The Occupier Will Not Subjugate Kharkiv, Nor Will It Subjugate All of Our Ukraine - Address by the President

President of Ukraine

23 August 2024 - 20:21

I wish you good health, fellow Ukrainians!

Today is already a long and productive day for our state. And more of our international activities will follow today. So now - it is just a part of this day's report. First - Flag Day. I had the honor to congratulate all our people, and especially all our warriors on this holiday. And I am proud of everyone who makes our blue and yellow colors so strong and worthy. I am proud of all our people who defend our state, defend our independence. This is the reflection of exactly such people of ours - the respect of the world for Ukraine and the fact that Ukrainian flags can be seen in all leading capitals of the democratic world.

I would also like to thank Kharkiv today - it is the Day of Kharkiv. A truly heroic city, a city of people and life. Since the beginning of this May, our forces have managed to repel Russia's attempt to assault Kharkiv, to break this city and the entire Kharkiv region.

I spoke with Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi, particularly about the fighting in the Kharkiv region. We are pushing out the Russian army. Step by step. The occupier will not subjugate Kharkiv. Nor will it subjugate all of our Ukraine. I thank everyone who protects life in Ukraine, who protects our Kharkiv and all other cities and villages of our state. And we will do everything to restore real security.

Today, Prime Minister of India Modi paid a visit to Ukraine. This is the first such visit in the history of relations between India and independent Ukraine. We had a long conversation. Both about Russia's war against Ukraine and the need to secure a genuinely just peace. We greatly appreciate that Mr. Modi began his visit by honoring the memory of Ukrainian children whose lives were taken by Russian aggression. I am grateful for the humanitarian support packages that India has been providing during this war. It is also important for us that India remains committed to international law and supports our sovereignty, our territorial integrity - the basic principles. India also participates in our work on the Peace Formula - it was represented at the Peace Summit, and we are working in the relevant groups according to the Peace Formula. All this gives us more optimism, and it is important that as many global entities as possible clearly express their position on the fundamental norms of international law, and that they visit Ukraine - show their support in a real way. Of course, today we also talked about our bilateral agenda with India. Four intergovernmental documents were signed by our representatives. There are also agreements on other areas of cooperation, including military and technical.

We are preparing other important negotiations.

Today I also held several meetings with our international experts. On defense assistance and communication with partners. Timely delivery is the key delivery now. There are packages that have been announced and approved, but they have not been delivered to Ukraine. And the front is fighting with shells and equipment, not with words "tomorrow" or "soon". We are doing everything to speed up the deliveries. I thank everyone who is helping!

Glory to Ukraine!

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Humanitarian Relations, Cooperation in Agriculture, Medicine and Culture: Ukraine and India Have Signed Four Documents

President of Ukraine

23 August 2024 - 18:04

Ukraine and India have signed four documents in the presence of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister of the Republic of India Narendra Modi, who is on his visit to our country. These are:

Agreement Between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of India on Cooperation in the Fields of Agriculture and Food Industry. The document is aimed at expanding mutually beneficial cooperation, creating favorable conditions for market relations, and improving the national food security of the countries. The Agreement was signed by Acting Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Taras Vysotskyi and Foreign Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs of India Vikram Misri.

Memorandum of Understanding Between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of India Regarding Indian Humanitarian Grant Assistance for Implementation of High Impact Community Development Projects. The document envisages the expansion of economic and technical cooperation between the two countries and creates a framework for providing our state with assistance for the implementation of projects, including reconstruction and recovery. The Memorandum was signed by the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yuliia Svyrydenko and the Minister of External Affairs of India Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

The Program of Cultural Cooperation Between the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine and the Ministry of Culture of the Government of the Republic of India for the Years 2024-2028. The signing of the document will facilitate the establishment of direct ties between artistic groups, individual performers and cultural institutions, as well as the holding of joint cultural events. The Program was signed by Acting Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine Rostyslav Karandieiev and Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs of India Tanmaya Lal.

Memorandum of Understanding between the State Service of Ukraine on Medicines and Drugs Control and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of the Government of India. The purpose of the Memorandum is to promote the development of interests in the pharmaceutical sector, prevent the circulation of low-quality and counterfeit medicines, and ensure the safety and quality of medicines supplied to the markets of both countries. The document was signed by Head of the State Service of Ukraine on Medicines and Drugs Control Roman Isaienko and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to Ukraine Ravi Shankar.

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Participation in the Peace Formula Implementation and Further Humanitarian Support: Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Narendra Modi Held Talks

President of Ukraine

23 August 2024 - 17:55

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, who is on the first high-level visit to Ukraine since the declaration of Ukraine's independence.

The Head of State thanked India for supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as for providing humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainian people.

"India supports our state sovereignty and territorial integrity, and this is crucial because everyone in the world must equally respect the UN Charter. And now, at the time of Russia's war against Ukraine, India is supporting Ukraine in a humanitarian way by providing humanitarian aid packages to our country. I thank the people of India for this," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The President also thanked India for its participation in the first Peace Summit and expressed hope for its signing of the Joint CommuniquA and further active support for the Peace Formula implementation. The Head of State also invited Narendra Modi to attend the second Peace Summit.

During the meeting, the parties discussed prospective areas of bilateral cooperation: expansion of trade, economic and defense cooperation, India's involvement in post-war reconstruction, interaction in the fields of education, science and culture.

As a result of the talks, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Narendra Modi approved a Joint Statement that reaffirms the principle of respect for the territorial integrity of states and identifies key areas of bilateral cooperation. It also sets the goal of elevating relations between Ukraine and India to a strategic partnership in the future.

In the presence of the leaders, a package of bilateral documents was also signed on the development of relations between the two states in the humanitarian and agricultural spheres, as well as in the fields of medicine and culture.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Narendra Modi also inspected the Cube mobile medical unit, transferred by India, which can be used for tactical medicine, rapid deployment in emergencies and disaster areas. It contains triage and surgical stations, diagnostic tools and other necessary equipment.

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India-Ukraine Joint Statement on the Visit of Prime Minister of India to Ukraine

President of Ukraine

23 August 2024 - 16:00

1. Prime Minister of India, H.E. Narendra Modi undertook a visit to Ukraine on 23 August 2024, at the invitation of the President of Ukraine, H.E. Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This was the first ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine, since diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in the year 1992.

Political Relations

2. Both Leaders expressed mutual interest in working towards elevating bilateral relations from a comprehensive partnership to a strategic partnership in the future.

3. They reaffirmed their commitment to further developing bilateral ties for the benefit of the peoples of both countries based on mutual trust, respect, and openness.

4. The Leaders reviewed the steady and positive trajectory of bilateral ties that have strengthened significantly over the last three decades, and appreciated the role played by regular engagements between India and Ukraine at various levels, including their meetings in Apulia in June 2024 and in Hiroshima in May 2023 on the margins of the G7 Summits, the visit of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to New Delhi in March 2024, multiple interactions and telephone conversations between the External Affairs Minister of India and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine; between the National Security Advisor of India and the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, and the 9th round of Foreign Office Consultations held in Kyiv in July 2023, in enhancing mutual understanding, trust, and cooperation.

5. The Leaders appreciated the participation of Ukrainian official delegations in the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024, and the Raisina Dialogue 2024.

Ensuring a Comprehensive, Just, and Lasting Peace

6. Prime Minister Modi and President Zelenskyy reiterated their readiness for further cooperation in upholding principles of international law, including the UN Charter, such as respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of states. They agreed on the desirability of closer bilateral dialogue in this regard.

7. The Indian side reiterated its principled position and focus on peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy, as a part of which, India has attended the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, held in Burgenstock, Switzerland, in June 2024.

8. The Ukrainian side welcomed such participation by India and highlighted the importance of high-level Indian participation in the next Peace Summit.

9. The Ukrainian side conveyed that the Joint CommuniquA on a Peace Framework, adopted at the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, could serve as a basis for further efforts to promote just peace based on dialogue, diplomacy, and international law.

10. The Leaders appreciated various efforts to ensure global food security, including Ukrainian humanitarian grain initiative. The importance of uninterrupted and unhindered supply of agricultural products to global markets, especially in Asia and Africa, was emphasized.

11. Prime Minister Modi reiterated the need for sincere and practical engagement between all stakeholders to develop innovative solutions that will have broad acceptability and contribute towards early restoration of peace. He reiterated India's willingness to contribute in all possible ways to facilitate an early return of peace.

Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation

12. The Leaders discussed enhancement of cooperation in areas such as trade and commerce, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, defence, education, science & technology, and culture, apart from exploring a stronger partnership in domains such as digital public infrastructure, industry, manufacturing, green energy etc., including through greater involvement of business and industry from both nations.

13. The Leaders emphasized the importance of the Indian-Ukrainian Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical, Industrial and Cultural Cooperation (IGC) in facilitating a future-oriented and stronger economic partnership between the two countries.

14. They appreciated the review of the IGC conducted during the visit of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to India in March 2024 and the efforts to hold the meetings of the Joint Working Groups with a view to early convening of the 7th Session of the IGC at a mutually convenient time in 2024. The Ukrainian side welcomed the appointment of the External Affairs Minister of India, Dr. S. Jaishankar as the Co-Chair/Chairperson of the IGC.

15. In the light of the significant reduction in the annual bilateral trade in goods since the year 2022 due to the challenges related to the ongoing war, the Leaders directed the Co-Chairs of the IGC to explore all possible ways to not only restore bilateral trade and economic relations to pre-conflict levels but expand and deepen them further.

16. The Leaders emphasized the importance of enhancing the ease of doing business for mutual economic activities and investments, apart from removing any impediments for greater trade and commerce between India and Ukraine. The sides also encouraged greater engagement at official and business levels to explore joint projects, collaborations, and ventures.

17. The Leaders recalled the strong ties between the two sides in the domain of agriculture and the desirability of enhancing bilateral interaction and market access on the basis of strengths in complementary areas, including the harmonization of standards and certification procedures.

18. Recognizing cooperation in pharmaceutical products as one of the strongest pillars of the partnership, the Leaders reaffirmed the desire for greater market access and facilitation of investments and joint ventures including through testing, inspection, and registration procedures. Both sides expressed the desire for broadening cooperation on drugs and pharmaceuticals, including in training and sharing of best practices. They welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of the Republic of India and the State Service of Ukraine on Medicines and Drugs Control, and the holding of the 3rd Meeting of the Indian-Ukrainian Joint Working Group on Pharmaceutical Cooperation in August 2024 in virtual mode. The Ukrainian side also appreciated India as an assured source for the supply of cost effective and quality medicines.

19. The sides agreed to expedite work on expanding the legal framework of bilateral relations, particularly regarding mutual protection of investments, and exploring mutual recognition of educational documents; academic degrees; and titles.

20. Noting the successful implementation of the agreement between India and Ukraine on scientific and technological cooperation, effective functioning of the Indian-Ukrainian Joint Working Group on Scientific and Technical Cooperation, and completion of bilateral research projects, the sides encouraged holding of regular exchanges and programmes, especially in areas such as ICT, AI, machine learning, cloud services, biotechnology, new materials, green energy, and earth sciences. The sides welcomed the 8th Meeting of the JWG on Scientific and Technological Cooperation held on 20 June 2024.

Defence Cooperation

21. Underlining the importance of defence cooperation between India and Ukraine, the Leaders agreed to continue to work towards facilitating a stronger relationship between the defence entities in both countries, including through joint collaborations and partnerships for manufacturing in India and cooperation in emerging areas. The sides agreed to hold the 2nd meeting of the Indian-Ukrainian Joint Working Group on Military-Technical Cooperation, established under the 2012 Defence Cooperation Agreement, in the near future in India.

Cultural and People-to-People Ties

22. Recognizing the key role played by cultural and people-to-people ties in the enduring friendship between India and Ukraine, the sides welcomed the conclusion of the bilateral Programme of Cultural Cooperation, and the decision to hold festivals of culture in India and Ukraine. The Leaders emphasized the importance of sustaining and further expanding people-to-people and cultural exchanges, including through scholarships offered under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme and the General Cultural Scholarship Scheme of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.

23. The sides agreed to explore the possibility of mutual opening of branches of higher education institutions to meet the educational needs of citizens of both countries.

24. The Leaders appreciated the contribution of the Indian diaspora in Ukraine to the development of friendly relations and people-to-people contacts between the two countries.

25. The Indian side reiterated its gratitude to the Ukrainian side for its help and support in the evacuation of Indian students from Ukraine in the early months of the year 2022 and ensuring the safety and well-being of all Indian nationals and students that have returned to Ukraine since then. The Indian side requested Ukrainian side's continued support on easier visa and registration facilities for Indian nationals and students.

26. The Ukrainian side conveyed its gratitude to the Indian side for the humanitarian assistance provided to Ukraine and welcomed the conclusion of the Memorandum of Understanding on High Impact Community Development Projects between India and Ukraine which will enable the development of mutually agreed projects through Indian grant assistance.

27. The sides agreed to explore the possibility of involvement of Indian companies in Ukraine's reconstruction and recovery, in a suitable manner.

28. The Leaders were unequivocal in their condemnation of terrorism. They called for an uncompromising fight against terrorism and extremism in all their forms and manifestations, noting the importance of increasing cooperation in this area on the basis of international law and the UN Charter.

29. Both sides called for comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council to reflect contemporary global realities and to make it more representative, effective and efficient in dealing with issues of international peace and security. Ukraine reiterated its support for India's permanent membership of a reformed and expanded UN Security Council.

30. The Indian Side looked forward to Ukraine's joining of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).

31. The Leaders' comprehensive discussions on the entire spectrum of bilateral ties and exchange of views on regional and global issues of shared interest reflected the depth as well as mutual understanding and trust that mark India-Ukraine relations.

32. Prime Minister Modi thanked President Zelenskyy for the warm hospitality extended to him and his delegation during the visit and invited him to visit India at a mutually convenient opportunity.

Kyiv

23 August 2024

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Modi: India ready to play role to bring peace to Ukraine

By Anjana Pasricha August 23, 2024

During a landmark visit to war-torn Ukraine, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that New Delhi is ready to play an active role "as a friend" in efforts to achieve peace and underlined the need for talks between Russia and Ukraine.

Modi's comments came as he sat alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Friday after the two leaders held talks that focused on the conflict that erupted more than two years ago following Russia's invasion.

"The road to resolution can only be found through dialogue and diplomacy. And we should move in that direction without losing any time. Both sides should sit together to find a way out of this crisis," Modi said.

The first visit by an Indian prime minister to Ukraine came six weeks after Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

Modi denied that India, which has come under criticism from Kyiv and its Western allies for failing to condemn the Russian aggression, has taken a neutral position on the war. "We have taken a side, and we stand firmly for peace," he said.

He also said that India supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.

Before heading into talks, Modi and Zelenskyy visited a memorial commemorating Ukrainian children who have been killed during the conflict. "Children in every country deserve to live in safety," Zelensky wrote in a post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter. "We must make this possible."

Modi said, "My heart goes out to the families of children who lost their lives.

Modi's visit to Moscow on July 8-9 had coincided with Russian missile attacks on a children's hospital and other targets in Ukraine that killed civilians. It led to a sharp rebuke from Zelenskyy who said it was "a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts" to see the Indian leader hug Putin "on such a day."

On Friday, Zelenskyy called Modi's visit "friendly" and symbolic - it came a day before Ukraine's Independence Day.

India's foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar told reporters that much of the discussions between Modi and Zelenskyy had focused on the conflict.

"To my mind we perhaps brought up points or flagged issues which they (Ukraine) may or may not have been cognizant of here. There was a sense that this is a very complex issue but there could be multiple ways of approaching peace," he said.

In Ukraine, the visit by a close ally of Moscow is seen as part of a diplomatic bid to get wider backing from countries that have taken a neutral position on the conflict.

Modi's visit to Kyiv was significant because New Delhi "really has a certain influence" over Moscow, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser in the Ukrainian president's office told Reuters.

Modi's trip, say analysts, is also a signal that although India has not joined Western countries in isolating Russia, it wants to build independent ties with both countries.

In a bid to boost economic and trade links that have suffered since the war erupted, India and Ukraine signed four agreements on increasing cooperation in sectors such as agriculture and community development projects.

"This visit is all about forging a relationship with Ukraine and giving a message that India would like to befriend every country. It is concerned about the war, especially its impact on the energy and food security of many countries," according to Chintamani Mahapatra, founder of the Kalinga Institute for Indo Pacific Studies in New Delhi.

Analysts also pointed out that Modi's trip to Ukraine will have no bearing on New Delhi's warm relationship with the Kremlin. Trade ties with Moscow have burgeoned as India imports record quantities of Russian oil while defense ties are crucial for a country still heavily dependent on Russian weaponry.

"As Russia's engagement with China does not impact its relationship with India, Indian equations with Ukraine will not change its equation with Russia," foreign policy analyst C. Raja Mohan wrote in The Indian Express newspaper. Moreover, he pointed out that if New Delhi wants to play peacemaker, it must engage with the "other side."

Before arriving in Ukraine, Modi visited Poland, where the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk expressed optimism that India could play an important role in bringing an end to the war.

"I am very glad that the prime minister has confirmed his readiness to personally engage in bringing about a peaceful, just and speedy end to the war," Tusk told reporters Thursday.

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NEW YORK, Aug. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C., a nationally recognized stockholder rights law firm, is investigating potential claims against Franklin Resources, Inc. (Franklin or the Company) (NYSE: BEN) on behalf of Franklin stockholders. Our investigation concerns whether Franklin has violated the federal securities laws and/or engaged in other unlawful business practices.

Click here to participate in the action.

On August 21, 2024, Franklin subsidiary Western Asset Management Company issued a press release announcing that co-Chief Investment Officer Ken Leech is on a leave of absence, effective immediately after receiv[ing] a Wells Notice from the Staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. That same day, Bloomberg reported that [f]ederal prosecutors in New York are investigating whether a Western Asset Management executive allocated winning trades to favored accounts, as part of a criminal probe into a practice known as cherry-picking.

On this news, Franklins stock price fell $2.84 per share, or 12.56%, to close at $19.78 per share on August 21, 2024.

If you purchased or otherwise acquired Franklin shares and suffered a loss, are a long-term stockholder, have information, would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Brandon Walker or Marion Passmore by email at investigations@bespc.com, by telephone at (212) 355-4648, or by filling out this contact form. There is no cost or obligation to you.

About Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C.:

Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. is a nationally recognized law firm with offices in New York and California. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in commercial, securities, derivative, and other complex litigation in state and federal courts across the country. For more information about the firm, please visit www.bespc.com . Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Contact Information:
SAN DIEGO, Aug. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The law firm of Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announces that purchasers or acquirers of Sprinklr, Inc. (NYSE: CXM) securities between March 29, 2023 and June 5, 2024, inclusive (the Class Period), have until October 15, 2024 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff of the Sprinklr class action lawsuit. Captioned Boshart v. Sprinklr, Inc., No. 24-cv-06132 (S.D.N.Y.), the Sprinklr class action lawsuit charges Sprinklr as well as certain of Sprinklrs top executives with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.



If you suffered substantial losses and wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the Sprinklr class action lawsuit, please provide your information here:

https://www.rgrdlaw.com/cases-sprinklr-inc-class-action-lawsuit-cxm.html

You can also contact attorneys J.C. Sanchez or Jennifer N. Caringal of Robbins Geller by calling 800/449-4900 or via e-mail at info@rgrdlaw.com. Lead plaintiff motions for the Sprinklr class action lawsuit must be filed with the court no later than October 15, 2024.

CASE ALLEGATIONS: Sprinklr provides enterprise cloud software products worldwide.

The Sprinklr class action lawsuit alleges that defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose facts concerning Sprinklrs difficulties in the implementation of scaling in the Contact Center as a Service market and the resulting growth slowdown on Sprinklrs existing go-to-market initiatives associated with Sprinklrs core suite of products.

The Sprinklr class action lawsuit further alleges that on December 6, 2023, Sprinklr announced a sequential decrease in the total number of customers spending more than $1 million, attributing it to macroeconomic conditions. Sprinklr additionally reduced the outlook for fiscal 2025 from consensus expectations of 16% growth down to 10%, according to the complaint. On this news, the price of Sprinklr stock fell more than 33%, according to the Sprinklr class action lawsuit.

Then, on June 5, 2024, the Sprinklr class action lawsuit further alleges that Sprinklr again announced significantly reduced growth expectations, cutting fiscal year 2025 projections another three percent, down to 7% annual growth, again attributing the losses to reduced customer retention in Sprinklrs core business and macro headwinds. On this news, the price of Sprinklr stock fell more than 15%, according to the complaint.

THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS: The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits any investor who purchased or acquired Sprinklr securities during the Class Period to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the Sprinklr class action lawsuit. A lead plaintiff is generally the movant with the greatest financial interest in the relief sought by the putative class who is also typical and adequate of the putative class. A lead plaintiff acts on behalf of all other class members in directing the Sprinklr class action lawsuit. The lead plaintiff can select a law firm of its choice to litigate the Sprinklr class action lawsuit. An investors ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff of the Sprinklr class action lawsuit.

ABOUT ROBBINS GELLER: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP is one of the worlds leading law firms representing investors in securities fraud cases. Our Firm has been #1 in the ISS Securities Class Action Services rankings for six out of the last ten years for securing the most monetary relief for investors. We recovered $6.6 billion for investors in securities-related class action cases  over $2.2 billion more than any other law firm in the last four years. With 200 lawyers in 10 offices, Robbins Geller is one of the largest plaintiffs firms in the world and the Firms attorneys have obtained many of the largest securities class action recoveries in history, including the largest securities class action recovery ever  $7.2 billion  in In re Enron Corp. Sec. Litig. Please visit the following page for more information:

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NEW YORK, Aug. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that a lawsuit has been filed against Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ABR) and certain of the Companys senior executives.



If you invested in ABR, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/arbor-realty-trust-inc.

Investors have until September 30, 2024 to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors in ABR securities. The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York and is captioned Lois Martin v. Arbor Realty Trust, Inc., et al., No. 24-cv-05347.

What is the Lawsuit About?

ABR is a nationwide real estate investment trust (REIT) and direct lender, providing loan origination and servicing for commercial real estate assets. The complaint alleges that during the relevant period, ABR misrepresented the health of the Companys loan book. In truth, ABR used fake holding companies to help conceal that its loan book was distressed, and the underlying collateral was overstated.

On March 14, 2023, NINGI Research published a report which claimed, among other things, that Arbor has been hiding a toxic real estate portfolio of mobile homes with a complex web of real and fake holding companies for more than a decade. This news caused the price of ABR stock to decline by $0.87 per share, or almost 7%, to close at $12.12 per share on March 14, 2023.

Then, on December 5, 2023, Viceroy Research published an in-depth study of ABRs Jacksonville, Florida properties. Viceroy found that the Companys entire loan book is distressed and the underlying collateral is vastly overstated. This news caused the price of ABR stock to decline by $0.19 per share, or over 1%, to close at $13.67 per share on December 5, 2023.

Finally, on July 12, 2024, Bloomberg reported that ABR was being probed by federal prosecutors and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in New York. According to the news report, [t]he investigators are inquiring about lending practices and the companys claims about the performance of their loan book. This news caused the price of ABR stock to decline by $2.64 per share, or almost 17%, to close at $12.89 per share on July 12, 2024.



Click here if you suffered losses: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/arbor-realty-trust-inc.

What Can You Do?

If you invested in ABR, you have rights and are encouraged to submit your information to speak with an attorney.

All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The Firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses. Submit your information by visiting:

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/arbor-realty-trust-inc

Or contact:

Ross Shikowitz

ross@bfalaw.com

212-789-3619

Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?

Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It was named among the Top 5 plaintiff law firms by ISS SCAS in 2023 and its attorneys have been named Titans of the Plaintiffs Bar by Law360 and SuperLawyers by Thompson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.s Board of Directors (pending court approval), as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.

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SINGAPORE, Aug. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- We are thrilled to announce that Global Commercial Business (GCB) will be listed on XT Exchange. The GCB/USDT trading pair will be available in the Innovation Zone (Web 3.0). Please take note of the following go-live schedule:

Deposit: 09:00 on August 25, 2024 (UTC)

09:00 on August 25, 2024 (UTC) Trading: 09:00 on August 26, 2024 (UTC)

09:00 on August 26, 2024 (UTC) Withdrawal: 09:00 on August 27, 2024 (UTC)

About GCB ( Global Commercial Business)

Global Commercial Business (GCB) is transforming digital finance by utilizing blockchain technology to address critical financial challenges in the Middle East, Africa, and other emerging markets. GCBs mission is to enhance financial inclusion by offering an accessible digital platform that simplifies the access to essential financial services.

GCB is the keystone of a comprehensive digital financial ecosystem, delivering efficient solutions for account management, fund transfers, and decentralized finance (DeFi) opportunities. What distinguishes GCB is its diverse applications across multiple industries, which enhances the utility and resilience of the GCB token. From facilitating cross-border transactions to empowering local businesses and driving fintech innovation, GCB is a leader in economic empowerment and digital transformation.

The listing of GCB on XT Exchange opens new avenues for both Global Commercial Business and its community. This partnership provides GCB with access to a broader audience of traders and fintech enthusiasts, boosting liquidity and fostering growth. By joining XT Exchange, GCB is poised to lead the charge in revolutionizing digital finance in emerging markets.

Albin Warin, CEO of XT Exchange, shared his enthusiasm for the listing: "We are excited to welcome Global Commercial Business to our platform. GCBs vision of promoting financial inclusion and innovation resonates with our mission to support impactful and forward-thinking projects. We believe this listing will provide substantial value to our users and contribute to the advancement of global financial services."

Website https://www.gcbtoken.io/

Blockchain Browser https://bscscan.com/token/0x84f70be4DEb029d5f8AACBeAcC74c4dC10737342

Whitepaper https://gcbtoken.io/download/white-paper

About XT

Founded in 2018, XT serves more than 7.8M registered users, over 1M monthly active users, 40+ million users in the ecosystem, and more than 800 tokens with 1000+ trading pairs. XT crypto exchange offers a rich variety of trading categories to provide a secure, trusted, and intuitive trading experience for its large user base. This includes crypto futures trading (USDT-M Futures and coin-M futures perpetual contracts) and copy trading that allows users to replicate top traders in real time with just one click. Additionally, the futures grid allows users to automate the buying and selling of futures contracts for profits.

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XT Exchange

Bella Wei

Listing@xt.com

GCB

head.admin@gulfofficial.com

Disclaimer: This content is provided by XT exchange. The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider.The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/de4cb697-cb32-42bc-a120-b613cdc8cdc3
MONTREAL, Aug. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI) has received an order from the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) imposing binding arbitration between the Company and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC).



The CIRB has also ordered that no further labour stoppage, including a lockout or strike, can occur during the arbitration process. This means that the strike notice recently issued to CN by the Teamsters is now voided.

CN will comply with the order which also extends the current collective agreement until a new agreement is signed between the parties.

Over the last nine months, CN negotiated in good faith to reach a deal at the table. The Company consistently proposed offers with better pay, improved rest, more predictable schedules, and a voluntary mobile workforce.

While CN is disappointed an agreement could not be reached at the bargaining table, the Company is satisfied that this order effectively ends the unpredictability that has been negatively impacting supply chains for months.

CN remains focused on safely getting goods moving again, as efficiently as possible.

CN Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements by CN included in this news release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and under Canadian securities laws. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. CN cautions that its assumptions may not materialize and that current economic conditions render such assumptions, although reasonable at the time they were made, subject to greater uncertainty. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of terminology such as believes, expects, anticipates, assumes, outlook, plans, targets, or other similar words. Forward-looking statements reflect information as of the date on which they are made. CN assumes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect future events, changes in circumstances, or changes in beliefs, unless required by applicable securities laws. In the event CN does update any forward-looking statement, no inference should be made that CN will make additional updates with respect to that statement, related matters, or any other forward-looking statement.

About CN

CN powers the economy by safely transporting more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year for its customers. With its nearly 20,000-mile rail network and related transportation services, CN connects Canadas Eastern and Western coasts with the U.S. Midwest and the Gulf of Mexico, contributing to sustainable trade and the prosperity of the communities in which it operates since 1919.

Contacts :
Vancouver - Bolt Metals Corp. ("Bolt" or the "Company") (CSE: BOLT)(OTCQB: PCRCF) (XFRA: NXFE) announces that further to its news release dated August 16, 2024 and clarifying and amending news release dated August 19, 2024, it has issued a total of 648,148 common shares (each a "Common Share") at a price of $0.3375 per common share to settle outstanding indebtedness in the aggregate amount of $218,750.00 (the "Debt") pursuant to debt settlement agreement with the Company's President, CEO and Director (the "Creditor") (the "Debt Settlement"). All securities issued by the Company are subject to a standard four-month hold period from the date of issue.

The participation of the Creditor in the Debt Settlement constitutes a "related party transaction", as such term is defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Shareholders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on the exemption from the valuation requirement in section 5.4 of MI 61-101 and the minority shareholder approval requirement in section 5.6 of MI 61-101 in reliance on (respectively) section 5.5(g) of MI 61-101, as the Company is not listed or quoted on one of the markets specified therein, and section 5.7(1)(e) of MI 61-101, as (i) the Company is insolvent or in serious financial difficulty, (ii) the Debt Settlement is designed to improve the financial position of the Company, (iii) the Company is not currently subject to any of the proceedings contemplated by Section 5.5(f)(i) of MI 61-101, (iv) the Company has two directors independent of the Debt Settlement and (v) the completion of the Debt Settlement is subject to the approval of both of the independent directors of the Company, having determined that the foregoing criteria in (i) and (ii) are met, and that the terms of the Debt Settlement are reasonable in the circumstances of the Company.

About Bolt Metals Corp.

Bolt Metals Corp. is a Canadian-based exploration company focused on the acquisition and development of production-grade battery metals projects within the Asia-Pacific region, employing a vertically integrated "minerals-to-market" strategy to leverage these assets to their fullest. Visit https://boltmetals.com/ to find out more.

Bolt Metals Corp.

Ranjeet Sundher - President & CEO

(604) 922-8272

rsundher@boltmetals.com

This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") and may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the United States or "U.S. persons" (as such term is defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act any application state securities laws.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release may contain statements which constitute "forward-looking information", including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities of the Company. The words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements made in this news release include, but are not limited to, the completion of the Debt Settlements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future business activities and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including but not limited to, availability of funds, personnel and other resources necessary to conduct exploration or development programs, successes of the Company's exploration efforts, availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such information will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization has reviewed this news release nor do either of them accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Copyright (c) 2024 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
CALGARY, Aug. 23, 2024 - Canadian Premium Sand Inc. ("CPS" or the "Company") (TSXV: CPS) is pleased to announce that it intends to extend the expiry date of an aggregate of 26,494,908 warrants (the "Warrants") to purchase an aggregate of 26,494,908 common shares ("Common Shares") of the Company. The Warrants were issued pursuant to a private placement unit offering that closed August 31, 2022 and are currently set to expire on August 31, 2024. The Company intends to extend the expiry date by 4 months to December 31, 2024. All other terms of the Warrants, including the exercise price of $0.40 per Common Share, will remain unchanged.



In the event that the 30-day volume weighted average trading price of the Common Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") is at or greater than $0.90 per Common Share, the Company may accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants by giving notice to the holders thereof, and in such case, the Warrants will expire on the 30th day after the date on which such notice is given by the Company.

The Company believes that the extension is justified to ensure that the holders of the Warrants have additional time to exercise their Warrants as CPS continues to remain engaged with the Province of Manitoba and the Government of Canada to progress potential financial incentive packages, as previously announced by the Company on May 23, 2024, for its integrated patterned solar glass manufacturing facility in Selkirk, Manitoba.

The extension of the Warrants is subject to approval by the TSXV. The Company intends to issue an updated news release upon receipt of the approval of the Warrant extension.

The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and accordingly may not be offered or sold within the United States or to "U.S. persons", as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act ("U.S. Persons"), except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Company's securities to, or for the account of benefit of, persons in the United States or U.S. Persons.

A total of 9,448,419 Warrants are held by parties who are considered to be "related parties" of CPS Therefore, the amendment of Warrants to extend their expiry date may constitute a "related party transaction" as contemplated by Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions, and TSXV Policy 5.9 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions. However, the exemptions from formal valuation and minority approval requirements can be relied upon as the fair market value of the Warrants held by interested parties does not exceed 25% of the market capitalization of the Company.

About Canadian Premium Sand Inc.

The Company is developing manufacturing capacity for ultra high-clarity patterned solar glass through a Company-owned facility to be located in Selkirk, Manitoba that utilizes the high-purity, low-iron silica sand from its wholly owned Wanipigow quarry leases and renewable Manitoba hydroelectricity. The Company is a reporting issuer in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. Its shares trade on the TSXV under the symbol "CPS".

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.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Canadian Premium Sand Inc. Glenn Leroux Cam Deller President and Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officer glenn.leroux@cpsmail.com cam.deller@cpsmail.com

Investor Relations

IR@cpsmail.com

587.355.3714

www.cpsglass.com

Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements relating to, without limitation, expectations, intentions, plans and beliefs, including information as to the future events, results of operations and the Company's future performance (both operational and financial) and business prospects. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "expects", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "seeks", "projects" or variations of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Company's beliefs, estimates and opinions regarding its future growth, results of operations, future performance (both operational and financial), and business prospects and opportunities at the time such statements are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or circumstances should change. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions made by the Company that are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking statements pertaining, but not limited, to: the intention to extend the expiry date of the Warrants and the justification for such extension; the intention to issue an updated news release upon receipt, if any, of the approval of the Warrant extension; the financing of CPS's project in the expectation of financial incentive packages from Governments; the anticipated market for the Company's patterned solar glass; future development plans; industry activity levels; industry conditions pertaining to the solar glass manufacturing industry; the ability of and manner by which the Company expects to meet its capital needs; and the Company's objectives, strategies and competitive strengths. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous current assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company and described in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information and statements contained in this document speak only as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to publicly update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required pursuant to applicable laws.
Dutch authorities seize Haas F1 cars at Zandvoort

The Haas team cannot currently leave the Netherlands once the chequered flag waves at Zandvoort late on Sunday.

Team

 Haas

Operating on legal authority, Dutch police and bailiffs entered the Formula 1 team's garages at the Dutch GP venue and formally seized the race cars, motorhome, trucks and all other equipment.

Haas can continue to use the equipment throughout the weekend, but without paying back about $10 million to disgruntled former Russian sponsor Uralkali, the team is barred from departing the country.

They must inform us where all the equipment is, said Dutch lawyer Jurjen de Korte, representing Nikita Mazepin's former sponsor. If they do not comply, they are committing a criminal offense.

Haas was ordered to pay back sponsorship money in a Swiss arbitration case in June, relating to the team's decision to axe its deals with Uralkali and Mazepin at the outbreak of the 2022 Russia-Ukraine conflict.

They had time to comply, the lawyer added, but they were playing hide-and-seek. The ball is in their court, they have to find a solution.

Haas said in a statement that it intends to repay the money, but is struggling to comply with complex anti-Russian sanctions. We will continue to work with Uralkali in the coming days to finally resolve this matter, said the Gene Haas-owned team.

Team boss Ayao Komatsu said on Friday: We're not disputing it whatsoever, but it's a complicated process to transfer the funds across.

If Haas cannot quickly find a solution, the team could sit out next weekend's Italian GP - a breach of its contracts with Formula 1.

Uralkali sounded totally unsympathetic in its own press statement.

This is the expected consequence of Haas' refusal to obey the ruling of arbitrage awarding payment and a race car to Uralkali, the Russian fertiliser company insisted.

There are not now and never have been any sanctions issues preventing Haas from fulfilling its obligations. Nevertheless, they have gone unfulfilled, Uralkali added.

We are delighted to hear that, following last night's visit from Dutch authorities, Haas is finally paying attention to the arbitral ruling.

(GMM)
Back in June the first leaked specs for the Realme GT7 Pro got outed in China, and today the same prolific source going by the handle Digital Chat Station is back with some more details.

According to him, the current engineering prototype of the GT7 Pro has a "1.5K" micro-curved screen made by BOE, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 SoC at the helm, up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, and a 6,000 mAh battery with support for 100W fast wired charging.

Realme GT5 Pro

There is no wireless charging on board, unfortunately. There is, however, an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor in a decent position (which we assume to mean not too low), and the phone has an IP68/IP69 dust and water resistance rating. It has a Sony Lytia LYT-600 3x zoom periscope camera too.

Those are all the details we have right now. According to previous rumors, the GT7 Pro will be launching towards the end of this year. It's unclear if it will be officially offered internationally as well, or if it will be confined to China. We'll let you know when we find out more.

Source (in Chinese)
The government of Guam is poised to settle for upwards of $245,000 with a former Department of Corrections officer who in 2019 pled guilty to misdemeanor charges related to a DOC contraband smuggling ring.

Former corrections officer Lt. Jeffrey Limo was one of 13 people indicted back in 2017 after a shakedown uncovered meth and other contraband inside the islands prison, Pacific Daily News files show. He was the highest-ranked officer charged in connection to the case, and headed DOCs Internal Affairs Unit at one time.

Limo was fired after the 2017 incident, but has been fighting his termination in an appeal filed at the Civil Service Commission in the years since.

Department of Corrections Director Fred Bordallo confirmed for the PDN Friday that he has signed a settlement agreement in Limos appeal.

The decision to settle was because of a likely loss and consistently pro-employee rulings at the Civil Service Commission, among other things, according to a release from the Office of the Attorney General.

According to the AGs Office, Limo would have been entitled to over $500,000 and reinstatement at his old job, if he won his firing appeal.

The former DOC lieutenant pled guilty to official misconduct as a misdemeanor back in 2019, for not reporting a text message wherein Ronald Meno, a co-defendant in the case, attempted to bribe Limo.

Felony charges for conspiracy and receiving bribes were thrown out as a part of Limos plea deal. He served no prison time following the guilty plea, and was put on probation, PDN files show.

Limo denied the bribery and conspiracy charges, prior to his plea agreement.

Retirement, lump sum, leave credit

Nearly seven years after being fired from DOC, the former corrections officer may be allowed to retire out of the force, according to a copy of Limos draft Civil Service settlement agreement obtained by the PDN. The document bears the signature of both Limo and his attorney.

The document stipulates that all reference to Limos adverse action, which would be his termination notice, will be expunged from DOCs files.

Limo could be allowed to retire, get a $200,000 lump sum payment in lieu of back pay for the years since his termination, and will get his legal fees covered up to $45,000.

GovGuam would pay all contributions that would have gone into Limos retirement fund between Oct. 17, 2017 and July 24, 2024, under the settlement.

The officer would also get credited for all the sick leave and annual leave he would have obtained during that time, and the payout will be adjusted to account for raises to law enforcement pay.

Based on Limos salary in staffing records and DOC leave policy, his leave payout could amount to between $50,000 and $60,000, depending on how many years Limo served with DOC. Thats before any raises or increments are taken into account.

The former lieutenants salary was $59,658.20, GovGuam staffing records from the second quarter of fiscal year 2017 show. His annual benefits were worth $21,695.59.

Limos attorney Curtis Van de Veld said he would not comment on the settlement until it was approved by the Civil Service Commission, and declined to address any potential changes.

Van de Veld did say he thought it was improper that a copy of the settlement was distributed to the PDN.

CSC legal counsel Katherine Nepton confirmed that a copy of the settlement approved by both the AGs office and DOC management was received as of Friday.

A date for CSC commissioners to sign off on the settlement was not set yet, according to Nepton.

Closure to the case

Presented with a copy of the settlement agreement, DOC Director Bordallo said that Deputy Attorney General Graham Botha has been the person negotiating the settlement for DOC.

Bordallo said it now puts closure to the case.

I appreciate and thank our legal advisor (deputy attorney general) Graham Botha for his work representing DOC and providing me with the legal guidance and recommendations on what course to take with this adjudication process, Bordallo said.

A release from the AGs office notes that it was former attorney general Leevin Camachos administration that let Limo plea his felony charges down to a single misdemeanor in 2019.

This settlement both keeps Limo away from getting his job back, and saves our taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars that we believe the CSC would have ordered our People pay, the AGs office stated in a release, adding this is an unacceptable risk.

The CSC had ruled against DOC in four recent adverse action cases, the release noted. The most recent, involving Eric Santos, cost taxpayers $200,000, the AGs office stated.

We strongly recommend the senators to conduct a public hearing about the Civil Service Commissioners pattern of ruling against our Peoples government, the release stated.

Slap in the face

Meanwhile, legislative public safety chairman Sen. Chris Barnett called the settlement a slap in the face.

As a government, we should stand strong against corruption and meth, not turn a blind eye because of political or personal connections, he said.

Barnett questioned the decision by the Leon Guerrero administration, and said DOCs Bordallo should have been a good leader and held the line.

Senator Barnett is entitled to offering opinions for cases such as this that went through an adjudication process at the Civil Service Commission, Bordallo said in response.

Adelup spokesperson Krystal Paco-San Agustin deferred to Bordallo for any comment on the matter.

Official misconduct loophole

Notably, government employees convicted of official misconduct are not barred from seeking reemployment in GovGuam. That means Limos misdemeanor guilty plea does not automatically disqualify him from reemployment.

The Legislature early this year passed Bill 30-37, which would bar anyone convicted of official misconduct from being employed with GovGuam.

But Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero vetoed it in February, over concerns that it would be applied retroactively, threaten the employment of current GovGuam employees, and open the door for GovGuam to be sued.

Bill 30 author Sen. Joanne Brown first introduced legislation to bar those convicted of official misconduct back in 2021, on the heels of former DOC officer Frank Rosalins hiring at the Port Authority of Guam. Brown at the time said the case highlighted a loophole in the law.

Rosalin was hired at the Port after pleading guilty to official misconduct in 2019. He was charged in relation to the same contraband smuggling ring that landed Limo in court in 2017.
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Haiti - FLASH : New armored vehicles arrive in Haiti





Friday, August 23, 2024, the Haitian National Police (PNH) received Toyota armored military vehicles ordered in October 2023 by the Government of Ariel Henry from the United Arab Emirates. In addition, the Conille Government placed orders for other equipment and ammunition for the Haitian National Police (PNH) and the Haitian Armed Forces.



Additionally, as part of the U.S. assistance, U.S. Army Southern Command announced in a statement that it began delivering on Friday, August 23, 2024, by U.S. Air Force C-17 Cargo aircraft to Toussaint Louverture International Airport for the Kenyan-led Mission the first of 24 additional MaxxPro MRAP Mine Resistant Ambush Protected armored vehicles, which will be in addition to the existing fleet of 10 MaxxPros already provided to the Mission by the United States and which are being used to support HNP operations in areas affected by widespread gang violence.



In relation to the criticisms of the Kenyan-led Mission Command on the operational limitations of these armored vehicles in combat https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42951-haiti-flash-weapons-ammunition-and-armored-vehicles-arrive-as-reinforcements.html , arrangements have been made. "The C-17 transport missions will also deliver 34 Overhead Gunner Protection Kits, commonly called 'turrets'. Department of Defense-funded contractors will install the turrets on the armored vehicles [...]" the statement said. These turrets requested by the Kenyan Command will improve the effectiveness and combat capability of these armored vehicles during joint operations conducted by the PNH against armed gangs.



As a reminder, the delivery of these MaxxPro MRAPs follows the signing by President Joe Biden of a presidential withdrawal authorization in April 2024 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42106-haiti-flash-biden-releases-60-million-usd-for-the-mission-led-by-kenya.html , paving the way for the transfer of U.S. federal resources to countries contributing personnel to the security support mission in Haiti. As part of this drawdown, the Department of Defense (DOD) and other interagency partners are providing the equipment, supplies, parts, and services needed to support the mission's sustainment and operations in Haiti, including repairs and maintenance of the vehicle fleet.



Regarding the request for the supply of helicopters for the Mission in Haiti, negotiations with partners are progressing slowly



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42951-haiti-flash-weapons-ammunition-and-armored-vehicles-arrive-as-reinforcements.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42106-haiti-flash-biden-releases-60-million-usd-for-the-mission-led-by-kenya.html



SL/ TB/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Politic : Installation of the members of the Steering Committee of the National Conference





Friday, August 23, 2024, at the Villa d'Accueil, the President of the Transitional Council Edgard Leblanc Fils, in the presence of the Minister of Justice Me Carlos Hercule, as well as other personalities, proceeded during a ceremony to the installation of the 6 members of the Steering Committee of the National Conference : Enex Jean-Charles, President, Joram Vixamar, member, Amary Joseph Noel, member, Mrs. Norah Jean Francois, member, Mrs. Widline Pierre, member and Gedeon Charles, member.



During the ceremony, President Edgard Leblanc Fils, stressed that the National Conference, during its deliberations, will adopt resolutions that will guide the development of normative texts and orientations for three crucial projects aimed at stabilizing the country : the revision of the Constitution, the definition of a new social project for the rebuilding of Haiti, and the overhaul of relations between the State and society, in particular with civil society, political parties, as well as the main reforms of the legal and political system.



For his part, Enex Jean-Charles, President of the Steering Committee, affirmed that the Committee will work exclusively in the national interest, aiming to restore the social fabric, without being influenced by sectoral interests.



Download the Decree establishing and operating the National Conference (French PDF) : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/decret-17-juillet-2024-conference-nationale.pdf



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Security : Important meeting to strengthen the capacities of the PNH





The Acting Director General of the Haitian National Police (PNH), Rameau Normil, held a strategic meeting with representatives of the Haitian Citizenship Security Program (HCSP), a program led by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in partnership with the Community Police component of the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL).



This meeting is part of the capacity building program of the Police Institution and reflects the desire of the Commander in Chief of the PNH to consolidate international cooperation in this area.



The meeting was attended by Erick Pacific of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID-Haiti), Kalinda Magloire, HCSP Project Manager, Paulson Pierre Philippe, Team Leader Community Approach Component 1 of the HCSP, Jean Gardy Muscadin, Technical Advisor and Herve Francois of the Community Police Component of the INL.



Director Normil and the various representatives discussed several points, including the collaboration between the PNH, the HCPS and the INL in implementing the community approach in the targeted neighborhoods to restore trust between the population and the police, facilitate community dialogue and enable the PNH to integrate socio-educational and community activities.



In addition, the project includes other components such as initiatives aimed at empowering young people by offering them alternatives that could prevent them from joining gangs. The project also includes: the design and implementation of a strategic communication plan, one of the objectives of which is to facilitate interaction between the police and the population; support for prevention and assistance units for vulnerable people, including potential victims of gender-based violence and the possibility of post-traumatic support for police officers.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





Leonel Fernandez would like to withdraw a decoration given to Martelly

Former President Leonel Fernandez, who in 2012 decorated Michel Martelly, then President of Haiti, with the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sanchez and Mella, at the rank of Grand Cross Plaque d'or, is asking President Luis Abinader to withdraw this decoration following the sanctions imposed by the United States on Martelly for drug trafficking, money laundering and gang financing... https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43030-haiti-flashformer-president-martelly-sanctioned-by-the-usa-for-drug-trafficking-money-laundering-and-gang-sponsorship.html



Ouanaminthe : PM Visits the Canal

Friday, August 23rd, 2024, the Prime Minister Garry Conille visited the Ouanaminthe Canal site with a water intake on the Massacre River. "Today, I came to make this visit to see, listen and understand," said the Head of Government.



Security : preparations for the start of the school year

As part of the preparations for the start of the school year, the Prime Minister, Garry Conille, met with the leaders of the Educational Community Police (EduPol). The opportunity for the Head of Government to discuss the socio-security issues related to the EduPol service, the Police/Population "Marriage" (MPP) and the strengthening of the operational capacities of Community Police officers in the run-up to the reopening of schools on October 1.



Ambassador Hankins Visits Agrilog

During his visit to Cap-Haitien, Ambassador Hankins visited Agrilog, an agro-industrial company producing vegetables, sweet potatoes, and cassava that are sold on local and international markets. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID-Haiti) continues to strengthen its efforts with the Haitian private sector to promote agricultural and economic growth in Haiti.



Assessment of the situation in Haiti

On Wednesday, August 21, 2024, Jean Marc Berthier Antoine, Minister of Defense, met with a delegation from the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH). At the heart of the discussions was the assessment of the security situation in Haiti.



Provisional release for humanitarian reasons:

On August 21, 2024, the judges of the Port-au-Prince Court of Appeal provisionally released for humanitarian reasons the former Director General of the Social Assistance Fund (CAS), Edwine Tonton and Pierre Richard Valles, the former chief accountant of the institution. Arrested in 2023 for influence peddling and embezzlement of more than 2 million HTG at the CAS See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40629-haiti-justice-the-minister-of-social-affairs-indicted-for-abuse-of-power-and-criminal-conspiracy.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















There was a data leak at Flightaware, but probably without a cyberattack. The flight tracking service blames a configuration error for the fact that a large amount of personal and sometimes sensitive data of registered users could be viewed. This includes social security numbers and the last digits of credit card numbers. Flightaware recommends that users change their passwords.

Anzeige

The aviation software and data services company claims to be one of the largest flight tracking services with over 10 million monthly users. No information about the data leak can yet be seen on Flightaware's homepage, nor on its own blog, company news or Twitter account.

Large amount of personal data exposed

However, there is a letter from Flightaware CEO Matt Davis to his customers on the website describing the incident, which Techcrunch found. In the letter, Davis expresses his regret about this data protection incident. According to the letter, a "configuration error" was discovered on July 25, 2024, which inadvertently exposed personal information from Flightaware user data.

This included the customer's user ID, password and email address. Depending on the data transmitted, the full name, billing address, a shipping address, IP address, social network accounts, telephone numbers, year of birth, last four digits of the credit card number, details of own aircraft, job title and industry, pilot status and user activities at Flightaware could also have been accessible. This error was rectified immediately, but customers should still change their password as a precaution.

No details on scope and possible access

Flightaware does not provide any information about a possible data leak or the number of customers affected in the letter. However, the company has informed the California Attorney General about the data leak, stating that the data had been exposed since the beginning of January 2021, i.e. for more than three and a half years. In the sample letter to customers presented there, Flightaware also writes that users' social security numbers were accessible.

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Flightaware has not yet responded to corresponding requests, so it is unclear whether someone has accessed the customer data due to the configuration error. It is also unclear whether the company can trace any access to the personal data of others using server logs, for example, and whether all or only some of the users registered with Flightaware were affected.

(fds)
While the rumor mill is already in relative agreement about the features of the upcoming iPhone 16, a new debate has broken out about the launch date. Experience has shown that Apple prefers to hold an event for its iPhone announcements in the second week of September. For a long time, speculators seemed to agree that this would also be the case in 2024. But this year there would be a good reason to deviate from this.

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This reason lies in US politics. With Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Republican candidate Donald Trump agreeing on a TV duel on September 10, there would be strong competition on Apple's traditional Tuesday date. Apple would have to fear that the news would primarily revolve around this first meeting - the iPhone 16 would be a side note, at least in the USA.

One day later? Also difficult.

A postponement of one day in the same week is also difficult: September 11, which is particularly symbolic for the USA, is not really suitable for a product presentation, even if, for example, MTV's Video Music Awards have switched from September 10 to September 11. Apple usually avoids a date on Monday morning, California time, outside of the WWDC developer conference, as most international media representatives would have to arrive on Sunday.

That leaves the change of the week: moving it back could have a significant impact on sales in the quarter if the new iPhones are not available until later. Consequently, the focus is on a date in the first week of September. A keynote on Tuesday, September 3 would be conceivable. For the USA, this would not be without ifs and buts, as Labor Day is celebrated there on Monday and many Americans are on a long weekend - but it would be manageable compared to the strong media competition of the US presidential duel.

Does iOS 18.0 give a hint?

Speculation about an early date has been fueled by statements from Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman. He suggested that the development of iOS 18.0 had already been completed with the release of beta 7. The comparatively early completion can be explained primarily by the fact that Apple is not expected to deliver most of the new functions - in the form of the Apple Intelligence AI - until a month later with iOS 18.1 , which is already in the beta phase. But it could just as well be influenced by the fact that Apple now has to install the final software on the iPhones in the factories of its contract manufacturers in China in order to meet an early deadline.

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Experience has shown that Apple's invitation to media representatives, which usually takes place two weeks before the date, provides certainty on the date. With an early September date, something should happen this week - only in times of corona was there a very short window of one week between the invitation and the date. If nothing happens this week, Apple may be flirting with its traditional slot in the second week of September after all.

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Police catch alleged robber of Upward Road SECU

Law officers in Upstate South Carolina on Friday night caught and took into custody a 38-year-old Greenville man and charged him with the robbery of the State Employees Credit Union on Upward Road Friday morning, Hendersonville police announced.

Around 10 p.m. Greenville police officers located and arrested James Scott Bayne Jr. and charged him with age 38, of felony robbery with a dangerous weapon. Evidence related to the crime was recovered and Bayne was transported to the Greenville County Detention Facility, where he is being held awaiting extradition back to Henderson County.

Hendersonville police responded at 9:23 a.m. to the report of a robbery at the SECU near the I-26 interchange. The suspect was last seen leaving the business on foot. The investigation was led by Hendersonville police with substantial assistance from the Henderson County Sheriffs Office and State Bureau of Investigation.

The cooperation of witnesses and excellent investigative work secured the arrest of the suspect within only 13 hours of this crime, Hendersonville Police Chief Blair Myhand said. Our partnering agencies committed resources and added tremendous value to the work being done by our investigators. The Hendersonville Police Department will leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of justice against those who intend to victimize our citizens and our community. Our dispatchers, officers, and detectives are deeply protective of this community and its safety. This investigation highlights their professionalism and determination. I could not be prouder of them.
On August 17, Manipur chief minister, N Biren Singh, took to social media to announce that the Indian governments North East Council (NEC) had withdrawn its Vision Plan 2047 after he pointed out an error in one of its chapters, which had referred to the Kukis of Manipur as belonging to the so-called Chin State of Manipur.

The absurd mistake instantly drew the ire of not just the state government in Imphal, but also influential Meitei civil society organisations like the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), which has now threatened legal action against the documents drafters.

Why has a supposedly simple error triggered the Meitei political elite and civil society in Manipur, which has been roiling in an intense ethnic armed conflict between the Meitei and Kukis since May 2023? What is the historical significance of this mistake?

Ethno-territorial mixup

The most obvious aspect of the error is its historical inconsistency  there is no evidence to indicate that any administrative or political unit by the name of Chin State existed in the territory that has been known as Manipur through various periods of history. In fact, Chin State is a political unit in present-day Myanmar, bordering Mizoram and a small stretch of southern Manipur.

Interestingly, towards the final decades of the 19th century, the British colonial administration almost ended up creating what the NEC erroneously referred to as the Chin State of Manipur. In 1881, a British colonial administrator in the Northeast, Sir James Johnstone, officially recommended the annexation of the Chin Hills into the Meitei-ruled kingdom of Manipur. This would, he believed, subdue the barbaric tribes living in these hills.

However, the idea was shot down by Johnstones superiors, including Fitzpatrick and Sir Robert McCabe, who were the then chief commissioner and deputy commissioner of Assam, respectively. While the Manipur-Chin Hills Boundary Commission appointed in 1893 did give a few Chin-Lushai villages to Manipur (dominated by tribes that eventually adopted the Kuki super-identity), the British government had decided just a year ago that the Chin Hills would remain under the control of the colonial administration in Burma.

In fact, in 1894, the Boundary Commission demarcated the Manipur-Chin Hills boundary with eight stone pillars in an attempt to concretise a map of the Indo-Burma frontier drawn by R.B. Pemberton in 1834. This cartographic project not only drew a permanent line between Manipur and what went on to become Mizoram and Chin State in India and Myanmar, but it also fractured what the Zo people (including the Chin and Mizos) considered as a continuous historical homeland.

Present-day territorial contestations

The key reason why the NECs mix-up has angered Meitei groups is that it seemed to validate demands for a separate administration that Kuki-Zo groups have been raising since the current ethnic conflict began last year May.

The Meitei see this demand as separatist, and an attempt to usurp the territorial integrity of Manipur. For the Kuki-Zo, however, it is the only way to free themselves from the discriminatory control of what they see as a pro-Meitei government in Imphal and govern themselves better. Many of them argue that such a territorial split is now inevitable, even as the Meitei political class and civil society refuse to cede any ground.

This clash of two ethno-territorial visions, rooted in the Kuki-Zo disenchantment of the Imphal-based political class and civil society, continues to perpetuate the violent conflict in Manipur. In many ways, it has completely reshaped the states modern political geography by partitioning it along neat ethnic lines.

Yet, the roots of this split can be traced to the colonial policy of drawing and redrawing arbitrary lines on the map of the Northeast for its own administrative convenience and in the process, undertaking what academic Pum Khan Pau has called a reordering of indigenous space. These lines not only conjured up new political units but also created divided lifeworlds that continued to fuel inter-ethnic friction more than a century later.

Need to settle anxieties

The current controversy reaffirms the fact that the Manipur conflict is inherently tied to conflicting geographical imaginations of space and society. The Meitei elite finds it nearly impossible to imagine a distinct Kuki-Zo (or Chin) political unit within their state, even in distant history. The Kuki-Zo still reminisce about a single contiguous homeland.

Yet, the long history of colonial reconfiguration of territory, followed by postcolonial processes of reifying those divisions, has complicated the process of collective reconciliation of space. The Manipur conflict is a good opportunity for all sides to take a fresh look at their shared anxieties and settle them through multi-stakeholder consultations with an open mind.

Angshuman Choudhury is a New Delhi-based researcher and writer, formerly an Associate Fellow at the Centre for Policy Research and focuses on Northeast India and Myanmar. The views expressed are personal.
The central government on Saturday approved the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), which guarantees an Assured Pension and Assured Family Pension. Announcing the Cabinet's decisions, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that under the UPS, government employees will receive 50 per cent of their average basic pay from the last 12 months before retirement as their pension. To qualify for this full pension, which is equivalent to 50 per cent of their basic pay, employees must have completed a minimum of 25 years of service. NPS is currently open for people between 18 and 60, and our Board has approved raising the age limit for joining to 65.(HT File/ Representative Purpose)

Starting in the next financial year, National Pension Scheme subscribers will have the option to switch to the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), which provides an assured pension.

Here is the difference between the Unified Pension Scheme and National Pension Scheme

Under the Unified Pension Scheme, retirees receive a pension of 50 per cent of their average basic pay from the last 12 months of service, provided they have completed at least 25 years of service. For those with 10 to 25 years of service, the pension is proportionate to their service duration. While briefing the media, Cabinet Secretary-designate TV Somanathan announced that the new scheme will be effective on April 1, 2025. The scheme's benefits will apply to those who retire by March 31, 2025, including the payment of any arrears.

The National Pension System (NPS) provides a pension based on the returns from contributions invested in debt and equity instruments. There is no guaranteed fixed pension amount, as it depends on market performance.

The Unified Pension Scheme guarantees a minimum pension of 10,000 per month for employees with at least 10 years of service, ensuring basic financial security, especially for those with lower pay scales. While NPS is applicable to government employees who joined service after April 1, 2004, requiring a 10 per cent contribution from the employee's basic salary, matched by a 14 per cent contribution from the government.

The Unified Pension Scheme does not require individual contributions from employees. It focuses on a defined benefit model based on the last salary drawn and service length. Under the Unified Pension Scheme, in the event of an employee's death, the family receives 60% of the employee's pension, ensuring ongoing financial support for dependents.

Under NPS, the family's pension would depend on the accumulated corpus in the pension fund and the annuity plan chosen at retirement. NPS features a two-tier account structure:

Tier-1 Account: A mandatory pension account with tax benefits.

Tier-2 Account: An optional investment account linked to Tier-1, offering flexibility for withdrawals.

The Unified Pension Scheme primarily applies to employees with a longer service tenure, offering stable and predictable retirement income. NPS applies broadly to newer government employees, providing potential for higher returns but with greater exposure to market risks.
The victims of the Bayesians sinking were likely either asleep or tried to escape to no avail as Mike Lynchs yacht went down in minutes during bad weather, prosecutors in Sicily said as they announced a probe for manslaughter and negligent shipwreck. Divers of the Vigili del Fuoco, the Italian Corps. of Firefighters enter Porticello harbor near Palermo, with the body of Hannah Lynch, the last missing person at the back of the boat on August 23, 2024, four days after the British-flagged luxury yacht Bayesian sank. (Alessandro Fucarini/AFP)(AFP)

The dynamic of what happened to those killed isnt fully clear, deputy prosecutor Raffaele Cammarano told reporters on Saturday. Autopsies are due to take place soon.

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Their position could lead us to think that they tried to escape, but this isnt demonstrable in a preliminary phase, he said of the bodies, found inside the ship, on the side closest to the surface. The bodies might also have been grouped there, floating.

The passengers likely werent awake, when the storm struck in the early hours of the morning, he added.

Authorities in Sicily have opened a manslaughter and negligent shipwreck probe into the Aug. 19 sinking of British tech tycoon Mike Lynchs yacht, chief prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio said at the same briefing.

There are currently no suspects, he said at a press conference in Termini Imerese, with the probe being conducted against persons unknown.

Cartosio, who said prosecutors arent ruling anything out, expressed sympathy for the families of the seven victims, saying it would be even more painful if the probe showed the wreck was caused by not following procedures properly.

The wrecks survivors - including the ships captain, crew and passengers - werent tested for alcohol or drugs, Cammarano said, adding that first aid was the priority, including tending to some serious wounds among survivors in a state of shock.

Prosecutors had kept quiet in recent days about the developing probe, with Cartosio explaining on Saturday that communications on the matter were strictly regulated by Italian law, despite significant interest domestically and internationally in the death of Lynch, the 59-year-old British tech tycoon, and six others.

Coast guard admiral Raffaele Macauda said the owners of the ship had announced their intention to retrieve the relic from the seabed, and that the costs would come at their expense. It wasnt clear when this would happen, he said. But Cartosio said it was a fundamental step in the investigation.

The prosecutor said the emergency began at 4:38 a.m. local time, when a red flare was launched and seen by the coast guard.

Divers from the local firefighter corps spent most of the week attempting to retrieve six bodies stuck inside the ship, which sank to a depth of about 50 meters (164 feet) about a half mile off the coast of Porticello. The body of a seventh victim, the yachts chef, had been retrieved earlier.

Cammarano said the probe had so far focused on those whod been rescued alive. It wasnt clear whether the ship had the equivalent of a black box, he said, with access made significantly more difficult by the position of the sunken relic. He added a crew member had been on duty, as required by procedure, when the truly sudden storm, or more likely a downburst, struck the luxury vessel.

Speculation has surrounded the incident, with the chief executive officer of the company that made the yacht, Italian Sea Group, positing that human error was involved. It was clear the ship had taken on water and that its electrics failed, Giovanni Costantino told Bloomberg News in an interview.

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UK authorities are also probing the incident.

AIS data, a tracking system used by ships, shows the Bayesian started to drift from anchor just before 4 a.m., traveling for about five minutes for about 360 meters to the spot where it eventually sank about 15 minutes later, Costantino said.

The coast guard on Saturday said there were no bans on being at anchor where the Bayesian was situated. Prosecutors declined to say whether any of the hatches were open, which could allow the yacht to quickly take on water, saying this would prejudge the probe.

Cammarano added that James Cutfield, the New Zealand captain of the Bayesian, had been very collaborative in answering prosecutors questions. Cartosio said it was likely he would have to answer more questions.

The 56-meter long Bayesian had been carrying 22 passengers and crew, of whom 15 were rescued, including Lynchs wife, Angela Bacares.

Girolamo Bentivoglio Fiandra, from the firefighting unit, told reporters that the first five bodies were retrieved from a cabin on the left-hand side of the ship, closest to the water.

The final body - that of Lynchs 18-year-old daughter Hannah, was retrieved on Friday in the third cabin on the left-hand side, all on the high side of the ship, toward the surface of the sea, he said.

Lynch and his family had been celebrating his recent acquittal from fraud charges with a small group of advisers when the violent storm struck. The charges stemmed from Lynchs sale of his software firm Autonomy Corp. to Hewlett Packard Co. in 2011. The Silicon Valley giant went on to accuse Lynch of accounting failures. Hed spent years working to clear his name in court and restore his reputation as one of Europes most successful entrepreneurs.

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In a harrowing incident, a 24-year-old woman from Karnataka's Karkala region was reportedly kidnapped, drugged, and sexually assaulted by an acquaintance on Friday night (August 23), according to local police. The incident took place within the Karkala town police jurisdiction. Police have arrested the suspects, Althaf and Richard Cardoza, and are continuing their investigation. (Image for representation)(Reuters)

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The victim had known the suspect, identified as Althaf, through Instagram for the past three months. On the evening of the attack, Althaf visited the womans workplace and allegedly abducted her in his car, taking her to a remote location, news agency PTI reported. Once there, Althaf reportedly forced her to consume alcohol, which he had allegedly spiked with drugs. He then proceeded to assault her before returning her to her home.

Another individual, Richard Cardoza, later joined Althaf during the incident, the report added. The womans family promptly reported the crime to the authorities. The police have since arrested both Althaf and Cardoza and seized the vehicles involved.

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Udupi Superintendent of Police Arun K spoke to reporters and confirmed that the woman has been admitted to the Kasturba Hospital in Manipal, and is undergoing medical treatment. The authorities have charged the suspects under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Samhita (BNS), including sections 138 (Abduction) and 64 (Rape). The victim's statement has also been recorded and will be submitted to the magistrate as part of the ongoing investigation, the publication further stated.

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"We have arrested both Althaf and Cardoza under the relevant sections of Bharatiya Nyay Samhita (BNS), including 138 (Abduction), 64 (Rape) and registered a case. We have also seized the vehicles used by them. Further procedures are being taken up. The victim has recorded her statement which will be submitted to the magistrate. She has been admitted to the Kasturba Hospital in Manipal for treatment," the police official said, as quoted in the report.

This comes in the backdrop of the heinous Kolkata rape-murder case, which has sent shockwaves across the nation and triggered widespread protests by medical professionals.

(With inputs from PTI)
Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Saturday said that if voted to power, the Congress will complete recruitments started by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government without any delay. Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said the Congress will ensure job security with better renumeration for workers employed under Kaushal Rozgar Nigam. (HT Photo)

In a statement, the leader of the Opposition said the Congress will also start the recruitment process for filling up one lakh vacancies in the state government.

According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI), the unemployment rate in the cities of Haryana in the 15-29 age group increased from 9.5 % in the January-March quarter to 11.2 % in the April-June quarter, said the Congress leader.

Hooda said the increase in unemployment rate was seen more among women. While 13.9 % of the young women were unemployed in the last quarter, the figure has increased to 17.2 % in the latest report, he said.

Haryana has seen the highest number of job losses in northern India. There were 11.72 lakh jobs in the private sector in Haryana in 2022-23, which decreased to 10.61 lakh in 2023-24. The latest payroll data of the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) shows that jobs in the private sector in Haryana have decreased by 9.47%, the former CM said.

The Congress leader said there was no job security for youth employed under the Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam. The Nigam does not provide proper salary or promotion and there is no reservation. The anxiety of sudden dismissal is always there, said Hooda.

The former CM said the Congress will ensure job security with better renumeration for workers employed under Kaushal Rozgar Nigam.

After adjusting the existing skill workers, the practice of contractual recruitment will be stopped for future and permanent recruitment will be done for 2 lakh vacant posts, Hooda said.
The FBI is investigating an August 11 drive-by shooting that targeted a California activist with close ties to Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was fatally shot last year in a killing that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said could be linked to India. The vehicle with bullet marks after the shooting (HT Photo)

In an interview with Reuters, Satinder Pal Singh Raju, of Woodland, California, said FBI agents on Thursday came to speak with him and a friend who was driving the truck when they and another passenger were attacked on Interstate 505 South in Yolo County on their way back from a late dinner in Vacaville.

Nijjar was killed in June 2023 outside his gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia. That killing, and Trudeaus suggestion of possible Indian government involvement, triggered a diplomatic crisis between the countries.

Speaking through an interpreter, Raju said a white car pulled up to the left of their truck, then fell back behind them before pulling up alongside them again. That was when the first bullet was fired.

With the first shot, I ducked down, he said. But then I heard more gunshots fired.

As they attempted to escape the gunfire, their truck skidded and veered off the road into a ditch, said Raju. He and his two friends fled into a nearby field and hid behind a haystack while they called 911. Police officers later told him they located at least five shell casings.

The FBIs Sacramento office confirmed it is collaborating with the California Highway Patrol in support of the investigation into the shooting.

A spokesman for the California Highway Patrol confirmed the shooting occurred, but declined to provide details and said the investigation is ongoing.

In the same month as Nijjars killing, the FBI foiled an alleged assassination attempt against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, another prominent Sikh separatist with dual citizenship in Canada and the United States. Pannun is general counsel for Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a banned outfit in India.

The US Justice Department has charged Indian national Nikhil Gupta with trying to arrange Pannuns murder at the behest of an Indian intelligence official.

Gupta pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial in New York.

Four Indian nationals in Canada are facing charges of murder and conspiracy in the death of Nijjar.

India has denied involvement in both incidents, and it was not clear if there is a connection between the drive-by shooting involving Raju and those earlier incidents.

The Indian Embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment on Friday about the recent shooting in California.

In the days and months after Nijjars killing, the FBI and the Canadian Royal Mounted Police privately warned at least seven Sikh activists that their lives could be in grave danger, without specifying the source of the threat.

Raju told Reuters he was not among those who received such calls. Raju is involved with SFJ, an advocacy group co-founded by Pannun that organises non-binding referendums around the world to urge Punjab to secede from India and carve out an independent state called Khalistan.

The movement led to a violent insurgency in Indias Punjab state in the 1980s and 1990s.

The August 11 shooting occurred two weeks after Raju had returned from Calgary, Canada, where he helped organise a referendum that drew the participation of an estimated 55,000 members of the Sikh community, according to Pannun.

In 2019, India declared SFJ an unlawful association, citing its involvement in extremist activities. Pannun and its members deny these allegations.

Raju is not as well known as Pannun internationally, but he said he is active with organising referendums.

He said he does not have enemies, and suspects the shooting was motivated by a desire to stoke fear in those supporting the Khalistan movement. this attack on me and the death threats is not going to deter me from continuing the campaign, he said.
A pickup jeep driver was arrested and charged with murder as a road mishap victim succumbed to injuries over a month after the incident, officials said on Saturday. A pickup jeep driver was arrested and charged with murder as a road mishap victim succumbed to injuries over a month after the incident, officials said on Saturday. (HT File)

The driver had allegedly dumped Dalvir Singh Kala, a mason, in fields of Bhumaddi village instead of taking him to a hospital after hitting him.

The victim was under treatment for a month and a half before he succumbed. The Khanna police added murder sections to the case on Friday and arrested Gurmeet Singh alias Kala of Dhanaula village of Barnala.

Earlier, the accused had availed anticipatory bail as police had booked him for rash driving and causing hurt.

Issru police post in-charge sub-inspector Davinder Singh said the accused hit the victim, a resident of Kartar Nagar, Amloh Road of Khanna, with his pickup Jeep on July 9 as the victim was going to see a doctor.

As the locals gathered, the accused promised to take the victim to a hospital but fled after duping him in the fields instead.

The victim was found unconscious three days after the incident and was rushed to a hospital. He was then referred to a government hospital in Chandigarh.

The sub-inspector said that victims brother Kuldeep Singh had loged a police complaint.

The Sadar Khanna police registered a case under sections 281 (rash driving), 125 A (act endangering life or personal safety of others and causing hurt), 125 B (act endangering life or personal safety of others and grievous hurt), 324 (2) (committing mischief) and 238 (intentional disappearance of evidence related to a crime) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The SI said section 103 (1) (murder) was added to the case on Friday and police are investigating if the crime was planned.
A man, facing charges of sexually harassing his 16-year-old daughter, murdered the teenager along with his 38-year-old wife on Saturday morning after they refused to withdraw the case against him in Narela, police said. The victims neighbours heard screams and commotions from the house of the victims on Saturday morning and called the police at 9.05am, police said. (Representational image)

Investigators said that the38-year-old man had assaulted his wife and child earlier as well, and is now absconding even as police have formed teams to arrest him.

The victims neighbours heard screams and commotions from the house of the victims on Saturday morning and called the police at 9.05am, police said.

An investigating officer reached the house and found two women lying unconscious in a room on the ground floor of the house. They were taken to a hospital where doctors declared them dead. We have registered a case against the husband who is on the run, said deputy commissioner of police (outer) Ravi Kumar Singh.

Police said that the couple had been living separately for the last two years, when the man left his wife.

The suspect was in a relationship with another woman, said the DCP.

In November 2023, the suspects wife and sister-in-law went to his house and allegedly assaulted his girlfriend. She filed a complaint against the two for assault, criminal restraint, and criminal intimidation, after which a first information report was registered.

How the murder transpired?

Later, in January 2024, his daughter lodged a case against him for sexually harassing her.

The case was registered in Narela under sections of the Pocso Act and Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 354 (assault to woman with the intent of outraging her modesty) and 354B (assault to woman with intent to disrobe her).

The suspect was sent to jail for two months in the Pocso case and got out on bail in March, police said.

The case was in the trial stage since March 20 and the suspect had been pressuring the victims to withdraw the case.

The woman used to run a general store in the area, while her daughter was a Class 9 student at a government school.

The suspect tried to pressure the mother and daughter to withdraw their case against him, but they had repeatedly refused to do so, said the DCP.

Police officers said that locals and neighbours have told them that the suspect had barged into the victims home once before as well earlier this year and fought them.

Meanwhile, the girlfriends assault case was charge sheeted in a local court on August 20, the DCP added.

On Saturday morning, he came to meet his wife and daughter and an argument broke out between them. In a fit of rage, he hit them both with an iron pan and fled, said the DCP.

A district crime team and FSL Team were called on the spot for examination. Police said multiple teams have been formed and efforts are being made to arrest the accused.
News / National

by Staff reporter

A police officer and another motorist were injured on Thursday after a kombi driver who was resisting arrest for a traffic offence daringly drove into police drums which were part of the equipment used to mount a roadblock along the Gweru-Zvishavane road.Police confirmed on Friday they have opened investigations into attempted murder allegations against the driver, named George Mandaraza.The incident, according to police, happened o Thursday at a police check point at the 42-kilometre peg along the Gweru-Zvishavane Road.Said police in a statement, "George Mandaraza, 34, who was driving a Toyota Hiace kombi, registration number AFE 1506 with three passengers on board was stopped at the roadblock where he was arrested for a traffic offence and was escorted to the nearest police station."Along the way, the suspect made a U-turn and intentionally drove the kombi towards the roadblock where he hit the police drums."Subsequently, the kombi veered off the road and hit streetlights before being involved in a head on collision with a Honda Fit vehicle."Resultantly, a police officer and the driver of the Honda Fit vehicle were injured.Police said the kombi driver fled the scene after the incident.They further appealed for any information that could lead to the arrest of the suspect.
Three members of a gang operating out of a residential building in Sector 24, Gurugram, have been arrested for impersonating officials of a South Korean mobile phone manufacturing firm to dupe people across the country, police said on Saturday. The gangs activities came to light after two victims from Chandigarh and Paschim Vihar, Delhi, lodged complaints on the cybercrime portal. (File Photo)

According to police, the suspects, identified as Mani Choubey from Kaimur in Bihar, Khushwant Goit from Dehradun, Uttarakhand, and Rohit Singh from Seemapuri, Delhi, were apprehended following a raid conducted at around 4pm on Friday. Police said a mobile phone and a SIM card used in the crimes were recovered from Choubeys possession who was running the gang.

Assistant commissioner of police (cybercrime), Priyanshu Dewan, revealed that the gangs modus operandi involved monitoring social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), for users tagging the mobile phone manufacturer in complaints or issues. If the suspects found that the user had disclosed their mobile phone number on the platform, they would contact them, impersonating firm officials. They would then dupe the victims by promising to send a new phone as a goodwill gesture or a gift, Dewan explained.

According to police, investigators will seek further data from the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre to ascertain the total number of victims targeted by them till now and since when they were operating. The arrested suspects are being interrogated to ascertain the number of victims they defrauded.

Mani Choubey, identified as the mastermind, would instruct victims to transfer money to bank accounts held by his two associates. The gang withdrew the money for having fun in restaurants and other places and also for personal use, said Dewan. The ACP added that the exact number of victims is still being determined, but they have defrauded several individuals across the country.

The gangs activities came to light after two victims from Chandigarh and Paschim Vihar, Delhi, lodged complaints on the cybercrime portal of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre analysed the complaints and found that the same phone number was used to defraud both victims of approximately 37,000 in quick succession. The gang siphoned 13,499 from the Chandigarh victim and 23,899 from the one in Delhi. The number was traced to Sector 24, Gurugram, leading to the arrest of the suspects.

A mobile phone and a SIM card used in the crimes were recovered from Choubey. An FIR has been registered against the suspects under Section 318(4) (cheating or dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at the Cyber Crime Police Station (east) on Friday, based on a complaint filed by sub-inspector Manoj Kumar.
A 40-year-old man who was supervising repairs on the Delhi-Jaipur Expressway at Bilaspur Chowk was killed in a freak accident when he got crushed under a grinding machine, police said on Saturday, adding that the operator of the machine is on the run. The victim was identified as Mahesh Kant, of Rudraprayag in Uttarakhand. (Representational image)

The victim was identified as Mahesh Kant, of Rudraprayag in Uttarakhand. He was a labour supervisor for the firm that was repairing the highway from Kherki Daula to Shahjahanpur.

The incident took place at 4.30pm on Thursday when Kant was supervising the workers. A grinder machine weighing several tonnes was reversing behind him but Kant did not notice or hear it due to the extreme noise of several heavy equipment at the site, police said. The machines operator also did not see Kant standing behind the machine, they added.

Other workers, however, raised the alarm but by the time the operator stopped the machine, Kant was already crushed beneath it, a senior police officer said.

The operator had to move the machine forward so the workers could pull Kant out, the officer said. The contractors at the spot arranged an ambulance and immediately rushed Kant to the civil hospital in Gurugram Sector 10A where he was declared dead, police said. Kant was badly injured at the spot and probably died within a few minutes of the accident, the officer said.

Police said that the hospital authorities told them about the accident and one of the workers later informed Kants family.

Sandeep Kumar, public relations officer of Gurugram police, said that they will take action against the machine operator. He fled from the spot after the accident. We have asked the contractor to give us his details, he added.

Based on a complaint from the victims younger brother Gajendra Kant, a first information report was registered against the operator at Bilaspur police station on Friday under Sections 106 (causing death by negligence) and 281 (rash driving or riding on a public way) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Kants body was handed over to his family after an autopsy.
Lucknow is all set to witness the first of its kind screen concert specially curated for the fans of pop sensation and global superstar Taylor Swift. The Eras Night by Loser (Taylor's Version)(File Photo)

Popstars and artistes of such caliber have a following across the globe. Its next to impossible for them to reach out to their fans everywhere in the world. Thats when the group Loser (Taylors Version) come into picture. We have presented over a hundred screen concerts of both Taylor Swift and One Direction (before its artistes went solo), in the cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Bangaluru and Indore, shares Ashmeet Singh Saluja, the founder of the organising group.

Saluja adds that earlier whenever they announced a screen concert on their social media accounts, they saw a large number of requests from the Swifties (Taylor Swift fans) of Lucknow.

We felt that it was high time to give Lucknow its share of Swiftie mania. We are thrilled with the kind of response we have garnered from the fans since we announced our debut show The Eras Night Lucknow. The three-and-half-hour screen concert is nowhere less than the live shows, as we bring alive the artiste from real stage on biggest screens available in the city at an unbelievable price of 399 onwards.

An ardent Swift fan and mass communication student, Anshika Chaubey, sums up, In a diverse country like ours finding similar taste in music is a task. Without shelling out big some of money and getting to attend a concert like this is a blessing for all the fans like me who are eager and in high spirits to enjoy our type of music with our type of people that to in our own city.

Catch it live

What: The Eras Night

Where: Rohtas Presidential Arcade, Vibhuti Khand

When: Sunday (August 25)

Time: 3pm onwards
The staff of a community health centre (CHC) in Pallia of Uttar Pradeshs Lakhimpur Kheri district was in for a shock when a man walked in there for treatment carrying along in a plastic jar the venomous snake that bit him. Kheris Hari Swaroop Mishra showing Indian cobra that bit him. (Sourced)

The incident came to light after a video of the incident went viral on Saturday. Reportedly, an unknown CHC staff made the video of the entire incident and later posted it on social media.

Confirming it, Pallia CHC superintendent Bharat Singh said one Hari Swaroop Mishra, 47, of Kheris Swaroop Nagar locality visited the centre on Thursday (August 22). There was panic when the staff saw him carrying the Indian cobra that had bitten him, he added.

The man was a bit aware of basic things that a person should do after snakebite and he had even tied his left hand thump tightly with a plastic string where the snake has bitten. So, the venom had not spread much. His thump had completely turned blue, Singh said. We administered him anti-venom dose on time and he is perfectly all right. He was discharged on Friday, he said.

Indian cobra or Nag as they are called in Hindi is venomous and its venom is neurotoxic. Medical support can help the victim in the first 2-3 hours. Otherwise, the victim can go into coma or even die in 6 to 7 hours, said Ravi K Singh, conservator of forest, Varanasi.

In the 31-second video that went viral, Mishra could be purportedly seen informing doctors with a smile on his face about the incident. He said he was bitten by the snake while he was removing some of his old items kept in his house in Swaroop Nagar.

He further said he brought along the snake to show it to doctors so that he could get the right treatment. In the video, the staff at the CHC could also be heard praising the mans courage.

This is the only snake that can make hood as a display of defence. They are found almost in all parts of Uttar Pradesh in black, grey and other similar colours. The person bitten by this snake has to be kept awake and the anti-venom doses (up to 10 doses) are to be provided to them, Ravi K Singh, conservator of forest, Varanasi, added.

Several years earlier, the forest department had asked the health department to keep stock of polyvalent anti-venom doses at community health centre levels. In India, 90% snakes found are non-venomous while in remaining 10% only four snakes make the maximum cases of snake-bite, he said.

Indian Cobra, Indian Common krait, Indian Russells viper and Indian Saw-scaled viper are the four snakes for which only polyvalent vaccine is sufficient for patients, said Singh who is member in several state level committees of the department.

He further said in case of a snakebite, it is better to rush to a medical centre instead of wasting time in other unproven methods. Also near the snakebite location, remove all rings or pressure giving items if the patient is wearing them. In such cases, there could severe swelling, Singh added.
Mumbai: In a detailed 50-page report submitted to the state government regarding the Badlapur school sexual assault case, the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has highlighted several serious issues, including the failure of the school management to act within 48 hours after the parents of the two four-year-old survivors reported the incident. The report also highlighted the school managements failure to comply with several safety guidelines for students, including insufficient CCTV cameras on the premises. (Raju Shinde/HT Photo)

According to the commissions findings, the school principal informed the management about one of the incidents on August 14, but the authorities did not engage with parents for two days. HT had reported about this on August 22.

The report also stated that even though the management was made aware of the second case on August 16, when the parents approached the school with the police and a political party worker, the authorities failed to take cognisance of the first case and approach the police, which led to a delay in criminal action.

Sources in Mantralaya said the report highlighted the schools negligence in filing an FIR against the accused. It also identified multiple lapses in the school, such as the girls washroom being in an isolated area away from the staff room, and the pathway leading to classrooms not being covered by CCTV. The report stated that the accused, a cleaning staff member, and other employees were seen walking around the school premises without any identification cards.

Read more: Withdraw cases against Badlapur protesters: Uddhav Thackeray to Eknath Shinde govt

The report also highlighted the school managements failure to comply with several safety guidelines for students, including insufficient CCTV cameras on the premises.

Sources further revealed that the report was submitted to state education minister Deepak Kesarkar on Friday. A copy will soon be provided to chief minister Eknath Shinde and his deputies, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar.

State forms another committee

The state government on Friday formed a committee under the chairmanship of Women and Child Development Commissioner Dr Prashant Naranvare tasked with proposing additional measures to improve childrens safety in schools.

Kesarkar, who held a meeting with Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare and other department officials, said, This committee should immediately listen to the suggestions of NGOs working in the fields of citizens rights and education, and female students and propose additional measures. All schools should be connected to the commissionerate. At least one interactive TV should be provided to every school, and students should be trained through it. This training should be included as a fun Saturday activity, teaching students to recognise good and bad touch.

Read more: Badlapur assault fallout: Ex Mumbai civic chief Chahal appointed home secretary

Tatkare added that the government plans to include good-touch-bad-touch lessons in the curriculum, which will be taught through animated films.

Meanwhile, Kesarkar informed that his department suspended the Thane district education officer, Balasaheb Rakshe, for not reporting the Badlapur incident on time. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporations education officer, Rajesh Kankal, was also suspended for not installing CCTV cameras in civic schools in the city.

I have been following up on this issue for two years and, even now, work is in process and cameras are yet to be installed, Kesarkar said. The BMC plans to install 2,832 CCTV cameras in 123 schools.
Mumbai: After the Bombay high court restrained the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) from calling for a Maharashtra bandh, the opposition alliance announced on Friday evening that it would instead stage protests across the state against the Badlapur school sexual assault case. Former Maharashtra chief minister and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) chief Uddhav Thackeray along with NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar, Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan in Mumbai.(ANI)

MVA leaders and workers plan to protest with black flags in their hands and black ribbons tied to their mouths to condemn the rising crimes against women and girls in the state. Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar will participate in protests in Pune, while Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray will join an agitation outside Shiv Sena Bhavan at 11 am on Saturday.

The MVA had given a call for a Maharashtra Bandh on Saturday till 2 pm in protest against the sexual assault on two four-year-old girls at a Badlapur school and the polices mishandling of the case. However, the Bombay high court intervened on Friday and restrained all political parties and individuals from supporting or participating in a general strike.

Also Read | Badlapur incident: Pawar, Sule to hold silent protest in Pune

Soon after the high court verdict, Pawar appealed to the MVA partners to withdraw the bandh, saying they should respect the courts order.

The bandh was called in the light of the Badlapur incident, where atrocity was committed against the two minor girls, which was extremely reprehensible and has created outrage among people at all levels in society. It was an attempt to draw the governments attention to the matter and within the scope of fundamental rights provided by the Constitution. However, the Bombay high court has ruled that the bandh is unconstitutional, Pawar posted on social media.

Also Read | Withdraw cases against Badlapur protesters: Uddhav to Shinde govt

Due to the time constraints, it is not possible to appeal against this decision before the Supreme Court. Since the Indian judiciary is a constitutional institution, I urge you to withdraw the bandh planned for tomorrow while respecting the constitution, he added.

Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole said the MVA would stage protests instead of organising the bandh. Later, Thackeray, in a press conference, expressed his displeasure over the high court ruling and questioned whether freedom of expression and the right to protest exist in the country.

The ruling is not acceptable, though we respect the court, he said. The speed shown by the high court while giving the decision against the bandh was surprising, and we hope that the court will show the same speed while giving justice in the case of the sexual abuse of two minor girls. As there is no time to challenge the HC decision in the Supreme Court, the MVA has decided to withdraw Bandh. But to condemn the rising crimes against women and girls in the state, all MVA leaders across the state will stage protests with black flags in hands and black strips on the mouth.

Thackeray also indicated that the Opposition would challenge the high court ruling in the Supreme Court. People in a democracy have a right to stage protests and strikes. It cannot be taken away. It is now time to ask if protests are allowed in our democracy. Our nation gained independence through movements and agitations. But now, in independent India, agitations getting banned is shocking and raises questions whether the right to freedom of expression exists or not, he said.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde termed the Bombay High Courts order a slap on the Opposition and said the state government would implement the directive.

The Badlapur incident was a blot on humanity. It also impacted the happiness we derived from transferring 1,500 to the accounts of beneficiary women under the Ladki Bahin scheme. But the Opposition has been politicising the incident and maligning this scheme.

Reacting to Shindes comments, Thackeray said the chief minister should refer to the high courts remarks over the Badlapur incident. Isnt it a slap on the face for the government? he said.
Mumbai: A day after calling off the Maharashtra Bandh in response to the Bombay High Court order, three constituents of Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) staged protests across the state to condemn the sexual assaults on minor girls in Badlapur. Senior leaders of the opposition alliance, including Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, Nana Patole, Supriya Sule, and Balasaheb Thorat, led demonstrations in various parts of the state. In some districts, the ruling Mahayuti alliance also resorted to protests against the Badlapur incident. Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray led the protest at Shiv Sena Bhavan in Dadar.(Raju Shinde)

Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray led the protest at Shiv Sena Bhavan in Dadar, central Mumbai. In Pune, NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar, party MP Supriya Sule, and Congress leaders Mohan Joshi and Ravindra Dhangekar staged a silent protest at the Ambedkar statue near Pune station, braving morning rains. These leaders and workers, with black ribbons tied on their arms and foreheads, took a pledge to act against atrocities against women.

At the Sena Bhavan protest, Thackeray said, "Instead of acting against the accused, the state government is supporting them. In such a scenario, the people come together." He questioned the opposition to their bandh, stating, "We called a bandh for the security of women, sisters and daughters. Why has the bandh been opposed in Maharashtra and not after the bandh organised in the backdrop of the Kolkata case?"

Thackeray further criticised the government, saying, "Maharashtra has never seen such a shameless government. When crimes against women are on the rise, these 'kans mamas' were busy tying rakhis," targeting Chief Minister Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar. He urged the President to clear the Shakti bill, saying, "I urge the President, who is also a woman, to remove the dust on the file of the Shakti bill and clear it now."

Responding to accusations that the protests were politically motivated, Sharad Pawar said, "The government is saying that the opposition is doing politics. Calling it politics shows how insensitive the government is."

Sena MP Sanjay Raut defended their call for the bandh, saying, "Our call for the bandh was constitutional, and people have the right to raise their voice against atrocities." He added, "It is strange that the court terms our bandh unconstitutional but does not give any verdict on the unconstitutional government in the state."

To counter the opposition's protest, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged demonstrations at various places in the state. In Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, BJP workers protested demanding a speedy trial and strict punishment for the Badlapur case accused. State Housing Minister Atul Save, who led the protest, said, "The case should be tried in a fast-track court and the accused be punished severely. We would not tolerate atrocities against women."

Protests were also held in Thane, where Shiv Sena-UBT and Congress jointly staged a demonstration at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole and Sena-UBT district head Kedar Dighe participated in the protest.

In Nagpur, Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar and Congress MLAs Vikas Thakre and Abhijit Wanjari held a silent protest at Sanvidhan Chowk. Senior Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat, along with other leaders, staged a silent protest by tying his mouth with a black ribbon in Sangamner, Ahmednagar.
The Directorate of Medical Education, Tripura has begun the choice-filling process for the Tripura NEET UG 2024 counselling. Candidates who have registered can now fill the choice of preferred college and course on the official website at dmeonline.tripura.gov.in. Tripura NEET UG Counselling 2024: Round 1 choice filling has stared at at dmeonline.tripura.gov.in, Apply via direct link.

Candidates must note that the deadline to fill choices is till August 27, 2024 at 12 noon.

It may be mentioned here that the DME Tripura provided a 24-hour window on August 23 for candidates to review and update their documents until 3 PM. Candidates could review the documents they submitted and make any necessary modifications during this period.

Also read: UP NEET UG Counselling 2024: Last date to apply for Round 1 today at upneet.gov.in, link here

It may be mentioned here that the choice-filling window was originally scheduled to be opened on August 23, 2024.

Following the choice-filling facility, candidates will be allocated seats based on the NEET UG merit list and reservation criteria. The candidates will be allowed to choose or decline the allotted seat. If they accept the seat, they will need to download the provisional allotment letter that would be available on the official website.

Also read: SSC CGL Admit Card 2024 for Tier I out at regional website, direct link to download here

In case candidates do not wish to move forward with the seat allotted to them, they can take part in the subsequent counselling rounds likely to be carried out by DME Tripura.

Subsequently, candidates will need to report to the institutions along with the necessary documents for due verification. The process will comprise of verification of NEET UG score and other credentials.

Also read: CBSE, ISTM join forces to launch 2-day Training of Trainers certification course for teachers and heads

They will also be required to pay the fee for admission.

Tripura NEET UG Counselling: How to fill/lock choices

Visit the official website of DME Tripura at dmeonline.tripura.gov.in. Enter your credentials to log in to the space provided on the home page. Click on the link for NEET UG Counselling choice filling. Enter your college of preference and submit. Once done, save the confirmation page. Keep a printed copy of the same for future reference.

For more information, candidates are advised to visit the official website.
Actor Priyanka Chopra attended the wedding festivities of her brother Siddharth Chopra and his fiance Neelam Upadhyaya in Mumbai on Friday evening. Their Roka ceremony took place in April this year, and Priyanka was a part of it, too. Priyanka arrived in India in the early hours of Friday. (Also Read | Priyanka Chopra pens note after her brother Siddharth Chopra and his fiance Neelam Upadhyaya's roka ceremony) Priyanka Chopra attended her brother Siddharth Chopra's wedding festivities in Mumbai.

Priyanka stuns in pink saree

In a video posted by a paparazzo on Instagram, Priyanka was seen arriving at the event venue with her friend. For the occasion, she wore a shimmery pink saree and matching blouse. She opted for eye-catching jewellery, tied her hair into a bun and also carried a bag.

Priyanka interacts with paparazzi

As she entered the venue, she briefly posed for the paparazzi at the entrance. She waved and smiled at the photographers, but then looked at them with a surprised expression. She also shook her head before smiling and posing again. When a paparazzo said, "Welcome to India", she said, "Thank you."

When she exited the venue later, the paparazzi stationed outside the venue asked her to pose for the camera. The actor, who seemed to be in a hurry, told the camerapersons, "Aapko jaldi lena hoga, main nikal rahi hoon (You have to click soon, I'm leaving). Thank you." When a paparazzo said that she was unavailable, she said, "Milti hoon na main, hoon yaha pe (I'll meet, I'm here now)." She then got inside her car.

Priyanka reached India on Friday

Priyanka, who just wrapped up filming for her upcoming movie The Bluff, was spotted in a casual outfit at the Mumbai airport. She waved at the paparazzi and flashed a peace sign. Taking to her Instagram stories, Priyanka shared a video from her flight window seat showing the lights of the city. "Mumbai meri Jaan (Mumbai, my heart)..," she wrote alongside the video.

Priyanka was in Mumbai in July too

Last month, Priyanka attended the wedding of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant in Mumbai, where she was accompanied by her husband, Nick Jonas. She shared her joy on Instagram, posting photos from the event and expressing her delight at the celebrations. "Clearly, I missed chaats and dancing at baraats!" she wrote.

About Priyanka's films

The Bluff, directed by Frank E Flowers, features Priyanka as a former female pirate in a 19th-century Caribbean setting. In addition, she will star alongside John Cena, Idris Elba, and Jack Quaid in the action comedy Heads of State, directed by Ilya Naishuller. Fans are also eagerly awaiting Priyanka's Marathi film Paani, which is set for a big-screen release on October 18.

Directed by Adinath Kothare and produced by Priyanka and her mother Madhu Chopra's Purple Pebble Pictures, the film tells the story of a man from a drought-stricken village striving for water self-sufficiency. The film, originally released in 2019, received the National Film Award for Best Film on Environment Conservation. She is likely to be a part of Farhan Akhtar's Jee Le Zaraa along with Katrina Kaif and Alia Bhatt.
Film legend Alain Delon was buried on Saturday in a private funeral attended by his children, relatives and close friends as fans mourned outside the gates of his country estate where he was laid to rest near his beloved dogs. Film legend Delon is buried near his dogs as fans mourn

The 88-year-old star of such classics as "Le Samourai" and "Purple Noon", who was once described as "Europe's James Dean", died on Sunday.

French police had set up roadblocks near the manor in the village of Douchy, with the airspace overhead also closed for the entire weekend.

The 50 or so mourners allowed into the estate's private chapel had to leave their mobile phones at the door to ensure strict privacy.

Veteran Italian actress Claudia Cardinale, 86, who starred opposite Delon in "The Leopard", was "too sad" to come, her agent told AFP.

"They ask me to put into words ," she said after his death, "but the sadness is too intense".

But Rosalie van Breemen, Delon's ex-wife and mother of his children Anouchka and Alain-Fabien, was present, sources close to proceedings told AFP.

Fans had left countless floral tributes and cards at the manor gates all week, with around a hundred people gathered there on Saturday to say goodbye.

"I wanted to pay him homage, even from behind the gates, on the day of the funeral, as a symbolic gesture," Marie-Christine Guibert, a neighbour, told AFP.

"I really had to be here," said Maxime Ducharme, 28. "I inherited a passion for Delon from my parents."

Delon's three children who were with him when he died told AFP that they were "extremely touched by the fervour and affection shown by his fans in France and across the world."

Since his death, France has been paying homage to Delon, one of the country's biggest but most divisive stars.

He was one of the last living legends of a golden era of French cinema in the 1960s.

While he had legions of fans around the world, Delon's relations with women caused controversy. His sons accused him of domestic violence, which Delon denied while admitting to slapping women.

The actor also drew criticism for supporting Jean-Marie Le Pen, co-founder of the far-right National Front, and for his opposition to same-sex relationships.

Feminists were appalled by the lifetime achievement award the Cannes Film Festival gave him in 2019.

Delon lived his later years largely as a recluse, though his personal life kept him in the headlines.

In 2023, his three children filed a complaint against his live-in assistant Hiromi Rollin, accusing her of harassment and threatening behaviour.

The siblings went on to wage a public battle in the media and the courts, arguing over his health, which worsened after a stroke in 2019.

Even in death, he was still making headlines after it emerged that he asked for his favourite dog to be put down and buried with him.

But his longtime friend and fellow 1960s screen icon Brigitte Bardot said the Belgian malinois called Loubo would be spared.

"The family of Alain Delon have confirmed to us that they will take care of him. Loubo will of course not be euthanised," her foundation said on the X social media platform.

French TV presenter Stephane Bern said Delon's wish to be buried with his dogs was very him, comparing him to Frederick the Great of Prussia who did the same.

It was a gesture "of majesty and panache", he said, "very Delon, worthy of a Leopard who had become a misanthrope."

"I have absolutely no fear of death," the actor insisted in 2011, posing for photographs outside the tomb where he intended to be buried.

Despite his reputation as an inveterate womaniser both on and off the screen, Delon, a Catholic, said his "mad passion" was for the Virgin Mary.

"She is the woman I love most in the world," he said, "the one I talk most to."

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This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Harare mayor, Councillor Jacob Mafume, has been criticised for attending a ZANU-PF indoctrination programme at the party's Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology.Mafume is among a group of mayors, chairpersons, councillors, and staff from 92 local authorities across the country who attended the two-day training session at the Rainbow Towers Hotel in Harare.The training was conducted by Munyaradzi Machacha, the principal of the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology and ZANU-PF's National Political Commissar, on behalf of the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.However, the mayors of Bulawayo, David Coltart, and his deputy, Edwin Ndlovu, did not attend the training. Instead, the city's Town Clerk and Finance Director attended in their place.Former CCC MP Job Sikhala, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), suggested that the opposition councillors attending the training may be motivated by greed. He wrote:"There are more important things in life than money and power. No amount of silver and gold should persuade you to sacrifice your values and principles to be dragged to the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology, to be brainwashed with some redundant ideology."The ideology that is anti-people, promotion of the persecution of those in disagreement with that moribund ideology and intolerance of opponents of the establishment!Hopewell Chin'ono, a prominent government critic, was more blunt in his assessment of Mafume's attendance at the ZANU-PF ideological training.Chin'ono accused Mafume of "treachery" saying he is now serving his own interests and those of the ruling ZANU-PF party. Said Chin'ono:"Harareans rejected ZANU-PF in toto, but here you are, Mayor, using taxpayers' money to attend an ideological indoctrination workshop at a ZANU-PF indoctrination school!"I wouldn't blame anyone who argues that you are no longer serving the interests of the residents of Harare, you are now serving your own interests and those of ZANU-PF!"I can't imagine that you would leave your office for the whole day to go to a ZANU-PF indoctrination school when your residents have no clean drinking water!"It is just irresponsible for any opposition-elected mayor to do such a reckless thing! You have insulted the residents of Harare."They are powerless because everything in Zimbabwe is captured, but at this point, it is fair to say you don't represent them anymore!"History will never forgive you for this treachery Jacob, you have betrayed the residents of Harare."Our country is broken both politically and economically because of ZANU-PF, yet you see it fit to not only go to a ZANU-PF indoctrination school but to also use our money as Harareans attending this rubbish!"If Harareans had a way to remove you they would, but of course, ZANUPF courts will protect you, I am disappointed in not only your irresponsible actions, but in you too!"You have undermined the democratic process by participating in a ZANUPF indoctrination workshop while serving as an opposition mayor, you have "legitimised" the ruling party's authoritarian tactics."Long live David Coltart, the Mayor of Bulawayo, for rejecting this nonsense!Mafume is a member of the opposition Citizens' Coalition for Change (CCC) and was re-elected as the mayor of Harare following the 2023 general elections.His re-election came after Sengezo Tshabangu controversially recalled his two predecessors, Ian Makone and Lovejoy Chitengu.Tshabangu, known for unilaterally recalling scores of CCC MPs and Councillors, defended the mandatory two-day ideological training, describing it as a positive initiative aimed at building the capacity of councillors and aligning local governance with national policies.The Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology is named after Herbert Chitepo, a prominent nationalist and former chairperson of the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU).The school focuses on topics such as patriotism, national security, and the history of Zimbabwe's liberation struggle.
Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce from Ben Affleck, after months of speculations of a separation. Now, as per a new report from Page Six, Jennifer (JLo) has listed 'irreconcilable differences' as the reason for her split from Ben Affleck. The two spent the entire summer away from each other, which included important days like the Fourth of July, their wedding anniversary and JLos birthday. (Also read: Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck's relationship timeline: A tale of 2 decades, 2 weddings, 2 breakups) FILE PHOTO: Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez at the premiere for the film "This Is Me... Now: A Love Story". REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo(REUTERS)

Details about the divorce

The report pointed out that Jennifer submitted the divorce papers on the day of their second wedding anniversary. She stated irreconcilable differences as the reason why she wishes to end the relationship. The separation date was listed as April 26. The report also added that Jennifer did not want Ben to be awarded spousal support as pointed in the court documents. Moreover, Jennifer also requested that Ben's surname be dropped from her name in the divorce filing.

Their relationship timeline

Ben and Jennifer, who are known to fans as Bennifer first began dating on the sets of Gigli (2003). They went on to star together in Jersey Girl (2004). They got engaged in 2002, and were due to marry in 2003, but decided to split up in early 2004, just four months after their scheduled wedding. The Hustlers star attributed the breakup to Ben's discomfort with the high media scrutiny around their relationship.

In 2021, both of them shocked fans when they got back together 17 years after their initial split. The two tied the knot in Las Vegas on July 17, 2022. They also hosted a lavish ceremony in Savannah to celebrate their union.

We did it. Love is beautiful. Love is kind. And it turns out love is patient.Last night, we flew to Vegas, stood in line for a license with four other couples, all making the same journey to the wedding capital of the world, she wrote in her newsletter around that time.
Alleged leader of violent West Philadelphia-based gang and popular rapper Abdul Vicks was fatally shot on Friday in the city's Olney section. According to local US reports, the 25-year-old musician, who performed as Ybcdul was shot multiple times in the chest and right hand around 3:34 pm on the 5500 block of N. 6th Street. 25-year-old Philly rapper Abdul Vicks, aka Ybcdul, was fatally shot on Friday, 23 August, in Olney. Arrests in connection with the shooting are yet to be made.(YouTube)

As per The Philadelphia Inquirer, although the alleged ringleader was taken to Einstein Medical Center for medical attention, he ultimately died at 3:55 pm. Vicks' stage alias was presumably derived from the gang name's acronym that fully referred to Young Bag Chasers (YBC). He was also known by his other nickname: Mr Disrespectful.

More details about the shooting have yet to be released. The official source that released the bare minimum information about Vicks' death has reportedly requested anonymity because they are not authorised to speak publicly about it.

No arrests have been in made in Abdul Vicks' shooting, the police said. The authorities have urged anyone with information to contact the Homicide Unit at 215-686-3334 or reach out to the police department's tipline 215-686-TIPS (8477).

Also read | Insane crossover: K-pop stars 2ne1, NewJeans, aespa, Treasure attend Kanye West's Vultures 2 concert in Korea

More background into Abdul Vicks aka Ybcdul's Philly gang connections

22-year-old Quamere Hall, another rapper who goes by the stage name Mere Pablo and is suspected to be a Vicks associate, was arrested earlier this month. He is linked to last year's shooting of a 34-year-old man, who ultimately succumbed to his injuries as well.

Hall was arrested at the Criminal Justice Center where he is said to have been supporting fellow YBC member Arshad Curry, who was to be sentenced for shooting five, among whom three died in 2021. Curry was subsequently sentenced to up to 85 years in prison.

In addition to Vicks, Hall and Curry, three other YBC gang members were convicted of killing two teenagers last year.

Also read | What do Eminem, Trump, Diddy have in common? They're all betting faves to date Jennifer Lopez post Ben Affleck divorce

Mr Disrespectful especially went viral on social media in February for digging up an enemy's grave. During his No Jumper" podcast appearance earlier in 2024, he admitted to have actually done the deed. You know that was me, he said and later laughed.

Confessing that he was trying to find his rival's grave, Vicks added, He ain't got one though. They ain't never get him one.

I'm not giving people clout no more, he continued. I'm done with that. I ain't saying no names.
As an Asian student in the West in the last decade, Elizabeth Lo used to hear some women there vow a simple solution to infidelity in marriage -- 'If I found out my husband was cheating on me, I would file for divorce.' Most women in the East would beg to differ, thought Elizabeth, who was born in Hong Kong. It wouldn't be long before she would discover a burgeoning love industry in China that even offered a new secret cure to a crowded marriage. (Also Read: Why War searches for explanation of savagery of conflicts through Einstein and Freud's letters: Amos Gitai) Hong Kong filmmaker Elizabeth Lo's new documentary, Mistress Dispeller, will premiere at the 81st Venice Film Festival beginning on August 28.

It was the stark difference between love portrayed in Hollywood romances and the love bound up with sacrifice and duty in Asian culture that spurred Elizabeth, now a Hong Kong-based filmmaker, on to her sophomore film, a documentary on the recent Chinese phenomenon of employing a professional to get rid of a third party in marriage.

After nearly three years of intense research and criss-crossing China to understand social change following the rise of the country as a superpower, Elizabeth is now ready to premiere her new film at the 81st Venice Film Festival beginning on August 28.

Part of the Venice festival's Orizzonti competition representing the latest aesthetic and expressive trends in world cinema, Mistress Dispeller directed by Elizabeth promises to be Asia's answer to America's Mr & Mrs Smith, albeit without the bullets, bombs and burning down the house. The film's production team includes Danish editor Charlotte Munch Bengtsen, who also edited Shaunak Sen's Oscar-nominated documentary, All That Breathes.

Set in Luoyang, the ancient capital of China and now a tier-three industrial city, the 94-minute film is about a woman hiring a professional to go undercover and break up her husband's affair to save their marriage. A couple called Mr & Mrs Li negotiate their troubled marriage in Mistress Dispeller, filmed with real characters.

Elizabeth Lo was born and raised in Hong Kong.(Photo: Tom Tang)

"The mistress dispeller phenomenon has only emerged in the last decade or so with the rise of China," explains Elizabeth, who studied at New York University Tisch School of the Arts and later at Stanford University for a Master of Fine Arts. "It is sort of the market's answer to a problem that needs a market demand that needs to be solved for certain people whether it is the wife being cheated on or the husband or the wife trying to get rid of their mistresses or their third parties in a smooth way," she adds.

"The Chinese economic rise has supposedly led to a rise in infidelity as well. As China opens up, the divorce rates go up as the country enters the middle classes and upper middle classes that had a seismic shift to how the society and family are organised," says the director, who received a Sundance Institute of Producers Programme grant for the film project.

The love industry claims a success rate of 99 per cent for cases handled by mistress dispellers. "I don't have the data to back that up, but the mistress dispeller in the film does feel that by the time someone reaches out to her for her services, there is some hope to achieving success." says Elizabeth, whose debut documentary, Stray, captured the endearing relationship between stray dogs and human beings in Istanbul, Turkey, despite the state's attempts to get rid of the dogs from the streets for over a century.

The mistress dispeller phenomenon is not purely gendered. The production team, which worked on several possibilities for their project, also filmed -- though not used -- a male third party who was getting dispelled by the mistress dispeller hired by the husband.

Elizabeth Lo talked to The Hindustan Times ahead of the world premiere of Mistress Dispeller at the Venice Film Festival on September 2. Excerpts from an interview:

What was the point of departure for your new documentary, Mistress Dispeller?

At first I was interested in documenting the way that women navigate their place in Chinese society. That is when I discovered the mistress dispeller phenomenon in China. And I thought mistress dispeller was a very interesting way to look at that. I was interested in using the crisis of infidelity within a marriage as a way to explore how people meet that crisis and how they react to it and what that says about my own culture, how emotion is expressed and how love is lived.

Is mistress dispeller a China-only phenomenon?

Right now it seems mistress dispeller exists only in China. I think part of why this works in China is because so much is predicated on how in Asian cultures you don't want to say things directly because it would be considered offensive. What you can communicate directly in the West, it would be unthinkable in the East. The mistress dispeller is able to come into a relationship because she works covertly, in disguise. She is able to bring to the surface things that can't be acknowledged openly and fix the problem while maintaining a facade that everything is okay on the surface. Without publicly acknowledging between the wife and the husband, she is able to fix the issue by breaking up the affair of their own accord without a confrontation taking place necessarily. That may be specific to the Eastern way of handling conflict and confrontation.

When did you first meet Wang Zhenxi, the real-life mistress dispeller in the film?

We met Wang Zhenxi in 2021. She was one of the dozens of mistress dispellers that we met with in China. But she was the only one on the first day of our scouting shoot who was able to get us access to three of her clients -- a mistress, a wife and husband -- all on the same day. We filmed her and her case as it was already being resolved. I was so moved by that experience to see all three opposing parties of a love triangle gathered together expressing how they felt and why they did what they did, the remorse or nostalgia they felt for a relationship that is lost. I was moved by how my own empathy was moving towards people like the cheater or the mistress disrupting the marriage. I felt like that would be a worthy film, a film that asks you to try to relate to figures that you may find stigmatised or you might have judgment about. For me making films is all about trying to understand why people behave the way they do and that there are larger forces which bear down on our individual choices. And even the way we love and feel we deserve to be loved.

Mistress Dispeller is about a woman hiring a professional to go undercover and break up her husband's affair to save their marriage.

What kind of strategies does a mistress dispeller like Wang Zhenxi have?

She is like a master chess player. She seems to completely understand human nature, how people behave, what next steps they will take, and she orchestrates every step that she takes with her client in figuring a certain response and understanding how to respond to that response. In a way that yields the outcome of her client's desires in a least destructive way possible. She invests heavily in psychology courses and studies it on her own and uses the strategies of the couples therapists, but in a very practical way.

How does the modern thinking of freedom and independence relate to the mistress dispeller phenomenon?

There is a1956 book called The Art of Loving by (German social psychologist) Eric Fromm I read and informed the way I saw the premise of this whole film. One of his incredible quotes is, 'If you look at love or the lack of love in any society, you can trace it back to the rise of capitalism and the commodification of every transactional nature of relationships.' I can see in the wider love industry that we documented throughout China, and I think it is just not in China, but throughout the world in different degrees, love, marriage and the ability to settle down and create a family are so much tied to your economic status, what property you own, and even something as shallow as your height. I think those kinds of issues are affecting people's ability to find and maintain love. In such a harsh environment, how do you sustain love in middle age given the aging process and temptations within society and the balance in power between genders. All these things affect family life. I don't have any judgments about it. I am only interested in exploring what it meant for each of these people as they are figuring out this crisis that they are in.

How did you approach the structure and narrative of the film?

I think the way the film is structured is like Rashomon. It is very much inspired by that film by Akira Kurosawa where its characters are going through a time of national change. I think China is also going through a moment of seismic change. You can see in this Rashomon portrait of three people a love triangle and their different perspectives of the same love story that they are all grappling with changes to society in their own individual homes.

I wanted this film to be a deeper meditation of love, family and desire. So I had to choose a form that would encourage viewers and seduce viewers into spaces that would enable them to contemplate what the characters are going through. One of the strategies is that in terms of cinematography we used very long takes, fixed frames that don't have much movement because we wanted what happens in front of the camera, the conversations that are unfolding, to feel like a play unfolding in the cinematic medium. You can follow the arc of the conversation organically with as little cuts as possible for a long time. Because as humans we are such complex creatures, what we see is not often what we mean, so much is in the reading between the lines. Therefore, by playing an entire conversation, unedited almost -- they are real conversations that the camera has captured between two people trying to solve a problem or two people with conflicting desires in front of each other grappling with each other's needs and trying to meet them -- you can see something that is true to life on the screen. I would hope that, because I find when I watch the scenes unfold, every time I watch it I have a different interpretation of what each character's motivation was meant by one gesture or one line. There is a real joy to that being able to watch something unfold in front of your eyes and have the freedom because of the form of strategies i took that is much more patient and hopefully less editorialised that you can bring your own cultural baggage or your own value systems and bring it into what they are thinking and feeling. And come to your conclusions about what you should do and who loves who and who belongs with who on your own.

How did you choose the production process to the demands of the narrative?

The original concept of the film was that we wanted to have the elegant structure of a love triangle where you really get to know and invest in three characters' journeys as they sort out their own affair. We were prepared, if we couldn't get access to people opening their lives to us, for a much more diffuse approach where we would just do a survey of various love industries in China or dipping very shallowly into each of Wang Zhenxi's work cases. But thankfully we were able to work with Wang Zhenxi. It took over a year to cast the couple, Mr & Mrs Li, and the mistress Fei Fei. The wife knew what the film was about. The husband and mistress couldn't have known from the beginning. Otherwise the workflow wouldn't work. In terms of the production process, we followed the case for a few months from beginning to end. We also travelled across China not only filming the love industry vignettes but also natural landscapes that we used to integrate into the film as a rhythmic reprieve from the very talk-heavy domestic scenes so that they could function as breathers for the audience and also to situate the audience and characters within the natural landscape of China in which this culture is born.

How do you react to the recent attempts in Turkey to get rid of street dogs in relation to your documentary, Stray, on the same in 2020?

Cities without stray dogs are inhumane. It is so natural that stray dogs should live among us. I discovered Turkey had this incredible relationship with stray dogs where for the last 100 years the state has tried to get rid of the dogs from the streets, but because people have this deep attachment to the street dog culture they protested against the government's culling attempts. So stray dogs have thrived for 100 years on Turkey's streets. In Turkey, maybe in India too, dogs, by being able to be free and having the right to exist on the streets, have been able to live their lives on their own terms. I feel sad now the film almost feels like a time capsule because of what is happening to the dogs in Turkey now. Like there is this brief window in time when there was harmony and now it is being destroyed. I hope that they will bounce back again.

Have you been to India? Do you think a mistress dispeller could work in Indian culture too?

I recently went to Mumbai for a friend's Indian wedding. It was a wonderful event. I feel all weddings should be in the Indian style. I have a feeling mistress dispeller might work in India given the parallel systems of family and collective good.

What is your next project?

I want to challenge myself as a storyteller living through this era of climate catastrophe, in some ways grappling with it in a film. I don't know what approach I would take. But I feel it is essential to somehow deal with it.
There are times when along comes a director, who completely changes the narrative of cinema and gives you a deep insight into social themes like patriarchy and misogyny. Tamil director PS Vinothraj gave us his debut film, Koozhangal in 2021 on these lines, and though it didnt have a theatrical release, it was one of the most celebrated films of the year. Now, he is back with Kottukkaali (The Adamant Girl), another highly feted film  starring Anna Ben and Soori  featuring the same social themes but presented in a novel and simple way. Also read | Indias enter to Oscars: Koozhangals journey shaped by the struggles of director Kottukkaali movie review: The Soori and Anna Ben-starrer was released on August 23.

The premise

In Kottukkaali, which is set in a small village near Madurai, we meet Meena (Anna Ben) whose family believes she is possessed and is all set to take her to a shaman to drive away the evil spirit. They pack themselves into an auto for the journey and the group led by Meenas fiance, her maternal uncle Pandi (Soori), head out on this trip. Meenas angry family thinks she has been possessed by her lover, who they believe is from a lower caste; this road movie takes us through Meenas journey.

PS Vinothraj is a master storyteller. who has supreme control over his craft and the characters he presents to us on screen. Meena is someone, who has just one dialogue in the film and her entire story is told through her expressions and emotions. For her, silence is power, and through this she retreats into a world that no one else can break into. She is trapped and the director depicts this using the rooster that thinks it roams free yet it is caught in a trap.

On the other hand, Pandi is a typical, petty yet aggressive, entitled male who epitomises patriarchy and the belief that women are objects that are owned. Caste plays a key role here as well as regressive beliefs that keep women in check. Unfortunately, the women also perpetuate these regressive beliefs because they dont know any better or anything different. We see how the men think they are all-knowing and cant get a simple thing done, like deal with the fly, and how the women are smarter by comparison.

The performances

Anna Ben and Soori have lived out their roles in this film and their performances need to be applauded. They are the heart and soul of this film. Soori, who started off as a comedian and proved his mettle with director Vetrimaarans Viduthalai, has shown once again that he is a highly talented performer, who needs to be given the right role.

Kottukkaali is an experience and not just a film

Visually too, the film is a piece of art as Vinothraj takes us on a beautiful road trip with a family steeped in regressive, patriarchal beliefs from a small village in rural Tamil Nadu. The directors writing is impeccable, while the shots and cinematography by B Sakthivel and editing by Ganesh Siva is top-notch.

Tamil star Sivakarthikeyan and producer Kalai Arasu must be congratulated for choosing to back this gem by Vinothraj, who has proved that he is an extremely talented director, whose best work is yet to come. Kottukkaali is an experience and not just a film.
Actor Nagarjuna Akkinenis convention centre - N-Convention - was razed by the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring and Protection Agency (HYDRA) on Saturday morning, August 24. The actor called the demolition unlawful in a statement on X (formerly Twitter) and approached High Court, which ordered a stay on it. (Also Read: Daggubati family hosted a high tea for Sobhita Dhulipala and Naga Chaitanya after their engagement) Nagarjuna moved High Court to stop the demolition of N-Convention in Hyderabad.

Nagarjuna approaches court

According to Nagarjuna's team, the Telangana High Court has ordered a stay on the demolition of N-Convention. A statement released by his team reads, High Court ordered a stay on demolition of structures owned by Nagarjuna, N-Convention. The actor approached the court for the stay order and was granted it. Justice T Vinod Kumar conducted the inquiry. High Court has issued an interim order to stop demolitions.

After news of the demolition made rounds, the actor responded to it. Pained by the unlawful manner of demolition carried out in respect of N Convention, contrary to existing stay orders and Court cases, he wrote on X, sharing that he thought fit to issue a statement to protect his reputation and make it clear that he hasnt violated laws.

He also added that the convention centre is on patta land with none of it encroached on the tank near it. In respect of the building constructed inside the private land, there is a stay order granted against any earlier illegal notice for demolition. Today clearly, the demolition was carried out wrongfully based on misinformation, he added.

Nagarjuna also claimed that no notice was issued prior to the demolition. As a law-abiding citizen, if the Court before which the matter is pending, had decided against me, I would have carried out the demolition myself, he wrote.

What happened

N-Convention is managed by N3 Enterprises and is jointly owned by Nagarjuna and Nalla Preetham. According to The Hindu, HYDRA razed most of the structure by 11 a.m. on Saturday. The authorities cited the structure's location within the Full Tank Level of the Tummidikunta lake as the reason.

Due to that there has been frequent flooding in 100-feet road, Ayyappa Colony and other areas, according to authorities. The N-Convention centre had a main hall of 27,000 sq ft that could accommodate 3000 people and a 26,000 sq ft open-air venue called Banyan.
The climate crisis is one of the most pressing global challenges of the 21st century. The impacts of climate crisisranging from extreme weather events to long-term shifts in climate patternsare already being felt across the globe. As governments strive to address these challenges, the importance of high-quality data in shaping effective policies cannot be overstated. Accurate data, particularly economic data, is crucial for understanding the real costs of the climate crisis and guiding governmental responses. Climate crisis (AP)

High-quality data serves as the foundation for informed decision-making. In the context of the climate crisis, this data encompasses a wide range of information, including:

Economic indicators: Data on GDP, employment, productivity, and trade flows helps quantify the economic impact of the climate crisis.

Environmental data: Information on carbon emissions, temperature changes, and sea level rise provides insights into the physical manifestations of the climate crisis.

Social data: Demographic data, health statistics, and migration patterns are essential for understanding the social costs of the climate crisis.

Cost-benefit analyses: High-quality data allows for accurate assessments of the costs and benefits of various climate policies, helping to identify the most effective strategies.

The economic impacts of the climate crisis are profound and multifaceted. According to a study by the World Bank, the global economy could shrink by up to 23% by 2100 if no action is taken to mitigate the climate crisis. This projection is based on extensive economic modeling, which relies on high-quality data to estimate the potential costs of the climate crisis across various sectors.

For example, agriculture is particularly vulnerable to the climate crisis, with extreme weather events and shifting climate patterns leading to reduced crop yields. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that global crop yields could decrease by up to 25% by 2050 due to the climate crisis. Such data is crucial for governments to understand the potential economic losses in agriculture and to design policies that can mitigate these impacts, such as investing in climate-resilient crops or improving irrigation infrastructure.

Similarly, data on the costs of climate-related disasters is essential for government planning. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that in 2020, the United States experienced 22 separate billion-dollar weather and climate disasters, with a total cost of $95 billion. High-quality data on these events allows governments to allocate resources effectively for disaster preparedness and response.

High-quality data is not only essential for understanding the economic impact of the climate crisis but also for guiding effective government responses. This includes:

Policy formulation: Accurate data helps governments design policies that target the most pressing climate-related issues. For instance, carbon pricing mechanisms, such as carbon taxes or cap-and-trade systems, rely on precise emissions data to set appropriate pricing levels that reflect the true cost of carbon.

Resource allocation: Governments need high-quality data to allocate resources efficiently. This includes funding for renewable energy projects, subsidies for climate adaptation measures, and investments in infrastructure to withstand extreme weather events.

Monitoring and evaluation: Data allows governments to monitor the effectiveness of their climate policies and make adjustments as needed. For example, data on greenhouse gas emissions can be used to assess the success of emission reduction initiatives and to refine strategies for achieving climate targets.

International cooperation: The climate crisis is a global issue that requires international cooperation. High-quality data enables governments to engage in meaningful negotiations and to commit to global agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, with a clear understanding of their own national circumstances and the global context.

The European Union (EU) provides a clear example of how high-quality data can guide governmental responses to climate crisis. The EUs climate policy, which aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, is underpinned by extensive data collection and analysis.

The European Environment Agency (EEA) collects data on greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, and climate impacts across all EU member States. This data informs the EUs Emissions Trading System (ETS), which is the worlds largest carbon market. By accurately pricing carbon, the ETS incentivises businesses to reduce emissions and invest in cleaner technologies.

Moreover, the EU uses data to track progress towards its climate goals. The EEAs annual Trends and Projections in Europe report provides detailed data on emissions reductions and renewable energy deployment, allowing the EU to adjust its policies as needed to stay on track.

Despite the importance of high-quality data, there are significant challenges in collecting and utilising it effectively. These challenges include:

Data gaps: In many developing countries, there is a lack of reliable data on economic, environmental, and social indicators. This hampers efforts to assess the full impact of the climate crisis and to design effective policies.

Data Integration: The climate crisis is a complex issue that requires the integration of data from various sources and disciplines. Ensuring that data is compatible and can be used together is a major challenge for governments and researchers.

Timeliness: The climate crisis is a rapidly evolving issue, and data needs to be up-to-date to be useful. Delays in data collection and reporting can hinder timely policy responses.

Political influence: The use of data in policy-making can be influenced by political considerations. Ensuring that data is used objectively and transparently is essential for effective climate policy.

High-quality data is essential for understanding the real costs of the climate crisis and for guiding effective governmental responses. As the impacts of climate crisis become more severe, the need for accurate and comprehensive data will only grow. Governments must invest in data collection and analysis to ensure that their climate policies are based on the best available evidence. By doing so, they can mitigate the economic, social, and environmental impacts of the climate crisis and build a more sustainable future.

This article is authored by Ananya Raj Kakoti and Gunwant Singh, scholars, international relations, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
Imphal, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said on Saturday that the visit of Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi shows that the Centre is concerned about the ethnic violence in the northeastern state and is keen to restore peace. Army chief general's visit to Manipur shows Centre keen to restore peace: CM

He also said the chief of the army staff visited Manipur at a crucial juncture.

Singh, responding to media queries at the CM's Secretariat here, said, "The chief of army staff came along with three or four commanders, including that of Eastern Command. We deliberated on many issues and his main purpose was to restore peace in the state at the earliest. He also discussed issues in border areas and the crisis in the neighbouring country."

General Dwivedi reviewed the security situation along the international border in Manipur, an army statement said.

He lauded the efforts of the Indian Army and Assam Rifles towards the maintenance of peace and harmony in the area.

Singh said, "His visit at the crucial juncture of the state shows that the Centre is concerned about the crisis in Manipur and keen to restore peace. The army chief general instructed some of the senior officers to take action after due discussions with the government of Manipur."

Over 200 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence in Manipur between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjacent hills-based Kukis since May last year.

On the Suspension of Operations pact among the Centre, the Manipur government and Kuki militant outfits, Singh said, "There has been no concrete instruction from the Centre about this."

The CM had earlier informed the assembly that the state cabinet, after seeing the unwanted activities of the militant groups, withdrew from the pact in March 2023 and the agreement had not been extended from February 29 this year.

The SoO pact was signed by the Centre, the Manipur government and two conglomerates of Kuki militant outfits  Kuki National Organisation and the United Peoples Front . The pact was signed in 2008 and extended periodically thereafter.

As part of the SoO pact, a joint monitoring group , comprising representatives of central and state government agencies, the KNO and UPF, was formed to oversee adherence to the ground rules.

Singh also thanked Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and all the members of the Assam assembly for their initiatives to pass a Bill to allow the Manipuri language as an associate official language in four districts of the state.

"It is a long-standing demand for the Manipuris residing in Assam and I want to show my appreciation, on behalf of the state, to Sarma and all other members of the Assam assembly."

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
An Ayodhya resident has been booked by the Uttar Pradesh Police for allegedly pronouncing triple talaq to her wife after she praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for the development of the city, news agency PTI reported. In 2017, the Supreme Court of India declared the practice of Triple Talaq unconstitutional.(Image for representation.)

The man, identified as Arshad, has also been accused of beating her wife, Maryam, and hurling hot daal (lentils) at her.

Maryam has also alleged that the man's family tried to strangle her on the day the man pronounced instant triple talaq. Besides Arshad, seven family members have also been named in the case.

On August 22, 2017, the Supreme Court of India declared the practice of Triple Talaq unconstitutional. Triple Talaq means liberty from marriage, eventually or immediately, where the man ends his marriage by simply uttering the word talaq three times.

In a video clip surfaced on social media, the woman, who hails from Bahraich, has alleged that she was married to Arshad on December 13, 2023.

"My father got me married with the consent of both the parties and by spending more than his means," she says in the video, according to PTI. After the marriage, when I went out in the city, I liked the roads of Ayodhya Dham, the beautification, the development and the atmosphere there. On this, I praised chief minister Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in front of my husband.

She alleged this made Arshad angry, and he sent her to her maternal home in Bahraich.

Jarwal Road Police Station Incharge Inspector (SHO) Brijraj Prasad said that Maryam returned to Ayodhya to live with her husband after some relatives intervened.

However, subsequently, Arshand again hurled abuses at the chief minister and the prime minister and gave her triple talaq by uttering talaq, talaq, talaq, the SHO added.

Maryam also alleged that her husband beat her on the day he pronounced triple talaq to her, and her mother-in-law, younger sister-in-law, and brothers-in-law tried to strangle her.

Also Read | Man pronounces triple talaq to wife at workplace, booked

Based on a complaint filed by Maryam in Bahraich, eight people of the family, including Arshad, were booked in the case. The case has been registered under assault, abuse, threat and Dowry Prohibition Act and Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act.

(With inputs from PTI)
Amid the rain, wearing black bands on their foreheads and arms, leaders and workers of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, comprising the Nationalist Congress Party - Sharad Pawar (NCP-SP), Shiv Sena (UBT), and Congress protested at various locations in Maharashtra on Saturday against the Badlapur incident, where two minor girls were allegedly sexually assaulted. Badlapur sexual abuse case: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray protesting against Badlapur incident in Thane on Saturday. (Raju Shinde/HT photo)

Former chief minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray joined the protest outside the Shiv Sena Bhavan in Dadar. Attacking the Eknath Shinde-led state government, Thakceray alleged the accused in the case is being supported by the ruling dispensation.

We have organised bandh and would have implemented it successfully but they got afraid of it and sent their people to the court. We called a bandh for the security of sisters and daughters. Why has the bandh been opposed in Maharashtra? Thackeray questioned.

He said that Maharashtra has never seen such a shameless government and took a jibe at chief minister Eknath Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis, saying when crime against women are rising, these Kans Mama were busy in tying Rakhis.

Atrocities against women and girls are increasing in the state and there had been 12 such incidents in just 10 days, said Shiv Sena - UBT Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi.

Everyday a new case under POCSO Act is registered in Thane. We are protesting against it. After Uttar Pradesh, heinous crimes are happening in Maharashtra. Women of Maharashtra are asking about Shakti law, she said.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said that their call for the bandh was constitutional and people have the right to voice their opposition to atrocities.

Although we have called off the bandh, leaders from the three ruling parties will take to the streets to protest against the events in Badlapur, said Raut.

On the other hand, Congress leader Nana Patole, NCP-SP leader Jayant Patil participated in the protest with party workers.

It is strange that court terms our bandh unconstitutional, but does not give any verdict on unconstitutional government in the state, Raut said.

However, to counter the protest by opposition, Bharatiya Janata Party resorted to protests at various places in the state. In Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, BJP workers protested demanding speedy trial and strictest punishment to the Badlapur case accused.



BJP leaders demanded that the case should be tried in fast track court and accused be punished severely. We would not tolerate atrocities against women, said BJP leader and state housing minister Atul Save.

Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar said that the Bombay High Court on Friday prohibited political parties or individuals from holding a Maharashtra bandh today or on any future date.

Respecting the court's decision, we have withdrawn the bandh. Crime against women is increasing day by day, law and order is completely destroyed. In such situation when government is not paying attention, it is opposition's job to raise voice, PTI quoted Wadettiwar as saying.

How did victim's family come to know about sexual assault?

One of the victims in the Badlapur sexual abuse case had trouble walking and was hesitant in going to the washroom before the family came to know about the horrific crime.

The crime has triggered massive protests in the state and Opposition called for Maharashtra Bandh on August 24. The victim is still in a state of shock, said a close relative of the 4-year-old girl. Initially, the family was confused about why the child was refusing to go to school.

The family thought she had urinary tract infection, the relative told the news channel, adding that she was avoiding going to the washroom.

The relative said the parents of the other victim told them that their daughter had said a 'dada' misbehaved with her. Since she was reluctant to go to the washroom or school, they also went for the medical test.

The test results indicated sexual assault, the relative added.

Per the FIR, the incident took place on August 13 inside the school's toilet. The parents lodged a complaint on August 16.

The police have arrested Akshay Shinde, the 23-year-old member of the school's cleaning staff, for allegedly abusing the 4-year-old children.
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday claimed that Hindus have not tried to enter India from Bangladesh after the neighbouring country plunged into political crisis after Sheikh Hasina's ouster as prime minister.



"Hindus are staying and fighting in Bangladesh. In the last one month, not a single Hindu person has been detected trying to enter India, PTI quoted Sarma as saying. Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

He also asserted that Muslims from the neighbouring country were attempting to crossover to seek employment in Indias textile sector.

35 Muslim infiltrators have been arrested in the past one month... they are trying to enter, but those coming are not for Assam, but to go to Bangalore, Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore to work in the textile industry, the CM claimed.

We have requested our prime minister to impress upon the Bangladesh government to ensure the safety of Hindus, Sarma said as per PTI report.



ALSO READ: Himanta Sarma on love jihad law: 'People put Hindu names on FB, lure girls'

Anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh

On August 5, Sheikh Hasina, the longest-serving prime minister, was forced to resign and flee Bangladesh after protests demanding her ouster had intensified. The Awami League leader reached India even as the protesters stormed her official prime minister's residence.



There were reports of vandalism and attacks on Hindus there, who make up about eight per cent of Bangladesh's 170 million population. They have historically supported the Awami League.

According to a Reuters report, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council estimated at least 52 of the country's 64 districts had been affected by incidents of sectarian violence since August 5.



Prime Minister Narendra Modi while congratulating the new interim government's chief adviser and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, said,"We hope for an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities."



According to a PTI report, in a telephonic conversation with PM Modi, Yunus said Dhaka would prioritise protection and safety of Hindus and all other minority groups.

(With agency inputs)
News / National

by Staff reporter

In a disturbing incident that happened at Nyika Growth Point in Bikita, a man died after his house caught fire while he was drunk on the night of August 17.A charcoal heater found in the house is believed to be the cause of the fire that claimed Edison Maruta (37)'s life.Masvingo Provincial Police Spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the death of Maruta and said police were investigating the matter to establish cause of fire."We confirm the death of Edison Maruta who resided at Gomba Garage Complex, Nyika Growth Point Bikita. Investigations to establish the cause of fire are still ongoing and the police are urging people not to use charcoal heaters in their homesteads," said Insp Dhewa.Sources privy to the incident said Maruta parted ways with his friend Chamunorwa Masawo (28) proceeding to their residence on August 17, at around 2035 hours. Maruta is said to have entered his room while he was drunk.At around 0245 hours on August 18, Masawo was wakened by the noise from outside, after which he went out and saw Maruta's house engulfed in flames.Masawo called for help and when people broke into the house they found Maruta's body lying on the floor, facing upwards, before they discovered a charcoal heater in his room. The body was taken to Silveira Mission Hospital Mortuary for post-mortem.In a separate incident that happened in Chipinge on August 18, a 70-year-old woman perished an inferno together with her four year old granddaughter after the hut they were in was set on fire. The police are investigating the murder case with one suspect, Trust Sithole Chivhunze, a mental patient already arrested in connection with the case.Sophia Sithole was burnt beyond recognition while her granddaughter was found with a fractured skull.Another 19-year-old woman was found dead in Magada, Stopover, Epworth Harare, after the room she was in was set ablaze and her husband Brian Gorosvipa Muzanenhamo is being sought by the police in line with the matter.
Personnel of the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) stopped Border Security Force (BSF) officers from building a cattle fence near the India-Bangladesh border in Coochbehar, north Bengal on Thursday evening, further straining relations between the two countries amidst the political turmoil in Dhaka. Border tense as Bangladesh guards stop India from building fence

There was no violence, said people familiar with the matter, but the construction has now been put on hold and will be brought up during a meeting of the director generals of the two forces in Delhi this October.

While our personnel were supervising the construction of the cattle fence, BGB personnel came over and objected. It was not even a border fence, said a top BSF official aware of the issue.

The fence was being built to ensure that cattle from one country dont stray into another, which often causes disputes between village residents on either side, added the official, who asked not to be named.

Another official said on condition of anonymity that the cattle fence was being built as per a 2012 agreement between the two countries.

GB and BSF battalion commandants held a flag meeting at the border to sort out the issue amicably, but could not arrive at a solution.

Read more: Bangladeshs Yunus proposes high-level collaboration on floods with India

The matter will be brought up during a meeting of the director generals of the two forces, scheduled to be held in Delhi in the first week of October. On both sides of the border, there is no violence, but patrolling by both forces has been increased, said the second official.

The chiefs of the two border-guarding forces meet twice a year to discuss issues along the 4,096.7km Indo-Bangladesh border. The last meeting was held in Bangladesh on March 5 this year. To be sure, BGB is still to confirm the date of the upcoming meeting.

This is the second time in a week that tensions have spiked at the frontier, which has been on the edge since Bangladeshs Awami League government collapsed on August 5 amid chaos and violence. Then prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled Dhaka as the bloody protests against her administration ratcheted up, forcing her to resign. Since then, an interim government led by Nobel laureate and microfinance pioneer Muhammad Yunus has taken charge.

However, several people, especially supporters or members of Hasinas Awami League, have tried to make their way into India, forcing BSF to up their guard and keep illegal immigrants at bay.

Read more: UN human rights team in Bangladesh to discuss investigation

On Saturday, BGB refused to return five Indian nationals who accidentally strayed into Bangladesh territorial waters. The five men were helping BSF personnel rescue smuggled animals in the Ganga on Saturday, when their speed boat developed a snag and the currents swept them towards Bangladesh. Despite several flag meetings at various levels, BGB has refused to return them and they were instead jailed in a Bangladesh prison. They are still in prison.

BSF headquarters in Delhi has maintained in different press statements that BGB has responded well on matters concerning illegal infiltration and protection of minorities, but people on the ground in the eastern frontier have said BGBs stance on a range of issues has changed since the government fell.

Since Hasinas ouster, the BSF in its statements has maintained that the BGB personnel have been taking steps to protect Indian nationals and those from minority communities in Bangladesh. But many mid-level officials in BSF that HT spoke to are apprehensive that the regime change could lead to changes in the BGB too and recalled that the relationship between the two forces was not amicable in the years when Hasina was not in power during the early 2000s.
Kolkata/New Delhi, The Central Bureau of Investigation on Saturday began lie detection tests on former RG Kar Medical and Hospital principal Sandip Ghosh and five others as part of their probe into the rape-murder of a woman medic at the institute and also registered a case of alleged financial irregularities at the same facility, officials said. CBI begins lie detection tests in doctor murder case, polygraph analysis of key accused postponed

The polygraph test on arrested key accused Sanjay Roy was postponed due to technical issues and the central probe agency will determine a new date soon, they added.

"The polygraph tests are being conducted on Ghosh and five others, including interns, doctors, and an person connected to Roy. Technical glitches prevented civic volunteer Roy's test from being conducted as scheduled. We will soon decide when to carry out the test," an officer said.

A CBI source said the test on Roy may be held on Sunday at the Presidency Correctional Home, where he is currently lodged.

Due to the time-consuming nature of the polygraph tests and the limited availability of devices  only two are currently available  it may take a few more days for the CBI to complete testing all seven persons involved, the source added.

Additionally, on Saturday, the CBI interrogated over 15 people, including 10 police officers and civic volunteers, as part of their ongoing investigation into the brutal rape-murder of the medic.

On the same day, the school education department in West Bengal issued showcause notices to three educational institutions - Baluhati High School, Baluhati Girls' High School, and Bantra Rajlakshmi Girls' School - for involving students in a rally during school hours in protest against the crime. The schools were given 24 hours to respond to the notices.

According to a school education department official, the rally, which took place on Thursday, involved not only students but also teachers and non-teaching staff, and was conducted in violation of regulations.

Meanwhile, the CPI student, youth, and women wings organised a rally in Kolkata, protesting against the alleged notices issued by the police to some of their leaders in connection with the vandalism at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

The West Bengal state committees of the Students' Federation of India , the Democratic Youth Federation of India , and the All India Democratic Women's Association led the march from College Street to Kolkata Police headquarters at Lalbazar. Police put up barricades to halt the march midway.

In another demonstration, over 200 Jadavpur University alumni rallied from the university's main gate to Golpark, calling for a swift investigation, the arrest of those involved, and a fast-track trial.

On the same day, approximately 300 app-based cab drivers in Kolkata staged a protest rally from Rashbehari Crossing to Esplanade, organised by the Leftist trade union CITU, condemning the crime.

Earlier in the day, a team of senior state health department officials visited the hospital to meet the protesting junior doctors and urge them to resume work.

The ongoing strike, which has lasted 16 days, has severely disrupted healthcare services across West Bengal.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court had requested the protesting doctors to resume their duties and directed that no coercive action be taken against them. The state government had also appealed to the junior doctors to return to work to address the large number of patients at state-run hospitals.

In response to the doctors' demands, the state government removed three senior RGKMCH officials on Wednesday and canceled the transfer of former principal Ghosh to the Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital.

The incident, which involves the rape-murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor on August 9, has sparked widespread outrage both in India and internationally. Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer, was arrested the following day for his alleged involvement in the crime.

The CBI took over the investigation from Kolkata Police last week, following an order from the Calcutta High Court.

Meanwhile, the agency on Saturday registered a case of alleged financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College. It took over the investigation from the Special Investigation Team constituted by the West Bengal government on the directions of Calcutta High Court.

The Calcutta High Court directed the CBI to submit a progress report on the investigation within three weeks.

The High Court had given the directive for a CBI probe on the plea of former deputy superintendent of the hospital Akhtar Ali who had alleged financial irregularities in the hospital during the tenure of its former principal Sandip Ghosh and sought a probe by the central agencies. PTI SCH ABS SUS AMR RBT RG MNB

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), probing into the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, started conducting the polygraph tests of seven persons from Saturday. A team of experts from Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), Delhi reach Kolkata for a polygraph test to be conducted on Dr Sandip Ghosh, former principal of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, in Kolkata on Saturday. (ANI)

The federal agency registered a first information report (FIR) against Dr Sandip Ghosh, former principal of the medical college, a day after it was directed by the Calcutta high court to probe into the allegations of financial irregularities in the hospital during Ghoshs tenure.

A special team of CBI officials arrived in Kolkata on Saturday to conduct the polygraph tests, said an agency official.

Earlier an additional chief judicial magistrate (ACJM) court in Kolkata gave the nod to the central agency to conduct polygraph tests on seven persons  Sanjay Ghosh, the prime accused in the case, Dr Sandip Ghosh, former principal of the college, four trainee doctors who had dinner with the victim hours before she was allegedly raped and murdered and Sourav Bhattacharya, an associate of Roy.

There were several inconsistencies in the statements given by Roy during questioning. The polygraph test of Roy is likely to be held at the Presidency correctional home where he is presently lodged, said the official.

The ACJM court in Sealdah had sent him to judicial custody for 14 days on Friday after the 14-day period of police custody expired.

People familiar with the matter in the CBI said that Roy, a civic police volunteer with the Kolkata Police, had consumed alcohol and had also been to a red-light area in north Kolkata hours before the crime. Bhattacharya had accompanied him.

On August 8, around 11 pm, the two went to RG Kar Hospital where Bhattacharyas brother was admitted for undergoing a surgery. They left a few minutes later after speaking with the doctors.

The two went to Chetla, in south Kolkata, for a drink. Roy was riding the motorcycle. They also went to a red-light area in Sonagachi in north Kolkata. At around 3 am on August 9, the duo again reached RG Kar, said an official.

While Bhattacharya insisted on returning to the police barracks, Roy went to the hospital. The two even had a tiff on this issue outside the hospital. Bhattacharya got off the motorcycle and returned to the barracks in Salt Lake. CCTV footage in the hospital showed Roy carrying a helmet in his hand.

Roys two-wheeler (WB01A-E5021) with KP (Kolkata Police) written on it was earlier seized by the police. It was taken to the CBIs office at CGO complex in Salt Lake on Saturday for inspection.

Around 10 am on August 9 (by then the crime had taken place) Bhattacharya found Roy sleeping where they used to stay. Bhattacharya tried to wake Roy up but couldnt. He called Roy on his mobile around 12.19 pm. The call went unanswered. He again called Roy around 12.50 pm so that they could have lunch together. Roy arrived when Bhattacharya had almost finished his lunch.

The news of the crime had already started trickling down by then. Bhattacharya asked Roy to enquire as to what had happened in the hospital as the latter knew some of the guards there.

Bhattacharya wanted to go to the hospital as his brother was admitted but Roy avoided returning to the hospital and instead planned to drink alcohol that afternoon. Roy was intercepted by the police at night and arrested in the morning of August 10, said an official.

A CBI official said that Ghosh and Roy were called for polygraph test at the CBI office in Salt Lake on Saturday. The tests started in the morning.

A polygraph test, also known as a lie detector test, is a procedure that measures and records several physiological indicators, such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and skin conductivity, while a person is asked a series of questions. As per the test, the deceptive answers will produce physiological responses that can be differentiated from those associated with non-deceptive answers.

A polygraph test is not scientifically proven to have a complete success rate, and the result of the test is not considered a confession and is not admissible in a court of law. The test is done only to assist investigators in their probes and obtain leads from suspects.
New Delhi, The CBI on Saturday registered a case of alleged financial irregularities at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College where a trainee doctor was found dead in a bloodied state on August 9, officials said. CBI takes over investigation to probe financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College

The agency took over the investigation from the Special Investigation Team constituted by the West Bengal government on the directions of Calcutta High Court.

The high court which had already handed over the probe into the rape and murder of the medico also transferred the probe of financial irregularities to the CBI "in the interest of ensuring a comprehensive and unbiased inquiry".

"...this Court directs that the investigation be transferred to the CBI, given that the case involved serious allegations and multiple agencies handling different aspects of the case could lead to inefficiencies or inconsistency for comprehensive justice, unnecessary delays in the judicial process and potential misinterpretation of information thereby undermining effective and credible enforcement. Therefore, the investigation should not be fragmented between different agencies. Handing over the investigation to the CBI ensures consistency," Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj said.

The high court directed the CBI to submit a progress report on the investigation within three weeks.

The court had earlier told the state police to hand over the case diary and necessary paperwork by Saturday at 10 AM.

The central probe agency collected all the documents from the police and re-registered the FIR. According to the procedure, the CBI takes over the investigation from state police and re-registers its FIR as its own, keeping the details unchanged. The central agency gives its findings in the final report and submits it before a special court.

The High Court had given the directives for a CBI probe on the plea of former Deputy Superintendent of the hospital Akhtar Ali who had alleged financial irregularities in the hospital during the tenure of its former principal Sandip Ghosh and sought a probe by the central agencies.

Ali had already filed a complaint with the state police in July 2023.

He had given documentary evidence to corroborate the claims of massive corruption, improper utilization of government funds, selling of used hazardous bio-medical waste and transfer of officers for monetary benefit, citing serious ramifications of such illegal activities upon public health and safety as well as misappropriation of public funds.

The state government constituted an SIT on August 16 to conduct an enquiry and investigation into the allegations of financial irregularities in R.G Kar Hospital during the period between January 2021 till date.

The medical college came into media glare following the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor in a seminar hall on August 9 in which a traffic police volunteer Sanjay Roy was arrested.

The gruesome crime resulted in nationwide protests by doctors and citizens.

The Supreme Court on Friday appealed to the protesting doctors to resume work and that it was issuing necessary directions to ensure their safety.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Shillong: The Meghalaya chief ministers office (CMO) on Friday released a statement saying that chief minister Conrad K Sangma, who has been unwell since Thursday, is currently being treated for typhoid disease at the civil hospital in Shillong. Meghalaya chief minister Conrad k Sangma (File Photo)

A communique from the CMO said the chief minister felt unwell on August 22 with a high temperature and severe illness, following which he was initially treated at home while his blood samples were sent for tests.

However, after blood tests it was identified as scrub typhus and typhoid, read the statement.

He has been admitted to the civil hospital in Shillong today due to the persistent high fever. Medications have been provided by the senior specialists, the statement further read.

Elaborating that the CMs condition is being closely observed, the CMO informed that although he still suffers from severe symptoms of this climate change disease, his vitals are within normal range and he is being treated under constant supervision.
Defence minister Rajnath Singh and his American counterpart Lloyd Austin on Friday held wide-ranging talks at the Pentagon in Washington to deepen the bilateral relationship, with the dialogue putting the spotlight on a raft of issues including defence cooperation, industrial collaboration, regional security, the Indo-Pacific region and other pressing international matters. Washington: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh with United States Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin, in Washington, USA, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024. (PTI Photo)(PTI)

They met a day after India and the US signed two key agreements to bolster defence cooperation -- the Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA) to ensure the mutual supply of defence goods and services to resolve unanticipated supply chain disruptions, and a memorandum of agreement regarding the assignment of liaison officers to enhance cooperation, understanding, interoperability and sharing of information on matters of mutual interest.

Singh arrived in Washington on Thursday on a four-day official visit.

Both ministers expressed happiness on the conclusion of SOSA, which encourages the defence industrial ecosystems of both countries to work together and enhances the supply chain resilience, said a defence ministry statement issued in New Delhi.

They also welcomed the signing of the second agreement under which India will deploy its first liaison officer to the US Special Operations Command, it added.

The command is headquartered at the MacDill air force base in Florida.

Excellent meeting with my dear friend @SecDef Lloyd Austin. We reviewed the existing defence cooperation activities and discussed ways to deepen it further. The signing of Security of Supply Arrangement and the agreement for positioning of Indian officers at key US commands are pathbreaking developments, Singh wrote on X.

Read more: 'Dedication to US should not be questioned': Rajnath Singh to Indian diaspora

During the talks, Singh highlighted the co-development and co-production opportunities in India in the areas identified in the India-US defence industrial cooperation road map adopted last year. The road map seeks to fast-track technology cooperation and co-production in critical areas including air combat and land mobility systems, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, munitions, and the undersea domain.

The two ministers reviewed and appreciated the progress made in operationalising the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness, a Quad initiative for real-time, integrated and cost-effective maritime domain awareness in the crucial region. The Quad nations are India, the US, Japan, and Australia.

This comes at a time when China is seeking to expand its footprint in the region by setting up military bases, bullying countries to advance its unlawful maritime claims and ensnaring vulnerable states in unsustainable debts to force strategic concessions.

They welcomed the ongoing Indian participation in the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) and noted that India shall deploy its navy personnel in CMFs Combined Task Force 150 headquarters in 2025, the Indian statement said.

In April, INS Talwar seized 940 kg of drugs in the Arabian Sea, the Indian Navys first interdiction of illicit narcotics as a member of the CMF, a 45-nation naval partnership.

The Indian Navy joined CMF in November 2023.

Read more: Rajnath bound for US after DAC clears Predator and QUAD deals

The two ministers commended the efforts of the India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) for establishing a defence innovation bridge between the two countries, with the involvement of start-ups, industry, academia, and both governments with the goal of accelerating the adoption of cutting-edge technologies and enhancing warfighting capabilities of both sides.
Fissures emerged within the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), a key actors body, on Friday in the wake of the release of the Hema committee report on the plight of women in the Malayalam film industry. Actor Siddique denied the existence of a power group within the industry, as was mentioned in the Hema committee report (File photo)

At a press conference in Kochi, actor Siddique explained the bodys position on the Hema committee report which has narrated incidents of sexual harassment and abuse faced by women in the industry. The response came five days after the release of the report amid allegations that the actors body did not take the report seriously and was trying to protect the unnamed abusers mentioned in the report.

When the report was made public, we were in the middle of rehearsals of a stage show. Thats why we didnt get the time to read the report and explain our position. There was no other reason for the delay on our response, Siddique said.

We welcome this report and the recommendations it has made. We want the state government to implement them as they can only improve the conditions in the film industry. If women have faced sexual harassment, the police must file FIRs and investigate them. AMMA will not protect the abusers, the actor said.

He further said that the report is not against AMMA or its activities as is being portrayed in sections of the media. He also denied the existence of a power group within the industry, as was mentioned in the Hema committee report.

How can the industry function if there is a power group that dictates who can act or not? The success of a film decides the success of an actor based on the verdict of the audience. I dont know this so-called power group who decides everything, the general secretary said, adding that most of the members of AMMA were never consulted by the committee headed by retired justice K Hema.

Siddique also said that there were only a few isolated incidents in the industry. On the basis of one or two isolated incidents, generalising and demeaning AMMA and the industry as a whole is not right, he said.

At the same time, AMMA vice-president and actor Jagadish said: I personally apologise for the delay in the response of AMMA to the report. We should have reacted earlier. We were preparing for a stage show, but thats no excuse to defer explaining our position on the report.

In response to Siddiques isolated incidents remark, he said: If the Hema committee has stated that women have faced harassment and that there were knocks by men on the doors of the hotel rooms they stayed in, we shouldnt be asking whose door was knocked. If an actor has made such an allegation, it must be investigated. Its not right to say that these are isolated incidents and run away.

AMMA is expected to convene its executive committee soon to discuss the way forward on acting on the recommendations of the Hema committee report, according to people familiar with the matter.
The Haryana unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has requested the Election Commission to postpone the upcoming assembly elections scheduled for October 1, 2024, citing concerns over low voter turnout due to an extended holiday period. Haryana BJP president Pandit Mohan Lal Badoli, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and senior BJP leaders during the state election committee meeting at BJPs Gurukamal office in Gurugram on Friday. (HT PHOTO)

Haryana's Chief Electoral Officer Pankaj Agarwal confirmed to PTI that the commission received a copy of the communication on Friday over e-mail.

"We have received the communication from state BJP and forwarded it to the Election Commission..," Agarwal told PTI.

The request has sparked a sharp response from the Congress, which accused the ruling party of trying to delay the polls out of fear of losing power.

What Haryana BJP chief told EC

In a letter dated August 22, Mohanlal Badoli, the state unit chief of BJP, said, It is brought to your notice that on 28.09.2024 (Saturday) and 29.09.2024 (Sunday), there will be a weekly holiday in all government and private institutions of the state. Due to polling day on 01.10.2024 (Tuesday), all government and private institutions will remain closed on this day as per law. Then on 02.10.2024, there will be a national holiday on Gandhi Jayanti.

Read | Why not: Kumari Selja on whether she is in running for Haryana CM

This, Badoli argued, could lead to many residents taking an extended leave from September 28 to October 2, leading to a huge decline in the percentage of voting.

Badoli also pointed out that the Bishnoi community, a significant voter base in Haryana, would likely be absent on October 1 due to their annual pilgrimage to Mukam village in Rajasthan.

Read | BJP finalises names of probables for 90 Haryana assembly seats

He urged the Election Commission to consider rescheduling the polls to a later date to ensure maximum voter turnout, citing past instances where election dates had been changed for similar reasons.

For example, the date declared for voting in Punjab Assembly elections was changed on 14.02.2022 (due to Sant Ravidas Jayanti on 16.02.2022) to 20.02.2022. We hope that you will take a positive decision on this suggestion soon, the Haryana BJP leader said.

The Congress, however, was quick to dismiss the BJP's concern, interpreting it as a sign of the ruling party's nervousness ahead of the elections. Congress MP Deepinder Hooda said the BJP was making "childish arguments" to avoid facing the electorate.

Seeing its defeat in front, the ruling party is giving childish arguments. Because it has no issue, no work or achievement to tell the public and no 90 candidates to give tickets to. That is why BJP is conspiring to postpone the elections by making an excuse of holidays, Hooda posted on X in Hindi.

Voters of Haryana are very aware. They will not go anywhere for a holiday, but will come to the polling booth in large numbers to vote for the BJP, he added.

Read | Haryana CM Nayab Saini dares Bhupinder Hooda to make records of his CM tenure public

The Election Commission had announced on August 16 that the Haryana assembly elections would be conducted in a single phase on October 1, with the results to be declared on October 4. The BJP is aiming for a third consecutive term in power, while the Congress is eyeing to reclaim control of the state.

The tenure of the current Haryana Vidhan Sabha ends on November 3.
PM Narendra Modi Ukraine visit updates: In a landmark visit to Kyiv, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has offered as a friend to help bring peace to Ukraine in a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, with many in the war-torn country hoping that it would pave the way for an Indian role in peace mediation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on August 23, 2024. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

The first visit by an Indian prime minister in modern Ukrainian history came at a volatile juncture in the war launched by Russia in February 2022. Russia is making slow gains in eastern Ukraine as Kyiv presses a cross-border incursion.

News agency Reuters reported that the optics closely resembled the PM Narendra Modi's visit to Moscow last month where he called for peace and embraced Russian President Vladimir Putin, angering Ukraine, where a Russian missile strike hit a children's hospital on the same day.

Also Read | Putin doesnt respect you': Zelensky flags India-Russia trade amid conflict

The BBC reported that it was surely no coincidence that the first place Mr Modi was taken on Friday was Ukraines history museum where he was invited to watch an exhibition remembering all of the 570 Ukrainian children reported to have been killed since Russias full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during presentation of BHISHM cube to Ukraine, in Kyiv, Friday. (PTI Photo)

Conflict is particularly devastating for young children, Modi wrote on the social media platform X. My heart goes out to the families of children who lost their lives, and I pray that they find the strength to endure their grief.

They laid teddy bears at the memorial at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in World War II before observing a moment of silence.

Also Read | In Ukraine, PM Modi urges Zelensky to sit down for talks with Russia

News agency Associated Press, citing analysts, reported that visit to Ukraine could also be an attempt by Modi to strike a more neutral stance after what has been seen as his lean toward Russia.

He also chided Modi for hugging Putin during their meeting. But on Friday Zelenskyy also hugged Modi, apparently putting aside his criticism, the AP report added.

A Ukrainian analyst said the outcome of Modis first visit is likely to be modest, as this is just "the beginning of a complex dialogue between India, Ukraine, and Europe, the report said.

Establishing relations with India will be challenging and a long process, AP quoted Yurii Bohdanov on his Telegram channel as saying.

If India were to support Ukraines approach to a peace settlement, it could enhance Kyiv's chances of gaining more backing from other countries in the Global South", where India remains Chinas main competitor for influence, he said.

This will further increase pressure on Russia, Bohdanov added.

In another report, the BBC, citing Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Centre think-tank in Washington, reported the trip will further reassert Indias strategic autonomy.

India isnt in the business of placating Western powers, or anyone for that matter. Its a trip meant to advance Indian interests, by reasserting friendship with Kyiv and conveying its concerns about the continuing war, Kugelman said.

'Significant visit'

In the run-up to the visit, Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser in Zelensky's office, told Reuters it was significant because New Delhi really has a certain influence over Moscow.

"It's extremely important for us to effectively build relations with such countries, to explain to them what the correct end to the war is - and that it is also in their interests," he said.

As Western nations have imposed sanctions on Russia and cut trade relations with it over the invasion, India has developed its economic ties.

Indian refiners that rarely bought Russian oil in the past have emerged as Moscow's top clients for seaborne crude since Russia poured troops into Ukraine two-and-a-half years ago. Russian oil accounts for over two-fifths of India's oil imports.

The chief of Ukraines Presidential Office Andriy Yermak said Modi's visit was historic and emphasised Ukraines expectation that India could play a role in ending the war with a just peace, referring to Ukraines peace formula.

Its important to have diplomatic evidence that the picture is more complicated, and these players also respect Ukraine and engage with Ukraine under these circumstances, New York Times quoted Ukraines foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba as saying in an interview.

The NYT reported claimed Indian officials have said they are not seeking a mediating role but will convey messages between Ukraine and Russia if requested.

India is seen as interested in a resolution to the war to avoid further isolation of Russia in the West, which could push Moscow into a closer embrace with China, Indias rival in Asia, it reported.

Modi's visit, said Kuleba, is a big diplomatic breakthrough for Ukraine in its effort to press neutral nations to show balance in their relations with the warring countries. He added that Ukraine is not seeking a mediating role by India in potential talks, the report added.
The ancient Sree Sree Dhakeshwari National Temple in old Dhaka stood as a symbol of religious harmony and communal unity during the political turmoil in Bangladesh that led to the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government, according to a PTI report. Dhaka: Visitors at the Dhakeshwari National Temple enter a gateway on the premises of the shrine at Old Dhaka area, in Dhaka, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024.(PTI)

According to Ashim Maitro, a 53-year-old priest who has served at the temple for 15 years, members of the local community, including Hindus, Muslims, and others, came together to protect the shrine as the anti-government protests reached their peak on August 5.

"I was not feeling afraid for myself but just concerned about the safety of our old temple and idols of deities here. The temple committee members were also present and we closed the doors and the main gate," PTI quoted the priest as saying.

Read: Bangladesh arrests retired Supreme Court judge

When Prime Minister Hasina left the country, "no visitor was here", he said, adding there was "no police force" either at that time as everything was in disarray amid political chaos.

"Members of the local communities helped. Muslims, Hindus and others came to stand guard outside the temple so that no harm comes to the temple," the priest said and expressed relief. "Nothing untoward has happened here from that day till today," he said.

Even during the height of the unrest, the temple's daily rituals continued uninterrupted. The evening aarti, a prayer ceremony, was performed as usual at 7 pm, just 30 minutes after the Maghrib prayer at nearby mosques, according to the priest.

Read: Border tense as Bangladesh guards stop India from building fence

Maitro and the temple committee ensured that the 'bhog,' a ritual offering, was presented every day according to tradition.

The political transition in Bangladesh saw Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus being sworn in as the Chief Adviser of an interim government on August 8. Yunus visited the Dhakeswari Temple shortly after, reaching out to the Hindu community in the wake of attacks on minority communities during the unrest. Clad in his signature kurta-pyjama, Yunus spent time with community members, offering assurances of protection and support.

"Yes, I was there when he visited the temple. They welcomed him (Yunus) with the beating of the 'dhak', and I and other priests brought him to pay respect to the deity. He spent about 20-25 minutes here," Maitro recalled.

Dhaka: Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus with Hindu community members at the famous Dhakeshwari Temple in Dhaka, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. (PTI)

Read: Bangladeshs Yunus proposes high-level collaboration on floods with India

In the aftermath of the political chaos, the situation at the temple has gradually returned to normal.

"After the formation of the interim government, slowly police personnel have been deployed at the temple premises and now their number has grown strong, he said, adding "police is now here day and night".

Attack on Hindu minorities

Several Hindu temples, households and businesses were vandalised and at least two Hindu leaders affiliated with the Awami League party headed by Hasina were killed in the violence in Bangladesh after she fled the country, according to community leaders in Dhaka.

With PTI inputs
News / National

by Staff reporter

A Harare family has filed a missing person's report accusing a Citizens Coalition for Change MP of "hiding" a 16-year-old girl.The family says in a report filed at Budiriro 2 Police Station that Trish Dewa-Moyo was last seen with Glenview North MP Happymore Chidziva who allegedly promised to find her a job."She has been gone almost two weeks. We suspect he is hiding her somewhere," Trish's aunt Sitabile Dewa told ZimLive.The family says it has seen evidence that Chidziva, who is married to Trish's cousin, is having an affair with the teen which would be an offence under Zimbabwean law which sets the age of consent for sexual relations at 18 years."Chidziva should release the girl and let the law take its course. I just want justice for my brother's daughter. He cannot just come and ruin my family," Dewa said.Police called Trish on her phone but she would not say where she is, Dewa added.Chidziva had agreed to speak to our reporter but then changed his mind.In a voice note sent to Trish's aunt, obtained by ZimLive, the MP admitted he is the one who picked her up when she left home but denied they were romantically involved.According to Chidziva, Trish wanted to go to the home of a friend who would assist her find a job. He says he picked her up at around 8PM and dropped her off in the Harare CBD.Chidziva goes on to admit that he has been helping Trish financially for several years, without his wife's knowledge."I am not in a relationship with Trish," he maintained.The MP insists that he has also been making efforts for Trish to return home "because right now the impression is that she left on my account."
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered tributes to Mahatma Gandhi statue at Oasis of Peace Park in Kyiv, the sleuths of Special Protection Group (SPG) deployed the bullet-resistant shields to protect the Indian PM after anti-India sentiment in Ukraine was conveyed by the Indian diaspora. The sleuths of Special Protection Group (SPG) deployed the bullet-resistant shields to protect PM Modi

No less than 60 SPG commandos led by Director SPG Alok Sharma were deployed at the Mahatma Gandhi statue venue after the PM's team was told about the anti-India sentiment prevailing in Ukraine due to New Delhi's perceived proximity to Russian president Vladimir Putin.

During PM Modis meeting with the Indian diaspora, it was conveyed that Indians were facing a tough time in the country as Ukrainians blame Indians for siding with Putin and Russia.



ALSO READ: What are BHISHM Cubes that PM Narendra Modi presented to Ukraine?

It is learnt that the Indian SPG team was totally on alert during the seven-hour visit of the PM to Kyiv and bullet resistant shields were unfolded at the Park to foil any sniper as PM Modi walked into the Peace Park. Videos aired by the news channels showed the BR shields being deployed and the entire place was swarming with security personnel.

The PM's security team heaved a sigh of relief after Narendra Modi boarded the train back to Poland, from where he is flying to New Delhi tonight.



ALSO READ: You have a big influence, can stop Putin: Zelenskyy to India on Ukraine war



What PM Modi told Zelenskyy about the Ukraine conflict?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Ukraine and Russia should sit together without wasting time to find ways to end the ongoing war.

"We (India) are not neutral. From the very beginning, we have taken sides. And we have chosen the side of peace. We have come from the land of Buddha where there is no place for war.

The prime minister said India is ever ready to play an "active role" in every effort to restore peace in Ukraine and he would even like to contribute personally in ending the conflict.


Hyderabad, The Hyderabad Police has approached the CBI for issuing a Red Corner Notice against two accused including the former chief of Special Intelligence Bureau in Telangana T Prabhakar Rao, a key accused in the phone-tapping case, police said on Saturday. A suspended DSP of the Special Intelligence Bureau , two Additional Superintendents of Police and a former Deputy Commissioner of Police , were arrested by Hyderabad Police on March 13 for allegedly erasing the intelligence information from various electronic gadgets as well as for alleged phone tapping during the previous BRS regime. Hyd police asks CBI to help issue red corner notice against accused in phone tapping case

The former SIB chief and another accused in the case are absconding and are suspected to be in the US. Hyderabad Police Commissioner K Sreenivasa Reddy on Saturday said he had recently met the CBI Director and requested him to expedite the Red Corner Notice . The Central Bureau of Investigation is the nodal agency for the Interpol in India and a request for the worldwide alert has to be routed through the agency. "The case will go ahead once the main people are arrested and they are now absconding. We have written to the US Consul General also that they are misusing the other country's visas. We are hopeful in the coming days..., the Hyderabad Police chief told reporters. He said it is under process and "we want to expedite it." The case is going on and the other accused in the case, who are in jail, despite their best efforts are not getting bail because this is a serious crime which involved invasion into the private lives of the people, the senior police official said. Reacting to a query if the police were contemplating issuing notices to political leaders as part of investigation into the case, the Commissioner said "as the case progresses...definitely."

Prabhakar Rao has been accused of forming a "Special Operations Team" under the suspended DSP within the SIB for carrying out certain specific tasks related to political surveillance to benefit the then ruling political party and its leaders.

The retired police officer, who is in the US for medical treatment, had recently denied the allegations made against him and termed them as wild and false. The suspended DSP and his team developed profiles of hundreds of people, intercepted hundreds of phone calls of several persons, police had said. The arrested accused along with others have been accused of developing profiles of several persons in an unauthorised manner and monitoring them clandestinely and illegally in SIB and using them in a partisan manner to favour a political party at the behest of some persons and also conspiracy in destroying the records to cause disappearance of evidence of their crimes, police earlier said.

Meanwhile, a release from Hyderabad Police said seven teams of Cyber Crimes Police Station of Hyderabad participated in a special drive in Gujarat and caught 36 accused including a chartered accountant and seven key accused persons of India and detected 20 cases of cyber crimes here.

The accused were wanted in 983 cases across India including the cases of Telangana, it said. The arrested accused who were involved in 15 cases of online tradingcum-investment fraud and investment fraud and four 'online parcel scams and one KYC fraud were arrested following complaints from people in Hyderabad that they were cheated by the accused who collected amounts from them either by luring or threatening them, police said.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
India and Singapore will assess bilateral cooperation and chart new areas of collaboration at a meeting of senior ministers next week, ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis planned visit to the Southeast Asian nation next month. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Singapore in early September. (File Photo)

These issues will figure at the second meeting of the bilateral ministerial roundtable, a special mechanism led by the ministers of foreign affairs, finance and trade of the two countries, in Singapore on August 26.

Ahead of the meeting, the two sides have finalised about half a dozen memorandums of understanding (MoUs) in areas such as digital cooperation, food safety and skill development, people familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity.

The meeting of the ministerial roundtable is expected to be followed by Modis visit to Singapore in early September, the people said. Modi was earlier expected to go to Singapore while returning from the Bimstec Summit in Thailand, but the Thai government cancelled the meeting of the regional bloc on Thursday following a change of leadership.

The people said there is a possibility that Modis trip to Singapore could now be clubbed with a visit to another Southeast Asian country.

While announcing the second meeting of the India-Singapore ministerial roundtable on Saturday, the external affairs ministry said finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, external affairs minister S Jaishankar, commerce minister Piyush Goyal and railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will participate in the meet.

Besides interacting with their counterparts, the ministers will call on the Singaporean leadership.

The ministerial roundtable is a unique mechanism established to set a new agenda for India-Singapore bilateral relations, the ministry said. Its inaugural meeting was held in New Delhi in September 2022.

The upcoming meeting will enable both sides to review various aspects of their strategic partnership and identify new avenues to further elevate and broaden it, the ministry said.

The people cited above said the two sides are exploring the possibility of cooperating on semiconductors, an area where the Indian side has unveiled ambitious plans to achieve self-reliance in manufacturing chips.

The India-Singapore relationship has been anchored by trade and economic ties, with Singapore accounting for the highest FDI inflow of $17.2 billion during fiscal year 2022. In 2023, India was Singapores 12th largest trade partner and also its 12th largest export destination.

At its inaugural meeting, the ministerial roundtable identified five areas of collaboration  digitalisation, energy and green economy projects, food cooperation, skills development, and pharmaceuticals and healthcare.

The cross-border real-time linking of Indias Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Singapores PayNow in February 2023 was one of the first outcomes of cooperation under the digitalisation pillar of the roundtable and the two sides are currently up to about 3,000 transactions a month.
New Delhi: Congress leader and jurist Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who will enter the Rajya Sabha unopposed from Telangana on September 3, spoke to Saubhadra Chatterji about his defeat during the polls to the Upper House from Himachal Pradesh earlier this year, on the partys nuanced stand on lateral entry to government services, the weaker position of the NDA government and on the INDIA blocs strengthened presence in Parliament. Senior advocate and Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi (File Photo)

You will re-enter the Rajya Sabha from Telangana. What did you learn from your defeat in Himachal Pradesh?

I saw the worst form of human spirit in some of the people I encountered and also some of the noblest spirits. There is also some degree of divine retribution since six of the nine MLAs who voted against me lost and the three who succeeded are out in the cold in the Opposition.

The unfortunate game plan was not so much to target me but to change the government of the state. And I happened to be collateral damage. Telangana is a different context, a different place with different figures.

Do you see a change in the equation between the Treasury and the Opposition benches in 18th Lok Sabha?

The intersection of extreme sense of infallibility with extreme sense of arrogance has diminished. There is now an INDIA bloc much, much stronger than it was prior to the elections, and I believe that irrespective of state..., the letter and spirit of the INDIA bloc must not only be maintained but expanded. The inbuilt checks and balances in the government are far greater. Whether you see it in the scrapping of lateral entry (scheme) or in many other ways  multiple voices in a coalition frequently yield better, more nuanced processes.

You will enter a Rajya Sabha where there is a heightened confrontation between the Opposition and the Chair.

One must always remember that you will get the respect which you give. It is a reciprocal two-way street. Therefore, respect between the Treasury and the Opposition benches, as also respect between the members and the Chair have to operate on reciprocal basis. Unilateral expulsion of 142 members is not the best way to earn respect.

Some of your party colleagues such as Shashi Tharoor have come out in support of lateral entry. The BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) has argued that former PM Manmohan Singh or former UIDAI chairman Nandan Nilekani came through lateral entry.

This is deliberate misinformation by the ruling party. There is no question of the Congress being per se opposed to that ruling. There are certain expert or super domain knowledge areas which will always require experts. What the Congress opposes is a general policy.

The government tried to bring a large number of people as lateral entry exactly in the same way as the service entries are done.

You represented West Bengal in the last term. How do you interpret the Supreme Courts directions in relation to the gruesome rape and murder of a doctor at a Kolkata hospital?

I welcome the intervention because it is of a much broader base. The Supreme Court is doing active preventive and curative measures on a much broader scale and they absolutely need to be done.

The incident itself should be unequivocally condemned. Thirdly, complicity by persons is yet to be determined. I think this is the most important mantra: minimal politicisation.

We must look to countries like England, where terrible incidents have been investigated by police or an agency without political interference...

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pitched for a secular code in his speech on Independence Day.

The honourable prime minister has to learn to work with allies. I think that is the lesson which the BJP has ignored completely in its last 10 years. You will see the changes in the decision making because I dont think non-consensual, unilateral or dictatorial approaches to any of these issues are going to work. These are declarations of intent. But on the ground, these require a lot of consensus. Action. None of that has happened.

They brought the Waqf amendment bill. Regional parties across the spectrum, including those in the NDA, feel very strongly about it.

So, you need to completely iron out the nuances, otherwise you will have rollbacks. From the farm bills to the lateral entry, there were several rollbacks. And it doesnt suit the Prime Ministers image.

So, its much better to be consensual earlier rather than rolling back later.
A terrorist was eliminated in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Sopore town, the Indian Army said on Saturday. A terrorist was eliminated and warlike stores were recovered in an operation in Baramulla's Sopore area(PTI/Representational image)

The Indian Army's Chinar Corps said on social platform X, "OP WATARGAM, Sopore #Baramulla. One terrorist was eliminated and war-like stores recovered. Operation is continuing."

The security forces had launched a search operation following a brief gunbattle with terrorists in Sopore, in Baramulla district.

Earlier on Saturday, security forces had launched a search operation following a brief exchange of fire with terrorists in Baramulla's Sopore area, police said.

Exchange of fire at Watergam area of #Sopore. Alert security forces retaliated. Area #cordoned off. Searches underway. Further details shall follow, the Jammu and Kashmir Police said in an X post.



ALSO READ: CRPF inspector killed in terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur



There has been a spike in terror-related incidents in the Union territory, which will witness an assembly election after a gap of 10 years.



ALSO READ: Indian Army captain killed in encounter with terrorists in J-K's Doda district



On Friday, the Army had apprehended a Lashkar-e-Toiba group guide in Poonch, ANI reported. Zaher Hussein Shah, the arrested accused, is a resident of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.

The security agencies including the Indian Army have redeployed troops and special forces in the higher reaches of areas south of Pir Panjal to carry out search and destroy operations.



J&K top cop reviews security in Doda, Kishtwar



On Friday, J&K director general of police RR Swain visited Doda and Kishtwar districts to assess security ahead of the upcoming assembly election in the Union Territory.

The assembly elections will be held across 90 constituencies in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1.



This is the first assembly poll in the UT since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 by the Narendra Modi government.



The last assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir, then a state, was held in 2014. The counting of votes will take place on October 4.



(With agency inputs)
Medical professionals hold posters at a hospital in Bengaluru amid nationwide strike by doctors to condemn the rape and murder of a young medic from Kolkata. (File)

Kolkata doctor rape-murder case Highlights: The Sealdah Court on Friday remanded 14 days of judicial custody of the main accused in the rape and murder case of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The accused, Sanjay Roy, will remain in judicial custody until September 6 under the supervision of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)....Read More

Earlier, a special court in Kolkata granted the CBI permission to hold a polygraph test of the former principal of the RG Kar College, Sandip Ghosh, and four other doctors - who allegedly had dinner with the victim hours before the gruesome crime took place.

The body of the 31-year-old trainee woman doctor was found in a semi-naked state in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College on August 9. According to the police, the incident took place between 3am and 5am. The autopsy report of the victim indicated that the woman was sexually assaulted before being strangled and smothered to death. According to the probe, after severely hurting and sexually assaulting the doctor, the arrested accused, identified as Sanjoy Roy, killed her by throttling and smothering her.

Protests across country

The gruesome incident sparked widespread outrage and led to protests within and beyond the medical community across the country. Several resident doctors across India have been protesting against the incident, halting the elective services, including OPDs, non-emergency surgeries, and diagnostics. However, the strike was called off after a bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud requested doctors to do so.

Meanwhile, the 2013 Kamduni rape victim's friends and members of Sutia Gonodhorshon Pratibad Mancha carried out a late-night protest in Kolkata on Friday against the gruesome crime.
Kolkata doctor rape-murder case: Sanjoy Roy, the main accused in the rape and murder case of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, on Friday turned emotional before a judge claiming that he was innocent. The accused, Sanjoy Roy, was arrested by the Kolkata Police on August 10.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had presented Sanjoy Roy before the court in Kolkata and sought permission for a polygraph test of the accused and suspects in the case.

The lie detection test can only be conducted after obtaining the court's and suspect's consent.

Sanjoy Roy reportedly broke down when the judge asked why he was consenting to the polygraph test, The Times of India reported.

He told the court that he consented to the test as he believed he was innocent. "I havent committed any crime. Im being framed. Maybe this test will prove that, the newspaper quoted Sanjoy Roy as saying.

The court then allowed a polygraph test to be conducted on Sanjoy Roy. It also sent him to 14 days of judicial custody.

The court also granted permission for a polygraph test on the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Sandip Ghosh, and five others connected to the case. These five individuals include four doctors who had dinner with the deceased doctor on the night of the incident and Roy.

Kolkata doctor rape-murder case



The trainee doctor was raped and murdered inside a seminar hall of Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.

The crime took place on the third-floor seminar hall of the chest department late at night, and police later said multiple lacerations and wounds were found on her body.

Sanjoy Roy was arrested a day after the crime. He was seen entering the building around the estimated time of the crime, and his Bluetooth headphones were found near the crime scene. Several pornographic clips were also reportedly found on Sanjoy Roy's mobile phone.

The crime sparked widespread outrage and led to protests within and beyond the medical community.

Resident doctor associations in most government hospitals across India protested against the brutal rape and murder of the trainee doctor for 11 days. As result all elective services, including OPDs, non-emergency surgeries, diagnostics, among other services, were halted. The strike was called off on Thursday after the Supreme Court requested doctors to do so.
Kolkata rape-murder case: The West Bengal school education department on Saturday issued show-cause notices to three schools for involving students in a rally during school hours amid ongoing protests over the rape and murder of a woman doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Students stage a protest over the alleged sexual assault and murder of Kolkata's PG trainee doctor. (File)(PTI)

According to news agency PTI, three state-aided schools  Baluhati High School, Baluhati Girls' High School, and Bantra Rajlakshmi Girls' School, all located in Howrah district  were served the notices on Friday and have been instructed to provide an explanation within 24 hours.

Students cannot take part in such a rally, particularly on weekdays during classes. We learnt that some teachers and other school staffers took the students to the rally, PTI quoted a school education department official.

He said that, along with students, several teachers and non-teaching staff had participated in a joint rally organised by the schools on Thursday, which was in violation of all rules and regulations.

The official explained that these actions were prompted by reports that students from higher classes were being drawn into political rallies and blockades across the state, all demanding justice for the woman doctor.

However, the notices did not directly reference this specific incident.

Protests over rape and murder of woman doctor in Kolkata

Widespread protests broke out across India, including in West Bengal, following the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at a state-run hospital in Kolkata on August 9. Many took to the streets, organising rallies to demand justice for the victim and calling on the government to ensure the safety of doctors working in public hospitals.

After 11 days of demonstrations, resident doctors at Delhis All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital ended their strike on Thursday in response to an appeal from the Supreme Court of India.

During the strike, non-essential services such as outpatient departments (OPDs), non-emergency surgeries, and laboratory work were reduced by up to 90%, causing significant inconvenience to patients. Similar disruptions were observed in other public hospitals.

In response to doctors' safety concerns, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare directed government hospitals to conduct security audits to assess and address the specific security needs of each facility. On Wednesday, AIIMS-Delhi announced that it has begun a collaborative internal security audit to evaluate and enhance safety measures across its campus.

(With inputs from ANI, PTI)
Sanjoy Roy, the main accused in the rape and murder case of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, is harmless, her mother has claimed. Police produce R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital rape and murder case accused Sanjoy Roy at Sealdah Court in Kolkata.(ANI)

In an interview with India Today, she said the incident could have been prevented had she been more strict with him.

"If I had been more strict, then this would not have happened. His father was very strict, but he used to worship him. With my husband's death, everything has gone wrong, my beautiful family is only a memory now," she told India Today.

I don't know who influenced him to do this... If someone has framed him, then that person will be punished, she added.

The trainee doctor was allegedly raped and murdered inside a seminar hall of Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.

Sanjoy Roy was arrested a day after the crime. He was seen entering the building around the estimated time of the crime and his Bluetooth headphones were found near the crime scene. Several pornographic clips were also reportedly found on Sanjoy Roy's mobile phone.

In Friday's interview with India Today, Sanjoy Roy's mother said her son was a topper in school and part of the National Cadet Corps.

"He used to take care of me, and even used to cook for me. You can ask the neighbours, he never misbehaved with anyone," she said. "If I meet him I will ask, 'Babu why have you done it?' My son was never like this."

She also said she was unaware that her son had been posted as a civic volunteer at the RG Kar Medical College.

She added that her son was addicted to alcohol after his first wife passed away due to cancer.

"Sanjoy's first wife was a nice girl. They were happy. Suddenly, she got detected with cancer. Probably, he was depressed after his wife's death and took to drinking," she said.

What his mother-in-law said



Earlier, Roy's mother-in-law had accused him of beating his ex-wife. She had also demanded that Sanjoy Roy be hanged for his crime.

"My relations with him were very tense," she said. "Initially, everything was good for six months. When she (her daughter) was three months pregnant, he caused a miscarriage. He thrashed her, and a police complaint was registered for the same. Following this, my daughter continued being ill, I bore all her expenses for medicines," the mother in law told ANI.

Sanjay was not good. Hang him or do whatever you want with him. I won't speak about the crime. He could not have done it alone. He can't do it alone, she added.
The polygraph tests or lie detection tests on the main accused, Sanjoy Roy, former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital Sandip Ghosh and five others in the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the state-run health facility began on Saturday, August 24. Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel stands guard at the entrance of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 23. (REUTERS)

Meanwhile on Saturday, Sandip Ghosh arrived at the CBI Special Crime Branch at Central Government Offices complex (CGO) complex, Salt Lake in Kolkata.

The Kolkata Police said that as per the order of the Calcutta high court, all documents about the alleged financial irregularities in RG Kar have been handed over to Central Bureau of Investigation by SIT.

Last week, the Calcutta high court transferred the investigation of financial irregularities involving Sandip Ghosh, previously handled by a Special Investigation Team (SIT), to the CBI.

Kolkata doctor's rape-murder case: Top updates

The polygraph test on Sanjay Roy will be conducted in the prison, where he is lodged, while the remaining six, including former principal Sandip Ghosh and four doctors who were on duty during the night of the incident and a civil volunteer, will undergo test at the agency's office, news agency PTI quoted officials as saying. The Calcutta high court has granted permission to the CBI to conduct a polygraph test on Sandip Ghosh, and five others related to the incident. A team of polygraph specialists from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) in Delhi have flown to Kolkata to conduct these tests, the officials said. The CBI told the Supreme Court on Thursday that there was an attempt to cover up the rape and killing of the post-graduate medic by the local police as the crime scene was altered by the time the federal agency took over the probe. Akhtar Ali, the former deputy superintendent of the hospital, had filed a plea accusing Sandip Ghosh of financial misconduct and unethical practices. The Supreme Court has granted the CBI three weeks to submit a progress report on the investigation, which is to be presented on September 17.

(With inputs from agencies)
STATEMENT ON SHEILA GUO, CASSANDRA ONG

The Senate is prepared to receive Sheila Guo, the sister of former Bamban Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo and her companion, Cassandra Li Ong, the authorized representative of Lucky South 99 Outsourcing Inc. and Corporate Secretary of Whirlwind Corporation, Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) that are the subjects of investigation in Porac, Pampanga, for the scheduled hearing on Tuesday, August 27, 2024.

The hearing will be conducted by the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights chaired by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III as the primary committee and the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality led by Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros and the Senate Committee on Public Services chaired by Senator Raffy Tulfo will be the secondary and tertiary committees, respectively, to tackle the Privilege Speech Urging the DFA to Cancel Alice Guo's Passport.

Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Roberto Ancan said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has assured the Senate that the duo will be made available for the hearings and will be responsible for bringing them to and from the Senate. Guo and Ong will be turned over to the Senate after the inquest proceedings.

The Senate is looking forward to their presence in the proceedings. The hearings will provide an opportunity for Guo and Ong to present their statement and contribute to the ongoing discussions and investigation.

Further updates will be issued as they develop.

Atty. Arnel Jose S. Banas

Spokesperson
News / National

by Staff reporter

The death of a 17-year-old girl at the RCZ Church at Nerupiri in Gutu has created ugly fights in the parish with some villagers demanding the removal of the pastor and full investigation of the case.The girl allegedly took poison and there are allegations that she died inside the church and congregants are now refusing to use the building. Congregants said the case required full investigations and accused the church leadership of sweeping it under the carpet.However, acting General Secretary Reverend Lovemore Mashamba said the matter has not been brought to the leadership and promised to deal with it if it is brought to their attention."There is a protocol which is followed when such issues are being dealt with. That matter has never been brought to us by the relevant committees. As soon as it is brought to our attention, we will deal with it decisively," said Rev Mashamba.The girl died on March 31, 2024, and she was buried at Utseya Village under Chief Muusha in Chimanimani on April 4, 2024.This is amid allegations that the girl was pregnant hence she committed suicide. The girl was being looked after by Reverend Maphios Tadzembwa.The girl's father Kumbirai Makomeya (48) said the matter was reported to Gutu Police Station and was transferred to Masvingo West district in Bikita."I am not happy with the way the case was handled. No police officer attended the scene where my daughter died. The pesticide that she is alleged to have taken was sent to them by Tadzembwa."I was told a lot of incoherent stories. Tadzembwa called me and told me that my daughter just collapsed and was on oxygen. Later, I was told she took a potato pesticide, but I never saw any potato field and did not hear any history of him as potato farmer. I am the one who used to send them potatoes from Chimanimani."I demand justice to be done. There are a lot of grey areas which I feel can help solve the mystery surrounding my daughter's death," said Makomeya.Zviitei Muyambo (40) mother of the deceased said she is pained by the death of her daughter and said she hopes justice will prevail.Rev Tadzembwa confirmed the incident but refuted allegations that the girl's death involved a church official. He said that the girl was sanctioned over her delinquency with boys in the area and she committed suicide. He dismissed allegations that the girl was pregnant.Tadzembwa accused his enemies of fighting him and using the incident to tarnish his image. He said that his superiors are finalising his transfer from Nerupiri."I know those people who are trying to destroy my name. They no longer want me at Nerupiri. I have told them that my superiors are finalising my transfer but they want me to go before I am given the green light. The girl did not die in church and she was not pregnant."The post-mortem results did not state what people are alleging. She had problem with the boys that she was dating and we tried to counsel her but we never knew that she had other plans. I am the one who was taking care these children but I am now receiving all sorts of accusations," said Tadzembwa.Rev Tadzembwa refused to show The Mirror the post-mortem report and threatened to sue the paper if it published the story.One congregant, who spoke on condition of anonymity said AFM of Zimbabwe pastor John Zishiri was even beaten by Tadzembwa for allegedly leaking the an audio that sparked insinuations that the girl was murdered."I am told Zishiri was summoned by family members and was beaten by Tadzembwa. There is a lot going on, and we suspect that they are attempting to cover up the matter," said the source.Pastor Zishiri confirmed that he was summoned by family members but refused to comment further.Masvingo Police Spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa said he was out of the office when contacted for a comment.
Imphal: Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Saturday said the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement was signed with some Kuki rebel groups to maintain peace in Manipur and improve law and order, however, some militant groups have violated the ground rules. He said that the state is approaching the Centre to withdraw the SoO from these groups. Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh held a press conference at the CMs Durbar Hall in Imphal on Saturday

Speaking to the media during a press conference at the CMs Durbar Hall in Imphal, Biren said that the Manipur Legislative Assembly has resolved to press the central government to withdraw the SoO agreement with those militant groups that are violating the ground rules in the current crisis.

Some militant groups under SoO have already violated the ground rules and disrupted peace and tranquility in Manipur. We are keen to expel these militant groups from the agreement, but no official update has been received from the Centre yet. However, we have received information that the central government is discussing the matter, said Biren.

The SoO agreement with 25 armed Kuki militant groups in Manipur was signed with the Central Government and the Manipur government in August 2008. However, the Manipur government withdrew from the tripartite SoO agreement on March 10, 2023, with two militant groupsthe Kuki National Army (KNA) and the Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA)alleging their involvement in inciting agitation among illegal forest encroachers.

The chief minister also appreciated the Assam Legislative Assembly, especially chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, for passing a bill that recognises the Manipuri language as an associate state language in four different districts of Assam. He also thanked all the legislative members of the Assam Legislative Assembly.

Speaking about his meeting with Chief of the Indian Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, at his residence on Friday, Biren said it was productive. General Dwivedi visited Imphal to review the ground security arrangements in vulnerable areas of Manipur in connection with the ongoing unrest.

The duo had a thorough discussion on restoring peace in Manipur, and Biren handed over some maps of Manipur and other relevant documents. He indicated that some positive steps might be taken after General Dwivedi returns to Delhi.

General Dwivedi cancelled his scheduled visit to Kangpokpi, Churachandpur, and the border town of Moreh due to bad weather. The army chief left for Delhi on Saturday at around 10am.

During the conference, the CM alleged that the Indian National Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi have repeatedly risked the nations unity and security to satisfy their greed for power.

Biren further accused the Congress party of exposing their ulterior motives by allying with the Abdullah familys National Conference in the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir election.
Maharajganj , A day after one of their vehicles met with an accident in Nepal, 48 pilgrims from Maharashtra arrived here on Saturday night after crossing the land border along with the bodies of a bus driver and his assistant. Nepal bus accident: 48 pilgrims, two bodies arrive through land route

The pilgrims will leave on a train from Gorakhpur for their journey back home, officials said.

A special Indian Air Force plane earlier left for Jalgaon in Maharashtra from Nepal with the bodies of the 25 Indian pilgrims killed in the accident.

The bus driver and his assistant are from Uttar Pradesh and their bodies are being sent to their native places in the state, officials said.

The pilgrims were among a group of 110 people from several parts of Maharashtra who had gone to Nepal in two buses and one traveller van. One of their buses veered off the highway and fell into the fast-flowing Marsyangdi river at Abu Khaireni in Tanahun district in central Nepal on Friday.

"Two buses with 48 passengers on board and four bus staff were handed over to the district police and administration authorities by Embassy representatives," UP Relief Commissioner GS Naveen said.

District Magistrate Anunay Jha said the 48 passengers from Maharashtra were sent to Gorakhpur after they were provided food and beverages.

"Special arrangements have been made for remaining passengers to travel from Gorakhpur to their hometown. Very much thankful to the Indian Railways for the swift response," Union minister Raksha Khadse who is flying back with the mortal remains of the victims, said on X.

The two bodies have also arrived from Nepal, Additional DM Pankaj Kumar Verma said.

"The body of driver Murtaza is being taken to his native place Gorakhpur, while the body of Ramjit is being sent to Kushinagar with a police escort and green channel," an official said

The survivors were taken to Gorakhpur under police protection and the supervision of the additional district magistrate, district officials said.

The Maharajganj district is located near the Indo-Nepal border.

The DM said the Mahrajganj administration had arranged for six hearses, 11 ambulances and a 42-seater bus at the border to ferry the passengers and bodies. A medical team was also deployed on the border.

The accident occurred in Anbookhaireni area in Chitawan district of Nepal when the bus carrying 43 passengers, including the driver and two helpers, was heading towards Kathmandu from Pokhara.

While 16 people died on the spot, 11 succumbed to their injuries while undergoing treatment.

Of the 16 injured, the condition of one is said to be critical, while others are stable, according to hospital sources in Kathmandu.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
New Delhi India asserted on Friday that a solution to the conflict in Ukraine cant be found without engaging Russia, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi telling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that New Delhis position is not neutral, but on the side of peace. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shake hands prior to their talks at the Mariinskyi Palace. (AFP)

Modi became the first Indian premier to travel to Ukraine since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1992, and the visit was seen as part of New Delhis delicate balancing act on the conflict, especially after his trip to Russia last month for an annual summit with President Vladimir Putin.

Amid widespread speculation about Indias role in peace efforts, Modi said he came with a message of peace from 1.4 billion Indians and the countries of the Global South, and a solution can only emerge through talks between Russia and Ukraine. He also conveyed Indias support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The path to a solution emerges from dialogue and diplomacy and, without wasting time, we should move in that direction. The two sides should sit together and search for ways to get out of this hour of crisis, Modi said in televised opening remarks at his meeting with Zelensky, speaking in Hindi.

He said he had informed Putin, too, that hostilities wouldnt lead to a solution. When I met President Putin sometime ago, in front of the media and looking him in the eye, I told him that this is not the era of war. When I travelled to Russia recently to meet him, I spoke my mind clearly and said the solution to any problem cannot be found on the battlefield, he said.

India, Modi assured Zelensky, is ready to play an active role in every effort for peace. In my personal capacity, if I can make any contribution, then I will certainly do it as a friend, I assure you, he said.

Read more: You have a big influence, can stop Putin: Zelenskyy to India on Ukraine war

Modi sought to address criticism in the West and Ukraine about India not taking a position on the conflict. India, he said, had adopted two roles, the first of which was providing humanitarian assistance. I assure you from a humanitarian viewpoint, whatever help is needed, India will always stand with you and walk two steps ahead, he said.

The second role we chose was to stay away from the war. We have stayed away from the war with a lot of conviction, but this does not mean we were neutral...From the very first day, we were on the side of peace. We come from the land of the Buddha, where there is no place for war. We come from the land of Mahatma Gandhi, who gave the whole world the message of peace.

Zelensky described Modis visit as a historic moment and thanked India for supporting Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also thanked the Indian side for humanitarian aid provided over the past two years.

I express my gratitude that Prime Minister Modi started his visit with a commemoration of the Ukrainian children whose lives were taken due to Russian aggression, Zelensky said, referring to their visit to a museum exhibit dedicated to children killed in the conflict.

India has so far refrained from publicly criticising Russias invasion and largely abstained on all Ukraine-related resolutions at the UN. It also stepped up the purchase of discounted Russian commodities, especially oil, despite criticism from Ukraine, with Indian leaders saying this was necessary to control energy prices amid volatility in the global market.

Zelensky said ending the war and ensuring a just and lasting peace for Ukraine is a priority. He said moving forward with the global peace summit mechanism was another priority for Ukraine and sought Indias high-level participation in the next summit. We want all countries to join hands in solving the crises created by Russias war against Ukraine, he said.

Read more: Watch: Ukrainian students learning Hindi impress PM, girl sings Vande Mataram

While India participated in the first Summit for Peace in Ukraine hosted by Switzerland in June, it didnt sign off on the joint communique. Zelensky said preparatory meetings for next summit are already underway, with the focus on energy and food security.

Talking to reporters later, however, Zelensky raised concerns over Indias trade ties with Russia during the war, saying it was inadvertently helping fuel Putins war economy.

Briefing the media after the talks, external affairs minister S Jaishankar pointed to a joint statement to emphasise Indias position on the conflict. The statement quoted Modi reiterating the need for sincere and practical engagement between all stakeholders to develop innovative solutions that will have broad acceptability and contribute towards early restoration of peace.

We find the civilian and humanitarian toll of this conflict particularly distressing. Its also Indias view that the two sides need to engage each other to find a solution, he said.

Jaishankar gave details of Indias association with efforts led by different countries to address the conflict, such as supporting Turkiyes efforts in 2022 to open up the Black Sea corridor for grain exports from Ukraine. In September 2022, after Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal brought up concerns regarding the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power with India, we had been...directly in touch with the Russians and then back to the Ukrainian side, [we had] also been in touch with IAEA director general Rafael Grossi.

Jaishankar said Modi briefed Zelensky about his discussions with Putin in July and sought the Ukrainian leaders assessment of the ground situation and diplomatic scenario. Characterising the discussions as open and constructive, he said the two sides also talked about medium-term concerns such as food and energy security and conceivable pathways to peace and conflict resolution.

Responding to specific questions on whether Indias energy trade with Russia figured in the talks, Jaishankar said this issue was not discussed at great length. The Indian side explained the energy market scenario and the fact that key energy producers that earlier supplied oil to India, such as Iran and Venezuela, were sanctioned and this has made the market very tight.

Indias oil purchases are decided by a market strategy, and it is in the international economys interests that oil prices remain reasonable and stable, Jaishankar said.

The two sides signed four agreements for cooperation in agriculture, regulation of medical products, community development projects and culture. The Indian side handed over several Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri (BHISHM), a system of cubes containing medicines and equipment that can be rapidly deployed.

Modi also invited Zelensky to visit India, and Jaishankar said the Indian side expected the Ukrainian leader to make the trip at his convenience.
Amritsar, An NRI was shot at by two people, allegedly connected to his ex in-laws, in front of his family at his home in Daburji village on the outskirts of the city here on Saturday, police said. NRI shot at inside Amritsar home; opposition slams AAP govt over law and order

The assailants have been identified and will be arrested soon, they said.

Following the incident, opposition parties targeted the A government over the law and order in the state, alleging that the A government's "incompetence has made Punjab a danger zone."

Sukhchain Singh, who recently returned from the US, was shot at in front of his wife and his two children from his first marriage, said police.

The incident took place at around 7 am when Singh was going for a morning walk.

He was intercepted outside his house by two motorcycle-borne assailants who asked him about registration documents of his luxury car, police said.

Before he could understand anything, the two took out their pistols and forcibly took him inside his house.

Inside, the assailants beat Singh, fired three shots at him, and fled.

A bullet each hit Singh in the head and near the chest. Singh was rushed to a private hospital, police said. He is currently out of danger.

A footage retrieved from the CCTV camera installed in the victim's house showed Singh's wife and children pleading with the assailants to let him go.

Singh's family alleged that the family of his first wife was behind the attack.

Police said a case has been registered against five relatives of his first wife, who had committed suicide around two years ago, said police.

Special Director General of Police R N Dhoke met the NRI's family.

Dhoke later told reporters that one of the assailants belongs to Kapurthala and the other hails from Jalandhar.

He said look out circulars have been issued for both the assailants One of whom faces 10 FIRs in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and other crimes and the other also a historysheeter.

"We will go by investigation and when we catch them then we will be able to tell what was the motive," Dhoke said.

Several police teams from Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, and Chandigarh are working on the case, and a number of locations in Punjab have been raided in search of the absconders, police said.

There is a possibility that there might be more than two people involved in the crime, police said.

Meanwhile, the opposition slammed the Aam Aadmi Party government over the brazen shooting.

Punjab Congress chief and Ludhiana MP Amrinder Singh Raja Warring accused the government of incompetence.

"NRIs, once proud to call Punjab their home, now live in FEAR! An NRI shot inside his home, in front of his family! @APunjab govt, your incompetence has made Punjab a danger zone!

"Bhagwant mann ji, Punjab needs action not "Bhashan" #AFails #PunjabInShambles #LawAndOrder," Warring said in a post on X.

Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal said the law and order situation in Punjab has "completely deteriorated".

"I am very sad to see the current situation in Punjab," he posted on X in Punjabi.

"Such incidents are happening every day in the state, Punjabis are not safe even in their homes," he said and demanded that Punjab CM must resign on moral grounds.

BJP leader Preneet Kaur said such incidents show no one is safe in Punjab.

"I appeal to Bhagwant Mann to pay attention to law and order in the state," she said.

A leader Neel Garg hit back at the opposition, accusing them of politicising a family dispute and deliberately linking the incident to the state's law and order situation.

The party spokesperson said the NRI's family has given a statement that the attack was carried out by his ex-wife's family as he lambasted the opposition leaders for trying to "exploit this situation for political gain."

He said Mann has directed the DGP to take strict action against the culprits.

Citing National Crime Records Bureau data, he said Punjab's law and order situation is better compared to the neighbouring states ruled by the BJP.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
People's Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti said on Saturday her party would leave all assembly seats for the Congress-National Conference alliance if it is ready to accept PDP's agenda. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti during the release of the party's election manifesto ahead of the state assembly elections, in Srinagar, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024.(PTI)

Forget about alliance and seat-sharing, if the Congress and the National Conference (NC) are ready to accept our agenda -- that resolution of the Kashmir issue is necessary and on opening of routes -- we will tell them to contest on all the seats and we will follow you, Mufti said while releasing the manifesto for the upcoming assembly elections.

Because, for me, the resolution of the Kashmir problem is much more important than anything else, she added.

Also Read | NC ties up with Congress for all 90 seats in J&K polls

She dismissed any possibility of an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with which the PDP had previously formed a coalition government.

"Whether you give me three or four seats, it does not mean anything to me. When we entered into an alliance with either the Congress or the BJP, it was on our agenda. The NC and the Congress have not entered into an alliance on any agenda but for seat-sharing and we will not talk of such an alliance, which only talks about seat-sharing," she said.

Elections to the 90-member assembly will be held in three phases -- September 18, September 25 and October 1. The counting of votes will be held on October 4.

Also Read | Amit Shah attacks Congress on pre-poll alliance in J&K, asks Rahul Gandhi 10 questions

PDP manifesto

The PDP in its poll manifesto promised to pursue the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir to its "original status", and advocate for confidence-building measures (CBMs) and regional cooperation between India and Pakistan.

"The PDP is resolute in its pursuit of restoring the constitutional guarantees that were unjustly scrapped, and is committed to restoring Jammu & Kashmir to its original status, ensuring that the voices of its people are heard and their rights are safeguarded," it said.

The manifesto said the "unconstitutional and illegal revocation" of Articles 370 and 35A in 2019 has "further complicated the Kashmir issue, deepening the alienation felt by the people of the region".

The manifesto strives for revocation of the Public Safety Act (PSA), Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Enemy Act, and said it committed for the revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Jalgaon in Maharashtra to participate in the Lakhpati Didi event and Jodhpur in Rajasthan to attend the concluding ceremony of the Rajasthan high court's platinum jubilee celebrations on August 25. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Jalgaon in Maharashtra to participate in the Lakhpati Didi event on August 25.

As per the schedule, PM Modi will be in Jalgaon at 11.15am on Sunday, where he will distribute certificates and felicitate 11 lakh new 'Lakhpati Didis' who achieved this status during the third term of the BJP-led NDA government. The Prime Minister will also interact with 'Lakhpati Didis' from across the country during his visit to Jalgaon.

He will also release a revolving fund of 2,500 crore which will benefit about 48 lakh members of 4.3 lakh self-help groups (SHG). PM Modi will also disburse bank loan of 5,000 crore which will benefit 25.8 lakh members of 2.35 lakh SHGs.

What is Lakhpati Didi initiative?

During his Independence Day speech last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the Lakhpati Didi scheme to provide skill development training to 20 million women in villages across the country.

He mentioned that the G20, which India assumed the presidency of in December 2022 recognised Indias approach to women-led development. PM Modi lauded womens self-help groups for their contributions and added 100 million were associated with them. Modi said under the new policy for the agri-tech sector, women will be trained for operating and repairing drones.

Under this scheme, the women are trained in skills like plumbing, LED bulb making and operating and repairing drones. Since the inception of scheme, one crore women have already been made Lakhpati Didis. The government has set a target to make 3 crore Lakhpati Didis.

Later at 4.30pm, Prime Minister Modi will be the chief guest at the concluding ceremony of platinum jubilee celebrations of the Rajasthan high court in Jodhpur. He will also inaugurate the Rajasthan High Court Museum.
A private helicopter flying from Mumbai to Hyderabad crashed in Pune's Paud village on Saturday, PTI reported. A private helicopter flying from Mumbai to Hyderabad crashed in Pune's Paud village on Saturday

All four occupants survived the crash that took place near Paud, though they suffered injuries, a police official said.



A private helicopter crashed near Paud village in Pune district. The helicopter belongs to a private aviation company. It was going from Mumbai to Hyderabad, 4 people were travelling in the helicopter, assessment of any injuries is being looked into, Pankaj Deshmukh, superintendent of police (Pune Rural) told ANI.

Nepal chopper crash

On August 7, a helicopter in Nepal had crashed in the mountains just northwest of capital Kathmandu. According to a PTI report, four men and a women on board were killed in the mishap.

The bodies of four men and a woman were pulled from the wreckage, Krishna Prasad Humagai, the government administrator of Nuwakot district was quoted by PTI as saying.

Police and army rescuers reached the area and two rescue helicopters were also sent to assist in the operation, the official said.

The crash site is in the Suryachaur area, which is just northwest of Kathmandu, and is on a mountain covered by forest.

The helicopter had taken off from Kathmandu international airport at 1:54 p.m. local time and was heading towards the town of Syaprubeshi.

The helicopter, an Eurocopter AS350 belonging to Nepal-based Air Dynasty, had lost contact with the tower just three minutes after takeoff.



On May 20, Iran's then-president Ebrahim Raisi had died in a helicopter crash near Jolfa, a city on the border with the nation of Azerbaijan. According to local media, heavy rains, fog, and wind caused the helicopter crash, while some described it as a hard landing.
The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Tamil Nadu government to produce all correspondence exchanged with the office of governor over the grant of sanction to prosecute former minister V Senthil Balaji in the cash-for-jobs scam after victims in the case informed the court that the trial against him as the request for sanction has been kept pending since January this year. New Delhi, Jan 10 (ANI): A view of the Supreme Court building, the apex judicial body of India, in New Delhi on Tuesday. (ANI Photo) (Sanjay Sharma)

A bench headed by justice AS Oka said, We direct the state government to place on record the copies of the applications and other correspondence made with the office of the governor as regards the grant of sanction to prosecute the ex-minister.

The order of the court came on a petition moved by a group of victims led by Y Balaji asking the top court to appoint a special public prosecutor for the case, direct a special investigation team to probe the reasons for delay and order completion of trial within a period of one year.

The bench, also comprising justice Augustine George Masih, also directed the state to produce copies of the orders appointing prosecutors who are to conduct the prosecution in the cases involving the former minister, setting out their experience in handling such cases. The court sought an affidavit from the state on the above aspects and posted the matter for hearing on September 2.

Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan appearing for the victims along with advocate Balaji Srinivasan informed the court that the request for sanction was forwarded by the state to the governor on January 4 this year and since then it is kept pending. On account of the non-grant of sanction, the cases before the trial court are getting adjourned.

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta appearing for the Enforcement Directorate, which arrested the former minister in June last year to probe alleged money laundering charges related to the scam, told the court that three predicate offences are pending against Senthil Balaji where sanction is pending. He further stated that in one case, more than 100 witnesses are there while in another there are over 2,000 accused and witnesses.

He suggested that a neutral public prosecutor can be appointed who may examine if some of the witnesses can be dropped. The court objected to the term neutral as it wondered how anyone can say that a prosecutor is neutral. On what basis can one say that a prosecutor is neutral, the bench said, adding further that it is doubtful whether a prosecutor appointed by the state can exercise discretion on which witnesses are to be examined.

The state represented by senior advocate Shekhar Naphade said that there has been no delay on part of the state on the issue of grant of prosecution against the ex-minister under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Naphade said that since the request for sanction was forwarded to the Governor office, a query was received by the end of January seeking additional copy of investigation report. The same was provided to the Governor on February 2.

Responding to the demand by the victims for a SIT to probe reasons for delay, the state suggested the court to review the records that will reveal the reasons for delay, adding that no part of the delay can be attributed to the state.

Balaji is accused of allegedly receiving bribes for providing jobs in the state transport department during his tenure as state transport minister in 2014-15. Then, he was part of the AIADMK government, In 2021, he became a minister in the present DMK government and had continued as a minister till his resignation in February this year.

The top court has also reserved orders on granting him bail in the ED case where the trial is yet to begin. The former minister claimed bail on medical grounds citing his ill-health and delay in trial but the ED claimed that he has already influenced witnesses in the case and his brother, also an accused in the scam, is still at large.
New Delhi: Union defence minister Rajnath Singh and his US counterpart Lloyd Austin on Friday discussed ongoing efforts to deepen the major defence partnership between the two countries in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, the Pentagon said. Union defence minister Rajnath Singh with US counterpart Lloyd Austin (X/@rajnathsingh)

The two leaders also agreed to advance priority co-production projects, including jet engines, unmanned platforms, munitions, and ground mobility systems, under the US-India Roadmap for Defense Industrial Cooperation adopted last year.

Secretary Austin and minister Singh celebrated progress across several bilateral defense initiatives, including efforts to increase supply chain security, enhance maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region, and leverage a new agreement to strengthen operational coordination through Indian liaison officers at US commands, Pentagon press secretary major general Pat Ryder said in a statement.

The two sides agreed to further strengthen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific at a time when China is seeking to expand its footprint in the vast region by setting up military bases, bullying countries to advance its unlawful maritime claims, and ensnaring vulnerable states in unsustainable debts to force strategic concessions, Ryder said.

Austin lauded the Indian Navys robust contributions to upholding freedom of navigation and regional security through its participation in the Combined Maritime Forces and welcomed India assuming a leadership role in Combined Task Force 150 in 2025.

The two ministers reviewed mutual efforts through the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness Initiative to provide Indian Ocean Region partners with unclassified, commercial satellite data to enhance their maritime security and ability to detect illicit activity, the statement said.

The statement further said that the two countries also advanced discussions to expand cooperation in the undersea and space domains.

On Friday, US secretary of state Antony Blinken approved a possible foreign military sale to India of anti-submarine warfare sonobuoys and related equipment for an estimated cost of $52.8 million. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has delivered the required certification, notifying Congress of the possible sale.

The equipment will improve the Indian Navys capability to meet threats by enhancing its capacity to conduct anti-submarine warfare operations from its US-origin MH-60R helicopters.

The Pentagon statement follows an Indian defence ministry release on Singh-Austin talks.

They met a day after India and the US signed two key agreements to bolster defence cooperationthe Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA) to ensure the mutual supply of defence goods and services to resolve unanticipated supply chain disruptions and a memorandum of agreement regarding the assignment of liaison officers to enhance cooperation and interoperability.

Singh arrived in Washington on Thursday on a four-day official visit.
Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Friday interacted with captains of several American defence companies in Washington and outlined the emerging co-development and co-production opportunities in India while enumerating reforms initiated by the government to make the country an attractive destination for foreign original equipment manufacturers and an alternative export hub. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh interacts with the senior leaders of the US defence industry after their round-table meeting, in Washington on Friday. (PIB)

Singh highlighted that partnership and joint efforts are the two keywords that differentiate Indias defence industry from other nations, the defence ministry said in a statement on Saturday.

US-India Strategic Partnership Forum organised the industry roundtable.

The companies represented at the event included General Electric, Boeing, General Atomics, General Dynamics Land Systems, L3Harris, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Technologies and Rolls Royce.

India is negotiating key deals with some of them.

Had fruitful interaction with leading US defence companies. Invited them to work with Indian partners to accelerate our Make in India program towards achieving Atmanirbharta in defence sector. Together, Indian and US companies will co-develop and co-produce for the world, Singh wrote on X.

Last year, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and GE signed a memorandum of understanding for transfer of technology (ToT) and manufacturing of F414 aero-engines for the future light combat aircraft (LCA MK-2).

The joint production of GEs F414 engines in India, for which negotiations are in full swing, will help the country overcome a striking technology gap, lay the foundation for indigenous development of bigger jet engines, and possibly open doors to exports.

However, the current LCA Mk-1A programme is running behind schedule and one of the main reasons for that is the lingering delay in the supply of the F404 engines to HAL by the US firm. The delivery of the engines is delayed by around 10 months.

GE is working with HAL to fix issues related to the delay, attributing it to supply chain bottlenecks in the aerospace industry.

India is also negotiating a deal with the US for 31 MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft systems, manufactured by General Atomics, to boost the Indian militarys strength. Also, Boeing has to supply six AH64E Apache attack helicopters to the Indian Army, while Lockheed Martin is executing a contract to equip the Indian Navy with MH-60R helicopters.

During the interaction, the business leaders outlined their ongoing projects and plans for India.

Singh said that the progressive reforms in the domestic defence sector have encouraged many foreign original equipment manufacturers to set up manufacturing units in India and enter into joint ventures with local firms to produce military hardware.

Deepening defence industrial cooperation was high on the agenda during Singhs meetings with US national security advisor Jake Sullivan and secretary of defence Lloyd Austin.

In 2023, the two countries concluded a new roadmap for defence industrial cooperation with the goal of fast-tracking technology cooperation and co-production in critical areas, including air combat and land mobility systems, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, munitions, and the undersea domain.

Indias defence landscape has transformed in the last few years.

The countrys military exports have risen sharply, and imports have dropped on the back of policy initiatives and reforms during the last 10 years, and it is on course to achieve an annual defence export target of 50,000 by 2028-29.

Indias defence exports stood at 6,915 crore during April-June 2024, defence ministry data shows. This is 78% higher than 3,885 crore for the corresponding period in the financial year 2023-24.

In April, the defence ministry announced that Indias defence exports grew 32.5% in 2023-24 and crossed 21,000 crore for the first time as the country remained focussed on boosting the indigenous defence manufacturing sector as well as military exports.

The value of exports in 2023-24 was 32.5% higher than what it was in the preceding year when it stood at 15,920 crore. Defence exports have grown 31 times in the past 10 years, the data shows.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) has found Mutare lawyer Cosmas Chibaya guilty of unprofessional conduct for orchestrating the double sale of land.Chibaya, from Chibaya and Partners Legal Practitioners, was under investigation since August 2022 and is now awaiting sentencing.The LSZ determined that Chibaya failed to protect his client's interests by facilitating the sale of a disputed property to a third party.The complaint was lodged by Lackmore Chikove, who alleged that Chibaya sold him a residential stand in Chikanga despite its contested ownership.Chikove paid a total of US$13,000 for the property, only to later discover that it was claimed by another individual, Joseph Ngorima.In addition, another lawyer, Medusa Simango of Mupindu Legal Practitioners, is also under scrutiny for her role in the matter.The LSZ accused Simango of failing to exercise due diligence in the transaction and improperly handling funds received from Chikove.Both lawyers are facing potential sanctions, including a caution or a fine of up to US$1,000 or its equivalent in Zimbabwean dollars.The LSZ is expected to issue final sentences after considering the lawyers' responses to the allegations.
The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Tamil Nadu government to produce all correspondence exchanged with the office of governor over the grant of sanction to prosecute former minister V Senthil Balaji in the cash-for-jobs scam after victims in the case informed the court that the trial against him was delayed as the request for sanction had been kept pending since January this year. The Supreme Court of India. (File Photo)

A bench headed by justice AS Oka said, We direct the state government to place on record the copies of the applications and other correspondence made with the office of the governor as regards the grant of sanction to prosecute the ex-minister.

The order of the court came on a petition moved by a group of victims led by Y Balaji asking the top court to appoint a special public prosecutor for the case, direct a special investigation team to probe the reasons for delay and order completion of trial within a period of one year.

The bench, also comprising justice Augustine George Masih, also directed the state to produce copies of the orders appointing prosecutors who are to conduct the prosecution in the cases involving the former minister, setting out their experience in handling such cases. The court sought an affidavit from the state on the above aspects and posted the matter for hearing on September 2.

Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan appearing for the victims along with advocate Balaji Srinivasan informed the court that the request for sanction was forwarded by the state to the governor on January 4 this year and since then it is kept pending. On account of the non-grant of sanction, the cases before the trial court are getting adjourned.

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta appearing for the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which arrested the former minister in June last year to probe alleged money laundering charges related to the scam, told the court that three predicate offences are pending against Senthil Balaji where sanction is pending. He further stated that in one case, more than 100 witnesses are there while in another there are over 2,000 accused and witnesses.

He suggested that a neutral public prosecutor can be appointed who may examine if some of the witnesses can be dropped. The court objected to the term neutral as it wondered how anyone can say that a prosecutor is neutral. On what basis can one say that a prosecutor is neutral, the bench said, adding further that it is doubtful whether a prosecutor appointed by the state can exercise discretion on which witnesses are to be examined.

The state represented by senior advocate Shekhar Naphade said that there has been no delay on part of the state on the issue of grant of prosecution against the ex-minister under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Naphade said that since the request for sanction was forwarded to the governors office, a query was received by the end of January seeking additional copy of investigation report. The same was provided to the governor on February 2.

Responding to the demand by the victims for a SIT to probe reasons for delay, the state suggested the court review the records that will reveal the reasons for delay, adding that no part of the delay can be attributed to the state.

Balaji is accused of allegedly receiving bribes for providing jobs in the state transport department during his tenure as state transport minister in 2014-15. Then, he was part of the AIADMK government. In 2021, he became a minister in the present DMK government and continued as a minister till his resignation in February this year.

The top court has also reserved orders on granting him bail in the ED case where the trial is yet to begin. The former minister claimed bail on medical grounds citing his ill-health and delay in trial, but the ED claimed that he has already influenced witnesses in the case and his brother, also an accused in the scam, is still at large.
New Delhi: Union home minister Amit Shah chaired an inter-state coordination meeting of states affected by Naxal violence on Saturday in Chhattisgarh, as the Centre is aiming to end the reign of red ultras in the next one year. The high-level meeting is being attended by the Chhattisgarh chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai, including the dy CM and Union ministers of state (X/@neerajwriting)

The high-level meeting is being attended by the Chhattisgarh chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai, deputy CM Vijay Sharma, Union minister of state for home Nityanand Rai, Union home secretary Govind Mohan, Intelligence Bureau director Tapan Deka, chief secretaries and police chiefs of affected states, and director generals of police of central paramilitary forces, among other senior officers from the security establishment.

Officials who did not wish to be named said that the home minister will review the status of action taken by the security forces and intelligence agencies since the last such meeting in January this year, a month after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stormed into power in the state.

The home minister has directed that the left-wing extremism (LWE) must be eliminated from the country in the next couple of years, and Saturdays meeting will discuss the strategy for the coming months. The ground forces are ready for a last push to remove Naxals from their core areas, which are now limited, said a counter-insurgency official who did not wish to be named.

According to official government data, the security forces have killed 147 Maoists in 104 gunfights since December 2023 until this month. Besides, a whopping 723 Naxal cadres have been arrested, while 622 have also surrendered before the forces.

HT had reported in May that a large number of Naxal cadres are deserting the Communist Party of India (Maoist) fearing they will be killed or arrested in the intensive operations being carried out by the security forces.

The Centre has also accelerated the opening of new campsalso known as forward operating bases (FOBs)in the Maoists strongholds in the last three, which has provided an operational edge to the security forces.

Since December last year, 33 new FOBs have been openedfour in Sukma, eight in Bijapur, two in Dantewada, four in Narayanpur, one each in Kanker and Rajnandgaon, and others. These camps have helped in coordinated intelligence-based operations of the security forces and have assisted civic authorities in taking development work to the remote villages, shrinking the area controlled by Naxals, said a second officer.

The minister of home affairs (MHA) informed the Parliament earlier this month that the geographical spread of LWE violence has constricted substantially with the reduction of LWE affected districts from 126 across 10 states in 2013 to only 38 districts in 2024 (with effect from April 2024) across nine states.

The government data revealed that the LWE violence incidents have reduced by 73% from the high level of such violence incidents in 2010.

The resultant deaths (security forces + civilians) have reduced by 86% from an all-time high of 1,005 in 2010 to 138 in 2023. In the current year 2024 (up to 30.06.2024), there has been a sharp reduction of 32% in LWE-perpetrated incidents and 17% in the resultant deaths of civilians and security force personnel in comparison to the figures of the corresponding period of 2023, said the second officer.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of targeting minorities and using bulldozers to instil fear among citizens. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge (File Photo)

Demolishing someone's home and rendering their family homeless is both inhumane and unjust. The repeated targeting of minorities in BJP-ruled states is deeply troubling. Such actions have no place in a society governed by the Rule of Law, Kharge wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

The Congress chief said that anarchy cannot replace natural justice and that offences should be adjudicated in courts, not through state-sponsored coercion.

The Congress Party strongly condemns the BJP state governments for their blatant disregard of the Constitution, using bulldozing as a tactic to instill fear among citizens. Anarchy cannot replace natural justiceoffences must be adjudicated in courts, not through state-sponsored coercion, the Congress chief added.

Kharge's reaction followed the demolition of a bungalow owned by Congress leader Haji Shehzad Ali, the main accused in a stone-pelting incident targeting police officers earlier in the week in Bhopal.

The demolition was part of the administrations response to those involved in the violent incident on August 21 when a mob allegedly threw stones at police officers inside the Kotwali police station compound.

What triggered the violence in Madhya Pradesh?

The violence was triggered after a mob allegedly surrounded the Kotwali police station, demanding action against seer Ramgiri Maharaj. Maharaj had allegedly made objectionable comments about Prophet Mohammad and Islam during a religious event in Shah Panchale village, Sinnar Taluka in Maharashtras Nasik district.

Earlier, Rajasthan chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma's government ordered the demolition of the accused student's home after he allegedly stabbed another student in Udaipur.

The stabbing incident happened on August 16 when an argument between the two minors escalated. Police said the boys had been at loggerheads for a few days as the accused asked for a homework copy, but the victim shared it with someone else.

However, when the two engaged in a heated argument, the accused stabbed the victim, leading to serious injury in his abdomen. The boy was undergoing treatment in the ICU of Udaipurs MB Hospital and died on August 19 around 4.40pm when his health suddenly deteriorated.

The Udaipur district administration demolished the rented house of the accused's family after Hindu groups and BJP leaders reportedly called for Uttar Pradesh-style bulldozer action. The administration stated that the demolition was due to the house being illegally constructed on forest land.
Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government "will free India from Naxal violence by March 2026. Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a meeting of the Inter-State Coordination Committee of Naxal-affected states.(PTI)

The time has come for the final assault on Left Wing Extremism," Shah said at a press conference after chairing a key security meet on anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh.



We believe that Naxalism is the biggest challenge for the democratic system in our nation. In the last four decades, 17,000 people lost their lives because of Naxalism. Since PM Modi-led BJP came to power at the Centre, we have accepted this as a challenge and tried to bring those who have weapons in the hands (Naxalites) into the mainstream, Shah said at the briefing.



100% saturation of Central govt and Chhattisgarh govt's schemes in the naxal affected areas, the progress of infrastructure projects in such areas and to remove the challenges faced during such projects, this meeting was for that," he added.



ALSO READ: New para military battalions to be deployed to counter Maoist violence in Cgarh

We have neutralised Naxal leaders, and have worked with two objectives - first was to establish Rule of Law in Naxal-affected areas and the second was to develop such areas, the minister said.

142 Naxals eliminated by security forces this year



The meeting in Raipur was attended by Chhattisgarh chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai, deputy CM Vijay Sharma, Union MoS home Nityanand Rai, Union secretary Govind Mohan and Intelligence Bureau director Tapan Deka.



The chief secretaries and police chiefs of affected states, and director generals of police of central paramilitary forces, among other senior officers from the security establishment, were also present.

Anti-Naxalite operations have intensified in Chhattisgarh since the BJP came to power in last year's assembly elections. As many as 142 Naxalites have been killed by security forces so far this year, PTI reported.



(With agency inputs)


Alia Bhatt was snapped outside a dubbing studio in Mumbai yesterday. The actor, known for her minimal and steal-worthy personal wardrobe, chose a simple Chanderi silk kurta set for the outing. It can be yours too as we found out its price. (Also Read | Priyanka Chopra brings Desi Girl energy to her brother's wedding festivities in a pink saree: Watch) Alia Bhatt stuns in a pink Chanderi silk kurta set. (HT Photo/Varinder Chawla)

Alia Bhatt wears a Chanderi silk ensemble: What is the price of the kurta set?

Paparazzi videos showed Alia Bhatt outside the dubbing studio in Mumbai. The actor was seen stepping out of her car and greeting the photographers who were clicking her pictures. She also posed for the media and thanked them before going inside. The pink Chanderi silk suit she wore for the outing is from the shelves of the clothing label Devnaagri.

Alia's Devnaagri kurta set is called the Pink Silk Chanderi Dori Embroidered Kurta Set. Adding the ensemble to your wardrobe will cost you 28,500.

The price of Alia Bhatt's Chanderi silk kurta set. (devnaagri.com)

Decoding Alia Bhatt's look in the simple pink kurta set

Alia's traditional look features a beautifully crafted pink kurta adorned with intricate dori embroidery. The slit neckline, full-length sleeves, scalloped cuffs, relaxed fitting, and side slits completed the design elements of the kurta. The actor wore it with elegant chanderi palazzo pants featuring a flared silhouette and scalloped hem.

Alia completed the suit set by coordinating it with a silk organza dupatta featuring light pink and dark pink ombre hues. She accessorised the ensemble with Gucci tortoiseshell rectangle frame sunglasses, grey embroidered pencil heels, dainty earrings, and rings. Lastly, a tight bun, glossy pink lips, rouge-tinted cheeks, feathered brows, and dewy skin rounded off the glam.

About Alia Bhatt

Alia Bhatt is Soni Razdan and Mahesh Bhatt's daughter. Alia is married to Ranbir Kapoor, and the couple has a daughter, Raha. The 31-year-old will be seen next in Vasan Bala's Jigra with Vedang Raina. She also has the YRF Spy Universe movie Alpha with Sharvari.
A video of Reliance Industries billionaire Mukesh Ambani and his wife, Nita Ambani, from Switzerland has surfaced online. It shows the couple enjoying a night walk on the streets of Switzerland with minimal bodyguards and their team accompanying them. (Also Read | Priyanka Chopra brings Desi Girl energy to her brother's wedding festivities in a pink saree: Watch) Nita Ambani and Mukesh Ambani enjoy a quiet night stroll in Switzerland. (Instagram)

What Nita Ambani wore for the outing with Mukesh Ambani

Nita Ambani, known for her exquisite couture looks and grand jewellery collection, opted for a vibrant red co-ord ensemble. In the video, she and Mukesh Ambani can be seen enjoying a stroll in the evening on a sidewalk. The couple seemed to be taking the leisurely walk after attending an engagement. While Nita chose the red outfit, Mukesh complemented her in a black suit featuring a blazer, pants, and a light-hued shirt.

Meanwhile, Nita Ambani's co-ord outfit features a short kurta with full-length sleeves, a golden brocade pattern, and a relaxed silhouette. The matching pants with a flared fit completed the look. She styled the ensemble with loose tresses, a designer luxury bag, and slip-on sandals.

About Ambani family

Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani are parents to Isha Ambani, Anant Ambani, and Akash Ambani. Their eldest daughter, Isha, is married to Anand Piramal, and the couple has two kids: a son, Krishna and a daughter, Aadiya. Akash Ambani is married to Shloka Merchant, and they are parents to Prithvi and Veda. Meanwhile, Anant Ambani recently married Radhika Merchant.

About Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's wedding

Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant tied the knot on July 12. The couple had a grand wedding in Mumbai attended by Bollywood starlets, international celebrities, global leaders, and politicians. The wedding festivities lasted three days, with PM Modi attending the couple's Shubh Aashirwad ceremony. Before the wedding in July, the couple also hosted two pre-wedding celebrations - a three-day star-studded gala in Jamnagar (which saw a performance by Rihanna) and an extravagant celebration in Italy.
Priyanka Chopra is in Mumbai to attend the wedding festivities of her brother, Siddharth Chopra, and his fiance Neelam Upadhyaya. The actor brought Desi Girl energy to the bash in a dazzling pink saree. We loved the way she styled the ensemble. (Also Read | Priyanka Chopra rocks sultry see-through gown as she supports Nick Jonas at The Good Half premiere: Watch) Priyanka Chopra attends her brother's wedding festivities. (Instagram )

Priyanka Chopra attended her brother's wedding festivities

Paparazzi pages shared videos of Priyanka Chopra, accompanied by her friend, arriving at Siddharth Chopra's wedding bash in Mumbai. The videos show Priyanka greeting the paps, who were clicking her pictures. Meanwhile, Siddharth's Roka ceremony took place in April this year, and Priyanka was a part of it, too. The actor arrived in India in the early hours of Friday.

Decoding what Priyanka Chopra wore for her brother's wedding festivities

Last night, Priyanka Chopra gave a desi twist to the Barbiecore trend as she wore a vibrant pink saree styled with eye-catching jewellery. The rani pink georgette drape features sequin embellishments done in floral patterns on the hem and pallu. She wore the nine yards in traditional style, wrapping it around her body in a low-waist style and letting the pallu fall from her shoulder.

Priyanka wore the saree with a backless spaghetti strap blouse adorned in floral adornments and sequin work. The plunging neckline and cropped hem added the oomph to her Desi Girl aesthetic. She styled the ethnic look with statement-making beaded jewels, including a beaded choker, a matching layered necklace, a diamond-adorned bracelet, earrings, and rings.

Lastly, Priyanka chose heels and an embellished clutch to complete the accessories. Meanwhile, for the glam, the actor went for bright pink lips, golden eye shadow, kohl-lined eyes, winged eyeliner, feathered brows, mascara-adorned lashes, rouge-tinted cheeks, and a dewy base. She tied her long locks into a centre-parted messy top knot with a few loose strands sculpting her face.

On the work front

Recently, Priyanka wrapped up the filming of her upcoming movie, The Bluff, directed by Frank E Flowers. She will also be seen alongside John Cena, Idris Elba, and Jack Quaid in the action comedy Heads of State, directed by Ilya Naishuller.
Janmashtami, also known by various names such as Krishna Janmashtami, Gokulashtami, Shrikrishna Jayanti, and Krishnasthami, is one of the most cherished festivals in India. It is celebrated to honour the birth of Lord Krishna, the revered eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. While this festival is joyously observed across the globe, the celebrations in Mathura and Vrindavan hold a special charm, as these two holy cities are deeply intertwined with the birth and early life of Krishna. There's no better place to experience the magic of Lord Krishna's birth celebrations than in Mathura and Vrindavan. (HT file photo)

The temples in these cities come alive with intricate flower arrangements, dazzling chandeliers and vibrant fabrics, creating a mesmerising atmosphere. The streets are filled with devotion and energy, and the air is thick with the sound of bhajans and the scent of incense. Scroll down to explore what makes Janmashtami celebrations in Mathura and Vrindavan an experience like no other. (Also read: Janmashtami 2024: Why Chappan Bhog is offered to Lord Krishna? Know the story behind the feast of 56 dishes )

Pre-Janmashtami Celebrations

The festivities for Janmashtami in Mathura and Vrindavan kick off ten days prior to the main event with a series of vibrant cultural and religious activities. Events like rasleelas, bhajans, kirtans, and pravachans take centre stage. Rasleelas, in particular, are dramatic re-enactments of the life and love stories of Krishna and Radha, along with other gopis. Both professional artists and local devotees bring these stories to life across various locations in Mathura and Vrindavan, setting the festive mood.

Maha raas is a crucial part of the Krishna Janmashtami.(File photo)

Temple Celebrations

As Janmashtami draws near, devotees flock to the iconic Krishna temples, especially the Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan and the Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple in Mathura. These temples, deeply associated with Krishna's birth, are transformed into divine sanctuaries with stunning floral arrangements and vibrant lighting. The atmosphere is charged with devotion and anticipation as the faithful prepare for the midnight rituals.

Devotees throng temples during Janmashtami(PTI)

The Midnight Abhishek Ritual

The highlight of Janmashtami is the abhishek ritual, performed at the exact moment of Krishna's birth at midnight. During this sacred ceremony, the idol of Krishna is bathed in a mixture of milk, yoghurt, honey, ghee, and water. The ritual is accompanied by the sound of conch shells, ringing bells, and the chanting of Vedic hymns. Following the abhishek, devotees present 56 different food items, known as chappan bhog, to Krishna as a gesture of love and devotion. This offering is later distributed as prasad to the worshippers.

Devotees perform 'abhishek' of Lord Krishna as part of Janmashtami celebrations.(PTI Photo)

Dahi Handi

Devotees forms a human pyramid to break a dahi handi.(Shutterstock)

One of the most exciting aspects of Janmashtami in Mathura and Vrindavan is the Dahi Handi event. Inspired by Krishna's childhood antics of stealing butter from earthen pots hung high by his mother, Yashoda, and other neighbouring women, this event sees young men forming human pyramids to reach and break a pot filled with yoghurt or butter. The Dahi Handi event is a lively celebration of loyalty, bravery, and teamwork, drawing large crowds who cheer on the participants.

Nandotsav

Nandotsava is celebrated a day after Janmashtami. (Unsplash)

The day after Janmashtami is celebrated as Nandotsav, commemorating the joyous occasion when Krishna's foster father, Nanda Baba, distributed gifts and sweets to everyone in Gokul to rejoice in Krishna's birth. On this day, devotees visit Nandgaon, Nanda Baba's village, to offer prayers and make donations to the needy. The festivities continue with various games and activities that honour Krishna's playful nature, ensuring the spirit of Janmashtami lives on.
A keeper at a safari park, where a gay penguin couple and a "throuple" of lorikeets reside, revealed that same-sex relationships in the animal kingdom are more common than you'd expect. Vicky McFarlane, who looks after the animals at West Midlands Safari Park, chatted with the BBC about the park's gay residents after news broke about the passing of a world-famous gay penguin in Australia. She shared that these unique relationships aren't as rare as people might think, shedding light on the fascinating love stories unfolding in the wild. (Also read: North Korea to reopen borders for western tourists after nearly five years of pandemic shutdown ) West Midlands Safari Park shows love knows no bounds with gay penguin couple and lorikeet 'throuple'(REUTERS)

Same-Sex Animal Relationships

McFarlane shared that at the West Midlands Safari Park in Bewdley, there's a pair of male Humboldt penguins named Arnie and Frodo who've been a couple since 2020. The park also has a "throuple" of rainbow lorikeetstwo males and a female.

McFarlane further explained that the female lorikeet lays the eggs, and the two males take care of them. "They seem to figure things out in their own little way. They know what works for them," she said. When asked about same-sex animals, she noted, "It's more common than you might think. I believe they do form emotional bonds, especially penguins and lorikeets. They're monogamous and mate for life."

"So there's a bit of a courtshipthey'll flirt, see who catches their eye, and once they settle down, they're inseparable. I'd definitely say they're in love," McFarlane shared. She added that the animals are left to find their mates on their own. "They find their love all by themselves. We just sit back, keep an eye on them, and make sure everyone's getting along."

On the flip side, while penguins and lorikeets at the safari park are monogamous, sea lions are a different story. "One male can have 35 girlfriends a year. They keep themselves pretty busysounds exhausting," McFarlane remarked to the BBC.
Tourism is a key lifeline for Pyongyang to obtain foreign currency, as the industry lies outside of the scope of international sanctions. The state is finishing the Wonsan-Kalma tourist area on its northeast coast. Nearly five years after North Korea sealed its borders to the outside world due to the coronavirus pandemic, its officials indicated that it will once again open up to Western tourists. Travel companies that previously took small groups of visitors into the North received word from their partner organizations in Pyongyang in the middle of August that the first tours could resume in December. The northern city of Samjiyon is likely to be the initial destination. Russian nationals have been allowed to visit North Korea as tourists since February 2024.(Yuri Smityuk/ITAR-TASS/IMAGO)

"We were informed in a phone call from our partners in Pyongyang," said Simon Cockerell, general manager of specialist North Korea travel agency Koryo Tours. It was unexpected but welcome, and we asked for further information, but no more than what we have announced was available. Other specialist travel firms, including KTG Tours, received a similar notification. Koryo Tours, which is based in Beijing, took the first foreign tourists into North Korea in 1993. Over the following decades, it has given around 30,000 curious outsiders a glimpse into the lives of people living under a strict communist dictatorship.

Pyongyang slams borders shut during COVID-19

The last Western tour group visited in January 2020, shortly before Pyongyang decided to close the country's borders in an effort to isolate itself from the global pandemic. Many other countries limited travel to stop the spread of infection; they eventually lifted restrictions as fears of coronavirus faded. Now, travel agencies say there is huge interest in North Korea, which is the last country in the world to reopen after the pandemic.

"We have inquiries from many countries, and it is clear there is a lot of pent-up demand from folks wishing to see the place for themselves," Cockerell told DW. The main reason that people give for wanting to travel to North Korea is "because it is there," he added, although there are many "country collectors" and "completists" looking to visit every nation on Earth.

"It is obviously not the easiest place to visit and, of course, there are a great many restrictions, rules and regulations there, so it is not somewhere that people go to for no reason or just casually," Cockerell said. Those who do go there really want to. They want to see what they can, do what they can and learn as much as possible. "That leads to highly engaged groups of visitors and a fascinating experience," he added.

South Koreans also want to visit

Kim Seong-kyung, a professor of North Korean society and culture at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said she is very keen to travel north of the border, but that it was impossible to do so at present. "If the rules were relaxed, I would very much want to go out of academic interest, but also out of interest in this divided country with two very different societies," she told DW.

Like most South Koreans, I would love to know more about the North. And while the government in Pyongyang has always been very cautious with outsiders, Kim believes the authorities have been preparing for a resumption in tourism for some time. "North Korea needs more resources from outside its borders, and tourism is one of the few sectors that is exempt from United Nations sanctions," she said.

The Kim regime is making a big effort to attract more international tourists because it needs foreign currency, but I also believe he wants the country to be considered 'normal' and to show off to the rest of the world its natural attractions as well as the beautiful buildings in the cities. North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un signed asweeping trade and security agreement with President Vladimir Putin when the Russian leader visited Pyongyang in June, and there have already been groups of Russian visitors to the North.

In the past, Chinese tourists made up the majority of visitors, but that source of income for the North also dried up when the borders were closed. Kim's tourism officials have been busy over the last few years, and work on the Wonsan-Kalma tourist area, on the northeast coast, is close to completion.

Kim Jong Un keeps an eye on tourism

Kim visited the site on July 18 to monitor the progress, with satellite images showing that hotels, restaurants, amusement parks, a rotating observation tower and other tourist facilities are close to completion along the 4-kilometer (2.5 miles) stretch of curving beach. It is likely that the self-contained resort is designed to appeal primarily to Chinese and Russian tourists. And while tourism to North Korea is not subject to sanctions at present, there has been criticism from some quarters that visiting the country plays into the North's propaganda hands and helps to finance the regime's nuclear and missile programs.

Koryo Tours chief Cockerell disagrees. "The cure for the isolation that North Korea is rightly criticized for is not yet more isolation," said Cockerell. "It is the policy of the North Korean state to keep its people in a situation where they learn about the world only through their own system, which does not present foreigners in the best light, to say the least," he added. "Interaction, engagement and simply being in the country and moving around all act against this and helps to incrementally open eyes and minds about the complex realities of the world."
An Indian-origin woman faced racism at an Albanian music festival while attending a Jason Derulo concert. A user, PostsByfeds posted about this incident on X (formerly Twitter) along with a video. In the viral video, the Indian-origin woman says she was confronted by four local girls who skipped ahead of her in the line. When the woman pointed out the queue jumping, the girls told her to return to India, laughing and making derogatory comments. Indian-origin woman faces racism at Albanian festival.(Screengrab X/@@SuspectFed)

PostsByFeds shared the video with the caption, Female Indian tourist is told to Go back to India by local girls at an Albanian Music festival,.

In the viral video, the woman says I am at a Jason Derulo concert in Tirana in Albania and I was waiting in the line and there is this group of four girls who just came up cut the line and when I pointed it out they said repeatedly that I should go back to my country so and laughed about it and they called me their mother and all of that jazz so yes I feel very welcome Albania great job thank you very much.

Take a look at the post here:

The video was shared on August 20, 2024. Since then, it has gained 2.6 million views and numerous comments.

The video received a mix of reactions online. While some X users supported the Indian-origin woman and condemned the behavior of the local girls, others posted negative comments, suggesting Albania is not a place for tourism.

Heres how people reacted to it:

A user, DonGeronimo, commented, "The group was right. Albania is for Albanians. India is for Indians, Germany is for Germans, etc".

The second user, TruthSeekers, commented "Go back please! Help out your communities... rather than coming and destroying ours!".

Another user, JimmyJSledge, commented, "This is f***ed up. Not only did they cut but theyre pathetic based shit talkers. Lady has every right to be upset. Good for her for taking the high road,".

This viral video highlighted both the challenges and diverse opinions surrounding tourism and racism. This underscores the need for cultural sensitivity and respectful behavior towards tourists.
A former spy for the Pentagon has shocked people with his claim about the existence of extraterrestrial life. In his interview, he claimed that aliens have not only landed on Earth, but the US government has known about their existence for decades. Reportedly, he also said that the authorities have vehicles of unknown origin that are not from the US or any other country. An ex-spys claim about aliens and UFOs has sparked chatter among Instagram users. (Unsplash/miriamespacio)

An ex-spy says US Government aware of ALIENS for decades. UFO investigator Luis Elizondo told reporters he can confirm a vehicle of unknown origin was recovered from the Roswell crash in 1947, DailyMail wrote as they posted a snippet of Elizondos interview.

Take a look at the video about aliens here:

With over 60,000 views, the video has collected more than 1,400 likes. The share had prompted people to post varied comments. While some shared they believed the ex-spy, others expressed their doubts.

What did Instagram users say about this video?

Duh... it's really egotistical to think we are the most intelligent beings in the ENTIRE UNIVERSE!!! No s%it that there are extraterrestrials out there, wrote an Instagram user.

I never did believe in this, but looking at things in life, why do so many people go missing? Like so many a day? I assume there is more to the story? asked another.

Never actual proof, though, commented a third, expressing their doubt. A fourth shared, Finally someone speaking the truth."

Who is Luis Elizondo?

The former counterintelligence member came into the limelight in 2017 after his interview with the New York Times aboutthe US military and intelligence community's secrecy around the topic of UFOs, reported Dailymail. He later became a household name with his appearance in a History channel docu-serie.

What are your thoughts on this ex-spys claims about aliens?
Dhaka: Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has detained retired Supreme Court judge AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik while he was attempting to flee to India through Sylhet border, a BGB official confirmed on Thursday. Police use tear gas to disperse student protestors in Bogura, Bangladesh on August 4. (AFP)

BGB public relations officer Shariful Islam confirmed the arrest of retired judge Manik in a short message.

Former Justice Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik detained at the border by BGB while he was about to flee to India, the message sent by BGB reads.

Justice Manik came into limelight after he took part in a TV talk show and took then prime minister Sheikh Hasinas side who had criticised the students of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement terming them as Razakars.

In Bangladesh, Razakars were one of the militias associated with large-scale atrocities committed during the Bangladesh Liberation War, also known as the Bangladesh War of Independence in 1971.

Manik was also seen picking a quarrel with a woman TV talk show host in a private TV channel amid the student protest for quota reforms.
Beijing, From its decades-old doctrine of winning local wars, China's military is shifting its focus to winning wars against strong enemies and opponents, a top defence official has said, amidst the mounting challenges Beijing faces on multiple fronts, including from the US. Chinese militarys new focus: Winning wars against strong enemies, opponents

President Xi Jinping has also directed the People's Liberation Army to improve its strategic ability to defend the country's sovereignty and development interests.

Celebrating the 120th anniversary of Deng Xiaoping, widely hailed as the paramount leader and the architect of modern China who rebuilt the country after the disastrous Mao Zedong era, Xi not only praised his outstanding contributions to the ruling Communist Party of China , the country and the world but also highlighted his emphasis to build a modern military.

The best way to honour Deng is to continue advancing the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics that he initiated, Xi, said in his address to a meeting held to mark Dengs birth anniversary.

He also recalled that Deng had highlighted the need to build the PLA into a strong, modernised and well-organised force, and to have fewer but better troops.

Xi, also the Commander-in-Chief of the PLA, on Thursday told the military to improve its strategic ability to defend national sovereignty, security and development interests, the Hong Kong-based South China Post reported.

Significantly, at a PLA commemoration, Miao Hua, a member of the Central Military Commission, the militarys top decision-making body headed by Xi, said: In the new journey, we should  focus on strengthening capabilities to defeat strong enemies and opponents.

Earlier on Wednesday, an article in the official PLA Daily said Deng had made the strategic judgment that world wars can be postponed or avoided in the 1980s, but China now faced great changes unseen in a century.

We must  always maintain strategic clarity on the possible risks of war, make full preparations for military struggle, effectively deter war and resolutely win the war.

The latest directive to the PLA to win wars against strong enemies and opponents is regarded as a major course correction for the Chinese military considering the mounting challenges China faces on multiple fronts.

Until recently, the CPCs directive to the PLA was to develop the ability to win local wars considering Chinas long-festering border dispute with India besides maritime disputes involving the disputed South China Sea and East China Sea with Japan. China's relations with Taiwan, which Beijing claims is part of its own, have also worsened in recent times.

China claims most of the South China Sea while the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan counter its claim.

As recently as in 2022, in his speech at the Party congress, Xi had set victory in local wars as a goal and told the PLA to improve training and preparation for war in all aspects and improve the ability of the army to fight and win.

We will strengthen the normal and diversified use of military forces, carry out military struggles with determination and flexibility, shape the security posture, contain crises and conflicts, and win local wars, he said then.

Analysts said the strategic shift from winning local wars to defeating strong enemies and opponents was in line with Beijings thinking about the risks it faces and its increasing focus on security, particularly in the face of the growing rivalry between China and the United States on multiple fronts.

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An explosion outside a synagogue in southern France wounded a police officer early on Saturday in what authorities said was being treated as a potential terror attack. France opens terror probe after blast near synagogue

Security around Jewish sites was tightened following the early Saturday blast outside the Beth Yaacov synagogue in the seaside resort of La Grande Motte, near the city of Montpellier.

Two cars outside the synagogue burst into flames after a gas canister likely exploded inside one of the vehicles, police said. The blast wounded a police officer.

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said France's national anti-terror prosecutors had been tasked with probing the incident.

"La Grande Motte's synagogue was the target of an attack this morning," Attal said in a post on X. "An anti-Semitic act. Once again, our Jewish fellow citizens are being targeted."

Earlier, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin called the incident "an obviously criminal act".

He said "all means are being deployed to find the perpetrator".

The police presence outside Jewish sites in France would be increased following the explosion, the minister added. Darmanin and Attal were to travel to the site of the explosion on Saturday.

La Motte's mayor, Stephan Rossignol, said that CCTV had picked up images of an individual setting fire to the cars.

The blast occurred during Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest that runs from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday and often when many attend synagogue services.

There was, however, no religious service ongoing at the time of the incident, a police source said.

Two doors of the synagogue were damaged in the blast.

There was no immediate information about the gravity of the police officer's injuries.

The town near Montpellier has about 8,500 permanent residents but the population swells during the summer tourism season.

The explosion comes amid a heightened state of alert in France and other European countries because of the war in Gaza.

Darmanin said this month that the government had counted 887 anti-Semitic acts in France in the first half of 2024, nearly three times as many as in the same period in 2023.

France is home to the biggest Jewish population outside Israel and the United States, and also to the largest Muslim community in the European Union.

The Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France called the explosion "an attempt to kill Jews".

The use of a gas canister "in a car at a time when worshippers are expected to arrive at the synagogue is not simply a criminal act", CRIF president Yonathan Arfi told AFP. "This shows an intention to kill."

Police have locked down the area around the synagogue.

burs-jh/yad

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PARIS  French authorities on Saturday opened a terrorism investigation after an arson attack on a synagogue in a southwestern Mediterranean town injured a police officer and security forces searched for a suspect. French authorities search for a suspect after an explosion at a synagogue injured a police officer

Two cars parked at the Beth Yaacov synagogue complex in the seaside resort town of La Grande Motte near Montpellier were set ablaze just after 8 a.m. Saturday, the National Anti-terrorism Prosecutor's Office said in a statement.

Firefighters discovered additional fires at two entrances to the synagogue. A police officer who walked up to the site was injured after a propane gas tank in one the vehicles detonated, the statement said.

Five people, including the rabi, who were present in the synagogue complex at the time of the attack were unharmed, it added.

Prosecutors were investigating the attack as an attempted assassination linked to a terrorist group and destruction of property with dangerous means, and a crime planned by a terrorist group with an intent to cause harm, the statement said.

President Emmanuel Macron said the synagogue attack was a terrorist act and assured that everything is being done to find perpetrator."

The fight against antisemitism is a constant battle," Macron said on X.

Acting Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said the synagogue was targeted in the attack that he called an an act of antisemitism."

Once again our Jewish fellow citizens are being targeted, Attal said in a post on X. He added: "Faced with antisemitism, faced with violence, we will never let ourselves be intimidated.

Acting Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin ordered police reinforcement to protect Jewish places of worship and said the incident was being treated as an attempted arson that is clearly a criminal act.

I want to assure our Jewish fellow citizens of my full support and say that at the request of President Emmanuel Macron all means are being mobilized to find the perpetrator, Darmanin posted on X. He ordered more police deployed at Jewish places of worship around the country following a surge of antisemitism since the start of the Israel-Hamas war last year.

Darmanin and Attal were expected to travel to Le Grand Motte later on Saturday.

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BUDEST, - Hungary's foreign minister said on Saturday the European Commission's decision not to mediate in a dispute over a blockage of oil supplies from Russia via Ukraine into his country suggested that Brussels was behind the stoppage. Hungary's foreign minister accuses EU of disrupting oil supplies from Russia

Hungary and its neighbour Slovakia have been protesting since Ukraine put Russian oil producer Lukoil on a sanctions list in June, stopping that company's oil from passing through Ukrainian territory to Slovak and Hungarian refineries.

The assertion from Hungary's Peter Szijjarto, which he made without providing evidence, came a day after the European Commission declined a request from Hungary and Slovakia for it to mediate between them and Ukraine over the sanctions.

"The fact that the European Commission declared that it was unwilling to help to secure the energy supply of Hungary and Slovakia suggests that the order was sent from Brussels to Kyiv to cause challenges and problems in the energy supply of Hungary and Slovakia," Szijjarto said at a conservative political festival.

A European Commission spokesperson declined to comment on Szijjarto's remarks.

The Commission, which has been supportive of Ukraine since Russia's 2022 invasion, has repeatedly urged EU countries to end their dependency on energy supplies from Moscow. The EU has imposed sanctions on most Russian oil imports.

On Friday, a Commission spokesperson said there were no indications that Ukraine's sanctions had endangered European energy supplies, as Russian oil continued to flow through the separate Druzhba pipeline, which also connects Russia to Slovakia and Hungary via Ukraine.

Ukraine's government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Hungarian statement on Saturday.

Slovakia and Hungary are both EU countries that have opposed Western allies' military aid to Ukraine as it fights the invasion that Russia launched in February 2022.

The pipeline's southern branch runs through Ukraine to the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary, and has served as their refineries' primary supply source for years.

Last month Szijjarto made similar comments when he accused the European Commission of blackmail in the oil dispute and said that maybe "Brussels, not Kyiv, that invented the whole thing".

A Hungarian government official said on Thursday that Hungarian oil company MOL was in the final stages of discussions to establish a scheme to ensure crude oil flows from Russia.

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Three people were killed and three others seriously wounded in a stabbing attack at a festival on Friday night in the western German city of Solingen, police said. Police tape is set up following an incident in which several individuals were killed on Friday night when a man randomly stabbed passers-by with a knife at a city festival, in Solingen, Germany, August 24, 2024.(Reuters)

They said that at around 10 p.m. (2000 GMT) a single, unidentified man attacked multiple people and that the perpetrator was still at large.

"It tears my heart apart that there was an attack on our city. I have tears in my eyes when I think of those we have lost," Solingen Mayor Tim-Oliver Kurzbach said in a statement. "I pray for all those who are still fighting for their lives."

Fatal stabbings and shootings in Germany are relatively uncommon.

The police said the attack occurred at a festival to honour the town's 650th anniversary.

Solingen is in North Rhine-Westphalia state, Germany's most populous and bordering the Netherlands.

The state's interior minister, Herbert Reul, visited the scene, telling reporters it was a targeted attack on human life but declining to speculate on the motive.

The attack occurred at the Fronhof, the mayor's statement said, a market square where live bands were playing.

The German government has been aiming to toughen rules on knives that can be carried in public by reducing the length allowed.

In June, a 29-year-old policeman died after being stabbed in the German city of Mannheim during an attack on a right-wing demonstration.

There was a stabbing attack on a train in 2021, injuring several.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday accused India of helping sustain Russias war economy through purchases of crude oil, even as he called on New Delhi to take on a greater role in ensuring the success of Kyivs ongoing peace efforts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting, at Mariinskyi Palace in Kyiv, Ukraine.(PTI)

A Russian strike on Ukraines largest childrens hospital that coincided with the start of Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Moscow last month made it clear that President Vladimir Putin does not respect India or its leader, Zelensky said while briefing the media after his talks with Modi.

India has global influence [as] a very big country...and a very big influence on the Russian economy. Today, you have it, and its true because really a lot of export possibilities for Russia [were] closed but India is open, he said. Zelensky said he spoke openly with Modi about Indias oil purchases from Russia, which is generating billions of dollars that help fund Russias military.

Its about billions which are coming back, which Putin...uses it only because he has now really, officially, a war economy, Zelensky said. So, he [Putin] has to feel how war is expensive, and his society has to feel it.

He added, The role of India  if you will stop imports of oil, Putin will have huge challenges...Prime Minister Modi wants peace more than Putin, this is the problem...The problem is that Putin doesnt want [peace].

Referring to Modis visit to Russia during July 8-9 for the annual summit with Putin, Zelensky sarcastically referred to the Russian leader talking to Modi about peace at around the same time that a missile strike hit the childrens hospital in Kyiv.

I don't have all the details of the Moscow meeting, but I said to the prime minister, with whom you have a deal? You speak with him, hes speaking [about how] he wants peace but at this moment exactly he is attacking a hospital, Zelensky said.

If during the official visit of the prime minister, you attack the children in the hospital, its a very important moment...So, it means that he doesnt respect the Indian prime minister.

Zelensky had reacted angrily to the attack on the hospital coinciding with images of Modi hugging Putin during a meeting at the Russian leaders private residence in Moscow. It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world's largest democracy hug the world's most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day, he had posted on X at the time.

The Russian side can give the impression that the attack had occurred because Putin doesnt control the military but this wouldnt be correct, Zelensky said. Putin controls everything, so he can't say that he doesnt control his army, he said.

Zelensky said he had discussed Ukraines ongoing peace summit mechanism with Modi and how India could be a part of these peace efforts but made it clear that Kyiv wouldnt make compromises on principles or values. I spoke about it with the prime minister, we want him at the [next] peace summit, he said.

But we dont change our territories on any propositions, he said, adding that there will also be no change on values such as freedom and democracy.

India attended several preparatory meetings and sent a senior diplomat to the first peace summit hosted by Switzerland in June but didnt sign off on the joint communique. The peace summit mechanism is based on Zelenskys 10-point peace formula of 2022 that envisages the withdrawal of Russian troops and restoration of Ukraines borders.

Zelensky said India would be welcome to take up efforts related to any of the 10 points of the peace formula or come up with its own vision or viewpoints to take the peace efforts forward. He said he had even told Modi that the next global peace summit could be held in India.

It's a big country, it's a great democracy  the largest  but I want to be frank...We wont be able to conduct a peace summit in a country which hasnt joined the communique of the [first] peace summit. Nobody is exerting any pressure but that is logical, he said.

Responding to a question on when he would take up Modis invitation to visit India, Zelensky said: Yes, (I have plans to visit India) because when you begin a ...strategic partnership, and you begin some dialogue, I think that you don't need to lose time...and that's why I think it will be good to meet together again.

He added, I need very much to find a key to your country because I very much need your country on our side, not balancing between us and Russia. It's not about your historical choice...That's why I'll be happy to come to India as soon as your government and prime minister will be ready to see me.
Alabama, SpaceXs upcoming Polaris Dawn mission aims to be historic in more ways than one. Polaris Dawn plans to not only orbit Earth higher than any astronauts have in more than 50 years but to also feature the first private spacewalk. The Polaris Dawn mission to Earths orbit will test SpaceXs capabilities for a commercial space programme

Its expected to launch August 27, 2024, and feature a crew of four: the missions commander, Jared Isaacman; Scott Poteet, a 20-year Air Force veteran pilot; and SpaceX employees Anna Menon and Sarah Gillis. Launching on a Falcon 9 rocket, they will travel in a SpaceX Dragon capsule named Resilience.

As a space policy expert, I see this mission as a major step in the development of commercial spaceflight. If successful, this mission will show that private companies are working on developing the capabilities needed to go to the Moon or Mars.

Commercial spaceflight

Polaris Dawns time in space will be spent testing communications between it and Earth via Starlink satellites and completing almost 40 experiments. Many of these experiments will study how the human body reacts in low-gravity environments and measure the radiation the capsule receives.

But Polaris Dawns biggest task will be the first private spacewalk.

The spacewalk will test out SpaceXs new extravehicular activity, or EVA, suits and learn about how they function in the low-gravity environment of space.

Polaris Dawn is not the first commercial spaceflight mission SpaceX has launched. In addition to providing launch services to NASA, SpaceX also sells flights on its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon crew capsule to individuals and companies.

SpaceXs first commercial mission, Inspiration4, launched in 2021. It was led by Isaacman, Polaris Dawns commander.

Following that mission, Isaacman purchased three additional flights from SpaceX and worked with the company to start the Polaris programme. While neither Isaacman nor SpaceX have released exact numbers, seats on the Dragon have sold previously for about USD 55 million.

Polaris Dawn is just the first of three planned Polaris missions. While few details have been released about the second, the third mission will be the first launch of SpaceXs Starship with humans on board.

High-flying orbit

Given SpaceXs ambitions to conduct its own missions to the Moon and Mars, it will need to develop and test the many elements that such missions will require. It will need to design and test EVA suits, complete longer missions that mimic the time needed to get to places such as the Moon and demonstrate an ability to communicate with Earth.

Polaris Dawns high-flying orbit will send humans farther from Earth than they have been in more than 50 years.

At its peak, Polaris Dawn plans to reach an orbit of more than 850 miles from Earth. Thats more than twice the distance between Earth and the International Space Station, which orbits about 254 miles up. Itll also be the highest orbit humans have reached since the Apollo program sent astronauts around and to the Moon.

Testing new suits

Perhaps more importantly, the spacewalk will test out SpaceXs new EVA suits. Developing these suits is perhaps one of the most difficult tasks to accomplish.

NASA learned early on that spacesuits are incredibly tricky. They must provide life support and protection from the space environment while allowing astronauts to move about. This is particularly tricky, as fully pressurised suits are bulky and hard to move in, leading to exhaustion.

NASA developed its current generation of EVA suits in the 1980s. Just this summer, NASA cancelled several spacewalks because of suit discomfort and coolant leaks.

The Polaris Dawn crew is scheduled to conduct their extravehicular activities on August 30. To do so, they will lower their orbit to approximately 434 miles to reduce the crews exposure to radiation.

All four of Polaris Dawns crew members will suit up for the spacewalk. After depressurising the entire capsule, two of the crew  Isaacman and Gillis  will leave the relative safety of the Dragon capsule to spend approximately two hours in space.

A charitable cause

Polaris and Polaris Dawn are seeking to raise money for childrens cancer research while also expanding SpaceXs capabilities for space exploration. As a tech billionaire, Isaacman has a long history of charitable giving.

Like Isaacmans earlier Inspiration4 mission, Polaris Dawn is also raising funds for St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, in one case soliciting donations in return for Doritos chips specially developed for space.

Isaacmans commitment to coupling this mission with his philanthropy suggests that he understands many peoples critiques of the so-called billionaire space club. These arguments often include the idea that billionaires such as Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos would help people more by spending their money on things like poverty alleviation rather than on space missions.

While private missions like this arent funded by tax dollars and dont require public support, Isaacmans decision to make St. Jude a partner creates tangible and immediate benefits on Earth.

Like many of SpaceXs activities, Polaris Dawn is ambitious, but it is necessary for the companys future plans. Before SpaceX can run to Mars, it must first walk  or spacewalk, to be more precise. GRS GRS

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A handout screen grab taken from a video released by the Houthis media center on 23 August 2024 shows flames and smoke rising from an explosion at the Greek-flagged oil tanker Sounion after an attack in the Red Sea, Yemen (EPA)

Three fires broke out on a Greek-flagged oil tanker in the Red Sea, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has reported, after Iran-backed Houthi militants attacked the vessel and its crew was evacuated.

The tanker first sustained damage on Wednesday when repeated strikes from the Houthis led to a fire and a loss of engine power. The vessels 25-member crew was later rescued by a European warship. Left unmanned, the tanker remained anchored in the waters between Yemen and Eritrea, according to a maritime security source who spoke to Reuters.

On Friday, UKMTO issued an advisory noting reports of three fires on the vessel, which added it now "appears to be drifting. Its not yet clear what happened on the tanker before the fires.

That same day, the Houthis released a video on social media allegedly showing their forces setting the tanker ablaze. The Independent has not independently verified the video.

The Sounion, which is carrying 150,000 metric tons of crude oil, now represents a significant environmental risk, according to the EUs Red Sea naval mission, Aspides.

The group has warned of the potential for a catastrophic oil spill that could devastate the regions marine ecosystem. The Djibouti Ports & Free Zones Authority echoed the concerns, stating on the platform X, formerly Twitter, that such a spill could have disastrous consequences.

Successful Salvage Operation of the Greek-Flagged Tanker "Sounion" after Attack in Yemen Waters



Last night at 10:00 PM, the Ports and Free Zones Authority successfully coordinated the salvage operation of the Greek-flagged tanker "Sounion" following an attack west of Hodeidah, pic.twitter.com/uPfoFyPaVq  Djibouti Ports & Free Zones Authority (@dpfza) August 23, 2024

The Sounion is the third tanker owned by Athens-based Delta Tankers to be targeted by the Houthis this month. The Houthis justified the attack by accusing Delta Tankers of violating its ban on entry to "the ports of occupied Palestine," as stated by their military spokesman Yahya Saree in a televised address.

In a brief statement on Friday, Delta Tankers said they were doing everything possible to secure the vessel and its cargo, but declined to provide further details for security reasons.

The recent attack on the Greek-flagged oil tanker Sounion is the latest in a series of increasingly bold operations by Yemens Houthi rebels, part of a broader campaign that has escalated tensions across the Red Sea.

Image from footage the Houthis say was as one of their attacks on the Greek-flagged oil tanker Sounion in the the Red Sea (AP)

Over the past 10 months, the Iran-backed Houthis have intensified their efforts to disrupt commercial shipping in the region, particularly targeting vessels associated with countries they view as adversaries.

This campaign, which the Houthis claim is in support of Palestinians in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, has seen the group launch a variety of maritime assaults, including missile strikes and the deployment of explosive-laden drones. Its operations have focused on areas around the Bab al-Mandab strait, a critical maritime chokepoint through which a significant portion of the worlds oil passes.
By Tom Balmforth and Olena Harmash Zelenskiy touts new 'drone missile', calls Putin 'sick old man'

KYIV, - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy touted a newly developed Ukrainian "drone missile" on Saturday that he said would take the war back to Russia and scornfully derided Russia's Vladimir Putin as a "sick old man from Red Square".

As Ukraine marked 33 years of post-Soviet independence, Zelenskiy said the new weapon, Palianytsia, was faster and more powerful than the domestically made drones that Kyiv has so far used to fight back against Russia, striking its oil refineries and military airfields.

"Our enemy will ... know what the Ukrainian way for retaliation is. Worthy, symmetrical, long-ranged," he said.

Zelenskiy said the new class of Ukrainian weapon had been used for a successful strike on a target in Russia, but did not say where.

He used derisive language to describe Russia's 71-year-old president and the nuclear rhetoric coming out of Moscow.

"A sick old man from Red Square who constantly threatens everyone with the red button will not dictate any of his red lines to us," he said in a video on the Telegram messaging app.

Russia, which has attacked Ukraine with many thousands of missiles and drones since it invaded in February 2022, has decried Ukraine's drone attacks as terrorism. Moscow's troops are advancing in Ukraine's east and occupy 18% of the country.

Zelenskiy has been pressing Kyiv's allies to allow him to use Western weapons deeper in Russian territory such as to strike airbases used by Russian warplanes that pound Ukraine with missiles and glide bombs.

"I want to stress once more that our new weapon decisions, including Palianytsia, is our realistic way to act while some of our partners are unfortunately delaying decisions," Zelenskiy told a news conference.

Ukrainians say the word "Palianytsia", a type of Ukrainian bread, is too difficult to pronounce for Russians and it has been used - sometimes humorously - during the war as a way to tell Ukrainians and Russians apart.

"It will be very difficult for Russia, difficult to even pronounce what exactly has hit it," Zelenskiy said of the drone missile.

TOP COMMANDER PROMOTED

In a decree, Zelenskiy promoted his top commander, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, to the rank of general, a tacit gesture of praise after Ukraine's lightning cross-border incursion into Russia's Kursk region launched on Aug. 6.

Cast by Russia as an escalation and major provocation, Ukraine's incursion has captured more than 90 settlements in the Kursk region according to Kyiv, the biggest invasion of Russia since World War Two.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Poland's and Lithuania's leaders, Zelenskiy told reporters the operation had in part been a preventive move to stop Russian plans to capture the northern city of Sumy.

Apart from capturing prisoners of war and creating a "buffer zone", Zelenskiy said the operation had other objectives that he could not disclose publicly.

Independence Day has surged in importance for Ukrainians during the invasion, which has spurred widespread patriotic sentiment.

This year the public holiday took place after the U.S. and German embassies issued warnings of a heightened risk of Russian missile and drone attacks across the country.

There had been no major strikes as of 1800 local time, but the air raid siren sounded in Kyiv late afternoon.

To mark the date, Zelenskiy ratified the Rome Statute, paving the way for Ukraine to join the International Criminal Court, one of many steps needed to join the European Union, accession to which Kyiv sees as a priority.

He also signed legislation banning the activities of religious groups linked to Russia, creating a legal instrument for the government to ban a branch of the Orthodox Church seen as linked to Russia.

Ukraine and Russia also said they had each secured the release of 115 prisoners of war in an exchange. The Russian Defence Ministry said its freed servicemen had been captured during Ukraine's attack in the Kursk region.

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Dhaka, Chief Adviser of the interim government in Bangladesh Muhammad Yunus on Saturday warned that health and food risks may arise once floodwaters recede and urged the people to unite in the relief work with encouragement from the youth. Bangladesh floods: Chief Adviser Yunus urges prominent NGO leaders, students to help in relief work

The toll in the devastating floods rose to 18 and it has affected 49 lakh people across 11 districts in the country, weeks after a major political turmoil led to the fall of the government led by Sheikh Hasina.

The Disaster Management and Relief Ministry said a total of 9,44,548 families have been stranded in the flood-affected areas while 2,84,888 people and 21,695 cattle were given shelter to 3,527 shelter centres across the 11 districts since August 20, according to the state-run news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha .

The army, navy, coast guard, Border Guard of Bangladesh , fire service, civil defence and students' community in coordination with district administration are making rescue efforts in the flood-hit areas all over, the ministry said.

Earlier during the day, at a meeting with about 44 NGOs, Yunus urged the country's people to come forward to address the ongoing devastating flood.

With the initiatives and encouragement of the youth, the country's people should jump into addressing the flood together. We must tackle the flood unitedly, he said after a meeting held at state guest house Jamuna here.

His press secretary Shafiqul Alam said that Yunus said that the way the people of Bangladesh showed their spirit during the student-people movement, they are coming up showing the same spontaneity in addressing the flood.

With the floodwaters starting to recede, water-borne diseases and health-related issues would emerge and the meeting discussed how these issues can be addressed, BSS quoted Alam as saying.

The NGOs are the strength of Bangladesh and we must implement the dream the youth have shown us. And we can do it, said Yunus, a Nobel laureate who comes from the development sector and has harnessed the power of NGOs to bring about developmental changes in the country.

Yunus, 84, assumed charge on August 8 soon after Hasina, 76, stepped down on August 5 and fled to India amidst a mass uprising that followed attacks, vandalism and killings of many people loyal to her since last month.

Bangladesh is crisscrossed by more than 200 rivers, 54 of them being transboundary rivers with upper riparian India, in four major basins. A depression in the Bay of Bengal had led to the current deluge with rivers in two basins  the north-eastern Meghna Basin and south-western Chattrogram Hills Basin  flowing above the danger mark.

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Prosecutors in Italy said Saturday they have opened an investigation into culpable shipwreck and multiple manslaughter after a superyacht capsized during a storm off the coast of Sicily, killing seven people onboard, They included British tech magnate Mike Lynch and his daughter. (FILES) Divers of the Vigili del Fuoco, the Italian Corps. of Firefighters enter Porticello harbor near Palermo, with the body of Hannah Lynch, the last missing person at the back of the boat on August 23, 2024, four days after the British-flagged luxury yacht Bayesian sank. Sicilian prosecutors said on August 24 they were investigating potential crimes of negligent shipwreck and manslaughter after a superyacht sank killing seven people, but stressed their probe was at the early stages. (AFP)

Termini Imerese prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio confirmed the investigation has been launched, but said no suspect is currently identified.

We are only in the initial phase of the investigation. We cant exclude any sort of development at present, he told reporters at a news conference.

Cartosio said his team will carefully consider each possible element of responsibility, including those of the ship's captain, the crew, individuals in charge of supervision, the ship-builder and others.

For me, it is probable that offences were committed, that it could be a case of manslaughter, but we can only establish that if you give us the time to investigate," he said.

The main question investigators are focusing on is how a sailing vessel deemed unsinkable by its manufacturer, Italian shipyard Perini Navi, sank while a nearby sailboat remained largely unscathed.

Also read | Trump invited guest speaker at Jan 6 defendants' fundraiser? With ex-prez's golf club as the venue, will he attend?

Prosecutors said the event was extremely rapid and information they gained seemed pointing to a downburst, a localised, powerful wind that descends from a thunderstorm and spreads out rapidly upon hitting the ground.

Initially, Civil protection officials said they believe the yacht, which featured a distinctive 75-meter (246-feet) aluminum mast, was struck by a tornado over the water, known as a waterspout.

Investigators were also asked why the crew was almost entirely saved, except for the chef, while six passengers remained trapped in the hull.

Local official confirmed that most of the bodies recovered were found in the same part of the ship, close to the exit, suggesting that passengers had tried to get out.

Deputy Prosecutor Raffaele Cammarano said it was likely that the passengers were asleep, adding that one of the main focus of the investigation is to ascertain whether they were alerted by someone.

Cammarano confirmed that one person was on watch in the cockpit.

Also read | Ukraine's Zelenskiy signs anti-Russia laws to mark independence day

Rescuers on Friday brought ashore the last of seven bodies from the sinking of The Bayesian, a 56-meter (184-foot) British-flagged luxury yacht that went down in a storm near the Mediterranean island in southern Italy early Monday. The sailboat was carrying a crew of 10 people and 12 passengers.

The seventh victim was Hannah Lynch, 18, the daughter of Mike Lynch., whose body was recovered Thursday. He had been celebrating his recent acquittal on fraud charges with his family and the people who had defended him at trial in the United States. His wife, Angela Bacares, was among the 15 survivors.

Rescuers struggled for four days to find all the bodies, making only slow headway through the interior of the wreck lying on the seabed 50 meters (164 feet) below the surface.

The other five victims are Christopher Morvillo, one of Lynchs U.S. lawyers, and his wife, Neda; Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of Morgan Stanleys London-based investment banking subsidiary, and his wife, Judy; and Recaldo Thomas, the yachts chef.

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Conservative radio personality Jay Weber issued an apology for mocking Gus Walz, the 17-year-old son of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, after he faced intense criticsm on social media. Gus Walz, who has ADHD and a nonverbal learning disorder, won the netizens' hearts for expressing his emotion and love for his dad, Tim Walz. Before understanding the full scope of his infirmities, several people mocked his emotions as cringe-worthy.(AP)

He was targetted a day after Ann Coulter drew backlash for making fun of the Democratic vice presidential nominee's son.

The younger Walz made headlines when a video of him sobbing and excitedly pointing and exclaiming, That's my dad! at the DNC during his father's speech went viral on social media. Gus, who has ADHD and a nonverbal learning disorder, won the netizens' hearts for expressing his emotion and love for his dad. Before understanding the full scope of his infirmities, many people mocked his emotions as cringe-worthy.

Sorry, but this is embarrassing for both father and son, Weber wrote on X. If the Walzs [sic] represent todays American man, this country is screwed; Meet my son, Gus. Hes a blubbering b**** boy. His mother and I are very proud, the host at Milwaukee talk station 1130 WISN added.

Also Read: Who is Gus Walz? Tim Walz's son whose 'teary eyes' at DNC took Internet by storm has a 'learning disorder'

Jay Weber admits mistake, but netizens dismiss his apology

Soon after realising his mistake, the Conservative radio personality deleted his post and issued an apology in another post on X, sating that he feels horrible and disappointed with myself.

This is a fuller apology for something stupid and hurtful I said yesterday. I said it without thinking or having the facts. No excuses. Having been a teacher, Ive had a standard of never involving children, I broke that and Im disappointed with myself. I apologize to the Walz family and anyone who was offended. I feel horrible, I am so sorry.

However, others questioned the authenticity of his response and dismissed his apology, with Milwaukee County Supervisor Shawn Rolland sharing a screenshot of his-now deleted post.

Go touch some grass, Jay," Rolland wrote while launching a scathing attack on Weber.

He pointed out that such things happen when people are too obsessed with politics and not living in the real world. Rolland went on to stress that Tim Walz has a family that loves each other.

Blasting Weber, one X user wrote: Appologies are only meaningful when they come with changed behavior. Your timeline today is full of misogyny and hate. That tweet is who you are.

You feel horrible because your job is now on the line. You're a sick person with zero decency, another stated.
U.S. President Joe Biden spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday and announced a new military aid package ahead of Ukraine's Independence Day on Saturday, their offices said. Joe Biden, in call with Zelenskyy, reaffirmed Washington's support, which the White House called "unwavering", for Ukraine in its war with Russia.(AP)

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who also spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov on Friday, said on social media the package was worth $125 million.

In the call with Zelenskyy, Biden reaffirmed Washington's support, which the White House called "unwavering", for Ukraine in its war with Russia.

The aid package includes air-defense missiles, counter-drone equipment, anti-armor missiles and ammunition, the White House said in its statement.

The calls came ahead of Ukraine's independence day.

"Ukraine critically needs the supply of weapons from the announced packages, particularly additional air defence systems for the reliable protection of cities, communities, and critical infrastructure," Zelenskyy said in a statement after call released by his office.

After seizing Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbor in February 2022. The United States has since provided military assistance and aid to Ukraine while also imposing sanctions on Moscow over the invasion.

Washington has provided Ukraine with more than $50 billion worth of military aid since 2022.

The war escalated on Aug. 6 when Ukraine sent thousands of soldiers over the border into Russia's western Kursk region. Kyiv has since announced a string of battlefield successes, but Russian forces continue to steadily inch forward in eastern Ukraine.

Separately on Friday, the United States imposed sanctions on more than 400 entities and individuals for supporting Russia's war effort in Ukraine, including Chinese companies that U.S. officials believe are helping Moscow skirt Western sanctions and build up its military.
TAIPEI, Taiwan  Former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, put in good words for Republican nominee Donald Trump on Saturday during her visit to Taiwan, saying that an isolationist policy isn't healthy and called on her party to stand with her country's allies. Nikki Haley says isolationist policy is not healthy while showing support for Trump in Taiwan

Haley, who ran against Trump for the partys presidential nomination, told reporters in the capital, Taipei, that supporting U.S. allies, including Ukraine and Israel, was vital while underscoring the importance of Taiwan  which Beijing claims as its territory to be brought under control by force if necessary. I dont think the isolationist approach is healthy. I think America can never sit in a bubble and think that we wont be affected, she said.

While the U.S. doesnt formally recognize Taiwan, it is the islands strongest backer and main arms provider. However, Trumps attempt to reclaim the presidency has fueled worries. He said Taiwan should pay for U.S. protection in an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek published in July and dodged answering the question of whether he would defend the island against a possible Chinese military action.

When Haley shuttered her own bid for the GOP nomination, she did not immediately endorse Trump, having accused him of causing chaos and disregarding the importance of U.S. alliances abroad. But in May she said she would be voting for him while making it clear that she felt her former boss had work to do to win over voters who supported her.

On Saturday, she said that having previously served with Trump's administration, we did show American strength in the world", pointing to their pushback against China and their sanctioning of Russia and North Korea among other efforts.

I think that all of that strength that we showed is the reason that we didnt see any wars, we didnt see any invasions, we didnt see any harm that happened during that time. I think Donald Trump would bring that back, she said.

Haley also criticized Trump's rival U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, saying she would do exactly what President Joe Biden had done. She said Harris was part of his administration when the Taliban took over Afghanistan in 2021, when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 and when the Hamas-Israel war broke out last year.

She was in the situation room right next to Joe Biden. She was there making the exact same decisions. Those decisions have made the world less safe, she said.

Haley added that while the Republicans and Democrats may not currently concur on much, they agree on the threats of China, adding that Taiwan is now looking to make sure that if China starts a fight with them, that they are prepared to make sure that they can fight back.

She said her party should stand with the country's allies and make sure that the country shows strength around the world. She also said any authoritarian regime and communists harming or hurting other free countries should be a personal matter to the U.S.

We dont want to see communist China win. We dont want to see Russia win. We dont want to see Iran or North Korea win, she said.

Haley began her trip to Taiwan, this week, and met Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te. She called for more international backing for the self-ruled island, a coordinated pushback against Chinas claims over it, and for Taiwan to become a full member of the United Nations.

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced he is suspending, not ending, his campaign for president and will seek to remove his name from the ballot in battleground states because he believes his presence in the race would help Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris. As RFK Jr. shared what he called an agonizing and heart-wrenching decision to suspend my campaign and to support Donald Trump,(Getty Images via AFP/AP)

Harris accepted her partys nomination and offered her policy agenda on the fourth and final night of the Democratic National Convention on Thursday.

Donald Trump will hold a rally in Arizona on Friday.

Trump gave a shoutout to former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who was convicted of criminal contempt of court for disobeying a judges 2011 order to stop his traffic patrols that targeted immigrants.

Arpaio was spared a possible jail sentence when his misdemeanor conviction was pardoned by then-President Donald Trump in 2017. Arpaio lost his reelection in 2016.

RFK Jr. addresses the crowd

Trump brought Kennedy to the podium to speak. Kennedy told the crowd that Trump wants to end a neoconservative grip on American foreign policy and end censorship. He asked the crowd, Dont you want a president thats going to make America healthy again?

Trump invoked Kennedys slain uncle and father, John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy, and said, I know that they are looking down right now and they are very, very proud of Bobby.

Trump announced he would establish a new independent presidential commission on assassination attempts and would release all remaining documents related to John F. Kennedys slaying.

He also indicated hed tap Kennedy if hes elected president and announced he would establish a panel working with Bobby to investigate the increase of chronic health problems and childhood diseases, including autoimmune disorders, autism, obesity, infertility and other issues.

Trump faithful queue in line despite triple-degree heat

Trumps rally in Glendale, Arizona, set for Friday afternoon is a joint event with the conservative youth organization Turning Point, which has flourished with the rise of Trumps MAGA movement and become a key well of base support for the former president.

The event reflected the youth organizations imprint, with a high-tech production that included strobe lights, rock-star walk-on music and LED screens thats a departure from Trumps typical setup.

A long line of people waited in triple-digit temperatures outside waiting to get in, even though the event was nearing capacity. At least one person was seen being loaded into an ambulance near the back of the line as people waiting without shade.

Voter Voice: Democrats are not the party of integrity

Alida Roberts, 49, said Robert Kennedy Jr.s endorsement of Trump speaks volumes about the current state of the Democratic Party.

It says a lot. It says that he doesnt trust whats going on, that its not the party he grew up in, Roberts said shortly after hearing Trump speak in Las Vegas. Its not the party of integrity. Its not the party for the people anymore, even though they would like to think they still are.

Roberts, who voted twice for Trump, said she was relieved and excited by the endorsement. Shed been teeter-tottering between the two candidates but knew that Kennedys campaign faced headwinds too strong to overcome.

Trump reiterates promise to eliminate taxes on tips

At his campaign stop Friday in Las Vegas, Trump sought to reclaim his vow to eliminate taxes on tips for service industry workers.

Its a promise that Trump shared in June at a Las Vegas rally that Harris later echoed when speaking to her own supporters at a rally earlier this month on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

In our case, we mean it, Trump said. Somebody I know just copied it. You know thats not going to happen.

The Culinary Workers Union, a political powerhouse in Nevada representing 60,000 service-industry employees at hotels and casinos, has endorsed Harris. But on Friday, Trump said, Can we get the Culinary Union to maybe vote for Trump?

The union did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump reacts to RFK Jr. endorsement

Trump, who is campaigning in Las Vegas, said hed just got a very nice endorsement from RFK Jr. that hell be talking about in Arizona.

That was very nice, he said. Thats big.

Dozens of his supporters packed inside a Mexican and Italian fusion restaurant cheered.

RFK Jr. calls his decision to support Trump agonizing

As Kennedy shared what he called an agonizing and heart-wrenching decision to suspend my campaign and to support President Trump, it evoked another decision he had described as difficult for himself and his family  when he left the Democratic Party to run as an independent.

When he announced that move last fall, he said it was very painful to let go of the party of my uncles, my father, my grandfather and both of my great-grandfathers.

During Fridays announcement, he noted that joining the Trump campaign would be a difficult sacrifice for my wife and children.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the former independent presidential candidate, made his debut at a Donald Trump event on Friday after suspending his campaign and announcing his support for the Republican nominee. The Kennedy family has taken a hard line to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s decision to drop out of the presidential contest and support Trump. Kerry Kennedy, his sister, openly denounced the move and described it as a betrayal of their family's fundamental principles. (Getty Images via AFP)

Before introducing the 70-year-old Kennedy political scion as a surprise guest at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, Trump, 78, called him a great person and a "incredible champion" for American ideals.

Amid the chants of Bobby! Bobby! Bobby!, Trump stated, Bobby has run an extraordinary campaign for the past 16 months, admitting that he didn't like it when he went after him a few times.

The former President further lauded American values of RFK Jr's father, Robert Kennedy and his uncle John F Kennedy, the 35th US President. And I know that they are looking down right now, and they are very, very proud of Bobby. Im proud of Bobby.

The GOP leader addressed the reporters after the event and claimed that Democrats treated RFK Jr very badly, and added, they treated Biden just like him.

Also Read: Did Beyonce really bail on DNC or was it just a rumour planted by Harris team?

RFK Jr draws flak from sister: It is a sad ending

The Kennedy family has taken a hard line to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s decision to drop out of the presidential contest and support Trump. Kerry Kennedy, his sister, openly denounced the move and described it as a betrayal of their family's fundamental principles. She also endorsed Democratic candidates Tim Walz and Kamala Harris in the same message.

Kerry stated in a statement on X, We want an America filled with hope and bound together by a shared vision of a brighter future, a future defined by individual freedom, economic promise, and national pride.

Kerry went on to say that their father and family's core beliefs have been betrayed by Bobby's choice to support Trump tonight.

Our brother Bobby's decision to endorse Trump today is a betrayal of the values that our father and our family hold most dear. It is a sad ending to a sad story.

RFK Jr stated in his resignation speech that he did not believe there was a realistic route to the White House.

In his remarks, Kennedy also blasted the Democratic party as corrupt and stated that it is engaged in continual legal warfare against both President Trump and myself.
By Tom Balmforth and Olena Harmash Zelenskiy touts new 'drone missile', calls Putin 'sick old man'

KYIV -President Volodymyr Zelenskiy touted a newly developed Ukrainian "drone missile" on Saturday that he said would take the war back to Russia and scornfully derided Russia's Vladimir Putin as a "sick old man from Red Square".

As Ukraine marked 33 years of post-Soviet independence, Zelenskiy said the new weapon, Palianytsia, was faster and more powerful than the domestically made drones that Kyiv has so far used to fight back against Russia, striking its oil refineries and military airfields.

"Our enemy will ... know what the Ukrainian way for retaliation is. Worthy, symmetrical, long-ranged," he said.

Zelenskiy said the new class of Ukrainian weapon had been used for a successful strike on a target in Russia, but did not say where.

He used derisive language to describe Russia's 71-year-old president and the nuclear rhetoric coming out of Moscow.

"A sick old man from Red Square who constantly threatens everyone with the red button will not dictate any of his red lines to us," he said in a video on the Telegram messaging app.

Russia, which has attacked Ukraine with many thousands of missiles and drones since it invaded in February 2022, has decried Ukraine's drone attacks as terrorism. Moscow's troops are advancing in Ukraine's east and occupy 18% of the country.

Zelenskiy has been pressing Kyiv's allies to allow him to use Western weapons deeper in Russian territory such as to strike airbases used by Russian warplanes that pound Ukraine with missiles and glide bombs.

"I want to stress once more that our new weapon decisions, including Palianytsia, is our realistic way to act while some of our partners are unfortunately delaying decisions," Zelenskiy told a news conference.

Ukrainians say the word "Palianytsia", a type of Ukrainian bread, is too difficult to pronounce for Russians and it has been used - sometimes humorously - during the war as a way to tell Ukrainians and Russians apart.

"It will be very difficult for Russia, difficult to even pronounce what exactly has hit it," Zelenskiy said of the drone missile.

TOP COMMANDER PROMOTED

In a decree, Zelenskiy promoted his top commander, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, to the rank of general, a tacit gesture of praise after Ukraine's lightning cross-border incursion into Russia's Kursk region launched on Aug. 6.

Cast by Russia as an escalation and major provocation, Ukraine's incursion has captured more than 90 settlements in the Kursk region according to Kyiv, the biggest invasion of Russia since World War Two.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Poland's and Lithuania's leaders, Zelenskiy told reporters the operation had in part been a preventive move to stop Russian plans to capture the northern city of Sumy.

Apart from capturing prisoners of war and creating a "buffer zone", Zelenskiy said the operation had other objectives that he could not disclose publicly.

Independence Day has surged in importance for Ukrainians during the invasion, which has spurred widespread patriotic sentiment.

This year the public holiday took place after the U.S. and German embassies issued warnings of a heightened risk of Russian missile and drone attacks across the country.

There had been no major strikes as of 1800 local time, but the air raid siren sounded in Kyiv late afternoon.

To mark the date, Zelenskiy ratified the Rome Statute, paving the way for Ukraine to join the International Criminal Court, one of many steps needed to join the European Union, accession to which Kyiv sees as a priority.

He also signed legislation banning the activities of religious groups linked to Russia, creating a legal instrument for the government to ban a branch of the Orthodox Church seen as linked to Russia.

Ukraine and Russia also said they had each secured the release of 115 prisoners of war in an exchange. The Russian Defence Ministry said its freed servicemen had been captured during Ukraine's attack in the Kursk region.

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Why mpox vaccines are only just arriving in Africa after two years

FILE PHOTO: Why mpox vaccines, in use since 2022, are only just arriving in Africa

FILE PHOTO: Why mpox vaccines, in use since 2022, are only just arriving in Africa

(This Aug. 24 story has been refiled to correct the name in reporting credit to Djaffar Al Katanty)

By Jennifer Rigby

LONDON (Reuters) - The first 10,000 mpox vaccines are finally due to arrive next week in Africa, where a dangerous new strain of the virus - which has afflicted people there for decades - has caused global alarm.

The slow arrival of the shots  which have already been made available in more than 70 countries outside Africa - showed that lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic about global healthcare inequities have been slow to bring change, half a dozen public health officials and scientists said.

Among the hurdles: It took the World Health Organization (WHO) until this month to start officially the process needed to give poor countries easy access to large quantities of vaccine via international agencies.

That could have begun years ago, several of the officials and scientists told Reuters.

Mpox is a potentially deadly infection that causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions and spreads through close physical contact. It was declared a global health emergency by the WHO on Aug. 14 after the new strain, known as clade Ib, began to proliferate from Democratic Republic of Congo to neighbouring African countries.

In response to Reuters questions about the delays in vaccine deployment, the U.N. health agency said on Friday it would relax some of its procedures on this occasion in an effort to now accelerate poor countries' access to the mpox shots.

Buying the expensive vaccines directly is out of reach for many low-income countries. There are two key mpox shots, made by Denmark's Bavarian Nordic and Japan's KM Biologics. Bavarian Nordic's costs $100 a dose; the price of KM Biologics' is unknown.

The long wait for WHO approval for international agencies to buy and distribute the vaccine has forced individual African governments and the continent's public health agency - the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  to instead request donations of shots from rich countries. That cumbersome process can collapse, as it has before, if donors feel they should keep the vaccine to protect their own people.

The first 10,000 vaccines on their way to Africa - made by Bavarian Nordic  were donated by the United States, not provided by the U.N. system.

Helen Rees, a member of the Africa CDC's mpox emergency committee, and executive director of the Wits RHI Research Institute in Johannesburg, South Africa, said it was "really outrageous" that, after Africa struggled to access vaccines during the COVID pandemic, the region had once again been left behind.

In 2022, after a different mpox strain spread outside Africa, smallpox shots were repurposed by governments within weeks, approved by regulators and used in roughly 70 high and middle income countries to protect those most at risk.

Those vaccines have now reached 1.2 million people in the United States alone, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

But no shots have been available in Africa outside clinical trials. A key reason: Vaccines needed to be greenlit by the WHO before they could be bought by public healthcare groups including Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

Gavi helps poorer countries buy shots, supplying childhood vaccines in this way routinely. It administered a global scheme for all vaccines during COVID-19 and has up to $500 million to spend on mpox vaccines and logistics.

The Africa CDC has said 10 million doses may be needed across the continent.

But the WHO only this month asked vaccine manufacturers to submit the information needed for the mpox shots to receive an emergency licence - the WHO's accelerated approval for medical products. It urged countries to donate shots until the process was finalised, in September.

The WHO said it is working with the authorities in Congo to put together a vaccination plan, and on Friday said Gavi could start talks while it finalised its emergency approval.

Sania Nishtar, chief executive of Gavi, said the WHO's aim to now act quickly on approvals and improvements in funding showed "the somewhat brighter side of where we are compared to COVID." Asked to comment on the approval delays, she said, "hopefully this is another learning moment for us."

WHO CRITICIZED

The WHO's role in approving medical products has revolutionised supply in low-income countries, which often lack the facilities to check new products themselves, but it has also faced criticism for its slow speed and complexity.

The Geneva-based U.N. health agency said on Friday it did not have sufficient data during the last mpox emergency in 2022 to start an approval process for the vaccine, and it has been working with manufacturers since then to see if the available data warranted an approval.

Mpox, which includes several different strains, has caused 99,000 confirmed cases and 208 deaths worldwide since 2022, according to the WHO. The tally is likely an underestimate as many cases go unreported.

Infections have been brought under control in rich regions by a combination of vaccines and by behaviour change among the highest-risk groups.

With the main earlier mpox strain, men who have sex with men were most at risk, but the new clade Ib variant seems to spread more easily through other close contact, including among children, as well as through sexual contact among heterosexual people.

The country currently hardest hit by mpox is Congo. Since January 2023, there have been more than 27,000 suspected cases and 1,100 deaths there, according to government figures, mainly among children.

But the first 10,000 vaccines donated by the United States are not destined for Congo but for Nigeria, as a result of several years of talks between both governments, according to a source involved in the process who was not authorised to speak to the media. Nigeria has had 786 suspected cases this year, and no deaths.

The Nigerian health ministry did not respond to a request for comment; the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) said it has also donated 50,000 doses to Congo but the arrival date is not yet finalised.

CHILDREN AT RISK

In Congo, the country's administration is another part of the problem. Grappling with conflict and multiple competing disease outbreaks, its government has yet to ask Gavi officially for vaccine supplies and took months to talk to donor governments. Its medicines regulator only approved the two main vaccines in June.

Neither Congo's health ministry nor Japan's, which is working to donate large amounts of KM Biologics vaccines, responded to requests for comment for this story.

Bavarian Nordic said this week it needs orders now to produce vaccines in volume this year.

Congo's government has told reporters it hopes to receive vaccine donations next week, but three donor sources told Reuters it is not clear if that will happen. Europe's pandemic preparedness agency said by email its 215,000 doses will not arrive before September at the earliest.

Bavarian Nordic and Congo are still discussing pre-shipment requirements necessary to ensure proper storage and handling, said a spokesperson for USAID. The vaccines have to be kept at -20C, for example.

In eastern Congo, around 750,000 people are living in camps after fleeing conflict, including seven-year-old Sagesse Hakizimana and his mother Elisabeth Furaha. He is one of more than 100 children to have been infected by mpox in one area near the city of Goma, in north Kivu, according to doctors.

"Imagine fleeing a war and then losing your child to this illness," said Furaha, 30, rubbing ointment on her son's rash and adding that his symptoms were easing. He was being treated last week in a repurposed Ebola treatment centre.

"We need a vaccine for this disease. It's a bad disease that weakens our children."

Even when shots arrive, questions remain about how to use them: Bavarian Nordic's vaccine - the most widely used worldwide - is only available for adults. The KM Biologics vaccine can be given to children but is more complex to administer.

Adding to those questions, scientists have not yet agreed what groups should be vaccinated first, although a likely strategy is ring vaccination, where contacts of known cases are prioritised.

"We saw with COVID-19 that the vaccine was available but the population didn't want it," says Jean Jacques Muyembe, co-discoverer of the Ebola virus and director of the Institut National de Recherche Biomedicale (INRB) in Kinshasa.

He and other scientists said other public health measures like awareness raising in Africa and better diagnosis were also key to stopping the spread of mpox; vaccines are not the only solution.

PRIORITIES

Some global health experts say the WHO and others should have focused earlier on improving access to mpox vaccines as well as tests for the disease and treatments.

"The processes [at WHO for vaccines] and funding for diagnostics for mpox should have started a few years ago," said Ayoade Alakija, who co-chairs a global health partnership aiming to make the mpox response more egalitarian.

She said her comment was not a critique of the WHO, which can only prioritise what its member states want. "It is a matter of what the world considers to be a priority, and [that is not] diseases that primarily affect black and brown people."

In a statement, the WHO said it was "urging all partners including countries, manufacturers and communities to mobilize efforts, increase vaccine donations, reduce prices and provide other necessary support to protect people at risk during this outbreak".

Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa CDC, said he is working to get African vaccine manufacturers involved to boost supply and lower prices, but that will take time.

(Reporting by Jennifer Rigby, additional reporting by Ange Kasongo in Kinshasa, Djaffar Al Katanty in Goma, Catherine Schenck in Johannesburg and Rocky Swift in Tokyo; Edited by Sara Ledwith)
Katherine Butler of Dalton, center, works on her next painting at Tuesday's CATA art show reception at the Clark Art Institute. Members of the public to view the art and mingle with some of the artists at the Clark's Lund Center. An attendee at Tuesday's reception takes a close look at some of the art on display. Some of the works on exhibit; red dots indicate art that has been sold. PreviousNext

CATA Artists Shine at Clark Exhibit



CATA program participants had the opportunity to express themselves through art at the event. WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  In a gallery filled with vibrant art and art admirers at a world famous museum, Dalton's Katherine Butler meticulously works on her next creation.

Is she creating a piece for CATA's next annual art show?

"Maybe, I don't know yet," Butler says with a smile.

This summer, Butler joined 200 other artists in Community Access to the Arts programs to contribute pieces for a show that ran at Pittsfield's Lichtenstein Center for the Arts through Tuesday and continues at the Clark Art Institute through Sept. 22.

On Tuesday afternoon, CATA and the Clark hosted a Meet the Artists and Community Art Making event in the Lunder Center at Stone Hill on the south side of the Clark's campus.

Butler, whose personal contribution was displayed in Pittsfield this summer, was one of many people taking advantage of the opportunity to create even as previous creations were celebrated.

"Loving this world is my passion, and I always knew I was an artist," Butler said.

"I feel very proud, especially being part of CATA. I just love the opportunity everybody gives me. Everybody is so nice and welcoming, and I want to thank everybody for that."

CATA Executive Director Margaret Keller was one of the dozens of people who stopped into Tuesday's event to visit with the artists.

"This show, in particular, we're here for a number of months, and over the course of the exhibit, literally thousands of people have the opportunity to encounter artwork, stunning artwork, created by CATA artists with disabilities," Keller said. "For us, as an organization, that allows us to expand our reach and engage a wider community, both a local community and visitors.

"For our artists, this show is an opportunity to say, 'Here I am, and this is who I am,' and express their talents, their unique perspectives on the world through painting, drawing, sculpture, collage."

CATA, based in Great Barrington, is a wide-ranging program that serves artists in nearly every discipline imaginable, from painting to acting to juggling to creative writing.

With 26 faculty artists, the program collaborates with 60 partners throughout the county and just over the state line into New York, offering programs at schools, community centers, nursing homes, day programs and private homes to advance its mission to give "people with disabilities powerful opportunities to express themselves creatively and share their talents with the public."

The organization serves 1,000 artists each year and holds annual performances at Shakespeare and Company and poetry readings at the Mount in addition to partnerships with galleries like the Clark and Lichtenstein.

Asa Peabody, whose family recently moved to Great Barrington, has been involved with CATA for about a year as a performance artist. Although he had no works on the walls at this year's art show, he was at Tuesday's event to support his fellow artists.

"I decided I wanted to do some classes, and I asked If I could do some classes, and they said, 'Yes,' " Peabody said. "I started with drumming, and I performed in drumming. And then I did tap dancing, and I performed in tap dancing. I took a lot of different classes, and it was a lot of fun to learn how to do all these different things."

Next year, you might see an original work by Peabody hanging on the walls at the Clark.

"I would love to take some art classes, to do some other art classes," he said.

Kara Smith, CATA's director of studio programs, helped curate this year's summer art show, titled "I Am a Part of Art."

"It's just a really robust variety of incredible work by CATA artists, from photography to collage to watercolor to sculpture to drawing painting," Smith said. "It's an incredible way to see the work of CATA artists and the way they see their world.

"Any CATA artist who participates in a CATA workshop has the opportunity to have their work in one of our summer art shows. So we collect all the work they did, and we look for a piece that seems to speak to their style and shows them stepping into it  a new way of showing their unique perspectives."

Thanks to partners like the Clark, the CATA artists can share that perspective with the world.

"I think any artist that you talk to in this gallery will tell you how meaningful it is for them to have work on the walls of the Clark Art Institute," Keller said. "As you know, all of the pieces in the exhibit are for sale, and artists receive a substantial commission on every piece that is sold.

"Those checks are some of the happiest checks that I will ever sign as executive director. It's really meaningful to be able to recognize the work and the talents of our artists  both by sharing their work with the public and by giving them that chance to earn a commission."

Great Barrington resident Scott Thomas had some of his sculptures on display in the CATA show in Pittsfield this summer. He has experience in a wide range of fine and performing arts.

"I like it all," Thomas said. "I do the music. I was in Shakespeare. And I also do the creative writing class, too."

A friend reminds Thomas that he also does standup comedy.

"Yeah, but there's no class for that one," Thomas said. "I'm my own teacher for that one."




iciHaiti - Cap-Haitien : The American Ambassador met with 25 participants of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs program





U.S. Ambassador Dennis Hankins met this week with 25 successful participants of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) program in Cap-Haitien



The meeting featured an intensive and dynamic mentoring session, during which Ambassador Hankins engaged in one-on-one discussions with each of the entrepreneurs to better understand their businesses and aspirations.



He also highlighted the U.S. Embassys commitment to supporting women-led businesses through the AWE program, emphasizing its impact on strengthening local businesses and contributing to sustainable development.



The meeting highlighted the Embassys commitment to fostering entrepreneurial talent and strengthening its support for womens economic leadership in Haiti.







IH/ iciHaiti


















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There is a line in Elliot Pages new film, Close to You, that I keep thinking about. It happens early, when his character  a trans man coming home to his family  runs into an old friend from high school, a woman who hasnt seen him since before his transition. The friend smiles, studies him. You look the same, she tells him. Just more you.

The same. More you. Page had brilliant experiences on the films he made before his real-life transition  think the sandpaper-dry coming-of-age comedy Juno, or Christopher Nolans trippy Inception  but they werent whole experiences, he says. This will sound so dramatic, he warns. But I feel like Ive got to a level of calm that I didnt think Id ever reach on a set. I just couldnt He begins to tiptoe through his sentences, lots of scattered thoughts colliding at once. I was always too uncomfortable. Too not-present. Too He pauses. Its a long one. There have been moments, playing certain characters, where there was that joy, that thrill, that sensation, but to sense it so fully? Its something I wouldnt have imagined possible back then. He grins, his face all angles and relief.

Page is in a Los Angeles hotel room, on a break from promoting the final season of his Netflix sci-fi series The Umbrella Academy. His Close to You director, Dominic Savage, is at home in north London. Were speaking on a group video call. Page and Savage seem, at first, an unlikely pairing. Page is 37 but looks far younger, an Oscar nominee for Juno and, particularly after coming out as trans in 2020, one of the most talked-about people on the planet. Savage is a twinkly-eyed, 61-year-old cisgender Brit, a filmmaker with an interest in naturalistic drama and moving character studies.

But Page loved his work and his loose, improvisational approach  on his Channel 4 anthology series I Am, featuring stars including Kate Winslet and Samantha Morton, he and his actors would meet and slowly build a story from ideas they were interested in exploring. Close to You came about similarly. On the films set, Savage would sometimes let his camera roll with no fixed endpoint. One single take lasted 53 minutes.

I enjoy it when I see actors doing something that I totally believe, Savage says. I watch lots of films, and while many are very well made, and its great acting, Im not actually seeing the reality of their feelings. This process allows for that. And when I look at Elliot on screen, or when we were making our film, I was actually terribly affected by it. I knew he was going to a very powerful place within himself.

Close to You is something of a cinematic homecoming for Page, and his first film since 2017s Flatliners, a dismal horror remake that  in his 2023 memoir Pageboy  he described as a true mess. It feels significant that Close to You is more aligned not just with Pages own identity, but to storytelling that is small, intimate and character-driven. He plays Sam, who we meet as he prepares for a four-years-in-the-making return to his family. During the gap, hes transitioned, and knows that journeying back into his past will open up old wounds. The film is funny, tender and steers nicely clear of cliche  Sam isnt skittish about his family because theyre terrible, for instance. In fact, theyre well-intentioned liberals. But Close to You understands the awkwardness of being the elephant in the room; of being a person who is so accommodated and indulged that it becomes vaguely exhausting.

I feel very supported. And thats the thing that keeps you going on those days where youre just waking up to the next awful person saying stuff

The goal was to not have, like, this awful, transphobic family, and that be the big conflict, Page says. The idea was to have this family that was really doing their best, and do love Sam. I wanted to find that balance between joy, and the sensation of getting to a place personally that you never thought youd get to, but also pain and grief and those ongoing hurdles. Thats life, you know?

Its also not Pages life. While there are clear biographical parallels between Page and Sam, Sam seems to have had a far easier go of things. Page, for instance, wrote in his memoir that he is estranged from his father and stepmother (the former has engaged online with right-wing figures including the author Jordan Peterson, who has used his vast media platform to attack Page), while his relationship with his mother  a ministers daughter who at one point told him that homosexuality doesnt exist  has fluctuated over the decades. They are close today, however.

Savage tells me that hes been knocked out by the response to the film on the festival circuit, particularly at last years BFI Flare, Londons LGBT+ film festival, where it received a standing ovation and strong reviews. Individual responses from young queer and trans people have meant even more. Theyd tell me that it was a really important thing for them to have seen, he says, and thats kind of why I want to make films in the first place.

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Homecoming king: Page in Close to You ( Vertigo Releasing )

Much of Close to You feels novel. Sam and his high school friend Katherine (a warm Hillary Baack) share a complex, vaguely romantic dynamic free of the rules of gender and sexual identity. Sams family sometimes misgender him, but its accidental and no big deal. And notably, Sam is, well, sexy. Trans characters are illusive in film and television. Trans characters with busy, satisfying sex lives  who lounge around naked in bed with their partners  even more so. For Page, Sams sexual confidence, and the general ease he has about his body, meant hed have to bare his chest on-screen for the first time  something hed never done even before his top surgery. He was reluctant at first, but only because he was worried the scene in question veered into cliche.

I was, like, Dominic, we dont want the trans guy looking at himself in the mirror, Page laughs. But then I thought, hey, this is just a guy waking up. He probably does sleep shirtless. It was ultimately no big deal. It was nice not to have to think, what will it mean if I show my body? Its just  He shrugs. Im just an actor in a movie, right?

Its true, but also not. Its not an outrageous statement to say that Page is probably the most famous trans person in the world right now. And certainly the most famous trans movie star. By sheer virtue of Pages existence, everything he does is significant, every career move or opportunity a reflection on where were at as a culture. Its a lot to put on one persons shoulders. Does he feel the pressure?

I think Page takes another long pause. Im learning how to better achieve a balance. If Im overwhelmed about certain things, or if Im reading something [horrible], Im gonna go for a beautiful long walk with my dog. He laughs. For me, when the noise gets really loud, I like to centre in on this feeling of, like, Youre not gonna take away my joy.

Director and star: Savage and Page at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2023 ( Getty )

Of course, he adds, hes also not delusional about the state of things. You cant help but not come back to the reality of the situation were in, he says, firmly. In the US, hate crimes related to gender identity rose by 32 per cent in 2022, according to the FBI, while a record number of hate crimes were committed against transgender people in England and Wales between 2022 and 2023, according to a Home Office report.

Ive struggled in life to get where I am today, but I also have access to resources and care that many do not, Page continues. So I want to use my platform and connect with others to help elevate their voices and He pauses again, and breaks into a half-smile. Im just trying to do my best. He grimaces. Sorry, I feel like Ive just talked about myself so much in this interview.

You get the impression that Page isnt a natural spokesperson. His sentences tend to loop-de-loop around a central point, he umms and ahhs and doubles back. Politics, activism, role modeling  its not an easy fit. Instead, it feels like a necessary evil. Often its awkward because I do end up in this position of being asked about things, when other people have far more experience with them than I do, he says. Whether its related to policy or healthcare often its the thing where Im like, oh my God, there are other people you should be speaking to, you know? He laughs, then exhales.

But then that does make me educate myself, he continues. I know I need to stay on top of things. Im also so fortunate to have an incredible community of trans people in my life, who are just so busy and overwhelmed with all the s*** theyve got going on, but who are so kind to me and supportive whenever Im like, Hey, can I run something by you?. I feel very supported. And thats the thing that keeps you going on those days where youre just waking up to the next awful person saying stuff. He sighs. Like f***! Everybodys feeling it, you know?

Close To You

The inevitable weight of the conversation that surrounds Page also tends to overshadow his actual work. Which sucks, because Page has always been a really, really great actor. He has a brilliant face, sharp and handsome, which always seems to shift between mischief and pensiveness. Its what marked Page early as a preternaturally gifted talent  he grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and was a TV star in Canada by the age of 10. The grim 2005 thriller Hard Candy, in which his character laid a trap for a prolific child molester, took him global. There followed a few X-Men movies  he played the mutant Kitty Pryde  as well as Juno and Drew Barrymores cult roller derby film Whip It.

Juno, about a snarky pregnant teen with a disposition somewhere between an old-timey comedian and a space alien, remains his finest hour as a performer. But its also interesting to rewatch it now through a queer lens, and through the lens of everything that Page has talked about publicly since (he came out, pre-transition, as gay in 2014, and in 2021 described himself as both queer and non-binary). Because even back then, there was a feeling that Juno MacGuff wasnt exactly the heterosexual teenager the film made her out to be. She felt, even if she didnt know it herself, on the cusp of something. When I say to Page that Juno was  I guess?  a straight girl, he shoots me a look that can only be read as: B****, please.

I look back now and [queerness] is all I see in most of my characters, he says. And thats exactly what made Juno so special, and why so many people did connect with that character. He built her from the ground up. I was like, this is how this character is going to dress. This is her cadence, how she moves, how she walks. A lot of it obviously came from my queerness.

Thats a wrap: Page in the recent final season of Netflixs The Umbrella Academy ( Netflix )

It was only after the film was made and Juno became a phenomenon that Pages voice was taken away. Hes spoken previously about being ordered to wear heels and gowns while on the awards circuit for the movie, and having no say in how he was presented to the media  despite Juno being more of a sneakers-and-T-shirts sort of gal. And now, when I reflect on that movie, and all the dresses I had to wear while promoting it, its like extra gross. Because my queerness is actually what made that movie extra special, in my opinion, he says. Obviously its an incredible script and filmmaker and all of those things, but my queerness is so related to how that character was, you know?

Its gratifying to see him talking like this, about acting and the creative process. He tells me hes amped up about performing again, in a way that he hasnt been for a long time  maybe ever. And, as he makes very clear to Savage, hes looking for work. I want us to do another thing together so bad, he tells him. What are you doing over there in London? Writing for other actors? Who cares? Savage is game. And we dont have to make it in winter in Canada this time, either, Page jokes.

Hes back. He looks the same. Just more him.

Close to You is in cinemas from 30 August
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JD Vance declared himself a never Trump guy in 2016. Now that hes Donald Trumps running mate, the Ohio senators words have come back to haunt him in the form of a viral hit on social media app TikTok.

The 22-second long audio clip was created by DJ duo Casa Di and Steve Terrell, who sampled Vances comments from a 2016 Vance interview with Charlie Rose when he was promoting his memoir Hillbilly Elegy.

In the clip, Vance can be heard saying: Im a never Trump guy. I never liked him.

That sample was added to the Petey Pablo hip-hop beat Freek-a-Leek and the resulting song has proved wildly popular on TikTok, where it has soundtracked more than 8,500 videos in the last month, racking up over 40 million views in total.

The clip has also been shared by @KamalaHQ, the official account of the Harris - Walz campaign.

The song is not Casa Di and Steve Terrells first encounter with viral fame. Last year, they teamed up with rapper That Chick Angel for One Margarita (Margarita Song), a track that was also initially inspired by a popular TikTok sample.

Speaking to The New York Times, Terrell explained that the pair had heard Vance speaking in a clip and found his voice sort of melodic in a sense.

Casa Di, whose real name is Carl Dixon, added: We were like, what if we put this to a catchy beat or something?

Dixon continued: When Kamala decided to start running, me and Steve were figuring out ways to encourage people to vote or be aware of whats going on. This is our first time doing something as politically charged.

JD Vance speaking in Pennsylvania in August 2024 ( Getty Images )

In recent weeks, several politicians have joined TikTok even as a ban on the popular video app looms.

Kamala Harris, Tim Walz, Pete Buttigieg, JD Vance and Donald Trump have all joined TikTok as the race ramps up, and they hope to gain favor with younger voters. But the social media app is still embroiled in a contentious legal battle with the US Department of Justice, which is threatening to ban it entirely.

In April, President Joe Biden signed a bill that forces the Chinese company ByteDance to either sell their app or be banned from US app stores within a year. TikTok sued in return, arguing the bill unfairly singles it out and violates the First Amendment.

Meanwhile, Harris has said shes not in favor of the ban, just new ownership.

As the VP has said before, we dont want to ban TikTok, a spokesperson for Harris told NBC News. We would just like to see a change in ownership.
Brighton & Hove Albion have made headlines with their latest signing, securing a deal in principle for Celtic midfielder Matt ORiley. This move is set to break records, as the transfer fee received by a Scottish club is expected to surpass the 25m mark, previously set by Jotas move from Celtic to Al Ittihad last summer.

Celtic had been holding out for the right offer for ORiley, rejecting five bids from Atalanta, with the highest offer reaching 21.5m plus add-ons. The 23-year-old Denmark international, who scored 19 goals and contributed 18 assists last season, was under contract at Celtic until 2027. Atletico Madrid had also shown interest in ORiley earlier in the year, with Celtic declining a 20m offer in January.

Brighton have been proactive in the transfer market this summer, making significant additions to their squad. The signing of forward Georginio Rutter for 40m and midfielder Brajan Gruda for around 25m are clear indications of the clubs ambition for the upcoming season.

Why Celtics Loss is Brightons Gain

Much of the focus surrounding ORileys move from Celtic to Brighton revolves around the financial aspect. The transfer fee is set to break records in the Scottish Premiership, surpassing previous high-profile sales by Celtic. However, for ORiley, the decision to move goes beyond just monetary gains.

The Denmark international is known for his level-headedness and dedication to improving as a player. His journey from the Fulham academy to MK Dons and then to Celtic showcases his commitment to personal and professional growth. ORileys decision to join Celtic in January 2022 for 1.5m was a strategic one, driven by the clubs style of play and his own ambitions as a player.

Throughout his time at Celtic, ORiley made a significant impact on the team, becoming a key player in their midfield. His impressive performances, which included 19 goals and 18 assists last season, earned him multiple accolades within the club, highlighting his importance to the team.

Not only does ORiley provide goals and assists, but he also has a track record of performing well in crucial moments. His ability to deliver on the big stage was evident in Celtics Champions League campaign, where he contributed two assists despite the teams overall performance.

Brighton will be looking to capitalize on ORileys talents to push for European competition under manager Fabian Hurzeler. With ORileys winning mentality and proven track record of success, the Seagulls are hopeful that he can help elevate the team to new heights.

The Departure of a Key Player

Celtic now face the challenge of replacing a player of ORileys caliber. His departure leaves a significant void in the team, one that will require a strategic approach in the transfer market to fill. Finding a suitable replacement for ORiley will be crucial for Celtic as they look to maintain their competitiveness in the league.

While ORileys move to Brighton represents a loss for Celtic, it also signifies a new chapter for the midfielder as he embarks on a new challenge in the Premier League. His impact at Celtic will not be forgotten, as he leaves behind a legacy of success and achievement.

In Conclusion

The signing of Matt ORiley by Brighton & Hove Albion marks a significant moment in the clubs history. As they look to strengthen their squad for the upcoming season, ORileys addition brings a wealth of talent and experience to the team. His departure from Celtic signifies the end of an era for the club, but also opens up opportunities for new players to step up and make their mark.

Overall, ORileys move to Brighton represents a win-win situation for both clubs. Brighton gains a talented midfielder with a proven track record of success, while Celtic have the chance to rebuild and regroup in the wake of ORileys departure. As the new season approaches, all eyes will be on ORiley as he takes on a new challenge in the Premier League with Brighton & Hove Albion.
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Slipknots Sid Wilson is being treated in hospital for serious burns after he was caught in a bonfire explosion on his farm in Iowa.

The US musician, 47, announced the news by sharing an Instagram video from his hospital bed, as he assured fans that he would be OK.

In the Instagram video, Wilson was lying in a hospital bed as medical staff treated the wounds on his face and arms.

Hi everybody, I had an explosion in my face. Im OK, Im going to be OK. But I did have some serious burns to my face and my arms, he told the camera.

The DJ said he was getting his chest X-rayed to ensure he had not inhaled flames from the fire, and showed off his singed eyebrows and moustache, his blistered mouth and arms.

Im going to be all right you guys. I dont care what it takes, I will see you on tour, he said.

He posted a follow-up video while being transferred to a more specialist facility, in which he assured fans he was doing pretty good and that he was in good hands.

He said that he sustained the injuries from the remnants of a bonfire which he had burned on his farm the night before.

Friends and fans posted their well-wishes in the comments section of his videos, including Korn frontman Jonathan Davis and guitarist Brian Welch, and DJ Premier.

Damn brother, that looks painful, wrote System of a Down bassist Shavo Odadjian. Hope you heal quickly. Were out here sending you positive thoughts.

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His bandmates said in a statement that Wilson still plans on joining them for their performance at Rocklahoma festival, in Oklahoma, next weekend, despite his injuries.

His girlfriend Kelly Osbourne, the daughter of TV star Sharon and Black Sabbath vocalist Ozzy Osbourne, also warned others about the dangers of burn piles in a video from his hospital beside.

This is why you dont f*** with burn piles. He literally set himself on fire, exploded everything, she said, with a stressed expression on her face.

Osbourne also shared a video of their young son playing with toys on the hospital floor beside Wilson, who was wrapped in bandages.

Slipknot later posted a statement on Instagram about Wilsons accident, saying: Our brother Sid Wilson was in an accident today and sustained burns across his body.

Hes recovering with his family and will still join us on stage at Rocklahoma next weekend. He thanks everyone for the well wishes, and will see you all soon.

The heavy metal band will embark on a global tour from September, playing dates in the US and South America before travelling to Europe.

They will then kick off the UK leg of their tour in December in Leeds, with shows scheduled for Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham and London.

Additional reporting by Press Association
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Carol Vorderman has criticised what she deemed to be controversial decisions by BBC management following the Huw Edwards scandal.

The outspoken former Countdown star, who claimed she was sacked with no conversation to be had by the broadcaster in November last year, received a standing ovation after delivering the Alternative MacTaggart lecture at the Edinburgh TV festival on Friday (23 August).

Vorderman, 63, said she was standing in anger and without apology as she said trust in the BBC is declining because of the way people feel after so many controversial decisions by BBC management.

She referenced former news presenter Edwards, who pleaded guilty to making child sex abuse images following his resignation from the BBC in April. The corporation admitted it was aware police had arrested him five months before his resignation, during his suspension over an unrelated matter.

Vorderman further cited Match of the Day host Gary Linekers tweets about the previous governments immigration policy, which led to him being briefly removed from the programme.

She also referenced the departure of BBC chair Richard Sharp over questions surrounding his role in then prime minister Boris Johnson receiving an 800,000 loan guarantee.

open image in gallery Richard Sharp left his role as BBC chair after a row over an 800,000 loan for Boris Johnson ( BBC/PA )

Sharp, a Conservative Party donor and former Goldman Sachs banker, insisted at the time that his breach of the BBCs strict rules on public appointments had been inadvertent and not material, as an inquiry found that he had failed to disclose potential conflicts of interest during his application to become BBC chair.

Politics, arrogance, snobbery, leads to disillusionment. They are all inextricably linked, Vorderman said in her speech.

The rich and powerful corrupting politics, the upper-middles taking broadcast for themselves, the increasingly absurd right-wing newspaper headlines being promoted by political programmes. What has this got to do with class? Everything, literally everything.

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After 14 years of austerity and lying by the privileged political class, this country is in an absolute mess and the TV industry must accept part of the responsibility for that too, including the riots.

open image in gallery Carol Vorderman said the TV industry must accept part of the responsibility for the state of the nation, including the riots ( Getty )

The maths expert, who grew up in poverty in Wales, said that working class people feel they are not represented, their situation is not represented, the lack of opportunities and lack of money and jobs is not represented.

Our industry is an industry of snobbery: regional snobbery, class snobbery and educational snobbery, and dont even get me started on the political issues. She suggested that working class people are increasingly turning away from television and towards social media.

Social media  no longer the new kid, more like the badly behaved uncle  has changed our society and its rules, and it is decimating our industry as we know it, and with good reason, she said.

What it gives everyone  in towns and cities outside the wealthy South East  the opportunity to do, is to see and hear views they recognise, in language they recognise.

No longer is there the need to go through the filter of a producer, or a commissioning editor, or someone who has never been to my town or my city or my region, who has no idea how people like me live and the worries we have.

open image in gallery The TV veteran told her audience that she hoped the whole of this years TV festival has really made you consider your own perceptions ( PA )

Vorderman cited research from the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre, which in 2023 found that fewer than 10 per cent of people from the TV, video, radio and photography sectors were from working class backgrounds.

I hope the whole of this years TV festival has really made you consider your own perceptions and that you ask yourself questions about class and opportunity, and the responsibility you hold in the future of this country, she said.

Her speech comes ahead of the publication of her new book Out of Order: Whats Gone Wrong with Britain and One Womans Mission to Fix It, in September.

The Independent has contacted the BBC for comment.

Additional reporting by PA
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Gillian Anderson has said she found her pin-up fame while working on The X-Files in the Nineties, and the sexy photoshoots she took part in at the time, preposterous.

The British-American actor, who has drawn acclaim for roles in Sex Education and The Crown in recent years, was catapulted into fame in 1993 as FBI agent Dana Scully in The X-Files. And it also brought attention of a different sort, namely in the form of lads mags.

In a new interview, Anderson recalled the major differences between her actual life and the image she portrayed in magazines and photoshoots.

It felt so preposterous to me, she told The Guardian. If you saw my life and where I am half the time, between work and set and kids and driving and drop-offs and pick-ups and all that sort of stuff  the fact that youd end up with those pictures is just so  

Anderson gave birth to her first child, Piper, during the second season of The X-Files, and spent the rest of the series as a working mum.

[Those shoots were] just part of the fantasy. It doesnt feel like it represents me at all.

Anderson will soon release a book collection of anonymous letters titled Want, comprised of sexual fantasies submitted by women from around the globe. In the book, for which Anderson contributes her own anonymous fantasy as well as stories from her life and career, she writes about the oddness she experienced as a Nineties star.

I had a surreal experience in 1996 when I was voted worlds sexiest woman by readers of FHM magazine, she recalls, dubbing it a type of worship not far off some of the descriptions in these fantasies.

She also recalls discovering erotic fan-fiction online inspired by her performance as Margaret Thatcher in The Crown.

open image in gallery Anderson found fame in 1993 alongside David Duchovny in The X-Files ( Getty Images )

Earlier this month, the actor further revisited the Nineties by explaining the context of a clip that had gone viral on Twitter/X, in which she appears to kiss her X-Files co-star David Duchovny  and not her boyfriend at the time  while picking up an award at the Emmys.

Anderson was last seen on-screen in the Netflix film Scoop, in which she played former Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis. The actor said that she happened to run into the real Maitlis at a charity event while preparing to play her, and remembered feeling embarrassed as she was really dishevelled at the time.
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India has chosen to stay on the sidelines since its close ally Russia invaded Ukraine, dismissing pressure from Western nations to join in condemnation of Vladimir Putins war while still seeking deeper trade ties with the likes of the US and UK.

This tricky balancing act is one that prime minister Narendra Modi is expected to keep up during his visit to Kyiv, the first by an Indian prime minister since the two countries established diplomatic relations over 30 years ago.

Mr Modi arrived in Kyiv on Friday, having been in Poland on Thursday for the first leg of his Europe trip.

The timing of the visit, during which Mr Modi will meet president Volodymyr Zelensky, has not gone unnoticed: it coincides with Ukraines National Flag Day, commemorating its independence from the Soviet Union.

It also comes just over a month after the prime minister met Vladimir Putin in Moscow, inviting criticism from Western capitals as well as Mr Zelensky, who called it a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the worlds largest democracy hug the worlds most bloody criminal on such a day.

The same day Mr Modi and Mr Putin were meeting, Russian forces carried out missile strikes across Ukraine that reportedly killed at least 42 people.

Vladimir Putin awards Narendra Modi the Order of St Andrew the Apostle at the Kremlin in Moscow ( AP )

Strategic observers say Mr Modis trip to Kyiv is aimed at reassuring Indias Western partners upset over his Moscow visit. And although it is mainly being undertaken for the sake of optics, the trip may present an opportunity for New Delhi to strengthen defence cooperation with Ukraine, which has been providing spare parts for its warships.

Modis visit is primarily about providing reassurance to the West after the fallout of the Moscow visit, which coincided with the airstrikes in Ukraine ahead of the Nato summit, Chietigj Bajpaee, a senior research fellow for South Asia at Chatham House, told The Independent.

Its a form of strategic signalling by India to the West and Europe in particular which has been more critical of India.

Swaran Singh, professor of diplomacy and disarmament at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi, argues that Mr Modis trip is not an afterthought after his Moscow summit  but rather a way of India showing off its strategic autonomy.

Western pressures are important but the decision is fundamentally driven by Indias foreign policy being built on the axis of strategic autonomy. And to demonstrate - even to Moscow  New Delhi will have a bear hug with Putin and we will also engage in Ukraine as well, he told The Independent.

He also claimed that Mr Modi visiting Ukraine on the eve of its National Day was meant to send a message that India stands with the independence of Ukraine.

Narendra Modi meets Vladimir Putin in Moscow on 9 July 2024 ( AP )

In any case, it wont be easy for Mr Zelensky to sway India to his side against Russia. The Ukranian leaderships limited engagement with New Delhi in the past has yielded no significant shift its position, which is largely driven by self-interest.

India relies heavily on Russia for weapons and energy supplies, to the point that New Delhi is accused by the West of indirectly funding Moscows war by buying vast quantities of Russian crude oil. These purchases have increased almost 20-fold since 2021.

Just before leaving for the trip, Mr Modi said he will "share perspectives" on a peaceful resolution of the war. As a friend and partner, we hope for an early return of peace and stability in the region, he said.

Delhi has previously indicated a willingness to give support to resolve the conflict peacefully, but hasnt any plan, unlike rival China, which has proposed a 12-point peace plan.

I am sceptical of Indias ability to play the role of a mediator as its self-interest in Russia raises questions about whether it has the means and motivation to play the role of some sort of mediator or peace builder, particularly given its long-standing and close relationship with Russia, Mr Bajpaee said.

At most, he added, India could serve as a conduit to relay messages between Moscow and Kyiv and potentially offer a back channel for the West to communicate with Russia.

Narendra Modi met Vladimir Zelensky on the sidelines of the last G7 summit ( EPA )

Rahul Roy-Chaudhury, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in the UK, seemed to agree.

Expectation of India playing a role in mediation is too exaggerated, he said. In my view, India has been able to do a balancing act between all these different parties. It has been able to do it reasonably successfully. But that is the extent. Mediation means going far beyond this.

This could be because, Prof Singh said, India was wary of making a grand proposal, like Chinas peace plan, that could fall flat on its face.

India is being very cautious, very modest, very sublime. It is not making any grand proposals and any claims to do things as yet. I am also hopeful that a more definite wording will appear when Modi speaks in Kyiv, he said.

Mr Chaudhury said the West could try and project Mr Modis visit to Mr Zelensky as a victory borne out of its pressure and criticism of his trip to Russia.

Russia will understand that this is just for the optics and not much substance. And on Indias policy, there will be no substantive change in its ties with Moscow despite this visit to Ukraine, he said.

Vlodomyr Zelensky and Narendra Modi shake hands at the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, last May ( Reuters )

At the same time, he pointed out, India could benefit by deepening defence trade with Kyiv. A number of Indian naval vessels rely on Ukrainian engines and spare parts, he explained.

If Moscow does object to Mr Modis visit, Mr Bajpaee said, it would manifest in other ways.

Putin could deepen or grow outreach between Moscow and Pakistan, for instance, he said.

In the worst-case scenario, Russia could lean more in Chinas favour in its border conflict with India.
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A bomb blast in southwestern Pakistan on Saturday killed three people, including two children, police said.

It also injured at least 13 people, including two police officers who were reported by local media to be in a critical condition.

The explosion occurred near the police headquarters at Surkhab Chowk in Pishin, a town in Balochistan province about 100km from the border with Afghanistan.

Explosives were planted in a motorcycle, police officer Mujeeb-Ur-Rehman said, adding that it was remotely detonated.

Two children who were passing by were killed when the blast occurred, he said.

Police suspected the blast was carried out by separatist Baloch factions, which have ramped up attacks on security forces and civilians in recent months, although no group claimed responsibility.

Pakistans interior minister Mohsin Naqvi mourned the loss of innocent lives. He said the fight against insurgents was for Pakistans honour and to give the future generations a peaceful and safe country.

This war will continue until the terrorists and their enablers are eradicated, he said.

Shehbaz Sharif, the prime minister, expressed sorrow and directed authorities to provide the best medical treatment possible to the injured.

He reaffirmed Pakistans commitment to combating terrorism. Cowardly terrorists who attack young children do not deserve to be called humans, he said.

Shahid Rind, a spokesman for Balochistans provisional government, condemned the terrorist incident.

Anti-society and anti-state elements do not deserve any concession, Mr Rind said. Terrorists are targeting innocent and sinless people to achieve their nefarious goals.

Balochistan has seen a surge in violence in recent months, particularly since the breakdown of a ceasefire between the government and the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan in 2022.

The blast in Pishin continues a broader trend of escalating attacks on security forces and civilians in Balochistan and the neighbouring province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Balochistan has long been plagued by insurgency, with separatist groups seeking independence from Pakistan.

Despite the governments claims of having quelled the insurgency, violence has continued, posing ongoing security challenges to the country.

Balochistan holds strategic importance internationally as well, not least due to its proximity to Afghanistan and Iran, making it a focal point for regional stability.
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Two freelance journalists in the strife-torn nation of Myanmar were killed, one allegedly after being captured, when security forces raided the home of one of them in the southern state of Mon, colleagues and media reports said Friday.

Win Htut Oo, 26, a freelancer working for DVB  the Democratic Voice of Burma, an online and broadcast news agency  and Htet Myat Thu, 28, were the latest journalists to be killed by the security forces of the ruling military, which seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. DVB described the two as close friends.

At least five other media workers have been killed and others tortured while in detention, according to colleagues who keep a tally of killings and arrests.

The killing of journalists Win Htut Oo and Htet Myat Thu is an atrocity against the free press and must not go unpunished, said Shawn Crispin, Southeast Asia representative of the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, in an emailed statement. Myanmar authorities must ensure swift and full justice for the countrys independent journalists who are being killed simply for reporting the news.

Myanmar is one of the worlds biggest jailers of journalists, according to the France-based group Reporters Without Borders, and ranks near the bottom of its 2024 World Press Freedom Index, placing 171st out of 180 countries.

Khin Yupar, head of DVBs Citizen Journalist Network program, told The Associated Press on Friday that Htet Myat Thus house in Letpya village in in Mon states Kyaikhto township was raided by about 30 members of the security forces at 9 a.m. on Wednesday while their friends who belonged to the Kyaikhto Revolution Force were making a visit.

Myanmar Journalists Killed ( AP )

The group is one of many local armed resistance forces formed to oppose military rule after the 2021 army takeover.

Win Htut Oo, who had been living at the house since July, and a member of the resistance group were shot dead during the raid, and another guerrilla and Htet Myat Thu were killed after being arrested by soldiers, she said.

It is unacceptable that the juntas forces attacked and shot journalists without examining and questioning them. We condemn violence against unarmed journalists, Khin Yupar said.

Letpya village is about 100 kilometers (63 miles) northeast of Yangon, the countrys largest city.

Win Htut Oo worked for DVB and other media since finishing journalism training early last year. Like many other young people in Myanmar, he took part in protests in 2021 against the military takeover, and went into hiding after being sought by police on charges of incitement.

Incitement is a charge that has been especially used against journalists, for allegedly causing fear, spreading false news or agitating against a government employee.

He was a promising journalist, as well as talented. He sent news more than other freelance journalists. We are very sorry for his death, Khin Yupar said.

She also denied the claims on pro-army social media that he had been a member of the resistance force, saying that he mixed with the groups members as part of his duty to gather information from all sources.

Htet Myat Thu worked for local media in Mon state. He was shot and arrested by security forces one month after the 2021 army takeover while covering a protest in Kyaikhto. He was jailed for seven months and released in a general amnesty.

A fellow journalist in Mon state told the AP that the raid occurred one day after three resistance force members came to visit Htet Myat Thus house.

The journalist, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he feared being arrested by the military, said Htet Myat Thu and a resistance member were killed after being tied up with ropes. Another resistance fighter and Win Htut Oo were shot dead, while the third member of the resistance group escaped.

The Kyaikhto Revolution Force said in its statement on social media on Thursday that two journalists and two of its members were killed, while the third managed to escape.

DVBs report in the Burmese language said there had been about seven people inside the house, three of whom, including a 70-year-old woman, survived.

Its report, citing eyewitnesses, said the people inside the house did not return fire at the security forces during the raid. It also said the bodies of those slain were seized and cremated by the security forces the afternoon of the shooting.
Lauren and Eric Eberspacher met during college. Eric was a year younger than Lauren, but she didnt mind  and Eric just knew she was the one: Lauren was bubbly, a cute blonde with an infectious smile. At college, she was studying nursing. And I was there to find a wife, says Eric.

One of the first things Eric asked Lauren when they started dating was whether she had a relationship with the Lord. She did, she was the daughter of a pastor. Their values aligned, and our personalities matched up well, too, he adds. Despite doing her nurse training, Lauren would happily become a traditional wife, she told Eric, who is now 37. And so when they got married at 22 and 23, her life changed.

Rather than go out to work as an oncology nurse, Lauren would raise their children, bake from scratch  which takes a lot of sacrifice, she says  and manage the home. In her words, she would become her husbands helpmate. Eric, meanwhile, would make the decisions, provide financially, and protect the home they keep.

The Eberspachers live an idyllic traditional marriage style, they tell me from their home in Nebraska, one that has been attracting a lot of attention of late.

Thanks to TikTok tradwife influencers like 22-year-old mum of three Nara Aziza Smith  described by GQ as an avatar for a corner of social media that glorifies old-fashioned family structures and the wholesome, quasi-religious aesthetics of housewifery  who has more than 9 million followers, and Estee Williams  a high-pitched housewife whos rarely seen out of a pink cardigan  tradwives have never been so popular, or intriguing, or divisive.

But behind every good tradwife is a trad-husband  or, as some are calling them, the trad-dads. In these highly gendered marriages, its the men who supposedly rule the roost. So who are they? And, if making cola from scratch because your husband fancies a glass constitutes a good tradwife, what does it mean to be a poster-boy trad-husband?

Lucky Blue Smith, Naras husband and the centre of her social media empire, plays the role well. Lucky, 26, was famously plucked from obscurity  or a large Mormon family in Utah  aged 10 to be signed by an international modelling agency. He became intensely popular among teen girls who called themselves the Lucky Charms, and followed his every move on Tumblr and, later, Instagram.

Now, he has four children under four  the first with his model ex-girlfriend Stormi Bree, born when he was just 19 years old, and three with Nara (Whimsy Lou, Rumble Honey and Slim Easy) and born in quick succession since they married in 2020.

In Naras videos, Lucky is often visible in his wifebeater vest, high-cut Levis and wide-lapel shirts, chewing on a toothpick with his trad-boy Fifties style cow lick hairstyle, placing a suggestive hand around her waist as she cooks.

While she spends her time realising they have run out of toothpaste or ketchup and whips up a homemade batch of whatever her husband needs, he stands looking adoringly at his wonderful tradwife.

The wannabe James Deans own TikTok account has a paltry 457k followers to Naras millions  in public view at least, its his tradwife in the driving seat. In fact, in one recent video Nara makes clear that, while Lucky offers to help her film her content, she prefers to do it alone. Shes very specific about what she wants, she explains. Nara might be a tradwife in one sense, but shes in control in every other way. And that probably includes being the higher earner too.

open image in gallery Lauren Eberspacher is quick to disagree with any criticisms of her traditional marriage ( lauren.fromblacktoptodirtroad/Instagram )

Like the majority of trad couples, Luckys life centres around his religious roots in Mormonism  in one uncharacteristic post last year, cracks in the trad couples glossy exterior appeared as he opened up about suffering from depression after smoking every day and struggling to give it up.

But all I can tell you is God is with you, he says. Despite this, and the performative purity of their trad brand, theres a consistent, jarring sexual undertone to their content. Under Luckys latest video, in which he appears as his wife cooks in a black beaded gown, the first comment from Nara reads, Daddy.

But while Lucky and Nara hard sell the aesthetics of domesticity, a darker shadow has been cast on other trad couples. Recently Megan Agnews profile of Queen of trad wives Hannah Neeleman, or @BallerinaFarm, raised a few pertinent questions about trad-husbands in particular.

Neeleman, a Julliard-trained ballerina who gave up her career to live in Utah with her husband Daniel and raise their eight children, was ostensibly the focus of The Times interview.

But the subtext was obvious all along: why was the husband hovering at the end of every sentence she uttered? Was this really the utopia theyre selling shes selling to her 10 million followers  or is there something at play behind the scenes?

After the world leapt to conclusions and concern about Neeleman, she later leapt to her husbands defence. In the week following the release of the article, she posted that the couple had thought the interview went really well, but that they were taken aback upon reading the final account. It shocked us and shocked the world, Neelman said, by being an attack on our family and my marriage, portraying me as oppressed with my husband being the culprit.

The Eberspachers live a pretty similar lifestyle to the Neelemans. Their four children  Nora, 11, Andi, 9, Decon, 7, and Sybil, 4  are growing up on the farm that Eric took over from four previous generations of men in his family, the youngest two home-schooled while the older kids now attend classes.

open image in gallery Estee Williams has been deemed a modern-day Stepford wife ( esteecwilliams/Instagram )

On a typical day, Eric is out working the fields all morning while Lauren, 38, is cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, wiping up spills, calming down tantrums, she says. He brings the bacon home and I fry it up and cook it.

Is she oppressed? No, I think [our lifestyle] has been painted in a way that feels oppressive, like the husband is very oppressive of the woman, Lauren says. As though hes making her do all these things, forcing her to, and shes miserable. Rather, they find contentment in their roles, Lauren says.

Eric brings up the whole tradwife, Red Pill movement. The Red Pill forum was set up in 2013, and encouraged women to behave as tradwives, idealising modest dressing, and spousal servitude (domestically and sexually). Thinking about that whole movement  I just think in the last generation it seems like we lost something. In the sense of masculinity and femininity.

Its not really been on the radar for a lot of people. Maybe the tradwife Red Pill movement is kind of an overreaction. But you cant deny that actually theres a problem in that realm.

His thoughts echo those of Conner Williams, husband of Estee Williams, who was studying meteorology at university before she became a wife. She now delivers TikTok explainers Biblically submissive wives and how to make potpourri from scratch.

Conner appeared alongside Estee to speak on the American talk show Dr Phil, where he also took issue with feminism. I think it hurts our masculinity, Conner told the host.   I think it hurts masculinity because the woman is more the leader than the man. Men are born to be leaders, he continues.

But herein lies a problem. While many of these men are purportedly head of the household  the decision makers, as Conner believes, and the breadwinners  its the tradwives on social media who are likely bringing home a lot more bacon.

Avid sleuth TikTokkers have made modest estimations that Nara Smith earns more than 200,000 per month for her softly spoken cult-like cooking videos.

Estee Williams, deemed a modern-day Stepford wife, will likely be earning thousands, too. The sleuths note that the figure doesnt include brand deals  as well as earning from TikTok views, Nara and Lucky have partnered with Calvin Klein and K18 in the past.

open image in gallery Lucky Blue Smith and Nara Aziza have taken social media by storm ( Getty/REVOLVE )

Lauren posts about her life with Eric and her children on Instagram, where she has 13k followers, and on her blog  From Blacktop to Dirt Road  and has written a book, Midnight Lullabies, for new mothers.

Her Facebook page has more than 250,000 followers and at one point she was travelling around doing about 20 events per year giving talks. But she says monetising being a tradwife is not the aim. She and Eric decided that her work wasnt fitting the mission for their family.

Things were kind of starting to fall off the wheels a little bit, and I wasn't able to keep up and do all the things that I felt like God was calling me to do as a wife and a mom at home, she explains. And so I stepped away.

Would it disrupt the power dynamic in the house if she were to start earning more than Eric? Yes, Lauren says. For us, I think it would.

Eric explains that this is because they go by the scriptures, and what God says about men and women. Theyre of the same value, but theyre different. Theyre just different, he says. I know some people will gasp when I say men and women are different. God made man a certain way and made woman a certain way and gave them a blueprint of how to act within their nature.

This really came into play when Lauren experienced a difficult time early on in their marriage, she says. I was a rage monster. I was not fun to be around, I wasnt a good friend, I wasnt a great wife [Anger] was just really consuming me, and Eric stood up and he said, Lauren, this is not right. This is ruining your life. Youre living in sin, youre not honouring God, and youre not enjoying the life that youre supposed to enjoy.

Lauren is grateful to Eric now for stepping in and leading me out of this really dark season in my life. They are happy  Eric, who sits at the kitchen table with her as we chat over Zoom, feels their marriage is strong, and fun. They are clear that this is the life theyve chosen for themselves  theyre not preaching to others to do the same.

Still, they are keen to talk about it, as is everyone else in recent months. There seems to be little sign of the tradwife era coming to an end anytime soon at this point, especially with populist politics on both sides of the Atlantic having sought to validate conservatism on the Christian right for some time.

Will trad-husbands, particularly those benefiting from the (baking-from-scratch) breadwinners at their sides, be now subjected to the same scrutiny? Probably not. That would be something called gender equality.
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Watch again as German police hold a press conference on Saturday (24 August) after three people were killed and several others injured in a stabbing at the Soligen festival stabbing.

Three people were killed and eight were injured by a knifeman, including five seriously, in a mass stabbing at a diversity festival on Friday.

Police launched a large-scale manhunt overnight for the perpetrator, who started attacking people shortly after 9.30pm on Friday as thousands gathered at the central square in Solingen, west Germany, for a festival to mark the citys 650th anniversary.

German police have since detained a person in connection to the attack, Reuters have reported.

Police are currently investigating whether there is a connection with this person and the knife attack in the western German city late on Friday, they said today.
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A disease which can kill cats, both domestic and wild, has been discovered for the first time in the US.

A variant of the rustrela virus -- related to the wider-known rubella virus which causes a skin rash in humans -- called RusV was discovered in a female mountain lion in Douglas County, Colorado last year, according to a study published in the journal, Emerging Infectious Diseases, this month.

The big cat was observed in May 2023 with lesions on her skin and signs of severe muscle weakness in her hind legs. She was also reluctant to get up and had decreased mobility.

Wildlife officers suspected that the mountain lion was suffering from a disease, but were unsure what wase causing her behavior. To end her suffering and prevent the destruction of brain tissue, the big cat was tranquilized and shot in the chest.

Then, the study authors started work to investigate the potential cause of the unknown disease.

The scientists said the study of tissue samples, the cats history, and genetic sequencing suggested that she was suffering from the rustrela virus variant, RusV. Also known as Rubivirus strelense, RusV is the cause of what is known as staggering disease.

Staggering disease is a usually fatal neurologic syndrome in cats, the study noted, and RusV was only recently identified as its cause. Animals show sign of lesions and the same limb impairment.

A young female mountain lion struggles outside a Colorado home in 2023. This mountain lion was the first documented case of staggering disease in North America. ( CDC )

Its been documented in domestic cats in Europe since the 1970s, and has also been found in rodents. A similar syndrome was reported in Alabama cats 45 years ago, but the cause was obscure.

To demonstrate a link between the lesions and RusV, researchers used previously-developed hybridization methods for the virus. Hybridization is the process in which two complementary, single-stranded DNA -- the hereditary material in humans and nearly all organisms -- or RNA (ribonucleic acid) molecules bond together. RNA is a nucleic acid in all living cells that has similarities to DNA.

Hybridization allows for the identification of specific genes and an analysis of levels of the molecule messenger RNA (mRNA) in cells. MRNA molecules carry the genetic information that is needed to produce proteins, which serve many key functions in the body like repairing cells and helping to protect the immune system.

The authors said these methods showed RusV RNA was in all regions of the big cats brain and nearly all levels of the spinal cord.

We found particularly abundant or large, dot-like signals in the granule cell layer of the hippocampus, and in Purkinje cells of the cerebellum, similar to findings from staggering disease cases in cats from Europe, said researchers at the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute in Germany.

The novel RusV virus discovered in Colorado was compared with other strains. It revealed that the Colorado samples belonged to known genetic sequences in Europe.

Scientists dont yet know how widespread the virus is in domestic cats or wild ones in the US.

The American Veterinary Medical Association said symptoms to watch for include a staggering gait, the inability to retract claws, extreme sensitivity to touch, tremors, and seizures. The illness usually lasts for a few days to a few weeks, but can also linger for more than a year.

It generally results in a decline that require the animal to be euthanized.

Were not worried if this is an isolated case, Dr. Karen Fox, a wildlife pathologist at Colorado State University and study author, told National Geographic. But traditionally, when we find diseases, it means youre the tip of an iceberg, and theres a bunch more youve missed over time.
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An east London school is grappling with the loss of a respected alumnus after British technology entrepreneur Mike Lynch drowned when his superyacht capsized off the coast of Italy.

Yet for Bancrofts School in Woodford Green, it marks the third high-profile death in the course of 14 months. Firstly, in June 2023, former pupil Grace OMalley-Kumar was stabbed to death in Nottingham by Valdo Calocane.

Then, in April this year, pupil Daniel Anjorin, 14, was attacked and killed while walking in his school uniform.

The independent school is now once again in the headlines after 59-year-old Mr Lynch, who was the lead patron of the Bancroft Foundation, died in his boat the Bayesian, which sank during stormy weather on Monday morning.

Grace OMalley-Kumar was stabbed to death in June 2023 by random attacker Valdo Calocane ( PA )

The tycoon had attended Bancrofts School after winning a scholarship at the age of 11, before going on to study at Christs College Cambridge.

He became a multi-millionaire after founding the software technology giant Autonomy in 1996 and had returned to the school to give keynote speeches and help with fundraising events.

On Thursday, he was confirmed dead with his 18-year-old daughter Hannahs body recovered the following day.

Daniel Anjorin died after being attacked on 30 April ( PA Wire )

Last June, the school community was left devastated after 19-year-old OMalley-Kumar, an aspiring medic, was killed while heroically trying to protect her friend Barnaby Webber.

The two had been walking home from a night out to celebrate the end of university exams when they were ambushed by paranoid schizophrenic Calocane, who launched a merciless attack upon them both.

In a statement following her death, the school described her as an immensely gifted and dedicated scholar and sportswoman, who had been greatly respected within the community.

Less than one year later on 30 April, Daniel Anjorin was stabbed to death while he walked to school after being approached by a man with a sword.

Bancrofts School in Woodford Green, east London ( Ian West/PA Wire )

The 14-year-old had been walking through Hainault in his school uniform when he was attacked.

Suspect Marcus Monzo, 36, was charged with murder, two counts of attempted murder, two counts of grievous bodily harm, aggravated burglary and possession of a bladed article.

In a letter to parents at the time, the schools headteacher, Simon Marshall, wrote: Naturally this event will have a profound effect on the whole school, but this will be especially true of his peers.

It seems scarcely believable that less than a year on from the terrible death of Grace OMalley Kumar in the Nottingham attacks we are facing fresh sorrow.

All we can do for now is to look after one another and respect the privacy of Daniels family. It is a time of profound grief and as a community we will endure best if we come together in kindness and compassion.
Foxfield, home to the iconic and eponymous steeplechase outside Charlottesville, has been sold.

The new owner, the Cassiopeia Foundation, has promised the acquisition will ensure the racetrack, in operation since 1978, will be preserved for generations to come  something that was at risk as recently as five years ago.

The foundation, a local nonprofit philanthropic organization founded in 1944 by oil tycoon William Alton Pete Jones, has acquired all 179 acres of the Foxfield property off Garth Road in Albemarle County just outside Charlottesville city limits.

The land quietly traded hands this past February in a handoff between the Foxfield Racing Association and Foxfield Land Preservation LLC for a sum of $3.25 million. The Cassiopeia Foundation confirmed to The Daily Progress on Saturday that the foundation and Foxfield Land Preservation LLC are one and the same.

The sales price is more than double the $1.5 million the land was valued at during a January assessment, according to Albemarle County property records.

Despite the change in hands, equestrian enthusiasts, steeplechase jockeys and University of Virginia students can rest assured the races will go on. Foxfield Racing LLC will continue to put on races at the track and continue the legacy of excellence in equestrian sports, according to Zachary Miller, trustee of the Cassiopeia Foundation.

Miller is not only part of the racetracks new ownership and the great-grandson of the Cassiopeia Foundations founder, he is a jockey who has competed at Foxfield in the past.

We are thrilled to announce the purchase of the Foxfield property and our commitment to preserving this iconic site forever, Miller said in a statement announcing the acquisition delivered to The Daily Progress Friday. It is our honor to play this role in the fulfillment of the dreams of Mariann de Tejeda and create a lasting legacy that celebrates the heritage and tradition of Foxfield.

De Tejeda instituted the first steeplechase at Foxfield in 1978 and wrote in her will that she desired for her estate to go to the perpetuation of the Foxfield Races in Albemarle County.

That perpetuation nearly came to an end years ago when Foxfields then-owner, the Foxfield Racing Association, was accused of courting developers to subdivide the property. A group of concerned Albemarle County residents filed a lawsuit in 2016, and the land was ultimately placed under a conservation easement.

Over the past four years, Foxfield Racing LLC has revitalized not only the course but also the atmosphere of the races, Miller said.

The 45th running of the Foxfield Races this past spring attracted roughly 12,000 spectators to watch as jockeys competed for the heftiest purses the races had ever offered.

We applaud the immense work that Foxfield Racing LLC has undertaken to date and are excited to secure the platform on which it will create a vibrant and sustainable future for the Foxfield Races, said Miller. Together, we will work to preserve the heritage of this historic site, support the innovation of the steeplechase industry, and foster a sense of community among equestrian enthusiasts and regional residents.

Jones, Millers great-grandfather, founded the Cassiopeia Foundation 80 years ago.

Though he was born into a low-income family from Missouri, Jones worked his way up the ladder in the oil and gas industry until, in 1950, he became president of Cities Service Company, today recognized worldwide as Citgo. Jones was a powerful mover and shaker in the Republican Party and a close personal friend of President Dwight Eisenhower.

He was also a passionate equestrian. According to his foundation, he acquired and bred some of the most talented and successful horses of his time.

Jones was a prominent figure in the thoroughbred racing world, known for owning several significant racehorses that left a lasting impact on the sport, reads a statement from the foundation.

Jones love of horses was passed down from generation to generation until it reached Miller, who grew up in Charlottesville and, with his wife Sara, runs Timbercreek Farm next door to the Foxfield property.
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Millions of people are expected to embark on summer getaways this weekend as experts warn of severe delays on what is expected to be the busiest weekend of the year.

Motorists have been told they could face a weekend of woe, with motoring group RAC predicting the second busiest summer weekend since 2015.

A total of 3.6 million car journeys are expected on Saturday, with another 2.9 million trips on Sunday, as the bank holiday weekend gets underway.

The RAC said the weekend  including trips taken on Friday  would be second only to 2022, during the hot summer that followed two years of coronavirus lockdowns.

RAC Breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said: With the end of the school holidays fast approaching it seems day trips will be the main cause of traffic this weekend, so for many drivers it could be a case of day trip delays."

The breakdown service added it was expecting the M5 to be one of the worst roads for delays in the country, specifically southbound between J15 and J23, as well as northbound between J25 and J15 on Monday with returning traffic.

Storm Lilian is thought to have contributed to the travel chaos ( PA Wire )

The motorway had more than 30 miles of tailbacks between Bristol and Taunton, Somerset, earlier.

A National Highways spokesperson said the severe delays of more than an hour were due to the sheer volume of traffic.

The Port of Dover said it was also expecting its busiest weekend, with 11,000 tourist cars over the course of Saturday.

A spokesperson for the port said it was free-flowing on Saturday morning and reported wait times of just five minutes at border control.

Brittany Ferries  which operates between the UK, France and Spain  said most overnight sailings were now full this weekend, but there was still space on daytime trips.

Travel association Abta estimated more than two million Britons would head overseas this weekend, covering the period between Friday and Sunday.

London Luton Airport expects 220,000 passengers to pass through between Friday and Monday, with a total of 2.5 million passengers expected over the school summer holiday period.

Clare Armstrong, head of guest experience at London Luton Airport, said Paris is clearly leading the way for city break destinations.

She said the last week had seen a 25% rise in people travelling to the French capital and that was no doubt due to the Olympic Games.

Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona and Lisbon are also very popular, she added.

Meanwhile, Heathrow Airport is anticipating its busiest ever summer and will serve 250,000 passengers a day at its peak.

Storm Lilian, which swept in on Friday, has also worsened delays. Fallen trees blocked several rail lines in Wales, western England, the West Midlands and northwest England including on the key West Coast main line between Stafford and Crewe and between Macclesfield and Stockport. Many trains between Manchester city centre and the airport are cancelled or delayed. The intercity link between Birmingham and Bristol is also blocked by a fallen tree.

Commuters in the London area face long delays due to a broken-down train on the Thameslink north-south line through the city centre.

Over the weekend three key intercity lines to and from London will be hit by closures and diversions due to Network Rail projects. Engineers will be working on both the East and West Coast main lines, as well as the Great Western route through the Severn Tunnel.
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Money guru Martin Lewis has hit out at the governments changes to Winter Fuel Payments as he reacts to Ofgem raising their energy price cap from October.

Writing on Twitter / X, the Money Saving Expert founder says minister must rethink the changes to the payments, or else leave all pensioners with hundreds of pounds more to pay this winter.

In July, chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the eligibility for the annual winter payments worth up to 300 would be changed for the first time since their introduction in 1997. The cold weather benefit will now only be eligible for older people who claim Pension Benefit, rather than all above pension age.

Money Saving Expert founder Martin Lewis (Jonathan Brady/PA) ( PA Archive )

Mr Lewis writes that, while the new Ofgem rate is lower than last winter, all pensioners are likely to struggle more this year. With the withdrawl of the 300 per household cost of living support and the changing eligibility of Winter Fuel Payments, worth 200  300, some could be as much as 600 worse off than last winter.

Echoing the criticisms campaigners have made in the wake of the change, the money expert writes that the controversial changes to the winter payments mean eligibility is being squeezed to too narrow a group.

While theres a strong argument for ending the universality of Winter Fuel payments, write Mr Lewis, those just above the thresholds will be hardest hit.

Older people charity Age UK has said around two million struggling pensioners will miss out on the vital support with energy bills in the colder months if the change is not reversed. They have launched a campaign to halt the measure and urge the chancellor to reconsider, with their petition already reaching 430,000 signatures.

Mr Lewis says he is meeting with chancellor Rachel Reeves in the coming weeks, where he will urge her to look at methods to widen eligibility ahead of her October budget. He suggests including all pensioners living in homes under council tax bands A to D  the four lowest value bands  as an imperfect but workable proxy.

Age UK says that several factors will mean pensioners who may need the Winter Fuel Payment wont be eligible for it under new rules. For around one million, it will be because they make just over Penion Credit threshold  no more than 50.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves (PA) ( PA Wire )

It is also believed there are around 200,000 pensioners who have high energy needs because of disability or illness, or who live in energy inefficient homes which cost more to heat.

On top of this is the 800,000 pensioners who are eligible for Pension Credit but dont claim it. Age UK says this is usually to do with factors like stigma, complexity or lack of awareness.

Charity director Caroline Abrahams CBE said: Some commentators have suggested that means-testing the Payment is fair because the older people who need it the most will still be protected, but the evidence shows this is sadly not the case. This is why Age UK will be campaigning shoulder to shoulder with older people over the next few months to persuade the Government to think again.

To combat the low take up of Pension Credit, the government has started an awareness drive to encourage eligible pensioners to take up the benefit and secure their Winter Fuel Payment.

Launching the campaign, Ms Reeves said: The dire state of the public finances we inherited from the previous government means weve had to make some very difficult decisions.

Our commitment to supporting pensioners remains, which is why we are maintaining the triple lock.

We want pensioners to get the support they are entitled to. Thats why I urge all pensioners to check whether they are eligible for Pension Credit.

For more information on how Winter Fuel Payments are changing and what other support is available, read The Independents guide
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Sir Keir Starmer has issued a statement of support as Ukraine marks 33 years since it declared independence from the Soviet Union.

The prime minister told Ukrainians the UK will back them today and always, offering a crystal clear message of solidarity to the war-torn nation.

Ukraines supreme soviet agreed the state should leave the Moscow-based Soviet Union on 24 August 1991, a decision backed by Ukrainian voters at a referendum in December that same year.

Sir Keir said: My message to all Ukrainians, whether on the front line or here in your second home in the UK, is crystal clear: we are with you today and always.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in July 19 (Benjamin Cremel/PA) ( PA Wire )

That is what I told President Zelensky when he sat at our Cabinet table and where, on behalf of the British people, I outlined that it is not just the British government thats behind Ukraine  its all of us. We are with you for as long as it takes.

Slava Ukraini, he added, a national salute in the country which translates to glory to Ukraine.

The anniversary comes just days after President Volodymyr Zelensky suggested that the UKs support for Ukraine was weakening.

While he acknowledged that Britains leadership had saved thousands of lives since the start of the war, over the weekend he said support had recently "slowed down".

But a Downing Street spokesperson said the prime minister remains absolutely resolute in his support for Ukraine.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Saturday said the 33-year milestone has now become an opportunity for people across the UK and the world to honour the strength, resilience and identity of the Ukrainian people.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (Jonathan Brady/PA) ( PA Wire )

Thousands have died since Russia invaded on 24 February 2022. Ukrainian forces are currently advancing through Russias Kursk region, while Vladimir Putins forces are doing the same in eastern Ukraine.

The MoD has urged people to share videos of them clapping, cheering, playing music, singing or ringing bells on social media using the hashtag #MakeNoiseForUkraine on Saturday.

The government confirmed more than 45,000 Ukrainian recruits have received training on British soil since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, as part of an international effort codenamed Operation Interflex.

Defence Secretary John Healey said: On their Independence Day, we salute the fearless resolve of the Ukrainian people.

They fight for freedoms that we must never take for granted.

Ukraine has no firmer friend than the UK and we will stand with them for as long as it takes. Britain is united for Ukraine.

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, chief of defence staff, said: I offer my admiration to the men and women of Ukraines Armed Forces for the heroic determination with which they defend their country.

Their initiative, tenacity and skills are an example to the UK Armed Forces; and the clarity of their cause is an inspiration to freedom-loving peoples everywhere.
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For days the families of those killed in the Santa Fe High School shooting had sat in a Texas courtroom and heard how the shooters parents had ignored the warning signs that their son needed psychiatric intervention and didnt secure the guns he then used to massacre 10 people.

So, on the day of closing arguments of the civil suit, some of the moms brought in their childrens cremated remains. They sat the urns on a ledge within view of Antonios Pagourtzis and Rose Marie Kosmetatos, the shooters parents, who were being sued by the victims families. When Pagourtzis and Kosmetatos saw the urns, they cried, according to Rhonda Hart, whose 14-year-old daughter, Kimberly Vaughan, was shot and killed in the 2018 attack.

But I was glad that we did it and we got on their nerves, because theyre just bad people, as far as Im concerned, Hart told The Independent. They created a little monster, and they felt no responsibility for that, so I feel like we got our little dig in.

The pump-action shotgun and .38-caliber revolver 17-year-old Dimitrios Pagourtzis used to fatally gun down eight classmates and two teachers at his Santa Fe, Texas high school in fact belonged to his parents, who had legally purchased both weapons.

However, Pagourtzis and Kosmetatos have since refused to accept any blame for their sons actions. And now, they have formally been found blameless by a jury of their peers in Galveston County Court.

Rose Marie Kosmetatos, left, and her husband, Antonios Pagourtzis, parents of the accused Santa Fe High School shooter, during their civil trial in Galveston County Court ( Jennifer Reynolds/The Galveston County Daily News )

The shooter, who is severely mentally ill and sang Queens Another One Bites the Dust as he pumped multiple rounds into his victims, should never have been allowed access to the firearms, according to trucker Christopher Stone and wife Rosie Yanas Stone. Their 17-year-old son Chris was shot dead in the terrifying massacre on May 18, 2018 during art class. A deeply committed Dallas Cowboys fan, Chris was buried in a Cowboys casket emblazoned with the dates of each of the teams Super Bowl wins.

I guess its just the hand we were dealt, Stone told The Independent. And it can be dealt to anybody.

Although the shooter, who is now 23, confessed to the crime and was charged with capital murder, he was found incompetent to stand trial and has not yet been prosecuted.

They created a little monster, and they felt no responsibility for that Rhonda Hart, whose child was killed in the 2018 school shooting

In the meantime, the Stones filed a civil lawsuit against his parents: Pagourtzis, who owned the shotgun, and Kosmetatos, who owned the handgun he used to kill 10 and wound 13 others.

They had not properly stored their weapons, giving their underage son the tools needed to carry out his deadly plan, the Stones suit contended, which also named Lucky Gunner, the Tennessee-based online retailer that sold the shooter his ammunition.

Chris Stone was just 17 when he was fatally gunned down during art class ( Courtesy Rosie Yanas Stone )

The pair also ignored a multitude of red flags that their teenager was in desperate need of psychiatric intervention, the suit alleged, as they believed his increasingly disturbing behavior  an affinity for Nazis, an obsession with guns, a Facebook posting of a T-shirt reading, Born to Kill  was something hed eventually grow out of.

The Murderer pulled the pistols and sawed-off shotguns triggers, but also upon them, pressed just as firmly, were the fingers of his parents, who utterly failed to teach their son any respect for life whatsoever and who negligently and grossly negligently failed to secure their weapons in a reasonable and prudent way and put them directly and proximately into use as authors of a community-wide tragedy and incomprehensible loss, the lawsuit states.

The kids are going to have to monitor themselves, because grown-ups dont want to take responsibility. Christopher Stone, whose son was killed in the shooting, says justice has not been served

Those who made it out alive are now living with the unshakable memories of the bloodshed. A police officer who nearly died that day lost as much blood as a person can lose and still survive, according to the trauma surgeon who saved his life. At least one Santa Fe High School shooting survivor has suffered lead poisoning thanks to the shotgun pellets that remain in her body, her mother told The Independent.

Sarah Salazar, who was 16 when she was shot at Santa Fe HS, not only found herself with severely elevated lead levels, she also found herself partially disabled from a gunshot wound that required a total shoulder replacement, according to Sonia Lopez, Sarahs mom. And although Lopez said Sarah is unable to work due to the depression and PTSD she still has from the shooting, she was still denied Social Security benefits, putting additional financial strain on her and her family.

In a scenario where the shooter couldnt have gotten his hands on a gun, the lawsuit says his hidden black rage might well have continued to simmer within, but, the lifes blood of his teacher and peers, including decedent Christopher Jake Stone, would not have been so horribly, callously and needlessly spilled.

Kimberly Vaughan was proud to be a Girl Scout, her mom said ( Courtesy Rhonda Hart )

On Monday, a Houston jury let the shooters parents entirely off the hook , finding them not legally liable for their sons crime. Instead, jurors laid the blame entirely on the shooter himself and Lucky Gunner, where the teen bought his ammo.

Its shameful that our whole country has to deal with this, Stone told The Independent. The kids are going to have to monitor themselves, because grown-ups dont want to take responsibility.

The verdict came roughly four months after James and Jennifer Crumbley were sentenced to at least a decade behind bars for having gifted their son Ethan as a Christmas present the gun he used in his deadly November 2021 rampage. (Pagourtzis and Kosmetatos were never charged with a crime.)

Although the jury did not find the Santa Fe shooters parents liable, the court awarded the Stones and other affected families more than $300 million in damages for pain and mental anguish.

Still, Stone said he is disappointed in the jurors, who he believes had their minds made up before they walked in there.

His wife said she found the jurys decision truly heartbreaking, disappointing..

In my heart, I just never felt that [there] was going to be zero accountability, Yanas Stone told The Independent. We all saw the same evidence. On top of the irresponsible gun ownership, the neglect of him, his health issues. I cant believe they just ignored it all.

Christopher Stone (left) and son Chris. The loyal Dallas Cowboys fan was buried in a Cowboys casket ( Courtesy Rosie Yanas Stone )

Yanas Stone, who was in court with her husband throughout the proceedings, said she cared not a whit about the money part.

I just wanted guilty or not guilty, she said. You know, accountability or not accountability. And so after [the parents were found not liable], I left.

It was difficult being in the same room with the people thats responsible for my son not being here, Yanas Stone went on. And although the verdict did not go her way, Yanas Stone said judgment has already been passed by us, and were really the only ones that matter.

Hart, Kimberly Vaughans mother, said she also wishes the jury had assigned a portion of the blame to the parents.

They either didnt want to see their sons obvious issues, or they just didnt care, Hart told The Independent.

So, yeah, Im disappointed but Im ultimately not surprised Texas loves its guns more than its children, she said. Hart, who signed onto the Stones lawsuit as a plaintiff, said she doesnt think the shooter will ever be tried criminally, so we should take this [civil court win] and be happy with it.

At the same time, Hart, a US Army veteran, said she was particularly incensed by Pagourtzis testimony, during which he refused to accept any responsibility at all for his son having gotten his hands on his shotgun. Neither of the parents had reached out to apologize for their sons actions, or even acknowledged their presence in the courtroom, according to Hart, until they brought in the urns carrying their children.

Hart said she and some of the other moms joked that it was Take Your Kids to Work Day, explaining that gallows humor was all they had left at this point.

Rhonda Hart (left) says she isnt confident the teen who gunned down her daughter Kimberly Vaughan (right) will ever be prosecuted ( Courtesy of Rhonda Hart )

Life since the shooting has been torture, for Yanas Stone. But, she insisted, the civil case, for all of its various shortcomings in the end, has undoubtedly helped her in other ways.

Every single bit of information, we have had to fight for it, and its an inhumane way to live, Yanas Stone said. Like, you wake up every single day and youre just lost, and you have more questions and more questions. Whats true, whats not true. And this trial has brought a lot of closure to that. I can speak for myself, that this has brought me a lot of peace, knowing that I have some real, concrete answers.

Yanas Stone thinks stricter gun laws would absolutely help to slow down the seemingly unceasing rate of school shootings, which occur again and again in the United States but rarely anywhere else in the world. Yet, she argues, We cant fool ourselves to think that we can put something in place thats going to eliminate it.

Victims and survivors, I think that were going to be the ones to make those changes, Yanas Stone said. Weve been through the trenches. Weve been dragged through the dirt. Weve done it. So were just going to continue pushing forward and see what we can do for the future.

To Christopher Stone, the answer, such as it is, is simple.

Raise good kids, he said. It dont take much, honestly. Love your children. Teach them love. Seems impossible to some. But, you know, it came pretty easy to me.
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Dr Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was hospitalized after testing positive for West Nile virus.

Fauci, a longtime public health official who became a household name as part of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, has now been discharged and is expected to recover fully, a spokesperson said.

Tony Fauci has been hospitalized with a case of West Nile virus. He is now home and is recovering. A full recovery is expected, the spokesperson said in a statement shared with the Washington Post. The outlet reported that Fauci had spent six days in hospital before being discharged.

Fauci, 83, ran the NIAID for nearly four decades before he retired in 2022. As well as fronting the US response to the Covid-19 pandemic, he acheived fame after becoming the target of political attacks from then-president Donald Trump.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), West Nile virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental United States and is most commonly spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito.

Dr Fauci, a longtime public health official who became a household name as part of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, has now returned hom to recover after being diagnosed with West Nile virus ( Getty Images )

Cases of West Nile occur during mosquito season, which starts in the summer and continues through fall.

There are no vaccines to prevent or medicines to treat West Nile in people, though most people infected with the virus do not feel sick. Around one in five people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms. About one out of 150 infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness, according to the CDC.

Despite leaving government nearly two years ago, Fauci has continued to face fierce political attacks from congressional Republicans for his role in the nations response to coronavirus.

In June, he testified before a House panel investigating the response, where he was accused by GOP lawmakers of orchestrating a coverup of the viruss origins. At the time he described the allegations as simply preposterous.

Fauci and Donald Trump stand together at a COVID-19 briefing at the White House. Fauci said that Trump went on expletive-filled rants directed at him ( Getty Images )

After leaving government, Fauci joined the faculty at Georgetown University, and now serves as a distinguished professor in the School of Medicine. He also holds a position in the universitys McCourt School of Public Policy.

Faucis recently released memoirOn Call: A Doctors Journey in Public Service, details, among other things, his final conversation with Trump in which the former president said he would destroy his Democratic rival, Joe Biden, in the 2020 election.

I am going to win this election by a f****** landslide, Trump told Fauci, according to the book.Just wait and see. I always did things my way. And I always win, no matter what all these other f****** people think. And that f***** Biden. He is so f****** stupid. I am going to kick his f****** a** in this election.

Biden went on beat Trump in 2020 and Fauci continued to serve as the chief medical advisor to Biden until he retired in 2022.
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The body of an Arizona woman who went missing in the Grand Canyon National Park after a flash flood days earlier was recovered Sunday, park rangers said.

The body of Chenoa Nickerson, 33, from the Phoenix suburb of Gilbert, Arizona, was discovered by a group rafting down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon around 11.30am Sunday, the park said in a statement.

Rangers recovered Nickersons body, which was transported to the rim by helicopter and transferred to the Coconino County Medical Examiners office. In a statement issued Sunday, her family thanked searchers and supporters and asked for privacy.

We regret to inform you that our sweet Chenoa has been found deceased. Our hearts are heavy with grief, the statement said.

Chenoas light will forever be a part of all of us, and we will ensure that her spirit continues to shine brightly. Her memory will never fade, and we will honor her by carrying forward the joy and love she brought into all of our lives.

National Park Service officials said Nickerson was swept into Havasu Creek above the Colorado River confluence around 1:30 p.m. Thursday. She wasnt wearing a life jacket.

Nickerson was hiking along Havasu Creek about a half-mile (800m) from where it meets up with the Colorado River when the flash flood struck. Nickersons husband was among the more than 100 people safely evacuated.

The flash flood, which occurred shortly before 1.30pm on Thursday, led to several hikers being stranded in the area near Havasu Creek.

The flood trapped several hikers in the area above and below Beaver Falls, one of a series of usually blue-green waterfalls that draw tourists from around the world to the Havasupai Tribes reservation.

The area is prone to flooding that turns its iconic waterfalls chocolate brown.

Other hikers made it to the village, about 2miles (3.2km) from the campground, where they awaited a helicopter ride. Governor Katie Hobbs has activated the Arizona National Guard, including Blackhawk helicopters, to help evacuate hikers from the village.

Nickerson was swept into Havasu Creek, an area known for its iconic waterfalls, that is prone to flooding ( Francesca Dupuy )

Operations continued on Saturday and remained focused in the areas around Beaver Falls.

Nickersons sister, Tamara Morales, noted the National Guard deployment and praised rescue crews with the National Park Service for navigating incredibly dangerous terrain with extremely limited methods of communication while leaving no stone unturned.

We are profoundly grateful for you and fully acknowledge that you are currently defying the impossible," Morales said on Facebook.

The Havasupai Tribes reservation is one of the most remote in the continental US, accessible only by foot, mule or helicopter. The Tribal Council closed the steep, winding trail that leads to the reservation after the flooding and asked visitors with permits through Sunday not to come.

It comes following the deaths of a number of hikers on the Grand Canyon and surrounding areas. The National Park has averaged about 17 deaths a year since 2014. So far this year, there have been 11 deaths at the park.

Three people have died in the past month, according to park officials.

On 10 August, officials announced that the body of 20-year-old Leticia Castillo, of Albuquerque, had been found about 150 feet below the rim of the Twin Overlooks along Desert View Drive.

Authorities believed the young woman entered the park around August 3 and was later reported missing. Her remains were found on August 6, officials said.

One month prior a Texas man died after hiking in an unforgiving area of park, which has been known to reach up to 120F in the shade during summer months.
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People adorned in glittering cowboy hats, flecks of neon green, cheeseheads and flannel shirts broke up the sea of blue signs and lighting that the Democratic National Committee set up to serve as the backdrop at the quadrennial convention as notable speakers and performers took to the stage.

An array of colors, patterns, sparkles and hats of varying heights bobbed and weaved through the massive crowd at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois this week, at times looking more like the crowd for Taylor Swifts Eras Tour.

A Swiftie combined their love for the Democratic Party and Taylor Swift to create this outfit ( EPA )

Delegates, party leaders, candidates and supporters chose to wear their most patriotic outfits and accessories  plus a lot of state pride  in celebration of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz being the partys official presidential ticket.

And celebrate, they did.

A delegate dressed in red, white and blue intensely listens to a speaker on the second day of the DNC while also wearing a straw hat and star-shaped sunglasses ( AFP via Getty Images )

Monday evening, members of the Democratic Party wore what seemed to be watered-down versions of outfits in an ode to their country.

The theme, For the People inspired various accessories and outfits with the American flag, or at the very least the colors of the flag.

Theres no such thing as too much sparkle when youre at the DNC ( AFP via Getty Images )

A DNC attendee shows her pride with a hat-adorned red, white and blue hat ( EPA )

One memorable moment came when Shawn Fain, the president of the United Auto Workers union unveiled a Trump is a scab t-shirt underneath his blazer when he took the stage.

The moment, while far less dramatic, was reminiscent of Hulk Hogan ripping his shirt during the Republican National Convention.

United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain unveils his belt phone holster. Also wearing Trump is a scab, vote Harris t-shirt. ( Getty Images )

Tuesday evenings roll call  the ceremonial moment when delegates from each state official cast their vote for a nominee  had all the markings of a nightclub that Saturday Night Lives Stefon would suggest: snippets of 57 songs, a man wearing a realistic corn hat, Lil Jon singing Turn Down For What.

This year, each U.S. state and territory chose a song to represent their states  and some chose a unifying fashion element in addition.

Wisconsin delegates wore cheeseheads. Kansas delegates seemingly came straight from a Chiefs game. Maryland delegates waved mini versions of their state flag.

Cheeseheads  otherwise known as people from Wisconsin ( AFP via Getty Images )

Kansas delegates seemingly came straight from a Chiefs game ( Getty Images )

The Kentucky delegations certainly went home covered in glitter ( Getty Images )

Even if an entire state delegation didnt get behind a themed outfit, that didnt stop individual attendees from showing their state pride.

A person wears a crustacean-themed hat  is a Mainer or a Marylander ( REUTERS )

One Iowa delegate bravely opted for a corn hat ( AFP via Getty Images )

The electrifying energy of roll call night was palpable, even through the TV as DJ Cassidy led the room through the playlist of songs. Each time state delegates announced who they would cast their votes to, the entire crowd erupted into cheers and applause.

A woman wears a donkey hat  an ode to the symbol of the Democratic Party ( EPA )

One person tucked, lowkey terrifying, figurines of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris into their jacket pocket ( AFP via Getty Images )

Outrageous outfits seemed to thin out over the next few days. On day three, the colorful garbs adorned with variations of Harris were traded for more demure options like buttons, hats and shoes.

Comma-la. Get it? Like Kamala ( Getty Images )

A Barbie meets brat meets Harris combination ( Getty Images )

By the end of the DNC, the sparkles had faded, the cheeseheads were smelly and many of the red, white and blue hats were traded for the Harris-Walz campaign signature camo hats. A signal that Democratic supporters are ready to rally behind Harris in the hopes of a November victory
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Former President Donald Trump has vowed to task a presidential commission to release all the files related to the 1963 assassination of President John F Kennedy.

Trump made the announcement alongside Kennedys nephew Robert F Kennedy Jr at a campaign rally in Arizona on Friday.

The Republican presidential candidate said that if hes elected to a second term, he would establish an independent presidential commission on assassination attempts which would handle the release of the JFK files.

This comes after Trump himself was the subject of an assassination attempt in July when the bullet of a would-be assassin grazed his ear during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Trump said he would task the commission with releasing the remaining documents regarding the Kennedy assassination.

They will also conduct a rigorous review of the attack last month, Trump said about his own assassination attempt.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. greets Donald Trump during a campaign rally at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. Trump said he would establish a commission on assassination attempts if elected ( Getty Images )

About 4,700 files from the JFK case remain partially or heavily redacted. Kennedy Jr is the son of the former Attorney General and New York Senator Robert F Kennedy who was himself assassinated during his 1968 presidential campaign.

Trump said RFK Jr lost his father and uncle in service to our country, and Bobby himself was subject to repeated threats to his safety during the course of his campaign.

He added: This is a tribute in honor of Bobby.

During congressional testimony last month, FBI Director Christopher Wray said the gunman who took aim at Trump, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, searched for details on the JFK assassination ahead of the shooting which took the life of one rally attendee and left two others wounded.

The FBI director revealed last month that on July 6, the same day that he registered to attend the rally, Crooks searched for how far Lee Harvey Oswald was from Kennedy when he took the shot that killed the president in November 1963.

On July 6, he did a Google search for: how far away was Oswald from Kennedy, Wray said in front of the House Judiciary Committee.

Thats a search thats obviously significant in terms of his state of mind, the director added. That is the same day that it appears that he registered for the Butler rally.

Trumps announcement that his re-election would lead to the establishment of a new commission came after Kennedy Jr ended his presidential campaign and endorsed the former president.

The independent candidate and vaccine conspiracy theorist announced the suspension of his campaign on Friday.

The mainstream of American politics and journalism derided my decision [to run], the 70-year-old said at a press conference, during which he spoke about chronic disease, and criticized the corruption in health agencies as well as the Democratic Party.

In an honest system, I believe that I would have won the election, he claimed. Without sharing any evidence, he said the media was tainted by government propaganda.

On Friday, Trump said, Soon after I was  I cant even believe I have to say this  nearly assassinated in Pennsylvania last month, Bobby called me to express his best wishes.

He knows firsthand the risks incurred by leaders who stand up to the corrupt political establishment, the former president added. When you stand up, you bring on some trouble for yourself. But you have to do whats right.

Trump went on to say that Bobby himself was subject to repeated threats to his safety during the course of his campaign.
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Donald Trump appears not to be in command of himself as hes jarred by the rise of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, longtime observer Maggie Haberman said on CNN on Friday.

Appearing on The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, Haberman was played a clip of the former president calling into Fox News on Thursday after Harriss acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention.

As Trump criticized Harris, he appeared to be inadvertently pressing buttons on his phone.

Blitzer noted that Trump also called into Fox Newss smaller rightwing challenger Newsmax, asking Haberman what the interviews said about Trumps mindset.

Hes very reactive ... when he is not in command, The New York Times journalist said. And we have seen this over the course of the last nine years that hes been in politics or in the political arena. He is clearly jarred by her. He has been trying to get back into the national conversation for several weeks now ever since President Biden announced he wasnt running for re-election.

Former President Barack Obama mocked Trumps obsession with crowd sizes during the DNC and former First Lady Michelle Obama also gave remarks in which she went straight at Trump.

Trump at a rally in Glendale, Arizona ( Getty Images )

Both of the Obamas speeches got under his skin, Haberman said. He is very reactive to both of them. We have seen that since 2011 when Trump spread the lie that President Obama was possibly born in Kenya and therefore illegitimate to be president. I think youre going to see more of this.

During Trumps call-in with Fox News, the former president appeared to get agitated at a question from host Martha MacCallum.

Theres been a huge appeal and momentum for women voters. [Harris] is trying to pull the youth vote, the Hispanic vote, the Black vote back in her direction. Polls show that shes having some success in that at this point. What are you going to do? Whats your strategy to rebuild the momentum that you had with those voters? she asked.

No, shes not having success, Im having success, Trump said.

He claimed to be doing well in polls with Hispanic and Black voters, adding that he was leading in the polls and in almost every key battleground state.

No, its only in your eyes that they have that, Martha, Trump said.
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Donald Trumps campaign says it had a license to play Foo Fighters hit track My Hero at a rally in which the former president received the endorsement of political rival-turned-backer Robert F Kennedy Jr, despite the band saying they did not grant permission.

The Independent has seen documents appearing to confirm that the campaign had indeed licensed the song from BMIs Songview service. We have a license to play the song, a campaign spokesperson said.

It is understood that BMI Songview confirms songs on the BMI Roster, however writers have the right to decline their usage for political purposes.

Kennedy, who suspended his campaign as an independent presidential candidate on Friday, joined Trump onstage in Arizona, as pyrotechnics blasted and the Foos song played.

In a statement shared with The Independent, a spokesperson for Foo Fighters said: Foo Fighters were not asked permission, and if they were, they would not have granted it.

The spokesperson added that appropriate actions are being taken against the Trump campaign and any royalties received as a result of this usage will be donated to the Harris/Walz campaign.

Donald Trump welcomes Robert F Kennedy Jr to the stage in Arizona on Friday while Foo Fighters hit song My Hero played ( AP )

Foo Fighters also issued a curt response on their official X account after being asked by a social media user if they had granted permission. Hey @foofighters did you let Trump use My Hero to welcome RFK Jr. on stage, they were asked.

No, the band replied, later reposting the interaction with the caption Let us be clear.

I dont think too many of you people have heard of him, hes very low-key, Trump said in Arizona, before the chorus of the 1997 track began. Hes a very low-key person, but hes highly respected. He is a great person. Ive known him for so long. For the past 16 months. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

He went on to praise RFK Jr., who he said brought together people from across the political spectrum grounded in the values of his father, Robert F. Kennedy, a great man, and his uncle John F. Kennedy.

He promised to create a commission to investigate presidential assassinations that would release any remaining classified information on the JFK assassination.

Foo Fighters say any royalties received as a result of Trumps use of their song will be donated to the Harris/Walz campaign ( 2023 Invision )

However, despite the warm welcome from Trump and his supporters, the reception from the Kennedy family itself was much less enthusiastic.

A Friday statement from members of the Kennedy family called the endorsement a betrayal.

We want an America filled with hope and bound together by a shared vision of a brighter future, a future defined by individual freedom, economic promise, and national pride, the statement reads, adding that the alliance with Trump is a sad ending to a sad story.

The Independent has reached out to Foo Fighters management for comment.
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The National Federation of Republican Assemblies (NFRA) has cited the infamous 1857 Dred Scott Supreme Court decision, which stated that enslaved people werent citizens, to argue that Vice President Kamala Harris is ineligible to run for president according to the Constitution.

The group also challenged the right of Vivek Ramaswamy and Nikki Haley to appear on Republican primary ballots.

The Republican groups platform and policy document noted that The Constitutional qualifications of Presidential eligibility states that No person except a natural born Citizen, shall be eligible, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President.

The same document included former President Donald Trumps running mate Ohio Senator JD Vance on a list of preferred candidates for vice president.

The document and the citing of the Dred Scott decision were initially noted by lawyer Andrew Fleischman on X, formerly Twitter.

The group, which adopted the document during their last national convention held between October 13 and 15 last year, goes on to argue in the document that a natural-born citizen has to be born in the US to parents who are citizens when the child is born, pointing to the thinking of Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas.

Kamala Harris greets supporters before boarding Marine Two at Soldier Field in Chicago. A Republican group has argued that shes ineligible to be president ( AP )

An originalist and strict constructionist understanding of the Constitution in the Scalia and Thomas tradition, as well as precedent-setting U.S. Supreme Court cases ... have found that a Natural Born Citizen is defined as a person born on American soil of parents who are both citizens of the United States at the time of the childs birth, the document states.

The group then cites six cases including Dred Scott v Sandford. The 1857 ruling came a few years before the 1861 outbreak of the US Civil War over the issue of slavery, stating that enslaved people could not be citizens, meaning that they couldnt expect to receive any protection from the courts or the federal government. The ruling also said that Congress did not have the power to ban slavery from a federal territory.

The NFRAs platform document argued that Several states, candidates, and major political parties have ignored this fundamental Presidential qualification, including candidates Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Kamala Harris whose parents were not American citizens at the time of their birth.

It is the will of this convention that only candidates who meet the natural born-citizenship standard, interpreted through an originalist and strict constructionist standard, be placed on the 2024 Republican presidential primary ballots, the document states.

The NFRA endorsed Trump during their October convention. The groups president Alex Johnson said in a statement to The Independent that The medias suggestion that referencing a court case in a 30+ page document equates to endorsing every aspect of the case is inherently dishonest and misleading.

We firmly believe that faux Democrat Ms. Harris should never hold office for any of the many reasons people choose to highlight, including her partys tactics on dividing people by race and class, which mirror those that have led nations like Venezuela, Cuba, and North Korea into totalitarian regimes, he claimed. These policies have historically resulted in widespread suffering, economic collapse, and the erosion of individual freedoms. The Democrat Party preys on the ignorance of voters.

Both Haley and Ramaswamy appeared on Republican primary ballots. Former President Ronald Reagan was a member of the now 90-year-old organization, Raw Story noted.

The NFRAs interpretation of the Constitution would have made several US presidents ineligible to hold office, such as George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison. Their parents were born in what was then the British colonies in what would later become the US, meaning that those commanders in chief would not meet the strict standards of the NFRA.

The NFRA also cited the 1939 case Perkins v Elg.

A child born here of alien parentage becomes a citizen of the United States, the case states, going against the argument of the NFRA.

The US Archives states on its site that the Scott v Sandford ruling is considered by many legal scholars to be the worst ever rendered by the Supreme Court.

It also notes that the decision was overturned by the 13th and 14th amendments which abolished slavery and stated that all people born in the US are citizens.

The 1857 Dred Scott v Sandford decision came after Dred Scott, an enslaved Black man, sued for his freedom alongside his wife Harriet in St Louis Circuit Court in 1846.

They argued that they were free as they had lived in a free territory where slavery was forbidden. They had lived with their enslaver in what was then the Territory of Wisconsin and their freedom could be established because they had been enslaved in a free territory and then returned to a slave state. Courts had previously made such rulings.

But the lawsuit grew into a legal case lasting over a decade, with Scott losing his case in the Missouri state courts before he filed a new federal lawsuit which went all the way to the Supreme Court.

During the 11 years between 1846 and 1857, the issue of slavery grew into the most contentious issue in US politics. The ruling that enslaved people werent citizens pushed the country closer to the Civil War, which would begin four years later.

Scott received his freedom in May 1857 after being manumitted by a Republican Congressman, but he died from tuberculosis just over a year later in September 1858.
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German prosecutors have named the man suspected of carrying out a knife attack at a festival that killed three people and injured eight.

The Syrian national was named a Issa Al H, omitting his family name because of German privacy laws. The 26-year-old man had turned himself in to police late on Saturday during a major manhunt.

German federal prosecutors are investigating the suspect for links to Isis after the group claimed responsibility for Fridays atrocity, which saw the knifeman aim for victims throats.

They are also investigating the man, who had applied for asylum in Germany, on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and dangerous bodily harm in eight cases.

Prosecutors said due to his radical Islamist convictions he tried to kill as many people as possible that he considered to be non-believers, stabbing them repeatedly in the neck and upper body.

A suspect in the mass stabbing at a festival in Solingen, west Germany, was escorted to the Federal Public Prosecutor in Karlsruhe, Germany ( REUTERS )

He was pictured in handcuffs being escorted to the Federal Public Prosecutor in Karlsruhe, Germany, on Sunday.

The suspect came from a home for refugees in Solingen that was searched on Saturday, North Rhine-Westphalias interior minister, Herbert Reul, said.

The rampage saw the knifeman aim for peoples necks after he began stabbing people at a Festival of Diversity to celebrate the German citys 650th anniversary.

A woman, 56, and two men, aged 56 and 67, were killed and eight were injured after the onslaught in front of one of the festival stages in the citys central square, the Fronhof. Four of the wounded are in a critical condition in hospital.

The scene of the attack, where revellers were celebrating Solingens 650-year history ( EPA )

Isis claimed responsibility for the attack on Saturday evening, saying the attacker was a soldier of the Islamic State, but the group provided no immediate evidence to support the claim.

The attack comes during a debate over immigration ahead of regional elections next Sunday in Germanys Saxony and Thuringia regions where anti-immigration parties such as the populist Alternative for Germany are expected to do well.

So far two other people have been detained in connection with the mass stabbing. A man was arrested on Saturday after police raided a home for asylum seekers near the scene of the attack.

Earlier on Saturday a 15-year-old boy, who police allege knew the attack was going to take place before it happened, was also arrested.

Flower tributes have been left in Solingen, the German city rocked by tragedy ( Reuters )

At a press conference earlier on Saturday, police confirmed the deceased were two men aged 67 and 56 and a 56-year-old woman  but they have not yet been publicly identified.

The tragedy unfolded shortly after 2130 local time (1930 GMT) on Friday when witnesses reported an attack on people in the Fronhof, Solingens central square.

Festival organiser Phillip Muller then asked people to leave calmly, informing festivalgoers that the perpetrator had not been caught.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser met Herbert Reul (middle), the states interior minister, and Hendrik Wuest (right), the state premier ( Reuters )

It is not known whether the attacker was previously acquainted with the 15-year-old with whom he spoke before carrying out the knife attack.

The festival was supposed to run until Sunday, with several stages in central streets offering attractions such as live music, cabaret and acrobatics, but the remainder of the event was cancelled. Instead residents gathered to mourn the dead and injured, placing flowers and notes near the scene of the attack.

One sign placed amid candles and a teddy bear asked simply: Why? Grieving local Cord Boetther, 62, a merchant, said: Why does something like this have to be done? Its incomprehensible and it hurts.

On Saturday the German chancellor Olaf Scholz said the perpetrator must be found quickly and face the fullest extent of the law.

President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said it was a heinous act adding that the attacker needs to be brought to justice.

Lets stand together  against hatred and violence, he added.
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Resorts along Spains Costa Brava are facing a significant increase in jellyfish populations, a trend linked to rising sea temperatures that have spurred their reproduction and migration northward.

Between May and August, nearly 7,500 people on the Catalan coast sought medical treatment for jellyfish stings - a 41 per cent increase compared to the previous year. The stings, while often painful, can be particularly dangerous for individuals with weakened immune systems.

MedusApp, a platform on which people report jellyfish sightings and stings, has also recorded hundreds of incidents every day throughout the summer. The app features a real-time map to help beachgoers avoid areas with high jellyfish concentrations.

Most of the jellyfish along the Catalan coast are relatively harmless species, such as the fried egg (Cotylorhiza tuberculata) and barrel (Rhizotoma pulmo) jellyfish.

However, in July, two beaches in Tarragona, southern Catalonia, were temporarily closed following the appearance of the Portuguese man owar (Physalia physalis). Although not technically a jellyfish, this siphonophores sting is particularly painful and can be deadly.

An increase in sightings of Portuguese man owar jellyfish forced the closure of two beaches in souther Catalonia earlier this year (Andy Reed/PA) ( PA Media )

Macarena Marambio, a researcher at the Institute of Marine Science in Barcelona, attributes the rise in jellyfish numbers to climate change and increasing sea temperatures. Ms Marambio, who leads the Jellyfish Alert project, said: The jellyfish are becoming more common and are extending both their seasonal and regional presence. Warmer seas support their reproduction, leading to an increase in the purple barrel jellyfish population.

She added that while jellyfish populations naturally fluctuate, with some years seeing more than others, the cycles are becoming shorter. She said: "In the Costa Brava, these cycles are now shorter. Some species that once peaked every eight to ten years are now doing so every two years."

In addition to the climate crisis, Ms Marambio also highlighted the impact of overfishing, which reduces natural predators, and human activities such as the construction of breakwaters, ports, and artificial beaches. These activities, she said, lower water quality, creating environments where jellyfish can thrive, such as in the port of Barcelona.

While the focus is on the Catalan coast due to the availability of data, similar trends are being observed across the Mediterranean. However, Ms Marambio cautioned that it remains unclear whether this increase in jellyfish numbers is a long-term trend.

We know that environmental conditions are changing, and while we can model potential outcomes, its difficult to predict how the broader ecosystem will adapt, Marambio said. For now, warmer seas are conducive to jellyfish blooms, but its uncertain what will happen if temperatures continue to rise.

In the meantime, beachgoers may need to prepare for more frequent encounters with these marine creatures.

Josep Maria Gili, Marambios colleague at the Institute, added, Theres no immediate solution because this is tied to climate change. Well have to adapt to sharing our beaches with jellyfish.
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A manslaughter investigation has been launched following the deaths of seven people onboard the Bayesian superyacht which sank off the coast of Sicily.

Italian public prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio, from nearby town Termini Imerese, said his office has opened an initial investigation into manslaughter and negligent shipwreck. No specific suspects have been named, so far.

British technology entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah were among those who died after the yacht sank near Porticello around 5am local time on Monday.

Follow our live blog for the latest updates

Speaking at a press conference in Termini Imerese town court, Mr Cartosio said: The Termini Imerese prosecution has opened a case hypothesising the crime of shipwreck and of manslaughter but we are only at the initial stage of the inquiry so far.

He added: I have to emphasise that the development of the inquiry could actually be of any sort imaginable.

Describing the incident as a very grave tragedy, the prosecutor thanked firefighters and divers who showed incredible courage and skill.

Italian public prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio speaking at a press conference in Termini Imerese town court ( Jonathan Brady/PA Wire )

The yacht had been hit by a downburst, according to Mr Cammarano. Downbursts are powerful winds that descend from a thunderstorm and spread out quickly once they hit the ground.

Mr Cammarano added it was probable that offences were committed surrounding the sinking of the yacht.

He told reporters the sinking could have been the responsibility of the captain, crew, individuals in charge of supervision, the ship-builder, or others.

We will establish each elements responsibility  that will be done by the inquiry, so we cant do that prematurely, he added.

For me, it is probable that offences were committed  that it could be a case of manslaughter  but we can only establish that if you give us the time to investigate.

Media timing is completely different from that of a prosecutor. We need a minimum amount of time to come to a proper scientific conclusion.

Hannah and Mike Lynch died after the luxury yacht Bayesian sank in a storm on Monday ( Family/PA )

Specialised divers attempting to retrieve the bodies had to deal with very little visibility due to the weather conditions and were called in from across the country as part of a search-and-rescue operation which involved some 70 people each day, the chief of the Palermo fire service said. Post-mortem examinations have yet to be carried out on the bodies.

The body of Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, who was working as a chef on the superyacht, was earlier recovered at the scene on Monday.

Hannah Lynch ( AP )

Tributes were paid to those who died, with Hannahs sister calling her the most amazing, supportive and joyful sister and best friend to me. She had been due to start studying English at Oxford University in September.

Hannah died alongside her father when his boat capsized, with the wreckage now sitting at a depth of 50m below the surface of the sea.

Maritime director of western Sicily, Rear Admiral Raffaele Macauda of the coastguard, could not confirm how long it would take to retrieve the shipwreck of the sunken yacht, adding recovering the fuel tanks was a priority for us because it has environmental knock-on effects.

An Italian fire service dive team return to port on the fifth day of the search ( Jonathan Brady/PA )

Mr Macauda said the weather at the time of the yachts sinking was abnormal and there was nothing to suggest such an extreme situation would arise. He told the press conference there was no tornado alert.

Also killed in the incident were Morgan Stanley International chair Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy Bloomer, Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo, and his wife Neda Morvillo.

Tributes from across all sectors have been paid to Mr Lynch, who founded the software giant Autonomy in 1996 and sat on the board of a number of prestigious institutions.

His close friend and colleague Andrew Kanter said: Mike was the most brilliant mind and caring person I have ever known. Over nearly a quarter century I had the privilege of working beside someone unrivalled in their understanding of technology and business.

Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judith were also confirmed dead on Thursday ( Family Handout/PA )

There is simply no other UK technology entrepreneur of our generation who has had such an impact on so many people.

Of the 22 passengers and crew on board, 15 people including Mr Lynchs wife Angela Bacares were rescued after escaping on a lifeboat.

The CEO of The Italian Sea Group, which owns the firm that built the Bayesian, said that the yacht was unsinkable and that the vessels are the safest in the most absolute sense.

The trip had been a celebration of Mr Lynchs acquittal in a decade-long fraud case in the US, and he had invited close friends, colleagues and his legal team onboard to thank them for their support.
 Close Final moments of seven who died in Bayesian tragedy revealed by fire service boss

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The captain of the Bayesian has insisted that he did everything possible to save those on board the superyacht, according to local reports.

Sources close to James Cutfield, 51, told the Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera that the 51-year-old New Zealander is currently living through the darkest days of his life as he is under investigation for possible manslaughter and culpable shipwreck charges.

They reportedly said Mr Cutfield repeatedly insists that he did not abandon any of the 22 passengers and crew and that he did everything could could to save them.

However, there reached a point when he could do little as the vessel had taken on too much water, they added.

Since Wednesday, Tim Parker Eaton, the engineer who was in charge of securing the yachts engine room, and sailor Matthew Griffith, who was on watch duty on the night of the disaster, are also under investigation for the same possible charges, their lawyer said on Friday.

British technology tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah were among the seven people who were killed after his superyacht capsized and went down on 19 August within minutes of being hit by a pre-dawn storm off the coast of Sicily.
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Ukrainian forces are advancing through Russias Kursk region as part of their historic cross-border assault, concentrating their resources on this attack - but Moscows forces are doing the same in eastern Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelensky admitted this week the situation on Ukraines eastern frontline was difficult. Ukraines general staff, meanwhile, reported that there had been dozens of combat clashes on several hot points of the frontline in that direction.

As reports surface that Ukraine may have shifted some military resources from the eastern Donetsk region, the site of the most intense fighting in Ukraine, to help prosecute their Kursk incursion, concerns abound that such a move could prove a fatal miscalculation.

Since 6 August, when Ukraine began its cross-border attack, Russian forces have advanced several miles towards the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, in the Donetsk region. Russia claimed to have control of the settlement of Zhelanne, about 12 miles from Pokrovsk, one of a number of villages and settlements Moscows forces claim to have taken this week.

More than 50,000 civilians remain in the city, which had a pre-war population of around 80,000. If Russia eventually seizes it, it will be the largest population centre it has taken since Bakhmut last May, after months of heavy urban warfare.

Nevertheless, the loss of Pokrovsk could have an even costlier effect.

A young boy, his sister and his mother step off an armoured van on Tuesday used for evacuations from the Pokrovsk area ( AP )

The city, a logistical hub for the countrys military, sits at the junction of two major roads through the region. Its capture is seen as key to the Russian military prosecuting Vladimir Putins objective of taking the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine, known as Donbas.

Russias military appears to have thrown resources at the effort, possibly at the expense of defending its own civilians in Kursk. As one analyst put it, Putins eye of Sauron, a reference to Lord of the Rings, has been trained on Donetsk, and particularly Pokrovsk, even as his own country is being invaded.

Russian troops are now just six miles from the city walls, allegedly battling the last proper defensive line outside the city, and four from the neighbouring town of Myrnohrad, according to local officials.

Previous Russian assaults on cities in Donetsk, such as Avdiivka through the latter half of last year until around February this year, when it took control of the city, began with heavy mechanised attacks led by tanks and armoured carriers, as well as an aerial bombardment of the area.

While the second element of that style of attack is still being used, Russian forces are now more reliant on dismounted infantry and small units attempting to move forward and make gradual advances towards Pokrovsk, according to one western official.

The official added that those [attacks] have increased over the past week in terms of the rate at which [the Russians] are able to advance every day towards Pokrovsk, though the push remains gradual.

Deep State, a Ukrainian analytical group that tracks the frontline and which is known to have close ties to the military, reported that another three towns had been taken by the Russians just to the south of Pokrovsk this week. It added that Russian forces had advanced near Novogrodivka , Zavitny and Ptychy  three towns also on the southern edge of Moscows push towards Pokrovsk.

Russian forces have also made gains further along the frontline in the wider Donetsk region, pushing towards the towns of Toretsk and Siversk, while the Russian ministry of defence claimed control of the town of Niu-York, near Toretsk. The western official on Friday confirmed that Niu-York was coming under the control of the Russians.

They added, however, that Russia was losing around 1,000 casualties, dead and wounded, every day.

Russia is losing more now than it is able to recruit, the official said, adding that there was no sign of Russias ability to scale up recruitment to offset these losses despite the introduction of more lucrative sign-up bonuses in recent months,

Heavy fighting continues in the Pokrovsky direction, wrote Ukrainian military chief Oleksandr Syrskyi on the Telegram messenger app at the start of the week. Defence forces are also doing everything necessary to protect Toretsk.

As if as an afterthought, he added: We are achieving new results in Kursk.

Ukrainian soldiers of the 24th Mechanized Brigade fire from BRM1K infantry fighting vehicle towards Russian positions near Chasiv Yar town, in Donetsk region ( EPA )

The Ukrainian incursion into Russias Kursk region has undoubtedly been successful. It is the first time Russia has been invaded since the Second World War, a fact that is deeply embarrassing for Putin and his regime. Ukrainian soldiers toldThe Independent they laughed like madmen as they realised they were digging trenches inside Russia.

It has also created a buffer zone between Ukrainian civilians and the Russian military, reducing Moscows ability to fire artillery and drones at nearby Ukrainian towns and cities, and saving lives in the process.

As Ukraine bombs bridges to the west of its advancing forces inside Russia, effectively severing the last remaining supply lines to Moscows troops defending that area, Kyiv may also be on the cusp of taking more territory still.

But it may well be coming at a price; square miles captured in Kursk could cost square miles lost in Donetsk.

Some speculate that given Kyiv may be forced to the negotiating table by a future, notoriously transactional US president in Donald Trump (if he makes it to the White House in November), Ukraine could be employing a reach-before-result strategy, capturing parts of Kursk to later trade them for land occupied by the Russians later on.

Others suggest it is a signal to Kyivs western partners that despite a difficult year, Ukraine is still capable of carrying out devastating offensives, and that it deserves additional support.

There is no guarantee, however, that this will pay off. Meanwhile, Russias takeover of parts of eastern Ukraine is material, and it could prove more fatal.

As Emil Kastehelmi, an open-source analyst tracking the Russo-Ukrainian war for The Black Bird Group, says: The ground in Donetsk is more valuable to the Russians [than Kursk]. It possibly should be to the Ukrianians as well.
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Russia and Ukraine have each exchanged more than 100 prisoners of war as Kyiv marked its third Independence Day since Moscows full-scale invasion.

Ukraine said the 115 Ukrainian servicemen who were freed were conscripts, many of whom were taken prisoner in the first months of Russias invasion.

Among them were nearly 50 soldiers captured by Russian forces from the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol.

The Russian defence ministry said the released 115 Russian soldiers had been captured in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces launched their surprise offensive into Russia two weeks ago.

The ministry said the soldiers were currently in Belarus, but would be taken to Russia for medical treatment and rehabilitation.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said in a post on X that the United Arab Emirates had again brokered the exchange, the 55th since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbour in February 2022.

Photographs attached to Mr Zelenskys post show gaunt servicemen with shaven heads and wrapped in Ukrainian flags.

We remember each and every one. We are searching and doing our best to get everyone back, Mr Zelensky said in the post.

Many of the released Ukrainian prisoners were captured in the early months of the war ( AP )

Officials from the two sides meet only when they swap their dead and prisoners of war, after lengthy preparation and diplomacy.

Neither Ukraine nor Russia discloses how many prisoners of war there are in total.

According to the UN, Ukrainian prisoners of war suffer routine medical neglect, severe and systematic mistreatment and even torture while in detention.

There have also been isolated reports of abuse of Russian soldiers, mostly during capture or transit to internment sites.

Last January, Russia and Ukraine exchanged hundreds of prisoners of war in the biggest single release.

It came as Ukraine marked its 33rd Independence Day as its war against Russias aggression reaches a 30-month milestone.

No festivities were planned and instead Ukrainians marked the day with commemorations for civilians and soldiers killed in the war.

Independence is the silence we experience when we lose our people, President Zelenskyy said in a video posted on Telegram. Independence descends into the shelter during an air raid, only to endure and rise again and again to tell the enemy: You will achieve nothing.

He also announced that Ukraine has successfully used a new domestically produced drone for the first time against Russian forces.

Today, we had the first and successful combat use of our new weapon, a completely new class of weapon, the Ukrainian missile drone Palyanitsa, Mr Zelensky said.

He did not give further details, but added that the enemy was struck, and thanked the developers and manufacturers.

Polish president Andrzej Duda arrived in Kyiv by train early on Saturday in a symbolic show of support from one of Ukraines key allies.

Videos posted by his office showed him being greeted by Ukrainian officials and later paying his respects in a ceremony at the Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen for Ukraine.

Mr Dudas visit to Kyiv, his fifth since February 2022, sends a message that Warsaws support for Ukraine remains strong as the war drags on for the third year.

Poland, located to Ukraines west, has donated arms and become a hub for Western weapons destined for Ukraine.
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Prosecutors have revealed the identity of a man accused of carrying out deadly stabbings at a festival in Germany with suspected links to Islamic State.

The Syrian national was named a Issa Al H, omitting his family name because of German privacy laws. The 26-year-old man had turned himself in to police amid a major manhunt following the attack in Solingen, which killed three and injured eight.

German federal prosecutors are investigating the suspect for links to the Islamic State extremist group after they claimed responsibility for Fridays atrocity, which saw the knifeman aim for victims throats.

They are also investigating the man, who had applied for asylum in Germany, on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and dangerous bodily harm in eight cases.

Prosecutors said due to his radical Islamist convictions he tried to kill as many people as possible that he considered to be non-believers, stabbing them repeatedly in the neck and upper body.

A woman, 56, and two men, aged 56 and 67, were killed in Fridays ferocious attack on revellers at a Festival of Diversity to celebrate the west German citys 650th anniversary.

Heres a look at everything we know so far.

Revellers were celebrating Solingens 650-year history at the time of the horrific attack ( EPA )

What has happened so far?

Residents of the western German city of Solingen were enjoying a diversity festival when tragedy struck.

The Festival of Diversity marked the citys 650th anniversary, and was set to run until Sunday, with several stages in central streets offering live music, cabaret and acrobatics.

But shortly after 9.30pm on Friday evening, witnesses reported to police that someone had attacked people with a knife at a central square, known as the Fronhof.

Phillip Muller, the festivals organiser, appeared on stage to ask festivalgoers to leave calmly.

Please keep your eyes open, because unfortunately the perpetrator hasnt been caught, Mr Muller said.

A woman, 56, and two men, aged 56 and 67, were killed and eight more were injured, including four left fighting for their lives in hospital.

German police instantly launched a manhunt for the perpetrator, who they believed to be working alone.

Police searched overnight and into Saturday, but have still not located the attacker ( DPA )

On Saturday, police detained a 15-year-old boy who was allegedly seen speaking with the suspect moments before. Later the same day a second man was detained at a refugee centre close to the site of the attack.

However late on Saturday, a 26-year-old man handed himself in to police claiming to be the knifeman.

This persons involvement in the crime is currently being intensively investigated, officials said. He was later named by federal prosecutors as Issa Al H.

Meanwhile the Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for the attack, without providing evidence.

The extremist group said on its news site that the attacker targeted Christians and that as a soldier of the Islamic State he carried out the assaults Friday night to avenge Muslims in Palestine and everywhere.

The claim could not immediately be verified.

Tributes have been laid near the site of the attack ( AFP via Getty Images )

What do we know about the alleged perpetrator?

The 26-year-old suspect has been named as Issa Al H, omitting his family name because of German privacy laws.

He is suspected of being a member of Islamic State and is being investigated over three counts of murder, attempted murder and dangerous bodily harm in eight cases.

Prosecutors said due to his radical Islamist convictions he tried to kill as many people as possible that he considered to be non-believers, stabbing them repeatedly in the neck and upper body.

He was pictured in handcuffs being escorted to the Federal Public Prosecutor in Karlsruhe, Germany, on Sunday.

The man is a Syrian national who had applied for asylum in Germany, according to the Associated Press.

The suspect came from a home for refugees in Solingen that was searched on Saturday, North Rhine-Westphalias interior minister, Herbert Reul, said.

A suspect in the mass stabbing at a festival in Solingen, west Germany, was escorted to the Federal Public Prosecutor in Karlsruhe, Germany ( REUTERS )

Lets stand together - politicians react to the stabbing

Local, national and international politicians have spoken out to condemn the horrific stabbings.

German chancellor Olaf Scholz wrote on X that the perpetrator must be punished to the fullest extent of the law.

He said it was a terrible event which had shocked him greatly, adding that he will mourn the victims and stand by their families.

German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier described it as a heinous act and wished those injured strength and a speedy recovery from all my heart.

The perpetrator needs to be brought to justice. Lets stand together  against hatred and violence, Mr Steinmeier added.

Tim Kurzbach, the mayor of Solingen, said our hearts were torn apart by the violence, which hardly let any of us sleep.

"We are working all night, all the time, to organise everything imaginable. Nevertheless, this great pain remains," he said.

German interior minister Nancy Faeser with Herbert Reul (middle), the North-Rhine Westfalias interior minister, and Hendrik Wuest (right), the states premier ( Reuters )

"I continue to pray and hope that the relatives will find comfort. That the injured and wounded will recover. And I ask you to continue to hope and pray with us here in Solingen.

Regional interior minister Herbert Reul said you dont want to believe what you see here at the crime scene, while European Commission president and German politician Ursula von der Leyen said she was deeply shocked by the brutal and insidious attack.
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British technology tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah were among the people initially unaccounted for after his superyacht Bayesian sank in a storm off the coast of Sicily in the early hours of Monday.

On Saturday morning, Italian authorities announced a manslaughter investigation had been launched into the deaths of seven people, after a five-day operation that has seen divers carefully navigating their way into the cabin bedrooms.

After a decade-long legal battle which had seen him extradited to the US to face an $11bn fraud case, Mr Lynch had celebrated by inviting his close friends, colleagues and those who helped him on his legal team aboard his boat as a gesture of gratitude.

Mike Lynch missing ( PA Archive )

Yet a week of sunshine along the Italian coastline would soon turn to horror after the boat capsized shortly before dawn, only offering those onboard a few minutes to get themselves to safety.

British tech mogul Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah were among the seven people who died after the Bayesian superyacht sank near Porticello at about 5am local time on Monday.

Morgan Stanley chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judith Bloomer, Clifford Chance lawyer Christopher Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo also died.

The British-flagged vessel named Bayesian was carrying 12 passengers and 10 members of crew when it sank at around 5am local time near the Sicilian capital of Palermo.

The yachts chef, Recaldo Thomas, is already confirmed to have died after his body was recovered from the wreck on Monday, while 15 survivors were rescued.

Here's what we know about the 22 people on board:

Mike Lynch

Hannah and Mike Lynch ( Supplied )

British technology tycoon Mike Lynch had been in the headlines long before the boat incident following being the centre of a high-profile fraud case.

The 59-year-old is known for founding Invoke Capital and Autonomy, and his disappearance comes just weeks after he was cleared of all charges by a US jury related to the sale of his software company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 2011.

HP claimed, just a year after the sale, that Mr Lynch had used accounting tricks to artificially inflate its value before the sale. He spent 13 months under house arrest before being extradited to the US last May for a trial that acquitted him in June this year on all 15 counts.

Mr Lynch told a Sunday Times journalist last month that he was about to go on a very long holiday.

In June, he spoke of his indescribable relief at being back at home in Suffolk with his wife, daughters and their six dogs. He told reporters: I am looking forward to returning to the UK and getting back to what I love most: my family and innovating in my field.

Angela Bacares

Mike Lynch and Angela Bacares ( Desmond O'Neill )

Wife of Mike Lynch, 57-year-old Angela Bacares managed to escape to safety and is in a wheelchair with abrasions on her feet that prevent her from walking, according to la Repubblica.

The newspaper said she told doctors that at 4am, the boat had tilted and she and her husband were woken up.

Under Angela Bacares name, the couples estimated wealth is 852m, the Sunday Times Rich List revealed in 2023. They have a house in Chelsea, west London, but primarily live on their farm in Suffolk with their six dogs and rare breeds of pigs and cows.

Hannah Lynch

Hannah Lynch ( Supplied )

Mr Lynch was travelling with his daughter Hannah, whose body was lifted ashore on Friday afternoon.

The 18-year-old had just completed her A-levels and secured a place to read English at Oxford University. Hannahs former English teacher Jon Mitropoulos-Monk said she was one of the best English students in the country having scored 100% in her English Literature GCSE.

Patrick Jacob, a family friend, paid tribute to her on Friday, saying: Hannah was charming and ferociously intelligent with an insatiable thirst for life and knowledge. She was also warm, loving and deeply considerate; remarkably for her age. I am 50 years older than her and in my life I have never met anybody like Hannah. We have lost one of our brightest stars whose future held so much promise. Her loss is unbearable.

Chris Morvillo

Neda Morvillo and Chris Morvillo ( Patrick McMullan via Getty Image )

Chris Morvillo is a lawyer who represented Mr Lynch in his US trial. He is a partner at the Clifford Chance law firm who confirmed on Tuesday he was among the six missing.

In his most recent LinkedIn post, he thanked the legal team that helped win Mr Lynchs trial. At the end of the post, he thanked his family for their support: And, finally, a huge thank you to my patient and incredible wife, Neda Morvillo, and my two strong, brilliant, and beautiful daughters, Sabrina Morvillo and Sophia Morvillo.

None of this would have been possible without your love and support. I am so glad to be home. And they all lived happily ever after.

Neda Morvillo

Chris Morvillos 57-year-old wife Neda was with him on the holiday. She has a luxury jewellery brand, which she runs under her maiden name Neda Nassiri.

Her husbands firm Clifford Chance said in a statement: Our thoughts are with our partner, Christopher Morvillo, and his wife Neda who are among the missing.

Jonathan Bloomer

Jonathan Bloomer ( PA Media )

Another of those confirmed to be dead is lawyer Jonathan Bloomer who is the chairman of investment bank Morgan Stanley International.

He is also chairman of the insurance provider Hiscox, which confirmed he is missing. Its group chief executive Aki Hussain said they were deeply shocked and saddened by the news.

Mr Bloomer was a defence witness for Mr Lynch during his US criminal trial and the pair are believed to be good friends, according to the Financial Times.

Judy Bloomer

Jonathan and Judy Bloomer ( Family Handout/PA )

Jonathan Bloomers wife Judy was also on board the yacht and has been confirmed dead.

Mr Hussain said in his statement: Our thoughts are with all those affected, in particular our chair, Jonathan Bloomer, and his wife Judy, who are among the missing.

Mrs Bloomer is on the board of The Eve Appeal charity, which focuses on gynaecological cancers. The charity described her as a brilliant champion for womens health and medical research... an incredible supporter, committee member, and trustee of our charity for over 20 years.

Recaldo Thomas

Recaldo Thomas ( Facebook )

Recaldo Thomas was the superyachts chef and the first person whose death was confirmed.

The Canadian-Antiguan national was found by the Italian coastguard near the sunken boat. A friend of Mr Thomas, who asked to remain anonymous, said the yachting community has been saddened by his death.

She told The Independent: He was a one-of-a-kind special human being. Incredibly talented, contagious smile and laugh, an incredible voice with a deep love of the ocean and the moon. I spoke to him nearly every day. He loved his life his friends and his job.

Ayla Ronald

Ayla Ronald ( Clifford Chance )

Ayla Ronald and her partner are two of the 15 who survived the yacht disaster, law firm Clifford Chance confirmed.

The 36-year-old worked defended Mr Lynch in court and was on the trip as part of the celebration for his acquittal.

Clifford Chance said in a statement: Our utmost priority is providing support to the family as well as our colleague Ayla Ronald, who together with her partner, thankfully survived the incident.

She is originally from Christchurch, New Zealand, but lives in London, her father Lin Ronald told The Telegraph, saying she was very shaken.

Mr Ronald said that she was invited to go sailing as a result of the success in the recent United States court case.

Matthew

Aylas partner Matthew also survived the boat disaster. There is little more known about his background or condition.

Charlotte Golunski

Charlotte Golunskys face covered by an officer from the British embassy as she leaves hospital in Italy ( REUTERS )

Charlotte Golunskis testimony of the ordeal on the ship were some of the first to be published after she was rescued along with her one-year-old daughter, Sofia.

She spoke to Italian newspaper La Repubblica, confirming she survived the yacht sinking and told how she kept her daughter alive after she was rescued. She said: I held her afloat with all my strength, my arms stretched upwards to keep her from drowning. It was all dark. In the water I couldnt keep my eyes open. I screamed for help but all I could hear around me was the screams of others.

The 35-year-old is a partner at Invoke Capital, one of Mr Lynchs law firms, and has worked there since 2012, according to her LinkedIn profile.

James Emsley

Ms Golunksis partner James Emsley was also rescued from the yacht, according to Sicilys civil protection agency. There is little information on him, but it has been confirmed the 36-year-old is the father of her one-year-old daughter.

Sofia

One-year-old Sofia was rescued from the water by her mother and subsequently looked after in hospital.

Ms Golunski told the Italian newspaper La Repubblica that her family survived only because they were on deck when the yacht sank after encountering a heavy storm.

Dr Domenico Cipolla told local media that the family have had a physical and psychological upheaval of their lives.

He said the hospital provided toys for the baby, cuddles, and fed them because they were frightened and hungry.

The family of three left the Di Cristina Childrens Hospital in a black van on Tuesday via a back entrance today. They were accompanied by an officer from the British embassy, who covered the familys faces with a jacket to hide them from a huddle of photographers.

James Catfield

The captain of the superyacht James Catfield survived the horror and broke his silence on Tuesday with just five words.

He said: We didnt see it coming and was described as limp as he waited outside an emergency room in the Sicilian town of Termini Imerese, according to local media.

Leo Eppel

The Italian coastguard confirmed on Tuesday evening that Leo Eppel, a crew member, also survived the yacht sinking.
A Waynesboro police officer had no choice but to shoot a Charlottesville man on Interstate 64 last April, according to the Albemarle County Commonwealth Attorneys Office.

A report released by the office, and signed by Commonwealths Attorney Jim Hingeley, determined that the April 10 killing of Kevin David Taylor II was justified.

Taylor was shot to death after multiple agencies  including Waynesboro, Albemarle County and Virginia State police  were dispatched to the scene where Taylor had repeatedly asked and attempted to goad officers into shooting him, according to the report.

Given the evidence provided in this investigation, the Commonwealths Attorney finds that there is no criminal liability because [the officers] actions were justified to defend himself and others from an armed and dangerous individual who was threatening law enforcement officers with the use of deadly force, the report reads.

Police were first alerted to Taylor after they received calls of shots fired and a malicious wounding in Waynesboro, according to the report.

At about 5 p.m. April 10, Waynesboro police arrived at Parkway Village Apartments and located a man with a gunshot wound in his upper thigh.

Witnesses told officers that the victim was shot during a confrontation with a man named Gino, who fled in a vehicle belonging to Taylor. Witnesses later identified Taylors Department of Motor Vehicles photo as the man they knew as Gino.

A detective, referred to in the report only by his initials R.B., was on his way to the scene when he saw a car matching the vehicles description run a red light.

The detective activated his lights and sirens and pursued Taylor onto U.S. 250.

Other officers joined the pursuit before a speeding Taylor crashed into a guardrail.

The damage from the crash disabled his vehicle, forcing him to a stop at the 102.2 mile marker roughly 2 miles inside Albemarle County limits.

Three officers, including R.B., commanded Taylor to show his hands and surrender.

According to the report, Taylor responded by saying, I wanna die. Shoot me, and, If you dont shoot me, Im going to shoot you. He also, more than 20 times, said something to the effect of, Im dying today or I wanna die.

Police repeatedly told Taylor they did not want to shoot him, according to the report.

In response to Taylors stating that he wanted to call his mother to say goodbye, one of the officers unsuccessfully tried to call her, reads the report.

Twenty minutes into the standoff, a trained negotiator with Albemarle County, referred to in the report as D.L., took over communication with Taylor.

In addition to noting Taylors repeated confessions that he wanted to die, the report emphasizes his physical actions: Taylor would reach into his vehicle, put his hands near his waistband or pockets, put his hands in his pockets and point at the officers in a gun gesture.

When D.L. told him such gestures and movements would lead to his being shot, Taylor responded, Thats what Im trying to do, reads the report. D.L. asked how they could resolve the situation peacefully, and Taylor replied, Fire off every shot youve got, peacefully.

D.L. was able to contact Taylors mother by phone and approached Taylor in an attempt to connect the mother with her son.

The approach resulted in a shift in Taylors demeanor, who yelled to his mother that he loved her and was sorry.

D.L. retreated from Taylor before attempting to make another approach. As he did, three things happened almost simultaneously.

Those three things: an officer fired a less-than-lethal foam baton at Taylor, Taylor retreated into the vehicle and began to move across the front seats, and R.B. fired seven rounds into the car.

One bullet struck Taylors back and another the back of his head. A third bullet caused a graze wound to his back.

According to footage from the officers body-worn cameras, the entire incident  from the moment an officer stopped at Taylors disabled vehicle to Taylors last breath  took just under 60 minutes.

Police later recovered a .40-caliber handgun from the vehicles front passenger seat, as well as another .45-caliber handgun found next to the drivers seat.

The evidence reviewed by the commonwealths attorney included photographs, body-worn camera footage from Waynesboro and Albemarle police, Taylors autopsy and sound analysis identifying the timing of the less-than-lethal and lethal shots.

While Taylors death under these circumstances is tragic and regrettable, it must be noted that law enforcement spent nearly an hour attempting to de-escalate the situation and safely apprehend Taylor, while Taylor tried again and again to create a situation in which the officers had no choice but to shoot him to protect themselves and others, the report concludes.
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A somber atmosphere pervades Ukraine's 33rd Independence Day Saturday, as the nations war against Russias aggression reaches a 30-month milestone. No fireworks, parades or concerts are planned and instead Ukrainians will mark the day with commemorations for civilians and soldiers killed in the war.

Ukrainians have flooded social media with messages of gratitude and support, greeting each other and thanking the soldiers on the front lines. In the outpouring of unity, theres a shared acknowledgment that the two-and-a-half years have been tough, with fatigue increasingly setting in.

Independence is the silence we experience when we lose our people, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said to the nation. Independence descends into the shelter during an air raid, only to endure and rise again and again to tell the enemy: You will achieve nothing.

( REUTERS )

Zelenskyy pointed out that the war started by Russia has now spread to its own territory. Those who seek to sow evil on our land will reap its fruits on their own soil, he said, referring to Ukraines incursion earlier this month into Russias Kursk region.

The president symbolically chose to record his address in the northeastern town of Sumy, just a few kilometers (miles) from the Russian border, where Ukrainian forces crossed into Russia on August 6.

913 days ago, Russia launched its war against us, partly through Sumy region, Zelenskyy said. They violated not only sovereign borders but also the boundaries of cruelty and common sense, driven by an insatiable desire to destroy us.

( UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SER )

( via REUTERS )

( AP )

Ukraines surprise incursion into Russias Kursk region, gave the war a startling turn, adding a new front to the conflict to counter Russias grinding advances in eastern Ukraines Donetsk region. Ukraine quickly seized considerable Russian territory, including scores of small towns, and captured hundreds of Russian soldiers, moves that may influence the wars trajectory.

A view of a Ukrainian military operation in Malaya Loknya, Kursk Region, Russia in this screen grab obtained from a handout video released by the 95th Air Assault Brigade ( via REUTERS )

And those who sought to turn our lands into a buffer zone should now worry that their own country doesnt become a buffer federation, he said. This is how independence responds.

Ukraine's military claims to hold 1,200 square kilometers (480 square miles) of Russian territory in Kursk, and in the past week it has also launched drone attacks that have struck strategic bridges and Russian airfields and drone bases.

Even as Ukraine presses its offensive into Russia, however, it is also evacuating residents from Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine, as Russian forces are now 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the strategic city.

Residents of Pokrovsk, once a city of 60,000, on Friday registered for evacuation at a central school and then, carrying bundles of belongings, boarded trains to take them to areas further from the conflict.

Russia Ukraine War India ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Also on Friday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the capital, Kyiv. After hugging Zelenskyy, Modi offered as a friend to help bring peace to Ukraine. The Indian leader's visit, although brief, raised hopes among many in the war-battered country that he will help pave the way for an Indian role in peace mediation.
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Three fires broke out on a Greek-flagged oil tanker in the Red Sea, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has reported, after Iran-backed Houthi militants attacked the vessel and its crew was evacuated.

The tanker first sustained damage on Wednesday when repeated strikes from the Houthis led to a fire and a loss of engine power. The vessels 25-member crew was later rescued by a European warship. Left unmanned, the tanker remained anchored in the waters between Yemen and Eritrea, according to a maritime security source who spoke to Reuters.

On Friday, UKMTO issued an advisory noting reports of three fires on the vessel, which added it now "appears to be drifting. Its not yet clear what happened on the tanker before the fires.

That same day, the Houthis released a video on social media allegedly showing their forces setting the tanker ablaze. The Independent has not independently verified the video.

The Sounion, which is carrying 150,000 metric tons of crude oil, now represents a significant environmental risk, according to the EUs Red Sea naval mission, Aspides.

The group has warned of the potential for a catastrophic oil spill that could devastate the regions marine ecosystem. The Djibouti Ports & Free Zones Authority echoed the concerns, stating on the platform X, formerly Twitter, that such a spill could have disastrous consequences.

The Sounion is the third tanker owned by Athens-based Delta Tankers to be targeted by the Houthis this month. The Houthis justified the attack by accusing Delta Tankers of violating its ban on entry to "the ports of occupied Palestine," as stated by their military spokesman Yahya Saree in a televised address.

In a brief statement on Friday, Delta Tankers said they were doing everything possible to secure the vessel and its cargo, but declined to provide further details for security reasons.

The recent attack on the Greek-flagged oil tanker Sounion is the latest in a series of increasingly bold operations by Yemens Houthi rebels, part of a broader campaign that has escalated tensions across the Red Sea.

Image from footage the Houthis say was as one of their attacks on the Greek-flagged oil tanker Sounion in the the Red Sea ( AP )

Over the past 10 months, the Iran-backed Houthis have intensified their efforts to disrupt commercial shipping in the region, particularly targeting vessels associated with countries they view as adversaries.

This campaign, which the Houthis claim is in support of Palestinians in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, has seen the group launch a variety of maritime assaults, including missile strikes and the deployment of explosive-laden drones. Its operations have focused on areas around the Bab al-Mandab strait, a critical maritime chokepoint through which a significant portion of the worlds oil passes.
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Israel killed at least 37 Palestinians in Gaza and eight in southern Lebanon in a series of attacks as international efforts to broker a ceasefire faltered.

The attacks, targeting residential areas, were particularly deadly in and around the city of Khan Younis, where most of the casualties were reported from. The dead included four women and as many children from a family whose home in the al-Amal neighbourhood was shelled, Al Jazeera reported.

At least three people were also killed in a strike on the Nuseirat refugee camp.

An Israeli drone fired on displaced Palestinians sheltering in tents near Salah al-Din Street in central Gaza, injuring at least five people, while warplanes bombed the Abu Arif neighbourhood in the region. It was not immediately known if there were any casualties.

Israel also conducted airstrikes in southern Lebanon, killing at least eight people, including a child. The Israeli military released footage of one of the strikes claiming it was targeting a Hezbollah cell.

An Israeli tank is seen against the backdrop of destroyed buildings in Strip on 21 August ( AP )

Amid escalating violence in southern Lebanon, China warned its citizens in the country about the "severe and complex" security situation and advised them to leave while commercial flights were still available.

Several major countries previously advised citizens to leave Lebanon amid fears that the Israeli assault on Gaza  which began after Hamas raided southern Israel on 7 October and killed about 1,200 people  could spill over into a regional war.

The Israelis have killed over 40,000 Palestinian men, women and children in Gaza so far, according to the health authorities. They have also killed at least 632 Palestinians and displaced nearly 1,400 in over 1,000 attacks in the West Bank since 7 October, according to data from Israeli forces, Palestinian officials and the UNs Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Israels bombardment has also displaced 1.9 million people in Gaza and left the besieged territorys entire population of over 2.2 million at the risk of famine and disease, according to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.

A home destroyed by rockets in Katzrin in Golan Heights, a territory annexed by Israel from Syria ( AP )

The Israelis continued their attacks in Gaza as talks to broker a ceasefire seemed to falter in Cairo. The talks involved Israeli officials and intermediaries from the United States, Egypt and Qatar.

Brett McGurk, the White House Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, was leading the American delegation, the Associated Press reported, quoting a US official who spoke anonymously.

The outcome of the latest round of discussions on Thursday remained uncertain as Hamas appeared unwilling to accede to new demands introduced by Israel since the Palestinian group accepted a version of the ceasefire deal unveiled by US president Joe Biden in May, Reuters reported.

Israel demands to keep troops in two strategic corridors in Gaza  Netzarim Corridor, which runs the width of the territory, and Philadelphi Corridor along the border with Egypt  and retain the option to resume fighting after the first phase of a ceasefire, The New York Times reported.

Hamas is asking for a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces.

Displaced Palestinians line up to collect water in central Gazas Deir al Balah ( AP )

The humanitarian situation, meanwhile, continued to worsen, with over 80 per cent of Gazas population displaced and living in overcrowded, unsanitary tent camps.

To add to their misery, Israel issued a new evacuation order for southern Gaza, including areas it previously designated as a humanitarian zone. Palestinians said there was no safe place left to go.

After the new Israeli evacuation order for the overcrowded city of Deir al-Balah, rights groups raised alarm about Gaza's worsening humanitarian crisis.

Amid repeated evacuation orders by the Israeli military, the UN said over a million people in southern and central Gaza might not receive food aid rations for August.

The International Rescue Committee reported that polio had resurfaced in Gaza after a quarter century, attributing it to the destruction of healthcare and water infrastructure and overcrowded living conditions.

Dr Jude Senkugu, the groups emergency health coordinator, warned that "the news of polio in Gaza should be an alarm bell that more infectious diseases are on the way and highlighted the dire lack of clean water and the risk of further disease spread.

The World Health Organisation had earlier reported that a 10-month-old baby was paralysed by type 2 polio virus, the first such case in Gaza in 25 years.

Doctors Without Borders warned that shrinking living spaces were accelerating disease transmission. "There is no room to put tents up, coordinator Jacob Granger said. The overcrowding, severe lack of water, and minimal sanitation services are fueling the spread of diseases."

Both organisations joined global aid agencies in calling for an immediate ceasefire.
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NASA has announced that it will use SpaceXs Dragon capsule to bring home two astronauts stuck in space for months, in a fresh blow to aerospace company Boeing.

The agency said it does not have confidence in Boeings troubled Starliner capsule, which will return to earth unmanned, and that the two astronauts, Sunita Williams and Barry Butch Wilmore, will be brought home in February 2025.

Ms Williams and Mr Wilmore will stay on the International Space Station until that time, having been there since early June.

It is the latest setback for Boeing, which has suffered a string of mishaps and subsequent lawsuits since January, when a panel blew out of an Alaska Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliner mid-flight.

The decision on Starliner was a result of a commitment to safety, said NASA administrator Bill Nelson. Our core value is safety and it is our north star, he told reporters on Saturday.

NASA has decided that Butch and Sunny will return with crew nine next February, and that Starliner will return uncrewed, Nelson said.

open image in gallery Sunita Williams and Barry Butch Wilmore will be brought home in February 2025 ( NASA )

I want you to know that Boeing has worked very hard with NASA to get the necessary data to make this decision. We want to further understand the root causes and understand the design improvements so that the Boeing Starliner will serve as an important part of our assured crew access to the ISS.

Nelson added that he had spoken to new Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, who said the company would continue to work through the problems once Starliner returned.

Space flight is risky, even at its safety safest and even at its most routine, Nelson said. And a test flight by nature, is neither safe nor routine, and so the decision to keep Butch and Sonny aboard the International Space Station and bring the Boeing Starliner home uncrewed is a result of a commitment to safety.

Our core value is safety, and it is our north star. And Im grateful to NASA and to Boeing for their teams, for all the incredible and detailed work to get to this decision.

Elon Musks SpaceX has been flying crews to the ISS since 2020.

Instead of launching a full four-man crew, SpaceX will fly just two when it launches Dragon to the station in late September. That crew, which would then include Williams and Wilmore, would come home in February 2025.

open image in gallery Wilmore and Williams in the vestibule which links the module and the Starliner craft ( AP )

The decision to select SpaceX as the company to return the astronauts was unanimous among NASA officials, former astronaut Ken Bowersox said.

Boeing previously insisted it still stands behind the Starliner, which suffered mechanical issues on its way to docking at the ISS on 6 June for what was supposed to be an eight-day mission.

The June flight was its first crewed mission to the ISS on the Starliner, a flagship development from the aerospace giant meant to compete with SpaceX for contracts with NASA.

Boeing has seen its production slow down since the safety concerns launched a series of federal investigations. In total, the company has delivered about 90 fewer planes this year, compared to the same time last year.

The manufacturer is burning through more than $1bn in cash a month as it has dozens of new planes sitting outside factories in need of parts, according to a report last month by The Wall Street Journal. Parts shortages and other issues have left Boeing with roughly 200 mostly finished jets sitting on airfields, outside plants and even in employee parking lots.

Boeing also faces a string of lawsuits relating to manufacturing malpractice after a door plug on a 737 Max 9 blew off during an Alaska Airlines flight in January. Before this, Max jets also crashed in 2018, in Indonesia, and 2019 in Ethiopia, killing 346 people.

At a tense senate hearing in June, CEO David Calhoun apologised to the families of crash victims, saying the embattled company was totally committed to future aircraft safety.
A manslaughter investigation has been launched into the deaths of seven people onboard British tech mogul Mike Lynchs yacht.

Mr Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah were among the seven people who died after the Bayesian superyacht sank near Porticello at about 5am local time on Monday (19 August).

Italian prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio confirmed the news in a press conference on Saturday (24 August).

Mr Cartosion said: I can confirm that the prosecutors office is currently investigating a so-called crime hypothesis of shipwreck and manslaughter against unknown persons.

However we are only at a very early stage of the investigation and the developments can be unpredictable, we are not currently excluding any hypothesis.
Nestle is replacing CEO Mark Schneider with company veteran Laurent Freixe, the Swiss food group said yesterday, marking a change of leadership as it faces a challenge to grow sales.

Mr Schneider has decided to step down as CEO and a member of the board of directors after eight years leading the worlds biggest packaged-food company.

The 58-year-old German moved the firm away from its decades-old category-led structure in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, creating five geographic businesses to steer it through a cost-of-living crisis.

However, after a strong post-pandemic performance, it has struggled recently, last month cutting its full-year sales outlook and saying it had to slow its price hikes as cash-strapped customers became more price conscious.

Shares at the maker of KitKat chocolate bars and Nescafe instant coffee have fallen 8pc in 2024, underperforming rivals like Unilever, which has gained 29pc.

Where Unilever, Danone and other food makers have in recent quarters been able to lower some product prices and drive sales volumes, Nestle has struggled to regain shopper loyalty that it lost in price hikes it had to make after the pandemic and Russias invasion of Ukraine. When asked how his strategy would differ from Mr Schneiders, Mr Freixe told journalists that a nuance will be his focus on core brands.

I will put a lot of focus on the core. I wont exclude, of course, M&A, Mr Freixe said. But...the big message is focus on the core.

Mr Freixe, whose new role will be effective on September 1, joined the company in France, in 1986.

Since then, he has assumed various positions including managing Nestles European business during the 2008 financial crisis. He then headed Nestles Americas unit and, eventually led the Latin America business from 2022.

A veteran, knowing Nestle in and out, as well as the markets, is taking over, said Bank Vontobel analyst Jean-Philippe Bertschy, in response to the change.

The switch to Mr Freixe is a return to Nestles normal practice of promoting chief executives from within.

I am privileged to have been given the opportunity to continue building and strengthening Nestle, Mr Freixe said.

Mr Schneider, the former boss of German healthcare company Fresenius, was Nestles first external hire for its top job in nearly a century when he took charge in 2016.

Reuters
Matthew Kelly, of Derham Park, Balbriggan, charged with producing a kitchen knife and threatening to kill or cause serious harm.

A brother has been accused of holding a kitchen knife to his sisters throat and threatening to kill her after she asked him to fill a kettle.
How low can we go? Boys in Green must aim to end one of the worst losing streaks in our football history
A Dublin father of three has been charged with importation of cannabis after he was allegedly caught with more than 500,000 of the drug in his luggage in Dublin Airport.
'Wi-Fi for All' to benefit remote areas, poorest sectors'

Tolentino welcomes release of P3.8-B fund for free WiFi program expansion

Senate Majority Floor Leader Francis "Tol" Tolentino on Friday (August 23) welcomed the Department of Budget Management's (DBM) announcement on the release of P3.8 billion for the implementation of the government's free nationwide Wi-Fi program.

Tolentino urged the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the implementing agency of the 'Free Wi-Fi for All' program to immediately install 13,462 access point sites and expand the country's digital connectivity.

"Foremost, the beneficiaries of the expansion of Internet connectivity, which has become a necessity, are our people in the remote areas because the free Wi-Fi program prioritizes geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas," he said.

Tolentino said the Marcos administration's free Wi-Fi program allows the poor to access apps like Messenger, Viber, or free calls to make their lives easier and connect them with their loved ones and friends.

The Free Wi-Fi for All Program is mandated by RA 10929, also known as the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act.
Pizza, church and staying in  how Generation Moderation celebrated this years Leaving Cert results

Gone are the days when a night of binge-drinking was a rite of passage for giddy Irish school-leavers

Leaving Cert student Jake Glendon with friends Katie Healy, Eva Dunphy, Sarah Brennan, Aine Delaney and Mary Cussen in Kilkenny on Friday night following the exam results. Photo: Gerry Mooney

Katie Byrne Sat 24 Aug 2024 at 18:17

More than 60,000 Leaving Cert students got their exam results on Friday. Its traditionally a night of raucous celebration, but with alcohol consumption in Ireland down by almost one-third in the past two decades  and numerous studies underlining how Gen Z drink far less than their parents  this years celebrations marked a notable shift towards moderation.
Parents of children with additional needs have spoken about how they are at their wits end trying to secure school places for this academic year.

Special needs assistants (SNAs), activists, parents and their children marched to the Department of Education in Dublin yesterday to demand action so that vital school places are available for children with special needs.

Nicola ODea, from Finglas, said her 13-year-old son Sean, who has been diagnosed with autism, is due to start secondary school this autumn.

She said they had applied to 15 different schools inside and outside of their catchment area, and still have no place.

She said they had meetings in the Department of Education three months ago and were told they would not be in the situation they are in now.

I work as an SNA myself, and Im not going back to work now, Im staying at home. Because my husband works, I work, somebody needs to be home with Sean, Ms ODea said.

The sleepless nights, the constant worry, ever since Sean was diagnosed its battle after battle. You battle for assessments of need, you battle for school places, you battle for domiciliary (care allowance), everything is a fight and it shouldnt be.

Addressing Education Minister Norma Foley, Ms ODea said: Get your act together. Enough is enough. Come live in my house, come feel our pain, our stress, our worry.

Karen Fowler, from Raheny, said her daughter Amber does not have a place in secondary school, which means she may need to quit her job to look after her.

She said she had applied to 19 schools and was either refused because they are not in the catchment area or because they are giving priorities to siblings.

I just dont know where to turn anymore, she said. The last thing I want to do is lose my job. I have been fighting for six months, alongside her dad and my family, to secure a place for Amber to no avail. I get the same replies, robot replies, same tick-box exercises and Im just very worried.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Education said that special education and provision of an appropriate school place is a priority for the Government.

This is underpinned by investment of more than 2.7bn in 2024, more than a quarter of the entire education budget, the spokeswoman said.

This will allow for, amongst other things, the opening of up to 400 new special classes in mainstream schools and 300 additional special school places.

That level of provision is being delivered and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) have advised the Department of Education that 408 new special classes have been sanctioned for the coming school year 2024/2025.

This includes 290 new special classes at primary level and 118 at post-primary.

For the coming school year, there will be over 3,300 special classes operating in primary and post-primary schools across the country.

Where it is not possible to secure the small number of additional special classes required, the NCSE and Department will consider the use of the available legislative provisions if necessary.
Mick Lynch with his daughter Hannah. They both died after the luxury yacht Bayesian sank in a storm on Monday whilst moored around half a mile off the coast of Porticello, Sicily. Issue date: Saturday August 24, 2024. PA Photo

Family friends of Mike and Hannah Lynch have said the father and daughter were part of a "united, vibrant, loving family" - with the teenager remembered as a "diamond in a sea of stars" and the tech mogul as a brilliant storyteller.
Home of the Year judge Hugh Wallace has pushed back against disappointing attitudes towards the construction industry as students receive their Leaving Cert results today.

He was speaking following the launch of new research into careers in industry by Chadwicks, which found that seven in 10 young adults in Ireland have considered pursuing a role in construction.

It also showed that 42pc of tradespeople say low pay is the biggest misconception about their line of work, followed by the perception that there are hardly any women and the false impression that the job is too physical.

"When I did my Leaving Cert, I was very lucky. When I had done my mock Leaving Cert, there were 23 people in my class, I used to come twenty-first and there was no chance of me going to college. I had just wanted to do architecture from the age of four, he said.

"I was diagnosed as dyslexic and so I did a number of my exams orally and came third in my class. Because of that, I got into college.

He said it is disappointing that some stereotypes towards careers in construction are slow to lose footing, in particular around pay and gender, adding that there is a need to dispel pretentious attitudes that still hold onto university as a status symbol.

Despite many parents polled by Chadwicks saying they would be happy if their child did pursue a career in the trades, 73pc have not actively encouraged their child to do so with half believing there is a lack of career progression and the perception that the industry is male dominated.

More than 60,000 students receive Leaving Certificate results

Mr Wallace said his advice to young people receiving their Leaving Cert results would be to remember the success achieved by so many business people and entrepreneurs who may have never attended college or completed their Leaving Cert.

"It is all about numbers and it shouldnt be. Why not go and have a career, get an apprenticeship, become a master carpenter because you will have a rewarding career where you will be involved in the delivery of architectural masterpieces? he said.

"Those masterpieces couldnt be built without you, always remember that the architect didnt build it.

Mr Wallace said it has been a joy to be involved in RTE series Home of the Year alongside his fellow judges, touring some of the nations most beautiful properties.

In the 1970s, the only people that came into your house was the priest or the doctor or your mother and everybody arrived on Christmas Day and that was it. The rest of the time, it was a functioning house, it was about washing, cleaning, cooking for your family, he said.

"Our homes now are an extension of our personality.
With almost 300,000 students in mixed-gender schools, co-education is a preferred choice for many parents124,324 children still attend single-sex secondary schoolsSome parents, including some from the Muslim faith, prefer the option of single-sex secondary schools

Fifty-four new schools have been established since 2018, all of which are co-educational. Photo: Getty

There will always be a demand for single-sex secondary schools, despite a recent surge in co-education, experts have said.

The majority of secondary school students in Ireland are now registered in co-educational, or mixed-gender schools  with 292,295 children learning in classrooms where boys and girls work together.

There has been a rapid transition to mixed-gender classrooms in recent years, with only 124,324 students nationally now registered to single-sex classrooms at second level.

For the 2024/25 school year there are 517 secondary schools operating as mixed-gender or co-educational schools.

This includes those that have been mixed gender since their establishment, and those that have changed to a co-educational status.

A Department of Education spokesperson said: At post-primary level since 2020, 13 schools have changed status from a single-sex school to co-educational status. An additional five newly amalgamated schools have become co-educational due to the approved amalgamation application.

Furthermore, since 2018 a total of 54 new schools have been established, 20 of which are post-primary schools. All of these schools are co-educational.

The department said the decision-making authority for any change of status in mixed-gender schools is the patron/trustees of the schools. Final decisions are made subject to the approval of the Department of Education.

The department said it is generally supportive of proposed changes of status to co-educational, subject to ensuring that there will remain sufficient capacity for both boys and girls in the relevant area.

National Association of Principals (NAPD) director Paul Crone described co-educational schools as a changing landscape.

There were concerns in many single-sex schools that not all subjects were available. In many all-girls schools, students didnt have access to metalwork and woodwork. While in all-boys schools, students didnt always have access to home economics, he said.

Some schools worked to help students get access to all subjects, but its still an issue for some schools.

Attending single-sex schools is a preference for many parents and students. However, I do think its important that theres a parental right to choose what they want for their child.

It is understood some parents still prefer single-sex schools on religious grounds. Thus, there is still a demand for this type of schooling in Ireland to ensure provision for all.

Mr Crone said: Theres a need to maintain choice in the system and I believe there will always be a demand for single-sex schools. I think more schools will move towards becoming mixed-gender schools, but in Ireland there will still be a demand for single-gender classrooms.

One educational source said Muslim parents and the parents of Traveller children often show a preference for single-gender classrooms.

Imam Yahya Al-Hussein, from the Islamic Foundation of Ireland, said: Theres no strict religious opinion on this issue. But in general, Muslims prefer if the school is single-gender, but it doesnt mean it has to be like that.

My personal opinion is that single-gender secondary schools are preferable, if possible.

And yes, I do feel most Muslim parents prefer single-sex schools, especially for older children.

Imam Al-Hussein said he felt there is still a belief that children may fare better educationally in single-sex schools, believing mixed-gender classrooms could potentially see some children distracted by the opposite sex.

On a practical level, one educational source felt that mixed-gender schools allowed for better family connections when male and female siblings attend one school, rather than two or more. And theres also a view that parents can maintain more of a work-life balance if they are dropping and collecting children at just one school.

Another educational source said that religious orders still had a strong say over schools remaining single-gender.

Sometimes parents just send their kids to the nearest school, regardless of whether its mixed-gender or not, they said. Other times they send based on academic record. Those issues seem to be the deciding factor for many.

In the past, on the surface, single-sex schools had been thought to perform better academically, but research has disproved this and showed its actually more to do with socioeconomic issues.

Last year, a joint project by the University of Limerick and the University of Murcia in Spain, found no real difference between academic outcomes for students in same-gender schools, compared with students in mixed schools.
A man in his fifties who died after he got in to difficulty in the sea when he went to the aid of a number of people on Friday afternoon at Inch Beach, near Roches Point in Co Cork has been named.

Stephen OCallaghan, 55, was from Ashburton Hill in St Lukes in Cork city.

The Irish Coastguard in Valentia, Co Kerry received a notification that five people had got in to difficulty in the water off Inch Beach in Inch at 3pm yesterday.

Four people were rescued from the water. The man who rushed in to the sea was taken from the water in a serious condition. He was tended to by paramedics at the beach.

He was subsequently transferred to Cork University Hospital by ambulance where he died.

A postmortem examination will be carried out on the deceased. A file will be prepared for the Coroners Court. The man is from the northside of Cork city.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Irish Coastguard said that the centre was informed of the serious incident.

The search and rescue coast guard units at Guileen and Crosshaven along with the RNLI from Ballycotton and Crosshaven were alerted. Rescue Helicopter 117 from Waterford was also tasked to to go to the scene.

Gardai and the Fire Service were also at the scene and assistance was offered by the Irish Naval Service.
Gardai are investigating a number of incidents which occurred in Cork yesterday evening involving criminal damage to a property, a hit-and-run with a motorcycle and the seizure of a firearm.

Gardai are investigating an incident of criminal damage at a property in the Shanakiel area of Cork at about 5.40pm. No injuries were reported at this incident.

A short time later, at about 6.10pm, a road collision occurred on the Churchfield Road when a Motorcycle collided with a pedestrian.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 24th August 2024

A male pedestrian (60s) was taken to Cork University Hospital for treatment following the collision. His condition is currently described as serious.

The motorcyclist and passenger failed to remain at the scene.

A suspected firearm was seized by gardai and a man in his 20s was arrested afterwards by gardai.

He is currently detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939 at a garda station in the Southern Region.

Gardai are appealing to anyone with information in relation to these incidents or road users with video footage to contact them.

Gardai can be contacted at Gurranabraher garda station on 021 494 6200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.

No further information is available at this time.

Investigations ongoing.
Green Party said it would oppose any plans to defer the Residential Zoned Land Tax and likened delaying the scheme to hiding food during a famine

Finance Minister Jack Chambers has said he will not defer the introduction of the controversial Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT) for a year if he can find a viable way to exclude working farmers from the scheme.

Following a week of Coalition in-fighting over the tax, Mr Chambers said Fianna Fail fully supports the introduction of a tax on land hoarders but does not want to see farmers unfairly targeted by the new revenue-raising measure.

Speaking to the Sunday Independent this weekend, Mr Chambers insisted he is exploring all options and added if a viable alternative to a deferral emerges which achieves the outcome of excluding active farmers then I will pursue this course.

He said the mechanism and timeline for excluding farmers is subject to ongoing policy and legal advice.

However, he said he will update the Government leaders on the zoned land tax ahead of the Budget so as to ensure any unintended consequences can be identified.

The intervention comes after the Green Party said it would oppose any plans to defer the tax and likened delaying the scheme to hiding food during a famine.

Taoiseach Simon Harris. Photo: PA

Taoiseach Simon Harris insisted a decision on whether or not to defer the tax would be taken by the Government leaders after Mr Chambers announced he planned to delay it.

Mr Chambers said the decision to defer the tax last year was to allow farmers apply to local authorities to have their land de-zoned so as to avoid paying 3pc of its market value to the Revenue Commissioner.

That process is coming to a conclusion, and the latest information received is that the vast majority of re-zoning requests made to local authorities have been refused. Therefore, this land would currently be subject to this tax in 2025 if no further action is taken, Mr Chambers said.

The advice I have received to date is that a new mechanism is required to exclude active farmers and that the introduction of such a mechanism would require a deferral. This is why I stated that I am working on proposals to defer the tax so that a mechanism can be progressed to exclude active farmers.

Mr Chambers announcement on deferring the tax was taken after high-level talks with his Fianna Fail colleagues  Housing Minister Darragh OBrien and Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue. Tanaiste Micheal Martin was also aware his deputy leader was planning to postpone the introduction of RZLT.

However, the announcement sparked anger from Green Party members who were blindsided by the policy shift. Party leader Roderic OGorman recently asked for an update on the introduction of the tax, which was due to come into effect in February next year, and was furious when he learned that it was due to be delayed.

Green Party TD Steven Matthews said it was incredible that Fianna Fail wanted to delay the tax for a second year in a row and called on the party to rethink its failure to act on the housing crisis.
Security expert: age of seeing is believing fast becoming history

In the video, RTE's Sharon Tobin appears to promote a scam investment before turning to a video screen where a deepfake of Taoiseach Simon Harris also vouches for the scheme

RTE has vowed to pursue social media companies who allow deepfake videos using the likeness of their presenters to be published on their platforms.

A so-called deepfake video using the likeness of Six One News anchor Sharon Tobin promoting a fake investment scheme has emerged on social media platforms including Facebook in recent days.

When contacted about the video, a spokesperson for the state broadcaster described the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and deepfake technology as a growing challenge which they are taking seriously.

The broadcaster also pledged to pursue the matter with the owners of social media platforms.

In the footage, a digitally altered version of the Ms Tobin is shown against an RTE newsroom backdrop speaking with an AI- generated voice.

Recently, RTE director general Kevin Bakhurst warned presenters against appearing in videos or photographs on the grounds of Montrose or with the stations official branding without permission in an attempt to control the use of the RTE brand.

This is a growing challenge for trusted news organisations around the world

In the video, Ms Tobin appears to promote a scam investment before turning to a video screen where a deepfake of Taoiseach Simon Harris also promotes the scam.

Using a computer-generated voice, the deepfake of Ms Tobin says: Taoiseach Simon Harris has been secretly earning colossal amounts on a project that was originally intended for ordinary citizens.

The deepfake of Ms Tobin then says the investment can conduct stock market transactions with a positive outcome in 95pc of cases before adding: We decided to get a comment from Simon Harris and hear his version of what is happening.

An AI-generated image of Mr Harris then appears on a screen saying: I personally can vouch for the reliability of this investment platform and thank Elon Musk myself for choosing our country as the first one where this application will start earning.

In the video, RTE's Sharon Tobin appears to promote a scam investment before turning to a video screen where a deepfake of Taoiseach Simon Harris also vouches for the scheme

In response to the video, a spokesperson for RTE said: Without focusing on the specific case mentioned, this is a growing challenge for trusted news organisations around the world in the modern media environment and one that RTE News takes seriously.

In the event of being informed of such cases, RTE has the option to pursue the matter with the platforms involved in an effort to have the material removed.

"Given the regulatory focus on the removal of illegal content by Comisuin na Mean, RTE would intend to raise it with them as well.

When contacted a spokesperson for the Taoiseach said: This video is nothing to do with the Taoiseach. However, the technology used and the attempt to deceive is advanced. While many people will immediately see through it there are others who could be taken in by it and scammed.

There is another sinister element to it. The message in the video is that politicians are on the take and the mainstream media is in on it. Some people may also be taken in by this messaging and it is incumbent on all of us when we see something fake online to report it. Platforms must also live up to their responsibilities by removing fake content quickly.

The rate of improvement of this technology using AI to mimic voice and image is rapid

One of Irelands leading security experts, Eoin Keary, warned that AI is improving rapidly to the point that fake news will become undetectable by the average social media user.

Mr Keary, of cyber security firm Edgescan, said that while the deepfake video of Ms Tobin and Mr Harris is robotic and flawed, the era of undetectable deepfakes is fast approaching.

The Simon Harris deepfake is flawed; pauses between sentences and accent is robotic, he said.

"But the rate of improvement of this technology using AI to mimic voice and image is rapid.

Mr Keary added that mass-production of fake videos is becoming easier and could soon become fully automated.

Based on a real news item, it would be possible to automatically generate a deepfake to state facts contrary to the news item without any human intervention.

This type of misinformation will only increase and improve over time, changing the saying dont believe everything you read to dont believe everything, which will erode trust in public media and social discourse.

Seeing is believing is also fast becoming history, he added.
The mayor of one of Greeces most visited islands has revealed plans to crack down on overtourism as tourist numbers surpass the number of residents daily during peak season.

Santorini is one of several holiday hotspots facing overcrowding this summer due to increased tourist numbers from cruise ships.

In July, a social media post from a councillor urging residents to stay indoors to facilitate 17,000 cruise ship passengers caused conflict with locals.

Last week, government officials proposed increasing the disembarkation fee for cruise passengers visiting the Greek port from 35 cents to over 10 (8).

Santorini Mayor Nikos Zorzos told the Greek Reporter that municipal authorities should be able to establish local tourist access fees like Venice did at tourism hotspots on the island.

Like many European hotspots battling overtourism, the problems plaguing locals include overdevelopment, congested traffic and a lack of parking spaces due to inefficient management of tourist flows.

Plans for small bypass roads and new parking spaces to decongest areas are in the works according to Mr Zorzos.

Mr Zorzos said: It is our duty to protect this land from getting its identity altered, and any measures need to be in the direction of ensuring that Santorini will continue to be a great Greek destination.

Its not the first effort by the Greek island to control tourist oversaturation.

A study by the University of the Aegean in 2018 previously estimated that Santorini can sustain a tourist capacity of 8,000 visitors per day.

Researchers launched a digital berth allocation system to distribute cruise ship arrivals evenly and prevent congestion that could be reintroduced this year.

Those 8,000 visitor arrivals per day suggested by the University of the Aegean study are totally sustainable if we allow the designated time between cruise ship berths, said Mr Zorzos.

A push for off-peak travel to the blue and white isle to reduce the pressure of the summer months also saw a more frequent flight schedule introduced and tourist accommodation open for longer in 2011.

In April, Venice trialled a 5 (4.26) charge to enter its historic centre and control visitor numbers on busy days until mid-July.
This week, Motaz Azaiza was in Dublin to take part in a public interview in Dalymount Park, and I was sad to miss it. Many of us connected to Motaz, a 25-year-old Palestinian photographer who was a key voice in the early days of the current military action in Gaza.

He hadnt planned to be a photojournalist, but rather to document happy events in Gaza. Yet not long into this phase of the conflict, he realised it would be the Palestinian people who would have to document what was going on. International journalists were not allowed to enter Gaza, and picking up his camera helped him feel less powerless. He borrowed a press jacket from a friend and decided to be a voice for his people.
Declan Power: Irish peacekeepers in Lebanon have been in situations like this before, and pulling out by ourselves is not an option
For all the chutzpah, choreography and stardust of the Democratic National Convention, Kamala Harris knows she faces the bare-knuckle fight of her life against Donald Trump.

She also knows it is going to take something special if she is to splinter the ultimate glass ceiling in politics, and become the first woman president in US history.

The short runway left her by Joe Bidens belated withdrawal from the election race means there is no margin for error if her campaign is to take off.

Nobody can deny she has made a barnstorming start, already taking a small lead over former president Trump. But by the end of her convention speech last night, she will need to have shown she can deliver a knockout punch.

The global spotlight she is stepping into gives her a unique opportunity to reach out to the remaining undecided voters, and perhaps lure a few Republicans who are finding some of the raw meat of the MAGA agenda difficult to swallow.

Changing horses mid-race is a difficult act to pull off, but Harris has taken the reins with finesse.

Offering Americans hope, unity and a fairer deal for families and middle-earners, while hitting big corporations hard with tax hikes, has so far proved popular.

The optimism and prospects of a brighter future, seem to be playing better than Trumps doom-laden, broken-America messaging.

Removing a tired and clearly unpopular candidate and replacing them with a younger, more dynamic upgrade was always going to inject new energy.

But that only goes so far, and every slip and stumble will be magnified and dissected to show weakness.

Ms Harris has been electrifying rallies and building momentum in a party that a month ago looked moribund

As to be expected, Trump is harrumphing away in the background. Its like theyre having a party. They dont mention the border. All they do is make up lies about me, the Republican nominee complained when he called into Fox & Friends.

This is not how it was supposed to be. He was squaring up to fight Sleepy Joe, presenting himself as a vigorous, turbo-charged bulldozer for whom nothing stands in the way.

Instead, he has to endure a smirking Bill Clintons jibe about him still being younger than Trump, at 78.

Trump knows Ms Harris has been busy electrifying rallies and building momentum in a party that only a month ago looked moribund.

Last night she had an opportunity to build on this at the United Centre in Chicago, where she accepted the nomination of an adoring party that has closed ranks.

Her running mate, Tim Walz, has called on Americans to turn the page on Trump, while Ms Harris, a former attorney general, has promised to throw the book at him. But Trump is a master of the plot twist.

Last night, Ms Harris faced her biggest and most important audience ever.

Such were the stakes that, if she got it right, it may take her a step closer to becoming commander- in-chief.

However, this story is far from over.
Saint Patrick's College students, teacher Sinead O'Donovan and principal Mr Brian Cronin with their CPR 4 Schools award from the Irish Heart Foundation.

Four Cork schools are beginning the new academic year with an Irish Heart Foundation award for training their students in the lifesaving skill of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

St Patrick's College in Montenotte, St Colman's Community College in Midleton, Colaiste Muire in Cobh and Saint Colman's Community College in Youghal all received CPR 4 Schools awards, which recognise schools, teachers and students for remarkable efforts in CPR promotion and training.

They were among 36 schools across Ireland presented with 57 awards as part of the national heart and stroke charitys CPR 4 Schools programme.

Since its inception, 2,630 teachers in 649 post-primary schools have taken part, learning how to deliver CPR and giving the programme a reach of over 350,000 post-primary school students.

The charity aims to build a generation of life savers by training students to perform CPR and respond in a cardiac emergency, use an AED (defibrillator) and respond when someone is choking.

Brigid Sinnott, Resuscitation Manager with the Irish Heart Foundation, said the charity is delighted to recognise schools, teachers and students. Every year we are blown away by the work and commitment of schools to teach the lifesaving skill of CPR. We know that schools are busy places, but they are making CPR a priority for their students and the impact is seen in their homes and communities.

Ms Sinnott continued: The Irish Heart Foundations mission is to build a nation of lifesavers through CPR training and schools are vital in helping us to achieve that. These schools are, quite literally, the beating heart of the programme and are recognised for empowering students with a vital lifesaving skill.

A persons chance of survival is doubled when CPR is started immediately.

By learning CPR once in your life, you are ten times more likely to respond to an emergency than someone who has never received training.

Designed to embed within the school curriculum, the Irish Heart Foundations CPR 4 Schools programme is easy to run and takes just one hour to train a class.

Post-primary school teachers interested in signing up for the free programme can register by emailing: schools@irishheart.ie.

To find out more about CPR 4 Schools, visit irishheart.ie/cpr4schools.
Pictured are Kevin Deegan, Nursing Homes Ireland; Cllr Deirdre O'Brien, Neethu Thomas, Director of Nursing at Amberley Home and Retirement Cottages, and Micheal O'Flaherty, Cork County Mobile Library Service Manager. Pic: Brian Lougheed

Cork County Council Library and Arts Service has launched a new initiative that will help to establish book clubs for older people in nursing homes and those attending Day Care Centres around Cork County.

The new free service was launched this week at Amberley Nursing Home and Cottages in Fermoy, one of the many centres that receive regular visits from the Councils Mobile Library Service.

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Joe Carroll welcomed the initiative: The new book club service is a welcome addition to the range of services offered by Cork County Council for older persons. Our libraries host regular talks on a variety of topics such as health and local history, as well as providing a space for knitting and craft groups to meet.

There are so many benefits associated with being part of a book club, including making new friends, keeping your brain active and young and the joy of discovering new books. I encourage nursing homes and Day Care Centres across the county to avail of this wonderful new service, he added.

In recognition of different needs and preferences, multiple formats of books are available to choose from.

These include audiobooks on CD, large print titles, quick reads (adult novellas, from popular authors with buff coloured paper for glare avoidance) and short story collections.

It is also possible to download an e-book or e-audio book title through the Borrowbox app where font size can be customised to the readers preference.

Support will be available for activities personnel in nursing homes and Day Care Centres to help organise and set up the book club for their patrons.

Books can be delivered by the Mobile Library, as part of its schedule or collected from the local library.

Tadhg Daly, CEO of Nursing Homes Ireland, expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative, stating: "We are delighted to partner with Cork County Library. With this initiative, we are bringing the local community closer to our nursing homes, ensuring that everyone has access to enriching experiences, regardless of age. Supporting this launch during NHI National Nursing Homes Week is especially meaningful, with over 250 nursing homes participating in the celebrations.

Mr Daly continued: It is a perfect opportunity to honour the vibrant lives of residents and the dedicated staff who care for them. We look forward to growing and strengthening this wonderful initiative for residents and encourage all local councils to consider similar partnerships, recognising the potential to strengthen community bonds.

Nursing home residents look forward to the regular mobile library visits and we look forward to seeing such initiatives rolled out across the country in the future, he added.
Renewable Energy Systems (RES) Ltd lodged an application with Tipperary County Council on February 7 this year for planning permission to construct the energy project in the townlands of Kerane, Fawnlough and Ballynaclough, Nenagh, Co Tipperary. (Stock image).

Plans to build an 88.5 hectare solar farm near Nenagh have been granted the green light by Tipperary County Council.

Renewable Energy Systems (RES) Ltd lodged an application with the council on February 7 this year for planning permission to construct the energy project in the townlands of Kerane, Fawnlough and Ballynaclough, Nenagh, Co Tipperary.

The plans entail a 10-year planning permission to construct and complete a solar PV energy development with a total site area of 88.5 hectares consisting of solar PV, ground mounted on support structures, inverter substations, a 38kV substation, watercourse crossings, temporary construction compounds, internal access tracks - new, upgrading existing and existing  along with security fencing, electrical cabling and ducting, CCTV and other infrastructure.

The development also comprises a protected structure  stone piers and cast iron gates with a carriage stone. This structure is at the entrance to the former Debsborough House and no works are required to the structure.

The plans also entail the realignment of 35m of wall, the re-location of a telegraph pole and vegetation trimming, that are required to achieve the northern visibility splay. The solar farm would be operational for 40 years.

Submissions were made by Inland Fisheries Ireland, An Taisce, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the HSE.

Joseph A ODonoghue, on behalf of the Ormond Anglers Association in Nenagh, submitted: The Ormond Anglers Association are agents of the ESB on the Nenagh/Ollatrim river, under a long- established legal agreement.

The river runs through the centre of the proposed development. We are not opposed in principle to the project, but we have concerns about how it might interfere with our rights on the river, and we want to ensure that those rights are maintained, if or when planning permission is granted.

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Their concerns centred on access to the river, conservation and environmental issues, that every effort be made to minimise any damage to the riverbank, especially during construction, and that the proposed bridge be constructed in such a way that it does not impact on the river and is a single span bridge only.

The council gave the go-ahead on August 20, subject to 16 conditions.
The staff at Colaiste Bride Enniscorthy were overcome with emotion and joy as students crowded into to the school to receive and celebrate their Leaving Cert results.

Principal Keira OSullivan said it was a struggle not to become emotional in front of the students.

"It has been a fantastic morning. We are absolutely thrilled to have so many high achieving results this year  there have been many tears, but happy ones! The H1s across the board is mind-blowing. Everything should be good for their chosen courses unless something drastic happens  you never know with the CAO, she said.

Gone are they days when students could only attain their official results from staff members on school premises, given the new option for students to opt to access their results online at home. However, the school was anything but quiet as students rushed through the door in their groups, determined to share this milestone tradition with their teachers.

Students receiving their results in person is something we did even through Covid-19, with extensive health and safety procedures of course. I think for the students it marks their last official business at the school and gives them a chance to share good news with us and also get any support they need, she said.

"The initial 20 who arrived at the school opted not to look online at all before arriving which was hugely exciting. Needless to say, the students who came after may have had a peak online, but still came to the school to celebrate, which was great, she added.

Principal OSullivan was delighted that not only had the group been rewarded for their valiant efforts over the last few years, but she noticed that students who had previous difficulty within the education system excelled.

"This group worked very hard and students who had typically found school challenging or very difficult did amazing. It was just the icing on the cake. I cant wait to take the results home and fully analyse them tonight! she said.

Despite the joy and thrill of the day, the staff at Colaiste Bride are very aware that not everyone will have gotten the exact points they wanted or needed or may still miss out on their desired course when the offers arrive in their mailboxes in five days time.

"The day is gone when there is only one way to do something. However, allowing yourself to be disappointed is perfectly fine. There are so many possible routes and ways around everything to get where you want to go nowadays. Furthermore, I think it is very difficult for anyone to know exactly what they want to do at such a young age. There is no guarantee that a course that is picked is right anyway  I think it's great that in the present culture that you are not expected to stick to anything and can be flexible, she said.

On the other hand a major concern for her, as well as parents across the country, is the current accommodation crisis that will prevent students from taking their chosen path.

"I spoke with a girl here this morning who had well over the required points for a high-level course in Dublin City University (DCU). There is no question that she would be accepted but she is not sure she will be able to accept it. To spend maybe six years working towards and achieving the grade, but not being able to take it up for another reason is awful, she said.

She also believes that the accommodation is a whole other ball game for families who are not originally from Ireland and who dont have the network to find these highly-coveted accommodation offerings.

"Families new to Ireland realise that they do not have the connections to even know where to look in the first place. Dont even get me started on the prices, she added.

Over 4,800 students in Wexford received their results this morning. To provide support during this pivotal time a helpline will be open from today until the end of the month to answer questions. The helpline number is 1800 265 165.
Bernard McAvinue from Assured Services spreading the new weed killer Foamstream at The Little Sea in Bannow on Tuesday. Also pictured were Tom Carroll (Assured Services), Tom Flynn (Wellingtonbridge Tidy Towns), Tom Harpur (Bannow Historical Society), Michael Brazzill (District Engineer, WCC) and Noirin Cummins (District manager). Pic: Jim Campbell

Pictured with the new weed killer Foamstream at The Little Sea in Bannow on Tuesday were Tom Carroll (Assured Services), Tom Flynn (Wellingtonbridge Tidy Towns), Michael Brazzill (District Engineer, WCC), Bernard McAvinue (Assured Services), Noirin Cummins (District manager) and Tom Harpur (Bannow Historical Society). Pic: Jim Campbell

Wexford County Council (WCC) has begun using an innovative herbicide-free weed control solution to maintain public areas in a sustainable way. Ecocare is created by Assured Services, a Dublin-based company set up by Wexford brothers Tom and Eddie Carroll.

Described as the most effective and environmentally-friendly, organic solution to keep built environments and recreational green spaces weed-free, clean and safe for the healthy enjoyment and care of all the product was exhibited to staff members from the Rosslare Municipal District (RMD) at The Little Sea viewing point in Barrystown, Wellingtonbridge last week.

The Ecocare work at the Little Sea today is part of the Rosslare Municipal Districts Heritage Week project, said district manager of the RMD, Noirin Cummins. It is very important during Heritage Week, especially at this wonderful site at Bannow Bay, that we look to new and better ways of caring for public areas which require maintenance and week control.

"Many weed killers are toxic to fish, birds and insects and if inhaled or ingested can be harmful to humans. Here at The Little Sea in Bannow Bay, where we have this amazing confluence of history and nature, we are using the new and innovative Ecocare system which is an environmentally friendly way of controlling weeds.

Ecocare works by super heating the vegetation to 95 degrees. The foam is then used to insulate the heat in the hot water keeping the temperature in the kill zone for long enough to sufficiently damage the plant. The foam also sterilises surrounding seeds and spores to stop weeds spreading and then kills or damages the plant to prevent regrowth.

Originally from Tullycanna, Tom and Eddie are now based in Dublin and carry out a number of contracts for Dublin City Council. Having now worked with WCC, Eddie said they would like to continue to work with the local council and said their product even kills a weed which has proved problematic in the county before.

We believe there isnt a weed it cant kill, and that includes knotweed, he said of a weed which previously held up a housing development in Tagoat for almost two years.
GAA

First-half goals put Buffers Alley on the road to last four as they see off Oylegate-Glenbrien

Buffers Alley held the upper hand in the clash of the second-strings in Samaritans St. Patricks Park on Sunday to return to the semi-finals of the Kavanagh Meats Junior A hurling championship for the second time within the space of three years.
An Tairseach Farm and Ecology Centre is hosting a nature workshop with Angie Kinsella from Nature Way in September.

Angie has been passionately teaching forest school and sustainability for many years.

On Saturday, September 14, you can gather in the ecology centre for tea and coffee on arrival, before a short presentation on the work of An Tairseach and the history of the place. Everyone will then head to the carpark on Greenhills Road to begin the workshop with Angie.

The course aims to help people learn how to take time out of our busy lives to tune in to ourselves, and to the beauty that is all around us.

Angie believes that to truly love our land we must connect to our own true nature, by taking time out to pause and reflect. This course will include some forest bathing, meditation and reflective work.

Those taking part will also learn about some medicinal plants that grow abundantly and wild at this time of year, and how they can be used to nourish our bodies.

All ages are welcome, though children must be accompanied by parents/guardian at all times. The event takes place from 10.30am to 2pm and costs 25 for adults and 10 for children. You can register by visiting the An Tairseach website.
A rural Benton County winery still cant host food trucks at its facilities west of Philomath, more than one month after planners said the local governments rules dont actually preclude mobile kitchens at concerts on farmland.

The hitch is another aspect of the county's land use laws, and while it doesn't impact everyone, it does impact Cardwell Hill near the unincorporated community of Wren. The Board of Commissioners on Aug. 13 directed staff to bring back options for Dan and Nancy Chapel, who co-own and operate Cardwell.

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They found theres another trip point for us, Dan Chapel said by phone Tuesday, Aug. 22.

Cardwell Hill likely wont see a food truck before the winerys summer concert series ends.

Fewer than a half-mile away, Lumos Wine Company isnt bound by the same land use restrictions and could hire a mobile kitchen today, despite siting a similarly sized winery on a similarly sized vineyard.

We feel like the laws of the land should be equally applied, Dan Chapel said. Equivalent facilities should be under equivalent law.

'This year, we were hurt'

The Chapels hosted outside food vendors for years, unaware, they said, that Benton Countys health department licenses food trucks as restaurants.

And restaurants arent allowed on farmland under Oregon law.

Its a real convenience for people to get off work, pick up a friend, come out here and set up chairs or blankets, grab some hot food, then be eating hot food when the concert starts at 6 p.m., Dan Chapel said.

Cardwell held eight concerts in 2023, he said, and food trucks showed up to some of those, usually onsite for around four hours.

And theyre out of here by 9. Big deal, Dan Chapel said. Why would a government get all upset and excited about that?

The trucks and concert audiences were barely visible from the road below the winery, Dan Chapel said.

It didnt come up because of any damages, any harm, Dan Chapel said.

But then, a food vendor told them the county health department wouldnt permit them to serve food on a farm.

Even more, the county Planning Department would have charged $1,153 to read zoning rules and determine whether the Chapels' winery could park a food truck out front.

The rules may be unique to Benton County. Visitors to Oregons wineries commonly find food trucks at promotional events like Cardwells concerts. A lobbyist with the Oregon Winegrowers Association said that no wineries had come forward with complaints similar to those in Benton County.

No one had been hurt up to this point, Dan Chapel said. And this year, we were hurt.

After Dan and Nancy Chapel told Bentons elected leaders earlier this year how local rules had barred them from hiring a wood-fired pizza cart, an associate planner in the Benton County Community Development Department conferred with land use experts in neighboring counties and at the states zoning rule-maker.

And then the local government reversed its stance.

The planner in July said Benton would fall in line with the rest of Oregon, permitting food trucks on land zoned exclusively for farm use.

We got that solved, Dan Chapel said.

But his problems weren't solved.

The countys maps of overlapping land use restrictions and Cardwells bottling plant and tasting room are the center point in an about 2.5-acre patch of land zoned for agricultural-industrial use.

Benton County polices agricultural-industrial differently than land marked for exclusive farm use.

Now the second issue is you can use it on an (exclusive farm use), but not an industrial site, Dan Chapel said.

Dan Chapel had asked county planners about rezoning the property to the way it was before the 1980s, moving Cardwells facilities out from under agricultural-industrial restrictions.

Its a long, tedious process, he said.

Development

At some point, probably in the 1980s, Benton County required wineries to zone their shops as industrial land.

Because thats what they were told at the time they had to have in order to have a winery, Commissioner Xan Augerot said in August. We set the stage for this ourselves.

Just 12 properties are zoned agriculture-industrial in Benton County, with most of those on two business parks south of Corvallis, according to county maps. But two of the dozen are wineries: Cardwell Hill and Harris Bridge Vineyard on Harris Road between Blodgett and Wren.

Which means two of the about 10 winemakers in Benton County definitely cant host food trucks.

It stinks, Augerot said. I agree with them and understand their frustration completely.

Augerot and Commissioner Nancy Wyse called on staff to find out what combination of local rulemaking and state law will allow the Chapels to have food trucks.

Wyse in August said she walked away from the July meeting believing the county would allow all wineries in its borders to host food carts.

I dont see why anyone would have any issue with having a food truck at a winery, she said. If theres a rule, it should just apply to everyone the same way.

Dan Chapel bought the land under the vineyard in 2000 for $205,000. County tax records note construction in 2004 of the tasting room and manufacturing facilities.

No one noted any requirements for the winery to operate on industrial land, he said.

Why it had to be industrial, I dont know, Chapel said. They dont know either.

Farmlands are the first the state sets aside for protection from expanding cities.

City and county governments, following state policy, overlay land with regulatory zones meant to curb developments whose customers would clog rural roads and eat up agricultural space.

And wineries touch a lot of regulations.

Wineries are licensed as manufacturers and servers of alcohol, and also as a farm when theyre attached to a vineyard. Following state law, a farm triggers review at the county land use department when owners try to build housing, sell produce in a farm stand or produce something with farmed goods, like biofuel.

Oregon lawmakers carved out exceptions for wineries in 2013, and the state in 2017 loosened some restrictions on exclusive farm use-zoned land specifically for winemakers.

The sector is relatively important in Oregons economy.

Industry analysts estimate the states wine tourism industry is worth nearly $900 million. The Oregon Wine Board estimates winemakers in Benton County were worth about $114.4 million in revenue in 2022. They paid $26.5 million in wages and $2.8 million in taxes.

Now wineries can hold up to 18 concerts, dinners, tastings, tours or other events each year. But those activities cant account for more than one-quarter of a winerys on-site sales.

Weve only got two more concerts this year, Dan Chapel said. But were going to play them.

County officials dont yet know whether theyll rezone the wineries, or if they can make exceptions to agriculture-industrial rules on select properties, or whether Benton will allow food trucks on all parcels under that zoning.

The fertilizer plant down the road probably doesnt need a food truck, Augerot said.

But the commissioners said they want to support agritourism efforts like those at wineries.

I do know the Chapels are talking about it with anyone and everyone who comes to visit, Augerot said.

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Police gather by a vehicle on a road following the seizure of hostages by a group of inmates at a Volgograd prison. Photo: Reuters

Russias security services shot dead four inmates who had taken hostages at a penal colony and fatally stabbed four staff members, before posting online videos describing themselves as Islamic State militants, officials said.

Snipers of the special forces of the Russian National Guard in the Volgograd region, with four precise shots, neutralised four prisoners who had taken prison employees hostage. The hostages have been released, state news agency RIA quoted the National Guard as saying.
The militant group said in a statement on its Telegram account that the attack was carried out by one of its members "in revenge for Muslims in Palestine and everywhere". It did not immediately provide any evidence for its assertion and it was not clear how close any relationship between the attacker and Islamic State was.
Indian PM Narendra Modis historic visit to Ukraine brings fresh hope of just and lasting peace with Russia

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Photo Courtesy: US Secretary of Defence/Flickr/Wikimedia Commons

Washington DC/IBNS: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday (August 23) told American industry leaders at a roundtable in Washington DC that India is keen to invite more US investment and technology collaborations in the defence space.

The interaction, which was organised by the US India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), was attended by a large number of US defence and technology companies, where Rajnath Singh pitched India's investment climate and welcomed greater collaboration with American manufacturers, according to reports.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, at the roundtable, emphasised some primary factors, including a skilled labour base, robust pro-Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and pro-business ecosystem, and a large domestic market.

India is looking forward to working with American companies for capability building in the defence space with a focus on technology and industrial partnerships, Singh added at the roundtable.

Earlier, Rajnath Singh discussed ongoing defence projects between India and US with the National Security Advisor (NSA) to the American government, Jake Sullivan, according to a press statement.

Geopolitical situations and certain key regional security issues too were discussed in the meeting, the press statement added.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that there was 'fruitful interaction' with leading American defence companies at the roundtable, and he has invited them to work with Indian partners to 'accelerate' the Make in India programme in achieving self reliance in defence production.

"Indian and US companies will co-develop and co-produce for the world", Singh added.

Both countries have signed two key pacts - one called the Security of Supply Arrangements (SOSA), and the other one being an agreement for positioning Indian officers at key US commands, which Minister Rajnath Singh has called as 'pathbreaking developments', reports Moneycontrol.

The Defence Minister also highlighted India's defence indigenisation efforts at a separate event in US addressing the Indian diaspora, where he outlined the efforts toward self-reliance in defence, and the introduction of a Positive Indigenisation List for over 5,000 items which will not be imported, adding that a significant increase in defence exports is underway, which has reached over Rs 21,000 crore, as reported by Moneycontrol.

As per reports, the value of India's defence production in FY14 was roughly Rs 70,000 crore, which by FY23 had risen to Rs 1.26 lakh crore.

This growth has been sharply higher by 60 percent over a period of five years, with a significant increase in the contribution of the private sector, at 20.8 percent of the total production in FY24, according to reports.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also highlighted how India and the United States are natural allies, "destined to be strong partners," with expectations of India becoming the third-largest economy by 2027.

The robust growth in India's startup ecosystem, Singh added, was due to government policies promoting innovation.
Image courtesy: Facebook/TriZetto

Texas/IBNS: American IT services giant Cognizant's TriZetto Software Group has filed a case against India's homegrown IT service major Infosys in Texas federal court on Friday (August 23), accusing the latter of stealing trade secrets related to its healthcare insurance software.

According to reports, the development comes eight months after Infosys sent a missive to Cognizant accusing the New Jersey-headquartered IT firm of unfair employee poaching.

Cognizant said in the lawsuit that Bengaluru-headquartered Infosys illegally extracted data from its databases and used the same to build a competing software, as per reports.

No statement has been received from Cognizant regarding the matter so far.

However, an Infosys spokesperson said, Infosys is aware of the lawsuit. We deny all allegations and will defend our position in the court.

Cognizant's software includes TriZetto's Facets and QNXT, used by healthcare insurance companies to automate administrative tasks, as per reports.

Infosys misused TriZetto's software to create Test Cases for Facets, which improperly repackaged TriZetto's data into an Infosys product, reports added.

Cognizant in the lawsuit also said that Infosys breached the law by creating software to extract data from QNXT that includes confidential TriZetto information and trade secrets.

Cognizant has asked the court for an unspecified amount as monetary damages, and an order to Infosys to stop misusing its trade secrets.

The development also comes a month after Indian IT major Wipro Ltd and its former chief financial officer Jatin Dalal settled their months-long court case, after Cognizant agreed to pay Dalal about $0.5 million as settlement payment and reimbursement of his legal fees, reports Economic Times.

US-based healthcare software services provider TriZetto, which was primarily owned by private equity group Apax, was acquired by Cognizant in 2014 for $2.7 billion.
Photo courtesy: IBNS source

Kolkata/IBNS: Civic volunteer Sanjoy Roy, who has been arrested in connection with the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, was spotted at the crime scene on CCTV, media reports said.

Sanjoy was spotted with a Bluetooth earphone suspended from his neck.

The investigators have released the footage from the crime scene.

The Bluetooth headphone had served as a clue for the Kolkata Police, which had arrested Sanjoy, who had admitted to the crime.

Sanjoy reportedly visited Sonagachi (red light area) and then visited two brothels and drank alcohol before committing the crime.

He then reached the hospital at 1:03 am on the night the medical student was raped and murdered.

Sanjoy was also spotted leaving the seminar room where the crime was committed.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is now probing the case under the monitoring of the Supreme Court, has already received permission to conduct a polygraph test on RG Kar Hospital's former Principal Sandip Ghosh and four other doctors.

The CBI has found fingerprints of two of these four doctors in the third-floor seminar room where the body was found.

A CCTV camera had captured the house surgeon going from the first floor to the third floor that night.

The house surgeon has said he went to the third floor at 2.45 am that night. The intern was on the third floor and had spoken to the victim that night, the CBI has reportedly found.
Photo courtesy: Payel Mukherjee Instagram handle

Kolkata/IBNS: Amid the sea of city-wide ongoing protests against the RG Kar incident, Bengali actress Payel Mukherjee on Friday said she was allegedly attacked by a bike-borne miscreant in Kolkata's posh area Southern Avenue while she was driving.

Payel took to social media to share a video where she narrated the incident.

The actress claimed "the bike had rather touched her car", prompting the man to knock on her car's window.

After the accused asked her to open the gate, the actress refused to do so out of fear of getting molested. Then, as Payel narrated, the accused smashed the window pane.

"Amid all the protests that are going on, this is the kind of security women have in the city right now," said Payel who was visibly terrified and shocked at the incident.

The accused has been detained by police.

The incident occurred at a time massive rallies protesting against the rape and murder of 31-year-old junior doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital and demanding justice for the victim are being conducted on a regular basis.

Slamming Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the incident, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Locket Chatterjee posted on X, "What a horrific incident has occurred with Payel Mukherjee, a beloved figure in the fashion and movie industry! Despite the outcry over the #RGKar case, it's clear that women are still not safe in this state. Crime rates are soaring as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's actions and mentality seem to indirectly support criminals. Her lack of decisive action and recent statements suggest an unsettling alignment with criminal elements, eroding public safety and the rule of law.

"Even amidst widespread protest, similar atrocities are being committed against nurses, actresses, students, and medical officers. The collapse of law and order in Paschim Banga is evident, with incidents of car vandalism and attacks on women occurring even in busy areas like Southern Avenue, Kolkata. Imagine the situation in rural areas. A big thank you to Payel Mukherjee for courageously bringing this urgent issue to light through Facebook Live. It's time for accountability."
Photo Courtesy: Capt_Ck X page

A private helicopter crashed near Kondhavle village in Maharashtra's Pune district on Saturday which left the pilot and three other passengers injured.

The helicopter was reportedly flying from Mumbai to Hyderabad when the incident occurred.

According to media reports, strong winds and heavy rainfall in the region are suspected to be the cause of the crash.

Global Vectra AW-139 makes an emergency landing due to technical defect near Pune. Excellent work by the pilots and all on board safe. pic.twitter.com/0V95pPjdva  Capt_Ck (@Capt_Ck) August 24, 2024

The chopper, an AW 139, belonged to a private operator named Global Vectra Helicorp.

The pilot, identified as Anand, was injured in the crash and has been taken to Sadar Hospital for treatment.

Locals rushed to the spot to help the passengers.

A team from the local Paud police station also reached the spot after they received information about the incident.

The police told The Indian Express the pilot was injured while the three passengers in the chopper were stable with minor injuries.

SP Pankaj Deshmukh told the Indian newspaper, The pilot has been hospitalised while the passengers do not have serious injuries.

A private helicopter, which was on its way to pick up Shiv Sena Deputy Leader Sushma Andhare, suddenly crashed on landing in May.

The pilot, however, survived since he jumped off the helicopter before it crashed.
Photo Courtesy: Pixabay

The Pimpri Chinchwad Police in Pune have arrested seven staff members of a school, including the principal, over the alleged sexual harassment of a minor.

According to reports, the arrested people were a PT teacher, a trustee, and four others.

The arrests were reportedly made on Friday.

The main accused in the case is reportedly the PT teacher who allegedly sexually harassed the child for two years.

Authorities revealed that the PT teacher had previously been arrested for similar charges under the POCSO Act and had served time in jail, reported India TV.

"This is not the first time the PT teacher has faced such accusations. He was previously booked and arrested on charges of molestation and under the POCSO Act and had served time in jail," the police told the news channel.

The incident came to light at a time when the nation is witnessing massive protests over the rape and murder of a doctor in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
Image Credit: Video grab

Srinagar: People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday took potshots at the Congress-National Conference (NC) alliance.

During a press conference in Srinagar where she unveiled the PDP manifesto, Mufti said that the NC-Congress alliance was formed solely on the basis of seat-sharing rather than a shared agenda.

She invited the two parties to contest all 90 seats in the Union Territory if they agreed with her party's agenda.

The Assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir gathers significance as it will be the first since the erstwhile state was stripped of Article 370 that granted special status and divided into two Union Territories--Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in 2019.

Her party would not join any alliance that is focused solely on dividing seats without a common purpose.

"But the alliance between the NC and Congress is not happening on the agenda. It is happening on seat sharing. We will not do any alliance in which there is only talk of seat sharing. The alliance should be on the agenda and our agenda is to solve the problem of Jammu and Kashmir," she added.

#WATCH | J&K: PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti says, "Alliance and seat sharing are faraway things. If the National Conference and Congress are ready to adopt our agenda, we will say they should contest on all seats, we will follow them because for me solving the problem of Kashmir is pic.twitter.com/nllk8ld225  ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2024

Mehbooba Mufti asserted that she was ready to leave all the seats to Congress-NC alliance, if they aligned with the agenda of PDP.

She said that her party seeks the reopening of the route to the Hindu pilgrimage site Sharada Peeth in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) and advocates for dialogue with Pakistan to restore cross-LoC trade, which India halted in 2019 after Pakistan downgraded trade relations following the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.

Resolution Of The Kashmir Issue



The Peoples Democratic c Party (PDP) remains unwavering in its commitment to

resolving the Kashmir issue, recognizing it as the cornerstone for lifting the people of

Jammu & Kashmir out of the persistent cycle of violence and unrest. pic.twitter.com/dbKn4aXD87  J&K PDP (@jkpdp) August 24, 2024

In the 2014 Assembly elections, the BJP and PDP formed a coalition government, with Mufti Mohammad Sayeed as Chief Minister. After Sayeed's death in January 2016, Mehbooba Mufti succeeded him following a brief period of Governors Rule.

The BJP withdrew from the PDP-led coalition in June 2018, leading to the Assembly's dissolution by then-Governor Satya Pal Malik in November of that year. Since then, Jammu and Kashmir has been without an Assembly.

During the press conference, Mufti outlined her party's promises if elected, including providing 200 units of free electricity, implementing the old pension scheme, and ensuring free electricity to temples, mosques, and gurdwaras.

She also pledged to increase the honorarium for contractual teachers and offer free legal assistance to those currently imprisoned.

Jammu Kashmir poll dates

On August 16, the Election Commission announced that the Haryana Assembly elections would take place in a single phase on October 1, with the results scheduled to be declared on October 4.

Jammu Kasmir will vote in three phases to elect legislators to the 90-seat Assembly.

The polling will be held on September 18, September 25 and October 1.

Results are expected to be declared on October 4.

Since 2019, Jammu and Kashmir has been governed as a Union Territory, with key powers resting with the Lieutenant Governor, currently Manoj Kumar Sinha.
Photo Courtesy: Pixabay

At least three people died and four others were injured in a knife attack in the western German city of Solingen on Friday, media reports said.

A manhunt is currently ongoing to arrest the suspect.

Witnesses alerted authorities at around 9:40 p.m. saying an unknown perpetrator had attacked several people at random with a knife at the Fronhof, a central square in the city, about 25 kilometers (15 miles) east of Dusseldorf, German police said during a press conference as quoted by CNN.

The lone male suspect is on the run and special police forces have been deployed to the active manhunt, police added.

The attack took place during the Festival of Diversity", the three-day event to mark the 650th anniversary of the city's founding.

The motive behind the attack is still not clear.

Herbert Reul, interior minister for the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, was quoted as saying by CNN: "None of us know why this happened. I cant say anything about the motive, about the person."

City Mayor Tim Kurzbach expressed sadness over the loss of lives in the incident.

In his Facebook post, he said: "Tonight we are all in Solingen in shock, fright and great sadness. We all wanted to celebrate our city anniversary together and now we have to mourn the dead and injured. Breaks my heart that there was an assassination attack on our town. Tears in my eyes when I think of those we have lost. I pray for all those who are still fighting for their lives."

The city has cancelled the celebration following the stabbing incident.

All events, which were scheduled to be held on Saturday and Sunday, have been cancelled.

Solinger Tageblatt's deputy editor Bjorn Boch told BBC that the celebrations had been "supposed to last for three days, and the city expected 25,000 people every night.

"The city was just packed with people," he said, estimating that "a few thousand people" were at Friday's free event.

Heavily armed SEK units with about 40 special vehicles from all over North Rhine-Westphalia had been deployed to Solingen, DW reported quoting Bild.

With a population of about 160,000, the city in North Rhineland-Westphalia, is popularly known for its steel industry.
The Sikh community around the world is reeling from an incident that has caused profound distress and outrage.

A copy of the Guru Granth Sahib, the central religious scripture of Sikhism, was recently seized by Qatari authorities from a Sikh gurdwara in Doha, the capital city of Qatar.

This act has ignited a firestorm of condemnation and demands for immediate redress. For Sikhs, the Guru Granth Sahib is more than just a holy book; it is considered their living Guru, deserving the highest reverence. The seizure is seen as a blatant affront to their faith and a serious breach of religious freedom.

In response, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has taken swift and decisive action. A spokesperson for the MEA, Randhir Jaiswal, confirmed that the Indian government has formally expressed its concern to the Qatari authorities. The MEA has demanded the immediate return of the confiscated Guru Granth Sahib and underscored the necessity of upholding religious sentiments and freedoms.

The incident has raised critical questions about the treatment of religious minorities in Qatar and has highlighted the urgent need for more open dialogue between different religious communities. The Sikh community is calling for a peaceful resolution and hopes that the Qatari government will act promptly to correct this situation and prevent future occurrences.

On Thursday, SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami appealed directly to Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and the Indian ambassador to Qatar, urging them to intervene and facilitate the release of the sacred texts. The detention of these saroops at a police station is a disrespect that cannot be tolerated, Dhami stated. This issue was recently brought to the attention of the Akal Takht Jathedar by Bhai Kanhaiya Humanitarian Aid, prompting us to seek urgent intervention.

The situation stems from a December arrest of a Sikh individual by Doha police. Though the man was later released, the two copies of the Guru Granth Sahib he was found with remain in custody at Al Wakara police station. The Sikh man had been practicing his faith privately at a gurdwara established in his home due to Qatars stringent restrictions on non-Islamic public worship.

The SGPC is calling for the return and proper reinstatement of these sacred texts, emphasizing that the treatment of religious artifacts with such disregard is unacceptable. The Sikh community hopes that the Qatari government will act swiftly to resolve this matter and ensure such incidents do not occur in the future.

The episode underscores the broader issue of safeguarding religious freedoms and respecting all faiths. It serves as a call to action for governments and international bodies to ensure that religious practices are protected and respected worldwide.

(Photo and text courtesy: Khalsavox.com)
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The Helicopter Heist is all set to release in digital space. The reality-based series will be released on OTT platform Netflix on November 22. The Swedish action series will have eight parts. Here is the trailer for the show and everything else you need to know before you watch it online:

Plot

The Helicopter Heist is a real-life story based on a novel of the same name. Netflix has now announced its global release. Based on true events, the show will be about the planning behind the daring crime of heist in history.

According to the official description given by Netflix, the series is set in 2009. It is based on the real incident where "a helicopter landed on the roof of the countrys safest cash depot, and the police watched the robbers disappear along with several million dollars."

What exactly happened in reality?

The Helicopter Heist is based on the Vastberga helicopter robbery, which occurred in September 2009 at a G4S cash service depot in Vastberga, southern Stockholm, Sweden. The bandits then stole a Bell 206 Jet Ranger for transportation and landed on the G4S building's rooftop. The police were unable to chase the criminals with their own helicopters because dummy bombs had been planted nearby.

The following day, a reward of 7 million Swedish Krona was advertised for anyone with information that could lead to the thieves' arrest and/or the recovery of the stolen valuables. This was the first helicopter-based robbery in Swedish history.

Also Read: Twisters OTT release: When and where to watch this American disaster film

Cast and crew

The Helicopter Heist includes actors like Mahmut Suvakci, Dejan Milacic, Erik Svedberg-Zelman, Ardalan Esmaili, Iskra Kostic, Vic Carmen Sonne, Johanna Hedberg, and Wim Elfwencrona, among others.

The show is written by Ronnie Sandahl. It is directed by Daniel Espinosa, along with Jonas Alexander Arnby and Anna Zachrisson.

The production company behind the show is B-Reel Films.

For more news and updates from the world of celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.


A rainy day in Mumbai did not deter the Kapoors and the Pataudis from spending quality time together. Gearing up to spend a weekend with family, Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan along with their sons Taimur and Jeh, and their support staff were seen arriving at Kareena's father Randhir Kapoor's house 'Sunkist' in Mumbai. Not letting the pouring rain soil their plans, the family seemed in high spirits and were all smiles as they posed for the shutterbugs while making their way inside.

Other than the Pataudi 'parivar', Karisma Kapoor was also seen arriving at her father's residence to participate in the weekend shenanigans. Take a look at how the '90s diva cutely waved at the paparazzi upon her arrival.

If you are also caught in the rain, spend some quality family time indoors! Here are 5 fun-filled activities you can do to enjoy your family's company.

1) Play a board game

Dig out those crusty old board games we all used to horde as kids and have fun beating your siblings and parents. From tambola to ludo to snakes and ladders, you have endless options you can explore as these fun games are loved by all, no matter their age!

2) Bake cookies together

Family time always comes with delicious food, after all, food and fun go hand in hand. But today, rather than ordering something from your regular joint or bakery make it with your family. Curl up with chai or coffee with some homemade cookies that you all have baked together and enjoy the cool rain from your balcony.

3) Watch old movies

In today's fast-moving world, we all are bombarded with content! From various streaming channels to YouTube videos, somehow spending 2-3 hours watching a movie on TV and running to get snacks to go to the loo between ad breaks have been lost. So rather than all of you watching something on your own, make some popcorn and watch an old classic together.

4) Walk down memory lane

Nowadays we don't really get the time to spend just idly chatting with our parents or siblings anymore. Somehow, those when I was your age or remember when this and this happened stories have become scarce. So grab your parents and reminisce about your fun childhood days. Dig out those old photo albums if you have to, and spend making fun of how awkward you all used to look!

5) Host a get-together with cousins

As we grow up get-togethers, dinners and lunches with our extended family become few and far in between, and most of us only get to meet our cousins at someone's wedding function. Why not change that narrative? Plan and invite all your cousins and close relatives and spend a day with them just like you did when you were young!

For more on lifestyle, astrology and health from around the world please visit Indiatimes Lifestyle.
Ever since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office back in 2014, he has greeted the heads of other states, be it during their visit to India or when he is visiting a foreign country, with a hug. While this has resulted in some meme-worthy images, like that time when PM Modi hugged the then-French President Francois Hollande, the gesture has widely been appreciated. Many international observers have even called it 'Modi hug diplomacy.'

CREDIT: AP

Why Zelenskyy had a problem on Modi Putin hug

But one such hug is now embroiled in an international controversy, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy having an issue with Modi hugging Russian President Vladimir Putin.

PM Modi, who visited Russia in July, had hugged the Russian president who welcomed him. However, according to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, the hug was a "devastating blow to peace efforts."

CREDIT: REUTERS

It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world's largest democracy hug the world's most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day, Zelenskyy had posted on X.

Modi hugged Zelenskyy

Incidentally, PM Modi, who visited Ukraine, also greeted President Zelenskyy with a warm hug on Friday.

CREDIT: IANS

Part of our culture: Jaishankar

Reacting to Zelenskyy and criticisms by some Western media, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said it was a part of Indian culture.

In our part of the world, when people meet people, they are given to embracing each other; it may not be part of your culture, but I can assure you it is part of ours. In fact, today, I think, I saw Prime Minister (Modi) also embrace President Zelenskyy, Jaishankar said while responding to a journalist.

CREDIT: IANS

And I have seen him do it with a number of other leaders in a number of other places. So, I think we have a slight ... cultural gap here in terms of what these courtesies mean, Jaishankar added.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
It is being described as a modern-day miracle, and even scientists are failing to come up with an explanation for it. The body of an elderly Catholic nun who died in 2019 has been so well-preserved to the point that it almost looks like she is in a deep sleep.

CREDIT: CNA

Body found well preserved after five years

Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster, OSB, from Kansas City, Missouri, died on May 29, 2019, at the age of 95. But in April 2023, four years after her death, when her body was exhumed to be moved into the Abbey church for interment, they found the body to be intact without any signs of decomposition. This was despite the fact that Sister Wilhelmina was buried without any embalming or other treatment of her body, in a simple unsealed wooden casket.

Bishop orders examination of body

Following the unusual discovery, and the news that spread like wildfire locally, attracting hundreds of visitors to witness the miracle, the Bishop of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph commissioned a team of local medical experts to conduct an examination and evaluation of Sister Wilhelmina's body.

What study said

The team of experts recently submitted their report, which failed to come to any conclusion on why the body has not decayed yet.

"In the final report, the investigative team noted that the condition of Sister Wilhelminas body during the examination was notable for a lack of any detected features of decomposition. The lining of her casket had completely deteriorated, but her habit and clothing showed no features of breakdown," Bishop James V. Johnston of Kansas City-St. Joseph said in a statement.

CREDIT: CNA

'Found nothing unusual'

It, however, noted that the investigative team was only able to conduct a limited examination but still concluded that the condition of her body is highly atypical for the interval of nearly four years since her death, especially given the environmental conditions and the findings in associated objects.

Along with the evaluation by medical experts, additional tests were soon conducted on the soil in which the burial took place.

CREDIT: CNA

"After analysis, no unusual elements were found that would have impacted the condition of Sister Wilhelminas body when it was exhumed," the Bishop's statement said.

BREAKING: Bishop issues statement on the medical examination of Sister Wilhelmina's body.



Most Reverend Bishop James V. Johnston, Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, releases results of examination and evaluation by medical experts concerning the remains of Sister Wilhelmina pic.twitter.com/wIWTvL9WgF  Incorruptible (@catholicxyz) August 22, 2024

In the past, such exceptional cases of non-decomposed bodies were said to have been associated with saints. The Bishop added that currently, there are no plans to initiate a cause for sainthood for Sister Wilhelmina.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Friday promised to release thousands of classified documents linked to the assassination of former US President John F. Kennedy. Speaking at a rally in Glendale, Arizona, Trump said that he would release all of the remaining documents pertaining to the assassination of JFK if he were elected president in November.

CREDIT: AP

Trump announcement after RFK Jr's endorsement

The development came shortly after Trump received the endorsement of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the independent candidate who ended his US presidential campaign on Friday.



Robert F. Kennedy Jr., popularly known as RFK Jr., is the nephew of John F. Kennedy, aka JFK, the 35th President of the US.

Also read: Who is Robert F Kennedy Jr, the independent candidate who ended his US presidential campaign and endorsed Donald Trump

CREDIT: AP

Assassination of JFK

JFK, who was assassinated while riding in a presidential motorcade on November 22, 1963, was only the fourth US President to be killed while in office.

The other three were Abraham Lincoln (April 15, 1865), James Garfield (July 2, 1881), and William McKinley (September 14, 1901).

Though a former U.S. Marine named Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested soon after the murder, the outcome of the investigation into the assassination of JFK is not something that many Americans have been willing to believe even now.

CREDIT: NATIONAL ARCHIVES

Conspiracy theories about JFK assassination

This has also resulted in the emergence of several popular conspiracy theories, blaming everyone from the CIA to the Deep State, NWO, the Mafia, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, then-Cuban Prime Minister Fidel Castro, the Russian KGB, and more for JFK's murder.

CREDIT: NATIONAL ARCHIVES

What Trump said in the past about JFK files

Over the decades, there have been growing calls to declassify the JFK files. In the past, Trump had also said that he would declassify JFK files if he was re-elected as President.

When I return to the White House, I will declassify and unseal all JFK assassination-related documents. Its been nearly 60 years, time for the American people to know the TRUTH! Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social, in July 2023.

CREDIT: REUTERS

Last month, Trump had claimed that he wanted to release the JFK files but was pressured by the CIA to stop some information from being released.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
Google Maps has made our vacations quite convenient. Wherever we choose to go in the world, Google Maps provides a thorough view of that location. Sometimes people have even spotted bizarre places/things on Google Earth, and this influencer is no other. He spotted an ancient structure and headed out to explore the place in person. Here's what happened.

What did the man find in the viral video?

An intriguing video has captured the attention of netizens, showing an influencer hiking to the ruins he discovered on the app. The video was posted on Instagram by Joshua McCartney, an influencer and traveller.

The video begins with Joshua claiming that he discovered an unknown ruin on Google Earth and decided to go hiking. The Google Earth image displayed a 3D representation of the unmarked remains, which resembled a sand construction.

When Joshua went for a trip in the valley, he saw an ancient-looking entrance carved atop a large rock structure.

There was no way to enter, so the hiker continued on his journey. As he moved farther into the undergrowth, he saw another unusual hole. It appeared to be a natural cave at first, but while inside, he noticed that it was artificial.

What was the ancient ruin like in person?

Credit: Instagram | He observed carvings on the wall that appeared to have been produced by people

He observed carvings on the wall that appeared to have been produced by people.



After exploring the tunnel, he arrived at his last objective. He described it as a "massive tower" with interiors made from an "unusual brick pattern." He closed the video by asking, "So, what do you think this place used to be?"

"I found a massive ruin using Google Earth so went on a hiking adventure to explore it!" said the caption on the post.

How did people on the internet react?

Netizens reply in the comments section below, enthusiastic over the possibility of an old discovery. Here's what people wrote.

Credit: Instagram

Also read: Travel influencer Aanvi Kamdar dies after falling off waterfall while making reel

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.



To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending.


Syriza leader Stefanos Kasselakis has launched a sharp counterattack against the group of "87" party members, accusing them of orchestrating a plan to discredit the party ahead of its upcoming conference.

Following a tense meeting of the Political Secretariat, Kasselakis took to social media, demanding that the "87"

reveal their true intentions immediately.

Earlier, the "87" responded to Kasselakis's previous remarks, stating that they would let his insults be judged by Syriza members, supporters, and the broader progressive community in Greece.

In response, Mr. Kasselakis claimed that there is a deliberate effort to undermine Syriza aiming to discourage its supporters and dissolve the party into a vague "Center-Left" entity, led by a figure chosen by vested interests.

Mr. Kasselakis emphasized his role as the leader of all Syriza members, not just a specific faction, and his duty to preserve the dignity of the party and its supporters.

He warned that he would not allow the party's hopes to be destroyed in the run-up to the conference.

He reaffirmed his commitment to pushing forward with reforms at the upcoming conference, which he believes will bring significant changes.

Mr. Kasselakis stated that SYRIZA must either evolve into a party driven by its members, citizens, and an open society, or risk becoming irrelevant.

He called on everyone to respect the party's supporters, who are anxious about its future, and not to drag them down with personal ambitions.

Mr. Kasselakis concluded by asserting that despite internal efforts to discredit the party, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis still fears one opponent: SYRIZA, the party of its members and supporters.

   iefimerida.gr


Twenty medical students and one house officer from the University of Maiduguri and the University of Jos, who were kidnapped in Benue State about a week ago, have been rescued.

The operation was coordinated by the office of the National Security Adviser as disclosed by Channels Television

Security agencies, including the Police, Department of State Services, and military personnel and equipment, were involved in the operation, supported by the Benue State government.

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READ ALSO: Over 30 Villagers Feared Dead As Bandits Attack Benue Community

The medical students were kidnapped on August 16 along the Otukpo-Enugu federal highway in Otukpo local government area of Benue State, on their way to Enugu State to attend a conference.

Also, as stated by African Independent Television, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Sewuese Anene, confirmed their release in a terse message on Friday, saying: Kidnap Victims rescued. Details will be released tomorrow morning please


Tahir Mamman, Minister of Education, on Friday, revealed that over 22,500 Nigerians are parading fake certificates obtained from Benin Republic and Togo.

He said that over 21,600 obtained the certificates from unaccredited universities in Benin Republic between 2019 and 2023, while about 1,105 also obtained theirs at some unaccredited Universities in Togo.

The Minister disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja, to mark his first anniversary, adding that some of the numbers were harvested from records from the National Youth Service Corp and other sources.

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His words: From all indications, the figure is higher than what we have already. This is because some of the people choose not to participate in the mandatory NYSC scheme and other engagements that would have enabled us to harvest their data.

Sadly, these people have used the fake certificates to apply and secure job opportunities in government and private organizations with the mindset that they schooled abroad, while people who studied day and night are out there looking for job opportunities.

READ ALSO: SEast Agitation: Hold Private Meeting With IPOB Leader  Kanus Legal Team Appeals To Tinubu

Even within the countries, Benin and Togo, these universities are not accredited to offer degree programmes. I dont know how Nigerians chose to go to unaccredited institutions abroad to study. Our investigations also indicated that many of the people never even attended the school physically. 

The Minister, however, confirmed that a circular is being prepared from the Office of Head of Service of the Federation that would enable the fish out of these people for due prosecution.

Private sector operators are also encouraged to carry out further investigations on their staff who are parading foreign certificates and ensure that anyone parading a certificate obtained from these countries between 2019 and 2023 is fished out and handed over to the Federal Ministry of Education for prosecution. Because the circular from the Head of Service will also be binding on private sector operators.

Nevertheless, he confirmed that only five Universities in Benin and three in Togo were accredited to offer degree programmes, and people who passed through those schools were exempted from the punitive measures.
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has announced that prospective corps members who were unable to participate in the one-year national service due to being kidnapped would be issued certificates.

Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed, Director-General of the NYSC, made this known during a briefing with journalists in Abuja on Friday.

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Ahmed explained that given the ordeal they had endured at the hands of their captors, they would no longer be required to participate in the national service.

The victims were en route to Sokoto State via Akwa Ibom Transport Company for the three-week orientation course when they were abducted in Zamfara State on August 17, 2023.

They were released in batches, with the last group regaining their freedom this week.

The victims are Daniel Etim Bassey (from Uruan LGA, a graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka); Obong Victor Udofia (from Ikono LGA, University of Uyo); Sabbath Anyaewe Ikan (from Eastern Obolo LGA, Akwa Ibom Polytechnic); Abigail Peter Sandy (from Abak LGA, Maurid Polytechnic); Glory Etukudo Thomas (from Eket LGA, Heritage Polytechnic); Emmanuel Esudue (from Urue Offong Oruko LGA); Victoria Bassey Udoka (from Ini LGA, University of Uyo); and Solomon Bassey Daniel (from Itu LGA, Akwa Ibom Polytechnic).

READ ALSO: Were Not Seeing Results  Parents Of Kidnapped Corpers Seek Govt Help For N70m Ransom

Speaking, the Director General said that through the combined efforts of security agencies, especially the Nigerian Army and the NYSC, the mission started with the rescue of the first set of corps members.

Even though they were abducted at the same time, they were rescued in the following sequence.

On Aug. 30, 2023, we rescued the first PCM, Esudue Emmanuel, while Victoria Udoka was rescued on Oct. 20, 2023, then Abigail Sandy and Sabina Ika who were rescued on Dec. 7.

Also, Oyo-Obong Udofia was rescued along with the driver of the vehicle on Feb. 3, 2024, Daniel Bassey on Feb. 8, while Glory Thomas regained freedom on June 9.

Meanwhile, the last PCM, Solomon Bassey, was rescued on Thursday, Aug. 23.

He added that Bassey was qualified for the NYSC discharge certificate.

No ransom, he said, was paid for the release of any of the youth corps members.

No state government brought any amount for their rescue as claimed in the media.

I must state that I have not received one naira from any state government so far in the name of the rescue of these corps members, Ahmed said.
A former Kogi state federal lawmaker, Dino Melaye, has accused some stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic of privatizing and commercializing the affairs of the major opposition party.

In a post shared via his X handle on Saturday, the ex- Kogi West Senator, alleged that the acting PDP national chairman, Iliya Damagum, national secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, and the national organising secretary, Umar Bature, have jointly destroyed the party.

He wrote: End of the road for PDP as Damagum, Bature and Anyanwu irredeemably destroyed the party.

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We will talk about the commercialisation and privatisation of PDP. PDP is now once upon a time.

Recall that there were indications that the PDP National Working Committee, NWC, might sanction Damagum and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu for an alleged letter to the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt.

READ MORE: PDP Crisis: Atiku Wouldve Collapsed If He Had Emerged President  Bode George

The letter was seen as an anti-party activity, and some party leaders, including members of the National Executive Committee, NEC, pushed for action against Damagum and Anyanwu.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, Damagum warned that nobody can intimidate him into resigning from his position.

Speaking at the inauguration of the National Reconciliation and Disciplinary Committees, the acting chairman berated those spreading misinformation about NWC operations.

He said: Let me send a message to everyone talking about Damagum this, Damagum thatI cannot be intimidated. The more you mention me, the more popular I become.
Nelson will be recognized on stage at the 97th National FFA Convention & Expo planned for Oct. 23-26 in Indianapolis, according to a news release from Samuel Hoffman, the Troy FFA adviser for Troy School District 287.

Agricultural Proficiency Awards honor FFA members who, through supervised agricultural experiences, have developed specialized skills that they can apply toward their future careers, according to the news release. Only four FFA members nationwide are selected as national finalists in each agricultural proficiency award area.


President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Friday, urged Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, newly sworn-in Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), to strengthen mechanisms for integrity in the judiciary.

Tinubu spoke during Kekere-Ekuns inauguration as the second female CJN in the countrys history, after Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, who served from July 2012 to November 2014.

The President commended Kekere-Ekuns record and reputation within the bar, saying her meritorious rise from magistrate to justice of the supreme court is a testament to her talent.



Undoubtedly the position of the CJN comes with enormous responsibilities as the head of all judicial institutions in the country, he said.

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It is a position of considerable influence that demands temperance and sobriety. The occupant must espouse the highest level of integrity in the discharge of duties. This is more so because of the finality of the supreme court judgment.

I, therefore, urge your lordship to be faithful and loyal to the constitution when discharging your duty as the acting chief justice of Nigeria.

I also encourage you to defend the judiciarys independence, always promote the course of justice, strengthen mechanisms for integrity, discipline, and transparency in the judicial sector, and pursue other reforms or initiatives to sustain public confidence in the judiciary.

He added that his administration will continue to provide appropriate support to improve the welfare and capacity of the judiciary, ease the administration of justice, and promote the rule of law.

READ ALSO: Tinubu Swears In Kekere-Ekun As Acting CJN

Kekere-Ekun succeeds Olukayode Ariwoola, the immediate past CJN, who signed out of office on August 22, having attained the mandatory retirement age of 70.

Speaking after the ceremony, Kekere-Ekun said she will ensure that Nigerians have more confidence in the judiciary system during her tenure.



Her words: Well, my expectation is that we will take the judiciary to higher heights. The reputation that it has, we will improve it. We will make sure that people have more confidence in the judiciary.

I believe that its not a one man job, we all have to be on board. And because we all see where the areas are that need improvement, I believe that there will be cooperation, because we all want to see a better judiciary.

A better judiciary is for the benefit of the entire nation. Whatever the shortcomings that we see today, were all members of the society. So if you want to see improvement, let the improvement start with each and every one of us and our approach to justice. Let us also have faith in the system.

She said special attention would be paid to the appointment and discipline of judicial officials.

Well also be more particular about the process of appointment. I know it gives a lot of concern. Discipline on the bench and at the bar as well.

All these things are aspects that we will look into and I believe that, by the grace of God, at the end of my tenure, we will have a judiciary we can all be proud of, Kekere-Ekun added.
A yet to be identified dispatch rider, has been killed along the Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos State, in an accident that involved multiple vehicle collision on Friday.

INFORMATION NIGERIA learnt that two other persons sustained a fractured leg injury in the accident, which occurred near the Chevron end of the road.

In a statement made available to the public on Friday by the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the accident involved a high-capacity bus with number plate AKD 952 XZ, a KIA RIO car with number plate BDG 853 DA and a motorcycle with number plate KTU 695 QK.

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The statement reads: Preliminary investigation revealed that the high-capacity T&M bus lost control due to brake failure while speeding, colliding with an oncoming KIA RIO vehicle.

The impact caused the KIA RIO to crash into a dispatch motorcycle in the opposite direction.

READ MORE: 10 Passengers Injured As Fully Loaded BRT Bus Tumbles In Lagos (Video)

The dispatch rider was pronounced dead at the scene, while two others sustained serious fractures and were rushed to a nearby hospital by a good Samaritan who was driving along the expressway.

The General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed his condolences to the family of the deceased and sympathised with the injured victims.

He also urged motorists, particularly high-capacity bus drivers, to ensure their vehicles are in proper working condition, especially the braking system, before embarking on any journey within or outside the state.
Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) say the Federal Government interventions in states are not enough.

The Governors stance is contained in a Friday communique issued after a meeting in Jalingo, the capital of Taraba State.

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In a bid to mitigate the economic hardship in the country, the Federal Government has been distributing palliatives to States.

They however urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to caution his appointees against mentioning the interventions provided by the federal government to states to make them look bad.

The Forum laments that rather than undertake a review of macro-economic and social policies with a view to giving them a human face, the federal government has resorted to blackmail.

We call on Mr. President to show statesmanship by restraining his officials from blame games that make the sub-nationals look bad by mentioning piecemeal interventions that cannot solve the problem.

We remain unshaken in our firm resolve to stand with the suffering Nigerian masses and to take all legitimate steps to ameliorate their plight, the Governors said.

READ ALSO: PDP Doesnt Have Presidential Material To Defeat Tinubu In 2027  Partys Ex-National Legal Adviser

On the forthcoming governorship election in Edo, the forum alleged that there are attempts to compromise the poll in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC), adding that security operatives are intimidating PDP supporters in the State.

The Governors also urged the Federal Government to ensure a fair and speedy trial of those who were arrested over the #EndBadGovernance protest.

The governors noted with a sigh of relief the end of the #EndBadGovernance protest, which was edging to a major national crisism

We salute the dexterity of the governors, especially of the PDP extraction, in handling the situation in their respective states with maturity, thereby restraining hoodlums and other unscrupulous elements from hijacking the protests.

The Forum reiterates that peaceful protests are the inalienable rights of the citizens through which they vent their genuine grievances.

The Forum commiserates with the families of those innocent souls that were lost and calls on the Federal Government to ensure a fair and speedy trial of those who were arrested, the communique added.
The Nigerian Police Forces Zone 5 Headquarters has detained two suspected gunrunners in Edo state.

DSP Tijani Momoh, the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, made the announcement on Saturday in Abuja.

He claimed that the Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) of Police in charge of the Edo and Delta zones, Arungwa Nwazue, ordered the confiscation of illicit weapons as the Edo gubernatorial election approached.

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READ MORE: Former VP Atikus Daughter Laila Gets Married In Abuja Ceremony

In line with the directive, on Friday, at about 05:00hrs, Zonal Intelligence Response Squad, led by ASP Mohammed Usman acting on credible and actionable intelligence stormed the Ileh community in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of state.

During the raid, the squad successfully arrested two suspected gunrunners.

The operatives also recovered 30 locally fabricated guns, consisting of 23 single barrel and seven double barrel guns, as well as one English made double barrel gun.

13 live cartridges, a giant tool box and a drill machine used for the fabrication of the illegal firearms were also recovered.

Preliminary investigation into the case revealed that the suspects were in the business of selling and also renting out these firearms to kidnappers, armed robbers and cultists who then use these illegal weapons for their operations, terrorising the good people of Edo and its environs in the process.

The AIG has ordered for a comprehensive and thorough investigation into the case, after which the suspects will be arraigned in Court for prosecution, Momoh said.

According to him, the AIG encourages all law-abiding individuals in both states to remain vigilant in their lawful activities and to report any suspicious activity or persons to the nearest police station.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said that his administration is very sensitive to the citizens needs amid economic challenges facing the country.

INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that Tinubus statement is coming, following some intense criticisms over his refusal to reduce the cost of governance and other significant expenditures, including the recent procured presidential jet, reportedly worth $100 million.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony of course 32 of the National Defence College in Abuja, on Friday, Tinubu stated that his administration had made significant strides in addressing some challenges encountered by the citizens.

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Represented by his vice, Kashim Shettima, Tinubu listed the N70,000 minimum new wage for workers as one of the steps taken to address the economic challenges faced by the citizens.

He said: Our dear country faces many socio-economic challenges. As a government, we are sensitive to our peoples needs. We will continue to actively intervene in matters that benefit our citizens.

Recently, we have made significant strides in addressing some of these challenges. We have implemented a new national minimum wage, which will benefit not only civilian workers but also personnel of the Nigerian armed forces and other security agencies.

We are also working tirelessly to counter the menace of a crude oil theft and pipeline pandemic in the Niger Delta region.

Our border-local dependent forces and other security agencies will counter the menace of crude oil theft as soon as possible. This will not result in foreign protection and achieve our desired economic stability.

We are committed to creating an innovative business model that encourages value addition in our mining sector. We are working with international partners to develop strategies that will harness these sectors potential for national security and development.
Operatives of the Nasarawa State Police Command, have intercepted and arrested a woman, identified as Hauwa Sani, alongside a two-year-old child, with dangerous weapons.

In a statement released by the commands Police Public Relations Officer, Ramhan Nansel disclosed that the suspect was nabbed, alongside a two-year-old child at Rafin Sanyi village in Doma Local Government Area of the state.

According to him, the state police operatives also apprehended the suspect with a cash sum of 78,500 and a mobile phone while trying to smuggle the ammunition to Katsina state.

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The statement reads: On 23/8/2024 at about 1710hrs, based on credible information, Police operatives attached to Keffi Division intercepted and got one Hauwa Sani F alongside a 2 years old child of Doro village, Katsina state arrested.

READ MORE: Four Feared Dead, Others Injured In Nasarawa Land Dispute

Consequently, one hundred and twenty-four (124) rounds of Anti Aircraft ammunition concealed in a gallon of palm oil, one Tecno mobile phone, and a cash sum of Seventy-eight thousand and five hundred Naira (#78,500) were recovered from the suspect as exhibit.

Preliminary findings revealed that the suspect received supply of the ammunition at Rafin sanyi village of Doma Local government area of Nasarawa state, and concealed the items in a gallon of palm oil en route Katsina state before nemesis caught up with her.
The Peoples Democratic Partys Chieftain, Bode George has expressed concern over the current issues facing the party.

George opined that Atiku Abubakar, the partys presidential candidate in the last 2023 general election would have complicated the current current issues facing Nigeria if he had won the poll.

In an interview on Arise TVs Morning Show on Friday, the PDPs chieftain highlighted the significant problems facing the major opposition party.

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He added that if those issues are not addressed, they could have serious implications for the partys future.

George said: What am I looking for? Let us stand by the truth because it is only the truth that would liberate you. When we had that election, we divided the party (PDP) into two.

If Atiku had won, I would have stayed in my house because I know for real (that) in future he would collapse. This country would never accept.

READ MORE: PDP Doesnt Have Presidential Material To Defeat Tinubu In 2027  Partys Ex-National Legal Adviser

If he had won that election you think this country would have been stable? Because somebody from the north had just finished eight years and our own norm is that after the eight years, the presidential candidate must come to the south. Those who are running around for appointments (we wish them) best of luck.

By the time Ayu left, he should have left long before the election. There was an agreement. It was the emergence of Atiku from the north as a presidential candidate that completely disorganised the norm of the party.

The moment we interfered with it, manipulating the whole process to satisfy Atiku, thats where the problem started. For us to pretend as if there was not a problem, we are just wasting time.

Speaking forward, George quarried the selection of the leadership of the party, adding that justice must be served befor PDP can progress.

Just setting up a committee, where will it lead you? The chairman of that committee is from one group, and the secretary of the committee is from the same group, so am I just to go there and sit and look like some undecided animal? No.
Amenities businesses have proliferated down the Shore in recent years, offering everything from catered picnics to lobster boils to beach cabana rentals. Read more

Teresa Ranieri had never planned a vacation to Cape May when she first enlisted the services of Rebecca Walder, also known as The Beach Concierge.

In 2019, Walder recommended places to stay and the best times to go. In the years since, she has helped Ranieri, who lives in Westchester County, N.Y., with restaurant reservations, grocery shopping, finding dog-friendly spots, even getting together a beach-themed gift for a travel companion of Ranieri and her husband.

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Ranieri wouldnt say how much she paid, but Walder said she charges about $100 an hour for most services. For Ranieri, the cost is well worth it.

Its really just peace of mind, said Ranieri, a 54-year-old educator, adding with a laugh: I promise, Im not high maintenance.

As Jersey Shore vacations have become increasingly expensive, businesses have popped up to cater to beachgoers who are more than willing to pay for added conveniences. From Long Beach Island to Cape May, people can now outsource tasks that have long been hallmarks  albeit sometimes dreaded ones  of trips down the Shore.

Services exist that will:

Cart your beach chairs, blankets, coolers, buckets, and shovels to the beach Claim a prime spot in the sand first thing in the morning Recommend rental homes and the best times to visit Do the first-day grocery run and stock your fridge Watch your kids as they build sandcastles Cater a backyard barbecue or lobster boil Coordinate a fancy beach picnic, complete with a charcuterie board Secure reservations for restaurants and other activities Rent you golf carts, or drive you around in them, so you can forego your car

 READ MORE: Down the Shore, it feels like everybody has a street-legal golf cart. Heres how much theyre paying for them.

Many of these services were started  or have grown exponentially  since the pandemic, and prices vary.

For what business owners call schlepping  the process of taking chairs, umbrellas, and other supplies to and from the beach  customers pay a daily rate of $40 to $200, depending on the number of items and whether they have their own or are renting them. Weekly rates come at a discount.

Even something as traditional as babysitting has gotten an upgrade: Christine Meehans babysitting service, Sitters at the Shore, started offering senior- and pet-sitting some seven years ago. Shes recently seen requests for babysitting multiple children, sometimes so many that more than one sitter is required. Meehan vets the sitters and charges an agency fee of $25 to $30, with varying hourly rates starting at $25 per sitter.

Some of her customers are renting very large homes, and theyre vacationing with friends, family members, cousins, and there could be 11 to 15 children in a home, she said.

For pre-arrival tasks, such as making beds (unlike many Airbnbs, many Shore rentals dont come with linens) or stocking the fridge, Walder, owner of The Beach Concierge in Cape May, said her clients usually pay $200 to $250, about $100 per hour of her time.

And then there are more upscale services, such as planning private-chef dinners for bachelorette parties or coordinating elaborate surprise engagements. This summer, Walder planned a lobster boil for eight people that cost the clients $1,500.

The premiere services have grown exponentially, said Walder, who started the business in 2019. The clientele that has been coming to Cape May, their expectations have changed along with the market.

Paying for convenience, shelling out for luxury

Whether clients shell out $100 or upward of $1,000, they are getting in return a less stressful Shore trip, said several amenity-business owners.

During the pandemic, Catherine Weiss, a retired lawyer who lives in New York City, started using a service that drops off clean quilts, mattress covers, and pillows at her familys rental home in Avalon. Shes since continued to use the service, which costs about $500 for two weeks.

When we take our car  which is a compact  with four people, packed with stuff for the Shore for a couple weeks, theres no room to bring anything extra, she said. I like the fact that the stuff has just been laundered when you get it.

In recounting childhood memories of Cape May vacations, and her inspiration for starting The Beach Concierge, Walder echoed an age-old gripe about Shore vacations: They often come with more chores than other vacations.

Its nice to facilitate for other people to come and arrive relaxed, knowing they can just have a vacation, Walder said.

Walder has about 10 to 20 customers a week during the summer, and most of her business is made up of the higher-end services.

For groups, why not have a lobster boil? Why not have cocktails for your bachelorette party and enjoy your backyard and your pool that youre spending all this money to enjoy? Walder said. And then you can live your best life.

Other luxury businesses will cater pop-up picnics on the beach.

Justine Denea Lorenz, the owner behind Picnics & Prosecco, said shes seen her bespoke picnic business grow in the last few years, with about 30 events since April.

Convenience is key to her customers.

They just show up. They enjoy the picnic. They get to relax. They leave. They get to have some good memories and laughs with their family and friends, and then they dont have to clean anything, she said.

The standard picnic, which lasts two hours, is $350, but customers on average spend $1,000. A picnic package includes a table, pillows, and blankets, and customers can add extras on such items as a charcuterie board, desserts, a bar cart, umbrellas, or a cabana. This summer, events have ranged from two to 20 people.

People are becoming more demanding, which is great for us, cause Im always looking to come up with more creative ideas and things to make it unique, she said. Theyre coming up with these crazy color schemes and themes, and were adding like disco balls, and were making it fun.

Beach caddies to claim your spot, carry chairs

Demand this summer also has been strong for relatively low-cost services, such as chair and cabana rentals.

When Dana and Jeff Turner were starting their concierge and butler service Shore to Please two years ago, the Freehold couple thought their most popular offering would be the $170 around the fire package, which comes with a Solo Stove and a smores charcuterie board for 12.

We thought that would really take off, Jeff Turner said.

Instead, the most popular service has been the beach chair and cabana rentals. The daily rental packages start at $75 for two Tommy Bahama chairs and a cabana, plus $70 for setup and takedown.

A lot of our business is day trippers, said Dana Turner.

Business has been rapidly growing, too, at Perfect Beach Day NJ, said owner Palmer Zarzycki. The six-person staff, made up entirely of college students, now serves about 400 clients a summer, setting up beach chairs and umbrella rentals, as well as carting customers belongings to the beach.

The busiest location is family-friendly Ocean City, he said, but they also have locations in Margate, Longport, Ventnor, Long Beach Island, and Avalon and Stone Harbor. Base packages start at $60, with setup and takedown included. They recently starting offering party packages.

Parents are especially grateful, he said: Theyre like This is great. I dont have to carry all my kids and the equipment up to the beach.

Angie Dowd, a 49-year-old teacher from the Reading area, has used Zarzyckis service twice this summer on day trips. She said it was worth every penny of the $60 per trip not to have to lug multiple umbrellas, chairs, and other essentials onto the beach, and then bring the sandy items back in her car.

I am a day tripper, she said. I dont want to be dragging all that stuff from the beach.
A tram takes visitors on a ride through the large collection of nostalgic memorabilia on display in the Toy Box at the American Treasure Tour Museum in Oaks, Pa. Read more

The most difficult thing the staff at the American Treasure Tour Museum in Oaks, Pa., has to do is explain what the American Treasure Tour Museum is.

Its not easy to compile it in one sentence because were just all over the place, director Ross Brakman said.

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Located in the same industrial park of endless pavement as the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, and on the second floor of the building that also houses Arnolds Family Fun Center, the museum is a 100,000-square-foot private collection of all things American pop culture  from advertisements, animatronics, and automobiles to a 20-foot Gumby, grand Wurlitzer organs, and a gargantuan Walkman.

Owned by a mysterious figure referred to only as The Collector, (yes  give me all the intrigue!) the museum has items dating to the 1870s and spans two distinct spaces: The Music Room, which contains one of the countrys largest private collections of automatic music machines (like nickelodeons and band organs), and the Toy Box, a humongous hodgepodge of collectibles and staged scenes awash in the glow of neon signs and experienced through a 40-minute tram car ride.

You may not know that you need to see a stuffed animal tableau of Dogs Playing Poker or a working Chuck E. Cheese animatronic band, but you do.

Along with The Collectors impressive throng of objects (which is always growing), the museum has become a repository for other peoples collections, too  a home for misfit collectibles, if you will. Some came from people who downsized, but many were donated by people who inherited them from loved ones.

Its filling a need for the community because people who spend their lives collecting things that are important to them, when they pass away, their family doesnt always want to deal with it or know what to do, Brakman said.

Like the Barnes Foundation, which displays door hinges next to paintings by Monet and Van Gogh, the arrangement of items in the American Treasure Tour is unusual and unexpected.

Why is there a bedazzled shirt hanging between a dirty teddy bear, an empty sack of Kokusai rice, and a wooden cutout of Jerry Garcia? Whats up with the unsettlingly realistic heads of Thomas Edison, Abraham Lincoln, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Douglas Fairbanks placed among shelves of Precious Moments figurines?

Who knows, but by leaning into its quirks, somehow it all works.

Its one of those places where theres nothing heavy about it, Brakman said. We certainly acknowledge the outside world, but were not about that.

The Collector

The Collectors one guiding principle when buying items for his cabinet of curiosities was that the objects had to be happy, said Jerry Frey, cofounder of the American Treasure Tour and a longtime antiques dealer who works closely with The Collector.

Almost carnival-like was always his direction, Frey said.

About 20 years ago, The Collector brought Frey and his wife, Ginni, to where he kept his collection, right where it is now, on the second story of a 1.2-million-square-foot building he owns that once housed a Goodrich tire plant.

He said, Ive collected all of this and youve supplied a lot of it, now you figure out what to do with it so when Im gone it doesnt just end up at a big auction, Frey said.

The Freys suggested their client open his collection for tours, but it took some convincing.

He didnt feel that there would be any interest in it. His comments were always, Its just the stuff I collected. Why would anybody want to see the junk I put together? Frey said.

Eventually, The Collector relented and the American Treasure Tour Museum opened in 2009, but under one condition  that he remain anonymous.

Part of that is his belief that the collection itself should tell the story but also because hes just a very private guy, youve never seen him on TV, Brakman said.

As a journalist with certain tools at my disposal, curiosity got the best of me and I figured out who The Collector is. Despite his intriguing nickname, hes not Benicio Del Toro in Guardians of the Galaxy, Nic Cage in National Treasure, or any other big name you might know.

As a fan of the museum  and because I didnt unearth any dead bodies while I was there  Ill honor The Collectors request for anonymity. Part of the fun of this whole experience is imagining the person behind it anyway. Does he wear a monocle and a fez? Does he do surprise somersaults like Willy Wonka? Does he come to play his organs alone at night, like some kind of Phantom of the Oaks?

There are people who get absolutely fascinated with the mind of a man who would collect all these wonderful things, so theres definitely an element of mystery to it too, Brakman said.

Another reason The Collector wants to retain his anonymity, according to Brakman, is so he cant easily be tracked down by guests who want to buy an item they see on the tour.

Weve had people come in and say, You know, Ill pay anything for this, but its not for sale and they just cant fathom that, Brakman said.

Every once in a while, The Collector stops in and takes the tour with others, without identifying himself.

Hes always surprised by how many guests we get and the joy you see in his expression when he sees positive reactions, it really does make it that much more rewarding, Frey said.

The Music Room

Entering the museum, you get the sense early on that things are about to get very random very quickly. At the lower landing, youre greeted with a tapestry of Dogs Playing Pool, a painted circus poster of a gorilla you can put your face into for photos, and a cutout rainbow with a pot of gold, a leprechaun, and a Rottweiler stuffed animal at the end of it. Hanging overhead, a crystal chandelier from the Warwick Hotel in Rittenhouse Square really ties the room together.

Once on the second floor, I walked by statues of the Blues Brothers and a giant jack-in-the-box from Kay Bee Toys and into the Music Room, where gorgeous automatic wooden instruments  from giant dance hall organs to a Wurlitzer six-roll changer  were everywhere. One of the devices was playing at all times and I was particularly captivated by the tings, dings, and piano strings of the multi-instrumental banjo orchestra.

Porcelain dolls (and sometimes just their heads) were inexplicably displayed on top of the instruments. On the wall, movie posters and records were plastered everywhere, with 45s balanced inside the lips of the beams overhead.

The Music Room also housed sprawling miniature dioramas, hundreds of radios and telephones throughout the decades, and a donated collection of thousands of Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls.

The Toy Box

Next, I headed over to the Toy Box for my tram tour, a ride that includes a recorded narration with music, which is supplemented by remarks from the staffers who lead the tours.

Guests are told The Collector began by buying classic cars, which you see many of, and his collection grew from there to include things like circus wagons filled with working automatons; giant papier-mache heads of Ted Kennedy, Britney Spears, and former President Donald Trump from New Orleans Mardi Gras floats; 900 clown dolls and animatronics; a kid-size castle made of 396,000 Popsicle sticks; and a replica of the Ark of the Covenant from Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Illuminated business signs for everything from Pearle Vision Express to the Audubon Inn are placed throughout the displays, making them feel more like Christmas decorations than advertisements.

There are actual Christmas decorations on the tour too, including an entire portion dedicated to old animatronic holiday displays like the Enchanted Colonial Village from the shuttered Lit Bros. department store in Philadelphia. Its a fan favorite for locals, as are other Philly-related items like a giant Rudi bear from Wanamakers and a 1930s Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters carriage.

Almost everyone who takes the tour is touched by something they see. For me, it was a Teddy Ruxpin doll, which brought back childhood memories, but for many, the piece de resistance is the Chuck E. Cheese animatronic band. According to Brakman, when The Collector purchased the band, the animatronics didnt work and the characters were spread throughout the museum. A 9-year-old boy took the tour, saw the characters, and at age 16, came back and asked if he could restore the band to working condition, which he did.

Kate Prince, 20, has long been obsessed with the Chuck E. Cheese band, so when she saw a TikTok video of it at the American Treasure Tour in April, she came for a visit  and then another, and another.

Last month, Prince started working at the museum (most staffers were fans first). Now, she gets to visit Chuck and his band any time she wants.

Its just such a wonderful and exciting place to work because there is always so much going on, so many cool people to interact with, and you get to experience the magic, Prince said.

Repeat visitors

Since its impossible to see everything on a single visit, many guests make return trips like Guido Martinelli, who brought seven first-time guests with him, including his wife, niece, and siblings. Martinelli, 86, lives in Oaks and previously took the tour for his 50th class reunion.

Its the history thats fascinating and being from the area, we relate to a lot of the things that are here, especially the Lit Bros. Christmas village, its good to see that again, Martinelli said. Its amazing, since Ive been here the last time theres been so much added.

Brakman said attendance at the museum is erratic, but social media videos have done wonders to explain our charms and inspire people to visit.

But ultimately, word of mouth is our best friend because the people who come here generally leave happy, Brakman said. Weve had plenty of people come with a group tour and then come back with their family. To me, thats the best because it had an impact on them and they wanted to share this with somebody.
Doylestown Health, which is slated to become part of the University of Pennsylvania Health System, received a four-notch credit-rating upgrade. Read more

Standard & Poors sharply upgraded Doylestown Healths credit rating this week, citing the nonprofit systems stabilized financial reserves, its significantly smaller operating loss in fiscal 2024, and the fact that it managed to avoid defaulting on loan agreements.

The upgrade to B+ from CCC came a week after Doylestown signed a definitive agreement to be acquired by the University of Pennsylvania Health System. That pending transaction was not a factor in the upgrade, but it did influence the S&Ps positive outlook on Doylestown, the ratings agency said.

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We are quite pleased with this outcome, especially given the rating increase is truly a recognition of Doylestown Healths accomplishments related to debt structure and operational improvements, Doylestowns CFO Elizabeth Seeber said in an email.

Doylestown is expecting to break even in the fiscal year that started July 1, with more than 5% growth in patient revenue. It reported $420 million in patient revenue in fiscal 2024, up from $380.5 million the year before.

Despite the improvement in Doylestowns finances, S&P still views the organization as highly vulnerable, and its balance sheet remains modest in our view as the hospital has very limited cushion for unforeseen events.

Doylestown had $86 million in unrestricted cash reserves on June 30. That was an improvement over $71.4 million 12 months earlier, with the gain coming primarily from the sale of the Pine Run retirement community. Net proceeds from that sale were $76 million, some of which was used to pay off debt.

At the end of fiscal 2021, Doylestown had $132 million in cash reserves. Based in Bucks County, it is poised to become Penns seventh hospital, pending regulatory approvals.
Washington election rules stipulate that a hand recount is required if the difference is less than 1,000 votes and the margin between candidates is under 0.25%.

Elections staff will begin sifting through primary election ballots Monday, which the news release says will continue until certification by the Whitman County Canvassing Board on Sept. 3.

The news release says both the manual recount process and certification meeting held in the Whitman County Elections Office in Colfax are open to the public.

All counties will certify recount results by Sept. 3, and the Secretary of State will approve the statewide results on Sept. 4, according to the news release.
After years of pounding the treadmill and lifting weights, Alexi Windler found himself losing interest in his workouts.

It was not really mentally stimulating me and engaging me in the way that I liked, so I looked around for something else to try out, he said. Then he discovered Tufas Boulder Lounge near Fifth Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue. I had no idea at the time that when I stepped through those doors it would essentially transform my life in pretty much every way imaginable.

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It was just before the onset of COVID-19, and Windler didnt know then that rock climbings tight-knit community would not only help him endure the lockdown but also reignite his passion for life.

One of the biggest things climbing has taught me is that its OK to fail. Not only is it OK to fail, its something more people should learn to embrace, he said. If you can face failure with an open mind and a willingness to learn, you can truly surprise yourself.

For Windler, the mental and physical challenges of rock climbing, from muscling up a wall to piecing together climbing routes like a puzzle, make it an ideal teacher. First, he was drawn by the community and personal growth; now, its a career. Windler works as a climbing instructor at Tufas.

Many climbers in Philadelphia, like Windler, began their journey with a single step  walking through the doors of a rock gym for the first time.

Before Jeremy Prevatt was scaling 2,000-foot rock faces in Las Vegas Red Rock Canyon or the desert spires of Moab, he joined a rock gym purely by chance.

Prevatt now serves as the lead guide and manager of Philadelphia Rock Gyms East Falls facility, one of the citys oldest and most expansive climbing gyms. He introduces newcomers to rock climbing and its vibrant community.

Whether youre seeking a one-time birthday or team-building activity, an alternative to traditional workouts, or a new community and way of life, the first step is simply walking through the doors of one of Phillys rock climbing gyms.

Its all of us vs. the wall, I think theres a real sense of camaraderie in that. Jeremy Prevatt, lead guide and manager at Philadelphia Rock Gyms

Where to rock climb indoors in Philadelphia

Philadelphia has three major rock climbing gyms, each offering day passes, monthly memberships, and classes. Some even provide traditional exercise equipment for cardio and weight lifting or yoga classes.

Philadelphia Rock Gyms (PRG) has been a staple in the region for 30 years, with five locations offering bouldering, top-rope, and lead climbing. For outdoor enthusiasts, PRG organizes single-day outings and multiday excursions to spots like Ralph Stover State Park.

Pricing:

Day pass: $23 Rentals: Shoes and harness for $7.50, chalk bag for $2, belay device for $2, or the full package for $10 Membership: $74.95 per month Classes: $30.50 to $39 per class, with all equipment included. The $39 intro class also comes with a free two-week membership Outdoor climbing: $95 for day trips. Multiday expeditions cost upward of $495

PRG offers weekly discounted sessions for students (with valid ID) and half-off or free climbs during Friends Climb or Wxmens Climb. Check with each location for these discounts.

Locations:

Since 2018, Tufas Boulder Lounge has offered a welcoming, accessible space for Phillys rock climbing community. As a bouldering gym, it features rope-free, harness-free climbing, making it easy to get started. Beyond climbing, Tufas hosts Ping-Pong tournaments, Eagles watch parties, and trivia nights in its lounge. With a sliding payment scale, Tufas lowers the barriers to entry, making it a go-to spot for both climbing and community.

Pricing:

Day pass: $15-$20 Rental shoes: $3-$7 Membership: $60-$90 per month, or $40 to $60 for fitness only Classes: $30 for Intro to Bouldering, equipment included. $90-$110 for a four-week Bouldering 101 course, equipment included

1614 N. Fifth St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19122,  215-360-3999,  tufasboulderlounge.com

Movement Gyms, the largest rock gym in Philly, spans over 37,000 square feet at its Callowhill location, formerly known as the Cliffs. It offers bouldering, top-rope, and lead climbing, along with yoga and a top-notch fitness center. A new Kensington location is set to open in 2025.

Pricing:

Day pass: $26 Rentals: Shoes for $6, harness for $4, chalk for $2, or the full package for $10 Membership: $105 per month Classes: $39 for Intro to Rope Climbing or Intro to Technique courses. $100+ for the Learn to Climb package including both classes, rental gear, and a one-month pass to the gym

1010 Callowhill St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19123,  215-444-7625,  movementgyms.com/callowhill

Tips for climbing or joining a Philly rock gym

While theres plenty of rock climbing advice online, its better to just go directly to the source: climbers at the local rock gym.

They can provide recommendations on what shoes to buy, what exercises to focus on, tips on gripping footholds, and more.

But, to get started, experienced climbers advise not to buy anything, just rent, until its cost-effective.

First-timer or once per month: Buy day passes and rentals. One to three times per month: Buy day passes and consider buying a personal pair of climbing shoes and a chalk bag to cut the cost of rentals. At least once per week: Buy a membership, climbing shoes, chalk bag, and other gear suggested by climbers at the gym.

Climbing shoes

As you climb more frequently, renting shoes can become costly. Thats when its time to invest in your own pair, Windler and Prevatt said.

Expect to spend at least $100 on a quality pair of climbing shoes. Visit a local gym or REI to try on different brands.

I recommend beginners aim for a neutral profile shoe, meaning it has a flat, single sole, or a moderately downturned shoe with a split sole. Make sure the heel fits snugly, with no wiggle room, but that your toes arent crunched either, Windler said.

Good beginner brands include La Sportiva, Evolv, Scarpa, Five Ten, and Mad Rock.

The $100 pair of shoes is like a reliable 2021 Toyota Corolla, and will definitely elevate your experience compared to rental shoes, which are like your uncles 1987 Chevy that starts most of the time, Prevatt added.

Chalk bags

When its time to buy your own chalk bag, expect to spend around $25, not including chalk. Recommended brands include Friction Labs and ONCRUX.

Where to rock climb outdoors around Philadelphia

Outdoor rock climbing isnt the easiest for beginners as its less predictable and tougher than indoor climbing walls; however, its a fun way to get in nature. Its best to go on trips with local gyms or seek out tour companies near outdoor climbing destinations.

Directly off the Schuylkill Bike Trail, a bouldering wall is available between the Girard Avenue Bridge and the Pennsylvania Railroad Connecting Railway Bridge on Kelly Drive. See more info at the MountainProject.com.

Kelly Drive, Philadelphia, Pa. 19121

With more than 30 bouldering routes across the park and the closest outdoor rock climbing in Philadelphia, its perfect for beginners. See more info at the MountainProject.com.

Valley Green Road, Philadelphia, Pa. 19128

Climb the inside of an abandoned quarry in Birdsboro with more than 170 different climbs throughout. See more info at MountainProject.com.

(Old 82 and parking area) 2000 Hay Creek Rd., Birdsboro, Pa. 19508

400 feet worth of dozens of climbing routes at Ralph Stovers High Rocks, with places to camp, hike, and enjoy nature. See more info at the MountainProject.com.

150 Tory Rd., Pipersville, Pa. 18947

A little more than 50 miles outside Philadelphia, Haycock Mountain offers more than 250 bouldering opportunities deep in the woods of Nockamixon. See more info at the MountainProject.com.

165 Top Rock Trail, Quakertown, Pa. 18951

Two distinctive climbing areas, Safe Harbor North and South, welcome all to Lancaster County for more than 400 climbs. See more info at the MountainProject.com.

5365 River Rd., Conestoga, Pa. 17516
In this June 1, 2018, file photo, people walk on a tour of the west section of the State Correctional Institution at Phoenix in Collegeville, Pa. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma) Read more

Two inmates tested positive this week for Legionnaires disease at the State Correctional Institution-Phoenix in Montgomery County, a state prisons spokesperson confirmed Friday.

The first positive test was received on Monday. All inmates and staff have been notified to report any symptoms consistent with legionella, the bacteria that cause Legionnaires disease, Maria Bivens, spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, said in an email.

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The facility is testing for potential sources of the legionella bacteria, Bivens said, adding that the Corrections Department is working with the Montgomery County Department of Health to proactively remediate the most common sources of the bacteria.

Bivens said the two inmates are receiving medical treatment and are in stable condition.

Legionnaires disease is a type of pneumonia, and is not spread person-to-person, but instead contracted by breathing in small droplets of water containing legionella bacteria.

Bivens said the department last year contracted with a legionella specialist to develop a water management plan to improve prevention and remediation at all state prisons.

Officials at SCI Phoenix have conducted a high-temperature flush of all housing unit water systems, as well as ongoing tests and proactive remediation in all areas of the prison, Bivens said.

Prison officials also are limiting showers until the high-temperature flush is completed, Bivens said.

Megan Alt, a spokesperson for Montgomery County government, said the countys Department of Health and Human Services Office of Public Health was notified this week that there were positive or presumptive diagnoses of Legionnaires disease at SCI Phoenix.

Montgomery County health officials met with staff to provide short-term recommendations for safely providing water for use at the prison, such as bottled water and filters, Alt said.

The county officials also provided recommendations for sampling, testing, and treatment to address the source of the bacteria, Alt said.

Last year, an inmate at a Pennsylvania state prison near State College tested positive for Legionnaires disease.

Philadelphia is notoriously linked to Legionnaires disease. In 1976, attendees at an American Legion convention were stricken and 34 people died.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, right, greets U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D., Pa.), left, on the floor of the Democratic National Convention as Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, center, looks on. Read more

CHICAGO  Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker gave political pump-up speeches, attended a housing policy forum, and got VIP treatment for Vice President Kamala Harris history-making moment while at the Democratic National Convention this past week.

As the first Black woman to hold her office, Parker said she felt inspired and energized as she watched Harris accept the Democratic nomination to accomplish the same feat for the highest office in the nation.

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It was also very pragmatic, Parker said after Harris speech accepting her partys nomination for president. It was connected  connected to real people and what they are going through in their daily lives.

Parker attended the convention as a party leader or elected official delegate, more commonly known as a superdelegate, and she stood next to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as he delivered the states votes to Harris in a ceremonial roll call vote.

Though she did not have a speaking slot on the conventions main stage, the week was an opportunity for the mayor to network with other Democrats and build relationships that will, should Harris win the White House, be important for securing federal resources for Philadelphia, Parker said.

Parkers political team is in a moment of transition, and she doesnt have any campaign staffers. She was joined in Chicago by a handful of senior administration officials, including Chief Deputy Mayors Aren Platt and Sincere Harris, who took vacation days and paid their own expenses, Platt said. A special assistant and the mayors traveling security detail also made the trip, and their expenses were paid by the city.

Parker made the rounds in Chicago and spoke to various groups

Parker made appearances at a handful of events that take place before and after the prime-time convention programming.

She spoke before the Pennsylvania and New Jersey delegations; Emerge, a political group that helps Democratic women running for office; and Black Leadership Pennsylvania, a new nonprofit aiming to boost turnout in this years elections.

She attended a midnight brunch hosted by Higher Heights, which boosts Black female candidates, and as a former cheerleader well-known for her oratorical skills, Parker had no problem convening a Harris pep rally wherever she went.

Did yall know the mayor of Philadelphia used to carry pompoms? she asked the crowd of about 200 people at a Pennsylvania delegation breakfast on Monday. I was a cheerleader for a little group called the Oak Lane Wildcats.

Parker led the delegates in chants as they ate eggs at the Palmer House in downtown Chicago, and she modified some of her Philly-centric campaign slogans for the statewide audience, saying Pennsylvania will become the safest, cleanest, greenest  you know  commonwealth in the nation.

In a rare nonpartisan setting, Parker also participated in a Wednesday panel on city housing policy alongside the mayors of San Diego and Columbus, Ohio.

The moderator, former Chicago housing official Marisa Novara, invited Parker in part because she heard of the mayors plan to build or preserve 30,000 new units of housing. Chicago, she noted, was able to build only 2,400 units when it obtained a windfall $1 billion allocation of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits.

So 30,000 is eye-popping, Novara said at the event, which was hosted by the City Club of Chicago and the U.S. Conference of Mayors. How are you going to do it?

Parker answered by hinting at a coming announcement about a major partnership involving multiple sectors and multiple industries.

Local government makes a significant contribution, Parker said, but you have to look to the philanthropic community. We also have some other stakeholders  I dont want to put the cart before the horse  who we will surprisingly be asking and they have agreed to make a substantial forward investment in this.

Changes to Parkers political operation

The political carnival came at a time of transition for Parkers own political operation. After her victory in last years mayoral election, many of the top staffers of her campaign joined the administration, including Platt and Harris.

Since January, the day-to-day operations of her campaign have been handled by lobbyist Will Dunbar, a member of Parkers kitchen cabinet of unofficial advisers.

But Dunbar, who was helping the campaign on a voluntary basis, recently stepped away from that role and hasnt been replaced. While Parker has consultants for communications and fundraising, she does not appear to have a point person for her political operation.

Parker said Dunbar needed to focus on his lobbying business.

Will has been a valued friend to me, and let me just say that life is good right now [for Dunbar] and business is good and its growing, she said.

Dunbar, however, said it was primarily Parkers decision.

Im very much still an informal senior adviser but because of a different set of priorities, the mayor has decided to manage her politics herself, he said. My business has continued to grow as we work to support our clients.

Dunbars exit in late July came just before two head-scratching moves by the campaign that involved Harris and the DNC.

Earlier this month, when Harris was vetting potential running mates, Parkers campaign published a video that caused a stir because it appeared to imply that Harris had already selected Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro. Days later, Harris selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

And on Monday, the first day of the convention, her campaign sent out a fundraising email saying she was honored and excited to take the stage this week at the Democratic National Convention. A campaign spokesperson later clarified that she was not speaking on the convention stage.

By the end of the week, those hiccups were far from Parkers mind.

The mayor was invited to watch the speech from Harris own VIP suite in the United Center, sitting with such celebrities as Don Cheadle and Spike Lee, members of Harris family, and Walz.

It was a poetic bookend to a moment four years ago that helped both Parker and Harris rise to power. In 2020, when she was President Joe Bidens running mate, Harris held her first in-person campaign stop in Philadelphia and made an appearance at an event in the backyard of Parkers Mount Airy home.

The trip was a political boon for Parker, who was then a City Council member plotting her 2023 mayoral run. And it helped connect Parker to Sincere Harris, who was then working on the presidential campaign and later left the White House to be Parkers campaign manager. (She is not related to Kamala Harris.)

Parker said she was thinking about that day in 2020 while she watched Harris speech Thursday.

It was packed with potential and pregnant with possibilities, she said.
Democrats cheer during Michelle Obamas remarks on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, during the 2024 DNC in Chicago. Read more

Craig Snyder, a registered Republican in Philadelphia and director of Haley Voters for Harris knew he would be attending the Democratic National Convention as soon as he realized former President Donald Trump would become the GOPs nominee for the 2024 election.

Snyder spearheaded Haley Voters for Harris (HV4H), a Philly-based group of Nikki Haley voters and anti-Trump Republicans imploring supporters of the former South Carolina governor and UN Ambassador to back Vice President Kamala Harris candidacy this November.

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Four individuals involved with the group, including Snyder, have been at the DNC in Chicago this week, repping for Harris, networking with Democrats and fellow anti-Trump Republicans, and reaffirming the message of their forthcoming mass voter outreach campaign in Pennsylvania and other battleground states.

Last month, the group, powered by PivotPAC, made headlines after receiving a cease-and-desist letter from Haley for what she viewed as associating her name with an endorsement for Harris. Haley endorsed Trump and spoke at last months Republican National Convention.

HV4H, which is unaffiliated with Haley, said they will neither cease nor desist.

The DNC has been all about bipartisan coalition building and networking for HV4H, Snyder said, by mingling with Democrats at Pennsylvania delegation breakfasts or attending informal social gatherings with Republicans at a rooftop lounge near the north side of Chicago.

We wanted to really network with other people who are like-minded and continue to send the message, both inside the Democratic Party and outside the Democratic Party, that this is a coalition, and that a coalition is required in order to win this election, said Snyder, former chief of staff to the late Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter.

HV4H members can relate to the DNCs messaging of needing to listen to people who disagree with them, Snyder said. This is the approach that HV4H is trying to take, especially as they prepare to launch a slew of pro-Harris communication to Haley voters and center-right voters in Pennsylvania and other swing states. In Pennsylvania, the ads will be predominantly focused on Philadelphia and its suburbs.

HV4H wants to start rolling out targeted text messages and advertisements on YouTube and social media to a targeted group of moderate Republicans after Labor Day, with plans to ramp up from there. Theyre currently testing a number of video ads and other content to see which messages will appeal most.

This will not be something that everyone sees, but the people who need to see it, the people who benefit from seeing it, will see it a lot, Snyder said.

Matthew McCaffery, a former Republican Montgomery County swatted for supporting Harris, will be a spokesman for the group. The groups ads will also feature his voice, Snyder said. McCaffery, who appeared in a DNC video Wednesday night, did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

What matters a lot is that [voters] hear from messengers that they can trust, they believe in, people who they think share their values, and, in many cases, share their history, Snyder said.

HV4H sees an opportunity to make its case about Harris to the almost 160,000 other registered Republicans in Pennsylvania who gave Haley almost 17% of the vote in the commonwealth during the primary election, despite her exit from the race.

And the reception from the majority of Democrats has been welcoming, Snyder said.

Harris campaign is inviting anti-Trump, Republican voters into her base. At the DNC, several attendees and speakers  and one host  are Republicans united in fighting against Trumps reelection. Former President Bill Clinton also thanked Republicans backing Harris during his prime-time DNC speech Wednesday.

Theres an old expression that used to be sort of universally accepted, which is, politics is about addition, not subtraction, Snyder said.

Its an adage the group plans to live by through November.
Vice President Kamala Harris campaign has 36 field offices and more than 300 staffers in Pennsylvania, campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez told Pennsylvania delegates Thursday morning.

Chavez Rodriguez referred to the campaigns Pennsylvania presence as our largest operation to date, during a Pennsylvania delegation breakfast at the final day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

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The convention was to Thursday evening with a speech from Harris as she accepts the Democratic nomination. The number of staffers in Pennsylvania speaks to the commonwealths strategic importance for Harris November match-up with former President Donald Trump.

We know that Pennsylvania is core to our pathway to victory as we look at getting to 270 which, of course, is our North Star, Chavez Rodriguez said, referring to the number of electoral votes needed to win the presidency. We want to reach Democrats everywhere they are throughout the state.

Chavez Rodriguez is granddaughter of legendary labor organizer and Latino civil rights leader Cesar Chavez, who she said gave her a masterclass in organizing that will help her get Harris across the finish line in Pennsylvania.

Weve raised record amount of resources to make sure we can invest in the organizers at the doors, on the phones, texting, all of it, she said. Were focused on the fundamentals, yall, and we know you all know how to win Pennsylvania, so we look forward to doing this together.
Before President Lyndon B. Johnsons War on Poverty program in the 1960s, education was, at best, a hit or miss proposition for millions of Americans.

Left to the states, funding depended on how wealthy each state was and how much that state valued education. For example, children living in wealthy areas  such as Maryland or Washington  could receive a quality education, where children in poor areas  such as Alabama or Mississippi  were often left behind.

What this meant was people who were poor could rarely rise above their status because the education they needed to follow their dreams or to get ahead was denied.

Why bring this up now? Under Project 2025, a Republican-backed plan by the Heritage Foundation for the next Trump administration, education would revert to the states.

Under this plan, education would be seen as a private good rather than a public one. It also flies in the face of Idahos constitution which guarantees free public education.

The proposal would end the U.S. Department of Education and, specifically, early childhood education programs such as Head Start and free school lunch programs.

Cutting the education department would go a long way to returning educational opportunities to where they were before the 1960s, providing quality schools for the wealthy and leaving the middle class and poor behind. No longer would people be able to pull themselves up by their bootstraps and get ahead; they would be stuck where they were born in society.

Removing public educational opportunities cuts the chance for people to learn, to be able to gain the skills to move themselves out of poverty or just into a higher income bracket. If a state does not consider education a priority, the citizens suffer.

Project 2025 proposes school vouchers to parents in place of government funding for state schools, but again, this leans toward the wealthy 10% rather than helping the whole.
Foo Fighters are the latest artists to have had their music used by Donald Trump for his presidential election campaign without their permission.

The US rockers hit song My Hero was played at an Arizona rally on Friday as the former American president welcomed Robert F Kennedy Jr to the stage.

Kennedy Jnrs appearance came after he suspended his independent campaign for US president and endorsed Trump.

Let us be clear. pic.twitter.com/gexHWjPMYh  Foo Fighters (@foofighters) August 24, 2024

When asked on social media if they allowed Trump to use their 1997 track at the event, Foo Fighters simply replied: No.

The rock band also reposted a screenshot of their comment to their page on X with the caption let us be clear.

Speaking on the Trump campaigns use of My Hero, a spokesperson for the band told the PA news agency: Foo Fighters were not asked permission, and if they were they would not have granted it.

The group join a long list of artists who have spoken out against Trump using their music without prior consent, including Celine Dions team, who condemned him for playing her classic song My Heart Will Go On during a campaign rally earlier this month.

Her management team released a statement on behalf of the Canadian artist and her record label saying the use of the song was in no way authorised, adding:  And really, THAT song?

Celine Dions management team also spoke out against Mr Trumps use of her music (Ian West/PA)

Earlier this year, Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr slammed Trump after the bands hit Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want was played at a rally.

Responding to a video where the song could be heard playing in the background of a Trump rally, Marr wrote: AhhrightOK. I never in a million years wouldve thought this could come to pass. Consider this shit shut right down right now.

In 2018, Steven Tyler of Aerosmith sent a letter to the then-president ordering him to stop playing the bands songs at political rallies, after the bands 1993 hit Livin On The Edge was played at a rally in Charleston, West Virginia.

The singer had previously sent the Trump campaign two cease-and-desist letters in 2015 for its use of the bands music.

The estates of Prince and Tom Petty have also demanded Trump refrain from using the music of the late musicians, while Rihanna issued a cease-and-desist letter after he played her 2007 hit Dont Stop The Music at an event in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne sent a notice to Trump banning him from using Black Sabbath music in his campaign videos.

Other artists who have taken action after Trump used their music include the Rolling Stones and Neil Young, while Linkin Park issued a cease-and-desist order after the bands song, In The End, appeared in a video supporting the then-president.
06.15

I get up between 6 and 6.30am, brush my teeth and ice my face with ice globes. I take my medication and then I put gel all over my face and microcurrent it with a NuFace device to alleviate puffiness and give my face a lift.

Sometimes I wake up and dont feel like wearing the thing Id planned to wear. Sometimes what seemed like a good idea the night before doesnt work  it depends on the weather too. I like to wear dresses but sometimes you cant beat jeans and a nice top.

Ive been wearing some of the same brands for years. I love V by Very, Mint Velvet, River Island for jeans and Karen Millen for a treat.

07.00

I get up very early and I tend not to eat that early. I usually dont have my first meal of the day until Ive finished work. Around 7am Ill jump in a taxi to work.

07.30

Ill arrive into hair and makeup. I keep shoes and Spanx in work. I drink industrial amounts of coffee  Im not naturally a morning person so I need to jolt myself awake.

I might have an Americano with a shot of espresso in it  I need all the help I can get. I dont really drink coffee outside of work. Im a big tea drinker and have been having celery juice in the morning too.

12.30

I have a couple of really close friends in Dublin so I will often meet them for something to eat after work.

I love The Cheeky Piglet in Dublin 8 and The Green Kitchen and Farmer Browns. Ill try to have something with a good protein base  eggs or smoked salmon.

15.00

As I work on Sunday too I have to go home to do some study. I might have the remainder of a book to read, news to review, a movie to watch or to catch up on a series depending on who I am interviewing the next day.

The work really has to be put in because its a long show on a Sunday. If a major news story breaks I also have to be on top of it straight away.

While most people are winding down on a Saturday, its probably my busiest day of the week. Im the worlds worst procrastinator  I think its the ADHD  anything that involves long term planning is not my forte, but under pressure Im brilliant.

Pictured are Kamal Ibrahim, Presenter and Great Pink Run Ambassador and Elaine Crowley, Presenter and Breast Cancer Ireland Ambassador at the Dublin launch of 2022's Great Pink Run. Pic: Marc OSullivan

18.00

I tend to only have one big meal a day so if Ive had a big lunch I will just have a snack later  it could be a toasted sandwich or a bowl of cereal.

Theres a standing joke in work that I cant cook. Im good at poached eggs because Im not allowed to leave them.

If I have an opportunity to walk away from the cooker things will burn  I have been known to explode eggs Ive been boiling. Salads are my friend because I cant burn a salad.

My ideal Saturday would be spent at home in Cork with my sister Cathy and her boys faffing around, chilling out and having something nice to eat.

My schedule would be quite mad to most people who work 9 to 5. Even during the week I dont have a regular sleep pattern which would be discombobulating for most people.

People probably think I have a glamorous life as a presenter but most mornings Im wrestling with a clothes steamer before I leave the house.

I avoid having a nap on a Saturday, I just go to bed earlier. Ill stick on a movie or read a book  I like fantasy, you cant beat Tolkien.

I spend a lot of time on Facetime catching up with my family.

21.00

Staying up late is just not worth it for me when Im working the next morning. The minute I come in the door Ill be in my comfy zone in a tracksuit or furry pyjamas.

Ill get through my work and might stick on a series  Im enjoying Shrinking on Apple TV.

Sometimes I forget to take my makeup off  I am that person. However, I am trying to do better and have started using facial oils to cleanse my face.

I love Killarney Organic Skincare and try to support Irish brands where I can  my go-to foundation is Clarins but many of my other products are by Bellamianta.

Ill go to bed at around 9pm but I might still be awake at midnight. Like a lot of people I will lie there scrolling on my phone.

I will get a mad notion and want to find out everything there is to know about something.

00.00

I will fall asleep around midnight. I am happiest when I can utterly switch off and sleep well but I nearly have to be in a different country for that to happen. Im a very all or nothing kind of person.
The Fine Gael councillor who was instrumental in securing a statue of Michael Collins in Cork City has dismissed a 'mini rally' by far-right agitator Justin Barrett at the Beal na Blath monument as absurd.

Justin Barrett and his followers are a bunch of buffoons in fancy dress, Cllr Shane OCallaghan said.

"Their attempt to associate themselves with Michael Collins by holding a rally at Beal na Blath is absurd because their twisted ideology represents the exact opposite of everything that Collins stood for."

Mr OCallaghan, who topped the poll in Cork Citys south-central ward in the June local elections, spoke out after a near 15-minute video was posted online showing Mr Barrett, standing at the Beal na Blath monument in West Cork, which marks the spot where Collins was assassinated 102 years ago.

In the video, Barrett introduced a new nationalist organisation, Clann Eireann, and its protection unit, An Sciath Nasiunta (The National Shield), which he said would protect the voice of Ireland.

Mr Barrett also said the protection unit would act within the law but would also be ready to defend itself with as much violence as is necessary.

Mr Barrett, 53, who has run unsuccessfully in national and European elections, was wearing a dark black jacket, black gloves, a military-style hat, brown shirt and black tie.

Justin Barrett, right, at a protest outside Leinster House last November. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

He was flanked by up to a dozen men, also dressed in black, and wearing balaclavas or face coverings, some holding a banner and others holding tricolours.

We will make sure that the Irish people, in the first instance, get an opportunity to hear what it is that we have to say, that we cannot be silenced, that we are not here to create violence, we are not here to provoke violence, Mr Barrett said.

But we will protect ourselves. We will protect ourselves from the foreign invader.

We will act within the law, we will act as peacefully as we can, but we will also be ready to protect ourselves and defend ourselves with as much violence as is necessary.

Mr Barrett, the former leader of the National Party, went on to claim that if accommodation centres for asylum seekers are opened by the tens of thousands, and if local and political opposition is not listened to, and if that political opposition is physically and violently crushed by the enemies of Ireland, the Irish nation will cease to exist.

The Michael Collins Commemoration Committee, which organises the annual commemoration at the monument every August, declined to comment on the speech.

But Mr OCallaghan, who campaigned for the statue of Collins which was installed on the Grand Parade in October 2023, said Collins fought an empire to free an oppressed people and then established an independent, democratic Irish State.

Barrett and his followers have no support and no mandate from the Irish public.

Their latest antics should be treated with the ridicule that they deserve.

Taoiseach Simon Harris is due to deliver this years oration at Beal na Blath at 3pm on Sunday.
Irish far right agitators are openly talking about accessing weapons and planning violence against migrants in broadcasts aired on social media.

In open discussions broadcast on X, formerly Twitter, in recent weeks, participants discuss how and when "action" should happen. The recordings, some lasting up to fours and a half hours, were hosted by an Irish man and two Americans and viewed thousands of times before being deleted.

Some of the extremist discussions have been recorded by the Hope and Courage Collective, formerly known as the Far Right Observatory, and passed on to gardai. The gardai would not confirm whether they had launched an investigation.

Observers say the contents of the broadcasts highlight a "troubling" acceleration of the violent rhetoric being used online in recent months.

In one discussion, a user warns violence is "inevitable" and "not far away". At another, a user is urged not to discuss weapons as this is "done offline, in person".

The man says "action is needed" away from electoral politics.

"It's not going to have a happy ending if it's all political," he says. "We can't solve this solely by voting. We need to get a few people in here. The odds are greatly stacked against us, it's time for action."

In other broadcasts, users discuss putting pigs blood on homes to make them unsuitable for Muslims, "making things uncomfortable" for foreign communities and "fighting back" against gardai who had policed anti-migrant protests.

In one discussion, a user warns violence is 'inevitable' and 'not far away'. At another, a user is urged not to discuss weapons as this is 'done offline, in person'.

Garda sources say officers are monitoring social media posts and broadcasts, though there is some scepticism about posts in recent months claiming to represent far-right paramilitary groups and whether these groups have the capacity to carry out attacks.

The situation has been escalating in recent months, with Garda Commissioner Drew Harris recently upping to "substantial" the threat level from far-right extremists, according to a letter he sent to Justice Minister Helen McEntee.

Mark Malone of the Hope and Courage Collective said: "What is contained in these far-right chat spaces is no longer exceptional, though it is instructive about the proximity to base violence when blind hate is involved."

He said "the majority of people were revulsed by some of the 'Says No' movement marching and drinking with loyalist killers" at recent marches in Belfast, but said in Tipperary earlier this week, a local newspaper carried an editorial about how its journalists were reluctant to cover 'Dundrum says No' mobilisations due to threats of violence from the far right.

He said one far-right Irish activist had recently compared "the industrial-scale horrors of Nazi concentration camps to summer holiday resorts".

"This sits completely at odds with the vast majority of people who believe that no matter what we look like or where we come from, we all deserve a place to live, care when were sick, and a community where we belong."

He also accused the Government of failing to take urgent action "to reign in tech oligarchs and the social media platforms they profit from while hosting and amplifying far right violence".

"This is despite widespread and popular support for such action."
Just 25 extra GPs were added to the workforce last year, despite Government pledges to address shortages, with only two counties reaching the recommended number of general practitioners.

Research by the Irish College of General Practitioners has shed light on shortages, contributing to waits of up to three weeks for non-urgent appointments, especially in rural or deprived urban areas.

In 2022, there were 4,431 GPs in Ireland, rising to 4,456 in 2023, with retirements and other departures almost outpacing new entrants.

Sligo had seven fewer GPs last year, Limerick nine fewer, with Dublin having 18 fewer than in 2022.

Clare gained one doctor, but it still has only 68 doctors per 100,000 people and is one of eight counties the college marked in the red for being under-resourced.

Dr Deirdre Collins, chair of the Irish College of GPs board, said they have been warning the Government about these shortages for some time.

We would like there to be 100 GPs per 100,000 population in a county. In many counties we are not hitting that, she said.

Waterford (102) and Galway (also 102) are the only counties either at or above this target;

Tipperary gained four doctors but sits at 78 GPs per 100,000 people;

Cork gained five doctors, and at 98 GPs per 100,000, it is near recommended levels;

Kerry, despite gaining six extra doctors, sits at 88 GPs per 100,000 people.

Patient numbers are only growing as population changes see people live longer, internal migration from Dublin to other counties, and high numbers of refugees, including for example 9,700 Ukrainians in Kerry up to June.

The college used Central Statistics Office population data and a workforce report published by the Irish Medical Council last week.

GPs have warned that the crisis is not going away either, with almost one in three GPs being aged 55 or older.

Dr Collins agreed that retirements are a "significant issue.

Waiting times are also affected by GPs offering a wider range of complex treatments, she added.

"When youre dealing with a more complex case, youve got to slow down," she said.

Patients put "great stock" on being able to see their own GP, which is one of the joys of the job for doctors, she said.

In a bid to address shortages, there is a record-high of 1,191 people now training as GPs through the college, supported by Government funding.

Separately, the International Medical Graduate Rural Programme saw 100 overseas-trained doctors take up two-year posts, with more to come.

Stephen Donnelly said GP numbers are a 'very real and live concern'. Picture: Niall Carson/PA

Earlier this month, speaking to reporters in Dublin about GP numbers, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said it is a very, very real and live concern.

He said access is getting better and better, but there are definitely areas where there is concern".

During a recent visit to Gorey, he said the biggest issue people raised was limited access to GPs.

However, he expects this to change. For every one GP who retires, we now have about two GPs entering practice," he said.
In an hours-long discussion on a publicly available audio conversation on Elon Musk's X, more than 20 Irish users discuss taking up arms, violence against immigrants and antisemitic conspiracies.

The now-deleted hours-long X space  the audio chat function to have conversations with other X, formerly Twitter, users  included at least 25 Irish accounts, many which have since been suspended and features long discussions on race, migration and politics.

Also on the call are a number of American ethnonationalists, with one woman saying the Irish are leading the way in abandoning electoral politics in favour of political violence.

Ethno-nationalism is "the belief, theory, or doctrine that shared ancestry is the principal element of a cohesive national identity, and that a government should protect and promote the culture, language, and religion of one group, considered the primary or prestigious people of a nation, over other cultures, languages, or religions that may share that space in a multicultural society", according to Dictionary.com

The X space conversation, which took place in June, was viewed thousands of times while it was available.

At one point, a number of users discuss an Irish-based antifascist, when one user says within a month, well see an obituary for him.

Another user, from the south of the country, says: Therell be someone walking around with bits of him on the end of their shoe. Hell get stood on. Thats what will happen him.

Another user responds they hope this happens.

X user says in chat the 'overarching coalescence' needs to be around 'Ireland for the Irish, white people for the white people, Western Europeans for the Western Europeans'.Picture: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

During one part of the discussion, a man from Northern Ireland identified as Richie discusses the fractured nature of far-right politics in Ireland and says he is not sure democratic means will make much of a difference but says until there is an alternative, democratic politics was the pathway.

In response, another user says democracy is an illusion and the State has declared war on us.

I really feel like were in a war here, the young man, who is described as the leader of the group, adds.

The first man replies the overarching coalescence needs to be around Ireland for the Irish, white people for the white people, Western Europeans for the Western Europeans.

The people around here, trying to fucking destroy everything we hold sacred are fucking Jews, he adds.

He later speaks about the Jewish nature of control. He says Jews have malevolent intentions towards the white people of Western Europe and Ireland in general.

Anti-Jewish conspiracies

Other users expand on anti-Jewish conspiracies around central banks. In a later discussion Richie says subscribing to the streaming service Netflix is as good as having a Jew in your living room.

Another user then says Jewish texts the Talmud and Torah are Satanic.

The man, however, bristles at the idea of the Irish far-right becoming involved with British far-right leader Tommy Robinson, who the users describe as a paid Zionist.

In one part of the discussion, a woman speaks about getting them out, referring to migrants.

During a discussion about voting, one user says voting rights should be taken from immigrants.

During this discussion, a host of the chat says action is needed away from electoral politics.

Its not going to have a happy ending if its all political.

We cant solve this solely by voting... its time for action.

The same user later says immigration into Ireland is a declaration of war. He says the odds are stacked against [white Irish people].

A woman later says every member of the Dail should be dragged out and brought to justice.

An anti-immigration protest in Dublin City centre. Picture: Collins

She adds protesters have been too well-behaved and have not disrupted day-to-day life or occupied buildings or impacted motorways. The woman then repeats a debunked conspiracy that Indian people are being offered 80,000 to move to Ireland, which another user casts doubt on but another calls an act of treason.

When a user identified as Mick says Ireland will not go to war, the host asks participants to show if they believe people will take up arms and a female host says there are quite a few people who say that, they believe the country will.

When the host is asked how that war will come about, he tells the chat we dont talk about things like that explicitly and adds thats a conversation for outside the public spaces.

But the mentality is there and we have the backbone. When we get together, its going to be unstoppable.

Its inevitable, were not far away.

Another says people are voting Nationalist and the deportations are coming.

Another speaker later talks about a video recorded on the day of the local and European elections which shows a man voting using his mothers polling card, which was widely shared on social media. He says this is treason and says the Government has overthrown the election to stay in power.

Anybody facilitating this deserves the end of a rope and nothing less, he says.

Late in the chat, the host warns participants not to discuss plans for taking up arms on a public space. The conversation closes with two of the participants planning to meet offline, before it abruptly ends.
For years, the name of Mike Lynch was synonymous with allegations of corporate fraud on a massive scale, accusations of which he was finally acquitted just two months ago.

After this week, his name will be forever tied to his tragic demise following a freak yachting accident at sea, less than a day after his colleague and co-defendant in the aforementioned legal action, 52-year-old Stephen Chamberlain, also died, bizarrely, after being hit by a car while out running near Cambridge.

The conspiracy theorists tongues may wag in the wake of that double-calamity, and yet what else can it be seen as other than a horrific coincidence?

Lynch (59) was renowned as one of the worlds foremost tech entrepreneurs  Europes answer to Microsofts Bill Gates, and a true British rarity  a successful self-made tech millionaire.

He was born in Ilford, London, in 1965 (some reports suggest he was actually born in Tipperary, where he had strong family connections), the son of immigrant parents  his mother a native of Carrick-On-Suir, his father a firefighter from Cork.

Throughout his life he was well-known for his interest in Carrick, having holidayed there repeatedly in his youth, and for helping it quietly on its way in terms of attracting foreign investment.

Lynchs prowess as a student was evident from an early age, winning a scholarship to Bancrofts School as a teen before entering Cambridge University, from where he emerged in the early 90s with a PhD in signal processing.

That expertise  signal processing is used to detect worthwhile or useful patterns in reams of content, from numbers data to sound files to distorted video  saw him launch Autonomy, the company for which he would become most-renowned, in 1996.

Stephen Chamberlain, who was the co-defendant in a US fraud trial alongside British technology tycoon Mike Lynch, was killed whilst out running on Saturday in the village of Stretham in Cambridgeshire in England.

Some 14 years later the company was worth billions and employed more than 2,000 people globally.

Lynch, a jazz saxophonist and rare cattle enthusiast in his spare time, was a deal less pastoral in his corporate life. Autonomy was ruthless in its ambition under his leadership.

Alongside his work with his own company, Lynch worked as a UK government advisor on then prime minister David Camerons council for science and technology, a role he resigned from following his indictment in the US, along with multiple other board roles at a state level.

In 2010, the companys status as Britains most valuable tech export chimed with a sleeping giant in the form of US tech firm Hewlett-Packard.

In an era of fast-evolving smartphone technology HP, still majority reliant on the personal computer and printer markets, was stagnating and suffering.

Its then CEO Leo Apotheker, under immense pressure, saw the acquisition of Autonomy (which itself had swallowed countless smaller companies on its way to the top) as a potential return to the summit  in one swoop pivoting HPs business towards data analytics, a niche purpose-built for the modern tech world.

It was a long-odds gamble. And like many long-odds gambles, it went about as badly as it could have done.

Just five weeks after paying $11bn for Autonomy in October 2011  a deal so lucrative that Lynch as CEO was duty-bound by law to recommend it to his own people  HPs share price plummeted, and Apotheker was unceremoniously fired.

The deal had made Lynch  along with many of his senior executives  an exceptionally wealthy man personally, to the tune of more than 550m.

It was also however to cost him the best part of the next decade of his life in legal wrangles and an eventual trial on American soil.

HPs new chief executive Meg Whitman, a celebrity Republican tech millionaire who had recently suffered a catastrophic self-funded loss in the California gubernatorial election, took one look at the HP-Autonomy merger and said no thanks.

Worse was to follow for Lynch, who had stayed on at the company to guide it through its new surroundings, when HP called foul at the state of Autonomys accounting  alleging that the books had been cooked, with the companys overall value overstated by $5bn.

Over the next 10 years, Lynch and fellow executives Chamberlain and Autonomys chief financial officer Sushovan Hussain, fought a retreating battle, spending millions in the process, against a US Department of Justice investigation into Autonomys accounting practices.

A body bag is brought ashore at the harbour in Porticello by rescue workers searching for the six tourists missing after the luxury yacht Bayesian sank in a storm on Monday whilst moored around half a mile off the Sicilian coast. Pictures: Jonathan Brady/PA

Eventually all three would go to trial in the US. Hussain went first and was convicted in 2018 and sentenced to five years in prison. He returned to the UK last January.

Despite those legal travails, Lynchs corporate career continued apace. After the sale he founded venture capital concern Invoke Capital followed in 2016 by Darktrace, a cybersecurity company, eventually bringing Chamberlain on board with him there as CFO.

Lynch and Chamberlain were however eventually indicted in 2018 for conspiracy and wire fraud, with Lynch extradited from the UK to San Francisco in May 2023. He spent a year under house arrest before facing trial alongside Chamberlain last March.

The significant delay from Hussains conviction until his own trial eventually, by Lynchs own admission, proved beneficial to his cause  it allowed he and his legal team to gain sight of the strategies being used by the American prosecutors, strategies which were replicated in his own case.

Nevertheless, the odds of his being acquitted were miniscule  more than 99% of federal criminal trials in the US end in conviction. Had he been convicted, he likely would have faced a minimum of 15 years imprisonment.

Lynch and Chamberlain were to prove the exceptions to the rule, their defensive plan to cast anything untoward in Autonomys books as being both beneath their station and also the likely result of the grey area existing between transatlantic interpretations of what constitutes corporate fraud and what doesnt.

Lynch further bucked trends by testifying in his own defence, something defendants in such trials are generally discouraged from doing as it leaves them facing cross-examination.

The gamble worked. The jury was convinced, and Chamberlain and Lynch finally walked free on June 6.

He subsequently described the experience as being of the near death variety.

In a poignant interview with The Sunday Times in early July, Lynch said: That is very much how I handled it. Its bizarre, but now you have a second life. The question is, what do you want to do with it?

Less than two months later both he and Chamberlain would be dead.

Early last Monday morning, Lynchs luxury superyacht, the 16.5m-valued Bayesian, was caught in a freak tornado-esque storm  one involving a water spout  while moored off the coast of Sicily and sank in moments.

Of 22 people on board, 15 escaped on a lifeboat including Lynchs wife and business partner Angela Bacares. Lynchs body was formally recovered on Thursday along with four others after a desperate multi-day rescue operation.

The body of his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, who had been due to begin studying poetry at Oxford next year and who was also on board, was recovered yesterday (Lynchs 21-year-old second daughter was not present on the yacht when it sunk).

The voyage had been a celebratory one in honour of Lynchs acquittal. Its end could scarcely have been more tragic.

Those confirmed dead included the yachts chef Recaldo Thomas and two couples  Morgan Stanley International bank chair Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy, and Lynchs lawyer in his US fraud case Christopher Morvillo and his wife Neda.

Hannah and Mike Lynch who both died after the luxury yacht Bayesian sank in a storm on Monday whilst moored off the coast of Porticello, Sicily.

Adding tragedy upon tragedy, and an element of the macabre, to those events came the news later the same day that Chamberlain had succumbed to the injuries he sustained after being hit by a car while out running two days previously.

The 49-year-old female driver of the car that hit him remained at the scene and had been assisting the police with their inquiries.

Ironically, the only place were Lynch was to face legal censure was in the UK, where a 93-day civil case taken by Hewlett Packard saw the UK High Court rule that he had in fact defrauded the company in 2022.

A ruling on the damages in that trial was due before the end of this year, with HP seeking $4bn in redress.

Where the liability in that action ends up is one of the many unresolved strands of this particular saga, though Lynch had made it clear before his death both that he would be appealing and that his familys personal wealth was strong enough to weather whatever the potential penalty might be.

Reflecting on what he had been through in July, Lynch told T he Sunday Times he hoped to dedicate time in the future to lobbying for changes to the extradition treaty in place between the US and the UK (his own extradition was rubberstamped in January 2022 by then Tory home secretary Priti Patel).

It has to be wrong that a US prosecutor has more power over a British citizen living in England than the UK police do, he said.

Of his experience, he said he felt no anger, an emotion he described as not fruitful.

You just have to get on with dealing with the onslaught.
Life, for many, has never been so challenging. Our world feels broken. It lacks what was once a familiar joy  a reason to believe that values, and what roots us to a place of personal belonging, are still important; rather than just memories of a time when fear of the unknown wasnt so all-consuming.

But what if, just for a brief moment, we could start to believe that all might not be lost? What if there was a glimpse of real hope? I felt that moment during the week as I watched Kamala Harris speak at the Democratic National Convention  speaking a language that I havent witnessed in over 15 years.

It was November 2008 when I pulled an all-nighter and sat up to watch Barack Obama deliver his victory speech at Grant Park in his native Chicago, an hours walk from the United Center, where he delivered a strikingly similar gutsy speech on Tuesday night in his support for Kamala Harris.

Obama finished his speech by emphasising that what most Americans want more than anything is to restore their country to a place where we work together and look out for each other, a restoration of what Lincoln called on the eve of civil war bonds of affection ... an America that taps what he called the better angels of our nature.

This is the language of hope  something that Donald Trump knows nothing about.

But when you cant sleep at night, how can you dream? Kamala Harris asks in her memoir, The Truths We Hold: An American Journey.

My mother understood very well that she was raising two black daughters. She knew that her adopted homeland would see Maya and me as black girls, and she was determined to make sure we would grow into confident, proud black women.

Her Indian mother taught her from a very young age to embrace her diverse heritage with pride. Harris politics is about breaking boundaries, coming from a childhood steeped in the civil rights culture of the 1960s and 1970s.

She grew up watching some of the most important cultural and racial changes take place in a world of two extremely divided populations  black and white

Her young childhood was spent in a rented top-floor apartment in Oakland, California, making close friendships in a largely black tight-knit community.

Some of her earliest memories, she recalls in her memoir, were of attending civil rights protests, which left her with what she called a strollers-eye view of the movement  something that helped to shape her future. She was also part of one of the earliest school integration programmes in America.

Her grandfathers life-long dedication to civil rights and justice for all left a deep impression on Harris.

Kamala Harris and running mate Tim Walz appear at the Fiserv Forum during a campaign rally in Milwaukee on Tuesday. Picture: Jacquelyn Martin/AP

This woman has what it takes to be an outstanding president, more so than many of her predecessors  especially when you compare her to her current opponent  at a time when this world needs one.

From the earliest years of his childhood, Donald Trump was taught that there were only two types of people in the world: Winners  or killers  and losers.

His father Fred was determined that his son would grow up to be a winner.

Fred was a killer, a highly successful real estate agent, who rarely took no for an answer.

He was a tough, hard-driving guy who had very, very little emotional intelligence, to use todays terms, according to Tony Schwartz, who co-authored The Art of the Deal with Trump.

In a Frontline documentary, The Choice 2020: Trump vs. Biden, which was broadcast in September that year, sources close to Trump describe his five years in military school from the age of 13 as one long lesson in bullying.

He left college with an ingrained belief that the use of force and mockery guaranteed success

You dont mind if I go off teleprompter for a second, do you? Joe Biden hates her, Trump told a crowd of supporters at a rally in Pennsylvanias Wilkes-Barre last Saturday.

'Deeply Human'

Despite instructions from his election team to stay on script and read what has been written for him, he careers off economic policy issues like a joyrider  as he tends to do at most of his rallies  and falls back on a rotating kick of familiar smears and derisory attacks on Biden and Harris.

Joe Bidens speech on Monday night in Chicago was high voltage  not what many were expecting.

He clearly felt at home among his own, wrapped in love from family and supporters.

Deeply human were words used to describe him after he spoke for almost an hour.

Deeply human are also words I use to describe Kamala Harris.

Shes tough, shes experienced, and she has enormous integrity, Biden said of her, as he willingly handed over power into the hands of a woman he referred to as soon-to-be-president. She has a unique skill that comes from refusing to back down. Its apt that her secret service code name, chosen by her, is Pioneer.

Trumps secret service code name is Mogul: A tycoon of the media business. For Trump, its all about the brand, and Trumps brand is Donald Trump. The show is Trump, and it is sold out shows everywhere, he once famously said.

Former US President Donald Trump and Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance stand on stage at a campaign rally at North Carolina Aviation Museum on Wednesday. Picture: Julia Nikhinson/AP

Hard work, humility, and decency  qualities that Michelle Obama attributed to her mother during her speech on Tuesday evening  are traits that are alien to Trump, characteristics he will never understand.

Trump water, Trump cologne, Trump eyewear, Trump mattresses, Trump University  an expanding brand universe that has mass appeal because, lets face it, everyone wants to be wearing and bearing a brand.

Theres even the Neopalpa donaldtrumpi, a species of micro-moth with distinctive yellowish-white scales covering the head.

A brands only intention is to create wealth. For Trump, the ultimate token of personal wealth for someone who craves extravagance on a celestial scale is the White House  the most influential job in the world, or as Trump sees it, the greatest brand on the planet.

Climate change, immigration, and healthcare are not brand-appealing, so he sees no reason in wasting valuable brand time on them.

However, the truth about the Trump mindset is that, beyond the main brand, there are only further subdivisions of the brand.

In short, remove the brand and youre left with nothing

Brands are clever and well thought out, but lifeless beyond their mass appeal. Brands make billions, but they dont heal racial divisions or improve the cost of living.

Trump lacks any sense of moral integrity. As polling day gets closer, his campaign for re-election is pointing to the greatest constitutional crisis the US has ever faced  one that will affect every one of us if he is successful.

Harris knows the risks inherent in the choices she is making, but thats what highlights her integrity and her desire to lead by example.

Fear of the other is woven into the fabric of our American culture, and unscrupulous people in power have exploited that fear in pursuit of political advantage, she says in her memoir.

You might be forgiven for thinking she was writing about her opponent.

Considering that Kamala Harris is vowing to protect the freedom that Trump is intent on destroying, its fair to say that America could see its first female president in November  and Donald Trump would know then what it feels like to be a loser ... again.
Its a time of change in our house.

Over the next 14 days, our youngest  a mischievous ball of barely-contained chaos  will turn one and begin creche, while our older son  a hilarious and kind four-and-a-half-year-old, with so many questions its a wonder he has time for answers  will start big school.

Add in my wifes recent return to work from maternity leave, and its all change here. I even got a haircut, just to fit in.

None of these things are a surprise. That is, after all, how linear time works. But big life milestones have a habit of creeping up on us. Plans that can seem so distant have a habit of suddenly being just days away.

While the younger son has reacted to the end of his 11-month exclusivity deal with his Mammy with a mixture of toleration for Daddy and immediate clinging to her when she comes home, as if he has just endured an unspeakable trauma, the eldest is remarkably sanguine about his change of scenery. He is a quintessential pandemic baby, born just one day before Leo Varadkar took to the steps of Blair House in Washington DC to warn us of this oddly-named virus. But while he can take some time to warm up to new surroundings, he has been with his creche since he was seven months old.

For nearly four years, he has been dropped at the door of the creche, first in a socially distanced queue, then in masks, then allowed into the foyer, and then, finally, to his room. His teachers have become some of his favourite people and have cared for him, and his pals, as though they were family. They have nurtured his curiosity and his kindness. He has regaled them about Aston Villa and Ollie Watkins; they have, in turn, taught him about Real Madrid.

How do you begin to thank people who choose to make this their lifes work? There will be flowers and gift vouchers and cards, but that doesnt do it, does it?

I think, if I could really thank them, I would give them one thing: A functional childcare system: One that values the careers of those who do the work; one that is accessible for every parent and that doesnt have women phoning for places while six weeks pregnant, only to be told there is no availability for at least two years; One that doesnt cost the price of a mortgage. Simple things, you know?

This week, we have seen much discussion of a crisis in the sector. Providers are pulling out of the Governments core-funding model, because, in large part, the increases made by the Government in the last two budgets kept providers from raising their prices beyond a certain threshold.

On Monday, Elaine Dunne, of the Federation of Early Childhood Providers, told this paper that: If the Department of Children or Minister [Roderic] OGorman want to take on our businesses, then buy us out. Happy days, well walk away and let them take it on.

When your business becomes insolvent, because you signed up to a Government scheme, why would you continue to sign up to it?

Its a compelling argument. If costs have gone up in a business, they put up prices to compensate. The problem with this argument here is that schemes like the National Childcare Subsidy (NCS) and the Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme (ECCE) are, realistically, all that keep prices in the realm of affordability for many parents  and they put a lot of money into the coffers of the sector.

A total of 182,000 children in Ireland received subsidies towards the cost of early learning and childcare under the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) in 2023, with almost 337m paid to 3,698 early-learning and childcare providers to offset fees charged to parents, according to the Department of Children.

That figure will jump again from next month, when the new rate of payment under the NCS kicks in.

According to a press release from the Department in July: Currently, the minimum hourly subsidy is 1.40 and it will be increasing to 2.14 in September. This will mean families using full-time early learning and childcare (45 hours a week) will receive a minimum of 5,000 a year off their bill per child. Many families can receive an income-assessed award, which is based on household income, which can be as high as 12,000 per year off their bill for childcare.

While all of these supports are welcome  the NCS and ECCE subsidies combine to bring our eldests creche fees down from 1,150 per month to 672  nobody seems to have asked the most pertinent question: How did we end up in a situation where families can be paying over 12,000 per year per child for childcare?

According to the CSO, the average worker in the State earned 921.81 per week in the first quarter of 2024. Taken another way  if your child is in a creche, theres a good chance that youre not paying any other bill off until Tuesday of the second week of the month.

All the while, the staff in the sector are leaving to go do other forms of care work that are better-paid. A Siptu survey, earlier this summer, found that almost one in three childcare services are at risk of closure because of staff shortages.

The study shows that 86% identified low pay as their biggest work issue, followed by pressure due to staff shortages and stress and burnout.

According to the research, 95% of early-years educators are only able to make ends meet with difficulty or great difficulty.

That nearly all of the people who mind our children struggle to pay the bills, while the cost of their services takes up over a quarter of the average wage, is not just a sign of dysfunction, it is a reason for national shame. In its budget submission for the sector on Tuesday, Siptu argued that staff in the industry should be paid the exorbitant wage of 15 an hour, minimum, by law.

The National Womens Council, this week, suggested just that: That the State provide the services. There will be about 1.1bn spent on the sector anyway, they argue, so why not trial a state-run scheme that can be linked with schools, can provide after-school care, and can be a true investment in our children?

Its a time of change in our house. It should be a time of change of thinking on childcare, too.
You got a problem? Maybe a gripe or a resentment? Even if youre just angry, well now is the time to contact your local TD with your heightened emotion bubbling. Its showtime, that time of the electoral cycle when the voter holds the reins.

In a political firmament where ideological differences are paper-thin, every vote is up for grabs, every voter in a position to ask: Whats in it for me?

In that vein, the current Government has shelved prudence and common sense, replacing these virtues with a frenzied campaign to buy your vote with your money. To a large extent, they are doing exactly as their predecessors did at this late stage of a Dail term, but on this occasion, its as if the whole shebang is operating on speed, led from the front by the Duracell bunny Taoiseach, Simon Harris.

The cost of all this? We dont have to look too far into the past to tot up a possible bill. Prior to the crash in 2008, the economics of the country was arranged as if the whole place could be run on the back of buying and selling houses to each other. Tax rates were at a historic low and every election over the preceding decade was measured by how much could be given away.

What a country! Saudi Arabia on the edge of the Atlantic, minus the oil, brilliantly governed, smashing traditional economic rules, making magic. Who needs oil when you have geniuses in charge of the States levers of power?

We know how that one ended.

Sixteen years later the debris from the crash is still visible in disadvantaged enclaves throughout the State, where services were butchered and never properly reinstated, where social and socio-economic problems were long-fingered, where child development for some was stunted but the human and economic bill for that wont materialise for a few more years.

Simon Harris' Government has 'shelved prudence and common sense, replacing these virtues with a frenzied campaign to buy your vote with your money'. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

Thats all apart from the pain endured by large swathes of the population, from which it took many up to a decade to fully recover.

Hindsight has laid out the madness at the time  the over-reliance on receipts from selling property to each other, which provided the illusion of national wealth. It couldnt happen again, could it?

Last year it was reported that three multinational companies pay a third of the States corporate tax (CT) take. Earlier this year, a Parliamentary Budget Office study noted that two firms are likely to pay more than 10% of the tax take each.

The small number of firms paying a huge proportion of tax is significantly about average internationally and therefore Irelands CT revenue appears to be exposed to a substantial level of concentration risk, the study said. So were back, in one sense, to the exchequers ass being out the window.

Inconvenient truths

Thats one inconvenient truth. Another is the reality that ageing demographics and a creaking planet require that the State will pretty soon need more money in order to maintain living standards in all guises for the population.

Over time, the overall level of taxation as a share of national income will have to increase, the commission on taxation reported last year.

This in effect means that todays older generation should be obliged to make provision for todays younger people and children so that they might have a chance of experiencing the same standard of living in years to come that their elders do today.

So what is the Governments response to these inconvenient truths, with a budget and election looming?

Lets party like its 2006. The hated USC is to be reduced. How a tax came to have the term hated affixed to it says all you need to know. Nobody likes paying taxes, but how some in the media and politics come to hate one is beyond me. The only thing that can be said for the USC is it is highly progressive, with few loopholes though which a retained tax expert can jump.

Cost-of-living measures are to be spread far and wide, not targeted at those most in need. This will also apply to child benefit, in which everybody can expect at least one double payment.

Of course, there is something for the young adults and teenagers whose

future is to be mortgaged. Junior minister Peter Burke has floated the idea of a tax credit of 750 for under-25s, which he suggests might get them to stay in the country. Really, talk about crumbs from the relatively wealthy demographics table.

Then we have the goodies that are aimed almost exclusively at those who inhabit the upper rungs of the socio-economic ladder. Inheritance tax is to be reduced, we are told. This follows a campaign started by junior minister Neale Richmond, who represents the most affluent constituency in the State.

Inheritance tax is to be reduced, after a campaign started by junior minister Neale Richmond. Picture: Sam Boal/Collins Photos

His campaign was taken up in the media, giving the impression that this tax is proving a burden on huge numbers of people.

In reality, about 3% of those who receive a substantial inheritance are affected by a regime in which tax only kicks in above a threshold of 335,000.

If that is raised to 400,000, as the forecasters have it, it will cost 52m. In effect this is a transfer of exchequer funding, usually for those most in need, to gift a few bob extra to those in clover.

This week saw a row over a Fianna Fail proposal to delay a proposed tax on unused land that is rezoned and serviced. This was designed to minimise land hoarding by developers, but some farmers who are working their land have been caught up in the proposal. For some strange reason, this anomaly has not been addressed in the two years since the proposal was introduced. The solution in a year of election? Defer, let everybody off the hook, consider it another goodie to hand out to a valued electoral constituency.

We are still over a month out from the budget, probably a little over two to an election. There will be more to come, as if tomorrow will never come. So it goes in the land of the never, never.

There are specific needs in this country. Some constituencies are really struggling and need help. Then there are those who vote and require to be kept sweet in one form or another.

Maybe it can all be achieved. Maybe the doomsayers on demographics and climate are all wrong. Maybe foreign direct investment will keep stumping up for the next few decades.

Maybe, but is that any way to run a country? Is it fair and reasonable to gamble the future of the young on a wing and a prayer?
Today's bathroom vanities are alive with texture, colour and bold new character. Little wonder that, consulting on bathroom projects, its the single item after tiles that hold us up in an aesthetic huddle for weeks. Here are just six of the most gorgeous and versatile examples offering storage and counter and, of course, staging a wash-basin (or two) on offer this season, together with tips for finding your style-defining, dream vanity.

We have separation

The vanity area is showing signs of change and, in particular, its separating out into constituent parts that retain a strong relationship to each other. The freestyle approach is to run an independent robust shelf or long, low drawer unit below the principal floating vanity element, which may or may not include a drawer. This is sleek and unashamedly architectural, and you can place various forms including mirrors and other cabinets across the same wall with open and blind storage. Using distinct pieces below or set slightly off-set from each other is especially striking in mixed materials.

The Moon range from GB Group has light veneers intended to evoke an ethereal glow  perfect for a smaller bathroom robbed of a window that would drown in dramatic darker colour. This look could be assembled from other more affordable constituent parts, but exquisite wall hanging and choosing matching lines for each piece is crucial to their aesthetic success.

With all floating furniture, theres an advantage over legged pieces, perfectly meeting the height requirements of its primary user when standing or preening from a wheelchair.

Moon 22, by GB Group, designed by Danilo Fedeli. Compositions from 3,200, versatile.ie

Sensory chic

Granlusso Opus Oak. From 685 for 600mm, Deluxe Bathrooms.

Its reach out and touch this season with vanities and matching storage cabinetry with silky, individualised fronts in whites, neutrals, timbers and robust colour. Fluted or reeded surfacing is having a moment, and the same movement that created the anti-kitchen is placing furniture with mid-century sideboard styling in our bathrooms in exotic timber laminates. The Granlusso Opus range includes Oak Fluted vanities in a choice of stone basins, and marble-effect worktops, housed in squared-up or curvaceous oak-inspired cabinets. Adding relaxed, organic warmth to those metres of neutral tiling, they look particularly beautiful with brushed gold taps.

Alternative quality designs in a flatter, slatted pale timber, Carsone in coated plywood from 1,020 for a 1200mm suspended vanity with resin sink, sklum.com. If you fancy a colour, look for quilted fronts including the Crosswater Vergo in a velvety crosshatch design, 500mm with black glass basin, 1,328 to order, deluxebathrooms.ie. Dont forget texture when styling your bathroom, a perfect moment for a vanity to step in and create a welcome sensation.

Granlusso Opus Oak, from 685 for 600mm, deluxebathrooms.ie

Matching style?

Sonas Stockholm wall-hung vanity, 600mm, Matt Artic Grey, 556, various suppliers.

Sonas, a proud Irish design and business success story, loves colour and cohesive schemes, so do we, but they also argue for consideration for matchy-matchy. Their design team explain: What we mean is the use of colour through numerous points in your design. Think coloured toilets matched with coloured basins, and coloured units matched with coloured shower profiles. This careful colour

coordination not only adds character to your bathroom but enhances the overall aesthetic, creating a harmonious flow and visually appealing bathroom space.

Stylish and functional, these matching Stockholm (floor-standing) vanities were used by Lorraine Keane in her own family bathroom styled by Sonas, and they can be matched to Stockholm wall columns in a wide range of Scandinavian-infused colour.

Tip: Keep in mind that the top drawer of your vanity is likely to be invaded by about 30% by the plumbing of the basin  do you have enough room? So 600mm-1200mm is standard sizing for a single vanity but check out that counter/basin surround for adequate room to balance your toiletries if youre not adding shelving.

Sonas Stockholm wall-hung vanity, 600mm, matt Arctic grey, 556, various suppliers

Custom tricks

Angsjon/Oxmyren, 1200mm wide, 595, Ikea.

You have to give it to IKEA when it comes to building out affordable design, something often far more costly with top bathroom branding. Where youre faced with a white or neutral bathroom or en suite thats all but floating away, anchor it back on a gorgeous, modern vanity with a Tolken marble-effect counter.

For this custom look, which you can vary with your own choice of cabinet, counter and tap, theres a transparent dark grey washbasin and a choice of finish to a cabinet mounted to the wall.

Spoiler alert  this is IKEA, and you will have to put it together and do a little cutting with a jigsaw to mount your tap and sink. Available in oak, white and treacle dark brown oak, ideal for that trending Dark Academia of AW24. Marry to storage pieces in the Angsjon series (Brogrund mixer tap included). Throw in a pack of Tavelan timber trays to micro-manage your vanity, 12 for two or various box bundles from 3, ikea.com/ie.

In vanities, you do get what you pay for. The difference between budget furniture and premium pieces is generally their materials, attention to detail, build quality and durability.

Angsjon/Oxmyren by IKEA, 1200mm wide, 595

Freestanding charisma

Burlington 1340 1200mm vanity with upstand, 2,900.

If youre looking for a touch of late 19th-century tradition, the elegant Burlington 1340 curved vanity unit has freestanding charisma under protective coatings that can stand up to the worst the dry side of most bathrooms have to sling at it. Think carefully about clearance, as this piece has wide opening doors for easy access and maximises storage.

The beauty combines a worktop on the unit with an integrated basin and four soft-close doors. Im impressed by the attention to detail, with five primer coats with UV stabilisation to minimise colour fading from exposure to sunlight, six different hand-painted colours and two worktop choices  a white marble or white veined Carrara.

Buy in matt white if you want to paint to your own scheme. To run up and down in scale from the corner models up, examine the whole Burlington line and Hudson Reeds Old London range, 1950 for a 1200mm vanity with more transitional, Deco lines, bathshack.com. Keep in mind, like most vanities, these are sealed MDF products. If it chips, repair breaks in the surface immediately.

Burlington 1340, 1200mm vanity with upstand, 2,900, various suppliers

Materials matter

Mada by Crosswater, 500mm wall-hung with shelving. Priced from 960.

Inspired by iconic Japanese architecture, the Mada line from Crosswater is reductive, calming and chic, and we love it in this compact 700mm single with a mineral marble basin. Where you dont want the poke of a handle (say, passing to the shower), the integrated handle cut-out and wood detail are intended to say Japandi in a soft, spa whisper.

A generous single, soft-close, full-extension drawer will suit one to two people. Available as a stand-alone drawer unit or with an optional colour-matched shelf and frame in deep indigo blue, soft clay, sage green and matt white in 500mm/600mm/700mm. Mada countertops are easy to clean, highly heat-resistant and impenetrable to dust, dirt and bacteria. The MDF used in the best cabinet making is termed hydrofuged, as its super resistant to water damage.

Expect to be offered solid wood, plywood, MDF and particle board when looking for your vanity. See how the staged model is standing up at the edges and corners when you visit any showroom  chipping and separating surfaces tell their own story.

Mada by Crosswater, 500mm wall-hung with shelving. Priced from 960, various suppliers
Hundreds of mourners in various parts of Pakistan attended funerals for 28 Shiite pilgrims who were killed in a bus crash in Iran this week while heading to Iraq, community leaders and officials said.

The victims of the crash were later buried in various graveyards in the Sindh province, local Shiite leader Jaafar Hussain said.

The funerals took place hours after a military aircraft took home the bodies and the injured on orders from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. All the victims were from Sindh province, where the plane landed.

Authorities have not announced the cause of the crash near the city of Taft, some 310 miles southeast of the Iranian capital, Tehran.

Officials pray after some coffins arrived at an airbase in Jacobabad (Pakistan Air Force/AP)

In southern Pakistan, Zawaar Javed, the father of a man who died, said his son minutes before the crash sent him a message on WhatsApp, saying the brakes of bus had failed, and later he heard news about the accident.

In a state TV report, Mohammad Ali Malekzadeh, a local Iranian emergency official, also blamed the crash on the bus brakes failing and a lack of attention by the driver.

The Pakistani pilgrims had been on their way to Iraqs holy city of Karbala, to commemorate Arbaeen, Arabic for the number 40, marking the end of the annual 40-day mourning period after the date of the seventh century death of the Prophet Muhammads grandson, Hussein, a central figure in Shiite Islam.

Hussein died at the hands of the Muslim Umayyad forces in the Battle of Karbala, during the tumultuous first century of Islams history.
A sombre atmosphere pervaded Ukraines 33rd Independence Day on Saturday, as its war against Russias aggression reaches a 30-month milestone.

No fireworks, parades or concerts are planned and instead Ukrainians will mark the day with commemorations for civilians and soldiers killed in the war.

Ukrainians have flooded social media with messages of gratitude and support, greeting each other and thanking the soldiers on the front lines.

In the outpouring of unity, there is a shared acknowledgment that the two and a half years have been tough, with fatigue increasingly setting in.

Ukraine. Our land. Given by God. Kissed by the sun. Rocked by the winds. Tempered by fire. Defended by its sons and daughters.

It cannot be mistaken for anything else.

It can never be given away to anyone.

Happy Independence Day of Ukraine! pic.twitter.com/LwnRAjnZnc  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) August 24, 2024

Independence is the silence we experience when we lose our people, President Volodymyr Zelensky said to the nation.

Independence descends into the shelter during an air raid, only to endure and rise again and again to tell the enemy: You will achieve nothing.

Mr Zelensky pointed out that the war started by Russia has now spread to its own territory.

Those who seek to sow evil on our land will reap its fruits on their own soil, he said, referring to Ukraines incursion earlier this month into Russias Kursk region.

Servicemen of the 24th Mechanised Brigade fire a howitzer towards Russian positions near Chasiv Yar town, in Donetsk (Oleg Petrasiuk/Ukrainian 24th Mechanised Brigade/AP)

The president symbolically chose to record his address in the north-eastern town of Sumy, just a few miles from the Russian border, where Ukrainian forces crossed into Russia on August 6.

Nine hundred and thirteen days ago, Russia launched its war against us, partly through Sumy region, Mr Zelensky said.

They violated not only sovereign borders but also the boundaries of cruelty and common sense, driven by an insatiable desire to destroy us.

Ukraines surprise incursion into Russias Kursk region gave the war a startling turn, adding a new front to the conflict to counter Russias grinding advances in eastern Ukraines Donetsk region.

We will always remember our heroes and remain grateful to everyone who defended our statehood and independence.



May the memory of our defenders, who fought for a free Ukraine, be eternal and bright. pic.twitter.com/N3DBOgWFyy  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) August 24, 2024

Ukraine quickly seized considerable Russian territory, including scores of small towns, and captured hundreds of Russian soldiers, moves that may influence the wars trajectory.

And those who sought to turn our lands into a buffer zone should now worry that their own country doesnt become a buffer federation, he said. This is how independence responds.

Ukraines military claims to hold 480 square miles of Russian territory in Kursk, and in the past week it has also launched drone attacks that have struck strategic bridges and Russian airfields and drone bases.

Even as Ukraine presses its offensive into Russia, however, it is also evacuating residents from Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine, as Russian forces are now six miles from the strategic city.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

Residents of Pokrovsk, once a city of 60,000, on Friday registered for evacuation at a central school and then, carrying bundles of belongings, boarded trains to take them to areas further from the conflict.

Also on Friday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the capital, Kyiv.

After hugging Mr Zelensky, Mr Modi offered as a friend to help bring peace to Ukraine.

The Indian leaders visit, although brief, raised hopes among many in the war-battered country that he will help pave the way for an Indian role in peace mediation.
A top Italian firefighting diver has described the particularly difficult search and rescue mission after the sinking of a luxury yacht off the coast of Sicily.

Seven people died after the Bayesian sank in a storm near Porticello at about 5am local time on Monday, including British tech mogul Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah.

Adverse weather conditions and the position of the shipwreck were among the problems faced during attempts to retrieve the bodies of six people on board, officials said on Saturday.

The yacht is now resting at a depth of about 50 metres.

Guiseppe Petrone, chief of the fire brigades divers section, said the operation was an unusual kind of scenario which had been made particularly difficult by obstacles preventing access to the ship and its cabins.

An Italian fire service diving crew return to Porticello from the dive site off the Sicilian coast (Jonathan Brady/PA)

The diver told reporters, through a translation provided by BBC News: The depth prevented us from staying very long under water.

And of course there was all the obstacles to getting in the vessel and of course all the safety measures had to be properly observed  that is to say, not risking (the divers) lives.

So it was particularly difficult and it was very slow, very slow work, especially since it required lengthy periods to remove the obstacles to the cabins.

And, as Ive said, we did actually manage to retrieve all the bodies and observe all our standards.

The Palermo fire brigade chief told reporters that specialised divers, some local and others called in from across the country, had to deal with very little visibility due to the weather conditions.

Chief prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio (right) during a press conference in Termini Imerese (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Bentivoglio Fiandra, translated into English by the BBC, said the operation involved 123 dives and some 70 people each day, including eight expert deep-sea divers.

He added that the six people who remained on board the yacht were in the higher part of the wreck, after trying to take refuge in their cabins.

Ambrogio Cartosio, head of the public prosecutors office of Termini Imerese, praised the incredible courage and skill of firefighters and divers who had helped the operation.

According to the BBC translation, he said: It is a very grave tragedy and in order to reduce the dimensions of the tragedy, we have called upon the co-operation of the firefighters, firefighting divers, who have shown incredible courage and skill, who carried out a very difficult mission indeed and have allowed us to inspect properly the wreck for bodies.
Russia and Ukraine have exchanged more than 100 prisoners of war each as Kyiv marked its third Independence Day since Moscows full-scale invasion.

Ukraine said the 115 Ukrainian servicemen who were freed were conscripts, many of whom were taken prisoner in the first months of Russias invasion.

Among them are nearly 50 soldiers captured by Russian forces from the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol.

Another 115 of our defenders have returned home today. These are warriors of the National Guard, the Armed Forces, the Navy, and the State Border Guard Service.



We remember everyone. We are searching for them and making every effort to bring them all back.



I am grateful to each pic.twitter.com/XiMAeANsOd  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) August 24, 2024

The Russian Defence Ministry said the 115 Russian soldiers had been captured in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces launched their surprise offensive into Russia two weeks ago.

The ministry said the soldiers were currently in Belarus, but would be taken to Russia for medical treatment and rehabilitation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a post on X that the United Arab Emirates had again brokered the exchange, the 55th since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbour in February 2022.

Photos attached to Mr Zelenskys post show gaunt servicemen with shaven heads and wrapped in Ukrainian flags.

We remember each and every one. We are searching and doing our best to get everyone back, Mr Zelensky said in the post.

Officials from the two sides meet only when they swap their dead and prisoners of war, after lengthy preparation and diplomacy.

Neither Ukraine nor Russia discloses how many prisoners of war there are in total.

According to the UN, most Ukrainian prisoners of war suffer routine medical neglect, severe and systematic mistreatment and even torture while in detention.

A Russian soldier fires from a D-30 howitzer towards Ukrainian positions in an undisclosed location in Ukraine (Russian Defence Ministry Press Service via AP)

There have also been isolated reports of abuse of Russian soldiers, mostly during capture or transit to internment sites.

Last January, Russia and Ukraine exchanged hundreds of prisoners of war in the biggest single release.

Five people were killed and five others wounded on Saturday in Russian shelling of the centre of the city of Kostiantynivka in Ukraines partially occupied eastern Donetsk region, local officials said.

In the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, Russian shelling killed two people and wounded four on Saturday, including a baby, officials said.

Two people were killed in a Russian drone attack, and one further person in shelling, in the northeastern Sumy region.

Ukraines air force said it had intercepted and destroyed seven drones over the countrys south.

Russian long-range bombers also attacked the area of Zmiinyi (Snake) Island overnight with four cruise missiles, while the wider Kherson region was also struck by aerial bombs.

In Russia, the Defence Ministry said on Saturday that air defences had shot down seven drones overnight.

Servicemen of the 24th Mechanised Brigade fire a howitzer towards Russian positions near Chasiv Yar town, in Donetsk (Oleg Petrasiuk/Ukrainian 24th Mechanised Brigade/AP)

Five drones were downed over the southwestern Voronezh region bordering Ukraine, wounding two people, regional governor Aleksandr Gusev said.

Ukraines Military Intelligence Directorate claimed to have blown up a warehouse storing 5,000 tonnes of ammunition in the regions Ostrogozhsky district.

News outlet Astra published videos appearing to show explosions at the ammunition depot after being hit by a drone.

The videos could not be independently verified.

Two people were wounded in a drone attack in the Belgorod region, also bordering Ukraine, regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said.

Local authorities did not report any casualties in the Bryansk region, where the fifth drone was intercepted.

In the Kursk region, regional governor Alexei Smirnov said on Saturday that three missiles were shot down overnight and another four on Saturday morning.

Russian air defences shot down two more drones on Saturday morning, Russias Defence Ministry said  one over the Kursk region and one over the Bryansk region.

Today, we celebrate the 33rd Independence Day of Ukraine. We are confident that Ukrainians will always celebrate this holiday in their free capital and within their own sovereign state.



Ukraine will always remain independentthis is beyond question. Together, we have given a pic.twitter.com/yf4zNaBOah  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) August 24, 2024

Ukraine marked its 33rd Independence Day on Saturday as its war against Russias aggression reaches a 30-month milestone.

No festivities are planned and instead Ukrainians will mark the day with commemorations for civilians and soldiers killed in the war.

Speaking at a ceremony marking the anniversary, Mr Zelensky announced on Saturday that Ukraine has successfully used a new domestically produced drone for the first time against Russian forces.

Today, we had the first and successful combat use of our new weapon  a completely new class of weapon, the Ukrainian missile drone Palyanitsa, Mr Zelensky said.

He did not give further details, but added that the enemy was struck, and thanked the developers and manufacturers.

Polish President Andrzej Duda arrived in Kyiv by train early on Saturday in a symbolic show of support from one of Ukraines key allies.

Videos posted by his office showed him being greeted by Ukrainian officials and later paying his respects in a ceremony at the Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen for Ukraine.

Mr Dudas visit to Kyiv, his fifth since February 2022, sends a message that Warsaws support for Ukraine remains strong as the war drags on for the third year.

I am pleased to welcome President of Poland Andrzej Duda @andrzejduda to Ukraine. From the very first days of this war, we have been actively cooperating, and this strengthens both Ukraine and all of Europe.



I thank Poland for its comprehensive support in our struggle. When pic.twitter.com/kwPYdZOWsI  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) August 24, 2024

Poland, located to Ukraines west, has donated arms and become a hub for Western weapons destined for Ukraine.

It has also welcomed tens of thousands of Ukrainians who fled the war.

It hosts the most Ukrainian refugees outside of the country after Germany.

A trade dispute over Ukrainian grain that dragged down ties last year, and historical grievances between the two countries, sometimes provoke bad feelings, particularly among Poles who remember a Second World War-era massacre by Ukrainian nationalists.
Multiple Israeli air strikes have killed at least three dozen Palestinians in southern Gaza, health workers said, as officials including a Hamas delegation gathered for high-level ceasefire talks in neighbouring Egypt.

Among the dead were 11 members of a family, including two children, after an air strike hit their home in Khan Younis, according to Nasser Hospital, which received a total of 33 bodies from three strikes in and around the city that also hit tuk-tuks and passers-by.

Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital said it received three bodies from another strike.

We are dying slowly. You know what, if they gave a mercy bullet it would be better than what is happening to us

The Israeli military said it was looking into the reports.

First responders also recovered 16 bodies from the Hamad City area of Khan Younis after a partial pullout of Israeli forces, 10 bodies from a residential block west of Khan Younis and two farther south in Rafah.

The circumstances of their deaths were not immediately clear, but the areas were repeatedly bombed by the Israeli military over the past week.

An Associated Press (AP) journalist counted the bodies.

Some residents returned to Hamad City, walking between destroyed apartment buildings.

There is nothing, no apartment, no furniture, no homes, only destruction, said one woman, Neveen Kheder.

We are dying slowly. You know what, if they gave a mercy bullet it would be better than what is happening to us.

The war in Gaza began when Hamas and other militants staged a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, killing some 1,200 people, primarily civilians.

Displaced Palestinians line up to collect water in Deir al Balah, central Gaza Strip (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

More than 100 hostages were released during a ceasefire last year, but Hamas is still believed to be holding around 110.

Israeli authorities estimate about a third are dead.

Israels retaliatory offensive has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count.

The ministry said on Saturday a total of 69 dead and 212 wounded had been brought to hospitals across the strip over the past 24 hours.

The conflict has caused widespread destruction and forced the vast majority of Gazas 2.3 million residents to flee their homes, with many cramming into shrinking humanitarian zones.

Experts were meeting on Saturday on technical issues ahead of Sundays high-level talks in Cairo on a possible ceasefire mediated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar.

CIA director William Burns, Qatars foreign minister and Egypts spy chief were meeting on Saturday evening in Cairo, according to an Egyptian official with direct knowledge of the talks.

A Hamas delegation arrived on Saturday in Cairo to meet Egyptian and Qatari officials, senior Hamas official Mahmoud Merdawy told the AP.

He stressed that Hamas will not take part directly in Sundays talks but will be briefed by Egypt and Qatar.

Displaced Palestinians line up for water in Deir al Balah, central Gaza Strip (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

An Israeli delegation that arrived on Thursday included the heads of the Mossad foreign intelligence service and Shin Bet security service and top general Major General Eliezer Toledano.

The CIA director and Brett McGurk, a senior adviser to President Joe Biden on the Middle East, are leading the US side of negotiations amid major differences between Israel and Hamas over Israels insistence that it maintain forces in two strategic corridors in Gaza.

The US has been pushing a proposal that aims at closing the gaps between Israel and Hamas as fears grow over a wider regional war after the recent targeted killings of leaders of the militant Hamas and Hezbollah groups, both blamed on Israel.

The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General CQ Brown Jr, was visiting Egypt, Jordan and Israel over the next few days to stress the importance of deterring further escalation of hostilities, a statement said.

Mr Biden called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday to stress the urgency of reaching a deal and discussed developments with the leaders of Qatar and Egypt on Friday.

A major impasse has been the Philadelphi corridor along Gazas border with Egypt and the Netzarim east-west corridor across the territory.

Mr Netanyahu has insisted that Israel retain control of the corridors to prevent smuggling and catch militants.

Merdawy said Hamass position had not changed from accepting an earlier draft that would include the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
An ambitious plan to build a massive solar farm in remote northern Australia that would transmit energy by submarine cable to Singapore is a step closer after the Australian government granted environmental approvals for the AUS$30 billion (US$19 billion) project.

Australian company Sun Cable plans to build a 12,400-hectare solar farm and transport electricity to the northern Australian city of Darwin via an 800-kilometer (497-mile) overhead transmission line, then on to large-scale industrial customers in Singapore through a 4,300-kilometer (2,672-mile) submarine cable.

The Australia-Asia PowerLink project aims to deliver up to six gigawatts of green electricity each year, which according to Australian Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek will "help turn Australia into a renewable energy superpower" and boost its economy.

"This massive project is a generation-defining piece of infrastructure," Plibersek said in a written statement on Wednesday. "It will be the largest solar precinct in the world  and heralds Australia as the world leader in green energy."

The project was initially backed by Australian mining magnate Andrew Forrest and Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes. The plans were highlighted during a state visit by then Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as part of a "Green Economy" agreement in 2022.

In January 2023, the project collapsed when Sun Cable entered voluntary administration due to a funding dispute between Forrest and Cannon-Brookes. By May of that year, a consortium led by Cannon-Brookes Grok Ventures acquired the company, finalizing the takeover in September 2023.

SunCable Australias managing director Cameron Garnsworthy said it was pleased to have cleared a major regulatory hurdle "and will now focus its efforts on the next stage of planning to advance the project towards a Final Investment Decision targeted by 2027."

The company said electricity supply would commence in the early 2030s.

Energy has been a politically charged issue for nearly two decades in Australia, which is reliant on coal and gas as well as royalties from exporting those fuels to help underpin its economy.

This reliance on fossil fuels has historically made it one of the worlds worst greenhouse gas emitters on a per capita basis.

Australias main opposition party in June announced plans to build the country's first nuclear power plants as early as 2035, ensuring the major parties will be divided on how Australia curbs its greenhouse gas emissions at elections due within a year.

The parties havent gone to an election with the same carbon reduction policies since 2007.

"Australians have a choice between a renewable energy transition thats already underway creating jobs and driving down prices; or paying for an expensive nuclear fantasy that may never happen," Plibersek said.
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A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more.
The United Nations is committed to deepening its partnership with the Azerbaijani government to ensure robust climate action integration, UN Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan, Vladanka Andreeva, stated during the "29 Climate Conversations: Road to COP29" media workshop in Baku, Azernews reports.

Andreeva emphasized that the goal extends beyond supporting the COP29 chairmanship to actively involving all sectors of Azerbaijani society, including the media, to drive engagement and participation. Our aim is to firmly embed climate action into our collaboration with the Azerbaijani government, promoting it through various programs before, during, and after COP29, she said.

She reiterated the UN's dedication to a successful COP29, noting, Our primary goal is to assist the host country and the COP29 chairmanship with both organizational and substantive aspects of the conference. With just about 79 days remaining, and the chairmanship team having approximately 10.5 months to prepare, we are working diligently on multiple fronts.

Andreeva highlighted the support from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the UN Global Working Group for the COP29 presidency. She noted that Baku, set to host COP29 this November, will welcome approximately 70,000 to 80,000 international guests. The decision to hold COP29 in Azerbaijan was made at the COP28 plenary meeting in Dubai on December 11, 2023.

The UNFCCC, established at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, oversees climate action through the Conference of the Parties (COP), which convenes annually to guide the implementation of the climate agreement. The inaugural COP took place in Berlin in 1995, with its secretariat based in Bonn.
Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sok Chenda Sophea. (Photo: VNA)

In a press release issued by the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on August 23 after his attendance at the 9th MLC Foreign Ministers Meeting held in Chiang Mai, Thailand last week, Sophea highlighted the importance of this cooperation mechanism.



The press release said that the Foreign Ministers of the member countries appreciated the progress made on implementation of the substantive outcomes of the 4th MLC Leaders Meeting in December 2023 as well as the 5-year plan on Action on Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (2023-2027).



They agreed that the MLC mechanism must maintain the momentum of rapid development by deepening practical cooperation, jointly building a community of shared future of peace and prosperity among the Mekong-Lancang countries.



The Foreign Ministers encouraged complementarity between the MLC mechanism and other international and regional initiatives and cooperation strategies to achieve the MLC vision of sustainable peace, development and prosperity.



According to the press release, the Cambodian leader appreciated the substantive outcomes resulting from the implementation of projects in the Mekong subregion under the LMC Special Fund since 2017 and looks forward to effectively implementing new projects allocated for Cambodia.



Chenda Sophea said the LMC countries need to continue intensifying efforts to boost trade, investment, tourism, and green development in the region, while further strengthening agricultural cooperation, particularly with the support of advanced technology and innovation.



He added that the LMC countries should jointly tackle air pollution which poses threats not only to health but also to the region's economy, food and water security, and climate, while making collaborative efforts to combat transnational crimes, especially online scams, cybercrime, human trafficking, and other criminal activities.



The LMC countries include China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. The LMC mechanism focuses on five priority areas of cooperation, namely connectivity, production capacity, cross-border economic cooperation, water resources management, and agriculture and poverty reduction./.


By Sarah Nandi, McGill University | 

Bangladesh is experiencing a seismic shift after 18 years of Awami League rule ended abruptly due to intensive student protests. This upheaval, and the crackdowns that resulted in the deaths of more than 300 protesters, forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to flee the country and ushered in an interim government.

But amid this recent political turmoil, the fate of the nearly one million Rohingya refugees residing in the Coxs Bazar camp in southeastern Bangladesh has grown uncertain.

For years, Bangladesh has grappled with deepening domestic challenges, most notably increasing inequality, nepotism and contested elections. However, the current moment offers tentative hope, as the new government seems committed to providing justice to the protesters, to reducing inequality and to adhering to human rights norms.

Substantial challenges

The new government faces a steep challenge.

Rohingya refugees continue to languish in a deteriorating security situation. With reports of kidnappings and forced conscription in neighbouring Myanmar, the arrivals of war-wounded refugees from that country have increased.

Following a military coup in 2021, Myanmar has been embroiled in a civil war that has been particularly pronounced in the multi-ethnic Rakhine state, where the Arakan Army has exacerbated violence against Rohingya people while also fighting the Myanmari military.

This has caused more Rohingya people to flee to Bangladesh in the past year, where they have been met with diminished services due to the sharp decline in funding.

The situation demands explicit commitments from the interim government and international partners to support Rohingya women activists, to protect both Rohingya young men at risk of forcible conscription and acutely vulnerable Rohingya members of the Hijra community, and to direct the military to protect Rohingya refugees as they travel to Bangladesh.

Refugee camp violence

At present, the regime change has set off violence in and around the camps. Rather than being autonomous, refugee camps are affected by a complex combination of local and international politics that impacts both their stability and vulnerability.

After completing my doctoral field work in Bangladesh, I have observed these connections first-hand.

Institutions seen as affiliated with Hasinas former government are being treated with suspicion. International organizations operating in Coxs Bazar are on edge. Bangladeshi protesters reportedly targeted the Coxs Bazar International Organisation for Migration office because of its perceived connection with the ousted government.

Regional security is also wavering. The military and insurgent killings in western Myanmar along the border with Bangladesh, and during attempts to cross to safety to Bangladesh, have raised serious concerns.



Photo by SH Saw Myint on Unsplash



Uncertainty

Pervasive uncertainty is driving this violence.

Bangladeshi bureaucrats, especially those working within the Office of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner, are unsure of how to proceed. Many top ministry appointees have either gone into hiding or attempted to flee the country. Security forces in the border region are now focused on domestic events, leaving the Bangladesh-Myanmar border less monitored.

Humanitarian organizations and officials have also been impacted. Despite their independence from national governments, humanitarians rely on national entities for permits, supplies and security co-ordination. The current uncertainty has led some humanitarian workers to consider leaving their posts.

As a staff member of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, known as the UNHCR, recently expressed to me: I just dont know how we can deliver on services with these constant interruptions and severe stress.

Tentative hope

Amid the chaos, there is also a feeling of hope. Rohingya activists see potential in this moment of change after years of stagnation.

Amin, a 23-year-old Rohingya activist, told me: We learned a lot of lessons from the students of Bangladesh. We believe that this new government will do something to help us.

Rohingya youth have long been denied education and work opportunities. Nonetheless, theyve been instrumental in creating in-camp educational networks for Rohingya children and documenting evidence about the genocide. Most impressive, they have built a network of committed human rights defenders in the camps.

One such group, the Rohingya Student Network, recently weighed in on the regime change. They published a congratulatory letter to the new government, writing:

We express our hope that this inclusive government will not only ensure a free and fair future for Bangladesh but will also prioritize the Rohingya crisis.

Refugees International fellow and Rohingya activist Lucky Karim also praised new Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus. She urged him to bring positive changes through his leadership for the refugees being gratefully hosted by his people.

This optimism is fuelled by the unprecedented inclusion for underrepresented groups in Yunuss interim government, including for student protest movement leaders and women. It also arises from a deeper belief in Yunus himself. Though not without his own controversy, Yunus has remained a long-standing advocate for the worlds most vulnerable communities. We will wait to see, said Amin, because this government gives me some hope.

Looking ahead

As Rohingya refugees face an uncertain and hostile future, Bangladeshs rare moment of political change has both exacerbated violence and opened the door to renewed hope for Rohingya refugees.

National governments play a crucial role in securing resources and negotiating political solutions for displaced communities. Bangladeshs interim government has a complex road ahead that will require balancing the demands for justice from its citizens with the urgent needs of its refugees.

If it can manage to do so, it will truly be an unprecedented moment not only in the history of Bangladesh, but in the global governance of refugees.

Sarah Nandi, PhD Researcher, Political Science, McGill University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
By Binoy Kampmark | 

( Middle East Monitor )  In 2007, writer Tal Nitsan isolated instances where Israeli male combatants systematically used sexual violence against Palestinian women in the war of 1948. In essentially marking off such conduct from more contemporary practices, she relied on media accounts, archival sources, the reports of human rights organisations and the testimony of 25 male Israeli reserve soldiers.

Seven years later, the American feminist legal scholar Catharine MacKinnon, following a lecture in Israel in 2014, had this to say: I spoke to Palestinian women, and they testified that there are no attacks of rape by Israeli soldiers. And that, again, is an interesting question we should address: Why do men not rape in conflicts or war? And if it doesnt happen, why doesnt it happen?

A revision of such questions is long overdue and should include the current treatment by Israeli forces of Palestinian males held in custody, not to mention their strident defenders. On the night of 29 July, hundreds of right-wing Israeli activists gathered outside the Beit Lid army base. Notably present was a group of oppressively masked soldiers, identifiable by the insignia of a snake in the Star of David, usually sported by Force 100. Force 100 was created in the aftermath of the First Intifada, an Israeli army unit tasked with the express role of keeping Palestinian detainees in check and suppressing revolt in military prisons.

The unit was also involved in a violent disruption at the Sde Teiman military base in the Negev desert, where detained Palestinians from the Gaza Strip had been subjected to various forms of torture and maltreatment. The detention facility at the base had been created in the aftermath of the 7 October attacks to accommodate some 120 Hamas militants, members of the Nukhba military wing and various Palestinian civilians. Over time, the numbers from the Gaza Strip swelled by over 4,500 people.

It did not take long for grim accounts, available in both Israeli and foreign press outlets, noting instances of starvation, beatings and torture. The field hospital established near the site also featured allegations of brutality against patients. In June, it was revealed that the Israeli army was investigating the deaths of 36 detainees, vaguely attributing them to ongoing hostilities.

A number of Israeli non-government organisations filed an appeal with Israels Supreme Court seeking closure of the Sde Teiman facility, with the Association for Civil Rights in Israel arguing that the egregious violations at Sde Teiman make depriving these people of liberty blatantly unconstitutional. With matters rapidly getting out of hand for army officials, hundreds of prisoners were transferred to the Ofer Prison located in the occupied West Bank, and Ktziot, in the Negev, with the Israeli state announcing that the camp would return to its original role as a facility of interrogation and classification only.

On 16 August, Haaretz published eight anonymous testimonies in chronological order, featuring reservists and physicians. They resemble the accounts of many a torture camp in history: routine brutality, systematic dehumanisation and abundant justification from various officials. In the words of one reservist, there was a female officer who gave us a briefing on the day we arrived. She said, It will be hard for you. Youll want to pity them, but its forbidden. Remember that they are not people.

On 29 July, some ten Israeli reservists held at Sde Teiman were arrested after collectively using various ghoulish methods against a Palestinian detainee, including anal penetration with iron bars. The account was captured on a video and leaked.

Such alleged methods did not concern the protesters. The Beit Lid contingent proved noisy in demanding the release of their comrades. In doing so, there was plenty by way of venomous accusation directed at the official authorities. In holding such personnel in detention to face charges  not that these would necessarily amount to much  the smell of treason had begun to waft. The Military Advocate General [Yifar Tomer-Yerushalmi] loves Nukhba, bellowed one sign located outside Beit Lid, a pointed reference to an alleged sympathy by Israels own MAG for the Hamas unit.

Members of the Israeli parliament found appearing at the protest irresistible. I came to Sde Teiman to tell our fighters that we are with you, we will protect you, trumpeted Knesset Member Limor Son Har-Melech. We will never allow the criminal Military Advocate General to hurt you. She cares about the Nukhba terrorists and cares about their rights, instead of caring for our fighters, she is weakening our fighters. History will judge her and we will judge her too.

In a broader sense, the idea of holding Israeli soldiers to account for their brutality through standard legal processes has been a matter of performance. That the military court at Beit Lid even went so far as to hold a hearing for the soldiers  of which two were released on 30 July 30  was impressive if only for show. But the show was suitably enraging for protesters adamant that such figures could ever be held liable for committing crimes against enemies long bleached of their humanity, let alone political worth.

Outside the court, a spouse of one of the soldiers, whose name was not provided due to a gag order regarding the suspects, offered a cold dismissal of rape charges. This is a testimony of a despicable Nukhba fighter with blood on his hands, who dared to complain, and all the country is raging because of it. We shouldnt forget who our real enemy is. We are facing monsters, a terrorist organisation, and I say we will defeat them.

The sentiments of rage could also be found among various members of the Israeli cabinet. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich had no issue with the conduct recorded on the video less than the fact that it had been leaked. Nothing less than an immediate criminal investigation to locate the leakers of this trending video was required, given its tremendous damage to Israel in the world. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called the arrests shameful. Such individuals were our best heroes.

In the Knesset, a grotesque debate ensued. Arab MP, Ahmad Tibi, queried whether it was a legitimate practice to insert a stick into a persons rectum. Hanoch Milwidsky of the ruling Likud Party was unequivocal in reply: If he is a Nukhba, everything is legitimate to do! Everything!

The notion of Israeli forces being the exceptional standard bearers of civilised conduct, reluctantly engaged in violence they would otherwise wish to avoid, has vanished before the colonial settlers violent logic so commonly found in the West Bank. Be it illegal settlements or orchestrated gang rape, all is fair in hate and war against the Palestinians.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor or Informed Comment.

Binoy Kampmark is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Global, Urban and Social Studies at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia.

Via Middle East Monitor
Accordingly, there will be four weekly flights taking place every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. Airbus A321 aircraft will be used to transport passengers on the new air route.

Photo for illustration

Vietnam Airlines is the first domestic airline to open direct flights to Phnom Penh, contributing to completing a flight and trade network between Vietnam and Cambodia.

Currently, passengers who wish to fly from Hanoi to Phnom Penh must first transit via Vientiane, Laos.

To mark the launch of the flights, Vietnam Airlines is offering attractive round-trip airfares for flights with a starting price from just US$262, equivalent to more than VND6 million. The discount policy will last until September 30 and will apply to the flights departing during the October 27 to November 2 period.

In the first six months of this year, Cambodia was Vietnams fastest-growing market, increasing by 396% against pre-COVID levels, followed by India with growth of 312% and Indonesia at 177%.

Cambodia was one of the 10 largest sources of visitors for the countrys inbound tourism market between January and June.

Da Nang stimulates travel demand of Korean tourists

The Da Nang tourism industry is implementing a program to stimulate travel demand of Korean tourists, namely Enjoy Danang Again.

Korean tourists capture beautiful moments with the Enjoy Danang Again program.

Accordingly, Enjoy Danang Again has been taking place from July 15 to the end of 2024 with the aim of bringing Korean tourists who have been to Da Nang an extremely interesting experience when returning to the central coastal city with a souvenir of a lovely umbrella with stylized images of symbols.

In addition, they are given special offers at the citys prominent destinations; experiences in cuisine, shopping, spa and more.

Participants will receive souvenirs and keep the moments right at the Tourist Support Center at the International Arrivals Terminal in Da Nang International Airport.

Visitors can scan the QR code provided in publications and information pages about the program to receive incentives from service providers.

Da Nang is the first locality in Vietnam to implement this event for the Korean tourist market. Through this, the city hopes to maintain the recognition of Da Nang in the eyes of Korean tourists as a unique destination.

According to the Da Nang Department of Tourism, for many years, the Republic of Korea (RoK) has been the leading international tourist market in the city. In 2015-2019, the RoK has always been in the top three markets sending tourists to Da Nang. Since 2022, Da Nang has recorded remarkable growth in the number of Korean visitors.

In the first six months of 2024, the total number of Korean visitors staying in Da Nang reached more than 822,765, accounting for more than 41% of the total number of international visitors to the city, an increase of 40% over the same period last year.

Imports of pearls, gemstones from Singapore rise by 2.27 times

Imports of pearls, gemstones and jewelry products from Singapore increased by 2.27 times in the first seven months of 2024.

Over the past seven months, Vietnams exports to Singapore increased by 27.03%. (Photo: The Ministry of Industry and Trade)

The Trade Office of the Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore on August 21, cited the latest figures, saying that after seven months of 2024, Vietnam was Singapores 19th largest import market with a turnover of more than 4.7 billion SGD (up 27.03%) and Singapores 9th largest export market with a turnover of more than 13.61 billion SGD (up 3.93%). Vietnam remains Singapores 12th largest trading partner.

In July 2024 alone, the total import and export turnover between Vietnam and Singapore reached more than 3.1 billion SGD, a year-on-year increase of 20.91%. Exports from Vietnam to Singapore in July continued to achieve high growth of 36.25% with a value of 763.9 million SGD, while import turnover also grew at a high rate of 16.7%, worth more than 2.38 billion SGD.

In the first seven months of 2024, the two-way import and export turnover between Vietnam and Singapore reached more than 18.32 billion SGD, a year-on-year rise of 9.02%, of which exports surged sharply by 27.03%, worth more than 4.7 billion SGD and imports reached more than 13.61 billion SGD, a year-on-year increase of 3.93%.

In July 2024, all three main export groups of Vietnam to Singapore continued to increase sharply. Specifically, the group of machinery, equipment, mobile phones, components and spare parts of all kinds increased by 22.86%; reactors, boilers, machine tools and spare parts of the above machines rose by 68.21%, and glass and glass products soared by 94.61%.

Some other export groups also witnessed strong growth such as iron and steel increased by more than 12 times and optical machines, measuring instruments, medical equipment, watches, musical instruments and accessories of all kinds soared by 3 times. On the contrary, some groups had quite a sharp decline such as paper and paper products down 35.86% and clothing down 23.65%.

Among 21 groups of industries imported from Singapore, 16 groups saw positive growth. Some other groups have very strong growth rates such as tobacco and tobacco substitutes up 1.5 times and pearls, gemstones and jewelry products up nearly 2.27 times.

Hanoi provides high-quality services to welcome 4,500 Indian tourists

A group of 4,500 Indian tourists will be divided into small groups to visit Vietnam from August 27 to September 7, spending most of their time sightseeing and staying in Hanoi.

Many hotels have invited Indian chefs to prepare menus for the group of Indian travelers. (Photo: hanoimoi.vn)

The Indian group schedules to stay at about 10 high-end hotels in Hanoi. The group of tourists have high spending levels and also requires high standards. Services must be arranged at 4-5 star quality, the accommodation system and restaurants must meet standards.

Currently, units are making efforts to add a number of services suitable to the culture, needs, interests and habits of the group.

Novotel Hanoi Thai Ha Hotel has cooperated with a team of Indian chefs to prepare different regional menus that will change every day to be suitable to tastes of the tourists. Many ingredients are imported from India.

InterContinental Hanoi Landmark72 Hotel also invited Indian chefs from 5-star hotels of IHG group in India to Hanoi and support cooking of the most authentic dishes. In addition, to improve the professionalism and behavioral culture of staff, the hotel trains and helps employees participate in courses on Indian culture.

Mr. Patrick Verove, General Director of InterContinental Hanoi Landmark72 Hotel said that the menu includes many typical Indian dishes of different regions and vegetarian dishes. Indian tea and coffee are also served.

In addition to strict requirements on cuisine, the Indian delegation also has its own requirements for the venue. Melia Hanoi Hotel will be the venue for 6 gala dinners with 650 - 750 guests for each program.

Welcoming the above high-class delegation is also an opportunity to promote tourism in Hanoi and many localities. Therefore, the hotels, in addition to preparing Indian-style menus, also introduce some typical Vietnamese dishes such as pho, soft noodles, fish cakes and Vong village green rice.

According to the travel schedule in Vietnam, the 4,500 Indian tourists are expected to visit President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam, Hoa Lo Prison (Hanoi); Ha Long Bay (Quang Ninh) and Trang An Eco-tourism Area (Ninh Binh).

Asia becomes Vietnams largest cinnamon import market

Asia is Vietnams largest cinnamon import market. Indonesia and China are the two main cinnamon suppliers to Vietnam, with 148 tons and 54 tons.

According to preliminary statistics from the Vietnam Pepper and Spice Association (VPSA), Vietnams cinnamon imports in July 2024 reached 245 tons with a turnover of 0.7 million USD, down 13.1% in volume against June.

In terms of market structure, Asia is Vietnams largest cinnamon import market. In which, Indonesia and China are the two main cinnamon suppliers to Vietnam, with 148 tons and 54 tons.

Indonesia and China are the two main cinnamon suppliers to Vietnam. (Photo: congthuong.vn)

In the first seven months of the year, the country imported 2,979 tons of cinnamon, worth more than 7.1 million USD, down 75.2% in volume compared to the same period last year. Of which, imports from Indonesia reached 1,299 tons and those from China reached 1,242 tons.

In 2023, Vietnam exported nearly 90,000 tons of cinnamon, with a total export turnover of more than 260 million USD, up 14.6% in volume but down 10.7% in value compared to 2022. Vietnams main export markets in 2023 are India, the US and Bangladesh.

Global demand for spices remains high, not only in the food industry but for application in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and functional food industries. Vietnam has dozens of companies investing in modern cinnamon processing lines, producing ground cinnamon and cinnamon powder to meet market requirements.

According to statistics, Vietnams cinnamon growing area is up to 180,000 hectares in the northern mountainous provinces and the North Central Coastal region. Vietnams cinnamon bark reserves are estimated at about 900,000 - 1,200,000 tons, with an average harvest of 70,000 - 80,000 tons a year. Vietnam is also the worlds number one cinnamon exporter with a turnover of over 292 million USD in 2022.

However, in addition to domestic production, the country also imports some cinnamon from neighboring countries to serve export./.
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  Julian Borger at The Guardian reports that the first verified case of type 2 poliovirus in 25 years in Gaza, in a baby, has resulted in the paralysis of the infant. It is only the first of many if the UN is not allowed to administer vaccines to 650,000 children in the Strip, which will definitely require a ceasefire. The Israeli authorities are refusing to consider this step.

There is no cure for polio once it is contracted. Its victims can be paralyzed or can die.

Without a ceasefire, UNICEF points out, you cannot get the families to line up their children to receive the vaccine by mouth. Some 95% of the infants in Gaza need to have the vaccine administered to prevent an outbreak, and they need two doses. Without a ceasefire, the aid workers cannot even safely move around to make arrangements for giving out the doses. The aid organizations want to use Deir al-Balah to store and distribute the vaccines, but the Israeli army has just once again ordered everyone out of it and has invaded it, risking destroying the remaining medical infrastructure there. Some 250,000 Palestinians have once again been expelled from their shelters since the beginning of August.

UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini warned regarding Gaza, Delaying a humanitarian pause will increase the risk of spread among children. He suggested that some Israeli children could suffer from an epidemic, as well, but of course Israeli children have largely been vaccinated continually. Palestinian children had also been almost entirely vaccinated up until the Israeli total war on Gaza was implemented last fall.

UNICEF wrote of another war, Ukraine, UNICEF helps vaccinate over 400 million children globally against polio every year, to eradicate polio worldwide. In Ukraine, UNICEF works to secure uninterrupted availability of life-saving vaccines for children and adults and to maintain high routine immunization coverage. As the war and subsequent displacement continues, gaps in immunization coverage put childrens health at risk.

Although children in Ukraine are also at risk from polio outbreaks, the human toll of that war pales in comparison to Gaza. Some 2,000 children have been killed as a result of Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus total war on the Gaza population has blown over 15,000 children to smithereens.

Whereas Putins Russia has been massively sanctioned for its illegal occupation and warfare in Ukraine by the US and most NATO countries, Israels government, which illegally occupied Gaza in 1967 and which has shown a reckless disregard for civilian life that may amount to genocide, has been given tens of billions of dollars by the Biden administration.

Type 2 polio vaccinations are substantially down over the past ten months, since the population and the aid workers have been constantly expelled from a succession of supposed safe zones by the Israeli military, medical facilities have been destroyed, and medicine deliveries have been made difficult or impossible by the bombings, artillery barrages, machine gun fire, drone strikes, lack of fuel and general chaos deliberately inflicted on the entire population by monstrously permissive Israeli rules of engagement  which entirely disregard the value of civilian, noncombatant life.



Gaza Polio, by Juan Cole, Digital, Dream / Dreamland v. 3 / Clip2Comic, 2024

Although Israeli authorities are allowing the delivery of the refrigerated trucks necessary for the vaccines, as well as the vaccine doses themselves, through the Kerem Shalom crossing, the aid workers are pointing out that these steps do no good at all unless there is a ceasefire that allows the aid workers to move around and give the vaccines to the children. Borger quotes Lazzarini as saying, It is not enough to bring the vaccines into Gaza and protect the cold chain. To have an impact, the vaccines must end up in the mouths of every child under the age of 10.

UNICEF points out that The world has made tremendous progress against polio in the past three decades, vaccinating over 2.5 billion children and reducing cases by 99 percent. But this progress is fragile, and we cannot afford to lose focus. Millions of children are still missing out on routine vaccinations because of pandemic disruptions, conflict, climate disasters and displacement.

It quotes Yuliia Dovjanych, Head Doctor at the Dbayu medical centre Infectious diseases do not disappear during the war. The fight against them is our medical front where we must remain resilient. Therefore, we must continue to get vaccinated, take care of our health and the health of our children! Some 11,520 civilians have been killed in the Ukraine war, whereas over 40,000 people have been killed in Gaza, a majority of them women and children.

At the medical front in Gaza, the war to save the children is going very badly. It will be lost without a ceasefire.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 23, 2024) - European Energy Metals (TSXV: FIN) (FSE: W28) ("European Energy Metals" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement of up to 16,000,000 units ("Units") at a price of $0.125 per Unit to raise gross proceeds of up to $2,000,000 (the "Private Placement"). Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company and one half of a common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to acquire one additional common share at an exercise price of $0.20 for a period of two years following closing of the Private Placement.

The Company may pay finder's fees in the amount of 7% cash and issue finder's warrants equal to 7% of the number of Units placed by such finder on all or a portion of the Private Placement. The finder's warrants will have the same terms of the Warrants forming part of the Units. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Private Placement for exploration work on its properties and for working capital. Completion of the Private Placement remains subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

About European Energy Metals Corp.

European Energy Metals Corp. is a junior mining company currently focussed on the Lithium-Cesium-Tantalum Finnish Pegmatite Project in central Finland. Governing bodies in Europe and Finland are legislating environmentally friendly and energy independent laws and policies. One of the key components is access to REE and, specifically, lithium. The Company's concessions are located within 15 kms of the Keliber mine and production complex, currently under construction and expected to begin production in H2 2025. The Company cautions the presence of lithium mineralization on Keliber's properties is not necessarily indicative of similar mineralization on the Company's mineral reservations.

An estimated 600 million investment by Keliber's parent company Sibanye-Stillwater Limited (NYSE: SBSW) in partnership with the Finnish Minerals Group (www.mineralsgroup.fi) is underway in the Kautinen Region and will see the development of open-pit and underground mining from several deposits, construction of a central spodumene concentrator plant and a lithium hydroxide chemical plant at tidewater in Kokkola. When completed, this complex will comprise a complete hard-rock spodumene pegmatite lithium supply chain (source: www.sibanyestillwater.com).

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information is typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Such statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the regarding completion of the Private Placement, the use of proceeds of the Private Placement, future results of operations, performance and achievements of the Company, including the presence of lithium mineralization at, and the exploration and development potential of, the Finnish Pegmatite. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that such expectations will prove to be correct. All such forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. This information, however, is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from this forward-looking information include the Company's ability to find suitable investors for the Private Placement or to obtain the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, management's discretion to reallocate the proceeds of the Private Placement as well as risks inherent in exploration as well as those described under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's most recently filed MD&A. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or revise the forward-looking information contained in this news release, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.




Saturday, August 24, 2024 - Following days and nights of painstaking investigations, CRIB detectives based at Nairobi Regional Headquarters augmented by their Ruai counterparts have registered another major breakthrough following the arrest of Hassan Maina Murigi, whose investigations have revealed to be a notorious receiver of stolen hardware goods.

His arrest follows an earlier arrest of John Nderitu Mugo at Kangemi in Dagoretti after it was established that he had been hired by Derrick Namukowa to ferry loaders using his matatu Reg. No. KCB 716F to a location within Ruai from where the loaders were transfered to a waiting Isuzu lorry Reg. No. KCQ 028D whose driver was identified as James Wachira Kinyua.

Having completed phase one of their mission, the ill motivated group of thugs proceeded to Patnet Steel Makers godowns in the wee hours of Thursday 27/07/2024 where they gained entry and stole assorted goods but not before fatally wounding one of the employees.

With the goods well tucked into their lorry, the hoodlums proceeded to Kariobangi Light Industries and offloaded the said goods to the premises of Hassan Maina Murigi where the they scattered to different directions after they were paid for their criminal activities.

From there on, Murigi started selling the stolen goods but not before detectives pounced on him and recovered iron sheets and barbed wires whose batch numbers matched the lot that was stolen at Patnet Steel Makers' godowns.

The suspects will be arraigned as detectives continue their relentless war on such economic saboteurs.





The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Saturday, August 24, 2024 - Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya has told Hustler Fund loan defaulters to repay their loans before he catches them.

While addressing delegates during the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSEA) annual conference, Oparanya disclosed the governments intention to track all hustler fund defaulters.

He revealed that 19 million of the 21 million Kenyans who borrowed the hustler fund defaulted on the loan.

According to the CS, the Hustler Fund was public money that should be borrowed and repaid to allow other applicants to also benefit from it.

This alert fund was very innovative and digital but the problem we have had with hustler fund is that in the first round, 21 million people borrowed it but out of that, 19 million people disappeared with the money and only 2 million are remaining, Oparanya revealed.

The CS revealed that the government was in the process of coming up with a digital system for tracking the location of the Fund defaulters.

So those 19 million people, I am coming for you to make sure that you pay so that others can benefit and even yourselves can benefit, Oparanya stated.

We are coming up with a system that will now track you to know where you are, you will soon see someone knocking on your door telling you to pay back the hustler fund.

Similarly, CS Oparanya disclosed that the government was planning to reward all regular borrowers who had not yet defaulted on the loan.

According to the former Governor, there were Kenyans who had already been rewarded with a loan limit of up to two million shillings for borrowing regularly.

Kenyans will be waiting to see what will happen considering that he is the one who incited Kenyans not to pay the Hustler Fund loans before President William Ruto put him in charge.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Saturday, August 24, 2024 - Wiper Democratic Movement (WDM) Leader Kalonzo Musyoka faced backlash after he met with U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman at the SKM command centre.

Taking to his official X account yesterday, Kalonzo shared photos of his meeting with Whitman, stating that they held discussions on various issues, including the current state of politics in the country.

"It was a pleasure to host U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman at the SKM Command Centre early this morning. We discussed various issues, including the current political situation in the country.

"I look forward to our continued engagements," Kalonzo remarked.

Moments later, the U.S. ambassador also shared a photo of the meeting, stating, "I always enjoy speaking with Kalonzo Musyoka about U.S.-Kenya relations and the important role of political opposition in advancing democracy."

However, a section of Kenyans online seemed not to be pleased with the meeting, as they called out the former vice president.

According to a section of netizens, the Wiper leader had no business meeting with the U.S. ambassador as he was not in government.

Another section claimed that Kalonzo was a sell-out, alleging that the former vice president may have set his sights on joining President William Rutos government just like former Prime Minister Raila Odinga did shortly after meeting the U.S. Ambassador.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Saturday, August 24, 2024 - Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma has urged members of the Kikuyu community to stop wishing former Prime Minister Raila Odinga bad luck as he vies for the African Union Chairperson (AUC) seat.

Raila, 80, is contesting for the powerful continental job which is currently occupied by former Mali Prime Minister Mousa Faki.

With Faki retiring in February 2025, Raila aims to fill his shoes, and President William Ruto has launched a fierce, taxpayer-funded campaign to ensure Raila becomes the next AUC Chairperson.

However, according to Kaluma, while many people wish Raila well in his new venture, some within the Kikuyu community are jealous and want him to lose

The ODM lawmaker reminded the Kikuyu community that it's the African heads of state who will vote for Raila, not them.

He also told the people from the mountain region that while they continue to oppose President Ruto, the Luos will firmly stand by him, no matter what.

Why do Kikuyus on X (Twitter) hate Raila Odinga yet they did not, have not, and can never vote for him? When did Raila covenant to always save you from your electoral choices?

"Stop your Ruto must go, Gachagua must stay nonsense. For the sake of Kenya, we're with Ruto to the end, Kaluma stated.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Saturday, August 24, 2024 - Vocal University of Nairobi President Rocha Madzao was allegedly abducted on Friday night as he was going home.

Earlier in the day, some suspected stage agents had tried to arrest him within the University premises but his fellow students intervened.

He left campus at 8pm and wrote a message to a friend at 9:18 pm informing him that he was in a matatu heading home.

At 9:35 pm, he called the same friend and informed him that some suspected police officers were bothering him.

His call abruptly ended after 23 seconds before he could name the location.

His phone has been switched off since then.

It is suspected that he was abducted for rejecting the proposed University funding model.
















Saturday, August 24, 2024 - President William Ruto has once again made the Gen Zs very angry following his dramatic shift where he has reappointed former Cabinet Secretaries Eliud Owalo and Moses Kuria to significant new roles, just months after dismissing them in response to Gen Zs' demands.

This move signals a renewed focus on rewarding his loyalists despite Kenyans being up in arms over previous appointments.

Ruto has elevated Eliud Owalo, previously the Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communication & Digital Economy, to the role of Deputy Chief of Staff for Performance & Delivery Management.

Owalos new role is positioned at a ministerial level, emphasizing his responsibility for overseeing the effective implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the government's priority projects.

Moses Kuria, who was formerly the Cabinet Secretary for Trade and Public Service, has been appointed as a Senior Advisor in the Presidents Council of Economic Advisors.

As a Senior Advisor, Kuria will provide high-level economic guidance and strategic advice, contributing to the formulation and execution of policies intended to invigorate Kenyas economic landscape.

The reappointments come amid ongoing scrutiny of Rutos administration and its ability to fulfill its economic promises.

On the other hand, Ruto has appointed political and digital strategist Dennis Itumbi to head the Creative Economy and Special Projects in the Executive Office of the President.

It must be noted that Itumbi played a crucial role in Ruto's 2022 election victory and might want him around to help him in again in 2027.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Saturday, August 24, 2024 - President William Ruto has ignored calls from young Kenyans, commonly known as Gen Z, who in June urged him to fire arrogant cabinet secretaries like Moses Kuria, who was then the Public Service CS.

Though Ruto appeared to fire his cabinet after Gen Z nearly overthrew his government, he is slowly reappointing those he dismissed, making it seem like a return to the status quo.

On Friday, Ruto, in a Gazette Notice, appointed Moses Kuria and former ICT CS, Eliud Owalo to senior posts in his administration.

Kuria was appointed as a Senior Adviser in the President's Council of Economic Advisers, while Owalo was named Deputy Chief of Staff, Performance and Delivery Management.

To support the Executive Office of the President in delivering its mandate, His Excellency the President has, with the approval of the Public Service Commission (PSC), appointed Eliud Owalo, as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Performance and Delivery Management, Head of Public Service Felix Koskei said in a statement.

To bolster implementation of the Bottom Up Economic Agenda Plan by the broad-based government, the Head of State and Government has caused the appointment of Moses Kuria, as a Senior Adviser in his Council of Economic Advisers."

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Saturday, August 24, 2024 President William Ruto should prepare for another bruising battle with the Gen Zs, especially the university students.

This is after Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino incited students to protest against the new university funding model, which he said was discriminatory.

In a statement on his X account, Babu Owino vehemently opposed the funding model, urging students to reject it in its entirety.

According to the lawmaker, the new university funding model is preventing underprivileged students from access to education.

Students should demonstrate against the new university funding model that is denying needy students access to education, Babu stated.

Babus remarks came in response to Chief Justice Martha Koomes criticism of the funding model.

Koome had earlier noted the challenges faced by students who, despite meeting the qualifications for university admission, are unable to afford the fees.

She pointed out that while taxpayer money is being allocated to various government officials for bursaries, many deserving students are left struggling.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
I want you to be proud of me, my intern replied when I asked what he wanted to get out of the rest of his year. We were wrapping up the first two weeks of Julyhis first two weeks of being a doctorand having our end-of-rotation feedback session. However, he had just flipped the tables on me. His comment was the type of jolting response that made me rethink my performance as an attending. As I have matured from a young, determined doctor to an older, occasionally paternal, attending, I had not realized the importance of pride and why being proud is important.

The beginning of July is a time to be proud. Academic medical centers are filled with excitement and trepidation as new classes of interns start, and other residents ascend to the next level of responsibility. This was my twenty-fifth stint doctoring at the beginning of July, and I have become increasingly proud of my students and residents. Becoming a doctor is a dream of many people, yet not everyone who has this dream is able to become a physician. We do not celebrate this achievement enough. For some learners, we have specific reasons to be proud.

Consider one of my students. She is a Black woman. As we introduced ourselves to patients on rounds, several patientsspecifically older, Black womenlit up when she introduced herself. While to me, she is just another student on my team, to them, she represents something more.

These women were born in Virginia in the 1940s and 1950s. They lived under segregation. They experienced separate and equal and know it was separate but not equal. They experienced the pain of integration when explicit segregation was replaced by tacit discrimination. They saw the election of a Black president and the subsequent backlash. Now, before them, they see a young Black woman who may represent a dream they may not have been allowed to dream, much less achieve. They are proud of her, and we can be proud of that.

But the story of this students achievement is only a part of the intersecting narratives in a hospital. We also cared for a patient whose tattoos endorsed white supremacy. He had lived a troubled life including prolonged incarceration. Perhaps, he is not the same person now as he was when he got those tattoos, but that did not matter to us. As a team, we talked about how we would deliver him the best care we could, whatever his tattoos might represent. We seek to hold ourselves to a standard for equity that may be higher than our broader society.

Our hospitals may be societys biggest crossroads, and that can demand a lot of us. Patients, their families, and health care workers from all different backgrounds interact with each other. We are interdependent, and diseases rarely discriminate. Even if people come to our doors with hate in their hearts, we care for them. I take pride in that.

We must be careful with pride, though. Pride is sometimes divided into authentic pride and hubristic pride. Authentic pride is what I feel when I see the faces of my Black patients light up when they see a learner of color. Authentic pride is when I see my learners leave our two weeks together closer to their aspiration of being a good doctor. Authentic pride is true achievement.

Hubristic pride is not based on current achievement but rather on beliefs or past achievements. For example, we have built a better health care system in the United States. It is more equitable, more technologically advanced, and more able to save people from all sorts of maladies. Yet, we know it has problems: too many mothers and babies die, we lose patients to addiction, and bureaucracy and cost hamper care. To take pride in the U.S. health care system would be hubris and ignore the fact that authentic pride requires us to keep getting better.

As I enter my twenty-fifth year as a physician, I have a lot to be proud of. I have helped many patients and trained countless learners to be better doctors. While I take pride in these accomplishments, I need to remember the real goal is to continue to get better. Someday, I may be an older adult in a hospital bed, and the team may come around to see me. I know I will feel proud of them, their accomplishments, and all the obstacles they may have overcome to be at my bedside. For the moment, I want to keep getting better as a doctor and a teacher as we work toward better care for everyone. I hope I will make my team proud.

Alan Dow is an internal medicine physician.
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!

Join Deborah C. Smith, a nurse who shares her courageous battle with T-cell lymphocytic leukemia and aplastic anemia. Diagnosed in 2017, Deborah navigated extreme fatigue, frequent transfusions, and challenging chemotherapy regimens before finding hope in ATGAM equine immunotherapy. Despite facing severe side effects and a subsequent diagnosis of congestive heart failure, Deborahs resilience and unique perspective as both a nurse and a patient shine through. Her story offers valuable insights into managing serious illness and underscores the importance of patient advocacy and informed decision-making.

Deborah C. Smith is a nurse.

She discusses the KevinMD article, Battling aplastic anemia: my journey with ATGAM equine therapy.

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Telecoms, travel and tableware seem to be the three industrial sectors that get the Irish consumer's goat the most, it has been revealed.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has published which firm the nation most complains about, and unsurprisingly media providers are by far the top of the list with three companies  Eir (1st), Sky (3rd), and Vodafone (4th)  all making the top five.

In second place is Europes largest, if not favourite, airline Ryanair, whilst sneaking into fifth place, just four calls shy of Vodafone is the homeware giant Harvey Norman.

The CCPC is the national consumer helpline which offers free, independent information and support on consumer rights and personal finance.

The top five sectors the CCPC was contacted about between January and June were vehicles and transport, which generated 2,904 contacts; telecommunications, 1,534; home building and improvements, 1,228; holidays and travel, 1,110; and clothing, footwear and accessories, 1,018.

Eir was the company most frequently identified by callers to the CCPC helpline with 356 contacts, followed by Ryanair on 269 contacts.

In third place was Sky with 254 contacts followed by Vodafone which was mentioned by 239 contacts while Harvey Norman was in fifth place on 234 contacts.

It can be tricky for consumers to understand their rights when something breaks down or a delivery doesnt show up, and thats where the CCPC can help, said Grainne Griffin, CCPC Director of Communications.

An informed consumer is an empowered consumer, and knowing your rights can make life easier when things go wrong.

Traders who break the law can face fines and prosecution. Our enforcement officers use this helpline data to identify serious breaches of the law and patterns of non-compliance.

In total, 4,900 consumers were referred to the Small Claims Court, almost 1,000 more than the same period in 2023. Topping the list of sectors most referred to the court were home building and improvements, with 624 consumers referred; and vehicles and transport, with 588 referred.

The Small Claims Court is only open to claims for 2,000 or less, and this is out of step with many of the most basic and unavoidable expenses faced by consumers today, said Ms Griffin.

This needs to change and we are advocating for this limit to be increased. The report also reveals that 1,990 consumers contacted the CCPC with a question about personal finance.

There were notable increases in consumer contacts relating to motor insurance and loans, while the page on PCPs (Personal Contract Plans) was the most-visited personal finance page on the CCPC website in the first half of this year.

For consumer queries and complaints, contact the CCPC helpline on 01 402 5555 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm) or via our contact us form or email ask@ccpc.ie
Kildare-based Equine MediRecord will supply Racing Victoria a new system within their equine welfare software platform for all the horses racing in the three largest races in the Australian Spring Racing Carnival, the Melbourne Cup, Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup in 2024.

This will include a new version of the Equine MediRecord platform to help not only the domestic Australian horses running in the races but all the international entries, so the trainers and veterinarians responsible can more easily use the system to satisfy the carnivals veterinary protocols.

The company sells and maintains a revolutionary software platform which allows for the full veterinary history of the horse to be recorded securely, ensuring the best possible horse welfare as well as aiding with crucial anti-doping procedures.

Once records are entered into the system they cannot be altered.

We are thrilled about our partnership with Racing Victoria and doing all we can to help again ensure that the best horse welfare and transparency protocols are followed, said CEO Pierce Dargan.

We are excited to deploy a new version of our Equine MediRecord system with the support of Racing Victoria which will combine pre-travel and pre-race equine welfare protocols into the one system. We hope this partnership with Racing Victoria will drive adoption of our system by more equine events across Australia who want to ensure the best equine welfare and anti-doping protocols are being followed at their events.
The 'Waterboys' starring Jim Rohan and Gary Comerford was broadcast in living rooms across Co Kilkenny and beyond last Monday night on RTE2.

If you missed it, the shortscreen which documents the lives of the two inspirational GAA men is available to watch by clicking here!

Jim and Gary, two well-known and much-loved Kilkenny characters made their on-stage debut in 2019, performing in the same show at the Watergate Theatre to widespread acclaim.

Away from the stage, the two men are hurling fanatics and are Carrickshock's most loyal supporters. A support acknowledged by the South Kilkenny club last December when the newly opened community walking track in the area was named 'The Waterboys Mile'.

The pair have a double life. They are actors by day but by night they are The Water Boys for Carrickshock hurling team.

As kids they dreamed of raising an All-Ireland hurling trophy in Croke Park. Their bodies may have prevented them from playing for their club, but nothing will stop these striped crusaders from being part of their team.

The Waterboys is an extraordinary, real-life story about learning to walk, learning to fall and learning to follow your dreams.

Jim and Gary would also love your support in raising funds for their beloved club Carrickshock by buying a ticket for the club's upcoming development fundraiser draw. - CLICK HERE FOR MORE
Three men, aged in their 20s, have been arrested following the seizure of a firearm in Dublin.

Gardai are investigating following the seizure of a firearm and ammunition in Finglas, Dublin 11, on Friday, August 23.

During the course of routine patrols, Gardai from the Divisional Drugs Unit carried out a search of a vehicle in the Kippure Park area of Finglas and recovered a suspected pistol along with ammunition.

Three men were arrested and are currently detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939 at Garda Stations in the Dublin Metropolitan Region.

The firearm and ammunition will now be sent to The Garda Ballistics Unit for further analysis.

Investigations are ongoing.

Speaking about this seizure, Chief Superintendent Majella Armstrong said: "I would like to commend the Gardai involved in this seizure for helping to ensure another dangerous firearm has been taken off our streets.

"This was the result of ongoing proactive patrols in the DMR West and is another example of the tireless work carried out by Gardai patrolling our streets every day to help keep people safe."
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A nationwide union of nurses and medical workers said Saturday that their members have voted to launch a strike next week, calling for a pay raise and the normalization of the crippled medical system amid a prolonged walkout by trainee doctors, its officials said Saturday.

The Korean Health and Medical Workers' Union, which has some 30,000 nurses and medical workers at 61 hospitals as members, said more than 91 percent of its members supported the strike plan, according to the officials.

If an ongoing arbitration by the labor relations committee fails, the unionized workers plan to launch simultaneous strikes Thursday.

The union has been urging the hospitals to swiftly resolve the medical vacuum caused by a monthslong walkout by junior doctors and agree on a 6.4 percent increase in wages.

About 12,000 trainee doctors have left their worksites since late February in protest of the government's plan to boost the number of medical students.

Even if the union decides to strike, nurses and medical workers in essential services will continue to work in accordance with the law, union officials said. (Yonhap)
The Presidential Office said Saturday it was in close discussions with the U.S. government to resolve a dispute between the two countries' companies over a nuclear power plant construction project in the Czech Republic.

"We are in talks with the U.S. government through various channels to smoothly resolve the dispute," an official at the office said, referring to the conflict between the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) and American energy firm Westinghouse Electric.

A South Korean consortium, led by KHNP, was named as the preferred bidder for a nuclear power plant project in the Czech Republic last month, which is estimated at around 24 trillion won ($18.06 billion).

If a deal is finalized, it will mark the first time since 2009 that Korea has won an overseas nuclear power plant construction project, following one to build the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the United Arab Emirates.

But the project is expected to be involved in an ongoing court case that Westinghouse raised against KHNP in 2022 to prevent the Korean company from exporting nuclear power plants to other nations under a U.S. export control regulation.

Last year, a U.S. district court dismissed the lawsuit, determining Westinghouse is not qualified to take the legal move as it "lacks a private cause of action," but the U.S. energy firm appealed the ruling.

The Presidential Office said it plans to "closely consult" with the U.S. on the matter to successfully export Korea's nuclear power plant to the European country.

"The governments of Korea and the United States have also reached a consensus that the two sides need to cooperate on all aspects of energy, from nuclear power to renewable energies, including hydrogen," the presidential office said.

President Yoon Suk Yeol's staff are arranging a visit to the Czech Republic next month to deepen bilateral economic ties and discuss the nuclear power project. (Yonhap)
Former forest minister debunks activists' belief in tree conservation

By Ko Dong-hwan

Timber harvesting is crucial for increasing Koreas self-sufficiency in timber, which the country has been heavily importing, according to the former Korea Forest Service (KFS) minister, who is critical of environmentalists for their opposition to logging and advocating for total preservation.

Park Chong-ho, who served the national forest watchdog's top job from 2019 to 2021, said that if the trees are left unharvested, the countrys reliance on timber imports across various industries will persist. Aged trees that have not been cut down will also eventually lose their carbon-reducing function and prevent healthier forest habitats from improving biodiversity, he added.

According to the KFS, Korea began importing timber in 1965. The volume of imports quickly increased, reaching the first $1 billion annual import mark in 1979. In the same year, exports totaled $590 million.

While Korea's highest annual timber exports reached $610 million in 1990, imports first exceeded $2 billion in 1993. The import volume then surpassed $3 billion in 2014, $4 billion in 2016, and $5 billion in 2017. Last year, the country imported $5 billion worth of timber and exported $180 million. As of January, Vietnam, Indonesia, and China were the leading exporters of timber to Korea.

The biggest volume of raw material Korea has been importing is petroleum. The second is timber, Park said during an interview with The Korea Times earlier this month.

In 2019, the countrys timber self-sufficiency rate was only 16 percent, meaning it imported 84 percent of the timber it used that year. Given the extensive use of timber in products such as paper, toilet paper, furniture, construction materials and even billiard balls, timber is an indispensable resource for Korea and many other countries.

Korea ranks among the highest in the world in terms of timber import volume, especially for solid wood and plywood.

Out of a maximum mandatory contribution fee of $3.79 million charged by the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) to its member states based on their annual tropical timber imports, Korea was billed over $234,000 in 2021. This amount was the fourth-highest among the organizations member states. Among the 39 countries in the ITTOs consuming group (distinct from the 37 producing countries), Korea ranked behind only China ($1.14 million), Japan ($532,000), and the United States ($286,000).

Those in the countrys timber industry have long been arguing why the government isnt more actively harnessing the countrys own forests to supply domestic markets in need of timber, said Park. Koreas timber demand has been between 30 million cubic meters and 35 million cubic meters each year.

We must consume timber responsibly, self-supplying what we can and importing what we cannot. We must expand domestic timber production in that matter.

Conserving trees?

To manage forests effectively, trees should be regularly cut down rather than uprooted, allowing woodland to regenerate in a healthier condition, Park said.

Despite what some believe, thick forestation hampers biodiversity, he added, because it blocks sunlight which is a source of life.

In 1980, harvesting of aged forests in the northwestern U.S. threatened the spotted owl species. In response, authorities and scientists advocated for a harvest ban, which the government implemented. Surprisingly, about 20 years later, the owl population increased in areas where trees had been cut down rather than left standing, Park said.

To conserve forests, we now leave 10 percent of each area untouched during harvesting. This preserved portion will serve as a natural habitat.

The KFS has designated 50 percent of the country's forests as artificially managed, where trees can be cut down and replanted. Unless the forests are bulldozed for agriculture or left barren, the risk of landslides in these areas is close to zero, according to Park.

Out of over 2,100 harvested areas in the country that are five hectares or larger, only less than 30 were found to have unstable terrain with some risks, Park said.

Compared to natural forests, artificial forests produce up to five times more timber. New Zealand, with its 300,000-hectare artificial Monterey pine forests, exports the worlds biggest volume of pine.
A group of business leaders, including Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, will accompany President Yoon Suk Yeol on his visit to the Czech Republic next month, industry sources said Saturday.

Yoon's staff are arranging the visit to the Czech Republic to deepen bilateral economic ties after the European country selected a Korean consortium in July for a major nuclear plant project.

The Korean consortium led by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power was named the preferred bidder for the Czech project, which is estimated at around 24 trillion won ($17.3 billion).

If a deal is finalized, it will mark the first time since 2009 that Korea has won an overseas nuclear power plant construction project, following one to build the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the United Arab Emirates.

LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, SK Group Chey Tae-won and other high-profile business leaders will also travel to the Czech Republic as part of Yoon's economic delegation.

The presidential office said earlier the two countries will discuss a wide range of issues in the finance, energy, science and education sectors for potential cooperation, and may sign a Trade and Investment Promotion Framework (TIPF). (Yonhap)
Italian divers retrieved the body of British tech magnate Mike Lynch's 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, who was the last person still unaccounted for after the family's luxury yacht sank this week off Sicily.

Seven people, including Lynch himself, died when the 56-metre-long (184-foot) boat, the Bayesian, capsized during a fierce, pre-dawn storm off Porticello, near Palermo, Monday.

Fifteen people survived, including Lynch's wife, whose company owned the Bayesian, and the yacht's captain.

As the rescue operation came to an end, attention switched to the official investigation into the disaster.

The public prosecutor's office of Termini Imerese, headed by Ambrogio Cartosio, is looking into possible charges of negligent shipwreck and multiple homicides, judicial sources told Reuters.

The captain James Cutfield and the other survivors have been questioned by the Coast Guard on behalf of prosecutors. None of them have commented publicly on how the ship went down.

So far, nobody has been placed under formal investigation.

Cartosio is due to hold a news conference Saturday.

Hannah Lynch's body was discovered Friday by divers who have been scouring the submerged vessel for the past five days. The five other dead passengers were recovered Wednesday and Thursday, while the body of the only crew member who died, onboard chef Recaldo Thomas, was found Monday.

"The Lynch family is devastated, in shock and is being comforted and supported by family and friends," a spokesperson for the family said Friday, in their first public comment since the yacht sank.

"Their thoughts are with everyone affected by the tragedy. They would like to sincerely thank the Italian Coast Guard, emergency services and all those who helped in the rescue," the statement said.

The fire brigade said their team of more than 40 specialists had carried out 123 dives to the wreck of the Bayesian, which is lying apparently intact on its side at a depth of 50 metres (164 feet).

The sinking has puzzled naval marine experts who say a boat like the Bayesian, built by Italian high-end yacht manufacturer Perini, should have withstood the storm and in any case should not have sunk as quickly as it did.

Giovanni Costantino, CEO of The Italian Sea Group , which owns Perini, told Reuters the shipwreck was the result of a string of "indescribable, unreasonable errors" made by the crew, and ruled out any design or construction failings.

Pulling the Bayesian out of the sea may help investigators determine what happened, but the operation is likely to be complex and costly.

Nick Sloane, a South African engineer who led the operation to salvage the Costa Concordia cruise liner that sank in 2012, said in Italian media interviews Friday that the operation would cost up to 15 million euros ($16.7 million).

He told the daily La Repubblica that salvaging the yacht would take six to eight weeks, including preparation work, and would have to be completed by mid-October, without specifying the reasons for the timing.

Bringing the yacht to the surface will have to be done "very, very slowly", and might take a couple of days, he said.

Lynch, 59, was one of the U.K.'s best-known tech entrepreneurs and had invited friends to join him on the yacht to celebrate his June acquittal in a U.S. fraud trial.

Among those who also died in the wreck were Lynch's lawyer Chris Morvillo and Jonathan Bloomer, a Morgan Stanley banker who had appeared as a character witness in the case on his behalf. (Reuters)




A woman from India disappeared in Malaysias capital Friday when pavement collapsed beneath her and she fell into a sinkhole where she may have been swept away by an underground water current, according to police.

The woman plunged into the 8-meter-deep (26-foot-deep) sinkhole in the Dang Wangi area of the Malaysian capital, where local police chief Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman said witnesses saw the paved walkway suddenly collapse under her while she was walking.

The woman was identified as a 48-year-old tourist from India.

Rescuers barricaded part of the area and used an excavator to clear debris in the sinkhole, but there was no immediate sign of the victim. Sulizmie declined to comment when asked about the possible condition of the woman, or the cause of the incident.

Kuala Lumpur police chief Rusdi Mohamad Isa said there was a strong water flow underground and that the woman may have been swept away.

Rusdi was quoted by the national Bernama news agency as saying the search required careful planning because it involves public infrastructure. For instance, if pipes or drains were shut down, it could cause flooding in the area, he said. We cant act recklessly, he added.

Rusdi said a soil slip was reported last year in the same location where the sinkhole appeared but that it was fixed. He said businesses in the area have been advised to close temporarily for safety reasons.

The woman had come to Malaysia with her husband and several friends about two months ago for a vacation and they were due to return home Saturday, he said. (AP)
Russia and Ukraine exchanged drone, missile and artillery attacks Saturday as Kyiv marked its third Independence Day since Moscow's full-scale invasion.

Two people were killed and four were wounded, including a baby, when Russian forces shelled the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, the capital of the partially occupied Kherson region, according to local officials.

Ukraines air force said it had intercepted and destroyed seven drones over the countrys south. Russian long-range bombers also attacked the area of Zmiinyi (Snake) Island with four cruise missiles, while the wider Kherson region was also struck by aerial bombs.

In Russia, the Defense Ministry said Saturday that air defenses had shot down seven drones overnight.

Five drones were downed over the southwestern Voronezh region bordering Ukraine, wounding two people, regional Gov. Aleksandr Gusev said. News outlet Astra published videos appearing to show explosions at an ammunition depot after being hit by a drone. The videos could not be independently verified.

Two people were wounded in a drone attack in the Belgorod region, also bordering Ukraine, regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said. Local authorities did not report any casualties in the Bryansk region, where the fifth drone was intercepted.

In the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces launched their surprise offensive into Russia two weeks ago, regional Gov. Alexei Smirnov said Saturday that three missiles were shot down overnight and another four on Saturday morning.

Russian air defenses shot down two more drones on Saturday morning, Russias Defense Ministry said  one over the Kursk region and one over the Bryansk region.

Ukraine marked its 33rd Independence Day Saturday as its war against Russias aggression reaches a 30-month milestone. No festivities are planned and instead Ukrainians will mark the day with commemorations for civilians and soldiers killed in the war.

Polands President Andrzej Duda arrived by train early Saturday to Kyiv in a symbolic show of support from one of Ukraines key allies.

Videos posted by his office show him being greeted by Ukrainian officials and later paying his respects in a ceremony at the Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen for Ukraine.

Dudas visit to Kyiv, his fifth since February 2022, sends a message that Warsaws support for Ukraine remains strong as the war drags on for the third year.

Poland, located to Ukraines west, has donated arms and become a hub for Western weapons destined for Ukraine. It has also welcomed tens of thousands of Ukrainians who fled the war. It hosts the most Ukrainian refugees outside of the country after Germany.

A trade dispute over Ukrainian grain that dragged down ties last year, and historical grievances between the two countries, sometime provoke bad feelings, particularly among Poles who remember a World War II-era massacre by Ukrainian nationalists. (AP)
Najaf Ahmadov, Chairman of the Congress of Azerbaijanis of Dnepropetrovsk Province in Ukraine, expressed pride in the inclusion of Azerbaijan's liberated territories in the September 1 elections to the Milli Majlis, Azernews reports.

In a statement to the Election Independent Media Center "Election 2024," Ahmadov highlighted this milestone as a significant affirmation of Azerbaijans sovereignty and restored territorial integrity.

Ahmadov emphasized that this development marks a historic moment, as it guarantees the right to vote across the entire territory of Azerbaijan for the first time. He praised Azerbaijan's democratic election tradition, noting that the upcoming elections will adhere to international standards.

Azeris in Ukraine are closely monitoring the electoral process in our homeland, Ahmadov remarked. We observe that the pre-election campaign is being conducted transparently and in accordance with democratic principles, with fair conditions for all candidates. This democratic environment is evident not only within Azerbaijan but also beyond its borders.
Frank Zappas rich musical and cultural legacy, and which children have a right to profit off it, have recently become the subject of a public and contentious family battle.

The children of Frank and Gail Zappa  Moon Unit, Dweezil, Ahmet and Diva  were left unequal shares of the Zappa Family Trust, which owns the rights to a massive trove of music and other creative output by the songwriter, filmmaker and producer  more than 60 albums were released during Zappas lifetime and 40 posthumously.

Thanks to a decision by their mother, who died in 2015, Ahmet, 42, and his younger sister, Diva, 36, share control of the trust  to the dismay and anger of their two older siblings, Dweezil, 46, and Moon, 48, who received smaller portions.

But each inherited equal levels of their fathers independent spirit, a sensibility that is seeing renewed attention due to the arrival of the documentary Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words.

Below is a look at what the Zappa kids are up to now.

Moon Unit Zappa

Moon Unit Zappa (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

The eldest Zappa child is arguably the most well-known, due in large part to her teenage star turn on Valley Girl. The song, a collaboration between father and daughter that appeared on Franks 1982 album Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch, poked fun at the California Valleyspeak dialect unique to teenage girls in the San Fernando Valley at the time.

In the intervening decades, Moon has continued to live a creative life, appearing on such TV series as Curb Your Enthusiasm, Greys Anatomy and How I Met Your Mother. More recently, she voiced a character on the Foxs animated show High School USA! Moon writes for film and television, does stand-up comedy and recently held a storytelling show in Portland, Ore. The artist is also very involved in yoga.

During a recent conversation, Moon (who considers Unit to be her middle name) said that she had wanted to help spread the word about her fathers work and legacy but that Gail had mostly declined her ideas. She noted this was not a family fight over money or unfair proportions, recently tweeting, This is about having to ask permission for use on OUR last name & creative exclusion.

There were so many times that I had gone to her. I had suggested a biopic and a documentary. I had lined up all these elements, said Moon, adding that she also pitched a family reality show and a curated album of Franks music designed with teenage girls in mind. Every single idea I brought to her, she shot down.

Moon said she loved Eat That Question, the new documentary about her father, calling it such a universal story about following your calling, and how that road is not an easy road. It requires a kind of stamina and dedication, and thats a great story, whether youre a fan of that music or not.

At the top of Moons creative to-do list is a project sure to excite fans of Zappa and Los Angeles culture: I'm working on a book about growing up in my crazy house.

Dont expect her to pull any punches.

Dweezil Zappa

Dweezil Zappa (Francine Orr/ Los Angeles Times) (Dweezil Zappa practicing at his North Hollywood rehearsal space in advance of an upcoming tour )

The oldest son, perhaps best known to the public as an MTV VJ in the 1980s, is the most musically focused of the four kids. Its Dweezils beef with the trust that first drew press attention to the behind-the-scenes drama surrounding use of the Zappa name.

Specifically, the trust is trying to prevent Dweezil from touring as either Zappa Plays Zappa or Dweezil Zappa Plays Frank Zappa, citing trademark violations.

Until the tussle is settled, Dweezil will be touring under his own name, and he has dubbed that sojourn the Cease and Desist tour. He and his band will be performing his fathers work, with particular attention paid to songs from the Mothers of Inventions Freak Out!, which this week celebrated its 50th anniversary.

I, of all the people in the family, spent time with him doing something because we had it in common -- guitar [and] music.  Dweezil Zappa said of his father

Dweezil takes his job as Franks musical ambassador seriously. My concern is to just be able to continue to enjoy the music, live within the music, play the music, and express that and allow new people to discover that in a live situation, he said.

I, of all the people in the family, spent time with him doing something because we had it in common -- guitar [and] music.

In addition to playing his fathers music, the skilled guitarist has landed guest appearances over the years with such artists as Winger, Pat Boone, Spinal Tap (lead guitar on Break Like the Wind), Weird Al Yankovic and the Dixie Dregs.

Last year, Dweezil released his first solo album in nine years, Via Zammata, featuring work that mixes rock, jazz and funk. The albums highlights include the mesmerizing instrumental Truth, the jangly, Beatles-esque pop of Just the Way She Is and a Zappa-inspired experiment called Malkovich, which features vocals by John Malkovich.

Dweezil Zappa begins his Cease and Desist tour in El Prado, N.M., on July 1.

Ahmet Zappa

Ahmet Zappa (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times )

Ahmet has taken charge of day-to-day operations of the Zappa Family Trust. Although those responsibilities are myriad and include running its record labels, advancing Franks legacy and protecting his copyrights, Ahmet views his main role as serving the will of the fans and for people to make the connection to my father's entire body of work.

Running the trust is totally in my wheelhouse, he said during a recent conversation at the Zappa compound. In his professional career, hes run a division of Disney called Kingdom Comics and, with his wife, Shana Muldoon Zappa, created the Disney-owned brand Star Darlings, which is centered on empowering tween girls. Star Darlings merchandise includes books and dolls and is available at Wal-Mart, Target and other big-box stores.

What's great about Frank is that he really is the person guiding things, because he said it, he played it, he shot it. He really is the moral compass.  Ahmet Zappa

Said Ahmet, I always wanted to be a storyteller. That makes me the happiest  storytelling in any medium.

He added that when it comes to his philosophy on matters of the trust, he need only refer to his fathers blueprint. What's great about Frank is that he really is the person guiding things, because he said it, he played it, he shot it. He really is the moral compass.

Describing his father as a complicated person and an amazing musician, Ahmet said that one of his jobs as trustee was to convey the sheer breadth of Franks compositional skills. One thing that I want people to understand, which I think is underdeveloped, is the focus of him as a modern-day composer. His orchestral pieces, that aspect of his life -- more and more people want to play that music, which makes me so happy.

Ahmet added that while his dad provided posthumous guidance, he learned how to run the business by looking to his mom. Citing what my mother endured, and her business mind, and her creativity, he said, It's pretty cool to be more like Gail Zappa.

Diva Zappa

Diva Zappa (Twitter) (Twitter )

The youngest Zappa child is also the most press-shy.

Speaking on the phone from London earlier in the month, Diva had just returned from Prague, where the Czech National Symphony Orchestra had performed an evening of her fathers music. She said that one of her primary roles in the trust is to be present when her father's work is highlighted.

What do I think my responsibility is? To show up and be open, she said. Experience everything. Show up and see what happens and try to do the best I can in every situation for the good of everyone in my family. And thats including future generations. Everything we do is really to take care of all of us.

Aside from her role in ensuring Franks legacy, Diva is a visual artist and fashion designer who works with knitwear.

"When I knit, I never know what will happen, Diva told the British newspaper the Independent in 2011. I am inspired by all that is around me, light, trees, leaves, colours, breath, sounds, sparks, magic, beauty, frustration, heat, love, coffee, humour, feathers, shadows, smells... everything. It all gets in there somehow."

The designers work appeared on the Grammy red carpet in 2009 when Metallica bassist Robert Trujillos wife, Chloe, wore a Diva dress.

Diva is currently at work on a scarf, but not just any scarf. Emilio the Scarf is a project with its own Twitter handle. Described on the profile page as a magical piece of art, the scarf promises that one day I will be 5,280 feet long.

ALSO

It's brother and sister against brother and sister in bitter fight over control of Frank Zappa's legacy

Dweezil Zappa forced to change Zappa band's moniker (again). Now Dweezil Zappa Plays Whatever the ... He Wants - the Cease and Desist Tour

Chicago's 4th of July weekend shows at the Hollywood Bowl will be a celebration of the band's legacy

L.A.'s original punk Alice Bag is back, and she has a lot to say on her first solo album

UPDATES:

9:13 a.m., July 1: This story was updated with a recent tweet from Moon Unit Zappa.

This story was originally published at 3:46 p.m. on June 30.
The end of summer is here, meaning several seasonal sales are returning with major deals.

From Labor Day to end-of-season and back-to-school sales, there are a bunch of opportunities to score huge savings this weekend.

You can snag school supplies for as low as 25 cents or prepare your school or work wardrobe for the fall.

You can stock up on college dorm essentials up to 40% off or get last-minute deals on a new grill or laptop youve been eyeing all summer.

These sales are ones you wont want to miss to mark the end of summer.

The best weekend sales to shop

Here are some of the top sales to shop this weekend to score major savings ahead of Labor Day.

Amazon: Amazons Back to School Shop has school supplies starting at 25 cents, including pens, notebooks and folders along with major deals on tech, including the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite for $120 off and up to 40% off Amazon devices, and a range of backpacks on sale.

Macys: Macys is holding an Ultimate Shopping Event where you can score 10-25% off regular and already-reduced items, including 15% off beauty, on items labeled ULTIMATE now through Aug. 26.

Stanley: Stanleys End of Summer Sale has 25% off select water bottles, mugs, flasks, brewers and camping cookware with promo code GOODBYESUMMER25 through Sept. 2.

J.Crew Factory: J.Crew Factory is offering 40% off everything, including new arrivals, an extra 50% off clearance items and an extra 20% off orders of $100 or more with promo code FALL4NEW. Plus, college students and teachers can get an extra 20% off your purchase with a valid ID when they verify it on the J.Crew website.

Walmart: Get school supplies starting as low as 25 cents at Walmart, including pencils, glue, notebooks, backpack and bento box lunch boxes. Plus, save up to $270 on tech, including laptops, along with up to $100 on grills and firepits.

Target: Get ready for college move-in day at Target and save up to 20% on storage and organization items, wall decor and school supplies, and up to 30% off dorm bedding, laptops, bath towels and bath items. Plus, get up to 40% off desks, chairs, kitchen and dining items.

Ninja: Ninjas End of Summer Sale has up to 70% off select items and 10% off accessories, including the Ninja Creami 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker with free extra pints for $30 off.

Nordstrom: Nordstroms Limited-Time Sale has select items, including clothes, shoes, handbags, beauty and accessories up to 48% off. The sale includes $10 off Clinique foundation, powder and concealer.

Brooklinen: At Brooklinen, the internet-famous bedding is on sale up to 50% off, including sheets, sheet sets, duvets, pillowcases, robes and bath towels.

Purple: Purples Labor Day Mattress Sale is offering shoppers up to $1,000 off when they buy a mattress with a base.

REI: REIs Labor Day Sale and Clearance has up to 40% off clothes, shoes, camping gear and bikes through Sept. 2. Plus, REI members have access to exclusive deals, including an extra 20% off one REI Outlet item.

The Home Depot: During Home Depots Labor Day Savings event, you can get up to $1,050 off select appliances with up to an extra $450 off and 12 months financing, and up to $150 off select tools and outdoor power equipment. Plus, select patio, grills and outdoor heating are up to 25% off.

Sur La Table: Sur La Tables End of Season Sale & Clearance has up to $50 off cookware and bakeware and small kitchen appliances. Plus, get free ground shipping for orders over $75.

Yeti: Yetis popular Agave Collection is 20% off for shoppers with a Yeti account. The sale includes the Rambler mugs, Roadie hard coolers, Camino 34 Carryall Tote Bag, Tundra 45 Hard Cooler and Boomer 4 Dog Bowl.

Lowes: Lowes Labor Day Sale has up to 40% off select appliances plus up to another $750 off when you buy two or more select appliances for $396 or more through Sept. 11 and up to $250 bathroom refresh items when you spend $1,000 or more through Sept. 4. Also, shoppers can get up to $30% off select grills and accessories.

Our Place: During Our Places Food Lovers Sale, shoppers can get 15% off when they spend $200, 20% off when they spend $300 and 25% off when they spend $400 on the brands viral cookware and bundles.

Disney Store: Prep for the new school year with back-to-school essentials, like Disney character-themed backpacks, lunch boxes, water bottles, supplies and clothes, up to 40% off. Plus, get an extra $20 off a future purchase when you spend $75 or more with promo code PIXIEPERK.

Nike: Nikes Gear Up for Fall sale is offering an extra 25% of on fall styles of womens, mens and kids clothes, sneakers, shoes and accessories.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Danielle Halibey can be reached at dhalibey@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips.
Easton Area School District will renew an agreement with Buxmont Academy to provides programs for at-risk students.

At the school board meeting Aug. 13, Easton Areas Director of Student Services Craig Reichl said 45 students were enrolled in the program last year. He said the district plans to to reduce enrollment to 40 students under the one-year renewal agreement to save money.

You can see Reichls comments on a YouTube video of the meeting.

The academy leases the schools property at 2035 Edgewood Ave. in Palmer Township for $100,000 per year. In return, Easton receives a 20% discounted rate to enroll students. The cost is $169.34 per day, which totals to about $30,400 a year assuming all students attend 180 days of school.

Reichl said the cost per child in the special education program is $197.44 per day.

Reichl said students can utilize the Buxmont program for reasons besides behavior problems. Some children just need a smaller-sized environment.

They learn at their own pace a little bit more than they would normally, Reichl said. They also have the availability for counseling services.

The board first voted in favor of Buxmont Academy in 2021. The program replaced the former Easton Area Academy, founded in 2007, that closed during the 2018-2019 school year. In 2021, Easton agreed to a five-year lease with Buxmont.

The academy operates campuses in five other eastern Pennsylvania cities  Bethlehem, Feasterville, Pottstown, Sellersville and Woodlyn. The program serves students whose education is at risk. It aims to help students grow behaviorally and emotionally, while teaching students to take accountability for their choices, according to the website.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Chelsea Kun may be reached at ckun@lehighvalleylive.com.
Laois trad group Buioch left some impression on the Iberian peninsula this summer where they won a legion of new fans and a big prize at one of the biggest folk festivals in the world.

Festival De Ortiguiera is a prestigious Celtic music festival which happens at the beginning of July each year. Ortigueira is a small town on the north west coast of Spain, in the province of A Coruna. It is a stunning area, most known for its pilgrim root along the Camino. The town itself is about two hours by car from Santiago De Compostela.

But while it might be off the beaten path and far-flung from the huge cities of Madrid and Barcelona, it is the beating heart of festivals for folk music in Europe.

The festival promotes the shared Celtic music heritage of the European western seaboard. Its slogan is 'eight nations, one culture.' Recent editions of the festival have attracted around 100,000 people.

So it was some coup for the Laois outfit to find themselves a slot on the line-up and didn't they make the most of it.

But before finding out how here's a little background on Buioch. The group was founded in 2020 during the height of the covid pandemic and has gone from strength to strength in Ireland with our first album dropping in August of 2023. It is made up of Ruaidhri Tierney (Button Accordion), Kurt Dinneen Carroll (Uilleann Pipes and Whistles), Dale McKay (Guitar) and David Harte (Double Bass).

They say they write all their own music and this originality is the keystone of our band. During their short time together, we were delighted to play at such festivals as Electric Picnic, Forest Fest Emo, Temple Bar Tradfest, Ennis Tradfest and Kilkenny Tradest to name but a few.

They had always dreamed of playing their music at festivals abroad and with this in mind Ruaidhri entered them in the 'Runas competition' at Festival de Ortigueira 2024.

This battle of the bands competition takes place at the festival each year. It requires bands to submit recordings of original music. Three finalist bands are then picked by a rigorous judging process. This happens with a combination of public vote, critical analysis from musicians, music critics, publishers, press, music producers and the council of Ortigueira who fund the festival.

Ruaidhri takes up the story.

We entered and gave it a go, not expecting to be considered. We all have 'day jobs' and life went on. One day, There was a missed call on my phone from a Spanish number. I called back and it was the Festival de Ortigueira Press Office. They told us we had been chosen as on of the three finalists. We were astonished and very excited, he said.

The Festival's press office said that the judges were "most impressed by Buioch's original tunes, strikingly progressive arrangements" describing us as "a breath of fresh air" in modern Celtic music.

So off they went flying out to Santiago on July 10. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

While waiting in line at passport control in the airport, people came up to us asking if we would be performing at the festival. It was all so surreal, explains Ruaidhri.

On arrival in Spain, they rented a car and had to drive for two hours up to Ortigueira. Theny they got some shock when they arrived for their gig which was fixed for Thursday, July 11.

We arrived at the Estrella Galicia stage expecting it to be a small stage on the outskirts of the festival but quickly realised it was the main stage, he said.

They group say they treated really well at the festival. Almost like stars, they had their own dressing room, catering and met with the other bands.

We liked that we were there as part of a competition but there was no emphasis on that. All the bands were treated the exact same and the atmosphere was really positive.

The performance itself was a surreal experience. We were on at 12:30 at night and played for approximately 20,000 people that night and our music was received very well, said Ruaidhri.

This was by far our biggest crowd to date. We felt so proud to be playing our music that we wrote. We then went along to support the other bands in the competition, Alana and Picaros both from Spain. They also put on a spectacular show and were lovely people, he said. MORE AFTER INSTA VIDEO.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Festival de Ortigueira (@festivaldeortigueira)

The quartet had to return to Ireland the next day as they all had other work commitments.

We were tired, elated, deeply privileged and honoured to be part of the festival, he said.

Fast forward to the following week to a band rehearsal on for the Forest Fest in Emo. Ruaidhri got a second surprise call from Spain of the summer. He got an even bigger shock than first time around.

It was the press office in Ortigueira. They said: 'We are delighted to inform you that you have won the competition jointly with Alana our co-finalists'. We all screamed with joy, we could not believe what we had achieved. The prize for winning the competition is that we get to return to play at next year's festival and win a prize of 3,000 for the band.

We would like to thank everyone who voted for us and wished us well on our journey to play in Ortigueira. We could not have done it without your incredible support, concluded Ruaidhri.
USE THE ARROWS OR 'NEXT' TO BROWSE THROUGH THE FULL GALLERY

Mountrath Community School is buzzing with pride and excitement as the Leaving Cert results have been released, showcasing the remarkable achievements of their students. This year, several students have surpassed all expectations, with many achieving over 600 points, a testament to their hard work, dedication, and resilience. CONTINUE READING BELOW PHOTO



Deputy Principal Ms. White expressed her delight, saying, Huge congratulations to all our students on their incredible achievements. These results truly reflect the hard work and dedication they have shown throughout their school life. They have set a high standard for future students and should be incredibly proud of themselves.



She said the staff at Mountrath Community School could not be more proud of the accomplishments of this years cohort.



"Each students journey has been unique, and their success is a culmination of years of effort, perseverance, and commitment to their studies," said Ms White.



"As we celebrate these exceptional results, we also want to acknowledge the support of parents, guardians, and the wider Mountrath community. Your encouragement and belief in our students have played a vital role in their success."



"To the Class of 2024, congratulations once again! Your achievements are a source of great pride for Mountrath Community School, and we know that the future holds endless possibilities for each and every one of you."
Norfolk Southern reaches tentative collective agreements with four labor unions





Agreements come months before next collective bargaining round, giving covered employees early assurances on significant future improvements to pay, health care, and vacation

ATLANTA, Aug. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC), in partnership with BNSF Railway, has reached tentative, five-year collective bargaining agreements with the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen Division/TCU (BRC), the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers - Mechanical Department (SMART-MD), and the Transportation Communications Union/IAM (TCU). Norfolk Southern also has reached tentative agreements with multiple General Committees for the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers - Transportation Division (SMART-TD).

The agreements, which are subject to ratification, cover approximately 30% of Norfolk Southern's union workforce and come four months before the opening of the next collective bargaining round, giving covered employees unprecedented certainty about upcoming enhancements to their pay, health care, and vacation.

"Our craft railroaders are the heart and soul of Norfolk Southern, and we are committed to supporting our colleagues who power our network every day," said Alan H. Shaw, Norfolk Southern president and CEO. "I want to thank the labor leaders who share our commitment to our craft colleagues and helped us reach this deal early, ensuring peace of mind with clear knowledge about upcoming pay, healthcare and vacation improvements. We look forward to reaching similar agreements with the rest of the unions at Norfolk Southern."

The tentative agreements provide a 3.5-percent average wage increase per year over the next five years. They also offer railroaders more vacation earlier in their career and make meaningful enhancements to an already robust suite of health care benefits.

"I appreciate Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw stepping up to the plate and doing the right thing," said Artie Maratea, National President TCU. "Ensuring our members and Norfolk Southern front line employees have solid agreements in a timely manner is a huge step in the right direction and we look forward to continuing to work together in the future."

"BRC is proud to reach this agreement with Norfolk Southern," said Don Grissom, General President BRC. "Alan and his team worked hard and we appreciate their commitment to make this a reality. This agreement proves that we can make great progress working together for our members."

"The tentative agreements provide real wage increases, substantial improvements to paid time off that the railroads have historically fought us on, improvements to health and welfare benefits with an added benefit option for those that want it," said SMART Directing General Chairperson, John McCloskey.?"These tentative agreements, if ratified, take away the uncertainty of when the next round of national negotiations will be completed, and if and when annual pay increases will be implemented."

"I am so proud of the progress we continue to make with Alan Shaw and the Norfolk Southern team as we partner to improve the lives of our members," said Jeremy Ferguson, National President SMART-TD.?"Our members told us they wanted to be recognized for the value of their contributions without going through another long and protracted bargaining round. With these tentative agreements, together we have honored that request, removing the delay and rewarding Norfolk Southern employees with the pay and benefits they deserve."

About Norfolk Southern

Since 1827, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) and its predecessor companies have safely moved the goods and materials that drive the U.S. economy. Today, it operates a customer-centric and operations-driven freight transportation network. Committed to furthering sustainability, Norfolk Southern helps its customers avoid approximately 15 million tons of yearly carbon emissions by shipping via rail. Its dedicated team members deliver more than 7 million carloads annually, from agriculture to consumer goods, and Norfolk Southern originates more automotive traffic than any other Class I Railroad. Norfolk Southern also has the most extensive intermodal network in the eastern U.S. It serves a majority of the country's population and manufacturing base, with connections to every major container port on the Atlantic coast as well as major ports in the Gulf of Mexico and Great Lakes. Learn more by visiting www.NorfolkSouthern.com .

SOURCE Norfolk Southern Corporation

23 august 2024 at 17:26

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US Online Recruitment Market to Grow by USD 4.22 Billion (2024-2028) with Innovations in Hiring, AI Driving Market Transformation - Technavio Report





NEW YORK, Aug. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The online recruitment market size in US is estimated to grow by USD 4.21 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7.44% during the forecast period. Innovations in hiring process is driving market growth, with a trend towards increase in use of ai-powered searches. However, decline in profitability due to high level of competition poses a challenge. Key market players include Adecco Group AG, Barbachano International, Betterteam Pty Ltd., CareerBuilder LLC, College Recruiter Inc., CornerStone Search Group LLC, DHI Group Inc., JobHat.com, Jobing.com LLC, Ladders Inc., Microsoft Corp., NationJob Inc., Nippon Telegraph And Telephone Corp., Ragns Inc., Randstad NV, Recruit Holdings Co. Ltd., Self Management Group, Snagajob.com Inc., The Select Group LLC, and ZipRecruiter Inc..

Get a detailed analysis on regions, market segments, customer landscape, and companies - Click for the snapshot of this report

Forecast period 2024-2028 Base Year 2023 Historic Data 2018 - 2022 Segment Covered Application (Hospitality, Manufacturing, Healthcare, BFSI, and Others), End-user (Employers and Non-employers), and Geography (North America) Region Covered US Key companies profiled Adecco Group AG, Barbachano International, Betterteam Pty Ltd., CareerBuilder LLC, College Recruiter Inc., CornerStone Search Group LLC, DHI Group Inc., JobHat.com, Jobing.com LLC, Ladders Inc., Microsoft Corp., NationJob Inc., Nippon Telegraph And Telephone Corp., Ragns Inc., Randstad NV, Recruit Holdings Co. Ltd., Self Management Group, Snagajob.com Inc., The Select Group LLC, and ZipRecruiter Inc.

Key Market Trends Fueling Growth

Online recruitment in the US is undergoing a transformation through the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Recruiters can now use AI-powered search engines to find candidates matching specific job designations. These engines send automated notifications to potential applicants and chatbots facilitate the initial contact. Chatbots categorize candidates based on qualifications and job requirements, while AI analyzes facial expressions and cognitive intelligence through tools like HireVue. This technology helps recruiters determine cultural fit, automate workflows, and make impartial, cost-effective hiring decisions. The use of AI in recruitment is expected to increase, with companies like The Carlyle Group partnering with HireVue to innovate. AI enhances recruiters' roles by making them more proactive, improving hiring decisions with data, and streamlining the hiring process. This trend will fuel the growth of the online recruitment market in the US.

The online recruitment market in the US is thriving, with e-recruitment, digital recruitment, and web-based resources becoming the norm. Job boards, social media sites, and specialized recruitment software are popular tools for posting vacancies and connecting with candidates. Hiring processes are increasingly digital, utilizing AI and machine learning for automated candidate screening and data-driven recruitment decisions. IT segment jobs, including soft and hard skills, dominate online job postings. Candidates use job search engines and recruitment websites for advanced search options and resume builders. AI-powered recruitment tools streamline the recruitment process, providing candidate-job matches and career guidance. Remote hiring, diversity hiring, and full-time or part-time positions are common. Security issues and chatbots are part of the recruitment procedures. Big data analytics provide valuable insights for talent acquisition across industries, from finance and sales to engineering, IT, hotel and catering, and more.

Discover a Comprehensive 360 Market Analysis: Understand the Impact of AI. For detailed information- Request Sample!

Market Challenges

The online recruitment market in the US is experiencing increased competition as new players enter the scene. Hundreds of tools are available for recruiters to fill job vacancies, with vendors such as LinkedIn, Monster, CareerBuilder, and College Recruiter facing intense competition. Small vendors are entering the market, impacting pricing strategies of larger vendors. While some tools, like Monster, offer job postings, others like LinkedIn and Glassdoor provide company information and employee reviews. Recruiters must find the right tool for their specific job requirements, as each job and recruitment process varies. The high-level competition in the market may reduce the profitability of vendors, potentially hindering the growth of the online recruitment market during the forecast period. It's essential for recruiters to evaluate the unique features of each tool and choose the one that best fits their needs.

The online recruitment market in the US is growing rapidly, with industries such as Part-time, Finance, Sales, Engineering, IT, Hotel and Catering, among others, increasingly turning to digital platforms for hiring. Challenges include automating candidate screening for Finance and Sales positions, remote hiring for IT and Engineering roles, and implementing diversity hiring practices. Data-driven recruitment decisions are key, utilizing big data analytics and ML. Security issues, chatbots, and resume management are also important considerations. The Fourth Industrial Revolution brings cloud-based technologies, social networking, and mobile-based recruitment solutions. Smartphone demand and internet recruitment are driving trends, with human resource management adapting to mobile recruiting, video interviews, and language barrier solutions. Skilled recruiters are essential for navigating these complexities.

For more insights on driver and challenges - Download a Sample Report

Segment Overview

This online recruitment market in US report extensively covers market segmentation by

Application

1.1 Hospitality

1.2 Manufacturing

1.3 Healthcare

1.4 BFSI

1.5 Others

End-user

2.1 Employers

2.2 Non-employers

Geography

3.1 North America

1.1 Hospitality- The online recruitment market in the US is thriving, with an increasing number of companies adopting digital platforms for hiring. Websites like LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor offer employers access to a large pool of job seekers, allowing for efficient and cost-effective recruitment. Applicant Tracking Systems enable streamlined processing of resumes and interviews, reducing time-to-hire. Online assessments and video interviews further enhance the hiring process, providing a convenient and accessible solution for both employers and candidates.

For more information on market segmentation with geographical analysis including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2018 - 2022) - Download a Sample Report

Research Analysis

The online recruitment market in the US is experiencing significant growth as businesses increasingly adopt digital tools to streamline their hiring processes. E-recruitment, also known as digital or web-based recruitment, utilizes job boards, social media sites, and specialized software to connect vacancies with candidates. These web-based resources offer convenience and efficiency, enabling employers to reach a larger pool of applicants and candidates to apply for jobs from anywhere. Digital tools such as AI and machine learning are revolutionizing the recruitment industry, providing candidate-job matches, resume management, and employee screening. The Fourth Industrial Revolution, driven by cloud-based technologies and social networking, is further transforming online recruitment. Mobile-based recruitment solutions cater to the growing demand for smartphone usage, allowing candidates to apply and interview via mobile devices. Online recruitment encompasses part-time and permanent jobs, with ML and video interviews becoming increasingly popular for initial screening. Human resource management benefits from these digital innovations, allowing for more data-driven decisions and efficient processes. Overall, the online recruitment market continues to evolve, offering numerous advantages for both employers and job seekers.

Market Research Overview

The online recruitment market in the US is experiencing significant growth as businesses increasingly turn to digital tools to find and hire candidates. E-recruitment, also known as digital or web-based recruitment, utilizes job boards, social media sites, and specialized software to streamline the hiring process. Candidates can search for vacancies using advanced search options on job search engines and career guidance sites, while employers can post job listings for full-time, part-time, and temporary positions in various industries such as IT, finance, sales, engineering, and hospitality. Digital recruitment tools include AI and machine learning algorithms for automated candidate screening, chatbots for initial interviews, and data-driven recruitment decisions based on big data analytics. The use of cloud-based technologies, mobile-based recruitment solutions, and social networking sites has become essential in the fourth industrial revolution. Remote hiring, diversity hiring, and security issues are also key considerations in the online recruitment landscape. Candidates can build resumes using resume builders and apply for jobs through various digital channels. Recruitment procedures include employee screening, assessment tools, and video interviews to ensure a good candidate-job match. The language barrier can be overcome through translation services and multilingual job postings. Overall, online recruitment offers numerous benefits, including cost savings, increased efficiency, and a larger talent pool.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

Application

Hospitality



Manufacturing



Healthcare



BFSI



Others

End-user

Employers



Non-employers

Geography

North America

7 Customer Landscape

8 Geographic Landscape

9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

10 Company Landscape

11 Company Analysis

12 Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio

23 august 2024 at 18:20

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People pay tribute to late French actor Alain Delon, at the entrance gate of Delon's property, in Douchy, central France, August 24, 2024. THIBAULT CAMUS / AP

Film legend Alain Delon was buried on Saturday, August 24 in a private funeral attended by his children, relatives and close friends as fans mourned outside the gates of his country estate where he was laid to rest near his beloved dogs. The 88-year-old star of such classics as "Le Samourai" and "Purple Noon", who was once described as "Europe's James Dean", died on August 18.

French police had set up roadblocks near the manor in the village of Douchy, with the airspace overhead also closed for the entire weekend. The 50 or so mourners allowed into the estate's private chapel had to leave their mobile phones at the door to ensure strict privacy.

Veteran Italian actress Claudia Cardinale, 86, who starred opposite Delon in "The Leopard", was "too sad" to come, her agent told AFP. "They ask me to put into words [the grief]," she said after his death, "but the sadness is too intense." But Rosalie van Breemen, Delon's ex-wife and mother of his children Anouchka and Alain-Fabien, was present, sources close to proceedings told AFP.

Fans had left countless floral tributes and cards at the manor gates all week, with around a hundred people gathered there on Saturday to say goodbye. "I wanted to pay him homage, even from behind the gates, on the day of the funeral, as a symbolic gesture," Marie-Christine Guibert, a neighbour, told AFP. "I really had to be here," said Maxime Ducharme, 28. "I inherited a passion for Delon from my parents."

Delon's three children  who were with him when he died  told AFP that they were "extremely touched by the fervour and affection shown by his fans in France and across the world."

Read more Subscribers only Alain Delon's death: Film star hailed across the globe, from Japan to US

Divisive figure

Since his death, France has been paying homage to Delon, one of the country's biggest but most divisive stars.

He was one of the last living legends of a golden era of French cinema in the 1960s. While he had legions of fans around the world, Delon's relations with women caused controversy. His sons accused him of domestic violence, which Delon denied while admitting to slapping women.

The actor also drew criticism for supporting Jean-Marie Le Pen, co-founder of the far-right Front National (renamed the Rassemblement National), and for his opposition to same-sex relationships. Feminists were appalled by the lifetime achievement award the Cannes Film Festival gave him in 2019.

Read more Subscribers only Death of Alain Delon: The muted ambivalence of the man and the actor

Delon lived his later years largely as a recluse, though his personal life kept him in the headlines. In 2023, his three children filed a complaint against his live-in assistant Hiromi Rollin, accusing her of harassment and threatening behaviour. The siblings went on to wage a public battle in the media and the courts, arguing over his health, which worsened after a stroke in 2019.

Even in death, he was still making headlines after it emerged that he asked for his favorite dog to be put down and buried with him. But his longtime friend and fellow 1960s screen icon Brigitte Bardot said the Belgian malinois called Loubo would be spared.

"The family of Alain Delon have confirmed to us that they will take care of him. Loubo will of course not be euthanised," her foundation said on the X social media platform.
FROM hundreds of entries, the shortlists of this years AIB Portrait Prize and AIB Young Portrait Prize have been announced by the National Gallery of Ireland and two artists from Limerick have been shortlisted.

Gearoid Arthur Hayes is among the 26 artists selected for the AIB Portrait Prize with Kwena Chokoe, an oil on board. Roman Petrovas Vivid Impressions, a coloured pencil work on paper, has been shortlisted for the AIB Young Portrait Prize alongside 19 other artists from across the country.

The AIB Portrait Prize shortlist includes painting, drawing, sculpture, video and photography demonstrating the breadth of contemporary Irish art. The winner of the AIB Portrait Prize will receive a cash prize of 15,000 and will be commissioned to create a work for the national portrait collection, for which they will be awarded a further 5,000. Two additional awards of 1,500 will be given to highly commended works. Judges for the AIB Portrait Prize are: artist, painter and writer Hughie ODonoghue, Director of The Model, Sligo, Emer McGarry, and Director of the Museum of Literature Ireland, Simon OConnor.

Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, Dr Caroline Campbell, commented: We are proud to be working with AIB on the annual AIB Portrait Prize and AIB Young Portrait Prize. With the two Prizes, we showcase the work of Irish portrait artists of all ages and encourage an interest in contemporary portraiture across the island of Ireland. The artists shortlisted for the 2024 prize demonstrate an incredible breadth of Irish artistic talent. We are looking forward to the opening of the exhibitions on the 9th of November and announcing this years winners on the 27th November.

READ MORE: Full Moon Rising festival to kick off in Kilmeedy

Chief Executive Officer of AIB, Colin Hunt, said: We are delighted to share the shortlist for the 2024 AIB Portrait Prize and AIB Young Portrait Prize. The portraits selected demonstrate the wonderful creativity and expertise of Irelands portrait artists of all ages. We are proud to be associated with such a strong and diverse selection of portraits, and very proud to sponsor these inspiring competitions.

The AIB Young Portrait Prize returns for its sixth year in 2024 as a showcase for the artistic talent of young people from across Ireland. Five winners (one from each respective age category and an overall winner) will be selected from a shortlist of hundreds of entries from young people aged three to eighteen. Winners will receive a bespoke art box and a cash prize. The overall competition winner will be awarded a personalised wooden box of high-quality art materials and a cash prize of 500. All twenty shortlisted entrants will have their artwork professionally framed. This years AIB Young Portrait Prize judges are: author-illustrator and motivational speaker, Ashwin Chacko, Emmalene Blake, a visual street artist, renowned for their large-scale portraits and Head of Research and Learning at the Irish Museum of Modern Art, Sheena Barrett.

Exhibitions of the shortlisted works in both competitions run at the National Gallery of Ireland from November 9, 2024 until March 9, 2025. The winners of the prizes will be announced at a ceremony held in the National Gallery of Ireland on November 27, 2024.
Advised by Bestvantage Investments, Bartronics India has made a strategic move to diversify its portfolio by acquiring a stake in Ventugrow Consultants, an AI and Machine Learning-based investment advisory firm. The companys stock surged by 4.07% to 16.89 following the announcement, reflecting investor optimism about this new direction.

Ventugrow Consultants, known for its innovative 'Jarvis' brand, offers advanced financial technology solutions to both B2B and B2C clients. The company reported revenues of 1.05 crore in FY23 and 1.03 crore in FY22, demonstrating steady growth in a competitive market. By investing in Ventugrow, Bartronics aims to leverage its expertise and technology to enhance its offerings and expand its presence in the AI-driven investment advisory sector.

Advised by Bestvantage Investments, Bartronics has decided to acquire a 3% equity stake in Ventugrow Consultants and an additional 2% in advisory board equity, totalling a 5% stake in the B2B segment. This investment is part of a broader strategy to tap into emerging technologies and diversify its revenue streams. Furthermore, Bartronics plans to acquire a controlling 51% stake in a new Ventugrow subsidiary, positioning itself to integrate Ventugrows cutting-edge AI and ML solutions into its portfolio.

The acquisition is currently in its early stages and is subject to due diligence. As a result, the company has not disclosed specific details of the transaction. However, this strategic move aligns with Bartronics vision of expanding into the AI and ML investment advisory space, which is expected to offer significant growth opportunities.

Bartronics India has a long-standing reputation as a provider of Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) solutions. These solutions, which include technologies like barcode scanning, biometrics, RFID, POS, EAS, and smart cards, are essential for capturing and processing data efficiently across various industries. With the acquisition of Ventugrow Consultants, Bartronics is poised to complement its existing AIDC offerings with advanced AI and ML solutions, enabling the company to offer more comprehensive services to its clients.

The decision to enter the AI and ML space is timely, as businesses across sectors increasingly rely on these technologies to gain insights, optimise operations, and make informed decisions. By acquiring a stake in Ventugrow, Bartronics is positioning itself to meet this demand and offer enhanced value to its clients. This move is expected to diversify Bartronics offerings and strengthen its competitiveness in the market.

The benefits of this acquisition extend beyond financial gains. By partnering with Ventugrow Consultants, Bartronics will gain access to cutting-edge AI and ML technologies and a team of experts in these fields. This partnership could lead to the development of new, innovative products and services catering to Bartronics diverse client base. Additionally, the acquisition aligns with Bartronics commitment to innovation and continuous improvement as it seeks to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

Bartronics Indias strong financial performance provides a solid foundation for its expansion into the AI and ML space. In Q1 June 2024, the company reported a net profit of 0.89 crore, a significant increase of 93.48% compared to the same period in the previous year. Net sales also rose by 12.43% to 13.57 crore. This robust financial performance reflects Bartronics ability to adapt to changing market conditions and capitalise on growth opportunities. The acquisition of Ventugrow Consultants is expected to further enhance its financial performance by opening new revenue streams and increasing its market share.

The strategic acquisition of Ventugrow Consultants is expected to impact Bartronics Indias market positioning and growth prospects positively. By expanding its portfolio to include AI and ML-based investment advisory services, Bartronics is diversifying its revenue streams and positioning itself as a forward-thinking company ready to embrace the future of technology. This move will likely attract new clients, enhance customer loyalty, and boost the companys reputation in the market.

Advised by Bestvantage Investments, Bartronics entry into the AI and ML space is a testament to its commitment to innovation and growth. By acquiring a stake in Ventugrow Consultants, the company is taking a bold step toward becoming a leader in the AI-driven investment advisory market. This strategic move is expected to unlock new opportunities for Bartronics and pave the way for continued success in the years to come.

As Bartronics India continues to navigate the complexities of the acquisition process, the company remains focused on its long-term vision of growth and innovation. With a strong foundation in AIDC solutions and a strategic entry into the AI and ML space, Bartronics is well-positioned to capitalise on emerging trends and drive value for its stakeholders. As the acquisition of Ventugrow Consultants progresses, the market will be watching closely to see how Bartronics leverages this new partnership to enhance its service offerings and strengthen its position in the market.

The acquisition of a stake in Ventugrow Consultants represents a significant milestone for Bartronics India. This strategic move diversifies Bartronics portfolio and positions it to capitalise on the growing demand for AI and ML solutions in the investment advisory market. With a focus on innovation, growth, and value creation, Bartronics is poised to achieve new heights and set a benchmark for others in the industry. As the company continues to explore new opportunities and expand its footprint in the technology space, it remains committed to delivering exceptional value to its clients and stakeholders.

For more information on promising startups, visit www.bestvantageinvestments.com or contact us directly at raman@bestvantageinvestments.com
Amazon India on Saturday, August 24 has announced a reduction of up to 12 per cent in selling fees in multiple product categories in its marketplace prior to the festive season.

The announced reduction in fees will be applicable from September 9. This will help sellers to widen their product portfolio on the platform apart from boosting growth, news agency, PTI reported.

"With the changes, sellers on Amazon India will benefit from a drop in selling fees, ranging from 3-12 per cent, across various product categories", a PTI report said quoting Amazon India.

The new changes in the rate card will majorly benefit products costing below 500, it said.

Also Read | Amazon India sets up 4 disaster hubs, offers aid within 72 hours amid floods

 At Amazon, we are invested in supporting businesses of all sizes, from small and medium businesses to emerging entrepreneurs to established brands. The fee reduction is directly in response to feedback from our sellers, especially small businesses, the report said quoting Amit Nanda, Director Selling Partner Services at Amazon India.

However, the company clarified that changes are not temporary and would be effective beyond the festive season too.

Also Read | Manish Tiwary resigns as head of Amazon India

While the timing of the fee cuts aligns with the festive season, Amazon underscores that these changes are not temporary measures. The fee decrease will give sellers an opportunity to optimize their operations in time for the Diwali shopping rush and set the stage for sustained success well beyond the festivities, the report said.

Also Read | Amazon India may roll out recyclable paper packaging

Sellers, particularly those selling affordable products, will experience a significant decrease in fees on Amazon. This will provide them with an opportunity to reinvest in their business for accelerated growth, the report quoted Nanda.

According to PTI, Amazon also stated that as a marketplace it does not have a role in setting of prices and bringing changes in the prices. Prices depend on the seller. However, the latest reduction in selling fees will enable growth and would further expand the product portfolio.
TriZetto, a subsidiary of IT giant Cognizant, has filed a lawsuit against Infosys in a U.S. federal court. The lawsuit accuses the Bengaluru-headquartered company of stealing trade secrets and proprietary information related to healthcare insurance software, as per PTI report.

Infosys has responded to the allegations, firmly denying any wrongdoing. In a statement, the company confirmed its awareness of the lawsuit and expressed its intent to vigorously defend its position in court, as per the report.

The lawsuit, filed in a Texas federal court, alleges that Infosys unlawfully accessed data from TriZetto's software productsFacets and QNXTand used this information to develop and market a competing product. These software solutions are widely used by healthcare insurance companies to automate various tasks.

Also Read | Rajesh Nambiar quits Cognizant to lead Nasscom; Rajesh Varrier his successor

Cognizant's lawsuit claims that Infosys misappropriated TriZetto's software to create "Test Cases for Facets," effectively repackaging the data into an Infosys-branded product. Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that Infosys developed software to extract data from QNXT, which contained confidential information belonging to TriZetto, as quoted by PTI.

The timing of the lawsuit is notable, as it comes shortly after Cognizant appointed former Infosys executive Rajesh Varrier as its global head of operations and Chairman and Managing Director for India. Varrier's appointment follows the resignation of Rajesh Nambiar, who is set to become the next president of Nasscom. Additionally, Cognizant's CEO, Ravi Kumar S, is also a former Infosys executive, having spent 20 years at the company and holding several leadership roles, including President from January 2016 to October 2022.

In 2014, Cognizant Technology Solutions made headlines with a landmark acquisition, purchasing TriZetto, a Colorado-based healthcare IT company, for $2.7 billion (approximately 16,400 crore) in cash. This transaction marked the largest acquisition in the history of the Indian IT sector, highlighting Cognizant's bold strategic moves. Although Cognizant is headquartered in the United States, the majority of its workforce is based in India.
RIL 47th AGM date: Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), one of India's largest conglomerates, has announced that its 47th Annual General Meeting (AGM) will occur on August 29, 2024, at 2 PM IST. The company disclosed this information in a recent statement to the stock exchanges.

The AGM will be conducted virtually in line with contemporary practices and regulatory guidelines.

RIL AGM: Date and Time RIL confirmed in its market filing, "The Forty-seventh Annual General Meeting (Post-lPO) ("AGM") of the members of the Company wilI be held on Thursday, August 29, 2024 at 2:00 P.M. (IST) through Video Conferencing ("VC") / Other Audio Visual Means ("OAVM"), in accordance with the applicable circulars issued by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)."

The oil-to-telecom giant has set August 19, 2024, as the record date for determining shareholder eligibility for the FY 2023-24 dividend, should one be declared at the AGM. The company stated that any approved dividend would be distributed within a week of the meeting's conclusion.

Mukesh Ambani, RIL's Chairman, is expected to address shareholders during the event. His speech is typically a highlight of the AGM, often outlining the company's achievements, future strategies, and occasionally unveiling major initiatives.

The upcoming AGM is generating significant interest among investors and industry analysts, who will be watching closely for any announcements regarding RIL's future plans across its diverse business portfolio.

This year's meeting follows a noteworthy AGM in 2023, which took place shortly after the listing of Jio Financial Services on Indian stock exchanges.
By Tom Balmforth and Olena Harmash

KYIV (Reuters) -President Volodymyr Zelenskiy touted a newly developed Ukrainian "drone missile" on Saturday that he said would take the war back to Russia and scornfully derided Russia's Vladimir Putin as a "sick old man from Red Square".

As Ukraine marked 33 years of post-Soviet independence, Zelenskiy said the new weapon, Palianytsia, was faster and more powerful than the domestically made drones that Kyiv has so far used to fight back against Russia, striking its oil refineries and military airfields.

"Our enemy will ... know what the Ukrainian way for retaliation is. Worthy, symmetrical, long-ranged," he said.

Zelenskiy said the new class of Ukrainian weapon had been used for a successful strike on a target in Russia, but did not say where.

He used derisive language to describe Russia's 71-year-old president and the nuclear rhetoric coming out of Moscow.

"A sick old man from Red Square who constantly threatens everyone with the red button will not dictate any of his red lines to us," he said in a video on the Telegram messaging app.

Russia, which has attacked Ukraine with many thousands of missiles and drones since it invaded in February 2022, has decried Ukraine's drone attacks as terrorism. Moscow's troops are advancing in Ukraine's east and occupy 18% of the country.

Zelenskiy has been pressing Kyiv's allies to allow him to use Western weapons deeper in Russian territory such as to strike airbases used by Russian warplanes that pound Ukraine with missiles and glide bombs.

"I want to stress once more that our new weapon decisions, including Palianytsia, is our realistic way to act while some of our partners are unfortunately delaying decisions," Zelenskiy told a news conference.

Ukrainians say the word "Palianytsia", a type of Ukrainian bread, is too difficult to pronounce for Russians and it has been used - sometimes humorously - during the war as a way to tell Ukrainians and Russians apart.

"It will be very difficult for Russia, difficult to even pronounce what exactly has hit it," Zelenskiy said of the drone missile.

TOP COMMANDER PROMOTED

In a decree, Zelenskiy promoted his top commander, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, to the rank of general, a tacit gesture of praise after Ukraine's lightning cross-border incursion into Russia's Kursk region launched on Aug. 6.

Slammed by Russia as an escalation and major provocation, Ukraine's incursion has captured more than 90 settlements in the Kursk region according to Kyiv, the biggest invasion of Russia since World War Two.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Poland's and Lithuania's leaders, Zelenskiy told reporters the operation had in part been a preventive move to stop Russian plans to capture the northern city of Sumy.

Apart from capturing prisoners of war and creating a "buffer zone", Zelenskiy said the operation had other objectives that he could not disclose publicly.

Polish president Andrzej Duda confirmed that Polish PT-91 Twardy tanks given to Kyiv by Warsaw were taking part in the fighting in Kursk region.

"We are touched to see how the PT-91 Twardy tanks, given by Poland (to Ukraine) more than one year ago, are defending today Ukraine on the battlefields, fighting in the Kursk region," he said.

Russia has strongly condemned the use of western weapons for the incursion, which Putin has said will receive a "worthy response".

Independence Day has surged in importance for Ukrainians during the invasion, which has spurred widespread patriotic sentiment.

This year the public holiday took place after the U.S. and German embassies issued warnings of a heightened risk of Russian missile and drone attacks across the country.

There had been no major strikes as of 2200 local time, but the air raid siren sounded at least twice in Kyiv over the afternoon and evening.

To mark the date, Zelenskiy ratified the Rome Statute, paving the way for Ukraine to join the International Criminal Court, one of many steps needed to join the European Union, accession to which Kyiv sees as a priority.

He also signed legislation banning the activities of religious groups linked to Russia, creating a legal instrument for the government to ban a branch of the Orthodox Church seen as linked to Russia.

Ukraine and Russia also said they had each secured the release of 115 prisoners of war in an exchange. The Russian Defence Ministry said its freed servicemen had been captured during Ukraine's attack in the Kursk region.
India's markets regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), has slapped a 25 crore fine on industrialist Anil Ambani, accusing him of orchestrating a fraudulent scheme to siphon off funds from Reliance Home Finance Ltd (RHFL).

The action marks a significant escalation in Sebi's efforts to hold corporate leaders accountable for financial misconduct, as it has also banned Ambani and 24 others, including top executives from RHFL, from participating in the securities market for five years.

Mint breaks down Sebi's investigation and the order authored by whole-time member Ananth Narayan G.

What led Sebi to investigate Reliance Home Finance?

Sebi's investigation into RHFL was triggered by multiple complaints alleging the diversion of funds within the company. RHFL, a lender focused on housing loans, loan against property, and construction finance, was found to have disbursed a series of large general-purpose capital (GPC) loans during FY19. These loans were extended to financially weak and obscure borrowers, a practice that raised red flags due to the company's low reported credit losses.

Read this | Sebi ramps up investigations amid market turmoil

Sebi's probe revealed that these loans, which made up nearly half of RHFL's assets, were part of a larger scheme designed to siphon off thousands of crores of rupees, leading to the eventual collapse of the company. The scheme not only drained the companys financial resources but also inflicted significant losses on investors and destabilized the business.

As a result of their egregious device to siphon out several thousands of crores of rupees from RHFLthe company eventually collapsed, causing immense loss to its investors and ecosystem," Sebi noted in its order.

The case also implicated several other companies, including Reliance Inceptum Pvt Ltd, Reliance Innoventures Pvt Ltd, Reliance Infrastructure Consulting & Engineers Pvt Ltd, Crest Logistics and Engineers Pvt Ltd, Reliance Infrastructure Management Pvt Ltd, and Reliance Capital Ltd.

What allegations did Sebi address in its order?

The allegations against the company and its executives centred on a scheme to divert substantial funds, to the detriment of the company and its stakeholders. They were also accused of concealing these diversionary activities from shareholders and the public by manipulating financial records and issuing misleading statements.

Concerns about RHFL's mismanagement came to light after the companys statutory auditor, PwC, resigned in 2019, citing issues related to the quality, recoverability, and potential related-party status of loans disbursed by RHFL.

The role of Anil Ambani

SEBI's order paints a damning picture of Ambanis role in the scandal.

Ambani served as the promoter, non-executive, and non-independent director of Reliance Capital Ltd during FY19. In the related party disclosures, he was identified as 'the person having significant influence during the year' and as the beneficial owner of other entities involved in the case.

The allegation against Ambani is that despite the RHFL Board's directive to halt the disbursement of GPC loans after 2019, the company continued to approve loans authorized by Ambani in his capacity as group head, despite not being an official insider at RHFL. It was also revealed that most of the GPC loan recipients were entities within the Reliance Anil Dhirubai Ambani Group.

And this | Mint Explainer: Why good corporate-governance practices are crucial for startups

Ambani approved 14 loan application involving an amount of 1472.16 crore in his capacity as chairman of Reliance ADA group during the period of just over 1.5 months," the order noted.

Ambanis defence and Sebi's rebuttal

Ambani has disputed Sebi's characterization of his role, particularly the use of the term "de facto controlling influence." He argued that his position as chairman did not confer any formal authority to make or influence financial decisions at RHFL.

Securities regulation recognizes control but there is no concept of influence for the purposes of imposing penal liability," the order recorded his argument.

Furthermore, he cited a statutory moratorium in effect since March 2020, following his insolvency declaration by the National Company Law Tribunal in Mumbai, as a barrier to any proceedings against him.

However, Sebi has dismissed these arguments, clarifying that the term "de facto controlling influence" was employed to summarize the allegations rather than as a legal standard.

Kunal Singhania, partner at Singhania & Co, explained that Sebi's use of this term underscored the importance of recognizing actual control and influence in corporate governance, irrespective of formal legal recognition. He noted that "de facto control" refers to a situation where a person, through commercial arrangements or position, has the ability to significantly influence a company's decision-making, as opposed to "de jure control," which stems from an officially recognized capacity under the law.

Sebi concluded that the investigation had established the existence of a fraudulent scheme orchestrated by Ambani and executed by key managerial personnel of RHFL.

The investigation found that Ambani had approved loan applications in his capacity as chairman, Reliance Group, but there was no evidence to suggest he had been granted any extraordinary power by the companys board to approve loans on behalf of holding companies.

Neither RHFL nor Ambani have provided any rationale to justify such self-assumed empowerment of Ambani for taking such vital corporate decisions to sanction sizeable and imprudent loans in defiance of basic lending logic, discipline and directions of RHFL Board and which were financially disastrous for the company and its public shareholders," Sebi noted.

Sebi's findings on key executives and associated entities

Sebi has imposed significant fines on key RHFL officials, including Amit Bapna ( 27 crore), Ravindra Sudhalkar ( 26 crore), and Pinkesh Shah ( 21 crore), for their roles in the fraudulent scheme. Additionally, several entities involved in facilitating or benefiting from the illegal loan disbursements were fined 25 crore each.

These penalties are in addition to the restrictions placed on RHFL, Ambani, and other executives, barring them from accessing the securities market. Ambani has also been prohibited from holding a key managerial position in a listed company or its listed subsidiary for five years.

Fariyal Tahseen, partner at Wadia Ghandy & Co, explained that Sebi's order effectively restrains both the company and Ambani from dealing in securities. "The company's securities account with exchanges will be frozen for six months. Anil Ambani will have to step down from his position on the board with immediate effect from the order," she noted.

Tahseen also added that the Sebi order has set a precedent by interpreting the definition of 'control' through the present order.

The regulator expressed deep concern over the case, saying, "The facts of this case are particularly disturbing as they reveal a complete breakdown of governance in a large, listed company, apparently orchestrated by and/or at the behest of the promoter, aided by the indulgent key managerial personnel (KMPs) of the company."

Sebi also highlighted the devastating impact on RHFL shareholders, who were left in a dire situation due to the companys defaults on its payment obligations.

As of March 2018, the RHFL scrip price had closed at around 59.60. By March 2020, as this egregious scheme to hollow out the company by siphoning off significant funds became apparent, the share price had collapsed to 0.75. Even today, more than 9 lakh shareholders remain invested in RHFL," the order noted.

Also read | Battle for Religare: Regulator enters the picture

Ketan Mukhija, senior partner at Burgeon Law, said that while the order is likely to be a significant setback for shareholders associated with these listed entities, it underscores the regulators firm stance that non-compliance will be met with severe consequences.
New Delhi: SpiceJet Ltd may need more than just a 3,000 crore fund infusion to reclaim its spot in the skies as it seeks to emerge from an unending series of struggles that have weighed it down for several years.

The airline, which had almost shut down in 2014 due to financial distress, expects to get its grounded aircraft up again as it raises money from multiple sources. But it still has to contend with multiple challenges, including legal hurdles, millions of dollars in unpaid dues, and stiffer competition that has eroded its market share.

On Friday, the Delhi High Court once again rebuked SpiceJet for using leased engines without paying rental dues. The court also pulled up the airline for making assurances despite lacking the funds to fulfill them.

You are using someone elses property, and you cant use it without paying the rent... Which court allows you to use property without paying?," Justice Rajiv Shakdher remarked.

Even so, SpiceJet is confident of a comeback, a decade since its troubles began.

Despite facing unprecedented challenges like the grounding of the Boeing 737 Max and the global covid-19 pandemic, which temporarily impacted our operations, SpiceJet is now poised for a robust comeback," said a spokesperson for the airline.

SpiceJet expects shareholder approval by 13 September to raise up to 3,000 crore ($357 million) via a qualified institutional placement (QIP) of new equity shares, the spokesperson added. The entire exercise is slated for completion by 30 September. We have appointed top-tier merchant bankers to expedite the process and ensure success. This capital will be pivotal in driving our growth and expanding our fleet."

SpiceJets market share in Indias aviation sector has continued to drop this yearto 3.1% in July from 5.6% in January, as per the latest data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

The airlines market share had been declining even earlierdropping to 14.9% in 2020, when covid hit India, from 17.4% in 2014. Over the past decade, IndiGo, owned by InterGlobe Aviation, has expanded its domestic market share from 31.8% in 2014 to 62% now.

Market share is a function of capacity deployed in the market (SpiceJet) is currently operating limited aircraft and thus the drop in market share," said Ameya Joshi, founder of aviation consultancy firm Network Thoughts. IndiGo has more than tripled in size from 2014, whereas SpiceJet has more than halved."

Covid, and the factor of 13

By the end of 2014, SpiceJet, then controlled by media baron Kalanithi Marans Sun Group, was on the verge of closure, ridden with debt. It got a second chance the following year when Ajay Singh, who had cofounded SpiceJet in 2005, acquired 58.46% of the companys equity share capital from Maran and Kal Airways Pvt. Ltd.

Indias civil aviation ministry had also come to the airlines rescue in December 2014, approving a series of measures to bail out the cash-strapped airline.

But just as SpiceJets market share stabilised at 12-13% in 2015-2016, the Gurugram-based carrier took a major step towards capacity expansion in January 2017, placing orders for 155 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, with an option to buy an additional 50 aircraft.

But a mere 13 of those aircraft were delivered when SpiceJet suffered a major setbackthis time due to a global grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX in March 2019 following two fatal accidents (Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines) involving the aircraft type.

Also read | Airlines ready to trust Boeing again, but want quality and safety in place

The following year, SpiceJet ran into another severe patch of turbulence as covid curfews kept people from flying, and has struggled to recover since.

Earlier this year, the cash-strapped airline laid off about 1,500 employees, or about 15% of its staff, to be able to save about 100 crore per year from the downsizing and other cost-saving measures.

SpiceJet is also delayed salaries and is fending legal battles over unpaid dues to aircraft lessors, vendors and suppliers, and faces contempt notices from the Delhi High Court and the National Company Law Tribunal.

SpiceJet has steadily been losing market share. The number of their flights has gone down, so all in all, a very bleak scenario for them. We book with them only if all other flights are booked or in the sector where the tourist wants to travel no other airline flights are available," said Rajiv Mehra, president, Indian Association of Tour Operators.

To resurrect itself, it should improve the punctuality of the flightsas far as possible flights should leave and arrive on time, control the negative news flow and take other corporate measures."

Signs of optimism

SpiceJets plan to raise 3,000 crore through a qualified institutional placement of shares is its latest effort to shore up capital. Earlier, it completed a capital infusion of 744 crore by allotting shares and warrants on a preferential basis.

In February, the airline announced it had secured additional funding of 316 crore, taking the total raised through its preferential issue to 1,060 crore. In January, the airline received an in-principle approval from BSE to raise 2,242 crore by issuing shares.

SpiceJets spokesperson toldMintthe airline also expects 400 crore from the subscription of previously raised warrants and a 300 crore equity infusion from chairman and managing director Ajay Singh.

The spokesperson also said the airline had secured agreements for new engines for its grounded fleet. Currently, only 23 of SpiceJets 56 aircraft are operational.

Our operational fleet is set to expand substantially over the next 45 days. We will be adding new leased aircraft to our fleet," the spokesperson said. Regarding salaries, the company fully understands the importance of timely disbursements and is actively addressing the issue."

Also read | Mint Explainer: Why SpiceJet repeatedly delays earnings announcements and how it pays the price

SpiceJets first-quarter consolidated net profit declined 20% from a year earlier to 158.2 crore. But that was an improvement from the March quarters 126.9 crore net profit, and the December quarters 299 crore net loss.

The company has also trimmed its total liabilitiesdown to 11,252 crore at the end of the June quarter from 11,690.7 crore as of 31 March and 12,420.2 crore as of 31 December.

Amid all its troubles, SpiceJets shares have more than doubled over the past year. In this year so far, the SpiceJet stock is up about 10%. The airlines shares ended Fridays trading on BSE at 66.72 per share, up 3.12%.

Limited time to reverse its slides

It will take more than these efforts to instill confidence in flyers in an airline that has been in troubled skies for about a decade.

In July, SpiceJet carried 13,000 passengers on an average per day and operated around 100 daily flight departures, down from 60,000 daily passengers and more than 480 daily flights in July 2019. Its international operations have dropped to 4,000 passengers and 27 flights per day from 7,200 passengers 50 daily flights in July 2019.

Travelers often equate a higher market share and frequent operations with reliability and stability," said Jyoti Mayal, vice chairperson, Federation of Association in Indian Tourism and Hospitality. Reduced operations might lead to concerns about flight availability, punctuality, and overall service quality, potentially driving customers to more stable competitors."

Also read | Air India eyes regional aviation space in challenge to IndiGo

Besides, SpiceJet has been the least punctual among domestic airlines, with just 51% of its flights taking off on time, as per 21 August data from the ministry of civil aviation. AIX Connect (74.7%), Vistara (70.6%), Air India (68.5%), IndiGo (66.3%), and Akasa Air (64.9%) registered a better punctuality rate.

A not-so-regular operation means that the airline loses the ability to price higher," Joshi of consultancy firm Network Thoughts. SpiceJet is already facing challenges on multiple fronts and has limited time to reverse its slides."
Bengaluru: When ethnic brand Suta began selling dresses and skirts eight years ago, little did the founders, Sujata and Taniya Biswas, imagine that they could build a 75 crore business without any venture capital.

Like Suta, several apparel brands in India have bucked the trend of startups relying on external capital to scale businesses. Despite capital becoming scarce, the advent of social media and online platforms has democratized brand reach, enabling these companies to grow profitably, albeit at a slower pace.

Over the past three to four years, online channels like Instagram have gained significant prominence, allowing brands to connect directly with their target audience. These brands have benefited from the premiumization of products and growing disposal incomes as Gen Z and millennials spend more readily on niche and specific categories.

With about 55% customer retention, Suta earns a little more than half of its revenue from its website and other social media applications. It also gets a significant chunk of its income from online marketplaces like Myntra, while its offline stores contribute to the remaining. Over the years, the company has added several other offerings that include sarees, blouses, menswear, and accessories.

Similarly, Mulmul, another premium brand that sells ethnic wear, including suits, sarees, and designer wear, has bootstrapped its way to the 100 crore revenue mark over a five-year span.

Run by a third-generation textile entrepreneur Harsh Modi, who claims to have previously produced material for many international brands such as Zara and H&M, the company gets about 80% of its orders from metro cities.

In the initial days, the company gained traction through influencer marketing and social media platforms such as Instagram which had contributed to the bulk of its revenues. However, much like Suta, Mulmul has been focusing heavily on offline presence and eventually plans to venture into markets beyond the metros.

Other small-scale brands like Jaipur-based Phutari, which clocks about 2 crore in revenues per year, have also made similar moves to capitalize on the growing online consumer base. The four-year-old company gets 90% of its income from Instagram and has seen its average order value grow by about 40% to 3,500. While the company is still in its early days, it plans to roll its first offline store in January, founder Rohan Malhotra told Mint.

The omnichannel way

As consumers return to traditional shopping patterns post-pandemic, several direct-to-consumer brands are adopting an omnichannel strategy. Combining online and offline approaches is driven by the need to create trust and transparency with consumers, particularly in tier 2 and 3 markets.

Several startups, including beauty-etailer Purplle and meat delivery startup Licious, have recently raised funds to go big on their offline presence.

Even though setting up physical stores can be a capex-heavy undertaking, many of these bootstrapped apparel brands have managed to do so through a more frugal approach, opening stores at a slower pace.

Also Read: Purplles Manish Taneja and the art of raising capital without asking for it

This is in sharp contrast to how venture capital-led businesses function. Founders of such companies are encouraged to prioritize growth aggressively, which results in excessive burnout in the initial years.

Lots of companies have realized that continuing to burn money to grow only online is a trap, so many have gone the offline way although that too has its own challenges," said Harminder Sahni, founder of Wazir Advisors. He added that there are many opportunities like franchising where you can make franchisees must in their store and inventory, and not sell your equity to raise working capital.
Writer Neelesh Misra has called out telecom giant, Airtel, for allegedly harassing his father over phone bills of his late mother. Neelesh Misra took to X on Friday, August 23, to slam Airtel for constantly calling his father.

According to Neelesh Misra, his 86 year-old father has been getting calls everyday from Airtel over his late mother's phone connection. He said that his mother passed away last September and her phone connection was suspended immediately.

Despite her account being immediately suspended, Neelesh Misra said Airtel has been repeatedly calling his father to clear the phone bills.

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Dear @airtelindia for gods sake stop harassing my 86-year-old father by calling him constantly to pay the phone bill of my mother who passed away last September (her phone service was suspended immediately), Misra wrote on X.

Neelesh Mira also highlighted that such calls are traumatic for a person whose wife is no more. Additionally, he requested Airtel to update their records immediately to prevent such confusion in future.

Also Read | A steady quarter for Airtel, but to drive growth it needs its users to pay more

Your last call was two days ago. He gets a call every second-third day. Can you imagine the trauma a person must go through saying again and again to your soulless executives that his wife is no more? Why dont they update their records? his post read.

Airtel apologised to Neelesh Misra following his post on X and informed the writer that the company has updated the records.

We understand how difficult this gap of communication must be for you and your family, Neelesh. Please accept our heartfelt apologies. Nevertheless, we're actively addressing the issue and are committed to significantly improving your experience with us. Thanks, Muskan," Airtel said in response to Neelesh Misra's post on X.

We're deeply sorry for the repeated calls your father has received and the pain this has caused. This was certainly not our intention. We have updated the account records and ensured that no further calls will be made regarding the bill. Thanks, Muskan, the company further added.

Reacting to Misra's post, several other X users responded to his situation and stated their concerns.

"So it's not only me who is being harassed by @airtelindia

I made a request for disconnection for Airtel fiber 2 months back and I am still getting bills as they did not bother to disconnect my service moreover they'll keep calling and I repeat the same thing every time," said an X user.
Haryana Assembly Elections: The BJP unit of Haryana has urged the Election Commission of India to defer the scheduled Assembly polls slated for October 1. BJP has cited holidays before and after the election date that could lead to lower voter turnout.

Haryana's Chief Electoral Officer Pankaj Agarwal confirmed that the commission has received a copy of the communication on Friday over e-mail.

"We have received the communication from state BJP and forwarded it to the Election Commission..," Agarwal told PTI.

Varinder Garg, a member of the BJP's state election management committee, told PTI, We have reasoned that Assembly election date of October 1 is preceded by holiday on weekend and followed by some holidays which may hit the voting percentage as people tend to go on vacation on long weekends which are followed by holidays.

Also Read | BJP brainstorms possible candidates for Haryana polls at Gurugram meet

"Saturday (September 28) is a holiday for many, while Sunday is a holiday. October 1 is a poll holiday in the state which is followed by Gandhi Jayanti on October 2, which is a holiday and October 3 is also a holiday on account of Maharaja Agrasen Jayanti," he said.

Haryana Assembly Elections The Haryana Assembly elections will be held in a single phase on October 1 . The announcement was made by the Election Commission on 16 August. Votes for Haryana elections will be counted on October 4.

According to the timeline shared by the poll body, a gazette notification will be issued on September 9. Nominations must be submitted by September 12 with the next day allocated as the final date for scrutiny of nominations.

The polls will be held on October 1 (Tuesday) with votes being counted in the same week on Friday.
Earlier this month, the acting governor of the Kursk region tried to explain to Russian President Vladimir Putin how much territory Ukrainian troops had seized.

A visibly irritated Putin cut him off.

Listen, Alexei Borisovich, the military will report to us on the specifics of the front-line width and depth," he said. You tell us about the socio-economic situation and report on assistance provided to people."

The first foreign invasion of Russian territory since World War II has embarrassed Putin and put his militaryalready stretched thin by a manpower shortagein a bind. Putin, who has long ruled by projecting an image of strength, has turned to a well-worn playbook to calm an agitated population: acting as though nothings wrong.

It isnt clear how long the subterfuge can hold.

More than 130,000 civilians have been evacuated from more than 400 square miles of Russian territory as the violence threatens to spill into neighboring regions. Ukraine has stepped up its drone attacks, targeting Russian oil facilities, air bases and weapons arsenals needed for its war effort.

Theyre working to normalize the idea that wars come and gothis is the phase were in right now," said Keir Giles, author and veteran Russia analyst. You can try to turn it into the new normal, but where do you draw the line under current circumstances?"

For many, the Kursk invasion has delivered another puncture to Putins aura of invincibility that he has curated as he seeks to define Russia as a global power pushing back against Western dominance. Last year, paramilitary group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin launched his own challenge to the Russian leader when he led an armed mutiny of Wagner troops toward Moscow to oust what he called a corrupt and out-of-touch military leadership. Both events have rattled the elite and average citizens.

This time, the threat is coming from a foreign military, and some analysts say it presents less of an acute threat to Putin, limited to a border region far away for many Russians.

He demonstrated a weakness last year. This year its a weakness of a different order," said Andrei Kolesnikov, veteran Moscow-based political analyst.

While Putin has mostly avoided acknowledging the Ukrainian occupation, he has let his lieutenants rattle their sabers, saying Moscow wouldnt engage in peace negotiations with Ukrainian troops on its territory.

His main foreign-policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, has said it made no sense for Moscow to talk given the current escapade." The length of the pause, he said, would depend on the battlefield.

Control over Russias vast territories has been central to Putins rule. He came to power vowing to crush a military insurgency that had established Chechnya as a breakaway state in southern Russia. Across the country, he promised to restore order and justice in a nation plagued by a decade of criminality and violence following the breakup of the Soviet Union.

On Tuesday, he made his first visit to the North Caucasus region of Chechnya in 13 years. The visit served as a reminder of both the violence endured in the region, as well as its reconstruction under its strongman leader, Ramzan Kadyrov.

Much has been done, and this has been done primarily thanks to the hard work and talent of the Chechen people," Putin said in a meeting with Kadyrov.

The times when the Kursk invasion does make it to Russian television screens, commentators parrot Defense Ministry statements about Russias military dominance over Ukraine. Broadcasts show Russian soldiers helping with evacuations and delivering humanitarian aid, coverage more in line with a regional disaster such as a forest fire or flood.

When Russian social media first started to detail the scale of the invasion and the military failures that allowed it, Kremlin pundits urged everyone to calm down," as Vladimir Solovyov, a prominent Putin mouthpiece, recently told the audience of his nightly talk show.

Meanwhile, Putin hasnt addressed the nation over the Kursk invasion. He has kept to his work schedule. He visited a childrens hospital and offered birthday greetings to an injured Russian state-television war correspondent. He traveled to Azerbaijan, offering to mediate a long-sought peace deal between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

His business-as-usual approach also serves to project an air of normalcy to a population that is showing signs of growing weary of a conflictmeant to be over in daysthat is now grinding through its third year. A poll from independent Moscow-based pollster Levada shows support inside Russia for some peace settlement has reached its highest level at 58%.

His response coincides with peoples desire to distance themselves once more from the horrors and failures of the war. They would much rather believe everything is OK," Kolesnikov said.

Meanwhile, the war continues to close in, as Ukraine steps up the pressure. Russian authorities said Kyivs forces had unsuccessfully tried earlier this week to launch an offensive inside a neighboring region to Kursk. Some of the drones in the barrage earlier this week were shot down just miles from Moscow.

While Russia has slowly been moving some troops to Kursk from the front line in Ukraine, analysts say Moscows response to the invasion wont likely come quickly. Moscow appears to instead be pressing for gains along the front line in eastern Ukraine, including the crucial logistics hub of Pokrovsk.

That means Putin will likely continue to play down the incursion domestically.

He will address the nation, but not at a time when it looks like Russia has been effectively attacked by a militarily weaker country," said Nikolai Petrov, a consulting fellow on the Russia and Eurasia program at Chatham House, a British think tank.

Putin is typically eager to come out at the very end when he can report about positive results," he said.

Matthew Luxmoore contributed to this article.

Write to Thomas Grove at thomas.grove@wsj.com and Ann M. Simmons at ann.simmons@wsj.com
New Delhi: India now aims to bring lunar soil to the earth within the next three years, after it created history last year when its moon mission became the first to land near the lunar south pole.

If successful, India will join an elite club of countries to have brought the lunar soil, after the US, the erstwhile Soviet Union, and most recently China.

Underlining this commitment on Friday, S. Somanath, chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), said that the premier space agency will also start launching the first modules of Indias own space station by 2028, and operate no-debris satellites by avoiding collisions by 2030.

Somanath, along with the Union minister of state in the department of space, Jitendra Singh, were speaking at the maiden celebration of the National Space Day in New Delhi on Friday. The National Space Day was announced last year by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 Moon mission near the lunar south pole region.

Marking the occasion, Isro also published its key scientific achievements in Nature-a British peer-reviewed journal, on 21 August.

Read more: How student teams from India are building Mars rovers in their own backyard

We have steadily made progress as a space-faring nation since the inception of our space programme in 1969. Now, India is looking to go beyond its soft landing by bringing back lunar soil for further experiments during the Chandrayaan-4 mission, which we have targeted for 2027. Were also working on the first modules of the Bharatiya Antariksha Station (Indian Space Station) by 2028, and by 2030, well look to make sure that we do not pollute space and avoid all collisions by ensuring that our decommissioned satellites fall back on the earth," Somanath said.

Speaking about the scientific achievements published in Nature, Anil Prabhakar, director of department of space (DoS)-affiliated Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), said, One of the key achievements of Chandrayaan-3 was in measuring the chemical constituency of the lunar south pole region. Our mission was among the first to study at close observation the Aitken basin, which is the largest-known crater in the solar system."

Somanath added that the studies are directed at better understanding our moon, including understanding its originand how it has evolved over time."

Going forward, Isros list of projects include an ambitious goal to make a manned landing on the moon. The Gaganyaan mission is progressing at a steady pace, and Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will lead us in our manned space mission by 2040. The first unmanned trials of Gaganyaan will begin by the end of this year," Somanath said.

The minister further said that Indias space capabilities leave the door open for international collaborations with the US and others as necessary, but we have developed indigenous end-to-end capabilities through Isro that have ensured that our cost per space mission is the lowest in the world."

Singh also said that a 1,000-crore space venture capital fund, which was announced on 23 July in the Union budget, is being worked upon at a ministerial level. Going forward, multiple stakeholders will evaluate the sectors and entities that will benefit from the fund, and a professional fund manager will be appointed to handle it. We will also evaluate how the government, including Isro, can play its role in promoting the private sector," he said.

Indias space journeys breakthrough came with Wing Commander Rakesh Sharmas spaceflight aboard Soyuz-T11 in April 1984, which was part of the erstwhile Soviet space programme. Interestingly, Indias team of four astronauts also received initial training at Russias Roscosmos, before further training in India. Since the inception, Indias biggest achievements apart from the above-mentioned Chandrayaan series was Mangalyaanwhich made India the first Asian nation to orbit Mars, and the only nation to achieve it in its first attempt.

Last month, Somanath said that Isro was in the process of improving its indigenous capabilities, too. We recognize many areas of improvementfor instance, we need a new heavy launcher that will cater to Gaganyaan as well as our space station. To do this, a technical design and financing model for Isros Next-Gen Launch Vehicle (NGLV), has already been prepared," he said.

The NGLV, showcased in Delhi on Friday, could be developed under a public-private partnership model, top Isro executives said, which could bolster the private space sector in India. The minister underlined that India is now home to 300 space startups across various domains.

Read more: Space industry seeks boost from govt to target global markets
Cryptocurrency exchange WazirX has announced that it will allow INR balance withdrawals from its platform starting August 26. However, as per an official announcement on August 23, customers will only be able to access 66 percent of their funds.

As part of this update, WazirX is also reducing INR withdrawal fees by 60 percent, lowering the charge from 25 to 10. Meanwhile, withdrawals of cryptocurrencies remain on hold due to the exchange's insufficient token assets to cover all liabilities following the theft.

This announcement comes about a month after WazirX was targeted in a cyberattack that compromised one of its multisig wallets holding $230 million in crypto assets, representing nearly 45 percent of the exchange's total holdings.

"While the operating entity for INR-related activities, Zanmai Labs Pvt Ltd ('Zanmai'), on the WazirX platform was not affected by the cyberattack and has sufficient INR reserves to cover all INR user balances, not all of these balances are currently available for withdrawal," the exchange explained in a blog post.

Also Read | Harris Supports Policies to Expand Crypto Industry, Aide Says

The exchange further clarified, "Due to ongoing disputes and certain investigations by various law enforcement agencies ('LEAs'), which it is assisting with (and is not a target of), approximately 34 percent of INR balances are currently frozen and are not immediately available for withdrawal."

WazirX's restructuring plans WazirX also revealed plans to file an application with the High Court of Singapore to seek approval for a "Scheme of Arrangement" aimed at restructuring its debts and ensuring fair recovery for creditors. This legal mechanism would allow the company to propose a debt restructuring plan that could deliver better outcomes for creditors compared to liquidation, subject to creditor approval and court sanction.

"Concurrently, INR withdrawals will be made available in phases. We will be providing users with further updates in the coming days," the exchange stated.
If you are a resident of India, all your global income, wherever received, becomes taxable in India, subject to the provisions of a double tax avoidance agreement. In case no such agreement is entered into, a resident taxpayer can claim tax credits for taxes paid on such income outside India against his tax liability on such income in India.

If you are a non-resident, you are taxed in India only on the income received in India or accrues from or concerning assets held in India. Regarding services rendered in India, a non-resident is liable for taxation. So, if your salary is directly credited to your bank account in India while working abroad, the same would still become taxable in India, even if you are a non-resident, for income tax purposes. Please note that all the income paid to a non-resident is subject to tax deduction at source without any threshold available. Certain tax benefits are available only to resident taxpayers and not to non-residents, which has already been discussed in an earlier article.

Who is a non-resident for the purpose of income tax Generally, when determining the residential status of a person undertax laws, his physical presence in India is significant during the year. The residential status of a person may vary from year to year, so the status must be determined and verified every year for the financial year ending on 31st March. The residential status of a person can typically be determined after the year's end based on his physical presence in India. The income tax laws have defined the term non resident negatively. So a person is a non resident if he not a resident of India.

Criteria based on physical stay in India Let us understand this with an example for the financial year ending 31st March 2024. You would be a resident of India if you were physically present in India for 182 days or more during the period from 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024. Alternatively, you would still be treated as a resident in India if you were physically present in India for 60 days or more during the year ended 31st March 2024 and were physically present in India for 365 days or more during the four years of 1st April 2019 to 31 st March 2023. For the alternative situation, you need to satisfy both conditions simultaneously.

In respect of the second condition, there is some relaxation of being physically present in India for a minimum of 60 days in respect of the following three categories of persons where you would be considered to be resident in India only if you were physically in India for a minimum of 182 days during the year ended 31st March 2024:

1) An Indian citizen who is a crew member of an Indian ship and who leaves India during that year,

2) An Indian Citizen leaving India to take up an employment outside India during that year and

3) An Indian citizen or a person of Indian origin when he visits India.

For Indian citizens or persons of Indian origin, the third category of persons, the requirement of physical stay in India is reduced to a minimum of 120 days if their income from non-foreign sources is more than 15 lakhs during the year.

So, if you do not satisfy any of the above two primary conditions, you would straightway become a non-resident for tax purposes. There is one more category of not ordinary resident under the tax laws within non-resident. So once you satisfy any of the two primary conditions, you will still be treated as a non-ordinary resident if you satisfy any of the following two conditions.

1. You are a non-resident for nine years out of ten years period ended on 31st March 2023 or

2. You were in India for seven years, ending on 31st March 2023, for less than 730 days.

Please note that the physical stay in India is not required to be continuous; the aggregate of stays during the relevant period is to be considered for the purpose of physical stay in India.

Criteria based on citizenship Irrespective of your physical stay in India, you would be treated as a resident of India if you are a citizen of India and have at least 15 lakhs of income from non-foreign sources, provided that you are not liable to pay any tax in another country based on either residence or domicile.

From the above discussion, I am sure you can understand the significance of residential status for income taxation and when one becomes a non-resident for tax purposes.

Balwant Jain is a tax and investment expert and can be reached at jainabalwant@gmail.com and @jainbalwant on his X handle.

Disclaimer: The views and recommendations above are those of individual analysts, not Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
The prime suspect in the alleged gangrape of a minor girl in the Dhing area of Assam, who was in police custody, died on Saturday, August 24, after jumping into a pond. His body has been recovered by the police. According to the reports, Tafazul Islam allegedly escaped from police custody, jumped into a pond when he was being taken to recreate the scene and died, said police on Saturday morning.

"The accused escaped from police custody and jumped into the pond. A search operation was launched immediately and his body was recovered after nearly two hours," police added.

A 14-year-old girl was allegedly raped by three men on a motorcycle who surrounded her while she was returning home from tuition on her bicycle in Dhing on Thursday, August 22, evening. She was left injured and unconscious near the pond. The girl was later rescued by locals who alerted the police.

The minor girl was initially taken to a health centre in Dhing but later shifted to a hospital in Nagaon for treatment and medical examination. One suspect was arrested, another detained, and a search was underway for the third.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had vowed strict action against the accused in the gangrape of the 14-year-old. The criminals who dared to commit such a heinous crime against a minor Hindu girl of Dhing will not be spared by the law. I have directed the DGP and Water Resources Minister Pijush Hazarika to rush to Dhing and take the toughest action, Himanta Boswa Sarma told reporters.

The Assam chief minister also alleged that after Lok Sabha elections, a section of members of a particular community have become very active and have been encouraged to commit such crimes. We will, however, come down heavily on the perpetrators and nobody will be spared.

Other accused will be found: Assam minister Assam Cabinet Minister Keshab Mahanta met the family of the 14-year-old girl who was gangraped in Dhing area of Nagaon district and vowed to find the other accused in the case.

Keshab Mahanta said, I spoke with the public, women. Our government will protect every woman and no compromise will be made. We will find other accused as well.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, August 23, visited Ukraine and met President Volodymyr Zelensky as the Russian military continues to invade the country. Arriving for talks in Kyiv, PM Modi embraced Zelensky with a hug and held a minute of silence at a memorial commemorating children killed in Russia's invasion. PM Modi's visit to Ukraine, which has not explicitly condemned Russia's invasion of Kyiv, was closely watched by the West.

News agency Associated Press (AP) said PM Narendra Modi's visit to war-torn Ukraine could be seen as India casting itself as a peace mediator as New Delhi offered as a friend to help bring peace to the country.

The Moscow Times listed how India has continued its trade with Russia when the West was imposing sanctions on Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine. It said, while Modis visit could be seen as a gesture of support for Kyiv as it defends against invading Russian forces, its worth remembering that he visited Moscow in early July after being re-elected for a third term  a move widely seen as him thumbing his nose at the free world.

French international news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) said, New Delhi, which has avoided explicit condemnation of Moscow's invasion, has cast itself as a possible peacemaker between the warring neighbours.

But neither side showed signs of a breakthrough, with India's foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar later saying that it was 'clearly a complex issue' and that India believes Moscow should be involved if peace efforts were to progress, AFP wrote.

Reuters said the optics closely resembled PM Modi's visit to Moscow last month in July where he called for peace and embraced Russian President Vladimir Putin, angering Ukraine, where a Russian missile strike hit a children's hospital on the same day.

PM Narendra Modi met President Vladimir Putin in Russia in July 2024 on the day when the Russian military launched an attack on the largest children's hospital in Kyiv, Ukraine.
An FIR has been filed against RG Kar Medical College and hospital ex-principal Sandip Ghosh by CBI Anti Corruption Branch after the Calcutta high court single bench ordered. The case is linked to alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor on the campus.

CBI started a corruption investigation against Sandeep Ghosh by filing an FIR. On the order of the Calcutta High Court, SIT went to the CBI office in Nizam Palace on Saturday morning and handed over all the documents, sources close to CBI revealed

The FIR was filed by the CBI after receiving the documents. CBI has already submitted today's FIR copy to the Alipur CJM Court, it added.

CBI takes over probe into financial irregularities The CBI on Saturday took over the case of alleged financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata during the tenure of former principal Sandip Ghosh, officials said.

The action came on the directions of the Calcutta High Court which transferred the probe to the agency from a state-constituted Special Investigation Team (SIT).

The CBI collected necessary documents from the SIT on Saturday and proceeded to re-register the FIR, the official said.

The high court had issued directives on a petition by former deputy superintendent of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital Akhtar Ali, who requested a probe by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into alleged financial misconduct at the medical college during the tenure of Ghosh.

The college has come into media glare following the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor on the campus on August 9, they said.

The high court had directed the CBI to submit a progress report on the investigation within three weeks. The court has scheduled a follow-up hearing for September 17 to review the report.
Kolkata doctor rape case: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) transferred all the documents associated with the alleged financial irregularities in RG Kar Hospital to the CBI on Saturday, reported ANI, citing Kolkata Police.

This development comes a day after the Calcutta High Court transferred the Special Investigation (SIT) probe into the alleged financial irregularities at RG Kar to the CBI.

On Thursday, the Calcutta High Court reprimanded the West Bengal government for delaying the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT). During the hearing, the HC asked why it took a year for the government to form an SIT after allegations of financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital first emerged, reported PTI.

The SIT has been investigating the alleged corruption at the hospital since January 2021, a period that coincides with the tenure of Dr Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of the hospital.

RG Kar Hospital financial irregularities According to news agency PTI, former deputy superintendent of RG Kar College and Hospital, Akhtar Ali, had reported Ghosh's alleged financial irregularities to the state authorities in 2023. Later, Ali moved the court seeking an investigation by the Enforcement Directorate against ex-principal Sandip Ghosh over alleged financial irregularities during his tenure there. The state government formed the SIT committee this year.

Hearing the petition, Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj, who is presiding over the case, asked why the SIT was constituted a year after the allegations came to light.

Ex-RG Kar Principal Sandip Ghosh reaches CBI today During the ongoing CBI probe of Kolkata doctor rape case, former RG Kar Principal Sandip Ghosh reached CBI office in Kolkata on Saturday. The CBI is interrogating Ghosh in the rape case. He is also likely to undergo a polygraph test soon as the Court has granted permission to the CBI to proceed with the procedure. Along with Sandip Ghosh, five other people linked with the case will undergo the polygraph test.

Also Read | Bengali actress gets rape threat after protesting against Kolkata doctor murder
Maharashtra Bandh update: Shiv Sena leader Udhav Thackeray said that although the court has called for withdrawing the bandh, it cannot suppress their voice.

NCP-SCP chief Sharad Pawar, Supriya Sule, Uddhav Thackeray, Sanjay Raut, and other leaders from Maha Vikas Aghadi continue to protest against the alleged sexual assault of a minor girl at a Badlapur school.

Maharashtra Bandh 2024: Top updates Even the court stopped our bandh, but it cannot suppress our voice,says Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray.

The BJP Maharashtra Mahila Morcha protested against the MVA, and claimed that the leaders were politcising the Badlapur sexual assault case. "Today, we are here to show the incidents that have taken place during their tenure and to show what they did... This is a conspiracy to malign Maharashtra, but the people will not let them do this...The govt is in action mode," Chitra Kishor Wagh, the Mahila Morcha president, was quoted as saying by ANI.

"There is no day in Maharashtra when there is no news of atrocities against women ... The government should take this incident seriously, the government is saying that the opposition is doing politics, calling it politics shows how insensitive the government is," said Sharad Pawar.

Maha Vikas Aghadi(MVA) party leaders, along with NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar, tied black bands on their arms to protest against the Badlapur case, where the minor school girl was allegedly sexually assaulted by a cleaner of the school.

Also Read | Z plus security may be an attempt to spy on me, says Sharad Pawar

Congress's Vijay Wadettiwar condemned the law and order situation in the state.  Despite people's agitation if such incidents continue to happen in the state, it shows that there is no control over crime in the state. Criminals don't have any fear, said the Congress leader, reported ANI.

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said the bandh has been withdranwn, but protests would continue. Today at 11 am, Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena will protest. Efforts are being made to suppress our voice but our fight will continue, Raut told ANI.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi withdrew its call for a Maharashtra bandh following the Bombay High Court ruling. Opposition leaders and workers in the coastal state will now hold peaceful demonstrations and tie black bands around their mouth to protest against the Badlapur school sexual abuse case.

We have called off August 24 Maharashtra bandh but opposition leaders will protest with black bands around their mouth. We dont agree with the Bombay High Court order on bandh, confirmed Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray.
Nepal bus accident: An Indian Air Force plane will bring the bodies of the Maharashtra pilgrims, after a bus carrying them plunged off a Nepali highway, and fell into the Marsyangdi river.

The victims, were mostly from Maharashtra's Jalgaon district. According to a report by the PTI, at least 27 have been killed, while 16 others have been injured after the accident. The injured have been airlifted, to Kathmandu and admitted at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital.

Nepal Bus accident: Top 10 updates The Ministry of External Affairs condoned the tragedy, conveying the deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. "We are deeply pained by the tragic death of 27 Indian nationals in a road accident in Tanahun district of Nepal. We convey our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased," the ministry of external affairs said on X.

Also Read | Indian passenger bus with 40 onboard plunges into Nepal river, 27 killed

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also condoled the deaths in a message on X, reported PTI.

16 people died on the spot, 11 succumbed to their injuries during treatment, said Deputy Spokesperson of Armed Police Force (APF) Shailendra Thapa.

Senior NCP (SP) leader and former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse said this group of pilgrims had travelled to Ayodhya four days ago.

Also Read | Nepal: Five on board killed as Helicopter crashes in Nuwakot

The affected passengers were part of a group of 104 Indian pilgrims who arrived in Nepal from Maharashtra in three buses two days ago. They were in Nepal for a 10-day tour of the Himalayan nation, MyRepublica news portal reported.

Victims of Nepal bus accident The Maharashtra government identified 16 persons from Jalgaon as "reported deceased". Ramjeet alias Munna, Sarla Rane (42), Bharti Jawade (62), Tulshiram Tawade (62), Sarla Tawade (62), Sandeep Sarode (45), Pallavi Sarode (43), Anup Sarode (22), Ganesh Bharambe (40), Nilima Dhande (57), Pankaj Bhangade (45), Pari Bharambe (8 years) , Anita Patil, Vijaya Jhawade (50), Rohini Jhawade (51) and Prakash Kodi reportedly died in the accident, it said.

The bus, which was on its way from Pokhara to Kathmandu, was carrying 43 passengers when the accident occurred. Nepalese authorities, along with local rescue teams, faced significant challenges while battling raging river currents to rescue survivors and retrieve the bodies of the deceased.
Top events today: There are a host of developments, updates and events expected in India and internationally in the political, educational, sports and general spheres on August 23. We take a look:

Mission Rhumi 2024: India's first hybrid rocket launched India successfully launched its first reusable hybrid rocket named RHUMI 1 today. Launched from the TTDC Ground in east Coast Road in Chennai, RHUMI 1 has been developed by a Tamil Nadu-based start-up called Space Zone India.

The rocket will propel three Cube Satellites and fifty PICO Satellites to a suborbital trajectory. The rocket's innovative design emphasizes flexibility and reusability.

The rocket is equipped with several innovative features such as an adjustable launch angle, which can be changed from 0 to 120 degrees, an eco friendly descent system among several others.

Maharashtra Bandh 2024 While the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has withdrawn its call for Maharashtra Bandh, following a Bombay High Court (HC) ruling that it will cripple lives, the coalition will now hold peaceful demonstrations and tie black bands around their mouth to protest against the Badlapur school sexual abuse case.

We have called off August 24 Maharashtra bandh but opposition leaders will protest with black bands around their mouth. We dont agree with the Bombay High Court order on bandh, confirmed Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray.

The bandh, supported by the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and Nationalist Congress Party, was announced after massive protests erupted in Badlapur, halting local train services in the city.

Rajnath Singh US visit; bilateral talks : Day Two Today marks Day 2 of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to the US. On Day 1 of his visit, Rajnath Singh, upon his meeting with US defence secretary Austin Lloyd, highlighted several collaborative opportunities in the India-US Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap, which was adopted in 2023.

Rajnath Singh, and Ausitn Lloyd further appreciated the progress made in operationalising the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness, which is a Quad initiative. India's efforts to enhance the Maritime Domain Awareness for the partners in the Indian Ocean Region, was also lauded during the talks.

The Defence Minister and Secretary Austin also commended the efforts of the India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) for establishing the Defence Innovation bridge between the two countries.

The upcoming INDUS X Silicon Valley Summit in September 2024 will further witness announcements of several key initiatives, the Ministry of Defence stated.

Amit Shah to chair anti-Naxal review meeting Chhattisgarh's Raipur According to official sources, Amit Shah will assess both the measures taken against Naxal insurgency and the advancement of infrastructure projects in regions known as Red corridors within nine states troubled by Left Wing Extremism (LWE).

The meeting will also witness the participation of chief secretaries and director generals of police from neighbouring states including police chiefs of Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana and West Bengal. These are the states where Naxalism has been constricted, as per the latest data collated by the Ministry of Home Affairs, reported ANI.

Also Read | Badlapur sexual assault case: Kindergartners were abused repeatedly over 15 days

Kolkata doctor, rape murder : Protests underway, Kolkata police bans gathering near RG Kar Doctors in West Bengal have said they will continue their strike to protest against the rape and murder of their colleague at the RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata, despite the Supreme Court's appeals.

The top court on Thursday, had asked the protesting doctors to resume work, and assured them that no adverse action will be taken once they rejoin.

Four colleagues of the victim, would be put through the lie detector test to check if they have been involved in the case, said CBI.

Massive protests had erupted nationwide, severely affecting healthcare services, after a trainee resident doctor was brutally raped, and murdered in the seminar hall of R.G Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, on August 9.

The Supreme Court had taken suo moto cognizance of the case, in which the Chief Justice hauled up the Bengal government for the delay in registering FIRs and autopsy, after the victim's death was reported.
Ishan Sharma, a YouTuber, has found himself in a controversy after he shared a post raising questions about the tipping culture in the USA. In a recent online post, he said he has been receiving hateful comments for sharing his views.

A few days ago, Sharma shared a post on how a server refused to return his change of $5 on a bill of $45. He said that when asked, the server walked away calling the change "a tip".

On Friday, Sharma took to X to share screenshots of messages he had been receiving since he uploaded the post.

One of the messages read, "Go Home". Another one said, "Because of people like you other people suffer."

In the caption of the post, Sharma wrote, "Hundreds of Americans and Indian Americans DMing me the most hateful messages."

"Racism. I thought it only existed in their movies and TV shows. Until today...All for asking a question Unbelievable!" he added.

Netizens divided The post has attracted divided opinion on the internet. While some have expressed their hate, others have come forward to support him.

"Damn man. Trust me, all these guys cannot even afford a proper meal, let alone tipping 15-20%. Ignore them. You were right about tipping culture here in the states. Its borderline extortion," one user commented on the post.

Also Read | How did Canada become a hotspot for higher education for Indian students?

"Its sad tbh! They wont admit the system is broken and how servers need to be paid more. But will shame you for asking questions," another said.

"What I used to love about Twitter was that it was a platform for sharing opinions, but the way people now get triggered over small things and show their worst side just because someone's opinion is different is unbelievable!" a user said.

However, some commented with very strong words.

Also Read | Indian students abroad soar past 1.3 million in 2024

"Focus on less engagement generating controversial content and use the social might you got to share knowledge maybe," one such user said.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's ambition to create an alternative royal family image bombed as the couple did not receive the reception they expected during their Columbia visit. Instead, it sparked significant backlash.

The couple faced criticism for allegedly burdening the impoverished country with 1.5 million in security costs, and many perceived their actions as an attempt to outshine Harrys family by conducting what seemed like an official royal tour, even though they had stepped down from their royal duties.

Noting that they cant have the best of both worlds, commentators said, They quit the royals, so why are they trying to do official visits and take attention away from the real royals? one asked, while another fumed, Meghan and Harry want to have their cake and eat it. But they need to decide if they want to be Hollywood stars or royalty, you cant be both.

Further, Columbian official Andres Escobar claimed, as reported by Yahoo, the couple was invited by the countrys vice president Francia Marquez because she saw them on Netflix. He added it was unfair on Columbian people as they had to pay for Harry and Meghan visit.

A source claimed that they are eager to be viewed on par with Prince William and Kate Middleton, but without the constraints of royal protocol.

Both Meghan and Harry are keen to do more of these tours as thats what they love doing and what they enjoyed most about royal life, a source told .
Prince Harry's close pal said that the Dutch of Sussex is 'an angry boy' in America and is dissatisfied with how things have turned out. He also claimed that he misses the admiration he use to receive in Britain, similar to his what his brother William and Kate are getting.

The unnamed pal made the claims as he spoke to The UK Sunday Times. He claimed that he is one of his closest friends who gets the odd WhatsApp from him.

Hes an angry boy, he said, adding that, Things havent turned out how he wanted."

He claimed, "I think he misses being over here [in Britain] desperately and wants to be admired more. Anyone who knows him feels hed rather be top of the pops here with everyone loving him, as they do with [his older brother] William and Kate.

Another pal of Prince Harry has expressed his disappointment over him publicly disclosing details about his famliy and described him as "outrageously disloyal." He also added that some of his former friends are not able to forgive him for this.

I cant believe hed stoop so low. Its outrageously disloyal. Oprah, Netflix and then the book? Three strikes and youre out.

Another friend of both Harry and William added that the former royals should have simply left the palace with dignity and decency. He said, Harry and [his wife] Meghan could have left with dignity and decency and not trash the institution. The conclusion is theyve made money from trashing his family.
(Adds Duda's comment about Polish tanks in Kursk region in paragraphs 17-18, Russia's position in paragraph 19, updates time in paragraph 22)

By Tom Balmforth and Olena Harmash

KYIV, Aug 24 (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy touted a newly developed Ukrainian "drone missile" on Saturday that he said would take the war back to Russia and scornfully derided Russia's Vladimir Putin as a "sick old man from Red Square".

As Ukraine marked 33 years of post-Soviet independence, Zelenskiy said the new weapon, Palianytsia, was faster and more powerful than the domestically made drones that Kyiv has so far used to fight back against Russia, striking its oil refineries and military airfields.

"Our enemy will ... know what the Ukrainian way for retaliation is. Worthy, symmetrical, long-ranged," he said.

Zelenskiy said the new class of Ukrainian weapon had been used for a successful strike on a target in Russia, but did not say where.

He used derisive language to describe Russia's 71-year-old president and the nuclear rhetoric coming out of Moscow.

"A sick old man from Red Square who constantly threatens everyone with the red button will not dictate any of his red lines to us," he said in a video on the Telegram messaging app.

Russia, which has attacked Ukraine with many thousands of missiles and drones since it invaded in February 2022, has decried Ukraine's drone attacks as terrorism. Moscow's troops are advancing in Ukraine's east and occupy 18% of the country.

Zelenskiy has been pressing Kyiv's allies to allow him to use Western weapons deeper in Russian territory such as to strike airbases used by Russian warplanes that pound Ukraine with missiles and glide bombs.

"I want to stress once more that our new weapon decisions, including Palianytsia, is our realistic way to act while some of our partners are unfortunately delaying decisions," Zelenskiy told a news conference.

Ukrainians say the word "Palianytsia", a type of Ukrainian bread, is too difficult to pronounce for Russians and it has been used - sometimes humorously - during the war as a way to tell Ukrainians and Russians apart.

"It will be very difficult for Russia, difficult to even pronounce what exactly has hit it," Zelenskiy said of the drone missile.

TOP COMMANDER PROMOTED

In a decree, Zelenskiy promoted his top commander, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, to the rank of general, a tacit gesture of praise after Ukraine's lightning cross-border incursion into Russia's Kursk region launched on Aug. 6.

Slammed by Russia as an escalation and major provocation, Ukraine's incursion has captured more than 90 settlements in the Kursk region according to Kyiv, the biggest invasion of Russia since World War Two.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Poland's and Lithuania's leaders, Zelenskiy told reporters the operation had in part been a preventive move to stop Russian plans to capture the northern city of Sumy.

Apart from capturing prisoners of war and creating a "buffer zone", Zelenskiy said the operation had other objectives that he could not disclose publicly.

Polish president Andrzej Duda confirmed that Polish PT-91 Twardy tanks given to Kyiv by Warsaw were taking part in the fighting in Kursk region.

"We are touched to see how the PT-91 Twardy tanks, given by Poland (to Ukraine) more than one year ago, are defending today Ukraine on the battlefields, fighting in the Kursk region," he said.

Russia has strongly condemned the use of western weapons for the incursion, which Putin has said will receive a "worthy response".

Independence Day has surged in importance for Ukrainians during the invasion, which has spurred widespread patriotic sentiment.

This year the public holiday took place after the U.S. and German embassies issued warnings of a heightened risk of Russian missile and drone attacks across the country.

There had been no major strikes as of 2200 local time, but the air raid siren sounded at least twice in Kyiv over the afternoon and evening.

To mark the date, Zelenskiy ratified the Rome Statute, paving the way for Ukraine to join the International Criminal Court, one of many steps needed to join the European Union, accession to which Kyiv sees as a priority.

He also signed legislation banning the activities of religious groups linked to Russia, creating a legal instrument for the government to ban a branch of the Orthodox Church seen as linked to Russia.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the Congress, the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Nationalist Congress Party (SP), called off the August 24 bandh call in Maharashtra over the alleged sexual abuse of two kindergarten girls in Badlapur district, after the Bombay High Court (HC) highlighted that it will paralyse normal life.

Bombay HC also relied on its 2004 order which held that the enforcement of bandhs or strikes are unconstitutional acts. The 2004 order had also stated that political parties, that gave a call for such bandhs or hartals (protests) would face legal action and compensate for any loss of life, property or livelihood.

What did the Bombay High Court say on Maharashtra Bandh call by MVA? The high court bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar heard the two petitions challenging the Maharashtra Bandh call. The bench noted that huge losses would occur if political parties and individuals were not prevented from going forward with the bandh call.

The court said, Until further orders all concerned are restrained from proceeding with the call for bandh on August 24 and also on any other further date. We are, prima facie, convinced the call given by political parties is a call to observe bandh tomorrow in the entire state of Maharashtra, which means a call for cessation of all kinds of activities which will result in the life of the state coming to a halt, that may entail heavy loss to industrial activities, business activities, economic activities and other such activities.

The court noted that the Maharashtra Bandh would not only affect studies but also emergency services. The bandh may lead to crippling the life of entire Maharashtra, the high court said.

What did the MVA say after HC ruling on Maharashtra Bandh? Even though the Opposition coalition withdrew the Maharashtra Bandh call, it emphasised that it does not agree with the high court ruling. The MVA said it will go ahead with peaceful demonstration across the state with black bands tied on the mouth of its leaders and workers.
By Nidal al-Mughrabi and James Mackenzie

CAIRO/JERUSALEM, - Gaza ceasefire and hostage negotiators discussed new compromise proposals in Cairo on Saturday, seeking to bridge gaps between Israel and Hamas as the U.N. reported worsening humanitarian conditions, with malnutrition soaring and polio discovered in the Palestinian enclave.

Israeli military strikes in Gaza killed 50 people on Saturday, Palestinian health authorities said. Victims of hostilities over the past 48 hours remained lying on roads where fighting continued or trapped under rubble, the authorities said.

A Hamas delegation arrived on Saturday to be nearer at hand to review any proposals that emerge in the main talks between Israel and the mediating countries Egypt, Qatar and the United States, two Egyptian security sources said.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani was expected to attend.

A US official said negotiators from the United States met with Egypt then bilaterally with Egypt and Qatar on Saturday, and believed that representatives from Egypt and Qatar were meeting with Hamas.

Months of on-off talks have failed to produce a breakthrough to end Israel's devastating military campaign in Gaza or free the remaining hostages seized by Hamas in the militant group's Oct. 7 attack that triggered the war.

The Egyptian sources said the new proposals include compromises on outstanding points such as how to secure key areas and the return of people to north Gaza.

However there was no sign of any breakthrough on key sticking points, including Israel's insistence that it must retain control of the so-called Philadelphi Corridor, on the border between Gaza and Egypt.

Hamas has accused Israel of going back on things it had previously agreed to in the talks, which Israel denies. The group says the United States is not mediating in good faith.

In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has locked horns with Israeli ceasefire negotiators over whether Israeli troops must remain all along the border between Gaza and Egypt, a person with knowledge of the talks said.

A Palestinian official familiar with mediation efforts said it was too soon to predict the outcome of talks.

"Hamas is there to discuss the outcome of the mediators talks with the Israeli officials and whether there is enough to suggest a change in the Netanyahu stance about reaching a deal," the official said.

DISEASE SPREADING

Continuing the war will worsen the plight of Gaza's 2.3 million people, nearly all of them homeless in tents or shelters among the ruins, with malnutrition rampant and disease spreading, and risk the lives of the remaining Israeli hostages.

The Oct. 7 attack killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's Gaza campaign has killed more than 40,000 people, Palestinian health authorities say.

U.N. humanitarian agency OCHA said in a Friday update that the amount of food aid entering Gaza in July was one of the lowest since October, when Israel imposed a full siege.

OCHA said that in July the number of children with acute malnutrition in northern Gaza was four times higher than in May, while in the more accessible south, where fighting is less severe, the number more than doubled.

The World Health Organisation said on Friday that a 10-month-old baby had been paralysed with polio, the first such case in the territory in 25 years, raising fears of a wider outbreak given the lack of proper sanitation for people living in ruins.

More warfare also risks major new escalations, with Iran still weighing retaliation for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on its territory last month.

Meanwhile, U.S. Air Force General C.Q. Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, began an unannounced visit to the Middle East on Saturday to discuss ways to avoid any new escalation in tensions that could spiral into a broader conflict, as the region braces for a threatened Iranian attack against Israel.

Fighting between Israel and Iranian-backed Hezbollah since Oct. 7 has ramped up recently, including with Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon and into the Bekaa, and with more Hezbollah rocket fire into northern Israel.
A year after publishing his book 'Spare', British Royal Prince Harry spilled the beans on how he ended up with the name of his memoir. When Harry kept the name 'Spare', royal enthusiasts around the globe were taken aback, but now he has revealed its origins, reporting to OK Magazine.

The Duke of Sussex, in a recent interview, unearthed a snippet from his book which delves into his relationship with his father, King Charles. In those snippets, Harry mentioned that his father coined the nickname in response to Princess Diana giving birth to a second son.

Recalling his father, King Charles' words, Harry said, as quoted by OK Magazine, "Wonderful! Now you've given me an heir and a spare - my work is done."

Earlier, The Guardian highlighted Prince Harry has always harboured resentment towards his nickname.

"Harry's resentment of being the 'spare' is the underlying theme of his book, through chapters on his childhood, his schooling, his career as a royal and in the British Army, his relationship with his parents and brother, and his life with Meghan through courtship, wedding and marriage, to their own experience of parenthood," The Guardian reported.

Though Prince Harry celebrated his 40th birthday earlier in August, it was reported that he 'spends most of his time thinking about the past'.

"I think he misses being over here [in Britain] desperately and wants to be admired more. Anyone who knows him feels he'd rather be top of the pops here with everyone loving him, as they do with William and Kate," The Times quoted a confidant of The Duke as saying.

Also Read | Prince Harry returning to UK will be a nightmare

"If Meghan is encouraging Harry to leave the past behind and move on, then I think it is a healthy move. They have made their decision, left the working royal family and left the UK," OK quoted Jennie, a confidant as saying.
Independent US presidential candidate, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. abandoned his campaign and endorsed Republican candidate Donald Trump. Calling off his campaign marks the end of his journey, which Kennedy began as a Democrat trading on one of the most famous names in American politics.

While political analysts said it was unclear whether Kennedy's endorsement would help Trump, the former said he and Trump agreed on "key issues" like border security, free speech and ending wars.

Hours after announcing the endorsement in a press conference, Kennedy joined Trump at a campaign event in Arizona, where the crowd cheered the independent loudly, reported Reuters.

Former US President Donald Trump appreciated Kennedy Jr, stating that he has raised critical issues. "His candidacy has inspired millions and millions of Americans, raised critical issues that have been too long ignored in this country," Trump was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Kennedy endorsee Donald Trump is currently in a tight contest with Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris ahead of the US Presidential elections on November 5, 2024.

What Trump promised Donald Trump further promised that if he regained the White House, he would create a presidential commission on assassination attempts and release files related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963.

Robert Kennedy, known by his initials RFK Jr., said he would remove his name from ballots in 10 battleground states likely to determine the outcome of the election and remain as a candidate in other states.

Who is Robert F Kennedy Jr. According to reports, Robert Kennedy is an environmental lawyer, and nephew of former US President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated during the 1960s. Kennedy entered the race in April 2023 as a challenger to President Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination.

At a time when voters were sour by both the aging Biden and the legally embattled Trump, interest in Kennedy soared. He later decided to run as an independent, and a November 2023 Ipsos poll showed Kennedy garnering 20% support in a three-way race with Biden and Trump.

Robert F Kennedy Jr further held a high-profile advertisement during the February 2024 Super Bowl that invoked his father, U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and uncle, President Kennedy, and drew outrage from much of his high-profile family.

Kerry Kennedy, RFK Jr.'s sister, said on Friday that RFK's decision to endorse Trump betrayed the family's values. "It is a sad ending to a sad story," she said on social media.
THE STREETS of Kabul used to be riotously, almost headache-inducingly colourful. There were billboards advertising Western wear and Punjabi salwar kameez, murals promoting womens and childrens rights, and everywhere the black-red-green tricolour of the Afghan Republic. Since the Taliban took over three years ago, a monochrome pall has settled on the city. Old posters have been ripped away. Murals have been painted over. The austere flag of the Afghan Emirate dominates, black text on a pure white field.

Black-and-white also describes Western countries approach to Afghanistan since their humiliating exit from the country on August 15th 2021. They have made any progresssanctions relief, recognition of the regime, a seat at the UNconditional on restoring rights for women and girls, who are barred from many areas of public life including secondary education. The Taliban have only ratcheted up their restrictions. They refuse to countenance negotiating over what they consider an internal matter.

Not that the West seems to think much about Afghanistan at all. The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are immediate crises. Dealing with challenges posed by Chinas rise is an ongoing focus, while Americas election is all-consuming at home and watched nervously abroad. Western leaders have nothing to gain from reminding voters of a 20-year-long war that ended in abject defeat. President Joe Bidens approval ratings collapsed with the botched exit from Afghanistan. American foreign policy has been to keep it out of the headlines and keep it off the presidents desk," says Ashley Jackson of the Overseas Development Institute, a think-tank. Afghanistan has not so much been forgotten as it is being wilfully ignored.

From a security perspective, being able to ignore a country that has been a source of instability for most of the past half-century is a welcome novelty, notes Graeme Smith of the International Crisis Group, another think-tank. But he worries that we are now overlooking some things that could come back to bite us". To ignore Afghanistan is also to ignore the 44m Afghans who live in it, half of them women and girls. It is to ignore the 12.4m in dire need of food, a fifth of them on the edge of famine. It is to ignore a looming migration crisis as Afghans try to leave for anywhere offering hope of a job. It is to ignore the ravages of climate change, which is worsening the countrys periodic droughts. It is to ignore the toll of natural disasters. In the past 12 months Afghanistan has been hit by an earthquake that killed nearly 1,500 people and a series of flash floods that have killed hundreds more.

And to ignore Afghanistan is to ignore international security, too. Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), a terrorist outfit based in the countrys west, is a foe of the Taliban, of Afghanistans neighbours and of the West. ISKP has carried out multiple attacks in Afghanistan and Iran; it claimed responsibility for a horrific assault on a concert hall in Moscow in March; it has its eyes on Central Asia, Pakistan and India. There are murmurings of stop-start co-operation on counterterrorism between American and Afghan governments, though neither side will admit it. The emotional fact is that it is difficult to stomach the idea of working with the Taliban," says Mr Smith.

Afghanistans neighbours have taken a pragmatic approach. China is exploring economic opportunities, particularly in the countrys mineral wealth. Iran wants to keep America out, suppress ISKP and discuss water-sharing. Pakistans main interest is in defanging Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, a vicious jihadist group that finds a haven in Afghanistan. The one point of consensus among neighbours, regional powers and the West is that there is no appetite for regime change, nor for renewed civil war.

If there is a benefit to the lack of attention it is that it allows some freedom of manoeuvre. The UN has organised three rounds of talks on Afghanistan in Qatar between nearly two dozen global and regional powers. The Taliban were not invited to the first and refused to take part in the second. But they attended the third, this summer, after the UN agreed to exclude women and other Afghans from outside the government. The talks produced no firm results, but mere engagement passes for progress. They are unlikely to have gone ahead if the unseemly exclusions had been subject to the glare of media attention.

Similarly, the World Bank announced earlier this year that it would resume financing a project, known as CASA-1000, connecting the energy powerhouses of Central Asia with Pakistan through Afghanistan. The transit fees will go into an Afghan account in Abu Dhabi and can be used only to purchase electricity. Yet if the Taliban can spend less on power, that frees up funds to spend on other things, making the regime stronger and more effective. The announcement elicited little media reaction.

Where does that leave Afghanistans people? There is some good news. The country is safer today than it was three years ago, mostly because the people doing the shooting and bombing now run the country. Hospitals in remote regions are newly accessible, thanks to better security and repaired roads. Many women and girls quietly gain an education by attending training courses" or madrassas. The number of Afghans who go hungry has fallen nearly by half from its peak of 23m. The economy, though shrunken and stagnant, has stabilised. Businesses report markedly lower levels of corruption, even as they gripe about the Talibans efficient tax collection.

But the bad outweighs the good. Hospitals may be accessible but they are underfunded, under-staffed and under-equipped. Poorer Afghan women cannot afford the so-called training courses; they are hit hardest by education bans. Jobs are scarce. Every day thousands of men crowd the squares of Kabul looking to pick up daily work. Maybe one in five finds a job. On average a daily-wager will find two days of work a week, says Hsiao-Wei Lee of the World Food Programme (WFP), a UN agency. That is more than in 2022, at the peak of the post-war economic crisis, but less than before the pandemic. Many Afghans are trying to emigrate.

Aid is drying up too. Donor fatigue is deepening. The absolute number of people in need is the highest of all conflicts, says Salma Ben Aissa of the International Rescue Committee, a humanitarian organisation. WFP faces a shortfall in the country of $700m in the next half-year. As usual, the worst affected are women and children. The only good thing is security, but what should I do with security if I cant feed my children," says Jamila (name changed), a mother of three living just outside Kabul.

This dissatisfying state of affairs is likely to continue. The West will not drop its insistence on restoring the rights of women and girls. The Taliban will not change their policies on women, nor dilute their efforts to build a religious police state. Afghanistans neighbours are happy to look out for their own interests and leave the lofty rhetoric of values to America. Several countries, including Western ones, have re-established a presence on the ground, stopping short of formally reopening embassies. But the outside world has no plan, no clear objectives, and faces no pressure to come up with solutions to Afghanistans problems. As one Western official based in Kabul puts it, I dont think were at the stage where we actually have a tangible road map." Afghans suffered through war. Now they suffer in peace.

 2024, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
Calling Badlapur case an unfortunate event, MNS chief Raj Thackeray said that these incidents will not stop unless a strict law is made.

Thackeray said, The Badlapur case is very unfortunate. Until a strict law is made, these incidents will not stop. How many years did it take for the accused of the Nirbhaya case in Delhi to be punished? What should be done if there is so much delay in a case? These incidents were happening even during the time of those who called for a bandh (Maha Vikas Aghadi). They are happening even today also. Incidents of women harassment are coming to light one after another in the media, is there any politics behind this? This is being done to defame the government as elections are near...

A massive protest broke out in Badlapur town in Thane district on Tuesday after a large number of people blocked railway tracks and ransacked the school, where two kindergarten girls were sexually abused by an attendant last week. The protesters demanded strict punishment against the accused, who was arrested on August 17. The state government on Tuesday ordered the suspension of three police officials, including a senior police inspector, for alleged dereliction of duty in probing the sexual abuse of the two girls.

Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole on Wednesday slammed the Eknath Shinde-led Mahayuti government for doing "politics" over the incident.

"The government itself is doing politics in this (Badlapur incident). The biggest state where crime against children takes place is Maharashtra. 21,000 such incidents have happened in the state and the government is hiding them. On August 24 we called for Maharashtra Bandh," Patole told reporters.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam assured the people that the Maharashtra government condemned the incident and that the accused would be punished soon.

"We are here after the agitation that erupted yesterday...We are here to assure the people that our government stand in support of them and we condemn this incident... SIT has been formed to investigate the matter and we are also trying to get the accused punished as soon as possible," Nirupam said.
Veteran politician Sharad Pawar has said that the Z plus security cover accorded to him earlier this week could be an arrangement to get authentic information about him as Maharashtra assembly elections are scheduled later this year.

Narendra Modi-led government, on August 21, accorded Z plus security cover to Pawar, who is the chief of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SP).

Asked about the security upgrade for him, the 83-year-old politician told the media in Navi Mumbai that he wasnt aware of the reason behind the move.

A home ministry official told me that the government has decided to give three persons Z plus security and I was one of them. I asked who the other two were. I was told RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Union home minister Amit Shah, said Pawar.

Maybe since elections are approaching, this can be an arrangement to get authentic information (about me), he quipped.

A team of 55 armed personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has been earmarked as part of Pawars Z plus security cover. A threat assessment review by central agencies had recommended a strong security cover for Pawar, official sources had said earlier.

The VIP security cover categorisations begin from the highest Z followed by Z, Y ,Y and X.

Also Read | Maharashtra Bandh: MVA withdraws call after Bombay HC ruling

Sharad Pawars NCP (SP) is a part of the opposition bloc Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), also comprising the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress, that performed impressively in the held Lok Sabha polls, winning 30 of the 48 seats in the state.

The ruling Mahayuti coalition of BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and NCP headed by Ajit Pawar had to contend with only 17 seats.

Elections to the 288-member Maharashtra assembly are likely to be held in October-November.

Maharashtra Bandh Called Off In another news, Pawar expressed his dismay in the decision of Bombay High Court's (HC) decision on the Maharashtra Bandh called by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) on Saturday, August 24 in the Badlapur sexual assault case.

Bombay High Court on August 23, said it will ask the political parties and individuals to "restrain" from calling Maharashtra Bandh. Pawar said that the decision is outside the purview of the Indian Constitution.

'Because of the time constraint to appeal to the Supreme Court, I appeal to call off the strike," he said.
NASA images: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Hubble Space Telescope has unveiled images of galaxies. The Hubble Space Telescope which launched in 1990 changed the fundamental understanding of the universe right from determining the atmospheric composition of planets around other stars to discovering dark energy.

Here are top five images by NASA Hubble space telescope: N11

N11 is a bubbling region of stars located about 160,000 light-years away

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has unveiled a captivating new image of N11, a vibrant star-forming region located approximately 160,000 light-years from Earth in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). The LMC is a dwarf galaxy that orbits our Milky Way. The NASA hubble describes N11 as clouds of gas that resemble cotton candy. It said, Since its one of the most energetic regions in the LMC, astronomers used Hubble to examine various portions of its dynamic environment.

Also Read | NASA images: 5 stunning photos by Hubble telescope catch glimpses of outer Space

VV124 galaxy

VV124 galaxy

The Hubble has also shared a striking new image of the dwarf irregular galaxy named VV124. It calls VV124 as a relatively undisturbed, older galaxy. It is located 4 million light-years in the Ursa Major constellation.

Galaxy M33

M33 galaxy

In another image shared by Hubble, it shows image of M33, which is 2.7 million light-years from Earth and is located in the Triangulum constellation. M33 is roughly half the size of the Milky Way and ranks as the third-largest galaxy in our Local Group, following the Andromeda Galaxy and the Milky Way itself.

Also Read | NASA scientists find unusual Space structures in unexpected places

Active galaxy NGC 1569

Active galaxy NGC 1569 (Screen grab from video posted by NASA hubble)

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has released a remarkable image of NGC 1569, one of the most active galaxies in the cosmic vicinity. Known as a starburst galaxy, NGC 1569 produces stars at a rate 100 times faster than that of our Milky Way.

Galaxy Leo A

LEO A Galaxy

Leo A is 2.6 million light-years from Earth and is located in the Leo constellation. NASA Hubble describes it as, one of the most isolated members of our Local Group of galaxies. Its open distribution of stars allows the light from distant galaxies to shine through, it added. Leo As younger stars are primarily found at the galaxy's center, with older stars becoming more numerous toward the outer regions. The hubble states, This means that star formation here likely occurred either from the outside-in, or its older stars managed to migrate to the outskirts of Leo A in the early stages of its evolution.

Tucana Dwarf Galaxy

Tucana Dwarf
The NASA on Saturday, August 24, said that Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will return next February, outlining their plan on how to return Starliner's astronaut crew to Earth. NASA informed that two astronauts from flawed Boeing mission to return to Earth with SpaceX.

"NASA has decided that Butch and Suni will return with Crew-9 next February, and that Starliner will return uncrewed," NASA administrator Bill Nelson told reporters.

The update on Boeing's first crewed Starliner test flight comes as Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore near 80-day mark of what was initially an eight-day mission

Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who launched to the International Space Station aboard Starliner on June 5, had their mission extended by over two months while Boeing and NASA investigated helium leaks and thruster problems on the spacecraft.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and the leadership team conducted an internal Test Flight Readiness Review for NASAs Boeing Crew Flight Test on Saturday, August 24.

NASA and Boeing gathered data, both in space and on the ground, regarding the Starliner spacecrafts propulsion and helium systems to better understand the ongoing technical challenges.

The review included a mission status update, review of technical data and closeout actions, as well as certify flight rationale to proceed with undocking and return from the space station.

NASAs Boeing Crew Flight Test launched on June 5 on a ULA (United Launch Alliance) Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

It is an end-to-end test of the Starliner system as part of the agencys Commercial Crew Program. Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is one of two commercial vehicles NASA picked to fly astronauts to and from the International Space Station under its Commercial Crew Program.

SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule is the other.
Ask any person about plans for retirement, and the word travel" will most likely be high on the list. That was the case some years ago when I decided to step back from a full-time career.

But that simple word travel" has turned out to have a lot of trial-and-error packed into it, especially when it comes to traveling in retirement. It has taken a while, but my husband, who is still working part time, and I have learned not just where we want to travel but, just as important, how.

Early on, we tried an Alaskan cruise. There is much to be said for the cruising lifestyle, but almost immediately we realized it wasnt what we wanted out of a vacation. We felt hemmed in by a set itinerary and annoyed by the everything-needs-a-reservation system that didnt encourage spontaneity on any given day or evening. Too many hours were spent looking at water and distant landscapes. The discovery that I can get seasick on an almost totally calm ocean didnt help.

We had the same reaction to group tours. While many people are happy to delegate logistics to the professionals, we found that approach frustrating. We couldnt just break off on our own midway through the days itinerary to sit and people watch in a cafe or spend more than the allotted time at a single site.

Our current answer is what I have come to call a la carte" travel. Its our way of handling the challenges of traveling in retirementon our own time, at our own speedwithout giving up the freedom and autonomy that we always valued in earlier years.

Below are six guidelines that have made our travel a lot more fulfillingand a lot less exhausting.

1. Travel offseason

Everyone knows that peak seasons arent ideal for traveling. But retirees have more of a commodity that working people lacktime for offseason trips. After all, you have flexibility for perhaps the first time in your life. Take advantage of it.

Our last three excursions to Europe have been during the relatively quiet winter months: In December 2022, we started in Bilbao, Spain, then moved on to Brussels and Amsterdam with side trips along the way. In early March 2023, we chose Geneva, Lyon and Avignon. In late February this year, we headed off to France and several places in England. We needed to pack an extra winter coat, but we avoided peak-time waiting lines and jammed restaurantsno point testing our patience and stamina, both more finite now than before I retired.

2. Choose secondary destinations

As retirees, we have found it easier to adopt a slower, more relaxed pace by focusing on destinations that arent always on the usual tourist grid.

That was the strategy on our trip this year when we flew from our home in Philadelphia to London, and then journeyed by train that same day to Bath, a city that one of our sons had highly recommended for its famous Roman Baths. From there, we branched out to the Cotswolds in southwest England, and Cardiff, the capital of Wales.

We returned to London for some theater but chose a hotel new to us in a part of London we have never stayed in and went to places we have never been to. These included a visit to Charles Dickenss home and, on impulse, a Sunday afternoon choral concert at the main church in Trafalgar Square, St. Martin-in-the-Fields.

Moving on, we took the Eurostar (never done that) to Lille in northern France (never been there). One of the lesser known, less-crowded cities in France, Lille offers noteworthy architecture, museums and food that even at relatively inexpensive restaurants always served up at least one course I included in my travel journal.

3. Dont be shy with strangers

One of the joys of traveling in retirement is unstructured time to enjoy casual, spontaneous conversations with people we happen to meet. Indeed, I find that impromptu connections with guides, drivers and even guards are often as memorable as the settings in which they occur.

For example, at near-empty Blenheim Palace in the Cotswolds, the avuncular guard in the bedroom where Winston Churchill was born answered our many questions, and then offered up a blow-by-blow account of how Winstons mother went into labor six weeks early during a formal palace ball. She ended up on a bed in the coatroom to welcome her son into the world. True story? Im not sure (there are differing accounts), but if we hadnt engaged the guard with a series of questions, I doubt he would have offered that anecdote and others.

The guide on our trip to Wales, after an hour of back-and-forth chatter about our home countries, related stories about driving world-class actors Ian McKellen and Ralph Fiennes to and from theater engagements in the London/Stratford/Bath/Bristol areas. Fiennes, he said, would sometimes rehearse his accent in the back seat when he had to play an American character; Sir Ian preferred to sit silently in the front.

At the Jane Austen museum in Bath, after a tour by youthful, period-costumed guides who extolled Austens attachment to the city, an impromptu chat with the older, more knowledgeable gift-store manager suggested, among other pieces of interesting trivia, that, actually Austen never liked Bath much, preferring instead her home in the English countryside. (Again, there are differing accounts, but it didnt matter. Our goal wasnt to fact-check.)

4. Focus on just a few things

This might seem an obvious strategy for seasoned travelers, but its easy to slip, especially when enthusiasm for the day ahead is high after (in our case a substantial) breakfast. More can definitely be less when youre traveling.

So we try to map out a plan of attack that is satisfying but not overly ambitious. Before we visited the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Lille, for instance, we identified five paintings we wanted to see, then made use of the benches strategically placed in front of or near them. We did the same for a visit to La Piscine in Roubaix, a remarkable design achievement for the architect who turned a former municipal swimming pool into an elegant modern art museum.

The building itself was reason enough for our outing, but we also sought out Degass famous sculpture of a 14-year-old dancer and nearby a carousel several feet high populated by delicately carved animals and people. I took pictures of both for my young granddaughter.

5. Stay at least three nights in each location

Packing and unpacking is a waste of energy. Cruises have the problem solved, but one way to approximate their advantage is to spend more nights in fewer places. By the second night, a hotel room or Airbnb is a moved-in place to rest. By the third night, it can become a familiar home-away-from-home.

6. Be prepared to improvise

When you travel in a la carte style, you are free to change the plans you made the day before for no particular reason. Maybe its the weather. Or perhaps you have a feeling that yesterdays pace was too challenging or not challenging enough. Start the day whenever you want, and be open to impulsive detours to areas that arent on tourist bureau maps.

The common send-off for vacation trips is Bon Voyage." In the years since I retired, our trips have indeed been good voyages. In our experience, the a la carte approach beats the prix fixe one. We are free to make our own choices and find our own adventures as we look forward to where the next day will take us.

Robbie Shell is a writer in Philadelphia.
With a whirlwind of news coming up throughout the week, it's hard to keep up with all the developments. In order to solve that issue, we have compiled a list of top developments that made waves in the world of technology this week in our Weekly Tech Recap.

Top tech news of the week:

iPhone 16 launch date leaked:

Earlier this week, an iPhone 16 launch poster started circulating on social media, courtesy of tipster Majin Bu, stating that the new iPhone models would be released on September 10. As it turns out, the poster wasn't leaked, but created by a regular user for a bit of fun.

However, a new report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, a much more reliable source, claims that Apple is indeed planning to hold its biggest hardware launch event of the year on Tuesday September 10, and that the new iPhones could go on sale from September 20.

Google said to remove dedicated search button on Android devices:

Google may be making some major changes to its app that could see the removal of the bottom search bar that has become a familiar sight on all Android devices. The new change comes as the Sundar Pichai-led company continues to add new features to its Gemini AI-powered search.

The update was first spotted by tipster Assembly Debug (via Android Headline) in the Google beta app for Android version 15.32.37.28.arm64. While Google is reportedly working on many layouts, none of them feature the search bar at the bottom of the page.

Poco Pad 5G launched in India:

Poco Pad 5G features a 12.1-inch 2K display with a 2,560 x 1,600 pixels resolution. The screen supports a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and a 16:10 aspect ratio, ensuring a smooth visual experience. The display offers a peak brightness of 600 nits and comes with TUV Rheinland triple certification, along with Corning Gorilla Glass for added protection.

Under the hood, the tablet is powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 SoC, coupled with 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 2.2 internal storage, which can be expanded further to 1.5TB via a microSD card. The device runs on HyperOS, which is based on Android 14.

In terms of photography, the Poco Pad 5G is equipped with an 8MP rear camera accompanied by an LED flash. On the front, another 8MP camera is placed on the right-side bezel, making it ideal for video calls.

The tablet is designed with an IP52 rating, providing resistance against dust and splashes. It also features a quad-speaker setup, dual microphones, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and support for Dolby Atmos, ensuring an immersive audio experience. The display further enhances this with Dolby Vision support.

WhatsApp reportedly looking to add new Instagram like feature:

WhatsApp is reportedly gearing towards adding a new customizable chat theme feature that could soon be rolled out both for the Android and iOS version of the personal messing platform. As per WABetainfo, the new update is aimed at enhancing the messaging experience by providing greater control over visual interface and allowing users to chose their favourite colours for chat bubbles.

The feature was first spotted by the publication in WhatsApp beta for iOS 24.11.10.70 and then in WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.17.19. As per the shared screenshot, WhatsApp may be testing a new section where users could select their favourite default chat theme. The feature is currently under development so Chat Themes preview isn't available yet but the report states that there could at least 10 chat themes to begin with.

Moto G45 5G launched in India:

Moto G45 5G features a 6.45 inch HD+ display with a resolution of 1600 x 720 pixels and up to 120Hz refresh rate. The display can offer a peak brightness of 500 nits and is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3.

The phone runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 chip based on a 6nm process and is paired with Adreno 619GPU for handling graphics-intensive tasks. It comes with support for up to 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and up to 128GB of UFS 2.2 storage (expandable up to 1TB via microSD card slot).

The Moto G45 5G is powered by a 5,000 mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging. It comes with Android 14 out of the box with Motoroloa UX skin on top. Motorola has promised an year of OS update and 3 years of security patches with this device.

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BAKU. Azerbaijan. August 24. An ammunition explosion occurred in the Fuzuli district, Trend reports.

On August 24, an explosion of ammunition took place in the village of Zyargyar of the Fuzuli district.

As a result of the explosion in an area not yet cleared of mines and other explosive ordnance, Raju Aslanov, born 1978, a resident engaged in construction work, sustained various injuries. His condition is stable, and his life is not in danger.

The Fuzuli District Prosecutor's Office is conducting an investigation into the incident.

"The Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA), the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the Prosecutor General's Office once again urge citizens to adhere to safety regulations, pay attention to mine hazard signs, and avoid entering unfamiliar areas," the statement reads.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 24. Several EU institutions need to hault their provocations against Azerbaijan, said Aykhan Hajizada, Spokesman for Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trend reports.

He made the statement in response to a question about the provocative remarks directed at Azerbaijan by Peter Stano, Spokesperson for the European Commission on Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

Such biased allegations of the EU Spokesperson regarding the human rights in our country have been repeatedly responded by us. Opinions that any Azerbaijani citizen is being prosecuted due to their political beliefs or viewpoints, or that criminal proceedings involving individuals introducing themselves as journalists or human rights advocates have political motives are fundamentally improper and unacceptable.

Detention of individuals for offenses such as treason, financing of particular illegal activities, illicit financial transactions, etc. is conducted in accordance with the requirements of the relevant criminal procedural legislations, and the process is fully transparent.

Instead of waiting for the outcomes of criminal cases and investigations, as well as court decisions, calls on Azerbaijan to release suspects are in direct contradiction with the legal procedures, an attempt to interfere with the judicial authority, and is a violation of the values promoted by the European Union.

We regretfully note that indifference by the EU to the violation of the fundamental rights and freedoms of people in a number of its member states, the loss of lives in prisons as a result of political persecution and during the protests such as yellow vests, as well as bloodshed in protests in New Caledonia are examples of double standards.

A number of institutions of the EU must put an end to provocations against Azerbaijan, the statement reads.
The older sister of Mike Lynchs 18-year-old daughter Hannah has paid tribute to her little angel after it was confirmed she had died in a luxury yacht sinking alongside her father.

Mr Lynch and Hannah were among seven people who died after the Bayesian sank off the coast of Sicily early on Monday morning.

The tech mogul, 59, was the creator of software giant Autonomy and had been cleared in June of carrying out a massive fraud related to its 11 billion dollar (8.64 billion) sale to US company Hewlett Packard.

Hannah Lynchs sister Esme described her as the most amazing, supportive and joyful sister.

Paying tribute, she said: Hannah often burst into my bedroom and lay down with me. Sometimes beaming with a smile, sometimes cheeky, sometimes for advice. No matter what, she brought boundless love to me.

She was endlessly caring, passionately mad, unintentionally hilarious and the most amazing, supportive and joyful sister and best friend to me.

And on top of all this, she had even more love to give endlessly to all her friends, and passion to give to her incredible studies and goals.

She is my little angel, my star.

A spokesperson for the Lynch family said earlier on Friday: The Lynch family is devastated, in shock and is being comforted and supported by family and friends.

Their thoughts are with everyone affected by the tragedy.

They would like to sincerely thank the Italian coastguard, emergency services and all those who helped in the rescue.

Hannah and Mike Lynch (Family Handout/PA)

Their one request now is that their privacy be respected at this time of unspeakable grief.

Mr Lynchs 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, had recently finished her A-levels and was due to study at Oxford University.

Jon Mitropoulos-Monk, head of English at Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith, said of his former pupil: Ive never taught someone who combined sky-high intellectual ability with warmth and enthusiasm in the way Hannah did.

She lit up the classroom with her energy, passion for learning and sheer intelligence (though never with a hint of arrogance).

I will remember her for what she taught me: kindness, compassion and commitment, he added.

Hannahs friend Katya Lewis also paid tribute, saying: Being with Hannah made me feel whole and happy.

She had a warm and beautiful soul.

She is the most special friend anyone could ask for and I will always love Hannah.

Patrick Jacob, a family friend, said the teenager was charming and ferociously intelligent with an insatiable thirst for life and knowledge.

We have lost one of our brightest stars whose future held so much promise, he added.

Her loss is unbearable.

Gracie Lea, a school classmate, added that the 18-year-old was sincere, dedicated, fiercely intelligent and genuinely kind.

Close friend and colleague Andrew Kanter described Mr Lynch as instantly inspiring and said he will be sorely missed.

In the tribute, Mr Kanter said: Mike was the most brilliant mind and caring person I have ever known.

Over nearly a quarter century I had the privilege of working beside someone unrivalled in their understanding of technology and business.

There is simply no other UK technology entrepreneur of our generation who has had such an impact on so many people.

His passion for life, knowledge and all those around him was instantly inspiring to everyone he met, and he will be sorely missed.

Family friend Albert Read said: Ive never met anyone like Mike  a searing intellect, a steel that would transform the world around him.

An instinct for family and friends  organising childrens treasure hunts, big gatherings of neighbours in Suffolk  and, with Angela, a determination to light up the worlds of art and science for his two beloved daughters.

Warm, funny, brilliant, loyal and exceptionally brave, with a heart as big as his brain.

Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy Bloomer, Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo were also confirmed to have died after the sinking.

Sushovan Hussain, a close friend of Mr Lynch and former chief financial officer of Autonomy, said he was utterly devastated over the tragic incident.

My wife and I are utterly devastated by the deaths of so many of our dear friends. No words can express our sorrow, he said.

I have known Mike for over 40 years, since our school days, and for most of that time our lives have been inextricably linked.

I was thrilled when he was acquitted and now his departure leaves an unfillable hole in my life.

We have known Hannah since her birth, and for her to be taken on the precipice of her life is cruel beyond belief. Our hearts bleed for Angela and her remaining daughter.

Mr Hussain also paid tribute to Stephen Chamberlain, Mr Lynchs co-defendant in the US fraud trial, who died after he was hit by a car on Saturday.

He said: Steve was by my side for many years, and I had the honour of calling him, Jonathan, Judy and Chris my good friends.

It is truly impossible to fathom how they can all be gone over such a short period. It is tragic beyond words.

The Bayesian was moored around half a mile off the coast of Porticello when it sank as the area was hit by a storm.

The wreckage of the Bayesian is resting on the seabed off the coast at a depth of 50 metres (164ft).

Mr Lynchs 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, had recently finished her A-levels and was due to study at Oxford University (Family Handout/PA)

A helicopter, remotely controlled underwater vehicles, naval units and cave divers have been used in the search.

The final body, believed to be that of Mr Lynchs daughter, was recovered on Friday.

Poppy Gustafsson, the chief executive of cybersecurity company Darktrace, also paid tribute to Mr Lynch, who was a co-founder of the firm.

She said: Without Mike, there would be no Darktrace. We owe him so much.

Mike drove an unwavering focus in everything that he did. He was binary: there was no half Mike. His intelligence was, to me, what a galaxy is to a planet. That intelligence was intimidating.

She added: I am grateful to Mike for his support to me and to Darktrace, which continued long after his involvement. He leaves behind an enormous legacy with us, but also with the broader UK technology ecosystem.

Referring to the recent court case in the US in which Mr Lynch and co-defendant Mr Chamberlain were recently cleared of charges of fraud and conspiracy, she said: At a time when both Mike and Steve were so recently acquitted, it feels too cruel.

But also, such a relief to know that they died with the world knowing their innocence.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 24. The remarks directed at Azerbaijan's political leadership, a country known for its political stability, economic development, and progress, are viewed primarily as a biased stance against its achievements, said Aykhan Hajizada, Trend reports.

Spokesman for Azerbaijans Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in response to a question about the comments made by German parliamentarian Frank Schwabe concerning Azerbaijan.

First and foremost, I would like to point out that the views regarding Azerbaijan and the countrys leadership expressed by Frank Schwabe, whose name was mentioned in a number of corruption cases and is connected with murky business links, demonstrate how biased, deceptive, and hypocritical this politician is. Opinions expressed against the political leadership of Azerbaijan, ranked among the top countries in terms of political stability, economic development, and progress, are largely viewed as a bias against the countrys achievements. At the same time, it is a fact that the efforts we have taken to liberate our lands, which have been under the occupation for almost 30 years, and the independent policies we have implemented do not align with the nefarious intentions of individuals like Schwabe, and that distress them.

Frank Schwabe is well aware that the only reason PACE observers were not invited to observe the Milli Majlis elections is that the Azerbaijani delegations mandate has not yet been restored, despite promises made to our country on the political level, including by the German officials.

It would be fitting for Schwabe, who expressed worry over Azerbaijan-Russia relations, to talk about the persons who collaborate with Russia in Germany and PACE, including close cooperation with Russias Gazprom corporation nowadays.

Moreover, conditioning of Azerbaijans presidency of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) on political motives irrelevant to this process, expressing views opposed to the essence of the fight against climate change, including our countrys commitment, once again demonstrated Schwabes predisposition against Azerbaijan.

Regarding Schwabes desire to visit Azerbaijan within the framework of COP29, it is important to note that the individuals who voted against the Azerbaijani delegation at PACE have been placed on the list of personae non gratae. If the aforementioned individuals are to visit Azerbaijan before our delegations mandate in PACE is restored, they will be denied entry into the country.

Azerbaijan is committed to its international obligations, and understands them well. Nonetheless, we reiterate once again that application of those obligations only on the basis of one-sided and double standards, and while misusing them taking prejudiced approaches towards our country will be prevented, the statement reads.
DEAR ABBY: Should I be mad at the father of my unborn child for not coming with me to travel out of the country? My cousin is being married in Mexico. However, my partner, Gabriel, isnt going because one of his good friends is getting married the same weekend.

We found out only recently that I am pregnant, and by the time my cousins wedding comes around, Ill be five months along. My family will be going, but they already booked their flights, which are now sold out, so I will have to travel pregnant and alone in Mexico.

The night I found out I was pregnant, Gabriel told me he would go with me, as he didnt want the mother of his unborn child to travel alone to a different country. However, as the wedding got closer, he said he no longer wants to go, as it will be expensive and hed miss his friends wedding.

Abby, am I wrong for being upset that he doesnt want to come with me? I think Im more disappointed because I assumed hed want to be protective in this situation, but it almost feels like hes choosing his friend over us. I know I am biased and my emotions are high, but I really want to be level-headed about this and try to understand.

 EXPECTANT TRAVELER IN CALIFORNIA

DEAR TRAVELER: Forgive me if this seems harsh, but what you should understand is your partner is self-centered and more concerned with the good time he will have with his buddy than he is about the soon-to-be mother of his child. This should be an indication of the kind of husband and father he may make IF you plan to marry him.

That said, if your doctor says you are OK to travel, your family will be around to keep an eye on you, so you shouldnt be in danger. The independence you demonstrate now may be necessary in whatever future you have with  or without  your partner.

DEAR ABBY: I cant understand why my mom kept the last name of her ex-husband (my stepfather), who sexually abused me and my sister as children. She knew all about it after I broke down and told her when I was 10. She stayed married to him for years afterward, with my sister and me in the house. Keeping that monster away from me was hell on earth.

Mom now has dementia, and I take good care of her. I made sure I had a good, healthy life and relationships, and also made sure to protect my child from abuse. Im trying to not be angry, sad and damaged. I dont live every day thinking about it. Am I too sensitive?

 SURVIVOR IN INDIANA

DEAR SURVIVOR: Too sensitive? I dont think so. Considering the circumstances, your feelings are normal. I admire you for stepping up and making sure that your mother is well taken care of in spite of the fact that she didnt do that for you.

As a victim of sexual abuse, you should have received counseling years ago. If that didnt happen, it could benefit you greatly to get some now. A place to find what you need would be RAINN, the national sexual assault hotline, which can be reached online at rainn.org or by calling (toll-free) 800-656-4673.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

COPYRIGHT 2024 ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION
A hiker found the body of a dead Virginia man half a mile below the summit of Mount Washington on the Gulfside Trail, the New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game announced Friday.

The 72-year-old mans body was found at around 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, the department wrote in a statement.

Found at about 425 feet north of the Cog Railway tracks, the railway offered Fish and Game help with one of their trains and personnel to recover the body, the department said. New Hampshire State Police and the Twin Mountain Fire Department assisted in the recovery.

After the recovery team traveled by train, they hiked to the scene with a litter and placed the body on it and carried the man to the train. When the body came to the base station, it was then given to the State Medical Examiners office in Concord for an autopsy.

The man likely died due to exposure, though the exact cause of death is pending, Fish and Game wrote. His name is being withheld pending family notification.

It is likely that he took the train up to the summit on Wednesday, Aug. 21, and then attempted the hike back down, Fish and Game wrote.

The department asks anyone who saw or met the hiker to contact New Hampshire State Police at 603-846-3333 or email Lt. Mark Ober.
A compromise bill that will expand access to an array of critical maternal health services is now the law of the land in Massachusetts.

Democratic Gov. Maura Healey signed the legislation on Friday. It was one of the Legislatures pieces of unfinished business left over from the end of formal sessions earlier this month.

The bill will overhaul maternal health practices statewide, even as it expands cover for midwives, birth centers, and doulas, as well as screening and treatment for postpartum depression, Healeys office said in a statement.

These important expansions in the law will help make it both safer and easier to start and grow a family here in Massachusetts while making sure that women can make the best health care decisions for themselves, Healey said in a statement.

Healey will hold a ceremonial signing on Monday, Aug. 26 at 12:30 pm at the Grand Staircase at the State House in Boston, her office said.

State lawmakers sent the bill, the product of joint House and Senate negotiations, to Healey earlier this month. It won House and Senate approval during sparsely attended informal sessions on Aug. 15, State House News Service reported.

Its with immense gratitude that we get to actually revel in this moment of progress, celebrating this monumental commitment to improving the quality of life, maternal and mental health care for our most at-risk constituents, said Sen. Liz Miranda, D-2nd Suffolk, who sponsored maternal health legislation this session, said at the time, according to the wire service.

The legislation is "one of the most comprehensive maternal health packages to be signed into law nationwide, Rep. Marjorie Decker, D-25th Middlesex, a House negotiator on the bill, said in the joint statement released Friday.

While lawmakers were able to scratch the bill off their to-do list, nine bills, including one adding more liquor licenses for Boston, and Healeys signature economic development proposal, remain mired in cross-chamber talks.

Midwifery and doula services are essential family planning tools that should be guaranteed for everyone in Massachusetts, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll said in the administrations statement.

At a time when this country faces a maternal health crisis, I am proud to stand alongside Governor Healey to sign these significant initiatives into law, Driscoll said.

The U.S. has one of the highest maternal death rates of any wealthy nation  hovering around 20 per 100,000 live births overall and 50 for Black moms, according to the World Health Organization and U.S. health officials.

Several European countries have rates in the single digits, The Associated Press reported.

In Massachusetts, 15.3 per 100,000 deliveries resulted in a maternal death between 2018 to 2021. That put the Bay State among the states with the fewest maternal deaths, according to a June report by Boston Indicators, the research arm of The Boston Foundation.

The bill Healey signed Friday requires MassHealth to cover doula services for pregnant people up to 12 months postpartum, even as it mandates insurance coverage for postpartum depression screenings for any member of the health plan who recently became a parent, or who lost a pregnancy, according to the administration.

The state-run health insurance program also will be required to cover midwifery services, Healeys office said.

The state announced last year that MassHealth would cover doula services for its members.

Since then, the state-run insurance program has "surpassed its original goal of enrolling 50 doula providers by the end of June, with more than 120 doula providers from across Massachusetts having now signed onto the agencys doula services program, the administration said.

The legislation further creates a new grant program for nonprofits and community-based health centers that deal with mental health and behavioral health issues, as well as substance use disorder challenges for perinatal people, Healeys office said.

These investments are part of our commitment across agencies to eliminate disparities in maternal health care that have led to worse outcomes in some communities and for people of color  especially Black birthing people, state Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh said.

Racism has a devastating impact in public health and health care and contributes to disparities in access to care and outcomes  including in maternal health, state Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, added.

Katherine Rushfirth, the midwife and policy director for the Neighborhood Birth Center, said she could not overstate the positive impact this legislation will have, on the organization as it works to open Bostons first freestanding birth center.

From expanding the midwife pool that we can hire, to improving the regulations under which we operate, to fair reimbursement that is central to our financial sustainability, Rushfirth said. Its the beginning of a time in Massachusetts where birth centers, especially those led by and anchored in communities of color, can open and thrive.
A Massachusetts State Police trooper was arrested last week in Fitchburg and has been placed on restricted duty, according to court records and the State Police.

Trooper Dylan Knox, 31, of Fitchburg, faces charges connected to a domestic incident on Aug. 15, records in Fitchburg District Court show.

He was arrested and pleaded not guilty the next day to counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, strangulation or suffocation, and witness intimidation  all felonies. He also pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of domestic assault and battery, according to court records.

Records are vague on the nature of the accusations against Knox and certain documents are impounded, meaning restricted from public view, at the request of prosecutors.

Benjamin Megrian, Knoxs Boston-based attorney, said his client steadfastly denies these allegations.

Knox has dutifully and faithfully served his community for the past 5 years, Megrian said in an emailed statement. Dylan looks forward to putting this case behind him and continuing to serve the citizens of the Commonwealth.

After his arrest, the State Police opened an internal affairs investigation and relieved Knox of duty, according to State Police spokesperson Timothy McGuirk.

In all State Police disciplinary cases, troopers sit for a duty status hearing during which they are either retained on full duty, placed on restricted duty, suspended with pay or suspended without pay, McGuirk said.

Knox was placed on restricted duty on Tuesday, he said.

On Wednesday, the states police oversight board, the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, suspended Knoxs certification to work in law enforcement. Without an active certification, he is barred from doing police work.

If Knox is convicted, the commission would be required to revoke his certification, ending his law enforcement career in Massachusetts.

Knox is a member of the State Polices Troop B, covering western parts of the Bay State, McGuirk said.

During his Aug. 16 court appearance, Judge Whitney J. Brown ordered Knox to stay away from any victims or witnesses in the case and to wear a GPS monitor, among other conditions. He was released on $500 bail.

Knox is the second state trooper charged with domestic assault and battery in the last two weeks.

A spokesperson for the State Police Association of Massachusetts, the union representing state troopers and sergeants, did not respond to a request for comment.
The days are about to get shorter and shorter as the fall and winter season approaches.

But when will sunsets be before 5 p.m.? Heres what you need to know.

By Oct. 19, the sun will set at 6 p.m. in Massachusetts, according to the Farmers Almanac.

Over the next two weeks, the sun will continue setting earlier and earlier. However, it wont set before 5 p.m. until daylight saving time impacts it.

Starting Nov. 3, the sun will set at about 4:39 p.m., giving Massachusetts residents about 10 hours and 17 minutes of daylight.

The exact time will vary depending on location.

Daylight saving time will also end on Nov. 3.

At 2 a.m. on Nov. 3, clocks will fall back and many will (hopefully) get an extra hour of sleep that weekend. It will also allow there to be more light in the morning.

The sun will rise Nov. 2 around 7:30 a.m. But by Nov. 3, it will start rising around 6:30 a.m.
BOSTON  The Red Sox scratched Tyler ONeill from their lineup Friday because of left fourth finger inflammation.

The initial lineup had ONeill playing left field and batting fifth. Rob Refsnyder will take spot both in left and in the fifth spot. Boston will host the Diamondbacks at 7:10 p.m. here at Fenway Park.

Updated Red Sox lineup:

1. Jarren Duran CF

2. Wilyer Abreu RF

3. Triston Casas 1B

4. Rafael Devers 3B

5. Rob Refsnyder LF

6. Masataka Yoshida DH

7. Danny Jansen C

8. David Hamilton 2B

9. Ceddanne Rafaela SS

ONeill is batting .262 with a .351 on-base percentage, .524 slugging percentage, .875 OPS, 22 homers, 16 doubles, 46 RBIs, 60 runs, 40 walks and 117 strikeouts in 84 games (359 plate appearances) for Boston this season.

The Red Sox activated ONeill from the 10-day injured list Aug. 17 after he missed 12 games with a left leg infection that hospitalized him. He also missed nine games earlier this year with right knee inflammation and six games because of a concussion.
An Alabama man is in custody in Springfield, charged with kidnapping a 13-year-old girl from a Springfield home in late July.

Springfield Police Department spokesperson Ryan Walsh said 31-year-old Paul Areliano was arrested in Front Royal, Virginia, where he was being held on a fugitive from justice warrant pending rendition to Massachusetts. On Tuesday, Springfield detectives flew to Virginia to bring Areliano back to face a single count of kidnapping.

Walsh said the girl remained in the custody of Virginia authorities after Areliano was arrested. He said while the girl spends summers in Springfield, she also lives in Alabama.
When Colleen DeLeo of Worcester learned Gov. Maura Healey signed a bill that defined coercive control as a form of domestic abuse, she said she broke down in tears.

DeLeo, 41, told MassLive she is a victim of coercive control, which the Domestic Violence Network defines as the pattern of behavior or actions used by a perpetrator to frighten, threaten, oppress, and limit their victim.

When she found out the governor signed the bill on June 20, DeLeo said she felt something new  a sense of security.

I feel a little bit more secure. I feel like theres going to be a turning point somewhere, she said, adding she is more hopeful about her case and others like it.

To celebrate the new law, DeLeo, along with other advocates fighting against coercive control, will gather on 18 Chestnut St. in Worcester on Sept. 6 for a special event hosted by the Together Rising Above Coercion (TRAC) coalition, a statewide organization made up of domestic abuse victims and other groups who supported the recently-passed legislation.

The celebration is expected to feature legislators, leaders of the TRAC coalition and supporters of the new law signed on June 20 by Gov. Healey, according to DeLeo. She told MassLive that she would read a speech at the celebration, thanking legislators and advocates for supporting the law and helping it get passed during the legislative session.

Arline Rosario of Worcester, who said she is another victim of coercion, said she would attend the celebration as well and that she is thankful for the law. Rosario, 49, said the new law would be a boon to her granddaughter and two nieces should they ever find themselves in relationships where their significant other may try to use coercive control. She hopes, however, that they never have to experience that kind of scenario.

It was a very needed law, Rosario said. When it wasnt there, it was hard to prove that a person was coercing you to do things.

While the event is scheduled in Worcester, it is billed as a statewide celebration. Carmen Aliber, a founding member of the TRAC coalition, told MassLive that Worcester was chosen as the celebration site because it is considered the center of Massachusetts.

State Sen. Michael Moore, D-2nd Worcester, told MassLive that holding events highlighting a new law after the signing ceremony isnt common, but he understands why the TRAC coalition wants to celebrate.

With this closing of one of the loopholes in domestic violence, this brought Massachusetts with what the definitions should be nationally, Moore said.

Moore, a co-sponsor for the original bill that became law, said he did not know whether he would attend the upcoming celebration.

The law in action

Before the coercion control law was signed, section 1 of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 209A defined abuse as actual physical abuse, an attempt to harm another, placing another in fear of serious physical harm and causing another to engage in sexual relations by force, threat or force or duress.

Anne Bureau, a TRAC coalition member from Worcester, notes how the states original definition of abuse does not include coercive control. Bureau said most abusers use coercive control on their victims first rather than using violence right away. It is only when those tactics fail that they resort to physical abuse, she said.

Coercive control is more the psychological abuse, financial abuse, tracking your whereabouts, Bureau said. The psychological abuse precedes and leads up to the terrible, physical abuse and sometimes, murder.

Under the new law, however, coercive control is now defined as abuse, meaning that those who are victims of coercive control can seek a restraining order or abuse prevention order from a judge  just the same as someone who has been a victim of physical abuse, according to Bureau.

In addition, those who violate the prevention order by engaging in coercive control are subject to the same criminal penalties as those who break a prevention order by using physical abuse. According to Section 7 of Chapter 209A, these penalties could be a fine of up to $5,000 and imprisonment for up to two-and-a-half years.

Bureau described this change in the law as huge.

One in four women, but it affects all genders, are impacted by domestic abuse, Bureau said. Its really an epidemic.

The triumph of TRAC

Formed in June 2023, the TRAC coalitions mission is to support and help pass legislation that expands the definition of domestic abuse to include coercive control and abusive litigation, according to TRAC coalition co-founder Carmen Aliber.

At the root of all types of abuse is power and control and coercive control is the foundation of all forms of abuse, she said.

Members of the group testified to the Judiciary Committee during legislative sessions to pass the bill. The committee eventually agreed on a combination of two bills, one adding coercive control to the states definition of abuse and one bill that would ban revenge porn  which is the non-consensual sharing of explicit images.

The timeline between the TRAC Coalitions formation and its ability to successfully lobby a bill being passed into law was only one year, according to Aliber.

TRAC was formed in June 2023, we got a bill signed into law in June 2024, Aliber said.

Despite the passage of the coercive control law and the revenge porn ban, the TRAC Coalition still has unfinished business on Beacon Hill. Another bill, which would have added abusive litigation to the states definition of abuse, was not passed this legislative session. Abusive litigation occurs when an abuser uses the courts or files litigation against their victim specifically to gain control or power over them, according to womenslaw.org.

I expect that we will try again, Aliber said.
A FINE GAEL member of the European Parliament has issued a stark warning about the rising threat of Spice vape usage among schoolchildren in Ireland.

Former jockey and current MEP for the Midlands Northwest Constituency, Nina Carberry stated that recent findings reveal that one in six vapes tested in schools across England contain Spice, a synthetic cannabinoid with severe health risks, and there are increasing concerns about similar trends emerging in Irish schools.

MEP Carberry stresses the critical role that the European Commission can play in combating the online sale of illegal vapes. Through the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA), the Commission can enforce stricter regulations on online platforms, making it more difficult for illegal Spice vapes to be sold and distributed to minors in Ireland.

The DSA and DMA provide us with the tools to increase transparency and accountability for online platforms, said MEP Carberry. By enforcing these regulations, we can better protect our children from the dangers of Spice vapes and ensure these harmful products are not accessible online.

Fine Gael MEP Nina Carberry

With the return to school approaching, MEP Carberry underscores the urgency of addressing this issue as students head back to classrooms. The time is now for parents, educators, and communities in Ireland to unite in raising awareness and taking preventive action.

This is not just a problem for other countriesit's a growing issue here in Ireland, added MEP Carberry.

We must be proactive in safeguarding our children, and I call on the European Commission to fully utilise the DSA and DMA to address the online sale of these dangerous substances.

A recent example of the problem with vapes comes from a 14-year-old student in England who became addicted to Spice vapes. He described how his dependence on the drug took over his life, leading him to use it constantly, even during school hours. This case highlights the potent and dangerous effects of Spice, which can cause dizziness, breathing difficulties, heart palpitations, psychosis, and seizures.

The safety of our children is paramount, and we cannot ignore the growing evidence that Spice vapes are infiltrating our schools. Legislators, parents, educators, and communities across Ireland must work together to prevent this dangerous trend from taking hold, MEP Carberry concluded.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 25. Those who voted against the Azerbaijani delegation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) have been added to the "undesirable persons" list. If these individuals attempt to enter Azerbaijan before our delegation's mandate in PACE is restored, they will be denied entry, Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry spokesman Aykhan Hajizada said, Trend reports.

Frank Schwabe is well aware that the only reason PACE observers were not invited to observe the Milli Majlis elections is that the Azerbaijani delegations mandate has not yet been restored, despite promises made to our country on the political level, including by the German officials.

Moreover, conditioning of Azerbaijans presidency of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) on political motives irrelevant to this process, expressing views opposed to the essence of the fight against climate change, including our countrys commitment, once again demonstrated Schwabes predisposition against Azerbaijan.

Regarding Schwabes desire to visit Azerbaijan within the framework of COP29, it is important to note that the individuals who voted against the Azerbaijani delegation at PACE have been placed on the list of personae non gratae. If the aforementioned individuals are to visit Azerbaijan before our delegations mandate in PACE is restored, they will be denied entry into the country.

Azerbaijan is committed to its international obligations, and understands them well. Nonetheless, we reiterate once again that application of those obligations only on the basis of one-sided and double standards, and while misusing them taking prejudiced approaches towards our country will be prevented, the statement reads.
British YouTuber Miles Routledge, who has gained notoriety for his controversial and racist remarks, has once again caused a huge storm on social media with his objectionable comments about India. Wants to drop nuclear bombs on India The 24-year-old recently posted on X, formerly Twitter, that if he became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, he would drop nuclear bombs on any country that tried to interfere with Britains interests. Instead of worrying about the backlash that could be directed his way, he further instigated people saying that his hands were itching to nuke the whole world for even the smallest disagreement. When I become prime minister of England, I'll open the nuclear silos as an explicit warning to any foreign power that interferes with British interests and affairs.



I'm not talking huge incidents, I'm itching to launch and atomize entire nations over the smallest infraction. pic.twitter.com/UGBKYB3pku  Lord Miles (@real_lord_miles) August 20, 2024 When I become Prime Minister of England, Ill open the nuclear silos as an explicit warning to any foreign power that interferes with British interests and affairs. Im not talking huge incidents; Im itching to launch and atomize entire nations over the smallest infraction, Routledge wrote on X while sharing a meme video of US president Joe Biden launching nuclear missiles from the hidden silos. The YouTuber, who boasts over 126,000 followers on the popular micro-blogging site, went a step further and said that he might start his nuclear missile attack by launching them at India just for the sake of it.

 instagram/miles_routledge Hell, I might just launch at India just for the sake of it! he wrote on X, only to delete it after the backlash. However, it wasnt the first time, the controversial British YouTuber had passed derogatory comments against India. Earlier this week, he had mocked Indians through a series of racist comments on X. He shared a few screenshots of threat messages he received on X from an anonymous user. Even though there was no mention of the users nationality, Routledge assumed that person to be an Indian and dished out venom.

 instagram/miles_routledge Indian threatens to find me, it backfires lmao, Routledge wrote alongside the screenshot. The screenshot had a line from the unnamed user, I will find you I promise, your apology video will be sweet. In reply, Routledge shared his location with the unnamed user and mocked Indians by writing, Saar okay lord saar good luck saar haha saar, which, according to him is how Indians speak. Hatred for India SAAR I WILL COME TO YOUR LOCATION pic.twitter.com/gyxFL39MXn  Lord Miles (@real_lord_miles) August 21, 2024 After an Indian X user called out his racist behaviour, he didnt try to hide his hatred for Indians, shamelessly justifying why he thinks the unnamed user who threatened him on X couldnt be from any other country except India. Believe it or not, I just dont like India. Also, I can sense an Indian, he is Indian. If a man online suddenly talks about ducking your mother in the first response, hes Indian. Many such cases, he responded. Having had enough of this racist clown, people are urging social media authorities to take strict action and pull the lever on such immoral behaviours, setting a deterrent for everyone else. Who is Miles Routledge?

 instagram/miles_routledge According to Firstpost, Miles Routledge, popularly known as Lord Miles on the internet, grew up in Falcon Lodge, Birmingham, UK as an only child. His father worked as a sperm donor, and he was conceived through In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF). Miles Routledge Early Education Routledge earned his elementary education at Hollyfield School. He finished his sixth format Plantsbrook School in 2018. In school, he also worked part-time as a hairdresser. Miles Routledge College
By Mazahir Afandiyev

The entire Azerbaijani people hold great affection for every part of our country, including its cities, provinces, and villages, with their diverse geographical and climatic qualities, rich natural beauty, and unique features.

With the great leader Heydar Aliyev's appeal for unification, the grateful Azerbaijani people laid the groundwork for our nation to achieve independence a second time, and our intelligent, patriotic, and devoted youth provided the inspiration for the broad popular movement.

For nearly 35 years, the Republic of Azerbaijanwhich joined the UN in 1992has been steadily growing. During this period, our nation has made significant strides in the social, economic, and international spheres, ensuring its overall development.

But the Armenian state, which claimed our land and occupied our territory during the early years of our freedom, waged military aggression against Karabakh, an essential part of Azerbaijan. Our cultural treasure - Shusha, Lachin, Kelbajar, and other cities were taken over as a result of the aggression, and the enemy also gained control of a portion of our territory through individuals that sought and obtained power. The Azerbaijani people have endured unimaginable suffering due to this occupation for thirty years.

In 2020, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Great Commander-in-Chief, President Ilham Aliyev, guided by the will of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev, gave an order to the victorious army of Azerbaijan, crowned with the liberation of our lands from occupation by valiant sons of our heroic people during the 44-day Second Karabakh - Patriotic War and transition to a qualitatively new stage of governance of our regions.

Our people are commemorating the second anniversary of Lachin's liberation these days. The Armenian Armed Forces took control of the strategically significant Lachin area on May 18, 1992. After our victory in 2020, the Lachin region was given to Azerbaijan on December 1 of the same year, following the trilateral statement of November 10, and on August 26, 2022, the city of Lachin and the villages of Zabukh and Sus were taken under control. Thus, without any violence, we were able to regain our sovereignty.

With immense pride, the Azerbaijani people are already making their way back to their homeland. In 2023, as part of the Great Return, Lachin residents made the first return to their hometown following a 31-year absence. The president of Azerbaijan met with these residents and gave them the keys to their homes in person. In addition, the president has made seven trips to Lachin in the last three years and has attended the opening of several infrastructure projects. This proves that the construction and reconstruction of our liberated lands are priorities, and also demonstrates Azerbaijan's resolve to maintain peace and calm in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur.

Large-scale creative projects are now produced in Lachin with excellent taste and quality. Here, the settlement strategy is being effectively carried out, and all the prerequisites have been established for the large-scale industrial, transportation, and tourism infrastructure, as well as the return of our compatriots to their ancestral lands. "If there is an image of paradise, then this is it. Spectacular nature, majestic mountains, beautiful buildings and houseseverything is being done with great taste so that both people can live comfortably here, and the modern appearance of the city of Lachin corresponds to Azerbaijans achievements, President Ilham Aliyev said, and his remarks are confirmed by actual actions.

In particular, the United Nations, which responds to the challenges of global settlement policy and the Sustainable Development Goals set out in the 2030 Agenda and oversees the implementation of the Goals, must be closely involved and persistent in this process. This has the potential to enable Azerbaijan to maintain its operations in the liberated areas at a new, globally compliant level.

It is no accident that the greatest worldwide forum for examining rapidly increasing urbanization and its effects on urban development, the World Urban Development Forum, will be held in Azerbaijan in 2026, which constantly hosts globally prestigious events.

This event will provide our nation with the chance to implement as a national concept the cutting-edge, technologically rich urban planning regulations, significant settlement policy procedures, and the national idea of historical heritage protection that is being applied in our native Karabakh.

Mazahir Afandiyev is the Member of the Milli Majlis (the Azerbaijani Parliament).
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 24. The ballots for the September 1 snap parliamentary election in Azerbaijan are packed with 991 candidates vying for seats, Deputy Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) Rovzat Gasimov told reporters, Trend reports.

This, he stressed, is the last leg of the voting procedure.

By the commissions decision, more than 6.516 million ballot papers have been printed. These ballots feature the names of 991 candidates, offering a wide range of choices for the election, Gasimov said.

To note, on June 28, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree dissolving the sixth convocation of the Azerbaijani Parliament and scheduling a snap election for September 1.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
A Navy sailor pleaded guilty to manslaughter Friday for causing the death of his shipmate while driving drunk nearly two years ago.

Joseph Nicholas Medina, 24, was drinking in downtown Norfolk with his friend, Zachary Michael Soussa, also 24, until the early morning hours of Dec. 10, 2022. With Soussa in the passenger seat, Medina was speeding east on Virginia Beach Boulevard near the intersection with Park Avenue, according to the Commonwealths Attorneys Office.

Medina, whose address is listed in court records as Millersille, Pennsylvania, lost control of the vehicle and drove onto a median. The car struck a tree, which caused it to spin and hit another tree. According to prosecutors, hitting the second tree caused the passenger door to be ripped off and Soussa to be thrown from the vehicle. He died on impact.

Police detained Medina after he was released from the hospital; he was found to have a blood-alcohol content of 0.25, more than three times the legal limit for operating a vehicle in Virginia.

Medina pleaded guilty Friday to one felony count of aggravated involuntary manslaughter. Under a plea agreement, he will be sentenced by a judge to no more than seven years in prison.

Mr. Medina chose to drive drunk, and he killed his friend, Commonwealths Attorney Ramin Fatehi said in a release. Had Mr. Medina called a cab, nobody would have to pay the price for his crime. Now Mr. Medina faces a prison sentence, and Mr. Soussas family faces a lifetime without their loved one.

If you choose to drink, choose not to drive.

Soussa, a 2nd Class Petty Officer, was born in Philadelphia. He began his Navy career in 2017 and went on to earn many awards, according to his obituary. He spent three years in San Diego and was promoted twice before spending two years in Norfolk aboard the carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. While serving on the USS America, he earned the nickname Big Red.

Zach was known for his infectious smile and loveable personality that could light up any room, his obituary reads. He was truly one of a kind and to know Zach is to love him. He truly will be missed.

2024 The Virginian-Pilot. Visit pilotonline.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Related story: Fort Wainwright Soldier Killed by Alleged Drunk Driver at Main Gate
The Astros announced a set of roster moves this afternoon, including the news that infielder Jacob Amaya has been designated for assignment. This opens up a 40-man roster spot for Hector Neris, who signed with Houston two days ago. Right-handers Seth Martinez and Shawn Dubin were optioned to Triple-A to create 26-man roster space for Neris and righty Kaleb Ort, who was reinstated from the paternity list.

Amaya came to the Astros in a trade from the Marlins back in April, and the 25-year-olds time on Houstons active roster has thus far consisted of just a single game  an appearance as a defensive substitute in the Astros 10-3 loss to the Yankees on May 7. At the Triple-A level this season, Amaya has a .221/.308/.330 slash line over 302 total plate appearances with the Astros and Marlins top affiliates.

This represents a step backwards from the more respectable numbers Amaya has posted in past stints in Triple-A (with the Marlins last season and with the Dodgers in 2022). Amaya has always been considered more of a glove-first player dating back to his time in the Los Angeles farm system, and while his defense alone might be good enough to get him some consideration for a big league roster, hell need to deliver more at the plate to earn anything more than sporadic call-ups or playing time.

Finding a niche in Houston is particularly tricky for Amaya considering how Jose Altuve and Jeremy Pena have the middle infield positions on lockdown, and superutilityman Mauricio Dubon bounces around at several positions. This is the first time Amaya has been designated for assignment, and so if he clears waivers and is outrighted to Triple-A, he doesnt have a prior outright or the MLB service time necessary to reject that assignment in favor of free agency.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 24. Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov has sent a congratulatory letter to Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal, on the occasion of the country's Independence Day, Trend reports.

Based on the information provided, the letter states that the relations between Azerbaijan and Ukraine have a rich history and a reputation for goodwill.

Additionally, it stresses that the present degree of progress in interstate relations is satisfying because it is based on the will of the two peoples and has strong foundations.

Moreover, there is optimism in the letter that the long-standing amicable ties and mutually advantageous collaboration between Azerbaijan and Ukraine will thrive and grow.
August 27: Brantly cleared waivers and was outrighted back to Triple-A Durham, per the MLB.com transaction log. It isnt clear whether hell elect free agency or rejoin the Bulls for the rest of the season.

August 24: The Rays announced that catcher Rob Brantly was designated for assignment. Catcher Ben Rortvedt was activated from the teams family emergency list in the corresponding move, and Rortvedt will resume his usual share of the catching duties with Alex Jackson. Rortvedt was initially placed the paternity list last week, but Bally Sports Tricia Whitaker reported (via X) that Rortvedt was moved to the family emergency list in order to spend a bit of extra time with the newborn baby.

Brantlys minor league contract was selected to Tampas roster at the time of Rortvedts departure, and Brantlys brief stint with the Rays saw him make nine plate appearances over three games. It marked his first Major League playing time since he appeared in a single game with the Yankees during the 2022 season.

A third-round pick for the Tigers in the 2010 draft, Brantly was traded to the Marlins in July 2012 and he appeared in 98 games with 356 PA for Miami over the 2012-13 seasons. That initial dose of playing time remains the bulk of Brantlys MLB resume, as he has since received 109 PA in 39 games spread over seven different seasons, while bouncing around the league as catching depth. Tampa Bay signed Brantly to a minor league contract this past offseason, making the Rays the 12th different organization Brantly has been part of since the start of his pro career (plus he has been with the White Sox on two separate occasions).

This journeyman career has included multiple outright assignments, so if Brantly clears waivers and the Rays outright him to Triple-A, the 35-year-old has the right to reject that assignment in favor of free agency. Brantlys reputation as a solid defender who works well with pitchers could earn him interest from yet another club in free agency or on the waiver wire, or Brantly might just opt to remain with the Rays at the Triple-A level.
DEAR ABBY: Should I be mad at the father of my unborn child for not coming with me to travel out of the country? My cousin is being married in Mexico. However, my partner, Gabriel, isnt going because one of his good friends is getting married the same weekend.

We found out only recently that I am pregnant, and by the time my cousins wedding comes around, Ill be five months along. My family will be going, but they already booked their flights, which are now sold out, so I will have to travel pregnant and alone in Mexico.

The night I found out I was pregnant, Gabriel told me he would go with me, as he didnt want the mother of his unborn child to travel alone to a different country. However, as the wedding got closer, he said he no longer wants to go, as it will be expensive and hed miss his friends wedding.

Abby, am I wrong for being upset that he doesnt want to come with me? I think Im more disappointed because I assumed hed want to be protective in this situation, but it almost feels like hes choosing his friend over us. I know I am biased and my emotions are high, but I really want to be level-headed about this and try to understand. -- EXPECTANT TRAVELER IN CALIFORNIA

DEAR TRAVELER: Forgive me if this seems harsh, but what you should understand is your partner is self-centered and more concerned with the good time he will have with his buddy than he is about the soon-to-be mother of his child. This should be an indication of the kind of husband and father he may make IF you plan to marry him.

That said, if your doctor says you are OK to travel, your family will be around to keep an eye on you, so you shouldnt be in danger. The independence you demonstrate now may be necessary in whatever future you have with -- or without -- your partner.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
MONTAGUE, MI -- On an unremarkable corner in a lakeside town, theres a unique roadside stop. It claims a world record but its history is Pure Michigan.

The worlds largest weathervane stands tall at 48 feet high at the corner of Dowling and Water Street in Montague.

There are other weather vanes claiming the top spot, like the Tio Pepe arrow atop a museum dedicated to the Sherry maker in Spain and a decommissioned World War II aircraft atop a swiveling support in Canada.

Even if it loses its crown, Montagues self-proclaimed worlds largest weather vane is rated worth a detour, by Roadside America.

This year marks its 40th anniversary. Heres a little history on how this mammoth monument came to be.

RELATED: Looking back at The Worlds Largest Weather Vane through photos

Atop the working weather vane is a slowly careening lumber schooner, paying homage to a real ship, Ella Ellenwood, that called White Lake its home port.

The symbol was chosen because it best typifies the colorful but rugged history of the area, according to the plaque at the base of the weather vane.

Ella Ellenwood was sailing in an era when West Michigan lumber was crossing the Great Lakes to build Milwaukee and Chicago.

Built in East Saginaw in 1869, the lumber schooner was owned and operated by Captain Thomas Flagstad of Montague who ported her in White Lake.

Her story took a turn on the night of Oct. 1 1901, while on a run to Milwaukee carrying maple edgings and shingles.

About eight miles north of the Milwaukee harbor she ran aground and within hours the strong winds and waves took her down. The captain and his crew were forced to abandon the ship as it broke up in Lake Michigan.

They made shore safely in the schooners yawl with the aid of a compass and an anchor light, according to weather vane plaque.

Only the bark cargo was salvaged. The maple edgings and the rest of the schooner were left to the elements.

In a serendipitous return voyage, the Ellenwoods wooden nameplate traveled 60 miles across Lake Michigan and washed ashore in White Lake the following spring.

22 1 / 22 "World's Largest Weather Vane" through the years

In 1984, the weather vane was constructed with a 14-foot-long ornament depicting the Ellenwood.

The weather vane sits in the Ellenwood Park at the corner, nearby the Twisters ice cream shop.

The project was conceived and developed by Thomas Pletcher, owner of Whitehall Metal Studios, now called Whitehall Products.
HOWELL, MI  A Michigan sheriff is under investigation by the state Bureau of Elections after he used his department to host former President Donald Trump for a campaign event this week.

The investigation into Livingston County Sheriff Mike Murphy and his office was prompted by two complaints alleging he violated the Michigan Campaign Finance Act in relation to Trumps appearance Tuesday, Aug. 20.

Murphy told MLive on Friday there was no violation and that he welcomes any investigation.

Trump spoke for about an hour Tuesday inside an equipment and vehicle storage warehouse in Howell managed by the Livingston County Sheriffs Department. During the remarks, he railed against his opponent Vice President Kamala Harris record on crime and immigration.

Related: Trump, in Michigan return, says hell stop Kamala crime wave

The Republican presidential nominee was flanked by members of Michigan law enforcement, campaign banners and three staged sheriffs office cruisers during the speech.

The event was closed to the general public, with only invited guests and members of the press able to attend.

Department of State spokesperson Angela Benander declined to share specific details about the complaints but said the bureau is investigating them.

Members of the public can submit campaign finance complaints.

The Michigan Campaign Finance Act forbids public officials from using public resources to support or oppose political candidates and ballot questions. Those resources range from the use of public dollars and personnel to usage of public facilities and stationary.

However, there are exceptions.

Laura J. Genovich, an attorney and shareholder at firm Foster Swift Collins & Smith, said public facilities are allowed to be used for political campaign events so long as other candidates have the same opportunity under the same terms to use that space.

Whether there was a violation or not for public facility usage boils down to a simple question.

If Kamala Harris wanted to use that space, would she also be able to use it? Genovich said.

Murphy said he would allow Trumps opponent to use the space.

If Kamala Harris wants to come, we would extend her the same courtesy for sure, he said.

Related: 5 key takeaways from Donald Trumps August visit to Howell

The Michigan Campaign Finance Act allows elected officials with policy making abilities, like a sheriff, to express their political views and take part in political demonstrations so long as public resources arent used.

Murphy, a Republican, spoke during the Trump visit.

What remains unclear is whether the usage of three sheriffs office cruisers staged behind Trump during the event constituted a violation of the Michigans Campaign Finance Act.

Murphy was previously fined for likely violating the act when he appeared in his uniform with a sheriffs cruiser during a 2018 campaign commercial for Bill Schuette, who was running for governor at the time.

The commercial was staged and intentionally featured Sheriff Murphy in his full uniform in addition to a Livingston County Sheriffs vehicle parked to be specifically used for the commercial, Bureau of Elections officials wrote.

He entered into an agreement with the Bureau of Elections to reimburse Livingston County a total of $100 and pay a $100 fine to the state.

At issue in that violation wasnt the uniform but the usage of a sheriffs office vehicle, Murphy said.

He pointed out that one of his counterparts, Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson, appeared in uniform during his remarks to the Democratic National Convention on Thursday.

Murphy said the state specifically took issue with the vehicle being taken out of service and out of the county to shoot the political commercial.

However, a letter from the Bureau of Elections finding Murphy had likely violated the act by intentionally using the sheriffs office vehicle for the political commercial does not mention that.

Murphy said two of the three sheriffs office cruisers staged behind Trump hadnt been in service yet and that, if needed, the vehicles were on the property and ready for usage.

Vehicles are stored at the venue where Trump spoke and they were adjusted to create a better backdrop, Murphy said.

As I mentioned, its a storage facility for vehicles and equipment, he said. Now does that mean those vehicles are parked that way all the time? Of course not. Were they moved to create a better backdrop? Yes, of course.

Genovich said the Bureau of Elections will decide the vehicle usage issue.

Murphy will have a chance to formally respond to the complaints before the Bureau of Elections makes an administrative determination on whether or not there was likely a violation.

An individual using public resources to support a political candidate can face a one-year misdemeanor charge and a possible fine of up to $1,000, according to the act.

It could take months before the Bureau of Elections reaches a decision, according to Genovich.

Trumps campaign stop at the Livingston County Sheriffs Office comes a few weeks after his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, gave a speech on the steps of the Shelby Township Police Department.

Vance was joined by Shelby Township Police Chief Robert Shelide and others.

Related: JD Vance touts tough-on-crime platform in second Michigan campaign stop

Benander said the Bureau of Elections hasnt received any other Campaign Finance Act violations related to presidential campaign activities beyond the complaints against Murphy and his department.
Before local youths head off to start the school year, there are some important days for parents to mark down on their calendars.

The following school districts each start the year on Monday: Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Lincoln, Manchester, Milan, Saline and Ypsilanti. That means no school on Friday, Aug. 30, and Monday, Sept. 2 for Labor Day weekend.

Dexter Community Schools begins classes Tuesday, Sept. 3, with a half day for students.

Winter break for all area schools begins Monday, Dec. 23, with classes resuming Monday, Jan. 6, according to a common calendar. Spring break picks up following Monday, March 24, with classes returning Monday, March 31.

Area districts also share an extended weekend for families around Thanksgiving with no school Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, Nov. 27-29.

All schools have common days off for students, including Monday, Jan. 20, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day on Monday, Feb. 17, and Memorial Day on Monday, May 26.

However, not all have listed election days off, nor the same scheduled half-days or days off around long weekends and mid-semester breaks. These include Good Friday, April 18, and the Monday following Easter on April 21.

Read more: School breaks, holidays set as part of Ann Arbor Public Schools 2024-25 calendar

Ann Arbor Public Schools set its calendar earlier this summer.

Washtenaw Countys biggest district is set to have no school on the following dates:

Friday and Monday, Oct. 11 and 14 for fall break

Tuesday, Nov. 5, for the General Election

Friday, Feb. 14 and Monday and Tuesday; Feb. 17-18, for mid-winter

Friday, April 18 for Good Friday

Tuesday, May 6, for the spring election day.

All Ann Arbor students have a half-day for the last day of school on Wednesday, June 11.

In Chelsea, students will have other days off on Monday, Oct. 14, Friday, Nov. 1, and Monday, Feb. 10. They also have no school on Feb. 17, as well as both Friday, April 18 and the following Monday, April 21.

Half-days in Chelsea are set for on Friday, March 7 and the last day of school on Friday, June 6.

Dexter has no school on the following dates:

Oct. 11 and 14 for fall break

Friday, Nov. 1

Feb. 14 and 17 around Presidents Day

Friday and Monday, May 23 and 26 for Memorial Day.

The district has half-days on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 7 and 8, Friday, Dec. 13, Thursday and Friday, Jan. 23 and 24, and Friday, April 18. Like Ann Arbor, the last day of school is a half day on June 11 for students.

There is no school for students in Lincoln Consolidated Schools on Friday, Oct. 18, following half-days on Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 16 and 17.

Other full days off include:

Friday, Feb. 14, as well as Feb. 17 and 18 around Presidents Day

Good Friday on April 18 and the following Monday and Tuesday, April 21 and 22

Lincoln students are also set for the following half-days:

Wednesday, Jan. 22 for all students

Thursday and Friday, Jan. 23 and 24, for 6-12

Friday, May 23, for all

Thursday, June 10, for 6-11 students

Friday, June 11, for K-11 on the last day of school

Manchester has early release days on Fridays, Oct. 4, Feb. 14 and May 2. Dismissal will be at 12:15 p.m. for Manchester Junior-Senior High School, 12:25 p.m. for Riverside Intermediate and 12:32 p.m. for Klager Elementary.

Half-days for Manchester are on Friday, Nov. 22, Friday, Jan. 17, and the last day of school on Friday, June. 6. The district has no school on Friday, Nov. 1, Presidents Day Feb. 17, and Friday, April 18.

Milan has half-days on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 17 and 18, and Friday, March 14. There is also a half-day on June 6.

The area school district has no school on the following dates:

Friday, Nov. 1

Friday; Jan. 17, and Jan. 20 for MLK Day

Monday, Feb. 17, for a mid-winter break

Friday, Feb. 28

Friday, April 18 and Monday, April 21

Friday, May 9.

In Saline, students will have several half-days followed by a day off. These include:

Half-day on Thursday, Oct. 17, and no school Friday, Oct. 18

Half-day on Friday, Jan. 17, and no school on Monday, Jan. 20 for MLK Day

Half-day on Friday, Feb. 14, and no school for Presidents Day Feb. 17.

Half-day on Thursday, April 18, and no school on Friday April 18.

There is a half-day for K-8 students on Wednesday, Nov. 20, and all K-12 Thursday and Friday, Nov. 21 and 22. All Saline students will also have half-days on Thursdays and Fridays, March 6-7 and June 5-6 for the last day of school.

Ypsilanti Community Schools have half-days on the following days:

Friday, Oct. 18

Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 23-24 and Thursday, Oct. 31 for Halloween

Thursday and Friday, Dec. 19-20

Friday, March 14

Wednesday and Thursday, March 19-20

Friday, May 23, ahead of Memorial Day

Thursday and Friday, June 5-6 for the last day of school.

Students in Ypsilanti have no school on the following dates:

Friday and Monday, Nov. 1 and 4 for a fall break

Tuesday, Nov. 5, for Election Day

Thursday and Friday, Feb. 13-14 and Presidents Day on Feb. 17 for a mid-winter break

The Monday after Easter on April 21.

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IONIA COUNTY, MI -- A 15-year-old girl was killed in a crash and another teenager was critically injured in a crash, the Ionia County Sheriffs Office reports.

At 2:11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23, deputies were called to the 10,000 block of Sayles Road in Keene Township for a reported injury crash.

Deputies determined the vehicle, driven by a 16-year-old Saranac girl, was eastbound when it left the shoulder of the road and hit a tree.

A 15-year old female passenger from Saranac was found dead at the scene, police said.

A second passenger, a 17-year-old girl, was taken to a hospital for treatment of critical injuries.

The crash remains under investigation by the Ionia County Sheriffs Office.
KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI  Its been just over three years since William Robert Wolfe shot and killed his next-door neighbors Larry and Kailey Walker at Galesburg Village Apartments.

In July 2022, Kalamazoo County Circuit Judge Paul Bridenstine accepted a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. Wolfe was then remanded to the Michigan State Center For Forensic Psychiatry. He spent the bulk of the last two years at the Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital.
KALAMAZOO, MI -- Students returning to classrooms for the school year brings joy to many.

But back-to-school season also comes with the pressure of high costs for families.

Shona Espinoza is among parents feeling the pinch. Shes a paraprofessional at Kalamazoo Public Schools Hillside Middle School and also has a son in third grade. She expects to spend a couple hundred dollars on school supplies for her child.

Espinozas son, who goes to Greenwood Elementary School, needs the standard backpack, lunchbox, notebook, pencil case, pencils, scissors, glue and erasers, she said.

But the challenge comes with other costs.

He takes a lunch every day so I have to budget for that, Espinoza said. Then he needs hair products because his hair is quite long. Just even simple basic stuff like socks, undergarments, clothes, an extra pair of shoes.

And its not just the start of the school year.

Every couple of months, Ive got to find a pair of shoes, Espinoza said.

Every two weeks, Espinoza takes home about $700. With other costs like housing, theres not enough left over for school supplies.

In the classroom

In Michigan, parents arent required to purchase school supplies. The state constitution requires public school districts to provide necessary school supplies for learning, according to the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.

But many teachers send out lists of recommended supplies students should bring at the start of the school year.

(Teachers) are depending on a lot of these (supplies). You know, the kids having a notebook, the kids having pencils, Denise Crawford, president and CEO of the Family Health Center in Kalamazoo said.

In lower grades, supply lists dont vary much from grade to grade or classroom to classroom.

But more advanced classes call for specific materials. High schoolers may need more expensive graphing calculators. If a student doesnt have their own, they might not be able to take a school-provided one home, Espinoza said.

School supply lists ranged from eight items long to 30 items long (sixth grade in Comstock Public Schools) on various supply lists obtained by MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette throughout the county.

At Gull Lake Public Schools, teachers arent provided a stipend, Superintendent Christopher Rundle said in an email. He said if students dont come with necessary supplies, the district will supply them.

Some higher-level classes are trickier, because the supplies are so essential to the work. Espinoza found that when her eldest daughter took a fine arts AP class.

You had to buy art supplies and if you cant buy art supplies, how are you supposed to do the requirements? Espinoza said.

But even when classrooms have supplies, it can fall on the teachers to purchase those. Teachers are provided with a stipend by the district to purchase school supplies, Crawford said, but its not always enough.

Nine times out of 10, if our kids come to school and they need something, the teacher buys it or our principal, it comes out of his pocket, a lot, for it, Espinoza said.

Every school in KPS receives a budget allocation for classroom supplies and materials, a representative for KPS said.

At Portage Public Schools, the school supply budget teachers receive depends on the general fund budget. The amount varies depending on overall student count, class size, grade level (and) school need, said PPS Communications Director Michelle Karpinski.

Some teachers make an Amazon classroom supplies list with items like books, wipes and pencils, in which community members can donate to.

If a student doesnt have the appropriate school supplies, the district will provide it for them, KPS Superintendent Darrin Slade said at an Aug. 22 board meeting.

School starts in Kalamazoo County on Monday, Aug. 26.

Back-to-school drives

Multiple local organizations host back-to-school drives to fill in gaps for parents.

The Family Health Center has been hosting a back-to-school bash where they distribute free backpacks filled with supplies for 15 years.

The event started as a way to immunize students before the school year. Providing the backpacks served as a good incentive, Crawford said.

Many teachers were saying our parents just cannot afford (materials), supplies are expensive, Crawford said.

Most Family Health Center patients are on Medicaid, Crawford said. And buying school supplies isnt their biggest concern.

We have homeless children, we have undocumented children. We have children who have no insurance, Crawford said.

Students can choose what color backpack they want. Students are also given free hygiene supplies specified to their gender and hair type needs.

We dont want it to feel like a free handout, Crawford said. We want it to feel like it was specially designed for you.

The Portage Department of Public Safety hosted a back-to-school event with free school supplies on Aug. 15. The event was especially important considering some students homes had been destroyed by a tornado in May, Portage Public Safety Sgt. Kyle Doster said.

At a school board meeting on Thursday, Aug. 23, Kalamazoo Public Schools Trustee Takisha Johnson encouraged students to attend a free haircut and backpack giveaway at UncLees barbershop,1909 West Main St., from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24.

Im excited to see this event because it serves the west side of town, Johnson said. We tend to forget about the youth on that side.

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FLINT, MI  A Michigan attorney who challenged the results of the 2020 election is no longer in the running to serve as a judge in Michigans highest court.

Former Republican attorney general candidate Matthew DePerno announced Friday, Aug. 23, he was dropping out of the race for the Michigan Supreme Court, hours before the his partys nominating convention on Saturday.

DePerno said his decision was based on how he could best help former President Donald Trump win Michigan and reclaim the White House, the Associated Press reported.

He announced his bid for the seat, currently held by Justice Kyra Harris Bolden, in June 2024. The AP said Republican delegates in Flint on Saturday, Aug. 24 choices for the seat were Alexandria Taylor, a Detroit attorney and Circuit Court Judge Patrick OGrady.

Michigans Supreme Court races are nonpartisan and candidates on the ballot appear without an assigned party. However, nominees are chosen by party convention. Two seats are available. The other is held by Justice David Vivano, who is backed by the Republicans.

State Rep. Andrew Fink, R- Hillsdale, and Court of Appeal Judge Mark Boonstra are vying for the partys nomination for that seat.

Democrats now hold a 4-3 majority, so the election will determine majority control. The Democratic convention is being held in Lansing, where delegates were anticipated to nominate Bolden, who was appointed in 2022 by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer after Justice Bridget Mary McCormack stepped down. She was the first Black woman to be appointed to the court and not being challenged.

When DePerno announced his run, he was still facing voting machine tampering charges for his alleged role in a scheme to access voting machines following the 2020 presidential elections, according to case details provided by the Oakland County Circuit Court.

Related: DePerno, Rendon charged for role in Michigan tabulator probe

Five vote tabulators were illegally taken from three Michigan counties and brought to a hotel room, according to documents released in 2022 by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessels office. Investigators found that the tabulators were broken into and tests were performed on the equipment.

DePerno was named as a prime instigator in the case.

He is currently charged with one count each of undue possession of a voting machine, conspiracy to commit undue possession of a voting machine, conspiracy to commit unauthorized access to a computer or computer system and willfully damaging a voting machine. His case is still pending.
Dollar General has agreed to pay $12 million in a settlement with the federal government over workplace safety.

The ubiquitous retail chain, with 19,000 locations including more than 700 in Michigan, agreed to the settlement last month with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. It comes after Dollar General had been cited repeatedly for unsafe working conditions and was deemed a severe violator by the federal agency.

Part of the agreement requires Dollar General to implement corporate-wide changes to improve worker safety.

Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Douglas Parker says the settlement commits Dollar General to making worker safety a priority by implementing significant and systematic changes and it gives employees input on their health and safety.

These changes help give peace of mind to thousands of workers, knowing that they are not risking their safety in their workplaces and that they will come home healthy at the end of each day, Parker said in a statement.

Related: 700 Michigan stores and counting  why Dollar General is everywhere

Since 2017, OSHA inspectors have flagged repeat violations at Dollar General stores across the country. They include boxes being stacked too high, creating a hazard for workers who could be struck by falling boxes, and merchandise blocking aisles, emergency exits and electrical panels.

By the end of last year, Dollar General had faced $21 million in fines  a fraction of its $38 billion in net sales last year  after more than 243 inspections by federal agency.

In Michigan, all the employees of one Dollar General store quit last year over working conditions. They told MLive low staffing levels left them struggling to keep up constant deliveries of inventory. As a result, boxes often piled up in storerooms and aisles of the Holland store.

The settlement agreement with OSHA requires Dollar General to establish a robust safety structure, hire safety managers, reduce inventory, increase stocking efficiency, provide health and safety training and develop a safety committee.

Related: Dollar General is in every Michigan county  except one

Dollar General was also ordered to fix any future violations related to blocked exits, access to fire extinguishers and electrical panels and improper storage. The company had 48 hours to correct those hazards or pay $100,000 per day of violation, up to $500,000, and other enforcement actions.

We are pleased to have reached an agreement with OSHA to resolve these matters. We remain committed to ensuring a safe working environment for our employees and a pleasant shopping experience for our customers, Dollar General said in a statement.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 22. Friendly and fraternal relations with Turkic-speaking countries, the development of economic ties, and relations of continuity always play a leading role in President Ilham Aliyev's foreign policy, political analyst Azer Garayev told Trend.

Garayev noted that relations between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan have reached a new peak in recent years, which was further strengthened during the state visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Uzbekistan on August 22, 2024.

Fraternal ties have been established between Uzbekistan and the two regions of Azerbaijan. Meanwhile, the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries will be specially celebrated next year.

The important treaty on allied relations between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan was signed during this visit, which was an indicator of the elevation of relations between the two countries to a strategic level.

During the meeting between President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, both leaders spoke of close cooperation between the countries and emphasized its successful development in various spheres. Large-scale projects are being implemented, especially in the spheres of economy, industry, and infrastructure. President Mirziyoyev highly appreciated Azerbaijan's reconstruction works in Karabakh and expressed Uzbekistan's readiness to lend its support to the process. This includes Uzbekistan's offer to participate in construction works in Karabakh.

Garayev noted that relations between the two countries have reached the highest levelthe level of alliance. These allied relations will ensure further rapprochement between two brotherly nations and two powerful states, as well as play an important role in regional politics in the future.

The political scientist also mentioned that several important documents were signed during the visit in order to expand cooperation between the two countries in various spheres.

Among them is the Agreement on Allied Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Uzbekistan, which has gone into history as one of the most important documents. This agreement will allow Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan to act as allied countries, supporting each other in the international arena.

Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan will jointly launch important projects such as the construction of hotels, textile clusters, garment factories, the production of construction materials, and others. A joint investment company with a capital of $500 million is operating to implement the projects. Strong ties between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan will greatly contribute to the development of both countries in economic, political, and cultural spheres and are expected to deepen in this direction in the coming years.

The close ties between the two brotherly countries, historical ties, and the high level of friendly relations between the heads of state are the key points contributing to the rapid development of Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan relations, he added.

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DAYTONA BEACH -- The race for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs will hit a fever pitch on Saturday night, as a handful of drivers look to secure spots in the postseason in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway.

With only two races remaining in the regular season, it is going to be interesting to see who manages to lock in a spot this week.

Last week at Michigan, it took two days to get the 400-mile race in, but there was plenty of drama, especially on Monday. A Kyle Larson spin took many big names out of the race, and a handful of hopeful drivers out of contention to win the race. In the end, it was Tyler Reddick who held off William Byron in a pair of overtimes to take home the checkered flag for the second time this season.

With the win, and Larson not finishing the race, Reddick shoots up to first place in the drivers standings. He is followed closely by Chase Elliott and car co-owner Denny Hamlin. Larson sits fourth, with Ryan Blaney and Byron behind him.

With 12 different winners this season, that means, currently, there are four open playoff positions. The soon-to-retired Martin Truex Jr. leads all winless drivers, sitting 12th in points, 77 ahead of the cut-off line. Ty Gibbs, Chris Buescher, and Ross Chastain are also in the top 16, while Bubba Wallace is just a point back of Chastain for 16th.

At Daytona, underdogs always have a chance to win, giving a lot of drivers a chance to sneak into the postseason with a win. Byron native Erik Jones won the summer race in southern Florida in 2018, while names like Austin Dillon, Chris Buescher and Justin Haley have scored wins in the 160-lap event.

NASCAR CUP SERIES

Coke Zero Sugar 400

When: Saturday, August 24

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET

Where: Daytona International Speedway (Daytona Beach, Fla.)

Channel: NBC

Stream: FuboTV (Free Trial), Sling, DirecTV Stream, Peacock

Check out the NASCAR standings and results here
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 22. The Azerbaijani delegation is now engaged in discussions to investigate worldwide practices for countering the danger of landmines and explosive ordnance in various Southeast Asian nations and the purpose of these sessions is to exchange knowledge and inform the global community about the ongoing issue of landmines in Azerbaijan, Trend reports via ANAMA.

It is noted that within the framework of the visit to the Lao People's Democratic Republic, a meeting was organized between the representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan for special assignments Elchin Amirbayov, Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijani Mine Action Agency Vugar Suleymanov and Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Agency Samir Poladov with Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos Saleumxay Kommasith.

Besides, the Azerbaijani delegation held a meeting with the Acting Director of the Lao National Regulatory Authority for Combating Mine Threats and Unexploded Ordnance Bonphang Sisavats. The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Lao National Program on Unexploded Ordnance.

To note, for ages, Laos has been walking on thin ice, dealing with the constant threat of unexploded ordnance, and both aforesaid organizations have extensive experience in the detection and clearance of mostly unexploded ordnance. The meetings also touched upon the importance of mutual exchange of experience and learning from each other's achievements in this field.

The purpose of the meetings was to explore international efforts to combat the threat of mines and unexploded ordnance, best practices, assess opportunities for joint training, exchange experiences, and establish direct and close ties.

The Azerbaijani delegation was informed about the mass contamination of explosive device-free lands and large-scale demining to eliminate the problem during the discussions. International resources, relationships, and experience and training in mine and unexploded ordnance combat were stressed.

Meetings within the framework of the visit are ongoing.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 22. First Deputy Minister of Defense  Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army Colonel General Karim Valiyev, who is on a visit to the Republic of Kazakhstan, along with the delegation he leads, arrived at the Koktal training ground in Almaty, Trend reports, referring to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

After getting the lay of the land at the training ground, Colonel General Valiyev made his way to the command-control point to keep an eye on the tactical episode of the Altyn Kyran-2024 (Golden Eagle - 2024) joint tactical-special exercise.

Then a meeting was held with the servicemen of both countries to join forces in the exercise. The servicemen who stood out from the crowd during the exercise were awarded medals and received valuable gifts.

The Altyn Kyran-2024 combined tactical-special exercise was characterized by the meticulous and expert completion of all assigned duties.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, August 24. Following the Kazakhstan-Tajikistan Investment Forum in Dushanbe, several commercial agreements and contracts worth around $900 million were signed, Trend reports.

The forum, held on August 21, just before President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's state visit to Tajikistan, was attended by a Kazakh delegation led by First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar. The Tajik delegation was headed by First Deputy Prime Minister Khokim Khulikzoda.

In his opening remarks, Roman Sklyar highlighted the significant opportunities for joint projects between Kazakhstan and Tajikistan in various sectors. He emphasized that this forum underscores both countries' commitment to enhancing bilateral trade, economic, and investment cooperation.

The importance of ongoing collaboration between metallurgical companies and expanding joint agro-projects in the production, processing, and storage of agricultural and fruit-vegetable products, with the goal of exporting to third countries, was also noted.

As previously reported, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan aim to boost their trade turnover to $2 billion in the near future.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will visit Tajikistan on August 22-23. During the visit, he and the Tajik President will hold talks and sign a number of agreements.
Oak Ridge Financial Services (OTCMKTS:BKOR  Get Free Report) and National Bank (NYSE:NBHC  Get Free Report) are both small-cap finance companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, valuation, dividends, earnings and profitability.

Dividends

Oak Ridge Financial Services pays an annual dividend of $0.48 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.7%. National Bank pays an annual dividend of $1.12 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.6%. Oak Ridge Financial Services pays out 22.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. National Bank pays out 32.2% 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. Oak Ridge Financial Services is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

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Profitability

This table compares Oak Ridge Financial Services and National Banks net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Oak Ridge Financial Services 14.47% N/A N/A National Bank 21.40% 10.44% 1.28%

Institutional & Insider Ownership

Earnings and Valuation

4.2% of Oak Ridge Financial Services shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 92.7% of National Bank shares are held by institutional investors. 25.6% of Oak Ridge Financial Services shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 3.1% of National Bank shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

This table compares Oak Ridge Financial Services and National Banks gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Oak Ridge Financial Services $35.36 million 1.37 $5.74 million $2.13 8.26 National Bank $406.12 million 4.08 $142.05 million $3.48 12.58

National Bank has higher revenue and earnings than Oak Ridge Financial Services. Oak Ridge Financial Services is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than National Bank, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent recommendations for Oak Ridge Financial Services and National Bank, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Oak Ridge Financial Services 0 0 0 0 N/A National Bank 0 3 2 0 2.40

National Bank has a consensus price target of $46.40, suggesting a potential upside of 5.98%. Given National Banks higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe National Bank is more favorable than Oak Ridge Financial Services.

Risk and Volatility

Oak Ridge Financial Services has a beta of 0.35, indicating that its stock price is 65% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, National Bank has a beta of 0.86, indicating that its stock price is 14% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

National Bank beats Oak Ridge Financial Services on 12 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Oak Ridge Financial Services

(Get Free Report)

Oak Ridge Financial Services, Inc. operates as a bank holding company for Bank of Oak Ridge that provides various banking products and services for individuals and businesses. It offers checking, savings, and money market accounts; overdrafts; auto, home equity, mortgage, business term, and business SBA loans; business lines of credit; credit cards; and online and mobile banking products and services. The company also provides health savings accounts, identity theft protection, wealth management, cash management, and remote deposit capture services; and auto, home, small business, renters, life, boat and watercraft, classic car, motorcycle, flood, pet, and umbrella insurance products. It operates through a network of branches in Oak Ridge, Greensboro, and Summerfield, North Carolina. The company was founded in 2000 and is based in Oak Ridge, North Carolina.

About National Bank

(Get Free Report)

National Bank Holdings Corporation operates as the bank holding company for NBH Bank that provides various banking products and financial services to commercial, business, and consumer clients in the United States. It offers deposit products, including checking, savings, money market, and other deposit accounts, including fixed-rate and fixed maturity time deposits. The company also provides commercial and industrial loans and leases, such as working capital loans, equipment loans, lender finance loans, food and agriculture loans, government and non-profit loans, owner occupied commercial real estate loans, and other commercial loans and leases; non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans consisting of loans on commercial properties, such as office buildings, warehouse/distribution buildings, multi-family, hospitality, and retail buildings; small business administration loans to support small businesses and entrepreneurs; term loans, line of credits, and real estate secured loans; residential real estate loans; and consumer loans. In addition, it offers treasury management solutions comprising online and mobile banking, commercial credit card, wire transfer, automated clearing house, electronic bill payment, lock box, remote deposit capture, merchant processing, cash vault, controlled disbursements, and fraud prevention services, as well as other auxiliary services, including account reconciliation, collections, repurchase accounts, zero balance accounts, and sweep accounts. The company operates through a network of banking centers located in Colorado, the greater Kansas City region, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, and Texas. It also operates ATMs. The company was formerly known as NBH Holdings Corp. and changed its name to National Bank Holdings Corporation in March 2012. The company was incorporated in 2009 and is headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado.

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Bank of America Co. (NYSE:BAC)s share price was down 0.5% during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $38.38 and last traded at $38.51. Approximately 6,654,148 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 83% from the average daily volume of 39,033,297 shares. The stock had previously closed at $38.69.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on BAC. Seaport Res Ptn upgraded shares of Bank of America from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Tuesday, July 2nd. StockNews.com raised Bank of America from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on Bank of America from $39.50 to $40.50 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 1st. Oppenheimer increased their price objective on Bank of America from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, April 30th. Finally, Evercore ISI upped their price target on shares of Bank of America from $43.00 to $46.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 17th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $42.07.

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Bank of America Stock Performance

The stocks 50 day moving average price is $40.20 and its 200 day moving average price is $38.02. The company has a current ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09. The company has a market cap of $311.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.76, a P/E/G ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 1.35.

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, July 16th. The financial services provider reported $0.83 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.79 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $25.38 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $25.22 billion. Bank of America had a return on equity of 10.56% and a net margin of 13.28%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up .7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.88 EPS. On average, analysts expect that Bank of America Co. will post 3.27 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Bank of America Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 6th will be paid a dividend of $0.26 per share. This represents a $1.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.62%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 6th. This is a boost from Bank of Americas previous quarterly dividend of $0.24. Bank of Americas payout ratio is currently 35.99%.

Bank of America announced that its board has initiated a share repurchase plan on Wednesday, July 24th that permits the company to buyback $25.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the financial services provider to reacquire up to 7.6% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are typically a sign that the companys leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Transactions at Bank of America

In related news, major shareholder Berkshire Hathaway Inc sold 12,690,693 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $44.07, for a total value of $559,278,840.51. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 1,020,161,313 shares of the companys stock, valued at $44,958,509,063.91. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, insider Lindsay D. Hans sold 10,901 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.91, for a total transaction of $402,355.91. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 10,907 shares of the companys stock, valued at $402,577.37. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, major shareholder Berkshire Hathaway Inc sold 12,690,693 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $44.07, for a total value of $559,278,840.51. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 1,020,161,313 shares of the companys stock, valued at $44,958,509,063.91. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 66,768,513 shares of company stock valued at $2,807,216,504. Corporate insiders own 0.29% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Bank of America

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Delos Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in Bank of America by 402.2% during the 1st quarter. Delos Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 683 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 547 shares in the last quarter. Fairway Wealth LLC acquired a new position in Bank of America during the 2nd quarter valued at about $27,000. Livelsberger Financial Advisory acquired a new stake in shares of Bank of America in the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. POM Investment Strategies LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Bank of America by 839.0% in the second quarter. POM Investment Strategies LLC now owns 723 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 646 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bbjs Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Bank of America during the second quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Institutional investors own 70.71% of the companys stock.

Bank of America Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Bank of America Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial products and services for individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses, institutional investors, large corporations, and governments worldwide. It operates in four segments: Consumer Banking, Global Wealth & Investment Management (GWIM), Global Banking, and Global Markets.

Further Reading

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Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors reduced its stake in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report) by 44.2% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 6,406 shares of the companys stock after selling 5,078 shares during the period. Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $649,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in PM. Kessler Investment Group LLC acquired a new stake in Philip Morris International during the 1st quarter worth $25,000. Iron Horse Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 684.4% during the second quarter. Iron Horse Wealth Management LLC now owns 251 shares of the companys stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 219 shares during the last quarter. Boyd Watterson Asset Management LLC OH increased its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 250.0% during the first quarter. Boyd Watterson Asset Management LLC OH now owns 322 shares of the companys stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 230 shares in the last quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 57.4% in the 2nd quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 318 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 116 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Tennessee Valley Asset Management Partners purchased a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International in the 4th quarter valued at about $33,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.63% of the companys stock.

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Philip Morris International Price Performance

Shares of NYSE PM traded down $0.10 during trading on Friday, hitting $120.00. 837,749 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,316,629. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 1 year low of $87.23 and a 1 year high of $120.27. The company has a market cap of $186.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.42, a PEG ratio of 2.35 and a beta of 0.58. The firms fifty day moving average price is $109.03 and its 200 day moving average price is $99.67.

Philip Morris International Dividend Announcement

Philip Morris International ( NYSE:PM Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 23rd. The company reported $1.59 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.57 by $0.02. Philip Morris International had a net margin of 9.41% and a negative return on equity of 113.32%. The company had revenue of $9.47 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.19 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.60 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 5.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts forecast that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.41 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 8th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 21st were issued a $1.30 dividend. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.33%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 21st. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 101.56%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have commented on the company. Barclays lifted their price target on Philip Morris International from $110.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 14th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their target price on shares of Philip Morris International from $116.00 to $118.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, July 25th. Bank of America upped their price target on shares of Philip Morris International from $110.00 to $118.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 24th. StockNews.com raised shares of Philip Morris International from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday, July 22nd. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on shares of Philip Morris International from $115.00 to $120.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, July 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $109.80.

View Our Latest Research Report on Philip Morris International

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Wilde Frederic De sold 20,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.01, for a total value of $2,260,200.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 158,447 shares in the company, valued at $17,906,095.47. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, insider Wilde Frederic De sold 20,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $113.01, for a total value of $2,260,200.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 158,447 shares of the companys stock, valued at $17,906,095.47. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider Massimo Andolina sold 9,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.35, for a total transaction of $1,038,150.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 85,629 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,877,305.15. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock.

About Philip Morris International

(Free Report)

Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report).

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Cormark set a C$72.00 price target on Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (TSE:CM  Free Report) (NYSE:CM) in a report published on Tuesday, BayStreet.CA reports. The firm currently has a market perform rating on the stock. Cormark also issued estimates for Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerces Q3 2024 earnings at $1.75 EPS, FY2024 earnings at $7.03 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $7.33 EPS.

A number of other analysts have also weighed in on the company. TD Securities increased their target price on Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$76.00 to C$83.00 in a research note on Thursday, August 8th. Desjardins upgraded Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from a hold rating to a moderate buy rating and raised their price target for the company from C$71.00 to C$77.00 in a research note on Friday, August 2nd. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$68.00 to C$69.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Friday, May 31st. Scotiabank raised their price target on Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$73.00 to C$77.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, May 31st. Finally, BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$74.00 to C$77.00 in a research report on Friday, May 31st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of C$71.79.

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View Our Latest Stock Analysis on CM

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Stock Up 0.6 %

Shares of CM opened at C$73.54 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of C$69.35 billion, a PE ratio of 11.23, a P/E/G ratio of 3.01 and a beta of 1.12. The business has a fifty day moving average of C$68.51 and a 200 day moving average of C$66.72. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has a 52-week low of C$47.44 and a 52-week high of C$73.73.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (TSE:CM  Get Free Report) (NYSE:CM) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 30th. The company reported C$1.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of C$1.66 by C$0.09. The company had revenue of C$6.16 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$6.11 billion. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce had a return on equity of 11.92% and a net margin of 29.25%. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce will post 7.301217 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 28th were paid a dividend of $0.90 per share. This represents a $3.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.90%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 28th. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerces payout ratio is currently 54.96%.

Insider Transactions at Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

In related news, Senior Officer John Hountalas sold 20,808 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$65.97, for a total value of C$1,372,672.55. In other news, Senior Officer Christina Charlotte Kramer sold 23,782 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$67.50, for a total transaction of C$1,605,285.00. Also, Senior Officer John Hountalas sold 20,808 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$65.97, for a total transaction of C$1,372,672.55. Corporate insiders own 0.02% of the companys stock.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, a diversified financial institution, provides various financial products and services to personal, business, public sector, and institutional clients in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Canadian Personal and Business Banking; Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management; U.S.

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Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance (NYSE:ARI  Get Free Report) and City Office REIT (NYSE:CIO  Get Free Report) are both small-cap finance companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, profitability, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, earnings, risk and valuation.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

54.4% of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 67.5% of City Office REIT shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.7% of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 3.9% of City Office REIT shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

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Volatility and Risk

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance has a beta of 1.75, suggesting that its stock price is 75% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, City Office REIT has a beta of 1.93, suggesting that its stock price is 93% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Dividends

Analyst Ratings

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance pays an annual dividend of $1.40 per share and has a dividend yield of 13.5%. City Office REIT pays an annual dividend of $0.40 per share and has a dividend yield of 6.7%. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance pays out -179.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. City Office REIT pays out -142.9% 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. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and recommmendations for Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance and City Office REIT, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance 1 4 0 0 1.80 City Office REIT 0 1 0 0 2.00

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance currently has a consensus target price of $10.25, suggesting a potential downside of 0.87%. Given Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finances higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance is more favorable than City Office REIT.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance and City Office REITs revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance $332.85 million 4.42 $58.13 million ($0.78) -13.26 City Office REIT $175.37 million 1.36 -$2.68 million ($0.28) -21.25

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance has higher revenue and earnings than City Office REIT. City Office REIT is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance and City Office REITs net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance -28.20% 5.88% 1.38% City Office REIT -4.02% -1.06% -0.46%

Summary

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance beats City Office REIT on 9 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance

(Get Free Report)

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT) that originates, acquires, invests in, and manages commercial first mortgage loans, subordinate financings, and other commercial real estate-related debt investments in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe. It is qualified as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code. As a REIT, it would not be subject to federal income taxes, if the company distributes at least 90% of its REIT taxable income to its stockholders. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. was incorporated in 2009 and is based in New York, New York.

About City Office REIT

(Get Free Report)

City Office REIT is an internally-managed real estate company focused on acquiring, owning and operating high-quality office properties located predominantly in Sun Belt markets. City Office currently owns or has a controlling interest in 5.7 million square feet of office properties. The Company has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

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Deutsche Telekom AG (ETR:DTE  Get Free Report)s share price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as 25.16 ($27.96) and last traded at 25.08 ($27.87), with a volume of 3599960 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at 25.00 ($27.78).

Deutsche Telekom Price Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 161.62. The stock has a market capitalization of $125.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.19, a P/E/G ratio of 0.83 and a beta of 0.61. The companys 50-day simple moving average is 23.96 and its 200 day simple moving average is 22.68.

Deutsche Telekom Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Deutsche Telekom AG, together with its subsidiaries, provides integrated telecommunication services. The company operates through Germany, United States, Europe, Systems Solutions, Group Development, and Group Headquarters and Group Services segments. It offers fixed-network services, including voice and data communication services based on fixed-network and broadband technology; and sells terminal equipment and other hardware products, as well as services to resellers.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 24. At COP29, countries need to actively work on their National Climate Action Plans, Head of Communications of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Alexander Saier said during the "29 Climate Conversations: Road to COP29" media workshop in Baku, Trend reports.

He highlighted that more ambitious targets are set for climate issues every five years.

National Climate Action plans are a crucial element. This year, countries must work diligently to develop them. These plans should be submitted by early February 2025. They act as economic development strategies aimed at advancing toward a healthier future, Saier said.

This November, Azerbaijan will host COP29. This decision was made at the COP28 plenary meeting held in Dubai on December 11 last year. Baku will become the center of the world and will receive about 70-80,000 foreign guests.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system. COP - the Conference of the Parties - is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change. There are 198 countries that are parties to the Convention. Unless the parties agree otherwise, the COP is held annually. The first COP event took place in March 1995 in Berlin, and its secretariat is located in Bonn.

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Diversified LLC lifted its stake in shares of BondBloxx Bloomberg Seven Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF (NYSEARCA:XSVN  Free Report) by 3.0% during the second quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 704,061 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 20,752 shares during the quarter. BondBloxx Bloomberg Seven Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF makes up 3.9% of Diversified LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 7th largest position. Diversified LLC owned approximately 0.24% of BondBloxx Bloomberg Seven Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF worth $33,091,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Mather Group LLC. bought a new stake in BondBloxx Bloomberg Seven Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at $28,000. First Horizon Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of BondBloxx Bloomberg Seven Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF in the second quarter valued at about $30,000. Fortitude Family Office LLC acquired a new stake in shares of BondBloxx Bloomberg Seven Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF during the 1st quarter worth about $132,000. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of BondBloxx Bloomberg Seven Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF during the 1st quarter worth about $220,000. Finally, CreativeOne Wealth LLC acquired a new position in BondBloxx Bloomberg Seven Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF in the 1st quarter valued at about $352,000.

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BondBloxx Bloomberg Seven Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF Stock Up 0.4 %

BondBloxx Bloomberg Seven Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF stock traded up $0.19 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $48.94. The company had a trading volume of 5,386 shares, compared to its average volume of 23,410. BondBloxx Bloomberg Seven Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF has a one year low of $44.79 and a one year high of $49.67. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $47.75 and a 200 day moving average of $47.16.

About BondBloxx Bloomberg Seven Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF

The Bondbloxx Bloomberg Seven Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF (XSVN) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund is passively managed to invest in a portfolio of US Treasury securities with a target duration of seven years. XSVN was launched on Sep 13, 2022 and is managed by BondBloxx.

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George Weston Limited (TSE:WN  Get Free Report) Senior Officer Rashid Wasti bought 1,500 shares of George Weston stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 23rd. The stock was bought at an average price of C$21.72 per share, with a total value of C$32,580.00.

Rashid Wasti also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Monday, August 19th, Rashid Wasti bought 1,300 shares of George Weston stock. The stock was bought at an average price of C$21.63 per share, with a total value of C$28,119.00.

On Thursday, August 15th, Rashid Wasti sold 150 shares of George Weston stock. The stock was sold at an average price of C$218.50, for a total value of C$32,775.00.

On Wednesday, August 7th, Rashid Wasti bought 1,500 shares of George Weston stock. The stock was bought at an average price of C$21.34 per share, with a total value of C$32,010.00.

On Tuesday, July 30th, Rashid Wasti sold 3,300 shares of George Weston stock. The stock was sold at an average price of C$215.00, for a total value of C$709,500.00.

George Weston Stock Performance

WN opened at C$219.62 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of C$29.02 billion, a PE ratio of 24.70, a P/E/G ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 0.42. The company has a current ratio of 1.35, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 171.94. George Weston Limited has a 1 year low of C$144.41 and a 1 year high of C$220.92. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is C$206.61 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$191.38.

George Weston Dividend Announcement

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 1st. Shareholders of record on Sunday, September 15th will be given a $0.82 dividend. This represents a $3.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.49%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 13th. George Westons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 36.90%.

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the company. TD Securities cut their price target on George Weston from C$246.00 to C$242.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Monday, July 22nd. Desjardins upped their price target on George Weston from C$212.00 to C$232.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. CIBC upped their price target on George Weston from C$235.00 to C$254.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on George Weston from C$196.00 to C$220.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. Finally, Scotiabank upped their price target on George Weston from C$200.00 to C$212.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Monday, May 6th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of C$229.67.

Read Our Latest Report on WN

About George Weston

(Get Free Report)

George Weston Limited provides food and drug retailing, and financial services in Canada. The company operates through two segments, Loblaw Companies Limited (Loblaw) and Choice Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (Choice Properties). The Loblaw segment provides grocery, pharmacy and healthcare services, health and beauty products, apparel, general merchandise, and financial services.

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SummerHaven Investment Management LLC raised its position in Green Dot Co. (NYSE:GDOT  Free Report) by 4.0% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 39,707 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 1,524 shares during the quarter. SummerHaven Investment Management LLC owned 0.07% of Green Dot worth $375,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in GDOT. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Green Dot by 162.0% during the 2nd quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,602 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 1,609 shares in the last quarter. CWM LLC grew its stake in shares of Green Dot by 39.2% during the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 6,006 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $57,000 after acquiring an additional 1,691 shares in the last quarter. SG Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Green Dot during the first quarter worth about $4,254,000. Tidal Investments LLC acquired a new position in shares of Green Dot in the first quarter worth about $116,000. Finally, Kent Lake Capital LLC purchased a new position in Green Dot in the first quarter valued at about $7,464,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.56% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on GDOT shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods restated a market perform rating and set a $11.00 price objective on shares of Green Dot in a report on Monday, July 22nd. StockNews.com upgraded Green Dot from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, May 10th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Green Dot presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $10.75.

Green Dot Trading Up 2.9 %

Green Dot stock traded up $0.31 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $11.06. 88,193 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 583,401. Green Dot Co. has a fifty-two week low of $7.30 and a fifty-two week high of $15.32. The firm has a market cap of $588.50 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -22.87 and a beta of 0.96. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $9.64 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $9.24.

Green Dot (NYSE:GDOT  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 8th. The financial services provider reported $0.25 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.23 by $0.02. 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 analysts expectations of $381.87 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.20 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Green Dot Co. will post 1.03 earnings per share for the current year.

About Green Dot

(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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iShares MSCI Global Energy Producers ETF (NYSEARCA:FILL  Get Free Report)s share price rose 1.9% on Friday . The company traded as high as $25.72 and last traded at $25.70. Approximately 18,941 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 6% from the average daily volume of 20,102 shares. The stock had previously closed at $25.22.

iShares MSCI Global Energy Producers ETF Trading Up 1.9 %

The company has a market capitalization of $100.23 million, a PE ratio of 6.89 and a beta of 0.45. The stocks 50-day moving average is $25.61 and its two-hundred day moving average is $25.95.

iShares MSCI Global Energy Producers ETF Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

The iShares MSCI Global Energy Producers ETF (FILL) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in energy equity. The fund tracks an index of companies in developed and emerging markets that are primarily engaged in the business of energy exploration and production. FILL was launched on Jan 31, 2012 and is managed by BlackRock.

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Maanshan Iron & Steel Company Limited (OTCMKTS:MAANF  Get Free Report) shares shot up 34.7% on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $0.13 and last traded at $0.13. 2,000 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 71% from the average session volume of 6,855 shares. The stock had previously closed at $0.10.

Maanshan Iron & Steel Price Performance

The businesss fifty day moving average is $0.14 and its two-hundred day moving average is $0.14.

About Maanshan Iron & Steel

(Get Free Report)

Maanshan Iron & Steel Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells iron and steel products, and related by-products in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and internationally. The company offers steel plates, including hot and cold-rolled thin plates, galvanized plates, coil-coating plates, and medium plates; section steel products, such as H-shaped steel and medium-shaped steel; high-speed wire rod and hot-rolled reinforcing steel products; and train wheels and wheel rims.

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Shares of Meritage Homes Co. (NYSE:MTH  Get Free Report) have earned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the eight research firms that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, four have given a buy recommendation and one has assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $208.00.

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on Meritage Homes from $173.00 to $197.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, July 26th. Wolfe Research upgraded Meritage Homes from a peer perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $230.00 price target for the company in a research note on Wednesday, August 14th. Evercore ISI boosted their price target on Meritage Homes from $219.00 to $221.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, July 15th. Wedbush boosted their price target on Meritage Homes from $148.00 to $160.00 and gave the company an underperform rating in a research note on Friday, July 26th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price objective on Meritage Homes from $195.00 to $210.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 30th.

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Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on MTH

Meritage Homes Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:MTH opened at $206.10 on Friday. Meritage Homes has a fifty-two week low of $109.23 and a fifty-two week high of $210.58. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $177.17 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $169.01. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 1.66 and a current ratio of 1.93. The firm has a market cap of $7.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.40 and a beta of 1.80.

Meritage Homes (NYSE:MTH  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 24th. The construction company reported $6.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $5.17 by $1.14. The business had revenue of $1.69 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.57 billion. Meritage Homes had a return on equity of 17.99% and a net margin of 12.98%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 9.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $5.02 EPS. On average, analysts expect that Meritage Homes will post 20.83 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity at Meritage Homes

In other Meritage Homes news, CEO Phillippe Lord sold 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $200.35, for a total value of $2,003,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 90,266 shares in the company, valued at approximately $18,084,793.10. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other Meritage Homes news, CEO Phillippe Lord sold 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $200.35, for a total value of $2,003,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 90,266 shares in the company, valued at approximately $18,084,793.10. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Javier Feliciano sold 3,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $198.36, for a total value of $595,080.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 14,307 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,837,936.52. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 15,500 shares of company stock worth $3,111,080. 2.00% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Meritage Homes

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of MTH. International Assets Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Meritage Homes by 17,318.2% during the 4th quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 1,916 shares of the construction companys stock worth $334,000 after acquiring an additional 1,905 shares in the last quarter. Cerity Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Meritage Homes during the 4th quarter worth approximately $229,000. Strs Ohio raised its holdings in shares of Meritage Homes by 94.5% during the 4th quarter. Strs Ohio now owns 21,200 shares of the construction companys stock worth $3,693,000 after acquiring an additional 10,300 shares in the last quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank raised its holdings in shares of Meritage Homes by 32.2% during the 4th quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 7,862 shares of the construction companys stock worth $1,370,000 after acquiring an additional 1,914 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Meritage Homes during the 4th quarter worth approximately $52,000. 98.44% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Meritage Homes

(Get Free Report

Meritage Homes Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, designs and builds single-family attached and detached homes in the United States. The company operates through two segments, Homebuilding and Financial Services. It acquires and develops land; and constructs, markets, and sells homes for entry-level and first move-up buyers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Utah, Texas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

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Private Advisory Group LLC boosted its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 5.7% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 20,354 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 1,103 shares during the quarter. Eli Lilly and Company accounts for approximately 2.4% of Private Advisory Group LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 10th biggest holding. Private Advisory Group LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $18,428,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Twelve Points Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 1.4% in the second quarter. Twelve Points Wealth Management LLC now owns 811 shares of the companys stock valued at $734,000 after purchasing an additional 11 shares during the last quarter. Verum Partners LLC increased its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 1.5% in the 2nd quarter. Verum Partners LLC now owns 731 shares of the companys stock valued at $662,000 after buying an additional 11 shares during the last quarter. Acorn Creek Capital LLC increased its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 1.3% in the 2nd quarter. Acorn Creek Capital LLC now owns 927 shares of the companys stock valued at $840,000 after buying an additional 12 shares during the last quarter. Thompson Davis & CO. Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 0.7% in the 2nd quarter. Thompson Davis & CO. Inc. now owns 1,687 shares of the companys stock worth $1,527,000 after buying an additional 12 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Versant Capital Management Inc grew its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 1.8% in the first quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 736 shares of the companys stock valued at $573,000 after acquiring an additional 13 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.53% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

LLY has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating and set a $1,023.00 price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Friday, July 5th. Argus boosted their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $770.00 to $840.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, May 14th. Truist Financial restated a buy rating and set a $1,000.00 price objective (up previously from $892.00) on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Tuesday, June 25th. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $913.00 to $1,025.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 10th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a hold rating to a buy rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $725.00 to $1,025.00 in a report on Monday, August 12th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $956.88.

Eli Lilly and Company Price Performance

Shares of LLY stock traded up $4.65 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $958.82. The stock had a trading volume of 247,840 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,085,240. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $884.83 and its 200 day simple moving average is $812.10. The firm has a market capitalization of $911.27 billion, a PE ratio of 141.38, a PEG ratio of 1.81 and a beta of 0.41. Eli Lilly and Company has a 12 month low of $516.57 and a 12 month high of $972.53. The company has a current ratio of 1.35, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.90.

Eli Lilly and Company Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 15th will be given a dividend of $1.30 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 15th. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.54%. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 76.58%.

Insider Transactions at Eli Lilly and Company

In other Eli Lilly and Company news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 210,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $939.82, for a total value of $197,362,200.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 96,943,810 shares in the company, valued at approximately $91,109,731,514.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, CAO Donald A. Zakrowski sold 750 shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock in a transaction on Monday, June 3rd. The shares were 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 approximately $5,842,821.10. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 210,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $939.82, for a total value of $197,362,200.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 96,943,810 shares in the company, valued at approximately $91,109,731,514.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 1,122,141 shares of company stock valued at $991,938,411. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

About Eli Lilly and Company

(Free Report)

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.

Further Reading

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Proffitt & Goodson Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 59 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $53,000.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Koa Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the second quarter valued at approximately $216,000. Moss Adams Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 29.1% during the second quarter. Moss Adams Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,168 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,963,000 after purchasing an additional 489 shares in the last quarter. American National Bank boosted its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 1.5% in the second quarter. American National Bank now owns 6,595 shares of the companys stock worth $5,971,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the period. Madison Park Capital Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 4.1% in the second quarter. Madison Park Capital Advisors LLC now owns 560 shares of the companys stock worth $507,000 after purchasing an additional 22 shares in the last quarter. Finally, RMR Wealth Builders raised its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 7.0% during the second quarter. RMR Wealth Builders now owns 4,466 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,043,000 after acquiring an additional 294 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.53% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at Eli Lilly and Company

In other Eli Lilly and Company news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 210,000 shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $939.82, for a total value of $197,362,200.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 96,943,810 shares of the companys stock, valued at $91,109,731,514.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other Eli Lilly and Company news, CAO Donald A. Zakrowski sold 750 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, June 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $819.47, for a total transaction of $614,602.50. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 7,130 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,842,821.10. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 210,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $939.82, for a total transaction of $197,362,200.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 96,943,810 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $91,109,731,514.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 1,214,704 shares of company stock worth $1,066,841,316 in the last three months. Company insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock.

Eli Lilly and Company Stock Performance

Eli Lilly and Company Dividend Announcement

Shares of LLY stock traded up $2.22 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $954.19. The stock had a trading volume of 3,181,057 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,102,731. Eli Lilly and Company has a 1-year low of $516.57 and a 1-year high of $972.53. The company has a current ratio of 1.35, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.90. The firm has a market cap of $906.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 141.57, a PEG ratio of 1.81 and a beta of 0.41. The businesss fifty day moving average is $883.39 and its 200-day moving average is $811.11.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 15th will be issued a dividend of $1.30 per share. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.54%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 15th. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 76.58%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

LLY has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $994.00 to $1,015.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, June 24th. Barclays raised their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $913.00 to $1,025.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 10th. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $885.00 target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Monday. Bank of America increased their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $1,000.00 to $1,125.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, August 9th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $900.00 to $1,000.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, July 11th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $956.88.

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Eli Lilly and Company Company Profile

(Free Report)

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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StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of New Concept Energy (NYSE:GBR  Free Report) in a research note published on Wednesday morning. The brokerage issued a sell rating on the stock.

New Concept Energy Stock Down 3.0 %

GBR stock opened at $1.28 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $6.57 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -42.67 and a beta of 0.34. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $1.52 and its 200 day simple moving average is $1.30. New Concept Energy has a 12-month low of $0.95 and a 12-month high of $1.82.

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New Concept Energy (NYSE:GBR  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, August 13th. The company reported $0.01 EPS for the quarter. The company had revenue of $0.04 million for the quarter. New Concept Energy had a negative return on equity of 0.79% and a negative net margin of 25.17%.

Insider Activity

Institutional Investors Weigh In On New Concept Energy

In other New Concept Energy news, major shareholder Realty Advisors Inc sold 250,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1.30, for a total value of $325,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 1,144,934 shares in the company, valued at $1,488,414.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website . 2.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

An institutional investor recently bought a new position in New Concept Energy stock. PFG Investments LLC acquired a new position in shares of New Concept Energy, Inc. (NYSE:GBR  Free Report) in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 90,200 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $95,000.

New Concept Energy Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

New Concept Energy, Inc engages in real estate rental business. The company owns approximately 190 acres of land located in Parkersburg West Virginia. It also provides advisory and management services for an independent oil and gas company. The company was formerly known as CabelTel International Corporation and changed its name to New Concept Energy, Inc in May 2008.

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Sather Financial Group Inc decreased its holdings in The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO  Free Report) by 92.4% in the second quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 21,332 shares of the companys stock after selling 258,800 shares during the period. Sather Financial Group Incs holdings in Coca-Cola were worth $1,358,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Joule Financial LLC raised its stake in Coca-Cola by 3.6% in the 2nd quarter. Joule Financial LLC now owns 4,867 shares of the companys stock worth $312,000 after acquiring an additional 167 shares during the last quarter. Community Bank & Trust Waco Texas raised its stake in Coca-Cola by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. Community Bank & Trust Waco Texas now owns 30,262 shares of the companys stock worth $1,851,000 after acquiring an additional 168 shares during the last quarter. Goelzer Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in Coca-Cola by 1.8% in the 4th quarter. Goelzer Investment Management Inc. now owns 9,681 shares of the companys stock worth $571,000 after acquiring an additional 169 shares during the last quarter. Premier Path Wealth Partners LLC raised its stake in Coca-Cola by 1.4% in the 1st quarter. Premier Path Wealth Partners LLC now owns 12,009 shares of the companys stock worth $729,000 after acquiring an additional 170 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Richardson Financial Services Inc. raised its stake in Coca-Cola by 4.8% in the 1st quarter. Richardson Financial Services Inc. now owns 3,697 shares of the companys stock worth $226,000 after acquiring an additional 170 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.26% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on KO shares. TD Cowen raised their target price on Coca-Cola from $65.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, July 25th. BNP Paribas began coverage on Coca-Cola in a research note on Monday, June 24th. They set an outperform rating and a $72.00 price objective for the company. StockNews.com lowered Coca-Cola from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, July 19th. Bank of America lifted their price objective on Coca-Cola from $68.00 to $70.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 10th. Finally, UBS Group lifted their price objective on Coca-Cola from $70.00 to $72.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 1st. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a 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 $70.20.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, major shareholder Cola Co Coca sold 598,619 shares of Coca-Cola stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $925.00, for a total value of $553,722,575.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 1,883,546 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,742,280,050. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In related news, EVP Nancy Quan sold 19,304 shares of Coca-Cola stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $63.44, for a total value of $1,224,645.76. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 223,330 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,168,055.20. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, major shareholder Cola Co Coca sold 598,619 shares of Coca-Cola stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $925.00, for a total value of $553,722,575.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 1,883,546 shares in the company, valued at $1,742,280,050. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 1,014,029 shares of company stock worth $581,682,074. Insiders own 0.97% of the companys stock.

Coca-Cola Price Performance

Shares of Coca-Cola stock traded up $0.44 on Friday, hitting $69.77. The companys stock had a trading volume of 11,827,571 shares, compared to its average volume of 12,990,292. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a current ratio of 1.08. The Coca-Cola Company has a 1 year low of $51.55 and a 1 year high of $70.13. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $65.74 and a 200-day moving average price of $62.69. The company has a market capitalization of $300.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.91, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.80 and a beta of 0.59.

Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 23rd. The company reported $0.84 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.81 by $0.03. Coca-Cola had a return on equity of 43.62% and a net margin of 22.92%. The firm had revenue of $12.40 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.78 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.78 EPS. Coca-Colas revenue for the quarter was up 3.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that The Coca-Cola Company will post 2.85 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Coca-Cola Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 1st. Investors of record on Friday, September 13th will be issued a $0.485 dividend. This represents a $1.94 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.78%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 13th. Coca-Colas payout ratio is 77.60%.

Coca-Cola Profile

(Free Report)

The Coca-Cola Company, a beverage company, manufactures, markets, and sells various nonalcoholic beverages worldwide. The company provides sparkling soft drinks, sparkling flavors; water, sports, coffee, and tea; juice, value-added dairy, and plant-based beverages; and other beverages. It also offers beverage concentrates and syrups, as well as fountain syrups to fountain retailers, such as restaurants and convenience stores.

Further Reading

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 24. The UN aims to firmly integrate climate action in partnership with the Azerbaijani government, UN Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan Vladanka Andreeva said during the "29 Climate Conversations: Road to COP29" media workshop in Baku, Trend reports.

She highlighted that the main goal is not only to support the COP29 chairmanship but also to engage all segments of Azerbaijani society, including the media, to mobilize their participation.

We aim to ensure that climate action is firmly integrated into our partnership with the government, and we will actively promote it through our programs before, during, and after COP29, she said.

Andreeva emphasized the UN's commitment to a successful COP29.

From the UN's perspective, our primary goal is to support the host country and the COP29 chairmanship in all organizational and substantive aspects of this conference. Time is running out. COP29 is now about 79 days away, and the conference chairmanship team has had only about 10 and a half months to prepare for this massive event. As part of the larger UN family, we are working on many different fronts.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is supporting the COP29 presidency as they are the custodians of this climate conference. At the global level, we have also offered assistance through the UN Global Working Group, she said.

This November, Azerbaijan will host COP29. This decision was made at the COP28 plenary meeting held in Dubai on December 11 last year. Baku will become the center of the world and will receive about 70-80,000 foreign guests.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system. COP - the Conference of the Parties - is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change. There are 198 countries that are parties to the Convention. Unless the parties agree otherwise, the COP is held annually. The first COP event took place in March 1995 in Berlin, and its secretariat is located in Bonn.

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Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE:TD  Get Free Report) (TSE:TD) issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday. The bank reported $2.05 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.49 by $0.56, Briefing.com reports. The firm had revenue of $14.18 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.40 billion. Toronto-Dominion Bank had a return on equity of 14.38% and a net margin of 9.96%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 9.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.48 EPS.

Toronto-Dominion Bank Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:TD traded up $0.18 during trading on Friday, hitting $58.63. The stock had a trading volume of 89,931 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,765,958. Toronto-Dominion Bank has a 12-month low of $53.52 and a 12-month high of $65.12. The stock has a market capitalization of $102.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 0.82. The company has a quick ratio of 1.01, a current ratio of 1.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $56.71 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $57.68.

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Toronto-Dominion Bank Cuts Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 31st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 10th will be paid a $0.739 dividend. This represents a $2.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.04%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 10th. Toronto-Dominion Banks payout ratio is 67.73%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

TD has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Cibc World Mkts upgraded Toronto-Dominion Bank from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Friday, May 24th. National Bank Financial upgraded Toronto-Dominion Bank from an underperform rating to a sector perform rating in a research note on Thursday. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price target on Toronto-Dominion Bank from $86.00 to $84.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research note on Friday, May 24th. StockNews.com cut Toronto-Dominion Bank from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Thursday. Finally, UBS Group initiated coverage on Toronto-Dominion Bank in a research note on Tuesday, July 2nd. They issued a neutral rating for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $88.00.

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Toronto-Dominion Bank Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

The Toronto-Dominion Bank, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial products and services in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking, U.S. Retail, Wealth Management and Insurance, and Wholesale Banking.

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American Financial Advisors LLC lessened its stake in shares of Welltower Inc. (NYSE:WELL  Free Report) by 4.4% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 13,609 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 629 shares during the quarter. American Financial Advisors LLCs holdings in Welltower were worth $1,419,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of WELL. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System boosted its position in shares of Welltower by 5.0% in the 2nd quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 33,800 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $3,524,000 after purchasing an additional 1,600 shares during the period. &PARTNERS boosted its holdings in shares of Welltower by 106.5% in the second quarter. &PARTNERS now owns 5,515 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $575,000 after acquiring an additional 2,844 shares during the period. GYL Financial Synergies LLC grew its position in shares of Welltower by 2.8% during the second quarter. GYL Financial Synergies LLC now owns 19,114 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,993,000 after acquiring an additional 524 shares during the last quarter. Harbour Trust & Investment Management Co increased its holdings in shares of Welltower by 3.1% in the 2nd quarter. Harbour Trust & Investment Management Co now owns 55,723 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $5,809,000 after acquiring an additional 1,695 shares during the period. Finally, Shelton Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Welltower in the 2nd quarter valued at $223,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.80% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Welltower

In other Welltower news, Director Kenneth J. Bacon sold 1,800 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $103.91, for a total transaction of $187,038.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 14,579 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,514,903.89. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Insiders own 0.12% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have commented on the stock. Mizuho lifted their price objective on shares of Welltower from $98.00 to $105.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 8th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on Welltower from $101.00 to $114.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Friday, August 9th. Scotiabank increased their price objective on Welltower from $116.00 to $121.00 and gave the stock a sector outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 7th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their target price on Welltower from $115.00 to $137.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Wolfe Research raised Welltower to a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, August 9th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Welltower has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $108.88.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Welltower

Welltower Price Performance

Welltower stock traded up $1.51 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $119.33. The company had a trading volume of 2,219,742 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,670,673. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $109.22 and its 200-day simple moving average is $99.92. Welltower Inc. has a 1 year low of $78.38 and a 1 year high of $119.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a current ratio of 4.07 and a quick ratio of 3.83. The company has a market capitalization of $71.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 147.32, a P/E/G ratio of 2.74 and a beta of 1.18.

Welltower (NYSE:WELL  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, July 29th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.42 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.34 by $0.08. Welltower had a return on equity of 2.21% and a net margin of 8.36%. The firm had revenue of $1.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.89 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.90 earnings per share. Welltowers revenue was up 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts predict that Welltower Inc. will post 4.16 EPS for the current year.

Welltower Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 21st. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 12th were given a dividend of $0.67 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 12th. This represents a $2.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.25%. This is a boost from Welltowers previous quarterly dividend of $0.61. Welltowers payout ratio is presently 330.86%.

Welltower Profile

(Free Report)

Welltower Inc (NYSE:WELL), a REIT and S&P 500 company headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, is driving the transformation of health care infrastructure. Welltower invests with leading seniors housing operators, post-acute providers and health systems to fund the real estate and infrastructure needed to scale innovative care delivery models and improve people's wellness and overall health care experience.

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Yiren Digital (NYSE:YRD  Get Free Report) released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday. The technology company reported $0.65 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, Zacks reports. Yiren Digital had a return on equity of 27.42% and a net margin of 40.47%. The company had revenue of $205.93 million during the quarter. Yiren Digital updated its Q3 2024 guidance to EPS.

Yiren Digital Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:YRD opened at $4.76 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $413.81 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 1.43 and a beta of 0.72. Yiren Digital has a 12 month low of $2.16 and a 12 month high of $5.80. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $4.69 and its 200 day moving average price is $4.86.

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Yiren Digital Cuts Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a Semi-Annual dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 15th. Investors of record on Monday, September 30th will be paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 30th. This represents a dividend yield of 3.5%. Yiren Digitals dividend payout ratio is presently 16.82%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Yiren Digital from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 28th.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on YRD

About Yiren Digital

(Get Free Report)

Yiren Digital Ltd. provides financial services through an AI-powered platform in China. Its platform provides a suite of financial and lifestyle services. The company offers financial services, which provides a portfolio of loan products to borrowers; insurance brokerage services; and consumption and lifestyle services, including non-financial products and services to meet various consumer needs.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 24. COP is a crucial platform for addressing climate change challenges, Lead Negotiator for COP29 Azerbaijan and Deputy Foreign Minister Yalchin Rafiyev said during the "29 Climate Conversations: Road to COP29" media workshop in Baku, Trend reports.

If climate change continues under the current scenario or worsens, a major catastrophe awaits the world. To avert this threat, UN member states, as well as partner states of the Rio Convention and the Paris Agreement, must take serious and impactful steps. One of the most suitable platforms for such actions is the COP events, he emphasized.

This November, Azerbaijan will host COP29. This decision was made at the COP28 plenary meeting held in Dubai on December 11 last year. Baku will become the center of the world and will receive about 70-80,000 foreign guests.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system. COP - the Conference of the Parties - is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change. There are 198 countries that are parties to the Convention. Unless the parties agree otherwise, the COP is held annually. The first COP event took place in March 1995 in Berlin, and its secretariat is located in Bonn.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 24. COP is one of the most inclusive events held within the UN framework, Lead Negotiator for COP29 Azerbaijan and Deputy Foreign Minister Yalchin Rafiyev said during the "29 Climate Conversations: Road to COP29" media workshop in Baku, Trend reports.

According to Rafiyev, the bottom line for this year's COP29 conference in Baku is to nail down a common objective for society.

What does this mean? This means that the international community agreed in 2009 at the COP conference in Copenhagen to set aside $100 billion a year to combat climate change in developing countries.

This funding was intended to be in the form of grants and aid. The main expectation from COP29 in Baku is to set a cap on this $100 billion. Many years have passed, the world economy has changed, requirements and needs have evolved, and nations now stare down fresh hurdles, he said.

The lead negotiator added that the upcoming conference in Baku should determine the exact amount of aid developed countries should provide to developing nations.

We have been working with global partners since the beginning of the year on this issue. Preparations for the negotiation process are underway, and the positions of the parties are becoming clearer. We are developing a strategy to brainstorm ideas and get on the same page, he emphasized.

This November, Azerbaijan will host COP29. This decision was made at the COP28 plenary meeting held in Dubai on December 11 last year. Baku will become the center of the world and will receive about 7080,000 foreign guests.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system. COP - the Conference of the Parties - is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change. There are 198 countries that are parties to the Convention. Unless the parties agree otherwise, the COP is held annually. The first COP event took place in March 1995 in Germany's Berlin, with its secretariat in Bonn.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
China, Indonesia agree to deepen cooperation at joint commission meeting in Beijing

Xinhua) 09:53, August 24, 2024

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, co-chairs the fifth meeting of the China-Indonesia Governmental Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 23, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The fifth meeting of the China-Indonesia Governmental Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation was held in Beijing on Friday, with the two sides reaching wide consensus on deepening bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

The meeting was co-chaired by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said that China is willing to work together with Indonesia to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and continuously elevate the building of a China-Indonesia community with a shared future to a new level.

Wang said the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC has made arrangements for further deepening reforms comprehensively and promoting Chinese modernization, which will bring new opportunities for China-Indonesia cooperation and regional development.

He said both sides need to persist with four things continuously. The first is deepening high-level exchanges, strengthening strategic communication, and preparing for the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries next year. The second is consolidating strategic mutual trust, firmly supporting each other in safeguarding core interests. The third is expanding mutually beneficial cooperation, deepening strategic alignment, and using the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative to lead practical cooperation and upgrade its quality. The fourth is enhancing mutual understanding and friendship, improving the facilitation of personnel exchanges, and encouraging exchanges between the youth, think tanks and media.

Noting that China has become one of Indonesia's most important strategic partners, Retno Marsudi said Indonesia greatly appreciates the solid mutual trust and profound friendship established with China.

Taking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as an opportunity, Indonesia will closely cooperate with China on multilateral affairs, practice multilateralism, and strengthen South-South cooperation, she said.

The two sides agreed to tap the potential for cooperation on new-energy vehicles, lithium batteries, photovoltaic and the digital economy, expand two-way investment, agricultural and food cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, and work together to improve global governance and safeguard the common interests of the Global South countries.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, co-chairs the fifth meeting of the China-Indonesia Governmental Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 23, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liu Ning)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 22. We observe a constructive approach from all states at COP29, the Chief Negotiator of COP29, Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Yalchin Rafiyev said during the "29 Climate Conversations: Road to COP29" media workshop in Baku, Trend reports.

The ongoing process of international negotiations, in his view, is taking place in an already challenging setting.

The climate issue has its own unique complexity. States' attitudes toward climate change also vary. This year, the situation is even more complicated because the issue of financing is on the agenda. We are trying to decide on financial issues, and bringing climate and finance together complicates an already tense negotiating agenda.

Nevertheless, in terms of the positions of states, we can note that so far we have seen a constructive approach on the part of all countries. There are no problems or difficulties in the position of any state, which is a positive factor. At present, there is a tendency towards mutual steps between the states, he said.

To note, the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) will be held in Azerbaijan in November this year. The decision was made at the plenary meeting of COP28 held in Dubai on December 11 last year. Within two weeks, Baku, having become the center of the world, will host about 70,00080,000 foreign guests.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Rio Earth Summit in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. The acronym COP (Conference of Parties) stands for Conference of Parties, which is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change.

A total of 198 countries are parties to the convention. Unless the parties have decided otherwise, COP is held annually. The first COP event was held in March 1995 in Germany's Berlin, with its secretariat in Bonn.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 24. Over 60 documents are expected to be adopted during the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), Lead Negotiator of the event and Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Yalchin Rafiyev said during the "29 Climate Conversations: Road to COP29" media workshop in Baku, Trend reports.

Drawing attention to the magnitude of COP29, Rafiyev unveiled the session's comprehensive agenda.

"The opening ceremony will take place in Baku on November 11, followed by a summit of government representatives on November 1213. From November 14 to 22, we will host thematic days covering various topics such as agriculture, food, and other key areas. These days will feature both formal and informal platforms. We are encouraged by the constructive approach of the participating states," he stated.

Additionally, Rafiyev brought out the fact that in Azerbaijan's Shamakhi, delegates from several nations recently met informally to talk about important topics for the COP29 agenda. Such meetings will continue leading up to the conference.

"In total, more than 60 documents on energy, agriculture, technology, and other topics are expected to be adopted during COP29, which will take place from November 11 to 22. This conference is set to be the COP with the highest number of adopted documents in the past five years," the lead negotiator added.

The New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG), which Rafiyev characterized as a critical test for numerous states in preserving the relevance of the Paris Agreement, is one of the important papers set to be endorsed at COP29.

"Adoption of this paper guarantees that every developing nation has the required resources to support their climate action programs. The ambition is currently high, with nations recognizing that ambitious targets, such as emission reductions, are essential to achieving the 1.5C goal. However, realizing these ambitions requires financial support, along with technology and capacity building," he explained.

This November, Azerbaijan will host COP29. This decision was made at the COP28 plenary meeting held in Dubai on December 11 last year. Baku will become the center of the world and will receive about 7080,000 foreign guests.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system. COP - the Conference of the Parties - is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change. There are 198 countries that are parties to the Convention. Unless the parties agree otherwise, the COP is held annually. The first COP event took place in March 1995 in Germany's Berlin, with its secretariat in Bonn.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Chinhoyi  A 26-year-old man from Rujeko, Chinhoyi, is facing charges of indecent assault after allegedly sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl in the boot of a mushikashika.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), the incident occurred on July 13, 2024, around 6:00 PM.

The victim and her mother were traveling in a Honda Fit to their home in Chinhoyi when the assault took place. The victim was seated in the boot of the car with the accused.

The NPAZ said in a statement on X that the accused inserted his right hand inside the complainants skirt and touched her private parts four times. He also caressed her thighs twice without her consent. He offered the complainant a USD1 note, but she refused.

The victim reported the incident to her mother upon disembarking from the vehicle. A police report was subsequently filed, leading to the arrest of the accused.

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Soweto  A wave of xenophobic attacks and forced closures of foreign-owned businesses has swept across Soweto in South Africa, leading to a mass exodus of Zimbabweans and other African nationals.

The violence, instigated by the controversial vigilante group Operation Dudula, has left communities in turmoil and sparked fears of further unrest.

The latest escalation of violence and intimidation began on Monday, following the shooting of a young man, Lusanda Ngxongo, allegedly by a shop owner in White City.

The incident sparked outrage among residents, who accused foreign nationals of stealing their jobs and posing a threat to the community.

Operation Dudula members, clad in their distinctive T-shirts, have been targeting shops owned by foreigners, forcing them to close down or demanding a 30% share of their profits.

This comes days after it was also reported that another group, Boko Haram, runs an extortion racket that extends its tentacles to virtually every foreign-owned spaza shop in Mamelodi, demanding a monthly protection fee of R700.

Meanwhile, Dudula Movelent has been seen moving around the area, identifying tuckshops and removing owners who are not South African. They have even gone as far as helping them pack up and organising transport for them against their will.

One terrified woman, a Mozambican who has lived in South Africa for 12 years, described the harrowing experience of watching her vegetable stall being ransacked by the group.

I have six children. When these people came, I showed them my permits, and they told me that those papers dont work. I dont even know where to start. I dont even have money to go home in Maputo, but I want to go back home because as you can see, Im being abused here, she said.

The woman, who feared for her life and refused to be named, managed to save some of her stock before fleeing to her shack, where she watched in horror as the group chanted struggle songs and tossed her tomatoes, onions, and potatoes to the ground.

The incident highlights the growing tension between locals and foreign nationals in Soweto, a region that has been a hotspot for xenophobic attacks in the past.

South Africa is home to millions of African migrants, including Zimbabweans, many of whom are seeking a better life and escaping economic hardship in their home countries. Estimates indicate that at least a million Zimbabweans are residing in South Africa, both legally and illegally.

Operation Dudula leader Zandile Dabula insists that the groups actions are driven by a desire to ensure the safety of the community.

Its very frustrating that they are even ready to pick up guns and shoot at us. They need to leave, and we will close all the shops around White City, and its not going to end here. We will close down all the tuckshops and talk to different stakeholders to help our people to take over, she said.

However, the groups actions have been condemned by many as xenophobic and illegal. Operation Dudula has no authority to regulate or force the closure of shops, and the police presence, while observed, has been ineffective in preventing unlawful activity.

The groups demands for a 30% profit share from foreign-owned spaza shops have also raised concerns about the potential for exploitation and the violation of the rights of foreign nationals.

Critics argue that such demands are discriminatory and could fuel xenophobia and increase tensions between South African citizens and foreign nationals, most of whom are from neighbouring countries.

In 2019, the Zimbabwean authorities evacuated over 200 of its nationals from South Africa following the death of two locals in xenophobic violence. During the raid, a police van and a Toyota Quantum, including a minibus with crime prevention wardens, arrived. But they remained in their cars for about five minutes before they left and did not return.

Anna Mnisi (42), the mother of Lusanda Ngxongo (24), who was shot on Saturday during a raid of a foreign-owned shop, said her son was still in intensive care unit at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital.

I received a call in the afternoon that my son was shot and I should rush to the clinic. When I rushed to the clinic, I was told that my son was at a hospital. I was told by my neighbours that after he came from work, he and his friend decided to get a drink from a shop. He spilt the drink on the floor and the shop owner got angry and shot him twice in the stomach, Mnisi said.

Police spokesperson Colonel Noxolo Kweza said they were investigating a case of attempted murder and had opened a docket.

I can confirm that there was a person shot and injured and the person is in a stable condition in hospital, Kweza said.

About 18 tuck shops had been raided by 4pm on Thursday.

Soweto has been a hotspot for tension between locals and spaza shops run by foreign nationals. Immigration has become increasingly politicised in South Africa since riots in major cities in July 2021.

In 2021, widespread looting took place across South Africa after the arrest of former President Jacob Zuma, which led to a nationwide shutdown and looting in Soweto. In 2019, dozens of foreign-owned spaza shops were targeted in a widespread looting spree by residents in various townships in Soweto.

In August 2018, residents in Tshepisong, west of Johannesburg, engaged in a looting spree of foreign-owned shops after claiming they were selling expired food items. Four people were killed during the week-long violence.

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A fierce turf war has erupted within Paul Mwazhas Africa Apostolic Church ahead of President Emmerson Mnangagwas visit to the churchs Ndarikure Shrine on August 30, 2024.

The conflict, which has escalated to the point of gunfire and destruction, threatens to overshadow the Presidents visit and cast a dark shadow over the annual church gathering.

The clash is between two factions within the church, one led by Reverend Nyika Murisi and the other by Enerst Mhambare and Kurauone Sibanda. Murisis faction is claiming permission from church leader Archbishop Paul Mwazha and has been preparing for the conference scheduled for August 30 to September 1, New Zimbabwe has reported.

However, Mhambare and Sibandas faction have allegedly disrupted these preparations, leading to a dangerous escalation of violence.

In a letter to Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga, Murisis lawyers, Rubaya and Chatambudza Legal Practitioners, outlined the alarming situation. They allege that on August 19, Sibanda and his supporters, armed with a JCB machine and grader, destroyed the churchs functioning toilets at the Ndarikure Shrine.

The letter states, They proceeded to Ndarikure Shrine with a JCB machine as well as a grader wherein they proceeded to raze down the church toilets which were functioning well in a bid to prevent the church gathering that is scheduled for the 30th of August 2024 to the 1st of September 2024.

The destruction didnt stop there. He has allegedly proceeded to dig trenches across the roads leading to the shrine in a bid to block our clients from accessing the shrine, the letter continues.

Kurauone allegedly discharged a firearm to disperse some of our clients who had proceeded to the shrine to commence preparatory works. He proceeded to point the firearm to other church members who tried to negotiate with him.

The lawyers further allege that the Mhambare faction is abusing a court order obtained against another faction, which they claim does not relate to their clients.

They argue that despite Mwazhas consent for the gathering, Mhambare and his supporters are attempting to stop it without a lawful order against Murisis faction.

Murisis faction sees the conflict as politically motivated, citing the presence of President Mnangagwa as the guest of honour at the gathering.

The lawyers claim, Our clients suspect that Ernest Mhambare, Kuauone Sibanda, and his cabal are sympathetic to other political actors who are opposed to the Presidency, of His Excellency Cde. Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa since he is the one earmarked to attend as the Guest of Honour.

The lawyers have requested police protection for the conference, citing the potential for further violence and disruption.

It is critical for the Zimbabwe Republic Police to attend our clients meetings for purposes of keeping peace since they are peace-loving, the letter states.

In the circumstances, our clients are requesting protection and security during the intended gathering scheduled from 30th of August 2024 to the 1st of September 2024.

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The best neighbor imaginable. Awww, how nice. pic.twitter.com/9bQwSVkEL1  Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) August 21, 2024

Researchers capture video of possible wolf-dog hybrid in northern Minnesota MPRNews (Chuck L)

Looks like Audrey at the start:

The Queen of Night blooms only once a year  in the dead of night. Before dawn, the flower wilts away. It arrived in China from Mexico in 1645. But don't throw the dead flower away: its medicinal properties make it popular across Asia. pic.twitter.com/BwLO4s1LI6  Nury Vittachi (@NuryVittachi) August 22, 2024

New virus that causes staggering disease discovered in US  and it can kill pet cats and those in the wild Independent (Robin K)

Long-hidden family scandal in Jamestown colony revealed 400 years later by ancient DNA CNN (Kevin W)

Where crashing cars is the point Economist. I completely get this interest even though I never went to a demolition derby. My absolute favorite toy as a toddler was a crash car.

#COVID-19

GOOD NEWS: The US government has announced that it will again offer free at-home Covid tests starting in late September. You will be able to get 4 more free test kits sent through the mail. pic.twitter.com/QuRiMbkk8f  Dr. Lucky Tran (@luckytran) August 23, 2024 COVID-19: Hospitalizations at highest level since winter

There are currently more than 1,200 people with COVID-19 in hospital in Quebec, and more than 30 deaths reported each week.https://t.co/CegLix6xHL via @mtlgazette  alan drummond (@alandrummond2) August 22, 2024

Climate/Environment

China?

Koreas

Why North Korea may find the Souths new vision for unification provocative The Conversation (Kevin W). This is a feature, not a bug. South Korea does not want reunification because it cannot afford it. The unification of West Germany and the GDR due to much lower incomes in the GDR. It was very costly and was solved by serious wage repression. The gap between income per capita for South Korea v. North Korea is a chasm compared to that of West Germany and the GDR when the USSR fell. See Reuters in 2024, reporting on a growth surge in North Korea in 2023: North Koreas nominal gross national income in 2023 was estimated to be 1.59 million won ($1,147.56) per capita, equivalent to just 3.4% of the Souths 47.25 million won.

Hyper-Aggressive Monetary Expansion Kicks Into Overdrive in Myanmar Irrawaddy

Africa

European Disunion

Old Blighty

Gaza

New Not-So-Cold War

Syraqistan

Iraq and Turkiye: A strategic realignment amidst regional shifts The Cradle

Big Brother is Watching You Watch

Microsoft plans Windows security overhaul after CrowdStrike outage Financial Times (Kevin W). This announcement is very late in coming.

Imperial Collapse Watch

Trump

X and Meta Employees Meet With MAGA Hub Sludge (TF) I doubt this is a winning to pitch to anyone other than the stereotypical California health obsessive who has the time and money to eat only very pure foods (according to their standards) and experiment with alternate treatments (which IMHO can be very helpful but finding good modalities and then practitioners within them is often hit or miss). Mind you, I say that as a health fetishist myself. The FDA should pay me for all the experiments I have run on myself. Nevertheless, even though readers in comments on Lamberts RFK, Jr. speech responded positively to this messaging, he spoke specifically of harm to children. How many parents are willing to admit to themselves that they were responsible for their childrens poor health via letting them become overweight (eating too many foods with obvious and not so obvious sugars) and eating too much highly/ultra processed food? IMHO the cohort receptive to that message is largely already converted. I suspect (and we will see soon enough) that it is also is not big enough to sustain a campaign and I am not sure even rich enough in total even to give much of a boost. But perhaps all of this talk about health is to cover for a plan to make RFK, Jr. head of the CIA, which would get him or Trump killed were anyone to get word. LISTEN  Robert Kennedy Jr. makes an incredible speech at President Trump's rally "Don't you want a president who is going to make America healthy again?" pic.twitter.com/itoEnVfJs6  Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) August 24, 2024 However: My old Dem buddies have been flooding me with frantic calls, texts, and emails. Unlike Ro, I wouldnt dream of airing those private conversations publicly, but the message is clear: theyre terrified of the idea of our movement joining forces with Donald Trump. When I point out  Nicole Shanahan (@NicoleShanahan) August 22, 2024

Kamala

GOP Clown Car

Republican-led States Challenge Effort to Aid Undocumented Spouses New York Times

Our No Longer Free Press

Has the Online Left Given Up? Jacobin (UserFriendly). I never knew the Online Left was A Thing. Nevertheless, the successful Democrat neutering of Sanders played a big role. There can be no freedom without free speech Scott Ritter (Chuck L)

Antitrust

Mr. Market Gets What It Wants

Guillotine Watch

Class Warfare

Antidote du jour. Tracie H: This is a skipper butterfly spotted on a brief stroll around the seaside town of Corona Del Mar (California)  The butterfly was kind enough to let me intrude on its flower visit

A bonus (Chuck L):

When my wife asks me why I need thermal goggles I send her this: pic.twitter.com/bExxJIiwTC  Giga Based Dad (@GigaBasedDad) August 22, 2024

And a second bonus. The word heroic is used too casually in the US. This man took real risk and so IMHO the label fits:

This guy goes out into a frozen lake to rescue a dog pic.twitter.com/thdZpPsRbJ  Science girl (@gunsnrosesgirl3) August 21, 2024

And another bonus:

100% a daddys boy  pic.twitter.com/lw1ilBWDOv  Why you should have a cat (@ShouldHaveCat) August 23, 2024

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, August 24. Kyrgyzstan plans to build a logistics center in the Kadamjay district of the Batken region, Trend reports.

A tender for the project, valued at 14.5 million Kyrgyz soms (approximately $170,000), has been posted on the government procurement website.

The tender document stipulates that the logistics center must be completed within 60 days of signing the contract.

Bidders are required to submit the necessary documents by August 26, 2024.
Nearly 14,000 Britons seek government payments for COVID-19 vaccine injuries

Nearly 14,000 Britons have applied for government payouts due to the harm caused by Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) injections, according to the Daily Expose.

The United Kingdom's Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS), first established in 1979, is managed by the British Department for Health and Social Care. The VDPS offers a one-time payment of 120,000 ($157,080) to individuals who are severely disabled as a result of vaccination against certain diseases, including COVID-19.

The scheme has processed around 16,000 applications since its establishment. But is worth noting that as per recent figures obtained by the Telegraph, almost 14,000 of these are related to the COVID-19 vaccines.

The surge in claims has led to a significant increase in administrative support, with VDPS staff numbers rising from four to 80 last year. Despite the increase, only 175 payments have been approved  amounting to less than two percent of all applications. Payments have been granted for severe conditions such as stroke, heart attack, dangerous blood clots, spinal cord inflammation, excessive limb swelling, and facial paralysis. (Related: Report: VACCINES and LOCKDOWNS are responsible for excess all-cause mortality, not COVID-19 infection.)

The Telegraph also reported that thousands of claims have been rejected by medical assessors due to insufficient proof of vaccine-related harm or because the severity of the disability did not meet the 60 percent threshold required for payment. According to a government spokesperson, this aligns with the Department for Work and Pensions' standards for severe disability.

Moreover, 5,500 claims were outright rejected, while 519 were dismissed before a medical assessment. Of the nearly 350 claims where harm was acknowledged but deemed not severely disabling, applicants must demonstrate at least 60 percent disability to qualify. However, of nearly 1,000 requests for reconsideration, only 12 have resulted in reversed decisions.

AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine responsible for most of the VACCINE DAMAGE

According to the Expose, AstraZeneca's adenoviral vector COVID-19 vaccine accounts for approximately 97 percent of the approved claims. One such case involved Leona Sanders, the wife of British race jockey Seb Sanders. Leona had developed transverse myelitis  a known adverse reaction to the AstraZeneca vaccine  after her second injection, with her condition worsening after the third.

Despite ongoing recommendations for the AstraZeneca vaccine in the U.K., many countries, including Germany, Italy, and France, had halted its use by March 2021. In response to reported cases of vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (VITT), AstraZeneca began withdrawing its vaccine in May 2021, citing the availability of newer vaccines better suited to targeting COVID-19 variants.

Critics have argued that the VDPS payment is insufficient to cover the legal costs or compensate for the profound impacts on individuals' lives. In turn, Downing Street has maintained that the VDPS is not a compensation scheme but a support mechanism for those seeking further damages through legal channels.

The issues with VDPS reflect a significant concern amid the 365,000 serious adverse events reported through the Yellow Card scheme, which include deaths. The Yellow Card Scheme is the British equivalent of the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) in the United States. But just like its American counterpart, the cases being reported to the Yellow Card Scheme are believed to be just a fraction of the actual vaccine injuries caused by the COVID-19 injections.

Head over to VaccineInjuryNews.com for similar stories.

Watch Dr. Robert Young revealing the poisonous content of the mRNA vaccines used to address COVID-19 and other diseases below.

This video is from the Follower of Christ777 channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Young man suffers month-long debilitation and death after taking Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine.

European Court of Justice: Pfizer LIABLE for damage if its COVID-19 injection is defective.

South Korean study: mRNA COVID-19 vaccines found to increase MYOCARDITIS risk by 620%.

The UK's Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme requires individuals to be "60% disabled" to receive compensation for their vaccine injury.

AstraZeneca finally admits that their COVID-19 vaccine causes thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS).

Sources include:

Expose-News.com

Brighteon.com
ELECTION THEFT 2024: Democrats stealing POTUS again and in broad daylight

The following breakdown of the Unipartys five point plan to steal the election from Trump is as accurate as it gets. As a matter of fact, each of the stealthy strategies delineated below has been in progress over much of the 2024 election cycle. Its like after the Democrat Party stole the last election, they really feel this one will be a cinch by using the same playbook.

(Article republished from StateOfTheNation.co)

However, something is majorly different this time around. Many more voters throughout the American electorate are starkly aware of the lengths to which Deep State will go to in order to win fraudulently. And, a vast majority of those voters will not permit a repeat of 2020 as they know that a Kamala Harris presidency is the final nail in the coffin for the American Republic.

KEY POINT: That the 2020 POTUS election was outright stolen has been conclusively proven using multiple scientific methods. What follows is just one statistical analysis which confirms that brazen and reckless election theft: The 22 Counties That Prove Joe Biden Stole the 2020 Election

The Right is also well aware that the entire establishment is dead-set against a Trump victory. Which means that every major organ of the U.S. Federal Government will be weaponized to both ensure the election is stolen and a successful cover-up is executed. This also means that the U.S. Intelligence Community is working in close coordination with the CIA-directed Mainstream Media as they always do. Nevertheless, these hopelessly corrupt institutions risk complete and permanent loss of all legitimacy this time around which is a huge sacrifice to make when running a constitutional republic with a democratic election system. For very few folks on the Right will ever vote again, which will severely undermine their whole god-forsaken BEAST system.

In light of these commonly known circumstances, the MAGA Movement, Patriot Movement, Truth Movement, etc. are getting ready to monitor every aspect of the electoral process that can be watched for fraud and other improprieties. The most important ballot initiative that they are taking is the widespread implementation of highly organized exit polling by conservative attorneys, especially throughout the 7 primary swing states which are key to a victory for both candidates.

In point of fact, every institutional poll watcher knows that exit polls dont lie so if the Democrats prematurely claim any state victory as they routinely do, theyll have to explain the results of the exit polls heavily favoring Trump. Nevertheless, the Democrats are hellbent on stealing this most important election in U.S. history, which means that the American people are about to experience the final turning of the screw of THE FOURTH TURNING.

THE FOURTH TURNING: America can no longer avoid the final turn of the screw as the inescapable jaws of karma begin to bite hard in 2024 and beyond.

KEY POINT: The Republican Party, including President Trump, has done absolutely nothing to fix the U.S. election system or any part of the electoral apparatus in any of the 50 states. In point of fact, the GOP leadership has both enabled and collaborated in maintaining this system that is rife with fraud and corruption. See: PROOF: The traitorous RNC and treacherous Congressional RINO leadership enabled the Democrats election thefts in 2020 and 2022.

BOTTOM LINE:

Until the historic 2020 election theft, which was pulled off by a highly organized criminal conspiracy involving the ever-treasonous U.S. Intelligence Community, countless Democrat fraudsters, perfidious RINO co-conspirators, ruthless Uniparty overlords, traitorous Deep State thieves, insidious NWO globalist interlopers, faceless foreign cyber- criminals and their evil Khazarian masters, is fully investigated and prosecuted, no election on U.S. soil can, or will, ever be trusted again.

State of the Nation

August 23, 2024

N.B. The following breakdown of the Democrats election theft playbook covers all their main strategies and primary tactics quite well.

Read more at: StateOfTheNation.co
British Labour government to ban silent prayer near abortion clinics

The United Kingdom's Labour government is considering banning "silent prayer" outside abortion clinics across the country.

The previous Conservative government's parliament last year approved legislation to ban protests, including silent prayer, within 150 meters (492 feet) of clinics and hospitals providing abortion services. However, this measure has not yet been implemented.

Draft guidelines published in December told police that silent prayer, as well as "consensual" communication such as handing out leaflets or engaging in conversation, should be allowed outside clinics or hospitals conducting abortions.

"Silent prayer, being the engagement of the mind and thought in prayer toward God, is protected as an absolute right under the Human Rights Act 1998 and should not, on its own, be considered an offense under any circumstances," the guidelines indicated.

As the new government reviews this guideline, officials will not specify which aspects they want to alter. However, all three Home Office ministers, including Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, voted against allowing silent prayer near abortion clinics while they were part of the opposition.

Jess Phillips, the safeguarding minister, confirmed earlier this month that the government plans to implement safe access zones around abortion clinics "imminently."

"The law was designed specifically to stop activities such as being present all day every day, staring at and approaching women as they try to access confidential medical care, handing out false medical information in leaflets, or standing at the clinic gate with rosary beads and candles," Rachael Clarke of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service said, arguing that these activities are designed to influence women's reproductive choices.

"There's simply no other reason to be present at the gate to an abortion clinic," she insisted.

Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) U.K., a part of a U.S.-based conservative Christian legal advocacy group, has opposed government plans for buffer zones near abortion clinics which it said would mean a "further crackdown on silent prayer" and breach a protected right under the Human Rights Act 1998. (Related: Melinda Gates shells out $1 BILLION to promote abortion and feminism.)

The Home Office said it had not yet set out the guidance but was "committed to introducing buffer zones around abortion clinics as soon as possible."

Meanwhile, Birmingham City Council confirmed its Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) was still being enforced. West Midlands Police stated it was brought in in 2022 "to deter protesters and protect the public from intimidation that their presence causes following numerous complaints from residents."

Woman arrested for "silently praying" outside an abortion clinic gets a payout

Several pro-life activists have already been arrested for praying silently outside of abortion clinics, including Isabel Vaughan-Spruce from Worcestershire and co-director of the anti-abortion campaign group March for Life U.K., who was arrested last October. She was accused of breaching a PSPO outside the clinic in Kings Norton, Birmingham.

Vaughan-Spruce received legal support from ADF U.K. to fight her civil case. Her charges were dropped later as she claimed that police actions breached her human rights.

Now, she gets redemption and a payout. She received 13,000 British pounds ($17,000) from West Midlands Police, which said it settled her civil claim "without any admission of liability," adding the city council brought in the PSPO to deter protesters.

The BBC reported that Vaughan-Spruce, as a "crisis pregnancy support volunteer" for 20 years, had offered leaflets about charitable services available to women who would rather avoid abortion. But she "found it particularly shocking" to be accused of intimidating action, as she "would condemn anyone who tries to intimidate or harass women."

As per the Home Office: "Protecting women's rights is a priority for this government and anyone exercising their legal right to access abortion services must be free from harassment and intimidation."

According to the news outlet, the campaigner was arrested in November 2022 when the center was shut with no service users present.

"I was there simply to pray for women facing very difficult situations and decisions. Prayer isn't a crime. Neither is standing," she said.

Citing a survey about reproductive coercion, Vaughan-Spruce said 15 percent of the 1,000 U.K. women surveyed had experienced pressure to terminate a pregnancy. These women could face pressure from a partner or economic pressure, she noted. According to Vaughan-Spruce, she had helped dozens of women "who wanted to have other options than abortions available to them" for years.

Birmingham priest, Father Sean Gough, was also charged in 2022 with violating the law and "intimidating service users" for standing near an abortion center while silently praying and holding a sign that read "Praying for Freedom of Speech." Gough said the (then-Conservative) government was "censoring the streets of the United Kingdom." The charges against him were dropped in February 2023.

Head over to Abortions.news to read more about anti-life governments' push to suppress pro-lifers' free speech.

Watch the video below that shows the anti-life organization Planned Parenthood's mobile abortion truck at the recent Democratic National Convention 2024.

This video is from Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

NO CHOICE AND NO LIFE: Study finds mRNA COVID-19 vaccines increase risk of spontaneous abortions.

Tim Walz left EIGHT babies who survived botched abortions to DIE, government data.

Federal court temporarily blocks Biden's attempt to force all employers to pay for workers' abortions.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee issues directive mandating hospitals to provide "emergency" abortions regardless of upcoming Supreme Court ruling.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

Telegraph.co.uk

BBC.com

Brighteon.com
Pharmacy chain Rite Aid suddenly SHUTTING DOWN ALL STORES in Ohio and Michigan

Pharmacy chain Rite Aid has announced plans to close all its stores in Ohio and Michigan , sending customers scrambling to transfer their prescriptions as a result.

The drugstore chain once boasted of having more outlets in the country than its rivals, having operated 4,000 drugstores coast to coast in 1999. But 25 years on, Rite Aid is now mired in debt and scrambling to find a way forward.

The chain's latest bankruptcy court filings have revealed that it completely cut all ties with the two Midwestern states. Prior to its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing last October, it had more than 2,000 stores. From an initial 154 closures, this number has increased to 856.

The latest closures in August, numbering 74 in total, were all in Ohio and Michigan, save for two  one in California and another in Washington. Last month, there were 169 closures recorded, with all of them both located in the Buckeye State and the Great Lakes State.

Less than a year ago, the two states had the fourth- and fifth-highest number of Rite Aid locations in the United States. Now all 234 stores in Michigan and 183 in Ohio have been shuttered, or will be soon.

Experts think Rite Aid is moving out of areas where it cannot compete with much bigger chains like CVS and Walgreens. Instead, it is focusing where it can aim to be number two behind one or the other, such as in Pennsylvania. It's unclear when Rite Aid will emerge from bankruptcy, but it plans to return with about 1,300 stores total, a far cry from when it operated 5,059 locations in 2008. (Related: Rite Aid to CLOSE 27 more stores due to ongoing bankruptcy proceedings.)

Rite Aid's rapid expansion comes back to bite it

A spectacular fall followed Rite Aid's rapid ascent, according to the Toledo Blade. In November 1999, its then-CEO Martin Grass stepped down under the pressure of a widening accounting scandal. The company was forced to announce that it would restate three years of earnings reports, cutting over $500 million from its reported profits. Florida had sued it for price fixing while Washington took Rite Aid to selling expired baby formula.

Grass was convicted of defrauding the company, its stockholders, creditors and vendors in May 2004 and was sentenced to eight years in prison. Rite Aid's stock slumped to under $1 a share, which triggered a threat by the New York Stock Exchange to delist it.

The company has tried at various times to merge with or be acquired by rivals Walgreens or Albertsons. But in each case, the proposed merger fell through mainly due to the weakness of Rite Aid's balance sheet. According to the Blade, Rite Aid never really recovered from the crushing debt it took on to fund its expansion and the criminal mismanagement that wiped half a billion dollars off its profit and loss statement.

Carty Finkbeiner, former mayor of Toledo in Ohio, said Rite Aid's rapid expansion came back to bite it. "Rite Aid is just an irresponsible corporate citizen; they have given up on mid-street locations and absolutely, like piranhas, are going after corner locations," said the four-time Toledo mayor. "Rite Aid got greedy and now the chickens have come home to roost. I feel bad for the people in those neighborhoods Rite Aid came into."

Visit EconomicRiot.com for similar stories.

Watch this video about pharmacy workers going on strike amid widespread store closures.

This video is from the DailyVideos channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Rite Aid forced to file for bankruptcy amid slumping sales, high debt and ongoing opioid lawsuits.

Rite Aid to close up to 500 stores in BANKRUPTCY proposal.

U.S. pharmacy chains Rite Aid, CVS and Kroger happily hand over private health data on Americans to law enforcement, even WITHOUT warrants.

Sources include:

DailyMail.com

ToledoBlade.com

Brighteon.com
Sermon 019: Mike Adams discusses why CENSORSHIP is SATANIC

The Health Ranger Mike Adams explained why he thinks censorship is satanic during a recent sermon on the "Health Ranger Report," part of his 100 Sermons.

He based his sermon on a verse from the book of the Prophet Jeremiah, which talks about how people "bend their tongues like their bow for lies" and their refusal to be "valiant for the truth upon the earth" (Jeremiah 9:3). According to the Brighteon.com and Natural News founder, censorship is satanic because it runs contrary to God's command for people to speak the truth and act out of righteousness.

"We now live in a time of great censorship by satanic Western governments. They all worship death through abortion. They want to control and silence everyone," said Adams.

He pointed to the governments of the U.S., the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and others as examples of this. The British government may be the worse example, Adams said, as it threatens to arrest and imprison Britons who will say something that it doesn't approve of. (Related: Lawfare with Tom Renz: Government, Stanford University colluded to CENSOR Americans and CONCEAL the truth  Brighteon.TV.)

"If you aren't allowed to speak the truth, God wants you to 'put on the belt of truth' metaphorically  which means speaking with a sense of truth, telling the truth even in a great time of lies," he continued, citing a passage from the letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians (Ephesians 6:14). Adams noted that God warns people through the Holy Bible that truth will perish in a nation of lies and falsehoods because that nation has lost God's favor and the gifts He has granted.

Satanic civilization does not want people to speak the truth

Adams also said a satanic civilization does not want people to be able to utter something true, righteous or obvious because they are afraid people might speak the truth that God wants them to say. People who lie on behalf of the satanic regime are allowed unlimited speech if they talk about for instance the satanic injection of the mRNA transhumanism bioweapon.

"But if you utter the truth because you are wearing the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness then you shall be censored, if not jailed that is indicative of the times in which we live," Adams said. "We live in a time where you can lie and be rewarded in society, but if you tell the truth, you shall be persecuted. Censorship is satanism."

He cited the case of Canadian pastor Artur Pawlowski, who was arrested for preaching the Word of God during the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and refusing to shut down his church. Aside from this, he also recalled the many abortion protesters in America who have been arrested, persecuted, convicted and thrown in prison for preaching the Word of God and praying for the lives of the unborn.

The Health Ranger ultimately noted that if people are censored and are only permitted to speak lies on behalf of the Beast system of government, the toxic pharmaceutical cartels and the corporate media, then all it does is create a godless and lawless society.

In contrast, a society that allows people to tell the truth and speak the Word of God reminds others of His role in granting the blessings of abundance, health, love, joy, family, truth and righteousness.

Follow Censorship.news for more stories about the censorship happening in America and around the world.

Listen to the Health Ranger Mike Adams explaining why censorship is satanic in his 19th sermon.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

'Illegal secret deal:' Musk claims European Union tried to blackmail X into censorship.

Censorship defenders finally admit they hate First Amendment, want free speech curtailed as policy of "national interest."

Big Tech aggressively censoring RELIGIOUS content and groups, all while protecting Satanism and pedophilia.

U.S. government funneling BILLIONS to pro-censorship advertising alliance, federal review finds.

Putin exposes the truth about evil, SATANIC western leaders who PILLAGE the world and destroy human freedom.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

BibleGateway.com 1

BibleGateway.com 2
Statins are pharma trash, research mounts

On a long enough timeline, most medical scams  even the most persistent ones  have a way of unraveling.

(Article republished from ArmageddonProse.Substack.com)

There's an old saying in Tennessee  I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee  that says, fool me once, shame on  shame on you. Fool me  you can't get fooled again. -George W. Bush

Every major pharmaceutical firm in the West  Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Merck, et al.  has its own proprietary statin drug, which together represent billions of dollars in sales annually in the U.S. alone.

Via Data Bridge Market Research(emphasis added):

Between 2015-2018, approximately 11.4% of U.S. adults had high total cholesterol. There was no significant difference in high total cholesterol prevalence between men (10.5%) and women (12.1%). The highest prevalence was among adults aged 4059 (15.7%), compared to 7.5% among those aged 2039 and 11.4% among those aged 60 and over. Adults aged 60 and over also had a higher prevalence of high total cholesterol than those aged 2039. There were no significant differences in high total cholesterol prevalence among adults based on race or Hispanic origin. The U.S. statin market size was valued at USD 4.53 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 5.10 billion by 2031, with a CAGR of 1.5% during the forecast period of 2024 to 2031.

The flimsy, lazy cholesterol-causes-heart-disease lie is predicated on flawed and manipulated studies going back decades that purportedly demonstrate a correlation between high cholesterol and heart disease, which is simply taken as causation on faith, even though in other cases  conveniently, ones where the industrys interests align with dismissing correlation as causation  they are adamant that the two are not one and the same.

Via Business Insider (emphasis added):

Speaking to science journal Nature, vaccine expert Kathryn Edwards, professor of pediatrics in the division of infectious diseases at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee, said that health authorities must strike a "delicate balance" when information is disseminated about the side effects of COVID vaccines. Edwards added that, at times, it might be hard to even prove if the adverse reactions were due to the vaccine, particularly if the reported symptoms strike the patient days after the jab was administered. Nature also cited a study that detailed how challenging it was to link any adverse events through vaccines  as this has to be done through specific lab tests. This is because correlation is not causation  and work has to be done by scientists to determine what caused the reaction, before comparing it with the probability that this symptom occurred purely by chance.

Does correlation equal causation according to The Science? The answer depends on which side of the equation the biggest dollar sign sits.

Via Midwestern Doctor (emphasis added):

In the 1960s and 1970s, a debate emerged over what caused heart disease. On one side, John Yudkin effectively argued that the sugar being added to our food by the processed food industry was the chief culprit. On the other side, Ancel Keys (who attacked Yudkin's work) argued that it was due to saturated fat and cholesterol. Ancel Keys won, Yudkin's work was largely dismissed, and Keys became nutritional dogma. A large part of Keys victory was based on his study of seven countries (Italy, Greece, Former Yugoslavia, Netherlands, Finland, America, and Japan), which showed that as saturated fat consumption increased, heart disease increased in a linear fashion.

Read more at: ArmageddonProse.Substack.com
U.K. to classify ONLINE MISOGYNY as a national security threat

The United Kingdom is set to classify online misogyny  offensive comments against women on the internet  as a national security threat on par with terrorism

Reclaim The Net noted that in the digital era, "it will no longer be enough to treat violence against women as 'simply' a criminal offense" in the United Kingdom. "This is likely to be elevated to the level of terrorism, and a threat to national security," the outlet added.

A review of the U.K.'s counter-extremism strategy commissioned by British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper used the terms "extreme misogyny" and "violence against women" interchangeably. According to the Telegraph, the British Home Office (BHO) ranks several categories of extremism as areas of concern. These include Islamism, far-right ideology, animal rights, the environment, and those related to Northern Ireland.

Aside from these, the BHO also keeps tabs on the "incel" (involuntary celibate) ideology. But the Telegraph noted that "officials now fear that this category does not capture other forms of extreme misogyny."

Specifically, the review concerns "radicalized teenage boys" who are allegedly falling prey to so-called "misogynistic influencers." Cooper defended the initiative, saying the review was long needed amid existing guidance from the BHO being too narrow. She blamed the internet for this online radicalization supposedly happening to young people.

"For too long, governments have failed to address the rise in extremism both online and on our streets, and we've seen the number of young people radicalized online grow," Cooper said. "Hateful incitement of all kinds fractures and frays the very fabric of our communities and our democracy."

The review of the BHO's extremism policy, alongside Cooper's comments, followed Metropolitan Police Service Commissioner Mark Rowley's remark that violence against women and girls should be treated as a national security threat.

U.K. turning into a 1984-esque police state

According to Reclaim the Net, the U.K. has the so-called Prevent program in place that purportedly aims for early intervention against terrorism. Prevent "works in a similar way to programs designed to safeguard people from other harms, such as gangs, drug abuse, and physical and sexual abuse."

"But now apparently those 'similar programs' covering ills other than terrorism will not suffice to tackle violence against women," the outlet added. It warned that teachers, health workers, and local authorities will have to report their suspicions to prevent under the terror category if Cooper's plan is implemented.

Moreover, Cooper appears to be planning to clamp down on individuals who "push harmful and hateful beliefs"  including those allegedly having a "fixation on violence." Given the plans of the BHO to tackle online misogyny, it should not be surprising if such a proposal gets traction under Cooper's tenure as home secretary.

William Shawcross, British commissioner for public appointments, chided Downing Street for its failure to fully implement his previous proposals to revamp the Prevent program. This failure, according to the Telegraph, arose from an ongoing bias within the program to tackle so-called "right-wing terrorism" instead of Islamic terrorism. Such a failure translated to the public being at higher risk from extremists and terrorists.

Cooper's initiative comes amid large-scale protests and riots triggered by the Southport stabbing incident, where Rwandan Axel Rudakubana killed three children and injured 10 other individuals. But instead of prosecuting the perpetrator, the Labor government under new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer chose to blame social media. It has also upped the ante by arresting hundreds for merely exercising their right to speak out both online and in real life. (Related: "Keyboard warrior" in the U.K. slapped with 3-YEAR JAIL SENTENCE for urging online followers to support anti-migration protests.)

"At this point, it is unclear if this is a case of a politician feeling obligated to appear to be doing something in the wake of the unrest that exposed long-simmering problems in society  or if the 'new approach to countering extremism' will produce practical measures," Reclaim The Net concluded."

Head over to SpeechPolice.news for similar stories.

Watch this video that discusses the U.K. making misogyny a hate crime.

This video is from The Realist Philosopher channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

UK's crackdown on free speech in light of migrant crisis should not be viewed in a vacuum; it contains the globalist model to collapse U.S. and all of Western civilization.

Australian PM, politicians to attack social media "misinformation" with censorship, digital ID and AI enforcers.

UK man arrested over posts on social media that allegedly contain "anti-establishment rhetoric."

61-year-old man gets 18 month prison sentence for chanting "who the fu#k is Allah."

Australian PM calls for crackdown on memes about himself.

Sources include:

ReclaimTheNet.org

Telegraph.co.uk

Brighteon.com
POLL: 55% of American voters believe Tim Walzs stolen valor is a serious problem

A recent survey shows majority U.S. voters believe the alleged exaggerated military record of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is a serious problem

According to a Rasmussen Reports survey, conducted on Aug. 12 to 14 among 1,158 likely U.S. voters, 55 percent of the respondents believe that the accusations against Walz are serious, including the 36 percent who consider them "very serious."

Only 38 percent of the respondents do not believe the accusations are serious, including the 24 percent who consider them "not at all serious." About 45 percent of these respondents say that these accusations would not affect their vote in the upcoming presidential election in November.

Earlier in August, Walz, who was named the running mate of Vice President Kamala Harris, was accused of exaggerating his military records and misleading the country about his veteran status. Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio accused Walz of misleading the country about his veteran status.

"When Tim Walz was asked by his country to go to Iraq, you know what he did? He dropped out of the Army and allowed his unit to go without him, a fact that he's been criticized for aggressively by a lot of the people that he served with. 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," Vance told reporters during a campaign rally in Detroit.

Minnesota National Guard revealed Walz's service record in 2018 published letter

Walz responded to Vance's allegations during a meeting with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) union members in Los Angeles on Aug. 13.

"I firmly believe you should never degenerate another person's service record," Walz said. "To 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." (Related: Tim Walz finally responds to his 'stolen valor' scandal, and he just made things 1000X worse.)

However, a group of retired Command Sergeants Major from the Minnesota National Guard published a letter in 2018 to reveal the true nature of his service record.

According to the information, Walz reenlisted in the National Guard in 2001 and was selected for the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy in 2003, with the condition that he should serve for two years after graduating or being promoted. He was deployed to Italy in 2003 and later promoted to command sergeant major of his battalion.

In 2005, his battalion received orders for deployment to Iraq, but Walz resigned in May to run for Congress, leaving his unit without senior leadership. His resignation led to his rank being reduced from command sergeant major to master sergeant. His battalion later deployed to Iraq from 2006 to 2007, but soldiers were restricted from speaking against him due to army regulations.

In other words, Walz did not complete the required six-year enlistment or serve the two years following his conditional promotion.

Read more stories about the 2024 presidential election at BigGovernment.news.

Watch this clip from Fox News where U.S. Army veteran and Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) accuses Walz of continuing to lie to the public regarding his service record.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Hillary Clinton steps in to defend Tim Walz from STOLEN VALOR claims.

STOLEN VALOR: Tim Walz built entire political career around "being a retired command sergeant major" when he ISN'T.

Kamala Harris smears Air Force veteran in effort to defend Tim Walz from stolen valor accusations.

Bloomberg News issues correction after trying to cover up Tim Walz's stolen valor.

VP pick Tim Walz accused of "stolen valor" by JD Vance  and a group of retired MN National Guardsmen.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

RasmussenReports.com

FoxNews.com

NYPost.com

WCTrib.com
VPNs from local iOS App Store in Brazil DISAPPEAR amid spat between government and X platform over censorship issues

Several virtual private networks (VPNs) have disappeared from the Brazilian iOS App Store . This comes amid a rift between Elon Musk's X platform and a high court magistrate in the country over censorship issues.

Reclaim The Net reported on Aug. 20 that several reputable VPN services can no longer be found in the local app store for Apple devices. Such VPNs include NordVPN, ExpressVPN, VyprVPN and Surfshark. ProtonVPN, another notable service, reported a staggering 580 percent surge in new registrations recently.

"We are aware of problems in Brazil with downloading ProtonVPN from the iOS App store, [something] also impacting other VPNs. The problem is not on our end, but is an app store issue. [It] could be a bug, or Apple implementing a secret censorship order," the service posted on X.

A report by the vpnMentor website also mentioned that VPN usage in the South American country saw a spike over the weekend. The rise in VPN demand began on Aug. 17 and continued its ascent, peaking at 151 percent the following day, Aug. 18.

"Acquiring these tools has become challenging," said Reclaim The Net. "Attempts to install these apps from the iOS App store are met with no option to download, indicating a blockade rather than a mere removal."

Apple's move to take down VPNs from Brazil's iOS App Store is widely believed to comply with edicts by authorities in Brasilia. It also follows the recent decision by X to shut down its operations in the country.

"X terminated its [Brazilian] operations after a protracted legal confrontation with Brazilian officials, who had accused the platform of insufficient efforts to combat disinformation, specifically its failure to block accounts spreading false information and hate speech," Reclaim The Net continued. "Despite the shutdown, X's app is still accessible in Brazil."

X refuses to yield to Brasilia's censorship demands

The vpnMentor website also outlined how the feud between Musk and the Brazilian government came to a head. In April, X's global government affairs page revealed that the platform had to block specific accounts in Brazil. The order was part of an investigation into alleged "digital militias" allegedly spreading disinformation.

Despite being forbidden to reveal the specific court or judge issuing the order, Musk directly named Brazilian Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes as the one behind the order in a later post. The X owner also disclosed that the platform was ordered to suspend active members of Brazil's National Congress and notable journalists.

According to Musk, the censorship directives from Moraes were "the most draconian demands of any country." He subsequently called for the magistrate to step down, claiming that Moraes had levied significant fines on X. Musk even compared the bald Brazilian magistrate to the villain Lord Voldemort from the "Harry Potter" franchise.

Moraes included Musk himself in an investigation of X after the South African-born entrepreneur said he would reinstate the accounts in question. He accused the Tesla and SpaceX CEO of obstruction of justice and incitement to crime. In response, X's government affairs page posted other censorship orders issued by Moraes.

Musk decided to close down X's operations in Brazil after Moraes allegedly threatened to have one of the platform's lawyers arrested. The X owner had earlier warned of potential revenue loss in Brazil following Moraes' exorbitant fines, insinuating the potential closure of X's office in the country. (Related: X employees in Brazil threatened with arrest over censorship beef with government, warns Elon Musk.)

"The current scenario underscores the critical importance of VPN services in safeguarding internet freedom in Brazil," Reclaim The Net ultimately remarked. "As digital platforms face governmental pressures and the landscape of internet accessibility continues to evolve, the role of VPNs as tools for ensuring unrestricted access to information becomes ever more vital."

Watch Bill O'Reilly discussing the European Union wanting to censor Elon Musk.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Brazil to axe X from telecommunications network after citing Elon Musk for obstruction of justice for his refusal to engage in government-demanded censorship.

NO ONE can censor you at Brighteon.io, unlike Elon Musk's X which will ALWAYS be doomed under censorship pressure.

Member of Australian Senate calls for arrest, imprisonment of Elon Musk for not censoring enough speech on X.

Brussels tried but FAILED to stop Elon Musks wildly popular interview with Donald Trump.

Brazil just days away from collapsing into a North Korea-style police state.

Sources include:

ReclaimTheNet.org

vpnMentor.com

Brighteon.com
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, August 24. Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev held a series of talks with business partners from Germany, Trend reports, referring to the press service of the government of Kazakhstan.

During his working trip, Bozumbayev held meetings with Parliamentary State Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research Jens Brandenburg, Parliamentary State Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture Claudia Muller, Managing Director of the German Water Partnership Boris Greifeneder, Head of the Group for National and International Economic Policy of the Federal Chancellery Holger Fabig and Scientific Director of the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ) Susanne Buiter.

The prospect of joint training of professional personnel for the water management industry was discussed with Jens Brandenburg. The German side expressed its readiness to find a university to cooperate with the new Kazakh National University of Water Management and Irrigation in Kazakhstan's Taraz city soon.

Bozumbayev also discussed the potential for Kazakh agro-industrial and organic products to make a splash in the German market with Claudia Muller.

Germany is one of Kazakhstan's key agricultural partners. Two sides have agreed to coordinate the Concept of the Regional Center for Sustainable Agriculture in Central Asia. The work on creating this idea is being carried out on the initiative of the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, which was announced during his official visit to Germany on September 2829, 2023.
Meeting with US Defence Secy Austin 'excellent', says Rajnath Singh

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efence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said he had an "excellent" meeting with his American counterpart Lloyd Austin and hailed the signing of two defence agreements with the United States during his ongoing visit as "pathbreaking".

Rajnath Singh met Austin at the Pentagon after a ceremonial welcome.

"Excellent meeting with my dear friend @SecDef Lloyd Austin," he said in a post on X.

"We reviewed the existing defence cooperation activities and discussed ways to deepen it further."

"The signing of Security of Supply Arrangements and the agreement for positioning of Indian officers at key US commands are pathbreaking developments."

Officials from the two sides signed the agreements on Thursday, according to an X post by the Defence Ministry, which said: "Senior defence officials from both sides concluded the Security of Supplies Arrangement (SOSA), and Memorandum of Agreement regarding the Assignment of Liaison Officers."

No further details of the documents were available immediately.

Rajnath Singh also visited the Arlington National Cemetery and paid his respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers.

The US had said on Thursday that the two officials were expected to discuss a wide range of issues including "close coordination and partnership" and "shared goals of maintaining and keeping a free and open Indo-Pacific".

A readout of their meetings is expected later in the day. The US readout of the Friday meeting was awaited.

Defence ties between India and the US have been strengthening steadily in recent years with increased bilateral and multilateral military-to-military ties and defence trade, which has grown from near zero in 2008 to more than $20 billion in 2020 and growing. Co-production and co-development are increasingly a central feature of India-US defence trade. The two sides announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit in June 2023 that General Electrics will co-produce F-414 fighter jet engines with India's Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.

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Rajnath Singh, Lloyd Austin discuss deeper ties in support of free, open Indo-Pacific

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efence Minister Rajnath Singh and his American counterpart Lloyd Austin on Friday discussed "ongoing efforts to deepen the Major Defense Partnership between the United States and India in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region", according to a statement from the US Department of Defense.

Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a readout of the meeting on Friday that the two officials "celebrated progress across several bilateral defence initiatives, including efforts to increase supply chain security, enhance maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region, and leverage a new agreement to strengthen operational coordination through Indian liaison officers at US commands".

The phrase "free and open Indo-Pacific" was defined by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in his 2022 speech as "one which is built on a rules-based international order, sustainable and transparent infrastructure investment, freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded lawful commerce, mutual respect for sovereignty, peaceful resolution of disputes, as well as equality of all nations".

Earlier in a post on social media platform X, Defence Minister Singh described the meeting as "excellent" and hailed the signing of two defence agreements with the US during his ongoing visit as "pathbreaking". "We reviewed the existing defence cooperation activities and discussed ways to deepen it further," he said in the post.

"The signing of Security of Supply Arrangements and the agreement for positioning of Indian officers at key US commands are path-breaking developments," the Defence Minister added.

Defence ties between India and the US have been strengthening steadily in recent years with increased bilateral and multilateral military-to-military ties and defence trade, which has grown from near zero in 2008 to more than $20 billion in 2020 and it's growing.

Co-production and co-development are increasingly a central feature of India-US defence trade. The two sides announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit in June 2023 that General Electrics will co-produce F-414 fighter jet engines with India's Hindustan Aeronautics.

The Pentagon Press Secretary said in the readout that the two officials "agreed to advance priority co-production projects, including jet engines, unmanned platforms, munitions, and ground mobility systems, under the U.S.-India Roadmap for Defense Industrial Cooperation. They further advanced discussions to expand cooperation in the undersea and space domains and welcomed ongoing implementation of the India-US Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X), which will convene its third summit in Silicon Valley this September".

The two officials also lauded the Indian Navy's robust contributions to upholding freedom of navigation and regional security through its participation in the Combined Maritime Forces and welcomed India assuming a leadership role in Combined Task Force 150 in 2025, the Pentagon press secretary said further. They also reviewed mutual efforts through the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness Initiative to provide Indian Ocean Region partners with unclassified, commercial satellite data to enhance their maritime security and ability to detect illicit activity

Defence Minister Singh also visited the Arlington National Cemetery and paid his respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers.

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PM Modi invites Ukraine President to India, Zelensky accepts

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uring his historic visit to Ukraine, Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited President Volodymyr Zelensky to visit India and the Ukrainian leader accepted the invitation.

During his talks with Zelensky, PM Modi reaffirmed India's principled position and commitment to a peaceful settlement to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. He also reiterated India's readiness to contribute in "all possible ways" to facilitate the speedy return of peace in the region.

Later, in a press briefing after the talks between the two leaders, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated that PM Modi had invited President Zelensky to visit India and the latter had accepted saying he would be happy to visit the "big and great" country.

PM Modi had invited President Zelensky to India during the wide-ranging talks between the two leaders on Friday.

PM Modi's visit to Kyiv amid tight security was the first-ever trip to Ukraine by an Indian PM since it became independent over three decades ago.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told the media, "It's significant that our prime minister has visited Ukraine for the first time since 1992. It is natural on such occasions that he extends an invitation, which he did in this case.

"So we expect that at some point, as per his convenience, President Zelensky will visit India."

The joint statement issued at the end of the visit also mentioned that the Indian PM had invited the Ukrainian President to visit India.

Asked by the media about PM Modi's invitation, President Zelensky said he would be happy to visit India at a mutually convenient time.

"Yes because when you begin a strategic partnership, and you begin some dialogue, I think that you don't need to waste time and do a big pause and that's why I think it will be good to meet together again," he said.

The Ukrainian President also said he wants India to be on the side of his country in the war with Russia.

"I read a lot about your big and great country. It's very interesting. I very much need your country on our side. I will be happy to come to India as soon as your government and Prime Minister will be ready to see me," Zelensky said.

However, the President made it clear that the visit would depend on the situation in the war-ravaged nation.

 PM Modi invites Ukraine President to India, Zelensky accepts

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Justin Bieber, wife Hailey announce birth of their first baby: Welcome home Jack Blue Bieber

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lobal pop sensation Justin Bieber and his wife, model Hailey Bieber have welcomed their first child, a baby boy.

Justin took to Instagram and made this announcement on Saturday morning. He posted a close-up picture of his baby's tiny foot and captioned it as "Welcome Home Jack Blue Bieber".

His friend Kylie Jenner commented "I can't handle this little foot Jack Blues Bieber"

Hailey shared the same picture on her Instagram stories.

Justin and Hailey Bieber, tied the knot in 2018, just two months after getting engaged. They later celebrated their wedding with a large ceremony, exchanging vows in front of family and friends.

In 2023 Hailey acknowledged to the Sunday Times that she is scared to have children as a celebrity.

In May the couple announced they were expecting a baby together. They have been sharing adorable videos and photos from Hailey's pregnancy diaries.

A few months ago speaking to W magazine Hailey Bieber spoke about how she managed to hide her pregnancy for six months. She stated "I was honestly able to keep it quiet because I stayed small for a long time...I didn't have a belly, really, until I was six months pregnant, which was when I announced it. I was able to wear big jackets and stuff."

Hailey, a supermodel has walked the ramp for top designers. She has been part of Paris Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week and Milan fashion week.

The birth of their baby boy marks the beginning of a new chapter for Justin and Hailey. Fans are eager to see how parenthood will shape their lives, with many speculating that Justin's future music may be influenced by his experiences as a father.

 Justin Bieber, wife Hailey announce birth of their first baby: Welcome home Jack Blue Bieber

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BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, August 24. President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov has dismissed Deputy Chairmen of the National Bank Manas Zhakypov and Kaiyp Kulenbekov, stating that he no longer has faith in their abilities, Trend reports via the administration of the president.

The failure to adequately address monetary policy issues, resulting in fluctuations in exchange rates, was cited as the reason for the dismissals. Many parts of the economy felt the effects of this uncertainty, which was bad news for both consumers and business owners. As a result, businesses, financial markets, the public, and investors lost faith in the economy, which led to major hazards.

Additionally, National Bank Chairman Melis Turgunbaev received a slap on the wrist for dropping the ball while properly herding the bank's management team.

According to President Zhaparov, these steps were taken because the National Bank lost control, which threatened the stability of the banking sector and the economy as a whole.

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Channing Tatum got sick after swallowing pool water, spent day in bathroom

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ollywood star Channing Tatum spent the day in the bathroom being sick after swallowing pool water during his Mexican holiday.

The actor and his fiancee Zoe Kravitz, shared the story of his incident with Buzzfeed while promoting their psychological thriller 'Blink Twice', which was filmed in the country.

Kravitz said in their chat: "Remember we had that party, Chan, and you and (our co-star) Simon (Rex) were both wrestling in the pool, and then you guys swallowed pool water. But we are in Mexico. And you were puking."

Tatum added: "For 12 hours. I couldn't leave the bathroom. The doctor had to come and give me a shot in the butt to make it all okay."

Zoe then said: "It was a sick party."

The couple said that after it emerged 'Blink Twice' has been given with a trigger warning, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

She and Tatum's film is billed as a "psychological thriller about the abuse of power" and on its release on Wednesday (21.08.24) the alert was posted on the social media accounts for the movie.

It said: "We are proud to finally share 'Blink Twice' with audiences in theatres worldwide this week. While this is a fictionalised movie, it contains mature themes and depictions of violence - including sexual violence.

"This may be upsetting or triggering for some viewers. For resources that offer support, visit BlinkTwiceResources.com."

"Blink Twice" marks the debut of Kravitz as a director. The psychological thriller film also stars Naomi Ackie, Christian Slater, Simon Rex, Adria Arjona, Haley Joel Osment, Kyle MacLachlan, Geena Davis, and Alia Shawkat.

The film tells the story of a tech billionaire named Slater King, who meets a cocktail waitress Frida at his fundraising gala and he invites her to join him and his friends for a dream vacation on his private island.

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Sonakshi Sinha to Zaheer: Lifetime more of you annoying me

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ctress Sonakshi Sinha had the sweetest message for Zaheer Iqbal on their two-months anniversary.

Taking to Instagram stories, Zaheer shared a video of the two walking the streets of New York. The two are seen walking hand-in-hand, when Sonakshi notices her husband recording her, the two burst out in laughter.

"2 months anniversary today, only a lifetime more of you annoying me all day everyday... Yay!" Sonakshi wrote as the caption.

The actress recently shared a sneak-peek from her holiday in New York with Zaheer, whom she referred to as her "heart and home."

Sonakshi took to Instagram, where she posted a handful of romantic pictures featuring her and Zaheer and captioned it: "Home is where the heart is... and wherever in the world... my heart is with my home - @iamzahero."

Earlier this week, the actress took to her Instagram stories, where she shared a picture of a dessert which had "I love you more than ice cream" written on it.

"Everyone needs a cutie like you to laugh with, cuddle upto, and make really bad decisions with. We're like a tiny (but mighty) little gang. If you haven't noticed already, I think you're pretty cool. Honey, honestly, you complete me xo," the description read.

Sonakshi got married to her longtime beau Zaheer in a civil ceremony on June 23. They had their families and close friends around them during their intimate wedding.

On the work front, Sonakshi will next be seen in a film titled "Nikita Roy and the Book of Darkness", directed by Kussh Sinha. She will be seen starring alongside names such as Arjun Rampal, Paresh Rawal and Suhail Nayyar in the upcoming film.

The film was shot across London and other locales of the UK.

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When Vijay Varma, the reel Captain Sharan, met the real Captain Sharan

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ctor Vijay Varma, who is gearing up for his upcoming limited series 'IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack', has shared a glimpse from the cockpit.

On Saturday, the actor took to his Instagram, and shared 2 pictures with Captain Devi Sharan who was the pilot during the hijack of the Indian Airlines Flight 814, along with first officer Rajinder Kumar, alongside flight engineer Anil Kumar Jaggia. Captain Devi Sharan exhibited tremendous courage and composure during the critical moments.

Vijay also penned a long note in the caption as he recollected meeting the pilot for the first time.

He wrote, "Real and Reel Captain Sharan. When I first met the captain.. I was taken in by his pleasant smile and his simplicity.. and then I saw a scar on his neck.. I asked him about it.. he simply and politely said 'wo hijackers ki gun 7 din tak yahi ragadti rahi toh wound ho gaya tha jo heal nahi hua' I froze (the wound that I got because of hijacker's gun never healed) He smiled".

He further mentioned, "I knew I was talking to a real life hero. It was such a huge honour to get to depict Captain Devi Sharan on screen. His efforts to save lives amidst chaos and dread is truly inspiring! A tale of resilience and honour.. of critical thinking and duty.. of patience and hope and most of all.. bravery. We salute you captain IC814 streaming on Netflix from 29th august. @anubhavsinhaa @netflix_in @matchboxshots".

The series is based on the hijack of Indian Airlines Flight 814, an Indian Airlines Airbus A300 en route from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, to Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, India, in December 1999. The flight was hijacked and was flown to several locations before landing in Kandahar, Afghanistan which was then under the control of Taliban.

 When Vijay Varma, the reel Captain Sharan, met the real Captain Sharan

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Dravidian model based on 'everything for everyone': Stalin on Muthamizh Murugan conference

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ollowing the inauguration of the Global Muthamizh Murugan conference, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Saturday said that the Dravidian model is based on the concept of 'everything for everyone'.

"The Dravidian government has never been a hindrance to any faith as people have different beliefs. The Dravidian model is based on the concept of everything for everyone," the Chief Minister said while extending his wishes to the two-day conference through a video conference.

Earlier, the Tamil Nadu Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR&CE) P.K. Sekar Babu and Minister for Food and Civil Supplies R. Sakkarpani inaugurated the two-day Global Muthamizh Murugan conference at Palani in Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu.

The Chief Minister said that the two-day conference was being held at Palani to spread the principles of Lord Murugan across the globe, adding that the Tamil Nadu government fully supports the conference.

"The conference is expected to draw lakhs of devotees including scholars, academics, top business, cultural leaders, politicians and the public. The conference will also feature 3D exhibitions, photo exhibitions, seminars and discussions on Lord Muruga and the Tamil philosophy," the Chief Minister said.

The Chief Minister added that in temple worship, Tamils should be given prime importance, adding that there should not be any difference in temples based on the caste of the devotees.

P.K. Sekar Babu while speaking to IANS said that the conference is being held to spread the core principles of Lord Murugan globally.

"It is also aimed to deliberate upon the philosophy of Lord Murugan. The state government would take initiatives to spread the doctrines of Lord Muruga across the globe which would be done to inculcate the philosophy of Lord Murugan in the minds of youth to provide them with value and deep philosophical understanding," the minister told IANS.

Palani, where the conference is being held, is believed to be the third of the six abodes of Lord Murugan.

HR&CE Department officials said more than 1000 research papers on Lord Murugan and his doctrine were received from scholars of various countries including the US, the UK, Australia and Canada.

The Global Muthamizh Murugan conference is considered a response of the DMK government against the allegations by the BJP that the DMK was anti-Hindu and rational.

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Indian startups raise over $265 million funding in 16 deals this week

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he funding momentum for the startup ecosystem in the country continued with more than $265 million being raised via 16 deals this week.

The biggest fund-raise came with omnichannel jewellery startup Bluestone securing $107.2 million in its pre-IPO round. In the fintech space, Aye Finance raised $25 million loan from Goldman Sachs (India) and lending startup Axio secured $20 million from Amazon Smbhav Venture Fund to drive growth.

The ecommerce sector was the top gainer this week, with $148.7 million raised via four deals.

Livpure, a homegrown water purifier brad, raised Rs 208 crore funding from M&G Investments and nearly Rs 25 crore from Ncubate Capital Partners.

On the other hand, D2C ice cream brand Hangyo secured $25 million, MSMEs-focused fintech startup FlexiLoans bagged $9 million and D2C luggage brand Uppercase secured $9 million.

Thirteen early-stage startups secured funding worth $53.46 million, led by Even and Zoff, among others.

Last week, the domestic startup ecosystem raised more than $395 million in 20 deals, that was a huge 350 per cent jump from the previous week.

Last month, Indian startups raised $1.03 billion as the government abolished angel tax in the Union Budget 2024-25 which was levied on foreign investors. Indian startups raised $1.93 billion in funding in June.

Bengaluru and Delhi-NCR-based startups led the funding with seven deals each.

Meanwhile, Kunal Bahl and Rohit Bansal backed Titan Capital Winners Fund successfully raised its target corpus of Rs 200 crore this week. The fund will invest exclusively in follow-on rounds of breakout companies from its seed portfolio, utilizing high-signal data to make informed investment decisions.

The government has recognised 1,40,803 entities as startups (as of June 30). More than 55 regulatory reforms have been undertaken by the government since 2016 to enhance ease of doing business, ease of raising capital and reduce compliance burden for the startup ecosystem.

 Indian startups raise over $265 million funding in 16 deals this week

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Hours after PM Modi's visit, Poland President travels to Kyiv for Ukraine's I-Day celebrations

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ndrzej Duda, President of Poland, travelled to Kyiv on Saturday to take part in celebrations of the 33rd anniversary of Ukraine's Independence.

"Your Independence Day is, in a sense, also a celebration of the independence of all of Central Europe. Because without an independent Ukraine, it is difficult to think about an independent and safe Poland, Lithuania or other countries in our region," said the Polish leader during the main celebrations held in Sofia Square along with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Duda emphasised that in 1991 Poland was the first country in the world to officially recognise the independence of Ukraine.

"From the very beginning we supported your pro-Western aspirations. Poles supported you during the Orange Revolution and also during Euromaidan," he stated during his address at the Sofia Square.

The Polish President's office mentioned that the leader also pointed out that for over two years the Ukrainian nation has been heroically fighting for its country, and "paying the highest price" for it.

"In this most difficult trial, you are not alone. Poland has supported, supports and will continue to support your righteous fight until the victorious end," said Duda.

The Polish President's visit to Kyiv came within a few hours of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic trip to the Ukrainian capital on Friday.

PM Modi had also held discussions, including on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, with Duda in Warsaw on Thursday.

After his arrival in Kyiv on board 'Rail Force One' Saturday morning, the President of Poland laid flowers at the Wall of Remembrance of those who died for Ukraine.

President Duda had previously - in 2016 and 2021 - taken part in the celebrations of the adoption of the Act of Independence of Ukraine.

"Today, we celebrate the 33rd Independence Day of Ukraine. We are confident that Ukrainians will always celebrate this holiday in their free capital and within their own sovereign state," Zelensky said during his speech at the Sofia Square on Saturday.

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Kunal Kemmu enjoys bike ride in Ladakh with his 'gang'

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ctor-filmmaker Kunal Kemmu, who made his directorial debut with 'Madgaon Express', is on a break as he is enjoying a road trip on a bike with his friends in the Himalayas.

Kunal took to his Instagram and shared a video in which he could be seen taking to the roads on a bike with his friends in Ladakh. The group visited the Khardung La mountain pass in the Leh district.

Captioning the post, Kunal wrote, "Riders Inc."

Maintained by the Border Roads Organisation, it is one of the world's highest motorable roads. The video shows Kunal at the Khardungla Pass, at an altitude of 17,982 feet, posing with the Indian flag waving in the wind.

Another photo captures Kunal enjoying a cosy bonfire, all smiles as he bonds with his friends.

Kunal's passion for biking is obvious as he often embarks on thrilling rides with his gang. These bike trips are not just about the adrenaline rush for him; they are also about savouring the natural beauty that surrounds him and spending quality time with his group of friends.

Kunal, who has often spoken about his passion for travel, is clearly having a great time with his group of friends. Travelling is a tradition for the actor, who has set a personal goal of visiting three international destinations a year - a goal he continues to uphold.

His Ladakh adventure is just another example of how he lives by his passion, inspiring others to pack their bags and explore the world.

On the work front, Kunal Kemmu will next be seen in Prime Video's upcoming web series 'Gulkanda Tales' directed by Raj & DK of 'The Family Man' fame, where he will share the screen with Pankaj Tripathi and Patralekha in key roles.

 Kunal Kemmu enjoys bike ride in Ladakh with his 'gang'

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ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, August 24. Atadjan Movlamov, Ambassador of Turkmenistan and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Islamabad, has held courtesy meetings with Alexandra Berg Von Linde, the Swedish ambassador, and Mary ONeill, the newly appointed Irish ambassador to the country, Trend reports via the Turkmen embassy in Pakistan.

During their separate meetings, both ambassadors were introduced to the activities of the Diplomatic Corps in Islamabad. Ambassador Movlamov provided an overview of regional energy projects, highlighting their significance for economic development and regional prosperity.

Ambassador ONeill, who recently presented her credentials to Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari, expressed appreciation for Turkmenistans leadership in these critical initiatives. She also commended the efforts to contribute positively to the regions economic landscape.

The discussions between Ambassador Movlamov and Ambassador ONeill extended to broader regional and international issues, reflecting a shared interest in understanding and enhancing diplomatic and economic ties.

These engagements underscore the ongoing efforts to strengthen international relationships and collaborative opportunities in the region.

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Bamboo vinegar is a concentrated liquid obtained from bamboo under high temperature and anaerobic conditions. It contains more than 200 organic components, including organic acids, phenols, ketones, alcohols, and esters, among which acetic acid is the main component. Although bamboo vinegar has been approved by the China Food and Drug Administration as a cosmetic raw material, commercially available bamboo vinegar often contains impurities whose efficacy is not clear, and phenolic compounds and aromatic hydrocarbons in it may be harmful to humans.

Nevertheless, bamboo vinegar has anti-acne potential, especially against the inhibitory effect of Propionibacterium acnes, the key microorganism in the pathogenesis of acne. While antibiotics are commonly used to treat acne, the concerns for drug resistance have limited their use.

In a study published in the Volume 1, Issue 2 in Journal of Dermatologic Science and Cosmetic Technology, a team of researchers from Central South University of Forestry and Technology in China explored the mechanism of the controlled-release system of bamboo vinegar and its application potential of in cosmetics.

Bamboo vinegar was refined through reduced-pressure distillation, which increased the content of organic acids, reduced tar content and enhanced the active ingredients while minimizing harmful components. We used activated bamboo charcoal to adsorb the bamboo vinegar, allowing for a gradual release over a period exceeding two hours, effectively demonstrating a slow-release effect." Sheng Zhang, corresponding author

The findings auggest that refined bamboo vinegar could be a promising raw material for anti-acne cosmetic formulations. The release rate of the bamboo charcoal/bamboo vinegar complex in water reached 70.57% within 15 minutes and then slowed to a plateau. This slow-release behavior aligns with the Ritger-Peppas model, which is advantageous for reducing skin irritation and extending the bacteriostatic duration.

"The findings present a novel concept for anti-acne cosmetics and lay the groundwork for further research into the use of bamboo vinegar slow-release systems with bamboo charcoal as a carrier," adds Zhang. "Future studies should explore additional cosmetic benefits of bamboo vinegar, such as dandruff removal, anti-wrinkle effects and more."
The income and education levels of a child's environment determine their relationship to nature, not whether they live in a city or the countryside. This is the finding of a new study conducted by researchers at Lund University, Sweden. The results run counter to the assumption that growing up in the countryside automatically increases our connection to nature, and yet the study also shows that nature close to home increases children's well-being.

There is a general concern that, with urbanisation, people have lost contact with nature. According to research, less contact means lower engagement with nature and poorer health outcomes as people spend less time outdoors. How we might strengthen or rediscover our connection to nature is therefore a topical question. This is particularly important for children, partly because of the impact on their health, but also because it is in childhood that our relationships with nature are formed.

The researchers wanted to study the relationships urban and rural schoolchildren have to nature and whether these vary with socioeconomic status. They also wanted to look into whether feeding birds could serve as a point of contact with wildlife, potentially strengthening children's knowledge of and feeling for nature, and by extension, improving their sense of well-being.

"Contrary to expectations, we have shown that children's relationships with nature are not determined by whether they grow up in the countryside or in the city. Instead, socioeconomic factors play a decisive role. For example, children in areas with higher levels of education generally had better species knowledge, which in turn was linked to more positive attitudes towards wildlife. Higher incomes are linked to children participating more in nature-based activities, which also leads to a better connection to nature. This was true regardless of whether the children lived in a city center or in the countryside," says Dr. Johan Kjellberg Jensen, researcher at Lund University, who led the study.

The study did find some differences between urban and rural children, however.

It appears that children use natural environments in different ways, but this does not affect their attitudes towards nature in general. We could also see that children who have more direct access to nature close to home report a higher self-perceived sense of well-being. This shows how important contact with nature really is." Dr. Johan Kjellberg Jensen, researcher at Lund University

What was the outcome of the bird feeding project? The researchers from Lund found that children's species knowledge increased, but they saw no effect on well-being or attitudes to nature.

"That said, we saw a very wide variation in results between schools, which points to the important role of teachers and schools in projects like this. We already know that our contact with nature is shaped through social interactions and that adults have considerable responsibility in acting as role models for how children relate to nature," says Dr Johan Kjellberg Jensen, who also points out that this does not necessarily have to fall to teachers, who already have considerable responsibilities.

Another key finding of the study was that children with little access to nature close to home benefited most from the bird feeding project.

"This highlights the importance of green and equitable housing policies and urban planning. If we want future generations to have positive relationships with nature, enjoying all the health benefits that come with that, we may need targeted projects to increase children's contact with nature, both in urban and rural settings. This is particularly important in areas of low socioeconomic levels and little nature near residential housing," Dr Johan Kjellberg Jensen concludes.
A Ludwig Cancer Research study has identified a metabolic switch in the immune system's T cells that is essential to the generation of memory T cells-;which confer lasting immunity to previously encountered pathogens-;and a T cell subtype found in tumors that drives anti-tumor responses during immunotherapy.

Led by Ludwig Lausanne's Ping-Chih Ho and Alessio Bevilacqua and published in the current issue of Science Immunology, the study identifies PPAR/, a master regulator of gene expression, as that essential molecular switch. Ho, Bevilacqua and their colleagues also show that the switch's dysfunction compromises T cell "memory" of previously encountered viruses as well as the induction of anticancer immune responses in mice.

Our findings suggest that we might be able to engage this switch pharmacologically to improve the efficacy of cancer immunotherapies." Ping-Chih Ho, Ludwig Lausanne

When killer (or CD8+) T cells, which kill sick and cancerous cells, are activated by their target antigen, they switch on metabolic pathways that most other healthy cells only use when starved of oxygen. This type of metabolism-;involving a metabolic process known as aerobic glycolysis-;supports multiple processes essential to the killer T cell's ability to proliferate and destroy its target cells.

Most killer T cells die off after they've cleared an infection. A few, however, transform into central memory CD8+ T cells (Tcms) that linger in the circulation to establish what we call immunity: the ability to mount a swift and lethal response to the same pathogen if it is ever encountered again. To achieve this transformation, T cells switch off aerobic glycolysis and otherwise adapt their metabolism to persist over the long term in tissues or in the circulation. How precisely they do this was until now unknown.

Aware that PPAR/ activates many of the metabolic processes characteristic of Tcms, Ho, Bevilacqua and their colleagues hypothesized it might play a key role in Tcm formation. They examined immunologic gene expression data collected from yellow fever vaccine recipients long after vaccination and, as expected, saw that the PPAR/ was produced abundantly in their Tcms.

Their studies in mice revealed that PPAR/ is activated in T cells not in the peak phase of the immune response to viral infection but as that response winds down. Further, CD8+ T cells were unable to make the metabolic switch required to become circulating Tcms if they failed to express PPAR/. Disrupting its expression impaired survival of such Tcms and resident memory T cells in the intestines following infection.

The researchers show that T cell exposure to interleukin-15-;an immune factor important for Tcm formation-;and their expression of a protein named TCF1 engages the PPAR/ pathway. TCF1 is already known to be critical to the rapid expansion of Tcms when they encounter their target pathogen. The researchers show in this study that it is also important to the maintenance of TCMs.

As it happens, TCF1 expression is a hallmark of a subset of CD8+ T cells-;progenitor-exhausted T cells-;that are found in tumors. These progenitor-exhausted T cells follow one of two paths: they either become completely lethargic, "terminally exhausted" T cells; or, given the appropriate stimulus, proliferate to produce "effector" CD8+ T cells that kill cancer cells. Checkpoint blockade immunotherapies, like anti-PD-1 antibodies, can provide such stimulus.

The observation that TCF1 modulates the PPAR/ pathway in T cells raised the possibility that it might also be essential to the formation and maintenance of progenitor-exhausted T cells. The researchers showed that this is indeed the case. Deleting the PPAR/ gene from T cells led to the loss of progenitor-exhausted T cells in a mouse model of melanoma. They also demonstrate that the PPAR/ pathway curtails the tendency of progenitor-exhausted T cells to stagger toward terminal exhaustion.

To assess the therapeutic potential of their findings, Ho, Bevilacqua and their colleagues exposed T cells to a molecule that stimulates PPAR/ activity and used the treated cells against a mouse model of melanoma. These cells delayed the growth of melanoma tumors in mice more efficiently than their untreated counterparts and bore biochemical hallmarks of progenitor exhausted T cells primed to generate cancer-killing descendants.

"Based on these findings," said Bevilacqua, "we suggest that targeting PPAR/ signaling may be a promising approach to improve T cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity.

How exactly this might be achieved in people is a subject for further study that will doubtless be pursued by the Ho laboratory.

This study was supported by Ludwig Cancer Research, the Swiss National Science Foundation, the European Research Council, the Swiss Cancer Foundation, the Cancer Research Institute, Helmut Horten Stiftung, the Melanoma Research Alliance, the Taiwan Ministry of Science and Technology, the NYU Abu Dhabi Research Institute Award and Academia Sinica.

Ping-Chih Ho is a member of the Lausanne Branch of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and a full professor at the University of Lausanne.
DDA Sasta Ghar Scheme 2024: The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has launched the Sasta Ghar Scheme 2024, a significant housing initiative aimed at providing affordable homes to residents of Delhi, particularly those in the lower income brackets. This scheme is part of the governments ongoing efforts to make home ownership accessible to a broader section of the population. Below is a detailed look at who can apply for these homes and what the scheme offers.

Overview of the DDA Sasta Ghar Scheme 2024

The DDA Sasta Ghar Scheme 2024 focuses on offering affordable housing options across various localities in Delhi, primarily targeting the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and Low-Income Groups (LIG).

It is a housing scheme for the disposal of about 34,177 flats under LIG and EWS at Narela, Rohini, Siraspur, Ramgarh Colony and Loknayakpuram in different tranches. The flats will be disposed on a first-come-first-serve basis. For EWS category, family income should not exceed Rs 10 lakh annually.

According to officials, a total of 750 people registered in the Sasta Ghar in Sasta Ghar Housing Scheme 2024 on the first day of registration on August 22.

Key Dates

While the online registration for the DDA Housing Scheme 2024 started on August 22, 2024, (11 am), the flat booking will start on September 10 (11 am).

Key Dates for the DDA Sasta Ghar Housing Scheme 2024.Locations in Delhi

The flats under the DDA scheme are available at Siraspur, Loknayakpuram, Ramgarh, Narela, and Rohini.

Price Range

The price ranges from Rs 11.54 lakh for EWS or economically weaker sections (who have an annual family income not exceeding Rs 10 lakh) to Rs 25.2 lakh for LIG.

Eligibility Criteria: Who Can Apply?

The scheme is open to all Indian citizens. There shall be no restriction with regard to owning any land/built up property in Delhi.

Income Criteria

Economically Weaker Sections (EWS): Applicants with a family income of up to Rs 10 lakh per annum are eligible to apply under the EWS category.

Low-Income Groups (LIG): There is no income criterion for other income categories, except EWS.

Age Requirement

Applicants must be at least 18 years old on the last date of submission of the application.

Loan and Financial Support

The allotment of flats shall be made on cash down basis only except by the applicants belonging to PwD[Persons with Disability (Divyangjan)] category who will have the options of making payment either on Cash Down basis or in Equated Monthly Instalments (EMIs) on terms and conditions as applicable in their case.The rate of interest charged is simple interest @10% pa on monthly reducing balance.

Joint Applications

Joint applications are allowed. In case of joint application under Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), the applicant himself/ herself should fall within the respective reserved category and the joint applicant/ co-applicant should be from within the family. Family means a person or his/her parents or his/her blood relatives or his/her spouse or any of his/her dependent relative/s including unmarried children.

DDA Sasta Ghar Scheme 2024: How to Apply?

The application process for the DDA Sasta Ghar Scheme 2024 is online, allowing for easy access and transparency. Interested applicants can apply online on the DDAs official website and submit it along with the necessary documents, including income proof, identity proof, and residential proof.

Step 1: Visit the official website of DDA  www.dda.gov.in or https://eservices.dda.org.in.

Step 2: Create login credentials using PAN and other details

Step 3: Log in with the same credentials

Step 4: Register for DDA Sasta Ghar Housing Scheme 2024 (FCFS) by paying a non-refundable amount of Rs 2,500 (including GST).

Those applicants who have already registered themselves in FCFS Phase IV or Diwali Special Housing Scheme 2023 (FCFS) need not register again. Persons already registered in FCFS Phase IV or Diwali Special Housing Scheme 2023 (FCFS) and new applicants successfully registered for this FCFS scheme will be able to book the flats on offer.

Apart from the DDA Sasta Ghar Housing Scheme 2024, the Delhi Development Authority is also offering flats under its General Housing Scheme 2024, and the DDA Dwarka Housing Scheme 2024 for various categories including HIG, MIG, and LIG.

DDA General Housing Scheme 2024

Housing Units on Offer: 5,531 flats

Price Range: Rs 29 lakh onwards

Delhi Locations: Jasola, Loknayakpuram, and Narela

Categories: High-Income Group (HIG), Medium-Income Group (MIG), and Low-Income Group (LIG)

DDA Dwarka Housing Scheme 2024

Housing Units on Offer: 173 flats

Price Range: Rs 1.28 crore onwards

Delhi Locations: Sector 14, 16B, and 19B in Dwarka

Categories: HIG, MIG, and LIG.

According to officials, a total of 750 people have registered in the Sasta Ghar in Sasta Ghar Housing Scheme 2024, and 405 registered in DDA Madhyam Vargiya Housing Scheme 2024 on the first day of the registration on Thursday.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, August 24. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has proposed a new Samarkand solar photovoltaic and battery energy storage system (BESS) project to enhance Uzbekistan's renewable energy sector, Trend reports.

According to the bank, the project involves a 500 megawatt alternating current solar photovoltaic plant, 500 MWh battery energy storage system, transmission line and other auxiliary infrastructure and will be one of the first utility-scale renewable energy projects with BESS component in Uzbekistan.

The project, sponsored by ACWA Power, is part of Uzbekistan's broader strategy to boost renewable energy production to 12 GW. The project is expected to create bankable precedents and attract further private investment into Uzbekistans energy sector.

Earlier, the ADB and Masdar have signed an agreement for a $46.5 million loan to construct the Nur Bukhara solar power plant with a battery energy storage system in Uzbekistan's Bukhara region.

The financing package includes $26.5 million from the ADB's ordinary capital resources and $20 million from Leading Asias Private Infrastructure Fund, managed by the ADB.

The Nur Bukhara facility will generate 250 megawatts and store 126 megawatt-hours of energy. The project also includes building a 20-kilovolt substation and a 3.1-kilometer transmission line to connect to the grid.
If you are driven and dedicated, you have an incredibly high chance of achieving your goals. Such is the story of Sanjeev Raina, an ITBP (Indo Tibetan Border Police) officer, who was appointed the ADG (Additional Director General) for the India-China LAC (Line of Actual Control) Security Force. As per reports, he is only the second non-IPS officer to be appointed to this post. In a conversation with News18 Hindi, he revealed that he joined the ITBP as an Assistant Commandant, in November of 1987. It was followed by his training at the ITBP Academy, Mussoorie. When he completed a year in training, he got his first posting at the Indo-China Border Area, in Ladakh. Then he was given the post of Deputy Commandant. He went on to hold the positions of Second in Command, Commandant of Battalion Command, DIG (Deputy Inspector General), SDIG and IG (Inspector General).

Sanjeev originally belonged from Jammu and Kashmir; but during the time of migration, he shifted to Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. In Gwalior, he completed his higher studies from the Jiwaji University, acquiring his graduate as well as post-graduate degrees in Economics.

The officers elevation to ADG from an Inspector General was announced through a directive issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, for the panel year 2024. Along with him, another officer IG Jaspal Singh was also named for the promotion. At the moment, Sanjeev is stationed at ITBPs central sector in Bhopal. He will start his new post at the Western Command, which has headquarters in Chandigarh.

According to more information, the officer was given the responsibility to lay the foundation of Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJWS), which he fulfilled dutifully. The school gives training to those officers who are about to be deployed to a Naxal-affected area. Officers belonging to various forces across the country are also given training here. It is located in Mahidanda, Uttarkashi, in Uttarakhand. The soldiers should be 35 years of age, while the officers should be 40 years.
Overemphasis on bibliometrics, overlooking teaching quality, inadequate transparency in methodology, huge fluctuations in rankings and partial evaluation of online education, are some of the major inconsistencies in the Indian institutional rankings flagged in a research paper.

The study, published by Prof V Ramgopal Rao, former IIT-Delhi director, who is currently the group vice-chancellor of BITS, Pilani campuses, aims to suggest ways for increased transparency in the rankings framework.

The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings report 2024 was released by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on August 12. The framework was developed by the central government in 2015 released its first report in 2016 to assess higher education institutions in the country on different parameters.

The study highlights that while NIRF rankings aim to enhance transparency and accountability, there are several inconsistencies inherent in the framework that raises concerns about their reliability. The study titled Unpacking Inconsistencies in NIRF authored by Rao and Abhishek Singh, also from BITS, Pilani, is published in the Current Science journal.

The study suggests that the identified inconsistencies underscore the need for an ongoing dialogue and refinement of the ranking framework. It is essential to acknowledge that the rankings, by their nature, subtly influence perceptions. Thus, the identified issues, if left unaddressed, may impact the credibility and relevance of the NIRF rankings, potentially affecting the perceptions of stakeholders such as students, parents and policymakers, the paper stated.

Challenges in NIRFs Bibliometric Approach

According to the study, overemphasis in the rankings on numbers falls short of encompassing critical elements like relevance, innovation, social impact and contributions beyond traditional publishing. This approach raises concerns about the comprehensive evaluation process, especially within the research and professional practice metric.

The focus just on numbers like how many research papers or citations doesnt capture the actual contribution of an institution. For example, if a researcher has developed a technology that has helped improve life in rural areas would go unaccounted for, said Prof Rao speaking to News18.

A truly effective assessment of institutional performance should consider a broader spectrum of characteristics to avoid an incomplete and skewed representation of the contributions of an institution to academia. Exacerbating these problems is the bibliometric methodology employed by the NIRF, which relies entirely on commercial databases for data collection. This dependence reveals shortcomings in terms of scope, precision and the incorporation of non-traditional research outcomes. Consequently, there is a risk of overlooking institutions that contribute significantly in non-traditional ways, thus undermining the diversity of academic contributions, the paper stated.

Overlooking Teaching Quality

The study points out that the NIRF rankings lack specific mechanisms to directly assess teaching quality, overlooking crucial aspects such as classroom observations, student evaluations and alumni feedback.

The omission of these evaluation methods hinders a comprehensive assessment of teaching effectiveness, leading to an incomplete depiction of the educational prowess of an institution. Also, the limited focus of the NIRF rankings on practical training elements, such as hands-on projects and internships, leads to an undervaluation of institutions that prioritize experiential learning, the paper stated.

According to Prof Rao, student feedback is crucial to assess teaching quality. Another important way of assessing teaching quality is by looking at the placements, the quality of jobs that students have achieved and the median salaries, he said.

Partial Evaluation of Online Education

The paper sated that while the on-line education sub-metric encompasses data pertaining to both the Online Completion of Syllabus and Exams, and Swayam (an initiative by the Government of India aimed at achieving access, equity and quality in education), the assessment is singularly focused on the quantity of courses developed and made available on the Swayam platform. This is discernible through instances where certain institutions with extensive on-line programmes receive no score, despite providing data for the Online Completion of Syllabus & Exams.

The rankings only capture those hosted on the Swayam platform, which is possible only for the IITs since it has been developed in such a way. This completely overlooks the online education being provided by other institutions. For example, BITS runs the Work Integrated Learning Programme, which is one of the countrys largest such programme, but its not accounted for in the current rankings framework, said Prof Rao.

Inadequate Transparency in Methodology

According to the paper, while the NIRF does provide insights into its rating methodology, there is need for a more exhaustive and accessible documentation. To mitigate ambiguity and potential misinterpretations, it is imperative to establish unambiguous and explicit definitions of metrics, especially those which capture financial data. Formulating clear and well-defined rules and criteria is essential to ensure a standardized and equitable assessment. This proactive step not only promotes a consistent and fair evaluation, but also eliminates disparities that may arise due to varying interpretations.

Limited Global Benchmarking

The study highlights that the NIRF rankings have a significant limitation, which is limited global benchmarking. The absence of a robust mechanism for international comparison impedes institutions that aspire to attain global recognition. In an era where cross-border collaborations and the exchange of academic ideas are increasingly prevalent, the NIRF rankings fall short in providing a comprehensive evaluation that extends beyond national borders, it stated.

Singh, co-author of the paper said that unlike global rankings, Indian rankings are still evolving and are expected to have a global reach over the years. It is crucial to reset the parameters and incorporate more detailed view of an institution. It should also increase the number of stakeholders taking the survey including students, alumni and industry, said Singh.
A long weekend can be the ideal time for a family trip or at least leaving for a quick getaway. For residents of Haryana, scenic Himachal Pradesh is just a short drive away. But this precisely is the worry of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party which is apprehensive of a substantial dip in voting percentage, as October 1, when Haryana will have assembly polls, falls between a long holiday in the state.

September 28 and 29 fall in a weekend and the date of polling on October 1 is followed by Gandhi Jayanti, a national holiday the very next day. Whats more, even October 3 is observed as a holiday in the state because of Agrasen Jayanti.

The BJP, which has the odds stacked against it with ten years of anti-incumbency sentiments, fears a substantial drop in voting percentage may dent its electoral prospects.

So Haryana BJP chief Mohan Lal Badoli has written a letter to the Election Commission of India, citing nine reasons why the poll date in the state should be changed. Not just government but even private employees will be keen to go on a long holiday by taking a day off on September 30, the only working day in the long weekend, he has pointed out. Theres a very high possibility of many families of Haryana to go on a holiday outside the state. It will definitely bring down the poll percentage substantially, he has written.

The BJP is also wary of hyper-local events like mela in neighbouring Rajasthans Bikaner on the occasion of the new moon of Asoj which attracts a large section of the Vishnoi community of Haryana. Badoli has cited this too while arguing that many from the community will definitely leave on October 1 to take part in the fair the next day. So it would be prudent to change the Haryana poll dates and keep it for a slightly later date, he argues.

The BJP cites past precedents where the EC changed poll dates like for neighbouring Punjabs assembly elections, which were altered due to Ravidas Jayanti.

The party has recently made a volley of policy and freebie announcements targeting contractual workers which it is confident of reaping electoral benefits from. But if they dont vote, all these efforts would go down the drain, fears the BJP.

Haryana BJP Seeks Deferment; Opposition Hits Back

After the Haryana unit of the ruling BJP wrote to the Election Commission requesting a brief postponement of the Assembly poll slated for October 1, the Opposition Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) slammed the saffron camp claiming that the ruling party was panicking as it could sense defeat.

Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda said the BJPs stand shows that it has already accepted defeat. It has been more than a week since the Election Commission announced the poll date. The BJP wants the polls to be deferred as it has accepted defeat, Bhupinder Hooda, who is Leader of the Opposition and former chief minister of Haryana, said.

The AAPs Haryana unit said even before the elections took place, the ruling BJP had started looking for excuses as it could sense its impending defeat in the election. In a post on X, the AAP said if the BJP had done work in the state, it would not have been seeking postponement of polls. This time the BJPs defeat is certain, it added.
Gauahar Khan celebrated her 41st birthday last evening in Mumbai, surrounded by family and friends. After a delightful trip to the Swiss Alps, the actress returned to the city just in time for her special day. Along with enjoying a fun-filled celebration with her friends, Gauahar also took a moment to share her joy with the paparazzi. As she and her husband, Zaid Darbar, made their way to the party venue, the paps surprised her with a delicious chocolate cake.

In a short clip shared by a paparazzi account, Gauahar Khan is seen cutting the cake while everyone sings the birthday song. She jokingly remarks about the number of chocolate cakes she has had that day before feeding a small piece to her husband, Zaid. For the occasion, Gauahar looked elegant in a silver fitted skirt paired with a white tucked-in top. She completed her chic ensemble with a golden layered necklace and ivory stilettos. Zaid opted for a more casual look, wearing a white tee under a loose shirt and black trousers.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani)

Earlier in the day, Gauahar Khan tried something unique and wished herself on her birthday. Gauahar Khan shared a series of photos on Instagram with her husband Zaid Darbar and son Zehaan from their latest vacation in Zurich. The trio were at the Zurich Zoo and sported chic casuals. Gauahar Khan was wearing a blue top with a red printed shirt, and black eyeglasses. On the other side, Zaid Darbar wore a white round neck tee, sunglasses, and a backpack, while their son Zehaan twinned with mother Gauahar in blue. In the caption, she wrote, Happy birthday to Meeeeeee with my biggest gifts of life ! Thank you Allah for my zaid and Zehaan ..#allahummabaarikfihi . Thank you for all the messages of love n blessings !

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gauahar Khan (@gauaharkhan)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Zaid Darbar (@zaid_darbar)

Zaid Darbar also shared an adorable birthday post for his wife. He posted a few photos of them on Instagram with the caption, Happy birthday to my Wonder-woman. In one of the photos, Gauahar Khan and Zaid Darbar are seen laughing and hugging each other as they pose for the camera. The first two photos are lovely and simple, but the third stands out as the funniest. It shows Gauahar feeding a giraffe while other animals, including a deer, roam around in the background.
The CCTV footage of Sanjay Roy, the arrested accused in connection with the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee PG doctor in Kolkatas RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, walking in the corridor of the fourth floor of the medical facility, has now surfaced on the social media.

What does CCTV footage reveal?

According to the footage as accessed by News18 Bangla, the accused can be seen walking towards the seminar room along the corridor on the fourth floor of the medical facility on the night of August 9, hours before he allegedly committed the heinous act. Roy is seen wearing jeans and a t-shirt, with a helmet in hand  a helmet that is notably part of the uniform issued to Kolkata Police personnel.

Read More: Kolkata Rape-Murder: Sanjay Roys Mother Says Son Is Being Framed, Neighbours Call Him Nasty Guy

In the footage, Roy was seen with a Bluetooth device hanging around his neck while entering the seminar hall. The same Bluetooth device was later recovered from the crime scene. When the investigators paired it with Roys mobile phone, it was connected.

According to sources as reported by the news outlet, Roy was purportedly seen coming out of the seminar room forty minutes after he was seen entering through the corridor. However, the footage of Sanjays coming out is not there.

Based on the CCTV footage from the hospital and the recovered Bluetooth device, Kolkata Police arrested Roy and questioned him. During the interrogation, he confessed to his crime.

Although News 18 does not verify the authenticity of this video.

According to sources in the CBI which is probing the incident, revealed that Roy appears to be a sexual pervert who has shown no remorse during his questioning. Before the investigation was handed over to the CBI by the Calcutta High Court, Kolkata Police had also found a large chunk of pornographic content on the mobile phone seized from Roy.

Whats the case?

The case pertains to the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor in Kolkatas RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9 while she was taking rest after completing her shift. The prime accused, Sanjay Roy was arrested a day after.

Read More: Sanjoy Roy Used To Beat His Wife, Hang Him: Mother-in-law of Kolkata Rape-Murder Case Accused

Amid the ongoing protests, some miscreants entered the premises of state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 14 and vandalised portions of the medical facility, where the body of the victim was found. The Calcutta High Court on August 13 had an order to transfer the probe from Kolkata Police to the CBI.

The Kolkata case has shaken the country, brought the functioning of RG Kar hospital under scrutiny, led to the ouster of its principal, and triggered massive protests by the medical fraternitys students and civil society.
An interstate coordination meeting on Naxalism chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah began in Chhattisgarh capital Raipur on Saturday.

The meeting, which is being attended by senior officials of seven states, will review the inter-state coordination and Left Wing Extremism situation, an official said.

Among those taking part are Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Deputy CM Vijay Sharma, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai as well as Chief Secretaries and Director Generals of Police (DGPs) of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra, the official said.

Senior officials of the Central government also took part. All these seven states have Naxalite presence, particularly on inter-state borders. After this, Shah will chair a meeting on security and development in Left Wing Extremism affected areas of Chhattisgarh. He will address a press conference at 6 pm, the official said.

Anti-Naxalite operations have intensified in Chhattisgarh since the BJP came to power in last years assembly elections. As many as 142 Naxalites have been killed by security forces so far this year.

During the recent Lok Sabha campaign, Shah had said Naxalism would be eliminated in three years in Chhattisgarh if Prime Minister Narendra Modi is elected for a third term.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) aligns with the governments commitment to the well-being of government employees and ensures a secure future for them.

We are proud of the hard work of all government employees who contribute significantly to national progress. The Unified Pension Scheme ensures dignity and financial security for government employees, aligning with our commitment to their well-being and a secure future. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 24, 2024

We are proud of the hard work of all government employees who contribute significantly to national progress. The Unified Pension Scheme ensures dignity and financial security for government employees, aligning with our commitment to their well-being and a secure future, PM Modi said in a social media post, shortly after the Union Cabinet announced that under the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) government employees will now be eligible to get 50 percent of the average basic pay drawn over the last 12 months before the superannuation as pension.

ALSO READ | Explained | What Is Unified Pension Scheme? How Is It Different from NPS?

The latest pension scheme for government employees, the UPS, includes a provision for a fixed assured pension, unlike the New Pension Scheme (NPS), which does not guarantee a fixed pension amount.

Central government employees will have the option to choose between staying in the National Pension Scheme (NPS) or switching to the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS). Similarly, state governments can decide whether to adopt the new UPS module.

The Union Cabinet on Saturday also approved an assured 50 percent of salary as pension for 23 lakh government employees who joined service under the National Pension System (NPS).

The National Pension System is applicable for government employees joining the service after April 1, 2004. It was based on the premise of contribution rather than defined benefit applicable for employees prior to the NPS.

NPS subscribers can now opt for the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), which offers assured pension applicable from the beginning of the next financial year.

Cabinet Secretary-designate TV Somanathan said the new scheme is applicable from April 1, 2025.

The benefits of the Unified Pension Scheme are applicable for those retired and retiring till March 31, 2025, with arrears, he added.
A private helicopter crashed near Punes Paud village on Saturday. The chopper was en route to Hyderabad and crashed after taking off from Mumbais Juhu with four people on board.

There have been no reports of deaths and one person has been hospitalised. The other three flyers are in stable condition.

Maharashtra | A private helicopter crashed near Paud village in Pune district. The helicopter belongs to a private aviation company. It was going from Mumbai to Hyderabad. Among the 4 people who were in the Helicopter, the captain sustained injuries and is hospitalised. The rest https://t.co/Z2MkvvXi91 pic.twitter.com/kF5qg7HOV2 ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2024

Anand Captain, Deep Bhatia, Amardeep Singh and SP Ram were aboard the AW 139 model helicopter. Anand Captain has been hospitalised at a nearby medical facility.

#WATCH | Maharashtra: Visuals of a private helicopter that crashed near Paud village in Pune district during the afternoon. The helicopter belongs to a private aviation company. It was going from Mumbai to Hyderabad. Among the 4 people who were in the Helicopter, the captain pic.twitter.com/3CPfnq2mtu  ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2024

A private helicopter crashed near Paud village in Pune district. The helicopter belongs to a private aviation company. It was going from Mumbai to Hyderabad. Among the 4 people who were in the Helicopter, the captain sustained injuries and was hospitalised. The rest of the three persons are in stable condition, Pankaj Deshmukh, Superintendent of Police, Pune Rural Police said.

The helicopter is owned by Global Vectra.

Bad weather was suspected to have caused the crash as the area is receiving heavy rains, said inspector Manoj Yadav of Paud police station. Locals rushed to the rescue of the occupants as it came down.

When they took off from Mumbai, the weather was fine, but when the chopper reached Paud area, which has been receiving rains since last night, it encountered difficulties. The pilot tried to land but it hit a babul tree and then crashed to the ground, said inspector Yadav.

As the fall was broken by the tree, the impact of the final crash appeared to have been mitigated, he said. There were no reports of the chopper experiencing any technical problems, the official said.
The Indian Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for Maharashtras Raigad on Saturday evening. The weatherman also issued an orange alert for Palghar, Thane and Ratnagiri and issued a yellow alert for Mumbai.

Orange alert forecasts heavy to very heavy rainfall. The IMD predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in Palghar, Thane, Mumbai, Raigad and Ratnagiri districts of Konkan from August 24 (Saturday) onwards.

It also said that Mumbai and its neighbouring Thane and Palghar districts and many other parts of Maharashtra are expected to receive heavy rainfall over the next four to five days.

The India Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rainfall in some areas of Mumbai city and its suburbs in the next 3-4 hours. Citizens are advised to be cautious, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said in an SMS alert to citizens on Saturday morning.

The IMD has also issued an orange alert for the Pune and Satara districts of western Maharashtra and Amravati, Bhandara, Chandrapur and Gondia districts of Vidarbha for Saturday.

The IMD has issued an orange alert for some districts of Konkan and western Maharashtra on August 25 and 26 as well.

A yellow alert, predicting thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and light-to-moderate rainfall with gusty winds of 30-40 kmph speed, has been issued for Saturday in several districts barring a few in western Maharashtra and Marathwada.

An orange alert indicates the likelihood of heavy rainfall exceeding 64.5 mm within 24 hours, which could disrupt daily life and cause flooding in low-lying areas.

The IMD said that a low-pressure area over northern West Bengal and adjacent northeast Jharkhand, along with another over the east-central Arabian Sea off the Maharashtra coast, is expected to bring rain to most parts of Maharashtra in the next 48 hours.

(with inputs from PTI)
A former Delhi Police constable was arrested on Thursday night for murdering a Greater Noida-based businessman over a property row. The accused, 42-year-old Praveen was taken into custody 13 days after the victim, Ankush Sharma was reported missing by his family.

Praveen had orchestrated the plan of killing Ankush to take possession of his flat after watching Tabbu and Ajay Devgn starter crime thriller Drishyam, an NDTV report said. Praveen was suspended in March due to absenteeism.

According to Saad Miya Khan, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Greater Noida, Ankush, who wanted to sell his flat in a Greater Noida society, met Praveen through a broker Sanchit on February 20.

Ankush was selling his flat in SKA Society, Eta-2, and agreed to sell it to Praveen for Rs 1.18 crore, with Rs 88 lakh upfront and Rs 30 lakh in cash. By March, Praveen had paid around Rs 7 lakh, and the transfer memorandum (TM) process began on April 27. Praveen moved into the flat on May 10 after receiving the TM letter, DCP Khan was quoted by TOI as saying.

The accused, Praveen alleged that Praveen left for Canada delaying the registry process. Upon his return, he asked for an additional Rs 20 lakh from Praveen which he refused.

On Aug 5, Praveen and Sanchit met Ankush at his office in Alpha-2 market, where Praveen agreed to pay Rs 11 lakh. However, Praveen had already planned to kill Ankush and take possession of the flat, DCP Khan added.

During interrogation, Praveen confessed that on Aug 9, he lured Ankush to his office, picked him up in a Creta car, and drugged him with sedative-laced lassi.

Praveen then took Ankush to the underground parking of his SKA Society residence and killed him with a hammer. To avoid detection, he sent messages from Ankushs phone to his lawyer and friend, claiming to be preparing documents, before dumping the body near the Sharda roundabout. He later washed the blood-covered car, claiming his son had a head injury, DCP Khan further noted.

CCTV footage led the police to Praveen who disclosed the bodys location, which has been sent for post-mortem.

A case has been registered under sections 103(1) (murder), 238 (causing disappearance of evidence), and 123 (causing hurt using poison, etc.) of the BNS Act.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, August 24. Uzbekistan's National Interbank Processing Center (HUMO) and Korean BC Card signed an agreement on mutual integration of the two payment systems, Trend reports.

According to HUMO, the cardholders will be able to conveniently make payments using only domestic cards both in Korea and Uzbekistan.

Creation of such cooperation between our companies contributes to the development of international relations in the field of non-cash payments, as well as creates an opportunity for HUMO cardholders and BC Card holders to use their local cards in both countries, the First Deputy Chairman of the Board of National Interbank Processing Center Maqsad Mukhitdinov said.

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan started the privatization process of 100 percent state share of the National Interbank Processing Center (HUMO) by public invitation to negotiations per Article 22 of the Law of Uzbekistan on Privatization of State Property.

The National Interbank Processing Center has the appropriate license of the Central Bank of Uzbekistan necessary for carrying out activities as an operator of the payment system.
In the Prajwal Revanna sex scandal case, a total of 56 women were reportedly sexually assaulted allegedly by the JDS MP. Of these, four victims have courageously come forward to file complaints against him till date.

News18 has learned that three additional chargesheets will be filed against Prajwal by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), according to police sources. The SIT filed its first preliminary chargesheet against Prajwal and his father, H. D. Revanna, with the special court for elected representatives on 23 August. The remaining chargesheets are expected by the end of the month, said an officer involved in the investigation. Prajwal has been in SIT custody since 31 May 2024 and was remanded to judicial custody on 18 June.

During their investigation, the SIT found that the offences occurred while Prajwal was an MP from Hassan, between 2019 and 2021. The victims were mostly from Hassan or had a connection to the district, even if they were assaulted in Bengaluru.

An SIT official noted, His targets were women from Hassan or those linked to it, as he believed he could control them if things went wrong.

The SIT used technology and forensic techniques to analyse nearly 3,000 video clips and photographs documenting the alleged assaults. These videos were reportedly circulated on pen drives in Hassan, surfacing the same week the Lok Sabha elections took place on 7 May.

Prajwal, the grandson of former Prime Minister Deve Gowda and son of former Karnataka minister H. D. Revanna, is facing four FIRs. The Congress government in Karnataka set up an SIT on 28 April to investigate the alleged video clips of sexual abuse involving Prajwal, who had fled to Germany when the scandal broke. Four victims have recorded their statements with the SIT, including a housemaid who alleged she was raped despite being recorded promising to spare her.

Another JDS worker accused Prajwal of raping her in his official quarters in Hassan, recording the act, and blackmailing her into further sexual encounters between January 2021 and April 2024.

A homemaker seeking school admission for her son became the fourth woman to accuse Prajwal of sexual harassment. She filed an FIR ten days after his arrest on 31 May, following several complaints. She alleged that Prajwal had requested her phone number during a meeting about her sons admission and soon began coercing her into virtual sex through video calls. This allegedly occurred 8 to 10 times between October 2019 and 2020, with threats to release the recordings if she refused.

A 2,144-page chargesheet, including statements from 150 witnesses, accuses H. D. Revanna of sexually harassing a domestic worker at his Holenarasipura home from 2019 to 2022. Prajwal is charged with raping the same woman at their Basavanagudi residence in Bengaluru. The chargesheet further alleges that Prajwal coerced the womans daughter to undress during video calls, which he secretly recorded. In an FIR filed on 28 April with Holenarasipura police, H. D. Revanna is listed as the first accused, followed by Prajwal.

H. D. Revanna has also been charged with sexual harassment under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code. He was arrested on 4 May and later released on bail. One of the survivors, a housemaid, was allegedly kidnapped and held captive at a Revanna family farmhouse. She escaped and filed a statement accusing H. D. Revanna of abduction to silence her. He was arrested on 5 May for the kidnapping, becoming the first family member of former Prime Minister Deve Gowda to be jailed. Bhavani, Revannas wife and Prajwals mother, is also accused of involvement in the abduction.

A senior SIT officer said, The SIT conducted a comprehensive investigation, interrogating over 150 witnesses and recording statements under Section 164 of the CrPC. He added that Prajwal filmed the assaults on his personal mobile phone but later destroyed the electronic evidence.
Three educational institutions in West Bengal have been issued a show cause notice by the school education department over students participation in a rally during school hours against the murder and rape of a 31-year-old PG trainee doctor in RG Kar MCH, an official said.

The three state-aided schools  Baluhati High School, Baluhati Girls High School and Bantra Rajlakshmi Girls School  all in Howrah district were served the show cause notice on Friday and are required to give an explanation within 24 hours.

The school education department official said that along with students, several teachers and non-teaching staffers had participated in a joint rally taken out on Thursday by the schools in violation of all rules and regulation. Strict action will be taken against the school authorities if their responses are found unsatisfactory.

Students cannot take part in such a rally, particularly during classes on weekdays. We learnt that some teachers and other staffers of the schools took the students to the rally, he said.

The show cause notice is followed by a directive issued by the school education department in Paschim Medinipur district forbidding school students from taking part in any activities not related to the school or department.

School students cannot take part in any political activities, the notice issued by the district inspector of schools, Paschim Medinipur, said.

A class 10 student who participated in the protest said, We want to be allowed to protest. We also want to participate in the protest by condemning the incident that happened in Kolkata. We will have a peaceful march in school clothes. If this permission is not given, we will not go to school.

The official said the steps were necessitated in the wake of reports that students of higher classes were being inducted for political rallies, and blockades across the state demanding justice for the woman doctor.

Since the rape-murder of the woman doctor about two weeks ago, various parts of the state have been rocked by protest rallies brought out by citizens, civil society organisations, youth, student and womens bodies and political parties demanding the arrest of all the perpetrators of the crime.

(With PTI inputs)
Kolkata Rape-Murder Case LIVE Updates: Sanjay Roy, the primary suspect in the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata will undergo a polygraph test on Sunday. He has denied committing any crime and claimed he is being framed.

Breaking down in front of the magistrate when questioned about his consent to a polygraph test, Roy said, I have not committed any crime. I am being framed. Maybe the polygraph test will prove that, according to TOI.

On Friday, a special court in Kolkata allowed a polygraph test for Roy. Experts from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) in Delhi have now begun the polygraph test of Sanjay Roy, former principal Sandip Ghosh and 5 other individuals.

Roys arrest followed evidence from CCTV footage and a Bluetooth device found near the victims body. Roy, who joined the Kolkata Police as a civic volunteer in 2019, was seen entering the seminar hall where the body was discovered.

The court has also approved lie-detection tests for Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of the medical college, and four doctors who were on duty during the night of August 8-9.

Meanwhile, former students of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital have alleged corruption and malpractices by ex-principal Sandip Ghosh. Accusations include demanding bribes for in-house staff positions and cancelling registrations of those who reported irregularities.
The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring and Protection (HYDRAA) authority on Saturday began the demolition of actor Akkineni Nagarjunas N Convention Centre in Madhapur area of Ranga Reddy district in Telangana. The actor called the demolition unlawful in a statement and approached the High Court, which ordered a stay on it.

This action was part of an ongoing drive to remove illegal constructions that have encroached on water bodies and public lands in the state. The demolition drive began in the early hours of Saturday, with HYDRA officials arriving on-site, accompanied by a contingent of police personnel to ensure the process proceeded without interruption.

VIDEO | Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring and Protection (HYDRA) authorities have started demolishing actor Nagarjunas N-Convention Centre located in the Madhapur area of Ranga Reddy district, Telangana. This action comes following allegations that the facility pic.twitter.com/20XIVb4CZ5 Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 24, 2024

High Court Orders Stay

The Telangana High Court on Saturday intervened on the actors petition and ordered a stay on the demolition, as claimed by the Nagarjunas team. A statement released by his team reads, High Court ordered a stay on demolition of structures owned by Nagarjuna, N-Convention. The actor approached the court for the stay order and was granted it. Justice T Vinod Kumar conducted the inquiry. High Court has issued an interim order to stop demolitions.

The convention center, spanning across 10 acre, was found to be in violation of several land use and environmental regulations. The center had allegedly encroached upon the Tummidikunta lake, occupying 1.12 acre within the Full Tank Level (FTL) and an additional 2 acre within the lakes buffer zone, NDTV report said.

Actor calls action unlawful

The actor expressed his anger and said that the demolition was carried in an unlawful manner. In a post on X, Nagarjuna said, Pained by the unlawful manner of demolition carried out in respect of N Convention, contrary to existing stay orders and Court cases. I thought it fit to issue this statement to place on record certain facts for protecting my reputation and to indicate that we have not done any actions in violation of law.

Nagarjuna claimed that the land on which the property was constructed was the Patta land and no tank plans land was encroached.

The land is a Patta land, and not even an inch of tank plan is encroached. In respect of the building constructed inside the private land, there is a stay order granted against any earlier illegal notice for demolition. Today clearly, the demolition was carried out wrongfully based on misinformation, he said.

Pained by the unlawful manner of demolition carried out in respect of N Convention, contrary to existing stay orders and Court cases.I thought it fit to issue this statement to place on record certain facts for protecting my reputation and to indicate that we have not done any Nagarjuna Akkineni (@iamnagarjuna) August 24, 2024

He further claimed that no prior notice was issued before carrying out the demolition. The actor said that he would be approach the court against the action.

No notice was issued prior to carrying out the demolition this morning. As a law-abiding citizen, if the Court before which the matter is pending, had decided against me, I would have carried out the demolition myself. I am placing this on record for the purpose of correcting any public misimpression about wrongful constructions or encroachment by us. We would be seeking appropriate relief from the Court in relation to the wrong actions carried out by the authorities, he added.

For years, the management of N-Convention has faced accusations of using their influence to bypass regulatory actions from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and other higher authorities, thus avoiding the repercussions of their encroachments.

Earlier this week, illegal constructions in the FTL and buffer zone areas of Gandipet Lake were demolished, several news reports said.
Private Helicopter With 4 On Board Crashes In Pune Amid Heavy Rainfall; Captain Injured

A private helicopter crashed near Punes Paud village on Saturday. The chopper was en route to Hyderabad and crashed after taking off from Mumbais Juhu with four people on board. There have been no reports of deaths and one person has been hospitalised. The other three flyers are in stable condition. READ MORE

Bluetooth Device Around Neck, Helmet In Hand: CCTV Footage Shows Sanjay Roy In Corridor Near RG Kar Seminar Room

The CCTV footage of Sanjay Roy, the arrested accused in connection with the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee PG doctor in Kolkatas RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, walking in the corridor of the fourth floor of the medical facility, has now surfaced on the social media. READ MORE

Kolkata Rape-Murder Case LIVE: CBI Registers Corruption Case Against Sandip Ghosh; Polygraph Tests On Accused Sanjay Roy Underway

Sanjay Roy, the primary suspect in the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, has denied committing any crime and claimed he is being framed. Breaking down in front of the magistrate when questioned about his consent to a polygraph test, Roy said, I have not committed any crime. I am being framed. Maybe the polygraph test will prove that, according to TOI. READ MORE

Terrorist Neutralised As Forces Repel Terror Attack On Police Post In J&Ks Sopore

A major terrorist attack on the Police Post near Watergam camp in the Rafiabad area of Baramulla in north Kashmir was repulsed on Saturday. A joint team of Indian Army and J&K police was fired upon by terrorists in the Watergam area of Sopore. According to Kashmir Zone police, security forces retaliated to gunshots by terrorists. On terrorist was killed in the retaliatory firing. The area has been cordoned off. READ MORE

Porn Clip Displayed On Digital Advertisement Board In Delhis Connaught Place, Case Registered

A porn clip suddenly appeared on a digital advertisement board in Delhis Connaught Place on Friday night. As per reports, the incident took place at around 10:30 pm last night in the H block. A passerby recorded the video of the porn clip being played on the digital advertisement board and filed a complaint with the police. READ MORE

Assam Gang-Rape Suspect Jumps Into Pond In Escape Bid While Being Taken To Crime Scene, Dies: Police

The prime suspect in the alleged rape of a minor girl in Assam drowned on Saturday morning after jumping into a pond while attempting to escape the police. The incident took place in Dhing, Nagaon district, where the accused, Tafazzul Islam, drowned in a pond near the crime scene, sources told News18. READ MORE

Bengali Actor Accuses Malayalam Filmmaker Ranjith of Sexual Harassment: He Touched MyIt Was Traumatic

Bengali actor Sreelekha Mitra has accused Malayalam filmmaker Ranjith of sexually harassing her. The actress allegations come at a time when the findings of the Justice Hema Committee report have already left the nation shocked, with many demanding strict punishment against the accused. READ MORE
Following the ban on over 150 cocktail drugs, all eyes are on the next move of top pharmaceutical brands like Cipla and JB Pharma as they also sell medicines which fall under the banned category.

The central government has banned 156 cocktail drugs, also known as Fixed Dose Combinations (FDCs)  many of which you might have at home. These banned products include those used for hair growth, skin care, pain relief, cold and flu medicines, multivitamins, antiparasitic, antiallergic, antibiotics and more.

Fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) are medicines that combine more than one drug in a single pill and are also referred to as cocktail medicines.

The list in the ban notification issued by the government includes a combination of Cetirizine + Paracetamol+ Phenylephrine which is one of the popular combinations used in the treatment of common cold and used to relieve symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, pain and fever.

Under this category, Cipla sells Cheston Cold as well as Alerid Cold. The brand Cheston Cold featured among the anchor consumer brands in India list in an investor presentation of the Mumbai-based drugmaker in 2022. The brand registered 33 per cent year-on-year growth in 2022. JB Pharmas Ifimol 3C also falls under the same combination. Tweaking the dosage a bit, Glenmarks Glenrest Cold also uses the same combination.

Another combination of Aceclofenac (50mg) + Paracetamol (125mg) part of the list is sold by several drug makers to lower fever, body pain and inflammation among infants and children  both in tablet and syrup format. Intas Pharmaceuticals Nimucet AF Suspension is a popular brand in this category.

News18 attempted to contact all of these drug manufacturers via email and messages to understand which brands are affected and their potential next steps, but received no replies. This story will be updated if any of the pharmaceutical companies respond.

Drugmakers Silent But Their Lobbies Support Move

While drugmakers continue to evaluate the impact of the governments announcement on their products and revenues, their lobbies support the governments move of banning FDCs calling it a move in the right direction and public interest.

According to Sudarshan Jain, Secretary-General of Indias largest lobby of domestic drug makers, the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) the discussion on FDC is going on over a period of time with recommendation from Kokate committee and Nilima Kshirsagar committee.

This is a right step in the interest of patients and all aspects have been taken into consideration, he told News18 on Thursday when the list of banned FDCs was released.

IPA represents top pharma companies in India including Cipla, Alkem, Glenmark, Intas, Ipca, Lupin, and Sun Pharma among others.

Similarly, the lobby of 100 generic drug makers have requested Union Health Minister JP Nadda for permission to sell already manufactured stock of prohibited FDCs with a commitment to cease further production.

According to the letter by the Indian Federation of Pharma Generics (IFPG), dated 22 August, the lobby fully understands and respects the governments concern for public health and safety, and we are committed to complying with the prohibition on further manufacturing of these FDC formulations.

However, as responsible stakeholders in the pharmaceutical industry, we wish to humbly request permission to sell the already manufactured stock of these formulations that are currently in our inventory.

The letter written by Gyanesh Jeswal, general secretary, IFPG, raised the concern that with the removal of these products from the market, there could be a temporary shortage of affordable alternatives, especially in regions where these FDCs were widely prescribed, potentially affecting patient care.

A list of well-known drugmakers including Intas and Glenmark are members of IFPG, according to the member list on the associations website.
An American citizen was shot inside his home in Punjabs Amritsar on Saturday morning. The incident from Daburji village, which was captured on CCTV, shows two men entering the residence and opening fire on Sukhchain Singh, who was struck by three bullets.

Sukhchain was rushed to a hospital in Amritsar but is now stable. Providing an update on his condition, the doctor treating the NRI said, When the patient was admitted to the hospital, he was bleeding severely. He is now stable and has received injuries to his face and hand.

In a video going viral on the internet, the victims family members are seen attempting to intervene and pleading with the assailants to stop. Despite their efforts, the attackers shot Singh in the head and neck before fleeing the scene.

Viral CCTV Footage

Sukhbir Singh Badal, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), shared a video of the incident on social media accounts, condemning the deteriorating law and order situation in the state of Punjab.

Badal expressed his sorrow over the attack, noting that Singhs mother and child were helplessly pleading for his life. The SAD chief criticised Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, stating that such violent incidents are occurring regularly under his administration and called for his resignation on moral grounds.

The law and order situation in Punjab has completely deteriorated, I am very sad to see the situation in Punjab today, this morning the miscreants entered the house of NRI Veer Sukhchain Singh of Duburji, Sri Amritsar Sahib and opened fire. Mother is folding her hands to save her son and innocent child to save her father but the ruthless miscreants did not listen to one. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, he said in a post on X.

Such incidents are happening every day in your state, Punjabis are not safe even in their homes, I think you should resign on moral grounds I pray for the recovery of Sukhchain Singh, who is undergoing treatment for the badly injured, he added.
The name of the lady constable Pinky Sonkar came to light when Gorakhpur Special Task Force (STF) Unit got a tip off about a gang involved in tampering UP Police Constable exam being conducted by Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board in UP on August 23, 24, 25, 30, and 31.

The STF also recovered five admit cards, high school and Class 12 marksheets from her possession while the police has also arrested her Delhi-based accomplice Devendra Pratap Singh from a village under Bansgaon police station, when he reached the spot to collect money from the three aspirants.

Who is Pinky Sonkar?

According to Police, Pinky Sonkar was posted at Bhinga police station of UPs Siddharth Nagar district and is under suspension. Officers interrogating Pinky revealed that it was during her suspension period, Pinky was contacted by a person from Delhi, who told her that clearing the exam would cost Rs 20 lakh to each candidate and assured her of hefty commission if she helps in bringing in some suitable aspirants who wishes to clear UP Police Constable Exam 2024.

Convinced completely by the offer of the Delhi based person, Pinky started making clients through social media. Pinky also finalized a deal of Rs 15 to 20 lakh with 15 people and then started fraud in the name of getting selection in police recruitment, a source said.

Besides, sources further confirmed that five people had also given an advance of Rs 40,000 each to Pinky Sonkar, while the remaining amount was being transferred gradually.

How was the lady constable caught?

Cops privy to the investigation said the STF unit got activated on August 22, soon after they came to know that the suspended lady constable Pinky Sonkar has given four wheelers to many candidates and has assured them of success in the UP Police Constable Exam 2024. Officers swung into action and arrested the lady constable, along with her driver and other private security personnel, Besides, Police also recovered the admit cards of the five aspirants from her mobile phone.

However during interrogation, Pinky Sonkar admitted her involvement however she said that she dont know about the recruitment process. Besides, she also revealed that during her suspension period, she came in contact with the Delhi based person who confirmed her hefty commission if she brings in some aspirants who wish to clear UP Police Recruitment exam 2024. Therefore, she was in constant touch with the candidate and his family.

She told officers that she had nothing to do with the exam, she was just taking money in the name of selection. However, while interrogating her accomplice Devendra Pratap Singh, who claimed himself to be National Secretary of Nationalist Youth Rights said he hails from Sangam Vihar, New Delhi. He told police that around a year back he came in touch with Pinky through social media. He told Pinky that would get the appointment done for Rs 5 lakhs per candidate. However, Pinky fell in the trap and took money in advance from five candidates. However, the question remains how he was going to get the five candidates success in the recruitment exam.

The UP government however is leaving no stone unturned in carrying out the UP Police constable exam. Other than installing biometric verification, including fingerprint and facial recognition, the Yogi Adityanath government has put in place a comprehensive plan to ensure the safe and secure conduct of the high-stakes UP Police constables recruitment re-exam, which began on Friday almost six months after cancellation due to a question paper leak in February this year. The examination will be held at 1174 centres in 67 of Uttar Pradeshs 75 districts on August 23, 24, 25, 30 and 31.

On the first day of the UP Police Constable exam, UP Police nabbed around 61 aspirants for using unfair means. Of these one aspirant in Agra was found with a fake Adhar card while in Rae Bareli one aspirant was found wearing a bluetooth device during examination. In the exam more than 30 lakhs candidates have applied in the written examination for 60,244 posts of UP Police constables, according to the UP Police Recruitment and Promotion Board (UPPRPB), the state agency which is holding the test.
Apart from being one of the most successful actresses of the current generation, Kriti Sanon is also known for her impeccable wardrobe. She has a noteworthy approach to fashion and often grabs attention through her stylish yet comfortable looks. Having said that, the actress once again made heads turn with a classic look at the Mumbai airport.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani)

Several clips of her from the Mumbai airport have surfaced over social media where she looks effortlessly glam. In one clip shared by the popular paparazzo, Viral Bhayani, Kriti can be seen wearing a dark beige coloured top paired with blue denim and a brown jacket.

As for the makeup, the actress kept it minimal and opted for a light brown lip shade, some blush on the cheeks, and a hint of highlighter. Talking about the hairstyle, Kriti kept her side-parted silky tresses open in all its glory. To further elevate the look, she accessorised with a black belt, dark brown shades, white sneakers, and hoop earrings.

We can never get tired of Kritis minimalistic fashion picks. Recently, the National Film Award-winning actress grabbed the eyeballs of fashion lovers as she dropped a string of pictures from her trip to Greece.

Taking to Instagram, Kriti recently dropped a video depicting the breathtaking travel destination while looking radiant in a colourful outfit. She donned a playsuit with vibrant floral and starfish patterns all over it. The sassy number featured a halter-neck design, side cut-outs, and a backless style. As for the accessories, she opted for trendy glasses and gold bangles.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kriti (@kritisanon)

Sharing the video, the actress wrote in the caption, Jaayein na ghar! Beach baby for life.

In another pic from her Greece vacation, she could be seen posing with her sister Nupur Sanon in stunning beach outfits.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kriti (@kritisanon)

Kriti dazzled in a printed blue bikini paired with a matching skirt, while Nupur looked fabulous in a sheer cream-toned two-piece set layered over a Tiffany blue bikini. The Sanon sisters elevated their look with funky sunglasses while posing for a happy picture.

Kriti was last seen in Crew and Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya with Shahid Kapoor
Mathura is decked up ahead of Janmashtami. In this city, a Muslim family has been crafting elaborate costumes for Lord Krishna, also known as Laddu Gopal for the past 50 years. The familys tradition of creating attire for Laddu Gopal has become a cherished part of the Janmashtami celebrations in Mathura.

Their vibrant and meticulously designed costumes, which range in price from as low as Rs 10 to as high as Rs 10,000, are sought after not only in Mathura but across India. The demand for these beautifully crafted garments draws a huge crowd each year.

Mathura potrays communal harmony through its festive celebrations. Here, the participation in each others festivals is a common sight. Muslims enthusiastically join in Hindu festivities like Holi and Janmashtami, while Hindus also celebrate Muslim festivals with equal fervour.

This spirit of unity is embodied by the Muslim family that continues the long-standing tradition of crafting Lord Krishnas attire. The tradition of making costumes for Laddu Gopal began with Mohammad Iqrars great grandfather and has been passed down through generations.

Iqrar and his family are deeply committed to their craft and feels a spiritual connection through their work. Talking to News18, Iqrar said, When we prepare Laddu Gopals costume, it feels as though Lord Krishna is guiding us. The designs come to life as if directed by him. Creating these intricate costumes is a labour of love that requires several hours of meticulous work.

The process involves careful attention to detail to ensure the garments fit perfectly and maintain their elegance. Despite the detailed work, no machine is used and everything is handcrafted with precision and care. At present around 20 men work here and these costumes demand is not only in Mathura Vrindavan but throught the country, Iqrar added.

The familys dedication and the unique beauty of their designs make these costumes a special part of the Janmashtami celebrations, symbolising the deep-seated unity and cultural richness of Mathura.

The Muslim familys commitment to crafting costumes for Laddu Gopal reflects a beautiful example of religious and cultural harmony in Mathura. Their work not only supports the local economy but also enriches the spiritual experience of Janmashtami, showcasing the enduring bond between the citys diverse communities.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 24. Georgian Airways plans to open regular flights on the Tbilisi-Novosibirsk-Tbilisi route, Trend reports.

According to the schedule on the website of Novosibirsk's Tolmachevo airport, flights will begin on September 28 and will be operated twice a week - on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

The airline clarified that flight details are still being agreed upon.

Georgian Airways currently operates flights from Tbilisi to Moscow and St. Petersburg, and also offers transit flights to Europe for passengers from Russia.
Bengali actor Sreelekha Mitra has accused Malayalam filmmaker Ranjith of sexually harassing her. The actress allegations come at a time when the findings of the Justice Hema Committee report have already left the nation shocked, with many demanding strict punishment against the accused.

Malayalam Filmmaker Ranjith Accused of Sexual Harassment

Sreelekha was recently speaking to Asianet News when she accused Ranjith of sexually harassing her during the auditions for his 2009 film Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha. I was talking on the phone to a cinematographer, standing in Ranjiths bedroom balcony. As I stood there, he touched my bangles. I was uncomfortable with it, but I gave him the benefit of doubt. Then he started caressing my neck, so I excused myself and left the room, the actress said.

She further described the incident as traumatic and added, I was not able to share the incident with anyone. After the incident, I spent the night in my hotel room in fear, thinking, what if people come and knock on my door? I was waiting for daylight.

The actress also claimed that after the incident she was not provided any travel tickets to return home. Not just this, she alleged that the shocking incident also shut doors for her in the Malayalam film industry.

Ranjith Calls Actress Allegations Fabricated

Director Ranjith also reacted to the Bengali actress allegations and counter-accused her of spreading lies. He called her claims fabricated and said, I interacted with her in the presence of screenwriter Shankar Ramakrishnan and two assistants. After Ramakrishnan narrated the story to Sreelekha, she was excited. I had some confusion about which character should be given to her. He further alleged that Sreelekha has been making allegations because she was not given a role in the movie.

Kerala Minister Reacts To Sexual Harassment Allegations

Meanwhile, Kerala Minister Saji Cherian has also reacted to the Bengali actress allegations. Someone has raised a complaint publicly and the director has already denied the allegations publicly. If they formally register a complaint, it should be investigated. Without an investigation, we can not assume the allegations against him are true. He completely denied it, so it needs to be subjected to an investigation, he said.

The minister further defended Ranjit and mentioned that a case can be filed only if a written complaint is given. It should be noted that Ranjith is the chairman of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy  a government initiative to promote Malayalam cinema.
One of Bollywoods biggest stars, Salman Khan, commands a vast fan following nationwide, not only for his cinematic achievements but also for his selfless philanthropy. Throughout the years, Salman has garnered significant recognition for his numerous charitable efforts, underscoring his enduring legacy as a humanitarian. At one point, the Bollywood Bhaijaan revealed that he donated a substantial portion of his income to charity, keeping only 10 per cent for himself.

During an old interview with Aap Ki Adalat, Salman Khan was asked about his charitable activities and his income, to which the actor readily cleared the air. Ye sach hai ki main sirf 10 per cent ko hi haath lagata hu. Baaki ka jo paisa hai wo jaata hai charity ke andar, but its not like 90 per cent of it goes to charity. A lot of money goes to charity (It is true that I only touch 10 per cent of my income. The rest of the money goes to charity but its not 90 per cent)," he said.

Explaining it further, he also shared that a lot of people approach his foundation (Being Human) and that his father, veteran screenwriter Salim Khan, signs a lot of cheques to help them.

Notably, this is just one of the several efforts that the Bollywood star makes to help the needy. He is also Indias first bone marrow donor. Back in 2010, Salman Khan donated his bone marrow to a young girl who needed a transplant to save her life. From supporting underprivileged children across India to get a better life to adopting villages, his NGO has been largely involved in charity work, speaking volumes of his kindness. Also, the actor auctions his paintings to donate the earnings to charity.

Salman Khan was last seen in Maneesh Sharmas Tiger 3 alongside Katrina Kaif for the third time in the celebrated franchise. He will be next seen in the much-anticipated flick Sikandar, directed by AR Murugadoss. The film has been creating buzz ever since its announcement. As per the reports, the actor might play double roles. He will reportedly portray a businessman in Sikandar who is a philanthropist and kind-hearted person.

The film is expected to release on Eid 2025.
Hollywood legend Robert De Niro marked his 81st birthday on August 17 with a daring move that most of us would not think of when we turn 81. The Godfather actor leaped off a yacht. His daughter, Drena De Niro, shared glimpses of the celebration on Instagram, including both photos and videos that showed the event and honoured her father. In one of the videos, the iconic actor can be seen making a dive into the water. Drena also posted family pictures, featuring the actor alongside other loved ones, including her late son Leandro Anthony De Niro-Rodriguez.

In the video, Drena can be heard saying, Hes so crazy. Oh my God. She then asks her father, You alright? To this, De Niro replies, I am okay. Happy 81st Bday to my Dad and #1 ride or die.. Love you with all my BobbyD forever, she wrote in her post.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Drena (@drenadeniro)

As the video went viral online, fans flooded the comments section with birthday wishes and praises for De Niro. One user wrote, Happy birthday to the OG!!!!! May we all look this good at this age! Another fan said, A Happy Birthday to the best actor of all Time, for his 81st Birthday. And many more. From a very big fan. Happy birthday to the absolute GOAT, another fan wrote. Such a beautiful, decent, principled man. Happy Birthday Bobby D, added an admirer.

Robert De Niro was born on August 17, 1943, in Manhattan, New York City, to artists Virginia and Robert De Niro Senior. He is celebrated for his memorable roles in films like The Godfather Part II, Taxi Driver, The Deer Hunter, Cape Fear and Raging Bull, the latter of which earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor. De Niros accolades include four Golden Globe Award nominations, the AFI Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003 and the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2010.

The much-loved actor is a father of seven. He adopted Drena, now 52, after his marriage to Diahnne Abbott, with whom he also had a son, Raphael, 47. In 1995, he welcomed twin sons, Julian and Aaron, now 28, with his former girlfriend Toukie Smith. De Niro has two children, Elliot, 26 and Helen Grace, 12, with his ex-wife Grace Hightower. Most recently, in April 2023, De Niro became a father again, welcoming a baby girl named Gia with his girlfriend Tiffany Chen.
Kangana Ranaut, whos all set for her upcoming film Emergency, has dropped a bombshell, yet again, claiming theres been a conspiracy against her in Bollywood. In a recent interview, the actress alleged that many casting directors, cinematographers and actors outright refused to work with her. Speaking to The Times of India, Kangana revealed that industry insiders were warning others not to work with her. She said, Several casting directors, and DOPs refused to work with me. Actors were receiving calls to not work with me. There was a lot of conspiracy against me.

The actor-director said she felt lucky to work with stars like Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Satish Kaushik, and Mahima Choudhary despite the challenges. She called it the best feeling when people choose to work with you in tough times. She also mentioned that her Emergency cast didnt just agree to work with herthey treated her with respect and love.

At the trailer launch of her upcoming film Emergency in Mumbai, Kangana Ranaut was asked if she sees herself as a one-woman army and if she relates to Salman Khans struggles of being misunderstood in Bollywood. With her usual confidence, Kangana responded that she prefers to focus on her fans and the positive feedback she receives. She said that shes more interested in the love and support she gets than in the critics who want her out of the industry.

Kangana also spoke of a few negative people in the film industry who have formed their own circle, and she feels that in their eyes, she will always be a problem because they feel that their own people should be in this position. She said, Kuch jo log hain, negative log jo hain film industry ke log hain, jinon ne apna ek circle banaya hai, unki aankhon mein to main khatkiongi kyunki unko lagega ki hamare apne log is jagah pe hone chahiye aur Kangana nahin honi chahiye. Woh unke apne group ke honge, gang ke honge ya family ke honge. Woh is type par logon ko kyun sambodhit karein. Itna ninety percent log aapse pyaar karte hain, sirf woh teen percent par hi focus karna chahte hain jo ki hamesha khurafat karte rahte hain. I think thats not the way to look at life (These people might belong to their group, gang, or family. Why should we address such people? Ninety percent of people love you, but some only focus on the three percent who constantly create trouble).

Kangana Ranauts directorial Emergency will release on September 6.
Since its announcement, The Buckingham Murders has captivated audiences attention. With Kareena Kapoor Khan and Ektaa R Kapoor joining forces for Hansal Mehtas directorial, everyone is eagerly awaiting its release. The films recently released teaser opened to widespread acclaim and has raised the excitement level even higher. And now, the makers have unveiled a new poster featuring Kareena Kapoor Khan in a striking new look.

The poster features Kareena Kapoor Khan in black attire, wearing a formal coat, pants, and blazer. She perfectly embodies her cop persona while walking down a corridor that serves as a fitting backdrop, exuding profound intensity in her fresh and captivating look. This poster draws us further into the world of the film.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Balaji Motion Pictures (@balajimotionpictures)

As this poster intensifies our rising excitement for the film, it will definitely be intriguing to see Kareena Kapoor Khan as a cop. Her collaboration with Hansal Mehta is shaping up to be something special. The film also marks yet another collaboration between Ektaa R Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor Khan after blockbusters like Veere Di Wedding and Crew. Notably, this film marks Kareena Kapoor Khans debut as a producer.

Previously, Kareena talked about her role in the movie when she said, I think I loved playing that part because this is the first time I am playing a detective, and I am a huge crime drama fan. The actress further admitted that playing the cop was difficult since the characters grief made her uncomfortable. However, she also called it a career-defining role for me and one of my best characters.

Besides Kareena Kapoor Khan, The Buckingham Murders also stars Ash Tandon, Ranveer Brar, and Keith Allen.

The Buckingham Murders garnered acclaim from the crowd at its global premiere at the BFI London Film Festival 2023. It was also screened at the 2023 Mumbai Film Festival at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre in October.

The film is all set for its release on September 13, 2024.
Mahesh Babu has been juggling between several projects, including his preparation for SS Rajamoulis upcoming magnum opus. Despite his busy schedule, the Tollywood star makes time for his family. Recently, he was seen with his wife, Namrata Shirodkar, their kids, Sitara and Gautam, leaving Hyderabad Airport. Their destination remained a mystery until Namrata shared on Instagram that the family had flown to New York City. Although the actress didnt post any photos with the Guntur Kaaram star, she shared a charming picture of their children posing at the NYC airport. As of now, the reason for their trip remains unknown, but fans will be excited to see glimpses of the familys adventure in the American city.

Their children looked stylish and comfortable in their travel outfits for the long flight. This isnt the first time the family has visited NYC this year, they were there for their son Gautams university graduation in May. Before heading to NYC, Namrata, Sitara and Gautam visited the Tirupati temple, but Mahesh Babu stayed behind.

Namrata Shirodkar shared photos of their children on Instagram, but the paparazzi captured the entire family at Hyderabad airport. Mahesh Babu, looked mysterious, as he was seen wearing black sunglasses, a cap, jacket over his T-shirt and comfy pants. Namrata stayed behind and looked stylish in a trendy orange outfit.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kamlesh Nand (work) (@artistrybuzz_)

Recently, Mahesh Babus daughter, Sitara Ghattamaneni, spoke about her superstar father in an interview with iDream Media. She talked about how, despite his superstar status and the admiration he receives for his films, the actor is simply her father when hes at home. To her, he isnt a hero but just a regular father. Sitara also mentioned that her favourite movie is Khaleja and she loves it a lot.

Mahesh Babu and SS Rajamoulis upcoming film is tentatively titled, SSMB29. Details about the plot, story and cast are unknown. However, there are rumours that the movie might be called Garuda. This speculation started after a tweet surfaced online featuring a picture of golden wings, originally shared by TP Vijayan, the Visual Development Artist of SSMB and a throwback video of the filmmaker discussing a dream project named Garuda. However, nothing has been officially confirmed so far.

Meanwhile, Mahesh Babu is set to lend his voice to Mufasa in the Telugu version of the upcoming Mufasa: The Lion King. The movie is scheduled to release on December 20.
The Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) has finally broken its silence on the shocking revelations by the Justice Hema Committee report regarding the working conditions and sexual exploitation in the Malayalam film industry. On Friday, the film body addressed the media when they welcomed the report but claimed that no power groups exist in the industry as mentioned by the committee. AMMA also dismissed the casting couch allegations.

I have been in the industry for the past four decades and I can say with absolute conviction no power group, as mentioned in the report, exists because this is a film industry and no such groups can exist, neither there is a casting couch We have no qualms that if there is any crime anywhere, it has to be probed and we want to book the wrongdoers if there are any, AMMA General Secretary and actor Siddique said as quoted by IANS.

However, Siddiqui also asked the authorities to implement recommendations and shared, This report is not against AMMA. We wholeheartedly welcome the report and its findings. We want the recommendations to be implemented. Two years back, state Minister of Films Saji Cherian called us for a meeting based on the report and we gave our suggestions.

We have never opposed the release as it is the state governments brief. All should understand a majority of the women actors are our members and as and when the recommendations are implemented, our own members will be the beneficiaries. The problem is that the media is putting AMMA in the dock for no reason and that hurt us, he added.

Meanwhile, AMMA Vice President and actor Jagdeesh welcomed the report and stated that a correction needs to be made. Now the matter is sub-judice as the High Court has asked for the unedited version and if there are wrongdoers, then they should be punished that is my view and that of the AMMA. We will wait for their response. If there are names, let the names come out and appropriate action will be taken. The reports delayed release could have been avoided, had it come five years back, it would have been really nice, he said.

The AMMAs response comes a day after the Kerala High Court admitted a PIL for registering a criminal case on the findings of the Hema Committee. In 2017, a Malayalam actress actress was sexually assaulted following which the government formed a three-member commission. While it was headed by Justice K Hema (retired), former bureaucrat KB Valsalakumari and veteran actress Sharada were the other two team members. The report, which was submitted to the government in 2019, was made available to the public earlier this week. The report investigates several aspects of the Malayalam film industry including sexual harassment, lack of basic facilities like womens toilets and changing rooms, pay disparity and discrimination on the basis of gender.
Often making headlines for her bold and glam fashion choices and outspoken personality, Uorfi Javed is now ready to offer an unfiltered look into her life. Featuring the viral sensation alongside her family members, Prime Videos unscripted Original series, Follow Kar Lo Yaar, delves into both her private and public lives. As the series has kicked off, creating a lot of buzz among fans, it also has Bollywoods attention. Reacting to Uorfis latest stint, actress Ananya Panday has shown a lot of love for the show.

Resharing the poster for Follow Kar Lo Yaar on her Instagram story, Ananya gave a special mention to Uorfi and her sisters Uoroosa, Asfi, and Dolly. Binged this and how!!!! More power to you and your sassy sisters and cute mummy, she wrote.

Not just Ananya Panday, but the social media sensations latest show has also gotten support from the likes of Fatima Sana Shaikh, Mrunal Thakur, Orry, Tanmay Bhat, Aly Goni, Neha Dhupia, Rhea Chakraborty, Bharti Singh and Karishma Tanna, among others.

Congratulations! Cant wait to watch it. Sending you best wishes and shine bright, Mrunal wrote.

I dont know what it is that makes me feel like this. I dont know who you are but you must be some kind of superstar. Cause you got all my eyes on you no matter where you are, added Orry on his Instagram Stories.

Neha Dhupia congratulated Uorfi on her massive achievement. Cant wait to watch, she wrote.

More About Follow Kar Lo Yaar

After emerging as a small star out of Bigg Boss OTT, Uorfi Javed turned out to be one of the leading social media influencers with her sartorial choices. Her shocking outfits turned a lot of heads, causing the internet to troll her to the extreme.

Paying zero heed to any, Uorfi rose stronger than ever and is now here with her latest offering, Follow Kar Lo Yaar. Directed by Sandeep Kukreja, the nine-episode series seems to be following in the footsteps of the highly popular Keeping Up With Kardashians. Designed to show a different side of Uorfi, the show will open doors to shine a spotlight on her sisters, her family dynamics, and her daily hustle to remain in the news.
Actor Rithvikk Dhanjani shared a special wish for his ex-girlfriend Asha Negi on the latters birthday on Friday. Sharing a picture of the actress on the Stories section of his Instagram handle, Rithvikk wrote on it: Bappa tujhe jeevan ki har khushi de negi jeevan sirf aur sirf khushiyon se bhara rahe. May you always have the power to stay in the moment and make the most of it. Happy Birthday @ashanegi.

Rithvikk and Asha met on the sets of the popular television show Pavitra Rishta, in which Asha played Archanas (Ankita Lokhande) daughter Purvi, while Rithvik essayed the role of business tycoon Arjun. Their onscreen chemistry was appreciated by the fans. The show also starred late actor Sushant Singh Rajput and was his claim to fame before he made a move to the Hindi film industry.

Rithvikk and Asha dated each other for a couple of years before they parted ways, breaking the hearts of their fans. They announced their break-up in 2020 during the Covid pandemic, a period which tested many relationships of varied nature. Both the actors mentioned that dealing with the breakup was a difficult phase in their lives.

However, Rithvikk and Asha continue to remain on good terms with each other. They refrain from speaking anything negative about each other and respect their personal lives and decisions. Rithvikk is currently rumoured to be dating Krystle DSouza. The two are often seen together on holidays or making public appearances in Mumbai.

Recently, Asha had expressed her deep affection for coffee, declaring that love is in the air. She took to Instagram where she dropped several pictures from a coffee shop in which she could be seen posing with her cup dressed in a white top paired with blue jeans.

Rithvikk, who become a household name for his performance as Arjun Digvijay Kirloskar in the television series  Pavitra Rishta  met Asha on the sets of the show in 2011. They were dating since then. They broke up in 2021.
Fans were speculating about Shilpa Shettys destination when she was spotted at the Mumbai airport on Friday. Now, we know that the actress jetted off to Jaipur for reasons still unknown to us. But, how do we know about her getaway location? On Saturday, the actress posted a story on Instagram in which she added a beautiful snap of Hawa Mahal with the hashtag Jaipur diaries.

In case you missed it:

PS: Shilpa Shetty was joined by Farah Khan on her trip to Jaipur. The ace director intrigued us all with a video she shared on the photo-sharing application. Sharing the clip, she also warned everyone not to travel with Shilpa and the reason behind the same may be valid enough for all the foodies. The video posted by Farah starts with a cabin crew offering a beverage to her. As she proceeds to take the glass, Shilpa stops her. The director, then, goes on to place an order but is again stopped by Shilpa. With the actress not letting Farah eat the food she wants, the director asks the flight attendant for a seat change.

Farah Khan captioned the video, Never sit with Shilpa Shetty on a flight!! U wont get to eat anything n u STILL WONT look like her.

Before heading to Jaipur, Shilpa Shetty made sure to celebrate Raksha Bandhan with her family a few days back. She even shared a touching video from her Rakhi celebrations, depicting the special bond between her children, Viaan and Samisha. The clip captured Viaan seated on a sofa as Samisha ties the Rakhi on his wrist, followed by exchanging sweets. The sweetest moments came when Viaan gently kissed Samisha on the forehead. Along with the video, Shilpa wrote, Happy Raksha Bandhan, my heart and my soul.

On the work front, Shilpa Shetty last appeared in Indian Police Force opposite Sidharth Malhotra, Vivek Oberoi, Sharad Kelkar and others. Helmed by Rohit Shetty, the show marked the first series in Rohits cop universe. Next up for her is the Kannada movie, KD  The Devil.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 24. WHO needs nearly $135 million over next six months to fight monkeypox outbreak, Director General of the organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, Trend reports.

"We estimate that it will cost about $135 million to stop the monkeypox epidemic as quickly as possible during the acute phase of the disease over the next six months," he said.

Ghebreyesus noted that the fight against the monkeypox epidemic requires comprehensive and coordinated efforts by the international community.
Mira Rajput has been giving her fans a virtual tour of Spain through a series of photo dumps from her recent trip. In her latest post, she playfully indulges in the idea that the weekend has whisked her away to a distant escape.

The first photo shows Mira enjoying a drink while posing in front of a shop, looking effortlessly chic in blue pants and a white t-shirt. She accessorised her casual outfit with brown flats, a sling bag, a watch and sunglasses. Following that, she shared a snap of some delightful ice cream. In the final image, Mira strikes a pose in a pink printed maxi dress that beautifully complements the picturesque backdrop. She finishes off the look with a hairband, sunglasses, and a tote bag. Let me pretend Im on vacation cause its the weekend, she playfully captioned the post.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mira Rajput Kapoor (@mira.kapoor)

Shortly after, Miras post was flooded with comments from fans and followers. One user wrote, Your song selection is amazingalways love it, while another user wrote, Spanish girl.

Previously, Mira shared a video capturing all her wonderful moments from her Spain trip. The video started with Mira exploring the streets of Spain in two different outfits: a pink maxi dress and a pink checkered top paired with blue denim and white shoes. It then showcased her visiting various tourist spots with her kids, Misha and Zain. Mira was seen holding her childrens hands and enjoying quality time together.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mira Rajput Kapoor (@mira.kapoor)

Alongside the video, Mira wrote in the caption, My travel journal is fullthe rest is still unwritten.

Apart from her social media presence, Mira made headlines with her stunning appearance at Anamika Khannas launch party for the collaboration with H&M. She dazzled in a cropped embellished slim-fit blazer, a cropped bandeau top, and high-waist flared pants. She completed the look with statement earrings, a black and green beaded clutch and black pointed pumps.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Varinder Chawla (@varindertchawla)

Mira Rajput got married to actor Shahid Kapoor on July 7, 2015. The couple is blessed with two children: a daughter named Misha and a son named Zain.

On the professional front, Mira Rajput has recently launched her skincare brand Akind.
Sarabjot Singh, who partnered with Manu Bhaker to win Indias first ever Olympic medal in a mixed shooting event, on Saturday said they barely got to train together in the run-up to their event.

Bhaker and Sarabjot scripted history with a bronze medal in the 10m air pistol mixed team shooting event at the Paris Games.

My training was due at 9, hers was due at 12, individually. Mixed session lasted for 30 minutes, before which she trained separately, and I separately.

Our conversation was usually brief and limited to Apna 100 per cent dena hai (we have to give our 100 per cent). Apart from that, we enjoyed some banter. Sometimes I would make fun of her, sometimes she would of me, recalled Sarabjot.

Sarabjot also revealed his longtime fandom for Yusuf Dikec and said he has been looking up to the Turkish shooting icon for inspiration since 2011.

I have been watching his (Yusufs) videos since 2011. He has always been like this. He is 51 today. Even though I have tried, I could not match his perfection. If I had the chance, I would ask him what he eats?, said the 22-year-old from Dheen village of Haryana during an interview with PUMA India.

Sarabjot said that his pistol is engraved with SSINGH30, comprising his initials and a significant date in his journey.

I didnt give it a name. When I achieved my personal best at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, I got the weapon engraved with SSINGH30. That is my best weapon. Because my medal (gold) came on September 30 and that was a significant achievement, he said.

The athlete also shared that he has had to deal with his fair share of setbacks in his journey. Meditation, and a rare yogic technique called Trataka, helped him.

The main technique is to look at the candle flame with eyes open for three minutes, and then imagine for two minutes. I used to keep it directly in front of my eyes.

Complete darkness in the room, complete peace, silence. My eyes would water; it was not easy. The most important thing is visualisation in shooting, said Sarabjot.

In conclusion, the Olympic medallist stated his ambition for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

LA 28; iska colour change karna hai (LA 28, I want to change its colour), said Sarabjot, gesturing toward his glittering bronze medal.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjees letter to the Prime Minister, pontificating on the need to have stringent punishment laws for perpetrators of rape, is a stark example of how brazen and disconnected she is from the hard realities of the ground in the state. For someone who keeps boasting that she has been a seven-term Member of Parliament and a cabinet minister with various governments in Delhi, Mamata Banerjees letter reeks of chicanery and insensitiveness, and is a brazen and ill-timed effort to try and submerge the RG Kar Hospital episode by placing it before a wider national narrative that she assumes would eventually dilute or blanket the failings of her administration and her police, and of her as a chief minister who had come to power promising change.

The enforcement of laws against rape will, and is, happening. Prime Minister Modis governments and his stand on womens safety, dignity, and women-led development, as articulated by him from the ramparts of the Red Fort this Independence Day, amply made that clear. PM Modis call for ensuring exemplary and stringent punishment for perpetrators was unequivocal. Why did Mamata Banerjee wait more than a week to issue her homily? Why didnt she immediately endorse the PMs views and sentiments on the issue? Her habit of peddling a cheap political narrative or trying to score a shallow political point is assuming a fatiguing and irritating regularity.

Seeing her invite Bangladeshi infiltrators, defend Rohingyas, call for a United Nations referendum on the CAA, argue that Covid-19 was a ploy to divert attention from the anti-CAA Delhi riots, and heap calumny on those who celebrate Ram Navami, one wonders whether Mamata Banerjee has completely lost the sense of the nation and of the federal structure and framework within which the Indian Republic has functioned for the seven-odd decades. Her well-choreographed theatrics at the recent NITI Aayog meeting, in which she lied that her microphone was switched off in order to prevent her from speaking, only proved that she was the only non-serious chief minister in the entire meeting and exercise. It also proved that affairs of the state no more interest her and her increasing irrelevance has begun to irk her. The gimmick, such as the one in the NITI Aayog meeting, was just an attempt to keep afloat and in the news.

Her reaction and utterances on the RG Kar crime reinforce the belief that she has lost touch, is immersed in arrogance, and feels that she is doing a favour to the people of the state by continuing as chief minister. In fact, for those who have observed her, her reaction to the RG Kar crime is no different. For years she has often displayed such brazenness. For example, when the Park Street rape case shook the state in 2012, she casually referred to the episode as a fake incident, while her partys MP from Barasat, a doctor, Kakoli Ghosh-Dastidar, shockingly dismissed the case as a misunderstanding between the lady and her client. In the past too, on several occasions, Mamata Banerjee has displayed a strangely dark attitude to womens safety and security. She said, for instance, that rapes have increased because men and women mix more often now. She cast aspersions on the character of the victim of rape at Hanskhali in Nadia, asking her police to also probe that angle. Her approach in the RG Kar episode, therefore, must not come as a surprise. Her insensitiveness has hardened. But people are not ready to absorb that anymore.

People cutting across strata and social privileges are insisting on action. The demand for justice extends to identifying, exposing, and arresting those who have been part of the crime  the perpetrators, the patrons and those within the system who seem to have extended political patronage to various cartels and cabals.

What pushes Mamatas administration to repeatedly attempt to reinstate RG Kar principal Sandip Ghosh, the latest being his appointment as OSD of the health department is what continues to baffle observers and the general public. That some of the major government-run hospitals in West Bengal have become cesspools of corruption and illicit activities and trade was evident during the Covid-19 pandemic when several cases of black-marketeering began emerging from these hospitals. Cartels active in these hospitals seem to be thriving under political patronage. Why is Mamata Banerjee resisting attempts to expose these cartels and networks? Is it because the rot is too deep  a rot that has penetrated deeper with her and her partys active patronage and protection?

In the last 10 days, the protests have spread across West Bengal. It is a people-led and driven protest, across age groups and social and professional strata. The episode has left the entire country shocked. Mamatas bravado-laced comment  that her opponents were trying a Bangladesh-like attempt to unseat her  has not helped. In these comments, she comes across as a cheap street-fighting politician with a self-centred and myopic perception of things. She is no Sheikh Hasina, and those protesting across West Bengal and Kolkata are not dancing to the tunes of some external agencies or forums.

Mamata chooses to forget that less than two months back she had won more parliamentary seats than she did in 2019 and that eleven of her Members of Parliament are women. Not one of them has spoken up. Even when the TMCs former MP from Jadavpur, Mimi Chakraborty, was threatened with rape and harm because she had spoken out against the RG Kar episode, her partys women lawmakers, including the newly elected one from Jadavpur, a woman, has chosen to keep silent and look the other way.

It is not enough to keep bragging, as Mamata Banerjee does ad infinitum, that she is the only woman chief minister in the country. The bragging needs to be followed up by concrete action or governance initiatives that will make her stand apart in that category or league. Mamata Banerjee has failed on all counts. Her reaction to the gruesome and deeply shocking RG Kar murder has left the whole country shocked. Her and her partys attempts to force the CBI to conclude the investigation within a stipulated time frame is hypocritical, to say the least.

With the protests and indignation spreading across West Bengal, a senior observer of the states politics described the situation here as a functioning anarchy. That functioning anarchy is on the way to stop functioning and eventually lapsing into anarchy driven by an anarchical political mindset that brooks no questioning and refuses to be accountable or responsive. Such a mindset needs to be relentlessly opposed, exposed and unseated.

The author is Chairman, Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation & Member, BJP National Executive Committee. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
The gruesome incident of rape and murder of a trainee doctor in a Kolkata hospital this month has renewed public fury and horror over the inability of authorities to halt chronic violence against women and girls in India. It has also brought pinprick reminders of long-held concerns about the safety of healthcare professionals in the country.

In an exclusive interview with News18 on Saturday, Karnatakas minister for health and family welfare Dinesh Gundu Rao addressed such concerns and shared details of his governments initiatives to allay those fears while also responding to speculation of chief minister Siddaramaiah possibly stepping down in the near future over an alleged land allotment scam. Edited excerpts:

In light of the heinous crime in Kolkata, Karnataka has set up a special task force. What have been the recommendations?

That incident has truly shaken the entire country, especially the medical fraternity. The safety of doctors, particularly women medical professionals, has become a point of concern and great importance. The incident was gruesome and horrific, prompting us to reassess everything that we were doing.

We have consulted various stakeholders and established a task force and committee to provide us with a report within a month to improve the infrastructure and use technology to ensure safety and security. We are looking for implementable programmes, with our paramount effort being to provide a safe environment for medical professionals. We are also considering developing apps, panic buttons, and providing proper infrastructure, such as secure resting rooms for medical professionals. They should feel that their safety is being taken care of. We have also amended laws to enhance the safety of doctors.

Will there be further amendments to the laws in view of the panel report?

No, but we will be seriously looking at licensing and setting special parameters. Those seeking licences or renewing them will need to specify what they are doing to ensure the safety of women medical professionals. This can become part of the mandate and will be included in the report.

Will there be safe zones for resting for medical professionals?

Certain measures will be made mandatory before the issuing of permissions and licences. Duty rooms, CCTVs, grievance redressal systems, and stricter implementation of existing laws will be required. When such incidents occur, we often come up with suggestions, but the real challenge is to put them into practice and implement them effectively.

The issue in Kolkata at the RG Kar Hospital has now snowballed into a full-blown political battle. Even Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi criticised West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, and the issue has shifted towards becoming a Congress vs TMC conflict. What is your take on this?

Unfortunately, in India, everything becomes politicised, but issues like this must be handled with a great deal of sensitivity, and we should not allow it to become another political battle. I believe West Bengal should have been more sensitive to the situation. The BJP is also politicising this as a way to target Mamata Banerjees government. In BJP-ruled states, similar incidents are happening, but they are not speaking about them. Every government should act with sensitivity.

Did West Bengal mismanage the issue?

When the issue first emerged, they responded as though they were being attacked, which was not the appropriate reaction. They should have been considerate and empathetic, ensuring that law and order were maintained. We must break away from the patriarchal mindset seen in states like UP and Bihar, where political leaders act without sensitivity. Mamata may have attempted to do the right thing, but the way it came across was different. We need to change societal attitudes, especially concerning the abuse of women and children. This sickness within society must be rooted out.

In Karnataka, is the government going to last? Will Siddaramaiah continue as chief minister?

There is no change in the chief minister. This is merely a conspiracy, and the chief minister has not done anything wrong. We have stated this numerous times. The fact is that our party is stronger than ever before. We know this is a conspiracy to harass our chief minister and our government, particularly regarding the pro-poor programmes we have delivered to the people. The BJP is trying to create a crisis, but we have delivered, and they want to derail this progress. In fact, the Congress is more united than ever, and we are fighting this together.

Is the chief minister under pressure, or is he becoming a stronger leader?

He is not under pressure. He has done nothing wrong and, in fact, he has become more assertive. Incidents like this motivate him to demonstrate his capabilities, which will ultimately benefit the state and the Congress. This will be a better government. Whatever the BJP is trying will ultimately fail. It is their MLAs who are facing serious charges. They have been investigated and charges have been filed. We have sought sanction from the governor to prosecute them. This will eventually lead to their downfall, as the governor cannot be selective. If he is taking action against Siddaramaiah, he must do the same with HD Kumaraswamy and other BJP leaders when required. He must listen to the cabinets recommendations.

Will this lead to resignations (in the BJP)?

I believe it should lead to the resignation of Kumaraswamy. He is the mines minister, and if the governor sanctions it, he will be prosecuted for a major corruption scandal, which has been investigated and for which charges have been filed. The ball is now in their court, and there is a great deal of evidence against him.

Will there be a change in leadership?

There is no such possibility. There has been no wrongdoing. You may interpret it in different ways, but CM Siddaramaiah was not in power at the time. He stated that when he was in power, such allotments would not be made, and he did not misuse his office. This demonstrates his high moral conduct. What more can you expect from a political leader? The BJP may say anything, but it reflects his high moral conduct.
Admission letters are often a source of immense joy and hope for students, symbolizing their hard-earned achievement and the beginning of a new academic journey. Typically, these letters are carefully stored away as keepsakes but for the accepted students of one university in China, their admission letters are proving to be much more versatile.

Beijing University of Chemical Technology (BUCT) has gained viral attention for issuing admission letters made from an ultra-thin carbon fibre material. According to reports from Oddity Central, these unique letters are only 0.2 millimetres thick, making them not only lightweight but also exceptionally durable.

Rather than simply preserving these letters, students have found creative and practical uses for them. Videos circulating online show students using their carbon fibre letters to cut fruits like melons and mince meat and even expose them to flames, demonstrating the materials impressive resilienceneither burning nor melting under intense heat.

As these videos garnered widespread attention, a spokesperson from the university provided clarification about the material. The admission letters, he explained, are crafted from an innovative material developed at BUCT. Professor Yang Xiaoping from BUCTs College of Materials Science and Engineering elaborated further, noting that the innovation showcases the universitys cutting-edge capabilities in the field of carbon fibre composite materials. He emphasised that this materials use in admission letters not only reflects its potential for everyday applications but also highlights its significance in high-end industrial contexts, such as aerospace, military, and maritime industries, where high heat and corrosion resistance are crucial.

Despite the materials impressive durability, the university has advised students against using the letters for potentially dangerous experiments, urging them instead to cherish the keepsakes. Online, many have marvelled at the toughness of these academic qualifications, with some humorously referring to the material as black gold, a term often used in industry due to its strength and value.

Other institutions have also gained attention for their unique admission letter designs, incorporating materials inspired by film slates, bamboo, and traditional Chinese elements, each adding a special touch to the academic milestone.
While swiping right on dating apps may seem like the right thing, many are unaware of the sinister plots they might be entering, carefully planned to scam men looking for love. Dating app scams have surged in India recently, with people creating fake profiles and luring individuals into expensive traps, exploiting their emotions and trust. Journalist Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj recently highlighted these scams, revealing how a Mumbai-based restaurant has been a part of the scheme.

The Godfather Club, located in Mumbais Andheri West, has come under scrutiny following Bhardwajs viral post on social media. According to the post, the scam begins on popular dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, and OKCupid, where men are invited on dates to the chosen venue, often the restaurant in question.

After meeting, the women intentionally order expensive items that are not on the menu, spend some time with the dates, and abruptly leave. However, the worst comes later, as the men are left with nothing but bills of up to Rs 61,000. Bhardwaj even shared pictures of the restaurant bills in her post.

 MUMBAI DATING SCAM EXPOSE THE GODFATHER CLUB ANDHERI WEST BRAZEN SCAMMING EVERYDAY12 victims in touchTrap laid through Tinder, BumbleBill amounts 23K- 61K3 men trapped by same girl@MumbaiPolice @CPMumbaiPolice @mymalishka @CMOMaharashtra@zomato pic.twitter.com/qGOacFCE9f  Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj (@DeepikaBhardwaj) August 23, 2024

Exposing the Mumbai dating scam at the restaurant, she added that 12 victims are in touch while three men have been trapped by the same girl with bills amounting between Rs 23,000 and Rs 61,000. The traps are usually laid through Tinder and Bumble. In the following tweets, Bhardwaj explained how the scam works. Beginning with connecting on the dating app, the individuals are pushed for quick meetings at certain venues, specifically The Godfather.

Upon meeting, the girl orders drinks, hookah, fire shots, and other items without showing the menu card to the other person. Within an hour, he is given an expensive bill and the girl absconds. Left with no other option, the guys are forced to pay the money or are beaten up by the bouncers.

Mentioning that many people have posted about their ordeals about the alleged scam, Bhardwaj also stated that the Mumbai Police is yet to take any action. Exactly same stories posted by hundreds of men but @MumbaiPolice @CPMumbaiPolice seem to be snoozing Happening right under Bandra Police nose but they dont care to investigate even after formal complaints lodged by victims the last time I exposed other clubs, she wrote.

Exactly same stories posted by hundreds of men but @MumbaiPolice @CPMumbaiPolice seem to be snoozingHappening right under Bandra Police nose but they don't care to investigate even after formal complaints lodged by victims last time I exposed other club@TOIMumbai @Khanmidday pic.twitter.com/bvPFRdDTxJ  Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj (@DeepikaBhardwaj) August 23, 2024

Her post has sparked an intense discussion on the internet, as similar incidents have also been reported across other major cities like Delhi, Bengaluru, Gurugram and Hyderabad.
Every year a large number of Indian students go abroad. Students from different countries also settle in Indian universities. Students from countries like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, France, America, Australia and Japan come to India to study. Pakistani students are also on the list of those studying in Indian universities.

Given the strained relations between the two countries, it is not easy for Pakistani students to get a student visa to India. For this, they have to take permission from both the Indian and Pakistani governments. Even after submitting all the required documents, Pakistani students Indian visa is often rejected. Find out what are the rules laid down by the Ministry of Home Affairs for student visas for admission in Indian universities.

For which courses can Pakistanis get an Indian student visa?

Pakistani citizens can get student visas to study in Indian universities. Many conditions need to be fulfilled for this. Pakistani students can get a visa for admission to professional courses offered in Indian universities. These courses include engineering, medicine, law and management. To get a student visa, Pakistani students need to get admission to a recognized university.

Can a student visa be granted for school studies?

Pakistani students are not eligible for an Indian student visa for courses like science/humanities/commerce. At the school level, student visas can only be granted for studying in recognized/approved international schools that accept international students. Also, the schools should have a high fee structure (minimum Rs. 30,000 per month). Student visas can also be granted for studying music, dance, yoga, etc. in institutions recognized by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

How can a Pakistani student get a student visa?

It is not easy for a Pakistani student to get admission to a school or university in India. For this, they must fulfil the following conditions

1- Proof of final admission to a full-time graduation/post-graduation course in a recognized/accredited educational institution in India must be submitted.

2- The Pakistani student must submit proof of financial support. He or she must prove to the satisfaction of the Indian Mission that he or she has transferred sufficient funds for living and studying in India for at least 4 months.

3- Pakistani citizens coming to India on a student visa must register within 24 hours of their arrival in India. They must also inform the local District Police Officer (FRO) about their place of residence.

4- Similarly, they must notify in writing 24 hours before departure that they will be changing their place of residence.
Germanys navy says there was no deeper message in the choice to blast the famed Imperial March  Darth Vaders theme song in the iconic Star Wars films  from one of its warships.

As the German warship cruised down the River Thames through London this week, a bystander captured the spectacle Monday on video, which quickly went viral on social media.

The German navy said the warship was in the area for training and dropped anchor in London for a normal supply stop. The commander can choose the music freely, the navy said in a statement Thursday. The choice of music has no deeper message.

This German warship drew attention for its choice of music as it entered London. The ships crew played the iconic Imperial March  Darth Vaders theme from the Star Wars films. pic.twitter.com/hoia12uXOH DW News (@dwnews) August 23, 2024

Other video recorded the warship, the Braunschweig, playing London Calling, the 1979 hit from British rock band The Clash, upon its arrival in London. The songs title is drawn from the BBC World Service station identification in World War II and its lyrics include the lines, London calling to the zombies of death/Quit holding out and draw another breath.

The Braunschweig is named for a city in Germanys Lower Saxony  an area far, far away from the United Kingdom  and part of the countrys newest class of ocean-going corvettes.

For its departure, a tugboat pulled the warship down the river near Tower Bridge as sailors  without any lightsabers, sadly  stood on the deck. This trip was the Braunschweigs second to the British capital, the Germany Embassy in London wrote on the social media platform X.

The German corvette FGS Braunschweig has arrived in London, and is moored until 19 August next to HMS Belfast on Southbank in London.The Braunschweig class is Germanys newest class of ocean-going corvettes. Its FGS Braunschweigs second visit in London. pic.twitter.com/L7onfU7bIq  German Embassy London (@GermanEmbassy) August 16, 2024

The warships commander is a big Star Wars fan and an admirer of the legendary musical scores of John Williams, the embassy said in a statement. He chooses a different Williams tune whenever his ship is visiting a foreign harbor.

(With agency inputs)
In a significant move, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday proposed India among a handful of Global South countries for hosting the second Ukraine peace summit and conveyed his idea to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The inaugural peace summit was held at a resort near Lucerne in Switzerland in June that was attended by more than 90 countries and global institutions with a sole focus on bringing peace to Ukraine.

At a media briefing, Zelensky said he told Prime Minister Modi that the peace summit could be hosted in India. As for the Peace Summit, I truly believe that the second Peace Summit has to take place. It would be good if it could be held in one of the Global South countries, he said.

We are very open to it. There are countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkiye and Switzerland. We are currently talking to those countries on hosting the peace summit, Zelensky said. I told Prime Minister Modi that we could have the Global Peace Summit in India. Its a big country, its a great democracy  the largest one, he said.

However, at the same time, the Ukrainian president said it would not be possible to host the summit in a country that has not joined the communique of the last peace summit. India had attended the first edition of the summit but refrained from associating itself with the communique that emerged from the deliberations. New Delhi asserted that it will remain engaged with all stakeholders to facilitate a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict.

The summit concluded with dozens of countries throwing their support to Ukraines territorial integrity and calling for talks among all parties to find a lasting solution to the conflict. Modi on Friday conveyed to Zelensky that both Ukraine and Russia should sit together without wasting time to end the ongoing war and that India was ready to play an active role to restore peace in the region.

His nearly nine-hour visit to Ukraine, the first by an Indian prime minister since its independence in 1991, came six weeks after he held summit talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin that triggered anguish in some Western countries. I have come with a message of peace..I want to assure you and the entire global community that India is committed to respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity (of states) and it is of utmost importance to us, Modi told Zelensky during the talks.

The prime minister also asserted Indias strong commitment towards respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. I want to assure you and the entire global community that India is committed towards respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity (of states) and it is of utmost importance to us, he said. Zelensky said India supports Ukraines national sovereignty and territorial integrity and it is critical because everyone in the world must equally respect the UN Charter.
Highlighting the deepening ties between India and the US, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, during his visit to Washington on Friday, underlined the increasing cooperation in defence and industrial sectors between the two democracies.

During his four-day official visit, Singh met with US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin in Washington and discussed ways to strengthen this relationship. In his opening remarks, Singh noted that the bilateral relationship between India and the United States has seen a growing convergence of strategic interests.

Global strategic partnership

India and the US enjoy a comprehensive global strategic partnership covering almost all areas of human endeavour Our bilateral relationship has seen a growing convergence of strategic interests and enhanced defence, security and industrial cooperation, the defence minister said.

#WATCH | In his opening remark, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says, India and the US enjoy a comprehensive global strategic partnership covering almost all areas of human endeavour Our bilateral relationship has seen a growing convergence of strategic interests and pic.twitter.com/TCGJa5ZE6J ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2024

Our leaders share an excellent repo and are working together on several global issues apart from vast and growing bilateral relations. We have had regular high-level interactions and that includes PM (Narendra) Modis state visit to the US in June where he also addressed the joint sitting of US Congress. President (Joe) Biden visited India in September 2023 to attend the G20 leaders summit. PM Modi met President Biden on the sidelines of a G7 meeting in Italy, he noted.

During his meeting with the US Secretary of Defence on Friday, Singh reviewed existing defence cooperation activities between the two countries and discussed ways to deepen it further.

Excellent meeting with my dear friend @SecDef Lloyd Austin. We reviewed the existing defence cooperation activities and discussed ways to deepen it further. The signing of Security of Supply Arrangements and the agreement for positioning of Indian officers at key US commands are pathbreaking developments, Singh said in a post on X.

Meeting Jake Sullivan

Rajnath Singh also met the US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Washington and shared perspectives on key strategic matters of mutual interest. Delighted to meet the National Security Advisor of the United States @jakesullivan and share perspectives on key strategic matters of mutual interest, Singh said in a post on X after his meeting on Friday. He also had a fruitful exchange with leading US defence companies and invited them to work with Indian partners to accelerate the Make in India programme.

Singh arrived here on Thursday on a four-day official visit to further boost the comprehensive global strategic partnership between the two countries. Singh also interacted with the Indian community during the visit. While interacting with the Indian diaspora here, Singh described India and the US as natural allies, which are destined to be strong partners, and this collaboration is growing continuously.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 24. Elchin Amirbayov, Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan for Special Assignments, recently met with Vietnam's Vice President, Vo Thi Anh Xuan, in Hanoi, Trend reports.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh expressed her satisfaction with the positive direction of the bilateral relationship, highlighting the frequent exchange of delegations at various levels, the effective functioning of bilateral mechanisms, mutual support in multilateral forums, and significant progress in economic and trade cooperation.

She emphasized the importance of education as a key area of collaboration, noting Azerbaijan's crucial role in training Vietnamese personnel in fields such as oil and gas, communications, and the navy.

Vo Thi Anh also stressed the need to continue working together, particularly in cultural exchanges and mutual support in regional and United Nations forums. She affirmed Vietnams readiness to back Azerbaijans bid for membership in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC). Additionally, she suggested that the Vietnam-Azerbaijan Inter-Governmental Committee for Economic-Commercial and Scientific-Technical Cooperation review current mechanisms and explore new ways to further enhance bilateral cooperation.

On global and regional issues, she reaffirmed Vietnam's consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, and development, along with multilateralization and diversification of external relations. She emphasized Vietnam's commitment to maintaining an environment of peace, national sovereignty, and the right of self-determination for all nations.

In response, Elchin Amirbayov expressed his desire to strengthen the traditional friendship between Azerbaijan and Vietnam, particularly in areas like economy, trade, investment, and culture, where there is still significant potential for growth. He highlighted the critical role of education, noting that thousands of Vietnamese students have studied in Azerbaijan and have become key members of friendship associations, serving as important bridges between the two nations.

Amirbayov also proposed facilitating high-level visits and expanding cooperation in the oil and gas sector. He described Asia as a top priority in Azerbaijan's foreign policy and emphasized the importance Azerbaijan places on its relations with ASEAN countries, including Vietnam. He expressed hope that Vietnam would support Azerbaijans bid for TAC membership.

Both sides agreed on further developing bilateral ties in various fields, including politics and diplomacy, economy, trade, education, and the exchange of expertise in clearing bombs, mines, and unexploded ordnance.
Fifty-one people of the group from Maharashtra that had gone to Nepal and met with a bus accident there will arrive here on Saturday evening, along with the bodies of the vehicles driver and cleaner who died in the incident, officials said.

They will be then taken to Gorakhpur under police protection and supervision of additional district magistrate, the district officials said.

The district administration has made food and other necessary arrangements for all the passengers at the border, they added.

The Maharajganj district is located near the Indo-Nepal border.

At least 27 Indian pilgrims, all from Maharashtra, who had gone to Nepal for a 10-day tour were killed and 16 others injured after the bus they were travelling in veered off the highway and fell into the fast-flowing Marsyangdi river Friday.

District Magistrate Anunay Jha said after reaching Maharajganj, the 51 passengers will be sent to Gorakhpur after providing them with food and beverages.

The body of driver Murtaza will be taken to his native place Gorakhpur, while the body of Ramjit will be sent to Kushinagar with a police escort and green channel, Jha added.

The DM said the Mahrajganj administration has arranged for 6 hearses, 11 ambulances and a 42-seater bus at the border for ferrying the passengers and bodies. A medical team is also deployed on the border.

Teams of the district administration and police are stationed at the international border and are on hight alert, he said.

According to Jha, a group of 110 people from several parts of Maharashtra had gone to Nepal in two buses and one traveller van. One of these buses met with the accident on Friday that killed 27, including 25 passengers, the driver and cleaner. Sixteen injured passengers are being treated at Kathmandu hospital.

The incident occurred in Anbookhaireni area in Chitawan district of Nepal when the bus from Gorakhpur carrying 43 passengers, including the driver and two helpers, was heading towards Kathmandu from Pokhara. While 16 people died on the spot, 11 succumbed to their injuries while undergoing treatment, Deputy Spokesperson of Armed Police Force (APF) Shailendra Thapa told PTI in Kathmandu.

The bodies of 25 deceased from Maharashtra will be airlifted from Nepal and sent to Maharashtra after post-mortem, according to the officials.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Saturday that an ex-gratia payment of Rs. 2 lakh will be provided to the next of kin of each deceased in Fridays bus accident in Nepal.

At least 27 Indian pilgrims, who were in the Himalayan nation for a tour, were killed on Friday when their bus veered off the highway and plunged into the fast-flowing river in the Himalayan nations Tanahun district.

The Prime Minister has announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF for the next of kin of each deceased in the mishap in Tanahun district, Nepal. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000, the Prime Ministers Office said in a post on X.

Horrifying sight

An eyewitness who arrived at the scene of the bus crash described the aftermath as deeply distressing after the bus carrying nearly 41 Indian pilgrims plunged into the Marsyangdi River. We arrived within 5 to 7 minutes of the incident and were met with a horrifying sight, tourism entrepreneur Arjun Khanal was quoted as saying by The Kathmandu Post.

The bus had plunged around 150 meters down the road, and passengers were desperately screaming for help. We saw three injured individuals attempting to escape through the bus windows, Khanal said. People were crying out for help, but the effort to bring them up to the road was extremely difficult, he added.

Deeply saddened

In a post on X, Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli expressed grief over the loss of lives. He also extended his sympathies to PM Modi. Deeply saddened by the tragic bus accident in Abu Khaireni, Tanahun, which claimed the lives of 27 Indian citizens travelling from Pokhara to Kathmandu. My heartfelt tributes to the victims and condolences to their families, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said.

All 41 passengers and two crew members were Indian and had been traveling from the tourist city of Pokhara to Kathmandu. Rescuers recovered several people from the swollen waters of the Marsyangdi River in the Tanahun district, about 118 km from the countrys capital.

Saddened by the loss

On Friday, PM Modi expressed grief at the loss of lives in a road accident in Nepal. Modi said on X, Saddened by the loss of lives due to a road mishap in Tanahun district, Nepal. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest. The Indian Embassy is providing all possible assistance to those affected.

The post-mortem of the Indian pilgrims who were killed in the tragic bus accident was underway in a hospital in the Bagmati province on Saturday, ahead of the transportation of the bodies to Maharashtra. The post-mortem of bodies is being held in the Bharatpur Hospital in the Chitwan district of the Bagmati province, the MyRepublica news portal reported.

Air Force plane

The bus carrying mostly Indian tourists hailing from Maharashtra plunged into a gorge of the Marsyangdi river in the Ambukhereni area of Tanahun district of Nepal on Friday. The passengers mostly from Maharashtras Jalgaon district, were plying from the mountainous tourist resort of Pokhara to the Nepal capital Kathmandu when it fell 150 feet into a river valley.

An Indian Air Force plane will transport the bodies to Nashik today, a Maharastra state government release said on Friday in Mumbai. The Indian government flew Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Raksha Khadse to Kathmandu on Saturday to meet the passengers injured in Nepals bus accident that occurred on Friday and oversee the repatriation of the remains of those killed in the mishap.

Given the logistical challenges of transporting multiple bodies and injured individuals on a commercial flight, the Maharashtra government has requested the Indian Air Force (IAF) to arrange a special flight. This flight is likely to fly from Gorakhpur to Nashik which is the nearest airport to Jalgaon  and the state government will bear all the expenses for this operation.

(With agency inputs)
The Singapore government launched a probe this week after Bangladeshi national Amir Hamza, who had previously been arrested by the government for alleged terror links, entered the nation and gave sermons that preached extremist and segregationist teachings to Bangladeshi migrant labourers in the city, according to reports by ChannelNewsAsia and Straits Times.

The Singaporean Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) stated that the Internal Security Department (ISD) was aware of Amir Hamza and his background.

Amir Hamza delivered a sermon on August 9 at the Lantana Lodge dormitory in Tech Park Crescent, Tuas.

He left Singapore the following day, after police received reports on August 12 that he had preached to a group of Bangladeshi migrant workers.

Hamza used a passport with a different name from the one in their databases to enter Singapore on August 9. His biometrics were also not recorded at the time of entry.

Minister for Home Affairs and Law K. Shanmugam explained earlier this week on Wednesday that the passport appeared to be valid but had a different name, which allowed Amir Hamza to slip through due to this passport issue.

Shangmugan said that Amir Hamzas sermon at the dormitory labelled non-Muslims as kafirs (infidels) and praised extremists as models of religious piety.

He also pointed out that the sermon was politicised, with Hamza criticising the previous government led by former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, calling them oppressors and accusing them of sentencing individuals to death for dissent.

Amir Hamzas sermon propagated extremist and segregationist teachings that were dangerous, and detrimental to Singapores communal harmony, the Singaporean home ministry said in a statement.

The Singaporean home minister highlighted that Amir Hamza gave sermons that run down secular values, promote religious intolerance, and disparage non-Muslims.

Amir Hamza is reportedly linked to Ansar al-Islam, a pro-Al-Qaeda terrorist organisation in Bangladesh.

In 2021, he was arrested by Bangladeshi authorities for terrorism-related activities and for inciting violence through his sermons.

That year, three suspects who were planning an attack on Bangladeshs Parliament revealed that they were inspired by Hamzas speeches.

Singaporean authorities said that stern action will be taken against Hamza and others involved in the event if they pose a security concern or have breached Singapores laws.

The authorities said Hamza and others could face deportation, prosecution or detention under the nations Internal Security Act.
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr on Friday suspended his long-shot presidential bid and endorsed Republican Donald Trump, injecting new uncertainty into the 2024 White House race.

I no longer believe that I have a realistic path of electoral victory, Kennedy, scion of Americas storied political clan, who was polling in the low single digits, said at a press conference in swing state Arizona.

Kennedy, 70, condemned the selection of Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic standard-bearer without a primary contest and cited a long list of grievances against his former party that he said had led him to now throw my support to President Trump.

Aligned on other key issues

It was however unclear whether Kennedys endorsement would help Trump, who is in a tight contest with Harris ahead of the Nov. 5 election. Kennedy told a news conference earlier that he met with Trump and his aides several times and learned they agreed on issues like border security, free speech and ending wars.

There are still many issues and approaches on which we continue to have very serious differences. But we are aligned on other key issues, he told reporters. He reiterated much of that when he joined Trump at the Arizona rally and repeated positions on his core issues of combating chronic illness and ridding the environment and food supply of hazardous chemicals.

Kennedy assassination

With Kennedy by his side, the former US president on stage said that if he regained the White House, he would create a presidential commission on assassination attempts and release files related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963. Robert Kennedy, known by his initials RFK Jr., said he would remove his name from ballots in 10 battleground states likely to determine the outcome of the election and remain as a candidate in other states.

RFK Jr.

An environmental lawyer, anti-vaccine activist and son and nephew of two titans of Democratic politics who were assassinated during the turbulent 1960s, Kennedy entered the race in April 2023 as a challenger to President Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination.

With some voters at the time turned off by both the aging Biden and the legally embattled Trump, interest in Kennedy soared. He later decided to run as an independent, and a November 2023 Reuters/Ipsos poll showed Kennedy with 20% support in a three-way race with Biden and Trump.

Sad story

He ran a high-profile advertisement during the February 2024 Super Bowl that invoked his father, U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and uncle, President Kennedy, and drew outrage from much of his high-profile family. His sister Kerry Kennedy said on Friday that his decision to endorse Trump betrayed the familys values. It is a sad ending to a sad story, she said on social media.

An Ipsos poll this month showed his national support had fallen to 4%, a tiny number but one that could still be meaningful in a tight race such as the current Trump-Harris matchup. Democrats shrugged off Fridays announcement. Donald Trump isnt earning an endorsement thats going to help build support, hes inheriting the baggage of a failed fringe candidate. Good riddance, Democratic National Committee senior adviser Mary Beth Cahill said in a statement.

(With agency inputs)
Russia and Ukraine announced Saturday they had exchanged 115 prisoners of war each, just over two weeks after Kyiv launched a surprise incursion into Russias Kursk region.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said another 115 of our defenders have returned home today, while Moscows defence ministry said: As a result of a negotiation process, 115 Russian servicemen taken prisoner in the Kursk region have been returned from territories controlled by the Kyiv regime.

The United Arab Emirates said it mediated a prisoner swap deal between Ukraine and Russia that secured the release of 230 captives.

The 55th exchange of prisoners, 115 for 115, since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine took place today. On the Ukrainian side, nine illegally convicted soldiers (meaning Russia charged the with terrorism or some other made up charges instead of following POW protocols pic.twitter.com/mCoxdQkedN  OSINT (Uri Kikaski) (@UKikaski) August 24, 2024

The UAE has successfully mediated a new captives exchange between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Ukraine, resulting in the release of 230 captives, said a foreign ministry statement.
An Indian-origin Tesla Vice President of Finance and Business Operations has announced her departure after just over a decade with the Elon Musk-founded company.

Sreela Venkataraman was one of only two women holding the VP title at Tesla, and her exit leaves Laurie Shelby, Vice President of Environmental Health and Safety, as the sole female executive at that level.

After 11 incredible years

In her farewell note shared on LinkedIn, Venkataraman reflected on her journey since joining Tesla in 2013 as the Director of Accounting when the company had just under $1 billion in revenue and a market cap of approximately $4 billion.

Not for the faint of heart

At that time, Tesla delivered fewer than 3,000 electric vehicles. Now, as she leaves, the company boasts annual revenues nearing $100 billion and a market cap that once reached $1 trillion during the pandemic.

Venkataraman expressed gratitude for her colleagues and highlighted her role in expanding Teslas services globally, including in China. She mentioned her plans to take a break to spend time with family, reconnect with old friends, and focus on personal well-being.

While replying to one of the comments on LinkedIn, Venkataraman noted that working at Tesla is definitely not for the faint of heart," reflecting the intense environment at the company under CEO Elon Musk.

Her departure follows a series of high-profile exits at Tesla, including that of CFO Zach Kirkhorn earlier this month, who was succeeded by Vaibhav Taneja.
The United States has approved a potential $52.8 million Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to India, including Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) sonobuoys and related equipment, which will help bolster its deterrence capabilities.

This announcement comes amid Defence Minister Rajnath Singhs four-day official visit to Washington to strengthen the comprehensive global strategic partnership between the U.S. and India.

The sale includes AN/SSQ-53G High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare (HAASW) sonobuoys, AN/SSQ-62F HAASW sonobuoys, AN/SSQ-36 sonobuoys, as well as technical publications, and other logistics. The estimated total cost is $52.8 million, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a press release.

Deterrence Capabilities

This proposed sale aims to bolster US-India strategic relations and enhance Indias anti-submarine warfare and deterrence capabilities, particularly for its MH-60R helicopters.

This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to strengthen the United States-India strategic relationship and improving the security of a major defense partner which continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia regions, the DSCA said.

The proposed sale will improve Indias capability to meet current and future threats by enhancing its capacity to conduct anti-submarine warfare operations from its MH-60R helicopters. India will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region, it added.

US-India Defence Ties

The news of the proposed sale came a day after India and the US signed two key agreements as Rajnath Singh began his official visit to Washington. The agreements signed on Thursday pertain to the Security of Supplies Arrangement (SOSA) and a Memorandum of Agreement regarding the Assignment of Liaison Officers. On Friday, Singh met US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin to review and further deepen the existing defence cooperation activities between the two countries.

Excellent meeting with my dear friend @SecDef Lloyd Austin. We reviewed the existing defence cooperation activities and discussed ways to deepen it further. The signing of Security of Supply Arrangements and the agreement for positioning of Indian officers at key US commands are pathbreaking developments, Singh said in a post on X.
US Vice President Kamala Harris delivered one of the biggest speeches of her life at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago on Thursday night, where she officially accepted her partys nomination for the November election.

Members of Kamalas family were by her side at the DNC stage, including her husband, Doug Emhoff and her sister Maya Harris. However, her father, Donald Harris, the only living parent, was notably absent from the audience.

Who Is Donald Harris?

Donald Harris, an 86-year-old economist, has been largely estranged from his daughter. While she spoke warmly of her mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, who passed away in 2009, her references to Donald were minimal.

Run, Kamala, run

In her remarks, she recalled her fathers encouragement during her childhood, saying, Run, Kamala, run. Dont be afraid. Dont let anything stop you. However, she also acknowledged that her mother primarily raised her and her sister after their parents divorce when Kamala was just eight years old.

The estrangement between Kamala and Donald Harris is well-documented, the New York Post reported. Despite being her only living parent, he has not been involved in her political life, choosing to remain silent on her career since 2019.

That year, he publicly criticised a comment she made about her Jamaican heritage about marijuana use, expressing deep disappointment at the stereotype it perpetuated. According to the New York-based newspaper, Donald said that his familys name and proud Jamaican identity should not be associated with such notions.

Academics

Donald Harris, who has a distinguished academic background, was born in Jamaica and earned his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. He has been described as a combative Marxist economist and has contributed to discussions on wealth distribution and economic theory.

His academic career included teaching positions at Stanford University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Despite their differences, some observers note that Kamala and Donald share similar economic views, particularly regarding issues of wealth distribution and social justice.

While Donald Harris did not attend the convention, he recently received recognition in Jamaica for his contributions to the countrys economic development. He was awarded the Order of Merit, one of Jamaicas highest honors, in October 2021, but attended the ceremony without Kamala by his side.
Ukraine's independence, the 33rd anniversary of which we celebrate today, came at a great cost to our people. Many people sacrificed their entire lives to ensure that our state could take place and take its place in the world.

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OBOZ.UA offers to recall the names of 33 figures who left their mark on the history of Ukrainian statehood. We thank each of them for the fact that Ukraine has become an independent state and, despite everything, is ready to develop and move toward prosperity.

Ivan Franko (1856-1916)

Writer and scholar, politician. Co-founder of the Ruthenian-Ukrainian Radical Party, which began its activities in 1890 in Lviv. He supported the idea of the unity of eastern and western Ukrainian lands. He insisted that the term "Ukrainians" rather than "Rusyns" be used in Galicia. He promoted the idea of a united Ukrainian nation without division into regions of origin.

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Kost Levytskyi (1859-1941)

A Galician politician and lawyer who was one of the first to use documents written in Ukrainian. He headed the Ukrainian Sejm Club in the Austrian Parliament. On October 31, 1918, the Lviv delegation of the Rada, led by Levytskyi, decided to launch an armed uprising. In November-December 1918, he was the head of the State Secretariat of the ZUNR. After the proclamation of the Ukrainian state on June 30, 1941, he headed the Council of Seniors.

Yevhen Petrushevych (1863-1940)

Ukrainian lawyer and public and political figure. He was an active member of the Prosvita society and a fighter against Muscophilia. He was a member of the Parliament of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. From the beginning of the First World War, he became a member of the Main Ukrainian Council. He headed the Ukrainian National Council of the ZUNR. After the solemn proclamation of the Act of Unification of the UPR and ZUNR in Kyiv, he became a member of the Directory. From June 1919, Petrushevych combined the duties of president and head of government, receiving special dictatorial rights. He opposed Petliura's alliance with Poland and supported the UGA's agreements with the White Guards.

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Vasyl Lypkivskyi (1864-1937)

Priest, first metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Autocephalous Church. In April 1917, he chaired the Kyiv Diocesan Congress of Clergy and Laity, which decided to revive Ukrainian church traditions and democratize church life. The autocephalous church was revived in 1921, and Lypkivskyi was entrusted with its leadership.

Andrii Sheptytskyi (1865-1944)

Priest, Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, philanthropist. He consistently defended the interests of Ukrainian statehood and culture. He was a member of the Galician Sejm and the House of Lords in Vienna. He promoted the opening of Ukrainian gymnasiums and the Ukrainian University in Lviv. In 1914, he submitted a secret memorandum to the Austrian government on the need to create a Ukrainian state. He supported the creation of the ZUNR but urged priests not to interfere in politics. During the Second World War, he condemned Nazi aggression and hid Jews in Greek Catholic monasteries and even in the metropolitan's residence.

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Mykhaylo Hrushevskyi (1866-1934)

Historian and political activist. Chairman of the Taras Shevchenko Scientific Society in Lviv, Head of the Department of History at Lviv University. As a scholar, he created more than 2000 works, the main of which is the multi-volume History of Ukraine-Rus', which Hrushevsky worked on in 1898-1936. Because of his undisputed authority, he was elected chairman of the Ukrainian Central Rada in Kyiv in 1917. He participated in the creation of the Universals. The Fourth Universal proclaimed the independence of the Ukrainian People's Republic on January 22, 1918.

Lesia Ukrainka (1871-1913)

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Ukrainian writer, translator, folklorist, and public figure. In her work, she combined a deep knowledge of folk motifs with advanced political ideas of gaining their statehood, preserving language and traditions, as well as spreading education, and awakening national consciousness. She described Ukrainians not as part of the Russian Empire, but as an independent people with their history and culture. And, of course, with the right to self-determination, for which they must fight tirelessly. During her life, she wrote about 270 poems, and several poems, and composed more than 20 plays. Many of them were later translated many times. However, the writer herself translated many works of European literature into Ukrainian. Lesia Ukrainka made a great contribution to the development of the women's movement. By her example, she inspired many women to take an active part in public life.

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Mykola Mikhnovskyi (1873-1924)

The lawyer, publicist, and politician is considered to be one of the main ideologists of Ukrainian independence, church autocephaly, and de-Russification. He was the founder of the Ukrainian People's Party. He insisted on confederative, or equal, relations with Russia. He outlined his views in his speech "Independent Ukraine," which caused a real scandal in 1900. In 1905, he drafted the Ukrainian Constitution.

Pavlo Skoropadskyi (1873-1945)

Political and military figure, monarchist in his views. During the Ukrainian People's Republic he was engaged in the Ukrainization of the army. He was an opponent of socialist policy. However, after the overthrow of the Central Rada with the support of the Germans, he became Hetman of the Ukrainian state. Skoropadskyi's merits include the founding of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences and several educational and cultural institutions. He renounced his broad powers in favor of the Directorate headed by Volodymyr Vynnychenko.

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Augustyn Voloshyn (1874-1945)

Religious, cultural, and political activist, a Greek Catholic priest of the Mukachevo diocese, who is called the father of the Ukrainian revival in Transcarpathia. He opposed both Russian and Hungarian influence. He was the founder of the People's Christian Party and a member of the Czechoslovak parliament. On March 15, 1939, Voloshyn was elected president of Carpathian Ukraine. A few days later, the country was occupied by Hungarian troops, and the head of state was forced to flee abroad.

Oleksandr Koshyts (1875-1944)

Conductor and accompanist, organizer, and head of the Ukrainian Republican Chapel, which, on behalf of Simon Petliura, was engaged in the dissemination of Ukrainian culture in Europe and abroad. He performed with the choir in Czechoslovakia, Austria, Switzerland, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Germany, Poland, and Spain. In 1922, the musicians went on a tour to America, during which the folk song "Shchedryk" arranged by Mykola Leontovych was performed in the United States for the first time. After that concert, the song became a symbol of Christmas all over the world.

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Stepan Rudnytskyi (1877-1937)

Geographer, cartographer, and ethnographer. Researcher and compiler of data on Ukrainian physical, political, and military geography. In 1927, he founded and headed the Ukrainian Research Institute of Geography and Cartography. During his career, he wrote 150 scientific works, including textbooks for schools. Rudnytsky's works were translated into French, English, Czech, Italian, Hungarian, and Swedish. He defended the ideas of Ukrainian independence and statehood. He was murdered during the Great Terror in the infamous Sandarmokh tract, the site of mass executions of intellectuals.

Symon Petliura (1879-1926)

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Ukrainian statesman, military and political figure, publicist, literary and theater critic. He is considered the founder of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. He was persecuted for his political views since his gymnasium days. The main idea of Petliura's revolutionary activity was the independence of Ukraine. In 1917, he was elected chairman of the Ukrainian Front Council. He also participated in the work of the Central Rada. In the spring of 1919, Symon Petliura was elected Chairman of the Directory. The politician clashed with Volodymyr Vynnychenko because he defended the need for Ukraine to have its army. After the defeat of the liberation movement, he went abroad, where he continued to promote the idea of Ukrainian statehood, hoping that it would be restored.

Dmytro Dontsov (1883-1973)

Publicist and philosopher, creator of the idea of Ukrainian integral nationalism. A radical opponent of communism, Russian imperialism, and the forerunner of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. He called for a Western orientation and a cosmopolitan view of the world. He called Ukrainian statehood the highest goal and urged to put aside any political differences to achieve it.

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Vyacheslav Lypynskyi (1882-1931)

Ideologist of Ukrainian monarchism. Lypynsky came from a Polish family, but he became interested in the Ukrainian idea and joined the national movement. He developed a monarchical-hetman concept of the state and promoted the idea of a class society with a constitutional monarchy.

Ivan Ohienko (1882-1972)

The religious leader took an active part in the creation of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church. In 1943 he was appointed its metropolitan. He was actively engaged in linguistics, wrote more than 300 works on this topic, and developed Ukrainian spelling. He translated the Bible into Ukrainian. In 1951, at the Extraordinary Council in Winnipeg, he was elected Primate of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church in Canada. He founded and headed the Ukrainian National University.

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Petro Bolbochan (1883-1919)

Military leader, colonel of the UPR Army. Participant of the Soviet-Ukrainian war, anti-Hetman uprising. In 1917, he formed the 1st Ukrainian Republican Regiment. He was the military commandant of Volyn. In 1918, he suppressed the January Bolshevik uprising in Kyiv, and defended Crimea from the Reds' offensive, but was forced to retreat. He stood on the position of inadmissibility of agreements with the Bolsheviks and criticized Ukrainian politicians for this. He was shot by a decision of the UPR military field court.

Noman Chelebidzhikhan (1885-1918)

The organizer of the first Kurultai in Simferopol, head of the government of the Crimean People's Republic proclaimed in 1917. He maintained ties with the Ukrainian Central Rada. During the Congress of Peoples of Russia in September 1917, the delegation sent to Kyiv from the Muslim Executive Committee supported the decision of the Congress to transform Russia into a federation of equal republics. Celebidzhikhan also welcomed the creation of the Ukrainian People's Republic.

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Dmytro Vitovskyi (1887-1919)

One of the leaders of the November 1918 ranks in Lviv. He served as the Minister of War of the ZUNR. He was involved in the creation of the Ukrainian Galician Army and recruited up to 100 thousand people. He proposed a military alliance with the UPR and signed a treaty of unification with it in Fastiv.

Andrii Melnyk (1890-1964)

Military and political figure, co-founder of the Ukrainian National Committee, chief of staff of the current UPR army. Although he did not take part in the first congress of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists, he is still considered one of its founders. After the assassination of Yevhen Konovalets, he came into conflict with Stepan Bandera and headed the moderate wing of the organization. In his attempts to establish a Ukrainian state, he appealed to Hitler, suggesting that he create Ukrainian units in the German army. But the Nazis did not plan to create a Ukrainian administration, so Melnyk came to the attention of the Gestapo. Later, he enlisted the support of other Western Ukrainian figures and began to demand that Hitler stop his policy in Ukraine. In January-October 1944, the Nazis held Melnyk in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp. After the war, he emigrated. In 1957, he proposed the idea of creating the World Union of Ukrainians.

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Yevhen Konovalets (1891-1938)

He is considered one of the key ideologists of Ukrainian nationalism. Colonel of the UPR Army, commander of the Sich Riflemen, member of the Riflemen's Council, commander of the UVO, head of the Leadership of Ukrainian Nationalists, founder and first head of the OUN. At the beginning of the First World War, he was taken prisoner by Russia, and after his release, he founded the Galician-Bukovyna Sich Riflemen's Kuren, later one of the most effective units of the UPR, with other prisoners. In 1929, he became one of the founders of the OUN and was elected its chairman. He tried to raise the Ukrainian issue in the League of Nations and was killed by an NKVD agent.

Josyf Slipyj (1892-1984)

The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, which he headed in 1944, at the time of the beginning of the Soviet persecution. He led the faithful underground. However, on the night of April 11, 1945, he was arrested and spent almost 10 years in camps in Siberia, Krasnoyarsk Krai, and Mordovia. After his release, he was forbidden to return to Lviv and was forced to take a job as a watchman in a nursing home. There he continued his pastoral work: he corresponded with believers, secretly ordained priests, and wrote epistles. For the second time, Josyf Slipyj was arrested in 1957 and received a 7-year sentence, but in 1963 he was released at the request of Pope John XXIII and went to Rome. In 1963, he spoke at the Second Vatican Council and succeeded in obtaining patriarchal status for the Lviv-Halych Eparchy. In 1966, he resumed the activities of the Ukrainian Catholic University in Rome. He visited Ukrainian communities. The metropolitan died on September 7, 1984, and in 1992 was solemnly reburied in Lviv.

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Vasyl Vyshyvanyi (1895-1948)

The politician's real name was Wilhelm Franz Joseph Karl von Habsburg-Lorraine, also known as Wilhelm Franz of Austria. He was a member of the imperial Habsburg family, but from his youth, he became interested in Ukrainian history and culture. When he became a senator of the Austro-Hungarian parliament at the age of 21, he actively lobbied for the interests of representatives of Ukrainian territories. He served in the Ulaanbaatar regiment, which consisted mainly of Ukrainians. He had a large collection of embroidered shirts given to him, which he wore all the time, earning him the Ukrainian name Vasyl Vyshyvanyi. He entered it in his passport in 1918. He defended the idea of an autonomous principality of Ukraine under the protectorate of Austria-Hungary. In 1917-1918, he fought with the legion of Ukrainian Sich Riflemen in the south. He headed the Department of Foreign Relations of the UPR Army. He was kidnapped by Soviet spies and died in a Kyiv prison from tuberculosis.

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Olena Teliha (1906-1942)

Ukrainian writer and active participant in the national movement. She worked in the leadership of the OUN. In 1939-1941, she headed the Zarevo Literary and Artistic Society in Krakow. At the end of October 1941, she joined one of the OUN's marching groups and came to Kyiv, in particular, to take part in the founding of the Ukrainian National Council. She became the head of the Union of Ukrainian Writers. She disobeyed the order of the occupying German administration to stop working on the magazine Litavry and was shot in February 1942 in Babyn Yar.

Stepan Bandera (1909-1959)

Ukrainian revolutionary, one of the most radical and prominent ideologues of the nationalist movement, head of the OUN (b) leadership. In 1932-1933, he was a member of the leadership of the OUN Regional Executive and organized terrorist attacks against the Polish authorities. After the split of the OUN, he opposed the alliance with the Nazis and called for a radical underground struggle. In June 1941, he helped draft the Act of Restoration of the Ukrainian State, for which he was arrested by the Germans and sent to a concentration camp. He was also active against the Soviet regime, in particular, he took revenge for the Holodomor and terror against Ukrainians. After the war, he lived in exile and continued to lead the OUN. He was fatally poisoned by a Soviet spy and NKVD agent in Munich.

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Oleh Olzhych (1907-1944)

Ukrainian poet, political and public figure, head of the cultural sector, and later deputy head of the OUN leadership. In 1938-1939 he took an active part in the development of Carpathian Ukraine. During 1939-1941, he headed the OUN Revolutionary Tribunal. He participated in the formation of the local administration and police in Kyiv. In January 1944, after the arrest of Andriy Melnyk, he took over as Chairman of the OUN leadership. He was killed by the Gestapo.

Roman Shukhevych (1907-1950)

A political and military figure of the Ukrainian national revolutionary liberation movement, general-corporal of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. In August 1943, he chaired the third Extraordinary Great Assembly of the OUN, which adopted a detailed program of the organization. He called for the unification of all supporters of the Ukrainian national idea. He built the UPA on the principles of a regular army.

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Taras Bulba-Borovets (1908-1981)

An activist of the Ukrainian insurgency during the Second World War. One of the co-founders of the underground organization Ukrainian National Revival, which aimed to conduct educational and cultural work among young people. In 1940, he was sent to Volyn to form the Polissya Sich and the following year recruited 10,000 fighters to join it. In August 1941, these forces captured the town of Olevsk in the Zhytomyr region and founded the Olevsk Republic there. After the arrival of the Nazis, he and his associates organized partisan resistance, freed people from forced labor, and organized sabotage. He demanded that the occupation administration recognize Ukraine's independence and release Ukrainian political prisoners. In 1948, he moved to Canada, where he published underground literature, including historical books, which he smuggled into Ukraine.

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Yaroslav Stetsko (1912-1986)

Political and military figure, active member of the OUN. He was one of the initiators of the establishment of the OUN Revolutionary Leadership in Krakow in February 1940. He joined the Banderite wing of the Organization and was elected its deputy leader. In June 1941, Stetsko convened the National Assembly in Lviv, which proclaimed the Act of Restoration of the Ukrainian State. Stetsko was elected prime minister of the Ukrainian State Government. The Nazi administration demanded that this act be withdrawn, but the OUN refused. Stetsko was arrested for this. After the war, he emigrated. In 1946, he headed the Anti-Bolshevik Bloc of Peoples. He worked against communist regimes and exposed their crimes. He signed a cooperation agreement with the Chinese Anti-Communist League.

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Vasyl Makukh (1927-1968)

Member of the Ukrainian resistance movement in the USSR, political prisoner, and UPA soldier. After the Second World War, he was sentenced to 10 years in camps for participating in the Ukrainian insurgency, but after his release, he continued his political activities. In 1968, on November 5, on the eve of the anniversary of the Bolshevik coup, he committed an act of self-immolation in Bessarabka in Kyiv, during which he shouted "Long live free Ukraine!" and "Down with the occupiers!". In the modern history of Ukraine, this was the first act of self-sacrifice against national oppression.

Levko Lukyanenko (1928-2018)

Ukrainian politician and public figure, diplomat, writer, lawyer, and Soviet dissident. He organized the Ukrainian Workers' and Peasants' Union, which advocated the constitutional separation of Ukraine from the USSR. In January 1961, he was sentenced to death for "anti-Soviet agitation and propaganda," but the sentence was commuted to 15 years in camps. After his release, he became one of the 10 founders of the Ukrainian Helsinki Group. For this, he received another 10 years in camps and 5 years in exile. He served his sentence in Mordovia, the Urals, and Siberia. He was pardoned in 1988. In March 1990, he was elected to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, where he became one of the authors of the Act of Independence of Ukraine.

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Vyacheslav Chornovil (1937-1999)

Politician, public figure, publicist, literary critic. He took an active part in the Sixties movement and dissidents and published the underground magazine, Ukrainian Herald. He contributed to the creation of the Ukrainian Helsinki Group and became a member of it. He was an active participant and chairman of the People's Movement of Ukraine. He served several prison terms for "anti-Soviet propaganda." In total, Chornovil had to serve 17 years in prison. From 1990 to 1992, he headed the Lviv Regional Council and was a member of the Verkhovna Rada of the first three convocations. In the first presidential election in independent Ukraine, he came in second place, losing to Leonid Kravchuk.

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Vasyl Stus (1938-1985)

Poet, representative of the Ukrainian cultural movement of the Sixties, dissident, and political prisoner. He began his career as a Ukrainian language teacher in the Donetsk region and literary editor of the newspaper Socialist Donbas. After entering graduate school, he moved to Kyiv, where he organized his famous protest against the arrests of dissidents. On September 4, 1965, during the premiere of Serhiy Parajanov's film Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors in a packed hall of the Ukraine Cinema, Stus addressed the audience: "Whoever is against tyranny, stand up!" and he was the first to stand up. For this, he was expelled from the university and banned from working and publishing. After serving his first arrest for anti-Soviet activities, he joined the Helsinki Group for the Defense of Human Rights. He was arrested for the second time in May 1980, and on September 4, 1985, he died in a prison cell in the Perm Territory in Russia.

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UPDATED SATURDAY 12:55 PM 8/24

Pre-evacuation alerts for Campbell County have been lifted, Campbell County Emergency Management announced Friday evening. Weston Hills Recreation Area is still under evacuation, however.

Emergency Management reports that both fires are moving away from populated area towards the northeast, prompting the decision to lift pre-evacuation alerts to the south of the fires.

The Weston Hills Recreation Area evacuation remains active and officials advise that people in the area of Horse Creek Road & Hwy 59 should watch for any new alerts as conditions change.

SATURDAY 8/24 10:00 PM LATEST FIRE WEATHER FORECAST

MONTANA

Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council: Notice to Lift Evacuation Saturday 8/24 10 AM-

The Fire Crew and all volunteers were able to complete a successful burnout of the fire near Birney. It is now deemed safe for Birney residents to return to their homes.

Ashland Fire Pre-Evacuation Notice Saturday 8/24 10AM-

The Northern Cheyenne Tribe is sending out a Pre-Evacuation Notice for all residents in the Ashland Area concerning the Remington Fire.

WYOMING

Sheridan county Sheriff's Office: Press Release Friday 8/23 4:10 PM-

Update on House Draw Fire and Remington Fire

After careful consideration and discussions with the House Draw Fire Incident Command and Sheridan County Emergency Management, the decision has been made to lift the Voluntary Evacuation Notices originally issued in the area east of Double Cross Road, north of the Johnson County line to Highway 14. This includes the Clearmont and Arvada areas.

While the House Draw Fire is not fully contained, please understand wind speed, and direction, can have a direct effect on how the fire activity will progress. If fire conditions change that could potentially threaten the areas discussed above, notices will be issued and updates will be given regularly.

The Remington Fire is actively burning in the Northeast portion of Sheridan County and into Montana. The fire activity in that area remains very high. Please stay out of the area so firefighters can work effectively. More information will be given as it becomes available.

The Sheridan County Sheriffs Office would like to thank everyone involved in fighting the fires in these extreme conditions and the community for all of their support. Please join us in keeping everyone involved in your thoughts and prayers.

REMINGTON FIRE

NE Sheridan County

128,771 acres

Cause - unknown

Status: 0% contained

Evacuation Warning - Level 2 - PRE-EVACUATION - ACTIVE EVACUATION POSSIBLE SOON



Rosebud County: Pre-Evacuation orders are in effect for the area South of Ashland from Odell Creek Road to the Rosebud County Line. Be prepared to evacuate if necessary.

East-Fork Hanging Woman Road to the Rosebud County line; Odell Creek Rd to Ashland/Birney South; and Birney.

Evacuation notices for Birney have been lifted Big Horn County: The area east of Tongue River Reservoir all the way to the County Line.

HOUSE DRAW FIRE

15 miles ESE of Buffalo, WY

174,691 acres

Cause - Lightning

Status: 25% contained





Evacuations have been lifted and county roads in the fire area remain open to local traffic only. Residents returning to their homes should be aware that there may still be fire activity nearby and that conditions can change quickly. Please use caution on roadways as fire vehicles will be sharing the roadways Evacuation Notes Shelter available in Buffalo at Bomber Mountain Civic Center.

Contact Sheridan County Emergency Management at 307-752-2174 with questions.

CONSTITUTION FIRE

Near Collins Rd. in Campbell County, WY

12,080 acres

Cause - Lightning

Status: 25% Contained





Fire is moving towards the Northeast

Pre-evacuations have been lifted An evacuation order is still in effect for the Weston Hills Recreation area

FLAT ROCK FIRE

13 Miles West on Echeta Rd. in Campbell County, WY

41,839 acres

Cause - Lightning

Status: 30% Contained





Fire is moving towards the Northeast

Pre-evacuations have been lifted

WESTON COUNTY FIRES There have been no fire hotspots in Weston county within the last 24 hours.

SOUTH DAKOTA SAGE CREEK FIRE UPDATE FROM BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK, INTERIOR, S.D.  Lightning from a thunderstorm on Wednesday evening ignited a wildfire in the Sage Creek area of Badlands National Park. Firefighters successfully conducted a back-burn operation overnight and will continue to staff the fire until declared out. The fire has burned approximately 2050 acres and is 40% contained. The fire is located approximately 1 mile northeast of the parks Sage Creek Campground. No structures are threatened, and no injuries have been reported. Due to the location of the fire, Sage Creek Campground is closed until further notice. The fire danger remains very high, and park visitors are reminded to be safe in their outdoor activities. For your safety and to help the firefighters working with the fire, please avoid the area.

BARNES CANYON FIRE - CUSTER STATE PARK

11 Miles East of Custer, SD

14.7 acres

Cause - Unknown

Status: contained

RED CANYON FIRE

Incident Commander: Ryan Morgan

Location: 6 miles northeast of Edgemont, SD

Start Date: 8/21/2024

Cause: Unknown

Size: 100 acres

Containment: 30%

Resources: 75 total personnel, heavy equipment, airtanker, light helicopter, heavy helicopter

August 22, 2024  Firefighters have been working through the night to contain the Red Canyon fire that was reported late afternoon on August 21, 2024. The fire is burning grass and timber in steep, rugged, and rocky terrain under very dry conditions.

Containment effort has been direct attack, where feasible, using safe and appropriate tactics. Firefighters will be implementing a combination of direct and indirect strategies for full suppression, while providing for firefighter and public safety. Resources recently demobilized from the nearby Bennett Fire are being used on the incident.

There are currently no closure orders or evacuations in effect.

MISSLE FIRE

Date Reported: August 21, 2024

Location: 25 miles N of Belle Fourche, SD

Size: 16 acres

Status: 0% Contained

Cause: Undetermined
Alicia Silverstone worried fans this week when she posted a TikTok clip of herself nibbling a poisonous berry she found along a sidewalk on a trip to England. The Clueless actor said she thought the fruit might have been a tomato, but realized it wasn't after a couple bites revealed an off-tasting, peppery flavor. That tomato lookalike seems to have been a Jerusalem cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicum), which, along with actual tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, potatoes, and tomatillos, is a member of the Solanaceae, or nightshade, family, per the AP .

All parts of the Jerusalem cherry, which is sold as a houseplant, are poisonous not only to humans but also to dogs, cats, and horses, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The plant's unripe berries can be especially dangerous, causing central nervous system and gastrointestinal symptoms, including delirium, abdominal pain, fever, vomiting, paralysis, and more. Consuming large amounts can be fatal. Silverstone was lucky because, she says, she didn't swallow the berries, and also perhaps because the berries were reddish-orange, which indicates they were ripe. Other toxic lookalikes:

The poisonous Carolina horsenettle (Solanum carolinense) fruit also resembles tomatoes. Its common name, devil's potato, is a dead giveaway.

Other members of the nightshade family are poisonous to varying degrees. The aptly named deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna), for instance, is so toxic it was used as a murder weapon during the Middle Ages. Its berries, however, could be mistaken for blueberries. Pokeweed and Virginia creeper fruits also resemble blueberries, and both can be fatal if ingested.

Lilies, which are toxic, have an uncanny resemblance to edible onion and garlic grasses, especially when they first emerge.

Those edible wild onion and garlic grasses, which sprout in lawns and uncultivated areas in spring, have other toxic lookalikes, too, including death camas (Toxicoscordion nuttallii), a common cause of livestock poisoning that is dangerous for humans, too.

Bottom line: If you aren't 100% sure that something is food, please don't put it into your mouth, writes Jessica Damiano. If you think you've swallowed a toxic plant by mistake, contact a poison control center at www.poison.org or 1-800-222-1222.

(More Alicia Silverstone stories.)
With the last of the seven bodies recovered from a sunken superyacht in Italy, prosecutors have opened an investigation that could lead to criminal chargeseven manslaughter, reports the BBC. One main line of inquiry appears to be why the crew didn't better prepare for an oncoming storm and warn passengers.

"There are many possibilities for culpability," said prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio, per CNN. "It could be just the captain. It could be the whole crew. It could be the guard. We are evaluating all of the factors to see whose behavior fault can be assigned to."

The prosecutor's office has "filed a dossier, at present against unknown persons, alleging the crime of negligent shipwreck and manslaughter," he said. However, Cartosio added that the investigation will take time to unfold and may not result in criminal charges.

Captain: The captain, New Zealander James Cutfield, already has been questioned for hours, and authorities describe him as cooperative, per NBC News.
Romanian authorities removed luxury vehicles from Andrew Tate's residence on Saturday, a move that comes days after he was put under house arrest following new human trafficking allegations. Andrew, 37, and Tristan Tate, 36, face charges in Romania for human trafficking, rape, and forming a criminal gang to exploit women. Seized cars included a Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz, McLaren, and a classic red Lada.

The action followed Thursday's raids by Romania's anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT, which also confiscated cash and electronics. Lawyer Georgiana Popa stated the seizures were "legal, but unfounded" and have been contested. The cars are not (the brothers') property," she said, though she did not elaborate.

DIICOT is investigating an extensive criminal network accused of using the "loverboy" method to exploit 34 victims, including minors. The agency claims the defendants forced victims to create pornographic content and retained over $2.8 million from these activities. Previous seizures from the Tate brothers included 15 luxury cars, 14 designer watches, and various foreign currency. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
The Islamic State on Saturday claimed responsibility for stabbings the night before in Germany that killed three people and wounded eight others. Without providing evidence, the Guardian reports, the group posted on its Telegram account that the attack was carried out by one of its members "in revenge for Muslims in Palestine and everywhere." The statement said the attacker, who is being sought by German authorities, is a "soldier of the Islamic State" who targeted Christians, per the AP . Four people remained hospitalized Saturday with life-threatening wounds, per CNN .

Police said they do not know the killer's identity, which way he fled the festival in Solingen, or how he left the area. Checkpoints were set up on roads, and helicopters were deployed in the search. A 15-year-old boy was arrested, suspected of knowing the attack was planned but not telling police about it. "He is at this point only suspected of failing to report a crime," a prosecutor said Saturday. Police said a review of images of the attacks, which lasted only minutes, showed the killer aimed for his victims' necks. He appeared to choose people at random to stab, police said.

Police warned residents to stay vigilant. The rest of the weekend festival marking Solingen's 650th birthday was canceled, as were related events nearby. Solingen is known for the knives and scissors it produces, per the New York Times. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser recently proposed a law to limit knives that can be carried in public to a length of about 2.4 inches, rather than the current 4.7. "We will not allow that such an awful attack divides our society," Faeser said Saturday in Solingen. Witnesses to the attack included:

A DJ: Topic, who was performing in his hometown on Friday night, said security personnel told him about the attack while he was onstage. He posted that he was asked to continue his set "to avoid causing a mass panic," adding, "So I kept playing even though it was incredibly hard." After about 15 minutes, he was told to stop. The DJ and others then hid in a store.

story continues below

A security worker: Sascha Mosig, 37, was on his first night of employment at a security company. He said a group of people suddenly began running in his direction, some covered in blood, and one screamed, "Knife!" When Mosig went to the main square to help, he told the newspaper Die Zeit, he encountered bodies on the ground and people in shock. "Blood was everywhere," he said. "You know these images from war. This was one."

(More stabbing attack stories.)
On Ukraine's Independence Day, Google dedicated a doodle to the holiday, as well as an animation with a blue and yellow flag.

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It can be seen, among other things, on the Google home page. By clicking on the doodle, you can find a lot of information about Ukraine's Independence Day, from Wikipedia to news.

As reported, on the night of August 24, the European Commission building was illuminated in blue and yellow colors. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Ukrainians on Independence Day and expressed her belief that our country will definitely win the war and become a member of the European Union. Von der Leyen ended her greeting in Ukrainian, "Slava Ukraini!" (Glory to Ukraine).
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

Fish prices in Bahrain's Central Market have continued to rise in recent weeks, driven by a shortage of local fish and an increased reliance on imports.

Fishmongers in the market attribute the price hike to the hot weather, which has made it difficult to catch local fish. They also report a scarcity of larger fish, with most of the available stock being small, imported varieties.

"The prices have gone up for all types of fish, not just the Safi," said Jaafar Saleh, a fishmonger at the Central Market. "Most of the fish available now is imported from India, Pakistan, and Oman."

He added that the current supply of local fish is limited to small fish, measuring no more than 12 cm in length, caught in the waters off Sitra. "The hot weather has made it difficult to catch larger fish, and we're seeing a lot of small fish being sold for as much as BD 1.50 per piece," he said.

Imported fish from Yemen and Oman are also available, but at a price of BD 3 per kg. Saleh estimates that 70% of the fish currently on sale in the market is imported.

The price of refrigerators, which can hold 40-45 kg of fish, ranges from BD 105 to BD 200 depending on size and quality. Most of these refrigerators are also imported.

"Customers are forced to buy imported Safi from Oman and Yemen because of the lack of local supply," said Saleh. "Fish has become very scarce in recent months due to the hot weather and unfavorable conditions."

Another fishmonger, Jameel Al Khanizi, confirmed that the price of large Safi has reached BD 6 per kg, while smaller Safi is selling for between BD 3 and BD 3.50 per kg. He attributes the price increase to low supply and competition among fishermen.

The high prices have put a strain on consumers, who are increasingly having to choose between cheaper, smaller fish or more expensive imported varieties. The shortage of local fish is also a concern for the local fishing industry, which is struggling to cope with the changing conditions.
A Delegation from the Bahraini Parliament Visits China and Meets with the Vice Chairman of the National Peoples Congress

A Delegation from the Bahraini Parliament Visits China and Meets with the Vice Chairman of the National Peoples Congress

Zhang Baojuan, the Vice Chairman of the National Peoples Congress, welcomed a Bahraini parliamentary delegation to China. The group included Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Rumaihi, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs, Defense, and National Security Committee, and Dr Maryam Al Dhaen, Vice Chairman of the Committee. The meeting, held at the Councils headquarters in Beijing, also saw the participation of Jiang Jinbing, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and Wang Honghong, a permanent committee member.

This visit, an official invitation from China, is part of an effort to strengthen parliamentary relations. The goal is to explore mutual cooperation with committees concerned with foreign affairs, improve joint coordination, and share experiences on legislation and legal frameworks governing political activities.

The discussion centred on various aspects of the relationship between the two nations, covering political, economic, security, and social issues. They explored methods to enhance these ties through systems and legislation.

Al Rumaihi praised the growing relationship between Bahrain and China, noting Chinas influential role both regionally and globally. He acknowledged that the Bahraini-Chinese partnership is rooted in a long-standing friendship and expressed gratitude to the Chinese Parliament for their warm welcome and hospitality. He noted the trust placed in the Parliament and the committees efforts to advance global parliamentary diplomacy in line with Bahrains goals.

Dr. Maryam Al Dhaen reiterated that the strategic partnership between Bahrain and China is based on mutual political trust and economic cooperation. She stressed the joint efforts to enhance communication between government and parliamentary bodies and the importance of ongoing collaboration in various fields such as infrastructure, economy, trade, investment, finance, new energy, advanced technology, agriculture, fisheries, education, culture, tourism, and health, to foster development and prosperity between the two countries.

In response, the Vice Chairman of the National Peoples Congress extended her thanks and appreciation to the Bahraini delegation for their visit. She also announced that a Chinese delegation will visit the Bahraini Parliament in October.
TDT | Riyadh

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSHRC) continues to strengthen its global presence through its participation for the second consecutive year in the Association for Medical Education in Europe AMEE 2024 conference, held in Basel, Switzerland, from August 26 to 28. The conference brings together experts and specialists in medical education and healthcare from around the world.

KFSHRC's participation in this year's conference focuses on leveraging knowledge to guide clinical practice and develop new knowledge that benefits learners, patients, and the community. This is achieved by fostering collaboration and exchanging expertise among relevant institutions worldwide.

The participation includes a showcase of KFSHRC's experience in employing the latest technologies in medical education, such as virtual simulation and interactive learning tools that enhance trainees' abilities to make clinical decisions. This integrated approach has yielded tangible results, including improving the quality of clinical training and graduating highly qualified medical professionals capable of meeting the demands of the healthcare sector locally and internationally.

In this regard, Dr. Essam Al-Banyan, the General Director of Education and Training at KFSHRC, explained that participation in the AMEE 2024 conference aligns with the hospital's strategic goals to strengthen its position as a global center of excellence in medical education. He noted that the aim of attending this global scientific event is to build new knowledge partnerships and exchange expertise with leading international institutions, contributing to the development of medical competencies capable of addressing future challenges and achieving the hospital's vision of providing advanced healthcare.

Dr. Ali Al-Shahri, Deputy Executive Director for Academic Affairs and Training at KFSHRC, discussed the details of the participation, noting that the hospital will present advanced programs focused on integrating technology into medical education, such as simulation techniques and innovation in clinical training. The participation will also include a showcase of successful experiences in developing academic curricula, adopting innovative teaching methods, and discussing the challenges facing medical education and how to address them in accordance with global best practices.

The efforts of the Education and Training Department at KFSHRC include developing training curricula, employing simulation technology to train healthcare practitioners, adopting innovative training methods, enhancing trainee participation in decision-making, and launching initiatives to train healthcare practitioners in clinical research, which has contributed to the publication of numerous scientific research papers.

KFSHRC's participation in the conference reaffirms its commitment to enhancing medical education and improving healthcare outcomes by integrating advanced technologies and contributing to enriching medical education in collaboration with its counterparts in international institutions.

It is worth noting that KFSHRC has been ranked first in the Middle East and Africa and 20th globally, for the second consecutive year, in the list of the top 250 academic healthcare institutions worldwide, and the highest-valued healthcare brand in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, according to Brand Finance 2024. It was also ranked among the top 250 hospitals in the world by Newsweek magazine in the same year.
A new study by American scientists shows that plants have a form of intelligence. They can solve problems by sensing when a neighboring plant is being eaten by insects.

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During the study of goldenrod, scientists found that plants can adapt to threatening circumstances to avoid destruction. This may change people's perception of intelligence, writes the Daily Mail.

Many scientists view intelligence as having a central nervous system where electrical signals transmit messages to other nerves to process information. Plants, on the other hand, have a vascular system, which is a network of cells that transfers water, minerals, and nutrients for life and growth. Therefore, scientists are calling for a change in the definition of intelligence to include the ability to solve problems.

In previous studies, scientists have found that plants emit a high-frequency alarm sound when they are stressed, such as damage to leaves or stems.

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The subject of recent research by American scientists has been the goldenrod, which is commonly found in North America, Europe, and Asia. When the plant is eaten by beetles, it releases a chemical that tells the insects that it is damaged and therefore not suitable for food. Interestingly, these volatile organic compounds were later discovered by neighboring goldenrod plants, which have developed the same defense mechanism.

"Depending on the information a plant receives from the environment, it changes its standard behavior. This fits our definition of intelligence," said Kessler, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at Cornell University.

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Research has also found that plants "sniff" a chemical that signals the presence of a pest. "The volatile emissions coming from a neighbor are a prediction of future herbivory. So plants can use the environment to predict the future situation and then act accordingly," Kessler added.

Scientists have also suggested that plants can count, make decisions, recognize their relatives, and even remember events.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!

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Kyiv, along with the rest of Ukraine, celebrates its 33rd Independence Day on Saturday, August 24. Celebrations were held on St. Sophia Square, while thousands of ordinary Ukrainians took to the streets in embroidered shirts and blue and yellow flags to honor this important day for the country.

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People also carry flowers to pay tribute to the heroes who died for Ukraine. OBOZ.UA is publishing an exclusive photo report from the capital on Independence Day.

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As OBOZ.UA previously reported, on the occasion of Ukraine's Independence Day on August 24, Polish President Andrzej Duda and Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonite arrived in Kyiv. According to Duda, Ukrainians are not alone in their struggle: Poland supports them and will continue to support them until they win.

In her speech, Simonite promised to do everything to bring the victory closer. "The victory of free people, which we will celebrate together - with electricity, gas, and without Russians," she said.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that those who wished disaster on our land will get it at home with interest. This is not gloating and not blind revenge, but a regularity, the head of state explained.

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Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
CLEANING CERAMIC WALL TILES

Dear Heloise: Years ago, I realized that cleaning my bathrooms ceramic wall tiles and bathtub is quick and efficient using a squeeze mop, rather than wiping them down by hand. I keep a mop in the closet next to the bathroom solely for this task. Fill the tub with a little water and rinse as you go. -- Linda England, via email

POSTCARDS FROM THE WORLD

Dear Heloise: My mother is in a nursing home. She doesnt always remember people or their names, but she loves getting mail of any kind. Since I live a few states away and have to travel frequently for my job, I send her postcards and sometimes a short letter. The doctor says it helps her remember me, and it makes her day.

I was told by one of the nurses that most of the residents rarely have visitors. Theyre lucky to get a Christmas or birthday card. Sadly, too many families see a nursing home as a place to warehouse their elderly relatives. This type of isolation seems to play a huge part in their feelings of loneliness as well as their mental decline.

It only takes a couple of minutes to send a postcard or pick up a box of chocolates and take it to them. A little kindness goes a long way. Not only will you make the recipient feel good, youll feel good about yourself, too. -- K.T., in Philadelphia

STUCK-ON PRICE TAGS

Dear Heloise: I know youre a proponent of vinegars many uses. I discovered another yesterday: Spray vinegar onto price tags that are stuck on glass or ceramics. Let it sit for a while, then scrape it off. My fingernails are thrilled! No more scrape, scrape, scraping! Cheers. -- D.R., in San Antonio

A QUICK SANDWICH FOR KIDS

Dear Heloise: Some kids like toasted cheese sandwiches, but they usually need an adult to make them. Well, not anymore!

All they have to do is toast a couple slices of bread and put lots of grated cheese (or a couple slices of cheese) between the two toasted pieces of bread. They can place the sandwich on a napkin or paper towel and microwave it for 12-20 seconds. Then just remove it from the microwave and eat! -- A.R., in California

REUSING RUBBER GLOVES

Dear Heloise: When my household rubber gloves get holes in them, I cut them into rubber bands. I start at the cuff and cut across as wide or as narrow as needed, up to the thumb area. These rubber bands last much longer than regular rubber bands. -- R., in Minnesota

RUBBING ALCOHOL TO THE RESCUE

Dear Heloise: I was getting hairspray residue on my white tile bathroom floor. But I placed paper towels soaked in rubbing alcohol over the area and let it sit there for a few minutes before scrubbing. To my surprise, the hairspray residue came up with it. No scrubbing! -- E.P., in Louisiana

PET PAL

Dear Heloise: Six-year-old Gracie, who was recently adopted from Georgia, is ready to brave the New England elements ... although, perhaps not happily. -- Nancy Mulvihill (and Gracie), Nashua, New Hampshire

GracieHeloise

Readers, to see Gracie and our other Pet Pals, go to Heloise.com and click on Pet of the Week.

Do you have a furry friend to share with our readers? Send a photo and a brief description to Heloise@Heloise.com. -- Heloise

SEND A GREAT HINT TO: Heloise@Heloise.com

(c) 2024 by King Features Syndicate Inc.
Bandmates of the iconic rock band Journey, who have been at odds for months, recently shared an update to their ongoing legal dispute.

Neal Schon, co-founder and lead guitarist for the band, took to social media Thursday to address a lawsuit that Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain filed against Schon in July.

Anyone who follows Journey will know that Jon Cain and I dont always see eye-to-eye on everything Or, sometimes, on pretty much anything, Schon said. Recently, Jon Cain made a number of claims and slanderous accusations about me and my wife  and I cant stress enough how much it upset me and how wrong they are. I am determined to take the high road and push all this aside for the moment to focus on our fans, the tour and all who give so much to make things happen.

Cain, 74, filed a lawsuit last month alleging Schon and his wife Michaele had been misusing the bands funds, leading to issues paying the bands production team and crew. The groups tour dates in the U.K. and Ireland were then abruptly canceled later that week. Cain accused Schon of spending up to $10,000 a night on tour and paying for private jets with the company card.

Schon, 70, said in the post he would now be on board with bringing in a third party to neutrally mediate the situation, as he and Cain are the business entitys only board members. Schon also asked the judge to restructure the company that manages Journeys touring operations.

I am determined to take the high road and push all this aside for the moment to focus on our fans, the tour and all who give so much to make things happen, Schon wrote. Thats why Im so glad that Jon now agrees with me that the current dynamic cant continue and its also why Im pleased that were going to bring in someone impartial to help us resolve our disputes, bring clarity to what were doing and allow us, as a band, to get back to what we should all focus on  making music and performing for our fans.

The legendary band is currently co-headlining The Summer Stadium Tour with Def Leppard, the Steve Miller band and Cheap Trick.

Journey was formed in San Francisco in 1973 by Schon, Ross Valory, George Tickner and Prairie Prince. Gregg Rollie joined the band shortly after its formation. Cain joined the band in 1980. Journeys current lineup includes Schon, Cain, Deen Castronovo, Arnel Pineda, Jason Derlatka and Todd Jensen.

The classic rock band is best known for hits like Dont Stop Believin, Any Way You Want It, Separate Ways and Faithfully. Forbes crowned Dont Stop Believin as the biggest song of all time.

More entertainment coverage

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Christopher Burch can be reached at cburch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter: @SwishBurch. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips/.
New Jerseys Michael Uslan has been an executive producer of every Batman and Batman-related movie since Tim Burtons Batman in 1989.

Now his own superhero origin story is set to take the stage.

Actor Dan Fogler, a Brooklyn native known for starring as Jacob Kowalski in the Fantastic Beasts films from the Harry Potter Wizarding World, will play Uslan in that story, per The Hollywood Reporter.

The Boy Who Loved Batman, a new play based on Uslans 2011 memoir of the same name, tracks his rise from New Jersey comic book super fan to Hollywood film producer.

When Uslan and his producing partner Benjamin Melniker bought the rights to the Batman comic in 1979, there was little interest in a superhero franchise for the character. But his passion for Batman would forever change the movie business, setting the stage for an eventual superhero takeover.

The play will premiere Oct. 1 and run through Nov. 10 at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa, Florida.

Uslan, who lives in Essex County, hopes that the show will eventually land on Broadway.

READ MORE - Batmans Batman: Why N.J.s Michael Uslan is the father of the superhero film craze

Apart from all things Batman, he is the chairman of the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission.

In 2022, Uslan, 73, spoke with NJ Advance Media about how the tale of his journey from boyhood Batman fandom to Batman producing wound up on a trajectory to Broadway.

Uslan met Bob Nederlander of theater company the Nederlander Organization through a friend and gave him a copy of his memoir, after which Nederlander brought up the prospect of adapting it for a Broadway play.

I dont think I could get the word yes out of my mouth faster, Uslan told NJ Advance Media.

Michael Uslan in 2011, at his home office in Essex County.Robert Sciarrino | The Star-Ledger

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, he set about writing the first draft of the play  which had a working title of Darknights and Daydreams  as well as a screenplay for a potential film adaptation.

Former MGM executive Melniker, a Bayonne native who died in 2018 (at 104), was Uslans producing partner on all Batman films as well as other projects.

He called Uslan Batmans Batman for his dedication to advancing and protecting the legacy of The Dark Knight. (That is the name of Uslans second memoir, published in 2022.)

Uslan was hellbent on restoring Batman to glory.

It would take him a decade to bring Batman to the screen, as played by Michael Keaton.

Jack Nicholson as Joker and Michael Keaton as Batman in "Batman" (1989). Warner Bros.

Uslan was born in Jersey City and grew up in Bayonne and Ocean Township (first Wanamassa, then Deal Park), amassing a huge collection of comics  50,000  starting in the 1950s.

When he starting working in the film industry, he raised the money to buy the rights to Batman from DC Comics with Melniker.

The seed of his motivation could be found in the Batman comics of his youth, the dark original version of the Caped Crusader conceived by Batman creators Bob Kane and Bill Finger.

Because in 1966, when Uslan excitedly tuned into the Adam West Batman series as a child, he was severely disappointed in the campy take.

The whole world was laughing at Batman, and that killed me, Uslan told NJ Advance Media.

Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin in the "Batman" series that debuted in 1966.20th Century Fox Television

He wanted a theatrical version of Batman that would stay true to his dark roots. Enter Burton and Batman, which grossed $251 million in the United States. It was the top film of 1989, besting the likes of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Ghostbusters II, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Lethal Weapon 2 and Back to the Future Part II.

Not only did I need to bring darkness and dignity and respect to Batman, but the same to the creators, because I knew them personally, Uslan said. And that was my job. That was part of my mission. And Im very, very happy to feel like weve succeeded with that.

On all things Batman and beyond, Uslan is the comic book fans comic book fan, having taught the first accredited college course on comic books at Indiana University, his alma mater. Hes also written comics and graphic novels. (The theatrical adaptation of The Boy Who Loved Batman is written by Asa Somers and directed by Tony nominee Jeff Calhoun of Newsies.)

Today Uslan is a producer on everything attached to Batman IP, including the Joker movies  the latest, Joker: Folie a Deux, filmed in New Jersey and premieres in October.

Fogler, 47, a huge Batman fan, won a Tony for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee in 2005. He played Francis Ford Coppola in the 2022 Paramount+ series The Offer, about the making of The Godfather.

Fogler is set to appear alongside Timothee Chalamet in the upcoming Bob Dylan movie A Complete Unknown, which filmed throughout New Jersey.

Thank you for reading. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup.
Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost.

If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below.
On the night of August 24, Russia attacked southern Ukraine. On Independence Day, Russian strategic long-range bombers launched four X-22 cruise missiles at Snake Island.

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The invaders also attacked Kherson region with guided bombs. This was reported by the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

According to information from the South Air Command, on the night of August 24, Russian Tu-22M3 long-range bombers launched four X-22 cruise missiles near Snake Island.

The enemy also struck Kherson region with guided bombs.

The invaders also continue to conduct aerial reconnaissance. The day before, on August 23, air defense forces destroyed five reconnaissance drones in the south of our country: two ZALAs, one Supercam, one Orlan-10 and one Merlin, as well as two Lancet strike UAVs.

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As a reminder, the day before, on August 23, Russians attacked Kherson with strike drones. They also fired artillery at the regional center. Nine civilians were injured as a result of the shelling.

On the same day, the occupiers attacked a rescue operation at the site of the shelling in Kozacha Lopan. Law enforcement officers, rescuers and local residents were clearing the rubble after the August 21 enemy attack for three days. Three police officers were injured.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
Ukraine has used its newest domestic drone missile, Palianytsia, for the first time. On August 24, the 33rd anniversary of Ukraine's Independence, it hit an enemy target.

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This was announced by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a solemn event on the occasion of Ukraine's Independence Day. The event was broadcast on the Presidential Office's YouTube channel.

"Today, a brand new weapon, the Ukrainian drone missile Palianytsia, was used for the first time. This is our new method of retaliation against the aggressor. The enemy has been defeated," Zelenskyy said.

"It will be very difficult for the Russians, it will be difficult even to say what exactly has arrived, it will be difficult to resist, but it is easy to understand why," Zelenskyy said.

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Minister of Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kamyshin clarified in his Telegram that the enemy's facility, which received the latest Ukrainian weapon, is located in the temporarily occupied territory.

"This is a drone and a missile because the product falls under both definitions in terms of its tactical and technical characteristics," the official explained.

He added that there will be more drone missiles, just as there are more long-range attack drones, whose results Ukrainians see almost every day.

"The drone missile is the next step in the evolution of Ukrainian defense tech. We have been looking forward to the moment when we could demonstrate its effectiveness to the enemy. Finally, this moment has come," Kamyshin said.

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Earlier, Zelenskyy demonstrated Ukrainian weapons that help defend the country from Russian aggression at sea, on land, and in the air. The capabilities of Ukraine's defense industry are different and much greater.

"At sea: "Neptune, Sea Baby, Magura V5. On land: "Bogdana, Stugna, Corsair. In the air: "Beaver, Morok, Lutyi. Our Ukrainian developments, which clean the Black Sea, add strength to our state and destroy Russia's potential," the president said in a statement.

As reported by OBOZ.UA:

 The Swedish Defense Procurement Agency (FMV) will start operating in Ukraine this fall. Stockholm wants to move from donations to Ukraine to the production of military equipment, Swedish Defense Minister Paul Johnson said.

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 Ukroboronprom has been included in the list of the world's top 50 defense companies for the first time according to Defense News. The concern was ranked 49th, having risen 16 positions over the year, and outperformed many competitors, including Hanwha Aerospace (50th), Hensoldt (52nd), and Kawasaki Heavy Industries (53rd).

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Beach users have been urged to have their say on a new consultation for laying seabed cables at Saunton Sands to serve the proposed White Cross windfarm project, amid fears it could ruin the beach for surfers and harm the delicate marine environment.

The MMO (Marine Management Organisation) is running the consultation before deciding whether to grant a license for the proposal to lay cables under the seabed and bring them ashore at Saunton.

The offshore license application for the marine works is separate to the planning application currently lodged with North Devon Council for the onshore works to lay cable between Saunton and the sub station at Yelland, going under parts of Braunton Burrows and other sensitive areas.

The cable would serve the proposed wind farm, a testing and demo facility, with seven floating wind turbines 32 miles off the coast, which developers Cobra and Flotation Energy say would provide up to 100 megawatts of energy.

Campaign group Save Our Sands (SOS) is calling on anyone who values Saunton for surfing, fishing, tourism or fears for the future of the marine and coastal ecology to have their say on the MMO consultation before the September 4 deadline.

The group fears the cabling work would forever alter and damage the surfing break at Saunton, which is now part of a World Surfing Reserve, one of only 12 on the planet.

Dr Finola ONeill of SOS said there was particular concern because she had learned the MMO license would also grant permission for the cable to be protected with rocks or placed on concrete mattresses, which could badly affect the beach waves.

She said while the developer had stated a preference not to use these measures, if the license was granted they could and would be used if needed.

Above: Those who use or value Saunton Sands have been urged to complete the MMO license consultation on proposals to lay cable for the White Cross windfarm under the seabed. Credit: Ruby Cooper

Dr ONeill said: The White Cross windfarm planned to land at the north end of Saunton beach poses risks to our community, ecology and tourism industry through both its offshore cable and onshore cable development process and ongoing maintenance.

The wave at the north end of the beach at Saunton is described on Surfline, a major international surf forecasting site as something of a Mecca for loggers (longboarders).

Anyone that has spent years, decades or a lifetime studying the movement of sand around coastlines, be that surfers, fishermen, kayakers and so on, knows that if the cable is encased or covered in rock or concrete it will affect the wave breaking on it.

If it were not enough this development will affect Saunton, the biosphere reserve, protected nature systems behind the beach including a 1,000 acre sand dune ecosystem and salt marshes and associated wildlife, the utter inappropriateness of the location of this development and cable route (both onshore and offshore) cannot be strongly stated enough.

Other issues surrounding the application include the fact that some 40 per cent of the Saunton beach car park would be used during the construction period, which White Cross has said will only be a year.

Traffic is a big concern, with fears of up to 100 lorry movements a day through Braunton, already blighted by traffic jams, especially during tourist season and prompting safety concerns in areas such as the villages narrow Caen Street.

A temporary new road would also be run through fields and Braunton Marsh.

A White Cross spokesperson previously told the Gazette construction work at Saunton Sands was expected to be completed within a year, with the cable landing works on the beach itself expected to be two weeks.

They said the project team had found ways to reduce the number of HGV movements and that the project had been designed in a way to limit environmental impact.

People who wish to comment on the MMO offshore works application can do so by CLICKING HERE.

To comment on the MMO offshore works license application for White Cross, go to https://marinelicensing.marinemanagement.org.uk and select public register, then find case number MLA/2023/00113, entitled White Cross Offshore Windfarm.

Alternatively CLICK HERE
A state commission tasked with finding ways to alleviate Indiana's attorney shortage is acting quickly to identify potential solutions.

The Commission on Indiana's Legal Future took less than four months to issue a 74-page compilation of interim recommendations for producing more lawyers in the Hoosier State and modifying the practice of law to encourage greater participation by allied legal professionals.

"Indiana's attorney shortage is real and rapidly approaching a critical point," said commission leaders Nancy Vaidik, an Indiana Court of Appeals judge from Porter County, and Justin Forkner, chief administrative officer of the Indiana Supreme Court.

"According to the American Bar Association, our state ranks in the bottom 10 nationally with only 2.3 attorneys per 1,000 residents. Over half of our counties have fewer than one lawyer per 1,000 residents  the ABA's threshold for a legal desert. This puts at risk access to justice for Hoosiers everywhere. It endangers the trust and confidence the public holds in our court system and undercuts respect for the rule of law and those trained to uphold it."

The commission's recommendations include a variety of proposals for the state to financially support new attorneys, especially those interested in working as prosecutors or public defenders, or willing to open a law firm in a legally underserved community.

They include subsidies for lawyers locating in legal deserts, more scholarships and loan assistance for law students willing to commit to working in Indiana areas of high legal need, start-up funding for non-profit law firms, and incentives for legal aid organizations, among others.

The commission also is urging state law changes to permit non-lawyers with some specialized training, known as allied legal professionals, to represent litigants in court under certain conditions, allow business owners to represent themselves in small claims cases exceeding $6,000, and to let municipal government attorneys to live outside the county where they work.

In addition, the commission is suggesting changing state court rules to encourage greater use of alternative dispute resolution, make remote legal proceedings more routine and accessible, loosen restrictions on attorneys licensed in other states who want to practice in Indiana, and to allow artificial intelligence applications to substitute for courtroom language translators.

The commission is not recommending, at this time, the establishment of a law school at Indiana University Northwest to replace the approximately 100-200 new lawyers a year no longer being produced in Northwest Indiana following the 2020 closure of Valparaiso University Law School.

Hoosier attorneys and the general public can weigh-in on the commission's interim recommendations by submitting a comment form at the courts.in.gov website.

The commission is scheduled to issue its final report by July 1, 2025.

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Ukrainian Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk addressed Ukrainians on Independence Day. The lieutenant general said that true independence does not come easily.

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Oleshchuk emphasized that there are many examples in world history of enslaved peoples fighting for the desire to live freely. He wrote about this on his Telegram.

According to him, the Ukrainian people have always fought against empires that encroach on our holy land for hundreds of years with arms in their hands. He also noted that it is now up to Ukrainians to determine what kind of country their children and grandchildren will inherit.

"Independence means freedom, the right to choose, cultural values, the right to live in your own home on your own land. True independence does not come easily. There are many examples in world history of enslaved peoples fighting for the eternal desire to live in freedom! The Ukrainian people have always fought against empires that encroach on our holy land. For hundreds of years, with arms in hand, with a hot heart! We are fighting even now, and we are not alone. Our struggle for independence is supported by the entire civilized world, but it is up to us to decide what kind of Ukraine we will leave to our children and grandchildren," Oleshchuk wrote.

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The lieutenant general also showed a photo of a guided bomb that will reach the Russian occupiers who are trying to take away the independence of our country.

"Today this French bomb will once again hit the heads of the occupiers on my behalf. It will fight for our future, for our land, for our freedom, for independence!" Oleshchuk said.

As a reminder, US President Joe Biden congratulated Ukraine on Independence Day. The American leader assured that Ukraine will remain free.

As repoted, the National Police warned of a high probability of Russian massive missile attacks on the Independence Day of Ukraine. All units of the agency are ready to provide enhanced security measures under martial law

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According to a KIIS poll, the vast majority of Ukrainians support Ukraine's independence as of 2024. The number of our compatriots who favor unification with Russia has fallen to record lows and is less than half a percent.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
Hoosiers motivated to vote for or against Republican Donald Trump or Democrat Kamala Harris for president following the political parties' national conventions must register by Oct. 7 to cast a ballot at the Nov. 5 general election.

Election officials also are urging individuals who previously registered to vote to verify their registration remains active and the personal information in their voter record is correct.

To qualify to vote, a person must be a U.S. citizen, 18 years old by Election Day, and an Indiana resident for at least 30 days before the election.

Both registering to vote and verifying a registration can be completed online at IndianaVoters.com using a valid driver's license or state identification card number.

The website also allows voters to find their polling place and directions to it, request an absentee ballot if eligible, and view a list of the candidates they'll see when they cast their ballot.

In addition, it includes a reminder that Indiana law requires all voters to bring a government-issued photo ID to the polls in order to receive a ballot.

Individuals who do not have a driver's license or state ID can register to vote in person at county government centers, public assistance offices or when completing a Bureau of Motor Vehicles transaction.

A utility bill, bank statement, government mailing or other proof of address is required to complete an in-person voter registration.

In addition to president of the United States, Hoosier voters this year will elect one of Indiana's two U.S. senators, nine U.S. House members, the governor and attorney general, all 100 Indiana House members, half of the 50-member state Senate, and a host of county and local officials.

Gallery: Indiana historical markers in the Region First Physician Great Sauk (Sac) Trail St. John's Lutheran Church Tolleston Dutch in the Calumet Region St. John Township School, District #2 The Lincoln Highway/The Ideal Section The Lincoln Highway/The Ideal Section Froebel School - side 1 Froebel School Stewart Settlement House Stewart Settlement House Origin of Dr. MLK Day Law Origin of Dr. MLK Day Law Bailly Homestead Iron Brigade Willow Creek Confrontation Ogden ski jump.jpg Teale 1.jpg Teale 2.jpg Steel 1.jpg Steel 2.jpg Civil War camps.jpg Old lighthouse.jpg Railroad.jpg Camp Anderson.jpg Boundary line 1.jpg Boundary line 2.jpg LaPorte courthouse 1.jpg LaPorte courthouse 2.jpg Carnegie 1.jpg Carnegie 2.jpg Rumely Co 1.jpg Rumely Co 2.jpg Lincoln train 1.jpg Lincoln train 2.jpg LaPorte university 1.jpg Laporte university 2.jpg Gary Roosevelt 1 Gary Roosevelt 2 Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus 1.jpg Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus 2.jpg
In Chicago, where thousands of Democrats spent the week celebrating their nomination of Kamala Harris for president, confidence has been overflowing.

The mood in Chicago was just really ebullient, said Jess Bidgood, who writes the On Politics newsletter and spent the week at the convention. Some delegates even suggested that Harris would glide to victory.

But joy in the summer does not always last, or translate to votes in the fall. Just look at Republicans, Jess said. They were riding high at their convention last month, just after Trump survived an assassination attempt and before President Biden stepped aside. Now polls show Harris with a narrow lead.

Harris and other top Democrats seem to be well aware that things can change. Rather than basking in her momentum, the vice president concluded the convention last night with a serious speech designed to reassure Americans of her values and appeal to voters who might know little about her.
Tent cities began popping up here in 2023, but they have mushroomed in size and number this year. Can Rova, the largest of three major camps in and around the capital, was home to some 280 people this summer. On a recent July night, six people and a dog were bedding down on the floor in Ms. Bocunanos caravan.

Many Can Rova residents said that, with nowhere else to go, they hoped to stay indefinitely. But on July 31, the police made good on a court order to clear the camp, which had been erected on private land. (The owner is currently embroiled in an array of zoning and legal disputes.) Many said they planned to relocate to one of the other camps, even as those sites lacked the electricity, water and perimeter fence that made Can Rova accommodating.
For years, Paralympians with tattoos of the Olympic rings were playing a dangerous game: They had to cover the tattoos completely in competition, or face penalties from the International Paralympic Committee, which included disqualification.

But ahead of the 2024 Paralympics, which start next week in Paris, the I.P.C. has suddenly, and without obvious explanation, reversed course, dropping the rule.

Athletes with such tattoos do not need to cover them up, Craig Spence, the chief brand and communications officer for the I.P.C., said in an email on Friday.

Mr. Spence declined to offer an explanation for the change in policy.

For Paralympians like Rudy Garcia-Tolson, however, the change is a welcome one, regardless of how the I.P.C. came to the decision.
Hettie Jones, a poet and author who with her husband, LeRoi Jones (who later became the incendiary poet and playwright Amiri Baraka), made her household a hub for Beat writers and other artists  but who was often described as a footnote in the rise of her famous spouse as the white wife he disavowed  died on Aug. 13 in Philadelphia. She was 90.

Her daughter Kellie Jones confirmed the death.

Raised in a conventional middle-class Jewish household in Queens, Ms. Jones was musical, rebellious and ambitious, uninterested in tweedy academia or suburban domesticity. She dropped out of graduate school at Columbia University, where she was studying drama, to work at The Record Changer, a jazz magazine, for $1 an hour. There she met a charismatic young poet named LeRoi Jones, and they fell in love.

They hung out at the Five Spot on Cooper Square, listening to jazz musicians like Thelonious Monk. Though they were the rare mixed-race couple in Greenwich Village in the late 1950s, theirs was a mostly colorblind world, Ms. Jones thought  until it wasnt.
In Japan, convenience stores are celebrated. Clean and bright, they are stocked with fresh and affordable lunchboxes, steamed buns and stews in the winter. The celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain once called them the one vice he couldnt give up.

For many residents, the more than 55,000 cheerful, jingle-filled stores, known as konbini, are an indispensable part of daily life. Millions flock to the stores daily to pick up food, send packages and pay bills.

Japans largest konbini chain, 7-Eleven, is also its most famous. It is understandable that a rival company wants in on the action.

This week, Seven & i Holdings, the Japanese company that operates 7-Eleven, said it had received an unsolicited takeover proposal from Alimentation Couche-Tard, a convenience store giant in Canada.
The most surprising moment of this years Republican National Convention may have come on its first night, when the president of the Teamsters railed in prime time against corporate elites and denounced a war against labor by business groups. The gasps from some in the hall were almost audible on television.

But in many ways, it was a little-noted speech the week before, by Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri, that was more revealing about the partys evolving relationship with organized labor.

If anything, Mr. Hawley, a rising Republican star who is one of the Senates most conservative members, seemed to outflank the Teamsters leader. His speech, delivered at the National Conservatism Conference, criticized Republicans who cheerleaded for corporate tax cuts and low barriers for corporate trade, then watched these same corporations ship American jobs overseas. Mr. Hawley concluded that, in the choice between labor and capital, his party must start prioritizing the workingman.
Two astronauts who have spent months aboard the International Space Station will have to stay there months longer after NASA decided on Saturday that they could not return on Boeings troubled Starliner space vehicle. They will return instead on a SpaceX capsule next year.

That decision finally brings clarity to the saga of the two NASA astronauts, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who docked at the space station as part of a test flight of the Boeing vehicle. It also adds to months of difficult problems experienced by Boeing, a dominant aerospace company that has faced embarrassing setbacks in its much larger civilian aviation and defense divisions this year.

A test flight by nature is neither safe nor routine, Bill Nelson, the NASA administrator, said during a news conference, and so the decision to keep Butch and Suni aboard the International Space Station and bring the Boeing Starliner home uncrewed is a result of a commitment to safety.

Norman Knight, NASAs flight operations director, said he had talked to Ms. Williams and Mr. Wilmore, and that they backed the extended stay in orbit, which officials have resisted describing as a stranding.
San Franciscos long relationship with X is nearly over  and city officials are far from heartbroken.

Elon Musk is shuttering his social media companys headquarters in a gritty downtown neighborhood in the coming weeks and will move its last employees based there south to offices in Palo Alto and San Jose. New headquarters will be set up in Texas.

But city officials are not lamenting the exit. X bears little resemblance to the company that San Francisco wooed with a tax break more than a decade ago, when it was Twitter, to help anchor a budding tech hub in a downtrodden neighborhood near City Hall known as Mid-Market. The pandemic, and Mr. Musks 2022 acquisition of the company and subsequent gutting of its work force, reduced the headquarters to a ghost town.

I share the perspective that most San Franciscans have, which is good riddance, said City Attorney David Chiu, who as a member of the citys Board of Supervisors backed the tax break that lured Twitter to Mid-Market in 2012.
An Iowa man was arrested this month for his role in a group that created and shared so-called animal crush videos in which monkeys were brutally tortured, sexually abused and killed in sadistic ways, federal prosecutors said on Friday.

The man, Philip Colt Moss, 41, who was arrested on Aug. 8, was charged in U.S. District Court in Cincinnati with conspiracy to create and distribute the videos and with distributing the videos themselves, according to the indictment, which was unsealed on Friday.

Also named in the indictment against Mr. Moss are Nicholas T. Dryden, of Ohio, and Giancarlo Morelli, of New Jersey, who were charged in June with the same counts as Mr. Moss.

Mr. Dryden, who prosecutors said had paid a minor in Indonesia to film the videos, is also charged with creation of animal crush videos, as well as with production, distribution and receipt of a visual depiction of the sexual abuse of children because a minor was paid to abuse the monkeys, the Department of Justice said.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska paid tribute to the fallen soldiers on Saturday, August 24, Ukraine's Independence Day. The Head of State assured that Ukrainians will always remember their Heroes and be grateful to those who defended Ukrainian statehood and independence.

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Zelenskyy posted a video of the event on his official Telegram channel. Together with his wife, he walked down the alley in memory of the fallen soldiers and laid flowers at the Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen for Ukraine at St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery.

During the ceremony, the horn signal "Honor!" was sounded, the President's Office said.

"We will always remember our Heroes and will be grateful to each and everyone who defended our statehood and independence. Eternal and bright memory to our defenders who fought for a free Ukraine!" the Head of State said.

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In the months since President Biden imposed sweeping restrictions on asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border, the policy appears to be working exactly as he hoped and his critics feared.

The number of people asking for haven in the United States has dropped by 50 percent since June, according to new figures from the Department of Homeland Security. Border agents are operating more efficiently, administration officials say, and many of the hot spots along the border, like Eagle Pass, Texas, have calmed.

The numbers could provide a powerful counternarrative to what has been one of the Biden administrations biggest political vulnerabilities, particularly as Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, tries to fend off Republican attacks.

But migrant activists say Mr. Bidens executive order is weeding out far too many people, including those who should be allowed to have their cases heard, even under the new rules. They say the figures are so low in part because of a little-noticed clause in the new policy, which changed how migrants are treated when they first arrive at the border.
When Representative Juan Ciscomani appeared onstage at a community center filled with banquet tables in Tucson recently to speak to high school seniors from underserved communities, he recounted his personal story of immigrating from Mexico as a young child, helping to support his family and eventually making it to Congress.

As he spoke about translating for his parents during school conferences and weekends spent washing cars to earn extra money to help support his family, Mr. Ciscomani made few mentions of the fact that he is a Republican  and no mention of his partys presidential nominee, Donald J. Trump, who has made a political career of demonizing immigrants.

I became a U.S. citizen in 2006  13 years after coming to this country, Mr. Ciscomani told the crowd of community leaders interspersed with families of the young graduates, many of them first-generation Americans from some of the poorest parts of the city. And then a member of the United States Congress 16 years later. So I believe in the American dream. I believe in the opportunities this country offers.
Donald J. Trumps political endurance this year has been attributed in part to voters faded memories about why they denied him a second term four years ago.

The former president is doing his best to remind them.

Despite a carefully scripted week of campaign events aimed at counterprogramming the Democratic National Convention, Mr. Trump undercut much of his messaging with a series of off-the-cuff remarks, rants and blunders that threatened to stoke the kind of Republican anxiety he has spent much of the past month trying to tamp down.

On Monday in Pennsylvania, he struggled to clarify a previous comment that he believed the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which honors civilians, was much better than the Medal of Honor given to military members. On Tuesday in Michigan, he claimed that Vice President Kamala Harris had won the Democratic nomination after a vicious, violent overthrow of a president" and called Chicago, which hosted the Democratic convention, a war zone thats worse than Afghanistan.
Less than 10 minutes had passed before Daniel Diermeier, Vanderbilt Universitys chancellor, told hundreds of new students what the school would not do.

The university would not divest from Israel.

It would not banish provocative speakers.

It would not issue statements in support or condemnation of Israeli or Palestinian causes.

Before the hour was up on Monday, he added that Vanderbilt would not tolerate threats, harassment or protests disrupting the learning environment.

This month, Vanderbilt required all first-year undergraduate students to attend mandatory meetings about the universitys approach to free speech, with the hope that clear expectations  and explanations for them  would help administrators keep order after protests rocked American campuses toward the end of the last academic year.
On a sweltering day in August, Claudia Sheinbaum appeared with her mentor, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, to inaugurate one of the costliest infrastructure projects in Mexicos history: a $16 billion oil refinery.

The sprawling complex in Mr. Lopez Obradors home state, Tabasco, forms the capstone of an energy strategy that he will bequeath to Ms. Sheinbaum, a climate scientist, when she takes the presidency in October.

As countries around the world feverishly turn to clean energy sources, Mexico has placed a colossal bet on fossil fuels, with the costs of that strategy now coming painfully into view.

Mexicos oil production tumbled to a 45-year low this year, one of the steepest output declines anywhere in the world this century. Blackouts plagued the country after Mr. Lopez Obrador heaped scorn on wind farms that could help satisfy electricity demand. Natural gas imports for the strained grid are soaring, making energy independence an ever more distant dream.
The brand-new bus gleamed as it weaved through rush-hour traffic in Cambodias capital. It was headed to a school, bearing a lesson about the countrys darkest period.

About two-thirds of Cambodias population is under 30, born a generation or more after the genocidal rule of the Khmer Rouge in the late 1970s. Many of those young people have only a general awareness of its atrocities, which left at least 1.7 million Cambodians dead.

That horrific history has been thoroughly documented, in court documents and at places like the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the killing field in Choeung Ek. But both of these are in the capital, Phnom Penh, and most Cambodians live in the countryside.
At least 27 people died in Nepal on Friday when a tour bus fell into a gorge and went into the Marsyangdi River in the central district of Tanahun.

The bus, carrying tourists from Maharashtra State in the center-west of India, was en route to Nepals capital, Kathmandu, from Pokhara, a popular tourist destination. Nepal gets a lot of Indian tourists, mostly families who arrive by road to visit major Hindu temples.

The cause of the accident was not immediately clear.

Birendra Bahadur Shahi, a superintendent of police in Tanahun, said 16 others were injured in the crash. According to hospital reports, many of the injured were in serious condition. Mr. Shahi said they had been airlifted to Kathmandu for treatment.

The difficulty of the local terrain hampered rescue efforts, officials said. It took rescuers seven hours to lift the injured and the dead using ropes.
The DMZ Is an Unhealed Wound for Korea. Its Also a Source of Great Honey.

The heavily fortified area separating North and South Korea is home to a biodiverse landscape and is a place of deep meaning for nearby farmers whose bees can fly freely through it.
Two vehicles parked outside a synagogue exploded in a French town on Saturday in what prosecutors called an act of terrorism.

The cars exploded outside the Beth Yaacov synagogue in La Grande Motte, a resort town on the southern coast of France. The synagogues doors were also set on fire, prosecutors said in a statement.

Prosecutors are treating the attack as an attempted assassination by a terrorist organization intended to cause harm and destroy property, according to a statement from the antiterrorism unit in the prosecutors office.

Gerald Darmanin, the French interior minister, announced on social media later Saturday that a suspect had been arrested in the case but did not provide further details.
Heaven is how Peter Jamieson describes his home in Scotland, with its uninterrupted view of Loch Ness and the green hills stretching beyond, seemingly forever. But there is a problem in paradise, and it has nothing to do with the mythical aquatic monster that brought fame to the area.

Centuries after being hunted to extinction, wild boars are back, roaming the hills and roads around the lake. And so Mr. Jamieson, who lives not far from the village of Drumnadrochit, often wakes to discover his front lawn plowed as if by an excavator.
Only Ukraine can decide whether or not to invite the aggressor country of Russia to the second Peace Summit. For India, this issue does not matter.

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This was stated by Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, summarizing the results of the Indian delegation's visit to Ukraine. The Indian Foreign Minister reminded that India participated in the first Summit at the invitation of Ukraine.

"This is their initiative, in which we took part. What will be the next steps, whether the Russians will come or not, is really not a problem for us to accept a new invitation in any case. I mean, this is an issue that Ukrainian government should decide on," said Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, answering a question about inviting Russians to the Peace Summit.

However, the Indian foreign minister clarified that his country has its own point of view on the problems related to the war in Ukraine. And India's position is that Russians should be involved in the negotiations.

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"There is a diversity of views, and many other countries that also participated in the Summit have their own views on how to advance peace. Our view is that it is natural to involve another stakeholder for the sake of productivity," he said.

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar also noted that India is against the so-called "sanctions policy" towards any country. However, "UN sanctions are the sanctions that we respect," he added.

As reported, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Kyiv on August 23, the Flag Day of Ukraine, for his first official visit. He has already met with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the one-on-one conversation lasted about 2 hours.

It is worth noting that India supports a diplomatic solution to the war between Russia and Ukraine and is ready to actively contribute to peace. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already stated his country's willingness to help establish stability in the region.

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Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
President Volodymyr Zelensky, always adept at messaging, used his latest Independence Day speech on Saturday to drive home the idea that Ukraine is taking the fight to Russia, even as his troops struggle along the front line in the east.

He said the video of the speech was filmed near the site where his troops began a cross-border offensive into Russian territory nearly three weeks ago that caught Moscow by surprise and yielded a bounty in Russian prisoners of war. That paid immediate dividends on Saturday when the two sides each sent 115 prisoners to the other in an exchange brokered by the United Arab Emirates.

Mr. Zelenskys video was prerecorded from what he described as a location along the Psel River, an area frequently targeted by Russian artillery.

Whoever wished misery upon our land shall find it in their own home, Mr. Zelensky said of the incursion, which has pushed into the Kursk region of southwestern Russia.
Hamas representatives were heading to Cairo on Saturday to meet with mediators before a new round of Gaza cease-fire talks as the United States, Qatar and Egypt push to reach an agreement they hope can stave off the growing threat of regional war.

The fighting in Gaza has raged on even as efforts for a deal intensify, with Israeli strikes overnight killing dozens, according to the Gazan health authorities. On Saturday, the Israeli military announced that four soldiers had been killed in fighting Friday in central Gaza.

While U.S. officials have insisted there is progress in negotiations, the main warring parties, Israel and Hamas, have been far more pessimistic. In late July, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, stiffened Israels position on several critical issues, including by demanding a postwar Israeli presence along Gazas border with Egypt.

Senior officials involved in the negotiations began arriving in Egypt on Saturday, where mediators have been pushing for a summit as early as Sunday to press ahead with the talks.

David Barnea, the chief of Israels Mossad intelligence service, as well as the prime minister of Qatar, one of the main mediators, were expected to attend, said an Israeli official and another official familiar with the matter, both of whom spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive negotiations. William J. Burns, the C.I.A. director who has served as Americas top negotiator, will also attend, according to a U.S. official.

Hamas said in a statement that its delegation would reach Cairo on Saturday evening to hear the results of a recent round of discussions between Israel, Egypt and the United States. It said it was willing to move ahead with a proposal from early July, before Mr. Netanyahu set out his new conditions.
Ein al-Hilweh, Lebanons largest community of Palestinian refugees and their descendants, has long been a downtrodden place, impoverished and racked by factional violence. Its residents usually have a grim view of their future.

But now, the mood here is nothing but exuberant.

Recruitment for Hamas and its armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, is way up across Lebanons 12 Palestinian refugee communities, according to Hamas and Lebanese officials. They say that hundreds of new recruits have joined the militants ranks in recent months, exhilarated by Hamass ongoing war with Israel.

On a rare visit to Ein al-Hilweh, journalists from The New York Times saw posters of the Qassam Brigades spokesman, Abu Ubaida, everywhere, his eyes peering out from a red and white checked scarf wrapped around his face like a balaclava, imploring residents to fight on the path of God.

In Hamass stronghold, the Gaza Strip, where some 40,000 Palestinians have died in 10 months of war, many people have soured on the group. But elsewhere, Hamass willingness to combat Israel has won new adherents.
St Brendan's RC Church in Birr celebrated its 200th anniversary during a special mass recently.

Several clergy members were in attendance, including Chief Celebrant Bishop Fintan Monahan, Bishop of Killaloe.

Chairperson of Birr Pastoral Council Brian Kennedy began the mass with Words of Welcome, including a short history of the building.

Peter Whyte of Birr Choral Society wrote a mass for the occasion and it was performed by the Society, conducted by Charles Marshall and accompanied by organist Enda O'Connor. The members of St Brendan's Church under the direction of Tommy Lyndon were also in attendance, singing the hymns and responses.

It was the first public performance of Peter's mass. Rich with melodies and harmonies, Peter has written a beautiful and carefully crafted piece and it received a warm round of applause from the congregation at the end of the mass.

During the mass Father Tom Hogan also drew everyone's attention to Brian Kennedy's good work. He said Brian's knowledge of Birr's history is second to none and his historic tours of the town are greatly appreciated. He said everyone was looking forward to the upcoming publication of Brian's history booklet.

Joan Hogan oversaw the Gathering Rite during which a number of symbols associated with the church were presented.

Lady Alison Rosse presented Water from St Brendan's Well.

Cora Dunne presented the Baptismal Register; Breda Bergin and Joe McEvoy the Church Keys; Mary Kelly and Teresa Brereton Msgr John Ryan's Chalice; Pat Pilkington the Pastoral Council Register; Gabriel Dolan the Organ Recital Programme; Eabha McDowall and Lucy Crowley a Collage of Parish Events.

The Readings were read by Elaine Eastwood and Damien Delaney.

The Prayers of the Faithful were read by Joel Shobin, Eabha McDowall and Jillian Crowley.

The Offertory was presented by Mary Nolan, Ann O'Connor, Michael Hogan and Grainne Cashen.

Sharon Conneely read out her excellent Communion Reflection during which she talked about the power of coming together and partnership in tackling the negative things in life, in bringing about better situations so that our general happiness increases. By focussing on what unites rather than divides us we can achieve more.

The Bishop said he was delighted to be part of this wonderful mass on this wonderful occasion.

He said this was an ecumenical occasion which celebrated the philosophy of Christian humanism and welcomed a plurality of views. With this in mind he warmly welcomed the members of the Church of Ireland and Methodist communities who were in attendance, including members of the Parsons family, whose ancestor, the 2nd Earl of Rosse, donated the church site to the community, as well as 100 and a quarry of stone back in 1824.

On December the 3rd, 2017 I was here for a mass marking the 200th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone for this church. What a joy, what a privilege it is for me to be back here today once again in this magnificent liturgical space.

Today is a wonderful occasion for all involved in the life of this church in any way. There are some here today whose family members have been worshipping here over the last two centuries, in this Teach an Phobail, this house of the community. It is important to remember that the Catholic Church is primarily a people before it is the buildings associated with it.

There are 138 churches in the Diocese of Killaloe. They are all special places of worship but few of them can rival the beauty of St Brendan's. He referred to the building's stained glass windows including the stained glass window in the western / chancel part of the building (behind the high altar). This window was designed by the renowned architect Augustus Pugin and is the oldest stained glass window in the Diocese.

The Bishop pointed out that he was very conscious of the significant role St Brendan's Church has played in the lives of the local community over the last 200 years. I am very conscious that it's a dearly loved building which has been a sanctuary for thousands and a place where people can commune with God as a temporary reprieve from their sometimes difficult lives. I am very conscious of the landmark moments which occur here for people whether it be the baptism of your child, your First Holy Communion, receiving the Holy Spirit during the Sacrament of Confirmation, or expressing your Marriage Vows. It's a place where cherished and important memories are made. For the Christian, memory and hope are closely intertwined.

There is of course much tragedy and gloom in the world, but we should remind ourselves that there are many good things happening in our Society and in our Church among all ages. They might not get the coverage that they deserve. Nevertheless, we have a duty to hand on these great things and treasures of faith in our own local area and to provide every support we can for them. I hope and pray that future generations will have been inspired by us in the way that our generation has been influenced and inspired by those who have gone before us.

Congratulations, blessings and good wishes!

I warmly congratulate you all on this historic occasion and I pay a special tribute to your parish clergy, the pastoral council, the organising committee and everyone involved. This evening I reiterate my congratulations to you as the people of the parish on the way in which you have been so devoted to and cared for this beautiful Church since worship began here 200 years ago; for the generosity that has enabled you to continue to beautify it.

I hope and pray that this Church will continue to provide the people of the Birr area with a special identity as Gods people and that you will feel welcome and at home here with the Lord.

A History

St. Brendans Church was built to replace a previous probably thatched building, located to the rear of the current building. It was built in the pre-Catholic emancipation, pre-famine and pre-ecumencial times of the early 19th century.

On 1st August 1817, William, Lord Oxmantown laid the foundation stone of St. Brendans Church. It was the first public duty of the 17 year old heir of the Earl of Rosse. He later went on as 3rd Earl of Rosse to become a famous astronomer and built the Leviathan Telescope in Birr Castle grounds (the largest in the world from 1845-1917).

Early Developments

The new Church was in the shape of a Latin cross, its spire soaring to 124 feet 6 inches and is gothic in style.

The collection of money to build the church was one of the causes of the infamous Crotty Schism.

The church was completed on 1st of August 1824 but the interior was unfinished. Fr. John Spain completed the interior in the early 1840s. He installed the vaulted gothic ceiling and galleries and also the chancel (Pugin) window in 1842. The chancel contains in its detail St. Flannan, St. Patrick, the Madonna, St. Joseph, St. Brendan, along with the annunciation, the Magi, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection. A kaleidoscope of colour and beauty, Bishop Monahan declared it to be a masterpiece.

Subsequent renovations

In 1872 two new sacristies and a new altar were installed. In 1890 the bell was installed and given the name St. Michael (Patron saint of P.P. Fr. Michael Bugler) by Bishop McRedmond when consecrating the bell. (Bishop Tom McRedmond was originally from Birr. Bishop Monahan is the second person from Offaly to become Bishop of Killaloe).

Following Fr. Buglers death in 1893 the current reredos of the altar and pulpit were erected in Caen stone by parishioners as a memorial to him, in 1894. The pitch pine block floor and central tiles were laid in 1898. Major renovations were completed prior to the centenary in 1917.

Stained Glass Windows

The beautiful windows in the Church have an interesting sequence: The bottom stained glass windows were installed between the 1880s and 1903. The top stained glass windows date from 1913. Other significant windows are by the famous artist Richard King in the side porches and the Leinster Regiment memorial window dating from 1963. This is the only window to a British army regiment in any Irish RC Church.

Recent Developments

Other more recent developments of the Church include the building of an organ by Rooney and Coffey in 1953. Following Vatican II renewal Monsignor P.J. Hammel gave the parishioners a vote to replace the altar completely or retain the 1894 reredos with minimal alterations. They chose to retain the altar, showing their love for the buildings history.

In 1995 the Conference Room and Priests Sacristy were built.

In 2001 the Church was completely refurbished, including rewiring and slating of the entire roof. The baptismal font was also relocated to its present position.
US President Joe Biden has congratulated Ukraine on its Independence Day. The American leader assured that our country will remain free.

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This is stated on the White House website. In a conversation with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on August 23, Biden "reiterated this message and expressed America's unwavering support for the people of Ukraine."

"Tomorrowas the people of Ukraine mark their Independence Daylet it be clear: When Russias senseless war began, Ukraine was a free country. Today, it is still a free country. And the war will end with Ukraine remaining a free, sovereign, and independent country," the US President said.

He expressed pride in the fact that the United States fully supports Ukraine in its struggle, and also noted that Ukrainians defend the values shared by Americans and the whole world.

In a conversation with Zelenskyy, Biden also announced a new military aid package. It is known that it will include air defense missiles to protect Ukraine's critical infrastructure, equipment to combat drones, anti-tank missiles to protect against Russia's changing tactics on the battlefield, ammunition for soldiers on the front lines, and mobile missile systems for use near the front line.

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Earlier, the National Police warned of a high probability of Russian massive missile attacks on the Independence Day of Ukraine. All units of the agency are ready to provide enhanced security measures under martial law

According to a KIIS poll, the vast majority of Ukrainians support Ukraine's independence as of 2024. The number of our compatriots who favor unification with Russia has fallen to record lows and does not reach even half a percent.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
Is the party over? In recent months, media authorities like The Wall Street Journal and Financial Times have begun to talk about coworking as a stalled revolution, a highly anticipated groundswell that ended up falling far short of the immense potential it was seen as having just two years ago. Analysts like Kristopher J. Brooks thought that the future had arrived, but the worlds biggest companies have decided to forgo the coworking revolution by sticking to the traditional office model that telecommuting and shared workplaces were supposed to have tossed into the dustbin of history, along with the other outdated relics of pre-pandemic capitalism.

This twist, of course, has taken place amid the still-fresh collapse of WeWork, the main international driver of coworking. The New York-based company, a corporate unicorn that had been making more than $3 billion a year, managed a total of 43 million square feet across 779 locations frequented by around 547,000 professionals, but declared bankruptcy in November 2023, and recently presented a debt restructuring plan which includes fewer offices.

The company has been subject to a pendulum-type luck, illustrative of the highs and lows through which coworking fever has passed since bursting into our lives around 2010. WeWork started as a fairly modest, if promising project, a network of youthful and eco-friendly ephemeral offices scattered about Brooklyn. In just five years, it had transformed itself into a large multinational coorwpnoration considered one of the 50 most innovative companies in the world by Fast Company and owned the main floors of prestigious buildings such as the Manhattan Center, Times Squares Bush Tower, Los Angeles Constellation Place and even Chicagos picturesque North Wabash skyscraper, the posthumous work of Mies van der Rohe.

That such a stratospheric company would go under just when the winds of history seemed to be blowing in its favor was unexpected, but Fortune writer Kelly Gillblom attributes the situation, to internal company dynamics that have little to do with coworkings overall health as a business model and trend. Gillblom sees WeWork as a corporation that has been run as a family business for years, ambitiously, but also capriciously, inconsistently, and in a manner that lacked pragmatism. Founders Adam Neumann and Miguel McKelvey are no longer steering its ship, having fallen victim to a PR crisis that the company suffered in 2018 and 2019 (multiple lawsuits alleging workplace discrimination, assault and bad business practices) and that obliged them to step aside.

Still, Jed Rothstein, creator of a very enlightening Hulu documentary on the company (WeWork: Or the Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn), thinks that Neumann and McKelvey erred in thinking that a passing trend  the massive coworking revolution  would last forever. They didnt consider how big companies continue to prefer the centralized hierarchy of control that traditional office space can provide. Once the uncertainty of the pandemic was over, shared workspaces continued to be an option, and are expected to continue to grow in the medium term, but they are no longer expected to be as transformative.

A recent study from Barcelonas Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) suggests that coworking has hit a sweet spot in Spain. The country now has 1,400 spaces for co-working spaces, a number below only that of the United States, India and the United Kingdom. Carles Mendez, one of the studys co-authors, says this is due to the fact that cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Malaga, Granada and Castellon are able to attract emerging corporations and self-employed expat workers with their Mediterranean climate and lifestyle.

With prices around $164.50 a month for a flexible workplace and $263 for a dedicated desk from Barcelona to Madrid, the country has emerged as the top European coworking hotspot and landing pad for a massive number of digital nomads, a phenomenon that is more than making up for the relative lack of interest in the coworking shown by local workers.

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Chocolate has been a cult food for 5,500 years, says 53-year-old Santiago Peralta, while lamenting that, nowadays, theres a lack of knowledge about the culture surrounding the product. However, in the company he created with his wife, Carla Barboto, more than 20 years ago, he continues to cherish the heritage of chocolate. The Ecuadorian businessman is convinced not only of its capacity to generate well-being in those who consume it, but also that it can be produced in an honest way, while respecting the environment and society.

Pacari Chocolate produces what is considered to be among the best chocolate in the world. This is confirmed by the dozens of International Chocolate Awards received throughout its history. In the last edition alone, Pacari won eight. The Quito-based company is also recognized as the most ethical chocolate producer in the world, according to the British organization Ethical Consumer.

When it comes to making it, Peralta doesnt hide his red lines: Milk is never added to chocolate and its main ingredient must be cocoa. Calling something that has 15% cocoa chocolate is a scam.

While passing through Madrid  a city he travels to four or five times a year  he has an iced coffee for breakfast at Bo Coffee and takes the opportunity to taste some of the chocolate bars hes carrying in his backpack. This one has toffee, vanilla, meringue... it looks like cafe con leche, he says, regarding the Esmeraldas bar by Pacari, which is 60% cacao. He then tears open a Raw 70%, one of the most-awarded bars, and, when he tastes it, he detects notes of wood, nuts and red fruit, but very subtle.

This is a small demonstration that chocolate  the good kind, made with fine-aroma cocoa  isnt a product of flat flavour. Rather, its full of nuances determined by origin, variety or terroir... as if it were wine. We only look at the price [of a wine bottle], without being able to distinguish what a Vega Sicilia is. Thats because it hasnt been explained enough, he notes, making a comparison between his chocolate and one of the oldest Spanish wineries.

Theres a lot of ignorance around chocolate. Hence, Peralta preaches in favor of a renewed chocolate culture. However, he acknowledges that, in recent years, the development of the bean-to-bar movement  the process of making chocolate thats carefully monitored from cocoa farming to grocery stores  has encouraged people to start looking at cocoa in a different way. Its important that someone tells you about the origin of a cocoa [bean] and [that we] treat the quality of this product with respect.

To understand the history of Pacari and its philosophy around responsible cocoa production  such as the firms work with organizations like the World Wildlife Fund  you have to go back to Peraltas childhood. He was raised in the countryside of Ecuador: from childhood, he helped out by taking care of animals, sowing and harvesting. They never used agrotoxins and didnt join the Green Revolution, he says, in respect to his family and their view on agriculture. He also remembers that they never ate anything processed and that they always had a sweet tooth.

His studies took him to Europe: first to Germany, where he highlights the austere character, then to Portugal, to the Lisbon of the 1990s, a city where he felt a palpable sadness and resistance to change. I fled from all that and returned to Ecuador and I realized that everyone there embraced [my] ideas, he says.

After exporting organic products with his wife, they began working hand-in-hand with farmers to certify crops and to improve the quality of cocoa and farm conditions. At the beginning of Pacari, there were no chocolate bars, which arrived three years later. Instead, there were only nibs  pieces of roasted cocoa  that Peralta and Barboto exported to the UK, Germany and the United States. Today, they sell their products in 40 countries and have gone from working with 50 farmers to involving some 3,000 families in production.

Paccari chocolate bars. INMA FLORES

In these more than 20 years, Peralta has made a name for himself not only in chocolate, but as an entrepreneur of a brand that generates added value and a positive impact on the community in which it has been developed, helping to change the paradigm of cocoa production in Ecuador. His business model is even studied at Harvard University.

Our criteria isnt to help poor children. Charity is one thing and changing the structure of a country is another, the businessman clarifies. Hes very critical of what is known as fair trade.

Fair trade pays 5% more to farmers. We pay 75% more, he affirms, without specifying figures. He also says that 50% of the value of one of the chocolate bars they produce returns to its country of origin.

Its precisely these points that can influence consumers decisions. Hence the companys attempt to appeal to conscientious chocolate-buyers as they ask themselves certain questions while browsing the supermarket shelf. Eighty-five percent of cocoa [in the world] comes from people who earn less than 25 ($28) per family per month, he adds.

Continuing the conversation about the practices of the cocoa industry, Peralta doesnt overlook the current situation, which has seen the price of beans increase sharply in recent months due to scarcity. In January of this year, the cost per ton was around $4,200, but in April it surpassed $12,000, marking a historic record. This is a crisis situation, which Peralta attributes to climate change in conjunction with the lack of respect for production processes and nature.

The mass industry has caused people to neglect cocoa trees. If a drought comes and affects specimens that are already old and tired, it finishes them off. Cocoa is very sensitive to climacteric production. Were paying for the cheap chocolate of the last 30 years today, with the real risk that cocoa will become extinct. Nobody plants cocoa because nobody pays for it. Next Christmas, chocolate will cost 30% more, he warns.

Peralta notes that he has also raised the prices of his chocolate bars. He has more than 60 varieties that are sold in Spain at 3.25 ($3.60) a bar in large stores, such as El Corte Ingles, as well as specialist shops, such as Club del Chocolate. He doesnt want his chocolates to be an unattainable product that can be bought in London for 25 pounds and invites consumers to change their relationship with this sweet, to sit down and value it and worship it.

Chocolate awakens unique sensations the best side of human beings, the chocolatier smiles. If we all ate half-a-bar of chocolate [a day], the world would be a better place.

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Less than five years had passed since the sentencing of Charles Manson and his criminal sect  the so-called Manson Family  when the official version of events was met with notable skepticism.

Truman Capote had become an authority on killers after the publication of In Cold Blood (1966), a book about the murder of a family in Kansas. He would go on to write a short story based on his 1972 interview with an imprisoned Beausoleil:

Robert Beausoleil, who is now 31, is the real mystery figure of the Charles Manson cult. More to the point  and its a point that has never been clearly brought forth in accounts of that tribe  he is the key to the mystery of the homicidal escapades of the so-called Manson Family, notably the Sharon Tate-La Bianca murders.

In the text  titled Then It All Came Down, published in the collection Music for Chameleons (1980)  Capote asserted that it was out of devotion to Bobby Beausoleil that Tex Watson and those cutthroat young ladies, Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, Leslie Van Hooten, sallied forth on their satanic errands.

In other words, the writer of the second-best-selling true crime novel didnt believe what was said in the first: Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders (1974). In this book, the prosecutor for the case  Vince Bugliosi  laid out the story that was endorsed by the courts.

On August 9, 1969, in Los Angeles, the Manson Family murdered the actress Sharon Tate  who was 26-years-old and eight-and-half months pregnant at the time  her three companions and another young man who was visiting the house next door. The cult then killed the LaBianca couple on August 10. According to Bugliosi, the motivation was that Manson had visions of an imminent war between Black and white people. The apocalyptic scenario was described  from Mansons point of view  in the song Helter Skelter (1968), by the Beatles. Through the murders  which were designed to be attributed to the Black Panthers, with insults such as pigs painted on the walls of the house that was being rented by Shannon Tate and Roman Polanski  Manson intended to accelerate events. He and his followers would take refuge and, at the end of the race war, would supposedly emerge as leaders of the new world.

An almost identical murder had taken place on July 27, 1969. The victim was Gary Hinman  a musician associated with the Family  and the perpetrator was Robert Beausoleil, who was arrested on August 6. The motives ranged from a failed drug deal to a rumor  overheard by Beausoleil and his friend Manson  that Hinman had just inherited a large sum of money.

At the scene of the crime  committed via stabbing  the message political piggy and symbols of the Black Panthers were found in blood on the wall. For Capote, the motivation for the Tate-LaBianca murders was obvious: to confuse the authorities into thinking that the killer was the same and that, therefore, Beausoleil couldnt be the culprit.

The media, they called us a family. And it was the only true thing they said, Beausoleil scoffed, in his interview with the writer in prison, where he had become the leader of a neo-Nazi group, the Aryan Brotherhood. If a member of our family was in jeopardy, we didnt abandon that person. And so for the love of a brother, a brother who was in jail on a murder rap, all those killings came down.

The credibility of Truman Capote  who famously took liberties while writing In Cold Blood  is questionable. As soon as he published his account of their meeting, Beausoleil denied that the transcript matched their conversation although he too was far from reliable, given how many times he had changed his version of events over the decades. After refusing to cooperate for years, Beausoleil expressed remorse in the 1980s, although his drug story (he allegedly supplied bikers with bad mescaline that was sold to him by Hinman, which got him into trouble and provoked his revenge) never matched the testimonies of other members of the Family except, occasionally, Mansons version.

Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel and Leslie Van Houten  all members of Charles Mansons family  laughing after learning about their sentence, in 1971. Getty (Bettmann Archive)

At 76, he has just completed 55 years in prison. All his requests for parole have been denied. He has taken responsibility for the crime and  in a 2019 article in Rolling Stone magazine, titled Bobby Beausoleil and the Last Manson Mystery  he stated that the theory that the Tate-LaBianca murders were conceived to free him was as absurd as the theory floated in Helter Skelter. It had nothing to do with me. I didnt command that kind of loyalty. However, this was different from what he initially told Capote, when asked if he was under the influence of Charles Manson: If anybody was influenced, it was him. By me.

The copycat crime theory has gained weight over the years, as various researchers have questioned Bugliosis procedures and conclusions. It has even penetrated film and television: the Netflix thriller series Mindhunter (2017) addressed the hypothesis in an episode.

Beausoleil was active on the dark margins of 1960s Hollywood and the psychedelic scene. A disciple and lover of Kenneth Anger  the filmmaker and author of Hollywood Babylon (1959)  it was through him that he became familiar with the philosophy of the magician Aleister Crowley, which he was later able to transmit to Manson.

Beausoleil appears with Mick Jagger and the founder of the Church of Satan  Anton LaVey  in Angers short film Invocation Of My Demon Brother (1969), a cinematic incantation in the form of a mass, in which the convicted murderer plays the Devil. According to the journalist Jesus Palacios in his book Satan in Hollywood (1997), Angers refusal to give Beausoleil the same role in his next project  Lucifer Rising  ended their relationship.

In the following years, the director wore a voodoo medallion with the image of a frog and the inscription Bobby Beausoleil changed into a frog by Kenneth Anger. A masterpiece of underground experimentation and a visual translation of Crowleys prophecies, Lucifer Rising was finally released in 1981 with music composed by Beausoleil from San Quentin State Prison. The soundtrack was performed by a dozen assassins.

When consulted by EL PAIS, journalist Tom ONeill sees it as an implausible scenario that the motivation for the Tate-LaBianca crimes was to free Beausoleil. In his book CHAOS: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties (2019), he questions the apparent arbitrariness of the murders and dismantles essential pieces of Bugliosis story. Far from the romantic vision of the inner-circle surrounding the marriage of Roman Polanski and Sharon Tate  established by Quentin Tarantino in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)  the author points out numerous links between the victims and their executioners, while describing a stormy everyday life. The journalist mentions a videotape recorded by Polanski, where Tate had violent sexual relations with two men. The authorities discovered the footage and returned it to the filmmaker, considering that it was part of his privacy. Roman was a psychopath. He forced her to do it, Vince Bugliosi confesses to ONeill in the book. The former prosecutor partially omitted this detail in Helter Skelter.

These people were a little scary. They had a reputation for being dangerous, says Peter Bart, former editor-in-chief of Variety and an old friend of Polanski. In the book, the director of Rosemarys Baby (1968) and hairdresser Jay Sebring  who was killed alongside Tate  are pointed out as key suspects in drug-trafficking and distribution in Hollywood. According to testimonies, the people in the house were high and some claim to have seen Manson at at least one other party.

ONeill challenges the belief that Manson was mistaken and actually wanted to murder the houses previous tenant  producer Terry Melcher  out of revenge for not funding his music career. It has been established that Charles Manson knew that Melcher had moved out. Additionally, evidence has been presented which suggests that the prosecutor concealed an admission made by Melcher during questioning: that he had been at the Manson Familys ranch after the murders. All of this cast doubt on the official story.

A Spanish-language cover of an album, consisting of songs composed and sung by Charles Manson.

Beausoleil, however, maintains that Manson was aiming to kill Melcher, not Tate. At one point, I was in a holding cell with Charlie and I said something to him like, What the fuck? Hed never admit that he did anything wrong, but he got this embarrassed look. I sent Tex to kill Terry, he said. And then the whole thing blew up in his face, he recounted, in his final interview with Rolling Stone.

In another part of CHAOS, the focus shifts to the Haight-Ashbury Free Clinic, the epicenter of the Summer of Love  that of 1967, the peak of the hippie movement  where addiction treatments and LSD experiments were carried out for research purposes. Manson is known to have passed through this site, as did Abigail Folger, one of the people murdered on August 9, 1969. But ONeill stresses to EL PAIS that, although they may have overlapped, it was never proven that they interacted directly.

Born from a 1999 freelance assignment for the American magazine Premiere, the book is the result of an article that never saw the light of day. The journalist became absorbed in the investigation and dedicated 20 years to it. In the end, ONeill produced a volume that, far from clarifying the facts, actually muddies them further. In the manner of a paranoid novel by Thomas Pynchon, he sketches an extravagant scheme that builds bridges between Mansons crimes, the assassination of president John F. Kennedy and the CIAs MKUltra mind control project, with the landscape of 1960s America as the backdrop. He also depicted the efforts of the intelligence services to deactivate the Berkeley student movement, the Black Panthers and the agitated climate that was developing.

Citing various sources, ONeill places an alleged intelligence operative  Reeve Whitson  at the scene of the Tate murders before they became news. This illustrates how the authorities were monitoring the Manson Family well before the crimes, despite not making arrests until months later. ONeill writes about a police official who claimed that Manson was an informant, hence justifying the freedom of movement he enjoyed, despite his criminal record.

No conclusion is definitive. But ONeills narrative  at the very least  reinjects mystery and enhances the legend of crimes that had unfathomable social, cultural and political significance. Even today, theres an echo of the events in the popular horror film Longlegs (2024).

James Buddy Day  the last journalist to speak with Manson before he died  dedicated the film Charles Manson: The Final Words (2017) and the book Hippie Cult Leader (2019) to the case, where he expounded a unified theory. Day believes Beausoleil and his explanation that he killed Hinman because he had cheated him with cheap mescaline just as he observes that Manson feared reprisals from anti-racist activists after having shot a Black drug dealer named Bernard Crowe.

According to Day, the cult leader implemented a dual-strategy: involving as many people around him as possible in violent actions (which were also economically motivated) to prevent tip-offs, while also littering the crime scenes with confusing elements, so as not to be caught. This included false clues  a pair of glasses with no owner was deliberately left at Tates house  or delirious messages, elevated to gospel by Vince Bugliosi in Helter Skelter.

I believe what Im told to believe, dont you? Manson snarls, at a tense moment in the documentary, as unwilling to collaborate as ever. Upon dying, he would become a blank canvas, where one can project everything imaginable or project nothing and face absolute emptiness.

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Sri Lanka Navy seizes 45 Indian trawlers, 333 fishermen in 2024

Posted by Editor on August 24, 2024 - 11:35 am

The Sri Lanka Navy has seized 45 Indian trawlers and 333 Indian fishermen for poaching in Sri Lankan waters in 2024 and handed them over for legal action.

In the latest incident, they captured a trawler with 11 Indian fishermen near Point Pedro, Jaffna, yesterday.

The trawler and fishermen were brought to Kankesanthurai Harbour and will be handed over to the Mailadi Fisheries Inspector for further legal action, according to the Navy.

The Navy regularly patrols Sri Lankan waters to stop illegal fishing by foreign trawlers, considering its impact on local fishermens livelihoods.


Frederick Joseph

(Image by Row House) Details DMCA



Frederick Joseph, poet and activist from Yonkers, has written cogently today about the shortcomings of the DNC platfom and presences allowed. Joseph noted that Palestinian pain was missing from the speeches, although an Israeli mother was allowed to speak. He noted the same old same old heavy on the rah-rah rhetoric and light on doing something about substantive issues. Poduct placement pollies squawked: Obama about the dangers of wealth. Mmm-mmm-mmm.

For those interested, I reviewed Joseph's excellent book of poetry and ran a short version of my interview with him, here and here.
The Port of Portland on Friday gave Gov. Tina Kotek a report that explains whats needed to keep container operations at Terminal 6 open for the long haul.

Its answer: millions in state funding, a renewed push to find a private-sector operator and lots of new customers.
A 20-year-old Umatilla man made more than 60 calls to schools, police and animal shelters in a dozen states over four months this year claiming he was sexually assaulting a child or threatening to do so, federal authorities said Friday.

Thomas L. Goatley faces federal charges of making interstate threats and possessing dozens of images of child sex abuse images. He was arraigned Thursday in U.S. District Court in Portland. He entered a not guilty plea and is being held in jail while he awaits trial.

His attorney, Assistant Federal Public Defender Tihanne Mar-Shall, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Court records say he made the hoax calls between January and April.

Authorities found Goatley also was the subject of multiple calls to a tipline at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reporting that he trafficked illicit images of children, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for Oregon.

Investigators executed a search warrant at Goatleys home last month and arrested him the same day. A search of his phone showed dozens of images of abuse, according to federal prosecutors.

His trial is set to begin Oct. 22.

-- Noelle Crombie is an enterprise reporter with a focus on criminal justice. Reach her at 503-276-7184; ncrombie@oregonian.

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An Oregon nurse who neglected an assisted living home resident who subsequently died has pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal mistreatment, the Oregon Department of Justice said Friday.

Phyllis Dodds, 75, was working at Pacifica Senior Living in Klamath Falls when allegations surfaced that she had failed to provide nursing care to three residents, the Attorney Generals Office said in a statement Friday.
A prominent animal-rights advocacy group is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to the safe recovery of a missing dog that appears to have been abused earlier this month in a Northeast Portland apartment building.

Police arrested Isaac Booker Justham, 25, on Aug. 17, two weeks after a man was seen on security-camera footage hitting and kicking what appears to be a black labrador retriever. Justham was indicted this week on multiple counts of aggravated animal abuse.

Police said Justham would not tell them where the dog was or provide any information about its condition.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, an international nonprofit headquartered in Virginia, is offering the $5,000 reward.

This dog is surely frightened and traumatized and may have sustained serious injuries, PETAs senior vice president, Colleen OBrien, said in a statement. PETA asks anyone with information to come forward immediately so that this dog can get the care he or she urgently needs.

Portland police ask anyone who might have information about the dog to contact Det. Matthew Brown at matthew.brown@police.portlandoregon.gov and reference case number 24-803427.

-- The Oregonian/OregonLive
Most years, Aimee Shattucks role as the chair of Portland State Universitys protest and expression advisory team is a small slice of her job supporting student groups as the executive director of student involvement.

Last year was an exception, Shattuck said, as nationwide student backlash against the war in Gaza ramped up at Portland State and spilled into the most disruptive protests on campus since Vietnam and Kent State demonstrations in the 1970s. That advisory team, which brings various departments together to monitor activism nationwide, inform the campus community about first amendment rights and respond to protests, suddenly had a much bigger job in 2023-24.
On the heels of a summer wave of COVID-19 cases, Americans will be able to get free virus test kits mailed to their homes, starting in late September.

U.S. households will be able to order up to four COVID-19 nasal swab tests when the federal program reopens, according to the website, COVIDtests.gov. The U.S. Health and Human Services agency that oversees the testing has not announced an exact date for ordering to begin.

The tests will detect current virus strains and can be ordered ahead of the holiday season when family and friends gather for celebrations, an HHS spokesperson said in an emailed statement. Over-the-counter COVID-19 at-home tests typically cost around $11, as of last year.

The announcement also comes as the government is once again urging people to get an updated COVID-19 booster, ahead of the fall and winter respiratory virus season. Earlier this week, U.S. regulators approved an updated COVID-19 vaccine that is designed to combat the recent virus strains and, hopefully, forthcoming winter ones, too. Vaccine uptake is waning, however. Most Americans have some immunity from prior infections or vaccinations, but data shows under a quarter of U.S. adults took last falls COVID-19 shot.

The Biden administration has given out 1.8 billion COVID-19 tests, including half distributed to households by mail. Its unclear how many tests the feds have on hand.

Tens of billions of tax-payer dollars have been used to develop COVID-19 tests, vaccines and treatments.

Although deaths and serious infections have dropped dramatically since COVID-19 started its U.S. spread in 2020, hospitalizations have started to slightly creep up in recent weeks. In total, more than 1 million Americans have died from the virus.

-- AMANDA SEITZ Associated Press
Robert F. Kennedy said Friday he is suspending his independent presidential bid and is backing Donald Trump.

Kennedy said his internal polls had showed that his presence in the race would hurt Trump and help Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. He cited free speech, the war in Ukraine and a war on our children as among the reasons to try to remove his name from the ballot in battleground states.

These are the principal causes that persuaded me to leave the Democratic Party and run as an independent and now to throw my support to President Trump, Kennedy said.

However, he made clear that he wasnt formally ending his bid and said his supporters could continue to back him in the majority of states where they are unlikely to sway the outcome. Kennedy took steps to withdraw his candidacy in at least two states late this week, Arizona and Pennsylvania.

Kennedy said the move followed conversations with Trump over the past few weeks.

Before the speech, his campaign had said in a Pennsylvania court filing Friday that he would be endorsing Trump for president. A spokesperson for Kennedy said the court filing had been made in error and would be updated, though Kennedy himself reiterated his support for Trump shortly afterward.

-By JONATHAN J. COOPER, ALI SWENSON and GABRIEL SANDOVAL Associated Press

Associated Press writers Jill Colvin in New York, Michelle L. Price in Phoenix, Marc Levy in Harrisburg, Pa., Meg Kinnard in Chicago and Linley Sanders in Washington contributed to this report.

___ The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about APs democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
The Austrian journalist, playwright, poet and satirist, Karl Kraus, published 922 issues of a magazine called Die Fackel, or The Torch, most of them produced by him alone, convinced that a misplaced comma conceals the catastrophe of an era that consents to it.

Over the course of the past 100 years, his underground influence has been far more important than recognized in the cultural arena. In fact, it is reflected in works from his Nobel Prize-winning compatriot Elfriede Jelinek to the last poet to win the Cervantes Prize, the Venezuelan, Rafael Cadenas. Now, 150 years after his birth and 125 years after he started his magazine, his thinking continues to be relevant. If the editor of The New Yorker, David Remnick, recently recalled that The New York Times overlooked the Holocaust, it is worth remembering that Kraus saw it coming via the newspapers circulating in Vienna 10 years earlier, including foreign ones.

The influence of Kraus and The Torch was acknowledged openly a century ago by Ludwig Wittgenstein, Sigmund Freud, Theodor Adorno, Elias Canetti and Walter Benjamin. Between 1899 and 1936, Kraus dissected some of the contemporary evils in The Torch simply by opening the newspaper, as the political scientist Eric Voegelin pointed out in Hitler and the Germans. Three years before Kraus death, in The Third Walpurgis Night, which he wrote just after National Socialism came to power in Germany in 1933, he accurately described and revealed [the] true nature [of Nazism]. He was the first great critic of propaganda, anticipating Orwells vision of a totalitarian society dominated by doublethink and newspeak, as his biographer Edward Timms wrote in Karl Kraus Apocalyptic Satirist: Culture and Catastrophe in Hapsburg Vienna.

Language was the main occupation of Kraus; his main concern was life, and he perceived the degradation of life in the degradation of language. This intimate and tragic relationship, and his unwavering commitment to fight it, makes his analysis of Nazi propaganda not only a must-read for every student of political science, according to Voegelin, but for all of us. Perhaps that is why a new edition was published in the U.S. at the end of Trumps first term. Four years later, and with the prospect of a second Trump term looming, Kraus voice should still be ringing in our ears.

Early this summer, Madrids cultural center, La Casa Encendida, included Kraus in one of its programs. The far right had not yet had their victories in the European elections, but Trumps return to the White House was looking increasingly viable. Its impossible not to remember Kraus regarding current affairs, where responsibility for the public word has completely lost its value. We began to see it very clearly in the elections that Trump won in 2016, where cynicism and lies were validated as political tools, Sandra Santana, professor of Aesthetics at the University of La Laguna in Tenerife, tells EL PAIS.

When words deviate from their meaning, explains Santana in a reference essay on Kraus, titled El laberinto de la palabra or The Labyrinth of the Word, imposture begins to reign. According to Adan Kovacsics, a translator of works by Kraus, when it comes to the fusion of information and spectacle, Kraus warned: It is essential to understand what the spectacle is and that politics has fused with it. The paradox, for Kovacsics, is that, as with Trump, everything was in plain view, but given the machinery and skill with which Nazism hollowed out language, the era was left without words or imagination to see what it was promoting.

Trump uttered over 30,000 lies in his first term, according to The Washington Post. To understand how he has dissolved the relationship between accountability and public discourse, no need to look further than the Financial Times which quoted what an evangelical leader said about Trump days after Bidens catastrophic debate on CNN: As President of the United States, he kept every single promise he made to us. The next day, FT journalist Martin Wolf pointed out that Trumps ability to define the truth for his followers is an example of the Fuhrerprinzip  the idea that the leader defines the truth. Wolf is alluding here to German jurist Carl Schmitt, one of the most influential thinkers on the new right, and his essay, The Fuhrer Protects the Law. Whoever believes that the analogy is an exaggeration, and that Trump does not even have a Schmitt, should know that perhaps Adrian Vermeule, the Harvard professor who promotes an illiberal legalism will suffice. The Supreme Court has already said that Trump is above the law.

Kraus understood that the aim of the message relayed by Nazi propaganda was not so much to appropriate the atrocities as the clarifications, just as Trump does not seek to appropriate anything in particular, except media attention, i.e. everything. When the real world ceases to be the reference, and speeches are only compared to each other, the triumph of truly self-referential politics becomes inevitable. The news is not that his running mate baptized him in 2016 as the Hitler of the United States, but that, if it was a criticism back then, today J.D. Vance could repeat it as praise and still appear coherent, because denouncing contradiction in Trumps world makes no sense  contradiction is Trumps modus operandi.

Voegelin argues that it was against this background of indifference that National Socialism also triumphed, and relies on Kraus, and his dissection of the doublespeak of Germany, to try to refute all the lies that have been told about [the concentration camps], that is, the second reality elaborated by (...) the German episcopate. Hitlers rise to power also highlighted the failure of Social Democracy, including Austrian Social Democracy which, even when it witnessed German comrades tortured and murdered, still preferred to oppose the Austrian Christian Democratic government rather than the German National Socialists.

Devoted to the pastime of palaver and tactics, they have lost almost all material gains, Kraus wrote of the Social Democrats and the Social Democratic intellectuals, who believed they could break [the] magic circle [of Nazism] by means of the Constitutional Court. Consequently, Kraus supported the Austrian Christian-Democratic Chancellor: anything other than Hitler.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
A human skull found in eastern Skamania County earlier this month is believed to be the remains of a 31-year-old Beaverton hiker who went missing in 2013.

The remains are believed to belong to Kristopher Zitzewitz. He got separated from his hiking partner 11 years ago near the Big Lava Beds area and vanished. He wasnt located in several search efforts. Authorities havent confirmed the remains belong to Zitzewitz, but a Facebook page dedicated to his memory believes its him.
Washington states highest court on Thursday disbarred Troy Kelley, the former state auditor who was convicted in 2017 on a slate of federal charges stemming from his real estate business dealings.

The state bars disciplinary board recommended disbarring Kelley, who could not be immediately reached for comment Thursday.

Kelley, suspended from practicing law in Washington since 2018, appealed to the state Supreme Court seeking a three-year suspension followed by three years of probation.
A long-standing Multnomah County leader who retired in 2017 under a cloud of allegations of racial discrimination has returned as a consultant to help the county launch its deflection system.

Joanne Fuller, who worked for the county for nearly 30 years in various leadership roles, was brought on in July to help guide the countys efforts to give people caught with hard drugs an alternative to arrest. She works part time and is paid $134 an hour, officials said.
Oregons Public Records Advocate Todd Albert will serve four more years in the job, where he is responsible for resolving disputes over access to public records and training government officials and members of the public on transparency laws.

Albert has held the job of public records advocate since late 2020, when he was appointed by then-Gov. Kate Brown after prior advocate Becky Chiao clashed with the state board she chaired over the boards efforts to make the public records advocate more independent from the governor.
TV travel guide host Rick Steves has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, he announced Wednesday.

Steves, 69, said his doctors told him there is no sign of it having spread.

There is a clear path forward to getting healthy, and this fall, Ill be in the hospital for a few days to have prostate surgery, Steves wrote in a post to X.

I have great trust in my doctor and in Seattles Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. And I have lots more to be thankful forincluding the support of friends and loved ones and a strong faith that Im in good hands, he added. His home base is Edmonds, Washington.

Steves, the longtime host of PBS travel show Rick Steves Europe, which premiered in 2000, said his doctor granted him permission to film two new shows in France over the next three weeks. He expects to undergo surgery in late September, be laid up for a month, and  God willing  be cancer-free and back at it by the end of October.

Im looking forward to many more years of happy travels, exciting collaborations, and beautiful friendships, Steves said. Thank you for your love and support (and any travel tips you may have for me as I set off on this journey).

In addition to Rick Steves Europe, Steves is a writer and author of his own travel blog, as well as and host of radio show Travel with Rick Steves.
Oregon 18 reopened Friday evening, hours after a crash has closed all lanes of east of McMinnville on the popular route to the central Oregon coast.

Oregon Department of Transportation officials had warned detours would take motorists on Highway 99W through McMinnville or onto Oregon 154 (Lafayette Highway) and Oregon 233 to avoid the area. All lanes of Oregon 18 were affected by the closure.

Check tripcheck for updates.
Exposure to smoke from wildfires can pose serious risks to pregnant people and the baby inside their womb, a new report found.

In a 78-page report published this week, Human Rights Watch (HRW)---an international organization advocating for human rights---cited a study that found that pregnant people who are exposed to wildfire smoke could suffer preterm birth. These risks include low birth weight, low body temperature, feeding difficulties, and infant death.

That study also noted that Black women are disproportionately exposed to wildfire smoke and air pollution and are likely at least three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications compared to white women.

Another study found that exposure to toxic chemicals in wildfire smoke could cause maternal health problems, including hypertension.

Study Finds Wildfire Smoke Causes Preterm Birth

Despite the risks to pregnant people, the HRW said public health officials are not doing enough to educate and provide resources to keep this population safe. Particularly, the report noted that public health officials are lacking in an effort to communicate safety information to pregnant people who are unhoused or who speak little English.

In addition, pregnant people who are unhoused or speak little English often lack access to protective equipment, such as air filters, that could keep them safe from wildfire smoke.

Furthermore, the HRW said the country's "clinical model of care," where doctors bill patients in 15-minute increments, leaves little to no room for healthcare workers to discuss wildfire risks.

HRW Recommendations

To minimize the risks to pregnant people, the organization said federal and state authorities should adopt a reproductive justice approach. For instance, authorities should provide pregnant people access to air filters, air conditioning units, and N95 masks. Those living in areas suffering from poor air quality should also be given assistance in moving to safer places.

The report's authors are also calling on the federal and state governments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to the worsening climate crisis.

For the report, the HRW interviewed health providers, public health officials, and scientists in Oregon---a state that is greatly affected by wildfires.
KYODO NEWS - Aug 24, 2024 - 09:30 | All, Japan

A Tokyo-based startup has opened in Cambodia a Japanese-style kindergarten amid a shortage of teachers in the Southeast Asian country.

Wonderfy Inc., known for its cognitive development apps for young children with over three million users in more than 150 countries, launched the school in the capital Phnom Penh and plans to later expand operations nationwide.

In a ceremony marking the opening of the school last month, Kei Kawashima, chief creative officer of Wonderfy, said the kindergarten will offer lessons based on games, a strategy that has been praised by Cambodian officials.

Cambodia's education system has struggled in the aftermath of the killing by the 1975-79 Khmer Rouge regime of intellectuals including educators, according to the Cambodian government.

The country has just one public institution training kindergarten teachers, leading to a situation in which only 65 percent of 5-year-olds receive preschool education, according to Prak Kosal, director of the Department of Early Childhood Education of the Ministry of Education Youth, and Sport.

Daiki Watanabe, head of Wonderfy's local arm, said that in some areas, local residents without specialized training end up acting as teachers.

Wonderfy's kindergarten, led by a director with experience in early childhood education in Japan, is operating in partnership with Mammy's Family, a childcare provider based in the western Japan city of Matsuyama.

Since March, about 40 children, including Japanese nationals, aged 2 to 6 have enrolled. While English is the main language of instruction, Japanese-language lessons and app-based learning materials are also offered for those who wish them.

Related coverage:

Japan city uses AI to find students at risk of school refusal

Students in need of Japanese language support rise to record 69,000
The Academy at Penguin Hall, an independent all-girls preparatory school, has made a name for itself by prioritizing student-centered learning, an approach that is central to the school's mission. This method is designed to prepare students for the unpredictable global, economic, and social challenges of the future. Through a curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and adaptability, Penguin Hall imparts knowledge and equips students with the skills needed to navigate and succeed in a dynamic world.

A Curriculum Designed for Depth and Relevance

At the heart of Penguin Hall's educational philosophy is a rich, interdisciplinary curriculum that prioritizes depth over breadth. Rather than rush through a wide array of subjects, students at Penguin Hall delve deeply into each area of study. The curriculum encourages students to ask probing questions, engage in meaningful discussions, and apply their knowledge in innovative waysboth inside and outside the classroom.

This inquiry-based learning model is evident in the more than 135 courses offered across various disciplines at Penguin Hall, including integrated humanities, sciences, mathematics, languages, and the arts. Courses such as "Mathematics of the Ideal City" and "Well-Behaved Women Rarely Make History" are examples of how Penguin Hall's curriculum integrates skills and content across subject areas, fostering a holistic understanding of complex topics.

The Power of Student-Centered Learning

Student-centered learning at Penguin Hall helps shift the focus from traditional teacher-led instruction to a more collaborative and personalized approach. This model empowers students to take ownership of their education and allows them to explore topics that they find relevant and interesting. It also encourages them to develop critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills, all of which are essential for success in higher education and beyond.

One of the key benefits of student-centered learning is that it accommodates individual learning styles and paces. The small class sizes and flexible curriculum design at Penguin Hall allow teachers to tailor instruction to meet the diverse needs of their students. This personalized approach enhances student engagement while helping them foster a deeper understanding of the material.

Preparing Students for College and Beyond

Penguin Hall's commitment to rigorous, student-centered education extends to how it prepares students for college. Unlike many schools, Penguin Hall does not offer Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Instead, the school offers Honors courses. These courses are designed to be even more rigorous, with a focus on deep critical thinking and meaningful collaboration. This decision reflects the belief at Penguin Hall that education should not be about memorizing facts for a test but about truly understanding and applying knowledge in real-world contexts.

This approach has been validated by numerous studies and by feedback from college admissions officers. Research funded by the National Science Foundation has shown that students who engage in coursework emphasizing depth over breadth perform better in college. Moreover, colleges increasingly value students who have engaged in inquiry-based learning, as it mirrors the type of work they will encounter in higher education and professional settings.

A Commitment to Continuous Improvement

The Academy at Penguin Hall's educational model is not static. The school continually evaluates and refines its curriculum to ensure it remains relevant and effective. Teachers at Penguin Hall are given the autonomy to develop their courses, drawing on their professional expertise and staying aligned with national standards. This flexibility, combined with a robust faculty evaluation system, ensures that the curriculum evolves to meet the needs of Penguin Hall students and the demands they will face in the modern world.

The Academy at Penguin Hall exemplifies the transformative power of student-centered learning. By focusing on depth, inquiry, and personalized instruction, the school prepares its students for both college and lifelong success. As the educational landscape continues to shift, Penguin Hall remains committed to providing an education that is rigorous and relevant, ensuring that its students are well-equipped to meet the challenges of the future.

About the Academy at Penguin Hall

Founded in 2015 in Wenham, Massachusetts, The Academy at Penguin Hall is an independent all-girls preparatory school dedicated to empowering students to live and lead exemplary lives. With a rigorous curriculum that emphasizes intellectual risk-taking, critical thinking, and experiential learning, The Academy at Penguin Hall prepares its graduates to become confident leaders and changemakers in the real world.
Dr. Robert A. J. Gagnon (see his Facebook page; public posts) is a Visiting Scholar in Biblical Studies at Wesley Biblical Seminary; formerly Professor of Biblical Studies at Houston Christian University and Associate Professor of New Testament at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. He obtained a Master of Theological Studies (MTS): Biblical Studies degree from Harvard Divinity School and a (Ph.D.) in New Testament Studies, magna cum laude, from Princeton Theological Seminary. Dr. Gagnon grew up Catholic, and he wrote on 8-17-24:

I didnt find Christ in Catholicism . . . I lost the forest (the big picture of Christ) for a lot of unnecessary trees that were not scripturally grounded. Part of this . . . was due to some non-scriptural and even (in some cases) anti-scriptural doctrines that undermine the role and significance of Christ. I would love to come back to a purified Catholicism more in keeping with a biblical witness. The excessive adulation of Mary, which at times seems to me to come close to elevating her to the godhead (like a replacement consort for Yahweh in lieu of Asherah), is one such obstacle.

like your other one, it is an amateurish piece. This is his silly and arrogant way of dismissing my critiques in one fell swoop. I had informed him that I had over twenty officially published books [ whether they were self-published or with a vanity press or a reputable press. After I had made five in-depth responses to him, Dr. Gagnon replied (just for the record) in a thread on another Facebook page , on 9-17-24, underneath my links to all five:This is his silly and arrogant way of dismissing my critiques in one fell swoop. I had informed him that I had over twenty officially published books [ 22, to be exact ] and yet he replied that he didnt knowthey were

His words will be in blue. I use RSV for biblical citations.

*****

Im responding to a post on his Facebook page, dated 8-20-24, devoted to massively criticizing alleged idolatrous utterances in the Catholic papal document, Ubi Primum (On the Immaculate Conception), from Blessed Pope Pius IX, issued on 2 February 1849. The post was with Jerry Walls: another vocal critic of Catholicism (whom Ive critiqued many times), who misguidedly pontificates in the combox (8-20-24): Its certainly easy to see why lay RCs actually worship Mary and have no qualms at all in doing so.

Before I start analyzing point-by-point, some preliminary general observations need to be made, in order for readers to properly understand the Catholic worldview, Catholic Mariology, and my own responses. Every worldview has basic premises and presuppositions, and when speaking to others in the same group, its not necessary  and would be foolish and tedious  to reiterate in every other sentence (in writing), or every two minutes (if speaking) what those are. So, for example, all educated Protestant discussions presuppose the self-defined two pillars of the Reformation: sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone as the rule of faith) and sola fide (faith alone as the fundamental soteriology or theology of salvation and justification). Many other propositions flow from these assumed, ingrained presuppositions. They need not be repeated over and over.

Catholics are no different. We have a highly developed devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, whereas Protestantism today has virtually none to speak of; only minimal lip service: mostly at Christmas, where they even habitually set up statues [gasp!] of Mary and St. Joseph, and temporarily forget that  according to their own theology  this is an outrageous practice. When it comes to Mary, Catholics will speak in language  developed over many centuries  that to Protestant ears unfamiliar with it will automatically sound idolatrous at worst and extremely excessive at best. Because Protestantism essentially ditched the doctrine of the communion of saints, it cant comprehend any veneration  not worship!  at all towards anyone but God. And so any such devotion sounds horrifying and blasphemous to them.

Ive defended such flowery Marian Catholic language and expressiveness many times. Fortunately, the person perhaps most excoriated in this regard, St. Alphonsus de Liguori, author of The Glories of Mary (which I defended 22 years ago), often does explain in his book, the presuppositions about our Lord Jesus that any informed Catholic always takes for granted when writing or talking (or thinking) about the Blessed Virgin Mary. But Protestants often seem unaware of these initial premises, so they mistakenly assume  in their lack of knowledge of Catholicism  that Marian devotion in its essence is somehow deliberately attempting to denigrate Jesus or set up an idol in competition with Him. Hence, the problem of communication and one group hugely misunderstanding another. The problem isnt supposed idolatry, but the ignorance of the accuser. I wrote in my paper defending St. Alphonsus:

In order to properly understand the overall framework of the thoughts and ideas and doctrines expressed in this book, we must examine what St. Alphonsus has to say about the relationship of Mary to God the Father and God the Son, Jesus, since this is [Protestants] primary and most impassioned charge: that she supposedly usurps and overthrows Gods prerogatives and unique position of supreme honor and glory, in Catholic theology, and attains some sort of divine or quasi-divine or semi-divine status (which would, indeed, be blasphemous and grossly heretical). Nothing could be further from the truth, and this is all expressed in the book itself.

Now here is what St. Alphonsus also wrote in this book so hated by Protestant critics of Catholic Mariology. All excerpts are taken from The Glories of Mary, by St. Alphonsus de Liguori  a Doctor of the Catholic Church , edited by Rev. Eugene Grimm, Two Volumes in One, Fourth Reprint Revised, Brooklyn: Redemptorist Fathers, 1931:

[citing another in agreement] His divine Son paid and offered the superabundant price of his precious blood in which alone is our salvation, life, and resurrection. (To the Reader, p. 26) Jesus our Redeemer, with an excess of mercy and love, came to restore this life by his own death on the cross . . . by reconciling us with God he made himself the Father of souls in the law of grace . . . (p. 47) In us she beholds that which has been purchased at the price of the death of Jesus Christ . . . Mary well knows that her Son came into the world only to save us poor creatures . . . (pp. 60-61) Either pity me, will I say with the devout St. Anselm, O my Jesus, and forgive me, and do thou pity me, my Mother Mary, by interceding for me . . . my Jesus, forgive me; My Mother Mary, help me. (p. 79) We know that Jesus Christ is our only Saviour, and that he alone by his merits has obtained and obtains salvation for us . . . (p. 137) The price of my salvation is already paid; my Saviour has already shed his blood, which suffices to save an infinity of worlds. This blood has only to be applied even to such a one as I am. And that is thy office, O Blessed Virgin. (pp. 140-141) No one denies that Jesus Christ is our only mediator of justice, and that he by his merits has obtained our reconciliation with God . . . St. Bernard says, Let us not imagine that we obscure the glory of the Son by the great praise we lavish on the mother; for the more she is honored, the greater is the glory of her Son. (p. 153) It is one thing to say that God cannot, and another that he will not, grant graces without the intercession of Mary. We willingly admit that God is the source of every good, and the absolute master of all graces; and that Mary is only a pure creature, who receives whatever she obtains as a pure favor from God . . . We most readily admit that Jesus Christ is the only Mediator of justice . . . and that by his merits he obtains us all graces and salvation; . . . (pp. 156-157) St. Bonaventure: As the moon, which stands between the sun and the earth, transmits to this latter whatever it receives from the former, so does Mary pour out upon us who are in this world the heavenly graces that she receives from the divine sun of justice . . . it is our Lord, as in the head, from which the vital spirits (that is, divine help to obtain eternal salvation) flow into us, who are the members of the mystical body . . . (pp. 159-160) . . . the mediation of Christ alone is absolutely necessary; . . . (p. 162) Whoever places his confidence in a creature independently of God, he certainly is cursed by God; for God is the only source and dispenser of every good, and the creature without God is nothing, and can give nothing. But if our Lord has so disposed it, . . . (p. 174)

Jesus now in heaven sits at the right hand of the Father . . . He has supreme dominion over all, and also over Mary . . . (p. 179)

Be comforted, O unfortunate soul, who hast lost thy God, says St. Bernard; thy Lord himself has provided thee with a mediator, and this is his Son Jesus, who can obtain for thee all that thou desirest. He has given thee Jesus for a mediator; and what is there that such a son cannot obtain from the Father?

. . . If your fear arises from having offended God, know that Jesus has fastened all your sins on the cross with his own lacerated hands, and having satisfied divine justice for them by his death, he has already effaced them from your souls . . .  . . . What do you fear, O ye of little faith? . . . But if by chance, adds the saint, thou fearest to have recourse to Jesus Christ because the majesty of God in him overawes thee  for though he became man, he did not cease to be God  and thou desirest another advocate with this divine mediator, go to Mary, for she will intercede for thee with the Son, who will most certainly hear her; and then he will intercede with the Father, who can deny nothing to such a son. (pp. 200-201)

Does this sound like the Catholic Church places Mary above God, or that she can manipulate God, or can get things for Catholics from God the Father that Jesus cant? Hardly. The truth of the matter is plain to see. Protestants believe  based on their own theological and hermeneutical presuppositions (themselves not above all critique)  that the notion of Mediatrix is thoroughly unbiblical, and in fact, untrue. But they cant prove that the Catholic system teaches it in such a way that God is lowered and Mary raised to a goddess-like status. That simply isnt true, and even in the very book which is notorious in anti-Catholic circles for the most allegedly extreme remarks about Mary, we find many statements such as the above.

Now Ill examine what it is that Dr. Gagnon objects to as allegedly idolatrous in Ubi Primum.

To my Catholic friends: I ask you in all seriousness, you dont find it a tad excessive, bordering on worship, to speak of Mary as:

*The one to whom we pledge a devotion so great that nothing has ever been closer to our heart *

None of it is worship or adoration. None of it detracts from God. Its veneration, which has a biblical basis . Also, there is much flowery language: familiar to just about anyone who has had a sweetheart or spouse. Well say I adore you or Ill do anything for you. You are my everything etc. And so Catholics will say very strong things like that to or about Mary, the highest creature God ever made, and the Mother of God the Son. Martin Luther, in his Commentary on the Magnificat (March 1521) understood devotion to and praise of Mary:

She became the Mother of God, in which work so many and such great good things are bestowed on her as pass mans understanding. For on this there follows all honor, all blessedness, and her unique place in the whole of mankind, among which she has no equal, namely, that she had a child by the Father in heaven, and such a Child. She herself is unable to find a name for this work, it is too exceeding great; all she can do is break out in the fervent cry, are great things, impossible to describe or define. Hence men have crowded all her glory into a single word, calling her the Mother of God. No one can say anything greater of her or to her, though he had as many tongues as there are leaves on the trees, or grass in the fields, or stars in the sky, or sand by the sea. It needs to be pondered in the heart, what it means to be the Mother of God. . . . she was without sin . . . (Luthers Works, Vol. 21, 326-327)

*** Please Hit Subscribe! If you have received benefit from this or any of my other 4,800+ articles, please follow my blog by signing up (with your email address) on the sidebar to the right (you may have to scroll down a bit), above where there is an icon bar, Sign Me Up!: to receive notice when I post a new blog article. This is the equivalent of subscribing to a YouTube channel. My blog was rated #1 for Christian sites by leading AI tool, ChatGPT: endorsed by influential Protestant blogger Adrian Warnock. Please also consider following me on Twitter / X and purchasing one or more of my 55 books. All of this helps me get more exposure, and (however little!) more income for my full-time apologetics work. Thanks so much and happy reading! ***

*The one to whom glory should redound in everything we do

*

Peter states that our faith . . . may redound to praise and glory and honor (1 Pet 1:7). There are many passages in the Bible about human beings receiving glory , by Gods design. Jesus said, The glory which thou hast given me I have given to them (Jn 17:22). Paul wrote, we all, . . . beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another (2 Cor 3:18) and God . . . calls you into his own kingdom and glory (1 Thess 2:12) and he called you . . . so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thess 2:14). Peter proclaimed: the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you (1 Pet 4:14) and that God called us to his own glory (2 Pet 1:3). So Mary gets a lot of glory? Of course! Any of us can and should, and she was the Mother of God, after all. What better creature to receive lots of glory?

*

*The one to whom we should always endeavor to do everything that would  promote her honor and encourage devotion to her

*

The Bible either permits honor of persons or not. Of course it does. So its only a matter of degree. Protestants assume that this detracts from the honor of God, but it doesnt. That doesnt follow inexorably or logically. Its just an old tired Protestant either/or false dichotomy. If it did, God wouldnt have permitted us to honor other creatures. Honor appears 69 times in the NT in RSV. Many are referring to God, but many times it also refers to people. Were to honor our parents (Mt 15:4) and prophets (Mk 6:4) and the humble (Lk 14:10).

*

God the Father honors those who follow His Son (Jn 12:26); every one who does good receives both glory and honor (Rom 2:10), other Christians are to be honored (Rom 12:10), and wives (1 Thess 4:4) and widows (1 Tim 5:3) and elders in the church (1 Tim 5:17) and all men (1 Pet 2:17) and the emperor (1 Pet 2:17). We honor Mary because God desires that (all generations will call me blessed: Lk 1:48; Blessed are you among women: Lk 1:42; the mother of my Lord: Lk 1:43). Even the angel Gabriel said Hail Mary to her (Lk 1:28).

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*The one in whom we should have great trust

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If God so ordains it, yes. Paul wrote that servants of Christ ought to be trustworthy (1 Cor 4:1-2). Paul described himself in the same way (1 Cor 7:25). We trust that Mary can aid us with her singularly powerful intercession, according to the very strong biblical motif of the prayers of the righteous availing much . The Mother of God, whom we believe to be without sin, certainly qualifies as one we can particularly trust.

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*The one whose merits are a resplendent glory  far exceeding all the choirs of angels

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Because she was sinless and immaculate, thats true, and after all, Paul wrote, Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? . . . Do you not know that we are to judge angels? (1 Cor 6:2-3). God rewards the faithful who seek him (Heb 11:6). Mary did this more than any other creature who ever lived. None of this is idolatry in the slightest. Your God is too small (to use an old book title, from J. B. Phillips). God isnt threatened by His creatures receiving honor and merit and glory. Its His will and design.

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* The one whom God has elevated to the very steps of his throne (presumably along with Jesus at Gods right hand)

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The steps to a throne are not the throne itself. Revelation 4:4 states: Round the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders (cf. 5:11; 11:16; 14:3). Revelation 5:6 even says that Jesus was standing near the Fathers throne, among the elders and 5:11 says that thousands of thousands of angels are also there (cf. 7:11, 15). Then we see a great multitude which no man could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne (Rev 7:9) and harpers playing on their harps . . . before the throne (Rev 14:2-3) and the dead, great and small, . . . before the throne (Rev 20:12).

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Does that make all of them equal to him, too? Was St. John trying to convey idolatry? I dont think so. But if someone wants to insist that everyone who gets close to Gods throne is equal to God, or that it is idolatry to take any note of them, then the 24 elders and all the rest must be equal to God, in that tunnel vision mentality, since theyre right there with Jesus. Thats absurd; therefore, the whole notion is, by reductio ad absurdum. We have hundreds of thousands of creatures before Gods throne, right in the Bible, but Mary somehow cant be? Its ludicrous and most unbiblical.

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*The one whose foot has crushed the head of Satan (I thought that was Jesus job)

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This probably refers to Genesis 3:15, which was mistakenly translated as she by a later copyist of the Vulgate, and thus was thought to refer to Mary, the second Eve (e.g., by Augustine, Ambrose, Gregory the Great, and others). Dom Bernard Orchards Catholic Commentary of 1953 noted that St. Jerome cited the passage in another work with the masculine pronoun, thus showing that the error was from a later copyist, not from him. Moreover, many manuscripts of the Vulgate have ipse rather than ipsa (feminine). Barnes Notes on the Bible concurs with this judgment:

The Vulgate also, in what was probably the genuine reading, ipse (he himself) points to the same meaning. The reading ipsa (she herself) is inconsistent with the gender of the Hebrew verb, and with that of the corresponding pronoun in the second clause (his), and is therefore clearly an error of the transcriber.

The Catholic Church doesnt claim that every pope must be a first-rate exegete or translator of the Bible. Protestants acknowledge certain Bible passages that are of questionable authenticity, too. These things happen. But  that said  one can also say that Mary made this crushing possible by bearing the Messiah and Savior of the world. That was her contribution to the way being made for mankind to be saved. She was a key participant in Gods plan for salvation.

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*The sole mediator set up between Christ and His Church (I thought there was just one mediator between God and humans)

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The role of Mediatrix is secondary and non-essential. We believe that this was the arrangement that God set up. There is much indication of secondary conduits of grace in the Bible. God clearly uses many human beings as mediators. We pray for each other. Moses interceded and atoned for the Jews in the wilderness, and God decided not to destroy them (Ex 32:30). If Moses could successfully intercede on behalf of an entire sinful and disobedient group, and if Abrahams prayer could spare his nephew Lot (and potentially Sodom and Gomorrah also, if enough righteous men had been found there: Genesis 18:20-32), why is it so remarkable that God would choose to involve Mary in intercession and distribution of graces to an entire sinful and disobedient group (mankind)?

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If one thing can occur, so can the other (so one might make a biblical argument from analogy). Paul states that he can help save people (1 Cor 9:22) and refers to his stewardship of Gods grace (Eph 3:2; cf. 2 Cor 4:15). Peter says that we can all do that for each other (1 Pet 4:10). Paul informs Timothy that he can save both himself and his hearers (1 Tim 4:16; cf. 1 Cor 7:16; James 5:20; 1 Pet 3:1), and teaches that God uses preaching and spouses to save people (1 Cor 1:21; 7:16; cf. 1 Pet 3:1). James says that we can help convert others (Jas 5:19-20).

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God can do whatever He wants! It is written in the Psalms and prophets that God could raise up a rock or a tree to sing His praises, if stubborn men refuse to do so. God used a donkey (Balaams ass) to speak and express His will once. He appeared in a burning bush and in a cloud. He chose to come to earth as a baby! Why should anything He does or chooses to do surprise us, or make us wonder in befuddlement? The ending of Job makes this clear enough. His thoughts are as far above ours as the stars are above the earth (Isaiah 55:8-9). None of this Catholic belief is in conflict with biblical teaching; though its not explicitly taught. Its in harmony with what we know.

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*The one who always has delivered the Christian people from their greatest calamities and  all their enemies, ever rescuing them

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*The one who is the foundation of all our confidence

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These go back to the principle of the righteous persons prayers having great power . If indeed Mary was the most holy person, her prayers would have the most power, based on what James taught, just as Moses, Abraham, Samuel, Daniel, and other holy people bailed out the ancient Israelites over and over again.

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*The one who, through her efficacious intercession with God, delivers her children even from the punishments of Gods anger

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Oh, you mean like Moses did?:

Numbers 11:1-2 And the people complained in the hearing of the LORD about their misfortunes; and when the LORD heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them, and consumed some outlying parts of the camp. [2] Then the people cried to Moses; and Moses prayed to the LORD, and the fire abated. * Numbers 14:17-20 And now, I pray thee, let the power of the LORD be great as thou hast promised, saying, [18] `The LORD is slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of fathers upon children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation. [19] Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray thee, according to the greatness of thy steadfast love, and according as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now. [20] Then the LORD said, I have pardoned, according to your word;

If Moses already did it, why is it unthinkable that Mary could do the same?

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*The one to whom God has committed the treasury of all good things

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God can do that; no problem. Do Protestants wish to argue that God couldnt possibly do it? He delegates tasks to human beings all the time. Nothing in this (as with everything else here) is contrary to the teachings of Scripture. Its not proven from Scripture, either, but its not contradictory to it, and so cant be ruled out as a possibility.

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*The one through whom is obtained every hope, every grace, and all salvation  everything

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As the pope explained in the next sentence: For this is His will, that we obtain everything through [not, by, or from] Mary. I can think of analogies. God seemed to do virtually everything through Moses when he was around, and through Peter, when he led the early Church, and Paul when he was at the forefront of evangelism to the Gentiles. If God chooses to use Mary to extend His grace and salvation, who are we to object? So critics say its not spelled out in the Bible? Neither are sola Scriptura or sola fide (and both are contradicted numerous times). The New Testament canon is not in the Bible anywhere, yet its believed. So we dont buy this line that everything Protestants believe is explicit in the Bible. That has never been true.

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To which I say: Whats left for Jesus in terms of adoration, devotion, and functions?

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Everything that was there all along, as St. Alphonsus constantly reiterated: as documented above. Protestants simply cant see past their relentless false dichotomies. Catholics have much more faith, and reason, and we worship a bigger God, Who can and does use His creatures in extraordinary ways.

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I thought our greatest devotion should be to Jesus.

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Of course. Thats why St. Alphonsus wrote about Jesus precious blood in which alone is our salvation, life, and resurrection and that Jesus our Redeemer was the one Who came into the world only to save us poor creatures and that Jesus Christ is our only Saviour, and that he alone by his merits has obtained and obtains salvation for us and that Jesus blood suffices to save an infinity of worlds and that No one denies that Jesus Christ is our only mediator of justice, and that he by his merits has obtained our reconciliation with God and that God is the source of every good, and the absolute master of all graces; and that Mary is only a pure creature, who receives whatever she obtains as a pure favor from God and that He has supreme dominion over all, and also over Mary.

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And this is the book usually considered the most outrageously idolatrous. It has a Christology identical to that of Protestantism. Blessed Pope Pius IX was speaking in a way similar to St. Alphonsus. I have defended other commonly trashed Marian devotees and devotions as well:

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* That he is the object of our great trust. That it is his glory that we should most seek. That he is the foundation of our every confidence. That it is he who has rescued us from all our troubles and punishments. That he was the one who crushed Satans head. That he was the sole mediator between God and his church. That in him is found the treasury of all good things. That it is his efficacious intercession at Gods right hand that achieves our deliverance. That it is through him that we have obtained salvation.

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Indeed: as the quotes I just gave and many more assert.

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You really dont find this excessive, a swallowing up of everything that the NT witness attributes to Jesus? *

Not at all, if it is actually understood. Thats the key. Not a single prerogative of Jesus is removed by veneration of Mary and Gods use of her to distribute His self-originated grace, by His plan. We already know from the Bible that God does many amazing things with human beings, that might seem at first glance to be idolatrous also, or to blur the line between man and God. St. Paul implies that believers even while on the earth can achieve the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding (Col 1:9) and can obtain all the riches of assured understanding and the knowledge of Gods mystery, of Christ (Col 1:10).

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And they shall be like Jesus (1 Jn 3:2) and fully united to the Lord and one spirit with him (1 Cor 6:17). Saints in heaven will be filled with all the fulness of God (Eph 3:19) and the fulness of Christ (Eph 4:13) and will be fully partakers of the divine nature (2 Pet 1:4) and totally free of and from sin (Rev 19:8; 21:8, 27; 22:14-15).

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Were equal to angels after death, according to Jesus (Lk 20:36), and like angels (Mt 22:30; Mk 12:25). Moreover, there is the whole theology of God indwelling us. Were described as Gods temple (1 Cor 3:16-17; 6:19; 2 Cor 6:16; Eph 2:22). God will live in us (2 Cor 6:16). Hes in us (1 Jn 3:24; 4:4). God abides in us (1 Jn 3:24; 4:12-13, 15-16). Jesus abides in us (Jn 6:56; 15:4), and He is in us (Jn 14:20; 17:23; Rom 8:10; Col 1:27). He dwells in our hearts (Eph 3:17). The Holy Spirit is within us (Ezek 37:14). Hes with us (Jn 14:16), dwells in or with us (Jn 14:17; Rom 8:9, 11; 1 Cor 3:16), and is in our hearts (2 Cor 1:22; 3:3; Gal 4:6). As Jesus noted, the Law even described human beings as gods (Jn 10:33-36).

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If all that can occur and is explicitly laid out in Holy Scripture, and doesnt interfere with Gods utter transcendence, then I submit that our Marian doctrines  consistent with all of the realities above  do nothing at all to undermine God, either. Its only erroneously thought that they do because almost all of the Protestants who protest the loudest dont make any effort to try to understand these many factors that I have addressed, within the overall context of Catholic theology.

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I welcome any corrections from my FB Catholic friends if I am misreading these encyclicals . . .

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Glad to provide that service!

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I think I may have been a little naive about the possibility of having differing opinions about Mariology from the standpoint of official Catholic teaching.

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This goes to show that Dr. Gagnon is inadequately acquainted and informed, not only with regard to Catholic Mariology, but also the practice of issuing anathemas. In a recent paper in reply to Reformed Baptist Gavin Ortlund, I made an extended argument showing that Protestants do essentially the same thing. For example, Martin Luther wrote in July 1522: Against the Spiritual Estate of the Pope and the Bishops Falsely So-Called , in Luthers Works , Vol. 39; citation from pp. 248-249, my italics; see much more along these lines from Luther). I now let you know that from now on I shall no longer do you the honor of allowing you  or even an angel from heaven  to judge my teaching or to examine it. . . . I shall not have it judged by any man, not even by any angel. For since I am certain of it, I shall be your judge and even the angels judge through this teaching (as St. Paul says [I Cor. 6:3 ]) so that whoever does not accept my teaching may not be saved  for it is Gods and not mine. Therefore, my judgment is also not mine but Gods. (

I also observed:

Luther casually assumed that Protestant opponents of his like Zwingli, who denied the Real Presence in the Eucharist, were likely damned as a result. Luther and Calvin and Melanchthon approved of drowning Anabaptists as heretics and seditious persons because they believed in adult baptism. Thus they would have approved of Gavin Ortlund and James White (and myself, earlier in life) being executed. The early Protestants were extremely intolerant of each other, with many mutual anathemas exchanged. I could go on at great length about this, but I think my point of comparison and double standards is sufficiently established. If one wants to go after a specific aspect of Catholicism that also occurs in Protestantism, then the criticism ought to be fair and across the board, not cynically selective and one-sided, as if only Catholics ever do this.

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Dr. Gagnon made more observations in the lively combox:

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This is the kind of adulation that borders on, if not actually already enters into, worship. Worship consists of giving supreme honor to another. All of these statements sure sound like giving supreme honor to Mary, the kind of honor that in the throne room of God in the Book of Revelation is reserved for God and the Lamb of God. Mary is not even mentioned in those throne room scenes, to say nothing of being the object of devotion and praise.

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The language of complete devotion and glory, the functions, and privileges most certainly encroaches on the realm of Christ. It is a Mary cult, it seems to me. You should go all the way and make her the co-redemptrix and mediatrix of graces, for that is where this all leads.

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Yes, we do do that. I have defended it many times from the Bible and Church history:

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The Orange Growers Association (OGA), a prominent non-profit group dedicated to supporting Ghanas citrus industry, has officially inaugurated its new head office in Akim Oda, Eastern Region. This marks a pivotal moment in the associations mission to rejuvenate and enhance the countrys citrus sector.



The ceremony was graced by a diverse array of dignitaries, including traditional leaders, government officials, civil society representatives, clergy, educational institutions, international development organizations, and key partners of the association. The inauguration was attended by various OGA partners, including GIZ, SONO, ANKAA Tropical Oranges, ASEDA Kitchen, Citriville, MR. PIG, OJ GLOBAL, Grace Valley Farms, Sun Harvest Juice, COMPASS, Eastfield Farms, and Cofrutos.



In his welcoming address, Nana Yaw Baffour Frimpong, President of the OGA, expressed enthusiasm for this new phase and encouraged young people to consider orange farming. He noted, This new head office represents the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and unwavering commitment from our members and partners. He emphasized that orange farming has become a lucrative venture and urged the youth to get involved, stating, Orange farming is no longer the preserve of the aged.



Opanyin Nimo Ahinkorah, Chairman of the OGA Board, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the associations ambitious plans to establish Ghana as a global leader in citrus production. He remarked, The new head office will serve as the nerve center of our operations, where we will devise strategies, forge partnerships, and make decisions to advance the orange industry. He added, Today, we stand on the brink of a new era, addressing challenges with innovative solutions and a renewed commitment to excellence. Our goal is to not only revive the orange industry but to elevate it as a top export commodity and gain global recognition.



The associations progress was highlighted by Theodore Tsidi Kloba, Business Development Manager, who detailed its growth from 273 members in 2020 to over 3,000 members across 12 districts and 82 rural communities. This remarkable growth reflects the strength of our partnerships and the steadfast support of our stakeholders, Kloba said.



OGAs expansion is supported by strategic partnerships with major industry players, including Eastfield Farms, Sono Ghana, the Ivorian firm Compass, and Ankaa Tropical. These collaborations have introduced advanced technologies and expertise, such as drones and specialized extension services, aimed at addressing challenges like post-harvest losses, pest infestations, unpredictable market conditions, and low prices.



Alexander Sapara-Grant, CEO of OJ Global LLC in Dubai, UAE, expressed confidence in the OGAs potential to transform the industry. The OGAs commitment to sustainable practices, quality enhancement, and value addition is truly inspiring, he said. He also presented five (5) motor bikes and two (2) tricycles to support the regional operations of OGA.



Obrempong Sintim Poku III, Mansohene and Benkumhene of Akyem Kotoku State, praised the OGA for its comprehensive approach to both economic and social aspects of their activities. He offered his support, including resources such as land, to aid the associations efforts.



Isaac Mann, Birim Central Director for the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), advocated for integrating orange production into the governments Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) agenda. He emphasized, Government support, combined with the OGAs strategic initiatives, will be crucial in overcoming sector challenges, including access to finance, technology, and international markets. He also encouraged stakeholders to promote orange as a nutritious choice for children.



According to a report, the global demand for oranges is expected to grow from approximately US$3.7 billion at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.7 percent to US$5.6 billion by 2032. The event underscored OGAs dedication to overcoming challenges in orange farming, exploring new markets, and improving the livelihoods of orange farmers. Therefore, the new head office symbolizes a new era of growth, hope, and sustainable development for Ghanas citrus industry. OGA calls on the local and international community to partner with it to drive the growth of the industry and create prosperity for all.



About the Orange Growers Association (OGA)



The Orange Growers Association (OGA) is a leading agricultural NGO in Ghana, committed to advancing the cultivation, promotion, and export of premium oranges. Established in 2020 with 273 members, the OGA has rapidly expanded to over 3,000 members across 12 districts and 82 rural communities. The association is dedicated to revitalizing Ghanas citrus industry through sustainable farming practices, quality enhancement, and increased global market presence.



Vision statement: To support orange growers to become globally competitive.



Mission statement: To ensure the continuous availability of high-quality oranges while maximizing the long-term profitability of its members.



OGA serves as a central hub for orange farmers, offering essential resources, training, and support to improve yields and profitability. Through strategic partnerships with local and international stakeholders, the association aims to position Ghana as a major player in the global citrus market and foster a sustainable and inclusive future for all members of the citrus value chain.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Universities across Ghana has been urged by President Nana Akufo-Addo to align their ties with the various industries as well as government to ensure that their academic programmes is in tangent with Ghanas developmental goals.



At the inauguration of the silver jubilee building on Thursday, 22nd August 2024 at the University for Development Studies (UDS) in Tamale, President Akufo-Addo stated that, it is imperative for Ghanaian universities to strengthen their ties with industries in order to strengthen the economy through industry-based programmes.



According to President Akufo-Addo, the NPP government has invested extensively in the education sector because he believes that the only way a nation will progress exponentially is through education that runs on industry-driven programmes.



Citing a number of policies the government has introduced within the education sector, President Akufo- Addo stated that the No Guarantor Policy introduced by his government has significantly improved access to tertiary education by removing financial barriers and opening doors for many young Ghanaians.



He added, Our substantial support for research and academic development reflects our belief in the power of knowledge to drive national progress.



While commissioning the three storey edifice, President Akufo-Addo said, This three-storey complex, which houses lecture halls and offices, is not just a building; it symbolizes our shared vision for a brighter future and our dedication to providing quality education for all."



I am proud to have fulfilled the promise I made in 2018 during UDSs 25th-anniversary celebration, ensuring that this institution continues to thrive as a hub for innovation and intellectual growth.



As we celebrate this achievement, I urge all universities in Ghana to strengthen their ties with industry and government to ensure that their research and teaching align with our nations development goals.



He concluded, Together, we are building a brighter future for Ghana, and I am confident that with continued investment in education, we can unleash the full potential of our young people and propel our country to greater heights, he wrote on Facebook after the commissioning.

Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









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Operation Smile Ghana, a Non-Profit Medical Organization has Joined the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Campaign against Cleft Lip and Palate Cases in Ghana.



Operation Smile is a non-profit medical organization that was founded in 1982. It has since grown active in over 60 countries, providing free and safe surgeries for patients born with cleft conditions and other facial defects.



The collaboration between Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and Operation Smile Ghana is crucial in mitigating the impact of these deformities. Operation Smile's outreach programs provide free surgeries and follow-up care to children born with cleft conditions, offering them a chance at a normal life.



The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital, Dr. Opoku-Ware Ampomah, has expressed fear that activities of illegal miners popularly known as galamsey could see an increase in deformities in children, with particular reference to cleft lip and palate conditions.



A cleft palate is an opening or split in the roof of the mouth that occurs when the tissue doesn't fuse together during development in the womb this, he said, is because aside from genetic issues, activities related to the environment also play a crucial role.



In an interview with Peace FM News at a press Conference in Accra together with Operation Smile Ghana, he said some of the substances that are used in the galamsey activities can actually cause birth defects and since clefting is one of the common birth defects and the cleft lip and palate is the most common facial deformity but can be corrected through surgery.



The presence of heavy metals and other toxic substances used in galamsey operations can enter water sources, soil, and even the food chain, leading to widespread contamination. Pregnant women exposed to these pollutants are at a higher risk of giving birth to children with congenital anomalies, such as cleft lip and palate.



These birth defects, while treatable through surgery, can have lasting physical and psychological effects if not addressed promptly.



Acting Country Manager, Operation Smile, Henry Quist, encouraged parents and guardians to take advantage of operation smile outreaches and educate parents about the cleft and how they can protect their child. Immediately a child is born with this condition, the mother should try and get in touch with us. When the child is under six months, we cant have surgery. But within that first six months, the child will be given all the nutritional needs supplements that he or she needs so that if you do it very well, within six months all the necessary vitals within your body will be set for you to undergo the surgery, he said











Source: Prince Baffour Asamoah/Peace FM Newsroom









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The Minister for Information, Fatimatu Abubakar together with the Working Committee has jointly launched the third cohort of the Media Capacity Enhancement Programme (MCEP), aimed at addressing the media's capacity challenges in Ghana.



Held at the Ministry of Informations Press Centre today, the launch emphasized the importance of equipping journalists with the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively fulfil their role as the fourth estate in Ghana's governance system.



Madam Abubakar stated that the Media Capacity Enhancement Programme was in line with one of the Ministry of Informations key strategic objectives to improve Civil Society's participation in our national development.



By addressing the media's capacity challenges, we are empowering journalists to play their role effectively in our democracy, she said.

Reflecting on the success of previous cohorts, the Minister for Information mentioned that 100 media personnel across the nation have already benefitted from the programme.



The maiden edition, held in Kumasi in January 2022, trained 58 journalists, while the second cohort, held in December 2023 at the University of Media, Arts and Communications (UNIMAC) in Accra, saw 42 participants engage in nine essential journalism modules.



The Chairperson of the Working Committee and Executive Secretary of Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA), Gloria, Hiadzi in her address mentioned that this years training would target 100 journalists from TV, radio, print, and online media across the nation.



She mentioned that the upcoming elections present unique challenges, and journalists needed to be equipped to report accurately, fairly, and responsibly.



The additional modules will cover critical areas such as fact-checking, ethical considerations in reporting, understanding electoral processes, and navigating the digital landscape, Madam Hiadzi explained.



This years edition, scheduled for September 10th to 13th, 2024, will adopt a hybrid format, with 40 journalists participating in person at the UNIMAC Dzorwulu campus and 60 joining online.



Madam Abubakar encouraged media practitioners and media houses to apply for the training via the link https://forms.office.com/r/by4wMGQ1J8



Stakeholders present at the launch included members of the Working Committee of MCEP, representatives from the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA), the National Media Commission (NMC), the Ghana Journalists Association, New partners, including the New Media Association of Ghana, Women in Broadcasting, Alliance for Women in Media Africa, and the Ministry of Information Press Corps

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The credibility and capacity of the flagbearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to fight corruption and corruption related crimes, has been questioned by Daniel Domelevo, Ghanas former Auditor-General.



According to Mr. Domelevo, Dr. Bawumias inability to disclose the source of the money he used for the Presidential primaries leaves much to be desired of as someone requesting to be voted for as President.



In an interview with Joy News' Raymond Acquah, Mr. Domelevo called out Dr Bawumia to show to the general public his deep-rooted commitment to fighting the canker of corruption by disclosing the source of the substantial amount he used for his Presidential primaries.



Mr. Domelevo said, The track record that he wants us to look at, can he tell us that about 80 million Ghana cedis which was used for the primaries. Can he tell us where it came from? He should have made that known to us, that as a Vice President, he doesnt even get 50,000 cedis a month. So for eight years, he would not make more than 10 million. He should have told us that apart from my salary, I have these sources, my father left these, and I have investments which brought about the eighty-something million which I used for my party funding. We would have clapped for him.



The fight against corruption has been the topical issues Ghanaians look forward to hearing from the various Presidential candidates.



The call from Mr. Domelevo has been one of the many calls from many Ghanaians who are demanding the source of funds that some public officials disburse in pursuit of their political aspirations.







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Ghanaian artiste, Onyansapow Bowaanopow, who now resides in the United States, is preparing to release another impactful song titled Great Sons of Africa.



This highly anticipated track follows the global success of his previous single, Contentment, which gained significant attention for its deep message.



Great Sons of Africa is a tribute to three monumental figures in African history, thus, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Nelson Mandela of South Africa, and Jomo Kenyatta of Kenyawho were instrumental in the fight against colonialism and played pivotal roles in the liberation of their nations.



Onyansapow Bowaanopow believes that historys most significant contributors should be celebrated, as their efforts were not the result of passivity but of bold and decisive action.



Through this song, he aims to honour the legacies of these three great African leaders, while also encouraging listeners to appreciate the richness of African history and culture.



He sees this celebration of African heroes as essential to understanding the continents past and promoting its cultural identity.



The songs official music video is set to premiere on YouTube on September 15, 2024, strategically chosen to coincide with the upcoming birthday celebration of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghanas founding father, on September 21. This premiere will mark the beginning of a series of events celebrating Nkrumahs legacy.



Listeners and fans are encouraged to subscribe to Onyansapow Bowaanopows YouTube channel to catch the release of the Great Sons of Africa music video.



Watch and subscribe below:











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The leadership of Parliament will have to look for a temporary venue to host the 275 members of Parliament when the House reconvenes on September 3, 2024.



This is because the main chamber of Parliament is undergoing a major renovation.



The Majority recently requested for a recall of the House to deal with pertinent government business which constitutionally mandates the Speaker to heed to the call.



But following the refurbishment of the chamber, the Speaker is expected to meet with the leadership to decide on a venue while hoping that the chamber will be ready by October for the third meeting.



"I can decide to host them under a tree or even take them to Ho or elsewhere," the Speaker said jokingly when he inspected the progress of work within the chamber on Friday [August 23, 2024].



Arrangements



The seats and equipment in the chamber have all been removed to allow for an upgrade of the conference system.



And in doing so, the old cables which have been in existence since 2014 are being changed.



"The average lifespan of such cables is between 10 and 15 years," the Acting Director of ICT in Parliament, Lesley Addico, who took the Speaker round on Friday said.

Source: graphiconline









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German Ambassador to Ghana, Daniel Krull, has predicted that Ghanas upcoming presidential election might require a second round of voting.



He noted that while the two major parties, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), are both vigorously campaigning, there is a possibility of a tight race leading to a runoff.



Speaking in an interview on the AM Show on August 22, he said, I personally believe we will probably have a second round of elections which Im surprised Ghanaians are not preparing for. I think there are good arguments to expect that there might be a second round.



Recent analysis from a research and data firm, Fitch Solutions, says the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) will be defeated by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the December 7 general elections.



Read also: Ghanaians have effectively managed the transition of power- Daniel Krull

The London-based firm which has been consistent with its forecast since last year argues that 54 per cent of respondents surveyed tipped NDC's candidate John Mahama as the winner in the upcoming presidential election.



A national opinion poll by Global InfoAnalytics shows that 55 per cent of voters do not believe that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) can break the eight (8) in the 2024 presidential elections.



It however said 27 per cent of voters believed that the NPP could break the 8 with 18 per cent not having an opinion as to whether voters believe the NPP will break the eight (8).



Despite these predictions, the NPP's Dr Mahamudu Bawumia's running mate, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh remains optimistic about the partys chances.



He believes the NPP is deserving of the win due to the significant strides they have made in advancing the nation.



The German Ambassador stated that election outcomes are determined by the citizens and expressed confidence that Ghanaians will ensure their choices are not undermined.



Mr Krull noted that there are various methods for scrutinizing election results and believes Ghana has the right systems in place to ensure this.



I think Ghana is a very peaceful country and the overwhelming majority of this country wishes a peaceful, fair and transparent elections and they would make sure that they enjoy these elections, he said.











Source: myjoyonline.com









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KYODO NEWS - Aug 24, 2024 - 09:33 | All, Japan

Zembei Mizoguchi, a former top currency diplomat known as "Mr. Dollar" in Japan and former governor of Shimane Prefecture, died Tuesday morning of old age, the prefectural government said Friday. He was 78.

Mizoguchi, who joined the Finance Ministry in 1968, served as director general of the International Bureau before becoming vice finance minister for international affairs in 2003.

He was known as "Mr. Dollar" for conducting a massive yen-selling, dollar-buying intervention for 15 months from January 2003 in a bid to stem sharp rises in the yen's value against the U.S. currency.

After retiring from the ministry, Mizoguchi was elected governor of his home prefecture of Shimane in April 2007 and served a total of three terms. He stepped down in April 2019 after being diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 2017.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Yapei Kusawgu in the Savannah region and a ranking Member on the Mines and Energy committee of parliament has shockingly revealed that, the government, under the leadership of President Nana Akufo-Addo, terminated the power purchase contract agreement between Trafiguras Ghana Power generation Company (GPGC) over what he describes as a family feud.



John Abdulai Jinapor made this allegation while granting an interview on Joy FMs Top Story on Thursday, August 22, 2024. The lawmaker alleged that the President was offended by someone and as such, one of the punitive measures adopted by President Akufo-Addo was to have the contractual agreement terminated abruptly.



He added that, after the termination of the contract with GPGC, the government allegedly signed another contract with a different company with similar agreement.



John Jinapor said, "I am telling you that this termination was because of a family feud between some family members of the President on one hand and the other."



When we assume office, you will get to know the real truth and the rationale behind the termination. They did not terminate the contract because they had Ghanas interest at heart. It is because they wanted to teach somebody a lesson. They extended their own family problem into governance and terminated this contract and today you and I [are paying for it].



The NDC MP expressed worry over the fact that the NDC administration would have a lot of mess to clean if the party wins the upcoming December 7 elections, adding that, considering the sterling leadership qualities possessed by the former President and flagbearer of the NDC, John Dramani Mahama, the country will be gradually driven away from the economic shambles the NPP government has driven the country into.



John Jinapors comment comes on the wheels of the current Trafiguras GPGC brouhaha where a District of Columbia Court in the United States has awarded an $111,493,828.82 judgment debt against Ghana in favour of the Ghana Power Generation Company (GPGC).



The courts ruling follows the Government of Ghanas failure to fully comply with an earlier tribunal decision from the United Kingdom.



The court, in granting the Motion for Default Judgment in favour of GPGC, also ordered Ghana to pay mandatory post-judgment interest.



The government was accordingly ordered by the court to make full payment of the value of the Early Termination Payment of $134,348,661 together with the Mobilisation, Demobilization and preservation and maintenance costs of the value. The court also ordered Ghana to pay all the interest that has accrued from it.



In addition, the government was asked to pay the cost of the arbitration and the legal fees of GPGC, which amounted to over $3 million.

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Former President and the flagbearer of the largest opposition party, John Dramani Mahama, has cautioned residents along the Aflao border in the Volta region not to be swayed into giving out their Ghana card to any security personnel.



During his tour of the Volta region as part of his campaign exercise, former President John Mahama emphasised that under no circumstance should any resident in Aflao nor any part of the Volta region give out their Ghana card, especially when it is a prerequisite for voting in the upcoming December 7 elections.



His clarion admonishing came when reports flooded the region that some security personnel believed to be from the Immigration Service are heckling residents in the border town to give out their Ghana cards.



However, John Mahama urged residents to resist any attempts by security personnel to confiscate their Ghana Cards.



Mr. Mahama said, Nobody has a right to collect your Ghana card. Nobody, not immigration, not police, nobody. And so dont surrender your Ghana card to anybody."



It is the National Identification Authority that has the right to withdraw your card. Once it has been issued, if somebody thinks you are not a citizen, he has to go to the National Identification Authority and get a certificate of withdrawal of your card before he can come and take your card from you."



You cannot meet a person on the street and know whether he is Ghanaian or any other thing by his face.





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Dr Serebour Quaicoe, director of training at the Electoral Commission (EC), says 19 persons have so far picked nomination forms to contest as independent presidential candidates in the forthcoming general election.



According to him, while there was no cost to picking up the forms, the aspirants would have to pay a fee when submitting the completed forms.



Speaking to the media in Accra, Dr Quaicoe explained that though some individuals may pick the forms from the EC, they might not follow through with their candidacy.



The constitution stipulates that candidates must be at least 40 years old, a taxpayer, and must not hold allegiance to any foreign country.



Once a person meets these qualifications, they are eligible to obtain the nomination forms, he said.



Meanwhile, Dr Quaicoe has also clarified that the GHC0.50 fee for checking voter registration details online went to service providers, not to the EC.



The EC introduced a short code, *71151#, allowing voters to verify their registration details ahead of the 2024 General Election at 50 pesewas.



It is for service charges, and not for the Electoral Commission. If the money was to come to the Electoral Commission, then that is our money for us to account for but it is for the service charges. If you use MTN, the money goes to MTN; if you use Telecel, it goes to Telecel, he explained.

Source: Asaaseradio.com









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Flagbearer of the NDC, John Dramani Mahama described the ruling NPP administration as the "biggest scam" since 1957.



He mentioned that despite its enticing promises, the ruling party has disappointed Ghanaians.



"This NPP administration has been the biggest political scam pulled on Ghanaians since our independence in 1957. And I will explain why! Repackaged with ribbons and sweetly scented with enticing promises, most Ghanaians will agree that Nana Akufo-Addo is indeed the President Ghana never got. Indeed, I daresay, his much-touted economic whizz kid Dr. Mahamoud Bawumia is also the economic messiah Ghana never got" he remarked.



According to him, the ruling government has decimated our democracy beyond recognition, destroyed livelihoods and families, and pushed millions of Ghanaians below the poverty line.



He further urged Ghanaians to vote on December 7 to "end tyranny, cronyism, corruption and hardship" inflicted on the nation.



"Your vote on December 7 will end tyranny, cronyism, corruption, and hardship. It will also pave the way for the vision, experience, and trustworthiness I, John Dramani Mahama, will restore to the Flagstaff House" he added.



The former President was speaking at the party's official manifesto launch.



The National Democratic Congress (NDC) officially launched its manifesto for this year's general elections on Saturday at the University of Education in Winneba, Central Region.











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The teenager from Red Lion accused of fatally shooting his longtime friend during a sleepover in April 2023 had his bail set at $50,000 on Friday, court documents show.

Nolan Grove, who is now 14 years old, is accused of taking his fathers handgun on April 1, 2023, taunting two neighborhood girls with it, and later pointing its laser at 12-year-old Kain Heiland and shooting him through the back .

Im so sorry, K, Nolan said after Kain fell to the ground, according to a witness account detailed in an affidavit.

Nolan, whose trial will be held in the adult court system, is charged with third-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, prohibited possession of a firearm and four reckless endangerment offenses.

President Judge Maria Cook opted to keep Nolans case in the adult court system, where all children accused of homicide start under Pennsylvania law, because she said the juvenile system is not equipped for a defendant like Nolan.

Cook also said the impact on the Red Lion community contributed to her decision.

While the defendant is young, adult court has more time and ability to treat him, Cook explained. There is not a sufficient opportunity in the juvenile system and it would take significantly longer than six to nine months to treat him.

Nolan is attending weekly therapy sessions while staying at a juvenile detention facility leading up to his trial, Cook said.

His pre-trial conference is scheduled for Sept. 18, one week after Nolan turns 15.

Staff writer Jonathan Bergmueller contributed to this report.
By CAROLYN THOMPSON, The Associated Press

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former top U.S. infectious disease expert, spent time in the hospital after being infected with West Nile virus and is recovering at home, a spokesperson confirmed Saturday.

Fauci is expected to make a full recovery, the spokesperson said on condition of anonymity due to security concerns.

West Nile virus is commonly spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. While most people dont experience symptoms, about 1 in 5 can develop a fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 1 out of 150 infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness.

CBS News chief medical correspondent, Dr. Jonathan LaPook, wrote in a social media post that he spoke Saturday with Fauci, who said he was likely infected from a mosquito bite that he got in his backyard.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, testifies during a House Select Subcommittee on the coronavirus pandemic at Capitol Hill, Monday, June 3, 2024, in Washington. Fauci was recently hospitalized with West Nile virus. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)AP

As chief White House medical adviser, Fauci was the public face of the U.S. government during the COVID-19 pandemic, a role that made him both a trusted voice to millions and also the target of partisan anger. He left the government in 2022 but was back before Congress in June to testify as part of Republicans yearslong investigation into the origins of COVID-19 and the U.S. response to the disease.

Fauci last summer joined the faculty at Georgetown University as a distinguished university professor.

There are no vaccines to prevent West Nile, or medicines to treat it. As of Aug. 20, the CDC had recorded 216 cases in 33 states this year. Its best prevented by avoiding mosquito bites.
Fans of the popular PBS home renovation show This Old House knew Roger Cook well.

He was a landscaper who always seemed to have an answer for all issues.

Cook has died, at 70, according to a post on the shows website.

With tremendous sadness, This old House bids farewell to our friend and longtime landscape contractor, Roger Cook, who passed away on August 21, 2024 after a long battle with illness, the post read.

Cook was a part of This Old House for nearly 40 years, the show said in the post.

I remember every lesson from roger, the shows executive producer Chris Wolfe said. More importantly, there are millions of people whose lives have been enriched by everything Roger taught them.

Cook was a native of Burlington, Massachusetts. He founded K&R Landscape in 1982 with his wife, Kathleen. Per the post, that business is still going today. He began with This Old House in 1982 as well.

From the start, Rogers expertise and easygoing manner won hearts, an affection that only grew during the course of his dozens of TOH project houses, hundreds of Ask This Old House House calls, and numerous This Old House magazine articles, the post read.

Dad spent his entire life helping people  friends, family, and customers, his son, Jason Cook, said. One of the biggest regrets with his illness was that he could no longer help people in the same way. With that in mind Dad asked us to set up a family foundation so that we can continue his legacy as a helper going forward.

Dad identified several areas he was passionate about that we intend to focus the foundation on  most importantly wildlife and land conservation, medical research, childhood education, and military veterans, he added. Dad will be contributing a meaningful portion of his estate to the foundation and if you are willing to join him, the entire Cook family would be grateful for honoring his legacy.
PHILADELPHIA (AP)  A row house fire in Philadelphia claimed the lives of two people, including a child, and sent two other people to hospitals in critical condition over the weekend, authorities said.

Philadelphia Fire Department officials said the blaze was reported just after 7:30 a.m. Saturday in the Summerdale neighborhood of northeast Philadelphia. Assistant Fire Chief Rob Wilkins told reporters that arriving crews reported heavy fire on the first floor and heavy smoke on the second floor.

Police said a 31-year-old woman and an 8-year-old girl were pronounced dead after they were found in a second-floor bedroom. Their names were not immediately released.

Our hearts are with the community in Crescentville after a tragic morning. More than 60 PFD members fought this fire before 8 a.m. Sadly, 2 people did not survive & 2 people received EMS care & went to the hospital. Keep them & our responding members in your thoughts. pic.twitter.com/SMf0P4HWrc  Philadelphia Fire (@PhillyFireDept) August 24, 2024

Authorities said a man and a boy managed to get out and were taken to hospitals in critical condition. Police said the 32-year-old man was taken to Temple University Hospital for treatment of burns to his face and back, and a 9-year-old boy was taken to Saint Christophers Hospital with burns to his arms, legs and back.

Six people were in the home when the fire broke out, abc6 reported.

Another 28-year-old man had a burn on his hand and a third man fled the scene, police said. Wilkins said the home had no working smoke alarms. The fire damaged another home.

Police said the northeast detectives division and the city fire marshals office are investigating the cause of the blaze.

A day before, a fire believed to have been set burned homes in the citys Kensington neighborhood, leaving a 66-year-old woman dead, two people wounded and nearly two dozen displaced.

The fire started in the 1800 block of East Russell Street around 4 a.m. Friday and quickly spread to the four row homes on either side, NBC Philadelphia reported.

The New York Daily News contributed to this report.
Abdul Vicks, who went by the stage name of YBC Dul, was shot and killed in Olney Friday, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The newspaper said that prosecutors said the popular 25-year-old rapper doubled as the ringleader of a notoriously violent West Philadelphia-based gang. The Inquirer said that police said Vicks was shot multiple times in the chest and right hand just after 3:30 p.m.

The newspaper said he was transported to the Einstein Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m.

The Inquirer also reported the gang that prosecutors say Vicks led was called YBC or Young Bag Chasers.

The newspaper said that Quamere Hall, a 22-year-old rapper who performs as Mere Pablo, was arrested earlier this month and charged in the shooting death of a 34-year-old man. It referred to Hall as a Vicks associate. The Inquirer added that Hall was at the Criminal Justice Cetner when he was arrested because he was supporting another YBC member, Arshad Curry, who was facing sentencing for shooting five people, three who died, in 2021. The Inquirer said Curry was sentenced to up to 85 years in prison.

The newspaper also said three other YBC members were convicted last year of killing two teenagers.

Vicks nickname was also Mr. Disrespectful. He went viral on social media back in February for a video that showed him digging up the grave of an enemy. Vicks was asked about that on the No Jumper podcast earlier this year.

You know that was me, Vicks responded when asked if that was really him in the video.

I was trying to find that (expletives) grave, he added. He aint got one though. They aint never get him one.

He then laughed.

Im not giving people clout no more, he added. Im done with that. I aint saying no names.
Dave Sunday, the Republican candidate for attorney general (AG), has been running ads accusing the Democratic candidate, Eugene DePasquale, of being unfit to serve because DePasquale was never employed as a prosecutor. This claim is one more example of a Republican resorting to outrageous hyperbole to try to make a point.

Some might call it a lie, intended to sway unsophisticated voters to favor Sunday. There is no requirement in Pennsylvania law or its Constitution that the AG have any prosecutorial experience. The AG does not prosecute local crime or street crime except in very unusual circumstances. The AG has a large contingent of attorneys working for him that handle the day to day legal work of the agency.

The AG is more of a manager and policy maker than a line attorney. I challenge Sunday to name one AG since 1980 who has personally appeared in a trial court in a criminal case to represent the Commonwealth after being elected AG. If he finds any the list will be short.

Lastly, the falsity of this claim can be shown by reference to very recent AG whose name is familiar to any Commonwealth voter. Josh Shapiro, our current governor, before he was elected governor, was elected Pennsylvania AG twice, despite having no prosecutorial experience. Id say he did a pretty good job as AG, and Id hazard a guess most Pennsylvanians would agree, considering that he has now been elected governor.

On the other hand, Ernie Preate, a Republican, who was a district attorney (and thus a prosecutor) was convicted of serious crimes after being reelected as AG; although he had prosecutorial experience, he apparently was unable to comply with the law himself.

Dave Sunday should quit harping on this issue because he is making a fool of himself.

Mike Schnierle, Mechanicsburg, Pa.
KYODO NEWS - Aug 27, 2024 - 10:36 | All, Japan, World

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida urged China to lift its blanket ban on Japanese seafood imposed shortly after the discharge of treated radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima plant into the sea began exactly one year ago on Saturday.

China's ban is a "measure that is not at all based on scientific evidence and is unacceptable," Kishida told local fisheries cooperative officials in Fukushima Prefecture. "Japan urges an immediate repeal (of the ban) and makes the request at all levels."

A ministerial meeting will be held within a week to discuss responses to China's ban ahead of the compilation of economic measures in the fall, Kishida told reporters in Fukushima. He inspected the process of testing seafood for radioactive materials at a local fish market and demonstrated their safety by eating bonito and Ise shrimp sashimi.

Kishida, who will step down as prime minister after choosing not to run in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's presidential race next month, also emphasized that he will push for a legal revision to expand support for fishing vessels.

The fisheries industry in Fukushima Prefecture has struggled due to China's blanket ban on imports of Japanese seafood.

The Japanese government is working to diversify exports to countries beyond China, including those in North America and Southeast Asia. However, the shortfall from the decline in exports to its neighbor persists.

Despite Japan's repeated efforts to challenge the ban, China remains critical of the water discharge from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, which suffered reactor fuel meltdowns following a devastating earthquake and tsunami in March 2011, calling the water "nuclear-contaminated."

Plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. has so far released over 60,000 tons of treated water that has been processed through an advanced liquid processing system (ALPS) to remove most contaminants, except for the relatively nontoxic tritium.

The Japanese government decided to discharge the water into the sea in April 2021, citing the need to dispose of the treated water stored in tanks at the site to free up space and facilitate the decommissioning of the nuclear complex, a process expected to take decades.

The release went ahead despite opposition from China and the local fisheries sector, which feared reputational damage.

Since the discharge began, no abnormalities have been detected in the monitoring of seawater around the plant, including the concentration levels of the radioactive substance tritium, according to the government.

Related coverage:

China willing to stabilize ties with Japan even after Kishida quits

Japan, China top diplomats agree to deepen dialogue to solve disputes

FOCUS: Japan boosting seafood exports to S.E. Asia, U.S. as China keeps ban
By Megan Guza, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (TNS)

Multiple agents from the U.S. Secret Service field office in Pittsburgh have been placed on administrative leave related to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler last month, according to multiple reports.

NBC News reported that the Secret Services special agent in charge of the Pittsburgh office was among those placed on leave. The outlet reported that a source familiar with the decisions could not confirm the number of agents on leave but said the number could rise as the investigation continues.

Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement to the Post-Gazette that given this is a personnel matter, we are not in a position to comment further.

The U.S. Secret Service is committed to investigating the decisions and actions of personnel related to the event in Butler, Pennsylvania and the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, the statement said. The U.S. Secret Services mission assurance review is progressing, and we are examining the processes, procedures and factors that led to this operational failure. The U.S. Secret Service holds our personnel to the highest professional standards, and any identified and substantiated violations of policy will be investigated by the Office of Professional Responsibility for potential disciplinary action.

Fox News reported that a different group of Secret Service agents assigned specifically to Trumps security detail remains operational.

The security failures at the July 13 rally have become the focus of intense criticism of the protective agency and the local law enforcement they relied on to help guard the Republican nominee and his supporters at the Butler Farm Show grounds.

The shooting killed former firefighter Corey Comperatore and left Trump and two others wounded. The gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, was killed by a bullet fired by a Secret Service agent.

U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Butler, is one of the lawmakers leading a bipartisan U.S. House of Representatives task force, which this month asked all concerned federal agencies to forward documents and information on the shooting.

Kelly  an eyewitness to the rally shooting and resident of Butler  asked leaders at Homeland Security, the Secret Service, the Justice Department and the FBI to hand over all documents and information related to the attack, even if material already has been shared with various House and Senate committees.

The task force was approved in a resolution last month as several hearings on Capitol Hill revealed more details about the shooter and security lapses before and during the rally. Kimberly Cheatle, former head of the Secret Service, resigned after being grilled by lawmakers in a House Oversight Committee hearing.

Despite police in and around the farm grounds building, Crooks was able to scale an exterior wall, move into position, confront a local law enforcement officer with his rifle and fire a deadly salvo into a crowd of rally-goers.
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BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The finals of China's seventh national youth artificial intelligence innovation challenge opened on Saturday in the eastern province of Zhejiang.

The two-day event involves nearly 7,000 participants from 31 provincial-level regions, as well as Hong Kong and Macao, who are competing for top honors, according to the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China.

This year's competition has attracted over 120,000 entries and includes 17 specialized contests. Finalists will showcase their innovative ideas and skills in areas such as intelligent robot application, intelligent program and algorithm design, smart chips and comprehensive AI technology innovations.

Since its inception in 2016, the annual challenge has engaged over 280,000 young people, aiming to nurture innovation and advance creative thinking among youth. 
House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY) melted down and went off on a xenophobic rant in a sign that the GOP is spiraling.

Comer told Maria Bartiromo:

Minnesota is not your normal state where Tim Walz is governor. Great people in Minnesota. But you also have, you know, a huge population of residents in Minnesota that have come from other countries and have various various different ideologies that dont really respect capitalism. And were concerned about that because we have the strongest economy in the world.

But we cannot have more government. We cannot operate like China does, where the government plays the major role in every business. The government has to have ownership in every business, and the government dictates every facet of our lives. That wont work. In the United States, and this is what Tim Waltz appears to believe, and we know hes taken students to China and tried to teach them that Chinas doing things the right way.

Video:

Comer: Minnesota is not your normal state  you have a huge population of residents in Minnesota that have come from other countries and have very different ideologies that dont really respect capitalism. pic.twitter.com/v1XdFYSeyj  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 23, 2024

Comers xenophobic rant against Muslims is a sign that Republicans are spiraling. Comer suggested that Minnesota, where Harris running mate Tim Walz is governor, is somehow less capitalistic than the rest of the country because it has a significant Muslim population.

Besides the fact that Comers point was extremely bigoted, it was also wrong. Muslims dont hate capitalism, but Comer is trying to claim that Tim Walz is also a communist, so he is trying to find anything to make the narrative stick.

The Republican Party is going down the drain fast and spiraling out of control. They have no answers for the Harris-Walz ticket, so racism and bigotry are all that they have. Republicans are hemorrhaging votes , and James Comer demonstrated that they have no idea how to stop the bleeding.
Trump used the Foo Fighters song My Hero without permission so the band will be donating any royalties to the Harris campaign.

Here was Trumps unauthorized use of the song:

I wonder if @FooDGrohl and @foofighters know that Trump is using their music at his rally in Arizona? Did the Trump campaign license this music? pic.twitter.com/jH0RBTow0k  Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) August 23, 2024

A Foo Fighters spokesperson had a quick response:

Foo Fighters were not asked permission, and if they were, they would not have granted it, a spokesperson tells Billboard of the unauthorized usage. Furthermore, appropriate actions are being taken against the campaign, the spokesperson continues, and any royalties received as a result of this usage will be donated to the Harris/Walz campaign.

Artists have had many different responses to Trumps theft of their work.

Beyonce went with the standard cease and desist letter. The estate of Isaac Hayes is suing Trump for potentially millions of dollars for hundreds of illegal uses. Neil Young allowed Tim Walz to use Rockin In The Free World at the Democratic convention after suing Trump for his illegal use of the song.

These songs are the livelihood of these artists, and artists have been dealing with Trumps intellectual property theft on the campaign trail for almost a decade.

Campaigns are just like everyone else. They either have to get permission or pay to license a song, and the license request can be rejected by the copyright holder.

The Foo Fighters are making it hurt for Trump by giving any fees that come from Trumps unauthorized use of the song to Kamala Harris.
ISLAMABAD, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Two people were killed and ten others, including policemen, were injured in an explosion in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province on Saturday morning, police sources said.

The incident happened at about 11:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) in Pishin district of the province where explosives mounted on a motorbike were detonated by unidentified militants, the sources told Xinhua.

The injured people were shifted to a nearby hospital where three of them were in critical condition.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

The area has been cordoned off for investigations. 
PR-Inside.com: 2024-08-24 17:04:51

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LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 24, 2024 / The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Dril-Quip, Inc. ("Dril-Quip" or "the Company") (NYSE:DRQ) for violations of the securities laws.The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. Dril-Quip filed a current report on Form 8-K with the SEC on July 8, 2024. The Company's filing disclosed it had "became aware of an error in the classification of certain inventory write-downs from 2021." The Company added, "after considering the recommendations of management and discussion with the Company's independent registered public accounting firm[,] the Audit Committee of our board of directors ("Audit Committee") concluded that the consolidated financial statements for the Affected Period should no longer be relied upon due to the error described above. Any previously issued or filed reports, press releases, earnings releases and investor presentations or other communications describing the Company's consolidated financial statements and other related financial information covering the Affected Period also should no longer be relied upon." If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com , or by email at bschall@ schallfirm.com The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.CONTACT: The Schall Law FirmBrian Schall, Esq. www.schallfirm.com Office: 310-301-3335 info@ schallfirm.com SOURCE: The Schall Law Firm
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LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 24, 2024 / The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Franklin Resources, Inc. ("Franklin" or "the Company") (NYSE:BEN) for violations of the securities laws.The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. Franklin admitted on July 26, 2024, that "following the launch of an internal investigation focusing on certain past trade allocations of treasury derivatives in select Western Asset Management (WAM') accounts, WAM received notification of parallel investigations by the SEC and U.S. Department of Justice." The Company then disclosed on August 21, 2024, that WAM co-Chief Investment Officer Ken Leech had been played on leave "effective immediately" adding that "in light of Mr. Leech's leave of absence, the Company has determined that closing its Macro Opportunities strategy (approximately $2.0 billion in AUM as of 7/31/2024) is in clients' best interests." Finally, the Company also disclosed that Leech had received a Wells Notice from the SEC. Based on this news, shares of Franklin fell significantly.If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com , or by email at bschall@ schallfirm.com The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.CONTACT: The Schall Law FirmBrian Schall, Esq. www.schallfirm.com Office: 310-301-3335 info@ schallfirm.com SOURCE: The Schall Law Firm
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / August 24, 2024 / Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of SmartRent, Inc. ("SmartRent" or the "Company") (NYSE: SMRT). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.The investigation concerns whether SmartRent and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.[Click here for information about joining the class action]On July 30, 2024, SmartRent issued a press release announcing the resignation of Lucas Haldeman as Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") and from the Company's Board of Directors, effective July 29, 2024. In the same press release, SmartRent stated that "[i]n light of the pending CEO transition, the scaling back of SmartRent's channel partner program and continued, increasing market headwinds, including known and anticipated customer capital spending delays, the Company is suspending its previous guidance for full-year 2024" and "advise[d] investors they should not rely on the outlook previously provided by management." On this news, SmartRent's stock price fell $0.48 per share, or 20.00%, to close at $1.92 per share on July 30, 2024.Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP
The Kings College Old Boys Association (1997 set), congratulates one of its members, Omololu Agoro, on his appointment by President Bola Tinubu as a member of a new management team for the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC).

In a press release on Friday by the executive committee of the set, it lauded the appointment describing it as well-deserved.

Mr Agoro was appointed as Executive Director (Finance and Accounts).

The release noted that Mr Agoro would bring his immense wealth of experience as a technocrat and administrator to bear in his new assignment and he would ultimately add value to the administration of the vital public asset.

The President, in his widely publicised message to the new appointees said he expects the new members of the management of the company to deploy their expertise and experience to drive NDPHCs mandate of effectively managing the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP). We are positively certain that going by the antecedents of Mr Omololu over the years as an administrator and technocrat, he would strengthen the operations of the agency in his new role.

We are optimistic that the carefully selected team would enhance the actualisation of the NIPP, which was conceived in 2004 as a fast-track government funded initiative to stabilize Nigerias electricity supply system while the private-sector-led structure of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA) of 2005 took effect.

We all know that finance is the life wire of any entity and Mr Agoros selection by the president to man this sensitive position reflects the trust he has in him to deliver.

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We also believe that he would render the necessary support to the new NDPHC Chief Executive Officer, Jennifer Adighije, an experienced engineer with vast competencies across management functions in the private and public sectors, the statement noted.

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TEHRAN, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi and his Venezuelan counterpart Yvan Gil Pinto on Saturday exchanged views on the improvement of bilateral relations.

During a phone call, the two officials expressed their governments' readiness to exchange high-ranking delegations, continue talks on bilateral relations, and explore new areas for cooperation, according to a statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

Araghchi emphasized Venezuela's special role in Iran's foreign policy, highlighting Iran's continued strategic outlook towards Latin America, particularly Venezuela.

The Iranian minister stressed that Tehran condemned any foreign interference in Venezuela's internal affairs.

The Venezuelan foreign minister, for his part, expressed confidence that the new governments of the two countries would ensure the implementation of bilateral agreements and cooperation documents.

He also reaffirmed his country's determination to continue cooperation with Iran and address issues on the agenda of Iran-Venezuela relations. 
Award-winning perfumier Catherine Omai, owner of Catherine Omai Fragrances, has opened up about her journey into the world of fragrances.

Ms Omai, an internationally recognised perfumier, started creating perfumes in 2009, inspired by the culture, landscape, and African traditions.

Speaking at an event in Lagos on Friday with PREMIUM TIMES in attendance, Ms Omai said she fell in love with perfume as a teenager.

She said: I have always been plus size and big. In primary and secondary school, this thing has always been about big people smelling in specific ways. So, in my subconscious, I was determined not to fall into that category. So, I would go to my dads table as he had a collection of perfumes and my mum too. So Ill take a small bottle to school to use. I was not allowed to spray perfume in the house. One day, I got into trouble with the CRK teacher, who said I was trying to entice boys with perfume.

They seized the small bottle and said I should not wear perfume again. But it has always been in my subconscious to constantly smell good because I didnt want that narrative to be in my narrative. I was very playful and rough, and the tendency for that to happen was slightly high. So, when I moved to the UK to study, I decided to always smell nice. As a student, my money was limited. Ill still try to buy some perfumes and then use them. It got to a stage where I started getting bored of people telling me the perfumes I wore. I will then buy three or four different perfumes and layers.

Passion

Additionally, she said her passion for fragrances led her to pursue a certificate in perfumery at a school in France.

She noted that she started going to fragrance companies to learn perfume creation while studying for a Masters in Oil and Gas Management and Renewable Energy.

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Ms Omai further stated that she didnt fall in love with creating perfumes as a business, but her inability to find a job in Nigeria led her to start creating and selling perfume.

I was doing my Masters in Oil and Gas Management, Renewable Energy with the hope of returning to Nigeria to change how things are done. But I didnt get a job when I returned to Nigeria. I was still looking for work in the oil and gas sector for one year. There was nothing. I later got a job as a receptionist. Today, its a different story. I went back to what I have always loved: perfumes. I started this journey about 14 years ago.

When I started fragrances, I came back from the UK, thinking I could come and sell my brand to people and say I am a Nigerian with a UK experience, but I met a lot of resistance. Many people asked why they should buy my perfumes when other known brands exist. Also, Im not a celebrity or social media influencer. So, I decided that instead of trying to sell fragrances to people, I needed to give people the experience to create their own. Which was why we started the business, and the name of the brand at the beginning was Mystique Bespoke Perfumery, she noted.

Challenges

Furthermore, Ms Omai, who said creating fragrances wasnt initially rosy for her, noted that Nigeria lacks the needed raw materials to create fragrances.

She said the lack of needed materials made her rely on getting her materials from abroad, but customs duties and other challenges made it more challenging.

She noted, However, a massive market is now for buying oil and other raw materials. Because then, the quality available wasnt the kind of quality I could use. I went to a School of Perfumery in France and knew the quality and what fragrances should smell like. There was a time when I ran out of sandalwood, and I decided to contact a local vendor. When they brought the sandalwood, it smelled nothing like it should smell. I just knew that buying from the Nigerian market wasnt an option for my brand

The challenges of bringing things, NAFDAC, customs, and the rest were challenging. Sometimes, customs would seize the materials, and we would pay extra to get them back. As much as Nigeria was very challenging, it helped me in a way that I was able to restructure my knowledge about perfume creation.

International

She noted that she entered the competitive international fragrance market due to the lack of competition in Nigeria and her dreams of testing herself in the global market.

She stated that she didnt enter the international market as a commercial fragrance person because of its niche and competitive nature but to create a fragrance that would appeal to everyone.

In Nigeria, I am the pioneer of perfume creation. Nobody challenged me, and it was getting a bit boring for me. I wanted to test myself by entering the international market, speaking to perfumers, and knowing what they say, she said.

Furthermore, she maintained that the kind of materials available in the Nigerian market changed her creation DNA from what she had learnt to what suited the Nigerian market.

She added that the above helped her while going international.

She noted, After doing this for about ten years, I needed to spread my wings beyond the Nigerian market. I wanted to do that because when you go to France, Italy and other countries that are into fragrances, there is a history of them being perfumers. The House of Creed has been there for about 100 years. These people know and appreciate fragrance materials and can see the creation of fragrances.

If I cannot work within that environment and get thumbs up, I dont feel I have gotten it right. The perfume industry has no accreditation or certification to make you a master perfumer. What makes you a master perfumer is the skill you bring into your creation and the years of experience you have that people have experienced.

Ms Omai revealed that she first appeared internationally as the first West African perfumer to exhibit at Pitti Fragranze in Italy in 2019.

I was the only black person at that exhibition in 2019, just before COVID, and Im still the only black person since then. They do it every year, so COVID happened, and two years straight, there was no exhibition. Everybody from around the world comes to that exhibition. Its like New York Fashion Week for fragrances. Everyone comes there, from journalists to buyers and store owners, and this was how we got into certain countries.

We are in Australia, France, Saudi, Dubai, the United States and Germany. Entering the US market is a huge deal. I did not even lobby for it. I wasnt even looking to go into the U.S. market. They contacted me based on the reviews they have been hearing about my business. This was in 2021. It took about a year to conclude it. This happened after my exhibition. So, the wave and noise within my works fragrance industry attracted that, Ms Omai noted.

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The day was 1 August 2023. Christian Uwaezuoke, one of Nigerias notorious drug traffickers, arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos to board his Ethiopian Airline flight to India. Of average height, nothing about the 43-year-old businessman stood out from the rest of the passengers, but a body scan would reveal something different.

Checks by airport security showed that Mr Uwaezuoke had ingested 1.822 kilogrammes of cocaine. Further investigations revealed that not only had he used a passport reflecting a false identity, but he was also on the police wanted list after jumping bail more than a year before.

Earlier in March 2022, Mr Uwaezuoke had been arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) during the inward clearance of another Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He was found to have ingested cocaine weighing 2.243 kilogrammes.

He was later granted bail but jumped bail.

Following his arrest in August 2023, he was re-arraigned on March 20 at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik. After considering his lack of remorse, the gravity of the drug-related offences, and his status as a repeat offender, Justice Abdulmalik delivered a guilty verdict and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

Mr Uwaezuokes arrest and conviction is one of thousands documented in press releases and published by the NDLEA on its official website.

The press releases contain details such as the names and nationalities of the suspected drug traffickers, the type and weight of the narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, the drug concealment strategy, as well as the airline and airport used by the inbound or outbound trafficker.

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PREMIUM TIMES examined these press statements for the year between June 2023 and June 2024. We curated the data on every arrest announced by the agency and found some interesting patterns.

Analysis of the data showed that Ethiopian Airlines and Qatar Airways were the most commonly used airlines among arrested drug traffickers. Notably, out of 36 drug suspects arrested at airports by NDLEA during the review period, 11 (30.5 per cent) had tickets for Ethiopian Airlines, same for Qatar Airways, indicating a significant presence of drug trafficking activity on these carriers.

Ethiopian Airlines operates from Addis Ababa and is the largest airline in Africa, operating more than 125 destinations, while Qatar Airways flies to over 170 international destinations across five continents.

Interestingly, this is not the first time this trend has been observed. NDLEAs annual report for 2015 to 2022 shows Ethiopian Airlines among the top four airlines used by drug traffickers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. Further analysis indicates that in 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022, the airline topped the list of airlines used by drug traffickers at the Lagos airport.

Questions have been raised regarding the frequency at which drug traffickers use certain international operators. Nigerias rising influence in the illicit drug trade has also fueled a national concern. Why do drug traffickers prefer to fly certain airlines, what can an airline do to mitigate drug trafficking, and are airlines liable when drug traffickers use their flights?

The Director of Media and Advocacy of NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, explained that drug barons patronise airlines that regularly fly on their drug routes and provide connecting flights to their final destinations.

He said these connecting flights are crucial due to the trafficking strategy used by drug barons to avoid detection by drug enforcement agencies.

These traffickers move in Zig-Zag; they dont move straight. For instance, a consignment may come from Brazil to Nigeria and ultimately still find its way to Europe, Asia, or even the Americas. So its the route that they are likely going to use, he stated.

The Global Report on Cocaine 2023, released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), explained this phenomenon better. The report states that large airlines with direct connectivity to a large number of destinations play a crucial role as transit points for drug trafficking on passenger flights.

In the case of trafficking into and out of Nigeria, one interviewee indicated that these hubs include airports in Ethiopia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, corresponding to hubs of airlines offering connectivity between South America and Africa.

Based on analysis of the itinerary of 150 mules on passenger flights who were arrested during August 2020-May 2021 while trafficking drugs into, or out of, Nigeria or Benin, (respectively from Brazil, or to Europe) Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) emerged as a particularly frequent transit airport, the report stated.

Between airlines, staff and drug traffickers

But there is more.

In a bare-it-all interview with PREMIUM TIMES, a former drug trafficker, Felix Johnson (not real name), disclosed that while traffickers often undertake feasibility studies on the best route, airline, and airport that guarantee a successful trip, some international carriers are drug traffickers favourite because of their perceived slack security measures.

The route determines the airline we board. We choose a flight route that gives at least a 90 to 95 per cent guarantee that any drug we traffic will not be detected. We also prefer to board transit flights that board and leave immediately. Keeping luggage containing illicit drugs around the airport for days could be dangerous.

Some airlines know what is going on. Because the airline brings a lot of income, they train their workers to relax the security protocol. Their security check-in are very free. As long as the drug is not obvious, they allow you to go, Mr Johnson claimed.

Asked why drug trafficking is thriving despite several arrests by the NDLEA, Mr Johnson explained that deep-seated corruption and the countrys deteriorating economy have pushed many into crime.

The problem is that everyone is corrupt. Even airline officials, air hosts and hostesses and even pilots are corrupt, but you will not know. We have pilots that will take the drugs into the airplane and we will pick it up from them after boarding.

Many Nigerians still go into drug trafficking because of desperation to get wealth at any cost. The bad economy does not make the situation better, he added.

Mr Johnson regularly trafficked illicit drugs like heroin to the Asia-Pacific region. For more than a decade, he carefully managed his illegal business and maintained a home front with his wives and children. Everything went smoothly until his arrest in 1998 by the police in Thailand.

We were four in a house in Bangkok when we were busted by authorities. In the process of flushing the heroin, the toilet overflowed and blew up all over my body. I plead guilty because there was evidence on me, the former trafficker told PREMIUM TIMES.

In 2007, Mr Johnson was repatriated to Nigeria under the Prisoner Transfer Agreement (PTA). In 2002, Nigeria signed a treaty on the transfer of offenders and cooperation in enforcing penal sentences with Thailand.

Mr Johnson was incarcerated for 22 years, including nine years in a Thai prison and 13 years at the Kirikiri Maximum Security prison until his release in December 2020. Since then, the 65-year-old said he has left the life of crime and rebuilt his life.

The NDLEAs Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr Babafemi, confirmed that some airlines have been reprimanded for recording a high number of drug traffickers on their flights.

Although he did not mention the name of any airline, he said his agency had issued a warning to international carriers regularly flown by drug traffickers.

Two years ago, we wrote one of the airlines, warning them that they have the responsibility to also ensure that they put the necessary checks in place at the point of their departure. Otherwise, we will be compelled to enforce some aspect of the law. The airline wrote back and made some commitment and there was some kind of improvement thereafter, Mr Babafemi told PREMIUM TIMES.

What the law says

Mr Babafemi was referring to section 25 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, 2004, which states, It shall be the duty of every commercial carrier to take reasonable precaution to: (a) ensure that its means of transport are not used in commission of offences under this Act; (b) Comply with appropriate security measures at points of entry and exit in the Federal Republic of Nigeria and other Customs control areas to prevent unauthorised cargo in its means of transportation.

Such precautions as are referred to in subsection (1) of this Section shall include (a) the training of personnel to identify suspicious consignment or persons. (b) promotion of integrity of their personnel; (c) submission of cargo manifest advance; (d) use of tamper-resistant individually verifiable seal or containers. (e) reporting to the agency at earliest opportunity all suspicious circumstances relating to drug trafficking, the Act added.

The Act prescribes a fine not exceeding N100,000 for airlines that infringe this law.

We shared our findings with the management of Ethiopia Airlines and Qatar Airways.

Qatar Airways did not respond to our requests for comments.

The area manager for Ethiopian Airlines in Lagos, Wondwossen Beyene, explained that if the airline recorded the highest number of drug traffickers on its flight, it was due to its higher passenger traffic than other airlines.

Mr Beyene is right in terms of absolute numbers of passenger traffic. In its Q1 2023 executive summary, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) reported that Ethiopian Airlines led the way in international and domestic flight operations, with the highest number of air passenger movements between January and March 2023. The airline recorded a total of 127,247 passengers, which is 14.6 per cent of the total 870,776 international passengers over that period. The Ethiopian airline figures comprise 51,320 inbound and 75,927 outbound travellers, making it the top carrier for the quarter.

The airline also refuted the claim that it was complicit in the drug trafficking trade in Nigeria. It stated that Ethiopian Airlines performs rigorous training to its staff and adheres to strict ethical standards to ensure compliance with all laws and regulations. We have strict policies in place to prevent any such behaviour. These are the reasons why the Airline believes that this is a mere allegation.

In a previous interview with ICIR, the general manager of Ethiopia Airlines in Nigeria, Shimeles Arage, explained that airlines are not responsible for airport security and so should not be blamed when drug traffickers choose to fly with them.

This can happen to any airline and (has) nothing to do with the airline. Rather, we are working hand in hand with (the) authorities to curb such activities. Security and bag screening is not controlled by airlines. The security and scanning of passengers are not done by the airline.

The airline does not own the scanning machines and only passengers that have been screened are allowed to board the airline. The airline only carries passengers that have been screened and cleared by other agencies, he added.

ALSO READ: NDLEA arrests drug traffickers disguised as pilgrims

But an aviation expert, John Ojikutu, holds a different opinion. He says both the airport and the airline share the responsibility of ensuring that hard drugs are not trafficked in or out of the country.

The airlines have their security programme just like the airport has their security programme. If the airline has confidence in the airport security, fine, but if they do not, the regulation allows them to do secondary screening because the final responsibility is still on the airline.

So what is the security programme of these airlines? Did the NCAA approve it? Are they doing something contrary to what they submitted to the NCAA? Thats the question we should be asking now, and when they violate it, what do we do, especially when they carry drug traffickers into Nigeria? he queried.

In 2019, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who was the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, accused two foreign airlines of enabling drug cartels at Nigerias international airports.

Mrs Dabiri-Erewa made the allegations when she appeared before a Senate ad-hoc committee set up to look into circumstances that led to the arrest of Zainab Aliyu in Saudi Arabia over alleged possession of a banned substance, Tramadol.

We are withholding the names of the airlines because Mrs Dabiri-Erewa did not pprovide empirical evidence to back her allegations.

Drug traffickers and cocaine trafficking in Nigeria

Further analysis of NDLEAs press statements indicates that cocaine is the most trafficked narcotic drug in Nigeria. At 34.2 per cent, cocaine topped the list of drugs trafficked in and out of the country during the period. Tramadol, Cannabis, and Methamphetamine followed.

Based on UNODCs report, drug traffickers are giving Nigeria a bad name

Although the operation of Nigerian drug traffickers is limited to mid-level and dealer levels rather than large-scale trafficking, Nigerians account for the most arrests for individual cocaine seizures in Europe between 2018 and 2020.

A large chunk of the cocaine comes in from Brazil in small quantities through mules on passenger flights. It is then distributed to sub-regional countries like Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Ghana, Senegal, and Liberia. The transit countries are Algeria, Ethiopia and Morocco.

The drug routes also extend to the Asia-Pacific region. The destinations are Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. In the Near and Middle East/South-West Asia, the destinations are Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and in Europe, Turkiye and the United Kingdom.

Seizures made at destination (outside of Nigeria) were predominantly cases of trafficking by air, while seizures made in Nigeria itself included predominantly trafficking by mail or express parcel as well as commercial flights, aside from a minority of cases involving vehicles, the report stated.

Preferred destination of drug traffickers

Analysis of NDLEA data shows that within the period under review, more drugs were trafficked into the country than were trafficked out. At 24.8 per cent, Nigeria emerged as the top final destination of drug traffickers arrested by officers of the agency, closely followed by Paris, Oman and Qatar.

Unsurprisingly, Nigerias busiest airport, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, is the preferred departure airport of choice in Nigeria. It was closely followed by Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano.

Meanwhile, Brazil and Pakistan are the top countries Nigerian drug traffickers fly in from.

Curbing drug trafficking

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is leading Nigerias fight against drug trafficking and drug use. While the agency has made commendable efforts, experts say more must be done.

Patrick Agbambu, a security expert, said drug couriers are always devising new means of trafficking drugs in and outside the country.

Unfortunately, it seems like all the efforts of the government through the NDLEA have not yielded much result. So, the government must intensify efforts at social orientation. Also, enforcement has to be backed up with speedy prosecution of those caught in the Act. This is because many Nigerians believe that how you make the money does not matter, he stated.

In May, the Senate proposed the death penalty for persons convicted for manufacturing and processing dangerous drugs as well as drug trafficking. The move, according to the lawmakers, will strengthen the fight against drug trafficking and drug use in Nigeria.

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The National Agency for Control of HIV/AIDS has warned Nigerians to be cautious of the risk of contracting Mpox, a disease spreading across Africa at a rapid rate.

According to the agencys director general, Temitope Ilori, the risk is higher for people living with HIV/AIDs because they have compromised immune systems.

Over two million Nigerians live with HIV/AIDS.

A weakened immune system makes it harder for the body to fight off infections, leading to more severe and prolonged illness if such people contract Mpox.

Mrs Ilori said it is important for people living with HIV/AIDS to take extra precautions and protect themselves.

She also urged every citizen to remain vigilant and informed about the disease and how to identify its symptoms.

If you notice any unusual symptoms, such as a rash or fever, it is imperative to seek medical attention immediately. Early intervention is key to managing Mpox effectively.

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We urge everyone, especially those living with HIV, to stay informed, adhere to preventive measures, and seek medical advice promptly if needed. Together, we can overcome this challenge and continue to make strides in the fight against HIV and other public health threats, she said.

She also emphasized that NACA is closely monitoring the situation and collaborating with public health authorities to ensure sufficient resources and information are readily accessible.

Our priority remains the health and well-being of Nigerians, especially those who are most vulnerable. We are committed to providing the necessary support to help people living with HIV navigate this added challenge, she noted.

Mpox in Nigeria

Currently, Nigeria has recorded 40 confirmed cases and 830 suspected Mpox cases across 33 states including the FCT.

No death has been recorded from the disease in Nigeria.

Across Africa, over 18,000 cases have been recorded in 12 countries with over 3,000 confirmed. Over 500 deaths have been recorded.

To prevent the spread, the Nigerian government enhanced border surveillance by providing diagnostic guidelines to port health services and raising the level of alert at international airports, seaports, and land borders.

According to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, the country intends to tackle the disease by deploying measures similar to those used during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nigeria is also set to receive a donation of Mpox vaccines from the United States Government.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Nigeria Country Office disclosed this last Friday while noting that the donation will enable the country to enhance its response to the ongoing Mpox outbreak and improve public health outcomes.

About MPox

Mpox is a rare viral zoonotic infectious disease that is most prevalent in Africa. The exact reservoir of the virus remains unknown, although rodents, squirrels, and monkeys are suspected to play a role in transmission. The Mpox virus can spread from animal to human and from human to human.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that animal-to-human transmission may occur through direct contact with the blood, body fluids, skin, or mucosal lesions of infected animals, such as monkeys, squirrels, and rodents, potentially via a bite, scratch, handling, or consuming inadequately cooked or other products of infected bushmeat.

READ ALSO: Africa CDC writes African health ministers over rising Mpox cases

Human-to-human transmission occurs when an individual comes into contact with the virus from an infected person or materials contaminated with the virus, such as clothing or bedding.

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Gunmen in Northern Nigeria have released the last of the eight prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, abducted along a highway in Zamfara State while travelling to take part in the orientation camp in Sokoto State, North-west Nigeria.

The youths were abducted in August last year while honouring the mandatory one-year national service after graduating from university.

PREMIUM TIMES in May reported that six of the corps members had been released while two were still in captivity, nine months after they were abducted.

It is not clear, however, when one of the two was released.

Vanguard newspaper on Friday reported that the last of the eight, Solomon Daniel, has been released after spending a year in captivity.

A family source simply identified as Umoh told Vanguard that he was released on Thursday.

We were told last week that my boy will be freed this week. As of yesterday (Thursday), we didnt hear anything. But I got the information this morning that he regained his freedom on Thursday. I give God all the glory, Umoh said.

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Umoh, who received the news of his sons release while going to work, expressed happiness over the development, according to the newspaper.

The newspaper did not state if ransom was paid.

Kidnap-for-ransom has been on the rise in the country, particularly in the North-east Nigeria where gunmen abduct high-profile Nigerians and release them after collecting millions of naira as ransom.

The continuous stay in captivity of the youths had triggered outrage from Nigerians and civil society groups in the country, calling on the federal government to take action to secure their release.

Akwa Ibom Human Rights Community, a civil society group in the state, had urged the federal government to take urgent steps to secure the release of the two remaining corps members.

The appeal was part of the resolutions made by the group at the end of its meeting held on 10 April in Uyo.

The group urged the federal government to overhaul the NYSC to enable corps members to serve in their geo-political zones.

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The Police Command in Benue has confirmed the release of 20 students of the University of Maiduguri and University of Jos kidnapped by gunmen in the north-central state on 15 August.

Its Public Relations Officer, Sewuese Anene, confirmed their rescue to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at 11.15 p.m. on Friday in Makurdi.

NAN reports that the students, who were traveling to Enugu for their annual Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students (FECAMDS) Convention, were abducted in Otukpo.

Also taken was a House Officer, who accompanied them on the journey.

Ms Anene, however, declined further details on the rescue efforts.

The victims have been released. Details will be released tomorrow (Saturday) morning please, he stated.

NAN reports that their release is coming five days after the Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, deployed a tactical squad to Benue and ordered the Commissioner of Police in Benue, to relocate to Otukpo.

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NAN gathered that a combined team of security operatives coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser carried out the operation that ensured freedom for the abducted students.

(NAN)

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No ransom was paid to secure the release of the 20 medical students kidnapped in Benue State, the police have said.

Police spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi stated this in a post on X Saturday morning.

Contrary to some tweets and unconfirmed stories that some money was paid, no kobo was paid to release them. They were actually rescued tactically and professionally, Mr Adejobi wrote.

PREMIUM TIMES reported the kidnap of the medical students on 15 August and their eventual release on Friday.

The police are yet to provide details of the rescue, including whether any of the kidnappers were arrested or killed.

A colleague of the kidnapped students had told this newspaper that the kidnappers demanded N50 million ransom.

Sheba Bako, wife of Pius Samson, one the the kidnapped medical Students confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES in a telephone interview that her husband and other victims have been released

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She said I am so happy they have released them. He called us around 11 p.m. last night. He is not yet home because they have taken them to Abuja for a medical check-up. I am so grateful to God that they made it out alive.

The Kidnap

The 20 medical students from the University of Jos (12) and the University of Maiduguri (8) were kidnapped on 15 August while travelling to Enugu for a convention. The students, who were on their way to the annual Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students gathering, were ambushed and abducted in Otukpo, Benue State.

In response to the kidnapping, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, ordered the immediate deployment of more police resources to augment the Benue State Commands capabilities and ensure the release of the students.

According to police spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the police chief described the incident as appalling, callous, and unacceptable.

Kidnapping for ransom is common in parts of Benue and many other states in Nigeria. The kidnappings are carried out by various armed groups.

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The family of a slain truck driver in Abia State, Chinedu Ukwu, has appealed for President Bola Tinubus intervention in their quest for justice.

The shooting, death

Mr Ukwu, a father of four, died on 14 August after being hit by a stray bullet during a reported shootout between two police teams in Aba, Abia State.

He hailed from Ikpeze- Uno, Arondizuogu, a community in Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State, but resided in Aba.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the shootout occurred between police patrol teams from Police Area Command in Aba, and another police team from Umuahia, the state capital.

Residents claimed the operatives appeared to have mistaken themselves for members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the area.

In a statement on 15 August, the police spokesperson in the state, Maureen Chinaka, said police authorities had begun investigations into the incident.

Ms Chinaka, an assistant superintendent of police, said there was no credible evidence to suggest that police officers mistook themselves for members of IPOB and fired at each other.

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What we can confirm is that there was a shooting in that area, which resulted in the death of a civilian, she stated.

IPOB, a group leading agitation for an independent state of Biafra from South-east and some parts of South-south Nigeria, has been linked to some deadly attacks in the two regions.

Demand for justice

In a statement forwarded to PREMIUM TIMES on Friday, Daniel Ukwu, the head of the family and brother to the slain driver, appealed to President Tinubu to help get justice for the victim.

Daniel said the death of the victim was due to the recklessness of the police teams.

We are saddened over the death of our son.

We are calling for justice and asking that those who are involved in the killing of our son be brought to book, he said.

Daniel said Mr Ukwus death has created a big vacuum since he was his familys bread winner.

We are asking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to come to our aid and help in making sure that justice is done in this matter, he appealed.

Police not serious

Daniel later told PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday that the police at the Ugwunagbo divisional headquarters were yet to release the victims corpse.

The family head said the divisional police officer in charge of the case instead of visiting the bereaved family, asked them to come over to their facility on Tuesday for a meeting.

He claimed the police had not been serious in the matter because the family has no one to speak for them.

Daniel said similar meetings called by the police had failed to hold on about two different occasions.

This is not the first time they are scheduling for a meeting with us. Its possible that day (Tuesday) police will postpone it again, he said.

Police speak

When contacted on Saturday, the police spokesperson in Abia State, Ms Chinaka, claimed that the victim was killed by a stray bullet during a shootout between police operatives and some hoodlums.

The spokesperson suggested that there was no evidence that the stray bullet came from police operatives.

She said the family should write to the commissioner of police in the state or have a physical meeting with him if they were not satisfied with the way the police authorities at the Alaoji Divisional Police Headquarters were handling the matter.

Ms Chinaka said the police took possession of the victims body for investigation.

It was an unfortunate thing. I empathise with the family, she said.

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The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has confirmed_ the arrest of Bristol Tamunobiefiri, also known as Pidom, over alleged leakage of government-classified documents and involvement in other crimes.

The Force spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Saturday.

He said Mr Tamunobiefiri was arrested on 5 August in his hotel room in Rivers State for committing serious offences that undermine the integrity of governments operations.

In a well-coordinated effort, officials from the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) apprehended Bristol Isaac Tamunobiefiri, also known as PIDOM, on allegations of committing serious offences that undermine the integrity of government operations. The arrest took place on August 5, 2024, in his hotel room in Rivers State.

There are several allegations levelled against the suspect, including unlawful possession, leakages of classified documents, cyber-related offences, and others. We will do due diligence in carrying out thorough investigation into the cases, the statement said.

Mr Adejobi said more intricate investigations have commenced.

He added that the force will leave no stone unturned to continually enforce the law and bequeath to Nigerians a more secure nation.

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PIdom has been using his popular X account @PIDOMNIGERIA to expose the governments corrupt activities and to support the hardship protests that held earlier this month.

According to a report by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), the suspect was held at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) after being tracked and apprehended by the National Cybercrime Center (NCCC).

Following the forceful suppression and conclusion of the #EndbadGovernance protests, security forces have been arresting individuals, including activists who spoke out against their handling of the protests.

Several people died during the protests across the country.

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The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 governorship election in Kogi State, Dino Melaye, has accused the leadership of the opposition party of destroying it.

Mr Melaye, specifically accused three national officers  acting National Chairman, Umar Damagun; National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, and National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, of destroying the party.

End of the road for PDP as Damagun, Bature and Anyanwu irredeemably destroyed the party. We will talk about the commercialisation and privatisation of PDP. PDP is now once upon a time, he said in a post on his X handle on Saturday.

Besides being the PDP flagbearer in last years election, Mr Melaye had served as the senator for the Kogi West Senatorial District on the ticket of the PDP.

He also represented the Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu federal constituency in the House of Representatives between 2007 and 2011 on the partys platform.

The PDP was in power at the federal level from 1999 to 2015. During the 16 years, it produced three presidents, namely Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru YarAdua and Goodluck Jonathan.

In those years, it also controlled many state governments and the two chambers of the National Assembly.

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Mr Jonathan lost power to APCs Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 election.

Since it lost power, the PDPs attempts to return to power in the last two elections  2019 and 2023  failed.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was its candidate in the elections.

Mr Melaye specifically played a prominent role in the partys campaign having served as one of the spokespersons for the Atikus campaign team.

Lingering crisis

The main opposition party has been enmeshed in crisis since Atiku emerged as its presidential candidate for the 2023 poll.

Some of its governors led by the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and some prominent members refused to work for the party.

The crisis led to the exit of the then National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, who was suspended by his ward. Mr Ayu was also asked by the court to stop parading himself as the chairman.

Consequently, in line with the constitution of the PDP, Mr Damagun, the partys deputy national chairman (North) stepped in to lead the party.

Some members of the PDP had accused the acting chairman as being sympathetic to Mr Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, now serving in the APC federal administration as a minister, hence he could not move against the minister.

Last week, a former Federal Commissioner for Information and Ijaw National Leader, Edwin Clark, accused Mr Damagun of conniving with Mr Wike and other detractors to ruin the party.

Earlier, some members of the PDP in the House of Representatives accused Messrs Damagum and Anyanwu of plotting to sabotage the partys efforts by aiding defected former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly with legal backing to attempt to impeach the Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

But on Thursday, while inaugurating the reconciliation and disciplinary committees to resolve internal crises and address misconduct within the party, Mr Damagun acknowledged that many people within and outside the party are criticising his leadership but vowed that he will not quit his position.

He said he will work to keep it (party) safe and stable.

PDP not commercialised

PREMIUM TIMES could not reach the spokesperson for the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, to comment on Mr Melayes allegation as his mobile phone did not connect.

However, in an interview with the Punch newspaper on Saturday, Mr Ologunagba debunked the former senators claim that the party had been commercialised.

The party is not commercialised. I dont know what he means by that. The party is standing.

Every party has its own challenges because they are managing people with different interests, backgrounds, considerations and aspirations, and it is the capacity of the party that makes it a successful party. Upon then, there will be challenges.

When you have systems and processes that allow for that (challenges), it shows that the party is not properly run. At each stage, there are other organs of the party, such as the Board of Trustees, the National Executive Committee, the Governors Forum, and the National Working Committee.

If the PDP is once upon a time party, we wont have 13 governors, House of Representatives members, and Senate members. So, I dont know what he is referring to, Mr Ologunagba said.

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The acting governor of Niger State, Yakubu Garba, on Saturday, called on the Nigerian Army to reopen its camp in Allawa which the military shut down after an attack by bandits.

Mr Garba made the call when he attended the third-day Fiddau prayer for victims of recent a recent bandits attack in Anguwan Maigero in Shiroro Local Government Area of the state.

He was accompanied to the event by the Emir of Minna, Umar Bahago, at Kuta Central Mosque in Shiroro.

Interview

In an interview with journalists after the prayer session, the acting governor appealed to the Nigerian Army to redeploy soldiers to Allawa and other communities prone to attacks in the state.

No fewer than 13 people were killed on Wednesday by bandits who ambushed them on their way to their farms in Anguwan village.

Mr Garba said the withdrawal of soldiers from the area brought a setback to the state governments efforts in tackling insecurity across the state.

I want to appeal to our military to see reasons to go back to Allawa and other prone areas to give full security cover to our people who are predominantly farmers, he said.

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He said the state government was deploying strategies to improve security in the state.

The acting governor said unlike two year ago when people could not travel to places like Kuta, Zumba, Gwada and Erena in Shiroro, they can now go there due to the efforts being made to tackle insecurity.

READ ALSO: 13 killed in fresh attack in Niger State as bandits demand 130 motorcycles as ransom for 26 kidnapped women

He clarified that those killed in the recent attack were displaced farmers who left the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp to farm when they were ambushed by the bandits.

He said no one should play politics with issues of insecurity because they have to do with the lives of the people.

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DUBAI, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced on Saturday that it has successfully mediated an exchange of captives between Russia and Ukraine, resulting in the release of 230 people from both sides.

The UAE's Foreign Ministry stated in a statement on its website that the latest exchange has brought the total number of captives exchanged through UAE mediation to 1,788.

The latest exchange, which follows a similar operation about a month ago, is the seventh of its kind since the beginning of 2024, according to the ministry.

In December 2022, the UAE also facilitated the exchange of two captives between the United States and Russia.

In the statement, the ministry reiterated the UAE's commitment to supporting all initiatives aimed at reaching a peaceful solution to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. 
The federal government has slated Monday to meet with the leadership of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)in the wake of the unions fresh threat to embark on strike over unmet demands.

ASUU had issued a 21-day strike notice to the government on Wednesday asking the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to address all unresolved matters obstructing the development of Nigerian universities.

The National President of ASUU, Emmanuel Osodeke, gave the notice at a press conference held at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State.

In a bid to avert the strike, the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, disclosed in an interview on Beyond 100 days programme with TVC on Thursday that the government officials will be meeting with the Union leadership on Monday.

He said the government is committed to addressing their concerns, including the non-implementation of the 2009 renegotiated agreement.

We have already sent out notice to the leadership of ASUU for us to meet on Monday. On Wednesday, we reviewed the letter submitted by ASUU and all the issues which are listed in the letter. It is our hope that by Monday we will meet to discuss them, he said.

Mr Mamman acknowledged the historic nature of the issues, but expressed optimism that the demand can be resolved before the expiration of the 21-day strike notice issued by the union.

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Some of the issues are historical in nature; when you talk about the 2009 agreement. This is something that dates back to almost 1981 when they started, he said.

He added that the government had been having a series of conversations with ASUU leadership on the issues affecting the university system in order for them to come together to address all the concerns.

Backstory

ASUU last went on a protracted eight-month strike from February to October in 2022 over the same demands, which the government has yet to address.

The union held its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on 17  18 August at the University of Ibadan, where they agreed to issue a 21-day ultimatum to the federal and state governments to address the lingering issues affecting public universities.

The unions National President, Emmanuel Osodeke, announced the ultimatum, condemning the governments refusal to address the issues raised by the union.

The issues includes the reviewing and signing the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement, demand for impactful funding, including the Emergency Revitalisation Fund for public universities and payment of outstanding earned academic allowances.

The union also demands the release of withheld salaries, promotion arrears, and third-party deductions of its members, stoppage of illegal recruitments, proliferation of public universities, and abuse of universities laws, regulations, and processes.

ASUU also wants the removal of universities from the Treasury Single Account and new IPPIS vis-a-vis to herald the autonomy of universities.

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The Kogi chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has claimed that its supporters were attacked and their vehicles damaged at the Supreme Court premises on Friday.

Kingsley Fanwo, Director of Media and Publicity for the Kogi APC Campaign Council, made the allegation in a statement in Lokoja.

He alleged that the attacks began when supporters of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) started hurling stones, bottles, and plastic containers at APC supporters and leaders.

He said this happened immediately after the Supreme Court delivered its judgment affirming Governor Usman Ododo as the duly elected governor of Kogi.

Mr Fanwo claimed the SDP candidate, Murtala Ajaka, ignored the courts advice to remain seated until all matters were fully addressed and left the courtroom with his supporters as soon as the judgment was pronounced against him.

Upon noticing jubilant APC members within the court premises, Ajakas supporters unleashed violence, attacking the celebrating APC members and causing significant disruption, he claimed.

The APC described the attitude as undemocratic and uncivilised.

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However, the party thanked God for preserving the mandate of the Kogi people at the Supreme Court and promised to continue delivering the dividends of democracy to all residents in line with President Bola Tinubus Renewed Hope Agenda.

Responding, Isaiah Ijele, spokesperson for the Muri/Sam Campaign Council of the SDP in Kogi, described the APCs claim as false and pretentious.

Mr Ijele said it was the SDPs governorship candidate, Mr Ajaka, and his supporters who were attacked, not APC supporters, while at the Supreme Court premises.

We should be the ones complaining and condemning the actions of APC supporters on our supporters, not the other way round, he said.

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With the continued spread of Mpox across the continent, the African Center for Disease Control (Africa CDC) has written to all African health ministers, calling for coordinated efforts to tackle the infection and improved testing methods.

In a letter dated 23 August and signed by the Africa CDC Director-General, Jean Kaseya, the public health body said the disease was spreading rapidly, and cases have almost tripled within a short period.

This is unlike what was obtainable in 2022 when Mpox was first declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

Mr Kaseya said that the case fatality rate of the disease is high at about 3 per cent and has been linked to HIV which makes it more concerning.

Several countries without previous cases have recently reported imported cases of their first Mpox cases for 2024. Given this trend, there is a high risk that it could spread beyond Africa as well, the letter read.

Mr Kaseya noted that Mpox was declared a public health emergency by the agency on 13 August, after assessing the danger that the onslaught was posing to the continent.

He said the declaration was made after Africa CDC called for a meeting of an independent high-level technical body called Emergency Consultative Group (ECG).

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The ECG made up of a group of 20 high-level science and health experts reviewed the epidemiological situation in the continent and made recommendations.

The epidemiological situation

Between 1 January and 23 August there were 21,466 reported Mpox cases across 13 African Union member states.

Of these, 3,350 were confirmed cases, while 18,116 were suspected. The outbreak also resulted in 591 deaths, leading to a case fatality rate (CFR) of 2.9 per cent.

Mr Kaseya said the affected countries include Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Congo, Cote dIvoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Liberia, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda.

He also noted that Gabon has confirmed its first case of the disease while Sierra Leone and Malawi have begun testing suspected cases.

Even as I wrote this letter, Gabon has confirmed its first case, while Sierra Leone and Malawi are now testing their suspected cases, the letter added.

Currently, Nigeria has recorded 40 confirmed cases and 830 suspected cases of the zoonotic disease. However, it has yet to record any death cases.

Lab tests not reliable

However, the DG told African health ministers that laboratory tests alone cannot sufficiently detect Mpox cases and should not be relied on as the sole method to identify confirmed cases.

I would like to draw Your Excellencies attention to the fact that a negative test result in the laboratory does not mean there is no Mpox epidemic, he said.

Some of you are reaching out to us, especially in the context where lab is negative for Mpox.

To better advise you, Africa CDC have also consulted our African best epidemiologist and lab experts but also international experts and appropriate bodies like the US CDC, China CDC, Europe CDC and WHO.

He said the recommendation provided was that countries must restrain from relying solely on laboratory test results for diagnosing Mpox.

Instead, he said, there is a need for a holistic approach that integrates laboratory testing with clinical assessment and epidemiological data.

According to him, this is essential for accurately diagnosing and managing Mpox.

Mr Kaseya told the ministers that diagnosis and management of Mpox should involve a comprehensive approach that considers multiple factors.

He said, one of these factors is clinical presentation, which involves monitoring signs and symptoms of Mpox, such as fever, rash, swollen lymph nodes, and lesions.

He also recommended a thorough clinical examination especially when laboratory results are inconclusive or negative.

Epidemiological Context  Understanding the patients exposure history, such as contact with known cases or travel to areas with ongoing Mpox outbreaks, is crucial.

This context can provide strong evidence for a probable case, even in the absence of positive lab results, he advised.

Testing for confirmed cases

Mr Kaseya suggested that health ministers review the patients medical history, including any recent exposure to animals or contaminated materials can offer additional clues for diagnosis.

While important, lab tests should be interpreted in conjunction with clinical and epidemiological data. False negatives are possible, and a negative test does

not entirely rule out Mpox, especially if there is strong clinical suspicion, he said.

The Africa CDC DG added that for all Mpox cases, countries must perform HIV and STI tests.

He urged for continuous monitoring of the patients symptoms and possibly repeating tests can help in making a definitive diagnosis.

He said health providers should also be conscious of the timing, quality and type of samples collected.

According to him, the accuracy of Mpox testing depends significantly on when the sample is collected.

He said If the sample is taken too early or too late in the course of the infection, the viral load might be too low to be detected.

The type of sample collected (e.g., from a lesion, blood, or other bodily fluids) can affect the test results. Lesion swabs are typically the most reliable,

but if a different type of sample is used, it may not contain enough viral material for detection, he said.

Also, he disclosed that different strains or mutations of the Mpox virus might not be as easily detected by certain tests.

Some tests were designed for a specific strain, he said.

He further noted that in some cases, an individuals immune system might clear the virus or suppress its replication such that it becomes undetectable by laboratory tests.

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The Minister of Defence, Muhammad Badaru, has condoled with the victims of recent flooding in Jigawa State and announced a personal donation of N20 million to them.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that on Tuesday, the number of deaths from floods caused by rainfall reached 28 in the state.

Mr Badaru, who is the immediate past governor of the state, told reporters in Jigawa that 33 people had died from the flood disaster as of Saturday.

The former governor said the disaster affected 148 communities in 14 local government areas, about 50,000 people and over 11,500 households.

Mr Badaru said the flooding was due to a seven-day nonstop rainfall, the sort of which had never been seen in the state before in August.

He said regular flooding affected the state around the end of September when the dams overflowed.

The minister said the federal and state governments were doing what they could to address the menace.

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The government has been doing very well tackling the regular flooding by dredging the channels.

This particular flooding was caused by excessive nonstop rainfall that has caused destruction and loss of lives. The governor is capable of handling the situation with the support of the Federal Government.

The president is aware of the situation and will support the government of Jigawa State in tackling the reoccurrence of the problem.

READ ALSO: Lagos residents lament as floods cripple activities

In the Federal Governments renewed hope agenda, there is the construction of dams the governor is taking up with the federal government to make sure that some of the dams are constructed in the state, Mr Badaru said.

In his remarks, Governor Umar Namadi commended the minister for the visit, saying Mr Badaru had made sustained efforts at the federal level to assist in tackling the disaster and assist its victims.

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Nigeria has been identified as one of the countries standing the risk of facing war crimes probes for supplying crude oil and refined fuels to Israel amid the ongoing Gaza war.

The Guardian reported that legal experts warned that Nigeria and the other countries, which are signatories to the Genocide Convention and Geneva Conventions, are contravening the 26 January landmark ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding Israels military operations in Gaza.

The ruling ordered Israel to prevent genocidal acts in Gaza and reminded state parties to the genocide convention of their common interest to ensure the prevention, suppression and punishment of genocide.

After the ICJ ruling, Israeli tanks, fighter jets, military vehicles and bulldozers continue to bombard Gaza and raze Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank using shipments from foreign countries to power them, The Guardian reported.

The newspaper referenced an investigative research which was commissioned by Oil Change International (OCI), a global nonprofit, showing that some countries, including Nigeria, continued to supply crude oil and fuels to Israel to fuel its bombardments and further destruction of Gaza after the ICJ ruling.

Energy supplies

According to the news platform, the research analysed shipping logs, satellite images and other open-source industry data. It tracked 65 crude oil and fuel shipments to Israel between 21 October last year and 12 July.

It identifies Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Gabon, Nigeria, Brazil and recently, Republic of the Congo and Italy as the major suppliers of crude oil to Israel. According to the research, the countries have supplied 4.1 million tons of crude oil to Israel, with almost half of the supply coming after the January ruling of the ICJ.

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The research also estimated two-thirds of crude came from investor-owned and private oil companies.

It also found that the United States has supplied jet fuel, diesel and other refined petroleum products to Israel before and after the ICJ ruling. Almost 80 per cent of the supply to Israel in the last nine months was said to be shipped after the January ruling.

Warnings, call for embargo

UN and other international law experts called for an energy embargo to prevent further human rights violations against the Palestinian people  and an investigation into any oil and fuels shipped to Israel that have been used to aid acts of alleged genocide and other serious international crimes, the newspaper reported.

The ICJ ruled that countries must cooperate to ensure an end to Israels illegal presence in the occupied Palestinian territory and must not render aid or assistance in maintaining the unlawful situation created by Israel. Israel rejected the ruling.

After the 26 January ICJ ruling, states cannot claim they did not know what they were risking to partake in, Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory told The Guardian.

In the case of the US jet-fuel shipments, there are serious grounds to believe that there is a breach of the genocide convention for failure to prevent and disavowal of the ICJ January ruling and provisional measures, said Albanese. Other countries supplying oil and other fuels absolutely also warrant further investigation.

Omar Barghouti, co-founder of the boycott, divestment, sanctions (BDS) movement, which has called for an energy embargo on Israel, also told The Guardia, Palestinians appreciate the diplomatic and rhetorical support of states such as Brazil, Russia, Nigeria, Kazakhstan, among others. However, this cannot exonerate their direct complicity in literally fueling Israels genocide and underlying system of settler-colonial apartheid.

The governments of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Nigeria, Gabon and the Republic of the Congo did not respond to the Guardians requests for comment, and neither did Greece or Albania.

The President Joe Biden administration did not respond to the newspapers requests for comment, nor did Vice-President Kamala Harriss presidential election campaign team.

Corporate involvement

Also, the research also highlighted the role of corporations in supplying fuel to Israel since the ruling, finding that just six major international fossil-fuel companies  BP, Chevron, Eni, ExxonMobil, Shell and TotalEnergies  could be responsible for 35 percent of crude oil supplied to Israel since October.

David Tong, industry campaign manager at Oil Change International, told The Guardian, Every day that oil companies provide fuel to Israel these companies expose themselves to potential legal action for their complicity in genocidal acts against civilians in Gaza.

Lydia de Leeuw, researcher and co-author of Fuelling the Flames in Gaza at the Dutch non-profit Somo, similarly told the newspaper, Given the well-documented ongoing war crimes and warnings of a genocide, these oil corporations have the responsibility to identify and prevent any contribution to violations by the Israeli army.

Shell and Total declined The Guardians request to comment. BP and Exxon did not respond.

A spokesperson for Chevron, which owns stakes in oil production in Kazakhstan, Nigeria and the Congo, denied any wrongdoing, Chevron operates in compliance with all applicable laws, the company told The Guardian.

Also denying any wrong doing, Eni said, In general, oil supplies primarily support the functioning of social, economic, and industrial systems in countries.

The research work, reported exclusively by The Guardian, indicates that African countries contributed a total of 37 percent crude oil exports to Israel. Of this figure, 9 per cent came from Nigeria, six per cent from the Republic of the Congo and 22 per cent from Gabon.

While Azerbaijan remains the leading supplier of crude oil to Israel, Italy, Albania and Greece also supplied unrefined oil to the warring country.

Devastating war

In July, PREMIUM TIMES reported that an Israeli attack on a designated humanitarian zone claimed the lives of about 90 people and injured 300 others, according to Palestinian health officials.

Authorities in Palestine said that Israels ground and air campaign in Gaza has killed more than 40,000 people, mostly civilians.

Health officials feared the devastating war had driven most of the enclaves 2.3 million people from their homes.

The war began on 7 October after Hamas militants stormed across the border into Israeli communities. Israel said the militants killed more than 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 253 into captivity in Gaza.

As of 15 August, the Palestinian Health Ministry said 40,005 Palestinians were dead and 92,401 wounded.

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I hear all the chatter about the looming threat of World War III, the heated propaganda wars, and the reckless brinkmanship, but I remain unfazed. Ive seen enough to recognise the bravado for what it is. Yet, one cant help but grieve for the innocent lives lost  the men killed, the children orphaned, and the women widowed in this grim dance of death. What worries me most is how the world seems to repeatedly bow to the cheap blackmail of the military-industrial complex.

In the land where the Zagros Mountains meet the horizon and vast deserts tell tales of ancient times, lies a country historically known as Persia. Its history weaves the rich mosaic of human civilisation. From its very inception, Iran has stood as a cradle of culture, intellect, and empire. The ancient Persians, through the Achaemenid, Parthian, and Sassanid empires, were pioneers in science, medicine, mathematics, and astronomy, contributing invaluable advancements to the world.

The Islamic conquest in the Seventh Century introduced Islam and integrated Iran into the caliphate, fostering a golden age of Persian culture and learning under the Abbasid Caliphate. The Safavid Dynasty later established Shia Islam as the state religion, shaping Irans distinct identity. In the modern era, the Qajar and Pahlavi dynasties faced internal strife and external pressures, culminating in the 1979 Iranian Revolution, led by Ayatollah Khomeini, which established the Islamic Republic.

Iran, though predominantly Shia Muslim, is a country of significant ethnic and religious diversity, reflecting its long history as a crossroads of civilisations. The population includes various ethnicities and religious communities, such as Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians, and Bahais, each contributing to Irans rich cultural tapestry.

Iran is home to one of the worlds oldest Jewish communities, dating back over 2,500 years. According to tradition, the Jewish population in Iran began with the Babylonian Exile, when the Persian King Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon and allowed the Jewish people to return to their homeland in Israel, though many chose to stay in Persia (modern-day Iran). Although many Jews emigrated after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, a substantial community remains, primarily in Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz. Despite facing challenges, Iranian Jews have been well integrated into society and they play a vital role in the countrys cultural and economic development.

The relationship between Israel, the Jewish state, and Iran hasnt always been as hostile as it is today. In fact, under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Iran and Israel maintained a pragmatic relationship. The two nations engaged in economic and military cooperation, sharing concerns about the rise of Arab nationalism and Soviet influence in the region. However, the 1979 Iranian Revolution dramatically altered this dynamic.

The roots of Irans conflict with Israel trace back to the aftermath of World War II. The establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, amidst significant Arab opposition, set the stage for regional tension. Ayatollah Khomeini, the leader of the Iranian Revolution, espoused a fervent anti-Israel stance, branding Israel as the Little Satan and a usurper of Palestinian lands. This ideological shift was rooted in a blend of religious conviction and political strategy, as Iran sought to position itself as a leader of the Islamic world and a champion of Palestinian rights. Support for militant groups opposing Israel, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, became a cornerstone of Irans foreign policy, escalating tensions even further.

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Irans use of proxy groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthi rebels has been a key strategy to extend its influence across the Middle East and counter its regional rivals, particularly Israel and Saudi Arabia. These groups, despite operating in different contexts, share ideological alignment and substantial support from Tehran, including financial aid, advanced weaponry, and military training.

Hezbollah, based in Lebanon and established in the 1980s with Iranian support, has grown into a powerful political and military force capable of significant influence in Lebanon and the broader Levant region. It serves as a strategic tool for Iran against Israeli interests and participates in conflicts like the Syrian Civil War.

By portraying Israel and the US as destabilising forces and positioning itself as a defender of the oppressed, particularly Palestinians, Iran seeks to gain favour with Arab and Muslim populations. This multifaceted approach is designed to create a regional environment in which Israel is diplomatically isolated and anti-US sentiments are strong, thereby increasing its influence in the Middle East.

Similarly, Hamas, a Palestinian Sunni-Islamist militant organisation governing the Gaza Strip, receives financial and military support from Iran, despite the Sunni-Shia divide, and they are united in their opposition to Israel. Irans backing enables Hamas to conduct attacks against Israel, including rocket fire and tunnel warfare.

In Yemen, the Houthi rebels, a Shia Zaidi group, have been engaged in a civil war against the Yemeni government and a Saudi-led coalition since 2014. Supported by Iran with weapons, training, and financial assistance, the Houthis carry out attacks against Saudi Arabia, aiming to expand Iranian influence on the Arabian Peninsula and weaken Saudi power. Through these proxies, Iran projects its power and influence across the Middle East, challenging its adversaries and creating strategic depth in regional conflicts.

Additionally, Iran leverages media and propaganda to spread anti-Israel and anti-US narratives, seeking to sway public opinion and turn Middle Eastern populations against US policies. Iran also exploits regional conflicts and opposes peace efforts, such as the Abraham Accords, to prevent the normalisation of relations between Israel and Arab states.

By portraying Israel and the US as destabilising forces and positioning itself as a defender of the oppressed, particularly Palestinians, Iran seeks to gain favour with Arab and Muslim populations. This multifaceted approach is designed to create a regional environment in which Israel is diplomatically isolated and anti-US sentiments are strong, thereby increasing its influence in the Middle East.

But Tehrans territorial ambitions in the region have come at a tremendous cost. Aside from its economy being crushed by crippling sanctions imposed by the US and its allies, Tel Aviv has not taken the threat posed by Tehran lightly. Backed by its big brother America, the Jewish state has engaged in far-reaching, multi-pronged overt and covert operations, launching a series of attacks against Tehran. Iran has become a testing laboratory for the cutting-edge spy tools and game-changing military technologies of the US and Israel.

Irans pursuit of a nuclear bomb has long been one of the most contentious issues, fiercely opposed by both the US and Israel. For Israel, the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran represents an existential threat, prompting an all-out campaign to derail Tehrans efforts.

In 2010, it was widely believed that the United States and Israel developed a highly sophisticated and malicious computer worm, later named Stuxnet, as a cyber weapon to target and disrupt Irans nuclear programme, specifically its uranium enrichment facilities. The worms payload disrupted the operation of the centrifuges used in uranium enrichment by subtly altering their rotational speed. The software caused the centrifuges to spin at dangerously high speeds until they crashed, all while reporting normal operations to monitoring systems, making it difficult for operators to detect the sabotage. Stuxnet, for the first time, demonstrated the potential for malware to cause physical damage to critical infrastructure.

In 2020, Irans top nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, was assassinated using an AI-assisted, remote-controlled killer robot. Till date, Israel has assassinated more than a dozen nuclear scientists and military commanders, both inside and outside of Iran. The most recent was the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas top political leader, in a compound heavily guarded by Irans Revolutionary Guard in Tehran.

Lets be real  no nation understands the limitless capabilities of the United States better than Iran. Americas reach extends far beyond its famed military might. On the flip side, Washington is acutely aware of the American publics reluctance to plunge into another endless Middle Eastern war, especially after the disasters in Iraq and Afghanistan.

These attacks are not limited to military personnel and formations but also include the sabotage of Irans infrastructure. In February of this year, major gas pipelines in Iran were blown up, causing widespread disruption in the flow of heating and cooking gas to several provinces, affecting millions of people. Israel has also carried out cyberattacks that disabled servers belonging to Irans oil ministry, causing chaos at gas stations nationwide.

Iran has reeled after each attack, which it views as a national embarrassment, pledging to find the culprits. It has announced multiple times that it has uncovered Israeli spy networks, but this has neither reduced the frequency nor the audacity of Israeli attacks.

I hear all the chatter about the looming threat of World War III, the heated propaganda wars, and the reckless brinkmanship, but I remain unfazed. Ive seen enough to recognise the bravado for what it is. Yet, one cant help but grieve for the innocent lives lost  the men killed, the children orphaned, and the women widowed in this grim dance of death. What worries me most is how the world seems to repeatedly bow to the cheap blackmail of the military-industrial complex.

This shadowy group manipulates world leaders into pouring money into military arsenals, while urgent global humanitarian crises are left to fester. But despite all the posturing, neither Biden nor the Ayatollah truly hunger for war.

Lets be real  no nation understands the limitless capabilities of the United States better than Iran. Americas reach extends far beyond its famed military might. On the flip side, Washington is acutely aware of the American publics reluctance to plunge into another endless Middle Eastern war, especially after the disasters in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The ongoing conflict is fueled in part by the egos of these nations leaders, who often prioritise their personal and political interests over the well-being of their countries. Leaders on both the Israeli and Iranian sides have, at times, taken actions that escalate tensions, not necessarily because these actions are in the best interest of their countries, but because they serve to bolster their political standing, reinforce their power, or appeal to their hardline supporters. These decisions, driven by pride, ideology, or a desire to project strength, can lead to military confrontations, economic sanctions, and diplomatic rifts that have long-lasting negative impacts.

Unfortunately, it is the ordinary men, women, and children who bear the brunt of these ego-driven conflicts. Civilians suffer the consequences of leaders choices through economic hardship, loss of lives, displacement, and a constant state of insecurity. While these leaders may gain short-term political advantages, the broader population faces the enduring pain and suffering caused by these power struggles, creating a cycle of violence and resentment that perpetuates the conflict. Anyone praying and hoping for a lasting peace to materialise in the Middle East should wait till hell freezes over.

Osmund Agbo is the author of Black Grit, White Knuckles: The Philosophy of Black Renaissance and a fiction work titled The Velvet Court: Courtesan Chronicles. His latest works, Pray, Let the Shaman Die and Maam, I Do Not Come to You for Love, have just been released.

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what is clear is that oppressed peoples, in the centre and periphery of capitalism, must unite, empathise, solidarise, and support one another to end colonialism, neo-colonialism, occupation and imperialist oppression globally.

Abuja hosted the historic International Conference for the Eradication of Colonialism in the World. There, ideas flowed like a waterfall and a firm resolve to end the human scourge of colonialism was forged.

Hosted by Nigerias Society for International Relations Awareness (SIRA), the event was chaired by Professor Ibrahim Gambari. The over three-hundred average daily participants included the diplomatic community, retired ambassadors, journalists, labour leaders and youth activists. It was also like practical tutorial classes for students from various institutions like the Universities of Abuja, Bingham and Veritas, in addition to being attended by an official delegation from Nile University. Intellectuals at the conference were led by the National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, who gave a captivating address.

The SIRA President, Owei Lakemfa, welcomed participants, while Professor Gambaris opening remarks maintained that Peace can only germinate in the soil of social justice. The Opening Address was by Oscar Lopez Riveria and Edwin Cortes, who spent 38 years and 14 years respectively in US prisons for their struggles to liberate Puerto Rico (PR) from United States colonial rule.

The Keynote Address was by Ambassador Oubi Bachir, the representative of the POLISARIO Liberation Movement in Switzerland and to the UN and International Organisations in Geneva. The Mexican envoy in Nigeria, Ambassador Alfredo Miranda, spoke on The Mexican Experience in Three Hundred Years of Colonisation.

Berta Joubert-Ceci, the main organiser of the International Tribunal on USA Colonial Crimes in Puerto Rico, spoke on the Consequences of Colonialism in Puerto Rico (Boriken), while Kandis Sebro of the Alba Movements Continental Assembly of the Caribbean People, spoke on The Caribbean Colonies and the March Towards independence.

Maggie Vascassenno from Mujeres en Lucha, USA, addressed participants on Women In The Struggle To End Colonialism, while Esteli Capote, the general coordinator of the Instituto Puertorriqueno de Relaciones Internaciones UN Efforts spoke on Engaging The UN System to Speedily De-colonise the World.

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Kazi Toure, a member of the National Jericho Movement (NJM), who was imprisoned for ten years on the conspiracy to overthrow the US government, spoke about Sedition, Political Prisoners and the struggles for independence. Jihad Abdulmumit, currently chair of NJM and former Black Panther Party/Black Liberation Army member, who spent twenty-three years as a political prisoner in US, spoke on Building an international Peoples Senate.

Carlos R. Alicea Negron of the Instituto Puertorriqueno addressed the conference on The Liberation Movement in the Americas and Peoples Struggles for Independence, while Femi Falana, Africas foremost international human rights lawyer, spoke on, The Legal Implications of Continued Colonialism In The World.

For Riveria and Cortes, US has enforced severe austerity measures in PR, which have led to drastic cuts in social services; reduction in pension; closure of 150 public schools; massive cuts in university budget; privatisation of public health; prolonged electricity outages; and the sale of national assets. Their conclusion is that: the current US agenda seems to envision a Puerto Rico without Puerto Ricans.

John Parker of the Socialist Unity Party, USA, gave his address on The USA in the Context of Neo-colonialism in Africa. The presentation of Dr Olushola Magbadelo, a retired federal director, and currently, lead director, Centre for African and Asian Studies, Abuja, was on The Imminent Dangers of Re-colonisation of Post-Colonial African States.

Sebro theorised that colonialism was driven by the desperate desires of the colonising powers to exploit the human, agricultural and mineral resources of Caribbean countries for their own enrichment. She underscored the continuous disastrous effects of colonialism in many Caribbean countries, which, amongst others, have made: the population of the diaspora surpass those of the Islands. She also raised the issue of the mass exodus of the best brains of the Caribbean to the colonising countries in the West to work.

Berta argued that US colonialism in PR had been catastrophic. She quoted many US colonial officials to buttress her point. In 1934, a US colonial police chief, Francis Riggs, bragged, during a nationwide strike by agricultural workers, that: there will be a war to death against all Puerto Ricans. A US medical doctor, Cornelius Packard Rhoads, boasted in a November 1931 letter: I have done my best to further the process of extermination by killing off 8 (Puerto Ricans) and transplanting cancer into several more.

She added that throughout the 1940s, hundreds of families were displaced from Vieques to make room for a US Naval storing and practicing range, leaving only one third of the island for the population.

She claimed that in the 1960s President Kennedy wanted to remove every person in the island, including their dead, emptying even the cemetery so there would be no reason for families to visit their deceased loved ones. She disclosed that a publicist to a former colonial Governor, Edwin Miranda, recently wrote, in a Telegram chat, that: I saw the future, it was marvelous; there are no Puerto Ricans.

For Riveria and Cortes, US has enforced severe austerity measures in PR, which have led to drastic cuts in social services; reduction in pension; closure of 150 public schools; massive cuts in university budget; privatisation of public health; prolonged electricity outages; and the sale of national assets. Their conclusion is that: the current US agenda seems to envision a Puerto Rico without Puerto Ricans.

They submitted that colonialism in PR has stifled economic development, undermined its social and human fabric, gentrified and damaged the environment, and led to migration wave to the extent that Puerto Ricans in US are: nearly twice the size of those in Puerto Rico.

Capote pointed out that US had, on some occasions, succeeded in removing PR from the list of colonies recognised by the UN but that the PR always succeeds in getting back on the list due to the support of several countries. She added that PR has been utilising the UN Decolonisation Committee, Special Political Anti-Colonialism Committee, Geneva Human Rights Commission, and the Economic and Social Development of the countries to advance the cause of PRs independence.

Parker posited that whether the US President is a Black like Obama, or a woman like Kamala Harris, the US anti-minority policies will continue, because its imperialism is a: self-perpetuating money machine for the ruling class, a huge buffet for the military industrial complex and the politicians and corporations who directly and indirectly benefit from it.

Caelos Alicea Negron submitted that UN particularly: provides a legal-ethical-moral framework for the colonised peoples to wage their struggle for independence. He however maintained that: proposals that validate or legitimise annexation or conceptual-legal sovereignties that that exclude independence are unacceptable to Puerto Ricans. Negron maintained that US colonialism violates international law, offends humanity, and is a crime against humanity.

Jihad introduced a different dimension. He asserted that the US government continues a 400-year internal colonialism and genocide against the indigenous, Black, Brown and other minority peoples. He said the mechanisms for committing these include: killing minority peoples; causing serious bodily or mental harm to them; deliberately inflicting them with conditions of life calculated to physically and, or, partially destroy them  in whole or part; imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; and forcibly transferring children of the minority to the other group.

Toure linked alleged internal colonialism and genocide in US to: capitalism, imperialism, sexism, xenophobia and very other kind of ism, that is bent on control, and exploitation of people of colour.

Parker posited that whether the US President is a Black like Obama, or a woman like Kamala Harris, the US anti-minority policies will continue, because its imperialism is a: self-perpetuating money machine for the ruling class, a huge buffet for the military industrial complex and the politicians and corporations who directly and indirectly benefit from it.

Vascassenno paid glowing tributes to the: heroic Palestinian resistance and the international movement of mainly students and youths, numbering millions in every continent, north to south and east to west, has shown, no matter the depths of depravity of Israeli Occupation Forces against women, children and prisoners, that the Palestinian people will win. Free Palestine!

The conditions of the colonised countries are not fundamentally different from those in neocolonial countries. Many avenues exist for intensifying the struggles against colonialism and neocolonialism. Gambari, Bachir, Falana, and Magbadelo extensively addressed these issues.

For me, what is clear is that oppressed peoples, in the centre and periphery of capitalism, must unite, empathise, solidarise, and support one another to end colonialism, neo-colonialism, occupation and imperialist oppression globally.

Ahmed Aminu-Ramatu Yusuf worked as deputy director, Cabinet Affairs Office, The Presidency, and retired as General Manager (Administration), Nigerian Meteorological Agency, (NiMet). Email: aaramatuyusuf@yahoo.com

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Five months after the US claimed that once the UN passed the peace resolution and Hamas accepts, hostilities would come to an end, no such thing has happened. Rather, the US this week announced another of its dubious peace plans which like previous ones, is unlikely to lead to peace.

The United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, on Monday, 19 August, made another public claim that the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, had accepted a peace proposal to end the war in the Palestine. The US christened its latest claim a bridging proposal.

However, going by previous US announcements, this is possibly another false claim by the Biden administration.

As in the past, the US puts the burden on Hamas to accept the so-called proposal. Again, as it claimed previously, this is the best offer. However this time, the US proclaims that this could potentially be the last peace offer. In other words, as far as the superpower is concerned, if its latest gambit fails, there may no longer be any peace proposals to end the war, going forward.

The US has appointed itself the Peacemaker-in-Chief of the Israeli-Palestinian War. Every second, it shouts from the rooftops that it is working assiduously for a ceasefire. It also parcels what it claims are peace deals. But, so far, they have turned out to be dubious packages of propaganda designed to give the impression that it is a peacemaker, Israel is a peace lover, and that Hamas is a bunch of unrelenting terrorists wedded to violence.

Meanwhile, the war continues with the US creating an Iron Dome to shield Israel from missiles of international condemnation and adherence to international law.

The cyclic pattern of US actions in the past ten months follow a template. First, it increases military aid to Israel but claims strenuous efforts to make peace. Then it announces a peace deal, proclaims Israels alleged authorship or acceptance of the deal, and then claims Hamas is obstinate. Next, it asks peace lovers to pressure Hamas acceptance; Hamas accepts, Israel denies the deal, and the US repeats the cycle.

Earlier this year, a peace deal allegedly accepted by Israel was announced. It included the release of wounded, sick and elderly hostages held in Gaza and an extendable six-week ceasefire that could allow for more aid to be delivered to besieged Gaza. Hamas was alleged to be delaying the peace deal. But all Hamas asked for was a permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages. An angry Israel rejected the peace deal and, as possible punishment for the Hamas insolence, increased its bombardment of Rafah City in southern Gaza.

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This cycle has been most apparent in the last three months. On Friday, 31 May, US President Joe Biden surprised the world with an announcement that Israel had proposed a peace plan! He claimed it was one that would ensure a ceasefire in exchange for the release of hostages. To him, the only obstacle was Hamas accepting it. He told the Palestinian group that the alleged Israeli plan was the best way to end the conflict.

This plan technically included the core Hamas demand for a permanent ceasefire. It had three phases. First, is a six-week ceasefire, during which the Israeli military would withdraw from the populated centres in Gaza, and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners would be exchanged for hostages. Also, the Palestinian civil populace would be allowed to return to Gaza and 600 aid trucks permitted to enter Gaza daily.

Turning to the world, he said: Its time for this war to end and for the day after to begin.

Many were doubtful that Israel would package a peace plan. But it didnt matter who gives birth to a peace plan, so long as it works.

The same day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office confirmed that Israel had authorised its negotiators to present the peace plan to the Palestinians.

This plan technically included the core Hamas demand for a permanent ceasefire. It had three phases. First, is a six-week ceasefire, during which the Israeli military would withdraw from the populated centres in Gaza, and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners would be exchanged for hostages. Also, the Palestinian civil populace would be allowed to return to Gaza and 600 aid trucks permitted to enter Gaza daily.

In the second phase, both sides were to negotiate the terms of a permanent end to the hostilities. Biden had added that: The ceasefire will still continue as long as negotiations continue. The third phase included a major reconstruction plan for destroyed Gaza.

This peace package was in contrast with the rhetoric coming out of Israel. But if Biden, a major backer of Israel, said this peace deal was not only acceptable to the latter, but that Israel had actually packaged it, why doubt him?

Biden also made a show of addressing Israelis who may not support their countrys peace proposals: As someone whos had a lifelong commitment to Israel, as the only American President who has ever gone to Israel at a time of war, as someone who just sent the US forces to directly defend Israel when it was attacked by Iran, I ask you to take a step back, think what will happen if this moment is lost.

Hamas immediately accepted the resolution and it seemed peace had come at last. But alas, it was all a US-Israeli ruse. Israels rejection of this peace deal, which President Biden had claimed was crafted by it, was instantaneous and venomous.

But many doubted the US. They thought it was another American ploy to be seen as a peace broker; make Israel, widely accused of genocide, to smell fresh like roses and portray Hamas as a warmonger.

For instance, when this peace package was presented to the United Nations Security Council for passage, the Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya said it was nebulous. He added: The Council should not agree to any agreement that has vague parameterswhat specifically has Israel agreed to? Despite its scepticism, Russia did not use its veto. So, the resolution passed by 14:0 votes.

Immediately this resolution was passed on Monday, 25 March, the US moved to the next stage of the drama: present Hamas as an unreasonable and belligerent group opposed to peace. US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, claimed that with the passage, if Hamas were to agree to the resolution, fighting could stop immediately. She warned Hamas to beware that the world is united behind a deal that will save lives and help Palestinian civilians in Gaza start to rebuild and heal. United behind a deal that will reunite hostages with their families after eight months in captivity.

Hamas immediately accepted the resolution and it seemed peace had come at last. But alas, it was all a US-Israeli ruse. Israels rejection of this peace deal, which President Biden had claimed was crafted by it, was instantaneous and venomous.

Apparently, this so-called peace deal was supposed to be a propaganda stunt. So, Israel was very angry the US had allowed it pass at the UN Security Council by merely abstaining, rather than vetoing it.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, who was in Washington when the resolution was passed, said it was scandalous. He added: We have no moral right to stop the war in Gaza until we return all the hostages to their homes.

Five months after the US claimed that once the UN passed the peace resolution and Hamas accepts, hostilities would come to an end, no such thing has happened. Rather, the US this week announced another of its dubious peace plans which like previous ones, is unlikely to lead to peace.

Owei Lakemfa, a former secretary general of African workers, is a human rights activist, journalist and author.

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A Minna Chief Magistrate Court has remanded a 24-year-old man, Muzanmil Abubakar, for allegedly killing his father.

Mr Abubakar allegedly killed his father by lacing his meal with rat poison, mutilated the corpse and buried it in a grave.

The Homicide Squad of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligent Department (SCIID) of the police arraigned Mr Abubakar before the court on one count of culpable homicide, punishable under section 221 of the penal code law with death.

According to the Police First Information Report (FIR), marked MN/CR/45/2024, on 29 June, one Abubakar Abdullahi of Sauka Kahuta area of Minna lodged a report about the incident at the Kpakungu Divisional Police Command.

That on the 28th June 2024, at about 12 noon, you, Muzanmil Abubakar of Model City area, Barikin Saleh, Minna, who was left together with his own father, Abubakar Adawa, at home.

He could not give a satisfactory account of the whereabouts of his father when asked despite the search. Police detectives swung into action and during investigation, a spot was discovered suspected to be a shallow grave.

And when it was dug, the dead body of the father was found with legs and hands cut off to which he answered to have administered rat poison substance into his food.

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Which he ate and became weak and he used a hoe to hit him on his head to death and after which he used a sharp knife and severed his body into parts to enable him bury him easily.

It was further revealed that he did that dastardly act because he had on several occasions reported him to vigilante group.

When the charge was read to him by the Chief Magistrate, Ummulkhatum Mohammed, he pleaded not guilty.Mr Abubakar allegedly killed his father by lacing his meal with rat poison, mutilated the corpse and buried it in a grave.

However, the police prosecutor, Bello Beji, told the court that the police would forward the case file to the Ministry of Justice for advice. He then requested the remand of the defendant pending the outcome.

The magistrate then ordered his remand and adjourned the case to 18 September for further mention.

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BERLIN, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Police in the western German city of Solingen are still investigating a knife attack that happened on Friday, authorities said at a press conference on Saturday afternoon. Investigators do not rule out terrorist motives.

One person was detained by police on Saturday, who is being investigated whether connected with the attack.

The arrested was a 15-year-old person, police said at the press conference.

Three people were killed during the attack on Friday evening at an event marking the 650th anniversary of the city's founding. Eight were injured, among whom four were in serious condition.

According to German newspaper Bild, the arrested person's appearance did not match the attacker's description given by witnesses at the scene. 
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum has thrown its weight behind Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, urging the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to accord the governor his rightful position as the leader of the party in the state.

The group in a communique issued on Friday at the end of its meeting in Jalingo, Taraba State urged the national leadership of the party to allow Mr Fubara to take his position as the rightful leader of the party in the state.

The PDP Governors Forum restates its stand with the Governor of Rivers State, and will engage the NWC of our great party to revisit the congress with a view to correcting the anomaly and allowing Governor Siminalayi Fubara, to take his rightful leadership position of the party in the State.

The communique was read by Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, the chairperson of the forum.

This is contained in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIME on Friday by Governor Fubaras spokesperson, Nelson Chukwudi.

The communique is against the backdrop of the prolonged political rifts between Mr Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is now the minister of FCT over the control of the political structure in the state.

The political feud between Messrs Fubara and Wike, which has defied interventions has split both the Rivers House of Assembly and the ruling PDP in the state into two factions with each faction loyal to either of the leaders.

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The national leadership of the party which appears to be in support of Mr Wike recently conducted party congresses in the state despite a court order secured by allies of Governor Fubara against the exercise.

With the conduct of the exercise, it indicates that loyalists of Mr Wike are still in control of the party at the state level.

The PDP Governors in the communique promised to engage the partys NWC to revisit the congresses with a view to correct the anomaly.

The political crisis in the oil-rich Rivers snowballed into street violence in June, leading to the death of two persons, including a police officer after Governor Fubara dissolved Wike-backed elected council officials following the expiration of their three-year tenure.

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has reaffirmed its earlier sanction on academic collaborations with the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo.

ASUU announced this at the end of a meeting of its National Executive Council (NEC) held at the University of Ibadan on 17 and 18 August.

The council resolved that until five of its members wrongfully sacked by LASU are recalled, its members should stop sabbatical leave, visitation, part-time lectureship, external examinations, external assessments, conferences, workshops, research collaborations/visitations, etc. to and from LASU.

The council said it would continue supporting the sacked lecturers until they are reinstated. It ordered its branch at the university to furnish the National Secretariat of the council with a comprehensive, up-to-date report on the issue.

Following the councils resolution, the National President of ASUU, Emmanuel Osodeke, in a statement of 21 August, called on the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to reinstate the lecturers who were unjustly dismissed in 2019.

Mr Osodeke said he was deeply disappointed with the Lagos State governments refusal to release the White Paper on the visitation panel to LASU more than two years after the exercise.

The seeming conspiracy of silence on this matter is unbecoming of a democratically elected government, ASUU said in the statement signed by Mr Osodeke.

We therefore call on the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to redeem his pledge to do the right thing at LASU and ensure the recall of our unjustly sacked colleagues, he 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

Wrongfully dismissed

The dismissed lecturers were ASUU officials. They are Isaac Akinloye Oyewumi (ASUU chairperson); Adebowale Adeyemi-Suenu (Vice Chairman); Anthony Dansu (Secretary); Adeolu Oluwaseyi Oyekan (Assistant Secretary); and Oluwakemi Adebisi Aboderin-Shonibare (Treasurer).

They were accused of unauthorised removal, retention and dissemination or publication of official confidential documents and subsequently sacked.

In February 2022, the David Sunmoni-led governing council of the university reinstated the lecturers after an Appeal Committee headed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Adenike Boyo, cleared them of all offences and recommended their reinstatement.

But in a strange move, 48 hours after the governing council approved the recommendation, the same governing council ruled to put the recall of the lecturers on hold.

The state government has yet to reinstate the lecturers more than two years later.

In May, some residents of Ikoga-Zebbe in Badagry Local Government Area, the hometown of Mr Dansu, one of the dismissed lecturers, protested to appeal to the state government to recall the sacked lecturers. In July, they also issued a press statement to drive home their demand, but the government has ignored their appeal.

Other resolutions

Similarly, ASUU said it was displeased with the unwillingness of university Visitors to resolve the unending management crises and victimisation in public universities such as the Kogi State University, Ebonyi State University, Lagos State University, Ambroise Alli University, Federal University of Technology Owerri, and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University.

In these and other universities, our members are being victimised through such avenues as illegal termination of appointments, withholding of Salaries, and denial of promotion, the unions president, Mr Osodeke, said.

During its meeting, the ASUU NEC decried the poor funding of universities and education. Mr Osodeke said it was concerning that the national budgetary allocation to education has remained under 10 per cent instead of the 15-20 per cent funding the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) recommended for developing nations.

The consequences are there for all to see: our universities can no longer provide basic services such as uninterrupted power supply, piped water, and maintenance of clean surroundings to their communities, he said.

The union then condemned in strong terms the seeming refusal of Federal and State governments to decisively address all outstanding issues, such as poor funding of universities, the termination of the ASUU 2009 agreement with the federal government and the refusal of the government to move the salaries of many of its members from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), which union described as fraudulent.

Therefore, the Union resolved to give the government a 21-day ultimatum to address all outstanding issues. It will reconvene at the expiration of the 21-day notice to take appropriate decisions as necessary.

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President Bola Tinubu has approved funding for completing the Ogbese Multipurpose Dam abandoned 15 years ago in the Ise/Orun Local Government area of Ekiti State.

The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, disclosed this on Friday when he visited the dam as part of his tour of abandoned water supply schemes in the south-west.

The Ogbese Multipurpose Dam was started in 2009 and was designed to provide hydroelectric power and water supply for irrigation and domestic use for over 450,000 people in the area.

The dam was planned to generate approximately four megawatts of hydroelectric power to be added to the national grid.

It will provide water and power to Ogbese, Afolu, Ise Ekiti, Orun Ekiti, and Ikere residents in the Ekiti South Senatorial District.

The minister said President Tinubu is committed to completing all abandoned water supply projects across Nigeria and initiating new ones.

Out of President Tinubus eight-point agenda, five are directly linked to the Ministry of Water Resources, including enhancing food security, ending poverty, creating jobs, stamping out corruption, and improving the environment and public health, Mr Utsev said.

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He said the current administration had already completed three dams in the Kogi, Jigawa, and Benue states. He noted that numerous water supply schemes have also been commissioned across the country, with several irrigation projects underway to support food security and convert floodwaters for agricultural use.

He said the installation of power components at the Ogbese Multipurpose Dam would commence soon, followed by the second phase, which involved irrigation and water supply.

When completed, Mr Utsev said the project would provide significant employment opportunities, particularly for women and the youth in Nigeria.

The Director of Dams and Irrigation at the ministry, Ali Dallah, said approximately 70 per cent of the work on the Ogbese Dam had been completed, expressing confidence that the necessary installation of power components would begin shortly.

Meanwhile, the project contractor, Fahd Jammal, assured that his team would return to the site immediately upon the release of funds.

He said the delay was primarily due to funding issues and logistical challenges, such as the prolonged detention of essential equipment at the port in Lagos.

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NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until September 30, 2024 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. ("ABR" or the "Company") (NYSE: ABR), if they purchased the Company's securities between May 7, 2021 and July 11, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

Get Help

Arbor Realty investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-abr/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options.

About the Lawsuit

Arbor Realty and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On March 14, 2023, NINGI Research reported that "ABR has been hiding a toxic real estate portfolio of mobile homes with a complex web of real and fake holdings companies for more than a decade." On this news, the price of ABR shares fell from $12.99 per share on March 13, 2023, to $12.12 per share on March 14, 2023, and then $11.53 per share on March 15, 2023. Then, on July 12, 2024, Bloomberg reported that the Company was the subject of a probe by federal prosecutors and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in New York that were "inquiring about lending practices and the company's claims about the performance of their loan book." On this news, the price of ABR shares fell from $15.53 per share on July 11, 2024, to $12.89 per share on July 12, 2024.

The case is Martin v. Arbor Realty Trust, Inc., No. 24-cv-05347.

About ClaimsFiler

ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations.

To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com.

SOURCE ClaimsFiler
BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Emergency Management have allocated 50 million yuan (about 7 million U.S. dollars) to support flood relief efforts in northeast China's Liaoning Province.

The funds will be used for key emergency measures, including search and rescue operations, the relocation and resettlement of affected residents, and the mitigation of flood-related risks.

In addition, the relief funds will support efforts to identify potential secondary disaster risks and repair damaged homes to minimize losses caused by the floods.

China has activated a level-IV disaster relief emergency response in Liaoning Province following rain-triggered floods. 
SAN DIEGO, Aug. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announces that the Ford class action lawsuit  captioned Guzman v. Ford Motor Company, No. 24-cv-12080 (E.D. Mich.)  charges Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) as well as certain of Ford's executives with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

If you suffered substantial losses and wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the Ford class action lawsuit, please provide your information here:

https://www.rgrdlaw.com/cases-ford-motor-company-class-acton-lawsuit-f.html

You can also contact attorneys J.C. Sanchez or Jennifer N. Caringal of Robbins Geller by calling 800/449-4900 or via e-mail at [email protected]. Lead plaintiff motions for the Ford class action lawsuit must be filed with the court no later than October 7, 2024.

CASE ALLEGATIONS: Ford is an automotive manufacturing company that develops, delivers, and services a range of trucks, cars, and luxury vehicles worldwide.

The Ford class action lawsuit alleges that defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Ford had deficiencies in its quality assurance of vehicle models since 2022; (ii) as a result, Ford was experiencing higher warranty costs; (iii) Ford's warranty reserves did not accurately reflect the quality issues in vehicles sold since 2022; and (iv) as such, Ford's profitability was reasonably likely to suffer.

The Ford class action lawsuit further alleges that on July 24, 2024, Ford announced second quarter 2024 financial results, revealing that Ford's "[p]rofitability was affected by an increase in warranty reserves" and "higher warranty costs." As a result, Ford also revised its outlook for full year earnings for its electric vehicle segment to "reflect[] higher warranty costs than originally planned," according to the complaint. Analysts and journalists, including The Associated Press and The Washington Post, reported that, in the second quarter, warranty and recall costs totaled $2.3 billion, $800 million more than the first quarter and $700 million more than a year prior, according to the complaint. On this news, Ford's share price fell more than 18%, according to the Ford class action lawsuit.

THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS: The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits any investor who purchased or acquired Ford securities during the Class Period to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the Ford class action lawsuit. A lead plaintiff is generally the movant with the greatest financial interest in the relief sought by the putative class who is also typical and adequate of the putative class. A lead plaintiff acts on behalf of all other class members in directing the Ford class action lawsuit. The lead plaintiff can select a law firm of its choice to litigate the Ford class action lawsuit. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff of the Ford class action lawsuit.

ABOUT ROBBINS GELLER: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP is one of the world's leading law firms representing investors in securities fraud cases. Our Firm has been #1 in the ISS Securities Class Action Services rankings for six out of the last ten years for securing the most monetary relief for investors. We recovered $6.6 billion for investors in securities-related class action cases  over $2.2 billion more than any other law firm in the last four years. With 200 lawyers in 10 offices, Robbins Geller is one of the largest plaintiffs' firms in the world and the Firm's attorneys have obtained many of the largest securities class action recoveries in history, including the largest securities class action recovery ever  $7.2 billion  in In re Enron Corp. Sec. Litig. Please visit the following page for more information:

https://www.rgrdlaw.com/services-litigation-securities-fraud.html

Attorney advertising.

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices.

Contact:

Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP

J.C. Sanchez, Jennifer N. Caringal

655 W. Broadway, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101

800-449-4900

[email protected]

SOURCE Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP
WASHINGTON, Aug. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Following is a statement by Emily Wilkins, president of the National Press Club, on an August 19 letter from members of Congress urging President Biden to bring journalist Austin Tice home. The letter was led by Texas representatives Collin Allred and Al Green and was signed by 14 members  mostly from the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

"We were thrilled to see a letter supporting Austin Tice coming forward to President Biden from more than a dozen House members. The timing could not be better on this  following the 12th anniversary of Austin's abduction in Syria on August 14. This House letter follows a similar letter signed by 36 members -- Republicans and Democrats of the United States Senate.

"The National Press Club was honored to work hand-in-hand with the Tice family to help produce both letters through personal meetings and discussions with many members of Congress across the summer. The Press Club's consultant, Bill McCarren, set up and attended the Senate meetings with Mrs. Tice and met with both Congressman Allred and Green in advance of this recent letter from the House. We are grateful for all members who met with us and agreed to sign these important documents in support of Austin and the Tice family.

"Congressman Green, who has championed Austin's case since the beginning, represents the Houston district where the Tices live. On August 14 he attended a Houston event the Club helped organize and spoke to the crowd including Austin's friends and family.

"Congressman Allred has been instrumental in leading members of HFRC to focus on Austin's case and press the Administration to get something done. His valuable experience working on the case of Texan Britney Griner has been a benefit to Austin. And he has been a strong source of much needed moral support to the Tice family.

The Administration is coming off a big win with the release of journalists Evan Gershkovich and Alsu Kurmasheva in Russia. President Biden is now well positioned to have the same kind of success for Austin Tice. The Club played a strong role in the efforts to encourage support from the Hill and we are grateful for the leadership of Congressman Allred and Congressman Green in this matter, as well as the bipartisan support and strong efforts by Republicans and Democrats in the Senate.

The letter was also signed by Reps. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Dina Titus (NV-01), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Greg Stanton (AZ-04), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Dean Phillips (MN-03), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), William R. Keating (MA-09), Gabe Amo (RI-01) and Jason Crow (CO-06). We are grateful for their support for Austin.

Read the full letter below:

Dear President Biden:

We write to you expressing our ongoing concern over the wellbeing of Austin Tice, a Marine Corps veteran, investigative journalist, and beloved son who has been held hostage by the Syrian regime for twelve years. His detention in Damascus, Syria marked a pivotal point in our country's approach to the plight of Americans detained abroad, especially for those who selflessly put their safety at risk to show the world the real cost of war. We strongly encourage the Administration to continue using its diplomatic tools and all avenues possible to bring Austin back home.

Austin Tice traveled to Syria in May 2012 to report on the escalation of the civil war following a series of uprisings catalyzed by the Arab Spring. On August 14, 2012, Austin Tice was taken captive by the Syrian regime from his last known location in Daraya, a city and checkpoint near the country's capital. Despite resounding evidence of Austin's disappearance and your public confirmation in 2022 of his imprisonment, Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad has still yet to publicly acknowledge his kidnapping and detention.

We are grateful for all efforts taken by the last few Administrations to strengthen our government's hostage recovery efforts. In 2015, the White House took executive actions to establish the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell (HRFC) along with the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs (SPEHA) to improve how the government develops hostage recovery plans and better collaborate with American families whose loved ones have been kidnapped and held overseas. Congress followed suit by signing into law the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act (P.L. 116-260) in 2020 to codify key elements of hostage and wrongful detention policy and interagency procedures. In 2022, your Administration further bolstered our efforts to bring hostages and wrongfully detained nationals home by creating new ways to impose costs on terrorist organizations, criminal groups, and other malicious actors who take hostages for their political, financial, or personal gain. The combination of these tools has granted the United States government greater flexibility to strategically secure the release of those held as hostages or wrongfully detained, most recently exemplified by the return of Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, and several multinational dissidents from Russia this month.

Over the course of your Administration, the FBI and State Department have renewed direct conversations with Syrian government officials after you declared Austin's return as our country's priority. We recognize the profound effort and levels of complexity needed to secure the release of American citizens wrongfully detained or held hostage, especially when negotiations are with repressive regimes that do not respect internationally recognized human rights. As HRFC, SPEHA, and other relevant hostage recovery units continue their engagement with the Syrian government, Congress remains deeply committed in providing any resources needed to return Austin back to his family.

Twelve years is far too long for Debra and Marc Tice to not be with their son. As you have publicly stated, the Tice family deserves answers and to be reunited with Austin. We ask you to keep us informed of the Administration's progress to bringing Austin back to his family.

Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. With more than 3,000 members representing nearly every major news organization the Club is a leading voice for press freedom in the U.S. and worldwide.

CONTACT: Bill McCarren, [email protected] for the National Press Club

SOURCE National Press Club
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until October 15, 2024 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Stellantis N.V. (NYSE: STLA), if they purchased the Company's securities between February 15, 2024 to July 24, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Get Help

Stellantis investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-stla/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options.

About the Lawsuit

Stellantis and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On July 25, 2024, the Company announced its first half 2024 financial results, disclosing disappointing news, including "[n]et revenues of 85.0 billion, down 14% compared to H1 2023, primarily due to the decline in volume and mix; net profit of 5.6 billion, down 48% compared to H1 2023, primarily due to lower volume and mix, headwinds from foreign exchange and restructuring costs; adjusted operating income of 8.5 billion, down 5.7 billion compared to H1 2023, primarily due to decreases in North America."

On this news, the price of Stellantis' shares fell from a closing price of $19.60 per share on July 24, 2024 to $17.66 per share on July 26, 2024.

The case is Long v. Stellantis N.V., et al., No. 24-cv-06196.

About ClaimsFiler

ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations.

To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com.

SOURCE ClaimsFiler
Bhopal, Aug 24 : The BJP-led Madhya Pradesh government has decided that the 'historical' places linked with Lord Krishna in the state will be developed as pilgrimage sites.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav made the announcement on Friday, three days before the 'Janmasthmi' festival.

According to the state government, there are four places in Madhya Pradesh where Lord Krishna had visited on different occasions. These four sites, which are located in different parts of the state, are -- Sandipani Ashram, Narayan Dham, Amjhera Dham and Janapav Dham.

It is believed that Lord Krishna had studied at the Sandipani Ashram in Ujjain.

Narayan Dham, a religious site located in Dhar district, commemorates the bond between Lord Krishna and his poor Brahmin friend Sudama. "The friendship of Krishna and Sudama at Narayan Dham symbolises the bond between the rich and the poor," CM Yadav said.

About Amjhera Dham which is also located in Dhar district, it is believed that Lord Krishna had defeated goddess Rukmini's brother Rukmi and 'abducted' her with her consent from this place.

Janapav Dham, located at a village in Indore, is considered a significant pilgrimage site for devotees of Lord Shiva and the Pandavas. It is said that Lord Parashuram had handed over the Sudarshan Chakra to Lord Krishna at this place.

Initially, the announcement for developing the places associated with Lord Krishna was made a few months back and CM Yadav had directed the Religious Department to conduct a detailed study and prepare a blueprint for these sites. The idea was to develop these religious sites on the line of the 'Ram Van Gaman Path'.

CM Mohan had earlier also said that he would put a proposal before the Uttar Pradesh government to develop the aKrishna Patha (from UP's Mathura to Madhya Pradesh) on the line of the aRam Van Gaman Patha a" a project which is underway in multiple states.
Washington, Aug 24 : Independent US presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr has announced that he is suspending his campaign and is supporting former President and Republican nominee Donald Trump.

Kennedy, who belongs to one of the most-known American families in politics, said on Friday that he was dropping out because he did not see a "real path to the White House" for himself.

"I promised the American people that I would withdraw from the race if I became a spoiler," Kennedy said at a rally. "In my heart, I no longer believe that I have a realistic path to electoral victory in the face of this relentless, systematic censorship and media control."

As for his reasons for supporting Trump, Kennedy said it was the same as his reasons for leaving the Democratic party and running as an Independent. Free speech and Ukraine were among the reasons he cited more specifically.

"We just had a very nice endorsement from RFK," Trump said. "We're going to be talking about that ... great guy, respected by everybody," Trump said.

Polls suggest his exit will likely help Trump, who has slipped behind Vice President Kamala Harris in polls.

Kennedy is the son of Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of former president John F. Kennedy.

Kennedy's long-shot campaign was beset with troubles from the start. His own family opposed it and relatives attacked him publicly and brutally. "It is a sad ending to a sad story," they wrote in a statement after his announcement. The statement was signed by Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and Courtney, Kerry, Chris and Rory Kennedy, children of Robert F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in California while campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1968.

Kennedy's campaign appeared to be in even more trouble after reports said he had been in talks with the campaigns of former President Trump and Vice-President Harris. The Washington Post reported he had sought a cabinet berth from the Harris campaign. Kennedy confirmed in the rally that he had indeed sought a meeting with Harris but he was turned down.
Moscow, Aug 24 : Four staff members at a maximum-security prison (IK-19) in the Volgograd region died after four inmates took the employees hostage, the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) has said in a statement. The perpetrators were later eliminated in a special operation.

The four prisoners took eight prison employees and four convicts hostage on Friday. All of the four convicts were injured, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the Federal Penitentiary Service.

"The criminals inflicted stab wounds of varying severity on four employees, three of whom died. Another four who resisted were hospitalised, one of whom died in the hospital," it said.

The four perpetrators were eliminated in a special operation carried out by federal prison staff and the Russian National Guard.

The Russian Investigative Committee has initiated a criminal case into the incident.
Kyiv, Aug 24 : During his historic visit to Ukraine, Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited President Volodymyr Zelensky to visit India and the Ukrainian leader accepted the invitation.

During his talks with Zelensky, PM Modi reaffirmed India's principled position and commitment to a peaceful settlement to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. He also reiterated India's readiness to contribute in "all possible ways" to facilitate the speedy return of peace in the region.

Later, in a press briefing after the talks between the two leaders, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated that PM Modi had invited President Zelensky to visit India and the latter had accepted saying he would be happy to visit the "big and great" country.

PM Modi had invited President Zelensky to India during the wide-ranging talks between the two leaders on Friday.

PM Modias visit to Kyiv amid tight security was the first-ever trip to Ukraine by an Indian PM since it became independent over three decades ago.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told the media, aIt's significant that our prime minister has visited Ukraine for the first time since 1992. It is natural on such occasions that he extends an invitation, which he did in this case.

aSo we expect that at some point, as per his convenience, President Zelensky will visit India."

The joint statement issued at the end of the visit also mentioned that the Indian PM had invited the Ukrainian President to visit India.

Asked by the media about PM Modi's invitation, President Zelensky said he would be happy to visit India at a mutually convenient time.

"Yes because when you begin a strategic partnership, and you begin some dialogue, I think that you don't need to waste time and do a big pause and that's why I think it will be good to meet together again," he said.

The Ukrainian President also said he wants India to be on the side of his country in the war with Russia.

"I read a lot about your big and great country. It's very interesting. I very much need your country on our side. I will be happy to come to India as soon as your government and Prime Minister will be ready to see me," Zelensky said.

However, the President made it clear that the visit would depend on the situation in the war-ravaged nation.
COLOMBO, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's navy arrested 11 Indian fishermen for poaching in the country's territorial waters on Friday, the navy said in a statement on Saturday.

The arrests were made during a special operation to chase away Indian trawlers poaching in the seas off Point Pedro in the country's Northern Province, the navy said.

The navy also seized a trawler that the Indians were traveling in, the statement said, adding that the trawler and Indian fishermen were handed over to the local authority for legal proceedings.

Sri Lanka's navy conducts regular patrols and operations in its waters to curb the illegal fishing practices of foreign fishing trawlers, the navy said.

With the arrest, the navy seized a total of 45 Indian poaching trawlers and arrested 333 Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan waters so far in 2024. 
Mumbai, Aug 24 : The toll in the tragic bus accident in Tanahun district of Nepal has now risen to 41.

Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan confirmed the casualties during a press conference in Mumbai on Saturday.

The bus carrying mostly Indian tourists hailing from Maharashtra plunged into a gorge of the Marsyangdi river in Ambukhereni area of Tanahun district of Nepal on Friday.

At the press conference, Mahajan said that the state government was maintaining ongoing communication with both the Nepal administration and the Nepal Embassy in Delhi to coordinate relief efforts.

"41 people have lost their lives in Nepal after falling into the river. Weave been in touch with the Embassy in Delhi, and the Nepal Army has transported 12 individuals to the hospital," Minister Mahajan stated.

The bus with passengers mostly from Maharashtra's Jalgaon district, was plying from the mountainous tourist resort of Pokhara to the Nepal capital Kathmandu when it fell 150-feet into a river valley.

Maharashtra State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) Director Lahu Mali said that the bodies of the victims and the injured persons will enter India from Maharajganj district of the Uttar Pradesh-Nepal border on Saturday afternoon.

From there they will be taken to Gorakhpur Airport by road, a distance of around 4 hours, and arrangements are being made for the onward journey to Nashik Airport, and then by road to Jalgaon.

Since it is not possible to transport so many bodies and injured persons in a commercial flight, the Maharashtra government has written to the Indian Air Force (IAF) to arrange for a special flight.

The special flight is likely to fly from Gorakhpur to Nashik a" the nearest airport to Jalgaon a" and the state government will bear all the expenses for the same.

Earlier on Friday, Deputy Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that "some devotees from Maharashtra" were killed in the bus tragedy and several others were injured.

The major rescue and relief operations were carried out by the local police, district and Nepal Army authorities, said officials here.

Some government officials from the Maharajganj Collectorate had proceeded to the India-Nepal border to render help, as the bus had a Uttar Pradesh registration number, though exact details were not available.
New Delhi, Aug 24 : One of the three accused involved in the gang-rape of a 14-year-old girl in the Dhing area of Assam's Nagaon district died after he allegedly jumped into a pond with handcuffs when the police took him to the spot to recreate the crime scene on Saturday morning.

According to the police, Taffazul Islam was arrested on Friday and was taken to the location for crime scene recreation. He then allegedly escaped the police custody and jumped into a pond.

The 14-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped by three individuals when she was returning home from the tuition centre on Thursday night.

According to police, the crime took place when the victim, riding on a bicycle, was attacked and gang-raped.

The passers-by spotted the girl near a pond in the area and rushed her to a nearby hospital.

After committing the crime, the accused dropped the girl at the spot who was semi-conscious for more than an hour before being rescued by the locals.

The victim is undergoing treatment at a hospital, and her condition is stable as of now, doctors attending to her said.

The police jumped into action and arrested two individuals on suspicion of having links with the incident.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma warned of stern action against the culprits involved in the heinous crime.

He has also instructed the Director General of Police to rush to the crime scene for a quick investigation.

The Chief Minister took to social media platform X and wrote, "The horrific incident at Dhing, involving a minor, is a crime against humanity and has struck our collective conscience. We will NOT SPARE anyone and BRING the perpetrators to JUSTICE. I've directed the DGP of Assam Police to visit the site and ensure swift action against such monsters."

Meanwhile, anger erupted among locals over the incident, and they kept the shops and other business establishments closed for the day in the Dhing locality as a mark of protest.

The All Assam Students Union (AASU) has also criticised the government for the incident.
Mumbai, Aug 24 : The toll in the tragic bus accident in Tanahun district of Nepal has now risen to 41.

Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan confirmed the casualties during a press conference in Mumbai on Saturday, said a media report.

The bus carrying mostly Indian tourists hailing from Maharashtra plunged into a gorge of the Marsyangdi river in Ambukhereni area of Tanahun district of Nepal on Friday.

At the press conference, Mahajan said that the state government was maintaining ongoing communication with both the Nepal administration and the Nepal Embassy in Delhi to coordinate relief efforts.

"41 people have lost their lives in Nepal after falling into the river. Weave been in touch with the Embassy in Delhi, and the Nepal Army has transported 12 individuals to the hospital," the Republic quoted Minister Mahajan as stating in the press conference.

The bus with passengers mostly from Maharashtra's Jalgaon district, was plying from the mountainous tourist resort of Pokhara to the Nepal capital Kathmandu when it fell 150-feet into a river valley.

Maharashtra State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) Director Lahu Mali said that the bodies of the victims and the injured persons will enter India from Maharajganj district of the Uttar Pradesh-Nepal border on Saturday afternoon.

From there they will be taken to Gorakhpur Airport by road, a distance of around 4 hours, and arrangements are being made for the onward journey to Nashik Airport, and then by road to Jalgaon.

Since it is not possible to transport so many bodies and injured persons in a commercial flight, the Maharashtra government has written to the Indian Air Force (IAF) to arrange for a special flight.

The special flight is likely to fly from Gorakhpur to Nashik a" the nearest airport to Jalgaon a" and the state government will bear all the expenses for the same.

Earlier on Friday, Deputy Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that "some devotees from Maharashtra" were killed in the bus tragedy and several others were injured.

The major rescue and relief operations were carried out by the local police, district and Nepal Army authorities, said officials here.

Some government officials from the Maharajganj Collectorate had proceeded to the India-Nepal border to render help, as the bus had a Uttar Pradesh registration number, though exact details were not available.
New Delhi, Aug 24 : India can achieve a share of 10 per cent of all 6G patents along with one-sixth contributions to global standards in the next three years, a government-led panel has stressed.

The country has already launched various initiatives like aBharat 6G Visiona and aBharat 6G Alliancea, along with the patent and IPR support framework and commissioning of testbeds.

A second meeting of stakeholders advisory committee (SAC) on telecom service providers (TSPs) in the national capital, in the presence of Union Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia, urged the industry to expand and shape the future of telecommunication ecosystem and foster inclusive and collaborative policy decision-making.

Minister Scindia asked the SAC members to define a critical path to achieve the targets discussed and to define roles they see for different stakeholders, including the government, in achieving the same.

He also exhorted TSPs to take all necessary measure to ensure that citizens get good quality of telecom services.

According to the ministry, SAC members emphasised systematically aligning research to aIndiaas needsa and put in place a vibrant standards community.

During the first SAC meeting, certain focus areas were identified. In the second meeting, discussions focused about international standards and Indiaas share in Intellectual Property and Standard Essential Patent (SEP), connectivity gaps in telecom and quality of telecom services.

For India to become a deep-tech leader, penetration of both wireline and intelligent wireless broadband networks, with reliable connectivity, is critical, industry experts said.

The TSPs sought supportive policy framework to encourage investments towards the path of 100 per cent broadband coverage in country, they added.

The government has constituted six stakeholders advisory committees to provide valuable insights to the Department of Communication (DoT) on various matters pertaining to it a" aimed at facilitating a consistent two-way dialogue with government on matters related to telecommunication sector.
Gaza, Aug 24 : Five Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza as the Israeli military ordered evacuations from the area.

Palestinian security sources reported that Israeli artillery heavily shelled the outskirts of Beit Lahia and several nearby neighbourhoods, according to Palestinian and Israeli sources on Friday.

Local medical sources stated that the shelling resulted in five deaths and several injuries, with the injured taken to the hospital, reports Xinhua news agency.

The Israeli forces reported that rockets were launched from the Beit Lahia area targeting Israel earlier in the day. In response, the Israeli military instructed residents of Beit Lahia and surrounding areas to evacuate immediately.

Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said the Israeli forces would "act forcefully and immediately against these terrorist elements."

Israel has been conducting a large-scale offensive against Hamas in Gaza in retaliation for a Hamas attack on the southern Israeli border on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and about 250 hostages taken.

The prolonged conflict has claimed the lives of more than 40,000 Palestinians in the enclave.
Los Angeles, Aug 24 : Hollywood star Channing Tatum spent the day in the bathroom being sick after swallowing pool water during his Mexican holiday.

The actor and his fiancee Zoe Kravitz, shared the story of his incident with Buzzfeed while promoting their psychological thriller 'Blink Twice', which was filmed in the country.

Kravitz said in their chat: "Remember we had that party, Chan, and you and (our co-star) Simon (Rex) were both wrestling in the pool, and then you guys swallowed pool water. But we are in Mexico. And you were puking."

Tatum added: "For 12 hours. I couldn't leave the bathroom. The doctor had to come and give me a shot in the butt to make it all okay."

Zoe then said: "It was a sick party."

The couple said that after it emerged 'Blink Twice' has been given with a trigger warning, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

She and Tatum's film is billed as a "psychological thriller about the abuse of power" and on its release on Wednesday (21.08.24) the alert was posted on the social media accounts for the movie.

It said: "We are proud to finally share 'Blink Twice' with audiences in theatres worldwide this week. While this is a fictionalised movie, it contains mature themes and depictions of violence  including sexual violence.

"This may be upsetting or triggering for some viewers. For resources that offer support, visit BlinkTwiceResources.com."

"Blink Twice" marks the debut of Kravitz as a director. The psychological thriller film also stars Naomi Ackie, Christian Slater, Simon Rex, Adria Arjona, Haley Joel Osment, Kyle MacLachlan, Geena Davis, and Alia Shawkat.

The film tells the story of a tech billionaire named Slater King, who meets a cocktail waitress Frida at his fundraising gala and he invites her to join him and his friends for a dream vacation on his private island.
Seoul, Aug 24 : North Korea on Saturday strongly lashed out at a revised US nuclear strategy plan, vowing to further strengthen its nuclear capability.

Earlier this week, The New York Times reported that President Joe Biden approved the revised strategy in March this year to focus on China's growing nuclear threats and prepare for possible coordinated nuclear challenges from North Korea, China and Russia, reports Yonhap news agency.

Biden's approval of the revised strategy, called the "Nuclear Employment Guidance," came amid North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile threats, China's rapid expansion of its nuclear arsenal and Russia's perceived nuclear sabre-rattling.

"The DPRK will as ever bolster up its strategic strength in every way to control and eliminate all sorts of security challenges that may result from the US dangerous nuclear posture readjustment, and resolutely counter any type of nuclear threat," a spokesperson from the North's foreign ministry said in a commentary carried out by its official Korea Central News Agency.

DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"No matter how desperately the US may exaggerate the 'nuclear threat' from other countries, the DPRK will push forward the building of nuclear force sufficient and reliable enough to firmly defend the sovereignty and security interests of the country on its fixed timetable," the spokesperson said.

Nuclear threats from the three countries came into sharper focus recently as Russia has been deepening its strategic cooperation with both North Korea and China amid its diplomatic isolation caused by Moscow's war in Ukraine.

In a telling sign of their burgeoning cooperation, Russia and the North signed a "comprehensive strategic partnership" treaty during their summit in June.

Russia and China have also boasted of their "no limits" partnership, while Washington has decried Beijing for its support for Russia's defence industrial base.
Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 24 : With the Hema Committee report now the sole discussion point in Kerala about the way sexual exploitation is taking place in the Malayalam film industry, cultural affairs minister Saji Cherian on Saturday strongly defended director Ranjith, over the accusation levelled against him by Bengali actor Sreelekha Mitra.

Cherian's defence of Ranjith came as State Congress President K. Sudhakaran and several others are demanding the resignation of Ranjith from the post of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy's chairman.

Speaking to the media on Saturday morning, Cherian said he also saw the allegation against Ranjith in the media.

"Ranjith said he is innocent. If anyone has a complaint, it should come in writing and if it does, then a probe will be done. He is India's hugely popular artiste and just based on a statement, nothing can be done. A mere allegation won't suffice, there has to be a written complaint and then a probe will be there. Without that, nothing can be done. What if this turns out to be wrong," asked Cherian.

Recalling the incident that took place at Kochi in 2009, Mitra said that she had gone to an apartment where she met with Ranjith and other members of his team to discuss a role in the film.

During the discussions, Ranjith had made advances towards her, causing her discomfort. She left the place immediately after conveying to one of the members of the team that she would not be acting in the film, stated Mitra.

With the TV channels going to town with this, Ranjith immediately denied of any such happening. He said she was asked to come for an audition for his project.

"I did not come for the audition, instead came to act. It was to play a role. There is nothing political in this; I am also a Left follower. I do not want to come down and give a complaint as I have work here. The least I expect is an apology," said Mitra.

Apart from being an actor, director and producer, Ranjith is a very influential personality in the Left political circles and with a section of the film industry.

Incidentally, the issue of Ranjith propped up at a time when the Malayalam film industry is under a cloud after the Hema Committee report was published early this week almost five years after it was received by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

With the Congress-led Opposition slamming the Vijayan government for shielding the guilty amid the discussion on the Hema Committee, the issue has now taken a political colour too.

Now with even the Kerala High Court dropping enough hints that the delay in releasing the report by the Vijayan cannot be brushed away, all eyes are when the court takes this issue on September 10.
New Delhi, Aug 24 : The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Saturday dispatched its Sarang Helicopter Display Team to participate in the first edition of the Egypt International Airshow, which will take place from September 3 to 5 at Al-Alamein International Airport, in Egypt's El Dabaa.

Al-Alamein International Airport is at a strategic geographical location along the Mediterranean and is a major hub for global air, commercial, and logistical transport.

This marks a significant event as the IAF once again showcases its indigenous aviation capabilities on an international stage.

"Lock, stock, and barrel...the Sarang team is on their way to the first edition of the Egypt International Airshow! The IAF contingent with its five Sarang helicopters (ALH Mk1) being airlifted by C-17s for the airshow at Al-Alamein Intl Airport from 3rd to 5th Sep 24," the IAF said in a post on X.

"IAF Sarang team, flying the indigenous 'Dhruv' ALH, represents the spirit of 'Atmanirbharta' and showcases India's aviation excellence," the post further read.

The contingent is carrying five Sarang helicopters (Advanced Light Helicopters, ALH Mk-I), which are being transported by C-17 Globemaster aircraft for the event.

The Sarang team, known for its precision and impressive aerial displays, operates the HAL Dhruv Mk-I helicopters, which are built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

These helicopters are multi-role and multi-mission, featuring a hinge-less composite main rotor, and are designed for both military and civilian applications.

According to the IAF, the team's participation highlights India's spirit of 'Atmanirbharta' (self-reliance) and underscores its excellence in aviation technology.

The Egypt International Airshow is spearheaded by the Egyptian Ministry of Defence, Egyptian Air Force, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Egyptian Space Agency, and EgyptAir.

The event aims to promote industrialisation, digitalisation, and globalisation within the defence, space, and commercial aviation sectors across Africa and the Middle East.

The airshow will feature aircraft displays, cutting-edge conferences, and exhibitions of innovative aerospace products and services, providing a platform for nations and businesses to shape the future of aerospace in the region.

Additionally, the event will feature a strategic conference focused on space, along with the latest technologies in aircraft, packed with the latest products and services shaping the future of aviation.

This event offers a unique opportunity to engage with global industry leaders and expand business opportunities in Africa and beyond, as it will see the participation of exhibitors ranging from aircraft manufacturers to avionics and electronics suppliers, space industry suppliers, and research and development organisations.
Mumbai, Aug 24 : Actor Zaheer Iqbal had the sweetest message for his wife Sonakshi Sinha on their two-months anniversary.

Taking to Instagram stories, Zaheer shared a video of the two walking the streets of New York. The two are seen walking hand-in-hand, when Sonakshi notices her husband recording her, the two burst out in laughter.

"2 months anniversary today, only a lifetime more of you annoying me all day everyday Yay!" he wrote as the caption.

The actress recently shared a sneak-peek from her holiday in New York with Zaheer, whom she referred to as her "heart and home."

Sonakshi took to Instagram, where she posted a handful of romantic pictures featuring her and Zaheer and captioned it: "Home is where the heart is and wherever in the world my heart is with my home - @iamzahero."

Earlier this week, the actress took to her Instagram stories, where she shared a picture of a dessert which had "I love you more than ice cream" written on it.

"Everyone needs a cutie like you to laugh with, cuddle upto, and make really bad decisions with. We're like a tiny (but mighty) little gang. If you haven't noticed already, I think you're pretty cool. Honey, honestly, you complete me xo," the description read.

Sonakshi got married to her longtime beau Zaheer in a civil ceremony on June 23. They had their families and close friends around them during their intimate wedding.

On the work front, Sonakshi will next be seen in a film titled "Nikita Roy and the Book of Darkness", directed by Kussh Sinha. She will be seen starring alongside names such as Arjun Rampal, Paresh Rawal and Suhail Nayyar in the upcoming film.

The film was shot across London and other locales of the UK.
LUOYANG, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Starting from July 15th, the Zhengzhou aviation port in Henan Province implemented a 144-hour visa-free transit policy, making it easier for foreign travelers to embark on a "China Travel" adventure. The policy has attracted more and more foreign visitors to explore historical sites, admire natural landscapes, and experience local customs.

Vita, who is from Belarus, decided to visit Luoyang, a millennia-old city that served as the capital for 13 Chinese dynasties. She explored the scenic spots, tasted the local food, and tried on Hanfu attire, fully steeping herself in the history and culture of this ancient city.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
Kolkata, Aug 24 : Going by a Calcutta High Court order passed on Friday directing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take over the probe into the alleged financial irregularities in the state-run RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of West Bengal police handed over all related papers and documents to the central agency officials on Saturday.

Sources from the state police said that while the direction of the single-judge Bench of Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj to the SIT was to complete the process of document handover by 10 A.M. on Saturday, in reality the process was finished by 9.30 A.M. that is 30 minutes earlier than the courtas deadline.

While directing the CBI to take over the probe into the financial irregularities at RJ Kar during the tenure of the former principal Sandip Ghosh, Justice Bharadwaj observed that since the central agency was already investigating the rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar, it was better for the same agency to carry out the probe into the charges of financial irregularities at the hospital.

CBI officials have been grilling Ghosh on a daily basis for 12 to 14 hours since August 16 in connection with the doctoras rape and murder case.

The Calcutta High Court has given the investigating agency officials the task to find out whether there is any direct or indirect link between the two cases.

Already, representatives of the medical fraternity have claimed that the ghastly rape and murder had a number of hidden factors.

They claim that there was a probability of the woman doctor being aware of some of the irregularities going on at RG Kar.

Doubts on this count have been strengthened by the fact that soon after Justice Bharadwajas Bench ordered the CBI probe, Ghosh approached a Division Bench of Calcutta High Court challenging the single-judge Benchas order.
New Delhi, Aug 24 : Leaders and workers of the BJP gathered in the national Capital on Saturday to pay tributes to senior leader late Arun Jaitley, who served as the Finance Minister of India, on his fifth death anniversary on Saturday.

Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva remarked on the occasion, stating, "On Arun Jaitley's fifth death anniversary, we have all gathered to pay our respects. His departure is a great loss for us, one that we can never fully recover from. He was a role model for us party workers, always encouraging and inspiring us with his vast knowledge. His passing was not only a loss for the BJP and the Modi government but also a significant blow to the entire nation."

He further emphasised Jaitleyas multifaceted legacy, saying, "As a Minister, parliamentarian, and human being, he left an inspiring image behind. We miss him deeply; his remarkable calculations and insights were unparalleled. Although he is no longer with us, his spirit continues to guide us."

Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, Member of Parliament from South Delhi, also paid homage to the departed leader.

He told IANS, "Arun Jaitley is not just a leader of Delhi but a prominent leader of India. After his passing, Delhi BJP workers felt orphaned, his door was always open to us whenever any problem arose. We have gathered here to honour his memory and pay our respects."

Arun Jaitley was a distinguished Indian politician and attorney, who passed away in Delhi on August 24, 2019, after a prolonged illness.

The 66-year-old was admitted to AIIMS, New Delhi, where he took his last breath.

He served as the Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs from 2014 to 2019. Throughout his career, he held various key portfolios, including finance, Defence, corporate affairs, commerce and industry, and law and justice, under both the Vajpayee and Modi governments.

From 2009 to 2014, he also served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha.
Washington, Aug 24 : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said that he has invited US defence companies to work with India and asserted that together they will co-develop and co-produce for the world.

He said that the move will further give a push to the country's 'Make in India' programme towards achieving Atmanirbharta in the defence sector.

In a post on social media platform X, the Defence Minister shared that he had a fruitful interaction with the leading US companies at the Defence Industry a" Roundtable organised by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum.

Earlier, Rajnath Singh met US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and shared perspectives on key strategies of mutual interest.

"Delighted to meet the National Security Advisor of the United States @jakesullivan and share perspectives on key strategic matters of mutual interest."

On Friday, the Defence Minister met with his American counterpart Lloyd Austin and hailed the signing of two defence agreements with the United States during his ongoing visit as "pathbreaking".

"The signing of Security of Supply Arrangements and the agreement for positioning of Indian officers at key US commands are pathbreaking developments," he posted on X.

Rajnath Singh also visited the Arlington National Cemetery and paid his respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers.

India and the United States have hailed progress on bilateral defence initiatives following the fifth annual India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in November 2023.

Washington has committed support for India's military modernisation, initiatives to drive forward the US-India Roadmap for Defence Industrial Cooperation, strengthening maritime domain awareness in the Indian Ocean Region, and India's support for the rule of law in the Arabian Sea and adjacent waterways.

At the same time, the India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) continues to facilitate joint defence technology innovation and co-production of advanced defence technology between the industries of the two countries.

Sullivan visited India in June this year as both countries took next steps in strategic technology and defence cooperation during the third term of the NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Amritsar, Aug 24 : In a broad daylight crime, an NRI was shot at on Saturday by two armed turbaned assailants at point-blank range at his residence in Daburji village in Punjab's Amritsar district.

Amritsar, Aug 24 (IANS) In a broad daylight crime, an NRI was shot at on Saturday by two armed turbaned assailants at point-blank range at his residence in Daburji village in Punjabas Amritsar district.

The NRI, Sukhchain Singh, an American resident, was shot in the head and neck by assailants in front of the family, comprising minor children, who were pleading not to harm their father with folded hands.

He was immediately rushed to a private hospital in Amritsar with critical bullet injuries.

The shooting is suspected to be linked to local gang activity and is believed to be a property dispute with in-laws.

The entire incident was captured on a CCTV camera.

In CCTV footage, the miscreants, who came on a motorcycle and did not wear masks, entered the house in the morning. The children were playing in the house. An armed assailant is seen approaching the NRI and asking him to enter a bedroom at gunpoint. As he resisted, both assailants fired at him at close range.

The entire family was in the house when the crime took place and the family was trying to rescue the victim.

After committing the crime the miscreants managed to escape.

The video also showed locals rushing to help the victim, who was lying on the ground after the attacker shot at him.

As per the police, two assailants entered the house on the pretext of asking for the registration certificate of his luxury car that was purchased this week.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Vishaljit Singh told the media the police had obtained the CCTV footage of the crime and started the investigation to know the motive behind the crime and information about the assailants.

As per information, Sukhchain Singh had returned from the US about a month ago and was engaged in the purchase of a hotel and a luxury vehicle.

The shooting is suspected to be related to some property dispute.

The family told the police that there was no demand for ransom.

The police are examining the possibility that the crime was connected to a local gang.
Mumbai, Aug 24 : As he turned 88, ace investor Mark Mobius has announced to launch a new fund in January next year, in a rapidly-changing financial landscape where innovation presents unprecedented opportunities.

Mobius reflected on his journey as a fund manager, which began in his 50s, in a blog post.

"Looking back on my life as a fund manager, I realise I've made a lot of mistakes. But I'm glad I made them and that I've learned from them," he wrote.

Mobius, who is a Veteran emerging markets investor, said that this is precisely why "I believe now is the best time to take advantage of my decades-long experience to set up a new fund, which is planned for launch in January 2025".

He celebrated his 88th birthday last week, saying "I'm thankful to say that I'm feeling younger, stronger and wiser than ever".

"One must always take calculated risks in life, but let me say this: the world belongs to optimists," Mobius added.

Termed as "The Indiana Jones of Emerging Market Investing," he founded Mobius Capital Partners with his Templeton colleagues Carlos von Hardenberg and Greg Konieczny, after retiring from Franklin Templeton in 2018.

In November 2023, he stepped down from his firm, and joined Chartwell Capital, an independent Hong Kong-based investment firm, in an advisory role.

In 1999, he was selected to serve on the World Bank's Global Corporate Governance Forum as a member of the Private Sector Advisory Group and as co-chairman of its Investor Responsibility Task Force. His work and expertise have earned him numerous industry awards.

Regarding market volatility, he referred to the words of Sir John Templeton: "The best time to invest is when you have money."

That means investing wisely can be done at any time, regardless of the state of the market or the volatility, as long as your methodology and parameters are sound, Mobius added.

"Looking back and planning for the future, I find myself more optimistic than ever. The journey is far from over, and I'm genuinely excited for what lies ahead," wrote Mobius.
New Delhi, Aug 24 : After the Congress and National Conference (NC) announced an alliance ahead of the Assembly elections, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday criticised Congress for the alliance with NC, saying that they playing with the "unity" of the country.

New Delhi, Aug 24 (IANS) After the Congress and National Conference (NC) announced an alliance ahead of the Assembly elections, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday criticised Congress for the alliance with NC, saying that they playing with the "unity" of the country.

"A new alliance has been formed between Congress and NC ahead of the Assembly elections in J&K. The Congress did this alliance only for political gains. Both the parties are playing with the unity and peace of the country," Uttarakhand Chief Minister said while addressing a press conference at the media centre in Dehradun Secretariat.

He said that the entire country is already aware of the sacrifices made by Uttarakhand's men, as part of the Indian Army, to save Kashmir.

"People of India, at any cost, don't want the peace and law and order in Kashmir to get disturbed. Kashmir is an integral part of India. The death and destruction there has stopped after a long period," the Chief Minister said.

He alleged that NC "pushed back" the development of the J&K for three decades while promoting "terrorism" and "jihad".

He added that under the supervision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the special status of J&K was abrogated.

"Peace and prosperity stepped in Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370. We have also seen how the tourism sector grew while protests and stone pelting have gone down. Does Congress, by allying with NC, want to bring back the unrest to J&K," the Chief Minister said.

He said that the BJP is not afraid of losing the elections in J&K. "The BJP has never prioritised politics over nationalism. J&K is above politics, nation comes first above anything else," the Chief Minister said.

The Chief Minister asked whether the Congress supports NC's promise to reinstate a separate flag in J&K again and also questioned whether Rahul Gandhi and the Congress support the decision of NC to bring back Article 370 and Article 35A, which would allegedly push J&K "back into an era of unrest and terrorism".

He also asked if Congress supports promoting separatism by engaging in dialogue with Pakistan instead of focusing on the youth of Kashmir.

"Union government has undertaken many unprecedented efforts for the development of Jammu and Kashmir which has led to its rapid progress," the Chief Minister said.

Congress and NC announced a pre-polls alliance in J&K ahead of the Assembly elections which the BJP has strongly criticised.
Mumbai, Aug 24 : The Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) staged huge protests across Maharashtra - in pouring rains in many parts - demanding security for women and the implementation of the shakti criminal laws, passed by the MVA regime in December 2021, here on Saturday.

Mumbai, Aug 24 (IANS) The Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) staged huge protests across Maharashtra  in pouring rains in many parts  demanding security for women and the implementation of the shakti criminal laws, passed by the MVA regime in December 2021, here on Saturday.

The protests were led by MVA partners Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (SP), Shiv Sena (UBT) and other smaller allies with the participation of a huge number of activists, women and commoners in Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Kolhapur, Nagpur, other cities, towns and districts.

Top MVA leaders like Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, Nana Patole, Vijay Wadettiwar, Ambadas Danve, Supriya Sule, Jitendra Awhad, Anil Deshmukh, Yashomati Thakur, Balasaheb Thorat, M. Arif Naseem Khan, Varsha Gaikwad, MPs, legislators, plus other party bigwigs with women activists joining in a big way at most venues.

The protestors sported black bands on their mouths, arms, and wrists and carried black flags and posters-placards demanding justice for the two nursery girls in Badlapur (Thane) and stopping the crimes and atrocities against women in the state.

They raised slogans flaying the ruling MahaYuti government and demanded the resignations of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar for the collapse of the law-and-order state in the state with the continuing violence against women, girls and even tiny-tots.

The MVA had originally given a call for a 'Maharashtra Bandh' (shutdown), but after the Bombay High Court put brakes on it yesterday, it was converted to a silent agitation against the MahaYuti regime.

"The government had realised that our MVA shutdown would be a success So it has been stopped through the legal route. The bandh was not political but to highlight the plight of our mothers, sisters and daughters, the fear in the minds of the people when their womenfolk step out to schools, colleges, hospitals, workplaces," roared Thackeray in a brief address near Shiv Sena Bhavan in Dadar.

Sharad Pawar and Sule also called upon the government to ensure the safety and security of all women in the state and administered a pledge to the gathering that they would also work for the safety of the womenfolk at individual and societal levels.

They said that Fadnavis is going around Maharashtra promoting the 'Ladki Bahin Scheme', but in his hometown Nagpur, the women are vulnerable.

"If the state Home Minister (Fadnavis) cannot ensure the safety of the mothers and sisters in his own district, then how will he provide security to the women of the entire state? The incompetent Fadnavis must resign," the NCP (SP) said in a chorus.

Patole demanded that the people don't want doles in the name of 'Ladki Bahin' but want 'security' for our mothers-sisters-daughters and demanded justice for all the victims of rapes that have come up in recent weeks.

Wadettiwar said that the MahaYuti is attempting to suppress violent crimes against women that have occurred in Badlapur, Jalgaon, Nashik, Akola and other places, demanded all should be transferred to fast-track courts and the death sentence should be given besides implementing the stringent Shakti Act which stipulated death penalty for all types of rapes.
Bengaluru, Aug 24 : Raising the spectre of 'Love Jihad' the Karnataka BJP on Saturday alleged increasing atrocities against Hindu women and urged the state government to initiate stringent action in such cases.

The demand came in the backdrop of the kidnap and rape of a young woman in Karkala town of Udupi District.

BJP state General Secretary and former minister V Sunil Kumar has urged the state government and the district administration to take stringent measures against what he claimed to be "rising atrocities on Hindu women."

He emphasised the need to identify and take strict action against all accused individuals involved in such heinous acts.

Speaking to media representatives in Bengaluru, Sunil Kumar highlighted the importance of district administrations in instilling confidence in the victims.

He also demanded that the government bear the full cost of the victims' medical treatment and that the police department take all possible preventive measures to avoid such incidents.

Expressing concern over the incidents of violence and rape against women, Sunil Kumar remarked that these acts appear to be premeditated.

He stressed that the recurrence of such incidents is alarming.

He further stated that the drugs were purchased, given to the victim, and she was abducted and subjected to heinous acts.

"This is not the work of a lone individual but seems to be a premeditated conspiracy," he said.

Sunil Kumar pointed out that previous awareness campaigns had highlighted the issue of 'Love Jihad,' and this incident appears to reinforce those concerns.

Sunil Kumar also revealed plans to launch a large-scale public awareness campaign against such crimes.

He lamented that young women are repeatedly falling victim to allurements, leading to tragic consequences, which is deeply troubling for society.

He vowed to intensify the fight against 'Love Jihad.'

An incident of an Instagram friend kidnapping and raping a 21-year-old woman came to light on Saturday from Karkala town of Udupi District.

The incident had taken place in the limits of Karkala Town police station. The police have arrested two persons in this connection and the victim has been admitted to hospital.

The case has taken a twist with Hindu organisations alleging that the victim was gang raped.

However, the police have ruled out the possibility of gang rape and warned of strict action against those spreading rumours.

The arrested persons have been identified as Altaf and Savera Richard Kardosa.

Commenting on the ongoing strife between the state governor and the ruling party's complaints about Thaawar Chand Gehlot returning 15 Bills, Sunil Kumar criticised the government for allegedly trying to cover up its mistakes by blaming the Centre and using the Governor as a scapegoat.

Sunil Kumar questioned whether this was the first time a Bill had been sent back by the Governor.

He argued that unjust criticism of the Governor was unwarranted.

Sunil Kumar accused the Congress of claiming to be protectors of the Constitution while continuously engaging in unconstitutional activities.

He criticised the party for allegedly seizing Dalit land and committing injustices against them, as well as for disrespecting the Governor, asking whether these actions were not indicative of unconstitutional behaviour.
Chennai, Aug 24 : Following the inauguration of the Global Muthamizh Murugan conference, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Saturday said that the Dravidian model is based on the concept of 'everything for everyone'.

"The Dravidian government has never been a hindrance to any faith as people have different beliefs. The Dravidian model is based on the concept of everything for everyone," the Chief Minister said while extending his wishes to the two-day conference through a video conference.

Earlier, the Tamil Nadu Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR&CE) P.K. Sekar Babu and Minister for Food and Civil Supplies R. Sakkarpani inaugurated the two-day Global Muthamizh Murugan conference at Palani in Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu.

The Chief Minister said that the two-day conference was being held at Palani to spread the principles of Lord Murugan across the globe, adding that the Tamil Nadu government fully supports the conference.

"The conference is expected to draw lakhs of devotees including scholars, academics, top business, cultural leaders, politicians and the public. The conference will also feature 3D exhibitions, photo exhibitions, seminars and discussions on Lord Muruga and the Tamil philosophy," the Chief Minister said.

The Chief Minister added that in temple worship, Tamils should be given prime importance, adding that there should not be any difference in temples based on the caste of the devotees.

P.K. Sekar Babu while speaking to IANS said that the conference is being held to spread the core principles of Lord Murugan globally.

"It is also aimed to deliberate upon the philosophy of Lord Murugan. The state government would take initiatives to spread the doctrines of Lord Muruga across the globe which would be done to inculcate the philosophy of Lord Murugan in the minds of youth to provide them with value and deep philosophical understanding," the minister told IANS.

Palani, where the conference is being held, is believed to be the third of the six abodes of Lord Murugan.

HR&CE Department officials said more than 1000 research papers on Lord Murugan and his doctrine were received from scholars of various countries including the US, the UK, Australia and Canada.

The Global Muthamizh Murugan conference is considered a response of the DMK government against the allegations by the BJP that the DMK was anti-Hindu and rational.
New Delhi, Aug 24 : India will play an important role in bringing peace to war-torn Ukraine while maintaining good ties with Russia also, said a noted Defence Expert on Saturday.

He also stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Ukraine on the eve of that country's independence day is a significant milestone in this direction.

Defence expert Colonel Dinesh Nain (Retd) while sharing his views on India's ties with both countries engaged in a military face-off, said, "Russia-Ukraine have been at war since 2022. It has had a disastrous impact on civilian life, killing thousands of civilians, injuring many thousands more, and destroying civilian property and infrastructure. In such a situation, maintaining good relations with both the countries is a big achievement for India."

"Ukraine and US think that only India can help in resolving the war between the two countries, and bringing peace," he added.

"India is not on any side, but it is neutral," he asserted.

Robinder Sachdev, a senior Foreign Affairs Expert said that the strength and vibrancy of Indian diplomacy is visible on the world stage now.

"India has good relations with Russia and Ukraine. India believes in resolving war with peace. NATO countries always want to resolve conflict but on their terms. No country believes in taking the path of mediation. As a result, it has increased India's respect and it has proved to be a game-changer for our diplomacy," he said.

Notably, Prime Minister Modi visited Ukraine at the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, where he discussed with the leader various viewpoints on achieving a peaceful conclusion to the continuing conflict.

PM Modi's visit to Ukraine is also the first by an Indian Prime Minister in the last 30 years, after the two nations established diplomatic relations three decades ago.

Before leaving for the Ukraine visit, PM Modi had reiterated "This is not an era of war" and "any conflict should be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue."
GAZA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Hamas announced on Saturday that a delegation of the group will arrive in Egypt in the evening to "listen to" the results of the Gaza ceasefire negotiations in Cairo.

The visit to Cairo by the delegation, led by senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya, is based on an invitation from Egyptian and Qatari mediators, said Ezzat al-Rishq, a member of the Hamas Political Bureau, in a statement.

Al-Rishq confirmed Hamas's commitment to what was agreed upon on July 2, based on an announcement by U.S. President Joe Biden and UN Security Council Resolution No. 2735.

Hamas is ready to implement what was agreed upon on July 2, he said, urging pressure on Israel to adhere to the agreement and stop obstructing the achievement of a ceasefire.

On August 16, the United States, Egypt and Qatar, mediators of the Gaza ceasefire talks, announced the conclusion of two days of discussions in Doha, where a new Gaza ceasefire proposal was presented.

The mediators called the discussions constructive and conducted in a positive environment. However, Hamas, which did not participate directly in the Doha negotiations, accused Israel of adding new conditions to a previously supported proposal and expressed skepticism about the negotiations' outcome.

The ceasefire talks have reportedly resumed in Cairo earlier this week, and will continue over the weekend. 
Seoul, Aug 24 : The South Korean presidential office said Saturday it is in close discussions with the US government to resolve a dispute between the two countries' companies over a nuclear power plant construction project in the Czech Republic.

"We are in talks with the US government through various channels to smoothly resolve the dispute," an official at the presidential office said, referring to the conflict between the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co (KHNP) and American energy firm Westinghouse Electric Company, Yonhap news agency reported.

A South Korean consortium, led by KHNP, was named as the preferred bidder for a nuclear power plant project in the Czech Republic last month, which is estimated at around 24 trillion won ($18.06 billion).

If a deal is finalised, it will mark the first time since 2009 that South Korea has won an overseas nuclear power plant construction project, following its contract to build the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the United Arab Emirates.

But the project is expected to be involved in an ongoing court case that Westinghouse raised against KHNP in 2022 to prevent the Korean company from exporting nuclear power plants to other nations under a US export control regulation.

Last year, a US district court dismissed the lawsuit, determining Westinghouse is not qualified to take the legal move as it "lacks a private cause of action," but the US energy firm appealed the ruling.

The presidential office said it plans to "closely consult" with the US on the matter to successfully export South Korea's nuclear power plant to the European country.

"The governments of South Korea and the United States also have reached a consensus that the two sides need to cooperate on all aspects of energy, from nuclear power to renewable energies, including hydrogen," the presidential office said.

President Yoon Suk Yeol is arranging a visit to the Czech Republic next month to deepen bilateral economic ties and discuss the nuclear power project.
Noida, Aug 24 : In a tragic incident, a woman was allegedly shot dead by her husband over dowry in Greater Noida's Dankaur area on Saturday.

Noida, Aug 24 (IANS) In a tragic incident, a woman was allegedly shot dead by her husband over dowry in Greater Noidaas Dankaur area on Saturday.

The body of the woman has been sent for post-mortem.

The police have started investigating the case, and teams are actively searching for the husband and other in-laws who are on the run.

According to the police, the victimas father reported to the Dankaur police station on August 24 that his daughter was shot by her husband, Deepak Bhardana, a resident of Jaganpur village, along with other in-laws, leading to her death.

The police immediately reached the scene and sent the body for post-mortem. To maintain order, a police force has been deployed in the village.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Greater Noida, Ashok Kumar, informed that Chaudhary Harveer Singh, a resident of Sarai Kale Khan, lodged a complaint this morning at Dankaur police station, stating that his daughter Nidhi was shot and killed by her husband, Deepak Bhardana.

He also mentioned in the complaint that there had been ongoing disputes between the couple over dowry, and his daughter had returned to their house just a few days ago.

The police have registered the case and formed several teams to arrest the accused husband and other in-laws involved.

This incident highlights the ongoing violence related to dowry in society and underscores the need for strict action.

Earlier, another woman died under suspicious circumstances in Noida.

The deceased woman's brother claimed that even after giving Rs 11 lakh as dowry, her in-laws demanded a Rs 21 lakh Fortuner.

The woman's family tried to resolve the issue by holding Panchayat meetings in the village. To settle the matter, they gave Rs 10 lakh to the in-laws, but their dowry demands were still not fully met.

When the demands were not fulfilled, the in-laws allegedly killed the woman.
Jammu, Aug 24 : Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former MLA Devender Rana on Saturday criticised National Conference (NC) for its alleged "anti-reservation" and "anti-secular" election manifesto and the Congress for supporting NC's alleged "anti-reservation" agenda.

Jammu, Aug 24 (IANS) Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former MLA Devender Rana on Saturday criticised National Conference (NC) for its alleged "anti-reservation" and "anti-secular" election manifesto and the Congress for supporting NC's alleged "anti-reservation" agenda.

"The manifesto released by the NC is meant to strengthen anti-national powers. We will never allow reservations to SCs, STs, Paharis and OBCs to be scrapped as the NC has said in its manifesto. Our SC, ST, Paharis and OBC brothers have been given both political reservation and reservation in jobs. NC manifesto says they will scrap these reservations," said Devender Rana while addressing a media conference at the BJP headquarters in Jammu.

He said that Congress has always "compromised" national interest for power in J&K and by aligning with the NC again, they are repeating the same mistakes done in the past.

"Congress has always played with the destiny of the people of J&K in their greed for power. They have now exposed their design to go against the Gujjars, scheduled castes, Paharis and the OBCs," Rana said.

He alleged that the NC manifesto is a "separatist document" as they have promised to reverse all the central laws including political and employment rights to reserved categories.

"We will always uphold and strengthen the constitution of Bhimrao Ambedkar which has advocated one constitution, one parliament and one Prime Minister for the country," Rana said.

He also lambasted the NC for its election manifesto promise to change the name of the Shankaracharya hill in Srinagar city to 'Takht-e-Suleman'.

"For us, Shankaracharya Hill is a matter of faith. Congress has joined the NC in their game aimed to appease a particular community in the Kashmir Valley. The NC has promised to change the name of the Hari Parbat hill to 'Koh-e-Maran'. I warn them not to play with our faith and identity. We shall not allow it," Rana said.

He alleged that the Congress has always played this petty game for power and has always disrespected the people of J&K, especially those of the Jammu region.

Rana said that the reservations envisioned in the Constitution have been extended to J&K after the abrogation of Article 370 and the BJP would not allow anybody to work against the rights of the Gujjars, scheduled castes, Paharis and the OBCs in J&K.
Guwahati, Aug 24 : The villagers in Assam's Nagaon district have decided to boycott the last rites of the gang-rape accused who died on Saturday while trying to flee from police custody.

The accused identified as Tafiqul alias Tafazzul Islam was arrested on charges of raping a 14-year-old girl while she was returning home after taking tuition in the Dhing locality of Nagaon district.

Police took Islam, a prime accused in the case, to the crime scene near a pond in Dhing locality where the alleged gangrape happened.

According to police, the accused was taken to the spot to recreate the crime scene when he tried to flee and fell into a pond. Islam was handcuffed and he drowned in the pond.

Meanwhile, the villagers of Borbheti village in the Dhing locality, where the accused used to live, told the media persons, "We have decided to boycott the last rites of the rape accused. It was a heinous crime and we do not want this to happen to any girl. Nobody in the village will take part in the last rite of the accused and we believe that he has got his punishment by God."

The villagers also claimed that the other two accused persons also live in the nearby areas of the village and they should be immediately arrested.

"The locals of this village have taken a pledge that we should not spare any person involved in rape, murder, drug peddling, etc. Therefore, the villagers will boycott the last rites of the criminals in the coming days also," one of the residents of Borbheti village told reporters.

On the other hand, Swapnaneel Deka, Superintendent of Police in Nagaon district said, "The accused was brought to the crime scene following questioning. However, in his hurry to flee, he stumbled into a pond that was overflowing with water. After receiving notification, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) conducted a search and found the body."

"A constable who was holding the rope that was fastened to the accused's handcuffs was hurt. In addition to searching for two more suspects in the case, we are looking into the occurrence," Deka stated.

To recall, the minor girl was gang-raped by three persons on Thursday night while returning home from a tuition centre in Dhing area in the Nagaon district. She was on a bicycle when a group of three men attacked her and gang-raped the girl.

The onlookers discovered the girl in a semi-naked state lying beside a pond in the area. They took her to a nearby hospital and informed the police.

According to police, the molesters left the girl after committing the crime and she was lying semi-conscious for more than an hour before being rescued by the locals.

Following the incident, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma warned of stern action against the culprits involved in the heinous crime.
Agartala, Aug 24 : The flood situation in Tripura, which was devastated by the monsoon deluge for the first time in over three decades, killing 26 people and damaging properties worth over Rs 5,000 crore, further improved on Saturday as most of the rivers in the state are flowing below the danger mark, officials said.

However, vast areas including croplands and human habitations in urban and rural areas are still inundated.

According to the Disaster Management officials, till Friday, at least 26 people, including women and children, had died and a few other people injured in landslides and drowning in flood water in six of the eight districts -- South Tripura, Gomati, West Tripura, Sepahijala, Unakoti and Khowai since Monday and two persons were reportedly missing.

Two Tripura State Rifles (TSR) jawans Ashish Bose and Chiranjit were killed during rescue operations in South Tripura and West Tripura respectively.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Lok Sabha Member from Tripura West parliamentary seat and former Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, state Congress President Asish Kumar Saha, Congress leader Sudip Roy Barman separately condoled the deaths on Saturday.

An official said that around 1.28 lakh people have taken shelter in 558 relief camps in all eight districts, while over 17 lakh people were affected in the entire state, which has witnessed unprecedented rain and devastating floods since Monday.

The Disaster Management officials said that most of the rivers in Tripura are flowing below the danger level except the state's main river, Gomati, which flows through Gomati and Sepahijala districts before entering Bangladesh. The river is still flowing above the danger level in the bordering Sonamura sub-division.

However, since Thursday afternoon, the rain in most places has either stopped or its intensity has reduced.

The Indian Air Force, which has deployed four helicopters, in a post on the X on Saturday said: "Mi-17 and ALH helicopters continue relentless efforts in Tripura flood relief operations, with NDRF personnel inducted into disaster-struck areas."

It said that operating from Agartala, the helicopters air-dropped over 4,000 food packets to stranded locals in many places of Gomati district and nearby areas.

A total of 28 tonnes of relief material has been airlifted till now for flood-affected Tripura, the IAF said.

CM Saha, who on Friday conducted an aerial survey of flood-affected areas of Udaipur, Amarpur and Karbook areas, and also visited many relief camps, on Saturday said that government officials and the IAF have been working tirelessly to deliver essential supplies to the flood-affected areas.

"Since Saturday morning, 3,000 packets have been dispatched and 5,000 more packets are ready for distribution.

Four IAF helicopters are aiding the efforts, ensuring critical support reaches those in need. Like Friday, we would ensure the delivery of packets. We're committed to supporting affected communities every step of the way. Also, we are exploring all possibilities to ensure the relief materials reach the affected areas," the Chief Minister said in different social media posts.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Saturday heavy to very heavy rainfall is very likely to occur at isolated places over Tripura for the next three days.

The Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR) has cancelled several local trains in the state.

An NFR spokesperson said that due to heavy rain, railway tracks were damaged in Gomati and South Tripura districts, forcing the authorities to cancel these trains.

According to Disaster Management Department officials, over 1,055 houses were damaged either fully or partially and hundreds of trees were uprooted, blocking many important highways.

Landslides occurred in 2,032 places across the state. The debris has been cleared.

As per preliminary estimates, around 5,000 hectares of vegetable farms and 1.20 lakh hectares of other croplands are still submerged.

"Preliminary reports suggest extensive damage to physical infrastructure including roads, bridges, electricity, buildings and houses. The actual figures would be known only after the field visit and assessments were completed.

According to preliminary estimates, properties valued at approximately Rs 5,000 crore have been damaged, though many areas are yet to be visited for preliminary assessments," a Revenue Department official told the media.
Brussels, Aug 24 : Belgium's King Philippe has appointed Maxime Prevot, leader of the centrist Les Engages party, to mediate the ongoing federal government formation talks after previous negotiations collapsed.

"This mission aims to reconcile differing perspectives among coalition partners and resume negotiations as soon as possible," the Palace said in a statement on Friday, Xinhua news agency reported.

Prevot is expected to report back to the King on September 2.

The move follows the resignation of Bart De Wever, leader of the Flemish nationalist N-VA party, who resigned Thursday as the chief negotiator for Belgium's federal government formation.

De Wever proposed a capital gains tax aimed at raising 500 million euros (some $555 million) annually, but it was strongly opposed by the French-speaking Reformist Movement (MR), which argued it would harm investment and undermine Belgium's economic competitiveness.

Belgium holds the world record for the longest government formation period, having gone 541 days without one between 2010 and 2011.
Bengaluru, Aug 24 : After returning from Delhi, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said that he has apprised the party's central leadership over Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot's 'unconstitutional' move in the MUDA case.

"Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Home Minister G. Parameshwara, and some other ministers accompanied me to Delhi. We all shared details about the political developments in the Karnataka with party's central leadership. A discussion was also held regarding the illegal and unconstitutional Governor's approval for investigation against me in the MUDA case," the Chief Minister told media persons in Bengaluru.

He said that the Governor's decision has been challenged in the High Court. "It was also explained to the central leadership that the Karnataka Cabinet has clearly condemned the Governor's decision," Siddaramaiah said.

When asked by the media about the possibility of filing a complaint with the President against the Governor's move, the Chief Minister said that all possibilities are open.

On Friday Siddaramaiah, met the party's central leadership against the backdrop of the Governor's sanctioning investigation against him in the MUDA case.

On the conflict between Raj Bhavan and the government, after the Governor returned the bills submitted by the government, the Chief Minister said that six bills have been returned and the matter will be discussed again in the Cabinet.

"Since the bills submitted to the Governor were approved by both the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council, they will be reviewed," the Chief Minister said.

On the increase in bus fares, the Chief Minister said that the bus fares may be increased. "However, no decision has been made yet. The water charges have not been increased for many years. Given the difficult situation in the Water Board, a discussion will be held and a decision will be taken on the issue of increasing charges," the Chief Minister said.

About the Karnataka Public Service (KPSC) examination, the Chief Minister clarified the examination date will not be postponed.

mka/dan

--IANS
Hyderabad, Aug 24 : The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring and Protection Authority (HYDRA) on Saturday demolished the N-Convention Centre, owned by popular actor Nagarjuna even as the Telangana High Court ordered the authorities to stop demolition.

Justice T. Vinod Kumar issued an interim order in the afternoon but by then HYDRA personnel had almost completed the demolition.

The counsel of the N-Convention management argued that the authorities carried out the demolition disregarding the stay orders issued by the court.

Meanwhile, HYDRA officials continued the demolition of other illegal structures around the N-Convention in the Madhapur area in Cyberabad.

In an operation launched in the morning amid tight security by police, HYDRA personnel deployed bulldozers to pull down the N-Convention, located on 10 acres of land.

The property has been under scrutiny for years following allegations that it was constructed in the Full Tank Level (FTL) area and buffer zone of the Thammidikunta Lake.

The N-Convention Centre had allegedly encroached upon 1.12 acres of the FTL area and an additional 2 acres within the buffer zone.

Despite the allegations, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) had not taken any action against the Convention Centre.

There were allegations that the management of the Convention Centre used influence to bypass regulatory actions from the agencies concerned.

According to officials, the FTL area of Thammidikunta Lake is approximately 29.24 acres. As many as 19 illegal structures came up in 2014 on 2.39 acres of FTL area. Another 32 illegal structures were built on 4.69 acres in 2020.

The lake's buffer zone is spread over 10 acres. Of this, 2.05 acres were encroached in 2014 to build 23 structures. Another 81 unauthorised structures came up on 5.02 acres in 2020.

Actor Nagarjuna took to 'X' to deny allegations of encroachment. He posted that he was pained by the unlawful manner of demolition contrary to existing stay orders and court cases.

"The land is a Patta land, and not even an inch of tank plan is encroached. In respect of the building constructed inside the private land, there is a stay order granted against any earlier illegal notice for demolition. Today clearly, the demolition was carried out wrongfully based on misinformation. No notice was issued prior to carrying out the demolition this morning. As a law-abiding citizen, if the court before which the matter is pending, had decided against me, I would have carried out the demolition myself," he stated.

"We would be seeking appropriate relief from the court in relation to the wrong actions carried out by the authorities," he added.

Minister for Roads and Buildings, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, complained to HYDRA about the illegal construction of the N-Convention Centre on August 21. He also enclosed with his complaint the FTL map showing the encroachment and the Google Earth map.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had also raised the issue of alleged encroachment of the lake by N-Convention in the Telangana Assembly in 2014 when he was an MLA of Telugu Desam Party (TDP). He had slammed then TRS government for not taking any action.

The Congress government recently constituted HYDRA for Telangana Core Urban Region (TCUR) for the purpose of disaster management, asset protection and other functions.

This body has also been tasked with the protection of government assets like parks, layout open spaces, playgrounds, lakes and nalas.

Headed by IPS officer A. V. Ranganath, HYDRA has been demolishing illegal structures in and around the city for the last couple of weeks to reclaim the encroached land of water bodies.

It demolished unauthorised constructions near Gandipet reservoir on the outskirts last week.

HYDRA personnel deployed bulldozers to pull down the structures at Khanapur in the Full Tank Level (FTL) of the reservoir across the Musi River in Rangareddy district.

On August 10, HYDRA demolished illegal structures on heritage lake Bum-Rukn-Ud-Dowla in Shastripuram.

Recently, the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) revealed that the extent of lakes in Hyderabad reduced by 61 per cent between 1979 and 2024.
New Delhi, Aug 24 : Button batteries, used to power several common products at home, can lead to serious injuries and even death among toddlers who ingest them, finds a study.

The team from the University of Sydney analysed over 400 cases of button battery damage worldwide and stressed that a child's age, the size of the button battery, and a delayed diagnosis combine to create a "perfect storm", which can lead to severe harm.

Lead author Christopher Tran. a professor at the University of Sydney in Australia, urged clinicians to be mindful of aa potential button battery ingestion when dealing with acute onset respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms in young children".

Tran added that when a child swallows a button battery, it can cause a chemical reaction in the oesophagus that creates a solution that burns and dissolves the tissue inside the childas throat.

In the study, children who did not have the button battery removed within six hours were almost eight times more likely to die. Those younger than two years old who had swallowed a button battery with a diameter of at least 2 centimetre were the most at risk for serious damage or death.

About 26 per cent of injuries from swallowing button batteries resulted in burns to the child's oesophagus, with 23 per cent being extremely severe. Burning can cause a hole in a major vein or artery, causing fatal blood loss.

Nearly 9 per cent of complication cases resulted in death, with bleeding being the most common symptom of fatality.

A growing number of everyday home gadgets, such as watches, hearing aids, remote controls, and toys, rely on button batteries as tiny power sources.

Button batteries, however, pose a risk to inquisitive young children who may swallow them unintentionally or put them in their mouths, noses, or ears without being able to express what has happened.

The most common initial symptoms of a button battery swallowing in a child are choking, difficulty feeding, and coughing. However, over time these symptoms change (for example, vomiting, drooling) and may be mistaken for other health issues such as gastroenteritis or a respiratory infection.

The researchers also emphasised the need to raise awareness among parents about the possible risks associated with button batteries, the necessity of storing batteries safely, and the proper disposal methods.
Kyiv, Aug 24 : Andrzej Duda, President of Poland, travelled to Kyiv on Saturday to take part in celebrations of the 33rd anniversary of Ukraine's Independence.

"Your Independence Day is, in a sense, also a celebration of the independence of all of Central Europe. Because without an independent Ukraine, it is difficult to think about an independent and safe Poland, Lithuania or other countries in our region," said the Polish leader during the main celebrations held in Sofia Square along with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Duda emphasised that in 1991 Poland was the first country in the world to officially recognise the independence of Ukraine.

"From the very beginning we supported your pro-Western aspirations. Poles supported you during the Orange Revolution and also during Euromaidan," he stated during his address at the Sofia Square.

The Polish President's office mentioned that the leader also pointed out that for over two years the Ukrainian nation has been heroically fighting for its country, and "paying the highest price" for it.

"In this most difficult trial, you are not alone. Poland has supported, supports and will continue to support your righteous fight until the victorious end," said Duda.

The Polish President's visit to Kyiv came within a few hours of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic trip to the Ukrainian capital on Friday.

PM Modi had also held discussions, including on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, with Duda in Warsaw on Thursday.

After his arrival in Kyiv on board 'Rail Force One' Saturday morning, the President of Poland laid flowers at the Wall of Remembrance of those who died for Ukraine.

President Duda had previously a" in 2016 and 2021 a" taken part in the celebrations of the adoption of the Act of Independence of Ukraine.

"Today, we celebrate the 33rd Independence Day of Ukraine. We are confident that Ukrainians will always celebrate this holiday in their free capital and within their own sovereign state," Zelensky said during his speech at the Sofia Square on Saturday.
PARIS, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- A synagogue in the southern French city of La Grande-Motte was targeted on Saturday by an "obviously criminal" arson attempt, France's Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on social media.

A police officer was injured, and no casualties were reported from inside the synagogue, French news channel BFMTV reported.

The report said firefighters were mobilized around 8:30 a.m. local time (0730GMT) on Saturday due to a fire breaking out in front of the synagogue.

Two vehicles parked in front of the synagogue were on fire. A gas bottle was likely placed in one of the vehicles, BFMTV reported, citing a gendarmerie source.

Darmanin said that all means have been deployed to find the perpetrator. 
Gurugram, Aug 24 : A fake call centre, which allegedly cheated US nationals on the pretext of providing technical support, was busted in Gurugram and 20 people have been arrested in this connection, police said on Saturday.

The fake call centre, operating from a flat in Flora Avenue Sector-33, was busted under 'Operation Endgame, the police said.

The fake call centre used to pose as companies providing technical support and take huge sums of money as service charges, the police said.

The accused included four women, police said, adding that Rs 50,000, 16 laptops and 25 mobile phones were seized from the spot.

"Mahender Bajrang Singh was the manager of the alleged fake call centre. He was running the call centre with the support of his aide since May," Assistant Commissioner of Police, Priyanshu Diwan said.

"Mahender used to take money from the victims through gift cards varying from $100 to 500 each," he said.

"After receiving the complaint, a team of Gurugram Cyber Crime Police station raided the call centre and spotted 20 people, including four women, who were communicating with the US nationals in an Amercian accent," he said.

"The youths were employed at the call centre which was being run without permission. The call centre did not have any license issued by the Department of Telecommunications (DOT)," Diwan added.

"The matter is under investigation. The involvement of other people cannot be ruled out," he said.

An FIR under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita has been registered at the cyber crime police station.

The Cyber Security Bureau has been emphasising the importance of immediate action in reporting cyber fraud within the "golden hour," that is at the very moment it is realised or suspected. Immediate reporting significantly enhances the chances of freezing the fraud amount in the accused's bank accounts and digital wallets. Victims are urged to report incidents promptly by calling 1930 or visiting the cybercrime.gov.in portal.
New Delhi, Aug 24 : Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said on Saturday that Congress stands with those who want the restoration of Article 370 in J&K.

"The BJP has shown its commitment by erasing a blot (abrogation of Article 370) on the country but now Congress is standing with those who are advocating for the restoration of it," said Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, while addressing a press conference.

He also raised several questions for the INDIA bloc regarding the alliance between the Congress and the National Conference (NC).

"INDIA bloc must clarify whether they also want to restore Article 370 and 35A in Kashmir like the NC," he said.

The Deputy Chief Minister further mentioned that the NC views Kashmir as a separate country and wants to give it a separate flag.

"The parties in the INDIA bloc must clarify whether they are against the Indian national flag. NC wants dialogue with Pakistan, while Pakistan is involved in sending terrorists to India," he added.

He also described the NC as "anti-reservation", pointing out that this is the first election in Kashmir where SCs and STs are being granted reservations.

"This alliance has exposed Congress' anti-reservation stance. Does Congress support the resumption of LoC trade with Pakistan? The alliance between Congress and NC raises several questions about national security," Bihar Deputy Chief Minister said.

He said that NC even wants to rename the mountains in the region, adding that the BJP considers Kashmir an integral part of India.

"Acharya Chanakya, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee envisioned an undivided India, and the current Modi government is working towards making that dream a reality," the Bihar Deputy Chief Minister said.
Brasilia, Aug 24 : Brazil's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mauro Vieira, will make an official visit to Malaysia on Sunday, his first to the country since assuming the role, earlier this year.

Vieira will hold bilateral discussions with Malaysia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohamad Hasan in Putrajaya, the country's administrative capital.

"The two Foreign Ministers are expected to discuss the existing bilateral cooperation between the two countries, covering areas such as trade and investment, the Halal industry, as well as people-to-people ties. They will also exchange views on the regional and international issues of common concern," stated the Malaysian Foreign Ministry on Saturday.

Vieira is also scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Brazil is Malaysia's second largest trading partner in the Latin American region.

In 2023, the total trade between Malaysia and Brazil was US$5.53 billion, with a positive Brazilian balance of US$2.59 billion. The balance with Malaysia was Brazil's 8th largest in the world. Malaysia maintains significant investments in Brazil, especially in the energy sector.

"On the occasion, the foreign ministers will discuss issues of bilateral relations and common interest, such as trade and investment, cooperation in forums such as ASEAN and G20, cooperation on climate change and the holding of COP-30 in Brazil in 2025, as well as the reform of global governance," said the Brazilian Foreign Ministry.

Brazil and Malaysia are celebrating 65 years of diplomatic relations this year.

The first Political Consultation Meeting between the two countries is scheduled to take place in September.

Next year, Malaysia will chair the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a bloc comprising 10 countries in the region with which Brazil has a Sectoral Dialogue Partnership.

Vieira was Ambassador of Brazil to Argentina (2004-2010); Ambassador of Brazil to the United States of America (2010-2015); Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations in New York (2016-2020) and Ambassador of Brazil to Croatia (2020-2022). He was Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil between 2015 and 2016.

Starting January 2023, he was appointed by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to serve as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, once again.
New Delhi, Aug 24 : The Congress launched a scathing attack on the BJP governments on Saturday, condemning what it termed as "Bulldozer justice" against the families of those accused of crimes.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge took to X to express his outrage, accusing the BJP of disregarding the Constitution and targeting minorities in the BJP-ruled states.

"Demolishing someone's home and rendering their family homeless is both inhumane and unjust. The repeated targeting of minorities in BJP-ruled states is deeply troubling. Such actions have no place in a society governed by the Rule of Law," Kharge wrote, labelling the BJP's approach as "anarchy."

"The Congress Party strongly condemns the BJP state governments for their blatant disregard of the Constitution using bulldozing as a tactic to instil fear among citizens. Anarchy cannot replace natural justice a" offences must be adjudicated in courts, not through state-sponsored coercion," he added.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also joined the chorus of criticism, slamming the BJP for punishing the families of the accused before any legal proceedings have taken place.

"If someone is accused of a crime, then only the court can decide his crime and his punishment. But punishing the accused's family as soon as the accusation is made, taking away the roof from over their heads, disobeying the court a" this is not justice," Priyanka wrote on X.

She labelled the BJP's actions as "the height of barbarism and injustice," stressing that "there should be a difference between the lawmakers, the lawkeepers, and the lawbreakers."

Stressing that "governments cannot behave like criminals," the she said, "Obeying the law, Constitution, democracy and humanity is the minimum condition of governance in a civilised society. One who cannot fulfil his duty can neither do good for the society nor for the country. Bulldozer justice is totally unacceptable; it must stop."

The Congress top leaders' objection to 'bulldozer justice' comes on the back of an objectionable statement by Hindu seer Mahant Ramgiri Maharaj and the subsequent protests by the Muslim community in Maharashtra's Nashik, which turned violent, resulting in injuries to policemen and damage to several vehicles.

As the demonstration led to violence, the house of one accused, Shahzad Ali, was demolished while close to 50 people were booked for violence, according to reports.
Srinagar, Aug 24 : The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday released its election manifesto for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls with party president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti saying she would support the Congress-National Conference (NC) alliance if they accept the PDP manifesto.

Releasing the PDP manifesto, Mehbooba Mufti said that the issue (for the election) is neither about the restoration of Article 370, nor anything else. "It is a political issue which needs a political solution," Mufti said.

Speaking to reporters during the manifesto release programme, the PDP president said her party will not fight for the seats but will completely support the Congress-NC alliance if they accept to follow their agenda, which includes the resolution of the Kashmir issue.

Mehbooba Mufti said that power and seats do not matter for PDP but if the party's agenda is accepted, it will extend support to the alliance in Jammu and Kashmir.

Responding to a query, the former Jammu and Kashmir CM also said that there would not be any alliance after the elections with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"We had forged an alliance with the BJP to safeguard the identity of Jammu and Kashmir but when the decision has already been taken, the alliance with BJP on the basis of agenda is not possible now," she added.

The PDP manifesto promises to open traditional routes, provide 200 free units of electricity and mentions that the fight for the peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue will be taken forward and the dialogue process will be started if the party is elected to power.

By traditional routes, the PDP means the routes between the parts of Jammu and Kashmir across the Line of Control (LoC), the international border and the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

It must be recalled that the PDP-BJP government headed by Mehbooba Mufti lost power in June 2018 when the BJP pulled out of the coalition government.

The erstwhile state was then placed under the Governor's Rule.

Later, the then Governor Satya Pal Malik dissolved the state legislative Assembly.

On August 5, 2019, Article 370 was abrogated, following which Jammu and Kashmir was divided into two UTs of J&K and Ladakh.

The upcoming Assembly elections will restore an elected government and this election is being held after 10 years.
Pune, Aug 24 : Four persons including the pilot were injured when a private helicopter crashed in a hilly area near a Pune village on Saturday while on a flight from Mumbai to Hyderabad, and attempted to make an emergency landing, an official said.

The tragedy occurred near Paud which has been lashed by heavy rains in the past two-three days, and the ill-fated chopper belonged to Global Vectra Helicorp Ltd. based in Mumbai at Juhu Airport.

Though the exact causes of the crash are not clear, it is believed to be some technical glitches accompanied by turbulence in the inclement weather conditions at that time.

The injured persons are identified as Captain Sanjay Anand, Amardeep Singh, S.P. Ram and Dir Bhatia, according to the police.

The helicopter was a Leonardo AW139, with two engines, a call sign of VT-GVI, and had a seating capacity of 15.

Aviation expert and Pune pilot Vijay Sethi said that the region of Paud is a hilly area with strong gusty winds that have been lashed by heavy rains in the past few days, with forecast for more rains in the next three days.

He said that apparently the pilot may have attempted to make an emergency landing as it crashed in a relatively safe area, but there may have been some technical issues leading to the crash.

"We don't know what must have exactly gone wrong but the route from Mumbai to Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad passes over this terrain that is treacherous during the monsoon. Most pilots try to fly at higher altitude if it's absolutely necessary to take a flight to avoid such conditions," explained pilot Sethi.

All the injured were rushed to a hospital in Pune, and they are described as safe, while Capt. Anand has been admitted for treatment, and no officials of the company in Mumbai were available for comment.
Moscow, Aug 24 : Russia and Ukraine on Saturday successfully exchanged 230 prisoners of war following negotiations held with the mediation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

"As a result of the negotiation process, 115 Russian servicemen captured in the Kursk region have been returned from the territory controlled by the Kyiv regime. In exchange, 115 prisoners of war of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were transferred," the Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement.

It mentioned that currently, all Russian servicemen are in the territory of the Belarus, where they are receiving the "necessary psychological and medical assistance", as well as the opportunity to contact their relatives.

"All released servicemen will be delivered to the Russian Federation for treatment and rehabilitation in medical institutions of the Russian Ministry of Defence. The United Arab Emirates provided humanitarian mediation efforts during the return of Russian servicemen from captivity," the ministry added.

The exchange took place as Kyiv is celebrating the 33rd anniversary of Ukraine's Independence on Saturday.

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs also expressed its appreciation to the Russian and Ukrainian governments for their cooperation with the country's mediation endeavours, coming less than a month after the previous exchange process.

The total number of captives exchanged through UAE mediation efforts has reached 1,788, it stated. The UAE Ministry emphasised that the success of the new mediation, the seventh since the beginning of this year, is the outcome of the country leveraging its robust ties and partnerships with both sides.

"These efforts reflect the UAE's commitment to being a reliable mediator supporting diplomacy to resolve the crisis between the two countries... Notably, since the beginning of this year, the UAE's mediation efforts have succeeded in completing exchanges of war captives between Russia and Ukraine, in addition to a successful exchange of two prisoners between the United States and the Russian Federation in December 2022," said the UAE Foreign Ministry.

The Ministry further affirmed the UAE's commitment to continuing all efforts and initiatives aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the conflict, stressing the importance of dialogue, and de-escalation, as the only ways to resolve the conflict, and for mitigating its humanitarian repercussions.
Mumbai, Aug 24 : Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Saturday released the list of its candidates for the first phase of J&K Assembly elections.

The party's National General Secretary and in charge of J&K Brijmohan Shrivastava said that the Parliamentary Board has given its approval to the names of three candidates to contest elections in Pulwama district.

The list of constituencies and candidates includes Tral - Mohammad Yusuf Hajam, Pulwama - Ishtiaq Ahmed Sheikh and Rajpura - Arun Kumar Raina. They will contest the elections on the party's 'clock' symbol.

"It is noteworthy that the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is contesting elections in J&K for the first time. The party is contesting this election without any alliance with will fight independently," said Shrivastava.

He said that the party plans to conduct a strong and effective poll campaign under the guidance of experienced leaders.

"NCP will make efforts for the resolution of a slew of burning issues faced by the citizens there," he said.

The release of three candidates comes a day after NCP had declared a list of 26 star campaigners for the upcoming J&K Assembly election which will take place in three phases on September 18, 25 and October 1.

NCP star campaigners include Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Working President Praful Patel, state unit chief Sunil Tatkare, senior minister Chhagan Bhujbal and Jammu and Kashmir President Tariq Rasool.

Shrivastava said that the campaign will revolve around a slew of issues including the economic development and upgradation of infrastructure, job creation, and the promotion of investments across sectors especially in the tourism sector.

"The safety and social security are major concerns but with the new government in place, the people hope that they will get a more secure life," he said.
Mumbai, Aug 24 : Actor-filmmaker Kunal Kemmu, who made his directorial debut with 'Madgaon Express', is on a break as he is enjoying a road trip on a bike with his friends in the Himalayas.

Kunal took to his Instagram and shared a video in which he could be seen taking to the roads on a bike with his friends in Ladakh. The group visited the Khardung La mountain pass in the Leh district.

Captioning the post, Kunal wrote, "Riders Inc."

Maintained by the Border Roads Organisation, it is one of the world's highest motorable roads. The video shows Kunal at the Khardungla Pass, at an altitude of 17,982 feet, posing with the Indian flag waving in the wind.

Another photo captures Kunal enjoying a cosy bonfire, all smiles as he bonds with his friends.

Kunal's passion for biking is obvious as he often embarks on thrilling rides with his gang. These bike trips are not just about the adrenaline rush for him; they are also about savouring the natural beauty that surrounds him and spending quality time with his group of friends.

Kunal, who has often spoken about his passion for travel, is clearly having a great time with his group of friends. Travelling is a tradition for the actor, who has set a personal goal of visiting three international destinations a year - a goal he continues to uphold.

His Ladakh adventure is just another example of how he lives by his passion, inspiring others to pack their bags and explore the world.

On the work front, Kunal Kemmu will next be seen in Prime Video's upcoming web series 'Gulkanda Tales' directed by Raj & DK of 'The Family Man' fame, where he will share the screen with Pankaj Tripathi and Patralekha in key roles.
PHNOM PENH, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia attracted 3.74 million foreign visitors in the first seven months of 2024, up 23 percent from almost 3.04 million in the same period last year, said a Ministry of Tourism's report on Saturday.

Thailand still topped the chart among the international tourist arrivals to the Southeast Asian country during the January-July period this year, followed by Vietnam and China, the report said.

Some 1.14 million Thais traveled to Cambodia, up 11.6 percent, the report said, adding that 757,437 Vietnamese and 463,980 Chinese visited the kingdom, up 37.4 percent and 45.6 percent, respectively.

According to the report, 36 percent of the total international tourists came to Cambodia by air, and 64 percent by land and waterways.

Cambodia has launched the Cambodia-China People-to-People Exchange Year 2024 and the "Visit Siem Reap 2024" campaign earlier this year, aiming at revitalizing the tourism industry in the post-pandemic era.

"These initiatives will give a boost to the tourism sector, attracting more foreign tourists to Cambodia in general and to the Angkor Archaeological Park in particular," Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said during the launch of the "Visit Siem Reap 2024" campaign in March.

He added that the Chinese-invested Siem Reap Angkor International Airport in northwest Siem Reap province is becoming a potential magnet for international tourists to the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park. 
Mumbai, Aug 24 : Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar has asked Shiv Sena UBT and Congress whether they agree to the National Conference's (NC) promise in its poll manifesto to again create a separate flag for Kashmir and reinstate Article 370.

"Assuring a separate flag for Kashmir when the entire country is united under the Tricolor flag seems to be the 'Tukde Tukde' gang at work again," he claimed.

He said that 'Ek Desh Mein Do Vidhan, Do Nishan, Do Pradhan Nahi Chalenge' (can't have two constitutions, two prime ministers and two flags).

"This is the stance of the BJP since Jan Sangh. The Congress leadership and Uddhav Thackeray, should clarify whether they agree with this assurance of the NC," said Shelar.

He further stated that the NC has taken this "anti-national stance to get votes in the Assembly elections.

"NC has also given an assurance in its manifesto that it will reimpose the articles 370 and 35A. This means bringing back the status quo in the state. There is also a question whether this assurance is supported by Congress and Uddhav Thackeray?" he asked.

Shelar said NC has promised to forget the historical, religious and cultural importance of Shankaracharya Hill and would rename it as Takht-e-Sulaiman. At the same time, the promise of changing the name of Hari Parbat to Koh-e-Maran has also been given in the manifesto.

"Uddhav Thackeray recently invited a Shankaracharya to his residence. It is necessary to clarify whether he supports this name change. Similarly, the Congress should clarify its stand on the change of these names," said Shelar.

Shelar said that the NC in its manifesto has also promised to reconsider the policy of reservation.

"After the repeal of Article 370, the Dalit community, the Gujjar and the Bakarwal communities have started getting reservations as per the Constitution. Congress and Uddhav Thackeray must clarify their stand in this regard. The people of Maharashtra want to know whether Congress and Uddhav Thackeray support this program of 'Tukhai-Tukde' gang," he added.
Srinagar, Aug 24 : One terrorist was killed on Saturday in an encounter with the security forces in J&K's Baramulla district.

Earlier, an exchange of firing took place between the security forces and the terrorists in the Watergam area of Baramulla district.

"In the exchange of firing, one terrorist was killed and his weapon was recovered from the encounter site. The exact identity of the slain terrorist is being ascertained," an official said.

He said that the operation is still underway in the area.

Security forces including the army, paramilitary forces and local police have been aggressively carrying out anti-terrorism operations in J&K for the last three months.

The heightened security alert is being maintained throughout J&K to ensure that the terrorists are prevented from disturbing the upcoming Assembly elections.

Over 300 additional companies of paramilitary forces are being deployed to augment the strength of the already existing security forces in J&K to secure the democratic process.

After reports of a group of hardcore foreign terrorists operating in the hilly districts of the Jammu division came in, the army deployed over 4,000 trained soldiers including the elite Para commandos and those trained in mountain warfare to secure the mountain tops in the Jammu region.

Terrorists have carried out ambush attacks against the army, security forces and civilians in Kathua, Doda, Poonch, Rajouri, Reasi and Udhampur districts during the last 2 months.

The modus operandi of the terrorists has been to carry out surprise attacks and then disappear into the densely foliaged and forested areas of these distrusts.

The deployment of the army and the CRPF inside the densely forested areas is meant to deprive the terrorists of this element of surprise.

Senior security forces officers believe that the revised anti-terrorism strategy is working well as the security forces have been able to keep the terrorists engaged in encounters so that they cannot carry out sly attacks.
Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 24 : Pressure is mounting on prominent Malayalam film director Ranjith to step down as the Chairman of the state-run Kerala State Chalachitra Academy (KSCA) after Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra accused the filmmaker of behaving with her in an inappropriate manner.

Mitra, a popular face in the Bengali film and television industry, accused Ranjith of misbehaving with her when she went to meet the director at an apartment in connection with the latter's film 'Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha' in 2009, which made her feel 'uncomfortable'.

The director has strongly denied the allegations.

The charges against Ranjith have created an uproar as it came in the wake of the Hema Committee report which was made public recently, exposing 'rampant sexual abuse' in the Malayalam film industry.

Ranjith is known to be close to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and according to sources, the latter had reportedly backed him earlier when he was caught in a tiff over alleged wranglings in the KSCA.

Meanwhile, leaders of the opposition Congress and BJP have now joined the growing clamour seeking Ranjith's resignation as the KSCA chief.

In fact, Annie Raja, senior CPI leader and the wife of the party's General Secretary D. Raja, too has asked Ranjith to quit and come clean.

CPI is the second biggest ally in the LDF-led state government, which fielded her as a candidate in the recent Lok Sabha polls from Wayanad where she lost to Congress' Rahul Gandhi by over 3 lakh votes.

Meanwhile, a section in the ruling CPI-M also feels that in the wake of the Hema Committee report that has become a burning issue in the state, it will be good if Ranjith quits as KSCA Chairman given the way the report flagged rampant sexual abuse allegedly prevailing in the Malayalam film industry.

However, Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cherian on Saturday strongly defended the filmmaker, saying, "Ranjith has said that he is innocent. If anyone has a complaint, it should be given in writing so that a probe can be conducted. He (Ranjith) is a hugely popular artiste and nothing should be done just on the basis of a statement. A mere allegation won't suffice, there has to be a written complaint and then only a probe can be launched. Without that, nothing can be done. What if the allegation turns out be wrong?"

Kerala State Women's Commission Chairperson and former CPI-M MP P. Sathidevi said she has only heard about the issue through media, and she will seek a report on it from the state government.

On Saturday, Ranjith's official car was spotted at a private resort in Wayanad where Youth Congress workers assembled and raised slogans demanding his resignation. Later, the official vehicle of the KSCA was seen moving out of the resort.

The police have now decided to provide security cover at the director's residence in Kozhikode.

Meanwhile, Veteran director Badran said that it would be best if Ranjith quits as KSCA chief since the charges levelled against him are serious, adding that he could always return once cleared of the allegations.

Earlier, recalling the incident that allegedly took place at Kochi in 2009, Mitra said that she had gone to an apartment where she met Ranjith and other members of his team to discuss a role in the film 'Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha' .

During the discussions, Ranjith reportedly made advances towards her, causing her discomfort.

She left the place immediately after conveying to one of Ranjith's team members that she would not be part of the project, Mitra said.

"I do not want to go down there and submit a complaint because I have work here. The least I expect is an apology," Mitra said.

Ranjith has vehemently denied the allegations, saying Mitra was only called for an audition.

With the Congress-led Opposition accusing the Pinarayi Vijayan government of shielding the guilty in the wake of the revelations made in the Hema Committee report, the latest charge against Ranjith has further complicated matters for the state government.

With even the Kerala High Court dropping enough hints that the delay in releasing the Hema Committee report -- which was submitted in 2019 -- by the Vijayan government cannot be brushed away, all eyes will be on the court when it takes up the matter for hearing on September 10.
Yavatmal, Aug 24 : Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday slammed the opposition for staging a silent sit-in protest by wearing black badges and holding black flags against the sexual abuse of two four-year-old girls in the reputed Badlapur school.

The Chief Minister alleged that the opposition remained silent over the massacre of sadhus in Palghar, corruption in corona bodybags and khichadi distribution during the pandemic.

He claimed their silence was because of their links with the contractors, targeting the opposition and alleged a conspiracy behind the bandh to create something untoward in Maharashtra.

"The black flags do not suit in hands of those whose faces have been blackened by corruption. We have only done the work of giving. We are taking decisions which will be good for the common people of the state," the Chief Minister said in his speech at the function held in Yavatmal to promote the state government's slew of welfare and development schemes including the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana.

The Chief Minister criticised the former Chief Minister and Shiv Sena UBT Chief Uddhav Thackeray over his statement against the High Court order after restraining any individual or a political party from calling Bandh.

"Agitation is not prohibited in democracy. The government made it clear that it will implement the High Court's decision which ruled today's bandh called by the opposition illegal. However, they (without naming Uddhav Thackeray) are criticising and defaming the court. If the court gives a ruling in their favour then the system is good. If the ruling goes against then the system is bad. Have you ever seen this in a democracy?" he asked.

Shinde claimed that the opponents have gone "mad" especially after financial aid was deposited in a record time through DBT in the bank accounts of eligible women beneficiaries under the Ladki Bahin scheme.

"Opponents are repeatedly citing the example of Bangladesh. This is Maharashtra. Do they want to create anarchy like Bangladesh? There is a conspiracy behind this bandh to create something untoward in Maharashtra," he alleged.

He also slammed the opposition for politicising the Badlapur sexual abuse case, saying that it was unfortunate and painful.

"The government strongly feels that the culprits in such incidents should be given the death penalty. But the opposition is doing politics," he claimed.
Gaza, Aug 24 : Hamas announced on Saturday that a delegation of the group will arrive in Egypt in the evening to "listen to" the results of the Gaza ceasefire negotiations in Cairo.

The visit to Cairo by the delegation, led by senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya, is based on an invitation from Egyptian and Qatari mediators, said Ezzat al-Rishq, a member of the Hamas Political Bureau, in a statement, Xinhua news agency reported.

Al-Rishq confirmed Hamas's commitment to what was agreed upon on July 2, based on an announcement by US President Joe Biden and UN Security Council Resolution No. 2735.

Hamas is ready to implement what was agreed upon on July 2, he said, urging pressure on Israel to adhere to the agreement and stop obstructing the achievement of a ceasefire.

On August 16, the United States, Egypt and Qatar, mediators of the Gaza ceasefire talks, announced the conclusion of two days of discussions in Doha, where a new Gaza ceasefire proposal was presented.

The mediators called the discussions constructive and conducted in a positive environment. However, Hamas, which did not participate directly in the Doha negotiations, accused Israel of adding new conditions to a previously supported proposal and expressed skepticism about the negotiations' outcome.

The ceasefire talks have reportedly resumed in Cairo earlier this week, and will continue over the weekend.
New Delhi, Aug 24 : The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) on Saturday took objection to the 'misuse' of children in the protest march against Hindu seer Ramgiri Maharaj, who recently courted controversy for his alleged objectionable remarks against Islam in Maharashtra's Nashik district.

New Delhi, Aug 24 (IANS) The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) on Saturday took objection to the amisusea of children in the protest march against Hindu seer Ramgiri Maharaj, who recently courted controversy for his alleged objectionable remarks against Islam in Maharashtraas Nashik district.

In a letter signed by Dharmedra Bhandari, Principal Private Secretary to NCPCR Chief Priyank Kanoongo, the child rights body said that a couple of children were seen in the video raising slogans for the beheading of Ramgiri Maharaj which calls for an "urgent need to bring the conspirators and perpetrators to book".

It also shared a link to a social media post, which apparently showed the provocative slogan-shouting by the members of the Muslim community, including the minors, who raised 'STSJ' slogans during the protest march.

Notably, many members of the minority community took to the streets and raised inflammatory slogans in protest against Ramgiri Maharajas ainsultinga remarks against Islam.

Taking cognisance of the event, the NCPCR said that the misuse of minor children in such unlawful activities was a contravention of the law as it called upon the district administration to act against the miscreants.

The Commission has suggested that the children participating in the unlawful protest be identified and produced before the Child Welfare Committee.

It also called for lodging of an FIR against the alleged perpetrators who aforceda or paved the way for minor children to join the demonstration.

The Commission also suggested counselling for the involved children for their psychological well-being.

The NCPCR has asked the district administration to submit a report in the next three days, detailing what action has been taken in this regard.

For the unversed, Hindu religious leader Ramgiri Maharaj, while addressing an event at Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar last week, reportedly made some objectionable remarks against Islam and the Prophet. Following this, cases were registered against him at multiple police stations for hurting the religious sentiments of the minority community.
Chennai, Aug 24 : After the completion of the second round of counselling for the Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA), over one lakh seats remained vacant in the state.

However, the third round of counselling is underway which will continue till August 25.

Around 110 colleges of the total 443 were able to fill seats only in the single digits while 30 other colleges in the state were not able to fill any seats.

K.M. Muthuvel, an academic from Tiruchi and Director of the Centre for Policy and Development Studies told IANS that if only a handful of students are being filled in these colleges, it will be difficult to deliver quality education.

He said that of the total 1,62,392 engineering seats available in Tamil Nadu,17,769 seats were filled after the first round of counselling and 61,082 seats were filled after the second round of counselling thus leaving 1,01,310 seats vacant.

Around 93,000 students are expected to attend the third round of counselling.

Muthuvel said that as per the general trend for the past years, around 55,000 to 60,000 seats will be vacant this academic year.

Manonmani, an academic consultant told IANS that it may be recalled that in 2023, Anna University had to close down some colleges due to poor enrolment.

She said that the universities have to look into the problem of the shortage of students and derive a solution for the same.

In Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA) 2023 more than 50,000 seats remained vacant.

--IANS

aal/dan
Jaipur, Aug 24 : Aiming to boost medical tourism in Rajasthan, the state government will launch a 'Heal in Rajasthan' policy soon, officials confirmed on Saturday.

Detailed discussions were held with all stakeholders on Saturday on the draft of the policy prepared by the Medical and Health Department. The policy will be finalised soon based on the suggestions received.

In a meeting chaired by Additional Chief Secretary of the Health Department Shubhra Singh, various aspects were discussed in detail to increase medical tourism in the state

Speaking on the occasion, she said that the state government is ushering in a new era in medicine in Rajasthan. With this thinking, giving top priority to the health sector in this year's budget, 8.26 percent of the total budget has been provided for health. This is the highest budget provision so far.

She said that the infrastructure in the medical field is being developed rapidly in the state. World class institutions are being built here. Allopathy and AYUSH medicine and wellness activities are being encouraged with a holistic approach. Construction of Ayushman Tower in Sawai Mansingh Hospital, establishment of two Medicity and Marwar Medical University, medical college and nursing college in every district, promotion of telemedicine, many high class medical institutions in the private sector coming to the state are steps which will boost medical tourism in Rajasthan. Also, with the provision of portability in the Chief Minister Ayushman Arogya Yojana soon, patients from other states will be able to come here for treatment.

Singh said that due to continuous improvement in health services and availability of treatment at reasonable rates, the possibilities of medical tourism in the state have developed rapidly. Through policy decisions, the state government wants to expand these possibilities further. Other enterprises including pharma and the hotel business will also get a boost from this.

In the meeting, experts from the medical field gave many important suggestions to increase medical tourism in the state, including developing high-level health facilities in the capital as well as other districts, improving road and air connectivity, increasing opportunities in medical education, providing adequate housing facilities for patients and their families, making the rules more easy and investment friendly to encourage private sector medical institutions.

Vikas Swarnkar, chairperson of Mahatma Gandhi University of Medical Sciences, said that all the parties have been included in a better way to promote medical tourism in the format prepared by the Medical Department. Ranjan Thakur, Director of Manipal Hospital, added that the efforts of the Medical Department were appreciated for bringing a better policy for medical tourism.

Rajneesh Sharma, state president of the Indian Medical Association, said that the health policies being implemented in Rajasthan are more effective than in other states.
Jaipur, Aug 24 : Traders in Rajasthan's Bhiwadi on Saturday staged a massive protest demanding action against unidentified assailnts allegedly involved in killing the owner of a jewellery shop in the town before fleeing with jewellery worth lakhs of rupees after leaving the deceased's brother and another staffer injured.

The robbery took place on Friday evening when a group of armed individuals -- said to be around five -- entered the jewellery shop at a marketplace in Bhiwadi, and killed the owner of the shop before decamping with jewellery worth lakhs. The owner's brother and a security guard reportedly suffered critical injuries.

On Saturday, anger was brewing among the traders as the police are yet to come across any clue about the robbers. In protest against the crime, the main market in Bhiwadi remained closed since Saturday morning.

The traders also gathered on the middle of State Highway 919, due to which the movement of traffic was impacted.

The angry traders also surrounded Tijara MLA Baba Balaknath (BJP) who went to the protest site.

After about six hours of agitation, at around 3 p.m., the traders ended the protest after the police assured that "the accused will be arrested within 72 hours", which was agreed upon by the protesters.

CCTV clips of the incident showing the brazen manner in which the attackers stormed the shop have been making rounds on the Internet.

The robbers are seen firing in the air, and attacking the staff and the owner of the shop.

Meanwhile, Congress leader and former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, and ex-Rajasthan Deputy CM Sachin Pilot have slammed the BJP government over the incident.

Gehlot said "the robbery and murder incident exposes the deteriorating law and order in the state".

Pilot said, "A jewellery shop owner has been shot dead... the situation is frightening and worrying. Criminals are openly flouting the norms yet the state government seems helpless."

No clue is yet to emerge regarding the identity or whereabouts of the attackers. Sources said the police have formed multiple teams to crack the case.
New Delhi, Aug 24 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Jalgaon in Maharashtra on Sunday where he will interact with 11 lakh 'Lakhpati Didis' virtually at a special programme, besides releasing a Community Investment Fund of Rs 2,500 crore, which will benefit about 48 lakh members of 4.3 lakh Self Help Groups (SHGs).

The Prime Minister will also release bank loans worth Rs 5,000 crore, which will benefit 25.8 lakh members of 2,35,400 SHGs, an official said.

PM Modi, during his interaction with the Lakhpati Didis, will also give them certificates.

On August 22, Union Minister for Rural Development, and Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, had said that people from about 30,000 places across 34 states and Union Territories, including state capitals and district headquarters, will join the programme on Sunday through the virtual route.

Lakhpati Didis are women who earn Rs 1 lakh or more per annum.

These Lakhpati Didis have not only pulled their families out of poverty, but are also becoming role models for the rest of society, the Union Minister said.

"The Rural Development Ministry has already created 1 crore Lakhpati Didis. Now our target is to create 3 crore Lakhpati Didis in the next three years. It is heartening to note that one of these community resource persons has created 95 Lakhpati Didis," Shivraj Chouhan said.

He also explained that the Ministry has adopted a structured process to enable the SHG families to earn an annual income of Rs 1 lakh or more.

This includes capacitating National Resource Persons and developing Master Trainers in each state.

These Master Trainers further train the Community Resource Persons on business planning, financing, and convergence processes.

The cadre of 3 lakh Community Resource Persons, who have been specially trained in business planning and the skilling of SHG members, are doing a great service in this regard, the Minister added.

Some of these Community Resource Persons will also be facilitated on Sunday.

The Ministry of Rural Development has helped 15 lakh women become Lakhpati Didis during the first 100 days, which exceeded the 11 lakh target for the period, Shivraj Chouhan said.
PHNOM PENH, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Saturday told local authorities along border provinces to step up efforts in monitoring and preventing the imports of mpox and other viral diseases such as H5N1 bird flu and anthrax.

In a letter to provincial governors along the border provinces, Health Minister Chheang Ra said the World Health Organization (WHO) on Aug. 14 declared mpox a global public health emergency of international concern due to its rapid spread in some African countries.

Also, there have been infections of H5N1 avian influenza from poultry to human and anthrax in the region and in neighboring countries, he added.

According to the minister, to date, Cambodia had recorded a total of 20 mpox cases with no death, and 72 human cases of H5N1 bird flu with 43 deaths.

"In this context, I would like to request you all to pay attention to monitoring and preventing these infectious diseases, that can be imported from other countries, by strengthening quarantine measures...in order to protect our Cambodian people's health," he said.

He also advised provincial governors to deploy quarantine officers at the country's border gates. 
Pune, Aug 24 : Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Maharashtra on Sunday, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) MLA Rohit R. Pawar on Saturday urged the PM to ensure the implementation of the state's Shakti Criminal Law, and change of guard in the state Home Ministry in view of the poor law and order situation.

Rohit R. Pawar, grandnephew of NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar , has shot off a 3-pager to the PM, highlighting how the state which has given the country women icons like Rajmata Jijabai, Queen Ahilyadevi Holkar, Savitribai Phule and Ramabai Ambedkar, is now gripped by concerns of safety and security of its mothers, sisters and daughters.

He referred to the Badlapur horror a couple of days before Independence Day in Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's home district Thane, where two four-year-old girls were allegedly sexually molested by a sweeper in their school.

"Owing to political pressure, the complaint was not registered promptly. The victims' parents were forced to sit in the police station for 15 hours, and it was only after the people of Badlapur erupted in protests that the state government woke up," claimed Pawar.

He pointed out that in the past 10 days alone there have been at least a dozen such incidents reported from around the state, citing the examples of Thane and Raigad, and now many more such instances are coming up from every corner of Maharashtra.

However, after each such crime comes to light, the state government merely gives assurances about putting the case in a fast track court, hanging the guilty, etc. but nothing happens after that.

"As no strict action is taken against the culprits, they have no fear of the law. The state government is shielding criminals. The police department is only working under political pressure. All this has raised serious questions about the work of the state home department," Pawar said, without naming Deputy CM and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Recalling that the Mava Vikas Aghadi (MVA) had enacted the Shakti Law (December, 2021) providing for the death sentence in rape cases, he rued that it has not been cleared by the Centre on technical grounds and other reasons.

Considering the stringent provisions in the Shakti Act, it could have served as a blueprint for the entire country to deal with cases of atrocities against women, but that has not happened, the lawmaker averred.

Pawar said though the PM speaks about women's empowerment all over the world, in Maharashtra, his own Bharatiya Janata Party government has remained insensitive towards this issue. It was upto the PM to guide the MahaYuti leaders on these things.

Without taking names, he said the home department has failed on all counts, whether women's security or rising crimes and hence must be handed over to a strong person.

Pawar's letter came even as his uncle, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, called for 'bobbitting' of rapists in the state during a 'Ladki Bahin' programme in Yavatmal on Saturday.
New Delhi, Aug 24 : The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday approved the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) for government employees, which will provide an assured minimum pension and a family pension.

Around 23 lakh Central government employees will benefit from the Unified Pension Scheme. These employees will now have the option to choose between the New Pension Scheme (NPS) and the Unified Pension Scheme.

The state governments will also be given the option to opt for the Unified Pension Scheme. If the state governments opt for UPS, the number of beneficiaries will be around 90 lakh. According to the government, the expenditure for arrears will be Rs 800 crore. The annual cost increase will be around Rs 6,250 crore in the first year.

The scheme will be effective from April 1, 2025.

Central government employees will be given the option of choosing between NPS and UPS. The existing Central government NPS subscribers will also be given the option to switch to UPS.

Highlights of Unified Pension Scheme:

Assured pension of 50 per cent of the average basic pay drawn over the last 12 months prior to superannuation for a minimum qualifying service of 25 years

Proportionate for lesser service up to a minimum of 10 years of service

Assured Family Pension @ 60 per cent of pension of the employee immediately before her/his demise

Assured Minimum Pension @ Rs 10,000 per month on superannuation after minimum 10 years of service

Briefing journalists after the Cabinet meeting, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the Centre constituted a committee which held as many as 100 meetings with several top organisations, including the RBI and the World Bank, on the issue.

The UPS has been approved by the Cabinet based on the recommendations of this committee.

"Today, the Union Cabinet has approved the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) for government employees providing for an assured pension. A 50 per cent assured pension is the first pillar of the scheme, while the second pillar will be an assured family pension," the Minister explained.

On the spadework that went into the new scheme, the Minister said, "Government employees demanded some changes in the New Pension Scheme. For this, PM Modi constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary T.V. Somanathan. This committee held more than 100 meetings with different organisations and nearly all the states and the Unified Pension Scheme has been formulated based on these recommendations."

"There's a difference between how PM Modi works and how the opposition functions. Unlike the opposition, PM Modi believes in holding extensive consultations," Vaishnaw added.
New Delhi, Aug 24 : The Union Cabinet on Saturday merged three umbrella schemes into a unified Central sector scheme titled 'Vigyan Dhara' under the Department of Science and Technology (DST).

The Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed an outlay of Rs 10,579.84 crore for the implementation of the Vigyan Dhara scheme during the 15th Finance Commission period from 2021-22 to 2025-26.

The unified scheme has three broad components -- science and technology institutional and human capacity building; research and development; and innovation, technology development, and deployment.

The "merger of the schemes into a single scheme would enhance efficiency in fund utilisation and establish synchronisation among the sub-schemes/programmes", Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said during the Cabinet briefing.

It also aims to strengthen the science and technology infrastructure in the country by fostering well-equipped research and development labs in the academic institutions.

"The scheme endeavours to promote research in areas such as basic research with access to the international mega facilities, translational research in sustainable energy, water, etc., and collaborative research through international bilateral and multilateral cooperation," the Cabinet said.

The unified scheme will further help build a critical human resource pool to strengthen the science and technology landscape in the country.

It will also expand the research and development base of the country and boost the Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) researcher count, besides working towards enhancing the participation of women.

The scheme would aid in the government's efforts to promote innovations in school and higher educational institutes, and also in the industries and startups.

The Cabinet noted that "the programmes proposed under the 'Vigyan Dhara' scheme would be aligned with the 5-year goals of DST towards realising the vision of 'Viksit Bharat 2047'.

In addition, the research and development component will be aligned in line with the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF).

Implementation of the scheme would follow the globally prevailing yardsticks while in alignment with the national priorities, the Cabinet said.
New Delhi, Aug 24 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met a delegation of the Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM), the body representing Central government employees which had been fighting for the implementation of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).

The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi approved the Unified Pension Scheme on Saturday, leaving the JCM and its members elated and ecstatic.

Welcoming the Centre's nod to the Unified Pension Scheme, Gopal Mishra, Secretary, National Council (staff side), JCM, expressed his gratitude to PM Modi and also told mediapersons that it's probably for the first time that such 'hospitality' has been extended by the country's Prime Minister to the agitating employees, not just in listening to their grievances, but also making amends for the same.

"We represent about 32 lakh Central government employees. It's a moment of great joy and happiness for us," the JCM Secretary said.

Further shedding light on the 'travails' of the civil servants, he said that after 2004, the government employees were left to speculation and vagaries of markets but now, an assured pension scheme has been introduced.

"Whoever retires in near future, he/she will be entitled for 50 per cent pension of pay package and will also get dearness allowance. Family pension will be given up to 60 per cent of salary, along with dearness allowance," he said.

"A proposal has also been brought in to fix minimum pension at Rs 10,000," he said.

The JCM Secretary also said that besides resolving their long-pending issues, the Prime Minister also assured them of future assistance if any issue arises.

Notably, with the Centre approving the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), about 23 lakh Central government employees will now have the option to choose between the New Pension Scheme (NPS) and the UPS.

The state governments will also be given the option to opt for the Unified Pension Scheme. If the state governments opt for UPS, the number of beneficiaries will be around 90 lakh.

The scheme will be effective from April 1, 2025.

The existing Central government NPS subscribers will also be given the option to switch to UPS.
Amritsar, Aug 24 : In a broad daylight crime, an NRI was shot at on Saturday by two turbaned assailants at point-blank range inside his residence at Daburji village in Amritsar district.

Personal dispute involving his ex-wife over property is believed to the reason behind the crime, sources said.

Sukhchain Singh, a US resident who came here 20 days back, was shot in the head and arm by the two assailants in front of his family, including children, who could be seen in CCTV footage pleading not to harm their father with folded hands.

Singh was immediately rushed to a private hospital in Amritsar with critical bullet injuries. Five members of Singh's ex-wife's family have been booked in connection with the shooting incident, in which a local gang is suspected to be involved.

In the CCTV footage, the miscreants, who came on a motorcycle and did not wear masks, are seen entering the house in the morning. Singh's children were playing inside the house at the time. One of the armed assailants is seen approaching the NRI and asking him to enter a bedroom at gunpoint. As he resisted, both assailants fired at him from close range.

The entire family was in the house when the crime took place.

After shooting Singh, the miscreants managed to escape. The video also showed locals rushing to help the victim, who was seen lying on the ground in a poll of blood.

As per the police, the two assailants entered the house on the pretext of asking to see the registration certificate of a luxury car that Singh purchased earlier this week.

DCP Vishaljit Singh told the media that the police have collected the CCTV footage from the house and launched an investigation to find out the motive behind the crime, and information about the assailants.

As per sources, Sukhchain Singh returned from the US about a month ago and was engaged in the purchase of a hotel and a luxury vehicle.

The family told the police that there was no demand for ransom.

The police are examining the possibility of the involvement of a local gang.

Punjab Minister for NRI Affairs, Kuldeep S. Dhaliwal, also said that the incident might have been the fallout of a personal dispute.

"We are verifying whether the issue was personal. Property and other personal disputes involving NRIs are prevalent these days. My appeal to the NRIs is that any personal issue should be resolved through discussion and mutual consent," Dhaliwal told the media.

Meanwhile, claiming that the law and order situation in the state has collapsed, Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Badal said, "Such incidents are happening every day in Punjab. Punjabis are not safe even in their homes. I think you (Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann) should resign on moral grounds."

BJP's Manjinder Singh Sirsa said he was pained and shocked by the incident.

"Looks like there is no law and order in Punjab... Bhagwant Mann's 'Rangla Punjab' is just a dialogue," he said.

Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said NRIs once proudly called Punjab their home, but they now live in fear.

"AAP government's incompetence has turned Punjab into a danger zone," Warring wrote on X.
Jodhpur, Aug 24 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Jodhpur on Sunday to take part in the concluding ceremony of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of the Rajasthan High Court.

"In the evening tomorrow, 25th August, I will be in Jodhpur to take part in the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of the Rajasthan High Court. I compliment the Rajasthan HC on this momentous occasion," PM Modi posted on X.

The other dignitaries expected to mark their presence in the programme include Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagade, Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma among others.

PM Modi will reach Jodhpur airport at around 4 p.m. on Sunday evening.

From here he will reach the venue of the programme in the High Court premises, an official said on Saturday.

After attending the programme, PM Modi will leave for Delhi.

Jodhpur Collector Gaurav Agarwal said that strict security arrangements have been put in place in view of PM Modi's visit to the city.

Patrolling and security arrangements have also been tightened in the city.

Jodhpur Commissioner Rajendra Singh has held a meeting of all police officers and jawans on Friday regarding PM Modi's programme in which necessary instructions were given to all to maintain vigilance and law and order in the city.

According to the information, PM Modi will reach the Air Force Station by special plane.

Earlier, speaking to the media in Jodhpur, Union Minister and Jodhpur MP Gajendra Singh Shekahwat said: "A total of 75 years have passed since the establishment of the Rajasthan High Court. Now the High Court is entering into the Amrit Kaal Phase. At this phase of time, the programmes held last year will be concluded in the esteemed presence of PM Narendra Modi."

The Union Minister said that the people of Jodhpur are eager to welcome the Prime Minister in Jodhpur on August 25.

Earlier, Prime Minister Modi visited Jodhpur on October 5, 2023, before the Assembly elections where he inaugurated many projects.
Imphal, Aug 24 : Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said on Saturday that the visit of Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi shows that the Centre is concerned about the ethnic violence in the northeastern state, and is keen to restore peace at the earliest.

The Chief Minister also said the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) along with several top Army officers visited Manipur at a crucial time.

Accompanied by senior Army officers, General Dwivedi arrived in Imphal on Friday for the first time after taking over as the COAS on June 30, and held a meeting with Singh and other officials.

"We discussed many issues, including restoration of peace in the state as soon as possible. The COAS also discussed issues relating to (Myanmar) border areas and the troubles in the neighbouring country," the Chief Minister told the media on Saturday.

Singh also lauded the efforts of the Indian Army and Assam Rifles in maintaining security, peace, and harmony in Manipur.

The Army Chief directed the senior officers to take follow-up actions in connection with the ethnic violence after due discussions with the Manipur government.

A defence spokesman said that upon his arrival in Imphal, the COAS was briefed on the operational preparedness of the commanders on ground.

General Dwivedi also held a discussion with the heads of various security agencies in the state, wherein he expressed his appreciation for the insights they shared, the spokesman said.

During his meeting with the Chief Minister, the Army Chief discussed the internal security situation and the role of the Army and Assam Rifles in ensuring early return of peace and stability in Manipur.

The COAS also reaffirmed the Indian Army's commitment to ensuring a secure environment for the people of Manipur.

General Dwivedi later interacted with the troops and complimented the soldiers for their professionalism, operational readiness, and dedication to duty.

The COAS also met with the Army veterans and praised their selfless service and invaluable contributions towards nation building, the defence PRO said.

General Dwivedi along with other senior Army officers left Imphal for New Delhi on Saturday.
New Delhi, Aug 24 : After the Union Cabinet on Saturday approved the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) for government employees, which will provide an assured minimum pension and a family pension, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the new scheme will ensures dignity and financial security for government employees.

"We are proud of the hard work of all government employees who contribute significantly to national progress. The Unified Pension Scheme ensures dignity and financial security for government employees, aligning with our commitment to their well-being and a secure future," the Prime Minister said in a post on X.

Around 23 lakh Central government employees stand to benefit from the Unified Pension Scheme. These employees will now have the option to choose between the New Pension Scheme (NPS) and the Unified Pension Scheme.

The state governments will also be given the option to opt for the Unified Pension Scheme. If the state governments opt for UPS, the number of beneficiaries will be around 90 lakh.

The scheme will be effective from April 1, 2025.

Hailing the decision of the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in a post on X: "Congratulations to our central government employees on the approval of the Unified Pension Scheme by PM Shri @narendramodi Ji in the Union Cabinet today. With the approval of the scheme, the Modi govt has reiterated its commitment to the financial security of our central government employees, who form the backbone of the nation's governance."

As per the Cabinet decision, Central government employees will be given the option of choosing between NPS and UPS. The existing Central government NPS subscribers will also be given the option to switch to UPS.

Highlights of Unified Pension Scheme:
Agartala, Aug 24 : Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Saturday urged all political parties to come together to tackle the post-flood challenges ahead after the week-long catastrophic deluge which has massively impacted the state for the first time in over three decades, killing at least 24 people and damaging properties and crops worth of over Rs 15,000 crore.

Presiding over an all-party meeting here, the Chief Minister briefed the leaders of the various political parties about the overall flood-related situation, and urged them to join in addressing the post-flood challenges ahead.

He noted that from August 19 to August 24, the rainfall was unprecedented. Bagafa in South Tripura district recorded over 493 mm of rainfall, which is an all-time record.

"Responding to my request, Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured all possible help, including helicopters and additional NDRF personnel. Currently, all the rivers are flowing below danger level, except for the Gomati River, which remains above danger level," the Chief Minister informed the meeting.

He said that so far, 24 people have died, two people are missing, and two injured.

Among the 24 deceased, nineteen died in landslides and five drowned, Saha added.

The leaders of the political parties, proposed holding all-party meetings at the sub-divisional level and that is a good suggestion, the Chief Minister later told the media.

He said: "We did not engage in any political discussions, everyone emphasised unity during this crisis to overcome the situation. The preliminary assessment of the damage amounts to around Rs 15,000 crore, which could rise further."

Those students who have lost their books would receive new ones from the education department, said Saha, who also holds the Education Department.

He further informed that 1.28 lakh people are now sheltered in 557 relief camps across the state, while around 17 lakh people have been affected across the state.

The Chief Minister said that around 1,603 electric poles have broken, 501 transformers are damaged, and two sub-stations have been affected.

Around 200 engineers are on the ground, he said, adding that so far, 20,000 food packets have been airlifted and distributed in Gomati and South Tripura districts.

"We have announced Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia for the families of the deceased and Rs 2.5 lakh for the injured. The political leaders suggested considering the critical situation, the compensation amount could be increased," Saha said.

Senior officials were also present at the meeting.
New Delhi, Aug 24 : NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, who flew to the International Space Station (ISS) in June this year on board Boeing's faulty Starliner capsule, will return to Earth early next year, the space agency said in a release on Saturday.

NASA will return the Boeing's Starliner to Earth without the two astronauts aboard the spacecraft, the agency said.

The uncrewed return will allow NASA and Boeing to continue gathering testing data on Starliner during its upcoming flight home, while also not accepting more risk than necessary for its crew.

In a post on X, NASA said: "After extensive review by experts across the agency, NASA's @BoeingSpace Crew Flight Test will return with an uncrewed #Starliner. Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are scheduled to return to Earth next spring."

Wilmore and Williams, who flew to the International Space Station in June, have been busy supporting station research, maintenance, and Starliner system testing and data analysis, among other activities, the NASA release said.

"Spaceflight is risky, even at its safest and most routine. A test flight, by nature, is neither safe, nor routine. The decision to keep Butch and Suni aboard the International Space Station and bring Boeing's Starliner home uncrewed is the result of our commitment to safety: Our core value and our North Star," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, adding: "I'm grateful to both the NASA and Boeing teams for all their incredible and detailed work."

Wilmore and Williams will continue their work formally as part of the Expedition 71/72 crew through February 2025. They will fly home aboard a Dragon spacecraft with two other crew members assigned to the agency's SpaceX Crew-9 mission. Starliner is expected to depart from the space station and make a safe, controlled autonomous re-entry and landing in early September, NASA said in the release.

NASA and Boeing identified helium leaks and experienced issues with the spacecraft reaction control thrusters on June 6 as Starliner approached the space station.

Since then, engineering teams have completed a significant amount of work, including reviewing a collection of data, conducting flight and ground testing, hosting independent reviews with agency propulsion experts, and developing various return contingency plans.

The uncertainty and lack of expert concurrence does not meet the agency's safety and performance requirements for human spaceflight, thus prompting NASA leadership to move the astronauts to the Crew-9 mission, the space agency said.
SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- A van vehicle crashed into a bus, killing five and injuring nine, at an intersection in the city of Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, early Saturday morning.

The Chinese embassy in South Korea has confirmed that at least one Chinese national was found among the killed. 
Tehran, Aug 25 : Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi and his Venezuelan counterpart Yvan Gil Pinto have exchanged views on the improvement of bilateral relations.

During a phone call, the two officials expressed their governments' readiness to exchange high-ranking delegations, continue talks on bilateral relations, and explore new areas for cooperation, according to a statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry on Saturday.

Araghchi emphasised Venezuela's special role in Iran's foreign policy, highlighting Iran's continued strategic outlook towards Latin America, particularly Venezuela, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Iranian Minister stressed that Tehran condemned any foreign interference in Venezuela's internal affairs.

The Venezuelan Foreign Minister, for his part, expressed confidence that the new governments of the two countries would ensure the implementation of bilateral agreements and cooperation documents.

He also reaffirmed his country's determination to continue cooperation with Iran and address issues on the agenda of Iran-Venezuela relations.

It is worth noting that President Nicolas Maduro congratulated his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian on his recent electoral success.

According to a statement from Venezuela's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported by Prensa Latina, both leaders underscored the fraternal nature of their countries' relationship.

They also pledged to schedule a high-level meeting in the near future to further advance cooperation and collaborative development initiatives between Venezuela and Iran.

Simultaneously, the Venezuelan government congratulated the people of Iran for their commitment to democracy in the Presidential runoff election, which resulted in Pezeshkian's victory.

"The Bolivarian Republic congratulates the people of the Islamic Republic of Iran for the commitment demonstrated to the democracy of their country, expressed in the second round of the presidential elections held on July 5, 2024, which gave victory to His Excellency Masoud Pezeshkian as the new President of the Islamic Republic of Iran," Venezuela's Foreign Minister Gil Pinto said in a statement on his X account on July 6.

"Venezuela expresses its conviction that the decision made by the Iranian people will contribute to the prosperity of this nation, as well as its consolidation as an emerging power of the nascent multipolar world," he added.

At the time, Gil Pinto conveyed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's "absolute support" for Pezeshkian, emphasising the desire "to continue deepening the fraternal relations between both peoples and in the comprehensive strategic alliance for mutually beneficial cooperation".
Cairo, Aug 25 : Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Iranian counterpart Seyyed Abbas Araghchi have exchanged views on the deteriorating regional situation in light of the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.

During a phone conversation, the two Ministers also discussed the "repeated Israeli violations" of international law and international humanitarian law, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday in a statement as reported by Xinhua news agency.

Abdelatty expressed Egypt's aspiration to broker a Gaza ceasefire agreement and a hostage-prisoner exchange deal between the warring parties, hoping that the mediation efforts would deescalate the situation to avoid slipping into a regional cycle of violence and escalation, according to the statement.

The two Ministers also agreed to continue consultations to follow up on the course of bilateral relations and regional developments.

The Gaza ceasefire talks reportedly resumed in Cairo earlier this week and continue over the weekend.

On Thursday, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office confirmed the arrival of the heads of the Israeli Security Agency and the Mossad intelligence service in Cairo to participate in the negotiations for a hostage release deal.

On Saturday, Hamas announced the arrival of its delegation in Egypt in the evening to "listen to" the results of the negotiations.

Last Friday, the US, Egypt, and Qatar, mediators of the ceasefire talks, announced the conclusion of two days of discussion in Doha, where a new Gaza ceasefire proposal was presented.

The mediators characterised the discussions as constructive and conducted in a positive environment. However, Hamas, which did not participate directly in the Doha negotiations, accused Israel of adding new conditions to a previously supported proposal and expressed scepticism about the negotiations' outcome.
Gaza, Aug 25 : The Israeli army withdrew from northern Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip and urged residents in central Gaza to evacuate.

Palestinian security sources on Saturday reported extensive damage to residential buildings after the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Khan Younis, Xinhua news agency reported.

The sources added the destruction was particularly severe in Hamad City, a neighbourhood northwest of the city, with dozens of apartments demolished and towers flattened.

Civil defence teams, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and other organisations and units are busy searching for missing persons in the areas invaded by the Israeli army, said local sources and eyewitnesses.

They added several bodies and remains were recovered and transported to the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis.

Meanwhile, Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee urged residents in some parts of central Gaza to evacuate immediately.

"For your safety, evacuate these areas immediately and move to humanitarian zones," he said.

The Israeli army also noted that its combat team from the 7th Brigade is engaged in battles on the outskirts of Deir al-Balah, destroying dozens of "terrorist infrastructures" and eliminating numerous operatives.

In a separate statement, the army claimed to have destroyed a 500-metre-long tunnel belonging to the Islamic Jihad movement in Khan Younis.

During a raid, the forces also found and destroyed several protective vests, hand grenades, and a ready-to-launch rocket platform.

Israel has been waging a large-scale offensive against Hamas in Gaza to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on October 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 others were taken hostage.

The prolonged conflict has claimed the lives of more than 40,000 Palestinians in the enclave.

US and Israeli delegations started a new round of meetings in Cairo on Thursday aimed at resolving differences over a truce proposal to end the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, two Egyptian security sources said.

Egyptian and US officials had met to seek compromises over plans for providing security on the border between Egypt and Gaza following an Israeli military withdrawal demanded by Hamas, the sources said.

The proposals were due to be presented to Israeli officials later on Thursday, with a Qatari delegation which joined on Friday, they added.

Egypt, along with the US and Qatar, has been a mediator in months of stop-start negotiations to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, as well as the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
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ADEN, Yemen, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Yemeni army intercepted three Houthi drones carrying explosives targeting the Safer oil facility in Marib Governorate on Friday, according to a statement from the defense ministry.

The ministry called the attack, which occurred on Friday morning, a "cowardly terrorist attempt" to destroy the vital civilian facility. All three drones were intercepted before reaching their targets.

The drones were launched from a location in Al-Jawf Governorate, northern Yemen, said the statement.

The Houthi group has yet to comment on the incident.

Yemen has been embroiled in a devastating conflict since late 2014 when Houthi rebels seized control of the capital Sanaa, and large swathes of the country.

A UN-brokered truce in April 2022 led to a significant reduction in hostilities, but the country continues to grapple with severe economic challenges and political divisions. 
'We have got enough internal accruals, and we are able to do acquisitions on our own.'

Photograph: Kind courtesy Metropolis Lab

Metropolis Healthcare Executive Chairperson and Whole-time Director Ameera Shah talks about her plans for network expansion, and focus on business-to-consumer segment as well as expansion of footprint in smaller towns of India.

In a video interview with Sohini Das/Business Standard, Shah outlines her strategy for international business, and also talks about why she got in a new CEO.

How have the test mix and price hikes helped improve margins in Q1FY25?

The first structural lever is volume - patient and test volumes.

We are doing more than industry numbers in terms of volume growth - 7 per cent patient volume and 10 per cent test volume.

Also, we have clocked a 6 per cent increase in average revenue per patient, which is a combination of both price hikes (2.5 per cent) and change in product mix.

People are moving up the ladder when it comes to tests, and are going for more specialty tests. We have also managed to curtail costs.

You have got a professional CEO and your role has changed too. Are promoters taking a backseat?

The company has become big enough at a market-cap of Rs 10,000-11,000 crore, and employing 6,000 people.

We need to have a separation of roles between governance and strategy, and someone who is running the day-to-day business.

I am available full-time to focus on governance, strategy, talent and culture, and the CEO is able to concentrate on executing the business plan and running the business.

I am doing it when I am 44. I have the vision to say that I am not so stuck in my own ego and am doing what is right for the business.

And usually, you see promoters hold on to control and not want to let go, etc.

But my theory is that the combination of a really strong promoter and strong professionals actually makes the best quality team. And with that idea we've done it.

Any plans to bring in a strategic investor to Metropolis?

As a listed company, no question of bringing in an investor right now.

We have got enough internal accruals, and we are able to do acquisitions on our own.

If we need money tomorrow, we can always go to public and do a QIP.

Are you still looking to acquire assets in the Northern and Eastern parts of India?

Not just in North and East, but we are open to acquisitions across the country.

Our business is not about regions, but about cities.

If there is a good acquisition in that local market where we are not strong, we would certainly consider it.

The share B2C in your overall revenues has been increasing -- from 51 per cent in Q4FY24 to 54 per cent in Q1FY25.

What is your strategy for further growth?

The goal is to take this (share of B2C) to around 60-65 per cent of our business.

B2C brings two-three benefits -- better margins, it's a relatively more stickier business as you are engaging directly with the patient, and hence more sustainable.

In around 9-10 cities where we have a strong consumer brand, we see a lot of opportunity to keep growing.

These are cities like Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Bengaluru, Nashik, Kolhapur, Goa, Surat, etc., where we can penetrate deeper.

So, we are opening more collection centres in micro markets in these cities.

If one provides the right customer experience, right price and right quality, then patients will walk into these centres.

Apart from this, on the digital side, we will keep using content to differentiate ourselves.

While most of the business happens offline in the brick-and-mortar space, the discovery happens online.

Can you elaborate your plans on network expansion?

Currently we have 4,200 centres and we are adding approximately 500 centres per year.

At present, we are in 650 towns, and from here we will go to a thousand towns in India next year.

We don't have a set number on the number of centres we want to have by next year.

In the last four-five years, we have added around 79 labs, and we will end this year with 90 labs.

Most of these new labs are in Tier-II, Tier-III and Tier-IV cities and towns. For example, in Maharashtra we have gone as deep as Chandrapur and Malegaon.

So, we are going deeper where our strength is, and going broader where we are not present already.

We've been investing about Rs 60-70 crore per year in capex, which is a combination of investment in technology, new equipment, new labs, and maintenance capex.

Top 10 cities account for 60% of your revenues. What kind of share do you expect from Tier-2/3 towns in coming years?

About 62 per cent of our revenues come from the top-eight cities, and around 75 per cent of our revenues come from the top-20 cities in India at present.

This means that the remaining 25 per cent is coming from smaller towns and cities in Tier-2, Tier-3 and Tier-4 categories.

We will obviously try to grow this 25 percent, but at the moment, I don't have a number in mind.

The opportunity is large - out of 650 cities (where we are present), we are getting 25 per cent revenues from 630 cities.

Wellness (preventive tests) is only 10 per cent of the market, while illness tests constitute 90 per cent, and will remain the mainstay.

Wellness is more in demand in major cities at this point, but illness tests are the main drivers in Tier-2/3 towns.

But each market will go through an evolution phase.

Let's say when more cancer therapies will happen in these markets, they will require more advanced diagnostics.

How are you planning to move up the value chain in tests as you have introduced molecular genomic testing?

Top hospitals outsource their pathology. They are experts in treatment, not in diagnostics.

We have a 4,000-test menu, and most hospital chains would do a maximum of 1,000 tests.

But with genomic testing, we are talking about more personalised therapies.

These can be very useful in cancer or neurological treatments as these are expensive drugs and therapies.

There is a steady demand for such tests in areas of cancer, neurology, and reproductive medicines.

Tell us about your international business and plans to expand further.

We are trying to make India a hub for specialised tests. Advanced diagnostic testing ability that we have can bring in demand from different countries.

We have been getting samples from 10 countries, and we are going to see that we constantly expand going forward.

We have collection centres in five out of these 10 countries.

For example, in African countries we have our own labs and collection centres.

In others, we have partnered with existing chains that are doing routine tests themselves and they send us samples for specialised tests.

International business contribution is currently less than 10 per cent of our overall revenues.

We are already among the top-3 players in Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Ghana, etc., except in Kenya.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
A Bengali actor has levelled accusation of misbehaviour against eminent Malayalam film director and chairman of the state-run Kerala Chalachitra Academy, Ranjith, spelling fresh trouble for the Pinarayi Vijayan government which is facing opposition heat on its alleged inaction over the Justice Hema Committee report.

IMAGE: Bengali actor Sreelekha Mitra. Photograph: Kind courtesy Sreelekha Mitra on Instagram

The report had revealed instances of harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam cinema industry, prompting calls for action against the guilty.

The filmmaker has reportedly rejected Bengali actor Sreelekha Mitra's charge and said he was the "real victim" in the case.

Key LDF constituent CPI was among those seeking a probe into the allegation of Bengali actor Sreelekha Mitra, who has recalled a years-old incident in the backdrop of the ripples being created by the Justice Hema Committee findings.

"The person concerned (Ranjith) is a big name in Malayalam film industry and a national award winning director. I went to his residence to discuss an upcoming film project and I did not like his behaviour. He made certain advances subtly and I felt uncomfortable while we were discussing the script," Mitra told PTI in Kolkata.

He did this without her consent and she made her disapproval very clear.

"I immediately communicated my decision not to be part of the project any more, left the place and came back to Kolkata the next day," she added.

"I don't know if he has treated other female actors in the film industry in the same way. It is upto them to open up or not if they had faced similar situation. May be his power and influence played a role for others to not to speak out," she added.

Mitra said she did not have any such experience in the Bengali cinema industry, but that there could be similar situations for other female actors as well with regard to someone. Such women should muster the courage and speak out without any fear.

"The incident in Kerala was years back...but it is heartening that women are speaking out with greater vigour and conviction against any form of misconduct now, taking out rallies, and I am looking forward to the day when number of any instance of gender abuse, misconduct will go down and women will not have such harrowing tales any more," Mitra added.

In Kerala, many demanded Ranjith stepped down as the Chairman of the film academy. Several people including well-known filmmaker Dr Biju came out against Ranjith.

While opposition Congress said it expects Ranjith would step down as film academy chairman, the Bharatiya Janata Party said he has no moral right to continue.

Communist Party of India national leader Annie Raja urged the government to carry out a probe based on Mitra's allegations and wanted to keep Ranjith away from the position during investigation.

Kerala Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cheriyan assured the government would not protect anyone who had committed a wrong.

If the allegations against Ranjith were proved, action would surely be taken against him, he said in a Facebook post on Saturday.

He told the media earlier Ranjith is one of country's eminent filmmakers and that he had already responded to the actor's allegation.

"The allegation raised by the actress and the reply given by Ranjith are in front of us. If she has a complaint, let her come here and lodge a complaint. Then we will take action in accordance with the law," he said.

No case can be registered based on just allegations and such cases wont stand, Cheriyan added.

He underlined the government's support for women who face harassment at their workplaces and said stringent action would be taken against wrongdoers.

Health Minister Veena George said all facilities and support would be provided to the actress to lodge a complaint against the director.

"If she wishes to go ahead with the complaint, the government will provide all facilities for the same. The government's stand is clear in this. The CM has already made it clear that the government won't protect wrongdoers," she said.

Higher Education Minister R Bindhu said action would be taken after understanding the facts in the issue and said she expects the government would do it, as a woman has come up with such a complaint.

Sharing similar views, Women's Commission chairperson P Sathidevi said she came to know about the allegations about the actress through the media and if it is proved correct, Ranjith should step down as academy chairman.

Opposition leader V D Satheesan also said Ranjith is an acclaimed director who has contributed several good movies in the Malayalam film industry.

"As a friend and as a brother, I request him to step down as film academy chairman. I think he will step back from his current responsibility," the Congress leader told reporters

BJP state chief K Surendran attacked Cheriyan and Ranjith and said both of them should quit.

"Ranjith has no moral right to continue in the position. A victim herself has come up with the complaint. She raised the allegation openly....before the public society," he told a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram.

He accused Cheriyan of challenging the legal system in the country by defending Ranjith.

Annie Raja said the actress has raised the allegation and named the accused person also.

"So, the government should carry out a probe into it and action should be taken based on that. When such a probe is being carried out, he should be kept away from the position of Academy chairman," she said. The legal system permits him to return to the same position if the allegations are proved wrong.
A private helicopter flying from Mumbai to Hyderabad crashed in Mulshi tehsil of Pune district on Saturday afternoon but all four persons on board survived, police said.

IMAGE: A helicopter crashes in Pune's Mulshi tehsil. Photograph: X

While the pilot was hospitalised at Paud, about 30 to 35 km from Pune city, the three passengers suffered minor injuries, an official said.

Bad weather was suspected to have caused the crash as the area is receiving heavy rains, said inspector Manoj Yadav of Paud police station.

The chopper, belonging to Global Vectra aviation company, crashed at Kondhwale village around 2 pm, he said.

Locals rushed to the rescue of the occupants as it came down.

"When they took off from Mumbai, the weather was fine, but when the chopper reached Paud area, which has been receiving rains since last night, it encountered difficulties. The pilot tried to land but it hit a babul tree and then crashed to the ground," said inspector Yadav.

As the fall was broken by the tree, the impact of the final crash appeared to have been mitigated, he said.

There were no reports of the chopper experiencing any technical problems, the official said.

The occupants were identified as Captain Anand, Veer Bhatia, Amardeep Singh and S P Ram.

A video of the helicopter spiraling down went viral on social media.
The two countries also signed a 'Memorandum of Agreement regarding the Assignment of Liaison Officers', which will facilitate the posting of one military officer from each country with the military of the other.

IMAGE: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh exchanges greetings with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J Austin during a meeting, in Washington, DC on Friday. Photograph: ANI Photo

The United States and the Indian defence ministry have entered into an agreement to provide each other with reciprocal priority support for goods and services that promote national defence.

The agreement, called Security of Supplies Arrangement (SOSA), marked the start of a four-day visit to the US by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

The two countries also signed a 'Memorandum of Agreement regarding the Assignment of Liaison Officers', which will facilitate the posting of one military officer from each country with the military of the other.

In the case of India, one naval officer will be placed with the US headquarters in Bahrain.

Interacting with the Indian diaspora after landing in Washington, DC on Thursday, Rajnath described India and the US as natural allies.

"On August 22, 2024, the US Department of Defense (Pentagon) and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of the Government of India entered into a bilateral, non-binding Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA)," said the Pentagon on Friday.

SOSA will enable both countries to acquire from one another the industrial resources they need to resolve unanticipated supply chain disruptions to meet national security needs.

'The SOSA was signed by Dr Vic Ramdass, and Samir Kumar Sinha, additional secretary and director general (acquisitions), on behalf of the Indian MoD,' said an MoD statement from New Delhi.

'This SOSA represents a pivotal moment in the US-India Major Defence Partner relationship and will be a key factor in strengthening the US-India Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI),' said Dr Vic Ramdass, the Pentagons principal deputy assistant secretary of defence.

The Pentagon has entered into such arrangements with 18 nations to ensure mutual supply of defence goods and services.

Other SOSA partners are Australia, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

Bilateral SOSAs allow the Pentagon to request priority delivery for DoD (Department of Defense) contracts, subcontracts, or orders from companies in these countries.

SOSA also allows the signatory nations to request priority delivery for their contracts and orders with US firms.

Given the US military's expanding supply chain, SOSAs are an important mechanism for the DoD to strengthen interoperability with US defence trade partners.

The Arrangements constitute working groups, establish communication mechanisms, streamline DoD processes, and proactively act to allay anticipated supply chain issues in peacetime, emergency, and armed conflict.

They are also useful tools in developing investment strategies to ensure redundancy and security.

"I look forward to OUSD(A&S) hosting the next DTTI meeting this fall to deepen cooperation between our respective defense industrial bases and pursue bilateral co-development, co-production, and co-sustainment initiatives," said the Pentagon.

OUSD(A&S) stands for the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment.

In the SOSA, the US and India committed to support one another's priority delivery requests for procurement of critical national defence resources. The US will provide India assurances under the US Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS), with program determinations by DoD and rating authorization by the Department of Commerce (DoC).

India will, in turn, establish a government-industry Code of Conduct with its industrial base, where Indian firms will voluntarily agree to make every reasonable effort to provide the US priority support.

Rajnath Singh said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indias stature has grown. "Earlier, India's words at international fora were not heeded; but today, the whole world listens carefully," he said.

The defence minister said that before 2014, India had been named one of the 'Fragile Five' nations by investment firm Morgan Stanley. Today it finds itself among the 'Fabulous Five' world economies.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday invited President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit India and the Ukrainian leader said he would be happy to travel to the 'great' country.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in Kyiv, on August 23, 2024. Photograph: Gleb Garanich/Reuters

Modi invited Zelenskyy during his wide-ranging talks with the Ukrainian President.

The Indian prime minister paid a nearly nine-hour visit to Kyiv in the first-ever trip to Ukraine by an Indian prime minister since it became independent over three decades ago.

At a media briefing following the talks between the two leaders, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar confirmed that Modi invited Zelenskyy to visit India.

"It's significant that our prime minister has visited Ukraine for the first time since 1992. It is natural on such occasions that he extends an invitation, which he did in this case," he said.

"So we expect that at some point, as per his convenience, President Zelenskyy will visit India," Jaishankar added.

A joint statement also said that Modi invited Zelenskyy to visit India at a mutually convenient opportunity.

Asked at a media briefing on Modi's invitation, Zelenskyy said he would be happy to come to India.

"Yes because when you begin a strategic partnership, and you begin some dialogue, I think that you don't need to waste time and do a big pause and that's why I think it will be good to meet together again," he said.

The Ukrainian President also said he wants India to be on the side of his country.

"I read a lot about your big and great country. It's very interesting," he said, adding "I very much need your country on our side."

"I will be happy to come to India as soon as your government and prime minister will be ready to see me," Zelenskyy said.

At the same time, he suggested the visit will also depend on the situation in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Jaishankar, in response to a question, said that India's energy trade with Russia also came up for discussions.

"Yes, it did. I wouldn't say at great length, but what we did was to explain to the Ukrainian side what was the energy market scenario, the fact that today many energy producers are sanctioned, making the market potentially very tight; and why actually today there is a compulsion, in fact not just a compulsion, I mean why it is in the interest of the international economy as a whole, that oil prices remain reasonable and stable," he said.

India, the world's third largest oil-consuming and importing nation, in July bought USD 2.8 billion worth of crude oil from Russia, second only to China which remains the largest importer of Russian oil, the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) said in a report.

Russia emerged as India's biggest supplier of crude oil, which is converted into fuels like petrol and diesel in refineries, after Russian oil became available at a discount following some European nations shunning purchases from Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Imports from Russia, which were less than one per cent of the total oil imported in the pre-Ukraine war period, now make up for almost 40 per cent of India's total oil purchases.
Glimpses from Prime Minister Narendra D Modi's visit to Kyiv, August 23, 2024, 30 months and one day since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a brutal and cruel war on Ukraine.

IMAGE: Modi hugs Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, here and below. Photograph: Gleb Garanich/Reuters

Photograph: ANI Photo

Photograph: ANI Photo

The Modi-Zelenskyy meeting, here and below. Photograph: Gleb Garanich/Reuters

Photograph: Gleb Garanich/Reuters

Photograph: Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout/Reuters

IMAGE: Modi lays flowers at a monument to Mahatma Gandhi, here and below. Photograph: Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters

Photograph: Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters

IMAGE: Modi and Zelenskyy at the Exposition 'Martyrologist' in Kyiv, here and below. Photograph: ANI Photo

Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: 'President Zelenskyy and I paid homage at the Martyrologist Exposition in Kyiv. Conflict is particularly devastating for young children. My heart goes out to the families of children who lost their lives, and I pray that they find the strength to endure their grief', Modi tweeted.

The children died in a Russian attack on a children's hospital on the day Modi was meeting with Russia's President Vladimir Putin in Moscow last month. Photograph: Kind courtesy @narendramodi/X

IMAGE: Modi and Zelenskyy place stuffed toys at the memorial. Photograph: Kind courtesy @narendramodi/X

Photograph: Kind courtesy @narendramodi/X

IMAGE: Modi and Zelenskyy pay tribute to the children killed in Russia's attack. Photograph: Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout/Reuters

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
The opposition Shiv Sena-UBT, NCP -SP and Congress got "anti-Modi" and "anti-Shah" votes in the recent Lok Sabha polls, leading to these parties doing well, and not because of an increase in mass support for the Maha Vikas Aghadi, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray said on Saturday.

IMAGE: MNS chief Raj Thackeray addresses press conference in Nagpur on Saturday, August 24, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Addressing a press conference, Thackeray further claimed the outfits led by Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar will not get these anti-incumbency votes in the assembly polls, which are likely to be held in October-November.

"A huge portion of Dalits and Muslims voted against the BJP. These votes against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and (Union Home Minister) Amit Shah went to Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar and the Congress. These were not votes for the Maha Vikas Aghadi. This wave is now gone," he said.

Thackeray also said the MNS plans to contest 225 seats in the upcoming Maharashtra assembly polls.

Slamming NCP-SP supremo Sharad Pawar, the MNS chief claimed it is the former who brought the politics of caste and defection in the state.

After the NCP was founded, even saints got divided on the basis of caste, Thackeray alleged.

Thackeray said there was no certainty that people will vote for the ruling alliance even after schemes like the Ladki Bahin Yojana.

"People are asking for work, not money. Farmers don't want free electricity, they want uninterrupted supply," he said.

The MNS chief also questioned if the state government had the money to back these schemes.
Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday said it is a pity that instead of taking action against culprits involved in crimes against women, the Maharashtra government, which he termed shameless, was standing with them.

IMAGE: Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray during a demonstration over crimes against women in Mumbai on Saturday, August 24, 2024. Photograph: @ShivSenaUBT_/X

Addressing party workers during a demonstration over crimes against women, and the alleged sexual assault on two kindergarten girls at Badlapur, Thackeray said it is imperative to dislodge the Mahayuti government to ensure the safety of women in the state.

It is a pity that instead of taking action against the culprits it is standing with them, Thackeray alleged. He said Maharashtra has never seen a government as shameless as the incumbent dispensation.

Mahayuti is a coalition of BJP, Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and NCP headed by Ajit Pawar.

In a veiled attack on CM Shinde, Thackeray said the Kansa Mama', a reference to a character in Mahabharat, is busy getting rakhis tied on his wrists and asked when he will get justice for the nieces.

Thackeray, his wife Rashmi and their son and former Maharashtra minister Aaditya staged a demonstration at Shiv Sena Bhavan in the Dadar area along with party workers by wearing black ribbons and black bands on the mouth to protest against the Badlapur incident.

The party also staged protests in several parts of the state.

A male attendant has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting two 4-year-old kindergarten girls at a school in Badlapur town of Thane district recently. The alleged crime had sparked a massive protest in Badlapur on Tuesday.

The Bombay high court on Friday restrained political parties from going ahead with the bandh called by the opposition grouping Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) on August 24 to protest against the Badlapur incident.

Thackeray asked his party workers to run a signature campaign with the slogan Bahin Surakshit tar Ghar Surakshit' (home is safe if sisters are secure) which will be then presented to the Bombay High Court.

The court stopped our bandh, but cannot suppress our voice, Thackeray said.

He said the government made its cronies approach the court to stop the bandh called by MVA. Thackeray said when all doors are shut, people have no option but to hit the streets.

Thackeray also demanded that the Shakti bill passed by the Maharashtra legislature, which is pending with the Centre, be given Presidential assent so that it can be implemented in the state.

IMAGE: Nationalist Congress Party-SP chief Sharad Pawar takes part in a silent protest in Pune. Photograph: @supriya_sule/X

Both the House of Maharashtra legislature had passed the Shakti Criminal Laws (Maharashtra Amendment) Bill, 2020, and the Special Court & Machinery for Implementation of Maharashtra Shakti Criminal Law, 2020, three years ago when the MVA was in power with Thackeray as the CM.

The Shakti bill proposes the death penalty for heinous offences of rape and gang rape.

Speaking in Pune, Nationalist Congress Party-SP chief Sharad Pawar said the Badlapur incident involving the alleged sexual abuse of two kindergarten girls at a school has hit the image of Maharashtra in the country.

He accused the state government of forgetting that the responsibility for the safety of women lies with it.

Pawar, who took part in a silent protest in Pune, said the government is insensitive if it thinks the opposition is playing politics over the Badlapur incident.

"The Badlapur incident has hit the image of Maharashtra in the country, said the chief of NCP-SP, which is a constituent of the opposition bloc Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), also comprising Congress and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena-UBT.

Pawar said such an incident has taken place in the land of Chhatrapati Shivaji who used to chop off the hands of culprits involved in crimes against women.

The alleged sexual assault on two 4-year-old girls by a male attendant at a school in Badlapur of Thane district had led to a massive protest in the town on Tuesday, with thousands of people blocking roads and railway tracks and clashing with the police.
TEHRAN, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi said Saturday that the country's response to the assassination of Hamas Politburo Chief Ismail Haniyeh would be "precise, calculated and managed."

He made the remarks in an address to reporters while commenting on his recent phone calls with his German, French and British counterparts, in which they discussed Israel's "terrorist action" of assassinating Haniyeh, the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) reported.

Stressing Iran's right to punish Israel for assassinating Haniyeh, Araghchi said in the phone calls that Israel's "aggression" against Iran's national security and sovereignty would definitely not go unanswered, and that Tehran would give its response "precisely and in a calculated and managed way while considering all dimensions," according to the ISNA report.

Araghchi said the revenge "will be taken at the right time and using the appropriate method," said the report.

Haniyeh, who visited Iran to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, was killed on July 31 along with his bodyguard when their residence in Tehran was attacked. Iran has blamed Israel for the attack and vowed a strong response.

Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement in the attack. 
An NRI was shot at by two people, allegedly connected to his ex in-laws, in front of his family at his home in Daburji village on the outskirts of Amritsar on Saturday, police said.

IMAGE: The shooters seen in the CCTV footage firing bullets on Sukhchain Singh, who recently returned from the United States. Photograph: Screen grab

The assailants have been identified and will be arrested soon, they said.

Following the incident, opposition parties targeted the Aam Aadmi Party government over the law and order in the state, alleging that the AAP government's "incompetence has made Punjab a danger zone."

Sukhchain Singh, who recently returned from the United States, was shot at in front of his wife and his two children from his first marriage, said police.

The incident took place at around 7 am when Singh was going for a morning walk.

He was intercepted outside his house by two motorcycle-borne assailants who asked him about registration documents of his luxury car, police said.

Before he could understand anything, the two took out their pistols and forcibly took him inside his house.

Inside, the assailants beat Singh, fired three shots at him, and fled.

A bullet each hit Singh in the head and near the chest. Singh was rushed to a private hospital, police said. He is currently out of danger.

A footage retrieved from the CCTV camera installed in the victim's house showed Singh's wife and children pleading with the assailants to let him go.

Singh's family alleged that the family of his first wife was behind the attack.

Police said a case has been registered against five relatives of his first wife, who had committed suicide around two years ago, said police.

Special Director General of Police R N Dhoke (Internal Security) met the NRI's family.

Dhoke later told reporters that one of the assailants belongs to Kapurthala and the other hails from Jalandhar.

He said look out circulars have been issued for both the assailants -- One of whom faces 10 FIRs in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and other crimes and the other also a historysheeter.

"We will go by investigation and when we catch them then we will be able to tell what was the motive," Dhoke said.

Several police teams from Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, and Chandigarh are working on the case, and a number of locations in Punjab have been raided in search of the absconders, police said.

There is a possibility that there might be more than two people involved in the crime, police said.

Meanwhile, the opposition slammed the Aam Aadmi Party government over the brazen shooting.

Punjab Congress chief and Ludhiana MP Amrinder Singh Raja Warring accused the government of incompetence.

"NRIs, once proud to call Punjab their home, now live in FEAR! An NRI shot inside his home, in front of his family! @AAPPunjab govt, your incompetence has made Punjab a danger zone!

"Bhagwant mann ji, Punjab needs action not "Bhashan" #AAPFails #PunjabInShambles #LawAndOrder," Warring said in a post on X.

Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal said the law and order situation in Punjab has "completely deteriorated".

"I am very sad to see the current situation in Punjab," he posted on X in Punjabi.

"Such incidents are happening every day in the state, Punjabis are not safe even in their homes," he said and demanded that Punjab CM must resign on moral grounds.

BJP leader Preneet Kaur said such incidents show no one is safe in Punjab.

"I appeal to Bhagwant Mann to pay attention to law and order in the state," she said.

AAP leader Neel Garg hit back at the opposition, accusing them of politicising a family dispute and deliberately linking the incident to the state's law and order situation.

The party spokesperson said the NRI's family has given a statement that the attack was carried out by his ex-wife's family as he lambasted the opposition leaders for trying to "exploit this situation for political gain."

He said Mann has directed the DGP to take strict action against the culprits.

Citing National Crime Records Bureau data, he said Punjab's law and order situation is better compared to the neighbouring states ruled by the BJP.
The Delhi Police has registered an FIR after a porn video was displayed on a digital advertisement board in the Connaught Place area, officials said on Saturday.

IMAGE: Image used for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo

The matter came to fore when passersby spotted the video being run on one of the LED screens put up for advertisements in Connaught Place's H Block on Thursday night, they said.

The video clip spanning a few seconds was later removed from the board with the help of civic authorities, a police officer said.

A case under relevant sections of the BNS has been registered and investigations are on nab the culprits behind the episode, the officer added.

Connaught Place is an iconic and historic commercial area in the heart of the national capital and one of the busiest marketplaces of the city.
On August 13, Muhammad Yunus visited the Dhakeswari Temple and reached out to the distressed Hindu community members in the wake of attacks on the minority communities.

IMAGE: Canadians stage a protest to stand in solidarity against the violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, in Toronto. Photograph: ANI Photo

Describing the deity of the ancient Dhakeswari Temple in Dhaka as a "mother to all humans", a priest of the revered shrine said several Hindus, Muslims and others from the local community had come together to guard it soon after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh.

The centuries-old temple in old Dhaka has many mosques in its vicinity and chimes of temple bells at times merge with the sound of 'azaan' emerging from nearby mosques.

The Sree Sree Dhakeswari National Temple is one of the prominent shakti peethas'.

While a young married couple had come to seek blessings for their two-month-old daughter, a woman lit candles at a corner of the temple courtyard facing the sanctum sanctorum and diligently prayed.

"People of many religions come here to pray. And, Maa (Goddess) is mother to all humans whether it is Hindus, Muslims, Christians or Buddhists. They come here to seek solace, prosperity and mental peace," Ashim Maitro, one of the main priests, told PTI.

After serving the temple for 15 years, he looks at the shrine of 'Maa Dhakeswari' as a symbol of religious and communal harmony.

The 53-year-old priest, some of whose family members also live in West Bengal, says the evening aarti of this temple is performed at 7 pm, nearly 30 minutes after the Maghrib prayer at mosques nearby.

Maitro said on August 5, when the anti-government protests had reached their peak leading to the ouster of the Hasina government and her fleeing to India, he was at the temple premises.

"I was not feeling afraid for myself but just concerned about the safety of our old temple and idols of deities here. The temple committee members were also present and we closed the doors and the main gate," the priest recalled.

When Prime Minister Hasina left the country, "no visitor was here", he said, adding there was "no police force" either at that time as everything was in disarray amid political chaos.

"Members of the local communities helped. Muslims, Hindus and others came to stand guard outside the temple so that no harm comes to the temple," the priest said and expressed relief. "Nothing untoward has happened here from that day till today," he said.

Maitro said on August 5, they continued to perform regular puja "without any break" and since then 'bhog' has also been offered every day as per the timings of the rituals.

The shrine is open to visitors from 7 am to 2 pm and 4 pm to 9 pm.

A banner each has been put up recently at the main gate and in a courtyard near the main temple bearing a message in Bengali that says prayers for the repose of the soul of those who have died during the recent student-led protests and wishes for the speedy recovery to the ones who got injured.

"During the movement, most of the Hindus had confined themselves to their homes and there was a thin presence of the community at the temple. Now, the number of people coming to the temple is slowly growing. This Friday more people came here than on the Friday before," the priest said.

Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, people from all communities come here, and "there is no restriction" but people have to follow timings, he added.

People from outside Dhaka in Bangladesh and even from India come to visit this ancient temple. Nearly, every day, people from the Indian community in Bangladesh visit the temple, Maitro said.

An interim government with Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus as the Chief Adviser was sworn in on August 8 following the dissolution of the Parliament, a decision prompted by a demand by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. A team of advisers has also been appointed.

On August 13, Yunus visited the Dhakeswari Temple and reached out to the distressed Hindu community members in the wake of attacks on the minority communities.

Clad in his trademark kurta-pyjama, Yunus sat along with the officials and interacted with the Hindu community at the temple premises.

"Yes, I was there when he visited the temple. They welcomed him (Yunus) with the beating of the 'dhak', and I and other priests brought him to pay respect to the deity. He spent about 20-25 minutes here," Maitro recalled.

After the fall of the previous government, there was no administration or police deployment. After the formation of the interim government, slowly police personnel have been deployed at the temple premises and now their number has grown strong, he said, adding "police is now here day and night".

Maitro, who was born in the year of Bangladesh's independence in 1971, says, "Now, it feels normal here," adding about 1,000 people visit the temple on average per day.

The priest said his message to the Indian government is that "we remain well in Bangladesh" and to the Hindu community of India, he said "We are brothers" and peace must prevail.

Sajeeb Karr, a member of the Hindu community in Dhaka, who visited the temple on Friday along with his wife to seek blessings for their two-month-old daughter, also said "it feels normal now".

A woman from the Hindu community in Dhaka who visits the temple almost every Friday, on the condition of anonymity, told PTI, "I come here to find mental peace and Maa makes us calm. I also go to Siddheshwari Kali temple here."

Members of the Hindu community gather at the Dhakeswari Temple premises to celebrate Durga Puja and other festivals, and now the temple committee is gearing up for the Janmashtami festival on August 26.

"We will have a celebration here on Monday to mark the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, and interim government 's religious affairs adviser and law affairs adviser Asif Nazrul and information adviser Nahid Islam are also expected to visit the temple that day," the priest said.

Maitro said those who participated in the agitation "fought against discrimination, and if a government can rule in a good way, then it is betterment for everybody, people of all communities...But, we as priests need to continue our work, no matter which party comes to power next".
BARCELONA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- America's Cup holders Emirates Team New Zealand showed their dominance in the second day of the preliminary regattas in Barcelona on Friday.

The New Zealand crew won their opening race against INEOS Britannia by 52 seconds, and didn't need to compete in their second race of the day against France's Orient Express Racing Team, with their rivals forced to retire for a "major issue," which won't stop Orient Express competing on Saturday.

Blair Tuke, the flight controller and trimmer for Emirates Team New Zealand, was content with the opening performance.

"We had a great start against INEOS," he said. "It was a well-executed start."

"We are trying to get as much out of every race as we can and we've certainly done that so far."

INEOS Britannia captain Ben Ainslie admitted his yacht had "made a mess" of their start and admitted he was "obviously disappointed with the start." The British have made without a win so far.

Friday's other two races saw American yacht NYYC American Magic win over the Swiss Alinghi Red Bull Racing by 56 seconds.

However, they lost their leg against the Italians of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli where they went down to a 40-second defeat.

"We did a great job of that in the first race, got off clean, and managed to get our nose just in front. From there we sailed really well," said Paul Goodison, who is port helm on the American yacht, before admitting things "didn't go our way," in the second race.

"The Italians did a good job of holding us outside the line, which was tough for us," said Goodison, while Francesco Bruni, helmsman for Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, considered it was a "positive phase for the team, and for sure the boat is going well. The team is sailing well, but we have to stay focused because things can change very quickly from one day to another and we know that all the teams are looking at us." 
VARNA, Bulgaria -- Teachers in Bulgaria say they are facing threats for signing a petition opposing recently passed legislation banning LGBT propaganda in schools and point the finger of blame at the far-right Revival party, initiator of the widely criticized controversial law.

The leader of Revival, Kostadin Kostadinov, said on August 22 that he would file a report with the Prosecutors Office about educators who have voiced opposition to the law.

The law, passed on August 7 in parliament with the backing of pro-European parties, sparked protests in Sofia and elsewhere in the largely conservative Balkan country of some 6.5 million people.

The amendment to the country's education code prohibits the "propaganda, promotion, or incitement" of LGBT "ideas and views" in schools, without specifying further details.

The pro-Western reformist We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB) coalition is still hoping to gather support in the National Assembly, Bulgaria's unicameral parliament, to repeal the legislation.

Critics said the law is nearly identical to the Russian anti-LGBT propaganda law adopted in 2012 and the Hungarian anti-LGBT propaganda law adopted in 2021, both of which have been deemed by various international stakeholders and institutions as incompatible with international and European human rights standards.

Bulgaria is one of the few countries in the European Union that does not give equal civil rights to people of differing sexual orientations. Last year, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg obliged Bulgaria to create a legal framework to recognize same-sex relationships, an obligation with which Sofia has not yet complied.

The LGBT community and supporters in Bulgaria often face verbal as well as physical threats and attack, including the 2021 targeting of an LGBT center in Sofia.

Some 460 teachers and other specialists in the educational field signed a petition to demand the amended law to be scrapped. About 20 from the Black Sea resort of Varna said they were targeted by the local branch of the Revival party, including on Facebook.

Martin Stoyanov, a school psychologist in Varna, said a teacher in the Black Sea town had contacted him late one night recently on Viber, expressing fears over the recent threats.

"At some point we're becoming a country where it's dangerous to express your opinion," Stoyanov told RFE/RLs Bulgarian Service.

The Facebook post on August 21 on the account linked to the Varna branch of the Revival party included what it termed a "black list" of local educators who had signed the petition -- including Stoyanov -- against the newly amended law, referring to them as "parasites."

A day later, Kostadinov, long a controversial figure and spreader of pro-Kremlin disinformation, said he would hand over to the Prosecutor's Office the names of some 800 teachers he claimed were "criminals" who "want to push homosexual propaganda."

The threatened teachers in Varna have received much support.

The mayor of Varna, Blagomir Kotsev, voiced his support in a Facebook post on August 22, urging them to be brave and to personally contact him if they are threatened.

Pavel Popov, Varnas deputy mayor who is also in charge of educational matters, told RFE/RL that Revival was calling for "repressive actions against Bulgarian teachers."

"Bulgarian teachers cannot be talked about in this way," said Stella Nikolova, a member of the National Assembly from Varna and a member of the PP-DB bloc in a Facebook post on August 22.

"We demand that all institutions take action to protect citizens' rights and to be held accountable for the fascist methods by which a political power operates," Nikolova wrote.

The Revival party did not respond to request by RFE/RLs Bulgarian Service for comment.

Several petitions have been launched condemning the vaguely worded changes to education code. One that garnered the signatures of nearly 460 teachers and educators was spearheaded by Boris Iliev, a teacher of Bulgarian literature and language at the National Science and Mathematics High School in Sofia.

"We have authentic arguments against the changes because our work depends on this law," Iliev told RFE/RL.

"When I saw the threats made against colleagues, I was extremely worried," Iliev added.

Denislava Nikolaeva said she was shocked when the name of her sons teacher appeared on the Revival posting.

"We are collapsing as a society," Denislava told RFE/RL.
TBILISI -- Georgia's notorious "foreign-agent" law has come into effect. But not everyone is obeying it.

Georgia formally launched its database of "organizations serving the interests of a foreign power" on August 1; NGOs and media organizations that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad were given one month to register.

That includes the Tbilisi-based International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), a Tbilisi-based election-monitoring group that gets virtually all of its funding from Western donors such as the European Union, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Washington, D.C.-based National Endowment for Democracy, and various European embassies.

But ISFED isn't registering in the database. Along with over 400 other organizations in Georgia, they are publicly refusing to submit as an act of civil disobedience.

"The 'Russian law' will not work in our country!" the organizations wrote in an open letter. "It will remain to be an unrecognized document to which none of us will obey!"

They call it the "Russian law" because, in 2012, Russia also created a registry of "foreign agents" made up of groups who got funding from abroad. Over the years, Russia's laws on foreign agents became stricter and stricter, eventually strangling nearly all independent voices in the country.

Many fear the same fate could befall Georgia, and the refuseniks here say their Russian counterparts made a tactical error by trying to comply with the first, relatively mild version of the law.

"We saw this scenario in Russia, [and] we know where it leads," Irina Mamulashvili, a program manager at ISFED, told RFE/RL.

Both the ruling Georgian Dream party and the opposition see the adoption of the law as a turning point in the country's politics.

For Georgian Dream, which pushed the law through this spring over huge street protests and the objections by its U.S. and European partners, the legislation is a necessary tool to strengthen the state's sovereignty against what it sees as the corrosive influence of foreign donors and their local "agents."

For Georgia's opposition and large NGO sector, it is rather a dangerous power grab for a ruling party they believe is bent on taking the country in an authoritarian, anti-Western direction.

By demonstratively refusing to obey the law, the NGOs are setting the stage for a standoff with the authorities. By not registering they will face substantial fines, with unclear prospects of how to pay them.

Their hope is they can hold on and keep afloat until parliamentary elections, scheduled for October 26. If the opposition wins, it has vowed to repeal the law. If not, the organizations face an uncertain future.

"Our immediate priority is to somehow get to this election," Mamulashvili said. "After the elections," she said, "we honestly don't know what we're going to do."

Transparency Or Harassment?

The refusal to register is evidence that the groups have something to hide, Georgian Dream leaders have charged.

The ruling party released a report tracking the public disclosures of 474 organizations who had announced that they refused to register. Eighty percent of the organizations did not publicly disclose the amounts of their grants, and 70 percent did not reveal who their donors were, parliamentary speaker Shalva Papuashvili said at a July 15 briefing.

"This proves their resistance to the transparency law is not about stigmatization but about hiding how funds are spent," he said.

Party officials have further accused the NGOs' Western donors of abetting that evasion.

"We are receiving information that, on the one hand, [donors] are telling [NGOs] that the organizations that will register won't receive grants," Papuashvili told another briefing, on July 30.

"On the other hand, there are consultations on how to circumvent this law and the various ways and machinations they can use so that they do not register and, at the same time, receive grants."

Georgia's major donors have denied those allegations.

"USAID does not provide legal counsel to partners or organizations, and as such, we do not provide any advice regarding their compliance with laws," the agency told RFE/RL in a statement. "The decision whether to register lies with the organizations and is not subject to our conversation with [civil society organizations]," the EU delegation in Tbilisi told RFE/RL.

The donors and their Georgian grantees argue further that the rhetoric around "transparency" is a red herring and that as a rule the biggest organizations (including ISFED) proudly display information about their funding on their Web pages.

At a July 30 briefing to roll out the registry, Justice Minister Rati Bregadze said organizations who fail to sign up will be fined 25,000 lari (about $9,300) and would be subject to "forced registration," a phrase he has not elaborated on.

Any organization entered in the registry -- forcibly or not -- would then have 10 days to submit various forms detailing their income and expenditures. Failure to submit them would incur an additional 10,000 lari ($3,700) fine.

The amount of paperwork required came as a shock even to those who had already opposed the law. The forms required information about every expenditure the organization made and the name, personal identification number, and bank details of the person being paid for it. All the accounting had to be completed retroactively, back to 2023, bolstering critics' claims that mere transparency was not the aim.

Given how detailed the forms are, there are "serious questions about how feasible it is, especially within the time limit," said one official at a Western donor institution speaking on condition of anonymity because they didn't want to endanger their grantees.

"The level of detail required amounts to harassment," an official at a second Western donor institution said, who also requested anonymity so as not to put their grantees in danger.

Moving Abroad

Although there are over 20,000 "nonentrepreneurial legal entities" -- the formal term in Georgia for the organizations subject to the law -- on the books, most of those are inactive, and there are probably somewhere between 1,000 and 3,000 groups actually operating, the first donor official estimated.

It's not known how many intend to register, and strategies for those who intend to evade the law vary. While some plan to openly defy the law, others hope that by moving their legal registration abroad they can both continue to do their work in Georgia legally without having to register.

One opposition news website, Tabula.ge, announced it would be dropping its domain name and moving to a yet-undisclosed European country to keep publishing.

"Tabula is a Georgian media [organization]. It will remain a Georgian media [organization], and it will continue to do Georgian work," its editor in chief, Levan Sutidze, told RFE/RL's Georgian Service. In Europe, he said, Tabula "will be legally protected from the influence and manipulations of the Russian government."

Another organization is shutting down and planning to recenter operations in Armenia, the group's head told RFE/RL on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.

"It is a very big fine," the person said. "We really don't have the resources to pay out the fines, because we can barely make ends meet."

The organization's plan is to continue to operate in Georgia, but pay employees in Georgia from the Armenian bank account. Given that the "foreign-agent" law only applies to organizations, not individuals, the organization's lawyers advised them that would not violate the law.

Georgian-based donors say they can keep funding organizations who do that.

"In principle, there is no problem registering in another country," the first donor official said. "If you keep a bank account here [in Georgia] and open an affiliated entity abroad, we can pay to the bank in the other country and they can move the money to Georgia."

Still, Georgian Dream leaders have criticized organizations planning to move abroad. Parliamentary speaker Papuashvili called the idea "ridiculous and beyond the bounds of seriousness." Organizations who legally move abroad but continue to work in Georgia "directly turn into a foreign actor," Papuashvili said.

The first donor official said further amendments to the law were likely: "If people find loopholes, the government will close them very quickly."

'Not Everyone Can Afford to Be So Principled'

While a relatively small number of Tbilisi-based, politically engaged NGOs have been at the center of this conflict, the law equally affects the many more civic organizations around the country who help citizens and get foreign grants to do it. And for many of them, paying such a large fine just isn't an option.

"I don't know why they did that [imposed such a large financial penalty]. They knew very well that it's very difficult for local organizations to mobilize those kind of funds," said Marika Mghebrishvili, head of the Biliki organization in the central Georgian city of Gori.

Biliki runs a variety of educational and social programs for children in Gori and the surrounding region. The organization gets funding from the Georgian government to run a daycare center in Gori and from USAID to conduct civic educational programs for schoolchildren around the region.

In response to the law, Biliki is splitting into two organizations: one for foreign-funded projects and one for the rest. Mghebrishvili told RFE/RL's Georgian Service they're not sure if they will comply with the law.

"We don't want to register, but we will know the exact answer later. We are still debating this matter," she said. "There are many unanswered questions."

In general, organizations such as Biliki are more likely to register. They are "less concerned with image and ideology" and are "service providers who don't care too much about being in some kind of registry," the first donor official said. They also are less likely to be able to afford the fine.

"Not everyone can afford to be so principled," the official said.

Still, many small, regional organizations are on the list of those vowing to flout the law -- the Akhalsopeli Youth Center, Gori Photographers' Club, and Racha Tourism Club, among others.

But the first donor official added that the government is likely to be selective in its enforcement of the law -- especially before the elections, when time is short -- and so less likely to go after apolitical service providers.

"They're not going to bother with the small organization in [the rural region of] Kakheti helping disabled people. This is designed to keep certain organizations from operating," the first official said. "At the top of the list: independent media and election watchdog organizations."

Passing The Hat

It remains unclear how the organizations who will be fined are going to pay up.

Donor-funded organizations typically get money for specific projects, with expenses accounted for in advance. Most don't have tens of thousands of dollars on hand for paying fines.

"There is no clearly defined way how we are going to pay this [fine] or from which donor, or from which budget, because we don't have a separate section for fines or something like that," ISFED's Mamulashvili said.

One possibility is crowdfunding. Another is the hope from many in Georgia's NGO community that their donors -- who have vociferously opposed the law -- might help pay the fines they incur for resisting the laws.

"I cannot say they 'should' do that, but they of course know we have project-based budgets, which is something that makes it challenging to pay fines," Mamulashvili said. "So, let's see, maybe they will also show a willingness to support us."

There is a rough precedent: Under a 2021 EU-brokered deal between Georgian Dream and the opposition, the EU paid the bail for opposition leader Nika Melia on charges related to anti-government protests he helped organize.

But officials from Western aid agencies say NGO requests to pay the fines have been repeatedly rebuffed, citing laws in their own countries.

"We're not paying the fines. It's as simple as that," said one Western diplomat based in Tbilisi, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue. "We are all about observing the rule of law."

Asked whether they would pay the fines, the USAID mission in Tbilisi sent RFE/RL a statement: "Costs associated with fines and penalties are generally not covered by USAID." Asked the same question, the EU delegation in Tbilisi responded: "EU grant agreements do not make provisions for the payment of fines."

Meanwhile, a parallel group of NGOs and media organizations is pursuing lawsuits against the legislation, in Georgia's Constitutional Court and in the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights. And they are bracing for September, when they will start to see how strictly the government intends to enforce the law.

"That is the big question," the first donor official said.

"One thing that I'm sure was intentional was to keep the NGOs and media organizations distracted," the official continued. "And it's worked -- they're all figuring out how to survive at the moment."
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.
As Ukraine marks 33 years of independence on August 24, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has announced that 115 Ukrainian prisoners were released in a swap with Russia.

"Another 115 of our defenders have returned home today. They are warriors from the National Guard, the Armed Forces, the Navy, and the State Border Guard Service," Zelenskiy said in a message on X.



"We remember everyone. We are searching for them and making every effort to bring them all back," he said.

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.



Some of the released Ukrainian prisoners spoke to RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service from a location Ukrainian authorities requested not be disclosed.



Ihor, who provided only his first name, said he was captured while serving as a conscript in National Guard Unit 3057, part of the Ukrainian forces that defended the city of Mariupol and surrendered to Russia in May 2022.

According to a Ukrainian governmental body that oversees the treatment of prisoners of war, 82 of the freed Ukrainian soldiers had fought in Mariupol.

"They led us out of the prison cell at 5 a.m. There were no words, no explanation. They took us to the office and gave us our uniforms to put them on. Then they took us somewhere in cars," Ihor said. "No one told us whether that was a simple transfer to another prison or a prisoner swap. We arrived at an air base and were put on a plane. The plane arrived at another air base. More than 100 of us gathered there. Only then we understood that this was a prisoner swap."



Andriy, another freed soldier who gave only his first name, said he served in the same National Guard unit.



"I kept dreaming about it all the time in captivity -- that I'll be back on August 24," said Andriy, who struggled to answer in Ukrainian because he had become accustomed to speaking Russian while in captivity. "It's a feeling beyond description."

Zelenskiy, referring to Russian troops who have been taken prisoner during Ukraine's ongoing incursion into Russia's Kursk region that started on August 6, said in his post on X that "I am grateful to each unit that replenishes our exchange fund.



Ukraine previously said that Russian soldiers taken prisoner in Kursk would be used as an "exchange fund" to release Ukrainian troops from Russian captivity.



Separately, Russia's Defense Ministry said it received 115 of its own troops, who had been captured in the Kursk region, in exchange for the same number of Ukrainian war prisoners.



It said the prisoner exchange was mediated by the United Arab Emirates.



Zelenskiy also highlighted the heroic resistance of his people in the face of Russia's unprovoked invasion in remarks dedicated to Ukraine's Independence Day on August 24 -- a day that also marked the somber milestone of 30 months of war.

"Independence is in every one of us. And united, we can win.... We withstood, restrained, and repulsed the enemy, and now we are pushing it in its swamps. We know what independence is, how difficult it is to revive it, how difficult it is to protect. But we also know that everything depends on us," he said.

No festivities or parades are scheduled, with many Ukrainians preferring to mark 33 years of independence by honoring those killed in the war.

Ukraine says its incursion in Russia's border region of Kursk -- which took Moscow by surprise, shocked Russia's ruling elites, and brought more than 1,260 square kilometers and 92 settlements under its control -- is meant to establish a buffer zone that will put an end to Moscow's incessant shelling of Ukrainian civilian areas and infrastructure from across the border.

Ukraine's leadership has repeatedly clarified the move is not aimed at gaining territory, unlike Russia's full-scale invasion that started on February 24, 2022, exactly 2 1/2 years ago.

"There must be a strong border between us and the enemy, and no walls between Ukrainians, because Ukraine is in each and every one of us," Zelenskiy said in his message recorded symbolically in the northeastern border town of Sumy, close to where Ukrainian forces crossed into Russia on August 6.

"Those who sought to turn our lands into a buffer zone should now worry that their own country doesn't become a buffer federation," he said. "This is how independence responds."

Zelenskiy also indirectly warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that his war was doomed to fail, saying that "the sick grandfather from the Red Square...will not dictate his red lines to us."

"How we live, what path we follow, and what choices we make -- only Ukraine and Ukrainians will determine those for themselves. Because that's how independence works," he added.

As Ukraine's incursion into Kursk continues, Russia is pressing an offensive in Ukraine's eastern region of Donetsk aimed at capturing the regional hub of Pokrovsk.

Ukrainian soldiers fighting in the east celebrated Independence Day with guns in their hands. Some of them shared their thoughts about the meaning of independence with RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service.

Denys, an officer with the 93rd Mechanized Brigade, said his generation bears a responsibility to preserve Ukraine's independence for their children's future.

"The cowardice of parents leads to their children's slavery. We are fighting so our children do not turn into slaves," Denys said.

"Freedom is when you can breathe freely without a whip above you," Vitaliy, a soldier with the 93rd Mechanized Brigade, told RFE/RL.

"Right now, independence means freedom from [Russians], ending this war, peaceful skies above us, and saving children from dying," Vitaliy added.

"For me, independence is about saving our country and not letting the war pass on to our children," said Roman, an officer from the 100th Mechanized Brigade.

General Oleksandr Syrskiy, who was promoted from colonel general to general on August 24, highlighted the sacrifices of Ukrainian soldiers in defending the country's independence in a post on Telegram.

"We defended our independence from the first days of war -- when we burned enemy columns, defended Kyiv, liberated Kharkiv region, and raised our flag over Kherson and Snake Island. The fight for our independence continues -- in Pokrovsk, Toretsk, Kharkiv, and other directions where our soldiers stop and destroy the enemy's overwhelming force," said Syrskiy.

Russian shelling killed five people and wounded five others on August 24 in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kostyantynivka, Ukraine's prosecutor general said.



"As a result of this enemy attack five residents -- three men and two women -- suffered fatal injuries," the prosecutor said in a statement.

Ukraine, whose civilian and energy infrastructure has been battered by Russian drone strikes for years, has in turn been targeting in recent months oil and fuel facilities inside Russia that work for the military.

In the most recent strike, Ukrainian drones early on August 24 set an ammunition depot on fire in the Ostrogozhsk district of Russia's Voronezh region.

Regional Governor Aleksandr Gusev said on Telegram that the fire was started by falling drone debris and caused ammunition to explode. He said there were no casualties.

Ostrogozhsk also houses a training center for armored vehicle operators.

The Belgorod region was also attacked by drones at night, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported, adding that two people were wounded.

Russia's Defense Ministry said five drones were downed over Voronezh and one each over the Belgorod and Bryansk regions.

RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service correspondent Roman Pahulych contributed to this report.
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
A total of 115 prisoners of war returned from Russia to Ukraine on August 24, the country's Independence Day. Soldiers were brought on buses to a place that Ukrainian authorities had asked to keep undisclosed. It was the 55th prisoner swap since Russia's full-scale invasion 2 1/2 years ago. RFE/RL talked to Andriy and Ihor, two freed conscripts from the National Guard. Their unit, No. 3057, was part of the Ukrainian forces who defended the city of Mariupol and surrendered to Russia in May 2022.
NEW DELHI, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The bodies of 27 Indians killed in a bus crash in neighboring Nepal will be brought to India Saturday, officials said.

The accident took place on Friday after a tourist bus from India's Uttar Pradesh skidded off the highway and plunged into the Marsyangdi river in central Nepal, killing 27 and injuring 16 others.

Twenty-four of the deceased have been identified as pilgrims hailing from the western state of Maharashtra.

"After the post-mortem of bodies, Nepali authorities will hand them over to Indian officials, who will bring them to Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh by road. From there, they will be transported to Nashik in a specially arranged Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft and then handed over to their respective families," an official said.

The ill-fated bus with passengers mostly from Maharashtra's Jalgaon district was heading to the Nepal capital Kathmandu from the mountainous tourist resort of Pokhara. However, it met with an accident in Tanahun district, about 110 km west of Kathmandu. 
Punjab News: An NRI was shot dead in Amritsar

Family members of the injured youth kept requesting the attackers to fire, but the attackers did not listen to them.

Punjab's Amritsar Crime NRI Shot Dead Latest News Today: In a shocking incident, an NRI, Sukhchain Singh, was shot at his home in Daburji village, Amritsar, after he recently returned from the USA.

According to information, the shocking incident was caught on CCTV and showed two assailants firing three shots at him.

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It has been reported that a young American citizen was shot dead at Darburji town on the Amritsar-Jalandhar GT road. In the video, three miscreants were seen entering the house and starting shooting at the person. Meanwhile, the whole family was trying to rescue them.

The police said that three attackers entered the house on the pretext of asking the RC of the car and started shooting at Sukhchain Singh.

Meanwhile, the family members of the injured youth kept requesting the attackers to fire, but the attackers did not listen to a single word and shot Sukhchain Singh in the head and neck of Rinku.

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For more news apart from, Punjab's Amritsar Crime NRI Shot Dead Latest News Today, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
From Kulhad Pizza Couple, to Sona Dey, Viral MMS Cases Raise Concern Over Privacy

This needs to end as it not only affects the person but also his/her family.

Viral MMS Cases in India: In the past few years, India witnessed a disturbing rise in the number of viral MMS cases, raising concerns related to privacy, cyber safety, and the psychological well-being of those involved. These incidents, involving the unauthorized recording and sharing of explicit videos, have not only caused immense distress to the victims but have also highlighted the urgent need for stricter laws and better enforcement to protect individuals from such violations. Trisha Kar Madhu's viral MMS video, Anjali Arora's MMS video, Chandigarh University MMS Scandal, Kulhad Pizza Couple MMS Video, Aman Ramgarhia MMS Video, Sona Dey's MMS Video, and Preet Jatti MMS video is among the distressful events that took place in a last few years. While some claim to not have been part of the videos and that the videos were deepfaked, some accept the fact that it was only them in the video but felt invaded in terms of their privacy.

A Series of Alarming Incidents

Over the last few years, multiple cases of viral MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) have surfaced across the country, including Punjab, shaking the community and igniting widespread outrage. The victims, often unaware that they were being recorded, have had their private moments circulated on social media platforms without consent, leading to severe social, emotional, and sometimes legal repercussions.

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Some of the most shocking incidents included Trisha Kar Madhu's viral MMS video, the Chandigarh University MMS Scandal, the Kulhad Pizza Couple MMS Video, Aman Ramgarhia's MMS Video, Sona Dey MMS Video, Anjali Arora MMS video, and Preet Jatti MMS video.

In Mohali, a group of college students found themselves at the center of a scandal. A female student was allegedly coerced into recording intimate moments, which were later leaked online. The incident led to massive protests, with students demanding justice and stronger measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.

In another disturbing case from Ludhiana, the Kulhad Pizza couples private video was leaked online after their mobile phone was stolen. Despite repeated appeals to have the content removed, the video continued to circulate on various platforms, causing irreversible damage to the victims' reputations and mental health.

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These cases are just the tip of the iceberg, as many other incidents go unreported due to the stigma and fear of social ostracization that victims often face. The rapid spread of these videos, enabled by the pervasive use of smartphones and social media, has made it increasingly difficult to contain the damage once the content is out in the public domain.

Impact on Victims

The psychological impact on the victims of viral MMS cases is profound. Many suffer from anxiety, depression, and in some tragic instances, have even attempted suicide. The violation of privacy, combined with the public shaming that often follows, leaves lasting scars that can take years to heal. Victims not only deal with the trauma of the incident itself but also face societal judgment, often being unfairly blamed for what happened.

Families of the victims are also deeply affected, as they grapple with the social stigma and the challenge of supporting their loved ones through such a harrowing experience. The lack of adequate support systems and the slow pace of legal proceedings often exacerbate the situation, leaving victims feeling helpless and isolated.

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Legal and Social Response

In response to the rising number of viral MMS cases, law enforcement agencies have taken steps to crack down on those responsible for these heinous acts. Police have launched investigations, arrested suspects, and in some cases, managed to trace and remove the videos from circulation. However, the sheer volume of such incidents and the speed at which content spreads online make it a daunting task to curb this menace completely.

Moreover, there is a growing call for the introduction of stricter laws to protect individuals from privacy violations, as well as the establishment of fast-track courts to deal with such cases swiftly.

The Role of Technology and Social Media

The role of technology and social media in the proliferation of viral MMS cases cannot be overlooked. While smartphones and social media platforms have transformed the way people communicate and share information, they have also created avenues for the misuse of technology. The ease with which videos can be recorded, shared, and accessed has made it increasingly difficult to protect privacy in the digital age.

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Social media companies are under growing pressure to take more responsibility in monitoring and removing explicit content that violates privacy. While platforms have policies in place to report and remove such content, the speed of action and the effectiveness of these measures are often called into question.

A Call for Collective Responsibility

The surge in viral MMS cases is a stark reminder of the dark side of technological advancements. As society grapples with the implications of these incidents, it is clear that a collective effort is needed to address the issue. This includes stricter enforcement of laws, better support for victims, and a cultural shift towards respecting privacy and understanding the grave consequences of violating it.

Educating the public, particularly the youth, about the responsible use of technology and the importance of consent is crucial in preventing such incidents in the future. As a community, there is a need to stand against the spread of explicit content and support those who have been wronged, ensuring that they are treated with dignity and compassion.

Trisha Kar Madhu's viral MMS video, Chandigarh University MMS Scandal, Anjali Arora's MMS video, Kulhad Pizza Couple MMS Video, Aman Ramgarhia's MMS Video, Sona Dey's MMS Video, and Preet Jatti MMS video are only to name a few, but there are still many such incidents which are not even reported. This needs to end as it not only affects the person but also his/her family.

(For more news apart from viral MMS cases in India  Trisha Kar Madhu's viral MMS video, Anjali Arora MMS video, Chandigarh University MMS Scandal, Kulhad Pizza Couple MMS Video, Aman Ramgarhia MMS Video, Sona Dey MMS Video, and Preet Jatti MMS video, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)


Asylum Claims By Indians, including Punjabis, At Canadian Airports Surge by Over 500 percent

The sheer volume of asylum claims filed at Canadian airports by Indian nationals has set new records.

Asylum cases from India and Punjab in Canada: In a significant and unprecedented development, Canada has witnessed an explosive surge in asylum seekers from India, including Punjabis, with a surge of over 500 percent in the second quarter of 2024, as compared to the same period last year.

The sheer volume of asylum claims filed at Canadian airports by Indian nationals has set new records. This has raised concerns and prompted discussions about the underlying causes and potential implications for both Canada and India.

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Not only from India, claims by Bangladeshis at Canadian airports have also increased by over 1,200 percent and by nearly 700 percent from Nigerians.

Year Total number of Asylum claims 2024 (January  June) 16,800 2023 11,265 2022 4,100 2021 1,495

This year, the number of Indians seeking asylum at Canadian airports has broken all records. From January 2024 to June 2024, 16,800 Indians have sought asylum at Canadian airports. 30 percent of them are from Punjab alone.

(For more news apart from Asylum cases from India and Punjab in Canada, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
CAIRO, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Iranian counterpart Seyyed Abbas Araghchi on Saturday exchanged views on the deteriorating regional situation in light of the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.

During a phone conversation, the two ministers also discussed the "repeated Israeli violations" of international law and international humanitarian law, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Abdelatty expressed Egypt's aspiration to broker a Gaza ceasefire agreement and a hostage-prisoner exchange deal between the warring parties, hoping that the mediation efforts would deescalate the situation to avoid slipping into a regional cycle of violence and escalation, according to the statement.

The two ministers also agreed to continue consultations to follow up on the course of bilateral relations and regional developments.

The Gaza ceasefire talks reportedly resumed in Cairo earlier this week and continue over the weekend.

On Thursday, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office confirmed the arrival of the heads of the Israeli Security Agency and the Mossad intelligence service in Cairo to participate in the negotiations for a hostage release deal.

On Saturday, Hamas announced the arrival of its delegation in Egypt in the evening to "listen to" the results of the negotiations.

Last Friday, the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, mediators of the ceasefire talks, announced the conclusion of two days of discussion in Doha, where a new Gaza ceasefire proposal was presented.

The mediators characterized the discussions as constructive and conducted in a positive environment. However, Hamas, which did not participate directly in the Doha negotiations, accused Israel of adding new conditions to a previously supported proposal and expressed skepticism about the negotiations' outcome. 
August 24, 2024

Click here for a roundup of local and world news

Newsflash

Newsroom, 24.08.2024, 13:55

CONVENTION Romanian Social Democrats convene today to elect their new leadership and to appoint their candidate in the forthcoming presidential election. The party leader, PM Marcel Ciolacu, seeks a new term in office, backed by a team of 21 candidates. Ciolacu has also announced he will be running for president of Romania, and is to be validated by the party congress today. Another topic on todays agenda is the election campaign, and the Social Democratic spokesman, Lucian Romascanu, said the party is able to mobilise so that in December Romania may have a Social Democratic president. The party last won a presidential race in 2000. The first round of the election is scheduled on November 24, and the second on December 8th.

UKRAINE The president of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, sent a letter to his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on Ukraines Independence Day. According to the Romanian presidency, Iohannis voiced his appreciation for the courage and resilience of the Ukrainian armed forces and civilians in defending their countrys independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. He reiterated Bucharests firm commitment to provide constant, predictable and multidimensional support to Ukraine until its victory and further on in its reconstruction and European integration process. Iohannis emphasized that the security cooperation agreement signed by the 2 countries in July, on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington, proves that Romanias support is not circumstantial, but long-standing, predictable and transparent. On Ukraines Independence Day, the Cotroceni Palace in Bucuresti, the headquarters of the Romanian presidency, will be lit tonight in Ukraines national colours.

CROPS The European Unions maize output will be smaller because of the drought and extreme heat in Romania, whose crops will be 30% lower. Estimates for the EUs maize output were cut from 63 million tonnes, as reported last year, to 60-61 million tonnes, which is still above the level in 2022, when the drought affected the entire continent. Romanias output is expected to drop from around 11 million tonnes last year to less than 8 million this autumn. In France, favourable humidity levels kept maize crops in a generally good condition, and the increase of the areas under crops should ensure higher output, namely over 14 million tonnes. In Poland, smaller areas under maize crops may lead to a 13% drop in output, while in Germany the crops are estimated to be 2% lower.

PENSIONS The National Liberal Party, a junior member of the ruling coalition in Romania, proposes new amendments to the Pensions Law, so as to address the situation of pensioners whose benefits have been cut down in the latest revision. The Liberal leader and Senate speaker Nicolae Ciuca said the law should not have retrospective effect, and confirmed that the pensioners whose benefits have been cut down on paper will not benefit from cost-of-living adjustments for several years, although they will not be paid smaller amounts. According to official data, over 700,000 pensioners have received decisions by which their benefits have been cut down. These include workers in hazardous conditions, such as coal miners, engine drivers and nuclear industry personnel, who were able to stop working before the standard retirement age. Also at a disadvantage are people with disabilities, where the revised benefits are smaller by as much as 60%, for instance for the visually impaired. Hundreds of people are already asking for explanations from the authorities. They have until September 1 to appeal the decisions, and may even take the matter to court.

SCHOOLS Students in secondary schools and high schools in Romania with final grades above 9.50 will receive merits scholarships, under the new School Regulations recently published in the Official Journal. Merit and resilience scholarships will be granted to at least 30% of the students in each class, including in professional and dual education units. Merit scholarships for 5th graders will be granted based on the average grades in the first two modules of the current school year. For 9th-graders, scholarships will be granted based on the high school admission results, which should be above 9.50. Scholarships in public secondary schools and high schools are financed by the education ministry, except for those in military high schools, which will be funded by the defence ministry. For the new academic year, the merit scholarship minimum amount is nearly EUR 90. This amount may be increased by school boards, depending on the budget earmarked by the local authorities. (AMP)
THE WEEK IN REVIEW

19-23 August, 2024

Eveniment top

Roxana Vasile, 24.08.2024, 13:41

Elections are coming

The government in Bucharest established, this week, the calendar of the parliamentary elections scheduled for December 1, right on the National Day of Romania. The electoral campaign will start on November 1, and will end in the morning of November 30. In the country, Romanians will be able to vote on December 1, between 7:00 and 21:00, and in the diaspora, voting will begin on November 30, at 7:00 local time and will end on December 1, at 21:00 local time. As the presidential elections will take place in Romania towards the end of the year, the list of candidates is gradually starting to take shape. One of the aspirants to the highest office in the state is Social-Democratic Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, who recently announced that he will enter the presidential race. The President of the Senate, Liberal Nicolae Ciuca, said he was convinced that he would reach the second round with the PSD leader. Among those who have so far announced their intention to run are USR president Elena Lasconi, AUR leader George Simion, and MEP Diana Iovanovici Sosoaca.

Who does Romania propose for the European Commission?

Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced that he will propose for European Commissioner from Romania the social democrat Victor Negrescu, vice-president of the European Parliament and chief negotiator of the Parliament regarding the Union budget for 2025. The announcement was made in Brussels, where the Prime Minister had a meeting with the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who is in full negotiations with the European political groups for the configuration of the future community executive, and for those who will occupy the positions of commissioners. Marcel Ciolacu stated that he is leaning towards a relevant economic portfolio in the future configuration of the Commission. The Prime Minister also discussed with the President of the European Commission about the renegotiation of the PNRR, as well as the future agreement on the reduction of the budget deficit.

Increased pensions, but not too much

Retirees from the public pension system in Romania have started, since Monday, to receive the decisions to recalculate their pensions based on a new law that is intended to be reparative and fair. In most cases, people will receive higher pensions from September. But there will also be retirees whose pensions will decrease, but  the government promises  only on paper, because they will continue to collect the same money as before. To make things clear, in the coming days, an official document will be sent to pensioners from the public system informing them that, whatever the calculation is on paper, the pension paid will not be lower than before. Hundreds of pensioners complained about the recalculation decisions they received, which, in their opinion, did not reflect the real value of the period in which they were employed. Those who have received recalculation decisions with lower pensions must know, however, that they will remain with the current non-indexed income for a longer period of time, meaning until, after the indexation of the reference point, the recalculated pension will exceed the one they now receive.

Economic outlook in decline?

Romania could have, this year, an economic growth of 3.4%, lower than the Governments expectations  the Fiscal Council pointed out. In its annual report, the independent institution warns, at the same time, that the budget deficit will exceed 7% of GDP at the end of the year, and that there is even a risk that it will move towards 8%, under the conditions in which the new pension law, in addition to the wage increases granted in the public sector, it will generate additional costs. The representatives of the Fiscal Council signal that there is a need for policies that support fiscal and budgetary consolidation in the medium term both in terms of revenues and increasing the level of collection.

TAROM

The national air transport company TAROM  owned by the Romanian State  last year reduced its losses to 18 million euros, from an average of 55 million euros per year in the period 2017-2022, and could turn a profit in 2024, after accumulating losses of almost 300 million euros in the last 6 years. The interim head of the company, Costin Iordache, said that the restructuring would be completed this year, after TAROM benefited, in April, from state aid approved by the European Commission. TAROM recently sold the rights to operate flights at London Heathrow airport, and is going to sell four Airbus 318 aircraft, in order to modernize its fleet by integrating the new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, scheduled to arrive in Romania next year. The recovery of the TAROM company also occurs against the background of the increase in the number of passengers registered at Romanian airports.

Romania buys American missiles

The USA has approved the sale to Romania of missiles compatible with F16 aircraft  the American diplomatic mission in Bucharest said. The initial sale is valued at approximately $180 million, with the option to purchase additional missiles. This sale contributes to the modernization effort of the Romanian Air Force. The missiles are also compatible with other NATO and American aircraft, including the F35 aircraft.
New Hyundai Alcazar facelift is available in 4 trim levels, 24 variants, two engine options and seven exterior colour shades

Hyundai recently unveiled the 2024 Alcazar facelift, with launch scheduled on 9th September. Bookings are currently open for a token amount of Rs 25,000. Alcazar facelift is available in both 6-seat and 7-seat configurations. Now, Hyundai has revealed a new TVC featuring their brand ambassador, Shah Rukh Khan.

Alcazar facelift engine options

While a number of new features have been introduced with the Alcazar facelift, the powertrain options are the same as earlier. The 1.5-litre diesel CRDi engine churns out 116 PS and 250 Nm. Transmission choices include 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic. The 1.5-litre petrol turbo GDi engine produces 160 PS and 253 Nm. Users can choose from the 6-speed manual or 7-speed DCT transmission. Drive modes of Eco, Comfort and Sport have been carried forward. Also, the traction control modes of Snow, Sand and Mud are the same as earlier.

Alcazar facelift variants

There are four trim levels  Executive, Prestige, Platinum and Signature. Hyundai Alcazar diesel manual variants include 1.5 MT Executive 7S, 1.5 MT Platinum 7S, 1.5 MT Platinum 7S DT and 1.5 MT Prestige 7S. Users going with the automatic can choose from eight variants. These are 1.5 AT Platinum 6S, 1.5 AT Platinum 6S DT, 1.5 AT Platinum 7S, 1.5 AT Platinum 7S DT, 1.5 AT Signature 6S, 1.5 AT Signature 6S DT, 1.5 AT Signature 7S and 1.5 AT Signature 7S DT.

Users who need a petrol manual can choose from 1.5T MT Executive 7S, 1.5T MT Platinum 7S, 1.5T MT Platinum 7S DT and 1.5T MT Prestige 7S. DCT variants are Alcazar 1.5T DCT Platinum 6S, 1.5T DCT Platinum 6S DT, 1.5T DCT Platinum 7S, 1.5T DCT Platinum 7S DT, 1.5T DCT Signature 6S, 1.5T DCT Signature 6S DT, 1.5T DCT Signature 7S and 1.5T DCT Signature 7S DT.

Higher variants of Hyundai Alcazar facelift see several new additions. It includes dual 10.25-inch screens, automatic climate control and more than 70 connected car features. With focus on user safety, 40 safety features have been made standard across all variants. For top variants, more than 70 safety features are available. It includes the ADAS kit, which is expected to be similar to that of the new Creta.

Features to be carried forward include front ventilated seats, panoramic sunroof and dual camera dash cam setup. Other highlights include Bose premium sound system, air purifier with AQI display, USB charging ports for all rows and wireless smartphone charger. Safety kit includes ESC, front and rear parking sensors, 6-airbags, vehicle stability management, tyre pressure monitoring system, hill start assist control and surround view monitor.

Alcazar facelift colour options

For both petrol and diesel variants, users can choose from seven colour options. These are Abyss Black Pearl, Atlas White, Fiery Red, Ranger Khaki, Robust Emerald Pearl, Starry Night and Titan Grey Matte. Among these, the new colour additions include Fiery Red and Robust Emerald Pearl. The Typhoon Silver colour available with the outgoing model has been discontinued.

2024 Hyundai Alcazar facelift is expected to be offered at a starting price of around Rs 17 lakh. It will continue to challenge rivals such as Tata Safari, XUV700 and MG Hector Plus.
BERLIN, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- A 26-year-old man turned himself in to the German police on Saturday evening, claiming to be responsible for a deadly knife attack on Friday in the western German city of Solingen, the newspaper Bild said.

The attack left three people dead and several seriously injured.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the stabbings.

According to Bild, the suspect contacted the police himself and claimed to be the one being hunted. The newspaper said the suspect is Syrian and came to Germany in 2022.

Two other suspects had been detained by police earlier on Saturday, including a 15-year-old teenager and a second individual following a police operation at a home for refugees in Solingen. 
Palestinians check residential buildings destroyed by Israeli warplanes at the Hamad City, in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Aug. 24, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

GAZA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli army withdrew Saturday from northern Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip and urged residents in central Gaza to evacuate.

Palestinian security sources reported extensive damage to residential buildings after the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Khan Younis.

The sources added the destruction was particularly severe in Hamad City, a neighborhood northwest of the city, with dozens of apartments demolished and towers flattened.

Civil defense teams, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and other organizations and units are busy searching for missing persons in the areas invaded by the Israeli army, said local sources and eyewitnesses.

They added several bodies and remains were recovered and transported to the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis.

Meanwhile, Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee urged residents in some parts of central Gaza to evacuate immediately. "For your safety, evacuate these areas immediately and move to humanitarian zones," he said.

The Israeli army also noted that its combat team from the 7th Brigade is engaged in battles on the outskirts of Deir al-Balah, destroying dozens of "terrorist infrastructures" and eliminating numerous operatives.

In a separate statement, the army claimed to have destroyed a 500-meter-long tunnel belonging to the Islamic Jihad movement in Khan Younis. During a raid, the forces also found and destroyed several protective vests, hand grenades, and a ready-to-launch rocket platform.

Israel has been waging a large-scale offensive against Hamas in Gaza to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 others were taken hostage.

The prolonged conflict has claimed the lives of more than 40,000 Palestinians in the enclave. 

Residential buildings destroyed by Israeli warplanes are pictured at the Hamad City, in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Aug. 24, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Residential buildings destroyed by Israeli warplanes are pictured at the Hamad City, in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Aug. 24, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Residential buildings destroyed by Israeli warplanes are pictured at the Hamad City, in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Aug. 24, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Palestinians check residential buildings destroyed by Israeli warplanes at the Hamad City, in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Aug. 24, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

A residential building destroyed by Israeli warplanes is pictured at the Hamad City, in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Aug. 24, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
BRAZZAVILLE, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Nineteen monkeypox (mpox) cases have been confirmed in the Republic of the Congo based on epidemiological surveillance data from Jan. 9 to April 9, the Ministry of Health and Population said in a statement on Friday.

The cases were found in the departments of Lekoumou, Cuvette, Plateaux and Pointe-Noire.

The Congolese government assured the population in the statement that while mpox is present, the epidemic is under control in the country.

It urged everyone to adhere to preventive measures, including regularly and properly washing hands with clean water and soap, sanitizing the environment, avoiding any contact with wild animals -- whether alive or dead, and avoiding contact with any suspected or confirmed cases.

The statement also noted that mpox symptoms include a fever, headaches, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, muscle pain, and a generalized rash on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.

Both the World Health Organization and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention have recently declared the ongoing mpox outbreak a public health emergency. 
NEW DELHI, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Four persons were injured when a private helicopter crashed in India's south-western state of Maharashtra on Saturday, confirmed a local government official.

The chopper crashed near Paud village in the state's Pune district. No loss of life or property was reported from the ground. The injured persons included the captain flying the ill-fated chopper belonging to a private aviation company.

The chopper was flying from the country's financial capital Mumbai to Hyderabad, the capital city of the southern state of Telangana, when it met with the mishap.

All four injured persons were admitted to a local hospital where their condition was said to be stable. 
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A drug trafficker and predatory lender with Staten Island ties whose 10-year prison sentence was commuted by then-President Donald Trump is once again in trouble with the law.

The defendant, Jonathan Braun, 41 ,is accused of assaulting his wife and her father in Long Island, according to court records and multiple reports.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Labor Day weekend will kick off with a new free fishing day.

The addition of the day  planned for Saturday, Aug. 31  brings the total number of free fishing days in 2024 to seven.

There is no better way to send off summer than adding fishing to your Labor Day weekend plans, said Hochul. Reel in the beauty of New Yorks extraordinary natural waterbodies and take advantage of this affordable opportunity to enjoy the holiday weekend with family and friends.

During free fishing days, the fishing license requirement is waived for freshwater fishing on New Yorks waters.

As summer winds down, its the perfect time to get outside, enjoy nature, and fish with family and friends, said New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar. Fishing can be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of age or ability, and I encourage both new and practiced anglers to use this bonus free fishing day to throw out a line and experience New Yorks world-class fisheries.

To help make fishing even more affordable, DEC has partnered with libraries across the state to provide a free fishing rod lending program; library patrons can sign out a fishing rod. This program offers an opportunity for people to try fishing before purchasing their own gear.

While the requirement for a fishing license is waived during free fishing days, all other fishing regulations remain in effect.

Anglers are reminded that the New York State Department of Health (DOH) provides advice about what fish are safe to eat and how often. Visit DOHs website to search by waterbody location.

free fishing days are part of Hochuls Get Offline, Get Outside initiative, launched this summer to promote physical and mental health by encouraging kids and families to put down their phones and computers, take a break from social media and enjoy recreation and the outdoors.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- With Vice President Kamala Harris accepting the Democratic presidential nomination in Chicago this week, various national polls, which have previously shown former President Donald Trump with a hairline lead, have now shifted.

After vowing to bring common sense to the presidency at the Democratic National Convention, it seems the tide is turning as far as the two candidates popularity among potential voters.

Generally, poll respondents have shown more faith in Trumps ability to handle the economy and immigration, while believing Harris would better handle things like abortion rights, healthcare access and education.

Heres a look at how both candidates performed in the most recent polls.

Gallup

A Gallup poll released on Thursday showed Harris approval rating grow 13 percentage points in August to 47%, while Trump dropped five points to 41%. Among Democrats, Harris approval rating went up to 93%, while 41% of independents and 5% of Republicans hold positive opinions of her, according to Gallup.

Harris unexpected spot atop the 2024 Democratic presidential ticket has sparked an increase in positivity about her, particularly among her own party, said Gallup. ...Harris nomination acceptance speech tonight and the Sept. 10 debate will be important in determining whether opinions of her improve, stay the same or worsen in the final months of the presidential campaign.

Emerson College

The latest Emerson College poll shows Harris leading Trump 50% to 46%, with 5% undecided. The poll only included people who indicated they are very likely to vote, while previous polls included all registered voters. The poll revealed that since last month, Trumps support decreased two points among likely voters, from 48% to 46%, while Harris exceeded Bidens 47% by three percentage points, bringing her support to 50%.

Likely voters under 30 have shifted toward Harris by nine points, 56% of whom supported Biden, 65% now support Harris. Voters over 70 also support Harris over Trump, 51% to 48%  last month they broke 50% to 48% for Trump, said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling.

Morning Consult

This recent poll shows Harris leading Trump ahead of the DNC by 48% to 44%. According to the poll, Harris has not trailed Trump in a single daily tracking since late July. Morning Consult says Harris popularity hit a new high, with more voters expressing favorable opinions about her.

Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos

This Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll released on Aug. 18, before the DNC, shows Harris leading Trump at 49% to 45% among registered voters. When third-party candidates were put in the mix, Harris led at 47% and Trump at 44%, with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at 5% before a Friday announcement that he was suspending his campaign and endorsing Trump.

Rasmussen Reports

However, Trump is leading by a small margin in some polls, like the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey. This poll shows that 49% of likely U.S. voters would cast their ballot for Trump, while 46% would vote for Harris. Two percent (2%) say theyd vote for some other candidate and another 2% are undecided. Last week, the same poll saw Trump led by four points, with 49% to Harris 45%.

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SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) lashed out Saturday at the nuclear strategy of the United States, vowing it will "resolutely cope with any type of nuclear threat posed by the U.S.," state media reported.

The DPRK has denounced the nuclear strategy, saying that the United States is pursuing a unilateral nuclear edge and falsely portraying other countries as "nuclear threats," the official Korean Central News Agency reported, citing a press statement by a DPRK's foreign ministry spokesperson.

The United States' nuclear posture readjustment "has a serious negative impact on the global nuclear balance, security environment and nuclear disarmament system," the statement said. The United States currently holds the world's largest nuclear arsenal.

The statement said the United States has created "a nuclear-based military bloc" with its allies in the Asia-Pacific, including South Korea and Japan. It called the country "the most irresponsible actor and rogue state triggering a nuclear arms race and increasing the possibility of nuclear clashes worldwide," according to the statement.

The DPRK will bolster its strategic strength to control and eliminate all sorts of security challenges that may result from the nuclear readjustment and resolutely counter any nuclear threat, it added. 
In 2013, Brad McBride was making homemade adult films in Geelong when he published images of an amateur actress, which he promised would stay private, following a property dispute. He created a website, uploaded 12 images from the movies showing the woman engaged in sexual acts, and posted a link on his Twitter account without her knowledge. According to court reports at the time, McBride became unsteady on his feet in the dock when he heard he was facing up to two years jail, and when handed a three-month suspended sentence, he collapsed. An ambulance was called but was not required after court staff administered first aid. McBride regained consciousness, managing to walk out of the courtroom unassisted. Loading Today McBride  going by the name of Brad Shaw  is at the helm of Shawline Publishing Group, along with a slew of other associated publishing entities, though he recently closed an affiliated bookshop. On Thursday Shaw said this mastheads inquiries sound ominous, adding he would only respond to questions after seeing a draft copy of the article before publication. He did not respond to specific questions about his identity, Shawlines business model, bankruptcy or Brad McBrides criminal convictions, instead notifying this mastheads management he was lodging a complaint with the Australian Press Council and commencing legal proceedings.

Authors signed contracts with Shaw to publish their debut books, each paying about $5000 for services such as editing, cover design, distribution and marketing, with Shaw claiming the company would match that price dollar for dollar investing in the books. Authors were charged additional fees to buy copies of their own books from the publisher. All of them claim Shaw promised their books would be successful, but say they received a pittance in royalties and saw little evidence of sales figures or tangible marketing activity. Sydney author Steve Hiles says he has made enough royalties to buy a large coffee at a cheap cafe. Credit: Melinda Jane/Western Weekender Sydney author Steve Hiles estimated the royalties from his biography of 19th-century Australian boxer Albert Young Griffo Griffiths would buy a large coffee  at a cheap cafe. Brad could really talk the talk. He raved about my book; it felt good to hear someone being so flattering about your work  maybe I was being foolish, but he was a great salesman, Hiles said.

Dan Moon said he paid Shaw about $6000 for his book to be published and marketed. He promised me the world, that he would do all this marketing and really put everything into launching the book, Moon said. But he received $650 in royalties. After hiring his own publicist his book was featured in Good Weekend, The Guardian, News Corp publications, spots on breakfast television and talkback radio, features in online sites including Mamamia and a lengthy podcast with media identity Jessica Rowe. Thats millions of potential buyers  I cant believe it has not earned more royalties than what Ive seen, Moon said. He is suing Shawline Publishing in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal claiming he is owed thousands in unpaid royalties.

I was never given an exact figure of how many copies it sold, Moon said. He has since self-published a revised version titled Time For Her: A Male Escorts Memoir of Love via Amazon. It wasnt that difficult either, sadly. I learnt that the hard way, he said. Author Kim Barden outside Shawline Publishings now defunct bookshop. Fledgling author Kim Bardens relationship with Shaw deteriorated quickly when she attempted to sever ties with the publisher. I feel Brad really plays on peoples dreams, using peoples naivety of the industry to take advantage. The experience left me angry and feeling quite hollow at times. Attempting to convince her to stay, Shaw wrote a lengthy email from a place of care and respect.

When she declined his overtures, he wrote back: Based on your irrational explanation, which is beyond any intelligent comprehension, and my desire to spend not one more cent of my money or minute of my valuable time on this redundant relationship, your works are immediately being removed from our list. Barden has since self-published her works, estimating that in the first three months of her fantasy novel The Gilded Mirror being republished she made four times the $110 royalties she received over three years from Shawline. Alana Andrews worked as a production co-ordinator with Shawline and said she was aware of authors grievances, claiming she is also owed money and has initiated legal action against Shawline. I think potential authors need to know what is really going on, she said. According to Nielsen BookDatas BookScan, the Australian book market was worth $1.33 billion in 2023, with sales of 69.8 million units.

According to the 2023 Australian Society of Authors survey, 52 per cent of respondents earned between $0 and $1999 in the previous financial year. Eighty per cent earned less than $15,000. Shawline Publishing remains a member of the Australian Publishers Association, which is aware of the authors concerns. In a statement, the association said: If there is evidence that a member is operating in a way that is detrimental to the interests of the publishing industry, the board of directors has the power to suspend or expel that member. Loading Australian Society of Authors CEO Olivia Lanchester said the net profit business model was high risk for authors because, despite the authors upfront investment, the publisher must recoup all their costs before paying the author. Typically authors do not have any visibility over what those costs are. In the ASAs view, its unreasonable to be asked to stump up the money but then be kept in the dark on the information required for you to evaluate your financial risk. Most books dont make a profit so, more often than not, the authors will be paid very little or not at all. The question becomes: is this business funded by book sales or funded by authors? Lanchester said, adding the ASA offered a service to help potential authors navigate contracts.
A Herald and Good Food investigation reveals a top Sydney restaurant group allegedly ousted female staff after they reported sexual assaults and encouraged on-duty sex and drug use.

The states night-time economy minister has stopped short of backing a federal Labor MPs boycott of Swillhouse venues but expressed his deep concern as the Sydney restaurant group comes under scrutiny over its culture and treatment of female staff.

Sally Sitou, Labor MP for the federal seat of Reid in Sydneys west, said in a post on X on Saturday that shed had great nights out at Swillhouse venues before, and I hope to have more, but she wont be going back there until they can genuinely clean up the culture of these workplaces.

NSW Night-Time Economy Minister John Graham. Credit: Steven Siewert

NSW Music and Night-Time Economy Minister John Graham, who is also the jobs and tourism minister, told The Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday: Im deeply concerned by the revelations this week.

Just as people expect a safe night out, night-time workers deserve to be safe at work.
The new head of Western Sydney University has revealed he asked for a pay cut when he took the job and believes that vice chancellors salaries, which exceed $1 million at over half of Australian universities, should be aligned with public servant wages.

Professor George Williams said the sector had lost its way and universities needed to change the conversation to focus on the people they serve to regain the publics support.

Western Sydney University vice chancellor George Williams. Credit: Edwina Pickles

Australias public university vice chancellors are among the highest paid in the world, with analysis from this masthead revealing more than half receive pay packets over $1 million.

The National Tertiary Education Union has called for an overhaul of the salaries, saying they are wildly out of touch with community expectations.
Police are investigating after a man was found dead by a passerby in a western Sydney park on Saturday morning.

About 6.50am, emergency services were called to a park on Rawson Street, Auburn, following reports a man was unconscious.

Police are investigating after a man was found dead in a park in Auburn on Saturday morning. Credit: Dion Georgopoulos

Officers attended the scene and performed CPR on the man  who is believed to be aged in his 30s - but he could not be revived.

Police established a crime scene and began inquiries into the circumstances of the incident.
An earthquake in the NSW Upper Hunter region left thousands of homes without power and water, a day after a magnitude 4.7 tremor hit the area on Friday.

Geoscience Australia reported seismic activity near Muswellbrook at 4.31pm on Saturday, recording a magnitude 4.5 quake.

The quake on Saturday afternoon was felt across the region. Credit: Geosciences Australia

About 2500 people were reportedly left without power on the south side of Muswellbrook.

Following earthquake aftershocks, parts of Muswellbrook Shire are without water, including Woodland Ridge and potentially areas of Eastbrook Links, the council said on its social media on Saturday afternoon.
BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will visit China from August 27 to 29.

Sullivan's visit is at the invitation of Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Saturday.

According to Mao, the two sides will hold a new round of China-U.S. strategic communication. 
Polly Harvey was in her late 40s and had never experienced asthma or hay fever.

But during Melbournes catastrophic asthma thunderstorm in 2016, there was an almighty roar of thunder  and suddenly Harvey was on the ground and having trouble breathing.

Polly Harvey with her dog Milo. The Melbourne chef was diagnosed with adult-onset asthma. Credit: Penny Stephens

At first, I felt like I was getting a migraine, the Melbourne chef said. But then I heard this enormous clap of thunder... I fell back on my back, I had my hand on my chest.

Luckily, Harvey was at her daughters swimming lesson  with a nurse close by.
Allegra Spender was freshly arrived in parliament when she attended question time and heard a backbencher urge his frontbench colleague to rip him a new one! The him in question was someone from the other side. Much hilarity ensued from the MPs colleagues.

Spender, the teal MP for Wentworth, is a credentialed woman who worked in business for her entire pre-politics career, which is another way of saying she is a grown-up and  perhaps unsurprisingly  didnt find this sub-Churchillian quip so funny.

This week, Spender and the other teal crossbenchers voiced their disdain for what passes as robust debate on the floor of parliament. The MPs, all women, spoke publicly about the rowdy atmosphere of question time, where behaviour is aggressive, condescending and often misogynistic, they said.

Member for Wentworth Allegra Spender. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Their critics responded with hostility, and charges that the teals are trying to distract from their lack of a policy agenda. They implied the crossbenchers are snowflakes and hypocrites. And maybe they are. But you cant say theyre not fulfilling their political promise as disruptors, at least in this instance.
New York: It was perhaps the biggest speech of Kamala Harris life, the first time a black or South Asian American woman would accept the Democratic nomination for president.

She had come to the stage at the United Cent on Chicagos West Side with an opportunity to share her story and vision with millions of Americans.

The crowd roared as the vice presidents entrance song, Beyonces forceful Freedom, coursed through the building.

Harris, eschewing suffragette white in favour of a dark suit, beamed as she took in the scene: cheering delegates waving long blue signs bearing her name.
It was a blow to Boeing, adding to the safety concerns plaguing the company on its aeroplane side. Boeing had counted on Starliners first crew trip to revive the troubled spacecraft program after years of delays and ballooning costs. The company had insisted Starliner was safe, based on all the recent thruster tests both in space and on the ground. Boeing did not participate in the news conference by NASA, but released a statement: Boeing continues to focus, first and foremost, on the safety of the crew and spacecraft. The company said it is preparing the spacecraft for a safe and successful return. Astronauts Suni Williams, left, and Butch Wilmore were only meant to be away for eight days. Credit: AP Wilmore, 61, and Williams, 58, are both retired Navy captains with previous long-duration spaceflight experience. Before their June 5 launch from Cape Canaveral, Wilmore and Williams said their families bought into the uncertainty and stress of their professional careers decades ago. During their lone orbital news conference last month, the astronauts said they had trust in the thruster testing being conducted. They had no complaints, they added, and enjoyed pitching in with space station work.

Wilmores wife, Deanna, was equally stoic in an interview earlier this month with WVLT-TV in Knoxville, Tennessee, their home state. She was already bracing for a delay: You just sort of have to roll with it. Flight operations director Norm Knight said he talked to the astronauts and they fully support the decision to postpone their return. There were few options. NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore before take-off at Space Launch Complex 41 on June 5. Credit: AP The SpaceX capsule currently parked at the space station is reserved for the four residents who have been there since March. They will return in late September, their routine six-month stay extended a month by the Starliner dilemma. NASA said it would be unsafe to squeeze two more into the capsule, except in an emergency. The docked Russian Soyuz capsule is even tighter, capable of flying only three  two of whom are Russians wrapping up a year-long stint.

So Wilmore and Williams will wait for SpaceXs next taxi flight. Its due to launch in late September with two astronauts instead of the usual four. NASA is yanking two to make room for Wilmore and Williams on the return flight in late February. NASA said no serious consideration was given to asking SpaceX for a quick stand-alone rescue. Last year, the Russian Space Agency had to rush up a replacement Soyuz capsule for three men whose original craft was damaged by space junk. The switch pushed their six-month mission to just over a year. Former Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, applauded the decision via X: Good to err on the side of caution for astronaut lives. He said long missions are what astronauts work their entire career for. Id take it in a heartbeat! Starliners woes began long before its latest flight.

Bad software fouled the first test flight without a crew in 2019, prompting a do-over in 2022. Then parachute and other issues cropped up, including a helium leak in the capsules propellant system that nixed a launch attempt in May. The leak was eventually deemed to be isolated and small enough to pose no concern. But more leaks sprouted following liftoff, and five thrusters also failed. All but one of those small thrusters restarted in flight, but engineers were perplexed by ground testing that showed a thruster seal swelling and obstructing a propellant line. They theorised that the seals in orbit may have expanded, then reverted to their normal size. Officials said the results marked the turning point, as their concerns grew. Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams wont return to Earth until February next year. Credit: AP With all the uncertainty about how the thrusters might perform, there was too much risk for the crew, Steve Stich, NASAs commercial crew program manager, told reporters. These 28 thrusters are vital. Besides being needed for space station rendezvous, they keep the capsule pointed in the right direction at the flights end as bigger engines steer the craft out of orbit. Coming in crooked could result in catastrophe.

With the Columbia disaster still fresh in many minds  the shuttle broke apart during reentry in 2003, killing all seven aboard  NASA made an extra effort to embrace open debate over Starliners return capability. Despite Saturdays decision, NASA isnt giving up on Boeing. Nelson said he is 100 per cent certain that Starliner will fly again. The Boeing Starliner spacecraft with astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams aboard on its approach to the International Space Station on June 6. Credit: NASA NASA went into its commercial crew program a decade ago, wanting two competing US companies ferrying astronauts in the post-shuttle era. Boeing won the bigger contract: more than $4 billion, compared with SpaceXs $2.6 billion. With station supply runs already under its belt, SpaceX aced its first of nine astronaut flights in 2020, while Boeing got bogged down in design flaws that set the company back more than $1 billion.
PHILIPSBURG: --- The students and teachers from MPC and Sundial School returned to classrooms with better tables and chairs than they had left before the summer break. SVOBE Schools wants to thank the MS IQ Foundation from the Netherlands, which gathered about 300 secondhand but useful student desks and chairs and other school furniture from secondary schools in the Netherlands. The former Minister of Education, Mr. Samuels, and the Division of Educational Innovations were instrumental in arranging and funding the transportation to Sint Maarten. SVOBE Scholes is grateful for their assistance.
~Design of Caribbean Guilder Revealed~

Willemstad/Philipsburg:--- Today, the Centrale Bank van Curacao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) hosted simultaneous events in Curacao and Sint Maarten to reveal designs of the new Caribbean banknotes and coins for the first time. The banknotes and coins draw inspiration from the World Under the Sea, where fish swim freely, seeing no borders. This serves as a metaphor for the unity shared between the countries of Curacao and Sint Maarten within its monetary union. The diversity of unique aquatic life serves as a reminder that, despite our distinct identities, we are connected by collaboration and shared objectives. Willemstad/Philipsburg:--- Today, the Centrale Bank van Curacao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) hosted simultaneous events in Curacao and Sint Maarten to reveal designs of the new Caribbean banknotes and coins for the first time. The banknotes and coins draw inspiration from the World Under the Sea, where fish swim freely, seeing no borders. This serves as a metaphor for the unity shared between the countries of Curacao and Sint Maarten within its monetary union. The diversity of unique aquatic life serves as a reminder that, despite our distinct identities, we are connected by collaboration and shared objectives.

Banknotes

The front of the banknotes depicts the vibrant marine life native to Curacao and Sint Maarten, while the reverse showcases significant historical and cultural landmarks of both countries. Each Caribbean guilder (Cg) banknote has a distinct color. The color of the 10 Cg banknote is predominantly yellow. The main characters on the front of the Cg 10 are the Gray Angelfish and the Queen Conch. The back of the note shows the historic Light House on Klein Curacao. The color of the Cg 20 is predominantly blue. The front shows the Spotted Eagle Ray and the Yellow Cowry, while the back gives a view of the ecologically unique Simpson Bay Lagoon. The Cg 50 is a predominantly green banknote featuring the Green Sea Turtle and the Favored Tellin shell while on the back the pristine Playa Kenepa Grandi Beach is depicted. The Spotlight Parrot Fish and the Common Music Volute appear on the front of the red Cg 100 banknote, while the back shows the remarkable Courthouse of Sint Maarten. The Cg 200 is predominantly purple, with the Longsnout Seahorse and the Giant Tun Shell adorning the front and the iconic Queen Emma Bridge on the back.

Coins

Caribbean guilder coins have similar but distinct designs for Curacao and Sint Maarten. These sets will circulate interchangeably on both islands. The Cg 5 and the Cg 1-guilder coins show the effigy of the King, along with his name Willem-Alexander and the words Koning der Nederlanden (King of the Netherlands) on the obverse. The reverse of the Sint Maarten Cg 5 and Cg 1-guilder coins show the national coat of arms and Green Sea Turtles while the reverse of the Curacao Cg 5-guilder and the Cg 1-guilder coins show the island of Curacao surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, its waves formed by the words Curacao. Two Green Sea Turtles complement the design. The lower denominations, 1ct, 5ct, 10ct, 25ct and 50ct coins show the Orange Blossom on the obverse side. The reverse reads either Curacao or Sint Maarten. The denomination sits between the Caribbean sky and waves in the middle of a constellation of three groups of 10 pearls representing the date 10-10-10, the date on which both countries became autonomous countries within the

Kingdom of the Netherlands. Two Favorite Tellin Shells complete the design and together with the waves and pearls form the link to the underwater world of the banknotes.

During the reveal events in Sint Maarten and Curacao, CBCS President Mr. Richard Doornbosch, and Executive Director Mrs. Leila Matroos-Lasten, respectively, spoke of the long journey of the Caribbean guilder, a project which, after 5 years of concentrated efforts by all stakeholders, enabled a beautiful and secure result: a new currency for the countries Curacao and Sint Maarten.

Counting down to the new currencys introduction next year, the CBCS will continue to provide information on a regular basis. Among materials now available to familiarize the public and businesses on the characteristics of the new currency is the mobile application My Caribbean Guilder, available for Android and iOS smartphones. In addition, the CBCS launched a dedicated webpage on the new currency, available at www.caribbean-guilder.com.

The CBCS will also commence training sessions for commercial bank and retail personnel on the new banknotes and coins contributing to a streamlined transition to the new currency from the NAf as the Caribbean guilder banknotes and coins replace those of the Netherlands Antilles.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or We recommend visiting www.caribbean-guilder.com for more information on the Caribbean guilder and to download the My Caribbean Guilder App via Google Play or App Store. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on the further developments surrounding the Caribbean guilder. We welcome your sending questions and remarks to the CBCS Corporate Communications Department viaor This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Willemstad, August 22, 2024

CENTRALE BANK VAN CURACAO EN SINT MAARTEN
MEXICO CITY, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Friday that his administration is sending a diplomatic note to the United States to protest against the U.S. ambassador's remarks regarding Mexico's proposed judicial reform.

During his daily press briefing on Friday, Lopez Obrador described the comments of U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, as disrespectful to Mexico's national sovereignty.

On Thursday, Salazar expressed disagreement with the proposal to elect judges and magistrates in Mexico through direct voting, a key element of the president's reform, and warned that the reform "poses a risk" to democracy in Mexico.

Lopez Obrador said the United States has long pursued an interventionist policy throughout the Americas, and described the ambassador's remarks as "unfortunate" and "imprudent." 
MAM | Marketing Weekend Unwind with Thriwe's Dhruv Verma With another weekend upon us, it is time to unwind with the latest Q&A edition of Indiantelevision.com's Weekend Unwind - a series of informal chats that peek into the minds of business executives through a fun lens in an attempt to get to know the person behind the title a little better. Read More...
Biden talks with Zelensky, announces new military aid for Kyiv



Washington, Aug 23 (AFP) Aug 23, 2024



US President Joe Biden spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday and announced a new round of military aid for Kyiv that the Pentagon valued at $125 million.

The call between the two leaders came ahead of Ukraine's independence day, and on the same day that Washington announced sweeping sanctions against hundreds of individuals and companies tied to Russia's invasion of the country.

"I am proud we will announce a new package of military aid for Ukraine today," Biden said in a statement.

"The package includes air defense missiles to protect Ukraine's critical infrastructure; counter-drone equipment and anti-armor missiles to defend against Russia's evolving tactics on the battlefield; and ammunition for frontline soldiers and the mobile rocket systems that protect them," he said.

"Russia will not prevail in this conflict. The independent people of Ukraine will prevail -- and the United States, our allies, and our partners, will continue to stand with them every step of the way," Biden added.

The US Defense Department later said the package is worth $125 million and consists of items drawn from American stocks, providing Kyiv with "additional capabilities to meet its most urgent needs."

Zelensky praised the military aid announcement, saying there is an especially urgent requirement for air defenses.

"I welcomed the new US military aid package and emphasized that Ukraine urgently requires the delivery of weapons from the announced packages, particularly additional air defense systems, to reliably protect our cities, communities and critical infrastructure," he said in a post on X.

The United States has been a key military backer of Ukraine, committing more than $55 billion in weapons, ammunition and other security aid since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.



- New sanctions on Russia -



The latest aid announcement comes as Ukrainian troops press an attack into Russia's western Kursk region -- an offensive that is the most serious attack by a foreign army on Russian territory since World War II.

Earlier on Friday, the US Treasury, State and Commerce departments announced new sanctions that build on a raft of existing measures enacted against Russia over the invasion.

The sanctions target nearly 400 individuals and entities both inside and outside of Russia "whose products and services enable Russia to sustain its war effort and evade sanctions," the US Treasury Department announced in a statement.

Among those sanctioned were 60 Russia-based defense and technology firms "critical for the sustainment and development of Russia's defense industry," it added.

The State Department said in a separate statement that it was responsible for 190 of the sanctions, and that Treasury was responsible for close to 200 others.

It added that its designations "aim to disrupt sanctions evasion and target entities in multiple third countries," including China, along with businesses supporting the development of Russian energy projects.

Alongside the sanctions unveiled Friday, the Commerce Department announced it was taking "aggressive action" to further restrict the supply of items made in the United States, or labeled as such, to both Russia and Belarus, due to "the Kremlin's illegal war on Ukraine."

"Today's actions will further constrain Russia's ability to arm its military by targeting illicit procurement networks designed to circumvent global export controls," the department said in a statement.
Putin 'very rational', says ex-Iraq weapons inspector Blix



Stockholm, Aug 24 (AFP) Aug 24, 2024



Former UN weapons inspector Hans Blix told AFP he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin will not risk a catastrophe at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant amid mounting international concern over its safety.

The Kremlin leader is "very rational" and "knows what he's doing", said the former Swedish foreign minister, who repeatedly insisted that Iraq was not developing nuclear weapons before the Gulf War of 1990.

Blix, 96, who headed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from 1981 to 1997, spoke to AFP on a range of issues in an hour-long interview at his apartment in central Stockholm.

Blix later headed a team of UN inspectors tasked with determining whether Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.

He was never able to confirm that.

His findings contradicted claims made by US president George W. Bush, who ordered the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

"It was a terrible mistake on the part of the US, based on erroneous information and a hubris that the US intelligence knew better than what we did," Blix told AFP. "The Iraq War was an aberration."

At the time, the US was not at risk of Russia or China intervening, Blix said, and the US and Britain took it upon themselves "to be the world's sheriffs".

Blix is today more optimistic about the future of global conflicts.



- Putin made a 'mistake' -



The former diplomat last year published a book called "A Farewell to Wars" -- a title he admitted was "very provocative" given the "headwind right now", with wars raging in Ukraine and Gaza.

Like the US invasion of Iraq, Blix called Russia's invasion of Ukraine an "aberration".

"Putin committed a mistake, and I'm sure he regrets it," he said.

The IAEA warned on August 17 that the safety situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was "deteriorating" following a nearby drone strike.

The plant, which was seized by Russia's forces early in the war, has come under repeated attacks that both sides have accused each other of carrying out.

But Blix, who headed the IAEA during the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, doesn't think Russia would attack the site on purpose.

"I don't think the Russians would do it deliberately, no."

"I would be very surprised if the Russians had not instructed their military to stay away from severe damage."

And he isn't concerned either about Putin's repeated threats to the West of nuclear warfare.

"He scrambles, he shakes the nuclear weapons and threatens, but he is no fool."

"As long as there exists the possibility of a second strike, there is the fear of escalation."

"The big powers -- the US and Russia and China -- don't want to get into a situation of direct confrontation with each other."

Looking ahead to a future after the war in Ukraine, Russia will eventually "have to come back to the world and to Europe", Blix said, though "it will take time".

"Maybe," he said, "there will also be a feeling that now we have to somehow patch up and improve the situation."

"I'm a multilateralist," he said, smiling.

"There are so many problems in the globalising world that you cannot manage (if you are) isolated."

Blix said the international community needed to work together to tackle its biggest challenges, including global warming -- which he was "more worried" about than the spectre of war -- as well as pandemics and the fight against international organised crime.
North Korea condemns new US nuclear strategic plan report



Seoul, Aug 24 (AFP) Aug 24, 2024



North Korea vowed Saturday to advance its nuclear capabilities, reacting to a report that the United States had revised its own nuclear strategic plan.

The country will "bolster up its strategic strength in every way to control and eliminate all sorts of security challenges that may result from Washington's revised plan", the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

The New York Times reported this week that a US plan approved by President Joe Biden in March was to prepare for possible coordinated nuclear confrontations with Russia, China and North Korea.

The highly classified plan for the first time reorients Washington's deterrent strategy to focus on China's rapid expansion in its nuclear arsenal, the Times said.

KCNA said North Korea's foreign ministry "expresses serious concern over and bitterly denounces and rejects the behavior of the US".

It added North Korea vowed to push forward the building of nuclear force sufficient and reliable enough to firmly defend its sovereignty.

Pyongyang and Moscow have been allies since North Korea's founding after World War II and have drawn even closer since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The United States and Seoul have accused North Korea of providing ammunition and missiles to Russia for its war in Ukraine.

Pyongyang, which has declared itself an "irreversible" nuclear weapons power, has described allegations of supplying weapons to Russia as "absurd".

However, it did thank Russia for using its United Nations veto in March to effectively end monitoring of sanctions violations just as UN experts were starting to probe alleged arms transfers.

China, also a key ally of North Korea, presents itself as a neutral party in Russia's offensive on Ukraine and says it is not sending lethal assistance to either side, unlike the United States and other Western nations.

But it is a close political and economic ally of Russia, and NATO members have branded Beijing a "decisive enabler" of the war.

Moscow has looked to Beijing as an economic lifeline since the Ukraine conflict began, with the two boosting trade to record highs as Russia faces heavy sanctions from the West.
Dozens protest Iraq drone strike that killed two journalists



Sulaimaniyah, Iraq, Aug 24 (AFP) Aug 24, 2024



Several dozen demonstrators gathered on Saturday in Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region to protest a drone strike that officials blame on Turkey, which killed two women journalists working for outlets funded by Kurdish militants.

The Friday bombing killed Gulistan Tara, 40, a Kurdish journalist from Turkey and Hero Bahadin, 27, an Iraqi-Kurdish video editor, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Another person was also injured.

While both an Iraqi security source and the counter-terrorism service in the regional capital Arbil attributed the strike to Turkey, the defence ministry in Ankara, when contacted by AFP, stated that it was "not the Turkish army" that carried it out.

"The martyrs will not die," chanted the crowd of around a hundred people gathered in a park in Sulaimaniyah, the region's second-largest city, while holding up posters of the two women.

The CPJ said the journalists worked for Kurdish media production house CHATR, which operates two "news channels funded by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)".

The PKK, which has fought a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state, has rear-bases in the mountains of northern Iraq.

The Turkish army maintains a network of bases in the region to fight the Kurdish militant group, which is proscribed as a "terrorist organisation" by the European Union and the United States.

"Turkish bombings affect everyone in Kurdistan, the civilian populations are victims," said activist Robar Ahmed.

"Life in the countryside has almost stopped because it is not possible to live with strikes day and night, every minute and every hour," he said, speaking at the protest.

Following a visit to Baghdad by Turkish officials, the federal government declared the PKK a "banned organisation" in March.

Earlier this month, Turkey agreed a military cooperation pact with Iraq that includes joint training and command centres to fight the Kurdish militants.
A divided yield of more than 10% can appear enticing for investors who are seeking a high level of recurring income. And while a stock that pays that much can generate a lot of income for you, it may not be the safest option to put in your portfolio. Stocks with yields that high often come with inherent risks. If they were safe investments, investors wouldn't hesitate to buy up such high-yielding payouts, which, in turn, would likely boost their share prices and shrink their yields. When a stock's yield remains high, that usually means there's ample reason to remain cautious about the investment.

One high-yielding stock that isn't getting much love these days is Medical Properties Trust (NYSE: MPW), which pays investors nearly 13% in dividends. But the real estate investment trust (REIT) has been one of the riskier income stocks to own this year, and its shares are down about 5% so far this year. Could investors simply be bracing for another dividend cut?

Medical Properties Trust's focus has been on raising liquidity

The problem with Medical Properties Trust (MPT) is that the company has been selling off assets in order to improve its cash flow position. That's not a great sign for a dividend stock. It effectively tells investors that it isn't generating sufficient cash to maintain its day-to-day operations and pay its dividend.

Last week, the REIT announced the sales of 11 healthcare facilities in Colorado, which will net it $86 million. The company is going to use that money "to reduce debt and for general corporate purposes." And when the REIT announced its latest quarterly results on Aug. 8, it led with the news that it had executed $2.5 billion in liquidity transactions thus far in 2024. While that may be positive news for the business, highlighting the importance of raising liquidity isn't what dividend investors want to see, as it underscores the perilous condition of the company's financial results.

Earlier this year, one of MPT's key tenants, Steward Health, entered bankruptcy protection and announced it was going to try to sell all of its hospitals in an effort to pay down $9 billion in liabilities on its books. The problems and uncertainty relating to Steward have weighed on MPT's share price in recent years.

Medical Properties Trust's financials haven't been strong

MPT has been incurring losses in recent quarters and through the first six months of the year, its funds from operations (FFO) per share have totaled a negative $1.45 versus the previous year, when it was a positive $0.88. Its normalized FFO, which excludes the impact of impairment charges, total $0.47 for the year thus far. While that is positive, it's down significantly from $0.85 in the same period last year.

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The good news for investors is that the rate is higher than the $0.30 per share that MPT has paid out during the first two quarters in dividends. That does suggest that the dividend may be sustainable, at least for the immediate future. But the danger is that with the company selling off assets and the future relating to Steward Health remaining unclear, it still may not offer investors much comfort.

Investors shouldn't rely on this dividend

MPT's dividend isn't safe. Although the recent FFO numbers may suggest there's a bit of safety there, the REIT is going through a tumultuous time, and as it sells off more assets, its numbers could deteriorate further, and a dividend reduction could be in the cards.

There are many better dividend stocks to own than MPT, and unless you have an extremely high risk tolerance, you're better off avoiding it as things can still get worse before they get better for the stock.

Should you invest $1,000 in Medical Properties Trust right now?

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Is This 13%-Yielding Stock Due for a Dividend Cut? was originally published by The Motley Fool
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If he was to do this, it would be a clear message both to the US and to Europe that Ireland really wants to do something. Not just stand around looking anguished. Weve done that long enough.
After setting out policies on lowering tax, overhauling the education curriculum and reducing red tape, he launched his campaign in Glasgow with a pitch for party unity, saying the Scottish Tories must not turn inwards or split from the party south of the border.
In this article, we will take a look at the 25 best foreign countries to do business in. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, you can go directly to 5 Best Foreign Countries to Do Business In.

The Global Business Environment: At a Glance

On February 13, the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor published their annual report on the global entrepreneurship outlook. The report emphasized the need to improve entrepreneurial education globally. Only five economies of the top 49 were deemed to have a satisfactory level of entrepreneurship education. On the flip side, between 2021 and 2023, countries like India and the United Arab Emirates considerably improved their ratings to "much better than satisfactory" from "less than satisfactory." It is also important to note that in 37 out of 48 economies, women had an unsatisfactory rating. While a lack of access to resources was a major factor, the fear of failure among women was considerably higher than among men in most economies. Overall, economies with relatively lower tax rates and development-focused policies happened to rank higher on the index.

Economic Ties Between UAE and the United States

The United Arab Emirates and the United States have strong trade ties, with a direct relationship due to UAE oil exports. The United Arab Emirates is a global hub, housing over 1,500 American companies including ExxonMobil, Starbucks, and Bechtel. In FY 2023, the United States had a $18.3 billion trade surplus with the United States, the fourth largest trade surplus of the US. In 2007, the two countries formed the US-UAE Business Council to support commercial business relationships between the two countries, making it easier for companies in the US to form joint ventures with companies in the UAE. In 2012, the two countries came together to establish an Economic Policy Dialogue (EPD), an annual meeting to discuss strategies encapsulating the trade, development, and economic ties between the two.

The United Arab Emirates is the United States' largest export market in the Middle East, with over $17 billion in exports logged in 2021. In 2019, UAE's direct investments in the US reached $27.6 billion, adding over 12,000 jobs in the US. Companies in the UAE and the US have a history of strategic partnerships and collaborations. For instance, in 2009, Advanced Micro Devices, in the US, and Advanced Technology Investment Company (ATIC) of Abu Dhabi formed a joint venture, GlobalFoundries. The joint venture resulted in a semiconductor manufacturing company with a $4.2 billion semiconductor fabrication plant in New York. In 2014, ATIC announced an additional $10 billion investment to facilitate expansion.

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READ ALSO 10 Best E-Commerce Stocks To Invest In and 15 Best Places in Michigan for a Couple to Live on Only Social Security.

How is XOM Leveraging Ties between the US & UAE

Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) is a leading natural gas and oil company in the United States. Exxon first originated as a marketer of Kerosene in the United States and now operates as one of the largest petroleum and petrochemical companies. It engages in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas, sells lubricants, waxes, and resins, manufactures petrochemicals, and transports oil, gas, and petroleum products.

Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) has a strong presence in the United Arab Emirates. It first entered the UAE in 1939 and began exploratory drilling in 1950. The first discovery was not made until 1960 and the first shipment was made from Abu Dhabi in 1963.

In 2006, ExxonMobil became a joint venture partner in Zakum Development Company (ZADCO) and established the ExxonMobil Technology Center in Abu Dhabi in the same year. ZADCO agreed to deliver 750 thousand barrels per day in 2009 using advanced technology. The company then formed a joint venture with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). ADNOC was formed as a merger between ZADCO and Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company in 2017.

The joint venture with ADNOC aims to develop Upper Zakum, the second-largest offshore oil field. The Upper Zakum project between the two countries is one of the largest projects under development using four artificial islands, the largest one equal to 135 football fields in the US. The project aims to target 1 million barrels per day by 2024 and has installed 32 new pipelines and 300 pipeline crossings so far.

According to Exxon Mobil Corporation's (NYSE:XOM) annual report for 2023, the company completed 3.1 net development wells in Abu Dhabi and net acreage in the Upper Zakum oil concession was 81,000 acres at the end of the year. As of 2023, Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) had assets worth $5.5 billion in the United Arab Emirates.

While we acknowledge the potential of XOM 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 NVDA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

Now that we have studied the global business landscape, let's take a look at the best foreign countries to do business in.

25 Best Foreign Countries to Do Business in

An aerial view of an oil rig in the Texas Gulf Coast with people working on it, emphasizing the company's oil & gas production interests.

Our Methodology

To come up with the 25 best foreign countries to do business in, we first sourced the National Entrepreneurial Context Index (NECI), 2023, from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor. We then sourced the country-wise corporate tax rates (2024) from PwC, GDP per capita (2024) from the International Monetary Fund, and Foreign Direct Investment (2022) from the World Bank. We sorted the countries with the lowest corporate tax rates and countries with the highest GDP per capita and FDI, assigned them ranks corresponding to their number on each list, and then averaged all three ranks to get the ranking of our index. We then assigned ranks to the NECI and took the average of the NECI ranks and our ranks to develop our Insider Monkey Score. Our list is in descending order of the average rank of the two rankings, referred to as the Insider Monkey Score on our list. It is to be noted that our list is targeted at business owners from the United States, therefore, our list includes foreign countries outside of the United States.

Three countries, including the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Switzerland have negative FDI indicating that the domestic economy is strong and has little bearing on its position as an attractive business destination.

About the National Entrepreneurial Context Index (NECI): The index consists of 13 indicators including access to finance, government policies, entrepreneurial programs, ease of entry, physical infrastructure, and culture. The list includes the top 49 economies and their composite rankings with 7.7 being the highest, and 2.8 being the lowest. Ranks were assigned according to the corresponding index value among the 49 economies.

Note: While Israel made it to the list of the best foreign countries to do business in, we decided to exclude it due to its current geopolitical situation.

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25 Best Foreign Countries to Do Business In

25. Luxembourg

Corporate Tax Rate (2024): 24.94%

Foreign Direct Investment (2022): $322.05 Billion (negative)

GDP per Capita (2024): $131,384.16

National Entrepreneurial Context Index (2023): 4.6

Insider Monkey Score: 17.33

Luxembourg ranks 25th on our list of the best foreign countries to do business in, with an Insider Monkey score of 17.33. Luxembourg has a combined corporate income tax rate of 24.94%, inclusive of CIT, solidarity surtax, and municipal business tax.

24. Spain

Corporate Tax Rate (2024): 25%

Foreign Direct Investment (2022): $51.43 Billion

GDP per Capita (2024): $34,045.17

National Entrepreneurial Context Index (2023): 3.8

Insider Monkey Score: 17.17

Spain has an Insider Monkey score of 17.17, making it one of the best foreign countries to do business in. Spain had $51.43 billion in foreign direct investment in 2022, the sixth highest on our list.

23. Greece

Corporate Tax Rate (2024): 22%

Foreign Direct Investment (2022): $7.95 Billion

GDP per Capita (2024): $23,965.78

National Entrepreneurial Context Index (2023): 4.6

Insider Monkey Score: 17.00

Greece is one of the best foreign countries to do business in, ranking 23rd on our list. Greece has a corporate tax rate of 22%, as of January 18, and a GDP per capita of almost $24,000.

22. Latvia

Corporate Tax Rate (2024): 20%

Foreign Direct Investment (2022): $1.16 Billion

GDP per Capita (2024): $24,193.74

National Entrepreneurial Context Index (2023): 5

Insider Monkey Score: 16.50

Latvia has an Insider Monkey score of 16.5, contributing to its ranking on our list of the best foreign countries to do business in. Latvia has a corporate income tax rate of 20%, payable only after profits are distributed.

21. Poland

Corporate Tax Rate (2024): 19%

Foreign Direct Investment (2022): $36.9 Billion

GDP per Capita (2024): $23,013.88

National Entrepreneurial Context Index (2023): 4.3

Insider Monkey Score: 16.17

Poland ranks 21st on our list of the best foreign countries to do business in, with an Insider Monkey score of 16.17. Poland logged $36.9 billion in FDI in 2022, the 13th largest on our list.

20. Slovenia

Corporate Tax Rate (2024): 22%

Foreign Direct Investment (2022): $2.18 Billion

GDP per Capita (2024): $34,026.49

National Entrepreneurial Context Index (2023): 4.8

Insider Monkey Score: 15.67

Slovenia has an Insider Monkey score of 15.67, contributing to its ranking on our list of the best foreign countries to do business in. Slovenia has a corporate income tax rate of 22% and a GDP per capita of over $34,000.

19. Oman

Corporate Tax Rate (2024): 15%

Foreign Direct Investment (2022): $5.48 Billion

GDP per Capita (2024): $20,913.30

National Entrepreneurial Context Index (2023): 5.4

Insider Monkey Score: 14.67

Oman ranks 19th on our list of the best foreign countries to do business in with an Insider Monkey score of 14.67. Oman has a corporate tax rate of 15%. It has a National Entrepreneurial Context Index score of 5.4.

18. Netherlands

Corporate Tax Rate (2024): 25.8%

Foreign Direct Investment (2022): $12.08 Billion (negative)

GDP per Capita (2024): $63,749.90

National Entrepreneurial Context Index (2023): 5.9

Insider Monkey Score: 14.67

Netherlands is one of the best countries to do business in with a National Entrepreneurial Context Index score of 5.9. The corporate tax rate in the Netherlands is 25.8%, last reviewed on July 1, and it has a GDP per capita of $63,750.

17. Japan

Corporate Tax Rate (2024): 23.2%

Foreign Direct Investment (2022): $49.29 Billion

GDP per Capita (2024): $33,138.16

National Entrepreneurial Context Index (2023): 4.4

Insider Monkey Score: 14.50

Japan has an Insider Monkey score of 14.5, contributing to its ranking on our list of the best foreign countries to do business in. Japan logged $49.29 billion in foreign direct investment in 2022.

16. India

Corporate Tax Rate (2024): 40%

Foreign Direct Investment (2022): $49.94 Billion

GDP per Capita (2024): $2,730.77

National Entrepreneurial Context Index (2023): 6.6

Insider Monkey Score: 14.17

India ranks 16th on our list of the best foreign countries to do business in. India has a rapidly developing economy, serving as an attractive destination for large foreign companies. Foreign companies in India must pay a corporate income tax of 40%, as of May 15. India has the second-highest score on the National Entrepreneurial Context Index.

15. Estonia

Corporate Tax Rate (2024): 20%

Foreign Direct Investment (2022): $1.65 Billion

GDP per Capita (2024): $31,854.78

National Entrepreneurial Context Index (2023): 5.9

Insider Monkey Score: 13.50

Estonia is one of the best foreign countries to do business in, with an Insider Monkey score of 13.5. Estonia has a corporate income tax rate of 20% and a GDP per capita of $31,855.

14. China

Corporate Tax Rate (2024): 25%

Foreign Direct Investment (2022): $180.17 Billion

GDP per Capita (2024): $13,136.48

National Entrepreneurial Context Index (2023): 5.4

Insider Monkey Score: 13.33

China ranks 14th on our list of the best countries to do business in with an Insider Monkey Score of 13.33. China logged FDI worth $180.17 billion, the largest on our list, in 2022.

13. United Kingdom

Corporate Tax Rate (2024): 25%

Foreign Direct Investment (2022): $44.89 Billion

GDP per Capita (2024): $51,074.79

National Entrepreneurial Context Index (2023): 4.6

Insider Monkey Score: 13.17

The United Kingdom is one of the best foreign countries to do business in. The country has a GDP per capita of $51,078 and a corporate income tax rate of 25%, as of July 8.

12. Lithuania

Corporate Tax Rate (2024): 15%

Foreign Direct Investment (2022): $745.15 Million

GDP per Capita (2024): $28,407.20

National Entrepreneurial Context Index (2023): 6.1

Insider Monkey Score: 13.00

Lithuania ranks 12th on our list of the best foreign countries to do business in. Lithuania has an index score of 6.1 on the National Entrepreneurial Context Index. Lithuania has a corporate income tax rate of 15%.

11. Italy

Corporate Tax Rate (2024): 24%

Foreign Direct Investment (2022): $62.73 Billion

GDP per Capita (2024): $39,579.56

National Entrepreneurial Context Index (2023): 4.5

Insider Monkey Score: 12.67

Italy is one of the best foreign countries to do business in, with an Insider Monkey score of 12.67. Italy has a corporate income tax rate of 24% and logged $62.73 billion in foreign direct investment in 2022.

10. Norway

Corporate Tax Rate (2024): 22%

Foreign Direct Investment (2022):

GDP per Capita (2024): $94,659.92

National Entrepreneurial Context Index (2023): 4.7

Insider Monkey Score: 12.17

Norway ranks 10th on our list of the best foreign countries to do business in. Norway has the third-highest GDP per capita at $94,660. The corporate tax rate in Norway is 22%, as of July 1. However, for some companies in the financial sector, the corporate income tax rate may go up to 25%.

9. Switzerland

Corporate Tax Rate (2024): 8.5%

Foreign Direct Investment (2022): $10.99 Billion (negative)

GDP per Capita (2024): $105,668.98

National Entrepreneurial Context Index (2023): 5.5

Insider Monkey Score: 12.00

Switzerland is one of the best foreign countries to do business in. Switzerland has the lowest federal corporate income tax rate of 8.5% on profit after tax and/or 7.83% on profit before tax. It is to note that, cantonal and communicate corporate income taxes are added to federal corporate income tax rates leading to an overall tax rate ranging between 11.9% to 21%, depending on the company's location in the country. Switzerland also has the second-highest GDP per capita of $105,669.

8. Republic of Korea

Corporate Tax Rate (2024): 24%

Foreign Direct Investment (2022): $25.04 Billion

GDP per Capita (2024): $34,164.99

National Entrepreneurial Context Index (2023): 5.8

Insider Monkey Score: 11.17

The Republic of Korea ranks eighth on our list of the best foreign countries to do business in. The country has a corporate income tax rate of 24%, as of June 13. The country had foreign direct investment worth $25.04 billion in 2022.

7. Qatar

Corporate Tax Rate (2024): 10%

Foreign Direct Investment (2022): $76.09 Million

GDP per Capita (2024): $81,399.52

National Entrepreneurial Context Index (2023): 6

Insider Monkey Score: 10.83

Qatar is one of the best foreign countries to do business in with an index value of 6 on the National Entrepreneurial Context Index. Qatar has a corporate income tax rate of 10%. However, for petrochemical and petroleum companies the minimum rate of 35% applies.

6. Sweden

Corporate Tax Rate (2024): 20.6%

Foreign Direct Investment (2022): $45.88 Billion

GDP per Capita (2024): $58,528.52

National Entrepreneurial Context Index (2023): 4.7

Insider Monkey Score: 10.50

Sweden ranks sixth on our list of the best foreign countries to do business in with an Insider Monkey score of 10.5. The corporate income tax rate in Sweden is 20.6%, as of January 24. The GDP per capita in Sweden is $58,528.

5. France

Corporate Tax Rate (2024): 25%

Foreign Direct Investment (2022): $105.42 Billion

GDP per Capita (2024): $47,358.56

National Entrepreneurial Context Index (2023): 5

Insider Monkey Score: 10.33

France is one of the best countries to do business in. France had a foreign direct investment of $105.42 billion in 2022, the second largest on our list. France boasts a GDP per capita of over $47,000 and has a corporate income tax rate of 25%.

4. Saudi Arabia

Corporate Tax Rate (2024): 20%

Foreign Direct Investment (2022): $28.06 Billion

GDP per Capita (2024): $33,039.93

National Entrepreneurial Context Index (2023): 6.3

Insider Monkey Score: 8.67

Saudi Arabia is the fourth best foreign country to do business in. The country ranks third on the National Entrepreneurial Context Index with a score of 6.3. Saudi Arabia logged $28.06 billion in foreign direct investment in 2022 and has a corporate income tax rate of 20%.

3. Canada

Corporate Tax Rate (2024): 15%

Foreign Direct Investment (2022): $49.98 Billion

GDP per Capita (2024): $54,866.05

National Entrepreneurial Context Index (2023): 4.8

Insider Monkey Score: 8.67

Canada is one of the best countries to do business in with an Insider Monkey Score of 8.67. The federal corporate income tax rate in Canada is 15%, and the provincial charge may range between 8% to 16%, not deductible for federal corporate income tax purposes.

2. Germany

Corporate Tax Rate (2024): 15.825%

Foreign Direct Investment (2022): $62.73 Billion

GDP per Capita (2024): $54,290.94

National Entrepreneurial Context Index (2023): 4.8

Insider Monkey Score: 8.50

With an Insider Monkey score of 8.5, Germany ranks second on our list of the best foreign countries to do business in. Germany had a foreign direct investment worth $62.73 billion in 2022, the fourth largest on our list. While the corporate income tax is 15.825%, Germany also has a trade tax ranging from 8.75% to 20.3%, depending on the location of the business.

1. United Arab Emirates

Corporate Tax Rate (2024): 9%

Foreign Direct Investment (2022): $22.74 Billion

GDP per Capita (2024): $53,916.03

National Entrepreneurial Context Index (2023): 7.7

Insider Monkey Score: 5.17

The United Arab Emirates ranks first in our list of the best foreign countries to do business in. UAE had the highest rank on the National Entrepreneurial Context Index and ranked second on the corporate tax ranking with a corporate tax of 9%, as of July 8.

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.
The oil-energy sector is fraught with uncertainty, as many companies within it are highly susceptible to extreme fluctuations in oil and natural gas prices. To illustrate this volatility, consider the dramatic swings in oil prices since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. On April 20, 2020, the price of West Texas Intermediate crude plummeted to an unprecedented negative $36.98 per barrel, only to surge to $123.64 per barrel by March 8, 2022, as economies gradually reopened.

However, this volatility doesn't mean investors should avoid the sector altogether. Midstream energy companies, such as The Williams Companies Inc. WMB, Kinder Morgan Inc. KMI, and Enbridge Inc. ENB, have demonstrated resilience in navigating market fluctuations. These companies are well-positioned for long-term gains despite the inherent challenges in the energy market. Notably, oil price data are per the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Can Midstream Players Combat Energy Market Volatility?

Unlike the business of upstream and downstream energy companies, operations of midstream energy players like the companies mentioned above have significantly lower exposure to oil and gas price volatility.

Midstream companies pipeline and storage assets are secured under long-term take-or-pay contracts. These contracts ensure that shippers pay for the capacity reserved, whether they utilize it or not, which provides a steady stream of revenue. This structure allows companies to generate stable earnings, insulated from fluctuations in the volume and prices of oil and natural gas transported, offering significant stability to their bottom line.

It's an opportune moment for investors to keep an eye on companies within the midstream energy space. Using our proprietary Stock Screener, we've identified three stocks that are well-positioned for growth. All of these stocks carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

3 Midstream Stocks to Keep an Eye on

WMB's Leadership in Natural Gas Transport

The Williams Companies generates stable fee-based earnings since it transports one-third of the natural gas consumed in the United States. Having ownership and operating interests in pipeline networks spanning 33,000 miles, WMB transports natural gas from the prolific basins in the United States to the end market. The leading midstream player is thus well-positioned to gain from rising clean energy demand since the transported natural gas is used for generating electricity, heating rooms and cooking.

In recent years, WMB has consistently provided investors with higher dividend yields compared to the oil-energy sector, demonstrating the company's strong commitment to returning capital to shareholders.

KMI: Shaping the Landscape of Natural Gas Infrastructure

Kinder Morgans stable business model is reflected in its natural gas transportation activities, where its pipeline networks are responsible for transporting roughly 40% of the commodity produced in the United States. Throughout North America, KMIs pipeline network is spread over 79,000 miles, transporting natural gas, gasoline, crude oil, carbon dioxide and more, thereby securing long-term, stable, fee-based earnings.

Most of the time over the past several years, Kinder Morgan has been rewarding investors with higher dividend yields than the oil-energy sector.

Enbridges Project Backlog Drives Growth

Enbridge is well-regarded for its low-risk business model, offering stable and predictable cash flows. This stability is largely due to long-term contracts that provide consistent fee-based revenues, thereby continuously generating wealth for shareholders. The midstream energy giant enhances its cash flows with a robust pipeline of secured midstream projects worth C$24 billion, scheduled to come online through 2028. Over the past year, Enbridge has consistently provided investors with higher dividend yields compared to the industry average.

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President Klaus Iohannis sent a letter to his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on the occasion of Ukraine's Independence Day, addressing congratulations and thoughts of peace and prosperity to the Ukrainian people, Agerpres reports.

President Klaus Iohannis voiced his appreciation for the courage and resilience of the Ukrainian armed forces and civilians in the battle for defending the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, the Presidential Administration points out on Saturday.

At the same time, President Klaus Iohannis gave guarantees that Romania would continue to participate in putting into practice in the coming period the valuable results obtained at the NATO Summit in Washington, results endorsed by Romania, who has actively gotten involved in consolidating the political and practical relation between NATO and Ukraine, the source mentions.President Klaus Iohannis voiced conviction that the political-diplomatic dialogue between Romania and Ukraine would continue at a sustained pace on all levels, aimed at lifting the bilateral relation to a strategic partnership level, in accordance with the commitment assumed on the occasion of the visit Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid to Bucharest, on October 10, 2023.***The Cotroceni Presidential Palace will be illuminated on Saturday evening in the Ukrainian flag colours to mark Ukraine's Independence Day.
Updated Sunday at 10:15 a.m. with the name of the victim.

ST. LOUIS  A man was shot and killed early Saturday in the city's Mark Twain neighborhood.

Officers were called to the shooting in the 5000 block of Ruskin Avenue at about 1:45 a.m., St. Louis police said.

Police identified the victim as 19-year-old Ryan Alexander of the 5000 block of Ruskin. He was located inside a residence and pronounced dead at the scene. Homicide detectives are investigating.
CAIRO  Israeli airstrikes killed at least three dozen Palestinians in southern Gaza, health workers said Saturday, as officials including a Hamas delegation gathered for high-level cease-fire talks in neighboring Egypt.

Eleven members of a family, including two children, were among the dead after an airstrike hit their home in Khan Younis, according to Nasser Hospital, which received a total of 33 bodies from three strikes in and around the city that also hit tuk-tuks and passersby. Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital said it received three bodies from another strike.

The Israeli military said it was looking into the reports.

First responders also recovered 16 bodies from the Hamad City area of Khan Younis after a partial pullout of Israeli forces, 10 bodies from a residential building west of Khan Younis and two farther south in Rafah. The circumstances of their deaths werent immediately clear, but the areas were repeatedly bombed by the Israeli military over the past week. An Associated Press journalist counted the bodies.

Some residents returned to Hamad City, crunching on rubble as they walked between destroyed apartment buildings. One multistory buildings entire wall was gone, its rooms framing residents picking through debris.

There is nothing, no apartment, no furniture, no homes, only destruction, Neveen Kheder said. We are dying slowly. You know what, if they gave a mercy bullet, it would be better than what is happening to us.

The war in Gaza began when Hamas and other militants staged a surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, killing around 1,200 people, primarily civilians. Hamas is believed to still be holding around 110 hostages. Israeli authorities estimate about a third are dead.

Israels retaliatory offensive has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which doesnt distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count. The ministry said Saturday a total of 69 dead and 212 wounded had been brought to hospitals across Gaza over the past 24 hours.

Israels military announced the deaths of four more soldiers in combat in central Gaza on Friday.

The conflict has caused widespread destruction and forced the vast majority of Gazas 2.3 million residents to flee their homes, with many cramming into shrinking humanitarian zones.

In Egypt, the U.S. delegation led by CIA Director William Burns and White House Middle East adviser Brett McGurk held talks with senior Egyptian officials and then with Egyptian and Qatari mediators, according to a person familiar with the ongoing talks who spoke on condition of anonymity because they werent authorized to comment publicly.

The Egyptian and Qatari negotiators were expected to meet with Hamas officials on Saturday evening. Hamas wont take part directly in Sundays talks but will be briefed by Egypt and Qatar, senior Hamas official Mahmoud Merdawy told the AP. Merdawy said Hamas position hadnt changed from accepting an earlier draft that would include the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

An Israeli delegation that arrived Thursday included the heads of the Mossad foreign intelligence service and Shin Bet security service and Maj. Gen. Eliezer Toledano.

The U.S. has been pushing a proposal that aims at closing the gaps between Israel and Hamas as fears grow over a wider regional war after the recent killings of leaders of the militant Hamas and Hezbollah groups, both blamed on Israel.

The chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. CQ Brown Jr., was visiting Egypt, Jordan and Israel over the next few days to stress the importance of deterring further escalation of hostilities, a statement said.

U.S. President Joe Biden called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday to stress the urgency of reaching a deal and discussed developments with the leaders of Qatar and Egypt on Friday.

Major differences remain between Israel and Hamas over Israels insistence that it maintain forces in two strategic corridors in Gaza. Netanyahu wants Israeli control of the Philadelphi corridor along Gazas border with Egypt and the Netzarim east-west corridor across the territory to prevent smuggling and catch militants.

In the latest protest in Tel Aviv, some Israelis again expressed anger with Netanyahu as they pressed for a deal to bring hostages home.

Remove him from his position and appoint a person who is able to return them, said Ayala Metzger, daughter-in-law of Yoram Metzger, whose body was recovered in Gaza last week.

David Rising reported from Bangkok. Wafaa Shurfa in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, and Aamer Madhani in Buellton, California, contributed to this report.

Updated at 3:56 p.m.
In this article, we will take a look at the 30 Wealthiest Families in the World in 2024. You can skip our detailed discussion on the wealth migration going on in 2024 and see the 5 Wealthiest Families in the World in 2024.

The 2024 Wealth Migration

2024 is set to witness a great millionaire migration as revealed by the migration report by Henley & Partners. 128,000 millionaires, or high net worth individuals around the globe are to relocate in this year, a global wealth migration more profound than 2023. The biggest millionaire exodus is to take place in China with an anticipated net exit of 15,200 high-net-worth individuals this year. Simultaneously, the UK is expected to witness a net loss of 9,500 millionaires in 2024, more than double the loss recorded for the preceding year while India will be losing an estimated 4,300 millionaires.

Safe Havens for High-Net-Worth Individuals

The most popular destination for those with wealth appears to be the United Arab Emirates which is expected to welcome a record-breaking 6,700 moneyed migrants by the end of 2024, backed up by significant inflows from the UK and Europe. Wealthy and affluent from India, the wider Middle East region, Russia, and Africa have also resorted to this haven. This marks the third year in a row that UAE is the world's top wealth magnet. The closest rival to the UAE in terms of attracting foreign high-net-worth individuals is the United States which has a projected net inflow of 3,800 millionaires for 2024. Singapore, Canada, and Australia follow with net inflows of 3,500, 3,200 and 2,500, respectively.

Among other attractions in the most preferred destination among the rich, the UAE is offering a Golden visa, a long-term residence visa for foreign talent to live, work, or study in the country while having exclusive benefits. These benefits include an entry visa for 6 months with multiple entries to proceed with residence issuance, a renewable residence visa valid for 5 or 10 years, not requiring a sponsor, being able to stay outside the UAE for more than the usual 6 months to keep the residence visa valid, sponsoring ones spouses and children regardless of their age, and sponsoring an unlimited number of domestic helpers. The countrys strategic location, zero income tax, low crime rate, top-notch health facilities and educational institutes, and world-class lifestyle attractions are other perks attracting the elite.

Dubai is especially winning this race as it is home to over 120 of the wealthiest families and individuals globally, with a total net worth of over $1 trillion, according to the Khaleej Times. In the last decade, over 3,500 millionaires from Africa and 1,500 high-net-worth individuals from the UK have moved to the city.

Story continues

READ ALSO: 30 Wealthiest People in France and Top 20 Countries Wealthy People Choose to Live In.

A Fortune Built Through The Luxury Empire LVMH

Bernard Arnault and his family have one of the highest net worths across the globe. Bernard serves as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the luxury goods conglomerate LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE (OTC:LVMUY). LVMH was founded in 1987 through the merger of Moet Hennessy and Louis Vuitton. The family-led group is home to 75 brands or Maisons in six key sectors of the luxury industry including wines and spirits, fashion and leather goods, fragrance and cosmetics, watches and jewelry, selective retailing, and other activities such as hospitality and media.

LVMH occupies a global leadership position in luxury goods with 75 prestigious brands and a retail network of over 6,000 stores worldwide. The groups strength lies in its autonomous Masions with distinctive identities. This diverse portfolio of brands including Dior, Sephora, Louis Vuitton, Moet & Chandon, and Fenty Beauty which need no introduction, serve as a respite against global challenges. The luxury empire became the first European company to reach the milestone of surpassing $500 billion market value in 2023. LVMH recently partnered with the Paris 2024 Olympics, a creative and exceptional collaboration that took place in the most followed event across the globe. The business has gifted Bernard a fortune, making him one of the top three billionaires in the world, as of this writing.

In the first half of 2024, LVMH secured a revenue of 41.7 billion despite economic and geopolitical uncertainty. Highlights from this half include revenue growth in Europe, the US, and Japan, resilience in fashion and leather goods with a strong operating margin for flagship brands such as Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior, rapid growth in fragrances and makeup, and Sephora consolidating its position as world leader in beauty retail. Therefore, an unprecedented portfolio of world-leading brands, the strategic vision of Bernard, robust financials against the external environment, and market dominance in the global luxury landscape deem LVMH a potential investment.

While we acknowledge the potential of LVMH 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 NVDA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

With that being said, let's move to the 30 wealthiest families in the world in 2024.

30 Wealthiest Families in the World in 2024

30 Wealthiest Families in the World in 2024

Our Methodology:

In order to compile a list of the 30 wealthiest families in the world in 2024, we acquired a detailed list of the wealthiest families across the world through reputable media sources including Bloomberg and Forbes. To shortlist the top wealthiest families, we sourced their net worth from the Forbes Real Time Billionaire list, as of August 21. For net worths not available on Forbes, we have cited the most recent values from Bloomberg. The 30 wealthiest families in the world in 2024 have been ranked in ascending order of their net worths.

At Insider Monkey we are obsessed with the stocks that hedge funds pile into. The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).

30 Wealthiest Families in the World in 2024

30. Dassault Family

Net Worth: $30.1 Billion

With a net worth of $30.1 billion, the Dassault family ranks among the wealthiest families globally. The family children inherited the Dassault aerospace and software fortune after the passing of their father Serge Dassault in 2018.

29. Duncan Family

Net Worth: $31.3 Billion

The Duncan family has a major stake in Enterprise Product Partners which was founded by the late Dan Duncan. As of now, his children Randa Duncan Williams, Milane Frantz, Dannine Duncan Avara, and Scott Duncan have a combined estimated net worth of $31.3 billion.

28. Mulliez Family

Net Worth: $34.3 Billion

Another wealthy family which ranks on our list is the French Mulliez family. The retail dynasty has over 700 members and is known to be behind Auchan also popular as Frances Walmart.

27. Reinhold Wuerth and Family

Net Worth: $36.2 Billion

Reinhold Wuerth entered his fathers wholesale screw business at the age of 14 which currently has over 400 companies and 83,000 employees around the world, before finally retiring in 1994. With a net worth of $36.2 billion, Reinhold Wuerth and his family rank 27th on our list.

26. Phil Knight and Family

Net Worth: $37 Billion

The co-founder of Nike, Phil Knight, served 52 years at the company. As of now, he and his wife are among Americas top philanthropists and the wealthiest families globally, with a net worth of $37 billion.

25. Savitri Jindal and family

Net Worth: $39.7 Billion

Savitri Jindal chairs the Jindal Group while the groups companies are being run by her sons after the demise of their father Om Prakash Jindal who was the founder. Savitri Jindal and her family have a net worth of $39.7 billion,

24. Tadashi Yanai and Family

Net Worth: $43.4 Billion

The Tokyo-listed retail clothing empire Fast Retailing, parent of the Uniqlo chain, was built and is run by Tadashi Yanai. The net worth of Tadashi Yanai and his family currently stands at $43.4 billion.

23. Van Damme, De Spoelberch, De Mevius Family

Net Worth: $43.5 Billion

The Belgian Van Damme, De Spoelberch, and De Mevius families behind Anheuser-Busch InBev have an estimated fortune of $43.5 billion. This ranks it on our list of the wealthiest families in the world in 2024.

22. Pritzker Family

Net Worth: $43.7 Billion

The Pritzker Family, one of the wealthiest in America, built its fortune mainly by the founding and expansion of the Hyatt Hotels Corporation. The net worth of the family has been estimated to be $43.7 billion.

21. Ferrero Family

Net Worth: $44.5 Billion

The Ferrero family also famous as the Nutella billionaires, owns the Ferrero group. The familys small pastry shop transformed into a global business over the years now known for Nutella, Kinder, and Ferrero Rocher.

20. Hoffmann-Oeri Family

Net Worth: $44.8 Billion

The Swiss Hoffmann-Oeri family controls the Roche pharmaceutical group. The billionaire family has a net worth of $44.8 billion.

19. Albrecht Family

Net Worth: $46.7 Billion

With a combined net worth of $46.7 billion, the Albrecht Family ranks 19th on our list. The family owns the global grocery chain Aldi.

18. Quandt Family

Net Worth: $47.3 Billion

The Quandt Family is famous for building a fortune from the luxury car brand BMW. BMW billionaire heirs Stefan Quandt and Susanne Klatten have a combined net worth of $47.3 billion.

17. Boehringer, Von Baumbach Family

Net Worth: $51.3 Billion

The wealth of the Boehringer, Von Baumbach family comes from the pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim which was founded in 1885 by Albert Boehringer. The family ranks among the wealthiest families worldwide.

16. Johnson Family

Net Worth: $52.7 Billion

Johnson Family is one of Americas richest families. The family owns a major stake in the mutual fund company Fidelity and has a combined net worth of $52.7 billion.

15. Hartono Family

Net Worth: $53.3 Billion

The Hartono brothers R. Budi Hartono and Michael Hartono are among the wealthiest in Indonesia. Most of their fortune comes from their investment in Bank Central Asia while their combined wealth amounts to $53.3 billion.

14. Cargill, MacMillan Family

Net Worth: $60.6 Billion

The multi-generational descendants of the American business executive William Wallace Cargill and his son-in-law John H. MacMillan Sr. qualify as another wealthy family. According to Forbes, the family has an estimated net worth of $60.6 billion.

13. David Thomson and Family

Net Worth: $70.2 Billion

David Thomson and his family control a media and publishing empire. As of August 21, the familys net worth is $70.2 billion which ranks it among the wealthiest families globally.

12. Wertheimer Family

Net Worth: $80.8 Billion

The Wertheimer brothers, Alain and Gerard have a combined net worth of $80.8 billion. The brothers own the popular Chanel business and are known to be fashions quietest billionaires.

11. Francoise Bettencourt Meyers and Family

Net Worth: $88.8 Billion

Francoise Bettencourt Meyers is the granddaughter of L'Oreals founder. More than a third of publicly traded L'Oreal is owned by Bettencourt Meyers and her family. Their current net worth is $88.8 billion.

10. Carlos Slim Helu and Family

Net Worth: $90 Billion

Latin America's biggest mobile telecom firm America Movil is owned by Carlos Slim Helu and his family. The familys net worth is $90 billion, as of August 21.

9. Al Saud Family

Net Worth: $112 Billion

The ruling family of Saudi Arabia ranks among the 30 richest families in the world in 2024. The family has an estimated net worth of $112 billion.

8. Ambani Family

Net Worth: $116.00 Billion

The worlds 30 wealthiest families in 2024 include the Indian Ambani family. The familys wealth has been reported to be a tenth of Indias GDP.

7. Mars Family

Net Worth: $120 Billion

The world-known Mars confectionary business is owned by the Mars family. The net worth of the family has been estimated at $120 billion which ranks it 7th on our list.

6. Al Thani Family

Net Worth: $133 Billion

With thousands of family members, the Al Thani family qualifies as one of the wealthiest families across the globe. The family started its rule over Qatar in the mid-19th century and has a dominant position in the local economy.

5. Koch Family

Net Worth: $144 Billion

Koch Family has a net worth of $144 billion and is known for Koch Industries, one of Americas largest private companies. Inherited from their father Fred C. Koch, two of the brothers Frederick and William left the family business after a dispute while the other brothers Charles, and David (died in 2019) stayed.

4. Hermes Family

Net Worth: $151 Billion

The sixth-generation Hermes family has a net worth of $151 billion. The French family owns the luxury fashion powerhouse Hermes which is known for its Kelly bags and now has a global footprint.

3. Bernard Arnault and Family

Net Worth: $191.8 Billion

With a net worth of $191.8 billion, Bernard Arnault and his family ranks third among the 30 wealthiest families in 2024. Bernard Arnault has led the world-leading LVMH group since 1989.

2. Al Nahyan Family

Net Worth: $305 Billion

The ruling family of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, Al Nahyan, ranks second among the 30 wealthiest families in the world in 2024. With an estimated net worth of $305 billion, the family earlier surpassed Waltons status of being the richest family in 2023.

1. Walton Family

Net Worth: $347 Billion

The Walton heirs Jim Walton, Rob Walton, Alice Walton, Lukas Walton, Christy Walton, Nancy Walton Laurie, and Ann Walton Kroenke have a combined current net worth of $347 billion, according to Forbes real-time billionaires list. This gives them the privilege of being at the top of the wealthiest families worldwide.

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Disclosure: None. This article was originally published at Insider Monkey.
U.S. Army soldiers with Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africas East Africa Response Force (EARF) depart an U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules from Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Dec. 18, 2013. The EARF deployed to South Sudan supporting the ordered departure of the U.S. Embassy. (Tech. Sgt. Micah Theurich/U.S. Air Force)

JUBA (Tribune News Service)  South Sudans electoral commission has outlined conditions for holding elections, dampening expectations after an earlier indication that polls could take place in December.

Abednego Akok Kacuol, the chairperson of the National Elections Commission, presented two key conditions on Friday, backtracking from an earlier announcement that suggested elections could be held on December 22, 2024.

Kacuol stated that elections would only be possible if the Elections Act is amended by parliament or if sufficient resources are made available to carry out the necessary activities within the established timeline.

It is possible to conduct elections under two conditions: first, the amendment of the Elections Act, as certain clauses related to voter registration, campaigning, and polling days need to be revised. The government must submit these amendments to parliament for debate and enactment into law. If this can be done in the short time remaining, we can proceed with elections. The second condition is the availability of resources. If resources are secured, we can conduct the elections within this brief period, Kacuol stated.

This announcement follows directives from a meeting of the presidency, which tasked the National Election Commission, the National Constitution Review Commission, and the Political Parties Council with providing a realistic timetable for the general election.

President Salva Kiir has called on all parties involved in the 2018 Peace Agreement to decide on the way forward for the upcoming elections. The technical institutions have responded by setting conditions before an inter-party committee tasked with reviewing the implementation of the 2018 peace deal and its roadmap. However, it remains unclear when the inter-party committee will present its report to the presidency.

South Sudans presidential adviser on national security chaired the meeting of the review committee. The committees spokesperson informed the media on Thursday that all views expressed by the technical institutions had been considered and that a report would be submitted to the president for a decision.

The spokesperson urged the people of South Sudan and the international community to remain patient as the review is finalized. South Sudan has not held elections since its secession from Sudan in 2011.

Elections scheduled for 2015 were postponed due to the 2013 conflict, which destabilized the country, leading to widespread displacement and insecurity. The 2018 peace agreement, which led to the formation of the government of national unity, provided a roadmap for general elections.

However, the parties agreed in 2022 to extend the transitional governments mandate by 24 months, pushing the election deadline to February 2025, due to delays in meeting key provisions of the agreement.

(c)2024 the Sudan Tribune.

Visit the Sudan Tribune at www.sudantribune.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Mischa Mabeline Kaalohilani Johnson, 19, the pregnant wife of a service member, was last seen in her home at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, on the evening of July 31, 2024. (Honolulu Police Department)

FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii  The family of a 19-year-old wife of a Hawaii-based soldier who went missing three weeks ago said Thursday that Army investigators told them they do not believe she is alive.

Mischa Johnson, who is six months pregnant, was reported missing from her home at Schofield Barracks in central Oahu on Aug. 1 by her husband, Pfc. Dewayne Arthur Johnson II.

The Army announced on Monday that Johnson had been arrested in connection with the disappearance.

Johnson, of Frederick, Md., is a cavalry scout with the 25th Infantry Division, where he was assigned in June 2023.

He is being held on Ford Island in Pearl Harbor, Marianna Tapiz, Mischas older sister, said in a lengthy Instagram video livestreamed Thursday.

Tapiz and Frances Tapiz-Andrian, mother of the sisters, pleaded throughout the broadcast for eyewitnesses to come forward with any information about Dewayne Johnsons actions during the last weeks of July.

Marianna Tapiz talks about her sister, Mischa Johnson, who went missing more than three weeks ago from Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, in this screenshot from an Instagram livestream on Aug. 22, 2024. (Instagram)

What we need to know is anything about DJ, Tapiz said, using her brother-in-laws nickname. Thats kind of the focus right now. The focus is no longer  I mean, of course its still bring her home, but now its switching to justice for Mischa.

She said Army Criminal Investigation Division agents told the family that based upon evidence found in the home and in the soldiers car, a red Ford Mustang, they believe Mischa is dead.

Mark Lunardi, a spokesman for Army CID, said in an email Friday that at this time Army CID is unable to provide any additional information in order to preserve the integrity of this ongoing investigation.

Tapiz said Johnson has been in custody since Aug. 7.

The CID has a receipt and surveillance recordings from a hardware store in which Dewayne Johnson made questionable purchases, Tapiz said.

They have a receipt; they have footage, but they need a witness to come out and say, I saw this guy buying this, she said.

U.S. Army Pfc. Dewayne Johnson, a cavalry scout assigned to 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, applies face paint during an exercise at Helemano Military Reservation, Hawaii, Nov. 2, 2023. (Joshua Linfoot/U.S. Army)

If you saw [his car] on the side of the road doing something suspicious, we ask you, please say something, she said.

Tapiz-Andrian fell to her knees sobbing during the livestream.

I failed as a mom, she said. I failed as a parent. I failed my child. I failed Mischa.

Im pleading with everyone on island and in the United States, come out, please, come out with anything. Call CID. I cant even bury my daughter. Please dont fail Mischa.

Anonymous tips can be submitted to the CID via an online form at www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=325 or by calling 808-208-0059.

Tapiz-Andrian said she had a phone conversation with Mischa on July 12, which was the last contact the family had with her other than text messages.

During that conversation, Mischa told her mother that her husband had been unfaithful, Tapiz said.

When he reported his wife missing on Aug. 1, Dewayne Johnson told the Honolulu police and military police that Mischa was emotionally distraught.

That claim came as a surprise to her family, who said they saw no signs of such distress.

She was so excited to be a housewife  shes always so happy, Tapiz said. You guys see it in the pictures. We were just all taken aback by it.
A map of Ukraine shows the region of Russia where Ukrainian forces have taken control of territory. (The Washington Post)

Caught unaware by Ukraines surprise military incursion into Russia early this month, the Biden administration is still debating whether to help Kyivs forces hold and perhaps even expand the sliver of territory they now occupy in Russias Kursk region.

The Pentagon has asked the Ukrainians what they need to make their gambit successful, U.S. officials said, but no decisions have been made to materially support the effort.

Internal administration discussions have focused on whether to adjust the contents of weapons packages that are now being dispatched every two weeks, to include more armored vehicles or to speed up delivery of certain munitions and other equipment that could help the Ukrainians dig in and defend themselves in the nearly 500 square miles of Russian territory Kyiv now says it holds, a U.S. official said.

The Biden administration has previously prioritized rushing some weapons to Ukraine as battlefield conditions have changed, including replenishing air defense ammunition when Russia ramped up its aerial bombardments of Kyiv and other cities.

The latest shipment, $125 million worth of supplies announced Friday by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, includes howitzer and artillery ammunition, ambulances and medical equipment, TOW antitank missiles, and unmanned aerial systems and ammunition  all of which is badly needed in the ongoing fight against Russian forces in eastern Ukraine.

But as discussions continue over aid to the Kursk offensive, two issues have dominated. The Americans say they are unsure of Kyivs overall offensive strategy, and Ukraines dependence on U.S. weaponry has revived fears of direct U.S. and NATO escalation with Russia.

So far, the administration says it has no firm sense of Ukraines goals in seizing territory inside Russia, or whether it intends to hold or expand its occupation. They may have a plan, but theyre not sharing it with us, said the U.S. official, one of several who discussed internal administration assessments and deliberations on the condition of anonymity.

Asked Thursday why the administration has not voiced unalloyed support for the action in Kursk, Pentagon deputy spokesperson Sabrina Singh told reporters that officials are still trying to understand how Kyivs surprise offensive fits into their strategic objectives on the battlefield itself.  Were still working and still have some questions.

While U.S. and Ukrainian officials publicly tout a strong relationship, their ties have been repeatedly tested throughout the 2-year war by frustrations and fundamental disagreements about strategy and the level of support the West should provide.

Last year, as the counteroffensive against Russian forces turned into a bloody slog, Ukrainian officials and commanders vented that the Pentagons guidance on how to fight was largely academic and did not acknowledge the realities of battling a bigger, entrenched foe. Disagreements on a path forward prompted breaks in communication, including during a crucial period last summer when the top commander of U.S. forces in Europe, Gen. Christopher Cavoli, according to U.S. officials, could not reach Ukraines then-military chief, Gen. Valery Zaluzhny.

Despite not being informed in advance  and worried about the overall strategy  some U.S. administration and military officials have expressed admiration for how Ukrainian forces have managed the Kursk incursion, noting that they used some of the U.S. tactics that they were unwilling or unable to apply in last years counteroffensive.

I think General Cavoli said weve been quite pleased with the way its going, as I think the Ukrainians have, Christopher P. Maier, the assistant defense secretary for special operations and low-intensity conflict, told the Defense Writers Group on Friday. I think at some level, it shows once again sometimes the fragility of the Russian military security infrastructure, that they were seemingly unprepared for such an event.

Since last summers fraught counteroffensive, Ukrainian officials and new commanders have opted for a tighter circle of secrecy in Kyiv. U.S. officials said that, while they had detected Ukrainian troop movements around the border city of Sumy, the Ukrainians did not share their plans in advance.

Questions have also been raised inside the administration about the use of American weapons inside Russia, an apparent violation of stated U.S. policy  designed to avoid escalation between Moscow and Washington  that they are only for defense against Russian attacks on Ukrainian territory.

Theres been no change to guidance weve given to Ukraine about where and how they can use U.S. weapons to defend themselves just across the border, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Friday. Citing President Joe Bidens mid-May easing of prohibitions on firing U.S.-provided munitions across the border from inside Ukraine toward incoming Russian air- and ground-launched strikes, Kirby said that they are allowed to use U.S.-provided material to defend themselves against Russian aggression.

We are still examining that policy, he said of the remaining restrictions.

U.S. officials previously said the revised policy narrowly focused on using weapons like howitzers and rocket artillery to fire from Ukraine into Russia. The change specifically left in place restrictions on using long-range munitions, known as ATACMS, and did not address bringing weapons and vehicles overland onto Russian soil. Yet Ukrainian forces, according to analysts and soldiers on the ground, are already using U.S. equipment in their Kursk offensive, including Stryker personnel carriers, Humvees and armored MRAP vehicles.

Reaffirming the policy in recent days, U.S. officials have not publicly said it is being violated in Kursk.

Late Thursday, Ukrainian Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Mykola Oleschuk posted a video on Telegram purporting to show a Russian base in Kursk being hit by what he said were air-launched glide bombs provided by the United States. This is what the Air Force airstrike with high-precision American GBU-39 bombs looks like on a platoon base in the Kursk region, Oleschuk wrote, adding that the strike hit a Russian command post, equipment, weapons and up to 40 Russian servicemen.

U.S. administrations have at times defined American strikes in places such as Iraq and Yemen as preemptive defense rather than offense. As the Biden administration grapples with that question in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for the lifting of all U.S. red lines.

European Union foreign policy head Josep Borrell this week also called for lifting restrictions on the use of capabilities versus the Russian military involved in aggression against Ukraine  by ending Russias sanctuary for its attacks and bombardments of Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. E.U. foreign and defense ministers, he said, would discuss how to move forward in our support of Kyiv at discussions in Brussels next week.

Russia has publicly charged, and the administration has sharply denied, U.S. complicity in the offensive. This week, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned Stephanie Holmes, the deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, to protest what officials said were American journalists illegally entering Russia, accompanied by Ukrainian troops, to report on the incursion. Russian officials also claimed, without evidence, the presence of U.S. mercenaries among Ukraines forces in Kursk.

U.S. officials have said they have not provided intelligence to aid the Kursk operation. I dont foresee the United States helping or providing assistance in intel sharing that would enable the further taking of sovereign Russian territory, a second U.S. official said.

Zelenskyy has already claimed some successes from the surprise offensive, including creating a buffer zone around Ukraines northeastern Sumy region, which had been taking heavy bombardment from Russian forces. Ukrainian forces have also captured hundreds of Russian prisoners of war  an action Zelenskyy has referred to as replenishing the exchange fund Kyiv will use to gain the return of its own soldiers held by Russia.

Ukrainian officials have said the Russian land grab will give them a powerful bargaining chip in any future peace talks.

The Kursk offensive has been a public relations win for Ukraines commanders, and for a country unified but exhausted by years of war. Facing a lack of military-age conscripts, Kyiv has implemented a new mobilization campaign  drafting some 30,000 troops a month, according to analysts and Western officials. But extending the front into Kursk with a military that is already undermanned across the battlefield in Ukraine is a risk.

Ukraines military command had calculated that Russia would divert forces from elsewhere along the front in eastern Ukraine to defend Kursk, but so far Moscow has avoided pulling units out of the eastern Donetsk region.

Meanwhile, Russian forces have been closing in on the strategic eastern town of Pokrovsk, and some Ukrainian soldiers have said defending the area has gotten more difficult now that reserves and ammunition are being sent north to Kursk and civilian evacuations have begun.

But the United States is not offering advice, and Kyiv hasnt asked for it, a U.S. official said. Theyre going to do what theyre going to do.

Khurshudyan reported from Kyiv. Dan Lamothe and Missy Ryan contributed to this report.
Two cars exploded outside a synagogue in southern France early Saturday, injuring one police officer and prompting authorities to open a terrorism investigation amid reports of rising antisemitism in the country.

The vehicles, parked outside the Beth Yaacov synagogue in the town of La Grande-Motte, near Montpellier, were set alight around 8 a.m., the Associated Press reported, citing a statement from the National Anti-terrorism Prosecutors Office.

The attack is being investigated as an attempted murder, the statement said. French President Emmanuel Macron called it a terrorist act and said everything was being done to locate the perpetrator. The fight against antisemitism is a constant fight, he said.

Two other fires were started outside the doors to the synagogue, the statement from the prosecutors office said. As of Saturday evening local time, no arrests had been made.

Four people and a rabbi were present at the time of the attack but were not harmed, officials said, though a police officer was injured after a propane gas tank inside one the cars detonated.

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal visited the scene Saturday alongside Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin and met with local staff and officials.

Once again, French Jews have been targeted and attacked because of their beliefs, Attal said, adding that he and Darmanin were outraged and repulsed by the attack.

The suspect, Attal said, was extremely determined to cause harm. If the synagogue had been full of worshipers at the time of the attack, there would have very likely been victims, he said.

We have narrowly avoided a tragedy, Attal said, adding that around 200 police officers and security personnel were working to find the perpetrator.

The mayor of La Grande-Motte, Stephan Rossignol, said security cameras had captured images of an individual setting fire to the cars, French wire service Agence France-Presse reported.

Yonathan Arfi, president of the Council of Jewish Institutions in France, told AFP that the attack was an attempt to kill Jews and said he welcomed the governments vow to protect Jewish holy sites in the country so that the Jews of France can live peacefully like all other French people.

Antisemitism has skyrocketed in France, home to the third-largest Jewish community in the world, after Israel and the United States. In November, some 100,000 people marched through Paris to protest antisemitism in the country following Hamass Oct. 7 attack and Israels war in Gaza.

The Interior Ministry recorded 1,676 antisemitic attacks in 2023, up from 436 in 2022.

In recent months, French Jews have expressed concern for their safety.

In May, a man armed with a knife set fire to a synagogue in the northwestern city of Rouen. He was shot dead by police after threatening officers, the local prosecutor said.

In June, the reported rape of a 12-year-old Jewish girl in Paris was linked to rising antisemitism across the country. No one can be excused from this unprecedented surge of antisemitism, the chief rabbi of France, Haim Korsia, said in a social media post at the time.
Israels Mossad Director David Barnea speaks during the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT) World Summit in the central coastal city of Herzliya on Sept.10, 2023. Barnea was in Cairo with Israeli negotiators on Friday. (Gil Cohen-Magen/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  Hamas said a delegation will travel to Cairo on Saturday evening to receive an update on negotiations aimed at achieving a cease-fire in Gaza.

In a statement, Hamas spokesman Izzat Al-Rishq said the team, led by senior official Khalil Al-Hayya, is traveling at the invitation of the mediators in Egypt and Qatar. He confirmed Hamass readiness to implement the terms agreed upon in July, based on a declaration from U.S. President Joe Biden and a U.N. Security Council resolution.

Israeli negotiators, led by the head of the Mossad intelligence agency, were in Egypts capital on Friday in the latest effort to craft a truce in the war, now into its 11th month. Theyve since departed. Cease-fire talks may begin on Sunday but that could still change, an Israeli official said on Friday. Hamas wont directly participate in the talks, Agence France-Presse reported, citing a senior official who wasnt identified.

Before then, Mossads David Barnea was expected to hold discussions with Egyptian authorities about the war and Israeli forces control of Gazas border with Egypt, according to Israeli officials.

Al-Rishq said Hamas calls for pressure on the occupation and obligating it to implement the agreed-to terms.

The Cairo round will be the latest in a months-long effort to pause or end the war that followed Hamas Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, during which the group killed 1,200 people and took about 240 hostage.

Israels subsequent air and ground offensive on Gaza has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, according to the territorys Hamas-run health ministry, which doesnt distinguish between combatant and civilian casualties.

On the table in Cairo is a proposal backed by the U.S., Egypt and Qatar that provides for a phased cessation of hostilities, the release of hostages held by Hamas, the freeing of many Palestinians in Israeli jails, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from areas of Gaza.

One key point of tension is over Israel wanting to keep troops stationed along the strategic Philadelphi corridor, the southern portion of Gaza that runs along the border with Egypt, to prevent arms smuggling from the Arab nation. Hamas opposes that, while Egypt is also wary of Israeli troops remaining.

Another sticking point is that Hamas  designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. and European Union  wants a truce to amount to a permanent end to the war, while Israel says it needs to retain the right to restart fighting to achieve its aim of destroying the group.

With assistance from Galit Altstein.

2024 Bloomberg L.P.

Visit bloomberg.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
JohnnyGreig / iStock/Getty Images

As Benjamin Franklin once wrote, In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes. And nowhere is this more relevant than estate planning.

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But lets back up. To the uninitiated, what exactly is estate planning? Put simply, estate planning is the plan an individual makes for how they would like their assets divided when they die.

Given the natural aversion to thoughts of ones inevitable death, many avoid learning about estate planning. And it is for this reason that myths and misconceptions run wild regarding the process. GoBankingRates spoke with New York estate planning attorney Caleb Smith* to unearth the most common myths (and correct facts) about estate planning.

Earning passive income doesn't need to be difficult. You can start this week.

Myth: Im Too Young To Need a Will

People often think estate planning is reserved for the elderly and infirm. Unfortunately, one never knows when they are going to die. And parents with minor children may actually have a greater need for a will to establish guardians of their choosing in the event of their sudden passing.

If you have minors, everything may be subject to court order, stated Smith. This means that in the absence of a will, the legal system decides on a guardian and they must be in frequent communication with the court until the child is of legal age to disclose how much money is being spent on the child. Not only must these accountings be frustratingly meticulous, but they can lead to costly legal fees.

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Myth: I Dont Need a Lawyer To Prepare My Documents

There are many specific legal requirements as to what the documents have to contain and how they have to be executed, stated Smith. If not executed properly, theyre not valid. Its not that easy to do online. Smith joked this may be a matter of perspective, but ensured hes not just saying it because hes a lawyer. Ive seen things go wrong.

Myth: If I Pass Without a Will, the State Gets My Assets

Each state has unique intestacy laws that establish a priority order to whom assets are passed  typically beginning with closest living relatives. While specifics vary across state lines, In New York, fifty-thousand dollars and fifty percent will go to the spouse and fifty percent will go to the kids, stated Smith. In the absence of kids or a spouse, assets may pass to siblings, parents, etc. The state will only get your assets if no living relatives are found.

Story continues

Myth: Im Not Rich Enough To Need Estate Planning

As it turns out, estate planning can have less to do with how much money you have and more to do with wanting a say in how that money is divided. And, according to Smith, everyone should want a say in that. Perhaps you want to give one hundred percent of the money to your child instead of what the law might provide, stated Smith. These things do happen.

Myth: I Did Estate Planning Years Ago So I Dont Need To Do It Again

If an estate plan was put in place in the past, state or federal laws could have changed since then, therefore nullifying or otherwise impacting previous plans. It is also possible that ones assets could have increased or decreased, or their family situation could have shifted. Smith advocated for making sure your estate plans are always current.

Myth: Trusts Avoid Estate Tax

Avoiding estate tax can depend on specific circumstances, appropriately drafted documents, and (most importantly) the kind of trust. A revocable trust  allowing the grantor to maintain control and make changes to particular designations while he or she is alive  does not avoid estate tax. A gift to an irrevocable trust, however  a trust that typically cannot be altered but remains protected from creditors  can avoid estate tax. Yet, even an irrevocable trust may only reduce tax and not all-out avoid it depending on the size of your estate.

Myth: Estate Planning Is Only for Married People with Kids

Even the single and childless want a say in how their assets are divided. Also, some may wish to allocate funds or property to extended family, close friends, or charitable organizations over a parent or sibling. Healthcare directives are also part of estate planning, which specify who can make medical decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated. In the absence of a suitable surrogate [] medical decisions are generally left to the judgment of healthcare professionals or court-appointed guardians, wrote THK Law, LLP. And, for most, that is undesirable.

Myth: A Will Avoids Probate

A will involves probate by definition, stated Smith. To avoid probate, he suggested either putting all assets into a revocable trust or having beneficiary designations (including so-called Payable-on-Death (POD) designations) on individual accounts.

Myth: I Can Gift My Entire Estate Without Having To Worry About Taxes

While its true that gifts can often avoid tax, the amount of money you can give away in life and death is limited. According to Patrick Villanova, CEPF and editor at SmartAsset, the annual gift tax exclusion is $18,000, meaning a person can give up to $18,000 to as many people as he or she wants without having to pay any taxes on the gifts. If an annual gift exceeds $18,000, however, the difference is subtracted from ones lifetime gift exemption, which is currently $13.61 million. If the lifetime gift exemption is exceeded, the gift giver will be taxed. And while this may not ever come into play for most Americans, it is something high net worth individuals ought to be mindful of.

*Caleb Smith is a pseudonym.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 9 Myths and Facts About Estate Planning: What You Need To Know
Amirik Singh faces up to 14 years in prison in Italy if convicted of a number of serious offences he is suspected of committing there

The man is wanted in Italy on a number of serious charges

AN asylum seeker being extradited from Ireland to Italy in connection with alleged firearms and other offences after unsuccessfully arguing he shouldnt be surrendered until a decision has been made on his protection application

Amirik Singh faces up to 14 years in prison in Italy if convicted of a number of serious offences he is suspected of committing there.

A European Arrest Warrant was issued by Maria Beatrice Parati, Judge for Preliminary Investigations of the Court of Bergamo, on July 17 last year.

Singh is wanted to in relation to causing grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm and carrying a weapon in a public place.

He was arrested in Ireland on October 23 last year on foot of a Shengen Information System II alert and brought before the High Court.

He challenged his extradition on two grounds. The first was that no decision had been made to prosecute him with the offences while the second was that as he was an international protection applicant and, whilst this does not of itself operate as a bar to surrender, he may not be surrendered until such time as a decision has been made in relation to this protection application.

In relation to the argument that Italian authorities had not made a decision to prosecute him, the Issuing Judicial Authority Ms Maria Beatrice Parati clarified for Irish authorities that someone cannot be charged under Italian law until a preliminary hearing takes where they are present or if they are aware of proceedings and are a fugitive from justice.

She confirmed that Singh will be charged after he appears in court in Italy.

The decision to put him on trial will be made as soon as the suspected person will be extradited to Italy, she said.

She added that another person who allegedly participated in the crime, Chahal Marvin Singh, has already had a preliminary hearing and appeared before court in Italy at a hearing on May 9 ahead of his trial.

Mr Justice Patrick McGrath said that Singhs argument that he should not be extradited as a decision to prosecute him hadnt been take failed.

The issuing judicial authority has specifically confirmed that it had the intention to charge and try the Respondent at the time of the issue of the EAW, the judge said.

"In the absence of good reason, a high level of confidence and trust must be given to the responses received from the issuing judicial authority in reply to the 20 requests issued in this case.

"Indeed, there is in fact no disagreement on the central issue, namely whether the issuing judicial authority had an intention to charge and try the Respondent, between that authority and the Italian lawyer engaged by the Respondent, he said.

Singhs argument that he shouldnt be extradited until his international protection application was decided in Ireland also failed.

Mr Justice McGrath said referred to a previous ruling which noted that there is no principle in international law which prohibits the surrender or extradition of a person seeking international protection/ asylum, provided the relevant safeguards are in place to protect against non-refoulement [deporting a refugee to a country where their life or freedom would be threatened] and to ensure access to a fair asylum procedure.

Mr Justice McGrath said there are a number of safeguards available to the Singh to ensure that his international protection application is determined, either in Ireland following the determination of the proceedings, or Italy whilst proceedings are ongoing, without risk of refoulement, including the seeking of assurances from the Minister for Justice and/or Italy.

I do not accept the argument that the Respondent, as an applicant for international protection, has a right to remain in the state that operates as a bar to surrender on foot of this EAW.
Matthew Kelly (44) allegedly lunged at his sister with the knife, then told gardai he lost the head when they arrived and arrested him.

Matthew Kelly, of Derham Park, Balbriggan, charged with producing a kitchen knife and threatening to kill or cause serious harm.

A brother has been accused of holding a kitchen knife to his sisters throat and threatening to kill her after she asked him to fill a kettle.

Matthew Kelly (44) allegedly lunged at his sister with the knife, then told gardai he lost the head when they arrived and arrested him.

The case was adjourned at Dublin District Court for the accused to decide how he intends to plead.

Mr Kelly, a community employment worker of Derham Park, Balbriggan, is charged with producing a kitchen knife and threatening to kill or cause serious harm.

A garda sergeant told Judge John Brennan the DPP consented to the case being dealt with in the district court subject to the judge accepting jurisdiction.

The court heard the alleged victim was at her home in Balbriggan on February 28 when she asked her brother to fill the kettle for their father.

It was alleged the accused banged the kettle aggressively, picked up a kitchen knife and lunged at his sister with it.

According to the prosecution, he held the knife to her throat and said: Ill kill you, Ill kill you all.

Gardai arrived and spoke to the accused, who said, Sorry, I lost the head, it was alleged.

Judge Brennan said the case just about came within the category of minor offence which allowed him to accept jurisdiction.

Defence solicitor Holly Laher said she had been furnished with a summary evidence and asked for further statements to be disclosed.

The judge granted this and remanded the accused on continuing bail to appear in Balbriggan District Court in October.
Mohammad Khader Abdel Aqel, who is originally from Jordan, continues to deny his guilt, despite the jurys verdict.

A two-year jail term has been imposed upon a 51-year-old man who raped a woman he met on the Plenty of Fish dating app.

Mohammad Khader Abdel Aqel was convicted by a jury earlier this year of raping the victim in her flat in June 2022.

He was sentenced for the serious sexual assault at Belfast Crown Court by Judge Gordon Kerr KC, who divided a four-year term equally between prison and licence.

With an address at Harrowgate Street in Belfast, Aqel, who is originally from Jordan, continues to deny his guilt, despite the jurys verdict.

During the trial, the jury was told that Aqel and the woman first came into contact with each other on the Plenty of Fish dating app.

They exchanged messages for a period before an agreement was made to meet for the first time in her flat on June 10, 2022.

After Aqel arrived at the property, there was consensual kissing and intimate touching, following which Aqel sought sexual intercourse.

The woman agreed that this could occur but only if he used a condom.

Aqel refused this request and, despite the womans protests and her repeatedly saying no, he proceeded to have sex with her without a condom and without her consent.

When she gave evidence at the trial, the woman said she struggled with him and tried to push him off but that he continued.

After the rape, the victim told Aqel to leave and, later that day, she contacted the PSNI.

Aqel was arrested the following day. When questioned about the rape allegation, he issued a statement via his solicitor in which he said the sexual intercourse was consensual.

During the trial, the jury heard Aqels version of events. He claimed he explained to the woman that a condom would affect his sexual performance and that she agreed to abandon its use.

At sentencing, Judge Kerr said the jurys verdict indicated [the victims] account was the true one and that he had read a victim impact statement which outlined the negative impact the offence has had on her.

Judge Kerr said: It is well known and established that the offence of rape has such affects on victims and these can be significant.

He added that he had also received several references which spoke of Aqels community work and medical reports which outlined the defendants low moods and history of depression, as well as defence submissions by Barry Gibson KC made on behalf of his client.

These include Aqels move from Jordan to Northern Ireland with his family, the separation from his wife, his parental responsibilities and his clear criminal record.

Judge Kerr added that whilst Aqel has not been considered by probation to present a serious risk to the public, he still does not accept his guilt and has shown no remorse.

Handing Aqel a four-year sentence, Judge Kerr placed him on the sex offenders register for life and imposed a five-year restraining order which bans him from contacting the woman he raped.
A Dublin father of three has been charged with importation of cannabis after he was allegedly caught with more than 500,000 of the drug in his luggage in Dublin Airport.

Kieran ODea (38) was found with 49 vacuum-packed packages of the drug in a suitcase when he was stopped at customs after arriving on a flight, a court heard.

Gardai maintained he was caught red-handed transporting the drugs.

Judge John Brennan refused to grant him bail and his case was adjourned when he appeared at Dublin District Court.

Mr ODea, with an address at Bunratty Road, Coolock, is charged with unlawfully importing cannabis and possession of the drug with intent to sell or supply.

The offences are alleged to have happened at Terminal 1, Dublin Airport, on August 18.

Objecting to bail, the prosecuting garda cited the nature and seriousness of the charges, and the strength of the proposed evidence.

It was alleged the accused attempted to import 504,000 of cannabis, he said. According to gardai, Mr ODea was caught with a suitcase containing 49 vacuum-packed packages of cannabis.

Having originated in Bangkok, it was alleged he collected the bag at another location and was arrested after arriving at Dublin Airport.

Gardai believed he would not answer to bail and turn up in court if released.

Mr ODea was an Irish citizen who had extremely strong ties to this jurisdiction, his lawyer said. He had three children and was a very involved parent.

He was prepared to abide by bail conditions, including surrendering his passport and signing on twice daily at a garda station if needed, she said.

He could be monitored by way of a contact phone number.

The accuseds family, several of whom were in court, could offer a sum of money if he was granted bail, the lawyer said.

The garda said even strict conditions would not allay his fears over bail being granted.

Due to the significant value in the charges, I cant agree to conditions, he told Judge Brennan.

The judge said he was satisfied bail should be denied over the garda concerns that the accused would evade justice.

He granted free legal aid after hearing Mr ODea was not working.

The accused was not required to address the hearing and has not yet entered pleas to the charges, which are under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
Anyone who may have witnessed anything out of the ordinary is asked to come forward

Gardai have issued an appeal following a suspected assault on John Dillon Street in Dublin 8, in the early hours of this morning.

Gardai are appealing to any persons who may have been in or around this area between the hours of 3am and 7am, and who may have witnessed anything out of the ordinary or has camera footage, including dash-cam to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Kevin Street Garda Station on 01-6669400, the Garda Confidential line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
The suspect, aged in his 20, is from Ballymun and is understood to owe a significant drugs debt

A young man previously unknown to gardai for involvement in organised crime is suspected of spending the week travelling around north Dublin with a loaded handgun in a manbag.

However, he was busted when gardai observed him and two other men sitting in a car acting suspiciously in Finglas yesterday afternoon.

The suspect, aged in his 20, is from Ballymun and is understood to owe a significant drugs debt and officers are investigating if he had the lethal weapon for his own protection.

When gardai interacted with the suspect, who has minor convictions, he attempted to assault them but was restrained before officers discovered the loaded weapon in his manbag.

It is being investigated whether the three Ballymun men were in the Finglas area to purchase drugs but no substances were seized at the scene.

A garda spokesman said the suspect is expected to appear in court later.

A man (20s) arrested in connection with this investigation has since been charged.

He is expected to appear before Court No 2, the Criminal Courts of Justice at 4pm this afternoon, Saturday 24th August 2024.

The other two men (both 20s) who were arrested have been released without charge, with a file being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Gardai had earier announced details of the bust.

Gardai are investigating following the seizure of a firearm and ammunition in Finglas, Dublin 11, yesterday, Friday, 23rd August 2024, a garda spokeswoman said.

During the course of routine patrols Gardai from the Divisional Drugs Unit carried out a search of a vehicle in the Kippure Park area of Finglas and recovered a suspected pistol along with ammunition.

Three men, aged in their 20s, were arrested and are currently detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939 at Garda Stations in the Dublin Metropolitan Region.

The firearm and ammunition will now be sent to The Garda Ballistics Unit for further analysis.

Investigations are ongoing.

Speaking about this seizure, Chief Superintendent Majella Armstrong said: "I would like to commend the Gardai involved in this seizure for helping to ensure another dangerous firearm has been taken off our streets.

"This was the result of ongoing proactive patrols in the DMR West and is another example of the tireless work carried out by Gardai patrolling our streets every day to help keep people safe.
A suspected firearm was seized by gardai and a man in his 20s was arrested

Gardai are continuing to investigate a number of incidents which occurred in Cork yesterday evening following an attack on the home of a well known convicted criminal.

Gardai are investigating an incident of criminal damage at a property in the Shanakiel area of Cork at about 5.40pm. No injuries have been reported.

Two men called to the mans home armed with what gardai believe was some type of weapon and smashed a number of windows before fleeing the scene on a motorbike.

During the getaway the men knocked down a man on the Churchfield Road. The man who is in his 60s sustained a broken leg.

He was taken to Cork University Hospital for treatment following the collision where his condition is currently described as serious.

The suspects dumped the bike and ran from the scene.

Videos of the men arriving at and leaving the home of the house where the intended target lives are circulating on social media.

The man who was at home when the attackers called was recently released from prison after serving a lengthy jail term.

A number of crime scenes were sealed off as Garda continue with their investigations.

A suspected firearm was seized by gardai and a man in his 20s was arrested afterwards by gardai.

He is currently detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939 at a garda station in the Southern Region.

Gardai are appealing to anyone with information in relation to these incidents or road users with video footage to contact them.

Gardai can be contacted at Gurranabraher garda station on 021 494 6200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.

Gardai added that no further information is available at this time although investigations are ongoing.
Detective Chief Inspector Anthony Kelly from the PSNIs Major Investigation Team said it was vital those responsible for her murder were caught.

Police have stepped up patrols in Derry following the horrific murder of a woman in the city.

A huge hunt for the womans killer or killers was launched after her body was found in a flat at Harvey Street in the city centre around 4.15am this morning.

The PSNI believed the victim, who has still not been identified, was brutally attacked with a weapon before the flat was set on fire.

Fire crews who arrived to tackle the blaze found the womans body in the bedroom of the ground floor flat.

She had suffered multiple injuries in the attack.

A postmortem on the womans body was due to be carried out as soon as possible in a bid to identify her and the exact cause of death.

Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, the officer leading the murder investigation said at this stage they believe the woman may be aged possibly in her 40s to mid-60s.

Detective Chief Inspector Anthony Kelly from the PSNIs Major Investigation Team said it was vital those responsible for her murder were caught.

From our enquiries so far we can tell you the victim suffered an horrific attack and sustained multiple injuries, said DCI Kelly.

We know this brutal murder has caused great concern, understandably, but we can assure you we are working at full pace to establish what happened and catch those responsible for this heinous and evil crime.

Harvey Street, which runs between Waterloo Street and Chamberlain Street in Derrys city centre, is made up of two rows of terraced houses.

Several of the properties on the street are used for Air BnB accommodation.

There were several flats in the property where the womans body was found.

It is believed she was the sole occupant of the flat where her body was found.

As part of their extensive investigation, police cordoned off Harvey Street, as well as the top section of Waterloo Street.

Several businesses on Waterloo Street, including two pubs and a cafe, were forced to close as a result of the police operation.

The cordon remained in place tonight and members of the PSNIs forensic team were still at the scene.

A tent remains at the murder scene in Derry

A tent erected outside the property where the womans body was found also remains in place.

Despite the cordon, residents in the affected streets were allowed access to their homes.

Investigating officers have been contacting surrounding businesses to look at any CCTV footage they have as police try to piece together what happened.

DCI Kelly said they would be stepping up police patrols in the city as the hunt for the womans killer continues.

You will see an increase in the police presence in the city in the coming hours and days and I am grateful to members of the public for their ongoing support, he said.

We have a number of specific appeals and I urged anyone with information to contact us.

Were you in Harvey Street area between 2am and 5am today?

Did you notice or hear anything remotely suspicious or see any unusual activity, including vehicles not normally in the area or anything out of the ordinary?

If you have any CCTV, doorbell or dash-cam footage from this timeframe please contact us.

I am appealing directly to the local community to tell us anything you know.

We need to find out who did this. Our enquiries are ongoing in relation to a motive and we need the publics help.

Any information, no matter how small it may seem, could be very helpful.

DCI Kelly told journalists be was could not provide more information about the womans death because the investigation is at the very stages.

We are keeping a very open mind with regards to any motive at this stage but I cannot comment further, he said.

We are at the very early stages of our investigation and I dont want to speculate but I can reassure the public there will be an increase police presence in the city during the coming hours and days and we will be working around the clock to identify who was responsible for this and bring them to justice.

This was a brutal and savage attack on this woman and we owe it to her to identify the perpetrator and bring them to justice.

Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan said the local community were shocked by the womans death.

Our thoughts and prayers are with a family waking to the worst possible news this morning, he said.

Please come forward if you have any information at all that might help the police with their investigation.

Derry Sinn Fein councillor Sandra Duffy also backed the appeal for information.

My immediate thoughts and prayers are with this womans family and friends, she said.

If anyone has information or footage which can assist enquiries they should contact the PSNI."

Anyone with information about the murder, or who may be able to help with the investigation, is asked to call 101 quoting reference number 225 24/08/24 or submit a report online through the PSNIs website. Information can also be passed on through the Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
We are deeply shocked by the brutal attack on the city festival in Solingen

German police have detained a person and are investigating whether there is a connection between them and a knife attack in the western German city of Solingen late on Friday that killed three and injured others earlier, they said on Saturday.

The police are currently conducting a large-scale search for the perpetrator, police said in a statement.

They have assembled a large number of forces around Solingen city centre, including special units. Both victims and witnesses are currently being questioned, they said.

Witnesses alerted police shortly after 9.30pm on Friday to an unknown attacker having wounded several people with a knife on a central square, the Fronhof.

Police said that the perpetrator was on the run, and that they so far had only very thin information.

They said they believe the stabbings were carried out by a lone attacker and gave no information about the identities of the victims.

The Festival of Diversity, marking the citys 650th anniversary, began on Friday and was to run until Sunday, with several stages in central streets offering live music, cabaret and acrobatics.

A search is under way for the attacker (Christoph Reichwein/dpa/AP)

Solingen has about 160,000 residents and is near the bigger cities of Cologne and Dusseldorf.

We are deeply shocked by the brutal attack on the city festival in Solingen, German interior minister Nancy Faeser said in a statement on Saturday.

Our security authorities are doing everything they can to catch the perpetrator and establish the background to the attack.

There has been concern about increased knife violence in Germany, and Ms Faeser recently proposed toughening weapons laws to allow only knives with a blade measuring up to six centimetres to be carried in public, rather than the 12 centimetres that is currently allowed.
We recently published a list of S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats List: Sorted By Hedge Fund Sentiment. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) stands against the other S&P 500 dividend aristocrats.

The appeal of dividend growth growth stocks is unmatched. For those considering investing in dividend stocks, growth typically outweighs yield due to the consistent returns they have delivered over the years. Within dividend growth strategies, the dividend aristocrats stand out. Of the approximately 6,000 stocks listed on the NYSE and NASDAQ, only 67 companies earn the title of dividend aristocrats. These companies have consistently increased their dividend payouts for a minimum of 25 consecutive years. They are part of the broader market and are tracked by the Dividend Aristocrat Index.

Also read: 10 Best Dividend-Paying Stocks Under $50

Companies that regularly increase their dividends typically show strong financial health and stability, indicating their consistent profitability. A report by Fortune highlighted that, although it has lagged behind its benchmark, the Dividend Aristocrat Index has surpassed nearly all US active managers over the past decade. Rupert Watts, the head of factors and dividend indices at S&P Dow Jones Indices, discussed dividend growth strategies with the global media organization. Here is what the analyst said:

Raising your dividend for 25 plus years is no easy feat. These are high-quality companies.

Dividend aristocrats have delivered impressive returns, surpassing other asset classes. Since the indexs inception in 2005 through September 2023, the dividend aristocrats index has provided a total return of 10.35%, outpacing the broader markets return of 9.54% for the same period. These stocks are celebrated not only for their dividend growth and steady equity gains but also for their lower volatility. During this timeframe, dividend aristocrats exhibited a volatility level of 15.35%, compared to the markets slightly higher 16.31%. This indicates that dividend aristocrats tend to have more stable price movements. Their consistent dividend increases over 25 years or more demonstrate their ability to reward shareholders even during tough times, such as the 2007 financial crisis and the 2020 pandemic.

The debate between high yields and dividend growth continues. As of August 19, the High Dividend ETF, which tracks high-yielding companies in the broader market, offers a dividend yield of 4.18%. This yield would have been quite attractive to investors in the past. However, this year the ETF has only returned 4.8%, compared to the markets 18% return. According to FactSet, investors have withdrawn over $1.1 billion from the fund, which is more than 15% of its $6 billion in assets. This indicates that investors tend to prefer dividend growth over high yields, as high yields are often seen as a sign of financial difficulties. In this article, we will take a look at some of the best dividend aristocrat stocks according to hedge funds.

Story continues

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Top Medical AI Companies

An operating room with a doctor monitoring a patient's vital signs during surgery with a medical device.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 69

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) is an Illinois-based medical device company that also specializes in various healthcare products and services. The company currently offers a quarterly dividend of $0.55 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.96%, as of August 19. It is one of the best dividend aristocrat stocks on our list as the company has paid dividends consistently for 402 quarters and also raised its payouts for 52 consecutive years.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) greatly benefits from its diversified business model, which offers multiple growth opportunities and allows it to generate revenue from various sources. In the second quarter of 2024, the company reported $10.38 billion in revenue, reflecting a 4% increase compared to the same period last year. However, its diagnostic segment faced challenges during the quarter, with revenues falling by 5.3% to $2.2 billion compared to the previous year. Analysts remain optimistic about the companys prospects for the future. Diamond Hill Capital, in its Q2 2024 investor letter, also highlighted the companys growth prospects. Here is what the firm has to say:

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) is a diversified health care company with an extensive portfolio that spans medical devices, pharmaceuticals, nutritionals and diagnostics. With a substantial portion of its revenues generated internationally, emerging markets contribute about 40% of overall sales. We have always liked Abbotts diverse mix of businesses and its fundamental growth prospects. The management team has consistently demonstrated skill in capital allocation, highlighted by strategic divestitures such as the European generic business in 2014, and significant acquisitions like St. Jude in 2016.

While the healthcare sector is generally resilient and can perform well through various market conditions, companies face risks related to research and development. New innovations might lead to legal challenges if their products do not meet market expectations, and high legal costs can affect a companys cash flow and its ability to invest in growth. For Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT), however, the financial outlook remains positive. The company boasts a strong cash position, with a trailing twelve-month operating cash flow of $7.9 billion and a levered free cash flow of $5.39 billion. As of the latest quarter, Abbott had $7.22 billion in cash reserves, supporting its ability to maintain regular dividend payments in the future.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) remained popular among elite funds at the end of Q2 2024 as hedge fund positions grew to 69, from 62 a quarter earlier, as per Insider Monkeys database. The stakes held by these hedge funds have a total value of over $3.5 billion. With over 10.5 million shares, Fisher Asset Management was the companys leading stakeholder in Q2.

Overall ABT ranks 7th on our list of S&P 500 dividend aristocrats. While we acknowledge the potential of ABT as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some deeply undervalued dividend stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for a deeply undervalued dividend stock that is more promising than ABT but that trades at less than 7 times its earnings and yields nearly 10%, check out our report about the dirt cheap dividend stock.

READ NEXT: $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 is originally published at Insider Monkey.
He has been named locally as Stephen OCallaghan (55) who was from Arbour Hill, St Lukes on the Northside of Cork City

A man who saved four people from drowning and died himself in the incident has been described as a hero by locals.

The alarm was raised shortly before 3pm on Friday after a group of four people were seen struggling in the water at Inch Strand near Whitegate in Co Cork.

After seeing the casualties, it is understood that a man entered the water in an attempt to rescue them.

He has been named locally as Stephen OCallaghan (55) who was from Arbour Hill, St Lukes on the Northside of Cork City

It is understood conditions were difficult at sea at the time of the incident and a multi-agency search and rescue mission was launched immediately.

This included the Irish Naval Service, Cork County Fire Service, the Irish Coast Guard and Ballycotton and Crosshaven RNLI.

The four casualties were brought to shore safely by members of the public and received treatment from paramedics at the scene.

Mr OCallaghan is believed to have been swept further out to sea by a strong undercurrent.

His body was brought ashore.

He was transferred into the care of the National Ambulance Service and was later pronounced deceased.

Arrangements will now be made for a post-mortem and the local coroner has been notified.

Paying tribute one friend wrote Awfully sad, god bless him, he truly died a hero.

"My heart goes out to the kids he saved and his family and friends.

"God give ye strength to get through yer heartache. Sincere Sympathies, May his selfless kind soul RIP.

One relative also wrote Rip Cousin Stephen. No funeral arrangements have been made as yet.

A Garda spokesperson said: "Gardai and local emergency services responded to an incident in Inch Strand in Whitegate, Co.Cork shortly before 3pm this afternoon, Friday, 23rd August 2024.

"A number of people had gotten into difficulty in the water at the location. A man, aged in his 50s, was removed from the water. He was later pronounced deceased.

"Arrangements will now be made for a post-mortem and the local coroner has been notified."

A spokesperson for Valentia Coast Guard confirmed: "Today at 3pm the coastguard at MRSC Valencia were alerted to a number of persons at difficulty in the water at Inch Beach in County Cork.

"A search and rescue mission was immediately initiated with the local coast guard unit from Guileen. Crosshaven Coast Guard boats and Crosshaven RNLI were dispatched to the scene. Ballycotton RNLI was also tasked in addition to a rescue 117 helicopter from Waterford.

"All persons were rescued from the water by members of the public and were attended to on the scene by the National Ambulance Service.

However, subsequently one person who was recovered from the water required serious medical attention.

"The aeromedical rescue helicopter was tasked by the national emergency operation centre in Dublin, along with two ambulances from the National Ambulance Service. Cork County Fire Bridge and the Irish Naval service offered assistance in the operation."
The Sicilian prosecutor outlined the order in which the bodies of six people who had been missing following the yacht sinking were retrieved, calling the incident a very grave tragedy.

Final body found in wreckage of luxury yacht off coast of Sicily

A manslaughter investigation has been opened into the deaths of seven people, including British technology tycoon Mike Lynch and his daughter Hannah, in the sinking of a luxury yacht off the coast of Sicily, Ambrogio Cartosio, public prosecutor of Termini Imerese, said.

The Sicilian prosecutor outlined the order in which the bodies of six people who had been missing following the yacht sinking were retrieved, calling the incident a very grave tragedy.

The main question investigators are focusing on is how a sailing vessel deemed unsinkable by its manufacturer, Italian shipyard Perini Navi, sank while a nearby sailboat remained largely unscathed.

Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, public prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio said, through a translation provided by the BBC: These six persons who tried desperately to save themselves were finally retrieved.

First of all, four of them. Jonathan Bloomer the banker, Christopher Morvillo the lawyer, and all four of them were retrieved from inside the yacht which was 50 metres down.

Then, later, the other two were also retrieved.

Michael Lynch on the 23rd, yesterday, and then the 18-year-old daughter of Michael Lynch, Hannah, was found yesterday morning.

It is a very grave tragedy and in order to reduce the dimensions of the tragedy, we have called upon the co-operation of the firefighters, firefighting divers, who have shown incredible courage and skill, who carried out a very difficult mission indeed and have allowed us to inspect properly the wreck for bodies.

On Friday, 18-year-old Hannah Lynch became the final missing passenger to be recovered from the wreckage of the Bayesian superyacht.

Termini Imerese Public Prosecutors Office investigators said it will hold a news conference to unveil the first findings of its criminal investigation, which was opened immediately after the tragedy despite no formal suspects having been publicly identified.

In a statement, the family of Mr Lynch and Hannah said: The Lynch family is devastated, in shock and is being comforted and supported by family and friends.

Their thoughts are with everyone affected by the tragedy.

They would like to sincerely thank the Italian coastguard, emergency services and all those who helped in the rescue.

Their one request now is that their privacy be respected at this time of unspeakable grief.

The Lynch family also issued a photograph of Mr Lynch and Hannah alongside their tribute.

Hannahs sister Esme paid her own tribute, saying: Hannah often burst into my bedroom and lay down with me.

Sometimes beaming with a smile, sometimes cheeky, sometimes for advice.

No matter what, she brought boundless love to me.

She was endlessly caring, passionately mad, unintentionally hilarious and the most amazing, supportive and joyful sister and best friend to me.

And on top of all this, she had even more love to give endlessly to all her friends and passion to give to her incredible studies and goals.

She is my little angel, my star.

Vincenzo Zagarola, of the Italian Coastguard, said the search for Hannah was not easy or quick, comparing the sunken yacht to an 18-storey building full of water.

The bodies of all six missing passengers have now been brought to shore in the small fishing village of Porticello, around 11 miles from the Sicilian capital of Palermo.

Of the 22 passengers and crew on board, 15, including Mr Lynchs wife, Angela Bacares, were rescued after escaping on to a lifeboat.

The body of Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, who was working as a chef on the superyacht, was recovered at the scene of the sinking on Monday.

The boat trip was a celebration of Mr Lynchs acquittal in a fraud case in the US.

The businessman, who founded software giant Autonomy in 1996, was cleared in June of carrying out a massive fraud relating to its 11 billion dollar (8.64 billion) sale to US company Hewlett Packard.
Mr Lynch and Hannah were among seven people who died after the Bayesian sank off the coast of Sicily early on Monday morning.

Hannah Lynch's body was recovered yesterday from the wreckage of the Bayesian superyacht. Photo: PA

British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his daughter, Hannah Lynch, who both died after the yacht Bayesian sank off the coast of Sicily

The older sister of Mike Lynchs 18-year-old daughter Hannah has paid tribute to her little angel after it was confirmed she had died in a luxury yacht sinking alongside her father.

Mr Lynch and Hannah were among seven people who died after the Bayesian sank off the coast of Sicily early on Monday morning.

The tech mogul (59) was the creator of software giant Autonomy and had been cleared in June of carrying out a massive fraud related to its $11bn (9.8bn) sale to US company Hewlett Packard.

Hannahs sister Esme described her as the most amazing, supportive and joyful sister.

Paying tribute, she said: Hannah often burst into my bedroom and lay down with me. Sometimes beaming with a smile, sometimes cheeky, sometimes for advice. No matter what, she brought boundless love to me.

She was endlessly caring, passionately mad, unintentionally hilarious and the most amazing, supportive and joyful sister and best friend to me.

And on top of all this, she had even more love to give endlessly to all her friends, and passion to give to her incredible studies and goals.

She is my little angel, my star.

A spokesperson for the Lynch family said earlier yesterday: The Lynch family is devastated, in shock and is being comforted and supported by family and friends.

Their thoughts are with everyone affected by the tragedy.

They would like to sincerely thank the Italian coastguard, emergency services and all those who helped in the rescue.

Their one request now is that their privacy be respected at this time of unspeakable grief.

Hannah had recently finished her A-levels and was due to study at Oxford University.

Jon Mitropoulos-Monk, head of English at Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith, said of his former pupil: Ive never taught someone who combined sky-high intellectual ability with warmth and enthusiasm in the way Hannah did.

She lit up the classroom with her energy, passion for learning and sheer intelligence (though never with a hint of arrogance).

I will remember her for what she taught me: kindness, compassion and commitment.

Hannahs friend Katya Lewis also paid tribute, saying: Being with Hannah made me feel whole and happy. She had a warm and beautiful soul.

She is the most special friend anyone could ask for and I will always love Hannah.

Patrick Jacob, a family friend, said the teenager was charming and ferociously intelligent with an insatiable thirst for life and knowledge.

We have lost one of our brightest stars whose future held so much promise, he said. Her loss is unbearable.

Hannah Lynch's body was recovered yesterday from the wreckage of the Bayesian superyacht. Photo: PA

Gracie Lea, a school classmate, added that the 18-year-old was sincere, dedicated, fiercely intelligent and genuinely kind.

Close friend and colleague Andrew Kanter described Mr Lynch as instantly inspiring and said he will be sorely missed.

In the tribute, Mr Kanter said: Mike was the most brilliant mind and the most caring person I have ever known.

Over nearly a quarter century I had the privilege of working beside someone unrivalled in their understanding of technology and business.

There is simply no other UK technology entrepreneur of our generation who has had such an impact on so many people.

His passion for life, knowledge and all those around him was instantly inspiring to everyone he met, and he will be sorely missed.

Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy Bloomer, Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo were also confirmed to have died after the sinking.

Sushovan Hussain, a close friend of Mr Lynch and former chief financial officer of Autonomy, said he was utterly devastated over the tragic incident.

My wife and I are utterly devastated by the deaths of so many of our dear friends. No words can express our sorrow, he said.

I have known Mike for over 40 years, since our school days, and for most of that time our lives have been inextricably linked.

I was thrilled when he was acquitted and now his departure leaves an unfillable hole in my life.

We have known Hannah since her birth, and for her to be taken on the precipice of her life is cruel beyond belief. Our hearts bleed for Angela and her remaining daughter.

Mr Hussain also paid tribute to Stephen Chamberlain, Mr Lynchs co-defendant in the US fraud trial, who died after he was hit by a car on Saturday.

He said: Steve was by my side for many years, and I had the honour of calling him, Jonathan, Judy and Chris my good friends.

It is truly impossible to fathom how they can all be gone over such a short period. It is tragic beyond words.

The Bayesian was moored just off the coast of Porticello when it sank as the area was hit by a storm.

The wreckage of the Bayesian is resting on the seabed off the coast at a depth of 50 metres.

A helicopter, remotely controlled underwater vehicles, naval units and cave divers have been used in the search.

The final body, believed to be that of Mr Lynchs daughter, was recovered yesterday.

Poppy Gustafsson, the chief executive of cybersecurity company Darktrace, also paid tribute to Mr Lynch, who was a co-founder of the firm.

She said: Without Mike, there would be no Darktrace. We owe him so much.

Mike drove an unwavering focus in everything that he did. He was binary: there was no half Mike. His intelligence was, to me, what a galaxy is to a planet. That intelligence was intimidating.

I am grateful to Mike for his support to me and to Darktrace, which continued long after his involvement. He leaves behind an enormous legacy with us, but also with the broader UK technology ecosystem.

Referring to the recent court case in the US in which Mr Lynch and co-defendant Mr Chamberlain were recently cleared of charges of fraud and conspiracy, she said: At a time when both Mike and Steve were so recently acquitted, it feels too cruel.

But also, such a relief to know that they died with the world knowing their innocence.
The One Direction star is back in the capital and playing two nights this weekend.

Ed Sheeran wears Niall Horan merch and drinks Guinness in his Instagram story.

Niall Horan performs onstage during TikTok In The Mix at Sloan Park on December 10, 2023 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for TikTok)

Niall Horan surprised fans at his sold out Dublin show tonight at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham.

The One Direction star is back in the capital and playing two nights this weekend.

The Show tour is the stars biggest yet, as he performs songs from all three of his solo albums.

Towards the end of the show, Horan introduced his good friend Ed Sheeran, who joined him on stage.

Horan told the crowd: He loves this country dearly and made his way across from England today to be here with us tonight. Can you please give it up for my good friend, the great Ed Sheeran.

The pair sang Horans hit song Little Things, with both playing the guitar.

Ed Sheeran wears Niall Horan merch and drinks Guinness in his Instagram story.

Sheeran took to Instagram after the show and shared a photo to his stories of himself drinking a pint of Guinness wearing a green Dublin is for Lovers t-shirt.

It comes as Sheeran also surprised Taylor Swift fans last week as he joined her on stage in Wembley at the Eras Tour.
Summer Shakespeare Tauranga is gearing up for its 2025 season, and the directors are on the lookout for talented individuals to bring one of William Shakespeares most beloved plays to life.

Auditions are now open for Romeo and Juliet, with 20 roles up for grabs in what is expected to be the most ambitious production yet.

Following the overwhelming success of last years The Tempest - a lesser-known Shakespearean work that nonetheless attracted large audiences - this seasons production promises to be even bigger.

Set to run from February 6-15, over Waitangi Weekend and Valentines Day, Romeo and Juliet is poised to draw not only local theatre enthusiasts but also visitors from out of town too Te Puna Quarry Park.

Romeo and Juliet features some of Shakespeares most iconic characters, including the lovers Romeo and Juliet, but also the flamboyant Mercutio, the talkative but loyal nurse and Tybalt prince of cats, says director Pascal Tibbits.

Were looking for performers who can capture the passion, intensity, and drama that has made this play a timeless classic.

Were building on the momentum of last year, and with this production falling on such significant dates, we expect the turnout to be extraordinary.

Roles are open to actors of all experience levels, with the directors encouraging anyone with a love for Shakespeare and a flair for performance to audition. The production team is excited to see fresh faces as well as seasoned performers take on these timeless roles.

Auditions will be held from 1-4pm on Sunday, August 31 at 16th Ave Theatre. Those interested can email taurangashakespeare@gmail.com for the audition pack or click on the link to fill out a form. Rehearsals will begin on Saturday, September 14, with a commitment required through the performance dates in February 2025.

Dont miss your chance to be part of this unforgettable production that is sure to captivate audiences and bring the magic of Shakespeare to Taurangas summer nights.
A discharge of brightly coloured orange water into Karangahake Gorges Ohinemuri River on Friday afternoon has now mostly cleared, with the river returning to its normal colour, says a Paeroa local.

The rush of discoloured sludge and water appears to have flowed out of Scotchman's Gully [also known as Scotsman's Gully] into the main river about 3pm on Friday, quickly turning the water flowing through Karangahake Gorge bright orange.

Theres only sediment along the edges [of Ohinemuri River] and that should wash through with all this rain, says Paeroa Towing Services owner Michael Small.

The Ohimemuri River on Saturday morning with some orange colouring still appearing along the sides of the gorge. Photo: Michael Small/Paeroa Towing Services.

Theres nothing dead lying around. I checked to see, and theres no dead fish or dead eels," says Michael.

And theres nothing coming out of Scotchmans Gully.

The source of the orange discharge on Friday appeared to be from the hillside above the Ohinemuri River. Photo: Shelley Gracie.

Shelley Gracie, her husband Lance Gracie and mother Diane Patrick, were driving through Karangahake Gorge from the Paeroa end about 3.15pm on Friday when they noticed the water had turned a strange orange colour.

We pulled over into the car park area and saw that this was where the coloured water was coming from, says Shelley.

It appeared to be coming out of the bank.

The orange discharge flowing into the Ohinemuri River on Friday afternoon. Photo: Shelley Gracie.

The orange discharge starts to spread further along the Ohinemuri River on Friday afternoon. Photo: Shelley Gracie.

They took photos showing the source of the bright orange colour and how it had dispersed into the Ohinemuri River.

A lady walking along the bank said that she thought it was from a burst tailings dam, and that it would likely contain arsenic and cyanide.

Mitch Podger followed the discharge of orange into the Ohinemuri River back to its source, the entrance to the Comstock mine, which is over 120 years old. Photo: Mitch Podger.

Mitch Podger who lives in Waihi, saw a Facebook post about the discoloured water about 4.30pm.

I decided to go for a further look, says Mitch. We hang out around the gorge all the time, walking, swimming.

Mitch Podger followed the discharge of orange into the Ohinemuri River back to its source. Photo: Mitch Podger.

He took his eight-year-old son Tyler, and dog Lucy with him to take a look up through Scotchmans Gully, taking photos until he reached the source, which he says is an old mine shaft.

The pics at the bottom of Scotsman's Gully, 20 metres from where it enters the main Ohinemuri River. It's definitely a mine shaft.

A photo of the old Comstock mine entrance taken earlier this year shows the level of water and mud was at least 700mm higher than it is now that the sludge has poured out down the hill into the Ohinemuri River. Photo: N.Z. History Seekers Facebook page.

Scotchman's Gully has a small stream flowing through it and for most of the way small ferns cover the banks. Scotchman's Gully track leads from the main car park in Karangahake Gorge, following the stream, and on to the Mount Karangahake walk.

Describing the colour of the water, Mitch says it's pretty cool, powerful colouring".

Looks like a fallen pine tree may have helped dam the old mine up- and you can see by the higher colour marks that it had a much bigger flow/ output earlier.

Mitch Podger followed the discharge of orange into the Ohinemuri River back to its source - the entrance to the Comstock Mine. Photo: Mitch Podger.

In a video Mitch filmed, he refers to a fallen pine tree.

Looks to me like it's acted as a natural dam.

His video and photos show the entrance to an old tunnel or mine shaft, which N.Z History Seekers Facebook page says is the Comstock Mine.

Council was turning up as we got there, and were testing water when we were leaving, says Mitch, who gave his dog Lucy a good wash down following their walk up into the bush.

Staff from Waikato Regional Council staff are checking the old mine shaft today.

Staff will check on Saturday morning whether the mine shaft is the source of the discolouration and whether sediment would continue to discharge, says regional compliance manager Patrick Lynch.

The orange discolouration spread along Ohinemuri River in the Karangahake Gorge on Friday evening. Photo: Davidda Hikatangata.

The council are also tracking the plume of discolouration, which they estimate could reach the Firth of Thames between 9am and 10am today.

"Efforts are being made to understand what the plume looks like now, and what the effects may be on the river and the Firth of Thames," says Patrick.

People are reminded to treat the water as contaminated.

On Friday, Hauraki District Council posted a statement to their Facebook page, assuring the public that the Paeroa water supply, which is upstream of the discoloured water is not affected.

We are aware of an issue turning the water in the Ohinemuri River orange. This is likely from water coming out of old mine workings, says a Hauraki District Council spokesperson posting to Facebook.

Waikato Regional Council is investigating the issue and advise for safety reasons, please do not enter the water. Our Paeroa water supply intake is upstream of this so is not affected however we'll be monitoring the situation carefully.

On Friday evening Waikato Regional Council urged people to treat bright orange discolouration of the Ohinemuri River as contaminated.

Senior Incident Response Officer Robert Isaac said then that the worst case scenario is the discoloured water is due to a mine shaft collapse, and old mines contain many heavy metals and contaminants.

The incident was reported to the council at about 3pm on Friday and council staff went to the river to assess the discoloration.

The orange discolouration spread along Ohinemuri River in the Karangahake Gorge on Friday evening. Photo: Waikato Regional Council.

On Friday evening, Isaac said staff had yet to identify the source of the discolouration, which he said appears to enter the Ohinemuri River downstream of the Waitawheta River.

Until we can ID the source we need to treat this as worst case scenario as we are getting reports of people standing in the water, says Isaac.

If this is an old mine shaft that has blown out than people should not be using or touching the water.

He says other scenarios could include a collapsed out forestry dam or other erosion.

During the 1890s millions of tons of tailings containing poisonous cyanide and debris from mining were dumped into the Ohinemuri River and carried downstream.

With old mine shafts in the area, the most likely cause of the orange would be the release of iron-rich minerals into the water. When they, particularly iron sulphides like pyrite (FeS2), are exposed to water and oxygen, they oxidize and produce iron oxide and the water turns orange.

With acid mine drainage, the oxidation of sulphide minerals not only releases iron but also produces sulphuric acid. The acid can then further dissolve other heavy metals from the mine, which would then compound the environmental impact.

The orange colour is due to the formation of ferric hydroxide (Fe(OH)3), which is a rust-like substance that precipitates out of the water.
Biosecurity New Zealand has temporarily suspended all Australian tomato imports, to be reviewed in seven days, after the detection of tomato brown rugose fruit virus at two South Australian growing properties earlier this week.

We met this afternoon with our counterparts in Australia, where they provided an update on their work to respond to the detection of the tomato virus, says Biosecurity New Zealand deputy director-general Stuart Anderson.

Australia is taking steps to respond to the matter, including continuing to trace material. As this tracing work continues, and out of an abundance of caution, we are extending our restrictions by temporarily suspending imports of tomatoes from Australia. We will review this in seven days.

This means temporary suspensions are now in place for tomato imports from all Australian states.

Stuart Anderson says todays decision builds on the urgent measures introduced by Biosecurity New Zealand earlier this week, which banned tomato imports from Australian states other than Queensland.

All our imported tomatoes from Australia currently come from Queensland and not South Australia.

So far tracing has not shown any affected material in Queensland, but we think its reasonable to be cautious while our counterparts continue their work.

There is nothing to suggest the virus is here at present," says Stuart.

Well continue to work closely with New Zealands tomato sector.

As always we ask growers to check their biosecurity practices and be vigilant and contact us on our pests and diseases hotline (0800 80 99 66) if they notice problems with their tomatoes.

Well continue to closely monitor the situation in South Australia and continue to take any actions to protect New Zealand growers.

The virus affects causes yellowing and deformity in the host plants but has no impact on human health.

For more information please email: BiosecurityNZ_media@mpi.govt.nz
Chinese internet search giant Baidu appears to have started blocking the online search engines of Alphabet's Google and Microsoft's Bing from scraping content derived out of the mainland firm's Wikipedia-style service, a Post survey found.

A recent update of Baidu Baike's robots.txt - a file that tells search engine crawlers which uniform resource locators, commonly known as web addresses, can be accessed from a site - has outright blocked the ability of the Googlebot and Bingbot crawlers to index content from the Chinese platform.

That update appears to have been made some time on August 8, according to records on internet archive service the Wayback Machine. It also showed that earlier on the same day Baidu Baike still allowed Google and Bing to browse and index its online repository of nearly 30 million entries, with only part of its website designated as off limits.

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This initiative shows Beijing-based Baidu's increased effort to safeguard its online assets, as demand for vast troves of data have increased for training and building artificial intelligence (AI) models and applications.

That followed US social news aggregation platform and forum Reddit's move in July, when it blocked various search engines, except Google, from indexing its online posts and discussions. Google has a multimillion dollar deal with Reddit that gives it the right to scrape the social media platform for data to train its AI services.

Since OpenAI released ChatGPT on November 30, 2022, major search platforms Google and Microsoft have sought to obtain more data for use in their own generative artificial intelligence systems. Photo: Shutterstock alt=Since OpenAI released ChatGPT on November 30, 2022, major search platforms Google and Microsoft have sought to obtain more data for use in their own generative artificial intelligence systems. Photo: Shutterstock>

Even Microsoft last year threatened to cut off access to its internet-search data, which it licenses to rival search engine operators, if they did not stop using it as the basis for their chatbots and other generative AI (GenAI) services, according to a Bloomberg report.

By comparison, the Chinese version of online encyclopaedia Wikipedia has 1.43 million entries to date, which are made accessible to search engine crawlers.

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Following Baidu Baike's robots.txt update, the Post's survey of Google and Bing on Friday found many entries - probably from older cached content - from the Wikipedia-style service still come up in the US search platforms' results.

Representatives from Baidu, Google and Microsoft did not immediately reply to requests for comment on Friday.

More than two years after the groundbreaking launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT, many large AI developers around the world are striking deals with content publishers for access to quality content to for their GenAI projects.

GenAI refers to the algorithms and services, such as ChatGPT, that are used to create new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations and videos.

OpenAI, for example, in June forged a deal with American news magazine Time that gives it access to all the archived content from more than 100 years of the publication's history.

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.
Update on Wednesday, Aug. 28: Lillianna Clark was found safe, sheriffs deputies said.

Original article

Vienna, N.Y.  Oneida County sheriffs deputies are asking for help finding a missing 16-year-old girl.

Lillianna S. Clark was last seen around 11:45 p.m. Friday night leaving her Vienna home in an unknown vehicle, deputies said.

She left without her cell phone and her family has not heard from her since, deputies said.

She was last seen wearing a white sweatshirt and tan sweatpants, deputies said.

Deputies ask anyone with information about where Lillianna is to call them at 315-765-2226.
An anesthesiologist in New York state pleaded guilty to drugging and sexually abusing his familys nanny while she was asleep in his home, authorities said.

Paul Giacopelli, 60, pleaded guilty Wednesday before Putnam County Judge Anthony Mole after being indicted by a grand jury in March.

Giacopellis attorney, Steven Gaitman, said his client assumed responsibility for his crimes, and now is focused on tending to his family.

According to court papers, the victim was employed taking care of Giacopellis children at his home in the Putnam County town of Southeast and sometimes worked overnight shifts when Giacopelli was on call for the local hospital.

She told investigators that on four occasions in late 2023 she fell asleep, woke up to a rag being held over her face, smelled chemicals and blacked out.

The woman set up a hidden camera to record her assailant on Dec. 29, 2023. After sensing a rag over her face and blacking out, she awoke and viewed the contents of the camera.

Video clips recorded by the camera showed Giacopelli assaulting the victim, prosecutors said.

The woman brought the video clips to law enforcement officials, and Giacopelli was taken in for questioning by the Putnam County Sheriffs Office.

Keith Simone, an investigator from the sheriffs office, told the grand jury that Giacopelli confessed to filling a rag with Sevoflurane, an anesthetic agent, and covering the womans mouth and nose to render her unconscious.

He confessed to sexually assaulting the woman after she blacked out and said he had a chloroform fetish, Simone testified.

Giacopelli told investigators that the victim was an easy target because she was a heavy sleeper, Simone said.

Simone said Giacopelli admitted to bringing drugs home from the hospital. Fentanyl and other drugs were found in the home, Simone testified.

The state Board for Professional Medical Conduct barred Giacopelli from practicing medicine following his arrest. He will be sentenced on Nov. 20 and is expected to receive four years in state prison.
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Courtesy Chris Hansen

Firefighters from the Village of Taos Ski Valley were assigned to the Battle Mountain Complex wildfire in Oregon for a 14-day assignment. Pictured: The village's Type 3 Engine sits in the foreground while a helicopter above carries a Bambi bucket.
China has donated equipment to the Beninese Armed Forces to help it fight terrorism, as Beijing steps up military cooperation with African nations.

The donation - mostly howitzers and their accessories - was officially handed over last week by China's ambassador to Benin, Peng Jingtao.

Receiving the equipment, Brigadier General Fructueux Gbaguidi, chief of general staff of the Beninese Armed Forces, said the donation would strengthen the military's arsenal and was "a strong symbol of the friendship that binds the Chinese and Beninese peoples".

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Benin's military, which is fighting jihadists in the north of the country near the border with Burkina Faso and Niger, said in a statement that the equipment would "enable the units of the Beninese army to better respond to operational challenges on the ground in the fight against the terrorist threat".

"This support from China is part of military cooperation between the two countries which is strengthening and diversifying every day," it said.

China donated four Norinco PMR-50 drones to Benin last year. Photo: Military Africa alt=China donated four Norinco PMR-50 drones to Benin last year. Photo: Military Africa>

The donation comes about a year after China donated four Norinco PMR-50 drones to Benin to help it improve its security, as the West African nation faces a growing threat of terrorism.

Beijing has sought to boost military cooperation with African countries by donating or selling both lethal and non-lethal equipment, as well as providing training and financing infrastructure and aircraft.

According to observers, the Chinese leadership sees donating arms and equipment as a cost-efficient way to build trust and promote strategic cooperation between the People's Liberation Army and other armed forces.

Dr Ilaria Carrozza, a senior researcher at the Peace Research Institute Oslo, said China was using military donations mainly to pursue a strategy of economic alignment in Africa.

"Donating arms, training and equipment is viewed in Beijing as a way to foster mutually beneficial relations with African countries, and to promote economic and political exchanges in the long term," Carrozza said.

"In the case of equipment that is, allegedly, being used to fight terrorism, this is also seen as an opportunity for boasting that China contributes to the provision of global public goods."

Story continues

China has in the recent past donated vehicles and engineering equipment to Kenya, while Zimbabwe last year received equipment worth US$28 million that included armoured vehicles, patrol boats, sniper rifles, machine guns and minibuses.

Nigeria and Sierra Leone have in the past few years received navy patrol boats from China, while Ghana early this year received rocket artillery and armoured vehicles from Chinese defence company Poly Technologies.

According to a 2022 study by the Peace Research Institute Oslo, China has provided nearly all African countries with security force assistance, worth millions of dollars, as it tries to strengthen relations with the continent and protect its economic interests.

The report said China had provided military assistance to 47 African countries in the past two decades, with Zimbabwe and Angola being the top recipients of arms and training.

It said some of the security assistance provided by China appeared to be directly related to its economic ties with the recipient country, including with the aim of protecting Chinese interests and citizens.

For instance, Seychelles received transport aircraft and a patrol boat to be used for counter-piracy efforts, while Kenyan police were provided with training to protect a railway financed and built by Chinese companies.

Donations are just a small part of China's military cooperation with African countries - it is now a major supplier of arms and weapons to the continent.

China sells every conceivable type of weapon to African nations, from small arms and light weapons to armed drones, heavy equipment such as armoured personnel carriers and tanks, naval ships, high-performance aircraft and missile systems.

From 2000 to 2022, China extended loans worth US$3 billion to eight African countries - Zambia, Ghana, Cameroon, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Angola and Namibia - to secure military equipment and improve military infrastructure for their armies, according to data compiled by Boston University's Global Development Policy Centre.

Zambia borrowed the most in that period, including defence loans worth US$1.5 billion from China to buy military aircraft and build army housing and barracks. Ghana was also a top recipient of Chinese defence loans, receiving US$473.7 million between 2000 and 2012.

China has provided military assistance to 47 African countries in the past two decades, according to a 2022 study by the Peace Research Institute Oslo. Photo: Xinhua alt=China has provided military assistance to 47 African countries in the past two decades, according to a 2022 study by the Peace Research Institute Oslo. Photo: Xinhua>

David Shinn, a China-Africa specialist and professor at George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs, said Beijing earned the appreciation of African governments that bought or received donated arms.

"This is part of China's strategy to build relations with the continent," he said.

China and Russia remain the largest suppliers of military equipment to the continent, mostly through sales, which Shinn said had declined to sub-Saharan Africa in recent years. "China donates modest amounts of arms."

He noted that while African nations welcomed the sale and donation of arms, they were likely to have little impact on curtailing the spread of terrorism.

"Only ending the root causes of terrorism will rein it in - not the provision of artillery howitzers," he said.

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.
Facepalm: Pig butchering schemes often ruin their victims financially, but a recent case caused so much collateral damage that numerous investors lost a lot of money and the government had to seize a bank. Although the person who was scammed into embezzling tens of millions of dollars is prison-bound, it remains unclear when or if the scammers who received the money will be caught.

A federal judge recently sentenced 53-year-old Shan Hanes, former CEO of Heartland Tri-State Bank (HTSB) in Elkhart, Kansas, to 24 years in prison after he illegally wired $47.1 million as part of a cryptocurrency scam, leading to the bank's failure. Hanes also stole money from a church fund, a local investment club, and a child's college savings.

The 11 bank transfers, made between May and July 2023, caused bank investors to lose $9 million and forced the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) to absorb the $47 million loss and seize the bank. Some victims reportedly lost nearly all of their retirement funds. Hanes himself also lost all of the money he embezzled, which remains in the hands of the unidentified scammers.

This is a severe example of "pig butchering," a confidence scheme where scammers spend a long time building an online relationship with someone  like fattening up a pig  before convincing them to invest in what appears to be a legitimate business opportunity. Perpetrators often target people who are unfamiliar with cryptocurrency.

After securing an initial investment, the scammers begin the "butchering" phase by requesting more money to supposedly "unlock" or "guarantee" the previous investments. This continues until the victim is completely wiped out.

However, the complexity of these criminal operations goes deeper, because the scammers themselves are often victims of human trafficking. According to UN and FBI investigators, young men from around the globe desperate for jobs are frequently tricked into traveling to countries like Thailand, kidnapped by Chinese crime syndicates, and trafficked to massive compounds in neighboring Myanmar.

There, they are locked inside and forced to impersonate people online  often young women  using carefully prepared scripts to trick unsuspecting victims into transferring large sums of money. Those who refuse are beaten.

Chinese authorities have tried to prosecute the ringleaders, but the ongoing civil war in Myanmar has complicated their efforts. Some accuse the country's military junta of turning a blind eye to the scammers, while opposing rebel forces have since shut down some of the operations.

After falling victim to the scheme, Hanes initially transferred thousands of dollars of his own money before stealing from local organizations and his daughter's college savings. Eventually, he made 11 wire transfers of millions from HTSB, much of it behind a colleague's back, even after being warned that he was being scammed.

Hanes continued believing he could recover the money up until his arrest.
Recap: Back in 1977, a unique radio signal from deep space got astronomers all riled up about the possibility of first contact with intelligent aliens. It all began when astronomer Jerry Ehman stumbled upon a startlingly intense burst of radio waves that lasted over a minute, captured overnight by the Big Ear telescope at Ohio State University. Scribbling "Wow!" beside the printed data in bright red, Ehman thought he had discovered something extraordinary.

There was good reason for all the speculation about alien communication. The signal's specifics hinted at something unnatural  possibly even extraterrestrial. In 1959, physicists Philip Morrison and Giuseppe Cocconi theorized that advanced alien civilizations might use the 1420 megahertz frequency, which corresponds to the signature emission of hydrogen atoms, as an interstellar hailing signal. And wouldn't you know it, the Wow! burst produced a similar signal.

However, nearly five decades later, the Wow! signal remains frustratingly ambiguous. Countless theories have been proposed to explain its mysterious origins, from rogue comets to distant stars behaving unpredictably. Worse still, the Wow! signal has never been detected again, despite numerous attempts by radio telescopes around the world.

Now, a new hypothesis has emerged from astrophysicists Abel Mendez, Kevin Ortiz Ceballos, and Jorge Zuluaga. In a non-peer-reviewed preprint published last week, they propose that the signal was pure cosmic pandemonium.

Their idea is that a blast from an uber-magnetic, ultra-dense stellar corpse called a magnetar may have struck a cloud of cold hydrogen gas, causing it to radiate intensely in a laser-like beam detectable on Earth. This phenomenon, called a "maser," is extremely rare.

The researchers arrived at this conclusion after digging into archival data from the now-defunct Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. Their analysis revealed that between February and May 2020, Arecibo had detected multiple radio signals bearing similarities to the legendary 1977 Wow! burst. Significantly, the origins of these transmissions are traced back to the locations of known cold hydrogen clouds scattered throughout the cosmos.

While these newer signals weren't as intense as the Wow! signal, Mendez suggested to New Scientist that this dimmer activity could represent a less energetic version of the same event. He also mentioned that the dimness might be due to the absence of a magnetar in these more recent transmissions.

Not everyone's buying this hypothesis yet, though. SETI astronomer Jason Wright expressed skepticism to Science News, stating that the proposed scenario is "extremely delicate and specific" and has never been observed before.

If accurate, however, this maser hypothesis could help researchers understand how some other similar "alien" signals might actually be false alarms caused by energetic hydrogen clouds.
We recently published a list of S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats List: Sorted By Hedge Fund Sentiment. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) stands against the other S&P 500 dividend aristocrats.

The appeal of dividend growth growth stocks is unmatched. For those considering investing in dividend stocks, growth typically outweighs yield due to the consistent returns they have delivered over the years. Within dividend growth strategies, the dividend aristocrats stand out. Of the approximately 6,000 stocks listed on the NYSE and NASDAQ, only 67 companies earn the title of dividend aristocrats. These companies have consistently increased their dividend payouts for a minimum of 25 consecutive years. They are part of the broader market and are tracked by the Dividend Aristocrat Index.

Also read: 10 Best Dividend-Paying Stocks Under $50

Companies that regularly increase their dividends typically show strong financial health and stability, indicating their consistent profitability. A report by Fortune highlighted that, although it has lagged behind its benchmark, the Dividend Aristocrat Index has surpassed nearly all US active managers over the past decade. Rupert Watts, the head of factors and dividend indices at S&P Dow Jones Indices, discussed dividend growth strategies with the global media organization. Here is what the analyst said:

Raising your dividend for 25 plus years is no easy feat. These are high-quality companies.

Dividend aristocrats have delivered impressive returns, surpassing other asset classes. Since the indexs inception in 2005 through September 2023, the dividend aristocrats index has provided a total return of 10.35%, outpacing the broader markets return of 9.54% for the same period. These stocks are celebrated not only for their dividend growth and steady equity gains but also for their lower volatility. During this timeframe, dividend aristocrats exhibited a volatility level of 15.35%, compared to the markets slightly higher 16.31%. This indicates that dividend aristocrats tend to have more stable price movements. Their consistent dividend increases over 25 years or more demonstrate their ability to reward shareholders even during tough times, such as the 2007 financial crisis and the 2020 pandemic.

The debate between high yields and dividend growth continues. As of August 19, the High Dividend ETF, which tracks high-yielding companies in the broader market, offers a dividend yield of 4.18%. This yield would have been quite attractive to investors in the past. However, this year the ETF has only returned 4.8%, compared to the markets 18% return. According to FactSet, investors have withdrawn over $1.1 billion from the fund, which is more than 15% of its $6 billion in assets. This indicates that investors tend to prefer dividend growth over high yields, as high yields are often seen as a sign of financial difficulties. In this article, we will take a look at some of the best dividend aristocrat stocks according to hedge funds.

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Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points. (see more details here).

Is Coca-Cola Company (KO) The Best Among The S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats According to Hedge Funds?

A row of factory workers assembling bottles of sparkling soft drinks on a conveyor belt.

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 68

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) is a Georgia-based multinational beverage company that deals in a wide range of beverages, including non-alcoholic beverage concentrates and syrups. The company reported strong earnings in the second quarter of 2024. Its revenue for the quarter came in at over $12.3 billion, up 3% from the same period last year. The company has grown over the years by making strategic acquisitions and responding to changing consumer preferences that are moving away from sugary sodas. Over the last decade, the company has invested significantly in diversifying its product range. These efforts have enabled Coca-Cola to turn around a major revenue decline, increasing net sales from $33 billion in 2020 to $46 billion in 2023.

Though The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) has a strong balance sheet and its earnings are in place, the companys larger size poses bigger challenges for it. As of the most recent quarter, the company has over $45 billion in debt and has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64. Its cash position is strong, with an operating cash flow of $4.1 billion in the second quarter of 2024 and a free cash flow of $3.3 billion. The company remains committed to fulfilling its obligations to shareholders, but after covering its cash outflows, there is limited capacity to reduce its overall debt. That said, the company has maintained strong operations and income over the years, which should help gradually reduce its debt over time.

One of the best dividend aristocrat stocks, The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) has been rewarding shareholders with 62 consecutive years of dividend growth. The companys current quarterly dividend comes in at $0.485 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.81%, as of August 19.

Insider Monkeys database of Q2 2024 indicated that 68 hedge funds owned stakes in The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO), growing from 62 in the preceding quarter. These stakes are worth nearly $32 billion in total. With 400 million shares, Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway owned the largest stake in the company.

Overall KO ranks 8th on our list of S&P 500 dividend aristocrats. While we acknowledge the potential of KO as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some deeply undervalued dividend stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for a deeply undervalued dividend stock that is more promising than KO but that trades at less than 7 times its earnings and yields nearly 10%, check out our report about the dirt cheap dividend stock.

READ NEXT: $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 is originally published at Insider Monkey.
Iceland's volcanic eruption slows as lava flows from second fissure



Reykjavik, Aug 23 (AFP) Aug 23, 2024



Icelandic authorities said Friday that a second fissure had formed on the southwestern Reykjanes peninsula, but volcanic activity had decreased after lava started spewing forth for the sixth time in the region since December.

After weeks of warnings, the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) said Thursday that a new eruption had started at 9:26 pm (2126 GMT) that evening, following a series of earthquakes.

Video images showed orange lava bursting out of a long fissure, which the IMO estimated to be 3.9 kilometres (2.4 miles).

Early Friday, the IMO announced on social media that a second fissure had opened up to the north of the original one.

In an later update, the agency said that "the intensity of the eruption has decreased significantly since yesterday."

It added that the "most active fissure is the one which opened during the night."

This is the sixth eruption to hit the area since December, coming just two months after the end of a previous eruption that lasted more than three weeks.

The latest eruption occurred north of previous eruptions and since no lava flowed south it posed less of a risk to the nearby fishing village of Grindavik, which was evacuated Thursday evening.

The chief of police of the Sudurnes region, Ulfar Ludviksson, told Icelandic media that the 22 or 23 houses in the village were currently occupied.

Most of Grindavik's 4,000 residents had evacuated in November, prior to a December eruption, and while residents have since been allowed to return in between eruptions, only a few have opted to stay overnight.

The IMO also noted that there would be "northerly and northwesterly winds at the eruption site" until Saturday, which therefore would spread gas pollution from the site south and southeast -- carrying it out to sea.

The Reykjanes peninsula had not experienced an eruption for eight centuries until March 2021.

Further eruptions occurred in August 2022 and in July and December 2023, leading volcanologists to warn that a new era of seismic activity had begun in the region.

Iceland is home to 33 active volcano systems, the highest number in Europe.

It straddles the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a crack in the ocean floor separating the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates.
Floods in Mali leave 30 dead as govt declares emergency



Bamako, Aug 23 (AFP) Aug 23, 2024



Mali's government declared a national state of emergency on Friday after weeks of heavy rains brought the death toll in flooding to 30 since June.

Some 7,077 households nationwide have been hit by flooding, leaving 47,374 people displaced or affected, the government said in a statement after a special cabinet meeting.

In the capital Bamako, some 563 households and 4,639 people were affected, with five deaths. The worst-hit area was the region of Gao in the north with 9,936 people affected, and six deaths.

Heavy rains have fallen across the entire Sahel, with flooding leaving 217 dead in neighbouring Niger and dozens in Chad.

Mali's cabinet allocated 4 billion CFA francs ($7 million) to stockpile needed foods and to assist affected households.
Whaling: why the practice will not go away



Paris, Aug 24 (AFP) Aug 24, 2024



The detention in Greenland of anti-whaling campaigner Paul Watson pending possible extradition to Japan has turned the spotlight on the widely condemned practice of hunting whales.

A 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling allowed numbers to recover following centuries of hunting that decimated the population to near-extinction.

Today three countries still permit the practice -- Japan, Norway and Iceland.

Beyond the moral case against whaling, as made in campaigns such Watson's, what is the science driving the arguments both for and against the practice?



- 'Scientific' whaling? -



In 2019 Japan quit the International Whaling Commission moratorium and resumed commercial whaling inside its territorial waters and exclusive economic zone.

Before this, Japan had been pursuing "scientific research" whaling since 1987, arguing some data could only be collected from dead carcasses.

But the evidence to support the claim was thin, Paul Rodhouse, fellow of the Marine Biological Association in Britain, told AFP.

"There seems to be very little justification for scientific whaling and few worthwhile scientific studies," he said.

A study published in Marine Policy in 2016 found that whaling and non-whaling countries had produced similar numbers of scientific papers on whales between 1986 and 2013.

If we consider all the whales captured "and compare them to the very, very small number of scientific publications produced, we say to ourselves it really wasn't worth it and the scientific objectives were certainly not the priority of this activity", Vincent Ridoux, a marine megafauna researcher at La Rochelle university in France, told AFP.

There is also plenty of non-invasive research being carried out on living whales using increasingly sophisticated technology.

Those tools include satellite transmitters attached to the mammals, passive acoustic devices in submarine vessels, satellite imagery and artificial intelligence.



- Are whales still endangered? -



Overall, the moratorium has been successful in enabling the whale population to recover.

But there remain sharp variations between regions and species.

Japan hunts Bryde's, minke and sei whales, and wants to expand its list to include fin whales as well.

The government says the species are "abundant" and that catching them around Japan in limited numbers is sustainable.

The Bryde's and common minke are listed as being of "least concern" on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's Red List, but globally the sei is "endangered", and fin whales are listed as "vulnerable".

Whales also face other threats besides hunting, including ship collisions, entanglements with fishing nets and rising ocean temperatures.



- Whales and ecosystems -



"Conserving biodiversity is not just a case of saving 'charismatic macrofauna' but maintaining balanced ecosystems for the continued health of nature and humans," Rodhouse said.

Abundant whales in an ecosystem "contribute to enriching the surface layers with mineral salts and mineral elements such as iron", said Ridoux.

Those elements are a key source of nutrients for some organisms.

Because whales breathe at the surface, they release much of what they consume there, providing a food source for surface-dwelling marine organisms.



- 'Disturbing' development -



In May, Japan launched a new "mothership" for its whaling fleet to replace its previous lead vessel, retired in 2023.

Weighing in at nearly 9,300 tonnes, the "Kangei Maru" is a substantial upgrade and has raised alarm in the scientific community.

"It is very disturbing because it is a ship of large dimensions, it can go very far and therefore has probably very high operating costs," said Ridoux.

"If you want to use a boat like this in a commercial logic, you need big quotas to balance the operating costs and there has to be a market for that."

Tokyo argues that eating whale is part of Japanese culture and an issue of "food security" in the resource-poor country, which imports large amounts of animal meat.

But whether or not there is a big appetite in Japan for the meat is an open question.

Consumption has declined significantly in recent decades to around 1,000 or 2,000 tonnes per year compared to around 200 times that in the 1960s.
Nearly 300,000 Bangladeshis in emergency shelters after floods



Feni, Aug 24 (AFP) Aug 24, 2024



Nearly 300,000 Bangladeshis were taking refuge in emergency shelters Saturday from floods that inundated vast areas of the low-lying South Asian country, disaster officials said.

The floods were triggered by heavy monsoon rains and have killed at least 42 people in Bangladesh and India since the start of the week, many in landslides.

"My house is completely inundated," Lufton Nahar, 60, told AFP from a relief shelter in Feni, one of the worst-hit districts near the border with India's Tripura state.

"Water is flowing above our roof. My brother brought us here by boat. If he hadn't, we would have died."

The nation of 170 million people is crisscrossed by hundreds of rivers and has seen frequent floods in recent decades.

Monsoon rains cause widespread destruction every year but climate change is shifting weather patterns and increasing the number of extreme weather events.

Highways and rail lines were damaged between the capital Dhaka and the main port city of Chittagong, making access to badly flooded districts difficult and disrupting business activity.

The flooding also comes just weeks after a student-led revolution toppled Bangladesh's government.

Among the worst affected areas is Cox's Bazar, a district home to around a million Rohingya refugees from neighbouring Myanmar.

Tripura state disaster agency official Sarat Kumad Das told AFP that 24 people had been killed on the Indian side of the border since Monday.

Another 18 had been killed in Bangladesh, according to disaster management ministry secretary Md Kamrul Hasan.

"285,000 people are living in emergency shelters," he said, adding that 4.5 million people in total had been affected.



- Recovering from unrest -



When the floods hit, Bangladesh was recovering from weeks of civil unrest that culminated in the August 5 toppling of autocratic ex-leader Sheikh Hasina.

With an interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus still finding its feet, ordinary Bangladeshis have been crowdfunding relief efforts.

They have been organised by the same students who led the protests that sparked the ouster of Hasina, who remains in India after fleeing Dhaka.

Crowds visited Dhaka University on Friday to offer cash donations as students loaded rice sacks and crates of bottled water onto vehicles for areas affected by the deluge.

Much of Bangladesh is made up of deltas where the great Himalayan rivers, the Ganges and the Brahmaputra, wind towards the sea after coursing through India.

Several tributaries of the two transnational rivers were still overflowing.

However, forecasts showed rain was likely to ease in the coming days.



- 'Creating a flood' -



India was Hasina's biggest patron and benefactor and many Bangladeshis have since been openly critical of their bigger and more powerful neighbour for backing her 15-year rule.

Asif Mahmud, a leader of the student protests who is now in Yunus' caretaker cabinet, accused India on Wednesday of "creating a flood" by deliberately releasing water from dams.

Hundreds of people also gathered at Dhaka University on Friday to protest against India's "water aggression", featuring a banner showing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi supposedly delighting at the sight of drowning people.

India's foreign ministry has rejected the charge, saying its own catchment area this week had experienced the "heaviest rains of this year" and that the flow of water downstream was due to "automatic releases".

The impact of floods remains severe in India's Tripura state, with around 65,000 people sheltering across 450 relief camps, according to local media reports.
Thunberg joins protest at Norway gas plant



Oslo, Aug 24 (AFP) Aug 24, 2024



Protesters including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and members of Extinction Rebellion on Saturday tried to blockade of a gas and oil processing plant in southwest Norway.

In a post to social media, Extinction Rebellion Norway said eight kayaks and three motorboats had entered a security zone outside the Karsto processing plant to "prevent the normal operation of tankers."

Activists, including Thunberg, also gathered on land to block the facility's gates.

"We cannot stand idly by as the fossil fuel industry robs people of their lives and destabilises our life support systems," Thunberg was quoted saying in the post.

The Karsto plant is operated by Norway's Equinor and is the largest of its kind in Europe, according to the company.

According to Equinor, around 30 oil and gas fields are connected to the plant. A company spokeswoman confirm the protest had been started.

"A group of activists have gathered outside parts of the facility, but at this stage the plant is operating as normal," Ellen Maria Skjelbaek told AFP.

Skjelbaek said police were dealing with the protest.
Companies that are growing at fast rates can make for exciting investments. The more growth they generate, the more excitement they can attract from investors along the way. SoundHound AI (NASDAQ: SOUN) offers artificial intelligence (AI) voice services that can help enhance experiences for customers in many ways, such as by improving the ordering process at drive-thrus or making it easier to ask AI chatbots questions while driving.

There's plenty of potential for SoundHound AI, which is why many investors have been bullish on its prospects, especially after learning earlier this year that Nvidia was an investor in the business. But while SoundHound AI has been growing its business at a fast rate, its losses and cash burn have also been accelerating. Should investors be worried, or could this be a solid AI stock to buy right now?

SoundHound's growth rate remains above 50%

For an up-and-coming AI stock like SoundHound AI, what attracts a lot of attention from investors is its impressive growth rate. Since its sales aren't as large as they would be for a megacap stock, there's the hope that its valuation can take off if the company continues to grow its operations at a high rate.

SoundHound AI's revenue during its most recent quarter (which ended in June) totaled $13.5 million. While that may not seem like much when compared to many larger growth stocks, what stood out was the company's impressive growth rate On a year-over-year basis, its sales jumped by 54%. Its growth rate has been impressive over the past few quarters as spending on AI-related products and services has remained high.

SOUN Revenue (Quarterly YoY Growth) Chart

The company's growth may remain strong. SoundHound AI recently announced plans to acquire Amelia, an enterprise AI software company that it says will allow it to expand its reach into new verticals, including healthcare, insurance, financial services, and other industries. Combined, the two business are expected to generate at least $150 million in revenue next year -- nearly double the $80 million that SoundHound AI is projecting for 2024.

Profitability remains a big question mark

There appears to be a lot of growth on the horizon for SoundHound AI, both organically and via its recent acquisition. But the big question is how strong its bottom line will look. Right now, the company remains unprofitable and its losses have been rising. In the most recent quarter, its net loss expanded from $23.3 million in the prior-year period to now coming in at more than $37.3 million. That's a 60% increase in net loss, which is a faster rate than its revenue growth.

The company does say that the deal with Amelia will result in cost synergies and result in "profitability expansion in subsequent years," but it falls short of actually saying if and when the company will get out of the red. It's not just profitability that matters, either. Cash burn is particularly concerning for SoundHound AI. If the company can't generate positive cash flow, it may need to raise money through debt or the equity markets -- which results in dilution and can send the stock into a tailspin.

During the first six months of the year, SoundHound AI has burned through $40.4 million from its day-to-day operations, which is more than the $34.2 million it used up during the same period last year. The company finished the quarter with just under $201 million in cash and cash equivalents, but that wouldn't have been the case if not for a significant $237.6 million it raised through stock sales this year.

Is SoundHound AI stock a good buy right now?

SoundHound AI is generating some good growth on the top line but investors shouldn't ignore the problems on the bottom line and with respect to its cash burn. The excitement surrounding the AI stock has showed signs of slowing down with its value down around 2% in the past three months. Even if the business continues to grow at a high rate, without an improvement in cash flow or profitability, SoundHound isn't demonstrating it can expand its operations in a sustainable way.

A high growth rate on the top line is impressive but that's not enough of a reason to look past the company's troubling fundamentals, as this has the potential to be a dilution machine. There are better and safer AI stocks to buy than SoundHound AI.

Should you invest $1,000 in SoundHound AI right now?

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Does SoundHound AI's Impressive Revenue Growth Make Up for Its Rising Losses? was originally published by The Motley Fool
Intruders try to board Trinidad and Tobago mystery tanker



Port of Spain, Aug 24 (AFP) Aug 24, 2024



Coast guard officers in Trinidad and Tobago have fired on intruders who attempted to board the wreck of a mysterious oil tanker that capsized off the Caribbean country months ago, its energy ministry said Saturday.

The ship, named the Gulfstream and sailing under an unidentified flag, had spilled 50,000 barrels of oil near Tobago's southern coast when it capsized in February and was found abandoned.

"There was an attempted unauthorized boarding of a support vessel by unidentified individuals" on Friday night, the energy ministry said.

"Officers attached to the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard were on-site and intervened. There was an exchange of gunfire, and one member of the response crew sustained a non-life-threatening injury."

The Gulfstream had recently been refloated and taken for salvaging to the Sea Lots area near Trinidad's Port of Spain, where the attempted boarding took place.

Police say Sea Lots is a hot spot for gang activity. The ministry said it is working with police and the army to protect the site.

The Gulfstream's ownership remains a mystery. The "Solo Creed," a barge that had been towing it at the time it capsized, had turned off its tracking beacon and then vanished, along with the crew.

The energy ministry said in May that official requests had been made to Tanzania, Nigeria, Panama, Aruba and Curacao to help track down those responsible.

Trinidad and Tobago, famous for its beaches and carnival, is an archipelago of 1.4 million inhabitants.

Its proximity to Venezuela has made it a favored stopping point for a variety of illicit trafficking.
Huthi-struck oil tanker could spill 'million barrels,' US warns



Washington, Aug 24 (AFP) Aug 24, 2024



The United States warned Saturday of a potential environmental disaster in the Red Sea after Huthi rebels struck an oil tanker off the Yemeni coast.

The Greek-flagged Sounion was struck on Wednesday off the rebel-held port city of Hodeida, with the Iran-backed Huthis claiming to have hit the vessel with drones and missiles.

On Friday, the UKMTO maritime agency said three fires had been spotted on the ship, while a video released by the Huthis on social media allegedly showed three explosions on the ship.

The 274-meter long vessel had departed from Iraq and was destined for a port near Athens, carrying 150,000 tonnes of crude oil.

"The Huthis' continued attacks threaten to spill a million barrels of oil into the Red Sea, an amount four times the size of the Exxon Valdez disaster," US State Department Matthew Miller said Saturday in a statement.

The Exxon Valdez spill in 1989 released 257,000 barrels along the coast of Alaska.

"While the crew has been evacuated, the Huthis appear determined to sink the ship and its cargo into the sea," Miller said.

The Sounian's crew of 23 Filipinos and two Russians were rescued by a ship with the European Union's Aspides mission.

The naval mission also warned the unmanned vessel represented "a navigational and environmental hazard."

The Huthi rebels launched their campaign against international shipping in November, saying it is in support of Gaza amid the Israel-Hamas war.

In March, the Belize-flagged, Lebanese-operated Rubymar became the first ship targeted by the Huthis to sink during the conflict.

The Rubymar sank in the Red Sea with 21,000 metric tonnes of ammonium phosphate sulfate fertilizer on board.

The Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carrier Tutor also sank in June after being struck by the Huthis.

Multiple sailors have also been killed or wounded in the attacks, which have severely disrupted global shipping.

"Through these attacks, the Huthis have made clear they are willing to destroy the fishing industry and regional ecosystems that Yemenis and other communities in the region rely on for their livelihoods," Miller said Saturday.

"We call on the Huthis to cease these actions immediately and urge other nations to step forward to help avert this environmental disaster," he added.
Almost half of Australias permanent migrants are working below their skill level and the failure to better utilise that knowhow is costing the economy $9 billion a year.

Despite the critical skill shortages in many sectors of the Australian economy, more than 620,000 permanent migrants are working in jobs that do not fully use qualifications obtained from their country of origin, according to Deloitte Access Economics research.

If migrants were able to get jobs that matched their skills at the same rate as Australian-born workers, it would boost annual gross domestic product by 0.5 per cent, or an average of $9 billion a year over the next decade, the modelling found. Discrimination against migrant workers was identified as one barrier to greater utilisation of knowhow.

About 44 per cent of permanent migrants are working below their qualification level, sapping the economic output of every state and territory.
By Jayshree P Upadhyay

MUMBAI (Reuters) -India's markets regulator late on Thursday banned Anil Ambani, one of India's best-known businessmen, and 24 others from the securities market for five years on charges of diversion of funds.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) also imposed a fine of 250 million rupees (about $3 million) on Ambani, saying he orchestrated a scheme to "siphon off" funds from Reliance Home Finance Ltd , a listed subsidiary of conglomerate Reliance Group of which he is chairman.

The ban means Ambani and the others affected are restrained from accessing the securities market and prohibited from buying, selling or otherwise dealing in securities, directly or indirectly, the regulator said.

The regulator said the "fraudulent" scheme was to "siphon off" funds from Reliance Home Finance, which provides loans for housing and construction, by structuring those funds as loans to credit-unworthy borrowers.

Most of these borrowers were linked to "promoters", an Indian term for large shareholders with the ability to influence company decisions, the SEBI added.

A spokesperson for Reliance Group did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Reliance Group - which spans financial services, infrastructure and telecommunications - was created in July 2006 following a demerger from Reliance Industries Ltd, which is led by Anil's brother Mukesh Ambani.

Anil has seen three of the largest firms within the group, including Reliance Communications, Reliance Capital and Reliance Infrastructure, undergoing bankruptcy or debt restructuring.

Reliance Home Finance shares shed 5%, while among other listed entities within the group, Reliance Infrastructure shares were down nearly 13% and Reliance Power dropped 5% as of 1:24 p.m. IST (0754 GMT).

The regulator charged Anil Ambani on two grounds - diversion of substantial funds of the company to the detriment of the company and its stakeholders, and for acts of concealment from shareholders by manipulating its financial accounts.

The regulator said more than 90 billion Indian rupees worth of loans from Reliance Home Finance were made to "non-descript borrowers who had no demonstrable financial ability to repay any of it".

In addition, it said more than 50 billion rupees worth of loans were granted to entities connected to promoters of Reliance Group.

Given the obvious credit weaknesses of the borrowers, the probability of default by such borrowers - and hence the expected credit losses - was considerably higher than acknowledged in the financial statements, SEBI said.

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The facts of this case are particularly disturbing since it reveals a complete breakdown of governance in a large listed company, apparently orchestrated by and/ or at the behest of the promoter aided by the indulgent management of the company, SEBI added.

The other 24 banned include executives of Reliance Group and other unlisted companies connected to Anil Ambani.($1 = 83.8620 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Jayshree P Upadhyay in Mumbai and Hritam Mukherjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza and David Holmes)
Every patient is different. Some might be emotional and need a compassionate ear while others might want you around to support their grieving family. Some just want information they cant readily find themselves. Loading Im honoured to share the space with all the hearts that engage me, but several stand out. I had one gentleman who unfortunately died before his daughter could get to him, and I was able to have him transferred to a holistic funeral home so she could spend a couple of days with him in what looked like a normal bedroom. I had another gentleman whose daughter was far too distraught to engage in discussion about his wishes. I worked with him for three days to reach a point where he could pour his heart out in a letter to his family, but also provide clear instruction on what he would like for his funeral. He had everything mapped out, right down the jacket he wanted to wear in his coffin. Ive noticed a change in the way Australians view death and dying. Were having conversations, and even within the industry new courses are being offered, such as a Certificate 4 in End of Life Doula Services. I believe COVID has played a big part in this; its made us realise that life is short and can be taken from us at any moment. My hope? That regular dialogue about the process takes the fear and anxiety out of it.

Its opportunity to authentically represent someones life Evelyn Calauman, living funeral celebrant Celebrant Evelyn Calauman attends living funerals, where the guest of honour attends the service before they die. Ive had a diverse work background, ranging from flight attendant to operating a tour company, but in 2007 I started thinking about finding a career I could grow old with. The idea of becoming a celebrant sounded ideal. I love celebrations and public speaking, but its also one of those rare careers where the older you are, the more seriously people seem to take you. Most celebrants dont usually conduct both weddings and funerals, but I was open to all of it.

It wasnt an easy start; after conducting my 12th funeral, I was asked to resign by the funeral home I was working for as I was crying too much during the service. After some therapy, working on my own unresolved grief issues, I became better at understanding that I am hired to guide the family and be their voice through one of the most difficult times in their lives. Eventually, I conducted a few weddings in which one of the spouses was diagnosed with a terminal illness, and it was their wish to get married before their death. While one might expect these ceremonies to be sad and confronting, they were deeply moving and filled with heartfelt emotion. Ive also been involved in living funerals, which is where the guest of honour has been terminally diagnosed. A living funeral not only presents an opportunity to more authentically represent someones life because theyre involved with the planning, it gives loved ones a chance to say goodbye, share memories and communicate their appreciation. Living funerals can be more confronting than traditional ones. Not only are people dealing with the fact that this person they love is about to die, and that this is probably the last time theyre going to see them, its hard to know what to say. During the funerals Ive presided over, most attendees learn something new about the deceased, often saying, I wish Id known that about them. So the idea of a living funeral, where the guest of honour shares their stories, can be potentially healing. That said, a number of people whove engaged my services for a living funeral have changed their minds at the last minute; usually their illness takes over before the day and they decide theyre too tired or unwell to go through with it.

Some cultures are better than others when it comes to dealing with death and dying, but attitudes are changing. Social media, where people are openly expressing their grief or setting up memorial pages, shows were on the right track. My advice? Celebrate all the milestones while you still can and be grateful for every little wonderful thing that comes your way. They feel a sense of peace as soon as they put it on Nicoleta Stephens, jeweller Jeweller Nicoleta Stephens creates personal mementos that can include ashes, hair or breast milk. My baby was four months old when I had this sense that I would go crazy if I didnt find a way to fulfil my innate artistic needs. Id grown up believing I was going to do something that would change the world, but in 2016 I found myself working as an accountant, which paid the bills but left me feeling I was missing something. Then I came across someone who was making jewellery out of breast milk, and I was intrigued enough to undertake a jewellery-making course.

Once I started making breast-milk jewellery, though, I started to get requests from customers asking if Id consider making custom pieces out of the cremated remains of their loved ones. Having lost my beloved grandmother, who raised me, I could certainly understand the desire. That was the moment I realised Id finally found a way to make a positive impact on peoples lives and I employed a team of stone cutters, jewellers and stone setters in preparation. Loading Theres a saying that pain is the price we pay for love, and its something I see every day. My clients are beautiful people whove lost a child, a partner, a parent, or the dream of parenthood. Until recently, mothers who miscarried were usually sent away from hospital with nothing but a form denoting medical waste, but now they have the option of cremating their babys remains and sending them to me to create a permanent reminder that their baby was here and that they were loved. Thats a huge change. The process to choose the right piece can be a lengthy one; you want to ensure theyre making the correct decision, which can be hard when someone is grieving. Well discuss their lifestyle  whether they work with their hands or not, for example  and this will help dictate whether to go with a ring, a pendant or something else.
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 This story is part of the August 25 edition of Sunday Life. See all 13 stories . Though she had established herself as one of the stars of Torontos iconic improvisational comedy troupe The Second City, and stepped into the limelight-adjacent as an understudy to the legendary Gilda Radner, Catherine OHaras Hollywood story begins in a rental car, in the pre-mobile phone era. Im so glad that we didnt go further than a date or two, she says of her frequent comedy collaborator, Eugene Levy. Credit: Contour by Getty Images It was 1988, in Los Angeles hot, dry San Fernando Valley, and our star-in-the-making was on her way to Warner Brothers to audition for a role in a film named Beetlejuice, directed by another legend, Tim Burton. But minutes turned to hours, and hours turned into streets and neighbourhoods that didnt look like Hollywood. After driving forever I was thinking, I dont know who this guy is, but he cant be in showbusiness because his office is far out, OHara says, laughing. Eventually, she pulled her rental car to the side of the road, called her agent from a payphone and realised she was hopelessly lost. When she finally found her way back to the Warner Bros lot, she was directed to the bungalow that served as Burtons office, but found the door locked and a note pinned to it. The note said: Im sorry. I waited as long as I could. In that moment, in a town infamous for long commutes and legerdemain directions, OHaras conquest of Hollywood had gone off the rails. The good news is, this story has a very happy ending. OHara and Burton eventually connected, and one of the films most memorable roles, sculptor and eccentric conceptual artist Delia Deetz was hers. I just remember sitting with Tim and laughing and telling stories. Hes got a great sense of humour, OHara says. OHaras experience with Burton was sublime. Tim directs by osmosis, its like hes saying things and telling you things, and hes not telling you what to do, but you get it, OHara says. He totally gets what he wants out of you in his original way, his completely original way.

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The best directors are manipulators; gentle, loving manipulators, and he is, OHara adds. That first Beetlejuice set was just so loose and fun and silly and exciting and creative, and Tim wanted to get that back, and he did. It really changed my life...I met all the wonderful people, Tim and everybody, Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder, and then Bo, of course. Beetlejuice, which starred Michael Keaton as the charismatic bio-exorcist Betelgeuse, became a smash hit. OHara followed it with roles in Home Alone and The Nightmare Before Christmas, and, collaborating with writer/director Christopher Guest, and actor Eugene Levy, roles in Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind and For Your Consideration. But Beetlejuice somehow endured in the culture. A sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, reuniting OHara, now 70, and Keaton, is coming out. The original film also endured in OHaras life: it was where she met her husband, production designer Bo Welch, while working on the film. It really changed my life, OHara says. I met all the wonderful people, Tim and everybody, Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder, and then Bo, of course. Were still married, thank goodness, but I dont know, it was just fortunate. So many people have such fond memories of the time that they first saw Beetlejuice, and its just carried all this positivity all around it, she adds. My little story of meeting Bo, it really did change a lot in my life. I feel fortunate that anybody knows me as anything, that Im in peoples lives somehow, their childhoods, OHara says. Credit: Contour by Getty Images

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In a sense, too, Beetlejuice laid the groundwork for one of OHaras most potent creative threads, playing eccentric and beautifully unpredictable (sometimes neurotic) women. In one mad and memorable scene from the original Beetlejuice, Delia declares: I must express myself. If you dont let me gut out this house and make it my own, I will go insane, and I will take you with me. In hindsight, in that performance, its hard not to see threads of what would become her most memorable career role, Moira Rose, the soap opera star wife of Johnny Rose and mother of their children David and Alexis, in Schitts Creek. More so when you realise that Delias line was not in the original script, but was added by OHara, who came from a background of improvisational theatre. Its definitely something in me that that keeps coming out, OHara says. I just love that idea of, its sad but funny, believing you have something and no one seems to get it, no one seems to get how much potential you have, no matter how many opportunities youre given. I dont have that desperate need. I dont even have a social network. I dont need followers. The first time you see Delia in the second Beetlejuice is at her art gallery show, and we had a full gallery set up in Soho in London. It was amazing. With a real program, with my work, sculptures, my body, because the work is about my body. So, then, to understand the difference between all the women in the room, if Moira and Delia are both women who crave followers, is OHara is a woman who doesnt? Ive been very fortunate in my work. I dont feel like, Oh, if only people could see me, if only they knew how talented I could be, she says. I dont have that desperate need. I dont even have a social network. I dont need followers.

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Theyre definitely the same person, theyre definitely related, OHara says of Delia and Moira. Moira was way more confident. Definitely confident in her relationship with her husband, too. Thats really grounding. I think they had a real solid love, and she grew to love her kids. Shed missed out, but she got a second chance. Shes very lucky that way. Loading Delia is less secure, I think, just as a human being, OHara adds. I dont know what her upbringing was, but yeah, I think both of them, the money is new to them. They did not grow up with money, and they want to be seen. Which brings us to perhaps the greatest collaboration of OHaras career, with actor Eugene Levy. On screen they have played a multitude of strange and wonderful couples, from Gerry and Cookie Fleck in Best in Show, to Mickey and Mitch in A Mighty Wind. The relationships are plainly milked for comedy, but they are also incredibly tender. What makes them so specific is that there is never an absence of love in the room. I remember at the beginning of Schitts Creek, it was sort of written to be a little more of a hard-ass funny, but hard-ass, smart-ass wife, and giving Johnny a lot of heat for the situation that theyre in, OHara says. It felt like its negative and it doesnt go anywhere, and what happens to that? Does it grow? Do you grow out of it? And without talking about it, we just both naturally went the way of having a solid relationship. And I think that grounded us as a family.

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Eugene and I both take the comedy really seriously, OHara adds. We like to have it grounded in reality, and sometimes the reality is drama, right? The drama in life. And theyre in a terrible situation and they really have lost touch with their kids. They barely know them. But to have something solid there, I think grounded that family. OHara describes Levy as a lovely gentleman, and he really is, and hes a good man, and hes got a cool wife. And hes a very loving father, and maybe you cant go any other way with him. I dont know, maybe its him. Hilariously, they almost dated when they first met. Oh, we tried. Everybody tried, OHara says, laughing. Im so grateful that we didnt go further than a date or two. I dont believe wed have the relationship we have, the working relationship. I see him rarely when were not working. Hes like family that way, where when youre together, youre instantly together again, she adds. Im very happy it didnt work out with Eugene and me. We both have our spouses that were happy with, thanks. Loading While she is not a woman of a thousand faces, OHara does have in her repertoire some of television and films most memorable mothers. There is Delia. And Moira. And the role that still gives her a high level of on-the-street recognition  Kate McCallister, from Home Alone. While it might be said that Kate was not the best mother  she did, after all, somehow leave a child behind when the family embarked on their now iconic Christmas vacation  she is still somehow beloved by generations.

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But something more is afoot here. Underneath the high-minded safetyism of the online-harm brigade is an instinct to punish bad ideas by labelling them as inciting, insulting or offensive. Its a habit as tired as Stalins moustache. You profess your support for free speech (who doesnt? Its like supporting kittens and rainbows) but with appropriate limits. Vladimir Putin supports free speech, too, according to Vladimir Putin. He just doesnt support hate speech against the fine men and women defending the (Russian) common good through their valiant work in Ukraine. Thats a crime, as the Russian-American journalist Masha Gessen found out in July when a Russian court convicted them in absentia to eight years in jail. Well-meaning apparatchiks in the Australian Immigration Department this week delayed Gessens Australian visa, reportedly demanding arduous dossiers to determine whether Vlad wasnt onto something in questioning Gessens fitness for gentle Australian ears. Elon Musk, no champion of free speech, shuts down his opponents. In Malaysia  the worlds most enthusiastic issuer of TikTok takedown requests  opposition MPs and government critics find their social media accounts limited or blocked to create a safer online ecosystem and a better user experience, especially for children and families in the words of the countrys equivalent of our eSafety Commissioner, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission. Indonesia and Singapore are considering similar laws to prevent online harm. The UK government is keen to play in this space. Bobbies show up at peoples doors to arrest them for being awful on social media. (And here I was, thinking that was the point.) The British government itself issued an almost comically Orwellian Twitter warning: Think before you post. Englands director of public prosecutions recently boasted that you can be arrested for tweeting something insulting or abusive and congratulated his dedicated police officers who are scouring social media.

This must feel reassuring to the victims of the 2.3 million crimes that go unsolved in the UK each year. Fear not, Nanna can no longer complain about migrants on Facebook. Not all heroes wear capes. London police recently prevented a businessman in a yarmulke from crossing the street during a Gaza protest, under threat of arrest, because his openly Jewish appearance was considered a provocation. On Monday, the UK government announced it was reclassifying misogyny as a form of extremism, making it easier to prosecute. Whats misogynistic, though? Is it misogynistic to insist that biological males who identify as women should compete in female sporting events? Some feminists say so. Yet in Twitters pre-Musk era, such feminists were banned for tweeting things like women arent men. Who gets to decide whats offensive? We know who gets to decide, of course. Elites do. At the moment, that means the clique of university-educated, cosmopolitan social-justice types who set the tone in the arts, media, HR, public policy and mainstream politics. In other words, people like me.

But we wont be in charge forever. If the populist right thats roiling Europe and Trumpland makes its way to Australia, offensive speech may no longer be defined as targeting migrants and trans people and people of colour. It could be defined as content that demeans white Australian history, contaminates cultural unity or attacks family values. Its happened in Italy. It almost just happened in France. Brexit happened. Trump happened. These movements get their mojo by posturing against the censoriousness of the puritanical left. Dont take the bait. Dont play their game. Loading If you make it hazardous for reasonable people to discuss controversial issues, then only unreasonable people will do so. If you say its racist to discuss the integration of migrants, only racists will discuss it. In decades to come, we will look back on the current moment as the fledgling, early steps of a species trying to grapple with a revolution in how it communicates with itself. Were a baby giraffe trying to stand up. All wobbly knees and placental goo. It is our generations job to figure out how to manage this informational tidal wave. To do so, we need a population that feels heard, that feels its understood. We need a public square with capacious borders. We need to accept that genuinely getting your hands dirty wrestling with ideas can sometimes sound, to the ears of noble public-minded witch-hunters, offensive. Thats the price of admission to democracy.
Former Coalition premiers Dominic Perrottet and Mike Baird joined Labors Chris Minns on Saturday to bathe in the success of Sydneys metro, as the history-making $21.6 billion railway celebrated its 1 millionth passenger trip.

But after seven years of construction and a year of testing, the question on everyones lips on the lines debut weekend was: Wheres Gladys?

Premier Minns said Gladys Berejiklian, premier between Baird and Perrottet, had been invited to Saturdays official opening but had something else on, adding she would no doubt be enjoying the service in coming days.

From left: Former Coalition premiers Dominic Perrottet and Mike Baird, with Premier Chris Minns and Transport Minister Jo Haylen at Barangaroo metro station on Saturday. Credit: Dean Sewell

As transport minister, treasurer and premier, Berejiklian has been credited with prosecuting the idea of the metro project, a network of 46 stations and 113 kilometres of new rail revolutionising Sydney commutes.
About 150 passengers were evacuated from a driverless metro train stuck in a tunnel at Hills Showground station on the M1 metro line on Saturday afternoon.

Internal communications by Fire and Rescue NSW obtained by The Sydney Morning Herald show the passengers were stuck on the train for about half an hour. The train was stuck in the tunnel towards the end of one of the platforms at the station.

The Hills Showground metro station. Credit: Brook Mitchell

Firefighters were called at 3.17pm to help evacuate the train. Firefighters were not aware of any medical issues with passengers, but the event was classified as a rescue incident.

It puts a dampener on what has otherwise been a smooth six days for the M1 metro line since the city section between Chatswood and Sydenham opened in the early hours of Monday.
Most fishers who die in Sydney travel more than 50 kilometres from their homes to the coast, prompting Randwick City Council to ask councils across the state to support its Make a Safe Choice campaign. Nearly all of these deaths are men, and two-thirds were born in Asia. Randwick wants councils with large non-English-speaking populations to disseminate the campaigns newly updated safety materials in Vietnamese, Korean and Chinese. Bellissimo takes it further, saying it should be compulsory for foreign language newspapers in Sydney to run safety warnings. How does an experienced fisher avert disaster? The deadliest time to fish often looks the calmest.

University of Melbourne and Surf Life Saving Australia research has found there were more rock fishing deaths when the period between waves was longer than when waves came quickly. This calm lulled inexperienced fishers into a false sense of security. University of Melbourne researcher Peter Kamstra said: Many fishers believe improving the ways we communicate the risk of long-period waves  not freak waves  to inexperienced fishers is the best way to save lives. The increased time between waves can give the sea a safer, calmer look, causing less experienced fishers to be unprepared for large overlapping waves and panic, running to safety on slippery rocks. On the day we talk to Bellissimo, theres a 1.8-metre swell near a spot infamous for a series of rock fishing deaths in the 1980s. Before he does anything, he watches the sea, getting a sense of the timing and power of the waves. He recommends anglers monitor small wave period (lulls) and large wave periods (also called sets) for about three to four cycles.

Tips from Alex Bellissimo and others for safer fishing Dont fish alone Never turn your back on the sea Keep your eyes in the direction of the waves and the rod Dont cast before you understand the size and timing of a set of waves, including the lull Wear a lifejacket, wear shoes with steel spikes to increase grip and avoid clothes that sink, such as jeans Know the tides Look where you are walking Dont drink. Bellissimo refuses to take fishers who drink alcohol because it encourages risk-taking Pack your gear away where it wont get washed away Know your location and give it in this order: NSW, Freshwater, off the rocks near McKillop Park Reserve Know the number for emergencies and bring your phone fully charged, or carry a spare Bellissimo wears fishing shoes with steel spikes to reduce the chance of slipping, a life jacket, and lightweight board shorts that wont weigh him down if he is washed off. His gaze is firmly out to sea when he finally casts  not on his rod tip or the waves near the shore. Asked what inexperienced and beginner rock fishers are thinking when they put their lives at risk by fishing without a life jacket, or standing in a dangerous spot, he says, Nothing, nil, zero. Thats the problem. Why dont more fishers wear life jackets? Surf Life Saving Australia national research manager Dr Jaz Lawes says rock fishing deaths appear to be declining since wearing a life jacket became compulsory in 2016. But enforcement is challenging, she says: at least 75 per cent of those who had fatally drowned since 2004 were not wearing one.

Many fishers say they dont need life jackets because they can float for 10 minutes, the time they think it takes to get rescued. We have to remind them, Can you still float for 10 minutes after you have hit your head? Lawes says. Can you float for 30 minutes? Or: can they float in their clothes? Many bodies have been recovered with waders filled with water. How long can it take to get rescued? With decades of experience, Bellissimo has witnessed the deaths of more than 13 rock fishers. Too many to count, he says.

Some slipped and fell off the rocks. Others had heart attacks, like Donald White, a 71-year-old rock fisher whose 2012 death at North Curl Curl formed part of the NSW coronial inquiry which recommended mandatory life jackets. Experienced and inexperienced rock fishers evaluate risk differently. Less experienced fishers fail to understand that a lull between sets usually precedes bigger, more powerful waves. Credit: Surf LIfe Saving Australia White wasnt wearing a life jacket when he fell into the water 80 metres away from where Bellissimo and a videographer were updating a video on rock safety. Bellissimo called triple zero and threw a life buoy to the videographer. With Bellissimo on the rocks calling for help, the videographer manoeuvred White into the flotation device. A police officer paddled out to help. It took 55 minutes, says Bellissimo, to get the dead man to shore through the waves.

What can be done? Randwicks safety campaign is deliberately shocking, featuring 24 red skulls representing each of those who have died. For more experienced fishers, making a safe choice might mean picking a different rock ledge on rough days or being more cautious. But for newcomers to the sport or those who cant swim, a safe choice means fishing off a beach or from a jetty in the harbour instead, Randwick Mayor Philipa Veitch says. A growing body of Australian research suggests that nurturing informal networks where experienced fishers like Bellissimo mentor younger fishers could save lives. These experienced fishers know so-called freak waves are a myth.
Credit: Matt Golding

To submit a letter to The Age, email letters@theage.com.au. Please include your home address and telephone number. No attachments, please include your letter in the body of the email. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published.

There are buses

It is quite amazing to read that, according to the three inner-north mayors (The wheel thing as mayors take e-scooter freedom ride, 23/8), There are critical gaps in travelling east to west across our municipalities, and e-scooters and e-bikes could save people time by avoiding a long public transport trip in and out of the city.

On the contrary, there are many east-west transport routes in this area, buses 504, 506, 508 and 510, to name just a few.

And you dont need a long trip in and out of the city at all. Bus 504, for example, Moonee Ponds to Clifton Hill, takes 35 minutes at morning peak hour.

I use these buses often, and they are frequent, punctual and reliable.

And they dont run on public footpaths.

Darryl Cloonan,

Brunswick

Be innovative

We have all observed poor, and dangerous, behaviour from individuals abusing hire e-scooters in the CBD (Letters, 24/8).

But we have also seen the physical and existential threat that arises from car traffic, especially the increasing numbers of large, wide vehicles.

What are the City of Melbourne policy responses to this dangerous trend?

It is perhaps significant that it is the City of Yarra that is looking to Paris example and investigating the feasibility of charging larger vehicles higher parking fees.

To become a truly modern city Melbourne needs to explore innovative policy, technological and infrastructure solutions to our transport options.

This means keeping e-scooters, and penalising the law-breakers.
Australian officials are confident of locking in regional support this week for an ambitious Pacific-wide policing pact they hope will help stymie Beijings energetic efforts to gain a security foothold in the region.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will travel on Tuesday to the Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga, with the Pacific Policing Initiative set to be one of the key agenda items alongside tackling climate change and the recent unrest in New Caledonia.

The initiative, to cost hundreds of millions of dollars, would see a regional training centre established in Brisbane, centres of law enforcement excellence set up across the Pacific and the formation of new multinational police units that could rapidly deploy across the region when trouble arises.

Anthony Albanese and Tuvalus then-prime minister Kausea Natano struck a landmark pact at last years Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting. Credit: AAP

Pacific police chiefs have compared the initiative to bodies such as EUROPOL (the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation) and AMERIPOL (the Police Community of the Americas) that combat crime beyond national borders.
Chinas top economic officials are preparing to host Treasurer Jim Chalmers for a significant visit as the superpowers faltering steel sector threatens to punch a multibillion-dollar hole in Australias budget bottom line.

A trip by Chalmers to China would be the first such visit in seven years, representing another milestone in improved ties after Beijing placed Australia in the diplomatic deep freezer during the previous Coalition government.

Chalmers warned last week that Chinas slowing economy will weaken Australian iron ore prices and could leave the budget $3 billion worse off over the next four years, reflecting the importance of China to the Australian economy.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers says he is monitoring economic developments in China closely as the nations steel sector struggles. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Were following these developments very closely because of their potential impact on our economy and our budget, Chalmers said.
Finding a business that has the potential to grow substantially is not easy, but it is possible if we look at a few key financial metrics. In a perfect world, we'd like to see a company investing more capital into its business and ideally the returns earned from that capital are also increasing. Put simply, these types of businesses are compounding machines, meaning they are continually reinvesting their earnings at ever-higher rates of return. However, after investigating Malaysia Smelting Corporation Berhad (KLSE:MSC), we don't think it's current trends fit the mold of a multi-bagger.

What Is Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)?

For those that aren't sure what ROCE is, it measures the amount of pre-tax profits a company can generate from the capital employed in its business. The formula for this calculation on Malaysia Smelting Corporation Berhad is:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.11 = RM96m  (RM1.4b - RM503m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2024).

Thus, Malaysia Smelting Corporation Berhad has an ROCE of 11%. On its own, that's a standard return, however it's much better than the 6.7% generated by the Metals and Mining industry.

Check out our latest analysis for Malaysia Smelting Corporation Berhad

roce

In the above chart we have measured Malaysia Smelting Corporation Berhad's prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important. If you'd like to see what analysts are forecasting going forward, you should check out our free analyst report for Malaysia Smelting Corporation Berhad .

What Does the ROCE Trend For Malaysia Smelting Corporation Berhad Tell Us?

In terms of Malaysia Smelting Corporation Berhad's historical ROCE movements, the trend isn't fantastic. Over the last five years, returns on capital have decreased to 11% from 15% five years ago. On the other hand, the company has been employing more capital without a corresponding improvement in sales in the last year, which could suggest these investments are longer term plays. It may take some time before the company starts to see any change in earnings from these investments.

Our Take On Malaysia Smelting Corporation Berhad's ROCE

To conclude, we've found that Malaysia Smelting Corporation Berhad is reinvesting in the business, but returns have been falling. Yet to long term shareholders the stock has gifted them an incredible 247% return in the last five years, so the market appears to be rosy about its future. Ultimately, if the underlying trends persist, we wouldn't hold our breath on it being a multi-bagger going forward.

Story continues

On a final note, we've found 1 warning sign for Malaysia Smelting Corporation Berhad that we think you should be aware of.

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.
Home owners are doubling  and in some cases, tripling  their money when selling property in some of Victorias most sought-after destinations.

In Somers, on the Mornington Peninsula, home sellers made a median profit of 268.3 per cent of their purchase price, Domains Profit and Loss report for the last financial year, released on Thursday, reveals. Houses in neighbouring Balnarring recorded a median 205.5 per cent profit.

The outer suburb of Wonga Park, north-east of Melbourne, and the regional towns of Cannons Creek and Mount Beauty were other examples where home owners tripled their money at sale.

In Melbournes inner south, Middle Park and Elsternwick owners made profits of 196.8 per cent and 185.3 per cent, respectively.
A first home buyer couple has outbid three buyers, including an investor, to land a renovated terrace in Fitzroy North for $1,931,000 in a rapid-fire auction on Saturday.

Construction blocking the road in front of 36 Church Street didnt deter four eager parties from bidding on the three-bedroom home.

An investor, who ended up being the underbidder, placed a lowball offer of $1.4 million, well-below the $1.7 million to $1.8 million price guide.

The home was one of 858 scheduled for auction across Melbourne on Saturday. By evening, Domain Group recorded a preliminary auction clearance rate of 62.4 per cent from 700 reported results, while 84 auctions were withdrawn. Withdrawn auctions are counted as unsold properties when calculating the clearance rate.
Chief executive Mark Vassella said Chinese companies were flooding Asian markets with cheap steel as they tried to offload excess supply due to dried up domestic demand in Chinas property sector. And what thats done is thats driven pressure on price, which then comes back to our domestic market here in Australia, he told ABC TVs The Business program last week. Loading Shares in Australias big iron ore miners have also plunged this year. Shares in BHP, the second-largest company on the Australian stock exchange, have fallen almost 20 per cent, Fortescue Metals shares have dropped almost 39 per cent this year, and Rio Tinto shares have slumped 18 per cent. Many steel mills in China, the worlds biggest iron ore importer, have suffered from lacklustre demand and sinking product prices, and are cutting back on output. Research by Macquarie Bank found that 50 per cent of mills were said to be losing money, with a further 23 per cent just breaking even, while almost half planned to cut output either slightly or by a lot. Property remained the main drag, it said.

The impact of Chinas economic slowdown is not just being felt in the commodity markets. Shares in a2 Milk, one of the largest suppliers of infant milk formula to China, plunged by more than 18 per cent on Monday after the New Zealand-based company released its 2023/24 results, and warned of a smaller than expected profit growth over the next year. Though a2 Milks share of the Chinese market is increasing, chief executive David Bortolussi flagged the countrys declining birth rate as a longer-term challenge for the companys growth along with increased competition from other suppliers in the market. A2 milk on sale at an Alibaba run Smart supermarket in Hangzhou, China. Credit: Chris Crerara In 2023, 9.02 million babies were born in China, half the number born in 2016. Chinas shrinking population, which declined for the second straight year in 2023, falling by 2 million people, has major economic ramifications. It means fewer workers, fewer people buying homes, a decline in spending by consumers, and fewer people to support the countrys ageing population. Dr Matthew Durban, a former Austrade senior economist and trade commissioner, says Chinas economic slowdown is one of structural decline, not a cyclical one.

Im not going to sort of paint a rosy picture. I think the best we can hope for is a slowdown in growth. But I suspect this is a structural issue were going to have to get used to, and it will require adjustment of my profit margins, but also market diversification, he says. There is no question that Chinas economy is in the doldrums after years of dazzling growth. It grew at a slower-than-forecast 4.7 per cent annual rate in the June quarter, below the governments 5 per cent annual growth target as it struggles to convince Chinese consumers to splash their money around on retail goods. Weak consumption  that is, Chinese people not spending enough, as households choose to squirrel away their savings  has been a problem that has plagued Beijing for years, says Dr Guonan Ma, an economist and senior fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute. The industrial skyline in Lanzhou, in western China in early August, shows its petrochemical industry is powering away. But a broader malaise in the Chinese economy is sending shockwaves into the Australian market. Credit: Sanghee Liu Beijing has pledged multiple times to try and do something about consumption, but each time they fail, Ma says.

One such effort that experts say is unlikely to significantly boost consumption is a trade-in stimulus plan where consumers are offered subsidies for trading in old appliances like fridges and cars and buying new greener, more efficient models. The consumption challenge is being exacerbated by the property market collapse, with people more reluctant to spend than ever before. At its peak in 2020, the real estate sector accounted for as much as 30 per cent of Chinas GDP, while Chinese households had 80 per cent of their wealth tied up in property. The pain continued unabated last month as new home prices plunged at their fastest pace in nine years in July, falling 4.9 per cent from a year earlier. A construction worker walks past a housing project under construction on the outskirts of Beijing, China, on Wednesday. There are millions of unsold, unfinished and vacant homes across China due to the property market collapse. Credit: AP It is the sharpest drop in prices since June 2015, and comes despite the governments efforts to rein in the freefall through a limited rescue package that involved reducing mortgage rates and lowering home buying costs. The Chinese governments plan for dragging the country out of its economic rut appears to be one adhering to a theme of continuity, not change.

Last month, the roughly 400 members of the Chinese Communist Partys Central Committee, one of the partys top governing bodies, gathered in Beijing for a multi-day meeting known as the third plenum. It is held roughly once every five years and is designed to set the countrys long term economic strategy. Loading For the most part, this years third plenum left many China watchers, analysts and investors underwhelmed but largely unsurprised. Far from charting a new policy direction to address some of the long term structural challenges, a resolution released after the meeting contained hundreds of proposed reforms that largely doubled down on Xis goal of building a high-level socialist market economic system, where the state is the key actor and the private sector a secondary player, and where national security objectives are intrinsically linked with modernisation goals. There were no signs of a large-scale stimulus package in the works to boost domestic demand, or a major rescue effort for the property sector. Earlier this month, Chinese authorities rejected a proposal by the International Monetary Fund to deploy the equivalent of $US1 trillion in central government funds to complete unfinished housing or compensate homebuyers.

Instead, a key plank of Xis economic plan is to shift China away from a property-heavy growth model to one powered by high-tech industries and advanced manufacturing in areas like EVs, solar panels, semiconductors, and AI. Loading Ma says Chinas economic pain is set to linger for some time yet. The high-tech industry and renewable energy sector, are not big enough yet to replace the property sector as a major growth driver, he says. Most likely, it will be a gradual and painful process, which could take a year or two before we see a floor, he says.
New York: Donald Trump touted his plan to end taxation on tips at a stop in Las Vegas, trying to turn the page on a week in which he was overshadowed by Kamala Harris and struggled to keep focus on policy issues and not personal attacks on his opponent.

From a lectern set up at a Mexican restaurant a day after Harris formally accepted the Democratic Partys nomination for president, the Republican presidential candidate spoke about his plan to eliminate taxes on 100 per cent of tips to waiters and other service employees. He also talked about his campaigns efforts to court Hispanic voters in Nevada, a battleground state that could help determine the November 5 election, and nationwide.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump through a kitchen window at a Mexican restaurant in Las Vegas. Credit: AP

The tax proposal is one pillar of Trumps economic agenda and the kind of issue his advisers have been pressing him to focus on rather than his frequent personal attacks against Harris looks, heritage and intelligence, warning they could turn off the moderate voters he needs to win.

Trumps comments come after the vice presidents muscular speech that laid down broad foreign policy principles and sharp contrasts with Trump with 11 weeks left until election day.
MGI Worldwide has announced that Bado, Kuster, Zerbino & Rachetti based in Montevideo, Uruguay, has joined the MGI Latin America region.

About Bado, Kuster, Zerbino & Rachetti (BKZR)

With over 80 years of experience in the market, BKZR offers comprehensive services to its clients. The firm's professionals are specialised in various practice areas, including law, accounting, and notarial services. BKZR is dedicated to understanding its clients and their businesses, proactively seeking solutions, and consistently identifying new opportunities.

While primarily a legal firm, BKZR places significant emphasis on its accounting and tax services, which support the firm's core billing sectors: Corporate, Banking and Corporate Finance, and M&A. The accounting department offers key services including accounting, outsourcing, tax and financial planning, and payroll.

Why join MGI's global accounting network?

At present, BKZR serves a number of significant local clients and continues to grow in this area. However, in todays globalised world, expanding beyond borders and seeking international opportunities is crucial. The firm believes that membership in a global network enhances its profile abroad and, more importantly, facilitates connections with professionals worldwide who share the same field of expertise and uphold the same quality standards, creating opportunities for all involved.

"MGI Worldwide announces new member firm in Uruguay" was originally created and published by International Accounting Bulletin, 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.
27 Indians killed in Nepal bus mishap







By Shirish B Pradhan

KATHMANDU

Passengers onboard the bus were part of a group of 104 pilgrims from Bhusal village in Jalgaon distt of Maharashtra

AT LEAST 27 Indian pilgrims who arrived in Nepal from Maharashtra for a 10-day tour were killed and 16 others injured after a tourist bus veered off the highway and fell into fast-flowing Marsyangdi river in central Nepal on Friday, police said. The incident occurred at Anbookhaireni area in Chitawan district when the bus from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh carrying 43 passengers, including the driver and two helpers, was heading towards Kathmandu from Pokhara. While 16 people died on the spot, 11 succumbed to their injuries while undergoing treatment, Deputy Spokesperson of Armed Police Force (APF) Shailendra Thapa told PTI. Sixteen people who sustained injuries have been airlifted to Kathmandu and admitted at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, he said.

The passengers onboard the bus were part of a group of 104 Indian pilgrims who arrived in Nepal from Maharashtra in three buses two days ago for a 10-day tour of the Himalayan nation, MyRepublica news portal reported. They came from Bhusal village in Jalgaon district. After visiting Pokhara for two days, all three buses left for the capital Kathmandu on Friday morning. Madhav Prasad Paudel, chief of the Armed Police Force (APF), Kurintar, said that most of the passengers travelling in the three buses were families and relatives. A list of names of the 43 passengers who were in the ill-fated bus has been released. An Indian tourist bus travelling from Pokhara to Kathmandu with around 43 Indians fell 150 metres into Marshyandi River today, the Embassy of India said in a post on X.The mission is coordinating with local authorities undertaking relief and rescue.

PM Modi expresses grief at loss of lives in Nepal road accident: PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed grief at the loss of lives, including of at least 27 Indian pilgrims, in a road accident in Nepal. At least 27 Indian pilgrims, all from Maharashtra, who arrived in Nepal for a 10-day tour were killed and 16 others injured after their bus veered off the highway and fell into a fast-flowing river in central Nepal on Friday. Police said the bus from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh carrying 43 passengers, including the driver and two helpers, was heading towards Kathmandu from Pokhara when it met with the accident at Aanboo Khaireni area along the Marsyangdi River in Tanahun district around noon. Modi said on X, Saddened by the loss of lives due to a road mishap in Tanahun district, Nepal. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest. The Indian Embassy is providing all possible assistance to those affected.
Dr Nanasaheb Hon in city tomorrow

DR NANASAHEB Hon, one of the renowned doctors, will be available in the city on August 25. He has developed a new method of pressure point therapy which is very effective on patients suffering form hearing loss. Dr Nanasaheb Hon is available in the city on every fourth Sunday of a month at Star Eye Care, Dhanashree Complex, besides Platina Heart Hospital, adjacent to Hotel Hardeo, says a press release issued here. For further details, interested persons may visit the website - www.drhonnanappt.com or call on mob. 8830874711.
NASA's announcement Saturday that it won't use a troubled Boeing capsule to return two stranded astronauts to Earth is a yet another setback for the struggling company, although the financial damage is likely to be less than the reputational harm.

Once a symbol of American engineering and technological prowess, Boeing has seen its reputation battered since two 737 Max airliners crashed in 2018 and 2019, killing 346 people. The safety of its products came under renewed scrutiny after a panel blew out of a Max during a flight this January.

And now NASA has decided that it is safer to keep the astronauts in space until February rather than risk using the Boeing Starliner capsule that delivered them to the international space station. The capsule has been plagued by problems with its propulsion system.

NASA administrator Bill Nelson said the decision to send the Boeing capsule back to Earth empty "is a result of a commitment to safety. Boeing had insisted Starliner was safe based on recent tests of thrusters both in space and on the ground.

The space capsule program represents a tiny fraction of Boeing's revenue, but carrying astronauts is a high-profile job  like Boeing's work building Air Force One presidential jets.

The whole thing is another black eye for Boeing, aerospace analyst Richard Aboulafia said. Its going to sting a little longer, but nothing they havent dealt with before.

Boeing has lost more than $25 billion since 2018 as its aircraft-manufacturing business cratered after those crashes. For a time, the defense and space side of the company provided a partial cushion, posting strong profits and steady revenue through 2021.

Since 2022, however, Boeing's defense and space division has stumbled too, losing $6 billion  slightly more than the airplane side of the company in the same period.

The results have been dragged down by several fixed-price contracts for NASA and the Pentagon, including a deal to build new Air Force One presidential jets. Boeing has found itself on the hook as costs for those projects have risen far beyond the company's estimates.

The company recorded a $1 billion loss from fixed-price government contracts in the second quarter alone, but the problem is not new.

We have a couple of fixed-price development programs we have to just finish and never do them again, then-CEO David Calhoun said last year. Never do them again.

In 2014, NASA awarded Boeing a $4.2 billion fixed-price contract to build a vehicle to carry astronauts to the International Space Station after the retirement of space shuttles, along with a $2.6 billion contract to SpaceX.

Story continues

Boeing, with more than a century of building airplane and decades as a NASA contractor, was seen as the favorite. But Starliner suffered technical setbacks that caused it to cancel some test launches, fall behind schedule and go over budget. SpaceX won the race to ferry astronauts to the ISS, which it accomplished in 2020.

Boeing was finally ready to carry astronauts this year, and Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams launched aboard Starliner in early June for what was intended to be an 8-day stay in space. But thruster failures and helium leaks led NASA to park the vehicle at the space station while engineers debated how to return them to Earth.

The company said in a regulatory filing that the latest hitch with Starliner caused a $125 million loss through June 30, which pushed cumulative cost overruns on the program to more than $1.5 billion. Risk remains that we may record additional losses in future periods, Boeing said.

Aboulafia said Starliner's impact on Boeing business and finances will be modest  not really a needle-mover. Even the $4.2 billion, multi-year NASA contract is a relatively small chunk of revenue for Boeing, which reported sales of $78 billion last year.

And Aboulafia believes Boeing will enjoy a grace period with customers like the government now that it is under new leadership, reducing the risk it will lose big contracts. NASA administrator Nelson said Saturday he was 100%" confident that the Starliner will fly with a crew again.

Robert Kelly Ortberg replaced Calhoun as CEO this month. Unlike the company's recent chief executives, Ortberg is an outsider who previously led aerospace manufacturer Rockwell Collins, where he developed a reputation for walking among workers on factory floors and building ties to airline and government customers.

They are transitioning from perhaps the worst executive leadership to some of the best, Aboulafia said. Given the regime change underway, I think people are going to give them some slack.

Boeing's defense division has recently won some huge contracts. It is lined up to provide Apache helicopters to foreign governments, sell 50 F-15 fighter jets to Israel as the bulk of a $20 billion deal, and build prototype surveillance planes for the Air Force under a $2.56 billion contract.

Those are some strong tailwinds, but it's going to take a while before they get (Boeing's defense and space business) back to profitability, Aboulafia said.
Good Strategy





EVEN as the Election Commission gears up to hold first-ever legislative election in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) after the abrogation of its Special Status, enough evidence is available to believe that enough care is being taken to ensure that terrorist elements in the Kashmir region are kept at bay -- not just in Kashmir but also elsewhere in the country. The Delhi Police recently busted an Al-Qaeda terror module operating in three States of Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh -- indicating that the Security and Intelligence agencies are actively engaged in search operations all over the country. This care is the need of the moment so as to ensure not just free and fair but also safe elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

What is at stake in Kashmir is not just peaceful conduct of elections but also issue a strong message to terror masterminds across the border that their machinations would not work and Indias democratic system would remain undisturbed. And the only way India has officially adopted to counter terrorism is to beat it at its own game through smart counter-action. The official thought is clear: If an ambush happens, enter a gun-battle and drive it to the elimination of the terrorists -- at any cost (including the lives of Indian brave-hearts). In the parallel, as the security doctrine goes, keep up the vigil internally so that every possible terror module is defeated before it actually becomes operational -- as can be seen from the arrests of 11 persons from the terror module operating in Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. When the Special Status was withdrawn from Kashmir, detractors of the move felt sure that Kashmir would be drowned in terrorism. Nothing of that sort happened, no matter the fact a few terror strikes did take place and the Security Forces did defeat all those -- for whatever cost. There may still take place a few terror strikes in Kashmir, and the Security Forces would counter those successfully. But those few strikes would not establish the detractor claim that terrorism is on the rise in Kashmir. Much to the contrary, there is enough evidence emerging from Kashmir to state that terrorism has been on the wane, thanks to the intervention there (ensuring liquidation of many a terrorist). So strong has the counter been that the terror masterminds appear to have received a clear message that their attempts to destabilise Kashmir during elections would be an impossible proposition.

This message is the signature of the success of Indias current counter-terrorism measures in recent -- post 2019 -- years. Not just the Security Forces but also the overall administrative machinery are the sole owners of Indias great success in counter-terrorism measures. That is the reason why there is not much noise within the country and outside across the border about the tough measures the government has adopted to counter the evil of terrorism. Some terror strikes did take place, all right, but the nation felt secure and unaffected by the propaganda point that some elements in the Opposition often tried to exploit negatively. This overall political silence -- inside and outside the country -- is the good sign of Indias successful counter-terrorism strategy. In the past five years since the abrogation of Special Status in Kashmir, the Government has acted tough on terror, and has given the administration a free hand empowering its various arms. The result is obvious -- terrorism has lost its thunder as far as Kashmir is concerned. In fact, this was possibly the only outcome the Government worked for for all these times. Without fuss, it acted smartly against terror, and won -- a situation that Kashmir witnessed only rarely.
High Court denies suspension of sentence for ex-BrahMos Aerospace engineer Agrawal





Staff Reporter :

The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court on Friday rejected the application of former BrahMos Aerospace engineer Nishant Agrawal for suspension of his sentence and potential bail. The Division Bench, comprising Justice Vinay Joshi and Justice Vrushali Joshi, turned down the application two days after closing the case for final arguments, said Assistant Government Pleader Anup Badar, who represented the State in the case. According to AGP Badar, the court observed that prima facie, there was no substance in the appeal.

The court also focused on the undertaking Agrawal had given upon joining BrahMos Aerospace, wherein he committed not to share or access sensitive data. However, Agrawal not only accessed the data but also shared it with enemy countries, AGP Badar said. According to the prosecution, Agrawal had copied 19 confidential files from the BrahMos facility, with file number 11 being classified as top secret and related to the seeker component of the missiles. Knowing about the seeker component would enable an enemy country to develop related components and defend against missile attacks. Agrawal was sentenced to life imprisonment by Additional Sessions Judge-1 M V Deshpande for espionage on behalf of Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) on June 3 this year. He was arrested in 2018 in Nagpur on charges of leaking information about the BrahMos missile to the ISI. At the time, he was a senior systems engineer at BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between DRDO and Russias Military Industrial Consortium (NPO Mashinostroyenia), which focuses on Indias supersonic cruise missile capable of being launched from land, air, sea, and underwater platforms. After copying the files from the computers, Agrawal stored them on a laptop, which was later seized from his residence. Adv Badar informed the court that during searches, the police had seized a laptop, a pendrive, a Nokia phone, and hard disks. The prosecution has also recorded statements from senior officials, including the Chief General Manager of HR (Retd) and the former Director of BrahMos, Hyderabad. Agrawal was in contact with a Facebook account under the name Shejal Kapoor. The police have obtained the IP address of this account and phone numbers associated with it. The account was created in Pakistan and operated by an ISI spy. Senior Adv Siddhartha Dave represented Agrawal.

No denial from Agrawal on access to restricted files AGP Badar claimed that Agrawals counsel had not denied that Agrawal accessed the restricted files from the BrahMos facility. As a result, Agrawals guilt was established. The Cyber Forensic Lab report also indicated the possibility of sensitive information being shared by Agrawal with enemies through social networking sites, claimed AGP Badar.
India, US sign two key defence deals





WASHINGTON :

INDIA and the US have signed two key agreements as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh began his official visit to Washington to further boost the comprehensive global strategic partnership between the two countries. The agreements signed on Thursday pertain to the Security of Supplies Arrangement (SOSA) and a Memorandum of Agreement regarding the Assignment of Liaison Officers. Two important documents have been signed in Washington DC as Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsinghs visit to the United States begins. Senior defence officials from both sides concluded the Security of Supplies Arrangement (SOSA), and Memorandum of Agreement regarding the Assignment of Liaison Officers, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) shared in a post on X on Friday, along with some photographs of the event. Singh arrived here on Thursday on a four-day visit to the US.

The US and India entered into a bilateral, non-binding Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA), the US Department of Defence (DoD) said in a press release on Thursday. Through this SOSA, the US and India agree to provide reciprocal priority support for goods and services that promote national defence. The Arrangement will enable both countries to acquire the industrial resources they need from one another to resolve unanticipated supply chain disruptions to meet national security needs, it said. The SOSA was signed by Dr Vic Ramdass, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Industrial Base Policy, on behalf of the US, and Samir Kumar Sinha, Additional Secretary and Director General (Acquisitions), on behalf of the Ministry of Defence (MoD). This Security of Supply Arrangement represents a pivotal moment in the US-India Major Defence Partner relationship and will be a key factor in strengthening the US-India Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI), said Ramdass. I look forward to OUSD(A&S) hosting the next DTTI meeting this fall to deepen cooperation between our respective defence industrial bases and pursue bilateral co-development, co-production, and co-sustainment initiatives, he said.

In the Arrangement, the US and India commit to support one anothers priority delivery requests for procurement of critical national defence resources. The US will provide India assurances under the US Defence Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS), with programme determinations by DoD and rating authorisation by the Department of Commerce (DOC). India will in turn establish a government-industry Code of Conduct with its industrial base, where Indian firms will voluntarily agree to make every reasonable effort to provide the US priority support, the release said. With an expanding global supply chain for DOD, SOSAs are an important mechanism for DoD to strengthen interoperability with US defence trade partners. The Arrangements institute working groups, establish communication mechanisms, streamline DoD processes, and proactively act to allay anticipated supply chain issues in peacetime, emergency, and armed conflict. They are also a useful tool in developing investment strategies to ensure redundancy and security, it said. India is the 18th SOSA partner of the US. Other SOSA partners include Australia, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, and the UK.
RG Kar financial irregularities HC transfers probe to CBI





KOLKATA :

THE Calcutta High Court on Friday ordered the transfer of the probe into the alleged financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital from a State-constituted Special Investigation Team (SIT) to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The decision came in response to a petition by former Deputy Superintendent of the facility, Akhtar Ali, who requested a probe by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into alleged financial misconduct at the State-run institute during the tenure of its former principal, Sandip Ghosh. Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj directed the CBI to submit a progress report on the investigation within three weeks.
School bus driver held for raping Class 12 girl in Punjabs Zirakpur





CHANDIGARH :

A SCHOOL bus driver has been arrested for allegedly raping a Class 12 girl after blackmailing her with her morphed photographs in Punjabs Zirakpur, police said on Friday. According to the police, the accused, Mohd Razaq (26), stalked the minor girl for sometime and then approached her for friendship, which the victim refused. Later, he morphed her photographs and started blackmailing her, threatening to post those pictures on social media if she did not comply with his demands, the police said. The accused raped the girl, who is a student at a school here, on three instances between May and July at her home while her parents were away, they said.

The police said that the crime came to light when the girl eventually confided in her parents after they noticed she was distressed. A police complaint was subsequently lodged and the accused was arrested on Wednesday, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Zirakpur Jaspinder Singh said. Razaq has been charged with rape, criminal intimidation and other charges under relevant provisions of the Law, including the POCSO Act, Singh said.
Shame On Falsehood



By Vijay phanshikar :



Politics at the cost of morality needs to be defeated, all right. Yet, one does not know when that golden moment would arrive in Indian politics when falsehood by anybody has a terrible discount to suffer from.





l Srinagar, August 22 (PTI): An alliance with the Congress party is final on all 90 seats in Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference President Dr. Farooq Abdullah said on Thursday. The announcement came after Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge called on the NC leadership at Abdullahs residence. l New Delhi, August 22 (ANI): Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar claimed on Thursday that some forces were attempting to disrupt the upcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, but the Election Commission was fully prepared to conduct free and fair polls there. THESE two related instances also relate to a cantankerous debate in recent domestic politics -- woven around the Opposition allegation that the Government headed by Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi was hell bent upon destroying the Constitution of India by severely altering its form and content. The decision of the Government to hold legislative elections in Jammu and Kashmir was taken as per the provisions of the Constitution, and not outside its ambit.

Even as the Centre abrogated the Special Status of Jammu and Kashmir five years ago, it made a promise to the country that it would certainly hold elections at appropriate time. Following the directive of the honourable Supreme Court, legislative elections are to be held in Kashmir. The pre-poll alliance between Congress and National Conference is part of the impending electoral battle. This is happening as per the provisions of the Constitution beyond any doubt. The Lok Sabha elections in which the Bharatiya Janata Party could not secure a majority on its own, and Congress party jumped from 54 to 99 seats, also were held in accordance with the Constitution. And the appointment of Mr. Rahul Gandhi as Leader of Opposition (LoP) was also done as per the provisions of the Constitution and in complete accordance with parliamentary rules and regulations -- and is being treated with full respect as per the norms and conventions. Of course, Mr. Rahul Gandhis own conduct on the floor of the House is not all the time in tune with the dignity and decorum of Parliament and the Chair has had to issue words of caution and even warnings to him for small and big violations. Yet, all those words of caution and warning are being issued very much as per the Constitution and its nuanced application on the ground.

Yet, the Oppositions stupid cribbing about the Constitution being defiled and denigrated does not end. It continues to talk utter nonsense every now and then about the Centre under Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi is toying with the Constitution -- even as its leaders take every possible advantage (and disadvantage) of the Constitution and its provisions even to corner the Government even without any normative sanction to that effect. In fact, many of the utterances of the Opposition leaders are good enough to attract legal action for gross violations of the norm. But all those violators defend themselves saying that they had freedom of expression and could say anything they pleased -- whether pertaining to truth or not, whether making any actual sense or not ... !

All along, the Modi Government never talked of altering the Constitution -- no matter some brazen statements by some of the leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. No leader of the Government or the ruling party ever suggested any alteration in any constitutional provision. Yet, the Opposition kept heaping craps of lies on the people and alleged that the Constitution was under threat. Most unfortunately, such falsehood does not seem to have a legal counter in the current Indian system -- or that is what are common people made to suspect as well as believe. During the stretched out Lok Sabha election campaign, the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) did offer a counter to the Opposition narrative about the Constitution being under threat. However, that was rather a weak counter-narrative that gave certain benefit to the Opposition and not to the ruling alliance. The point to be made here is about the brazen falsehood the Opposition has tried to slap on the peoples faces. Even though it knew that all its propaganda was based on utter falsehood, the Opposition leaders were never bothered by qualms of conscience or issues of morality. This politics at the cost of morality needs to be defeated, all right. Yet, one does not know when that golden moment would arrive in Indian politics when falsehood by anybody has a terrible discount to suffer from. But even if greater numbers of people become aware of the falsehood of the Opposition narrative, at least a semblance of sense would prevail in the countrys political discourse. This is the only hope to be expressed by politically disinterested citizens.
Under the Brilliant Baton

Dr. Charlene Archibeque (Center) with the Assyrian All Women Choir. ( Roshel Aghassi) For many years the hills were alive with the sounds of music, mostly coming through Charlene's Santorini Mediterranean-style villa's windows in Los Altos Hills... But recently she moved with her baby grand to a beautiful condo in Menlo Park, with large panoramic windows as the sounds of her playing the piano continue to please her new neighbors. Although she does not hear their applause, she knows they love it, since they tell her every time they meet her by the condo's swimming pool. How can you not enjoy the sounds of Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin and Bach played by the famous pianist Charlene Archibeque, their neighbor, in the comfort of their home while lounging in their silky robes... Lucky neighbors.

But so am I as I often hear the phone ringing with Charlene's velvety voice asking me to come for dinner. "I just picked up a few fab salmon steaks and gorgeous asparagus at Draeger's and would like your company to enjoy it with me." Of course I had to change from my gray sweats to a presentable dress to match Charlene's flowy silky outfits as she is a well known fashionista who never leaves her bedroom till she is totally coiffured, made-up and wearing stunning jewelry she collected while traveling around the globe. With a bottle of my favorite Pierre Jouet Champagne, I am zooming in my red convertible BMW to Menlo Park. I'll do anything to join my friend and not let the perfectly prepared salmon steaks go to waste. Charlene puts my culinary talents to shame (Eat your heart out Martha Stewart and Snoop Dog Duo! Charlene does it better!)

But who is this amazing woman -- Dr. Cherlene Archibeque?

Considered one of the most influential American choral directors and teachers during the 2nd half of the 20th century, Charlene Archibeque was the first woman to receive the Doctorate of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting. Dr. Archibeque prepared hundreds of young choral directors and mentored over 80 Masters students in choral conducting during her 35 year tenure at San Jose State University.

"Dr. Charlene Archibeque's 35-year tenure at San Jose State University was marked by her transformative leadership and unwavering dedication to choral excellence. Her innovative teaching methods and passion for music not only elevated the SJSU Choral Program to international acclaim but also inspired countless students and colleagues to pursue their own musical journeys with the same fervor and commitment. Her lasting legacy at SJSU ensures that SJSU remains a beacon of choral artistry and education." Dr. Fred Cohen

Director, SJSU School of Music

Music Director & Conductor of

SJSU Symphony Orchestra

Both the SJSU Concert Choir and the world-renowned Choraliers performed for over twenty five professional conferences including three National Conferences of the American Choral Directors Association. Sixteen international tours with the SJSU Choraliers and four national high school honor choir tours to Europe honed both her conducting and performance skills. She has conducted festival choirs, honor choirs and All-State choirs in 45 states and six provinces of Canada. Her service to the choral profession is legendary; she has served as Headliner for State, Divisional and National ACDA, MENC, and BCMEA conventions; presented lectures, reading sessions, and clinics at festivals, colleges, and universities in the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia.

Dr. Archibeque has prepared and conducted over 160 major works and she continues to guest conduct combined choral/orchestral concerts including 2 Early Music Concerts and a centenary Benjamin Britten concert in St. Louis in the spring of 2013. Her biography appears in the book "Wisdom, Wit, and WIll" -- Women Choral Conductors on their Art. Her DVD "How to Make a Good Choir Sound Great" is published by GIA and the early DVD "Daily Warm-Ups for Beautiful Voices" is still available from SBMP

"Besides her contribution of a deep knowledge of all kinds of music, Charlene Archibeque supercharges the fundraising of the Beethoven Society as a board member with her connections to SF Bay area music lovers who also believe that great music deserves our support. In the best sense of the phrase, she is a true force of nature whom we all love." Will Meredith, Ph.D., historical musicology

Corresponding board member, The American Beethoven Society

The American Beethoven Society Emeritus professor (1985-2016), SJSU

Emeritus founding director (1985-2016), The Ira F. Brilliant Center for

Beethoven Studies

"Charlen's talents are beyond comparison. We have the San Francisco Symphony to thank for our introduction. As a result we established a warm, wonderful and family-like friendship. I thought I knew about all the instruments that she played, but there was always a new one to add to the list. Drums? Really? She continuously shares her extensive knowledge of music especially after traveling with her home from Davies Symphony Hall. It can be compared to having a private tutor extraordinaire. Charlene is always unique and full of surprises and I am sure there are more in the offing... She is definitely one of a kind!"

Paula Blank, Arts Patron

Well, I hear my phone ringing... I bet it is Charlene inviting me for dinner! Hmmm... I wonder what special food she bought this time? Hope it's a steak as I have a fab bottle of Chateauneuf-du-Pape in memory of the Paris Olympics!

No new dress for me this time.... But I know Charlene will have one... in fall colors... After all, she is a fashion trend setter...
Chipmaker Could Give Another Drop the Mic Performance, Wedbush Analysts Say

Sam Yeh / AFP / Getty Images Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang delivers his keystone speech ahead of Computex 2024 in Taipei on June 2, 2024.





Key Takeaways

Expectations for Nvidias earnings release Wednesday are on the rise, in what could make it harder for the AI chipmaker to impress investors.

Consensus estimates for Nvidias second-quarter revenue and earnings climbed by hundreds of millions of dollars within the last 48 hours alone.

Nvidia shares gained more than 4% Friday and have risen about 160% since the start of the year.







Expectations for Nvidias (NVDA) earnings release Wednesday are on the rise, in what could make it harder for the artificial intelligence (AI) darling to impress investors.

Consensus estimates for Nvidias second-quarter revenue rose by $170 million to $28.84 billion in the last 48 hours alone, according to estimates compiled by Visible Alpha, while net income projections rose $120 million to $14.95 billion.

Whisper numbers could be even higher, with some analysts having long voiced concerns about investors expectations exceeding Wall Street projections.

Expecting Another Drop the Mic Performance

Wedbush analysts said Thursday they expect another drop the mic performance from Nvidia, citing signs of "massive enterprise AI demand" and spending by cloud giants such as Amazon (AMZN) and Alphabet's Google (GOOGL), all trends that would benefit the chipmaker.

Theyre not alone, as analysts from Raymond James, KeyBanc, and elsewhere recently said they expect a strong quarter from the chipmaker as well, despite concerns about a reported delay in Nvidia's Blackwell AI chip.

Over 95% of analysts tracked by Visible Alpha have a buy rating for the stock, with a consensus price target of $144.83, 12% above Fridays closing price.

TradingView

Nvidia shares gained 4.6% Friday to close at $129.37. The stock has gained about 160% since beginning of the year.

Read the original article on Investopedia.
In the heart of African wisdom lies a saying: "Only God knows the man who shares meat to others with his teeth." This proverb, rich in its imagery, speaks volumes about the lack of transparency and accountability in the distribution of resources; a situation that resonates deeply with the current state of palliative and cash transfer distribution in Nigeria.

The saying, in its interpretative essence, paints a picture of a man using his teeth to divide meat among others, a method that is neither open nor fair. Those receiving the meat can never be sure if they are getting their fair share or if the distributor is keeping the best portions for himself. This image mirrors the troubling reality faced by millions of Nigerians today, where palliatives meant to ease the hunger and suffering of the masses are often distributed with a lack of fairness, transparency, and accountability.

Since the onset of economic hardship exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and further worsened by the current economic challenges, the Nigerian government has rolled out various palliative measures. These include food distribution, cash transfers, and other forms of relief aimed at cushioning the impact of poverty and hunger. However, reports and eyewitness accounts suggest that these efforts are riddled with corruption, favoritism, and inefficiency.

In many communities, the distribution process is shrouded in secrecy, with little to no oversight to ensure that the aid reaches those who need it most. Local officials and those in charge of distribution often divert the palliatives, sharing them among their friends, family, and political allies, leaving the most vulnerable with little or nothing. In some cases, beneficiaries are asked to pay bribes or show loyalty to certain political figures before receiving what is rightfully theirs. This has led to widespread disillusionment and anger among ordinary Nigerians who feel betrayed by those entrusted with their welfare.

The proverb "Only God knows the man who shares meat to others with his teeth" encapsulates the frustration of apopulace that can see the meat, can smell it even, but has no way of knowing if they will ever get a taste. It speaks to the opaque and biased nature of palliative distribution in Nigeria, where the true beneficiaries often remain hidden, while the masses are left to wonder what became of the promises made to them.

This situation calls for urgent reform. There needs to be a transparent, accountable, and equitable system for the distribution of palliatives and cash transfers. Independent monitoring bodies should be established to oversee the process, ensuring that aid reaches those who need it most, without favoritism or corruption. Furthermore, the government must engage with community leaders and civil society organizations to create a distribution framework that is both inclusive and fair.

In fact, the wisdom of our African ancestors holds a mirror to the present, reminding us that only when we share openly, with integrity and accountability, can we ensure that everyone gets their fair share. The Nigerian government and those in positions of power must heed this wisdom if they are to truly alleviate the suffering of the people and restore trust in the system. For in the end, it is not just about sharing the meat, but about doing so in a way that is just, transparent, and equitable for all.

The reason for expressing this view in this context cannot be farfetched as Nigerias palliatives have become a lifeline that rarely reaches those in need.

In recent years, Nigeria has faced a series of economic challenges that have plunged millions into poverty and hunger. The government's response has been the distribution of palliatives, aimed at providing relief to the most vulnerable. However, despite the noble intentions behind these initiatives, the reality on the ground tells a different story: the palliatives are not reaching the people they are meant for.

The distribution of palliatives, whether in the form of food, cash transfers, or other forms of aid, is supposed to provide a safety net for those hardest hit by economic hardships. Unfortunately, the execution of these programs has been marred by inefficiency, corruption, and a lack of transparency, leaving many Nigerians disillusioned and struggling to survive.

In many communities across Nigeria, reports have emerged of palliatives being diverted by those entrusted with their distribution. Local government officials, politicians, and even community leaders have been accused of hoarding or siphoning off these resources for personal gain. In some cases, palliatives are distributed based on political loyalty or connections, rather than genuine need. This has resulted in a situation where those who are most vulnerable; widows, the elderly, the unemployed, and the poor, are often left empty-handed.

Take, for instance, the COVID-19 palliative distribution during the lockdown. The government announced that food items and cash transfers would be given to households to ease the economic burden of the pandemic. However, many Nigerians complained that they never received any assistance, while others reported receiving only a fraction of what was promised. The situation was so dire that, in some states, warehouses storing undistributed palliatives were discovered by desperate citizens, leading to mass looting.

The lack of a transparent and accountable system for palliative distribution has only exacerbated the problem. Without proper oversight, it is nearly impossible to track where the aid is going and whether it is reaching the intended recipients. This has led to widespread frustration among the public, who feel abandoned by a system that is supposed to protect them.

Moreover, the government's approach to identifying beneficiaries has been flawed. Often, the criteria for selecting recipients are unclear, and the process lacks inclusivity. In many cases, those living in remote or rural areas are completely overlooked, while urban dwellers with better access to information and resources are more likely to benefit. This has widened the gap between the rich and the poor, further entrenching inequality in the country.

The issue of palliatives not reaching the intended beneficiaries is not just a matter of inefficiency; it is a matter of justice. When resources meant for the poor are diverted or mismanaged, it deepens the suffering of those who are already struggling to make ends meet. It erodes public trust in the government and its institutions, creating a sense of hopelessness and despair among the populace.

To address this issue, there must be a comprehensive overhaul of the palliative distribution system in Nigeria. This includes establishing independent monitoring bodies to oversee the process and ensure that aid reaches those who truly need it. The government should also adopt technology-driven solutions, such as digital platforms for cash transfers and food distribution, to reduce the risk of corruption and improve transparency.

Community involvement is also crucial. Local leaders, civil society organizations, and non-governmental organizations should be actively engaged in the distribution process to ensure that it is fair, inclusive, and effective. By working together, these stakeholders can help create a system that is accountable to the people and responsive to their needs.

In conclusion, the failure of palliatives to reach those who need them most is a glaring indictment of Nigeria's social safety net. The government must take immediate and decisive action to rectify this situation, or risk further alienating the very people it is supposed to serve. In a country where millions are struggling to survive, palliatives should not be a privilege but a right, a lifeline that is accessible to all who need it.
'This Path Leads To Bread Lines & Ugly Shoes,' Says Elon Musk About Kamala Harris' Price Controls And Potential Tax Policies

In a recent Twitter exchange, Elon Musk stirred up the conversation by commenting on Kamala Harriss proposed economic policies, specifically targeting her ideas around price controls and new taxes. Responding to a tweet that supposedly outlined Harriss proposed policies, including a 28% corporate tax, a 44.6% capital gains tax, and a 25% tax on unrealized gains, Musk quipped, This path leads to bread lines & ugly shoes.

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This path leads to bread lines & ugly shoes https://t.co/fFZGVjWfWJ  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 20, 2024

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VP Harris has been clear about her goals to reduce income inequality and hold big corporations accountable. Her plan includes greatly raising taxes on the richest Americans and the largest companies. She said, Look, I know most businesses are creating jobs, contributing to our economy and playing by the rules. But some are not, and that's just not right. And we need to take action when that's the case.

She also pointed out that many big food companies are seeing their highest profits in two decades. While many grocery chains pass along these savings, others still don't.

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People who support Harriss plan say that regular Americans need these changes as the gap between the rich and everyone else widens. They believe that by making the wealthiest Americans and big corporations pay more taxes, the government can fund important services, lower the national debt, and help middle- and lower-income families.

So, what exactly is Musk reacting to? For example, she supports increasing the corporate tax rate to 28%. This is a step up from the current 21% rate set during the Trump administration. The goal is to ensure that big corporations contribute more to the federal budget.

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She also backs a proposal to tax capital gains  profits from investments  at 44.6% for those earning over $1 million annually  a significant increase that would make the U.S. capital gains tax one of the highest in the world.

Lastly, Harris supports a 25% tax on unrealized gains. This means that even if someone hasnt sold an investment, they could still be taxed on the increase in its value. This policy mainly targets the ultrawealthy, particularly those with over $100 million in assets.

Price controls, where the government sets limits on how much companies can charge for products and services, have historically resulted in shortages and lower-quality goods and services. Opponents dont have to point further than Cuba, Venezuela, North Korea, or the Soviet Union, where similar policies led to empty store shelves, long lines for bread, and ugly shoes, like Musk said.

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This article 'This Path Leads To Bread Lines & Ugly Shoes,' Says Elon Musk About Kamala Harris' Price Controls And Potential Tax Policies originally appeared on Benzinga.com

 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
A lower court in Kolkata on Friday remanded Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer and the sole arrested accused in the rape and murder of a woman junior doctor at R G Kar Medical College & Hospital to 14 days judicial custody.

In a crucial development, a special court on Friday allowed the CBI to conduct a polygraph test on Sanjay Roy, the main accused.

The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrates (ACJM) court in Sealdah had on Thursday approved the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) plea to conduct the lie detector test on the controversial former principal of R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, Sandip Ghosh, and five others in connection with the case.

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Sanjay Roy was presented at the court of the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) at Sealdah in central Kolkata on Friday afternoon under tight security cover, as protesters had already assembled within the court premises raising slogans demanding capital punishment for the accused.

Instead of the regular courtroom, the hearing was conducted in the chamber of the ACJM, where no one was allowed to enter.

A huge police contingent, under the command of an officer in the rank of deputy commissioner of police, was there outside the room to ensure blanket security.

Of the seven persons on whom the lie-detector test will be conducted, one is a close associate of Roy, a civic volunteer, while the remaining four are post-graduate medical students of R G Kar, who were on duty at the hospital on the intervening night of 8-9 August.

Roy was initially arrested by the cops of the Special Investigation Team of Kolkata Police, however, later the city police had to hand him over to the CBI, as a Division Bench of Calcutta High Court directed the central agency to take charge of the investigation from the city police.

Sources said Roys lie detector test became crucial since there have been a lot of inconsistencies in the statements made by him during his interrogation by the CBI.
As the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) barred Anil Ambani and 24 other entities from the capital markets for five years, the forensic audit of Reliance Home Finance Ltd found the company still had loans worth Rs 8,884.5 crore to Potentially Indirectly Linked Entities outstanding at the time of review.

The audit found various lapses in the companys lending practices. Some of them included anomalies in the loan approval processes and the reclassification of loans to related parties as non-related parties just before the disbursal. Auditors also found that the repayment patterns of borrower entities indicated certain trends, like circular transactions and the evergreening of loans in a number of transactions.

The markets regulator barred Anil Ambani and 24 other entities from the capital markets for the diversion of funds from Reliance Home Finance Ltd. RHFL was barred for six months only.

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The SEBI took into account two reports by PWC  the statutory auditor of RHFL  and by Grant Thornton, the forensic auditor appointed by Bank of Baroda, which was the lead bank of the consortium of lenders of the company.

RHFL disbursed loans to Potentially Indirectly Linked Entities between April 1, 2016, and June 30, 2019, according to two reports released by Grant Thorton, the forensic auditor the Bank of Baroda appointed. The reports were dated January 2, 2020 and May 6, 2020.

The first report revealed that the company disbursed general-purpose corporate loans worth Rs 14,577.7 crore to numerous entities over the review period. Of this, Rs 12,487.6 crore was disbursed to 47 PILEs.

Furthermore, it discovered instances in which Reliance Power Ltd and Reliance Infrastructure Ltd had previously listed eight borrower entities as related parties. However, they reclassified these entities as non-related parties just before the disbursal of such loans. To these reclassified entities, a total loan amount of Rs 1,323.4 crore was disbursed.

The first report also noted 15 instances of potential evergreening of loans worth Rs 785.8 crore and three instances of potential circular transactions worth Rs 412.9 crore.

The second report related to fund tracing activity indicated that Rs 12,573.1 crore was disbursed under 150 loan cases, falling under the category of PILEs during the review period. Of these, 100 loan cases amounting to Rs 8,884.5 crore were still open, or, in other words, such loan cases were still outstanding in the books.

A scrutiny of such 100 open loan cases indicated that some amount of funds advanced by RHFL have returned back to RHFL through circular transactions and also substantial amounts of such loans have been used by the borrowing entities for repayment of existing loans availed by them earlier from RHFL, which means such huge amounts of loans have been used by the borrowing entities for ever-greening of earlier loans, the report said.

PwC said it was compelled to withdraw from the audit engagement in compliance with the code of ethics. It highlighted that the amount disbursed by RHFL under general-purpose working capital loans had increased exponentially from around Rs 900 crore as of March 31, 2018, to around Rs 7,900 crore as of March 31, 2019.

Like Grant Thorton, PwC also found that in some cases, the loan sanction dates were found to be on the same date as the date of application for a loan, or even before the dates of applications made by these borrowers.

RHFL denied giving loans to group companies in a letter on May 9, 2019.
Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar on Saturday wrote to the Lieutenant Governor and urged him to visit the Kasturba Gandhi Hospital as they claimed that the hospital is in pathetic condition.

In the letter to the LG, Praveen Shankar Kapoor, Delhi BJP Media Head, stated details about a power outage at the hospital on August 22, this had to last 1 pm to 4 pm but got extended until 7.45 pm. It resulted in the failure of ICU services, leading to the death of a child on a ventilator.

Additionally, three deliveries were conducted by candlelight due to malfunctioning backup systems, stated the letter.

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Earlier on Saturday, a delegation of Delhi BJP leaders, led by Pradesh and Yogita Singh, visited Kasturba Gandhi Hospital to inspect the building and medical infrastructure of the hospital following the reports of the death of a child on ventilator and maternity deliveries taking place in mobile torch light as the hospital faced a major power cut of nine hours three days ago.

During the visit, the delegation inspected the hospital and listened to the problems faced by patients, and the medical staff and noted several infrastructure issues at the hospital.

The same was communicated to the Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva stating that the building was in a poor state, the lifts are not operating in the maternity department, no maintenance of sanitation and hygiene and the collection of rainwater in the basement of the hospital, said Kapoor.

Furthermore, the saffron party has attributed the deteriorating condition of the hospital to the Delhi governments denial of funds for proper maintenance. The party has further requested an inquiry into the childs death and a review of the hospitals infrastructure.
The rollout of the ambitious Namo Drone Didi Scheme was launched in the national capital under the direct supervision of Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena.

The initiative, a part of the visionary mission of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims at empowering rural women across the country with drone technology. Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) and individuals are to be trained under this scheme before being given a prone pilot license.

They will also be provided with drones, which could be used and rented out by them for various activities.

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The LG has been emphasising that the scheme is one of the best means of women empowerment through employment generation.

The exercises started with drone demonstration events in Singhola village in the North District on Friday and Badu Sarai village in the South-West District on Saturday. A designated organization (NGO) is carrying out these demonstration exercises, which are going to be conducted in villages of all Districts in Delhi, the LG office said.

At these events, women volunteers assembled for demonstrations and the same will be followed by training of identified individuals, who upon completion of training will be provided with a drone pilot license. About 200 such licenses will be given to women in various districts in the capital, it said.

The cost involved in the training of each drone didi will be about Rs 25,000 per person and the expenditure for the same would be met through CSR funding, the LG has ensured.

The events at Singhola and Badu Sarai witnessed an enthusiastic turnout of rural women and villagers attending the same. The women expressed their excitement and interest in pursuing drone pilot certification courses, with aspirations to become drone entrepreneurs, the LG office said.

This initiative marks a pivotal step in integrating advanced technology with rural development, potentially transforming the lives of these women by opening up new avenues for employment and entrepreneurship in the agricultural sector, it said.

Once trained, these drone didis with pilot licence certificates will find ample employment/entrepreneurship opportunities by way of drone surveys, event shoots, photography, video recordings, etc, apart from agricultural activities like seeding and pesticide/ fertiliser sprinkling, etc.

The demonstration underscores the governments commitment to skill development and technological empowerment in rural areas, aligning with broader national objectives to foster innovation and self-reliance, it added.
Actor-politician Kangana Ranaut is gearing up for the release of her film Emergency. Ranaut has directed, bankrolled, and headlined the upcoming film. Emergency is scheduled to release on September 6. Recently, the actress revealed that there has been a conspiracy brewing against her in the film industry. She remarked that this took a toll on the making of her upcoming film.

In a conversation with Times of India, the actress revealed that several cinematographers, casting directors, and actors refused to work with her. Ranaut alleged that several stakeholders of the film industry had called actors beforehand and advised them against collaborating with her. Believing it to be a conspiracy, she stated, Several casting directors and DOPs refused to work with me. Actors were receiving calls to not work with me. There was a lot of conspiracy against me.

Kangana Ranaut then called herself fortunate enough that despite all the obstacles, she got to collaborate with actors like Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Satish Kaushik, and Mahima Choudhary. The actor-director hailed it as the best feeling in the world when people agree to work with you in adverse circumstances. She further emphasised that her Emergency cast didnt just agree to work with her but also treated Ranaut with immense respect and love.

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View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kangana Ranaut (@kanganaranaut)

During the trailer launch, she talked about the challenges she faced while making Emergency and the conspiracy. During her address, the actress said, I have faced many obstacles while making this film. Every film faces a lot of obstacles and then they find many angels who support you through those obstacles. I want to say a special thanks to my cast.

Ranaut further added that it is common knowledge that Bollywood has boycotted her. Admiring her cast, she said, Its not easy to stand with me, its not easy to be part of my film, and its definitely not easy to praise me. But, they (Emergency cast) have done all of it.

Also Read: Kangana Ranauts Emergency: SAD and SGPC demand ban for negative Sikh portrayal

At the same event, the Queen actress was asked if she considered herself to be a one-woman army and if she resonated with Salman Khans claims of being misunderstood. To this, Ranaut stated that she prefers to focus on her fans and the positive feedback she receives. She further iterated that she is more interested in the love and support she receives. Shw would rather not focus on the criticism of those who want her out of Bollywood.

In related news, Emergency has been receiving a lot of backlash following its trailer release. The film portrays the Sikh Community in a negative light, allegedly. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has called for a ban on its release. Moreover, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders have also voiced similar sentiments.
Brian Niccol, the CEO of Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG), leaving to take the same position at Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) created waves in the market, with Starbucks stock soaring and Chipotle stock sinking. The immediate reaction was understandable. Starbucks had been in a rut and in need of a jolt, and Niccol had a very successful run at Chipotle.

However, now that the dust has settled, I predict Chipotle's stock will outperform Starbucks' over the next five years in the restaurant space. Let's look at why I believe this will be the case.

Starbucks' problems won't be solved overnight

Niccol will have two big problems to try to solve when he takes over at Starbucks: Lagging U.S. sales and a weak Chinese market.

The former problem stems from a few issues. The first is that customers seem to have begun pushing back against the high prices for Starbucks' drinks. At the same time, they have become frustrated with long wait times, which has been caused in part by a lack of staffing.

Prior to Niccol's arrival, Starbucks has tried to lower wait times through technology and other streamlining efforts, although in doing so it has lost some of the human touch of the Starbucks experience. While the obvious answer might be to add more baristas to its understaffed stores, that will come with added costs.

However, China is a bigger issue for the company. The country is expected to be its biggest expansion growth driver, but its existing stores have struggled due to fierce competition and a lackluster Chinese consumer. Luckin Coffee surpassed Starbucks as the largest coffee shop in China last year, while a number of newer coffee shops, such as Cotti Coffee, have also sprung up. The competition has also greatly been undercutting Starbucks in price.

Niccol doesn't have much experience dealing with the Chinese market. He could spin the Chinese business off, as Yum! Brands did with Yum China, but that is more pushing the issue aside rather than fixing it.

Image source: Getty Images.

Chipotle has better pricing power and expansion opportunities

One of the big differences between Chipotle and Starbucks lately is that Chipotle customers appear to see much more value in its offering and are much more willing to take price increases in stride. This can be seen in the two companies' same-store sales.

In its second quarter, Chipotle saw an 11.1% increase in same-store sales. Its prices were 3.3% higher compared to a year ago, but its traffic nonetheless increased by 8.7%. For those doing the math, mix, which is the change in different items ordered, was down about 1%.

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Chipotle pretty consistently takes between a 2% to 3% price increase each year. However, it has made some larger menu price hikes coming out of COVID-19, as well as recently in California due to new minimum wage laws. Nonetheless, the company has continued to see strong traffic at its restaurant locations, despite the menu price increases.

Starbucks, on the other hand, has seen its U.S. comparable-store sales struggle recently as customers have pushed back on high prices. For its fiscal Q3, U.S. same-store sales declined by 2%, with traffic down 6%. It was similar the quarter before, with U.S. same-store sales down 3% with a 7% decline of traffic. For many people, Starbucks is a small luxury, and they are indulging less due to the increased cost.

Chipotle also has many more expansion opportunities in front of it compared to Starbucks. The coffee chain already has nearly 39,500 global locations, including over 18,000 in North America. It's pretty saturated in the U.S., while it has been mainly looking toward a difficult Chinese market for new store growth.

In comparison, Chipotle only had just over 3,500 store locations. It plans to open between 285 to 315 new restaurants this year, so it is still seeing nice, high single-digit new location growth each year. The company has also just barely scratched the surface when it comes to international market opportunities. Overall, it just has a much longer runway for new store opening growth compared to the bigger Starbucks.

Valuations

From a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) perspective, Starbucks is the cheaper stock. However, Chipotle has been growing its earnings at a much faster clip this year, and the expansion opportunities in front of it are much larger.

CMG PE Ratio (Forward 1y) Chart

While I think both stocks can be winners over the next five years, my bet is on the company with the better expansion and same-store sales growth opportunities. Right now, that is clearly Chipotle, and losing its CEO to Starbucks does not change that.

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Ujjwal Raman Singh is credited with ending the 40- year-long political drought of the Congress in the Allahabad Lok Sabha seat in the Lok Sabha polls held this year. The prestigious seat was last represented by the Congress in 1984 when Bollywood veteran Amitabh Bachchan won it.

Former prime ministers Lal Bahadur Shastri and V P Singh had also represented the constituency. A law graduate and an alumni of St. Stephens College, Delhi, Ujjwal (51) joined the Congress before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls after leaving the Akhilesh Yadavled Samajwadi Party. Manoj Bhadra of The Statesman talked to the twotime MLA and former minister in the Mulayam Singh Yadav cabinet on his win from the Allahabad seat and the rising popularity of the Akhilesh Yadav-Rahul Gandhi pair. Excerpts

Q. After mega star Amitabh Bachchan, it was you who won the Allahabad Lok Sabha seat for the Congress. You have become a star of sorts.

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A. The stars are the people of Prayagraj who made me win with a huge margin of votes. Besides Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav should also be credited for my victory as they believed in me. The people of Prayagraj with their votes hit back at the government which did nothing for them.

Q: Do you believe there is a wave in favour of Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav in Uttar Pradesh today?

A: Akhilesh Yadavs PDA and Rahul Gandhis Five Justices have contributed a lot. They caused a storm in the entire state. Yadavs PDA formula refers to a combination of Pichde (backward classes), Dalit and Alpasankhyak (minorities). There was a wind of change in favour of the INDIA bloc as people were tired of protesting against the misgovernance of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Congress, on the other hand, has opened muhabbat ki dukaan or a shop of love. People want love. Everyone has been troubled by this government.

Q: You are a first-time MP, representing an important Lok Sabha seat of the country. How do you feel about it and what are your views about the NDA government?

A: Though it is my first term in Parliament, I have been an MLA in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly twice. As all can see, the present NDA governments third term is full of contradictions and they have already shown their biased attitude towards the majority of states in the Union budget. I have a gut feeling that this NDA government will crumble under its own weight and will not complete its full term.

Q: You gave your first speech in Lok Sabha on the budget which was appreciated by everyone. Your comments on the Union budget 2024-25.

A: This Budget is only meant to benefit their friends (NDA partners). This budget has reduced funds in the field of education. The government only spent 2 per cent of GDP on education, whereas countries like China spend 5 per cent of GDP on education. In absolute terms, in China Rs 56,600 crore is spent on education and in India just Rs 1,440 crore. You cannot take this country forward by ending education. If you had given good education to the youth and increased the budget to 6 per cent of the GDP, then somewhere this country would have progressed, but this government has tried to reduce it.

Q: You had said that the NDA government will crumble under its own weight. Can you elaborate?

A: Thanks to this government, the middle class is angry about indexation. You are destroying their hopes of a better life. Farmers are angry at the fact you are not giving them a legal guarantee of MSP (minimum support price), but this government does not understand the pain of farmers. In UP, electricity is a big issue as farmers are unable to run their tubewells for irrigating their agricultural land due to scanty rainfall. Besides, the law and order issue remains a major problem for the states citizens.

Q: What is your demand for Prayagraj?

A: Talking about Prayagraj, if you fall ill, there are no good hospitals. The Modi government talks about All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) in the whole country, but Prayagraj was not given any AIIMS. Mr Modi had said in 2014 that he would revive the industrial area of Prayagraj, but not even a single industry has been revived so far. The governments of Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav talked about giving tribe status to Kol caste in Prayagraj. They even sent a proposal for the same but the Centre did not act on it. Moreover, the issue of giving tribal status to 17 castes was passed in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly by the previous Samajwadi government, but the NDA yet again turned a deaf ear to it.

Q: The Yogi Adityanath government passed the controversial Nazul Land Bill and later it was dropped in the legislative council due to opposition by its own members. What is your comment as even the BJP MLA from Prayagraj had opposed it?

A: The Nazul Land Bill is a total fraud, and it should be scrapped. Through this Bill the BJP government is trying to cover up its scams done in Ayodhya, Prayagraj and other places where the officials in connivance with the BJP leaders grabbed several thousand acres of nazul land. If the government is serious on this Bill, then they should make a provision to provide all benefits to the bonafide applicants and take action against the officials who were involved in the land scam. Q. What is your take on the Centres U-turn on lateral entry in UPSC jobs and recommending a J P C on-the W A Q F A Amendment Bill?

A: I have already said that this government will collapse on its own burden and wrong doings. The Congress had opposed the lateral entry appointments as it would adversely impact the reservation granted to the SCs, STs and OBCs. We can say outrightly that lateral entry is an attack on Dalits, OBCs and Adivasis and the BJP and seeks to destroy the Constitution by snatching reservations from Bahujans. It was an infringement on the Constitutional norms too, violating the rights of the people. The Congress had demanded for a JPC on the Waqfa Amendment Bill as it was detrimental to the property rights of individuals and religious institutions without adequate legal safeguards. Besides, the Bill is an infringement of the Fundamental Right of Religious Freedom under Article 14,25, 26 and 30 of the Constitution. There are several provisions in the Bill which will certainly violate the rights of the minorities provided in the Constitution
Advocating a decisive and relentless approach to combating leftwing extremism, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has pledged to eradicate Naxal insurgency from India by March 2026.

The home minister emphasised that Naxalism represents a significant challenge to Indias democratic framework and expressed confidence that the battle is nearing its final phase.

During a high-level meeting in Raipur, Shah reviewed the progress of government schemes in Naxal-affected districts and discussed strategies to overcome obstacles in infrastructure projects. He reaffirmed the Central governments commitment to developing regions from Bastar and Bijapur to Dantewada and Dhamtari.

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Shah highlighted significant achievements in the fight against Naxal insurgency, including a historic drop in fatalities to below 100 for the first time in four decades. From 2014 to 2024, there has been a notable reduction in Naxal incidents, with 14 top Naxal leaders neutralised.

Key initiatives announced include a joint campaign by the Chhattisgarh government and the Ministry of Home Affairs to improve literacy among individuals affected by Naxal insurgency, regardless of age.

Shah also revealed plans to amend the tendu leaf procurement policy and establish a State Investigation Agency (SIA) modeled on the NIA. Additionally, the Chhattisgarh government is updating its surrender policy, with an announcement expected in the coming months.

The meetings involved senior officials from seven states, including directors general of police (DGPs), paramilitary chiefs, and state secretaries. The first session focused on interstate coordination, with detailed reports from Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, and State Home Minister Vijay Sharma were also present.

In a subsequent session specifically focused on Chhattisgarh, discussions centered on security and development initiatives in Naxal-affected areas. Chhattisgarh Home Minister Vijay Sharma provided updates on the Niyad Nellanar Scheme, a key initiative aimed at addressing the challenges of left-wing extremism.

Chhattisgarh remains a critical area in the fight against Naxal insurgency, with districts such as Bijapur, Dantewada, Dhamtari, Gariaband, Kanker, Kondagaon, Mahasamund, Narayanpur, Rajnandgaon, Mohla Manpur, Ambagarh Chowki, Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai, Sukma, Kabirdham, and Mungeli being significantly affected.

In 2024, security forces conducted major operations against Naxal groups, resulting in the elimination of 42 Naxals in three encounters along the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border between January and April. Noteworthy operations include the killing of 13 Naxals in Bijapurs Karcholi area on April 2, one Naxal in Dantewada on April 5, and 29 Naxals in Kanker on April 15. Subsequent operations in Narayanpur on April 29, Bijapur on May 10, Rekawaya in Abujhmad on May 23, and Amdai in Abujhmad on June 8 led to further neutralizations of 10, 12, 8, and 6 Naxals, respectively. On July 17, 12 Naxals were killed in an operation on the Chhattisgarh-Maharashtra border.

Reports indicate that 38 districts across the country remain affected by leftwing extremism, with Chhattisgarh accounting for 15 of these districts. Odisha and Jharkhand have seven and five affected districts, respectively. However, there has been a significant 73% reduction in LWE-related violence since 2010.

The high-level discussions chaired by the Union home minister underscore the Central governments unwavering commitment to eradicating left-wing extremism and fostering lasting peace and development in affected regions.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi during his two day visit in Manipur reviewed the security situation along the international border and assessed the internal security dynamics of the region.

His visit, which began on August 23, underscores the Indian Armys steadfast commitment to restoring peace and stability in the state, which has faced ongoing security challenges.

Upon his arrival, General Dwivedi was briefed on the operational preparedness by commanders on the ground, receiving detailed insights into the current situation.

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Accompanied by Eastern Command GOC-in-C Lt Gen RC Tiwari and Spear Corps Commander Lt Gen Abhijit S Pendharkar, the COAS expressed his satisfaction with the measures in place and the efforts of the Indian Army and Assam Rifles in maintaining peace and harmony.

General Diwvedi also interacted with Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, and reaffirmed the Indian Armys unwavering commitment to supporting the state in its pursuit of peace.

He assured the Chief Minister that all necessary assistance would be provided to ensure the well-being and security of the people of Manipur. The discussions focused on the role of the Indian Army and Assam Rifles in facilitating an early return to normalcy in the state.

The COAS also took the opportunity to engage with the local troops, commending their professionalism, operational readiness, and dedication to their duties. His words of encouragement were aimed at boosting morale during a time of heightened tension in the region.

In addition to his interactions with active personnel, General Dwivedi met with veterans in Manipur, acknowledging their invaluable contributions to nation-building. He urged them to continue playing a crucial role in fostering peace and promoting inter-community harmony within the state.
Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday slammed the Congress party and Rahul Gandhi alleging they want to hand out the Jammu and Kashmir to the Pakistan backed Abdullah family and alligned with National Conference that promotes terrorists, separatists and jehadis in the state.

Dhami asked ten questions before Rahul Gandhi to answer for striking poll alliance with National Conference for Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections.

Dhami charged that Abudllah family have always fuelled terrorists, separatists and Jehadis in the state. He claimed that Congress partys poll alliance in Jammu and Kashmir has exposed the party of its intention towards the country nation.

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Congress party has struck alliance with National Conference that always worked to destablise and destroy Jammu and Kashmir. I want to ask 10 questions to the Congress party and Rahul Gandhi on their alliance with the National Conference (NC). Does Congress supports NC for its promise to resume separate flag of Jammu and Kashmir. Do Rahul Gandhi and his party support NC as latter promises to talk to Pakistan and not to the states youths to fuel cessionists in Jammu and Kashmir, does Rahul Gandhi supports NC as latter promised cross border terrorism and revoke trade with Pakistan, will Congress tell us if it wants to hand out the state to the Pakistan supported families. questioned Dhami as he attacked Rahul Gandhi for the Congress partys alliance with NC.

Dhami further said Rahul must answer his question if he supports NC for its promise to re-employ in the government family members of those who pelted stones and revive the era of terrorism and shut-downs in the state. Will Congress party answer if its supporting NC for bringing back article 370, its agenda to take away reservation from Dalits, Gujjars, Bakarwals and hill people, NCs Discrimination between Jammu region and Kashmir Valley.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held substantive talks with US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Washington during which the two sides deliberated on the evolving geopolitical situation and the ongoing defence industrial collaboration between the two countries.

Mr Singh, who is on a four-day visit to the US, also interacted with senior leaders of the US defence industry at a round-table organised by the US India Strategic Partnership Forum. The round-table was attended by a large number of US defence and technology companies.

According to official sources, the Indian minister discussed with his US interlocutors potential areas in which the industries of the two countries could work together.

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During his meetings, Mr Singh emphasised that India welcomes US investment and technology collaboration. He is ready with a skilled human resource base, robust pro-FDI and pro-business ecosystem, and a large domestic market.

India looks forward to closely working with the US across the domains of defence for capability building and for an abiding technology & industrial partnership which can address emerging challenges, he added.

Mr Singh highlighted the various co-development and co-production opportunities in India in the areas identified in the India-US Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap, which was adopted last year.

At their meeting, Mr Singh and the US defence secretary expressed happiness on the conclusion of the Security of Supplies Arrangement (SOSA) between the two countries.

The SOSA signed yesterday in Washington DC encourages the defence industrial ecosystems of both countries to work together, and enhances the supply chain resilience. They also welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between India and US regarding the Deployment of Liaison Officers. India shall be accordingly deploying the first Liaison Officer to the Headquarters Special Operations Command in Florida, US.

Both ministers appreciated the progress made in operationalising the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness, a Quad initiative and lauded the ongoing efforts by India to enhance the Maritime Domain Awareness for the partners in the Indian Ocean Region. They welcomed the ongoing Indian participation in the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) and noted that India shall deploy Indian Navy personnel in CMFs Combined Task Force 150 headquarters in 2025.

Mr Singh and Mr Austin commended the efforts of the India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) for establishing the Defence Innovation bridge between the two countries. They appreciated INDUS-X establishing robust networks across start-ups, industry, academia, and governments, accelerating the adoption of cutting-edge technologies and enhancing the war-fighting capabilities of both sides. The upcoming INDUS X Silicon Valley Summit in September 2024 shall witness announcements of several key initiatives.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Jalgaon in Maharashtra and Jodhpur in Rajasthan on Sunday.

The Prime Minister will be the Chief Guest at the concluding ceremony of Platinum Jubilee celebrations of the Rajasthan High Court, to be held at the High Court Campus, Jodhpur. He will also inaugurate the Rajasthan High Court Museum.

Earlier, in the morning, Mr Modi will be in Jalgaon in Maharashtra to participate in the Lakhpati Didi Sammelan. He will give certificates and felicitate 11 lakh new Lakhpati Didis, who recently became Lakhpati during the third term of NDA Government. The Prime Minister will also interact with Lakhpati Didis from across the country.

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Mr Modi will release a revolving fund of Rs 2,500 crore which will benefit about 48 lakh members of 4.3 lakh Self-Help Groups (SHG). He will also disburse bank loans of Rs 5,000 crore which will benefit 25.8 lakh members of 2.35 lakh SHGs.

Since the inception of the Lakhpati Didi Yoajna, one crore women have already been made Lakhpati Didis. The government has set a target to make three crore Lakhpati Didis.

The Lakhpati Didi scheme functions under the Rural Development Ministry. It has Self-Help Group members who earn an annual household income of Rs one lakh or more. This income is calculated for at least four agricultural seasons or business cycles, with an average monthly income exceeding Rs 10,000, so that it is sustainable.

The Didis serve as an inspiration to the community, not solely for their income, but for their transformation journey through adopting sustainable livelihood practices (farm or non-farm or service), effectively managing resources, and achieving a decent standard of life.

The SHG groups have fostered collective action and mutual support, while also serving as conduits for crucial financial literacy, skill development, and livelihood assistance. Notably, the focus has shifted beyond mere social and financial inclusion, now aiming to empower SHG members to pursue entrepreneurial ventures.
Lashing out at the alliance of Congress and National Conference for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath declared that the political ground of Congress and the NC, which thrived on spreading hatred, has become permanently barren.

Speaking to reporters at his official residence on Saturday, the Chief Minister questioned the alliance between the two parties. He asserted, The issues of terrorism and separatism have been permanently washed away in the Chenab River.

Additionally, CM Adityanath directed several pointed questions at Congress leader and MP Rahul Gandhi, challenging his stance and actions.

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Adityanath stated that alongside removing the stigma of Articles 370 and 35A from Jammu and Kashmir, the crown of India, the Bharatiya Janata Party had reaffirmed its commitment to the assembly elections. He emphasised, Now that the dates for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections have been announced, this election holds significant importance not only for the people there, but also for every Indian who values democracy. The entire world is watching.

He added, In such a crucial election, Congress, which leads the Indi alliance, has once again exposed its anti-national intentions by forming an alliance with the National Conference, run by Abdullah and Sons Family Pvt Ltd.

Chief Minister Adityanath commented on the recent manifesto released by the National Conference, noting that several of its points raise serious concerns about Indias unity, integrity, and national security. The alliance between Congress and the National Conference brings forth significant questions about national security and alarms every citizen who genuinely believes in and is loyal to the Indian Constitution, he remarked.

Directing his criticism at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, the Chief Minister asked, Does the Congress leader support the National Conferences promise to reintroduce a separate flag for Jammu and Kashmir? Do Rahul Gandhi and the Congress endorse the National Conferences intention to drag Jammu and Kashmir back into an era of unrest and terrorism by reinstating Articles 370 and 35A?

The Chief Minister asked, Does Congress support separatist forces by advocating dialogue with Pakistan instead of engaging with the youth of Kashmir? Do Congress and Rahul Gandhi stand behind the National Conferences decision to resume LoC trade with Pakistan, thereby once again fostering terrorism and its infrastructure from across the border?

He questioned whether Congress supports reinstating an era of terrorism and unrest by allowing the family members of those involved in terrorism and stone-pelting incidents to return to government positions. Adityanath accused the Congress of revealing its anti-reservation stance through this alliance.

He further asked, Does Congress endorse the National Conferences promise to deny reservation rights to Dalits, Gujjars, Bakarwals, and Paharis? Does Congress want Shankaracharya Parvat to be renamed Takht-e-Suleiman and Hari Parvat to be called Koh-e-Maran?

The Chief Minister asked whether the Congress supported plunging Jammu and Kashmirs economy into corruption and handing it over to a few Pakistan-backed families. He questioned whether Congress endorses the National Conferences discriminatory politics between Jammu and the valley. Do the Congress and Rahul Gandhi also support NCs divisive ideology and policies of granting greater autonomy to Kashmir, he quipped.

CM Adityanath stated that after independence, certain leaders who claimed to be the architects of Jammu and Kashmirs destiny misled the youth, turning them into tools for separatist agendas.

He continued, Under Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership, employment opportunities are being created for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir through tablets and skill development programs. There is no place in Jammu and Kashmir for those who deceive the youth. Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee envisioned a future of humanity, democracy, and Kashmiriyat for Jammu and Kashmir. PM Modi has turned that vision, rooted in these values and principles, into reality.

CM Adityanath remarked that Pakistani agents and the so-called leaders who treated Jammu and Kashmir as their personal domain never imagined that their political ground, which thrived on hatred, would become permanently barren. The idea of a government that would abolish Article 370 is something they cannot accept, he noted.

He pointed out that following the abrogation of Article 370, the situation in Jammu and Kashmir has transformed. The issues of terrorism and separatism have been permanently dissolved in the Chenab River. Now, with a focus on development, employment, and identity, its clear why this progress is not favoured by those who trade votes, he remarked further.
Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition leaders from the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar), Congress, and Shiv Sena (UBT) on Saturday held protests across the state over the Badlapur sexual abuse case.

The MVA, which had initially called for a Maharashtra bandh, faced a setback when the Bombay High Court stayed the strike. However, the coalition leaders organized a sit-in protest in Pune, with NCP-SCP chief Sharad Pawar and MP Supriya Sule leading the charge.

During the protest, Sharad Pawar expressed grave concerns over the rising incidents of violence against women in the state.

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There is not a day in Maharashtra when there is no news of atrocities against women  The government should take this incident seriously. The government is saying that the opposition is doing politics, calling it politics shows how insensitive the government is, Pawar remarked, condemning the governments response to the crisis.

Supriya Sule, also present at the protest, voiced her dissatisfaction with the authorities inaction. Incidents of atrocities against women are increasing in the state There is no fear of the police among people. I condemn the government. Some said that those who had gathered in Badlapur were from outside. I want to say that they were all Indians. I have never seen such an insensitive government  We will not stop protesting until the accused are arrested, she stated.

Meanwhile, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to probe the Badlapur case has registered an FIR against the school authorities involved.

The FIR cited non-compliance with Section 19 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, which mandates that any authority aware of sexual assault against minors must report the incident to the police.

Earlier today, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi also criticized the governments actions.

Referring to the High Courts decision to stay the bandh, she said, Mumbai HC may have stayed the peaceful bandh due to the intervention of state HM Fadnavis pet advocate rushing to the court, however they cant keep us from protesting and voicing the growing incidents of crime against women and children and demanding action from Khoke Sarkar.
Nepals expanding energy exports to India signal a pivotal shift in South Asian regional cooperation, particularly in the energy sector. The recent approval by India to import an additional 251 MW of hydropower from Nepal, bringing the total import to 941 MW, underscores the growing interdependence between the two neighbours. This partnership is not just about the exchange of electricity but also about fostering economic growth, enhancing energy security, and cementing geopolitical ties. For Nepal, the hydropower sector represents a critical economic lifeline.

Blessed with abundant water resources, the country has long been recognised for its hydroelectric potential. However, political instability, inadequate infrastructure, and limited market access have historically hampered its ability to fully harness this potential. The recent surge in energy exports to India marks a turning point in Nepals economic trajectory. By tapping into Indias vast energy market, Nepal stands to generate substantial revenue, which can be invested in the countrys infrastructure and social programmes. Last year alone, Nepals electricity exports generated NPR 16.9 billion, a significant boost to its economy.

This trend is likely to continue as more hydropower projects come online. For India, this partnership is equally strategic. As India grapples with the challenge of meeting its growing energy demands, particularly in states like Bihar, which will soon benefit from these imports, diversifying energy sources is critical. Nepals hydropower offers a reliable and sustainable option, helping India to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and move closer to its renewable energy goals. Furthermore, this cooperation aligns with Indias broader strategy of regional integration, where the energy trade serves as a foundation for deeper economic and political ties.

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However, the implications of this energy partnership extend beyond economics. Geopolitically, Indias engagement with Nepal in the energy sector can be seen as part of its broader strategy to counter-balance Chinas growing influence in the region. China has been investing heavily in Nepals infrastructure and hydropower sectors, positioning itself as a key player in the countrys development. By strengthening its energy ties with Nepal, India is reinforcing its position as a reliable partner and ensuring that Nepal remains within its sphere of influence. This dynamic also highlights the importance of regional cooperation in addressing shared challenges. Both India and Nepal face the impacts of climate change, and hydropower offers a clean and sustainable solution to their energy needs. By working together, the two countries can build a more resilient energy infrastructure that benefits both populations.

The expansion of Nepals energy exports to India is a win-win situation for both nations. It provides Nepal with a steady revenue stream and an opportunity to develop its hydropower potential fully. For India, it offers a reliable source of renewable energy and strengthens its strategic position in the region. As this partnership continues to grow, it could serve as a model for regional cooperation in South Asia, fostering greater economic integration and stability in the region.
It is, more often than not, well, nigh impossible to recreate a masterpiece. Even more so, a masterly character. Sir Arthur Conan Doyles much-celebrated and lionised sleuth, Sherlock Holmes, living in a gas-lamp-lit Londons 221B Baker Street, has evoked unrealistic ambition. Writers and moviemakers have tried to recreate the detective and his illustrious sidekick, Dr Watson, who once served in the British Army. Dare say, these efforts have been in vain, for to get the feel of Holmes and his times, one would need another Doyle. I firmly believe this.

There have been umpteen books copying Mr Holmes exploits. I remember reading Donald Thomas New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. I have also seen movies like Feluda and Byomkesh Bakshi, which have tried to get into the shoes of the moody British detective. But they have not been able to match the original. No way.

There is something magically unique about our man with a pipe who strums a violin while sitting in a room filled with tobacco smoke. The aura that Doyle created around his hero cannot be duplicated. At least nobody has been able to, up until now.

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So, Jio Cinemas latest six-episode series, Shekhar Home, falls flat trying to create yet another Holmes, yet another Watson, Inspector Lestrade, or Mrs Hudson. However, their names have been changed to suit the desi flavour. Sherlock becomes Shekhar (played by Kay Kay Menon), and Watson is Jayavrat (Ranvir Shorey). Sherlocks brother, Mycroft, is called Mrinmay (essayed by Kaushik Sen), Mrs Hudson is Mrs Henry (Shernaz Patel) and the bumbling cop, Lestrade, is Laha (Rudranil Ghosh). Irene Adler, the only woman to get Holmess Adrelinin flowing, is Irabaty (Rasika Dugal). We also have Professor Moriarty or M (Kirti Kulhari), of course. Can Holmes exist and thrive without his arch enemy?

Created by Aniruddha Guha and Srijit Mukherji and produced by BBC Studios India, the Hindi-language drama has an essentially Bengali flavour; it is set in Bihar and Bengal (Kolkata). The town, Lonpur, is an imaginary one, and the bloody murders are committed there between 1991 and 1993. (I wonder why the original language could not have been Bengali.)

The episodes, helmed by Mukherji (the first four) and Rohan Sippy (the last two), deal with different stories. But unfortunately, they did not grip me, although the performances were superb. The writing was rather insipid. The direction is not tight enough.

The series explores murders, robberies and spirits, and one, Bhaskar Villa, talks about family secretsa la The Hound of the Baskervilles. The ghost story is silly. Against Doyles serious approach, Guha and Mukherji adopt an irreverent tone. So, I found it difficult to admire or appreciate Shekhar Homes adventures.

If at all there is a plus point in the series, it is the incredibly wonderful acting by Menon. He carries Shekhar Home towards some kind of watchability. Shorey is not bad either, and both are bold enough to sport looks that are far from flattering. But Menon could have been even better had it not been for a poorly penned part.

The writer is a senior film critic and author
In the wake of the spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF approvals, there's been a lot of speculation about which crypto might be next. Already, a handful of names have been suggested, including all of the usual suspects: XRP, Solana (CRYPTO: SOL), Cardano, Litecoin, and Avalanche.

Of these, Solana has the best chance of getting a spot ETF. In fact, this could happen as early as January 2025. From my perspective, there are two key factors that make this likely to happen.

Market demand

In terms of market cap, Solana ranks fifth among all major cryptocurrencies. That's a huge determining factor, because market cap can be useful as a proxy for investor demand. As a general rule of thumb, Wall Street isn't going to launch a product if there isn't sufficient demand for it, so it's worth looking into how much demand is coming from both retail and institutional investors.

Image source: Getty Images.

At the end of June, crypto investment firm GSR ran the numbers and concluded that Solana trailed only Bitcoin and Ethereum in terms of overall demand. The firm's "demand analysis" took into account three key factors: (1) market cap and overall trading volume, (2) assets under management of investment products already in the marketplace, and (3) size, activity, and reach of the online community for a specific token. Across all of these metrics, Solana outpaced rivals XRP, Cardano, and Avalanche.

There's also great data available from CoinShares, which tracks institutional investor inflows into and out of the major cryptocurrencies. According to its latest report from early August, Solana still has a clear lead over major rivals such as XRP, Cardano, and Litecoin in terms of year-to-date inflows. That being said, investor inflows into both Bitcoin and Ethereum dwarf anything that's happening with Solana right now.

Regulatory outlook

Of course, there's no way that a Solana ETF is going to be approved if regulators have any doubts over whether Solana might actually be a security. This was the one factor that was hanging over Solana during much of the past year. But at the end of July, the SEC appeared to back down from its earlier stance when it acknowledged that it would no longer be looking into Solana as a potential security. If you're hoping for a Solana ETF, that's exactly what you want to see happen.

Moreover, it's important to keep an eye on what's happening in other financial markets, beyond the borders of the U.S. For example, in August, Brazilian regulators approved a spot Solana ETF. If that performs well in Brazil, then it could make it much easier to approve a U.S. version of the ETF. And, indeed, investment firm VanEck -- one of only two firms that have already submitted a spot Solana ETF application to the SEC -- now says that a Solana ETF is "inevitable." I wouldn't go that far, but it is looking good right now for Solana.

Story continues

What to look for in 2024

As we saw from the recent market mini-crash in early August, there's still quite a bit of volatility in the crypto market. Any sustained sell-off over the next few months would likely push back the launch date of a Solana ETF, simply due to the lack of investor demand for the product. Moreover, the SEC is unlikely to sign off on much of anything if the crypto market is showing signs of weakness, or if demand dries up for existing crypto ETFs.

So keep your eye on the overall health of the crypto market, as well as investor inflows into the Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. If the trend is positive, then I'm much more bullish on a spot Solana ETF launching in early 2025. And if pro-crypto sentiment gains hold in the aftermath of the 2024 presidential election, then I would be even more bullish.

That being said, Solana is a high-risk, high-upside crypto investment. So if you are thinking about investing in Solana, make sure you do your due diligence. Investing in a Solana ETF would help to mitigate some of this risk, but it can't eliminate the risk of holding Solana entirely.

Should you invest $1,000 in Solana right now?

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Dominic Basulto has positions in Bitcoin, Cardano, Ethereum, and Solana. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Avalanche, Bitcoin, Cardano, Ethereum, Solana, and XRP. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Prediction: Solana Will Be the First Cryptocurrency to Get a Spot ETF in 2025 was originally published by The Motley Fool


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In a shocking lawsuit in a US court, a Cognizant subsidiary TriZetto has filed a lawsuit against Infosys, alleging the Indian IT major stole trade secrets. However, Infosys has dismissed all the allegations, saying it will defend its position in the court.

"Infosys is aware of the lawsuit. We deny all allegations and will defend our position in the court," stated the company, which is led by CEO and MD Salil Parekh.

Cognizant subsidiary Cognizant TriZetto Software Group filed the lawsuit in a Texas court, alleging misappropriation of trade secrets in connection with its healthcare insurance software. TriZetto's Facets and QNXT are used by healthcare insurance firms to automate tasks.

Cognizant, in the complaint, alleged that Infosys misused TriZetto's software data to create an Infosys product called "Test Cases for Facets". It also alleged breach of law, claiming Infosys created software to extract data from QNXT, including trade secrets and confidential information.

This comes after Cognizant appointed former Infosys executive Rajesh Varrier as global head of operations and India Chairman and Managing Director. He will replace Rajesh Nambiar who will take over as Nasscom president.

Cognizant CEO Ravi Kumar S is also an Infosys veteran, who was the IT major's president from January 2016 through October 2022.
Rachel Reeves

For reasons mainly of class belligerence, the Government appears determined to spend excessive amounts of money it doesnt have on undeserving client groups. Public sector workers are appeased, trade unions bribed, and where money is squandered  on people who choose not to work, or on failing to contain illegal migration, for example  remedial action is either slow or non-existent.

Thus the Government talks about black holes  apparently 22 billion, despite the economy growing healthily in contradiction to what Labour said during the election  and of the need to take difficult decisions about taxation to pay for its incontinent spending. As Labour claims to be keeping (for the moment) its promise not to increase income tax, this means it will have to raise taxes that, it pretends (or perhaps, in its economic stupidity, actually believes), affect only the rich: capital gains tax, pension tax reliefs, and punishing a group the Conservative Party had already targeted, the non-doms.

In fact, increasing such taxes would damage millions who dont pay them as well as those who do, and harm investment.

A rare tax increase Labour has, so far, publicly committed itself to exemplifies the unintended consequences of its anti-capitalist, anti-elitist fiscal policies: the imposition of VAT on school fees. Leaving aside the moral outrage of this tax  anyone who cannot grasp the charitable nature of education, and therefore the reason why it should not be taxed, must be intellectually deficient  it hasnt a hope of achieving its aim of paying for 6,500 extra state school teachers.

Private schools are already closing for want of enough pupils to remain viable. The heads of 50 schools wrote to the Government last week to warn ministers of a bow wave of disaster on the state sector, coming mid-way through the new academic year when VAT is levied from 1 January, as large numbers of private school pupils search for places in state schools. Despite her own elite education at Oxford University, the Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, seems so driven by class considerations that she could not care less whether this happens or not.

Given the damage it could inflict on large numbers of children at a crucial stage in their development, this class tax is bad enough. However, the taxes Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, appears likely to raise in her October Budget promise to have widespread negative effects on growth and economic development.

A decision to increase capital gains tax, for example, could make some markets sclerotic. Some may decide to delay sales of assets that would entail capital gains, in the hope that CGT might fall under a future government. Labour may have a majority of 158 seats  which in normal circumstances would seem to make it certain that it would win the next election, too  but that majority is widely seen as shallow and easily overturned.

Story continues

Anyone with a second home, for example, or a pile of shares whose sale is not absolutely essential, may decide to hold on to them until more favourable times. Therefore, the overall CGT take could fall rather than rise.

Last month, the state accumulated 82.5 billion in taxes, and high-wealth individuals and companies are close to having had enough. Many non-doms are already unravelling their British holdings and putting their money overseas; taxes on payroll, which are also said to be under consideration, could drive businesses to move abroad rather than stay here. If and when they did, they would not only stop paying taxes here: they would also export jobs, increasing the pressure on the welfare state and reducing tax revenues. The Office for Budget Responsibility says that the sudden increase in borrowing registered last month appears to be linked to increases in public sector pay; so the Government has only itself to blame.

Taxes on dividends have risen steeply in recent years and are a disincentive to invest. Without new investment, industry lacks the resources to innovate and find new ways to improve productivity and competitiveness. If, on top of this, Ms Reeves were to remove or reduce tax relief on extra payments into pension funds, the pool of money for investment would decline further, and the value of pension funds, and of pensions, would tumble.

As with CGT increases, it would signal a further transfer of money from the productive sector of the economy to the unproductive. Labour protests that it wont raise taxes for working people. But it seems set to pursue a tax strategy that will clobber everyone with a pension fund: many millions of whom do not consider themselves remotely rich.

The first Labour government, exactly a century ago, is the only one not to have left power with the economy in a worse shape than when it took over: and that was largely because it lasted just nine months. This Government, just seven weeks old, is already on course to maintain that unenviable record.

Labour politicians, including ones supposedly as clever as the Prime Minister and Ms Reeves, seem incapable of learning that increases in taxes inevitably wreck the profits that all governments must tax if they are to maintain the state. Higher taxes can mean less revenue, as Labour is shortly going to find. Some Labour MPs may love the idea of the class war on the rich in which higher taxation is the weapon of choice. However, the British people will not indefinitely pay the price, which is economic decline far worse even than we have had already.

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The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on Friday, granted approval for the sale of anti-submarine warfare (ASW) sonobuoys and related equipment to India, as part of the attempts by the US to strengthen its defence ties with New Delhi.

The approval for foreign military sale (FMS) to India happens at a time when Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is in the US for a four-day visit to boost the comprehensive global strategic partnership between the US and India.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA)a key agency within the United States Department of Defense (DoD) which plays a major role in supporting the country's national security and foreign policy objectivesgave the necessary notification for the deal valued at nearly $52.8 million.

According to media reports, the list of equipment to be sold to India includes AN/SSQ-53G high-altitude anti-submarine warfare (HAASW) sonobuoys, AN/SSQ-36 sonobuoys, and AN/SSQ-62F HAASW sonobuoys, besides data documentation, and comprehensive support services.

The purchase will enable India to improve its anti-submarine warfare abilities, especially the operational capabilities of the newly commissioned multi-role MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, which were developed for the US Navy.

The sonobuoyssmall, expendable sonar device deployed from aircraft or ships, mainly used for anti-submarine warfarewill improve Indian Navy's ability to track submarines, and hence improve the the maritime security in the Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions, which is in line with the national security objectives of both New Delhi and Washington.

The HAASW (High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare) sonobuoys are used to detect submarines from high altitudes. They can be deployed from aircraft at altitudes up to 30,000 feet.
Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, who is in Manipur on a two-day visit to review the security situation in the violence-ridden state said the main aim is to ensure peace and tranquillity. The Army chief said he reviewed the situation along the international border and was satisfied to see the coordination between the various security agencies.



General Upendra Dwivedi told ANI, My main aim to come here was to review the security situation as of today in Manipur and I was happy to see the great coordination between the security agencies. The Army chief said he held discussions with discussions and the main aim is to ensure that there is trust, peace and tranquillity in this state.

On meeting with Chief Minister Biren Singh on Friday, General Dwivedi said the meeting was encouraging and they discussed various issues. We were looking for the way forward, where we are able to bring peace in the state and also how to get all the communities together so that there is an enhanced harmonious relationship amongst them, the Army chief told ANI.

In a statement, the Army said, "The Army chief along with the Eastern Army Commander reviewed the security situation along the border and the internal security situation in the area.

General Dwivedi appreciated the efforts of Indian Army and Assam Rifles in the state and interacted with veterans, it said.
In a shocking incident, an NRI was shot at by armed attackers at his home in Amritsar, Punjab on Saturday. The entire shooting incident was captured on the CCTV camera installed in the victims house. Sukhchain Singh, a US resident, had returned to Punjab just a month back.

In the CCTV visuals, the attackers were seen entering the house and pointing the gun at Singh.

Singh's family along with his children from the first marriage were present at the house during the incident. Three shots were fired at him in front of the family members. His family was seen pleading to the attackers with folded hands.

Amritsar: 2 assailants entered the home of an NRI -Sukhchain Singh, in broad daylight and shot him multiple times in front of his family. It's painfully to watch a child and an old woman, begging the assailants to leave.



What is going on in Punjab? pic.twitter.com/uLseyzEc1s  Pagan  (@paganhindu) August 24, 2024

According to officials, the bullets hit him in the head and chest. Singh was rushed to hospital in Amritsar with critical injuries.

Punjab: In Amritsar's Doburji area, NRI Sukhchain was shot and severely injured by two men over a dispute about Mercedes paperwork. Despite family pleas, the attackers shot him in the head and left him.



The police are investigating the case for potential extortion or motives pic.twitter.com/7ydXSeHrAO  IANS (@ians_india) August 24, 2024

Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said an investigation is underway and a search has been launched to nab the assailants.

The police are actively pursuing leads through the CCTV footage as they intensify their search for the criminals.

In the wake of the incident, Shiromani Akali Dal spokesperson Arshdeep Singh Kler expressed concerns about the security situation in Punjab. "Today's incident demonstrates gangsters continue to roam freely in Punjab," he said.

A forensic team had reached the spot and an investigation is underway, police said.

Meanwhile, Singh's wife alleged that the family of his first wife was behind the attack.
The 138-year-old RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, currently in global news for the alleged rape and murder of one of its trainee doctors, is Asias oldest non-government medical college. It proudly carries a glorious legacy and illustrious past unlike any institution.

The man behind it, Dr. Radha Gobinda Kar, was born on August 23, 1852, in Howrahs Betore in the British-ruled Bengal presidency, to an affluent Bengali family.

Dr Kars father Durgadas Kar was also a physician and a teacher at the Calcutta Medical College. Dr Durgadas Kar was one of the first to write medical textbooks in Bengali. He had also helped in setting up the Mitford Hospital in Dhaka.

However, young Radha Gobinda didnt have much interest in studying medicine. Inspired by his brother, his passion lied in theatre. He had also come across eminent theatre personalities such as Dinabandhu Mitra and Girish Ghosh.

Nevertheless, due to his father's influence and his compassionate nature, he was persuaded that studying medicine would enable him to improve the lives of impoverished Indians during the British rule.

After completing his early education at Hare School in Kolkata, he joined the Calcutta Medical College in 1880. Later he moved to Scotland to do his post-graduation. He received his prestigious L.R.C.P and L.M degrees from University of Edinburgh in 1887.

Dr Kar realised that Calcutta was plagued by numerous diseases, and there were insufficient facilities for native Indians to receive modern medical care. As a result, most Indians depended on unscientific methods of treatment.

Dr Kar discussed the matter with renowned personalities and doctors in Bengal at that time, such as Dr Mahendra Nath Banerjee, Dr Bipin Behari Maitra, among others, and founded the Calcutta School of Medicine in 1886.

The school was first set up in a rented house on Baithak Khana Road in Bowbazar before shifting to another place in the same locality. Since there was no affiliated hospital at the time, practical classes were held at the 24-bed Mayo Hospital. Dr Kar also authored several books, including Concise Physiology and Illustration and Brief Theory of Gynecology.

Meanwhile, Dr Radha Gobinda kept looking for donations from all corners of the society with the aim to expand his school. In 1898, a plot of land measuring 12 bighas, or roughly 4 acres, was obtained for building the college at its present site in Kolkatas Belgachia.

In 1899, when Kolkata was devastated by a plague outbreak, Dr Kar met the renowned Irish social worker, Sister Nivedita. They joined hands and relentlessly worked to treat and save those affected by the epidemic.

A 30-bed hospital was opened by then-Governor Lord Woodburn in Belgachia in 1902. Two years later, the Calcutta School of Medicine merged with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Bengal, which had been established in 1895.

Over time, the institution grew, adding new departments. In 1916, it was officially renamed Belgachia Medical College. The college was inaugurated by Governor General Lord Carmichael, who was instrumental in affiliating it with Calcutta University. In his honour, the college was named Carmichael Medical College.

Unfortunately, Dr. Kar did not live long to witness his cherished dream come to fruition, as he passed away on December 19, 1918. But his legacy, as a doctor, writer, and social worker, remains deeply embedded in every brick of the institution he established.

In 1933, the first psychiatry outpatient department (OPD) in Asia was established in this college, followed by the introduction of a cardiology department in 1939, also a first of its kind in India.

By 1941, the college had become one of the most prestigious institutions in the country, with its facilities, faculty, and students earning widespread admiration across the country and continent.

In May 1948, the college was renamed in honour of its founder and it has since been known as RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Ten years later, the Government of West Bengal assumed control of the institution.

Even in post-independent India, it has been one of the best government-run medical institution. It works as a lifeline where lakhs of people in northern part of Kolkata get the best medical care without any cost.

The institution is now seen by many around the world as unsafe and unholy. However, with the CBI investigating the case and a new administration taking over, RG Kar Medical College and Hospital is looking forward to a fresh start.

Professor Dr Saptarshi Chatterjee, the recently-appointed medical superintendent cum vice-principal (MSVP), also hoped the same. Our primary aim is to restore normalcy glory days of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Dr. Chatterjee told the media on his first day in office.
Terming Naxal violence as a challenge to democracy, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Saturday that the country will be freed from the left-wing extremism by March 2026.

A total of 17,000 people have lost their lives in the country due to Naxal violence so far, Shah said, adding that a strong and ruthless strategy is required for launching the last assault against the ultras.

Shah, however, noted that there was a 53 per cent drop in Naxal incidents in the country during 2014-24 as compared to 2004-14 period.

I appeal to Naxals to give up violence and surrender, he said after a meeting of the Inter-State Coordination Committee of Naxal-affected States in Raipur.

The home minister informed that the government is working to fill the security vacuum in the left-wing extremism-hit areas. Security operations and development works are undertaken side by side, he added.

It is time to deal the final blow to the problem of Left Wing Extremism with a strong strategy, Shah said.

The minister further claimed that besides the security forces, central agencies like the NIA and the ED have also worked to dismantle Maoist finances.

"We believe we will be able to free the country from Left Wing Extremism by March 2026," Shah said.
Is Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who is embroiled in the MUDA site allotment scam on the last leg of his tenure? All eyes are on the Karnataka High Court, which, on August 29, will hear the CMs petition challenging Governor Thawar Chand Gehlots sanction order (dated August 17) to prosecute him in the MUDA case. The high court has deferred all proceedings against the CM (based on three separate private complaints) in the special court for elected representatives till the next hearing, giving the CM the breather. However, Siddaramaiah is battling a silent political war within his party even as he is bracing for a tough legal battle.

The opposition BJP and the JDS have upped their ante against the chief minister, demanding his resignation on moral grounds, but what is more worrying for the 77-year-old veteran is the party high commands studied silence on the issue. Preempting an awkward situation, Siddaramaiah held a cabinet meeting followed by the Congress Legislature Party to prove he still enjoys the confidence of his cabinet colleagues and all the legislators.

On Friday, both the chief minister and his deputy D.K. Shivakumar rushed to Delhi uninvited, and went into a huddle with AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge, leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi, AICC general secretaries K.C. Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala to apprise them of the political situation in the state.

Once the meeting was over, Surjewala who took the lead and addressed the media slammed the governor calling him a puppet and a ragdoll of the BJP and dubbed his sanction order as illegal and unconstitutional.

Frustrated by a decimating defeat, the prime minister, the home minister and the entire BJP leadership are now hiding behind a ragdoll governor to attack the Congress government of Karnataka. This is not just an attempt to dislodge or destabilize the Congress comment of Karnataka but in truth as all of us in the AICC are aware of, this is a sinister design to attack the five Congress guarantees where by which we are transferring over Rs 53,000 crore every year, directly, transparently, honestly in the bank accounts of over four crore our brothers and sisters and Karnataka, said Surjewala, adding that the BJP was scared of the success of poll guarantees in Karnataka that were benefiting the SC, ST, Backward Classes, minorities and the poor among the general category.

Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, who abstained from giving any public statement on the MUDA scam and the chief minister, were conspicuous by their absence even at the press meet. While Surjewalas words did little to comfort the chief minister who had hoped for the party leadership to defend him as an untainted leader.

By the end of the press meet, Surjewala stated that BJPs efforts to destablise the government was not an attack on the chief minister, DCM or the state government but an attack on people of Karnataka by the Narendra Modi government drunk with power thats using the puppet Governor to destabilise an elected government.

Referring to Siddaramaiah, a Kuruba strongman, who is also one of the last few mass leaders of Karnataka (like H.D. Devegowda and B.S. Yediyurappa), Surjewala said This (sanction order) is also in assault on a backward class chief minister who is now the senior most chief minister in the country. This is not a personal attack on him, but revenge seeking by the BJP and JDS against people of Karnataka (for electing Congress).

The Congress high command is certainly watching the HC proceedings closely as the verdict, either way, will pose a plethora of challenges for the party ahead of the four-state polls.

Siddaramaiah will be off the hook if the High Court quashes the sanction order. However, if the HC allows prosecution, it will be end of the road for Siddaramaiah as the special court could order probe by the state police and propriety demands the chief minister to relinquish his post to pave the way for a fair probe. In case the court refers the case to the CBI, Siddaramaiah might initially choose to face the probe without stepping down (like Arvind Kejriwal) but eventually choose to resign to avoid embarrassment to the party.

In both scenarios, an ugly leadership squabble is inevitable as the party is riddled with factionalism and has a a long list of CM contendersinluding D.K. Shivakumar (Vokkaliga), Kharge(Dalit), Home minister G Parameshwara(Dalit), MB Patil (Lingayat) and Satish Jarkiholi (ST). Most of the CM hopefuls are not vote-catchers like the incumbent CM, who currently enjoys the confidence of a majority of the legislators.

The Congress leadership is certainly treading with caution as the corruption charges against Siddaramaiah have cropped up at a time when Rahul Gandhi, as the LOP, is proclaiming zero tolerance to corruption. More importantly, the Congress is wary of antagonizing Siddaramaiah, who holds sway over the Ahinda vote-bank of the party. In the 1980s, the politically dominant and numerically strong Lingayat community drifted away from the Congress towards BJP soon after Veerendra Patil, a Lingayat leader, was unceremoniously removed from the CMs post. This was a lesson which no political party in Karnataka could afford to forget.

Decades later, the saffron party went through a similar challenge when it replaced Lingayat strongman B.S. Yediyurappa with another Lingayat leader Basavaraj Bommai as the CM. Yet, the party lost its ground in the Lingayat belt in both the Assembly polls (in 2023) and also in the Parliament polls last May.

For the time being, the Congress is likely to stand by Siddaramaiah to avoid a backlash from the dominant Kuruba community and also the Ahinda voters. Also, the party which takes pride in the Karnataka model of inclusive development as a counter to Modis development model, is keeping its fingers crossed hoping for a favourable court verdict.

Finding a successor to Siddaramaiah, who can hold on to the sizeable Ahinda vote-bank is the next big challenge before the grand old party as BJPs social engineering experiments is slowly but steadily eating into Congresss OBC and Dalit vote-bank each election.
The war of words between the BJP and the Congress over the latter's pre-assembly poll alliance with the National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir, continued with the opposition party saying that the ruling party is in a state of panic.

With Jammu and Kashmir set to witness its first assembly polls in September after being reorganised into a Union Territory, NC president Farooq Abdullah had announced his party's alliance with the Congress for all 90 assembly seats.

A day later, the BJP termed the pre-poll alliance "unholy" and asked the Congress whether it supports its ally's agenda of "breaking India". Union Home Minister Amit Shah, on Friday, accused the party of repeatedly risking the country's unity and security in its greed for power. He also posted 10 questions for the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi.

The Congress party, which has repeatedly risked the nations unity and security to satiate its greed for power, has once again exposed its ulterior motives by allying with the Abdullah family's 'National Conference' in the Jammu and Kashmir elections.



Given the promises made in pic.twitter.com/omxj3xOdP3  Amit Shah (@AmitShah) August 23, 2024

The Congress, meanwhile, said that a panicked BJP is resorting to negative politics, and that the general sentiment in Jammu and Kashmir was against the BJP-led Union government.

"The BJP and its home minister are now pointing fingers at parties with whom they previously shared power in J&K and at the Centre, J&K Congress chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma said. The BJP and the home minister should first explain why they formed a government with the PDP, a party they now accuse of being far more problematic than the NC on these issues."

Sharma also labelled BJP's practice of sharing power one day and labelling those same parties as separatists and pro-Pakistan the next, as sheer opportunism.

ALSO READ: National Conference-Congress alliance: Consensus on some seats pending, says Omar Abdullah

At a press conference in New Delhi, BJP leader Smriti Irani said, "The National Conference speaks of a different flag. Does the Congress party support the National Conference's promise of a separate flag for Jammu and Kashmir?

"The NC speaks about LoC trade while Pakistan continues to nurture terrorism and an ecosystem that is aligned with terrorists. Does the Congress party support the Pakistani agenda of creating unrest in Jammu and Kashmir that has been pronounced on many platforms," Irani asked.

However, when asked about the opposition's counter question that if the BJP's alliance with the PDP in Jammu and Kashmir in the past was also "unholy", Irani gave an evasive reply: "Abrogation of Article 370 was part of our resolve for many years. We abrogated Article 370 and fulfilled our promise."

The polls will be held in three phases on September 18 and 25 and October 1. The counting of votes is scheduled for October 4.

BJP-PDP alliance

Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir were last held in November 2014, with the PDP and the BJP forming a coalition government, headed by Mufti Mohammed Sayeed.

After Sayeed's death in 2016, his daughter Mehbooba Mufti became the chief minister of the coalition government.

The BJP pulled out of the government in June 2018 and the state was put under governor's rule.

On August 5, 2019, the BJP-led Centre abrogated the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and reorganised the erstwhile state into two Union territories - Ladakh, and Jammu and Kashmir.
Sleuths probing the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital have released a CCTV footage showing key accused Sanjoy Roy entering the premises wearing a bluetooth headphone. Parts of the headphones recovered from the crime scene is a major evidence in the probe.



In the video, Sanjoy Roy is reportedly seen entering the RG Kar Hospital premises wearing bluetooth headphones at about 1.03am. Roy, the key accused in the case reportedly admitted to the crime after police showed him the footage. Parts of headphones recovered from the crime scene led to Sanjoy Roys arrest.

Another footage released earlier showed Sanjay Roy staring at the victim and four other doctors. "The CCTV footage captures Roy glaring towards them, News18 quoted a source as saying.

Meanwhile, polygraph test have begun on Roy and six other persons in connection with the case. According to the Central Bureau of Investigation probing the case, the lie detection test for Roy will be conducted in prison and it will be conducted at the agencys office for others, including for former college principal Sandip Ghosh. A special court on Friday granted permission to conduct the test on Roy.

Besides Ghosh, four junior doctors who were on duty on the night of the crime and a civil volunteer will undergo the test at the CBI office, PTI reported. Polygraph specialists from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) in Delhi will be conducting the test.

The body of a postgraduate trainee doctor, who was allegedly raped and murdered, was found in the seminar room of the hospital on August 9, triggering protests across the nation. The trainee doctor's body with severe injury marks was found inside the seminar hall of the hospital's chest department.
As West Bengal and the entire nation demand justice for the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkatas RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, the CPI(M) and the BJP appear to be building a larger movement against the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government.

Following the incident on August 9, West Bengals Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, has repeatedly called for the resignation of the chief minister, accusing her of failing in her roles as the states home and health minister.

He raised the slogan Dofa Ek, Dabi Ek. Mamatar Padatyag [One Agenda, one demand. Mamatas resignation]. The same was echoed by the SFI and DYFI leaders in their rally on a rain-soaked Saturday afternoon in the heart of the city.

Interestingly, the slogan is inspired from the recent students movement against Bangladesh that saw the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The TMC believes this is a plot orchestrated by both the BJP and the CPI(M) to overthrow Mamata Banerjees elected government.

On Saturday, West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar demanded that Banerjee, in her capacity as the states health minister, be interrogated as part of the CBI investigation into the alleged financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital during the tenure of former principal Dr Sandip Ghosh.

Not just by the CBI, there should be an ED investigation because it involves money trading. Mamata Banerjee being the health minister cannot stay away from this investigation. She must be interrogated about her role. It must be properly investigated to determine if she also profited from this corruption," said Majumdar during a press conference.

These developments come amidst Supreme Court of Indias appeal to not politicise the sensitive issue.

Meanwhile, the BJP seems to be divided over the August 27 students march to Nabanna, the West Bengal state secretariat. While Adhikari, the LoP, expressed his desire on Saturday to attend the march, party chief Majumdar views it as an apolitical event.

During the day, senior officials from the West Bengal governments health department held discussions with representatives from various doctors bodies regarding the ongoing strike by junior doctors at several hospitals. However, the meeting did not yield a resolution, as the doctors insisted on a meeting with health minister Banerjee.

Officials from the health department also met protesting students of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Dr. Kaustav Nayek, Director of Medical Education, Government of West Bengal, visited the institution.

He held a meeting with the new principal, Dr. Manas Bandyopadhyay, the new medical superintendent cum vice-principal, Dr. Saptarshi Chatterjee, and other senior officials of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital and health department.

Representatives of protesting doctors were also present at the meeting. However, at the end of the meeting, they conveyed they would continue their strike until investigators clarify the intention and motive behind the alleged rape and murder of the trainee doctor.

On the other hand, the process to conduct polygraph test of the main accused in the alleged rape and murder of the trainee doctor, Sanjoy Ray, former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital Dr Ghosh and five others began on Saturday.
The Bombay High Court restrained political parties or individuals from proceeding with a Maharashtra bandh on August 24 or any future date, forcing the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) to withdraw its proposed state-wide shutdown to protest sexual assault on two minor girls in a school and push the government for swift action.

The court said such a protest will paralyse normal life and relied on a 2004 High Court ruling which held the enforcement of bandhs or general strikes unconstitutional.

The MVA, which consists of the Congress, the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the NCP (SP), had given a call for a state-wide bandh on August 24 (Saturday) to protest against the Mahayuti government over the sexual abuse of two kindergarten girls in Badlapur in adjoining Thane district earlier this month and "rising" incidents of crime against women in Maharashtra.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said his government will implement the court order, which he termed as a "slap on the face of the opposition".

Reacting to the HC ruling, the MVA said it has called off the bandh, but it will go ahead with peaceful demonstration across the state with black bands tied on the mouth of its leaders and workers. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said he did not agree with the HC order, while his ally, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) president Sharad Pawar, said the bandh call was given in exercise of fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution, but the judiciary also needs to be respected.

A division bench of Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar said if political parties and individuals were not restrained from proceeding with the call for bandh on Saturday, huge losses, not only in terms of economy and business but also essential services and basic amenities including health services will occur, which needs to be prevented.

Police separately issued notices to leaders and activists of the MVA in connection with the bandh call. Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole said peaceful demonstrations will take place between 11 and noon at different locations in the state. Patole said he will be in Thane to take part in one such demonstration.

Expressing displeasure over the HC order, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Thackeray said courts should show similar promptness in punishing the accused in heinous crimes. "We don't agree with the court's order but its decision has to be respected. We will keep our mouths shut. The reason behind the bandh was different," the former CM said. "Is there freedom of expression in a country that believes in democracy," Thackeray asked. He added that he will protest near the Shiv Sena Bhavan in Dadar.

The opposition should not take people for granted, Chief Minister Shinde said and took a veiled swipe at Thackeray by adding some people were so eager to get the CM's post that they were indulging in politics over serious crimes. This was "perverse", Shinde added. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also slammed the opposition for calling for a bandh. "This is for politics. You did not take a stand against the Mamata Banerjee government over the rape and murder of a woman doctor in Kolkata. But here you are calling for a bandh for your selfish interests," said Fadnavis, who holds the home portfolio.
On a hot summer day in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, dozens of men removed pipes, asbestos and hazardous waste while working to decontaminate a nuclear facility and prepare it for demolition.

Dressed in head-to-toe coveralls and fitted with respirators, the crew members toiling in a building without power had no obvious respite from the heat. Instead, they wore armbands that recorded their heart rates, movements and exertion levels for signs of heat stress.

Stephanie Miller, a safety and health manager for a U.S. government contractor doing cleanup work at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, watched a computer screen nearby. A color-coding system with little bubbles showing each worker's physiological data alerted her if anyone was in danger of overheating.

Heat is one of the greatest risks that we have in this work, even though we deal with high radiation, hazardous chemicals and heavy metals, Miller said.

As the world experiences more record high temperatures, employers are exploring wearable technologies to keep workers safe. New devices collect biometric data to estimate core body temperature - an elevated one is a symptom of heat exhaustion - and prompt workers to take cool-down breaks.

The devices, which were originally developed for athletes, firefighters and military personnel, are getting adopted at a time when the Atlantic Council estimates heat-induced losses in labor productivity could cost the U.S. approximately $100 billion annually.

But there are concerns about how the medical information collected on employees will be safeguarded. Some labor groups worry managers could use it to penalize people for taking needed breaks.

Any time you put any device on a worker, theyre very concerned about tracking, privacy, and how are you going to use this against me, said Travis Parsons, director of occupational safety and health at the Laborers Health and Safety Fund of North America. Theres a lot of exciting stuff out there, but theres no guardrails around it."

VULNERABLE TO HEAT

At the Tennessee cleanup site, the workers wearing heat stress monitors made by Atlanta company SlateSafety are employed by United Cleanup Oak Ridge. The company is a contractor of the U.S. Department of Energy, which has rules to prevent on-the-job overheating.

But most U.S. workers lack protections from extreme heat because there are no federal regulations requiring them, and many vulnerable workers don't speak up or seek medical attention. In July, the Biden administration proposed a rule to protect 36 million workers from heat-related illnesses.

Story continues

From 1992 to 2022, 986 workers died from heat exposure in the U.S., according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Experts suspect the number is higher because a coroner might not list heat as the cause of death if a sweltering roofer takes a fatal fall.

Setting occupational safety standards can be tricky because individuals respond differently to heat. That's where the makers of wearable devices hope to come in.

HOW WEARABLE HEAT TECH WORKS

Employers have observed workers for heat-related distress by checking their temperatures with thermometers, sometimes rectally. More recently, firefighters and military personnel swallowed thermometer capsules.

That just was not going to work in our work environment, Rob Somers, global environment, health and safety director at consumer product company Perrigo, said.

Instead, more than 100 employees at the company's infant formula plants were outfitted with SlateSafety armbands. The devices estimate a wearer's core body temperature, and a reading of 101.3 degrees triggers an alert.

Another SlateSafety customer is a Cardinal Glass factory in Wisconsin, where four masons maintain a furnace that reaches 3000 degrees Fahrenheit.

Theyre right up against the face of the wall. So its them and fire, Jeff Bechel, the companys safety manager, said.

Cardinal Glass paid $5,000 for five armbands, software and air-monitoring hardware. Bechel thinks the investment will pay off; an employee's two heat-related emergency room visits cost the company $15,000.

Another wearable, made by Massachusetts company Epicore Biosystems, analyzes sweat to determine when workers are at risk of dehydration and overheating.

Until a few years ago, you just sort of wiped (sweat) off with a towel, CEO Rooz Ghaffari said. Turns out theres all this information packed away that weve been missing.

Research has shown some devices successfully predict core body temperature in controlled environments, but their accuracy remains unproven in dynamic workplaces, according to experts. A 2022 research review said factors such as age, gender and ambient humidity make it challenging to reliably gauge body temperature with the technology.

The United Cleanup Oak Ridge workers swathed in protective gear can get sweaty even before they begin demolition. Managers see dozens of sensor alerts daily.

Laborer Xavier Allison, 33, was removing heavy pieces of ductwork during a recent heat wave when his device vibrated. Since he was working with radioactive materials and asbestos, he couldn't walk outside to rest without going through a decontamination process, so he spent about 15 minutes in a nearby room which was just as hot.

You just sit by yourself and do your best to cool off, Allison said.

The armband notifies workers when they've cooled down enough to resume work.

Ever since we implemented it, we have seen a significant decrease in the number of people who need to get medical attention, Miller said.

COLLECTING PERSONAL DATA

United Cleanup Oak Ridge uses the sensor data and an annual medical exam to determine work assignments, Miller said. After noticing patterns, the company sent a few employees to see their personal physicians, who found heart issues the employees hadn't known about, she said.

At Perrigo, managers analyze the data to find people with multiple alerts and speak to them to see if there's a reason why theyre not able to work in the environment," Somers said. The information is organized by identification numbers, not names, when it goes into the companys software system, he said.

Companies keeping years of medical data raises concerns about privacy and whether bosses may use the information to kick an employee off a health plan or fire them, said Adam Schwartz, privacy litigation director at the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

The device could hurt, frankly, because you could raise your hand and say I need a break, and the boss could say, No, your heart rate is not elevated, go back to work, Schwartz said.

To minimize such risks, employers should allow workers to opt in or out of wearing monitoring devices, only process strictly necessary data and delete the information within 24 hours, he said.

Wearing such devices also may expose workers to unwanted marketing, Ikusei Misaka, a professor at Tokyo's Musashino University, said.

A PARTIAL SOLUTION

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health advises employers to institute a plan to help workers adjust to hot conditions and to train them to recognize signs of heat-related illness and to administer first aid. Wearable devices can be part of efforts to reduce heat stress, but more work needs to be done to determine their accuracy, said Doug Trout, the agency's medical officer.

The technology also needs to be paired with access to breaks, shade and cool water, since many workers, especially in agriculture, fear retaliation for pausing to cool off or hydrate.

If they dont have water to drink, and the time to do it, it doesnt mean much, Juanita Constible, senior advocate at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said. Its just something extra they have to carry when theyre in the hot fields.

___

This story corrects the spelling of Natural Resources Defense Council in last paragraph.

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Yuri Kageyama in Tokyo contributed to this report.
Days after Vijay unfurled the flag of his political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), it has drawn flak various corners over its resemblance to other flags and symbols.



Many users on social media have trolled the TVK flag, calling it a combinations of the Spanish national flag and the Kerala government emblem. TVK flag has two red stripes separated by a yellow stripe in the middle similar to the Spanish flag. However, instead of the Spanish coat of arms, TVK flag has the vaagai flower as a central motif flanked by two white elephants.

RTI activist Selvam has lodged a complaint with the Chennai Police Commissioner's Office over contentious elements in the newly unveiled flag. He flagged the similarities with the Spanish national flag, which he alleged that is a disrespect to India and even went on to call for a sedition case against the actor-politician.

Many have compared the two elephants with raised trunks and two forelegs to Kerala's state emblem which also has two similar elephants raising trunks and one foreleg each.

In response to the complaint, TVK released a statement, saying the party will respond if the election commission seeks an explanation. "Our flag has two elephants, a vaagai flower and stars. The party has the right to design its own flag. If the Election Commission raises questions, we will provide answers."

Others has hinted similarities with the Fevicol logo which has two elephants faced in opposite directions.
A day after three people got killed and eight others injured, when an unidentified man went on a stabbing spree at a festival in the western German city of Solingen, police had launched a massive search hunt for the attacker. Police confirmed the arrest of a 15-year-old in connection with the incident.

According to the police, special units were deployed in different parts of the city as part of the operation. An online portal was also established where the witnesses can upload any information relevant to the attack.

The police received the alert about the stabbing incident by around 9:30 pm on Friday. They also added that they had only thin information about the attacker as of now. We are questioning the witnesses and victims families to gather more information, said the police.

The stabbings seemed to be carried out by a lone attacker.

Three people killed and four injured in Germany festival knife attack, police say



picture white black person in it is not the attacker that fake news this was in 2021 pic.twitter.com/OKkjqs7pWN  Roykeys No Filter! (@RoykeyNo) August 23, 2024

The knife attack took place during the The Festival of Diversity, marking the city's 650th anniversary, which began on Friday. The programmes were supposed to go on till Sunday with several stages in central streets offering live music and acrobatics.

Located near the cities of Cologne and Duesseldorf, Solingen has about 1,60,000 residents.

While condemning the attack, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the perpetrator of the attack must be caught quickly and punished under the law.

"The attack in Solingen is a terrible event that has shocked me greatly. An attacker has brutally killed several people. I have just spoken to Solingen's mayor, Tim Kurzbach. We mourn the victims and stand by their families, said Scholz.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also spoke to the mayor of Solingen on Saturday and inquired about the investigation.

The heinous act in Solingen shocks me and our country. We mourn those killed and worry about those injured and I wish them strength and a speedy recovery from all my heart," Steinmeier said in a statement.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspended his independent campaign for president on Friday and endorsed Donald Trump, a late-stage shakeup of the presidential race that could give the former president a modest boost from Kennedy's supporters.

Kennedy said his internal polls had shown that his presence in the race would hurt Trump and help Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, though recent public polls don't provide a clear indication that he is having an outsize impact on support for either major-party candidate.

Kennedy cited free speech, the war in Ukraine and a war on the children as among the reasons he would try to remove his name from the ballot in battleground states.

However, he made clear that he wasn't formally ending his bid and said his supporters could continue to back him in the majority of states where they are unlikely to sway the outcome. Kennedy took steps to withdraw his candidacy in at least two states late this week, Arizona and Pennsylvania, but in the battlegrounds of Michigan, Nevada and Wisconsin, election officials said it's too late for him to take his name off the ballot even if he wants to do so.

Kennedy said his actions followed conversations with Trump over the past few weeks. He cast their alliance as a unity party", an arrangement that would "allow us to disagree publicly and privately and seriously.

Hours after Kennedy made his announcement in Phoenix, Trump was to hold a rally in neighboring Glendale. Trump's campaign teased that he would be joined by a special guest, though neither campaign responded to messages about whether Kennedy would be that guest.

A year ago, some would have thought it inconceivable that a member of arguably the most storied family in Democratic politics would work with Trump to keep a Democrat out of the White House. Even in recent months, Kennedy has accused Trump of betraying his followers, while Trump has criticised Kennedy as the most radical Left candidate in the race.

Five of Kennedy's family members issued a statement on Friday calling his support for Trump a sad ending to a sad story.

We want an America filled with hope and bound together by a shared vision of a brighter future, a future defined by individual freedom, economic promise and national pride, read the statement, which his sister Kerry Kennedy posted on X. We believe in Harris and Walz. Our brother Bobby's decision to endorse Trump today is a betrayal of the values that our father and our family hold most dear.

Kennedy Jr., the son of the late Attorney General and Sen. Robert Kennedy and the nephew of President John F. Kennedy, acknowledged his decision had caused tension with his immediate family. He is married to actress Cheryl Hines.

This decision is agonising for me because of the difficulties it causes my wife and my children and my friends, Kennedy said. "But I have the certainty that this is what I'm meant to do. And that certainty gives me internal peace, even in storms.

The Kennedy and Trump campaigns have ramped up their compliments of each other and engaged in behind-the-scenes discussions in recent weeks, according to those familiar with the efforts. Both campaigns have spent months accusing Democrats of weaponising the legal system for their own benefit. And both have hinted publicly that they could be open to joining forces, with the shared goal of limiting Harris's chances.

Last month, during the Republican National Convention, Kennedy's son posted and then quickly deleted a video showing a phone call between Kennedy and Trump, in which the former president appeared to try to talk Kennedy into siding with him.

Trump told CNN on Tuesday that he would love an endorsement from Kennedy, whom he called a brilliant guy. He also said he would certainly be open to Kennedy playing a role in his administration if Kennedy dropped out and endorsed him.

Kennedy's running mate, Nicole Shanahan, also suggested on a podcast this week that his campaign might walk away right now and join forces with Trump. While she clarified that she is not personally in talks with Trump, she entertained the idea that Kennedy could join Trump's administration as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Earlier Friday, Shanahan posted on X that she isn't a Kamala Democrat or a Trump Republican.
The Italian prosecutors on Saturday opened an investigation into culpable shipwreck and manslaughter after the super yachtBayesian-- capsized and sank off the Sicily coast. Seven people on board, including UK tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his daughter, were killed in the tragic incident.

Chief Prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio said they were in the early stages of investigation indicating culpable shipwreck and manslaughter.

Cartosio said that the investigation will cover all the relevant aspects including the behaviour of the captain.

As many as 22 people survived the incident and they were rescued by a nearby yacht. The coastguard received an alert by around 4.32 am local time and dispatched a boat.

Cartosio also confirmed that the first body recovered was that of the boat's chef, Recaldo Thomas, followed by four of the victims, Chris Morvillo, Neda Morvillo, Jonathan Bloomer and Judy Bloomer, found on Wednesday and later tech boss Mike Lynch and his daughter Hannah on Friday.

Over 120 dives were undertaken by divers amid challenging tides and low visibility underwater, he added.

We also learned that victims sought refuge on the left side of the boat as the yacht sank stern-first and then rolled onto its right side.

The prosecutor of the case, Raffaele Cammarano, suggested that the victims might have been asleep, while the others awake leading to their escape when the yacht sank.

The authorities said that a detailed investigation would take place on why the victims could not escape, whether there was any black box inside the yacht, and was is weather that led to the sinking.

Authorities also said the yacht likely sunk because of a downburst, rather than a waterspout.

What is downburst?

Accompanied by powerful thunderstorms, and complex and turbulent phenomena, a downburst is a strong downward current of air from a cumulonimbus storm cloud moving rapidly upwards and downwards.

They are powerful winds that descend from a thunderstorm and spread out quickly once they hit the ground. Downbursts are capable of producing damaging straight-line winds of over 240 km/hr (150mph), causing damages similar to tornadoes.

The rapid changes in wind speed and direction within downbursts mean they are particularly dangerous for aviation.

The full wreckage of the yacht is yet to be recovered and the autopsies of the bodies are to be performed as well.
I had heard of the stadiumGreen Parkwhen I was young, and I thought that it was because the whole ground was green. I had not seen any stadiums at the time. Akash Deep cricketer, on playing at Green Park in Kanpur

Somehow I am stuck with a lot of perception problems. I feel that people perceive me in a certain way because of the part I have played as a talk show host. Karan Johar filmmaker

I do not cheat, lie, or mislead. I recognise that some people have become accustomed to falsehoods and have been voting based on those lies, but I speak the truth, which only a few may comprehend. Ghulam Nabi Azad Democratic Progressive Azad Party chief, at an election rally in Jammu and Kashmir

If he wants to talk to me, thats a good choice because I am a pretty decent person. There are a lot of things that happen, and these things have nuance; they are very complex. They are not matters that can be discussed in a broad public way. He is a very erudite, intelligent, sharp-witted man and in many realms, a very good poet. Salman Akhtar author-psychoanalyst, on his brother and lyricist Javed Akhtar
The IDF on Motzei Shabbos announced the deaths of three soldiers who were killed in the central Gaza Strip on Friday.

Two of the soldiers were killed by an explosive device detonated by Hamas terrorists in Gaza City which also killed a third soldier whose death was announced on Friday.

The two reserve soldiers were identified as Sgt. First Class (res.) Nitai Metodi, Hyd, 23, from Ashkelon, and Sgt. First Class (res.) Danil Pechenyuk, Hyd, 27, from Bat Yam. Both served in the 6301st Battalion of the Jerusalem Brigade.

Another soldier was killed on Friday in a battle with Hamas terrorists in the Netzarim Corridor. He was identified as Sgt. Maj. (res.) Yaniv Itzchak Oren, Hyd, from Ein Gedi. He served in the 8119th Battalion of the Jerusalem Brigade.

Later on Motzei Shabbos, IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said that the four Hamas terrorists who attacked the IDF soldiers and killed Oren, zl, have all been eliminated. Three were killed during the battle and a fourth fled the scene but was killed shortly later by an airstrike.

(YWNs Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis haShabbos in Israel)
A terrorist set fire to two cars outside the Beis Yaakov shul in the seaside resort of La Grande-Motte, near Montpellier in the south of France at about 8:30 a.m. Shabbos morning.

A gas canister hidden in one of the cars caused both cars to explode, igniting a fire and injuring a police officer.

Firefighters also found two other fires at two separate entrances to the shul. Fortunately, Shacharis has not yet started, and only the Rav and four others were in the shul at the time of the attack. None of them were injured.

The suspect was seen on security cameras wearing a Palestinian flag and holding a weapon.

The mayor of La Grande Motte, Stephan Rossignol told France Info that the suspect did not manage to get inside the synagogue, even though that was clearly his objective.

Acting Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said that the suspect was very determined to cause casualties and that a preliminary elimination shows that we have narrowly avoided a tragedy.

He added that the attack is being investigated as a terror attack and that over 200 police officers are searching for the suspect. Once again, French Jews have been targeted and attacked because of their beliefs, he said. We are outraged and repulsed.

Yonathan Arfi, the head of the CRIF organization for French Jewry, stressed that the terrorist timed the attack during the Shabbos Shacharis davening. This was not just an attack on a place of worship, he stated. This was an attempt to kill Jews. The use of a gas canister in a car at a time when worshippers are expected to arrive at the synagogue is not simply a criminal act.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin ordered security to be tightened at all Jewish places of worship.

French President Emmanuel Macron said, Our thoughts are with the congregation at La Grande-Motte synagogue and all the Jews of our country. Everything is being done to find the perpetrator of this terrorist act and protect places of worship. The fight against antisemitism is a constant battle.

(YWNs Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis haShabbos in Israel)
Israeli security officials estimate that Hezbollah will attack Israel in the next few days to retaliate for the elimination of Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr.

The attack is expected to be coordinated with Iran, which right now is not expected to directly attack Israel for the elimination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

Ynet reported that Israel believes that Hezbollah will not operate without Irans approval. Hezbollah will only act if it receives a green light from Iran. When Iran says, Wait, stop, they stop. We know that Khameneis order was also passed on to Hezbollah. The Iranians have also begun preparing a response, which has not yet been actualized.

The report added that Israel recently sent a strong message to Hezbollah warning that any attack on Tel Aviv will be met with a retaliatory strike on Beirut.

IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari said on Motzei Shabbos that Israel is ahead of a significant week.

We have a significant week ahead of us amid the negotiations taking place in Cairo, the fighting in Gaza and on the northern border, he said. Our readiness is very high in attack and defense, and we will continue to act to remove threats and fight our enemies. The public must remain alert and vigilant. We will immediately update you on any development.

(YWNs Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis haShabbos in Israel)
As excuses go for missing a meeting, its not a bad one.

Buried in the annual report of fund manager Schroders is the unusual line that a director failed to attend a board meeting due to her honeymoon.

The director in question is heiress Leonie Schroder, who was once called arguably the most eligible woman in Britain and is worth an estimated 3.9billion.

Her engagement to Old Etonian management consultant Guy Blakeney was announced in July 2022 but theres been no news of their nuptials until now.

Leonie Schroder was once called arguably the most eligible woman in Britain

She inherited a stake in Schroders along with a seat on the board after her father Bruno died in 2019.

Along with Claire Fitzalan Howard, she represents the Schroder familys interests in the boardroom. Both women are descendants of John Henry Schroder, who co-founded the wealth manager in 1804.

Schroders has grown to become the UKs largest asset manager and now looks after more than 750billion of funds. Its chief executive Peter Harrison plans to retire next year after eight years in the top job.

He earned 6.2million in 2023, up by almost a third on the previous year, but not enough for him to make it into top 20 of highest paid FTSE 100 bosses.

A search for Harrisons replacement is under way.

Its been an eventful time for Leonie Schroder. Apart from getting married for the second time in what is understood to have been a low-key ceremony, she also turned 50 earlier this year.

Her ex-husband, Nicholas Fane, tragically died shortly after their divorce around a decade ago.

She has held various directorships since graduating from St Andrews University, including her fathers 18,500-acre Dunlossit Estate on the Scottish island of Islay, and her own 1,200-acre Hurstbourne Park estate in Hampshire.

Schroders declined to comment.
An eye witness to the sinking of British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch's yacht on Monday attributed the tragedy to the extremely tall mast, which made the vessel more vulnerable to the violent storm that was lashing the area.

Dutch ship captain Karsten Borner, whose own boat was anchored near Lynch's Bayesian, told the Financial Times that the superyacht appeared to have stability problems.

"The center of gravity is too high with this extreme mast," he explained, while also dismissing the Italian coast guard's initial view that the Bayesian was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"I was on the same spot," Borner added. "I have two masts and they are 28 and 29 meters above deck, she has one, 73 meters (239.5 feet) above deck."

Authorities are looking into possible reasons Lynchs yacht quickly sank, when other boats nearby seemed to weather the same storm without issue.

The 56-meter long superyacht had been carrying 22 passengers and crew. Borner rescued 15 passengers and said they told him the ship sank in less than two minutes.

He also described the wind as "violent, very violent," telling the FT that the wind speed likely reached hurricane strength as "tons of water" came down.

"I never saw that before, there was a water tornado," he said.

The CEO of the Italian Sea Group, which owns the company that built the Bayesian, previously told the FT that it was designed to be stable with its tall mast and suggested the crew didn't carry out proper safety measures.

But Borner said the crew told him they "closed the ship," according to the FT.

The Italian Sea Group didn't immediately respond to Fortune's request for comment on Borner's remarks and declined to comment to the FT.

Meanwhile, prosecutors in Italy have launched a probe into the shipwreck and multiple counts of culpable homicide, which are equivalent to manslaughter charges.

The Italian coast guard also confirmed Friday that it had recovered the body of Lynchs 18-year-old daughter, Hannah. In addition to Lynch and his daughter, the other victims included Morgan Stanley International chair Jonathan Bloomer and his wife, Judy Bloomer; Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife, American jewelry designer Neda Morvillo; and chef Recaldo Thomas.

On Saturday, Italian prosecutors told reporters that the emergency began at 4:38 a.m. local time, when a red flare was launched and seen by the coast guard, adding that the passengers were likely asleep at the time.

Story continues

Deputy prosecutor Raffaele Cammarano told reporters that a crew member had been on duty, as required, when the "truly sudden" storm struck.

Chief prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio said ship-tracking data showed the yacht started to drift from anchor just before 4 a.m., then traveled about 360 meters over five minute to the spot where it eventually sank some 15 minutes after that.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Sweetgreen (NYSE: SG) has taken its investors on a wild ride since its IPO on Nov. 18, 2021. The fast-casual restaurant chain went public at $28, and it started trading at $52 before closing at a record high of $53 the following day. At the time, the market was dazzled by its rapid growth. The buying frenzy in growth stocks amplified those gains.

But by March 27, 2023, Sweetgreen's stock had sunk to its all-time low of $6.31. The bulls retreated as its same-store sales growth decelerated, its losses widened, and rising interest rates compressed its valuations. Inflation also rattled the restaurant sector as investors fretted over higher commodity and labor costs.

Image source: Getty Images.

Yet Sweetgreen's stock has rallied nearly sixfold since then, trading at about $37. That comeback was driven by its stabilizing same-store sales growth, rising margins, and narrowing losses. So is now the right time to buy, sell, or hold this stock?

Carving out a niche in fast-casual salads

Sweetgreen sells customizable salads and warm bowls. It was founded in 2006 by three Georgetown University graduates: Nicolas Jammet, Nathaniel Ru, and Jonathan Neman. It opened its first restaurant in Washington, D.C., the following year.

Sweetgreen attracted a lot of funding as a start-up, and it had already expanded its footprint to 130 locations across 13 states by the time of its IPO. It was also serving 1.35 million customers and generating more than two-thirds of its sales from its digital channels. It owns and operates all of its own stores instead of franchising them.

Sweetgreen's fast-casual approach to selling healthier foods, rapid expansion, and robust digital sales all likely reminded investors of Chipotle. That's probably why Sweetgreen's stock initially skyrocketed after its public debut.

How fast is Sweetgreen growing?

Sweetgreen suffered a slowdown in 2020 as the onset of the pandemic forced to it temporarily shut down its dine-in locations. But over the following three years, it continued to open new stores as its same-store sales continued rising.

However, its same-store sales cooled off, its average unit volume (AUV) growth flatlined, and its ratio of digital orders gradually declined. That deceleration sparked concerns that Sweetgreen's business was maturing and that it could be ensnared in a cycle of boosting its revenues with new store openings as its same-store sales declined.

Metric 2021 2022 2023 Total revenue growth 54% 38% 24% New store openings 31 36 35 Same-store sales growth 25%* 13% 4% AUV growth 20%* 12% 0% Total digital revenue percentage 67% 62% 59%

Data source: Sweetgreen. *Adjusted for temporary COVID-19 closures in 2020.

But for 2024, Sweetgreen expects its same-store sales to rise 5%-7% as it opens 24-26 new locations. It expects its total revenue to rise 15%-16% to $670 million to $680 million. That stable outlook suggests it still has plenty of room to grow.

But can Sweetgreen ever turn a profit?

Sweetgreen isn't profitable yet, but its restaurant-level profit, operating, net profit, and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) margins have all improved significantly since its IPO.

Metric 2021 2022 2023 Restaurant-level profit margin 12% 15% 17% Operating margin (40%) (41%) (21%) Net profit margin (45%) (41%) (19%) Adjusted EBITDA margin (19%) (11%) 0%

Data source: Sweetgreen.

Like Chipotle, Sweetgreen raised its menu prices to offset its higher commodity and labor costs. It also downsized its corporate and support staff while automating more of its kitchens with salad-making robots.

For 2024, it expects its restaurant-level profit margin to rise to 19%-20%, with a positive adjusted EBITDA of $16-$19 million. That would represent an adjusted EBITDA margin of about 3%. Analysts expect it to narrow its net loss to $56 million.

From 2023 to 2026, analysts expect Sweetgreen's revenue to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17%. They also expect its adjusted EBITDA to more than triple from 2024 to 2026 as it continues to narrow its net losses. It ended the second quarter of 2024 with $245 million in cash and equivalents, and its manageable debt-to-equity ratio of 0.8 gives it some room to take on more debt as it expands.

Sweetgreen has an enterprise value of $4.1 billion, which makes it reasonably valued (but not a bargain) at 6 times this year's sales. Chipotle, which is growing at a comparable rate with stable profits, also trades at 6 times this year's sales.

Is it the right time to buy, sell, or hold Sweetgreen?

As long as Sweetgreen's same-store sales keep rising, it continues to open new stores, and its margins keep rising, it should be a good stock to buy and hold for the next few years. However, I'd gradually build up my position over a few quarters because its stock still isn't cheap -- and it could stumble if it fails to check just one of those three boxes.

Should you invest $1,000 in Sweetgreen right now?

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Sweetgreen Stock: Buy, Sell, or Hold? was originally published by The Motley Fool
ZURICH (Reuters) - Debt levels in the United States and Europe are a risk for international financial stability and for Switzerland, Swiss Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter said in a newspaper interview published on Saturday.

In an interview with Swiss daily Blick, Keller-Sutter extolled Switzerland's "disciplined" finances, which she said had enabled the country to deal with the economic challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

By contrast, other countries are "so indebted they're hardly able to act any more", she said, giving France as an example.

"Or take a look at America. That's a time bomb. The mini-crash on the stock markets at the start of August was a warning shot," the minister was quoted as saying.

"It was an expression of investors' fear of a recession. Debt levels in the U.S. and Europe are a risk to international financial stability and a risk for Switzerland," she added.

Keller-Sutter also discussed a government proposal to make Swiss bank UBS hold more capital in the wake of its acquisition of former rival Credit Suisse following its collapse last year.

She defended the additional capital requirements as necessary to protect Switzerland from another banking meltdown.

UBS CEO Sergio Ermotti has criticised the proposal, and she was asked whether she was in touch with him about it, saying:

"No, I haven't been in contact with him any more. This is now a normal political process."

The paper also asked what she thought about speculation that UBS could shift its headquarters abroad if it felt conditions in Switzerland were no longer right for it.

"The Federal Council (cabinet) believes it's good for the economy to have a large Swiss bank. But the bank must decide for itself how it wants to position itself."

UBS has said repeatedly it is committed to Switzerland.

(Reporting by Oliver Hirt; Writing by Dave Graham; Editing by Helen Popper)
Nataliya Dmytrenko / iStock.com

Your car can make a big impact on your personal finances. Transportation accounts for around 17% of the average households spending, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Explore More: 5 Affordable Car Brands That Rarely Need Repairs

Try This: 7 Reasons You Must Speak To a Financial Advisor Before Spending $10,000 or More

However, the costs of car ownership can vary significantly based on what car you buy. While you might be tempted to drive a luxury vehicle, it might not be the wisest choice, especially when youre young and building up your finances.

While there can be a lot of variance within car brands, on average, Millennials are choosing relatively affordable brands the most, and the top five most popular car models for this age group are all relatively fuel-efficient sedans, according to an Insurify report.

Here, well take a closer look at what that report found, along with average prices, according to a Cox Automotive report based on Kelley Blue Book data.

Also check out which affordable car brands that you wont regret buying this year.

Earning passive income doesn't need to be difficult. You can start this week.

1. Chevrolet

Chevrolet takes the top spot, with 12.58% of Millennials driving this classic Detroit-based brand. Chevy is the most popular car for Millennials in 33 states. However, a Chevrolet model doesnt appear until the seventh spot of the most popular car models for Millennials, with the Chevy Malibu taking that spot. This suggests that Millennials are pretty widespread in their Chevy purchases instead of sticking to one type.

On average, a new Chevrolet costs $47,633, slightly below the industry average of $48,401.

Find Out: 6 Hybrid Vehicles To Stay Away From Buying

2. Ford

The second most popular car brand for Millennials is another Michigan-based brand  Ford  driven by 10.86% in this age group. However, Fords popularity is relatively dispersed, considering it only takes the top spot for Millennials in four states  Colorado, Idaho, Utah, and Maine. Also, the most popular Ford model for Millennials is the Ford F-Series pickup, which only takes the sixth spot in this generations top car models overall, whereas thats the most popular model for Gen X and Boomers.

In terms of pricing, Ford models average $55,932, which is almost 15% above the average for all brands.

3. Toyota

Following closely behind Ford is Toyota, with 10.22% of Millennials driving these cars. Yet Toyota takes two out of the top five spots for most popular models for Millennials, with the Camry ranking third and Corolla ranking fifth. Toyota also has more states than Ford  seven vs. four  where its the most popular brand for Millennials. Its particularly popular in the West Coast, with Toyota taking the top spot for Millennials in Washington, Oregon, and California, along with Hawaii, Florida, Maryland, and Vermont.

Story continues

Toyota is one of the more affordable brands in the U.S., costing an average of $42,343, which is about 13% less than the industry average.

4. Honda

Toyota isnt the only Japanese-based brand on this list. Honda comes in fourth, owned by 9.11% of Millennials. Certain Hondas are particularly popular though, with the Accord being the most popular car model out of any brand for Millennials, and the Civic ranking fourth. However, Honda is only the most popular car brand in five states, concentrated in the Northeast  New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Hondas popularity could be partly explained by its affordability  the average Honda costs $37,314 vs. the industry average of $48,401.

5. Nissan

Lastly, Nissan takes the fifth spot in the most popular car brands for Millennials, owned by 9.06% of this age group. That ranking is buoyed by the Nissan Altima being the second most popular car model overall for Millennials. Yet Nissan is only the most popular car brand for Millennials in New Hampshire.

Costs are particularly low for Nissans, with the average costing $33,723  nearly $15,000 less than the industry average.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Top 5 Car Brands Driven by Millennials in 2024
Shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Get Free Report) fell 0.8% on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $29.23 and last traded at $29.26. 7,928,731 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 79% from the average session volume of 37,615,102 shares. The stock had previously closed at $29.50.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms recently weighed in on PFE. Daiwa Capital Markets raised Pfizer from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $28.00 to $34.00 in a report on Wednesday, August 7th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Pfizer from $28.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an overweight rating and set a $45.00 target price on shares of Pfizer in a report on Monday, September 16th. UBS Group boosted their target price on Pfizer from $30.00 to $31.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded Pfizer from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, August 1st. Eight 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 companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $34.54.

Get Pfizer alerts:

Read Our Latest Stock Report on PFE

Pfizer Trading Up 0.6 %

The business has a 50-day moving average price of $29.32 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $28.29. The stock has a market capitalization of $165.18 billion, a P/E ratio of -484.17, a P/E/G ratio of 1.26 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a current ratio of 0.86, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 30th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.60 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.46 by $0.14. Pfizer had a positive return on equity of 8.42% and a negative net margin of 4.66%. The business had revenue of $13.28 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.96 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.67 EPS. Pfizers revenue for the quarter was up 2.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.66 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Pfizer

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. LGT Group Foundation increased its holdings in Pfizer by 2.5% in the second quarter. LGT Group Foundation now owns 742,875 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $20,786,000 after purchasing an additional 18,274 shares in the last quarter. ORG Partners LLC grew its stake in Pfizer by 1,729.9% in the second quarter. ORG Partners LLC now owns 47,028 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,327,000 after acquiring an additional 44,458 shares during the period. Kempner Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Pfizer in the first quarter valued at approximately $2,439,000. Leo Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Pfizer in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $2,171,000. Finally, Power Corp of Canada grew its stake in Pfizer by 28.1% in the fourth quarter. Power Corp of Canada now owns 174,201 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $5,015,000 after acquiring an additional 38,243 shares during the period. 68.36% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Pfizer Company Profile

(Get 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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MicroSectors FANG & Innovation -3x Inverse Leveraged ETN (NYSEARCA:BERZ  Get Free Report)s stock price traded up 3.3% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $17.72 and last traded at $17.72. 31,233 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 70% from the average session volume of 103,371 shares. The stock had previously closed at $17.16.

MicroSectors FANG & Innovation -3x Inverse Leveraged ETN Stock Up 6.9 %

The company has a 50 day moving average of $21.44 and a two-hundred day moving average of $23.37. The firm has a market cap of $13.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.87 and a beta of -4.76.

MicroSectors FANG & Innovation -3x Inverse Leveraged ETN Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

The MicroSectors Solactive FANG & Innovation -3X Inverse Leveraged ETN (BERZ) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Solactive FANG Innovation index. The fund tracks -3x the daily price movements of an equal-weighted index of US-listed technology companies. BERZ was launched on Aug 20, 2021 and is issued by REX Microsectors.

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Saturday

HomeStore open, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., 701 E. Dodge St., Fremont. The HomeStore sells donated items at discounted prices. Proceeds support the mission of Fremont Area Habitat for Humanity.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 10 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont.

Chess Club, 10-11 a.m., Keene Memorial Library, 1030 N. Broad St., Fremont. All grades and skill levels are welcome. The club is sponsored by ChessFest.

Alcoholics Anonymous womens heart-to-heart group, noon, Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Fremont Eagles Club open, noon to midnight, 649 N. Main St., Fremont. The club may stay open later or close early depending on business.

Kickn It in the Stix, noon, Washington County Fairgrounds, Arlington. The 6th Annual Vintage Motor Fair is sponsored by The HeadLiners Car Club. The vintage motor fair is open to all years of vehicles, but there will be special parking for vehicles 1985 and older. The gates open at 11 a.m. with the show starting at noon. The car show entry fee is $20. Admission is free for spectators. The event also will include food trucks, mini bike races, a pinup contest, vendors, attractions, club pick trophies, auctions and live music.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Joseph Halls Elvis Tribute Show, 7 p.m., Mohr Auditorium, Scribner. The show is designed for all ages. For ticket information, call 402-617-4477 or visit josephhallelvis.com.

Spiritual 12-Step Recovery Program, 7 p.m., Lighthouse, 84 W. Sixth St., Fremont.

Narcotics Anonymous The Lie is Dead meeting, 8 p.m., LifeHouse, 723 N. Broad St., Fremont. The hotline number is 402-459-9511.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 10:30 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Sunday

Alcoholics Anonymous Happy Sober Sunday Group, 9 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 10 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Narcotics Anonymous Seekers of Serenity meeting, 10:30 a.m., LifeHouse, 723 N. Broad St., Fremont. The hotline number is 402-459-9511.

Fremont Eagles Club open, noon to 6 p.m., 649 N. Main St., Fremont. The club may stay open later or close early depending on business. There will be a coin auction at noon.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Narcotics Anonymous Freedom Works Group, 7 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1440 E. Military Ave., Fremont.

Alcoholics Anonymous Sunday speaker, 7:30 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Monday

TOPS Club (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), 9 a.m., First United Methodist Church, 850 N. Broad St., Fremont. Weigh-ins begin at 8 a.m. Visitors (preteens, teens and adults  male and female) are welcome. The first meeting is free. For more information, call 531-281-9288.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 10 a.m., Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont.

Lightkeepers Womens Group, 10 a.m., Lighthouse, 84 W. Sixth St., Fremont.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, noon, Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Fremont Eagles Club open, 3 p.m. to midnight, 649 N. Main St., Fremont. The club may stay open later or close early depending on business. There will be a trustees meeting at 3:30 p.m.

Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, 5:15 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, Fremont.

Celebrate Recovery, 6:30 p.m., Fremont Church of the Nazarene, 960 Johnson Road

Fresh Hope Mental Health Support Group, 7 p.m., Lighthouse, 84 W. Sixth St., Fremont.

Narcotics Anonymous Freedom Works Group, 7 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1440 E. Military Ave., Fremont.

Alcoholics Anonymous 12x12 meeting, 8 p.m., Chapter 5 Club, 136 N. Main St., Fremont.
An important update and local slice of life regarding a rising star earned a community honor in a place of local distinction . . .



Don't be a hater . . . TKC is still trying, UNSUCCESSFULLY, after twenty years to get my favorite local coffee shop to name a drink after this dump of a blog.

And so . . .

Our blog community gives credit to this young man who isn't afraid to endure public criticism to stand up for his values and political ideals . . . Check-it:



"This Saturday, my name will be enshrined on the Monument to Freedom, Justice, and Courage."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
For our most loyal readers, once again, we consider pop culture, community news and top headlines.

Check TKC news gathering . . .

Home Team Hits Back

Royals phinish off Phillies with 7-4 win Salvy provides the lumber while Wacha is terrific.

Cowtown Changes Tune

Meet the salsa-dancing regulars of 'Latin Night' at Society in Kansas City's Crossroads The Crossroads bar Society has become Kansas City's hub of social dancing, with two nights every week dedicated to salsa, bachata, cumbia and merengue. For beginners, it's a place to practice your moves - for experienced salseros, it's an "injection of life."

Blowup Footage Found . . .

WATCH: Surveillance video shows intensity of Excelsior Springs house explosion Surveillance from an Excelsior Springs neighborhood shows the intensity of an explosion four miles away.

More Doggies Saved This Week

Wayside Waifs, National Mill Dog Rescue saves at least 20 dogs in mill Wayside Waifs says that the dogs and puppies were saved from a puppy mill in Humansville, Missouri. They arrived at the adoption center around 2 p.m.

Show-Me Legal Fight For Life

Only a guilty man would have taken deal, says Missouri AG. Or one who wanted to live | Opinion Of course Marcellus Williams doesn't want to executed - and hopes to prove his innocence someday. | Opinion

Kansas Indictment Exposed

Former KC bank president's lawsuit claims wrongful termination, sex discrimination - Kansas City Business Journal Former Bank of Blue Valley President Will Fox's federal lawsuit alleges discrimination after he claims he was fired on the basis of a co-worker's allegations.

Show-Me Effective Call For Help

Calls from Missouri to new 988 crisis hotline up 136% since 2022 * Missouri Independent Missouri has seen one of the nation's largest increases in calls to the national hotline that aids people facing mental health crises.

Kegger Flick Coming Soon

Adam Sandler confirms Travis Kelce will appear in 'Happy Gilmore 2' Adam Sandler has confirmed that Travis Kelce will appear in 'Happy Gilmore 2': 'We have a nice something for Travis.'

Hipsters Share Local Show Notes

Six bands brought 20 Years of Tears to Uptown for dream screamo marathon Hawthorn Heights' 20 Years of Tears Tour is a stacked lineup, built to pull on every last one of your heartstrings.

Friday Friendship Note

Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie filming new Simple Life series Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie proved how close they still are on Thursday evening. Both Paris and Nicole had on midnight black ball gowns that made them look ready for a ball.

American Royalty Endorsement

RFK Jr. suspends his presidential bid and backs Donald Trump before appearing with him at his rally Hours after he suspended his independent campaign for the White House and endorsed Donald Trump, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. joined the Republican presidential nominee onstage at an Arizona rally. Kennedy was greeted on Friday by thundering applause as he took the stage to the Foo Fighters and a pyrotechnics display after being introduced by Trump.

Legal Fight Against White House

Biden admin sued by 16 states over parole push for illegal immigrants with US spouses More than a dozen Republican-led states are suing the Biden administration over its parole in place for illegal immigrant spouses of U.S. citizens.

Veep Ignores Earth?!?

Kamala Harris barely mentioned climate at the DNC. Does it matter? "It's become an absolutely kitchen table issue," says the chair of the DNC's climate council.

Nasty Punditry Update?!?!

Ann Coulter Shrugs Off Insult to Tim Walz's Son With Misspelled Non-Apology The conservative firebrand said she deleted her original tweet after learning about Walz's son's learning disorder.

Labor Fight On Track

Canada rail shutdown: Union challenges government move The union representing over 9,000 Canadian rail workers vowed on Friday to challenge the federal government's effort to mandate binding arbitration that would end an unprecedented rail stoppage at both of the country's main freight rail carriers.

No Deal For Holy Land

Cease-fire deal collapse threatens to ignite Middle East conflict The apparent collapse of a Gaza cease-fire and hostage release deal is spurring fears that a major escalation of conflict in the Middle East is around the corner. Secretary of State Antony Blinken...

Vlad Warns Us About Nukes

Russia issues new nuclear warning as Ukraine's Kursk invasion expands Moscow accused Ukraine of attempting an attack against a nuclear power plant in Kursk.

Iran From Techk Crackdown

Meta takes down more accounts tied to Iranian hackers targeting the U.S. election The company says the hackers posed as tech support to target people affiliated with President Biden and Donald Trump, in the latest evidence of Iran's attempts to influence the 2024 election

Another

European Knife Attack

Manhunt in Germany after three killed in festival stabbing attack | CNN A manhunt is underway after an attacker armed with a knife killed three people and seriously wounded four others at a festival Friday in the western German city of Solingen, police told CNN.

Best Practices For Suiting Up

You should be changing your condom during sex - here's why Most men keep a condom on hand in case a spontaneous sex session arises - but one rubber may not be enough if you're a long-lasting lover. Experts say condoms should be changed regularly during romps to increase their efficacy.

Champ Buys Alma Mater Love

Texas Tech Football to Pay Cool Tributes to Patrick Mahomes After QB's Huge Donation The Red Raiders are honoring a program icon.

Golden Ghetto Rerouted

Closure of I-435 in Johnson County this weekend for bridge demolition Drivers in Johnson County should prepare for major traffic disruptions this weekend as both eastbound and westbound lanes of I-435 will be fully closed to for a bridge demolition project.

Classic Songs For Kansas City

This weekend is Barry Manilow's last Kansas City concert. Here's what fans should know Pop legend Barry Manilow plays at T-Mobile Center in KC for one final time Sunday, and seats are as low as $15 for the show. Get the details.

Tribute To Hero Of The Dotte

Chester Owens, civil rights leader, historian and Kansas City, Kansas icon, died August 22 at his KCK home Chester Owens, a historian and one of the leaders in the civil rights movement in Kansas City, Kansas, died Thursday at his Kansas City, Kansas, home.

Warmer Weekend Forecast

Heat advisory this weekend in Kansas City Kansas City will experience partly cloudy skies tonight with temperatures dipping into the low 70s.

Post Malone - Losers ft. Jelly Roll is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
This morning actress, producer, model and influencer hottie Sydney inspires our latest look into the discourse by way of pop culture, community news and top headlines.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

Kansas City Midtown Revs Up

Westport Wheels Auto Show this weekend The show runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday on Pennsylvania Avenue south of Westport Road.

Steamy Saturday Expected

Heat advisory issued for Kansas City area beginning Saturday A heat advisory was issued for the entire Kansas City area beginning on Saturday. The advisory will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday and last until 8 p.m. on Sunday.

Show-Me Local Dive Cleanup

Missouri Business Catches Carp Leaping from Platte River Through a contract with the Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Coast Fisheries is testing a new method for catching carp in the Platte River.

Election Economy Fact Check

Kansas City economist analyzes Kamala Harris' proposed ban on price gouging Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to delve deeper into her proposed policies at Thursday night's Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

First Responders Share Tech Guide

Firefighters warn against unattended charging batteries after Northland blaze Firefighters have warned Kansas Citians to not leave charging batteries unattended after a lithium-ion battery sparked a blaze in the Northland.

Good Times Await Up North

Parkville Days Festival taking place Friday-Sunday Parkville Days will take place at English Landing Park Friday, Aug. 23 through Sunday, Aug. 25.

Actress Shares Retro Deets

Sydney Sweeney's 'Barbarella' Gets Eye-Catching Update Blake Northcott, writer of the Sydney Sweeney-led Barbarella remake, teases fans on what to expect from the upcoming Edgar Wright movie.

MAGA Must Match Meanness?!?

Trump: 'I have to get personal' citing 'nasty' Obamas at DNC Former President Trump on Friday complained that the Obamas were "nasty" in their Democratic convention speeches and ribbed his advisers for suggesting he stick to policy instead of personal attacks.

Margin Call: Actually, RFK2 Endorsement Is A VERY BIG DEAL!!!

RFK Jr. endorsing Trump roils social media: 'Just tore down the modern Democrat Party!!!' Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s announcement he was suspending his campaign and endorsing former President Trump unleashed a wave of social media reactions.

DNC Bounces

Democratic convention energy, Harris hot streak making Republicans nervous The energy emerging from the Democratic National Convention and Vice President Harris's hot streak is making Republicans increasingly nervous. Thursday marked the culmination of what was unth...

Sin City Newsie Killing Sparks Questions

Ex-Democratic Las Vegas politician accused of murdering veteran journalist stumped when confronted with surprise text message at trial The whereabouts of a former Las Vegas Democratic politician around the time a veteran investigative journalist was brutally stabbed to death remains a key question in the ex-official's murder trial...

Fredo Deserves Credit

Chris Cuomo rips 'pay to play' as DNC luxury suites go for $5M: 'Same people they say they are going to regulate' Chris Cuomo blasted Democrats for charging up to $1.5 million for a suite at their convention in Chicago while pledging to go after price gouging.

Holy Land Will Never Surrender

Even if a Gaza ceasefire is agreed, Israel has made clear it reserves the right to resume the war with Hamas | CNN Politics Months of feverish negotiations, in different cities and at multiple levels, have gotten Israel and Hamas closer to striking a ceasefire deal. But even if an agreement is reached - still far from certain - it could end up only lasting only weeks before it collapses and the war in Gaza resumes.

Eastern Europe War Worsens

Satellite images show Ukraine's expanding attacks inside Russia Ukraine's daring incursion into Russia has been backed by an expanding campaign of aerial attacks on strategic targets - from bridges in the Kursk region where its ground forces have pressed their surprise assault, to an airbase and oil depot set ablaze deep inside the Kremlin's territory.

As The World Burns

Fires break out on abandoned Greek-flagged oil tanker Sounion that Yemen rebels attacked in Red Sea Fires have broken on a Greek-flagged oil tanker previously attacked by Yemen's Houthi rebels this week. The vessel now appears to be adrift in the Red Sea.

Start The Day With Special Hugs

5 reasons you should have more morning sex, according to a relationship expert Okay, so the buzzing or blaring of your alarm clock going off at dawn isn't exactly a turn-on. But don't let that...

Toast To Kansas City East Side

Get Ready For KC's First Hip-Hop Beer Festival The first black-owned brewery in KC, Vine Street Brewing is hosting our city's first hip-hop beer festival: Hip-Hops Hooray! Beer Fest.

Weekend Weather Buzz . . .

Impact Days: Heat advisories in place for Kansas City the entire weekend As the skies clear, the heat index is projected to exceed 100 degrees. Due to the sweltering conditions, heat advisories are in effect throughout the weekend.

Diplo & Mau P feat. Gunna - Receipts is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
Another glimpse at gun law up for debate as tech & gadgets often overcome society's ability to regulate tolls and/or behavior.

Here's the overview . . .

U.S. District Judge John Broomes on Wednesday dismissed two counts of unlawful possession of a machine gun against Tamori Morgan. Morgan had been indicted by a grand jury in April 2023 in U.S. District Court in Wichita.



Broomes wrote that the prosecution "fails to meet its burden to demonstrate that possession of the types of weapons at issue in this case are lawfully prohibited under the Second Amendment."



Prosecutors alleged that Morgan on Oct. 17, 2022, possessed "an Anderson Manufacturing, model AM-15 .300 caliber machinegun" as well as "a machinegun conversion device," also known as a so-called Glock switch. They filed for the forfeiture of the AM-15, a Glock 33, a conversion device and ammunition.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Kansas judge dismisses machine gun and Glock switch charges, citing 2nd Amendment A Kansas judge dismissed federal machine gun charges, including for a Glock switch, based on the Second Amendment and a SCOTUS gun rights decision.

Machine gun ban found unconstitutional in part by KS Court KANSAS (KSNT) - In a groundbreaking order out of the U.S. District Court of Kansas, a man charged with possessing machine guns had his case dismissed after the court found "the plain text of the Second Amendment does not cover the possession of machineguns." The decision by Judge John Broomes hinged on the Bruen and [...]

Developing . . .
One of Fremonts most well-known philanthropists and community supporters  99-year-old Dale Olson  was recently recognized for his decades long support and financial donations to Fremont Public Schools.

According to a press release from the FPS administrative staff, Olson was honored on Friday, Aug. 16, as the 2024 Friend of Education Award recipient.

Dale was honored in front of the nearly 800 employees of FPS during their opening session celebration. FPS staff achieving milestones in their careers were recognized during the 90-minute celebration for years of service in five-year increments, district communications officer Hope Pierce said in the release.

During the Tuesday, Aug. 13, official ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Career and Technical Education Center at Fremont High School, FPS Superintendent Mark Shepard heaped praise on Olson as he addressed the more than 200 local officials and residents on hand.

Shepard said during the ribbon cutting event that Olson was a tireless supporter of the entire community of Fremont, and that he had been a gracious donor and facilitator for FPS in a variety of efforts over the years.

Olson had originally donated $100,000 to the new CTE facility, but after a tour this summer, Shepard said Olson went above and beyond and raised his donation to a total of $250,000.

Olson was awarded the Friend of Education Award, which Pierce described as, the highest distinction and award that Fremont Public Schools bestows to a deserving member (or) members of the community.

Among the criteria for a person to be honored with the award are, the commitment, service and innovation toward the education of students, according to the release.

A graduate of West Point High School, Olson moved south and was a student at the former Midland Lutheran College for one semester. The college is now called Midland University.

(Dale) enlisted in the United States Navy for two and a half years. After his military service, Dale attended the University of Nebraska where he earned a degree in engineering. Upon graduation, Dale went to work for what was then, Valley Manufacturing  and would later co-found Valmont Industries, the release said. Dale retired from Valmont after 38 years as an engineer, but he remained very active in supporting the community of Fremont. The common thread through all of Dales support is Fremonts children, youth, and their families.

At the Aug. 16 ceremony, Shepard again talked about the impact Olson has had on the local community.

Dale is well known throughout the area for supporting many activities and efforts designed to help young people succeed, Shepard was quoted as saying. As you drive around the community, there are a number of facilities and donor recognitions which include the Olsons. Fremont and FPS are fortunate for his commitment to our community and schools.

Although he was not able to be at the Aug. 13 ribbon cutting, according to the release, Olson was present at the event on Aug. 16, and there he, shared comments with the staff about the important role each of them play in helping young people find success.

He also thanked the Board of Education and administration for the recognition. The staff responded and showed their appreciation for Dale with a well-deserved several-minute standing ovation, Pierce said.

During the Aug. 16 event, local time school district employee Marilyn Pueppke was honored as she begins her 45th year of service in Fremont.
Like many visitors to Hawaii, I arrived in Oahu expecting fruity cocktails and colourful beach chairs. Instead, within 24 hours of arriving, I found myself knee-deep in a watery trench at an ancient kalo (taro) field, pulling out stubborn weeds with my bare hands.

Mud was everywhere  on my limbs, clothes and even splashed across my cheek. I was taking a Malama Aina (caring for the land) tour at Kualoa Ranch, a 400-acre private nature reserve listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and famous as a filming location for multiple Jurassic Park movies. Our guide, Lehua Buck, a kanaka maoli (native islander), led our small group as we tended to the life-nourishing kalo.

Here in Hawaii, we believe in mana, a spiritual energy or life force that flows through everything we do, Buck explained. In our culture, understanding this interconnectedness and balance of nature, power, strength and authority is essential. In Western culture, mana can be thought of as the soul of a place or a person. Kalo, she added, is revered for its role in sustaining life and is offered to the gods, as the root vegetable is believed to be made by Kane, the creator.

There, amid the lush agricultural fields and shrimp ponds, I felt a shift in how I wanted to spend my time in Oahu. Instead of solely lounging on the sand, tropical drink in hand, I needed to seek experiences that would help me recognize and feel the energy, and in turn bring me closer to nurturing my own mana.

At breakfast the next morning, my server, Jennifer Sylva, another kanaka maoli, eagerly jotted down a few places for me to explore. This is where I take my friends when they visit, to show them local island life, she said.

My first stop was along the North Shore to sample local dishes that represented Hawaiian culture. At the Big Wave Shrimp food truck, for example, the signature ingredient in their shrimp plates is sourced from places like Kualoa Ranch, where native aquaculture in earthen fish ponds is practiced. At the long-running Waiahole Poi Factory, the menu features island classics like lau lau (pork wrapped in taro leaf), alongside hand-pounded poi, a smooth taro root paste, considered one of Hawaiis foundational, historically sacred dishes.

Waiahole was established in 1907 and has also served as an incubator for families in the food business. They believe that traditional food and locally sourced ingredients serve a purpose beyond nourishment, offering a spiritual connection to Hawaiian culture and practices, which I could appreciate after my visit to Kualoa Ranch.

Belly full, I headed to the Haleiwa Market, where I met Leilani, an artist creating products adorned with hand-carved sea turtles, each one unique. She explained that her art is inspired by the many moods of the ocean god, and the spiritual energy she derives from him. While no two people will have the same experience of mana, she noted, for each person this energy can awaken a genuine understanding of Hawaiian people and culture.

When I expressed my desire to channel this energy, Leilani recommended Chuns Reef, a rugged stretch of beach renowned for its surf and a prime spot for sea turtles. True to her word, I soon found myself alone with a group of turtles gracefully navigating the water. Some fought the current to avoid the rocks, while others floated on the surface, letting the waves carry them to safety. I stayed there for hours, captivated by their movements, which seemed to convey a profound lesson: use the divinity or mana of the ocean to guide your path in life.

That evening back at my hotel, I met Piialii Lawson, a hula teacher and cultural practitioner, as he was heading to teach sound meditation with a pahu (drum) and a uliuli (rattle). He explained that in Hawaii, these traditional instruments use sound, tone and rhythm to communicate with ancestors, and he channels their spiritual essence to create a holistic meditation experience.

My time in Oahu, seeking mana, taught me that connecting with a places energy provides a deeper understanding of its culture and people. It enriches perspectives and helps us live harmoniously with ourselves and the aina (land).
In this episode of Morning Edition, We discuss the issue of bullying following the suicide o
Ukraine should decide whether Russian representatives should be invited to the second Peace Summit.

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said this at a briefing on Friday, Ukrinform reports.

"It is their [Ukraine's] initiative in which we have taken part. [] I think there was a very open discussion on this. What will be the next steps? Who exactly will come? Will the Russians come or not? You know that's really not an issue for us to take a call. That's an issue which presumably the government of Ukraine is dealing with," he said.

The minister also refrained from commenting on a peace plan presented by China. At the same time, he noted that this is a matter for "the parties concerned."

"Regarding whatever China may have proposed, I think it's not us for us to respond. I think it is for the parties concerned to respond. So I would suggest you direct that question to the Ukrainian government," Jaishankar said.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Ukraine on August 23.

On August 22, Modi said during his trip to Warsaw that India believes that no war ends on the battlefield and supports diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine as soon as possible. He added that India is ready to cooperate with other friendly nations to provide as much support as possible to peacekeeping efforts to restore peace in Ukraine.

Photo: Flickr
From September, Ukrainians without temporary protection status will be able to work in Lithuania only after obtaining a residence permit, according to the Lithuanian Migration Department.

Up until now, foreigners registered with the Migration Department who are unable to return to Ukraine and are not entitled to temporary protection have been exempted from the obligation to obtain a work permit if they met certain exception criteria, the Lithuanian broadcaster LRT report.

As noted, these applied to foreigners who used the visa-free regime or had a valid Schengen visa, as well as to those who had national visas issued under unforeseen circumstances. An exception was also made for those applying for residence permits on the basis of work, highly qualified employment, or humanitarian grounds.

As of September 1, the period of facilitation ends for all these cases, except for highly qualified workers. This means that a foreigner who is not entitled to temporary protection but cannot return to Ukraine due to hostilities and who has applied for a temporary residence permit on work or humanitarian grounds will be entitled to work from the date of obtaining a residence permit, and not from the date of submission of their application.

However, these changes will not affect Ukrainian war refugees who benefit from the Temporary Protection Mechanism introduced by the European Union in Lithuania as they are issued digital residence permits by the Migration Department.

The Migration Department reminds that in cases where a foreigner has been granted temporary protection and intends to apply for a temporary residence permit on the basis of employment, they do not need to obtain a decision from the Employment Service on the compliance of the foreigners work with the needs of the Lithuanian labor market.

As reported, last week the Lithuanian government allocated almost 9 million euros to support Ukrainian refugees in Lithuania.
A modest Motel 6 in Greenwood Village has become the latest flashpoint in the Denver regions ongoing struggle with homelessness as the owner of the motel has now sued the wealthy suburb in federal court for allegedly trying to rid itself of undesirable disabled people.

The lawsuit, filed Aug. 1 in U.S. District Court in Denver, contends that through a years-long campaign of harassment, Greenwood Village has violated the federal Americans with Disabilities Act by targeting the small number of homeless guests placed at the motel who struggle with mental health and addiction issues  both considered disabilities under the law.

The suburban town of 15,000, with an average household income of about $250,000 and median property values north of $1 million, passed an ordinance in 2014 to limit the stay of any motel guest in Greenwood Village to 29 days in a consecutive 60-day period.

At the time, an exception was made if the guest had a written contract by a governmental or charitable group or an insurance agency to stay at the motel. The lawsuit contends that the allegedly targeted guests at the Motel 6 clearly fall under that exception and should be able to stay longer than 29 days if needed.

Earlier this month the town removed all exceptions to the 29-day rule. It is unclear if the latest action was in response to the lawsuit.

Passing a law which declares war on people with disabilities is not only illegal, it is disgusting and un-American, but that is exactly what Greenwood Village has done, said David Lane, the Denver civil rights attorney who filed the suit.

A spokesperson for Greenwood Village declined to comment because of the ongoing litigation.

At the heart of this fight is Dr. Neza Bharucha.

The 34-year-old psychiatrist and mother of four grew up in Georgia and Wyoming, living in motels that her parents ran. It runs in my blood, she said. As a child she and her brother helped with laundry and housekeeping.

After medical school in Ohio, she moved to Colorado in 2017 for her psychiatry residency at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Back then she helped her father at the 80s-era motel tucked into a commercial district on Arapahoe Road. Three years ago, in 2021, her husband bought the motel from her father, and she continues to help manage it in addition to her psychiatric practice.

She and her husband once lived at the motel and loved it but moved to a house in Greenwood Village when their family expanded.

She said she has always held a deep belief in helping those in need, especially families who are in crisis with addiction and mental illness. Through the motel she found herself in the unique position to help.

In a chance elevator conversation in 2019 at Denver Health she and a caseworker for the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless were bemoaning how homeless psychiatric patients often were discharged from the hospital back onto the street only to return days later for readmittance after losing their medication or having it stolen. It felt like a revolving door. And an expensive one.

The caseworker said her organization wanted to start some kind of program where discharged patients could go to a motel temporarily to get off the street and have a stable place to stay.

Bharucha said it felt like destiny. Wait, I have a motel, she said.

At first it was just five rooms paid for by the non-profit. The cost was roughly $60 per room. The arrangement was so successful that it grew to 10 rooms. Soon other groups followed. In the five years since, Bharucha said more than 2,800 families in crisis have used the motel, although not all for more than 29 days.

And never, she said, were more than about 25 % of the 132 rooms in the motel used for the program.

She added that those with addiction problems are in recovery and not active users. If they were, she said, they would be kicked out. Despite her training she does not offer any psychiatric help to guests, serving only as an inn keeper.

Still, she said, Greenwood Village leaders seem to have been on an orchestrated mission for years to harass both her family and motel guests. At first, she said, it was asking to see a roster of guests and when she and her father refused, she said police began circling the parking lot monitoring how long cars were parked.

They just dont want us here, she said, accusing the town of selective enforcement of an ordinance that seems to give a pass to higher-end hotels.

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On April 9, 2021, she received a letter from the Greenwood Village city attorney that said: The exception for families in crisis is meant to allow families who are displaced due to an emergency (usually a natural emergency) to stay longer than 29 days. It is not meant for individuals who have been released from jail and have nowhere to go and who are suffering from mental health and/or addiction issues.

Then it got personal.

In August 2022, Bharucha said she was ordered by a Greenwood Village municipal judge to hand over documents about rooms rented by non-profit groups to be used in a subsequent criminal prosecution. Bharucha refused. After first losing in municipal court, she won on appeal.

But while that case was still pending, she was charged criminally in May 2023 for violating the towns 29-day rule. The charge was later dropped. But she said the message was clear. It was retaliation, she said. Its an abuse of power.

She called it the worst, most stressful time of her life. So, she decided to turn the tables. That is when, after first searching in vain for a lawyer to take her case, she found civil rights lawyer David Lane who promptly joined the fight.

Our client is simply trying her best to help the less fortunate in our society and Greenwood Village is doing everything in its power to stop her, Lane told the Denver Gazette, We love standing up to bullies like Greenwood Village.

The lawsuit asks for damages to be set at trial.

Cesar Jimenez, head of supportive housing for Community Economic Defense Project, said his advocacy group began working with Bharucha earlier this year. It joined the lawsuit as a plaintiff because he said his organization was outraged at how she was treated. I hate what theyve been doing, he said of the city.

She has provided a lifeline to so many people who are marginalized, said Cathy Alderman, a spokesperson for Colorado Coalition for the Homeless who first partnered with the Motel 6 in 2019.

Alderman criticized the tactics of Greenwood Village, saying that it has shown no proof of any harm by those at the motel and the town has offered no alternative solution.

It is especially difficult for homeless people in crisis in the Denver suburbs. There are not enough family shelters. Sometimes a motel is the best option, Alderman said.

It was for Ashlee Rhatigan, a 37-year-old single mother of two, ages 8 and 5.

Her 8-year-old son struggles with emotional and mental health issues. The three of them have been staying at the Motel 6 since June  longer than 29 daysusing a voucher from Community Economic Defense Project.

Rhatigan said she lost her steady job at Target because when her son acted out in class she would have to miss work if he was sent home. As often happens, when the regular paycheck disappeared so did the money for rent and her car payment. She was evicted and her car repossessed.

She is hoping for permanent housing and help for her son. I tell them it is a vacation, she said, I dont want this to be hard on them.

Most of their possessions were lost in the eviction, a few things were stored. They brought what they could to the motel. She has tried to make it homey with the childrens belongings and an art station in the corner of the room.

The best part of living in the motel over the summer was the small swimming pool which gave her children something to do, she said.

Rhatigan does not like to think of herself as homeless, but she knows she is. I lost everything, she said. We would be on the street if it was not for this motel.
On Friday, the federal appeals court based in Denver reinstated the lawsuit of Eric St. George against the city of Lakewood and Agent Devon Trimmer after a lower court dismissed the case. A majority of the three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit determined, under the totality of the circumstances during that night in Lakewood, Trimmer had not acted reasonably when she shot St. George.
Lawyers for Bryan Kohberger, the former criminal justice PhD student accused in the grisly slayings of four University of Idaho students, are fighting to get his quadruple murder trial moved out of Latah County, Idaho, citing the community's "mob mentality" against him.

Kohberger, now 29, allegedly stabbed Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, to death in their off-campus apartment in November 2022.

A motive in the heinous killings remains unclear.

As part of the newest development in the case, court documents filed earlier this week indicate Kohberger's defense attorneys are petitioning to relocate the trial to Ada County, after the results of a theoretical phone study in the Latah County area allegedly indicated a general hostility toward the alleged killer, NBC News reported, citing court records.

If a jury failed to convict Kohberger, respondents said they'd "burn the courthouse down" and that "they would probably find him and kill him."

Another said, "There would likely be a riot and he wouldn't last long outside because someone would do the good ole' boy justice."

A judge will hear the state and defense's arguments over locality on Aug. 29.

Until then, here is everything we know about the high-profile case.

The victims

Mogen, Goncalves, Kernodle, and Chapin, died in an apparent knife attack near the University of Idaho on Nov. 13, 2022.

Mogen, Goncalves and Kernodle were roommates at the off-campus, Moscow, Idaho home, and Chapin  Kernodle's boyfriend  was spending the night, when they were slaughtered in their sleep, authorities determined.

Roommates Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke were also home at the time of the attacks, but were uninjured and ruled out as suspects early on in the investigation, ABC News reported at the time.

Bryan Kohberger is arrested

It wouldn't be until six weeks and 2,500 miles later that authorities would arrest Kohberger for the murders, after DNA evidence, surveillance video and cell phone records allegedly tied him to the scene of the crime.

Kohberger was taken into custody while visiting his parents in Pennsylvania Dec. 30, 2022.

The charges

Kohberger was charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary for the college students' slayings.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges in May 2023.

Who is Bryan Kohberger?

Kohberger is the only suspect accused of killing Mogen, Goncalves, Kernodle, and Chapin, according to prosecutors.

Whether or not he knew the victims remains unclear, but Goncalves' mother claimed Kohberger followed her daughter on Instagram prior to the slayings.

"You would go to Maddie's Instagram account and look at her pictures, and he liked them," Kristi Goncalves told 48 Hours in June. "He had liked them. Bryan's name was under a lot of Maddie's pictures. Liked her pictures, liked that picture and that picture, and that picture, and that picture. So, he was actively looking at the Instagram account."

The Goncalves' said Kohberger's account was deleted following his arrest.

Since it's reported deletion, the authenticity of the account could not be independently confirmed and the defense has maintained Kohberger did not know any of the victims.

Kohberger's Alibi

Kohberger claimed he was out "stargazing" the night of the murders, and therefore couldn't be tied to the crime scene  an alibi the Goncalves family said they don't buy.

"We have been waiting on this information for months and it has finally arrived," the family said in a statement, in part, in May, according to KREM-TV. "It is so hard not knowing anything about the case and you find you have to cling to dates, motions and hearings in order to figure out anything. A big part of this has been waiting on the Alibi information. Now that it is here we feel even more confident in the prosecution of the Defendant. The Defense's claim is that the Defendant was driving late at night hiking/running and stargazing. We are not sure why it has taken over a year for this to come out as those don't seem to be complicated activities."

What's next

On Aug. 29, a judge will hear arguments from both sides over the locality of the trial.

A tentative trial date of June 2, 2025 has been set, and is expected to run through the end of August of next year.
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ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Aug, 2024) Chairperson of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Senator Rubina Khalid Saturday said that the BISP is providing additional financial support to alleviate the economic difficulties of poor families.

She stated that the program reflects the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto to economically empower the women of Pakistan, a vision she championed even during her exile in Dubai.

Thanks to this program, the most vulnerable women in the country have gained recognition and support, she said.

Senator Rubina Khalid expressed these views during her speech at the women's Khuli Katcheri in Azakhil Bala, Nowshera, said a news release.

Senator Rubina Khalid urged the women to visit the BISP offices to collect their payments only after receiving a confirmation message from 8171.

She highlighted the importance of having essential documents such as the Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) issued by NADRA and the Form B for children to enroll in the program.

In the event of any deductions, she advised contacting the BISP helpline at 0800-26477 or visiting the nearest BISP tehsil office.

She further mentioned that BISP provides educational scholarships to the children of deserving families under the Benazir Taleemi Wazaif Programme, with a special focus on scholarships for girls.

Additionally, a unique skill development program is being launched to enhance the socio-economic status of deserving women and their family members.

Later, Senator Rubina Khalid visited Tehsil Katlang in Mardan, where she addressed a public gathering.

She shared that, as per the instructions of President Asif Ali Zardari, the scope of the BISP is being expanded to include more deserving households.

She emphasized that the aim is for eligible women to receive their payments with dignity and respect, without any deductions.

Senator Rubina Khalid also announced that BISP has introduced a new banking system to facilitate the payment of funds to deserving women.

Under this system, the services of six banks are being procured to minimize human intervention, ensuring that beneficiaries receive their payments promptly.

She appealed to the public to cooperate with BISP management to ensure that payments are collected transparently and honorably by the entitled women.
RAHIM YAR KHAN, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Aug, 2024) Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif visited the families of police martyrs of Rahim Yar Khan at the DPO office to share their grief.

The police martyrs included Muhammad Imran, Rashid, Sajid, Ahmed, Zahid, Munir, Nazir Abbas, Ins Sattar, and Abdullah. Among those who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty were three Hindu youths namely Ajay Ram, Bairam Ram, and Raja Kanwal.

CM Maryam Nawaz met the parents, family members, and children of the martyrs. She offered prayers for the martyrs and comforted the grieving families by visiting the relatives of the martyrs one by one. She encouraged the mothers and widows of the martyrs. Maryam also embraced a crying widow. She showed affection to the young children of a martyr.

There was a lapse, and we will rectify the mistake. Such incidents will not happen again, stated Maryam Nawaz Sharif. "Every martyr is a hero of the nation; the bereaved families will receive full support," she added.

"The children of martyrs will be provided with free education, housing, and employment," Maryam Nawaz Sharif promised. "I have no words to express the sorrow over the martyrdom of police officers due to the bandits' attack," Maryam Nawaz said. "As soon as I received the news, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif instructed me to visit the grieving families immediately," she mentioned. "Every life is precious; we will also ensure protection of police officers," emphasised Maryam Nawaz. "We must find a permanent solution to the issue of Katcha area. Construction of checkpoints will be completed soon," she promised.

Maryam Nawaz received a detailed briefing in the committee room at the DPO office. She was informed about the details of the tragic incident in Katcha area. Chief Secretary Punjab Zahid Akhtar Zaman, Special Assistant Rashid Nasrullah, Home Secretary Noorul Amin Mengal, IGP Police Dr. Usman Anwar, additional IGs, police officers, and administrative officials accompanied her.
SARGODHA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Aug, 2024) Chief Minister Price Control Task Force Punjab Chairperson Salma Butt paid visit to Sargodha on Saturday.

She visited several bazaars and markets and reviewed the price control related situation under price control act in the city. Deputy Commissioner Sargodha Muhammad Wasim was also present, and he briefed the chairperson on the current situation.

He said that 52 price control magistrates were working in the district and continuing constant crackdowns on profiteers, hoarders and stockists in the district. He said that price control magistrates were required in seven Tehsil of the District due to shortage of price control magistrates and 52 magistrates were not enough to for tightening the noose around strong profiteering mafia.

Salma Butt said the Punjab government was working on war footing Basis to establish profiteering free system.

She said that Punjab Government would soon set up Price control enforcement Regularity Authority aimed to expedite capability of Price control magistrates in war against profiteering.

Later, she met industrialists, traders and representatives of karyana store association Sargodha.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Aug, 2024) Speaker of the National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, on Saturday issued production orders for Haji Imtiaz Ahmed Chaudhry, a Member of the National Assembly (MNA) from NA-68 Mandi Bahauddin, who is currently in custody.

The orders were issued for the upcoming National Assembly session scheduled to be held on Monday, August 26.

The Speaker exercised his authority under Rule 108 of the National Assembly Rules of Procedure and Conduct of business, 2007, to issue these orders.

MNA Haji Imtiaz Ahmed Chaudhry has been in the custody of the Anti-Corruption Establishment Punjab since July 24, 2024, under FIR No. 17/2024.

The National Assembly Secretariat has sent an official letter to the Director General of the Anti-Corruption Establishment, Government of Punjab, instructing that arrangements be made to ensure MNA Haji Imtiaz Ahmed Chaudhry's attendance at the upcoming session starting on Monday, August 26.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Aug, 2024) President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday strongly condemned the blast in Pishin resulting in the martyrdom of innocent children.

In a message, he expressed deep sorrow and grief over the martyrdom of the young children and extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.

The president reaffirmed his resolve to continue the fight against terrorism, directing the relevant authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.

He prayed to Allah Almighty to grant high ranks to the martyred children in Jannah and grant courage to the bereaved families to bear this loss with patience.
LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Aug, 2024) Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has strongly criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its founder, accusing them of fostering politics of disruption in the country.

Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, he referred to the PTI as "Tehreek-e-Inteshar" (Disruption Party), alleging that the party had engaged in activities detrimental to national interests.

"The Tehreek-e-Inteshar has consistently propagated against our national institutions and has never hesitated to damage the country's interests," said Tarar. He claimed that the PTI's founder divided society and incited people against one another, leading to internal conflicts within the party itself.

The minister also touched upon internal strife within the PTI, mentioning that the party was now engulfed in internal divisions.

He alleged that Aleema Khan, sister of the PTI founder, had informed Rauf Hassan that Bushra Bibi, the wife of the PTI founder, was spreading false news.

"Bushra Bibi is spreading a false narrative for sympathy," Tarar quoted Aleema as saying. He also highlighted the existence of various factions within the PTI, claiming that disinformation cells were actively operating within the party.

"One disinformation cell was run by Rauf Hassan and Aleema Khan, while another was being managed by Bushra Bibi," he said. He emphasised that these internal divisions were symptomatic of the chaos and discord within the party.

Tarar concluded by warning that the politics of hatred and division never end well, and noted that efforts to harm the country for political gains were ongoing. "The party of those who engage in the politics of hatred and division is itself in disarray," he added.
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Primary suspect Sanjay Roy is seen entering the medical facility at 4:03 am and was wearing the same Bluetooth which was recovered from the crime scene, say police

KOLKATA: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-August 24th, 2024) The local police on Saturday released CCTV footage of Sanjay Roy, the main suspect in doctor rape and murder case.

The victim, Dr. Moumita Debnath, a 31-year-old trainee doctor, was found raped and murdered, with her body discovered at a local medical college in Kolkata. The incident has sparked widespread protests across India.

The tragic incident caused nationwide protests in India. The doctors and general public took to the streets and demanded the authorities to take action against the culprits involved in rape and murder of Doctor Moumita Bebnath.

According to the Indian media, the police released the CCTV footage of the said incident and it is the first footage in the case which linked the suspect to the rape and murder of the doctor.

In the footage, the suspect is seen entering the premises of the medical facility at 4:03 am. He could be seen wearing Bluetooth and holding a helmet that is issued to the Kolkata police personnel.

Suspect was wearing jeans and T-shirt.

The Bluetooth, according to the media, is the same that was recovered from the crime scene and now is considered as an important evidence in the case.

A forensic report released earlier also showed that Sanjay Roy had shown no remorse for his actions. The report indicated that he provided a detailed account of the crime without hesitation and that explicit videos were found on his seized phone.

The report also described Roy as a pornography addict with violent tendencies, exhibiting no regret for his actions.
U.N. agencies are scaling up cholera prevention and treatment programs to get on top of a new, deadly cholera outbreak in Sudan that threatens to further destabilize communities suffering from hunger and the ill effects of more than 16 months of conflict.

The recent cholera outbreak has resurged after several weeks of heavy rainfall and resulting flooding, Kristine Hambrouck, UNHCR representative in Sudan, told journalists Friday in Geneva.

Speaking on a video-link from Port Sudan, she warned, Risks are compounded by the continuing conflict and dire humanitarian conditions, including overcrowding in camps and gathering sites for refugees and Sudanese displaced by the war, as well as limited medical supplies and health workers.

She expressed particular concern about the spread of the deadly disease in areas hosting refugees, mainly in Kassala, Gedaref and al-Jazirah states.

In addition to hosting refugees from other countries, these states are also sheltering thousands of displaced Sudanese who have sought safety from ongoing hostilities, she said.

The United Nations describes Sudan as the largest displacement crisis in the world. Latest figures put the number of people displaced inside Sudan at more than 10.7 million, with an additional 2 million who have fled to neighboring countries as refugees.

Additionally, the UNHCR says Sudan continues to host tens of thousands of refugees from countries such as Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Sudans health ministry officially declared a cholera outbreak on August 12. In the one month since the first suspected cases were reported, the World Health Organization says 658 cholera cases and 28 deaths have been reported by five states, with a high case-fatality ratio of 4.3%.

Kassala has reported the highest number of cholera cases at 473, followed by Gedaref with 110 cases, and al-Jazairah with 51 cases. Two other states, Khartoum and River Nile, have reported fewer numbers.

These cases are not linked to the previous cholera outbreak, which had been declared in September 2023, said Dr. Shible Sahbani, the WHO representative to Sudan, noting that the outbreak technically ended in May 2024 after no cases were reported for two consecutive incubation periods.

Speaking from Port Sudan, Sahbani described the situation in Kassala as very worrisome. He said the states health system already was under stress because of the large number of displaced people and refugees living there. So, the health system is not able to cope with the additional influx of refugees and IDPs [internally displaced persons].

But in addition to that, it puts a big burden on the WASH system  the water, sanitation, and hygiene system. So, this makes the situation more complicated in favor of the spread of cholera, he said.

Besides the dangers posed by cholera, UNICEF representative Hambrouck also warns of an increasing number of cases of waterborne diseases, including malaria and diarrhea, which also need to be brought under control.

Constraints in humanitarian access are also impacting response efforts. Violence, insecurity and persistent rainfall are hampering the transportation of humanitarian aid, she said.

She noted that more than 7.4 million refugees and internally displaced Sudanese living in White Nile, Darfur and Kordofan states are having to do without critical medicines and relief supplies because of delays in delivery.

The WHO and UNHCR are working closely with Sudans Ministry of Health to coordinate the cholera outbreak response. Among its many initiatives, UNHCR says it is working with health partners to strengthen surveillance, early warning systems and contact tracing in affected locations.

Disease surveillance and testing are ongoing, and awareness-raising and training on cholera case management for health staff are also being conducted, said Hambrouck.

For its part, Sahbani said the WHO has prepositioned cholera kits and other essential medical supplies in high-risk states in anticipation of the risks associated with the rainy season.

He said the WHO was spearheading a cholera vaccination campaign, noting that a three-day oral cholera vaccination campaign in two localities of Kassala state concluded Thursday.

He said the campaign already has used 51,000 doses and the good news is that we got the approval of an additional 455,000 doses of cholera vaccine. So, this is the good news in the middle of this horrible crisis.

One dose of the vaccine, he said, would protect the population against cholera for six months, while two doses would provide protection for up to three years.

So, this is really good news because this will help us to contain the outbreak, he said. Without more funding, however, he warned the good news will quickly evaporate, noting that the WHO has received just one-third of its $85.6 million appeal.

This will indeed limit our capacity to launch a robust response to reach a larger segment of the people in need, he said.

His UNHCR colleague, Hambrouck, echoed the sentiments.

With the humanitarian situation and funding level already precarious prior to this latest cholera outbreak, funds are desperately needed to support the provision of health care and other life-saving aid, she said.
A Canadian railway workers union has notified Canadian National Railway that its members intend to strike next week.

The 72-hour strike notice issued Friday from Teamsters Canada Rail Conference came hours after trains began rolling again. Union members were locked out from their jobs on Thursday until the government stepped in to force the railroads and the union into arbitration.

The strike notice means a new work stoppage for Canadian National is slated to start Monday morning.

Teamsters Canada filed its strike notice shortly after it announced that it would challenge a government order forcing the union into binding arbitration with Canadas two major freight railroad companies: Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Kansas City, the two railroads that had locked out Teamsters on Thursday.

The Teamsters union represents more than 9,000 Canadian rail workers, and Canadian National is the larger of the two railroads.

Canadian Labor Minister Steven MacKinnon decided to force the parties into binding arbitration because, he said, the economic fallout from the work stoppage was too great. The Canada Industrial Relations Board is overseeing the arbitration.

Canada, the second-largest nation in the world in terms of total area, behind Russia, relies heavily on its railroads to move commodities and goods.

Teamsters Canada President Francois Laporte said he was not in favor of the ministers call for arbitration.

"The best way to have a contract is at the bargaining table, Laporte said. We don't believe a third party [should] decide what are going to be our working conditions.

The union is prepared to negotiate with Canadian National over the weekend over its disputes, which involve scheduling, length of shifts and worker availability.

This is not about disobeying the ministers order. Its about exercising our right, Laporte said Friday when he announced Mondays strike.

CPKC is not involved in the strike and had no comment, nor did the Canadian government.

While CN is focused on its recovery plan and powering the economy, Teamsters are focused on getting back to the picket line and holding the North American economy hostage to their demands, railroad spokesperson Jonathan Abecassis said after the union issued the strike notice.

CN and CPKC trains are responsible for carrying a multitude of goods worth billions of dollars, not only throughout Canada but also to the U.S. and Mexico. Canadian commuters who use the railways trains were also affected by the recent work stoppage.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.
Pakistani Minister for Power Awais Leghari says contracts with Chinese power producers that built and run power plants in Pakistan need to be revised.

I think the terms and conditions that we already have with the Chinese as far as their IPPs [independent power producers] are concerned, they need another look, Leghari told VOA in an interview this week.

The power projects, set up mostly in the last decade, helped end hourslong blackouts. But contracts require that Pakistan pay for the entire generation capacity of each power plant, regardless of how much electricity is used. A failure to spur industrial growth that could help utilize additional power, and the inability to reduce transmission losses, has left Pakistan with huge bills to pay for unused and wasted power generation capacity in addition to repaying project loans.

Independent power plants set up by Pakistani companies in the country also have contract terms similar to those of Chinese-run plants. Experts say Pakistan's efforts to conduct an across-the-board audit of domestic and foreign-owned independent power plants show Beijing does not want its companies to be singled out as problematic, nor does it want to be alone in offering concessions to Islamabad.

Leghari is leading a power sector reform task force created after his recent trip to China. Reform plans aimed at cutting power sector losses include auditing all independent power plants.

Experts say Pakistan's efforts to conduct an across-the-board audit of domestic and foreign-owned independent power plants in the coming days show Beijing does not want its companies to be singled out as problematic, nor does it want to be alone in offering concessions to Islamabad.

Leghari said the Chinese government and companies are already engaging with Pakistan on the reprofiling of power sector debt and to convert coal-fired power plants to local fuel.

"Those are changes in the terms and conditions of how the Chinese IPPs are working with us. Those would give us very substantial benefits to harvest in terms of [electricity] tariff reductions," the power minister said, referring to Pakistan's efforts to also bring down skyrocketing electricity prices for consumers.

Islamabad owes more than $15 billion to Chinese power plant operators. It is seeking rescheduling of payments to gain financial breathing room in a bid to obtain much-needed financing from the International Monetary Fund.

Leghari and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb went to Beijing late last month to discuss power sector debt relief.

The trip came days after Islamabad reached a staff-level agreement with the IMF for a three-year, $7 billion loan program. The banks board must still approve the deal.

Leghari said China, like the IMF, wants to see broader reforms from Pakistan.

China and the IMF are wanting to look at the entire economic or power sector reform that we have already authored and embarked upon, Leghari said. I think the more the confidence they have in our economic reform agenda, the better would be the response.

Beijing has not publicly addressed Islamabads request for rescheduling energy sector debt. However, Pakistans daily Express Tribune reported it has agreed to convert three Chinese-owned power plants in Pakistan from using imported to local coal.

Pakistan hopes to save hundreds of millions of dollars annually by switching to local coal for power generation.

The change may come at a high cost. Experts say Chinese investors struggling to recover payments may demand higher insurance premiums and profit margins if they are to expand mining operations, reducing savings for Pakistan.

Its going to be a win-win situation for everyone, Leghari said, rejecting the concerns.

Unless that isnt there, people will not invest, lenders will not give money.

Pakistan will also need infrastructure to transport local coal long distances, and power plants may need to make technical design changes to use Pakistani coal, which is known to be dirtier and less efficient than imported coal.

There has been an overwhelming response to have a look and run technical and financial feasibilities on all the aspects of coal conversion and reprofiling, Leghari insisted, while rejecting environmental concerns about shifting to local coal.

Leghari played down the possibility of scaring Chinese investors as Pakistan seeks a review of past contracts, saying Islamabad holds relationships with investors dear to our heart.

Whatever will happen, with whomever, will be with mutual consent, he said.
An FBI raid on a house about an hour outside Washington this month renewed focus on U.S. efforts to combat foreign interference in the 2024 election.

FBI agents raided the Huntly, Virginia, home of Russian American Dimitri Simes, with agents taking items from the 131-acre estate over several days and loading them into trailers.

When VOA traveled to the property last week, agents were still on site. VOA saw around six vehicles, including some with covered license plates.

Simes hosts a political talk show on Russian state channel Channel One and until 2022 led the Center for the National Interest, a foreign policy think tank in Washington. In 2016, he provided informal foreign policy advice to the 2016 Trump presidential campaign, according to reports.

He told Russian state media he was out of the country at the time of the raid and had not been officially notified of it.

A spokesperson for the FBI confirmed to VOA that the bureau conducted court-authorized law enforcement activity but declined to comment further, citing an ongoing investigation.

Broad investigation

U.S. media later reported that the Department of Justice has launched a broad criminal investigation into Americans who have worked with Russias state television, including Simes and former U.N. weapons inspector Scott Ritter.

An FBI spokesperson told VOA the agency had no updates on the investigation. VOA also reached out to the Department of Justice for comment and updates late Friday, but as of publication had not received a response.

Russia is the predominant threat to Novembers elections, according to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

In a July assessment, the office said it continues to observe a range of foreign actors conducting or planning influence operations targeting U.S elections this November.

Citing Russia, Iran and China as threats, the office said it anticipated that there would be efforts to promote influence narratives seeking to undermine democratic institutions, foment discord, and/or change public opinion.

The report noted that Iran has stepped up its efforts. Tehran relies on vast webs of online personas and propaganda mills to spread disinformation and have notably been active in exacerbating tensions over the Israel-Gaza conflict, the report found.

U.S. intelligence officials on August 19 said they were confident Tehran was behind a hack of the Trump 2024 presidential campaign. Earlier this month, Microsoft said it had seen increased influence campaigns linked to Iran, and Google flagged Iranian hacking attempts that targeted both former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden.

In July, before Biden withdrew from the race, U.S. intelligence officials said in a report that Russia continues to try to boost the campaign of Trump by disparaging Biden.

Russian state media cited Simes as saying he didnt know what was behind the search of his home. Simes said that he left the U.S. in 2022, a few months after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

I have not been to the United States since October 2022. So, there is absolutely nothing that could be there that is connected to my current professional life or my other activities, he told the Kremlin-backed network Sputnik.

Simes and the Center for the National Interest featured several times in the 2019 Robert Mueller report into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Both were cleared of wrongdoing.

In 2016, Simes provided informal advice to the Trump campaign on foreign policy, including advising on a speech Trump gave on the need for greater cooperation with Moscow, The Guardian reported.

Matthew Kupfer contributed to this report, which originated in VOAs Russian Service.
French authorities opened a terrorism investigation Saturday after an arson attack on a synagogue in a southwestern Mediterranean town injured a police officer. Security forces were searching for a suspect.

Two cars parked at the Beth Yaacov synagogue complex in the seaside resort town of La Grande Motte near Montpellier were set ablaze just after 8 a.m. Saturday, antiterrorism prosecutors said in a statement.

Firefighters discovered additional fires at two entrances to the synagogue. A police officer who walked up to the site was injured after a propane gas tank in one of the vehicles exploded, the statement said.

Five people, including the rabbi, who were present in the synagogue complex at the time of the attack were unharmed, it added.

Prosecutors were investigating the attack as an attempted assassination linked to a terrorist group and destruction of property with dangerous means, and a crime planned by a terrorist group with an intent to cause harm, the statement said.

The mayor of La Grande Motte, Stephan Rossignol, said that investigators were reviewing the city's surveillance videos and said that a lone suspect was spotted at the site of the attack.

"We dont know if the individual has left the city or if he is still in the city, Rossignol said in an interview with broadcaster France Info. The individual in question did not manage to get inside the synagogue, even though that was clearly his objective.

President Emmanuel Macron said the synagogue attack was a terrorist act and assured that everything is being done to find [its] perpetrator."

The fight against antisemitism is a constant battle," Macron said on social media platform X.

Acting Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said called the attack an an act of antisemitism."

Once again our Jewish fellow citizens are being targeted, Attal said in a post on X. "Faced with antisemitism, faced with violence, we will never let ourselves be intimidated.

Acting Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin ordered police reinforcements to protect Jewish places of worship and said the attack was being treated as attempted arson that is clearly a criminal act.

I want to assure our Jewish fellow citizens of my full support and say that at the request of President Emmanuel Macron all means are being mobilized to find the perpetrator, Darmanin posted on X.

He ordered more police officers deployed at Jewish places of worship around the country following a surge of antisemitism since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October.

Darmanin and Attal were expected to travel to Le Grand Motte later Saturday.
Gaza cease-fire and hostage negotiators discussed new compromise proposals in Cairo on Saturday, seeking to bridge gaps between Israel and Hamas, but there was no indication of progress after hours of talks.

"The talks in Cairo didn't make any progress. Israel is insisting to keep eight positions along the Philadelphi corridor," one Palestinian official close to the mediation effort told Reuters, asking not to be named because of the sensitivity of the subject.

The Cairo talks came as the humanitarian situation in Gaza deteriorated, with malnutrition soaring and polio discovered in the Palestinian enclave.

A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Saturday to be nearer at hand to review any proposals that emerged in the main talks between Israel and mediators Egypt, Qatar and the United States, two Egyptian security sources said.

A U.S. official said negotiators from the United States met with Egypt, then with Egypt and Qatar on Saturday, and believed that representatives from Egypt and Qatar were meeting with Hamas.

The Hamas delegation returned to Doha, Qatar, after the briefing on the round of talks ended, the Palestinian official said.

Months of on-off talks have failed to produce a breakthrough to end Israel's devastating military campaign in Gaza or free the remaining hostages seized by Hamas in the militant group's October 7 attack that triggered the war. That attack killed about 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's Gaza campaign has killed more than 40,000 people, Palestinian health authorities say.

The Egyptian sources said the new proposals include compromises on outstanding points such as how to secure key areas and the return of people to north Gaza.

However, there was no sign of any breakthrough on key sticking points, including Israel's insistence that it must retain control of the so-called Philadelphi Corridor, on the border between Gaza and Egypt.

Hamas has accused Israel of going back on things it had previously agreed to in the talks, which Israel denies. The group says the United States is not mediating in good faith.

In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has locked horns with Israeli cease-fire negotiators over whether Israeli troops must remain all along the border between Gaza and Egypt, a person with knowledge of the talks said.

Disease spreading

Continuing the war will worsen the plight of Gaza's 2.3 million people, nearly all of them homeless in tents or shelters among the ruins, with malnutrition rampant and disease spreading, and risk the lives of the remaining Israeli hostages.

U.N. humanitarian agency OCHA said in a Friday update that the amount of food aid entering Gaza in July was one of the lowest since October, when Israel imposed a full siege.

OCHA said that in July the number of children with acute malnutrition in northern Gaza was four times higher than in May, while in the more accessible south, where fighting is less severe, the number more than doubled.

The World Health Organization said Friday that a 10-month-old baby had been paralyzed with polio, the first such case in the territory in 25 years, raising fears of a wider outbreak given the lack of proper sanitation for people living in ruins.

More warfare also risks major new escalations, with Iran still weighing retaliation for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on its territory last month.

Fighting between Israel and Iranian-backed Hezbollah since October 7 has ramped up recently, including with Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon and into the Bekaa, and with more Hezbollah rocket fire into northern Israel.
A Hamas delegation headed by its senior official Khalil al-Hayya will arrive in Cairo on Saturday to hear from mediators on the latest round of Gaza cease-fire talks that took place in the Egyptian capital, the Palestinian group said in a statement.

Two Egyptian security sources said that U.S. and Israeli delegations started a new round of meetings Thursday in Cairo that lasted for two days. The talks aimed at resolving differences over a truce proposal.

Hamas affirmed its "commitment to what it had approved on July 2, which was based on the U.S. President Joe Biden's proposal and readiness to implement it," senior Hamas official Izzat al-Rishq said on Saturday.

In July, Hamas accepted a U.S. proposal to begin talks on releasing Israeli hostages, including soldiers and men, 16 days after the first phase of an agreement aimed at ending the Gaza war, a senior Hamas source has told Reuters.

Another senior official for the group, Mahmoud Mardawi, told Hamas-linked media that the delegation going to Cairo "does not mean Hamas will participate in the next round of talks."

Egypt, along with the United States and Qatar, has been a mediator in months of stop-start negotiations to secure a cease-fire in Gaza, as well as the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.

The war began on October 7 when Hamas gunmen led a terror attack into Israel, killing about 1,200 people and abducting about 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

More than 40,000 people have been killed in Gaza by Israel's response, according to Palestinian health authorities. Israel says most of the dead are combatants. The Hamas-run Health Ministry says most of them are women and children, but it does not estimate how many of the dead were combatants.

Nearly three-quarters of Gaza's 2.3 million population is displaced, and nearly the entire population is at risk of famine, according to the United Nations.
Index on Censorship, an organization that promotes freedom of expression globally, is featuring the silencing of scientists and science around the world in the next issue of its publication. One country where scientists and intellectuals, especially those who are Uyghur, have disappeared over the years is China.

In recent years, the Uyghur rights organization Uyghur Hjelp has documented more than 200 cases of Uyghur scientists and other science professionals being imprisoned in China, according to Abduweli Ayup, founder of the Norway-based group.

Among the most prominent is Tursunjan Nurmamat, who received his graduate and postgraduate education in the United States. Nurmamat, who is from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in northwestern China, specialized in molecular biology and was working as a science editor when he disappeared in 2021.

In addition, he translated English nonfiction books about science and scientists into the Uyghur language. He used his well-known pen name, Bilge, for these translations, which he published on his social media accounts in China.

One of Nurmamats former employers, Shanghais Tongji University, confirmed with Radio Free Asia reporters in July 2021 that he had been arrested and had been under investigation since April that year.

In response to VOAs request for more information, Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, wrote, I am not aware of this specific case, thus having nothing to share. China is a law-based country, and I believe the judicial and law enforcement institutions perform their jobs in accordance with law.

Just before Nurmamats arrest by Xinjiang police, he announced his new role as a science editor at Cell Press, a publisher of scientific journals headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

When I last spoke with him before his forced disappearance, he said he was stuck and couldnt leave,  said a friend who is an exiled Uyghur now living in Canada. The Canadian Uyghur, along with several other exiled Uyghurs in the U.S. who knew Nurmamat before his disappearance, shared with VOA details about his situation. They expressed concerns about his well-being in Chinese custody and requested anonymity because of fears for their families in Xinjiang.

Joseph Caputo, head of media and communications at Cell Press, confirmed to VOA that Nurmamat had a brief tenure at the organization but did not provide further details on his current situation.

No one outside the Chinese government knows his current location or the length of his sentence, similar to many other cases involving Uyghur intellectuals, Uyghur Hjelps Ayup told VOA in a phone interview.

Uyghur rights organizations say China has been increasing its crackdown on Turkic-speaking Uyghurs in Xinjiang since 2017 with human rights abuses that include arbitrary detention of over 1 million individuals, forced labor, sterilization of women and torture.

Chinas treatment of Uyghurs has been labeled as genocide by the U.S. and several Western parliaments. The United Nations human rights office has suggested these actions may amount to crimes against humanity.

China denies these accusations, saying Xinjing-related policies are established in the context of combating violent terrorism and separatism, and it accuses the U.S. and Western anti-China forces of spreading disinformation.

Censorship of Uyghur science

Ayup described Nurmamat's case as a key example of the broader censorship affecting Uyghur science and scientists.

The Chinese government has targeted Uyghur scientists like [Nurmamat] who have studied abroad and experienced democratic freedoms, Ayup told VOA. His work, including translations and science materials in Uyghur, made him a target.

Ayup noted that by translating and writing extensively in Uyghur about science, Nurmamat directly challenged China's efforts to suppress the Uyghur language in education.

Over the past two decades, Uyghurs have observed that Chinese authorities have gradually removed the Uyghur language from science-related subjects in K-12 schools and universities in Xinjiang.

Ayup also compared Nurmamat's case to that of Tashpolat Tiyip, a prominent Uyghur geographer and former president of Xinjiang University, where Nurmamat completed his bachelor's and master's degrees.

Tiyip disappeared in 2017, four years before Nurmamats arrest, while traveling from Beijing to Berlin for a scientific conference. Since then, there has been no information on his whereabouts or the charges against him.

Even the Xinjiang University website has removed his record from its list of historic presidents, though it still lists a former president who fled to Taiwan in 1949, Ayup noted.

Dangers of US education

Nurmamat began his doctoral studies in molecular biology at the University of Wyoming in fall 2009, then moved to the University of California for a fellowship, which he completed in 2018.

During the fellowship, Nurmamat traveled to Xinjiang in summer 2017 for a job interview at Shihezi University. He took his wife, Nurimangul, and their U.S.-born 5-year-old daughter, Tumaris, with him to China, in hopes of landing a job back in China after his U.S. fellowship.

At the airport, he was interrogated by Chinese officials, and the Chinese passports belonging to him and his wife were confiscated. Their daughter, who held a U.S. passport, was the only one spared from the interrogation, a friend said.

After weeks of questioning, Chinese authorities allowed Nurmamat to return to the U.S. to finish his fellowship but imposed strict conditions: His wife and daughter, an American citizen, had to stay in China.

He was also required to promise that he would return to China once his fellowship concluded, the friend added.

Dangerous return

Following the completion of his fellowship in 2018, Nurmamat voiced significant apprehensions about returning to China.

Im still really worried. Shihezi University keep asking me to return; but Im scared to return after my experience in the last summer, he confided to his friend in the U.S. via a messaging app on April 11, 2018, a screenshot of which was shared with VOA. My family wasnt able to join me. Im hoping they will be able to get their passport back and join me in the U.S.

Despite these fears, Nurmamat returned to China in summer 2018, aiming to secure the release of his wife, a Xinjiang University graduate. She had been under house arrest since 2017 and was later detained in an internment facility, known as a vocational training center, which holds over a million Uyghurs, according to his friend.

Nurmamat thought that keeping his promise to the Chinese authorities would help free his wife and their U.S.-born daughter, the friend said.

But instead of returning directly to Xinjiang, where his wife was detained, Nurmamat took a research position at Tongji University in Shanghai. He believed Shanghai would be safer and hoped to eventually reunite with his family. But his efforts proved futile, as he eventually followed the path of other Uyghur intellectuals before him, with arrest and detention.
Hungary's foreign minister said Saturday the European Commission's decision not to mediate in a dispute over a blockage of oil supplies from Russia via Ukraine into his country suggested that Brussels was behind the stoppage.

Hungary and its neighbor Slovakia have been protesting since Ukraine put Russian oil producer Lukoil on a sanctions list in June, stopping that company's oil from passing through Ukrainian territory to Slovak and Hungarian refineries.

The assertion from Hungary's Peter Szijjarto, which he made without providing evidence, came a day after the European Commission declined a request from Hungary and Slovakia for it to mediate between them and Ukraine over the sanctions.

"The fact that the European Commission declared that it was unwilling to help to secure the energy supply of Hungary and Slovakia suggests that the order was sent from Brussels to Kyiv to cause challenges and problems in the energy supply of Hungary and Slovakia," Szijjarto said at a conservative political festival.

A European Commission spokesperson declined to comment on Szijjarto's remarks.

The Commission, which has been supportive of Ukraine since Russia's 2022 invasion, has repeatedly urged EU countries to end their dependency on energy supplies from Moscow. The EU has imposed sanctions on most Russian oil imports.

On Friday, a Commission spokesperson said there were no indications that Ukraine's sanctions had endangered European energy supplies, as Russian oil continued to flow through the separate Druzhba pipeline, which also connects Russia to Slovakia and Hungary via Ukraine.

Ukraine's government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Hungarian statement Saturday.

Slovakia and Hungary are both EU countries that have opposed Western allies' military aid to Ukraine as it fights the invasion that Russia launched in February 2022.

The pipeline's southern branch runs through Ukraine to the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary, and has served as their refineries' primary supply source for years.

Last month, Szijjarto made similar comments when he accused the European Commission of blackmail in the oil dispute and said that maybe it was "Brussels, not Kyiv, that invented the whole thing."

A Hungarian government official said Thursday that Hungarian oil company MOL was in the final stages of discussions to establish a scheme to ensure crude oil flows from Russia.
With the election less than three months away, campaign volunteers across the state are gearing up for a busy season. Democrats rally behind Vice President Kamala Harris, while Republicans hope to bring former President Donald Trump back to the White House.
A dense bamboo forest in rebel-held territory surrounds the training ground in eastern Myanmar where more than 100 young people, mostly in their twenties, are undergoing rigorous military drills.

From former chefs to ex-journalists, rappers and poets, people from all walks of life have joined the resistance movement with a single goal: to overthrow the military regime that seized power in the Southeast Asian nation in 2021.

The Bamar People's Liberation Army (BPLA), led by onetime anti-war poet Maung Saungkha, is a prominent force in Myanmar's resistance movement.

A trainer, whistle in hand, commands the synchronized movements of the recruits. Discipline is enforced with harsh blows for any mistake. Under the scorching sun, sweat soaks their bodies, and their skin is marked with bruises from the demanding training.

The trainees' daily routine starts at 4 a.m. and ends at 9 p.m., with Sunday being their only day off. They endure hours of intense training without being allowed a single drop of water during the sessions.

Representing Myanmar's Bamar ethnic majority, the BPLA was formed in April 2021 to fight the junta after it toppled an elected government in February that year. Since October, the group has been a key player in Operation 1027, a joint offensive with other rebel militias that has significantly weakened the military.

Myanmar, which won independence from Britain in 1948, has long been dominated by its military. A brief spell of civilian rule ended with the 2021 coup that toppled the government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

For those joining the fight under the BPLA's banner, their home in the jungle are makeshift tents, accommodating around 20 to 30 people each.

Their sleeping mats are laid out a few inches apart on the floor. Maintaining a tidy space is essential, so uniforms, toiletries and study books are neatly arranged on their makeshift beds.

The BPLA's basic training is renowned for its harshness and strict discipline. The training spans three months, pushing recruits to their physical and mental limits. Upon arrival at the training camp, all personal belongings, including phones, are confiscated and returned only after the completion of the training period.

One trainee, an 18-year-old woman standing about 152 centimeters tall, shows signs of wear from the grueling regimen. She has dark circles under her eyes, her hair is cut almost to the scalp, and her skin is sunburned from long hours spent outdoors. Despite her exhaustion, she carries a hint of resilience and determination.

Among her few possessions, she said, was a stuffed toy that she brought with her to the camp. When asked about it, she smiled and said: "One of the trainers kept it for me, and she will give it back after the training."

Lessons in politics

In addition to military training, BPLA recruits undergo political education. After morning drills, a short break allows for rest or review of recent political lessons.

Following dinner, everyone gathers in the bamboo-constructed assembly hall. The BPLA flag hangs above the whiteboard. Powered by a generator, fluorescent lights illuminate the room. Here, evening political classes take place.

Every evening, Maung Saungkha delves into the BPLA's founding principles, government structure, federalism, and even gender equality. His words echo through the makeshift hall.

"I know you're exhausted," he told them, "but a soldier's duty transcends fatigue."

One night, as the lesson progresses, a chilling silence descends upon the camp. A junta scout drone has detected their presence. The generator shuts down, plunging the camp into darkness. Everyone freezes, waiting for the drone to disappear.

The following morning, Maung Saungkha gathers his officers to reinforce emergency procedures in case of a fighter jet attack. The roar of jets is a familiar threat in the jungle, but vigilance remains crucial.

Ma Chel, a 25-year-old woman and deputy head of recruitment and screening for the BPLA, recalls her journey from civilian to soldier. After completing basic training, she said she was proud to become an instructor.

"My trainer told me that if one soldier goes to the frontline, there's one bullet fired. But if 100 students go, there are 100 bullets, Ma Chel said. "This made me feel proud and motivated."

Last April, the BPLA held a graduation ceremony for new recruits. Soon after the graduation, some of them were sent to the frontlines in Karen State. More than 20 BPLA soldiers have died in battles since 2021, including some from the recent graduate batch in April, the movement's leaders said.

One of the young recruits, a young woman who asked to be identified only by the initials G.G. reminisces on the transformation from soft city girl to revolutionary.

"I couldnt hold a gun at first because it was so heavy, and I had to be really careful when handling it," G.G. said.

She marvels that before the coup, she could barely walk up to her family's fifth-floor apartment but now carries heavy bags up steep hills.

She once dreamed of working in a hotel and had started hospitality training before the coup. But here in the jungle, that seems a distant memory.

"I might continue working toward my dream," she said. "If I am still alive after the revolution."
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an independent U.S. presidential candidate with a famous political pedigree but whose bid was overshadowed by a brain worm and a dead bear, has announced the suspension of his campaign, endorsing the Republican Party's nominee, former President Donald Trump.

"In my heart, I no longer believe I have a realistic path to an electoral victory," Kennedy told a group of reporters and supporters in Phoenix. "I am not terminating my campaign. I am simply suspending it," he added, explaining he did not want to help Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party nominee.

In 10 states where he could be a spoiler, Kennedy said he would have his name removed, but it would stay on the ballot in others where he said supporters could safely vote for him without risk of aiding the Democrats.

Kennedy on Thursday filed paperwork withdrawing from the ballot in Arizona, one of the swing states likely to determine the outcome of November's presidential election.

"My joining the Trump campaign will be a difficult sacrifice," Kennedy said in Phoenix, adding it would be worthwhile if he gets a chance in a Republican administration to end what he contends is a wave of chronic diseases among America's children.

"In an honest system, I believe I would have won the election," said Kennedy, alleging that the mainstream media censored him while the Democratic Party thwarted his access to the ballot in numerous states.

He said Trump's promise to negotiate an end to Russia's war on Ukraine "alone would justify my support for his campaign."

Kennedy stepped off the podium after 50 minutes, taking no questions.

He appeared later in the day at a Trump rally in neighboring Glendale.

"For the past 16 months, Bobby has run an extraordinary campaign for president of the United States," said Trump. "I know because he also went after me a couple of times."

Famous name

A 70-year-old environmental lawyer, Kennedy labeled himself a political outsider despite his lineage. He entered the presidential race as a longshot Democratic Party candidate before dropping that bid last October and announcing he would mount an independent campaign.

With a surname almost synonymous with the Democratic Party (he is the nephew of President John. F. Kennedy and son of former U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, both of whom were assassinated in the 1960s), RFK Jr. began his campaign polling in the low double digits in some states.

Trump, at Friday evenings political event, said if he gets back in the White House, he will appoint an independent commission on assassination attempts and release all government documents related to the 1963 assassination of President Kennedy.

Siblings of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are decrying their brothers endorsement of Trump.

Our brother Bobbys decision to endorse Trump today is a betrayal of the values that our father and our family hold most dear. It is a sad end to a sad story," Kerry Kennedy wrote in a statement along with three of her sisters and two of her brothers.

The extended Kennedy family had earlier expressed embarrassment and denounced their relative's campaign after he dropped out of the Democratic Party, choosing instead to support the reelection of President Joe Biden, who dropped out of the race and was replaced by Harris last month.

The shakeup in the Democrats' lineup further eroded support for Kennedy, who had benefited from those unenthused about a rematch of the 2020 election between Biden and Trump.

"The more voters learned about RFK Jr. the less they liked him. Donald Trump isn't earning an endorsement that's going to help build support, he's inheriting the baggage of a failed fringe candidate. Good riddance," said Democratic National Committee senior adviser Mary Beth Cahill in a statement following Kennedy's announcement.

Fringe appeal

Kennedy, labeled a conspiracy theorist by his critics, appealed to some anti-establishment voters attracted by his contrarian foreign policy and long-standing campaign against vaccines. But he faced mainstream disdain and even ridicule.

In May, Kennedy said a "brain fog" he suffered a decade ago was caused by a parasitic worm that had eaten part of his brain.

Kennedy more recently was the target of late-night TV comedians and social media satire after he revealed that he had dumped a dead bear cub in New York City's Central Park in 2014 as a prank.

A magazine article in July alleged Kennedy had molested a family babysitter decades ago. Asked about the allegation on a podcast, he said he was "not a church boy" and had "many skeletons" in his closet.

"Third-party candidates often lose steam as the election approaches, but Kennedy's trajectory has been particularly ignominious," said Nate Silver, a statistician and prominent election forecaster, in a Substack posting on Thursday.

"In three-way polls against Biden and Trump, he initially polled at 10 or 11 percent, then gradually faded to 8 (save for a bounce just after Biden's awful debate). In the Trump-Harris matchup, though, he's dropped to about 4 percent."

Trump has offered to "enlist" him in a second administration, Kennedy said on Friday.

Trump, the previous day, acknowledged he had spoken with Kennedy several times but not recently.

Trump told CNN Tuesday that he would "be open" to Kennedy playing a part in his administration if Kennedy dropped his presidential bid and endorsed the Republican nominee.

Kennedy's running mate, Nicole Shanahan, suggested in an interview Tuesday that Kennedy would do "an incredible job" as the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Kennedy has claimed that agencies under HHS, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health, have been captured by corporate interests, making them predators on the American public.

"I love the idea of giving him some sort of role in some sort of major three-letter entity or whatever it may be and let him blow it up," the Republican nominee's son, Donald Trump Jr., told a conservative radio talk show on Wednesday.

'Spoiler' for MAGA?

Democratic National Committee adviser Ramsey Reid argued in a memo released Friday that Kennedys role from the beginning had been to serve as a "spoiler" who would help Trump by drawing votes away from the Democratic candidate.

"He was recruited into the race by MAGA Republicans like Steve Bannon, his candidacy was propped up by Trump's largest donor, and he parroted MAGA attacks on President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris," Reid said.

On Thursday, at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, some delegates looked forward to Kennedys withdrawal from the race.

Montana delegate Mary Jo O'Rourke, whose father worked for RFK Jr.'s father in the Justice Department, told VOA she is a devotee of the Kennedy family, but it is time for the former Democrat "to go home and enjoy the rest of his life."

Kennedy had initially been viewed as siphoning more votes from Biden than Trump, but recent polls indicated he was appearing to attract more voters who would otherwise be inclined to cast a ballot for the Republican nominee.

Of those who supported Kennedy in July, 4 in 10 shifted to Harris (compared with 2 in 10 who switched to Trump), according to Pew Research Center polling released last week.

Most voters, as the election day approaches, "go back to their parties. They're not looking for an independent candidate. They're looking to vote for one of the two likely winners," John Fortier, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, told VOA.

In a tight election in the half dozen or so swing states that will tip the balance of the electoral vote count, the presence or absence of a third party or independent candidate on the ballot could determine the overall outcome.

The victor of the U.S. presidential race must win 270 electoral votes, with each state's allocation equal to the number of senators and representatives it has in the Congress. It is possible for a candidate to receive the most total votes but lose the electoral vote count and thus the presidency.

Kennedy told reporters on Friday he could still win if the Electoral College vote for Trump and Harris ends up tied at 269. In that case, members of the new Congress would select the president in early January.

Kim Lewis, Katherine Gypson in Chicago and Carolyn Presutti in Phoenix contributed to this story.
Cellphones, electric pots and pans, and car washing machines were among goods worth $1.3 million destroyed Monday by the Indonesian Trade Ministry in West Java. Alcoholic drinks with an ethyl alcohol or ethanol content ranging from 5% to 20% were also destroyed.

The ministry demolished the goods as part of the governments crackdown on illegal imports, a major issue that experts say stems from Indonesias unpreparedness for the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement signed 15 years ago.

Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan said the goods did not comply with state regulations and lacked a surveyors report, goods registration number, or import approval, and exceeded import quotas or failed to meet Indonesian national standards.

This is the third operation conducted by the Trade Ministry, following operations at the Cikarang customs and excise storage area in West Java and at Jakartas Cengkareng Port.

On August 6, the Trade Ministry disclosed that $2.9 million of illegal imports were stored at the Cikarang facility. The Trade Ministry confiscated 20,000 textile rolls. The National Police seized 1,883 bales of used clothing, while customs officers at Tanjung Priok port seized 3,044 bales of used clothing. In addition, hundreds of carpets, towels, cosmetics, footwear and more than 6,500 electronics were seized.

Since its establishment in July, the Anti-Illegal Imports Task Force has been investigating illegal import schemes, collecting data and seizing illegal goods.

The head of the Indonesian National Polices criminal investigation unit, Wahyu Widada, said, "Illegal imports not only harm the country in terms of revenue loss, but also has an impact on small and medium scale entrepreneurs."

Mohammad Faisal, executive director of the Center on Reform of Economics, links the current problem to Indonesias unpreparedness when it signed the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement 15 years ago.

"Indonesias domestic industries were not ready to compete with Chinas competitive products in the local market. Indonesia had a huge domestic market and very low trade barriers then. Its not just tariff barriers but also the non-tariff barriers were very limited. So that's why it's actually easy for foreign suppliers to enter the Indonesian market," Faisal said.

According to recent data from the Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), approximately 50% of imported textiles and textile products are unregistered. That means the state loses out on $399 million from unpaid taxes and excise duties.

In 2022, China exported $3.95 billion of textiles to Indonesia but only $2.04 billion of Chinese textile imports were recorded. Overall, the financial loss is equal to the potential creation of 67,000 jobs and over $762 million in gross domestic product. Indonesias GDP in 2023, according to the World Bank, was $1.37 trillion.

Zulkifli said one of the major obstacles to fighting illegal imports is the existence of an underground economy. The Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs, Teten Masduki, said that almost 30% to 40% of goods sold in Indonesian markets are involved in the underground economy and therefore the state does not receive taxes on them.

As a result, Zulkifli added that Indonesias tax ratio is lower than other developed Asian nations such as South Korea, Japan and China.

"Imagine if we sent illegally imported goods to South Korea or China. Don't expect that to happen, it's impossible. Thats why these nations can become developed countries. If our house continues to get burglarized, how can we move forward?" he said.

Zulfkli announced in late June a plan to impose stiff tariffs of up to 200% on some products. The plan, which is still under review, initially was announced as an import duty on Chinese goods, but the minister said later the duties would apply to all countries.

Indonesias Retail and Tenant Association has detected shops suspected of selling illegally imported goods online across North Sumatra to East Java, and some have opened shops at Jakartas wholesale shopping centers.

Budihardjo Iduansjah, chairman of the association, said "These Chinese entrepreneurs store their goods at local warehouses and sell them online. But now many have started selling at shops including at International Trade Centers."

During a visit to shops suspected of selling illegally imported goods from China, VOA spotted clothing with labels written in Mandarin that were sold for $1 each. A seller there admitted that he and many other sellers sold their goods online and shipped the clothes in bulk to resellers across the country.

Zulkifli claims that the investigations carried out by his task force have caused many foreign nationals suspected of dealing in illegal imports to leave.

He plans to work with universities to research the root causes of illegal imports. He is confident that the illegal imports crackdown will continue under President-elect Prabowo Subianto, who will be inaugurated in October.
Iran is seeking to limit outrage over a recent police shooting that seriously wounded a 31-year-old woman in her car after rights activists alleged she had been targeted for refusing to wear a mandatory hijab.

Iranian state news site Tasnim published a video Monday of Arezou Badri, a mother of two, as she lay in a hospital bed in Tehran. Rights activists have said she was left partially paralyzed after police opened fire on her vehicle as she was driving with her sister in northern Irans Mazandaran province on July 22.

The activists have cited sources in Iran as saying police shot Badri because her car was under a confiscation order for her refusal to wear a mandatory hijab in the vehicle.

Iranian authorities toughened enforcement this year of Islamist laws that require women and girls to cover their hair with a hijab in public, even inside a vehicle. Iranian morality police enforcing those laws in 2022 detained and assaulted another young woman, Mahsa Amini, whose death in their custody sparked months of nationwide protests against Irans authoritarian Islamist rulers.

In the Tasnim video, a reporter holding a microphone toward the bedridden Badri asks whether she is feeling better and eating well, and she makes several brief responses in the affirmative. Her father, standing next to the bed, also tells the reporter that his daughter is feeling better.

Iranian state media have said police opened fire on Badris car because orders to stop were ignored. An Iranian judiciary spokesman told a Tuesday press conference that the shooter was detained and placed under investigation, but denied there was any connection to mandatory hijab enforcement.

Iranian womens rights activist and VOA Persian TV host Masih Alinejad published the first social media photos and video of the hospitalized Badri after the shooting, with Alinejad saying she obtained them from an informed source.

In an interview for VOAs Flashpoint podcast, published Friday, Alinejad said the Tasnim video of Badri and her father appeared to have been coerced by Iranian authorities.

"My sources told me that authorities tried to pressure Arezou and her family members to say on camera that the shooting had nothing to do with the mandatory hijab issue. So far, the family has resisted, and the authorities have failed. But at the same time, their lives are at risk [from further pressure]," Alinejad said.

She said Iranian authorities are seeking to prevent hijab-related controversies and protests from erupting as Iran approaches the second anniversary of Mahsa Aminis death next month.

VOA has not seen any reports from Iran of street protests related to the shooting of Badri since Alinejad began posting social media images and information about her case on July 29.

"The Iranian regime is trying to control the information. That is why there are so few people learning about what is going on in the hospital where Arezou is under pressure," Alinejad said.

But she added that her social media posts about Badris case have prompted some individual acts of protest.

"As soon as I published information on my social media, I got videos from Iranian women walking unveiled in the street, referring to Arezou," Alinejad said. "Those women said: 'We are not going to give up. We know what happened to Arezou, but we will still take off our hijab and walk in the street until the day that we are free.'"

The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a VOA request for comment, sent on Friday, about the shooting of Badri.

VOAs Persian Service contributed to this report.
A 26-year-old man suspected in a deadly knife attack in the western German town of Solingen has been taken into police custody, Der Spiegel and other media reported late Saturday, about 24 hours after the attack that killed three people.

Police declined to immediately comment.

The Islamic State group earlier claimed responsibility for Friday's knife attack that also wounded eight people.

Earlier on Saturday, police said they had detained a 15-year-old who they said may be connected with the attack but said the perpetrator was still at large.

Later, police said they made a second arrest as part of a police operation at a home for refugees in Solingen. Police said they could not provide more details on the individual or their connection to the incident.

Describing the man who carried out the attack as a "soldier of the Islamic State," the militant group said in a statement on its Telegram account: "He carried out the attack in revenge for Muslims in Palestine and everywhere."

The group did not immediately provide any evidence for its assertion, and it was not clear how close any relationship between the attacker and Islamic State was.

Hendrik Wuest, premier of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, described Friday evening's attack during a festival in the city as an act of terror.

"This attack has struck at the heart of our country," Wuest told reporters.

The attack took place in the Fronhof, a market square in the western German city where live bands were playing as part of a festival marking its 650th anniversary.

Markus Caspers, an official with the public prosecutor's office in Duesseldorf, said that from the start, authorities were treating the attack as a possible terrorist incident because there was no other known motive and the victims seemed unrelated.

A police official, Thorsten Fleiss, said the assailant appeared to aim for his victims' throats.

Police cordoned off the square on Saturday and passersby placed candles and flowers outside the barriers.

"We are full of shock and grief," Solingen Mayor Tim-Oliver Kurzbach told journalists.

Authorities canceled the remainder of the weekend festival.

Fatal stabbings and shootings are relatively rare in Germany. The government said earlier this month it wanted to toughen rules on knives that can be carried in public by reducing the maximum length allowed.

In June, a 29-year-old policeman was fatally stabbed in Mannheim during an attack on a right-wing demonstration. A stabbing attack on a train in 2021 injured several people.

North Rhine-Westphalia's interior minister, Herbert Reul, visited the scene in Solingen early on Saturday. He told reporters it was a targeted attack on human life.

Solingen, well known for its knife manufacturing industry, is a city of some 165,000 people.

The episode comes ahead of three state elections next month in Thuringia, Saxony and Brandenburg, in which the anti-immigrant far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has a chance of winning.

Though the motive and identity of the assailant were not known, a top AfD candidate for one of the state elections, Bjoern Hoecke, seized on Friday's attack, posting on X: "Do you really want to get used to this? Free yourselves and end this insanity of forced multiculturalism."
Millions of Shiite Muslims packed the streets of the Iraqi city of Karbala Saturday on their annual pilgrim to mark the death of Prophet Muhammad's grandson, Hussein, who became a symbol of resistance when he refused to pledge allegiance to the Umayyad caliphate, leading to his death in battle during the tumultuous first century of Islam's history.

Tahseen Al-Khafaji, head of the Iraqi security media cell, said that more than 3 million pilgrims had entered the country as of Friday, amid tight security measures.

This year Arbaeen  Arabic for the number 40 and traditionally observes the end of a mourning period  was shrouded with sadness over the war in Gaza, now in its 11th month, and worries it may expand into a regional conflict with tensions spiking between Israel and Iran after a blast killed the leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran last month.

Hussein's death exacerbated the schism between Islam's two main sects, Sunni and Shiite. However, for many Muslims, that division has now taken a back seat to shared anger and grief over the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza where more than 40,000 have been killed.

Pilgrims usually flock from all around the world to honor Arbaeen on the 20th day of Safar, the second month of the Islamic lunar calendar every year, which culminates at the spot where Hussein and his half-brother Imam Abbas were killed during the Battle of Karbala. Many view it as a reminder of the unity of the Shiite community through centuries of turmoil.

"May God never take away this solidarity among us," said Amad Zarepoor, who arrived from Iran.

On Saturday, the rhythmic sound of pilgrims pounding their chests and heads as they circled the Imam Hussein Shrine filled the air.

One of the busiest points is the Iraq-Iran border crossing of Mandali in Iraq's northern province of Diyala. Sinan al Shemmeri, a spokesperson for the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of mostly Shiite Iran-allied militias, said the crossing "is not only for Iranian brothers but for various other nationalities, such as Azerbaijan and Pakistan."

Volunteers could be seen lining the nearly 113-kilometer road from Iraq's capital, Baghdad, to Karbala, offering food to weary pilgrims.

"Everything we offer is to commemorate and serve our Master (Hussein)," said Hussein Ali, a volunteer in Baghdad.

Iranian pilgrim Ali Bagheri expressed his happiness with Iraqi hospitality.

"I'm again a guest of Iraqis," he said, "I'm very happy I can walk down this path with Iraqis and we can make a pilgrimage."

Despite the celebration, this year's Arbaeen was also marred by a bus accident in central Iran on Wednesday that left 28 passengers dead and 23 others injured, 14 critically.
Russia and Ukraine exchanged over 100 prisoners of war each Saturday as Kyiv marked its third Independence Day since Moscow's full-scale invasion.

Ukraine said the 115 Ukrainian servicemen who were freed were conscripts, many of whom were taken prisoner in the first months of Russias invasion. Among them are nearly 50 soldiers captured by Russian forces from the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol.

The Russian Defense Ministry said the 115 Russian soldiers had been captured in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces launched their surprise offensive into Russia two weeks ago. The ministry said the soldiers were currently in Belarus but would be taken to Russia for medical treatment and rehabilitation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a post on the social media platform X that the United Arab Emirates had again brokered the exchange, the 55th since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbor in February 2022.

Photos attached to Zelenskyys post show gaunt servicemen with shaved heads and wrapped in Ukrainian flags.

We remember each and every one. We are searching and doing our best to get everyone back, Zelenskyy said in the post.

Officials from the two sides meet only when they swap their dead and POWs, after lengthy preparation and diplomacy. Neither Ukraine nor Russia discloses how many POWs there are in total.

According to the United Nations, most Ukrainian POWs suffer routine medical neglect, severe and systematic mistreatment and even torture while in detention. There have also been isolated reports of abuse of Russian soldiers, mostly during capture or transit to internment sites.

Last January, Russia and Ukraine exchanged hundreds of prisoners of war in the biggest single release.

Drone and artillery attacks continue

Five people were killed and five others wounded Saturday in Russian shelling of the center of the city of Kostiantynivka in Ukraine's partially occupied eastern Donetsk region, local officials said.

In the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, Russian shelling Saturday killed two people and wounded four, including a baby, officials said.

Two people were killed in a Russian drone attack, and one additional person in shelling, in the northeastern Sumy region.

Ukraines air force said it had intercepted and destroyed seven drones over the countrys south. Russian long-range bombers also attacked the area of Zmiinyi (Snake) Island overnight with four cruise missiles, while the wider Kherson region was also struck by aerial bombs.

In Russia, the Defense Ministry said Saturday that air defenses had shot down seven drones overnight.

Five drones were downed over the southwestern Voronezh region bordering Ukraine, wounding two people, regional Governor Aleksandr Gusev said. Ukraines Military Intelligence Directorate claimed to have blown up a warehouse storing 5,000 tons of ammunition in the region's Ostrogozhsky district. News outlet Astra published videos appearing to show explosions at the ammunition depot after being hit by a drone. The videos could not be independently verified.

Two people were wounded in a drone attack in the Belgorod region, also bordering Ukraine, regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said. Local authorities did not report any casualties in the Bryansk region, where the fifth drone was intercepted.

In the Kursk region, regional Governor Alexei Smirnov said Saturday that three missiles were shot down overnight and four more on Saturday morning.

Russian air defenses shot down two more drones Saturday morning, Russias Defense Ministry said  one over the Kursk region and one over the Bryansk region.

Independence Day commemorations

Ukraine marked its 33rd Independence Day Saturday as its war against Russias aggression reaches a 30-month milestone. No festivities are planned and, instead, Ukrainians will mark the day with commemorations for civilians and soldiers killed in the war.

Speaking at a ceremony marking the anniversary, Zelenskyy announced Saturday that Ukraine has successfully used a new domestically produced drone for the first time against Russian forces.

Today, we had the first and successful combat use of our new weapon  a completely new class of weapon, the Ukrainian missile drone Palyanitsa, Zelenskyy said.

He did not give further details but added that the enemy was struck and thanked the developers and manufacturers.

Zelenskyy also said that Ukraine's offensive in the Kursk region was a preventive strike that made it possible to avoid encirclement of part of Ukraine's Sumy region.

Poland's president visits Kyiv

Polish President Andrzej Duda arrived in Kyiv by train early Saturday in a symbolic show of support from one of Ukraines key allies.

Videos posted by his office showed him being greeted by Ukrainian officials and later paying his respects in a ceremony at the Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen for Ukraine.

Dudas visit to Kyiv, his fifth since February 2022, sends a message that Warsaws support for Ukraine remains strong as the war drags on for the third year. Poland, located to Ukraines west, has donated arms and become a hub for Western weapons destined for Ukraine. It has also welcomed tens of thousands of Ukrainians who fled the war. It hosts the most Ukrainian refugees outside of the country after Germany.
The doorbell to Martinho de Almada Pimentel's house is hard to find, and he likes it that way. It's a long rope that, when pulled, rings a literal bell on the roof that lets him know someone is outside the mountainside mansion that his great-grandfather built in 1914 as a monument to privacy.

There's precious little of that for Pimentel during this summer of "overtourism."

Travelers idling in standstill traffic outside the sunwashed walls of Casa do Cipreste in Cintra sometimes spot the bell and pull the string "because it's funny," he says. With the windows open, he can smell the car exhaust and hear the "tuk-tuk" of outsized scooters named for the sound they make. And he can sense the frustration of 5,000 visitors a day who are forced to queue around the house on the crawl up single-lane switchbacks to Pena Palace, the onetime retreat of King Ferdinand II.

"Now I'm more isolated than during COVID," the soft-spoken Pimentel, who lives alone, said during an interview this month on the veranda. "Now I try to (not) go out. What I feel is: angry."

This is a story of what it means to be visited in 2024, the first year in which global tourism is expected to set records since the coronavirus pandemic brought much of life on Earth to a halt. Wandering is surging, rather than leveling off, driven by lingering revenge travel, digital nomad campaigns and so-called golden visas blamed in part for skyrocketing housing prices.

Cue the violins, you might grouse, for people like Pimentel who are well-off enough to live in places worth visiting. But it's more than a problem for rich people.

"Not to be able to get an ambulance or to not be able to get my groceries is a rich people problem?" said Matthew Bedell, another resident of Sintra, which has no pharmacy or grocery store in the center of the UNESCO-designated district. "Those don't feel like rich people problems to me."

Overtourism generally describes the tipping point at which visitors and their cash stop benefiting residents and instead cause harm by degrading historic sites, overwhelming infrastructure and making life markedly more difficult for those who live there.

Look a little deeper and you'll find knottier issues for locals and their leaders, none more universal than housing prices driven up by short-term rentals like Airbnb, from Spain to South Africa.

The summer of 2023 was defined by the chaos of the journey itself  airports and airlines overwhelmed, passports a nightmare for travelers from the US. Yet by the end of the year, signs abounded that the COVID-19 rush of revenge travel was accelerating.

In January, the United Nations' tourism agency predicted that worldwide tourism would exceed the records set in 2019 by 2%. By the end of March, the agency reported, more than 285 million tourists had travelled internationally, about 20% more than the first quarter of 2023. The World Travel & Tourism Council projected in April that 142 of 185 countries it analyzed would set records for tourism, set to generate $11.1 trillion globally and account for 330 million jobs.

Aside from the money, there's been trouble in paradise this year, with Spain playing a starring role in everything from water management problems to skyrocketing housing prices and drunken tourist drama.

Protests erupted across the country as early as March, with thousands of people demonstrating in Spain's Canary Islands against visitors and construction that was overwhelming water services and jacking up housing prices.

Japan set records for tourist arrivals. In Fujikawaguchiko, a town that offers some of the best views of Mount Fuji, leaders erected a large black screen in a parking lot to deter tourists from overcrowding the site. The tourists apparently struck back by cutting holes in the screen at eye level.

Air travel, meanwhile, only got more miserable, the U.S. government reported in July.

Tourism is surging and shifting so quickly, in fact, that some experts say the very term "overtourism" is outdated.

Michael O'Regan, a lecturer on tourism and events at Glasgow Caledonian University, argues that "overtourism" doesn't reflect the fact that the experience depends largely on the success or failure of crowd management.

"There's been backlash against the business models on which modern tourism has been built and the lack of response by politicians," he said in an interview. Tourism "came back quicker than we expected," he allows, but tourists aren't the problem. "So what happens when we get too many tourists? Destinations need to do more research."

Virpi Makela can describe exactly what happens in her corner of Sintra. Incoming guests at Casa do Valle, her hillside bed-and-breakfast near the village center, call Makela in anguish because they cannot figure out how to find her property amid Sintra's "disorganized" traffic rules that seem to change without notice.

"There's a pillar in the middle of the road that goes up and down and you can't go forward because you ruin your car. So you have to somehow come down but you can't turn around, so you have to back down the road," says Makela, a resident of Portugal for 36 years. "And then people get so frustrated they come to our road, which also has a sign that says `authorized vehicles only.' And they block everything."

A 40-minute train ride to the west, Sintra's municipality has invested in more parking lots outside town and youth housing at lower prices near the center, the mayor's office said.

More than 3 million people every year visit the mountains and castles of Sintra, long one of Portugal's wealthiest regions for its cool microclimate and scenery. Sintra City Hall also said via email that fewer tickets are now sold to the nearby historic sites. Pena Palace, for example, began this year to permit less than half the 12,000 tickets per day sold there in the past.

It's not enough, say local residents, who have organized into QSintra, an association that's challenging City Hall to "put residents first" with better communication, to start. They also want to know the government's plan for managing guests at a new hotel being constructed to increase the number of overnight stays, and more limits on the number of cars and visitors allowed.

"We're not against tourists," reads the group's manifesto. "We're against the pandemonium that (local leaders) cannot resolve."
The Philippines called on Beijing on Saturday to "immediately cease all provocative and dangerous actions" after accusing it of "unjustifiably" deploying flares from China-occupied Subi Reef on August 22 while a Manila aircraft was conducting patrols.

The same aircraft also "faced harassment" from a Chinese jet fighter while it was conducting a surveillance flight near Scarborough Shoal on August 19, the Philippines' South China Sea Task Force said in a statement.

"Such actions undermine regional peace and security, and further erode the image of the PRC (People's Republic of China) with the international community," the task force said.

There was no immediate comment from the Chinese Embassy in Manila about the incidents, which happened the same week Manila and Beijing accused each of ramming vessels and performing dangerous maneuvers in the South China Sea.

They also came less than two weeks after an air incident between the Chinese and Philippines militaries in Scarborough Shoal, even as the two nations have agreed to "restore trust" and "rebuild confidence" to better manage maritime disputes.

Manila's aircraft, which belonged to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), in coordination with the coast guard, was tasked to monitor and intercept poachers encroaching on the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

The task force said the Chinese jet fighter, which was not provoked, deployed flares multiple times "at a dangerously close distance" from the BFAR aircraft.

"Its actions demonstrated hazardous intent that jeopardized the safety of the personnel onboard the BFAR aircraft," the task force said.

China claims sovereignty over nearly the whole South China Sea and has deployed an armada of coast guard vessels to protect what it considers its territory. The Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Brunei contest the claims.

An international arbitral tribunal in 2016 said Beijing's claim has no basis under international law, awarding a landmark victory to the Philippines which filed the case.

China has built seven artificial islands in the South China Sea, and equipped some with radar, runways and surface-to-air missiles. Those include Subi Reef just 24 kilometers away and visible from Thitu, the most strategically important of nine features the Philippines occupies in the Spratlys.

"We firmly reiterate our call on the government of the People's Republic of China to immediately cease all provocative and dangerous actions that threaten the safety of Philippine vessels and aircraft engaged in legitimate and regular activities" within the country's EEZ, the task force said.
Thousands of people rallied in several cities in Indonesia on Friday, pressuring its election commission to issue rules for regional voting amid outrage over an attempt by parliamentary allies of President Joko Widodo to change them in their favor.

The protests followed a day of demonstrations in which 301 people were detained and tear gas and water cannons used to disperse angry crowds outside parliament, which on Thursday shelved its controversial plan to amend eligibility rules on candidates, citing the absence of a quorum.

The protests were accompanied by fury on social media at the influential Jokowi, as the president is known, who stood to gain from proposed changes that would have allowed his son to seek office in Central Java and blocked an influential government critic from running for the high-profile post of Jakarta governor.

When asked about the protests, Jokowi said Friday that it was good for people to express their aspirations.

He said Wednesday that he respected Indonesia's democratic institutions, when asked about the attempt by parliament to change the election rules.

The demonstrations capped a dramatic week in politics in which anger has mounted over what Jokowi's critics say is an attempt to further consolidate his power as he prepares to make way for successor Prabowo Subianto in October.

Jokowi's popularity and outsized influence after a decade in charge was instrumental in Prabowo winning February's election by a big margin, in what was widely seen as a quid pro quo to ensure the outgoing leader retains a political stake long after he leaves office.

'This is nepotism'

Student protester Diva Rabiah, 23, was among hundreds of people who gathered outside the election commission in Jakarta urging it to issue clear rules on candidates, concerned that regulations could be changed before registration opens next week.

"This bothers me because they eased the way for the president's son to run in the regional elections. This is nepotism," she said of the earlier plan by lawmakers.

Demonstrations were also held Friday in the cities of Medan, Makassar and in Surabaya, where students threw rocks and bottles at police, calling for the election commisison to issue the rules.

It is unclear what role Jokowi will play when he leaves office, but he is expected to wield influence through the Golkar Party, the largest member of Prabowo's parliamentary alliance, which Wednesday appointed the president's right-hand man, Bahlil Lahadalia, as its leader.

The push by lawmakers to change the election rules would have effectively been a reversal of a Constitutional Court decision Tuesday, which upheld the minimum age of 30 for candidates and made it easier for parties to make nominations.

That ruling opened the door for Prabowo's presidential election rival, Anies Baswedan, to be nominated for Jakarta governor, a post he held from 2017 to 2022, but meant Jokowi's son Kaesang Pangarep, 29, could not run in regional polls.

The election commission will issue rules in line with Tuesday's court ruling, but after a consultation with parliament next week, its acting chief, Mochammad Afifuddin, said in a news conference.
A large multipurpose pulp-transportation ship named Green Munguba, with a deadweight tonnage of 77,000 tonnes, has been delivered to its customer in the city of Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province.

Measuring 225 meters long, 32.26 meters wide and 21 meters deep, the vessel can travel at a speed of 15 knots, according to Dalian COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry Co., Ltd.

It will be deployed on the shipping route connecting China and South America, and its cargo hold has good sealing and dryness, ensuring the quality and safety of pulp transportation, said the shipbuilder.

Additionally, the vessel's cargo hold is highly adaptable, allowing it to transport not only pulp but also various other types of cargo, such as high-speed trains, wind-power equipment and large machinery.

The Green Munguba is also equipped with a temperature monitoring and warning system specifically for new-energy vehicles (NEVs), ensuring the safe transport of these vehicles and supporting trade in NEVs between China and South America.
A 17th Judicial District jury convicted a Commerce City man of attempted second-degree murder Friday after he attempted to light his mother on fire.

Matthew Nicholas, 41, was convicted of attempted second-degree murder, attempted first-degree assault and third-degree motor vehicle theft  all felonies  after a five-day trial in the Adams County District Court, overseen by District Judge Sean Finn.

The incident occurred on Dec. 12 when Nicholas mother was driving along Tower Road in Commerce City.

Nicholas demanded that the mother play a game of truth or dare. Nicholas said if she did not tell the truth he would shave her head with electric trimmers, according to a press release from the 17th Judicial District Attorneys Office.

Nicholas eventually became upset and dumped a cup of gasoline on his mother.

He then lit a lighter and produced a flame, threatening to burn the woman.

The mother pulled into a construction area near Second Creek Plaza Drive and jumped out of the vehicle, screaming for construction workers to help.

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The workers apprehended Nicholas until Commerce City police arrived.

Some of the workers witnessed Nicholas attempting to set his mother on fire.

The mother noted that Nicholas was upset over an internal family matter, according to the release.

This defendant poured gasoline on his own mother and tried to light her on fire, District Attorney Brian Mason said in the release.

This was an egregious and unthinkable crime. Im grateful to the jury for reaching a just verdict, and Im especially grateful to the construction workers who sprang into action to help an innocent victim, likely saving her life.

Nicholas is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 28.
Hundreds of pro-Palestinian delegates were sidelined at the Democratic National Convention that ended with Vice President Kamala Harris reaffirming her support for Israel.

"The people of Israel must never again face the horror that a terrorist organization called Hamas caused on October 7," she said in her speech accepting the partys presidential nomination Thursday evening.

As anti-war protesters filled the streets throughout the week, 270 pro-Palestinian Democrats calling themselves "cease-fire delegates" signed a petition demanding Harris, if shes elected, enact an arms embargo on Israel.

The unheeded petition was pushed by leaders of the "Uncommitted" movement, which garnered hundreds of thousands of votes in Democratic primaries across the nation.

These delegates staged a sit-in outside Chicagos United Center, the conventions venue, to protest the Democratic National Committee, who denied a speaking request for Tanya Haj-Hassan, a pediatric doctor who treats wounded children in Gaza.

The DNC, according to Uncommitted National Movement spokesperson Layla Elabed, didnt want Harris to be "overshadowed."

Asked by VOA for a reaction to Elabeds claim, the Harris campaign said, "There have been a number of speakers who have spoken about the war in Gaza and the need to secure a cease-fire and hostage deal."

Uncommitted delegates

Elabed spoke to VOA on behalf of the 30 "Uncommitted" delegates who voted present in the nomination roll call. Thats less than 1% of the roughly 4,700 delegates who voted for Harris.

The pro-Palestinian group, however, was given a speaking opportunity Monday in a panel event outside of the convention.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, a Muslim sympathetic to the Palestinian cause who spoke on the panel, was given time at the convention main stage on Wednesday. However, he did not mention Gaza in his speech.

The war in Gaza is "not the topic that I would decide" to speak about, Ellison told VOA before his speech, indicating that pragmatism is key to affect change within the party.

"I'm not one of those people who believe that we vote for perfection. What we vote for is conversation," he said.

Party platform supports Israel

As the convention kicked off, Democrats voted to adopt the partys platform that recommitted support for Israel, a cease-fire for hostage release deal and the two-state solution.

Pro-Palestinian delegates tried to include language backing enforcement of laws that ban giving military aid to individuals or security forces that commit gross violations of human rights.

"What we are asking is that our tax dollars not be used to kill men, women and children. This is not a controversial demand and is actually more aligned with our Democratic values," Elabed said.

Compared to Biden, Harris appears to offer more sympathy for Palestinian suffering, repeating Thursday of the "devastating" situation in Gaza over the past 10 months."

"So many innocent lives lost. Desperate, hungry people fleeing for safety, over and over again," she said in her convention speech. "The scale of suffering is heartbreaking."

But policy-wise she signaled continuity from the current administration.

"President Biden and I are working to end this war such that Israel is secure, the hostages are released, the suffering in Gaza ends, and the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, security, freedom and self-determination," she said in her speech to thunderous applause.

Harris current and former aides say her Israel policy is unlikely to diverge from President Joe Biden. Halie Soifer, national security adviser to Harris while she was in the Senate, said that the vice president has always been a "strong supporter of the U.S.-Israel relationship," while upholding humanitarian values.

"She does not want to see the suffering of innocent civilians, nor do the vast majority of Americans and Jewish Americans," said Soifer, who is now CEO of Jewish Democratic Council of America.

"We don't have to view it through binary lens," she told VOA. "We support both."

Not discouraged

Uncommitted delegates say theyre not discouraged.

Inga Gibson, a delegate from Hawaii, a state where seven out of 31 delegates are uncommitted, said she has made "tremendous progress" with her fellow delegates.

"I found that a lot of people are really with us on this issue, but they don't know where to begin or how to get involved," she told VOA.

She and other uncommitted delegates gave out keffiyehs, "Democrats for Gaza" flyers and "No More Bombs" pins. The pro-Palestinian symbols are emblematic of a key area of disagreement among Democrats  how much support to give to Israel.

Pro-Israel delegates say it should not create division within the party.

"We can all do better to try to understand the complications of the conflict," Andrew Lachman, a delegate from California told VOA. "We're all concerned about the civilians of Gaza, but we're also concerned about the people of Israel and their safety and security."

Polls show an increasing number of Americans want their leaders to reduce support for Israel. Some say Harris missed an opportunity.

As a former prosecutor, Harris can and should strictly enforce laws and suspend weapons even to allies who violate international or U.S. law, said Nancy Okail, president and CEO of the Center for International Policy, a left-leaning think tank.

"She could make clear this doesnt just apply to their misuse by Israel to cause disproportionate civilian harm in Gaza, but to their misuse by Netanyahus extremist government to dispossess and abuse Palestinians in the occupied West Bank," she told VOA.

Turning protest into agenda

Scholars of social movements say it takes time and work to turn protests into a political agenda. Elisabeth Clemens, a sociologist from the University of Chicago, said that includes building coalitions, negotiating and compromising.

"Finding a way forward that almost never gets all the way to where the protesters hoped it would get but is nevertheless an important change," she told VOA.

And on an issue as complicated as the Middle East peace process, there are different pressures exerted on multiple sides.

"American domestic politics only garners a slice of that," she said.

Elabed said theyre in for the long game.

"Our strategy is not to abandon the Democratic Party, but to essentially revolutionize the Democratic Party and listen to its core base."

For now, the vice president is their best bet.

"I dont care what you think, you need to win to have power," Ellison said. "Harris, the numbers are up everywhere. The chances for success are higher."
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Vice President Kamala Harris reaffirmed support for Israel in her Democratic National Convention acceptance speech. Pro-Palestinian delegates say they will push to condition U.S. military aid to Israel. White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara reports from the convention in Chicago, Illinois.
Sudan's de facto ruler, army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, said Saturday his government would not join peace talks with rival paramilitaries in Switzerland, vowing instead to "fight for 100 years."

"We will not go to Geneva ... we will fight for 100 years," Burhan, whose troops have been battling the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for over 16 months, told reporters in Port Sudan.

The United States opened talks in Switzerland on August 14 aimed at easing the human suffering and achieving a lasting cease-fire.

While an RSF delegation showed up, the Sudanese armed forces were unhappy with the format and did not attend, though they were in telephone contact with the mediators.

The talks were co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and Switzerland, with the African Union, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and the United Nations completing the so-called Aligned for Advancing Lifesaving and Peace in Sudan Group (ALPS).

They wrapped up Friday without a cease-fire but with progress on securing aid access on two key routes into the country, which is gripped by one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

The brutal conflict has forced one in five people to flee their homes, while tens of thousands have died. More than 25 million across Sudan  more than half its population  face acute hunger.
The top U.S. general began an unannounced visit Saturday to the Middle East to discuss ways to avoid escalation in tensions that could spiral into a broader conflict as the region braces for a threatened Iranian attack against Israel.

Air Force General CQ Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, began his trip in Jordan and said he will also travel to Egypt and Israel in the coming days to hear the perspectives of military leaders.

His visit comes as the United States is trying to clinch an elusive Gaza cease-fire for hostages deal between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which Brown said would "help bring down the temperature," if achieved.

"At the same time, as I talk to my counterparts, what are the things we can do to deter any type of broader escalation and ensure we're taking all the appropriate steps to (avoid) ... a broader conflict," Brown told Reuters before landing in Jordan.

U.S. President Joe Biden's administration has been seeking to limit the fallout from the war in Gaza between Hamas and Israel, now in its 11th month. The conflict has leveled huge swathes of Gaza, triggered border clashes between Israel and Lebanon's Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement and sparked attacks by Yemen's Houthis on Red Sea shipping.

Meanwhile, U.S. troops have been attacked by Iran-aligned militia in Syria, Iraq and Jordan.

US bolsters forces

In recent weeks, the U.S. military has been bolstering its forces in the Middle East to guard against major new attacks by Iran or its allies, sending the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group into the region to replace the Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group.

The United States has also sent an Air Force F-22 Raptor squadron into the region and deployed a cruise missile submarine.

"We brought in additional capability to send a strong message to deter a broader conflict ... but also to protect our forces should they be attacked," Brown said, adding that safeguarding American forces was "paramount."

Iranian response

Iran has vowed a severe response to the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, which took place as he visited Tehran late last month and which it blamed on Israel. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement.

Hezbollah has also threatened a response after Israel killed a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut last month.

Iran has not publicly indicated what would be the target of an eventual response to the Haniyeh assassination, but U.S. officials say they are closely monitoring for any signs that Iran will make good on its threats.

"We stay postured, watching the (intelligence) and force movements," Brown said.

On Friday, Iran's new Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told his French and British counterparts in telephone conversations that it was his country's right to retaliate, according to the official IRNA news agency.

On April 13, two weeks after two Iranian generals were killed in a strike on Tehran's embassy in Syria, Iran unleashed a barrage of hundreds of drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles toward Israel, damaging two air bases. Israel, the United States and other allies managed to destroy almost all the weapons before they reached their targets.

Brown did not speculate about what Iran and its allies might do but said he hoped to discuss different scenarios with his Israeli counterpart.

"Particularly, as I engage with my Israeli counterpart, how they might respond, depending on the response that comes from Hezbollah or from Iran," Brown said.

The current war in the Gaza Strip began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas gunmen stormed into Israeli communities, killing around 1,200 people and abducting about 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Since then, Israel's military campaign has driven nearly all of the Palestinian enclave's 2.3 million people from their homes, giving rise to deadly hunger and disease and killing at least 40,000 people, according to Hamas-controlled, Palestinian health authorities.
Just a month after US President Joe Biden announced he would not seek reelection; Kamala Harris accepted the nomination to be the Democratic Partys presidential nominee. She contrasted her record and vision to that of her Republican rival, former President Donald Trump.
More than three years since 10 people were gunned down at the King Soopers on Table Mesa Drive in Boulder, the suspect will finally stand trial Monday.

The case surrounding 25-year-old Ahmad Alissa  who faces 10 counts of first-degree murder after deliberation following the mass shooting on March 22, 2021  will officially begin with jury selection at the Boulder County Justice Center after years of legal wrangling about his mental capacity.

Prospective jurors will come into the court next week to fill out questionnaires, which will then be turned over to defense attorneys and prosecutors. Then on Sept. 3, the attorneys will begin the process of questioning prospective jurors in person.

Twentieth Judicial District Judge Ingrid Bakke will oversee the trial, with opening statements expected as early as Sept. 5. Bakke has denied all requests for expanded media coverage, and refused to set aside seats for the media, but will allow WebEx video stream of the high-profile trial.

The trial is estimated to last around three weeks, according to a spokesperson from the 20th Judicial District Attorneys Office.

Timeline of events

The trial comes three years and six months after the mass shooting led to the death of Denny Stong, 20; Neven Stanisic, 23; Rikki Olds, 25; Tralona Bartkowiak, 49; Teri Leiker, 51; Boulder Police Ofc. Eric Talley, 51; Suzanne Fountain, 59; Kevin Mahoney, 61; Lynn Murray, 62; and Jody Waters, 65.

Alissa was officially charged with the aforementioned 10 counts of first-degree murder, 47 counts of attempted first-degree murder and six counts of possession of a large-capacity magazine during the commission of a felony, among other charges and sentence enhancers.

The criminal case stalled for years, as Alissas mental health remained a question.

It was raised as an issue by his lawyers right after the shooting. The issue of whether he was mentally competent to stand trial  meaning he is able to understand court proceedings and help his lawyers in his defense  put proceedings on hold for the last two years.

The case was placed on hold in December 2021, when a judge ruled he was not competent based on evaluations from doctors at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo.

Following treatment and rehabilitation with medication, Alissa was ruled competent to stand trial by Bakke on Oct. 6, 2023.

Prosecutors said the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) determined the suspect was competent to proceed in the case in August 2023.

According to CDHS, it is because of consistent medication compliance and the recent addition of a new drug that Defendant is now competent, the District Attorneys Office wrote in a court filing.

Alissa then entered a not guilty by reason of insanity plea in November, though his attorneys have acknowledged that he was the shooter who killed the people in the store.

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In May, Bakke granted the defenses request for Alissas sanity at the time of the shooting to be evaluated a second time by their own expert, but ultimately rejected the proposal to delay the trial until March 2025 to give his lawyers time for that process.

The trial was, instead, delayed for one month, pushing it to the September date in which it now stands.

The defense also attempted to move the trial from Boulder due to a belief that a fair trial cannot take place because of the massive, pervasive and prejudicial publicity the case generated and any jury selected in the county would be prejudiced as a result.

Bakke eventually denied the motion, keeping the trial in Boulder.

On July 8, the defense filed a motion to suppress body camera footage from the Boulder Police Department officers who arrested and later attempted to talk to Alissa in the hospital. That was because, they alleged, the officers not reading Alissa his Miranda rights.

Bakke denied the motion Thursday, stating that the lack of Miranda rights fell under the the Public Safety Exception doctrine that allows law enforcement to question suspects without first reading their Miranda rights if public safety is at significant risk.

The court found that Alissa was essentially in custody from the moment that he surrenders to the police officers inside of King Soopers. When Defendant approaches the armed officers to surrender, he is immediately given orders and is handcuffed before being escorted outside. It is clear the Defendant was not free to leave and that his freedom of movement was restrained to the degree that a reasonable person would understand that they were under arrest, Bakke said in the response.

Its unclear if the ruling allows jurors to see the body camera footage, which includes Alissa answering questions about the shooting, or whether a transcript of the recording will be used. It could be key evidence for prosecutors to help identify for jurors Alissas mental health status at the time of the shooting.

Whats next?

During the upcoming trial, prosecutors will need to prove to jurors not only that he committed the crimes, but that he was not insane when he did. They will need to prove that he knew the difference between right and wrong and did not have a mental illness that hindered his decision making. To prove a charge of first-degree murder, prosecutors will have to prove he pre-meditating the shooting and planned it.

If Alissa is found guilty of any of the murder charges, he will be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

If, on the other hand, he is found not guilty by reason of insanity, he could be committed to a mental institution  where he would be treated until he was deemed no longer a danger to himself or others.

District Attorney Michael Dougherty and Assistant District Attorney Ken Kupfner will be the main prosecutors in the case.

The Denver Gazette will cover the entire trial daily.
On Friday, August 23, over 60,000 students received their Leaving Cert results.

In Waterford, the students over at Abbey Community College made their school proud by scoring great results, many of them exceeding 600 points.

Principal Michelle Jefford and Deputy Principal Helen O'Connor were full of praise for the Leaving students, and warmly congratulated them on their achievement.

According to Helen: "We are incredibly proud of each and every one of our students, and we would like to take this moment to extend our heartfelt congratulations to all of them on this special occasion.

"These results mark a significant milestone for our students, their families, and the primary schools they represent, all of whom have provided unwavering support during their time at Abbey Community College and have been essential contributors to our thriving school community.

"We would like to thank all the staff of Abbey Community College, teaching and non-teaching for their dedication and support to the class of 2024."

She continued: "An advantage of our large school is the ability to offer an extensive range of subjects for our students in senior cycle. This diverse selection enables our students to pursue university and college courses, as well as enter trades and transition directly into the workforce.

"An exceptional group of students consistently excels beyond the national academic averages. This year, we are proud to have many students who achieved scores exceeding 600 points in their Leaving Certificate, along with a significant rise in the percentage of students scoring over 500 points.

"Additionally, our Leaving Certificate Applied results are at the highest end of the national range.

Deputy O'Connor added: "We extend our best wishes to all our students as they eagerly await their CAO offers.

"Our Support Team and Guidance Counsellors have been in constant contact with our students and will be there supporting them throughout the whole CAO process and beyond if necessary."
Oh we all love a good old moan! Its part of getting through the day I suppose. From the first question in the morning, Did you sleep well? to the last one Sleep tight! there are a myriad of opportunities to complain.

I make the mistake quite often of just asking the wrong question. A recent visitor was a case in point. While I was making his favourite sausage and egg breakfast he would be listing his misadventures of the previous night. Oh, I didnt sleep a wink! Im not used to that kind of mattress. Where did you get it? Ikea? Well that explains it! And on and on it would go.

Mmm.

So I was recently reading about writer Grace Paley who studied her fathers happiness in old age and asked him for the secret of it. Apparently how we wake up in the morning, and taking control of that, adds years to our lives. Well so I like to think after reading his advice.

Think about those first few moments. Most of my life used to be dominated by getting out of the house as quickly as possible in order not to be late for something. It often required getting other people out the door as well. Hence, my first reaction on waking was usually to jump out of bed and run like a mad woman around the house dragging people out of bed.

Breakfast, meditation and positive thinking did not exist in that world. The old mans advice would be to set the alarm for an earlier time so that when you wake up you can pause ha!

Now that I have all the time in the world most days I tend not to pause. The bleary-eyed habit of reaching for the radio and the phone to see if the apocalypse took place in the middle of the night is always my first response on waking.

So Grace Paleys father suggests that every morning we wake up and pause, breathe and take our heart in our hands. He simply reminds himself of his always beating heart and the work that it does every day to keep him alive. He places his hands on his heart as if to cup it and expresses his gratitude. Yes, he talks to his heart!

Holy Moly! I would never have thought of that. How we wake up and our first moments influence our whole day. You only have to remember those days when you were very late for something. I was recently late for the train. I caught the train by seconds, but the state I was in took the good out of the journey and the day ahead. I was in some weird state of rushing all day.

So Im going to try to practice this kind of morning gratitude and also improve my chit chat questions with others. Instead of asking Well, how did you sleep? Im going to say What a lovely day it is! Arent we blessed to have another one!

This is a lesson I learned from my own father. The older he got, the more disabled he was, (blind and deaf), the happier he seemed. Or maybe it wasnt happiness so much as a realisation about the precious mystery of life. His phrase was always, Another day is a bonus! and every morning he would tuck in to his favourite porridge and cold milk, delighted with himself.

I love to talk to random people that I meet. Three French tourists in Tramore who look lost, an elderly man in the supermarket who is having trouble bending, a young couple with a crying toddler. But its important to find the right question there too.

The French tourists were highly amused when I asked them if they were going for a swim. Wrapped up in anoraks, hiking boots and very chic scarves they then chatted away about the bonkers Irish on the beach and in the sea while they were freezing and looking for hot drinks. They went from looking concerned to being highly amused.

When I asked an elderly woman about her health, she first told me all the crap she was going through but we ended with a good laugh about all our wonky bits and how we were blessed to be out at all on this windy old day.

Ten times a day now I think about all the ways we could be grateful; for peace on our island, for family and friends, for having enough to eat and a roof over our heads, for babies, for flowers, for Seagull Bakery, for fish and chips after a cold dip in the icy sea.

None of this stops me checking on the coming apocalypse. I cant look and yet cant look away from the wars and the hate. I dont want to be a kind of Pollyanna living in denial about the awful state of the world. But there is a place to count your own blessings at the same time as being what Desmond Tutu called a prisoner of hope. Theres an art to this practice no doubt.

How about at least once a day we ask ourselves this question, what are you grateful for today? So, here I go, today, Im grateful for summer, talking to strangers and coffee. How about you?
Mornings are ruled by my phone. My alarm goes off, and Im immediately met with a carousel of notifications, luring me onto WhatsApp, Instagram and TikTok. By the time I finally roll out of bed, Ive already queued up a string of podcasts, music and shows to play in the background while I get ready for the day.

Ive had enough of these mornings to know Im probably addicted to my phone. So, what would happen if I suddenly reverted to phone-free mornings? Or, not only phone-free, but caffeine- and exercise-free too?

TikTok claims low-dopamine mornings will make me more focused and motivated throughout the day. Lets put it to the test.

This is what TikTok has coined the low-dopamine morning, a one to two hour routine thats free of stressful or highly stimulating activities, and which is said to increase calmness and motivation. But does it actually work? To find out, I tried low-dopamine mornings for seven days and spoke to experts.

Defining dopamine
The Home Affairs Department rejected three out of four visa applications by Palestinians in the week the Coalition ramped up its political attack on Labor for letting people from war-torn Gaza come to Australia.

The latest figures show 13 visas were granted and 39 rejected between August 12 and 19, demonstrating that federal agencies continue to knock back the majority of applicants with Palestinian documents.

DFAT officials helping families travel to Cairo last year after leaving Gaza. The border is currently shut.

The data also shows no visas were cancelled over the seven days, suggesting the federal government has not changed its security approach despite Coalition demands. Children have made up 30 per cent of the 2935 visas now issued to people with Palestinian documents since the Israel-Hamas war began in October.

Former deputy immigration secretary Abul Rizvi said neither political party had owned up to their mistakes as the issue dominated parliamentary question time all week. The Coalition has accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of compromising national security while Labor has painted Opposition Leader Peter Dutton as divisive and distracted from Australians cost-of-living concerns.
Iron Bastion founder and cybersecurity expert Gabor Szathmari says the ruthless professionalisation of financial crime means different crime gangs specialise in different areas of scamming. One group might focus on breaking into emails to get information about large transactions while another might steal driver licences, passports and other identification to open new bank accounts. Unfortunately, crime pays, and technology allows criminals to carry out scams on a large scale over the internet. For instance, phishing emails can be sent in bulk, and robocalls can be made without human interaction, he said. In Australia, there is no legal requirement for banks to name-check or confirm the payee for bank transfers despite the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission recommending banks put these checks in place back in 2022 and consumer groups demanding it in 2019. Szathmaris colleague, solicitor Nick Kavadias, says its easier for scammers to target businesses such as real estate agents and conveyancers  who may not store personal information securely  than to rob a bank.

Loading Ive seen [scammers] break into email, and then they suck all the emails out, and they look for keywords, you know contract or sale or whatever and then they continue to sit and wait until the right time to send [the victim] an email pretending to be the solicitor, going, Hey, these are the payment instructions and theyve copied and pasted previous emails and footers that theyve received, so it looks legitimate, he says. Cybertrace chief executive officer Dan Halpin  formerly with ASIO and NSW Police  says international scamming rings target trusting Australians because we have access to large sums of money and its basically shooting fish in a barrel. Home buyers are at risk of scams. Credit: Steven Siewert I am aware of some situations where victims are suffering massive depression, and Ive even heard of cases where victims have [died by] suicide because they firstly have lost their money, but also because they get limited assistance and police dont take them seriously, he said.

PEXA Group chief information technology security officer David Willett says bank transfer scams increased during COVID-19, dropped last year but are on the rise again. With the world grappling with the cost of living, geopolitical disputes and major elections, we are starting to see an uptick, he says. When Levin and Tina lost money to scammers, it took a toll. Credit: Edwina Pickles Levin Salaberry and his partner Tina Damcesvka lost $91,650 in a home-buying scam in October 2023, when a CommBank branch teller transferred money to another mule CommBank account that NSW Police have said was set up with a stolen identity. Salaberrys bank recovered $44,971.22 between October 18, 2023 and June 12 this year, leaving him with a devastating $46,678.78 loss.

CommBank has offered to pay him another $4582.50 to resolve the matter on a without admissions basis, which he has not accepted. Salaberry, 42, has been traumatised by the scam  his heart races every time he hears his mobile phone ping with a notification. He went into himself, into a shell, says Damcesvka, 50, an office worker. Salaberry initially couldnt bring himself to complain to AFCA, because he had to log in to an online portal to make the complaint, which he didnt want to do after being the victim of cybercrime. He is now pursuing the matter. I dont own a computer. I dont sit in an office and do emails. I dont answer phone calls from people I dont know, the construction worker, says, explaining he copies and pastes every number that calls him into WhatsApp so he can see if the person has a legitimate profile and photo. Technology developed by fraud prevention firm BioCatch helped banks detect more than 150,000 mule accounts last year, though its not clear whether banks closed these accounts.

Not just fraud and scams, but money laundering and all types of financial crime are more complex, more sophisticated, faster and of a higher volume than ever before, says BioCatch executive Richard Booth. The companys fraud detection and anti-money laundering technology is used by nine out of 10 major banks. Most people hold bank accounts that comply with 100 points of identity. Scammers use illegitimate mule accounts to move stolen money overseas or into cryptocurrency, seemingly in violation of the spirit of Australias anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws, which require banks to report suspicious transactions over $10,000. Banks have announced scam-safe accords to ensure names match account numbers in online transfers, investing $100 million in the project. Financial Services Minister Stephen Jones has unveiled new legislation forcing banks to identify dodgy accounts, but none of this has been implemented yet. In response to questions from this masthead, Jones said the laws will require banks  and the likes of social media companies  to meet strict obligations designed to prevent scammers preying on victims. It is government policy that all bank accounts unlawfully established or maintained should be closed, he said.
If theyre not doing celebrity scam ads, theyre not doing any of the other more important stuff. And every celebrity scam of a pensioner meaningfully changes the course of their life. The fact that its happening and not getting fixed is outrageous. This masthead reported in April that Facebook Australia made $1.34 billion from advertisers during the 2023 calendar year, though more than a billion dollars of that local revenue was funnelled to an international subsidiary. In the United States we dont have a problem with celebrity scam ads the way you do  I was shocked when I came here and saw the extent of it. Frances Haugen Haugen said that while she was at Facebook, the companys safety teams were primarily focused on American English or British English, and Australian English was an afterthought for its moderation efforts, allowing scams to thrive. You guys have such colourful phrases, like the one I learned last time was open slather, Haugen said.

I think people really dont understand how brittle Facebooks systems are. And I think Australia is probably paying the highest cost for that. Because you are the most different from British English or American English, you are a high per-capita income country, youre a great target. Facebook denies whistleblower Frances Haugens claims. Credit: Tony Avelar A spokesman for Facebooks parent company, Meta, denied Haugens claims in a statement to this masthead. These are baseless and completely inaccurate claims. Meta doesnt want scams on our platforms, and we are continuing to invest in tools and technology to prevent them, the spokesman said. The safety of our users is of utmost importance, and we continue to work with industry, the government and law enforcement to protect Australians from scams.

Whether the company likes it or not, Australia is highly relevant for Facebook, given its high-stakes legal stoush with Australian billionaire Andrew Forrest, the founder of mining giant Fortescue, who has spent years battling the company for allowing scam ads on its platform featuring his likeness. Loading Forrest is alleging that Metas automated technology plays an active role in creating and displaying scam ads through its platform and that its software uses sophisticated technology, including generative AI, to determine what completed ads look like and who sees them. Forrest alleges that between April and December last year, there were 1700 new fraudulent ads posted featuring his image, aided and abetted by 10 to 15 fake Andrew Forrest Facebook profiles popping up each week supporting them. The billionaire failed in his bid to bring criminal charges against Facebook in Australia in April this year when the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions decided not to pursue them. Forrests ongoing civil action in the US  which he commenced in 2021  challenges Facebook owner Meta on its use of legal immunity for online publishers to shield its entire business from any liability.

Meta lost a court battle against Forrest in the US on Friday morning, meaning he can proceed with discovery. Judge Casey Pitts, in the California District Court, denied Metas appeal to take its defence to a higher court. Both sides will appear before Judge Pitts again in October. Its a matter that Haugen is watching closely and said would likely have global implications. Fortescue founder Andrew Forrest. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Im very excited about it, its going to be super interesting if Forrest is allowed to pursue his lawsuit, she said. It might be the first chance for us to actually force data out of the company, to see what theyre doing about it. If a celebrity writes in and says, There are scam ads about me, Facebook could put their name on a list and just double check all the ads that have their name, or use facial recognition. And the fact that they are not doing that in Australia means you guys are not being allocated even basic resources.

An example of a scam ad showing Andrew Forrests likeness. While Australia is often perceived as a relative minnow economically, Haugens opinion is that it should team up with similarly sized, like-minded markets such as Canada to push for stronger social media regulation. She praised Australias early leadership on online safety laws  including the establishment of the Office of the eSafety Commissioner, a world first at the time  but said the country now had an opportunity to develop more ambitious and holistic reforms. More specifically, Haugen is calling for the creation of an independent, comprehensive ads database, not controlled by Facebook, that would allow independent researchers and start-ups to analyse platform advertising practices. This, she said, could help counter issues such as celebrity scams. With bipartisan support emerging for measures including banning under-16s from social media, Haugen also urged Australian policymakers to think beyond bumper sticker solutions.
Multiple people were arrested Friday night following a violent attempted robbery in Colorado Springs, according to the Colorado Springs Police Department.

Police said at 11:33 p.m. Friday night officers received reports of a group of people assaulting a victim outside a business along the 2500 block of South Academy Boulevard.

Officers on the scene located one victim, who was transported to a nearby hospital to be treated for injuries sustained amid the attack. Investigators determined the assault to be a robbery as items were stolen from the victim amid the attack.

According to the department, as investigators were on the scene four suspects returned. Officers made contact and arrested Xzavier Jaramillo, Alizah Starks and Ryan Smith, who are facing charges of aggravated robbery and assault.

Police said the fourth suspect was a juvenile, who was served and released on other charges.
Kathmandu: When Nepals new international airport opened last year in one of the countrys biggest cities, it was the type of landmark project expected to elevate the fortunes of one of Asias poorest countries while deepening its ties with China, which built and financed the project.

But the Pokhara airport has become a symbol of another sort: the pitfalls of Chinas international infrastructure projects, which face criticism for sometimes costly and poor quality construction that leave borrower countries awash in debt.

On Thursday, Nepals one-month-old government, led by the countrys largest communist party, which has close ties to Beijing, formally asked China to convert a $US216 million ($318 million) loan for the airport into a grant, wiping away the debt. It made the request during a visit by a Chinese delegation including Sun Weidong, Chinas vice foreign minister.

Nepali citizens welcome Chinese passengers from the first international flight to arrive at Pokhara International Airport in Pokhara on June 21, 2023. Credit: Rebecca Conway/The New York Times

The airport has been beset by problems. A few weeks after it opened in January 2023, a domestic flight headed for the city crashed into a river gorge, killing 72 people. It has not attracted any regular international flights, dimming the financial outlook for the project. Over the past year, Nepals anti-corruption agency and a parliamentary committee started investigations into the airports construction.
Rome: Prosecutors in Italy said they have opened an investigation into culpable shipwreck and multiple manslaughter after a superyacht capsized during a storm off the coast of Sicily, killing seven people onboard. They included British tech magnate Mike Lynch and his daughter.

Termini Imerese prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio confirmed the investigation has been launched, but hasnt identified a suspect.

We are only in the initial phase of the investigation. We cant exclude any sort of development at present, he told reporters at a news conference.

Cartosio said his team will carefully consider each possible element of responsibility, including those of the Bayesians captain, the crew, individuals in charge of supervision, the yachts manufacturer and others.
Michael Bolton

The actions of members of the far-right and safety of gardai were raised by the public after violent disorder in Coolock in July.

Documents, seen by BreakingNews.ie, saw a number of concerns were raised by the public to the Department of Justice in the days that followed, with 41 correspondence since July 8th.

Protests turned violent over plans to accommodate international protection applicants at the site of the former Crown Paints factory.

Fireworks were aimed at lines of Public Order Unit gardai, while glass bottles and rocks were also thrown.

Over a dozen people were arrested and were subsequently charged with public order offences.

In correspondence to Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, one person said: "Few TDs are as aware as you are of the rise of the traitorous far right in this country. Their violence and thuggery, as well as their ideology, are the antithesis of Irish patriotism and Irish nationalism.

"I have friends who have been victims of minor assaults at the hands of the far right on account of their faith or their race. The scenes in Coolock recently add to a mile-long list of incidents driven by racist hatred, a betrayal of our ancestors who fought against occupation, who fled the genocide lumped onto us by England as refugees to Britain and America.

"They also went on to criticise the gardai's response to these people, as they said: Given the threats, intimidation, and in some instances violence directed towards yourself, Paul Murphy, Roderic O'Gorman, Michael Healy Rae, and other TDs from across the political spectrum, why aren't the guards doing more to combat this?"

The Garda response in Coolock was a common theme to Ms McEntee, as Drew Harris received criticism.

"We've just had a weekend that happens every single year when British people in Eire burn the Irish flag and holding signs saying "kill all Irish" or 'K.A.T, Kill All Taigs' and Irish people attacked in the North.

"Then we have a British head of An Garda Siochana come out and speak against the Irish people in Coolock, yet he said nothing or condemned the actions of his own people in the north that attacked Irish culture and history and people. Can you not see the irony?"

Protection for gardai during disorder in Coolock was also raised, with a number of gardai injured during incidents in Coolock in July.

"The silence is deafening when you consider the lack of response from politicians to actually back up the gardai in their work while dealing with protests and their work in general.

"We only seem to hear calls for changes in the law when politicians lives, families homes or place of work are threatened by thugs in the name of a protest. Gardai get these threats every day.

"The gardai are being sent out to protests, domestic violence, anti-social activity while they are inadequately protected in their resources, they are lambs to the slaughter.

"It appears you can say what you want and do what you want to intimidate, assault, injure and possibly kill gardai and politicians just look for more protection in respect of themselves and their families."

Some people also felt gardai were too aggressive in their response, as one person emailed Ms McEntee the link to a YouTube video, with the message: "THIS IS ILLEGAL. POLICE BRUTALITY. YOU ARE A DISGRACE."

Another person also said: "Absolutely terrible let them in getting free everything [sic] what about our own unbelievable what happened yesterday in Coolock I have never seen anything like it. A old person got pepper spray a man of 78 years old."

As suspects from the violence in Coolock were charged and appeared in court, the issue of legal aid was brought up.

One person took issue with the number of people charged who were also receiving State benefits.

"I have just read reports in relation to those involved in Criminal Behaviour at Coolock yesterday. A number of those who appeared in Court are receiving State benefits.

"Surely this is completely unacceptable. I also note that they are receiving free legal aid. All this at the expense of the taxpayer. There is also a question over damages. I would suggest that those involved should not receive State payments.

"If they have time for this behaviour, they should be working."

The location of the proposed centre for those seeking international protection was also brought into question, as someone said to the Justice Minister: "First, why was an IPAS Centre located in an extremely disadvantaged community?

"Second, why did Minster Roderic O'Gorman flagrantly disregard the state's legal obligation under SI230 of designation IPAS Centres without carrying out a risk assessment regarding public order and public interest requirements?"
Ciara OMalley radiates a positivity that is hard to describe. When you enter her company, there is a warmth and brightness that emanates from her.

Ciara has been on a journey that took her to the depths of grief when she lost her partner David Gavin in 2017 in a tragic accident while they were living in Vancouver in Canada. David went missing while swimming in the Beaver River in British Columbia and it was another 10 months before his body was recovered and returned to his native Castlebar for burial.

Emerging from her grief, she was inspired to use her experience to help others. That has led to her writing a book, Miracles Appear When Loved Ones Are Near, and starting a podcast, Mind Less Full.

The Manulla woman sat down to tell me her story and why she has always felt a draw to helping people.

Angelina: Ciara, thanks for taking the time to talk to me. Tell me a little bit about your background.

Ciara: I am from Manulla in Mayo. I was born in London and lived there until I was ten. We moved home to Ireland in 2000, but Mam and Dad are both from Ireland. Our cousins were in Bofeenaun, so we always wanted to come home to Ireland. I did 4th, 5th and 6th class in Manulla and then went to secondary school in Balla.

Angelina: What did you do when you finished secondary school?

Ciara: I always loved people. I always wanted to help people. I was always one in school helping everyone and always caring about everyone else. I didn't really know exactly what I wanted to do but I just knew I wanted to work with people, so I did social care in Letterkenny. I suppose that opens you up to lots of different paths - working with children, working with individuals with disabilities. I did that course and loved it.

Angelina: Did you go straight into working in that area when you'd finished the course?

Ciara: Yes, I was working with children in residential care, which I loved. It was a difficult job because you're working with lots of different children who have been through really traumatic experiences. They're living in a care home, they're under the care of the state. It was a special care unit I first went into in Limerick, so it's actually the judge that had put these kids in there. But I suppose I kind of felt lucky that I could play some role in their life and help them because they had been through just horrific circumstances.

Angelina: Ciara, a big part of your journey was your partner David Gavin, who passed away in 2017. Tell me how you met.

Ciara: We met when we were 17. We met in the TF - at The Saw Doctors on New Year's Eve. We used to go every year. And that was it then for the next few years.

Angelina: Losing David brought you down a path that has led you to helping so many others.

Ciara: I was always into helping people and caring for people. It didn't matter what anyone's situation was. I'd always think there's a reason they're doing that.

David was missing for ten months before we found him and I suppose it was a situation that you couldn't plan for. You didn't know how you would feel. For me, I had a massive purpose when he was missing, and that was about finding him. And we were willing to do anything. And I suppose I had faith - we had nothing else but faith in something bigger, something that makes no logical sense.

I remember just thinking, we are going to find him. And every single odd was against us. So I suppose for me, something within me was cracked open. Praying, talking to angels - I was willing to try anything.

I feel like David guided me. I do share a lot of all that in my book. And we did find him against every single odd possible. Within that time my mental health took a massive turn, and I was put on medication. I was linked to community mental health. And then, fast forward, about 14 months later, I hit a wall. I wasn't living, I was just surviving. I met lots of people along the way, but I met a lady who said to me, 'Ciara, come on, you're still here. David is gone, but you're still here'.

I went on a little searching journey where I suppose I started to understand my mind and my mindset. And I made a decision to change my direction. I trained in Reiki. I got really into meditation and mindset. And within a few months, it was like something opened up in me.

So now I'm so passionate about all of this because I know that life is difficult. We don't know what could happen on any day. And more than likely, we will be faced with challenges, but within us, your spirit, your soul, your mind, there is something within you that will allow you to grow through adversity.

I have met people in the last few years who have lost loved ones. They have gone through something and they just kind of think, 'This is it, this is me now, this is my life'. And it mightn't be grief, they might have an illness, but they think that life has stopped in some way. And you have to honour that and feel all that.

But for me, it's the bit where people might have gone through something and they might just be stuck. I'm just so passionate about helping others. That's where the book came from and I have a podcast now that's called Mind Less Full, and it's about helping others see that your mind is one of the most powerful tools you have and that you can change your beliefs, you can create things.

Angelina: Tell us about the book, Ciara.

Ciara: As I was starting to heal - and you have got to feel it to heal it - I was acknowledging the grief and I was letting myself feel. And as I was starting to do the healing, I started to connect with nearly a voice inside me. And I do believe it was David. But for me, I knew how I felt in the depths of grief. And then I started have days where I remember feeling gratitude. I just had this big thing that I have to write this book because I know you can do it. I always thought I might just get through life, I'll get to 90, and look, it'll be grand. And that's what I thought for a while, but this version of me was just so grateful to be alive. I knew David was with me. I was starting to really be like 'I want to live my life'. And it was that that really pushed me on to be like, well, if I can do this, so can lots of people. Honest to God, I feel so lucky and blessed to be here. And I know I wouldn't be here today as this version of who I am without all that that has happened.

Angelina: I'd imagine your story and the book have helped so many people.

Ciara: I suppose that's my reason why. Especially people who were in the depths of grief, and I've got messages that they've read it and it's given them encouragement to actually move forward. I believe that a lot of people who read it have lost a loved one. I feel like David's up there with all these people who have passed on and they're like getting their loved ones to read the book now. Open something within you and they might be crying while reading my book - we go into the depths of everything, but even when we're crying, we're releasing something from our own body, because emotions are energy in motion. So if we can release things that we're holding onto, then we have space to move forward, space to grow, space to feel joy.

Angelina: Tell us what you are doing in your day job now Ciara?

Ciara: I work with children who maybe suffer from a lack of self-esteem or who have gone through challenges in life, and it's all resilience-based programmes. It's helping them build resilience because maybe we won't be able to change the situation or the circumstances they're in but it's about giving them the coping skills.

Angelina: You really want to help people, Ciara, don't you?

Ciara: I feel like the world has a lot of heaviness and negativity. And I feel like if we can spread a little bit of magic, that helps. And even on the podcast, I have brought people on who have been through really difficult situations. I'm so passionate because I've met a lot of those people. We have the capacity within us or things happen that make no logical sense. So I just like to bring those people on or share a bit of magic and make the world a better place.

Angelina: What are your hopes for the next few years Ciara?

Ciara: I'm so open to moving forward with my life. So I'm looking forward to meeting someone and starting my own family when the time is right. And I'm actually moving to Australia in October, which is a big life move. I think it's going to be really symbolic. It's another part of my journey. And I definitely have another book in the pipeline that speaks more about the power of your mind and other things that have happened in my life that show that there's something bigger at play. I'd love to write some children's books as well and continue with the podcast too.

Angelina: What would you say to someone who finds themselves in a difficult place right now?

Ciara: I suppose it is to know and be open and willing to know that things can change and if you have lost someone personally, ask your loved ones to help you. And one of my big messages is that love doesn't die. In the book, I mention the fifth stage of grief and that is choice - choosing that you're still important, that you deserve to heal. But even having that thought that something can change or I deserve to feel good again. Know that there's something within you that you can connect to that can change your circumstances and that it can get good again and you deserve for it to get good.

* Ciaras book, Miracles Appear When Loved Ones Are Near, is available from www.mayobooks.ie.
Chinese firm inks deal to construct modern oil refinery in South Sudan

Xinhua) 11:13, August 24, 2024

JUBA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese firm Shengli Oilfield Keer Engineering and Construction Company (SOKEC) on Friday signed an agreement with South Sudan's state-owned Nile Petroleum Corporation (NILEPET) to construct modern oil refinery and storage facilities in South Sudan.

President of SOKEC Wu Song and Managing Director of NILEPET Muhammad Lino Benjamin signed a Memorandum of Understanding which will see the Chinese firm immediately begin investing in South Sudan.

Benjamin hailed SOKEC for its contribution to the development of the youngest nation in Africa.

"With this Memorandum of Understanding, we hope you will be able to translate it into agreements and projects that we will do together," he said at the signing ceremony in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

Wu said SOKEC will embark on investment without hesitation, aiming to enhance production capabilities and operational efficiency.

"We will start our preparation work as soon as possible on the refinery and storage facilities," he said.

The high-level delegation from the Chinese firm began a two-day visit on Monday to the oil fields in Tharjiath, Unity State, to inspect the facilities and assess the current state of the refinery operations.

Kuol Deng Maleith, director general of Midstream in NILEPET, said that the visit by representatives of the Chinese firm represents a significant step toward modernizing and expanding South Sudan's oil industry.

He emphasized the critical role of international investors in the continued development of the country's oil sector and its broader economic growth.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liu Ning)
There is still great potential and room for China's property sector to expand, bolstered by the country's ongoing urbanization and people's growing demand for good housing, the housing ministry has said.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Ni Hong, minister of housing and urban-rural development, said that China will focus on the task of providing the public with good housing, while revamping the housing and urban-rural development sectors in a coordinated manner.

With changes occurring in supply and demand, China's real-estate market is still in the process of adjustment. But positive signals have surfaced as various policy measures have started to take effect, the minister said.

Demand for good housing

Elaborating on the concept of good housing, Ni said that, while its standards might evolve along with social and economic development, the concept essentially features homes that are green, low carbon, intelligent and safe.

China's housing market has already entered a new development stage, where people in the country are now attaching greater importance to the quality of housing, Ni said.

With new expectations from homebuyers, it is time to leverage new technologies, products and materials in house building, the minister said.

Efforts should be made to encourage property developers and builders to shift from a high-speed, quantity-centered growth model to one focusing on improving quality, technology and services, which will help propel the transformation and growth of the housing and construction sector, Ni added.

Dong Jianguo, vice minister of housing and urban-rural development, said at the press conference that the country has made key progress on creating standards for good housing, and is working to build related mechanisms and optimize services.

China's urban housing market has made substantial strides. By the end of 2023, the per-capita housing construction area in urban areas exceeded 40 square meters, while the urban built-up area reached 64,000 square kilometers in the country.

As part of the urban renewal initiatives, the country has also built over 40,000 pocket parks and more than 100,000 kilometers of urban green paths, providing leisure and recreation venues for people and making cities more livable, said Qin Haixiang, vice minister of housing and urban-rural development.

Securing sound supply

China has sought to meet the diverse housing demands of consumers with an adequate supply, aiming to stabilize expectations and bolster confidence in the property market.

As one of its latest efforts, the country is transitioning from the traditional pre-sale model to a "sales upon completion" approach, which has been implemented across various regions to mitigate risks associated with unfinished projects.

Under the new approach, houses can only be sold after completion. Developers must promise to do so when acquiring land from local governments, Dong said.

Despite the policy shift, ensuring the timely delivery of housing remains a pressing task for China. According to the housing ministry, nearly 4 million pre-sold homes are scheduled to be handed over to homebuyers by the end of this year.

To achieve this target, the country has launched a "white-list" mechanism to ensure that all qualified property developers have equal access to financing assistance.

Currently, commercial banks have offered approximately 1.4 trillion yuan (about 197.2 billion U.S. dollars) of loans to over 5,300 property projects, effectively boosting housing construction nationwide, according to Dong.

As urbanization continues nationwide, local governments are expanding the supply of affordable housing and rental options to meet the growing demands of the working class, the younger generation and new urban residents.

Data from the ministry shows that during the first seven months of this year, over 440 billion yuan was invested in the construction of affordable housing and makeshift housing for shantytown renovations.

Dong said these houses are integral to people's livelihoods, and the country must ensure they are well-built and of good quality.

Local governments must adhere to the standards for good housing, so that people can live in healthy and convenient residences, he added.
Ranchers from Grand and Jackson who have lost dozens of sheep and cattle to wolves greeted with dismay the news on Friday that the Colorado Parks and Wildlife intends to release the next batch of the apex predators in the exact zone where they are depredating.

In just over four months, the death toll to livestock from wolf depredation in the area now stood in the dozens.

That's from roughly nine out of the 10 wolves released in Grand and Summit counties last December, although most of the livestock were likely killed by just two wolves, a mating pair that has now produced at least three pups.

Reid DeWalt, assistant director for Aquatic, Terrestrial, and Natural Resources at the wildlife agency told the commission on Friday they would consider the northern zone for the next release.

CPW's wolf restoration plan says wolves would be released in two zones: a northern zone, where the first group was released, and a southern zone, which includes Gunnison County.

DeWalt told the commission that the next release would be in the northern zone  again.

"We really need to supplement the wolves we put out (in the northern zone) and then look for opportunities to move through that zone, he said.

The question now is where Colorado will get those wolves.

In January, the wildlife agency announced that the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation had agreed to send 15 wolves to Colorado, expected either later this year or sometime in early 2025.

However, the tribe reversed its decision on June 6 based on concerns that state agency had failed to effectively communicate with the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute tribes in southern Colorado.

In a letter to CPW Director Jeff Davis, the Colville tribes wrote: It has come to our attention that necessary and meaningful consultation was not completed with the potentially impacted tribes... Out of respect for the sovereignty, cultures and memberships of Indian Tribes in Colorado and neighboring states, who this project may impact, the Colville Tribes cannot assist with this project at this time.

CPW did not announce that decision until July 30.

DeWalt on Friday spoke about the efforts to find another source for the apex predators.

"We have a level of confidence that a new source will be found soon and that we will continue to proceed with the legally directed process with releases this winter," he said.

Hinting at the problems that surfaced with the first release, DeWalt said, "I'm sure there will be continued questions about that and how we will outreach to the counties. We learned a lot of lessons from that and plan to reach out to those counties this summer or early fall."

That's a reference to the state's communications fiasco. The agency failed to notify ranchers or local government officials when the wolves were released, leading to harsh criticism from those ranchers, elected officials, and lawmakers at the state Capitol.

The episode led several ranching groups to "close their gates" to CPW, barring staff from entering their ranches to work on conservation programs that ranchers host on their properties. The damage to the relationship between the agency and ranchers has lasted throughout the year, with letters from stock growers pleading for help from the agency to lethally manage the wolves killing their herds and refusals by Davis.

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As for the issues with the Ute tribes, Davis said the agency has been in "constant communication" with them and "at some point in time, wolves are likely going to be on the reservation." That's exactly what the tribes have said they do not want.

In an April 2023 letter to the commission, Southern Ute chairman Melvin Baker asked that the gray wolves only be released in the northern zone.

"The additional buffer may also protect the genetically distinct Mexican gray wolf from contact with northern gray wolves, which could have consequences ranging from conspecific predation to interbreeding," Baker wrote.

The gray wolves also present an "unacceptable risk" to the tribes' hunting resources, he added.

The announcement that wolves would again be released in the northern zone "is not surprising to us," said Tim Ritschard, a rancher in Grand County and president of the Middle Park Stockgrowers Association, where much of the depredation has occurred.

"We've seen what they've called success so far, with pairing, he said. We've got a pair that has been killing with pups and we have to figure it out" before the next release, he told Colorado Politics.

CPW's wolf depredation website shows two dozen sheep and cattle killed between April and July, although ranchers say the numbers are likely much higher and that CPW has been slow to confirm wolf kills. On Facebook, the group Colorado Wolf Tracker refers to the adults in the Copper Creek pack as "Bonnie and Clyde."

DeWalt also told the commission that an annual report on the wolf reintroduction will be released in the coming days, but that the report will not cover the depredations. That's because the biological year runs from April 1 to March 31, and the depredations begin in April.

"You'll find it a good overview of everything we've done the last year," DeWalt said.

Commission Chair Dallas May did not mince words about the impact of the wolves on ranchers.

"I think that the producers that have been affected negatively by this have showed incredible restraints, and I think that they should be applauded for that, rather than a lot of the reports that I get," May said. "Producers that have been negatively impacted have done everything in their power to make this successful."

May also said the wolves were put "in an untenable situation, as they were captured, brought here and put into the situation that they have one instinct and that is to survive."

"Rather than demonize the people on the landscape that are living with this, we should be working more closely with them," May said. "There's a term for what happens when you do the same thing again and expect a different result."

May suggested that CPW develop a rapid response team, given that area and regional wildlife managers don't have the time to take care of the wolves along with everything else on their plates. That rapid response team, according to May, would include a minimum of three individuals, specialists in biology, "human dimensions" and sociology.

When this happens again  and it will, he said  "that team can go to the producers, go to the area and begin a different process that works to resolve these conflicts."

While Davis appeared to endorse the idea, he indicated it would take time since they would have to go to the department, the governor and the Colorado General Assembly for funding such a team.

In the meantime, Davis said the agency is training five conflict specialists who could form the core of that rapid response team.
BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua)  The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee held a meeting on Friday to review policies and measures to open up a new vista in the large-scale development of the western region.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, chaired the meeting.

The meeting urged focused efforts to pursue well-coordinated environmental conservation, large-scale opening-up, and high-quality development, and move faster to create a new pattern of development to elevate overall regional strength and sustainable development capacity.

Efforts should be made to deepen reform comprehensively, further unleash and develop the productive forces, boost the vitality of society, and blaze a path of Chinese modernization that suits the realities of the region, according to a statement released after the meeting.

The meeting also called for developing specialty industries that leverage local strengths, enhancing technological innovation capabilities, and promoting the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries.

The meeting stressed efforts to promote high-level environmental conservation, build a beautiful western region, thoroughly carry out pollution prevention and control, and advance green and low-carbon development.

It urged the western region to enhance the openness of the economy, strengthen the guarantee capacity of energy and resources, and promote the construction of clean energy bases.

Measures will be taken to advance the new urbanization in accordance with local conditions, consolidate the poverty alleviation achievements, and make sure that there will be no relapsing into poverty on a large scale in rural areas, according to the meeting.

The meeting also noted that a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation should be forged to safeguard ethnic unity and stability in border areas.

(Source: Xinhua)

Editor: Ye Shan
Real shame that 20m towns fund under threat says former MP

There are local concerns over a rumoured suspension of a large funding programme put in place and awarded to Wrexham by the former Conservative government.

Nation.Cymru reported how Regional aid projects worth 80m affecting four locations in Wales have been suspended by the UK Labour government pending a review of how the scheme will operate, which is believed to include the 20m Towns Fund that Wrexham had secured.

They add, We understand there is no indication yet that the funding is likely to be withdrawn, and that more updates are likely around the time of the Autumn Spending Review, probably in October or November.

The towns fund was part of a 3.6 billion fund investing in towns as part of the former Conservative governments plan to level up our regions.

Last month, as is traditional to a degree with new governments binning projects not of their own making, the Labour Government said levelling up was effectively dead as a brand and the words would no longer be used. PM Johnson changed the name of the Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government, replacing local government with levelling up,  however that has now been rolled back.

As we have previously reported the Town Fund would be 20m paid in equal amounts over 10 years, and is 75% capital and 25% revenue.

Thus in the first year Wrexham would have received 2m  with 250k of that already taken up by Wrexham Council in capacity funding and is advanced from the revenue element of the programme.

The funding had been criticised at the time as being anti-devolution, with the funding direct from Westminster to the local council, and local decision making on where it would be spent thus bypassing Cardiff entirely.

The council appear to have been banking on the revenue element of the cash to possibly help part fund CCTV and the City of Culture bid among other projects, possibly meaning a sharp rethink of some council budgets in an already tight context.

We had been told that it was business as usual on the local town fund activities as of Thursday afternoon with little awareness of any pending suspension or pause of the programme.

Yesterday morning we asked Wrexham Council if they had been notified of any pause, suspension or stopping of the town fund. We have had no response.

Sources in the council do appear to think the Nation.Cymru report is correct with it being branded a huge let down and disappointing.

Wrexhams former MP Sarah Atherton has also expressed her unhappiness, saying It is a real shame that the 20 million that I secured as Wrexhams Member of Parliament will now not be spent by local stakeholders who know best how to revitalise our town centre. 

This is in stark contrast to the Conservative Governments UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which was worth 23 million.

I was pleased that that funding, which I also secured for our constituency, was delivered by local stakeholders and spent in full.

Welsh Conservative Leader Andrew Davies MS said yesterday, To tackle economic unfairness, Conservatives invested in our towns. Merthyr Tydfil, Wrexham, Barry and Cwmbran were set to receive 80million to fund vital regeneration projects. But Labour has now suspended the scheme. Scrapping this promised investment would be a betrayal of our working class communities.

(Top, archive image of Sarah Atherton)
Nearly 13,000 people have signed a petition demanding urgent action to improve the reliability and affordability of the ferry services between the Isle of Wight and the English mainland. Residents report considering leaving because of rising transport costs that restrict access to medical care and personal visits.

The petition accuses the ferry companies of using passengers as cash cows. Travel on and off the island, the organiser Simon Jackson writes, is absolutely extortionate and simply cannot be afforded by many people now.

The Isle of Wight is the largest and second-most populous island in England. Situated off the south coast, it has a population of around 140,000. Tourism accounts for 30 percent of the local economy. Access is chiefly by ferry, operated by two private companies.

Wightlink runs two vehicle ferry routes, from Lymington to Yarmouth and from Portsmouth to Fishbourne. It also operates a foot passenger catamaran service between Portsmouth and Ryde, which links up with the islands limited train service. (Island Line is part of the South Western Railway private franchise). Red Funnel runs vehicle and passenger ferries between Southampton and Cowes.

Wightlink foot passenger catamaran Wight Ryder II leaving Portsmouth, 2009 [Photo: Editor5807 - Own work]

There is also a foot passenger hovercraft service from Southsea to Ryde, operated by Hovertravel. There have been several attempts to establish new small-scale private ferry operators out of Yarmouth.

Dissatisfaction with transport provision and its cost came to a head when services were drastically reduced as the COVID pandemic hit. Initially cut altogether, the passenger ferry was not covered by central governments 6.5 million grant across the three companies to cover lifeline supplies and services.

When finally restored, the passenger ferry operated a severely curtailed timetable with the last foot passenger ferry to the mainland at 8.20pm. This encouraged retired headteacher Bronwyn Hamilton-Brown to set up the Wightlink Users Group (WUG) on Facebook 18 months ago, which now has more than 8,000 members. The Daily Mail cited the comments of a 71-year old resident who, having lived on the island for five years, was planning to leave as You are completely cut off from society by this stupid stretch of water.

The distance to the island from Lymington, Portsmouth, and Southampton is just four miles, six miles and 10 miles respectively.

WUG identifies its concerns as affordability, especially in scrapping fares for islanders requiring National Health Service (NHS) treatment on the mainland, and timetable improvements to allow later travel, better train connections and shorter delays between crossings.

Rising prices are a major concern. Both companies use dynamic pricing, making many crossings during peak tourist periods unaffordable.

Wightlink offers residents multilink passes offering lower prices, but these must be purchased in advance in one payment. Wightlink say their vehicle prices for residents start at 27.75 per sailing for a standard car, but this only applies if you spend 1,665 on a book of 60 single fares.

These passes cannot be used on every crossing, and only a limited number are allowed even when they can be used. Outside that limited applicability and availability, islanders report having had to pay up to a staggering 440 for a vehicle return during the summer.

The petition says ticket prices are damaging local business and tourism. While much of the evidence remains anecdotal, this seems to be borne out by Julys welfare benefit claims figures.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported 3,135 people on the island claiming out of work benefits in July, up by 190 on June when the tourist season was already underway. The figure is also up 600 on the equivalent period last year. The ONS figures misleadingly also include claimants of Universal Credit. This is not an out-of-work benefit, indicating that seasonal wages are not covering needs.

The crisis points to other infrastructural problems. The islands population is older than the national average. A 2021 demography data report showed a greater proportion of population aged 50 years and over and a lower proportion of those aged 20-44 years than the average across England.

Young people (aged 0-19) accounted for 19.1 percent of the islands population, compared to 23.6 percent across England. The 20-44-year-olds formed 23.6 percent of the population, against 32.3 percent nationally. Most strikingly, 21.4 percent of the population were aged 70 years and over, against a national average of 13.6 percent.

This inward migration of a relatively affluent group of older people disguises wider levels of rural and coastal poverty and deprivation and points to raised requirements for health provision which cannot be met locally. There is just one hospital, with few specialist departments. Patients must routinely travel to Portsmouth or Southampton for treatment and investigation.

The Isle of Wight is one of the dental deserts created by decades of underfunding and austerity. It is all but impossible to get NHS dental care on the island, and even the private dentists that havefor a priceprovided some coverage are scaling back their work.

This makes the necessity of affordable travel even more apparent. Wightlink has a 50 percent discount for foot passengers and a 35-each-way cap on vehicle fares for those travelling to NHS hospital appointments. But this offer does not apply to appointments with GPs, dentists, pharmacists or opticians.

Even that 70 vehicle cap, won by WUG campaigning, is hardly satisfactory. WUG highlighted the case of Chris Tunnell, whose end-stage kidney disease requires urgent monthly dialysis in Portsmouth. Tunnells partner, Paula Brizelden, told press that they get the [foot passenger] Catamaran and buses because we cant afford to take the car.

When Tunnell suffered sepsis and a stroke, his hospital trip was delayed because there was no ferry space available for the ambulance. Jacksons petition denounces the ferries reliability as abysmal.

Wightlink claims their reliability remains high: 99.9 percent in June and 99.3 percent in July, with punctuality of 93.7 and 94 percent respectively. Wightlink claimed 29 cancellations across all routes, 26 due to mechanical breakdowns and three to staff shortage. During the period July 12-31, however, WUG members identified 40 cancellations on the Portsmouth-Fishbourne route alone.

Rather than logging cancellations, the company is issuing an amended timetable without the missing sailings so it can continue to claim high reliability. Last weekend, the company was forced to announce a last resort timetable because of staff shortages.

The escalation of mechanical problems and staff shortages at both companies points to their existence as financial assets dedicated to turning a profit, rather than service providers. Wightlink was originally Sealink, the ferry service of nationalised British Rail, sold off in 1984 for 66 million as part of the Thatcher governments privatisation drive.

A 100 million management buy-in of Wightlink in 1995 was followed by a secondary management buy-out in 2001, worth 180 million.

In 2005, Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund bought the company. The Australian banking companys aggressive profiteering from privatised public assets has had a devastating effect on infrastructure, as Thames Water demonstrates.

Macquarie sold Wightlink in 2015 to Balfour Beatty Infrastructure Partners (BBIP), which became Basalt Infrastructure Partners a year later. Basalt sold a 50 percent stake in Wightlink to Canadian investment company Fiera in 2019.

Always a private company, Red Funnel has also long been traded by financial corporations. Having bought Red Funnel in 1989 to forestall a hostile takeover, Associated British Ports Holdings sold it in 2001 to JP Morgan Partners. The Bank of Scotland backed a 60 million management buyout in 2004, and the new owners (including HBOS, Bank of Scotlands holding company) sold it three years later to the Prudentials Infracapital. In 2017, a consortium including the West Midlands Pension Fund bought the company.

Both companies have seen strike votes by their workers in recent years. In 2022, Red Funnel workers walked out several times in a pay dispute. In 2020, Wightlink workers voted for strike action against attacks on pension and roster agreements.

Until this year, the island returned one MP. The incumbent, Conservative Bob Seely, defended private provision of essential services while trying to sound concerned. His proposal was minor voluntary regulation of the ferry services and more transparent ownership.

Recent boundary changes created two small constituencies from this year. Seely stood for the new West Wight constituency and was so locally unpopular that the vote against him returned Richard Quigley as the Islands first Labour MP. Tory Joe Robertson was elected for East Wight.

Robertson is pushing for government regulation as a means of protecting competition (i.e. private enterprise), saying, People will need to put political differences aside and work together to this end. Quigleypart of a Starmer government boasting it will be the most pro-business in historyhas shown he is prepared to get on board, saying the ferries are too big to let party politics get in the way. Quigley said his concern was the effect the problems are having on business and the governments industrial strategy.

The escalating crisis over cross-Solent travel stems from the profit system both parties defend. The issue is not how to game an existing pricing system structured for the benefit of financial corporations but providing an integrated transport and social care system for the benefit of all.
The International Workers Alliance of the Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) is organising a meeting on Sunday, August 25 at 9 p.m. CET, For global action to defend jobs at Warren Truck and around the world! Click here to register.

Opel plant in Russelsheim

In addition to cuts in Italy and the United States, Stellantis is also attacking jobs and collectively agreed social benefits at its European Opel plants. Works council representatives and IG Metall union officials have so far blocked any independent struggle by the workforce.

In the USA, Stellantis has announced 2,450 layoffs at Warren Truck Assembly Plant near Detroit. At Fiat in Italy, 12,000 redundancies have also been announced, which will result in the loss of a further 13,000 jobs in the supply industry. In Aspern, near Vienna, an Opel plant that once employed almost 2,000 people has just been closed.

Opel plants in Germany are also feeling the effects of the Stellantis managements merciless austerity programme. In Eisenach, at the former Wartburg plant, workers alternate between periods of exhausting overwork and short shifts, during which their incomes fall sharply. In Kaiserslautern, a planned battery cell factory will not be built for now because the demand for electric cars is allegedly too low.

At Opels main plant in Russelsheim, the workforce has been cut from over 40,000 to less than 9,000, and further jobs in production and engineering are at risk. This year, another 1,000 jobs are to be cut. The International Technical Development Centre (ITEZ) in Russelsheim is also continuing to shrink, after a large part of it was sold to the French service provider Segula. The CAD technology department with 100 employees is currently being closed.

The Autoworkers Rank-and-File Committee Network has declared the assembly plant in Warren to be a decisive battleground in the global war for jobs. It is calling on all autoworkers worldwide to unite in defense of jobs. Because in globalised production, autoworkers allies are not the union leaders and national management, but their fellow autoworkers all over the world!

On 20 August, a team from the World Socialist Web Site distributed the call to Stop the mass layoffs at Stellantis Warren Truck Assembly Plant! during the shift change at Opel in Russelsheim and spoke to numerous production workers.

Almost all the workers who stopped to talk to the WSWS team about their American colleagues confirmed that the mood in the plant was tense or bad. They also said they often had to work on Saturdays. Of the 2,500 or so workers who build the Astra model here, around 40 percent are temporary workers who can be dismissed at any time.

Shift change at OpelRusselshem

Its always going downhill, said a worker with over 15 years at the plant, thats what Ive been experiencing here lately. Were building the Astra now, but production is increasingly being shifted to temporary workers. Were not getting enough information from the works council, he continued. It seemed that the works council reps are looking after themselves first.

This was confirmed by many other workers we spoke to. The works council members dont tell us anything, even though they know a lot, said an older worker with 34 years on the Opel assembly line. They dance to the tune of the bosses who pay them.

These statements touch on a key issue: the union officials, who style themselves as employee representatives, are active partners of management in implementing the companys plans at the plant. For years, the IG Metall has worked to block resistance.

It helped organise the closure of the Opel plants in Bochum and Antwerp years ago. In 2017, it played an indispensable role in the takeover by the Peugeot group PSA, as well as in 2021 in the major merger with Fiat-Chrysler, which resulted in the formation of Stellantis. With its network of works council reps and shop stewards and its ever-new future collective agreements, IG Metall has helped to nip resistance in the bud.

The head of the Opel works council in Russelsheim, Wolfgang Schafer-Klug, who also heads the European works council, is paid handsomely for this (although exact figures are not published). He has been working closely with Stellantis head Carlos Tavares for seven years. As the group has its headquarters in the Netherlands and is not subject to German rules, there are no IG Metall union leaders on the companys board as employee representatives.

When the Stellantis group was founded over three years ago, Tavares and Schafer-Klug promised that any restructuring would take place without plant closures and without compulsory redundancies. Since then, 23,000 of the companys 281,000 workers worldwide have already been cut. According to official figures, the global corporation still has around 258,000 employees today.

In the same period, so-called value creation has increased sharply, and last year Stellantis reported a record profit of 18 billion. While sales per employee in 2021 were still 530,000, this figure rose to 730,000 in 2023.

CEO Carlos Tavares personally pockets incredible sums. For 2022, his compensation was set at around 23.5 million, a significant increase over the previous year, when he pocketed 19.2 million. According to a French report, his compensation for 2023 even climbed to 36.5 million!

John Elkann, the Agnelli heir (Fiat) and current chairman of the supervisory board, and other capitalists such as Robert Peugeot, but also a certain Jacques de Saint-Exupery, a long-standing member of PSA management who holds the position of employee representative on the supervisory board, also receive gigantic salaries.

The call from the Autoworkers Rank-and-File Committee Network is: A line in the sand must be drawn! Because the right of employees to work and receive an adequate standard of living must take precedence over the profits of managers and shareholders. Several Opel workers in Russelsheim especially agreed with this when they talked about the fate of the many temporary workers.

A worker stops to talk at the shift change at OpelRusselsheim

It doesnt look good, said Dolan. The temporary workers who were taken on last year are now probably back to square one. He himself was a temporary worker at the plant for 17 months before being taken on in July 2023but only with an 18-month contract. Production workers are currently being laid off again.

Last year, IG Metall painted a rosy picture of the hiring in of temporary workers at full-time positions, and had boasted about it. However, only 50 temporary workers were taken on permanently last year. Another 100, like Dolan, were fobbed off with temporary contracts, to which another 125 were added in the spring. Since then, 300 temporary workers are to be dismissed again.

If I dont get a permanent contract in the next two months, Ill have to register as unemployed and Ill be back on the street by the end of January, said Dolan. Its terrible, terrible. He described the mental pressure and tension of all those involved, especially the young workers who have families with children. Opel is creating an atmosphere of uncertainty throughout the plant.

Jamal, another Opel worker, who has been with the company for 35 years, said that his wages were now lower than when he started working there. Today its not even certain whether the site will remain here, he said. Jamal agreed that this was also the balance sheet of the IG Metall, which has played an important role here for years. He said: You are right that the workers have to organise themselves independently and internationally.

All Opel workers and other car workers are invited to participate in the online meeting of the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC)! Register and join the meeting on Sunday, August 25 at 9 p.m. CET: For global action to defend jobs at Warren Truck and around the world! Click here to register.

And register on the form below to help build an independent rank-and-file action committee!
The International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) is holding a meeting this Sunday at 3 p.m. US Eastern Time, For Global Action to Defend Jobs at Warren Truck and Around the World! To register, click here.

UAW President Shawn Fain speaks in Illinois, August 22, 2024 [Photo: @UAW via X/Twitter]

The United Auto Workers held two rallies Thursday and Friday over Stellantis reneging on promises to reopen its plant in Belvidere, Illinois. Thursdays rally was held at the local hall in Belvidere and was attended by a few hundred people, mostly laid-off workers and retirees. It was addressed by United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain. The second, much smaller rally was held outside the Sterling Heights Assembly Plant (SHAP) near Detroit, and was addressed by lower-level officials.

Last Monday, several UAW locals filed grievances over the Belvidere plant, and the union bureaucracy issued a threat to strike. This is a maneuver to get out in front of explosive anger over mass layoffs. For more than eight months, beginning weeks after the passage of what was falsely hailed as an historic new contract, thousands of autoworkers have been losing their jobs.

The bureaucracy has maintained a guilty silence. As Rich Boyer, the vice president for UAW-Stellantis, has admitted, the union knew that supplemental workers to whom the UAW had promised full-time positions would instead lose their jobs.

The Chrysler assembly plant in Belvidere, Ill, Oct. 26, 2007 [AP Photo/Paul Beaty]

Two weeks ago, Stellantis announced nearly 2,500 layoffs at the Warren Truck Assembly Plant near Detroit, part of a global attack on autoworkers by every company. At a local meeting, Warren Truck workers placed blame for the cuts squarely on the UAW apparatus.

What is needed is a global strategy in defense of jobs, uniting American workers with autoworkers all over the world. This must be connected to a rebellion against the union bureaucracy, which is helping to enforce the cuts. In raising a strike threat while having no intention of following through, the UAW is precisely seeking to prevent a rank-and-file rebellion.

At the rallies, UAW officials attempted to strike a militant tone. But there were clear signs of nervousness. At Belvidere, every speaker began with a reference to the workplace death of Antonio Gaston, a former Belvidere worker who had transferred to Toledo. There was a palpable sense of anger among attendees in the room over his death.

Antonio Gaston [Photo: Gofundme]

Even within the relatively friendly Belvidere audience, there were signs of opposition. One laid-off worker said she was furious that she had been denied a transfer to another plant in 2022. She denounced the unsafe conditions in the factories that contributed to Gastons death.

She said: That kind of s--- shouldnt be allowed in a strong union, as opposed to a situation where the union allows the company to dictate everything to us.

So if youre ready to fight for us, then God bless you. But there better be a damn fight. She continued, If it screws us, we follow the contract. When it benefits us, nobodys fighting I think Im not the only one who feels this way.

Fain, stunned, was forced onto the defensive, his eyes cast to the floor and his voice dropping an octave.

Neither the thousands of supplemental worker firings nor the developments at Warren Truck merited more than a passing mention at either rally. At SHAP, the issue of Warren Truck was raised only when put to the Local 1700 president by this reporter. Its sad, its terrible. If it could happen there, it could happen here, he said, without elaborating further.

UAW rally outside Sterling Heights Assembly Plant, August 23, 2024

At Belvidere, Region 4 Director Brandon Campbell asked rhetorically, Its Belvidere today, but whos next? He did not mention that other cuts were, in fact, already taking place.

Autoworkers everywhere have an obligation to fight for the reopening of the Belvidere plant. But the UAW bureaucracy is focusing exclusively on this in order to deflect attention from layoffs which they have signed off on, and to isolate Belvidere workers from their coworkers fighting layoffs at other plants.

The UAW apparatus is trying to shut down the strike by Dakkota auto parts workers in Chicago in order to isolate them from Stellantis workers. On Monday, the union announced a snap vote on a deal identical to the one the workers had already rejected. When workers rejected it as of Wednesday night, the union leadership announced another vote on an almost identical deal less than 24 hours later. When workers voted this down on Friday, the union announced yet another snap vote for this Sunday.

To fight this sabotage and appeal for broad support, strikers have formed the Dakkota Workers Rank-and-File Committee.

Even while striking a militant pose, UAW officials repeatedly stressed they did not want to strike. I want to be very clear on this point, Fain said, our goal is not to strike. Our goal is to bring jobs and products back to Belvidere. He promised to use the grievance procedure to its full extent. But grievances frequently go on for months and even years with no resolution.

Fain concluded: My message to [Stellantis CEO] Carlos Tavares is, you better step up, or the UAW is going to stand up.

But last years standup strike produced the sellout contract now being used to lay people off. The union touted $18.7 billion in commitments to new investments, but, in fact, it negotiated language giving the company the right to pull out of these at any time due to market conditionsthe only reason companies ever make such decisions.

The reality is that the bureaucracy is doing everything it can to prevent a strike, or, failing that, to limit it as much as possible. This was demonstrated by the turnout at the rallies themselves, especially at Sterling Heights. If the UAW officials were serious about their strike threat, they could easily have attracted tens of thousands of autoworkers in southeast Michigan to the SHAP rally, or at least thousands from the Sterling Heights Assembly Plant, the largest in the region. Instead, almost no rank-and-file workers attended, and the union sent no high-ranking officials to speak.

Both rallies tried to lay blame for Belvidere entirely on mismanagement by Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares. His claim that Stellantis was pulling out of Belvidere over market conditions was false, they claimed, because General Motors and Ford were making record profits. But they said nothing about the fact that these companies are also conducting mass layoffs, like every other auto company in the world. They said nothing about the 1,000 layoffs announced earlier this week at General Motors.

Blaming management incompetence also serves to deflect attention from the electric vehicle shift, which automakers are using to slash hundreds of thousands of jobs over the next few years. This raises deeper issues than the bureaucracy wants to discuss, including the nature of the capitalist profit system and the global character of the attack on jobs.

Next to Tavares personally, foreigners were responsible for taking American jobs, the UAW officials claimed. This included Tavares himself, who is from Portugal, and other overseas executives who dont have a desire of building our company in our country, as UAW Stellantis Director Kevin Gotinsky put it.

Region 4 Director Campbell attacked Stellantis for deporting jobs to Mexico and called for a consumer boycott of vehicles assembled in Mexico. This toxic America First rhetoric only serves to divide American workers from their Mexican brothers and sisters, who are engaged in bitter struggles against poverty and have repeatedly appealed to American workers for support.

Then, catching himself in a contradiction, he attacked Trump for sowing anti-immigrant hatred. In fact, Trumps racist incitement has been the stock-in-trade of the bureaucracy for decades, including the anti-Japanese campaigns in the early 1980s that led to the murder of Vincent Chin.

Significantly, UAW officials in Belvidere also singled out for praise Democratic Party politicians, including Congressman Bill Foster, who was an invited guest at the meeting, for lavishing tax and other financial incentives on Stellantis for reopening the plant. These guys stepped up property was picked up. Tax incentives, the money is there for this company, one official said.

The UAW bureaucrats also continued to stump for Kamala Harris election campaign after Fain spoke at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) on Monday.

During the question and answer period, Fain pointed to the recent Supreme Court decision on Chevron and declared, this is why this election is so important.i.e., the election of Harris. The decision in the Chevron case was only the beginning of a broad attack by the court on other regulations, he said. This is true, but the Democrats have stood idly by while allowing Republicans to stuff the court with an ultra-right majority.

Continuing a theme from his DNC speech, Fain blamed Trump for the closure of GMs Lordstown plant in 2019, which, in fact, the UAW itself signed off on. He attempted to contrast this to Bidens record.

If Trump were president we would all have been fired during last years standup strike, he claimed. (In fact, an even larger nationwide strike at GM took place in 2019, during the Trump administration). Biden had signed off on the UAW contract precisely because it paved the way for job cuts, as has been the case with every major national contract in which the White House has been involved.

What the UAW officials oppose above all is an independent political movement of the working class in opposition to both big business parties, which would also threaten their own positions.

Workers must see through the insincere phrases the UAW bureaucrats are employing. As long as the initiative remains in the bureaucrats hands, the only outcome will be more layoffs. Instead, workers must seize the initiative, forming a new rank-and-file leadership in opposition both to management and the union apparatus.

The International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) is holding a meeting this Sunday at 3 p.m. US Eastern Time, For Global Action to Defend Jobs at Warren Truck and Around the World! To register, click here.
The state visit by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (Social Democrats, SPD) to the Republic of Moldova was dominated by the escalation of the NATO war against Russia. With German tanks operating on Russian soil for the first time since the Second World War in the course of the Kursk invasion, Scholz assured Kiev of undiminished financial and military support at a joint press conference with Moldovan President Maia Sandu.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, left, listens to Moldova's President Maia Sandu, right, during a press conference at the Presidential Palace in Chisinau, Moldova, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. [AP Photo/Aurel Obreja]

Asked about the debate about whether Germany can continue its aid to Ukraine to the same extent as before, Scholz explained: On the concrete situation of support for Ukraine, I can say clearly here: Germany will not let up in support for Ukraine. We will support Ukraine for as long as necessary, and we will be Ukraine's biggest national supporter in Europe.

The debate over an alleged cut in funds, which international media outlets took note of, was always aimed at expanding war support for Ukraine. A possible end to German aid or arms supplies for Ukraine, which a large part of the population would support, was never considered. Even the media, which incessantly demands an intensification of the war effort, was forced to admit this.

Reports that Ukraine aid is being stopped because of austerity measures are false, wrote the Suddeutsche Zeitung. 7.1 billion have already been made available in the current year, and 4 billion have been planned so far by the federal government for 2025. Everything they need in addition is now to be financed primarily through interest income from frozen Russian assets.

Even additional aid coming directly from Germanys federal budget is not excluded. In a letter of August 5 to Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens), Finance Minister Christian Lindner (Free Democrats, FDP) wrote that 'new measures' could only be taken if funding was secured in the budgets for this and the coming years. Last Saturday, the Ministry of Finance then stated, according to a report by Wirtschaftswoche, that it was ready for further talks. For this to happen, however, requirements would have to be specifically requested and understandable.

The upcoming parliamentary debate on the coalitions war and austerity budget will therefore be about extracting even more money for the defense budget and the war in Ukraine  at the expense of spending on social welfare, health and education.

In the Moldovan capital Chisinau, Scholz boasted: We provided for 4 billion in our draft budget last year and then even planned to make a total of 7 billion available this year. The amount is greater than what several other large countries in Europe are doing at all.

For next year, too, the Federal Government's draft budget again provides for 4 billion. He continued, Weapons are constantly being supplied, including those that are necessary for air defense: German weapons such as IRIS-T but also a lot of ammunition, tanks and everything that is needed for concrete support.' The funds for this would be available 'through the draft budgets for next year, but also through the possibilities we have created for the current year.

Together with the international 50 billion loan, the funds will even be more than what was previously available in support of Ukraine, Scholz emphasized. This is great, great progress, on which we have worked hard and whose realization we are now pushing forward with all our efforts within a short period of time.

This is a warning. To prevent the collapse of Ukrainian troops on the front lines in the Donbass, the leading NATO powers are prepared to escalate the conflict further and further. Scholz claimed in Moldova that Ukraine had prepared its advance to Kursk secretly and without consultations. This is absurd. It is clear that the offensive, mounted with American, British and German tanks on Russian soil is supported and coordinated by NATO.

Significantly, the head of the Special Ukraine Command in the Ministry of Defence, Major General Christian Freuding, was in Ukraine during the first days of the Kursk offensive. In an extensive Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) interview, he praised the offensive as a targeted relief attack for 'the Ukrainian defence in the Donbass, which is under immense pressure. In addition, there is of course a psychological aspect' when the war is now carried into the Russian heartland. And thirdly, it was a real encouragement to the Ukrainian people.

Freuding's concrete and detailed reporting is an indication of how directly the Bundeswehr and other NATO armies are involved in the offensive. Ukraine has prepared this operation very, very well, Freuding enthused. They had very good reconnaissance results. They knew that in this area, where they have now attacked, firstly the terrain is favorable for an attack operation, and secondly that there had been a massing of poorly trained, presumably reserve forces. All in all, it was a window of opportunity for the Ukrainian armed forces that was seized.

Even more clearly than the Chancellor, Freuding underlined that Berlin would massively expand its war support for Ukraine. They have made extensive contracts, which will be delivered now and in the coming years and significantly strengthen the Ukrainian armed forces. Stating that this is 'only a very rough overview, he proudly presented on a graph the following planned items for this year alone:

Major General Christian Freuding (right) from the Special Staff for Ukraine in the Ministry of Defense presents the planned German war support for Kiev until December 2024 in a Bundeswehr video on the Kursk offensive [Photo: Screenshot aus einem Youtube-Video der Bundeswehr]

Air defense: 2 IRIS T SLM, 2 IRIS T SLS, 10 Cheetah anti-aircraft guns, guided IRIS T missiles

Drones and drone defense: different types of drones and different systems for drone defense

Artillery: 12 self-propelled howitzers 2000, 4 ZUZANA 2

Hand guns: assault rifles and ammunition

Armoured combat vehicles: approx. 30 Leopard 1 A5 main battle tanks, 400 MRAP armoured vehicles

Logistical support: a ZETROS tanker, trucks and vehicles of various types

Support medical equipment: medical equipment, 1 field hospital

Freuding's performance is reminiscent of the worst crimes of German militarism. 83 years ago, on June 22, 1941, the Wehrmacht invaded the Soviet Union, culminating in the genocide of 6 million Jews and the murder of 30 million Soviet citizens in the greatest crimes in human history. The German military is now back in the war against Russia and is lauding the Ukrainian army, which is backed up by right-wing extremist forces.

When asked what impressed him most on the ground in Ukraine, Freuding replied: In the Ukrainian armed forces: organisation, discipline, professionalism, bravery and courage. And with the Ukrainians: this courage to live and the unconditional will for freedom. In fact, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have already been massacred at the frontnot in the fight for freedom, but as cannon fodder for the imperialist interests of the NATO powers.

Despite the danger of a nuclear escalation, they are determined to defeat Russia militarily and to subjugate the resource-rich country. Scholz's visit to Moldova has also underlined how deliberately Berlin is pursuing the goal of removing countries that were once part of the Soviet Union or close to Russia from Moscows sphere of influence and bringing them under the control of the German-dominated European Union.

Germany supports the European path that Moldova has taken, Scholz stressed. The enlargement of the European Union is in the strategic interest of the Union as a whole and above all in the strategic interest of Germany. It is now necessary to complete the accession processes started a long time ago for some countries, he continued. This applies in particular to the countries of the Western Balkans, but also to what we have now launched with the accession candidate status for Moldova and for Ukraine, as well as with the prospects for other countries, Scholz added.
Work at Dakkota, Ford or in the auto industry? Fill out the form below to get involved with the Autoworkers Rank-and-File Committee Network at your plant.

The International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) is holding a meeting this Sunday, August 25, at 3:00 p.m. US Eastern Time, For global action to defend jobs at Warren Truck and around the world! We encourage Dakkota workers to attend. To register, click here.

Striking Dakkota workers on the picket line on Tuesday, August 20.

On Friday night, striking Dakkota parts workers, who supply the nearby Ford Chicago Assembly plant, voted down a third sellout agreement despite threats and intimidation from the United Auto Workers (UAW) that this was the last, best and final offer.

Over 450 workers at Dakotta have been on strike for more than two weeks against poverty wages and abysmal working conditions at the parts plant.

The vote was a massive rebuke to the union bureaucracy. A critical factor in the rejection of the vote was the initiative of the newly formed Dakkota Workers Rank-and-File Committee, which issued a statement titled, Dakkota workers: Vote NO and reject UAW-corporate blackmail! Organize rank-and-file oversight of the vote!

The latest deal brought back by the UAW that workers rejected included poverty wages for new hires starting at $16.80. The only change from the last deal was to increase the starting wage for workers with more than 48 months from $21 to $22 an hour.

Dakkota workers reported that they immediately celebrated on the picket line when the results were announced.

At 8:50 p.m., the UAW Local 3212 sent a text message that announced the outcome of the vote to members that the third hastily announced vote had been rejected by 55 percent to 45 percent.

But within an hour, the UAW called for a fourth vote on Sunday.

At 9:55 p.m., the union sent another text message that read: UAW Local 3212: Sunday, August 25, 2024, IMPORTANT MEMBERSHIP INFO MEETING, and VOTE. 11AM to 12PM. DAKKOTA MEMBERS ONLY.

The bureaucracy, acting on behalf of both Dakkota and Ford, is no doubt extremely nervous that matters are coming to a head and that they are losing control with the development of the Dakkota workers rank-and-file rebellion.

Everybodys infuriated!

A worker on the picket line told the World Socialist Web Site, Everybodys infuriated! We were trying to celebrate at first. We were making this a big deal.



She added, Then they threw this at us! The UAW bargaining committee is worthless. Were going to write down our demands. We control this now. They dont control anything anymore.

We still voted it down despite their previous threats, she said.  Its crazy because within an hour, theyre telling us to go back to our normal schedules. Now they want us to have a one-hour meeting on another offer on Sunday? They want 400 people to vote in one hour? Theres no parking. Its going to be chaos there.

Another worker said, I feel like this is coercion! What are we even voting on? How are we voting again, and they have not been to the table? We just voted today. Its like they want us to vote yes. Was there a backup contract, or are we voting on something else?

Dakkota workers must take matters into their hands and go on the offensive. As the Dakkota Workers Rank-and-File Committee statement noted:

To prevent a betrayal of our struggle by the UAW, it is urgently necessary for rank-and-file Dakkota workers to take control of the situation and enforce their will. We cannot win this fight with a leadership controlled by the other side.

The UAW bureaucracy, led by Shawn Fain, is working to prevent a joint counteroffensive of workers facing job cuts at Stellantis and the strike of over 1,000 academic UAW workers at Cornell University.

Dakkota workers must learn from the recent experiences of workers at Lear, Clarios, John Deere and other contract fights where workers have rejected multiple UAW-company sellout agreements by overwhelming margins, until the UAW bureaucracy rammed through deals in the end.

Workers must immediately begin to take control of the strike

Dakkota workers must build the Dakkota Workers Rank-and-File Committee and take control of the pickets and the strike. Workers must discuss their own demands, democratically elect their own leadership from the pickets and make it known that the UAW leaders no longer represent their interests.

Dakkota workers should mobilize to expand this fight and send delegations to Ford Chicago and appeal for a ban on scab parts and utilize social media to mobilize the widest possible support at Ford, the Big Three, as well as parts workers at Lear, Flex N Gate, Tower and beyond.

A veteran Ford worker reported that the strike has had an impact. Were not working full shiftsnot even close, he said. We are around 280 cars per shift since the strike. So production has been cut in over half. I fully support the Dakkota workers, and we should not be using scab parts here.

Workers can win this fight, but they must not take a wait-and-see attitude to mount a rank-and-file counteroffensive for jobs, wages and better working conditions.

A lot of us are still willing to fight

Workers at Dakkota spoke out all night against the latest maneuvers by the UAW bureaucracy.

One worker said after the vote:

We are still in the fight. I do believe theyre trying to convince everyone to vote yes because its so close. Theyre trying to threaten everyone to come back Monday. I dont feel like this is a fair contract for everyone.

I think we deserve a lot more, she added. Coming in the door, we should be making in $25-26 at least. It could be more. I know they can pay more.

I know the supervisors were saying that if they pay us more they could go bankrupt. I dont think thats accurate. Theyre just trying to keep the money at the top for the executives, the CEO etc. They get the most of everything. We dont even get a bonus.

The spiraling cost of living in a city like Chicago, where the average one-bedroom apartment costs over $2,000, is a major factor in the anger of workers.

She added:

I should not be working 40-plus hours and still only bring home $400 checks. Thats impossible! I work two jobs. I work six days a week. Im going to my other job tomorrow. I need something better, so I can quit my other job. I work downtown on the weekend. Theres no work-life balance. Its a lot.

She continued, appealing to other Dakkota workers:

Dont listen to the UAW 3212 leaders. Theyre giving us false information. They came back on Thursday and said this is a good deal. They said its the last, best and final offer! No, its not! I think a lot of us are still willing to fight for what we want and deserve. I do believe that. But theyre trying to get us to vote again to send us back to work. But what are we voting on? They havent even talked to us. We have to fight back!

The momentum has shifted ... we have to be aggressive now

Another newer Dakkota worker spoke about the mood on the picket lines.

He said, The momentum has shifted after the third vote. Workers were scared it was going to fail. But I can hear them on the phone tonight. Theyre rejoicing now. We might just come out ahead.



He reported that union officials tried to intimidate workers at the union hall during the vote: I watched how they were acting around the union hall, trying to make us feel afraid. I said I have no questions for you. Im better educated than you at this point. I dont need to talk to you.



Some people were crying today, he said of the mood and anger at the hall. Some were upset. But the union officials know the intimidation is not going to work. They know the low balling is not going to work.

Theyre not asking what we want. Theyre coming with these figures. Weve not seen the union president but once in the last week! They threatened us at the union hall that they can lock us out now. That they can train those temps better. That we wont have a job to go back to. I was telling people outside the union hall, do not buy what they are selling. Theyre trying to circumvent the process. They got a few people to flip the other way. Im doing my best to influence them and rally them. And to get them to not fall into the trap.

He appealed to his Dakkota coworkers:

We cant take a wait-and-see approach. We have to be aggressive now. Theyre scared that if they give us money the other Dakkota plants will follow suit. Theyre terrified of this that this is going ot hit their bottom line. Its like a prize fight now. Weve got them on the ropes. If we keep swinging, sooner or later theyre going down. Theyre nervous about what may come out of this. We need much higher wages, $26-28 to start. We need paid shutdown times. We cannot live paycheck to paycheck. We have to fight for what we need.

The International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) is holding a meeting this Sunday, August 25, at 3:00 p.m. US Eastern Time, For global action to defend jobs at Warren Truck and around the world! We encourage Dakkota workers to attend. To register, click here.
The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) in Australia has initiated petitions to the student representative bodies at two universities to hold Special General Meetings (SGMs) to discuss the way forward in the fight against Israels imperialist-backed genocide in Gaza and the eruption of militarism globally.

IYSSE supporter speaks with Victoria University students in Melbourne

IYSSE clubs launched the petitions at the working-class campuses of Western Sydney University (WSU) and Victoria University (VU) in Melbourne. Both universities have high proportions of students from migrant backgrounds, including large numbers from the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia.

Zach, president of the IYSSE at WSU, explained the political basis of the IYSSEs campaign, stating: Weve initiated the campaign for an SGM, not to pressure the pro-genocide Labor government or to appeal to university management. That has been tried and it has failed. The big issue is what political perspective students fight for to stop the genocide. Outside our meeting, there is no other forum for students to deal with these questions.

We say there is a force that can end the slaughter. That force is not to be found in government offices or university boardrooms, but in the factories and workplaces. Workers have the power to halt the genocide and imperialist war. The IYSSE is fighting to turn youth and students out to campaigns at workplaces to mobilise workers strength, in opposition to Labor and the unions which have suppressed working-class action against the genocide.

The IYSSEs campaigns have been met with enthusiasm from students.

WSUs Student Representative Council (SRC) requires the submission of more than 200 signatures in order to organise an SGM. The IYSSE reached this quota within two days of initiating the campaign. At VU, 50 signatures are required, with the IYSSE about to fulfill this number in a similar span of time as at WSU.

Dates and locations for the SGMs will be announced soon.

Western Sydney University student holds IYSSE leaflet opposing Gaza genocide

The response to the IYSSEs campaign for SGMs reveals the deep hostility of students and youth to the ongoing slaughter in Gaza, which has claimed as many as 186,000 lives. For nearly 11 months, millions of young people globally have joined in the largest mass anti-war protests since the Vietnam War, calling for an end to the bombardment.

SGMs at several other Australian universities in recent weeks have attracted a combined attendance of thousands of students.

The IYSSE has supported these gatherings, which highlight a significant radicalisation of young people. But politically, those SGMs have been dominated by appeals to the Labor government to change course and to university managements to end their ties with Israel.

That perspective of protest politics has been an abject failure. Labor has continued its support for the genocide, while witch-hunting opponents. The university administrations have responded to protests by initiating disciplinary actions against students and cracking down on the right to demonstrate.

The promotion of protest politics, by the Greens and fake-left parties such as Socialist Alternative, serves to subordinate students to the very government that is complicit in the genocide, and to block a real fight against the war crimes.

The IYSSE is advancing a diametrically opposed perspective. We explain that the Gaza genocide is a crime of capitalism. The support for it by all the imperialist powers, including Australia, is inseparable from a broader drive to war, including the US-NATO proxy war against Russia in Ukraine and the preparations for a catastrophic conflict against China.

This program threatens nuclear world war. The alternative is the fight to build an international anti-war movement, uniting workers around the world on a socialist program directed against the source of war, the capitalism system itself.

That perspective is outlined in the motions the IYSSE will move at the WSU and VU SGMs. We urge students at both universities to attend, promote the meeting among your friends and take part in this critical discussion.

Motion:

That this meeting condemns the support for the genocide by imperialist governments internationally, including the Albanese Labor government in Australia. Attempts to pressure these governments have proven futile. We condemn the fact that not one union in this country has taken any measures to block the shipment of goods to Israel as called for by the Palestinian unions 10 months ago.

We endorse the call of the Palestinian trade unions and urge that workers in the MUA and other transport unions demand that it be implemented. But recognising that they have failed to do so after ten months, we urge that workers immediately take matters into their own hands and undertake independent action and impose bans. Students and youth must mobilise and fight for this perspective among workers at the docks, factories, warehouses, hospitals, schools, in transport, logistics and other workplaces.

The war crimes in Gaza are inseparable from the eruption of militarism globally, which threatens world war. Students must turn to the building of a socialist movement of the working class internationally, against the outmoded capitalist system, which offers only a future of barbarism and nuclear catastrophe.

Email: iysseaus@gmail.com

Facebook: facebook.com/IYSSEaustralia

X/Twitter: @IysseA

Instagram: @iysse.aus
University and college students are returning to campus amidst a fall offensive launched against free speech. The ruling class is determined to put students in their place after they have bravely opposed the Gaza genocide, despite savage repression, punishments by administrators, and the revoking of job offers to oppose US support for the genocide in Gaza.

Students applaud next to a Palestinian flag, as the 13 students who have been barred from graduating due to protest activities are recognized by a student address speaker, during commencement in Harvard Yard, at Harvard University, in Cambridge, Mass., Thursday, May 23, 2024. [AP Photo/Ben Curtis]

Both the Democrats and the Republicans are well aware that, though subdued during the summer break, opposition to the genocide continues to seethe among increasingly radicalized youth. Therefore, anticipating a renewal and broadening of the protests this semester, college administrations are converting campuses into fortresses in which freedom of movement is severely curtailed and protests are criminalized. In many cases, it is universities in Democratic-controlled states and cities that have been most aggressive in their attack on the right to protest and free speech.

The University of California, the largest state university system in the country, has banned the wearing of face masks, which many protestors have used to protect themselves from doxxing and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. A swathe of students will return to school with legal charges hanging over their heads incurred for peacefully protesting last semester. Meanwhile the fascist vigilantes who attacked an encampment set up by students at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) as police and campus security guards looked on will face no repercussions. The Guardian wrote, At least 55 students who were arrested in May also received letters from the university threatening to place a hold on their academic records or withhold their degrees. The California State University system has also banned all encampments.

Perhaps the most far-reaching restrictions are being imposed at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, which also spearheaded policies to effectively ban protests last semester. On August 20, the Senate Committee on University Affairs issued a letter protesting drastic policy changes that had been worked out behind closed doors by the administration. According to the Committees letter, the changes will deprive students of the right to due process and fair hearings with faculty oversight, curtail freedom of speech and expression, and radically increase administrators power to prosecute students and limit inconvenient forms of free speech, in effect suppresses freedom of speech and due process.

Though not always so far-reaching, similar policies are being enacted by university administrations across the country.

Columbia University in New York City has imposed a total ban on encampments. Moreover, according to Inside Higher Ed, until further notice, only individuals with university IDs can enter the campus, and they must fill out a guest registration form if they want to bring anyone else to campus.

New York University has updated its discrimination and harassment policy to ban criticism of Zionism, conflating this racist political ideology with Jewish identity in a vicious caricature of Judaism. Willfully ignoring the fact that Jewish individuals and groups, such as Jewish Voice for Peace, have in many cases led the protests against the genocide, the document states, for many Jewish people, Zionism is a part of their Jewish identity.

Rutgers University in New Jersey will be requiring students to submit an Orwellian-named Free Expression Notification Form in order to protest, according to an article published on nj.com. In violation of longstanding tradition, the putting up of tents will also be banned. Students for Justice in Palestine has been blacklisted on campus. Additionally, Demonstrations must be held between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and only in certain locations.

The University of Southern California implemented a policy in which anyone without an ID must pass through a security checkpoint.

The restriction of access to campus is clearly aimed at isolating students, as many workers in the community supported the encampments and are opposed to the genocide.

There can be no doubt that these policies were worked out in close consultation with representatives of the US state apparatus and especially the Democratic Party. They mark a significant broadening and intensification of last semesters systematic assault on free speech.

In the spring, Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, adopted the authoritarian position that any act that disrupts normal activities is prohibited. On March 27, far-right Texas governor Greg Abbott signed executive order GA 44, which ordered all public institutions of higher education in the state to reevaluate their policies on anti-semitism and incorporate the Anti-Defamation Leagues definition, which conflates criticism of Zionism with anti-semitism. Other such attacks on the right to protest abound, notably at Columbia University, where New York City police entered the campus for the first time since the Vietnam war at the request of President Minouche Shafik, beating protesters, ripping off hijabs, and pepper-spraying bystanders.

Across the country, hundreds of students were arrested for peaceful protests at their colleges. While in some cases, as at UT Austin, charges have been dropped by local prosecutors, and in others students are still awaiting trial, in most instances students continue to face punitive actions by the universities.

At Towson University in Maryland, according to Inside Higher Ed, The ACLU claims two of those punished with deferred suspensions, which appear on the students disciplinary records but dont prohibit them from coming to campus as usual, were not even involved in the demonstration. Other universities where actions have been taken against protesting students include:

University of Georgia : six students have been suspended for one semester and put on academic probation for the rest of their time at the university despite appeals

University of Texas at Dallas : nine students, three of them already graduated, currently await their trial dates as they appeal their sanctions

George Washington University : administrators have blackmailed students by offering to drop criminal charges if they agree to physically restrict themselves to their dorms and classes

Pomona College: 19 protesters will have their charges dropped if they complete 16 hours of community service and incur no more criminal charges over the next six months.

Further attacks on academic freedom and the free speech rights of left-wing professors are also underway. Since October 7, numerous professors and academic workers have lost their positions and faced other punitive actions for voicing opposition to the Israeli onslaught on Gaza and defending protesting students.

Now, reviving the McCarthyism of the 1950s, state governments are mandating sanctions for professors that go against the state ideology of genocide and war. On August 14, Inside Higher Ed reported on a lawsuit filed by professors at Indiana and Purdue universities against a law passed by the state legislature that dictates schools must deny tenure to professors who are unlikely to foster  intellectual diversity.

Republican state attorney general Todd Rokita argued that the classroom curriculum of a public university is government speech set in accordance with State law. As the article notes, the authoritarian logic of this argument is mirrored in the Stop WOKE Act in Florida, which dictates how social issues can be discussed in the classroom.

The University of Texas system has issued a new policy, banning its 14 universities and health-related institutions from taking a public position on any political or social matter unrelated to campus operations.

The assault on free speech is part of a broader move to harness universities to the war drive of U.S. imperialism. Millions of dollars in academic resources are reallocated to the research of ever deadlier weapons and cyberwarfare techniques.

The campaign against free speech on campuses constitutes an attack on the rights of the entire working class and must be opposed by all class-conscious workers and youth. It demonstrates that fight against war is inseparable from the fight to defend democratic rights. The role of the Democratic Party in spearheading both the genocide in Gaza and this assault on free speech underscores the urgent need for workers and youth to develop their struggles independently from and in opposition to both the Democrats and Republicans and the capitalist system they both represent.
On August 6, Coles opened a new highly automated distribution centre at Kemps Creek in Western Sydney. It will replace two existing warehouses owned by the major Australian supermarket chain, resulting in the direct loss of at least 350 jobs.

WITRON Technical CEO Johannes Meissner, Coles CEO Leah Weckert, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Coles Chairman James Graham, at official opening of Kemps Creek warehouse on August 6, 2024 [Photo: Coles Group]

This follows the cutting of hundreds of jobs by Coles in recent years, including with the 2021 closure of the companys Goulburn distribution centre.

The 66,000 square metre facility at Kemps Creek is the second of two built by Coles in a $1 billion capital investment aimed at slashing labour costs throughout the company. The first was opened in April 2023, at Redbank near Ipswich in the state of Queensland.

Using automated robotic technology from German firm Witron, the Kemps Creek warehouse will be able to handle more than four million cartons per week, amounting to around 32 million products on the shelves of 229 supermarkets across New South Wales (NSW) and the Australian Capital Territory.

Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attended the official openings of both Kemps Creek and Redbank, falsely hailing both as great advances for workers and customers alike.

At Kemps Creek, Albanese declared, This facility here is good for jobs. Its good for productivity and economic growth. Of course efficiency and productivity lead to lower prices.

This is a lie on both counts. Coles is slashing jobs, not to lower prices for customers, but to increase its profitability and gain a competitive advantage over its rivals, Woolworths, Aldi and Metcash.

The aim is not just to cut jobs in warehouses, but in supermarkets as well. The new high-tech machinery is able to automatically pack pallets according to the layout of the stores they are being sent to, meaning fewer supermarket staff will be required to stock shelves.

In addition, Coles is building two automated fulfilment centres, in Sydney and Melbourne, to reduce the number of staff required to handle online orders, and continuing to increase the predominance of self-service checkouts in supermarkets.

This is all part of a major cost-cutting operation dubbed Smarter Selling, centred on deployment of technology in stores and supply chain to drive efficiency, control loss and lower expenses. Starting in 2019 with the slashing of 450 head office jobs, the program met its four-year target of cutting $1 billion in expenditure by the end of June 2023, according to the companys annual report.

In 2021, Coles employed some 2,200 workers in its Smeaton Grange, Eastern Creek, Goulburn, Heathwood and Forest Lake warehouses. The two facilities replacing them will employ a total of fewer than 1,000 workers.

This destruction of jobs is a direct result of the role of the trade union apparatus, especially the United Workers Union (UWU), which has facilitated Coles orderly closure of its distribution centres across NSW and Queensland.

Coles Smeaton Grange warehouse, in the citys southwest, was the site of a major dispute in 202021 in which the company locked workers out for more than three months.

In the face of workerss determined efforts to fight for real wage increases and job security, the United Workers Union (UWU) collaborated with Coles management to impose a sell-out deal.

The union bureaucracy insisted from the outset there was nothing workers could do to prevent the closure of Smeaton Grange and the destruction of their jobs. Instead, UWU officials claimed to be leading workers in a fight for a just transition and fair redundancies.

Even these meagre demands were quickly abandoned by the union leadership, along with almost every item in the log of claims originally put forward by workers. An initial demand for a 5.5 percent per annum wage rise was scrapped for the companys offer of 3.5 percent; calls for redundancies capped at the equivalent of 104 weeks of service were dropped for Coles proposal of 80, and any talk of workers being given the right to redeploy to Kemps Creek when it opened was rapidly dispensed with.

The workers courageously maintained a 24/7 picket for 14 weeks, repeatedly voting down union-management offers that were virtually unchanged from the companys original proposal, holding out against the efforts of the UWU bureaucracy to starve them out. Workers received no strike pay, despite the enormous financial resources, including some $94 million in cash, controlled by the union.

The UWU leadership cut the locked-out Smeaton Grange workers off from the broader working class, and even from other Coles employees within the union. Management was given carte blanche to shift workload to other distribution centres, where the UWU ensured workers stayed on the job, picking up the slack.

As a result, while workers at Smeaton Grange ran through their savings, racked up debts or scrambled to find second jobs, Coles operations and profits were hardly disrupted.

Just as significant was the political isolation carried out by the UWU leadership. Socialist Equality Party (SEP) members and other sections of workers who visited the site were physically threatened in an effort to prevent workers from discussing an alternative perspective to the sell-out being prepared by the bureaucracy.

The SEP warned that the UWU, like all unions, was functioning as a police force of management. The only way forward for workers was the establishment of rank-and-file committees, independent of the union, and an industrial and political struggle across the operations of Coles, its chief rival Woolworths, and the warehousing and retail sector as a whole, to defend jobs, wages and conditions, and prevent closures.

It was not just the UWU leadership that considered this perspective dangerous. Late in the dispute, after workers had voted down the company offer yet again, Matt Swindells, chief operations officer at Coles, denounced the role of extremist anti-union socialists  suggesting this wider agenda of taking on big business and the banks.

Swindells declared: These are faceless people, who are not even part of the union. In fact, they are anti-union people. Down on the picket, handing out leaflets, stoking up the agenda.

A leading figure at one of Australias largest corporations rushed to defend the union from socialist criticism because the collaboration of the UWU bureaucracy is an essential component of Coles cost-cutting agenda.

This line-up of forces is not by any means unique to Smeaton Grange, Coles, or the UWU. It is a reflection of the character of all unions, which have been transformed over the past four decades into corporatised anti-working-class organisations.

This underscores the need for workers to build their own organisations of struggle, democratic rank-and-file committees. Through these committees, workers can fight for a future in which automation, artificial intelligence and other advancements in technology are used to improve the living standards of the entire working class.

The developments in productivity have created the foundations for an alternative, a higher form of social organisation, under which the immense technological developments would be harnessed to meet human need.

Automation could be harnessed to shorten working hourswithout reducing payand eliminate onerous tasks, while also increasing productivity, to meet the needs of all. This would free up precious hours for workers to engage in leisure and cultural activities, profoundly improving quality of life.

But that means a fight for socialism, under which the major corporations, such as Coles, together with the banks, would be under public ownership and democratic workers control.
Amid global popular outrage at the ongoing slaughter of Palestinians by the Israeli military in Gaza, the Biden administration is posturing as the facilitator of protracted ceasefire talks, claiming falsely that negotiations are close to conclusion. Likewise, the Democratic National Convention has concluded on the same noteempty talk of a ceasefire, while maintaining full political, financial and military support for the Zionist regime and its barbaric war.

Israeli soldiers move on the top of a tank near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, August 21, 2024. [AP Photo/Leo Correa]

In reality, the talks over months have been a fraud from start to finish. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly sabotaged any deal, most provocatively by authorising the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh on July 31. Moreover, such is the framework of the US-sponsored deal that any ceasefire will not only be temporary, but will also give the Israeli military the free-hand to continue its genocide.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was in Israel this week, emerged from talks with Netanyahu on Monday claiming that Israel had agreed to a US proposal for a six-week cease-fire, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees, and a withdrawal of Israeli forces from areas of Gaza.

No sooner had Blinken left than Netanyahu publicly contradicted the US official in particular declaring that an Israeli military presence would remain along the Philadelphi Corridor, a buffer zone along the border between Gaza and Egypt. Israel, which claims its troop presence is necessary to control any arms smuggling, has used its control of the crossings into Gaza to restrict entry of essential humanitarian supplies including food, medicines and medical equipment, into Gaza.

Netanyahu flatly declared on Tuesday: I am not ready to withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor in the face of domestic and foreign pressures. If we leave there, there will be tremendous political pressure on us not to return therebut there will be no such pressure if we stay there.

The Israeli regime, which is intent on militarising the buffer zone, knows full well that neither Hamas nor Egypt will accept such terms. Israel had proposed building eight watchtowers along the Philadelphi Corridor, which the US had sought to wind back to two. But Egypt completely rejects the construction of any watchtowers or any permanent Israeli presence on the border.

Nevertheless, on Thursday US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the UN Security Council that a deal is now is in sight despite the obvious lack of agreement on key stumbling blocks, including on the Philadelphi Corridor. The notion that such matters are going to be resolved in the lead-up to a possible summit on Sunday is fanciful.

A new Israeli proposal on the number of Israeli troops and military posts along the Philadelphi Corridor with Egypt is unlikely to be any more acceptable to Egypt and Hamas than the previous plan to militarise the border.

Netanyahu has made clear from the outset that he has no interest in anything other than a temporary pause to the military onslaught in Gaza and on his terms. Far right members of his government and cabinet have rejected outright any ceasefire.

The framework for a three-phase agreement announced by Biden on May 31 was supposed to bridge the unbridgeable gap between the Zionist regimes determination to continue its genocidal war and the demands of Hamas for a permanent ceasefire and reconstruction of Gaza. The first six-week ceasefire is theoretically to be followed by the second phasean end to the military conflict, the withdrawal of all Israeli troops from Gaza and the release of all remaining hostagesthen a third phase involving reconstruction and the final return of remains.

Just hours after Bidens announcement, Netanyahu posted on X/Twitter that Israels conditions for ending the war have not changed, adding: The destruction of Hamas military and governing capabilities, the freeing of all hostages and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel, he said. In the months since, Netanyahu has not altered his determination to secure what amounts to a permanent Israeli military occupation of Gazathe watchtowers on the border with Egypt being just one aspect.

Frank Lowenstein, a negotiator on Israeli-Palestinian affairs for the Obama administration, told the Washington Post yesterday: Netanyahu has been crystal clear for months that he has no interest in implementing the full three-phase cease-fire agreement that would actually end the war Despite what he told Secretary Blinken [on Monday], it is increasingly apparent that he doesnt even really want a temporary cease-fire and hostage release.

In fact, the ceasefire deal, if it is eventually agreed, actually allows for Israel to ignore the final two phases and recommence its scorched earth offensive in Gazaassuming that it does not concoct a pretext earlier to restart the genocide. The Biden administration has made absolutely clear that it will continue to back Israel to the hilt, including through the supply of the huge quantities of weapons and munitions used to transform Gaza into a wasteland.

Al Jazeera reported, based on medical sources, that Israeli troops killed another 18 Palestinians in central and southern Gaza yesterday bringing the official death toll since October 7 to at least 40,265 men, women and children. More than 93,000 others have been wounded. Israeli has again issued new orders for more evacuations that have turned virtually the entire population in Gaza into internal refugees, lacking adequate shelter, food, clean water and medical care.

An Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) report today entitled When morphine ran out in Gaza, doctors say amputations became a never-ending nightmare gave a glimpse of the many social horrors that have become the norm. Horrific injuries inflicted on children as a result of the Israeli militarys indiscriminate bombardment in Gaza have led to large numbers of amputations, some of which had to be carried out without anaesthetic.

The ferocity of the Israeli military operations has created a new generation of child amputees on a scale that aid and health organisations say they are struggling to comprehend, the article stated. According to the UN childrens agency, UNICEF, more than 1,000 children had legs amputated in the first two months of the warthat is, more than 13 children a day losing one or both legs.

US paediatrician Seema Jilani, who worked at the Al-Aqsa Hospital last December, described the traumatic conditions in which she and other doctors workedbeing overwhelmed with child casualties without the necessary equipment and supplies. She said the situation was a never-ending nightmare that meant some of the most severely injured, including children, were often left to die as nothing could be done for them.

Hospital and medical facilities in Gaza have now been far further degraded. As the ABC reported, there are no precise figures for the number of Gazans who have lost limbs, but medical officials and aid groups expect the numbers to have soared into the thousands. This tragic toll is certain to rise, along with other deaths and injuries, as part of the US-backed Israeli genocide, regardless of any temporary ceasefire that may or may not be reached.
The strike by some 2,500 video game performers and voice actors, members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), has entered its fifth week. According to media reports, there has not been any progress on the issues separating the parties. There have been no formal negotiations at all, aside from those conducted between the union and individual companies and games behind the backs of video game performers.

SAG-AFTRA announced last week there would be no negotiations scheduled before September, leaving bureaucrats free to attend the Democratic National Convention and participate in the lavish activities of that big business party, while video game performers were left blowing in the wind with the future existence of their professions in doubt.

SAG-AFTRA picket in Los Angeles last month

The performers previous contract expired some 22 months ago. The union tops revealed in a Zoom meeting on Monday they have yet to decide how long the new contract they have been negotiating will last, or whether it will be retroactive.

The SAG-AFTRA meeting revealed that officials have not done a lot of thinking about anything related to improving the conditions of video game performers. The Zoom call underscored the harsh fact that striking video game performers face two opponents, the companies and their own union.

When one worker asked about secondary compensation, or residuals, union officials could not have demonstrated their disdain more forcefully. They replied they had decided to focus all of their attention this year on the question of artificial intelligence (AI) and that therefore, issues like residuals, which they tried to work on the last time, would have to wait until the next round of negotiations.

While SAG-AFTRA officials claim they are focusing all their attention on AI and avoiding secondary, distracting issues like fair compensation, what does their focus actually mean? In reality, they downplay the threat represented by AI and refuse to clarify its significance to workers.

After one caller kept repeating over and over how stupid the corporations were and how copyright law provided adequate protections from AI, the officials, rather than correcting her and clearing things up, only reinforced her view. They then revealed their own conception, asserting that

these companies think that they have more leverage than the film and television companies because of the way the business operates, and the relative magnitude of performance to the overall resources that are committed to the development of a game.

In other words, the companies feel themselves to be in a strong position because they are in a billion-dollar industry and only pay their talent peanuts. But this is the result of one rotten contract after another that did not take secondary issues such as livable wages and residuals into consideration.

One performer called out the SAG-AFTRA bureaucrats, asking why there was only one picket at a time, whereas last year during the actors strike there were multiple pickets at studios in both Los Angeles and in New York City.

The responses indicated the union is entirely unprepared and unwilling to develop a serious strategy. The strike has been forced on them by the recalcitrance of the companies, unwilling to make any concessions and unafraid of the SAG-AFTRA officialdom and the anger of the membership. The unions only goal is to wrap up this strike as quickly as possible and return to business as usual, leaving many of their members without a job or a career.

The first response to the question about picketing was this:

Were taking a slightly more tactical kind of, not quite surprise approach, but just sort of more of a potentially difficult disruptive approach, and so, and also, just the nature of where production, how production occurs in this space is slightly nuanced and different. So we are, were doing that. Were also focusing a lot because this, you know, an entire arena of pressure in this space really does exist online, and so digital actions are also of great interest and importance to us.

This is double-talk and every serious worker knows it. Digital actions? Other than an occasional tweet, there have been zero to date.

This first official turned the microphone over to the national director of organizing, Maggie Russell-Brown, who said,

No, I mean, I think you hit it, right? I mean, this is  you know, strikes are meant to be disruptive. There are different tactics that we need to use, depending on the work that is occurring and how we can sort of interrupt business as usual for the companies. While pickets are great and we need them for sure, there are other actions that weve decided to pivot to in the interest of being disruptive. Great.

There was no mention of what these actions would be, if any had already taken place, or if any were scheduled in the futureor even how workers could participate other than by turning to the union website that essentially tells them to continue what they are doing.

Another SAG-AFTRA official then argued that certain companies

may have signed an interim [agreement], which makes their status as good guy or bad guy a little bit complicated because they might be struck. But they might also have signed, you know, one project thats offering AI protections. Then they might also have a different project that is side letter six [side letter to the contract allowing companies to continue production on projects already in production 60 days before the strike began]. And then they might have a third [project] that is struck. So, whos a good guy and whos a bad guy can get a little bit woolly in this instance?

The reason this all gets complicated is that SAG-AFTRA has signed one contract after another including such provisions. Moreover, union officials attempt to wear down workers by forcing members to scab through the signing of interim agreements with individual companies, thereby weakening the overall strike action.

Voice actors picketing in Los Angeles

The officials repeatedly brought up Monday the fact they had already signed over 50 interim agreements with individual companies, or games. These contracts were signed by executive fiat, such as the one at Replica earlier in the year or at Narrativ last week, without any vote taking place, or any indication during negotiations that they were even taking place.

The bureaucrats claim that they are seeking AI protections for workers, but other than slight changes in language, none of the contracts SAG-AFTRA has signed, either for video game performers or for film and television actors, provides any kind of oversight mechanism or means of protecting performers from the willful misuse of their persons by AI.

The gulf that separates SAG-AFTRA officials from rank-and-file performers was brought out in the comment of a bargaining team member who said, astonishingly, that

one of the things that I think perplexed us the entire way through is why we [the companies and the union] were not partners in this fight as opposed to on opposing sides of the table, because the threat to them is just as great as the threat to us.

In fact, the union resolves that perplexity precisely by acting as a partner to the companies in practice, while verbally posturing as their opponent.

While the assembled SAG-AFTRA bureaucrats waffled and dodged, many performers demonstrated they were aware of the seriousness of the struggle before them.

One worker on the call was worried that when Im thinking about, you know, whether or not to audition for a new job, have I already let the voice out of the bag, as it were? Another referred to the use of AI without compensation as plagiarism and identity theft.

And a third worker wanted to know what could be done to inform other performers on social media of roles they turn down because of concerns over AI, given the fact that one must sign NDAs (non-disclosure agreements) before an audition?

The Zoom meeting demonstrated the bankruptcy of the SAG-AFTRA officialdom, which operates as an arm of corporate management, seeking to oversee the introduction of AI as seamlessly as possible.

The only way forward is to take the struggle out of the hands of the bureaucracy and put it under the democratic control of the video game performers themselves in rank-and-file committees that will formulate real demands, for real protections and real compensation for their creative input.
On Thursday, Venezuelas Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) upheld the results of the July 28 presidential election issued by the National Electoral Council (CNE), which handed re-election to President Nicolas Maduro. According to the CNE, Maduro received 52 percent of the vote, against 43 percent for the candidate of the Washington-backed Venezuelan opposition, Edmundo Gonzalez. The TSJ declared that its decision was unappealable and of mandatory compliance.

President Nicolas Maduro at a rally in the state of La Guaira on August 22, 2024 [Photo: Prensa Presidencial Venezuelana]

At a rally the same day in the state of La Guaira, Maduro praised the technical, scientific, professional work of the TSJ and described its decision as historic and forceful. He added: Holy word, let there be peace, absolute respect for the Public Powers!

Both Gonzalez and fascistic candidate Maria Corina Machado, who was barred from running, denounced the TSJs decision on X/Twitter. Gonzalez said the decision is null and Sovereignty resides untransferably in the people. In a WORLD ALERT, Machado shared a publication by the United Nations Human Rights Council saying that the TSJ and the CNE lack impartiality and independence and denounced Maduros coup detat against the Constitution.

Since the CNE announced Maduros victory on election day, the Venezuelan opposition has accused the Chavista regime of electoral fraud for not presenting the individual results from all the polling stations. The CNE claimed that a cyber-terrorist attack prevented it from publishing them shortly after the election. However, even after the TSJs count, their publication has still not been forthcoming.

On August 5, Gonzalez and Machado published a letter claiming that, according to their supposed count of more than 80 percent of the precinct results, Gonzalez won the election with 67 percent of the votes against 33 percent for Maduro. Citing these alleged results, Gonzalez repeated the 2019 move by US puppet Juan Guaido and declared himself president-elect of Venezuela.

In response, the Venezuelan Public Prosecutors Office launched a criminal investigation against Gonzalez and Machado for instigation to disobey the law, instigation to insurrection, criminal association and conspiracy, among other crimes.

The opposing sides of a developing world war, which threatens to turn South America into a future battlefield, are also supporting the opposing factions in the Venezuelan election. China, Russia, and Iran, which have close political, economic, and military ties with Venezuela, recognized and welcomed Maduros electoral victory from the outset. The US and European powers are also demanding the release of the individual vote tallies and have recognized Gonzalezs electoral victory.

In Latin America, Bolivia, Cuba, and Nicaragua recognized Maduros victory, while the fascistic president of Argentina, Javier Milei, and Perus unelected and dictatorial President Dina Boluarte, along with the pseudo-leftist president of Chile, Gabriel Boric, denounced the electoral process and backed the claims of a Gonzalez victory.

Boric was one of the first to speak out against the Venezuelan Supreme Courts decision, writing on X/Twitter: There is no doubt that we are facing a dictatorship that falsifies elections, represses those who think differently, and is indifferent to the worlds largest exile [population].

Despite its full support for the Venezuelan opposition, the US has yet to formally recognize Gonzalez as president. According to an August 5 statement by US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, this is not a step were taking today. Were in close contact with our partners in the region, especially with Brazil, Mexico and Colombia ... we continue to urge the Venezuelan parties to begin a peaceful transition back to democratic norms.

Indeed, the presidents of the largest countries to see a second wave of the Pink Tide in Latin America, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (Workers Party - PT) of Brazil, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) of Mexico, and Gustavo Petro of Colombia, are acting as mediators for imperialism to try to defuse the political crisis in Venezuela. While recognizing neither Maduros nor Gonzalezs claims to victory, they are vocalizing the Venezuelan oppositions and US imperialisms demands that the authorities in Venezuela publicly disclose the data aggregated by polling station, as they wrote in a joint note on August 1.

However, this consensus of the three Latin American presidents was broken last week, when Lula and Petro began to advocate new elections. AMLO said that new elections are reckless and advocated that the Venezuelan Supreme Court decide the issue.

On August 15, Petro detailed the conditions for a new election, writing on X/Twitter: Lifting of all sanctions against Venezuela. General national and international amnesty [for members of the Maduro government and the opposition]. Full guarantees for political action. Transitional coalition government. Lula has also advocated the participation of international observers. Both Maduro and Machado have rejected the proposal.

At the advent of Pink Tide bourgeois nationalist governments in Latin America, Lula established a close relationship with Hugo Chavez (president of Venezuela from 1999 until his death in 2013) during his own first two terms in office (2003-2010). Since coming to power for his third term at the beginning of last year, Lula has been trying to rehabilitate the Chavista government and served as one of the mediators in the Barbados agreement between Maduro and the opposition that paved the way for the July 28 presidential election.

However, this process has suffered a setback since the election results were announced. Last week, Lula explained in an interview with Radio T FM that his relationship with the Chavista regime has deteriorated because the political situation there is deteriorating. In another interview with Radio Gaucha, also last week, he said, Venezuela is experiencing a very unpleasant regime. I dont think its a dictatorship ... Its a government with an authoritarian bias.

Another move that has pitted Brazil against Venezuela is the Maduro governments revival of Venezuelas claim to the Essequibo region held by Guyana, which dates back to British and Spanish colonialism at the beginning of the 19th century. When, in the face of Guyanas move toward exploitation of offshore oil deposits, Maduro held a popular referendum on Venezuelas claims last December and mobilized troops near its borders with Guyana, the Lula government responded by militarizing the border region between Brazil and Venezuela, through which a possible invasion of Guyana would likely pass.

As with the Venezuelan election, the Lula government has been working closely with the Biden administration to mediate the crisis between Venezuela and Guyana, even as the Pentagon has stepped up US military exercises in Guyana and its disputed waters.

The Essequibo claimmuch like that of Argentinas junta to the British-held Malvinas Islands in 1982is part of an effort by the Maduro government to deflect outward Venezuelas enormous social and economic crisis. The predominant factor in this process is the pressure imposed by US imperialism, which seeks unrestricted access to the Venezuelas rich natural resources, including the worlds largest known oil reserves.

To this end, Washington has imposed draconian sanctions to force regime change, resulting in the drastic impoverishment of the Venezuelan masses and an estimated 100,000 deaths due to the cutoff of medical supplies and other vital necessities. Maduros bourgeois-nationalist government has been unable to offer a progressive way out of this crisis, even as it seeks a better negotiating position with the US.

Unable to appeal to the working class, which has increasingly turned against the Chavista regime, Maduro has reinforced his alleged military-police-popular alliance and increased its repressive nature. According to the government itself, some 2,400 Venezuelans have been arrested in protests that erupted after the election. And, since August 8, X/Twitter has been blocked as part of the Maduro governments crusade against hate campaigns on social media.

In the Chavista-controlled National Assembly, a bill is being discussed to regulate social networks and another against fascism, neo-fascism, and similar expressions that could lead to the banning of parties that incite fascism. As happens all over the world, bills like these can be utilized to attack the working class fighting against capitalism, with the Chavista regime painting all opposition as fascistic.

The allegations of political repression and persecution go beyond the US-backed opposition and include militant workers and sectors that have broken with Chavismo, such as the Stalinist Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV). In August of last year, the Chavista regime virtually outlawed the PCV and prevented it from running candidates in this years presidential election.

On August 13, the PCV and its Popular Democratic Front drew attention in a statement to the massive, popular and spontaneous mobilization of indignation over the announced results that gave Maduro the victory and charged that The massive violence against the popular sectors is accompanied by permanent threats, incitement to hatred and the execution of practices of selective violence against different sectors of the political opposition.

The crisis in Venezuela will undoubtedly escalate in the coming weeks and months. There are more and more warnings that country could confront civil war or even a pro-democracy foreign military intervention.

Whatever happens, the Lula and Petro governments are already exposed as key players in the efforts of US imperialism and the right-wing Venezuelan opposition that it sponsors to remove Chavismo from power. The illusion promoted by these governments that the crisis in Venezuela can be resolved at the negotiating table represent a cover for the decades-long regime change operations of the Venezuelan opposition and US imperialism as they buy time to discredit the Maduro government and advance their strategy.

As the WSWS wrote in its August 2 Perspective, the July 28 election was illegitimate from the outset, the product not of any demand by the Venezuelan people, but of closed-door talks between Caracas and Washingtons lackeys in Barbados. Therefore, the demand that the local polling results be made public, made by the imperialist powers, the governments of the Pink Tide, and much of the international pseudo-left, offers no real alternative and will serve only the interests of Washington and Venezuelas far-right opposition.

The only alternative for Venezuelas working class against the threat of war and fascism is to mobilize its own strength independently from all factions of the Venezuelan bourgeoisie, including chavismo and its satellites, and to forge its unity with the Latin American and world working class in the struggle for international socialism.
Railroaders: tell us what you think about the government intervention against the strike. Fill out the form at the end of this article; all submissions will be kept anonymous.

A CPKC rail yard is seen Wednesday, August 21, 2024, in Kansas City, Missouri. [AP Photo/Charlie Riedel]

Some 9,300 engineers, conductors, yard workers, and rail controllers at Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) confront an all-out political struggle with the Liberal government following Thursdays shutdown of their struggle by Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon.

The state-sanctioned corporate dictatorship on the railways that the government is imposing robs workers of their basic rights to strike and to vote on the terms of their own contract. The only way to successfully resist this attack on all workers is if rail workers make their struggle the spearhead of a mass political counter-offensive by the working class for workers rights and decent-paying, safe jobs, and against austerity and war.

The decision was taken by the Trudeau government in close consultation with the Biden administration, which demanded a resolution to the dispute to safeguard the interests of cross-border trade and continent-wide supply chains. The announcement was made less than 17 hours after the rail companies locked out their workers at 12:01am Thursday.

MacKinnon spoke Thursday with acting US Labour Secretary Julie Su prior to invoking section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, which allows the government to order the unelected Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to impose arbitration on the parties. The decision was also made at the urging of corporate Canada, with leading business associations denouncing the impending strike as a threat to national security.

The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC), the bargaining agent for the workers, responded to the announcement of binding arbitration by immediately taking down picket lines at CN and complying with company plans to resume work Friday.

AT CPKC, where the TCRC filed a strike notice last Sunday following the announced plans for a lockout, they kept pickets in place.

Teamsters officials indicated they would meet Friday with CPKC and CIRB officials, where they intended to challenge the constitutionality of the decision to order a strike ban at CPKC. Shortly before 10am eastern time, the TCRC filed a 72-hour strike notice at CN, which would allow workers to walk off the job Monday morning.

The fact that the Teamsters bureaucracy felt compelled to make a show of challenging the Trudeau governments outrageous diktat reflects their concern that they could lose control of the seething anger among rail workers over dangerous working conditions. They have voted overwhelmingly twice this year for strike action, but were repeatedly prevented from taking job action through the combined efforts of the government and TCRC bureaucracy, which worked to confine the dispute to the anti-worker labour relations system.

At the same time, Teamsters officials have made clear that their principal concern is to ensure that they are involved in imposing a concessions-filled contract on the workers through the bargaining process.

Teamsters Canada national president Francois Laporte and International Brotherhood of Teamsters president Sean OBrien participated in a rally outside CPKC headquarters in Calgary Friday morning to bolster their push to convince the government to let them work out what concessions should be imposed on workers at the bargaining table.

We believe that the Supreme Court decision regarding our right to strike is a constitutional right. And we believe that the application of Article 107 (of the Canada Labour Code) is not valid. We are looking at our options regarding that situation, Laporte told the media Friday. The best way to have a contract is at the bargaining table, he added.

Beyond the demand that union bureaucrats be allowed to work out the final terms of the contracts with CN and CPKC management, this is all hot air. Fridays TCRCs strike notice at CN included the statement that the differences between the parties are not insurmountable and expressed the hope that talks could prevent any further work stoppage. In fact, management has been demanding sweeping concessions for months, including the ability to forcibly relocate workers for up to 90 days and make scheduling more unpredictable.

In 2022, the Teamsters helped buy time for the Biden administration to ban a strike, after workers rejected a deal proposed by a federal mediation board. Today, the union bureaucracy is trying to isolate the Canadian railroaders. No union official from among the AFL-CIO unions in the US or CLC unions in Canada has called for solidarity action.

The union bureaucracy is bitterly hostile to politically mobilizing rail workers at the head of a broader movement of the working class in opposition to the state-led onslaught on their wages and working conditions.

This is because they are in a corporatist alliance with big business and the government, aimed at suppressing the class struggle and implementing the ruling elites class war agenda of austerity at home and imperialist war abroad. OBrien has taken his promotion of economic nationalism and trade war measures so far that he could deliver a speech to the fascist Republican Party convention last month.

The Trudeau government moved to shut down the rail workers strike due to the key role the railroads play in the economic and geostrategic interests of North Americas twin imperialist powers. CPKC and CN are part of a transnational network stretching from northern Canada to the US Gulf Coast and ports in Mexico. This network is central to the functioning of US-dominated supply chains across the continent, which serve as a base of operations for Washington and Ottawas great power conflicts against their rivals, above all China.

The extent of Washingtons involvement in pushing for the government-dictated end to the strike was underscored by a statement from the White Houses National Economic Council (NEC), which confirmed that its supply chain task force was closely monitoring the situation for weeks.

This work, involving multiple agencies across the federal government, has included extensive analysis and engagement with industry and other stakeholders to assess and mitigate impacts for U.S. consumers, businesses and workers, a White House statement said, adding that the NEC has been in touch with the parties.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau provided a full-throated defence of his governments attempt to impose a corporate dictatorship on North Americas railroads. Collective bargaining is always the best way forward. When that is no longer a foreseeable optionwhen we are facing serious consequences to our supply chains and the workers who depend on itgovernments must act, he wrote on X. That is to say, whenever workers are in a strong position to go on the offensive and threaten the ruling elites core interests, they will feel the full force of the capitalist state as it seeks to crush their struggle.

Faced with the concerted assault of the Canadian and American governments, rail workers at CN and CPKC must recognize that they are in a political struggle to prevail. The urgent task is to fight to politically mobilize the working class as an independent force against the rail barons. These oligarchs, backed by Biden and Trudeau, are determined to impose slave-like conditions on the railways to secure the imperialist powers home front in a rapidly developing world war.

This must include a special appeal to American railroaders to fight together with their Canadian brothers and sisters.

It must also include an unrelenting exposure of the anti-worker Liberal/union/New Democratic Party (NDP) alliance. Over its almost nine years in power, the Liberal government has developed close collaboration with the union bureaucracy, which it has relied on to smother workers struggles. Inside parliament, the Liberals depend on the union-sponsored NDP for their majority, without which they would be in no position to spend tens of billions on militarism and war, and ban workers strikes. These inconvenient truths did not stop NDP leader Jagmeet Singh from attempting to posture as a friend of rail workers and staunch critic of the very government his party props up. The Liberals actions are cowardly, anti-worker and proof that they will always cave to corporate greed, and Canadians will always pay for it, he declared.

Railroaders must build rank-and-file committees to fight against both the railroads and the union bureaucracy. This struggle must be waged on an international basis, with rail workers in Canada, the US, and beyond counterposing a socialist and internationalist program to secure the social rights of workers to the Trudeau and Biden governments policies of austerity and war.
Imani Pullum knew she wanted play Ella, the main character in Prime Videos newest coming-of-age drama, Classified.

When I got the breakdown of the show and the description of the character, I really liked Ella because shes just so strong and so powerful and so outspoken, and that really drew me to her, she said to Blavitys Shadow and Act. And I just knew I wanted to play her. I was like, I have to do this. I love the character. I love how descriptive they were about her. I felt like I knew her before I even read the script, just from the breakdown. So year, I was like, I have to do this.'

Filmed in South Africa, Classified follows Ella, a socially-conscious teen from California, who has to go live with her estranged father in South Africa after she gets in trouble with the law during a violent protest. Part of her new life includes getting used to her new schoolan international, upper-class schooland her stepmothers (Christine Horn) semi-secret life as part of the CIA.

Ella, Pullum said, grows throughout the series as she learns more about her surroundings and her stepmothers dangerous job.

I think in the beginning, shes very against being there. She doesnt want to be there at all. She wants to be home, she said. But I think there are multiple points where she realizes this is going to be her new normal for now. So she has to open herself up and has to create connections and form connections with people. So shes able to dig in and just accept that this is whats happening and shes able to make great connections from it because shes accepting the fact that this is her life.

The series combines the trappings of teen drama with topical social issues, such as racial discrimination and violence in America. Pullum said that she was really happy to be part of a series that handled topics that are really important with such care and such understanding.

Just to be in something where were having discussions about so many topics that are important to me, I was really happy to do that, she said.

Another conversation the series is engaging in is changing how Africain this case, South Africa, is perceived in Western media.

I think its great, Pullum said of the shows efforts to change audiences perceptions about the continent. I think [South Africa is] shown in such a positive light, in such a way thats true to what it is, because there are so many South African people who worked on creating the project and who know so much about Johannesburg and the culture and they were able to highlight it in a way that I dont think many people could because they know it so well. It was great to like, be able to be a part of that.

She also noted how one of the directors of photography talked to her about how, in her words, he was really happy and excited that the show was happening because usually we get to see Africa in a very different light.

Photo: Dana Patrick

Its always like were poking fun at Africa and were laughing and making jokes, but in this way [on the show] its not like that. We see the beauty in South Africa and in Johannesburg, she said. I thought it was really beautiful. Its a gorgeous place. And I met a lot of great people in Johannesburg who are from Johannesburg, who were able to show me around and make sure I felt comfortable there and I really felt at home and just everyone I met, even people who werent a part of the project, they were so welcoming and really wanted me to have a full experience and enjoy my time in Johannesburg. That kind of hospitality was incredible.



I felt very welcome and very at home there and I mean, there werent many things that were too different in my eyes, she continued. I think mostly the biggest difference that I noticed were that just, there were different words for things that are words that I dont use, but they use. Like, they call traffic lights robots in South Africa, and nd thats a point in the show too. So its just things like that, but I felt very at home and very comfortable there.

Pullum said since Classified has already come out in South Africa, she has already seen just how much South African fans have positively responded to the series.

Ive gotten a lot of feedback about it and there are a lot of people who love it and are really happy to see their country portrayed so beautifully, she said. With American fans, I hope they like it too. And I hope that theyre able to relate to Ella or any of the other characters in the cast as wellI hope that fans enjoy watching it and that they can just relax and just unwind and binge it and just have a good time watching it. But I also hope people are able to see the beauty that Johannesburg has to offer.

For Pullum, part of the enjoyment she has regarding Classified finally premiering in the States is seeing how American audiences view South Africa through her eyes.

It was my first time in Africa period, but [also] my first time in South Africa. So, to be able to experience my first time there and Ellas also having her first time there. It was nice to be able to play off of that.

Shes also excited for fans to see the rest of the cast, including Horn, Sule Rimi, Victor Makgati, Nicola Nothnagel, Paballo Koza, Shuwa, Mila Rayne, Omhle Tshabalala and Matt Blerk, among others. The actors who play Ellas familyRimi, Horn and Tshabalalaquickly became like her real family. The other cast members, who play her high school friends, frenemies, and other important people in Ellas life, also became part of the family Pullum made on set.

That was like one of the highlights of working on the project because I never expect like to come into a work environment and to like have all these like super close friendships because its not like a requirement, but like it is really nice when it happens, she said. It was nice. It felt really natural as well. And a lot of us were coming in from different places and we all stayed in the same hotel and we had like cast dinners together and we would go do things together, she continued. Yeah, its really nice, and I still talk to them all to this day. I havent stopped talking to them, which is awesome. Im really grateful that I was able to create life long connections while working on the show.

Classified is now streaming on Prime Video.
Meghan Markle Showed off Her Dancing Skills in a New Video From Her and Harrys Trip to Colombia

The duchess gets down.

Getty Images

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry had an eventful trip to Colombia earlier this week, and now the duke and duchess have shared a new video documenting the visit. During the clip, Markle proved she's got the moves once again with unseen footage from their time in the South American country, during which they visited Bogota, Cartagena, and Cali.

In the video obtained by People, Harry and Meghan can be seen speaking in front of large crowds, greeting locals, and learning about the culture alongside Colombian Vice President Francia Marquez. In some moments, Markle breaks out her dance skills to salsa with members of the community, as well as her husband. In other parts of the montage, Markle and Harry played drums and took in cultural performances.

Getty Images

People also shared that the couple's organization, Archewell Foundation, will be making three contributions to support the country: a new drum set for Escuela Tambores de Cabildo in Cartagena, a donation to San Basilio de Palenque to give local children a safe education, and support for expanding the socio-emotional Gym program at Colegio La Giralda.

Getty Images

It's no surprise that Markle has moves, given that the former actress is familiar with performing. Earlier this week, a college classmate of hers shared a throwback photo from their salsa dancing days. Iris Amador posted a snap with Markle and three other peers from a salsa class at Northwestern University, from where Markle graduated in 2003 with degrees in theater and international studies.

"Salsa lessons with the then future-to-be #DuchessOfSussex, in college," Amador wrote alongside the photo.

Over the weekend, Markle also spoke on a panel at the Afro-Descendant Women and Power: Voices of Equity, where she expressed her gratitude to Marquez and the country for their hospitality. The culture, the historyall of itwas a dream, she said. This trip was a dream. I can feel this community, and this is the feeling that is the best thing right now.

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Is the outcome of Election Day written in the stars? That's what astrologers think, at least. When politics and planets align, the predictions can be persuasive. Illustration: Jianan Liu/HuffPost; Photo: Getty Images

This July, the world was stunned when President Joe Biden announced he was dropping his reelection bid and endorsed his vice president, Kamala Harris, as his successor. At less than four months before Election Day, the announcement was a seismic shock in American politics  but not for many astrologers.

Some claim they had seen signs of this exact scenario in Harris and Bidens natal charts, which is an astrological tool based on where the planets were in the sky at the time of ones birth. They had been telling their followers for years about how Harris star was rising and Bidens was falling and, in some cases, predicted the correct weekend that a dramatic political event would happen because of the full moon. For them, it had long been Joe-ver.

Astrologers have been seeing illness show up in Bidens chart for many years, astrologer Catherine Urban, who made a June prediction that Bidens health was at risk this year and that Harris might be endorsed by Biden, told HuffPost.

Predictive astrologers use multiple techniques to reach their conclusions, but a lot of their methods involve examining a subjects birthday as well as the time and place of their birth to create their natal chart. From there, they track planetary and star movements across time and space to see how the story of a persons life will unfold, including which moments in your career are especially auspicious.

Mo, an astrologer who co-hosts the Fixed Astrology podcast and asked to not share her full name because of her full-time job, predicted that Harris would be a wartime president in May. Mo told HuffPost that she has been seeing Harris come to power under really difficult circumstances as Harris has an enemies of the moon configuration in her fall solar return that indicates that people will be slandering her. Mo explained that this happens, in part, when a planet such as Mars or Saturn  which are associated with challenging periods in your life  is making a difficult aspect to the moon. Difficult aspect is astrology-speak for when planets create a geometric angle with each other that suggests you are going through strife.

Even if you do not believe in astrologys power, there are many others who are compelled by the stories written in the stars. Go on TikTok and you will see astrologers Election Day predictions  including which candidate might die and which will win  rack up tens of thousands of views. As one commenter put it on a TikTok that accurately predicted Biden not winning the election: This is my whole FYP [for you page] AND I CANT GET ENOUGH.

Astrologys influence in politics isnt a new concept.

Urban said the growing interest in political astrology is because this U.S. election is so high stakes and people often look to modalities like astrology to give us hope.

But the practices crossover with politics isnt a recent phenomenon; its an ancient tradition. In fact, astrologers were the first data scientists, argues Alexander Boxer, a data scientist, for his book A Scheme of Heaven: The History of Astrology and the Search for Our Destiny in Data.

Mapping the emotions of the stars onto politics is the original use of astrology. And it hasnt ever really gone away, he told HuffPost.

When Roman emperors such as Augustus and Tiberius ruled, astrologers were powerful and dangerous because their job was directly involved in who was going to be the next emperor and how long someone was forecast to live before they died.

Astrologers have also been part of many rulers inner circles. Queen Elizabeth I had a court astrologer who advised her during her reign. And in the U.S., after the 1981 assassination attempt on her husband, Nancy Reagan famously consulted an astrologer to determine auspicious dates for President Ronald Reagans trips and news conferences.

Astrology, Id say, both invented and in many ways perfected the art of taking a bunch of data, which maybe by itself is meaningless, and putting it together in a very compelling story, Boxer said.

Boxer sees ancient astrologers as the predecessors to modern-day election forecasters, like Nate Silver in the U.S. Using complicated mathematical models you are not expected to follow, both can use their tools to persuade you of their story, even when the prediction turns out to be flat wrong, he explained, because theres a particular seduction we have to a story told with data and numbers.

Who astrologers predict will win in November.

So what exactly are astrologers saying about the next few months? For one, its a time of nationwide upheaval.

Pluto has been returning to the celestial configuration it held during the birth of the nation on July 4, 1776. This means that Pluto is moving toward the same placement in the universe as it was in during the nations founding. Urban explained that during this final stretch of the nations Pluto return, we are in a time of massive death and rebirth. Its a reordering of the current structure.

She is predicting Harris will win the election over former President Donald Trump by a narrow margin, based on how the planets and signs in her natal chart are affecting the forecast around Election Day and the inauguration.

Both Harris and Trump have Jupiter  the planet of opportunity, good luck and abundance  close to significant points in their natal charts right now, but Harris is a Gemini rising, and 2024 is a Gemini-ruled year for her, so she gets a little more abundance, Urban said. Jupiter helped her be in the right place at the right time.

At the same time, Urban is predicting Trump will experience feeling crushed around Election Day, but his influence will not go away. Theres some indications in his chart that show that the things that he ends up becoming known for have not even happened yet. Urban said this is because Trumps signatures  or where planets and zodiac signs in his chart are located after the time of the election  are looking very authoritarian, and hes already the leader of a movement. So what would happen to that movement?

Meanwhile, Mo said that astrologers like her look at the charts of both running mates when making predictions and that Trumps pick of Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) has not helped Trumps chances of winning. If Trump picked a different person with better activations... maybe we would be having a different conversation, she said, noting that the timing in Vances chart is not giving taking the helm energy. Activation is a term youll hear a lot in astrology, and its where a zodiac sign or planet is going to be more significant because of the day, month or year youre in.

Astrologer Lisa Stardust, who says she has been forecasting Biden to be a one-term president for years, told HuffPost that predicting who will win in November depends on the chart of Harris running mate.

Nonetheless, Stardust noted that by Sept. 17, she, and the rest of us, should know who will win in November. On that day, Harris chart is extra lucky because she is experiencing a lunar eclipse in Pisces thats going to be in her 10th house of public image, which means that thats going to be the tipping point for her. In short, your natal chart is divided up into 12 houses that each reveal a different dynamic of your life, and when your house of public image is in the spotlight, so is your social standing.

Astrology can have as much meaning as you give it. Its entertaining, but dont let it consume you.

Ultimately, you get as much from the stars as the people who imbue it with power.

Mo said that her medium can give people themes, but it cannot predict every detail of their life. I cant tell if youve had a matcha latte for breakfast, she said. But I could say that maybe you had a very energetic start to your day Tuesday morning based on whatever [planetary] transits you were having.

Boxer, who does not believe in astrology, cautions people to be skeptical of November predictions because astrology is the template of data science and, in particular, the template for how we tell stories with numbers and data and how we can easily deceive others and ourselves.

Jess Holt, who is both an astrologer and a licensed clinical social worker in New York, said that its good if you use astrology to cope with uncertainty. But if reading election horoscopes is making you feel anxious, if its making you feel like you have to compulsively check things all the time, if its making you feel despair, then its probably not the right tool for you, they said.

In other words, use astrology to help you become aligned with your values, but dont let its endless information keep you stuck, as thats not a helpful use of the tool, they added.

Dont use what the stars are telling you to get out of the work of political action. You still need to be participating in your destiny and voting, Urban said.

There are certain things that are written, Urban said. However, theres also free will, and when it comes to deciding the fate of a nation, everyone needs to participate. Everyones will is participating.

Related...
Ifran Saeppu, an up-and-comer with a shot at going pro, snapped his femur in two places at Padang Padang. Now, he needs the surf communitys help. Photos: Kandui Resort

In mid-August, a talented 16-year-old surfer named Ifran Saeppu pulled into a barrel at Padang Padang. Hed done that same thing plenty of times before, but this time, something went wrong. The heavy lip landed on him, and broke his femur in two places. Now, he needs the surf communitys help.

Ifran is a staple at Kandui Resort. Hes from a nearby village called Pei Pei, which is where he and Dylan Wilcoxen, a.k.a All Day Dylan, first met. All Day Dylan lives at Kandui, and that coupled with his natural ability on a surfboard has made him yet another up-and-comer to watch in Indonesia.

Ifran and Dylan met in the third grade in Pei Pei Elementary School and they have been inseparable since, an email from Kandui Resort reads. Ifran started spending more time with Dylan. Dylan quickly realized that Ifran was one of the best surfers to ever come out of the Mentawai and his community is very proud of him.

Ifran and Dylans friendship is a tight one, and Ifran dreams of becoming a pro surfer along with his best friend.

Dylan asked his Dad Ray if Ifran could start spending more time at Kandui and that soon meant Kandui home school, afternoon 4Bobs and over the last year, the 2024 Indonesian Contest Tour (Krui, Nias, Bali, etc), Kandui Resort wrote. With the help of Ray, Dylan, Kandui, his family, and Pei Pei Village, its been such a cool experience for someone without the financial means to get the opportunity to represent his Mentawai village and shoot to become the Mentawais first pro surfer.

His shattered femur, though, has thrown a wrench in those dreams. The femur is the largest bone in the human body, and Ifran broke it clean in half in two separate places. He needed emergency surgery to stabilize it, and hes not out of the woods yet.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rickylobofilms (@rickylobofilms)

He has a long road to recovery that includes the initial emergency surgery, months of physical therapy and a second surgery to remove the plate/screws holding his leg in place, Kandui Resort wrote. Our goal with Ifrans GoFundMe campaign is to generate enough support that Ifran can have the best treatment, physical therapy and surgeons to ensure he can return to his dream of becoming the Mentawais first professional surfer.

The injury has already cost Ifran around $10,000 USD. In October, hell have the second surgery to remove the plates and screws, which is estimated to cost around $5,000 USD. Physical therapy and living expenses while hes recovering will run around another $5,000, bringing the estimated total to $20,000  a lot for a teenager from a tiny village.

The crowdfunding campaign was started by the Kandui Resort Medical Director, Dr. Mario Quiros.

Dr. Quiros oversees our Kandui Resort Medical Team, has created GoFundMes for previous Indonesians in need, and has been working with Ray to coordinate Ifrans care from the time of his injury, the email says. He will ensure that all the funds raised will go to Ifrans treatment.

At the time of this writing, the GoFundMe had raised just over $12,000, but theres a long way to go. With the surf communitys help, Ifran will be back riding waves again in the near future.

You can donate to Ifrans recovery, here.

The post 16-Year-Old Ifran Saeppu Snaps Femur In Two Places Surfing Padang Padang first appeared on The Inertia.
Alexander III of Macedon is regarded as one of, if not the greatest military strategists and leaders in world history. He ruled the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon from 336323 BCE and his empire reached from Macedonia to Egypt and from Greece to India. His words have become well-known throughout history, which has led to many famous Alexander the Great quotes still shared today.



His "Great" nomenclature didn't come without its downsides, however. He was deemed dictatorial, ruthless and was so ambitious that he regarded himself as divine. His victories helped to spread Hellenistic culture across the many regions he reigned over, including the Mediterranean states, parts of India and the Persian empire.



Unfortunately, Alexander the Great did not have any direct heirs, and so Macedonia fell shortly after his death as it was divided up by military generals after a series of civil wars. During his short life, he imparted plenty of words of wisdom and we have them here as the 73 best quotes from Alexander the Great for you to enjoy.



Related: 75 Seneca Quotes About Life, Wisdom and Greatness

73 Alexander the Great Quotes

1. "A tomb now suffices him for whom the whole world was not sufficient."



2. "There is nothing impossible to him who will try."



3. "If we turn our backs of the Scythians who have provoked us, how shamefully shall we march against the revolted Bactrians; but if we pass Tanais and make the Scythians feel, by dear experience, that we are invincible, not in Asia only, it is not to be doubted but that Europe itself, as well as Asia, will come within the bounds of our conquests."



4. "For my own part, I would rather excel in knowledge of the highest secrets of philosophy than in arms."



5. "Oh! Most miserable wretch that I am! Why have I not learnt how to swim?"



6. "How should a man be capable of grooming his own horse, or of furbishing his own spear and helmet, if he allows himself to become unaccustomed to tending even his own person, which is his most treasured belonging?"



7. "My father will anticipate everything. He will leave you and me no chance to do a great and brilliant deed."



8. "I do not steal victory."



Related: 75 Epictetus Quotes on Life, Philosophy and Empowerment

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9. "There are no more worlds to conquer!"



10. "I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well."



11. We of Macedon for generations past have been trained in the hard school of danger and war."



12. "As for our foreign troops  Thracians, Paeonians, Illyrians, Agrianes  they are the best and stoutest soldiers in Europe, and they will find as their opponents the slackest and softest of the tribes of Asia. And what, finally, of the two men in supreme command? You have Alexander, they  Darius!



13. For my part, I think that to a man of spirit there is no other aim and end of his labours except the labours themselves.



14. "There is something noble in hearing myself ill spoken of, when I am doing well."



15. I am involved in the land of a leonine and brave people, where every foot of the ground is like a well of steel, confronting my soldier. You have brought only one son into the world, but everyone in this land can be called an Alexander.



Related: 'Everything Popular Is Wrong'Here Are the 50 Best Oscar Wilde Quotes



16. I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.



17. "I am dying from the treatment of too many physicians."



18. Greatness is not achieved through comfort and complacency, but through overcoming challenges and pushing ones limits.



19. "Heaven cannot brook two suns, nor earth two masters."



20. I had rather excel others in the knowledge of what is excellent, than in the extent of my power and dominion.



21. "Soldiers, I had lately like to have been taken from you by the attempt of a few desperate men, but by the grace and providence of the gods, I am still preserved."



22. "In the end, when it's over, all that matters is what you've done."



23. "There are Greek troops, to be sure, in Persian service  but how different is their cause from ours! They will be fighting for pay  and not much of at that; we, on the contrary, shall fight for Greece, and our hearts will be in it."



24. "Through every generation of the human race there has been a constant war, a war with fear. Those who have the courage to conquer it are made free and those who are conquered by it are made to suffer until they have the courage to defeat it, or death takes them."



25. Glory crowns the deeds of those who expose themselves to toils and dangers.



26. His last words when asked when he wished divine honors should be paid to him: "When you yourselves are happy."



27. "Every light is not the sun."



28. "The end and object of conquest is to avoid doing the same thing as the conquered."



29. "On their side more men are standing, on ours more will fight!"



30. Remember, everyones behavior depends on everyones fate.

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31. "False reports have many times done as great things as true courage and resolution."



32. "Let us conduct ourselves so that all men wish to be our friends and all fear to be our enemies."



33. "May God keep you away from the venom of the cobra, the teeth of the tiger..."



34. It is not the wealth or power that defines a man, but his character and the impact he leaves on the world.



35. "Toil and risk are the price of glory, but it is a lovely thing to live with courage and die leaving an everlasting fame."



36. "Are there no more worlds that I might conquer?"



37. Are you still to learn that the end and perfection of our victories is to avoid the vices and infirmities of those whom we subdue?



38. I foresee a great funeral contest over me.



39. "True love never has a happy ending, because there is no ending to true love."



40. "Remember upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all."

Related: 45 Frederick Douglass Quotes To Celebrate His Incredible Legacy

41. Without knowledge, skill cannot be focused. Without skill, strength cannot be brought to bear and without strength, knowledge may not be applied.

42. When my casket is being carried to the grave, leave my hands hanging outside. For empty-handed, I came into this world and empty-handed, I shall go! My whole life has been a hallow waste, a futile exercise, for no one at death can take anything with them!

43. When you bury my body, dont build any momentum and keep my hands outside so that the world knows that the person who won the whole world had nothing in his hand while dying.

44. I do not seek to rule with an iron fist but with wisdom and compassion.

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45. When we give someone our time, we actually give a portion of our life that we will never take back.

46. "So far as I am concerned, I could not be accused of having set eyes, or having wished to set eyes, upon Darius' wife: on the contrary, I have refused even to listen to those who spoke to me of her beauty."

47. "How happy had it been for me had I been slain in battle. It had been far more noble to have died the victim of the enemy than fall a sacrifice to the rage of my friends."

48. "An army of sheep led by a lion is better than an army of lions led by a sheep."

49. Youths of the Pellaians and of the Macedonians and of the Hellenic Amphictiony and of the Lakedaimonians and of the Corinthians and of all the Hellenic peoples, join your fellow-soldiers and entrust yourselves to me.

50. "My treasure lies in my friends."

51. "With the right attitude, self imposed limitations vanish."

52. "There are so many worlds, and I have not yet conquered even one."

53. "How great are the dangers I face to win a good name in Athens."

54. "Who does not desire such a victory by which we shall join places in our Kingdom, so far divided by nature, and for which we shall set up trophies in another conquered world?"

55. Each moment free from fear makes a man immortal.

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56. "Sex and sleep alone make me conscious that I am mortal."

57. "Now you fear punishment and beg for your lives, so I will let you free, if not for any other reason so that you can see the difference between a Greek king and a barbarian tyrant, so do not expect to suffer any harm from me. A king does not kill messengers.

58. "As for a limit to ones labors, I, for one, do not recognize any for a high-minded man, except that the labors themselves should lead to noble accomplishments.

59. "Now that the wars are coming to an end, I wish you to prosper in peace. May all mortals from now on live like one people in concord and for mutual advancement."

60. Whatever possession we gain by our sword cannot be sure or lasting, but the love gained by kindness and moderation is certain and durable.

Related: 45 Benjamin Franklin Quotes on Liberty, Wisdom and Integrity

61. "Shall I, that have destroyed my Preservers, return home?"

62. "If I were not Alexander, I would be Diogenes."

63. "His father is governor of Media, and though he has the greatest command given him of all the rest of my generals, he still covetously desires more, and my being without issue spurs him on to this wicked design. But Philotas takes wrong measures."

64. "Consider the world as your country, with laws common to all and where the best will govern irrespective of tribe."

65. "I am not interested in the descendance of the citizens or their racial origins. I classify them using one criterion: their virtue."

66. The sword is just a tool, but it is the mind behind it that wields true power.

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67. "You shall, I question not, find a way to the top if you diligently seek for it; for nature hath placed nothing so high that it is out of the reach of industry and valor."

68. "If differences ever develop between you never have recourse to arms, but solve them peacefully. If necessary, I should be your arbitrator."

69. I would rather live a short life of glory than a long one of obscurity.

70. "But as things are, forgive me Diogenes, that I imitate Herakles, and emulate Perseus, and follow in the footsteps of Dionysos, the divine author and progenitor of my family, and desire that victorious Hellenes should dance again in India and revive the memory of the Bacchic revels among the savage mountain tribes beyond the Kaukasos

71. Holy shadows of the dead, I am not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and brother people to fight one another."

72. "I do not feel happy for this victory of mine. On the contrary, I would be glad, brothers, if I had all of you standing here next to me, since we are united by the same language, the same blood and the same visions."

73. I may have built an empire, but my greatest legacy is the inspiration I leave behind.

Up Next:

Related: 65 Plato Quotes on Life, Wisdom and Politics
The Redditor estimated the cost to be around $4,000 for the ones she was interested in (Getty Images)

People online defended one girlfriend after her boyfriend refused to buy her a lab-cut diamond engagement ring.

In a recent post on Reddits Am I The A**hole, a frustrated woman opened up about her predicament, admitting her proposal wishes havent lined up with her partners.

The Redditor admitted she and her boyfriend have been discussing their future engagement and getting married. With that, the conversation has focused a lot on her engagement ring. While she appreciates a traditional lab diamond, her boyfriend doesnt believe the makeup of the ring matters.

He doesnt believe rings hold any value and thinks its silly to spend money on lab diamonds or gold, she explained.

Still, her original wish was to receive a ring from a reputable jeweler. Of course, her boyfriend thought the prices of these rings were too high. She estimated the cost to be around $4,000 for the ones she was interested in.

The Reddit user said: We went back and forth for a while and I looked into other options that were cheaper (~$2k) and he said he was still opposed to that much and had a budget of $600.

This budget is artificially imposed because he doesnt believe in rings rather than because he cant afford it, she added.

In addition to his distaste for the price of the diamond rings she wants, her boyfriend believes he should get a material gift of the same value.

She noted: He was also against the principle that rings are a one way street where the man is required to buy something expensive and theres no reciprocity which is fair.

Their compromise was that she would get him a gift if she got a ring from him. When the Reddit user finally found a ring she liked, she asked her boyfriend if their compromise still worked for him. Unfortunately, it didnt.

According to the Reddit writer, her boyfriend backed out, questioning why she needed a lab diamond again.

Essentially (he) told me that he doesnt understand why getting a diamond (lab) ring is so important to me and why I cant just get a $100 moissanite ring that would look similar and that we can use the rest of the ring budget for something else, she confessed.

At this point, the Redditor wants to buy herself the ring she wants so she doesnt end up unhappy with a style her boyfriend settles on.

Wondering if she was being unreasonable, the writer asked readers for their opinion, and an overwhelming majority supported her.

One reader remarked: I say this as a woman who doesnt like jewelry. This is not about the ring. This is about him refusing to bend in the slightest over something that is important to you.

I agree with your bf but the ring itself isnt your issue. You guys arent able to resolve this difference of opinion about something that clearly matters a lot to both of you, another added.

A third noted: The ring has no value to him, but it does to you. Because it is important to you, that should be important to him. When you become partners, each others wants and needs should be prioritized with the other.

You get to feel how you want to feel, one person simply said.
Let the good times roll! Griffin Colapinto is coming back home to San Clemente with a big win at the Fiji Pro and a clear shot at earning the 2024 world title in front of the hometown crowd. The WSL Finals are about three weeks away, and we're in for quite a show.

Sprinting through three straight days of competition, Colapinto made short work of Indonesia's Rio Waida in the final. A lopsided affair, Waida was surfing in his first-ever final. But that's not the whole story, in the quarters Colapinto dispatched Gabriel Medina, then went on to eliminate Jack Robinson in the semis.

With three world titles to his credit, Medina needed to win the event to get to the WSL Finals. Colapinto made sure that didn't happen. Meanwhile, Robinson will come into the Finals with the number three seed, just behind Colapinto. There's a good chance they'll see each other again at Lowers, and to have this win over him in Fiji, it has to do wonders for the mindset.

"I don't know what to say, it just kind of happened in a nice, flowing rhythm. I never really had any crazy heats and found myself with a W at the end," Colapinto shared from the back of a jet ski after taking the win. "Super psyched to have a final with Rio. Amazing kid. Amazing surfer. I'm so excited to see what he does in the future."

Then Colapinto go down to brass tacks and opened up about his number two seed at the upcoming WSL Finals.

"Caroline Marks won in Tahiti last year and then went on to win the world title, so I was thinking, maybe if I win this, I could go on to win the world title at Lowers," he continued. "So I got this one done, and we'll see what the stars have in store for us at home."

Last year San Clemente went haywire when Colapinto qualified for his first WSL Finals. As someone that lives in town and is a big Griff fan, it's going to be so fun to see what happens next. In 2024, it was very important to him to support all of his friends and family that have showed him the love over the years. It only seems logical that his fans will come out in force once again, and with a number two seed, Colapinto only has to advance out of one round to battle for the world title, where he'd meet John John Florence. Is it finally time to bring it on home to California? This writers says absolutely.

Related: 17-Year-Old Canadian Wildcard Erin Brooks Earns Historic Win at 2024 Fiji Pro

Related: Griffin Colapinto Ends Gabe Medina's 2024 World Title Hopes
Preview all of the adoptable pets at www.spcaflorida.org. To meet or adopt a pet located at SPCA Florida, stop by the Adoption Center Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. or Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Prior to adoption, all pets are spayed or neutered, microchipped, up to date on vaccines and come with a month of flea and heartworm prevention. For questions, contact SPCA Floridas Adoption Center at 863-577-4615 or adopt@spcaflorida.org.

Lupita

Gender: Female

Age: 3 years

Weight: 56 pounds

Species: Dog

Breed: Terrier  Brown/White

Orphaned Since: Sept. 24, 2023

Adoption Fee: $150

Lupita is a happy and affectionate dog eagerly waiting for her forever home. Shes a champion cuddler who will fill your days with joy and laughter. She loves water and enjoys spending sunny days splashing in the pool or chasing the sprinkler, making her the perfect playmate for outdoor fun. She thrives on human interaction and will be your constant companion, whether youre enjoying a quiet evening at home or embarking on a new adventure. Her bright eyes and wagging tail are sure to steal your heart and bring endless smiles to your face.

Lupita is a happy and affectionate dog eagerly waiting for her forever home. Shes a champion cuddler who will fill your days with joy and laughter. She loves water and enjoys spending sunny days splashing in the pool or chasing the sprinkler, making her the perfect playmate for outdoor fun. She thrives on human interaction and will be your constant companion, whether youre enjoying a quiet evening at home or embarking on a new adventure. Her bright eyes and wagging tail are sure to steal your heart and bring endless smiles to your face.

Lucy

Gender: Female

Age: 1 year, 11 months

Weight: 64 pounds

Species: Dog

Breed: Hound  Black/Tan

Orphaned Since: May 20

Adoption Fee: $250

Lucy is a sweet 1-year-old hound looking for a loving forever home. If you're searching for a loyal companion who's gentle, playful and adores milk bones, Lucy might just be the perfect match. She has a gentle soul and a shy demeanor at first, but once she warms up to you, she's full of love and affection. She enjoys quiet moments and thrives on gentle interactions with her favorite humans, whether it's curling up beside you for cuddles or enjoying a peaceful stroll. She's great with other dogs, so a home with a doggy companion would be ideal. She prefers a family who will include her in their daily activities and provide plenty of mental stimulation and interaction.

Lucy is a sweet 1-year-old hound looking for a loving forever home. If you're searching for a loyal companion who's gentle, playful and adores milk bones, Lucy might just be the perfect match. She has a gentle soul and a shy demeanor at first, but once she warms up to you, she's full of love and affection. She enjoys quiet moments and thrives on gentle interactions with her favorite humans, whether it's curling up beside you for cuddles or enjoying a peaceful stroll. She's great with other dogs, so a home with a doggy companion would be ideal. She prefers a family who will include her in their daily activities and provide plenty of mental stimulation and interaction.

Mango

Gender: Female

Age: 1 year

Weight: 9 pounds

Species: Cat

Breed: Domestic Shorthair  Brown/Orange Torbie

Orphaned Since: April 18

Adoption Fee: $75

Mango is a charming and playful cat awaiting her forever home. Her coat features a gorgeous brown and orange torbie pattern with stripes like a tiger. Mango is a bundle of joy with a personality as vibrant as her name. She loves to explore and play, making every day an adventure. As a young 1-year-old, shes become a champion toy wand-batter. Her affectionate nature means shes always ready for a cuddle or cozy nap by your side. Visit Tinkers Legacy Cattery at SPCA Florida today.

Mango is a charming and playful cat awaiting her forever home. Her coat features a gorgeous brown and orange torbie pattern with stripes like a tiger. Mango is a bundle of joy with a personality as vibrant as her name. She loves to explore and play, making every day an adventure. As a young 1-year-old, shes become a champion toy wand-batter. Her affectionate nature means shes always ready for a cuddle or cozy nap by your side. Visit Tinkers Legacy Cattery at SPCA Florida today.

Bryan

Gender: Male

Age: 5 months

Weight: 5 pounds

Species: Cat

Breed: Domestic Shorthair  Orange/White

Orphaned Since: April 27

Adoption Fee: $100

Meet Bryan, a cute little orange and white kitten with the most adorable striped tail. At only 5-months old, Bryan is full of playful energy and affectionate purrs. With kitten season in full swing, our shelter is overflowing with kittens of all colors and ages, each one looking for a loving family. By adopting Bryan or one of his furry friends, you not only gain a loyal companion, but also help us make room for more kittens in need. Visit SPCA Florida or one of our adoption partners (Orlando Cat Cafe, Lakeland Petco, Lakeland Petsense) to find your perfect match.

Meet Bryan, a cute little orange and white kitten with the most adorable striped tail. At only 5-months old, Bryan is full of playful energy and affectionate purrs. With kitten season in full swing, our shelter is overflowing with kittens of all colors and ages, each one looking for a loving family. By adopting Bryan or one of his furry friends, you not only gain a loyal companion, but also help us make room for more kittens in need. Visit SPCA Florida or one of our adoption partners (Orlando Cat Cafe, Lakeland Petco, Lakeland Petsense) to find your perfect match.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Meet this week's SPCA pets: Lupita, Lucy, Mango and Bryan
This picture of Navajo, Montana. Daniels County. Navajo's origins lie with the building of Bainville-Scobey branch line of the Great Northern Railway (finished in 1913). The rail line is now operated by the Yellowstone Valley Railroad and appears to be lightly used. The town name came from the railroad (reason unknown). A post office was active at Navajo from 1914 (November 24) to 1955 (June 30). William Roufe was the first postmaster. (Photo by Gary S via Flickr).

Several years ago I paid a visit to the Mayor of Flaxville, Montana. Her honor was not only the CEO of Flaxville, she was also the Chair of the Democratic Party in Daniels County, which was the main reason for my visit in my capacity as the state chairman of the whole shebangthe Montana Democratic Party. Thats just to explain why I was there and thats all the politics this article will contain.

So, Im in Flaxville at a pancake breakfast put on by some organization for some good cause. Flaxville, for those who are lacking in Montana geography lies just south of the Canadian line between Scobey and Plentywood, more specifically between Madoc and Navajo, in Daniels County, all this being in the northeast corner of Montana. Because Flaxville is not a big town, population about 60 in 2020, the meeting hall facilities are a little limited. The pancake breakfast was being held in an old school auditorium or movie theater, I forget which, which went a long way towards explaining why the floor sloped, but not so steep a slope that it was impossible to sit on a chair at a table and enjoy the meal.

I was seated next to the mayors father, a grain farmer from Navajo. He asked me where I was from and hearing that I was from the mountains of Western Montana he opined that I must find the Northeast part of the state pretty boring. I gave him my stock answer, Well, people will say that theres not much to see here, and thats a matter of opinion, but as little as there might be to see, you can sure see a lot more of it.

So, we launched into a discussion of the beauties of our state. The area around Flaxville is not flat but rolling with buttes poking up here and there. I find it beautiful, but then I am hard pressed to think of a place anywhere in Montana that is not beautiful. And if the scenery is less than stunning, seeing it at sunrise or sunset will fix that.

The mayors father told me of a butte on his farm with quite a view where he liked to take his lunch when he was working his fields. Ill sit on the ground and eat lunch and maybe take a nap and sometimes my neighbor joins me and well both take a nap.

At night, he said, you can see the lights of Scobey to the west, Plentywood to the East, and way down south the lights of Poplar.

I was touched by his story and thought of all the small pleasures that we sometimes take for granted. I am often reminded of this, the latest incident of which when I was having a whiskey ditch with my neighbor on his back porch when he went over to the railing and relieved himself. No man is poor I thought.

Which is a quote from Scrooge McDuck (worlds richest duck) as he frolics in his three cubic acre bin of money:

No man is poor who can do what he likes to do once in a while! And I like to dive around in my money like a porpoise! And burrow through it like a gopher! And toss it up and let it hit me on the head!

Well, taking a nap on a hillside with a neighbor is not quite the same as wallowing in wealth, but it must be every bit as satisfying,

Later that day, on my way to Plentywood I stopped off in Navajo to see if I could spot the butte he was talking about. Navajo was not hard to find, there just wasnt much of it, just grain bins next to the abandoned Great Northern Railway line. It is pretty country, made even more memorable when you consider how tough the people who settled there had it, lured by false promises of good land with plenty of rainfall by the railroad but found instead hardships and loneliness, with suicide not uncommon, many living in uninsulated tarpaper shacks in the harsh winters.

But they persevered.

Theyve earned their pleasures, no matter how modest they may be.
McDonald's does quite a brisk business in hamburgers -- really brisk. McDonald's sells 75 hamburgers per second worldwide. Yet, over the years, this fast food giant has tried rolling out various other food items, from spaghetti to crab cakes, with sometimes disastrous results. Ray Kroc, the man who turned this hamburger chain into a massive global success, kept an open mind to new menu items, even testing out grilled pineapple and cheese on a bun, which he dubbed the Hula Burger. But when it came to hot dogs, he refused to consider them -- even though the founders of McDonald's, Richard and Maurice McDonald, had sold them at the restaurant back in the 1940s and early 1950s before Kroc bought the business.

"There are some things we can do and maintain our identity, and there are others we can never do," Kroc wrote in his autobiography, "Grinding It Out: The Making of McDonald's." While he felt the company might one day serve pizza, hot dogs were a non-starter. "There's no telling what's inside a hot dog's skin, and our standard of quality just wouldn't permit that kind of item," Kroc wrote. While hot dogs are a beloved American food today, past rumors about the food's preparation -- especially in the early 1900s -- continued to dog it for years. Even so, after Kroc's death, McDonald's attempted to roll out a McDonald's version of the wiener, which didn't go well.

Read more: What Exactly Is Imitation Crab Meat And How Do You Cook With It?

Muckraking And Mystery Meat

Ray Kroc at his desk - Bettmann/Getty Images

One possible reason for Ray Kroc's dismissal of the hot dog as not meeting the restaurant's standards is turn-of-the-century muckraking journalist and author Upton Sinclair. His 1906 novel "The Jungle" tore the lid off of the disgusting practices of the meat packing industry at that time and described how dead rats and sawdust often ended up in sausage. Even after the industry cleaned up its act, rumors and misinformation about what exactly hot dogs contained continued.

These days, what's in a hot dog is much more palatable, with the better brands using only beef, pork, turkey, or chicken meat. Typically, manufacturers make hot dogs using trimmings  pieces of meat left over from processing steaks, chops, and other cuts. Some lower quality brands may also include organs and other parts, often listed on the label as "variety meats" along with the specific organ used. Besides meat, hot dogs can contain a variety of other additives and preservatives, which may have also given Kroc pause about selling them at McDonald's.

The McHotDog?

Hot dogs on a table - eunyoung/Shutterstock

Ray Kroc died in 1984, and in 1995, McDonald's decided to introduce the McHotDog. And perhaps the corporation should have stuck by Kroc's original decision to ban the wiener. When McDonald's launched the new menu item, it failed miserably. The company discontinued it in the United States, though it returned a few times within the next few years as a seasonal offering in selection locations. Since then, the McHotDog has made brief appearances as seasonal or limited time menu items in Chile and the U.K. and is still available in Japan.

It's possible the McHotDog may one day reappear, like the McDonald's mascot Hamburglar, who had been retired for years before making a recent comeback. Or it could end up just one of a long list of other failed culinary experiments that were once heralded by McDonald's as the next big thing, like McPizza, McSpaghetti, Fish McBites, or the infamous Hula Burger. If the equally miserable failure of rival Burger King's attempt at selling hot dogs is any indication  it rolled them out in 2016 and killed them less than a year later  it's pretty unlikely McDonald's will again sell wieners in the United States. And that would be a decision Kroc would have likely been happy with.

Read the original article on Chowhound.
How to Wash Kale The Right Way, According to a Food Safety Expert

Kale is prone to grit and dirtas well as foodborne pathogens.

HUIZENG HU / Getty Images

Kale is one of the most popular leafy greens around. You can serve it raw in salads and slaws, bake it to make crispy, nutritious chips to snack on, saute it for a quick side dish, or stir a few handfuls into soups and stews. Since kale is such a healthy and versatile vegetable, knowing how to wash it is important. Like any other produce item, kale can become contaminated with foodborne pathogens, so proper handling, cleaning, and storage are crucial. Ahead, we spoke with a food scientist to learn how to wash and safely store kale and to find out why its important to properly wash and handle this leafy greens.







Meet Our Expert

Mary Anne Amalaradjou, DVM, MVSc, MS, PhD associate professor of food microbiology at the University of Connecticut







Related: Yes, There Is a Right Way to Wash LettuceHere's How to Do It

Why It's Important to Wash Kale

Leafy greens like kale are historically one of the more common sources of foodborne illnesses, but that doesnt mean you shouldnt eat them. Mary Anne Amalaradjou, DVM, MVSc, MS, PhD, associate professor of food microbiology at the University of Connecticut, says that as with any green leafy vegetables, kale can be contaminated with foodborne pathogens including norovirus, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), campylobacter, and non-typhoidal salmonella. However, proper handling, cleaning, and storage can help reduce your risk. Even if youre cooking kale, which can help lower the risk even further, according to Amalaradjou, its still important to handle it with care to prevent foodborne infection or food poisoning.

Its important to remember that food safety is everyones business. This means that best practices are applied from farm to fork, she says. In other words, when we purchase kale at the grocery store or farmers market, we need to handle the greens properly. This includes handling, washing, storing, and avoiding cross-contamination.

Types of Kale

There seem to be new varieties of kale in stores all the timeno complaints here! These types of kale vary in texture. Some leaves, like those on common green curly and Red Russian varieties, are ruffled, with many nooks and crannies for dirt and sand to hide. Other types, such as lacinato (also known as dinosaur or Tuscan kale) and Chinese kale (sometimes called Chinese broccoli or Gai Lan), have much more flat and tender leaves that are easier to clean. The type of kale you use depends entirely on personal taste, availability, and the recipe youre making, but how you clean kale wont change. You might, however, need to rinse and repeat a few more times with the more textured varieties.







Tips

Baby kale is usually the exception when it comes to washing. Most bags or clamshells come pre-washed, but its always a good idea to double-check the label just to make sure.







Related: The Right Way to Store Celery So It Stays Fresh and Crisp

Martha Stewart

How to Wash Kale

Before washing kale (or any produce), its a good idea to check the product label, if there is one. Sealed bags labeled ready to use, washed, or triple rinsed do not need additional washing unless specifically directed on the label. If the product doesnt have any of those labels, washing is a necessity. There are two ways to properly wash kale: youll always use water, but sometimes adding vinegar is a good option, too, says Amalaradjou.

Before you wash any produce, clean and sanitize the sink, faucet, and counter space. Wash your hands for 20 seconds with warm water and soap before and after handling produce. Strip the kale leaves from the stalks and place them in a colander. Rinse the kale under cool running water, turning the leaves as you go to ensure every inch is rinsed. Once rinsed, dry the produce with a clean cloth or paper towel or send it through a salad spinner to remove excess moisture.

Related: The Right Way to Store Kale So It Stays Fresh for Longer

Adding Vinegar

The acidity in vinegar can sometimes be helpful when kale is extra dirtyit can help break down the grit so it can be rinsed away more easily. Amalaradjou notes that while vinegar doesnt pose any safety risk, it can affect the flavors of the produce. So, for the sake of the flavor, quality, and safety of the kale, it is not recommended to let kale soak in the vinegar-spiked water.

Simply rinse the kale in a water and vinegar solution ( cup distilled white vinegar per 1 cup of water) and follow it up with a clean water rinse. After that, dry and store as usual.

Related: 26 Smart (and Sustainable) Uses for Vinegar Around the House

When to Wash Kale

Unless the leaves are visibly dirty when you bring them home, its best to wait to wash kale until youre ready to prepare or eat it. (This is a good tip for all kinds of fruits and vegetables.)



More Tips for Washing Kale

An alternative technique is to submerge the kale leaves in water inside a salad spinner. Agitate the leaves with your hands to release any grime from the kale, then immediately drain and spin. You want to avoid letting the produce soak in water.

When washing multiple batches of kale, make sure to wash your hands and change out the water in the container to avoid cross-contamination.



Read the original article on Martha Stewart.
For the budget-conscious traveler, the words "continental breakfast included" in the description of your hotel room can be music to your ears. You won't have to worry about where you'll eat in the morning, and you'll often feel like you're getting a free meal (even though chances are high that you're not and the hotel has simply charged more for your room to cover the cost of the food). In Europe, where gobs of tourists from all over the world visit, many hotels will include the first meal of the day in the price, while others will offer daily continental breakfast for an extra cost. Either way, travel expert, television host, and author of several European travel books Rick Steves believes you're better off skipping the hotel breakfast. In his opinion, the value is just not there.

Now, if the price of your room automatically comes with breakfast, it's up to you to take advantage, but if the choice is yours to add a small cost for the meal, resist the urge. Your wallet and your tastebuds will be better off by eating breakfast like the locals do, which might be at a nearby bakery or coffee bar. These places are also far more likely to give you a better cultural experience of the country or specific city you're in, versus a hotel full of tourists like yourself instead of locals.

Read more: Where To Get Burgers During Fast Food Breakfast Hours

But First, Coffee (Around The Corner)

Croissants on display - Oscar Wong/Getty Images

If you're really looking to immerse yourself in the European country you're visiting, rise early and fill your empty stomach at a local cafe or bakery, where the food will probably be tastier than what your hotel offers as they are catering to locals, and less expensive (because, let's face it, hotels are expensive). But these are most certainly not your only options. Fruit and vegetable stands are great places to buy fresh, seasonal fruit in the morning. Here you can see and smell the produce and choose exactly what you want instead of a hotel choosing fruit options for you. Small, neighborhood grocers, where you can shop like a European, often sell yogurts which make a great breakfast; many times they are drinkable which is ideal when you're on-the-go.

Depending on where you are, the morning food options at cafes may be different from what you're used to in America. Breakfast for Italians is often a savory combo of coffee and focaccia. Things are similar in France where a croissant and cafe au lait make a satisfying breakfast. Yet, in England, breakfast might come in the form of a full fry which includes eggs, meats, beans, toast, and tomatoes.

Not All Hotel Breakfasts Are The Same Throughout Europe

Large Scandinavian breakfast spread - Alexander Spatari/Getty Images

It's always a good idea to do some homework before you travel, and this is especially true if you're going to Europe, where breakfast can vary drastically as you cross borders. It's worth noting that the hotel breakfast buffets in Scandinavia (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland) are often automatically included in the cost of your room and are absolutely worth the experience and price. Food options will usually include several breads, cheeses, yogurt, cereals, eggs, fish, cold cuts, and beverages. In the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, a generous breakfast will also likely be included with your hotel room.

As you get closer to the Mediterranean Sea, continental hotel breakfasts get noticeably smaller, with choices often being no more than some bread options, coffee or tea, plus jams, butter, and perhaps some Nutella for your rolls. If you've paid for such breakfast (or if it's been included in your room price), and the food doesn't feel adequate enough to get you through a morning of sightseeing, you can always munch a few rolls at the hotel, then grab a wedge of cheese at a nearby cheese shop, plus some juicy cherries or summer peaches at the market. Very European, very filling, and especially tasty.

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Read the original article on The Takeout.
CHICAGO  A man died and another man was injured after a shooting Friday evening in Chicagos Austin neighborhood.

Chicago police said the shooting happened just before 5 p.m. Friday in the 700 block of North Leamington Avenue.

According to investigators, officers received a gunshot detection technology alert and went to the area to investigate. When they arrived, they found a 49-year-old man who had been shot in the head and a 21-year-old man who had been shot in the leg.

Man shot multiple times at White Palace Grill while DNC delegates were inside

Police said both victims were taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital where the 49-year-old man died from his injuries. At last check, the 21-year-old man is in fair condition.

No arrests have been made and Area Four Detectives are investigating.

Anyone with additional information may leave an anonymous tip at cpdtip.com.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  One woman is dead and three people were injured, including two juveniles, after a crash Friday night in Nashville.

In a release, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department said the incident occurred around 6:40 p.m. on the block of Ewing Drive and Gwynnwood Drive.

According to police, a 36-year-old woman was driving an Infiniti QX6 southbound on Gwynnwood Drive with two juvenile passengers, ages 7 and 14.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

The Infiniti driver reportedly ran a stop sign and crashed into the drivers side of a Chevrolet Camaro heading eastbound on Ewing Drive, driven by a 46-year-old Nashville woman. The 46-year-old was then transported to TriStar Skyline Medical Center where she died. Her identity has yet to be released.

The driver and passengers of the Infiniti were taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for treatment of unknown injuries, according to Metro police.

MNPD stated there were no signs either driver was impaired at the time, but charges are expected following the incident.

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 Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee.

This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A 39-year-old man is dead following an officer-involved shooting during an attempted arrest Friday afternoon, Aug. 23, in East El Paso, El Paso Police said.

The incident happened at around 2:30 p.m. at Larry Wadkins and Vista Del Sol, police said.

Police said officers attempted to arrest the man, who had warrants for robbery.

The man brandished a weapon and officers responded by shooting the suspect, police said.

Police said the man the man has died. Three different investigations are being conducted about the shooting.

This story will be updated as additional information is available.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available.

WEBER COUNTY, Utah (ABC4)  One person was injured after a fight broke out and shots were fired at a party in Weber County, according to the Weber County Sheriffs Office.

According to a press release, the sheriffs office responded to the area of 6800 South 1850 East just after 4 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24. Officials received reports of shots being fired, and later learned that a fight had broken out at a party in the area.

READ NEXT: 16-year-old high school student killed, school opens for grief counseling

The party was being held at an Airbnb vacation rental, and several shots were fired after the fight broke out, according to the sheriffs office.

The Weber County Sheriffs Office said those who were involved immediately fled in vehicles, but one person had checked into a local hospital with a possible stab wound. The man in the hospital was said to be in stable condition.

This appears to be an isolated incident and there does not appear to be any outstanding threat to the residents of this neighborhood, the sheriffs office said in a social media post on Saturday.

There were no other reported injuries or property damage after the incident. Weber Metro CSI responded to the scene to collect evidence, and the sheriffs office expressed its gratitude for the other outside agencies that helped.

The sheriffs office has asked that anyone with information or security camera footage of the incident contact the Weber County Sheriffs Office at 801-395-8221.

There is no further information at this time.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A woman was killed and three other people were injured in a crash earlier this week along Interstate 10 east of Van Horn, the Texas Department of Public Safety said.

Eva Mae Chopane, 80, of Los Angeles, was killed in a single vehicle rollover crash just before 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 21 at Mile Marker 181 on Interstate 10, about 35 miles east of Van Horn in Jeff Davis County, DPS said. Three other people were transported to Culberson Hospital and were treated for minor injuries, DPS added.

DPS said Chopane was driving east on I-10 when she veered off the road, onto the dirt shoulder and spun out, DPS said.

The vehicle came to rest on its roof. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, DPS said.

This crash remains under investigation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Firefighter injured while fighting house fire in OHara Township

UPDATE 8/25/24 8:05 a.m. - A spokesperson for the Allegheny County Department of Emergency Services said the person injured at the scene of a fire in OHara Township on Saturday was a firefighter.

The firefighter was injured while doing ground ladder operations.

They were treated at a local hospital for injuries to their leg.

The injured firefighter has since been released and is recovering at home.

One person was injured after a fire in OHara Township.

Allegheny County dispatchers say emergency crews were called to the 500 block of Colquitt Drive at 1:23 a.m. on Saturday.

One person was injured at the scene and taken to a hospital.

The fire was raised to a two-alarm response as firefighters battled the flame.

Channel 11 has reached out to the American Red Cross and the Allegheny County Fire Marshal for more information and is waiting to hear back.

The scene has been cleared at this time.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  El Paso Fire crews rescued a person out of the water along the Border Highway early Saturday morning, Aug. 24 in South-Central El Paso, the department said on social media.

The incident happened at about 4:30 a.m. at the Border Highway (Loop 375) and Fonseca. The rescued individual did not suffer any injuries, El Paso Fire said.

This location has been the site of numerous water rescue operations this year.

The scene was turned over to Border Patrol.

Early Friday morning, Aug. 23, Sunland Park Fire assisted Border Patrol with a search-and-rescue operation along the Rio Grande. Border Patrol had reported six to 10 individuals in the water, Sunland Park Fire said.

Sunland Park Fire water rescue personnel searched the river and six people managed to get out of the water on their own, the department said.

The others were not located, Sunland Park Fire said. The incident happened at about 3:50 a.m. on Friday. Sunland Park Fire did not say the exact location of the incident.

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1 seriously injured after shooting on Potomac Avenue

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A Buffalo man was seriously injured after a shooting that occurred early Friday night on Potomac Avenue, Buffalo police said.

Officials said just before 5 p.m. on the 300 block of Potomac Avenue, a 22-year-old man was struck by gunfire while inside a store.

The man was transported by ambulance to ECMC with injuries that appear serious in nature, authorities said.

Detectives said the shooting is targeted in nature.

Anyone with information is asked to call or text Buffalo polices confidential tip line at (716) 847-2255.

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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Close Encounter

Our modern, scientific search for extraterrestrial intelligence, or SETI, may trace its origins to an eccentric little experiment that took place almost exactly 100 years ago.

The man behind it was American astronomer David Todd, who in August of 1924 endeavored to listen to radio signals from the planet Mars.

As The New York Times explains, Martian mania was still in full swing back then, so the best  or at least most exciting  candidate for intelligent aliens was considered to be the Red Planet.

And that year presented a unique opportunity: Mars would be at opposition, meaning that for a brief window, it would be at its closest point to Earth, coming within a scant 34 million miles of our planet.

Team Effort

To take advantage of the planets aligning, Todd would need some help  as well as some peace and quiet.

He recruited an inventor named Charles Francis Jenkins, who helped develop the first televisions, to his cause. From a lab, Jenkins's job was to operate a radio that fed the data from any intercepted signals into an invention of his that would print out the radio waves on paper.

And now for the big ask: Todd wanted radio stations around the world to go quiet so his airborne antenna, perched on a dirigible, could clearly hear Martian signals, according to The Washington Post.

He fell short of his global ambitions. But somehow, he managed to convince the US navy to enforce intermittent periods of radio silence across the nation. All Todd asked for was for the airwaves to be clear for five minutes at the beginning of each hour for three days between August 21 and 24.

Good Listeners

And it paid off. As a spell of radio silence fell across the nation, Todd and Jenkins picked up an intriguing signal. Printed on paper, the radio waveforms resembled a "crudely drawn face," kicking up a media storm, according to the NYT, that had the public dreaming up visions of little green men as fanatically as they ever had in that era of Mars mythologizing.

Except that no one could say what the source of the signal actually was. "It's a freak which we can't explain," Jenkins said, per the NYT.

Was it Martian? Was it Martians? No one knew, and ultimately, Jenkins, fearful of looking like a kook, concluded it had "nothing to do with Mars." Mysterious as it was, the signal's ambiguity meant that it wasn't the clear-cut sign of an extraterrestrial presence they had hoped for.

The outcome may have been disappointing, but the experiment was arguably seminal, even if Todd and Jenkins didn't realize it. As the NYT notes, the field of radio astronomy hadn't even been realized yet, and wouldn't be for another decade. And here we are a century later, still searching the heavens for a sign of life.

More on SETI: Paper Proposes New Way to Calculate Number of Alien Civilizations
President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on Aug. 24 that 115 Ukrainian soldiers were brought back from Russian captivity.

Soldiers from the National Guard, army, navy, and State Border Guard Service were among those brought back. Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said that the POWs included Azovstal defenders, the soldiers who defended Ukraine's last stronghold in occupied Mariupol, and National Guardsmen stationed at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Other military personnel who defended Kyiv, Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kherson oblasts were also brought back.

"We remember everyone. We are searching for them and making every effort to bring them all back," Zelensky said.

Lubinets said that many of the POWs brought back in the latest swap have "serious health conditions."

Zelensky thanked his "team and partners, the UAE, for bringing our people back home."

Arab countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia have repeatedly taken up the role of mediators in prisoner exchanges between Ukraine and Russia. In a statement posted after the exchange, the UAE Foreign Ministry thanked both the Russian and Ukrainian governments for cooperating on the swap. The ministry said that 1,788 POWs from both sides have been exchanged with the help of mediation from the UAE.

It was the 55th such prisoner exchange, said Lubinets. In total, 3,520 Ukrainian POWs have been brought back home since the beginning of the full-scale war, he added.

Separately, the Russian Defense Ministry said that 115 Russian POWs who were captured during the ongoing Ukrainian offensive in Kursk Oblast were brought back from Ukrainian custody as part of the prisoner swap.

Read also: Ukrainian forces storm penal colony in Kursk Oblast where Ukrainian prisoners were held, human rights activists say

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DARKE COUNTY, Ohio (WDTN)  A teenager was killed in a dirt bike accident on Saturday.

Darke County Sheriffs Office reports deputies and medics were sent to the 9100 block of State Route 121 in reference to a single vehicle dirt bike crash.

ATV crash kills 1, seriously injures another

Upon arrival, authorities found a Kawasaki 250x dirt bike was traveling northbound in the side ditch running parallel to State Route 121 when it collided with a utility pole. The rider was ejected from the motorcycle.

As a result of injuries, the rider died at the scene. He has been identified as 14-year-old Wyatt Reese of Bradford.

Reese was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

The accident remains under investigation by the Darke County Sheriffs Office and the Coroners Office. Versailles Fire and Rescue assisted deputies on scene.

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14-year-old missing from Burlington under suspicious circumstances found safe, authorities say

BURLINGTON, N.C. (WGHP)  A 14-year-old subject of a missing endangered alert was found safe Saturday, according to the Burlington Police Department.

Authorities said the 14-year-old was located in good health.

On Saturday at 10:19 a.m., the NCCMP issued a missing endangered alert for her.

No arrests have been made. No further information is available at this time.

This is an ongoing 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 FOX8 WGHP.
A police officer stands at a cordon after several people were killed and injured in an attack at the city's 650th anniversary celebrations. Christoph Reichwein/dpa

The person arrested following the deadly stabbing in Solingen is a 15-year-old, according to the investigating authorities on Saturday.

The authorities are investigating whether the teenager is connected with the attack that left three dead late on Friday night.

The police are weighing whether to potentially charge the teenager with a failure to report planned crimes.

"According to witness statements, an unknown person allegedly spoke with the teenager shortly before the attack about intentions that would match the execution of the crime," said senior public prosecutor Markus Caspers.

The investigators said they do not yet know whether the person is the perpetrator.

The eyewitnesses to the conversation did not observe the crime itself. So far, police have not yet identified a perpetrator.

Police officers walk through the city center after several people were killed and injured in an attack at the city's 650th anniversary celebrations. Christoph Reichwein/dpa
This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available.

SANDY, Utah (ABC4)  A 16-year-old Jordan High School student died after a stabbing incident in Sandy on Friday night, according to officials with the school district.

Officials with the Sandy City Police Department said officers were dispatched to a fight in progress in a parking lot on South State Street. Police and fire officials arrived at the scene and confirmed that a juvenile had been stabbed.

READ NEXT: Canyons School District approves $50M purchase of eBay campus in Draper

Sandy police said the victim was taken to the hospital where he later died. A suspect  who police said was also a juvenile  was located and taken into custody.

There are several complexities with this investigation due to the ages of those involved and directly affected, police said in a press release Saturday. We, Sandy Police, are working closely with Canyons School District as the victim was a Jordan High School student.

Police said the case is active and ongoing, and more information will be released as it becomes available.

Resources for affected students

The day after the incident, Jordan High Schools campus was open for grief counseling and other resources for students. Jeff Haney, a public information officer with Canyons School District, told ABC4.com that the student was involved in an incident that police are investigating.

Haney said that, while the incident did not occur on the high schools campus, the death still affects the schools community. After the students death, Jordan High School sent out a letter to parents and guardians of students at the school to inform them of the death and offer some counseling options.

In the letter, the high school said it would be open on Saturday, Aug. 24, for students to meet with counselors, psychologists, and social workers.

Unexpected events like death can be difficult and, like adults, our students express emotions by grieving, the letter from the high school said.

The school urged parents and guardians to watch for signs of grief in their children, including changes in their normal behavior or an inability to sleep.

Students, parents, and guardians were reminded that the Canyons Family Center at Mount Jordan Middle School offers free services if students need additional help with processing grief. The center can be reached by phone at 801-826-8190.

The school also offered tips to help children overcome grief, including answering a childs questions honestly and letting them talk about their fears and feelings.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
18-year-old officially charged with 2 counts of murder in connection with Round Rock shooting

AUSTIN (KXAN)  An 18-year-old man has now been officially charged with two counts of murder and 13 counts of aggravated assault in connection with the shooting that happened during a Juneteenth celebration in Round Rock back in June, the Round Rock Police Department said in a news release.

Keshawn Dixon remains in custody in the Williamson County Jail and was previously charged with deadly conduct, a third-degree felony, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Mugshot of Keshawn Dixon (Round Rock PD photo)

The shooting, which happened at Old Settlers Park on June 15, resulted in two deaths and 14 injuries, according to the Round Rock Police Department. Police said the victims were innocent bystanders.

Ongoing dispute led to shooting at Round Rock Juneteenth event, court records say

Investigators believe the shooting happened as part of an ongoing feud between two rap groups, documents said.

Dixon was previously questioned by law enforcement prior to his arrest, according to the affidavit. While Dixon admitted to being at the Juneteenth celebration, he was vague as to his whereabouts during the shooting.

Dixon said he remembered shots going past his head when he was in the area of the shooting, court records state. Furthermore, he said he was at the celebration for only 10 to 12 minutes.

The case remained under investigation Friday, and police will provide updates as they become available.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Three inmates escaped from a Warren County correctional facility on Friday night.

Warren County law enforcement is still searching for one inmate after three individuals escaped from the Community Correctional Center on State Route 63 in Turtlecreek Township.

The Sheriffs Office reports 26-year-old Isaiah Youngblood, 28-year-old Terry Akers, and 45-

year-old Shaun Birgel escaped around 9 p.m. from a fenced-in area of the facility. They were seen on foot near State Route 63 and I-75 overnight.

Akers and Birgel were located and apprehended by Middletown Police before midnight, but the Youngblood was at large for most of Saturday.

Warren County authorities report Youngblood was found by Fairborn police on Saturday afternoon and arrested.

All three inmates have been booked into Warren County jail on escape charges.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
NEW LONDON, Wis. (WFRV)  The New London Police Department (NLPD) released a statement about a call that a 22-year-old Sheboygan man had fallen off a bridge into the Wolf River in the early hours of Saturday.

The call came in around 1 a.m. on Saturday, and the mans friends witnessed him fall off the bridge. According to the release, the friends went into the water but were unsuccessful in locating him.

Wisconsin man admits to downloading child porn after search warrant, held on $750k bail

Waupaca Countys Dive team and New Londons Fire Department were also present to search, with the latter using a drone to search. The Brown County Dive Team arrived on the scene with sonar equipment on Saturday morning.

The mans body was found shortly before 11 a.m. not far from where he fell in. The name of the man is being withheld so the police can contact his family.

No more information is available at this time.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  The Salt Lake City Police Department has arrested several people in connection to a shooting in downtown Salt Lake that injured two people last weekend.

Officers were on an unrelated call and were investigating a fight near 320 South State Street when they heard several gunshots just before 1 a.m. on Aug. 10, according to a press release from SLCPD. In the days following the shooting, police arrested three people connected to the case.

PREVIOUS STORY: Two shot in downtown Salt Lake City, one in critical condition

The shooting left two people injured, including a woman who was later treated by doctors and released on Aug. 10. A man was critically injured after the shooting, and SLCPD said he was still in the hospital as of Aug. 24 but was expected to survive.

However, officials did not release the name of the injured man because he was facing felony charges for an unrelated, out-of-state matter, according to police.

One man, 32, was arrested on Aug. 10 in Taylorsville and was booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail. Police said the man was suspected of being involved in the shooting but was booked on unrelated charges. SLCPD did not release his identity.

Raymond Gallegos, 22, was arrested by officers with SLCPDs Gang Unit on Aug. 21. He was booked on charges relating to unlawful possession of a dangerous weapon, as well as unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

Detectives have established probable cause indicating that Gallegos was in illegal possession of a firearm during the fight near 320 South State Street, police said in a press release.

Devin Bradley, 30, was arrested by officers from multiple agencies on Aug. 23 in Ogden. SLCPD said detectives executed a search warrant during the arrest and found weapons and drugs, along with other potential evidence related to the Aug. 10 shooting.

Anyone who has information  including photos or videos  related to the case has been asked to call 801-799-3000 and reference case number 24-182377. Alternatively, those with information can submit an anonymous tip via the CityProtect App.

Police determined that the incident was a gang-related shooting, and SLCPDs Gang Unit was leading the investigation. SLCPD said the investigation is ongoing, and no further information is available at this time.

Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
3 people have been arrested by the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office after illegal drugs and guns were seized on Friday afternoon.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

JSO said the Community Problem Response Unit and SWAT Team served a search warrant.

The warrant was served at an apartment near Southside Boulevard and Baymeadows Road.

On social media, JSO said it would be sharing more details soon.

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  Arrests have been made in a shooting that left a woman dead, a man injured and property damaged earlier this week in Birmingham.

Birmingham Police Chief Scott Thurmond announced that three suspects are charged in connection to the death of 21-year-old Asia Poole. The suspects are listed as follows:

Justin Hendrix, 20, of Birmingham is charged with murder and attempted murder. He will be held with no bond due to the murder charge.

Taylor McCloud, 22, of Fairfield is charged with murder and attempted murder. He will be held with no bond due to the murder charge.

JaNiyah Hendrix, 19, of Birmingham is charged with first-degree theft of property (auto theft). Her bond is set at $30,000.

According to Thurmond, investigators learned a fight broke out between Poole and JaNiyah Hendrix at the Monarch Ridge Apartments at around 10 p.m. Tuesday. The altercation led to shots being fired among multiple shooters, leaving Poole dead and a man injured.

Thurmond stated that JaNiyah Hendrix fled the scene in Pooles car. He also added that videos of the fight posted on social media as well as information from the Mountain Brook Police Department greatly helped in the investigation.

Birmingham city leaders alarmed by shooting that left young woman dead

CBS 42s Sidney Spencer spoke to residents at the apartment complex, who say that the past three days have been a nightmare.

Ariana Smith says seven bullet holes remain on her apartment walls. She and her son werent home at the time of the shooting but were still deeply impacted by Pooles death.

I feel like it was nothing but God who told me to go to the store three minutes before, Smith said.

Alisha Garrett, who was at Monarch Ridge as shots were fired, says she and her family are now traumatized.

We all got on the floor [when we heard the shots], Garrett said. Nobody has been able to rest. If we hear certain noises or open doors everybody gets scared. Its just been too much and were tired, were tired.

An estimated total of 168 shell casings were found at the scene. Nearby cars and apartment units were damaged by gunfire. BPD expected more suspects to be charged in the case. The male victim transported from the scene with injuries is not considered a suspect at this time.

Both Hendrix suspects were arrested by BPDs SWAT Team, while McCloud was arrested by a different agency. All suspects have been booked into the Jefferson County Jail. The motive for the fight and shooting are still unknown.

Anyone with information regarding the shooting is asked to contact the Birmingham Police Department at 205-254-1764 or CrimeStoppers at 205-254-7777.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42.
3 dead, at least 3 injured in multi-vehicle crash on I-35W in Denton County

Three women were killed Friday night in a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 35W in Denton County, officials said.

Denton County Emergency Services District No. 1 responded to a major collision involving several vehicles on I-35W northbound around 6:45 p.m., the agency posted on X.

6:46pm | Denton County Emergency Services District #1 personnel are currently responding to a major motor vehicle collision involving multiple vehicles on I-35W Northbound.



All Northbound traffic is shut down at Crawford Road.



Please avoid the area while first responders work. pic.twitter.com/XlsY9RSH7s  Denton County ESD #1 (@DentonCountyESD) August 24, 2024

Argyle Police Chief Emmitt Jackson told Star-Telegram media partner WFAA-TV that four people were transported to Medical City Denton and two to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas.

Three of the victims died at Medical City Denton shortly after the crash, according to the Tarrant County Medical Examiners website. They were identified as Odilia Orozco Gonzalez de Alvarez, 69, Elia Orozco, 65, and Gladis Orozco Gonzalez De Cifuentes, 63.

The northbound lanes of I-35W were closed to traffic for about five hours at Crawford Road and reopened around midnight.

More information about what caused the crash was not immediately available.

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DENVER (KDVR)  Colorado is performing its best Benjamin Franklin impersonation by chasing electricity. Less volatile than intentionally getting struck by lightning, Colorado plans to integrate the lively source of energy into public transit.

On Friday, the Colorado Department of Transportation alongside Gov. Jared Polis announced that $31.7 million has been awarded to local governments, nonprofits and service providers to help transition transit buses to electric vehicles.

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The Colorado Clean Transit Enterprise approved the use of $15 million to produce new electric vehicles and improve infrastructure to support the change. The Volkswagen Settlement Program will contribute $16.7 million to electric transit buses and charging infrastructure. The two contributors will supply Colorado with 28 new electric transit buses.

Coloradans are excited about the future of Electric Vehicles and Colorado continues to be a national leader in EV sales, Polis said. This support will help ensure that Colorados EV transition doesnt stop at personal vehicles but makes our buses and public transportation options cleaner too. Colorado continues to expand transportation options that get Coloradans where we need to go and reduce pollution.

Why this man hides cash around Colorado for you to find

CTE grants will go toward one facility project, one infrastructure project and nine vehicle projects. The VW grant will go toward three vehicle projects.

This is an exciting milestone for the State of Colorados commitment to high-quality transit that contributes twice-over to cleaner air for us all, CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew said. Not only do the transit services receiving these awards offer great service to local residents that gives them an option other than their cars, these funds will also invest in state-of-the-art vehicles and infrastructure that will make those transit trips the cleanest possible option.

CTE Facilities Award:

Via Mobility Services will construct bus canopies and install solar panels, battery storage and electrical equipment at the existing Via Mobility Services operations and fleet maintenance center in Boulder. This project will include:

Solar PV panels

Battery energy storage system (BESS)

Control system (hardware and software)

Electrical upgrades, including relaying, switching and grid interconnection equipment

This will also be the first fleet electrification plus microgrid project in Colorado, serving as a model for other public or private fleets to build upon.

CTE Infrastructure Award:

The town of Avon will purchase and install one charger with two charging ports at the Avon Regional Transportation Facility to charge battery electric buses.

CTE Vehicle Awards:

Laradon Hall Society for Exceptional Children and Adults will purchase two electric vans to replace existing rolling stock: awarded $238,484

Developmental Disabilities Resource Center (DDRC) will purchase two electric vans to replace existing rolling stock: awarded $150,000

Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) will replace 10 diesel buses with battery electric bus models: awarded $5,460,000

The town of Breckenridge will purchase 7 battery electric buses to replace existing rollingstock and chargers to support: awarded $2,943,112

The town of Winter Park will purchase 2 battery electric buses to replace existing rolling stock: awarded $966,420

The town of Telluride will purchase 1 electric cutaway shuttle bus to replace existing rolling stock: awarded $164,507

The town of Avon will purchase 2 battery electric buses to replace existing rolling stock: awarded $1,714,706

The city of Fort Collins will purchase 1 battery electric bus to replace existing rolling stock: awarded $882,945

The city of Boulder will purchase 1 battery electric bus to replace existing rolling stock and expand its existing service fleet: awarded $595,826

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VW Settlement Program Awards:

The town of Breckenridge was awarded $1,518,660 to complete their project to purchase 7 battery electric buses to replace existing rolling stock and chargers

Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) was awarded $10,080,000 to complete their project to replace 10 diesel buses with battery electric bus models and purchase and install five dual depot chargers (10 total plugs) to charge new buses

The town of Winter Park was awarded $1,518,660 to complete their project to purchase 2 battery electric buses to replace existing rolling stock

CDOT transit and rail staff will be administering the VW Settlement Program funds and recommended funding to the three local governments. The funding will fully cover the communities transit plans.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
JACK COUNTY (KFDX/KJTL)  A man is in custody after authorities in Jack County said he shot and killed a 68-year-old man in Bryson.

LOCAL CRIME: Disgraced former WCSO deputy headed to prison

Sebie Fuller, 34, of Bryson, was booked into the Jack County Jail on Saturday morning, August 24, 2024, and charged with murder. His bond is set at $1 million.

According to a press release posted on the Jack County Sheriffs Office Facebook page on Saturday morning, deputies were dispatched to a residence in the 300 block of North East Street in Bryson at around 10:30 p.m. on Friday, August 23, 2024, for a report of a possible shooting.

Authorities said when deputies arrived, they found a 68-year-old man who lived at the residence dead from a gunshot wound to the chest.

LOCAL CRIME: Teen suspect in Smith Street murder has bond reduced

The press release said the investigation revealed that Fuller also lived in the residence and that he shot the man following an argument.

According to the release, Fuller was taken into custody at the scene.

Further details, including the identity of the deceased, have not been released as of the publication of this story.

This is a developing story. Stick with Texomas Homepage for updates as more information becomes available. All individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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WARREN, Ohio (WKBN)  Warrens third and fourth wards will soon have a new project open to improve their homes.

City council members Greg Greathouse and James Shaffer and 7/17 Credit Union will have a $7-million revolving loan.

Greathouse and Shaffer used remaining ARP funds to secure the loan. It will provide funding to residents hoping to improve the beauty of the outside of their homes.

The project and contract need signed into legislation, which could happen in mid-September.

Greathouse says the project and loan is well thought out.

Its more accessible. Itll be a dedicated team to handle it. They know what theyre doing. They will vet the contractors to make sure youre not being ripped off. In the end, no one gets any money until the work is done, Greathouse said.

Once the project is approved at the next city council meeting and contracts are signed, residents can apply for the loans.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
Mayor Nancy Depreo and the Diamondhead City Council are at odds over recent conduct by the mayor and her son, which council members said this week was not a representation of our city, the city administration, or the City Council.

This is not something we can ignore, Council member Anna Liese said at a Tuesday night meeting.

Council members were reacting to video taken by police who responded July 26 to a complaint in the City Hall parking lot. Depreo told police that she asked her son to take photos of cars parked outside the citys activity center so she could determine if the cars were allowed to be there, according to video and a police report.

A citizen inside the activity center notified police, according the report. Depreo remained in her car as her son told officers he was concerned that the city clerk was letting people use the activity center for free, according to the video. He alleged corruption in City Hall and argued with several citizens, the video shows.

The council on Tuesday voted unanimously to disavow that conduct. Council members said there was no evidence of misconduct by the city clerk and that citizens using the center that day did so lawfully.

Mayor and City Council at odds

The vote reflected growing tension between the City Council and the mayor. Depreo was not present at Tuesdays meeting and said she was unavailable for an interview this week. In a statement, she did not directly address the July 26 incident but said she was exhausted from the continuous motions that are added to the agenda that personally attack me from two elected officials that have political aspirations.

My suggestion to all elected officials is to get out and work for the residents that elected them to serve, she said. Hard work is the path to victory, not trying to destroy your opposition.

Council member John Cumberland, who filed the motion, said it was intended only to protect city employees and be transparent with the public. Liese, who has said she will challenge Depreo in next years election, called the situation unfortunate.

We found ourselves in a position where the council had to act to try to help minimize liability for the city due to the regrettable actions of one of our own, and we did so unanimously, she said. Any suggestion that last meetings motion had anything at all to do with the election is an attempt to deflect attention from the issue at hand.

The Council also read into the record a cease and desist letter filed by an attorney for City Clerk Jeannie Klein. The letter alleges Depreo and her son have used social media and public communications to intimidate and harass city employees, including Jeannie.

There is no evidence of corruption by Jeannie Klein or any other employee of the city of Diamondhead, the letter says. Instead, this is another chapter in the ongoing toxic work environment created by Mayor Depreo in her (and her sons) delusional theory that City Hall is corrupt.

Conflict affects Diamondhead

Council members and an attorney representing Klein said the tension could harm the city.

When I was campaigning I expected I would be working to solve drainage problems, Cumberland said, and be the voice of my constituents.

I did not expect to have to be the HR department.

Depreo, who was elected Mayor during a special election in 2020, said in a July Facebook post that she had not decided whether to seek re-election. In her statement on Friday, she highlighted her achievements as the citys first female mayor and first female city council member and said she was proud of her legacy.

I grew up working in a mans world and clearly understand the meaning when someone says, the good olboy system, she said. I will not lower my standards to waddle and draw negative attention to the city that I love so much.

Council members said they do not want to harm the city but believe the public deserves to understand the tension. Others called it unprecedented in Diamondhead.

Diamondhead has always had some level of political tension, said Michael Casano, the attorney who wrote the cease and desist letter. But nothing to this level.
ADEM partners with Arkansas Association of the Deaf to provide emergency response training to the deaf community

ADEM partners with Arkansas Association of the Deaf to provide emergency response training to the deaf community

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management is partnering with the Arkansas Association of the Deaf to bring disaster emergency training to the deaf community.

The event was held at the Arkansas School of Deaf and through hands-on training exercises, the community was able to learn how to respond to disaster situations.

Arkansas School for the Deaf valedictorian shares success after being deemed ineligible for education in China

Through an interpreter, Jeff Prail from the Arkansas Association of the Deaf said the training was spurred on because of the Mar. 31 tornado that ripped through Little Rock last year.

Do we stay in shelter? Do we come out? We did not know at the time, Prail said.

With no electricity or proper ways to be alerted, the deaf community was left in the dark. After Prail reached out to Gary Ragen at the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, he said they began brainstorming ways to avoid this lack of communication in future disasters.

It feels really good to be able to work with a group of people that have asked for this help and its going to help them be better prepared for disasters, Ragen said.

Meeting held to discuss plans for new facilities coming to Arkansas Schools for the Blind & Visually Impaired, Deaf

With the help of other community organizations, this group earned their certificates in stop-the-bleed training and completed the Community Emergency Response Team course.

Gary understood what our needs were and was willing to do the hard work so its teamwork, bottom line, Prail said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
Adventurer, lover of arts and people: Family and friends remember Wichita man killed in hit and run

Newly dating couple Mindy Ward and Thomas Tad Doyle spent a week in Eureka Springs in August, with Doyle often pulling over so the two could step out to admire the architecture.

Some stops he had planned after finding the homes on Zillow; others just caught his eye.

Then, they came back home to Wichita.

Doyle, an entrepreneur who owns multiple businesses, caught up on work for a couple days and then jetted to Eminence, Missouri, to float the Jacks Fork River with a childhood friend and her family. At times, the floating party stopped so Doyle and others could climb up a rock wall and then jump back into the river.

At one point, Doyles childhood friend Melissa Steiner and her husband, K.C. Steiner, lost track of Doyle and their daughter, Emma. They canoed back up the river and found Doyle holding both of their rafts and helping her traverse back to deeper water after she got stuck.

It was just  Tad being Tad, Melissa Steiner said.

The 43-year-old was killed when a driver hit him as he turned into his driveway on an electric bicycle early Sunday morning. Ward was in the driveway waiting for him when it happened.

He is survived by his parents, daughters, three sisters and a brother, step-siblings and nieces and nephews, according to his obituary. A celebration of life is planned for Tuesday.

The driver didnt stop. But the 23-year-old turned himself in Thursday night, police said.

Friends and family remembered Doyle as adventurous, someone who always gave big hugs and would start voicemails by saying I love you before getting to the point of the call, patron of arts and a longtime soccer player who then coached all three of his daughters.

He coached Steiners youngest daughter, Cassie, when he also coached his youngest daughter, Marlie, and his niece, Ariana Fox.

Thomas Doyle coached soccer for all three of his daughters. Included in this 2015 photo is his daughter Marlie (sitting in his lap wearing green), niece Ariana Fox (also in his lap) and Cassie Steiner (back left), the daughter of Doyles childhood friend.

He was so patient and so good with the girls, Steiner said, adding he was always laughing and smiling. He just loved the sport and loved the kids.

In one huddle break in 2014, the girls and Doyle pulled away their hands as the girls yelled Vipers.

That was terrible, he said. Get back in here ... loud as you can, I want to hear it. Act like youre yelling at your brother or sister.

He counted to three again. This time, the girls yelled Vipers much louder.

Doyle also helped lead South High to the state tournament before graduating in 1999 and then went on to play at Friends University, family and friends said.

Steiner and Doyle grew up near each other close to Osage Park.

She laughed recalling Doyle cramming in the trunk of her brown Chevrolet Chevette, nicknamed the brown bomber, when she had a full car with her girlfriends.

Doyles height, which varies depending on the person you ask, but consensus is under 5-foot-5, made him suitable for the occasion when it did happen.

He was very popular, friends with everybody, she said. He just had a little bit of swagger about him. He (had) a really good vibe. I think thats what people found in him.

The love he had for his friends extended to their friends too, including Steiners husband.

If you love somebody, Tad loves them, she said. So it was just a natural friendship:

Tad is a childhood name, given after his initials.

Dirt bike gang (DBG)

Some members of a dirt bike gang pose for a photo. Thomas Doyle (right) died in a hit and run wreck on Aug. 18 in Wichita.

K.C. Steiner would often join Doyle jumping off the rocks or the Shell Knob bridge on one of their trips to Table Rock Lake.

They were also part of a group that called themselves the dirt bike gang, which started in 2008 and did annual trips to states including Arkansas and New Mexico. They would ride trails during the day and sit and talk by the bonfire at night.

When I met Tad I felt like it was one of my buddies that I grew up with, said Jason King, a member of DBG who met Doyle in 2009. I felt like I had known him my whole life.

Doyle also rode around on two wheels with good childhood friend Shea West, who helped launch Tribal Roots, a massive warehouse on Washington near Kellogg that showcases local artwork. There, Doyle deepened his love for the arts and found his favorite local Wichita artist, Michella Tripoli.

He had his home decorated with artwork.

He had style, King said. He found beauty in everything and enjoyed the art in it.

All Kings voicemails from Doyle start with him saying I love you before getting to the message.

He didnt give bro hugs with his hips out, he said. He pulled you in and made you feel hugged.

Love for the arts

Doyle also had a longtime liking for anything by architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

He and his older sister, Dawn Doyle-Phillips, spent hours at the Wright-designed Hollyhock House in Los Angeles when he went to visit her in January 2020. They actually missed the cutoff the first day, but woke up early the next and made the two-hour round trip.

Thomas Doyle smiles as he poses for a photo in the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Hollyhock House in Los Angeles.

One photo shows him walking down a sidewalk with a huge grin on his face after they got the tickets to go in.

Thomas Doyle and his sister, Dawn Doyle-Phillips, pose for a photo when he visited her in California.

Doyle-Phillips moved her family back to Wichita later that year to be closer to family. As they pulled up to their new home at 3 a.m. on Oct. 30, the day before their favorite holiday, they found Doyle had filled the porch with pumpkins and had at least one lit up.

He later offloaded the truck and filled their empty home.

Hes selfless, Doyle-Phillips said.

The two had plans to visit a Wright-designed home in Texas.

She said family was important to him and his daughters meant the world to him. Doyle-Phillips said he was like a father figure to her daughter and his other nieces.

He was just a goofball, said Olivia Phillips, Doyles niece. He always called me buddy or small fry because Im 5-(foot)-9 and he is very short.  He was just a really good friend.

Doyles business ventures include owning vitamin and supplement stores, being an owner of an appliance business store and doing some real estate development, friends and family said. Those businesses helped allow him to do the things he liked to do, such as travel with family and friends.

Traveling adventures

Doyle and his youngest daughter, Marlie, did a road trip in RVs in March 2021 with the Steiners. They went to Canyonlands national park and Arches National Park, both in Utah, and the Grand Canyon and Rocky Mountain National Park.

One photo shows Doyle and his daughter smiling while they sat, him with his arm around her, as they posed in one of the arches at Arches National Park. Its been his cover photo on Facebook since the trip.

Thomas Doyle and his youngest daughter, Marlie, pose for a photo in March 2021 at Arches National Park in Utah.

Melissa Steiner takes a selfie of their group during a March 2021 trip to the Grand Canyon. In the photo, Thomas Doyle leans back as his daughter, Marlie, puts her hand on his shoulder.

Doyle also went with the Steiners to Las Vegas in November 2023 to the SEMA automotive show. Doyle bought the whole group silly sunglasses.

From left: Katie Partida, Michael Poland, Thomas Doyle, Caleb Poland, Melissa Steiner and K.C. Steiner. The group posed for a photo in Las Vegas in November 2023 wearing silly sunglasses Doyle bought.

Even inside we were wearing our (sunglasses), Melissa Steiner said. He just liked to stand out. He just had a little bit of swagger about him.

Steiner said she plans to wear the glasses he got her at the funeral. Others will also wear silly glasses, either ones Doyle bought them or others they bring. Some friends plan to buy extra for attendees as well.

I think there will be people outside, its gonna be packed, she said.

Final words

Mindy Ward and Doyle had known each other for years but just started dating the last couple of months. The Eureka Springs trip created some memories she will never forget, including standing in the Thorncrown Chapel  a destination stop to see the building taller than it is wide, with 425 windows and wooden trusses that form X-like shapes throughout the chapel. The chapel is surrounded by forest.

He was just in awe of it, Ward said.

The design is called Prairie School style of architecture, which was popularized by Wright. The designer of the chapel, E. Fay Jones, had studied under Wright.

On Aug. 17, the two joined friends for a pool party. A video shared online showed Doyle hugging someone tight while he had his hand on the back of their head and said something into their ear.

If Tad loved you ~ you KNEW it, a person who shared the video wrote. This hug was the first of many on this Saturday night/Sunday morning. He just kept on hugging us all ~ so tight  all night. Almost like his soul knew it would be the last time. I find small comfort in the fact that he had just had the BEST time, surrounded by people who loved him fiercely. Surrounded by laughter and joy. Surrounded by music and dance. A true celebration of life & love.

Before they left, Doyle put his forehead against Wards, held her face and said, I love you so, so much.

She said the same thing back.

Then he said how ridiculous they were for saying that and they both laughed.

We were so new, she said.

Doyle rode his electric bicycle home. She drove her vehicle and was already there waiting in his home in the 2400 block of North Hoover when he pulled in.

It was 2:09 a.m. on Aug. 18.

She heard him get hit and ran out to him. He was unresponsive.

I held him and I told him that he was so loved and that I loved him and that people were on their way to help him, she said, crying.
Advice on how to shake off those first-day-of-school jitters

Erie County students return to the classroom on Monday, Aug. 26 for the new school year and that return may bring feelings of anxiety.

A licensed professional counselor said stress is a universal experience but overcoming those feelings is possible.

A lot of stress management is what we think of top-down approaches. If I talk about my emotions, Ill feel better  that works for a lot of things, said Kevin Berceli, licensed professional counselor at Stairways Behavioral Health

Elizabeth Sanders, a therapist at UPMC Western Behavioral Health at Safe Harbor, said parents can also provide comfort at home to make the first day of school seamless for students.

Move-in season kicks off for students at local colleges

Preparation  a week or two maybe before school starts, starting to help kids prepare for the upcoming transition by getting back into the groove of the school year. Some things you can do around that might be establishing that wake-up and bedtime routine or helping them pick out clothes for the next day, said Sanders.

Sanders said there is also a method that can boost academic performance.

Make connections with familiar peers before they start the school year. Starting school knowing a familiar face can be helpful, said Sanders.

Berceli also offered advice for teachers on how to make the first day of school seamless for their students.

EC3 welcomes public for tour of new facility

If we understand that its a we approach  I do, we do, you do  its something we can navigate together and make everyones day a little bit easier, said Berceli.

And should anxiety arise in the classroom, Sanders had advice on how students can tackle those feelings head-on.

Breathing techniques can be very helpful. Tapping can also be very helpful to get kids sort of recentered and distracted from whatever they may be feeling. Again, talking to the counselor at school or maybe just a favorite teacher to just remind them that everything is going to be okay, Sanders said.

Sanders went on to say that the first day of school jitters tend to diminish after a couple of weeks but do not hesitate to reach out for professional help if it is needed to comfort your child.

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SAN DIEGO (Border Report)  Migrants from Africa and their advocates in Tijuana have alleged non-stop incidents of police brutality, racism and theft.

The level of violence and police brutality is something that never ends, we need to have programs to end this type of aggression against migrants, said Psyche Calderon Vargas, medical coordinator for the Refugee Health Alliance in Baja California.

She says African migrants are constantly stopped by police officers who then steal their backpacks and other belongings, adding that officers also destroy the migrants legal and immigration documents while taking what little money they have.

Cartels squeeze small businesses, sidewalk vendors in Tijuana

If you want to take the money thats one thing, but why do they feel like they have to destroy everything, its just prejudicial corruption  if they cant come up with a certain amount of money theyre beaten and tossed in jail for three days.

Calderon Vargas stated that officers and members of Mexicos National Guard are constantly driving by shelters looking for migrants, and that often, those who have been victims before, flee out of fear.

Right now the Municipal Police has taken a liking to us, she said. Every day they come around, sometimes three times a day, migrants literally scurry and leave their plates on the table, it generates so much fear in everyone.

Calderon Vargas said recently, one of the migrants had to be hospitalized for a severe blow to the head sustained when two police officers beat him repeatedly.

Women in Tijuana being murdered at record pace

He already had a speech problem, but it got worse over the course of three days due to a bruised brain, she said. Now he requires special care from a neurologist, he doesnt have the money for that and neither does the shelter.

Calderon Vargas, migrants of color, primarily from Africa, are victimized by police more than others.

Visit the BorderReport.com homepage for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border

Border Report reached out to Municipal Police about these allegations, but the officer who answered the phone call said it was an internal affairs matter, and that someone from that department would get back to us.

So far, no one has called back.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
he rapid advancement of artificial intelligence technology has made it easier to create believable but totally fake videos and images and spread misinformation about elections, experts say. (Tero Vesalainen/Getty Images)

In June, amid a bitterly contested Republican gubernatorial primary race, a short video began circulating on social media showing Utah Gov. Spencer Cox purportedly admitting to fraudulent collection of ballot signatures.

The governor, however, never said any such thing and courts have upheld his election victory.

The false video was part of a growing wave of election-related content created by artificial intelligence. At least some of that content, experts say, is false, misleading or simply designed to provoke viewers.

AI-created likenesses, often called deepfakes, have increasingly become a point of concern for those battling misinformation during election seasons. Creating deepfakes used to take a team of skilled technologists with time and money, but recent advances and accessibility in AI technology have meant that nearly anyone can create convincing fake content.

Now we can supercharge the speed and the frequency and the persuasiveness of existing misinformation and disinformation narratives, Tim Harper, senior policy analyst for democracy and elections at the Center for Democracy and Technology, said.

AI has advanced remarkably since just the last presidential election in 2020, Harper said, noting that OpenAIs release of ChatGPT in November 2022 brought accessible AI to the masses.

About half of the worlds population lives in countries that are holding elections this year. And the question isnt really if AI will play a role in misinformation, Harper said, but rather how much of a role it will play.

How can AI be used to spread misinformation?

Though it is often intentional, misinformation caused by artificial intelligence can sometimes be accidental, due to flaws or blindspots baked into a tools algorithm. AI chatbots search for information in the databases they have access to, so if that information is wrong, or outdated, it can easily produce wrong answers.

OpenAI said in May that it would be working to provide more transparency about its AI tools during this election year, and the company endorsed the bipartisan Protect Elections from Deceptive AI Act, which is pending in Congress.

We want to make sure that our AI systems are built, deployed, and used safely, the company said in the May announcement. Like any new technology, these tools come with benefits and challenges. They are also unprecedented, and we will keep evolving our approach as we learn more about how our tools are used.

Poorly regulated AI systems can lead to misinformation. Elon Musk was recently called upon by several secretaries of state after his AI search assistant Grok, built for social media platform X, falsely told users Vice President Kamala Harris was ineligible to appear on the presidential ballot in nine states because the ballot deadline had passed. The information stayed on the platform, and was seen by millions, for more than a week before it was corrected.

As tens of millions of voters in the U.S. seek basic information about voting in this major election year, X has the responsibility to ensure all voters using your platform have access to guidance that reflects true and accurate information about their constitutional right to vote, reads the letter signed by the secretaries of state of Washington, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and New Mexico.

Generative AI impersonations also pose a new risk to the spread of misinformation. In addition to the fake video of Cox in Utah, a deepfake video of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis falsely showed him dropping out of the 2024 presidential race.

Some misinformation campaigns happen on huge scales like these, but many others are more localized, targeted campaigns. For instance, bad actors may imitate the online presence of a neighborhood political organizer, or send AI-generated text messages to listservs in certain cities. Language minority communities have been harder to reach in the past, Harper said, but generative AI has made it easier to translate messages or target specific groups.

While most adults are aware that AI will play a role in the election, some hyperlocal, personalized campaigns may fly under the radar, Harper says.

For example, someone could use data about local polling places and public phone numbers to create messages specific to you. They may send a text the night before election day saying that your polling location has changed from one spot to another, and because they have your original polling place correct, it doesnt seem like a red flag.

If that message comes to you on WhatsApp or on your phone, it could be much more persuasive than if that message was in a political ad on a social media platform, Harper said. People are less familiar with the idea of getting targeted disinformation directly sent to them.

Verifying digital identities

The deepfake video of Cox helped spur a partnership between a public university and a new tech platform with the goal of combating deepfakes in Utah elections.

From July 2024, through Inauguration Day in January 2025, students and researchers at the Gary R. Herbert Institute for Public Policy and the Center for National Security Studies at Utah Valley University will work with SureMark Digital. Together, theyll verify digital identities of politicians to study the impact AI-generated content has on elections.

Through the pilot program, candidates seeking one of Utahs four congressional seats and the open senate seat will be able to authenticate their digital identities at no cost through SureMarks platform, with the goal of increasing trust in Utahs elections.

Brandon Amacher, director of the Emerging Tech Policy Lab at UVU, said he sees AI playing a similar role in this election as the emergence of social media did in the 2008 election  influential but not yet overwhelming.

I think what were seeing right now is the beginning of a trend which could get significantly more impactful in future elections, Amacher said.

In the first month of the pilot, Amacher said, the group has already seen how effective these simulated video messages can be, especially in short-form media like TikTok and Instagram Reels. A shorter video is easier to fake, and if someone is scrolling these platforms for an hour, a short clip of misinformation likely wont get very much scrutiny, but it could still influence your opinion about a topic or a person.

SureMark Chairman Scott Stornetta explained that the verification platform, which rolled out in the last month, allows a user to acquire a credential. Once thats approved, the platform goes through an authorization process of all of your published content using cryptographic techniques that bind the identity of a person to the content that features them. A browser extension then identifies to users if content was published by you or an unauthorized actor.

The platform was created with public figures in mind, especially politicians and journalists who are vulnerable to having their images replicated. Anyone can download the SureMark browser extension to see accredited content across different media platforms, not just those that get accredited. Stornetta likened the technology to an X-ray.

If someone sees a video or an image or listens to a podcast on a regular browser, they wont know the difference between a real and a fake, he said. But if someone that has this X-ray vision sees the same documents in their browser, they can click on a button and basically find out whether its a green check or red X.

The pilot program is currently working to credential the states politicians, so it will be a few months before they start to glean results, but Justin Jones, the executive director of the Herbert Institute, said that every campaign theyve connected with has been enthusiastic to try the technology.

All of them have said were concerned about this and we want to know more, Jones said.

Whats the motivation behind misinformation?

Lots of different groups with varying motivations can be behind misinformation campaigns, Michael Kaiser, CEO of Defending Digital Campaigns, told States Newsroom.

There is sometimes misinformation directed at specific candidates, like in the case of Governors Cox and DeSantis deepfake videos. Campaigns around geopolitical events, like wars, are also common to sway public opinion.

Russias influence on the 2016 and 2020 elections is well-documented, and efforts will likely continue in 2024, with a goal of undermining U,S, support of Ukraine, a Microsoft study recently reported.

Theres sometimes a monetary motivation to misinformation, Amacher said, as provocative, viral content can turn into payouts on platforms that pay users for views.

Kaiser, whose work focuses on providing cybersecurity tools to campaigns, said that while interference in elections is sometimes the goal, more commonly, these people are trying to cause a general sense of chaos and apathy toward the elections process.

Theyre trying to divide us at another level, he said. For some bad actors, the misinformation and disinformation is not about how you vote. Its just that were divided.

Its why much of the AI-generated content is inflammatory or plays on your emotions, Kaiser said.

Theyre trying to make you apathetic, trying to make you angry, so maybe youre like, I cant believe this, Im going to share it with my friends, he said. So you become the platform for misinformation and disinformation.

Strategies for stopping the spread of misinformation

Understanding that emotional response and eagerness to share or engage with the content is a key tool to slowing the spread of misinformation. If youre in that moment, theres a few things you can do, the experts said.

First, try to find out if an image or sound bite youre viewing has been reported elsewhere. You can use reverse image search on Google to see if that image is found on reputable sites, or if its only being shared by social media accounts that appear to be bots. Websites that fact check manufactured or altered images may point you to where the information originated, Kaiser said.

If youre receiving messages about election day or voting, double check the information online through your states voting resources, he added.

Adding two-factor authentication on social media profiles and email accounts can help ward off phishing attacks and hacking, which can be used to spread misinformation, Harper said.

If you get a phone call you suspect may be AI-generated, or is using someones voice likeness, its good to confirm that persons identity by asking about the last time you spoke.

Harper also said that theres a few giveaways to look out for with AI-generated images, like an extra finger or distorted ear or hairline. AI has a hard time rendering some of those finer details, Harper said.

Another visual clue, Amacher said, is that deepfake videos often feature a blank background, because busy surroundings are harder to simulate.

And finally, the closer we are to the election, the likelier you are to see misinformation, Kaiser said. Bad actors use proximity to the election to their advantage  the closer you are to election day, the less time your misinformation has to be debunked.

Technologists themselves can take some of the onus of misinformation in the way they build AI, Harper said. He recently published a summary of recommendations for AI developers with suggestions for best practices.

The recommendations included refraining from releasing text-to-speech tools that allow users to replicate the voices of real people, refraining from the generation of realistic images and videos of political figures and prohibiting the use of generative AI tools for political ads.

Harper suggests that AI tools disclose how often a chatbots training data is updated relating to election information, develop machine-readable watermarks for content and promote authoritative sources of election information.

Some tech companies already voluntarily follow many of these transparency best practices, but much of the country is following a patchwork of laws that havent developed at the speed of the technology itself.

A bill prohibiting the use of deceptive AI-generated audio or visual media of a federal candidate was introduced in congress last year, but it has not been enacted. Laws focusing on AI in elections have been passed on a state level in the last two years, though, and primarily either ban messaging and images created by AI or at least require specific disclaimers about the use of AI in campaign materials.

But for now, these young tech companies that want to do their part in stopping or slowing the spread of misinformation can seek some direction from the CDT report or pilot programs like UVUs.

We wanted to take a stab at creating a kind of a comprehensive election integrity program for these companies, Harper said. understanding that unlike the kind of legacy social media companies, theyre very new and quite young and have no time or kind of the regulatory scrutiny required to have created strong election integrity policies in a more systematic way.

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SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  Goodfellow Air Force Base is gearing up to host Air Force Career Day on Wednesday, Aug. 28.

According to a press release, this is an opportunity for any potential recruits up to the age of 42 to see what life can be like as a member of the Air Force. This will allow two dozen potential recruits from our community to also meet Air Force members representing a variety of different careers within the Air Force.

There is a bus tour planned to stop by the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire

Academy, Security Forces Military Working Dog Kennel and Public Affairs.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com.
An Alabama man who was charged with detonating an explosive device outside the state attorney generals office pleaded guilty on Friday.

Kyle Benjamin Douglas Calvert, 26, of Irondale, Ala., pleaded guilty in federal court to the malicious use of an explosive, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said in a release.

This defendant built a bomb using nails and screws as shrapnel and detonated it outside the Alabama Attorney Generals Office, endangering a public institution and members of the community, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. Public servants should never be targeted for doing their jobs.

Calvert detonated the explosive device in the early morning hours of Feb. 24 outside Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshalls office in downtown Montgomery, Ala. No one was injured when it detonated and law enforcement did not find it until Feb. 26.

Law enforcement was notified of a suspicious package near the office and determined it was an explosive. The incident came about a week after the Alabama Supreme Court issued its controversial ruling stating that frozen embryos should be considered children, halting in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment in the state for some time.

Before planting the device, Calvert placed stickers on various state buildings that had different graphics on them advocating for various political ideologies, including Support your local antifa, the DOJ said.

Calvert said he has no affiliation with antifa. He was arrested on April 10, the department said.

FBI Director Christopher Wray said Calvert pleaded guilty to the crime, adding that violence and destruction of property will never be tolerated.

A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date but Calvert faces a minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of 20 years, the DOJ said.

The Hill has reached out to Marshalls office for comment.

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ALAMOGORDO, N.M. (KRQE)  The Alamogordo Police Department is asking business owners and residents to look at their surveillance video from August 15. Details are limited but they said they are looking for a male who may have been walking eastbound in the area between 5th and 10th Street and North Florida Ave. to Washington Ave between 7 a.m. and 12 p.m.

Corrales riders ask for trail etiquette after incident injures one

Police are investigating a homicide that happened that day. Anyone with information is asked to call 575-439-4300 or send an email to alamogordopd@ci.alamogordo.nm.us.

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Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people gather in Juneau for the opening of Celebration on June 5, 2024. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people gather in Juneau for the opening of Celebration on June 5, 2024. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)

The state of Alaska is continuing its effort to oppose Alaska Native tribes effort to protect traditional lands via federal trust.

On Friday, the Alaska Department of Law filed a notice stating that it intends to ask the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to review an Alaska U.S. District Court decision that upended decades of precedent by stating that under certain circumstances, the federal government has the power to take land into trust on behalf of tribes.

The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 extinguished most Indian country in Alaska, but Judge Sharon Gleason, ruling in favor of tribes and the federal government, determined that the law didnt preclude the federal government from creating new trust land.

The state of Alaska disagrees with that ruling, Attorney General Treg Taylor said on Friday.

ANCSA eliminated the reservation system in Alaska and left no authority for the federal agency to recreate that system on its own more than 50 years later, he said in a written statement shortly after the appeal was filed. The State is not going to wait for the federal agency to think of new ways to change how Alaska works. We filed this litigation so the courts can resolve this issue for good. To get such finality, we need the appellate courts to weigh in.

Most Alaska Native land in Alaska is owned by Native corporations, which fall under state and federal law. Alaska Native tribes, which are sovereign governments and can exert authority over Indian country, have relatively little land under their control.

The case at issue is a 787-square-foot parcel of land in Juneau that is owned by the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska.

After the Interior Department published a legal memo stating that it believes it has the power to place land into trust, Tlingit and Haida sought to use the federal process  common in the Lower 48  to put the land under its governmental control, but the state sued, saying the federal government was incorrectly interpreting existing law.

In June, Gleason ruled that the process used in Tlingit and Haidas case was flawed, but critically, she also ruled that there are legal ways for tribes to place land into trust here.

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Shoppers at the Albertsons grocery store at 16th and State streets in downtown Boise. The supermarket was built on the site of founder Joe Albertsons original 1939 store.

Federal regulators accused Albertsons executives of deleting text messages relevant to a lawsuit challenging the Boise companys merger with Kroger, according to a filing in a federal court in Portland.

But a judge on Friday rejected the Federal Trade Commissions request for a ruling that would have let the judge draw an adverse inference from absent or withheld evidence. Such an inference would have been a strike against Albertsons in a lawsuit the FTC filed to block the merger.

The FTC said that four executives, who are all witnesses testifying in the case, deleted the text messages well after its investigation began and after receiving a preservation hold and numerous reminders. The four executives include: CEO Vivek Sankaran, Pacific Northwest Division President Carl Huntington, Colorado Division President Todd Broderick and Vice President of Customer and Market Intelligence Lisa Kinney.

The FTC said that while it will never know the full extent of the lost communications, their deletion obscures internal views about the effects of the proposed merger.

Cincinnati-based Kroger, which operates the Fred Meyer chain in the Northwest, announced its plan to acquire Albertsons in October 2022. The companies say they need to merge to boost their buying power and compete more effectively in the changing grocery industry. Their competitors include two other retail giants: Walmart and Amazon.

But they face stiff opposition. The FTC sued to block the merger. So have attorneys general from several states.

At least one thread  although stripped of its full context  still reveals one Albertsons executives assessment that the merger will likely increase prices, the filing said.

The FTC first noticed the omitted text messages in October 2023. It said a string of texts involving Broderick were missing one side of the conversation. In November, Albertsons said that it may have been because of settings on the iPhone that automatically delete files after a period of time.

In January, the FTC requested a detailed accounting from Albertsons as to how the text messages were lost and what efforts had been taken to recover them. Albertsons did not respond for nearly four months, according to the filing. Only some text messages were recovered. The company continued to produce dribs and drabs of previously unseen text messages, the FTC said.

The filing noted that the issue isnt limited to the four executives, though those four exhibited a pervasive practice of deleting business-related text messages, the filing said.

It mentioned that the company initially brought forth only nine texts from Chief Operating Officer Susan Morris. But later, after repeated inquiries and after Morris was deposed, Albertsons suddenly found 900 new messages involving her.

The FTC filed a motion asking the court to draw an adverse inference about the content of the missing texts. An adverse inference is a negative conclusion drawn by a court based on the absence or withholding of evidence, according to the Department of Justice.

Albertsons executives claimed use of an auto-delete feature does not change the analysis, the FTC said. Courts have found that an employers failure to automatically preserve communications  i.e., an employers decision to give individual employees discretion to decide how and what to preserve  is sufficient to show willful destruction of evidence.

The deleted texts were reported earlier by multiple Boise-area and nonlocal news outlets.

Albertsons responded to the allegations in a filing Tuesday and asked the court to deny the FTCs motion. It said there is zero evidence that shows executives intended to withhold documents. The company instead alleged that it had instead gone to great lengths to preserve, collect and produce documents related to the case.

A spokesperson for company told the Idaho Statesman in a statement that the FTCs motion for an adverse inference was denied by U.S. District Judge Adrienne Nelson at a pretrial hearing Friday.

Albertsons and Kroger face off against the FTC in a trial that was scheduled to begin Monday in Nelsons courtroom in Portland.

Meanwhile, Kroger sued the FTC on Monday, Aug. 19, claiming that the agencys challenge of the merger in administrative court proceedings is unconstitutional, the Washington Post and other outlets reported. Those proceedings are separate from, and in addition to, the FTCs lawsuit.

Food workers union retracts endorsement of Albertsons merger with Kroger. Heres why

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A Boise-area customer-service rep is training AI. Will it replace him  but use his voice?
GUNLOCK STATE PARK, Utah (ABC4)  Fresh mountain lion tracks have been spotted at Gunlock State Park, according to the Utah Dept. of Natural Resources.

Today we spotted some extremely fresh puma (or mountain lion) tracks in the area, Gunlock State Park posted on social media. While attacks are rare, its best not to hike alone in general.

What to do if you encounter a mountain lion in Utah:

Mountain lions  also known as cougars or pumas  are found across Utah. While attacks by the large, elusive cats are considered rare, the Division of Wildlife Resources said you should still take a few simple precautions to keep yourself safe.

Cougars can typically be found in foothills and canyon areas, though the DWR said they can sometimes be spotted in valleys. This happens in winter when deer  cougars main prey  head to lower elevations in search of food, and cougars follow.

Woman missing after flash flood at Grand Canyons Havasu Creek

People are the most likely to encounter cougars in areas frequented by mule deer and during the early morning and at dusk, when cougars are most likely to be hunting, Utah DWR Game Mammals Coordinator Darren DeBloois said.

Mountain lions are also known for eating elk, pronghorn, small mammals and, occasionally, birds. After a kill, cougars will often hide the carcass by covering it with soil, leaves, or snow, saving it to feed on later.

Here is a list of tips to help prevent conflicts with cougars, provided by the DWR:

Do not hike or jog alone.

Maintain awareness in cougar country while hiking or jogging and avoid using headphones that block out your surroundings.

Travel in groups and keep everyone together, including children and dogs.

Make noise while hiking to alert cougars of your presence.

Leave the area if you find a dead animal, especially deer or elk, since it could be a cougar kill.

If you live in an area near deer habitat, do not leave children outside unattended, especially at dawn and dusk.

As a deterrent, install outside and motion-sensitive lighting around your property.

Trim vegetation and remove wood piles to reduce hiding places for wildlife.

Bring pets and livestock inside at night or secure them in a barn or kennel with a top.

If you do encounter a cougar, here are some tips to help keep you safe, according to the DWR:

Never run from a cougar, since that could trigger the cougars instincts to chase.

Maintain eye contact.

Pick up children and pets or keep them very close.

Stand up tall.

Do not crouch or squat.

Make yourself look bigger by raising and waving your arms or jacket above your head.

Talk firmly in a loud voice, back away slowly and leave the area.

Fight back if you are attacked! Protect your head and neck.

If you are aggressive enough, the cougar will probably flee.

If a cougar is seeking prey, they will typically try to sneak up on them and ambush them, the DWR said. Conversely, if a cougar lunges or bluffs a charge, they are usually just trying to drive you out of the area because they have kittens or a kill nearby.

While there reportedly has been an increase in cougar numbers and sightings in Utah in recent years, the DWR said you should report a sighting if a cougar has killed something in a neighborhood or yard, exhibited aggressive behavior, or appeared several times on your security cameras.

If you capture footage of a cougar on security cameras one time or see one from a distance in foothill areas, you do not need to report it, the DWR said. One-time sightings of cougars are typically when the animal is moving through an area, and it has often left by the time DWR biologists and conservation officers can respond.

For more information on mountain lions, visit the Wild Aware Utah website.

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Americans in new survey split on whether Ukraine, Russia winning the war

Americans in a new survey are split over whether they think Ukraine or Russia is winning the war in Europe, but the majority say neither side is winning or they dont know.

Americans were more likely to say Ukraine is currently winning (22 percent) than Russia (16 percent), but 34 percent said neither side is winning and the remaining 28 percent werent sure, the YouGov survey found.

The results of the survey have ebbed and flowed since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, but in recent weeks, more Americans have said they think Ukraine is gaining momentum.

In June, just 11 percent of Americans said they thought Ukraine was winning. At that same time, 22 percent thought Russia was winning.

The survey follows the announcement from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that his country had captured a key Russian town, Sudzha, in a shocking invasion across the border.

Zelenskys announcement came after Ukrainian troops hit Russian air bases with drones and missiles, forcing Russia to backtrack.

His forces advanced into Russias Kursk region and are pressuring the U.S. to lift restrictions on long-range strikes.

Despite the survey finding that Americans think Ukraine is performing well, they are still split evenly on who will eventually win the war.

Twenty-three percent of respondents said they think Russia will eventually win, while 23 percent also said Ukraine will.

The American public was more likely to think that President Biden and Vice President Harris sympathize with Ukrainian people than former President Trump. More than two-thirds, 67 percent, said Biden sympathizes with Ukrainians, and Harris trailed at 59 percent. Just 21 percent said they think Trump sympathizes with Kyiv, and 37 percent think he sympathizes with Russia.

A quarter of all respondents, 25 percent, said the United States should increase military aid to Ukraine. Twenty-seven percent said current levels of military aid should be maintained and 28 percent said they think the U.S. should decrease aid, the survey found.

The survey was conducted Aug. 1720 among 1,565 Americans and has a margin of error of 3 percent.

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The US X-37B and China's Shenlong are unmanned spacecraft that play secretive roles in space.

Space-based technology has long given the US military an edge.

A space plane like the Shenlong could be an attempt to threaten this advantage.

Just before the start of 2024, the United States and China launched what may be their most secretive spacecraft into orbit to little fanfare.

Commonly referred to as space planes, the American X-37B and the Chinese Shenlong are unmanned spacecraft so secretive that their launches were marked with little more than vague general statements from their governments.

The launches are the seventh and third missions for the respective spacecraft, and although they are highly classified, observers have had limited success in tracking some of their movements.

The missions demonstrate exceptional leaps in the development of space planes, and come at a time when both the Chinese and US militaries have ramped up their space operations  a new frontier that can determine the course of war.

Space-based technology has long given the US military an edge. It can track the movements of enemy weapons with powerful spy lenses and provide the navigation and communications systems ships, aircraft, and troops in the field depend upon.

Enter the space plane. From one vantage, they could be robot keepers who keep these large networks fueled and functional, but from another, they could be orbiting spies and saboteurs.

What's clear is that their missions are getting more complex, as is their centrality to the strategies of the two countries that fly them.

The uncrewed X-37B, seen here after its 2019 landing at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility, is believed to be about 30 feet long. Jeremy Webster/US Air Force

X-37B

A space plane is a reusable spacefaring craft that can maneuver in space independently and also fly and glide within Earth's atmosphere. They are sent into space via a detachable rocket booster, and contain a cargo bay to deploy satellites and other objects for use and experimentation.

After completing their mission, they independently return to Earth's atmosphere, land at a designated landing site on their own power, and prepare for their next mission. The most well-known space planes are the American Space Shuttle and the Soviet Buran. But in contrast to the Space Shuttle, the X-37B is owned and operated by the military.

The X-37B's origin begins in 1999, when the civilian space agency NASA awarded Boeing a contract to develop a small unmanned spacecraft capable of fitting inside the Space Shuttle. What they created was a small space plane measuring approximately 30 feet long and with a wingspan of 15 feet  roughly one-fourth the size of the now-retired Space Shuttle.

It also contains a cargo bay measuring about 7 feet by 4 feet, which, in addition to housing satellites and other space cargo also holds a solar panel enabling the space plane to recharge. Boeing says the plane's avionics automate its descent from orbit and landing.

In 2004, before a working prototype had even been built, the project was transferred to the US Defense Department, specifically the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Glide tests on the first testing prototypes (known as the X-37A), began in 2005, with the first fully successful free glide occurring in 2006.

That same year, the project was transferred from DARPA to the United States Air Force Space Command, which then built another model, the X-37B. Also known as the Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV), two X-37Bs have been built.

They have flown seven flights so far, with each being longer than the previous one. Though most of the details of the flights and their results remain classified, some information has been released to the public.

The X-37B launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in 2017. Senior Airman Timothy Kirchner/US Air Force

The first flight began on April 22, 2010, and saw the first X-37B remain in orbit for a total of 224 days. The second flight, which was the second X-37B's inaugural mission, began on March 5, 2011, and was extended well beyond its original 270-day limit to a total of 468 days. The third flight, beginning on December 11, 2012, marked the first time an X-37B had been reused, and lasted 674 days.

The fourth flight began on May 20, 2015. Over the course of 717 days, the space plane tested new propulsion technology for satellites as well as the effects of radiation on certain objects.

The X-37B's fifth flight on September 7, 2017 was launched atop Space X's Falcon 9 rocket (all previous launches were with the Atlas V rocket). Over the course of 780 days  a little over two years  the space plane performed a number of activities and experiments, including the deployment of multiple CubeSat satellites, which NASA foresees as an orbiting sensory network that can solve complex tasks with a "powerful central spacecraft."

The sixth flight began on May 17, 2020, and lasted 908 days. It was the first mission conducted under the command of the newly formed U.S. Space Force and may have been one of the busiest missions yet. It exposed select materials to space, tested the effects of space radiation on seeds, and deployed FalconSat-8, a satellite built by US. Air Force Academy cadets to conduct five experiments.

The X-37B's most recent and current flight began on December 28, 2023. Its mission is classified, with the Space Force stating only that it will be "operating the reusable space plane in new orbital regimes, experimenting with future space domain awareness technologies, and investigating the radiation effects on materials provided by NASA."

The Space Force has not given the X-37B's flight path, but because it was launched atop SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket, there has been speculation that the space plane could be headed for a much higher orbit than previous missions, as the rocket is one of the most powerful in the world.

A Long March-2F rocket blasted off in October carrying a manned spaceship from China's Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The Shenlong was launched on December 14 from the same center without images or fanfare. Wang Jiangbo/Xinhua via Getty Images

Shenlong

Named after the most important dragon god in Chinese mythology and first revealed in 2007, the Shenlong is thought to be a direct Chinese response to the X-37B.

The program is surrounded in such extreme secrecy that there are no known images of the space plane in its current form. Images of what is believed to be a Shenlong test prototype mounted under the fuselage of an H-6 strategic bomber in 2007 indicate that the craft is likely to be similar in appearance to the X-37B.

Though its specific capabilities remain classified, it is known that, like the X-37B, the Shenlong is unmanned, that it is deployed via a rocket, that it is capable of adjusting its position and maneuvering in space, and that it can carry and deploy satellites and other space objects.

Perhaps the most impressive thing about the Shenlong is the speed of its development. Though the exact start date is unknown, academic models of a Chinese space plane were reported as far back as 2000.

Years of modelling, wind tunnel testing, and prototype test fights via deployment from H-6 bombers followed, and in 2011, the Shenlong reportedly made its first suborbital flight.

On September 4, 2020, the Shenlong made its first orbital flight, which lasted two days and saw it release an object into orbit before returning to China on its own power. A second orbital flight began on August 4, 2022, and lasted nine months.

The X-37B launched on its sixth flight in May 2020 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Paul Hennessy/NurPhoto via Getty Images

In addition to being considerably longer, the Shenlong's second flight was far more eventful. About two months into its flight, the space plane deployed a subsatellite and then practiced recovering it at least two (and possibly even three) times, a capability for so-called proximity operations that may allow it to snatch an enemy's satellite.

The Shenlong embarked on its third and current flight on December 14, 2023, just seven months after its second mission. In May, the Shenlong released an object from its cargo hold, and began proximity operations, possibly even recapturing it.

How much longer the Shenlong will remain in orbit, as well as its future plans more broadly, remain secrets that the Chinese government has shown little appetite for divulging. The government has only said that the space plane will eventually land in China, and that "reusable technology verification and space science experiments will be carried out as planned to provide technical support for the peaceful use of space."

The vague wording resembles previous statements, like those of its builder, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, which has previously said that the Shenlong "will provide a more convenient and inexpensive way to access space for the peaceful use of space in the future."

The satellite networks of the US and its allies could be targeted by enemy spaceplanes. Nick Hague/NASA

Satellite threat

Given the immense secrecy of the crafts and what is known about their capabilities, it's easy to understand speculation that the two space planes could be orbiting weapons platforms.

The very fact that the US Department of Defense is in charge of the X-37B instead of NASA confirms that the US government believes that there is a military application for the space plane. Similarly, the fact that the Chinese government has been so silent on the Shenlong's activities despite its penchant for boasting about its other space accomplishments may be a tacit indication that there is more to the Shenlong than the 'peaceful use of space.'

One of the most impactful possible uses of the space planes is as anti-satellite assets. Both have deployed satellites from their cargo bays, and the Shenlong's proximity operations may be training runs for attacks on hostile satellites in orbit.

Proximity operations are murky. They could be dress rehearsals for disrupting or eavesdropping on an enemy's satellite, just as they could be drills for missions to refuel and repair one of the country's own satellites.

Satellites are among the most important assets for any first-rate military, as they are essential for secure communications, navigation, and intelligence gathering via orbital imaging and communication intercepts. They are even sometimes used to guide smart munitions to hostile targets as well.

Neutralizing an enemy's satellites would be one of the most important objectives in any potential conflict between the world's foremost military powers. China, the US, India, and Russia have each demonstrated a capability to destroy satellites in orbit with anti-satellite missiles, but each of those tests resulted in the creation of large debris fields in orbit that took sometimes took years to disappear. Such debris fields could also pose a very severe threat to friendly satellites as well. China's anti-satellite missile test in 2007 triggered a space debris cloud that was an inspiration for the blockbuster film "Gravity."

Having a way to neutralize or even capture satellites, then, could be a better alternative. Tapping into enemy satellites to eavesdrop or shut down their data streams and communications could also serve as a better alternative, and may also be possible with the assistance of space plane (similar to the tapping of underwater cables by submarines).

With the militarization of space seemingly fast becoming reality and with China's space program demonstrating that it can tow away satellites, it is likely that space planes will only become more important in the years ahead.

Benjamin Brimelow is a freelance journalist covering international military and defense issues. He holds a master's degree in Global Affairs with a concentration in international security from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. His work has appeared in Business Insider and the Modern War Institute at West Point.

Read the original article on Business Insider
(Bloomberg) -- Nationwide strikes. Fierce warnings from the US that democracy is at risk. Backlash from investors that has caused the currency to plummet. None of it has quelled President Andres Manuel Lopez Obradors desire to push through a controversial plan that would require the election of Mexicos federal judges.

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But the president known as AMLO is in fact pulling out all the stops to ensure the success of his long quest to overhaul the judiciary. Earlier this month, leaders of his Morena party kicked off their push to approve the reform before he leaves office at the end of September, unveiling legislation that calls for the start of judicial elections in 2025.

With a key congressional committee set to weigh the plan Monday, opponents are pointing to a subtle change in the sweeping proposal as evidence of AMLOs win-at-all-costs strategy. The tweak puts electoral judges in a group that wont face a vote until 2027  a reprieve for the very officials who are currently determining how many seats AMLOs coalition has in Congress.

This is very serious, said Judge Juana Fuentes Velazquez, the head of JUFED, one of Mexicos main judicial associations. Its an award for the justices to rule in their favor just when they are about to decide.

Ricardo Monreal, Morenas Senate leader, dismissed such claims this week, saying that the change was meant to allow the electoral judges to oversee the first round of judicial votes, which will include elections for the Supreme Court.

It is a strictly obligatory matter to provide certainty and legal security to the election, he said in a written response to questions from Bloomberg News.

Major Risk

Efforts to thwart the reform push have ramped up as an initial vote in the lower houses constitutional affairs committee nears.

Judges and judicial workers launched strikes against the proposal across the nation this week. US Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar criticized the reforms in a Thursday statement, warning they would pose major risk to democracy while also making it easier for drug cartels and organized crime to infiltrate the judiciary. Canadas ambassador joined in, saying that investors had raised deep concerns about the plan.

The Mexican peso has fallen 11% since the countrys June election amid AMLOs pledges to use Morenas gains to approve the reforms. The political noise, along with the continued unwinding of so-called carry trades, pushed the peso near its lowest levels since 2022 this week. It is the only major currency down in August, and by far the worst performer among the 16 majors tracked by Bloomberg.

But AMLO and his allies appear undeterred by those developments: The president blasted Salazar as disrespectful on Friday, while President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum  a Morena member  called the strikes illegal and waved away investor concerns about the reforms in public comments this week.

That has intensified the focus on the electoral court, which is due to rule on pending election challenges by Wednesday.

Morena and its coalition easily cleared the supermajority threshold necessary to pass constitutional reforms in the lower house in the June elections, and finished just two seats shy of two-thirds control of the Mexican Senate, according to results confirmed Friday by the National Electoral Institute.

The opposition, however, has alleged in complaints that Morena ran some of its own candidates as members of other allied parties, an effort to skirt constitutional provisions that limit individual parties to a maximum of 300 lawmakers in the lower house.

Morena and its coalition, which won 364 seats in June, have denied the claims, saying that the lawmakers are from different parties and that if anything the opposition has benefited from that overrepresentation in the past.

The opposition sees the challenges as a way to reduce the size of Morenas majorities and complicate the reform process. A victory for Morenas coalition, by contrast, would smooth the legislative path in front of the proposed overhaul.

Monreal said the constitutional committee will make the final decision on when the judges face election, and cast doubt on the idea that a pressure campaign against the electoral court would work anyway.

I know the justices personally; they dont allow themselves to be blackmailed by anyone, he told reporters Tuesday. They dont allow themselves to be pressured by anything, I know their moral authority.

But to reform opponents, it is AMLOs latest attempt to undermine Mexican democracy.

Senator Kenia Lopez called on the National Electoral Institute and the electoral court not to bow down to the government, saying in a Wednesday speech to the chamber that doing so would give AMLO and Morena the votes to destroy the countrys institutions.

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Ammunition depot on fire and exploding in Russia's Voronezh Oblast

Alexander Gusev, Governor of Russia's Voronezh Oblast, has claimed that the region has been attacked by drones, resulting in the detonation of explosive objects.

Source: Gusev on Telegram; stra

Quote from Gusev: "Air defence and electronic warfare systems destroyed and jammed several UAVs in Voronezh Oblast.

As a result of falling wreckage, a fire started, which caused the detonation of explosive objects. No new casualties or damage to civilian buildings have been reported so far."

Details: Earlier, Gusev had reported about a supposedly downed UAV, a fire and one injured person.

Updated: The Astra Telegram channel reported that an ammunition depot in the town of Ostrogozhsk in Voronezh Oblast was on fire and explosions had been heard.

It is noted that a training centre for junior specialists of the armoured vehicle service of the Russian Defence Ministry is located in Ostrogozhsk.

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Dr. Antony Fauci, Chief Medical Advisor to the President of the United States, and Dr. Ashish Jha, MD, MPH, coordinator, White House COVID-19 Response, speak at the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, November 22, 2022. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI

Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former long-time director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was hospitalized for one week with the West Nile virus likely from a mosquito bite and is recovering at home.

Fauci, who was part of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, is expected to recover fully, his spokesman told CNN and The Washington Post.

CBS News' chief medical correspondent, Dr. Jonathan LaPook, said he spoke with Fauci on Saturday.

"Dr. Fauci was hospitalized about ten days ago after developing fever, chills, and severe fatigue," LaPook posted on X. "Evaluation revealed that he had been infected with the West Nile virus, likely from a mosquito bite that he got in his backyard. He left the hospital three days ago and is recovering at home. The prognosis is for a full recovery."

Fauci, 83, also was chief medical advisor to former President Donald Trump and then President Joe Biden. He retired on Dec. 31, 2022.

The virus is spread through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea or rash, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

About one in five people who are infected develop symptoms.

There is no vaccine or specific treatment for West Nile.

In 2024, 216 cases have been reported, according to the CDC. Since 1999, the number is 59,141 with 2,958 deaths.

West Nile virus was first isolated in a woman in Uganda in 1937, according to the World Health Organization. It was first reported in the United States in 2002, according to the National Library of Medicine.

Fauci joined the National Institutes of Health as a clinical associate in the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases' Laboratory of Clinical Investigation. He became director of the NIAID in 1984.

During his tenure, he oversaw research and treatment of diseases such as HIV/AIDS, respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases, tuberculosis, and malaria, as well as emerging diseases, such as Ebola and Zika.
By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An Arizona man who was wanted after threatening over social media to kill former President Donald Trump was arrested on Thursday, the Cochise County Sheriff's Office said.

Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for president, was in Cochise County on Thursday when he visited the U.S. border with Mexico as part of his campaign.

The man, Ronald Lee Syvrud, 66, had multiple outstanding warrants from Wisconsin, the sheriff's office said. He was taken into custody on Thursday afternoon, authorities said on Friday.

Syvrud was subsequently booked into the Cochise County Jail on a felony warrant from Graham County in Arizona for "failure to register as a sex offender and two counts of threatening for this case," the sheriff's office added. He remained in custody pending further court adjudication.

"I am not that surprised (by the threat) and the reason is because I want to do things that are very bad for the bad guys," Trump said on Thursday when asked about that threat against him in Arizona.

It was the latest in a series of threats against candidates ahead of the Nov. 5 general election.

In early August, a Virginia man was charged with threatening Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump's Democratic rival, and a New Hampshire man was arrested in December for threatening to kill Republican presidential candidates.

In July, Trump was shot in his ear in an attempted assassination that left two others injured and one man dead.

The U.S. Secret Service came under widespread scrutiny following the shooting. It resulted in the resignation of the agency's director.

Despite this and new threats, Trump said on Thursday he has "great respect" for the Secret Service and "the job they do," while adding they made mistakes from which they will learn.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh; editing by Diane Craft)
An estimated 104 tribal members and tourists near Havasupai Falls were evacuated after floodwaters on Thursday left them stranded, according to the Arizona National Guard.

On Friday evening, Gov. Katie Hobbs deployed the Guard in response to flooding at the Havasupai reservation near the Grand Canyon, where the waters of Havasu Creek swept away a woman from Gilbert.

Rescue efforts, coordinated by the Coconino County Sheriff's Office, the National Park Service, and tribal officials, were supported by a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter, according to Maj. Erin Hannigan, a spokesperson for the Guard.

Deputy Jon Paxton of Coconino County said the search was helmed by the National Park Service and confirmed Sunday that anyone requesting evacuation was taken to safety by Saturday afternoon.

Chenoa Nickerson, 33, went missing about 1:30 p.m. on Thursday during flash flooding approximately half a mile above the Colorado River, according to the National Park Service. Her family, which announced on Sunday via social media that she had been found dead, said she was hiking with her husband when she was taken by the water.

Body found: Gilbert woman swept away in Havasupai flash flood found dead; area indefinitely closed

Hannigan told The Arizona Republic that a crew of about five Guard members, mostly volunteers, assisted in the rescue efforts near Havasupai Falls, which is on the Havasupai tribal reservation.

"There was not what some people might think of dropping lines (from a helicopter) to pull people up. They were in an orderly fashion and ready to get on the aircraft," Hannigan said. "It was all very well organized by the tribe. They made our lives a lot easier."

The Guard also deployed three supply drop-offs consisting of necessities like food and water.

Hannigan said the Guard concluded its side of the operation by about 1:30 p.m. Saturday and had no further orders to support recovery efforts on Sunday.

"When we got there, people were cheering. They were very vocal about sharing excitement to probably get home," Hannigan said.

Hannigan said she was proud of her fellow Guard members who responded to the emergency, including one crew member who interrupted paternity leave to assist in the rescue efforts.

"Arizona is a small and big state, and the entire community is something that we hold dear, and so being ready and willing to support the community as a whole, it's just something that comes with a Guardsman," Hannigan said.

Hike recounts escaping flood: 'I wasn't sure we were going to make it'

Tribal officials: Supai community closed to tourists indefinitely

Damage from flooding spurred the Havasupai Tribal Council to close the community of Supai to tourists indefinitely because the trial is impassable and the campground has been damaged extensively, according to a Sunday post by the tribe's tourism page on Facebook.

The tribe reopened Havasu Falls and Supai Village to tourists in February 2023 after years of being closed because of COVID-19.

"My heart is with all of the people impacted by the flooding in Havasupai, including Tribal members and visitors to the area," Hobbs said in a statement. "The safety and security of Arizonans and all those who visit our state is always my top concern, and Ill continue working closely with leaders on the ground to protect the Havasupai community."

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona National Guard rescues over 100 after Havasupai flooding
IBERIA PARISH, La. (KLFY)  The man who was taken into custody after a deadly standoff in Jeanerette late July is set to be arraigned on the charges for which he was originally sought on warrants.

According to court records, Nyjal Hurst will be arraigned Friday, Aug. 30, on charges of home invasion, possession of firearm or carrying concealed weapon by a convicted felon and three counts of aggravated second-degree battery.

Online court records show that those charges are in connection with incidents that occurred in March 2023, May 27, 2024, and July 5, 2024.

Pictured is a screen grab of the online court record details of one of the charges that Nyjal Hurst is set to be arraigned on Friday, Aug. 30.

Authorities said the standoff that occurred in late July began when a city marshal attempted to serve Hurst an arrest warrants at a home on Martin Luther King Drive in Jeanerette.

The hours-long standoff resulted in the death of Sr. Cpl. Segus R. Jolivette, 35, of the Lafayette Police Department.

Louisiana State Trooper Peggy Bourque said earlier this month that more than numerous witnesses have been interviewed in the investigation surrounding Jolivettes death. Bourque said State Police want to make sure they get the investigation right.

Investigators are diligently working to examine all evidence and facts of the incident to ensure a thorough and precise investigation, Bourque said.

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A suspect was arrested late Saturday night in connection with an arson attack on a synagogue in southern France, according to French officials.

The attack targeting the synagogue of La Grande-Motte, a popular seaside resort town along the southern French coast some 90 miles west of Marseille, at approximately 8 a.m. on Saturday, was under investigation as an act of terror by the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office, authorities said.

MORE: 9-month-old dead after being found strapped into safety seat by grandmother in hot car for 8 hours

French foreign minister Gerald Darmanin said in a statement on X shortly after midnight Sunday local time that investigators had caught a suspect and implied that there may have been a firefight prior to their capture.

PHOTO: French police stand guard after cars were set on fire in front of the city's synagogue, in La Grande-Motte, France, Aug. 24, 2024. (Manon Cruz/Reuters)

"Thanks to the police, and mainly the RAID (elite tactical national police unit), who intervened with great professionalism despite his gunshots," he said.

Additional details about the suspect weren't immediately released.

The prosecutor's office said two cars were set on fire on the grounds of the synagogue, one of which contained a gas bottle, causing an explosion.

One police officer was injured by the explosion, authorities said. Two additional ignition locations were found at the two doors of the synagogue where there were five people inside, including the rabbi, none of whom were injured.

MORE: Sphen, one half of world-famous gay 'penguin power couple,' dies at age 11

PHOTO: People stand by the entrance to the city's synagogue, after cars were set on fire in front of it, in La Grande-Motte, France, Aug. 24, 2024. (Manon Cruz/Reuters)

MORE: North Korea to partially reopen doors to tourism for 1st time since COVID-19 pandemic

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said that 'in the face of antisemitism, in the face of violence, we will never let ourselves be intimidated."

MORE: Backpacker dies after suffering 'sudden medical complications' at national park

PHOTO: French scientific police members work near the city's synagogue, after cars were set on fire in front of the synagogue, in La Grande-Motte, France, Aug. 24, 2024. (Manon Cruz/Reuters)

An attack targeted the synagogue of La Grande Motte this morning. An antisemitic act. Once again, our Jewish fellow citizens are being targeted. I extend my full support to them in this new ordeal, Attal said. We are at their side. Recognition to the firefighters for their mobilization. Solidarity with the municipal police officer injured in the attack. I have been informed that the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office has taken charge of the investigation. Security forces are currently hunting the suspect. We will not give up. In the face of antisemitism, in the face of violence, we will never let ourselves be intimidated.

The investigation into the attack is active and remains open.

Arrest made in arson attack at French synagogue, French officials say originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
FLINT  Attorney Matthew DePerno withdrew his bid for a seat on the Michigan Supreme Court on the eve of Saturday's Michigan Republican Party state convention in Flint, which was also intended to select party nominees for three Michigan university boards and the State Board of Education.

For the Michigan Supreme Court, state Rep. Andrew Fink, R-Hillsdale, was elected to run for an eight-year term and Branch County Circuit Judge Patrick O'Grady was elected to run for a partial, four-year term.

After a long and sometimes contentious day, during which former Michigan Republican Party Chair Kristina Karamo showed up on the convention floor and was soon escorted out by police, other results of the first ballot, which were counted by hand, were not available at press time. Karamo said she attended to support a candidate and was causing no disruption when she was escorted out by "thugs." The party chair who replaced Karamo, Pete Hoekstra, said she was not a registered delegate and was offered a guest pass to observe from the gallery, but declined. About 4,000 delegates, alternates and guests attended the convention, officials said.

DePerno rose to prominence through an unsuccessful lawsuit that made false claims that vote-counting equipment manipulated 2020 election results in Michigan's Antrim County to benefit President Joe Biden and harm Republican Donald Trump. DePerno was the Michigan GOP nominee for attorney general in 2022, losing to Attorney General Dana Nessel, the incumbent Democrat, by about 8 percentage points.

Attorney Matt DePerno, who unsuccessfully ran for Michigan attorney general in November 2022, is now a candidate for the Michigan Supreme Court.

DePerno, of Portage, is awaiting trial on felony charges related to allegedly breaching election machines. The prospect of him being elected by delegates as a Michigan Supreme Court candidate was a point of interest going into Saturday's GOP state convention at the Dort Financial Center in Flint. But DePerno sent delegates an email late Friday that said he is withdrawing his bid to be the party's nominee for a four-year term on the court, a race in which he would have faced incumbent Justice Kyra Harris Bolden.

"Ive come to the conclusion that I can best help President Trump win Michigan by making sure that we have the strongest absentee and early vote program anywhere in the country  stronger than the Democrats," DePerno said in the email. "It is stronger than anything Republicans have done in our history.

"Therefore, I am withdrawing my nomination for Supreme Court and asking fellow delegates to dig deep and think hard about which of the candidates for each of these positions would make the strongest ticket in November."

DePerno said he was endorsing O'Grady for the partial term he was seeking and joining Trump, the former Republican president, in endorsing Michigan Court of Appeals Judge Mark Boonstra for the full eight-year term on the court. The other candidate for the four-year term was Detroit attorney Alexandria Taylor. The other candidate for the eight-year term was Fink.

Campaign finance records show DePerno had raised just over $100 for his Supreme Court bid, far less than any other candidate.

DePerno gained prominence by seizing on a clerical error in Antrim County that scrambled the county's unofficial 2020 presidential results and using it to make false claims about manipulation of election results by Dominion Voting Systems machines. He is awaiting trial on multiple felony counts related to an alleged conspiracy to breach voting machines.

Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. Follow him on X, @paulegan4.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: DePerno drops Michigan Supreme Court bid on eve of MIGOP convention
The European Union's plan to impose tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) has sparked industry concerns, with critics labeling the anti-subsidy measures as protectionism disguised as "fair trade" promotion.

Opponents argue that the EU should embrace competition rather than shield its domestic EV industry with trade barriers such as anti-subsidy measures.

The European Commission released a draft decision on Aug. 20, 2024, proposing to impose definitive countervailing duties on EV imports from China, ranging from 17% to 36.3% (with a separate rate of 9% for Tesla). The proposal is currently awaiting approval from EU member states.

This move aligns with the EU's broader strategy to gain a competitive edge in the global green transition. In recent years, the EU has prioritized the development of the "new trio"  electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, and photovoltaic products.

Since the introduction of the European Green Deal in 2019, the EU has intensified its focus to the green energy transition, vigorously promoting new energy industries. The "A New Industrial Strategy for Europe" released in 2020 by the European Commission outlined plans for investment and financial support to drive this green shift. These efforts have led to numerous industrial subsidy policies.

The EU also launched the European Battery Alliance and issued the Strategic Action Plan on Batteries to support the growth of its lithium-ion battery and EV industries. Additionally, it has implemented the Solar Energy Strategy and created the European Solar PV Industry Alliance.

According to data from the European Commission, between 2018 and August 2024, the commission approved a total of 36.2 billion euros ($40.5 billion) in state aid under the "Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEIs)" initiative. This funding supported 320 projects in areas such as batteries, hydrogen, microelectronics, communication technologies, and next-generation cloud infrastructure and services. The battery industry alone received approval for 68 projects, which accounted for about 21% of the total, with subsidies totaling 6.1 billion euros, or roughly 17% of the overall funding.

The EU's use of energy industry subsidies has deep historical roots, dating back to the early days of European economic integration. For example, the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community, signed in 1951 by six European countries (France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg), marked an early step in this direction. Following the formation of the EU, the development of new energy and renewable energy became strategic priorities.

While the EU heavily subsidizes the "new trio" domestically, it has simultaneously imposed discriminatory countervailing measures abroad. Following the European Commission's draft decision to impose definitive countervailing duties on Chinese EV imports, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce criticized the investigation as being predetermined.

The spokesperson argued that the EU's actions at every stage of the investigation violated the principles of objectivity, fairness, non-discrimination and transparency that the EU had committed to, contravening World Trade Organization rules. This, the spokesperson claimed, was a case of "unfair competition" masquerading as "fair competition."

Many European companies have also voiced concerns about the potential negative impact of tariffs on Chinese EVs. They argue that such measures could increase costs for low- and middle-income consumers and undermine the EU's efforts to promote its green transition.
The sinking resulted in the deaths of seven people

Jonathan Brady/PA Images via Getty

Italian authorities said a manslaughter investigation has been launched into the sinking of the superyacht Bayesian, which killed six passengers and one crew member.

On Saturday, Aug. 24, Ambrogio Cartosio, the Chief Prosecutor of Termini Imerese, spoke at a press conference in Sicily, where he announced, "The Prosecutor's Office of Termini Imerese has opened a case file, currently against unknown persons, hypothesizing the crimes of negligent shipwreck and manslaughter, but we are only in an initial phase. We do not exclude that there may be developments of any kind."

Cartosio added that it would be extremely painful if the development of the inquiry were to demonstrate that this tragedy, this terrible tragedy, was caused by behaviors that were not perfectly adequate to the behavior that everyone had to have in managing this ship.

He also later confirmed that, per Italian law, the captain and crew of the ship would not be obliged to stay in Italy at this stage.

In Italy, there isnt any legislation to hold people unless they have been arrested, and thank goodness for this in a sense, as otherwise we would be living in a state that is not very free. Of course, we are hoping there is a lot of collaboration," he said.

Related: Victims of Sicily Yacht Tragedy Formally Identified, Authorities Say Some Were Searching for Air Pockets in Final Moments

Though authorities were unable to answer many questions due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, Cartosio said that there may be involvement in the investigation by foreign judicial authorities.

"There will be developments, but this is not the moment to talk about them," he said.

Elsewhere in the press conference, Girolamo Bentivoglio Fiandra, commander of the Palermo Fire Department, spoke more about the sinking of the yacht, detailing that it "sank stern first and then settled on its side."

The announcement of the investigation comes as authorities formally identified the seven victims of the tragedy in the same press conference.

Cartosio confirmed the deaths of chef Recaldo Thomas; British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his daughter, Hannah Lynch; Christopher Morvillo and his wife, Neda; and Morgan Stanley International chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife, Judy.

HANDOUT/Vigili del Fuoco/AFP via Getty

He later said that autopsies on the victims have not yet been carried out.

Related: Last Body Found from Sunken Sicily Yacht as All 6 Missing Passengers Confirmed Dead

The Bayesian, a 183-foot British-flagged vessel carrying 22 people aboard, sank around 5 a.m. local time on Monday, Aug. 19, due to a "violent storm" off the coast of Porticello, according to an Italian Coast Guard statement previously obtained by PEOPLE.

The yachts seaworthiness is being called into question after it began taking on water and then suddenly flipped onto its side during a severe storm, Giovanni Costantino, the head of The Italian Sea Group, told RAI state television, according to the Associated Press.

The ship sank because it took on water, Costantino said. From where, the investigators will say.

Related: Survivor of Yacht That Sank Off Sicily's Coast Recalls How She Used 'All My Strength' to Save Her 1-Year-Old

The ship makers owner previously told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, that he believes those on board should not have been in their cabins, which he claims they were, when the Bayesian sank.

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.

"Everything that has been done reveals a very long sum of errors, Costantino said in the interview, translated from Italian. The people should not have been in the cabins, the boat should not have been at anchor. And then why didn't the crew know about the incoming disturbance?"

Lynch and his family  including wife Angela Bacares, who was rescued along with 14 others  had been celebrating his recent acquittal on fraud charges in the U.S. after a years-long legal battle.

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Read the original article on People.
ARLINGTON, Texas  A Little Rock womans cold case has finally been solved after nearly 40 years.

On Valentines Day in 1985, 22-year-old Terri McAdams was raped and killed in Arlington, Texas. The former Central High graduate and Razorback undergrad had only been in Texas for half a year when her family got news of her murder.

Arkansas State Police launching new Cold Case Division to find answers to unsolved crimes

Arlington police said an attacker managed to enter McAdams ground-floor apartment through a sliding door, but they were unable to determine who was responsible until this year. Terris younger sister, Karen Hopper, said there were stretches of years when she lost hope.

She was a great big sister, and she looked out for me, Hopper recalled. Once she passed away, I sort of had to take that role.









Hopper has been protecting her sisters memory since her sister and later parents died, calling the police for decades before authorities shared the breakthrough they made this summer.

In a press conference, Arlington Police Chief Al Jones shared that news with the community.

We got the big break that we needed, and we identified the killer, Jones said.

Bernard Sharp lived nearby and, as a registered sex offender, was one of dozens questioned in 1985. DNA left on the scene could not link him to the crime then or when criminal databases came about.

Cold case unit solves Rhode Island mans 1991 murder

Dallas FBI special agent Chad Yarbroughs team was brought on to help with the case in recent years thanks to the development of Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) through the FBI. He said IGG made the difference in McAdams case and hundreds more in the past five years.

Investigative Genetic Genealogy has transformed law enforcements ability to solve crime, Yarbrough said.

IGG works with two DNA databases, which Hopper said are FamilyTreeDNA and GEDMatch, that share access with law enforcement. By using forensic evidence, a family tree is built, and in this instance, a close relative of Bernard agreed to a DNA test that matched with nail clippings, a cigarette butt, and other clues left on the murder scene.

Sharp has not and will not be arrested because he already took his life in 1985 after killing his wife and a friend. Hopper said for so long she had wished to see justice play out in front of her eyes, but now her mindset has flipped.

It may be more of a blessing that he is not here, so we didnt have to go through that heartache, she said.

NJ investigators solve 4-decade-old Baby Mary cold case, charging mother: officials

Both IGG-friendly online databases allow users to import DNA data from another site. Yarbrough said the tool would clear even more cold cases if other DNA services participated.

If all of the DNA databases could share their information, the agent said 95% would be solved, Hopper stated. I feel like this is a mission for me to try and get the word out.

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  A judge on Friday found there was sufficient evidence to order Ricardo Valles Jr. to stand trial on a charge of first-degree murder filed in the death of his girlfriend.

Valles, 40, is accused of killing Crystal Acevedo, 36, who was found badly injured in her apartment on Aug. 4. She was taken to Kern Medical, where she died Aug. 8.

Valles is being held without bail and is due back in court Sept. 3, when a trial date will be set.

Court documents detailed the evidence gathered against Valles, who has a lengthy criminal history and stands out in court due to tattoos covering his face and head.

Derby Acres losing its only park due to state regulation

An investigator who testified at Fridays preliminary hearing said he attended Acevedos autopsy and learned she had multiple bruises on the left side of her face from her cheek to her head, the inside of her lips were bruised and swollen, and there was bruising to both arms and on her back.

The investigator testified the forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy said Acevedo suffered torn blood vessels at the top of her brain, causing bleeding on the brain. The pathologist said a fall wouldnt cause that type injury, but a blow to the head could, the investigator said.

The pathologist ruled Acevedo died of blunt head trauma and her death was a homicide.

Valles denied harming Acevedo, saying she fell, according to court documents.

A psychic whom Acevedo had consulted told police Acevedo had contacted her and said she was afraid of Valles, the filings say.

Valles attorney, Deputy Public Defender Jacob Evans, emailed the following statement:

The evidence at the preliminary hearing showed that Ms. Acevedo may have had a stroke, and that she fell hard and hit the tile floor. On the night of her injury, Mr. Valles was investigated and cleared of any domestic violence or any other charges. But, he looks the way he looks and when Ms. Acevedo died late on August 7, Mr. Valles was arrested instead of being allowed to grieve his girlfriends death. We will be doing a full investigation and relying on the opinions of doctors rather than psychics to give us more information.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17.
On the morning of 24 August, the presidents of the Baltic states published greetings to Ukrainians on the 33rd anniversary of the declaration of independence.

Source: European Pravda

Details: Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda recorded a short video message of congratulations addressed to the Ukrainian people and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Happy Independence Day, dear friend @ZelenskyyUa& brave people of #Ukraine!



In #Lithuania we have no doubt that will win, become a member of & NATO, grow stronger& prosper.



 will continue being your strongest supporter. You can always count on us! pic.twitter.com/1W27TgM89G  Gitanas Nauseda (@GitanasNauseda) August 24, 2024

"Ukrainians, like nobody else, know the price of freedom and independence. The bravery of the Ukrainian nation in defending their country is admired by the whole world. Today, Ukraine is standing as a bastion of free and democratic Europe. Here in Lithuania, we have no doubt that Ukraine will win, that Ukraine will become a member of the EU and NATO, that Ukraine will grow and prosper", he said.

Nauseda noted that Ukraine could always count on Lithuanian support and concluded his address with the slogan "Glory to Ukraine!"

The President of Estonia began his video address in Ukrainian and quoted lines from Lesya Ukrainka's work, translated as "whoever liberates himself shall be free, whoever is liberated by others captive shall remain".

#Ukraine has shown immense bravery in their fight against evil. The civilized world stands with  - on the right side. We have no doubt  will force the aggressor to make peace. Warmest wishes to President @ZelenskyyUa &  on Independence Day! ,    # pic.twitter.com/O5RTOa6UIE  Alar Karis (@AlarKaris) August 24, 2024

"You have proven your bravery in fight against evil. Today the whole civilised world is on your side  on the right side. We have no doubt that Ukraine will force the aggressor to make peace", said Estonian President Alar Karis.

He also concluded his address with the words in Ukrainian: "Ukraine, we are with you forever. Glory to Ukraine!"

Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics also recorded a video message. "You are a nation of bravery, strength and resolve. You keep proving that to the world over and over and again. Ukraine will prevail over the aggressor, and Latvia will stand beside you. Glory to Ukraine!"

Valsts prezidenta @edgarsrinkevics apsveikums Ukrainas Neatkaribas diena // Greetings from the President of Latvia @edgarsrinkevics on Ukraine's Independence Day 



"Jus esat varonibas, speka un apnemibas pilna tauta, un jus to nemitigi apliecinat visai pasaulei." pic.twitter.com/QVGXF9oplR  Valsts prezidenta kanceleja (@Rigas_pils) August 24, 2024

The greeting was also prepared by Latvian Defence Minister Andrus Spruds, and the video was probably recorded on the evening of 23 August on Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Square of Independence).

Background: The Baltic leaders are expected to visit Moldova next week.

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The BBC has been accused of whitewashing Hamas after describing suicide bomb attacks which killed dozens of civilians in Israel as military operations.

The corporations Arabic channel last month reported that Mohammed Deif, the Hamas military leader, had launched a string of military operations against Israel which culminated on Oct 7.

Camera, which stands for the committee for accuracy in Middle East reporting and analysis, claims that BBC Arabics reporting suggested that the attacks were aimed at soldiers instead of civilians  and that this had the effect of whitewashing Hamas.

It pointed out that the total death toll in the attacks which Deif had planned was 93, with 80 of the victims civilians, aged 13 to 83. Only 13 of those killed were soldiers and other security personnel.

Reporting on the assassination of Deif, BBC Arabic said Deif had long been wanted for terrorist activities by the Israeli government.

But in its own summary of those activities, the channel has repeatedly described them as military operations rather than terror attacks.

In a background story about his death, BBC Arabic stated on its website: For approximately 30 years, [Deif] took part in several military operations against Israel, starting from kidnapping soldiers and rocket attacks, passing through military operations and culminating in the October 7th, 2023 attack.

Camera, which lobbies for a fair media representation of Israel, said: Downplaying Palestinian groups responsibility for targeting innocent civilians as mere accusations, which only Israel and the US supposedly aim at them, has been a BBC Arabic habit for years.

Even when the Palestinian groups themselves boast about similar murders, BBC Arabic reporters would often use their own voice to falsely describe them as military operations carried out against soldiers or gunmen.

Suicide bomb attack in the Israeli city of Beersheba, which killed at least 12 people - HO/REUTERS

As a military leader for Hamas, Deif was responsible for killing at least 70 civilians, the majority of them in a series of suicide bombings in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv in the 1990s.

Several more were killed in Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip during the 2000s.

When BBC Arabic reported that Deif had been killed in an Israeli strike on a refugee camp in southern Gaza on July 14, it ran a package illustrated by images of the bus bomb attacks and others organised by the Hamas leader.

However, the accompanying caption and text stated: Deif planned a series of military operations against Israel which caused the kidnapping and killing of dozens of soldiers in the 1990s.

BBC sources pointed out that the images used also made clear that Deif was on a US and EU list of designated terrorists.

The BBC defended its coverage of Deifs death. A spokesman told The Telegraph: BBC News Arabic has made clear throughout our coverage that Muhammad Deif was listed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the US and the EU.

We quoted the Israeli military describing Deif as a terrorist and that they hold him responsible for the murder of Israelis, and we referenced the serious accusations he faced around the 1996 attacks.

Our audiences were in no doubt about Deifs actions and the fact that he had been called a terrorist, including by Israel.

Click here to view this content.

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Belarus and China agreed to strengthen their security and economic ties, according to a joint statement released Aug. 23.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko in Minsk on Aug. 22.

According to the statement, Beijing and Minsk pledged not only to strengthen security ties but also to improve cooperation in the finance and energy sectors. The countries also agreed to enhance cooperation in industrial supply chains.

Li's visit to Belarus comes on the heels of his first state visit to Russia as China's premier. Belarus and China remain key Kremlin allies as Western sanctions increasingly isolate Moscow on the international stage.

Belarus on July 4 joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organization or SCO, a Eurasian political, economic and defense organization led by Russia and China.

Shortly thereafter, the Chinese and Belarusian militaries on July 8 conducted joint military drills at the Brestskiy training range next to the border with Ukraine and Poland.

Although China officially maintains a neutral stance on Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine and denies providing lethal aid to Moscow, Beijing and Moscow continue to strengthen their ties.

Read also: Belarus Weekly: Kyiv eases process of obtaining local documents for foreign volunteers fighting for Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
NEW BERN, N.C. (WNCT)  New Bern Police investigators are working to track down the person who broke into a business early Friday morning.

In a news release to WNCT, police said someone broke into the business located in the 1900 block of South Glenburnie Road just after 7 a.m. Friday morning. Officers responded to the area and found damage to the front door and window.

If anyone has any information on the crime, they are asked to use New Bern Police Departments new Tip411 system by texting the key words NBPDTIP with the tip to 847411. The Craven County Crime Stopper line is also available by calling (252) 633-5141.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s family members have denounced his decision to endorse Donald Trump after he dropped out of the presidential race, calling it a betrayal of their familys values.

In a statement released shortly after Kennedy announced Friday that he is suspending his independent bid for president and backing the Republican nominee, five of his siblings reiterated their support for the Democratic ticket and criticized their brother.

Our brother Bobbys decision to endorse Trump today is a betrayal of the values that our father and our family hold most dear, they wrote. It is a sad ending to a sad story.

The statement was signed by five of his eight surviving siblings: Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Courtney Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, Chris Kennedy and Rory Kennedy.

I am sharing a personal statement that my family and I have made in response to my brothers announcement. pic.twitter.com/j7vTTabNYZ  Kerry Kennedy (@KerryKennedyRFK) August 23, 2024

Kennedys family members have been open about their disdain for his long-shot presidential bid. Several of them publicly backed President Joe Biden in April, and they have continued to support the Harris-Walz ticket since Biden stepped aside.

A member of the famed Democratic political dynasty endorsing Trump would have been unthinkable even 18 months ago. But the 70-year-old anti-vaccine activists distrust in government has appeal on the right, and his penchant for conspiracy theories aligns with Trumps own leanings.

In his speech in Arizona on Friday, Kennedy railed against what he called Democrats continual legal warfare against him and Trump, and he accused the media of engaging in a conspiracy with Democrats to hinder his campaign. Kennedy also acknowledged that his involvement with Trumps campaign will be a difficult sacrifice for my wife and children but is worthwhile to save children from processed foods and obesity.

At a campaign rally later on Friday, Trump praised Kennedy  an opponent he once called the most radical left candidate in the race  as a great person.

Kennedys endorsement may ultimately carry little weight, however. He had been performing poorly in polls and his campaigns fundraising had been in dire straits in recent months. But the Trump campaign may be banking on Kennedy bringing enough supporters to tip the scales in what is set to be a tight election, especially in critical swing states.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Better Business Bureau of the Upstate gives safety tips after skimmers found in Spartanburg Co.

SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  The Better Business Bureau of the Upstate spoke with 7NEWS on Friday after six card skimmers were discovered at two Spartanburg County Valero gas stations earlier this week.

A card skimmer is a device that steals banking card numbers from card readers at ATMs, gas stations, restaurants and retail stores. Skimmers can be difficult to spot due to their design looking like part of the terminal.

It happens all over the United States and obviously its happening here in the Upstate, South Carolina, but consumers lose thousands, and again, scammers continue to use this, said Hunter Jones, President of the Better Business Bureau of the Upstate.

On Tuesday, four skimmers were found at a Valero gas station in Cowpens.

With Credit Card skimming, a consumer enters their card, they push it into the slot and thats when [scammers] get their credit card information, said Jones.

On Thursday, the Spartanburg County Sheriffs Office reported two more skimmers were found in a Valero gas station pump in Spartanburg.

The incident report noted that the skimmers at the Spartanburg station were plugged into the card reader and appeared to be a Bluetooth device.

People are continuing to fall for this, and again its such an easy thing to do because they can come in at night and install those skimmers, or it could be in plain daylight, said Jones. It could look like theyre getting gas and theyre over there, possibly installing a skimmer and no one even notices.

A good safety tip when youre filling up is to look for the inspection stickers commonly found around the pump. If broken, notify a station attendant.

I dont typically recommend the consumers to start shaking things or moving things simply because that is someone elses property, and when you start manipulating the device you can potentially do damage to the gas pump, said Jones.

The BBB also recommends looking for any discoloration around the reader and to consider paying with cash.

When youre entering that card, if you feel any kind of resistance whatsoever or it doesnt wanna give your card back, thats a red flag and you might want to check with the attendant inside, said Jones. If you feel like youre a victim, you can go to annualcreditreport.com. Thats one place where you can check all three credit reporting agencies. You can check and see if anything is being taken out with your name with your personal information.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
In his congratulatory tweet on the occasion of Ukraine's Independence Day, US President Joe Biden wrote that Ukraine will remain free, sovereign and independent.

Source: Biden on social network X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Today, as the people of Ukraine mark their Independence Day, let it be clear:



When Russias senseless war began, Ukraine was a free country.



Today, it is still a free country.



And the war will end with Ukraine remaining a free, sovereign, and independent country. pic.twitter.com/YfK7V8nMID  President Biden (@POTUS) August 24, 2024

Quote: "Today, as the people of Ukraine mark their Independence Day, let it be clear:

When Russias senseless war began, Ukraine was a free country. Today, it is still a free country. And the war will end with Ukraine remaining a free, sovereign, and independent country."

Background:

US presidential candidate Kamala Harris also congratulated Ukrainians, assuring them of her continued support.

You can also find the congratulations of the presidents of the Baltic states and many other Western leaders and ambassadors on the 33rd anniversary of Ukraine's independence.

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HILO, Hawaii (AP)  With the general election more than two months away, the key race in Hawaii is the mayoral runoff for the Big Island. Recent precinct-level data from the Office of Elections reveals the strengths and challenges facing each candidate.

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

The Hawaii Island mayors race was highly competitive in the August primary, with several candidates gaining significant momentum. Since no candidate secured more than 50 percent of the vote, the contest has moved to a runoff between incumbent Mitch Roth and challenger Kimo Alameda.

KHON2 analyzed and mapped precinct results from the primary, breaking down the island into various voting zones. Heres what the data shows:

Hotel workers in Waikiki and Kauai gear up for potential strike

Mayor Roth led in most areas of the island, including all of West and most of South Hawaii.

Alameda performed strongly in several precincts in the Hilo area and nearby regions.

In one neighborhood, Roth and Alameda tied with one vote each, where they were actually in third and fourth place behind other candidates who tied with two votes each.

Areas marked in grey represent precincts with zero population, according to the Office of Elections.

So, what does this mean for the candidates heading into November?

Kimo Alameda, candidate for mayor, emphasized the importance of addressing all districts: Everybody matters. Every district matters. Thats been our mantra from the start. We dont want to be Hilo-centric or district-centric. We want to be island-centric because everyone deserves a fair shot and good services.

Incumbent Mayor Mitch Roth, seeking re-election, remarked, We performed well in most precincts, with only a few where we didnt do as well, but even those were close. We feel good about where we stand and the progress made over the past several years. Hawaii County is in a much better place now than when we started.

The third and fourth place candidates from the primary, Miss Kobayashi and Mr. Tupai, received a significant number of votes. Both runoff candidates are now eyeing those votes.

Alameda pointed out, 64% of our island voted for change, and right now were the only change option available.

Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news

Roth added, As for the other candidates who are not in the runoff, Brianni and Junior, we believe our values align with theirs, and we think many of their supporters will see that.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Biker survives in Idaho wilderness for five days by drinking creek water after crash

The leather jacket Zachary DeMoss was wearing when he got into a motorcycle accident in Idaho might have saved his life.

Its not so much that the jacket protected him during the crash. Instead, it came in handy during the days afterward, as the 24-year-old was lost in the wilderness and struggling to survive.

Too weak from his injuries to get water for himself anymore and barely able to move, he dipped the jacket in a nearby creek and then drank water out of the jacket pocket, he told CNN.

DeMoss, 24, of Missoula, Montana, spent a total of five days stranded in the mountainous Idaho wilderness after the accident before he was rescued by a family friend.

I am so happy and thankful to be alive. I struggled so much with pain and death in the woods, he told CNN. But I just kept telling myself it was either a whole lotta pain or a little bit of death, and I wasnt going to choose death.

DeMoss and his black 2000 Kawasaki Vulcan motorcycle went missing on August 12 on Highway 12 in Idaho, according to the Idaho County Sheriffs office. He had been riding with two other bikers and failed to return to their meeting spot.

Authorities teamed up with DeMoss family and friends to search a 99-mile stretch nearby, but then announced they would be downsizing their search over the coming days on August 15.

One state over in Oregon, DeMoss family friend Greg Common, 45, decided to take matters into his own hands after hearing authorities were downsizing the search.

I called my wife from work and said, Were going. And my wife began charging all my stuff up and everything and getting all my gear ready while I drove home from work. Then we headed up the mountain, Common said.

DeMoss and Commons oldest son became close friends after meeting in high school when the Commons lived in Montana.

Common thought there was a chance he could find DeMoss because he also rides motorcycles and knew the area  and he was right.

But at first, he didnt even recognize his family friend.

I had been searching. You know, Id done 30 miles the day before. I did five miles already that morning, and then I was about a mile up, so sixth mile of the day, said Common. I look over and I see this guy laying down by the creek. I didnt even recognize him so Im hollering at him. And he turns towards me and he says, Man, Ive been in a wreck. Im in a bad way. And then I realize, Im talking to Zach!

DeMoss told CNN he swerved to avoid hitting a deer and then basically flew 40 feet over a creek on his motorcycle into a grassy remote area, separated from his bike.

It happened really fast but I remember soaring through the air before I impacted, he recalled.

I managed to get water the first two days before I collapsed and was unable to move much anymore despite my best efforts to crawl back to the creek, DeMoss said.

DeMoss had a torch for starting campfires packed in his motorcycle, which couldve helped someone find him if he had been closer to his bike, according to Common.

Greg Common found Zachary DeMoss - who had been missing for five days after a motorcycle accident. DeMoss' bike was pulled out of the trees after he was rescued. - Greg Common

You dont think youre going to find them alive

For Common, DeMoss survival is a testament to his friends determination and willpower.

The sheer will that it must have taken to survive five days like that. I cant even imagine, Common said. That boy lived five days on that mountain.

He said as soon as DeMoss heard his voice, he instantly recognized the older man.

Hes like Oh, man, thank God, Common said, And so literally, hes trying to hug me. Hes like, I love you, man. And all he can move is an arm and he can move his head. The rest of him is pretty banged up.

He described experiencing a lot of elation after finding DeMoss. After five days when someones missing, in the country like that, you dont think youre going to find them alive.

Common said he discovered DeMoss in a dark hole in a pretty overgrown, forested and remote area. He was found on the Lost Creek Campground, near milepost 136 on Highway 12, according to the sheriffs office.

Common immediately used his Garmin inReach device to make an SOS call, while his wife flagged down someone in a pickup truck who contacted a DOT representative down the road. The DOT representative got in touch with emergency services, who were already on the way due to the SOS call.

Around 30 minutes later, a Life Flight helicopter was on the ground, according to Common.

I wasnt going to leave him on the mountain, he said.

DeMoss is still recovering from his injuries. He recently moved from intensive care to a regular hospital room, he told CNN.

Ruth Rickenbacher, DeMoss mother, described his injuries in a Facebook post, including a partially collapsed lung, a broken hip, and broken ribs.

Its like he was shaken like a rag doll, she wrote.

His family is also hoping to raise money for his long and expensive recovery through a verified GoFundMe.

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It was supposed to be a summer celebration.

British tech tycoon Mike Lynch had gathered his tried and trusted lawyers who had been with him every step of the way helping him emerge unscathed from a gruelling 13-year legal battle. Twelve guests had flown into the picturesque Italian port of Porticello, near Palermo from the UK, the US, Canada, New Zealand and Ireland, to mark the end of the fraud trial that had consumed much of their lives.

But now a manslaughter investigation has been launched as Mr Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah were among the seven people who died after the vessel capsized during bad weather in the early hours of Monday morning.

The yacht Bayesian (left), before it sank (Fabio La Bianca) (PA Media)

Morgan Stanley chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judith Bloomer, Clifford Chance lawyer Christopher Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo also died.

Italian public prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio, from nearby town Termini Imerese said his office has opened an initial investigation into manslaughter and negligent shipwreck.

The group had been welcomed on board the six luxurious suites of Bayesian, a 56-metre-long 30 million superyacht, by the ten crew. Boasting the tallest aluminium mast in the world - higher than Nelsons Column - experts now speculate it may have caused her to topple and become pinned underwater in an unpredictable, ferocious storm.

The ship was named after the statistical method, the Bayesian inference, an 18th-century theory that helps forecasters predict outcomes more reliably. Mr Lynch based his entire PHD thesis around it, later amassing his huge fortune after selling his company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard for $11 billion in 2011.

He had improbably beaten the odds in a bitter US legal dispute with the technology giant, convincing a jury that he was not guilty of claims of massive fraud after a long legal fight that finally came to an end in June. Two months ago he emerged from court with tears in his eyes a free man he pledged to restructure extradition laws that brought him to the US in cuffs.

Mike Lynch is one of six missing tourists after the Bayesian luxury yacht sank in a tornado off the coast of Sicily (PA Archive)

Disaster struck at around 5am when a freak tornado over the sea known as a waterspout rocked the superyacht, according to Sicilys civil protection agency. The crew fired off disaster flares causing local fishermen and others to navigate the storm to come to the aid of survivors.

The captain of a nearby boat said that when the winds surged, he had turned on the engine to keep control of his vessel and avoid a collision with the Bayesian, which had been anchored alongside him.

We managed to keep the ship in position and after the storm was over, we noticed that the ship behind us was gone, Karsten Borner said.

(PA Graphics)

The other boat went flat on the water, and then down, he added. He said his crew then found some of the survivors on a life raft and took them on board before the coast guard picked them up.

This included a one-year-old girl named Sophie one of the 16 survivors, so far.

Her mother, Charlotte Golunski, 36, told how she battled to keep her child above the dark and raging Mediterranean while calling for help amid the awful piercing screams of other struggling guests and crew.

Captain Karsten Borner rescued the survivors (REUTERS)

For two seconds I lost the baby in the sea, then I immediately held her again in the fury of the waves, she told Giornale di Sicilia. I held her tightly, tightly to me, while the sea was raging. So many were screaming. Fortunately, the lifeboat inflated and 11 of us managed to get on it.

This left six passengers unaccounted for - Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter, Morgan Stanley International non-executive chairman Jonathan Bloomer, Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo, and their wives Judy and Neda.

The worn-out Captain of the yacht, James Catfield said simply: We didnt see it coming.

Divers try to reach the wreck in a crucial 24 hours (EPA)

The wind was very strong. Bad weather was expected, but not of this magnitude, a coast guard official in the Sicilian capital Palermo said the next day.

Local fisherman Giuseppe Cefalu told how he saw a tornado close to the port on Monday morning. Mr Cefalu said he and his brother Fabio saw a flare in the sky at around 5am.

The pair aided efforts to locate people in the water after the yacht vanished beneath the waves, but Mr Cefalu said he only saw cushions and a buoy.

He said weather conditions on the morning of the sinking were fierce, with very strong wind and rain.

The Bayesians huge mast may have contributed to the disaster experts believe (EPA)

The luxury superyacht is practically intact on the seabed despite sinking, Marco Tilotta, a firefighter diver from Palermo, has told Italian newspaper Il Messaggero.

He said in an interview that the multi-million yacht was lying on its side at a depth of 48 metres, but that divers were unable to gain access because of floating furnishings and other debris inside the yacht.

The fear is that the bodies got trapped inside the vessel, which was lying 49 metres deep, Salvatore Cocina, head of civil protection in Sicily, added.

The biggest difficulty we have is due to the depth, which does not allow long times of intervention, fire department diver Marco Tilotta told reporters. We plan ... to search centimetre by centimetre.

Now they enter a critical 24 hours according to Nick Sloane, a lead diver in the Costa Concordia wreck. He told Sky News that survivors might be trapped in air pockets inside the ship, but that time is running out fast to rescue them.

Theyve got a very small window of time to try to find people stuck inside with hopefully an air pocket, and they could be rescued.

If the yacht is on its side, it might have more air pockets than if its upright. Shes got quite a large keel, and that will deflect and put her on her side, Im sure.
As a high schooler, Jereme Peterson probably had no idea his future would hold a series of agonizing dialysis sessions, extreme weight loss and waiting on the brink of death for a kidney donor.



However, he didnt know that 25 years later, it would be one of his classmates that came to his rescue.

The 42-year-old federal corrections officer tells KHOU that after three years of 10-hour daily dialysis treatments, his health was not improving. When he asked his doctors what would happen if he stopped his appointments, he told reporters the doctors replied, You got two months to live. Get your affairs in order.

Peterson said he had no choice but to seek his only option left: join the lengthy waiting list for a kidney transplant. According to the American Kidney Fund, most Americans wait three to five years for a donor. Peterson said he wasnt sure how much time he had left. At the time he weighed 315 pounds and his kidney function had declined to two percent.

In desperation, Peterson said he took to social media pleading for help in locating a donor. Unbeknownst to him, the post happened to come upon the algorithm of a person he hadnt seen in over two decades, a white woman named Angelina Attaway.

Attaway told KHOU she recognized Peterson as her high school classmate from Blountstown, Fla. She said she anonymously contacted Medical City Dallas with her interest in donating her kidney and made her arrangements for the procedure. By complete coincidence, or what some would call divine timing, she ran into Peterson the day before the surgery in the hospital lobby.

Im like, What are you in Dallas for? said Peterson to KHOU. Attaway said she told him she had his kidney.

Time just stopped and then when she told me she was my donor, time really stopped, Peterson told reporters.

Dr. Tiffany Anthony conducted procedure which she said went smoothly, especially because Peterson was able to locate a living donor, per KHOUs report. The other reason, of course, is the fact we dont see many white people donating organs to Black people. A 2022 report from The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine found Black people are three times more likely to suffer from kidney failure, wait longer for donors and are even less likely to receive transplants.

Given the documented disparities, Petersons story gives hope. The report said he is responding well to his new organ and Attaway checks in on him from time to time. Now, the two arent just reconnected by social media. They share a part of each other.

Its like weve become family in a way. We share a body part, you know, so, we always say, Hows our kidney doing? said Attaway via KHOU.

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The number of Black people with charges filed against them in Washingtons courts last year was about 2.5 times greater than their share of the states population  largely due to misdemeanor charges, which are considered less serious crimes.

Thats according to a new online data dashboard released this month by the Washington State Center for Court Research.

The dashboard also shows that the number of Native Americans with charges filed against them in Washingtons courts last year was about two times greater than their share of the states population. For Native women, the disparity was even larger, at around three times their share of the population. Latino people, too, are overrepresented in the legal system, at 1.5 times their share of the population.

It goes without saying that the United States has a long history of discrimination particularly to the Black and Indigenous communities, said Frank Thomas, an analyst for the Washington State Minority and Justice Commission. This is an ages-long, generations-long issue of overrepresentation in the criminal legal system.

Thomas said that historically, the representation of Black Americans in prisons nationwide  going as far back as 1890 - has been around 3 times their share of the population.

Theres a lot of consistency  an alarming amount of consistency  of overrepresentation of Black Americans in the criminal legal system, Thomas said.

According to 2021 data, Washington incarcerated Indigenous people at more than six times the rate of white people and Black people at 5.7 times the rate of white people.

The most common charge contributing to racial disparities, particularly for Latino people, is criminal traffic violations. Thomas said people often think of criminal justice in the context of very serious harm, but the data suggests disparities are largely driven by minor legal violations, like driving with a suspended license.

That often affects low-income people, who are more likely to be Black, Native or Latino. Thomas gave the example of someone who cant afford to stop driving their vehicle to work or take a day off to appear for a court date, resulting in additional criminal convictions.

Criminal justice advocates in Washington have pushed lawmakers to pass legislation preventing police from stopping drivers over minor issues like expired tabs and broken tail lights unless there is an immediate safety risk, but a bill to do so failed to receive a hearing this year.

Charges against Black individuals would have to be reduced by 64% to achieve parity across the state, according to data from the last quarter of 2023. Charges against Native people would need to fall by 55% and charges against Latino people by 37%.

Karl Jones, the court systems researcher who created the dashboard, said he hopes the data sparks conversations about how to reduce disparities across the states localities, rather than taking disparity for granted as the natural course of things. County-level data for the past decade is available on the dashboard, as well as data by court level.

Whats driving disparity in one place may not be driving disparity in another, Jones said.
Body of 22-year-old Sheboygan area man recovered from Wolf River in New London

The body of a 22-year-old Sheboygan area man was recovered Saturday morning, hours after he fell off the Pearl Street bridge in New London, according to a news release from the New London Police Department.

At 12:58 a.m., the New London Police Department received a call that the man had fallen off the bridge. His friends witnessed the fall, went into the water to try to save him but were unsuccessful, police said.

The New London police and fire departments, the Waupaca County Dive team, and the Waupaca and Outagamie counties sheriff's offices also unsuccessfully tried to find him. A drone was used to search the water.

In the morning, the Brown County Dive Team and its sonar equipment arrived to help.

At about 10:55 a.m., the Waupaca County Dive Team found the man's body in the Wolf River, not far from where he went into the water, according to the New London Police Department.

Police are not releasing his name while they work to notify his next of kin.

Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or cathy.kozlowicz@jrn.com. Follow her on X at @kozlowicz_cathy.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Sheboygan area man dies after fall from New London bridge
The astronauts intended to spend only around a week in space but have now been in orbit since June 5.

The Boeing Starliner astronauts who are stuck in space will remain in orbit until February before returning home on SpaceXs Crew Dragon capsule, NASA said Saturday.

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams traveled to space on June 5  80 days ago  for what was supposed to be around a weeklong mission. More than two months later, the astronauts are aboard the International Space Station awaiting a return date to Earth. The reason for the delay, NASA said, is helium leaks and thruster issues in the Starliner.

NASA previously insisted that Wilmore and Williams are not stranded in space and said the Starliner could return to Earth in case of an emergency. Their spacecraft is working well, and they're enjoying their time on the space station, Steve Stich, NASA's Commercial Crew Program manager, said in June.

But on Saturday, NASA announced that Wilmore and Williams will depart with SpaceXs Crew Dragon spacecraft as part of the space organizations commitment to safety. The Starliner will return to Earth unpiloted and could land in New Mexico as early as Sept. 6.

Why did NASA come to this decision?

NASA had two options to bring the astronauts home. The first option was to send them back on Boeings Starliner, which would mean NASA had found it safe to deliver Wilmore and Williams safely back to Earth.

However, there was a second option, which NASA ultimately decided to go with: send the astronauts back home via SpaceXs Crew Dragon, which will depart from the station in February 2025. Crew Dragon is expected to launch on Sept. 24 as part of a routine astronaut rotation mission, and it will have two seats available for Wilmore and Williams to use. This means that their time in space will be stretched from the planned eight or so days to more than nine months.

Ultimately, NASA couldnt be certain that the Boeing spacecraft was safe enough to bring the astronauts home.

Space flight is risky, even at its safest and even at its most routine, and a test flight by nature is neither safe nor routine, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said at Saturdays press conference. The decision to keep Butch and Suni aboard the International Space Station and bring the Boeing Starliner home uncrewed is a result of a commitment to safety. Our core value is safety, and it is our North Star, and I'm grateful to NASA and to Boeing for their teams, for all the incredible and detailed work to get to this decision.

NASA has the right to be cautious, since accidents have occurred in the past  something that NASA alluded to during the Saturday press conference. Three major disasters  the Apollo 1 fire in 1967, the Challenger explosion in 1986 and the Columbia disintegration in 2003  have led to the deaths of 17 astronauts.
Editor's note: This story was updated at 9:15 p.m. Saturday.

The McElwain fire by McElwain Creek 6 miles west of Helmville in Powell County is at 176 acres, state officials said Saturday evening.

It is 0% contained and its cause remains undetermined, officials said.

The fire, reported 12:42 p.m. Friday, is burning in grass and timber on private and Bureau of Land Management property under Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) wildland fire protection, the DNRC said. It is comprised of two adjacent fires, a north fire, and a south fire. Officials estimated the cost of fighting the fire so far at $10,000.

A control line has been established by heavy equipment around the south fire and work will continue Saturday to improve that line. Access to the north fire is difficult for heavy equipment, so firefighters will also be focusing on improving that, the DNRC said.

A Type 3 incident commander and resources four engines, one Type 2 hand crew, two water tenders, three skidgines, two dozers, and one Type 2 DNRC helicopter are assigned to the blaze.

State officials said weather Saturday will be partly cloudy with slight chance of showers. They said hazy conditions in the afternoon are expected with temperatures in the mid-70s with westerly winds ranging from 5-15 mph. Higher relative humidity in the area was expected to help moderate fire behavior. Winds are expected to decrease Sunday, which will also be welcome news for firefighters, the DNRC said.

The Powell County Sheriffs Office has issued evacuation warnings to residents in the immediate area of the fire, specifically the Ledger Road area. Officials said this is a limited warning. Powell County is now in Stage 1 fire restrictions.

Also burning nearby, the Hoodoo fire is a two- to three-acre lightning-caused fire on Hoodoo Mountain southeast of Helmville burning in heavy dead and down timber in steep and difficult to access terrain, the DNRC said. Strong winds prohibited delivery of aerial firefighters (heli-rappelers and smokejumpers) Friday, but bucket drops by a Type 2 helicopter as weather allowed were able to dampen the fire.

Fire managers are planning to use heli-rappelers (firefighters who rappel out of a helicopter near the fire) to fight the fire if weather conditions allow.

The Weasel Fire, just west of the McElwain Fire, is another suspected lightning start and is 0.1 acres, the DNRC said. Firefighters are still working to access that fire from the ground. Both fires are on BLM land under DNRC wildland fire protection.

Another fire south of Elevation Mountain in the Top O Deep area was detected earlier Saturday and resources are enroute.

Residents and visitors are asked to be extra careful when outdoors to limit human caused sparks. Visit www.MTFireInfo.org for fire restriction information and fire prevention tips.
No one knew the burning construction vehicle could become a bomb.

Not the driver who tried to douse it with an extinguisher. Not the workers who sent water gushing onto the engine. And not Andrew Pontious, an L.A. County firefighter dispatched to the Palmdale quarry on June 14.

Pontious had sprayed water near the vehicle for about two minutes when one of its nearly 7-foot tires exploded, according to a Fire Department analysis completed this month.

Hunks of rubber and steel shot the length of a football field. Pontious, 53, died instantly.

It was like an IED, David Pontious, Andrews brother who worked at the same Palmdale fire station before retiring this spring, said, referring to an improvised explosive device, as a roadside bomb in a war zone is known.

Its common for tires to blow out in a fire, with pressure building until the air whooshes out with a loud pop.

But, sometimes, the tire doesnt blow  it explodes. The air inside the tire combines with the heat, starting a chemical reaction powerful enough to create a violent shock wave. The larger the tire, the bigger the blast.

Its shrapnel. Its just like a bomb. Its the same principle," said Olivier Bellavigna-Ladoux, a mechanical engineer who specializes in vehicle safety.

In the niche world of vehicle safety engineers, it was a known risk  rare but lethal. To firefighters across California, the threat was essentially unheard of until highlighted by Pontious' death.

This month, L.A. County fire officials issued a safety notice instructing firefighters to keep a distance from burning heavy-equipment vehicles. Fire departments in the city of Los Angeles, Orange County and San Bernardino County, as well as the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, sent the notice to their members, who, combined, include thousands of California firefighters.

There was no knowledge that these kinds of big tires could blow in such a way that could kill someone, said David Pontious, 55. It was just a freak accident.

The nearly 7-foot tire on the quarry's construction vehicle, pictured above, exploded after the engine caught fire June 14. (Los Angeles County Fire Department)

Rescuing people from burning buildings was perhaps the least notable thing about Andrew Pontious.

He was, first and foremost, an outdoorsman.

As a teen, he disappeared for entire weekends, telling his family he planned to melt into the mountains. He loved to hunt and cook, sometimes combining the two passions at the fire station by serving quail enchiladas, the poultry fresh from a recent hunt. In his spare time, he was a caretaker at a refuge for bighorn sheep, traipsing into the woods in the middle of the night to check on the water supply.

Pontious had resisted becoming a firefighter like his older brother. But in his early 30s, his job helping a lumber company avoid trees with spotted owls started to feel like a dead end.

He fought fires out of Rosemead and El Monte for about a decade before his brother convinced him to come to Palmdale. Fire Station 93 was inconveniently located, about 70 miles from the Upland home he shared with his wife, Kim, and his stepdaughter, along with their hunting dog, four cats and a desert tortoise. But the station was known for the intensity of its calls  grassland fires, stabbings, a cat stuck in a tree that turned out to be a mountain lion.

For nine years, the brothers worked together, David as the captain and Andrew the perennial firefighter, never interested in moving up the ranks.

Andrew just wanted to fight fires until his planned retirement next year. And he was usually the first to arrive.

Pontious and his crew pulled up to the quarry at 2:06 p.m.

Four minutes earlier, one of the construction vehicle's rear tires had exploded, cracking the windshield of a nearby truck and sending quarry workers rushing back.

In the chaos, nobody told the firefighters at the scene about that first tire explosion, said Dave Gillotte, head of the L.A. County firefighters union. And nobody told them the vehicle had been burning since at least 1:38 p.m.

If the knowledge of the tire exploding and how long it had been burning were accurate and up-front, I know that our firefighters would have absolutely altered [the response], said Gillotte, who interviewed the firefighters at the quarry that day.

The longer a tire is exposed to heat, the more likely an explosion becomes, said Bellavigna-Ladoux, the mechanical engineer.

This was science that the fire department only learned in the aftermath.

I never was taught that there was a shock wave that comes out of a tire explosion, said L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone. Had I been the firefighter on Engine 93 that afternoon, I truly believe I would have been doing the same thing that firefighter Pontious was doing  and I would have been killed.

The fire department analysis of the incident noted that officials could find very little information on the effect of fire on large tires.

The safety notice the department issued after Pontious death instructs firefighters never to get within 15 feet of a burning heavy equipment vehicle  and to come within 50 feet only to rescue someone. The department gave similar guidance for tractor and trailer fires.

Patricia Dolez, a scientist whose study on tire explosions is cited in the L.A. County safety notice, said few workers who operate large vehicles  namely miners and truck drivers  are aware of the risk. The Palmdale driver's first reaction was to try to extinguish the fire, she noted, even as the sparks spread.

Dolez said her study was commissioned nearly two decades ago by a Quebec research institute after several truck drivers were killed by exploding tires. Following Pontious death, the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration advised that if a vehicle starts smoking, miners should retreat and wait for emergency responders.

Its less clear what those responders are supposed to do, said Stephen Gilman, a vice president with the International Association of Fire Fighters.

Gilman said the association, which represents 345,000 firefighters and first responders nationwide, is hoping for some national guidance for the people who will run toward the fire.

Miners are "not going to be putting out their own fires, Gilman said. That leaves the only option of calling 911.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and former president Donald Trump's relationship has been rocky, to say the least. The pair have butted heads for years.

But now that Musk has somehow emerged as Trump's number-one fan, the situation is looking dramatically different.

When asked by Reuters earlier this week whether he would consider appointing Musk to a cabinet or advisory role, Trump had a straightforward answer.

"He's a very smart guy," he said. "I certainly would, if he would do it, I certainly would. He's a brilliant guy."

Musk appeared to be amused by the suggestion, tweeting "I am willing to serve" in response. An AI-generated picture appended to the tweet imagined the mercurial CEO as the head of the fictitious "Department of Government Efficiency."

To some, that wouldn't be going far enough. In a divisive opinion piece published in the Wall Street Journal, historian and author Arthur Herman argued that Musk should be made the head of  no, we are not kidding  NASA.

"The right choice for Mr. Musks talents and vision is obvious," Herman wrote.

Needless to say, it's a harebrained idea that could doom the space agency. For one, Musk's well-documented hatred of government intervention  despite his space venture relying on billions of dollars worth of government contracts  should disqualify him.

And even ignoring the preposterous conflict of interest of running the agency responsible for bankrolling SpaceX, there's the sheer lack of time he'd be able to commit to running NASA. Musk is already spread incredibly thin across his ventures, and he's garnered a reputation for poor time management, causing some of his ventures to atrophy while his attention is taken up by micromanaging other businesses.

In other words, Musk has far too much on his plate already  so appointing him to a high-up government position likely wouldn't end well.

According to Herman, Musk would "breathe new life into an agency struggling to rediscover its sense of national purpose."

But whether NASA even needs to do that remains debatable. The agency has pushed hard in its renewed efforts to return humans to the Moon as part of its Artemis program and has been rallying behind the development of cutting-edge space observation technologies, like the agency's groundbreaking James Webb Space Telescope.

Herman also cites the ongoing Starliner crisis as a reason for NASA being "in shambles."

"NASA staff are weighed down by a bureaucratic agenda that seems more interested in meeting diversity, equity and inclusion requirements than advancing America in space," he wrote, referencing a common regressive talking point.

Needless to say, arguing that the space agency's downfall is due to its DEI practices is downright racist and highlights the kind of rhetoric Musk himself has used during his own racist tirades on X-formerly-Twitter.

While it's fair to say that NASA has been bogged down by bureaucracy, pinning its failings on its DEI practices perhaps highlights Herman's real intentions: pushing a private industry-first and highly politicized, pro-Trump agenda.

Is Musk really the man for the job, who could "inspire a new generation of explorers and entrepreneurs," as Herman suggests?

Given his abhorrent behavior and impulsive way of thinking, Musk could prove highly destabilizing if he were in charge of the space agency.

And that's the very last thing NASA needs right now: a polarizing figure that would prove far more of a source of distraction than some much-needed consistency in leadership.

Besides, Musk's mocking tone in his recent tweet about being "willing to serve" suggests he'd be unlikely to accept such an offer anyway.

More on Elon: Lord Have Mercy, Cybertrucks Are About to Get "Full Self-Driving"
ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo.  A woman allegedly stole more than $5,000 while serving as a chairperson for a St. Charles County high school booster club.

The St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorneys Office has charged Amanda Ashby, 38, of St. Peters with two felony counts of stealing and one felony count of forgery.

According to court documents obtained by FOX 2, two members of the booster club reported to police last year that Ashby kept more than $2,000 collected from a craft fair in 2022, rather than turning it over to the club.

Missouri man admits murdering 14-year-old as revenge for sons death

Per court documents, Ashby also collected funds for a 2023 craft fair, which was later canceled. She reportedly failed to return more than $3,000 collected after the event was canceled.

Questioned by a police officer in September 2023, Ashby claimed she inadvertently mixed the craft fair funds with her personal funds. Per court documents, she informed police of separate savings account for the craft fair and advice from an accountant to not return funds until after the 2023 craft fair for tax purposes.

Court documents state, based on an investigative subpoena, that police could not trace a savings account specifically for the craft fair. Furthermore, documents state that the alleged accountant denied any ties to the craft fair and an associated email account with was traced back to Ashby.

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According to court documents, 38 people who paid for the canceled 2023 craft fair did not receive refunds. Between the 2022 event and the canceled 2023 events, Ashby is accused of stealing $5,335.

Ashby has a criminal summons hearing scheduled for Oct. 11, per Missouri court records.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
John Paul Johnston, a Leeds butcher, says Labour has 'gone the wrong way' - Lorne Campbell/Guzelian

Its 25 degrees and sunny outside, but steam still billows from the soup pots in Age UKs kitchen in central Leeds.

Social over Soup has been running weekly in the city since October, attracting an eclectic mix of over-50s.

Today is no exception as they gather around tables devouring warm bowls of food and enjoy a peaceful chat a world away from the hectic high street nearby.

Around one in six pensioners across Leeds were among Englands lowest paid when working, according to official statistics.

In Harehills, in the east of the city and just a stones throw from the kitchen, fewer than 1pc of pensioners had a top paying job, ranking it the second lowest out of almost 7,000 areas. Nearby suburbs Holbeck and Chapeltown report similar numbers.

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Organiser Jacqui Lawson says politics isnt often discussed at the socials, but it is today  and the Governments performance is firmly under the microscope.

Volunteer Derek Hughes, 67, says: I think that most Labour voters in Leeds have probably been satisfied that they got what they want, but they have probably been conned.

They [Labour] are bringing in policies that werent in the manifesto. We paid tax to create the pension and theyre going to hammer us. I pay enough tax on my work pension. I pay an awful lot on my Forces pension. Now theyre going to tax my state pension, Im going to have to live on my savings as well.

This is no country for old men.

Derek Hughes, 67, fears Labour's hammering of pensioners will mean he has to use his savings just to get by - Lorne Campbell/Guzelian

This is a political attack

Roy, 76 and a lifelong Labour voter, is incensed about impending cuts to winter fuel payments.

One of the Governments first announcements was that the payments, worth up to 300 a year, will only be paid to those also on pension credit. Many pensioners on low incomes will not qualify as a result.

Roy says: I called for a Labour government, but that doesnt mean theyre doing what they should be doing. They shouldnt be cutting the winter fuel payment. Thats a political attack. Its going to make it more difficult to pay energy bills.

The older you get, the more you feel the cold. My thermostat is up at 23 or 24 degrees. Any lower and I dont feel comfortable. Who knows what the weather is doing. We might get a mild winter, but it could be a really fierce winter.

This is also a major concern for Steve, 67. He has rheumatoid arthritis in his legs, a condition exacerbated by the cold. Hes already donning his fleece jacket when sitting at home.

He says: My boiler has been working fine all winter, but its not working now. I wont be able to get a new one. I dont know what I will do. I have some savings, but I will have nothing left for a rainy day.

It makes me feel vulnerable when Im cold. I dont know how to use the internet, I dont have a mobile phone, just a landline. It literally frightens me when its cold.

Were paying to keep the train drivers happy

Jacqui takes a break from serving to talk about Labours decision, which will cost 10 million pensioners hundreds of pounds each at the coldest time of the year.

I just think some people will really lose out on that. It went on fleeces and electric blankets.

Every time we get a change of government, they close a programme. It just feels like two steps forward and five steps back.

Every penny counts here, a sentiment reflected in the citys election results  its a Labour stronghold.

All seven Leeds constituencies have Labour MPs. Three more overlap with the city, but only the Conservatives Wetherby and Easingwold seat didnt go red. Almost two thirds of the councils 99 seats are occupied by Labour.

Elaine Hughes is not among Labours voters and makes this clear when she joins the conversation. Chancellor Rachel Reeves, whos been a Leeds MP since 2010, is mentioned almost immediately.

Elaine Hughes believes Labour won't last its five-year term - Lorne Campbell/Guzelian

The money she took off for the winter fuel allowance has gone to pay train drivers. Its the only one we get from the Government. Is it going to be bus passes next? Ive got no time for the Labour Party. I think theyre a waste of space.

I dont think this Labour government will last five years. I think people will see what theyre really like and turn against them.

However, the removal of the winter fuel payment isnt the only issue concerning the group.

Derek says the NHS is a mess after years of mismanagement. Steve is worried because hes just found out his state pension might soon become taxable  frozen income tax allowances and a projected 4.5pc rise in April 2025 mean many pensioners will receive more than the 12,570 personal allowance.

Roy, 76, isnt convinced by Labours plans for Great British Energy and wants the entire energy industry renationalised. The cost of living is also hitting him hard.

My feeling is my food prices have definitely gone up. Im going to find out the hard way whether I can afford it.

A lot of people will soon be suffering

Nearby Kirkgate Market attracts more than 100,000 visitors a year. Its where long-time Tory voter John Paul Johnston runs a butchers shop, surrounded by chops, chicken and attractively priced pork pies. Hes happy to share his views during the lunchtime rush.

Theyve [Labour] have surprised me. I always vote Conservative. [Labour] has come down quick and hard on rioters. They have surprised me how well they have done, but I still probably wont vote for them.

His views are less balanced on the winter fuel payment cut.

Thats going the wrong way I think. Theres going to be a lot of people suffering. Theres a lot been paying into the Government for years. [Even] if you dont have money in the bank, you wont get the payment. Its awful. Everyone should get it at that age.

Mr Johnston says Labour's policy is plain wrong: 'All pensioners should get the fuel payment' - Lorne Campbell/Guzelian

Another market trader is clearly no fan of Sir Keir Starmers changed Labour Party.

Theyve only been in five weeks and they have got rid of the 300 winter fuel allowance. Starmers gone after rioters, but given in to the unions.

Wheres all the money coming from? Everyone should get a better wage, but wheres it coming from? It will hit the poor in society again.

When I was a young lad, Labour were the party of the working class, but not any more. Theyre champagne socialists. They dont talk for working people.

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Labour won a landslide election victory based on a manifesto entitled Change  and plenty of older people voted for it.

But for many, the only change they have seen is hundreds of pounds being taken from their pockets, with winter on the horizon.

The elderly residents of Leeds may have put their faith in Labour, but they already feel left out in the cold.

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BEREA, Ohio (WKBN)  The Cleveland Browns officially traded defensive tackle Chris Williams and a 2025 7th-round draft pick to the Chicago Bears on Saturday.

In exchange, Cleveland receives a 2025 6th-round draft choice.

In two preseason games with Cleveland this summer, Williams tallied a pair of sacks.

Williams was signed to the Browns practice squad last season and later signed a futures deal with the team back in January.

The 26-year-old originally signed with the Indianapolis Colts in 2020 as an undrafted free agent out of Wagner. He appeared in 13 games with the Colts in 2021 and 2022.

Williams later spent time on the practice squad of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Ryan Busse outlines his policy positions at a news conference at the Montana State Capitol on Jan. 23, 2024. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan)

Ryan Busse outlines his policy positions at a news conference at the Montana State Capitol on Jan. 23, 2024. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan)

Money talks, as the old saying goes, and right now it may be telling the story that Republicans are more vulnerable than previously thought, according to fundraising reports and a political scientist.

On Wednesday, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ryan Busse, who is challenging Republican incumbent Greg Gianforte, announced its campaign had raised more money during the previous quarter than Gianforte, notable for several reasons.

Gianforte, a multi-millionaire, has largely been able to bankroll his own elections to both Congress and the governorship. However, his donations havent kept pace with his opponent, who has been hammering on the message of property taxes, which have hit many Treasure State residents hard.

In official campaign finance reports filed with the State of Montana, Busse reports $525,533 raised from June 15 through Aug. 15, not including more than $135,000 it transferred from its primary account to the general election account. In that same period, Gianforte raised $355,404 for the general election but that number does not include $94,302 received for his primary account.

In other words, Busse hauled $170,129 more than Gianforte in the most recent quarter if transfers and primary contributions arent counted.

Even though Busse showed larger fund-raising results during the quarter, the incumbent governor still sits on substantially more cash than his Democratic opponent by a wide margin. In the same report, Gianforte reported having $745,819 on hand to Busses $234,302.

Paul Pope, associate professor of political science at Montana State University-Billings, said that Busses recent fundraising success could be the result of several different influences, including Gianfortes vulnerability on statewide issues, or the surge of enthusiasm that was created when U.S. President Joe Biden decided to step aside, allowing Vice President Kamala Harris to emerge.

Pope said Gianforte is vulnerable because of the deeply unpopular property increases, despite a program to offer rebates of as much as $675 to homeowners per year.

That decision on property taxes has rankled Republican members of Gianfortes party as county-level Republicans have been frustrated by Gianforte, who theyve said has lied about out-of-control spending at the local level. It hasnt been the first time that Republicans have been alienated by the governor.

Thats where (Gianforte) is losing people, Pope said. The tax cuts and his hype about the property taxes just doesnt match the follow through.

Last year, Republicans in the Legislature struck a deal with Democrats on how to allocate funding from recreational marijuana taxes, which included support for veterans and wildlife habitat. That measure was vetoed by Gianforte, which upset many members of his own party, and also led to a protracted legal battle and unsuccessful veto override. That strongly bipartisan deal included additional money for county roads, a perennial challenge for county governments across the state.

Gianfortes popularity, especially in a state that has trended toward increasingly conservative candidates and a Republican supermajority in the Legislature, has been stalled. Gianforte has consistently showed a neutral favorability rating in a state where every major office holder is a Republican and only one statewide Democrat, incumbent U.S. Sen. Jon Tester faces a tough challenger in Bozeman businessman Tim Sheehy.

I think Gianforte may be taking for granted who he is  that hes a Republican in a Republican state, Pope said.

Popes department leads the Mountain States Polling project at MSU-B, which conducted a survey of Montana prior to the primary election, and will conduct another poll this fall in October, closer to Election Day.

He said that the momentum for the Democrats has been positive since Biden stepped aside, Harris selection and her selection of Tim Walz. Also, that the topic of abortion is on the ballot could also factor into the fundraising.

All that energy at the top, Pope said, That excitement opens up purse strings. You can feel the energy.

Still, as successful as one quarter of fund-raising may be for Busse, Pope warned that history is also a powerful indicator, and Democrats have underperformed in statewide races recently. Moreover, Montanans have to be convinced to vote for a Democrat, and that takes an all-of-the-above strategy, Pope said.

The question is: Does Busse have enough time? Pope said. He has to use every tool in the arsenal. Hes got to take to the air game with advertisement, the ground game with door knocking and become visible.

However, he said, the consistently neutral favorability rating of Gianforte, a Republican in a Republican-dominated state recently, spells trouble.

Hes incredibly vulnerable. Hes not expecting to be, so the question is: Can Busse tap into it? Pope said. The Democratic Party has been extremely lackluster in getting good candidates, so many time the good ones are on their own.
The raging wildfires that have become a mainstay in certain California communities are not only devastating family dwellings  they are also impeding Californians from procuring the insurance necessary to protect these homes in the future.

Aiming to both quell soaring prices and bring back firms that have left the Golden State, regulators are proposing sweeping reforms that they believe could revive a competitive insurance market.

While experts agree that the status quo may no longer be sustainable, opinions remain divided on the merits of the proposed changes  which some fear could drive up prices further.

The situation is hurting consumers badly, Amy Bach, executive director of the consumer advocacy group United Policyholders, told The Hill.

It doesnt feel like its going to resolve on its own, Bach added.

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara last week called for public input on the final phase of his wildfire modeling regulation, which is many months in the making and has sparked significant debate.

Laras strategy would update Proposition 103, a 1988 ballot measure that served to protect consumers from arbitrary insurance rates and practices and encouraged a competitive and fair marketplace, according to the Insurance Commission.

Proposition 103 determined that rate changes could only occur with the authorization of the commissioner, while also establishing a public participation process in which so-called intervenors could provide technical input and recover associated costs.

Laras office said in a press statement that his update aims to close a loophole in Proposition 103: Insurance firms today can request rates at any level to help compensate for an increased risk of losses but are not required to cover all Californians.

The new regulation, in contrast, would require companies to insure properties in distressed regions at a rate equivalent to 85 percent of the firms statewide market share.

In addition, the proposal would incorporate the states first use of catastrophe modeling, localized simulations of potential risk based on historical analyses and probabilistic calculations that such events will occur in the future.

Whether relying upon such simulations, also known as cat models, would end up lowering or raising consumer rates, however, is a matter of contention.

Those in favor of employing these tools argue that other states have long done so and that proactive efforts to adapt California homes to a changing climate could mitigate risk.

Over the past several years, the state has put billions toward wildfire mitigation efforts and homeowners have made significant investments in home hardening, Lara said in a statement.

This is not accounted for by our existing retrospective, past-focused models for ratemaking, the commissioner continued. We want consumers to reap the full benefits of these efforts through modern, forward-looking models on how rates are calculated.

But others are far less certain that the models would account for such improvements  especially because the technology is often proprietary.

Bach cited catastrophe models as a reason for her muted enthusiasm about Laras proposal. Yet she expressed willingness to let the commissioners sustainable insurance strategy go into place.

If it doesnt work, then I guess we go back to the drawing board, Bach said, expressing approval for the mandatory coverage component of the regulation.

Bach stressed that thus far, she has seen no indication that catastrophe models, when applied to wildfire-prone areas, are accounting for active mitigation efforts in price determinations. She also expressed concern that wildfire models are much newer than those for, say, hurricanes.

We are nervous, she continued. The reality is that prices are so high already, and affordability is so low right now.

Nonetheless, Bach acknowledged that Californias lack of catastrophe models was contributing to the exodus of insurance companies from the state. Beginning in 2022 and 2023, many big firms stopped offering services to new customers, often citing wildfire risk.

The writing was on the wall that cat models are going to come to California, just for practical reasons, she acknowledged.

Were glad at least theres a quid pro quo  that as a condition of insurers getting to use cat models, they also have to pledge to insure more homes in the areas that have been abandoned, Bach added.

Harvey Rosenfield, founder of Consumer Watchdog and the author of Proposition 103, decried the use of proprietary catastrophe models that have not been subject to public review as completely unjust, untested and unreliable.

Models are cloaked in the guise of technological infallibility, but they are drafted, theyre written, theyre controlled by humans, Rosenfield told The Hill.

He also argued that their use would violate provisions of the voter-approved Proposition 103, because this would deny consumers their legal right to examine the details of these models.

Nobody has the power to rewrite Proposition 103 to eliminate its protections, Rosenfield added.

The applicability of catastrophe models to wildfire risk assessments was one focal point in a June 2024 working paper about the adaptation of insurance markets to a changing climate. Although these models have improved the ability of insurers to gauge wildfire risk, the resultant projections remain inherently uncertain, according to the paper, published by the National Bureau of Economic Research.

The modern catastrophe models bring a lot of value to insurance pricing and rate setting, co-author Judson Boomhower, assistant professor of economics at the University of California San Diego School of Social Sciences, told The Hill.

They give you a much more nuanced view of risk for a given property or a given area, added Boomhower, who is also a faculty research fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research.

That more detailed vantage point, he explained, is more sophisticated than the backward-looking historical rate-setting methods that insurers have been required to use in California.

Nonetheless, Boomhower also recognized that catastrophe models are sort of a black box due to their proprietary nature and resultant questions of transparency.

Those are legitimate challenges for regulators to think about, but at a high level, this is the best scientific method for assessing catastrophe risk, he said.

Boomhower described Florida as a little bit ahead of California from this perspective, as the state requires companies to give regulators some insight into how their individual models work.

In the working paper, Boomhower and his colleagues reconstructed pricing formulas used in California by six major insurers  combining data from company-provided premiums with proprietary information from about 100,000 households.

The authors found that following the 2017 and 2018 wildfire seasons, both premiums and the rate of policy cancellations in high-risk areas surged. They also observed increasing reliance on the states quasi-private insurer of last resort  called California FAIR  the basic but expensive property insurance provided when traditional coverage is unavailable.

Among the papers key findings was the fact that insurers exhibited striking variation in how firms priced wildfire risk, with some only divided the market roughly, at the zip-code-level, and pricing risk at a more granular level  using catastrophe models.

Theres tons of heterogeneity in wildfire loss risk, even within zip codes or even within neighborhoods, Boomhower said.

Insurers with less sophisticated models seemed to end up with a slew of higher-risk customers and greater-than-expected costs, which the authors dubbed the winners curse.

Meanwhile, they found that companies using the more granular models tended to attract lower-risk customers. With that in mind, Boomhower projected that there would be a lot of competition among insurance companies to find the low-risk homes in these designated high-risk areas.

There are parts of the state where wildfire risk has increased really rapidly, he continued. Those are places where insurance rates probably do need to go up relative to where theyve been historically, just to reflect the increasing risk.

To the extent that Proposition 103 has held rates down, Boomhower acknowledged that the proposed updates could end up raising prices.

On the other hand, that may be what you need to ensure availability in some of those places, he said.

While the status quo may not be ideal for anyone, Rosenfield stressed his belief that insurance firms might come back to California without a change in regulation  simply because it will be in their financial interest to do so.

California is the biggest single insurance market in the planet, and theyre just going to come back in and take advantage of that, he said.

Updated at 9:52 a.m. Aug. 26

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Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do is facing increasing pressure to resign amid a looming federal probe involving his daughter, a local nonprofit and more than $10 million in unaccounted taxpayer money.

Do is in the last year of his second and last term as county supervisor, but calls for him to resign have increased after federal agents raided his and his daughter's home Thursday, with the scandal now the subject of a federal criminal investigation.

Among those asking him to step down is a former boss and mentor vying to take his seat at the end of his term. A fellow supervisor also urged Do to "consider" stepping down.

My statement on the recent FBI home raids of Supervisor Andrew Do and his affiliates:



Today the FBI raided the home and office of Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do, in addition to the home of his daughter and a member of his inner circle. pic.twitter.com/1THsoCqpfn  Janet Nguyen (@JanetNguyenCA) August 23, 2024

"Orange County taxpayers have every right to be livid and demand justice," said state Sen. Janet Nguyen, who represents the 36th District and is running for Do's seat. "I call upon Andrew Do to immediately resign as Supervisor for the First District."

Do worked as Nguyen's chief of staff when she was elected to the board in 2007. The two had a falling out in 2016, during Do's campaign for the county seat.

Vicente Sarmiento, who sits on the Board of Supervisors, stopped short of calling on Do to resign, but did urge his colleague to consider doing so.

"While I fully support law enforcement's effort to uncover potential corruption and recover taxpayer funds, I am also a firm believer in respecting people's due process rights," Sarmiento said in a statement to The Times. "We must remember that Supervisor Do has not been convicted of a crime, nor is he a named defendant in the complaint."

But Sarmiento added that Do's ties to those under investigation also hindered his, and the county's, ability to do their job.

"The current situation has created a climate of public distrust that makes it difficult for the Board to conduct the business of the people," the statement read. "For these reasons, he should consider stepping down."

Do and his chief of staff, Chris Wangsaporn, did not respond to requests for comment.

Do has faced months of scrutiny after LAist first reported that he had directed and voted to approve millions of dollars to Viet America Society, yet failed to disclose his daughter's involvement with the group.

Then last week, Orange County filed a lawsuit against Viet America Society, accusing the group of pocketing $10 million in contracts to deliver meals to the elderly and the needy during the pandemic. The county accused executives at the nonprofit, including Do's 23-year-old daughter, Rhiannon Do, of instead buying homes after funneling the money, "to their own personal bank accounts."

On Thursday, officials with the FBI, Department of Justice, IRS Criminal Investigation and the Orange County district attorney's office raided the homes of Andrew Do, his daughter, and VAS Chief Executive Peter Ahn Pham, raising questions about the ongoing scandal and the county supervisor's role.

Attorney Craig Wilke, who is representing Andrew Do, declined to comment.

An attorney representing Do's daughter did not respond to a request for comment.

After news of the federal searches broke, Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Thai Viet Phan, the city's first Vietnamese American councilmember who represents part of Orange County's Little Saigon, said Do must step down.

My statement calling for Supervisor Andrew Do to resign immediately. https://t.co/dQV70aepEa pic.twitter.com/A61axI59Am  Thai Viet Phan (@ThaiVPhan) August 23, 2024

"Supervisor Do and his associates at Viet American Society have failed on all accounts," she said in a statement posted on X. "Supervisor Do has lost the trust of our community and should not retain power over a $9.3 billion budget."

VietRISE, an activist group that focuses on Vietnamese and immigrant communities in Orange County, on Thursday reiterated a call for Do to resign.

"While Orange County's immigrant and refugee communities suffered the brunt of the pandemic's onset, Supervisor Andrew Do leveraged his power to finance extravagant purchases using public funds intended to hep our senior community members survive," the organization said in a statement. "Do has failed the residents of his own District."

It is one of a growing coalition of local organizations asking him to step down, including the Orange County Justice Fund, Vietnamese American Federation of Southern California and the Arab American Civic Council.

The pressure continued Friday morning, with Buena Park Councilmemember Connor Traut also calling on Do to resign on X, arguing that the allegations against him and his daughter are "raising serious ethical concerns."

"Supervisor Do's continued presence in office is untenable," he said in the statement. "While the legal process unfoldsincluding a civil suit and raids by the FBIthe breach of public trust is undeniable."

Do has resisted demands to resign for months now. In November, the Orange County Register editorial board called on him to resign, saying the allegations against him were "the final straw."

Some of Do's colleagues on the board have also blasted VAS for the allegations detailed in the county's lawsuit. But so far, none have pressed Do to resign.

Supervisors Katrina Foley and Sarmiento had asked the district attorney, state attorney general and the Department of Justice to investigate VAS after county officials said the nonprofit could not account how it had spent the millions of dollars it was awarded in contracts.

Both applauded the involvement of federal officials during the search warrants Thursday.

"I anticipate law enforcement will uncover additional evidence that proves the brazen criminal conspiracy by these individuals who stole millions to enrich themselves instead of feeding hungry, disabled seniors," she said in the statement, which did not mention her fellow supervisor.

Board Chairman Don Wagner declined to comment on the investigation via a spokesperson.

Board member Doug Chaffee and his staff did not respond to requests for comment about Do's seat.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Gained his heavenly wings: Carroll County deputy shot in the line of duty has died

A Carroll County deputy shot in the line of duty while executing a search warrant has died.

The Carroll County Sheriffs Office confirmed overnight that Investigator Taylor Bristow died Friday night at Grady Memorial Hospital.

Tonight, we mourn the passing of Investigator Bristow, who has left this earth and gained his heavenly wings. He served our community with unwavering passion and dedicated his life to protecting the citizens of Carroll County. We are deeply saddened and at a loss for words. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers, and kindly respect their privacy as they grieve this profound loss, the office wrote in a statement.

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Bristow was helping the Georgia Bureau of Investigation execute a search warrant for a child exploitation suspect at a house on Don Rich Drive on Tuesday. The GBI said the suspect, 40-year-old Christopher Bly, opened the door and retreated into his home, where the deputies followed.

The GBI said Bly pulled out a gun and shot himself and Bristow with the same bullet. Bly died at the scene from his self-inflicted gunshot wound. Paramedics rushed Bristow to the hospital. While searching Blys home, the GBI said agents found child porn at the home.

Bristow previously served as a police officer in Waycross and a Ware County sheriffs deputy. Bristow is survived by his wife Lyssa and their two children.

Bristow was shot three days after Paulding County Deputy Brandon Cunningham was killed in the line of duty. Cunninghams funeral was held on Friday. The Carroll County Sheriffs Office will provide funeral information for Bristow in the coming days.

An online fundraiser through the West Georgia First Responders non-profit has been set up for Bristows family. You can click here to donate.

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RCCs Smithers a Golden Owl finalist

DECATUR  Jess Smithers, director of agricultural programs at Richland Community College, is one of three finalists for the Illinois Golden Owl Award for postsecondary agriculture instructors.

The award recognizes agriculture educators who devote countless hours to positively impacting the lives of their students. The Golden Owl Award, which is sponsored by Nationwide Insurance, highlights the growing importance of educators and recognizes the services of the country's leading agriculture teachers.

Smithers has served in his current position for six years and has a total of 24 years of work experience in agricultural education.

Main Place welcomes Raycraft

DECATUR  Main Place Properties has announced the addition of James "JD" Raycraft to its commercial brokerage team as a newly licensed real estate broker.

Raycraft recently obtained his real estate license and is eager to contribute to Main Place Properties' continued growth and service excellence. He looks forward to assisting clients with their commercial real estate needs, leveraging his knowledge and passion for the industry.

Gerhard joins community foundation

DECATUR  Andrea Gerhard has joined the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation as its director of scholarships and grant administration.

In this role, Gerhard is responsible for managing all aspects of the high school and adult scholarship programs, assisting with donor-advised grant processing and state/federal grant management.

I am delighted to welcome Andrea to our team, said foundation CEO Natalie Beck. Andreas skills and expertise will help us serve our donors and reach new heights of success. She brings passion, energy and excitement to her new role.

Gerhard comes to the HICF with 23 years of prior experience in the higher education field, holding positions in student development at Carroll University, Bowling Green State University and Millikin University. Most recently, she served as the director of communications for St. Pauls Lutheran Church.

The Heart of Illinois Community Foundation and its vision and mission connect with what I have on my heart for this community  to bring together in partnership the spirit of generosity with the needs present here, for the mutual benefit of individuals, families, and organizations; to help us become all we truly can be in this community, Gerhard said. There are many amazing opportunities already in progress and on the horizon for youth and adults here.

Sanner joins SP Creativity as art director

SPRINGFIELD  Marcus Sanner recently joined SP Creativity as art director, responsible for providing artistic vision, design, and creative for SP Creativity and its clients.

Marcus has a lot of experience and is able to hit the ground running, said Molly Ballinger, marketing director. Hes a great addition to our team.

Sanner has worked in advertising for over two decades in Decatur and has a degree in graphic design.

Well be able to further customize and elevate our clients with expanded in-house photography services with Marcus, said Ellen Marten, creative director.

SP Creativity is a full-service, creative boutique working with a range of industries.

Deering selected for Edgar Fellows Program

DECATUR  Regan Deering is among 41 public policy leaders from across the state selected for the 2024 class of the Edgar Fellows Program.

Established in 2012, the Edgar Fellows Program is a leadership initiative designed by former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar to inspire respectful collaboration in addressing the state's major challenges.

Each year, the Edgar Fellows Program brings together a group of leaders with different backgrounds and different politics from across Illinois, Edgar said. Though they each have their own unique life experiences, they find out that they have more in common than they have that separates them.

Deering is a member of the Mount Zion school board and the Republican candidate for state representative in the 88th District. She ran an unsuccessful congressional campaign to represent the 13th District.
Cecilia Gilbert's career at City Hall spanned nearly 40 years. Known for her vivacious personality, Gilbert's nickname was "The Queen."

Cecilia Gilbert was as much a fixture at City Hall as its soaring clock tower  each signifying city government's role in the daily lives of Milwaukeeans.

Gilbert, who worked for 38 years in various city positions, died recently at the age of 75, said her sister-in-law, Shirley Gilbert.

"Her laughter was contagious. She was a friend to everyone she met!" Shirley Gilbert wrote in a Facebook post.

And Cecilia Gilbert, nicknamed "The Queen," met a lot of people.

"Oh my gosh. You can go anywhere and mention her name, and people knew her," Shirley Gilbert told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "It's just crazy."

That included folks Cecilia Gilbert befriended through her positions at the Department of Public Works, Department of City Development, Common Council and other city jobs.

"She was someone who loved the city," said former Mayor Tom Barrett.

"She knew how City Hall operated and could always get things done because she worked well with so many people," Barrett, U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg, wrote in an email to the Journal Sentinel.

Gilbert, who earned two bachelor's degrees from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, began her career in 1976 as an analyst at the Milwaukee Commission on Community Relations. Her duties included conducting diversity training workshops, investigating discrimination complaints, and serving as the commission's spokeswoman on TV and radio programs, according to her resume.

Gilbert reprised that role as media spokeswoman in other city jobs  most prominently at the Department of Public Works. She worked there from 2001 through 2017, serving as permits and communications manager and business liaison.

Her DPW tasks included coordinating the department's role in such events as Bastille Days, City of Milwaukee Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, and the St. Patrick's Day Parade; helping accommodate businesses during street construction projects, and answering questions from journalists on topics that included clearing streets after big snowfalls, complaints about parking restrictions, and City Hall's facade repairs.

Gilbert served on Milwaukee Rep, Pabst Mansion boards

Gilbert served on several civic boards, including Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Lakefront Festival of the Arts, Pabst Mansion and Visit Milwaukee.

Her Visit Milwaukee stint included working on that organization's diversity and inclusion efforts  helping draw conventions for such groups as National Council of La Raza, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and NAACP, said Peggy Williams-Smith, Visit Milwaukee president and chief executive officer.

"Cecilia was the most amazing human being who brought joy to every conversation she was part of," Williams-Smith said.

She also remained active at City Hall after retiring from DPW. Gilbert in 2021 was appointed by Mayor Tom Barrett to the Administrative Review Board of Appeals. The board reviews appeals from Milwaukee residents, business operators and property owners on such things as litter fees and building reinspection fees.

Gilbert's survivors include her son, Richard; two grandchildren, Justin and Bryson, and brothers Ceotrid (Rick) and Christopher.

A celebration of her life will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, at Turner Hall Ballroom, 1040 N. Phillips Ave.

Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@jrn.com and followed on Instagram, X and Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Cecilia Gilbert, longtime Milwaukee City Hall fixture, dies at 75
After a surprise May frost devastated crop yields throughout Vermont last year, some farms like Chapin Orchards are seeing a massive comeback.

Chapin Orchards Owner Phil Murdock told us that the May 18 temperature drop resulted in a 96% loss in crop.

Still, Murdock said We were able to limp along last year, the trees had nothing to do other than grow foliage and buds for next year  that was last year  so this year we had a robust bloom.

Giving the trees a year off to replenish their energy, combined with improved springtime conditions, is what Murdock believes lead to the fruitful harvest. In fact, the harvest is so plentiful that Murdock has been thinning branches by hand all summer long.

Hes hoping that the public will come out to the orchard this year in support of the community.

People came to us and they were apologizing last year to us, saying sorry and its like hey, it happens. But just come out and support us. We have a lot of fruit, were going to have apples right into the beginning of November, said Murdock.

Chapin Orchard apple picking season starts August 31 and ends November 3. For additional information, check out the Chapin Orchard website.

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(Bloomberg) -- For months, Chicago braced for 1968-style violence during the Democratic convention, while visitors were frequently reminded of the citys reputation for crime.

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What transpired was mostly peaceful protests, concerts by John Legend and The Killers, and four days of perfect weather.

The smooth week was a bright spot for the third-largest US city, which has grappled with persistent crime, record-high downtown vacancy rates, and high-profile corporate departures including Citadel and Boeing Co. The 50,000 visitors brought spending to Chicagos hotels and restaurants but the potential benefit could extend well beyond the short-term economic boost.

This has been so far nothing but upside for the city, said Marc Farinella, a longtime Democratic political consultant and a senior adviser to the University of Chicagos Harris School of Public Policy. People that attended are likely to come out with a favorable view of the city, and that will be very supportive of tourism.

The spotlight on Chicago is also a boon for Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat. The billionaire, often talked about as having presidential ambitions, was instrumental in bringing the convention to Chicago  he famously entertained the organizers with a party at his mansion, a dinner from Michelin-starred chefs and access to a private sound check by the rock band Metallica when bidding for the event.

Pritzker kept up the charm offensive, with a speech at the United Center where he poked fun at his own wealth and praised Chicago. The governor and his wife also hosted a party featuring John Legend at the Salt Shed on Tuesday.

The site of the almost century old Morton Salt plant thats been repurposed as a concert venue was also chosen by financier Michael Sacks for a party with Brandi Carlile on Friday. Billionaire Michael Polskys Invenergy also hosted an event there.

Even San Francisco Mayor London Breed embraced the party mood, making an appearance at a party featuring The Killers at a nightclub downtown.

The economic impact will be felt for years to come  from the money spent at hotels, restaurants, and local retail this week by the citys 50,000 convention visitors to the more than $100 million of contracts spent supporting the convention, Pritzker said. This convention was a success that has lifted up the citys businesses and people both financially and reputationally.

Each night of the convention  packed with musical performances, political luminaries and celebrity cameos, including Oprah Winfreys first-ever convention appearance  built toward Kamala Harris big moment accepting her partys nomination.

Ahead of the event, Choose Chicago estimated it would bring an economic impact of at least $150 million to $200 million, but the numbers wont be known until the fall.

Milwaukee, which hosted the Republican National Convention just a month earlier, is already reaping the benefits. Hotel spending for that week was about $19 million, almost four times higher than a year earlier, Mayor Cavalier Johnson said in an interview with Bloomberg this week.

Interest from other conventions jumped about 20% since Wisconsins largest city was picked to host the RNC, while ASAE, another major convention, recently announced it was coming to Milwaukee in 2034.

Things like that are a direct output from hosting the Republican National Convention in our city, Johnson said.

1996 Macarena

Chicago has hosted more presidential conventions than any other city. While most of the talk was about 1968, when Vietnam War protests erupted into police brutality, the citys 1996 convention was peaceful.

Back then, Chicago was looking its very best and floor delegates danced to the Macarena, said Craig Sautter, co-author of Inside the Wigwam: Chicago Presidential Conventions 1860-1996.

Mayor Richard M. Daley, who was running Chicago at the time, worked to clean up the West Side ahead of the convention. That later allowed development to occur in the now trendy Fulton Market neighborhood, said Michael Reinsdorf, president of the Chicago Bulls and one of the owners of the United Center, which hosted both conventions.

The 1996 DNC went off perfectly, and then all the development started happening, he said in an interview on Bloomberg Televisions Balance of Power this week.

Chicago grappled with at least seven large protests this week, with thousands of demonstrators marching the streets of the Windy City. Still, there were only 74 arrests made, according to the police.

If the 1968 convention went down in history as the example of police brutality, then the 2024 convention will go down as the example of constitutional policing, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said at a press conference on Friday.

Hotel Bookings

While data isnt yet available, the outlook for hotels was bright. As of Aug. 5, occupancy on the books for the four nights of the convention was as high as 70% up from about 40% a year earlier, according to CoStar, a provider of real estate data.

Michael Jacobson, president and CEO of the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association, said the week wont be a sellout, but its going to be better than a year earlier. The period is usually quiet because thats when kids normally return to school.

Leah Israel, a founding partner at Lafayette Advisors who helped the host committee raise a record $94 million for the DNC, said venues and restaurants are happy with the attendance.

Ive heard, with the exception of some transportation issues and it being longer lines and all of that, people seem genuinely very excited, she said.

--With assistance from Elizabeth Campbell, Isis Almeida, Miranda Davis and Sam Hall.

(Adds Oprah Winfrey in 10th paragraph. A previous version corrected the former mayors name.)

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Chick-fil-A consistently ranks as one of the best fast food chains in the U.S., and its latest innovation will take meeting customers where they are to a whole new levelliterally.

On Aug. 22, the iconic institution opened its first-ever elevated drive-thru restaurant. Located in the Atlanta suburb of Stockbridge, the drive-thru-only location is available only to vehicles, so forget stopping in on foot. The drive-thru-only restaurant concept isn't new, as Chick-fil-A opened its first in 1993, but the first-of-its-kind design is new territory for the famed chicken joint. It was done, the company said, to better serve customers on the go.

"Our guests lead busy lives, and were focused on designing our restaurants to best serve their needs," Chick-fil-A executive director of design Jonathan Reed said in a statement. "With the new Elevated Drive-Thru design, featuring our first four-lane drive-thru, we're aiming to deliver quality food and genuine hospitality in a way thats uniquely Chick-fil-A, and gives our guests time back in their day."

Drivers will stay on the ground throughout the experience while workers in the larger-than-normal elevated kitchen prepare their meals. Once the food is ready, it travels through "a unique meal transport system" that allows for employees to receive a ready meal every six seconds.

Brett Lewis, the owner and operator of the new location, is looking forward to going back to his hometown.

"Ive been fortunate to work with Chick-fil-A for a long time. I am excited to move back to Stockbridge and honored to open this new concept, which happens to be four miles away from my childhood home," Lewis said. "As a local business owner, I look forward to learning how to best serve the community I grew up in and working alongside my team members as we create a one-of-a-kind drive-thru experience for our guests."

It's not the first restaurant to implement this design, however. Back in 2022, Taco Bell opened a drive-thru-only location in Minnesota that similarly featured an elevated kitchen.

If you're in the area and have a car, give the unique experience a try.
LINCOLN, Neb. (Nebraska Examiner)  Nebraska Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Heavican will retire from his post effective Oct. 31, and Gov. Jim Pillen will eventually appoint his successor, the Nebraska Examiner reports.

Heavican, in a Wednesday letter to employees of the Judicial Branch, said he was retiring after 18 years. He said that the accomplishments of his colleagues made him proud to serve as chief justice and that hell be forever grateful for their hard work and dedication.

Thanks to all of you for the great work you do every day in delivering justice in our courts and fulfilling for all Nebraskans our States motto: Equality Before the Law, Heavican wrote.

Pillen congratulated Heavican on his retirement, wished him the very best in all his future endeavors and thanked him for his professionalism, rooted in deep regard for the rule of law.

2 abortion-related petitions certified for Nebraska general election ballot

I have enjoyed getting to know Chief Justice Heavican and I often repeat to others the observation he made to me about walking into the Supreme Court Chamber, Pillen said in a statement. He noted that each time felt like the very first  conveying a wonderment, love and appreciation for a career that has resulted in immense satisfaction and fulfillment.

Former Gov. Dave Heineman appointed Heavican to the high court in October 2006. Heavican previously served five years as Nebraskas U.S. attorney, a pick by former President George W. Bush. Heavican, 77, also served as an assistant U.S. attorney and Lancaster County attorney from 1981 to 1990.

Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly served with Heavican during his time in the Lancaster County Attorneys Office. Kelly also served as Nebraskas U.S. attorney, from 2018 to 2021. Kelly said in all of Heavicans roles, he has been the perfect example of all that a public servant should be.

Attorney General Mike Hilgers said that as speaker of the Legislature and as attorney general, he had a front row seat to Heavicans immense impact on our State.

Norfolk police chief, captain on paid administrative leave

Hilgers said Heavicans record of service to Nebraska is virtually unmatched, including traveling the state every year to visit courthouses and judicial branch employees.

His honesty, thoughtfulness, and pursuit of fairness and justice are second to none, Hilgers said. We will miss his leadership.

When there is a vacancy for the Supreme Court, a judicial nominating commission for that district holds a public hearing to interview candidates for the position, per the Nebraska Constitution. Each commission is composed of one justice, four lawyers selected by the Nebraska State Bar Association and four nonlawyers appointed by the governor.

The six associate justices each have a separate district; the chief justice is an at-large member.

The Judicial Nominating Commission for the chief justice is chaired by Justice Lindsey Miller-Lerman. Justices have a salary of $225,055.35.



Nebraska Examiner is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Nebraska Examiner maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Cate Folsom for questions: info@nebraskaexaminer.com. Follow Nebraska Examiner on Facebook and X.



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(KRON)  Oakland City Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas is raising concerns after a devastating fire on August 13 left around 100 tenants in Chinatown displaced and vulnerable to a series of burglaries.

Oakland dumpster fire that displaced dozens being investigated as arson

The early morning fire originated in a dumpster before engulfing a nearby three-story apartment building at 9th and Madison Streets.

Since the incident, relief efforts led by community organizers, the Oakland Fire Department, and Alameda County have been underway.

Bas confirmed two burglary suspects have been arrested and vowed continued efforts with city officials to reopen the building safely. In a statement, Bas said, I am very concerned about the fire, and the burglaries that have ensued. We wont let those who try to take advantage of a tragic situation tear our community apart, emphasizing her commitment to support the affected residents.

Bas said she continues to work closely with the fire department, city officials, and the property owner to expedite the return of tenants to their homes. Community members are encouraged to contribute to the Emergency Relief Fund hosted by the Tzu Chi Foundation, which is helping the displaced residents. Donations can be made here.

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GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT)  The City of Greenville is launching the Match and Market initiative with ECUs marketing students.

It connects both communities with each other from a business perspective. Students will have the opportunity to hone in on their digital skills while also helping the online presence of local enterprises in downtown Greenville.

Our main mission is to support the local economy, small business owners in the form of rolling out different programs and also being a link to other free resources that are available to support small businesses, Tish Williams said.

Students can apply to the program between Sept. 2 and Sept. 20. Selected participants will receive a weekly stipend and engage in activities aimed to enhance social media pages.

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The City of Temple declared as a Brew City Destination  causing growth and economic opportunities for local businesses

Temple, TX (FOX 44)  The brewery industry is thriving and its a great economic opportunity for local businesses.

The Texas Craft Brewers Guild rolled out this year to highlight Texas itself as a craft beer destination and help with tourism. One stop that caught their eye is Temple.

Temple offers a unique experience with local craft brews and plenty of space for those looking to become the newest brew in town.

The Bold Republic Brewing hand makes their own beers! Owner Adriane Hodges describes it as a chemistry experiment.

It just really highlights the local flavors, the local feel you get for a place. So, hopefully it sends more people who are coming to Temple or the people who are already here a chance to explore what we have to offer as a community. And I think its really special, says owner of Bold Republic Brewing, Adriane Hodges.

According to Texas Craft Brewers Guild, the Lone Star State has over 400 breweries and contributes almost $5 billion annually to the Texas economy.

Craft beer is $1,000,000,000 industry in Texas, and we bring in a ton of tourism. Our goal is to make the finest beer in the country, says Adriane.

Owner Patrick Hodges says the business started off as a hobby. He was brewing beer right from his home.

We went to a beer fest and saw this long line of people getting beer from a beer truck. I peeked in the back and there was the same equipment I was using to make beer in the garage, but these people were making a living off it. And I thought, I can do this. Why dont we do this?, says owner of Bold Republic Brewing, Patrick Hodges.

Taking this risk was a bold move for Bold Republic Brewing, but it paid off by winning an award for best beer in the state.

When you look around, its people like me. Its a lot of small business owners. Youre helping feed our families, employ people in your local community. So, drawing attention to that and sending more customers our way. Its a really positive industry and all this can do is probably bring more positive change, says Adriane.

The City of Temple says its a fantastic opportunity for the city to expand and thrive in the brewery industry.

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CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A school bus for the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System (CMCSS) pulled over Friday after a student reported to the bus driver that another student had a gun in their backpack.

Reported threats prompt lockdowns at several schools in Middle Tennessee

CMCSS public information officer Anthony Johnson told News 2 that the driver immediately called Dispatch, which alerted 911. School administrators were also contacted to report the bus location. The bus driver pulled over and took possession of the backpack.

There are laws regarding the searching of students backpacks, Johnson said. When law enforcement and administration arrived, they investigated the report and searched the backpack. There was no weapon.

After interviews were conducted, it was determined that the accused student showed a picture of a gun to another student on their phone. That image made the student who reported the threat feel like there could have been a weapon in the bag.

Tullahoma High School athletes legacy lives on 8 years after his death

Johnson said that student safety is a top priority for the school system, adding that CMCSS and law enforcement take every report and threat seriously.

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CNN host Kaitlan Collins and comedian Bill Maher, who came together Friday night to discuss the state of the 2024 race post-Democratic convention, joked about who would get to interview Vice President Harris first.

Maher suggested that Harris was worse than former President Trump when it came to the press, as the Democratic nominee has yet to sit for an interview.

You think about the fact that Kamala doesnt talk to the press. In a way, I feel like its more insulting  than what [former President] Trump does, and Trump says, Youre the enemy of the people, which is pretty bad, he said Friday on Real Time with Bill Maher.

But shes kind of saying is, I dont need you, Im not talking to you, you dont matter, youre not relevant anymore,' Maher added. To me, thats even worse than I hate you.'

Collins seemed to disagree, however denouncing Trumps feud with the media.

I dont know if its worse than denigrating the press on a daily basis, which is what Trump did, she said, adding that the former president often tried to argue with reporters, which she said he tried to deny or lie about.

I dont know if I would compare the two, Collins continued. I do think she should talk to the press. I think anyone who wants to have access to the nuclear codes should be willing to sit down and take questions.

Harris has not sat for an interview or held a formal press conference since President Biden exited the race and she rose to the top of the ticket. Trump and other Republicans have consistently criticized Harris for not speaking with reporters because voters have questions about her policy stances.

Wed love to have her on the show! Collins said.

Maher agreed, saying hed love to have Harris on his show, too.

Im not gonna hold my breath, he said.

Collins replied, Well see who gets her first.

While in Michigan last week, Harris told reporters that she planned to sit down for an extended interview before the end of August. No interview has been announced or scheduled.

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The luxury yacht sank in the early morning hours of Monday, Aug. 19

PERINI NAVI PRESS OFFICE/HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock The 'Bayesian' sailing boat

Following the sinking of the Sicilian yacht Bayesian off the coast of Italy, many questions remain unanswered.

At a press conference held by the Italian Coast Guard on Saturday, Aug. 24, it was revealed that a black box  which collects the vessel's data and tracks activity  has yet to be found among the wreckage, which is still at the bottom of the sea.

We are not sure a black box was present," a representative for the Italian Coast Guard said of the part of the luxury boat, which sank in the early morning hours of Monday, Aug. 19 during a "violent storm."



"To look for it you have to look within the wreck, and this was very dangerous for the divers. In the first part of the search, they searched for people still alive, then later on for bodies," they added.



Antonio Cascio/Bloomberg via Getty Rescue divers during search operations for the 'Bayesian'

Related: Yacht Sank in Sicily Due to Endless Chain of Errors,' Ship Maker's Owner Speculates: Everything Was Predictable

The press conference also addressed the work being done to recover the ship in the ocean. The black box would likely be able to answer questions surrounding the final moments for those on board.

At the moment a lot of answers remain unanswered as [the boat] is at the bottom of the sea, and bringing it up will depend on the availability of owners and the management company and how quickly a plan is drawn up," the Coast Guard said in the press conference.

The organization added, "A technical plan needs to be submitted to the maritime authorities, but also a general one outlining the retrieval process. But we are still at a very preliminary stage. I cant say we can do it in 8 weeks."



ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images A life boat docked near Palermo following the 'Bayesian' sinking

Related: Survivor of Yacht That Sank Off Sicily's Coast Recalls How She Used 'All My Strength' to Save Her 1-Year-Old

There were 22 people on board the Bayesian, according to the Italian Coast Guard, with 12 passengers and 10 crew members.

The victims of the Bayesian sinking are yacht chef Recaldo Thomas; Christopher Morvillo and his wife, Neda; Morgan Stanley International chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife, Judy and British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his daughter, Hannah Lynch.

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Italian authorities are launching a manslaughter investigation following the tragedy.

Though the press conference couldn't answer questions surrounding the ongoing investigation, Girolamo Bentivoglio Fiandra, head of the Palermo Fire Bridgade, was able to explain what was going on during the victims' final moments.



HANDOUT/Vigili del Fuoco/AFP via Getty Divers searching for the passengers aboard the 'Bayesian'

Related: Diver Searching for 6 Missing People on Sunken Yacht Talks Difficult Nature of Getting Inside

It was quite clear that people were trying to hide in the cabins. In the left-hand side we found the first 5 bodies in the left-hand side cabins, and the final body on the right-hand side," he said.

"We found them on the highest part of the ship which was closer to the surface. The vessel had three cabins on each side," he continued, adding that the victims who retreated to cabins had also been "searching for air pockets."



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Joseph Spence became headmaster of Dulwich College in south London in 2009 - Dave Benett/Getty

The headmaster of Dulwich College has stepped down from his role after admitting in a letter to parents that he lost his temper with a colleague at a staff summer party.

Joseph Spence, who became master of Dulwich College in south London in 2009, wrote in a letter to teaching staff and parents  who are charged up to 55,000 a year  that he would stand down from his role next month.

He will now take up an ambassadorial role for the school, one of Britains most elite private educational establishments.

In a letter seen by The Telegraph, Mr Spence, 64, stated: As some of you may have heard, I lost my temper with a member of staff at the staff party of July 4  the only time in my career that anything like this happened.

I have apologised to the individual concerned. I repeat my apology to you.

That incident has caused me to reflect on the toll which leading a complex multinational institution like Dulwich has taken on me, particularly given the significant challenges we have all faced in recent years.

Dulwich College is one of Britain's most elite private schools - Stephen Birch/Alamy

In a separate letter, Adrian Carr, the schools chairman of governors, said the incident led to a thorough investigation by an independent investigator appointed by the governors and appropriate action has been taken to the governors satisfaction.

Dr Carr paid tribute to Mr Spence, writing: Joe [Spence] has been an exceptional Master of Dulwich College and his legacy will be remembered by all who follow.

He has dedicated himself to the college and the development of its social mission and scholarship.

He said Mr Spence had been planning to retire at the end of the academic year in August 2025, but will now step back into an ambassadorial and advisory capacity.

Mr Spences replacement is Robert Milne, current headmaster of rival London private school Emanuel School.

He had already been chosen to start in September next year. An interim headmaster has been appointed until he takes up his post.

In his letter, Mr Spence said his advisory role would focus on the ambition of raising funds for bursaries and on carrying out ambassadorial duties as required.

Dulwich College counts Oscar-winning actor Chiwetel Ejiofor; Jonathan Bartley, the co-leader of the Green Party; and Roxy Music musician Phil Manzanera, among its former pupils.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, was a pupil at Dulwich.

The college generated 36 million in net school fees last year and it has lent its name to a large network of international schools, largely in Asia, owned by global schools provider Education in Motion.

Dulwich College was contacted for comment.

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COLLEGE TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WTAJ)  A new drive-thru coffee shop may be heading to College Township in 2025.

Seven Brew sent in preliminary sketches to the townships planning commission on Tuesday. The proposed location would be the former Hills Plaza along S. Atherton St. While the plans are still in a very early stage with only a few sketches to go on, the township is still happy to welcome a new business.

Penn State students move back, ready for 2024-25 school year

They seem to have a good model that works in the areas that they do their business, Assistant Township Manager Mike Bloom said. Were happy to welcome a new business to College Township.

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The next step will be for the council to see the sketches at its next meeting on Sept. 5. From there, they will decide whether to move forward or send the project back to the drawing board.

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DENVER (KDVR)  Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser announced Friday that the state is joining the U.S. Department of Justice in an antitrust lawsuit, accusing real estate software company RealPage of an illegal scheme in which landlords allegedly coordinate to hike rental prices.

The lawsuit accuses Texas-based RealPage of harming competition and renters by using illegal agreements with landlords to carry out a price-fixing scheme that has cost Coloradans millions of dollars in rent payments, a release from the Attorney Generals office states.

Past coverage: Colorado renters could be part of price-fixing lawsuit

RealPage sells software to landlords who agree to share competitively sensitive data, like rents, lease terms and projected future vacancies, ultimately distorting the housing market for American renters, according to the lawsuit.

RealPage has built a business out of frustrating the natural forces of competition. In its own words, a rising tide raises all ships,' the complaint reads.

The complaint states that Americans are entitled to the benefits of competition among landlords.

RealPage replaces competition with coordination. It substitutes unity for rivalry. It subverts competition and the competitive process. It does so openly and directlyand American renters are left paying the price, the complaint states.

Weiser said the lawsuit was filed to hold RealPage accountable for the anticompetitive conduct that is driving rent increases.

Fact or fiction: Is rent cheaper in fall and winter months?

Half of renters in Colorado spend more than 30% of their income on housing costs. Renters should benefit from healthy competition between landlords to find an apartment that fits their budget and needs. But RealPages software and market dominance have enabled collusion between landlords to fix rents, set the number of apartments available in the market, and harm renters by forcing them to pay rents above competitive levels. Weiser.

The lawsuit accuses the company of making it easy for landlords to accept price recommendations, and difficult to decline them, as well as getting landlords to end deal sweeteners and tracking apartment availability so landlords in high-demand markets can keep properties off the market and drive up rents.

As a result, a large percentage of landlords license the software and choose to share their information with RealPage to eliminate the guessing game of what their competitors are doing in the market and to maximize rents at the expense of renters. At the same time, RealPage has been able to attract more landlords and accumulate a massive reservoir of competitively sensitive data to control about 80% of the market for commercial revenue management software for landlords, the release from the Attorney Generals office states.

The Associated Press reports that RealPage said the Justice Departments claims were devoid of merit and will do nothing to make housing more affordable.

We are disappointed that, after multiple years of education and cooperation on the antitrust matters concerning RealPage, the DOJ has chosen this moment to pursue a lawsuit that seeks to scapegoat pro-competitive technology that has been used responsibly for years, the company said.

Weiser joins attorneys general from California, Connecticut, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington and the U.S. Department of Justice in the lawsuit, which seeks to end the anticompetitive agreements among RealPage and its landlord customers, as well as end the companys illegal monopoly in revenue management software built on competitors data.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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AUSTIN (KXAN)  Transgender Texans, frequently the targets of antagonistic state legislation and policies, continually weigh the threats to their civil rights against the costs of relocating to safer, more survivable states.

PREVIOUS: Court orders cant be used to change gender on Texas licenses, DPS email says

A recent directive at the Texas Department of Public Safetys Drivers License Office instructs employees to disregard court orders for sex marker changes, which are currently legal under Texas law. It also told employees to report any Texans who present such an order, which stirred fears that state law enforcement may create a list of transgender people.

Only 0.43% of adult Texans and 1.42% of Texans aged 13-17 identify as transgender, according to the UCLA Williams Institute. Thats around 122,700 people  less than the population of College Station.

2022: 1 in 5 Texas voters will identify as LGBTQ by 2040

What it takes to leave

Conversations in Texas transgender communities this week included talk of escape plans to flee eroding civil rights. Similar conversations came during the 2023 regular legislative session, when state lawmakers filed more anti-LGBTQ+ legislation than any prior session.

DPS ending ID gender marker changes could spur legislation, lawsuits

Moving to another state can cost thousands of dollars, disconnects a person from their community and medical care. Remote work may remain an option for some, but most Americans would also need to find a new job after such a move.

Those prohibitive factors are ones that Denver-based nonprofit Trans Continental Pipeline (TCP) hopes to ameliorate.

We help queer people get out of the states that dont really like us and come to Colorado, TCP executive director Keira Richards said. Weve been told by national analysts that Colorado is the safest state for queer people. So were trying to help people get here.

TCP became a nonprofit in April, after which it has received nearly 70 applications from people in 23 states, Richards said. Those applications are free and without the expectation of repayment. However, TCP currently has paused applications until late September.

A lot of those include more than one person, sometimes families. Weve been able to relocate, so far, between 10 and 15, she said, noting that some of the relocated people are now volunteers for TCP.

Richards, TCPs other relocation managers, and around 80 other volunteers all make the operation run as smoothly as they can. Currently, she currently handles a caseload of 15 active relocations.

The group is currently setting up a temporary home, where a trans refugee will be able to stay for a month while they get established in Denver. Previously, the relocation process could get delayed while TCP found a volunteer to temporarily host an applicant.

With the temporary housing this will be a lot faster, because people wont have to just wait around until we find a place for them that isnt requiring income verification, or they find a job and can use the offer letter to get an apartment, she said.

When home isnt safe anymore

Richards describes TCP as a support and networking organization, able to provide contacts for housing, employment and transition-related medical care providers.

We can get people free flights. We can offer grants to help with the relocation. We can manage a lot of the logistical side of things, Richards said. There is a certain amount of autonomy that they would need. We can only do so much, so they certainly need to take control of their move.

Shes spoken with some of the refugees, relaying that theres two axes of the decision to move: cultural safety and legislative safety. For some, persecution from only one of those factors is enough to spur relocation.

If the living situation that theyre in gets bad, if their roommates, family or whoever theyre living with are being transphobic and drinking the Kool-Aid of the current establishment, that is definitely an impetus in leaving, she said. Its really when both legislative and cultural safety take a turn for the worse that people feel the need to leave.

Regardless of why, suddenly uprooting ones life is risky, especially for people in the gender minority.

It is nerve wracking, to be sure. Weve heard a lot just about how scary it is, how much trust theyre putting in us, Richards said. But everyone Ive talked to said that they wouldnt have been able to do this move without our assistance, which really shows what an impact our program is having. Im really glad that its helping people make these moves that they feel are necessary for their well being.

TCP received a $15,000 grant from the nonprofit LGBT+ Housing Initiative in August, but primarily relies on donations.

Were a 501 C3, so were constantly begging for donations, which are going right back to our community to help them in these moves, find housing, or house them temporarily, Richards said. So any support from all over the country is always super important to us.

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A group of Colorado Republicans met at Harvest Fellowship in Brighton on Aug. 24, 2024, to vote out state party Chair Dave Williams. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)

A group of Colorado Republicans voted Saturday to remove state party Chair Dave Williams from his leadership position, though the decision is almost certainly to be challenged.

About 160 people, those physically present and via proxy, voted to oust Williams after three hours of deliberation in a Brighton church. They also voted to remove Vice Chair Hope Scheppelman and Secretary Anna Ferguson.

The chairman has taken extensive, unprecedented action to attack Republican candidates and fellow Republicans, rather than support them, Michael Allen, the 4th Judicial District Attorney, said while calling for Williams removal.

The chairmans actions have alienated candidates and grassroots activists, and he cannot lead us to victory in November due to his failure of duty and unethical behavior, he said.

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Before the vote over Williams leadership, the group had to decide how to interpret the relevant section of the partys bylaws, which states that three-fifths of the entire membership of the (state central committee) eligible to vote at a meeting need to vote to remove an officer. That can be interpreted two ways. Those present voted that the rule refers to people actually present at a meeting, not the entire 400-plus-member central committee.

There were about 180 eligible voting members at the meeting, meaning at least 108 people needed to vote for removal. A different interpretation of the rule would mean around 240 votes are necessary to vote out Williams, Scheppelman and Ferguson.

Earlier this summer, El Paso County Republican Party Vice Chair Todd Watkins and Jefferson County Republican Party Chair Nancy Pallozzi said they gathered and submitted enough signatures to force a meeting to vote on the executive committees leadership.

The group first attempted to meet over the issue at the end of July, but Williams sued and an Arapahoe County judge issued a temporary restraining order to block the meeting. The judge ultimately concluded that the courts do not have jurisdiction over the internal party matter.

Williams and other state party leadership continue to call Saturdays meeting illegitimate and maintain that only a vote at a meeting scheduled for Aug. 31 will be valid.

Williams was elected to his post in March 2023, and party members were quickly dismayed over poor fundraising from the party, which has persisted.

Then, Williams used the party email to announce his entrance into the Republican primary for Colorados 5th Congressional District after U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn announced his plan to step down.

Anger over his leadership boiled over this spring and summer as the party endorsed candidates in competitive Republican primaries and spent money supporting those candidates, including Williams over his opponent. Williams lost the primary by a wide margin.

Additionally, Republicans have taken issue with various state GOP communications, including a June email that railed against LGBTQ people and urged people to burn Pride flags, as well as a recent email that deadnamed and misgendered a Democrat running in a competitive state Senate district.

They are speaking for the Colorado Republicans and saying things that we all dont agree with, Delta County Republican Party Vice Chair Leslie Parker said during Saturdays meeting. We are not the ones destroying our party. We are the ones standing up for what is right.

Also on Saturday, the El Paso County Republican Party was scheduled to meet to vote on Watkins removal as vice chair.

The state Republican group also chose new leadership on Saturday to serve until the partys next organizational meeting. They voted in former El Paso County Republican Party Chair and unsuccessful U.S. Senate candidate Eli Bremer as chair, former Routt County Treasurer Brita Horn as vice chair, and former Mesa County Republican Party Chair Kevin McCarney as secretary.

In a message to Colorado Newsline, Williams said that a Republican National Committee parliamentarian had already decided that the meeting organized by Watkins and Pallozzi is illegitimate and any action taken there was or will be null and void.

A fringe element of our state party, who has now proven that they do not care about electing Trump this November, held a fraudulent meeting today with 77 people in actual attendance, he wrote.

A spokeswoman from the National Republican Congressional Committee, however, endorsed the vote.

It is our understanding that todays Colorado GOP vote is in accordance with party bylaws. We will recognize the new party leadership and look forward to working with them to grow the Republican House majority, NRCC spokeswoman Delanie Bomar said in an email.

The NRCC works to get Republicans elected to the U.S. House.

The party discord comes two months before the general election in November. Republicans are trying to flip the 8th Congressional District in favor of state Rep. Gabe Evans, who is challenging Democratic U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo, and prevent Republicans from slipping further into the minority at the state Legislature. The House currently has a 46-19 Democratic majority and the Senate has a 23-12 Democratic majority.

Editors note: This story was updated at 8:06 p.m., Aug. 24, 2024, to include a statement from NRCC Spokeswoman Delanie Bomar.

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When it comes to military AI, there is no second place

When future military capabilities are discussed these days, artificial intelligence and how it will change the nature of warfare is at the top of the list.

But within the Pentagon and the services, AI ambition does not match current budgetary realities.

And while more money is rarely the answer to every Defense Department shortcoming, militaries are what they buy.

As a former Chief of Naval Operations and former member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who continues to participate in non-governmental dialogues in Asia, to include with China, Ive followed Chinas impressive military growth.

Chinese ships, aircraft, and technology are not as good as ours, but they are buying more and rapidly getting better. The dialogue agendas and discussions have also evolved, to include transformational technologies with AI top of mind. Unquestionably, as we move deeper into the AI modernization war, Beijing is buying in that space and doubling down.

Years ago, the Air Force and Navy began creating a new sixth-generation, AI-powered fighter jet to outpace the one China is developing.

That project subsequently split into two separate approaches  the F/A-XX for the Navy and the Next Generation Air Dominance System (NGAD) for the Air Force. Although one is launched from the land and one from the sea, they possess the same objective: to remain globally dominant in the air and to help the United States be the first nation to realize true AI-powered air warfare. The only way to do that is to create these two new AI warfighting systems.

But the Fiscal Responsibility Act that Congress passed last year has hamstrung the U.S. military budget. The Navy and the Air Force are now stuck. In March, the Navy delayed a full $1 billion of funding for its F/A-XX system. The Air Force forewarned that it, too, might soon need to make tough decisions about NGAD, including potentially ending the entire program.

That must not happen. China is already closing in on the United States militarily. Its new fighter system will be ready by 2035. If the U.S. does not advance fully, our air dominance will become jeopardized.

The AI race is on and shaping the future of warfare. The global military AI market is nearly $9 billion today and is expected to approach $25 billion by 2032. China and the malign countries in its circle want China to become the AI dominant player. Delaying or pausing Americas AI warfighting modernization initiatives like the F/A-XX and NGAD make that goal attainable.

Bold statements of commitment ring hollow when we re-phase or delay our transformational programs. Our deferred outcomes and lack of real urgency are pleasing to Beijing, which has set 2035 as the year China will complete its military modernization effort. The Pentagon, particularly the Air Force and Navy, must set their budgets to deliver these critical systems faster. Congress, in providing for the common defense, must enable these critical programs with funding needed to win the military AI race, because in warfare, there is no second place.

In many respects, China is already ahead. Beijings civil-military fusion approach is alive and well. The infrastructure, techniques, and processes that have made China the global manufacturing center of gravity also nurtures along rapid military delivery and improvement.

This is seen in the maritime domain. Between 2015 and 2020, Chinas navy, the Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), eclipsed the size of Americas Navy, and the gap continues to widen.

The Office of Naval Intelligence has assessed that Chinas shipbuilding capacity far exceeds that of the United States because of its significantly larger military and commercial shipbuilding industry. According to the Pentagons China power report, the PLAN grew by 30 ships last year, while the U.S. added just two. That trend will likely continue as weve reduced our submarine buys in 2025 and delays plague our other shipbuilding programs.

The U.S. Air Force isnt faring much better. Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee in march, Navy Adm. John Aquilino, then the head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, assessed that the worlds largest Navy [is] soon to be the worlds largest Air Force and the magnitude, scope, and scale of this security challenge cannot be understated.

Hes right. China is producing 100 J-20 fighter aircraft annually, while the United States is turning out roughly 135 F-35s, with only 60 to 70 destined for our Air Force. As in shipbuilding, thats a recipe for second place.

Beyond numbers, this is also about jobs, skills, and the myriad of companies that contribute to these extraordinary machines and the technology behind them. If we do not sustain American industry, we will lose it.

Gary Roughead is a former United States Navy officer who served as the 29th Chief of Naval Operations from 2007 to 2011. He previously served as Commander of the United States Fleet Forces Command from May 17 to September 29, 2007.
Conflicting federal policies may cost residents more on flood insurance, and leave them at risk

George Booth, executive director of the Floodplain Management Association, is photographed in front of Folsom Dam, Friday, Aug. 16, 2024, in Folsom, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vasquez)

Conflicting federal policies may force thousands of residents in flood-prone areas to pay more for flood insurance or be left unaware of danger posed by dams built upstream from their homes and worksites, according to an Associated Press review of federal records and data.

The problem stems from a complex set of flood policies and some national security precautions taken after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

To get the best discount on flood insurance, the Federal Emergency Management Agencys points-based rating system requires communities to chart all the homes, businesses and critical facilities endangered by a potential dam failure and warn people of their risk. But thats difficult or even impossible in some communities, because other federal agencies restrict the release of such information for hundreds of dams that they own or regulate across the U.S., citing security risks.

The quandary has persisted for years, though federal officials have been warned of its implications.

Federal dam information sharing procedures costs communities points, homeowners money, and potentially citizens lives, a California emergency services official warned in a January 2020 presentation to FEMA's National Dam Safety Review Board at an invitation-only meeting attended by dozens of federal and state officials.

The meeting's minutes were provided to the AP this summer, nearly two-and-half years after the news organization submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to FEMA.

Since that meeting, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has begun publicly posting maps of areas that could be flooded if one of its hundreds of dams were to fail. But similar information remains restricted by other federal agencies, including by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which regulates about 1,800 power-producing dams, and by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, whose 430 dams in the western U.S. include some of the nation's largest structures.

The Bureau of Reclamation said in response to questions from the AP that it is revising its policies and will start sharing more information about dam-failure inundation zones in 2025, though it said the process could take more than eight years to complete for all its dams.

Meanwhile, FEMA is accepting public comment through Sept. 9 on potential revisions to its Community Rating System, which awards discounts on flood insurance in communities that take steps to reduce risks. During a FEMA public hearing Wednesday, the floodplain administrator for Phoenix  the nation's fifth largest city  raised concerns that the conflicting federal policies regarding dam flood zones were unfair to communities trying to get better insurance discounts for their residents.

I believe this is a punishment to us, Phoenix floodplain administrator Nazar Nabaty told FEMA officials.

One community's frustrations

Another community that has been affected by the information-sharing gap is Sacramento, California, which ranks among the most at-risk regions in the U.S. for catastrophic flooding. California's capital sits at the confluence of two rivers and about 25 miles (40 kilometers) downstream from Folsom Dam, a large Bureau of Reclamation structure with a capacity that could cover the equivalent of the entire state of Rhode Island with a foot of water.

During a review about five years ago, Sacramento County achieved one of the best-ever scores in FEMA's rating system. But the county did not qualify for the top flood-insurance discount because the Bureau of Reclamation's restrictions regarding Folsom Dam made it impossible to meet FEMA's criteria for mapping and public outreach about a potential dam break, said George Booth, the county's former floodplain manager.

We got wrapped around the axle, said Booth, now executive director of the Floodplain Management Association, a professional organization that focuses on flood-risk reduction in California, Hawaii and Nevada.

The city of Sacramento, which receives a separate flood insurance rating, has faced similar struggles meeting FEMA's standards for flood insurance discounts because of limited information about Bureau of Reclamation dams, said Rosa Millino, the city's Community Rating System coordinator.

For an individual homeowner, the missed discounts could make about $100 difference in annual flood insurance premiums. When spread citywide, the extra cost could reach several million dollars. When costs are higher, fewer people tend to buy insurance. But there's more at stake than just insurance premiums.

People need to be informed of the potential dangers of living in an area thats protected by a dam," Millino said.

Flood risks and costs

As the climate changes, heavy rains from intense storms have put communities at increased risk of flooding and placed the nation's aging dams in greater jeopardy of failing. That's been evident as recent floodwaters damaged or breached dams in Georgia, Minnesota, New York, South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin, forcing evacuations and costly repairs.

Floods have caused about $108 billion of damage in the U.S. since 2000, according to FEMA. Standard home and commercial property insurance does not cover flood damage.

But FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program is available in 22,692 communities that have adopted and enforced floodplain management regulations. As of the end of July, it provided $1.3 trillion of flood insurance coverage to about 4.7 million policyholders  down about 1 million policies since the program's peak participation in 2009.

Premium discounts ranging from 5% to 45% are available in jurisdictions that participate in FEMA's Community Rating System, a voluntary program begun in 1990 that grades flood mitigation and safety measures on a 1-to-10 scale. A Class 1 rating earns the largest discount.

Most communities don't seek the extra savings. Just 1,500 local governments take part in the Community Rating System, though they account for three-quarters of policies issued under the National Flood Insurance Program. Just two communities  Roseville, California, and Tulsa, Oklahoma  have achieved the top discount for their residents.

Roseville, which also is near Folsom Dam, used FEMA grant money to create its own inundation maps showing the affects of a potential dam failure. But the city still encountered difficulties trying to share that information with residents. While presenting the inundation data at a public meeting over a decade ago, consultant Rob Flaner said a Bureau of Reclamation official interrupted and told him to stop.

It was ironic that one federal agency funded it," Flaner said. "It was like, `Ummm, maybe you guys need to talk to each other.'

Roseville has since satisfied both federal agencies by creating inundation maps that show the overlapping flood potential of multiple dams without identifying the specific dam failure that could affect each home, business or important site, Flaner said. But Roseville is the exception, not the norm.

"Theres a lot of jurisdictions that cant meet the requirements because they cant get the maps, or a federal agency is saying, `No, do not do outreach downstream of our dam,' said Flaner, who has worked with nearly 300 local governments over three decades, first as a Community Rating System specialist on behalf of FEMA and then as a hired consultant.

Security concerns

FEMA says it is important for communities to have access to dam-failure inundation maps in order to warn residents in harm's way, That's because dam failures can spread floodwaters beyond normal high-risk areas and affect multiple communities downstream.

But after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, some federal agencies cited national security grounds while refusing to release certain information about dams. They said dams could become targets if terrorists knew the potential to cause devastating flooding.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission continues to categorize dam inundation maps as critical infrastructure information that could be useful to a person planning an attack and requires those receiving such information to sign non-disclosure agreements, said FERC spokesperson Celeste Miller. But FERC cant prevent a dam owner from independently sharing the information.

The Bureau of Reclamation also has required non-disclosure agreements when sharing dam inundation maps and emergency action plans with local officials. Under its upcoming policy change, the bureau will allow communities to publicly share information about dam inundation zones, including potential flood-wave travel times, flood depths and durations, said Sandy Day, the bureau's chief of public affairs.

The Army Corps of Engineers, which also had shielded certain information about its dams, began posting dam inundation maps online in late 2021 after determining that releasing the information is more beneficial to the public than any risk of misuse, Corps spokesperson Gene Pawlik said.

A complex system

Three years ago, FEMA sought public input about ways to revamp the Community Rating System to better incentivize communities to reduce flood risks. Several commenters highlighted difficulties in getting credit for dam initiatives, including the reluctance of federal agencies to share information regarding inundation zones from dam failures.

Nothing immediate came from the 2021 review. Though FEMA is again seeking public input on potential changes to the Community Rating System, it doesn't plan to make any changes until 2026.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office has suggested a substantial overhaul may be necessary. In a report last year, the GAO found that the premium discounts offered under FEMAs rating system are not actuarially justified. Mapping projects, flood warning procedures and public information campaigns may have some value, the report said, but dont reduce the flood risk of currently insured properties.

Some local officials contend FEMAs Community Rating System is too costly and complex, especially for governments with small budgets and staffs. The rating system has about 100 items for which communities can earn points, often requiring extensive documentation. The dam safety section is among the most challenging  just four communities got any points for their local efforts during the most recent evaluation, according to FEMA data.

During its last review, Fort Collins, Colorado, earned more than 5,000 points in the Community Rating System  the most of any community, according to FEMA data. Yet the city failed to get a Class 1 ranking, because it didnt meet criteria about potential dam failures or promoting flood insurance. The area has about 20 high-hazard dams that could result in loss of life if they failed.

We do know where the dams are, said Ken Sampley, the citys water engineering director. But we dont have as detailed information and direct coordination with a lot of the dam owners as may be required.

Thurston County, Washington, which is home to the state capital of Olympia, spends almost $200,000 a year to maintain its Class 2 rating in the flood insurance program, resulting in collective premium savings of slightly less than that for residents, said Mark Biever, who coordinated the countys efforts from 2019-2023. But the county decided it wasnt worth it to try for a Class 1 rating, in part because staff didnt have the resources to compile all the information about dams, he said.

The rating process is frustrating and incredibly time-consuming, Biever said. Though its resulted in a 40% discount for about 600 flood-insurance policyholders, nobodys every called and said, `Hey thanks for all that extra effort, Biever added.

None of Thurston Countys cities and towns participate in the Community Rating System, meaning the county's flood-insurance discount is only available in unincorporated areas.

In Bucoda, a rural Thurston County town nestled along the twisting Skookumchuck River, the high cost of flood insurance means homeowners often skip it unless required to buy it by a mortgage holder, said James Fowler, the towns fire chief and planning commission chair. Yet the town is just 10 miles (16 kilometers) downstream from a dam.

If that dam thats on that reservoir was to fail, it would be catastrophic flooding, Fowler said. In a couple hours, there would be 20 feet of water in the town.
Markee Washington, 33, has pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, according to the State Attorneys Office.

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According to a news release, a Florida Highway Patrol troopers conducted a traffic stop on a car Washington was driving on Feb 11, 2023. Two JSO officers also joined the stop. Based on Washingtons statements, he had been smoking marijuana.

During a search of the car, an officer found a bundle of cash and a 9mm Glock pistol. The gun was loaded with 32 rounds of ammunition. According to the news release, it also had a Glock-switch, which is a device installed on the pistol that converted it into a fully automatic machinegun.

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A DNA test later determined Washingtons DNA was on the gun and ammo.

At the time, he had previously been convicted of various felonies, including multiple drug-trafficking offenses. As a convicted felon, he it was illegal for him to possess firearms and ammunition.

Washington faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison.

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Nicholes Scott Newman faces federal charges of distributing child sexual abuse materials.

According to the indictment filed in federal court on August 15, Newman exchanged online messages with an undercover detective posing as a 28-year-old mother with her 8-year-old daughter.

Newman introduced himself as a 42-year-old male, looking to breed.

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Read: 3 arrested by Jacksonville Sheriffs Office following search warrant

Investigators said he engaged in sexually explicit conversations regarding children and sent the undercover detective several videos showing child exploitation.

Newman is a convicted sex offender. He spent six years in prison after he was convicted in Pinellas County on 20 counts of possession of child pornography. He was released from prison in 2019. His most recent address, according to Floridas sex offender registry, was on Tracer Trail in Hilliard.

Newman faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years in federal prison.

Read: Councilmember ensures Moncrief improvement plan after residents say they felt forgotten for years

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Countries that allow Russian banks to open branches at risk of US sanctions  Financial Times

The White House is warning countries that trade with Russia of the risk of being subject to secondary sanctions if they allow Russian banks to open local branches to finance the supply of goods to the Russian military-industrial complex.

Source: Financial Times

Details: It is noted that the US actions are aimed at closing the loopholes used by the Russian Federation, in particular, finding unclear ways to pay for dual-use goods needed for weapons production.

US Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said that Washington was ready to prosecute countries that allowed Russian banks to open branches in their jurisdictions to avoid Western sanctions, even if the bank itself was not under sanctions.

Quote: "We will go after the branch theyre setting up, but also the other entities and the companies in your jurisdiction that work with them," Adeyemo said.

In December 2023, President Joe Biden's administration issued an executive order warning foreign financial institutions that they were at risk of secondary sanctions if they conducted or facilitated transactions related to the Russian military-industrial complex.

The US Deputy Treasury Secretary also added that after large banks in China, Turkiye and the UAE refused to cooperate with Russian counterparties, the US turned its attention to smaller banks in other countries.

Background: The US and EU are increasing pressure on Austria's Raiffeisenbank so as to weaken its ties with Russia.

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A defamatory sculpture known as the "Judensau" can be seen at the town church. A German man who has fought in court for years to have a 13th century anti-Semitic sculpture removed from the wall of a church plans to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) after several defeats in German courts. Hendrik Schmidt/dpa

A German man who has fought in court for years to have a 13th century anti-Semitic sculpture removed from the wall of a church plans to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) after several defeats in German courts.

Recently, Germany's Federal Constitutional Court rejected a request to consider the matter from Michael Dullmann, who converted to Judaism in 1978 and has been seeking to get rid of the anti-Jewish depiction.

The sandstone relief in the wall of an historically important church in the eastern city of Wittenberg is known as the Judensau ("Jewish Pig") and shows two people depicted as Jews suckling on the teats of a sow while a figure believed to be a rabbi lifts the animal's tail and looks into its anus.

The relief is particularly offensive as pigs are considered unclean in the Jewish faith.

The church is sometimes referred to as the Mother Church of the Reformation because Martin Luther (1483-1546) preached there.

In 2022, Germany's Federal Court of Justice ruled against Dullmann on final appeal and held that the relief could remain in the church.

The court decided that a plaque added around the relief and another outside the church which provide additional information about the depiction are sufficient to turn the "monument of shame" into a "memorial."

Dullmann, 80, tried to appeal that ruling again on constitutional grounds, arguing that the Judensau sculpture should be removed "in view of the serious violation of personal rights associated with it, not only of the complainant, but of every Jew in Germany."

A spokesman for the Constitutional Court told dpa on Saturday that judges at the court rejected Dullmann's request without citing reasons.

In the event of an appeal to the ECHR in Strasbourg, France, Dullmann could invoke the prohibition against discrimination in the European Convention on Human Rights and the protection of personality rights, his lawyer explained in a letter obtained by dpa.

According to a spokesman, Dullmann has agreed with his lawyer that a lawsuit will be filed. According to the lawyer, there is time to file a case with the ECHR until shortly before Christmas.
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV)  With the CDCs updated wastewater map showing high levels of COVID-19 in our area, many are concerned about the potential for virus transmission through floodwaters. But how big is the risk?

Wastewater is usually a means to measure how much COVID-19 is in the population, says Dr. Timothy Connelly, an Internal Medicine Physician, more so than a huge risk of getting COVID-19 from the wastewater. Because its a virus that spreads with respiratory droplets, it does survive to some degree in wastewater, and that is a risk. But its a low risk.

Loves Seafood continues to rebuild after severe flooding from Tropical Storm Debby

Dr. Connelly notes that tracking wastewater helps doctors understand what viruses are circulating in the community, aiding in the diagnosis when patients present with symptoms.

Theres a big increase in Parvovirus B19, for instance, in certain parts of the United States, Dr. Connelly told WSAV. And again, they can measure certain viruses in wastewater by amplifying the viral DNA or RNA and looking at how much there is. So, as we see the COVID go up in the wastewater, we know as doctors, we need to be checking people more often for COVID when they come to the hospital sick because people present in different ways.

While prevention can only go so far, Dr. Connelly emphasizes that simple measures like handwashing and staying home when sick can significantly reduce the spread of the virus.

Prevention is good, Dr. Connelly said. Being a healthy individual at baseline is perhaps the best thing you can do because almost everybody, if you havent already, is going to get COVID and almost everybody has had it, whether they realize it or not. But if youre healthy, the vast majority of time, youre going to do just fine and have minimal symptoms.

The CDC just approved the 2024-2025 Moderna and Pfizer vaccines yesterday, but Dr. Connelly says it may take a few weeks before theyre available to the public.

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UPDATE (WNCT)  Officials in Newport provided new information about a large fire at Community Baptist Church Friday evening.

On Saturday morning, the Newport Fire Department said crews responded to the church around 6 p.m. Friday after receiving a call about a vehicle fire in the parking lot. The fire then spread to the church building, according to a post from NFD on Facebook.

A youth group meeting inside the church were alerted to the fire by a passerby and were able to leave the building safely, according to fire officials.

WNCT/Kenneth Roundtree

WNCT/Kenneth Roundtree

WNCT/Kenneth Roundtree

The Town of Newport Fire Department would like to express our gratitude to every single one of the 70 firefighters from 17 departments who responded to help- from Down East to Swansboro, from Pine Knoll Shores into Craven County, and everywhere in between, the post stated.

No injuries were reported.

ORIGINAL STORY:

NEWPORT, N.C. (WNCT)  Firefighters responded to a church fire at Community Baptist Church in Newport Friday night.

It happened around 7 p.m., and a county-wide man power alarm was sounded. Crews fought the flames for two hours before being released from the scene.

Traffic was backed up and detoured as the highway was shut down in the Westbound lanes. It is unclear at this time if there are any injuries or what caused the fire.

This is a developing story. WNCT will update you as more information becomes available.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The sign in the northwest valley has been up for years. Now, theres new information about plans for College of Southern Nevadas new campus at Elkhorn Road and Durango Drive.

Classes and facilities centered around public safety will be the emphasis when the campus is ready  possibly in 2028. Dr. James McCoy, vice president of academic affairs at CSN, said thats a conservative estimate, with construction on the first campus building expected to begin in 2026. The campus will be the home of the Center for Excellence in Public Safety.

The 2023 Nevada Legislature approved $4.5 million for the project.

CSN has land on both sides of Durango, but the plans McCoy showed on Friday indicate all the initial development will come south of Durango between Elkhorn and Oso Blanca Road. Currently, only the Centennial Hills Park and Ride lot is on the property.

Overall, the site covers almost 41 acres, and the project is expected to cost just over $155 million according to the materials.

McCoy outlined plans that include two buildings and an Emergency Vehicle Operator Course (EVOC). The first building will house the CSN Southern Desert Regional Police Academy. Student support services and a library are also part of the plans for the first building.

The project is currently still in the planning stages, with design for Building 1 expected to be complete around the end of January 2025.

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(COLORADO SPRINGS)  The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) reported that officers responded to a call late night Friday, Aug. 23, about an assault outside a business on South Academy Boulevard near Astrozon Boulevard, where five people were attacking one.

According to CSPD, when officers arrived at the scene on the 2500 block of Academy around 11:30 p.m., they found the victim who was then taken to the hospital for the injuries received in the attack. Through investigation, CSPD discovered that the attack was a robbery and property was stolen from the victim during the assault.

CSPD reported that while police were investigating, four of the suspects returned. One ran away from the police but was caught. Three adults, identified as Xzavier Jaramillo, Alizah Starks, and Ryan Smith were arrested for aggravated robbery. The fourth suspect was underage and was served with other charges and released.

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Two months after a toddler choked to death, a coastal Georgia daycare has been shut down.

Jamal Bryant Jr., 16 months, was not properly supervised while eating a large piece of watermelon as a snack at The Kids Nest Learning Center in Brunswick, according to a filing from the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning. He choked on the watermelon and died at a nearby hospital.

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The state ordered the daycare to be closed, but the owner filed an appeal. The owner, Charles Grant, has since taken back his appeal, leading to the closure of the business.

According to surveillance video, three employees were seen talking to one another instead of focusing on the children. The Department of Early Care and Learning also says the video does not show the employees providing proper aid. Instead of performing CPR, as is the standard, they patted the child on the back repeatedly.

TRENDING STORIES:

Channel 2 Action News sister station Action News Jax went through inspection reports and found several complaints against The Kids Nest Learning Center dating back to 2022. They range from allegations of abuse to improper child supervision and more.

Not long after the childs death, Grant told Action News Jax that of the five people in the room with the child, only three were CPR-certified.

One young lady was brand new. Per the state, we have so many days to become certified. Same thing with the second lady, she was new, he explained.

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DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Officers fired on an armed suspect late on Friday night.

According to the Dayton Police Department, officers were sent out to the 900 block of Custer Place on reports of an individual with a weapon. This occurred around 11:30 p.m. on Aug. 23.

Child shot, killed while sleeping in Dayton home

Upon arrival, officers located an individual with a firearm. After several commands were given to drop the firearm, officers discharged their weapons.

The individual was struck and then taken into custody. Medics transported the individual to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police report they are in stable condition.

Two weapons were recovered at the scene.

The Montgomery County Sheriffs Office will be handling the criminal investigation. DPDs Professional Standards Bureau will conduct an administrative investigation as well.

DPD says they will offer additional information on Monday.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
DC Council to consider next steps regarding Trayon White

WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson said Friday that he would be launching a temporary committee to investigate the allegations made against Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White.

White was arrested on Sunday on charges of bribery. A 37-page affidavit details four incidents of bribery and suggests White lived at a luxury high-rise apartment building in Ward 6, rather than in Ward 8  the ward he represents.

In a memo obtained by DC News Now, Mendelson told Members of the Council that he would be establishing an Ad Hoc Committee for the purposes of considering theallegations (bribery and residency) and making recommendations to the Council for further action.

DC councilmembers react to Trayon Whites arrest

All councilmembers except White were appointed as members of the committee. Chairman Pro Tempore Kenyan McDuffie was appointed chair of the committee.

This is consistent with the last Ad Hoc Committee I appointed, which was to investigate allegations regarding former Councilmember Evans conduct, Mendelson wrote.

Since the council does not return to session until Sept. 15, the committee has until Dec. 16 to file its report.

Once the Committee meets, it shall have to determine how to proceed, as well as afford Councilmember Trayon White an opportunity to be heard, Mendelson continued.

According to the Council Rules, three options are available in deciding how to go forward:

Reprimand: A formal statement officially disapproving of Whites conduct. Censure: A formal statement of the council officially disciplining White. Expulsion: The most severe action, resulting in Whites removal as a councilmember.

The Council Rules state that expulsion should be used for cases in which the Council determines that the Councilmember committed a violation of law of the most serious nature, including a violation that substantially threatens the public trust.

Mendelson noted that the allegations against White warrant consideration of all three options.

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The first priority for any Jewish organization that gathered during this weeks Democratic National Convention was security.

For months, pro-Palestinian activists had vowed to flood Chicago with protesters, like the ones who rocked college campuses through the spring. To DNC organizers, who hoped for a joyful, unblemished celebration of their new candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris, that meant avoiding poor optics; for Jewish groups, it meant fearing for their safety.

In anticipation, Agudath Israel  a leading Jewish Orthodox group  planned a Tuesday afternoon event with precision, giving the time and location only to vetted guests. A security detail would monitor the doors.

The events purpose was to discuss antisemitism in the U.S., not foreign policy abroad  Agudath Israel, as an organization, is opposed to Zionism. Instead, the group invited dignitaries  members of Congress, parents of a hostage in Gaza, the Harris campaigns Jewish outreach director, the DNC host committee chair  to lead discussions on antisemitism within the United States. The parents of Omer Neutra, who is being held hostage in Gaza, recited a psalm. Speeches on fighting Jewish hate were delivered.

Then, outside the doors, commotion.

Attendees heard them before they saw them: a group of masked protesters had found their way inside the building and to the events room, chanting Zionism has got to fall! and You all have blood on your hands! Inside the room, the speakers continued their speeches, but the room felt tense.

No one was certain how the protesters found the event or got in, though attendees speculated they simply saw Jews and followed them. The irony of the fact that the mindless slogan-chanters chose to trail Orthodox Jews and try to disrupt a gathering about antisemitism cannot be understated, Miri Szpilzinger, the groups media director, told me. It demonstrates the societal evil better than any speech or chart.

The protest just proved our point, Rabbi A.D. Motzen, Agudath Israels national director of government affairs, told me. Antisemitism is alive and well and needs to be combated.

For years, religious liberty  and, more narrowly, protecting religious individuals from persecution  has been viewed as a chiefly conservative issue. Republicans are far more likely than Democrats to believe religious liberty is in danger in the U.S., and thus expend energy defending it. According to a forthcoming Deseret News/HarrisX poll, U.S. voters perceive the Republican Party as more welcoming to religious people than the Democratic Party. Religious people themselves are more likely to say they feel welcomed by Republicans than Democrats.

But Harris and her party are subtly trying to make a pitch to change that narrative. Harris is selling her candidacy, and the Democratic Party, as the defenders in an election where fundamental freedoms are at stake. Other speakers followed suit. Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, in a Wednesday convention speech, declared that Democrats are the party of real freedom, including the freedom to worship how (one) wants. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., a Jewish humanist, told the Utah and Hawaii delegations Tuesday morning that we are party of defending religious liberty from extremists.

But Democrats are having difficulty finding a pitch on religious liberty that lands  and what groups they can focus on. Christian nationalism is a popular enemy: it plays well with the Democratic base, and it can be pivoted into a political attack on Republicans, even if its definition is imprecise. But discussing antisemitism is much more fraught.

Democrats attack Christian nationalism

On the issue of the Ten Commandments, God said obey, not display, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, D-Mo., told a sparse audience Monday, who were gathered in an upstairs room in the ritzy theWit Hotel. Cleaver, a United Methodist preacher, was referring to Louisianas new law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments in their classrooms. Critics of the law say it is a violation of the free practice clause and an affront to religious pluralism, while defenders say the commandments are foundational to society.

I just find it a little bit bizarre that religious people want to outsource their religious education to public schools in a way that, you know, feels like an abdication of their own responsibility, added Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, the events moderator.

The program, organized by Raben, was a discussion of religious pluralism. America has a faithful people and a secular state, the invitation proclaimed. Can our politics reflect both? In many red states, the panelists warned, the answer, for now, is no. Louisiana wants to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms. Alabama banned abortion by citing the Bible. Texas is allowing chaplains to replace school counselors. Its evidence of the cult of white Christianity, Rev. Jennifer Butler said.

Throughout the 45-minute discussion, there was no mention of Judaism or combating antisemitism, and for all the talk of interfaith dialogue, there was no effort to engage conservative Christians. It was par for the course: Throughout the week, a number of events, both sponsored by the DNC and not, focused on interfaith relations and religious freedom. White Christian nationalism was criticized at length; antisemitism, except at Jewish-run events, was largely ignored  and when it was mentioned, it was usually to highlight antisemitic tropes or actions by conservatives, not by fellow liberals.

At the DNCs two Interfaith Council meetings, Christian nationalism was the main topic, and antisemitism was mentioned only once  to describe the qualifications of an authoritarian or fascist political party, which the Republican Party, Raskin said, has. On Wednesday, at a gathering of faith leaders called Promise 2025  pitching a faith-centric alternative to the Heritage Foundations Project 2025 policy plan  antisemitism was not mentioned once.

On Wednesday, those hoping for open, unflinching condemnations of antisemitism were offered a glimmer of hope: the parents of a hostage held by Hamas in Gaza were offered a speaking slot. A month earlier, the Republican National Convention hosted Ronen and Orna Neutra, the parents of Omer Neutra; at the time, there was a general assumption that the same at the DNC was a pipe dream.

Shabbos Kestenbaum, a Jewish Harvard graduate who spoke about campus antisemitism at the RNC, told me he was only there because they asked. Look, if the Democrats want me, or any Jewish student, or any family of the hostages (to speak at their convention), we would be more than honored, he told me then. But the Democratic Party, for whatever reason, is really not interested in this story.

As it turned out, the Democratic Party was interested, and the parents got a prime-time slot Wednesday night. As Rachel Goldberg-Polin took the stage, she was uncontrollably emotional, bowing her head on the podium as she cried. The crowd offered them a standing ovation; she said later she was overcome by emotion because she didnt know how the Democratic delegates, many of whom had threatened protests over Bidens policy toward Israel, would receive them. But they were received warmly.

This is a political convention, Jon Polin said. But needing our only son  and all of the cherished hostages  home is not a political issue. It is a humanitarian issue. The crowd chanted, bring them home. The applause was not as booming as what the Neutras received at the RNC a month ago, said Rabbi Motzen, who attended both, but it was still loud. Progress is progress.

That progress, proponents say, has largely occurred behind the scenes. During his convention speech Tuesday, second gentleman Doug Emhoff mentioned that his wife, the vice president, has consistently pushed him to engage in combating antisemitism.

On Thursday, at an event hosted by the Democratic Jewish Council of America, he elaborated further. Emhoff, the first Jewish spouse of a U.S. president or vice president, has led the White Houses efforts to combat antisemitism, culminating in the first-ever national strategy on the topic. Why did we have that (first) meeting? Because Kamala Harris and Joe Biden said we need to do this, Emhoff told a group of about 200 attendees crammed into a conference room.

Ever since Oct. 7, Emhoff said, Harris has continued to encourage him to lead the charge. He has met with university leaders to ensure Jewish students are safe on their campuses. When Emhoff led the U.S. delegation to the Paris Olympics, he hosted two major events on antisemitism.

Harris, Emhoff said, is uniquely equipped to promote religious liberty and tolerance. Were living openly as a Jewish interfaith couple at the (vice presidents) residence, he said. As Harris mentioned in her convention speech, shes the daughter of a Hindu immigrant; shes now a practicing Baptist. This is who she is, Emhoff said. This is Kamala Harris. I cannot vouch for her enough about her love for me and everything I am.

Convincing Democrats that Harris will be tolerant of faith is one thing; convincing Democrats that they, too, should be tolerant may be another thing altogether. The DNCs organizers made an effort to provide an ecumenical schedule of prayers. Invocations and benedictions at the evening sessions were offered by Muslim imams, a Hindu priest, Jewish rabbis, a Greek Orthodox archbishop, a Catholic cardinal and Methodist pastors.

But when the nightly invitation to rise and respectfully join in prayer came, most attendees got up and left, or loudly joined in conversation. Had it been my synagogue, I wouldve told them off for being disrespectful before the Almighty, Rabbi Michael Beals, who offered the benediction Tuesday, told me. By the time Beals finished his prayer, over half of the convention hall had emptied.

Religious pluralism

How capable are Democrats of becoming the party of religious liberty? Proponents see a window now to preach religious pluralism, as some Republicans lean heavily into a Christian-centric worldview. This years GOP platform calls for defending Christians from persecution. Trumps rallies, cloaked in Christian iconography, often feel like tent revivals.

If were going to talk about religion and faith, we need to talk about all religions, and make sure were holding the same standard for everyone, and were not just uplifting Christianity at the expense of other forms of religions and practices, said Rep. Angela Romero, a Democratic member of the Utah House of Representatives and a delegate at the DNC.

This idea that religion is the domain of conservatives  strictly, white evangelical Christians  has no basis in fact or in history, Raushenbush, the CEO and president of Interfaith Alliance, told me. But many progressives view religious liberty as a cover to discriminate against marginalized groups, like people of color or the LGBTQ community. The biggest question he gets when talking about religious freedom with Democrats, he said, is whose religion, and whose freedom?

All religions and all freedoms, it would seem, must also include Jews and their freedom of self-determination. Those on the left, Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, said, generally do not take antisemitism on the left as seriously as we must. But it is not an issue unique to the right or the left, she said in a February speech: Simply put, antisemitism is a hatred that can be described as a horseshoe where the far-left and the far-right are closer to one another on the issue of antisemitism than they are to the center.

On the left, then, it is much more difficult to talk about the antisemitism festering among their own ranks. I guess there is this worry about maybe alienating the Muslim minority, about talking about antisemitism and getting mixed with Israel, said Rabbi Beals. Its fine to be against any policy of the state of Israel, just like its fine to be against any policy of the United States. But when Israel is singled out over and over and over again to the exclusion of anybody else, it does sound like antisemitism.

He pointed out the backlash against Shapiro when he was under consideration to be Harris running mate. All those candidates had the same position on Israel, Beals said. But they only went after the Jewish person. (The White House quickly called out Trump this week for antisemitism after he called Shapiro the highly overrated Jewish governor.)

Throughout the convention, though, there were small flashes of hope. On Wednesday, after the Polins received a standing ovation and chants to bring their son home, a quorum of 10 Jewish men gathered outside the doors of the United Center. They turned to the east and offered their afternoon prayer, speaking in Hebrew and swaying. For several minutes, delegates filed in and out of the doors by them. Some delegates wore CEASEFIRE NOW pins; some wore keffiyehs. None said anything or caused any disruption. After 10 minutes, the Jewish men walked back inside.

Delegates pray during the Democratic National Convention, Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago. | Brynn Anderson
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  The final phases of demolition happened Friday on a historic Youngstown restaurant.

You can see the final parts of Torch Club Bar & Grille being torn down in the video player above.

Demolition of the building started July 6 after a fire in the 88-year-old restaurant.

The bar was formerly known as Club Merry-Go-Round.

Youngstown Fire officials told First News the building was demolished for safety. The fire started in the garage in the back of the building and spread to the bar.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
Deputies locate missing man in Greenville Co.

GREENVILLE, S.C. (WSPA)  Deputies have reportedly located an endangered man who went missing Saturday in Greenville.

According to the Greenville County Sheriffs Office, Dennis Rector, 49, has been located safe.

Rector was reported missing Saturday afternoon, and was considered endangered as he has medical issues which affect his memory.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Despite presidential pick, Memphis has no members on TVA board

MEMPHIS, Tenn. A U.S. presidential appointment for a former Memphis City Councilwoman has been put on hold.

Nearly a year after President Biden nominated Patrice Robinson to become a member of the Tennessee Valley Authority or the TVA, there have been no confirmation hearings, and none are scheduled.

Memphian Patrice Robinson appointed to TVA board

At a time when the Tennessee Valley Authority just approved a more than 5% rate hike that will directly impact MGLW customers come October, the TVA Board of Directors still has no members from Memphis.

On September 11, 2023, President Biden nominated me to serve on the TVA board. We had hoped that wed have a vote by the Senate by the end of the year, but that didnt happen, said Robinson.

Patrice Robinson has personally learned the hard way about gridlock on Congressional confirmations.

The first of the year, the President (Biden) had to re-nominate me. So, Ive been nominated twice now, Robinson said.

Currently, eight people are seated on the nine-member board. But theres no West Tennessee representation.

Number one, we dont have a voice. Number two, there can be some legislation that could have a greater impact on West Tennessee than on any other area in the valley, and thirdly, its so important to have a voice of public experience at the table, said Robinson.

The TVA is a federally-owned utility company. MLGW is the largest customer of TVA. We reached out to the TVA for a comment.

 See more breaking news, local news and weather from WREG.com for Memphis and the Mid-South.

 Sign up for WREG newsletters and have the latest top stories sent right to your inbox.

In an email, it says, According to the TVA Act, TVA Board members are nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. TVA has no input nor control over that process.

This delayed confirmation comes at a time when environmental groups are asking questions about Elon Musks Memphis supercomputer and its impact on the Bluff City.

TVA has not been called to the table yet. So, we really dont know. We need to get a lot more answers. We need to have more public meetings, Robinson said.

For now, Patrice Robinson hopes the community will turn up the heat and show its support to help give Memphis a seat at the TVA table.

What I want them to do personally for me is start reaching out to our senators, she said.

Attorney John Ryder, general counsel for the Republican National Committee, who died in 2022, was the last Memphian appointed to the TVA board.

Previous members include former WREG General Manager Ron Walter, Bishop William Graves, and V. Lynne Evans.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
In keeping with the Democratic nominees preferred political strategy, the partys recently concluded convention was relatively heavy on the vibes and light on policywith one glaring exception.

Reproductive freedom was given a stark spotlight, and Vice President Kamala Harris used her acceptance speech to call Republicans out of their minds for seeking to pass pro-life legislation. By Friday, even former President Donald Trump was posting that, My Administration will be great for women and their reproductive rights. Its a far cry from 2008, when Hillary Clinton would repeat her husbands successful approach, saying abortion should be safe, legal and rare, occasionally adding, and by rare, I mean rare. How did we get here? And how did we get here so quickly?

For those of us who consider ourselves pro-life, the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade was the culmination of 49 years of long, deliberate, and, to my mind, heroic efforts to remake the composition of the Supreme Court. Millions of Americans voted, donated, organized, and acted to see justices of an originalist bent appointed. Yet, for many on the left (and the apolitical center), the decision seemed to come out of nowhere. As the New York Times Elizabeth Dias and Lisa Lerer illustrate in their book The Fall of Roe: The Rise of a New America, many on the left never expected the right to actually mean what they said.

Wendy Davis, the one-time Texas gubernatorial candidate and state senator who went viral for her late-night filibuster in pink sneakers, tells the authors that she always thought the Supreme Court was going to save us. Cecile Richards, former president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, says she held out hope someone within the Republican Party would ultimately say, Look, I understand [overturning Roe] has been our strategy for all these years, but, in fact, thats going too far.

Roes demise was the product of decades of activism, prayer, and strategy. Other works have traced how the movement was founded, funded, and formed, but Dias and Lerer pick up their story around the time of the famous GOP autopsy in 2012. They show how the Republican Partys identity crisis threatened the pro-life movement, but also how it spurred a more aggressive strategy from those ready to move beyond incremental approaches.

Two Times reporters might be expected to get access to progressive leaders like Richards and Davis. But what makes their book especially compelling is the work they put in to cultivate relationships with decision-makers on both sides of the issue. Figures who will deservedly go down in the conservative pantheon for their role in helping seal Roes fatelike Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America (SBA) President Marjorie Dannenfelser, former Federalist Society Vice President Leonard Leo, and Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitchget their well-deserved close-up. Reputationally, they will go down as Goliaths, but on the field of the battle, they had collectively played the role of David.

Social conservatives fought against not just a mainstream establishment that saw Roe as a kind of super-precedent, but against an institutional Republican Party that welcomed their votes while continuously deprioritizing their issues. At one point, Dias and Lerer recount, the SBA operating budget was less than 2 percent that of their political nemesis, Planned Parenthood.

And yet, through fate or Gods providence, a series of high-stakes gambles paid off: the decision to hold open the Supreme Court seat left vacant by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, striking a deal with then-candidate Donald Trump and sticking with him in the aftermath of the Access Hollywood tape. The result was the confirmation of Justice Neil Gorsuch and then Justice Brett Kavanaugh, as well as leaning on red state legislators to pass increasingly aggressive laws that winnowed away Roes protections of abortion.

And then the last, significant twist in September 2020the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the nomination of Notre Dame law professor Amy Coney Barrett to replace her. In the span of one presidential term, three rock-solid Supreme Court justices added to the two existing conservative stalwarts. Its no wonder, as Dias and Lerer opine, that positions once relegated to the fringes of American political lifeoverturning an election or overturning Roesuddenly seemed possible.

They bring us inside the conference room where pro-life activists huddle to discuss their strategy given the new makeup of the court. Should the litigants stick to the plan of defending Mississippis new 15-week ban in hopes of getting the court to chip away at Roe without formally undermining it (a position that, according to later leaks, Chief Justice John Roberts was drawn toward)? Or should they, to use the common vernacular, go big or go home?

Scott G. Stewart, the solicitor general of Mississippi, opted for the latter route, urging the court to decide as it ultimately didthat Roe and its 1992 successor, Planned Parenthood v. Casey were, in the words of Stewarts legal brief, egregiously wrong. That tack, Dias and Lerer write, was a lesson Stewart learned from his old boss, Justice Clarence Thomas: Stick with a position, take the heat, and never budge. The move paid off.

Dias and Lerers book wraps before the most recent string of pro-life losses at the ballot box and the looming sense that the Republican Party, led by former President Donald Trump, is ready to move on from the issue. Their deep reporting suggests a fascinating alternate history: What if Justice Ginsburg had hung on for a few more months? What if the chief justice had been able to persuade one of his new colleagues that a modest chipping away at Roe was preferable to overturning it entirely?

In either of those cases, the political backlash to Dobbs itself would have almost certainly been less severe, with social conservatives continuing to find creative legal means to smother legal abortion. A backdoor ban on abortion, relying on enforcement by private citizens and targeted regulation of abortion clinics, might have tightened the screws on the Roe regime without engendering so much backlash.

Its possible waiting to topple Roe until a later case would have given the pro-life movement more time to ready the political barricades. But theres also the chance that opportunity might have never come. And while more preparation for the aftermath would have been welcome, the upshot of Dias and Lerers reporting is that many in the Democratic Party, the abortion industry, and America at large never thought Roe was going anywhere. As they summarize, most Americans didnt realize [abortion rights] were at risk. That disconnect had created a believability gap between the fervent pro-lifers and the voters who would go on to decisively vote to erase state abortion restrictions from California to Michigan to Ohio to Vermont.

While Dias and Lerer focus on the political and legal work that went into Roes demise, Shefali Luthra, a reporter for The 19tha news website focused on gender and politicsoffers an intimate and vivid look into why the Dobbs decision hit so many so hard. Undue Burden: Life and Death Decisions in Post-Roe America does not strive for the even-handedness of The Fall of Roe, but it is a work of advocacy, detailing the chaos the sudden overturning of Roe caused for pregnant women and abortion providers.

Undue Burden takes for granted progressive stances on the necessity and morality of legalized abortion. Pro-life viewpoints in the book are limited to protesters outside clinics, without engaging with the moral and philosophical arguments they might advance for why access to abortion should be restricted. Yet Luthra performs a valuable work of empathetic journalism, a powerful reminder of the challenges that face those for whom a new arrival threatens to upset the delicate balance of their lives to date.

Luthra vividly puts the reader alongside the women for whom abortion feels like the only optionand the lengths to which they are willing to go to procure one, even in a post-Roe America. Yet despite the sympathetic pro-choice slant of the book, those who are engaged with the pro-life movement would find it worth reading.

The challenges these women facefrom severe health complications to economic precarity to their perceived inability to care for another childleave these women feeling like abortion is the solution. One mom who ends up giving birth, having been unable to procure an abortion, tells Luthra that, As much as I love this baby, I would wish this on absolutely no one.  I still ideally would have had that abortion.

These are difficult challenges that no amount of free diapers or baby formula can address. Building an authentic culture of life requires massive social, political, and cultural change.

The women Luthra profiles cant believe there are so many policy-created hurdles, and so much stigma, around a procedure they view as necessary health care. It actually seems really ridiculous, right? one woman says. There seems to be a different set of rules when it comes to sexual and reproductive health care.

Well, yes, there is, for the simple fact that pro-lifers believe that the choice isnt just about what a woman does to her body, but to the still-forming body she carries within her. Luthras book even gestures to the humanity of the fetus, following a mom who chooses a late-term abortion because of detected abnormalities. She flies to D.C., opting for an injection to stop her unborn sons beating heart before the abortion takes place. When she returns home, Luthra writes, the tears she cried were real. Any pro-lifer would mourn the loss of her son with her; and most of them would agree that procedures that intentionally stop the heart of a late-term fetus should not be allowed, whatever the rationale.

In 1973, Roe short-circuited the political process, abruptly imposing abortion through the first two trimesters on a nation that had only recently begun to liberalize it. The long-run ramifications of that decision poisoned our politics and shaped our culture for the next half century. Whatever the future holds for the pro-life causeand I am on record as believing the stakes are quite direthe overturning of Roe was an epochal moment in the history of the conservative movement and American history writ large. Each in their own way, these two books shed light on how we got to a post-Roe America, and the challenges that reality will pose to those who earnestly believe in both supporting moms and protecting unborn life.

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CHICAGO  Vice President Kamala Harris  the daughter of immigrants, raised in the Oakland flatlands  accepted the Democratic nomination for president on Thursday night at the United Center. For the bleeding-heart, coconut-pilled liberals thrilled by Harris shock ascension to the top of the ticket one month ago, the convention festivities Thursday night might have felt a little deflating: speeches addressed squarely to Republican voters, throngs of Democrats waving miniature American flags, and Harris proclaiming her intention to ensure America always has the strongest, most lethal fighting force in the world.

The Harris campaign, it seemed, was making a clear play to boost the font size of the descriptors strong, tough, and patriotic in those word clouds that depict how voters view the candidate. She was making the predictable pivot to the general election, seeking to earn the support of the slim and elusive segment of the electorate that is both battleground state-based and without a strong allegiance to one party.

But amid the evenings jingoist spectacle  featuring an appearance by former CIA director Leon Panetta, who recalled the day he ordered the targeted killing of Osama bin Laden, and promised Harris would be a tough, cool-headed commander in chief  one of the most forceful reactions from the crowd came when Harris spoke of ending a war: the conflict in Gaza, where more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed over the last 10 months.

Let me be clear: I will always stand up for Israels right to defend itself and I will always ensure Israel has the ability to defend itself, Harris said. The people of Israel must never again face the horror that the terrorist organization Hamas caused on October 7, including unspeakable sexual violence and the massacre of young people at a music festival.

She went on: At the same time, what has happened in Gaza over the past 10 months is devastating. So many innocent lives lost. Desperate, hungry people fleeing for safety, over and over again. The scale of suffering is heartbreaking. President [Joe] Biden and I are working to end this war such that Israel is secure, the hostages are released, the suffering in Gaza ends, and the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, security, freedom, and self-determination.

The crowd thundered in approval, a response that tracks with polls indicating more than three-quarters of Democratic voters  and 61 percent of voters of any party  support a permanent cease-fire and a de-escalation of the violence in Gaza.

The fact that Harris used this moment, with more than 26 million watching from home, to issue a forceful call for Palestinian human rights was actually remarkable: As one former DNC official said earlier this week, the word Palestine had only been mentioned twice at any Democratic National Convention in the past 40 years. And there is an argument to be made that Harris herself taking up the call for Palestinian freedom and self-determination is a bigger coup than a brief speaking slot of the kind the Uncommitted delegates were seeking.

In a statement on Friday, Abbas Alawieh, co-founder of the Uncommitted National Movement, said the decision by the Harris campaign not to allow a speaker was a clear mistake and a missed opportunity.

At the same time, Alawieh added the request was part of a larger strategy to save lives and help save our democracy. That push ultimately allowed us to communicate to millions of people about the hypocrisy embedded within our party, and it allowed us to lift up our common sense demands for an arms embargo, for equal rights, and for freedom for all.

The dispute demonstrates the difficult balance Harris must strike between now and November to preserve a fragile, existing coalition, while inviting even more into the tent.

Yaz Kader, an uncommitted delegate from Washington state, spent Wednesday night sleeping outside the United Center as part of the sit-in protesting the partys decision not to allow a Palestinian-American or a health care worker an opportunity to address the convention. He said he was more impressed by the crowds reaction to Harris words than the words themselves.

She continues to say that shes working hard and around the clock. Im not sure what that means Those words continue to be empty, Kader said. The positive thing is when she did talk about Gaza, the roar from the delegates in support was palpable. It was palpable. And [that roar] felt like it was for me.

He hoped that Harris  and the Biden administration  would heed the calls to stop supplying arms to Israel. I hope that Vice President Harris can make that change, he said. Im still uncommitted.

As delegates, journalists, and politicians trickled out of the convention center on Thursday night, they were greeted by a small cadre protesters who appeared to have made up their minds: They held signs that read Abandon Harris 24 and Killer Kamala: Do Not Come For Our Votes.

At the Billy Goat Tavern just outside the security perimeter, bedraggled Democrats still in their lanyards and light-up fedoras, toting souvenir KAMALA signs and miniature flags, scarfed down late-night cheeseburgers. An elderly white woman with a keffiyeh draped across her shoulders surveyed the crowd. I gotta get out of here, Im getting dirty around these people, she said, then turned heel and walked out the door. As she left, two more delegates walked in.

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WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL)  A former deputy with the Wichita County Sheriffs Office who a judge called a disgrace to law enforcement is now headed to prison.

PREVIOUS STORY: Convicted former deputy arrested after guns found

Brett Brasher in the 30th District Court on Friday, August 23, 2024 (Photo credit: Josh Hoggard, KFDX/KJTL)

Brett Alan Brasher, 52, of Wichita Falls, was serving a five-year probation sentence after pleading guilty in February 2023 to violating the civil rights of a person in custody, solicitation of prostitution, and three counts of official oppression.

Brasher found himself back behind bars in July 2024 after officials with the Wichita County Sheriffs Office said guns were found at his residence on River Road, violating the conditions of his community supervision.

Brasher was back in the 30th District Court on Friday morning, August 23, 2024, where he pled guilty to unlawfully possessing a firearm and was sentenced to four years behind bars at a Texas Department of Criminal Justice institution.

Brett Brasher in the 30th District Court on Friday, August 23, 2024 (Photo credit: Josh Hoggard, KFDX/KJTL)

As a result of Brashers guilty plea, the probation sentences were revoked on the five charges he pled guilty to in 2023.

Brasher was sentenced to four years in prison for violating the civil rights of an inmate, 12 months in state jail for solicitation, and a year in the Wichita County Jail for each count of official oppression, all set to run concurrently with his gun charge.

Brasher was first hired as a deputy in 2011. He was suspended in October 2021 following an investigation into claims from female inmates of unwanted sexual advances and touching.

READ MORE: Details of former deputys new charge of compelling prostitution

Brett Brasher in the 30th District Court on Friday, August 23, 2024 (Photo credit: Josh Hoggard, KFDX/KJTL)

Brashers first arrest came in February 2022 after he was charged with a total of 10 counts of either violating the civil rights of a person in custody or official oppression. He was set to go to trial before he was arrested two more times for solicitation of prostitution and three more official oppression charges.

Following Brashers plea and sentencing on Friday, August 23, 30th District Court Judge Jeff McKnight had strong parting words for the former deputy.

You carried a badge and a gun. You held peoples lives in the palm of your hand, Judge McKnight said. You are a disgrace to law enforcement. Youre a disgrace to every single person who wears the uniform Youre going exactly where you need to go.

This is a developing story. Stick with Texomas Homepage for updates as more information becomes available.

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Corruption is a way of life in Illinois politics and in Chicago, once dubbed the only completely corrupt city in America. As part of its ongoing series Culture of Corruption, the Tribune has compiled a list of roughly 200 convicted, indicted or generally notorious public officials from Illinois long and infamous political history.

Scroll and link to meet the small-town official behind the largest municipal fraud in the nations history, the Chicago mayor with ties to gangster Al Capone and many more. They are arranged into groups that include Chicago and Cook County officials, people Illinois voters sent to Springfield or Washington, suburban and downstate local officials and judges. These lists arent meant to be exhaustive, and the Tribune will update them when new politicians inevitably behave in ways that qualify them for inclusion.

The Dishonor Roll draws heavily from the Tribunes vast archives, including photography and pages from the newspaper on the days these public officials made headlines. The Tribune also utilized resources from the Chicago Public Library, reviewed court records and consulted several books, including Corrupt Illinois: Patronage, Cronyism, and Criminality by Thomas J. Gradel and Dick Simpson.

Interested in exploring the Tribunes archives further? Were partnering with Newspapers.com to offer a one-month subscription to the Chicago Tribune archives for only 99 cents.
Disney has been fined $36,000 in the February death of a crew member working on the Marvel series Wonder Man.

A Cal/OSHA investigation determined that the wooden catwalk which 41-year-old lighting technician J.C. Spike Osorio fell from was deteriorated and gave way suddenly and without warning.

The fatal accident occurred on Feb. 6 at Stage 3 at the Radford Studio Center in Studio City.

The deteriorated ledger was weakened likely due to age, environmental conditions and repeated stress loads over many decades, according to a statement issued by the agency, which levied two penalties of $18,000 each against Marvel parent company Disney.

They concluded that Osorio was standing on the weakened section of the catwalk, when suddenly and without warning, the ledger supporting the floorboard broke apart and collapsed. The employee fell 41 feet and forcefully impacted the ground below.

Cal/OSHA also issued two $22,5000 citations to the nearly 100-year-old Radford Studio Center. Both companies have 15 business days to appeal the fines.

In May, Osorios widow, Joanne Osorio-Wu, and his mother, Zoila Osorio, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Radford Studio Center. The suit alleges that the facility should have known that the catwalks were in a dilapidated condition and in desperate need of repair.

The familys lawyer, Erika Contreras, told Variety that the citations confirm that Mr. Osorios death was 100% preventable. She added, It also confirms Radford Studio Center failed in its non-delegable duty to properly maintain, repair and inspect its premises. Unfortunately, Mr. Osorio paid the ultimate price for Radfords failure.

Hackman Capital Partners, who bought the studio from ViacomCBS in 2021 for $1.85 billion, did not comment on Friday.

In February, the company said it was deeply saddened by Osorios death and was continuing to fully cooperate with the ongoing investigations.

Osorio, who was a member of IATSE Local 728, also worked on the films The Dark Tower and Ant-Man and the Wasp, as well as on TV series including Goliath, Mayans M.C. and American Born Chinese.

TheWrap has reached out to Disney and Radford Center Studios. No one was available to comment Friday afternoon at Hackman Capital Partners.

Variety first reported this story.

The post Disney Fined $36,000 in Death of Wonder Man Crew Member appeared first on TheWrap.
WASHINGTON - The Democratic convention is over, and so is Donald Trump's counter-convention tour - but the former Republican president's struggle to keep up with Democratic nominee Kamala Harris goes on.

During a week-long tour of battleground states, it became clear that Trump must continue trying to define Harris, defend himself against mockery from Democrats, and deal with the fact that the incumbent vice president is pulling higher poll numbers than President Joe Biden did before his exit last month from the 2024 White House race.

Friday marked Trump's latest attempt to swing back.

On social media, the GOP presidential nominee tried to defuse the abortion issue by proclaiming that his administration "will be great for women and their reproductive rights." His comment drew even more mockery from Democrats who recounted how Trump's three appointees to the Supreme Court helped overturn Roe v. Wade and also pointed out that a large part of his political base wants to ban abortions.

As Trump conducted week-ending events in Nevada and Arizona, he also welcomed an endorsement from Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, an independent who announced he'd be suspending his own run for president.

Now comes the post-convention phase of the campaign, one that figures to last at least until the first Trump-Harris debate, scheduled for Sept. 10 less than a mile away from the historic Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

In the meantime, Trump's to-do list includes:

Making up ground

Trump campaign officials expected Harris' poll numbers to rise in the wake of the Democratic convention. Now they will try to close the margin in the weeks ahead by playing up what Trump calls her "radical" record.

How best to do that is a dispute even within the Trump campaign, a subject the candidate has brought up in public.

Throughout his post-convention tour, Trump did cite inflation, immigration, wars in other countries, and the overall economy as big issues in the campaign against Harris; he has also kept up some of the most strident attacks ever made by a major party candidate, routinely labeling Harris as a "communist" and a "Marxist," language reminiscent of "Red Scares" of the past.

Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump faces supporters during a campaign rally, at the North Carolina Aviation Museum & Hall of Fame in Asheboro, North Carolina, U.S. August 21, 2024.

Make it personal? Policy? Both?

Some Republicans fear that Trump's stridency is turning off swing voters; Trump himself seems unsure.

The former president has spoken about the intra-party dispute over how to approach Harris and running mate Tim Walz.

During an event Wednesday in Asheboro, N.C., Trump said people often advise him to be nicer - 'please, sir, dont get personal; talk about policy'" - and he asked the crowd of supporters two questions: "Should I get personal? Should I not get personal?"

The crowd responded overwhelmingly in favor of "personal."

After joking that "my advisers are fired," Trump then told supporters: "No, wed rather keep it on policy. But sometimes its hard when youre attacked from all ends."

Fence-mending

Moving past the Democratic convention, Trump is also trying to mend relations with some of the Republicans he has fought with over the years, particular Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp.

During a recent rally in Atlanta, Trump attacked Kemp at length (again) for refusing to back up his protests of Biden's win in Georgia in the 2020 election. Many Republican questioned Trump's agitation, given the fact that Kemp supervises an effective get-out-the-vote operation in a a closely contested state.

On Thursday, just minutes before Harris' acceptance speech at the convention in Chicago, Trump reached out to the Georgia governor via Truth Social: "Thank you to #BrianKempGA for all of your help and support in Georgia, where a win is so important to the success of our Party and, most importantly, our Country. I look forward to working with you, your team, and all of my friends in Georgia to help MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"

Trump later said he commented after watching a positive Kemp interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity. Trump also made up with Kennedy, a former opponent he has also described as radical. During a Las Vegas event for his "no tax on tips policy," Trump thanked Kennedy for "a very nice endorsement."

Presidential nominee Kamala Harris delivers her acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Aug. 22, 2024.

Playing defense

Trump also spent Democratic convention week playing defense, and that doesn't figure to stop anytime soon.

In Chicago, Harris and other Democrats repeatedly hit the Republican nominee over efforts to overthrow the 2020 election, his hush money trial conviction, the sexual abuse judgements against him, his threats to use the power of government to investigate political opponents, and conservative plans to cut essential services and restrict abortion rights.

In many ways, Donald Trump is an unserious man," Harris said in her acceptance speech. "But the consequences of putting Donald Trump back in the White House are extremely serious."

Trump, who live-tweeted his reactions to Harris in real time, posted at one point: "IS SHE TALKING ABOUT ME?"

The former president also found time this week to push back on an allegation lobbed at both him and running mate JD Vance: That they are "weird."

In kicking off his counter-convention tour in York, Pa., Trump referred to Biden and said: "You know, he said, were weird ... that JD and I are weird. I think were extremely normal people, like you, exactly like ... Hes weird."

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 07: (L-R) U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, retired Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy, Chief Justice John Roberts, Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice Elena Kagan, Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch and Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh attend U.S. President Joe Biden's State of the Union address during a joint meeting of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol on March 07, 2024 in Washington, DC. This is Bidens last State of the Union address before the general election this coming November. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 776087421 ORIG FILE ID: 2067180103

Abortion

Trump did express particular concern about one issue: Abortion rights.

As his tour wrapped up Friday, Trump posted a cryptic comment on Truth Social saying: "My Administration will be great for women and their reproductive rights."

Democrats quickly pointed out that, when he was president, Trump nominated three of the Supreme Court justices who voted to reverse the Roe v Wade abortion rights ruling. Trump has said that states should decide abortion policy, expressing implicit support for new laws that ban the procedure after six weeks of pregnancy.

"Donald Trump waged war on womens reproductive freedom," said Ammar Moussa, rapid response director for the Harris campaign. "Now hes trying to run away from his record. It wont work."

Well before the Republican and Democratic conventions, Trump often mentioned the political risks for Republicans over abortion - and that's not going away during the last two-and-a-half months of the campaign.

Jake Angeli, a Phoenix man known as the QAnon Shaman, took part in the raid of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Angeli pleaded guilty to a felony count of obstructing a civil proceeding and was sentenced that November to 41 months in prison.

Get ready to protest 2024 election

Democrats in Chicago also expressed concern that Trump would contest the vote if he loses in November, as happened four years ago when his protests led to the insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021.

In television interviews, Trump said he would not protest the election if it is "free and fair." Four years ago, numerous officials told him the election was fair, but he pushed lawsuits and pressured lawmakers to change the outcome anyway.

"I think if I lose, this country will go into a tailspin, the likes of which it's never seen before - the likes of 1929 - but if I do, and it's free and fair, absolutely, I will accept the results," Trump told CBS News.

Trump said he believes there "many problems" in the 2020 election, but added: "I think things have been done over the last four-year period that will make this a free and fair election."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump's post-DNC campaigning against Harris starts now
After DNC, some legal observers see room for CPD improvement

CHICAGO  The Civilian Office of Police Accountability that tracks complaints against the citys police department said that among the thousands of protesters at the convention, so far eight have filed complaints.

Each complaint can have multiple alleged violations. Two allege excessive force and two others allege civil rights violations. The vast majority are operation and personnel violations, like missing a piece of a uniform or covering up a name badge.

Mayor Johnson on DNC: Chicago hosted the best convention this country has ever seen

The National Lawyers Guild observes police during protests, document arrests and volunteers to represent those arrested pro-bono.



While the superintendent might celebrate what he perceives as protecting the First Amendment, we at the NLG saw numerous examples of behavior by the police that we found to be problematic and unconstitutional, said volunteer attorney Brad Thomson.

Thomson said the peak of the organizations concern came Tuesday when police declared a mass arrest outside the Israeli Consulate and they say protesters began attacking officers.

We saw those police in massive numbers surround the crowd, corral the crowd and prevent people from being able to leave, Thomson said.

Dozens of people were arrested that night, including three members of the press.

The Democratic National Convention in Chicago concluded Thursday night with Vice President Kamala Harris accepting the partys nomination to the lands highest office.

DNC Highlights:

Walz accepts Democratic nomination for vice president: Its the honor of my life

Thats my dad! Gus Walz wins over social media with emotion for father

Police and FBI investigate maggot incident at DNC breakfast in Chicago

Chicago authors book inspired by Kamala Harris vice-presidential speech gains new relevance

Sketch artist captures scenes from Democratic National Convention

Why are so many people wearing camo at the DNC?

Illinois student journalists get firsthand experience at the DNC

Blue Carpet: DNC delegates make fashion statements to stand out in the crowd

Photos: Celebs spotted at the DNC

Dozens arrested after protestors clash with Chicago police near Israel Consulate

Chicago has hosted Democrats 12 times, the last being nearly 30 years ago when President Bill Clinton was nominated for a second term.



WGN Cover Story: Why Chicago has hosted more presidential conventions than any other city.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
After facing years of complaints about service, cleanliness, and safety, the CTA faced a major test this week during the Democratic National Convention.

With tens of thousands of politicians, dignitaries, protesters and media in the city, the agency was tasked with helping show off Chicago to a national audience, while still serving everyday residents on their journeys around the city. And by many accounts, the week was marked by clean trains and stations and reliable service.

It had some Illinois delegates wondering whether the experience could be the same on the CTA year-round.

They absolutely rose to the occasion, said state Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado, a member of the Illinois delegation who said she rode the CTA frequently throughout the event.

Man, if only it was this clean every day, she later added. If only there were this many people on the train every day.

Though Chicago is used to hosting much larger events  trade shows often bring in more guests than the DNC was anticipated to draw, and Lollapalooza routinely sees 100,000 attendees per day  the made-for-TV event brought unique security challenges and national attention, and months of city beautification efforts.

With that came pressure for the CTA to step up its game. Stations were tidied up. New exterior artistic wraps were to be affixed to CTA train cars before the convention, courtesy of the citys Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. The CTA planned to add extra train service on the Blue and Orange lines, which run to the citys two airports, and the Green Line, which runs between convention venues United Center and McCormick Place. Later, after the start of the convention, the CTA said it was also adding service after the evening convention activities on the Blue Line, which also runs near the United Center.

Extra police officers were also visible at some train stations. About 200 employees volunteered to help answer questions, guide visitors and assist commuters with DNC-related changes over the weekend and on Monday, the agency said. And, on top of the preparations for public service, CTA provided dedicated buses to transport convention participants.

The CTA wasnt immune from DNC-related closures, though. On Monday, trains along the Forest Park branch of the Blue Line were delayed 50 minutes because of a closure from an unplanned motorcade, the agency said. Some buses were also rerouted because of protests.

In a statement, the CTA said the recent hiring of operators  an ongoing effort to account for a shortage that has limited service  has allowed it to provide more bus and train service.

Planning for and managing rail and bus service for events like the DNC are at the core of CTAs expertise and longstanding experience, the agency said.

The CTA efforts added up to a pleasant experience for Delgado, who said she rode trains multiple times each of the four days of the convention. It was the best option to get around, she said, with traffic difficult to navigate as hired cars flooded the streets and motorcades and security barriers shut down roads.

Delgado, a Chicago Democrat who once worked for the CTA and is a supporter of legislative efforts to reform transit governance, praised CTA employees who were visibly present helping out-of-towners navigate the system. She saw transit agency staff, noticing crowds of people walking from convention events toward stations, calling to hold arriving trains to wait for the crowd.

Shuttles provided to transport convention participants were initially less efficient than the trains, getting stuck in traffic on the first day, she said. The buses, provided by the CTA, took a seemingly roundabout route while heading to that first evenings activities at the United Center, she said, around the same time protesters broke down the first barrier of the security perimeter around the arena.

After 45 minutes on a stuck shuttle, Delgado got out and walked the remaining blocks to the security perimeter, she said.

In the following days, the shuttles seemed to run much more smoothly, she said. But the experience convinced her to rely more often on the train.

Delgado praised the CTAs track record of responding to large events. But if, during regular service, the same efforts were made to keep CTA clean and provide a pleasant experience, perhaps more riders would return.

If the amount of attention that was given this week could be given all the time, I think it would make a huge difference in getting more people on, she said.

All told, CTA ridership during the convention was up on the Green Line related to convention events and demonstrations, the agency has said, citing preliminary information. But fewer regular commuters were riding, and overall bus and rail ridership was down modestly from the prior week, a spokesman said.

One of the weeks riders was state Rep. Kambium Kam Buckner, a Chicago Democrat and transit advocate. Buckner said he was impressed by how clean trains and stations were, and how well service ran throughout the week.

When he returned Sunday from Minnesota, where he was doing work for Vice President Kamala Harris presidential campaign, he took the Orange Line in from Midway Airport, experiencing what an arriving convention attendee might see. And train service was running smoothly, he said.

Riding the Pink and Green lines around during the convention, he said he wished the trains were more widely used. But as the week progressed, more people seemed to be riding.

We probably could have done a better job of promoting the fact that CTA was an option, because traffic was crazy, he said.

Transit can play a key role in marketing the city to visitors, like those in town for the convention, who could potentially be future Chicago residents, he said. It shows how the city can work for employees, tourists and students.

And the levels of service and cleanliness Buckner encountered during the convention should be available all the time for Chicago residents, he said, calling for work by CTA, the regions other transit agencies, and city and state government.

The takeaway from that is that we have the ability to do that all the time, he said. We just have to find a way to make it important, which recently it has not seemed like its important. And weve got to change that narrative.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A 40-year-old man was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on Thursday, Aug. 22 after he seriously injured his ex-wife, saying he was fighting an evil witch, according to court documents obtained by KTSM.

Early Thurday morning, El Paso Police officers responded to 3348 Tierra Mision in reference to a shots fired call. The person who called said five to six shots were fired and that Marcus Anthony Payne, 40, was at their front door rambling.

1 in custody, woman seriously injured in far East El Paso

Upon arrival, officers observed Payne yelling and throwing objects before running back into his house.

According to court documents, officers on the scene spoke with Paynes mother over the phone and learned that Payne had ongoing mental health issues, and that the officers presence would aggravate Payne further.

Paynes ex-wife was notified about the incident by Paynes mother, and she showed up to the scene.

According to court documents, Paynes ex-wife was able to calm Payne down. However, Payne refused to step outside for officers.

EPPD decided to break down their perimeter and leave Payne inside his house, according to court documents.

At around 6:13 a.m., multiple calls were placed in regard to a welfare check. Witnesses advised of yelling going on. One of the witnesses, a nearby neighbor, said that he could see through his doorbell camera a woman who was bleeding and banging on his door, according to court documents.

According to court documents, fire-medical crews responded to the scene and located the victim who was taken to a local hospital.

Officers approached Paynes house and saw him standing in the front yard with a pitbull dog. Verbal commands were given to Payne, which he complied with, and he was detained without further incident.

Payne told officers he was fighting with a witch and that he was able to trick her and get her into a cage, according to court documents.

According to court documents, officers conducted a safety sweep of Paynes house for any additional victims. Officers were able to observe suspected blood throughout the house, a machete, a small axe, a handgun, unfired bullets and spent casings.

Additionally, officers observed blood inside an SUV parked in the driveway of the house, and a blood trail that appeared to lead from the residence going across the street, according to court documents.

EPPDs Crime Against Persons investigators were called out to continue the investigation. They were informed that Paynes ex-wife had approximately six lacerations to her head, a broken skull with exposed brain matter, multiple defensive wounds on her arms/hands and that she is currently intubated, according to court documents.

According to court documents, investigators also observed that a portion of Paynes ex-wifes left-hand middle finger was missing and appeared to have been cut off.

Investigators obtained a search warrant for Paynes house and located a firearm, a machete and a small axe with suspected blood on it on top of a mattress in the living area, according to court documents.

According to court documents, investigators also discovered a dog kennel with a large amount of blood pooled at the bottom, confirming Paynes statements regarding getting someone into a cage.

Investigators also discovered a portion of finger that appeared to have been cut off that was consistent with Paynes ex-wifes injury, according to court documents.

When investigators met with Payne, he said he did not recall what happened that night. However, he stated that he recalled having a dream where he was fighting an evil witch, according to court documents.

According to court documents, Payne said he used two swords to fight the witch and said he landed several blows.

Payne also said he does have a machete and axe inside his house. He also said that the sandals he was wearing belong to his ex-wife, so he believed that his ex-wife was at his house earlier, according to court documents.

Payne was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to court documents.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Oregon and Washington attorneys general have joined other states and federal officials in suing a software firm accused of helping landlords fix rent prices.

The Department of Justice announced on Friday that the agency and eight states  California, Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, North Carolina, Tennessee, Oregon and Washington  joined forces for a civil antitrust lawsuit against RealPage.

Oregon man accused of making hoax calls to schools, threatening sexual violence

DOJ reported that property managers send nonpublic, competitively sensitive information to the national company that then uses the data to determine rental costs and other terms. Officials argued that this practice minimizes competition among landlords who would otherwise compete for new tenants by offering different prices, concessions, lease terms, etc.

In a statement, Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum asserted that RealPages practices impact the fair rental market and violate the 1890 Sherman Act  which aims to encourage competition among business owners.

At a time when housing affordability is a top concern for Oregonians  and for countless Americans beyond our states borders  the issues of fairness and competition could not be more critical, Rosenblum said.

Hulu documentary details former Alaska pilots alleged attempt to cut plane engines

The complaint names geographic submarkets where the contract between RealPage and landlords have hindered, or are likely to hinder, tenants.

According to Rosenblum, this includes about 54,000 units throughout Central Portland and Aloha-West Beaverton areas. It also includes about 800,000 leases in Washington, according to Attorney General Bob Ferguson.

Court documents list the Redmond and Renton submarkets as those that are the most affected.

Negasi Zuberi sketched plans to raise an army with captured women, prosecutors say

RealPage colluded to fix prices and keep rents rising in order to boost profits, Ferguson, who is currently running for Washington governor, said in a statement. The cost of housing is putting a strain on too many working families. My legal team and I will stand up to this collusion and fight for affordable rents for Washingtonians.

In a statement to AP News, the software firm asserted that the claims listed in the lawsuit are devoid of merit and will do nothing to make housing more affordable.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Donald Trump is telling supporters he already has Novembers election in the bag and that the only way he can lose is if the Democrats cheat, raising alarms about the prospect of another Jan. 6-like event fueled by election subversion.

Our primary focus is not to get out the vote. Its to make sure they dont cheat. Because we have all the votes we need, Trump claimed Wednesday at a rally in the battleground state of Arizona, whose electoral results he sought to toss out in 2020 based on false claims of widespread fraud.

If the thought of another insurrection sounds alarmist, consider what happened four years ago. Months before the 2020 election, Trump warned that it would be rigged. In December, days after the Electoral College cast its ballots for Democrat Joe Biden, Trump announced a wild protest on Jan. 6, and his allies launched the Stop the Steal movement, promoting false claims and conspiracy theories asserting the election was stolen by means of rigged voting machines and fraudulent ballot-stuffing.

Washington officials and law enforcement will be on high alert this time around, so another deadly riot breaking out at the U.S. Capitol doesnt seem likely. But that doesnt mean the threat of more violence is zero.

Trump and his GOP allies have been preemptively blaming an election loss on undocumented immigrants  and suggesting the only thing that can stop them from throwing the election to Democrats is new legislation restricting noncitizen voting, even though its already illegal and rarely happens, and even though there is no chance of such legislation becoming law.

There is currently an unprecedented and a clear and present danger to the integrity of our election system, and that is the threat of noncitizens and illegal aliens voting in our elections, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said in May at a press conference in front of the House steps that had been stormed by Trumps mob.

Asked for evidence of fraud, Johnson had none but said he knew intuitively the threat was real.

Thats all it takes. Hes planting the seeds, and its scary and dangerous.Former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn

Republicans have been busy filing preemptive lawsuits and making changes to election rules that could increase the chances of a disputed outcome. In Georgia, a crucial swing state, the Republican-controlled election board this week empowered county election officials, most of whom are partisan appointees, to launch inquiries into election results, potentially sowing doubt and delaying a winner being called.

Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), who led the House Jan. 6 Committee, warned this week that Trump is plotting again to deny the election results.

His campaign proclaims elections wont end until the moment of inauguration  We will win or it was rigged. We win or else. This is Donald Trumps America, Thompson said in a speech at the Democratic National Convention.

Former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn told HuffPost over the phone that Trump is planting the seeds of doubt already, and thats all it took for Jan 6. to happen.

Even if its just a small percentage of [Trump supporters], thats all it takes. Hes planting the seeds, and its scary and dangerous, he said.

Dunn said he was 100% confident the Capitol Police would be adequately prepared for next Jan. 6, when Congress certifies the results, and that Biden would respond with additional security in case of trouble, unlike Trump, who stewed in the Oval Office during the riot and ignored pleas for help.

I cant imagine needs not being met, I cant imagine that happening  but that doesnt mean they wont try, he added.

Trump supporters swarm law enforcement officers at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, after Trump lost the 2020 presidential election. Kent Nishimura via Getty Images

Its not just Democrats sounding the alarm. J. Michael Luttig, a Republican and former federal judge, warned this month that his party has literally taken America political hostage, threatening the Nation with the specter of another January 6, 2021 on January 6, 2025, if the former president again loses his campaign for the presidency by a vote of the American People.

The conservative legal scholar called Trump a threat to democracy and said hes deeply unfit for office.

But there are some reasons to doubt that this coming January could see a repeat of the events that transpired four years ago.

For one, nearly 1,500 Trump supporters have been charged with crimes for attacking the Capitol, and hundreds of them are already in prison, so they wont be available for a trip to Washington. And the mere fact that so many Trump supporters faced consequences for Jan. 6 has already been a deterrence to others. When Trump demanded protests outside his Manhattan criminal trial last year, few heeded the call, and several prominent right-wingers warned against participating in a mass demonstration.

Another obstacle to a second Jan. 6 riot is that Congress made changes to the Electoral Count Act, the law governing the presidential election certification process. It would take more lawmakers to initiate a formal challenge, and the procedures for states submitting their slates of electors have been tightened up to prevent rogue Republicans from smuggling fake electors into the Capitol.

But as Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said after Congress passed the reform, it doesnt solve the fundamental problem  namely, that the Electoral College remains an intermediary between the popular vote and the election outcome, necessitating a bureaucratic scheme for transmitting electoral votes to Washington.

There are so many curving byways and nooks and crannies that there are opportunities for a lot of strategic mischief, Raskin said in December 2022.

Another problem is that the reforms Congress passed didnt create national standards for state voting procedures, said Dan Weiner, director of the elections and government program at the Brennan Center for Justice.

You had mail ballots counted on a rolling basis in one state, so that they could get results on election night, and mail ballots that couldnt be counted until the last poll closed in another state, which meant that you had states where it took days to count the ballots, and that that bred all sorts of conspiracy theories, Weiner told HuffPost.

The electoral counting reforms will make it harder to try to pull a Jan. 6, Weiner said, but its still a threat. After all, its not like Trumps co-conspirators were espousing accepted legal theories about the Electoral Count Act in the first place.

The new law, Weiner said, has taken away some of the legal cover that bad actors might have tried to claim, but youre just not out of the woods, and theres always going to be some vulnerability.

Regardless, Trump will have less power to affect the process for the simple reason that hes not currently president. After he lost in 2020, he and his underlings tried to bully state legislatures into falsifying results, and he tried to use lackeys in the Justice Department to announce bogus fraud findings. He wont have any official power to do such things this time around.

Still, Trump could appeal to his elected allies in Congress and in the states to contest the election results on his behalf, and also look to the conservative majority he helped appoint to the Supreme Court to intervene if he loses to Vice President Kamala Harris. It would ultimately be some version of a scheme his allies tried before: create enough chaos and uncertainty to deny his opponent 270 electoral votes and send the matter to the House of Representatives.

Speaking at the Democratic convention on Monday, Biden criticized Trump for declining to commit to accepting the election results, warning that the country isnt out of the woods yet.

This will be the first presidential election since January 6th. On that day, we almost lost everything about who we are as a country. And that threat  this is not hyperbole  that threat is still very much alive, he said. The vote each of us casts this year will determine whether democracy and freedom will prevail. Its that simple.
Donald Trump to visit Michigan again on Thursday. This time, it's Potterville

Michigan's importance to the Trump campaign was reinforced Saturday when former President Donald Trump announced he will make his eighth visit to Michigan this year, scheduling an event in Eaton County Thursday.

Trump, who is already scheduled to visit Detroit on Monday to address a conference of the National Guard Association of the United States, said he will visit Alro Steel, a metals service center in Potterville, to discuss the economy, inflation and manufacturing.

More: Donald Trump to visit Detroit on Monday to address National Guard conference

Former President Donald Trump greets a crowd as he exits his plane to applause at Signature Aviation at the Detroit Metro Airport in Romulus on Tuesday, August 20, 2024.

Meanwhile, Trump's running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, is to visit Big Rapids Tuesday, in Mecosta County, in what will be his fourth visit to Michigan since Trump chose him as his running mate in July.

Michigan is one of a handful of battleground states expected to decide the Nov. 5 election between Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, who officially accepted her party's nomination Thursday at a Chicago convention.

Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. Follow him on X, @paulegan4.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Trump to visit Michigan again on Thursday, heading to Potterville
Former President Donald Trumps Glendale rally set up a perfect opportunity for a crowd size comparison with rival Vice President Kamala Harris, who two weeks ago drew 15,000 people to the same venue.

Turning Point Action, the Trump event organizers, put the capacity Desert Diamond Arena crowd at 17,000. The Harris campaign on Friday didn't dispute that head count.

Arizona Democrats invited the crowd comparison. On Thursday, the day Trump appeared at the U.S.-Mexico border in Cochise County, the state party called the stop a "stunt" and said "Donald Trump is visiting the border to take attention away from Democrats hosting one of the largest political rallies in our state's history and a Democratic Convention where Arizona Democrats solidified our status as the future of the party."

Trump's allies in Arizona were happy to compare the crowds on Friday and claim bragging rights.

We have more people than Kamala had  outside, Tyler Bowyer of Turning Point Action said, referencing the long line outside the arena. The arena seats 19,300 people, according to its management company.

There were approximately 12,000 to 13,000 people inside Desert Diamond Arena as of 3:30 p.m. on Friday, according to a police officer monitoring the crowd. That number will go up, he said, because a long line of Trump supporters were still waiting to get into the building.

Someone who wants to be president had an event here and she had to partition all this off," Turning Point founder Charlie Kirk said. "We draw a bigger crowd than Kamala Harris, dont we?

State Rep. Justin Heap, who is running for Maricopa County recorder, echoed Trump claims that Harris is using artificial intelligence to inflate her crowd sizes.

"You dont need to use AI to make it look like the seats are full, Heap said.

The size of a rally is not an indicator of who will win an election, but a campaign crowd can provide a peek into how enthusiastic voters are about a particular candidate. In Arizona, a crucial battleground state, President Joe Biden had struggled to get voters excited to turn out before he quit the race.

For its part, the Harris campaign counterprogrammed Trump with a news conference focusing on support for abortion rights and organized labor.

"We must show up on Election Day to enshrine the right to abortion in our state constitution. But lets be clear: no one in Arizona would be safe from attacks on reproductive health care if Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans make their way back to the White House, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said in a written statement.

The truth is, Vice President Harris and Democrats have an economic vision to run on that soundly beats Trump and the MAGA Republicans, said Bill Ruiz of Southwest Mountain States Carpenters Union Local 1912. "Trump and Vance are siding with the wealthy and the big corporations, and we are siding with the working people of Arizona."

Still up in air: Supporters say Make Elections Fair Arizona Act makes November ballot, but questions remain

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Trump vs. Harris in Arizona: Who drew the bigger crowd in Glendale?
This downtown Boise alley was closed due to structural integrity concerns. What to know

The Ada County Highway District closed part of the alley behind the troubled Union Block building downtown, over concerns with the alleyways structural integrity, the agency said on social media.

The city of Boise condemned the Union Block building last November and earlier this year took over repairs because of inaction from the owner, the Statesman previously reported. Boise requested the alleyways closure as a precautionary measure.

Drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians are reminded to comply with all signs and should not attempt to go through the closed portion of the alleyway, the Ada County Highway District said on X, formerly Twitter.

The city of Boise and the Ada County Highway District did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The alleyway stretches from 8th street to Capitol Boulevard between Idaho and Bannock streets. Because of the closure, the Ada County Highway District stopped metered parking on the south side of Bannock Street to make space for business deliveries. There is no obstruction to area businesses.

The Ada County Highway District previously had closed the sidewalk, on-street parking and right-most lane of traffic next to the Union Block building, according to Statesman reporting.

Boises chief building official Jason Blais told the city council in January that there were large cracks, temporary shoring posts bowing under weight and that in some areas the facade had separated from the exterior of the building.

Ken Howell, who owns the building, sued the city of Boise in January saying that the building was condemned with no basis in fact, notice, or justification.

Most recently in the lawsuit, Howell and his lawyers filed documents on Aug. 21 objecting to an inspection and site visit by the city of Boise and asking the court to intervene. The inspection was to determine the repairs necessary to reopen the sidewalk and street, according to court documents.

Mr. Howell is not about to let the city go on another unsupervised fishing expedition to see if it can retroactively justify its reasoning for closing the Union Block Building in the first place, a lawyer wrote to the city of Boise in early August.

Its unclear if the inspection happened.
Israeli airstrikes kill dozens in Gaza on the eve of high-level cease-fire talks in Egypt

Palestinians mourn a relative killed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, at a hospital in Khan Younis, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/ Mohammad Jahjouh)

CAIRO (AP)  Israeli airstrikes killed at least three dozen Palestinians in southern Gaza, health workers said Saturday, as officials including a Hamas delegation gathered for high-level cease-fire talks in neighboring Egypt.

Eleven members of a family, including two children, were among the dead after an airstrike hit their home in Khan Younis, according to Nasser Hospital, which received a total of 33 bodies from three strikes in and around the city that also hit tuk-tuks and passersby. Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital said it received three bodies from another strike.

The Israeli military said it was looking into the reports.

First responders also recovered 16 bodies from the Hamad City area of Khan Younis after a partial pullout of Israeli forces, 10 bodies from a residential building west of Khan Younis and two farther south in Rafah. The circumstances of their deaths weren't immediately clear, but the areas were repeatedly bombed by the Israeli military over the past week. An Associated Press journalist counted the bodies.

Some residents returned to Hamad City, crunching on rubble as they walked between destroyed apartment buildings. One multistory building's entire wall was gone, its rooms framing residents picking through debris.

There is nothing, no apartment, no furniture, no homes, only destruction, Neveen Kheder said. We are dying slowly. You know what, if they gave a mercy bullet, it would be better than what is happening to us.

The war in Gaza began when Hamas and other militants staged a surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, killing around 1,200 people, primarily civilians. Hamas is believed to still be holding around 110 hostages. Israeli authorities estimate about a third are dead.

Israels retaliatory offensive has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count. The ministry said Saturday a total of 69 dead and 212 wounded had been brought to hospitals across Gaza over the past 24 hours.

Israels military announced the deaths of four more soldiers in combat in central Gaza on Friday.

The conflict has caused widespread destruction and forced the vast majority of Gazas 2.3 million residents to flee their homes, with many cramming into shrinking humanitarian zones.

In Egypt, the U.S. delegation led by CIA Director William Burns and White House Middle East adviser Brett McGurk held talks with senior Egyptian officials and then with Egyptian and Qatari mediators, according to a person familiar with the ongoing talks who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to comment publicly.

The Egyptian and Qatari negotiators were expected to meet with Hamas officials on Saturday evening. Hamas won't take part directly in Sunday's talks but will be briefed by Egypt and Qatar, senior Hamas official Mahmoud Merdawy told the AP. Merdawy said Hamas position hadn't changed from accepting an earlier draft that would include the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

An Israeli delegation that arrived Thursday included the heads of the Mossad foreign intelligence service and Shin Bet security service and Maj. Gen. Eliezer Toledano.

The U.S. has been pushing a proposal that aims at closing the gaps between Israel and Hamas as fears grow over a wider regional war after the recent killings of leaders of the militant Hamas and Hezbollah groups, both blamed on Israel.

The chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. CQ Brown Jr., was visiting Egypt, Jordan and Israel over the next few days to stress the importance of deterring further escalation of hostilities, a statement said.

U.S. President Joe Biden called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday to stress the urgency of reaching a deal and discussed developments with the leaders of Qatar and Egypt on Friday.

Major differences remain between Israel and Hamas over Israels insistence that it maintain forces in two strategic corridors in Gaza. Netanyahu wants Israeli control of the Philadelphi corridor along Gazas border with Egypt and the Netzarim east-west corridor across the territory to prevent smuggling and catch militants.

In the latest protest in Tel Aviv, some Israelis again expressed anger with Netanyahu as they pressed for a deal to bring hostages home.

Remove him from his position and appoint a person who is able to return them, said Ayala Metzger, daughter-in-law of Yoram Metzger, whose body was recovered in Gaza last week.

___ David Rising reported from Bangkok. Wafaa Shurfa in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, and Aamer Madhani in Buellton, California, contributed to this report.

___

Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
A full recovery is expected, said a spokesperson for the 83-year-old

Al Drago/Getty Dr. Anthony Fauci in 2021

Dr. Anthony Fauci is in recovery after contracting the West Nile virus.

On Saturday, Aug. 24, a spokesperson for the 83-year-old former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases told The Washington Post that he was hospitalized but is now recovering at home.

A full recovery is expected, the spokesperson said in a statement.

The Post reported that an insider close to Fauci said that he is unsure of how he contracted the virus and that he was hospitalized for six days.

Dr. Jonathan LaPook, CBS News chief medical correspondent, posted on X that he had spoken with Fauci, who told him he was hospitalized about 10 days ago and he had developed "fever, chills and severe fatigue."

"Evaluation revealed that he had been infected with the West Nile virus, likely from a mosquito bite that he got in his backyard, LaPook wrote. He left the hospital three days ago and is recovering at home.

LaPook also said, The prognosis is for a full recovery."

Paul Morigi/Getty Images Dr. Anthony Fauci in 2022

Related: Dr. Fauci 'In Awe' of Wife Dr. Christine Grady: 'She Did Three Things While I Was Doing One'

West Nile virus is often spread through the bite of an infected mosquito (or sometimes birds), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It can be found in the U.S. as well as in other parts of the world. Symptoms of the virus can include developing a fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea or rashes.

Although there is no vaccine for West Nile virus, the CDC says that people can avoid contracting the disease by using bug spray, wearing long sleeves or pants if they know they'll be around mosquitos and taking steps to prevent mosquitos from getting indoors.

Fauci served in the NIH for more than four decades, advising to help create public policy to deal with HIV/AIDS, SARS, MERS, avian influenza, swine flu, Zika and Ebola. Throughout his career, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the National Medal of Science, the Mary Woodard Lasker Award for Public Service and 62 honorary doctoral degrees.

He gained notoriety in 2020 for his work advising the public and then-president Donald Trump during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Related: Dr. Fauci Stays Hopeful for the Future of Science: 'Better Angels Will Come Out' (Exclusive)

He retired in 2023, and PEOPLE reported that he now serves as a Distinguished University Professor at Georgetown University with a joint appointment in the School of Medicine and the McCourt School of Public Policy.

Speaking with PEOPLE in July about his new memoir, On Call: A Doctor's Journey in Public Service, he opened up about what he learned over his decades-long career, as well as the American public's changing attitudes about science and public health.



I'm not naive, he told PEOPLE at the time. I'm aware of the destructive nature of the anti-science attitude that has been accelerating in society over the past several years. He added that the problem didnt start with the Trump administration, even if it was given a big jumpstart with the Trump administration.

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.

I still feel as somewhat of a cautious optimist that there are the better angels in everybody that will come out, he explained.

And if people start to really realize that we're much more the same than we are different, we will get away from  that vitriol and that hatred because that's untenable, Fauci added. And even if you are on that camp of being vitriolic, deep down, you gotta realize that that's not a solution. It's just not."



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Read the original article on People.
Dr. Fauci was hospitalized with West Nile virus and is now recovering at home, a spokesperson says

FILE - Dr. Anthony Fauci speaks during the presentation of his book "On Call" at Lincoln Theatre Friday, June 21, 2024, in Washington. ( AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former top U.S. infectious disease expert, spent time in the hospital after being infected with West Nile virus and is now recovering at home, a spokesperson confirmed Saturday.

Fauci is expected to make a full recovery, the spokesperson said on condition of anonymity due to security concerns.

West Nile virus is commonly spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. While most people don't experience symptoms, about 1 in 5 can develop a fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 1 out of 150 infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness.

CBS News chief medical correspondent, Dr. Jonathan LaPook, wrote in a social media post that he spoke Saturday with Fauci, who said he was likely infected from a mosquito bite that he got in his backyard.

Dr. Fauci was hospitalized about ten days ago after developing fever, chills, and severe fatigue," the post on X said. It said Fauci spent a week in the hospital.

As chief White House medical adviser, Fauci was the public face of the U.S. government during the COVID-19 pandemic, a role that made him both a trusted voice to millions and also the target of partisan anger. He left the government in 2022 but was back before Congress in June to testify as part of Republicans yearslong investigation into the origins of COVID-19 and the U.S. response to the disease.

Fauci last summer joined the faculty at Georgetown University as a distinguished university professor.

There are no vaccines to prevent West Nile, or medicines to treat it. As of Aug. 20, the CDC had recorded 216 cases in 33 states this year. It's best prevented by avoiding mosquito bites.

-

Thompson reported from Buffalo, N.Y.
Driver who crashed into New Hampshire troopers cruiser now facing slew of charges, state police say

A driver who recklessly drove toward a state trooper in Haverhill, and crashed into his police cruiser, is facing multiple charges.

Abigail Ordway, 38, of Littleton, was arrested and charged with reckless conduct with a deadly weapon, operating after habitual offender, criminal mischief, aggravated DUI  attempting to elude police, DUI  impairment, conduct after an accident, and disobeying an officer, state police said Friday.

Ordway is being held on preventative detention at the Grafton County Department of Corrections following arraignment on Thursday.

On Wednesday, Trooper Jawara Conde responded to the area of County Road in Haverhill to assist Haverhill Police officers in finding the driver of a white Hyundai Elantra who failed to stop for them.

Soon after, as Conde was traveling northbound on County Road, he saw the white Hyundai traveling southbound toward him, state police said.

Conde activated his cruisers emergency lights in an attempt to stop the Hyundai as the vehicle was being driven recklessly toward him, swerving in and out of both the southbound and northbound lanes, state police said in a statement Friday.

Ordway continued and ultimately struck Trooper Condes cruiser, before reversing in an apparent attempt to flee the scene, state police said.

Ordway then attempted to turn the vehicle around but instead went off the road and became stuck in a ditch, state police said.

Conde was not injured.

State Police were assisted at the scene by Woodsville Ambulance, Haverhill Police, and Bath Police.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Trooper Jacob Ingerson at Jacob.J.Ingerson@DOS.NH.GOV or 603-223-8477.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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(KRON)  A shooting occurred in Dublin Friday afternoon left one adult male dead, according to the Dublin Police Department. The suspect remains at large, said DPD.

The shooting happened at 2:21 p.m. Friday in the area of 5050 Hacienda Drive. The location of the shooting is Emerald Park Apartment Homes, which is located close to Dougherty Elementary School.

Woman suspected of killing ex-boyfriend in San Leandro home

Police said officers arrived at the scene and located an adult male victim with a gunshot wound to his head. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The victims identity has not yet been released.

Very, very quiet. Its all family-oriented people. So to have this kind of incident out here is very, very surprising, said one shocked resident at the apartment complex.

There is no apparent threat to the public, according to law enforcement. People are being advised to avoid the area.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
(Bloomberg) -- President Andres Manuel Lopez Obradors Morena party and allies will have a supermajority in Mexicos lower house while falling two seats short of a two-thirds majority in the Senate when the new legislative session opens in September, according to a final decision by the National Electoral Institute on Friday.

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The government coalitions 364 lawmakers in the lower house surpass the 334 needed for a two-thirds majority, which is required to approve constitutional changes such as the controversial judicial reform proposed by AMLO, as the president is known.

The vote confirming the coalitions supermajority in the lower house was approved with seven votes in favor and four against by the board members of the INE, as the electoral body is known.

According to the INEs initial projections after the June 2 vote, AMLOs coalition had obtained two-thirds of the lower house seats and fell three shy of a Senate supermajority.

After the vote on the lower house, the INE confirmed in a separate vote that Morena and allies fell short of a Senate supermajority. The situation forces AMLOs coalition to negotiate with rivals to approve constitutional reforms.

Next week, Mexicos top electoral court decides on the number of seats each party will have in both houses after reviewing several challenges from the opposition.

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FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  Elevated levels of E. coli have been found at Avocado Lake Swim Beach in Fresno County, according to the Fresno County Department of Public Health.

Officials say the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board recollected a sample on Aug. 22 that recorded an E. coli concentration of 1553.1 MPN/100 ml, which surpasses the Statewide Bacteria Water Quality Objectives established by the California State Water Resources Control Board.

E. coli is a bacteria bound in the intestines of warm-blooded animals and serves as an indicator of fecal pollution in water. Officials say that although most E. coli is harmless, it is essential to be cautious when levels exceed the recommended safety threshold due to the high risk of illness for swimmers and others who interact with the water.

Due to the recent finding, the Countys Health Department advises the public to avoid swimming in the lake until further notice. They also advise the public to adhere to the following water habits when recreating in Central Valley water bodies:

Do not drink river or lake water.

Do not use river or lake water for cooking or washing dishes.

Wash yourself and your family thoroughly with clean water after swimming and wash your hands before eating.

If you have health concerns related to water exposure, contact your healthcare provider immediately.

The County of Fresno will work with the Central Valley Water Board to assess the water quality at Avocado Lake Swim Beach. Additionally, officials with the Health Department say they will utilize syndromic surveillance and monitor for elevated E. coli cases.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The largest diamond discovered in over a century and the second largest ever dug out of a mine has been unearthed in Botswana. The gem, which is roughly the size of a human fist, clocks in at a jaw-dropping 2,492-carats and is likely worth upwards of nine-digits.

The diamond, which has yet to be named, was found using X-ray technology by Lucara Diamond Corp in the Karowe Diamond Mine in northeastern Botswana. It's one of four other diamonds weighing over 1,000 carats that the Karowe Mine has produced in the last decade alone, with a smaller rough diamond from the mine selling for a record $63 million in 2016. However, officials say it's too early to appraise value the stone or determine how it would be sold.

Lucara Diamond announce the recovery of an exceptional 2,492 carat diamond from its Karowe Diamond Mine in Botswana. This remarkable find, one of the largest rough diamonds ever unearthed, was detected & recovered by the Company's Mega Diamond Recovery X-ray Transmission Tech. pic.twitter.com/6E8wLwwl8d  Botswana (@Botswana) August 22, 2024

Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi debuted the stone to the world at a viewing ceremony on Thursday, Aug. 22, and was likewise one of the first people to be permitted to hold it.

It is overwhelming. I am lucky to have seen it in my time, Masisi said of the diamond, which weighs approximately half a kilogram. According to the Associated Press, he also gasped and said "wow" before summoning over senior government officials to take a closer look.

Lucara Diamond head William Lamb said in a statement that the company was "ecstatic" about the historic discovery of the extraordinary diamond.

"This find not only showcases the remarkable potential of our Karowe Mine, but also upholds our strategic investment in cutting-edge XRT technology," Lamb said. "The ability to recover such a massive, high-quality stone intact demonstrates the effectiveness of our approach to diamond recovery and our commitment to maximizing value for our shareholders and stakeholders."

"This discovery reinforces Karowe's position as a truly world-class diamond mine and highlights the continued success of our operational and underground development strategy," he added.

The largest diamond ever unearthed, the Cullinan Diamond, was mined in South Africa nearly 120 years ago in 1905. The 3,106 carat stunner was cut down into gems that became part of the British Crown Jewels. The largest, named Cullinan I, it is the largest clear cut diamond in the world at 530.4 carats, and is mounted in the head of the Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross.

Prior to the discovery of the yet-to-be named diamond, the second-largest diamond in the world was the 1,758-carat Sewelo diamond, also found at the Karowe Mine in 2019. It was sold to the French fashion house Louis Vuitton for an undisclosed amount.
The Florida Ethics Commission has received a complaint filed against Commissioner Mayra Uribe.

The complaint alleges Uribe misused her position with her offices relationship with All Star Dads, a charity run by her husband Kevin Sutton.

Attorney Christian Waugh lives in Uribes district.

In the complaint, he points to an office space, 3520 South Orange Avenue. Its the headquarters for Commissioner Mayra Uribes campaign, and according to the charitys Facebook page, the office for her husbands charity, All Star Dads.

Read: IRS revokes tax exemption status for All Star Dads run by Orange County Commissioners husband

Waugh argues in this complaint to the Ethics Commission that Uribe is violating Chapter 112 of the Florida statute by partnering with a charity her husband runs. He claims shes bolstering her household income.

Youre just, youre not allowed to do anything that can give yourself a private benefit, Waugh said.

Its all assumptions. Theres no proof, Uribe told 9 Investigates.

Read: Floridians balk at governors plan to build golf courses at state parks

Mayra Uribe argues all claims made in the complaint are false.

She says the charity had already vacated the property when her campaign moved in. She showed us inside the office where there were campaign signs and shirts. She provided documents showing her campaign has been paying the rent.

In the complaint, Waugh points to flyer after flyer where Uribe shares toy drives, backpack drives, and more community events her office organized. The flyers lists sponsors like Zaxbys and the Sheriffs Office, but also, the same charity, All Star Dads, run by Uribes husband Kevin Sutton.

Read: 2 confirmed Dengue fever cases prompt mosquito spraying in Orange County

The more advertising Commissioner Uribe does, the more funding and access All-Star Dads can get, the more money that her husband can get. Thats the dot-to-dot relationship, Waugh said.

Theres no financial gain. Theres actual help to help people. All of those flyers are helping people, Uribe said, responding to the allegation.

Uribe would not talk about the finances of her husbands charity and how much hes paid from the charity.

She called this complaint a political attack.

Read: Lake County warns residents over fake election workers

Robert Maguire with Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington says there are clear ethical issues with the relationship between the commissioners office and her husbands charity.

The issue is also that you dont want to give the public the appearance that this is a vanity project by a political figure, or this is a way to boost their income. So, there are certain, ethical issues and potentially legal issues when it comes to these kinds of things, Maguire said.

Uribe told Channel 9s Ashlyn Webb that she believes this complaint was to intimidate her.

She says it was filed the same week she called out Visit Orlando-- after a county audit alleged the organization violated county contract and miscategorized public funds. She also alleges Waugh was paid to file the complaint.

Waugh told 9 Investigates he was not paid and didnt know anything about the Commissioners push to hold Visit Orlando accountable.

Now, there are more concerns laid out in this ethics complaint about how this charity is run and if its legally allowed to solicit donations.

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State Secretary in the Ministry of the Interior Juliane Seifert speaks at the Eternal Flame on the Day of the Homeland of the Federation of Expellees. Fabian Sommer/dpa

Ukrainian refugees with a claim to German ethnicity are to retain their rights under German law, a spokeswoman for the Interior Ministry said in Berlin on Saturday.

The spokeswoman, Juliane Seifert, was speaking at an event organized by the Association of Expellees (BdV) that looks after the interests of expatriate ethnic Germans, primarily in Eastern Europe.

She noted that under the law to date, those with a claim to German ethnicity, who had given up residence where they had settled for a lengthy period, lost their rights under German law, including the right to settle permanently in Germany.

Those affected could now apply to be acknowledged as ethnic Germans, she said.

BdV head Bernd Fabritius said the organization would monitor closely whether German officials acted in accordance with the new regulation.

Set up in 1957, the BdV represents the interests of ethnic Germans affected by displacement, along with their relatives, mainly in countries like Poland, Russia and Ukraine.

State Secretary in the Ministry of the Interior Juliane Seifert speaks at the Eternal Flame on the Day of the Homeland of the Federation of Expellees. Fabian Sommer/dpa
Everything We Know About the Final Moments of the Passengers Who Died in the Sicily Yacht Tragedy

Five of the seven victims had been "searching for air pockets" as the luxury yacht sank on Aug. 19, authorities said

PERINI NAVI PRESS OFFICE/HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock The Bayesian, which sank off of the Italian coast resulting in the deaths of seven people

The luxury yacht Bayesian that sank off the coast of Sicily on Monday, Aug. 19, resulted in the deaths of six passengers and one crew member.

Less than a week later, on Saturday, Aug. 24, Ambrogio Cartosio, the Chief Prosecutor of Termini Imerese, announced that Italian authorities were launching a manslaughter investigation into the sinking, and he identified all of the victims.

The seven victims who died in the tragic sinking were yacht chef Recaldo Thomas; British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his daughter, Hannah Lynch; Christopher Morvillo and his wife, Neda; and Morgan Stanley International chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife, Judy.

Related: Acquitted of Fraud, Mike Lynch Was Elated but 'Struggling to Accept' New Reality Before Yacht Sinking, Reporter Says

As authorities attempt to answer questions about what exactly led to the sinking of the 183-foot British-flagged vessel  which went down during a "violent storm, the Italian Coast Guard previously told PEOPLE in a statement  here is what we currently know about the victims final moments.

FAMILY HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Hannah and Mike Lynch, who died on the Bayesian

During the Aug. 24 press conference, Girolamo Bentivoglio Fiandra, head of the Palermo Fire Brigade, revealed that as the Bayesian began going down early Monday morning, It was quite clear that people were trying to hide in the cabins.

In the left-hand side, we found the first 5 bodies in the left-hand side cabins, and the final body on the right-hand side, Fiandra said. We found them on the highest part of the ship, which was closer to the surface. The vessel had three cabins on each side.

The five victims, who "took refuge on the luxury yachts left side, had been "searching for air pockets" in a final attempt at survival," he added.

Related: Could Open Hatches or a Large Mast Have Contributed to Sicily Yacht Sinking? What We Know So Far

HANDOUT/Vigili del Fuoco/AFP via Getty Divers searching for the victims of the Bayesian

As for why the victims were in the cabins in the first place, Giovanni Costantino  who leads The Italian Sea Group, the company that now owns Perini Navi, which built the Bayesian back in 2008  told CNN it was due to a very long sum of errors."

"Everything that has been done reveals a very long sum of errors, he said in his interview, translated from Italian. The people should not have been in the cabins, the boat should not have been at anchor. And then why didn't the crew know about the incoming disturbance?

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Prior to the storm and subsequent sinking, some of the luxury yachts passengers were in celebration mode. They had been commemorating the recent acquittal of one of the victims, Lynch, 59, a source close to the survivors previously told PEOPLE.

Two months ago, Lynch was acquitted on all counts of a series of fraud and conspiracy charges he faced in the U.S. after a years-long legal battle dating back to 2018.

Patrick McMullan/Patrick McMullan via Getty Neda and Chris Morvillo

He celebrated the acquittal on the Bayesian with his daughter and his wife, Angela Bacare, who was rescued along with 14 others on board.

Also celebrating were Morvillo, 59, who represented Lynch in the case, and Bloomer, 70, who was a close friend of the tech entrepreneur.

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SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  A pilot who endangered the lives of 83 people onboard a plane flying above the West Coast told his side of the story to ABC News this week.

Former Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph Emerson said he lost his grip on reality in the cockpit for 30 seconds mid-flight. It ruined his career and may cost Emerson his freedom. The ex-pilot is facing 83 counts of recklessly endangering another person.

As he awaits trial, Emerson is out of custody on bail and living in Pleasant Hill with his wife and children.

His bizarre behavior was caused by grief over his best friends death, and psychedelic mushrooms, he said. Its 30 seconds of my life that I wish I could change. And I cant, Emerson told ABC News.

Joseph Emerson listens in court on Dec. 7, 2023. (KOIN image)

In October of 2023, Emerson met up with friends in Washington and they allegedly used magic mushrooms together. It was the first time that he tried using the hallucinate drug.

Two days later, on Oct. 22, he boarded a flight to travel home to his family. Horizon Air Flight AS 2059 was bound for San Francisco International Airport.

Emerson was sitting in one of the cockpits extra seats when he tried to cut off the jets engine fuel, Multnomah County prosecutors said. The jet was seconds away from becoming a glider, prosecutors said. Two quick-thinking pilots wrestled Emerson in the cockpit and managed to maintain engine power, FBI agents wrote in an affidavit.

Alaska Airlines planes line up at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. (File / AP Photo/ Elaine Thompson)

Emerson told police that he thought he was dreaming and was trying to wake up. He repeated the same story to ABC News this week. Emerson believes he experienced prolonged psychedelic effects from mushrooms and had a mental health crisis, he told ABC.

The ex-pilot said he felt fearful in the cockpit and thought to himself, Am I trapped in this airplane and now Ill never go home? I was fully convinced this isnt real.

There were dozens of passengers and 11 children onboard, court records state. The flight crew handcuffed Emerson in the back of the plane and made an emergency landing at a Portland airport.

Emerson and his wife are currently creating a nonprofit organization, Clear Skies Ahead, to raise awareness about pilots mental health.

Joseph Emersons wife, Sarah Stretch, talks to reporters at the courthouse on Dec. 7, 2023. (KOIN image)

Pilots have to maintain strict medical standards or risk losing their license to fly, Emerson said. Theres a perception out there that if you raise your hand and say somethings not right, theres a very real possibility that you dont fly again, he told ABC News.

Emersons trial is slated to begin this fall.

A Multnomah County judge imposed conditions for his pre-trial release from custody. Emerson cannot possess or use any controlled substances, he cannot be within 30 feet of any aircraft, and he must participate in mental health counseling.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
By Phil Stewart

AMMAN (Reuters) - The top U.S. general began an unannounced visit to the Middle East on Saturday to discuss ways to avoid any new escalation in tensions that could spiral into a broader conflict, as the region braces for a threatened Iranian attack against Israel.

Air Force General C.Q. Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, began his trip in Jordan and said he will also travel to Egypt and Israel in the coming days to hear the perspectives of military leaders.

His visit comes as the United States is trying to clinch an elusive Gaza ceasefire-for-hostages deal between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas, which Brown said would "help bring down the temperature," if achieved.

"At the same time, as I talk to my counterparts, what are the things we can do to deter any type of broader escalation and ensure we're taking all the appropriate steps to (avoid) ... a broader conflict," Brown told Reuters before landing in Jordan.

U.S. President Joe Biden's administration has been seeking to limit the fallout from the war in Gaza between Hamas and Israel, now in its 11th month. The conflict has leveled huge swathes of Gaza, triggered border clashes between Israel and Lebanon's Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement and sparked attacks by Yemen's Houthis on Red Sea shipping.

Meanwhile, U.S. troops have been attacked by Iran-aligned militia in Syria, Iraq and Jordan. In recent weeks, the U.S. military has been bolstering its forces in the Middle East to guard against major new attacks by Iran or its allies, sending the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group into the region to replace the Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group.

The United States has also sent an Air Force F-22 Raptor squadron into the region and deployed a cruise missile submarine.

"We brought in additional capability to send a strong message to deter a broader conflict ... but also to protect our forces should they be attacked," Brown said, saying safeguarding American forces was "paramount."

IRANIAN RESPONSE

Iran has vowed a severe response to the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, which took place as he visited Tehran late last month and which it blamed on Israel. Israel has neither confirmed or denied its involvement.

Hezbollah has also threatened a response after Israel killed a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut last month.

Iran has not publicly indicated what would be the target of an eventual response to the Haniyeh assassination but U.S. officials say they are closely monitoring for any signs that Iran will make good on its threats.

"We stay postured, watching the (intelligence) and force movements," Brown said. On Friday, Iran's new Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told his French and British counterparts in telephone conversations that it was his country's right to retaliate, according to the official IRNA news agency.

On April 13, two weeks after two Iranian generals were killed in a strike on Tehran's embassy in Syria, Iran unleashed a barrage of hundreds of drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles towards Israel, damaging two air bases. Israel, the United States and other allies managed to destroy almost all of the weapons before they reached their targets.

Brown did not speculate about what Iran and its allies might do but said he hoped to discuss different scenarios with his Israeli counterpart.

"Particularly, as I engage with my Israeli counterpart, how they might respond, depending on the response that comes from Hezbollah or from Iran," Brown said.

The current war in the Gaza Strip began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas gunmen stormed into Israeli communities, killing around 1,200 people and abducting about 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Since then, Israel's military campaign has driven nearly all of the Palestinian enclave's 2.3 million people from their homes, giving rise to deadly hunger and disease and killing at least 40,000 people, according to Palestinian health authorities.

(Reporting by Phil Stewart; editing by Giles Elgood)
A national park in Kentucky poking fun at receiving a spot on a less-than-ideal list.

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Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky was recently rated as one of the most disappointing U.S. tourist attractions in a recent poll.

In a viral social media post, park officials troll the ranking by asking people to come and experience what has disappointed millions of people for over 225 years.

If you would like to experience the disappointment of Mammoth Cave, visit our website and choose from one of our many activities that will leave you unfulfilled! the post read. You can be disappointed by a dry hole with very few stalagmites and stalactites or discover nothing other than trees on over 80+ miles of hiking, biking, horseback riding, and water trails. (Fair warning  there are bugs in the outdoors, cellular phone service is spotty, and there are stairs on some of our cave tours.)

Officials told potential visitors that a world regret awaits them at Mammoth Cave.

The post has racked up over 5,000 comments in less than 24 hours.

Ive been disappointed in this place since I was 6, one man wrote. 61 years of being let down (pun fully intended). I dont know why I keep coming back. (I) mean, it just takes forever for anything to change in that hole.

Park officials responded to the comment and said theyre happy to be a disappointment.

Another user commented that they failed to live up to that title because they had an amazing visit to the park.

Were sorry to have failed you by not failing you enough, park officials wrote.

Information about Mammoth Cave National Park can be found here.

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Police officers stand near a synagogue after an explosion outside the building. Following the explosion outside a synagogue in La Grande-Motte in the south of France, the anti-terrorism prosecutor's office has taken over the investigation. The authorities confirmed this to the German Press Agency in Paris. Pascal Guyot/AFP/dpa

An explosion outside a synagogue in the south of France injured a police officer on Saturday morning, a spokesman for the gendarmerie said.

No one inside the synagogue at La Grande-Motte on the Mediterranean coast near Montpellier was injured.

The spokesman for the gendarmerie, a branch of the armed forces responsible for internal security in some areas, was initially unable to say anything about the motive - including whether it was an anti-Semitic attack.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, writing on X, said the attempt to set fire to the synagogue "was clearly criminal." He assured "our Jewish fellow citizens" and the community of his full support.

All means have been mobilized to find the perpetrator, Darmanin said.

Initially two cars were set on fire outside the synagogue, and a gas cylinder exploded in one of the vehicles. Two doors of the synagogue were also set on fire.

However, it is unclear whether this happened before or after the explosion.
Nearly 2,000 medical experts from 184 hospitals nationwide have assisted the development of healthcare services in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region since August 2015, the regional health commission said.

Over the past nearly 10 years, hospital healthcare services have covered all six cities and one prefecture across the region, with the number of out-patients doubling and the recovery rate of critical patients close to 90 percent.

Currently, the maternal mortality rate in the region is 38.63 per 100,000 people, the infant mortality rate is 5.37 per 1,000, the hospital delivery rate is 99.15 percent, and the average life expectancy is 72.19 years -- with all these indicators at the best levels in Xizang's history.
Fact check: Donald Trump said Joe Arpaio was 'at the border.' That's not what happened

Former President Donald Trump has made incendiary talk on immigration and border protection a centerpiece of his campaign rhetoric since 2015, and his rally in Glendale on Friday was no exception.

But claims he made at Desert Diamond Area before thousands of people about immigration and border policy were inaccurate, unsupported by data or need more explanation.

Trump's problematic claims included assertions about Vice President Kamala Harris' position on Immigration and Customs Enforcement, overstatements about the number of people who cross the border into Arizona unlawfully and a misunderstanding about the role of the Maricopa County sheriff.

During his speech, Trump invited the president of the Arizona Police Association onto the stage, and he also made a statement about immigration policy that's worthy of further analysis.

Here's what was said and the facts that put the claims into context.

Trump overstates number of unauthorized border crossers, misstates role of Maricopa County sheriff

Trump claimed during his rally in Glendale that 3 million people have come through the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona.

Trump made the claim while praising former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who was seated in a front row.

Do you remember when Sheriff Joe was at the border. You didnt have people coming in. I think for the one year he had one person come in, but they got him, Trump said. Now we have 3 million people coming in through your border, your border.

Maricopa County, however, does not share a border with Mexico, although Arpaio did conduct crime suppression sweeps in predominantly Latino neighborhoods that were aimed at identifying and deporting people in the country illegally. A federal judge later ruled Arpaios immigration actions were unlawful.

Trumps claim that 3 million people have come through the Arizona border with Mexico is also not accurate, based on a review of U.S. Customs and Border Protection data.

Over the past four fiscal years, Border Patrol agents and CBP officers have encountered a total of nearly 2 million people unauthorized to legally enter the U.S. in the Tucson and Yuma sectors.

The number includes unauthorized migrants encountered at official ports of entry and between ports of entry. The Yuma sector straddles both the Arizona and California borders, so not all of the encounters took place in Arizona.

Whats more, the number includes encounters that occurred from Oct. 1, 2020, through July of this year. That period covers the Biden administration as well as the last three months of the Trump administration.

The 2 million number also only includes unauthorized migrants encountered by CBP officers and Border Patrol agents during that period, not the number of asylum seekers allowed to enter the U.S. and remain while asylum claims are pending. Many were deported to Mexico or other countries, either immediately or later. The 2 million encounters also do not represent 2 million individual people since many migrants attempt to cross again after being sent back to Mexico, and each apprehension is counted as a separate encounter.

In his 3 million number, Trump may have been including the number of so-called gotaways  unauthorized migrants who entered the U.S. after evading Border Patrol agents in addition to unauthorized migrant encounters. However, data for the estimated number of gotaways by the Border Patrol has not been published by CBP.

Trump said Harris 'called for abolishing ICE,' but she opposed Trump-era immigration practices, not the agency

During his speech at his Glendale rally, Trump said Harris, the Democratic nominee for president, "called for abolishing ICE."

Harris had reportedly never stated the words "abolish ICE," according to PolitiFact, even though some progressive politicians were using that rhetoric during the Trump administration.

In a June 2018 interview with MSNBC, Harris, then a U.S. senator representing California, said she believed there were issues with the way ICE was operating under the Trump administration and that "we need to probably even think about starting from scratch" because she believed the agency was conducting itself improperly.

But she was clear that the U.S. needed an immigration enforcement agency focused on improving public safety by deporting violent criminals. "ICE should exist," she said.

Harris was not in charge of border security, contrary to Trump claims

In his remarks, Trump regarded Harris as the "border czar" who was in charge of border security.

While President Joe Biden appointed Harris early on in his term to investigate and help solve the root cause of migration issues in the U.S. southern border, Harris was never given control of border security, nor was she given the title of "border czar," according to FactCheck.org, a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania.

Some media characterized Harris as the Biden administration's "border czar," however, which was not publicly contested by the administration at the time.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which houses ICE and CBP, handles border security. It is led by Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, a member of Biden's Cabinet.

How many immigrants are released into the US daily?

Toward the end of his speech, Trump welcomed the president of the Arizona Police Association, Justin Harris, to the stage. Harris proclaimed his support for Trump and expressed a desire to close the southern U.S. border to restrict immigration.

"On average, there's over 5,000 immigrants being released into the country every day," the police leader said during his remarks. The Arizona Police Association is an umbrella organization representing police officers across the state.

He was talking about the practice of releasing immigrants into the U.S., where they can live while they wait for their legal processes, like asylum claims, to play out, and his assessment is high.

According to a CBS News analysis of CBP data, about 842,000 migrants were released into the U.S. between October 2023 and July 2024. That means, on average, about 2,800 migrants were released per day in a recent 10-month period.

Immigration patterns are not constant across the calendar year, however, and in some months during that 10-month stretch, there were far more releases, meaning the daily average for the month would be higher than the 10-month average.

In December 2023, for instance, there were about 192,000 releases, according to the CBS News analysis, which would mean about 6,400 daily releases nationwide.

Biden's executive order in June limiting asylum claims has resulted in a significant drop in the number of migrants being released into the country, the CBS News analysis concluded.

Donald Trump vs. Kamala Harris: Who drew bigger crowd to Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale?

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Fact check: Trump's immigration and border claims at Glendale rally
Claim:

Former U.S. President Donald Trump once suggested people inject bleach or other disinfectants into their bodies to treat COVID-19.

Rating:

Rating: Mostly False

What's True:

During an April 2020 media briefing, Trump did ask members of the government's coronavirus task force to look into whether disinfectants could be injected inside people to treat COVID-19. But when a reporter asked in a follow-up question whether cleaning products like bleach and isopropyl alcohol would be injected into a person, the then-president said those products would be used for sterilizing an area, not for injections.

What's False:

However, at no point did Trump explicitly tell people they could or should inject bleach into their bodies.

In mid August 2024, Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris' campaign account on X  @KamalaHQ  resurfaced a claim that former U.S. President Donald Trump once told people to "inject bleach" into their bodies to treat COVID-19.

Trump: We did a great job with COVID



(Over a million Americans died and he told us to inject bleach) pic.twitter.com/suw6XrSMpg  Kamala HQ (@KamalaHQ) August 19, 2024

Then, on Aug. 19, California Rep. Robert Garcia repeated the claim (at minute 1:14) during his speech at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago. Garcia and @KamalaHQ also posted clips of that footage on X, amassing more than 1.6 million views combined as of this writing.

I lost my parents to the pandemic, while Donald Trump was telling us to inject bleach into our bodies. Kamala Harris will make sure that we dont go back. pic.twitter.com/jDBozrqssk  Robert Garcia (@RobertGarcia) August 20, 2024

This accusation has been repeatedly leveled at Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, in the run up to the 2024 election. In late July, one X user posted a video of U.S. President Joe Biden claiming Trump once said "just inject a little bleach into your vein" to deal with COVID-19. Another example of that clip was posted on X in late April 2024.

Biden also made the claim  which related to comments his predecessor made in April 2020  during the first presidential candidates' debate of the 2024 election campaign. In his opening remarks of the CNN television debate in June 2024, the president said the pandemic was "badly handled" by Trump and "many people were dying." He then claimed (at 3:27 in the video below) the former president once told people to "inject a little bleach in your arm; it'd be all right."

In fact, examples of this claim had been circulating online for four years, following a media briefing conducted by Trump in late April 2020, during which the then-president discussed using disinfectants, such as bleach, in the U.S. government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Though Trump's comments made little sense and were ridiculed and described as dangerous by experts, under any reasonable interpretation of his words, he didn't explicitly suggest people should inject themselves with bleach or other household disinfectants.

Instead, while floating the idea to the government's coronavirus task force and the media, Trump asked whether injecting disinfectants "inside" could help fight the virus, as we further outline below. Therefore, because Biden and Garcia's remarks, and the follow-up social media posts, were at best a misinterpretation and at worst a misrepresentation of what Trump said, we rated this claim "Mostly False."

So What Did Trump Actually Say?

On April 23, 2020, Trump conducted an hourlong media briefing with members of the government's coronavirus task force (transcript).

The then-president spoke several times throughout the conference, but just over 26 minutes in, he took over from the head of the science and technology directorate at the Department of Homeland Security, Bill Bryan, who had just been discussing the use of ultraviolet light and disinfectants  such as bleach and isopropyl alcohol  to kill the virus rapidly on nonporous surfaces.

In an apparent reference to Bryan's earlier comments, Trump then said (around the 26:51 mark):

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. So I asked Bill a question that probably some of you are thinking of, if you're totally into that world, which I find to be very interesting. So, supposing we hit the body with a tremendous  whether it's ultraviolet or just very powerful light  and I think you said that that hasn't been checked, but you're going to test it. And then I said, supposing you brought the light inside the body, which you can do either through the skin or in some other way, and I think you said you're going to test that too. It sounds interesting. ACTING UNDER SECRETARY BRYAN: We'll get to the right folks who could. THE PRESIDENT: Right. And then I see the disinfectant, where it knocks it out in a minute. One minute. And is there a way we can do something like that, by injection inside or almost a cleaning. Because you see it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs. So it would be interesting to check that. So, that, you're going to have to use medical doctors with. But it sounds  it sounds interesting to me.

Four minutes later, a journalist responded to Trump's disinfectant comments by asking whether there was any scenario in which cleaning products like bleach and isopropyl alcohol would be injected into people.

Bryan replied first, saying: "No, I'm here to talk about the findings that we had in the study. We won't do that within that lab, our lab."

Trump then clarified his own remarks, adding: "It wouldn't be through injection. We're talking about through almost a cleaning, sterilization of an area. Maybe it works, maybe it doesn't work. But it certainly has a big effect if it's on a stationary object."

At no point in the media briefing did the then-president recommend that people inject bleach or other disinfectants into their bodies. He merely asked experts whether disinfectants could be injected to tackle COVID-19; a stance he later rowed back on when pressed by a journalist.

A day later, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office his question about injecting disinfectants was a "sarcastic question" to "see what would happen":

I was asking a question sarcastically to reporters like you just to see what would happen  I was asking a sarcastic, and a very sarcastic, question to the reporters in the room about disinfectant on the inside. But it does kill it, and it would kill it on the hands and that would make things much better. That was done in the form of a sarcastic question to the reporters.

He then denied he was asking medical experts to look into injecting people with disinfectants.

Criticism of Trump's Comments

Nonetheless, Trump's comments about injecting disinfectants drew widespread criticism from experts.

Reckitt Benckiser, the Britain-based maker of cleaning, disinfectant and antiseptic products Dettol and Lysol, said in a statement: "We must be clear that under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body (through injection, ingestion or any other route)."

John Balmes, a pulmonologist at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and a professor of medicine at the University of California San Francisco, told Bloomberg on April 24, 2020, inhaling chlorine bleach "would be absolutely the worst thing for the lungs."

"The airway and lungs are not made to be exposed to even an aerosol of disinfectant  Not even a low dilution of bleach or isopropyl alcohol is safe  It's a totally ridiculous concept."

Dr. Vin Gupta, a pulmonologist and global health policy expert, told NBC News that same day: "This notion of injecting or ingesting any type of cleansing product into the body is irresponsible, and it's dangerous  It's a common method that people utilize when they want to kill themselves."

Sources:

CNN Presidential Debate: President Joe Biden and Former President Donald Trump. www.youtube.com, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-v-8wJkmwBY. Accessed 18 July 2024.

'Dr. Vin Gupta, MD, MPA'. Dr. Vin Gupta, MD, MPA, https://vinguptamd.com/. Accessed 18 July 2024.

Improper Use of Disinfectants. https://www.reckitt.com/media-landing/press-releases/2020/improper-use-of-disinfectants/. Accessed 18 July 2024.

'"It's Irresponsible and It's Dangerous": Experts Rip Trump's Idea of Injecting Disinfectant to Treat COVID-19'. NBC News, 24 Apr. 2020, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/it-s-irresponsible-it-s-dangerous-experts-rip-trump-s-n1191246.

John Balmes | UCSF Profiles. https://profiles.ucsf.edu/john.balmes. Accessed 18 July 2024.

Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing  The White House. https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-vice-president-pence-members-coronavirus-task-force-press-briefing-31/. Accessed 18 July 2024.

staff, C. N. N. 'READ: Biden-Trump Debate Transcript | CNN Politics'. CNN, 28 June 2024, https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/27/politics/read-biden-trump-debate-rush-transcript/index.html.

'Trump Says He Was Being Sarcastic with Comments about Injecting Disinfectants'. NBC News, 24 Apr. 2020, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-says-he-was-being-sarcastic-comments-about-injecting-disinfectants-n1191991.

Trump White House Archived. 4/23/20: Members of the Coronavirus Task Force Hold a Press Briefing. 2020. YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsQnfpfIa_o.

'Trump's Idea to Inject Disinfectant Alarms Medical Experts'. Bloomberg.Com, 23 Apr. 2020. www.bloomberg.com., https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-23/coronavirus-dies-fastest-under-light-warm-and-humid-conditions.
Vice President Kamala Harris formally accepted her partys nomination for the presidency Thursday night, discussed policies she would implement were she to win, and criticized her opponent, former President Donald Trump. Harris made several misleading claims on issues of tax policy and spending, the Supreme Courts ruling on presidential immunity, and abortion restrictions.

The cost of tax cuts.

Harris contended that Trump has proposed tax cuts that would cost a total of $5 trillion. He doesnt actually fight for the middle class, Harris said. Instead, he fights for himself and his billionaire friends. And he will give them another round of tax breaks that will add up to $5 trillion to the national debt.

This claim is partially true but missing context. Trump has advocated for extending the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) his administration passed in 2017 and that is set to expire in 2025. According to an analysis from the Congressional Budget Office, extending tax provisions in the TCJA would cost approximately $4.6 trillion, including interest, over the next decade. Similarly, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budgeta nonpartisan, nonprofit fiscal policy think tankprojected TCJA extensions would cost $4.5 trillion over the next decade.

However, those tax breaks do not apply exclusively to billionaires or high-income earners, but apply to individuals across various income levels. The projections also include costs from extending estate, business, and other TCJA provisionsnot just those for individual taxpayers.

Harris also claimed that Trumps domestic policies would raise prices for middle-class families by nearly $4,000. He intends to enact what, in effect, is a national sales tax, Harris said. Call it a Trump tax that would raise prices on middle-class families by almost $4,000 a year.

This claim is mostly true but lacking some context. The policy proposal Harris refers to is Trumps tariff agenda, specifically his proposal to impose a 10 percent tariff on all foreign goods, with a special 60 percent tariff on all goods imported from China. While Trumps tariff policy effectively makes those foreign goodsand sometimes even domestic goodsmore expensivethat is not the same thing as a national sales tax.

Tax policy researchers agree that Trumps tariff plans would raise prices for American families, but by how much remains in dispute. In February, the National Taxpayer Unions Bryan Riley calculated that Trumps tariff agenda, if implemented, would cost the average American household approximately $3,942, based on 2022 import data. However, the Tax Policy Centers Howard Gleckman estimated earlier this month that the average American household would see extra annual expenses of only $1,800.

Is Trump now immune from criminal prosecution?

Harris emphasized the authority Trump could again wield if returned to the White House. Consider the power he will have, especially after the United States Supreme Court just ruled that he would be immune from criminal prosecution, Harris said.

This claim is partially false: In July, the Supreme Court ruled in Trump v. the United States that executive authority partially shields the president from criminal prosecution. The court found that presidents have full immunity when exercising authority explicitly granted to them in the U.S. Constitution, presumed immunity for official presidential acts, and no immunity for unofficial acts.

What does this mean in practice? That answer is not fully clear and would likely require further deliberation from the courts. There is no question that the Supreme Courts opinion will make it more difficult to prosecute both Donald Trump and future presidents, Michael Warren and Sarah Isgur wrote in The Collision. But the question will be how strong this new presumption of immunity is and where the courts draw the line on the outer perimeter of a presidents official acts.

Abortion

Harris also sought to draw a contrast between her agenda and Trumps on abortion. As a part of his agenda, he and his allies would limit access to birth control, ban medication abortion and enact a nationwide abortion ban, with or without Congress, Harris said. And get this. Get this. He plans to create a national anti-abortion coordinator, and force states to report on womens miscarriages and abortions.

These claims are partially false and missing context. Since securing the nomination, Trump has expressed opposition to federal restrictions on birth control, said that he would keep medication abortion legal, and refused to endorse a federal abortion ban.

However, Project 2025a policy blueprint put together by the Heritage Foundation and other conservative think-tank organizations for a potential incoming GOP administration-includes sections that call for the Food and Drug Administration to rescind approval for both a specific type of emergency birth controlulipristal acetateand for the abortion drug mifepristone, especially after 50 days of gestation. Project 2025 does not call for a federal abortion ban, as we noted in an earlier Dispatch Fact Check.

While rescinding FDA approval would not require congressional authorization, there is no constitutional method to implement a federal abortion ban without Congressand some legal scholars have doubted such a law would be constitutional, even with congressional approval.

Trump has repeatedly disavowed the Project 2025 blueprint, as recently as Thursday night after Harris speech. LYING AGAIN ABOUT PROJECT 2025, WHICH SHE KNOWS, AND SO DO ALL DEMOCRATS, THAT I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH! Trump posted on social media.

Harris claim that Trump wants to install a national anti-abortion coordinator and mandate a miscarriage and abortion state reporting system is similarly missing context: Neither policy comes from Trump or his presidential campaign, but from Project 2025.

While Project 2025 makes no mention of a national anti-aboriton coordinator, it does advocate for replacing the Department of Health and Human Services Reproductive Healthcare Access Task Force with a pro-life task force intended to promote the life and health of women and their unborn children. Additionally, the project calls for the creation of a Special Representative for Domestic Womens Health position in the administration who would provide a clear focal point for all issues related to protecting life and serving families.

Project 2025 also advocates revamping the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting systems, including a mandated state reporting system for miscarriages and abortions, information it deems essential to timely, reliable public health and policy analysis.

The CDC has been reporting abortion data since 1969, although states are not required to send abortion numbers to the federal agency but do so voluntarily. Some states choose to not report their abortion statistics to the CDC. California, Maryland, New Hampshire, and New Jersey opted not to report in 2021, the latest abortion surveillance report published by the agency.

Project 2025 calls for a substantial upheaval of the reporting program. Because liberal states have now become sanctuaries for abortion tourism, HHS should use every available tool, including the cutting of funds, to ensure that every state reports exactly how many abortions take place within its borders, at what gestational age of the child, for what reason, the mothers state of residence, and by what method, Project 2025 proposed.

If you have a claim you would like to see us fact check, please send us an email at factcheck@thedispatch.com. If you would like to suggest a correction to this piece or any other Dispatch article, please email corrections@thedispatch.com.

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A man who allegedly posed as a doctor and performed unlicensed cosmetic surgery on a woman in Los Angeles has been charged with assault and battery.

The Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office announced the charges against Cristian Perez Latorre on Friday.

The 53-year-old faces felony charges of assault with a deadly weapon, battery with serious injury and six counts of practicing medicine without a certification.

Its also alleged that Latorre inflicted great bodily injury when he performed a surgery on a woman in July 2021, which led to infections and follow-up treatment caused by complications from the unlicensed procedure.

Cristian Perez Latorre, 43, is shown in this undated mug shot provided by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

Latorre was arrested on Thursday by the District Attorneys Offices Bureau of Investigation following an investigation by the California Department of Consumer Affairs.

District Attorney George Gascon said Latorres actions deceived the public and brought into question the integrity of the health care system and providers.

When an individual masquerades as a doctor and performs medical procedures without a license, it not only endangers lives but also erodes the essential trust between patients and legitimate healthcare providers, Gascon said. We are committed to seeking justice for the victim, holding Mr. Latorre accountable and restoring the trust that has been so grievously violated.

Kathleen Nicholls, chief of the Department of Consumer Affairs Division of Investigation, said there is no excuse for the unlicensed practice of medicine and vowed that crimes such as these will not be tolerated.

If convicted as charged, Latorre faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison.

Anyone with additional information about the case or the suspect is urged to contact the DAs Office Consumer Protection Division at 213-257-3010.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
A family is fighting to stop the possible release of a Riverside man who was sentenced to prison for molesting and kidnapping a 5-year-old girl.

Charles William Mix, 69, was sentenced to 350 years in prison for the 2003 kidnapping.

The victim, who is now 27 years old, still isnt ready to speak on the incident, but her sister, Claira Stansbury, said the events changed her familys life forever.

She has to deal with this for the rest of her life and she has to learn to cope with what happened to her for the rest of her life, Stansbury said.

On the morning of June 2, 2003, the girls father reported to Riverside Police that his roommate, Mix, had kidnapped his daughter, prompting an AMBER Alert.

Mix and the girls father were friends and had been living together in Riverside at the time.

The next day, the pair was located hundreds of miles away in Richfield, Utah after a passerby reported seeing him and the girl. Mix had transported the girl across state lines in a stolen vehicle.

During the investigation, authorities discovered sexually explicit photos Mix had taken of the young girl along with love letters he wrote to her.

Charles William Mix, 69, is seen in a booking photo from the Riverside Police Department.

The victim was 5 years old when she was kidnapped and molested by her fathers friend, Charles William Mix, in 2003.

In June 2003, Riverside Police responded to the home the young girl shared with the suspect and her father. (KTLA)

Police investigated the suspects vehicle after Charles Mix was located in Utah with the 5-year-old girl he kidnapped from Riverside, California. (KTLA)

Charles William Mix, is seen in an old booking photo from the Riverside Police Department.

The girls father spoke to reporters after an AMBER Alert was issued for his missing daughter in Riverside in June 2003. (KTLA)

In June 2003, Riverside Police responded to the home the young girl shared with the suspect and her father. (KTLA)

Charles William Mix, is seen in a photo from the Riverside Police Department.

In a police interview taken by Utah authorities, Mix told them that he slept in the nude with the child, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Mix was sentenced to 350 years in prison after being convicted on a variety of charges including willful child cruelty, kidnapping to commit robbery or rape, lewd acts with a child under 14, burglary and more.

Now, two decades later under the Elderly Parole Program, Mix could be a free man once again. The Elderly Parole Program is a relatively new law that refers inmates who are 50 years or older and who have served 20 years of continuous incarceration to the board of parole hearings.

For the victims family, the idea of Mix being released from prison is beyond distressing.

A lot of trauma has been reopened, Stansbury said. Stuff that we have healed from that we have to dive back into.

Stanley Goldman, a professor at Loyola Law School, explained more about the parole program.

The expense of keeping elderly people in prison compared to the chance that theyll commit another crime weighed in favor, the legislature concluded, of creating a law saying that you should release these people on parole so we get them off our books, in effect, he said.

Goldman noted the board will weigh a number of things before deciding on a parole release.

The parole board will be looking at obviously the severity of the crime but also whether he has taken responsibility, shown remorse for the crime, Goldman said. And thats still not enough if they think hes a danger to commit this sort of crime again, that hes a danger to society. Does he pose a reasonable risk?

For Stansbury and her family, they are doing everything can to ensure Mix remains behind bars while never forgetting the painful past.

The legislators all want to talk about how terrible life sentences are for this criminal, these types of criminals, I dont think theyre actually looking at life sentences of the victims who didnt have a choice in this, Stansbury said. I absolutely think that he would offend again, whether it be going to find my sister or another innocent child.

A statement from the Riverside County District Attorneys Office was released saying:

Our office stands firmly with the victims who must attend parole hearings to keep dangerous felons in prison. It is appalling that the state continues to put victims and their families through further trauma, forcing them to fight for the sentences that have already been handed down by a court of law. This practice compels victims to relive their devastating experiences. We have a team of dedicated attorneys and victim specialists fighting against the early release of dangerous felons. Our office is committed to protecting victims and seeing that this practice of early parole, is put to an end.

The victims family said they dont believe Mix can be rehabilitated. Theyve written a letter opposing his release and are asking for the publics support. A letter urging the board to block Mixs parole can be sent by mail or by email to BPH.CorrespondenceUnit@cdcr.ca.gov.

Anyone sending an email must include Mixs inmate number (V35988) and his full name, Charles William Mix. All information, including the letter the public can use/fill in, can be found here.

Mixs parole board hearing is scheduled for Sept. 25.

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Family of missing pregnant woman pleads with public for help

HONOLULU(KHON2)  The family of a missing pregnant woman is pleading for the publics help. Mischa Johnson has not been seen for three weeks. KHON sat down with Mischas mother, Frances Tapiz-Andrian. She said new evidence casts doubt on the chances of her daughter returning home alive.

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Mischa, who is 19-years-old and six months pregnant, was last seen July 31. A week later, her husband Private Dewayne Arthur Johnson II was taken into military custody as a suspect in his wifes disappearance according to the Armys Criminal Investigation Division.

Tapiz-Andrian is still trying to make sense of it all.

Shock, disbelief. I mean, he celebrated every milestone and had happiness with a joy, acceptance in the family, she said. (Mischa and DJ) were inseparable. They were in love.

They had no reason to doubt her son-in-law. But she said that changed once he was taken into custody and stopped cooperating.

And she said authorities told her to be prepared for the worst

Take this seriously, officials urge ahead of Hone impacts

There is a lot of forensic evidence that was found, at their home that proves that no human would be able to come out alive from the home, she explained her eyes welling with tears. This is so gruesome.

Their focus now according to Tapiz-Andrian, is finding Mischa so they can put her and her unborn daughter, Armani Kitana, to rest.

They are asking for anyone with any information to come forward.

Call CID if youve seen anything or seen him around, she pleaded.

Tapiz-Andrian is hopeful they will get justice for her daughter and granddaughter, but she knows that still wont bring them back.

Ill always be broken, she said her voice strained. I wont have her. I dont believe that I would ever get closure.

Even if you know what happened? KHON asked.

Even if I know what happened. He took two people two people for me. I can no longer make memories with them. I cannot even start a memory with them, she said tears streaming down her cheeks. Thats the reality of it. I face that reality every minute of the day.

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According to Tapiz-Andrian, they are continuing to search for Mischa and are expanding the search area. Click here to find out where upcoming searches will be held.

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Family of Missing Utah Hiker 'Can't Let Go of the Hope' as Second Week of Search Nears

Howard Stone was reported missing by his son on Sunday, Aug. 11 after he went hiking in Emery County, Utah the day before

Goblin Valley State Park/Facebook Howard Stone

The family of a missing hiker in Utah is trying not to lose hope that he will return home safely as the search for him enters its second week.

Howard Stone's daughter Jessica Church recalled waiting by the phone the night of Sunday, Aug. 11, after he was reported missing by his son. The Spanish Fork resident, 64, had reportedly gone hiking at Little Wild Horse Canyon, in Emery County, Utah on Saturday, Aug. 10 and never returned home, local CBS affiliate KUTV reported.

Stone's car was found at the trailhead, according to KSLTV, but any other leads have not panned out.

"I can't let go of the hope but the first night that we found out, I just sat with the phone in my hand just knowing they'd call any minute and the next day, kind of the same way," Church, who lives out of state, told KUTV.



Related: Calif. Rescuers Find Hiker Who Was Lost in National Forest for 30 Hours  and Bump into Jay Leno

"After [a] couple of days, then I flew out to Utah and went down there for four days and just checked every path I could think of, we went the path we think he went down and we went off the beaten path as much as we could and we took ATVs out."

Church has since returned to her home in Illinois.

A flash-flood warning in the area prevented search and rescue crews from immediately entering the canyon itself to search for Stone. He is not believed to have been swept away by a current, KSLTV reported.

Goblin Valley State Park/Facebook Howard Stone.

"We had guys all around the trailhead, into the river below the trailhead as much as they could and then we sent guys on foot and on dirt bikes above the trail itself," Emery County Sheriff Tyson Huntington told KUTV of the search efforts. "A lot of times people will climb up Little Wild Horse and miss the turn to take Bell Canyon back down and they just keep going so we sent motorcycles up there."

Helicopters, specialty K9s and Civil Air Patrol have also been involved in the search.

But as the search for Stone begins approaching its second week, none of his personal items have been recovered and there has only been one brief potential sighting of him.

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"There was a young couple that mentioned they thought they may have seen him on the trail and spoke to him for a little bit, but that is the only kind of information like that where people have seen him," Huntington told KUTV.

Despite holding onto some hope, Church admitted to KUTV that she understood the reality of Stone's situation.

"In the last couple of days you know it's been kind of disheartening to try to come to terms that they talk about it more as a recovery now," she said.



Related: Woman, 53, Found Alive 4 Days After She Disappeared During 'Spiritual' Colo. Hike Without a Phone

Church told KUTV that there are plans for a large group of people to search for Stone over the weekend.

"He's a good dad, he's a good grandpa and we want to bring him home," Howard's son Brandon told Fox 13 of his father.

Stone's family is still offering a cash reward for anyone who has information that will lead them to him.



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Nearly two years after a little boy was severely injured and his mother was killed in a car crash in Miramar, the boys father died after crashing an ATV in South Florida earlier this week.

On Dec. 19, 2022, Cristina Hernandez, 30, picked up her then-7-year-old son, Jacob Estrada, from school in Miramar just before a teenaged driver violently crashed into the back of their car. The teenaged driver was speeding over 100 mph just before the crash, a probable cause affidavit said.

Hernandez was killed. Jacob was in a coma for weeks at Joe DiMaggio Childrens Hospital after the crash, Anthony Estrada, Hernandezs fiance and Jacobs father, said at a news conference in Miramar early last year.

On Wednesday, Estrada, 38, was visiting family in Hialeah and rode a relatives ATV around the 5000 block of West Fifth Avenue about 8:30 p.m., said Officer Scarlett Hernandez, a spokesperson for Hialeah Police. He lost control while making a left turn and crashed into a home along West Fifth Avenue and was severely injured. He was flown by helicopter to Ryder Trauma Center, where he died.

He was truly a beautiful light in this world that was dimmed far too soon, his family wrote in a GoFundMe online fundraiser Friday evening. There are stories in life that seem so unfair, and this is one you will remember.

Teen and his father arrested in Miramar crash that killed expectant mother, severely injured 7-year-old boy

Estradas family said in the post on GoFundMe that Estrada died the night before Jacobs ninth birthday.

There are no words to describe the pain this family has endured, and the difficult road that lies ahead, Estradas family wrote. Life can change in the blink of an eye, but love is eternal.

Hernandez was pregnant when she died, Estrada said at the news conference in Miramar last year. She planned to surprise her fiance and Jacob with the news on Christmas morning.

After Hernandezs funeral, Estrada shared a video tribute on his Facebook account with photos of them  at the beach with Jacob, smiling with their arms around each other or sitting next to each other on a boat out on the water.

I have made a promise to Cristina that I will do everything in my power to make sure our little boy comes home stronger than ever and I will never break that promise! Estrada wrote in the Facebook post.

After the 2022 crash, doctors believed Jacobs long-term prognosis was poor, if he survived at all, according to a February 2023 press release from Joe DiMaggio Childrens Hospital. Estrada and other family members prayed and remained by his bedside ever since. He was discharged and walking on his own.

Jacob regained consciousness in early 2023 and was in speech and physical therapy, his father previously said at the Miramar news conference. His liver, kidneys, lungs, intestines, heart and head were all damaged in the crash with his mother.

He was in a coma, a traumatic coma and we didnt know if he would ever wake up, Dr. Allan Greissman said in a prepared statement the hospital shared on Facebook in May 2023.

Cristhian Andres Bravo Gonzalez, who was 16 years old at the time of the crash and did not have a license, was arrested and charged as an adult. He remains in jail, and his case is pending in Broward County court. He has pleaded not guilty to all 10 charges he faces, court records show.

Bravo Gonzalezs father, Jose Miguel Bravo De La Torre, was also arrested on a charge of permitting an unauthorized operator to drive. Court records in that case were not accessible Friday night.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is recovering after being hospitalized with the deadly West Nile virus.

Fauci, 83, who also headed up the White House Coronavirus Task Force, is expected the make a full recovery, a spokesperson told CNN.

Tony Fauci has been hospitalized with a case of West Nile virus. He is now home and is recovering. A full recovery is expected, the spokesperson said.

West Nile virus is the most common mosquito-borne disease in the U.S., with about 1,000 Americans hospitalized each year and another 1,500 cases diagnosed, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. However, about 80 percent of infections in the U.S. are never diagnosed. There is no vaccine and no treatment.

On Call: Anthony Fauci Tells AllNearlyon Trump, COVID and Other Disasters

The virus often presents with flu-like symptoms and a rash but can attack the brain and nervous system. About 100 people die from the virus every year in the U.S.

Fauci, who was the subject of both praise and then withering attacks for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, was in hospital for six days before he was discharged.

Since retiring from NIAID, which he ran for four decades, he has joined Georgetown University, where he serves as a distinguished professor in the School of Medicine. He also holds a position in the universitys McCourt School of Public Policy.

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Former White House chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci is recovering at home after being hospitalized briefly after contracting the West Nile virus, his spokesperson told multiple outlets Saturday.

Fauci, who served as the face of the Trump and Biden administrations response to the COVID-19 pandemic, was in the hospital for around six days, The Washington Post reported.

Tony Fauci has been hospitalized with a case of West Nile virus. He is now home and is recovering, the spokesperson said in a statement shared with CNN and the Post. A full recovery is expected.

The West Nile virus is spread through mosquito bites. The illness can lead to body aches, fever, rash and diarrhea, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). No vaccines or treatments are currently available for the virus.

Around 1,000 Americans are hospitalized with a severe form of the virus, per the CDC.

Fauci was called to testify before House Republicans earlier this year about his response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The fiery event, which marked his first congressional hearing in nearly two years, ended with GOP lawmakers accusing him of covering up the origins of the virus, a claim he rejected as simply preposterous.

The doctor retired from his post in the Biden administration and as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in December 2022.

He is now a distinguished professor at Georgetown Universitys School of Medicine.

Faucis memoir, On Call: A Doctors Journey in Public Service, was released in June where he reflected on his long career as an infectious disease expert.

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A federal appeals court upheld Marylands decade-old handgun licensing law Friday, saying that since it requires that the government issue a license to any law-abiding person, it does not infringe on the Second Amendment.

The majority of the full 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected arguments from gun-rights groups that the states handgun qualification license law, or HQL statute, infringes on the Second Amendment because it delays a persons right to get a gun.

We reject the plaintiffs argument that any delay resulting from compliance with the HQL statute qualifies as infringement, Judge Barbara Milano Keenan wrote in the majority opinion for the 14-2 court.

By equating infringement with any temporary delay, the plaintiffs improperly discount the Supreme Courts guidance that requirements such as background checks and training instruction, which necessarily occasion some delay, ordinarily will pass constitutional muster without requiring the government to justify the regulation, Keenan wrote.

Judge Julius N. Richardson disagreed with the majoritys contrived reading of the Second Amendments plain text  that people have a right to bear arms and that the licensing infringes on that.

Because Marylands law regulates protected conduct under the amendments text, and because Maryland has identified no historical basis for its law, I would hold that it violates the Second Amendment, Richardson wrote in his dissent.

Maryland Shall Issue, one of the gun-rights groups that challenged the law, said Friday that an appeal to the Supreme Court is all but certain.

We believe that holding is contrary to controlling Supreme Court precedent and is plainly wrong as a matter of common sense, Maryland Shall Issue President Mark Pennak said from a prepared statement. The majority opinion is, in the words of the dissent, baseless. The petition for certiorari to the Supreme Court practically writes itself.

Im virtually certain that we will be taking it to the Supreme Court, he said. This is a no-brainer.

But Attorney General Anthony Brown (D) welcomed the courts decision, calling it a great day for Maryland and common-sense gun safety.

We must ensure guns stay out of the hands of those who are not allowed, under our laws, to carry them. The application for a gun license and the required training and background check, are all critical safety checks, Brown said in a statement.

Common-sense gun safety laws protect all Marylanders and can prevent tragedies that leave our communities scarred and broken from ever happening in the first place, his statement said. I have said it before and I will say it again, hopes and wishes do not stop deadly violence from erupting on our streets, but common-sense gun laws can.

The HQL was part of the Firearm Safety Act that state lawmakers passed in 2013, in response to the mass shooting a year earlier at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut where 20 children and six adults were killed.

The handgun license law requires a person who wishes to buy a handgun to apply for a license. The applicant must be a state resident and at least 21 years old, must submit fingerprints, undergo a background check, satisfy training requirements and pay a $50 application fee.

A license could be issued within 30 days, but the court said it typically takes half that time and some licenses can be issued within days.

In 2016, Maryland Shall Issue was joined by Atlantic Guns Inc., a Montgomery County retailer, and two individuals challenging the law as an unconstitutional violation of their Second Amendment rights.

A federal district judge rejected their argument and upheld the law in August 2021, sparking an appeal to the 4th Circuit. But while the case was pending the U.S. Supreme Court issued it decision in June 2022 in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen, which required modern gun laws to be consistent with the Nations historical tradition of firearm regulation.

That decision marks a turning point in how government regulates firearms in the United States and spelled the end of Marylands concealed carry law.

A divided three-judge panel of the appeals court ruled in November that the Maryland law was unconstitutional under Bruen. The full appeals court announced in January that it would reconsider the panels decision in the HQL case.

Fridays ruling reverses the panel and restores the law, the appeals court reversed the three-judge panels decision. Milano wrote Marylands handgun license requirement fits comfortably within Bruens criteria for a constitutional shall-issue licensing regime.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  A federal judge has approved a $625,000 settlement over the Wichita Police Departments gang list.

Representatives say the settlement, approved by the Wichita City Council in April 2024, means the City has to pay $625,000, and more than 3,500 names will be removed from the gang list in the next 90 days.

The ACLU, Kansas Appleseed, and Progeny brought the lawsuit, saying the WPD gang list wrongly targeted people of color.

The settlement will let the WPD keep the gang list, and clarify the criteria for putting someone on it. The WPD will also have to create a method for the public to check if they are on the list, and will allow the person to appeal if they believe it is incorrect.

Former Chiefs players auctioning off Super Bowl rings this weekend

The City of Wichita denied the allegations in the lawsuit and said in a statement that the settlement resolved contested claims by both parties.

The settlement of this lawsuit was arrived at following months of negotiations between the parties, the citys statement said. The city denies the allegations contained in the lawsuit. The settlement was reached to resolve contested claims asserted by both parties. In compliance with the settlement agreement, the City has started its internal review/audit of the gang list, revised its internal gang policy and is establishing a system for individuals to not only get additional information regarding their gang status, but to challenge it in certain situations. The city will work with the Special Master and Ombudsman appointed by the court to ensure that the terms of the settlement are complied with.

As part of the settlement, a special master will be engaged for three years for $75,000. $550,000 will go toward attorneys fees and costs for the plaintiff.

Marqueta Atkins-Woods is the founder of Destination Innovation. On Friday, she called the judges decision a win for the community.

Oh, this is a huge day and I think what makes it so special is that youth were the catalyst for this policy change, said Atkins-Woods. Sometimes young people can be listed on this gang list and if they are on probation right now it can impact them coming together to do positive things because it could be seen as a probation violation them being around each other.

Brandon Johnson, a Wichita city council member, said on Friday this is about the community having trust in the policies of WPD.

I agree with others in the community, this is a good first step, said Johnson. Theres more work that should be done. I know the community always looks at accountability.

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A federal judge has ruled that the U.S. military cannot bar HIV-positive people whose virus is undetectable from serving in the armed forces.

In an opinion released Tuesday in the case Wilkins v. Austin, U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema said that, given changes in treatment and previous rulings that allow service members with HIV to stay in the military or deploy, the Defense Department failed to provide evidence that supports its argument that these potential recruits would be a financial, medical or operational burden.

"Modern science has transformed the treatment of HIV, and this court has already ruled that asymptomatic HIV-positive service members with undetectable viral loads who maintain treatment are capable of performing all of their military duties, including worldwide deployment," Brinkema wrote in a 38-page opinion in the Eastern District Court of Virginia.

Read Next: Florida Deputy Who Fatally Shot Airman Roger Fortson Will Face Manslaughter Charge, Family Attorneys Say

The case was brought by Isaiah Wilkins and two other HIV-positive plaintiffs who were seeking to enlist or rejoin the military but were prohibited based on their health conditions. Wilkins, a member of the Georgia National Guard, wanted to enlist in the Army Reserve but found out he was HIV-positive during the process.

In a statement issued Tuesday through Lambda Legal, a group that provides legal defense for challenges to LGBTQ+ rights, Wilkins said the ruling was not only a victory for him but for all HIV-positive people who want to serve.

"As I've said before, giving up on my dream to serve my country was never an option. I am eager to apply to enlist in the Army without the threat of a crippling discriminatory policy," Wilkins said.

Brinkema is the same judge who ruled in 2022 that the military could not deny commissions to HIV-positive service members who sought to become officers or discharge those with HIV.

The cases included two airmen facing discharge as a result of their HIV-positive status and an Army National Guard soldier who deployed to Afghanistan and Kuwait while in law school and wanted to become a member of the Army Judge Advocate General Corps.

Shortly after Brinkema released her 2022 opinion, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin issued a memo to commanders saying they no longer would be allowed to involuntarily separate troops with asymptomatic HIV; restrict them from deploying; or prevent enlisted personnel, cadets or midshipmen with HIV from seeking a commission as an officer.

Improvements in antiretroviral therapy have made it possible for patients with the virus to keep their viral loads to low or undetectable levels. At such amounts, HIV-positive persons don't transmit the virus through sex or needle sharing, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and it cannot be spread through saliva, tears or sweat.

A major concern for the Defense Department and military service members regarding serving alongside those with HIV is contact with blood following a traumatic injury or a needle stick.

Brinkema said the concern is "unsupported by the evidence in the record." She added that the case cited by the DoD in supporting this argument is nearly 30 years old and "based on medical science that has changed dramatically."

"Defendant's policies prohibiting the accession of asymptomatic HIV-positive individuals with undetectable viral loads into the military are irrational, arbitrary and capricious," Brinkema wrote. "Even worse, they contribute to the ongoing stigma surrounding HIV-positive individuals while actively hampering the military's own recruitment goals."

From 2018 to 2023, roughly 7 million service members, including the active duty, Guard and reserve, were tested for HIV, and 1,502 tested positive, according to the Defense Health Agency's September 2023 Medical Surveillance Monthly Report.

The majority were men, with just 39 women testing positive. The Army had the highest rate of positive tests, followed by the Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Corps. The Space Force was not included as a separate service for reporting purposes at the time.

The Justice Department can appeal Brinkema's ruling to a higher-level court but did not appeal her 2022 ruling. In an email Friday, a Justice Department official declined to comment and said the department was not able to share any appeals plans.

Related: Airmen on HIV Drug Can Return to Flight Sooner After Change Championed by LGBTQ+ Advisory Group
Editors note: The story in the video player aired on Aug. 14, 2024.

MINEOLA, N.Y. (AP)  A disability rights organization is challenging Nassau Countys ban on wearing masks in public except for health and religious reasons, arguing it is unconstitutional and discriminates against people with disabilities.

The federal class action lawsuit, filed by Disability Rights of New York on behalf of individuals with disabilities, seeks a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to immediately stop enforcement of Nassau Countys Mask Transparency Act.

This mask ban poses a direct threat to public health and discriminates against people with disabilities. Timothy A. Clune, executive director of the rights organization, said in a statement. The lawsuit includes two plaintiffs with various health conditions and who wear medical-grade face masks to protect themselves, noting they are now fearful of being harassed and possibly arrested because of the new mandate.

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While in public and private places, strangers have come up to G.B. since August 5, 2024, to ask them if they are sick, if they are healthy or not, and to ask why they are wearing a facemask, according to the lawsuit, referring to one of the plaintiffs by their initials and to the date when the Nassau County Legislature passed the local bill.

The lawsuit, filed Thursday, said G.B., a resident of Nassau County for 24 years, has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy and asthma and uses a wheelchair for mobility.

G.B. fears that they will be arrested just for wearing a facemask for their health because there is no standard for the police to follow to decide if they meet the health exception or not, according to the lawsuit. G.B. is also concerned that they will be harassed, discriminated against, or even assaulted by people, including business owners and employees, in Nassau County for just going about their day with a mask on.

In a written statement, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican who signed the bill into law on Aug. 14, said county officials are confident that the law will be upheld as there is a presumption of constitutionality when the legislature acts, and this legislation is reasonable and responsible.

When the countys Republican-controlled Legislature approved the ban on face coverings, legislator Howard Kopel said lawmakers were responding to antisemitic incidents, often perpetrated by those in masks since the Oct. 7 start of the Israel-Hamas war.

The law makes it a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine for anyone in Nassau to wear a face covering to hide their identity in public. It exempts people who wear masks for health, safety, religious or cultural purposes, or for the peaceful celebration of a holiday or similar religious or cultural event for which masks or facial coverings are customarily worn.

Blakeman has said that while mask-wearing campus protesters were the impetus for the ban, he sees the new law as a tool to fight everyday crime as well.

This is a broad public safety measure, Blakeman said at a news conference. What weve seen is people using masks to shoplift, to carjack, to rob banks, and this is activity we want to stop.

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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A federal judge called for the prosecutors looking into the death of a key witness in the criminal case against Cheektowaga strip club owner Peter Gerace to be removed.

Gerace, the owner of Pharoahs Gentlemens Club, was indicted in March 2021 on drug and human trafficking charges. The club had previously been raided in 2019. He was also arrested on witness tampering charges in March 2023.

Cheektowaga strip club owner set for trial on trafficking charges now facing witness tampering charges

Representatives for Gerace told WIVB News 4 that Judge Jeremiah McCarthy called for the removal of the prosecutors Friday.

He claims they purposefully missed a deadline to provide the defense with evidence in connection to the drug overdose death of Crystal Quinn, who agreed to testify against Gerace before she was found dead last August. Prosecutors believe she was intentionally given a deadly dose of fentanyl.

The prosecution has two weeks to appeal McCarthys decision.

The U.S. Attorneys Office declined to comment.

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Dave Greber is an award-winning anchor and reporter who has been part of the News 4 team since 2015. See more of his work here.

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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Friday it is launching a reevaluation of a key environmental permit for four proposed Floridan Aquifer wells to supply up to 6.6 million gallons of water per day to Hyundai Motor Companys Bryan County manufacturing facility and related development around the nearly 2,500-acre site.

USACEs move is in response to a threatened legal challenge by a coastal Georgia conservation group of regulatory approval for the South Korean automakers electric vehicle and battery operation near Savannah.

In a letter dated Friday, USACE notes that state and local development officials omitted the sites projected water use in their application for a federal permit required by the U.S. Clean Water Act.

The Corps adds that it later learned, through draft state groundwater withdrawal permits from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, that at maximum capacity, the four Bulloch County wells would remove more than 6.6 million gallons per day from the aquifer.

The Corps has determined that new information has surfaced regarding the effects the project may have on municipal and private water supplies, and that reevaluation of our permit decision regarding our effects determination for water supply is warranted, USACE notes.

Overlooking water supply concerns

The Ogeechee Riverkeeper organization informed USACE in June that it intended to challenge the October 2022 approval of a permit that helped clear the way for the $7.6 billion Hyundai project.

The organization accused USACE of not completing required steps and overlooking water supply concerns during the permitting process for the site.

The Clean Water Act requires USACE to collect pertinent information and analyze permit requests that impact or disturb waters of the U.S., including wetlands.

The organization challenged USACEs findings that it would be reasonable to assume that the Bryan County (water) supply is adequate to support the plant and related growth and would not require water withdrawals or a permit from the EPD.

The applicants  Savannah Harbor-Interstate 16 Corridor Joint Development Authority Secretary Trip Tollison and Pat Wilson, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development  knew months before the permit was approved that the Hyundai plant and related development would require up to 6.6 million gallons of water per day and the drilling of four new wells.

That information was included in a confidential letter of intent dated April 25, 2022, to Robert Boehringer, managing partner at consulting firm KPMG International. That letter, which laid out plans for the Hyundai project, also was signed by Tollison (who also is president and CEO of the Savannah Economic Development Authority) and Wilson.

However, the water needs were not mentioned in the federal permit application, also signed by Tollison and Wilson and submitted 12 days after the letter, on June 7, 2022.

USACE approved a revised version of the permit, including the findings that no additional water or wells would be needed, nearly four months later, on Oct. 4, 2022.

Fridays letter from the Corps is addressed to Tollison and Wilson.

The reevaluation decision requests that JDA provide the USACE with an impact assessment of the Megasites water supply wells. JDA will need to show that the wells won't have impacts on the Floridan Aquifer, those who rely on it, and the aquatic resources and environment. The assessment will also include "any groundwater and surface water modelling/data that has been collected. USACE will then assess that report and determine if the permit needs to be adjusted. Depending on the findings, JDA may also be required to compensate for any resulting impacts.

The Ogeechee Riverkeeper organization (ORK) welcomed the Corps' decision to revisit the permit.

These considerations should have been taken into account from day one, said Damon Mullis, riverkeeper and executive director of ORK, but we are encouraged to see that the USACE will finally review these issues in full. Once all of the data is on the table, we urge the Corps to independently and vigorously vet and verify this information in its reevaluation, and to be transparent with the public during this reevaluation process.

Digging deep: Fund to help GA property owners impacted by Hyundai wells reaches $1 million

It is reasonable to ask

A spokeswoman in USACEs Savannah office did not response for a request for comment about the reevaluation of the permit or how the process could affect the Hyundai project.

Tollison, meanwhile, has defended the application process for the federal permit.

The Savannah Harbor-Interstate 16 Corridor Joint Development Authority has been working with local governments and the state on how to best serve the site with water since the Georgia Environmental Protection Division is responsible for drinking water and water usage, not the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tollison said in June. We have been and remain committed to doing this the right way.

But experts  and comments from the federal agency that enforces the Clean Water Act  suggest Tollisons reply missed the point of the question.

The Clean Water Act does make clear that states are responsible for regulating drinking water, but it also directs USACE to account for probable impact including cumulative impacts on factors including water supply and conservation in its environmental assessment.

In other words, USACE cant dictate where a project will get its water and how much it can use, but the Corps is expected to weigh those factors in reviewing applications for permits required by Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, explained Stan Meiburg, former deputy administrator at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency who spent nearly 40 years with the agency.

Given that such impacts should be considered, they should be considered using as good of information as you can, said Meiburg, now executive director of the Sabin Family Center for Environment and Sustainability at Wake Forest University. The conclusion might not be different, but it is reasonable to ask the applicant to submit, and EPA and the Corps to consider, accurate information.

While declining to comment on the Hyundai permit specifically, the EPA concurred with Meiburgs assessment.

Yes, in reviewing a proposed project for compliance with Clean Water Act Section 404 regulations, the Corps and EPA consider the potential effects of the project on potable water supplies, the agencys Washington office said in an email response.

That portion of the landmark law regulates the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States, including wetlands.

It applied to the Hyundai project because the site contained more than 300 acres of jurisdictional wetlands as defined by the Clean Water Act.

But USACE also is charged with weighing the impact on waters around the site, including those potentially affected by the new wells.

Mieburg noted that significant withdrawals from underground aquifers can impact surface waters, which are at the very heart of Section 404 permits.

In its letter Friday, USACE directs Tollison and Wilson to provide an assessment of effects the project may have on municipal and private water supplies, including whether the anticipated drawdown of the Floridan aquifer would result in any drainage of aquatic resources.

John Deem covers climate change and the environment in coastal Georgia. He can be reached at 912-652-0213 or jdeem@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Permit for Hyundai's Georgia wells to get second look from feds
FEMA might not be calling you, Merced County officials say

FEMA might not be calling you, Merced County officials say

MERCED COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  Officials with Merced County are warning the community of a new scam that involves people impersonating representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Officials say the Merced County Office of Emergency Services has received reports of individuals impersonating FEMA representatives in the Planada area.

The County says these people are attempting to gain access to homes in the area, claiming they need to conduct inspections.

Officials warn the public that FEMA is not currently going door-to-door in Planada and say when FEMA representatives visit homes or businesses after a natural disaster, they will carry official identification with a name, photo, and possibly an ID number.

Residents are encouraged to report any suspicious activity to the Merced County Sheriffs Office at 209-385-7445.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.
NORTH PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  Sabrina Silveira DaCosta likes to think that she was her late fathers best friend.

My sister would argue that point, she said with a laugh.

Francisco Frank Silveira moved to Rhode Island from the Azores when he was just 12 years old.

Silveira DaCosta told 12 News her father loved to cook and worked for years as an executive chef at St. Georges School in Middletown.

(Courtesy: The Silveira Family)

I grew up knowing my dad as a chef, Silveira DaCosta said. He was just one of those guys everybody knew.

Silveira said her father also catered hundreds of weddings throughout his career, and even served tea to renowned poet Maya Angelou while working at the boarding school.

He had all of these wonderful stories and he was a big storyteller, she said.

It was while working at St. Georges School that he was diagnosed with Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy, a genetic disease that causes muscle weakness, especially in the arms and legs.

He went from walking and running around after my brother and I when we were little to using a cane to help him walk, she recalled. Then it progressed to him needing to use a mobility scooter for a while.

The disease eventually progressed to the point where Silveira could no longer walk and relied on an electric wheelchair to get around.

I cant remember the last time I saw him walk, Silveira DaCosta said.

Despite the diagnosis, Silveira DaCosta said her father never lost his spirit and continued providing for his family the best he could.

My mom was his primary caregiver, but even as a young teenager I was also my dads caregiver, Silveira DaCosta said. I spent days caring for him and doing everything he wanted. That made us really close.

I learned so much by becoming my dads second set of hands, she continued.

(Courtesy: The Silveira Family)

Even though her husband Sam DaCosta met Silveira long after his diagnosis, he said the man was still a force who refused to slow down.

Im sure that that was one of the most difficult parts for him, DaCosta said. The situation he found himself in was so opposite of who he was.

Silveira DaCosta always looked forward to the day her father would walk her down the aisle and give her away to her true love. She remained hopeful for that possibility after DaCosta proposed in May 2022.

My dad and I have been close since I was a little girl and he was so excited to walk me down the aisle on my wedding, Silveira DaCosta said.

But as their wedding crept closer, Silveiras health rapidly declined.

It became clear that their wedding day wouldnt go as planned when Silveira was admitted to Fatima Hospital last week. He was transferred to Continuum Care Hospice of Rhode Island shortly after.

Silveira confided in his daughter earlier this year that he just wanted to make it to her wedding.

He kept telling us he was fine even when he wasnt, Silveira DaCosta said. He said he was fine until he absolutely couldnt do it anymore.

(Courtesy: The Silveira Family)

To fulfill her fathers last wish, Silveira DaCosta said his ICU nurses and their families got straight to work planning a special ceremony.

Silveira was there as the couple married at his bedside on Monday, but not before he escorted his daughter down the hallway and into DaCostas arms.

It was the most difficult and most special day of my life, Silveira DaCosta said. He told me that I looked beautiful and that he was so happy for me.

He cried as we said our vows and smiled as we kissed, she continued. Im just happy he was there.

Silveira took his last breath an hour after the ceremony. He was 58 years old.

It was hard to be joyous for such a sad occasion, but he was there with us when we got married, Silveira DaCosta said. This was his final wish.

DaCosta explained that his aunt got ordained the weekend before, meaning Silveira watched them legally get married.

I had that conversation with him and said, Hey, shes going to be in good hands,' DaCosta recalled. I think he needed to hear that more [than I needed to tell him].

Silveira DaCosta said it hasnt really hit her yet, explaining that shes been grieving her entire life for the life her father lost when he was first diagnosed.

(Courtesy: The Silveira Family)

Now Im grieving the loss of his life, Silveira DaCosta said. Its harder to transition than I expected.

Their original wedding ceremony is still scheduled for Sept. 7, and although her father wont physically be there, Silveira DaCosta said he will be in spirit through the meals he helped them pick months prior.

He shared his love through food, she said. Its something Im grateful I grew up with.

Silveira DaCosta said her mother will be walking her down the aisle and there will be a seat reserved in the front row for her father.

My mom is part of the reason that I am the person I am, Silveira DaCosta explained. My dad is the other part, but my mom needs recognition, too.

She gave up so much to take to raise us and take care of my dad. She never complained, she added. She did everything she could to care for my father.

The couple plans on moving in with Silveira DaCostas mother after their wedding and already has a plan on how to keep her fathers memory alive.

Growing up, we had sit-down dinners every night, Silveira DaCosta said. Were going to continue to do it once we move in with my mom.

Im happy that we can still keep that tradition alive, because that was so important to my dad, she continued. It makes us feel like hes still with us, and I know he already is.

The couple is asking everyone to donate to the Muscular Dystrophy Association in Silveiras memory.

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Fire marshals conducting arson investigation into cause of fire at East El Paso apartments

Arson investigators have investigated a fire that destroyed eight apartment units in the Cielo Vista area in East El Paso, authorities said.

Firefighters responded to a condition 3 fire Aug. 1 at the Celina Plaza apartments at 8500 Viscount Blvd., El Paso Fire Department officials said.

El Paso Fire Department firefighters battle a fire Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, at the Celina Plaza apartments located at 8500 Viscount Boulevard in East El Paso. An arson investigation is being conducted after it was determined the fire was started by a person or persons.

The fire was quickly contained and extinguished, preventing further damage to the apartment complex, officials said. The fire damaged eight apartment units and displaced 20 residents. The displaced residents are being assisted by the American Red Cross organization.

No injuries were reported in the fire.

More: Sinaloa cartel leader Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada's attorney wants him tried first in El Paso

An investigation by the El Paso Fire Marshal's Office determined that the "cause of the fire was the act of one or multiple individuals. " Investigators are still determining whether the fire was started intentionally or accidentally.

Investigators are asking for the public's help. Anyone with information about the fire is urged to call the El Paso Fire Marshal's Office at 915-212-5600 and ask for the investigations division.

No further information has been released.

El Paso Fire Department firefighters battle a fire Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, at the Celina Plaza apartments located at 8500 Viscount Boulevard in East El Paso. An arson investigation is being conducted after it was determined the fire was started by a person or persons.

Arsonist arrested in Celina Plaza Apartments fire in 2020

An arsonist was arrested in April 2020 in connection with a fire at the Celina Plaza apartments, the El Paso Times reported.

Kyle James Yeazle was arrested in connection with the 2020 fire on a felony charge of arson of a habitation. Yeazle was accused of setting fire to a building at the Celina Plaza apartments on April 6, 2020, fire officials said at the time of that fire.

More: Man in 50s shot by EPISD officer at Franklin High; classes canceled for Aug. 22

No injuries were reported in the fire.

Yeazle pleaded guilty to one count of arson intended to damage a habitation in November 2020, court records show. He was sentenced to five years of probation and ordered to do 300 hours of community service.

Free smoke alarms available to community members

El Paso Fire Department officials are working to remind community members of the importance of having working smoke alarms in their homes.

"A functioning smoke alarm can provide an early warning that can be lifesaving in an emergency," officials said.

Residents interested in learning more about the El Paso Fire Department's free smoke alarm program are encouraged to visit ElPasoFire.org or call 311, officials said.

Aaron Martinez may be reached at amartinez1@elpasotimes.com or on Twitter @AMartinezEPT.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Marshals investigating possible arson at East El Paso apartments fire
A firefighter in Ohio is accused of stalking and harassing his ex-girlfriend, according to our media partner WCPO-9 TV.

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Devin Moore, 27, is a firefighter and paramedic with the Madeira and Indian Hill Joint Fire District.

Deer Park police officers arrested Moore on Thursday for voyeurism, stalking, and harassment charges, according to WCPO-9. He has since been booked in the Hamilton County Jail.

Court documents show that Moore allegedly kept trying to contact his ex-girlfriend after their relationship ended, despite being asked not to.

Forms of communication include texts, email, group chats, and social media, WCPO-9 reported.

According to an arrest affidavit, Moore is accused of taking sexual photos and videos of the woman without her consent and later texting them to her.

Mr. Moore states that he uses the photos/video for self-gratification in a text to (sic), the affidavit said.

On July 13, court records indicate that Moore went into the womans house through the first-floor window while she was inside her bedroom with another person, according to WCPO-9. Moore allegedly went through the window because the lock was broken.

Madeira and Indian Hill Joint Fire District Chief Stephen Oughterson told WCPO-9 that Moore is on administrative leave pending an investigation. It is unclear if this leave is paid or unpaid.

Moore appeared in court Monday morning, according to WCPO-9. He has a $1,000 bond for his stalking charge and an own recognizance bond for the other charges.

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A Nasa earth picture shows smoke from forest fires drifting over Madeira Island on 17 August. The natural colour scenes of the OLI (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 8 are overlaid with an infrared signal in order to better recognize the heat signature of active fires. Nasa Earth/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Firefighters have brought a major wildfire in a forest in the Portugese island of Madeira under control aided by two Spanish firefighting aircraft, according to Antonio Nunes, the regional head of civil protection on Saturday.

The aircraft from Spain arrived on Thursday at the request of the European Union after Portugal sought help from the bloc. Each of the two twin-engine propeller planes can carry around 6,000 litres of water.

Their efforts were further helped by the foggy weather, with a high humidity level.

The Spanish planes were mainly deployed in the mountains around Pico Ruivo, the island's highest mountain at over 1,800 metres. Madeira's sole firefighting helicopter had been trying to contain the flames without success.

The forest fire, which broke out on August 14, has destroyed about 5,000 hectares of natural landscape, according to data from the Copernicus Earth observation programme.

No injuries or damage to buildings have been reported so far but scientists lament the significant damage to the environment and destruction of flora and fauna.

Criminal police are investigating the cause of the fire, LUSA news agency reported. The regional head of government of Madeira, Miguel Albuquerque, has already spoken of arson, the report said.
DANSVILLE, N.Y. (WETM)  The American Red Crosss first-ever chapter reopened in Dansville on Saturday after undergoing renovations.

American Red Cross Founder Clara Barton established the organizations first chapter at 57 Elizabeth St. in Dansville on Aug. 22, 1881. The building where Barton started the American chapter of the International Red Cross still hosts volunteers and staff 143 years later and acts as a Red Cross history museum.

Forgotten WW2 history found during clock tower renovations in Elmira

According to the American Red Cross of Western New York, American Red Cross Clara Barton Chapter #1 was closed while it underwent renovations to help preserve it for future generations to enjoy. Renovations to this Elizabeth Street house, which was built around 1840, included UV film installation to protect the interior, electrical and security upgrades, structural repairs, foundation pointing, exterior wall repair, full window restoration, and original hardwood floor repairs. The walls in the parlor, dining room, library, and second-floor conference room were repaired and repainted as well. The American Red Crosss first chapter reopened on Aug. 24, 2024, after the renovations were complete.

People interested in visiting the birthplace of the American Red Cross must request an appointment for a free tour and can do so through the American Red Crosss website. Visitors will get to see original artifacts from Clara Barton, the Civil War, and dignitaries who visited the site. Bartons personal letters with contemporary leaders from the area like Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass are on display at the museum.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com.
A former Florida deputy involved in the fatal shooting of U.S. Airman Roger Fortson has been charged with one count of manslaughter. State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden announced the charge against Eddie Lee Duran Jr. on Friday (Aug. 23). He faces up to 30 years in prison.

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Attorney Ben Crump and the airmans family hope the charge will result in justice. Let this be a reminder to law enforcement officers everywhere that they swore a solemn oath to protect and defend, and their actions have consequences, especially when it results in the loss of life, they said in a joint statement.

According to the state attorney, a warrant for Durans arrest has been issued. Fortson, 23, was shot six times in the doorway of his Fort Walton Beach apartment on May 3. The deputy was responding to a possible domestic dispute call after neighbors reported hearing loud arguing coming from a unit. A resident suggested to Duran that the noise came from the active-duty senior airmans residence. He had just returned home 30 minutes prior and was on a FaceTime call with his girlfriend and had not caused any disturbance.

The deputy knocked on the door and yelled, Sheriffs office, open the door! Bodycam footage of the incident showed that when Fortson adhered to the command, he had a gun in his right hand. However, the weapon remained pointed at the floor. Within seconds, Duran ordered the young man to step back and then fired his department-issued firearm. As he lay on the ground injured, with his final breaths, the airman attempted to comply with orders to drop his gun, telling Duran, "Its over there. I dont have it. Soon after, he was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

The sheriffs office announced Durans termination on May 31 following a suspension pending the outcome of an internal investigation into the shooting. The administration determined the use of deadly force was not objectively reasonable and therefore violated the agency policy. Furthermore, the report states, The former deputy confirmed Mr. Fortson did not physically resist him in any way, and the infestation concluded that Mr. Fortson did to point the gun in the former deputys direction.

Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden said the fatal shooting should not have occurred. The objective facts do not support the use of deadly force as an appropriate response to Mr. Fortsons actions. Mr. Fortson did not commit any crime. By all accounts, he was an exceptional airman and individual, said Aden in a released statement. Moreover, he stated that as a steward of public safety, Duran did not meet the standard of objective reasonableness, and his use of control to resistance was excessive.

Funeral services for the young man were held on May 17 in Stonecrest, an Atlanta suburb, and attended by family, friends, and hundreds of Air Force members.

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Foo Fighters - Credit: Helle Arensbak / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP

Donald Trump has drawn the ire of yet another artist over his unauthorized use of music, this time angering Foo Fighters after Trump played that bands My Hero at an Arizona rally Friday.

At the campaign event, Trump revealed that independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had both suspended his campaign and endorsed the Republican nominee. As Kennedy Jr. was then welcomed to the stage, Foo Fighters 1997 hit played over the speakers.

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When asked on social media whether the band granted permission for the My Hero usage, Foo Fighters simply stated, No. They reiterated that the tracks usage was unauthorized in a follow-up tweet:

Let us be clear. pic.twitter.com/gexHWjPMYh  Foo Fighters (@foofighters) August 24, 2024

A rep for the band confirmed to Billboard, Foo Fighters were not asked permission, and if they were, they would not have granted it. They added that the band would take appropriate action to prevent further My Hero usage, and that whatever royalties they earned from the Trump rallys usage would instead be donated to the Kamala Harris and Tim Walz campaign.

Trumps latest music snafu comes just days after Beyonce threatened a cease-and-desist against the Trump campaign after a 13-second video using her Freedom  also Harris unofficial campaign song  was posted on X by Trump spokesman Steven Cheung.

Dating back to when he first announced his presidential candidacy nearly a decade ago, Trump has been notorious for using music at his campaign rallies without the artists permission, with the former president receiving pushback and legal threats from dozens of musicians over the unauthorized usage of their songs.

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HONOLULU (KHON2)  From classic coffees to unique boba, Drincup has it all! Landon and Kayla Mauricio shared the details on Wake Up 2Day.

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

Landon shared their inspiring story, Drincup Cafe started after my wife and I got married. We were praying about what she would pursue as a career, and with both of us having business backgrounds, we knew we wanted to create something meaningful together. My wife has a unique gift for tasting drinks and sauces and recreating them, so we decided to open a drink shop. The name Drincup was inspired by Psalms 23:5-6, which speaks of the Lord preparing a table and our cup overflowing. Its a reflection of our belief that every sip can be a reminder of Gods goodness.

Food2Go: Sheilas Den

Drincup Cafe has a faith-based mission that influences its daily operations. Landon and Kayla see their shop as more than just a business.

They said, Whether its through the warm welcome our customers receive, the care we put into each drink, or the peaceful atmosphere we create, our goal is to ensure that everyone who visits leaves feeling blessed and uplifted. Thats also why we started a segment on Living 808 called Fill Your Cup, where we promote positivity and good news. Its another way for us to pour into the community, just like we do in our cafe, encouraging people to find joy and hope in the everyday moments.

Kayla also has a unique talentshe can recreate almost any drink she tastes with amazing accuracy!

She brings a personal touch to every coffee, juice, or boba drink they create. Check out their latest special recreation, Disneys Star Wars drink.

For the latest, follow Landon and Kaylas journey on social media (@drincupcafe).

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM)  A nearly 4-million-dollar renovation of the clock tower at City Hall has revealed a forgotten piece of World War Two history. Crews discovered an air raid siren that was installed in the tower after the Elmira area became a possible target for bombing raids.

Its neat. Im glad that were going to have it, Dworkin said. an archivist at the Chemung County Historical Society. Im not sure when it will be on display. Its also incredibly heavy, like 600 pounds heavy.

Dworkin says Elmira became a military manufacturing hub as a dozen companies started contributing to the war effort. They made everything from bomb fuses, parts for vehicles and boats and uniforms.

Elmira was also home to 12 different factories that were involved in war work. So, there were a lot of potential targets here for enemy bombers looking to destroy war materials, or halt the war effort, Dworkin said.

In Horseheads, a nearly 700-acre plot called The Holding Point became a staging area for military equipment and supplies, before they were shipped overseas.

The little known Mission Elmira on D-Day

It was one of just a handful of designated sites throughout the United States where military materials would be stored and then shipped to various places so that it could go overseas, Dworkin said. So, there was a large number of military materials being stored there.

The holding point employed a lot of people, like hundreds of people, and there was actually a big population boost in Elmira and in Horseheads because of the holding point of the war work and the public housing that we have currently, like Hawthorne court and Jones court were a direct result of the population boom from World War Two.

Dworkin says the siren was also used for air raid and blackout drills.

Its very loud, but it cant be heard everywhere, Dworkin said. They also utilized sirens at churches and at factories. When the air raid was happening, you know that would go off, and then all of the church bells would ring, and all of the factories would blow their whistles, and all of the fire departments would run their sirens too, so that everyone knew what was happening. But obviously, we were not bombed. They just had a number of drills throughout the war.

The drills were actually really interesting. They had blackout drills where the sirens would go off, and everyone was supposed to turn off their lights or pull their curtains or whatever. As part of those drills, they would also have fake incidents. So, they would have people who were supposed to be learning first aid and learning how to respond to a bomb a bomb threat would actually go to these fake sites and then dig actors out of the rubble and perform first aid and learn how to respond in the event of a crisis.

The siren has not been tested to see if it still works.

Do you think we can try to make it sound again or it doesnt work? asked reporter Nick Dubina.



Well, from what I have seen of the photographs that my coworkers took of it, it is very rusted, Dworkin said. Also, I think it needs power to work, and its not currently plugged in anywhere, so we wont be firing it up anytime soon.

Did you want to try to make it work?



I mean, that would be cool. But again, the logistics of it based on where it currently is, the state that its currently in, and the fact that we havent hooked it up, hooked it up to any sort of power source.

On Monday, the Elmira City Council will vote to officially donate the siren to the Historical Socety. The siren is being stored by the Historical Society until Mondays vote.

We didnt even know it was there. Then lo and behold, they found it while doing the renovations, Mayor Mandell said. I dont know when the last time it was used. I hear stories years ago that there was a button down in the police department where they could actually hit the siren, and they would do it New Years Eve. I dont remember that as a kid, but thats, you know, that could be urban legend.

We had several different businesses, you had American La France, you had Hilliard that worked on stuff for the military, and you had Remington Rand, Mandell added. So, we were very active in World War Two with our manufacturing here in the city of Elmira.

You can watch the full interview with Rachel Dworkin below:

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com.
After an extended period of lower-than-normal temperatures, Lincoln is in for a late-summer mini heat wave this weekend.

The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for nearly three dozen counties in eastern Nebraska starting Saturday at 1 p.m. and continuing until Sunday at 8 p.m. The Weather Service said some areas could see heat index values approaching 110.

The high in Lincoln on Saturday is forecast to reach the mid 90s and it could go as high as 102 on Sunday. Monday's high is forecast to reach into the upper 90s.

The Weather Service said the heat index could reach as high as 105-110 degrees on both Saturday and Sunday.

That will be a shock to people who have been getting used to highs in the 70s and low 80s.

Since Aug. 5, Lincoln has seen a below-normal high temperature on 15 of 18 days, including seven days in the 70s. Only one day has topped 90 degrees.

So far, the city has had only six 90-degree days this month and 34 total this year. That's on pace for the fewest 90-degree days since 2019.

Temperatures are forecast to return to remain around 90 degrees through Wednesday before returning to more seasonable levels. The longer-term outlook suggests temperatures could return to the 70s and low 80s by Labor Day weekend.

The heat and accompanying lack of rainfall could exacerbate what has been worsening drought conditions.

Lincoln has seen just over an inch of rain so far this month, which is well below average.

That has allowed drought to creep back into the area after it had disappeared, thanks to heavy rains in July.

Lincoln is still drought-free, but a small portion of Lancaster County returned to moderate drought conditions this week after nine straight weeks with no drought, according to the latest Drought Monitor from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Drought has also been expanding statewide, with 19% of Nebraska now in at least a moderate drought, including nearly 6% in severe drought.

There was no severe drought at all in the state as recently as mid-July, while the amount of moderate drought bottomed out at around 1% in mid-June.

The good news is there are some small chances for rain Friday night and Saturday morning and then Monday night through Thursday.

Top Journal Star photos for August 2024
Christopher Columbus first landed in San Salvador in the Bahamas in 1492 - ART IMAGES/HULTON FINE ART COLLECTION

Caribbean governments are being urged to purge traces of Christopher Columbus from their coats of arms to strike a dagger through the heart of colonialism.

The Italian explorers three ships have been symbolically represented on the coats of arms of the island nations, but the imagery has become the subject of renewed scrutiny amid a wider push for reparations.

Trinidad and Tobagos government has announced that it will remove the three ships, the Santa Maria, the Pinta and the Nina from its coat of arms.

Grenada, another former British colony, is now facing internal calls to remove the Santa Maria from its coat of arms.

The lead reparations official for the Bahamas has also said that there will be a discussion about the future of their national heraldry, which contains another image of the Santa Maria, Columbuss flagship.

The calls for national symbols to be stripped of their colonial imagery come during a growing campaign to secure reparations from former slave-trading European powers, and following a reassessment of Columbus as a brutal coloniser.

Trinidad and Tobago's coat of arms feature three of Columbus's ships - ASH ALLEN/AP

Arley Gill, a lawyer and the head of Grenadas National Reparations Commission, which steers policy on handling the countrys colonial legacy, said removing problematic symbols would be a dagger through the heart of colonialism.

He told The Telegraph that it was part of the general push to liberate the Caribbean people.

The first step is removing historical symbols and relics that glorify slave owners, colonisers and oppressors, he said.

The Santa Maria  Columbuss big ship  is the heart of our coat of arms of Grenada. It is time for it to be removed.

The coat of arms is used by the Royal Grenada Police, with Mr Gill noting that relics and symbols of the colonisers are all around us  in our schools, churches, streets; you name it.

Grenada was a British colony from 1763 until independence in 1974, and in recent years its dedicated National Reparations Commission has become a vocal advocate for Britain to atone for the exploitation of slave labour on the island.

Dickon Mitchell, the prime minister of Grenada, recently formally requested that the Bank of England make reparations and enter talks over the nature and scale of this compensation.

The Bahamas, another former colony, is also considering taking action to strip its national emblems of colonial imagery.

Dr Niambi Hall Campbell-Dean, an associate professor at the University of The Bahamas, told The Telegraph that the island nation would be open to discussing the future of its coat of arms, which bears an image of the Santa Maria.

The image was added in reference to the arrival of Columbus in the New World, where he documented the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, and Grenada, among other land masses.

However, among campaigners in the Caribbean, this was not a discovery  as the indigenous Taino and Carib peoples already inhabited these islands  but the first step in a process of colonisation that would ultimately lead to the indigenous islanders being wiped out.

The fate of indigenous people is the central part of the 10-point plan for reparation developed by Caricom, the Caribbean community, which functions as a supranational body for the region.

The Telegraph revealed in March that Caricom was redrafting its plan to give it a broader scope, before going back to the European nations with demands for reparations.

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JACKSON, Ky. (FOX 56)  A former farm supply store in Jackson caught on fire early Saturday morning, leading to emergency personnel closing down Lower Main Street to battle the blaze.

The Jackson Fire Department posted on Facebook that just after 4 a.m. on Saturday, Lower Main Street (Hwy 1812) was closed to traffic while crews extinguished a commercial fire.

AT&T strike continues, Richmond home to the picket line

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Jessica Shimfessel, who told FOX 56 News her grandfather once owned the store, said, It was not only a business but a gathering place for many people in the community. Everyone stopped by for a cup of coffee and to sit around and talk. I think itll be hard on not just us as his family but his friends as well. Even though hes gone it was nice to have a piece of him left but now theres nothing.

Fire & law enforcement crews in Jackson worked to battle a commercial fire in the early hours of Saturday morning. (Jackson Fire Department)

A photo was taken on Saturday of the remains of the former supply store after fire crews cleared the scene. (Jessica Shimfessel)

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Authorities said around 9:20 a.m., emergency personnel cleared the scene and the road was reopened.

The Jackson Fire Department said on Facebook, Please use caution in the area as there may still be lingering smoke in the area.

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The multicounty grand jury meets at the offices of Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond. Grand jurors on Thursday returned an indictment against a former county treasurer.

Former Love County Treasurer Lorry Hull has been accused in an indictment of embezzling $21,499 in public funds.

The state's multicounty grand jury on Thursday returned the indictment charging Hull with seven felony counts of embezzlement by county treasurer. Prosecutors told the grand jury judge she is suspected of using the funds for gambling.

More: Swadley's Bar-B-Q owner Brent Swadley, two others indicted, charged with conspiracy, fraud

Grand jurors alleged she converted public funds to her own use in July and August of 2020. Hull, 45, was treasurer of the county in southern Oklahoma from February 2013 to September 2020. She now lives in Ardmore.

After coming under suspicion, she told a state auditor official in 2020, "I don't look good in orange and I am just so embarrassed of what the others will think," according to an affidavit for a search warrant. The comment about orange is apparently a reference to the color of jail clothing.

Her attorney could not be reached for comment Friday.

Attorney General Gentner Drummond said Friday in a news release his office "will zealously seek justice for the residents of Love County. Each count is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, according to his news release.

This case is all the more troubling because the alleged embezzlement was at the hands of an elected official responsible for the safekeeping of taxpayer dollars, Drummond also said.

Hull originally was indicted in September 2020. A month later, prosecutors dropped the two counts of embezzlement by county treasurer to further investigate "any and all allegations" against her.

She was sentenced earlier this month in Carter County District Court to probation for driving under the influence of alcohol last year in Ardmore. She pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge in December.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma grand jury indicts former Love County treasurer
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced on Friday, a multi-county grand jury indictment of a former Love County treasurer.

Lory Hull has been indicted on seven counts of embezzlement by county treasurer. Prosecutors allege Hull, 45, embezzled a total of $21,499.13 over a three-month period in the summer of 2020.

Lawmakers, superintendents upset with lack of communication from OSDE on changes to state test score

This case is all the more troubling because the alleged embezzlement was at the hands of an elected official responsible for the safekeeping of taxpayer dollars, he said. My office will zealously seek justice for the residents of Love County.

Each count is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, says Attorney Gentner Drummond.

Read the indictments here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Former patient testifies doctor told her future husband would regret it if she got 'tubes tied'

A woman who sought a surgical procedure to prevent pregnancy testified Wednesday that a Cape Breton gynecologist told her the choice should be up to her boyfriend or future husband and that "no doctor in Canada" would perform it on her.

The former patient, whose identity is protected by a publication ban, said she was seeking to get her "tubes tied" in 2017 and was given a consultation with Dr. Manivasan Moodley, who is currently facing a multi-day professional misconduct hearing in Bedford, N.S.

The woman was in her early 20s when she met with Moodley in his Sydney office, and is one of three former patients who have testified before a five-member panel at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia hearing.

She said Moodley asked her during her appointment if she had a partner, which she did, and testified he told her the boyfriend or a future husband would regret her decision to get a tubal ligation, which would sterilize her.

Moodley told her that doctors would only consider doing a tubal ligation on women 10 years older who were on social assistance and had had multiple children, she testified.

"It felt dismissive," she said. "It felt like I didn't have the right to make that decision. I felt like I had no say in what was happening, no matter how much I advocated for it."

Professional misconduct accusation

Moodley is accused of professional misconduct and incompetence related to three complainants. The first testified earlier in the hearing that he performed a surgical procedure against her wishes during childbirth.

A second woman, who was also pregnant, alleged Moodley dismissed her labour pains as back spasms and ignored her requests for epidural pain medication, and testified staff at Cape Breton Regional Hospital failed to pay close enough attention, which may have led to health complications for her son.

Moodley has previously been disciplined. In 2021, his licence was suspended for five months and he was ordered to pay $325,000 after two female patients said he made inappropriate sexual remarks to them.

Procedure denied

Wednesday's witness testified she was referred to Moodley by her family doctor after inquiring about permanent sterilization. She said she told him she didn't want to have biological children and her partner supported her choice, but that Moodley refused to do the procedure and did not send her for a second opinion.

Moodley began the appointment by telling her he would do an ultrasound. She testified nothing inappropriate happened during the procedure, but that she didn't know why he was performing it given she was at his office to consult about a tubal ligation.

It was only at the end of the appointment, following the discussion about tubal ligation, that Moodley raised his voice and told her he'd detected a solid mass on her ovaries, she testified. A later ultrasound found her ovaries were normal.

Frustration and anger

Moodley's lawyer, Muneeza Sheikh, suggested during cross-examination that the complainant was being "dishonest" about Moodley referring to women on welfare with multiple children, and that she falsified notes she wrote in her phone about the incident during the following months. The woman denied that was the case.

The woman only lodged a complaint with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia more than three years after her appointment with Moodley.

She told the panel she didn't realize until then that she could file a complaint, and had also read a news story in 2020 about another complaint about Moodley.

She said she still wants a tubal ligation, but testified she no longer has a family doctor and due to her experience with Moodley doesn't have the "drive or confidence" to discuss the procedure with another physician.

The woman's mother also testified Wednesday, telling the panel her daughter was frustrated and angry following the appointment and told her she felt she'd been mistreated by Moodley.

The hearing has taken much longer than expected and has fallen behind schedule. It is now tentatively set to resume in November.

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Residents in the Charlotte region will soon have access to more than a dozen free Wi-Fi hubs as part of an effort to help bridge the digital divide.

Earlier this month, Mecklenburg County said it will install the technology at 14 local parks and recreation centers. Inside and outside the facilities, people will gain access to unlimited internet and cellular hot spots.

ALSO READ: Schools in Lancaster County give thousands of Wi-Fi hot spots to families

Residents who live near the hubs will also be able to access the free service. There is no signup required.

The public Wi-Fi is funded with $1.3 million from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Mecklenburg County said. It was signed by President Joe Biden that year to help combat the Covid-19 pandemic and address economic inequalities.

Read more here.

VIDEO: Schools in Lancaster County give thousands of Wi-Fi hot spots to families




FREEPORT, Ill. (WTVO)  Residents of Freeport participated in another year of Paint the Port on Friday to raise money for revitalizing the community.

Its definitely something we need around here, and Ill bring people out and do something new, said  Its very nice to recognize a lot of people around here.

The event has been going on since 2017 and people have been coming back every year.

You know, its a fun thing to see people of all ages participate. The little itty bitty ones, they tend to cover themselves with paint, said  Its so fun to see them just explore painting. Its a great introduction to the arts, even when theyre really little.

Over 650 squares lined the downtown area of Freeport. More than 3,000 people working on it and raising upwards of $25,000 in the process.

The goal this year is to use the funds raised to develop and maintain the arts plaza. The hub is used for artistic expression and community gatherings.

Well, this is such an important project down here because it really works with a lot of the other efforts that are taking place downtown as far as revitalization, said  So with our new building, all of that creates an arts and culture campus, which is a major economic driver for our community.

Organizers said all paint used today was environmentally friendly.

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Police officers stand near a synagogue after an explosion outside the building. Following the explosion outside a synagogue in La Grande-Motte in the south of France, the anti-terrorism prosecutor's office has taken over the investigation. The authorities confirmed this to the German Press Agency in Paris. Pascal Guyot/AFP/dpa

The search for the fugitive perpetrator continues following the explosion in front of a synagogue in the south of France, according to acting Prime Minister Gabriel Attal on Saturday-

Almost 200 police officers and gendarmes have been deployed.

"We can assume that we have narrowly escaped an absolute tragedy," said Attal.

Initial findings suggest that the perpetrator was very determined. If the synagogue had been full at the time of the crime and people had come outside, there would likely have been fatalities, he said.

He described the act as outrageous and pointed to the increasing number of anti-Semitic attacks in France.

His comments come after two doors of the synagogue were set on fire in the morning along with two vehicles in front of the building .

A gas bottle exploded in one of the vehicles, causing minor injuries to a police officer. The five people who were in the synagogue at the time were unharmed.

France's anti-terror prosecutor's office is investigating on suspicion of attempted murder with a terrorism connection, destruction with dangerous means and the formation of a terrorist organisation.

"Initial investigations suggest that the perpetrator was carrying a Palestinian flag and a weapon," the prosecutor's office stated.

The French gendarmerie block the road near the synagogue. Following the explosion outside a synagogue in La Grande-Motte in the south of France, the anti-terrorism prosecutor's office has taken over the investigation. The authorities confirmed this to the German Press Agency in Paris. Pascal Guyot/AFP/dpa
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  When Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic presidential nomination on Thursday, Fresno area Democratic National Convention Delegate Eric Payne said the venue was filled with excitement.

Payne says when Harris took the stage there was exhilaration in the room.

5 takeaways from Kamala Harriss DNC speech

Everything that she was saying was resonating with the entire room. When she walked voters through what she has done and what she is going to do, I think it really stood out to a lot of folks, Payne said.

At the Democratic National Convention, Payne says that Harris brought up the right to choose, military veterans and ensure their access to healthcare.

According to Payne, Harris also referenced investing in small businesses around economic prosperity and wealth creation opportunities. Payne said Harris touched on each topic that he expected her to.

Even walking voters down, the clear resume difference between her and number 45, he said. Shes qualified, served as district attorney in San Francisco, been a U.S. state senator, and our ranking attorney general.

Payne says it was very clear that Harris was going to protect the people.

For me, it was very clear that and I have heard from my friends who are Republicans and those who are independent that Kamala Harris is the clear choice to lead this country, Payne said.

Payne says Harris nomination is historic and that she laid out a clear path for all Americans. He says the team that she put together is a reflection of an everyday American.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO)  Three gas stations near the new Hard Rock Casino slashed their prices well below the citys average of $3.60 per gallon Friday in a situation some are calling a price war.

Leading the way is QuikTrip at 8070 E. State St., which has been selling a gallon of premium gas for $2.94. Adjacent stations Kelley Williamson Mobil and BP were at $3.09 Friday afternoon.

I will take the drive for this, said Rockford resident Aidan Krienke. This is way better. Way better.

Krienke says it is worth it for him to drive from his near-east side home to QuikTrip beause hes always looking for the lowest price.

Ive got two that I usually go to, he said. I definitely come here because they are cheaper. But I have also got the Shell out on Baxter Road that I go to.

Some drivers say what they pay for a gallon of gas is important, but its not what determines where they fill up.

Its not always about price to me, said Nathaniel Briggs Jackson. Some people its about the price. But to me its like loyalty. So, if I go to a gas station and I am messing with their vibe and their customer service, all of that and they have everything good all around, then I am going to go there. It doesnt matter the price.

AJ Krishnan, who manages the BP station directly across the street from the casino, said when hes not able to beat other stations on price, customer incentives help make him competitive.

A lot of people have the BP Reward Card, and that gives them $.15 off, so that gets them down to $2.94, their price, he said. So we have a lot of loyal customers coming in here.

Price wars often happen when a retailer sells gasoline as low as they can without violating the law to get new business or undercut their competition. In Illinois it is illegal to sell fuel below what a gas station pays for it.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports.
Media companies like ours have not done a good job of explaining to our readers why years of job reductions, newspaper closures, sales and mergers have resulted from fundamental changes in how we generate revenue and take our journalism to market.

The painful reductions in the size of local newsrooms have not been a consequence of consumer backlash over political ideology or a lack of reader interest in news content. The driving force has been dwindling revenues for media companies on digital platforms controlled by monopolies like Google and Meta.

California had a chance to level the playing field and support local journalism by compelling Big Tech to pay news outlets a fairer share of advertising revenues. But a promising deal to address what ails California journalism was abandoned this week.

Opinion

For now, Google  with its $237 billion in 2023 ad revenues  will not be forced to fairly compensate news organizations for the content that they produce. In Canada, Google pays news outlets $100 million a year, but under a new deal announced this week and touted by Gov. Gavin Newsom, Google will contribute a fraction of that to local journalism in California. Under the agreement, the state has also pledged to contribute unbudgeted taxpayer dollars to newsrooms.

If you missed the news of this, you are not alone. It was rolled out via press release Wednesday afternoon, virtually drowned out by the Democratic National Convention, which many key California state and legislative leaders were attending in Chicago.

The agreement, which calls for $242.5 million to be distributed to California newsrooms over five years, is better than nothing. The funds will provide a boost to local journalism in the state. But Googles contribution is a relative pittance and represents only a fraction of the benefit it derives from news outlets content.

While Newsom celebrated this half measure, this was hardly a profile in courage for our governor, who showed no inclination to push for a lasting fix in a broken marketplace.

This agreement, unfortunately, seriously undercuts our work toward a long-term solution to rescue independent journalism, wrote state Sen. Steve Glazer, D-Contra Costa. There is a stark absence in this announcement of any support for journalism from Meta and Amazon. These platforms have captured the intimate data from Californians without paying for it. Their use of that data in advertising is the harm to news outlets that this agreement should mitigate.

In the digital space, companies such as Google control advertising revenues that should flow to news creators like the journalists who work for McClatchy and other news companies large and small. When Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland, began advancing first-of-its-kind legislation that would have forced Google and others to share ad revenues with news outlets, Google responded like the bad actor that it is.

First, Google began removing California news links from some search results. Then, when Wicks signaled that she was not intimidated, we began to see a flurry of television commercials wholly misrepresenting what Wicks was trying to do.

Her bill, AB 886, the California Journalism Preservation Act, would have established a system of revenue-sharing where news creators would be paid for their work through an arbitration process. Glazers bill, SB 1327, would have taxed digital advertising revenue to provide newsrooms with funds via a tax credit. Wicks legislation was killed by Newsoms deal, while Glazer has said he is unsure whether his bill will be addressed before the legislature adjourns on Aug. 31.

According to The Bees reporting, the deal struck this week calls for Google to pay $15 million for the journalism fund in 2025 and a minimum of $10 million a year through 2029, for a minimum total of $55 million. The state would pay $30 million in 2025 and then $10 million a year through 2029, for a total of $70 million. Additional funding will go toward existing journalism programs for a total of $180 million, according to the agreement. ... Then, $62.5 million, which is exclusively tech money and includes no state funds, will go toward creating a nonprofit to administer an AI accelerator project, for a grand total of $242.5 million.

What kind of AI accelerator project? We dont know. Where, exactly, will the state money come from? We dont know.

In Canada, legislators stood up to Google, and the result was a deal, reached last year, where Google pays $100 million per year to Canadian news outlets.

In Canada, the Online News Act has provided a lifeline for many news organizations, wrote Benoit Chartier, a Canadian publisher, in The Bee on Aug. 15. This financial support is not a handout; it is a recognition of the vital role that journalism plays in a democratic society. Its also a recognition of the vital role that our news stories play in making Google and Meta two of the largest companies in the world.

A similar deal in California would have been vital for media outlets operating amid job reductions that result from the digital economics starving the journalism industry. Earlier this year, the Los Angeles Times laid off 20% of its newsroom. The threat of layoffs will hang over all newsrooms, whether for-profit or nonprofit, until we resolve the issue of news creators being paid fairly for their work.

Journalism and a free press are what distinguish our nation from Russia and Iran, but journalists cant work if they arent paid. McClatchys California Opinion team supported AB 886, as did McClatchy, the parent company of The Sacramento Bee, The Modesto Bee, The Fresno Bee, Merced Sun-Star and San Luis Obispo Tribune. So did the California News Publishers Association and many news outlets across the state.

Wicks has pledged that the vague deal announced by Newsom this week is only the beginning. We hope shes right.

Maybe it will take a different governor in California to confront monopolies like Google and Meta. Newsom will be out of office in a little more than two years, which, unfortunately, is plenty of time for more communities to lose their local news outlets and more journalists to lose their jobs.

This editorial represents the views of the editorial boards at The Sacramento Bee, Fresno Bee, Modesto Bee, Merced Sun-Star and The Tribune in San Luis Obispo.
GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD)  Deputies in Georgetown County arrested a man accused of trafficking methamphetamine Friday.

29-year-old Shyheim Gardner of Georgetown was charged with distributing trafficking amounts of methamphetamine.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Gardners residence and found about 846 grams of a substance that tested positive for fentanyl, according to the Georgetown County Sheriffs Office.

They also found cash, a loaded pistol, and ammunition. Additional charges are expected for trafficking fentanyl and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.

Gardner was booked at the Georgetown County Detention Center.

The sheriffs office narcotics unit and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations worked on this case.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
CARROLL COUNTY, Ga. (WSAV)  A Carroll County Sheriffs Office (CCSO) investigator who was shot in the line of duty, has died.

The CCSO said Investigator Taylor Bristow died Friday night at Grady Memorial Hospital.

Tonight, we mourn the passing of Investigator Bristow, who has left this earth and gained his heavenly wings. He served our community with unwavering passion and dedicated his life to protecting the citizens of Carroll County. We are deeply saddened and at a loss for words. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers, and kindly respect their privacy as they grieve this profound loss. CCSO said in a statement.

Officer calling for money? Chatham County Police Dept. says its a scam

On Wednesday morning, Bristow was assisting the Georgia Bureau of Investigation execute a search warrant at a home in the 300 block of Don Rich Drive in Carrollton.

According to the CCSO, Carroll County deputies knocked on the door of the home, which was opened by 40-year-old Christopher Bly.

The office says Bly immediately retreated into the home, followed by the deputies. Bly produced a handgun and fired, striking himself and Bristow. Bly was pronounced dead at the scene. After being in the hospital for days, Bristow succumbed.

The CCSO says West Georgia First Responders organized a donation site for those who have reached out wanting to support Investigator Bristows family during this time. Donations can be made here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV.
German Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser makes a press statement during her visit to the Gifhorn base of the Federal Police Air Wing. Moritz Frankenberg/dpa

German security authorities are doing all in their power to find the perpetrator of the "brutal attack" in Solingen and to clear up the motive for the crime, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser posted on X.

The local police in the state of North Rhine Westphalia (NRW) were receiving the support of the federal government, she said, adding that she was in constant contact with NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul.

"The brutal attack on the city festival in Solingen has shocked us deeply. We mourn the people who have been torn from life in a terrible way," Faeser said.
Police officers stand at a cordon in the city center after several people were killed and injured in an attack at the city's 650th anniversary celebrations. Christoph Reichwein/dpa

The public prosecutor's office has not ruled out a terrorist motive in the deadly stabbings in Solingen, senior public prosecutor Markus Caspers says at a press conference in Wuppertal.

"We have not yet been able to identify a motive, but based on the overall circumstances, we assume that the initial suspicion of a terrorist-motivated offence cannot be ruled out," he said.

The find comes after three people were killed in the attack late on Friday night during a town festival. Eight people were injured, five of them seriously.

The perpetrator remains at large and the police are investigating, with searches being carried out at several locations.

Police officers stand at a cordon in the city center after, several people were killed and injured in an attack at the city's 650th anniversary celebrations. Federico Gambarini/dpa

Police and ambulances stand near the scene, where people were killed and injured in an attack at the 650th anniversary celebrations of the city of Solingen in western Germany Gianni Gattus/dpa
Special police forces carry out an operation at a refugee shelter which, according to the police, is connected to the knife attack at the Solingen city festival. An attack at the 650th anniversary celebrations of the city of Solingen has resulted in fatalities and injuries. Christoph Reichwein/dpa

German police detained a person in a refugee centre in Solingen as they seek the perpetrator of a deadly stabbing that left three dead, a police spokesman told dpa on Saturday, adding investigations remain under way.

Authorities did not say whether the person detained is suspected of being the attacker. The police spokesman said connections with the attack are still being examined.

The news magazine Spiegel reported that the detained man was being interrogated as a witness and that the attacker remains on the loose. A police spokeswoman said she could not comment on that report and would confirm only that a man had been detained at the shelter.

Dozens of police officers descended on the refugee shelter in Solingen in an operation reportedly connected to the deadly knife attack in the city.

The perpetrator of the attack killed three people and wounded eight more, four of them seriously, according to local police chief Thorsten Fleiss. He apparently chose his victims at random but appeared to target their necks, Fleiss said.

The attacker managed to escape amid the chaos and panic.

A massive manhunt has been under way since in an effort to find the suspect, although police said earlier on Saturday that they were struggling to find a clear image of the attacker.

The attack took place at a market square in the city centre where a stage was set up for live music during the Festival of Diversity, which was being thrown to celebrate Solingen's 650th anniversary.

Those killed in the attack were two men, aged 67 and 56, and a 56-year-old woman.

The so-called Islamic State (IS) terror group issued a statement claiming to have been behind the attack and that the culprit was a member of the group.

German police said they were still reviewing the claim and had not yet determined if it was credible. Investigators noted that IS has previously made claims of involvement after other attacks without any reliable evidence of real involvement.

IS claimed that the Solingen attack was "revenge for Muslims in Palestine and elsewhere," according to a statement on the group's mouthpiece Amak.

Earlier on Saturday, senior public prosecutor Markus Caspers, who is helping lead the investigation into the attack, said terrorism could not be ruled out as a motive but that authorities are still trying to piece together what happened.

Police detained a 15-year-old boy on Saturday morning after learning that he may have spoken with the culprit before the attack.

According to witnesses, an unidentified person spoke to the youth shortly before the crime about intentions that would fit the execution of the crime, said Caspers.

Caspers said in the afternoon that authorities had not yet determined whether the unidentified person was in fact the attacker, but prosecutors could potentially charge the youth with failing to report planned crimes.

The mayor of Solingen, Tim Kurzbach, said on Saturday evening that "the pain is infinitely large" in the city following the attack. He spoke just before a prayer service in the city centre that drew hundreds to mourn those killed and pray for the community.

"We in Solingen are deeply affected, our city is full of grief. But not being alone in this grief is a good sign," said Kurzbach.

In addition to the emergency services, he also wanted to thank many people from all over Germany and from abroad for their expressions of sympathy. He said he received condolences from all over the world.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz called the attack a "terrible crime" and urged that the perpetrator be severely punished. He also pledged assistance to the city.

"We cannot accept something like this in our society and will never grow accustomed to it. We have to act with the full rigour of the law," Scholz said on Saturday.

Fleiss said emergency dispatchers in the control centre at police headquarters in the nearby city of Wuppertal began receiving a series of calls about the attack starting at 9:37 (1937 GMT) pm on Friday evening.

All festival events planned for Saturday and Sunday have since been cancelled, the city said.

Special police forces carry out an operation at a refugee shelter which, according to the police, is connected to the knife attack at the Solingen city festival. An attack at the 650th anniversary celebrations of the city of Solingen has resulted in fatalities and injuries. Christoph Reichwein/dpa
A special police task force (SEK) is carrying out an operation at a refugee shelter which, according to the police, is connected to the knife attack at the Solingen town festival. Several people were killed and injured in a knife attack on Friday evening at the city festival celebrating the 650th birthday of the city of Solingen. Christoph Reichwein/dpa

German police detained a person in a refugee centre in Solingen as they seek the perpetrator of a deadly stabbing that left three dead, a police spokesman told dpa on Saturday, adding investigations remain under way.

Authorities did not say whether the person detained is suspected of being the attacker. The police spokesman said connections with the attack are still being examined.

Dozens of police officers descended on the refugee shelter in Solingen in an operation reportedly connected to the deadly knife attack in the city.

The perpetrator of the attack, which killed three people at a festival in the city on Friday night and left eight more wounded, managed to escape amid the chaos and panic.

The attacker stabbed a number of people at a festival being held to celebrate the city's 650th anniversary.

A special police task force (SEK) is carrying out an operation at a refugee shelter which, according to the police, is connected to the knife attack at the Solingen town festival. Several people were killed and injured in a knife attack on Friday evening at the city festival celebrating the 650th birthday of the city of Solingen. Christoph Reichwein/dpa
Police and ambulances stand near the scene, where people were killed and injured in an attack at the 650th anniversary celebrations of the city of Solingen in western Germany Gianni Gattus/dpa

Police on Saturday are continuing to search for the person responsible for a fatal stabbing, which took place at the 650th anniversary celebrations of the city of Solingen on Friday.

The attack on Friday evening left at least three people dead - one woman and two men - and eight injured, five of them seriously, the authorities said. No information was given about the identity of the injured victims' or their current condition.

The attacker was still on the run early on Saturday morning, police said, and the search continues. Special units were searching for the attacker in the city, according to a dpa reporter.

Police warned residents who observe anything suspicious not to act on their own initiative but call the police emergency number.

"We currently have no clues as to his whereabouts," said a police spokesman. There was also no description of the suspect.

The attacker had managed to escape amid the panic that spread after the stabbing, said a spokesman for the North Rhine Westphalia Interior Ministry. North Rhine Westphalia is Germany's most populous state.

"I think that's our huge problem. We don't have much information about the perpetrator yet," Alexander Kresta, spokesman for the Wuppertal police said.

According to the police, the perpetrator appears to have attacked passers-by at random, choosing his victims at random. The interior ministry said however that the perpetrator had stabbed their necks very deliberately.

The attack began around around 9:45 pm (1945 GMT) on Friday, the police said. It took place at a marketplace in the city centre where a stage was set up for live music for a Festival of Diversity event. The crime took place directly in front of the stage, according to a dpa reporter.

Police and ambulances stand near the scene, where people were killed and injured in an attack at the 650th anniversary celebrations of the city of Solingen in western Germany Gianni Gattus/dpa

Police officers stand at a cordon in the city center after, several people were killed and injured in an attack at the city's 650th anniversary celebrations. Federico Gambarini/dpa
Police officers stand at a cordon in the city center after several people were killed and injured in an attack at the city's 650th anniversary celebrations. Christoph Reichwein/dpa

Police on Saturday are continuing to search for the person responsible for a fatal stabbing, which took place at the 650th anniversary celebrations of the city of Solingen on Friday.

The attack on Friday evening left at least three people dead - one woman and two men - and eight injured, five of them seriously, the authorities said. No information was given about the identity of the injured victims' or their current condition.

The attacker was still on the run early on Saturday morning, police said, and the search continues. Special units were searching for the attacker in the city, according to a dpa reporter.

Police warned residents who observe anything suspicious not to act on their own initiative but call the police emergency number.

"We currently have no clues as to his whereabouts," said a police spokesman. There was also no description of the suspect.

The attacker had managed to escape amid the panic that spread after the stabbing, said a spokesman for the North Rhine Westphalia Interior Ministry. North Rhine Westphalia is Germany's most populous state.

"I think that's our huge problem. We don't have much information about the perpetrator yet," Alexander Kresta, spokesman for the Wuppertal police said.

According to the police, the perpetrator appears to have attacked passers-by at random, choosing his victims at random. The interior ministry said however that the perpetrator had stabbed their necks very deliberately.

The attack began around around 9:45 pm (1945 GMT) on Friday, the police said. It took place at a marketplace in the city centre where a stage was set up for live music for a Festival of Diversity event. The crime took place directly in front of the stage, according to a dpa reporter.

North Rhine Westphalia Interior Minister Herbert Reul arrived at the crime scene and was visibly shocked.

"Out of nowhere, someone stabs people indiscriminately," said Reul. "We in North Rhine Westphalia are deeply shocked and united in grief."

Witnesses who were in the immediate vicinity of the incident were in shock. "We are currently providing them with professional support and we are of course interviewing them to get more precise information."

Due to eyewitness reports, investigators believed that the attacker acted alone, Kresta said.

Police had asked members of the public to upload any footage from the incident through a dedicated online portal. The city of Solingen had also set up a hotline, as families feared for relatives.

The Festival of Diversity began on Friday to mark the 650th anniversary of Solingen and was due to continue through to Sunday.

All the events planned for Saturday and Sunday had been cancelled, the city said.

Police officers walk through the city center after several people were killed and injured in an attack at the city's 650th anniversary celebrations. Christoph Reichwein/dpa

A police officer stands at a cordon after several people were killed and injured in an attack at the city's 650th anniversary celebrations. Christoph Reichwein/dpa

Police cars stand at a cordon after several people were killed and injured in an attack at the city's 650th anniversary celebrations. Christoph Reichwein/dpa
A service dog handler lets a mantrailer dog sniff a scent sample, the dog then picks up the scent of a perpetrator after the knife attack at the Solingen city festival. Several people were killed and injured in an attack at the city's 650th anniversary celebrations. Christoph Reichwein/dpa

German police continued their search on Saturday for the assailant responsible for a fatal stabbing in the western city of Solingen that left three dead and eight injured.

The attack, which drew condemnation from across Germany, occurred as the city was celebrating its 650th anniversary.

Terrorism has not been ruled out as a motive in the killings, senior public prosecutor Markus Caspers said at a press conference in nearby Wuppertal on Saturday.

Two men aged 67 and 56 and a 56-year-old woman died. Eight people were injured, four of them seriously, according to authorities.

Local police chief Thorsten Fleiss said that the injuries and an analysis of initial footage of the attack indicates that the unidentified knife-wielding assailant made "a very targeted attack on the necks" of the victims.

The attacker remained at large as of late Saturday afternoon, and a dpa reporter at the scene in Solingen said police special units were searching the city. Fleiss said police operations are ongoing throughout the entire western German state of North Rhine Westphalia, the country's most populous, which includes Solingen.

But he also said there is not yet a clear known image to identify the attacker.

A tip-off portal has been set up and "extensive" material is being received by authorities, Fleiss said. However, investigators are still evaluating possible evidence "so at the moment we can't publish a specific picture of the perpetrator because we can't yet attribute it specifically."

Fleiss said he could not confirm reports that the murder weapon had been found discovered in a rubbish bin by investigators. He said several knives have been seized, "which we will now examine individually" to determine if any of them can be linked with the attack.

A knife believed to have been used in the attack was discovered by police in a rubbish bin in the Solingen city centre on Saturady.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz called the attack a "terrible crime" and urged that the perpetrator be severely punished. He also pledged assistance to the city.

"We cannot accept something like this in our society and will never grow accustomed to it. We have to act with the full rigour of the law," Scholz said during an event in Stahnsdorf in Brandenburg near Berlin.

A 15-year-old boy who investigators believe may have spoken with the attacker before the killings was also detained by police, and prosecutors are weighing whether to charge him with failing to report planned crimes.

"According to witness statements, an unknown person allegedly spoke with the teenager shortly before the attack about intentions that would match the execution of the crime," said Caspers.

The investigators said they do not yet know whether the person the boy spoke to is the same person who carried out the knife attack.

Due to eyewitness reports, investigators believed that the attacker acted alone, said Alexander Kresta, spokesman for the Wuppertal police said.

According to the police, the perpetrator appears to have attacked passers-by at random. The Interior Ministry said, however, that the victims's necks had been deliberately targeted.

Fleiss said emergency dispatchers in the control centre at police headquarters in the nearby city of Wuppertal began receiving a series of calls about the attack starting at 9:37 (1937 GMT) pm on Friday evening.

The attack took place at a marketplace in the city centre where a stage was set up for live music for a Festival of Diversity event. All festival events planned for Saturday and Sunday have since been cancelled, the city said.

The crime took place directly in front of the stage, according to a dpa reporter.

NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul appeared visibly shocked when he arrived at the crime scene on Friday now, and said the people of the state are now "united in grief."

The city of Solingen had also set up a hotline, as families feared for relatives.

On Saturday, following a telephone conversation with Solingen's mayor, Tim Kurzbach, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier declared: "The perpetrator must be brought to justice. Let's stand together - against hatred and violence."

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said the security authorities were doing all in their power to find the perpetrator and to clear up the motive for the crime, and that local police are receiving extensive federal support.

"The brutal attack on the city festival in Solingen has shocked us deeply. We mourn the people who have been torn from life in a terrible way," Faeser said.

Emergency counselors stand together after the knife attack at the Solingen city festival. Several people were killed and injured in an attack at the city's 650th anniversary celebrations. Christoph Reichwein/dpa

A service dog handler follows a mantrailer dog that has picked up the trail of a perpetrator after the knife attack at the Solingen city festival. Several people were killed and injured in an attack at the city's 650th anniversary celebrations. Christoph Reichwein/dpa
By Matthias Inverardi, Petra Wischgoll and Tom Sims

SOLINGEN, Germany (Reuters) -A man suspected of a stabbing rampage in the western German town of Solingen has been taken into police custody, a state official told German television on Saturday, some 24 hours after the attack that killed three people.

North Rhine-Westphalia's interior minister Herbert Reul told the ARD broadcaster that he was "a bit relieved" after authorities spent the day following a "hot lead" that lead to the arrest.

The Islamic State group earlier claimed responsibility for Friday's knife attack that also wounded eight people.

Police spent the day conducting a manhunt, making two arrests that were likely not the perpetrator, Reul said.

"The real suspect is the one that weve arrested just now," he said. The individual is being questioned and evidence was seized, he said.

Reul said the man was affiliated with a home for refugees that had been searched earlier in the day.

Police declined to immediately comment.

Describing the man who carried out the attack as a "soldier of the Islamic State", the militant group said in a statement on its Telegram account: "He carried out the attack in revenge for Muslims in Palestine and everywhere."

It did not immediately provide any evidence for its assertion and it was not clear how close any relationship between the attacker and Islamic State was.

Hendrik Wuest, premier of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, described Friday evening's attack during a festival in the city as an act of terror.

"This attack has struck at the heart of our country," Wuest told reporters.

The attack took place in the Fronhof, a market square in the western German city where live bands were playing as part of a festival marking the its 650th anniversary.

Markus Caspers, an official with the public prosecutors office in Duesseldorf, said authorities were treating the attack as a possible terrorist incident because there was no other known motive and the victims seemed unrelated.

A police official, Thorsten Fleiss, said the assailant appeared to aim for his victims' throats.

"The perpetrator must be quickly caught and punished to the fullest extent of the law," Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a post on X.

Police cordoned off the square on Saturday and passers-by placed candles and flowers outside the barriers.

"We are full of shock and grief," Solingen Mayor Tim-Oliver Kurzbach told journalists.

A German musician who goes by the name Topic said he was playing on a nearby stage when the incident occurred. He was told about what had happened but was asked to keep playing "to avoid causing a mass panic attack", he posted on Instagram.

He was eventually told to stop, and "since the attacker was still on the run, we hid in a nearby store while police helicopters circled above us," Topic wrote.

Authorities cancelled the remainder of the weekend festival.

Fatal stabbings and shootings are relatively rare in Germany. The government said earlier this month it wanted to toughen rules on knives that can be carried in public by reducing the maximum length allowed.

In June, a 29-year-old policeman was fatally stabbed in Mannheim during an attack on a right-wing demonstration. A stabbing attack on a train in 2021 injured several people.

Solingen, well known for its knife manufacturing industry, is a city of some 165,000 people.

The episode comes ahead of three state elections next month in Thuringia, Saxony and Brandenburg, in which the anti-immigrant far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has a chance of winning.

Though the motive and identity of the assailant were not known, a top AfD candidate for one of the state elections, Bjoern Hoecke, seized on Friday's attack, posting on X: "Do you really want to get used to this? Free yourselves and end this insanity of forced multiculturalism."

(Additional reporting by Thilo Schmuelgen, Rene Wagner, Hatem Maher and Ahmed Tolba;Editing by Kirsten Donovan, Hugh Lawson, Frances Kerry, Giles Elgood and Deepa Babington)
German Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, Robert Habeck, gives a press conference on Federal funding for industry and climate protection. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

Following a deadly knife attack at a festival in the western German city of Solingen, German Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck has spoken out in favour of stricter weapons laws.

"We don't know whether the terrible crime in Solingen could have been prevented with stricter laws," Habeck said, but some tightening of weapons restrictions is simply right and necessary.

"More weapons-free zones and stricter weapons laws - nobody in Germany needs cutting and stabbing weapons in public. We are no longer living in the Middle Ages," Habeck said.

Habeck, a Green, is among several German political leaders who have urged tighter weapons rules in the wake of the attack on Friday night, which left three dead and several injured.

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser of the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) has been called for significantly stricter weapons laws.

Justice Minister Marco Buschmann, whose free-market liberal Free Democrats (FDP) have so far resisted Faeser's calls, told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper that ministers will have to discuss whether new laws "can further advance the fight against this type of knife crime."
TechCrunch

Lawyers representing Sam Bankman-Fried, the FTX CEO and co-founder who was convicted of fraud and money laundering late last year, are seeking a new trial. Following crypto exchange FTXs collapse, Bankman-Fried was found guilty on all seven counts, then sentenced to 25 years in prison and ordered to pay $11 billion in forfeiture. Bloomberg reports that Bankman-Frieds appeal focuses on the behavior of U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, alleging that Kaplans rulings were not just erroneous but unbalanced and that the judge continually ridiculed Bankman-Fried during trial, repeatedly criticized his demeanor, and signaled his disbelief of Bankman-Frieds testimony.
'We do have God': Kari Lake, Charlie Kirk and other conservatives warm up Trump rally crowd

Playing to an enthusiastic MAGA crowd, opening speakers at the Trump rally Friday helped generate excitement for the former president, a nation under God and strong conservative politics.

Moderation was not the theme of the day.

Surrounded by screens advertising Turning Point Action, a Trump-aligned advocacy group, the speakers invoked religion, asserted their support of police and securing the border.

And they gave a nod to conspiracies. The fake news media was a frequent target of some of the speakers, never failing to generate boos for news reporters in attendance.

Trumps narrow escape from assassination July 13 was called a miracle. The idea of a Kamala Harris regime was vilified. Robert J. Kennedy Jrs endorsement of Trump was heralded as a major achievement. The crowd size at Desert Diamond Arena was noted frequently.

The speakers reminded the crowd a November victory for former President Donald Trump would take a continued effort by supporters.

We need this energy for the next two and a half months and we cant let it die down, said Kari Lake, Arizonas GOP candidate for the U.S. Senate.

Arizona politics: Glendale Trump rally's long lines, heat combine to send dozens sent to hospital

What did Kari Lake say at the Trump rally?

Lake spoke just before Trump took the stage at about 4:30 p.m., saying the country needed to be saved from a thousand years of darkness by electing Trump.

He is the only person who can lead us out of this nightmare and restore the American dream, she said. Thats why we elected him in 2016 and in 2020.

Never mind that no evidence has turned up of widespread voter fraud in 2020 or 2022, when Lake lost her election to Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs and repeatedly, unsuccessfully challenged Hobbs election in court.

Audience members celebrated Lakes birthday by singing to her.

Along with other speakers, Lake addressed the border issue, saying she would help drive out the 15 or 16 million immigrants who entered the country under the Biden administration in the largest repatriation this world has ever seen. Immigration experts, including in conservative organizations like the Center for Immigration Studies, have debunked the idea that so many immigrants have recently been let in.

Lake said she was not an extremist and targeted her Democratic rival for the Senate seat, Congressman Ruben Gallego, whom she called a radical."

Im worried about what Gallego will do to this country, she said.

What did Justin Heap say at the Trump rally?

Besides Lake, other speakers spoke of distrust in the election system, including Rep. Justin Heap of Mesa, the GOP nominee for Maricopa County Recorder who beat incumbent Steven Richer in the July 30 primary election. Heap called himself a fearless defender of your God-given right to free, fair and honest elections and said he hopes to get rid of the plague of election problems and stop constituents from being mocked for questioning election results.

Hes facing a Democrat in November, Tim Stringham, whose chances of winning allegedly have gone up since Richer, known for debunking election-conspiracy claims.

Heap also referred to the spurious claim by Trump that Kamala Harris campaign exaggerated the size of her crowds with fake images.

You dont need AI to make it look like the room is full, said to the cheering crowd.

What did Charlie Kirk say at the Trump rally?

Charlie Kirk, the founder and president of Turning Point USA, claimed that half of all the machines failed in Arizonas 2022 election.

Were talking to so many voters that know something is wrong, he said.

Kirk called the crowd part of the most exciting, diverse, powerful movement in the history of this country. The movement is not about Republican or Democrat, conservative or liberal. And I think youre going to see that on display in a little bit.

The last part was a hint toward former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who would soon take the stage after endorsing Trump earlier in the day.

The Supreme Court: here's why this decision impacts voter registration in Arizona

What did Eli Crane say at the Trump rally?

U.S. Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., touted his role in helping eject Kevin McCarthy as speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, claiming he knew McCarthy would not represent you.

He hoped for reinforcements in Congress who would help him and other conservatives fight against the swamp.

Weve got weak and incompetent leaders right now that are creating hard times for everyone, Crane said.

What did Abe Hamadeh say at the Trump rally?

The crowd chanted build the wall and cheered when speakers talked of the record surges of immigrants and asylum seekers since Biden took office.

Our southern border is a war zone and its wide open, said Abe Hamadeh, who won the crowded GOP primary election for the 8th Congressional District in Arizona.

He said hell work with Lake, who he expected would win the Senate seat against Gallego, to designate cartels as a foreign terrorist organization and curb fentanyl smuggling spread by the communist Chinese.

Who else spoke at the Trump rally?

The Trump event occasionally resembled a religious gathering, with the miracle of Trumps survival in Pennsylvania on July 13 as a major theme.

Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, who received a standing ovation, drew heavy applause when he asked how many in attendance believed in God.

Its nothing short of a miracle that we still have President Trump, he saids.

Bob Unanue, CEO of Goya, said the hand of God protected Trump when evil and hatred shot him.

He added that while the Republican camp doesnt have as many superstars on their side as Democrats, but we do have God.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kari Lake, Charlie Kirk speak at Trump rally
Republican strategist Scott Jennings advised former President Trump to be careful now that he has seemingly joined forces with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., arguing the independent presidential candidate is kind of a loony tune.

CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer asked Jennings Friday if Kennedys endorsement could end up backfiring on the former president, considering the environmental lawyers controversial views on vaccines and embrace of some conspiracy theories.

The senior CNN pundit responded that while he thinks most of Kennedys supporters will end up backing Trump in November, there could be negative strings attached.

There could be some cost on the other side of the algebra, Jennings said. I mean, Im old enough to remember when RFK was a liberal, you know, conspiracy theorist. Now hes more of a conservative conspiracy theorist, but the through line is, hes a conspiracy theorist, and a lot of people think hes kind of a loony tune.

So, I would just caution the former president to be a little careful here, he continued in the interview on CNNs The Situation Room, highlighted by Mediaite. Dont make any promises you cant get out of because this guy, over the course of his career, has been a, you know, a little bit, so just careful.

Kennedy initially ran for the White House as a Democrat. In October, he left the party to run as an independent.

After seeing his poll numbers dip from low double digits, he announced in Arizona that he would suspend his campaign and endorse Trump. Hours later, he joined the former president at his campaign rally outside Phoenix, with Trump saying he will have a huge influence on this campaign.

Kennedy said he would remove his name from ballots in key swing states to not end up being the difference-maker in the election but would still compete in most blue and red states.

Democrats have often gone after the long-shot candidate, arguing he was a fringe contender more closely aligned with Republicans. In response to the news that Kennedy would back the GOP nominee, Vice President Harriss campaign did not directly mention the independent, but instead offered a new vision for the country.

For any American out there who is tired of Donald Trump and looking for a new way forward, ours is a campaign for you, Harris campaign Chair Jen OMalley Dillon said in a statement. In order to deliver for working people and those who feel left behind, we need a leader who will fight for you, not just for themselves, and bring us together, not tear us apart. Vice President Harris wants to earn your support.

Trumps campaign, however, celebrated the decision. The team released a memo from its pollster, Tony Fabrizio, positing that the former president would gain the majority of Kennedys supporters in a head-to-head race against Harris.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Kamala Harris accomplished what she needed to do this week at the Democratic National Convention.

For voters watching her for the first time, they saw a vision of America that aligns with their hopes for the future, absent the bitterness and divisiveness of today. Harris focused on a renewed working and middle class, positioned herself as a centrist and used national security and her time as a prosecutor to show toughness.

Matt Wylie

Her family gave America a glimpse into who she is. Her husband, Doug Emhoffs, slight goofiness only made him more relatable, which humanized Harris. The rest of the family  from her nieces teaching America how to pronounce Kamala to her sister sharing stories about growing up  helped Harris make a case to voters that they could trust and vote for her.

However, the convention got off to a rough start.

For the first three days, it was a disjointed mess that lacked a cohesive message. Voters who tuned in witnessed a parade of politicians giving the same speech without saying much. For three days, it was a convention about nothing. Democrats seemed to only offer one promise: Theyre not Donald Trump.

Democrats wrestled all week with their Joe Biden problem. He remains unpopular, yet speaker after speaker thanked and praise him. When Biden addressed the delegates, he chose to defend his record instead of setting the stage for a Harris presidency. What Democrats needed was a passing of the torch moment, not a joint custody arrangement.

There were other missteps. During his acceptance speech Harris running mate, Gov. Tim Walz, could have connected with voters in battleground states by highlighting a vision to create jobs and make things more affordable. Instead, he spoke about abortion and gun control. The former teacher even mocked GOP vice presidential candidate JD Vance for going to Yale  shortly after Oprah spoke about the unlimited opportunity in America.

At the end of the day, Democrats presented a compelling message to America. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro delivered remarks aimed at bringing home voters in key states. The emotional stories by gun violence survivors were powerful and will go a long way towards persuading suburban voters.

But the real stars of the Democratic convention were Barack and Michelle Obama.

While Michelle gave the best speech of the convention, Baracks speech will go down as one of the great speeches in American history. He spoke to independents, disaffected Republicans, Black and Hispanic voters. He told us that we stand at a crossroads in history and called on Americans to chart a new way forward to meet the challenges of today. It was almost Reaganesque.

Barack Obama reminded us of an America that still believes in the unlimited potential of individuals, and that the U.S. remains the beacon of hope for freedom loving people around the world. He showed Democrats how to pick up the Republican mantle  rooted in the rule of law, upholding the Constitution and a fierce defense of our freedoms  that has been discarded by the MAGA movement.

By the fourth day, Democratic speakers were extolling the virtues of a strong military, praising John McCain and Ronald Reagan. They also gave a prime-time slot to former Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger, who made a compelling argument to disaffected Republicans to put country first.

While Trump was busy complaining that Harris stole his no tax on tips idea, Democrats are stealing our message and our voters.

The hard truth for Republicans is that our actions have made it easy for Democrats to disguise their radical agenda in a cloak of patriotism and a fight to preserve the Republic. In a divided America wrestling with what the future looks like and who to choose in this election, Republicans need to understand we dont win by subtraction.

Republicans must inspire and get back to our founding principles. Democrats are energized. Harris still has the momentum, and right now all she needs to do is run out the electoral clock.

Matt Wylie is a S.C. based Republican political strategist with over 25 years of experience on federal, state and local campaigns.
Our governor went to Sarasota - but all we got were some lousy political cheap shots

DeSantis visit about politics, not people

On Aug. 21, I watched our governor come to Sarasota to "help" people during his news conference.

Funny, he did not meet the people who needed the help the most.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and first lady Casey DeSantis announced a new resource for disaster recovery during a news conference Wednesday morning in Sarasota. Those in need of assistance in Florida can get in touch with Hope Florida by contacting the Hope Line (833-GET-HOPE) or going to HopeFlorida.com. Organizations can visit hopeflorida.com to learn more about how to join Hope Florida's CarePortal.

More: DeSantis, developers and arrogance lost big in Sarasota, Manatee elections

Why were the storm victims DeSantis came here to serve not included in the news conference?

Tropical Storm Debby left Courtland Street, in Sarasota, underwater last week.

DeSantis' great new plan to help people that have lost everything seems to be a talking point. When asked, he said Debby victims should contact their city and county. In other words, it's not his problem.

Why was he here?

Folks, wake up: If your neighbor is underwater, do something  unlike our governor, who was not here for the people.

Steve Matthews, Sarasota

Show Arroyo, developers the door

Its time for city of Sarasota voters to speak. City Commissioner Erik Arroyo has accumulated an unprecedented $90,000 war chest filled with developers money to defeat his challenger, Kathy Kelley Ohlrich.

Arroyo made promises when he first ran to get our vote over his developer-funded opponent. His actions and his votes speak clearly that his true alliances are not with his constituency but with the elite group of developers funding him.

A few examples of Arroyo's actions include:

Needlessly delaying the shovel-ready Bobby Jones project, costing taxpayers.

Abusing his office to promote his private mayors ball organization with no accountability or commission approval.

Proposing to annex Siesta Key and raising other hairbrained ideas that waste time.

Arroyo proposes to defund neighborhood organizations, is absent from District 3 neighborhood meetings and functions, and has an automated response on his city email.

What kind of elected official does that?

Sarasota City Commissioner Erik Arroyo

We need Ohlrich, who has provided years of service to this community on the city planning board and the Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations. Then District 3 will have the representation we desperately need.

Lets show Erik Arroyo the door and tell his special interest patrons our city is not for sale.

Virginia Hoffman, Sarasota

Another nail in coffin for New College

I appreciate the coverage the Herald-Tribune has given to this outrageous activity at New College of Florida.

As a retired librarian with 35 years of professional work at several libraries  Georgetown University, the Library of Congress and the U.S. State Department  I was shocked to read that books from an academic institution are weeded from collections and placed in a dumpster to go to a landfill!

A student goes through books on the New College campus on their way to the landfill. A trash bin overflowed with books from the library and the now-defunct Gender and Diversity Center last week

More: New College of Florida book purge: A horror story of secrecy, ineptitude and stupidity

This is never done by credible institutions that wish to discard books. There are any number of ways to recycle books. To name a few: used book sales on campus and donations to local friends of libraries bookshops, Goodwill bookstores and area correction facilities.

This news from New College is just another nail in the coffin of what was once a notable institution of academic excellence.

Margaret Melun, Sarasota

Audie Murphy held off German attack

My wife and I just returned from a wonderful Viking River Cruise through Germany and France.

We opted for an afternoon tour to the Colmar pockets in the hills outside Colmar, France, where one of the fiercest battles of World War II took place. There we visited the tribute to Audie Murphy, our most decorated combat soldier of the war.

When the Germans forced his soldiers to retreat, Murphy climbed on top of his tank and single-handedly held off the entire German attack for over an hour by firing his machine gun and constantly reloading while his Allied soldiers regrouped.

At the age of 19, he was awarded the U.S. Army Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery. He later starred in more than 40 movies after Hollywood embraced his good looks and screen persona.

Former President Donald Trump recently said the civilian Medal of Freedom was much better than the Medal of Honor, which is absurd and highly disrespectful to all who served in the military. Trump gave the Medal of Freedom to Miriam Adelson for her million-dollar contributions to his campaign.

But what can we expect from a guy who reportedly called troops losers and suckers  and dodged the draft by claiming bone spurs?

Tyler Cassell, Nokomis

Firefighters saved the (wet) day

Thanks to all the people who helped us evacuate our house during Debby, when flooding necessitated boat rides.

An airboat carrying evacuees from the Pinecraft neighborhood of Sarasota approaches dry land Aug. 5. Multiple law enforcement and rescue agencies conducted evacuations in the area following Tropical Storm Debby

The firefighters who came to our house were so kind and helped us cheerfully, making a bad situation much better.

Marilyn Amick, Sarasota

Write to us: How to send a letter to the editor

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: DeSantis uses flooded Sarasota as political prop to bash Kamala Harris
HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (WSPA)  A Greenville man was arrested Friday on charges he robbed a bank on Thursday in North Carolina.

According to the Hendersonville Police Department, at around 10 p.m. Friday, Greenville Police located and arrested James Scott Bayne Jr., 38, of Greenville.

Police said Bayne had previously been identified in a robbery of the State Employees Credit Union on Commercial Boulevard in Hendersonville.

According to the police department, at around 9:23 a.m. Thursday, police were called to the credit union after a man wearing a medical face mask handed an employee a note demanding money.

Bayne is being held in the Greenville County Detention Center awaiting extradition to North Carolina. He has been charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
As we start the 2024-25 school year, I am thrilled to announce several new and innovative programs and changes that will be available at Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking County's Secondary Center. These additions are designed to provide C-TEC students with in-demand skills, and knowledge that will prepare them for the workforce.

Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN)  Health care is a rapidly growing industry with a continuous demand for skilled professionals. We have once again joined forces with Central Ohio Technical College to offer a new LPN program that will equip students with essential nursing skills and clinical experience needed to excel in the health care sector. Additionally, students in this program have the opportunity to earn 40 college credits and direct admit to COTCs associate degree of nursing program.

Cybersecurity & Information Technology  In an increasingly digital world, cybersecurity and IT skills are more critical than ever. This program is designed to keep pace with the evolving technology landscape, ensuring our students are well-prepared for future challenges and opportunities in the tech industry.

Joyce L. Malainy, Ed.D. is Superintendent of the Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking County

Manufacturing  Licking County is known for our strong manufacturing history, and C-TEC has aimed to provide a skilled workforce for our manufacturing partners. Two new programs will continue to provide skills to meet the needs of these regional employers: Engineering and advanced manufacturing at the Newark campus and a multi-skilled technician program being offeredat Johnstown High School. These programs emphasize practical skills and problem-solving techniques, preparing students for a variety of roles in the manufacturing sector. Additionally, on our Newark campus, we opened a program combining mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, and programmanle logic controllers (PLCs). Called Mechatronics, this program is at the forefront of technological innovation and ensures that our students are equipped with versatile skills applicable in numerous high-tech industries.

In addition to these new offerings at our Secondary Center, we are excited to introduce a satellite Electrical trades program at Johnstown High School. This program will provide students with foundational knowledge and hands-on experience in electrical systems, preparing them for careers as electricians.

As we begin our 51st year serving the greater Licking County community, we remain committed to providing students with educational opportunities that are relevant, credential-based, and in demand. Our new programs represent our dedication to preparing students for the future, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in an ever-changing world.

Joyce L. Malainy, Ed.D. is Superintendent of the Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking County.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Guest columnist: New programs at C-TEC prepare students for the future
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  The death of a teenager this week can be traced directly to a gun stolen from an unlocked car in Sioux Falls.

Police say on Tuesday night, a group of teenagers gathered at a home in central Sioux Falls. They were horsing around with a stolen 9-millimeter when it went off, killing one of them. Now a 13 year old is charged in the death and an adult is facing related charges.

5 hours on a sports bus trip in South Dakota

The Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms reports more than a million guns were stolen from private citizens between 2017 and 2021. Almost half of them were taken from vehicles.

Guns stolen from cars arent just a problem in Sioux Falls and Rapid City. We checked with cities in surrounding states and found the same issue in Mankato, Rochester, Sioux City, and Des Moines.

I talked with Sgt Paul Paraizek of the Des Moines Police Department on the phone. He says its frustrating and voiced that sentiment to the CBS affiliate in Des Moines last week.

It just blows our minds that, you know, we wont leave our cell phones in our cars. We dont leave our laptops or our valuables in our cars, but well stick a gun in there and expect it to be there when we come back, said Sgt Paraizek.

Gun safes like this one made for cars could be an option for some. They can be attached with bolts or cables. Sioux Falls police spokesman Sam Clemens says most thieves hit quickly spending under a minute rummaging around an unlocked car looking for anything of value.

So they are not spending a lot of time. They see a safe, and they are not able to get it and take it with them. They are not going to take the time to break into it, said Clemens. It may not be the ideal situation, but whatever the circumstances, if you are not able to take the gun from the car, keeping it locked up in a gun safe inside a locked car is a better option.

Clemens says the best option is to take the gun with you and never leave it in a vehicle.

You are not going to be able to use it to protect yourself, you are not going to be able to use it to protect loved ones, you are not going to use it to stop another crime if you dont have it with you, said Clemens.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
By Nidal al-Mughrabi and James Mackenzie

CAIRO/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Gaza ceasefire and hostage negotiators discussed new compromise proposals in Cairo on Saturday, seeking to bridge gaps between Israel and Hamas, but there was no indication of progress after hours of talks.

"The talks in Cairo didnt make any progress. Israel is insisting to keep eight positions along the Philadelphi corridor," one Palestinian official close to the mediation effort told Reuters, asking not to be named due to the sensitivity of the subject.

The Cairo talks came as the humanitarian situation in Gaza deteriorated, with malnutrition soaring and polio discovered in the Palestinian enclave.

Israeli military strikes in Gaza killed 50 people on Saturday, Palestinian health authorities said, with victims trapped under rubble or lying on roads where fighting continued.

A Hamas delegation had arrived in Cairo on Saturday to be nearer at hand to review any proposals that emerged in the main talks between Israel and mediators Egypt, Qatar and the United States, two Egyptian security sources said.

A U.S. official said negotiators from the United States met with Egypt, then with Egypt and Qatar on Saturday, and believed that representatives from Egypt and Qatar were meeting with Hamas.

The Hamas delegation returned to Doha, Qatar, after the briefing on the round of talks ended, the Palestinian official said.

Months of on-off talks have failed to produce a breakthrough to end Israel's devastating military campaign in Gaza or free the remaining hostages seized by Hamas in the militant group's Oct. 7 attack that triggered the war.

The Egyptian sources said the new proposals include compromises on outstanding points such as how to secure key areas and the return of people to north Gaza.

However there was no sign of any breakthrough on key sticking points, including Israel's insistence that it must retain control of the so-called Philadelphi Corridor, on the border between Gaza and Egypt.

Hamas has accused Israel of going back on things it had previously agreed to in the talks, which Israel denies. The group says the United States is not mediating in good faith.

In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has locked horns with Israeli ceasefire negotiators over whether Israeli troops must remain all along the border between Gaza and Egypt, a person with knowledge of the talks said.

DISEASE SPREADING

Continuing the war will worsen the plight of Gaza's 2.3 million people, nearly all of them homeless in tents or shelters among the ruins, with malnutrition rampant and disease spreading, and risk the lives of the remaining Israeli hostages.

The Oct. 7 attack killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's Gaza campaign has killed more than 40,000 people, Palestinian health authorities say.

U.N. humanitarian agency OCHA said in a Friday update that the amount of food aid entering Gaza in July was one of the lowest since October, when Israel imposed a full siege.

OCHA said that in July the number of children with acute malnutrition in northern Gaza was four times higher than in May, while in the more accessible south, where fighting is less severe, the number more than doubled.

The World Health Organisation said on Friday that a 10-month-old baby had been paralysed with polio, the first such case in the territory in 25 years, raising fears of a wider outbreak given the lack of proper sanitation for people living in ruins.

More warfare also risks major new escalations, with Iran still weighing retaliation for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on its territory last month.

Meanwhile, U.S. Air Force General C.Q. Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, began an unannounced visit to the Middle East on Saturday to discuss ways to avoid any new escalation in tensions that could spiral into a broader conflict, as the region braces for a threatened Iranian attack against Israel.

Fighting between Israel and Iranian-backed Hezbollah since Oct. 7 has ramped up recently, including with Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon and into the Bekaa, and with more Hezbollah rocket fire into northern Israel.

(Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi, Enas Alashray and Adam Makary in Cairo, Emily Rose, James Mackenzie in Jerusalem, Phil Stewart in Amman and Steve Holland in Washington; Writing by Angus McDowall and Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Giles Elgood, Mark Porter and Rod Nickel)
The Harris-Walz campaign is releasing digital billboards in North Carolina. (Source: Harris-Walz campaign)

The Harris-Walz campaign is putting up digital billboards around North Carolina starting Friday and running through the weekend.

The billboards, covering 35 percent of all available digital billboards within a 12-mile radius of Greensboro, Charlotte, Durham, and Raleigh, follow Vice President Kamala Harris speech during the final night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this week.

Harris characterized herself as a lifelong public servant with the goal of fighting for the American people.

On behalf of everyone whose story could only be written in the greatest nation on Earth, I accept your nomination for president of the United States of America, she said Thursday night.

Each billboard features a photo of Harris with a new way forward, a reference to her campaigns agenda for providing economic opportunity and protecting freedoms for Americans.

In a visit to Raleigh last week where Harris outlined her economic plans, signs with a new way forward decorated the room, as well as ones with an opportunity economy.

The campaign also launched an eight-figure ad on Friday targeting voters in battleground states, where she delves into the opportunity economy concept.

Its a sign that the campaign is continuing to invest in North Carolina, a crucial swing state for both presidential candidates. Former President Donald Trump won the Tar Heel State by only 1.3 percent in 2020, and North Carolinians last voted for a Democratic presidential nominee in 2008 with Barack Obama.

The Republican ticket visited Asheboro on Wednesday to discuss national security, marking running mate U.S. Sen. JD Vances first trip to North Carolina since securing the vice presidential nomination.
Vice President Harris is leading former President Trump by a wide margin among Hispanic voters in North Carolina, according to a new survey.

The TelevisaUnivision Consumer Strategy & Insights/Media Predict poll, obtained by The Hill, shows Harris with 56 percent support from likely Hispanic voters in the Tar Heel State, compared to Trumps 34 percent support. Around 8 percent said they would likely back someone else, and 2 percent said they were unsure.

Even with the vice presidents 22 percent lead over Trump, around 44 percent of Hispanic voters in the state are not completely certain who will they back for president, per the survey.

Roughly 48 percent of Hispanic voters are registered as independents, according to Kathy Whitlock, TelevisaUnvisions vice president of strategy.

So both sides need to reach out to engage and convince them, Whitlock said in a statement to The Hill. Since this research has found that 53% of Hispanic voters are likely to vote for a candidate from a political party that they typically have not voted for in the past, the Hispanic voter really is up for grabs.

Whitlock added that because of this, campaigns need to reach Hispanic voters as soon as possible.

Hispanics are more likely to vote early and in person than on election day, she said in the statement. Fully 59% of North Carolina Hispanics dont have all the party information they need to make a voting decision.

Still, those supporting the former president were more enthusiastic (72 percent) about their pick in November than those supporting Harris (66 percent), per the poll.

At least 58 percent of Hispanic voters were at least somewhat willing to support the Democratic nominee. Around 45 percent of Latino voters in North Carolina said the same about Trump, the survey found.

About 38 percent of Hispanic voters in the state were also somewhat willing to support independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who suspended his campaign Friday and threw his support behind Trump. Kennedy said he would still be on the ballot in most red and blue states, but would remove himself from those in swing states where he could be a difference-maker.

The poll also found that only 32 percent of Hispanics in the state believe the U.S. heading in the right direction.

The North Carolina survey comes as a similar one was conducted in Arizona, another battleground state, showing Harris up by 25 percent compared to Trump  although 35 percent of respondents said they were not certain about their vote in the upcoming election.

The Hill/Decision Desk HQs polling index shows Harris leading the GOP nominee in the battleground state by 1.1 percent  48 percent to 46.9 percent.

The TelevisaUnivision poll was conducted Aug. 1-12 among 457 Hispanic voters in North Carolina and has a margin of error was of 4.7 percentage points.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Vice President Harris sought to give voice to the suffering in Gaza during her presidential nomination acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention, but many pro-Palestinian activists were still left fuming after the Chicago event.

Israel-Hamas war protesters wanted a more direct condemnation of the conflict from Harris and a more nuanced perspective than President Biden has offered, even if they assumed they wouldnt get a call for an unconditional end to the fighting or an arms embargo on Israel.

Theres no shift from Biden. The messenger has changed, but the message hasnt changed, Daniel Engelhart, an uncommitted delegate from Minnesota, told The Hill. Clearly, theres no policy shift or change of direction.

The uncommitted delegates and their pro-Palestinian allies were deeply angered by the denial of a Palestinian American speaker at the convention, a controversy that likely ensures Democrats will continue to navigate a rocky path on the Israel-Hamas war through Election Day.

Some pro-Palestinians were especially upset by the rejection of a speaker because the parents of an American hostage held by Hamas were given time for a speech at the DNC.

The Uncommitted National Movement had 30 elected uncommitted delegates at the convention after some 700,000 Americans voted against Biden in the primaries, before he dropped out and endorsed his vice president.

During her speech, Harris vowed to always defend Israel against terrorist attacks, calling out Hamas for the deadly Oct. 7 attacks that killed some 1,200 people and took roughly 250 hostages in southern Israel, while also expressing her concern about the toll in Gaza, where more than 40,000 people have died.

What has happened in Gaza over the past 10 months is devastating, she said to a round of applause. The scale of suffering is heartbreaking. President Biden and I are working to end this war such that Israel is secure, the hostages are released, the suffering in Gaza ends and the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, security and freedom to self-determination.

Engelhart hit back at Harriss suggestion that the administration was working toward self-determination in Gaza, given its ongoing support for Israels military.

For people to have rights and any sort of self-determination, they have got to stop sending the fire, he said. Cease-fire has to have meaning. It has become a meaningless word.

Layla Elabed, the co-leader of the Uncommitted National Movement, told The Hill that Harriss speech did not reflect the majority of her core base and would hurt her during the election.

She will have to reason with the fact that the majority of the core base that she needs to mobilize to vote for her in November, her current policy doesnt align with them, Elabed said. This was one of the reasons why President Biden had to exit from the presidential race, was because of his unpopular and immoral policy, and right now, were not seeing anything different.

Still, many Democrats supported how she addressed the war. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) said Harris struck just the right balance on Gaza in the speech.

She made a very important statement about support for Israel and the right of Israel to defend itself, about the terrorism from Hamas and the horrible events of Oct. 7, she told CNN on Friday.

But then she pivoted, and she talked about the need for a cease-fire, and the need to ensure that the Palestinian people get the support they need and have the right to self-determination ultimately.

Leaders of the movement were negotiating with Harris and the Democratic convention to allow a Palestinian American to speak during the event. Harris refused, and uncommitted organizers began a sit-in.

Even more than her speech, pro-Palestinian activists said the refusal to get a Palestinian American on the stage signaled a political resistance to openly standing up for Palestine.

Khaled Elgindy, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute who leads the think tanks research on Palestinian issues, said it was jarring that there are Democratic people in leadership who believe that expression of humanity is a political liability.

That is what really hit people hard, he said, adding those who were cautiously optimistic about Kamala Harris now feel deflated and erased.

Jim Zogby, director of the Arab American Institute, who hosted the first-ever Democratic convention panel on Palestinian human rights during the Chicago convention, called the decision a boneheaded move and an unforced error.

I think they made a mistake by not having a Palestinian speaker, he said. They may end up making it difficult for some people to vote because they didnt have a Palestinian speaker.

Gaza remains the most divisive issue in the Democratic Party, and the conflict stood in stark contrast to the wave of enthusiasm for Harris throughout the convention. Thousands of protesters gathered in Chicago to protest Democratic support for Israels war in Gaza.

Harriss speech was closely watched, especially among those who were hoping she would continue to lay down a harder line than Biden following her vow to not be silent after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last month.

Hudhayfah Ahmad, spokesperson and head of media for the Abandon Biden movement, a pro-Palestinian organization that had called for voters to not support Biden unless he ended support for Israel, said his group would now switch to Abandon Harris.

She ended up proving Abandon Biden correct and now there is no doubt that she will not be different than Joe Biden, he said. The time has come for us to be  committed towards holding the Democrats accountable for the genocide. The carrot has not worked. Now its time for the stick.

Harris on Thursday did push for a cease-fire and hostage release deal, which the Biden administration has been working on for months. That deal, however, appears to have fallen through as Israel and Hamas remain at odds on how to establish a cease-fire and exchange hostages and prisoners. Biden has been accused by pro-Palestinian supporters of not using his leverage, including by withholding weapons, over Israel to secure a deal.

Council on American-Islamic Relations board member Edward Mitchell Abraham said he saw a distinction between the current president and his potential successor. He said Harris did an admirable job of speaking about Palestinian suffering in a far more human way than other Biden administration officials.

But he said Harris must do more, and he slammed the convention for not allowing a Palestinian to speak.

The DNCs refusal to let a single Palestinian-American to speak at the convention has caused significant concern and outrage among voters who want to support her candidacy, Abraham told The Hill. So has her campaigns failure to indicate that she would enforce U.S. laws forbidding arms transfers to the Israeli government and other human rights violators. Concerned voters need new policies and concrete action, not just improved rhetoric.

Zogby, who helped found the Palestine Human Rights Campaign in the 1970s, said the Israel language was over the top in the speech.

Given the circumstances of whats unfolding on the ground, I thought, God, I wish she hadnt said that, he said, but the Gaza language was something no one has ever said in that way and with that much passion, and so I was moved.

Zogby added that the real fight is getting Harris to agree to policy changes, and that will only come if she wins and becomes president and can change policy.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Harris, Walz take campaign to Georgia next week

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Kamala Harris and Tim Walz take their Democratic campaign for the White House on a bus tour through Georgia next week, looking to build support in a state looming large in the Nov. 5 election.

Vice President Harris formally accepted the Democratic nomination for president on Thursday in Chicago, and Walz, the Minnesota governor, accepted the running mate nomination.

Their bus tour in south Georgia on Wednesday will be the first time the two have campaigned together through the state.

The Harris campaign said the tour will culminate in a rally with the vice president in the Savannah area. Walz will depart the state before the rally.

The announcement of the trip comes two days after Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump looked to defuse a feud with Georgia's Republican governor, Brian Kemp, after slamming him in an Atlanta rally earlier this month.

Kemp endorsed Trump on Thursday and the former president thanked him in a social media post.

Polls show a close race between Harris and Trump, with Georgia among seven states likely to determine the outcome.

(Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Sam Holmes)
Vice President Harris and her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) will travel to swing state Georgia next week on a bus tour, marking the tickets first campaign stop after the duo formally accepted the Democratic nomination at the convention earlier this week.

The visit to the Georgia is also the first time Harris and Walz will travel to the pivotal battleground state together. The bus tour will be a swing through southern Georgia and end with a rally in the Savannah area with Harris, after Walz leaves the state, Thursday night.

Harris and Walz plan to meet with voters in Georgia on their tour. The campaign is investing heavily in the Peach State with more than 170 Democratic campaign staffers in 24 coordinated campaign offices across the state.

At the rally Thursday, Harris plans to lay out the stark choice facing voters in this election between Donald Trumps dark and dangerous Project 2025 agenda and [her] optimistic and patriotic vision for a new way forward, according to the campaign.

They are also hoping to build the campaigns volunteer efforts after rallies last month helped generate thousands of volunteer sign ups in battleground states, per the team.

Harris and Walz were on a bus tour across Pennsylvania, another critical swing state, the week before the convention in Chicago. The vice president left the Windy City Friday to return to Washington.

The Hill/Decision Desk HQs polling index currently has former President Trump, the GOP nominee, in the lead with 49.2 percent support compared to Harriss 46.5 percent.
With Harris's surge, Biden once again escapes the years-long GOP push to take him down

WASHINGTON  Thursday night in Chicago belonged to Kamala Harris, but the vice presidents triumphal and combative acceptance speech had one underlying source: Joe Biden.

President Biden wasnt to be seen at the United Center on the last night of the Democratic National Convention while the balloons dropped on a beaming Harris, her slim polling lead widened and Donald Trump fumed on social media.

Still, Bidens fingerprints were everywhere, taunting a GOP that thought it finally had him beat.

It was only weeks ago that a surging Republican Party appeared to have, at last, trapped Biden. He had emerged mostly unscathed through a Trump White House effort to crush his 2020 candidacy, a fizzled GOP impeachment investigation, and a special counsel probe into his handling of classified documents.

Then, wounded by his dismal, wandering June debate with Trump, Biden managed to vex his opponents one last time by throwing a late-in-the game lateral to Harris last month when the GOP was already celebrating in the end zone.

They are incapacitated, said Michael Steele, a former chair of the Republican National Committee. The GOP doesnt have the head space to adjust to Kamala Harris because Donald Trump is the head of the Republican Party.

Aug 22, 2024; Chicago, IL, USA; Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris enters during the final day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Josh Morgan-USA TODAY

After six years as Trumps near-obsession, Biden  through Harris rocketing campaign  may have again come out on top, some observers say.

"The tide has certainly turned here in Michigan, where Trump had been rolling with a six to seven point lead over Biden a month ago, and now trails by a handful, said former U.S. representative Fred Upton, a Republican who retired last year after more than three decades in the House. The enthusiasm for the Harris-Walz ticket has been contagious across the board, as Trump has not changed his message and now finds it difficult to alter his course.

Hunting Biden

Trump has been fixated on Biden for years.

Biden was a centrist former vice president when he launched what would be his final run for president in April 2019. Polls identified Joe from Scranton as then-President Trumps biggest threat.

In a July 25, 2019, Oval Office call about U.S. military aid to Ukraine, Trump asked the newly elected President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to do us favor by announcing a criminal investigation of Biden and his son Hunter, who had worked with a Ukrainian energy company. Trump implied American aid depended on it.

The request fed into efforts by Trumps personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, to discredit Biden over his sons business dealings. Lots of Ukrainian muck would be raked, but none stuck to Biden. Instead, Trump was impeached by the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives for blackmailing Zelenskyy, and was acquitted in the Republican-led Senate.

The January 6 riot

In November 2020, Biden defeated Trump with a record 81 million votes, with Trump garnering the nations second-biggest-ever total: 74 million.

Trump cried voter fraud, but his claims were shot down in courtrooms across the country. On Jan. 6, a frenzied mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, delaying certification of Bidens victory, but the new president was inaugurated just the same. Trump was impeached and acquitted a second time, and he now faces federal and Georgia state criminal charges over his efforts overturn the election.

But the pursuit continued.

A 'cursed' Biden impeachment probe

In 2022, Republicans won control of the House and launched an impeachment inquiry of their own, targeting Biden and his adult son Hunter, who was the subject of a continuing Trump-era Justice Department probe.

The GOP had a star witness: FBI informant Alexander Smirnoff, who told agents the two Bidens had each pocketed $5 million in Ukrainian bribes. Trump, House Republicans and Fox News hosts made a meme of the so-called Biden crime family.

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), Chairman of the House Judicary Committee, led the fizzled impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden.

Then, disaster: In February, David Weiss, the Trump-appointed prosecutor who had indicted Hunter Biden on gun and tax charges, announced Smirnoffs arrest. Smirnoff, the Justice Department said, had lied to the FBI about the Bidens on orders of officials associated with Russian intelligence.

Last Monday, as the Democratic National Convention got underway in Chicago, House Republicans released a report  far short of their promised impeachment  accusing Biden of helping his family members receive money from foreign interests by attending dinners and speaking with them on the phone.

They cursed themselves, said Norm Eisen, who was special counsel to the first Trump impeachment. Ive never seen legislative leadership commit to an impeachment inquiry on a flimsier basis. It was a humiliation.

A crack in the dam

President Biden faced a special prosecutor of his own: Robert Hur, who was asked to probe Bidens handling of classified documents after Obama-era materials were found stored in his garage and an office.

Hur recommended against prosecuting Biden, but he dropped a bomb in his February report, writing that the 81-year-old president was an elderly man with "diminished capacities," including memory loss. Democrats were outraged, and the White House invoked executive privilege to keep House Republicans from getting recordings of Biden's interviews with Hur.

Republicans pounced. A man too incapable of being held accountable for mishandling classified information is certainly unfit for the Oval Office," House Speaker Mike Johnson said with other Republican leaders.

A televised debate debacle

Biden shrugged off the Hur fiasco and prepared for what promised to be an exhausting reelection bid.

Then came his June 27 debate with Trump, where Bidens feeble demeanor and meandering answers horrified Democrats and injected glee into Republican ranks. Further verbal slips only hightened the concern.

In a remarkable stretch of eight days, the campaign was remade.

Trump survived an attempted assassination on July 13, emerging bloodied and furious from a scrum of Secret Service agents in an unprecedented and iconic moment; he named Ohio Sen. JD Vance as his running mate; and he accepted the Republican nomination for president before an ecstatic crowd in Milwaukee.

Biden was hunkered down with Covid for much of this time, as his poll numbers tanked and Democrats, warning of a Trump landslide, panicked. The president had one card left to play and he held it until Sunday, July 21, when Biden pulled out of the race and named Harris his successor at the top of the ticket.

Four and a half weeks later, Trump and his party still havent recovered, even as polls show a tight race.

Harris was left uncovered on a blitz and was wide open, with not a lot of time left on the clock, when the DNC completed the pass, Upton said of the Democratic convention. Now only a Hail Mary might save the day for the tired Trump team."

Trump, pining for the candidate he'd expected to beat handily, has taken to grousing that Harris won the nomination thanks to a coup, never mind Bidens support for her.

Donald Trump finds himself in the position of running against a ghost, said Steele, the former Republican chairman.

And Biden has again outfoxed his adversaries.

He keeps slipping the noose, Eisen said, because there is no noose.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden outmaneuvers GOP one last time with Harris' Chicago nomination
FAIRVIEW, W.Va. (WBOY)  Around 100 shooters from as far away as Florida and Minnesota came out to Fairview on Friday as the 1,000 Yard National Shoot competition kicked off at the Harry Jones Memorial Range.

Friday was the first day as well as the day of the tactical gun shoot. During the shoot, competitors had 10 minutes to get off five shots and we were then judged by how close their shots were to the bullseye and how close their furthest shots were grouped to each other.

Following Fridays competition will be the light gun shoot on Saturday and the heavy gun shoot on Sunday. The prize for the best shooter at the end of the weekend is $750.

Spelter Volunteer Fire Department begins renovations after winning Lowes Hometowns grant

Harry Jones Memorial Range President Gary Munson said that the range first began operations in the mid-90s with the first competition being held in 2008. The range is a Freedom Benchrest Association-affiliated shooting club.

The Harry Jones Memorial Range is open to new members, and Munson said that safety is the top priority at Harry Jones. Harry Joness motto is we like to catch more flies with honey than we do vinegar, but when it comes to safety, were all vinegar, Munson said.

If youre interested in watching or entering the shooting competition, it will start at 9 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com.
What began as an online mentoring project for young teens around the world has become a story of two Rotarians from two states helping a new college student from Belarus get settled in the United States. Im a member of Rotary 14 in Lincoln, and Harlow Hyde is a member of Rotary in DeLand, Florida.

I met Belarus native Kira Zaitsava when she joined a small group I was mentoring through an organization called Moonshot Pirates. She was one of four high school students that I met with on Zoom every other week in late 2023 and early 2024. Id ask them questions about what theyd like to do in life, plans for education and challenges they were facing, among other topics.

Kira was especially enthusiastic about wanting to come to the United States to attend college. I remember her saying, with certainty, that she would study here and maybe even move here. For sure, she wanted to pursue an education so she could return to Belarus and do good things. She even mused about becoming a U.S. citizen and running for U.S. Congress one day. So, I helped her with her pursuit of college, which ultimately led to an offer to attend Stetson University in DeLand, Florida.

As her plans transitioned from hopeful to more certain, I said Id be her American Grandpa if she came to the U.S. I reached out to Harlow in DeLand. Wed been friends when he lived in Lincoln, and I thought he might be able to help Kira now and then if she made it to DeLand.

Ultimately, Kira did get accepted to Stetson University, then received a Visa to travel. She got on a plane and made it to Orlando after more than 24 hours traveling. Then she got on a shuttle from Orlando to DeLand using a ticket Harlow had purchased, and she was met in DeLand by Harlow and three fellow Rotarians who helped this 17-year-old make it to campus and get settled into her dorm room.

Thats just the tip of the iceberg of a story about how a young, enthusiastic, energetic and excited young woman from Belarus has been helped by two Rotarians who believe in service above self, with knowledge that when people work to create peace through connection in their communities, that change will have a global effect.
Drawn by late-summer rains, hatchery-produced Chinook salmon are returning to the mouth of Whatcom Creek in downtown Bellingham, said the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) in a social media post on Thursday.

The post says, though theyre following the same instinctive urge to swim upstream and spawn as their cousins in nearby rivers, the Chinook are not intended to reproduce in the wild or even to make it more than a mile up the urban creek.

The Chinook in lower Whatcom Creek originate from the Samish River, where WDFW says Samish Hatchery staff take eggs and milt (sperm) from adult broodstock. At the hatchery, WDFW is joined by students from Bellingham Technical Colleges (BTC) Fisheries & Aquaculture Sciences program, who assist with the egg collection, spawning, and fertilizing process before transferring more than half a million eggs annually to BTCs Perry Center in Maritime Heritage Park.

WDFW says, there at the park, students and faculty incubate the eggs until they hatch and grow into fry, then feed and rear the tiny Chinook until theyre big enough to head out to sea. With support from the Lummi Nation and Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission staff, they carefully clip their adipose fins to mark them as hatchery-raised salmon. Finally, the BTC students release the fish near where Whatcom Creek flows into Bellingham Bayall with three specific goals in mind:

To provide an additional food source for struggling Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) during the salmons return migration through the Salish Sea.

To create opportunities for BTC students to learn how to raise salmon and operate a fish hatchery, preparing them for jobs with the state, Native American tribes, or other agencies or private aquaculture businesses.

To support tribal and recreational salmon fishing opportunities throughout Puget Sound and in an accessible urban area where a boat or other expensive fishing gear is not required.

We ask Bellingham residents and visitors to please be respectful of fishers, said Julie Klacan, district fisheries biologist for WDFW. The hatchery Chinook salmon returning to Whatcom Creek are a collaborative success story between Bellingham Technical College, the state, co-manager tribes, and the City of Bellingham.

The state-managed salmon fishery in lower Whatcom Creek is open Saturdays and Sundays through Sept. 15.
Hawaii is on alert for Tropical Storm Hone while extreme heat is expected to expand from the South to the Midwest, leaving 25 million Americans under heat alerts this weekend.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Big Island of Hawaii as Tropical Storm Hone passes by to the south of the islands.

While it wont be a direct hit, the storm is still close enough to deliver some potentially dangerous impacts.

PHOTO: ts hone map (ABC News)

The main threat is for heavy rain that could cause flash flooding and landslides, especially on the eastern side of the Big Island where rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches are possible. For the smaller islands, scattered rainfall of 2 to 4 inches is possible this weekend from Hones outer bands.

In terms of wind, tropical storm force winds are forecast to begin this evening and throughout the overnight hours into Sunday morning. Gusts will generally be in the 25 to 40 mph range, but there could be some gusts of over 50 mph in some of the higher elevations on the Big Island.

Swells from Hone will also generate high surf and dangerous rip currents for all the islands beginning in the Big Island on Saturday and spreading west to the rest of the islands over the weekend.

PHOTO: tropical storm map (ABC News)

Hone may reach hurricane status for a short period of time as it passes south of Hawaii, but it is forecast to stay over open water and eventually weaken back into a Tropical Storm.

Heat alerts for 25 million Americans

This weekend, sweltering heat continues for much of the southern plains, but it will ease up a bit in Texas as the weekend goes on.

PHOTO: In this screen grab from a video, a woman fans herself while first responders treat someone for a heat-related illness, in Glendale Arizona, on Aug. 23, 2024. (KNXV)

The extreme heat drifts north over the next few days, heading through the central plains and into the upper Midwest.

PHOTO: high temps map (ABC News)

An excessive heat watch is in effect for parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin, including Minneapolis on Sunday and Monday.

The heat index could be approaching 110 degrees for several cities in the plains and Midwest on Sunday and Monday.

PHOTO: heat alert map (ABC News)

Extreme heat slides eastward for the beginning to the middle of next week, moving into the Great Lakes and into the south by Tuesday and Wednesday.

Cities like Chicago, Louisville, and Atlanta could be approaching some record high temperatures up to 95 to 100 degrees for the middle of the upcoming week.

Hawaii on alert for Tropical Storm Hone, extreme heat travels across country originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
HONOLULU (KHON2)  The Department of Law Enforcement (DLE) is organizing a community gun buyback event to enhance public safety and reduce gun violence in Hawaii.

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The event is set for Saturday, August 24, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Aloha Stadium Lower Parking Lot on Oahu.

Participants can enter the lot from Salt Lake Boulevard near the intersection of Salt Lake Boulevard and Kahuapaani Street.

Residents who turn in firearms will receive compensation in the form of Foodland gift cards. The amounts are as follows:

$200 for automatic or semi-automatic rifles and ghost guns.

$100 for handguns, rifles, shotguns, bump stocks, and Glock switches.

There is no limit on the number of firearms turned in, but each person can receive a maximum of three gift cards. Both functional and non-functional firearms will be accepted, but non-firearms will not qualify for the gift cards.

Family of missing pregnant woman pleads with public for help

For those who prefer not to turn in their firearms but want to ensure their safety, gun locks will be available.

Many people in the community are faced with the question of what to do with a firearm they no longer need, said DLE Deputy Director Jared Redulla. This buyback event offers a convenient and safe way to dispose of unwanted firearms.

Future gun buyback events are being planned in collaboration with county law enforcement agencies across the state. Details on dates and locations will be announced later.

The buyback program is an amnesty initiative, meaning no questions will be asked and no identification is required for those dropping off firearms.

Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news

However, licensed gun dealers and active or retired law enforcement personnel are not eligible to participate. On-site officials have the authority to refuse to accept firearms or issue gift cards if necessary.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
Hawaiian Electric prepares for possible power shutoffs due to wildfire risk

HONOLULU (KHON2)  Hawaiian Electric is preparing for potentially dangerous conditions that could lead to public safety power shutoffs in high-risk wildfire areas.

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The utility company is closely monitoring the situation but has not yet decided if shutoffs will be necessary.

Take this seriously, officials urge ahead of Hone impacts

Hawaiian Electric spokesperson Darren Pai noted that some areas have experienced extended droughts, increasing the risk of dry vegetation and wildfires.

Were keeping a close eye on the situation. We want to let our customers know that while there is a possibility we may need to activate power shutoffs, we havent made that decision yet, Pai said.

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The company will aim to provide as much advance notice as possible to affected customers if shutoffs are implemented.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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This image provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows Tropical Storm Hone as it continues to track to the west toward the Hawaiian Islands, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration via AP)

HONOLULU (AP)  Tropical Storm Hone increased to a Category 1 hurricane while continuing its steady approach toward Hawaii late Saturday, forecasters said.

Hone (pronounced hoe-NEH) had top winds of 75 mph (120 kph), according to an 11 p.m. advisory by the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu. The minimum threshold for a hurricane is 74 mph (119 kph).

A tropical storm warning remained in effect for the Big Island as the storm moved west at 12 mph (19 kph) about 105 miles (170 kilometers) south of Hilo, Hawaii, and about 275 miles (440 kilometers) southeast of Honolulu, the center said.

The hurricane center, part of the National Weather Service, previously said Hone was expected to remain just below hurricane strength at its peak Sunday through Monday.

Hurricane Gilma, still about 1,480 miles (2,380 kilometers) east of Hilo, increased to a Category 4 hurricane Saturday night.

Hone, whose name is Hawaiian for sweet and soft, drew near the islands Saturday with breezes that were expected to intensify and increase the wildfire risk for drier parts of the state even as memories are still fresh from last year's deadly blazes on Maui.

A red flag fire warning was in effect for the leeward sides of all islands through 6 p.m. on Saturday. The National Weather Service issues the alert when warm temperatures, very low humidity and stronger winds combine to raise fire dangers.

They gotta take this thing serious, said Calvin Endo, a Waianae Coast neighborhood board member who lives in Makaha, a leeward Oahu neighborhood prone to wildfires.

Most of the archipelago is already abnormally dry or in drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The winds are expected to be strongest where they blow downslope from higher terrain, over headlands and through passes, the hurricane center advised.

The situation recalls last year's deadly wildfires on Maui, which were fueled by hurricane-force winds. But while Hone presents high fire dangers, its not on the magnitude of that, weather service meteorologist Derek Wroe in Honolulu said Saturday.

The Aug. 8, 2023, blaze that torched the historic town of Lahaina was the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century, with 102 dead. Dry, overgrown grasses and drought helped spread the fire.

For years, Endo has worried about dry brush on private property behind his home. He's taken matters into his own hands by clearing the brush himself, but he's concerned about nearby homes abutting overgrown vegetation.

All you need is fire and wind and well have another Lahaina, Endo said in the morning. I notice the wind started to kick up already."

The cause of the Lahaina blaze is still under investigation, but its possible it was ignited by bare electrical wire and leaning power poles toppled by the strong winds.

The states two power companies, Hawaiian Electric and the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, said they would be monitoring conditions this weekend and ready to shut off power if necessary to reduce the chance that live, damaged power lines could start fires.

Firefighters remained on the scene of a small blaze that started Friday night in Waikoloa, on the dry side of the Big Island, according to Big Island Mayor Mitch Roth. It was under control and did not cause any injuries or damage.

Were expecting to have bands of rain come through the day, Roth said from Hilo, on the island's east side, where it was raining.

The island was getting enough rain later Saturday to cancel its red flag warning, though a warning remained in effect for the other islands, said Ian Morrison, a weather service meteorologist in Honolulu.

Officials were closing some Big Island beach parks in anticipation of dangerously high surf and preparing to open shelters if needed, Roth said.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority told travelers its still safe to come to the islands but recommended postponing outdoor activities.

The eastern and southeastern parts of the Big Island could get 5 to 10 inches (11 to 25 centimeters) of rain. The island could get sustained winds of 20 to 40 mph (32 to 64 kph) and gusts near 60 mph (97 kph), weather officials said.

Moving westward across the Pacific behind Hone was Hurricane Gilma. A separate 11 p.m. Saturday advisory said Gilma's intensification rate has leveled off" and placed the storm 1,500 miles (2,410 kilometers) west of Baja California. The maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 kph) elevated the storm into the bottom of Category 4 hurricane status.

Forecasters had called for additional strengthening before gradually weakening as Gilma moves over cooler sea-surface temperatures and into a drier, more stable airmass.
HEADLAND, Ala. (WDHN)  The city of Headland is working with the Alabama Department of Transportation on a traffic study for its intersections, especially one that has recently drawn concern from residents after it has been the scene of many crashes.

The Alabama Department of Transportation is currently examining the traffic patterns at Highway 134 and County Road 13 intersection after residents called for more safety improvements to help save lives.

We have had a lot of growth for the last few years out that direction, and it has created a lot of traffic that way, said Mayor of Headland, Ray Marler, We have had a couple of wrecks out there, so I had a meeting today with AL DOT, and they are aware of it.

At least five crashes have occurred at the intersection over the last two years.

One reason Mayor Marler thinks is contributing to the crashes is that drivers crossing over 134 from County Road 13 are not coming to a complete stop at the stop sign, just tapping the brakes.

He says they have also had a problem with some of the signage not being as visible to overgrown trees and limbs.

Now, they hope to find out what will help reduce the number of crashes from the Aldot study, which they hope to know soon.

They are looking at signage at 12 and 134- that could be an option, could be a red light caution light option. We dont really know right now, but should know in a few weeks.

He says the city has also discussed turning issues at the County Road 22 and Highway 431 intersections and possibly reducing the speed limit from County Road 99 to County Road 22;

Especially when they are coming south, they pick up a lot of speed, and people are turning onto the four-lane.

Intersection 134 and County Road 13 were brought up to city leaders through a petition that has now gained over 60 signatures. Mayor Marler says that if residents have a concern or problem as the city grows, they should bring it to them.

Sometimes we may be overlooking it because we dont notice it, like the people who are living there. So, anytime you have a problem, bring it to us, and we will reach out to the county or state and try to get some help.

Mayor Marler says until they can figure out whats best for the intersection, he wants to warn drivers to be cautious, watch for others, and watch their speed.

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Healey administration warned about crisis pregnancy centers. Now, it's being sued by one

An antiabortion center is suing the state and a nonprofit over the Commonwealth's public awareness campaign "highlighting the dangers and potential harm of anti-abortion centers."

Your Options Medical, a chain of crisis pregnancy centers with locations in Brookline, Revere, Fall River and Hyannis, alleges the campaign that Gov. Maura Healey's administration touted earlier this year as a "first-in-the-nation" education campaign breaches the center's constitutional rights on religious and political speech.

"Governor Healey and DPH need to be held accountable for using over a million dollars in state resources to defame, threaten, and intimidate pro-life pregnancy resource centers, Your Options Medical's legal representatives told Boston.com in a statement.

Your Options Medical is being represented by Massachusetts Liberty Legal Center, which was launched by conservative Christian group Massachusetts Family Institute.

What are crisis pregnancy centers

The emblem on a flag that the Pro-Life Flag Project, an effort by anti-abortion advocates, asked to fly on a Town of Sandwich flagpole. After receiving the request in November, the Board of Selectmen adopted a flag policy: only the flags of the United States, Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Town of Sandwich can be flown on a municipal flagpole.

Crisis pregnancy centers, sometimes called pregnancy resource centers or pregnancy help centers, are typically non-profits that offer pregnancy healthcare services, such as testing, ultrasounds and counseling. They are usually faith-based.

The Office of the Attorney General says that while crisis pregnancy centers often bill themselves as healthcare, they are anti-abortion centers that try to prolong individuals into continuing their pregnancy until it is too late to get an abortion, through emotionally manipulative tactics like "providing small plastic fetus or baby clothes."

On the AG's website, they warn that many of these clinics are not licensed medical facilities, aren't staffed typically staffed by licensed doctors or nurses, and often "often provide inaccurate and misleading information about abortion and the medical and mental health effects of abortion."

The details of the lawsuit

In early June, the Healey administration launched a $1 million informational campaign with the mission to educate the public about the crisis pregnancy centers and how to spot an antiabortion center.

The Massachusetts Department of Health, as part of the campaign, links to a list of antiabortion centers provided by the nonprofit Reproductive Equity Now, which includes Your Options Medical.

Your Options Medical filed a lawsuit against Healey, the state Department of Public Health commissioner Robert Goldstein and the nonprofit Reproductive Equity Now as well as its executive director in federal court, citing defamation and harassment.

"This campaign involves selective law enforcement prosecution, public threats, and even a state-sponsored advertising campaign with a singular goal  to deprive YOM, and groups like it, of their First Amendment rights to voice freely their religious and political viewpoints regarding the sanctity of human life in the context of the highly controversial issue of abortion," the lawsuit reads.

The lawsuit also claims that one YOM doctor quit over the campaign and that they've "been forced to operate in a culture of fear and harassment from the State."

The state health department declined to comment due to pending litigation.

Healey's office and Reproductive Equity Now did not respond to requests for comment.

Rin Velasco is a trending reporter. She can be reached at rvelasco@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on wickedlocal.com: Maura Healey, state health department sued by crisis pregnancy center
HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (WSPA)  The Hendersonville Police Department responded to a report of a robbery at the SECU, Friday morning.

According to police a male suspect, wearing a medical face mask, handed an employee a note, demanding money. The suspect was last seen leaving the business on foot.

There were no injuries to customers or employees, and area banks were immediately alerted. Police said the situation is considered an isolated incident and there is no ongoing threat to the public.

Anyone with any information about this incident is asked to contact the Hendersonville Police Department by calling 828-697-3025 or your local law enforcement by calling 911.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
As the Springfield Art Museum prepares to shutter for three years of renovations, museum staff are packing up for a new, temporary location.

The art museum will conclude all programs and exhibitions on Sunday, Sept. 1, in preparation for renovations and new construction as part of the museum's 2028 Campaign. Construction is set to begin in January and is expected to continue through 2027. The museum will reopen in time for its 100th anniversary in 2028.

While the main campus is under construction, a temporary arm of the art museum will be housed within the Wilhoit Building at 431 S. Jefferson Ave., where Green House Coffee + Affogato Bar was formerly located. Programs and classes will be open to the public in this new location starting the First Friday in February 2025, according to a news release.

While some folks might assume were taking a three-year vacation, nothing could be further from the truth, art museum director Nick Nelson said in a news release. We have a number of activities lined up to keep the museum, the community, our dedicated patrons and visitors connected to and experiencing art as only the Springfield Art Museum can.

The Wilhoit Building at 431 S. Jefferson Ave. will be the temporary home of the Springfield Art Museum during renovations at the main campus.

Programs to be held by the art museum over the next three years include:

"All School Exhibition": Annual exhibition of Pre-K through 12th-grade artwork;

Art is Everywhere: Community-embedded, pop-up programming;

Collection Connections: Programs provided by Springfield-Greene County Library District and museum staff to keep the community engaged with the museum's permanent collection;

Fifth-grade field trips: Museum educators will continue the long-standing partnership with Springfield Public Schools;

Hands-on art classes: The Wilhoit Building location will provide a classroom to ensure the continuation of all-age programming;

Interpretive programming: Artist talks, Slow Viewing experiences, take-home project bags will continue;

Missouri State University partnerships: Missouri State MFA candidates will continue to install their exhibitions with the museum and Missouri State Studies program students will still learn how to work with the museum's collection;

"Watercolor USA": The annual juried exhibition will be held at the George A. Spiva Center for the Arts in Joplin for 2025;

Special events: "Art in Bloom" and "99 Times" will be held at different locations in Springfield;

Other community and university partnerships: Museum leadership is working with organizations like Abilities First, Downtown Springfield Association, Springfield Regional Arts Council and others to host cooperative programs and projects.

More: Get your art fix before Sept. 1. Springfield Art Museum prepares for 3-year closure

As of Saturday, the art museum had raised nearly $38 million of its $50 million campaign goal, according to a news release.

Over two years, several parts of the site plan have been completed, including improvements to Fassnight Creek near the museum, a Greenway Trails connection to Fassnight Creek and improvements to the museum's parking lot and amphitheater. Renovation of the museum's education wing, west entry, galleries and back of house will be completed during the two-year closure period.

What are the final exhibitions at the art museum?

"Breath, Light and Distance"

"Watercolor USA 2024"

"Works by Bradi Barth"

"Works by Glenna Goodacre"

"Renaissance Works on Parchment and Paper"

If you would like to receive updates about the 2028 Campaign, the city of Springfield is offering email updates to community members. To sign up, visit the City of Springfield website and complete the Notify Me form.

Greta Cross is the trending topics reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. She has more than five years of journalism experience covering everything from Ozarks history to Springfields LGBTQIA+ community. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at gcross@news-leader.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield Art Museum announces temporary location during renovations
Authorities are asking the public for help after a hiker discovered a body on a trail near the summit of New Hampshires Mount Washington this week.

The hiker found the body of a man on the Gulfside Trail near the junction of West Side Trail, about a half mile from the mountains summit, according to New Hampshire Fish and Game.

Because the body was found about 425 feet north of the Cog Railway tracks, Fish and Game received assistance from the Cog Railway who offered one of their trains along with personnel to assist with the bodys recovery, officials said.

The man was a 72-year-old Virginia native, according to a drivers license found on the body. He was transported down the mountain by train.

It appears that the hiker likely died from environmental exposure, but the exact cause of death is pending an autopsy. His name hasnt been released.

Fish and Game said little else is known about the hiker other than the fact that he was dressed in jeans, had on a navy blue raincoat, and was wearing brown hiking boots and a small blue backpack.

He was not prepared for the conditions that were and are still currently present, in the higher summits of the White Mountains, Fish and Game wrote in a news release. It is likely that he took the train up to the summit on Wednesday, Aug. 21, and then attempted the hike back down.

Anyone who may have come into contact with a hiker matching his description is urged to contact New Hampshire State Police Troop F at 603- 846-3333, or email Lieutenant Mark Ober at mark.w.oberjr@wildlife.nh.gov.

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BURLINGTON  Consultants for the Echo Lake project say the city might miss a 2025 deadline for completing improvements ordered by the state.

Ayres Associates Inc. representatives told the Burlington City Council on Tuesday that work on the lake preservation effort might not begin until 2026.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in 2015 gave the city 10 years to bring Echo Lakes city-owned dam into compliance with state safety standards.

The city is planning to spend about $9 million to rebuild the aging dam, dredge the polluted reservoir, and add amenities to the surrounding parkland.

Adam Schneider, project manager for Ayres, told alders Tuesday he anticipates seeking a DNR extension on the 2025 deadline, and he expects the extension will be granted.

We can get an extension on that, Schneider said. Were making good progress here. The DNR is aware of what were doing.

Uriah Monday, a dam safety engineer with the DNR, said Burlington could face penalties for missing the deadline to bring Echo Lake into compliance with state standards.

However, Monday would not speculate what sort of penalties could be considered, saying he had not yet discussed the matter with Burlington officials.

After we have had a chance to speak with the city about their current trajectory, he said, well be in a better position to understand their circumstance and determine whats appropriate with regard to potential extensions or penalties.

The project timetable was discussed briefly Tuesday during a presentation by Ayres Associates to the City Council on design plans for the dam and park improvements.

City Administrator Carina Walters told council members that pushing back the start of construction work to 2026 has been under discussion for the last several months.

City Council took no action on the matter.

The DNR told city officials in 2015 that the Echo Lake dam must be either rebuilt or removed by July 8, 2025. Removing the dam would cost less and would allow the city to restore the White River, but voters in a 2022 referendum favored saving the manmade lake.

The city plans to pay for the project by borrowing money and increasing property taxes to pay it back.

Alders in February hired Eau Claire-based Ayres Associates for the $650,000 job of completing design plans and managing construction work. Ayres faced a June 1 deadline for submitting plans to the DNR, but that deadline was pushed back at the citys request to June 1, 2025.

Schneider told the council Tuesday he intends to submit plans to the DNR by this fall with the hope that state officials will approve the project by next spring. The consultants then would solicit contractor bids in May, and plan to start construction in 2026.

Schneider said it takes about one year to manufacture gates that are part of the dam expansion plan. But those gates could not be ordered before the DNR approves the project.

Those gates have pretty big production times, he said.

Current estimates are that the dam will cost $3.5 million, the park amenities will cost $2.5 million, and a planning contingency would put the price tag for those two components at $7.2 million.

Dredging the lake bottom could cost another $4 million, which would put the total expense at $11.2 million  $2 million more than voters approved in the referendum.

Some council members questioned current plans for dredging hundreds of tons of pollutants and sediment from the lake bottom after the park improvements are completed. Those alders asked whether a messy dredging effort could negatively impact the improved park.

Mayor Jon Schultz also said that if the dredging ends up costing too much, that could force the city to scale back on amenities.

Thomas Ramsey, a landscape architect with Ayres, said plans for Echo Lake could be reconfigured to focus first on the dam expansion, then consider dredging and park options.

Ramsey urged the city to move ahead with hiring a dredging consultant and developing updated cost projections for the dredging.

The best way to know what to do, he said, is to kind of get the ball rolling.
Body of missing Grand Canyon hiker found after flash flooding prompted rescues of more than 100 people

The body of a missing hiker was recovered along the Colorado River on Sunday after flash flooding in Grand Canyon National Park prompted the rescues of more than 100 people.

Search and rescue operations began Thursday, when flash flooding swept hiker Chenoa Nickerson, 33, into the parks Havasu Creek, according to the National Park Service. A commercial river trip group discovered her body Sunday near mile 176 of the Colorado River.

The park service and the Coconino County medical examiner are conducting an investigation, the park service said in a Sunday news release.

Nickersons family posted a statement on Facebook after her body was recovered, saying, Our hearts are heavy with grief.

Chenoas light will forever be a part of all of us, and we will ensure that her spirit continues to shine brightly, the statement said. Her memory will never fade, and we will honor her by carrying forward the joy and love she brought into all of our lives.

Hazardous flooding also led Arizonas National Guard to use a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter to evacuate 104 tourists and tribal members from a canyon on the lands of the Havasupai Tribe within the park on Saturday, video from the Arizona National Guard showed.

Flooding triggered by monsoon storms on Thursday forced local authorities to shut down the area to tourists and prompted several emergency evacuations.

Ground searchers navigate through Havasu Creek after flash floods in Grand Canyon National Park. - N. Powell/NPS Photo

Tribal leaders also closed the remote village of Supai, located 8 miles below the rim of the Grand Canyon, the Havasupai Tribal Council said in a news release on Saturday.

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs activated the Arizona National Guard to assist with rescue efforts on the Havasupai Indian Reservation, which is surrounded by Grand Canyon National Park, according to KNXV. CNN meteorologists said no rain is forecast for the area in the coming days.

We crossed rivers, formed human chains

A married North Carolina couple told CNN as they hiked in the Havasupai Indian Reservation on Thursday, nothing could have prepared them for what was about to happen.

Shruti Chopra, 34, knew rain was in the forecast but said she didnt anticipate it would result in intense flash flooding. It did not even occur to us that we were in danger, she told CNN.

She and her husband, along with a family of four, ducked into a cove to avoid getting drenched, Chopra said. As they waited for the rain to stop, a man riding a mule, who Chopra described as a Native American, spotted them and yelled, Higher ground! Higher ground!

Sensing the panic in his voice and seeing how fast the area was starting to flood, they started climbing. After reaching higher ground, the group of six set off for the nearest village.

For the next three hours, we crossed rivers, formed human chains and hacked through the thorny bushes and cacti, Chopra said. At one point, she said, a huge boulder crashed right in front of them, hitting a tree, which sent a large branch in their direction.

After arriving at the village, Chopra said they were greeted by other hikers. The National Guard evacuated her and her husband to safety Saturday morning.

This story has been updated with additional information.

CNNs Ashley R. Williams contributed to his report.

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Hiker missing after getting swept into Grand Canyon creek during flash flood: NPS

A 33-year-old woman has been missing since Thursday following a flash flood in Grand Canyon National Park, officials said.

Search and rescue operations are underway for Chenoa Nickerson, of Gilbert, Arizona, after she was swept into a creek Thursday afternoon during a flash flood, according to the National Park Service.

PHOTO: Chenoa Nickerson is seen in this undated photo shared by NPS in hopes the public can help locate her after going missing in the Grand Canyon. (Courtesy NPS)

The flash flood struck Havasu Creek shortly before 1:30 p.m. local time Thursday, the NPS said.

MORE: Grand Canyon search and rescue team works to limit summer death toll

The flash flood "led to several hikers being stranded in the affected area," the NPS said in a press release on Friday.

PHOTO: Chenoa Nickerson is seen in this undated photo shared by NPS in hopes the public can help locate her after going missing in the Grand Canyon. (Courtesy NPS)

A rescue flight helped people who were stranded below and above Beaver Falls, though Nickerson remains missing, the NPS said. She was swept into the creek approximately a half mile above the Colorado River confluence and was not wearing a life jacket, the NPS said.

MORE: 8-year-old boy found safe after going missing at Arizona's Lava River Cave

Nickerson was last seen wearing a black tank top, black shorts and blue hiking boots, according to a missing person flyer. She is described as being 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 190 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. Anyone with information on her is asked to contact the NPS tip line at 888-653-0009.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for parts of Coconino County on Thursday, including along and around the Havasu Creek basin.

The Grand Canyon's Preventive Search and Rescue team assisted 455 hikers in 2023, according to the Grand Canyon Conservancy.

Hiker missing after getting swept into Grand Canyon creek during flash flood: NPS originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
BUFFALO, Mo.  On summer nights, if you look at the radar at just the right time, you might see an unusual sight showing up near Buffalo, Missouri. To the untrained eye, it looks like a quick burst of rain, one that comes and goes in a blink of an eye. But the burst isnt rain, its bats.

The Buffalo bats show up every summer on radar, says Marvel Cave Guide Corey Taylor. As a cave guide, Taylor is very familiar with bats. He is also a weather aficionado.

The signature that shows up on radar is known as a roost ring. Roost rings occur when the radar beam detects thousands of birds taking off from their roosting sites. This often happens around dawn and dusk. However, in this case, its not a bird, or a plane  or Superman  its bats.

While Marvel has lots of bats, there are never enough to show up on radar, explains Taylor.

Marvel Cave, the cave that started it all for Silver Dollar City, is massive. Marvel boasts the largest cave entry room in the United States with a 20-story-tall Cathedral Room. Large, but not big enough to have enough bats for roost rings.

So how big is this Buffalo bat cave? Taylor says he doesnt know. His friend, an old meteorologist from the area, kept it a secret, He wasnt allowed to say exactly where they were coming from in order to protect the bats.

Liberty, an energy and water company, owns land near Buffalo. In April of 2023, they posted on social media :

Fun fact: Liberty property in Buffalo, Mo. is home to a quarry that is host to one of approximately 50 maternal bat caves in Missouri. During the spring, the endangered gray bats migrate to the cave in colonies so large that they show up on the National Weather Services radar.

Buffalo, Missouri.

Home of the bison and the bats.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP)  Holyoke Community College (HCC) will be holding its Registration Express for the fall 2024 semester on Saturday.

Holyoke police working to identify suspects after rise in car break-ins

During the Registration Express, students interested in attending HCC will be able to apply for admission, take the college placement test, meet with an academic adviser, register for classes, and set up financial aid, all on Saturday.

The event will run from 9 AM until 1 PM on the first floor of the Campus Center on the main campus at Homestead Ave. Students who cant attend on Saturday or need additional time to finish their steps can return for extended admissions and advising hours on August 26th through 29th from 8:30 AM to 6 PM.

Registration Express is designed to make it easy to become a student by providing all the resources to enroll in one place on one day, whether you are starting the process or finishing up the last few steps, said Mark Hudgik, HCC dean of Strategic Recruitment Initiatives. It will also be a great opportunity for prospective students to learn about MassEducate, the states new free community college program.

Full-term, 14-week fall classes begin on Tuesday, September 3rd. HCC has two additional fall flex start dates, which are September 16th, for 12-week classes, and October 28th, for 7-week classes.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  An Horry County police officer behind the wheel of a full-sized vehicle that struck and killed a beachgoer in June is not to blame for her death, the departments attorneys said in court records.

Lawyers on Wednesday responded to a June 28 wrongful death suit filed by the family of Sandra Schultz-Peters, a 66-year-old Myrtle Beach woman who died June 13 after being hit near the Nash Street beach access.

The 12-page complaint named the police department as the lone defendant, claiming her death was the result of lax supervision and negligence.

In their Aug. 21 response, Hood Law firm attorneys Elloree A. Gaines and Evan M. Sobocinski denied key allegations lodged against the department and Duke Brown, its now-retired beach patrol safety supervisor who was driving the vehicle.

HCPD-response-to-Schultz-Peters-lawsuitDownload

Theyre asking a judge to dismiss the suit with prejudice and award the police department the cost of legal fees associated with the case.

Even if the Defendant was negligent, as alleged in the Complaint, which is specifically denied, the negligence of the Defendant was not the direct or proximate cause of any injury alleged by the Plaintiff and therefore, the Defendant is not liable damages allegedly sustained by the Plaintiff, HCPDs attorneys in the case argued.

Peters died at 3:09 p.m.  about two hours after she was hit. But before that happened, the lawsuit describes a harrowing scene. According to it, Brown put the vehicle in gear, released the brake and headed north on the beach. He was somehow distracted and didnt ensure his path ahead was clear of objects and beachgoers.

Upon being run over by Officer Browns full-sized motor vehicle, as confirmed by several credible eyewitnesses, Ms. Schultz Peters let out what has been described as the most powerful scream, the lawsuit says. Concerned onlookers lifted Officer Browns full-sized vehicle off Ms. Schultz Peters trapped body. Ms. Schultz Peters assisted the concerned onlookers in unlocking her phone in order to make a call.

Peters brother Tony Schultz says his family wants to pass legislation called Safe Sands for Sandy banning full-sized emergency vehicles on beaches.

With this tragic event, I want one positive thing to come out of this, and that is to have people going to the beach with zero risk of this ever happening again, Schultz said.

Lawyers also say any damages that could be awarded are limited to $300,000, pointing to the South Carolina Tort Claims Act, a 1986 law capping payouts from government entities in civil claims.

* * *

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.

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BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD)  The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile was spotted at different Jewel-Oscos in the twin cities.

The Wienermobile was designed by Oscar Mayers nephew Carl Mayer in 1936. Now there are six Wienermobiles traveling across the U.S. year-round.

People took turns taking pictures with the popular attraction.

We like to say that were not a food truck, just a truck that looks like food, but we give away little Wiener Whistles, said Hotdogger Sizzlin Stephen Harrison.

Oscar Mayer is giving the Wienermobile a new name

Wiener whistles were developed in 1952. The first ambassadors or Hotdoggers joined the team in 1988. The tour year for the Wienermobile starts in June.

Weve been to nine different states so far just in the past two months and the Midwest, theres still some more states to get to, said Harrison. And then in January, actually, well get a new partner and a new region of the country. So well all get to go to two regions of the country and we dont know where our next one is yet. So I think the surprise behind it all is kind of what Im looking forward to the most.

Only 12 hotdoggers are chosen each year to travel with the Wienermobile.

So I filled out the application and I was like, Theres no way Im going to get this like so many people are applying, Harrison said. But lo and behold, made it through several rounds of interviews and throughout the semester and throughout the first half of the year. And somehow Im here. But its great. Im very fortunate. Lucky dog.

The Philadelphia native looks forward to meeting new people in new places.

I just graduated from Boston College in May, so we started right after that. And its been great to travel all around the Midwest and go to so many different local communities. Its a blessing that we get to meet so many new people every day and hear so many different stories from people. And I think thats the best part of the job is meeting new people and all these different local communities.

The Wienermobile weighs 14,050 pounds or the equivalent of 140,500 hotdogs. Its 27 ft or 60 hot dogs long, 11 ft or 24 hotdogs high and 8 ft or 18 hotdogs wide.

To track the Wienermobile click here.

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Hotel workers in Waikiki and Kauai gear up for potential strike

HONOLULU (KHON2)  Hotel workers in Waikiki and Kauai are preparing for a potential strike after a historic vote authorized what could become the largest strike of Hawaii hotel workers in decades.

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The vote, which took place on August 8, has set the stage for a showdown between workers and hotel management over pay and staffing issues.

UNITE HERE Local 5 is hosting a strike benefit card sign-up and picket sign-making event on Monday, August 26, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at their office on 1516 S. King St. in Honolulu.

This comes as workers at seven Waikiki hotels and one Kauai hotelincluding the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort and Sheraton Kauai Resortprepare for the possibility of walking off the job.

Hawaii hotel workers authorize strike by 94% vote

Were ready to strike if thats what it takes, said Surapee Sartrapai, a Bell Captain at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Sartrapai, who frequently apologizes to guests for service cuts and long wait times due to understaffing, criticized the hotel owners for profiting while workers struggle to make ends meet.

Recent data showed that while the U.S. hotel industrys profits have surged by 26.63% since 2019, hotel staffing levels have dropped by 13%. In Hawaii, the average hotel room rate has risen by 33%, and revenue per available room has increased by 23% over the same period.

A survey of nearly 3,500 Local 5 members revealed that 73% of workers often have to make excuses for service shortcomings, while 78% feel their employers exploited the pandemic to cut jobs and benefits.

Rodney Nakashima, a maintenance worker at the Sheraton Waikiki, expressed frustration over rising living costs and the pressure to move away from Hawaii. Im ready to strike again, just like in 2018, because I want to ensure that tourism benefits locals, not just mainland bosses, Nakashima said.

Similar worker actions are taking place across the U.S., with hotel workers in 10 cities, including Baltimore, Boston, and San Diego, authorizing strikes at major hotel chains like Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, and Omni.

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Shari Matsuda, an Accounting Clerk at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki, noted that many workers have already prepared for a strike by signing up for picket shifts and removing personal items from their lockers. Were tired of being ignored and disrespected, Matsuda said.

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FILE - Apollo Quiboloy appears on his talk show on May 23, 2016, in Davao City, southern Philippines. (AP Photo, File)

MANILA, Philippines (AP)  Hundreds of police officers backed by riot squads raided a vast religious compound in a southern Philippine city Saturday in search of a local preacher accused of sexual abuse and human trafficking, police officials said.

A supporter of the group, called Kingdom of Jesus Christ, reportedly died due to a heart attack during the massive police raid that started at dawn in the groups compound in Davao city, livestreamed online by a local TV network owned by the group, police said, adding that the death was not related to the police operations.

Officers brought equipment that could detect people behind cement walls. But by mid-afternoon, they found no sign of Apollo Quiboloy in the compound  some 30 hectares (75 acres) that includes a cathedral, a school, a living area, a hangar and a taxiway leading to Davao International Airport.

Quiboloy and his lawyer have denied the criminal allegations against him and his religious group, saying these were fabricated by critics and former members, who were removed from the religious group after committing irregularities.

Quiboloys followers, many filming the police raid with their cellphones, yelled at the police, questioning the legality of the raid and pronouncing the innocence of Quiboloy, who was a close supporter and spiritual adviser of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Duterte had criticized previous attempts by large numbers of police to arrest Quiboloy as overkill.

Quiboloy claims to be the appointed son of God. In 2019, he claimed he stopped a major earthquake from hitting the southern Philippines.

Police Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, who led the raid, said officers wanted to serve warrants for the arrest of Quiboloy for various criminal cases, including child abuse and human trafficking. He justified the large deployment, saying there were more than 40 buildings and structures to be searched in the religious compound, where large numbers of Quiboloys followers heckled and opposed the raid noisily.

We wont leave here until we get him, Torre told reporters as sirens blared in the background. We have no-bail warrants for Quiboloy and four others for very grave crimes, including human trafficking, child abuse and other cases.

In 2021, United States federal prosecutors announced the indictment of Quiboloy for allegedly having sex with women and underage girls who faced threats of abuse and eternal damnation unless they catered to the self-proclaimed son of God."

Quiboloy and two of his top administrators were among nine people named in a superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury and unsealed in November 2021.

The superseding indictment contained a raft of charges, including conspiracy, sex trafficking of children, sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, marriage fraud, money laundering, cash smuggling and visa fraud.

Quiboloys group said then that he was ready to face the charges in court, but he went into hiding after a Philippine court ordered his arrest and several others for child and sexual abuse. The Philippine Senate has separately ordered Quiboloys arrest for refusing to appear in committee hearings that was looking into criminal allegations against him.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has urged Quiboloy to surrender and assured him of fair treatment by authorities.

When he was mayor of Davao city and later as president, Duterte appeared in Quiboloys news program to promote his police-enforced drug crackdowns, which left thousands of mostly poor suspects dead. Duterte and his police officials have denied authorizing extrajudicial killings of drug suspects, but he openly threatened drug dealers with death when he was in office.

The International Criminal Court has been investigating the widespread killings under Dutertes campaign against illegal drugs as a possible crime against humanity.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach, celebrated a significant achievement as its Director of Marketing Communications, Huy Vo, was honored with the 2024 Gregg W. Perry Public Relations Professional of the Year Award.

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The accolade was presented at the 41st Annual Koa Anvil Awards, held on August 22 at Prince Waikiki Hotel. The Koa Anvil Awards recognize exceptional achievements in public relations programs.

The Gregg W. Perry Public Relations Professional of the Year Award is given to a practitioner who has demonstrated a distinguished career, made significant contributions to the field, and used impactful public relations techniques.

Immersive Hawaiian experience at this weekends Hoolau Kanaka event

Vo, the 40th recipient of the award since its inception in 1985, was recognized for his leadership and influence in public relations. With nearly 20 years of experience in public relations and marketing, Vo has excelled in luxury travel and hospitality, currently leading global marketing communications for the largest Ritz-Carlton Residences.









Under his guidance, the resort earned the title of #1 Best Hotel in Hawaii by Conde Nast Travelers Readers Choice Awards 2023.

Vos previous roles include positions at The Kahala Hotel & Resort, Hawaiian Airlines, and Bright Light Marketing.

Born and raised in Honolulu, Vo is a graduate of McKinley High School and earned a bachelors degree in journalism from the University of Oregon. He is also a past recipient of the Young Public Relations Professional of the Year Award and the Presidents Leadership Award from PRSA.

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The event was emceed by KHON Evening News Anchor Brigette Namata.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.


Photo: Dusan Smetana

The mainstream media likes to use federal statistics as hooks for their one-sided 'gun-control' narratives. The thing is, many of those statistics are suspect, even those from various federal agencies. The Crime Prevention Research Center's (CPRC) work goes deep into how factual this "official data" is. Indeed, when I reached out to John Lott, president and founder of the CPRC, he talked about his time working as a senior adviser for research and statistics at the Office of Justice Programsa Department of Justice division that doles out about $5 billion in grants each yearduring the Trump administration and about his research into crime and gun ownership. He has a lot to say about the statistics these agencies publish. As crime is an important topic in this upcoming election, we decided it was time to speak with Lott about how politically skewed these numbers from federal agencies can be.

A1F: Just hours after Hunter Biden was convicted of gun charges, his father, President Joe Biden (D), went to an Everytown for Gun Safety event to give a speech. He began the speech by saying that the year before he was president, the murder rate grew faster than it ever has in history, whereas, in this past year, it has fallen more than it ever has in history. Is this true?

Lott: This claim needs context. During the first year of COVID, there was a big increase in murder rates as many big-city mayors and other officials opted not to police the streets during unrest after the George Floyd incident. Many of those jurisdictions even cut police budgets and weakened criminal law. Also, many far-Left district attorneys saw the unrest as a mandate to refuse to prosecute many violent criminals; in fact, many progressive judges during 2020, 2021 and even 2022 released large percentages of inmates from local jails. In some urban areas, you had half, even two thirds of the inmates released. So, it's not too surprising that there were increases in crime rates.

Biden would like to blame this increase on Trump, but the policies from gun-control supporters in office are undoubtedly part of the reason for the increase in murder rates. .....
Idaho Gov. Little unveils new wildfire plan that includes less liability for companies

In our Reality Check stories, Idaho Statesman journalists seek to hold the powerful accountable and find answers to critical questions in our community. Read more. Story idea? Tips@idahostatesman.com.

A new plan Idaho Gov. Brad Little unveiled Friday to mitigate wildfire risk had more than just policies aimed to protect areas from widespread blazes. A list of top priorities had a broad scope of goals from the executive office, including limitations on liability for electrical utilities that cause fires.

Officials said theyre looking to follow neighboring states, which have implemented laws restricting the amount residents can sue for if they lose property to a utility-caused fire and allowing utilities to raise consumer rates to create a fire fund.

The Idaho wildfire mitigation report said the threat of liability can immediately destabilize the financial health of electric companies, particularly small customer-owned utilities in rural Idaho. It said utilities acting to mitigate wildfire risk shouldnt face liability for all wildfire damages regardless of fault causation, or negligence.

We havent reached consensus, but Utahs template serves as a good starting point to look at to address protecting ratepayers from liability and increased rates, Littles spokesperson Emily Callihan said.

Those policies have earned pushback from consumer protection and environmental groups, and the Idaho Public Utilities Commission earlier this year rejected a similar proposal from an electrical company.

Little in a news conference said the myriad recommendations in the report were the result of months of discussion with stakeholders in insurance, public utilities and fire suppression, including the Idaho Department of Lands, the Office of Emergency Management, Department of Insurance and Boise Fire Department.

Brad Heusinkveld, energy and regulatory counsel for the Idaho Conservation League, told the Idaho Statesman the wildfire priority report is part of a much-needed conversation on fire. But the proposal for liability limitations raises additional questions about consequences for negligence, responsibility for fire risk, utility access to public funds and more, he added.

Altering fire liabilities does not make costs go away, it simply changes who pays for our increasingly costly wildfires, he said. Its a hard policy problem. We need utilities to function, but we also need to protect ratepayers and those most vulnerable from fires that will only become more expensive as our forests warm.

Utilities could see less wildfire liability

Dean Cameron, director of the Department of Insurance, and Little said theyve looked to Utah for a blueprint on utility wildfire liability  in particular, a 2020 law that requires utilities to create wildfire protection plans that could waive some of their liability and a 2024 law that capped the amount of money people can seek for non-economic damages in utility-caused wildfires.

This years law also allowed Rocky Mountain Power, which also operates in eastern Idaho, to create a fire fund through increased customer rates. The company can use the fund to pay costs if its found liable for a fire. California has a similar law, though Utahs will allow the company to access its fund even if the fire was caused by negligence.

Rocky Mountain Powers parent company, Pacificorp, is on the hook for tens of millions of dollars for 2020 Oregon wildfires after a jury found it acted with gross negligence and recklessness, Oregon news reports said. Pacificorps insurance rates increased twelvefold last year, according to reporting from the Salt Lake Tribune.

The Idaho Public Utilities Commission earlier this year rejected a request from Rocky Mountain Power to limit its wildfire liability and called the proposal unreasonable. Rocky Mountain Power was part of the subcommittee that recommended the liability changes in Littles report.

The report echoed some of Rocky Mountains argument before the Public Utilities Commission. The committee said electrical utilities are facing steep insurance rates as wildfires become more common and more destructive.

Cameron said at the news conference that a new liability policy could protect Idaho utility customers and keep rates lower if utilities arent paying expensive settlements or insurance bills.

Another priority is retaining insurance options so homeowners are covered if their property is damaged by fire, Cameron said. Insurers have backed off of policies in states like California and Hawaii, which have seen devastating property damage and death from wildfires.

Report emphasizes communication, collaboration

Dustin Miller, director of the Department of Lands, which manages fires on state-owned land, said during the news conference that population growth in Idaho is putting more people and homes at risk as communities extend farther into the wildland-urban interface, where development meets undeveloped land.

As a result, he said, its more important than ever for agencies and residents to collaborate on fire prevention.

Millers department will work with companies that own timberland to provide communication and personal protective equipment for crews to respond when wildfires start on private land. The Department of Lands will also work with other departments to set up a wildland fire detection camera network to help catch blazes early.

The governors priorities also task the Department of Lands with collaborating with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and state IT services to launch firewatch.idaho.gov, a website where people can find all Idaho wildfire information in a single place. Officials also plan to create a statewide emergency notification system for fire evacuations thats available even in places without cell service.

The report recommended collaboration with federal agencies to evaluate areas around transmission lines and streamline permitting or other red tape that could prevent fuel reduction and other fire mitigation.

Several of the priorities point to grant funds to help accomplish state goals  including one priority to create a library of grant opportunities.

The Department of Lands and Office of Emergency Management will seek federal emergency funds to help create a statewide building code for the wildland-urban interface. Firewise building codes typically ensure structures are built with less-flammable materials and landscaping includes defensible space to reduce fire spread and plant guidelines to minimize sparks.

Some of the policy recommendations can go into effect immediately, like the grant library and fire information website. Others will rely on procuring grants or creating funding.

Cameron said the Department of Insurance will make recommendations to legislators for next years session to address other priorities through lawmaking.

The report is not the be-all, end-all, Cameron said. Theres lots of work to do.
Idahoans owe $130M in child support. Will threat of losing these privileges make them pay?

Thousands of Idaho parents owe child support  to the tune of $130 million.

Starting Sept. 1, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare plans to ramp up its enforcement to try to collect, according to a news release, but its likely to affect a small minority of those parents.

For those who dont pay up, Health and Welfare is going to target their hunting and fishing privileges. Basically, the department is going to raise the minimum child support payments required to maintain those privileges if a parent has past due support.

The point here isnt to suspend a license, but for Idahoans to pay their child support, Health and Welfare Director Alex Adams said in the release. This is an important tool that the department uses to make sure Idahos kids are given the support they need to thrive and succeed.

The department generally requires full current support plus 15% for parents to keep their hunting and fishing licenses, spokesperson AJ McWhorter said in an email. Approximately 23,000 parents owe toward that balance, but only around 1,400 possess an active license, and 500 of those already have a suspension in place, the department said.

So thats around 8% of the people who owe child support.

While this is a minority of the parents, some are likely deterred from applying for a license due to their child support balance, McWhorter said. The department wants everyone who wishes to hunt and fish to enjoy our beautiful state and encourages all parents who owe support to contact Child Support Services and make arrangements to pay their child support.

The state has been allowed to take this step since 1996, the release said.

In October of that year, more than 11,000 parents across Idaho got letters telling them to pay overdue child support or face losing licenses  ranging from hunting and fishing to real estate and drivers licenses, according to The Spokesman-Review. At that time, the parents collectively owed $109 million.

The Idaho Legislature passed the law in order to reform Idahos welfare system, The Spokesman-Review story said. At that time, unpaid child support was said to be the top reason families were on welfare.

Every state has something on the books relating to suspending licenses for not paying child support, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Israeli Defense Forces struck Deir Al Balah and other parts of Gaza on Friday and Saturday. Photo by Mohammed Saber/EPA-EFE

Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Military strikes in Khan Younis and other parts of Gaza have killed dozens as Hamas representatives meet in Cairo, Egypt, amid cease-fire and hostage release negotiations

Israeli Defense Forces killed at least 69 Gazans in military strikes during the past two days, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reported.

On Saturday morning, 37 died, including four women and children,

The Palestine Red Crescent Society reported that the al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis again was targeted but there were no injuries.

The Health Ministry does not distinguish Hamas militants and Gaza's civilian population when reporting casualties.

The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reported Israeli Defense Forces killed at least 69 in military strikes on Deir Al Balah, Khan Younis and other parts of Gaza over the past two days. Photo by Mohammed Saber/EPA-EFE IDF operations in Deir Al Balah

The death toll in Gaza has exceeded 40,000 since Hamas militants attacked Israeli civilians on Oct. 7.

IDF officials say Hamas is holding 109 hostages in Gaza and estimate about a third of them are dead.

Gazans survey the rubble following the withdrawal of Israeli Defense Forces from the city of Hamad in southern Gaza. Photo by Haitham Imad/EPA-EFE

The United States has eight citizens among the hostages, several of whom the IDF says likely are dead.

Israeli activists have scheduled demonstrations in Tel Aviv and other parts of Israel on Saturday to pressure the Israeli government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to finalize a cease-fire and hostage release agreement with Hamas and end hostilities in Gaza.

The demonstrations also are to call for new elections that could see Netanyahu voted out of office.

The Hamas delegation in Cairo is there to be briefed on recent talks with Israeli representatives earlier in the week, but several contentious issues are preventing a deal.

Those issues include potential IDF control of the Rafah Border Crossing into Egypt and the Philadelphi Corridor, which is a nearly 9-mile strip of land separating the Gaza Strip and Egypt.
An 'Impeach Ryan Walters' rally was held Saturday at the state Capitol

A crowd gathered on Saturday for a rally focused on ousting Oklahoma's controversial schools superintendent from his elected post through impeachment.

Rep. Andy Fugate, D-Del City, and Rep. Forrest Bennett, D-Oklahoma City, were among speakers at an "Impeach Ryan Walters Citizens Rally" at the state Capitol. Organized by a group called Oklahomans For Democracy Inc., the rally drew about 75 people.

"Ryan believes he was anointed by God to be Oklahoma's pastor for public education," Fugate told the crowd. "He believes in a one size fits none, government-enforced religion that will somehow save our kids. Let's be real  forcing our kids to recite the Ten Commandments and say a prayer in school is not going to make them any more Christian than did putting 'In God We Trust' make a change by putting it on our money."

A crowd reacts to speakers during an Impeach Ryan Walters rally Saturday on the second floor of the State Capitol.

Walters, a Republican, recently held a news conference at the Capitol where he challenged fellow Republicans House Speaker Charles McCall and state Rep. Mark McBride to begin impeachment hearings. Walters told news reporters that he is the victim of political attacks based on lies with no evidence. His remarks came after House Republican leaders said they planned to conduct an investigation into his spending practices and the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

More: The quiet meeting before the storm: How top Oklahoma Republicans counseled Ryan Walters

On Saturday, Fugate made reference to Walters' impeachment challenge.

"One final thought: Ryan says he should be impeached. Here's a message to you, Ryan, save us a step and resign," Fugate said, drawing cheers and applause.

A woman holds signs at the Impeach Ryan Walters rally Saturday on the second floor of the Oklahoma Capitol.

Bennett said he was glad that some of his Republican colleagues in the Oklahoma Legislature were acting on their concerns about the state schools superintendent.

Oklahoma City-area business owner and civic activist Sean Cummings also was among several people who spoke at the rally.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Crowd attends 'Impeach Ryan Walters' rally at state Capitol
Its indicative of the contrast between who Donald Trump is, the Harris campaign chart new way forward following her riveting DNC speech

With the election just 73 days away, the Harris-Walz campaign gets ready to head to the battleground state of Georgia. Just days after Harris made her case against Trump at the DNC, Tara Setmayer and Jason Kander join The Weekend to discuss the stark contrast between the two candidates.
Under the terms of a proposed Gaza cease-fire and hostage release deal, Israel could see only around a dozen captives taken during Hamas' Oct. 7 attack returned home alive during the initial weeks of the agreement, according to several U.S. officials familiar with the ongoing negotiations.

The unfavorable return for Israel is viewed by the Biden administration as a major impediment to brokering an end to the conflict, and one of the factors fueling the renewed urgency of its campaign to push talks over the finish line.

The White House says negotiations resumed in Egypt this week, but so far mediators have been unsuccessful in their efforts to encourage Hamas to sign onto a bridging proposal that Israel has agreed to which aims to get talks back on track.

"We'll never give up on it, but the challenge is the longer this goes on, the more hostages will suffer -- possibly perish -- and the more other things happen that could make things impossible," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a visit to Israel on Monday.

PHOTO: A man passes by a wall covered with photos of hostages held in the Gaza Strip as he rides a bicycle, August 15, 2024, in Tel Aviv, Israel. (Amir Levy/Getty Images)

MORE: Israel-Gaza live updates: Israeli forces strike another school in Gaza, killing 2

Documents reviewed by ABC News detailing the framework for an agreement, which was partially outlined in a late May address by President Joe Biden, stipulate that Hamas must turn over 33 Israeli hostages in the 42 days after the deal is enacted -- including all living Israeli women, children, men over the age of 50, as well as wounded and ill male civilians under the age of 50.

However, in the event Hamas cannot provide 33 living hostages that fit the criteria, the proposed terms allow the militant group to fill the quota by turning over the remains of hostages in these categories.

Out of the 109 hostages still believed to be held in Gaza, Israeli authorities publicly say about 70 captives could still be alive. But four U.S. and Israeli officials say the actual number of living hostages is assessed to be about 50 and that only a fraction of them are either women or old enough to qualify as elderly under the terms of the proposal.

Israel has provided mediators with a list of all the individuals it wants Hamas to turn over in the initial weeks of a deal which includes civilian men under 50 that are believed to be alive but injured or ill. However, two U.S. officials familiar with negotiations anticipate that the militant group will be reluctant to hand over any of the younger men before reaching the second phase of the agreement regardless of their condition.

PHOTO: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to a joint meeting of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, July 24, 2024.a (Julia Nikhinson/AP, FILE)

Since creating the framework, officials say Israel has added new conditions that Hamas rejects, including refusing to withdraw Israel Defense Forces from strategic areas of Gaza and insisting on screening Palestinians returning to their homes in the northern part of the enclave for weapons.

After initially denying that any changes were made to the proposal, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu now admits to adding conditions he says are red lines and has reportedly expressed skepticism that a deal can be reached.

Several senior Israeli officials say Netanyahu is the driving force behind the new demands and have indicated the security benefits from the additional conditions are negligible when compared to the urgent need for a hostage deal and a cease-fire.

PHOTO: President Joe Biden speaks on stage on the first day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago, on Aug. 19, 2024. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)

On Wednesday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant visited IDF troops at the Philadelphi corridor between southern Gaza and Egypt and suggested there was no reason to continue occupying the area.

"The most important thing is to remember what the goals of the war are and to stick to them," he said. "The Rafah Brigade has been defeated."

"The Rafah Brigade has been defeated, Gallant continued, referring to Hamas battalions that previously operated in the southern Gaza city.

Gallant has also described reaching a deal to release the hostages as "an urgent, moral imperative" in recent days -- a position that sparked public backlash from Netanyahu.

U.S., Israeli and Egyptian officials met on Thursday to discuss options for securing Gaza's border with Egypt and reopening the Rafah crossing, according to an official familiar with the plans.

PHOTO: White House national security communications adviser John Kirby speaks during a news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on July 25, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images, FILE)

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on Friday that those conversations had already been "constructive" and denied that talks were at risk of breaking down.

"There's been press reporting out there that, you know, they're near collapse. That is not accurate. There has been progress made. We need now for both sides to come together and work towards implementation," he said.

But the shrinking incentive for Israel to shift its position was illustrated this week when IDF troops retrieved the bodies of six hostages in the Gaza Strip. Five of those recovered were already thought to be dead, but one -- 79-year-old Avraham Munder -- was presumed to be alive before his remains were found.

In previous rounds of the on-off talks, officials say Israel has pushed for Hamas to provide a list of the hostages that would be returned as part of a deal before striking an agreement, but the militant group has refused to do so.

In November 2023, Israel and Hamas reached an agreement to exchange at least 50 women and children held in Gaza for 150 Palestinian prisoners and truce lasting at least four days.

Hamas ultimately released more than 100 Israelis and foreign nationals, prolonging the pause in fighting, but officials say the group eventually refused to free any additional women and fired on Israel, which lead to the resumption of the war.

Initial weeks of a Gaza cease-fire deal may see only a dozen living hostages freed originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
A Los Angeles County jail inmate in Castaic this month was grazed by a bullet from a nearby shooting range used by the FBI, law enforcement officials said Friday.

The incident happened Aug. 9, when the inmate  who has not been identified  was on a porch outside the inmate housing barracks at Pitchess Detention Center South Facility, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The inmate reported the incident to jail staff, who discovered that several vehicles had also been struck by bullets.

It's not clear how seriously the inmate was hurt, but officials said an "injury report was completed."

Read more: 'A full-on inferno': The history of range trailer fires at the L.A. Sheriff's Department

The county's northern-most jail complex has long housed outdoor shooting ranges, including one typically used by the FBI, which Sheriff's Department investigators identified as the source of the errant bullet.

In a statement emailed to The Times, the FBI said the shooting happened while an agent was doing quarterly firearms training.

"One individual was unintentionally wounded and treated for a superficial injury," the statement said. "The FBI takes all shooting incidents involving our agents or task force members seriously."

The FBIs Inspection Division is now investigating.

While the federal agency has its own range in Orange County, the Sheriff's Department also allows agents to use the one in Castaic.

After the incident, the department closed the range, although an official said other ranges at the jail facility are still in use.

Last year, the Sheriff's Department also shut down its network of mobile range trailers after one caught fire outside the Castaic complex, injuring one deputy and killing another.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Inside the KKK plot to kill Barack Obama  and the FBI informant who stopped it

In September 2008, members of a Wayward, Fla., chapter of the Ku Klux Klan concocted an elaborate scheme to kill Barack Obama days before he was elected president.

They planned every detail, identifying the day, time, and location of the hit; obsessing over the senators motorcade alignments; securing .50-caliber rifles for the deed; and arranging for the assassins vehicles to be destroyed afterward.

There was only one scenario they hadnt considered: that the intricate plan would be undone by one of their own.

A new book tells the story an FBI informant who infiltrated toe KKK to help thwart the Obama killing in 2008. Getty Images

Joe Moore had been initiated into the so-called Invisible Empire the year prior, impressing fellow Klansmen with an embellished military record and expert gunmanship.

Naturally, the honorably discharged army vet had been tapped to pull the trigger that would take out Obama.

Little did his brothers know hed infiltrated Americas oldest hate group as a counterterrorism informant.

I had to follow [my orders] and do whatever it took to prevent the assassination of Barack Obama, Moore writes in his new memoir, White Robes and Broken Badges (Harper, out now). Because I was the only one who could.

Driven by a fervent patriotism and deep disdain for bullies, Moore conducted the FBIs first-ever undercover operation targeting the KKK.

He attended cross burnings, witnessed savage acts of violence, and participated in eerie rituals  all while wearing a recording device.

Moore identified several cops and government officials whod pledged allegiance to bigotry.

And by feeding misinformation to his Klan kinfolk, he potentially saved the life of the man who would become Americas first Black president.

The plot to kill Obama was foiled  and the informant was eventually placed in a witness protection program. Corbis via Getty Images

The Jacksonville native describes with sharp detail his years of rubbing shoulders with devout racists.

One Klan member showed him bunkers loaded with firearms and tactical gear.

Another gave a tour of a backyard incinerator that he called my own personal crematorium.

Living a double life took its toll, though.

Moore would employ method acting practices to get into character, like listening to Guns N Roses disillusioned cover of Aint It Fun and wearing a particular American flag-embroidered cap.

He still had difficulty keeping his realities distinct.

The deeper I became entrenched in the Klan, the more of a challenge it became to leave all that at the door when I went home to my wife and son, writes Moore, who resorted to breathing techniques he picked up while in the armed forces to self-regulate. All I could visualize were members kicking in the door to come get me after learning my true purpose.

The Klan saw their numbers rise following the election of Barack Obama and protests following the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson.

That paranoia didnt stop Moore from embarking on a second espionage campaign in 2013, this time infiltrating a hood-and-robe-clad collective based 100 miles away, in Bronson, Fla.

His first go-round had ended four years earlier, after he was pulled out prematurely due to risk of exposure.

Turns out, Obamas rise to prominence  and the political recoil following 18-year-old Michael Browns 2014 murder by police in Ferguson, Mo.  sharply boosted interest and enrollment in the KKK and other white supremacist groups.

But that all came crashing down after Moore implicated four prominent members in a conspiracy to murder a Black man named Warren Williams over a personal grudge.

Yet no good deed goes unpunished. After a dramatic, guns-drawn SWAT takedown of the perps in 2015 outside of a Home Depot in Alachua, Fla., Moore and his family were forced to assume new lives and abandon their old identities.

Id lie awake nights thinking that my payback for the most successful infiltration of the Ku Klux Klan in FBI history was losing my house, almost all my possessions, my friends, and by all accounts, my future, Moore recalls.

Justice was finally delivered in 2017, when all four Klan members charged received jail sentences.

Joe Moore has authored White Robes and Broken Badges.

Moore had to do whatever it took to prevent the assassination of Barack Obama.

The verdict sent shock waves through the KKKs many chapters, inciting fear amongst members that similar moles were in place nationwide.

As a result, Klan numbers plummeted, with many former members aligning with alt-right groups like the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys.

I take great pride in dealing a hateful organization a devastating near deathblow, writes Moore, who now lives with his family in an undisclosed location. The overall movement in general, though, was far, far from dead or even in decline.

Moore warns that his time as an inside man illuminated his understanding of just how fractured America has become, identifying former President Donald Trump as a conduit for that division.

He draws a through line from the Ku Klux Klan to modern white nationalist groups to the Jan. 6 insurrection  a connection underscored by Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin, who writes the books foreword.

The Klan and the like-minded groups it has produced have learned to balance bullets with bluster and pistols with paper, both of which have the potential to do far more irrevocable damage on the state of our democracy than the former, Moore writes. With the 2024 election looming, and democracy itself on the ballot . . . we should be very afraid.
Originally appeared on E! Online

Nobody was trying to reach the lowest depths of the ocean or otherwise test the boundaries of human endurance.

But what was supposed to be a routine pleasure cruise aboard a superyacht turned deadly all the same on the morning of Aug. 19 when the 184-foot Bayesian got caught in a storm and sank off the coast of Sicily.

"I can't remember the last time I read about a vessel going down quickly like that," Stephen Richter of SAR Marine Consulting told NBC News. "You know, completely capsizing and going down that quickly, a vessel of that nature, a yacht of that size."

Of the 22 people onboard, including crew, seven people died. The last of the bodies was recovered Aug. 23, an expectedly sad coda to what had already been a tragic week as the search for answers as to how this happened got underway.

And to be sure, every minute of the Bayesian's ill-fated outing is being fiercely scrutinized, starting with the general seaworthiness of the vessel itself.

Because, frankly, this was a freak occurrence.

More from E! Online

"Boats of this size, theyre taking passengers on an excursion or a holiday," Richter explained. "They are not going to put them in situations where it may be dangerous or it may be uncomfortable, so this storm that popped up was obviously an anomaly. These vessels that carry passengers, theyre typically very well-maintained, very well-appointed."

PERINI NAVI PRESS OFFICE/HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

But in this case, a $40 million yacht sank, seven people are deadincluding a billionaire tech mogul and his 18-year-old daughterand morbid fascination doesn't need a second wind.

Here is how the story of the Sicily yacht tragedy has unfolded so far:

What happened to the yacht that sank off the coast of Sicily?

The Bayesian had set off from the Sicilian port of Milazzo on Aug. 14 at capacity with 12 guests and 10 crewmembers aboard.

The aluminum-hulled vessel was built in 2008 by Italian shipbuilder Perini Navi and registered in the U.K. Cruise sites listed it as available for charter at $215,000 per week, per the Associated Press.

PERINI NAVI PRESS OFFICE/HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

On the morning of Aug. 19, the superyacht was anchored off the coast of Porticello, a small fishing village in the Sicilian province of Palermo (also the name of Sicily's capital city), when a violent storm hit.

The vessel "suddenly sank" at around 5 a.m. local time, seemingly due to "the terrible weather conditions," the City Council of Bagheria announced shortly afterward, per NBC News.

At the time, only one person was confirmed deadthe ship's chefbut six others were said to be missing. The 15 survivorswho managed to make it onto an inflatable life boat, according to emergency officialswere rescued that morning by the crew of another yacht that had been nearby when the storm hit.

"Fifteen people inside," Karsten Borner, the Dutch captain of the ship that was able to help (the Sir Robert Baden Powell), told reporters afterward, per Reuters. "Four people were injured, three heavily injured, and we brought them to our ship. Then we communicated with the coast guard, and after some time, the coast guard came and later picked up injured people."

When the storm hit, his boat ran into "a strong hurricane gust," Borner said, "and we had to start the engine to keep the ship in an angled position."

They "managed to keep the ship in position," he continued, but once the storm died down, they realized the other boat that had been behind themthe Bayesianwas gone.

The wreck ended up settling 165 feet below the surface, according to Italy's national fire department.

Alessandro Fucarini/Shutterstock

Fire officials said that divers, a motorboat and a helicopter were deployed to search for the missing.

Meanwhile, footage was captured of the ship capsizing on closed-circuit TV about a half-mile away from where it was anchored.

In the video obtained by NBC News, the illuminated 250-foot aluminum mast of the ship appears to list severely to one side before disappearing completely. Survivors recalled having just a few minutes to literally abandon ship.

Who were the seven people who died when the yacht Bayesian sank?

The tragedy initially became headline news because billionaire tech mogul Mike Lynch"Britain's Bill Gates," some U.K. media called himwas among the missing. His body was ultimately recovered Aug. 22.

"They told me that suddenly they found themselves catapulted into the water without even understanding how they had got there," Dr. Fabio Genco, head of the Palermo Emergency Medical Services, told NBC News Aug. 22. "And that the whole thing seems to have lasted from 3 to 5 minutes."

Genco said he got to Porticello about an hour after the Bayesian capsized.

Survivors "told me that it was all dark, that the yacht hoisted itself up and then went down," he said. "All the objects were falling on them. Thats why I immediately made sure, by asking them questions, if they had any internal injuries."

Why did the yacht sink?

Italian prosecutors are investigating to determine what transpired before the boat went down, according to NBC News.

Meanwhile, the CEO of shipbuilder Perini's parent company The Italian Sea Group defended the vessel itself as "unsinkable."

Perini boats "are the safest in the most absolute sense," Giovanni Costantino told Sky News Aug. 22. What happened to the Bayesian "put me in a state of sadness on one side and of disbelief on the other," he continued. "This incident sounds like an unbelievable story, both technically and as a fact."

PERINI NAVI PRESS OFFICE/HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Costantino said it had to have been human error that led to the boat sinking, declaring, "Mistakes were made."

"Everything that was done reveals a very long summation of errors," he told newspaper Corriere della Sera Aug. 21, in an interview translated from Italian. "The people should not have been in the cabins, the boat should not have been at anchor."

Antonio Melita/Pacific Press/Shutterstock

The weather was "all predictable," he continued, adding that the storm "was fully legible in all the weather charts. It couldn't have been ignored."

The yacht's captain, identified as James Cutfield of New Zealand, was taken to Termini Imerese hospital for treatment. From there, he told La Repubblica, per Sky News, that he didn't see the storm coming.

Borner, the captain of the ship that rescued the 15 Bayesian survivors, told NBC News that he noticed the storm come in at 4 a.m. local time, and saw what looked to him like a waterspout, a type of tornado that forms above water.

The International Centre for Waterspout Research posted on X Aug. 19 that it had "confirmed 18 waterspouts today off the coasts of Italy. Some were powerful waterspouts, one of which may have been responsible for the sinking of a large yacht off of Sicily."

Borner said he didn't know why the Bayesian sank so quickly, guessing "it may have something to do with the mast, which was incredibly long." (A tall mast, even with its sails down, means there's more surface area exposed to wind, which can result in tipping.)

Confirming that one person was dead and six unaccounted for immediately following the wreck on Aug. 19, Salvo Cocina of Sicily's civil protection agency told reporters that a waterspout had struck the area overnight.

"They were in the wrong place at the wrong time," he said.

Who were the seven people who died when the yacht Bayesian sank?

The tragedy initially became headline news because billionaire tech mogul Mike Lynch"Britain's Bill Gates," some U.K. media called himwas among the missing. His body was ultimately recovered Aug. 22.

FAMILY HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

The 59-year-old founder of software firm Autonomy had been on the trip with his wife Angela Bacares and their 18-year-old, Oxford-bound daughter Hannah to celebrate his recent acquittal in the U.S. on fraud and conspiracy charges stemming from the $11.7 billion purchase of his company by Hewlett-Packard in 2011.

In a bizarre turn of events, Lynch's co-defendant at trial, Stephen Chamberlain, the former vice president of finance at Autonomy, died after being taken off life support following a road accident on Aug. 17. Chamberlain's attorney told Reuters Aug. 20 that his friend and client had been out for a run when he was "fatally struck" by a car.

Meanwhile, multiple people who contributed to Lynch's defense were on the cruise with him and his family.

The bodies of Morgan Stanley International Chairman Jonathan Bloomerwho testified on Lynch's behalfand his wife Judy Bloomer, as well as lawyer Chris Morvillo, a partner at the U.S. firm Clifford Chance, and his wife Neda Morvillo, a jewelry designer, were recovered on Aug. 21.

In a LinkedIn post thanking the team that successfully defended Lynch, Morvillo wrote, per Sky News, "And, finally, a huge thank you to my patient and incredible wife, Neda Morvillo, and my two strong, brilliant, and beautiful daughters, Sabrina Morvillo and Sophia Morvillo. None of this would have been possible without your love and support. I am so glad to be home. And they all lived happily ever after"

The first casualty confirmed Aug. 19 was the ship's Canadian-Antiguan chef, later identified as Recaldo Thomas.

"He was a one-of-a-kind special human being," a friend of Thomas told The Independent. "Incredibly talented, contagious smile and laugh, an incredible voice with a deep love of the ocean and the moon. I spoke to him nearly every day. He loved his life his friends and his job."

Hannah's body was the last of the missing six to be found, with divers bringing her remains ashore on Aug. 23.

VIGILI DEL FUOCO HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Lynch and Bacares, who was rescued, also shared a 21-year-old daughter, according to The Times.

While awaiting trial, Lynchwho maintained his innocence throughout the proceedingshad spent 13 months under house arrest in San Francisco. Back home in London afterward, he admitted to The Times in July that he'd been afraid of dying in prison if he'd been found guilty. (He faced a possible 25-year sentence.)

"It's bizarre, but now you have a second life," he reflected. "The question is, what do you want to do with it?"

(E!, NBC News and Sky News are all members of the Comcast family.)
A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Friday called on compatriots from both sides of the Taiwan Strait to unite and take actions to firmly oppose the "Taiwan independence" provocations and reckless moves of Taiwan authorities led by Lai Ching-te.

Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks in response to a media inquiry about a recent speech by Lai hyping up the so-called "threat" from the mainland and inciting cross-Strait confrontation.

Zhu said the obstinate adherence to "Taiwan independence" by Lai's authorities poses the greatest threat to peace and stability across the Strait, and is the root cause of the risk of war across the Strait, the deepening divisions within the society in Taiwan and the harm to the interests of the people on the island.

The authorities led by Lai, by fanning up the so-called "threat" from the mainland, are hijacking Taiwan onto their "Taiwan independence" chariot, Zhu said.

This once again exposes their hypocritical and sinister nature of seeking "Taiwan independence" by force and by relying on external forces under a peaceful disguise, Zhu said.
The suspect in a stabbing that left a man dead in Boston on Friday night has been arrested and is facing a murder charge, authorities said Saturday.

Officers responding to a report of a stabbing in the area of 1879 Dorchester Avenue in the citys Dorchester section around 10 p.m. found a man suffering from stab wounds, according to the Boston Police Department.

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The man, who hasnt been identified, was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

David Adams, 38, of Dorchester was arrested Saturday after police determined his description matched the one provided for the suspect Friday night.

Video showed a large crime scene roped off with yellow tape near Citywide Convenience as investigators worked to gather evidence.

Adams is expected to be arraigned in Dorchester District Court on a murder change at a later date.

Community members wishing to assist in this investigation anonymously can do so by calling the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1-800-494-TIPS or by texting the word TIP to CRIME (27463).

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant claimed in its Telegram channel on Saturday that one of its members was behind the deadly mass stabbing at the 650th anniversary celebration of the city of Solingen, Germany, which left three dead and eight injured on Friday night.

The perpetrator of the attack on a group of the Christians in the town of Solingen in Germany yesterday is a soldier of the Islamic State and he carried out the attack in revenge for the Muslims in Palestine and every place, the statement read.

It is unclear if the perpetrator was a member of the group, and authorities are still searching for suspects.

German police arrested a 15-year-old who may have spoken to the perpetrator on Saturday morning, according to the Solinger Tageblatt.

On Friday night, a person began stabbing festival goers, leaving at least three dead and eight injuredfour seriously.

Lars Breitzke, who was attending the festival, told the Tageblatt that a person fell over just a meter away from me. Breitzke said people initially thought the person was drunk but then more bodies began droppingin pools of blood.

The suspect then fled the scene, spurring a manhunt. On Saturday morning, police arrested a 15-year-old, whom they accused of failing to report a crime, allegedly having advance knowledge of the stabbing.

However, police still have not issued a description as to what the perpetrator looked like, as they have no core description. We can only give a description of the perpetrator if we have one, police spokesperson Markus Caspers told the Solinger Tageblatt.

German law enforcement has yet to rule out terrorism as the motive, as two witnesses reportedly heard a conversation about the stabbing before it took place, but only reported it after.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, speaking on behalf of Prime Minister Olaf Scholz, stated on Saturday, Brutal violent acts are being carried out with knives that lead to the worst injuries or can be deadly, as a part of their bid to ban blades longer than six centimeters.

We want a general ban on dangerous switchblades and will present the relevant amendments to weapons laws soon, Faeser added.

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(Reuters) -The Islamic State group claimed responsibility on Saturday for a knife attack in the western German city of Solingen that killed three people on Friday.

The militant group said in a statement on its Telegram account that the attack was carried out by one of its members "in revenge for Muslims in Palestine and everywhere".

It did not immediately provide any evidence for its assertion and it was not clear how close any relationship between the attacker and Islamic State was.

Friday's attack, in which a man killed three people and wounded eight others, took place in the Fronhof, a market square in Solingen where live bands were playing as part of a festival marking the city's 650th anniversary.

Police said they were conducting a manhunt for the assailant. They said they had detained a 15-year-old and were investigating whether this person was linked to the attacker.

(Reporting by Hatem Maher and Ahmed Tolba; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
Israel says it is prepared for any retaliatory attack from Iran or Hezbollah

Israel said Saturday its military was prepared for any possible retaliatory attacks by Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah or Iran for the killings of their senior leaders.

The news comes amid claims in the Israeli media that there are situational assessments that Hezbollah could attack soon.

Both Hezbollah and Iran have been threatening to retaliate against Israel since a string of figures in Iran-backed militant groups were killed over a span of weeks. Those killings included the death of Hezbollahs most senior military commander Fuad Shukr in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut at the end of July and the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

Asked about the threats of retaliation, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Daniel Hagari told reporters Saturday that the military was prepared for any possible attack by either Hezbollah or Iran.

We take our enemies threats seriously and weve been ready for a long period. Were highly prepared both in the offense and defense, but above all, any threat toward the citizens of Israel we identify, we eliminate, and thats how well continue. Any development that will be, well update the public immediately, Hagari said.

Hagari was then pressed by a reporter from Israels state-run Kan 11 television channel, who said there were situational assessments that Hezbollah could attack soon. The IDF spokesperson did not say whether he was familiar with those assessments, nor did he give any indication of when an attack might be expected.

Weve been, like I said, weve been ready, first of all, both in offense and defense, for a long time. We operate to eliminate threats and will continue to do so. With any change or development, we will immediately update the public. Our mission is to defend the citizens of Israel, Hagari said.

A major attack against Israel could risk disrupting the ceasefire talks that US officials have said were at an advanced stage prior to the assassination of Haniyeh in Tehran, which Iran has blamed on Israel. Israel hasnt confirmed or denied responsibility.

There are currently 109 Israeli hostages being held in Gaza, including 36 believed to be dead, according to data from the Israeli government press office. This week, the bodies of six Israeli hostages were retrieved from tunnels in Gaza in an Israeli military operation in the city of Khan Younis.

Israels war in Gaza was launched after Hamas-led militants attacked the country on October 7, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli authorities. More than 40,200 people have died in Gaza during the war, according to Palestinian authorities.

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At least three dozen people were killed in the latest Israeli strikes on southern Gaza, as cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas continue.

The Nasser Hospital received a total of 33 dead bodies killed in three separate Israeli strikes around Khan Younis. Another hospital received three bodies, The Associated Press reported.

Around 11 members of one family were killed in the strike and at least 17 others were injured, per the news wire. The Israeli military told the AP that it was looking into the reports but had no immediate comment.

The latest attacks come after President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke Wednesday about the efforts to secure a cease-fire and hostage return deal and calm tensions in the region. The call, which also included Vice President Harris, follows reports that Netanyahu has frustrated the Biden administration by backtracking on promises to draw down military force on the Gaza-Egypt border.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Netanyahu for three hours Monday and said the Israeli leader had agreed to a U.S.-led proposal to close gaps between Israel and Hamas.

After Blinkens meeting, Hamas seemed unwilling to agree to the deal, however, saying he said misleading claims.

Since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, sparking the war, more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israels deadly counteroffensive, per local health authorities.

More than 100 hostages remain in Hamass control and the Israeli leader has maintained that they must be returned for a cease-fire deal to be done.

The apparent collapse of the deal to pause fighting in the region is spurring fears that a major escalation of conflict in the Middle East is around the corner. The White House pushed back on that notion Friday, saying the process is actually moving forward.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Israeli strikes kill 37 in Gaza and 8 in Lebanon as ceasefire talks falter

Israel killed at least 37 Palestinians in Gaza and eight in southern Lebanon in a series of attacks as international efforts to broker a ceasefire faltered.

The attacks, targeting residential areas, were particularly deadly in and around the city of Khan Younis, where most of the casualties were reported from. The dead included four women and as many children from a family whose home in the al-Amal neighbourhood was shelled, Al Jazeera reported.

At least three people were also killed in a strike on the Nuseirat refugee camp.

An Israeli drone fired on displaced Palestinians sheltering in tents near Salah al-Din Street in central Gaza, injuring at least five people, while warplanes bombed the Abu Arif neighbourhood in the region. It was not immediately known if there were any casualties.

Israel also conducted airstrikes in southern Lebanon, killing at least eight people, including a child. The Israeli military released footage of one of the strikes claiming it was targeting a Hezbollah cell.

An Israeli tank is seen against the backdrop of destroyed buildings in Strip on 21 August (AP)

Amid escalating violence in southern Lebanon, China warned its citizens in the country about the "severe and complex" security situation and advised them to leave while commercial flights were still available.

Several major countries previously advised citizens to leave Lebanon amid fears that the Israeli assault on Gaza  which began after Hamas raided southern Israel on 7 October and killed about 1,200 people  could spill over into a regional war.

The Israelis have killed over 40,000 Palestinian men, women and children in Gaza so far, according to the health authorities. They have also killed at least 632 Palestinians and displaced nearly 1,400 in over 1,000 attacks in the West Bank since 7 October, according to data from Israeli forces, Palestinian officials and the UNs Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Israels bombardment has also displaced 1.9 million people in Gaza and left the besieged territorys entire population of over 2.2 million at the risk of famine and disease, according to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.

A home destroyed by rockets in Katzrin in Golan Heights, a territory annexed by Israel from Syria (AP)

The Israelis continued their attacks in Gaza as talks to broker a ceasefire seemed to falter in Cairo. The talks involved Israeli officials and intermediaries from the United States, Egypt and Qatar.

Brett McGurk, the White House Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, was leading the American delegation, the Associated Press reported, quoting a US official who spoke anonymously.

The outcome of the latest round of discussions on Thursday remained uncertain as Hamas appeared unwilling to accede to new demands introduced by Israel since the Palestinian group accepted a version of the ceasefire deal unveiled by US president Joe Biden in May, Reuters reported.

Israel demands to keep troops in two strategic corridors in Gaza  Netzarim Corridor, which runs the width of the territory, and Philadelphi Corridor along the border with Egypt  and retain the option to resume fighting after the first phase of a ceasefire, The New York Times reported.

Hamas is asking for a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces.

Displaced Palestinians line up to collect water in central Gazas Deir al Balah (AP)

The humanitarian situation, meanwhile, continued to worsen, with over 80 per cent of Gazas population displaced and living in overcrowded, unsanitary tent camps.

To add to their misery, Israel issued a new evacuation order for southern Gaza, including areas it previously designated as a humanitarian zone. Palestinians said there was no safe place left to go.

After the new Israeli evacuation order for the overcrowded city of Deir al-Balah, rights groups raised alarm about Gaza's worsening humanitarian crisis.

Amid repeated evacuation orders by the Israeli military, the UN said over a million people in southern and central Gaza might not receive food aid rations for August.

The International Rescue Committee reported that polio had resurfaced in Gaza after a quarter century, attributing it to the destruction of healthcare and water infrastructure and overcrowded living conditions.

Dr Jude Senkugu, the groups emergency health coordinator, warned that "the news of polio in Gaza should be an alarm bell that more infectious diseases are on the way and highlighted the dire lack of clean water and the risk of further disease spread.

The World Health Organisation had earlier reported that a 10-month-old baby was paralysed by type 2 polio virus, the first such case in Gaza in 25 years.

Doctors Without Borders warned that shrinking living spaces were accelerating disease transmission. "There is no room to put tents up, coordinator Jacob Granger said. The overcrowding, severe lack of water, and minimal sanitation services are fueling the spread of diseases."

Both organisations joined global aid agencies in calling for an immediate ceasefire.
Vice presidential candidate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz celebrates with his daughter Hope, son Gus and wife Gwen at Democratic National Convention on Wednesday, Aug. 21, in Chicago. The Walzes clarified this week that they didnt use IVF but another kind of fertility treatment to grow their family. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

The broader scope of fertility treatments entered the spotlight this week after Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and his wife Gwen shared that they had children through a less commonly known procedure.

Since Vice President Kamala Harris selected Gov. Walz as her running mate, he has discussed his familys fertility journey during speeches in Pennsylvania, Nebraska and mostly recently at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois.

It took Gwen and I years, Walz said on Wednesday night. But we had access to fertility treatments. And when our daughter was born, we named her Hope.

This week, the Walzes clarified that they conceived via intrauterine insemination, not in vitro fertilization.

IUI involves injecting sperm into the uterus during or just before ovulation to increase the chances of fertilization and pregnancy.

Our fertility journey was an incredibly personal and difficult experience. Like so many who have experienced these challenges, we kept it largely to ourselves at the time  not even sharing the details with our wonderful and close family, Gwen Walz said in a statement provided to States Newsroom. The only person who knew in detail what we were going through was our next door neighbor. She was a nurse and helped me with the shots I needed as part of the IUI process.

During IVF, eggs and sperm are combined in a lab and an embryo is inserted into the uterus. IVF has been drawn into national reproductive rights debates for much of this year, and Walz has been talking about it on the campaign trail while discussing his familys fertility journey.

U.S. Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, the Republican vice presidential candidate, accused his opponent of lying about how he and his wife had children. In an Aug. 20 social media post, Vance said, Today it came out that Tim Walz had lied about having a family via IVF. Who lies about something like that? He also shared a clip of Walz talking about fertility care and families on Aug. 9.

In a statement, Harris-Walz campaign spokesperson Mia Ehrenberg said, Governor Walz talks how normal people talk. He was using commonly understood shorthand for fertility treatments.

Experts said that patients commonly get IUI and IVF confused or refer to them interchangeably, given that in vitro fertilization is more popular.

Theres such a huge sort of alphabet soup that comes along with assisted reproduction, said Kimberly Mutcherson, a professor at Rutgers University-Camden who specializes in reproductive justice, bioethics, and family and health law.

Dr. Kelly Acharya, a fertility physician and assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Duke University, said patients partners are more likely to mix up the two treatments or rope related procedures into IVF.

A lot of times in my line of work, I see people that are referring to other things, like egg freezing, they call that IVF, even though technically its not, she said.

Both Acharya and Mutcherson said the main differences between IUI and IVF are where fertilization occurs, the price and effectiveness.

Intrauterine insemination or IUI is basically less invasive. Its typically less expensive, and it is often what is recommended as the first thing that somebody tries, Acharya said. When somebody has mild forms of infertility, like if there are mild differences in the semen analysis, or if somebody is young and theyre not quite sure why theyre not getting pregnant, then often a provider will recommend that they do IUI as a first step to help things along.

IUI is performed during or near ovulation, and it typically takes 10 minutes and is a minor procedure, according to Acharya. The price of IUI varies, depending on insurance coverage, from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars.

Mutcherson noted that some people also confuse IUI with intracervical insemination, or ICI. During this method, the sperm is inserted into the cervix  the passageway to the uterus, according to the Carolina Fertility Institute.

Doctors often recommend ICI or IUI as a precursor to IVF, which Mutcherson said can cost $12,000 to $15,000 per cycle  or more with grading and genetic testing. During IVF, fertilization happens outside of the body, Acharya said.

IUI, the treatment the Walz family used to have children, is not under the same scrutiny as IVF, which has faced opposition from anti-abortion hardliners. It sometimes is listed as being less controversial than IVF, because its just helping along the natural process of getting the sperm inside the uterus and then expecting fertilization to happen inside the body, Acharya said.

But Mutcherson said that could also be attributed to the fact that its a less well-known procedure.

I think the really big issue when it comes to something like artificial insemination is that it allows people to create families that a lot of these folks  unfortunately, in the Republican Party and folks who are evangelicals  dont approve of: families with two moms, families with two dads, single women who are having children, she said.

Price is a significant barrier to fertility care. Only 21 states require insurers to cover fertility procedures, Stateline reported. A successful birth via IVF can cost more than $60,000, according to a 2022 study published in Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology.

It requires a lot more physically, emotionally and economically to be able to do IVF, Mutcherson, who conceived via IUI, said.

IVF became a national reproductive rights issue in February after the Alabama Supreme Court likened frozen embryos to unborn children in a ruling. The plaintiffs were couples who sued for damages under an 1872 wrongful death of children law after their embryos were accidentally destroyed in a clinic four years ago, Alabama Reflector reported. Alabamas fertility clinics temporarily closed after the ruling until Republican Gov. Kay Ivey signed legislation in March shielding providers from criminal and civil liabilities, the Reflector reported.

But theres still uncertainty over whether embryos and fetuses in the state have legal personhood rights. Despite the new law, two fertility clinics in Alabama announced plans to close by the end of the year, though one denied the decision was related to the ruling.

Since the Alabama ruling, polls have shown most Americans back IVF. A survey conducted by Pew in April found that 70% said IVF is a good thing, while 22% said theyre not sure, and 8% said its a bad thing. Awareness is growing, too: 42% of Americans said they or someone they know have had fertility treatments, according to a 2023 Pew poll.

Nationally, Republicans and Democrats condemned the Alabama Supreme Courts ruling and filed bills seeking to protect IVF this spring, though all of them stalled in Congress. The Republican Partys platform featured support for both IVF and the equal protections clause of the 14th Amendment, which conservative legal scholars argue can be used to solidify fetal personhood along with effectively banning abortion. And in June, the Southern Baptist Convention  the largest Protestant denomination in the U.S.  voted to condemn IVF, particularly the destruction or donation of embryos that are not implanted in the uterus.

People who believe that life begins at conception, people who believe that an embryo is no different than a 5-year-old sitting in a kindergarten classroom, those are people who have really deep and abiding principles related to procedures like in vitro fertilization, Mutcherson said.

The number of babies born in the U.S. using assisted reproductive technology has increased in recent years: 2.5% of newborns were conceived using fertility treatments in 2022, according to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine. Thats up from 2.3% in 2021, per federal data.
Vice presidential candidate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz celebrates with his daughter Hope, son Gus, and wife Gwen at Democratic National Convention on Wednesday, Aug. 21, in Chicago. The Walzes clarified this week that they didnt use IVF but another kind of fertility treatment to grow their family. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

The broader scope of fertility treatments entered the spotlight this week after Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and his wife Gwen shared that they had children through a less commonly known procedure.

Since Vice President Kamala Harris selected Gov. Walz as her running mate, he has discussed his familys fertility journey during speeches in Pennsylvania, Nebraska, and mostly recently at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois.

It took Gwen and I years, Walz said on Wednesday night. But we had access to fertility treatments. And when our daughter was born, we named her Hope.

This week, the Walzes clarified that they conceived via intrauterine insemination, not in vitro fertilization.

IUI involves injecting sperm into the uterus during or just before ovulation to increase the chances of fertilization and pregnancy.

Our fertility journey was an incredibly personal and difficult experience. Like so many who have experienced these challenges, we kept it largely to ourselves at the time  not even sharing the details with our wonderful and close family, Gwen Walz said in a statement provided to States Newsroom. The only person who knew in detail what we were going through was our next-door neighbor. She was a nurse and helped me with the shots I needed as part of the IUI process.

During IVF, eggs and sperm are combined in a lab and an embryo is inserted into the uterus. IVF has been drawn into national reproductive rights debates for much of this year, and Walz has been talking about it on the campaign trail while discussing his familys fertility journey.

U.S. Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, the Republican vice-presidential candidate, accused his opponent of lying about how he and his wife had children. In an Aug. 20 social media post, Vance said, Today it came out that Tim Walz had lied about having a family via IVF. Who lies about something like that? He also shared a clip of Walz talking about fertility care and families on Aug. 9.

In a statement, Harris-Walz campaign spokesperson Mia Ehrenberg said, Governor Walz talks how normal people talk. He was using commonly understood shorthand for fertility treatments.

Confusion

Experts said that patients commonly get IUI and IVF confused or refer to them interchangeably, given that in vitro fertilization is more popular.

Theres such a huge sort of alphabet soup that comes along with assisted reproduction, said Kimberly Mutcherson, a professor at Rutgers University-Camden who specializes in reproductive justice, bioethics, and family and health law.

Dr. Kelly Acharya, a fertility physician and assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Duke University, said patients partners are more likely to mix up the two treatments or rope related procedures into IVF.

A lot of times in my line of work, I see people that are referring to other things, like egg freezing, they call that IVF, even though technically its not, she said.

Both Acharya and Mutcherson said the main differences between IUI and IVF are where fertilization occurs, the price and effectiveness.

Intrauterine insemination or IUI is basically less invasive. Its typically less expensive, and it is often what is recommended as the first thing that somebody tries, Acharya said. When somebody has mild forms of infertility, like if there are mild differences in the semen analysis, or if somebody is young and theyre not quite sure why theyre not getting pregnant, then often a provider will recommend that they do IUI as a first step to help things along.

IUI is performed during or near ovulation, and it typically takes 10 minutes and is a minor procedure, according to Acharya. The price of IUI varies, depending on insurance coverage, from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars.

Mutcherson noted that some people confuse IUI with intracervical insemination, or ICI. During this method, the sperm is inserted into the cervix  the passageway to the uterus, according to the Carolina Fertility Institute.

Cost factor

Doctors often recommend ICI or IUI as a precursor to IVF, which Mutcherson said can cost $12,000 to $15,000 per cycle  or more with grading and genetic testing. During IVF, fertilization happens outside of the body, Acharya said.

IUI, the treatment the Walz family used to have children, is not under the same scrutiny as IVF, which has faced opposition from anti-abortion hardliners. It sometimes is listed as being less controversial than IVF, because its just helping along the natural process of getting the sperm inside the uterus and then expecting fertilization to happen inside the body, Acharya said.

But Mutcherson said that could also be attributed to the fact that its a less well-known procedure.

I think the really big issue when it comes to something like artificial insemination is that it allows people to create families that a lot of these folks  unfortunately, in the Republican Party and folks who are evangelicals  dont approve of: families with two moms, families with two dads, single women who are having children, she said.

Price is a significant barrier to fertility care. Only 21 states require insurers to cover fertility procedures, Stateline reported. A successful birth via IVF can cost more than $60,000, according to a 2022 study published in Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology.

It requires a lot more physically, emotionally, and economically to be able to do IVF, Mutcherson, who conceived via IUI, said.

IVF became a national reproductive rights issue in February after the Alabama Supreme Court likened frozen embryos to unborn children in a ruling. The plaintiffs were couples who sued for damages under an 1872 wrongful death of children law after their embryos were accidentally destroyed in a clinic four years ago, Alabama Reflector reported. Alabamas fertility clinics temporarily closed after the ruling until Republican Gov. Kay Ivey signed legislation in March shielding providers from criminal and civil liabilities, the Reflector reported.

But theres still uncertainty over whether embryos and fetuses in the state have legal personhood rights. Despite the new law, two fertility clinics in Alabama announced plans to close by the end of the year, although one denied the decision was related to the ruling.

Alabama

Since the Alabama ruling, polls have shown most Americans back IVF. A survey conducted by Pew in April found that 70% said IVF is a good thing, while 22% said theyre not sure, and 8% said its a bad thing. Awareness is growing, too: 42% of Americans said they or someone they know have had fertility treatments, according to a 2023 Pew poll.

Nationally, Republicans and Democrats condemned the Alabama Supreme Courts ruling and filed bills seeking to protect IVF this spring, although all of them stalled in Congress. The Republican Partys platform featured support for both IVF and the equal protections clause of the 14th Amendment, which conservative legal scholars argue can be used to solidify fetal personhood along with effectively banning abortion. And in June, the Southern Baptist Convention  the largest Protestant denomination in the U.S.  voted to condemn IVF, particularly the destruction or donation of embryos that are not implanted in the uterus.

People who believe that life begins at conception, people who believe that an embryo is no different than a 5-year-old sitting in a kindergarten classroom, those are people who have really deep and abiding principles related to procedures like in vitro fertilization, Mutcherson said.

The number of babies born in the U.S. using assisted reproductive technology has increased in recent years: 2.5% of newborns were conceived using fertility treatments in 2022, according to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine. Thats up from 2.3% in 2021, per federal data.
Jack Schlossberg brings the fun to the DNC as he cements the vibes election

Jack Schlossberg takes center stage at the 2024 Democratic National Convention - and has a good time doing it (Getty Images)

Jack Schlossberg brought the fun to the 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC) stage.

This week at the DNC, the 31-year-old Vogue correspondent had a ball at the Chicago political convention. Schlossberg has come a long way from reciting Lord Byron on a Rip Stick singing Rihanna while wearing Bluey sunglasses in silly TikTok videos, as an influx of fan cams of Schlossberg dressed in a suit at the DNC flooded social media feeds this week.

Throughout his time at the convention, held between 19 and 22 of August, the correspondent has been sharing snippets of his experience on social media. He posted a series of photos on Instagram, featuring him posing with notable politicians like former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.

He wrote in the caption: EXCELSIOR !!! DNCLFG !!! VOTEBLUE !!! An honor to be here, INSANE to meet my HEROES IRL !!!! Just gonna keep being myself what do you guys think?

From hanging out with Pelosi to eventually giving a speech on Tuesday, Schlossberg has taken his newfound notoriety in stride. In a speech of just under two minutes, Schlossberg primarily focused on the legacy of his famous grandfather, the late President John F Kennedy.

President John F Kennedy is my grandfather, and hes my hero, Schlossberg said, detailing JFKs major accomplishments as well as referencing one of his most famous quotes: Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.

Tonight, JFKs call to action is now ours to answer, because once again, the torch has been passed to a new generation  to a leader who shares my grandfathers energy, vision, and optimism for our future, he continued. That leader is Vice President Kamala Harris.

As the son of US Ambassador Caroline Kennedy and Edwin Schlossberg, and the only grandson of John F Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, and former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Schlossberg has the pedigree of being the heir of one of the most famous political dynasties in the US.

fuck it jfk jr jack schlossberg dnc edit https://t.co/zMRRzOJdHK pic.twitter.com/H5KZ97u6UP  francesca (@francescaaahhhh) August 21, 2024

But oddly enough, thats not the only reason Schlossberg has risen to prominence and gone on to speak at the DNC, having initially risen to prominence for his silly videos on TikTok, In the videos, he shows off his goofier side, poking fun at his Kennedy status, and subsequently developing a following of more than 360,000 followers.

On social media, his attendance at the DNC was met with excitement from his followers, many of who were excited to see him stepping into a more serious role.

Speech was excellent! one fan commented on Schlossbergs recent TikTok, while another said: Great job tonight Jack! Glad to see you on the stage.

Hes also parlayed this social media success into becoming Vogues political correspondent for the 2024 election, following in the footsteps of his late uncle, John F Kennedy Jr, who founded the political and lifestyle magazine, George.

As Ive grown up, Ive become more involved in the official obligations that come with being part of my family. Ive met a lot of politicians and become all the more optimistic about our future by doing that work, he explained to Vogue earlier this year.

His Tuesday speech marked the second time Schlossberg addressed the DNC, with the last time being in 2020, titled We Lead from the Oval Office. Schlossberg wasnt the only political scion to take the DNC stage, with former president Jimmy Carters grandson Jason Carter also taking the stage.
This is Jacksonville history: Volunteers clean up the Old Stanton High School

Built in 1917 and bought by eight freed slaves, the Old Stanton High School in Downtown Jacksonville has a rich history.

With James Weldon Johnson as its principal, Old Stanton served as the citys first and only black secondary school before the Brown v. Board of Education ruling that made separating children by race in public schools unconstitutional.

This is not only African American history, but this is Jacksonville history, highlighted Barry Farmer Saturday morning. And to preserve it we gotta show a little initiative.

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However, for some, the importance of that now-abandoned brick building has been long forgotten. Thats why on Saturday morning, Farmer, the Stanton Board of Trustees, and other volunteers gathered to cut overgrown grass, clean up trash, and revitalize the vital piece of history.

The ultimate goal is to draw more people to the location so they can learn about its historical importance.

We have a lot of national landmarks here in Jacksonville. So hopefully when people come, theyll stop by Old Stanton as well, said Farmer.

The cleanup is just the beginning. The Board of Trustees hopes to raise tens of millions of dollars in the coming years to turn the school into a museum of education.

Read: It feels like its personal: Jacksonville leaders fear citys lawsuit against Laura Street Trio owners could stall development talks

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Democratic strategist James Carville and Fox Newss Sean Hannity got into an intense exchange Friday over the Biden administrations work to curb mass shootings and migrant surges at the southern border.

Hannity pressed Carville, who served as an adviser for former President Clinton, on Vice President Harriss record, noting that many Americans have been killed by those who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border illegally. He also attempted to connect the May 2022 school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, to the crisis at the border.

We have never had illegal immigration at this level, the news host said in the interview, and I believe its a clear and present danger for you, for your family, for your children.

Carville replied that Americans are also often killed by other Americans, and with legally purchased firearms.

I would have great difficulty  as anyone would have  great difficulty, telling the parents in Uvalde how your children were slaughtered with a legal weapon that no one has any need to have, Carville said.

Hannity interjected, They would be alive  if we secured the border.

The border had nothing to do with this, please. Fact check me, please. Fact check me, the Democratic pundit hit back. The border had nothing to do with these mass shootings, with these AR-15.

Carville acknowledged that the border policy under President Biden could be better. He pointed to the bipartisan border deal that was ready to be passed earlier this year, but was tanked by Republicans, a decision likely influenced by former President Trumps call to vote it down.

We all have difficult questions that we have to ask. Anybody can say that. We can sit in the peanut gallery and throw peanuts, Carville said. I think border crossings right now are about the same as they were when President Biden took office. Was there, I think ineffective border policy at one time? Yes.

But right now, when you look at Sen. Lankford and Sen. Murphys plan, that was negotiated and Donald Trump killed it. Thats a fact. Yall can fact-check me, he added.

Sens. James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) were the lead negotiators over the legislation.

Hannity also pressed Carville on the state of the country under Biden and Harris.

Let me say this, it is better off than it was four years ago, Carville 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.
AUSTINTOWN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes)  Janyth P. Keevey, 81, passed away peacefully, Thursday evening, April 11, 2024, at Hospice House.

Janyth was born November 11, 1942, in Youngstown, the daughter of the late Albert and Genevieve Myers Paul and was a lifelong area resident.

Find obituaries from your high school

She was a 1960 graduate of Chaney High School and subsequently attended Youngstown State University where she earned an associates degree in business.

Janyths professional journey was marked by a profound commitment to education. For 32 years, she served as a paraprofessional in the Austintown Local School System, touching the lives of countless students and colleagues with her warmth, dedication, and passion for learning. Even after her retirement in 2017, Janyth continued to share her expertise, returning to work part-time, a testament to her enduring love for education and her desire to make a difference in the lives of others.

She was a faithful member of St. Brendan Church for many years and a member of the Rosary Club. Janyth found solace, spiritual fulfillment, and a sense of community within her faith.

During the summers, Janyth could be found traversing the streets of the Westside and wandering through the serene beauty of Mill Creek Park, logging countless miles with each step. These leisurely walks were not just about exercise but also about soaking in the tranquility of nature and the simple pleasures of life.

An avid reader and card player, she relished in the camaraderie of her card club, where laughter and friendly competition filled the room. Her love for cats was evident to all who knew her, as she showered her feline companions with affection and care. In her younger days, Jan enjoyed visiting Geneva-on-the-Lake with friends.

Janyth also enjoyed traveling to Southern Florida to visit family. Above all, Janyth treasured moments spent with her family and friends, cherishing each gathering, conversation, and shared memory.

Jan is survived by her daughter, Amy Jane (Andrew) Russ of Pickerington; her son, Aaron (Amy) Keevey of Boca Raton, Florida; her granddaughter, Ava Lynn Keevey and many extended family members and friends.

Janyth leaves behind a legacy of love, kindness, and unwavering dedication. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Family and friends may gather to pay respects from 10:00  11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 31, 202, at St. Brendan Church 2800 Oakwood Ave., Youngstown, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m.

Private interment will take place at Resurrection Cemetery in Austintown.

Arrangements are. being handled by the Kinnick Funeral Home.



To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.

A television tribute will air Sunday, August 25 at the following approximate times: 6:27 p.m. on WYTV and 6:58 p.m. on MyYTV. Video will be posted here the day of airing.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Jewish families, school staff call on NYC to ban keffiyehs in schools: Symbol of hate

Some Jewish students, parents and staffers are demanding the city ban Middle Eastern scarves in NYC public schools because they see them as a symbol of hate and violence.

Members of the group New York United in Fighting Antisemitism are urging others to send an email to Mayor Adams, schools Chancellor David Banks and United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew to ban the keffiyehs, which they said are intimidating and frightening to Jews.

The keffiyehs worn in school and at school events are not merely cultural garments, they have been adopted as symbols in response to the slaughter of Jews on Oct. 7, the advocates claim in the email.

Some Jewish students, parents and staffers are demanding the city ban keffiyehs, which have become a protest symbol for Palestine, in NYC schools. James Keivom

This symbol is prominently displayed at protests where chants, slogans, and signs openly call for the death of Israel and Jews, they said of the black-and-white checkered scarves, which have become a uniform face covering for left-wing radicals at pro-Palestine demonstrations.

Just as the swastikas historic symbolism of peace was co-opted by the Nazis, the traditional Arab scarf, despite its cultural roots, has now been adopted by groups that promote violence and hatred against Jews, supporters of the ban argue.

Our schools must remain places of neutrality, respect, and safety for all students and staff, free from symbols that incite hatred and violence, they added in the email.

The traditional Arab scarf, despite its cultural roots, has now been adopted by groups that promote violence and hatred against Jews, supporters of the ban argue. ZUMAPRESS.com

Keffiyehs have become a symbol for Palestine following the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks on Israel. AFP via Getty Images

Brooklyn paraprofessional James Parra, who was eventually fired from PS 414, sparked outrage last year after posting a video on Instagram wearing a keffiyeh.

The city Department of Educations dress code specifically allows for headwear worn for religious observance as well as headscarves. It prohibits attire that includes references that discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, religious practices, ethnicity, national origin and other characteristics.

People are using keffiyehs to show solidarity with Palestinians and resistance of Israel. Boston Globe via Getty Images

We are also committed to providing supportive and inclusive learning environments while protecting First Amendment rights, DOE spokesman Nathaniel Styer told The Post.

If there is a complaint, we assess the case and make a determination on next steps based on the facts, he said.
Illustration:Jianan Liu/HuffPost; Photo:Getty Images

Joe Biden likes to think of himself as the most pro-union president in U.S. history. As his time in the White House winds down and his legacy begins to take shape, theres no doubt that he has a strong case to make for himself.

Biden, sometimes called Union Joe, has spoken unabashedly about the value of collective bargaining throughout his one term as president. Hes stacked labor agencies with pro-union appointees who are making it easier for workers to organize. Hes openly scolded employers for trying to prevent their workers from forming unions. And hes even stood alongside striking autoworkers on a picket line  a first for a sitting president.

Yet union membership is hovering near a historic low following a decades-long decline, with barely 1 in 10 workers belonging to a union. Theres little evidence that Bidens pro-labor policies and bully pulpit have revitalized the labor movement, at least not yet. And much of his union-friendly imprint, shaped as it was without the cooperation of Congress, could be erased by another Donald Trump presidency.

Thats not to mention the record of Franklin D. Roosevelt, whose New Deal created bedrock labor standards and paved the way for a massive unionization wave.

So HuffPost put a simple question to several historians whove studied the labor movement in the U.S.: Is Biden really the most pro-union president ever?

Some of their answers, written via email, have been edited for length.

Joseph McCartin, Georgetown University:

Biden has a very legitimate claim to being the most pro-union president in U.S. history. Arguably Franklin Roosevelt was able to accomplish more for and in partnership with unions in his New Deal, signing the Wagner Act, Social Security, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and more. But Roosevelt had a more favorable political climate and huge Democratic margins to work with. Given the narrow margins and the polarized environment he had to work with, Biden may go down in history as a miracle worker for what he was able to accomplish. Like FDR, he has altered the relationship between the Democratic party and the unions. If Roosevelt made unions central to the New Deal coalition, Biden has made them a cornerstone of a post-neoliberal Democratic coalition. After years of seeing labors concerns overlooked by national Democrats, this has been quite a significant development and one that I believe will outlive Biden just as labors alliance with New Deal outlived FDR.

Eileen Boris, University of California, Santa Barbara:

Joe Biden was the first president to walk a picket line in support of striking workers, but by the criteria of the most consequential legislation for worker organizing, no one beats Franklin Delano Roosevelt, whose New Deal saw the National Labor Relations Act that codified the right to organize as well as social insurance (Social Security and unemployment insurance) and labor standards (minimum wages, maximum hours, limits on child labor)  even if the initial acts excluded the predominantly African-American and Mexican-American workforce of agricultural and domestic workers. Vice-President Kamala Harris, who as a Senator co-sponsored the federal Domestic Worker Bill of Rights, could surpass his legacy if she can push through the care infrastructure (access to child and home care, better working conditions for the care economy) that the Biden-Harris administration lacked the votes to pass, that the increased labor force participation of women and an aging society demands.

Gabriel Winant, University of Chicago:

The Biden administration distinguished itself with the most pro-union presidential posture seen in decades, a reaction to Trumps strength with blue-collar voters. But this is a low bar to clear, and in any case Biden likely squandered the moment with his contempt for the political left, expressed most clearly around resistance to the genocide in Gaza. Biden rightly recognized that the threat from the far right can only be defeated through tempering neoliberalism, but foolishly tried to selectively pick and choose how to approach this task  continuing policies of recent years in too many areas, and imagining that a fairer economy could be achieved while leaving much of American society unchanged around it. The consequence is that his administration was not able to present a coherent alternative vision of American society or the American economy, only a kluge of threadbare cliches and encouraging statistics.



Nelson Lichtenstein, University of California, Santa Barbara:

Pro-union sentiment is one thing; solid governmental policy transformation is quite another. Joe Biden is undoubtedly in favor of unions and he famously became the first sitting president to actually walk a picket line to demonstrate that. More important, he appointed an activist NLRB [National Labor Relations Board] and marbled his administration with other pro-union figures. So the sentiment is there, but that is not enough to revive the union movement or allow us to call Biden the most pro-union president ever. That prize goes to Franklin Roosevelt, whose pro-union sentiments were often a bit mixed, but whose actual legislative and administrative accomplishments with regard to unionism worked a near revolution, both in the Depression itself and in World War II. Like Biden, FDR broke some strikes, and unlike Biden, he shifted the NLRB a bit to the right toward the end of his second term, but all that pales in comparison to the larger governmental and ideological structures he put in place, a politics that put unionism at the heart of what historians now call the New Deal Order, lasting from 1933 to at least 1981.

Tejasvi Nagaraja, Cornell University:

Biden may be the most interesting labor-friendly president alongside FDR. Though less durable than the New Deal, Biden passed policies which facilitate unionization, and has had a remarkably progressive NLRB. He has spoken in support of specific union campaigns, walked a picket line, and has avoided scolding any union campaigns  three labor-friendly merits which FDR cannot claim. Yet both FDR and Biden will be evaluated later by how their labor policies interacted with other issues such as race and war. FDR made compromises with Jim Crow, which ultimately helped undercut universal labor solidarity. Biden will be judged later by his immigration policies. In addition, Bidens Mideast policies have put him into tension with the very same intergenerational unions that have led a union upsurge in the 2020s.

Jeff Schuhrke, Empire State University:

Its fair to say Biden has made an earnest effort to be the most union-friendly president, with the glaring exceptions of his role in preempting the would-be railroad strike in 2022 and his more recent refusal to listen to the unions demanding he halt military aid to Israel. But its important to remember that most pro-union president in U.S. history is a pathetically low bar. Most US presidents have firmly sided with bosses, if they werent bosses themselves. Several have ordered federal troops to violently crush strikes or invoked the Taft-Hartley Act to shut strikes down. Twelve presidents (one in four) were literally slave owners. Hopefully Biden has raised that low bar, but what I think matters most for unions is that they use their collective strength to make future presidents see that being unapologetically pro-labor is politically advantageous.

Annelise Orleck, Dartmouth College:

The bully pulpit matters. Bidens unalloyed enthusiasm for unions and repeated statements that unions are bedrock of the American middle class have supported both the upsurge in labor activism and a sea change in public opinion so that more Americans support unions now than at any time since the 1960s. Symbolism may only go so far, but he has concrete achievements as well. He raised the minimum wage for federal contract employees to $15 an hour and appointed robustly pro-union Secretaries of Labor. Jennifer Abruzzo, Bidens NLRB chief, vigorously defended workers rights to unionize and collectively bargain. And his signature legislation  the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Inflation Reduction Act and the Chips and Science Act  created millions of good new jobs with rights to collective bargaining and fair-wage standards. Overall, I would agree with his campaign promise. He has been the most pro-labor president since FDR.
The Bidens are coming back to Rehoboth Beach area on Sunday for the first time in two weeks.

Joe and Jill Biden are traveling from California where they were staying at a donor and friends house in Santa Barbara. FAA restrictions in the Rehoboth and Dover areas expire on Tuesday, Sept. 3, but there is no indication from the White House about how long the president will be staying at his home near Rehoboth.

He is scheduled to arrive at Dover Air Force Base at 7:05 p.m. and the Rehoboth Beach area around 7:35 p.m. on Sunday after taking off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

The last time he was in the Rehoboth area, he was seen riding his bike around Gordons Pond State Park and went to the beach with his granddaughter and to church. Earlier this summer, Biden isolated there because of his bout with COVID-19 and announced he would not seek reelection.

MORE ON JOE BIDEN: With Harris's surge, Biden once again escapes the years-long GOP push to take him down

BIDEN'S GOODBYE: Biden wanted his Democratic convention speech to be a launchpad. It became his swan song.

The Bidens are capping off a busy week of traveling, not only visiting a friend in California but also attending the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, where the president gave a speech on Monday night endorsing his vice president, Kamala Harris, in her run for president.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: President Joe Biden is coming back to Rehoboth Beach-area home
A Kentucky judge ruled that Breonna Taylors boyfriend's decision to open fire is the legal cause of her fatal shooting by police officers, throwing out federal charges against two officers who allegedly falsified a drug warrant that led to police breaking down her door and killing her in 2020.

In a decision on Thursday, U.S. District Judge Charles R. Simpson III dismissed felony deprivation of rights charges against former Louisville Police Detective Joshua Jaynes, who was accused of knowingly drafting a false search warrant affidavit on Taylors home, and former Sgt. Kyle Meany, who approved the warrant.

Three plainclothes Louisville police officers, Brett Hankison, Jon Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove, executed the search warrant on Taylors home on March 13, 2020. Startled awake by pounding on the door, Taylors boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, said he assumed it was a break-in and fired a shot in the dark, which struck Mattingly. The officers fired 32 shots in return, killing Taylor.

The judge ruled that there is no direct link between the warrantless entry and Taylors death, writing that Jaynes and Meany were not involved in the raid on Taylors home. Instead, he wrote, it was Walkers decision to open fire that was the legal cause of Taylors death.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced federal charges against Jaynes, Meany and two other officers in 2022.

Simpsons ruling on Thursday means that Jaynes and Meany, who could have faced life in prison had they been found guilty on the felony charges, now face only misdemeanor charges related to covering up the allegedly false search warrant and lying to investigators. Both men have pleaded not guilty to all charges.

There has not yet been an objective accounting of the chaos during Taylors fatal shooting. Her family has long disputed police accounts of what happened at her home that night, and the officers who executed the warrant have given differing versions of the events. None of the officers used body cameras during the operation.

Taylors family said in a statement to The Associated Press that prosecutors told them they plan to appeal Simpsons ruling.

Obviously we are devastated at the moment by the judges ruling with which we disagree and are just trying to process everything, they said. The only thing we can do at this point is continue to be patient. ... We will continue to fight until we get full justice for Breonna Taylor.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
A federal judge has reduced the charges against two former Louisville Metro Police Department officers who were indicted in connection with the death of Breonna Taylor.

Senior Judge Charles Simpson III ordered the reduction in felony charges against former LMPD Sgt. Kyle Meany and former LMPD Detective Joshua Jaynes Thursday.

Meany and Jaynes were indicted in August 2022 in U.S. District Court in the Western District of Kentucky on charges that, while acting under color of law, they deprived Taylor of her Constitutional right to freedom from unreasonable search and seizure.

The offense involved the use of a dangerous weapon and resulted in Taylors death, the indictment stated.

But Simpson ruled Thursday that the warrantless entry was not the proximate cause of Taylors death and even if it were, K.W.s decision to open fire is the legal cause of her death, it being a superseding cause.

K.W. is a reference to Kenneth Walker, Taylors boyfriend.

Walker has said that he thought the police were intruders breaking in when they barged into Taylors Springfield Drive apartment unannounced while he and Taylor slept after midnight on March 13, 2020.

Walker fired a shot at police with a legally-owned gun, and one officer was struck in the leg and required emergency surgery. Three officers returned fire, hitting and killing Taylor.

The death of Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency room technician, became a galvanizing issue in the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, leading to calls for search warrant reform across the nation and months of nightly protest in Louisville.

Simpsons order means Jaynes and Meany will not face life in prison on that charge. Instead, they now face a misdemeanor, which carries a punishment of up to a year in prison.

The tragedy of Breonna Taylors death and the gravity of her familys grief are not lost on this Court, Simpson wrote. However, the power of punishment is vested in the legislative, not in the judicial department. It is the legislature, not the Court, which is to define a crime, and ordain its punishment.

In this case, the alleged facts do not fit the  242 felony offenses as written. The Execution Team did not use their weapons to subject Taylor to a search, and their return fire was not the proximate cause of Taylors death.

Both officers are still facing other federal charges that could carry sentences of years in prison and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines if they are convicted.

Jaynes is charged with conspiracy to falsify records and witness tampering, as well as falsification of records in a federal investigation. He allegedly tried to cover up the fact that the Springfield Drive warrant affidavit was false by submitting a false investigative letter, making false statements to investigators and pressuring other officers to give support to false information after the shooting, according to his indictment.

Meany is charged with making a false statement to federal investigators. He allegedly told an FBI agent after the shooting that officers on the LMPD SWAT team had asked for no-knock authority when they had not.

Meany had been a LMPD officer since 2013, and Jaynes had worked for the department for 15 years, according to the indictment.

Both have been fired.

Walker posted a statement on his Instagram account Friday saying, IF THEY WOULD OF JUST KNOCKED ON THE DOOR AND SAID ITS THE POLICE, OR JUST SID ANYTHING AT ALL THEN WE WOULD OF JUST OPENED THE DOOR AND SAID HOW CAN WE HELP YOU.

In 2022, Walker reached a $2 million settlement with the city of Louisville, the Associated Press reported.

Two other police officers were also charged in connection with Taylors death.

Former LMPD detective Kelly Goodlett pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy in 2022, admitting that she helped falsify the warrant affidavit to allow officers to search Taylors apartment, then made false statements to try to cover it up.

Court records indicate that her sentencing is scheduled for April 29, 2025.

Former LMPD detective Brett Hankison is accused of using unjustified and unreasonable force when he fired into windows and doors covered with blinds and curtains through which he could not see. A mistrial was declared when the jury could not reach a verdict in Hankinsons case last November. His case is still pending.
McKenzie Cochran, 25, of Ferndale, died in 2014 after five security officers held him to the ground at Northland Mall. No charges were filed. HIs family hopes the George Floyd protests help reopen his case.

Three former employees of a private security company who were guards at Northland Mall in Southfield were found not guilty Friday in the 2014 death of a man who died after the guards wrestled the man to the floor of the mall and held him face down.

Former guards John Seiberling, Gaven King, and Aaron Maree were charged with involuntary manslaughter, a 15-year felony, in connection with the death of McKenzie Cochran. In a news release, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said that, although the jury's decision to acquit was not what she'd hoped for, her staff deserved praise for working diligently "in pursuit of long-awaited answers on behalf of Mr. Cochrans family.

The investigation languished for years, after former Oakland County Prosecutor Jessica Cooper declined to bring criminal charges against the five guards involved, saying they had no intention to kill Cochrane. Cooper said in 2014 that she felt there was no criminal negligence on the part of the guards, although she said there might well have been civil negligence. Soon afterward, Cochrane's family filed an $800-million lawsuit against the guards, the security company that employed them and Northland Mall. No settlement was ever made public.

In 2020, Cochrans family asked then newly appointed Southfield police Chief Elvin Barren to "take a second look at the case," Nessel said in a news release. The investigation was then referred to Nessel's office, the release said.

Video evidence showed that the guards held Cochran held face down on the floor with his arms under his body, and witnesses at the mall as well as the guards themselves told detectives that, as they restrained him, Cochrane said, "Let me go, I can't breathe" -- words like those of others who died at the hands of police and security personnel, including George Floyd in 2020 in Minneapolis.

The fatal incident at Northland Mall on Jan. 28, 2014, began when Cochran, 25, of Ferndale, reportedly told the owner of a jewelry store inside the mall that he wanted to kill someone. Two guards responded to the store owner's call for help. When the guards arrived, Cochran approached them with clenched fists. One guard pepper-sprayed him and both tried to restrain him while requesting assistance. Three additional guards responded and joined the group's effort at handcuffing Cochran. News reports at the time cited witnesses saying that Cochrane appeared to have "super-human strength."

Once handcuffed, the guards noticed Cochran was unresponsive and called EMS while awaiting police, who arrived in eight minutes. At that point, attempts to revive Cochrane at the mall were unsuccessful. Cochran was declared deceased shortly after being transported to a nearby hospital. An autopsy showed that his death was caused by "compression asphyxiation"  that is, Cochrane was unable to breathe because of the guards' weight on his body although the Oakland County Medical Examiner's Office ruled it an accidental death.

A fourth security guard, Lucius Hamilton, pleaded guilty earlier this month to one count of involuntary manslaughter. Hamilton could receive a prison sentence of up to 15 years. One guard who was involved died in 2017.

Contact Bill Laytner: blaitner@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ex-Northland Mall guards not guilty in 2014 death of threatening man
A flag waves on Maryland Avenue in Annapolis, near the State House. File photo by Danielle E. Gaines.

Advocates said they hope a commission created to assess Marylands juvenile justice system can begin meeting as early as next month, even though just four of the 28 members of the panel are in place so far.

House Speaker Adrienne Jones (D-Baltimore County) has appointed two House Judiciary Committee members, Dels. J. Sandy Bartlett (D-Anne Arundel) and N. Scott Phillips (D-Baltimore County), to the commission. Two other members, the secretaries of Human Services and Juvenile Services, are named in the law that created the panel.

But aides to Gov. Wes Moore (D) said the governors appointments have not been finalized, and aides to Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) were not able to provide the names of any Senate appointees. Moore has 22 appointments to make to the commission while Ferguson must name two senators.

The Governors Office of Crime Prevention and Policy is required to provide staff for the commission, which lawmakers created this year.

GOCPP is working closely with public safety stakeholders and the Office of Appointments to fill each of the seats on the Commission, said Arinze Ifekauche, a spokesperson for the agency. We have what we believe to be a strong group of candidates that are interested in serving. Barring any significant hurdles, the Commission should begin meeting as soon as next month.

The members still to be appointed from a range of institutions and disciplines, and must include two members of the public who are between the ages of 16 and 30. Others to be appointed by the governor include seven people from the general public, an employee from the public defenders office, the Maryland Chiefs of Police Association, a representative from a youth services bureau and someone from an institute operated by the University of Maryland specializing in providing evidencebased and culturally competent services for juveniles. among others.

The commission was part of a larger juvenile justice reform bill passed by the General Assembly this year and was the first part to take effect, on June 1. The bulk of the bill goes into effect on Nov. 1.

Some of the groups responsibilities include reviewing deaths of children who were under the supervision of juvenile services, recommending policies and programs to improve juvenile services and coordinating with the state Department of Labor to identify any job or apprenticeship opportunities for juveniles under DJS supervision.

The commission must meet regularly at least six times a year, but its first report is not due to lawmakers and the governor until Oct. 1, 2025. All future reports are due annually by Oct. 1.

Bartlett said Friday she would like for the commission to offer evidence-based recommendations with innovative methods to provide children more opportunities to divert them from criminal activity.

Im very excited about it, she said. Ive been kind of anxious about when are we going to meet, when are we going to meet. If I know Scott Phillips like I think I do, hes excited about it, too. Were ready to get the work done.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Two adults were arrested by the Covington Police in July after a 12-year-old in their care was shot by a 10-year-old.

On July 25, detectives from the Covington Police Department responded to Methodist North Hospital following a report of a juvenile with a gunshot wound to the leg.

The juvenile was reportedly shot by another juvenile in the residence. The injured juvenile was promptly treated and is currently in stable condition.

An investigation and subsequent interviews conducted by the CPD revealed that the incident occurred at a residence located in the 100 block of Shelton Street.

MPD investigating shootout in apartment complex parking lot

It was determined that several juveniles were playing with a firearm inside the residence.

The juveniles were left in the care of 20-year-old Danielle Mason and 18-year-old Xavier Martin.

According to Mason and Martins statements, they were aware the children were handling the firearm but due to the weapon not belonging to them, they did not secure it.

Officers also claimed that Martin made false statements to detectives regarding the incident.

One juvenile was charged with aggravated assault.

Former MPD officer driven by anger in Tyre Nichols beating

Mason was charged with child neglect and endangerment. Her bond was set at $25,000.

Martin was charged with child neglect, endangerment and false reporting. His bond was set at $100,000.

Both Mason and Martin are free on bond and are slated to appear before General Sessions Court Judge Mo Eckel III on September 3.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the child affected by this incident, and we wish a swift and full recovery. The situation had the potential to be much more tragic. The detectives, despite being given inconsistent statements from the adults, were able to determine the chain of events leading to the discharge of the weapon. said Covington Police Chief Donna Turner. We strongly urge all gun owners to ensure that their firearms are securely stored to prevent such incidents in the future especially if children frequent your home. To help ensure the security of your firearms, the Covington Driver Service Center offers free cable gun locks to Tennesseans. We encourage you to visit the center at your convenience to obtain a cable gun lock if you are in need. It takes a village to ensure the safety of our children.

CPD asks that if you have any information about this case, contact the Criminal Investigation Division at 901-475-1261 or message the CPDs Facebook Page.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
I believe in America is the first line you hear in The Godfather. A troubled funeral home proprietor by the name of Amerigo Bonasera has come to see Don Corleone to seek revenge for his daughter, wronged by two young Anglo-Saxon men. The movie at its core is an immigrants story shorn of bootstrapping Horatio Alger fantasies or any notions of smooth integration into society. The film and book tell rather of old world traditions mingling, enhancing, and corrupting the democratic experiment with often spectacularly bloody results. The America of the Godfather was not so much the melting pot described by middle school teachers everywhere but a roiling cauldron of special interests, parochial beliefs, and  most of all  cutthroat strivers. It was the real story of coming to a foreign land and trying to make good.

In her acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention, Kamala Harris told a wildly different version of that story, when she spoke of her mothers struggles coming to America. But The Godfathers author Mario Puzo or its director, Francis Ford Coppola couldnt have done it better. Her immigrant mother and father from disparate backgrounds, eventually separated. She spoke of the tight circle her mother built around the family  taking in an abused young friend of Harris, encouraging her daughter to fight back to protect her friends. The five-foot Shyamala Harris accent may have made her sound unlike other folks, but she wasnt going to take shit from anyone. Her daughter told the DNC audience how Shyamala worked as hard as she could to provide but times were hard and resources limited. They got by, but maybe not by much, and still she opened her doors to those in need.

My mother understood the importance of taking care of people, especially when they are exposed to hurt or pain, Harris recently told Rolling Stones Alex Morris. And I was raised to feel that same way. (Its unimaginable to think of slumlord Fred Trump offering any such lessons to his son Donald.) Harris described the sort of neighborhood with open doors and parents working together that is ingrained in our collective imaginations of what this country is supposed to be all about. I grew up in a community where people took care of each other, Harris told us.

In telling her personal story, Kamala Harris has once again taken the narrative of the American Dream and made it that of the Democratic Party. Shes made it OK to be a proud Democrat again, or at least more acceptable in polite rooms. For all Joe Bidens legislative accomplishments, hed lost the confidence of most people. He was, as the first presidential debate showed, demonstrably too old for the job. His performance had so shaken the party that one operative told me that during the first presidential debate he felt like he was watching someone die.

At the DNC, Harris spoke forcefully. She wrapped herself in the flag, spoke of economic opportunity, and a strong national defense. She talked of prosecuting criminals and the threat of Iran. She was persuading gettable voters and trying to win an election, like a normal politician. Social issues aside, if you didnt know better, this could have been a speech from a Republican National Convention of, say, any time before 2016.

The stark contrast with Donald Trump and his bizarre RNC was devastatingly effective. Harris laid out a vision of the country that is almost comforting in its familiarity and unapologetically patriotic. She loves this country and wants to make it better. Trumps apocalyptic fever dreams look like just that  twisted fantasies stirred up in Breitbart keggers or Steven Millers basement dungeon.

Trump has a narrative of failure, fear, and carnage. He wants to deport millions. Abandon allies. Start trade wars. The country he describes, from the safety of his gated and gilded palace, is not recognizable or even close to reality. We have all kinds of threats, problems, and struggles, no doubt, but his scenarios are the paranoid delusions of a nativist and narcissistic mind. He ignores the climate crisis and scapegoats the most marginalized. After four years in office, his legislative accomplishments amount to a massive tax cut for the very wealthy and little else.

An immigrant supplicant like Amerigo Bonasera would likely never get past the front gate at Mar-a-Lago, nor would he ever seek justice for his daughter from a man who has openly boasted about molesting women and been a found liable by a jury of sexual abuse. But if Amerigo could find his way to Harris, hed find a sympathetic and a righteous ear bent on finding justice within the law.

Whatever happens in this election, Kamala Harris made clear she believes in America too.

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Kamala Harris left the wildly successful Democratic National Convention this weekend with a strong political wind at her back, capping a charmed month in which she grabbed the presidential nomination and completely upended a race that had been former President Trumps to lose.

The Democratic nominee now turns to an important 2 1/2-week stretch through the Labor Day holiday and leading up to the expected Sept. 10 debate with Trump, the next big milestone in the race.

Harris needs to build on the enthusiasm of the partys base that was clear to all at the Chicago convention, lay the foundations of a successful race, especially in the seven battleground states, and maintain at least a narrow lead in polls, analysts on both sides of the political aisle say.

Harris should ride the wave of emotion that has lifted her party and attracted at least the open-minded curiosity of some undecided swing voters, said Lawrence Levy, a Hofstra professor who studies political trends in suburbia.

Tom Watson, a New York-based Democratic strategist, warned that Harris should remain laser-focused on building an edge in the handful of swing states that will almost certainly determine the winner of the White House.

Trump (could still) either eke out a slim victory in some of those states or corrupt the counting and certification process, Watson said. Democrats have to fight hard on every front. To me, thats what the tougher-than-you-are Harris speech signified: a deadly seriousness of purpose.

Political experts traditionally expect each candidate to get a bounce in polls during and after their partys convention. But the calculus was scrambled this year by the political earthquakes of the assassination attempt on Trump, which caused a brief but intense flood of sympathy, and Bidens unprecedented decision to pull out of the race on the weekend after the Republican National Convention ended.

Harris quickly blunted any momentum Trump may have held with a lightning-quick consolidation of party leaders followed by a series of crowd-pleasing rallies. She struck political gold by picking Tim Walz to be her vice presidential running mate, as he has wowed supporters with his folksy small-town charisma.

Then Democrats pulled off a political masterstroke with their convention, deftly managing Bidens departure from the campaign and enlisting Democratic heavyweights like Hillary Clinton and Barack and Michelle Obama to back Harris.

Harris leaves Chicago with a 2-3% edge in polling averages and slight leads in the Rust Belts blue-wall battleground states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin that she needs to win.

The race is a dead heat in the Sun Belt swing states of Arizona and North Carolina, with Trump narrowly ahead in Nevada and Georgia.

While ecstatic Democrats may hope the trend will continue, political pros say its more likely that the race will settle back into a near dead heat as Harris bounce fades.

Harris remains behind the polling benchmarks set by Biden in 2020 and Hillary Clinton in 2016, when Trump stormed back to win.

Harris had a spectacular week, culminating a remarkable month, tweeted Democratic strategist David Axelrod. But this is a closely divided country and the race now will be a pitched struggle for every inch of terrain in the battleground states.

The debate is shaping up as the next major inflection point in the race, with a huge audience likely to tune in to see Harris first-ever clash with Trump.

Analysts warn Harris to set aside ample time to prepare for the event and not to underestimate Trumps ability to dominate the stage as swing voters may watch closely for signs of weakness against the bombastic former president.

Larry Sabato, a University of Virginia political scientists, urged Harris to devote significant time to preparing for the debate even if it means skipping some time on the campaign trail, calling it the next signal moment in the campaign.

Basil Smikle, a Columbia professor and Democratic strategist, said Harris does not need to demonstrate soaring oratory, but does need to show spine to stand up to Trumps stunts.

She needs to  demonstrate she can stand up to the bully and prosecute the case against him, said Smikle, noting that the first early in-person voting starts just 10 days after the debate.

Republicans doubt Harris is up to the task. Scott Jennings, a GOP-aligned analyst, predicted that Harris will stumble when she has to think on her feet and speak without notes.

The debate is huge, Jennings said. It may be the only time Harris does anything meaningful that isnt reading from a teleprompter.

_____
Kamala Harris says US will continue supporting Ukraine's fight against Russian aggression

US Vice President and 2024 Democratic presidential hopeful Kamala Harris has congratulated Ukraine on Independence Day and promised that the US will maintain its support for it.

Source: Kamala Harris on X, as reported by European Pravda

Quote from Harris: "On Ukraines Independence Day, we join in celebrating the shared values that the Ukrainian people are bravely defending every single day: independence, sovereignty, and freedom.

We will continue to stand with Ukraine in its fight for freedom against Russias aggression."

Background:

During a speech at the Democratic Party convention in Chicago after accepting the nomination as a candidate for the US presidency, Kamala Harris promised to support Ukraine if elected president.

Earlier, Time reported that Harriss relations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were "uneasy".

Harris has never been on a visit in Ukraine, even after the beginning of the full-scale invasion, though she met with Zelenskyy six times. Their latest meeting was held on the sidelines of the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland in June.

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The US president and the British prime minister are always an odd pair because, while necessarily close, there is an often comic mismatch in need, clout and raw power. The American is the king, the Brit is the pawn. Names werent Joe Bidens strong suit, but he couldnt even get Rishi Sunaks straight.

Very occasionally, there is a kinship  a natural chemistry, or sometimes an existentially urgent cause like defeating Hitler or saving the West from economic and terroristic catastrophe  that transcends this inevitable power difference. Churchill and Roosevelt. Thatcher and Reagan. Bush and Blair.

I am an anyone but Trump person, but Kamala Harris is about as bad an alternative to the former president as it is possible to be. Yet as a Harris victory in the US presidential election starts to look more and more likely, come January, with Sir Keir Starmer in No 10, we could be facing one of the most underwhelming  yet also one of the most ideologically concerning  US-UK leader pairings in history.

Two former prosecutors, two converts to wokeism, two boomers keen on Leftist economics. The combination, disguised in the sleek slogans and polished do-goodery of the campaign trail, is very bad indeed, and the great transatlantic axis on which the whole of the West depends is about to sink under its weight.

The way that Harris has sought to marry her adherence to woke ideology with her belief in redistributive, socialist economics is through that most sinister of modern political words: equity. This term became huge in America during the Black Lives Matter protests as an ostentatious update on equality.

Equity is about the state-mandated redistribution of resources so that the less privileged  often defined by identity markers such as race and sexual identity  get boosted at the expense of those deemed more privileged, again often because of their inherent characteristics.

Harris has emphasised her commitment to equity again and again. She once said: Equality suggests, oh everyone should get the same amount. The problem with that, not everybodys starting out from the same place. And, in now-infamous remarks at the 40th Annual Black History Month virtual celebration in 2021:

Some people start out on first base; some people start out on third base. And if the goal is truly about equality, it has to be about a goal of saying everybody should end up in the same place. And since we didnt start in the same place. Some folks might need more: equitable distribution.

The incoherence is staggering. Equality means that everyone should get the same amount? Perhaps if youre a communist. Not in America. Equality of opportunity is meant to be the goal, but even that isnt about everyone getting the same amount. Hard work is meant to count, isnt it? At least it used to in the United States that preceded this garbled century.

As for equity  everybody should end up in the same place? Equitable distribution? This is extreme stuff, and deeply un-American. It wants the state and other organisations to tell hardworking people of certain unfashionable backgrounds: dont bother because were going to take that off you to make that person over there better off  whom we have deemed less privileged than you regardless of their, or your, intent or actions.

Harris has been relentless in pushing her equity pitch, repeating it all over the place, and under all the bright lights and huge grins of the Democratic National Convention, its pull was dark and deadening, certain to make America poorer, more confused, and more angry.

Back in Blighty, Dreary Keiry (as I like to call him) has shown himself to be similarly in thrall to fashionable morality  taking the knee, siding with extreme trans ideologues (before flip-flopping away), and paying lip service to the anti-Israel die-hards by withdrawing Britains objection to the International Criminal Court pursuing Benjamin Netanyahu and defence minister Yoav Gallant as war criminals. This was incredibly craven.

But for most people, the bite will come in Keirs very British answer to equity, in his slavish devotion to the trade unions, to which he apparently wants to return enormous powers, hampering everyday life and business enormously.

And then there is his war on intergenerational wealth and on private schools, with Rachel Reeves also thought to be considering increasing capital gains and inheritance tax still further.

Meanwhile, the Governments anti-growth, anti-business approach to controlling migration is chilling: let massive, unvetted numbers of illegal migrants cross the Channel, but clamp down on visas for highly skilled workers, including engineers. Shouldnt it be the other way around?

Britain now seems to be on a fast track back to our worst-ever modern decade: the awful, humiliating, desperately incompetent 1970s. The new Labour Government has already shown itself to be disgusted at success, hellbent on worsening the operations of businesses integral to Britains growth and standing in the world, and punishing those who have worked hard.

At a time when weve allowed all of our other claims to stature, such as the army and navy, to be whittled down to nothing, this is the last thing we need.

The only thing worse than a Keir-Kamala pairing would be Keir-Trump. Either way, January is going to bring more terrible ideology to a hemisphere in dire need of salvation.

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TOPEKA (KSNT)  Kansas Governor Laura Kelly is ordering flags to be lowered across the Sunflower State Friday.

Kellys order directs flags to be lowered on all state buildings, grounds and facilities immediately to half-staff until sundown on the burial day of Kansas State Representative Marvin Robinson. A Kansas City, Kansas resident, he passed away at the age of 67 and has represented Kansas House District 35 since 2023.

Representative Robinson showed a commitment to public service throughout his time in the Navy and the Kansas Legislature, Kelly said. My thoughts go out to his friends and family during this difficult time.

The flag order will be updated when the day of Robinsons interment is announced.

Biologists track invasive species reaching impressive sizes in Neosho River

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A vehicle rammed into a CVS pharmacy in Kansas Citys Brookside neighborhood early Friday, and police confirmed theyre investigating the incident an attempted break-in in a neighborhood thats seen a rash of thefts and property crime in recent months.

Law enforcement was called to the CVS at the intersection of 63rd Street and Brookside Boulevard shortly before 2:30 a.m. Friday after a vehicle ran into the building, according to a statement released by a Kansas City police spokesperson.

Officers arrived and found damage to the front of the building, but the vehicle was not still at the scene. Police said Friday they have not yet determined if any items were taken from the store.

Sean Ackerson, executive director of the Southtown Council, a community group, said a truck was seen smashing into the front of the CVS, and that people involved with the break-in then tried to steal an ATM before taking off. The ATM could be seen lying mangled on the sidewalk outside the business Friday.

A temporary new entrance was put in place at the store, which reopened after repairs.

A mangled ATM sits on the sidewalk outside the CVS location at West 63rd Street and Brookside Boulevard in Kansas City. The front of the business was damaged in an apparent break-in on the morning of Friday, Aug. 23.

Overwhemingly frustrating

The incident is another example of property crime frustrations business owners in the area have dealt with in recent months, according to Ackerson, who has helped organize efforts to address crime issues in the Brookside and Waldo neighborhoods.

Break-ins have frequently targeted restaurants and food services businesses, he said, with thieves taking off with small amounts of cash or even no cash at all. Business owners are then left to deal with thousands of dollars in repairs for things like doors and windows.

Whats been happening to the businesses in general, break-ins arent new, major shoplifting is not new to businesses, but the rate at which weve been seeing them is, he said.

In the last year, weve probably had a dozen businesses that have been broken into in just the Brookside Shops, and thats amplified across the city, Ackerson said.

Its just overwhelmingly frustrating right now, he added.

Residents have been vocal about this upswing in property crime issues, and a large gathering Ackerson helped organize on August 14 addressed the topic. The Brookside Business Association and the Waldo Business Associations goal in raising attention about the issue isnt to shame police, prosecutors or elected officials, but to find fixes  and ones that can work elsewhere too, Ackerson said.

At that meeting, about 200 residents and business owners met with police and community leaders to share concerns about crime in the area. Police said at that gathering that property crime has been on the rise since 2021, and pointed to a trend of declining police force numbers in recent years.

Earlier this week, police arrested two youths as suspects in a series of auto thefts and other property crimes in the two neighborhoods, and said they were continuing to look at whether they were linked to other crimes.

Were not trying to take resources from anybody else, were not trying to take anybody elses attention, Ackerson said, acknowledging there are other areas in the city that have it worse when it comes to crime.

In fact, this is the last thing we want to be talking about, but its happening at a rate that weve gotta find a solution and so were going to be vocal about it, he said.

The Stars Robert Cronkleton and Ilana Arougheti contributed reporting to this story.
DENVER (KDVR)  To learn about the future it is said we must look to the past. It is important to remember where we come from and what makes us so distinct. The same can be said about the cities we live in. To reinforce this sentiment, several individuals and the community around them are working their hardest to preserve the history of Denver.

To honor these people and communities, Historic Denver will be hosting a gala where awards will be bestowed upon the people and the projects they have worked on in 2024. Awards will be given to individual honorees, community preservationists, and specific outstanding projects.

2024 Historic Denver Individual Honorees:

Keystone Award: Sarah O. McCarthy 

McCarthy has been in the field of historic preservation for decades. She is a driving force in helping Denver Public Schools historic schools get designation as Denver Landmarks.

Ann Love Award: Ed Dwight 

Dwight became the first African American in the Air Forces astronaut program. He transitioned to the arts afterward and gained acclaim as one of the great African American artists in the U.S. His Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial located in City Park has helped transform a part of Denver.

Margaret Molly Brown Award: Dr. Nicki Gonzales 

Dr. Gonzales is renowned for her work in amplifying the histories of Latino, Chicano, and Hispanic communities in Colorado. She serves as a professor of history and as the Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion at Regis University. Uplifting communities to celebrate diversity, her work as a Colorado State Historian is being recognized.

2024 Community Preservation Award Winners:

University Park Historic District:

A five-year effort by the University Park Community Preservation Committee was unanimously approved by the Denver City Council to create the University Park Landmark District in 2024. The district protects properties with shared historical, architectural, or cultural significance. This also includes the preservation of 19 significant structures with ties to the University of Denver and the Iliff School of Theology.

Flora House Denver:

The Wyman Historic District houses this historic building designed by Lang & Pugh. Created in 1892, this Victorian mansion was renovated expertly by Jen and Leigh Alderton, preserving the intricacies of the house while introducing modern amenities that offer guests a unique experience while they stay in the boutique hotel.

Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church:

Instantly recognizable in the Park Hill neighborhood this church has been well preserved in its 120 years. To help serve the community with updated facilities, the church worked with Tryba Architects to modernize the building while maintaining its historic charm.

2024 Remix Award Recipients:

Prodigy Coffeehouse/Globeville Garage:

This former motorcycle maintenance garage has been converted into a space for all to enjoy. It features a coffeehouse, community meeting space, classroom, and Craft Coffee Learning Lab. Renovated by MAINSPRING, Semple Brown Design, and Sprung Construction the old building now serves as a new community hub.

RiNo ArtPark:

This product from Tres Birds and Wenks Associates has transformed industrial warehouses into community hubs. Featuring plenty of art and design along with greenspaces, the area feels like a breath of fresh air.

2024 Infill Award Recipient:

Curtis Park Row Homes/Lumen Homes:

New townhomes with modern design mixed in historical context have helped in the creation of a mixed-income community. Lumen Homes collaborated with the Denver Housing Authority and Denver Landmark Preservation office to realize this project.

The honorees will be presented their awards at the Historic Denver 54th Annual Gala will be held on Oct. 10. More information about the event can be found on the Historic Denver website.

This is Historic Denvers largest fundraiser of the year and has been granted the opportunity to host the event in the exclusive grand Atrium Lobby at the Brown Palace Hotel.

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56)  A Henderson man has been sentenced after pleading guilty to child sex crime charges.

Collin Marshall Newton, 25, was sentenced in August to serve 30 years in prison after he sought out children and coaxed them to send nude images in exchange for money or video game currency.

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The U.S. Department of Justice said the case was part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

According to court documents, authorities said between September of 2020 and August of 2022 Newton sought out 11 and 12-year-olds and was in contact with at least three children. Court documents describe how Newton groomed the children, escalating his abuse from virtual to physical.

Newton victimized numerous children, some of which have not been identified, prosecutors said in a court document.

He used each of the victims in the instant case to introduce him to the next, where he continued his methods of offering game tokens and money in exchange for nude images or sexual favors, reads another document.

Its a new battleground we find ourselves on, Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman said on Twitter.

The investigation began after Louisville parents reported concerns about a predator contacting their child through Fortnite.

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In October 2022, a federal grand jury in Owensboro indicted Newton on charges of child sex trafficking, online enticement of minors, attempted enticement, child sexual exploitation, and distribution of child pornography.

Newton pleaded guilty in September to eight child sex offenses committed from 2020-2022.

Court records build out a complex network of digital tools used by Newton. Cash App, Xbox, Fortnite, Snapchat, and file-sharing tool Mega are all mentioned.

Parents of one of the children turned over a Cash App debit card to authorities, with the child estimating he received around $400 in payments from Newton through Cash App.

Fortnite, a free massively popular video game across multiple generations, is rated for people aged 13 and up and has millions of registered players. It is one of the most popular video games on the market, based on monthly player counts.

Newton was sentenced on one count of sex trafficking of children, two counts of online enticement of a minor, three counts of sexual exploitation of children, one count of attempted online enticement of a minor, and one count of distribution of child pornography.

Kentucky ranks one of the highest in the nation for child abuse, neglect

The zealous collaboration among local, state and federal partners put this predator behind bars, where he belongs, said Coleman.Im grateful to everyone who played a role in protecting Kentuckys children from horrific exploitation.

After his 30-year sentence, he will have be under a 30-year period of supervised release.

I commend the work of the prosecutors assigned to this case as well the outstanding investigative effort conducted by Kentucky Attorney General Colemans Department of Criminal Investigations and the Secret Service, U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky said. The collaboration between our federal, state, and local law enforcement personnel in this case is indicative of the ongoing work of our Western District law enforcement personnel and absolutely crucial as we identify and prosecute individuals who exploit our most vulnerable citizens.

Authorities encourage parents who suspect their child may have been victimized by Newton or anyone else to go to the police.

The Child Rescue Coalition, a nonprofit based in Florida, released an ad campaign about protecting children from online predators in 2021.

You dont need to police your kids, but you have to monitor their online behavior because a stranger could be talking to them at any time. Have rules and consequences when those rules are broken. All devices, all video games, need to have parental controls on them, and if a game wont let you, then your kid cant play. Period, the Child Rescue Coalition said.

What to do if you suspect abuse

If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, the Cabinet of Health and Family Services asks that you contact the statewide Child Abuse Hotline at (877) 597-2331 to make a report. A report can also be made online using the Child Reporting System, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday.

Kentucky police give tips to prevent online child extortion

The National Sexual Assault Hotline is available 24 hours a day for anyone in need at 1-800-656-4673.

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How this Kentucky National Park turned being disappointing into social media gold

MAMMOTH CAVE, Ky. (FOX 56)  While most National Parks may be ashamed of disappointment, Kentuckys Mammoth Cave decided to lean in and embrace the negative feedback on Friday afternoon.

Come experience what has disappointed millions of people for over 225 years! was the opening line of the National Parks Facebook Post on Friday.

What proceeded in the post, which as of Saturday had gained 23,000 shares and nearly 7,000 comments, was a positive twist on many negative reviews Mammoth Cave has allegedly received over the parks 225 years of operation.

A photo of a cave entrance at Mammoth Cave National Park. (A photo of a cave entrance at Mammoth Cave National Park.)

You can be disappointed by a dry hole with very few stalagmites and stalactites or discover nothing other than trees on over 80+ miles of hiking, biking, horseback riding, and water trails, National Parks staff said. A world of regret awaits you at Mammoth Cave!

This embedded content is not available in your region.

For those who wish to experience Mammoth Cave, reservations can be made here. As park staff said, If you would like to experience the disappointment of Mammoth Cave, visit our website and choose from one of our many activities that will leave you unfulfilled!

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
Do you know who is buried in a small graveyard in the middle of Grove?

GROVE, Okla.  Cherokee leaders hope a small, once-forgotten cemetery in downtown Grove will remind young Cherokees of their ancestors sacrifices and hardships.

Behind the Grove Schools Administration office, three grave markers are located at the top of a hill near the community center, underneath a 40-foot-tall hickory tree.

The most visible marker with legible engraving belongs to Electa Crittenden. This young Cherokee mother, who as a child walked the infamous Trail of Tears path to Oklahoma, was buried nearly 145 years ago in a forgotten plot.

Electa Crittenden was the aunt of Julia Monroe Remsen, said Aaron Kid, Grove historian.

At Crittendens death, Grove was known as Grove Springs and was more of a watering hole for travelers.

Remsen was the wife of Grove founder Treadwell Remsen.

Her family, the Monroes, were possibly the first family to settle in the area, Kidd said.

This is holy ground, said Melvina Shotpouch, Cherokee Nation Tribal Councilor, referring to the now Trail of Tears cemetery.

In 2012, the Oklahoma Trail of Tears Chapter honored Electa Crittenden with a bronze plaque engraved with the words In honor of one who endured the forced removal of the Cherokees in 1838-1839.

In all, 4,000 Cherokee citizens died on the way from the Georgia area to present-day Oklahoma. Shotpouch said the discovery of gold in Georgia prompted the removal of Cherokee citizens in 1838.

Shotpouchs great-great-great maternal grandmother survived the Trail of Tears

and is honored by the Trail of Tears Association at her Eucha gravesite. Shotpouch wants that honor extended to other Trail of Tears survivors now buried in Delaware County.

She said the graveyard memorials honor those ancestors who made that treacherous and bloody journey. The starvation, death, and sickness that fell on the shoulders of those early Cherokees are unimaginable and indescribable to this generation, Shotpouch said.

I think we should have a more prominent recognition for those who survived, Shotpouch said.

She said so many people in the area are not familiar with Crittendens life story and how, as a child, she survived the 1,000-mile trek during frigid weather conditions.

Buried alongside Crittenden is her 2-year-old son, according to a grave marker.

Because of the sacredness of the land, Shotpouch said the cemetery cannot be moved.

It may be the oldest tombstone in Delaware County, said Mike Shambaugh, Cherokee Nation Councilor. Shambaughs relatives also survived the journey.

According to the grave marker, Electa was born Dec. 25, 1835, and died Jan. 20, 1879, almost 28 years before statehood.

Crittendens tombstone is engraved with the words, Her gentle ways will ever dwell in hearts of those who knew and loved her well. 

For 60 years, the four-plot cemetery was hidden behind an old shed. The tombstones were covered with knee-high weeds, entangled in brush and vines, and unknown to most of the communitys residents.

About a decade ago, Carol Savages genealogy research focused on Crittendens life. Savage is a descendant by marriage and orchestrated the 2012 cemetery clean-up.

In an earlier interview, she said a 3-year-old Crittenden endured the forced removal from Tennessee to what is now Adair County. She later married Henry Crittenden, and they moved to Delaware County, where they had five children.

Henry Crittenden is thought to have died in 1865 in the Civil War, Savage said.

However, genealogy records can sometimes be illegible to read.

Research into Crittendens life by George Huggins shows Henry and Electa Crittenden as having four children:

Elizabeth, 1854  1906

Jane, 1857  1900

Charles Wesley, 861 1903

James Franklin, 1863  1931

Savage said the 18-by-10-foot plot of land was allotted in 1879, and the cemeterys boundary line runs right through an old hickory tree. In the 1930s, a Grove family bought the adjoining land and built a house and shed, encroaching upon the cemetery.

The Crittenden family took care of the family cemetery until the early 1950s.

Today, the old shed is gone, and the tombstones are surrounded by black wrought iron, with an occasional cemetery wreath of flowers placed at the site.

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The Northern Arizona University community was rocked in the 2015 fall semester when an off-campus scuffle between two groups of students made its way on campus and ended with a 20-year-old dead and three others seriously injured.

Steven Jones would eventually plead guilty to manslaughter in the Oct. 9, 2015, shooting death of Colin Brough and three counts of aggravated assault.

A series of events took shape between that fateful early Friday morning and this week when Jones was released from prison. Based on years of reporting by The Arizona Republic, this is a summary of the saga behind NAU's first on-campus shooting death.

Who is Steven Jones?

The former Glendale resident who was paroled on Monday was an NAU freshman when the crimes were committed.

At 23, Jones was sentenced to six years in prison by a judge in February 2020 after a plea bargain the month before freed him from a second-degree murder charge that could have resulted in up to 25 years in prison. His conviction required him to complete 85% of the sentence, which included 212 days of jail-time credit. Jones insisted he acted in self-defense while in fear for his life. He alleged the shots Brough sustained in his chest and shoulder and those taken by the three others were due to them attacking him. A 2017 first-degree murder trial against Jones ended in a hung jury. In court, Jones expressed remorse, declaring he would trade places with the deceased Brough.

"If he could be home with his family and I could be dead, I would do that. But that's not possible," Jones said.

Who were the shooting victims?

Brough was described as joyful and kind in a letter to the court written by his aunt.

Also shot by Jones were Nick Piring, Nick Prato and Kyle Zientek, all 20 years old. Piring was wounded in the right arm and hip. Prato required surgery to repair nerves damaged as a result of being struck in the neck. The bullet that hit Zientek caused him to lose a kidney, punctured a lung and severely damaged his liver.

Brough and Piring had been freshman dormmates, and the two joined the Delta Chi fraternity in 2013 along with Prato, who was their neighbor. The three friends lived at a small Flagstaff apartment complex.

What happened before the shooting?

Hours before the deadly encounter, Jones had been at the college library studying with other freshmen Sigma Chi pledges for a fraternity entrance exam. By midnight, Jones and three other pledges had made plans to go to a party.

Shortly after 1 a.m., Jones and two other freshmen were headed home, according to one of the men. Then, six to 12 young men confronted them. Jones told police the mob threatened to kill them and had hurled obscenities and sexual slurs at the freshman students.

Piring told police he witnessed Brough shouting obscenities at Jones and his friends, telling them to leave and that the three freshmen agreed to do so. Toxicology reports found Brough's blood-alcohol level was more than three times the state legal limit for driving. Piring, Prato and Zientek also exceeded the limit, according to the reports. Brough's bloodstream contained benzodiazepines, a class of drugs that includes Valium.

How did the shooting unfold?

The confrontation worked its way to the front side of Mountain View Hall, an on-campus apartment complex. Jones ran for his Ford Mustang parked at the complex and took his .40 caliber Glock 22.

Jones said in court that he shot Brough and Piring because they were going to tackle him. Prosecutors argued Jones acted with premeditation when he returned to the scuffle armed with a gun. Brough was 2 feet or closer to the muzzle of the gun that Jones fired, according to an autopsy report presented as evidence in the trial. The report showed the trajectory of the bullets indicated Brough was leaning forward in a lunging position.

Jones said he fought off those trying to take his gun because he thought they would kill him. He added that Prato and Zientek were wounded by his gunfire when he shot into the air.

Time served: NAU shooter who killed fellow student, injured 3 in 2015 released from prison

Former Republic reporter Anne Ryman contributed to this article.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What to know about Steven Jones and deadly NAU shooting in 2015
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Although a notice from a Portland neighborhood coalition posted three days before a Monday evening meeting between residents, businesses and Multnomah County officials on the topic of a deflection center for drug addicts and those under the influence of drugs or alcohol said the gathering was open to the public, it was not a public meeting as defined under Oregon state law.

In our story on Monday evening, KOIN 6 News reported the meeting as a public meeting.

A note from the county on the day of the meeting said it was no longer public, but then went on to say that public testimony would be allowed at the Good Neighbor Agreement meeting with concerned residents, including representatives from the Buckman Community Association and Central Eastside Industrial Council.

The night of the meeting, county officials stopped a KOIN 6 News reporter and photographer from attending even the public testimony part of the meeting.

The county has faced criticism over the transparency of its decision-making process on where to put the deflection center.

KOIN 6 News has previously reported some county commissioners have told our reporters they have found out about developments with the projects from the media, not from county leadership.

Even an attorney for one of the groups involved in negotiating the Good Neighbor Agreement told our Joelle Jones this week theyve had concerns about the countys transparency for more than a month.

Theres also a legal question of whether the leadership team thats designed the whole implementation of the deflection program for the county has complied with Oregons public meetings law. Weve told the county we dont think they have, David Watnick, an attorney with the firm Perkins Coie and representing a daycare facility situated near the proposed site, told KOIN 6 News. I think everything they should do from this moment forward must be in public so that everyone in Multnomah County knows whats going on and what decisions theyre making.

This is an issue of vital importance to that neighborhood and the entire City of Portland.

Stay with KOIN 6 News as we continue to follow and report on the developments of the Multnomah County deflection center and holding our leaders accountable.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Vladimir Putins popularity has fallen since Ukraines surprise invasion of Kursk, according to a Kremlin-linked research unit.

The poll by VTsIOM confirms unofficial analysis that the Ukrainian incursion has dented the Russian presidents usually rock-solid public support.

It showed that Putins popularity fell by 3.3 percentage points to 73.6 per cent within a fortnight of Ukraines Aug 6 attack, the first invasion of Russia since the Second World War.

This is the largest slip in support for Putin since his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, larger than drops after a mobilisation in Russia in September 2022 and a failed coup by Kremlin mercenaries last year, according to VTsIOM.

Other reports had already hinted at a drop in Kremlin popularity after the Kursk attack.

An analysis of Russian mainstream and social media by FilterLabs, a US-based company, eight days ago, said that although Russian propaganda had remained unflinchingly pro-Putin, data from the Kursk region showed real frustration with the Russian government because people felt the Russian leader deserved some of the blame.

Such direct attacks on Putin are comparatively rare in Russia, where ordinary peoples frustrations are normally directed at lower-ranking officials.

Peter Pomerantsev, an author of books on Kremlin propaganda, said that the invasion of Kursk had rattled Russians confidence.

While state media in Russia is deflecting blame away from the dear leader for Ukraines success, on social media and inside Kursk sentiment towards Putin is dipping hard, he said.

Mark Galeotti, an honorary professor at UCL, said that using social media to gauge public support for Putin had its limitations but the FilterLabss report was still useful.

Given the limitations of conventional polling in an authoritarian regime, arguably this is as good an index of public sentiment as any, he said.

Analysts have also questioned whether Putins officially high popularity rating can be believed at all because many Russians feel pressured into backing him.

In March, Putin won a presidential election in Russia with a record 88.5 per cent of the vote, although independent election observers described it as fraud.

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Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko denied any indirect negotiations with Russia to stop attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure had taken place in an interview on national television on Aug. 24.

"We are not negotiating with the terrorists, that is for sure, especially not behind the scenes. It is impossible... Of course, we did not conduct these negotiations with the Russians," Halushchenko said.

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova also denied on Aug. 18 a report that the country was entering indirect talks with Ukraine in Qatar on mutually halting strikes on energy infrastructure.

The Washington Post (WP) reported on Aug. 17, citing undisclosed official sources, that Russia was preparing to enter secret indirect talks with Ukraine  facilitated by Qatar  to mutually stop attacks on energy infrastructure. According to the WP, Ukraine's incursion into Russia disrupted plans for those indirect talks.

According to Halushchenko, on Aug. 22, an online summit was held on the third point of the peace formula, energy security. Over 40 countries and international organizations attended the summit.

The minister said that the participants of the event adopted a communique.

The document states that attacks on the civilian power grid violate international humanitarian law and the United Nations Charter, Halushchenko said, adding that "everyone supported the statement."

The document can be presented to the Russian government, and a number of states can act as intermediaries in this process, according to Halushchenko.

Russia launched a massive campaign with drones and missiles against Ukrainian energy infrastructure over the first few months of 2024, destroying or disabling power plants and necessitating rolling blackouts across the country.

In turn, Ukraine has been targeting Russian oil facilities with long-range drones to undermine Moscow's fossil fuel revenue, one of its key sources of income.

According to the Washington Post, an undisclosed diplomatic source reportedly told the outlet that Russian officials postponed their meeting with Qatari officials in the wake of Ukraine's cross-border incursion.

Two sources also told the WP that senior Ukrainian officials were skeptical about the deal even before the start of the incursion, putting its chances of success at 20% or lower as they doubted Russia's sincerity. Other officials were hoping that it could be a first step toward a more comprehensive peace deal, the outlet wrote.

The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify any of the claims.

Read also: Kursk counteroffensive shakes main pillar of Putins power grip, retired US general says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Kyivs incursion into Russia sends a defiant message to its Western backers: We can win this war

Ukraines audacious foray into the Russian region of Kursk has been a triumph for its military intelligence and tactical agility  and equally a signal that, despite its advantage in terms of men and armor, the Russian military has plenty of vulnerabilities.

Just as importantly, its also sent a political message to Kyivs allies that has changed the prevailing narrative of the war - that Ukrainian forces are doomed to fight an endless rearguard action against superior Russian firepower.

Suddenly, Moscows oft-repeated insistence that all the goals of what President Vladimir Putin still calls the special military operation will be achieved ring hollow. Ukrainian forces claim to have taken almost as much territory in Russia this month (some 1,200 square kilometers by their own estimates) as the Russians have won inside Ukraine all year.

Moscow has seen setbacks ever since it launched its 2022 invasion, which was designed to capture Kyiv in less than a week. But the goals  and the methods to pursue them  have not changed. Massive bombardment accompanied by costly use of infantry have gradually eaten into Ukrainian territory.

Analysis by the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think-tank, said Putin likely assesses that as long as Russia can retain the initiative and prevent Ukraine from conducting operationally significant counteroffensive operations, Russia can inflict decisive losses on Ukraine over the long term, while outlasting Western security assistance to Ukraine and Ukrainian efforts to mobilize more of Ukraines economy and population for the war effort.

Mathieu Boulegue, Senior Fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis, agreed that if you look at the grand strategy for each country, perhaps not much has changed.

But for the first time in many months this operation has forced a different narrative on the Kremlin, the first cracks in Putins narrative, Boulegue told CNN.

Turning the tide of the war

The Ukrainian military has confounded a growing consensus among Ukraines supporters that it had little chance of recovering much  if any  of its own territory. In Kyivs view, Kursk demonstrates its military deserves continuing, faster and better support from allies because it can change the direction of the war.

President Volodymyr Zelensky made this point in an address last week: Weve already expanded and will continue to expand the circle of those who support a just end to this war. Its essential that Ukraine enters this fall even stronger than before.

Mick Ryan, a former general in Australia and author of the Futura Doctrina blog, said Kursk has demonstrated Ukrainian learning and adaptation after the failure of its 2023 counteroffensive, referring to the much-hyped assault that delivered few gains for Kyiv.

The Ukrainian aim here is to demonstrate that Russian victory is not inevitable, and that Ukraine can fight and win, added Ryan  persuading the doubters to sustain support and perhaps more importantly further relax restrictions on how and where their weapons can be used.

The Ukrainians have persistently sought to overcome hesitation among allies about supplying systems that might escalate the conflict - first with artillery and battle-tanks, later with F16 combat jets and longer-range missiles such as HIMARS and ATACMs.

Until May, the use of US weapons to strike Russian soil was a red line for a Biden administration apprehensive of escalation. Then came Russias incursion into Kharkiv region, aided by long-range strikes from well within Russian territory. The Ukrainians were in effect fighting with one hand behind their back; the city of Kharkiv was vulnerable.

A Ukrainian soldier walks past at a city hall in Sudzha, Kursk region, Russia, Friday, Aug. 16, 2024. This image was approved by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry before publication. - AP/File

The ban was relaxed, allowing some US systems to target Russian territory. In Kursk the Ukrainians have further eroded it by using armor inside Russia. US, German and UK-provided armored vehicles and tanks have been seen barreling through the Russian countryside; western missiles have brought down bridges that might otherwise abet Russian defenders.

Zelensky has said that Russias bluff has been called. The whole naive, illusory concept of the so-called red lines in relation to Russia, which prevailed in the assessments of the war of some of our partners, crumbled in these days somewhere near Sudzha, he said.

Ukraine has demonstrated, again, that the various red lines projected by the Russian president are nothing but a chimera designed to reinforce Western political timidity about decision-making on the war, Ryan said.

Boulegue argued the Kursk operation is a valuable way for both Ukraines allies to test Putins pain threshold, a really good way to test Russias other forms of deterrence using a proxy.

Russian red lines are fluid, and this is another incidence of raising the temperature gradually.

The Ukrainians have won an important political argument here: there have been no public objections from Western capitals to the opening of this new front, and indeed plaudits from many members of NATO, including Germany, the UK and the United States.

As they see attacks coming across the border, they have to be able to have the capabilities to respond, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told reporters earlier this month.

The EUs top diplomat, Josep Borrell, went further, saying on X Wednesday that Lifting restrictions on the use of capabilities vs the Russian military involved in aggression against Ukraine, in accordance with international law, would have several important effects: -Strengthen Ukrainian self-defense by ending Russias sanctuary for its attacks and bombardments of Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. Save lives and reduce destruction in Ukraine. Help advance peace efforts.

But there is a limit to the Wests level of comfort. Ukraine would like to target airfields deep inside Russia with longer-range ATACM missiles; Washington does not seem inclined to agree.

Zelensky has countered that If our partners lifted all existing restrictions on using such weapons on Russian territory, then we wouldnt need physically to enter the Kursk region with the aim of protecting our Ukrainian citizens in border regions and destroying the Russian aggression potential.

But taking Russian land improves Ukraines bargaining position at any negotiations, and also works as a hedge should former President Donald Trump win the US election and seek to force a peace settlement on Ukraine.

Western way of fighting

The success of the Kursk incursion was not just down to Western hardware: Ukrainian intelligence gathering, planning and special forces executed the operation, along with plenty of Ukrainian-made drones, artillery, electronic warfare and even thermobaric weapons.

That highlights Ukraines agency, thereby undermining Russias portrayal of the conflict as a proxy war with the West, noted Olga Tatariuk at Chatham House. It also offers allies reassurance that the Ukrainians are not doomed always to be on the defensive; that they are learning the Western way of fighting after the high hopes for 2023s counter-offensive were shattered.

A drone view shows smoke rising after one of, what Special Forces of Ukraine say are, strikes on pontoon crossings over the Seym river, near Glushkovo, Kursk Region, Russia.. - Special Forces of Ukraine/Handout/Reuters

As one Ukrainian soldier in Kursk described it: This operation was very well planned. I dont know who worked on the plan but they did a good job. We were moving in the center, we had support left and right from us. Great operation.

The Kursk operation remains a high-stakes gamble for Ukraine at a time when Russian forces are closing in on two important hubs in eastern Donetsk: the cities of Pokrovsk and Toretsk. But Ukrainian forces have shown that the conflict is not a one-way street.

We dont know yet whether this will be a footnote or a game changer, said the analyst Boulegue. For the Ukrainians, sustaining the operation as Russia brings more artillery and aviation to bear will become increasingly difficult.

But for every passing day that Ukrainian forces control an area of Russian territory the size of Hong Kong, the Kursk incursion becomes less of a footnote.

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7-Eleven stores across Los Angeles County have been the target of numerous robberies in recent weeks. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

A Los Angeles city councilmember is calling for more police officers and resources following the latest in a string of robberies and ransacking at 7-Eleven convenience stores.

Police received a call about a theft suspect in the 100 block of North Gaffey Street in San Pedro around 1:39 a.m. Saturday, according to LAPD Officer Rosario Cervantes. She said people went inside a business, took items and vandalized the store. Officers took a robbery report, but no arrests have been made.

Although Cervantes said she did not have information on what or how much was stolen from the store, KTLA-TV reported that more than 1,000 packs of cigarettes and two cash registers, which contained around $5,000, were stolen.

ABC7 placed the number much higher, at about $40,000 in goods, including $1,000 worth of cigarettes and $20,000 worth of lottery tickets.

KTLA obtained surveillance video that showed a group of people jumping over the counter and grabbing cigarettes and other items. The news outlet reported that a large crowd had gathered for a street takeover near the store.

Councilman Tim McOsker, whose district includes San Pedro, said in a statement that the incident is a "continuation of a pattern" happening across the city.

"This isnt just about property damage or items stolen  it is also about a victim, an employee, fearing for their safety, and a neighborhood that is both in fear and now without a convenience store on the corner," McOsker said. "Its deeply disturbing to me that incidents like these are becoming more common."

It's seemingly the third weekend in a row that a 7-Eleven store in the Los Angeles area has been hit. Earlier this month, in the Pico-Robertson area, a group of young people ransacked a 7-Eleven store and left on bicycles, Fox 11-TV reported. Video showed people jumping over the counter and grabbing merchandise.

Last weekend, several men on bicycles robbed two Hollywood convenience stores, which were reported to be 7-Eleven stores. Roughly 20 young men arrived at a store on the 7000 block of Sunset Boulevard around 8 p.m., smashed windows and grabbed food and other merchandise, a department spokesperson said. A group of young men fitting the same description then hit another store around 8:20 p.m. on the 5700 block of Santa Monica Boulevard.

Read more: Several men on bicycles rob two Hollywood convenience stores Friday night

Authorities last month arrested four L.A. County men in connection with a series of armed robberies of 7-Eleven stores and a CVS last year that they later allegedly posted about on Instagram.

McOsker said more resources in 911 operations are needed, as well as increased LAPD staffing.

"We could have stopped this at the street takeover before it escalated," he said. "Thats why we need to expedite hiring in the LAPD. Our officers must be able to respond quickly to prevent these incidents from happening."

KTLA spoke with the family who owns the 7-Eleven, who said they'd immigrated to America three years ago hoping for a better life, but were now questioning their decision.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
SAN DIEGO (KUSI)  A group of parents and students held a protest Friday to rally against a plan to install a 5G cell tower in La Jolla.

Parents and the principal of Stella Maris Academy started getting worried when they saw an application to install a tower on an office building feet from the school. Since then, theyve been vocal about their opposition.

Watch Dan Plantes full report in the video player above.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
When I read the response of a Government source to a letter to the new Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson signed by 500 academics (of whom I am a rank-and-file member), I was shocked. We make no apology, it said, for pausing the Tories hate speech charter. I was stunned by its aggressiveness; by the coarseness of its tone and the infantile dishonesty of its argument. Most of all, I was appalled to learn that, to some in Government, free speech is hate speech.

What a crude betrayal of centuries of courageous effort by people, some of whom the Labour Party  at least until recently  would have regarded as heroes. As early as 1689, censorship of the press ended. Queen Anne put a stop to prosecutions for heresy. John Wilkes defied prison to publish parliamentary reports that those in power kept secret. The Lord Chamberlains theatre censorship was scrapped by Labour in 1968. Patronising obscurantism collapsed in 1960 when the lawyer prosecuting Penguin for publishing Lady Chatterleys Lover was ridiculed for asking whether it was a book you would wish your wife or your servants to read.

But now that free speech is hate speech, how big a step back into repression are we facing? What shall we be allowed to hear and to read?

The scrapped Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act was not a Tory charter. A rather reluctant Conservative government had to be cajoled into pushing it through the Commons and a hostile House of Lords. The regrettable slowness of the process has given Bridget Phillipson the opportunity to stop the law in its tracks.

The initiative for the Bill came not from Tory politicians but from the academic grassroots. Cambridge helped to start the ball rolling. Its authorities had promoted a system of anonymous denunciation, and were requiring us to respect all views and identities. Some of us organised an academic rebellion and a vote in the universitys Regent House to change respect to tolerate. A small change, it might seem. But we believed it was not the job of academics to be respecters of opinions, even though it is certainly their duty to tolerate their expression.

Universities should be places where opinions are mercilessly scrutinised and disputed. That is how they function. The great Cambridge philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein even waved a poker at the equally great Sir Karl Popper when they debated a philosophical point at the Cambridge Moral Sciences Club. Despite the anger, there was no question of preventing Popper from speaking. But in October 2022, not far from where the poker was waved, students at Caius College tried to prevent an invited speaker, Helen Joyce, from discussing the subject of sex and gender, and the Master and Senior Tutor tried to sabotage the meeting, even accusing Joyce of views offensive, insulting and hateful to members of our community. Other meetings have been prevented because universities would not ensure security. And of course there are notorious cases of academics being forced out of their jobs, either formally or by forms of intimidation, because their opinions or research offend some activist group.

Even if the Freedom of Speech Act is applied  as I fervently hope  using its powers will still require courage, especially from younger academics. Yet basic legal protection is the indispensable first step. The Act unambiguously requires universities to take measures to promote and protect freedom. If they neglect that duty, it allows those whose rights are in danger to obtain an injunction. If those rights are still infringed, the Act provides a quick, free, and independent complaints process, under a free speech tsar, rather than the arcana of internal procedures. Finally, there is the last resort of action in the courts.

How can such an elementary safeguard of liberal rights and intellectual values be controversial? One reason is that it upsets university administrators. It risks bad publicity. Note that such objections have no intellectual or ethical component.

More worrying is what all this says about the attitudes of the Government. Todays Left has become dangerously in thrall to intersectional lobbies: green absolutists, transgender authoritarians, religious obscurantists, critical race theorists, decolonisers. All operate by peremptory assertions of dogma. Their intellectual foundations are so weak or non-existent that they loath analysis and discussion. They have to pretend that no disagreement is possible.

Free speech is the weapon against imposed orthodoxy, and those who oppose it are too fond of their power. In 1946, a Labour minister supposedly told the Commons we are the masters now. Is that how the present Government sees it too?

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Director of the University of Virginias Center for Politics Larry Sabato suggested that independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. failed to cash in on the family name, following the contenders decision to suspend his White House bid Friday.

He tried to cash in on the Kennedy magic, and it turns out that the magic was in the 1960s, it was not transferred to this century, the editor-in-chief of the election forecaster Sabatos Crystal Ball said Friday during an appearance on MSNBC.

Kennedy, who started off his presidential run as a Democrat last year, switched to an independent bid, eventually gaining low-double-digit support in the polls. The long-shot candidate announced in Arizona Friday that he would suspend his campaign and back the GOP nominee former President Trump.

Sabato argued that Kennedy started to lose traction in the polls once Vice President Harris rose to the top of the ticket, after President Biden withdrew from the race in late July not to seek a second term.

He has been dropping like a rock ever since Kamala Harris got in, Sabato said of Kennedy.

When he started, he was in the upper teens. In some polls, he was in the low 20s, and now at best, hes at five or 6 percent in some of the states, and those polls are outdated, he continued. You know, weve had a Democratic Convention. One network poll just a few days ago had him at 2 percent.

Sabato, a political scientist, said that just because Kennedy is endorsing Trump does not mean that his remaining supporters will automatically go to the former presidents side.

For people who think that, because hes endorsing Trump, he can just move that 2 percent into Trumps column, Sabato said. They dont know much about politics. It doesnt work that way. Its not going to work that way.

His comments come after the Trump campaign released a memo from its pollster, Tony Fabrizio, positing that the former president would gain the majority of Kennedys supporters in a head-to-head race against Harris.

Sobato, however, predicted that some would flock toward the former president, but others would back Harris. Another portion, he added, could still choose to back a third-party candidate.

Some of them may choose someone else on the ballot, he said. There are still plenty of other candidates, depending on which state youre in, and a lot of them will be couch voters, particularly the low-information voters who were attracted to him because of his name.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The firm the City of Las Cruces hired in 2021 to audit the Police Department, OIR Group, will host a community outreach meeting on Monday, Aug. 26 at Council Chambers at City Hall, 700 N. Main St., Las Cruces Police Department announced in a news release.

LCPD said the meeting is set to begin at 4 p.m. or 30 minutes following the end of the City Council Work Session if it runs past 3:30 p.m. The meeting is anticipated to last 90 minutes.

The meeting will serve as an opportunity for residents to connect with representatives from the OIR Group and gain insight into the purpose, function and types of services provided by this group, according to LCPD.

Participants are encouraged to ask questions in an open forum and share experiences, information or concerns.

The OIR Group reviews LCPD Internal Affairs investigations into alleged misconduct and provides feedback on the accuracy of the findings. The firm presents its findings and recommendations to City Council twice a year, read the news release. One of those presentations will occur during the City Councils Work Session that begins at 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 26.



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Las Vegas community continues to push for answers after Reba the bulldogs death

Las Vegas community continues to push for answers after Reba the bulldogs death

LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The community is still fighting for answers nearly a month after Reba the bulldog was killed.

The dog was found taped in a plastic tub in the extreme July heat. Since then, a massive movement has taken shape.

We are not stopping, Vegas Pet Rescue volunteer Lindsey Pinapfel said.

The Justice for Reba efforts are still going strong, as the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police search for the person responsible.

This dog has brought a community together, Pinapfel said. It has brought the nation together.

Reward rises to $50K leading to arrest in Reba the English Bulldogs death

A reward leading to an arrest has grown to $50,000 thanks to local and national donors. 48 digital billboards are also displayed across the city, with mobile billboards also scheduled to drive up and down the Las Vegas Strip.

It is not just about Reba, Pinapfel added. Its about animal abuse altogether.

Vegas Pet Rescue Project, the non-profit that spearheaded Rebas care is now partnering with local radio station 98.5 to canvass across Southern Nevada.

With 10,000 fliers donated by local businesses, Pinapfel told 8 News Now they are holding four different volunteer events, asking people to join the fight and post them everywhere.

The times and locations are scheduled as follows:

Tuesday, August 27 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 6030 Centennial Center Blvd, Las Vegas 89149

Wednesday, August 28 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 1420 Paseo Verde Pkwy, Henderson 89012

Thursday, August 29 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 1220 E Lake Mead Blvd, North Las Vegas, NV 89030

Friday, August 30 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 8594 Blue Diamond Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89178

Were asking people to volunteer, come grab a shirt, Pinapfel said. But also help us plaster the town.

Over 100 free Justice for Reba t-shirts will be handed out. Anyone who has already purchased one is asked to wear it.

This is just the latest effort to get answers and spread the word.

It has spread nationwide, but you can still go somewhere and find someone who hasnt heard this story, she added. And the whole point of this, we want everyone to hear this story.

Pinapfel said it is also important to shed light on the ongoing issue of animal abuse.

This is ground zero for a lot of people, she explained. Who didnt know and know whats going on.

Its all in honor of Reba, who continues to make an impact even after shes gone.

When I tell you, Pinapfel concluded. This is just the beginning.

If you would like to purchase a Justice for Reba T-shirt, click here.

If you have any information on the person responsible for Rebas death contact LVMPD at (702) 828-3111, Crime Stoppers of NV at (702)-385-5555, or email NevadaVoters4Animals@gmail.com.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
UPDATE: LVMPD reports the suspected has now surrendered himself to the SWAT. Road closures will be lifted soon.

LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Las Vegas police are responding to a barricade involving an armed suspect in an east Las Vegas valley home.

According to officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the barricade is at the 600 block of Harney Court near north Lamb Boulevard and east Bonanza Road.

Police believe the suspect is barricaded in a home in the area with a firearm. Authorities reported an assault involving the gun, but no injuries have been reported.

Tactical units, SWAT, and negotiators have been dispatched to the scene, police said.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Traffic is currently blocked in both directions on Lamb Boulevard, and police are advising commuters to avoid the area.

This is a developing story. Check back with 8 News Now for updates.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A woman is accused of intercepting and depositing a check meant to fund a library 1,500 miles away, the 8 News Now Investigators have learned.

Ebonee Edwards faces four felony charges, including burglary, forgery and theft, records said. Las Vegas Metro police arrested Edwards on Aug. 21 as part of a proactive patrol in a well-known prostitution and high crime area near Tropicana Avenue and Decatur Boulevard in the west valley.

Edwards allegedly intercepted a $71,000 check from a Chicago-area library and pocketed the money, police said. Metro police became involved after their Schaumburg, Illinois counterparts learned the stolen check was deposited in Las Vegas.

A library employee sent the $71,000 check via the U.S. Postal Service in January 2024, police said. Two weeks later, a person presented the check for payment with an alternate payee name of Ebonee Edwards at a west Las Vegas valley bank branch.

Ebonee Edwards faces four felony charges, including burglary, forgery and theft, records said. (LVMPD/KLAS)

It was unclear how Edwards allegedly intercepted the check as the company the check was written out to is headquartered in the Chicago suburbs.

Las Vegas police obtained video surveillance, which they said showed a woman, later identified as Edwards, depositing the check at an ATM, documents said. Edwards then allegedly withdrew large amounts of money from the account several times over the next few days, eventually draining the $71,000 sum.

Edwards posted bond and was due to return to court on Sept. 25, records said.

The Schaumburg Township District Library serves about 130,000 residents in the northwest Chicago suburb.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
When was the last time Texas went blue in the presidential election?

(NEXSTAR)  Could Texas be gearing up to be a swing state? A poll released this week by the University of Houston and Texas Southern University shows that while Pres. Joe Biden didnt perform well in the Lone Star State, Vice President Kamala Harris is more popular than expected.

The poll suggests that while former Pres. Donald Trump is still leading in Texas, his lead is much narrower against Harris than Biden.

Texas voters: You CANT actually register online  heres what to do

While 49.5% of likely Texas voters said theyd be voting for Trump, the percentage who say theyll vote for Harris has risen to 44.6%, a 4.3-point increase since Biden was the nominee in June.

Among Texas women and Texas Black voters, Harris leads by 50% and 77%, respectively. Meanwhile, likely Latino voters in Texas are almost evenly split: 47% say theyd vote for Trump, while 46% favored Harris.

Trump solidly holds his lead with white voters (57%) and men (56%), according to the survey.

Harris has made considerable headway among voters both in Texas and nationally in the short time since she entered the race last month, said Renee Cross, researcher and senior executive director of UHs Hobby School. Thats particularly true among younger voters, with 55% of Gen Z voters saying they will support her, compared to just 39% who backed Biden, but she also has gained among women and independent voters.

While these numbers may be encouraging for Texas Democrats, the party still faces tough battles electing Democrats in the state.

Texas drivers: Which city has the worst traffic?

The last time Texans voted to elect a Democrat for president was in 1976 when Jimmy Carter earned over 100,000 more votes than Republican incumbent Gerald Ford. Despite this fact, Bill Clinton was pretty popular in the state, with both George Bush Sr. and Bob Dole winning the state in 1992 and 1996 by slim margins, per Texas Secretary of State voting data.

In 2020, Trump won Texas by over 600,000 votes. Based on voting data, 2020 voter turnout in Texas was pretty high, with both candidates receiving over 5 million votes each.

When it comes to state elections, Democrats have also had a hard time electing Democratic leaders.

Texas last Democratic governor was Gov. Ann Richards, who served from 1991 to 1995. Since Richards lost her election to former Pres. George W. Bush, the governors seat has been occupied by only three men, all Republicans.

Additionally, the last elected Democratic senator in Texas was Lloyd M. Bentsen Jr. in 1971. Republican Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz have held onto their senatorial seats since the beginning of their terms in 2002 and 2013, respectively.

These are the reddest and bluest counties in Texas, based on recent election results

Despite all these hurdles, theres evidence to suggest Texas is less red than previously thought. Factoring in potentially discriminatory redistricting to favor Republicans and various voting access barriers for minorities and low-income individuals, the Texas Democratic electorate has faced some difficulties that cant be combated by simply turning out to vote.

In 2020, a group of political scientists analyzed all 50 states to determine which states are the most difficult to vote in  and Texas was found to have the most restrictive voting laws in the country.

Texas maintains an in-person voter registration deadline 30 days prior to Election Day, has reduced the number of polling stations in some parts of the state by more than 50% and has the most restrictive pre-registration law in the country, according to the analysis, said researchers.

Though some lawmakers and advocates continue to work against potentially discriminatory legislation, many Democrats in the state currently feel hopeful that Texas red reputation may soon start to look a little more purple, or even just a little maroon.

With fewer than 75 days until Election Day, the deadline for Texas voters to register is quickly approaching. Lone Star State residents still have until Monday, Oct. 7 to register to vote in Texas.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
In 2025, Latvia will allocate 20 million euros for an international coalition of drones aimed at strengthening Ukraine's defence capabilities, just as it did this year.

Source: The LETA agency's announcement cited by Delfi, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Latvian and Ukrainian Defence Ministers Andris Spruds and Rustem Umierov also discussed a recent agreement between the countries to train Ukrainian soldiers in a drone control programme. The first Ukrainian pilots have already started training in Latvia.

Quote: "Whether it's reconnaissance operations or attacks on specific targets, the Ukrainian armed forces have proven the high efficiency of drones while fighting against the enemy," Spruds said.

The Latvian Defence Minister also met with Hanna Hvozdiar, Ukraines Minister of Strategic Industries, to discuss cooperation in the defence industry and the development of new technological capabilities to ensure Ukraine's victory.

As reported, Latvia will annually allocate 0.25% of its gross domestic product to support Ukraine until 2026, which is about 10% of the defence budget.

This year, the Latvian Ministry of Defence has allocated 20 million to the "drone coalition", including more than 10 million for the purchase of drones from Latvian defence companies.

Background:

Prior to his visit, Spruds said that Latvia had prepared the largest batch of drones from local manufacturers for shipment to Ukraine.

Earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Latvia would work with Ukraine to increase the production of drones as part of the drone coalition.

By the end of 2024, Latvia will have provided Ukraine with military support worth about 112 million euros. It has also pledged to allocate 0.25% of its GDP annually to help Kyiv.

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Latvia has pledged 112 million euros ($126 million) in military support to Ukraine this year and will help expand the Drone Coalition initiative, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov wrote on Facebook on Aug. 23.



Umerov met with Latvias Defense Minister Andris Spruds and discussed front-line developments and strengthening the Drone Coalition, which has united nearly 20 countries so far.



Mr. Spruds expressed his willingness to work with other countries to attract them to the coalition and similar initiatives in support of Ukraine, Umerov wrote.



Latvia, one of Ukraines biggest supporters, has committed to providing military support at the level of 0.25% of its GDP every year and will provide thousands of drones, Umerov added.

Spruds said on Aug. 22, that the latest shipment consists of 1,400 drones and that Latvia has procured 2,700 drones in total under the coalition.



In May, Riga said it would invest around 20 million euros ($22 million) in the drone coalition this year, and a similar sum to the development of Latvia's own drone capabilities.



Along with the U.K., Latvia is the leader of the drone coalition, an allied initiative established to supply Ukrainian forces with this crucial capability.



The coalition was established in January to bolster Ukraine's arsenal of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Seven countries, apart from the founding states, have joined the alliance, including Germany, Canada, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Sweden, Estonia, and Denmark.

Read also: Drones hit ammunition depot in Russias Voronezh Oblast, media, officials say

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
(PUEBLO, Colo.)  State lawmakers and local leaders gathered at the Care and Share Food Bank distribution center in Pueblo to tour the facility and discuss the impact food banks like Care and Share have on food insecurity in our community.

Nate Springer, the President and CEO of Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado said the purpose of the tour was to get state legislators in the door to see what Care and Share is doing, so they can partner with them to make sure the food bank has thought of everything to get food in the door.

Courtesy: FOX21 News photojournalist Cora Mitchell

Courtesy: FOX21 News photojournalist Cora Mitchell

Courtesy: FOX21 News photojournalist Cora Mitchell

Courtesy: FOX21 News photojournalist Cora Mitchell

Between July of 2023 and June of 2024, we put 25.2 million pounds of food out the door at our three distribution centers. We have a distribution center in Colorado Springs, the one were at here in Pueblo, and then one in Alamosa, said Springer. But 25 million pounds of food is the equivalent to about 21 million meals. So, you know, that doesnt solve hunger in the state of Colorado, but that sure takes a big bite out of it.

Care and Share works to gather and sort food from multiple sources, distributing to a network of nearly 300 partners in 29 counties across Southern Colorado.

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Just after 6 a.m. Friday morning, reports of a fireball meteor event flew in across the Coulee Region.

From Chicago to the Twin Cities, 74 different reports of the meteor were made to the American Meteor Society. The meteor appeared east of Augusta, Wisconsin, crested over Black River Falls and dissolved right before reaching Tomah skies.

Doug Lambert, a driver for Keenes Transfer, captured dashcam video of the fireball north of Wild Rose, Wisconsin.

I thought it was fireworks for a second, but then it was far too long to be fireworks, Lambert said. It looked way closer than I think it was. It looked maybe 50 miles out.

When he returned to the office, Lambert remembered his dash cam camera and wondered if it was positioned properly to capture the event. Sure enough, the bright fireball streaked across the screen.

Ive seen stars shoot across the sky before, but this was far different, Lambert said. He didnt hear anything from his truck cabin, but other reports indicated loud explosion noises.

One report to the American Meteor Society from Kenneth N. said the flash was like a camera flash in your facevery bright. About 19 of the 74 submissions reported sounds of some sort, with many describing a large boom near the fireballs trajectory.
LDS Church: A 4th volume of Saints to be released in October

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  According to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a fourth Volume of the Churchs narrative history is set to be released this fall.

Lester Rojas of the Church Communication Department confirmed volume four will be released Oct. 29 on Friday, Aug 23.

MORE CHURCH NEWS: LDS church apostle speaks in Brazil ahead of opening of 200th temple

Rojas said the Oct. 29 date is all the Church can confirm at the current time, but there is more information to come.

It will be titled Sounded in Every Ear, covering the years 1955 through 2020.

The volumized collection of documents the events starting in 1815, which details the journey Church founder Joseph Smiths family took to upstate New York and why they ended up in the village of Palmyra. The first volume also talks about the Second Great Awakening, which sprung from the Restoration movement.

Volume two details the move westward and the third speaks of the expansion of the Church.

The fourth volume will follow the globalization of the Church since 1955.

The previous versions are available on the Church website, along with additional historical topics.

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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  A member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints made an anticipatory visit ahead of the dedication of the Salvador Brazil Temple.

Elder Ulisses Soares visited the Brazilian Government during their special session to speak about the importance of building what members call a house of the Lord. This temple will also mark a piece of history for the Church, founded in 1830.

MORE TEMPLES: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints breaks ground on 3 more temples

The Salvador Brazil Temple will become the 200th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the 11th house of the Lord completed in Brazil, the Church said in a Monday press release.

According to the Church Newsroom, the Salvador Brazil Temple is located on the eastern coast of Brazil and was announced by President Russell M. Nelson in October 2018s General Conference.

Members hold temples as a sacred space where they believe they can grow closer to Jesus Christ. The building is 29,963 square feet and sits on 4.6 acres. Ground was broken in August of 2021.

In recent years, temple building and announcements have accelerated, with President and Prophet of the LDS Church Russell M. Nelson announcing 168 new temple sites, with many currently under construction or in the planning phases, according the Church Newsroom.

The Salvador temple will be dedicated on Sunday, October 20, 2024. Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will dedicate the temple in two sessions, according to the Church.

According to the Newsroom of the LDS Church, Elder Joni L. Koch, also spoke during the special session. Koch serves as the Brazil Area President.

The construction of the Churchs temple here is a standard, a monument to the courage to do what is right, to preach what is right, even when the majority does not accept, does not understand, and attacks us. But Jesus Christ was never afraid. And we, as members of His Church, likewise cannot be afraid, Elder Koch said.

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At least 3 dead and 6 injured in knife attack at festival in Germany

MUNICH  At least three people are dead and six others were injured in a knife attack Friday in the western German city of Solingen, where a celebration of the citys anniversary had been taking place, officials said.

This evening we are all in shock, horror and great sadness in Solingen. We all wanted to celebrate our citys anniversary together and now we have to mourn dead and injured people, Mayor Tim Kurzbach said in a statement.

It breaks my heart that there was an attack on our city. I have tears in my eyes when I think of those we lost. I pray for everyone who is still fighting for their lives, he said.

Police believe the attacker used a knife, and that person remained at large, a police spokesman in nearby Dusseldorf said.

The attack happened Friday night local time at a celebration for the citys 650th anniversary. The "Festival of Diversity" began Friday and was to run through Sunday.

Emergency services and police are deployed Friday to an attack at the 650th anniversary festival for the German city of Solingen.

Herbert Reul, minister of the interior of North Rhine-Westphalia, told the press the attacker "out of nowhere" stabbed people randomly.

The dead are one woman and two men, and six people were severely injured, he said.

He added that at this point he does not know the identity of the attacker and that the motive is still unclear.

Police said Saturday they were still searching for the attacker, the Reuters news agency reported.

"I also have great sympathy for all the people who had to witness this; it must have been terrible images. I thank all the rescue and security forces for their efforts," Kurzbach said. "I ask you, if you believe, to pray with me and if not, then to hope with me.

Hendrik Wust, the minister-president of North Rhine-Westphalia, where Solingen is located, also expressed his shock and said the state is with the people of the city and the victims.

"An act of brutal and senseless violence has struck our country at the heart," Wust said.

Solingen is a city of around 150,000 around 16 miles northeast of Cologne.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
At least 50 Palestinians killed in Gaza, says local health autority

Relatives of Palestinians killed in the Israeli attacks receive a child's body for burial at Nasser Hospital following Israeli army launched an attack on Hamad Town and other areas in Khan Yunis, located in south Gaza Strip. Abdullah Abu Al-Khair/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

At least 50 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip, according to the Gaza health authority, which is controlled by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.

Earlier, the WAFA Palestinian news agency reported at least 11 civilian deaths and an unspecified number of people injured in the southern city of Khan Yunis and in the Nuseirat area in central Gaza.

The reports come as efforts for a ceasefire continue in Cairo, with Hamas sending a delegation.

Israel has been waging war on Hamas since October 2023, and the army reported ongoing heavy fighting in the south, centre and north of the Gaza Strip.

On Friday, the army called on residents of Gaza City to flee westwards towards the sea to avoid upcoming military confrontations.

Israeli soldiers have since advanced into the area, killing several people and destroying what they described as terrorist infrastructure, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

More than 40,000 people have been killed and over 90,000 injured in the Gaza Strip, according to the health authority which does not distinguish between civilians and fighters. Israel claims to have killed at least 14,000 armed individuals.

The war began after Hamas and other extremist groups killed more than 1,200 people in southern Israel on October 7.

Relatives of Palestinians killed in the Israeli attacks perform funeral prayers infront their bodies ahead of their burial at Nasser Hospital following Israeli army launched an attack on Hamad Town and other areas in Khan Yunis, located in south Gaza Strip. Abdullah Abu Al-Khair/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
At least 50 Palestinians killed in Gaza, says local health authority

Relatives of Palestinians killed in the Israeli attacks perform funeral prayers infront their bodies ahead of their burial at Nasser Hospital following Israeli army launched an attack on Hamad Town and other areas in Khan Yunis, located in south Gaza Strip. Abdullah Abu Al-Khair/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

At least 50 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip, according to the Gaza health authority, which is controlled by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.

Earlier, the WAFA Palestinian news agency reported at least 11 civilian deaths and an unspecified number of people injured in the southern city of Khan Yunis and in the Nuseirat area in central Gaza.

The reports come as efforts for a ceasefire continue in Cairo, with Hamas sending a delegation to take part in mediated talks.

Israel has been waging war on Hamas since October, and the Israeli army on Saturday reported ongoing heavy fighting in the south, centre and north of the Gaza Strip.

On Friday, the army called on residents of Gaza City to flee westwards towards the sea to avoid upcoming military confrontations.

Israeli soldiers have since advanced into the area, killing several people and destroying what they described as terrorist infrastructure, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

More than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 90,000 injured in the Gaza Strip, according to the health authority, whose statistics do not distinguish between civilians and militia fighters. Israel claims to have killed at least 14,000 armed individuals.

The war began after Hamas and other extremist groups killed more than 1,200 people in southern Israel on October 7.

Earlier, the Palestinian WAFA news agency reported that at least 11 civilians have died in Israeli air raids on the Gaza Strip.

An unknown number of others had been injured in attacks on Khan Younis in the south of the Gaza Strip and around Nuseirat in the centre, the report said.

The IDF said they could make no comment without knowing precisely where people had died.

The IDF has repeatedly accused Hamas of using civilians as shields for its operations.

According to the Hamas-controlled health authority, more than 40,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, and more than 90,000 have been injured. The ministry's figures do not distinguish between combatants and civilians.

The IDF claims to have killed at least 14,000 Palestinian combatants.

Hamas delegates in Cairo for talks

In Cairo, a Hamas delegation arrived on Saturday in the Egyptian capital amid a renewed push for a ceasefire and hostage release deal between the Palestinian Islamist group and Israel, sources at Cairo airport said.

The high-ranking team flew into Cairo from Qatar, where Hamas has its political office, for further negotiations to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and a hostage release deal with Israel, added the sources.

Hamas has said it will send a team led by Khalil al-Hayya, a senior official in the movement, Qatari-based news broadcaster Al Jazeera reported.

The visit comes after an invitation from mediators Egypt and Qatar to get direct information about the latest negotiations, the group added, according to the broadcaster.

Earlier this week, Israeli and US officials had travelled to Cairo for talks with Egyptian officials.

Qatar, Egypt and the United States have been acting as mediators for months between Israel and Hamas in the indirect negotiations.

A key sticking point in the negotiations to end the Gaza war is Israel's demand for permanent control of the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt by Israeli security forces. Both Egypt and Hamas reject the demand.

US news outlet Axios reported that US President Joe Biden had asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to pull Israeli forces back from part of the Egypt-Gaza border during the first phase of the hostage and ceasefire deal.

Netanyahu agreed to withdraw one position, according to the report.

Relatives of Palestinians killed in the Israeli attacks receive a child's body for burial at Nasser Hospital following Israeli army launched an attack on Hamad Town and other areas in Khan Yunis, located in south Gaza Strip. Abdullah Abu Al-Khair/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
Lie to Fly: Why Did Pilot Joseph Emerson Try to Crash a Plane? Revisiting the Attempted Sabotage of Flight 2059

Off-duty pilot Joseph David Emerson tried to sabotage an Alaska Airlines flight in October 2023, sparking an examination of mental health regulations for pilots

FX Networks/Youtube; KPIX | CBS NEWS BAY AREA/Youtube Left: Alaska Airlines Pilot Joseph Emerson Documentary; Right: Former Alaska Air pilot Joseph Emerson released from jail after not guilty plea

On Oct. 22, 2023, Joseph David Emerson, an experienced pilot, attempted to sabotage an Alaska Airlines flight while traveling as a passenger.

The incident not only exposed serious concerns about pilot mental health but also highlighted the stringent regulations surrounding it. Emersons actions on Flight 2059 brought to light the challenges faced by pilots in managing their mental health under what some pilots say are strict FAA guidelines.

Emerson, a pilot with a long career in aviation, had previously met all FAA medical certification requirements without issue. However, during the flight, Emerson said he experienced a severe mental breakdown after being sleep-deprived and ingesting psychedelic mushrooms two days prior, leading him to attempt to disable the plane's engines.

Following the incident, Emerson faced 84 charges and was released on bail with strict conditions, including a ban on coming within 30 feet of any aircraft. The incident prompted a broader discussion about the need for reform in how pilot mental health is managed and reported, emphasizing the need for better support systems within the aviation industry.

The documentary Lie to Fly, which premiered on FX and Hulu in August 2024, delves into Emerson's story and the broader implications for airline safety and the mental health of pilots.

Heres everything to know about Joseph David Emerson, why he tried to sabotage Flight 2059 and the implications for the aviation industry at large.

Who is Joseph David Emerson?

FX Networks/Youtube Joseph Emerson; Lie to Fly

Emerson had a long history in aviation. He began his career with Horizon Airlines in 2001 and later joined Virgin America, only to return to Alaska Airlines as a First Officer after their acquisition of Virgin America. By 2019, he had risen to the rank of Captain. Emerson had always met the FAA's medical certification requirements.

Emerson's next-door neighbors described him as very positive and very friendly to KRON 4 in October 2023.

Despite his success as a pilot and growing family, with his wife and two kids, Emerson struggled. He had been coping with the recent death of a close friend, who was the best man at his wedding. When he sought help from a therapist, she suggested that he seek out another doctor who could better help with what she said sounded like depression.

Shes the first one who said, You know, I cant diagnose you, but would you ever consider seeing a doctor who could diagnose you and possibly get on an antidepressant?  Emerson told The New York Times.

He added that he decided against seeking this care because FAA policies at the time prevented or paused pilots from flying if they had a mental health diagnosis or were taking medication for their mental health.

What happened during Flight 2059?

On Oct. 22, 2023, Emerson was traveling as a passenger in the cockpit jump seat on Horizon Airlines Flight 2059, from Everett, Wash., to San Francisco. During the flight, he allegedly experienced a severe mental breakdown. According to his own retelling and police documents, Emerson threw his headset across the cockpit and declared, "I am not okay." He then attempted to pull the fire extinguisher handles, which would have shut off the plane's engines.

Fortunately, the flight crew acted quickly and managed to subdue Emerson before he could cause serious harm. They declared an inflight emergency and diverted the flight to Portland. Emerson was restrained by flight attendants and moved to the back of the plane, preventing any further attempts to sabotage the aircraft.

What was Emerson charged with?

ABC News Joseph Emerson

After the plane landed safely, Emerson was charged with 83 counts of attempted murder, one for each person on board, and one federal count of endangering an aircraft. The former pilot remained in custody until December when he pleaded not guilty on all 84 counts and was ultimately allowed to be released on bail.

The judge ruled that his release was contingent on Emerson abiding by several conditions, including not coming within 30 feet of an aircraft, engaging in mental health services and not ingesting any intoxicants, per ABC News.

Why did Emerson try to crash a plane?

During questioning, Emerson revealed that he had taken psychedelic mushrooms for the first time two days before the flight, which he believed triggered his breakdown. He admitted to not having slept for 40 hours and thought he was dreaming during the incident.

Emersons defense argued that his actions on Flight 2059 were not driven by any criminal intent but by a panic-induced hallucination, as he allegedly believed he was in a dream and was desperate to wake up. His attorneys asserted that the incident was a tragic misunderstanding, fueled by his poor mental state, and that Emerson never intended to harm anyone on board.

"Simply put: Captain Emerson thought he was in a dream; his actions were taken in a single-minded effort to wake up from that dream and return home to his family," his defense attorneys said in a statement, per ABC News.

Emerson's defense team argued that the case was more about mental health than malice. The former pilot's wife, Sarah Stretch, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that despite the unfortunate events, she hoped it would lead to more pilots getting the help they needed.

Im saddened that this situation had to happen to my husband and to these people that it affected, but I know that this has created a movement to help thousands of other pilots and people in mental health situations, Stretch told CBS News Bay Area in December 2023.

What was the FAA's response to Emerson's case?

FX Networks/Youtube Joseph Emerson in Lie to Fly

The incident involving Emerson highlighted significant issues within the aviation industry, particularly regarding pilot mental health.

The FAA's regulations often deter pilots from seeking help for fear of losing their jobs, according to The New York Times. The organization has historically banned pilots with depression from flying or using prescription medication over concerns about their ability to safely operate an airplane. It wasnt until 2010 that the FAA approved certain antidepressants for pilots with mild or moderate depression.

However, at the time pilots on these medications were grounded for months during a monitoring period, and the approval process to return to flying could take even longer  with no guarantee of success.

The potential impact on careers has led many pilots to either hide their treatment, risking penalties of up to $250,000, or avoid seeking help altogether, aviation doctors, lawyers and pilots told The New York Times.

In November 2023, shortly after Emerson's alleged breakdown, the FAA announced it would create a Pilot Mental Health Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) to address barriers preventing pilots from reporting mental health issues. The committee, consisting of medical experts and aviation and labor representatives, will review and recommend improvements based on recent advancements in mental health care.

The FAA announced that their efforts would include better mental health training for examiners, supporting research, hiring more mental health professionals and enhancing outreach to pilots.

Where is Joseph David Emerson now?

Emerson lives with his wife, Stretch, and two young sons, in Pleasant Hills, Calif., per The New York Times. He stayed out of the public eye after his December 2023 release from prison, until speaking out for the first time in the August 2024 documentary Lie to Fly.

The FX series further explores the push for reform in FAA regulations to ensure pilots can receive the support they need without jeopardizing public safety. The documentary also examines how Emersons best friends death deeply affected his mental health, his reluctance to seek help and the events leading up to Flight 2059.



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Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte announced on Aug. 24 a new aid package for Ukraine, which includes drones, air defense missiles, and funds to purchase military equipment.

Simonyte and Polish President Andrzej Duda visited Kyiv on Ukraine's Independence Day.

In a speech delivered in Ukrainian, Simonyte said, "It is a great honor and a great joy for me to be here on this day and to celebrate the independence of Ukraine together with the free and indomitable people of Ukraine."

Simonyte later said on X that Vilnius will provide Ukraine with a new package of short-range air defense missile systems, as well as anti-drone systems, guns, ammunition, and other equipment by September.

Lithuania has also pledged to provide Ukraine with 5,000 Lithuanian drones by the end of the fall and will allocate 35 million euros ($39.2 million) to purchase radars and demining equipment for Ukraine, according to the prime minister.

Simonyte noted that by the end of 2024, Lithuania will fulfill and most likely exceed its commitment to spend 0.25% of its GDP on assistance to Ukraine and defense.

"I urge all our partners and allies to commit to the same target," Simonyte added.

According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, which tracks international aid for Ukraine, Lithuania has allocated 501 million euros ($560 million) in support for Ukraine.

Read also: Ukrainian response will reach any point in Russia  Zelenskys Independence Day address

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Lithuania opens first counter-mobility equipment park as part of new Baltic Defence Line

Lithuania has unveiled what it calls its first counter-mobility park in the country's east, part of the Baltic Defence Line slowly taking shape on NATO's eastern frontier.

The area features roadblocks, various barriers and 'dragon's teeth' anti-tank obstacles.

"If we want to defend ourselves efficiently we have to set up this system. So we are doing this and the entire plan of the Lithuanian defence line that we presented three weeks ago is based on such a systemic approach where physical barriers are integrated with artillery fire coverage," said defence minister, Laurynas Kasciunas.

The zone in Pabrade, near the border with Belarus, also includes traditional obstacles like 'hedgehogs' and 'Spanish horses' which can be deployed quickly elsewhere in the case of an attack.

"The war in Ukraine laid bare the staying power of classics. One can talk about air superiority, naval superiority, land superiority and joint warfare - but obstacles, they do their job, they slow down or stop the enemy which allows us to destroy it or channel it somewhere where we will destroy it," chief of defence Raimundas Vaiksnoras told reporters.

In late July, the Lithuanian government green lit plans to implement increased counter-mobility measures, including setting up roadblocks and installing structures for explosives under bridges.

Plans call for setting up counter-mobility equipment parks at locations designated by the army along the border with Belarus in the east and to the west, Russia's Kaliningrad region by April 2025.

While the immediate measures will cost around 17.5 million, the cost of the entire defence system is estimated to require some 600 million over the next decade.

The Lithuanian defence line will form a part of the system of fortifications agreed by Baltic defence ministers in January.

Poland is also set to fortify its eastern border under its own East Shield initiative and construction on Latvias first phase of the Baltic Defence Line in the easternmost region of Latgale is under way.

Equipment at Lithuania's counter-mobility defence park in Pabrade, August 22, 2024 - SCREENSHOT FROM EBU VIDEO 2024_10252785

Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian and Polish leaders signed a letter in June urging the EU to fund an estimated 2.5 billion defence line against military and hybrid threats from the East.

The Baltic States signed an agreement in January to create a common defence line to reinforce NATO's eastern border with both Russia and its close ally Belarus.

Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia were once all part of the Soviet Union but are now part of the EU and NATO and are allies of Ukraine, where Russia launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte attends a joint news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Polish President Andrzej Duda outside the Mariinskyi Palace on the 33rd Independence Day of Ukraine. -/Ukrinform/dpa

Lithuania is planning to provide Ukraine with another military package as Kiev seeks to fend off the Russian invasion, Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte said on Saturday.

Simonyte made the announcement in Kiev during a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Polish President Andrzej Duda, UNIAN news agency reported.

"Lithuania's position is well-known and straightforward: Ukraine must win, Russia must lose," she said.

In the autumn, Kiev is set to receive around 5,000 drones from Lithuania. Prior to that, in addition to ammunition and weapons, air defence systems, missiles and equipment to counter drones are to be delivered by early September.

Moreover, Simonyte said Lithuania is providing 35 million ($39 million) to buy radar equipment and mine detection equipment. The value of the new military package was not disclosed.

Lithuania is among the most committed supporters of Ukraine. By May alone, Lithuania had provided military assistance worth around 640 million.

(R-L) Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Polish President Andrzej Duda attends a joint news conference outside the Mariinskyi Palace on the 33rd Independence Day of Ukraine. -/Ukrinform/dpa
Little Rock School District creates sensory room to help students with autism

Little Rock School District creates sensory room to help students with autism

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  A new room is helping kids with autism learn while calming down at an elementary school in the Little Rock School District.

Western Hills Elementary School officials say a sensory room was created as part of its new autism program. District officials said it is the districts first fully functioning sensory room on the elementary level.

Sensory room at Lakeside School District helps students meet learning needs

Anngelica Carter, LRSDs special program coordinator for autism classes, said the room will help students with autism cope with their emotions.

I think its a place to reset, Carter said. A lot of times our students on the spectrum can get easily overwhelmed.

Principal Pamela Freeman said the room will give students space to be themselves and relax if theyre having problems in the classroom.

So, this gives them great safe space to come exert some of the extra energy and have some sensory input, Freeman said.

Legoland New York debuts new features and resources as a Certified Autism Center

Carter said they have everything from a trampoline and play tunnels to sensory toys and games.

If theyre overstimulated, sometimes they can be affected by noise so we have noise-canceling headphones, she said.

Freeman said they have under 30 students with autism and if they do get frustrated or overwhelmed in school, the room can help them.

They have the freedom for their peer professional to walk them over and give them that time to calm down, Freeman said.

Stadium sensory rooms allow fans World Cup games experience

She said she hopes the sensory room will help with the independent needs for the students while teaching at all levels.

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Charlotte general contractors saw a bump in hiring over the last year despite a sharp decline in new office projects and a slowdown in multifamily and manufacturing construction.

But industry leaders say its still not enough.

Ken Simonson, chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America, said Charlottes increase in construction employment has slowed in the last 12 months compared to the previous several years. Thats due, in part, to the absence of new office development.

Nevertheless, Charlotte is consistently one of those metro areas experiencing higher growth than the country as whole, he said. The industry will still be looking for workers.

ALSO READ: Vertical construction of Brooklyn Village wont start until June 2026

Between June 2023 and June 2024, the number of construction jobs in the Charlotte metro rose by 0.6%, to 79,400, according to data from the AGC. Statewide, that number is up 3.2%, beating the national average by less than half a percentage point.

Simonson said the construction industry has added workers at a faster rate than the overall labor force, but the number of job openings remains elevated.

It has come down somewhat from a year ago, but the industry has a lot of work it wants to do, he said. (Contractors) have been more successful than in the past at attracting and hanging onto workers but still not enough to ease their workforce crunch.

Attracting new workers remains the industrys greatest challenge, Simonson said. General contractors and the AGC spend a great deal of time trying to do just that.

Read more here.

VIDEO: Vertical construction of Brooklyn Village wont start until June 2026




SANDSTONE, WV (WVNS)  One storied veteran was awarded his own road on Friday, August 23, 2024.

Woman cycles across the states to support veterans

Major Cornelius Burdette, or Paul, as family members call him, was a Spanish American War veteran and a distinguished marksman from Sandstone in Summers County.

He served in nearly every branch of the United States military and was a gold medalist at the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden in the team military rifle competition.

He was not only an excellent marksman, but an expert in weapon design too.

Attendees gathered on Friday to sound off on what a dedication to Burdette means to them  including Burdettes own grandson, David Morton.

He was a wonderful person. He died when I was in sixth grade, but I remember everything about Paul. He loved coming up here [to Sandstone]. Of course, this was his home, said Morton.

The road begins off the I-64 interchange at Sandstone in Summers County.

New location for Raleigh County Veterans Museum

West Virginia 10th District Senators Jack David Woodrum and Vice Deeds worked with the Summers County Historical Society to honor Major Burdette.

Senator Woodrum stated, for kids growing up that are coming from herea lot of kids grow up defeated before they ever get started. We try to let them know that you can do anything you want to do coming out of here. You can come here and get an education and go on, and you can accomplish great things.

Im so honored that Im still alive and that this road is being dedicated in his honor, said Morton.

The road is called USMC Major Cornelius Burdette Memorial Road.

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LONGS, S.C. (WBTW)  A Longs post office that was destroyed in a 2021 fire has resumed normal operations, the U.S. Postal Service said on Friday.

The post office became partially operational last month, and an official at the time said they anticipated it being fully operational soon, barring weather issues or other unexpected delays.

We are grateful for the support and understanding of our customers during this challenging time, South Carolina District Manager Corey Richards said in a news release. Our priority has always been to ensure that our services remain accessible and reliable. We are excited to return to our Longs location and serve our community once again.

Officials broke ground on the new facility in late June 2023, and Seventh Congressional District Rep. Russell Fry called it a win for the people of the community and a step in the right direction.

The post office is open from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Its open from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Saturday and closed on Sunday.

* * *

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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Anthony Mehlhaff, 40, is arrested after a series of events that terrorized people in and around Yosemite National Park. (Mariposa County Sheriff's Office)

The front man for a hardcore Los Angeles punk band named Cancer Christ faces a slate of criminal charges after allegedly going on a "terrorizing trek" through Yosemite National Park and surrounding areas Wednesday, according to local law enforcement.

Anthony Mehlhaff, 40, allegedly assaulted a restaurant employee, led park rangers on a car chase, crashed the car, stole a bicycle and then threatened workers at another lodge with a knife, according to Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese.

Then, Mehlhaff allegedly stripped to his underwear, attempted to kidnap a store manager, stole that manager's car and started ramming it into another vehicle on a local road, crashed again and was taken into custody before assaulting deputies during an assessment at a local hospital, Briese wrote in a statement about the incident.

"This man drove all around our county terrorizing our visitors and community members," Briese said. "I am extremely happy that no one was seriously injured. This mans behavior was erratic and dangerous."

Booking records showed Mehlhaff faces charges of vandalism, vehicle theft, reckless driving, kidnapping, theft, first-degree burglary, robbery, obstructing an officer and battery.

Mariposa County Sheriff's Office booking photograph of Anthony Mehlhaff. (Mariposa County Sheriff's Office)

Mehlhaff  who Briese said was being held on $100,000 bail on Friday  could not be reached for comment. In a recorded message on his voicemail, he asked law enforcement and mental health specialists to "f off" and stop trying to contact him.

Tour representatives for the band did not respond to a request for comment Saturday, and online court records did not show an attorney listed for Mehlhaff.

Mehlhaff had been posting bizarre videos to his social media before his arrest, with some people expressing concern for his well-being and mental health in the comments. Acting strangely on social media has also been part of Mehlhaff's shtick as a hardcore punk musician for a long time.

Cancer Christ mixes Christian, satanic and other "reptilian" imagery in an intentionally and outlandishly sacrilegious mix, with members at times wearing snake masks atop religious garments.

Mehlhaff calls himself "Saint Anthony" and routinely professes genuine religious belief, while the band's website  since made private  talked about it as if it were a church and its fans congregants. But the gimmick was steeped in religious mockery.

Mehlhaff denounced Christians and organized religion for spewing hate, and said he represented love. Recent Cancer Christ albums have been titled "Satan is a B" and "God is Violence"  the latter of which features cover art of Jesus killing himself with a shotgun and a single track titled "God Hates Cops."

"Spreading the gospel through their unique brand of Reptilian Power Violence, Saint Anthony and The Snake People have been sent down from Heaven on a holy mission to make all politicians, pedophiles, and police officers suffer slowly," the band's website read.

Briese said Mehlhaff's "trek" began in the Buck Meadows area of Mariposa County about 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, when Mehlhaff allegedly approached a pregnant waitress, touched her belly and said, "The spirits led me to you and your baby belongs to me"  before asking her when her break started so that he could "be waiting" for her.

"Mehlhaff then stole several drinks, assaulted another employee of the restaurant and sped off in his vehicle towards Yosemite National Park," Briese wrote.

Mehlhaff allegedly caused trouble at Fish Camp and the Tenaya Lodge Clubhouse before being arrested just outside the town of Oakhurst, Briese wrote. A smoke grenade was allegedly found in his vehicle, Briese said.



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Jimmy LeBlanc (Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections)

One of the countrys longest-serving prison system leaders will leave his position running the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections next week.

James Jimmy LeBlanc spent 16 years overseeing the states prisons in an era when Louisiana consistently had the highest rate of incarceration in the world. In total, he has worked in the states correctional facilities for 51 years, starting his career in 1973 at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women in St. Gabriel.



In a resignation letter submitted Friday, LeBlanc, who is 75 years old, said he was stepping down to focus on his health. On paper, he will return to a job as the warden at Elayn Hunt Correctional Center, but LeBlanc will take an immediate leave of absence once moving into that role, he wrote.

LeBlanc is liked by both local law enforcement officials and advocates for people who are incarcerated. Even a few former inmates of the Dixon Correctional Institute, where he worked as a warden for 12 years, have described him as approachable.

He is known by Department staff as a kind and compassionate man with an open door policy and by those in the Departments custody or under supervision as a proponent of rehabilitative opportunities and a champion of reentry programming, Natalie LaBorde, general counsel for the state corrections department, said in a written statement.

LeBlanc has run the state prison system for the past four governors: Kathleen Blanco, Bobby Jindal, John Bel Edwards and Jeff Landry. He served under Democrats and Republicans with a wide and even conflicting range of agendas.

With an eye toward running for president, Jindal was often reluctant to show mercy on prisoners in his second term, and LeBlanc helped carry out that tough on crime approach. But in an about-face, LeBlanc then led efforts to reduce Louisianas incarceration rate for Edwards, the Democrat who followed Jindal as governor.

After decades running prisons, LeBlanc invoked a strategy with Edwards that included reducing the length of criminal sentences, releasing more incarcerated people early, and investing in rehabilitation programs.

With Landry in office over the past eight months, LeBlanc has kept a low profile. He was conspicuously absent from the State Capitol in February when Landry and legislators lengthened many of the criminal sentences LeBlanc had fought to reduce a few years earlier.



Landry, who made fighting crime his top priority, also kept his public distance from LeBlanc. He declined to formally appoint LeBlanc to his cabinet position in the spring, despite keeping him on in the prisons chief job.



Over the years, LeBlanc has also been criticized for stocking the prison system and its vendors with close friends and relatives.
CHICAGO, S.C. (WCBD)  Summerville native, Melody Geddis McFadden, took the stage on the final night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago to shine a light on the lasting impacts of gun violence.

McFadden wears a lot of hats. Shes a pastor, a veteran, an activist and a voice for those who lost their lives to guns.

My niece Sandy Patrice was 22. She drove to Myrtle Beach for sun and fun and motorcycle parades, McFadden began, during her speech at the convention.

McFadden said her niece was shot and killed in 2014 after fights broke out on the beach and shots were fired into the crowd.

When describing her ability to stay calm upon hearing about the beach shooting, McFadden revealed to the DNC crowd this was not her first time losing a loved one to gun violence.

My mother, Patricia Ann, had been shot and killed by an abusive partner. I was calm then too. I got to handling business, McFadden said. She was 17 at the time of her mothers death.

The stage was shared with other victims of gun violence including a survivor of the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting and a mother whose daughter was killed in the 2022 Uvalde, Texas school shooting.

McFadden caught up with News 2 on Friday to discuss her experience speaking at the DNC.

It was a surreal moment. A moment that was, I think long overdue for not just for the Democratic Party, but for the world, she told News 2.

McFadden said its not easy to retell the stories but its something she and her three sisters feel they must do.

The South Carolinian has taken a stance against gun violence through her work with Moms Demand Action and the Everytown Veterans Advisory Council. Ten years later, McFadden is still on a mission to get her nieces murder solved.

Kids ought to be able to go to the beach and have fun and come home again. But Sandy didnt come home and because of that a fire was lit in me. I am going to do everything I can to help others not understand what I go through every single day, McFadden shared. And that was just the step to being on that stage last night.

McFadden said shes planning to be back in town for the 10th Annual Cops and Kids Back to School Bash in Ladson on Saturday August 24. The event, hosted by the Taking Back Our Village Advisory Council, is from 10 am to 2 pm at Exchange Park.

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LRSD to receive over $11 million to make energy upgrades to 17 schools

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  More than $11 million is headed to the Little Rock School District to support upgrades in energy efficiency and indoor air quality for K-12 public schools.

LRSD won the 2024 Renew Americas Schools Prize and Grant competition administered by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Little Rock School District creates sensory room to help students with autism

The funds will be used to bring upgrades to 17 schools in the district, including Central, Mabelvale Middle, Bale, Carver, Baseline, Gibbs, Chicot, King, Geyer Springs, Stephens, Washington, Mabelvale EL, Wakefield, Watson, Dunbar and Romine.

Officials said the money will be distributed in three phases and during Thursdays LRSD board meeting, a check for $300,000 was presented for phase 1.

Energia, a K-12 energy management consulting firm and Protect|ED, a national leader in indoor air quality solutions for schools, partnered with LRSD and helped the district win the grant.

Veronica Niter, vice president of business development for Energia, said firm aims to partner with school districts and help them find funding mechanisms to get light done, get their HVACs updated, create kind of a better learning environment for their students and educators.

She said, it was an extensive process to pull data from every LRSD school building.

Niter said they collected data from every LRSD school which consisted of the amount of energy usage, what upgrades were needed and a narrative detailing what the funds will be used for, not just in the schools but in the community as well.

Application period now open for EAST Initiative grant funding

In phase 2, Niter said Energia and LRSD will enter into a cooperative agreement with the DOE to start getting schools audited.

In phase 3, Niter said, LRSD will get the larger sum of money to actually do the work.

More than 350 local school agencies across 42 states entered the competition and out of all the schools and districts to enter, only 16% of applicants received funding.

Niter said even though the chances of winning are slim, its still worth giving your district an opportunity.

Even if you dont get it, at least you now have the data to understand what your buildings need, she said.

LRSD board makes no decision on transition plan in 2nd meeting following superintendents resignation

Niter said Energia does complementary assessments. More information can be found at EnergiaSaves.com or by reaching out to Niter directly at vniter@energiasaves.com or 404-902-6756 ext. 422.

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Self-proclaimed President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, despite deploying almost a third of his army to the border with Ukraine, has decided to greet the Ukrainian people on Independence Day.

Source: Pul Pervogo, a propaganda Telegram channel of the Lukashenko regime

Details: Lukashenko said that "the Belarusian land has always treated the cordial and hard-working people of Ukraine with special respect and warmth". Alexander Lukashenko said that "we are united not only by a common destiny and family ties but also by the desire to be friends and get along with our neighbours."

Quote from Lukashenko: "I am convinced that in today's difficult conditions, it is not only possible but also necessary to speak the language of peace for the sake of present and future generations of Slavic peoples. There is no other alternative. For its part, Belarus will continue to do everything possible to ensure security in the region as soon as possible."

Details: Lukashenko wished the people of Ukraine "peaceful skies and civil harmony, prosperity to their generous country, and family unity."

Background:

Alexander Lukashenko stated on 18 August that his country had sent about a third of its army to the Ukrainian border due to the presence of more than 120,000 Ukrainian soldiers there.

Alexander Lukashenko stated that Russia would send its troops to Belarus to provide military support in case of aggression against Minsk.

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The League of United Latin American Citizens in Texas is calling for a federal investigation into an effort by state Attorney General Ken Paxton's office to ferret out illegal voter registration operations, which the civil rights group argues is meant to disenfranchise Latino voters via "police state tactics."

While Paxton's office has recently initiated a series of "undercover operations to identify potential voter registration of noncitizens in Texas," Gabriel Rosales, state director for Texas LULAC, said in a statement Friday that the office had gone too far by targeting the homes of older citizens and LULAC members in South Texas.

"I have been contacted by elderly residents who are confused and frightened, wondering why they have been singled out," Rosales said. "Attorney General Paxton's actions clearly aim to suppress the Latino vote through intimidation and any means necessary to tilt the electoral process in favor of his political allies."

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxtons office announced last week its Election Integrity Unit had executed multiple search warrants in Frio, Atascosa and Bexar counties tied to an investigation over allegations of election fraud and vote harvesting during the 2022 election cycle.

In the statement, Rosales said incidents had occurred recently in Dilley, a town between Laredo and San Antonio along Interstate 35, with one such encounter resulting in law enforcement forcibly entering a private residence. At least five individuals were involved in the interactions, three of whom belonged to LULAC, Rosales told the American-Statesman on Friday.

"We're just as confused as everyone else," Rosales said. "We're not clear at this point; what we are doing is calling a meeting with the Department of Justice and to see if we can file a formal complaint."

More: DOJ arrests 7 connected to 2022 human smuggling operation that left 53 dead in San Antonio

Cecilia Castellano, the Democratic candidate for state House District 80, told the Houston Chronicle on Friday that her home was raided Tuesday and that her phone was confiscated by law enforcement.

Rosales said the encounters all occurred at private homes and that officers took phones and computers in search of voter information that was alleged to have been obtained illegally.

"We feel like they're violating our civil rights, especially with highly contested elections that are coming up," Rosales said.

The League of United Latin American Citizens in Texas is calling for a federal investigation into an effort by state Attorney General Ken Paxton against voter registration efforts that the civil rights group argues is meant to disenfranchise Latino voters via "police state tactics."

On Tuesday, Paxtons office announced its Election Integrity Unit had executed multiple search warrants in Frio, Atascosa and Bexar counties tied to an ongoing investigation over allegations of election fraud and vote harvesting during the 2022 election cycle.

Paxton then announced Wednesday that the unit had started conducting "undercover operations" in major metropolitan areas in Texas to identify and prevent the illegal registration of voters, accusing nonprofit organizations of setting up registration efforts near Texas Department of Public Safety driver's license offices.

More: Transgender Texans barred from changing sex on driver's licenses after DPS policy change

Paxton said citizens are able to register to vote when renewing or registering for a driver's license with the DPS, "so there is no obvious need to assist citizens to register to vote outside DPS officescalling into question the motives of the nonprofit groups."

"My office is investigating every credible report we receive regarding potential criminal activity that could compromise the integrity of our elections," Paxton said in a statement about the ongoing undercover operations.

More: At DNC, mom of Uvalde shooting victim speaks about 'the daughter I will never hold again'

Paxton's office did not respond to a Statesman request for comment Friday after LULAC levied its accusations against the attorney general's office, and the office has not released additional information on the search warrants that its Election Unit carried out Tuesday or details about the undercover operations Wednesday.

Rosales called the actions of Paxton's office reckless and hate-fueled in announcing the connection of the raids to LULAC  the nation's oldest and largest Hispanic civil rights organization.

"It is disgraceful and outrageous that the state of Texas, and its highest-ranking law enforcement officer, is once again using the power of his office to instill fear in the hearts of community members who volunteer their time to promote civic engagement," Rosales said. "We urge you to continue organizing and mobilizing in your neighborhoods and cities to ensure what could be the most significant Latino voter turnout in Texas history."

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Paxton's voter fraud investigation prompts LULAC to seek federal probe
Lynden woman was double-billed for surgery. Even after being sued, she refused to pay

Jamie Holmes says a surgery center tried to make her pay for two operations after she underwent only one. She refused to buckle, even after a collection agency sued her last winter.

Holmes, who lives in northwestern Washington state, had surgery in 2019 to have her fallopian tubes tied, a permanent birth-control procedure that her insurance company agreed ahead of time to cover.

During the operation, while Holmes was under anesthesia, the surgeon noticed early signs of endometriosis, a common condition in which fibrous scar tissue grows around the uterus, Holmes said. She said the surgeon later told her he spent about 15 minutes cauterizing the troublesome tissue as a precaution. She recalls him saying he finished the whole operation within the 60 minutes that had been allotted for the tubal ligation procedure alone.

She said the doctor assured her the extra treatment for endometriosis would cost her little, if anything.

Then the bill came.

The Patient: Jamie Holmes, 38, of Lynden, Washington, who was insured by Premera Blue Cross at the time.

Medical Services: A tubal ligation operation, plus treatment of endometriosis found during the surgery.

Service Provider: Pacific Rim Outpatient Surgery Center of Bellingham, Washington, which has since been purchased, closed, and reopened under a new name.

Total Bill: $9,620. Insurance paid $1,262 to the in-network center. After adjusting for prices allowed under the insurers contract, the center billed Holmes $2,605. A collection agency later acquired the debt and sued her for $3,792.19, including interest and fees.

What Gives: The surgery center, which provided the facility and support staff for her operation, sent a bill suggesting that Holmes underwent two separate operations, one to have her tubes tied and one to treat endometriosis. It charged $4,810 for each.

Holmes said there were no such problems with the separate bills from the surgeon and anesthesiologist, which the insurer paid.

Holmes figured someone in the centers billing department mistakenly thought shed been on the operating table twice. She said she tried to explain it to the staff, to no avail.

She said it was as if she ordered a meal at a fast-food restaurant, was given extra fries, and then was charged for two whole meals. I didnt get the extra burger and drink and a toy, she joked.

Her insurer, Premera Blue Cross, declined to pay for two operations, she said. The surgery center billed Holmes for much of the difference. She refused to pay.

Holmes said she understands the surgery center could have incurred additional costs for the approximately 15 minutes the surgeon spent cauterizing the spots of endometriosis. About $500 would have seemed like a fair charge to her. Im not opposed to paying for that, she said. I am opposed to paying for a whole bunch of things I didnt receive.

The physician-owned surgery center was later purchased and closed by PeaceHealth, a regional health system. But the debt was turned over to a collection agency, SB&C, which filed suit against Holmes in December 2023, seeking $3,792.19, including interest and fees.

The collection agency asked a judge to grant summary judgment, which could have allowed the company to garnish wages from Holmes job as a graphic artist and marketing specialist for real estate agents.

Holmes said she filed a written response, then showed up on Zoom and at the courthouse for two hearings, during which she explained her side, without bringing a lawyer. The judge ruled in February that the collection agency was not entitled to summary judgment, because the facts of the case were in dispute.

Representatives of the collection agency and the defunct surgery center declined to comment for this article.

Sabrina Corlette, co-director of Georgetown Universitys Center on Health Insurance Reforms, said it was absurd for the surgery center to bill for two operations and then refuse to back down when the situation was explained. Its like a Kafka novel, she said.

Corlette said surgery center staffers should be accustomed to such scenarios. It is quite common, I would think, for a surgeon to look inside somebody and say, Oh, theres this other thing going on. Im going to deal with it while Ive got the patient on the operating table.

It wouldnt have made medical or financial sense for the surgeon to make Holmes undergo a separate operation for the secondary issue, she said.

Corlette said that if the surgery center was still in business, she would advise the patient to file a complaint with state regulators.

The Resolution: So far, the collection agency has not pressed ahead with its lawsuit by seeking a trial after the judges ruling. Holmes said that if the agency continues to sue her over the debt, she might hire a lawyer and sue them back, seeking damages and attorney fees.

She could have arranged to pay off the amount in installments. But shes standing on principle, she said.

I just got stonewalled so badly. They treated me like an idiot, she said. If theyre going to be petty to me, Im willing to be petty right back.

The Takeaway: Dont be afraid to fight a bogus medical bill, even if the dispute goes to court.

Debt collectors often seek summary judgment, which allows them to garnish wages or take other measures to seize money without going to the trouble of proving in a trial that they are entitled to payments. If the consumers being sued dont show up to tell their side in court hearings, judges often grant summary judgment to the debt collectors.

However, if the facts of a case are in dispute  for example, because the defendant shows up and argues she owes for just one surgery, not two  the judge may deny summary judgment and send the case to trial. That forces the debt collector to choose: spend more time and money pursuing the debt or drop it.

You know what? It pays to be stubborn in situations like this, said Berneta Haynes, a senior attorney for the National Consumer Law Center who reviewed Holmes bill for KFF Health News.

Many people dont go to such hearings, sometimes because they didnt get enough notice, dont read English, or dont have time, she said.

I think a lot of folks just cave after theyre sued, Haynes said.

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 post M.I.A. Endorses Trump, Following RFK Jr.s Lead appeared first on Consequence.

M.I.A. has followed the lead of Robert Kennedy Jr., and endorsed Donald Trump in the 2024 Presidential Election.

Taking to Twitter on Friday afternoon, M.I.A. shared a livestream video of RFK Jr. giving a speech in support of Trump, and wrote the caption, Trump is going to ride America through the most challenging 4 years coming pulling out weed, and RFK will inherit America when God is ready to replant and rebuild it righteously. See the tweet below.

The endorsement from M.I.A. is a bit on the contradictory side, considering she called the Trump administration pathological liars in 2017, but overall comes as not too big of a surprise. Known for her unconventional politics, shes seemingly gone through the anti-establishment to right-wing-grift-supporter pipeline in recent years, and recently unveiled a line of 5G-blocking clothing items on Alex Jones Infowars show.

In 2020, M.I.A. also flirted with the anti-vax movement, saying that she would choose death over the COVID-19 vaccine, though she later clarified that she had a more nuanced stance, and described herself as not really an anti-vaxxer.

Other musicians arent as excited as M.I.A. about RFKs concession to Trump. After Kennedy took the stage on Friday at a Trump rally using Foo Fighters My Hero as his walkout song, the band denounced that it was used, and pledged to donate royalties received from the song to Kamala Harris and Tim Walzs campaign.

Trump is going to ride America through the most challenging 4 years coming pulling out weed , and RFK will inherit America when God is ready to replant and rebuild it righteously. https://t.co/dVseN9rcej  M.I.A. (@MIAuniverse) August 23, 2024

M.I.A. Endorses Trump, Following RFK Jr.s Lead

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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. Macron called the 24 August attack on a synagogue in the south of France "a terrorist act" that a unified France would fight. Rolf Vennenbernd/dpa

French President Emmanual Macron called the Saturday attack on a synagogue in the south of France "a terrorist act" that a unified France would fight.

"The fight against anti-Semitism is an ongoing battle, the fight of a united nation," Macron wrote on X. He added that everything would be done to find those responsible.

Following the explosion outside a synagogue in La Grande-Motte, a Mediterranean coastal city near Montpellier, the anti-terrorism public prosecutor's office said it is taking over the investigation and will look into attempted homicide with a terrorism connection and destruction with dangerous means, as well as terrorist association.

The search is still on for the perpetrator, acting Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said.

At the time, five people were inside the synagogue, including the rabbi. According to the anti-terrorism prosecutor's office, they remained unharmed.

Two cars were initially set on fire in front of the synagogue in La Grande-Motte, a Mediterranean coastal city near Montpellier.

A gas cylinder exploded in one of the vehicles, according to a spokesman for the gendarmerie, a branch of the armed forces responsible for internal security in some areas. A police officer was injured. No one in the building was injured.

Two doors of the synagogue were also set on fire. It is unclear whether this happened before or after the explosion.

France's acting Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin ordered an immediate increase in the presence of security forces outside Jewish places of worship. He wrote on X of an "apparently criminal attempted arson," and expressed his full support for the Jewish community.

Attal, writing on X, spoke of an anti-Semitic act. "Once again, our Jewish fellow citizens have been targeted."

Saturday is the Jewish sabbath and traditionally people attend services then.

Yonathan Arfi, chairman of the umbrella organization of Jewish organizations in France, CRIF, wrote that the explosion took place at a time when worshippers were expected to arrive at the synagogue.

"It was not just an attack on a place of worship, it's an attempt to kill Jews," he wrote.

Attal and Darmanin are expected to arrive at the scene of the attack this afternoon.
The French gendarmerie block the road near the synagogue. Following the explosion outside a synagogue in La Grande-Motte in the south of France, the anti-terrorism prosecutor's office has taken over the investigation. The authorities confirmed this to the German Press Agency in Paris. Pascal Guyot/AFP/dpa

French President Emmanuel Macron called the Saturday attack on a synagogue in the south of France "a terrorist act" that a unified France would fight.

"The fight against anti-Semitism is an ongoing battle, the fight of a united nation," Macron wrote on X. He added that everything would be done to find those responsible.

Following the explosion outside a synagogue in La Grande-Motte, a city on the Mediterranean coast near Montpellier, the anti-terrorism public prosecutor's office said it is taking over the investigation and will look into attempted homicide with a terrorism connection and destruction with dangerous means, as well as terrorist association.

By evening, the search for the fugitive perpetrator was still under way, according to acting Prime Minister Gabriel Attal.

Some 200 police officers and gendarmes have been deployed.

"We can assume that we have narrowly escaped an absolute tragedy," said Attal.

Initial findings suggest that the perpetrator was very determined. If the synagogue had been full at the time of the crime and people had come outside, there would likely have been fatalities, he said.

He described the act as outrageous and pointed to the increasing number of anti-Semitic attacks in France.

At the time, five people were inside the synagogue, including the rabbi. According to the anti-terrorism prosecutor's office, they remained unharmed.

Two cars were initially set on fire in front of the synagogue in La Grande-Motte, a Mediterranean coastal city near Montpellier.

A gas cylinder exploded in one of the vehicles, according to a spokesman for the gendarmerie, a branch of the armed forces responsible for internal security in some areas. A police officer was injured. No one in the building was injured.

Two doors of the synagogue were also set on fire. It is unclear whether this happened before or after the explosion.

"Initial investigations suggest that the perpetrator was carrying a Palestinian flag and a weapon," the prosecutor's office stated.

Acting French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin ordered an immediate increase in the presence of security forces outside Jewish places of worship. He wrote on X of an "apparently criminal attempted arson," and expressed his full support for the Jewish community.

Attal, writing earlier on X, spoke of an anti-Semitic act: "Once again, our Jewish fellow citizens have been targeted."

Saturday is the Jewish sabbath and traditionally when people attend religious services.

Yonathan Arfi, chairman of the umbrella organization of Jewish organizations in France, CRIF, wrote that the explosion took place at a time when worshippers were expected to arrive at the synagogue.

"It was not just an attack on a place of worship, it's an attempt to kill Jews," he wrote.

Attal and Darmanin are expected to arrive at the scene of the attack this afternoon.

Police officers stand near a synagogue after an explosion outside the building. Following the explosion outside a synagogue in La Grande-Motte in the south of France, the anti-terrorism prosecutor's office has taken over the investigation. The authorities confirmed this to the German Press Agency in Paris. Pascal Guyot/AFP/dpa
Maggots in Food at the DNC? The Best And Blackest Moments From The DNC, Raphael Warnock Brings The House Down In Chicago, Black America Share Thoughts On Obamas' DNC Speeches, Trump Attacks Black Sororities And More

WASHINGTON - AUGUST 19: Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., speaks during the 2024 Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago on Monday, August 19, 2024. - Photo: Bill Clark (Getty Images)

Night one of the Democratic National Convention was packed with great speakers, including some of the youngest rising stars in Congress, like Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). However, one of the most powerful speeches of the night came from Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock, who made an impassioned plea to voters to do everything they can to keep Donald Trump out of the White House. - Angela Johnson Read More

Photo: Tom Williams (Getty Images)

CHICAGO: The second night of the Democratic National Convention was full of special cultural moments. From Patti LaBelle singing You Are My Friend during the In Memoriam portion of the program to Lil Jons surprise appearance for their convention roll call vote, night two felt lighter and more vibrant than the evening before. - Candace McDuffie Read More

Photo: Ricky Carioti (Getty Images)

CHICAGO: On night three of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, the one and only Oprah made a surprise appearance in her hometown to endorse Kamala Harris for President. Wearing a pristine purple pantsuit, the media mogul had some choice words for the Trump campaign and for those who who seek to divide and then conquer. - Candace McDuffie Read More

Photo: Brandon Bell (Getty Images)

Former President Donald Trump once again opened his ignorant mouth to attack Vice President Kamala Harris. This time, he attempted to shame Harris for attending the historically Black sorority Sigma Gamma Rhos boule which took place from July 31 to Aug. 4 in Houston. - Candace McDuffie Read More

Image: Ricky Carioti

Former First Lady Michelle Obama uttered her famous phrase when they go low, we go high for the first time during the 2016 Democratic National Convention. But eight years and a Donald Trump presidency later, its clear the new plan for Democrats is to meet Trump exactly where hes at: the lowest of the low. - Phenix S Halley Read More

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 20: DJ Cassidy performs during the second day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 20, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. - Photo: Andrew Harnik (Getty Images)

Lets face it: you wouldnt normally expect to turn up at a political convention. Listening to a seemingly endless amount speeches has the potential to be a snooze fest. But this years Democratic National Convention has done its best to flip that narrative on its head  especially during the delegate roll call. - Angela Johnson Read More

Photo: Kevin Dietsch (Getty Images)

The Democratic National Convention kicked off in Chicago on Monday (August 19) at United Center and was quite the celebration. President Joe Biden gave the final address of the night, which was full of resilience and reassurance that Vice President Kamala Harris is going to be our next President Of The United States. - Candace McDuffie Read More

Photo: Ricky Carioti (Getty Images)

As the Democratic National Convention gears up for its fourth and final night at Chicagos United Center Thursday (August 22), the electrifying event has already featured several prominent and powerful speeches. From Oprah Winfreys surprise appearance in which she belted out Vice President Kamala Harris name to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries likening Trump to an old boyfriend, here are the best speeches from the DNC so far. - Candace McDuffie Read More

Image: RYAN COLLERD (Getty Images)

Ohio Sen. JD Vance surely put the cringe in cringey after an exchange between him and Georgia donut shop workers has now gone viral.



With Georgia being a crucial battleground state, its no shock that former President Donald Trump and his running mate would be spending a lot of time in the dirty south. But Vances most recent attempt at a pleasant on-camera moment in the Peach State quickly turned into the most awkward viral clip of the year. - Phenix S Halley Read More

Screenshot: WGN Investigates

Authorities were likely prepared for any attacks targeting the Democratic National Convention. However, what theyre investigating isnt a suspected shooter or bag of homemade explosives. The threat was found inside food. - Kalyn Womack Read More

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Approximately 1,600 gallons of foam containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, was accidentally discharged at Brunswick Executive Airport's hangar 4 on Aug. 19, 2024. (AnnMarie Hilton/ Maine Morning Star)

Even before 1,600 gallons of foam containing forever chemicals spilled at the Brunswick airport on Monday, the previous use of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, at the site has made the water in the area a hazard.

On Friday, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention issued new freshwater fish consumption advisories for the region. The agency recommends no consumption of fish caught on the eastern side of the runway, as well as Merriconeag Stream, Picnic Pond, and Site 8 Stream, while no more than six meals per year should include fish caught in Mere (Mare) Brook, in the stretch from Coffin Ice Pond to the Western edge of the runway.

The testing that led to the new consumption advisories was part of ongoing remediation efforts in response to historic use of PFAS-laden firefighting foam at the site. The samples, collected in October by the U.S. Navy, in coordination with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, showed PFAS levels above the agencys recommendation for regular consumption.

PFAS have been linked to serious long-term health problems including cancer, weakened immune systems, developmental issues, and more.

On Monday morning, the fire suppression system in hangar four at what is now the Brunswick Executive Airport went off, discharging approximately 1,600 gallons of foam containing PFAS into the area, including local waterways.

In response, Maine CDC is recommending that no one touch any of the remaining foam and avoid recreational activities such as swimming or boating that may bring them in contact with the foam or the water until further assessment can be done.

However, the agency said Mondays spill should not affect the new fish consumption guidance. The waters that were likely impacted by the foam are on the east side of the air stations runway and already included in the new no consumption guidance.

Though the official advisories are coming 10 months after testing, notes from a late May meeting of the Restoration Advisory Board for the former Brunswick Naval Air Station mention elevated levels of specific PFAS called perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) in fish samples collected on and off the former base.

Maine DEP released an update Friday afternoon about the clean up of the remaining foam from Mondays spill.

Contractors will clean up any interior spaces, including hangar four where it originated, while DEP employees will take surface water samples every day for the next week to determine what ongoing sampling will be required.

The department will soon publish the results of initial samples taken the day of the spill to determine the foams contents.

The department said various state agencies as well as the EPA, the U.S. Coast Guard, the town of Brunswick and the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority, which runs the airport, have been onsite since the incident occurred. DEP will continue to have staff on site overseeing the removal and once complete the site will return to its status of long-term remediation.

Members of the public should avoid contact with any foam that may still be in the area. If any is observed outside of the area in and around hanger four and the nearby business TechPlace, residents should report it by calling 207-844-8040.

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KINGSTON SPRINGS, Tenn. (WKRN)  The Kingston Springs Police Department arrested a man who reportedly placed a cellphone under a restroom partition at a truck stop to record a woman using the facility.

The alleged incident happened on July 14. According to arrest affidavits, 21-year-old Eduardo Navarrette, an undocumented Mexican national, slid a cellphone under the partition in a stall occupied by a woman in her 20s.

That young woman told News 2 she was passing through Kingston Springs, having just left Nashville. She said she was using the restroom and never imagined her privacy would suddenly be invaded in such a blatant way.

I was just shocked, the victim said. I wasnt expecting that at all. I was like, Did that really happen?'

At that moment, a 38-year-old mother of three entered the restroom.

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The gentleman was running out of the ladies restroom, and he almost knocked me down, so it took me by surprise, she recalled.

The mother said she was initially confused, thinking perhaps she had walked into the mens room. However, she quickly determined that she was in the ladies room.

Thats when the mother reportedly heard the young woman telling her boyfriend that someone had just videotaped her under the stall.

The young lady beside me was really upset, saying that somebody beside her was filming her; they stuck a camera on the other side of the barrier and she was really freaked out, the mother described.

The mother said she yelled to the woman that she just saw the guy. Then, they both left the restroom and entered the truck stops main area. Thats when the mother spotted Navarrette in a car at the gas pumps.

Dickson County corrections deputy charged with multiple counts of sexual contact with inmates

The 38-year-old confronted the 21-year-old, who was in the front seat of a car, while the young woman recorded the confrontation.

That was you! This is him! He was filming her in the bathroom! the mother yelled. Yeah it was, I saw him! Hes filming her in the bathroom! That was you, dude! That was you! Were calling the police! Youre going to jail!

The video shows another man standing next to the drivers side door of the car, but the mother continued talking about Navarrette, saying, Oh yeah, dude. He was filming her in the bathroom. Hes a creep. Hes a pervert. That was him.

Were you scared at all when you went and confronted this man, not having a clue what could happen? News 2s Andy Cordan asked the good Samaritan.

I probably should have been, looking back. Maybe it wasnt the smartest choice. I probably should have been more fearful than I was, she replied.

6 men charged following human trafficking investigation in Clarksville

According to arrest documents, the suspect ran from the truck stop. However, the driver of the car stayed behind and told police that Navarrette was an acquaintance.

When authorities searched the car, they reportedly found Navarrettes court document that he received earlier in the day for driving on a suspended license.

Police looked for the suspect for the next few weeks, to no avail.

Then, on Tuesday, Aug. 20, Kingston Springs officers were at the Dickson County Courthouse in Charlotte, hoping that Navarrette would come to deal with the suspended license violation. When the 21-year-old did arrive, police took him into custody and charged him with violation of privacy (unlawful photography).

I feel great about that, and I hope they bury him under the jail, the mother said. I think everyone should feel safe, especially women, to go to the restroom in peace and not have a creep violate them in that way. I cant imagine what that young lady felt like.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

It was really just like an invasion of privacy, and I think [the good Samaritan] was an amazing person. I hope that everyone would do that, but not in todays society, I dont think, but I think she is a hero, the victim told News 2.

Navarrette is being held in the Cheatham County Jail under a $15,000 bond, officials said.

Police told News 2 they seized the suspects cell phone and will get a warrant to view its contents. The arresting officer is also looking into a possible petition for deportation paperwork for the Mexican national.

When asked what she would say to Navarrette, the good Samaritan replied, I would pray for him and hope he finds peace in Jesus because where he is going, he is going to need it.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  The 22-year-old accused of killing a teenage boy in July 2022 pleaded guilty Wednesday, two days before receiving the maximum sentence for his charges.

Ameir Trent pleaded guilty to reckless homicide, improperly discharging a firearm into a habitation and felonious assault in the death of 15-year-old Devin Bannister, according to the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney.

Middle school educator allegedly sent lewd photos to student

Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Julie Lynch sentenced Trent on Friday to 15-17 years in prison, the maximum possible sentence for the two firearm specifications accompanying his charges and the reckless homicide charge, the prosecutor said.

Bannister, Trent and three other juveniles shot more than 40 rounds into a residence with four people present on July 18, 2022. The prosecutor said leaving the residence in a car, Trent fired an additional shot, thinking his firearm was empty.

The shot went through the passenger seat and struck Bannister, and the rest of the group dropped the 15-year-old at a nearby hospital before fleeing. Police said Bannister died in the hospital from the wound.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  A Holton man accused of starting a deadly house fire last year that killed a Topeka mom and her two children pleaded no contest Friday.

27 News is following up on the case of 33-year-old Kyle J. Tyler who was accused of killing Genny Fitzpatrick, 30 and her two children, one-year-old Kourtney Tyler and nine-year-old Peyton Tyler, in a house fire in January 2023. Tyler pleaded no contest to a charge of murder in the first degree and two charges of aggravated arson on Aug. 23. Other charges of murder in the first degree and aggravated endangering of a child were dismissed.

The Topeka Fire Department (TFD) was called about a fire just before 5 a.m. on Jan. 20, 2023 to a home in the 900 block of Southwest Warren Avenue. Firefighters arriving at the scene found a house engulfed in flames and began trying to put out the fire amid dangerous conditions. A man, later identified as Tyler, was found on the back deck of the home fully clothed and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation.

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Topeka police investigate new homicide case after man dies of injuries

Firefighters searching the home found Fitzpatrick and her two children who all were killed as a result of smoke inhalation, according to court documents. Investigators found two areas in the home where fires were started: one in the middle of the living room and another in the basement.

Tyler was later arrested after being released from the hospital on Jan. 20, 2023 in connection to the deaths of Fitzpatrick and her children. He was initially charged with three counts of murder in the first degree, aggravated arson and two counts of aggravated endangering of a child.

27 News spoke with family of Fitzpatrick in the days after the fire. Fitzpatrick worked at a local McDonalds while Peyton was a fourth grade student at Lowman Hill Elementary school in Topeka.

Tyler is due to be sentenced in October this year. 27 News will keep you updated on this case as it moves forward.

Thief breaks into Topeka pizza restaurant, steals arcade quarter machine

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The man accused of starting the Park Fire was in court Thursday to enter a plea on charges he intentionally set the nearly 430,000-acre blaze.

Ronnie Dean Stout II, 42, of Chico entered a plea of not guilty in Butte County Superior Court. It was his third court appearance since his arrest early in the morning on July 25 at his mother's home in Chico.

Stout is due back in court on Sept. 19 to set a date for a preliminary hearing on the arson charge against him.

Stout was in Upper Bidwell Park near Chico when he allegedly got his car stuck on a rock shortly before 3 p.m. on July 24. He started a grass fire underneath the vehicle as he was attempting to free the vehicle, a 2007 Toyota Yaris, according to Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey.

At some point, he was able to free the vehicle and push it over the edge of an embankment. The car burst into flames when it landed at the bottom of the gully, Ramsey said.

Witnesses told investigators that Stout did not attempt to extinguish the fire or warn others about the blaze, Ramsey said. Instead, he calmly walked away from the area, he said.

Stout told investigators that the fire started accidentally and that he was afraid after the fire started, so he left the area, Ramsey said.

During his first court appearance, Judge Kristen Lucena would not allow Stout to post bail from jail. If he is found guilty on the arson charge and associated special allegations, he could be sentenced to 25 years to life in prison, Ramsey said.

More: 'Disbelief:' Firefighter's truck stolen in Redding while he worked on the Park Fire

From its origin near Chico, the fire quickly spread, burning nearly 170,000 acres in two days. As of Thursday, the fire had consumed 429,460 acres, making it the fourth-largest fire in California history. The blaze also destroyed 637 structures and damaged another 49, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

At one point, more than 6,000 people were assigned to the fire. By Thursday, that number was down to 3,358 people working on the blaze, according to Cal Fire.

As of Thursday, public agencies had spent $251 million fighting the fire, according to the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho.

In an update on the status of the fire issued Thursday, Cal Fire said "there was minimal activity on the fire, islands within the fire perimeter continue to burn overnight. Containment continues to increase."

The fire was 61% contained and all roads that had been closed near the fire are once again open, Cal Fire said.

There also was concern of flash flooding in the area of the fire due to rain showers expected Friday afternoon and into Saturday morning.

Reporter Damon Arthur welcomes story tips at 530-338-8834, by email at damon.arthur@redding.com and on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @damonarthur_RS. Help local journalism thrive by subscribing today!

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Man accused of starting Park Fire enters plea to arson charge
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A 40-year-old man was arrested for allegedly stealing over $9,000 of jewelry on Thursday, Aug. 22, according to the El Paso County Sheriffs Office (EPCSO).

At 6:05 p.m., deputies who were working off-duty security at Cielo Vista Mall were notified by employees of a jewelry store that a man was in their store, who had allegedly committed theft at another store earlier that day, according to EPCSO.

The man was seen stealing more than $9,000 of jewelry earlier that day, according to EPCSO.

The deputies initiated an active search for the man. Later, deputies were able to locate him and detain him when the suspect was attempting to leave the mall, according to EPCSO.

The subject was identified as Adan Gutierrez, 40. Deputies also learned that he was wearing the same clothing from the previous theft earlier that day, the Sheriffs Office said.

Gutierrez was found to be in possession of the stolen jewelry, according to the Sheriffs Office. Deputies turned him over to El Paso Police detectives.

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CHICAGO  A man was arrested and charged in connection with a deadly shooting in Austin.

Chicago police said the shooting happened just after 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, near the 100 block of South Lavergne Avenue.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Man dead after being shot in Austin

The suspect reportedly approached a man in his 30s and fired multiple shots, hitting him in the neck and back. The victim was taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition and later died from his injuries.

Police said detectives later identified the suspect as 40-year-old Jonathan Atkinson, who was arrested Thursday, Aug. 22 in the 4900 block of West Fulton Street.

Atkinson has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting.

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GRIMVILLE, Pa. (WHTM)  A Philadelphia man is behind bars after state troopers say he struck a man on a Berks County Interstate and never stopped.

Akhmadkhon Ubaykhonov, 42, of Philadelphia, was arraigned Saturday morning on a felony charge of accidents involving death or personal injury.

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According to the State Police at Hamburg, the incident happened around 5 p.m. Friday.

Jymel Dejuan Smith, 49, of Clermont, Florida, had stopped his tractor trailer along the shoulder of Interstate 78 in Greenwich Township, just east of the Krumsville/Kutztown exit.

Troopers said Ubaykhonov struck Smith and never stopped or let police know about the crash. Smith was pronounced dead at the scene.

Ubaykhonov and his vehicle were found away from the scene and he was taken into custody.

He was committed to Berks County Prison and denied bail.

Anyone who may have seen the crash is asked to call Trooper Brian Roland at 610-562-6885.

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ATHENS, Tenn. (WATE)  An Athens man is facing a second-degree murder charge in the death of a woman whose body was found after a fire at a church earlier this month, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said.

In a release on Saturday, the TBI explained that Kyle Hickox, 36, was charged with one count of second-degree murder on Friday.

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On August 15, the TBI special agents certified in fire and explosives investigations began investigating a fire at St. Mark AME Zion Church in the 700 block of North Jackson Street in Athens. While searching the scene, authorities found a womans body. The victim was later identified as Linda Buchanan, 69, of Athens.

In the TBIs release on Saturday, the agency explained that an autopsy determined Buchanan died before the fire. The investigation and evidence collected by the TBI with the assistance of the Athens Police Department led investigators to believe that Hickox was the person responsible for Buchanans death and the fire at the church, the TBI said.

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Hickox was arrested on Friday and booked into the McMinn County Jail on a $600,000 bond. The TBI added that there may be additional charges as the investigation continues.

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  A man was found dead in a Birmingham gas stations parking lot early Saturday morning.

According to Birmingham police officer Truman Fitzgerald, police were dispatched around 2:40 a.m. to a ShotSpotter alert in the 1100 block of Third Avenue West. Officers arrived at the Exxon gas station in that block and saw a man lying unresponsive in its parking lot suffering from a gunshot wound.

Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service personnel pronounced the man dead. Fitzgerald said the preliminary investigation shows ShotSpotter detected rounds fired in the 1100 block of Third Avenue West.

3 charged in fatal Birmingham apartment shooting, more arrests expected

The gas station was closed when the shooting occurred. The El Centenario Nightclub across the street, however, was open at the time. Birmingham Police Department detectives will search the area for surveillance cameras.

Those with information on the case are urged to call the BPD at 205-254-1764 or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777. Crime Stoppers may award tipsters up to $5,000.

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Man hospitalized with major injuries after Newton County deputies shot him, GBI confirms

A man is in the hospital after Newton County deputies shot him early Saturday morning.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation says a woman called 911 to a home on Barshay Drive around 1:30 a.m. in reference to a safety concern in her home.

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When they got there, they found 34-year-old John Cortez Biles, who had several warrants for his arrest. He went out the back door of the house and pulled out a gun, according to the GBI.

The Newton County Sheriffs Office says Biles pointed the gun at one of the deputies and was shot.

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He was taken to the hospital with major injuries.

No deputies were injured in the incident.

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This is at least the fourth incident where officers or deputies in metro Atlanta were either shot or fired their weapons in the last week.

Last Saturday, Paulding County Deputy Brandon Cunningham was ambushed and killed while responding to a domestic dispute.

On Tuesday morning, Carroll County Investigator Taylor Bristow was shot and taken to Grady Memorial Hospital in critical condition. He died from his injuries on Friday night.

On Friday afternoon, Gwinnett County officers were called to a teenager having a mental episode. After 17-year-old Brayden Hemphill charged at officers with a knife, he was shot and killed, according to the GBI.

IN OTHER NEWS:
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A man accused of beating a dog in an apartment building elevator in an incident caught on surveillance video was indicted by a Multnomah County grand jury on several animal abuse charges, District Attorney Mike Schmidt announced Friday.

Authorities said Isaac Justham was indicted on four counts of first-degree aggravated animal abuse and four counts of second-degree animal abuse.

The indictment comes after security cameras at a Portland apartment building on Northeast Holladay Street captured Justham on Aug. 2 hitting the dog with a heavy rope and hanging the dog from a fire extinguisher and repeatedly kicking it, officials said.

Portland Public School teacher accused of luring a minor with brazen conversations

The Portland Police Bureau released part of the video while searching for the suspect, before later identifying him as Justham. The 25-year-old was later arrested Aug. 17 in the Pearl District.

Authorities said the dog is still missing and encouraged anyone with information about its whereabouts to contact Portland police.

Meanwhile, animal rights group PETA announced the organization is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information to help find the dog.

This dog is surely frightened and traumatized and may have sustained serious injuries, PETA Senior Vice President Colleen OBrien said. PETA asks anyone with information to come forward immediately so that this dog can get the care he or she urgently needs.

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A man was killed Friday night in an officer-involved shooting in Edmond.

One person was killed in an officer-involved shooting in Edmond.

Emily Ward, Edmond Police public information officer, said police received a request to check for a suspicious person in the 1900 block of Three Stars Road just before 11 p.m. Friday. The address is near E Second Street and Bryant Avenue.

Saturday, Edmond Police Sgt. James Hamm shared additional informaton about the incident.

"Officers responded to that address on Three Stars Road, in reference to the resident there had observed somebody in the backyard of their home," Hamm said.

Hamm said officers arrived at the address and began to check around the area. He said officers found the suspect hiding on a second-floor balcony in the back of the residence.

Hamm said the man would not talk to police when they attempted to communicate with him.

"In a short time, the suspect stood up and pointed a firearm at the officers," he said. "Officers and the suspect both exchanged gunfire, at which time the suspect was shot and killed.""

Hamm said more information, including the suspect's identification, would likely be released in the coming days.

The Edmond incident follows an officer-involved shooting on Thursday in Mustang.

A Mustang police officer shot and killed a man about 7:30 p.m. Thursday evening during a wellness check. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said the man, identified as Juan Barbosa, 41, refused to obey verbal commands and began advancing on the officer near Mustang Road and SW 89.

Officers on the scene attempted life-saving measures but the man died, according to an OSBI news release.

Mustang Police Department requested the assistance of OSBI to help investigate. Authorities have not yet released any details about the shooting. News9 reported that the man's family said he was unarmed and had a mental health episode.

This is a developing story.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Man killed in officer-involved shooting in Edmond Friday night
Man sentenced to more than 20 years in prison for sex crimes, robbery

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A man was sentenced to more than 20 years in prison on Friday after pleading guilty to multiple sex crimes, burglary and robbery, authorities said.

Daniel Allen Bueler, 34, is currently in custody in Multnomah County and will be transported to the Oregon Department of Corrections to carry out his sentence, the Multnomah County District Attorneys Office said.

Read More: Multnomah County

The various crimes all occurred in separate incidents in 2022 and 2023, officials said.

In a release, the DAs office listed the details of the crimes and when they happened:

In June 2022, Bueler approached an individual who was walking in Argay Park and sexually assaulted them at gunpoint; in August 2022, Bueler broke into an occupied residence and stole over $1,000 worth of goods; in March 2023, Bueler again broke into an occupied residence where a woman woke up to find him standing over her displaying an apparent weapon before stealing belongings; and several hours later, Bueler sexually assaulted a woman and threatened her with a weapon.

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Bueler entered his guilty plea on the charges as part of a plea deal on Aug. 2. On Friday, a judge sentenced him to 245 months in prison on charges of first-degree sex abuse, first-degree sodomy, second-degree robbery and first-degree burglary.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said its investigating a fatal shooting in Northwest D.C. that took place on Friday evening.

Police said that at about 7 p.m., officers responded to the 1300 block of Girard St. for the report of a shooting.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found a man who had been shot. The man died at the hospital.

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Police identified him as 25-year-old Martinez Robinson of Waldorf, Md.

Anyone with information should call police at (202) 727-9099 or text your tip to the Departments TEXT TIP LINE at 50411.

MPD currently offers a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for a homicide committed in the District of Columbia.

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Man shot outside in a parking lot in Prince Georges County

PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  Police in Prince Georges County are investigating a shooting that broke out Friday night that left a man injured.

Montgomery County police officer found guilty for involvement in Jan. 6 insurrection

The Prince Georges County Police Department (PGPD) said detectives are investigating a shooting that happened in the 3300 block of Walters Ln. It happened around 9:20 p.m. in a parking lot there.

A man was taken to the hospital for treatment.

PGPD said the investigation is still ongoing.

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A Maryland police officer was found guilty Friday of civil disorder, assaulting police and other charges after he threw a smoke bomb at officers during the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol attack.

Justin Lee, 26, took a smoke bomb from another rioter, pulled the pin, and threw it in the direction of Capitol police stationed in a tunnel that connects to the Capitol.

U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden heard two days of trial testimony before finding Lee guilty of two felonies and three misdemeanors. During his testimony, Lee told McFadden he was trying to make a statement about police brutality when he threw the smoke bomb.

McFadden said he believed Lee went to the Capitol that day to disrupt Congress certification of President Joe Bidens victory over Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election.

An officer who protected the Capitol during the attack testified at Lees trial that the smoke bomb made him feel disoriented and like a sitting duck. The officer said he fell and had to flee as Lee threw other objects into the tunnel.

No police officer should have to endure these attacks and provocations, McFadden said, per the AP.

Prosecutors said Lee also waved at other Trump supporters to join the mob in overtaking police on the West Plaza.

Six months after the attack in July 2021, Lee became a Montgomery County police officer. After his arrest in October, Lee was suspended without pay. The department told the AP in a statement that officials will be moving ahead with termination procedures now that Lee has been convicted.

Lee is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 22.

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BALTIMORE  Marylands largest financial aid grant program does not have enough money to pay for the increase in eligible students, creating uncertainty as the academic year begins and families make decisions about paying for college.

Howard P. Rawlings Guaranteed Access is a need-based grant for Marylands lowest-income students, providing up to $22,100 in tuition, fees and housing, the most of any state college financial aid grant.

The commission, which administers state financial aid programs, said more students were awarded the grant this year after a 2023 law broadened eligibility requirements. The increase in awarded students, which grew by 37% to include 8,030 students, has drawn down a greater percentage of the funds designated for the program, according to the commission.

The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) has awarded $96.6 million to 6,401 students for this school year. Subtracting from the commissions number of eligible students, that would leave 1,629 people waiting for funding.

The commission did not respond to requests to confirm the number of students awaiting funds and declined to make anyone available for an interview.

MHEC is committed to awarding the Guaranteed Access Grants (GAG) to all eligible students who submitted an application by the May 15, 2024 priority deadline, Kristin Clarkson, a spokesperson for the MHEC, said in a statement.

The commission also awarded a higher number of grants  and more students accepted  than expected in fiscal year 2024, resulting in a budget amendment of $13 million to make up the difference, according to a 2024 fiscal analysis from the Department of Legislative Services, a nonpartisan state agency.

The larger number of eligible students also impacts Marylands private and independent colleges, which match the state grant so the students entire tuition is paid for.

Matt Power, president of the Maryland Independent College and University Association, said financial aid offices are concerned about the monitoring grant funding gap, but the situation hasnt reached any crisis level or anything like that, and were hoping it doesnt.

Members are concerned about whether there will ultimately be enough funding, but its too early to determine, Power said. Students who are further along in their college careers receive a grant renewal first, he said, before incoming students get a first-time award.

Power anticipates that more money will get freed up over the next few weeks as students accept or decline the grants, which he described as life-changing.

The [guaranteed-access] grant has changed thousands of Maryland students lives for the better and offered them access to college that wouldnt otherwise have, he said.

The higher education commission uses the Free Application for Federal Student aid to determine which students are eligible for the guaranteed-access grant. Power believes the federal education departments bungled rollout of a new FAFSA application could have contributed to the states delayed grant awards.

The 2023 state law changed the grants eligibility requirements by dropping grade point average and extending the number of years a student can take to enroll in college after high school graduation. It also started using the FAFSA to determine income eligibility, allowing more students to apply and qualify for the largest award amounts.

By making the grant eligible to more Marylanders  its hard to determine the number of people that pool would create, Power said.

Del. Ben Barnes, a Democrat representing Anne Arundel and Prince Georges counties, said hes glad more students who need help are getting to go to college. The state has an overage fund to help with such shortfalls, he said. The Need-Based Student Financial Assistance Fund received unused scholarship funds at the end of each fiscal year with an average balance of $9.4 million.

During the budget season, the higher education commission said it planned to use $22 million from the need-based fund for the 2024-25 award year, which would fully utilize the fund by the end of fiscal year 2025, according to the legislative services fiscal analysis.

If there isnt enough money in that fund, were committed to a deficiency funding, Barnes wrote in a text message. We are committed in this state to making sure kids have the resources to go to college.

There are two components to the Howard P. Rawlings program that use the same pot of money. Along with the guaranteed-access grant, theres an educational assistance grant for low-to-moderate-income students who can receive up to $3,000. If guaranteed-access grant awards increase, then educational assistance awards must decrease to stay within fund limits, according to a 2022 legislative service analysis.

The higher education commission has administered a total of $119.3 million for the two Rawlings grants, spending $22.6 million on educational assistance grant awards for 8,334 students so far this year, according to the agency.

Across Maryland, colleges and universities are figuring out how many students are impacted.

In Kent County, several Washington College students were affected by the delay in distribution of guaranteed-access grant funding. Some students received aid and enrolled, while others never found out if they qualified, which influenced their decision of where to attend, said Johnnie Johnson, vice president of enrollment management at the school.

The timing was problematic because students were waiting on those funds well into the summer, Johnson said in a statement. The school wont know how many students were affected until a few weeks into the semester, he said.

At St. Johns College in Annapolis, the majority of students are Maryland residents, but fewer are qualifying for the grant.

We dont know all the reasons, but weve seen fewer students this year qualifying for guaranteed access grants, so we are prepared to provide institutional aid from St. Johns to help any Marylanders who need extra support, Ben Baum, vice president of enrollment, said in a statement.

Tara de Souza, a spokesperson for Goucher College in Towson, said the financial aid office is aware of the funding shortfall and that some students will be affected, but they have yet to determine how many.

The office is working to assess the impact on students, she said. It is a developing situation.

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Maryland woman to spend decades in prison for child sexual abuse

WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  A Mayland woman was sentenced on Friday after being convicted of two counts of first-degree child sexual abuse.

The U.S. Attorneys Office (USAO) said 42-year-old Griselda Martinez-Moz will spend 20 years in prison, and then must register as a sex offender for the remainder of her life.

Man charged in 2017 double murder found dead in Fairfax County jail

According to evidence presented in her week-long trial back in March, Martinez-Moz sexually abused an 8-year-old child in 2015 and 2016.

Officials said that Martinez-Moz knew the victims family.

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Marysvilles mayor and a city councilman were allegedly attacked in the citys downtown Thursday afternoon as they waited at a crosswalk with the citys police chief.

Chris Branscum told the Marysville Appeal-Democrat he was punched in the back in the daytime attack as he, a plainclothed Chief of Police Chris Sachs and Councilman Dom Belza stood at Fifth and D streets in downtown Marysville. Belza was also struck before chasing down and tackling the suspected attacker to the ground.

The Marysville leaders were awaiting a meeting with Rep. Doug La Malfa, R-Richvale, at the site of the Hotel Marysville, gutted by a fire in June.

My first reaction was I thought I got hit by a car, the mayor told the Appeal-Democrat. Then half a moment later, someone takes off on a dead run. ... (Belza) was the quickest off the mark, took him down about halfway down the block on the sidewalk.

Arrested was Derek Don Hopkins, 36, the newspaper reported. Hopkins is unhoused and is known to Marysville authorities, Sachs told the newspaper.

Hopkins was charged with two misdemeanor counts of battery and pleaded not guilty during an arraignment Friday in Yuba Superior Court. He remains held in a Marysville jail in lieu of $50,000 bail and is expected to return to court Sept. 6.
MASON, Mich. (WLNS)  The 6 remaining councilmembers of the Mason City Council will hold a special meeting Monday to establish the process to select an interim councilmember.

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the Mason City Council Chambers, inside the Mason City Hall at 201 W. Ash St. in Mason. Officials will determine a timeline for the selection of a councilmember to serve through the end of the year.

The appointment will fill the seat vacated Wednesday by Councilwoman Rita Vogel. She resigned because Council declined to extended an approval to her absences resulting from her work caring for her ailing mother and preparing her mother for a move from Hawaii to Michigan. Without that approval, Vogel could have faced removal proceedings under the City Charter.

In addition to setting a timeline for the appointment process, Council will also establish whether or not there will be public interviews with candidates for the appointment, how many of the candidates will be publicly interviewed and the process by which Council will whittle the applicant pool.

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You are here: China

China's Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Emergency Management have allocated 50 million yuan (about 7 million U.S. dollars) to support flood relief efforts in northeast China's Liaoning Province.

The funds will be used for key emergency measures, including search and rescue operations, the relocation and resettlement of affected residents, and the mitigation of flood-related risks.

In addition, the relief funds will support efforts to identify potential secondary disaster risks and repair damaged homes to minimize losses caused by the floods.

China has activated a level-IV disaster relief emergency response in Liaoning Province following rain-triggered floods.
Backed by new grant funding, the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health intends to officially launch and expand a network dedicated to hoarding resources, as advocates look to introduce more strategies to support stable housing and homelessness prevention efforts.

The Massachusetts Hoarding Resource Network will pursue policy research aimed at strengthening care and advocacy around hoarding conditions, as well as bolstering bilingual training to improve the reach of peer support groups. Members have been meeting informally in recent months, though the two-year grant funding  which totals just shy of $100,000  will help "formalize" and grow the network, said Jenifer Urff, director of knowledge dissemination and technical assistance at MAMH.

"A key goal for us is the sustainability of this network," Urff told the News Service on Wednesday. "We know that there are a lot of people across Massachusetts who are doing really good work in this area, including peer support intervention. By formalizing and really embedding the Hoarding Resource Network across the commonwealth, we're hoping that will ensure that work can continue and expand."

Hoarding worsens as people age

Unaddressed hoarding can lead to a "significant risk" for housing insecurity, mental health advocates say. Hoarding conditions worsen as people age, and older affected individuals grapple with heightened fall and medical risks, social isolation and housing loss, according to MAMH.

"A commitment to preventing homelessness and offering robust community support is an investment in the well-being and stability of both individuals and the community at large," MAMH President Danna Mauch said in a statement. "Supporting people to live successfully in the community involves a multifaceted approach that not only focuses on immediate relief but prioritizes long-term prevention and support."

The U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, in a report released last month, described hoarding disorder as a "chronic and progressive condition that leads people to accumulate more objects than their homes can accommodate." As many as 14 million Americans are affected by the disorder, and experts are worried about an increasing rate of hoarding in the coming decades fueled by the country's aging population, according to the report.

Can hoarding lead to homelessness

Beyond falls and accidents, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services says hoarding can lead to respiratory problems due to clutter, garbage, animal or human feces, and mold. People can end up becoming homeless if local boards of health order them to leave or condemn the property, and if landlords prove in court the hoarding violated lease agreements, state officials say.

MAMH said the hoarding network is supported by a two-year grant from the Massachusetts Community Health and Healthy Aging Funds, which are awarded to initiatives that address health and racial inequities. The Department of Public Health helps oversee the account, which is comprised partially of funding that hospitals must give to programs to improve health, according to the program website.

The network will also provide training aimed at reducing stigma and promoting intervention tactics for "responders" including elder protective services, home care workers, inspection services and councils on aging.

Through the network, advocates plan to bring together individuals with hoarding experiences and their families, researchers and academics, housing and human services workers, behavioral health professionals, and public safety and code enforcement stakeholders.

"Part of the work of the Hoarding Resource Network is to elevate the importance of the issue," Urff said.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Network aimed at preventing hoarding ready to launch
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)The Hertz Investment Group, the owner of Regions Tower, must pay by Thursday, August 29, or the buildings power will be cut.

The deadline was Monday, but Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell urged SWEPCO to give the office buildings paying tenants more time to make arrangements.

NBC 6 learned that the owner owes over $400,000.00 to SWEPCO, which is not the only utility they are behind on. We spoke to Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux, who confirmed they are also behind on their City of Shreveport water bill, owing the city $21,000.00, with $10,000 of that being past due.

SWEPCO threatens downtown building with disconnection; tenants shocked by non-payment

When we spoke with building workers, they said they believe the bill will be paid before the power is cut, and some said they hope it will.

However, we found that the Hertz groups Shipt Tower in Birmingham, Alabama, was placed into receivership in July of this year, and according to the Times-Picayune, the group has defaulted on loans for two office towers in New Orleans.

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Everything alive today descends from a cell that lived 4.2 billion years ago, just a few hundred million years after Earth formed, new research suggests.

That last universal common ancestor, which biologists affectionately nicknamed LUCA, wasn't so different from fairly complex bacteria alive today  and it lived in an ecosystem teeming with other species of life and viruses.

"What is really interesting is that it's clear it possessed an early immune system, showing that even by 4.2 billion years ago, our ancestor was engaging in an arms race with viruses," Davide Pisani , a genomics researcher at the University of Bristol in the U.K. and co-author of the new study, said in a statement.

All cellular life on Earth shares certain key features: It uses the same protein building blocks, everything uses the same energy currency to power its cells ( ATP ), and all cells use DNA to store information. These commonalities are unlikely to be a coincidence; they all point to the life we know today coming from a single origin.

Related: What is the tree of life?

Prior to this study, scientists estimated that LUCA lived 3.9 billion years ago. However, accurately dating genetic events that occurred so long ago is challenging.

In the new study, published July 12 in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution , researchers aimed to pinpoint LUCA's origins more precisely. The team compared all the genes in 700 living species of bacteria and archaea (microbes that are similar to bacteria and often live in extreme environments). They chose organisms in these domains because they are thought to be the oldest life-forms, with eukaryotes evolving from a union between both cell types . Then, the researchers counted the mutations that have occurred over time across the genomes and within 57 genes shared by all 700 organisms, using estimated mutation rates to back-calculate when LUCA lived.

They anchored their age estimate using fossils that contain traces of ancient life, such as the remains of 3.48-billion year old microbial mats from Australia . Ancient fossils gave them insight into early Earth's atmospheric conditions and provided a lower estimate for when LUCA could have survived.

This pinpointed LUCA as living roughly 4.2 billion years ago.

"We did not expect LUCA to be so old, within just hundreds of millions of years of Earth formation," said co-author Sandra Alvarez-Carretero , a research fellow at UCL in the U.K. At that time, during the Hadean (4.6 billion to 4 billion years ago), Earth was an inhospitable place, with hot oceans and very little atmospheric oxygen .

In addition, by sorting genes based on their cellular function, the researchers could say something about how and where LUCA lived and what it ate. Their analyses didn't identify LUCA's exact habitat but suggest it probably lived in an ocean environment, a shallow hydrothermal vent or a hot spring. In addition they found LUCA could likely tolerate extreme temperatures and "breathed" without oxygen, instead relying on the waste products of others that shared its ecosystem.

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Evidence that LUCA wasn't alone comes from the reconstruction of LUCA's metabolic pathways. It suggests that LUCA might have used organic material that had already been broken down by other microbes for energy. Other supporting evidence comes from the surprising result that LUCA was already equipped with genes that could help defend against infectious viruses.

The fact that LUCA lived in a thriving ecosystem even then has interesting implications for life on other planets, study senior author Philip Donoghue , a professor of paleobiology at the University of Bristol, said in the statement.

"This suggests that life may be flourishing on Earth-like biospheres elsewhere in the universe," Donoghue said.
Meet the modern-day Captain Ahab held in jail for trying to save whales not kill them

Paul Watson, who is being held in Greenland in extradition case - LOIC VENANCE/AFP

With his long silver locks and rugged beard, Paul Watson resembles a modern-day Captain Ahab, the fictional whaler in Herman Melvilles novel Moby Dick.

But hes trying to save whales, not destroy them.

For decades, the US-Canadian has waged a sea campaign against the bloody business of whalers, notorious for their use of explosive harpoons to maim and kill their prey.

At one point Mr Watsons antics were so popular that he was the star of a fly-on-the-wall documentary, Whale Wars, which followed his Sea Shepherd crew as they used guerilla-style tactics to block and harass whaling ships.

But a new twist in an ongoing legal battle between Mr Watson and the Japanese whaling industry could mean that he never sets sail again.

Supporters of Mr Watson demonstrate in front of the Danish Embassy in Brussels - OLIVIER HOSLET/EPA-EFE/SHUTTERSTOCK

This week, an appeals court on the Danish territory of Greenland upheld a prior ruling that Mr Watson be held in custody until September, as he awaits a decision on his potential extradition to Japan.

Mr Watson, 73, was arrested in July in the Greenland capital of Nuuk under a 2012 Interpol warrant, accused of damaging a Japanese whaling ship and injuring its crew during a 2010 incident in the Antarctic Ocean.

Japan claims that the injury to a crew member was caused by a stink bomb that was supposed to disrupt the whalers activities. Mr Watsons wildlife foundation says their activism relies on aggressive non-violence and intervention to battle illegal operations exploiting life in the sea.

The foundation has posted video footage of the arrest in Greenland online, showing Mr Watson being handcuffed by police officers and loaded into a van. They have warned that he could spend the rest of his life in prison in Japan if the extradition request is granted.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Omar Todd, the co-founder of the Captain Paul Watson Foundation, said he feared Japan was trying to silence Mr Watsons campaign to protect whales and other sea life.

He said: Paul has long been a thorn in the side of the Japanese government due to his relentless efforts to combat illegal whaling and other environmentally harmful practices. His activism has drawn significant attention over the years, making him a target for those who seek to silence him.

Japanes whalers bring ashore their catches after resumption of hunting - KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

This ongoing campaign against Watson has escalated into a series of actions by the Japanese government aimed at discrediting and incapacitating him in our view.

The animal rights activists lawyer has denied the charges and called for his immediate release, claiming the arrest warrant is based on facts that are plainly wrong.

Julie Stage, Mr Watsons lawyer, also argued that footage from the Whale Wars documentary shows that he was not even present when the stink bomb was thrown, casting further doubts on the case.

Footage from Whale Wars available online shows dramatic, David-and-Golitah style confrontations between the small vessels of Mr Watsons fellow campaigners and gigantic whaling ships.

In one video clip, a member of Mr Watsons team is seen challenging a Japanese ship over the radio after blocking its path on the high seas. He says: I will not move, you will have to sink me I am not gonna move for you.

Though international commercial whaling was banned in 1986, some countries such as Japan, where whale meat is a delicacy, continue the trade in their own waters.

Activist Paul Watson must remain in custody, court rules - CAPTAIN PAUL WATSON FOUNDATION

Japan left the International Whaling Commission in 2019 and says its ongoing commercial whaling activities are sustainable.

The Paul Watson Foundation has started a petition calling for his release, which as of this week has more than 70,000 signatures.

The group said: We need individuals from all over the world to come together and campaign for the release of a man who has dedicated his life to protecting our planet.

Thank you to everyone who has stood up for Captain Paul Watson over these past four weeks. He remains in Anstalten prison in Greenland for his unwavering commitment to protecting our oceans.

It added: During this time, he has received hundreds of letters and drawings from supporters around the globe, and hes doing his best to respond to each one.

The Telegraph approached the Japanese government for comment.

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Semi Birds vainglorious run at statewide relevance crashed and burned in the August primary election. Now the former Republican gubernatorial candidate from Richland wants to make it harder for Washingtonians to vote.

Washington has had vote-by-mail for more than a decade. Its wildly successful. We havent seen any polling, but well hazard a guess that its also wildly popular, too. Whats not to like?

Voting by mail makes it far easier for people to participate in their democracy than the old system of polling places and occasional absentee ballots.

People have jobs, parental responsibilities, travel, disabilities and other things that can keep them from the polls. Vote-by-mail allows them to vote when and where it fits in their schedule.

Voters can sit at the kitchen table with the Voters Guide in hand and access to candidates websites as they weigh their options. Thats especially helpful when it comes to smaller races that dont get a lot of attention and the bevy of state and local ballot measures that come up all the time.

The proof that it helps is in the turnout.

Before vote-by-mail, about 75% of registered voters cast a ballot in a typical presidential general election. That rate has trended up a few points to exceed 80% under vote-by-mail. Turnout rates increased even more in off-year elections. More people participate, so electoral outcomes better reflect the will of Washingtonians.

Voting by mail is secure, too. Voters must sign the envelope containing their ballots, and election officials verify those signatures against signatures on record.

Incidents of fraud are exceedingly rare. Its also nice to have an actual paper trail of ballots in cases of close elections that go to a recount. Accusations in other states that voting machines are rigged or hacked dont fly here.

And if someone doesnt want to vote by mail, theres always an in-person option.

Every county opens an accessible voting center for more than two weeks before an election. Its open during business hours and until 8 p.m. on Election Day for people who still want that on-the-day experience of going to a polling place and standing in line.

Bird wants to get rid of all that. Now that voters have rejected him, he says he wants to mount an initiative campaign to end vote-by-mail.

In some regards, its hard to get too worked up about his plans.

People seem to like voting by mail, so wed be surprised if a ballot measure passed. Besides, its not like Bird has a great electoral record. Before he received only 11% of the vote in the gubernatorial primary, voters ousted him from the Richland School Board in a recall election. He doesnt have the Midas touch.

Even so, this sort of divisive measure would generate distrust in electoral systems, suppress turnout and inflame partisan divides.

A campaign against vote-by-mail almost certainly would be grounded in misinformation because theres no honest arguments to mount against a successful system. Washington doesnt need any of that.

If anything, the state should explore reforms that would further increase participation and encourage competitive elections that result in fewer strident partisans from either side winning.

If Bird has time on his hands these days and needs a project, he could start with taking down his campaign signs around the Tri-Cities and beyond.

Its illegal to keep them up on public rights of way after an election, and he might even find it psychologically beneficial not to be reminded of his loss every time he drives by one.

Cleaning up that detritus would benefit Washington more than a half-baked campaign to end vote-by-mail.
The Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp apps can be seen on the display of a smartphone, in front of the logo of Meta. Jens Buttner/dpa

Social media giant Meta said on Friday that a hacking group linked to Iran was responsible for "malicious activity" on Whatsapp.

Meta's security team had blocked a "small cluster" of Whatsapp accounts posing as support agents for tech companies. Meta-owned companies include WhataApp, Facebook and Instagram.

"Our investigation linked this activity to APT42, an Iranian threat actor known for its persistent phishing campaigns across the internet targeting political and diplomatic officials, and other public figures," Meta said in a statement.

The malicious activity originated in Iran and attempted to target individuals in Israel, Palestine, Iran, the United States and the United Kingdom, Meta said.

Political and diplomatic officials, and other public figures, including some associated with administrations of US President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump, had been targeted, Meta said.

The company said it had no evidence that those targeted had had their accounts compromised.

"But out of an abundance of caution, were sharing our findings publicly, in addition to sharing information with law enforcement and our industry peers," Meta said.

On Monday, US intelligence agencies said that Iran was responsible for the hack of Trump's presidential campaign, while Google said the APT42 hacker group, linked to Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, had accessed email accounts belonging to around a dozen Democratic and Republican election campaign staff in May and June.
Meta said the Iranian hackers who targeted both Democratic and Republican presidential campaigns also tried to target some of the Biden and Trump administration staff.

In an update on its threat disruption efforts, Meta said it found a small cluster of likely social engineering activity on WhatsApp that its security team blocked after receiving and investigating user reports.

Meta said the malicious activity originated in Iran and intended to attack people in Israel, Palestine, Iran, the United States and the United Kingdom.

This effort appeared to have focused on political and diplomatic officials, and other figures, including some associated with the administration of President Biden and former President Trump, Meta said.

Former President Trumps campaign said earlier this month that it had been hacked by Iran.

The FBI and other intelligence agencies announced Monday that it had concluded Iran carried out the hacking of the Trump campaign and the country was seeking to disrupt presidential campaigns in the U.S.

Accounts posing as technical support for AOL, Google, Yahoo and Microsoft were part of phishing tactics that stole peoples credentials to online accounts, the tech company said.

The vigilance of these users to report the messages to us suggests that these efforts were unsuccessful. We have not seen evidence that their accounts were compromised, Meta said.

Meta said it strongly encourages public figures, journalists, political candidates and campaigns to remain vigilant by using privacy and security settings, avoid engaging with messages from unknown people and reporting suspicious activity.

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Meta has blocked WhatsApp accounts involved in "a small cluster of likely social engineering activity" on the service. In its report, it has revealed that it traced the activity to APT42 (also called UNC788 and Mint Sandstorm), which the FBI previously linked to a phishing campaign that targeted members of the Trump and Harris camps. The company said that the suspicious activity on WhatsApp "attempted to target individuals in Israel, Palestine, Iran, the United States and the UK." It also seemed to have focused on political and diplomatic officials, which included people associated with both presidential candidates.

The bad actors on WhatsApp pretended to be technical support representatives from AOL, Google, Yahoo and Microsoft, though Meta didn't say how they tried to compromise their targets' accounts. Some of those targets reported the activity to the company, which compelled it to start an investigation. Meta said it believes the perpetrators' efforts were unsuccessful and that it has not seen any evidence that the targets' accounts had been compromised. It still reported the malicious activity to law enforcement, though, and shared information with both presidential campaigns.

Earlier this month, Google also published a report detailing how APT42 has been targeting high-profile users in Israel and the US for years. The company said it observed "unsuccessful attempts" to compromise the "accounts of individuals affiliated with President Biden, Vice President Harris and former President Trump." While Google described APT42's attacks as "unsuccessful," the group had successfully infiltrated the account of at least one high-profile victim: Roger Stone, who is a close political confidante of Trump. The FBI previously reported that he had fallen victim to the phishing emails sent by the Iranian hackers, who then used his account to send more phishing emails to his contacts.
METAIRIE, La. (WGNO)  17-year-old Emmy Rabalais, from Metairie, was recently crowned Miss Teen Wheelchair USA.

Rabalais is a student at The Oaks Private School, speaks fluent French and plans to become a civil rights attorney.

Galatoires Restaurant in New Orleans hosts annual Mardi Gras auction for charity

Rabalais platform is Making Magical Wish Trips a Reality for Special Kids. She has cerebral palsy and periventricular leukomalacia caused by an infection at birth.

Her goal is to join with other teen women with disabilities to show the world that we are unstoppable.

Rabalais was crowned on July 19 at the national competition in Northeast, Ohio. She is the first ever to be crowned Miss Teen Wheelchair USA.

On Friday, it was a disco-themed lunch at Galatoires in honor of Rabalais day in New Orleans.

Everything struck me about Emmy when she showed up, certainly prepared, professional, excited. We felt by adding a teen program, it gave younger ladies not only an opportunity to tell their stories but an opportunity for them to be with older women with disabilities and share their stories to mentor each other, Lowery Lockard, founder of Miss Wheelchair USA said.

Lots of memories were made on Friday.

National Veterans Wheelchair Games coming to New Orleans

None of this would have been possible without my mom. She pulled this off for me, Rabalais said.

Its the biggest thing shes ever done. Im so proud of her. Im very excited to have here at her first Friday at Galatoires. What better way to celebrate, Nikki Pontiff, Rabalais mother said.

Pontiff went on to say, Shes a pioneer, trailblazer.

You can count on it that Friday wont be the last day that youll hear her name.

My future plan is to go to law school to be a disability rights attorney to help other people like me, Rabalais said.

A second line parade was also held throughout the French Quarter to celebrate Rabalais honor.

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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HONOLULU (KHON2)  Maui Fire Department is on scene battling a fire on Kuihelani Highway.

Kuihelani Hwy at Waiko Rd and Honoapiilani Hwy is closed.

The smoke is reportedly impacting visibility on Kuihelani Highway.

Officials are asking motorists to avoid the area and use alternate routes at this time,

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
The University of Iowa's Physics and Astronomy Department has received a nearly $1.5 million grant from NASA to continue to advance scientific research and study of space equipment.

The federal funds will help connect and draw more students into the department, help facilitate the purchase of equipment to build research connected to future space missions and foster the "continued excellence" of the department, Associate Professor Casey DeRoo said. DeRoo is also the principal investigator of this grant award.

"This award actually gets us to the point that we can make substantial capital investments and (are) making sure that when NASA comes asking for particular instruments or particular science case, Iowa can answer in the form of building hardware," DeRoo said in a press conference on Friday.

One of those projects focuses on the production of miniature "ring cores," which are instruments attached to "miniature spacecraft" that will serve as "the future of space science," UI said in a release.

More: Nearing the end of an era: 75-year-old City Park Pool is closing next month

Cecillia Fasano, left, shows Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks part of her research in Van Allen Hall on the University of Iowa's campus Friday, Aug. 23, 2024 in Iowa City, Iowa after Miller-Meeks helped secure $1.5M in funding for space research at the university.

A ring core designed and manufactured at the UI will fly in 2025 as part of a demonstration of the "TRACERS" project, a $115 million NASA contract awarded to the UI's Physics and Astronomy Department in 2019. Researchers hope to better understand how "space weather" like solar winds, solar flares and geomagnetic storms impact the Earth's magnetosphere.

From 2021: Could space storms affect life on Earth? University of Iowa researchers are trying to find out

Some funding will also go toward expanding the UI's Edge of Space Academy, a two-week summer course held in Iowa City that brings students from across the country to design and research their own Earth or space-based mission.

A third specific use of funding will devote dollars toward "diffraction gratings," which capture light from sources thousands of light years away. Prototype gratings are being manufactured and tested in a lab headed by DeRoo, and equipment purchased with award money would allow for cheaper parts manufacturing.

Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks speaks with Scott Bounds during a tour of the University of Iowas Department of Physics and Astronomy Friday, Aug. 23, 2024 in Iowa City, Iowa.

Miller-Meeks advocated for award, visits with physics department

U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who represents Iowa's 1st Congressional District, toured the physics department's various research areas in Van Allen Hall on Friday.

Miller-Meeks requested the funding as one of 15 included in the 2024 Consolidated Appropriations Act, an annual funding opportunity that directs federal money into congressional districts. The priority is to distribute the money throughout the counties in the district, Miller-Meeks said. This was Johnson County's lone selected project as part of a $28 million award to the 1st District.

More: Swimming at these Johnson County beaches is not recommended for unsafe levels of E. coli

Miller-Meeks met with some of the students and faculty who are making these projects happen during her walkthrough of the building, which included visits with Professors Allison Jaynes and Jasper Halekas, Ph.D. student Cecilia Fasano and Aerospace Project Engineer Antonio Washington.

In hands-on demonstrations, Miller-Meeks walked and talked through the space-based research that this grant will continue to foster.

"I'm a visual learner, so it was always important for me to be in class or in the lab," Miller-Meeks said. "And I think being able to give that opportunity to people to see space, not just way out there, but here, I think, is really important to attracting scientists here."

More: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspends his presidential campaign, but might stay on Iowa's ballot

Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, center, meets with students and faculty in Van Allen Hall on the University of Iowas campus Friday, Aug. 23, 2024 in Iowa City, Iowa after helping secure $1.5M in funding for space research at the university.

DeRoo emphasized that point, referencing the long connection between the UI and space science over the past 60-plus years because of the pioneering work of James Van Allen, who helped lead the launch of the first American satellite into space.

"You see students who come in who think of space essentially as this abstract concept," DeRoo said. "And you can show them, through the unique position of the University of Iowa and our state, this science was born here. Space physics was born at the University of Iowa through the legacy of James Van Allen. And you can let them hold and touch that history, which is really a special thing to be able to do."

Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at rhansen@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ryanhansen01.

This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: University of Iowa physics department receives $1.5M in NASA funding
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  A 71-year-old man is missing out of Salt Lake City, according to Unified Police.

Carlos Garza, 71, is considered missing and endangered, according to Unified Police. He is described as 56, 170 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

Woman missing after flash flood at Grand Canyons Havasu Creek

Courtesy of Unified Police

Garza was reportedly last seen at 3100 South 900 East in Salt Lake Citys Millcreek neighborhood.

If you have any information regarding Garzas whereabouts, please call Unified Police at 801-840-4000 and reference case number CO24-79415.

No further information is available at this time.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Alert canceled for missing endangered NC teen girl who vanished under suspicious circumstances

BURLINGTON, N.C. (WNCN)  North Carolina officials issued and later canceled an alert Saturday for a missing endangered teen girl who authorities said vanished under suspicious circumstances.

Mya Savannah Johnson, 14, was believed to be suffering from a cognitive impairment, according to the alert from the North Carolina Center for Missing Persons.

Mya was last seen at 323 Brooklyn St. in Burlington, officials said.

Hours after the first alert on Saturday morning, an update was sent out at 1:15 p.m. Saturday that said Mya was missing under suspicious circumstances.

Mya was last seen getting into a black Hyundai Veloster, which left in an unknown direction, the alert said.

Officials added the Hyundai might be heading to an unknown location in Guilford County.

Around 5 p.m. Saturday, officials canceled the alert.

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Mom and boyfriend handcuffed child and sicced pit bull on him, police say

ASHLAND, Ohio (WCMH)  Three adults have been arrested in Ashland County after being accused of restraining a 6-year-old with handcuffs and letting loose a pit bull terrier on him.

According to the Ashland County Sheriffs Office, deputies responded to a 911 call on Aug. 17 at a residence on Chapel Street in Savannah, about 18 miles north of Mansfield. Emergency personnel were told a pit bull had bitten a child on the neck and ear. Medics said the child was suffering from serious injuries, and a Life Flight was called to the scene.

Deputies determined the mother, Angelina Williams, and the child were living with a family member, Robert Michalski, who owned the home and dog. Michalski had left the house with the pit bull before deputies arrived. Detectives also learned the child had been restrained with handcuffs on his hands and feet when the dog attacked him.

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A search warrant was issued for the home two days later. Investigators recovered evidence to support the investigation, and they found Michalski, 47, hiding in a cubbyhole with the dog on the second floor of the home.

Williams and Michalski were taken into custody, and the dog was housed as a vicious dog.

It was also learned that Williams boyfriend, Taylor Marvin-Brown, had been present and assisted in restraining the child. He, too, was arrested.

The case has been sent to the Ashland County Prosecutors Office as the investigation continues.

Michalski was charged with endangering children and tampering with evidence, and on Wednesday, he was assigned a $150,000 bond in common pleas court. Williams is facing charges of endangering children and obstruction of justice and was issued a $300,000 bond. Marvin-Brown was charged similarly to Williams and issued a $250,000 bond.

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Money jar stolen from lemonade stand, state revokes daycares license, new Amtrak center in Newport News | Top WAVY stories this week

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY)  Take a look at some of the top stories on WAVY.com from the week of Aug. 19. Click here for more local news.

WAVY Local News

Children turn lemons into lemonade after money jar stolen from stand in Chesapeake

A sweet day turned sour for two Chesapeake siblings selling lemonade after their money jar was stolen.

Please give me a home or just a bed: Two Norfolk women plead for help to find a home

As the presidential candidates address the high cost of living, two Norfolk women are concerned about where and how they are living.

Police: Man stole car with child inside at Chesapeake Wawa; 3 arrested after chase

Police say a man stole a running car at a Wawa on S. Military Highway in Chesapeake overnight  with a child inside.

State revokes Chesapeake daycares license, leaving parents scrambling

The Commonwealth of Virginia has revoked the operating license for Childtime Learning Center in Greenbrier after inspectors found repeated violations at the business over a four-month period.

Virginia Beach Police Marine Patrol Dive Team Generic

Norfolk man charged with DUI after fatal crash on Shore Drive in Virginia Beach

A 22-year-old Norfolk man was arrested after a crash Sunday that left a man dead and another person seriously injured, police say.

Amtrak starts service at new Newport News Transportation Center

Amtraks Newport News service moved to the brand new Newport News Transportation Center starting on Thursday.

This is home: Trailblazing commander of Naval Station Norfolk to retire Friday

The first Black person, as well as the first Black woman, to serve as Commanding Officer of Naval Station Norfolk retired from the Navy Friday after 37 years of service.

Norfolk man sentenced to life for murder of cousin in Sewells Point Rd.

A Norfolk man was sentenced to life after being convicted of first-degree murder in the death of his cousin, Downing McLean.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
A picture of firearms for sale at Casos Gun-A-Rama, which has been open since 1967. (Photo by Aristide Economopoulos for States Newsroom).

Gov. Greg Gianforte announced Friday that Montana is ranked the fourth most gun-friendly state in the nation.

As Montanans, were proud of our Second Amendment-protected right to keep and bear arms and know we have a responsibility to preserve it, Republican Gov. Gianforte said in a statement. Well continue to keep Montana a sanctuary for freedom and free enterprise, and well always defend the rights of law-abiding Montanans.

According to his office, the ranking was released by Ammo.com, which describes itself as a brand thats about more than simply selling you quality ammo at a great price. Its about arming fellow patriots in the War of Ideas.

In its ranking of Montana, Ammo.com said the state allows open and concealed carry with no registration or permit requirements. Theres no sales tax in Montana, so your firearms will be a bit cheaper than in most other states. You can also get a Montana CCW (carry concealed weapon) to legally carry in 34 other states (while Montana honors 43 other states CCWs).

It described Gianforte as about as pro-2A as one can ask for.

The Montana Department of Justice notes anyone eligible to possess a firearm may conceal carry without a permit, although there are exceptions, such as in state government offices.

Earlier this year, a different group released a ranking related to firearms and Montana. Everytown For Gun Safety, which describes itself as the largest gun violence prevention organization in America, said Montana was 47th in the nation for weak gun laws.

The news release from Everytown said in Montana, a gun suicide death occurs every 46 hours, and the state has the third highest rate of firearm suicide in the country. In an average year, Montana sees an estimated 228 gun-related deaths, and 83% of gun deaths among children and teens are suicides, according to Everytown.

In the more recent ranking, from Ammo.com, states were reviewed on laws, reciprocity with other states, taxes, and legislators and governors voting history. Gianfortes office described his work in the news release.

In his first year in office, the governor made Montana a constitutional carry state and prohibited the enforcement of any federal law, executive order, rule, or regulation that infringes upon ownership, possession, transfer, or use of any firearm, magazine, or firearm accessory in Montana, said the news release from Gianfortes office.

His office also said the governor has consistently defended Montanans second amendment rights from federal overreach, including in a letter last February to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Montana is home to more than 150 firearms and ammunitions businesses, the highest per capita in the country, the Governors Office said.

And to support them, Gov. Gianforte last spring protected Montanans retirement security from Environmental, Social, and Governance investing and Montanas firearms industry from discrimination, said the news release.

It also said the top 22 states ranked most-gun friendly are run by Republican governors. In the 2024 ranking, Montana falls behind New Hampshire, West Virginia, and Arkansas.
Gentry Boykin, a government prelaw major, looks out her dorm room door at her family Friday on the 31st anniversary of Mooov-In at the University of Texas. New and returning students were given a Mooov-In kit, which had a UT lanyard, a bag of snacks and a list of fun activities to do on campus. UT staff members guided some students to their residence halls while other students went on a hunt to find their dorm room. The campus also provided free food and drinks during check-in to celebrate the start of the fall semester.
More than 70 Massachusetts beaches closed on Saturday

More than 70 Massachusetts beaches closed on Saturday

Dozens of beaches across Massachusetts are closed to swimmers on Saturday due to contamination concerns.

As of Saturday morning, there were 72 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:

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024, Ukrainian prisoners of war wrapped in national flags hug each other after a prisoners exchange at an undisclosed location in Ukraine. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Russia and Ukraine exchanged over 100 prisoners of war each on Saturday as Kyiv marked its third Independence Day since Moscow's full-scale invasion.

Ukraine said the 115 Ukrainian servicemen who were freed were conscripts, many of whom were taken prisoner in the first months of Russias invasion. Among them are nearly 50 soldiers captured by Russian forces from the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol.

The Russian Defense Ministry said the 115 Russian soldiers had been captured in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces launched their surprise offensive into Russia two weeks ago. The ministry said the soldiers were currently in Belarus, but would be taken to Russia for medical treatment and rehabilitation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a post on X that the United Arab Emirates had again brokered the exchange, the 55th since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbor in February 2022.

Photos attached to Zelenskyys post show gaunt servicemen with shaven heads and wrapped in Ukrainian flags.

We remember each and every one. We are searching and doing our best to get everyone back, Zelenskyy said in the post.

Officials from the two sides meet only when they swap their dead and POWs, after lengthy preparation and diplomacy. Neither Ukraine nor Russia discloses how many POWs there are in total.

According to the U.N., most Ukrainian POWs suffer routine medical neglect, severe and systematic mistreatment and even torture while in detention. There have also been isolated reports of abuse of Russian soldiers, mostly during capture or transit to internment sites.

Last January, Russia and Ukraine exchanged hundreds of prisoners of war in the biggest single release.

Drone and artillery attacks continue

Five people were killed and five others wounded on Saturday in Russian shelling of the center of the city of Kostiantynivka in Ukraine's partially occupied eastern Donetsk region, local officials said.

In the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, Russian shelling killed two people and wounded four on Saturday, including a baby, officials said.

Two people were killed in a Russian drone attack, and one further person in shelling, in the northeastern Sumy region.

Ukraines air force said it had intercepted and destroyed seven drones over the countrys south. Russian long-range bombers also attacked the area of Zmiinyi (Snake) Island overnight with four cruise missiles, while the wider Kherson region was also struck by aerial bombs.

In Russia, the Defense Ministry said Saturday that air defenses had shot down seven drones overnight.

Five drones were downed over the southwestern Voronezh region bordering Ukraine, wounding two people, regional Gov. Aleksandr Gusev said. Ukraines Military Intelligence Directorate claimed to have blown up a warehouse storing 5,000 tonnes of ammunition in the region's Ostrogozhsky district. News outlet Astra published videos appearing to show explosions at the ammunition depot after being hit by a drone. The videos could not be independently verified.

Two people were wounded in a drone attack in the Belgorod region, also bordering Ukraine, regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said. Local authorities did not report any casualties in the Bryansk region, where the fifth drone was intercepted.

In the Kursk region, regional Gov. Alexei Smirnov said Saturday that three missiles were shot down overnight and another four on Saturday morning.

Russian air defenses shot down two more drones on Saturday morning, Russias Defense Ministry said  one over the Kursk region and one over the Bryansk region.

Independence Day commemorations

Ukraine marked its 33rd Independence Day Saturday as its war against Russias aggression reaches a 30-month milestone. No festivities are planned and instead Ukrainians will mark the day with commemorations for civilians and soldiers killed in the war.

Speaking at a ceremony marking the anniversary, Zelenskyy announced on Saturday that Ukraine has successfully used a new domestically produced drone for the first time against Russian forces.

Today, we had the first and successful combat use of our new weapon  a completely new class of weapon, the Ukrainian missile drone Palyanitsa, Zelenskyy said.

He did not give further details, but added that the enemy was struck, and thanked the developers and manufacturers.

Zelenskyy also said that Ukraine's offensive in the Kursk region was a preventive strike that made it possible to avoid encirclement of part of Ukraine's Sumy region.

Poland's president joins the commemorations in Kyiv

Polish President Andrzej Duda arrived in Kyiv by train early Saturday in a symbolic show of support from one of Ukraines key allies.

Videos posted by his office showed him being greeted by Ukrainian officials and later paying his respects in a ceremony at the Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen for Ukraine.

Dudas visit to Kyiv, his fifth since February 2022, sends a message that Warsaws support for Ukraine remains strong as the war drags on for the third year.

Poland, located to Ukraines west, has donated arms and become a hub for Western weapons destined for Ukraine. It has also welcomed tens of thousands of Ukrainians who fled the war. It hosts the most Ukrainian refugees outside of the country after Germany.

A trade dispute over Ukrainian grain that dragged down ties last year, and historical grievances between the two countries, sometime provoke bad feelings, particularly among Poles who remember a World War II-era massacre by Ukrainian nationalists.

___

Morton reported from London. Associated Press writer Ahmad El-Katib in Beirut contributed to this report.

___

Follow developments at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Mother charged with impaired driving in wrong-way crash that killed her 9-year-old son: Police

Mother charged with impaired driving in wrong-way crash that killed her 9-year-old son: Police

A New York mother is accused of driving the wrong way on a highway while impaired by drugs and causing a "severe" four-car collision that killed her 9-year-old son, according to state police.

The deadly crash occurred early Thursday in Suffolk County, Long Island. Police said Kerri Bedrick, 32, was behind the wheel of the wrong-way vehicle, and SUV. Her son, Eli Henrys, who was in the back seat, died in the collision, police said.

Bedrick was charged with multiple illegal drug and driving offenses, online court records show. The counts include a top charge of criminal possession of a controlled substance  methamphetamine  as well as driving while impaired by drugs, aggravated DWI with a child in the vehicle, endangering the welfare of a child, and operating a vehicle without a license, the records show. She pleaded not guilty during her arraignment on Friday and her bail was set at $1 million cash.

PHOTO: Kerri Bedrick is seen being escorted by law enforcement, Aug. 23, 2024. (WABC)

Bedrick, of Centerport, was brought into the courtroom for her arraignment handcuffed, dressed in a blue hospital gown and in a wheelchair. She is due back in court on Aug. 27.

ABC News has reached out to Bedrick's attorney for comment.

The crash occurred on the Southern State Parkway and caused extensive damage to all vehicles, police said.

"To give you an idea of the severity of the impact, the engine of the wrong-way-driving vehicle was thrown from that vehicle into the woods some distance from the collision point itself," New York State Police Major Stephen Udice said at a press briefing on Thursday.

The drivers of three of the vehicles, including Bedrick, were transported to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, police said. Bedrick's SUV was the only one with an additional passenger, police said.

PHOTO: The scene of a fatal crash on the Southern State Parkway in Islip, New York, Aug. 22, 2024. (WABC)

Prior to the crash, a Suffolk County Sheriff's deputy had observed the 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross driving the wrong way in the lane next to him on the highway around 2:15 a.m. Thursday, according to Deputy Undersheriff John Becker. The deputy turned around and activated his lights and sirens and attempted to stop it, Becker said.

"However, the wrong-way driver sped up and refused to stop," Udice said.

MORE: Mother arrested after 4-year-old son found dead, infant found crawling in ditch

The deputy then came upon the four-car collision, Becker said. The deputy removed the child, who had been wearing a seatbelt, from the back seat and attempted life-saving measures, but the boy died after being transported to a local hospital, Becker said.

"This was a traumatic event for all those involved," he told reporters during the briefing.

Police believe Bedrick had also been driving the wrong way down Sunrise Highway prior to getting on the Southern State Parkway, Udice said.

MORE: Mother arrested after concocting drink for her son to give to school bully that sent him to hospital

During Friday's arraignment, Bedrick's attorney told the court that she has several medical ailments, including spina bifida and narcolepsy, and was also a domestic violence victim, ABC New York station WABC reported.

"My client was a victim. She was on medication that was prescribed for her," the lawyer said, according to WABC. "She is in denial, has not absorbed what happened to her and her son's death."

Bedrick's attorney asked for a reasonable bail so that the mother could attend her child's funeral, before the judge set bail at $1 million cash, WABC reported.

Bedrick's mother, Diane Bedrick, briefly spoke to reporters outside the courthouse following Friday's arraignment, saying her daughter was a good mother.

"She loves him so much," she said, calling her grandson a "sweetheart."

Asked if the medical problems mentioned by her daughter's attorney in court could have played a role in this, Diane Bedrick replied, "I think so."

Mother charged with impaired driving in wrong-way crash that killed her 9-year-old son: Police originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
In this photo released by the Pakistan Air Force, bodies of Shiite Muslim pilgrims who were killed in a bus crash in Iran while heading to Iraq for a pilgrimage, arrive at an airbase in Jacobabad, Pakistan, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024. (Pakistan Air Force via AP)

MULTAN, Pakistan (AP)  Hundreds of mourners in various parts of southern Pakistan attended funerals for 28 Shiite pilgrims who were killed in a bus crash in Iran this week while heading to Iraq, community leaders and officials said.

The victims of the crash were later buried in various graveyards in the Sindh province, local Shiite leader Jaafar Hussain said.

The funerals took place hours after a military aircraft brought home the bodies and the injured on orders from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. All the victims were from Sindh province, where the plane landed.

Authorities have not announced the cause of the crash near the city of Taft, some 500 kilometers (310 miles) southeast of the Iranian capital, Tehran.

In southern Pakistan, Zawaar Javed, the father of a man who died, said his son minutes before the crash sent him a message on WhatsApp, saying the brakes of bus had failed, and later he heard news about the accident.

In a state TV report, Mohammad Ali Malekzadeh, a local Iranian emergency official, also blamed the crash on the bus brakes failing and a lack of attention by the driver.

The Pakistani pilgrims had been on their way to Iraqs holy city of Karbala, to commemorate Arbaeen  Arabic for the number 40  marking the end of the annual 40-day mourning period after the date of the seventh century death of the Prophet Muhammads grandson, Hussein, a central figure in Shiite Islam.

Hussein died at the hands of the Muslim Umayyad forces in the Battle of Karbala, during the tumultuous first century of Islams history.
Despite the panic being generated on social media, "WHO has made it painfully clear that this is not the new COVID in their announcement of this as an emergency alert," Dr. Karl Minges tells PEOPLE

Getty mpox

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared this month that the increasing spread of the mpox virus is a global health emergency, warning that the virus might ultimately spill from Africa  where it is currently spreading  to other parts of the world.

But public health officials and medical professionals are quick to note that mpox (which was renamed by the WHO from "monkeypox" in 2022) is very different from COVID-19.

In an effort to separate fact from fiction, PEOPLE spoke with Karl Minges, Ph.D. MPH, associate professor of public health at the University of New Haven, about the virus and how it is spreading now.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Is mpox the new COVID-19?

In a word: no. "WHO has made it painfully clear that this is not the new COVID in their announcement of this as an emergency alert," Minges tells PEOPLE.

As Minges explains, the WHO issues these types of emergency alerts in order to "prompt the acceleration of vaccine access for lower income countries."

In other words, the declaration of a "global health emergency" isn't necessarily a means of warning people across the globe that they might come in contact with the virus  but to allow entities like UNICEF "to procure vaccines for distribution."

"It's a way to get more tools to support those in the more heavily affected areas," Minges adds.

Unlike COVID-19 in its early days, much more is known about mpox, which "was first identified in the late 1950s in laboratory monkeys," Minges says.

"Human cases have been documented since the 1970s and a lot more is known about it," he adds.

The reason more people are talking about mpox on TikTok, Instagram and in news articles, is due to a new variant.

"Like most viruses, it mutated," Minges notes. "But we understand the value of disease surveillance, monitoring and prevention efforts  and it's also important to note that a vaccine is available, and is FDA approved. There is a lot more fidelity in the treatment of this than in [COVID-19 back when the pandemic first started]."

Related: Mpox Will No Longer Be Declared a Public Health Emergency in January

Is mpox an emergency in the U.S.?

Not currently. The Biden administration declared the virus a public health emergency in August 2022, following criticism over the government's lack of response. At the time, the government announced it would increase testing for the virus and stretch the nation's limited supply of an mpox vaccine.

By January 2023, though, the U.S. government announced it was ending its public health emergency for mpox, citing a significant decline in cases.

Since then, the virus has continued to spread in other parts of the world, with the WHO estimating more than 14,000 cases in Africa this year  a number that exceeds last year's figures by 160%. What's perhaps more concerning is that the virus has mutated, though no cases of the new mutation (known as Clade I) have been reported in the U.S.

What makes the new variant of the virus different that the one that spread in 2022?

The Clade I variant, says Minges, is "more serious, with a higher mortality rate"  but, again, reported cases have almost entirely been in Africa and Asia (other than one recently reported case in Sweden).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that Clade I "causes more severe illness and deaths" and that "some outbreaks have killed up to 10% of the people who get sick"  though the agency notes that recent outbreaks have had lower death rates. Clade I is endemic to Central Africa.

The variant that spread in 2022 is known as Clade II, which causes less severe infections (per the CDC, more than 99.9% of people with Clade II mpox survive). Clade II has spread in the U.S., though the spread has since leveled.

The way the variant spread may also be different, though the virus is still being studied as it evolves.

The Clade II virus predominately affected gay and bisexual men. According to a CDC report, children have accounted for some two-thirds of the estimated 20,000 suspected cases of the newer Clade I variant in the Democratic Republic of Congo since Jan. 2023.

As Minges notes, both variants also have "an element of zoonotic transmission," meaning it can spread between animals and people (either by ingesting the uncooked meat of an affected animal or by touching an affected animal).

Human-to-human contact, and mostly within households, though, remains of the biggest concern with the current spread of the virus in Africa.

Related: The Majority of Monkeypox Patients Who Were Hospitalized Were HIV-Positive, CDC Says

Should people be worried about contracting the virus if traveling to an affected area?

Minges says that the most important thing to do when traveling internationally to places with known mpox outbreaks is to get vaccinated.

"There is an approved vaccine [and that offers the] best protection you can have," he says. "It's two doses, delivered four weeks apart. And if someone has already had mpox, they don't need the vaccine, as the body has developed resistance."

If traveling to a country with an mpox outbreak, it's also important to lower your risk during sexual encounters or any type of close personal contact with someone who may have the virus or appears to have a rash. But protection goes beyond sex, he notes.



"If you're traveling and going to raves, parties, clubs, or areas where there's minimal clothing, there could be direct skin-to-skin contact where you might not even be able to see a rash on someone or be aware of it," he says. "Avoid risky social gatherings in an area where an mpox outbreak is occurring."

As with any virus, disinfecting and washing hands should also be a priority.



"As always, people who are compromised, children, and older adults are the ones who should think about getting the vaccine, if they will be around high-risk groups, with a higher rate of transmission," he adds. "The new variant has indicated it is more highly-transmissible but, again, there have been no documented cases in North America at this time."



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Man infected with Mpox disease, showing his back in a ward at Kamenge University Hospital's Mpox treatment center in Bujumbura, Burundi, dated August 22, 2024.

An African man who contracted a contagious new strain of mpox known as Clade 1b is speaking out about the harrowing symptoms of the viral infection.

Egide Irambona, 40, is currently being treated at a hospital in his home country of Burundi, as Africas mpox outbreak continues, sparking fears of another global pandemic.

Last week, the World Health Organizations Director-General declared the mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, with cases of Clade 1b also recorded in Thailand and Sweden.

Clade 1b is spreading mainly via heterosexual transmission, and appears to be less deadly than other mpox variants, but is seemingly more contagious.

Irambona told BBC that the disease causes excruciating pain, stating: I had swollen lymph nodes in my throat. It was so painful I couldnt sleep, he explained. Then the pain subsided there and it moved to my legs.

have climbed to more than 170 in Burundi over the last month as Africas outbreak continues, the painful disease causing patients to erupt in blisters.

Egide Irambona is one such patient in the East African country, who told BBC he couldnt sleep due to the pain.

I had swollen lymph nodes in my throat. It was so painful I couldnt sleep, he explained. Then the pain subsided there and it moved to my legs.

Mpox patients fill one hospital in Burundi, prompting the medical facility to begin setting up tents outside for treatment. AFP via Getty Images

He is currently nine days into treatment at the King Khaled University Hospital, where he shares a room with two other patients. He believes he contracted the contagious viral infection from a friend.

I had a friend who had blisters. I think I got it from him. I did not know it was mpox, he said. Thankfully our seven children have not shown any signs of having it.

His wife, however, has also been infected and is being treated at the same medical facility that is brimming with cases  59 of the 61 hospital beds are currently occupied with mpox patients.

We are now setting up tents outside, Odette Nsavyimana, the doctor who runs the hospital, told BBC, expressing concern over the growing number of cases.

If the numbers continue to grow, she added, there is no capacity for us to handle that.

It is tough, especially when the babies come. They cannot stay alone, so I have to keep their mothers here as well. Even if they have no symptoms, she continued. It is such a tough situation.

The growing numbers are concerning to doctors and health officials who are worried about the virus spreading and the capacity for patient care. AFP via Getty Images

Delays in detection make containing the disease all the more difficult. Pictured: a camp for displaced persons amid an mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which neighbors Burundi. REUTERS

While there have not been any confirmed deaths due to the new strain of mpox in Burundi, there is limited testing available to determine how fatal the outbreak really is.

This is a real challenge. The fact that diagnosis is only done in one place delays detecting new cases, Dr. Liliane Nkengurutse, the national director for the Centre for Public Health Emergency Operations, told BBC.

It takes a while to activate a team to take samples and test them, and it takes even longer for results to be released, she added, estimating that they need approximately $14 million to improve their response to the disease.

Theres currently no word on when Burundi will begin to administer vaccines for mpox.

Theres currently no word on when Burundi will begin to administer vaccines for mpox. REUTERS

In the meantime, health officials are urging the public to stay safe, although it is proving difficult.

Many people do not understand the gravity of this issue, Nkengurutse explained. Even where there have been cases, people still just mingle.

When the BBC asked people in Burundis capital Bujumbura about mpox, many did not know what it was or that it was spreading in their communities.

I have heard about this disease, but I have never seen someone who suffers from it. I have only seen it on social media, one anonymous person said.

I know it affects babies and young people. I am scared of it, but that does not mean I will just stay at home. I have to work. My family has to eat, another unnamed individual told the outlet.

The mpox outbreak in Africa was declared a global health emergency by the WHO this month. dottedyeti  stock.adobe.com
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  The Mississippi Attorney Generals Office and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation have opened an investigation into the escape of DeSoto County inmate Joshua Zimmerman.

On June 14, Zimmerman escaped from a DeSoto County courthouse after being scheduled for a hearing in a case where he was facing an attempted murder charge. He made it past the courtroom, down the stairs, past the metal detectors and guards at the front entrance without being noticed.

Zimmerman was taken into custody Wednesday morning after a standoff with U.S. Marshals in Chicago, according to the DeSoto County Sheriffs Office.

Escaped MS Inmate back in custody after standoff with U.S. Marshals in Chicago

DCSO announced on Tuesday night that they received word from the United States Marshal Service that they found Zimmerman in a restaurant just blocks from the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois.

Zimmerman is accused of attacking an elderly Southaven man who hired him to work at his house last September. He is also facing charges in Texas for the death of a woman.

The Mississippi Attorney Generals Office and MBI said that because this is an open and active investigation, they could not comment further on the case 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 WREG.com.
CORINTH, Miss.  Those who regularly shop at the Medical Plaza Pharmacy in Corinth, Mississippi, were left confused on Thursday after armed agents, for reasons unknown, would not allow anyone inside.

WREG went to Corinth to try getting answers into what investigators were looking for at the pharmacy.

On Friday, it appeared to be business as usual at Medical Plaza Pharmacy, a far cry from Thursday morning when armed agents would not allow customers inside.

Memphis man charged with threatening Biden, Harris, Obama

One customer says she and her husband were told to go through the pharmacys drive-thru.

We went to the window and everybody that was at the window was having to leave because they wouldnt let nobody in the building, said the woman.

The womans husband says he saw several armed agents.

There was two guarding the door here and about four, three or four at the back, said the man.

It was a confusing and concerning morning for customers.

As far as knowing what was going on, we do not know what was going on. We havent heard anything. We havent asked any questions, said a customer.

Reports say neither Corinth Police nor the Alcorn County Sheriffs Department was involved on Thursday.

 See more breaking news, local news and weather from WREG.com for Memphis and the Mid-South.

 Sign up for WREG newsletters and have the latest top stories sent right to your inbox.

We were told the owner of the pharmacy was not available on Friday, and no employees were willing to talk. No one in the business near the pharmacy would talk either.

But, whatever happened Thursday wont stop devoted customers from returning.

I think its very good. Very good people. Very good business, said a customer.

The U. S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Mississippi would not comment and were waiting to hear back from the DEA about whether their agency was involved.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
Tim Walz gave a masterclass in local restaurant campaign stops when he visited a Runza in Nebraska earlier this week, MSNBC anchor Alex Wagner and analyst Tim Miller explained. This was a stark contrast with J.D. Vances donut shop visit Thursday. As Miller (of anti-Trump conservative outlet the Bulwark) put it, I was just suffering from vicarious embarrassment for J.D.

Hes an uncomfortable guy, Miller continued as he discussed the Republican vice presidential candidate. And I think that the Walz pick, you know, just provides this striking contrast when it comes to who can authentically speak to working peoples concerns.

J.D. Vance is like this pick where Donald Trumps kid told him, hes like, This guys really good with working people. They like him. He wrote that book,' Miller said, referencing Vances hit memoir Hillbilly Elegy. The reality was, it was mostly like New York liberals that read J.D. Vances book back in the day. It wasnt working-class people.

Vances awkward donut shop in Georgia went viral as social media users gawked at his stiff interactions with the stores employees. He was in Valdosta, Georgia, for a campaign event when he made the decision to visit Holts Sweet Shop. In video of the visit, a woman behind the counter tells Vance she doesnt want to be recorded, to which Vance instructed members of the media to just cut her out of anything. While some did, the original clip from C-SPAN that spread online included the woman.

He then said, Im J.D. Vance. Im running for vice president. The woman replied simply, OK.

The Democratic vice presidential candidates visit to Runza was strikingly different. Walz and his wife Gwen stopped by the restaurant last weekend and were immediately apologetic for holding things up for ya.

We really came just to go to Runza, and then we did a little rally on the side, the Minnesota governor quipped with the smiling staff before shaking hands with a cashier who said, Im such a fan.

Liberal media watchdog outlet MeidasTouch offered a side-by-side of Vance and Walzs fast food interactions:

The difference is just staggering. pic.twitter.com/9JUXk5izDG  MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) August 23, 2024

These kinds of interactions are not natural for Vance, Miller said. It doesnt come naturally to him. And so I think that with Walz on the ticket, that fakeness and that failure to be an authentic representative of working people has really been accentuated.

As X user Conor Rogers noted, Vances donut shop experience represented poor work by his campaigns advance team ahead of his visit.

This is possibly the worst advance work Ive ever seen



 staff wasnt briefed and doesnt know who he is

 staff declines to be seen on camera

 principal (JD) doesnt know how or what to order

 dead silence between stilted questions

 no supporters included for filler https://t.co/Fp1qb2QxYg  Conor Rogers (@conorjrogers) August 22, 2024

You can watch the MSNBC discussion between Alex Wagner and Tim Miller in the video at the top of this story.

The post MSNBC Compares JD Vances Awkward Donut Order With Tim Walz at a Sandwich Shop: Suffering from Vicarious Embarrassment | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
MT. JULIET, Tenn. (WKRN)  The Mt. Juliet Police Department apprehended a man wanted for aggravated burglary out of Nashville during a traffic stop Friday night.

In a post to X, formerly Twitter, the department said that the traffic stop was for a headlight violation.

Man arrested in Erin for alleged rape of a 13-year-old

The 47-year-old Nashville man, already a convicted felon and on federal supervised released, was arrested and transferred to Nashville authorities for the warrant, the post reads, in part.

Mt. Juliet police did not identify the suspect.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
DARR  On Wednesday morning, the Darr Feedlot played host to a gathering of international agricultural minds as Global Focus Nebraska continued its weeklong tour across the state. The visit brought together 10 individuals, each a recipient of the Nuffield Farming Scholarship, representing countries including Ireland, Australia, Chile, Japan and Zimbabwe.

This visit to Nebraska is part of a broader mission to enhance global agricultural understanding through immersive experiences and knowledge exchange.

The Nuffield Farming Scholarship, according to the programs official website, was established in England with the core objective of fostering international agricultural understanding. The program empowers farmers and agricultural professionals by providing them with opportunities to study farming systems globally, thereby promoting cross-border collaboration and innovation.

The Nebraska tour, orchestrated by Global Focus Nebraska, included several stops at key agricultural and research sites across the state. Among these, the Darr Feedlot visit allowed the scholars to delve into the intricacies of cattle feedlot management.

The tour at Darr Feedlot was led by John Schroeder, the general manager of the facility. Schroeder began the visit by introducing himself to the group, who in turn introduced themselves, sharing their diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise.

The tour commenced with the scholars boarding their vehicles to embark on a guided exploration of the feedlot. As they navigated through the expansive grounds, Schroeder provided a comprehensive overview of the feedlots operations.

He explained the various aspects of the feedlot, from the nutritional management of cattle to the technological systems in place that ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of the operation. The scholars were highly engaged throughout the tour, frequently posing questions to Schroeder about specific aspects of feedlot management, keen to understand the nuances of the Nebraska approach to cattle farming.

The scholars curiosity was evident as they took in the sights and sounds of the feedlot, capturing the experience through photographs and taking detailed notes on their devices. They inquired about everything from the feed composition to the environmental management practices employed at the feedlot.

In addition to the Darr Feedlot, the Nebraska tour included visits to other agricultural sites such as the Papa Moon Vineyard in Gering, the Innovation Greenhouse at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and the Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

One of the scholars participating in the tour was Sally Higgins, a farmer and strategy consultant from Australia.

I was most impressed with the sophisticated use of data to inform decisions at Darr, Higgins said. It was clear that the operation was efficient and effective, as evidenced by Johns detailed understanding of the operational data and cattle performance.

Asked how the experience at Darr Feedlot might influence her approach to agriculture in her own work, she said, Darr Feedlot has shown us that investing in new technology is important to ensure that you are capturing those 1% performance improvements.

Reflecting on the similarities and differences between agricultural practices at the Darr Feedlot and those in other countries, Higgins said, In Australia, we are also balancing the trade-offs between using modern technologies for efficient agricultural production, with changing consumer preferences. John spoke to us about how, as producers, we have an opportunity to be honest about our production practices, to educate the general public and to support broader community trust in agricultural sustainability.
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Ga. (WJBF)  Several people have been arrested for the sale and possession of drugs in Washington County, after multiple agencies executed a search warrant in Sandersville Friday morning.

Washington County Sheriffs Office, in conjunction with Middle Georgia Gang Task Force, Sandersville Police Department, DCS and the GBI performed a search warrant at a residence on Gum Street on August 23, where several narcotics were discovered. Throughout the course of the day, investigators made more arrests.

The arrests and charges are as follows:

Freddie Flemming

Justin Sutton

Robert Johnson

Howard Swint

Donald Sutton Jr.

Anthony Williams

William Hall

Robert Johnson, 64, of Sandersville: Three Counts of Sale of Cocaine

Howard Swint, 54, of Sandersville: Two Counts of Sale of Cocaine

Donald Sutton Jr., 47, of Sandersville: Two Counts of Sale of Cocaine, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

Anthony Williams, 30, of Warthen: Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Probation Violation

William Hall, 39 of Tennille: Possession of Cocaine, Parole Violation, False Report of a Crime, Fleeing or Attempting to Elude, Failure to Obey Stop Sign, Failure to Maintain Lane

Freddie Flemming, 59, of Sandersville: Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute Cocaine

Justin Sutton, 32, of Sandersville: Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Trafficking in Cocaine, Possession of a Weapon During the Commission of a Felony.

Speaking on the arrests, Washington County Sheriff Joel Cochran said law enforcement remain committed to stop the flow and sale of illegal substances in our community.

Together, well continue to fight against this threat to ensure the safety and well-being of our residents, said Sheriff Cochran. We wont back down.













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ZANESVILLE, Ohio (WCMH)  A Muskingum County man will serve over a decade in prison for drug-trafficking charges, but prosecutors attorneys were disappointed in the outcome.

According to the Muskingum County Prosecutors Office, Skyler Worline, 29, of Frazeyburg was sentenced to serve 11 years in prison  the minimum sentence  for trafficking over 2 pounds of methamphetamines.

In July, Worline pleaded guilty to three accounts of aggravated trafficking of methamphetamine after he was arrested on April 29 in Frazeysburg. Those charges come with a maximum sentence of 38 years, and the prosecution requested a sentence of at least 20 years.

Third World Mob gang members guilty of trafficking over 2K pounds of marijuana in Columbus

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Local police officers pulled Worline over for speeding and observed a can of butane on the floor of the car. The officer called for backup to help search the vehicle because butane is used in the production of methamphetamine.

A K-9 unit indicated there were drugs in the car and a search revealed pipes, wrapped syringes and needles. Worline told police he had about 1 pound of methamphetamine in a backpack in the back seat.

Skyler Worline (Courtesy/Muskingum County Prosecutors Office)

Officers seized 2.6 pounds of methamphetamine, 119 grams of cocaine powder, 27 grams of crack cocaine and 18 grams of unknown pills. During a search of Worlines home, police seized materials used for the production of crack cocaine, as well as drug paraphernalia and bags filled with money.

Worline admitted to officers that he planned on selling 2 pounds of meth that day in Columbus.

The Licking Countys Central Ohio Drug Enforcement Task Force linked Worlines case to investigations in New Albany and Dublin, where he had been caught with similar quantities of drugs. Those Franklin County investigations were wrapped into a single pattern of corrupt activity, and the Muskingum County attorneys agreed to take over the prosecution.

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Assistant Prosecutor John Litle was hopeful of a lengthy prison sentence due to the number of drugs being trafficked across county lines but came away from the case flummoxed.

It is difficult to understand, and even more difficult to explain to our law enforcement partners and community members how an individual who was caught with the maximum classified quantity of multiple different drugs, on three separate occasions, in three different counties, could end up with a single, minimum sentence, he said.

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All eyes were on presidential candidate and sitting Vice President Kamala Harris this week as the Democratic National Convention kicked off. One clip of Harris's movements, in particular, got a lot of attention from those interested in military technology  the Vice President boarding an MV-22 tiltrotor on a short trip to the convention hall.

All eyes were on presidential candidate and sitting Vice President Kamala Harris this week as the Democratic National Convention kicked off. One clip of Harriss movements, in particular, got a lot of attention from those interested in military technology  the Vice President boarding an MV-22 tiltrotor on a short trip to the convention hall.

In a week of big White House airlift news, with the first flight of the president aboard the VH-92 Patriot as Marine One, many were wondering if this was Harriss first ride aboard an Osprey, an aircraft that is still seeing serious fallout from a fatal crash last year that prompted a three-month-long grounding of the type globally.

.@VP Kamala Harris and @SecondGentleman Doug Emhoff board an Osprey at Chicagos Soldier Field the day after her keynote Democratic National Convention speech pic.twitter.com/uC9i7Zc3LA  Danny Kemp (@dannyctkemp) August 23, 2024

.@VP boards an Osprey helicopter ahead of a trip to Milwaukee for a rally. pic.twitter.com/xiru5iPRPG  Jeff Mason (@jeffmason1) August 20, 2024

VP Kamala Harris reviewing documents and taking photos of staff during her OSPREY flight to ORD in Chicago



Shes heading to Milwaukee for a rally at the Fiserv Forum pic.twitter.com/0q8Xe5pZOe  Christian Datoc (@TocRadio) August 20, 2024

When we saw the clip of Harris boarding one of Marine Helicopter Squadron Ones (HMX-1) Green Top MV-22s, which are heavily tasked with flying around White House aides, U.S. Secret Service Counter Assault Team (CAT) members, and the press corps during executive travel, we wondered the same thing.

USSS CAT members and others are seen here having disembarked from a pair of HMX-1 MV-22 Ospreys in New York City on September 27, 2015. MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images MANDEL NGAN

The Vice President usually moves around on White Top VH-60N and VH-3D executive helicopters from HMX-1, which are maintained and secured to extreme standards, and also offers secure strategic communications and a very capable self-protection suite. In the past, Harris has traveled in other U.S. military helicopters operated by units other than HMX-1, especially during trips abroad.

Vice President Kamala Harris (at right) and her aide Opal Vadhan talk aboard one of HMX-1s VH-3 helicopters on July 30, 2024. ERIN SCHAFF/AFP via Getty Images ERIN SCHAFF

Vice President Kamala Harris (second from the left) boards a California Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk at San Bernardino International Airport on January 21, 2022. PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images PATRICK T. FALLON

Vice President Kamala Harris (at center wearing the headset) rides in a US Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter on March 3, 2024. SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images SAUL LOEB

It took a few days for the White House Military Office, Naval Air Systems Commands (NAVAIR) Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), and the U.S. Marine Corps to run down an answer for us. The biggest issue was that while traveling far from Washington, D.C., sometimes HMX-1s MV-22s are not used. Instead, Marine Ospreys located closer to the destination are assigned to the mission. As such, the Marines had to look into taskings with these other aircraft. As it turns out, not only has Harris flown on an Osprey before this week, and those belonging to HMX-1 specifically, but so did Vice President Mike Pence during his term in office.

With regards to the V-22, Vice Presidents have flown on HMX-1s V-22s before  including the current and former Vice President, Neil Lobeda, a spokesman for the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, told us. The U.S. Marine Corps provided us with an identical statement.

HMX-1 received its first MV-22 in May 2013 and the Ospreys had completely replaced the squadrons Green Top CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters by July of the following year.

An example of the HMX-1 CH-46s that the MV-22s replaced. Andy Rusch via Wikimedia

The Osprey, which has already long had a controversial reputation, has found itself newly embattled in the aftermath of a deadly Air Force CV-22 crash off of Japans Yakushima Island in November 2023. This, in turn, led all V-22 variants worldwide, including those belonging to the Japan Self-Defense Forces, the only current foreign operator of the Osprey, to be grounded for three months, with some limited exceptions. Since the grounding was lifted in March, V-22s have been operating under strict flight restrictions.

The Air Force has subsequently determined that catastrophic gearbox failure was the immediate source of the CV-22 accident last year, but also blamed actions by the pilot as being significant contributing factors, as you can read more about here.

However, Military.com reported just a day after Harris took her Osprey flight in Chicago that internal safety documents it obtained showed the gearbox issue at the core of the November 2023 crash was known as early as 2013. That outlet also reported that a manufacturer safety notice had then been issued in 2014, but that this information had apparently not been widely disseminated.

An additional a report today from The Air Current, also citing internal documents, further explained that the gearbox issue is tied to a persistent manufacturing problem that could have implications well beyond the Osprey. Its not clear why details of the specific risks posed by this material defect were not shared with V-22 operators, the story from that outlet adds.

Officially, U.S. Marine Corps Ospreys have a mishap rate that sits well within the average for aircraft types that service operates.

ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS

While HMX-1s fleet is kept to especially high maintenance standards, having Vice President Harris riding aboard a V-22 of any kind is certainly a show of confidence in the platform at a time when it could really use it.

Contact the author: tyler@twz.com
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP)  NASA decided Saturday its too risky to bring two astronauts back to Earth in Boeings troubled new capsule, and theyll have to wait until next year for a ride home with SpaceX. What should have been a weeklong test flight for the pair will now last more than eight months.

The seasoned pilots have been stuck at the International Space Station since the beginning of June. A cascade of vexing thruster failures and helium leaks in the new capsule marred their trip to the space station, and they ended up in a holding pattern as engineers conducted tests and debated what to do about the trip back.

After almost three months, the decision finally came down from NASAs highest ranks on Saturday. Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will come back in a SpaceX spacecraft in February. Their empty Starliner capsule will undock in a week or two and attempt to return on autopilot.

Williams, a 1983 graduate of Needham High School, recently took part in the seven-mile Falmouth Road Race, roughly 250 miles above Earth. Video showed Williams strapping herself onto a treadmill that she used to virtually run the race.

Williams was born in Euclid, Ohio, but considers Needham to be her hometown.

As Starliners test pilots, the pair should have overseen this critical last leg of the journey, with touchdown in the U.S. desert.

It was a blow to Boeing, adding to the safety concerns plaguing the company on its airplane side. Boeing had counted on Starliners first crew trip to revive the troubled program after years of delays and ballooning costs. The company had insisted Starliner was safe based on all the recent thruster tests both in space and on the ground.

Retired Navy captains with previous long-duration spaceflight experience, Wilmore, 61, and Williams, 58, anticipated surprises when they accepted the shakedown cruise of a new spacecraft, although not quite to this extent.

Before their June 5 launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida, they said their families bought into the uncertainty and stress of their professional careers decades ago. During their lone orbital news conference last month, they said they had trust in the thruster testing being conducted. They had no complaints, they added, and enjoyed pitching in with space station work.

Wilmores wife, Deanna, was equally stoic in an interview earlier this month with WVLT-TV in Knoxville, Tennessee, their home state. She was already bracing for a delay until next February: You just sort of have to roll with it.

Professor Olivier de Weck oversees the Apollo Program of Aeronautics at MIT.

Relief, said de Weck. Relief that a decision has been made, because uncertainty was looming.

He continued, I think we should choose to look at the positives in this story, and not just the negatives... This is a great example of how we can deal with uncertainty and risk. How do we quantify it, and how do we make these life-or-death decisions based on what tests, number, and data are telling us.

De Weck commended the announcement Saturday by NASA.

He finished, I think any risk is perceived as unacceptable at this point.

There were few options.

The SpaceX capsule currently parked at the space station is reserved for the four residents who have been there since March. They will return in late September, their stay extended a month by the Starliner dilemma. NASA said it would be unsafe to squeeze two more into the capsule, except in an emergency.

The docked Russian Soyuz capsule is even tighter, capable of flying only three  two of them Russians wrapping up a yearlong stint.

So Wilmore and Williams will wait for SpaceXs next taxi flight. Its due to launch in late September with two astronauts instead of the usual four for a routine six-month stay. NASA yanked two to make room for Wilmore and Williams on the return flight in late February.

In this photo provided by NASA, astronauts Butch Wilmore, left, and Suni Williams inspect safety hardware aboard the International Space Station on Aug. 9, 2024. (NASA via AP)

NASA said no serious consideration was given to asking SpaceX for a quick stand-alone rescue. Last year, the Russian Space Agency had to rush up a replacement Soyuz capsule for three men whose original craft was damaged by space junk. The switch pushed their mission beyond a year, a U.S. space endurance record still held by Frank Rubio.

Starliners woes began long before its latest flight.

Bad software fouled the first test flight without a crew in 2019, prompting a do-over in 2022. Then parachute and other issues cropped up, including a helium leak in the capsules propellant system that nixed a launch attempt in May. The leak eventually was deemed to be isolated and small enough to pose no concern. But more leaks sprouted following liftoff, and five thrusters also failed.

All but one of those small thrusters restarted in flight. But engineers remain perplexed as to why some thruster seals appear to swell, obstructing the propellant lines, then revert to their normal size.

These 28 thrusters are vital. Besides needed for space station rendezvous, they keep the capsule pointed in the right direction at flights end as bigger engines steer the craft out of orbit. Coming in crooked could result in catastrophe.

With the Columbia disaster still fresh in many minds  the shuttle broke apart during reentry in 2003, killing all seven aboard  NASA embraced open debate over Starliners return capability. Dissenting views were stifled during Columbias doomed flight, just as they were during Challengers in 1986.

In this long-exposure photo provided by NASA, Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is docked to the Harmony module of the International Space Station on July 3, 2024. (NASA via AP)

Despite Saturdays decision, NASA isnt giving up on Boeing.

NASA went into its commercial crew program a decade ago wanting two competing U.S. companies ferrying astronauts in the post-shuttle era. Boeing won the bigger contract: more than $4 billion, compared with SpaceXs $2.6 billion.

With station supply runs already under its belt, SpaceX aced its first of now nine astronaut flights in 2020, while Boeing got bogged down in design flaws that set the company back more than $1 billion. NASA officials still hold out hope that Starliners problems can be corrected in time for another crew flight in another year or so.

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HOUSTON, Texas (WHNT)  NASA will hold a news conference on Saturday to discuss mission updates for the Boeing Starliner Astronauts and their return to Earth.

On August 24, at noon central time, NASA will hold a news conference from the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

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The news conference will share the newest information about the Boeing Starliner Astronauts and new updates to the mission. NASA said its agency and Boeing have, gathered data, both in space and on ground, regarding the Starliner spacecrafts propulsion and helium system to better understand the ongoing technical challenges.

NASA said the review will include a mission status update, a review of technical data and closeout actions, certify flight rationale to proceed with undocking and return from the space station.

NASA officials said they have two systems that are able to carry crew to and from the space station. Those include the astronauts landing on Starliner as planned or returning Starliner to Earth empty while its astronauts make their own landing on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft in February 2025.

On June 5, the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The mission is an end-to-end test of the Starliner system as part of a new program.

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The program is called the Commercial Crew Program. Through a partnership with American private industry, NASA plans to open access to low Earth orbit and the space station to more people, science and commercial opportunities.

Astronauts Barry Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were scheduled to return to Earth on June 14. While they approached the International Space Station, the Starliner had challenges with the thrusters. Nelson said NASA and Boeing want to continue testing the thrusters in space.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said, despite the delays, NASAs commercial crew mission has been a success.

On June 28, the Associated Press (AP) said NASA had not set a return date for the astronauts. The agency didnt want to provide an update until testing on the ground was complete. Steve Stich, NASAs Commercial Program Manager, said the astronauts were safe.

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AP reported that NASA said the ship could stay docked at the International Space Station for around 45 days because of battery limits, however, in-flight tests say the limit can be extended.

NASA created a Frequently Asked Questions page about NASAs Boeing Crew Flight Test Return Status.

In the article, NASA said astronauts Butch and Suni are not stuck on the space station. They said if there was an emergency, they could come home on the Starliner.

Butch and Suni are safe aboard the space station working alongside the Expedition 71 crew. They also have been actively involved in Starliner testing and technical meetings. Butch and Suni could return home aboard Starliner if an emergency arises. The agency also has other return options available, if needed, for both contingency and normal returning planning.

NASAs news conference will be available on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube and the agencys website.

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The two NASA astronauts stuck aboard the International Space Station (ISS), Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, wont be coming home anytime soon. During a press conference at the Kennedy Space Center on Saturday, Aug. 24, NASA administrator Bill Nelson announced that the space agency was giving up on the idea of bringing Wilmore and Williams home aboard their balky Boeing Starliner spacecraftwhich has been experiencing thruster problems since its launch on June 5. Instead, the Starliner will be flown home uncrewed, and Wilmore and Williams will hitch a ride back to Earth aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, which will launch to the ISS in September for a five-month station stay, returning in February. This extends what was supposed to be an eight-day ISS rotation for Wilmore and Williams to a whopping eight months.

NASA has worked very hard with Boeing to reach this decision, Nelson said. The decision is a result of a commitment to safety.

The ruling rested on what NASA calls a flight readiness review (FRR). As agency brass explained at an Aug. 14 news conference, FRRs are typically held before launch, when officials gather for a final go or no-go on the planned mission.

We bring in representatives from all of the related centers, the technical authorities, the NASA engineering, and safety center flight operations, explained Ken Bowersox, a former astronaut and an associate administrator for NASAs space operations mission directorate. We listen to the status of the mission, go through some special topics, and then we poll everybody at the end on whether or not they think we're ready to undertake the mission.

On one occasion, that panels decision led to disaster. The FRR for the final mission of the space shuttle Challenger was held on Jan. 15, 1986, and the ship was cleared to launch. Thirteen days later, on Jan. 28, that liftoff took place, ending in a fuel tank explosion and the death of all seven crew members just 73 seconds after the ship left the pad. That tragedy, followed by the breakup of the shuttle Columbia and a similar loss of all hands on Feb. 1, 2003, left NASA much more risk-averse than it had been before.

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We did not have the governance structure that we have today with technical authorities, said Russ DeLoach, chief of NASA safety and mission assurance, during the earlier press conference. So at that time, the program managers pretty much had near-unilateral decision making. And so if there were views that maybe a path we were taking was not correct, there was really no strong additional authority to step in and say, Wait a minute.

That additional authority exists today, in the form of FRRs that take place mid-missionthough they often go by a different name: a mission risk acceptance forum. Whatever theyre called, the official panels are intended to bring the scrutiny of an FRR to bear at any point between the time a crew leaves the ground and the time they return to Earth. For the past several weeks, NASA has been under the gun to make such a decision about the hobbled Starlinerand to do it fast. The spacecrafts batteries have a limited lifespan, and if the ship was not deemed fit to carry the crew home, it would have to fly back empty soon.

The FRR that resulted in the decision not to bring Wilmore and Williams home on the Boeing Starliner spacecraft was held on Aug. 23, and Nelson was very much in the loop. If there are dissenting opinions during the review, the decision goes first to Jim Free, NASA associate administrator. After him, Nelson could step in, and clearly he did.

Ahead of the decision being finalized, it was still possible that NASA could surprise the publicnot to mention Wilmore and Williamsand announce that the stranded astronauts would be flying their dodgy Starliner home. But that was never likely. NASAs institutional sorrow runs deepback far before the Challenger and Columbia disasters, to the Jan. 27, 1967, launch pad fire that claimed the lives of astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee, when they were conducting a dress rehearsal for the launch of their Apollo 1 spacecraft. Shortly after that tragedy, legendary flight director Gene Kranz gathered the grieving NASA staffers together for a grim but bracing post-mortem.

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From this day forward, flight control will be known by two words: Tough and competent, Kranz said, chalking the words on a blackboard. Tough means we are forever accountable for what we do or what we fail to do. We will never again compromise our responsibilities. Competent means we will never take anything for granted. Mission Control will be perfect. When you leave this meeting today you will go to your office and the first thing you will do there is to write tough and competent on your blackboards. It will never be erased. Each day when you enter the room, these words will remind you of the price paid by Grissom, White, and Chaffee. These words are the price of admission to the ranks of Mission Control.

That price still stands. NASA could have decided to spare Boeing the embarrassment of flying their Starliner home empty, and Wilmore and Williams the ordeal of spending six more months in space, but thats not the route the agency chose. Astronaut lives are on the line. A chastened NASA chose not to risk them again.

Write to Jeffrey Kluger at jeffrey.kluger@time.com.
NASA says astronauts stuck in space will not return on Boeing capsule, will wait for SpaceX craft

NASA will call on SpaceX to bring home two astronauts who have been stuck on the International Space Station since early June after their Boeing spacecraft ran into several problems midflight, the agency said Saturday.

The decision for astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to hitch a ride back to Earth on a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, rather than on the Boeing Starliner spacecraft that they rode into orbit, puts to rest months of speculation and tension within the space agency over how  and when  the two crew members could safely return. The mission was planned to last about eight days.

Spaceflight is risky  even at its safest and even at its most routine  and a test flight, by nature, is neither safe nor routine, and so the decision to keep Butch and Suni aboard the International Space Station and bring the Boeing Starliner home uncrewed is a result of a commitment to safety, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said Saturday at a news briefing.

The Starliner drama has been a major setback for Boeing's space ambitions, adding to years of struggle to get the capsule off the ground and keep up with rival company SpaceX. Even before Wilmore and Williams launched in June, the Starliner program was more than $1.5 billion over budget and years behind schedule.

Butch Wilmore, top, and Suni Williams, inside the International Space Station, on July 2, 2024.

Top NASA officials, including Nelson, gathered Saturday at the agencys Johnson Space Center in Houston to conduct a formal review based on the results of tests done in orbit and on the ground.

While the agency has finally settled on how to bring the astronauts back, their return trip will not be immediate. Instead, Wilmore and Williams will remain at the space station for about six more months before flying home in February.

NASA said it will free up two seats on an upcoming SpaceX launch, known as Crew-9, that will be taking a new rotation of space station crew members to the orbiting outpost. By transporting two astronauts instead of the planned four, Wilmore and Williams will be able to fly back in the open seats at the end of the Crew-9 mission in February.

The Crew-9 flight is currently scheduled to lift off on Sept. 24 from NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The beleaguered Starliner capsule, meanwhile, will journey back to Earth without a crew, likely sometime in early September, according to NASA.

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft docked to the International Space Station, on July 3, 2024.

Boeing said in a statement following the announcement: We continue to focus, first and foremost, on the safety of the crew and spacecraft. We are executing the mission as determined by NASA, and we are preparing the spacecraft for a safe and successful uncrewed return.

Steve Stich, manager of NASAs Commercial Crew Program, said that while Boeing officials expressed confidence in their spacecraft, the decision to go with SpaceX was unanimous among NASA officials.

There was just too much uncertainty in the prediction of the thrusters, Stich said. If we had a model, [if] we had a way to accurately predict what the thrusters would do for the undock and all the way through the de-orbit burn, through the separation sequence, I think we would have taken a different course of action.

NASAs uncertainty in recent weeks stood in stark contrast to the public messaging from Boeing. The aerospace company has said that tests done in orbit and on the ground indicated that the Starliner capsule was safe to bring the astronauts home.

Over the past month, Boeing officials have not taken part in news briefings hosted by NASA to discuss the Starliner mission. Boeing was publishing details of the flights status on the companys website, but there have been no mission updates posted since Aug. 2. In that statement from earlier this month, Boeing said it remains confident in the Starliner spacecraft and its ability to return safely with crew.

Wilmore and Williams arrived at the space station on June 6. As they were approaching the orbiting outpost, five of Starliners thrusters malfunctioned, causing a nearly hourlong delay in the docking process. Separately, mission managers also detected helium leaking from the capsules propulsion system  an issue that was known prior to the spacecrafts launch but appeared to worsen during the flight.

Engineers from NASA and Boeing spent weeks analyzing the problems using a test engine that was built for future Starliner flights. Mission managers also conducted two hot fire tests in space, which involved firing the capsules thrusters in short bursts while it remained docked at the space station.

Wilmore and Williams launched to the International Space Station on June 5 on the first crewed flight of Boeings Starliner capsule. The mission, which was meant to last just over a week, was a crucial test flight for Boeing, serving as the last major step before NASA could certify the Starliner spacecraft to ferry astronauts to and from the space station on a regular basis.

Its unclear how NASA will proceed with the certification process now, including how the space agency will evaluate Starliners performance on the crewed test flight.

SpaceX, meanwhile, has been ferrying NASA astronauts to and from the International Space Station since 2020.

Both Boeing and SpaceX developed their space capsules as part of NASAs Commercial Crew Program, an initiative that started in 2011 to support private companies in building new space vehicles to take astronauts to low-Earth orbit following the retirement of the agencys space shuttles.

Jim Free, NASAs associate administrator, praised the teams at NASA and Boeing and said the work done over the past few months will inform future missions.

We are a learning organization, he said. Well learn from this effort so that our crews, who are at the top of the pyramid on these missions, and their families can continue to know weve done that and well always do our best.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
NASA picks SpaceX to bring home the American astronauts stuck in space. It's the latest blow to Boeing.

NASA picks SpaceX to bring home the American astronauts stuck in space. It's the latest blow to Boeing.

Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will return to Earth on SpaceX's Crew Dragon.

The astronauts have been stuck on the ISS since June due to issues with Boeing's Starliner.

It's another blow to Boeing, which is competing with SpaceX to deliver NASA astronauts to space.

NASA has decided the lives of two astronauts stuck at the International Space Station will be in SpaceX's hands after weeks of intense deliberation and serious safety concerns.

The verdict means Boeing's Starliner spaceship will have to return to Earth empty, and the astronauts will have to stay on the ISS until 2025.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson made the announcement during a press conference on Saturday at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

The two astronauts, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, have been on the ISS for 11 weeks. Their mission was originally supposed to last eight days.

The ordeal began when five of Starliner's 28 reaction control system thrusters failed as it traveled to the ISS in June. The spacecraft's helium system was also leaking.

Mission controllers have been working to resolve the issues and test the spacecraft ever since in the hopes that Boeing  and not someone else  could safely bring the astronauts home.

NASA leadership held an internal meeting earlier on Saturday to review whether Williams and Wilmore could safely return to Earth on Boeing's Starliner spacecraft or if they should rely on SpaceX's Crew Dragon instead.

"I want you to know that Boeing has worked very hard with NASA to get the necessary data to make this decision," Nelson said. "We want to further understand the root causes and understand the design improvements so that the Boeing Starliner will serve as an important part of our assured crew access to the ISS."

Nelson said he spoke with Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, who said the company would continue addressing issues with Starliner.

During a July press conference, a NASA official acknowledged that relying on SpaceX to retrieve the astronauts was an option but declined to provide details.

NASA confirmed its SpaceX backup plan this month and postponed the company's next launch to September 24. The delay allows Wilmore and Williams to fly home with a two-person SpaceX crew on its four-person spacecraft in February, about eight months later than their initial schedule.

The SpaceX plan isn't without risks.

Wilmore and Wiliams arrived at the ISS in spacesuits compatible with Boeing's Starliner  not the Crew Dragon spaceship. The scarcity of ports on the ISS, and some scheduling maneuvering, will mean that Starliner departs before the new Crew Dragon arrives with compatible SpaceX spacesuits for the duo. In the interim between Starliner's departure and the new Dragon's arrival, they'll be suit-less if there's an emergency that forces the ISS to evacuate.

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft during NASA's Boeing Crew Flight Test in June. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

This is possibly the biggest safety decision NASA has had to make in decades. The Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, during which seven astronauts died, has weighed heavily on the minds of the Starliner mission managers, many of whom were involved in that failed flight, Ars Technica reported.

"I've been very hyper-focused lately on this concept of combating organizational silence. If you look at both, unfortunately, Challenger and Columbia, you can see cases where people had the right data or a valid position to put forward, but the environment just didn't allow it," Russ DeLoach, the chief of NASA's Office of Safety and Mission Assurance said in a briefing about the Starliner mission on August 14.

During Saturday's press conference, Nelson acknowledged that NASA has made mistakes in the past.

"Spaceflight is risky," he said. "Even at its safest. Even at its most routine. A test flight, by nature, is neither safe nor routine. So, the decision to keep Butch and Suni aboard the International Space Station, and bring the Boeing Starliner home un-crewed, is a result of a commitment to safety."

Elon Musk's SpaceX Starbase is in Boca Chica, Texas. CHANDAN KHANNA/Getty Images

NASA funneled $4.2 billion into Starliner's development. The contract is part of the agency's Commercial Crew Program, an effort to give NASA multiple US-based options for human spaceflight rather than depending on Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

The Starliner's original mission was to prove that it could safely ferry astronauts to and from the ISS regularly. Despite setbacks, NASA's comments on Saturday suggest that it plans to continue working with the company.

Both Boeing and SpaceX have spent a decade working with NASA on their Starliner and Crew Dragon vehicles, respectively.

NASA always insisted the program was not a competition or a race, but if it had been, SpaceX would've won by a landslide.

Not only did the company complete its first crewed test flight four years ago, as CEO Elon Musk pointed out ahead of Williams' and Wilmore's launch  it did it for cheaper, only costing NASA $2.6 billion.

After years of delays, technical issues, and rising costs, Wilmore's and Williams' flight was the last hurdle Boeing had to clear for NASA to certify Starliner for human spaceflight.

Correction: August 25, 2024  An earlier version of this story misstated how Williams and Wilmore will return to Earth on SpaceX's Crew Dragon. The two astronauts will wear SpaceX spacesuits on their return trip.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Nebraska Supreme Court. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN  In what Legal Aid lawyers are calling a historic about-face, the Nebraska Supreme Court on Friday ruled in favor of two different elderly homeowners who fell victim to what critics described as government-assisted home equity theft.

The homeowners, represented by Legal Aid of Nebraska and Pacific Legal Foundation, claimed that Nebraskas delinquent tax sale process was unconstitutional in that it allowed homeowners to lose more than what they owed to satisfy property tax debts.

The Nebraska Supreme Court (today) held that home equity is protected by the Constitution and that the government cannot take more than what is owed, said Christina Martin, senior attorney at Pacific Legal Foundation, which teamed with Legal Aid to represent the Nebraskans.

Investors kept the profit

One of the cases involved Kevin and Terry Fair, who lived in their Scottsbluff home for nearly three decades but fell behind on taxes after she got sick and he stopped working to care for her (she died during litigation). The county eventually transferred the couples $60,000 home to a private investor, who paid off the Fairs $5,268 county debt and kept the profit.

In the second case, Sandra Nieveen had lived in her Lincoln residence for a half-century when the county transferred the $61,900 home to a private investor for a tax debt of less than $4,000.

In both cases, the Nebraska Supreme Court originally upheld state laws, prompting Pacific Legal and Legal Aid to ask the U.S. Supreme Court for a review.

Last May, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a separate but similar case, Tyler v. Hennepin County, that if the government takes more than what is owed to satisfy a property tax debt, it violates the Fifth Amendments takings clause.

That sent the Fair and Nieveen cases back to the Nebraska Supreme Court for reconsideration. Friday, Nebraska justices determined that investment companies who bought the tax liens must pay Fair and Nieveen for the excess equity that remained after their property tax debt was satisfied. The cases were returned to the trial court to determine how much the homes are worth and how much compensation is owed.

The Courts rulings today solidify that, pursuant to the takings clause of the United States and Nebraska Constitutions, just compensation must be paid to homeowners when the value of their property taken is worth more than what is owed to satisfy the tax debt, said Jennifer Gaughan, Nebraska Legal Aids chief of legal strategy. These tax sales laws harm the elderly, sick and poor the most  with a disproportionate impact on people of color.

Martin said her team is thrilled that after years of litigation, the Nebraska court recognized the homeowners right to their hard-earned equity.

This is a win for all Nebraskans, who can now sleep soundly knowing their home equity belongs to them and to them alone.

NE law changed last year

Last year, the Nebraska Legislature amended the states delinquent tax sale laws that were challenged in the Fair and Nieveen cases. The changes went into effect in September 2023, preventing future scenarios of home equity theft by requiring tax lien investors to pay the original owner any remaining equity after the delinquent taxes, interest, penalties, fees and other liens on the property have been satisfied.

Here is how it had worked in Nebraska prior to the changes: Counties could sell the tax lien on a property to a third party, who would pay a homeowners overdue taxes. After three years of paying taxes on the property, the third-party investor could seek the legal deed to the property, although the investor was supposed to notify and give the owner a shot at holding onto the property by paying the delinquent tax and interest.

Happening too often, Nebraska lawmakers said, was that the investor reaped a windfall on the sale, since state law prior to September 2023 didnt require reimbursement of equity the owner had built up.

Mark Bestul of Legal Aid said the Nebraska Supreme Courts Friday ruling now provides a clear path to justice for Fair and Nieveen. The court said the investors are liable for reimbursing the the homeowners.

Reason for the law change

State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha, who pushed for changes to Nebraska law, said he was glad the homeowners involved are going to be made whole.

Cases like this one are the reason for the change we made in the law, he said. And thanks to that change going forward, there will not be a need for this type of correction.

The Pacific Legal Foundation said the decision sends a signal to other states that havent yet complied with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Tyler that property owners rights must be protected.

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Nebraskas new $3M, regional approach to spurring economic development is off and running

OMAHA, Neb. (Nebraska Examiner)  Armed with an initial $3 million in public funds, Nebraska has now fully launched a new regional approach to economic development that organizers hope will accelerate growth and sharpen the states competitive edge, the Nebraska Examiner reports.

On Wednesday in Omaha, the last of six regional teams had an inaugural meeting and started planning a signature project for the largely urban four-county area in and around Nebraskas biggest city.

K.C Belitz, director of Nebraskas Department of Economic Development, called it the big swing  a unique initiative to be shaped by regional needs, aimed at attracting young professionals and boosting local economies.

Organizers expect at least another $3 million in matching private investment to help communities carry out kickoff projects that they said could range from a public amenity to a youth-centered or affordable housing effort.

Nebraska lawmakers pass bills to slow the rise of property taxes. Some are pushing to try harder

Night and day different

Fremont Mayor Joey Spellerberg, co-chair of the Metro Community College region, which is part of the 6 Regions, One Nebraska initiative, speaks at this regional teams first meeting. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)

The states other five regional teams over the last three months already held their respective introductory meetings for what is dubbed the 6 Regions, One Nebraska three-year initiative.

Belitz said the longer-term goal is to build a culture where neighboring communities combine assets, energy and ideas to meet challenges of an economic development era he said is night and day different from that of 20 years ago.

Its time to think regionally about this work, he said.

Financial incentive

The states initial $3 million investment, to be matched by private dollars, will help provide financial incentive for each of the six regions to create a regional project in one of the following areas: Resident recruitment; youth engagement; entrepreneurship; technology; infrastructure, a selected regional project.

Each of the six regional teams is centered around one of the states community college districts and is led by a paid navigator who will work with co-chairs to organize meetings of community partners.

While each region is tasked with strengthening its own area, the end result should be a stronger Nebraska, said Dana Bradford, co-chair of the Omaha area region, based at Metro Community College.

Chief Justice Heavican to retire from Nebraska Supreme Court

There are 50 states, all competing to retain and recruit people, said Bradford, chief executive of C3 Brands. Its about competing outside the borders of Nebraska.

Underlying the effort, organizers said, is the urgency to address gaps including the 50,000 to 80,000 jobs open in Nebraska and the shortage of affordable housing and child care services.

Alarming disparity

Dana Bradford, co-chair of the Metropolitan Community College region of the 6 Regions, One Nebraska initiative is disturbed at income disparity in Douglas County neighborhoods. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)

Wednesday marked the first gathering of the 100 or so people representing business, education, nonprofits and other segments of the Metropolitan Community College region of Douglas, Sarpy, Washington and Dodge Counties.

Fremont Mayor Joey Spellerberg chairs the region with Bradford. They were joined at the daylong session, held at Metros Fort Omaha campus, by speakers including Randy Schmailzl, president of Metropolitan Community College and Bryan Slone and president of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Josie Schafer, a data expert who heads the Center for Public Affairs Research at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, provided a statistical overview of demographic, income, education, workforce, housing and other trends in the region.

Data-driven graphics reinforced, for example, a shortage of licensed child care providers, which can be a turnoff in luring a workforce.

The MCC region actually fares better than others in the state, with 68,196 spots for 69,077 children under age 6. That compares to 6,302 spots for 12,219 preschoolers in the Northeast region and 3,017 spots for 6,254 kids in the Mid-Plains district.

We need spots. I need choice. We dont have enough even in the Metro region, said Schafer.

2 abortion-related petitions certified for Nebraska general election ballot

Bradford was particularly alarmed at a graphic that showed median household incomes in North and South Omaha far below the rest of Douglas County ($35,711 for North and $42,487 for South, compared to $83,651 for the remainder of the county).

This defines the problem for me, he said. At the end of the day we have to grow wages and jobs. Theres no way we win if North Omaha, South Omaha or rural communities have such disparate incomes.

ARPA funds launched initiative

The DED and Nebraska Chamber are overseeing the 6 Regions, One Nebraska effort, which was funded by $3 million in seed money from American Rescue Plan Act funding. Gov. Jim Pillen, who requested the allocation from the Legislature, is to meet with the working team of each region twice annually.

Slone said in an interview that the initiative builds upon Blueprint Nebraska, a far-reaching statewide planning effort in 2018-19 that laid out strategies to grow the states population and economy.

He said the blueprint still stands, but execution of strategies has been difficult, in part because of differing conditions in towns across the state. He foresees more success with a regional approach.

This is about execution, the how-to, said Slone.

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An example of what a region might do better than a single town, he said, is building housing. With a shortage of contractor availability in rural areas, Slone said, a cluster of communities could pool resources and guarantee ongoing work that would make it more alluring for a contractor to bring a crew to town.

Its scope and scale, said Slone.



Nebraska Examiner is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Nebraska Examiner maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Cate Folsom for questions: info@nebraskaexaminer.com. Follow Nebraska Examiner on Facebook and X.



This story was republished under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Neighbors in Mustang shaken up after man killed in officer-involved shooting

Neighbors in Mustang shaken up after man killed in officer-involved shooting

MUSTANG, Okla. (KFOR)  Rachel Mercer said she was sitting outside talking to her father on the phone Thursday night when things took a scary turn.

I heard three gunshots just right down the road, and when I turned to go back inside to tell my daughter to stay inside, I saw one of the cop cars come racing down the road, said Mercer. Just very unsettling being so close to home.

Moments later, officers flooded South Mustang Road, near Mustang High School. This happened around 7:30 p.m.

This is not a good situation at all for anybody, said Mustang Police Chief Mike Wallace. This is a safe community. This is a very uncommon call.

The OSBI is leading the investigation. According to the agency, the incident began as a Mustang Police officer responding to a welfare check.

The officer made contact with an adult male. During that interaction, the officer provided verbal commands to the suspect, however he did not comply and advanced towards the officer. An officer-involved shooting occurred, said the OSBIs press release.

ORIGINAL STORY: One dead after officer-involved shooting in Mustang

We now know the man who died is 41-year-old Juan Barbosa. Its not clear if he was armed.

In terms of other details that led up to that shooting, we still have to look over all of that, said Hunter McKee, an OSBI spokesman.

No one else was injured.

Neighbors told KFOR off camera that Barbosa didnt live in the area. Mercer said the area is typically quiet.

Its just an uneasy situation, said Mercer. Nothing like this ever happens.

The officer involved in the shooting is on paid administrative leave.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Happy Saturday! Heres another edition of my weekend column for WPRI.com  as always, send your takes, tips and trial balloons to tnesi@wpri.com and follow me on Twitter, Threads and Facebook.

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Nesi's Notes

1. The Democratic National Convention is in the books, and the stage is set for the fall campaign. Democrats continue to be amazed and elated at how voters have responded to Kamala Harris replacing Joe Biden; polling guru Nate Silver now gives Harris a slight edge in six of the seven key battleground states. Its been very exciting  there is a ton of energy, U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse told our crew in Chicago. The last month has been like running a very rough rapids, with all sorts of things that could have gone very wrong. None of them did. Yet despite his newfound optimism about November, Whitehouse admitted, We are Democrats, so we can always foul things up. The next test will be how Harris handles unscripted moments  the Sept. 10 debate against Donald Trump most importantly, but also her first big TV interview, whenever that finally happens. And Republicans still have plenty of reason for hope. Opinion polls remain tight, even though Harris has just gone through about as strong a stretch as any high-level candidate has had in recent memory, and Trumps political obituary has been written prematurely many times. Its also entirely possible Harris could win the popular vote but lose the Electoral College. For now, though, local Democrats are basking in the good vibes around Harris and running mate Tim Walz. Im excited about this ticket, said Congressman Amo, who was attending his fourth convention but his first as an elected official. The Harris-Walz ticket represents such a cross-section of America, he said. So that combination, combined with a policy agenda thats focused on opportunity and not moving us backwards  Im excited and I know so many people are across this country, too.

2. Historians will spend the rest of our lifetimes examining the Democratic Partys unprecedented decision to push a sitting president off the ticket just four months before the election. Certainly, Democrats fear of a Donald Trump restoration was paramount in their motivation to force out Joe Biden. But Ive come to think another reason Biden faced such immense pressure to quit is because todays Democrats have so little experience of a hopeless presidential race, making the trajectory of last month even more unnerving for them. Think about the past four decades. Since 1992, the Democratic nominee has won the popular vote in every presidential election but one; only George W. Bush, in 2004, managed to win more votes for the GOP. Even in 1988, Mike Dukakis looked strong at the same point in the race as when Biden quit. You have to go back to 1984, when Ronald Reagan buried Walter Mondale, to find an election year when Democrats knew they were on track to lose and walked off the plank anyway.

3. Gina Raimondo got a Democratic National Convention speaking slot, though not a prime one, addressing the crowd on Monday night hours before the president who brought her onto the national stage. With Joe Biden retiring, whats next for Raimondo? While she was on an initial shortlist of possible VP picks, there isnt much evidence she was seriously considered. Shes not known to be personally close to Kamala Harris, so its unclear if shed be offered a cabinet position in a Harris administration  if she even wants one. Raimondo certainly kept a high profile during convention week, with a string of national media appearances, including a sitdown with Axios that required asterisks in the headline. But a live interview on ABC News led to a damaging clip that went viral, as Raimondo fumbled a question about downward job revisions released by the Labor Department the same day. On this weeks Newsmakers, I asked political strategist Cara Cromwell  whos known Raimondo for years  what she expects her to do next. I think it remains to be seen what shed want to do, Cromwell said. Citing the CHIPS Act and broadband expansion as two singular accomplishments for the commerce secretary, Cromwell said, Ill be honest, I think the worlds her oyster. She could also come home and set something up and do very well financially. She could do anything. (One thing she wont do: run for U.S. Senate.)

4. Massachusetts Congressman Jake Auchincloss wasnt in attendance at the convention this week, despite his usually high profile, but his name still popped up in the media repeatedly. In The Wall Street Journal, Auchincloss published an op-ed hailing Ukraine for its lightning invasion of Russia, and urging President Biden to take more steps to help Kiev. A Bloomberg Businessweek story about Democrats who appear on Fox News included this quote from Auchincloss explaining why he thinks its an effective way to reach undecided voters: A lot of them are watching Fox News and are reachable, but theyre not going to be reached unless we are clearly and compellingly rebutting Trump talking points. And The New Yorker had this nugget in a story about why it took so long for Democrats to jettison Biden: The House was in session on the night of the debate, and more than a dozen representatives, all moderate Democrats, gathered at a watch party in D.C. hosted by Jake Auchincloss, of Massachusetts, which quickly turned funereal. About fifteen minutes in, we cracked open the bourbon, Jim Himes, a congressman from Connecticut, told me. Im getting messages from everyone I know outside D.C.Fix this!but its not like theres a red phone I can pick up and on the other end is the smoke-filled room. The Party isI dont want to call it rudderless, but its amorphous.'

5. Political junkies around these parts have been spoiled in recent election cycles. Rhode Island had open contests for U.S. House in both of the last two years, with 2022 also featuring competitive statewide races. In 2020, Massachusetts had the monumental MarkeyKennedy Senate battle, plus another open race for U.S. House. The 2018 cycle had plenty of drama, too. But despite the tumultuous presidential race this year, the local political scene is comparatively quiet. Unusually, Rhode Islands marquee primary contest on Sept. 10 is actually a Republican one: the bitter Cranston mayoral race between incumbent Ken Hopkins and challenger Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung. (The pair will debate this coming Friday on a special edition of WPRI 12s Newsmakers.) There are also a number of General Assembly primaries, though notably fewer than in past cycles. In House District 9, charges and countercharges are flying as former Rep. Anastacia Williams wages a rematch against Rep. Enrique Sanchez, with Santos Javier also running. In Cranston, the race to fill retiring Sen. Josh Millers District 28 seat has attracted a crowded field of five Democrats. Senate President Dominick Ruggerio is favored in his third primary race against Lenny Cioe, even if health issues have limited the ability of Rhode Islands longest-serving lawmaker to campaign. The Globes Dan McGowan, appearing on Newsmakers, flagged another race to watch: veteran state Rep. Grace Diazs primary against Tania Quezada. Theres at least one thing all these races are going to have in common: low voter turnout. With no major statewide or congressional contests to draw out voters, its up to these smaller campaigns to get out the vote themselves.

6. In Massachusetts, where early voting starts today, things are if anything even more placid. Theres a three-way contest for the GOP nomination to take on Elizabeth Warren in November, with a recent transplant from Rhode Island in the mix, but no sign she is actually vulnerable. A few of our regions veteran state lawmakers are retiring  Taunton Sen. Marc Pacheco, Mattapoisett Rep. Bill Straus, Fall River Rep. Paul Schmid, Mansfield Rep. Jay Barrows  creating open seats and some contested primaries. Theres even a Democratic primary for Fall River Register of Deeds, with 30-year incumbent Bernard McDonald facing a challenge from former Swansea Selectman Chris Carreiro. (You know its a quiet year when youre looking to a register of deeds race for excitement!)

7. Heres quite a stat from election analyst Chaz Nuttycombe: Rhode Islands is one of only nine state legislatures where there are more Democrats representing districts that backed Donald Trump in 2020 than there are Republicans representing districts that backed Joe Biden. And its the only state in the Northeast where thats the case. Seemingly a missed opportunity for the Rhode Island GOP, which is currently outnumbered 97-14 in the General Assembly.

8. Dont miss these stories from our team this week  the Washington Bridge lawsuit could (eventually) lead to some revelations about RIDOTs culpability  Sheldon Whitehouses campaign had to remove photos of the suspect in the Newport wind forum incident  big insurers are going to war over Rhode Islands new $15 million Medicaid contract  AG Neronha laid out his questions about Lifespans proposed purchase of two Massachusetts hospitals.

9. People on the move  Karen Greco is the new spokesperson for the R.I. Department of Administration; she came from Bryant University  Omar Mohammed has joined The Boston Globes Rhode Island bureau, covering economics  West Greenwich School Committee member Justin Lake is the new vice chair of the R.I. Young Republicans  Governor Healey has nominated New Bedford lawyer Heath Antonio to be a District Court judge.

10. Tom Brady shares his leadership philosophy with the Harvard Business Review.

11. Ethan Iverson on the Rolling Stones at 80 (and the art of drumming).

12. A programming note: Nesis Notes will be taking a one-week break due to the upcoming holiday weekend. Look for the next edition here at WPRI.com on Sept. 7.

13. Set your DVRs: This week on Newsmakers  a political roundtable previews the fall campaign. Watch Sunday at 5:30 a.m. on WPRI 12 and 10 a.m. on Fox Providence, or listen on the radio Sunday at 6 p.m. on WPRO. You can also subscribe to Newsmakers as a podcast via Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. See you back here next Saturday.

Ted Nesi (tnesi@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter and 12 News politics/business editor. He co-hosts Newsmakers and writes Nesis Notes on Saturdays. Connect with him on Twitter, Threads and Facebook.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has locked horns with Israeli ceasefire negotiators over his insistence that Israel will not pull out of the so-called Philadelphi Corridor in the south of the Gaza Strip, a person with knowledge of the talks said.

The Philadelphi Corridor, along the border with Egypt, and the Netzarim Corridor cutting across the middle of the Gaza Strip, have been two of the main sticking points in talks backed by Egypt, Qatar and the United States.

Netanyahu has repeatedly insisted that Israel will not give up control of the Philadelphi Corridor because it wants to prevent Hamas smuggling weapons and fighters across the border with Egypt. He has also said Israel must maintain checkpoints in the Netzarim Corridor to stop armed Hamas fighters moving from the southern section of the Gaza Strip into the north.

The person said Netanyahu had agreed to shift one Philadelphi position by a few hundred metres but would retain overall control of the corridor, despite pressure from members of his own negotiating team for more concessions.

"The prime minister insists that this situation will continue, contrary to pressure from certain elements in the negotiating team who are willing to withdraw from there," said the person, who has close knowledge of the negotiations.

Israel's Channel 12 television reported this week that Netanyahu had been bitterly critical of the negotiating team, led by David Barnea, the chief of the Mossad intelligence service, for being willing to make too many concessions.

More than 10 months after the Oct. 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war, the United States has been pressing Israel for an end to hostilities.

Hamas-led gunmen killed some 1,200 people and abducted around 250 hostages on Oct.7, according to Israeli tallies, while Israeli bombardments have laid waste to Gaza and killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in the enclave.

Netanyahu has been under heavy pressure to reach a deal from families of some of the Israeli hostages who remain in Gaza and many have been strongly critical of the failure to reach a deal, joining critics have accused him of hindering a deal for his own political purposes.

But with pressure from hardliners in his own cabinet against any concessions, and with opinion polls indicating a pick-up in the disastrous ratings he had at the start of the war, the prime minister has said repeatedly he aims for total victory over Hamas.

(Reporting by Emily Rose; writing by James Mackenzie; editing by Giles Elgood)
Nevada man sentenced in federal court for massive drug bust

KSNF/KODE  A Nevada man will spend two decades in prison after troopers seized nearly 10 kilos of meth during a traffic stop.

Today, a federal judge sentenced Trenton Wallace, 28, to 20 years in prison without parole.

Trenton Wallace, 28.

Wallace pleaded guilty back in December to one drug charge.

In February of 2022, an Oklahoma state trooper stopped his vehicle on I-44.

The trooper used a drug-sniffing dog that led them to 25 pounds, which is nearly 10 kilos, of meth.

Thats enough to supply two doses of meth to every man, woman, and child in Vernon County.

The trooper also found three firearms and more than $4,000 in cash.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com.
Never seen again: 46 years after his wife vanished, man arrested in Alabama killing

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  The prime suspect in the 1978 disappearance of a young woman from southwest Michigan is back on police radar, and the reason is chilling.

The development comes 46 years after Joyce Fisher, 28, vanished from the Sister Lakes area near the Van Buren/Cass County line.

Joyce Fisher was a devoted mom to a 1-year-old daughter and taught special education in Dowagiac schools.

Her estranged husband, long suspected in her disappearance, is 72 now and living in Tuscumbia, Alabama.

Thats where police say Jerry Wayne Fisher shot and killed his neighbor over an alleged property dispute on May 26, 2024.

According to his obituary, Jerry Fishers neighbor, 49-year-old John Kevin Farley, was a veteran of the U.S. Army National Guard and served three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, earning a Purple Heart.

Theyd been going back and forth about a property line, said Detective Jonathan Glaze of the Tuscumbia, Alabama, police department. They both filed police reports on each other. Supposedly, (Farley) went on to Mr. Fishers property, and I guess they got into an altercation, and Mr. Fisher shot him twice.

Tuscumbia police arrested Jerry Fisher in May on a manslaughter charge, but a grand jury in Colbert County, Alabama, upped the charge to murder in August.

A booking photo of Jerry Fisher.

(Fishers arrest) kind of stirred this case back up, said Van Buren County Sheriff Daniel Abbott, referring to Joyce Fishers 1978 disappearance. I can tell you from our standpoint, we would love to get some closure on (Joyces case).Hopefully, (Jerry Fishers) conscience will get the best of him and hell come clean and at least tell us what happened, where shes located. For her sake and (her) familys sake.

Abbott said his detectives are talking to Tuscumbia investigators, hoping the Alabama arrest will serve as leverage and prompt a deal-making confession.

Abbott said the spotlight may help in other ways too.

If theres a witness out there right now that could come forth to give us some closure (in Joyces case), man, I would ask that they do. Do it for Joyces sake. Its the right thing to do.

There have been tips over the years, including one that claimed Joyces body was in a lake near where Jerry had lived.

We did dive a private lake down in the Sister Lakes/Keeler area with the information. We didnt come up with anything at the time.

A DIVORCE AND A DISAPPEARANCE

In April 1978, Jerry and Joyce Fisher were in the process of divorcing, and Joyce had moved to Chicago to live with her parents along with the 1-year-old daughter she shared with Jerry.

But on April 14, Joyce traveled to her parents cottage on Cass Countys Indian Lake for a visit between Jerry and the child, according to court documents.

The next day, Joyce left her daughter in her moms care and drove to an antiques store in Sister Lakes for a brief meeting with her estranged husband.

She was meeting (Jerry) at the time in Sister Lakes regarding a car title, Abbott told News 8 in an interview Friday. They left to get the (title) notarized. He shows back up at the store 45 minutes later, and she was no longer in the car. Never seen again.

File images of Jerry and Joyce Fisher.

Joyces parents fought Jerry for custody of their grandchild and won, according to decades-old newspaper articles.

They raised Joyces daughter, whos now in her late 40s.

Joyces parents have since died.

Ten years after the disappearance, in May 1988, a Van Buren County jury found Jerry Fisher guilty of involuntary manslaughter in Joyces presumed death.

But her body had never been found, and in 1992, the Michigan Court of Appeals overturned Jerrys conviction due to lack of evidence.

Jerry Fisher was released from a Michigan prison after serving four years.

A CONVICTION OVERTURNED

We reverse the conviction because the evidence was insufficient to submit the case to the jury, and the trial court erred in denying defendants motion for a directed verdict at the close of the prosecutors case, wrote the appeals court in its decision. Due process requires that the prosecutor introduce sufficient evidence that could justify a trier of fact in concluding that defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The prosecutor in this case failed to introduce sufficient evidence to support submitting any of the homicide theories to the jury.

Read the 1992 decision from the Michigan Court of Appeals

While the appeals court acknowledged that a body was not required to prove a murder case, it also noted that it had found no reported Michigan decision involving a missing body where these was no direct admission, no physical evidence, and no witness to some part of the killing or the disposal of the body.

The case against Jerry Fisher had none of those elements, according to the appeals court.

In this case, there was no physical evidence, such as bloodstains or a weapon, linking defendant to Joyces death. He did not admit that he killed his wife.No witnesses to Joyce Fishers death have come forward, and her body has never been found.

A police officer did testify that, upon suggesting a possible sequence of events to Jerry Fisher during an interview, the suspect responded, Its not like it seems, it didnt happen that way, I didnt mean for it to happen that way.

But the appeals court said Jerrys alleged statement first appeared in a police report authored in April 1987.

None of the officers included it in their original reports.

One witness testified vaguely that a year or two after Joyces disappearance, while the defendant was drinking one evening, he said his wife was gone and nobody can find her or nobody is going to find her or something to that effect, reported the appeals court.

The justices noted that Jerry lied to his second wife about the circumstances surrounding the end of his first marriage, but not in any way that reasonably can be construed as an admission that he knew Joyce was dead.Defendant told other people in the years following her disappearance either that he was divorced or that his wife was institutionalized.

ALLEGATIONS OF BEATINGS AND THREATS

Joyce Fisher had told family and friends that Jerry beat her frequently during their two-year marriage, according to the appeals court ruling.

He allegedly threatened to do worse.

Joyce testified at a hearing in connection with the divorce that defendant had threatened to kill her in mid-January 1978, approximately three months before she disappeared, wrote the judges in their ruling.

Jerry Fisher is currently out on bond awaiting trial in the shooting death of Farley.

Hes wearing an electronic ankle monitor.

His next court hearing in Colbert County is scheduled for Sept. 3.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
EVANSVILLE, In (WEHT)  Alexis Berggren is the current Explore Evansville President and CEO.

She has held the position for the last two years, but Evansville has been far from her first stop since college.

Berggren grew up in Denver, Colorado and a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as a music major. She started her career Council Bluffs, Iowa while working in Omaha in venue management.

She held various roles in venue management across many stops including the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon, the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, California and the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana before running the convention and theater in Evansville before transitioning into the DMO world.

Whos in the news? Tangila Smith

While still in college, Berggren said she started to sour on some things in performance but really enjoyed what was happening backstage such as comradery, collaboration and what it took to put a show together.

She did explain that tourism and venue management was not quite the same as she originally predicted.

Venue management is tourism adjacent, and I thought I had seen enough having worked in so many markets that when I took over this role, I thought it would be smooth transition. The scope of what we do in tourism management is a little more high level in terms of the economic development piece. We know that venues are big economic drivers, but the people that buy and large operate those venues arent part of the economic discussion, being in tourism management, you are part of that discussion.

She also explained how big tourism can make on a community.

Our most recent study was conducted in 2022, and in Vanderburgh County alone, tourism generated $503 million worth of economic impact and supported 10,000 jobs across the region. We also alleviate tax burden on our own residents. A lot of the investments we can make in tourism dollars offsets local taxes. In 2022, we saved the local resident over $1,100 in taxes that they wouldve normally had to pay had tourism not existed.

Berggren said that $503 million dollars is part of what was brought in federally to the tune of 1.3 trillion dollars across the country, which was 5% of the economy.

Whos in the News? Chris Cooke

Berggren says people visit Evansville from these markets the most: Indianapolis, Louisville, Terre Haute, Paducah and Nashville. She also explains why people might have the incentive to visit Evansville that major metros might not have close by.

Evansville may be smaller in size, but it offers a more relaxed pace, intimate experiences and affordability that might be harder to come by in major metros. The Ohio River provides a scenic backdrop for events, riverfront activities and the growing network of parks and trails. Historic sites like the Angel Mounds or Willard Library offer intriguing insights into the past. We also offer the experience of small-town hospitality where visitors feel like part of the community whether theyre exploring downtown, attending one of our festivals or enjoying an outdoor concert at Wesselman Woods.

Evansvilles position as a regional hub means visitors can enjoy big-city amenities and unique attractions without the congestion or high prices. Its the perfect getaway for those looking to experience something different and refreshing just a short drive away.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
The National Weather Service reports no tropical cyclone activity is expected this week. However, the hurricane center has identified four tropical waves in the Atlantic Ocean that warrant monitoring as we approach the peak of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.

Forecasters note that one wave is near Senegal and Gambia, two are in the Caribbean Sea, and the fourth affects the southwest Gulf of Mexico and southern Mexico. All of these systems are moving westward across the Atlantic.

Here is what to be aware of as the hurricane season peaks.

National Hurricane Center tracking 4 tropical waves

As of 8 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said no tropical cyclone activity was expected for the next 48 hours. However, the hurricane center was monitoring three tropical waves in the Atlantic Ocean.

Tropical wave 1: A tropical wave is in the eastern Atlantic Ocean just offshore the west coast of Africa, moving west. Scattered moderate convection is noted.

Tropical wave 2: A tropical wave is in the Atlantic Ocean approaching the Lesser Antilles, moving west. No deep convection is associated with this tropical wave.

Tropical wave 3: A tropical wave is in the central Caribbean Sea southward to Panama is moving west. Scattered moderate to locally strong convection is noted off the coast of Panama and Costa Rica.

Tropical wave 4: A tropical wave has moved into the Bay of Campeche, moving west. Isolated convection is occurring in far southern portions of the Bay of Campeche.

When is the peak of hurricane season?

August is historically when tropical storm and hurricane activity in the Atlantic begins to heat up, peaking around Sept. 10.

Hurricane Ernesto struck Bermuda on Saturday, causing dangerous surf and rip currents along the East Coast. Earlier in July, Hurricane Beryl became the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record, causing "catastrophic damage" and leading to 20 deaths as it ravaged several Caribbean islands.

Hurricane storm tracker: See active storms in the Atlantic

Texas weather watches and warnings

When is hurricane season in Texas?

Hurricane season in Texas runs from June 1 to November 30, with the peak typically occurring from late August through September.

During this time, the state is most at risk for hurricanes and tropical storms, especially along the Gulf Coast.

Sign up for text alerts about severe weather

Staying informed about severe weather is crucial for your safety, and one of the most effective ways to do this is by receiving free weather alerts directly on your phone. There are several ways to get these alerts, ensuring you're always prepared for sudden changes in the weather.

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA): Most smartphones automatically receive Wireless Emergency Alerts, which are government-issued warnings for severe weather, like tornadoes, hurricanes, and flash floods. These alerts are sent based on your location, so youll get the information you need, right when you need it.

Weather Apps: Downloading a reliable weather app is another great way to get real-time updates. Apps like The Weather Channel, AccuWeather, and NOAA Weather Radar offer free alerts that can be customized to notify you of severe weather conditions, including thunderstorms, high winds, and extreme temperatures.

Emergency Alert Services: Many local governments and emergency management agencies offer free subscription services that send text alerts for weather emergencies in your area. Check with your local municipality to see if this service is available where you live.

How many hurricanes have hit your area?

How can Texans prepare for hurricane season?

It's a good idea to have a disaster kit and an evacuation plan ready, in the event that a hurricane hits your city.

Key items for a disaster kit include:

Water  one gallon per person per day

Nonperishable foods such as canned or dry items

A flashlight

A battery-powered or hand-cranked radio

Extra batteries

A first-aid kit

Prescription medications and medical items

A multipurpose tool that includes a screwdriver, a knife and pliers

Sanitation and personal hygiene items such as wet wipes

Copies of personal documents such as medication lists, medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates and insurance policies

A cellphone with chargers and/or a portable battery bank

Family and emergency contact information

Extra cash

A sleeping bag or warm blanket

Maps of your area

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: NHC tracking 4 tropical waves as peak hurricane season nears
There is not a single Azov Brigade soldier among the 115 Ukrainians released from Russian captivity on Saturday.

Source: Denys Prokopenko, Commander of the Azov Brigade, on Facebook

Quote from Denys Prokopenko: "Putin needed to reduce pressure inside Russia and save face by bringing back the conscripts captured in Kursk Oblast. Those responsible for the [prisoners of war] exchanges on the Ukrainian side had to organise a media "victory" timed to the holiday [the Independence Day  ed.], [which is typical for] the Soviet tradition.

There was no place in this formula for the captured Azov soldiers, who had been waiting for the promised exchanges for more than two years.

In spite of the fact that there is a huge demand from society in Ukraine for the return of those who did everything in Mariupol in 2022 to ensure that Ukraine continued to exist and celebrated Independence Day today  not the "day of national unity". In spite of the fact that the Russian prisoners themselves asked to be exchanged for the Azov soldiers. In spite of the fact that the Ukrainian negotiating team had enormous leverage during this exchange, speaking from a position of strength.

None of this was used. In today's [prisoners of war] exchange, there is no Azov soldier again. A precious chance and time have been lost."

Background:

On 24 August, Ukraine had liberated another 115 prisoners of war from Russian captivity.

Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War noted that all those liberated during the 55th prisoners-of-war exchange were conscripts, including those who Russia had captured in the first months of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022.

Among those released are nine illegally convicted defenders, sailors and three border guards, as well as 82 defenders of Mariupol (fifty of whom defended Azovstal).

Six of Ukraine's National Guard soldiers from the garrison guarding the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, as well as soldiers who defended Kyiv, Donetsk, Kherson and Luhansk oblasts, were also brought back home.

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NORMAN, Okla. (KFOR)  Norman Police have arrested a man accused of kidnapping and robbing a 75-year-old woman at her home on Tuesday.

Daniel Freeman. Photo courtesy Cleveland County Detention Center.

Police say 58-year-old Daniel Freeman broke into a womans home near East Robinson Street and North Porter Avenue in Norman on Tuesday and tied her to a chair.

OHP seeks public assistance in deadly hit & run

Freeman then allegedly attempted to withdraw money from the womans bank account while driving her car but was unsuccessful. He reportedly returned to her home and forced her to ride with him to the bank to withdraw funds against her will.

According to police, the woman had hired Freeman to complete several projects at her home prior to the incident.

Freeman was arrested without incident on Wednesday, and booked into the Cleveland County Detention Center on complaints of kidnapping, first degree burglary, and robbery.

We spoke with a Norman resident in the area who said she couldnt believe what happened.

Its just unfortunate that something like this were to happen, Madison Vincent said. It is very scary.

When she heard that the woman hired him to do work inside the home, she grew concerned about who you can trust.

Just because you think someone is safe doesnt mean that they actually are safe, Vincent said.

She says that was something you never had to worry about when she was growing up, right down the street from here.

I grew up always knowing that it was a safe area, Vincent said. Ive never felt uncomfortable.

But now, she says everyone needs to have their guard up because you never know what could happen.

I think homeowners in this area and just all around Norman and the state need to be aware of these situations and need to take better precautions, Vincent said.

Norman Police say the incident is still 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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
(FOX40.COM)  A 26-year-old man from Northern California was arrested on Thursday after he was identified as the arson suspect responsible for starting one of Californias largest fires in 2024.

The Thompson Fire, which burned nearly 4,000 acres in eastern Oroville, destroyed 13 single-family homes, and forced thousands of residents to evacuate for several days, was started by Spencer Grant Anderson of Oroville, Cal Fire said.

Anderson was booked into Butte County Jail on charges of arson to wildland and structures with an enhancement for destruction to five or more inhabited structures. Cal Fire adds that he is being held without bail until his arraignment on Monday, Aug. 26 at 3 p.m.

Man allegedly started a backfire to try to combat the Thompson Fire, officials say

On July 2, the Thompson Fire began near Cherokee Road in Oroville. Cal Fire suppression resources immediately responded and began battling the blaze under Red Flag weather conditions, Cal Fire recounted.

Within the first 24 hours, Cal Fire officers determined the ignition of the fire was due to an act of arson and identified a suspect, Cal Fire said, adding that officers began monitoring the suspect while they worked to finalize the details of their case.

After conducting the investigation over 50 days with the help of the Butte County District Attorneys Office, Cal Fire officers arrested Anderson in Chico without incident.

A joint press conference with Cal Fire and the Butte County District Attorneys Office is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 26 at 1:30 p.m.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
EE has become the first major telecoms firm to advise parents they should give children under 11 brick phones - Keiko Iwabuchi/Getty Images

Parents should not give primary school children smartphones, one of Britains biggest mobile networks has said.

EE has become the first major telecoms firm to advise parents they should instead give children under 11 brick phones or feature phones which would only allow them to text and call.

The company has drawn up guidance to enable parents to restrict childrens access to social media and inappropriate sites, content and platforms amid growing concerns that tech giants are failing to do enough to protect them from online harms.

Staff are being trained in the guidance, which says that if parents do decide to give smartphones to children aged up to 16, they should use parental controls to manage and restrict their access to inappropriate content online.

It comes ahead of the new school year when parents will come under pressure from their children to get a smartphone, with research showing that nearly two thirds of those aged between eight and 11 have one.

The move follows calls by bereaved families, online campaigners and MPs for a ban on the devices for children under 16. Sir Keir Starmer has rejected a ban but suggested there should be stronger controls around what content children can access on their devices.

Mat Sears, corporate affairs director for EE, said the company, which serves more than 13 million homes, said: While technology and connectivity have the power to transform lives, we recognise the growing complexity of smartphones can be challenging for parents and caregivers.

They need support, which is why we are launching new guidelines on smartphone usage for under 11s, 11- to-13-year-olds, and 13-to-16-year-olds to help them make the best choices for their children through these formative years.

Ofcom, the online safety regulator, found in April that one quarter of three- to seven-year-olds have their own smartphones, up from a fifth the previous year. The figure rose to 59 per cent of eight- to-11 year-olds and 95 per cent of 12 to 15 year-olds.

An international survey of 10,000 parents, including 2,000 in the UK, found that more than half regretted handing over a smartphone to their child. Parents felt it impeded family engagement, hindered childrens sleep, reduced their physical exercise and limited time socialising with their friends.

For children aged 11 to 13, EEs guidance advises that if a smartphone is to be used, they should have parental controls enabled. Restricted access to social media is also recommended, as is using a family-sharing app such as Google Family Link or Apple Family Sharing.

For 13- to16-year-olds, it suggests smartphones are appropriate, but that parental controls should be used to manage and restrict childrens access to inappropriate sites. Teenagers should be allowed to join social media platforms , it says, but the guidance suggests it should be linked to a parent or guardians account.

Click here to view this content.

Ofcom is introducing a draft childrens code as part of the Online Safety Act to ensure children are not exposed to harmful content. However, leading peers and campaigners have warned that its draft proposals do not go far enough and fail to enforce minimum age limits on social media sites, which are generally pitched at 13.

The regulator will have powers to fine tech firms that fail to protect children from online harms up to 10 per cent of their global turnover  equivalent to 10 billion for Meta, owner of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp  and also jail executives for up to two years for persistent breaches of the law.

It comes after calls from bereaved parents including Esther Ghey, the mother of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey, to limit social media access for under-16s.

The 16-year-old was killed last year by two teenagers, one of whom watched graphic torture videos online.

Ms Ghey said earlier this year that she would like to see devices that have simple safeguarding and parental controls, adding that Briannas own smartphone addiction had left the teenager vulnerable.

Esther Ghey, the mother of murdered 16-year-old Brianna Ghey, would like to see devices that have 'simple safeguarding and parental controls' - Paul Grover for the Telegraph

The EE guidance goes live on Sunday, on its website and in stores, with staff being trained to advise parents in stores and for online purchases.

The move was welcomed by charities including Internet Matters, whose chief executive Carolyn Bunting said EEs initiative was timely and much needed.

Our recent research showed parents want to make their own decisions about their childrens use of technology, but many would value guidance to help them in doing so, she said.

A government spokesman said: We are determined to keep children safe online, ensuring protections from the Online Safety Act are in place as soon as possible is a key part of this.

Parents know their children best, so it is also important to empower them to make the choices necessary to keep their children safe.

An EE spokesman said: We believe that now is the time to take some of the confusion out of the technology with clear guidance on age-appropriate usage.

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A conman Catholic cleric raised at least $650,000 for overseas medical clinics he claimed to operate, but in reality used the donations to his bogus charities to fuel an extravagant lifestyle that included heavenly meals, trips to the Hamptons and plastic surgery, federal authorities allege.

There was a whole lot of monk-y business going on.

A conman Catholic cleric raised at least $650,000 for overseas medical clinics he claimed to operate, but in reality used the donations to his bogus charities to fuel an extravagant lifestyle that included heavenly meals, trips to the Hamptons and plastic surgery, federal authorities allege.

Pawel Bielecki, known as Father Paul, claimed he ran medical clinics in war-torn Lebanon, but he was 5,600 miles away in Manhattan.

Pawel Bielecki, known as Father Paul, claimed he was a surgeon who ran medical clinics in war-torn Lebanon, but none of it was true and most times he was in Manhattan. FaceBook Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Doylestown, PA

The Province of St. Mary of the Capuchin Order is headquartered in White Plains. J.C. Rice

Bielecki exploited his position as a friar to gain the trust of victims across the country and steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from them, said Damian Williams, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, which collared the clergyman on Aug. 17 on charges of wire and mail fraud.

For the past eight years, the priest preyed on the compassionate, soliciting donations on local radio shows and crowdfunding websites for non-existent Lebanese hospitals and ambulances, authorities said.

The friar liar specifically exploited the horrific Aug. 4, 2020 chemical explosion in Beirut, which killed 218, to fill his coffers.

No one has yet been held accountable for the blast, where Bielecki claimed he was injured.

But prosecutors said he wasnt even there  and made several purchases at coffee shops, restaurants and other businesses in Manhattan the day of the disaster.

In fact, he did not leave the US between December 2019 and April 2022, they said.

Friar Buck would direct his marks in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Georgia and Florida to send checks to his friary with Fr. Paul Bieleckis Mission in the memo line, the feds said.

Bielecki (above) exploited his position as a friar to gain the trust of victims

across the country and steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from them,

said a US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, FaceBook St. Stanislaus Kostka

He would also sweet-talk victims into sending donations by mail to St. Francis in Beirut Inc. a non-profit Bielecki established at the Manhattan friary where he resided.

Between December 2017 and February 2024, the friar withdrew almost $50,000 in cash from his bank accounts; transferred more than $600,000 to two credit card companies to pay for personal expenses, including $334 per month for a luxe gym membership; forays to the Hamptons and numerous meals at high-end restaurants, the complaint says.

He also committed thecardinal sin of vanity by shelling out at least $15,000 on liposuction surgery, authorities said.

Bielecki emailed a Pennsylvania woman that her donation had helped pay for an ambulance overseas. In reality, Bielecki had just gone to a body contouring examination appointment at a New York-based liposuction clinic. U.S. Attorneyas Office  Southern District of New York

His lies could fill a confessional.

At different times he claimed to be a surgeon or a United Nations researcher, and the 48-year-old cleric used multiple aliases, including Dr. Phaakon Sonderburg-Glucksburg.

In September he legally changed his name to Paul HRH Saxe-Coburg-Gotha  with HRH standing for His Royal Highness, authorities said.

Bielecki used the horrific Aug. 4, 2020, Beirut explosion, which leveled much of that city, to fill his coffers. AFP via Getty Images

Hes the George Santos of the cloth, said a source familiar with the investigation.

Bielecki tugged at the heartstrings of good-willed people to get them to open up their wallets.

In 2018, he told the Salaam Club of New York and the Rotary Club of Verrazano: Doctors are being taken along the Syrian border. I was supposed to have had four physicians with me but they are in jail now, according to a story in the Brooklyn Reporter.

A Pennsylvania woman and her husband transferred $84,000 to Bieleckis bank account between June 2020 and October 2023, the feds said.

Prosecutors said the friar, who claimed he was badly injured in the blast, was never there  and made several purchases at coffee shops, restaurants and other businesses in Manhattan the day of the tragedy. AFP via Getty Images

The woman emailed Bielecki on Christmas Eve 2021, wishing him and the people of Lebanon . . . many blessings of consolation and peace during this Holy Season.

Two weeks later, Bielecki replied that he was buying a new ambulance that would allow [him] to visit villages far north and provide medical help.

The woman emailed back expressing her happiness that the many prayers for an ambulance were answered  and wired Bielecki another $10,000.

The cagey cleric followed up with her the day after Valentines Day, writing, God is great. The ambulance is OK to go . . . I already did a few villages with medical help. People were crying . . . God bless you both every day . . . every minute  Love Fr. Paul.

In reality, Bielecki had just gone to a body contouring examination at a NYC liposuction clinic, where he scheduled his $15,000 plastic surgery on March 8, the feds said.

A week after procedure, Bielecki, perhaps feeling like a million bucks, made a $1,000 cash withdrawal and went on a shopping spree at a high-end Manhattan mens clothing store, court docs show.

Are you serious? was the reaction of devastated Brooklyn

community leader Ralph Succar when told Bielecki is accused of

being a fraud. Gabriella Bass

That same day, he exchanged four emails with the Pennsylvania couple, claiming he was in Lebanon doing our best to keep surgeries running.

Those who put their faith in Bielecki were stunned when The Post informed them of his arrest.

Are you serious? said a shocked Ralph Succar, a Brooklyn community leader who helped raise thousands at a 2018 Bay Ridge fundraiser to aid Christian refugees in the Middle East. Oh my God, thats the worst news Ive heard in years.

The devastated Succar, 66, an orphan who immigrated to the U.S. from Syria when he was 10, said Bielecki was very believable.

He was a very peaceful, soft-spoken person who came with a mission that he wanted to do this for the children of the Middle East and I was basically pushing everyone to donate. And some of us, some individuals, donated $1,000 to $2,000 each.

John Abi-Habib, a member of the Salaam Club of New York and an honorary consul of Lebanon, also got scammed. No way, oh wow! he said, shocked.

Told Bielecki used the money for vanity  including a tummy tuck  he added, Thats scary man, thats not right. Anyone that tries to use good people and hardworking people. . . and then not use [the donations properly]? It hurts. It hurts a lot.

Authorities said Bielecki was living in a friary in Manhattan. Sources said the accused conman resided on Stanton Street on the Lower East Side. Google

The Polish-born Bielecki entered the order of Capuchin Franciscans in Krakow in 1994  ironically taking a vow of poverty, which required him to renounce material things and to not hold any property or bank accounts.

The order provides friars with a monthly $250 stipend, as well as a credit card, for expenses.

He was ordained a priest in 2001, church officials said.

Beginning in 2011 he became a guest of the Province of St. Mary, which covers New York and New England and is headquartered in White Plains.

After pursuing an advanced degree at NYU, he became a member of the Province in 2019.

He was living in a church rectory on Stanton Street on the Lower East Side.

Bieleckis own order blew the whistle on Friar Buck in August 2023.

Father Robert Abbatiello, provincial minister of the Province of St. Mary, said the order reported Friar Pauls suspicious behavior to the U.S. Attorneys office and is continuing to fully cooperate with them.

Until recently, there was no reason to suspect the veracity of his credentials, Abbatiello said. The province conducted a vigorous internal investigation which revealed Friar Paul was not who he represented himself to be.

The friars are offended and scandalized by Father Pauls betrayal of our trust and those of the other people he deceived, said Abbatiello.

At the moment, Bialecki remains a member of the religious order.

Father Robert Abbatiello, provincial minister of The Province of St. Mary, said the order reported Friar Pauls suspicious behavior to the U.S. Attorneys office and is continuing to fully cooperate with them. J.C. Rice

And as the case goes forward, the province is consulting with their superiors in Rome to determine the appropriate canonical course of action, a spokesperson said.

Bielecki, who is being held at a federal detention facility in Brooklyn, could not be reached.

He faces 40 years in prison on the federal charges.

Succar said the feds are the least of the finagling friars problems.

God is the ultimate judge and Im sure hell pay his dues between going to prison in this life and hell in the next life.
A New York rabbi and his wife claim they were kicked off a JetBlue flight by "antisemitic" staff following a heated exchange over switching seats due to their religious beliefs.

A New York rabbi and his wife claim they were kicked off a JetBlue flight by antisemitic staff following a heated exchange over switching seats due to their religious beliefs.

Abraham Lunger and his wife, Miriam Lunger, were bounced from the Palm Springs-to-NYC flight on New Years Eve after the rabbi informed flight crew that, as an Orthodox Jew, he cannot sit next to a woman unless she is a blood relative or his wife, the February filing states.

During the incident, a male passenger offered to resolve the beef and sit next to the rabbi.

Abraham Lunger and his wife, Miriam Lunger, were bounced from the Palm Springs-to-NYC flight on New Years Eve. Christopher Sadowski

But instead of allowing the switch, a confrontation ensued between the Lungers and the flight crew, court papers claim.

The pilot allegedly said moving to another seat was a violation that would cause a weight imbalance on the plane, and told Lunger he had to get off the aircraft, the suit charges.

Lungers wife and Brucha Ungar, who was traveling with the couple, were also told to exit the plane, the suit says.

JetBlue recently filed a motion to dismiss the Manhattan Federal Court suit.

JetBlues policy is clear: passengers may not occupy a seat other than the passengers assigned seat. Plaintiffs breached JetBlues contractual policy and were removed from the aircraft as a result. No other facts matter: Plaintiffs cannot maintain their claims  for discrimination or otherwise, according to court filings.

The Lungers attorney, Evan Brustein, rejected JetBlues call to dismiss the lawsuit. Shutterstock / WAB Studio

Civil rights attorney Ron Kuby, who is not involved in the litigation, said it was a case of tough luck and not antisemitism.

There is no constitutional right to avoid sitting next to a woman because of your religious beliefs We have all ended up in seats that we dont like on an airplane. This is not anti-semitism. This is life  the airlines industry, Kuby said.

The Lungers attorney, Evan Brustein, rejected JetBlues call to dismiss, telling The Post, the JetBlue flight attendant and pilot kicked the plaintiffs off the flight, not because of seat assignments or weight imbalance but rather antisemitism and discrimination. It also appears that instead of addressing the racism and hatred of their employees, JetBlue has doubled down on hate excusing this conduct.

Asked to weigh in on the controversy, famed attorney Alan Dershowitz, known for his work in constitutional law, opined, There may not be a legal right to compel passengers to change their seats to accommodate religious needs. But theres surely a legal right to not be taken off the plane if a passenger was willing to accommodate and the captain gave a pretextual reason for refusing to accommodate.

Said a JetBlue spokesman: JetBlue is proud to serve millions of customers each year from many different backgrounds. We do our best to accommodate our customers various requests while ensuring all customers are provided the experience they are expecting from JetBlue. Due to pending litigation, we will not be able to comment further.
A Touro University adjunct professor who was charged with sexually abusing a patient is scheduled to return to the classroom next month and, bizarrely, teach a class on ethics, The Post has learned.

An online schedule of classes listed Menachem Mendy Kiwak as the instructor of two fall courses on Professional, Legal & Ethical Issues in Counseling one online and one at an unspecified offsite location.

Its an absolute travesty, said a fellow Touro professor. I am surprised that Touro is allowing him to continue teaching given the nature of the charges.

Menachem Kiwak (center) is scheduled to teach Professional, Legal & Ethical Issues in Counseling after allegedly sexually abusing a patient. Insatgram @wearetouro

Kiwak was charged in May with sexual abuse, harassment and forcible touching.

He pleaded not guilty. He was allowed to finish out the school year, sources said.

The colleague said Touro officials have never addressed the scandal with students or faculty  and suggested that Kiwak is protected by his mother-in-law, Faye Walkenfeld, who chairs the behavioral sciences department in which Kiwak works.

I have no doubt that if his mother-in-law wasnt a big shot in the college, he would have been gone by now, said the prof, who requested anonymity out of fear of retaliation.

A few months before Kiwaks arrest, the accusers advocate informed Walkenfeld of her allegations as well as complaints by female students that he used sex slang and profanity and discussed porn in classes, and once argued there is no such thing as marital rape.

The alleged sex-abuse victim, who had no connection to Touro, first sought private counseling from Kiwak because she was the victim of sexual assault.

Menachem Kiwaks mother-in-law, Faye Walkenfeld, chairs the Behavioral Sciences department where he works. Touro University School of Health Sciences

She accuses him of coercing her into having sex with him several times.

The Post obtained a recording of Kiwak speaking with the woman and her husband.

At one point, Kiwak seemingly apologizes for the sexual contact.

Im sorry that I took advantage and that Im hurting, that Ive hurt you. I know youre angry and that youre pissed at me. But I promise you, its the worst Ive ever fallen in my life. In my life.

After The Posts inquiry to Touro on Friday morning, spokesman Jordan Isenstadt said Kiwak is not scheduled to work this semester and remains on administrative leave.

However, a check of Touros class schedule late Friday showed Kiwak still listed as the instructor of the same online course for 20 students 19 already registered  on Mondays from 5 pm to 7:40.

Asked to clarify whether Kiwak is permitted to work in the upcoming semester and teach online, Isenstadt did not respond.

I have no doubt that if his mother-in-law wasnt a big shot in the college, he would have been gone by now, one Touro professor said. Tim Wiencis

Kiwaks lawyer declined to comment.

Kiwak holds a mental health counseling license in New York and a professional counselor license as a marriage and family therapist in New Jersey.

The sexual-abuse victim filed a complaint against Kiwak with the New York State Office of Professional Discipline, which investigates complaints alleging sexual misconduct.

A finding of misconduct can result in disciplinary action, including fines, suspension or license revocation.
New York University (NYU), the site of extensive protests related to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, updated its student code of conduct to include attacks against Zionists and Zionism as a violation of its nondiscrimination policies.

NYU is fully committed to academic freedom, and free expression and dissent are bedrock principles; however, protests and demonstrations are and have long been subject to time, place, and manner rules, NYU spokesperson John Beckman wrote to The Hill. To that end, what we shared with NYU students yesterday  the Guidance and Expectations on Student Conduct  provides greater clarity about our standards, rules and policies, along the lines of what our community has requested of us.

Universities have been updating policies tied to encampments and protests on campus, but NYU is the first major university to include Zionism within its nondiscrimination policies.

Under the new policy, NYU said, using code words like Zionist does not eliminate the possibility that speech violates the universitys nondiscrimination and anti-harassment policy.

The university explains that for many Jewish people, Zionism is a part of their Jewish identity, thus making a speech against Zionism a violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and university policy on religious discrimination.

The university adds that excluding Zionists from an open event, calling for the death of Zionists, applying a no Zionist litmus test for participation in any NYU activity, using or disseminating tropes, stereotypes, and conspiracies about Zionists (e.g., Zionists control the media), demanding a person who is or is perceived to be Jewish or Israeli to state a position on Israel or Zionism, minimizing or denying the Holocaust, or invoking Holocaust imagery or symbols to harass or discriminate would implicate Title VI.

Zionism is a movement that calls for the self-determination and statehood of the Jewish people in their ancestral homeland, Israel, according to the Anti-Defamation League.

Jewish Voice for Peace, a pro-Palestine advocacy group that is anti-Zionist, believes Zionism is a movement designed to deny the rights of Palestinians and the humanity of Palestinians.

Pro-Palestine organizers on campus condemned the change, saying it was an effort to chill pro-Palestine speech on campus and a deliberate attempt to dissolve student and faculty efforts to protest a genocide.

NYU ADMINS CHOOSE GENOCIDE, the universitys Students for Justice in Palestine chapter wrote in a statement. They informed the student body that speech against Zionism may be deemed anti-semitic and a violation of civil rights law.

This conflationary logic is not simply an effort to chill pro-Palestine speech on campus, not merely revanchist pushback for the spate of encampments and other actions that NYU students organized last spring, but a deliberate attempt to dissolve student and faculty efforts to protest a genocide that is approaching the one-year mark, with a death toll rising into the six-digit range, the group continued.

Since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, universities have been hotbeds of protest related to the conflict, with pro-Palestine students and activists protesting Israels actions before and after Hamass attack. During those protests, many pro-Palestine demonstrators chanted and organized against Zionism.

In the spring, students at NYU and across the nation set up encampments protesting Israels onslaught into Gaza, which has killed 40,000 people, and call on their universities to divest from weapon manufacturing. Police arrested more than 2,000 people across the nation tied to the encampment protests.

Many of those encampments had community guidelines that explicitly banned Zionists from their space. In its community guidelines, NYUs encampment directed students to not engage with Zionists and that leads will have them removed from our space.

During the protests throughout the year, Jewish students also faced antisemitic chants and intimidation at times, and NYU settled a lawsuit with three Jewish students in July after the students filed a lawsuit in November alleging that the university had failed to protect them from harassment and antisemitism.

As part of the settlement, the university agreed to appoint a Title VI administrator to assist students facing harassment. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 defines the responsibilities of universities to protect students from identity-based discrimination.

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O.C. man took money meant for COVID gloves to buy boats and cars. Now, he's been sentenced for fraud

(U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California)

Authorities say Christopher John Badsey duped three companies out of $3 million for protective gloves that were never delivered, and used the money to buy luxury items such as boats and vehicles. (U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California)

An Orange County man was sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison Friday after admitting he duped three companies out of $3 million for protective gloves that were promised but never delivered during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to the 87-month sentence, Christopher John Badsey, 63, of Lake Forest was ordered to pay $1.94 million in restitution after pleading guilty to four counts of wire fraud.

In June and July 2020  when personal protective equipment such as masks, gloves and hand sanitizer were in short supply  Badsey claimed his Irvine-based company, First Defense International Security Services Corp., could provide millions of boxes of nitrile gloves, according to court documents.

Read more: Nonprofit and supervisor's daughter 'brazenly plundered' tax dollars, Orange County says in lawsuit

Badsey entered into contracts to sell gloves to three other companies, court documents say, and required each to deposit around $1 million before they could inspect the promised goods.

The companies wired a total of $3.2 million to accounts Badsey, his company or an unnamed co-schemer controlled, according to court documents.

However, prosecutors say Badsey didn't have the gloves, and concocted elaborate excuses whenever his clients inquired about delivery. His false stories included "absurd claims that government agents were blocking access to his warehouse, prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum.

Read more: Orange County man to plead guilty to $5-million COVID-19 relief loan scam

Meanwhile, he used the deposit money to bankroll expensive purchases, authorities say, including a yacht, a pontoon boat, two Mercedes-Benz automobiles, two Ford pickup trucks, a recreation vehicle, a tractor, three ATVs and fishing equipment.

He has forfeited all titles from items purchased with the pilfered funds, along with $58,923 in cash.

Court documents show that Badsey  who previously pleaded guilty to three gun misdemeanors, including gross negligent discharge of a firearm, in November 2016  had initially argued for a much leaner sentence: one year and one day, a three-year term of supervised release and a special assessment of $400.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
MARION COUNTY, Ark.  A man from Oakland, Arkansas, has been charged with two felonies in the shooting of his sister, 27-year-old Haisley Mack, in October 2023.

24-year-old Zerahiah Harris was charged with manslaughter and second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor, according to the Marion County Sheriff.

On October 29, 2023, a Marion County investigator received a report of a shooting at the 1000 block of Marion County Road 124.

On October 31, the investigator interviewed Harris about the incident. In the interview, Harris broke down crying, saying he was drunk and believed the gun was unloaded at the time.

Des Moines man arrested for the death of his father in Springfield

According to court records, Harris, Mack and others were playing around trying to scare each other earlier that night. While trying to scare Mack as she was walking down the hall, Harris came around the corner, pointed a firearm at her and pulled the trigger. The firearm discharged and hit Mack, killing her.

Court documents say Macks three-year-old daughter was also in the room during the incident.

On Friday, August 23, 2024, Harris was booked into the Marion County Detention Center. He later posted a $25,000 and was released.

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CORCORAN, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  Over a dozen home buyers in the Kings County city of Corcoran say they have been unable to move into their new houses due to PG&Es inability to provide the new builds with power.

Since 2021, realtor Reina Madrid says PG&E has worked with developer D.R. Horton to build and power the homes on the Fox Run development in Corcoran. Madrid says in August 2023, families had rental contracts in their hands and were ready to move in  but that excitement was swept out from underneath them after PG&E kept delaying the process to power to the development.

How am I supposed to make it?: Homeless moved from Fresno County encampment

It was first like, February, March, April, May, June, July, Madrid said. Now theres not a specific timeframe on when they should be getting keys.

Madrid says between 17 and 25 families were in rental agreements out of the 48 lots on the Fox Run development. Two families that she knows of had to sell their homes, and another family had their rent raised after leaving their annual lease agreement for a month-to-month arrangement  all while waiting for their homes to be ready.

According to a letter from D.R. Horton Division President David Hatch to homebuyers, D.R. Horton paid PG&E $98,219.68 on June 29, 2023, to start doing their part to provide power.

We completed our installation, it was inspected and signed off by PG&E as being installed according to the plans they approved, the letter reads.

According to the letter on December 8, 2023, PG&E cleared Fox Run for construction, meaning PG&E crews were approved to pull wire through the conduit Horton had installed.

Thats when the first delays took place, according to the letter, while PG&E went through their internal bidding process until January 9, 2024. D.R. Horton was then under the impression that the PG&E construction would take place from March 2024 to April 2024.

However, PG&E also told Horton in February 2024 that easements from neighboring landowners were required to access existing utility poles and conductors to provide power to the development  easements that PG&E had failed to acquire earlier.

Based on PG&Es initial statement that construction would take place from March to April, Horton decided to give homebuyers the initial move-in date of May 2024, according to homebuyer Mario Carvajal. Carvajal says thats when the delays started.

They said that they were going to push it back again to July, August, Carvajal said. Then again, we heard mid-July. Now that weve had a couple of city council meetings and now we have no date whatsoever.

Carvajal and his wife were looking forward to becoming first-time homeowners. Due to PG&Es inability to provide power, they have had to switch to a month-to-month agreement with their current landlord while waiting for the work to be completed.

Carvajal says PG&E is not treating Corcoran as a priority because it is a small community.

One of the representatives told me that this is not the first time dealing with PG&E in small communities, Carvajal said. Theres people unfortunately have been kicked out, sold their homes. Now they have to rent after being homeowners, now they have to rent waiting for a company that obviously doesnt care what happens to the community.

In a statement to YourCentralValley.com, PG&E says it has been collaborating closely with D.R. Horton and its designer since May 2021 to explore multiple solutions to provide electricity to Fox Run.

Currently, the homebuilder and its designer are preparing a new redesign for utility service to the subdivision. As part of its collaboration with D.R. Horton, PG&E shared information about potential service to the Fox Run site extensively with the homebuilder beginning in July 2021 and going forward during numerous discussions about various requirements that affect project status and timing. PG&E repeatedly made D.R. Horton aware of these requirements and status so that the company could keep its customers informed of the project timeline. As it has from Day One, PG&E will continue to collaborate with D.R. Horton to discuss plans for energizing Fox Run safely and reliably. We also continue to keep our stakeholders in the City of Corcoran informed. Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)

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MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11)  An off-duty NYPD detective was arrested in Manhattan Friday night, police said.

Christina McKeever, 30, was charged with driving while intoxicated, driving while ability impaired  alcohol, and refusal to take a breath test, according to the NYPD.

More Local News

McKeever was arrested in the 1st precinct in Lower Manhattan, police said.

McKeever is currently suspended without pay, police said.

Finn Hoogensen is a digital journalist who has covered local news for more than five years. He has been with PIX11 News since 2022. See more of his work here.

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Utah could be getting two new cities.

The proposal to incorporate the Ogden Valley in Weber County, a focus of debate since 2022, will be put to voters in a referendum on the Nov. 5 ballot, when the simmering issue could be decided once and for all.

I was not surprised, said Nick Dahlkamp, a leader of the effort, noting the relatively short period it took boosters to collect the required signatures on petitions calling for the ballot question.

At the same time, residents in the small Utah County community of Spring Lake between Payson and Santaquin will also be voting on whether to become a city. As in the Ogden Valley, development pressures, increasing growth and a desire to have more say in how expansion unfolds figured in the push to incorporate. "(We'd) like to have more direct involvement in that process," said Jason Knapp, who's helping lead the Spring Lake effort.

The Ogden Valley incorporation boosters received word earlier this week from the Utah Lieutenant Governor's Office, which processes incorporation requests, that they had gathered enough signatures on petitions to get the incorporation question on the ballot. The contingent pursuing incorporation received permission in early June to start the petition process and submitted signatures to the state about a month later, on July 3.

The Ogden Valley is facing growth pressure with more and more development, and incorporation boosters believe becoming a city with a mayor and city council will give locals more direct say in how growth proceeds. As is, the three Weber County commissioners are the elected officials who oversee the zone, along with the rest of the county's unincorporated expanses.

Residents in Spring Lake, a proposed new Utah County city shown in green in the map, will vote on a ballot question in elections culminating Nov. 5, on whether to incorporate the area. | Utah Lieutenant Governor's Office

The proposed new Weber County city is focused east of Ogden across the Wasatch Front range in an increasingly growing area where Pineview Reservoir and three ski resorts are located. It encompasses the Eden, Liberty and Wolf Creek areas as well as the main lodge of Nordic Valley ski resort and the area of a proposed Nordic Valley ski village. It's home to an estimated 7,583 residents as of 2023 and extends across 63.3 square miles, which would make it more than two times larger, geographically, than Ogden, which covers 27.5 square miles, according to a report on the incorporation plans contracted by the state.

Powder Mountain and Snowbasin, Weber County's other two ski resorts, don't sit within the proposed city's confines.

A group has emerged in opposition to incorporation, Keep Our Valley Free, but representatives from the group didn't immediately respond to a query seeking comment. Their website, though, delves into some of the issues and concerns of the incorporation skeptics, including taxes.

"For residents concerned about their financial well-being, the decision to stay unincorporated or pursue incorporation is laden with financial considerations. The lower city tax rates in unincorporated areas serve as a financial advantage for citizens," their website reads.

Moreover, as a city, leaders of the locale could face pressure to lure in more businesses to expand the tax base to keep pace with city expenses, the Keep Our Valley Free website warns. "Opting to remain unincorporated frees us from the potential drawbacks of excessive business proliferation," it reads.

The study the state commissioned, standard when incorporation proposals emerge, indicates that the locale, if created, would have a sufficient tax base to cover city expenses. However, a parallel study paid for by Keep Our Valley Free and conducted by the Utah Foundation warned that stagnant or lower-than-expected population growth could be problematic. "Without ongoing growth, this newly incorporated city would be at risk of not meeting its costs and as a result would need to cut back on services, raise taxes or increase fees," it reads.

Dahlkamp foresees pop-up events and additional informational meetings on the proposal heading to Nov. 5 and expressed optimism that incorporation proponents will prevail, notwithstanding the opposition. "I think we're in pretty good shape," he said.

'A lot of support'

Knapp said Spring Lake residents have debated incorporation on and off over the decades, but this November's vote is the first time the issue will be taken up at the ballot box. Incorporation boosters' goal, he said, is to maintain local control as growth creeps further south in Utah County.

"I think there's a lot of support for the incorporation of Spring Lake," he said. The community, characterized by homes and farmland, covers only about 2 square miles and is home to around 600 people.

The study commissioned by the state for the Spring Lake proposal also finds the locale would have the required annual budget surplus if it became a city. Boosters submitted signed petitions last May to get the incorporation question on the ballot and the Utah Lieutenant Governors Office on July 15 determined they had met the requirements.
Ohio man sentenced with more than 13 years in prison for sex trafficking teenage girl

An Ohio man was sentenced to more than 13 years in prison for sex trafficking a teenage girl.

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News Center 7 previously reported that 26-year-old Payton Jamar Brown of Cincinnati was charged in March 2023 with sex trafficking and exploiting a missing teenage girl.

He pleaded guilty in October 2023. On Aug. 20, 2024, he was sentenced to 162 months, or just over 13 years in prison.

Brown was also ordered to pay nearly $58,000 in restitution to the minor victim and forfeit his home in Cincinnati.

The proceeds of the sale of his forfeited home will be paid to his victim as restitution, according to a release from the United States Attorney Office, Southern District of Ohio.

From June until October 2022 and again in February 2023, Brown sex trafficked the teenage girl, according to court documents.

Brown met the girl online and began a relationship with her. The victim moved in with Brown, who would create prostitution of her.

He would transport the victim to hotels for prostitution dates that he arranged and would collect the proceeds from her. He scheduled at least 40 dates in this timeframe.

In October 2022, Colerain police officers responded to Browns residence and recovered the girl, taking her to a juvenile facility in another state.

In February 2023, the girl escaped custody and messaged Brown to pick her up. He drove interstate to pick up the victim and her friend and took them to his home.

Brown once again created prostitution advertisements of the victim and scheduled dates with other men for money.

He also regularly had sex with the minor and recorded the acts with a cell phone. He would sell the photos and videos to others online.

Brown was arrested by the FBI in February of 2023.

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OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KFOR)  The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is seeking public help on information concerning a hit and run fatality on Thursday, August 22.

OHP Facebook page says, the auto/pedestrian fatality crash happened sometime between 2:00 a.m. and 4:20 a.m. on US-377, 7 miles north of Tishomingo. Authorities confirm, 46-year-old Carla Johnson was walking southbound along the highway when an unknown vehicle also traveling southbound struck and killed her, and then left the scene.

Police continue to look for clues stating, the only information currently of the scene is a tire imprint which appears to be a 32-inch tire, possibly from a raised pickup truck with a ranch guard push bar on the front.

Anyone with any information about this incident is asked to call Troop F headquarters at 580-223-8800.

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Oklahoma man federally indicted for allegedly setting fire to apartment complex he was evicted from

Oklahoma man federally indicted for allegedly setting fire to apartment complex he was evicted from

Roger Lee Woolman

VINITA, Okla.  A federal grand jury issues an indictment against a Vinita man for allegedly setting fire to an apartment complex last month.

Authorities arrested Roger Woolman, 68, on July 26 not far from the Burroughs Manor Senior Housing Complex in Vinita (below). Hes charged with one count of arson in Indian Country.

Police said when they found Woolman, he was holding two knives and threatening to kill himself. They say he was upset about getting evicted from his apartment, and that security footage shows smoke billowing from Woolmans apartment just before he walks out the door.

Court records show 45 of the 50 apartments were occupied at the time of the fire. Everyone made it out alive, but a few residents and firefighters were treated for smoke inhalation.

A trial date has not yet been set. Woolman remains in federal custody.

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One dead, two injured in shooting near Midtown in Kansas City

KANSAS CITY, Mo.  The Kansas City Police Department is investigating after a man was killed and two others injured in a shooting early Saturday morning.

According to KCPD, just before 3:30 a.m., officers were dispatched to the area of West 39th and Central Street in Kansas City, Missouri.

Two people found dead after home explosion in Clay County

Upon arrival, police said they found a man, 34-year-old Chester Brown, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. EMS later pronounced him dead at the scene.

Officers found two other victims, a man and a woman, also suffering from gunshot wounds. Both were taken to a hospital where their injuries were confirmed to be non-life-threatening.

Doctors say not to panic as KCK patients are treated for tuberculosis

A nearby business owner told FOX4 that people had gathered outside before the shooting.

People parked their cars on the pathway outside of my door, and they were dancing for like 2 hours, said Midtown business owner Ilyas Ahmed Mohammad.

Its traumatizing. I dont know what I can do. All I can do is shut my business. Thats all I can think of right now.

KCPD said that as the group stood outside the business, shots rang out.

I started hearing the shots, so there was a guy standing there, and someone across the street stopped and started shooting, and then the cops came we gave them all of our recordings. We were here until 10 am this morning, Ilyas Ahmed Mohammad explained.

He says a couple of hours later, his business was broken into.

I just went home and slept for two or three hours, and then someone broke into my window, my front door and stole all of my money and all of my important assets,  Ahmed Mohammad said.

Back in June, one person was killed and another injured when shots were fired in the parking lot of a nearby pharmacy chain.

If you or anyone you know has information regarding the deadly shooting, KCPD asks that you contact homicide detectives directly at (816) 234-5043 or the TIPS Hotlines at (816) 474-8477.

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A person has died after a crash at the intersection of Taylor Avenue and Highway 61 in Muscatine County Friday night, a report says.

One vehicle was traveling southbound on Taylor Avenue when it failed to stop at the stop sign before entering highway 61. A second vehicle was traveling southbound on Highway 61 and was unable to avoid collision with the first vehicle.

One person died, another was transported to Trinity Hospital and a third was airlifted to the University of Iowa.

All names have been withheld pending notification of the families.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Portland is just one site away from restoring light at city parks, approximately three months after parks leaders announced the project was nearly complete.

According to Portland Parks and Recreation spokesperson Mark Ross, Pittock Acres Park is the final site that needs to be addressed in the citys Light Pole Safety Project. Crews plan to replace three lights and install three more.

Portland record stores will host official Sabrina Carpenter listening parties

Officials dont have an official completion date for the project, as staff is still awaiting materials for the final site  but they could arrive this week.

In early 2023, PP&R started removing more than 200 light poles that had been identified as having structural anchoring issues which could pose life and safety hazards to the public. A local caretaker sued the city and a hammock company over the issue this year, alleging that she and a young boy were injured by a light pole at Irving Park in 2022.

But after crews began the removal project, residents quickly expressed safety concerns over the lack of light in local parks. In response, Portland Commissioner Dan Ryan issued an emergency ordinance that allowed the parks department to buy the needed replacements.

Overall, the project is estimated to cost $15 million. A portion of the funding covers new LED lights, which officials reported are 66% more efficient than the pre-existing ones. They also last longer.

Man faces charges for allegedly stabbing Oregon Lottery winner

The fixtures will be Dark Sky-friendly and will be fully shielded to prevent skyward spill, PP&R said. They will be directed at park pathways with less light pointed at neighboring homes. The new light poles and fixtures were selected to replicate the previous ones as closely as possible, and the lights will be automatically programmed to remain on from dusk to dawn.

With 88 and 65 new lights respectively, Mt. Tabor Park and Irving Park have led as the sites with the most replacements.

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Ukraine's operation in Russia's Kursk Oblast has helped prevent the occupation of Sumy Oblast and its regional center, the city of Sumy, President Volodymyr Zelensky said at a press conference on Aug. 24.

Ukraine started its incursion into Russia's Kursk Oblast on Aug. 6. As of Aug. 20, the Ukrainian military said it controlled 1,263 square kilometers (488 square miles) and 93 settlements, including the town of Sudzha.

Kursk Oblast borders Ukraine's northeastern Sumy Oblast, an area subjected to daily Russian attacks since parts of it were liberated in April 2022.

Zelensky positively assessed the operation's progress in Kursk Oblast, adding: "The operation is complex, it is important that it is going according to our plan."

The president said that he could not disclose all the goals and results of the operation, but one of them was to replenish stocks of Russiam prisoners of war who can be exchanged for Ukrainian POWs in Russia.

"The exchange fund is being replenished, which is positive," Zelensky said.

"Secondly, we have stopped a Russian operation in the north (of Ukraine), (we have done) a preventive strike, and we have accomplished this task. We have prevented the encirclement of part of Sumy Oblast," he added.

Read also: Morning in Sudzha: Inside Ukrainian-occupied Russia as Kursk operation continues

Zelensky expressed hope that all the operation's goals in the Kursk Oblast would be achieved. The president added that one of them was to show "who Russian President Vladimir Putin really was."

"(Our goal is) to show their (Russia's) society what is more precious to him (Putin): the occupation of Ukraine's territory or the protection of Russian population. And I am very pleased that everything I told our partners about has now been demonstrated in practice," Zelensky said.

"He (Putin) is still thinking about how to keep the occupied territories and does not think about how to protect his people. He is now bombing his villages. His people there are shocked that they believed in this demon."

On Aug. 21, Ukraine's General Staff said that Russian aircraft dropped 27 guided aerial bombs on Ukrainian-controlled settlements in Kursk Oblast.

Russia has also continued to shell border communities in Ukraine's Sumy Oblast, including the villages of Porozok and Poznia. Ukrainian authorities are planning to evacuate a total of 45,000 residents from the region amid intensified Russian attacks.

Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said on Aug. 14 that Ukraines military is creating a "security zone" on Russian territory to protect Ukrainian border areas.

Vereshchuk said that Ukraine would be conducting humanitarian operations in the area, including creating safe corridors for civilians to evacuate  both toward Ukraine and to other parts of Russia.

Read also: Ukraines buffer zone in Kursk Oblast  heres what you need to know

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Opinion: This is Biden's chance to end the war in Gaza. Just threaten to cut off weapons for Israel

President Biden has said that Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, may want to keep the Gaza war going to remain in power. U.S. pressure could force Netanyahu's hand. (Michel Euler / Associated Press)

Throughout his nearly four years in office, President Biden regularly consulted historians to measure his accomplishments against history, and did so again before stepping out of the presidential race. History will recognize among his many achievements his sweeping economic vision and legislative expertise, which quickly moved the country out of a pandemic recession, reduced wage inequality and created the longest period of full employment in more than 50 years.

Biden also brought about the most significant pro-worker policies in decades . He revitalized agencies that have aggressively moved to clean our air and water of deadly contaminants like toxic forever chemicals . And with the narrowest margins in Congress, he secured the votes to enact the first major law to combat climate change in U.S. history, which has created 330,000 good, safe clean-energy jobs so far.

Read more: Opinion: How will Harris answer the Palestinian question?

Although Biden seems keenly attuned to his legacy, his foreign policy  like that of Lyndon B. Johnson before him  could forever haunt his record in history books and stain his standing among generations of Americans. Like Americas wars in Indochina, the bloody, nearly yearlong assault on Gaza has unleashed a level of carnage that has horrified the world . It has stoked resistance and division in America. And, like the wars of 50 years ago, its contributed to a one-term Democratic president who has, to date, been ineffectual at halting spiraling violence and brutality abroad.

With at least 40,000 Gazans killed by Israels offensive so far, seemingly constant reports of fresh bombardments of civilians with U.S. arms have made a mockery of the administrations claims of concern for human rights. Preventable diseases such as polio as well as famine now threaten the blockaded enclave. Two million people remain trapped and denied adequate food and medical attention.

Read more: Opinion: I'm an American doctor who went to Gaza. What I saw wasn't war  it was annihilation

Israels provocative measures abroad  like its assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, with whom it was negotiating an end to hostilities and return of Israeli hostages  seem intended to sabotage cease-fire talks and draw the United States into a larger regional conflict. Such a war could be fought for years, with untold further civilian casualties.

Its no wonder that Republicans seem to delight in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus lawlessness and aggression, as they criticize Biden for supposedly not backing Israel more firmly. They cynically believe that the nonstop devastation of Gaza will discourage some Democratic voters from supporting Vice President Kamala Harris in an election that could once again be determined by a margin of just tens of thousands of votes. Republicans might also hope to benefit politically from a regional war before the presidential election, if it contributed to a jump in oil prices and U.S. involvement in an unpopular conflict.

Read more: Opinion: After the war in Gaza, America's relationship with Israel has to change. Here's how

And Republicans recognize that largely unconditional military support emboldens Netanyahu to exacerbate the suffering in Gaza, continue to strike neighboring countries and yet again reject the U.S. framework for a permanent cease-fire.

But its not too late for Biden, in the final months of his term, to act boldly. Freed from some political considerations because he is not running for reelection, he could use the necessary political capital to finally pressure Netanyahu into accepting a permanent cease-fire deal. If Biden acts swiftly and decisively, he could preserve his legacy as a statesman by ending the months of cruelty in Gaza, calming regional tensions and protecting the possibility of a two-state solution.

He would also, incidentally, position Harris to win the November election. A majority of U.S. voters support conditioning military aid on Israel accepting a cease-fire deal, and swing-state voters say they would be more likely to support Harris if a permanent cease-fire were achieved. With an election that could easily be determined by a razor-thin margin, regaining Democratic voters disaffected by Gaza policy could prove decisive to Harris victory. By resolving this major and ongoing political liability, Biden would also make room for Harris to credibly defend and expand on his domestic achievements in 2025.

Biden himself suggested Netanyahu is avoiding a permanent cease-fire for his own political self-preservation. That means only U.S. leverage can compel a just outcome for Gaza and the families of Israeli hostages. As Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant admitted in October, We are not in a place where we can refuse American demands. We rely on them for planes and military equipment. What are we supposed to do? Tell them no?

All Biden has to do is enforce  or simply threaten to enforce  existing U.S. law. As 88 House Democrats noted in May , Section 620I of the Foreign Assistance Act prohibits security assistance or arms sales to any country that restricts U.S. humanitarian assistance. Section 502B of the same law prohibits security aid to any government engaged in a consistent pattern of gross human rights violations. And weapons restrictions in Bidens own national security memoranda and conventional arms transfer policy provide additional tools of leverage needed to secure a permanent cease-fire. Biden already has the authority to condition or cut off offensive military aid to Israel  if Netanyahu refuses to accept a permanent cease-fire.

Biden can draw on his own experience staring down Netanyahu in 2021. After many phone calls over Israels prior assault on Gaza, Biden simply said: Hey, man, were out of runway here. Its over. Author Franklin Foer noted : And then, like that, it was. By the time the call ended, Netanyahu reluctantly agreed to a cease-fire that the Egyptians would broker.

Biden should draw on history to avoid the pitfalls of the past: Antiwar protests occurred throughout this years Democratic National Convention in Chicago, an echo of opposition to the Vietnam War in 1968. A Republican presidential nominee who, like Richard Nixon, disdains the rule of law hopes to take power. By acting now, Biden can end a humanitarian disaster, prevent a return of the authoritarian far right in the U.S. and ensure his righteous legacy in history.

Mark Ruffalo is an actor and advocate for social justice.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The second week of Easter Lent is underway. During this period, believers give up animal products. But if you really want some delicious dessert, you can easily make it without using eggs and milk. And apples are perfect for the filling.

ADVERTISIMENT

The idea of making homemade lean cinnamon and apple cookies was published on the Instagram page of food blogger Kateryna Kudliak(recepty_przepisy).

Ingredients for the dough:

300 g flour

70 g of corn starch

100 g of water

100 g of oil

90 g of sugar

1.5 tsp of vanilla sugar

a pinch of salt

jelly (for lubrication):

50 ml of water

1 tsp of cornstarch

1 tsp of sugar

Ingredients for the filling:

10 medium sweet and sour apples

2-3 tsp. lemon juice

Additional ingredients:

cinnamon

sugar

Method of preparation:

ADVERTISIMENT

1. In a bowl, combine water, sugar, vanilla sugar, salt, stir with a whisk until sugar and salt are dissolved, pour in oil, and stir.

2. Separately, combine the flour and starch, mix, pour in the liquid and knead the dough that does not stick to your hands, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30-40 minutes.

3. Jelly: combine water, starch, sugar in a saucepan, mix, stirring, brew until thick, cool to room temperature.

4. Peel the apples, cut them into slices, sprinkle with lemon juice, and combine the sugar and cinnamon separately.

ADVERTISIMENT

5. Roll out the dough to about 1.5-2 mm, cut out circles 7.5 cm in diameter. Put an apple slice on one part of the circle and cover with the other.

6. Brush with jelly and roll in cinnamon sugar.

7. Transfer to a baking sheet covered with parchment. Bake at 200 degrees for 25 minutes until golden brown.
In a recent statement, Sutherland Institute called for legislative action in a special session, preparatory to a constitutional amendment on the ballot in November. The catalyst is the peril created by the recent Utah Supreme Court ruling stating that when citizens pass initiatives, those initiatives are protected from unfettered legislative amendment, repeal or replacement.

In an election year, any hint of action designed to protect the Legislature can quickly devolve into partisan reactions. To be clear, this call for constitutional action is not based on any single ballot initiative. Rather, it is because  in a nation founded on an expressed desire to accommodate both the will of the majority and the rights of the minority  we should always seek the highest possible level of consensus when it comes to the rules under which we make rules. That level of consensus is not a feature of the ballot initiative process.

According to many advocates, the increase in ballot initiatives over the last five years is a result of increasing frustration with the effectiveness of state and federal legislative bodies, and an eroding trust in elected officials generally. Arguably, initiatives are a safety net against a legislature unresponsive to the will of the people.

That point about trust is important  but granting status to laws enacted by initiative such that they are immune from unfettered legislative amendment, repeal or replacement is not the correct solution to the erosion of trust.

The process of refining and reforming law  and sometimes changing it wholesale  is not a flaw within our form of government; it is an indispensable feature. It was designed to protect the rights of the majority and the minority  a balance that James Madison addressed. The tyranny of the majority is an inherent weakness to majority rule in which the majority of an electorate pursues exclusively its own objectives at the expense of those of the minority factions.

In practical terms, the debate between opposing views is fundamental to the deliberative lawmaking process that occurs in the Utah Legislature, wherein a threshold of consensus must be achieved to pass a law, often requiring amendment and compromise to the original proposed law. Under the initiative process, there is no practical equivalent, and so disagreements  as well as details of budget and compliance  are never fully addressed. To remove the ability of the Legislature to reconcile and refine such omissions does not serve the interest of the people.

An Oregon news story by Christina Williams offers experienced insights from a state that has heavily adopted the initiative process. Initiatives passed since 1990 have negatively impacted the state budget, to the detriment  of public schools and public safety, she writes. At their best, ballot initiatives are an effective form of direct democracy, giving voice and real power to voters. At their worst they are co-opted by deep-pocketed sloganeers eager to push a national agenda (in reference to out-of-state money) and adept at using the voters distrust of local politicians to their advantage.

Kelsey Piper of Vox adds, A system that funnels lots of issues, both big and small, directly to the voters leads to bad policy judgments, because under-informed voters dont have time to research and form opinions on all the issues. It leads to a handicapped legislature that cant do its job, because large sections of state law are untouchable.

The reality is many of the process-driven checks and balances within the legislative process are missing from the ballot initiative process. Despite Utah Code requirements, initiatives typically bypass important debates that regularly occur in the Legislature. As an example, recall Prop 3, which proposed expanding Medicaid eligibility and implementing a 0.15% nonfood sales tax that would have been inadequate to cover initial costs  and the future increase of expenses was virtually uncapped.

We should not do away with the important tool that is the ballot initiative. However, we also should not cloud the ability and clearly enumerated constitutional authority of an elected legislature to refine and amend. The initiative process should be available, but it should recognize the essential balance between majoritarian democracy and sufficient consensus and consistency under state law. Applicable guidelines should be clear and reside at the state constitution level rather than being decided by judicial opinions. And we should not allow debate over such a beneficial protective structure to rest on any single partisan issue.

The voice of the people should be heard  both in elections and, at times, even distinct from Utahs elected Legislature on matters of substance when following the right process. But that voice cannot supersede the necessary stability of balanced budgets, prioritized services and programs and compliance with existing commitments and laws. That is why Sutherland issued the call for a state constitutional amendment.

The people of Utah should have the opportunity to vote on a constitutional amendment this fall that would clarify the legislative powers vested in the people as well as their elected representatives in a way that remains true to a representative partnership built on trust. The principles and structures of Utahs  and Americas  system of government demand no less.

Rick B. Larsen is the president of Sutherland Institute, a nonprofit public policy think tank that advocates for faith, family and freedom. Scott Anderson is a Utah native and resident of Salt Lake City.
Before the Democratic National Convention kicked off, a big question on my mind was, How is the party going to address the crisis in the Gaza Strip? We now have an answer: by sweeping it under the rug.

Over the course of four days of lively speeches  infused with an extra excitement around Vice President Kamala Harris emergence as the unexpected party nominee  the Biden administrations backing of Israels barbarous military operation in the Gaza Strip rarely came up. It reflects a gamble by the Democratic Party that it can win the election by snubbing the movement objecting to it, by pretending that the U.S. is not supplying munitions used in atrocities.

Despite a constant refrain about standing up for the little guy, calls for the protection of Palestinian civilians were all but absent. Despite all the rhetoric about a big tent, speakers and programming ignored the thousands of protesters outside the convention calling for a change in U.S. foreign policy toward Gaza. Despite all the calls for inclusivity and the showcasing of several Republican speakers, Democratic officials rejected a request from the Uncommitted movement to allow a Palestinian American to speak from the main stage.

Georgia state Rep. Ruwa Romman, a Palestinian American and one of the Democrats backed by the Uncommitted movement as a potential speaker, shared the speech she wanted to deliver with Mother Jones. That speech, which the Uncommitted movement said it was open to having vetted and edited, was a far cry from a radical text. In keeping with the overall party position, it called for a cease-fire and for Democrats to mobilize for Harris  and singled out Trump as bad for Palestinians. But it would have drawn more attention to the Palestinian civilians who are being killed en masse in Gaza, and it hinted at the possibility of policy change.

Police stand across from demonstrators near the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Aug. 21 as they protest the war in Gaza.

The DNC gave a substantial speaking slot to the parents of an Israeli American man who was tragically abducted on Oct. 7 during Hamas vicious attacks on Israel. The speakers framed their plea for a cease-fire and the release of Hamas hostages as an apolitical, humanitarian demand. If the DNC had wanted to give an equivalent speaker a platform to discuss the experience of Americans with Palestinian relatives suffering or killed in Gaza, that wouldve been easy.

But in reality none of these speeches are truly apolitical  as evidenced by the DNCs decision to allow a family tied to only one side of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to speak. From that choice, its hard to conclude anything other than that in the Democratic establishments eyes, Israeli lives matter more than Palestinian lives. However, I believe that even a purely apolitical speech by a Palestinian American calling attention to the horrors that abound in Gaza would have had its own issues. Whats happening in region is in fact not some kind of natural disaster: Human rights observers and scholars of genocide  a number of them Israeli  have characterized Israels ongoing conduct in Gaza as perpetrating genocide. Whats needed is not thoughts and prayers and vague acknowledgements of suffering. Whats needed are policy changes, with the U.S. ending its exceptional and effectively unconditional financial, military and diplomatic support for Israel.

The handful of times that DNC speakers mentioned the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the situation in Gaza was mentioned only briefly, if at all. President Joe Biden and Harris both called for a cease-fire and acknowledged that people in Gaza are suffering. (Some pundits thought Harris used new language suggesting she may stand to the left of Biden on the issue. Those pundits are wrong.) But the Biden administrations ongoing reliance on were working on a cease-fire rhetoric appears to be sly positioning. It allows Biden and Harris to sound sympathetic to the pro-Palestinian left. But, crucially, the language makes no commitment to change or condition a single element of the U.S. relationship toward Israel. For example, the United States best leverage to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu  who has dragged his feet in the negotiation process  on a cease-fire that actually respects Palestinian autonomy is to credibly threaten to cut off the unending supply of military and financial resources.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs speech offered perhaps the most striking indication of the partys position on Gaza. As I wrote earlier this week, the congresswoman from New York called for a cease-fire but omitted any mention of the people in Gaza or a need for policy change. As one of the most influential progressives in Congress, her speech suggested that even the left wing of the party has abdicated its commitment to fighting injustice abroad for the sake of message discipline.

On an electoral level, addressing Gaza is difficult for the Democratic Party. Its a genuine wedge issue, with younger and more progressive Democrats critical of Democratic policy and older, more conservative Democrats unmoved by or supportive of whats happening. A move in any direction invariably infuriates different constituencies within the party. But ultimately the Democrats may be banking on the theory that deflecting from the issue is the least costly approach since it isnt a top-tier issue for most young voters. Moreover, Harris surprise nomination may very well have slowed down the momentum the pro-Palestinian movement had built around pressuring Biden. Protests at the DNC, while sizable, were smaller than expected. And it is conceivable that disenchanted Arab American voters in Michigan could be less averse to Harris, who has used ambiguous, noncommittal language to her advantage.

But Democrats position, as manifested in their convention, is still a costly one. By shunning promises of change, they increase the odds that the policy status quo will prevail, since politicians tend to try to fulfill pledges and view breaking them as damaging. It is a moral stain on the party, and it helps to further normalize a racialized tolerance for killing innocents (something that America tried to reckon with in 2020 but failed to deliver on). How can Democrats consider themselves progressive while backing a regime with such blatant disregard for human life? It is also perilous for U.S. strategic interests for it to blindly support Israels military operations. The military operation in Gaza is increasing the likelihood of regional war in a region of acute geopolitical importance. And the U.S. erodes its soft power and ability to build alliances against adversaries like Russia when the world can see the U.S. has no consistent values when it comes to standing against domination.

The partys choices this week indicate that it is willing to continue to accept what should be unacceptable. It is betting the way to keep its coalition together is to avoid the issue, to keep the status quo intact and, when discussing the issue, to sometimes engage in a brief pantomime of concern for civilian life. Gaza is going the way of the liberal land acknowledgement  ritualistic virtue-signaling atop a kind of resignation toward the annihilation of a civilization.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Everything in Ukraine is about pain, tears, serfdom, and wars. Of course, children dont want to read such literature. I still remember this conversation from back in school when the math teacher was trying to explain to the literature teacher why her class wasnt preparing for their lessons.

But thats how it really was throughout Ukraines history, the surprised literature teacher replied.

If it was like that, then its no wonder they dont want to read. I myself couldnt handle so much negativity. In foreign literature, there are adventures: Mowgli, Gulliver, Tom Sawyer. Personally, I dont know Ukrainian literature well. We studied Russian literature in school, which included The Garnet Bracelet, The Master and Margarita, and even War and Peace, which is about war too, but its interesting. For some reason, Russian literature isnt as sad as ours. Wasnt it like that for them?

It wasnt, the literature teacher replied.

Well, that still needs to be verified, the math teacher dismissed.

I witnessed this conversation while staying after class to work on algebra, as I was struggling with it while preparing to enter university. I knew the math teacher was wrong, and even then, it was hurtful to hear all this. I had heard similar complaints and accusations about the sadness and heaviness of Ukrainian literature and the entirety of Ukrainian culture throughout my life.

With the full-scale invasion, there was no need to prove anything to Ukrainian Russophiles about our history or culture. Either theres now more information about how things were, or the number of Russophiles is finally decreasing. Its just unfortunate that many admirers of the great Russian culture had to see missiles destroying their homes to rid themselves of this obsession.

While preparing to enter the philology faculty with a focus on Ukrainian literature, I began to learn more about this heavy Ukrainian culture, about things we hadnt even touched upon in school. After studying the literature of World War I, the Holodomor in Ukraine  which left me in a state of shock and insomnia  and World War II, I was convinced that the 1960s and 1970s would be a time of enlightenment and rebuilding, as that was when my parents were born.

I thought about how close that was to me in time. But then, just before the Ukrainian literature exam, I read a sentence that still hangs over my consciousness when I think about the heavy Ukrainian culture: The artist Alla Horska was killed with a hammer to the head for her pro-Ukrainian stance.

This is what the Soviet authorities did up until our independence to everyone who didnt conform to their inhumane policies, slanders, and crimes. During that same period, the poet Vasyl Symonenko was beaten to death, and the writer Vasyl Stus was imprisoned, where he died after years of torture and inhumane conditions.

This happened to everyone who did not submit, bend the knee, keep silent, or side with the oppressors. A year ago, my fellow writers and I wrote a childrens book, Light Catchers about the most famous Ukrainian artists of all time, and we spent hours debating how to present all the factual information about the artists in a way that would not traumatize children, because 80% of the artists suffered from Russian atrocities.

Having entered university and started studying Ukrainian literature, I thought that with Ukraines independence, the gates of pain were closing, that this was a free Ukraine, and no one would ever be able to do such things to our artists or any Ukrainian again. This is the civilized modern world, after all. What persecution, heaven forbid, war, could we possibly talk about in the very heart of Europe? After all, our oppressors had long since died  we were left to build a free culture in a free country.

And indeed, for a time, that was the case. In the 1990s, Ukrainian literature, music, and cinema aligned with European postmodernism and kept pace with it. In 1985, writers Yurii Andrukhovych, Viktor Neborak, and Oleksandr Irvanets created the literary group Bu-Ba-Bu (Burlesque-Balagan-Buffoonery), which completely overturned Soviet and post-Soviet literature and provided guidance for young writers.

Oksana Zabuzhko, with her novel Fieldwork in Ukrainian Sex, established a distinct canon of Ukrainian literature. The poet Serhiy Zhadan, coming from a simple background in eastern Ukraine where Russian cultural influence dominated, began promoting Ukrainian and high culture through his literature, thereby inspiring thousands. Ukrainian music festivals were founded, with Ukrainian music increasingly appearing on radio and television. This was also happening in theater and cinema.

A voluntary Ukrainization began in our culture, with more and more artists switching to the Ukrainian language, which was becoming increasingly popular and fashionable among artistic and intellectual circles. This was a challenging period of nation-building, with Ukraine slowly but purposefully moving in the Ukrainian direction. Indeed, Ukraines independence, declared on Aug. 24, 1991, until Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, was a unique period when Ukraine wrote its bright pages. These were the twenty years when the literature was not heavy but unexpected, entirely new, candid, and vibrant.

With the annexation of Crimea and the undeclared war by Russia against Ukraine, which lasted for eight years in the countrys east, Ukrainian writers, like a mirror to reality, began to write again about war, losses, pain, torture, and death. However, until 2022, these were still not central themes in Ukrainian literature or general culture.

But with the full-scale invasion, undoubtedly, the themes of war, captivity, filtration, loss of homes, deportation, displacement, violence, rape, abuse, and disappearances at the front have become central to all of Ukrainian culture. After some time, we might again hear that the art of early 21st-century Ukraine is no different in mood from that of the mid-20th century and that everyone is tired of reading negative and sad Ukrainian literature.

But how can it be otherwise when art always reflects reality and cannot remain indifferent to historical processes? How can it be otherwise when, today, on the 33rd anniversary of Ukraine's independence, the Russians have destroyed the local history museum in Zaporizhzhia Oblast?

Read also: 10 books to better understand wartime Ukraine

For the past year, I have repeatedly thought about the home of artist Polina Raiko, whose walls and ceilings she painted herself, which were flooded after the Russians blew up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant. They have been systematically destroying our culture, art, and literature for centuries to erase our identity and kill those who can proclaim, recreate, and show the terrible reality created by our enemies.

With great pain, I must acknowledge that I now have a separate shelf for books by murdered Ukrainian writers, most of whom were my good acquaintances. These are not just soldiers killed in the war but also civilians. For instance, let us remember writer Victoria Amelina, who was killed by a missile in a pizzeria in Kramatorsk, where she was with an international delegation of journalists.

Its not just dozens but hundreds of artists who have been killed to ensure their voices are not heard.

Today, on our countrys most significant holiday, a new book titled On the Minefield of Memory by the poet Maksym Kryvtsov, who was killed while serving on the front line, was announced. We try to recreate everything our killed artists said during their lives, but the greatest sorrow is that they will not be able to say or write anything more.

And while we might wish for our culture to be positive and light, our history is what it is. We must speak about how Russia has been killing us for centuries and continues to do so. Yes, it will be painful and sad for us to read and re-read chronicles, diaries, memoirs, and fiction about the war, just as it will be painful to watch theatrical performances and films and listen to songs about this time, but this is our bloody history, and we have no other choice.

Despite being very heavy, our culture is also strong, deep, exceptional, and sincere, though it is scarred by cruelty and injustice.

We still dont know when this war will end or the extent to which weve grown accustomed to it, but I do know that my small personal solace will be when no new posthumous books by writers Russia killed appear on my shelf.

Read also: Opinion: On Independence Day, a playlist in honor of musicians who defend Ukraine







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The Utah State Legislature met in an emergency session this week with one simple objective: to siphon power away from the people. By placing a constitutional amendment on Novembers ballot, lawmakers are hoping voters will aid them in undermining the Utah Supreme Courts decision to reaffirm and clarify the limits of the Legislatures power as it relates to the peoples right to alter and reform our government.

We have come to this conclusion through careful observation of our legislators last-minute actions and a close reading of the court opinion at the heart of this issue.

In 2018, the people of Utah passed a citizen ballot initiative, Proposition 4, which established an independent commission to draw political boundaries in order to prevent gerrymandering. The Utah Legislature subsequently ignored the voters decision and essentially repealed Proposition 4, replacing it with their own redistricting process.

Citizen ballot initiatives are rare in Utah, in part because the high bar set for signatures (at least 8% of registered Utah voters) makes it difficult to get an initiative on the ballot. Only seven have passed since 1954.

It will always be difficult for politicians to draw nonpartisan district lines fairly; it invites too great a temptation to misuse power when they personally stand to lose or gain from those decisions. To act as a check, after Proposition 4 was repealed, Mormon Women for Ethical Government, the League of Women Voters and a cross-partisan group of individuals made the courageous choice to challenge the Legislatures repeal of Proposition 4.

Arising from that litigation, a unanimous ruling by the Utah Supreme Court gave a thoughtful and limited interpretation of the Utah Constitution, opening up the door to restoring the citizens Proposition 4. This ruling applied to a narrow set of initiatives, specifically those that reform the government. Even then, the court allowed for legislative amendments to those types of initiatives  with the limitation that if the Legislature is going to do so in a way that impedes the initiatives purpose, it has to do it carefully and narrowly with compelling justification.

However, the Legislature disagreed with the ruling and this week called an emergency session to introduce a rushed constitutional amendment to allow the Legislature to amend all ballot initiatives, and defy the will of the people.

As leaders of Mormon Women for Ethical Government, we represent a true grassroots, cross-partisan coalition of citizens  as of early this year, our membership makeup was 40% Republican, 34% Democrat and 26% unenrolled/independent/third party. As we speak to Utahns around the state, including many prominent community and political leaders, we are regularly pulled aside by people across the political spectrum who whisper their support for the fair districting litigation and our work lifting up the voice of the people. When we ask whether they are willing to share that support, either publicly or directly with legislators, they often express either fear at the backlash that would come directly from the Legislature if they do so or cynicism about whether they truly would be heard.

This weeks emergency session demonstrates that those concerns are not unfounded. When challenged, the Legislature has demonstrated a willingness to eliminate any restraint placed on their power. It should be deeply concerning to know that citizens in our state across the political spectrum feel their elected representatives may use their power to intimidate and discourage political participation and that thoughtful constituent letters are dismissed as being influenced by activist groups with out-of-state interests.

The Legislatures emergency session only underscored that dynamic:

The Legislature rushed the process, ostensibly activating their power to call an emergency session, which is defined in the Utah Constitution as appropriate in case of persistent fiscal crisis, war, natural disaster, or emergency in the affairs of the state.

The text of the constitutional amendment was not available for citizen review until the night before the session.

In the only public hearing on the matter, opponents were allowed a combined total of three minutes to comment, although there were dozens of citizens present to make opposing statements, both in the committee room and in four overflow rooms.

The sponsors and supporters of this constitutional amendment used carefully chosen rhetoric to distract voters from the facts: If this amendment is passed, it will limit the effective power of voter initiatives and increase the power of the Legislature to overturn, modify or repeal initiatives as they did with Proposition 4.

The amendment would be retroactive, so all previous citizen ballot initiatives, rigorously passed by popular vote, would be subject to legislative overturn.

The constitutional right of Utah citizens to reform or alter our government aligns with the very purposes of our democracy and with checks and balances on power  that citizens voices be heard in the halls of government and that we may check the power of our representatives. Utah legislators claim they want to listen to and protect the voice of the people; however, their actions over this last week in particular have spoken much louder.

Emma Petty Addams is a resident of Salt Lake City and is the co-executive director of Mormon Women for Ethical Government. Anne Bentley Waddoups, Ph.D., lives in Logan and serves as a director of advocacy at Mormon Women for Ethical Government.
The summer of 2024 will forever be etched in the history of Bangladesh as a time of tremendous upheaval, struggle and, ultimately, triumph. The student protests that erupted in June of this year were not merely a reaction to the reinstatement of a 30% quota for the descendants of freedom fighters in government job recruitment. They were a powerful assertion of our collective will against a system that had for too long stifled the voices of the youth, denied us our rights and clung to power with ruthless determination.

As a student of the Department of Japanese Studies at the University of Dhaka, I found myself at the heart of this movement. Alongside my fellow students, I became an activist, a voice for change and a leader in a struggle that would ultimately bring down a 15-year dictatorship. This was not just a fight for the future of our generation but a battle for the soul of Bangladesh  a battle we could not afford to lose.

The spark of rebellion

The Supreme Courts decision to reinstate the quota system was the final straw for many of us. The quota had been abolished earlier, providing hope that merit would finally be the sole criterion for government jobs. The reinstatement felt like a betrayal, an attempt to cling to outdated and unjust practices. The students of Bangladesh, who had long felt marginalized and voiceless, took to the streets in protest.

From the very first day of the protests, I knew that this was a movement that would define our future. I joined thousands of students from across the country in peaceful demonstrations, using social media to amplify our message. But as the government responded with force, deploying police, the Rapid Action Battalion and even the military, it became clear that this would not be a peaceful struggle.

The fight for survival

The governments response to our protests was brutal. On July 16, the violence escalated to a level that none of us could have anticipated. At least five students were killed in clashes with law enforcement, and within days, the death toll had risen to over 100. The violence was not confined to the streets; it seeped into every corner of our lives. Educational institutions were shut down, a nationwide curfew was imposed, and the internet was cut off, isolating us from the world.

During this time, I could no longer stay in my university hall or even my own home. The threat of being targeted by the Bangladesh Chhatra League and other forces loyal to Sheikh Hasinas government was very real. I found refuge in the house of a Japanese businessman who graciously offered me a safe place to stay. From this sanctuary, I continued to support the movement, reporting the atrocities to international media, engaging with diplomats and rallying support from global agencies.

The turning point

Despite the governments attempts to crush the movement, our resolve only grew stronger. By July 19, the government had imposed a nationwide curfew and deployed the army, but the protests continued. The streets of Dhaka and other major cities became battlegrounds, with students and citizens alike standing up against the tyranny of the state. The deaths, the injuries and the arrests only fueled our determination.

I remember the day when the protests reached a fever pitch  Aug. 5. Thousands of us stormed the prime ministers residence, demanding an end to the dictatorship. It was a moment of unparalleled courage and unity, a testament to the strength of our movement. The news that Sheikh Hasina had fled the country spread like wildfire, and we knew that victory was within our grasp.

A new dawn for Bangladesh

On Aug. 8, a new chapter in Bangladeshs history began as Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus was sworn in as the head of a caretaker government. The oppressive regime that had ruled our country for 15 long years was finally overthrown, and the credit for this victory belongs to the students of Bangladesh. We had not only fought for our rights but for the very future of our nation.

This movement was not just about removing a dictator; it was about reclaiming our country from the clutches of fear and oppression. It was about ensuring that the voices of the youth are heard and respected. It was about building a Bangladesh that is just, fair and free for all its citizens.

My role in the movement

Looking back on those tumultuous months, I am filled with a sense of pride and humility. I was just one of many who stood up to the forces of oppression, but together, we achieved something extraordinary. My role in the movement was not just as a participant but as a leader, a communicator and a bridge between the protesters and the international community.

I used every platform available to me  social media, international media outlets, diplomatic channels  to raise awareness of the atrocities being committed against the students and the people of Bangladesh. I knew that the world needed to see the truth of what was happening in our country, and I made it my mission to ensure that our struggle was not in vain.

During this time, I faced many challenges, not least of which was the constant threat to my life. But I was not deterred. The cause was too important, the stakes too high. I found strength in the solidarity of my fellow students, in the unwavering support of the international community and in the knowledge that we were on the right side of history.

A message to the future

As we move forward into this new era for Bangladesh, I urge the youth of our nation to remember the lessons of 2024. We have shown that change is possible, that even the most entrenched systems can be challenged and overthrown when we stand together. But our work is not done. The future of Bangladesh depends on our continued vigilance, our commitment to justice and our willingness to fight for what is right.

Let this be a reminder to all  never underestimate the power of the youth, for we are the future, and the future is ours to shape.

MD Ayman Mahmud is a student at the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz broke MAGA brains for the second time in a month  and he wasnt even calling them weird this time. He was making fun of himself.

Prior to winning the Democratic veepstakes, Walz mocked the hypocrisy of the GOPs freedom branding despite its support for abortion bans, educational censorship and hostility to LGBTQ people. When he called them weird for that, pundits from both the party of Trump and the MAGA-adjacent faux-center gasped in horror and suggested that in slamming Donald Trump and JD Vance, hed attacked half the country.

More recently, they lost their minds about Walz making a completely forgettable quip  calling it a joke gives it way too much credit  about how he eats white guy tacos. Whats a white guy taco to Walz? Pretty much ground beef and cheese. Then he mumbled another throwaway line about black pepper being as hot a spice as his region prefers.

These quotes are from a campaign video where Walz and Vice President Kamala Harris do their best attempt at a buddy banter clip  the kind of humanizing campaign advertising thats so normal its hardly ever noticed. Since at least the dawn of television, presidential and vice presidential candidates have tried to sell themselves as just regular people, not highly ambitious politicians working together to secure the most powerful position in the world. Thats all this video was. An advertisement.

But to some of the toughest-talking, eff-your-feelings MAGA pundits, it was a hate crime. It was proof that Walz is a fraud and possibly a traitor to his race.

Ben Shapiro, generally regarded as a high-level conservative public intellectual, didnt find Walzs dumb Midwestern dad joke funny. The author of tweets accusing Colin Powell of being an affirmative action general responded with: See, folks, its funny that white people hate spices! Not racist at all! Just funny! Then he added a fact check about Europeans fighting wars over the spice trade. Shapiro later devoted an entire segment on his show to making these same points.

Then came the sleuths who insisted Walz was also a liar. A famous Pizzagate propagator uncovered the awful truth: Walz won a recipe contest! And it was taco-related! To prove he had the goods, the Pizzagate guy shared a screenshot of the ingredients Walz used: paprika, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, olive oil. And mild green chiles and a bottle of medium taco sauce.

The dish was called Tims Turkey Taco Tot Hotdish. Its based on ground turkey, cheese, sour cream and sweet corn. Its served with tater tots. It is literally a Midwestern meat and potatoes casserole with a Taco Bell kids menu level of spice.

Though that recipe is hardly proof that Walz is a secret spice guy, one right-wing influencer with a huge audience claimed, He has to appeal to the white guilt crowd now so he is changing his position on spices. Even Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., got in on the Walz Tacogate pile-on, slamming Walz for denying his true seasoning legacy.

Foreign policy writer Nicholas Grossman summarized this curious phenomenon well: Right-wing podcasters: Oh so when I make mean-spirited disparaging comments about other races its wrong, but when Tim Walz makes a mild dad joke at his own races expense its ok? How is that fair? Im the victim here. Yes, again. A political science professor described their expressed outrage as ambient victimhood.

In the current state of the culture wars, the MAGA right and its enablers have hair-trigger offense reactions. And some of them are openly debasing themselves as their fragility leads them to viciously lash out at their liberal tormentors.

An anti-woke account with nearly 3 million followers posted a short video showing Harris stepdaughter, Ella Emhoff, with her arm draped casually around her dad during the Democratic National Convention. The caption read: This is Kamalas family. Beyond parody.

I honestly cant fathom what theyre mad about. Ellas tattoos? Her short hair? That she and her father appear genuinely relaxed around each other?

Ann Coulter  inarguably one of the meanest people in the political discourse for decades  was triggered by a photo of Walzs son, Gus, shedding tears of joy as his father accepted the Democratic nomination for vice president. She wrote, Talk about weird

Again, what is she offended by? Is the image of a young male publicly expressing deep emotion part of a feminist conspiracy to lower the population or something? I mean, even Shapiro conceded the moment was really quite nice.

Coulter went too far even by MAGA standards of decorum and hence deleted the X post attacking the teenager, but this is what the anti-snowflake movement has become: people who flip out over a politicians anodyne self-deprecating joke and Democrats children doing normal things when caught on candid camera.

This is late-stage MAGA. Some of the most vicious people in politics and commentary are unironically freaking out over people doing normal, apolitical things. They are irrationally hypersensitive, proclaiming their victimhood as they scour for woke scolds and creeping communism under every sofa cushion.

Its grievance culture of the right-wing variety. And its very weird.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
We take over our country": Trump brings out RFK Jr. at Arizona rally

Donald Trump delivered on his promise to bring a special guest to the stage during a Glendale, Arizona rally on Friday, after a week out of the limelight amid the Democratic National Convention.

Opening with an apparent verbal misfire, Trump brought out independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who he called an incredible champion for so many of these values that we all share.

Trump, caught in a video leaked by Kennedys son, endorsed many of Kennedys anti-vaccine conspiracy theories, though the Trump campaign had previously blasted him, publicly, as too far-left.

Earlier on Friday, Trump received the endorsement of Kennedy, despite his decision not to drop out in most states, referring to his former opponent as a very low-key person, despite the barrage of front-page bizarre stories surrounding Kennedy, including his admissions that he had a brain worm and that he dumped a dead bear in Central Park, as well as the accusations of sexual assault made against him.

On stage, after walking out to a likely unauthorized use of "My Hero" by Foo Fighters, Kennedy gleefully told the crowd that he believed Trump  who planned to arrest unfriendly reporters  would end the censorship against his campaign, and tried to justify his support for the former president.

Dont you want a president thats going to make America healthy again? the famously vaccine-skeptic Kennedy asked, hours after blaming seed oils and processed foods for Americas position during the Trump administration as a world leader in COVID deaths.

Kennedy wasnt the only surprise guest to get a shout-out. Trump also drew attention to Sherrif Joe Arpaio, a former sheriff and two-time failed mayoral candidate who was convicted in 2017 for refusing to comply with a court order to stop racial profiling practices. Trump pardoned Arpaio days later.

In his speech, Trump, whos demonstrated signs of panic as Kamala Harris maintains a month-long upward trajectory, took a more optimistic tone than his Thursday night meltdown on the phone with Fox News.

74 days, then we gently move into that beautiful White House and we take over our country, Trump said.

Trump went on to outline his election-day plan to flood polls with a heavy police presence, which some considered a form of voter intimidation.

We need every sheriff to get over there, every law enforcement official because we got the votes. We got to make sure everything's on the up and up, the former president explained.

Watch here:

Hey @foofighters, did you let Trump use "My Hero" to welcome RFK Jr. on stage pic.twitter.com/HivdG8ypxM  Wu Tang is for the Children (@WUTangKids) August 23, 2024
The seventh annual Overdose and Addiction Awareness Vigil will be 5-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30, at the Riverview Bandshell, 251 Ball Park Drive (across from Riverview Pool) in Clinton (in case of inclement weather, the event will be moved to Clinton Community College Auditorium,) according to a news release. Participants should bring their own lawn chairs.

Clinton community professionals and community members will present this evening of education and awareness, as well as an opportunity to pay tribute to those lost to overdoses and struggling with or recovering from addiction. Heres a look at the statistics:

46.3 million people aged 12 or older (or 16.5 percent of the population) met criteria for having a substance use disorder in the past year.

Over 1 million Americans have died from drug overdoses since the late 1990s, including more than 100,000 per year in the last few years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Nearly 1 in 10 U.S. adults have overcome a substance use problem is testament to the fact that not only is addiction recovery possible, but its also common.

The vigil will pay tribute to those lost to overdoses and struggling or recovering from addiction. Music and resource tables will be featured before the event starts. A silent auction with items from local businesses will be featured.

If you are interested in having a resource table, contact Christina at cskiles@asac.us

There will be an opportunity for community members to share their testimonials. T-shirts available for $15 embody this years theme of Hope Dealer. To see or purchase a shirt, visit here.

For information about luminaria, visit here. For more information about the event, visit here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
Right now, housewives are actively cooking sauerkraut, because in the autumn and winter, the body needs vitamins, which this product is rich in, more than ever. That's why they usually make a lot of it, enough for the whole family. But when it comes to the consumption of such a product by young children, there are a number of peculiarities.

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In an exclusive commentary for OBOZREVATEL, Victoria Stelmakh, founder of the largest Ukrainian-language Facebook group on feeding, an expert on baby food, told whether sauerkraut is good for children.

Sauerkraut is a fermented, nutritious, healthy product. Its biggest advantage is that it accelerates the absorption of non-heme iron. However, it is not recommended for young children because of the sodium (salt), sugar, and the process of its production. Salt is not recommended for children under one year of age, after one year the recommended daily intake is no more than 2 g, and sugar is not recommended for children under 2 years of age. Moreover, in 2019, the WHO revised its position, and in the European edition, it recommends limiting sugar consumption for children under 3 years of age.

ADVERTISIMENT

Features of the cooking process

During cooking, sauerkraut is kept warm for a certain time (if it is a homemade product), and during this period, if safety conditions are not met, any bacteria, including pathogens, can get into it. Toxic compounds are produced, the most famous of which are biogenic amines and aflatoxins. In some cases, metabolic actions lead to the release of toxic substances for both adults and children.

Once a child starts eating solid foods, fermented foods can be beneficial, but should be offered in small quantities.

Not only does this food have probiotic properties, but it also allows the child to become familiar with and get used to sour tastes. This, of course, has a positive effect on the taste buds and carries the main thing  a variety of flavors and textures.

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The text was checked by MedOboz project manager Viktor Litvinenko
(WTAJ)  Advisors and counselors employed by PA Cyber Charter have authorized a strike after contract negotiations between them and the school have failed for over two years.

Following 750 days of bargaining, with a state mediator present for some sessions, members of the PA Cyber Academic Advisors and School Counselors Education Association (PACAASCEA), representing the schools academic and special education advisors, as well as counselors, authorized the strike in what proved to be a difficult decision.

So the decision to authorize a strike  and I want to be very clear, we are not, we are hoping not to strike  this is not a decision this group took lightly, said Kelley Clouser, Uniserv Representative for the PA State Education Association, representing the union. If you think, you know, they started bargaining in 2022 and we have, I mean, if Im being honest, we have asked over and over and over for so many more dates.

Clouser said the school has not made themselves available for a total of 12 or 13 dates PACAASCEA wanted to meet with them for negotiations.

Penn State students move back, ready for 2024-25 school year

PACAASCEA is demanding what will be their first contract, safer working conditions and healthcare, which other employees of PA Cyber Charter, including members of the two other organized unions at the school, already receive.

Clouser said that while they work for an online school, advisors and counselors work on-sight at offices across the commonwealth and that some have had to deal with issues such as raw sewage backup and toilets that dont work. She said that their office in Philadelphia had an incident in which a homeless man entered the office overnight as the lock to the outside door was broken and the door was being secured using only a zip tie and filing cabinet.

While demanding safer working conditions, the counselors and advisors also want the school to create an environment that better supports students. Clouser explained that advisors and counselors at the school are available to support the students in any way they can from their first to last day, and often develop a close relationship with the students and their families. However, with only six counselors at the school to serve up to 10,000 students, some students may not receive the support they need.

They are the ones that students can reach out to if they are, if they are struggling. And so we put on the table, we said this is not an appropriate ratio. Any other public school would not have that kind of ratio, Clouser said.

PACAASCEA is hoping to avoid a strike, wanting to prioritize supporting the students, but Clouser said the school has neglected their duty to bargain in good faith. She said CEO Brian Hayden sent the schools proposal to all bargaining unit members with a deadline to accept, stating it was their best offer, or risk losing items that were still mandatory bargaining subjects on the table  including money.

While hopeful that PA Cyber Charter will return to the bargaining table, PACAASCEA members hare preparing to file Unfair Labor Practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board.

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The union representing the teachers at the school has also been in negotiations for nearly two years and those employees are operating without a contract. Clouser, who represents that union as well, said that bargaining with the school has also been a challenge for that group.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com.
People mourn their relatives, who were killed in an Israeli attack, at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah for funeral prayers and burial after Israeli army launched an attack on the home in Nuseirat Refugee Camp, located in central Gaza City. Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

At least 11 civilians have died in Israeli air raids on the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian WAFA news agency reported on Saturday.

An unknown number of others had been injured in attacks on Khan Younis in the south of the Gaza Strip and around Nuseirat in the centre, the report said. It came as talks on a ceasefire continued in Cairo.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they could make no comment without knowing precisely where people had died.

Since the current war began, following the October 7 attacks on Israel mounted by Gaza-based Palestinian Islamist Hamas members and others, the IDF has repeatedly accused Hamas of using civilians as shields for its operations.

The IDF also reported continuing fighting in the south, centre and north of Gaza.

On Friday, the IDF urged Gaza City residents in the north to evacuate to the west towards the sea after Israeli territory had come under rocket attack from the city. IDF troops had deployed to the area, killing combatants and destroying infrastructure, it said.

According to the Hamas-controlled health authority, more than 40,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, and more than 90,000 have been injured. The ministry's figures do not distinguish between combatants and civilians.

The IDF claims to have killed at least 14,000 Palestinian combatants.

People mourn their relatives, who were killed in an Israeli attack, at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah for funeral prayers and burial after Israeli army launched an attack on the home in Nuseirat Refugee Camp, located in central Gaza City. Omar Ashtawy/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
Path to the Parade 5k raises money for New Haven Saint Patricks Day parade

HAMDEN, Conn. (WTNH)  Even though its only August, its never too early to plan for Saint Patricks Day!

The Path to the Parade 5k was in Hamden on Friday, with runners lined up to run the Farmington Canal to raise money for the greater New Haven Saint Patricks Day Parade.

Organizers fundraise year-round for the parade, which happens every year in March. This years parade will be held March 16.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Do penguins have knees? Questions you probably dont know the answer to

(WTAJ) Do penguins have knees? Seriously, think back to your high school biology class. What did you learn about a penguins waddle?

Okay well, why are water towers built so high off the ground? Lets take a look at the answers to some of the questions that might just have you stumped.

Why are water towers built so high off the ground?

Most water towers are between 130 and 165 feet tall, but why are they built so high from the ground? The short answer is that they need to be tall so that they can provide water pressure to a town. Each foot of height provides 0.43 PSI (pounds per square inch) of pressure. Without a water tower, there wouldnt be enough pressure to send water through the distribution pipes at a fast enough rate.

A typical municipal water supply runs at between 50 and 100 PSI (major appliances require at least 20 to 30 PSI). The water tower must be tall enough to supply that level of pressure to all of the houses and businesses.

What are the plastic pieces on the end of your shoelaces called?

According to a 2023 study, the average American owns 12 pairs of shoes currently and 256 pairs in their lifetime. The most popular type of shoe was the sneaker and its also the most frequently worn with participants saying they wear them 65% of the time.

In the case of sneakers we buy four a year, but how much do you know about the shoes you buy? Do you know the name of the hard piece of metal or plastic that is on the end of your shoelaces? Or how about what its for?

That little piece is actually called the aglet and its used to hold the fibers of the lace in place and prevent them from unraveling. The word aglet comes from the French word aguillette meaning needle hence why aglet is used as a short needle to help thread laces through the eyelets of the shoe.

Do penguins have knees?

These flightless birds have got quite the waddle, but do they actually have knees? They do! Just like humans, they have a skeletal structure that has a femur, knee joint, kneecap, tibia and a fibula. You can see the knee joint and knee cap below in an x-ray of an Emperor Penguin.

(Photo by Pacific Radiology Ltd via Getty Images)

Their knees are tucked up into their body and are covered by dense feathers. Their shape makes them more hydrodynamic so they can swim fast. They spend up to 75% of their lives in water and while they may walk a little funny on land its actually because theyre designed for swimming.

Penguins normally swim between 4-7 mph. The largest, the Emperor Penguin, can reach up to 9 mph. But how fast is that? Lets put it in perspective, the average human can reach up to top speeds of 5 to 6 mph while swimming.

Lets try another perspective, 28-time Olympic medalist Michael Phelps reached a top speed of 8.8 mph in a race against a Great White Shark. So while he may outswim a smaller species of penguins he might still lose a race against an emperor and thats all thanks to their torpedo-like build.

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Do you have a question you want the answer to or that you think would make for a good story? Send it to us on Facebook or email us at digitalnews@wtajtv.com.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com.
As with many other celebrity overdoses, the untimely passing of "Friends" star Matthew Perry was a complex tragedy with many players  but in his case, it's hard not to view the people involved as anything but absolute sketchballs.

In a wide-ranging deep dive, the Los Angeles Times has revealed that along with a deadly cadre of enablers that included Perry's assistant and two doctors, a chaotic drug dealer who calls herself the "Ketamine Queen" was allegedly one of the key figures in his death.

The queen in question is 41-year-old Jasveen Sangha, who according to federal prosecutors ran a lucrative narcotics ring in North Hollywood. While allegedly doing so, Sangha was seen, as the LA Times notes, posing for photos on social media with the likes of Charlie Sheen and Perla Hudson, the ex-wife of Guns N' Roses' Slash.

Her star-studded lifestyle came to a shocking turn, however, after Perry was found face-down in his hot tub last October. An autopsy revealed that along with drowning and a heart issue, the actor likely died from the "acute effects of ketamine."

Sangha has been charged alongside Perry's former assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, accused accomplice Eric Fleming, and doctors Mark Chavez and Salvador Plasencia  the latter of whom referred to the actor as a "moron" in a text message when conspiring with his fellow medical practitioner to rip off the 54-year-old who'd struggled with depression and addiction.

As the newspaper notes, the K-Queen's seized electronic devices contained videos of her cooking the liquified version of the horse tranquilizer on a stove to convert it into powder. As prosecutors allege, Sangha liked to refer to her supplier as the "scientist" and "master chef," which would be a bit too "Breaking Bad" for our palate if it weren't so deadly serious.

Known nearly as well for its dissociative effects as for its therapeutic applications, ketamine has in recent years seen a surge in popularity both in and out of healthcare settings. The nasal spray version of the anaesthetic was approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a treatment for depression in 2019, but alongside its government-approved applications, the drug has also become nearly as popular as it was in the late 1990s and early 2000s rave scene as partygoers have taken back to dancefloors in droves following the end of COVID-19 lockdowns in 2021.

As concerns about drugs being laced with fentanyl have swept Europe and the United States, it seems that there's been a parallel storm brewing among those who struggle with addiction, due to the common misconception that ketamine is neither habit-forming nor easy to overdose with.

Perry's tragic demise is a terrifying reminder that when people struggle with mental health and substance issues, those they surround themselves can very easily harm them.

Though fame and wealth obviously play into the way he was treated by his alleged cadre of dealers and procurers, Perry was ultimately just another person suffering who instead of finding support, was seemingly let down by a bunch of crappy people in the absolute worst way possible.

More on drugs: Gangster Mark Zuckerberg Running Facebook Ads for Drugs Found To Be Laced With Fentanyl
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The Perseverance rover has begun a long climb up the steep rim of Jezero Crater on a quest to discover some of the most ancient rocks on Mars  and the potential for environments that may have once hosted life on the red planet.

Landing in Jezero Crater 3 12 years ago, the robotic explorer has since explored the site of an ancient lake and river delta and collected numerous rock samples. But its latest scientific journey could rewrite the way astronomers understand Mars.

Perseverance has completed four science campaigns, collected 22 rock cores, and traveled over 18 unpaved miles (29 kilometers), said Art Thompson, Perseverance project manager at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, in a statement. As we start the Crater Rim Campaign, our rover is in excellent condition, and the team is raring to see whats on the roof of this place.

The rover will use its auto-navigation capabilities, which allows Perseverance to function like a self-driving car, to follow a route planned by the vehicles engineers. The route will enable the rover to avoid hazards on the challenging climb. Perseverance will gain about 1,000 feet (300 meters) in elevation when it summits the rim toward the end of 2024.

This ascent is something scientists have been looking forward to for years, long before Perseverance landed on Mars.

About 4 billion years ago, some kind of object slammed into Mars and created Jezero Crater, and the impact kicked up huge blocks of rock that became trapped in the crater rim.

A map shows the route Perseverance will take (in blue) as it climbs the western rim of Jezero Crater, first reaching Dox Castle, then investigating the Pico Turquino area before approaching Witch Hazel Hill." - NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona

We should be able to access and sample some of the oldest rocks on Mars in the crater rim, said Briony Horgan, co-investigator on the Perseverance rover mission and professor of planetary science at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.

We think these include everything from ancient sedimentary rocks that could preserve the earliest habitable environments on Mars, to the building blocks of the planet that formed the earliest crust at the dawn of the solar system.

The crater rim will provide a window into the earliest period of Mars history  and could reveal evidence of hot springs that might have supported ancient microbial life, Horgan said.

Turning back Martian time

The impact that created Jezero Crater also generated a lot of heat, partly from the energy of the object that slammed into Mars. Some of the heat also came from hotter rock that existed beneath the Martian surface, as the planet was still cooling after forming half a billion years earlier. The impact churned up those rocks from below the Martian surface.

If groundwater or surface water was present on Mars at the time, which scientists believe likely, there would have been hydrothermal systems, said Ken Farley, Perseverance project scientist and professor of geochemistry at the California Institute of Technology.

With hydrothermal systems, hot water likely circulated through cracks on rocks and may have created the right environment for microbial life to thrive.

So far, Perseverance has investigated the site of the ancient lake bed and river delta, where life could have existed. The crater rim site of Pico Turquino, as the hydrothermal rocks are called, provides another, different possibility.

In the scheme of the overall objectives of the mission, looking for evidence of possible life on Mars is very high up there, so we want to investigate as many potentially habitable environments as Mars will offer us, Farley said.

The science team is also eager to reach Witch Hazel Hill, a large outcrop of black-and-white layered rock that extends for hundreds of meters. These layers of rock may preserve information about Mars climate billions of years ago. The rover should arrive there in six to nine months.

The movement of plate tectonics and other erosive processes have erased some of Earths earliest rocks, but ancient rocks encoded with the history of Mars still exist on the red planet.

The solar system formed 4.55 billion years ago, and the science team expects to find and study Martian rocks that are 4.2 billion years old, Farley said.

Ascending the crater

During the long drive up the crater wall, Perseverance could encounter slopes angled nearly 23 degrees. Typically, the team avoids any route that will tilt the rover more than 30 degrees. But the rover is well-prepared for the climb and isnt in any danger, Farley said.

Climbing up the crater rim, even though it would be a bit of an arduous journey for us humans, from a rover standpoint it actually wont be that big of a deal, said Steven Lee, Perseverance deputy project manager.

A panorama shows the area Perseverance will climb in the coming months to crest Jezero Craters rim. The composite shot is made up of 59 images taken by the rovers Mastcam-Z on August 4. - NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS

But the rovers rate of progress may slow if it feels its wheels slipping on the Martian terrain or encounters big boulders during the climb.

Perseverance can watch the terrain as it drives, and if its wheels slip too much, the rover will stop and call home for Mommy, wait to be told what to do and well figure it out on the ground, Lee said.

The rover remains in excellent condition, with no showstoppers in any way to say we cant continue operating this vehicle for many more years, Lee said.

By the time the rover climbs to the top of the rim, it will have traveled tens of kilometers more and captured tons of new images for the mission team to analyze.

Its a unique perspective for those of us who get to work day-to-day on the project, Lee said.  Pretty soon you start to get a sense of Mars as a place. My memories of Perseverances traverses are a lot like memories of a hike. I can actually think of what Mars is like from the landing site all the way to where we are today.

And the rovers perspective above the 28-mile-wide (45-kilometer-wide) crater will provide some beautiful vistas.

We will definitely get some amazing views looking back where we came from in Jezero and out into the plains beyond, Horgan said.

The biggest challenge will be for the science team as it determines which rocks to study up close as well as the ones from which to collect samples. With so many intriguing school bus-size piles of rock, the team will have to learn as much as it can while keeping the rover moving.

Well have all of this stuff just thrown out in front of us, Farley said, so I think itll be a very different kind of exploration.

The team anticipates that Perseverance will spend at least a few years beyond the crater rim collecting samples.

Meanwhile, the question looms as to how those samples, along with the ones Perseverance collected within the crater, will return to Earth as NASA reassesses the Mars Sample Return program. The agency is evaluating different proposals and is expected to announce a decision in the fall.

The decision could determine how long and how far the rover drives since the vehicle may be responsible for delivering samples to a spacecraft to carry back to Earth.

This part of the mission is essential for creating a sample collection that is the collection of everybodys dreams, Farley said. For now, were just going to pursue our crater rim investigation. And then when the time comes, well do whatever we need to do to support Mars Sample Return.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  Polling stations opened across Massachusetts on Saturday for early voting in the states September 3rd primary.

Springfield police warning drivers to slow down when school buses come back out

The early voting period will continue through Friday, August 30. Saturday is also the last day Massachusetts voters can register to vote or change their party registration. All Massachusetts towns and cities are required to start early voting this weekend.

James Jiles from Springfield told 22News why he votes.

I vote because everyone says how can we make a difference and what can we do. The thing is having the right people in office, people that when you talk to them listen, said Jiles. We respect people and politicians that pick the phone up and get back to you, make things happen, and care about the community like we do.

There is only one contested primary statewide, and thats the Republican primary for U.S. Senate. The winner will go on to face Senator Elizabeth Warren in November. Here in western Massachusetts, there are three contested Democratic primaries for seats in the Legislature. There is a primary for the State Senate in the Hampden District, a primary for the State House of Representatives in the 11th Hampden District, and a primary for the State House in the Third Berkshire District.

Voters who applied to vote by mail, but have not yet returned a ballot can still vote in person, if they wish. Those who have already returned their mail-in ballot will be marked off on the voting list and will not be able to vote again.

Municipal election offices will offer in-person voter registration until 5 p.m. on Saturday, while online voter registrations must be submitted by 11:59 p.m.

Its important to vote because every vote does count and if you want change in your area it is not necessarily way up top.. you have to start with your ward leaders, city council, and state senators, said Kenyon McCollum, a voter from Springfield.

In Springfield early voting will be offered at Springfield City Hall from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. between Sunday and Friday. Voters will also be able to head to the Ray Jordan Senior Center, but only on Tuesday, August 27, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

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.
The Phoenix Indian Center, the nation's oldest urban center of its type, moved into new digs Friday, a new building at Central Avenue and Indian School Road, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Indigenous foods and a community gathering.

Jolyana Begay-Kroupa, the center's CEO, described moving just a quarter-mile from the old building at North Central and Campbell avenues to its new home as a "journey."

The offices opened nearly four months later than anticipated due to construction delays, which required staffers to deliver services remotely.

Moving an entire 38-person organization with decades of records and memories was also a challenge, but one Begay-Kroupa, a Navajo, said PIC's director of operations Bree Marshall was well able to accomplish.

Jolyana Begay-Kroupa, center, cuts the ribbon at the entrance to Phoenix Indian Center's new facility on Aug. 23, 2024 as board and staff members look on.

The Indian center's new facility came with lots more space, Begay-Kroupa said.

"At our last space, we were right around 13,000 square feet," she said. "This building has 21,000 square feet."

The increased footage will allow the center to increase its programs which will broaden its reach to Maricopa County's Native American community of more than 130,000 people, she said.

Phoenix Indian Center: Indigenous fashion designers showcase their work and the meaning that goes into it

Nation's first Indian center serves many Native people

The center was founded in 1947 by Leon Grant, a member of the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska who had moved to Phoenix during the mid-20th century period known as the "relocation era."

The federal government encouraged Native people to leave their tribal lands and come to cities in an effort to depopulate communities and, eventually, terminate tribal status. That policy, like other federal Indian policies, didn't work as planned, but resulted in thousands of Native people making far-flung cities their home.

Jolyana Begay-Kroupa, executive director of the Phoenix Indian Center, circulates through the center's "power of the Native vote event.

Grant recognized the need for newly urbanized Native people to have a place to gather and find information on jobs, education, housing and other services. The new Phoenix center was the first of many such agencies to open over the next two decades.

The first home of the fledging center was at Central Avenue and Fillmore Street. The modest storefront gave both residents and visitors from distant reservations a place to store their things, use the restroom  many Phoenix businesses had "white-only" policies barring Indians from using their facilities  or to locate services.

Over the years, the Phoenix Indian Center grew to incorporate more programs like job training and youth leadership services, Navajo language classes and other Native cultural classes like beadwork into its mission.

In 2005, the center partnered with Native American Connections, a wellness and housing provider, and Native Health, Phoenix's urban Indian health provider, to purchase a building, and created the Native American Community Service Center on North Central Avenue, next door to Phoenix Union High School's district office.

'We are medicine': Saturday's Two Spirit Powwow celebrates LGBTQ+ community amid adversity

Growing services, outgrowing the building

The six-story building had its share of issues, including a catastrophic air conditioning plant failure that sent workers to work from home for months. It also proved to be too small for the three agencies as they added more programs and initiatives.

Native Health outgrew its part of the building and relocated next door to Phoenix Indian Center's new headquarters in 2013, while Native American Connections moved into a bigger space in 2023. The PIC board sold the building to Phoenix Union, which was looking to expand its own office space.

Over the years, Phoenix Indian Center has served thousands of Indigenous people with programs ranging from internships and employment training to elder and youth mentorships, youth enrichment programs, prevention and wellness initiatives, community engagement and other services. It's also partnered with Tohono O'odham Community College to offer college classes.

Jason Coochwytewa, who is of the Hopi Tribe and Isleta Pueblo, said his own career began when he took part in the center's youth programs. Coochwytewa is now president of a Phoenix-area multicultural marketing and public relations firm.

Crystalyne Curley, Speaker of the Navajo Nation Council, journeyed to Phoenix to relate her own experience with the Indian center as a young college student.

"I used to come to the center to help Mr. Freddie Johnson, who's now retired, with his language and culture classes," she said. Curley volunteered her time to help young and old Navajos living far away from their home to learn, or retain, their ancestral language.

"We have 110 chapter governments, but I always looked at Phoenix Indian Center as our 111th chapter," Curley said. "We're always going to be here in our aboriginal lands and we're making the best use of it, and making it feel like home, wherever we go."

Debra Krol reports on Indigenous communities at the confluence of climate, culture, and commerce in Arizona and the Intermountain West. You can reach Krol at debra.krol@azcentral.com or follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @debkrol.

Coverage of Indigenous issues at the intersection of climate, culture and commerce is supported by the Catena Foundation.

My articles are free to read, but your subscriptions support more great reporting. Please consider subscribing today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Indian Center moves to larger facility, increases programs
Police are asking for the public's help locating the shooter responsible for injuring a teenage girl Thursday night near Seventh Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard, according to the Phoenix Police Department.

At about 11 p.m., officers responded to reports of a shooting in a neighborhood south of Hayden Park where a teenage girl was found with a gunshot wound. The girl was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to Phoenix police Sgt. Brian Bower.

An investigation revealed an unknown vehicle drove past a home the victim was inside, shooting at the house and striking the girl.

Bower said that Phoenix police did not have a suspect identified.

"Detectives are asking that if anyone has information about who is responsible for this cowardly and violent attack, call into Silent Witness and remain anonymous," said Bower.

Anyone with information was asked to call Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS (948-6377) or 480-TESTIGO (837-8446) to provide an anonymous tip.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix teenager injured in shooting, police search for suspect
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP)  Romanian authorities towed away a fleet of luxury vehicles Saturday from the home of the divisive social media personality Andrew Tate, days after he was placed under house arrest following new human trafficking allegations.

Tate, 37, and his brother Tristan Tate, 36, both former kickboxers and dual British-U.S. citizens with millions of followers on social media and known for their misogynistic views, are already awaiting trial in Romania, along with two women. They were charged with human trafficking and forming a criminal gang to exploit women. Andrew Tate was also charged with rape in that case.

I-Team: Video shows woman escape sex traffickers

The luxury vehicles, impounded from their home near the capital, included a Ferrari, a Lamborghini, a Mercedes-Benz, McLaren and a more humble-looking classic red Lada. The seizure came two days after Romanias anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT, raided four homes in Bucharest and nearby Ilfov county and detained six people, including the Tate brothers. Officers also confiscated thousands of dollars in cash, laptops and data storage drives.

See some of the vehicles in the slideshow below:

A dog sits near sports cars parked in the yard of Andrew Tates residence on the outskirts of Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

A masked police officer looks at a Ferrari 812 Competizione being removed from Andrew Tates residence on the outskirts of Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

A Ferrari 812 Competizione is taken away by authorities after it was removed from Andrew Tates residence on the outskirts of Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

A reporter speaks on camera as a Ferrari vehicle is removed by authorities from Andrew Tates residence on the outskirts of Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

A masked police officer watches as a Ferrari vehicle is removed by authorities from Andrew Tates residence on the outskirts of Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

A masked police officer walks as a Lamborghini car is removed by authorities from Andrew Tates residence on the outskirts of Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

A masked police officer walks as a Lamborghini car is removed by authorities from Andrew Tates residence on the outskirts of Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

A masked police officer watches as a Ferrari vehicle is removed by authorities from Andrew Tates residence on the outskirts of Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

A masked police officer watches as a Ferrari vehicle is removed by authorities from Andrew Tates residence on the outskirts of Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

A Russian made Lada 1500 car is removed by authorities from Andrew Tates residence on the outskirts of Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024. Romanian authorities on descended on Andrew Tates home near the capital to tow away a fleet of luxury automobiles, days after the divisive influencer was placed under house arrest after new human trafficking allegations emerged involving minors.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Wmployees of a road assistance company look at a Ferrari vehicle before it was removed by authorities from Andrew Tates residence on the outskirts of Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024. Romanian authorities on descended on Andrew Tates home near the capital to tow away a fleet of luxury automobiles, days after the divisive influencer was placed under house arrest after new human trafficking allegations emerged involving minors.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Masked police officers walk backdropped by sports cars at Andrew Tates residence on the outskirts of Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

One of the Tates lawyers, Georgiana Popa, told reporters outside the brothers home Saturday that the seizures are legal, but unfounded and said it has been contested.

The cars are not (the brothers) property, she said, without providing additional information.

The Tate brothers appeared on Thursday at a Bucharest court as prosecutors sought to remand them in custody. But a judge denied that request and placed Andrew Tate under house and Tristan Tate under judicial control, which typically involves restricting contact with certain people and having to periodically report to the police. The brothers spokesperson, Mateea Petrescu, said that the Tates firmly deny all allegations against them and remain steadfast in proving their innocence.

Cities with the most expensive homes in Ohio

In the new case, DIICOT, said that its investigating allegations of human trafficking, including the trafficking of minors, sexual intercourse with a minor, forming an organized criminal group, money laundering, and influencing statements.

The agency also said the defendants used the coercive loverboy method to exploit 34 vulnerable victims, who were forced to produce pornographic materials for a fee online, and that more than $2.8 million (2.5 million euros) it generated was kept by the defendants.

An unnamed foreign man also sexually exploited a 17-year-old foreigner, DIICOT alleges, and said that he kept all of the $1.5 million (1.3 million euros) made from the criminal activity. The same man repeatedly had sexual relations and acts with a 15-year-old, the agency alleges.

Andrew Tate, who has 9.9 million X followers, has repeatedly claimed that prosecutors have no evidence against him and that there is a political conspiracy to silence him. He was previously banned from various social media platforms for misogynistic views and hate speech.

Authorities have previously confiscated some of the brothers assets.

After the Tates arrest in December 2022, authorities seized 15 luxury cars, 14 designer watches and cash in several currencies. The total value of the goods, authorities said at the time, was estimated at 3.6 million euros ($3.9 million). In April, the Bucharest Tribunal ruled the prosecutors case file against them met the legal criteria and that a trial could start, but didnt set a date for it to begin.

Last month, a court overturned an earlier decision that allowed the Tate brothers to leave Romania as they await trial. The courts decision is final and cant be appealed.

___

Stephen McGrath reported from Sighisoara.

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More than 100 people got up bright and early Saturday morning in Pierce County to begin a hand recount of one of the closest primary election races in Washington state history.

Past a windowed hallway and through a secure door in the Pierce County Elections Center, gloved election workers spoke in hushed tones as observers and staff milled around them. The room echoed with the sound of thousands of pieces of paper being flipped and shuffled into piles.

The process is part of statewide recount triggered by a razor-thin margin between the second and third place candidates in the race for state Commissioner of Public Lands. According to the results, Democrat Dave Upthegrove was beating Republican Sue Kuehl Pederson by only 51 votes.

The second-place winner of the recount will face off with Republican Jaime Herrera Beutler on November 5. Under Washingtons primary system, the top two vote-getters advance regardless of party affiliation. If Pederson prevails, two Republican candidates would advance to the general election.

This is the first time theres been a statewide primary recount in Washington since 1960. Pierce County will be recounting all 213,192 ballots cast Aug. 6 to make sure those numbers line up with the votes tabulated by the countys Clear Ballot machine.

Starting Saturday, teams of two people began to recount 876 batches of about 250 ballots each, officials said. Their work starts up again next week. They expect to finish by Monday, said Derrick Nunnally, communications manager for the Pierce County Auditors Office. Other counties in the region begin their recounts next week.

Members of the public are encouraged to observe the process for themselves and visit the elections building at 2501 S. 35th St. in Tacoma.

County auditor Linda Farmer told The News Tribune during a visit Saturday there havent been any security concerns this year, since the elections office received a suspicious package of white powder last November with a note, Stop the election. The substance was later determined to be baking soda, but the office was evacuated for several hours. Similar unknown white substances, including some laced with Fentanyl, have been sent to King County and Spokane County election offices, in addition to other offices around the country.

Commissioner of Public Lands candidate Sue Keuhl Pederson (right) observes the recount process of her race behind a secure door in the Pierce County Elections Center in Tacoma on Aug. 24, 2024.

Farmer said the office has since upped its security, including a security guard patrolling the recount floor. The FBI is still investigating what happened last year, she said.

Its frustrating, because this is a bedrock of our democracy and this is just something that we do as a matter of course, Farmer said. We are really looking forward to making government boring again. Weve been doing it for decades. This is just part of our service to the residents of Pierce County. We administer secure and trustworthy elections.

So how does the recount process work?

Walking around the floor Saturday, Farmer explained the batch audit process the county uses where teams of two hired seasonal election workers unseal batches of about 250 completed ballots and sort them by how each resident voted in the Commissioner of Public Lands race.

Once the ballots are in piles, election workers count the number of ballots for each candidate and double check that those are the same number as their partners tally and previous tallies. When those numbers match, a full time elections staffer is called over and they triple check, Farmer said.

Washington is a voter intent state, meaning staffers use a manual from the Secretary of States office to guide them on evaluating the candidate the voter intended to endorse. Sometimes people mark two candidates, cross one out or dont fill in the bubble next to their candidate entirely, but elections staff have spent a lot of time determining that, Farmer said.

Each candidate for Commissioner of Public Lands is allowed to appoint two observers to watch the process and each political party, in addition to the League of Women Voters, which represents Independents, can appoint observers, she said.

Some people relegate their observers to the hallways or to a special room with cameras, but we like to give as much access as possible, Farmer said.

Stronger faith in the election system

Robin Echtle, an observer with the Democratic Party, said she was motivated to watch the process for the first time Saturday after learning how two Georgia election workers, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, faced harassment and threats when they were falsely accused by Donald Trump and Rudy Giuliani of election fraud.

Their lives were ruined, Echtle said. And I thought, well, I need to volunteer because they volunteered and they were strong and I was inspired by them.

Tuyen Nguyen said it was also her first time participating in and counting ballots as an election worker. She said the process gave her more confidence in the electoral system.

Her ballot partner, Charles Walker, said this is his second recount but he has been processing ballots to some degree for more than 10 years as a retiree looking for part-time work.

It fits my lifestyle, he said. Its very impressive how much manpower goes into making sure every vote counts  I think anybody who questions the integrity of elections should come down and be an observer, because this is reality.
Pilot breaks his silence months after he tried to shut down planes engines while high on mushrooms

The off-duty pilot who attempted to shut down a planes engines mid-flight after taking psychedelic mushrooms, says that his marriage has improved following the incident and that he hopes to fly again one day.

Speaking about last Octobers incident, Joseph Emerson took responsibility for his unfathomable actions but said he hoped that sharing his story would help the conversation around pilots mental health.

During the incident on 22 October, Emerson was sitting in the cockpits jump seat during a flight from Seattle to San Francisco and allegedly attempted to shut off the planes engines by pulling the engine fire handles.

He later also attempted to pull an emergency exit lever, but was stopped by flight crew and eventually restrained. Emerson was indicted on 84 charges relating to the incident but avoided being indicted by a grand jury for attempted murder.

In a new interview with ABC News, he recalled feeling trapped and how nothing felt real having taken magic mushrooms several days prior to help cope with depression.

Joseph Emerson allegedly attempted to shut off a planes engines during a flight (ABC7)

I did something unfathomable, something I have to take responsibility for and that I regret, Emerson told the outlet. "There was a feeling of being trapped, like, Am I trapped in this airplane? This is not real. I need to wake up.

Emerson said had been struggling over the death of his best friend, Scott, a pilot who died while on a run six years earlier. Emerson had been away for the weekend with friends, celebrating and remembering Scott, during which time he took psychedelic mushrooms.

He said that after leaving the cockpit and being stopped from pulling another emergency lever by a flight attendant he had told the woman: I dont know whats real, I need you to tough cuff me.

Emerson is due to tell his story in a new documentary: The New York Times Presents: Lie To Fly. He hopes that his involvement will help raise awareness about the pressures of a pilots career and improve safety practices.

Emerson and his wife Sarah hope that by sharing his story they can help the wider conversation around pilots mental health (ABC7)

Right now, if you raise your hand, not in every case, but theres a perception out there that if you raise your hand and say somethings not right, theres a very real possibility that you dont fly again, Emerson told ABC.

He also insists his relationship with his wife and children has improved. The couple have launched a new non-profit, Clear Skies Ahead. Their goal is to raise funds for and awareness of pilot mental health.

Im doing the best I can to work through that process right now and Im better for it, which is kind of a weird thing to say but I really am better for all of this  its not the way I would have engineered it but Im doing my best, he said.

Emerson was indicted on 84 charges relating to the incident last October, but avoided being indicted by a grand jury for attempted murder (The Oregonian)

Emerson is not allowed to fly or leave the state, as the charges against him remain pending. However he says that given the chance, he would like to fly again.

Of course I want to fly again. Id be totally disingenuous if I said no, he told ABC. I dont know in what capacity Im going to fly again and I dont know if thats an opportunity thats going to be afforded to me. Its not up to me to engineer that.

What is up to me is to do whats in front of me, put myself in a position where thats a possibility, that it can happen But at the end of the day if Im not meant to fly again, Im not going to fly again.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  After a nearly month-long legal process, Platte County voters will get to weigh in on a sales tax to build the Platte County Childrens Fund after all.

A group called Platte County 4 Kids got enough signatures certified to put a 1/4 cent sales tax on the November ballot to fund the Platte County Childrens Fund, which is expected to raise about $5 million every year.

Mental health organizations could then apply for grants from that pot of money to be awarded by a board that would be appointed by the Platte County Commissioners.

But, after certifying the signature, the Platte County Board of Elections (BOE) told Platte County 4 Kids that the BOE didnt have the authority to put the issue on the ballot itself and it needed an order either from a court or the Platte County Commissioners.

Salvador Perez stops to play neighborhood wiffleball game with KCK kids

I think one of the things that perhaps caught some peopel off gaurd is that its been a long time if ever that Platte County has utilized a signature pathway to get an issue in front of the voters, said Synergy Services Executive Director Dennis Meier.

For a while, it wasnt clear if the legal process would play out fast enough to get the issue on the November ballot by the August 27, 5 pm deadline. Friday, after a hearing in the morning, a Platte County Judge issued the order to the BOE to put the issue on the ballot.

BOE Director Wendy Flanigan confirmed to FOX4 that legal order will result in the Childrens Fund question being on the ballot in November.

Meier says the more than 5,000 people who submitted their signatures understand the need for these kinds of services.

They understood that the ratio between providers and the youth and children who need services is so huge in Platte County, said Meier. When you ahve 840 patients or clients to one provider, that ratio is just so out of balance that people begin to understand this is something thats real important.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Piotr ukasiewicz will assume the duties of Polands Ambassador to Ukraine on 1 September, the Polish Foreign Ministry has said.

Source: Pawe Wronski, spokesman for Polands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in RMF24, as reported by European Pravda

Details: "Jan Tombinski [who once headed the EU Delegation to Ukraine  ed.] has assumed the post in Berlin in a very cordial environment. Piotr Samerek and Ryszard Schnepf will take up the posts in Bratislava and Rome on 26 August. Were preparing for Magorzata Kosiura-Kazmierska to take up the post in Oslo on 1 September," Wronski said.

He also said that Piotr ukasiewicz will head the Polish Embassy in Ukraine on 1 September.

According to Wronski, the majority of changes in Polish diplomatic missions will take place by the end of September.

For reference: Piotr ukasiewicz is a political scientist, diplomat, and colonel in the Polish Armed Forces. He served as the Polish Ambassador to Afghanistan from 2012 to 2014. In 1995-2006, he worked on issues related to state security and the fight against terrorism. He participated in stabilisation missions in Iraq in 2004-2005. In 2006, he was appointed Deputy Military Attache in Islamabad, and in January 2007, he became Colonel and Military Attache in Afghanistan, a position he held for three years.

ukasiewicz became the plenipotentiary representative of the Polish Ministry of Defense in Afghanistan in October 2009, where he helped develop the strategy of the Polish military presence in Afghanistan.

In 2012, ukasiewicz retired from the army with the rank of colonel and became Polands ambassador to Afghanistan. He completed his mission on 31 December 2014. After his return, he worked as a journalist, professor, and political expert.

Background:

In March, Polish Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski said that more than 50 people serving as Polands ambassadors abroad will conclude their missions and that over a dozen of officials appointed by the previous foreign minister would be recalled. The Polish Foreign Ministry said it hoped that key government institutions would cooperate on this issue.

According to Polish law, ambassadors are appointed and dismissed by the president. The head of the presidential cabinet, Marcin Mastalerek, said that Andrzej Duda did not agree with the mass dismissal of ambassadors by the foreign minister without specifying grounds and reasons for the dismissal.

In early June, Duda said that diplomatic missions were being staffed in the worst possible way.

Duda also said that as long as he was in office, he would not sign the appointment of Bogdan Klich as ambassador to the United States. Duda stressed that he would also not sign the appointment of Ryszard Schnepf and other members of the Conference of Polish Ambassadors.

Polands current Ambassador to Ukraine, Jaroslaw Guzy, was appointed by the previous government and started his work in Ukraine in December 2023.

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Piotr Lukasiewicz will become the new Polish ambassador to Ukraine on Sep. 1, Polish news outlet RMF reported on Aug. 24, citing Polish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pawel Wronski.

In March, the Polish Foreign Ministry announced that over 50 ambassadors would terminate their missions and that more than a dozen candidates submitted for approval by the previous ministry leadership would be withdrawn.

Lukasiewicz will replace Jaroslaw Guzy in Kyiv, appointed by the previous Polish government under Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and started his tenure in December 2023.

Lukasiewicz is a political scientist, diplomat, and Polish Armed Forces reserve colonel. From 1995 to 2006, he worked on state security and counterterrorism issues. Lukasiewicz also participated in stabilization missions in Iraq in 2004 and 2005.

In 2006, he was deputy military attache in Islamabad, and in January 2007, Lukasiewicz became a colonel and the army attache in Afghanistan. He retired in 2012 with the rank of colonel before becoming ambassador to Afghanistan. The Polish diplomat completed his mission on De. 31, 2014.

According to Polish law, the president appoints and dismisses ambassadors.

Earlier, the head of the presidential cabinet, Marcin Mastalerek, said that Polish President Andrzej Duda would not agree with the mass dismissal of ambassadors "without specific grounds and reasons."

In early June, Duda assessed that the staffing of diplomatic missions was carried out in "the worst possible way," adding that he would not sign the appointment of some ambassadors. Particularly, Duda does not agree with the candidates of Bogdan Klich and Ryszard Schnepf.

Poland is one of Ukraine's most steadfast supporters. According to the Kiel Institute, Poland has allocated 4.3 billion euros ($4.8 billion) to Ukraine.

Read also: Polish President Duda, Lithuanian PM Simonyte make remarks from Kyiv on Independence Day

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A juvenile was arrested after allegedly setting a fire in Paso Robles on Friday morning.

According to a Paso Robles Police Department news release, officers on patrol noticed a brush fire in the area of North River Road and Union Road around 9:43 a.m.

When they arrived at the scene, they saw a male juvenile running away from the fire, which was set on a hillside backing up to a residential street, the release said.

The Paso Robles Fire and Emergency Services extinguished the fire and none of the nearby homes were damaged, according to the release.

At about 11:08 a.m., the Police Department was then notified of a male juvenile seen attempting to light a fire next to the burn spot from the earlier fire, the release said.

Officers arrived on scene and located the unnamed juvenile, who was determined to be the same person who was seen running away from the fire earlier.

He was arrested on suspicion of charges of recklessly setting a fire, according to the release.

The investigation was ongoing. The Paso Robles Police Department requested anyone with information to call the department at 805-237-6464. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers 24- hour hotline at 805-549-STOP or text SLOTIPS plus your message to CRIMES (274637).
ROSS TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  Troopers say they are investigating a burglary that happened overnight at a restaurant in Luzerne County.

According to the Pennsylvania State Police on August 21 around 11:00 p.m., Paytons Place Restaurant was burglarized overnight.

Officials say suspects forced entry through the front door and broke into the cash register, stealing the cash inside.

Fire burns through body shop in Kingston

State police note they are encouraging surrounding businesses to secure their premises and review their footage for any suspicious activity.

Anyone with information is asked to contact PSP Shickshinny at 570-542-4117.

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One man was killed and another was injured in an overnight shooting in Kansas City, Kansas, police said.

Officers were dispatched just before 1:30 a.m. to the 900 block of Washington Boulevard on a reported shooting. They found a man outside with a gunshot wound. The man was alert and transported to a hospital where he was in critical condition Saturday, said Officer T.J. Tomasic, a spokesperson with KCK police.

Officers later found another man with a gunshot wound in the 800 block of Washington Boulevard. He was taken to the hospital where he later died from his injuries.

Police have not yet released the name of the victim.

The killing is the 18th homicide in Kansas City, Kansas this year, according to data tracked by The Star.

No other information was immediately available Saturday.

Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to call the anonymous TIPS hotline at 816-474-8477. All tips remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.
Surgeons at Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton allegedly refused to acknowledge they had made mistakes - Christopher Pledger for the Telegraph

Police are investigating allegations of surgeons with god complexes at a scandal-hit hospital where more than 100 patients may have been wrongly harmed, The Telegraph can disclose.

The huge criminal investigation at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust is also examining claims that nurses were scared to speak up and escalate concerns.

The investigation by Sussex Police involves at least 105 cases between 2015 and 2021 in the general surgery and neurosurgery departments. Approximately 40 of these are thought to have been fatal.

Operation Bramber was launched after two consultants lost their jobs having raised the alarm about deaths and other alleged instances of patient harm.

Sources with knowledge of the investigation said an emerging theme is surgeons at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton who refused to acknowledge they had made mistakes or make improvements to their practice.

Some of these consultants had god complexes and the managers werent able to handle them, one said.

They inspired fear which meant that often other staff were very slow to escalate concerns when they thought things were going wrong.

Some of them [surgeons] oversaw really appalling management of their patients, particularly in neurosurgery.

The implications for some of the patients have been massive.

In February an investigation by the Royal College of Surgeons said one of the trusts general surgery departments was operating in a culture of fear where bullying and harassment was rife.

No arrests have yet been made as part of Operation Bramber and Sussex Police have warned that the investigation may take some time to complete.

Last month it emerged the force was recruiting extra staff to cope with the workload.

A job advertisement said the operation related to potential offences of manslaughter by gross negligence and corporate manslaughter by gross negligence.

Lackadaisical approach to statistics

The source said that other themes emerging from the cases that form part of the investigation were alleged poor nursing care as well as a lackadaisical approach to statistics, which might have revealed higher rates of adverse outcomes.

Earlier this year The Telegraph revealed claims that the trust allowed significant numbers of surgeons who had not qualified for the specialist register to act as consultants. The trust said this took place only when necessary.

In addition to the criminal investigation, the trust is facing a slew of civil cases from patients and their families who believe they came to harm as a result of negligent treatment.

Successful claims resulting from botched neurosurgery can result in substantial damages, owing to the often lifelong debilitating consequences.

It comes as the trust has frozen recruitment of all non-clinical staff plus some senior medics as it faces a budget deficit of 128 million.

The trust has promised not to reduce its service, but said it needs to take urgent short-term action to prevent our financial situation getting worse.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said: A dedicated team of specially trained officers are in contact with those patients or families of patients whose cases are included in the investigation and providing information to support them while the investigation is ongoing.

This specialist support will be available to them as our enquiries continue.

Professor Katie Urch, chief medical officer of University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, said: We are continuing to support Sussex Police as they look into these allegations.

Our dedicated and skilled surgical teams have made significant improvements to services, as recognised by the CQC earlier this year.

We accept there is more to be done and continue to support them to make further progress, including a commitment to recruiting more staff and opening a new surgical assessment unit.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  One person was killed and another critically injured after a shooting in Kansas City, Kansas early Saturday morning, the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department confirmed.

According to KCKPD, just before 1:30 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 900 block of Washington Boulevard on reports of a shooting.

One dead, two injured in shooting near Midtown in Kansas City

Upon arrival, police said they found a man outside and alert. He was quickly taken to a hospital where he is currently in stable but critical condition.

KCKPD said that shortly after finding the first victim, a second man was found near the 800 block of Washington Boulevard. He was taken to a hospital, but he later died from his injuries.

According to KCKPD, this case is currently under investigation, and anyone with information regarding the deadly shooting is encouraged to call the TIPS Hotline at (816) 474-8477.

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 Flash

Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) on Sept. 5 in Beijing and deliver a keynote speech, foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying announced on Friday.

During the summit, Xi will host a welcome banquet and bilateral events for the leaders of FOCAC's African members and representatives of relevant African regional organizations and international organizations invited to the summit, Hua said.

Themed "Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future," the 2024 Summit of the FOCAC will be held from Sept. 4 to 6.

"Following the 2006 FOCAC Beijing Summit, the 2015 FOCAC Johannesburg Summit and the 2018 FOCAC Beijing Summit, the upcoming summit is another happy reunion of the friendly family of China and Africa. It is also the largest diplomatic event hosted by China in recent years and attended by the most foreign leaders," Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong told a news briefing on Friday.

Many African leaders, along with chairman of the African Union Commission, will lead delegations to the summit, Chen added, noting that the UN secretary-general will be a special guest, and relevant international and regional organizations will also participate as observers.

According to Chen, this year's summit will feature a welcome banquet, an opening ceremony, and four high-level meetings on state governance, industrialization and agricultural modernization, peace and security, as well as high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. The summit agenda also includes the eighth China-Africa entrepreneurs' conference and other related activities.

In his keynote speech, President Xi will elaborate on new ideas and proposals for building a high-level community with a shared future between China and Africa and announce new actions and measures for practical cooperation with Africa, Chen said.

He added that the summit will also adopt two outcome documents, including a declaration and an action plan, to build major consensus between the two sides and chart a path for implementing high-quality China-Africa cooperation in the next three years.

Chen noted that since the establishment of FOCAC 24 years ago, especially in the new era, FOCAC has always adhered to the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. FOCAC has witnessed remarkable achievements, and become a salient hallmark of China-Africa cooperation and a fine example for boosting international cooperation with Africa and deepening Global South cooperation, he added.

Chen noted that this year's summit will forge a broad consensus between the two sides to tackle challenges and create a platform for sharing development opportunities.

According to him, China will take this summit as an important opportunity to join hands with Africa on a new journey of modernization, elevate the China-Africa community with a shared future, and write a new chapter for the friendship between Chinese and African people, while generating strong momentum for advancing global modernization.
Coming off the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this week, Dane County Democrats know they have an outsize role to play in delivering the state for Kamala Harris in November.

The liberal stronghold boasts many of the fastest-growing communities in the state and serves to counter the generally higher Republican turnout in Wisconsins more rural counties.

But in a state famous for its razor-thin margins, local party officials are under increased pressure to not just maintain but to build on the countys strong Democratic turnout, Dane County Democratic Party chair Alexia Sabor said.

In places like Madison, the best we can do is keep up the voter turnout, Sabor said. Maybe we can inch it forward a little bit, but between 2016 and 2020 we turned out 42,000 more votes in Dane County. We are probably not going to do that again, even though Madison is continuing to grow.

That means increasing recruiting and get-out-the-vote efforts in the growing communities surrounding Madison, such as Oregon and Waunakee, Sabor said. The county Democratic party has increased its regional engagement efforts from five field offices in 2018 to more than a dozen this year, Sabor said.

There are votes to be picked up, and thats our focus right now  making sure we continue to turn out the vote strongly in the strongholds where we already do, like Madison and Middleton, but also making sure that we dont take any votes for granted, Sabor said.

The strength of Dane Countys liberal vote was on full display in Wisconsins August partisan primary, where nearly 30% of the voting-age population in Dane County cast ballots  the countys highest turnout among comparable elections in decades. The statewide turnout in that election was about 26%, according to unofficial results.

Of those who voted in Dane County this month, more than 80% rejected two Republican-authored constitutional amendments seeking to limit the governors control over federal funding. The counties of Dane and Milwaukee, Wisconsins other Democratic stronghold, were the only two in the state that saw votes against to the two measures surpass the roughly 57% statewide opposition the proposals received.

People are jazzed as hell about the outcome of that amendment election in this county, Sabor said. The neighborhood teams really organized around that and I think, rightfully, feel very responsible for that outcome.

Dane Countys turnout, particularly among younger voters at campus precincts, also played a part in Democratic Gov. Tony Evers successful bid for a second term in 2022 and Justice Janet Protasiewiczs double-digit victory in 2023, which flipped the Wisconsin Supreme Court to a liberal majority for the first time in more than 15 years.

In last years April election, statewide turnout reached more than 36%, likely due to the hotly contested state Supreme Court race. Dane Countys turnout in that election reached 52%.

Dane County plays a crucial role in Wisconsin statewide elections, first-time Democratic National Convention delegate and Dane County Sup. Henry Fries, of Madison, said. Without Dane County and Milwaukee County, Democrats would never win a statewide race.

Dane Countys Democratic turnout has also created a foil for Republicans, who have seen their GOP margins continue to slip in the suburbs that encircle Milwaukee  known as the WOW counties of Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington.

GOP: Spend more time in Madison

To counter trends in those counties and Democrats firm grip on Dane County, Brandon Maly, chair of the Republican Party of Dane County, said state and national conservatives need to spend more money and time in the liberal bastion to better court the large number of Republicans who also live there. The county, after all, still has the third-largest population of Republican voters in the state.

Brian Schimming, chair of the Republican Party of Wisconsin, described GOP turnout in Madison, such as in the most recent primary, as probably an historic low.

I think the party needs to spend more time in Madison and Dane County and do outreach to areas that maybe we gave up on for a while, Schimming said. We need to get back in there ... if you only show up every four years, youre not going to have people pay attention.

Republican state Treasurer John Leiber echoed that sentiment, adding that the effort has its challenges. In addition to being one of the most liberal communities in the state, Madison is also home to the state Capitol and UW-Madison  two of state and national Republicans favorite punching bags.

I think its easy for people running for office out state to campaign against Madison, Leiber said. I think sometimes we kind of forget that theres a lot of votes here and theres a lot of people who agree with us in Dane County as Republicans.

Thats a huge number and I think its a mistake if Republicans dont get out in Dane County and Madison and talk to people, Leiber continued.

Sabor said any Republican loss in Dane County is the Democratic Partys gain, and organizers are hoping to flip some Republicans who may not be enthusiastic about a second Trump term.

There are opportunities for us to help disaffected Republicans see the light, Sabor said. And theres a lot of disaffected Republicans right now.

Contested races around the state

Just as Republicans are hoping to make inroads in Dane County, Democrats are also hoping for better performances in Wisconsins more rural areas, which generally lean Republican and are home to about a third of the states voting population.

Timothy White, spokesperson for Harris Wisconsin campaign, said the campaign is operating 48 offices across the state. Of those, three are in Dane County. Thirty-two are in counties Trump won in 2020.

With new legislative maps in place, which create several new contested races on the ballot this fall, Democrats have put up candidates in all but two of Wisconsins 99 state Assembly races and every state Senate race coming before voters this fall. Party officials say its the first time in more than 20 years that Democrats have put a candidate in every state Senate race on the fall ballot.

That is important, Fries said. Not every candidate will win. A lot of candidates will lose in those rural areas. But the important part is keeping that electorate engaged, and thats what were doing.

Democrats are also hopeful that Harris selection of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz could help shore up her campaigns standing in the upper Midwest, a crucial region for success this fall.

Sabor said efforts in areas outside Wisconsins urban hubs should help ease the pressure on her county, which only has so much room to grow when it comes to turning out the Democratic vote.

Wed be foolish not to focus on high voter turnout areas like Madison, Sabor said. But were increasingly making sure that we are present in places outside of Dane and Milwaukee (counties).

Photos: Democratic National Convention Day 3
Police: Pedestrian injured after being struck by vehicle in Chesapeake

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY)  A man was injured after being struck by a vehicle in the area of South Military Highway and Canal Drive in Chesapeake Friday evening, police said.

Around 6:45 p.m., Chesapeake Police officers were sent to the area of South Military Highway and Canal Drive in reference to a man running into the street, police said.

Before officers arrived, the call was updated to say that the man was struck by a vehicle, police said. Officers arrived and found that the man was struck by the vehicle, had non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP or submit a tip online at P3Tips.com or through the P3Tips app.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
Police search for subject after stabbing in SW OKC

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Oklahoma City Police responded to a stabbing in Southwest Oklahoma City Saturday morning.

Authorities say around 10:00 a.m. officers responded near South May Avenue and Southwest 25th Street to a victim stabbed. Police are currently searching for the suspect.

One person stabbed in SW OKC Saturday morning

One person stabbed in SW OKC Saturday morning

The victim was transported to a local hospital to be treated for their injuries.

Officials tell News 4 the incident was domestic, involving a son stabbing his father.

There is no information on the condition of the victim and no other details have been released.

This is a developing story.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
MIDLAND CITY, Ala (WDHN)  Midland City Police are asking for help identifying those wanted in an early morning motorcycle theft.

According to Police Chief Willy Powell, a red 2008 Honda CBR1000RR with Alabama tag 26A1820 and a yellow 2007 Yamaha YZF-R1 with Alabama tag 26A183T were stolen from the front yard in the 700 block of East Delta Street at around 1:00 a.m.

Chief Powell says the bikes were loaded onto a trailer hooked to a pickup truck, later seen on surveillance footage driving down Hinton Waters Avenue and turning onto 3rd Street.

You can see the surveillance footage from a nearby business below:

The chief tells WDHN the investigation is ongoing, and officers are asking for help identifying those involved.

If you have any information, you can call the Midland City Police Department at (334) 983-3591.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com.
Police: Teen arrested in connection with threat made against Graham Elementary School

Austin police arrested Giana Castillo, 17, on Tuesday and charged her with terroristic threat, a third degree felony, in connection with a threat to Graham Elementary School, officials announced Friday.

The arrest came after the FBI received a tip about concerning online statements made on an Instagram account connected to Castillo, police said.

Although law enforcement don't suspect a continued threat against Graham Elementary, school officials increased Austin district police presence at the campus throughout the week as a precaution, according to a letter the district sent to parents and guardians Thursday.

The campus also conducts weekly safety audits of the doors, Graham Principal Bardo Montelongo told families in the letter.

"I understand how difficult this information feels to receive and I am deeply saddened to be sharing it," Montelongo said in a second letter sent to families Friday. "As your campus leader, I am incredibly grateful that through the collaboration of our local law enforcement agencies, our campus remains safe."

Local FBI contacted Austin district police late Tuesday evening about the investigation into the threat made against the school, Montelongo said.

Were committed to keeping our community safe and have taken measures to prevent any threats," Austin district Police Chief Wayne Sneed said in a statement Friday.

The district is hiring enough police to have officers at every elementary campus, in compliance with House Bill 3, which state leaders passed in 2023, Sneed said.

Travis County Jail records didn't show Castillo in jail as of Friday evening but showed her bail set at $100,000.

District officials plan to hold a meeting Monday to discuss campus safety with Graham Elementary parents.

The investigation into the incident is still ongoing, according to Austin police.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Teen arrested in connection with threat to an Austin elementary school
HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY)  Police are working on a shooting in the 1200 block of Merchant Lane on Friday, police said.

The call came in around 7:30 p.m. Police are currently on the scene.

No additional details are available.

If you have any information about this case, you can submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-888-LOCK-U-UP, downloading the P3 tips app to a mobile device, or visiting www.P3tips.com and submitting a tip.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
In his speech on Ukraine's Independence Day in Kyiv, Polish President Andrzej Duda expressed confidence that Ukraine would be able to defend its freedom and that "the war will soon end in [Ukraine's] victory." He also emphasised that the bonds between Ukraine and Poland are stronger than any differences.

Source: European Pravda, citing Duda's speech

Details: Duda noted that Ukraine's Independence Day is, to some extent, the Independence Day of the whole of Central Europe because "without Ukraine's independence, it is difficult to imagine an independent and secure Poland, Lithuania or other countries in our region".

He praised the heroic struggle of Ukrainians to preserve their independence and vowed that Poland would support Ukraine until it wins the war against Russia.

"We, the Poles, know that independence is not given once and for all. In our history, we have endured tragic moments, lost our sovereignty twice, and regained it through superhuman efforts each time," Duda stated.

In his view, the example of the Polish struggle for statehood is a strong testament that perseverance and a desire for freedom can lead to victory, even when the enemy appears much stronger.

"I have never had, and do not have, the slightest doubt that, through their united efforts and struggle, the courageous Ukrainian people will uphold their independence. Although Ukraine is currently battling the Russian aggressor, fiercely fighting for its independence, I am confident that the war will soon conclude with the triumph of freedom over tyranny. Out of the darkness of war and the devastation of scorched territories, a new world will emerge," Andrzej Duda said.

He highlighted that the Europe we know today ultimately emerged from the ashes of World War II.

In his speech, Duda recalled the common past of Ukraine, Lithuania and Poland as part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

"The territories of our countries have been a fertile ground for the development of democratic traditions and civil liberties, which became a starting point and inspired the independence movements that shaped the European identity of the countries in our region... The fact that Ukraine today is shedding blood for freedom and sovereignty, rather than choosing to live in the shadow of the Kremlin's imperial policy, is rooted in our common history  I am deeply convinced of this," the Polish president said.

Duda also emphasised that Poland was the first country in the world to officially recognise Ukraine's independence in 1991.

He acknowledged that it is impossible to forget the painful chapters in their shared historical past.

"We do not trivialise, erase or forget them. We want to build a future based on truth and sincere reconciliation. Fraternal peoples owe this to one another, for what unites us is stronger than what divides us. I believe that unity and solidarity between us are crucial now, and that is why we must strengthen them with all our might," Andrzej Duda stressed.

Background:

On the morning of 24 August, the Polish president arrived in Kyiv. Before the celebrations on St Sophia's Square, he paid tribute to the fallen defenders of Ukraine at St Michael's Monastery.

In mid-August, Andrzej Duda honoured the soldiers of the Ukrainian People's Republic who fought against the Bolsheviks in 1917-1921 at a cemetery in Warsaw.

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Polish President Andrzej Duda and Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte spoke in Kyiv alongside President Volodymyr Zelensky on Ukraine's Independence Day on Aug. 24.

Ukraine celebrates Independence Day on Aug. 24, the day the country's Declaration of Independence was issued in 1991. The holiday has gained increased popular support and significance since Russia's invasion of Donbas in 2014. It is the third Independence Day Ukraine has marked since the beginning of the full-scale war.

In a speech delivered in Ukrainian, Simonyte said, "It is a great honor and a great joy for me to be here on this day and to celebrate the independence of Ukraine together with the free and indomitable people of Ukraine."

"Lithuania has been and will be with Ukraine at every step towards the goal (of ensuring that Russian war criminals are punished)," Simonyte said.

"We are doing and will continue to do everything to bring victory, the victory of light over darkness, the victory of good over evil, the victory of free people, which we will celebrate together, with light, with gas, and without Russia."

In a post on X, Simonyte said that the Lithuanian government "will meet and most likely surpass the undertaken commitment to spend 0.25% of GDP on defense and security aid to Ukraine."

According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, which tracks international aid for Ukraine, Lithuania has allocated 501 million euros ($560 million) in support for Ukraine.

Duda said, "We, Poles, know that independence is not given once and for all. In our history, we experienced tragic moments, we lost sovereignty twice and twice restored it with superhuman efforts."

"I have never had, and do not have, the slightest doubt that, through their united efforts and struggle, the courageous Ukrainian people will uphold their independence. Although Ukraine is currently battling the Russian aggressor, fiercely fighting for its independence, I am confident that the war will soon conclude with the triumph of freedom over tyranny."

"Out of the darkness of war and the devastation of scorched territories, a new world will emerge," the Polish president said.

Poland is one of Ukraine's most steadfast supporters. According to the Kiel Institute, Poland has allocated 4.3 billion euros ($4.8 billion) to Ukraine.

Read also: Ukrainian response will reach any point in Russia  Zelenskys Independence Day address

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Gov. Spencer Cox speaks, left, to reporters at the PBS monthly news conference at the Eccles Broadcast Center in Salt Lake City on Feb. 15, 2024. Democratic state Rep. and gubernatorial candidate Brian King, right, speaks during a meeting with the Deseret News editorial board at the Deseret News office in Salt Lake City on Aug. 5, 2024. | Laura Seitz and Brice Tucker, De

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox leads his general election opponent, Rep. Brian King, D-Salt Lake City, by 40 percentage points in a head-to-head contest, according to a new Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll.

If the election for Utah governor were held today, the poll found that 59% of Utah registered voters say they would cast their ballot for Cox, the Republican nominee; 19% say they would vote for King, the Democratic nominee; and 23% say they dont know or are unsure.

Coxs hypothetical winning margin  74 days out from Election Day  increased by 4 percentage points when undecided voters were asked to choose between the two major party candidates whose names will appear on the ballot in November.

Gov. Spencer Cox and Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson are grateful for the broad base of support that these numbers demonstrate, said Coxs campaign spokesperson, Matt Lusty. They appreciate the team effort of everyday Utahns from across the state who have led Utah to being ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the best performing state in the nation. Gov. Cox and Lt. Gov. Henderson will continue to work hard until Election Day to earn every vote possible by sharing their message of fiscal responsibility and conservative leadership with Utah voters.

This lead remained unchanged when voters were asked to choose between Cox, King and the two third-party candidates who qualified for the ballot. Cox finished with 65% of the vote, King with 21%, Independent American Party candidate Tommy Williams with 8% and Libertarian Party candidate J. Robert Latham with 6% of the vote.

The poll matches up closely with the outcomes of the previous two general elections for Utah governor. In 2020, Cox defeated Chris Peterson 64%-31%. In 2016, former Gov. Gary Herbert defeated Mike Weinholtz 67%-30%.

Challenging a popular incumbent is often a difficult task, and Governor Coxs polling numbers prove this reality, said Jason Perry, director of the University of Utahs Hinckley Institute of Politics. To be successful, challengers need to build substantial name identification, raise large amounts of money, and articulate a compelling alternative vision for the state. These are all hard to do against a well-known incumbent which has put Governor Cox in a strong position.

The poll was conducted from Aug. 2-9 among 800 registered voters in Utah by HarrisX. The margin of error for the sample is +/- 3.5 percentage points.

DN-poll-governor

Cox vs. King

Cox is running for reelection at the close of his first four-year term in office. The governor, who previously served as lieutenant governor for seven years, has campaigned on a record of supporting the Legislature in historic tax cuts, abortion restrictions and Second Amendment legislation. Cox has also led out on efforts to protect children from the harms of social media and incentivize the construction of first-time homes.

King has criticized Cox for allegedly amplifying extreme voices in his party on anti-DEI legislation and increased penalties for individuals who use public bathrooms that dont match their biological sex.

As the former state House minority leader, King proposed gun control legislation requiring universal background checks on gun sales and led opposition to Utahs 2020 law prohibiting elective abortions. King has billed his campaign as a way to restore balance to Utahs Republican supermajority government and to give better representation to Utahs diverse population.

In a statement given to the Deseret News, King said the poll results did not reflect his true support among Utahns disenchanted with the trajectory of the GOP and excluded the write-in campaign of failed primary candidate state Rep. Phil Lyman, R-Blanding.

This race has fundamentally shifted in recent days and the momentum is on our side, said Kings campaign manager, Gabi Finlayson. The recent poll, conducted before Phil Lymans write-in campaign and our ad went viral, does not include Lyman as an option and fails to reflect the current divisions within the Republican party.

Since losing the GOP primary election on June 25 by over 37,500 votes, Lyman has called Utahs election system corrupt and said he doesnt believe Cox should be on the general election ballot. Lyman launched a write-in campaign for governor shortly after the Utah Supreme Court denied Lymans request to remove Cox and Henderson from office and advance himself to the general election.

Governor Cox faces a serious challenge from Lymans campaign, Finlayson said. This write-in campaign highlights Coxs inability to satisfy his own party.

A write-in wrinkle to Utahs gubernatorial race

Cox enters the general election season after emerging from a difficult Republican primary. Cox defeated Lyman, his GOP challenger, in the June 25 election by 9 percentage points  a solid victory by any standard, but less than his predecessors primary reelection margins.

While Cox won the state GOP convention in 2020 with 55% of delegate support, he lost to Lyman in 2024, 67.5%-32.5%, becoming the first signature-gathering incumbent not to meet the partys 40% threshold at convention since a signature route was established 10 years ago, according to former GOP party chairman Spencer Stokes.

Lyman ran a relentless primary campaign accusing Cox of being overly welcoming to migrants and not aggressive enough on social issues. Shortly before his loss in the primary, Lyman began throwing doubt on the validity of Coxs primary ballot qualification.

On Aug. 15, Lyman joined forces with King for a Disagree Better-style attack ad against Cox, poking fun at the governors initiative to bring down the temperature in political rhetoric, and advertising Lymans decision to launch a write-in campaign for governor. The ad says it was paid for by Brian for Utah.

In response to the Lyman-King ad, the Cox campaign highlighted Kings liberal record and framed Lymans write-in campaign as sour grapes.

The choice voters have this fall is clear: Utah values or liberal, California-style policy positions, Lusty said. Losing is hard, but encouraging others to elect someone who believes in a Gavin Newsom style of government is the wrong solution for Utah.

In the four-way general election survey question, Cox received support from 75% of Republicans and 22% of Democrats. King received support from 57% of Democrats and 5% of Republicans. Cox led with 42% of independents, while King trailed with 17% of the independent vote and Williams and Latham split the remainder.

Around 15% of Republican and Democratic voters said they were unsure who they supported, and 22% of independents said they didnt know who they would vote for.

HarrisX CEO Dritan Nesho said barring any unforeseen circumstances or surprises Cox, and Republican Rep. John Curtis, who is running against Caroline Gleich for U.S. Senate in Utah, are both likely to win.

At this stage, theres just not enough undecideds sitting on the fence to prohibit Coxs reelection to Governor or Curtiss Senate win, he said.
PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (WPRI)  State regulators on Thursday approved an extension for a natural gas facility that was set up five years ago in response to a massive outage on Aquidneck Island, much to the chagrin of many who call the island home.

Five years ago, the liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility was installed in a residential area of Portsmouth as a temporary backup for Aquidneck Islands gas delivery system after the outage left families and businesses without heat and hot water for a week.

BACKGROUND: Portable gas facility set up in Portsmouth ahead of cold snap

However, some Old Mill Lane residents told 12 News that the facility has caused ongoing disruptions since it began operations in January 2019.

You get woken up at 4:30 in the morning because they have to start their equipment, and it goes to 93 decibels, resident Stephen McDonald said. The company lies and says its never that loud.

McDonald has advocated against the project for years, but said he and many others have been ignored.

This is a non-conforming use in old agricultural land. They dont want their neighborhood to become an industrial zone, resident Liz Drayton said.

They said it wasnt going to affect the water, or the land, or the animals. That it was going to be okay, resident Lawrence Silvia said. Except Portsmouth said no.

In a statement, the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) said its recommendations were included in the final approval.

The Energy Facility Siting Board made the best decision in a difficult situation, CLF staff attorney James Crowley said. Families and businesses on Aquidneck Island shouldnt be left in the cold again.

The CLF has argued that Rhode Island Energy should take steps to decrease gas demand on the island, which its members believe would eliminate the need for the facility and reduce the risk of future service disruptions.

REPORT: Aquidneck Island gas outage caused by rapid rise in demand, faulty valve

Under the current agreement, the facility will remain in place for at least the next five years.

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Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker speaks at a Michigan Democratic Party delegation breakfast on day four of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Thursday that former President Donald Trump suggested using nets to stop Asian carp from getting into the Great Lakes.

Pritzker told the Michigan Democratic Party delegation to the Democratic National Convention on Thursday that Trump made the suggestion during a meeting at the White House with governors shortly after becoming president.

Trump had asked the governors to go around the room and list their most important issues, Pritzker said, to which Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer answered: Asian carp.

Donald Trump looked at her and said, Whats that? After she explained what it is, he said, Well, why dont we just put a bunch of nets up? That seems like that would keep the fish out, Pritzker said.

Pritzker touted a $1.1 billion compact between Illinois and Michigan to build a barrier meant to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes.

Pritzker said that he debated attending the meeting with Trump, but decided that he had to as he represents Illinois residents.

Pritzker was one of several high-profile speakers who visited the Michigan delegation during their daily breakfasts at the Hilton Chicago. Previous guests also included U.S. House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif.), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Interior Secretary Deb Haaland.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said that it is important for leaders to stay focused on fundamental issues in order to win the election.

While we think about this election, while we think about the polls, most people wake up thinking about their job, whether they make enough to support their family, Beshear said. They think about their next doctors appointment for themselves, their kids and their parents. They think about the school theyre going to drop their kids off at.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, a Michigan resident and former mayor of South Bend, Ind., said that focusing on policies is also good strategy because Democrats agenda is more popular.

Especially for those of us who live in more conservative or rural or swing areas, sometimes we Democrats fool ourselves into thinking that we dont have the most popular positions, Buttigieg said. The reverse is true. Most Americans already agree with us that it is the wealthy who are not paying their fair share and the middle class who needs a break, not the other way around.

Buttigieg criticized Trumps speech in Howell earlier in the week.

I saw Donald Trump go to Michigan, of all places, and give a speech about crime, as if were going to forget the fact that hes a convicted criminal running against a prosecutor, Buttigieg said.

He was asked during a later appearance at the CNN-Politico Grill whether he would consider a run for Michigan governor in 2026, when Whitmer will be term limited out. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson have already expressed interest. Other potential candidates could include Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist former U.S. Senate candidate Hill Harper.

Buttigieg gave no indication that a gubernatorial campaign is on his radar, but stopped short of ruling it out.

Im not just trying to be coy for political reasons, Buttigieg said. Every great opportunity Ive had, and everything Ive done in politics that mattered, probably would have been a big surprise to me just a year or two before it was happening. Thats taught me to be very humble about thinking I have the path figured out in terms of whats ahead, and I sincerely dont know what Ill be doing whenever Im not doing what Im doing right now.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg speaks at the CNN-POLITICO Grill during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

Robin Smith wears a variety of campaign pins during a Michigan Democratic Party delegation breakfast in Chicago, Ill., on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, the final day of the Democratic National Convention. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg speaks at the CNN-POLITICO Grill during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker speaks at a Michigan Democratic Party delegation breakfast on day four of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

Pink foam mittens branded with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's federal PAC are distributed at a Michigan Democratic Party delegation breakfast on day four of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 22, 2024. Delegates were encouraged to hold the foam mittens up when Whitmer spoke Thursday evening. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

Robin Smith, left, holds up a foam mitten reading "FIGHT LIKE HELL," the name of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's federal political action committee, during a Michigan Democratic Party delegation breakfast in Chicago, Ill., on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, the final day of the Democratic National Convention. Michigan Democrats plan to hold the foam mittens up during Whitmer's speech at the convention Thursday evening. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

Michigan state Rep. Jason Morgan, D-Ann Arbor, speaks at a Michigan Democratic Party delegation breakfast on day four of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg speaks at the CNN-POLITICO Grill during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

Harris campaign advisor David Plouffe speaks at a Michigan Democratic Party delegation breakfast on day four of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

Planned Parenthood Action Fund President Alexis McGill Johnson speaks at a Michigan Democratic Party delegation breakfast on day four of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

National Education Association President Becky Pringle speaks at a Michigan Democratic Party delegation breakfast on day four of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg speaks at a Michigan Democratic Party delegation breakfast on day four of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten speaks at a Michigan Democratic Party delegation breakfast on day four of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg speaks at the CNN-POLITICO Grill during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker speaks at a Michigan Democratic Party delegation breakfast on day four of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate talks to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at a Michigan Democratic Party delegation breakfast on day four of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg speaks at a Michigan Democratic Party delegation breakfast on day four of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

Michael Short, 73, of Westland, Mich., at a Michigan delegation breakfast during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg speaks at a Michigan Democratic Party delegation breakfast on day four of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg speaks at the CNN-POLITICO Grill during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker speaks at a Michigan Democratic Party delegation breakfast on day four of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

Chasten Buttigieg, husband of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, at a Michigan Democratic Party delegation breakfast on day four of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg speaks at the CNN-POLITICO Grill during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg speaks at a Michigan Democratic Party delegation breakfast on day four of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg speaks at a Michigan Democratic Party delegation breakfast on day four of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

Chasten Buttigieg, husband of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, at a Michigan Democratic Party delegation breakfast on day four of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

Ambassador Norm Eisen speaks at a Michigan Democratic Party delegation breakfast on day four of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker speaks at a Michigan Democratic Party delegation breakfast on day four of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 22, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

Pink foam mittens branded with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's federal PAC are distributed at a Michigan Democratic Party delegation breakfast on day four of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 22, 2024. Delegates were encouraged to hold the foam mittens up when Whitmer spoke Thursday evening. (Photo by Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance)

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Italian authorities are opening an investigation into whether the sinking of the luxury yacht Bayesian, which killed seven people including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, was manslaughter.

Prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio said Saturday that the investigation is not targeting specific individuals so far, but that it was "plausible" that the crimes of manslaughter or causing a shipwreck through negligence were committed.

The Bayesian went down off the port of Porticello, near Sicily's capital of Palermo, after an unexpected storm early Monday morning. Fifteen people, including Lynch's wife and the owner of the yacht Angela Bacares, were rescued from the water.

A frantic search of the water and the sunken vessel ultimately recovered the bodies of seven people over the next few days: Lynch, his 18-year-old daughter Hannah; lawyer Christopher Morvillo, an American, and his wife Neda Morvillo; Morgan Stanley executive Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy Bloomer; and Recaldo Thomas, who was the ship's chef. Lynch had recently been acquitted in a fraud trial in the U.S.; Christopher Morvillo was one of his lawyers and Jonathan Bloomer served as a character witness on Lynch's behalf.

Divers of the Vigili del Fuoco, the Italian Corps. of Firefighters enter Porticello harbor near Palermo. They recovered the body of Hannah Lynch, the last missing person at the back of the boat, on Aug. 23, 2024, four days after the British-flagged luxury yacht Bayesian sank.

Investigation underway to find out how yacht sank

Investigators will pull the sunken ship from the sea bottom, where it is lying on its side about 160 feet down.

"It's in the interests of the owners and managers of the ship to salvage it," Cartosio said, adding that it's not out of the question for the investigation to shift to focus on a person.

The catastrophe has puzzled naval experts, who say the yacht should have withstood a storm of this magnitude. No other boats in the area reported damage from the storm.

Survivors, including the Bayesian's captain James Cutfield, have been questioned by authorities about what happened on the ship, but haven't yet spoken publicly. Cutfield was "extremely cooperative," Raffaele Cammarano, another prosecutor, said Saturday.

A maritime legal expert told USA TODAY the disaster could lead to lawsuits and possible criminal charges against Cutfield. Mitchell Stoller, a maritime expert witness and captain, said it was Cutfield's duty to monitor weather and prepare to maneuver the boat through rough waters instead of staying anchored. Italian authorities have said the Bayesian was likely anchored before the disaster. It's not clear if Cutfield has retained an attorney who can speak on his behalf, and messages seeking comment to a Facebook profile appearing to belong to him went unreturned on Friday.

WHY DID THE BAYESIAN SINK? Investigators seek answers to why the luxury superyacht sank in storm

"Indescribable, unreasonable errors" by the crew, not issues with the boat's design, led to its sinking, Giovanni Costantino, CEO of The Italian Sea Group, which owns Perini, told Reuters.

Cammarano said the passengers were likely asleep when the storm hit, which could be why several were unable to escape. The bodies of most were found on the left side of the boat, where they may have gone to try and find pockets of air as it sank, Girolamo Bentivoglio Fiandra of Palermo's Fire Brigade said.

Contributing: Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY; Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sicily yacht wreck manslaughter probe announced
How protesters and Chicago police defied predictions of chaos at the DNC

Demonstrators gather at Union Park on the final night of the DNC in Chicago.

CHICAGO  The stakes were high as tens of thousands of Democrats descended this week on Chicago for their nominating convention, and law enforcement braced for potentially violent protests outside the United Center.

Comparisons were drawn to the 1968 Chicago convention, when national unrest during the civil rights movement and over the Vietnam War sowed an atmosphere of violence and chaos.

The 2024 Democratic National Convention unfolded quite differently, however, with both protests and policing bearing little resemblance to the turmoil of 56 years ago.

If the 1968 convention went down as the example of police brutality, then the 2024 convention will go down as the example of constitutional policing, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson told reporters Friday.

Chicago Police Department officers were trained to deploy a disciplined and patient approach that focused on protecting free speech and allowing people to lawfully protest, a department official said. In the handful of instances in which tensions between police and protesters escalated, police zeroed in on a small number of people who attacked officers or disregarded dispersal orders.

The department trained more than a year for this, a Chicago Police Department official who was not authorized to speak publicly told NBC News.

Protesters gather outside the Israeli consulate on the second night of DNC on Tuesday.

That training focused on de-escalation, according to the official, who added there's an appetite in the department for training that would have a transformative effect.

We are trying to get away from the old image of the Chicago Police Department, the official said.

Demonstrations held Sunday through Thursday remained mostly peaceful, with one glaring exception: A protest on Tuesday organized by Behind Enemy Lines and Samidoun  an organization banned in Israel and Germany that praised Hamas Oct. 7 attack  quickly turned violent. More than 50 people were arrested and at least four people suffered minor injuries during scuffles.

In all, 74 people were arrested between Monday and Thursday, according to Chicago police. The department estimated protest attendee numbers were in the low thousands, far below the tens of thousands organizers had predicted.

Unused protest signs in Chicago on Monday.

On Sunday, several hundred people gathered in downtown Chicago for a protest organized by Bodies Outside of Unjust Laws, a group that describes itself as a coalition of leftist organizations advocating for a broad list of topics, including reproductive justice and an end to the war in Gaza.

On Monday, the Coalition to March on the DNC held its main rally. Organizers said they were expecting 20,000 to show up and maintained that some 15,000 did, but police put the number closer to between 4,000 and 6,000.

It remained mostly peaceful until demonstrators arrived within sight of the convention. At that point, a breakaway group of protesters climbed onto perimeter fencing and began tearing it down. People attempted to pour into the barricaded area as police in riot gear largely stood by ordering them to disperse.

Officers quickly restored the fencing after consulting with Secret Service officials, Police Superintendent Larry Snelling told reporters the next day. During the briefing, he praised both police officers for showing restraint and the majority of protesters who just wanted to make their voices heard.

We put on display the preparation and training weve been engaged in for over a year now, he said.

But just a few hours later, the mood soured when a protest outside the Israeli Consulate turned violent.

Pro-Palestinian groups repeatedly ignored dispersal orders, charging into police lines, throwing signs and water bottles at officers in riot gear, and leading several hundred demonstrators on an improvised path through the streets of downtown Chicago after police tried to block them.

Michael Boyte, co-founder of Behind Enemy Lines, said the organizing groups didnt set out to clash with police that day and dismissed the notion that law enforcement used restraint when responding to demonstrations.

From the moment we got there, there was an intimidating show of force on behalf of the CPD, who made it clear that they were not going to permit any kind of free expression happening at the consulate, he said. We think its a legal right and a moral obligation to protest the genocide.

The rest of the week, several thousand protesters took to the streets each evening in largely peaceful demonstrations. A handful of protesters holding an overnight sit-in Wednesday night ended without incident.

A demonstrator chants directions to the crowd on Tuesday.

While the number of protesters throughout the week didnt live up to organizers estimates, they still arrived in far greater numbers than they had during last months Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

The story is that the police were not the story, said Chuck Wexler, the executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum, a policing think tank in Washington, D.C.

Ed Obayashi, a former police officer who consults with multiple police departments throughout California on use-of-force issues, said that, overall, Chicago police did a good job policing the convention and that protests lacked the numbers or intensity to significantly disrupt events.

Their presence, to a large degree, was a deterrent to violence. It was clear and authoritative, he said, referring to Chicago police.

But Brad Thomson, a volunteer attorney with the National Lawyers Guild of Chicago who monitored protests all week, said the massive police response was just completely disproportionate to the size of the crowd.

Obayashi, however, noted that the small number of protesters coupled with the minute number who were seeking to be disruptive failed to push the buttons of law enforcement. Notable, too, was the presence of Superintendent Snelling, who appeared on the front lines alongside police officers throughout the week.

At times he personally stepped in to handle a specific policing matter. On Wednesday, for example, after a woman threw a water bottle at an officer and was apprehended, police officials said Snelling personally intervened so that she was released and not booked.

He is leading from the front, instead of behind a desk, he is able to control his people, said Terence Monahan, a former top official with the New York Police Department. He sees firsthand whats going on. He can direct the actions that need to be taken.

Confrontations with police and demonstrators ended in a mass arrest a block away from the Israeli consulate on Tuesday.

Several protesters agreed that police exercised restraint and discipline repeatedly, but feared it was just a temporary act that will disappear after the spotlight fades from Chicago.

I am a bit cynical, said Chicago resident Eduardo Castelao. The city commanded officers to stay calm, but it seems to me like theyll be back to their usual stuff as soon as the convention is over.

Nick Sous, an organizer with the U.S. Palestinian Community Network who helped organize the Coalition to March on the DNC, said that, while he was pleased the police did their job, he would have preferred they did not come at all.

I dont think we needed the police this week, said Sous, a Chicago resident. Our marshals protected us more than adequately, he said.





This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Russian leader Vladimir Putin's approval and trust rating has plummeted to a record low amid the Kursk operation by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, according to a survey conducted by the Russian Public Opinion Research Centre.

Source: Meduza, a Latvia-based Russian media outlet, with reference to the Agentstvo media outlet

Details: Meduza reported that the Russian Public Opinion Research Centre website states that Putin's approval rating for the week of 12-18 August fell by 3.5% compared to the previous week and reached 73.6%.

The level of trust in Putin decreased by 2.6% to 78.2% over the same period. This is the sharpest drop since the beginning of Russia's war against Ukraine.

Russian publications also note that, according to the Russian Public Opinion Research Centre, this is a record drop in both indicators since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops in February 2022.

During the war, Putin's approval rating dropped below 73.6% in the summer and autumn of 2023, after the uprising of Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin.

At the same time, Putin's trust rating has dropped below 78% twice during the war  against the backdrop of mobilisation in the autumn and winter of 2022-2023 and in the summer and autumn of 2023, after Prigozhin's rebellion. In addition, sociologists recorded the lowest value of the rating (76.7%) in the week from 31 July to 6 August 2023.

Background:

The Armed Forces of Ukraine crossed the Russian-Ukrainian border near the city of Sudzha in Kursk Oblast on 6 August 2024.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine had reportedly taken control of the village of Poroz in Belgorod Oblast on 10 August. A counterterrorism operation regime was implemented, including increased security, movement restrictions, document checks, and phone monitoring in Russiass Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod oblasts.

The Ukrainian authorities confirmed the participation of the Armed Forces in a special operation in the territory of Kursk Oblast on 12 August for the first time.

Read more on this topic: Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi's raid: how the Ukrainian offensive in Russia's Kursk Oblast is progressing and what to expect next

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ACADIA PARISH, La. (KLFY)  A Rayne police detective, fiance and child were killed in a single-vehicle crash, the Rayne Police Department announced Friday.

In a social media post, Chief Carroll Stelly said Det. Javonta Flugence, fiancee Amber Davy, and two-year-old child, Caroline Flugence, were killed in a single-vehicle crash on Friday.

This loss is beyond words, and our department is grieving deeply, Stelly said in the social media post.

According to the Church Point Police Department, Flugence began his law enforcement career at Church Point PD.

Praying for everyone who knew this young man as he will leave his mark in the hearts of everyone who knew him. Heaven has gained another great police officer to patrol its streets, the Church Point Police Department said in a social media post on Saturday.

Community reacts, shares condolences of Rayne officer, family killed in crash

Louisiana State Police say the crash happened around 5 p.m. Friday on Louisiana Highway 13 near Bluefish Road in Lyons Point.

State police said a 2003 Toyota 4Runner was traveling south on Highway 13 when it veered off the roadway to the right and entered a ditch before striking a culvert. Police said this caused the vehicle to become airborne and overturn on its roof.

The crash remains under investigation by state police.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com.
Ready or not, election season in the US starts soon. The first ballots will go out in just two weeks

It might feel like the presidential election is still a long way off. Its not.

There are just over 70 days until Election Day on Nov. 5, but major dates, events and political developments will make it fly by. Think about it this way: The stretch between now and then is about as long as summer break from school in most parts of the country.

In just two weeks, Sept. 6, the first mail ballots get sent to voters. The first presidential debate is set for Sept. 10. Former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, is scheduled to be sentenced in his New York hush money case on Sept. 18. And early in-person voting will start as soon as Sept. 20 in some states.

Heres a look at why the calendar will move quickly now that the Democratic and Republican conventions are wrapped.

Whos ready to vote?

The first batch of ballots typically sent out are ones to military and overseas voters. Under federal law, that must happen at least 45 days before an election  which this year is Sept. 21.

Some states start earlier. North Carolina will begin sending mail ballots to all voters who request them, including military personnel and overseas voters, in just two weeks, Sept. 6.

Voter registration deadlines vary by state, with most falling between eight and 30 days before the election, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The deadline is Oct. 7 in Georgia, one of this years most prominent presidential battlegrounds.

Nearly all states offer some version of in-person voting, though the rules and dates vary considerably. In Pennsylvania, another of the major presidential battleground states, voters can visit their local election office to request, complete and return a mail ballot beginning Sept. 16. For those counting, thats about three weeks from now.

The gloves come off

Whether and where the Democratic and Republican presidential and vice presidential nominees debate has been a point of contention for weeks. But for now, two match-ups are on the calendar.

Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris have accepted an invitation from ABC News to debate Sept. 10 in Philadelphia.

Harris pick for vice president, Tim Walz, and Trumps, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, have agreed to an Oct. 1 debate hosted by CBS News in New York City.

Harris has forecast a possible second debate with Trump, but her proposal appeared to be contingent on the GOP nominees participation in the Sept. 10 debate. Trump has proposed three presidential debates with different television networks.

Vance has challenged Walz to a second vice presidential debate on Sept. 18, although its not been set.

A possible criminal sentence for Trump

Trump is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 18 in his hush money criminal case, though his lawyers have asked the judge to delay the proceeding until after Election Day. A decision is expected in early September.

In a letter last week to Judge Juan M. Merchan, Trumps lawyers suggested that holding the sentencing as scheduled, about seven weeks before Election Day, would amount to election interference. On Sept. 16, Merchan is expected to rule on Trumps request to overturn the guilty verdict and dismiss the case because of the U.S. Supreme Courts July presidential immunity ruling.

Trump was convicted in May on 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 presidential election. Falsifying business records is punishable by up to four years in prison. Other potential sentences include probation, a fine or a conditional discharge that would require Trump to stay out of trouble to avoid additional punishment.

Next steps in Trumps other New York cases

On Sept. 6, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments in Trumps appeal of a jurys verdict last year ordering him to pay $5 million to writer E. Jean Carroll after it found him liable for sexually assaulting and defaming her. Trump also is appealing a verdict in a second trial in January in which a jury found him liable on additional defamation claims and ordered him to pay Carroll $83.3 million. Trumps lawyers have until Sept. 13 to file a brief in that appeal.

On Sept. 26, a New York appeals court will hear oral arguments in Trumps challenge of a nearly $500 million civil fraud judgment in state Attorney General Letitia James lawsuit against him. The court typically rules about a month after arguments, meaning a decision could come before the November election. Trumps lawyers argue that a judges Feb. 16 finding that the former president lied for years about his wealth as he built his real estate empire was erroneous and egregious. State lawyers responded in court papers this week that theres overwhelming evidence to support the verdict.

What about Trumps election and document cases?

A state case in Georgia that charged Trump and 18 others in a wide-ranging scheme to overturn his 2020 loss in the state is stalled with no chance of going to trial before the election.

Federal prosecutors have brought two criminal cases against Trump, but one was dismissed by a judge last month and the other is likely to be reshaped by the recent U.S. Supreme Court opinion that conferred broad immunity on former presidents for official acts they take in office.

Special counsel Jack Smith has appealed the dismissal by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon of an indictment charging Trump with hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida and obstructing the FBIs efforts to get them back. But even if a federal appeals court reinstates the case and reverses the judges ruling that Smiths appointment was unconstitutional, theres no chance of a trial taking place this year.

In light of the Supreme Courts immunity ruling, a federal judge in Washington is now tasked with deciding which allegations in a separate case charging Trump with plotting to overturn the 2020 election can remain part of the prosecution and which ones must be discarded. Deciding which acts are official and which are not is likely to be an arduous process.

Fights over voting and the election

Before the first ballots are even cast, both camps are gearing up to fight over voting.

Battles over election rules have become a staple of American democracy, but theyre expected to reach new heights this year. Trump installed his own leadership team at the Republican National Committee, including a director of election integrity who helped him try to overturn Bidens win in 2020. The RNC has filed a blizzard of lawsuits challenging voting rules and promises that more are on the way.

Democrats also are mobilizing and assembling a robust legal team. Among other things, they are objecting to GOP efforts to remove some inactive voters or noncitizens from voter rolls, arguing that legal voters will get swept up in the purges.

Republicans have particularly escalated their rhetoric over the specter of noncitizens voting, even though repeated investigations have shown it almost never happens. Some also are pushing to give local election boards the ability to refuse to certify election results.

All indications are these efforts are laying the groundwork for Trump to again claim the election was stolen from him if he loses and to try to overturn the will of the voters. But theres no way to know if that will happen until the ballots are cast.

___

Associated Press writers Kate Brumback and Christina A. Cassidy in Atlanta, Meg Kinnard in Chicago, Nicholas Riccardi in Denver, Michael R. Sisak in New York and Eric Tucker in Washington contributed to this report. AP election researcher Ryan Dubicki in New York also 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 WSAV-TV.
These are the reddest and bluest counties in Texas, based on recent election results

KXAN (AUSTIN)  For the best part of three decades, Texas has been a Republican stronghold. In fact, no Democrat has won statewide office since 1994. But the margin between Republicans and Democrats in recent years has been narrowing.

In the 2014 gubernatorial election, when Greg Abbott became governor, he beat Wendy Davis by more than 20 percentage points. By the 2022 gubernatorial election, Abbotts margin of victory was cut to about 11 percentage points.

Whos running for president in 2024? Heres a look at the declared candidates

The margin in presidential elections have been even closer. Mitt Romney carried Texas in 2012 by about 16 percentage points. Donald Trump won the state in 2016 by 9 percentage points, and less than 6 percentage points in 2020.

What are the reddest and bluest counties?

The base of support for Democrats in the past several cycles has been in large cities, like Austin, Houston, Dallas and El Paso, and communities in South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley. Republicans have enjoyed strong support in more rural areas, like the Panhandle, West Texas and East Texas.

A comprehensive map of how Texans voted in the 2022 gubernatorial election

To determine the reddest and bluest counties, KXAN calculated the average margin of victory in each county using election results in the 2018 and 2022 gubernatorial elections and the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections.

Based on this average, Roberts County, northeast of Amarillo, is the reddest county in the state. Over the past four elections, the margin of victory for Republican candidates there has averaged 92.86 percentage points.

King County, between Lubbock and Wichita Falls, is right behind, with an average Republican margin of victory of 91.11 percentage points.

Eighteen other counties have average Republican margins of 80 percentage points or higher, and a further 45 have an average margin of 70 percentage points or higher. Of counties with more than 100,000 registered voters, Parker County, west of Fort Worth, is the strongest county for Republicans. GOP candidates there win on average by 66.86 percentage points.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Zavala County, southwest of San Antonio, has the highest average margin of victory for Democrats. From 2016 to 2022 , Democratic candidates won by an average of 42.64 percentage points.

Four other counties have given Democrats an average margin of victory of more than 30 percentage points: Travis, Presidio, El Paso and Webb. Of counties with more than 100,000 registered voters, Travis County, home to Austin, gives Democrats the most support, with an average margin of victory of 41.71 percentage points.

Which counties are the closest?

Since 2016, four counties have been decided by less than 5 percentage points on average. The closest has been Frio County, southwest of San Antonio, which has given Democrats an average margin of victory of just 0.18 percentage points.

The next closest is LaSalle County, northeast of Laredo, which has given Republicans an average margin of 1.59 percentage points, then Jim Wells County, west of Corpus Christi, which has an average Republican margin of 2.88 percentage points.

Several of the closest counties based on averages since 2014 have seen significant changes in results over the past few cycles.

In Hays County, for example, Donald Trump won the 2016 presidential election with a 0.83 percentage point margin over Hillary Clinton. Thats compared to the 2022 gubernatorial election, in which Beto ORourke had an 11.02 percentage point margin over Greg Abbott.

Which counties have seen the biggest shifts?

KXAN looked at results in the 2014, 2018 and 2022 gubernatorial elections and 2016 and 2020 presidential elections to determine the average shift in each county between each election cycle.

Since 2014, several counties, especially in South Texas, have sprinted to the right, while suburban counties have marched leftward.

The most dramatic changes have happened in Zapata, Kennedy, Foard, Starr and Duval counties. In each election, Zapata County moved on average of 10.52 percentage points to the right, while Kennedy, Foard, Starr and Duval all shifted rightward by an average of more than 9 percentage points each cycle.

In total, 180 of the states 254 counties have seen average movement toward the Republicans each cycle, while 75 counties have shifted toward the Democrats.

Most notable is Collin County, home to Plano in the DFW Metroplex, which has seen an average leftward shift of 5.77 percentage points each election cycle. Williamson and Hays counties, suburbs of Austin, both moved to the left by an average of more than 5 percentage points each cycle.

On a statewide level, Texas has seen an average shift to the Democrats of 2.37% each election cycle since 2014.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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LINCOLN, Neb. (Nebraska Examiner)  Nebraska college graduates who grew up in the state are about twice as likely to stay and work there compared to their out-of-state peers, according to new research on what keeps talent in Cornhusker territory, the Nebraska Examiner reports.

Key findings also show that having social and economic ties to the state, as well as previous work experience in Nebraska, go hand in hand with higher retention rates.

Chief Justice Heavican to retire from Nebraska Supreme Court

Yet substantial differences exist in talent retention rates across various degree fields. For example, agriculture students are among those most likely to flee, while manufacturing has been more of a magnet.

Such highlights are included in the new report from the Nebraska Statewide Workforce & Educational Reporting System, which focuses on factors influencing talent retention, or staying and working in Nebraska after graduation from college. The analysis tapped data from local sources including public high schools, public postsecondary institutions and the Nebraska Labor Department generally from 2013 to 2023.

Maximizing NEs investment

The information is considered momentous, said NSWERS executive director Matt Hastings, because state policymakers, legislators and business leaders have not previously had this level of targeted data to help solve burning questions of the day: How can Nebraska stop brain drain? Where are critical workforce gaps? How can Nebraska maximize the return on state investment in higher education?

Historically speaking, we have not really had the data in Nebraska to really drill in on these questions, said Hastings.

He said state officials mostly have relied on U.S. Census data, which is vital and useful in tracking general flows in and out of the state. But the research led by David Nguyen offers more specifics on, for instance, what types of students are staying and leaving.

This really represents one of the first public products  to begin to really inform those kinds of discussions, said Hastings.

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Overall, a goal of NSWERS is to create an information source that creates a better understanding of how Nebraskas education system is supporting workforce development.

The latest research, to be shared with state policymakers, notes that Nebraska invests heavily in higher education and that a payoff is realized if alumni remain employed in the state. However, since the 1970s, Nebraska has consistently faced brain drain  the exodus of highly trained or educated individuals.

Nguyen said such out-migration has accelerated in recent years, and that can lead to economic stagnation.

The hope is that the newly reported insights help state leaders develop policies and strategies to expand Nebraskas workforce and position the state for economic growth, he and Hastings said.

Among highlights

Among the reports highlights:

The talent retention rate among four-year college graduates is 78% for in-state graduates (those who originated in or went to high school in Nebraska) vs. 38% for those who came to Nebraska to attend college. That suggests that to grow an additional 100 college-educated workers, Nebraska four-year public colleges would need to graduate, on average, an additional 130 in-state graduates or an additional 265 out-of-state graduates.

For two-year colleges, the retention rate is 84% for in-state graduates and 37% for out-of-state graduates. So to grow an additional 100 college-educated workers, Nebraska two-year public colleges would need to graduate, on average, an additional 120 in-state graduates or an additional 275 out-of-state graduates.

Given the higher talent retention rates among in-state students, the reports author said, it would be more efficient to grow Nebraskas labor force by producing college-educated workers from within the state.

2 abortion-related petitions certified for Nebraska general election ballot

However, Nguyen said, that does not mean Nebraska colleges should pay less attention to students from outside the state. He said in the report that to encourage that population to stay and work in Nebraska, additional support could be provided  such as increasing work opportunities in the state during the college years.

Indeed, the analysis showed that internships and part-time jobs during the two years leading up to college graduation are crucial for retaining talent in Nebraska.

People who earn more wages while theyre going to college seem to be more likely to stay and work in Nebraska, Nguyen said.

According to his research, graduates who earned the equivalent of one to two summer internships of wages in Nebraska are about 5-10 percentage points more likely to stay and work in Nebraska compared to those with no earnings.

Talent retention rates differed, the report said, depending on a graduates degree field.

The three degree areas with the highest talent retention rates from 2015 to 2020 were: manufacturing (79%); transportation, distribution and logistics (74%); and architecture and construction (74%).

The theee with the lowest rates were: science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, at 50%; government and public administration at 53%; and agriculture, food & natural resources at 59%.

Notably, said Nguyen, two degree areas designated as high importance to Nebraska, STEM and agriculture, have graduates with the lowest rates of talent retention. Another high-priority field, manufacturing, boasts the highest retention rate.

Ho-Chunk, Inc. celebrating 30 years in Winnebago

Differences may be due to varying demands in Nebraskas labor market, Nguyen said.

Hastings said next steps would be for policymakers to refine goals and use the new information to determine where investment or change can make programs more effective.

If we do that better than other states around us, thats a competitive advantage, he said.



Nebraska Examiner is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Nebraska Examiner maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Cate Folsom for questions: info@nebraskaexaminer.com. Follow Nebraska Examiner on Facebook and X.



This story was republished under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Most people dont know it, but Idaho has a problem  a big problem only Idahoans can solve.

Idaho is facing a water shortage underground. Its a tough message to convey because Idaho is in a good water year, but this is not about the water you can see. It is about the water you cant see. The Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer is rapidly dwindling. It has been for decades.

Said another way, the water budget is out of balance. There has been more water coming out of the aquifer than going in. The aquifer, larger than the size of Lake Erie, has been steadily declining for 60 years. How much water have we lost? Since 1952, we have lost the equivalent of five trillion gallons of water  enough for the domestic use for the total population of Idaho for the next 75 years.

Why do we need to turn this around and get aquifer levels headed in the right direction?

Because the aquifer is our most important source of water in the state. It sustains agriculture across Idaho, especially in eastern Idaho. It is the sole source of drinking water for most municipalities on the plain and countless domestic wells. It feeds the Snake River, our lifeblood for agriculture, recreation, energy, fisheries, and many other uses.

Quote I am committed to the success of Idaho agriculture, especially in eastern Idaho.

I am committed to the success of Idaho agriculture, especially in eastern Idaho. I have personally been fully engaged since the start of my administration to invest in water infrastructure and bring the right folks to the table to solve the problem. The Legislature and I put half a billion dollars toward water quantity investments over the past three years.

And we arent just throwing money at the problem without results. Recent data suggests that the Idaho Water Resource Boards Managed ESPA Recharge Program is helping to turn the ship around, albeit slowly.

In addition, I hosted a statewide water summit in August 2023 with hundreds of Idaho stakeholders to identify challenges and potential solutions to water issues in Idaho. I directed the Idaho Department of Water Resources to create the ESPA Groundwater Management Plan Advisory Council which has met regularly since 2023 with a goal of creating a groundwater management plan that will help us balance our aquifers checkbook.

And just weeks ago, I signed an executive order, the Protecting Idaho Water Sovereignty Act, which charts a path forward on a new agreement that is driven by Idaho farmers  not the government. Several negotiation meetings have taken place over the summer, and Im confident that farmers will create the solutions that will avoid future water shortages no matter where you farm.

But let me be clear about something: I will not mandate a government solution.

Why?

Because the only solution that is acceptable to me is one that is crafted by farmers. If we dont do this together, then the EPA or the courts (or worst, Congress) will determine our water destiny. Idaho farmers, not the feds, must come up with the solution. And that is exactly what is happening. Just last week, I sat down with water users from all over the Eastern Snake Plain and watched what happens when farmers collaborate. Their ingenuity far outpaces any government idea.

But again, the threat of losing control of our water management and decision-making to the feds is more real than ever. The most conservative U.S. Supreme Court in our nations history just blocked an agreement between rural western states in a ruling that allows the federal government to assert control of water in times of disagreement.

We dont want that to happen in Idaho.

Agriculture is too important to risk handing our water over to anyone but our own.

Folks, this is not about us versus them or eastern Idaho water users versus Magic Valley water users. In fact, a quarter of senior surface water users in the state are located in eastern Idaho.

Idaho law is meant to protect Idahoans and our water. It might not always be pretty, but it protects property rights and maintains our water sovereignty.

As governor, my job is to protect Idaho water and everything and everyone that depends on it. I encourage all Idahoans to join me in this effort.

I will fight tooth and nail against the federal government to retain control of our water for eastern Idahos agricultural economy and future generations. That means farmers making decisions for themselves.
(WJET/WFXP)  Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the popular messaging service Telegram, has been arrested in France.

The French outlet TF1 Info was among the first to report the arrest saying that Durov was taken into custody around 8 p.m. Saturday evening at the Le Bourget airport. According to TF1 Info, the 39-year-old Russian-French billionaire was reportedly accompanied by his bodyguard and a woman.

French authorities issued a search warrant for Durov, which was authorized by the OFMIN, an office within the French National Police tasked with preventing violence against minors, as part of a preliminary investigation on the suspicion of multiple offenses.

According to TF1: [The] Justice considers that the lack of moderation, cooperation with law enforcement and the tools offered by Telegram (disposable number, crypto, etc.) makes him an accomplice in drug trafficking, pedocriminal offenses and fraud.

Durov will face a judge and could face an indictment for a multitude of offenses including terrorism, narcotics, complicity, fraud, money laundering, and receiving stolen goods, among other possible charges.

The Kremlin said that it does not yet know what Durov is accused of and cannot make a statement until Durov is charged, if they are charged at all.

Telegram released a statement saying that Telegram abides by EU laws, including the Digital Services Actits moderation is within industry standards and constantly improving. They continue to say that Durov has nothing to hide and state that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform.

We have reached out to the Paris Prosecutors Office who did not immediately respond to our request for comment.

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova took to Telegram, saying that the Russian Embassy has immediately started working on Durovs detention, as it supposed to in a case, when information comes that the receiving side has detained a Russian citizen. In an interview, she said that for France, he is first and foremost a citizen of their country.

Durov has maintained that, despite pressures from governments, Telegram should remain a neutral platform and not a player in geopolitics.

Telegram was banned in Russia from 2018-2020, although it had very little effect on the availability and use of the app in the country. However, it sparked mass protests in Moscow and criticisms from non-governmental organizations.

What is Telegram?

Telegram is an encrypted messaging service that is a cloud-based mobile and desktop messaging app with a focus on security and speed.

The platform was founded by Pavel Durov and his brother Nikolai in the fall of 2013. As of 2024, the app has almost 1 billion active users, making it one of the largest messaging apps behind WhatsApp, WeChat, and Facebook Messenger.

The app largely bypasses the governments oversight of content, with its central privacy feature being its end-to-end encryption in secret chats and calls. This essentially prevents third parties from seeing what is being sent or said in the conversation.

According to Telegrams FAQ page, the company has historically been funded by Durov, meaning your data is not sold to generate revenue. To help with funding, Telegram has implemented several ways to monetize the platform. In 2021, they added minimalist, privacy-conscious advertisements that can appear in certain public channels. The following year, they introduced a premium subscription to support the app and unlock premium features.

The app has become a major source of unfiltered  and sometimes graphic and misleading  content by both Ukraine and Russia after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The app is used heavily by both Ukraine officials and the Russian government.

This story is developing and more information will be provided as it is received.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The National Federation of Republican Assemblies (NFRA) has cited the infamous 1857 Dred Scott Supreme Court decision, which stated that enslaved people werent citizens, to argue that Vice President Kamala Harris is ineligible to run for president according to the Constitution.

The group also challenged the right of Vivek Ramaswamy and Nikki Haley to appear on Republican primary ballots.

The Republican groups platform and policy document noted that The Constitutional qualifications of Presidential eligibility states that No person except a natural born Citizen, shall be eligible, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President.

The same document included former President Donald Trumps running mate Ohio Senator JD Vance on a list of preferred candidates for vice president.

The document and the citing of the Dred Scott decision were initially noted by lawyer Andrew Fleischman on X, formerly Twitter.

The group, which adopted the document during their last national convention held between October 13 and 15 last year, goes on to argue in the document that a natural-born citizen has to be born in the US to parents who are citizens when the child is born, pointing to the thinking of Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas.

Kamala Harris greets supporters before boarding Marine Two at Soldier Field in Chicago. A Republican group has argued that shes ineligible to be president (AP)

An originalist and strict constructionist understanding of the Constitution in the Scalia and Thomas tradition, as well as precedent-setting U.S. Supreme Court cases ... have found that a Natural Born Citizen is defined as a person born on American soil of parents who are both citizens of the United States at the time of the childs birth, the document states.

The group then cites six cases including Dred Scott v Sandford. The 1857 ruling came a few years before the 1861 outbreak of the US Civil War over the issue of slavery, stating that enslaved people could not be citizens, meaning that they couldnt expect to receive any protection from the courts or the federal government. The ruling also said that Congress did not have the power to ban slavery from a federal territory.

The NFRAs platform document argued that Several states, candidates, and major political parties have ignored this fundamental Presidential qualification, including candidates Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Kamala Harris whose parents were not American citizens at the time of their birth.

It is the will of this convention that only candidates who meet the natural born-citizenship standard, interpreted through an originalist and strict constructionist standard, be placed on the 2024 Republican presidential primary ballots, the document states.

The NFRA endorsed Trump during their October convention. The groups president Alex Johnson said in a statement to The Independent that The medias suggestion that referencing a court case in a 30+ page document equates to endorsing every aspect of the case is inherently dishonest and misleading.

We firmly believe that faux Democrat Ms. Harris should never hold office for any of the many reasons people choose to highlight, including her partys tactics on dividing people by race and class, which mirror those that have led nations like Venezuela, Cuba, and North Korea into totalitarian regimes, he claimed. These policies have historically resulted in widespread suffering, economic collapse, and the erosion of individual freedoms. The Democrat Party preys on the ignorance of voters.

Both Haley and Ramaswamy appeared on Republican primary ballots. Former President Ronald Reagan was a member of the now 90-year-old organization, Raw Story noted.

The NFRAs interpretation of the Constitution would have made several US presidents ineligible to hold office, such as George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison. Their parents were born in what was then the British colonies in what would later become the US, meaning that those commanders in chief would not meet the strict standards of the NFRA.

The NFRA also cited the 1939 case Perkins v Elg.

A child born here of alien parentage becomes a citizen of the United States, the case states, going against the argument of the NFRA.

The US Archives states on its site that the Scott v Sandford ruling is considered by many legal scholars to be the worst ever rendered by the Supreme Court.

It also notes that the decision was overturned by the 13th and 14th amendments which abolished slavery and stated that all people born in the US are citizens.

The 1857 Dred Scott v Sandford decision came after Dred Scott, an enslaved Black man, sued for his freedom alongside his wife Harriet in St Louis Circuit Court in 1846.

They argued that they were free as they had lived in a free territory where slavery was forbidden. They had lived with their enslaver in what was then the Territory of Wisconsin and their freedom could be established because they had been enslaved in a free territory and then returned to a slave state. Courts had previously made such rulings.

But the lawsuit grew into a legal case lasting over a decade, with Scott losing his case in the Missouri state courts before he filed a new federal lawsuit which went all the way to the Supreme Court.

During the 11 years between 1846 and 1857, the issue of slavery grew into the most contentious issue in US politics. The ruling that enslaved people werent citizens pushed the country closer to the Civil War, which would begin four years later.

Scott received his freedom in May 1857 after being manumitted by a Republican Congressman, but he died from tuberculosis just over a year later in September 1858.
Body of Arizona woman who went missing in Grand Canyon after flash flood found

Chenoa Nickerson, 33, was swept away in a flash flood in the Grand Canyon National Park on Thursday (National Parks Service)

The body of an Arizona woman who went missing in the Grand Canyon National Park after a flash flood days earlier was recovered Sunday, park rangers said.

The body of Chenoa Nickerson, 33, from the Phoenix suburb of Gilbert, Arizona, was discovered by a group rafting down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon around 11.30am Sunday, the park said in a statement.

Rangers recovered Nickersons body, which was transported to the rim by helicopter and transferred to the Coconino County Medical Examiners office. In a statement issued Sunday, her family thanked searchers and supporters and asked for privacy.

We regret to inform you that our sweet Chenoa has been found deceased. Our hearts are heavy with grief, the statement said.

Chenoas light will forever be a part of all of us, and we will ensure that her spirit continues to shine brightly. Her memory will never fade, and we will honor her by carrying forward the joy and love she brought into all of our lives.

National Park Service officials said Nickerson was swept into Havasu Creek above the Colorado River confluence around 1:30 p.m. Thursday. She wasnt wearing a life jacket.

Nickerson was hiking along Havasu Creek about a half-mile (800m) from where it meets up with the Colorado River when the flash flood struck. Nickersons husband was among the more than 100 people safely evacuated.

The flash flood, which occurred shortly before 1.30pm on Thursday, led to several hikers being stranded in the area near Havasu Creek.

The flood trapped several hikers in the area above and below Beaver Falls, one of a series of usually blue-green waterfalls that draw tourists from around the world to the Havasupai Tribes reservation.

The area is prone to flooding that turns its iconic waterfalls chocolate brown.

Other hikers made it to the village, about 2miles (3.2km) from the campground, where they awaited a helicopter ride. Governor Katie Hobbs has activated the Arizona National Guard, including Blackhawk helicopters, to help evacuate hikers from the village.

Nickerson was swept into Havasu Creek, an area known for its iconic waterfalls, that is prone to flooding (Francesca Dupuy)

Operations continued on Saturday and remained focused in the areas around Beaver Falls.

Nickersons sister, Tamara Morales, noted the National Guard deployment and praised rescue crews with the National Park Service for navigating incredibly dangerous terrain with extremely limited methods of communication while leaving no stone unturned.

We are profoundly grateful for you and fully acknowledge that you are currently defying the impossible," Morales said on Facebook.

The Havasupai Tribes reservation is one of the most remote in the continental US, accessible only by foot, mule or helicopter. The Tribal Council closed the steep, winding trail that leads to the reservation after the flooding and asked visitors with permits through Sunday not to come.

It comes following the deaths of a number of hikers on the Grand Canyon and surrounding areas. The National Park has averaged about 17 deaths a year since 2014. So far this year, there have been 11 deaths at the park.

Three people have died in the past month, according to park officials.

On 10 August, officials announced that the body of 20-year-old Leticia Castillo, of Albuquerque, had been found about 150 feet below the rim of the Twin Overlooks along Desert View Drive.

Authorities believed the young woman entered the park around August 3 and was later reported missing. Her remains were found on August 6, officials said.

One month prior a Texas man died after hiking in an unforgiving area of park, which has been known to reach up to 120F in the shade during summer months.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Researchers are starting a 10-year project to keep so-called vampire fish out of Michigan rivers.

Over the last 20 years, three dams have been removed along the Boardman-Ottaway River in a massive effort to restore the river, according to Michigan State University. The only one thats left is the Union Street dam in Traverse City, standing between the river and Lake Michigan.

The dam is aging and has had unintended consequences on native wildlife, but it cant just be removed. Doing so would allow invasive species like sea lampreys and others into the river, making it much more difficult and expensive to try to control those populations.

Sea lamprey, shown here attached to a lake trout, are an invasive species in the Great Lakes. (Courtesy Great Lakes Fishery Commission)

We face a particular challenge here in the Great Lakes, thats common to other places in the world, and that is that if we freely reconnect our rivers to the lakes or oceans and other places, it increases the possibility that invasive species move into those rivers and cause harm to the species that are in there, sea lamprey expert Michael Wagner, an associate professor at MSU, told Nexstars WOOD. There can be ecological and economic damage.

Lake Effect: What changes scientists are seeing on Lake Michigan

Wagner said despite humans trying to help fish pass over dams for 400 years, were still not really very good at it.

These dams are critical to being able to control this really harmful species, but they have other consequences that we want to work to alleviate, he said.

The Great Lakes Fishery Commission has put together a team of researchers from MSU and other universities to work on FishPass, a project that broke ground in May and will replace the Union Street Dam. The goal is to let fish like walleye and lake sturgeon into the Boardman-Ottaway River while keeping out invasive species.

FROM CUTE LITTLE LARVAL FISH TO PARASITE

Sea lamprey are native to the Atlantic Basin. They got into the Great Lakes around 100 years ago through canal systems connecting the lakes to the Saint Lawrence Seaway, Wagner said.

For most of its life, the sea lamprey is a harmless larvae.

The mouth of a mature sea lamprey  the area that attaches to fish of the Great Lakes. (Photo by MARLIN LEVISON/Star Tribune via Getty Images)

The first four years of their life, theyre this cute little  cute to biologists  but cute little larval fish, living in the sediments of rivers and living off of organic matter and actually doing some positive things for the ecosystem, Wagner explained.

But after four years, the lamprey turns into its juvenile form, developing eyes and a mouth with tons of teeth. It also stops eating things like algae, instead attaching itself to fish like lake trout and whitefish, earning it the nickname vampire fish.

(They) drill a hole into the side of the fish using a toothy tongue that they have, and then they live off of blood, fluids and some tissue, Wagner said.

Treatments kill invasive sea lamprey in West Michigan waterways

The sea lamprey will stay in that parasitic phase for 12 to 18 months. During that time, it will kill around 40 pounds of fish, Wagner said. A lot of the fish it kills are ecologically, economically and culturally important in the Great Lakes area.

Uncontrolled, they decimated lake trout populations. They extirpated some native species from the system, Wagner said. Thats why Canada and the U.S. got together and said, We really need to control this species, and have been doing so with great success ever since.

A lake trout taken from Lake Superior was bitten by sea lamprey during an annual spring population survey Tuesday May 8, 2018 in Duluth, MN. (Photo By Jerry Holt/Star Tribune via Getty Images)

SO HOW WOULD FISHPASS HELP?

After 12 or 18 months, the sea lamprey stops eating for good. It will migrate back into a river to spawn and die, Wagner said.

FishPass would trap the sea lamprey as it tries to get into the river, about a month before the nocturnal, solitary critter would naturally die.

Ask Ellen: Why are invasive species so bad?

How would you catch a fish thats by itself at night and doesnt eat? Wagner said. You cant exactly bait a hook.

Sea lamprey use odors to navigate their way into rivers and spawning grounds. The larvae produce an odor that tells the sea lamprey its a good habitat, and sexually mature males will produce a pheromone to attract females.

Mature sea lamprey. (Photo by MARLIN LEVISON/Star Tribune via Getty Images)

On the flip side, when a sea lamprey is bitten by a predator, it releases a warning chemical that others can smell, something Wagner compared to a smoke alarm.

Researchers hope to use those two attracting and deterring odors to guide sea lamprey away from the river passageway and into a trap.

From their perspective, everything is normal, Wagner said. The technique that weve been experimenting with is can we use this alarm cue to keep them out of the fish passage device and guide them over into another area of the stream where maybe we can use attractants or other approaches to get them into a trap and catch them.

He noted that its important to trap the sea lamprey, because otherwise it might eventually ignore the repellent odor and go into the river anyway.

Ancient tool could help new tech protect Great Lakes waters from sea lamprey

The mouth of a Sea Lamprey features 150 teeth and a tongue that is cerated. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

They need to get upstream to spawn. They have this one shot in their life. They could, as they become increasingly desperate to get to the spawning grounds, choose to ignore the risk, Wagner explained. Just like you might choose to ignore a smoke alarm if you need to run through the building to get out because the door is on the other side.

The goal of the project is to eventually automate the selective passageway, but for now, researchers will be monitoring and tagging all fish that go through the passageway, according to MSU. Trapped sea lamprey will be used for further research, public outreach on invasive species and in classrooms for dissection.

If the project is successful, the sorting system can be used at other spots in the Great Lakes and throughout the world, something Wagner said would be a critical conservation advance.

It is cutting edge work that were doing  for a problem that we believe can be solved, 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 Queen City News.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspends his presidential campaign, but might stay on Iowa's ballot

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has suspended his presidential bid, but he may still appear on Iowans' ballots this fall.

Kennedy, who was running as a candidate for the We The People party, suspended his campaign on Friday and endorsed former President Donald Trump.

In his remarks announcing the decision, Kennedy said he would remove his name from the ballot in about 10 battleground states "where my presence would be a spoiler." In some states, like Arizona and Pennsylvania, he is already off the ballot.

More: RFK Jr. suspends campaign; endorses former President Trump

But Kennedy's name could still appear on Iowa's ballot. Ashley Hunt, a spokesperson for Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate, said that as of Friday afternoon the office had not received a notice that Kennedy would be withdrawing his name.

The deadline for candidates to withdraw from Iowa's general election ballot is Aug. 29. Any candidates who withdraw prior to that date will not be on the ballot, Hunt said. The state will certify general election ballots on Sept. 3.

Kennedy originally challenged President Joe Biden last year, running as a Democrat, before leaving the party and founding the We The People party.

To fulfill Iowa's ballot access requirement for independent presidential candidates, he held an event in April in West Des Moines where he identified more than 500 eligible electors from at least 25 Iowa counties. As of Friday afternoon, the Iowa secretary of state's office still includes Kennedy and his running mate, Nicole Shanahan, on its list of presidential and vice presidential candidates.

Iowans can request a ballot beginning Aug. 27, but county auditors won't begin mailing out ballots until Oct. 16, the first day of early voting.

The election is Nov. 5.

Here's who will appear on Iowans' ballots for president and vice president this fall.

Donald J. Trump/JD Vance (Republican)

Kamala Harris/Tim Walz (Democrat)

Chase Oliver/Mike ter Maat (Libertarian)

Claudia De la Cruz/Karina Garcia (Party For Socialism and Liberation)

William P. Stodden/Stephanie H. Cholensky (Socialist Party USA)

Robert F. Kennedy Jr./Nicole Shanahan (We The People)

Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: RFK Jr. suspends campaign; could still be on Iowa ballot
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspends campaign but he missed deadline to stay off Nevada ballot

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. drops out of the presidential race and endorses Donald Trump on Aug. 23, 2024, in downtown Phoenix.

When Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pressed pause on his third-party presidential campaign Friday and endorsed former President Donald Trump, he said he planned to remove his name from the ballot in battleground states where my presence would be a spoiler.

That likely wont work in Nevada, where hes missed the deadline to take his name off Novembers ballot.

The last day for an independent candidate for president to file (to run) was August 9, 2024, said a Nevada Secretary of State spokesperson, citing state law, in an email.

The last day to withdraw is 7 days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays after August 9, 2024, which was August 20th.

She added, Mr. Kennedy has not filed anything with the Secretary of State to withdraw his candidacy.

The Trump campaign sent out a memo saying that Kennedy endorsing Trump helps the former president more in Nevada than in any other battleground state.

It features a chart with Kennedy getting 4% of the vote in Nevada and breaks out the portions of Kennedy supporters who would vote for Trump, Harris or are undecided if he weren't in the race.

The memo claims Trump would get about half of Kennedy's votes. If these figures were applied to Nevadans who cast a ballot in the 2020 presidential election, that would mean a boost of about 28,000 votes for Trump, if his campaign's memo is correct.

At least one pollster sees Kennedy's decision having very little impact nationally.

"The question is, what will the impact be in the swing states?" David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center, told USA Today. "From what we've seen, it's probably going to be marginal."

Kennedys poll numbers have been in freefall since midsummer as his campaign has been hit by one scandal after another. They include a former nanny accusing him of sexual assault, news that part of his brain had been eaten by a worm, and him admitting to dumping a dead bear cub in New York Citys Central Park.

In reaction to news Kennedy was suspending his campaign, five of his siblings released a statement calling his endorsement of Trump "a betrayal of the values that our father and our family hold most dear and adding It is a sad ending to a sad story.

Trump thanked Kennedy for his endorsement during a campaign stop in Las Vegas.

Hes a great guy, respected by everybody, Trump said.

Mark Robison is the state politics reporter for the Reno Gazette Journal, with occasional forays into other topics. Email comments to mrobison@rgj.com or comment on Marks Greater Reno Facebook page.

This article originally appeared on Reno Gazette Journal: RFK Jr. suspends campaign but missed Nevada deadline to stay off ballot
Former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. gives remarks at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel on Aug. 23, 2024, in Phoenix. Kennedy announced that he was suspending his presidential campaign and supporting the Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)

Former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. gives remarks at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel on Aug. 23, 2024, in Phoenix. Kennedy announced that he was suspending his presidential campaign and supporting the Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Friday he is suspending his campaign and threw his support behind former President Donald Trump  the GOP presidential nominee.

Meanwhile, a South Dakota election official said the states deadline to withdraw passed earlier this month. Kennedys name was on the certified candidate list that the South Dakota Secretary of States Office sent to county auditors earlier this week, the office said by email.

The announcement from the environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine activist, who has held on to a long-shot presidential bid, comes just a day after Vice President Kamala Harris formally accepted her partys nomination at the Democratic National Convention.

Its with a sense of victory and not defeat that Im suspending my campaign activities, Kennedy said in Phoenix, Arizona, during a lengthy news conference.

Not only did we do the impossible by collecting a million signatures, but we changed the national political conversation forever, he said, adding that I can say to all who have worked so hard the last year-and-a-half  thank you for a job well done.

Kennedy acknowledged that he cannot, in good conscience, ask my staff and volunteers to keep working their long hours, or ask my donors to keep giving when I cannot honestly tell them that I have a real path to the White House.

He clarified that he is not terminating his campaign and that his name will remain on the ballot in most states.

The third-party candidate said he would remove his name from the ballot in about 10 battleground states where my presence would be a spoiler. He did not specify the states.

He said voters who live in a blue state can vote for him without harming or helping (former) President Trump or Vice President Harris.

In response, Trump thanked Kennedy during a campaign event in Las Vegas, Nevada.

That was very nice, the former president said, adding that Kennedy is a great guy and respected by everybody.

Kennedy drew speculation about withdrawing his candidacy and backing Trump in the days leading up to the Friday announcement. On Thursday, he filed the paperwork to withdraw his name from Arizonas ballot, per Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes in a post on X.

Kennedy has faced dwindling polling numbers and financial trouble for his campaign while undertaking a monumental task in getting on states ballots as an independent candidate. He initially ran as a Democrat but switched to an independent ticket in October 2023.

Kennedy  son of Robert F. Kennedy and the nephew of John F. Kennedy  is part of one of the most storied families in Democratic politics. Throughout his campaign, he amplified anti-vaccine conspiracy theories and was seen as a possible spoiler candidate.

Harris-Walz campaign chair Jen OMalley Dillon said for any American out there who is tired of Donald Trump and looking for a new way forward, ours is a campaign for you, per a Friday statement in response to Kennedy suspending his campaign.

In order to deliver for working people and those who feel left behind, we need a leader who will fight for you, not just for themselves, and bring us together, not tear us apart. Vice President Harris wants to earn your support.

Meanwhile, Trump is set to speak in Glendale, Arizona, later Friday. His campaign said Thursday that a special guest would join him at the rally.

South Dakota Searchlight staff contributed to this report.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  The Rochester Fire Department celebrated the end of its 2024 summer internship program Friday.

The department held its internship graduation, where 24 interns were recognized for their hard work.

Officials said throughout the summer, the interns were tasked with completing six weeks of training, which included introductory firefighting skills along with work-readiness, financial literacy and team building exercises.

Officials said, the interns took on many challenges during their time in the program  but they were able shine right through them.

There were a number of physical tasks that I dont think they were prepared for when they showed up on their first day, said Nicholas Manuele, a fire lieutenant. They had to climb to heights that they physically  actual ladders and heights  that theyd never been to before. We got to spend some time on top of a couple of skyscrapers downtown thanks to some of our corporate partners. But the finding the strength to do things that they were not prepared for was probably the greatest thing that they accomplished.

Applications for next years internship program have not yet been released but will be available on the citys website when they are.

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AUSTIN (KXAN)  A Round Rock Independent School teacher was arrested and accused of indecency with a child and child pornography, according to an affidavit of probable cause from the Williamson County Sheriffs Office.

Court records said the victim reached out to the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division in June about the incidents.

The victim told authorities they were 16 years old at the time the events began. The victim said the first interactions with Perez began in February 2023, the affidavit said

WCSO was notified of the allegations and confirmed the teacher lived in Taylor, the warrant said. The teacher was identified as Domingo Dominic Perez, 48, according to the affidavit.

Domingo Dominic Perez, 48 | Courtesy Williamson County Jail online records

Perez was arrested on Wednesday, online jail records said.

An attorney was not listed for Perez at the time this article was published. We will update this story if an attorney comment is received.

A spokesperson with Round Rock ISD tells KXAN that Perez was hired during the 2005-2006 school year.

The RRISD spokesperson said the district learned about the investigation in July. Perez was then placed on leave immediately, pending further information from law enforcement. The employee has not been on campus since the end of last school year, according to RRISD.

What happened leading to the arrest

The victim told WCSO they were a student at Stony Point High School, and said Perez was their science teacher, court records said.

The victim said those interactions continued into the summer of 2023, court records said.

Authorities obtained a search warrant for Perezs home, court records said.

Investigators were able to retrieve his phone which showed messages that were seen on the victims phone, according to the affidavit.

Perez was booked into the Williamson County Jail with a total bond of $125,000. He remained in custody on Friday, according to online jail records.

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Rubin: Fata, Kilpatrick back in the news  and still not believable

Dr. Farid Fata, who poisoned patients with chemotherapy they didnt need, wants to be released from prison early.

Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who actually was released from prison early, poisoned what could have been a valuable career and has devoted his unwarranted freedom to dodging his debts.

They both want us to believe that they are no longer bad people, not that they admitted they were bad people when they were actually doing vile things.

I remain unconvinced, on both counts.

Id never connected their dots until they both showed up in headlines in the past few days. Then the similarities struck me, and not in an inviting way.

Fata and Kilpatrick were blessed with some of the finest advantages on lifes checklist  education, money, charm, access, respect  and they used them to commit crimes to make themselves more wealthy or more powerful.

My wife tells me, usually in exasperation, that I am the worlds apologist. By nature and occupation, its my instinct to try to see the other persons viewpoint, to search for better motives or better angels.

Now come Fata, who is apparently ill, and Kilpatrick, who is allergic to taking responsibility.

I wish Fata the medication he says he needs, administered by a more caring and reputable doctor than himself.

Otherwise, the needle on my sympathy meter remains at zero. As William Shakespeare suggested, "A plague o' both your houses"  especially the $807,000 mini-mansion in Novi that Kilpatrick's wife put in her name late last year.

Claiming hardship, and still claiming innocence

The Free Press' unstoppable Tresa Baldas brought Fata back into the news when she found that he is seeking compassionate release because of a rare blood disorder that's best treated with a drug he has been unable to get in federal prison.

Because irony is not held in check by iron bars and razor wire, the drug, Neopogen, is commonly prescribed to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Fata, 59, who practiced in Oakland County, is 11 years into a 45-year federal sentence for treating healthy patients with chemotherapy and overmedicating patients who were dying. His take in fraudulent billings for harming more than 500 people was upwards of $17 million.

While he pleaded guilty to 13 counts of health care fraud, two counts of money laundering and one count of conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks, he claimed in one of his many previous requests for mercy that his lawyer tricked him into taking responsibility.

More: Convicted cancer doctor Farid Fata begs for early release: I'll die if I don't get out

Now, "He has shown remorse to every soul affected by his crimes, as his past is no longer part of him," Fata wrote in the court filing, referring to himself both oddly and flimsily in the third person.

The U.S. Attorney's Office says it is not swayed by Fata's plea. Victims and their families who are similarly unmoved have until 5 p.m. Monday to email letters to the court; the address for Victim Witness Coordinator Alex Wyatt is alexandra.wyatt@usdoj.gov.

For those inclined to send thoughts and prayers, maybe Kilpatrick can offer a few tips, since he's a minister now.

Tracking down the ex-mayor

Kilpatrick is smart and funny and can be engaging and charismatic, which made it all the more unfortunate when he decided to focus on racketeering, bribery, extortion and fraud at a point when Detroit particularly needed his skill set.

His 28-year sentence was commuted two decades early in January 2021, a lovely parting gift from then-President Donald Trump on his way out the White House door.

Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick speaks during the Oakland County Republican Partys Lincoln Day Dinner at the Suburban Collection Showcase in Novi on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024.

Kilpatrick has since remarried, refashioned himself as a man of the cloth, realigned himself as a political independent, and repeatedly refused responsibility for large amounts of fines, restitution and debt.

More: As Kwame Kilpatrick campaigns for Republicans, feds accuse him of lying about his address

Most recently  and here's Baldas again with the story  federal prosecutors are alleging that he's pretending to live in Georgia when he actually lives in the house his wife purchased in Novi, the better to duck out on an $832,000 restitution bill connected to his public corruption case.

Among the subtle clues the government cited are the fact that Kilpatrick's home in Georgia is for sale and appears to be empty, and that his mail is being forwarded here.

The details are convoluted, but the bottom line is that Kilpatrick hasn't made his $150 monthly payment toward a restitution bill of $831,913.70 since March, and he's claiming that $6,700 in cash the government happened upon should be untouchable.

All of that is unrelated to the $852,000 he owes the city of Detroit from the 2008 whistleblower suit, filed by a pair of Detroit police officers whose careers he had sabotaged, in which he lied about an affair with his chief of staff.

He appeared on WFDF-AM (910) last week, and when host Justin Barclay brought up credibility, Kilpatrick responded, "I don't know if (people) should believe me."

In a busy few days for scoundrels, that was about the same time the disgraced doctor told a judge, "Fata today appears 180% different than Fata 11 years ago."

No, Mr. Fata, he really doesn't. And no, Mr. Kilpatrick, we don't.

Reach Neal Rubin at NARubin@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Fata, Kilpatrick back in the news  and still not believable
A Russian strike destroyed the historic house and family estate of the Ukrainian anarchist fighter Nestor Makhno in Huliaipole, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, the National Police reported on Aug. 24.



The house, which served as a museum to the 20th-century revolutionary, burnt to the ground after Russia launched 306 strikes on nine front-line settlements in Zaporizhzhia Oblast overnight on Aug. 23.



Russian forces carried out the attacks with drones, aircraft, tanks, artillery, and multiple-launch rocket systems. Several houses, infrastructure, and farm buildings were also damaged or destroyed. No civilians were injured or killed.



Makhno hailed from a poor peasant family in Huliaipole and led Ukraines Revolutionary Resurgent Army from 1918-1921 during the War of Independence. Although briefly siding with the Bolsheviks, Makhno fought against the Reds and the Whites and established an anarchist stronghold in southeastern Ukraine that eventually fell.



The Bolshekivs drove Makhno out of Ukraine, and he sought sanctuary in Paris where he publicly criticized the Reds before dying of tuberculosis in 1934.



A statue commemorating Makhno in Huliaipole was destroyed by a Russian attack on May 23. Russia has damaged around 1,000 Ukrainian cultural heritage sites and around 2,000 cultural facilities since the start of the full-scale invasion.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: US provides military aid, Norway to finance production of shells in Ukraine

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Russia and Ukraine have completed another major prisoner exchange. According to the Russian Ministry of Defence, 115 Russian soldiers who had been captured in the Kursk region have been returned to their homeland following negotiations.

In return, the same number of Ukrainians were handed over, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the exchange on social networks.

Ukraine does not forget anyone and is trying everything to get its own soldiers back from captivity, Zelensky said.

He thanked his troops who had taken the Russians prisoner, saying this had made the exchange possible in the first place.

Zelensky has said more than once that one of the aims of the Ukrainian offensive in the Kursk region is to capture Russian soldiers in order to exchange them for Ukrainians who are being held as prisoners of war.

More than two years on since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, most diplomatic channels between the two are closed, with prisoner exchanges one of the few areas in which Moscow and Kiev are still cooperating.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivers a speech on the occasion of Independence Day of Ukraine. -/Ukrainian Presidency/dpa
Ukrainian POWs react after a swap at an unknown location in Ukraine

Ukrainian POWs react after a swap at an unknown location in Ukraine

By Alexander Cornwell

DUBAI/MOSCOW/KYIV (Reuters) - Russia and Ukraine exchanged 115 prisoners of war from each side on Saturday after the United Arab Emirates acted as an intermediary.

It is the first such exchange since Ukraine launched a surprise attack into Russia's Kursk region on Aug. 6, the biggest attack inside Russian territory by a foreign power since World War Two.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the Russian servicemen swapped were captured in the Kursk region.

All released Russian soldiers are now in Belarus and will receive medical treatment and rehabilitation upon their return to Russia.

The ministry expressed gratitude for the UAE's role in facilitating the prisoner swap.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy posted a picture with Ukrainian POWs wrapped in the country's blue and yellow flags and hugging each other. He said that the returned were servicemen from the border guards, the national guard, navy and the armed forces.

Zelenskiy expressed gratitude to the Ukrainian troops who helped replenish the pool of prisoners for exchange.

Kyiv has said it has carved out a buffer zone in an area that Russia, which sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022, has used to pound targets in Ukraine.

According to Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's commissioner for human rights, 82 of the returned Ukrainians defended the port of Mariupol in 2022.

Confirming its role in facilitating the exchange, the UAE foreign ministry said that the total number of captives exchanged through its mediation efforts now stood at 1,788.

It is the seventh such exchange the UAE has mediated since Russia invaded Ukraine. An Emirati official earlier told Reuters that Russia and Ukraine were to swap prisoners following mediation by the Gulf state.

Abu Dhabi, a close security partner of the United States, has maintained warm relations with Moscow throughout the war, frustrating some Western officials. It has also strengthened ties with Kyiv.

UAE officials say their ability to talk to a range of international actors means that they can effectively mediate between parties and promote cooperation and security.

(Reporting by Alexander Cornwell, Maxim Rodionov and Olena Harmash; Editing by Ana Nicolaci da Costa, Kirsten Donovan)
Russian attack in Donetsk Oblast town Kostiantynivka kills 5, at least 5 injured

Five civilians were killed and another five were injured in a Russian attack on the Donetsk Oblast town of Kostiantynivka in the morning of Aug. 24, local authorities said.

According to the Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor's Office, Russian troops likely fired on the town with artillery, killing three men and two women. Another five  one man and four women  were wounded with various degrees of severity and are receiving medical treatment.

Donetsk Oblast Governor Vadym Filashkin said that investigators were on the scene.

Kostiantynivka, like other towns in Donetsk Oblast, comes under regular attacks from Russian forces.

A Russian missile strike on a supermarket in the town earlier in August killed 14 people, including three children, and injured 44 more.

Another Russian attack on a local market in Kostiantynivka in September 2023 killed 17 people and injured more than 30 others.

Read also: Ukrainian response will reach any point in Russia  Zelenskys Independence Day address

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The territory of an energy facility in the central part of the country has been damaged as a result of a Russian attack on the night of 23-24 August.

Source: Press service of the Ministry of Energy

Quote from Ministry of Energy: "Central region: the territory of an energy facility has been damaged as a result of a missile attack."

Details: Additionally, equipment at one of the substations has been damaged in the east after an overnight attack, and an overhead power line has been damaged in the southeast. As of the morning, 528 settlements remain without a power supply due to hostilities and technical violations.

At the same time, power engineers managed to reconnect 12,269 consumers over the day.

Background:

On 23 August, a 1 GW nuclear power unit was connected to the Ukrainian power grid after an early scheduled repair.

Ukraine will resume electricity exports to Europe on 25 August due to a capacity surplus in the power system.

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Multiple US Secret Service agents have been placed on leave following the assassination attempt against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, US media reported Friday.

The agents put on leave include members of the Pittsburgh field office, which coordinated security for Trumps July 13 campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, RealClearPolitics and several US TV networks said.

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The Secret Service declined to comment on what it described as a personnel matter but said it is committed to investigating the decisions and actions of personnel related to the event in Butler.

The US Secret Services mission assurance review is progressing, and we are examining the processes, procedures and factors that led to this operational failure, spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement.

The US Secret Service holds our personnel to the highest professional standards, and any identified and substantiated violations of policy will be investigated by the Office of Professional Responsibility for potential disciplinary action, he said.

Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned last month after acknowledging that the agency had failed in its mission to prevent the assassination attempt by a 20-year-old gunman.

Trump was wounded in the ear, two rally attendees were seriously injured and a 50-year-old Pennsylvania firefighter was killed before a Secret Service sniper shot the gunman dead.

Acting Secret Service chief Ronald Rowe pledged during an appearance before a joint Senate committee last month that the agency will discipline any agents found to have committed policy violations.

Trump, 78, held his first outdoor rally since the shooting on Wednesday, addressing a campaign event in Asheboro, North Carolina, from behind a pane of bulletproof glass.
Russian forces struck the regional center of Sumy in Sumy Oblast on Aug. 24, injuring seven people, the local military administration reported.

Two people are currently in a serious condition, according to the report.

The explosions in Sumy were heard around 9 p.m. local time. Russian troops twice hit the civilian infrastructure of the city with missiles.

The aftermath of the attack is still being clarified as of 11:30 p.m. local time. Medical services also continue to provide medical assistance to the victims of the attack, as local authorities reported.

Residents in Sumy Oblast are subjected to daily attacks on the region. The security situation in Sumy Oblast became more tense with the start of Ukraine's cross-border incursion into neighboring Kursk Oblast in Russia, which began on Aug. 6.

Sumy Oblast borders Russia's Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod oblasts. Civilians in Sumy Oblast within 20 kilometers (12 miles) of the border with Kursk Oblast are now subject to restrictions on movement due to increasing Russian attacks, according to the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces.

On Aug. 20, amid ongoing attacks on the region, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko told reporters that authorities are planning to evacuate a total of 45,000 residents from Sumy Oblast.

Read also: Morning in Sudzha: Inside Ukrainian-occupied Russia as Kursk operation continues

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Aftermath of the attacks on Sumy Oblast. Photo: Sumy Oblast Prosecutor's Office

Russian forces have conducted 87 attacks on 13 hromadas in Sumy Oblast over the past day, injuring four civilians. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.]

Source: Sumy Oblast Military Administration

Quote: "[A total of] 265 explosions were recorded. Mykolaivka, Myropillia, Bilopillia, Krasnopillia, Velyka Pysarivka, Nova Sloboda, Berezivka, Hlukhiv, Esman, Shalyhyne, Druzhba, Svesa and Seredyna-Buda hromadas came under fire."

Details: Krasnopillia hromada was hit by artillery, multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS), mortars, a guided bomb airstrike, FPV drones and explosive devices dropped from UAVs (87 explosions).

There were FPV drone attacks and a guided bomb airstrike (5 explosions) in Hlukhiv hromada.

Druzhba hromada experienced guided bomb airstrikes and mortar fire (14 explosions).

The Russians attacked Bilopillia hromada with a guided bomb airstrike, FPV drones and mortar fire (11 explosions).

The Russians used three air-dropped mines to attack Esman hromada. An FPV drone strike was also recorded (4 explosions).

Velyka Pysarivka hromada was targeted with mortars, grenade launchers, FPV drones and explosive devices dropped from UAVs (40 explosions).

The Russians hit Shalyhyne hromada with a guided bomb airstrike, mortars and FPV drones (8 explosions). A local resident was injured due to the FPV drone attack.

Seredyna-Buda hromada came under attacks from mortars, FPV drones and artillery (18 explosions).

Berezivka hromada was attacked with a guided bomb (5 explosions).

Guided bomb airstrikes were also recorded in Svesa hromada (5 explosions).

Nova Sloboda hromada experienced a guided bomb airstrike and an FPV drone attack (3 explosions).

There was artillery shelling in Myropillia hromada (1 explosion).

Mykolaivka hromada was struck by a guided bomb (2 explosions).

The Russians also launched a missile strike on the Sumy district, injuring three civilians.

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Russian troops launched a missile attack on the civilian infrastructure of Sumy on Saturday.

Source: Sumy Oblast Military Administration; Air Force of Ukraine; Ukrainska Pravda

Quote: "The enemy launched a missile attack on the civilian infrastructure of the oblast centre today, on 24 August. Emergency response services have been deployed to the site of the attack. Early reports point out there are wounded. The full extent of the effects of the [Russian] attack has yet to be confirmed."

Details: The Ukrainian Air Force reported on high-speed targets heading to Sumy at 17:53 and 21:01.

Ukrainska Pravda correspondents have reported the sounds of powerful explosions in the city.

Update: Later, the Sumy Oblast Military Administration reported that as of 23:00, seven people were wounded as per early reports, two of whom were in serious condition as a result of two hits.

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The Russian troops attacked the village of Novoosynove in Kupiansk district of Kharkiv Oblast on 24 August, injuring four women.

Source: Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration

Quote: "The occupiers attacked the village of Novoosynove in Kupiansk district around 12:00. A private building was burning as a result of the attack."

Details: Four women were injured. They were hospitalised in a medical facility. The response to the aftermath is ongoing.

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Russians destroy family house museum and estate of Ukrainian anarchist revolutionary Nestor Makhno in Huliaipole  photos

Russian troops have destroyed the memorial house-museum and estate of the family of Nestor Makhno, a Ukrainian anarchist revolutionary and the commander of the Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine during the Ukrainian War of Independence, in Huliaipole, Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The building caught fire and burned to the ground as a result of a missile strike.

Source: National Police of Ukraine; press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs

Details: During the day on 23 August, Russians struck nine settlements in Polohy and Vasylivka districts 306 times. Russian troops used aircraft, MLRS, tanks, artillery and UAVs.

The Russians targeted Bilenke in Zaporizhzhia district, and Huliaipole, Orikhiv, Novoandriivka, Mala Tokmachka, Levadne, Robotyne, Malynivka, and Preobrazhenka in Polohy district.

No civilians were injured during the attack.

Police documented the aftermath of the Russian attacks.

An infrastructure facility and several houses were damaged in the village of Bilenke as a result of a drone attack.

A historical monument, the local history museum, was destroyed in Huliaipole during a night attack. The building caught fire as a result of a projectile hit and burned to the ground. Civilian households and outbuildings were also damaged, and personal property was destroyed.

Aftermath of Russian attack.

Photo: Police

Aftermath of Russian attack.

Photo: Police

Aftermath of Russian attack.

Photo: Police

Quote: "The National Police and Security Service of Ukraine investigators have collected evidence of war crimes. Based on the materials, criminal proceedings have been opened under Art. 438.1 (violation of the laws and customs of war) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine."

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Russians strike centre of Kostiantynivka, 5 people killed and 5 more injured

The Russians attacked the city centre of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast on Saturday, 24 August, killing 5 civilians and injuring at least 5 more.

Source: Donetsk Oblast Military Administration; Vadym Filashkin, Head of Donetsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Details: Investigation materials indicate that at 11:46 on 24 August, Russian forces launched an artillery attack on the city of Kostiantynivka, specifically targeting a residential area.

As a result of the attack, five residents  three men and two women  sustained fatal injuries.

A man and four women who have suffered injuries of varying degrees of severity were taken to medical facilities. They are currently receiving qualified medical assistance.

The final number of casualties is being determined. Filashkin once again urged residents to evacuate.

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Since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 the war has been reported on daily. At the same time Russia is waging a second war that is making fewer headlines.

Russia's so-called "second war" is directed against the West. "It is a war against (a Western) democratic model," says Eastern Europe expert Franziska Davies.

Difficult to define, features of what experts have called Russia's "hybrid war" include everything that does not involve direct military confrontation. According to Davies, actions carried out by Russia have one unifying goal: to weaken and destabilise the West.

One example of Russia's hybrid warfare is the uncovered plot to assassinate the CEO of Rheinmetall, a German automotive and arms manufacturer based in Dusseldorf earlier this month. The plot, first reported by US broadcaster CNN, was one of a broader plan to attack executives at European defence companies that manufacture weapons delivered to Ukraine.

Russia's war against Ukraine makes headlines every day: Soldier on the front line in the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, August 2024. - Andriy Andriyenko/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved.

"What Russia is ultimately striving for is a Europe where Russia can enforce its goals regardless of international rules and laws. A Europe in which Russia can exercise power by force," explains Franziska Davies from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat in Munich.

The threat of online fake news

Experts say Russia's hybrid war is made up of several strategies: hacking, attacks on individuals or disinformation and fake news. "We are all targets of these campaigns to influence information," says Tapio Pyysalo, Head of International Relations at the European Centre for Countering Hybrid Threats.

Before the European elections in June, there was a coordinated attempt to share targeted pro-Russian, anti-vaccine and anti-LGBTQ campaigns on social media.

The Dutch private research institute Trollrensics found that a large disinformation campaign in Germany promoted and shared content in favour of the far-right German political party Alternative for Germany (AfD).The company suspects that the bots behind this content come from Russian or pro-Russian circles.

Although many European countries have improved their security measures against hybrid attacks since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, Estonian expert Pyysalo warns that as countries would be better prepared to face threats if they shared data with one another. Such data sharing, however, often runs counter to individual countries national security laws.

"What democratic states still need to do is generally strengthen their legislation to close gaps that are used by hybrid actors," Pyysalo said.

The aftermath crash of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 near the village of Hrabove in eastern Ukraine. - July 2014, a story often used in online Kremlin disinformation campaigns. - Evgeniy Maloletka/Copyright 2022 The AP. All rights reserved.

How to recognise disinformation?

What needs to happen on a daily basis and what everyone can do is recognise fake news and not spread it, says Pyysalo. "Everyone should play a role in verifying information and making sure that everything they spread is based on facts and not disinformation narratives."

It helps that disinformation campaigns spread by Russia often follow similar patterns, explains Dr Frank Sauer, security policy expert at the Bundeswehr University Munich.

"It doesn't matter whether it's about the MH17 downing or the bombing of the children's hospital in Kiev: it's always first said that it was insane, then it was the others and in the end it's: 'Okay, it was us, but they deserved it'" Sauer said.

Experts say that to expose disinformation campaigns, it is worth checking whether other media outlets independently verify the information shared. It is also important to check the source of the news, such as which social media profile it originated from.

A Ukrainian Ministry of Defence manual on debunking fake news points out that the usernames of X profiles are often random combinations of numbers, and fake profiles often use old or randomly selected images directly from Google results.

According to Sauer, the aim of Russia's disinformation is: "To leave people feeling powerless and convinced that they can never know the truth anyway."

In Ukraine, many shops operate using emergency generators, which other countries in Europe would be unprepared to do. - Efrem Lukatsky/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved.

However, hybrid attacks can extend beyond the online sphere. Estonian hybrid threat expert Tapio Pyysalo, says that critical infrastructure in the rest of Europe could also be targeted by Russia, much like Russian attacks on energy infrastructure in Ukraine.

He does not want to cause concern, but "people should be prepared for all kinds of disruptions, for example in the supply of critical services or critical food."

Pyysalo summarises: "Be prepared for the worst, but of course hope for the best."

Germany's "nightmare scenario"

In Germany, Europe's biggest economy and a target for multiple attacks suspected to be from Russia, the worst - the "absolute nightmare scenario" - is what Frank Sauer calls a total power blackout.

"The general population is not well prepared for such situations. We simply assume that the weather will always be pleasant, the water will come out of the tap and there will be food in the supermarket," explains Sauer.

The German Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance has taken steps to draw up supply lists, advising people to stock up on enough food for ten days and two litres of liquid per person per day. As part of its advice, an emergency first-aid kit should be available and important documents should be stored to be taken with you quickly in an emergency.

Need to build up civil resistance

In such possible exceptional situations, Sauer maintains that building up civilian resistance is more important than strengthening the military.

The German security expert explains: "We basically need reserves of people who can help in an emergency. We need people who can stack sandbags and get the emergency generators out of the hall and start them up."

In Germany, the aim should be to ensure that "in an emergency, we can organise things so that everyone has a warm blanket, children have a corner to play in, we have emergency power generators where mobile phones can be charged and someone can cook soup."

Sauer emphasises that this is not only important in the event of external attacks on the infrastructure; power outages can also be triggered by the climate crisis.

His hope is "that there is a broad social consensus that we as a society should invest money, but also time." He is talking, for example, about citizens spending twelve months at the Federal Agency for Technical Relief, the fire brigade, the Red Cross or even the German Armed Forces. "So that I know what to do if something breaks down in my community or neighbourhood."
Even though Alec Baldwin is no longer facing criminal charges in connection with the fatal shooting of "Rust" cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, the case continues to make headlines.

Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed is currently serving 18 months behind bars after she was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in March. However, after Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed the charges against Alec Baldwin based on buried evidence, the rookie armorer fought for a new trial. That will be determined at a hearing next month.

If Hannah Gutierrez-Reed does get a new trial, one person who is likely to testify is props supplier Seth Kenney, who was never criminally charged in the case.

'Rust' Props Supplier Seth Kenney Speaks Out On Buried Evidence

MEGA

Alec Baldwins Rust trial was dismissed with prejudice on the third day of his trial after a crime scene technician testified to evidence that had not been turned over to the defense. Retired Arizona police officer Troy Teske, a friend of Hannah Gutierrez-Reeds father, veteran Hollywood armorer Thell Reed, went to the police to turn in ammunition that might have been a match to the bullet that killed Hutchins.

Baldwins attorney, Alex Spiro, argued that the bullets came from props supplier Seth Kenney, who had worked with Thell Reed on the Paramount+ Western 1883 and ran a cowboy training camp. The two had used live ammunition for shooting practice. Teske had gotten the bullet through Reed, who had stored some of the ammunition at his home. Kenney also had some of the rounds from the cowboy training camp and brought it back with him to his business: PDQ Arm and Prop in New Mexico.

Seth Kenney Has Suspicions About Troy Teske

MEGA

While speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Seth Kenney said that he suspected foul play and did not know why Teske waited so long to turn over the evidence to law enforcement.

Troy Teske had been recorded in November 2021 stating that he did not have any .45 Colt ammunition with nickel primers, a potential match to Rust, he explained. His years-late submission of ammunition to the sheriffs office was only a small portion of the 100 rounds he previously was recorded as saying he had in his possession, but now in 2024, include three rounds that have nickel primers, and may match the Rust ammunition.

Seth Kenney Insists That The Live Ammunition Did Not Come From Him

MEGA

Although law enforcement officials did execute a search of Seth Kenneys warehouse, it was done four weeks after Hutchins death. Police did find the container that Kenney and Thell had used during live ammunition training on the set of 1883, but at that time, it did not contain any Starline brass casings that matched the bullets found on set.

Just days after the shooting death, Hannah and Thell Reed accessed the prop truck and removed a trove of potential evidence, including a dozen-plus gun belts, before the sheriffs department gained and executed a search warrant, Kenney told the publication. Mr. Teske is a close friend to the Reed family. It is therefore no surprise that he may have come into possession of potentially matching Rust ammunition from the set.

Seth Kenney Supplied Props And Ammunition To The Rust Set

MEGA

While filming in New Mexico, Seth Kenney supplied ammunition and props for the Rust set. According to the 551-page report released by the Santa Fe Sheriffs Office, Kenney provided approximately 30 guns of assorted types and ammunition, which consisted of mostly .44-.40 and .38-.40 rounds.

Kenney said that he only provided one box of .45 Long Colt ammunition, which was the ammunition that was used to load the revolver when it went off. Kenney has maintained since 2021 that he did not provide the ammunition that was used on the day of the shooting and stated that it was different from the bullet that Hannah Gutierrez-Reed loaded into the gun that later wound up in the hands of Alec Baldwin.

It Is Still Unclear Where The Ammunition Came From

MEGA

Although the Santa Fe police department released 551 pages of evidence that they collected, it is still unclear how live ammunition ended up on a movie set. According to Hannah Gutierrez-Reeds lawsuit, There is no explanation as to where the remainder of the live rounds went or what Seth did with them, referring to the live rounds that Kenney took home from the 1883 shooting camp.

Unfortunately, as per the sheriffs report, they did not conduct DNA or fingerprint analysis on the live rounds found on the set. As such, the question of how live ammunition ended up on a movie set may forever remain a mystery.
Norway has revealed that one of its most strategic air bases has been the target of sabotage. The announcement comes as other European NATO air bases  namely in Germany  report incidents, one of which remains unexplained, as well as troubling drone activity over critical infrastructure. These incidents come amid increasing warnings about nefarious Russian activity on the continent, part of an apparent wave of hybrid warfare as the conflict in Ukraine further stokes East-West tensions.

Reports emerged today from The Barents Observer that a critical communications cable associated with Evenes Air Station, in northern Norway, had been severed. The incident occurred in April and was reported to the police, but has only now been announced, as state prosecutors investigate what happened.

The precise function of the cable has not been disclosed, but reports describe it as being part of the air bases critical infrastructure, and that it was cut outside the airfields perimeter. The Norwegian Police have confirmed that it was severed in a deliberate action but that, so far, no one has been charged, and no suspects have been identified at this point.

Suspected sabotage against Air Force Base in Northern Norway. It was an intentional and calculated action, the Norwegian Police says about the damage to the cable that belongs to the Evenes Air Station https://t.co/UGdDPG5ED1  The Barents Observer (@BarentsNews) August 23, 2024

Located north of the Arctic Circle, Evenes Air Station is critical to the defense of Norway and NATOs Northern Front. It is one of two Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) bases hosting permanent F-35A stealth fighter units and it is also receiving the services fleet of P-8A maritime patrol aircraft.

In addition to its flying squadrons, Evenes is home to other important military units, including ones responsible for air defense (with NASAMS surface-to-air missiles), and elements of the Norwegian Cyber Defense Force and the Norwegian Armed Forces Logistics Organization.

F-35As from 332 Squadron of the Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF). Norwegian Armed Forces Onar Digernes Aase / Forsvaret

Norway has seen other suspicious incidents in the past, notably the cutting of a vital undersea cable connecting Svalbard to mainland Norway in 2022. Before then, in 2018, the Norwegian Intelligence Service (NIS) disclosed three separate instances where Russian aircraft had flown mock attack profiles against a secretive radar station in the northern part of the country. The year before that, the NIS blamed Russian jamming for disruptions in cell phone and GPS service in the region, though it said this was a byproduct of an exercise and not a deliberate attack.

Meanwhile, in Germany this month, authorities were faced with two possible acts of sabotage at different air bases, one of which later proved to be a false alarm.

First, Wahn Barracks, the military section of Cologne Bonn Airport, in the west of the country, was sealed off on August 14 amid concerns about potential sabotage against the local water supply.

The alarm was raised after a guard at the base found a hole in a fence near the bases water processing plant. Authorities told personnel at the base  4,300 soldiers and 1,200 civilian employees  not to drink the tap water. A search was made of the base, but no trespassers were found.

A police car stands in front of the entrance to the air force barracks at Wahn after they were cordoned off, on August 14, 2024. Photo by Roberto Pfeil/picture alliance via Getty Images picture alliance

The water supply was interrupted as the drinking-water system showed unusual values, the German Armed Forces Territorial Command said in a press release.

After an investigation, the German Ministry of Defense stated that there was no evidence that this had taken place, with test results showing that the water was not contaminated.

Wahn Barracks serves the military part of Colognes airport, which is home to the German Armed Forces Executive Transport Wing, operating VIP aircraft as well as the German Air Forces refueling tankers and medical evacuation transports.

An Airbus A350 VIP transport of the German Armed Forces Executive Transport Wing, or Flugbereitschaft BMVg, based at Cologne Bonn Airport. Bundeswehr/Tobias Koch Tobias Koch

Today, NATO announced that it had lowered the security level at Geilenkirchen Air Base, also in the west of the country, after the facilitys state of alert had been raised overnight. This was in response to what the German Ministry of Defense described as intelligence information indicating a potential threat.

All non-mission essential staff have been sent home as a precautionary measure, the base said in a statement on the social media platform X. The safety of our staff is our top priority. Operations continue as planned.

Roughly, 24 hours later, in another post on X, NATO said: The security level at NATO air base Geilenkirchen has returned to Bravo. The temporary rise to Charlie was a precautionary measure to minimize potential risk to our organization and personnel. All scheduled operations are proceeding as planned.

We raised the security level at NATO Airbase Geilenkirchen based on intelligence information indicating potential threat. All non-mission essential staff have been sent home as a precautionary measure. The safety of our staff is our top priority. Operations continue as planned.  NATO AWACS (@NATOAWACS) August 22, 2024

NATOs security level Charlie implies that an incident has occurred, or intelligence has been received indicating that some form of terrorist action against NATO organizations or personnel is highly likely.

While NATO hasnt said what exactly the nature of the threat was, it was reportedly sufficient to force the resident NATO E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) fleet to function with minimal staffing as a precautionary measure while operations continued as planned.

Geilenkirchen is the main operating base for NATOs AWACS fleet, a multinational force that plays a hugely important role in the alliances air operations, providing airborne early warning, command and control, and battle management capability in Europe and elsewhere.

E-3A AWACS aircraft at Geilenkirchen in February 2022. Photo by Marius Becker/picture alliance via Getty Images picture alliance

The same installation had also seen the security level raised last week, in response to reports of an attempted trespassing incident at the base together with the possible sabotage of the water supply at Wahn Barracks. A full sweep was made of the premises at Geilenkirchen; again, no trespassers were found.

However, there is certainly a precedent for planned attacks directed against military bases in Germany, specifically.

In April, two German-Russian nationals were arrested in Germany on suspicion of plotting sabotage attacks, including on U.S. military facilities in the country. One of those individuals was accused of making plans to carry out bomb and arson attacks on military facilities and had allegedly taken photos and videos of military transports and equipment.

The supposed targets of the pair included the U.S. Armys Grafenwoehr base in the southern state of Bavaria, where Ukrainian soldiers are trained to use U.S.-supplied M1 Abrams tanks.

A U.S. Army M1A1 Abrams tank, photographed with mine roller fitted, at Grafenwohr, Bavaria, in July 2023. Photo by Matthias Merz/picture alliance via Getty Images picture alliance

Elsewhere in Germany, there have been reports of recent unexplained drone activity in the north of the country, including over an industrial park in Brunsbuttel, northwest of Hamburg, home to a major floating liquid natural gas (LNG) terminal.

Prosecutors in Germany have said they expect the drone flights are related to espionage activity for sabotage purposes and also cite repeated drone flights over critical infrastructure.

Drone flights over the area have been observed since August 8, with reports that the craft have been hard to track due to their high speeds reportedly around 60 miles per hour  and their approach from the sea. Critical infrastructure and very high security military bases in the U.S. are experiencing a growing number similarly mysterious intrusions, a troubling reality The War Zone has led reporting on.

The German military is providing radar data to police investigating suspicious drone flights over an industrial park in Brunsbuttel in northern Germany, according to a spokesperson for the country's territorial command.https://t.co/a8R2mVohqz  DW Politics (@dw_politics) August 23, 2024

At this point, there is nothing to connect the sabotage of a cable at Evenes and the so-far mysterious incident that led to an alert at Geilenkirchen to the Kremlin, let alone the reported drone activity in northern Germany.

However, this all comes as NATO increasingly warns of the risk of an expanding campaign of sabotage, including cyberattacks, across Europe, a new wave of hybrid warfare masterminded by Russia.

In June, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg described what the alliance identified as a surge of sabotage, cyber-attacks, instrumentalized migration, and other hostile actions by Russia.

Stoltenberg further pointed to the need for increased intelligence exchange, enhanced protection of critical infrastructure, including undersea and in cyberspace, and further restrictions on Russian intelligence operatives, while at the same time stating that Russias campaign would not deter NATO from supporting Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, left speaks to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg before the first plenary session at the European Political Community meeting at Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, England, Thursday, July 18, 2024. AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Pool Kin Cheung

Virtually every ally was seized with this intensification of Russias hybrid attacks, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said after a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Prague last month. We know what theyre up to, and we will respond both individually and collectively as necessary.

In the last few months, there has been a spike in reported incidents of this kind, suspected to be connected to Russia, if not orchestrated directly by Moscow. As well as Germany and Norway, these incidents have been reported in other NATO countries including the Czech Republic, Poland, and the United Kingdom.

In July, reported intelligence concerns about possible sabotage attacks by Russian-backed actors saw U.S. military bases across Europe placed on a heightened state of alert, for the first time in a decade, according to CNN.

For Russia, a campaign of this kind could be attractive for several reasons.

On the one hand, as Moscow becomes increasingly desperate to try and stem support among NATO countries for arming Ukraine  with weapons that are now, albeit to a limited extent, being used on its own territory  it is driven to ever bolder efforts to try and undermine this.

Maxar closeup satellite imagery of the Main Intelligence Directorate, or GRU, in Moscow. The GRU is widely considered to be the main mastermind behind the hybrid warfare campaign in Europe. Satellite image (c) 2020 Maxar Technologies DigitalGlobe/ScapeWare3d

Hybrid warfare offers a relatively reduced-risk and low-cost solution and, provided it achieves the desired results in terms of disruption and fear, has the potential to undermine support for Ukraine among the wider European populace.

Using proxies, including among the Russian diaspora in Europe, as well as criminal gangs, provides a layer of plausible deniability, making it especially hard to pin any given act of sabotage on Moscow directly.

Again, at this stage, Russias role in the suspected sabotage incidents in Germany and Norway remains unconfirmed, but theres no doubt that NATO is increasingly alert to the prospect of these kinds of attacks, orchestrated by Moscow, becoming much more common in Europe.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Meet the San Diego County Sheriffs Offices newest explosive and firearm detection K-9s  Archer, Bear, Dexter, and Nalla.

The sheriffs office announced Friday the department has four new fully trained explosive and firearm detection K-9s after the year old red and yellow Labrador Retrievers completed a ten-week academy at the sheriffs K-9 facility in Miramar.

The sheriffs office says K-9s Archer, Bear, Dexter, and Nalla are trained specifically to detect explosives and firearms. The K-9s will also be on call for other law enforcement agencies around San Diego County.

Archer

Archer is a red Labrador Retriever, handler Deputy Jovonni Silva

K-9-Archer (Photo: San Diego County Sheriff's Office)

Bear

Bear is a red Labrador Retriever, handler Deputy Daniel Elwess

K-9-Bear (Photo: San Diego County Sheriff's Office)

Dexter

Dexter is a yellow Labrador Retriever, handler is Deputy Darryl Patmon

K-9-Dexter (Photo: San Diego County Sheriff's Office)

Nalla

Nalla is a yellow Labrador Retriever, handler is Deputy Thomas Nelson

K-9-Nalla (Photo: San Diego County Sheriff's Office)

Nonprofit organization Honorary Deputy Sheriffs Association funded the purchase of the dogs, which each cost around $6,500, and also contributed an additional $12,000 for specialized equipment, the sheriffs department said.

The four new dogs join the Sheriffs K-9 Units 28 dogs trained in protection, article searches, tracking suspects or evidence, firearms, explosives and drug detection.

Deputy Elwess and K-9 Bear (Photo: San Diego County Sheriffs Office)

Deputy Patmon and Dexter (Photo: San Diego County Sheriffs Office)

Deputy Nelson and Nalla (Photo: San Diego County Sheriffs Office)

Deputy Silva and K-9 Archer (Photo: San Diego County Sheriffs Office)

Group photo of new explosive and firearm detection K-9s (Photo: San Diego County Sheriffs Office)

The sheriffs department says the K-9s specialized roles make them important to have in large crowd situations like concerts, sporting events, festivals, parades, airports, transportation hubs, dignitary visits, active shooter incidents and other high-risk scenarios as they can detect the slightest traces of explosives materials and gun powder.

The Sheriffs K-9 Unit is also hiring K-9 handlers with at least two years of experience working in patrol, detentions or courts. To learn more about the K-9 Unit, click here. To apply as a deputy, visit joinsdsheriff.net.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Seoul  North Korea vowed Saturday to advance its nuclear capabilities, reacting to a report that the United States had revised its own nuclear strategic plan.

The country will bolster up its strategic strength in every way to control and eliminate all sorts of security challenges that may result from Washingtons revised plan, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

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The New York Times reported this week that a US plan approved by President Joe Biden in March was to prepare for possible coordinated nuclear confrontations with Russia, China and North Korea.

The highly classified plan for the first time reorients Washingtons deterrent strategy to focus on Chinas rapid expansion in its nuclear arsenal, the Times said.

KCNA said North Koreas foreign ministry expresses serious concern over and bitterly denounces and rejects the behavior of the US.

It added North Korea vowed to push forward the building of nuclear force sufficient and reliable enough to firmly defend its sovereignty.

Pyongyang and Moscow have been allies since North Koreas founding after World War II and have drawn even closer since Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The United States and Seoul have accused North Korea of providing ammunition and missiles to Russia for its war in Ukraine.

Pyongyang, which has declared itself an irreversible nuclear weapons power, has described allegations of supplying weapons to Russia as absurd.

However, it did thank Russia for using its United Nations veto in March to effectively end monitoring of sanctions violations just as UN experts were starting to probe alleged arms transfers.

China, also a key ally of North Korea, presents itself as a neutral party in Russias offensive on Ukraine and says it is not sending lethal assistance to either side, unlike the United States and other Western nations.

But it is a close political and economic ally of Russia, and NATO members have branded Beijing a decisive enabler of the war.

Moscow has looked to Beijing as an economic lifeline since the Ukraine conflict began, with the two boosting trade to record highs as Russia faces heavy sanctions from the West.
San Francisco officials say they won't miss Elon Musk if he moves X to Texas: 'Good riddance'

Elon Musk said he planned to move the X headquarters from California to Texas.

Officials in San Francisco don't appear overly upset about it.

Musk said a California law protecting LGBTQ+ youth was one of the reasons he wants to relocate.

Officials in San Francisco aren't all that torn up over X owner Elon Musk's plans to take the social media company out of town.

"I share the perspective that most San Franciscans have, which is good riddance," City Attorney David Chiu told The New York Times.

Musk announced in July that he would move the X headquarters from San Francisco to Austin after California passed a law against "forced outings of LGBTQ+ students in schools."

Musk has promoted anti-trans content on his platform in the past, which his transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, criticized.

Elon Musk said the X headquarters will move from San Francisco to Austin. Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images

Last month, The billionaire also said he was unhappy with San Francisco's "gross receipt tax."

"Even if the severe crime problem in SF were to be solved tomorrow, X could not remain in SF and launch payments, as it would immediately fail," Musk wrote on X.

It's not entirely clear when X plans to relocate to Texas.

The Times reported earlier this month that X CEO Linda Yaccarino told staffers they would move to offices in San Jose and that X would open an office in Palo Alto, both of which  notably  are other cities in California.

"This is an important decision that impacts many of you, but it is the right one for our company in the long term," the memo said.

For their part, local officials in San Francisco seem fine with Musk's decision to relocate.

Mayor London Breed told the Times that despite meeting with Musk "several months ago" and texting him, she had not made offers to convince X to stay in San Francisco.

"I'm not going to beg anybody," Breed said.

Breed said she believed Musk's political agenda, which has become notably conservative, may have influenced his exit.

Musk's time heading Twiter  which he rebranded to X last year  has been tumultuous. After Musk bought Twitter in 2022, he fired hundreds of employees. He then laid off a second round of workers the night before Thanksgiving.

Ted Egan, San Francisco's chief economist, said X's presence has shrunk so much that its absence wouldn't affect the local economy.

"In many respects, they were already gone," he told the outlet.

Representatives for Musk did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Read the original article on Business Insider
(KRON)  San Mateo police said they arrested a man on multiple charges, including human trafficking, after a victim revealed to medical staff at a local hospital that she was being trafficked and threatened.

City council president condemns burglaries after Oakland Chinatown arson

The incident unfolded on Aug. 21, when officers responded to the hospital. The victim, who had come to the U.S. on a work visa to care for a familys child, reported that Qi Li, 35-years-old of San Mateo had taken her passport, verbally abused her, and withheld payment.

The victim also recounted an incident where Li allegedly held a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her, said police. Officials said the victim is now receiving temporary housing and support services.

The investigation led to the arrest of Qi Li, who faces charges including human trafficking, felony criminal threats, and brandishing a weapon. He is currently held in San Mateo County Jail.

Authorities urge anyone with additional information to contact the San Mateo Police Department as the investigation is 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 KRON4.
The Womens Resource Center has launched a new initiative to promote the civic engagement of women  and in doing so, push for public policy gains on issues ranging from the gender wage gap to the crisis in childcare.

Called Elevating Womens Voices, the nonpartisan initiative seeks to encourage womens involvement in the political arena and help give them a bigger role in tackling systemic challenges that disproportionately impact them the most, said Ashley Brown, president and CEO of the Womens Resource Center.

To that end, the initiative focuses on everything from helping women register to vote as well as providing information on ways to volunteer, speak at government meetings and run for elected office.

A new website has connections to resources and will soon feature interviews with local female leaders, who will share their perspectives and strategies on important matters affecting women and their families.

Elevating womens voices is fundamental to addressing gender-specific issues that might otherwise be overlooked, Brown said. Concerns such as reproductive rights, childcare, equal pay, and violence against women are directly impacted by womens civic participation and their presence in decision-making roles.

While the initiative was launched in June, the groundwork was established about five years ago, added Brown, whose agency serves clients in Sarasota and Manatee Counties with everything from wellness and mental health programs to resource counseling, career guidance, and financial and legal aid.

It was around that time five years ago when the Womens Resource Center found that their clients economic mobility was severely hampered by whats known as the benefits cliff  the steep cuts to childcare aid and other public assistance following small increases in household income.

Since then, the Center has worked with community partners on the benefits cliff to advocate for change at the state level. Two years later, in 2022, it was leading another charge, this time over the crisis in affordable housing  when it banded with community foundations to persuade the Sarasota County Commission to devote $25 million of its federal pandemic relief to affordable housing initiatives.

Meanwhile, from childcare to housing and reproductive rights, Center staff continued to watch how social problems, policies and outcomes were disproportionately hurting women and their financial well-being.

For instance, updated reports on ALICE families  or Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed  showed that about two-thirds of all households headed by single moms in Sarasota and Manatee counties are either ALICE or under the federal poverty line. Thats true for only 39% of households headed by single dads.

Yet, the Center found in a survey last year that despite the direct impact of public policies on their lives, about 40% of the Centers women clients were not registered to vote, Brown said.

That is when we started looking at increasing our public policy work to elevate the voices of our clients to legislators and to county commissioners on the decisions they were making and how they ultimately impact individuals, Brown said.

Since then, in other advocacy endeavors, the Womens Resource Center has also been promoting Amendment 4 on abortion rights ahead of Novembers election.

And this summer, the Centers representatives spoke out before the Sarasota County Commission against its cuts of $510,000 in childcare assistance for hundreds of local working-class and low-income families.

Soon Brown plans to post on the new website interviews with women elected officials such as Florida Rep. Fiona McFarland (R-Sarasota)  a major childcare advocate  and Bradenton City Councilwoman Lisa Gonzalez Moore, who has served as a board member for Legal Aid of Manasota, which also saw major cuts by the Sarasota County Commission.

In this nonpartisan initiative, Brown hopes to cut through the political divisiveness of the last few years and provide women with easy and interesting ways to inform themselves and get more involved in their communities and state.

Ultimately, elected officials will be informed by womens voices, Brown added, and in turn, women and their families will see the difference.

We want to change the data around women and their families in our community, she said, and have stronger and bigger numbers in that column of people who are fully financially secure.

This story comes from a partnership between the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. Saundra Amrhein covers the Season of Sharing campaign, along with issues surrounding housing, utilities, child care and transportation in the area. She can be reached at samrhein@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Women's Resource Center Sarasota starts civic engagement program
After wasting millions of dollars already, Richland School District 1 should abandon its embattled early learning center project in Lower Richland, South Carolina Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver wrote this week in a letter to district leaders.

It is difficult to see any scenario under which it is fiscally prudent for the future financial condition of the District to proceed further with building the (Vince Ford Early Learning Center), Weaver wrote. ... my strong and considered recommendation to the Board is that the District fully decommission the ... project and preserve remaining taxpayer assets to the fullest extent possible.

Aaron Bishop, chair of the Richland 1 school board, said in a statement that the board will discuss the letter at its next meeting, which is on Aug. 27.

The $31 million center at Caughman and Rawlinson roads has been the focus of controversy for more than eight months. The district started construction on it last year even though officials had not received approval from Richland County authorities or the state Department of Education. The county ordered construction halted in January, and the site has been idle since then.

A state inspector generals investigation determined the district broke state law and wasted taxpayer dollars. Meanwhile, two residents living near the property have filed lawsuits claiming the abandoned worksite has caused frequent flooding to their homes and property.

According to Weavers Aug. 22 letter, the district renewed its request for a building permit for the center on Aug. 12.

A permit was originally denied in December 2023, when John Tyler, deputy superintendent and general counsel for the state Department of Education, wrote to the district that the center could not be considered a public school building because it would be serving infants.

In February, Superintendent Craig Witherspoon wrote to the department reprising the districts request for a permit after the school board voted to change the scope of the project to serve students from 3K through second grade. That request was denied because of the investigation by the state Inspector General, which had been requested by Weaver.

After the Inspector General released his report in July, the district renewed its request for a permit to serve 3K to second-grade students.

In an interview with The State on Aug. 9, Witherspoon emphasized the districts commitment to finish construction. He said he did not want to confuse programming with the Vince Ford Early Learning Center facility itself.

Our intention is to build a building, Witherspoon said.

In her letter this week, Weaver said the education departments view of the project hasnt changed.

After reviewing the (Inspector Generals) findings and affirmation of the Departments determinations, there is no just cause to reopen this matter and depart from the Departments final determination communicated to the District on December 15, 2023, Weaver wrote in the letter. The Vince Ford Early Learning Center still cannot be considered a school, she said.

In order to receive such a permit, Richland 1 would have to use the building for state-funded, full-day 4K or other secondary education classroom instruction. It could not get approval from the education department to serve 3K students; that approval would have to come from another authority  likely the Department of Social Services.

Richland 1, Weaver wrote, has a pattern of disregard for legal authorities and a general willingness to say whatever it takes in attempting to move the project forward.

In Weavers letter, she noted the comments Witherspoon made in the Aug. 9 interview with The State.

The districts build-it-now, figure-it-out-later approach, Weaver wrote, disregards the need for proper zoning, permitting, licensure and budgeting for operations.

Weaver pointed out that the district changed plans for the center at least four times between March 2023 and January 2024 to pursue rezoning from Richland County and then the education department, withdrawing some rezoning requests, modifying designs and encountering unresolved legal concerns.

Richland County posted a stop work order the morning of Jan. 19 at the site. The county said Richland 1 had violated state and local code by starting the construction without approved permits or plans and no records of required inspections existed, the county said. Days later, Weaver sent a letter to Inspector General Brian Lamkin on Jan. 22 with reservations about the construction project.

Soon after the inspector generals report was issued in July, the district was issued a fiscal caution status, the second highest level of financial and budgetary concern in early August. It is a step above Richland 1s previous fiscal watch status, which was issued by former state education Superintendent Molly Spearman because of the districts procurement card usage and policies in December 2022.

And the district has been sued twice by Lower Richland homeowners, who have said stormwater runoff from the early learning center construction site has damaged their property. One said her house is now unliveable.

The Districts build at any cost attitude has come at a high cost indeed, Weaver wrote. Violation of state building law; unauthorized or illegal procurement; hours of wasted time of District, SCDE, and SIG staff; potential legal liability for alleged damaged done to homes adjacent to VFELC; and most tragically, over $6 million and counting of hard-earned taxpayers funds meant to support the education of K-12 students wasted.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSAV)The South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) received an order of execution for a Death Row inmate on Friday.

Freddie Eugene Owens, 46, execution order was delivered to the SCDC on Friday, the SCDC said in a press release.

Owens execution date will be Sept. 20 according to the SCDC press release, which is set by law for four Fridays from the date the department receives the order.

By law, Owens will be asked to choose his method of execution 14 days before his execution day, the press release said. The methods available are lethal injection, the electric chair and firing squad.

This will be the first execution in S.C. in 13 years according to the Associated Press. In July, the South Carolina Supreme Court made it legal for death row inmates to be executed by lethal injection, the electric chair and firing squad which opened the door for executions to restart.

Owens was sentenced to death in 1999 in Greenville County after being convicted of murder, armed robbery and criminal conspiracy. The SCDC said that he robbed and killed Irene Graves, who was working at a Greenville convenience store in 1997.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz pictured during an interview. Scholz has expressed shock at the Solingen knife attack and called for the perpetrator to be punished "with the full rigour of the law." "The attack in Solingen is a terrible event that has greatly shocked me. An attacker has brutally killed a number of people," Scholz posted on X. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for the perpetrator of the Solingen knife attack to be severely punished, while pledging assistance to the city in western Germany.

"We cannot accept something like this in our society and will never grow accustomed to it. We have to act with the full rigour of the law," Scholz said during an event in Stahnsdorf in Brandenburg near Berlin.

Describing the attack as a "terrible crime," Scholz called for the law to be implemented in full.

"We will also assist the city and its people with everything at our disposal," he said. "We are anxiously hoping that the lives of those injured will be saved, and stand with the relatives of the injured and deceased and with the entire city," he said.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz pictured during an interview. Scholz has expressed shock at the Solingen knife attack and called for the perpetrator to be punished "with the full rigour of the law." "The attack in Solingen is a terrible event that has greatly shocked me. An attacker has brutally killed a number of people," Scholz posted on X. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has expressed shock at the Solingen knife attack and called for the perpetrator to be punished "with the full rigour of the law."

"The attack in Solingen is a terrible event that has greatly shocked me. An attacker has brutally killed a number of people," Scholz posted on X.

He added that he had spoken on the phone to Solingen Mayor Tim Kurzbach. "We mourn the victims and stand by their relatives," Scholz posted.
Scientists are living at sea in Papua New Guinea to study one of the most biodiverse places on Earth

Scientists are living at sea in Papua New Guinea to study one of the most biodiverse places on Earth

Cutting edge tech and local knowledge are helping a group of scientists in Papua New Guinea survey the countrys highly biodiverse ocean ecosystems.

They are hoping it will provide the government with data to improve conservation efforts.

Papua New Guinea lies in the coral triangle, one of the most biologically diverse places in our oceans. It is home to more than 2,000 species of fish - some of which are found nowhere else on Earth. 600 hard coral species can be found here with the greatest concentration of clownfish diversity anywhere in the world.

The three-month scientific expedition is a partnership between National Geographic Pristine Seas, the government of Papua New Guineas Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA), and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).

The Coral Triangle is a global marine biodiversity hotspot. It has more species of fish, corals, and anything else in the world. It's the rainforest of the ocean, explains Dr Alan Friedlander, lead scientist for the National Geographic Pristine Seas expedition.

Related

Living and working aboard the Argo research vessel, a typical day could see the team counting seabirds, setting up cameras which can go to incredible depths of 6,000 metres or diving to observe the wildlife living around reefs. Long dives mean they are in the water pretty much all day.

We actually did some of the deepest deployments of cameras anywhere and found a bunch of really interesting new species for Papua New Guinea, a lot of deep water sharks, Friedlander says.

Quim preparing documents before coral reef survey near Tunnung Island, New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea. Photograph courtesy Alan Friedlander, National Geographic Pristine Sea

What we typically do on an expedition is we throw everything at it because oftentimes we have the advantage of having the vessel. Not much work has been done in these places, in many of the areas we have gone. So we try to do as comprehensive a job as possible.

Overfishing, warming oceans and pollution all threaten Papua New Guineas biodiversity

Jelta Wong, Papua New Guineas Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources says the threats its oceans face are varied and interlinked - from illegal unreported and unregulated fishing to global warming.

Like many other locations around the world, corals here have suffered over recent months from extremely high marine temperatures. A diverse population of fish which act like lawnmowers on the reef can help them to bounce back after bleaching events but that relies on protecting the biodiversity that exists there.

Some large-scale fishing practices, known as illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, threaten these populations of fish. With a lot of abandoned ordinances from World War II, extremely damaging methods like dynamite fishing are still used in Papua New Guinea. This is extremely dangerous for the fisherman and destructive, obliterating the habitat meaning the fish never return.

Healthy coral reefs in New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea. Photo by Manu San Felix, National Geographic Pristine Seas

Because a lot of places now depend on central markets, the monetisation of these resources, oftentimes people don't fish as sustainably as they once did, Friedlander explains.

Not all fishing is bad, however, providing an income and a vital food source for the people that live there, but Friedlander explains that it needs to be managed better than it currently is.

Poor land use practices too are a threat - runoff from both local and large-scale agricultural activity like palm oil plantations disrupts the ecosystem. Sewage from cesspools also makes its way to the oceans, contributing to the problem. And plastic pollution damages the reef adding to the pressures it already faces.

Combining local knowledge with cutting edge research methods

The National Geographic Pristine Seas team never goes to a place unannounced, engaging with local communities about the research they are carrying out before, during and after their expedition.

We've also had community members out on the boats with us every day, which is great because they tell us about the spots they're most concerned about, Friedlander says. These voices need to be heard because they are the ones most likely to be affected by the poor quality or poor health of their marine resources and they know the area best.

Freidlander adds that many of the local people engaged in the project ask what they can personally do about climate change.

A school of hundreds of jacks in New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea. Photo by Manu San Felix, National Geographic Pristine Seas

What I tell them is it's a global problem that Papua New Guinea did not create. And the countries that have created it, the onus is on them and the national governments to mitigate that.

But, he says, while many solutions are out of their control, what they can do is the same as everyone else on the planet - take care of their own backyard to slow the effects.

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A lot of the management strategies that we have today were developed thousands of years ago by the islanders.

Friedlander highlights the Indigenous marine protected areas (MPAs) that exist across the Pacific Ocean.

These are historically almost spiritual places but entangled with that is their place in preserving marine life. He recounts visiting one such area off the coast of Maschu Island in the north of the country and learning about its vital role in the lifecycle of the grouper.

Groupers only get together around either the new moon or the full moon for only a couple of months out of the year, he says.

Then these groupers, they come from kilometres away to this one spot and normally they're kind of solitary animals.

Because they are in a predictable place at a predictable time and distracted by reproduction, their populations have been decimated by overfishing. They can live for up to 60 years and their populations take a long time to regenerate once they are removed from the reef.

Local people have been protecting this spot where they spawn for decades, understanding that allowing them to breed undisturbed will ensure the survival of the species.

How does ocean research help with conservation?

In this vastly understudied region, detailed scientific data is needed for the country to effectively manage its marine resources.

In November 2023, Papua New Guinea tripled its ocean protections by announcing nearly 17,000 km of provincially-protected MPAs in its Lovongai and Murat jurisdictions. These came about through the will of local people and the Wildlife Conservation Society. More than 9,000 people from over 100 Indigenous communities were involved in the consultation. There were some of the first MPAs in the world with measures designed to protect the most threatened sharks and rays.

The provincial government, with the Wildlife Conservation Society, has been creating some, proposals for large marine protected areas, Friedlander says.

Nested within that are the local community protected areas. There were a lot of community consultations over the years to create these two large protected areas, but there wasn't a lot of biological information.

National Geographic Pristine Seas senior marine researcher Alan Friedlander aboard the DeepSee submersible in Rongerik Atoll in t he Marshall Islands. Photograph courtesy Alan Friedlander, National Geographic Pristine Seas.

These places are difficult for researchers to get to and, despite incredible local environmental knowledge, there isnt much scientific work for the government to use when pitching conservation efforts.

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What we are bringing to the table is this comprehensive data set of everything from seabirds and the shallow water down to the deepest depths, Friedlander says.

So our data hopefully helps provide some of the information so that the local governments can make wise choices when they create their protected areas, so they're most effective and beneficial to the communities.

Filmmakers are also working on land to learn about communities personal connections to the sea and help memorialise traditional ocean protection practices.

The Pristine Seas team returns to the location of their expedition after all the data has been worked up to share this film and their findings.

We'll come back to these communities and we'll show the film. We'll highlight to them our findings. We'll show the scientific report, Friedlander concludes.

What that does is that helps fill in the biological gaps. And then it's up to the national government to hopefully recognise these provincial protected areas.
A team of researchers from the University of Milan made a surprising discovery while analyzing centuries-old preserved brains found in a burial site in Milan.

As detailed in their study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, the scientists found evidence that people in 17th-century Europe were already chewing on the leaves of the coca plant, which are used to make cocaine.

The findings suggest that people in the continent were indulging in the drug far earlier than previously thought.

While people in South America have been known to chew on the energizing leaves of the coca plant for thousands of years, it's the first evidence of the plant's use in Europe before the 19th century, "backdating our understanding of the presence of the plant by almost two centuries," according to the paper.

The team had previously discovered the mummified remains of two people in the Ca' Granda crypt, a site that was used as a burial site throughout the 17th century, serving as the final resting grounds for patients who died at the nearby Ospedale Maggiore hospital.

While analyzing the bodies' preserved brains, they found the active components of the coca plant in both of them, indicating they were chewing on the plant's peppy leaves prior to their demise.

Interestingly, evidence suggests that the pair weren't doing so as part of the treatment they were receiving at the hospital.

"Given that the plant was not listed inside the detailed hospital pharmacopeia, it may not have been given as a medicinal remedy but may have been used for other purposes," the researchers note in their paper. For instance, the leaves may have been "chewed for their reinforcing properties or for recreational purposes."

The manufacturing of cocaine hydrochloride salts, the white powder we usually associate with the drug, only really began in the 19th century, quickly becoming a popular recreational drug throughout Europe  including among the likes of Sigmund Freud.

But given the latest research, it looks like people in Europe were indulging in the drug far earlier than previously thought, highlighting some notable gaps in our knowledge of the plant's distribution worldwide.

More on cocaine: Gangster Mark Zuckerberg Running Facebook Ads for Drugs Found To Be Laced With Fentanyl
Scientists Reveal Grim Results of Eating Two Slices of Ham Per Day

If you love cold cuts, we've got some bad news.

Eating both red and processed meats substantially increases your risk of type 2 diabetes, according to a new study in The Lancet journal Diabetes & Endocrinology, with your chances soaring even higher if you consume a meager two slices of ham per day.

The researchers, led by the University of Cambridge, discovered this association after analyzing health data from 1.9 million participants from across the world in the InterConnect project, a European Union-funded initiative meant to study diabetes and obesity.

One finding: regularly consuming unprocessed red meat  about 100 grams per day  increased the risk of developing diabetes by about 10 percent.

And eating 50 grams of processed meat every day  the equivalent of just two ham slices  increases diabetes risk by some 15 percent.

"Our research provides the most comprehensive evidence to date of an association between eating processed meat and unprocessed red meat and a higher future risk of type 2 diabetes," Cambridge epidemiology professor and the study's principal author Nita Forouhi said in a statement about the findings. "It supports recommendations to limit the consumption of processed meat and unprocessed red meat to reduce type 2 diabetes cases in the population."

Overall, the takeaway seems to be that meat consumption has a surprisingly strong correlation with diabetes risk. Even eating 100 grams of poultry per day increased the chances of developing diabetes at a rate of eight percent, the study found, though further analyses of the data revealed this association was weaker compared to the links with red and processed meat.

"While our findings provide more comprehensive evidence on the association between poultry consumption and type 2 diabetes than was previously available, the link remains uncertain and needs to be investigated further," Forouhi said.

The overall conclusion from the study is surprising because it's established conventional wisdom that the consumption of refined carbohydrates is a leading risk factor for type 2 diabetes.

"The underlying mechanisms that link meat intake with the development of type 2 diabetes are not fully established," the study reads, suggesting that eating certain types of meat disrupts insulin sensitivity or people's gut biome, leading to type 2 diabetes.

Further study is warranted, according to the researchers.

More on food: Delicious Foods Linked to Alzheimer's Disease
The Philippines is working to file cases against the recruiters of Filipino nationals who were rescued in a cyber scam crackdown in Laos.

At the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said Philippine authorities will get the statements of the victims once they return to the country.

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DMW particularly stands ready to help upon arrival of the I would call them victims of illegal recruitment and human trafficking, he said.

We will work with the DOJ (Department of Justice) in terms of filing the necessary charges. We will get the statements of the victims to pinpoint who recruited them here in the Philippines and file the necessary charges, he added.

At least 129 Filipinos have sought government assistance so far following the crackdown on illegal companies located within the so-called Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (GTSEZ) in Bokeo Province, Lao PDR.

Seven have returned to the Philippines while about 75 more are being processed for repatriation.

More than 700 foreign nationals were arrested on Aug. 12 at the GTSEZ, which has become associated with illicit activities, including alleged online scam operations and trafficking of foreign nationals lured on false promises of legitimate work.

At the forum, Cacdac said the Filipino human trafficking victims will receive assistance, in accordance with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

Meanwhile, he warned the public not to fall prey to unlicensed recruiters enticing Filipinos to work in other Southeast Asian countries, like Laos.

Dito pa lang dapat mayroon nang kontrata dadaan sa DMW. Gagawaran kayo ng clearance ng DMW. Iyan po ang mahalaga para hindi kayo mabiktima ng (You need a contract that will go through the DMW for clearance. That is important so that you wont fall victim to an) illegal recruiter, he said.

He explained that the visa-free arrangement for Filipinos in select states is only for tourists.

Flying to Southeast Asian countries for employment requires a work visa.
The National Park Service said that Chenoa Nickerson of Gilbert, Arizona, was "swept into" a creek on Thursday, Aug. 22

nps.gov Chenoa Nickerson, who went missing at Grand Canyon National Park on Aug. 22, 2024

The National Park Service (NPS) is asking for the public's help in searching for an Arizona woman who was swept away while hiking at Grand Canyon National Park earlier this week.

On Thursday, Aug. 22, a flash flood hit the park shortly before 1:30 p.m., leading to "several hikers being stranded in the affected area," NPS said in a release.

Chenoa Nickerson, 33, was "swept into" Havasu Creek without a life jacket, roughly a half mile above the Colorado River confluence.

While rescue efforts began for those stranded on Thursday, with an "initial flight taking off before 3 p.m. to assist individuals stranded both below and above Beaver Falls," Nickerson remains missing as of Saturday, Aug. 24, as rescue efforts "continue," NPS shared in an update.

The agency also posted a flyer featuring photos of Nickerson on Facebook on Friday, Aug. 23, to aid the search.

Related: Hiker Has Been Missing for Days After Getting Separated from Group at Montana's Glacier National Park

nps.gov Chenoa Nickerson

NPS said that Nickerson  a Gilbert, Arizona, native  is 58 and 190 pounds and has brown hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a black tank top, black shorts and a pair of blue hiking boots.

"Search efforts on Saturday, August 24, are focused in the areas of Beaver Falls, the confluence of Havasu Creek and the Colorado River, and the Colorado River," the agency said in a release. "Searching methods include aerial search, ground search and rescue vessel searching along the Colorado River."

NBC affiliate KPNX reported on Friday, Aug. 23, that Nickerson's husband was rescued by rafters after also being swept away in the flood. "We love her and we won't give up until we find her," Nickerson's brother Janosh Wolters told the outlet.



Related: Dollywood Visitors Trapped at Park After Severe Flash Flooding Slams Eastern Tennessee

Mississippi resident Latricia Mimbs told KPNX that she too was impacted by the flooding while in the area with a group, as they set up tents near Havasupai Campground. While the flash flood swept through and caused Mimbs to lose her belongings, she and her group "made it to the hilltop before the flood hit."

"I'm really proud of them for not panicking," Mimbs said of her companions. "We all got out safely."

As of Friday, Mimbs told the outlet that certain areas are only reachable via helicopter due to the conditions, with five people  of then 200 people total  being flown out at a time. The Havasupai tribe has reportedly been providing stranded campers with food and water, according to KPNX.

"We're praying for them," Mimbs said of Nickerson and her loved ones.

Per USA Today, NPS spokesperson Joelle Baird said the flash flood marked the first at Havasu Creek this year.



NPS asks that those with information on Nickerson's whereabouts contact the NPS ISB Tip Line at (888) 653-0009.

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HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  A handful of subdivisions at the Hartford Police Department worked together to seize large amounts of narcotics that were being sold in the Frog Hollow Neighborhood of the city.

Investigators say that Friday at 86-88 Hungerford St., the Community Crime Suppression Team, Vice and Narcotics Unit, and Community Service Bureau coordinated a search and seizure warrant after citizens in the area complained of open-air drug sales.

In the search, 1,710 sleeves of fentanyl, 81 grams of crack cocaine, and 5.6 grams of powder cocaine were discovered. A semi-automatic firearm was also located.

Christina Evans

Eduardo Ortiz

Luis Colon-Perez

Those arrested are 27-year-old Christina Evans, 40-year-old Eduardo Ortiz, and 37-year-old Luis Colon-Perez.

Further investigation revealed a second location involved in the open-air drug sales. Narcotics packaging and approximately $14,473 US dollars were found at 854 Park St.

A total of three people were arrested in this 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 WTNH.com.
A former Memphis police officer has reversed a not guilty plea in connection with their alleged involvement in the 2023 arrest and beating of Tyre Nichols. On Friday (Aug. 23), Emmitt Martin III pleaded guilty to his use of excessive force and witness tampering.

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Nichols, 29, was stopped by members of the departments Scorpion Unit, a tactical street team, on alleged suspicion of reckless driving on Jan. 7. Evidence later disproved the claim. At one point during the traffic stop, he attempted to flee on foot before being brazenly battered by Martin and four of his colleagues. The father of one was minutes away from where his mother, RowVaughn Wells, lives when the interaction unfolded. He passed away days later, on Jan. 10, from blunt force trauma to the head. Nichols death sparked national outrage and protests and cries for justice and police reform.

Following the plea change, Martins lawyer Stephen Ross Johnson said, Emmitt Martin was driven by anger when on Jan. 7 of 2023, he admits that he violated Mr. Nichols civil rights and used excessive force. He was driven by fear when he later attempted to cover that up  fear of the consequences of what he had done." He faces up to 40 years in prison and will be sentenced on Dec. 5.

In the wake of the tragedy, the unit was disbanded and the men each placed on administrative leave and eventually terminated. Nichols parents, his mother and stepfather Rodney Wells, filed a federal lawsuit against the officers and city in their sons untimely death. Attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, who are representing Nichols family, issued a statement with the Wells regarding Martins guilty plea, calling his admission a crucial component to accountability.

Martin acted in concert with the others as part of a Scorpion unit culture of inflicting harm on citizens of Memphis, they stated. Adding that, Martin pleading to his role and responsibility in Tyres murder is not enough. We urge the other officers involved in his death to confront their actions and take responsibility. We remain fiercely committed to holding all officers and the City of Memphis accountable for Tyres tragic and unnecessary death.

In September of last year, Martin, Desmond Mills, Jr., Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith were indicted by a grand jury on the following federal offenses: excessive force, aiding and abetting each other in using excessive force, failure to intervene, failure to render medical aide, and conspiring to cover up their misconduct. Additionally, they were charged by the state with second degree murder, aggravated assault, and aggravated kidnapping. The men all pleaded not guilty.

However, this past November, as part of an agreement with prosecutors, Mills submitted a guilty plea, agreeing to accept civil rights and conspiracy charges in the federal case. The disgraced public servant disclosed that he repeatedly struck Nichols with a baton and that another officer punched the man as two colleagues restrained him on the ground. Mills faces up to 15 years in prison.

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Zoo Berlin shared the amazing news that 11-year-old Meng Meng has given birth to two healthy Giant Panda twins, and they're all doing well.

On August 23, 2024, the Zoo Berlin announced that their longtime Giant Panda, Meng Meng, had given birth. And it was twins again! Take a look!

According to the Associated Press, the cubs were born on August 22, 2024, 11 days after an ultrasound confirmed the pregnancy.

According to Google Translate, the zoo shared the news with its followers on Facebook.

"They are here! You've been waiting for this as eagerly as we have... Meng Meng had offspring for the second time yesterday at 1:03 p.m. and 2:19 p.m.," they wrote in the announcement.

"Both cubs are in good health and are being lovingly cared for around the clock by their mother and the experienced panda team."

The team made it clear that right now is a "critical time" for the baby Giant Panda twins. AP News explained, "The cubs are tiny, weighing just 169 grams and 136 grams (about 6 ounces and 4.8 ounces) respectively, and are about 14 centimeters (5.5 inches) long."

Baby Giant Pandas don't look anything like their adult selves. They're really small and easily fit into a person's palm. AP News explains that they're born deaf and blind, and they're white and pink, with their signature markings developing much later on.

"I am relieved that the two were born healthy," zoo director Andreas Knieriem told AP News. "The little ones make a lively impression, and mom Meng Meng takes great care of her offspring."

According to the zoo, Giant Pandas don't typically raise twins when they give birth to them; they usually only raise one. However, the zoo promises to "'actively support' Meng Meng's child care in cooperation with two experts from China's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding who are in the German capital."

The plan is for the two Giant Panda cubs to alternate nursing time with their mom every two to three hours. When they're not with their mama, they're being cared for in an incubator, which AP News reports was donated by a hospital in Berlin.

Giant Pandas Are Considered 'Vulnerable' Due to Low Population

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the population of Giant Pandas is considered "vulnerable," but scientists are seeing some positive trends.

A lot has been done to help preserve the Giant Pandas over the past several decades, and one of the latest surveys from the IUCN showed some increase in habitat, which showed some promising trends for the population.

"Evidence from a series of range-wide national surveys indicate that the previous population decline has been arrested, and the population has started to increase (State Forestry Administration 2015)," the IUCN notes. "It is widely believed that the population has stabilized and has begun to increase in many parts of the range."

But that doesn't mean they're out of danger. The IUCN warns: "Although the population is currently increasing, climate change is predicted to eliminate >35% of the Panda's bamboo habitat in the next 80 years, and thus the Panda population is projected to decline," they write.

So, any new births are good news, and we're excited to follow along with the two new cubs at Zoo Berlin.
Secret Service faces continued scrutiny after assassination attempt on Trump, agents placed on leave

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents as he leaves the stage at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. At least five members of the Secret Service have been placed on administrative leave following the assassination attempt on Trump. | Evan Vucci

Six weeks after the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, the current Republican presidential nominee, at least five members of the U.S. Secret Service have been placed on administrative leave.

According to Fox News, those placed on leave include a member of Trumps personal protective detail and the special agent in charge of the Secret Services Pittsburgh Field Office.

USSS Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi stated that the investigation is ongoing to determine how Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old responsible for the assassination attempt, managed to position himself and fire several shots before being stopped.

The U.S. Secret Service holds our personnel to the highest professional standards, and any identified and substantiated violations of policy will be investigated by the Office of Professional Responsibility for potential disciplinary action, Guglielmi said, per Fox News.

Demands for accountability

The July 13 incident occurred at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Crooks, who climbed a building near the event, fired shots at Trump and the crowd, nicking the former presidents ear and killing firefighter Corey Comperatore. Two others were also injured.

In the aftermath, Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned and was replaced by Acting Director Ronald Rowe.

Further details of the assassination attempt have since emerged, including a whistleblowers claim that Secret Service agents were advised not to request additional security measures and that Crooks had been identified as a potential threat by local police before he opened fire.

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., disclosed the whistleblowers allegations on a post to X, stating that agents were told requests for extra security would be denied.

 NEW - Whistleblower says Secret Service HQ told agents working the Butler PA event NOT to request additional manpower resources for the rally & warned any such requests would be denied. Contradicts Director Rowe testimony, who said no resources were ever denied pic.twitter.com/85sHTAI82u  Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) August 23, 2024

In a letter addressed to Rowe, Hawley demanded that answers be provided to this claim.

Yet you have repeatedly suggested that no security assets had been denied for the Butler event, Hawley wrote. You must explain this apparent contradiction immediately.

House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., said that the Secret Service needs to be held accountable for its failure to protect Trump.

Holding negligent employees accountable is the first step, Comer said, per Fox News. I look forward to the Task Forces findings of its investigation. We must ensure the Secret Service does not fail again.

Failures in communication

Body camera footage of the assassination attempt revealed local police frustration that their warnings about a man on a nearby roof were not heeded.

A breakdown in communication between local police and the Secret Service contributed to the failure to apprehend Crooks before the shooting, per CNN.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, told CNN that the lack of communication between the two agencies was a result of poor communication systems.

There was no unified radio channel for all law enforcement on the premises to communicate in the event of an emergency  instead, units connected over various radio channels, group chats and even emails, Grassley said. Officers relied heavily on spotty cell service to get their messages through, and were often unsure if the right law enforcement entity received them.

According to CNN, Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., revealed in a report on the assassination attempt that local police had set aside radios for the Secret Service to facilitate communication between the agencies, but the Secret Service teams failed to pick them up despite being reminded.

I can confirm that the Butler County ESU team made radios available to the Secret Service and that they were not utilized by the Secret Service, Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger said in a statement to CNN.

It is uncertain if the radios would have made a difference, but Goldinger expressed that if Secret Service had access to them and were paying attention, they would have been alerted to the threat.

This was a Secret Service failure, Rowe told reporters during a conference earlier this month, per CNN. That roof should have been covered.
Democrats did their due diligence and achieved a united convention. President Bidens decision to no longer seek re-election could have facilitated a contested convention. However, Democrats  starting with Biden  quickly got behind Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee. That was the test before the convention. The test in Chicago was Palestine.

The Biden Administrations complicity in Israels genocide in Gaza and the vice presidents ambiguous posture on the campaign trail made for a potential confrontation between moderates and progressives. However, congressional progressives, from AOC to Bernie Sanders, have toed the party line and have backed the Harris Campaign.

Pro-Palestinian uncommitted activists' protests outside the United Center in Chicago were smaller than advertised and largely ignored. As for those uncommitted activists on the insidethe thirty delegates as a result of voting uncommitted in the Democratic primary for presidentthey were delayed only to be denied.

Uncommitted activists were given space to host a panel discussion with Palestinian doctors to explain conditions in Gaza hospitals. They also were allowed to hold meetings with party officials. But were denied the opportunity to speak on the main stage during primetime after earlier consideration. Space was given to Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg, Jewish parents of an American hostage of Hamaswith the support of uncommitted activists.

The irony of hosting a convention in the home of the largest Palestinian population in the nationChicagoand denying the voice of Palestinians is not lost in this moment. In response, uncommitted activists engaged in a sit-in outside the convention.

All the partying and falling in line to show a display of strength, diversity, and unity does anything but. There is tyranny amongst Democrats because of their inactionif not outright supportfor tyranny in Palestine by way of occupation, apartheid, and genocide.

The political tension leading up to and during convention week reminds some of the 1968 DNC. Democrats convened in the shadow of the assassinations of RFK and MLK, as well as protests of the Vietnam War, with their incumbent choosing to abandon a re-election bid. However, the attempted silencing of uncommitted activists at the convention is a reminder of the DNC of 1964.

In 1964, the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP) was foundedby Fannie Lou Hamer, Ella Baker, Bob Moses, and James W. Wrightto counter the white supremacist politics of the Mississippi Democratic Party. The idea was birthed from Black voter registration and voting initiatives by the Council of Federated Organizations (COFO). MFDP organized a state convention to send electors to the 1964 DNC in Atlantic City, NJ; representing the scores of disenfranchised Black voters in their state. The convention was held on the backdrop of the murders of Michael Schwerner, Andrew Goodman, and James Chaney; killed near Philadelphia, Mississippi for working to register Black people to vote. Further inspired by their murders, the MFDP resolved to send their electors to be seated in the general assembly of electors at the DNC.

Once in Atlantic City, the MFDP challenged the validity of the Mississippi Democratic delegation participation in 1964 due to Jim Crow policies that disenfranchised Black voters. The Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and the NAACP all worked behind the scenes to get MFDP delegates a seat at the convention.

At the convention, Ms. Hamer gave impassioned testimony of the brutality of anti-Black racism inflicted upon her simply for attempting to vote. Her testimony, told to the DNC credentials committee, was televised for all of America to hear. They heard how Ms. Hamer was made to leave her home for registering to vote. They heard of the many Black folks whose homes rang with gunshots on account of her registration attempt.

They heard that Ms. Hamer was taken to jail. They heard how the highway patrolman told Ms. Hamer, We are going to make you wish you was dead. They heard that two incarcerated Black men were forced to beat Ms. Hamer with a blackjack until they physically couldnt; in the same jail where Medgar Evers was murdered. They finally heard these words from Ms. Hamer:

All of this is on account we want to register, to become first-class citizens, and if the freedom Democratic Party is not seated now, I question America, is this America, the land of the free and the home of the brave where we have to sleep with our telephones off of the hooks because our lives be threatened daily because we want to live as decent human beings, in America?

None of it moved the committee.

Democrats would not allow the MFDP a seat at the convention.

President Lyndon Johnson was fearful of losing the support of the Mississippi Democrats. So like any good liberal, he suggested a compromise: The DNC would provide seats for two MFDP members in exchange for seating the all-white Mississippi delegation. MLK agreed with the compromise, but Ms. Hamer made clear: We didnt come all this way for no two seats, cause all of us is tired.

Oregon Congresswoman Edith Green offered her take on a compromise: seating loyal democrats from both parties. The Mississippi Democrats rejected that and departed from the convention after all the talk of compromise. All but three to five of the sixty-eight got up and left the convention, to which MFDP delegates took their seats with passes donated to them. The next day, the party returned to find the seats removed. Their response was to stand where the seats were and sing freedom songs.

Sadly, Democrats have a history of attempting to shut down freedom fighters and justice seekers.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

While the Democrats of 2024 arent the Southern Democrats of 1964, theyve forgotten their history because were they aware of it, maybe, they wouldnt have repeated it. There is one Democrat aware of history; Democratic State Rep. Ruwa Romman, of Georgia, who is a Palestinian American. In the speech she was prepared to give at the convention, she referenced an awareness and respect for the history that informs the moment:

For 320 days, weve stood together, demanding to enforce our laws on friend and foe alike to reach a ceasefire, end the killing of Palestinians, free all the Israeli and Palestinian hostages, and to begin the difficult work of building a path to collective peace and safety Theyll say this is how its always been, that nothing can change. But remember Fannie Lou Hamershunned for her courage, yet she paved the way for an integrated Democratic Party. Her legacy lives on, and its her example we follow.

Uncommitted activists seem to recognize the mighty shoulders they stand on to secure justice for Palestinians and justice for all. The Harris Campaign and Democrats stand on the memory of the Trump Presidency. Thus, they walk the tightrope to salvage every vote from each constituency under their tent. A second Trump presidency isnt optimal, but attempting to silence dissent isnt a show of unity. It is the sort of fear that fuels a Trump election in the first place.

Howard Thurman said, There is one overmastering problem that the socially and politically disinherited always face: under what terms is survival possible? The DNC of 2024 leaves an equally perilous question for us to consider: for the socially and politically disinherited, under what terms is survival too good an outcome?

Democrats may learn the consequences of their answer in November.
Several Massachusetts towns in Worcester and Plymouth counties will be sprayed for mosquitos amid growing concerns about EEE in the region.

Carver, Halifax, Kingston, Middleborough, Plymouth, Plympton, Rochester, and Wareham will be sprayed from the air while Douglas, Dudley, Oxford, Sutton, and Uxbridge will be sprayed by trucks.

MDPH says the spraying will begin this upcoming week of August 26 and residents will be told the exact timing in the coming days.

State health officials warned that a cluster of four towns south of Worcester  Douglas, Oxford, Sutton and Webster  are at critical risk after a man in his 80s from Oxford caught the virus, the first human case found in Massachusetts since 2020.

The town of Plymouth, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) southeast of Boston, announced Friday that its closing public outdoor recreation facilities from dusk until dawn each day after a horse in the town was infected with the disease.

We have not seen an outbreak of EEE for four years in Massachusetts, said DPH Commissioner Robbie Goldstein. MD, PhD. This years outbreak and activity raise the risk for communities in parts of the state. We need to use all our available tools to reduce risk and protect our communities. We are asking everyone to do their part.

Although the spray will help reduce the risk of EEE infection, residents are still asked to take precautions, including wearing mosquito repellent outdoors.

The presence of the virus in Massachusetts this year was confirmed last month in a mosquito sample, and has been found in other mosquitoes across the state since then. In a 2019 outbreak, there were six deaths among 12 confirmed cases in Massachusetts. The outbreak continued the following year with five more cases and another death.

There are no vaccines or treatments for EEE.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that although rare, EEE is very serious and about 30% of people who become infected die. Symptoms include fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea and seizures.

People who survive are often permanently disabled, and few completely recover, Massachusetts authorities say. The disease is prevalent in birds, and although humans and some other mammals can catch EEE, they dont spread the disease.

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8 Massachusetts communities are now considered high risk for West Nile virus

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What Shakespeare can teach us about racism

William Shakespeares famous tragedy Othello is often the first play that comes to mind when people think of Shakespeare and race. And if not Othello, then folks usually name The Merchant of Venice, Antony and Cleopatra, The Tempest, or his first  and bloodiest  tragedy, Titus Andronicus, my favorite Shakespeare play.

Among Shakespeare scholars, those five works are known as his traditionally understood race plays and include characters who are Black like Othello, Jewish like Shylock, Indigenous like Caliban, or Black African like Cleopatra.

But what did Shakespeare have to say about race in plays such as Hamlet and Macbeth, where Black characters do not have a dominant role, for example?

As Shakespeare scholars who study race know, all of his plays address race in some way. How could they not?

After all, every human being has a racial identity, much like every living human being breathes. Said another way, every character Shakespeare breathed life into has a racial identity, from Hamlet to Hippolyta.

The playwright wrote about many key subjects during the late 15th and early 16th centuries that are relevant today, including gender, addiction, sexuality, mental health, social psychology, sexual violence, antisemitism, sexism and, of course, race.

In my book Shakespeares White Others, I explore the intraracial divisions that Shakespeare illustrates in all his plays.

Here are four things to know about Shakespeare and race.

1. No one should fear Shakespeare

For a long time, I was afraid of Shakespeare. I am not the only one.

In his 1964 essay Why I Stopped Hating Shakespeare, James Baldwin detailed his initial resistance. Like many people today, Baldwin wrote that he, too, was a victim of that loveless education which causes so many schoolboys to detest Shakespeare.

A major part of Baldwins loathing of Shakespeare had nothing to do with the English writer specifically, but rather the white elitism that surrounded his work and literature.

But as Baldwin eventually realized, Shakespeare was not the author of his oppression.

Just as Shakespeare didnt create misogyny and sexism, he didnt create race and racism. Rather, he observed the complex realities of the world around him, and through his plays he articulated an underlying hope for a more just world.

2. Shakespeares work reveals social injustice

Titus Andronicus featured the playwrights first Black character, Aaron. In that play, written near the end of the 16th century, the white Roman empress, Tamora, cheats on her white emperor husband, Saturninus, with Aaron. When Tamora eventually gives birth to a baby, its clear Tamoras baby daddy isnt Saturninus.

Consequently, the white characters who know about the infants real father urge Aaron to kill his newborn Black son. But Aaron refuses. He opts instead to fiercely protect his beloved child.

Vintage engraving of a scene from Shakespeares Titus Andronicus. Getty Images

Amid all the drama that occurs around the childs existence, Shakespeare momentarily offers a beautiful defense of Blackness in the plays fourth act.

Is black so base a hue? Aaron initially asks before challenging the cultural norm. Coal-black is better than another hue, in that it scorns to bear another hue.

In other words, at least to Aaron, being Black was beautiful, Blackness exuded strength.

Such words about the Black identity are not uttered elsewhere in Shakespeares plays  not even by the more popular Othello.

3. The power of whiteness

In plays such as Hamlet, Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet, race still figures in the drama even when there are no dominant Black characters.

Shakespeare does this by illustrating the formation and maintenance of the white identity. In a sense, Shakespeare details the nuances of race through his characters racial similarities, thus making racial whiteness very visible.

An image of what is considered the most important book in English literature, William Shakespeares The First Folio 1623. Scott Barbour/Getty Images

In Shakespeares time, much like our present moment, the presumed superiority of whiteness meant social status was negotiated by everyone based on the dominant cultures standards.

In several of his plays, for instance, the playwright uses white hands as noble symbols of purity and white superiority. He also called attention to his characters race by describing them as white or fair.

Shakespeare also used black as a metaphor for being tainted.

One such moment occurs in the comedy Much Ado About Nothing.

A young white woman, Hero, is falsely accused of cheating on her fiance. On their wedding day, Heros groom, Claudio, charges her with being unfaithful. Claudio and Heros father, Leonato, then shame Hero for being allegedly unchaste, a no-no for 16th-century English women who were legally their fathers and then their husbands property.

With Heros sexual purity allegedly tainted, her father describes her as having fallen into a pit of ink.

Sex before marriage violated the male-dominated cultures expectations for unwed white women.

Thus, in that play, Hero momentarily represents an inked white woman  or a symbolic reflection of the stereotyped, hypersexual Black woman.

4. The future of scholarship on Shakespeare and race

Today, scholars are publishing new insights on the social, cultural and political issues of Shakespeares time and our own. In fact, there are dozens of scholars and theater practitioners devoting their professional lives to exploring race in Shakespeares literature and time period.

In his 2000 book Shakespeare Jungle Fever: National-Imperial Re-Visions of Race, Rape, and Sacrifice, UCLA English professor Arthur L. Little Jr. explored British imperialism, racialized whiteness and the sexual myths about Black men.

In 2020, playwright Anchuli Felicia King wrote Keene, a satirical riff on Othello that offers a modern-day critique on whiteness. In Keene, Kai, a Japanese musicologist, and Tyler, a Black Ph.D. student, meet at a Shakespeare conference where they are the only two people of color at the elite white gathering. While Tyler is focused on writing his thesis, Kai is focused on Tyler. A romance ensues, only to see Tyler  much like Othello before him  betrayed by his closet white confidant, Ian.

In 2019, British actress Adjoa Andoh directed Shakespeares Richard II with a cast of all women of color  a production that she called a thought experiment into the universality of humanity.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: David Sterling Brown, Trinity College

Read more:



David S. Brown receives funding from Mellon Foundation and American Council of Learned Societies.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A regent for the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) who said Jewish students should develop tougher skin and get in line ripped the bandaid off his remarks during a Friday board discussion.

NSHE Regent Donald S. McMichael Sr., who lost a primary election after his remarks and will lose his seat, repeatedly questioned the legal interpretation of rules used to kick him off the IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access) committee.

McMichael was removed in June from his role as vice chair of the IDEA committee and removed from the committee in an administrative decision by NSHE Board Chair Amy J. Carvalho.

Regents emotions were on display as the meeting progressed and McMichael appeared oblivious to the impact of his comments.

UNLV looking at Sam Boyd Stadium sale to Clark County for $5 million

Legal counsel at Fridays meeting walked through the legal basis several times, but McMichael refused to go along. Twice, lawyers advised McMichael to stop requests for a vote from the board because it would violate Nevada Open Meeting laws.

The board does not vote on informational items on the agenda, and the discussion was just that  a discussion of what happened.

Regent McMichael, with all due respect, I feel like Im watching an episode of Im Not a Lawyer But I Play One on TV,  Regent Stephanie Goodman said. And the legal team is here. The legal team has told you what the opinion is, and for me thats enough.

But lets just go back to why you were removed. Okay? I mean, the fact of the matter is you told people to get in line. And as a vice chair of a committe thats supposed to propogate equity and access  and inclusion  you, in fact, determined that one group of people were less worthy of support from this board than another group of people, she said.

Regent Susan Brager, who was sitting directly to McMichaels left, appeared upset at times by the proceedings. A Clark County commissioner for 12 years and a school board member for 12 years before that, Brager said she had never talked about her familys past during a public meeting.

Im only a second-generation American because probably 99% of my family was killed in the Holocaust. I think its sad that weve had about an hour discussion on arguing with legal.

As McMichael spoke at the end of the discussion, she shook her head, and eventually lowered her head. She said his original comments were upsetting. That just cut to the quick when that was said.

A second informational agenda item that followed brought discussion of whether regents should establish clearer rules on the chairs authority to remove committee officers.

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Lapses and corruption within law enforcement agencies led to the escape of dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) spokesperson Winston Casio said yesterday.

There are moving parts in an escape operation such as the one they did. Forgive my language and forgive my frustration  napakatanga naman naming lahat sa law enforcement  kami lahat  at hindi namin siya nabantayan at nakita (We are all dumb in law enforcement  all of us  that we were not able to track her down while making her way out of the country), Casio said in a press forum.

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We dont live in a fantasy world  we have to accept the fact that corruption is seeping into some agencies of government.

Someone, somewhere dropped the ball. Someone, somewhere dribbled  kept on dribbling the ball  so we really have to investigate. Any investigation should begin with law enforcement agencies. Investigate us all. Call us out, Casio added.

The PAOCC official admitted the commission received a tip that Guo was spotted in a private resort in the western tip of Luzon on July 14.

When we attempted to serve the warrant and the mission order against Alice Guo or Guo Hua Ping, our source inside that particular location informed us that she left in two speed boats together with some members of her party in the early hours of our operation, he said.

The next time Guo surfaced was in Denpasar in Indonesia on July 17 where she left for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

From Kuala Lumpur, Guo proceeded to Singapore to meet up with her relatives before returning to Indonesia, where her sister, Sheila Guo, and associate Cassandra Li Ong, were apprehended on Aug. 21.

Casio said Guo will likely evade China due to Beijings strict position on gambling-related crimes, and will instead attempt to leave for countries belonging to the so-called Golden Triangle  Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand.

Casio said the former mayor has ties to Cambodia as the Guo clan has established business and gambling interests in the country.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian earlier said government agencies may have conspired in helping Guo flee the country despite an immigration lookout bulletin.

The House committee on appropriations on Saturday said it will look into the use of intel funds following the escape of Guo and other high profile suspects.

Congress takes the allocation and use of intelligence funds very seriously. The escape of former Mayor Alice Guo despite an immigration lookout bulletin is an incident of great concern, committee chairman Rep. Elizaldy Co of Ako Bicol party-list said.

We need to ensure that every peso of intelligence funds is spent judiciously. We want to prevent these lapses from happening again by ensuring stronger oversight and accountability, he added.

Gatchalian, for his part, urged Sheila Guo and Ong to disclose relevant information about illegal POGO activities.

Sheilas role is crucial. She held officer and stockholder positions in most of the companies owned by the Guo family (while) Cassandra Ong is the authorized representative of Lucky South 99 and even went to Pagcor to discuss its license, the senator said.

PAOCC said it may also seek the issuance of a red notice against a certain ZJ who assisted Sheila and Ong in booking a hotel in Indonesia.

Casio earlier said ZJ was Zhang Jie, a former president of the Lucky South 99 POGO that was raided in Porac, Pampanga.

Editors Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline Guo might be headed to Southeast Asia Golden Triangle  PAOCC
Rep. Shontel Brown, D-Ohio, attended her first Democratic National Convention this week.

Brown has represented Ohios 11th District since winning a 2021 special election to replace Marcia Fudge when President Joe Biden appointed Fudge as secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

She spoke exclusively with Blavity about the first two days of the convention, her history with the candidates on the presidential tickets, and what the difference between a President Kamala Harris and a returned President Donald Trump would mean for the country.

Convention is beyond my wildest imagination

Of her first Democratic National Convention experience, Brown told Blavity that what I have experienced has been beyond my wildest imagination. With everyone there understanding the stakes of the upcoming election, the energy is off the charts and the enthusiasm is felt everywhere you go.

She expressed particular excitement for the Obamas powerful speeches on Tuesday.

First Lady Obama drew that contrast [between Trump and Harris] with the people same with President Obama in his very matter-of-fact and charismatic way.

She also enjoyed Tuesdays surprisingly lit roll call ceremony, giving props to fellow Rep. Nikema Willians, D-Ga., for bringing Lil Jon to the proceedings. Brown said she looks forward to the convention allowing more voters to get to know Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a fellow Midwesterner.

Preventing the U.S. from being taken back before the Civil War

Brown recalled her first time meeting Harris in 2018, during which Brown served as the first woman and first Black chair of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party, and Harris was a keynote speaker at a party dinner. When I met her, I was nervous, and I said, Im not sure you know what I need to do, Brown said. Harris, in turn, was very reaffirming; she said, You got this; youve already got it.

Brown remembered Harris having the Black Girl Magic that she possesses that gives her the ability to connect with us in a way that you just dont get to experience every day.

Brown also expressed her familiarity with Ohio Sen. JD Vance, about whom she asserted that the Republican Party had buyers remorse after he was nominated as Trumps vice presidential candidate.

He is the person who has promoted not having womens ability to make their own healthcare decisions, but even encouraging women to stay in violent relationships.

Combined with the policies of Project 2025, Brown warned of the consequences of a Republican victory in November.

As a Black woman, I see Project 2025 not just taking us before civil rights; were really taking us back before the Civil War.

Electing Harris and fighting disinformation

With so much at stake, Brown was adamant that I strongly believe that we have to do everything that we can so that we dont experience what we experienced on November 9, 2016, when we wake up in despair or wake up in frustration and think that Oh, my God, I could have done more to help their candidate win. Brown also talked to Blavity about her efforts to protect the integrity of the American electoral system by introducing the Securing Elections from AI Deception Act.

Artificial intelligence is getting better and better every day. And being able to determine whats real from fake is going to get increasingly harder, Brown expressed, So I think that it is necessary that we begin to put guardrails on things like this.

Brown and everyone watching at home observed the Democratic National Convention, which wrapped on Thursday with Harris giving her acceptance speech and further introducing herself to the American people.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  The Sioux City Art Center is preparing for its 30th year of ArtSplash on the Art Center campus downtown.

ArtSplash is a Labor Day weekend community event, featuring a great variety of artworks by local, regional, and national artists, according to a release.

Artists from Sioux City and across the country will present their paintings, photographs, prints, jewelry, ceramics, fiber, glass, wood, metal, and mixed media artworks. Art judges will visit all the booths and determine the winners of $7,500 in total prize money. Awards will be announced Saturday afternoon at the booths of the winners.

More than 70 artist booths will line both sides of 3rd Street between Pierce and Nebraska Streets, as well as Pierce Street between 3rd and 2nd Streets.

This year, childrens art activities are free. Art activities will take place both inside the Gilchrist Learning Center and outside in the Art Centers parking lot.

Sioux City Art Center to celebrate Razzle Dazzle art installation

The Kids Fun Zone will be in the atrium of the Sioux City Art Center, featuring balloon artists and face painters. Kids Fun Zone tickets will be available to purchase at a tent near the front door of the Art Center. Visitors will also be able to purchase a festival t-shirt at this same location.

Community organizations will also be featured in the festivals Engage the Community area in the south parking lot of the Art Center.

Returning to ArtSplash is artist Amanda Browder. Amanda has been working with the Art Center over the last year, leading a community-wide project to gather and stitch together cotton fabric into massive textile sculptures that drape portions of the Art Center. Razzle Dazzle will be on display during ArtSplash and for weeks following the festival.

The community is invited to visit with Amanda on Sunday in the Engage the Community Area from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. to meet the artist herself, learn more about the project, and ask any questions.

ArtSplash will take place from Saturday, August 31 to Sunday, Sept 1 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free and parking will be available at the Tyson Event Center. Additional parking can be found throughout downtown, with street and garage parking available at no charge. Food and beverage vendors will be located inside the festival along the railroad tracks on 2nd Street.

The western lane of Nebraska Street will be closed between 3rd Street and the railroad tracks near 2nd Street. 3rd Street will be closed between Pierce and Nebraska Streets. Pierce Street is closed between 3rd Street to the railroad tracks near 2nd Street. The eastern and central lanes of

Pierce Street will be closed between 4th and 3rd Streets.

For additional information contact the Sioux City Art Center at (712) 279-6272, ext. 200, or visit the Sioux City Art Center website.

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  Its officially the end of summer vacation, with schools starting the 2024-25 academic year Friday.

The Sioux City Community School District (SCCSD) welcomed back students with open arms.

The first day of school is always exciting, superintendent Dr. Rod Earleywine said. For the little ones that might be in their first year, theres a little apprehension, a few tears, but overall a very exciting day. Were looking forward to another great year in the Sioux City Community School District.

With the new Iowa law tackling chronic absenteeism, the district has put a system in place this school year to ensure students are in the classroom learning.

Sioux City Art Center to celebrate Razzle Dazzle art installation

Attendance is obviously critical to student achievement, so we always are working on getting students here and active and engaged every day, Dr. Earleywine said. So a few changes there, but overall Im just looking forward to a great school year.

Starting this year, all SCCSD schools will have a two hour early out each Friday.

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SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO)  This weeks Democratic National Convention has brought back bittersweet memories to a Sioux Falls woman of another convention held in Chicago.

Rita Sorenson was an enthusiastic supporter of Vice-President Hubert Humphrey when she attended the 1968 DNC.

But the constant threat of violence during that convention meant Sorenson never strayed far from her personal bodyguard.

Sorenson often feels in the political minority as a longtime Democrat.

Being a Democrat in South Dakota is not very much fun, Sorenson laughed.

But back in 1968, Sorenson, who was living in Minnesota then, joined thousands of her fellow Democrats attending their partys national convention in Chicago. Sorensons husband at the time was a campaign aide to Vice-President Hubert Humphrey. Sorenson has fond memories of Humphrey, who would go on to win his partys nomination for president.

I just loved him, he was so kind and so gentle. It was so nice to interact with him because he was so kind, Sorenson.

Aberdeen authorities looking for missing man

But the convention was marred by violent confrontations between police and protesters demonstrating against the Vietnam War.

It was a very scary time, Sorenson said.

But the violence wasnt limited to the streets of Chicago. CBS newsman Dan Rather was roughed-up by security guards while trying to interview a delegate on the convention floor.

I know you wont but dont push me! Take your hands off me unless you plan to arrest me, Rather said in 1968.

Sorenson was even assigned her own bodyguard during the convention.

Any time we went outdoors or got in an elevator or whatever, we were always protected. It was a good convention, but it was quite scary with the fact that there was so much rioting going on, Sorenson said.

Sorenson says shes much less politically-engaged these days and hasnt followed the events of this weeks DNC that included protests by mostly peaceful pro-Palestinian demonstrators. A sharp contrast from the violence that erupted during her time in Chicago, 56 years ago.

And that was such a strange, strange thing for me, because I was from Minnesota, Sorenson said.

Sorenson says her bodyguard wore a uniform and was armed.

She says she could hear the rioting taking place, but for safety reasons, was never allowed to get close enough to witness the rioting.

Her candidate, Hubert Humphrey, would go on to lose to Republican Richard Nixon in the 1968 presidential election.

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Six more civilians, including one minor, injured in 24 August Russian attacks on Donetsk Oblast

The aftermath of the Russian attack on Donetsk Oblast on 24 August. Photo: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor's Office

Six civilians, including a girl under 18, were injured in Russian strikes on the Bakhmut and Pokrovsk districts of Donetsk Oblast on Saturday, 24 August.

Source: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor's Office

Quote: "The investigation has found that Russian forces launched an artillery strike on the town of Ukrainsk on 24 August 2024. A 42-year-old resident sustained injuries outside a residential building  he was diagnosed with a broken leg.

Kurakhove was also shelled by enemy artillery. A house caught fire due to a munition hitting a residential area, and a 48-year-old woman and her 16-year-old daughter were inside at the time. They were taken to a medical facility with leg injuries. A 50-year-old local resident who was walking near the house was also injured.

Two more civilians were injured in Russian attacks on the village of Kotlyne, Pokrovsk district, and the town of Toretsk. The type of weapons used by the Russian forces is being established."

Background: Earlier on 24 August, the Russians targeted the centre of the town of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast, leaving five civilians dead and at least five injured.

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Six new retailers open in Delray Beach this summer: Here's what to know

DELRAY BEACH  Downtown Delray Beach continues to grow with seven new retailers this summer alone.

The Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority (DDA) announced the opening, expansion and relocation of 20 new restaurants and retailers in July.

We are excited for the continued growth of Downtown Delray Beach, Laura Simon, executive director of the Delray Beach DDA, said. Not only are we continuing to bring in new retailers, businesses and restaurants to our business district, but we are successfully and quickly filling vacancies as existing businesses choose to leave or move locations at the end of their leases. These are all signs of a healthy downtown.

Heres whats new this summer in Delray Beach:

Newly opened retailers

Chip City Cookies is now open on Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach. They feature 40 varieties of gourmet cookies.

Chip City: The New York City-based gourmet cookie shop offers more than 40 varieties of fresh-baked delights. Located at 302 E. Atlantic Ave., the popular bakery opened May 17, becoming the third in the state. Its other two Florida locations are in Miami and Miami Beach.

Candle Land: Started as a pop-up in different locations in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, Candle Land offers visitors the chance to create their own customized candles. Its Delray Beach location, at 415 E. Atlantic Ave., opened June 9. It marks the brands third Florida store with its first two in Fort Lauderdale and Coral Gables.

DELRAY RESTAURANTS: Atlantic Avenue dining scene has several new additions, coming attractions

Delray Design Studio: The interior designer, by Zelman Style Interiors, offers innovative technology to help clients map out their designs before any constructions happens. Its downtown studio opened June 13 at 111 S.E. First Ave.

DELRAY RESTAURANTS: Promising bold flavors, energy, new Greek restaurant opens off Atlantic Avenue

Retailers relocating in Delray Beach

Tootsies and Kokonuts: Delray Beach shoe retailer Tootsies will combine with Kokonuts, a clothing and swimwear boutique opened in the city in 2008, and move to the current location of Global Pursuit, a clothing store at 400 E. Atlantic Ave.

House of Perna: A colorful and maximalist brand focusing on consciously-made products, House of Perna will relocate from the Arts Warehouse, at 313 N.E. Third St., to Shoppes at the Ray, on N.E. Second Ave. It will mark fashion designer Amanda Pernas second downtown location in the city  Perna also co-owns A Little Wyld Boutique, the colorfully-curated kids- and womenswear line at 157 N.E. Second Ave.

Tern Studio: Previously known as The Shops at the Seagate, offering accessories and apparel, Tern Studio will open in Pineapple Grove, at 200 N.E. second Ave.

DELRAY RESTAURANTS: Lefkes Estiatorio, with locations in Athens, Santorini and New Jersey, is now open

Retailers under new ownership in Delray Beach

Surf District: The downtown surf shop, located in Ocean City Lumber Co., at 220 N.E. First St., is under new ownership.

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Jasmine Fernandez is a journalist covering Delray Beach and Boca Raton for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at jfernandez@pbpost.com and follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @jasminefernandz. Help support our work. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Chip City and Candle Land among six newly opened retailers in Delray
Slocomb man accused of raping family member, getting her pregnant, to spend life behind bars

GENEVA COUNTY, Ala (WDHN)  A 40-year-old Geneva County man accused of raping a juvenile family member over several years, resulting in her getting pregnant, was sentenced to life in prison.

On August 22, Robert Lee Whitsette Jr. pled guilty to four counts of Rape and Incest with a Minor, six counts of Rape in the First Degree, three counts of Sodomy in the first degree, one count of Sexual Torture, and six counts of Incest.

Following his plea, Judge Butch Binford sentenced Whitsette Jr. to life on all charges except for the counts of incest, for which he received ten years on each.

Whitsette Jr.s guilty plea starkly contrasts earlier this month, when he pled not guilty to all counts.

Whitsette Jr. was arrested in September 2023 after Dothan Police opened an investigation after they received reports of sex crimes against a juvenile.

During a bond hearing in late September, a Dothan Police Criminal Investigator testified that in July of that year, a juvenile female relative of Whissette Jr. gave birth to a baby with multiple defects, and a DNA test revealed that Whissette was the babys father and not the victims boyfriend.

According to the investigator, Whissette raped the juvenile relative several times over the past four or five years.

Along with Whitsette Jr.s sentence, he must pay $2,600 in court fees and the victims compensation assessment.

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Uganda is pushing forward with its ambitions in the oil sector, announcing exploration efforts in two new regions that could potentially boost the countrys already substantial proven reserves of 6.5 billion barrels. The Energy Minister revealed that preliminary studies in the Moroto-Kadam Basin show promising signs for commercial oil and gas discovery, with similar surveys underway in the Kyoga Basin.

This expansion comes as Uganda prepares for its first oil production, expected to start next year from fields in the Albertine basin near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, the journey to production has been marked by delays due to disagreements over development strategies, taxation issues, and infrastructure challenges.

Currently, international oil giants TotalEnergies and CNOOC, along with Ugandas national oil company, hold stakes in the existing oil fields. As drilling progresses, with 72 out of 457 planned wells completed, the government is also considering plans for a liquefied petroleum gas facility.

A critical component of Ugandas oil ambitions is the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, which will facilitate oil exports through Tanzania. The government is eagerly awaiting a decision from potential Chinese funders to support this massive infrastructure project.

As Uganda advances its oil exploration and development plans, the country stands at a pivotal moment in its quest to become a significant player in the global oil market, balancing economic aspirations with environmental and geopolitical considerations.
Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia Hendrik Wuest (R), Solingen Mayor Tim Kurzbach (C) and German Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser speak at a press conference following the knife attack at the Solingen city festival. Several people were killed and injured in an attack at the city's 650th anniversary celebrations. Henning Kaiser/dpa

The mayor of the western German city of Solingen said that "the pain is infinitely large" in the city after a deadly knife attack at a local festival.

Mayor Tim Kurzbach spoke just before the start of a prayer service in Solingen on Saturday, less than 24 hours after three people were killed and several severely injured by a knife-wielding attacker at a festival celebrating the 650th anniversary of the city's founding.

"We in Solingen are deeply affected, our city is full of grief. But not being alone in this grief is a good sign," said Kurzbach.

In addition to the emergency services, he also wanted to thank many people from all over Germany and from abroad for their expressions of sympathy. He said he received condolences from all over the world.

"The pain is immense. But knowing that you are not alone in this helps," he said.

The attacker remains at large, and Kurzbach said he hoped that police would be able to capture the killer soon so he could face justice.

"This city has already had to endure many a difficult ordeal," Kurzbach said, but he trusts "that we will stand together in grief, that we will help those who are hurt and wounded and that we will not leave anyone alone who is grieving for someone else."
SpaceX will bring home the two astronauts stranded on the International Space Station for the last two months because of troubles with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, NASA announced Saturday.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said the decision, which followed a formal review conducted Saturday, was driven by the agency's commitment to safety, especially after the loss of 14 astronauts in the 1986 Challenger explosion and the 2003 Columbia disaster on its return to Earth.

"This whole discussion, remember, is put in the context of we have had mistakes done in the past," Nelson said at a news conference at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. "Spaceflight is risky, even at its safest and even at its most routine. And a test flight by nature is neither safe nor routine."

Read more: Boeing sent two astronauts into space. Now NASA says it may need SpaceX to go get them

The decision by NASA to bring home astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams on SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule in February follows months of irregularities that have hobbled the third test flight of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft  which began even before its June 5 launch.

The outcome is not only a blow to Boeing, whose Starliner program is years behind schedule, but to NASA, which awarded multibillion-dollar contracts to the company and rival SpaceX in 2014 to service the space station with crews and cargo.

Since 2020, Elon Musks Hawthorne company has ferried more than half a dozen crews there aboard its Crew Dragon capsule  while Boeing has managed only two remote flights before the one in June, including one in May 2022 that docked with the orbiting lab.

NASA said Saturday that the Starliner will now return to Earth remotely next month. The SpaceX mission that will bring Wilmore and Williams home is scheduled to blast off Sept. 24.

Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceXs chief operating officer, responded to the announcement with a post on X, the social media platform owned by Musk. SpaceX stands ready to support @NASA however we can, she said.

Steve Stich, manager of NASAs Commercial Crew Program, said the decision resulted from inconclusive ground tests that were conducted on the thrusters after they malfunctioned when Starliner docked with the space station June 6.

"As we got more and more data over the summer and understood the uncertainty of that data, it became very clear to us that the best course of action was to return Starliner uncrewed," he said. "If we had a model, if we had a way to accurately predict what the thrusters would do ... I think we would have taken a different course of action."

The problems that have plagued Starliner have been an embarrassment for Boeing, which is still grappling with an investigation into a door plug that blew out during a 737 Max 9 flight this year to Ontario International Airport in San Bernardino County. That followed the two crashes of its 737 Max 8 jets several years ago that severely damaged its reputation for safety.

Just this month, Boeing wrote off $125 million in expenses related to the Starliner program after previously booking some $1.5 billion in cost overruns.

Nelson said Saturday he informed Boeing's new chief executive, Kelly Ortberg, of the decision, and that the executive committed to working with the agency to resolve the problems with Starliner. Nelson said that will give the agency the "redundancy" it has wanted to service the station.

In a statement Saturday, Boeing said, "We continue to focus, first and foremost, on the safety of the crew and spacecraft. We are executing the mission as determined by NASA, and we are preparing the spacecraft for a safe and successful uncrewed return."

For years, NASA had to rely solely on Russia's Soyuz craft to send U.S. astronauts to the station after the space shuttle program ended in 2011. NASA plans to continue to partner with the Russian program, which along with the U.S. was the primary builder of the orbiting lab that first launched in 1998.

The latest Starliner mission, which was expected to last about a week, was plagued with troubles.

The capsule was originally set to blast off May 6, but that flight was scuttled because of a malfunctioning valve on the Atlas V rocket that launches it into space. Additional launch dates were missed after a helium leak was found in the propulsion system that propels Starliner in space.

The helium pressurizes the system's rocket fuel, but NASA and Boeing officials decided the leak was not serious and developed software fixes to work around it. However, the leak grew larger as the spacecraft approached and docked with the space station the next day.

More concerning was that the propulsion system's thruster engines malfunctioned during the docking procedure.

Ground testing on an identical thruster NASA conducted last month found that Teflon used to control the flow of rocket propellant eroded under high heat conditions, while different seals that control the helium gas showed bulging.

NASA officials have maintained Starliner has 10 times more helium than it needs to return to Earth and the craft could be used if there were an emergency situation aboard the space station. This month Boeing issued a statement that cited all the testing that had been conducted and concluded, Boeing remains confident in the Starliner spacecraft and its ability to return safely with crew.

The aging space station is scheduled to be retired in 2030. In June, NASA awarded SpaceX an $843-million contract to build a craft that would nudge the station safely out of its orbit so it can burn up in the atmosphere, with any stray pieces landing in remote areas of the ocean.

The troubles afflicting Starliner mean that if it ever receives agency clearance to send crews to the space station, it will provide that service for far fewer years. Boeing, however, has said it wants to use the craft to service the commercial space station being developed by Jeff Bezo's Blue Origin rocket company.

Unlike the Space X's Crew Dragon capsule, which lands in water, Starliner will touch down in the Arizona or New Mexico desert in a parachute ground landing pioneered by the Soviets decades ago. That makes it easier to ready the reusable craft for another launch.

However, the propulsion system is jettisoned in space, so NASA and Boeing engineers will not have a chance to take it apart and examine exactly what went wrong.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
SPELTER, W.Va. (WBOY)  The Spelter Volunteer Fire Department began the long-awaited demolitions of its living quarters on Friday as part of a larger renovation project that officials hope will attract more volunteers.

The renovations were funded by a Lowes Hometown grant, which the department won in a contest back in June. Every year, Lowes donates $100,000,000 to go toward restoration projects for nonprofit organizations. Spelter was one of nine fire departments selected across the country and received $30,000.

Lowes employee tossing out demolition trash (WBOY image).

These upgrades will be the first made in 20 years for Spelter, and the firefighters at the department are beyond grateful to be a part of the process.

Im ecstatic, you know. Being a third-generation firefighter, Im just very humbled that I was able to assist this department with their growth, Spelter VFD Vice President Zach Andrews said.

City of Shinnston receives more than $18,000 in unclaimed property

Andrews also told 12 News that he feels the Spelter VFD deserves this grant because of the relationships its members have with one another.

When you come to a fire department, you all have the same purpose at the end of the day, its protecting your community, so you get to belong. We also get along with a lot of our mutual aid guys, hang out with them. Its definitely a brother and sisterhood that goes a long way, Andrews said.

Twenty Lowes employees from different store locations like Wheeling, Clarksburg, Morgantown and Washington, Pennsylvania came out to volunteer their time and assist in the process.

12 News spoke with Clarksburg Lowes employee and project captain, Brenda Miller, on how it felt to volunteer her time for a project like this.

We love it, we love coming and volunteering our time and Lowes lets us do that, so its really good, said Miller.

Renovations should wrap up for Spelter Volunteer Fire Department by the end up September, and the department plans to hold an open house for the public with games and raffles sometime afterward.

Spelter firemen and Lowes employees assessing the departments wiring (WBOY image)

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass (WWLP)  The Springfield Fire Department, police, and community honored the life of Leonard A. Corbin, better known by family, friends, and the community as Lenny. Lenny was the first African American firefighter in the city of Springfield.

American International College first-year students move onto campus

The ceremony took place outside of the Mason Square Fire Station, next to the Leonard A Corbin Memorial Monument. Corbin first became a firefighter in 1969 and at the time, was only the second Black firefighter statewide, and the first in the city of Springfield. Lenny passed away in 2008.

Some people are forgotten, but he is not forgotten here and they made a commitment never to forget him for what he has done and paved the roads in the city of Springfield, said Leonards brother, Eddie Corbin.

Eddie described his brother as gentle, calm, and humble mentioning that he saved many lives across his 32-year career as a firefighter.

When asked about his brothers legacy, Corbin said, if you are going to do something, do it with your whole heart and so the reward at the end benefits others and not yourself.

Springfield Fire Commissioner BJ Calvi mentioned while he was speaking that due to the pioneering of Lenny, there are minority members at every level at the Springfield Fire Department, from firefighter to district chief.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass (WWLP)  Springfield Public Schools start on Monday and the community came together today to prepare them for the year.

School takes you everywhere, it is a journey that you should take said Officer Reginald Green.

Many students in our area are going back to school at the beginning of next week, but it is important they are actually attending school and their classes.

Everyday that a student misses is a class that they miss, is an education that they miss out on that they can apply everyday, so every time that a student is absent, they fall behind in their class and it is a little hard to match up and keep up with their peers said Wanda Davila, an attendance specialist for zone one of the Springfield Public Schools.

The Healey-Driscoll Administration recently launched a campaign to improve attendance in the state. In Massachusetts, the chronic absenteeism rates have increased since the pandemic, most recently at 19.6%. For a student to be chronically absent, it means they miss 10% or more of the school year.

Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, a graduate of the Springfield Public Schools, makes sure to stress the importance of attendance.

I say is all of the time to kids and their parents show up to move up said Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno.

To get kids excited to attend school, the Springfield Public Schools held an event today where kids could grab lunch, a book and most importantly a backpack with supplies to start the year.

With the youth of our area going back to school and putting the time in the classroom, it is important for our community to make sure they get to school and home safely.

School buses are going to be out there, adhere to all of the traffic rules and regulations, stop for those school buses. I have a lot of neighborhood schools where kids walk to school so make sure they watch out for kids when they are crossing the street said Mayor Sarno.

School buses flash two colors. When a bus is flashing yellow, it means they are about to stop. And when the bus flashes red and the stop arm extends, it is important to stop on both sides of the road.

To keep the students, bus drivers and crossing guards safe, it is important to pay attention while driving during peak hours during the beginning of the school day and the end. Making sure you are also going the speed limit or under, which is 20 mph in all school zones.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  A Republic man has pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including three counts of murder, after causing a wrongway crash on James River Freeway back in January of 2023.

Sharon Farmer, Ukena Farmer and Stephen Figgins were killed after a drunk driver collided head-on with their SUV and now a St. Roberts woman is hopeful for justice for these family members.

Kimsha Rosensteels mother was killed in a car crash on January 18 of 2023, two days later, eight of her family members from Texas were making their way to St. Roberts for the funeral when they were hit by 67-year-old Steven Jordan. Three people in the vehicle were killed and others were injured.

Rosensteel has been disappointed with how justice was served in Pulaski County for her mother but is hopeful that Greene County will be swift for her other family members.

Were just looking to hope that justice somewhat gets served here, that at least one individual can be held accountable for what theyve done and making sure that they are no longer driving to harm anyone else, Rosensteel said.

On Tuesday, Jordan entered a guilty plea to twelve felony counts connected to the fatal crash but three counts of DWI resulting in the death of another will be dismissed at sentencing.

St. Robert woman says justice wasnt served in mothers death

Im not happy about that. But I think in here we when it comes to things like this, youre kind of at a standstill because no matter what happens, Rosensteel said, Weve had three people removed from our lives and everyone is missing mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, everything here.

After the accident, Jordan admitted to police he had been drinking. Jordans Blood Alcohol Concentration was measured at .211%. Rosensteel said it could have been prevented.

You turn peoples lives upside down and you really need to think about that. Think about who youre hurting when youre taking that drink, Rosensteel said. You need to think about the devastation that you leave behind.

After the accident, Rosensteel wanted to call it quits with her restaurant since her mom wouldnt be there to see it but found a new way to honor her mother.

I have new pictures of everywhere in there with her, and shes watching everything I do in there, Rosensteel said. I have one in the kitchen. So, when I look over, I kind of like see her watching me and know that shes happy.

The plea deal will keep Jordan from going to trial. His sentence hearing is scheduled for November 8th.

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Boeings Starliner mission is coming back to Earth  empty.

After months of data analysis and internal deliberation, NASA leadership announced today that Starliner will be coming back to Earth in September, without a crew. Meanwhile, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams will remain on board the International Space Station until February 2025, when they will return on SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft as part of the Crew-9 mission.

NASA noted that while the astronauts' eight-month stay on the ISS will be longer than expected, others have remained on the ISS for as long as 12 months. While there, Wilmore and Williams will be involved in research, station maintenance, and potentially a few spacewalks.

Boeing launched the first crewed Starliner mission  a test mission  on June 5, with issues starting around 24 hours later. In the final phase of approach to the ISS, five of the 28 thrusters on Starliner went offline, and several helium leaks sprung up in the spacecrafts propulsion system. Since then, NASA and Boeing engineers have been engaged in a root cause analysis, conducting tests of the thrusters on board the spacecraft and testing a replica engine here on Earth.

https://youtu.be/LxT7p6f6J5g

NASA was betting a lot on Starliner  approximately $4.2 billion, per a contract that was awarded to Boeing for Starliners development back in 2014. Boeing has also put a lot on the line, with cost overruns on the capsule amounting to over $1.5 billion.

NASAs aim was to have two commercial crew transportation providers, which is why it awarded contracts to Boeing and SpaceX. But while SpaceX completed its certification mission in 2020 and has conducted eight NASA missions since that point, Boeings Starliner faced numerous delays.

Although the incident might seem like the nail in Starliner's coffin, at today's press conference, NASA leaders said they've been working closely with Boeing, and they pushed back against a question implying that there'd been any loss of trust in the company or Starliner  instead, they suggested there was merely a "disagreement" over the level of risk.

Spaceflight is risky, even at its safest and most routine," said NASA administrator Bill Nelson. "A test flight, by nature, is neither safe, nor routine. The decision to keep Butch and Suni aboard the International Space Station and bring Boeings Starliner home uncrewed is the result of our commitment to safety: our core value and our North Star."

Nelson later said he is "100 percent" certain that Starliner will be able to launch a crewed mission to the ISS in the future.
NEW YORK STATE FAIRGROUNDS (WSYR-TV)  The first Saturday of the 2024 New York State Fair means the fairgrounds parking lots are filling up fast, so State Fair leaders are suggesting people utilize shuttles.

State Fair organizers report the Brown, Pink, and Gray Lots are full as of Saturday afternoon and the Orange and Willis Avenue Lots are nearing capacity. Simply put, the Fair could run out of on-site parking.

Latest local news

Leaders suggest using Centros Park-N-Ride options departing from Downtown Syracuse, Long Branch Park, and Destiny USA. Free round-trip transportation is also offered from Fulton and Oswego.

Centro service to the fairground runs daily between 8:45 a.m. and 8:45 p.m. Return service runs until 11:15 p.m. Each way, the ride costs $1 for adults, $0.50 for senior citizens, children six to nine years old, and people with disabilities. Children under six years old are free.

Parking at Park-N-Ride locations is free. Centro has more information on its website.

Oswego County has more information about its Fulton and Oswego shuttles on its website.

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Lewis was a leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, which led civil rights protests across the south.

Lewis was a leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, which led civil rights protests across the south. Photograph: Ron Harris/AP

A 12ft-tall statue of John Lewis was unveiled in Georgia on Saturday morning, honoring the legacy of the civil rights leader and congressman who died in 2020.

The statue stands in Decatur Square outside the historic Decatur courthouse in outer Atlanta, in a district Lewis represented in Congress from 1987 to his death. Lewis was 80 when he died due to complications related to pancreatic cancer.

The statue replaces a Confederate obelisk that was originally erected in 1908 and was taken down in June 2020 amid the Black Lives Matter protests that spread across the country after the murder of George Floyd.

Related: Hed been through the fire: John Lewis, civil rights giant, remembered

Its exciting to see it going up and exciting for the city because of what he represents and what its replacing, Basil Watson, the sculptor who made the statue, told the Associated Press.

Lewis was a key figure in the civil rights movement as a leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, which led protests across the south. He was one of several protesters who were brutally beaten by police during a peaceful march of 600 people across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, in 1965, a day that was termed Bloody Sunday for the polices violent crackdown against protesters that day.

Lewis was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011 by then president Barack Obama for his role in the civil rights movement and as a congressman.

The statue portrays Lewis with his hands over his heart, a gesture Michael Collins, who served as Lewiss chief of staff for 21 years, said meant so much to him because he just wanted to thank everybody.

That was a way  of showing love to everybody. And so thats why this is so fitting of a posture for the congressman, to be saying: Thank you, I love you, Collins told local newspaper Decaturish in 2022, when the statue was first commissioned.

The former Confederate obelisk was often vandalized by protesters, who long called for its removal. The monument was erected in 1908 by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, a group that often memorialized leaders of the Ku Klux Klan.

An inscription at the former obelisk, written by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, read: To the memory of the soldiers and sailors of the Confederacy, of whose virtues in peace and in war are witnesses to the end that justice may be done and that the truth perish not.

A total of 33 Confederate statues were removed in multiple states in 2021 and 2022, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, which advocates for the removal of Confederate monuments and symbols.
Members of the Algeria-backed separatist group have sneaked into a preparatory meeting for the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) Ministerial Meeting due Aug.24-25.

The uninvited Polisario thugs managed to get in the meeting with the help of the Algerian delegation. CCTV footage shows a man, with Algerian diplomatic credentials, taking out from his satchel the name plate of so-called SADR and placing it in front of him in a bid to deceive organizers and attendees, posing as an official delegate.

But all his deceptive and reprehensible acts were caught on camera, showing the deep crisis and decline of the Algerian diplomacy which is hitting rock-bottom, while Morocco is gaining a growing international support for its territorial integrity and sovereignty over the Sahara.

Following the party-crashers scandal, Japanese authorities said they did not invite the Polisario representative to TICAD. They have not issued them visas and refused to process their travel documents.

According to all accounts, the Polisario separatists entered Japanese territory with false identities, using Algerian passports and posing as members of the Algerian delegation.

Japan has reaffirmed supportive stand for Moroccos territorial integrity, stressing that it does not recognize the self-proclaimed SADR and holds the African Union responsible for the Polisario gate-crashing.

In July, the AU Executive Council decided to exclude the Polisario from participating in the international meetings gathering African countries and superpowers.

The move comes after some major international meetings, which were intended to bring in major investment to the African continent, were derailed into chaos and sparked a diplomatic crisis over the participation of a non-state entity, the Polisario self-proclaimed SADR, which is becoming persona non-grata worldwide.

Thus, it has been agreed that ONLY African countries recognized by the United Nations will be allowed to participate in international summits and meetings.

After the Tokyo meeting, the Algerian regime is eying the China-Africa forum, another diplomatic ground battle wherein the Algerian rulers are using all their leverage for the participation of the Polisario militia in the event.

In 2018, Beijing refused the Polisario participation. Russia, the United States, Saudi Arabia, India, South Korea, Italy and Turkey have all excluded the Polisario from their summits with the African countries.
Stitt called for more election transparency, but supporters used dark money to hide donors

Gov. Kevin Stitt presents his State of the State address to the joint session on the first day of the Oklahoma Legislature Monday, Feb. 5, 2024

When he took the podium before a joint session of the Oklahoma Legislature to deliver his 2023 State of the State address, Gov. Kevin Stitt was basking in the glow of a solid reelection victory a few months earlier, having overcome millions of dollars worth of negative attack ads attacks against him paid for by shadowy political groups.

It was time, Stitt told the Legislature, to ensure the states voters knew who was spending big money to get politicians elected.

Protecting Oklahomans means protecting the integrity of our elections, Stitt said. Im calling for stronger transparency laws. Because Oklahomans deserve to know exactly who is funding political campaigns. A democracy is doomed when special interests can spread lies and leverage blank checks to buy elections.

Stitt issued an executive order in November 2023 creating a task force to examine and make recommendations on campaign finance and foreign interference in Oklahomas elections.

But less than a month before Stitt issued that executive order, members of his campaign staff, along with a handful of wealthy supporters, were busy setting up their own state political action committee fueled by dark money, according to corporate and campaign records. The group 46 Action would reward the governors allies in the Senate with supportive ads during the primary election.

The group spent more than $100,000 leading up to the June 2024 primary election. All of 46 Actions funding came from 46 Forward, a political nonprofit organization that doesnt have to disclose its donors. The arrangement helped mask the political action committees true funders.

More: As Oklahoma considers loosening campaign finance rules, outside groups run wild

46 Forward was formed in October 2023, corporate records show.

Officers and agents for 46 Action have worked for Stitt in the governors office, for his campaign and transition team or for a separate federal political action committee that has provided support for Stitts allies, records show.

46 Actions treasurer is Donelle Harder, Stitts chief political strategist and campaign manager, according to Oklahoma Ethics Commission records. Harder has worked for Stitts campaign since 2017.

Harder did not answer questions from The Frontierabout 46 Action or 46 Forward, about the groups major donors or how much involvement Stitt had with the group. She said she was just the treasurer and not leading the group.

46 Action is an entity that supports conservative candidates and causes in Oklahoma and ran only positive ads for Republican candidates in the 2024 primary, Harder said in the statement. All of the entities activities and expenses are available in the ethics report.

A spokeswoman for Stitts office did not respond to written questions or phone messages from The Frontier.

46 Action bought political ads for several Stitt-endorsed candidates

Spending records show 46 Action bought political ads supporting seven Republican state Senate candidates Stitt had previously endorsed  Julie McIntosh; Shane Jett; Rick Wolfe; Cody Rogers; Micheal Bergstrom; Casey Murdock and Brian Guthrie.

All of the seven candidates also received direct donations before the primary from Turnaround Team PAC, a federal political action committee tied to Stitt.

None of the Senate candidates who spoke with The Frontier said they were aware that the group was linked to the governors office.

But candidates who benefit from a groups largesse often know exactly who the money is coming from, Anthony Ferate, former state GOP head and chair of the Governors Task Force on Campaign Finance and Election Threats, told an Ethics Commission working group during its July 11 meeting.

Super PACs and candidates can share attorneys under the law, and they can share donor information, Ferate said. Thats not coordination under the law. So will that candidate know what money has been contributed by what person? Yeah, probably.

Little information about group is available to voters

As with many independent expenditure groups, voters had access to almost no information about 46 Action before the June primary. It was not required to report its donors to the Oklahoma Ethics Commission before the election. And often, even the officials who regulate those groups never know who is truly behind them.

We dont know who these individuals are in instances, Ferate said. We have guesses, we have concepts of who they are, but we dont know. We dont know who the money is coming from in a lot of these instances.

The group lists its address as a UPS store in Tulsa and first registered with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission on May 21  too late to file a quarterly report on its fundraising and spending before the June primary.

According to campaign reports filed after the primary, 46 Action was funded with two donations totaling $125,000 from the nonprofit 46 Forward.

Records show 46 Forward was founded by Tulsa resident Romney McGuire, the wife of Corbin McGuire, who has been described as a close friend of Stitts, engineer and businessman Rodolfo Rudy Blanco and Richard Tanenbaum, CEO of the real estate developer Gardner Tanenbaum Holdings. The Frontier reached out to 46 Forwards founders, but didnt get any response.

Ethics Commission records show that all of Blanco and McGuires state-level political donations since 2017 have been for Stitt or his allies.

The Frontier is a nonprofit newsroom that produces fearless journalism with impact in Oklahoma. Read more at www.readfrontier.org.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: PAC organizers with ties to Stitt used funding from dark money group
A stretch of Florida beaches has soared from a lesser-known gem to 'the Hamptons of the South'

30A is a string of Florida towns and beaches between Destin and Panama City, two spring-break hot spots.

Named for the highway running through it, 30A has long been a low-key favorite for Southern families.

Now people from as far as Illinois and Montana are spending millions on real estate there, too.

It once was one of the South's best-kept secrets, but now the word is out.

A 26-mile Florida highway known as 30A  lined with towns including Rosemary, Seaside, and Santa Rosa Beach that front the Gulf of Mexico  has become one of the country's hottest luxury vacation destinations.

Nestled between two famous spring break destinations, Destin and Panama City Beach, the 30A beaches earned their reputations as quiet, family-oriented destinations somewhat off the beaten path.

A decade ago, those visitors were mostly from Southern cities within driving distance, like Atlanta and Nashville, local real-estate agent Beau Blankenship told Business Insider.

"Now you're seeing people from the Northeast, people from the West, Salt Lake City, Utah, Colorado," he said.

South Walton County, which includes 30A, reported in 2023 that visitor spending during the peak summer season has increased $500 million compared to 2019. It's even earned the nickname "the Hamptons of the South."

Locals describe 30A beaches as mixing Caribbean-esque clear blue waters and powdery white sand with trademark Southern hospitality. In the past few years, word has gotten out, attracting visitors  and homebuyers  from around the country.

Sunset over Rosemary Beach, Florida, in 30A. Barry Winiker

In 2020, Blankenship sold a towering $3.8 million, six-bedroom home in Inlet Beach with wraparound porches on every level to a family from Chicago. In March this past year, he sold a $4 million, four-bedroom home in Santa Rosa Beach to a family from Montana.

Blankenship said the popularity is spreading through word of mouth, though national coverage from outlets like The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times has certainly helped.

"The family from Chicago came down because their brother told them about it," he told BI. "They loved it so much they bought after the first time they came."

The pandemic is what really brought the crowds, locals said

Alys Beach is a 30A town known for its Mediterranean-style  often white  homes. Christian Blouin/Getty Images

Luxury rental owner Kemp Stewart has witnessed the explosion of 30A firsthand.

In 2018, he moved to Santa Rosa Beach from Oklahoma and started his vacation rental management business with just one home.

Now his company, Bespoke Management, manages 35 homes across 30A communities with prices as high as $2,500 per night, a rise that mirrors the rest of the region.

One 30A community, Rosemary Beach, has seen the median sales price of homes increase from $1.1 million in July 2019 to $3 million in July 2024, according to real-estate listings site Redfin.

Over the same amount of time, vacation rentals on sites like Airbnb and Vrbo are commanding higher rates, growing from $450 to $530 per night, and are booked more often, rising from 69% to 84% monthly average for occupancy, according to data from short-term-rental analytics site AirDNA.

The boom, Stewart told Business Insider, had two inflection points. The first was the 2008 recession, where rock-bottom prices allowed developers to move in and buy open land.

"There'd be a few vacant lots, and then a house surrounded by trees and brush," he told Business Insider. "Then all of sudden, you'd see individual developments of monster homes being built on the beach."

The luxury homes made sense alongside planned communities that were popping up along 30A. Alys Beach, built in the mid-2000s, features over 600 uniformly white homes, mimicking a Mediterranean village, and a town center with high-end shopping and restaurants.

Nearby Seaside, built in the 1980s is also so idyllic, with its cottage-like homes in various pastel colors, that the 1998 film "The Truman Show" about a fictional utopia was filmed here.

Then, the pandemic hit. In 2020, the state of Florida had one of the earliest and least restrictive reopenings following COVID-19 lockdowns. By June, bars, restaurants, and shops were able to open again. Those seeking solace from stricter measures and escape in the Florida sunshine flooded 30A's beaches.

"The infrastructure that had been built and all the quality development is paying off in a way that we hadn't seen previously," Stewart said.

Even with the influx of visitors and investor money, Kemp said 30A's appeal hasn't changed.

"It's stayed consistent," Kemp told BI. "This is a place for families to go on vacation and connect with one another in one of the most beautiful environments in the world."

Read the original article on Business Insider
SHAWNEE COUNTY (KSNT)  Education officials sent a message back to parents of teens at a Shawnee County high school Friday of an alleged threat made by one of its students.

Tiffanie Kinsch with Shawnee Heights Unified School District 450 told 27 News in a written statement that a threat was made by a student to Shawnee Heights High School on Aug. 23.

We were made aware of the threat through our StopIt reporting app and immediately worked with Officers to investigate, Kinsch said. The student was removed from the school setting.

Police identify man killed after crash in Manhattan

Kinsch said while it is believed there was no genuine intent behind the threat, it was still treated seriously by school administrators for the safety of other students, staff and the community. She did not say what the nature of the threat to the school was.

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The executives who run a company accused of being part of a bribery scheme along with a retired four-star Navy admiral are interested in speaking to more admirals as they build their defense, court documents show.

In a request filed Tuesday, lawyers for Charlie Kim and Meghan Messenger, co-CEOs of Next Jump, said that they wanted to subpoena five former or current Navy admirals, as well as a senior Navy official.

The move, if signed off by the judge, would pull more Navy leaders into the legal case centered on the bribery allegations now swirling around Robert Burke, a retired four-star admiral who rose to the second-highest uniformed position in the Navy and then went on to serve as commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe and U.S. Naval Forces Africa from 2020 to 2022.

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When news of the allegations was first made public in late May, federal prosecutors alleged that Burke directed lucrative Navy contracts to Next Jump in 2021 while serving as a four-star admiral, and the company later hired him in 2022 for a starting salary of $500,000 per year.

"Defendants intend to show, through subpoena-derived evidence, that Next Jump had a bona fide, $100 million engagement with the United States Navy that pre-dated any alleged bribery scheme," the motion for the subpoenas argued.

"These facts and others derived from defendants' subpoenas will undercut the government's version of events and show that there was no bribery scheme," the court document added.

The court filing does not reveal the names of the admirals the defense wants to subpoena.

Previous court filings by the executives in their defense featured emails with Burke, as well as correspondence with Vice Adm. John Nowell, then chief of naval personnel; Rear Adm. Kyle Cozad, then the commander of Naval Education Training Command; and Rear Adm. Brett Mietus, then a captain and Burke's aide.

Nowell and Cozad have since retired from the Navy.

The court filings to date do not allege that any of those admirals have engaged in wrongdoing.

Matthew Graves, the U.S. attorney overseeing prosecution of the case, argued that Burke "used his public office and his four-star status for his private gain" and suggested that he believed the admiral and Next Jump executives acted together, in a statement released at the time of Burke's arrest.

"The law does not make exceptions for admirals or CEOs. Those who pay and receive bribes must be held accountable," Graves said.

However, since then, the lawyers for Kim and Messenger have fired back, arguing in court filings that not only were they not complicit in any sort of bribery scheme but that they were pursuing in good faith a lucrative $100 million contract offered by Burke that later turned out to be a lie.

The two executives asked the court to separate their case from Burke's in mid-July, with lawyers telling the court that they "intend to offer evidence at trial that, in an effort to influence contracts between [Next Jump] and the Navy, Burke may have deliberately and repeatedly misled [Kim and Messenger] to believe that he could lawfully engage in employment discussions."

Next Jump is a company that largely specializes in training executives on leadership, and its relationship with the Navy goes back to 2018 when it was awarded its first service contract for around $2 million.

A second contract followed later that year for $10 million "to train part of the Navy workforce," according to court documents.

Those contracts came right as the Navy was reeling from two deadly at-sea collisions in the Pacific Ocean that killed nearly 20 sailors and revealed a toxic culture among commanders that ignored years of warnings about exhausted sailors, poor training and ships run ragged.

According to emails cited in Next Jump's filing, by the fall of 2019, a large $100 million proposal was put forward that would allow the company to "'develop people faster than anyone,' which would provide the Navy with a 'new competitive advantage' and effectively 'upgrade' the Navy."

That November, Burke told the pair that the newly confirmed chief of naval operations, Adm. Michael Gilday, had signed off on the plan, according to an email cited in the motion.

The Next Jump executives say that, in the process of pursuing that large contract, they met with Burke and a woman he identified as a senior official in the Office of the Under Secretary of the Navy and started discussing a job for him at their company after he retired.

The woman was, in fact, Burke's girlfriend.

Tim Parlatore, the lawyer representing Burke, confirmed to Military.com last month that the admiral was in an "intimate relationship" with the woman while he was in the beginning stages of divorce but that, since then, he and his wife reconciled.

In their motion, lawyers for Kim and Messenger argued that the presence of Burke's romantic partner undercuts the allegation that they were conspiring to bribe the admiral.

In responding to the request to separate the cases, Parlatore argued that "Kim is an entrepreneur who is prone to exaggeration and, in many cases, outright false statements" and that the two executives are "attempting to falsely blame Adm. Burke for telling them that everything was permissible."

According to court records, the last arguments on the subpoena requests are due to the judge overseeing the case by next Friday.

According to the Justice Department, if convicted, Burke faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, while Kim and Messenger each face a maximum penalty of 20 years.

Related: Rare Criminal Trial of a 4-Star Admiral Heats Up with Allegations of Lies, Affairs and Competing Stories
KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL)  Several Sullivan County non-profit and outreach groups came together to hold an event for International Overdose Awareness Day on Saturday.

The free, public event was organized by the Sullivan County Anti-Drug Coalition (SCAD) and held at the First Broad Street United Methodist Church in Kingsport. It was a family-friendly event, complete with inflatables, games and face painting for kids.

Along with fun, games, food and live music, several support organizations were on-hand with information about addiction and recovery.

Scores & Highlights: Week 1 high school football games

According to Frankie Nunley, a regional overdose prevention specialist, there are more than 3,800 fatal overdoses in Tennessee each year. She said one way the public can help is to carry naloxone, or Narcan, because anyone can have an accidental overdose.

They can get that [naloxone] from the Sullivan County Anti-Drug Coalition, walk into any of the anti drug coalitions or walk into the health department, and you can access it for free, she said. You can go online to the Johnson County Action Coalition, Ballad Health is funding that, and theyll ask you how many boxes you want and theyll ship it right to your door.

















Along with free resources and education materials, organizers hosted a memory walk and video memorial to honor those lost to an overdose.

For more information about addiction recovery and available resources near Sullivan County, visit Scadcoalition.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 WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
Photo by Scott Heins/Getty Images

A new summer nutrition program that one advocate called a game-changer reached 586,734 children this summer, 43,000 more than state officials had expected, according to recent numbers from the Maryland Department of Human Services.

But officials said there is still time to sign up for the program, and were encouraging families to do so before the Aug. 31 deadline, in order to get $120 per child for grocery assistance.

Marylanders want to help fight childhood hunger, Maryland Human Services Secretary Rafael J. Lopez said in a written statement. Our Maryland SUN Bucks program represents the single largest investment Maryland has seen to help feed our children. We invite every eligible Maryland family to apply before August 31, 2024, to help families buy groceries this summer.

Because Aug. 31 falls on a Saturday, the department said families will only have until 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30, to submit their applications.

The federally funded program is aimed at closing the so-called summer hunger gap, when schools that provide free or low-cost meals to many children are closed. Under the Sun Bucks program, low-income and foster families can get $120 per child to help pay for the cost of groceries over the summer.

Ayesha Holmes, director of No Kid Hungry Maryland, says Sun Bucks has been a game changer for families in the state, and she wants to make sure all eligible families have an opportunity to get the Sun Bucks financial support before time runs out at the end of the month.

Families are more hungry during the summer than the school year, because children have access to school meals and during the summer those meals are not available, Holmes said. So, this is an opportunity to make up that grocery budget, in a way that does not put so much strain on them.

Just under 56% of the 893,241 student in Maryland public schools were on a free or reduced-price lunch program during the 2023-24 school year, according to data from the Maryland State Department of Education.

The issue of a summer hunger gap is not unique to Maryland.

The SUN Bucks program, also referred as the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program, is one tool states can use to bridge the gap.

Maryland is one of 37 states and the District of Columbia that opted into the new program for summer 2024, along with five territories and the Cherokee and Chickasaw tribes. The program is run by the Department of Agricultures Food and Nutrition Service.

Holmes said that the Sun Bucks, in conjunction with other state programs and non-profit efforts to feed kids over the summer, really helps to close that gap in the summer time.

When Sun Bucks launched in June, Maryland officials anticipated the program would distribute about $60 million in federal funds to help 543,000 kids across the state. But as of this month, a little more than $71 million had been handed out to 586,734 children in the state, according to Department of Human Services, with the possibility of more families being added.

Our original estimates were based on federal data. We are delighted that we are serving 586,734 children, according to a statement from the department.

We requested and were approved by the federal government for a total estimated direct federal benefits to families of $71.04 million. This increased federal investment comes at no additional cost to Maryland, the statement said. At the end of the summer, we will have final numbers.

The program has cost the state about $5.8 million to implement, according to the department, but all the benefits payments come directly from the federal government.

About 90% of eligible Maryland families were automatically enrolled in Sun Bucks because they were alreeady in other benefits programs, like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), free or reduced-priced school meal programs, or temporary cash assistance. For families already on SNAP, the summer grocery funds are loaded onto their electronic benefits cards for that program.

What we want to make sure is that, theyre able to get to the grocery store and stretch their own dollar, Holmes said. And it provides families directly on a debit card that they can use at the grocery store, or even farmers markets and local markets that accept them.

Families who are not enrolled in those program can still apply for Sun Bucks if they meet the income qualifications at the Department of Human Services website.

So its totally worth it, and even if people miss the deadline for this year, theyre just enrolled for next year. So go ahead and get it done, Holmes said.
The Bayesian sank off the coast of Italy on Monday after being struck by a tornado - Pereni Navi Press Office/Handout/Shutterstock

The crew of Mike Lynchs superyacht had 16 minutes to avoid the tragedy, the chief executive of the firm that built the boat has claimed.

Giovanni Costantino, the founder and chief executive of the Italian Sea Group, which owns the Perini Navi shipyard where the Bayesian was built, has defended the boats construction and blamed human error for the disaster.

Hannah Lynch, the 18-year-old daughter of tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, is the last person unaccounted for after the yacht sank half a mile off the coast of Sicily in the early hours of Monday morning. Specialist cave divers will continue their search for her on Friday.

The bodies of six people killed in the tragedy have been recovered.

On Thursday, five of the dead were confirmed as Mr Lynch, Jonathan Bloomer, the chairman of Morgan Stanley International bank, and his wife Judy, and Chris Morvillo, a lawyer at Clifford Chance, and his wife Neda. The body of the yachts chef was recovered on Monday.

Jonathan and Judy Bloomer were confirmed dead on Thursday

Chris and Neda Morvillo were also confirmed to have died in the yacht tragedy - Patrick McMullan/Getty Images

Italian officials said on Wednesday that they believed Hannah Lynch to be among those recovered, but she is now thought to still be inside the boat. Rescue teams have also not ruled out the possibility that the teenager could have been thrown into the sea during the sinking.

Prosecutors in the town of Termini Imerese, close to Porticello, where the vessel went down, have opened an investigation into the disaster. They will seek to establish what caused the yacht to sink and whether any of the crew are criminally liable.

They are expected to investigate whether the keel played a role in the incident after divers found it partially deployed, and also examine whether the crew failed to close access hatches into the vessel before it was hit by a tornado.

Previous claims suggested that the sinking occurred in 60 seconds, giving the crew little time to respond.

But Mr Costantino rejected this, telling The Financial Times: The torture lasted 16 minutes. It went down, not in one minute as some scientists have said. It went down in 16 minutes. You can see it from the charts, from the AIS [Automatic Identification System] tracking chart.

The captain should have prepared the boat and put it in a state of alert and of safety, just like the boat [the Sir Robert Baden Powell] anchored 350 metres away, which was built in 1957 and handled the [weather] event brilliantly.

Giovanni Costantino, the founder and chief executive of the Italian Sea Group, which owns the shipyard where the Bayesian was built, defended the construction of the vessel

He claimed the Bayesian was one of the safest boats in the world and was virtually unsinkable, telling Corriere della Sera: The passengers reported something absurd, that the storm came unexpectedly, suddenly. That is not true. Everything was predictable.

Ask yourself  why were none of the Porticello fishermen out that night? A fisherman checks the conditions and a ship doesnt? The disturbance was completely readable on all the weather maps. It was impossible not to know.

A Perini vessel survived Hurricane Katrina. You dont think it could survive a tornado like this?

When divers searched the Bayesian, 158ft underwater, it was reported that the vessels retractable keel was partially raised, prompting questions about the boats stability at the time of the sinking.

The fin-like structure, which sits under the hull and is 32ft long when fully deployed, was designed to help stabilise the yacht, acting as a counterweight to the 237ft mast.

Experts have suggested the keel would normally be fully extended for extra stability during bad weather. It has also been reported that the space housing the boats tender was not fully closed when it went down.

From photos and video images of the sinking that have been published, Mr Costantino said it was clear the boat had a blackout caused by a surge of water inside it.

He said there was no doubt the aft hatch had been left open, adding: It tilted 90 degrees for only one reason  because the water kept coming in. The time it started coming in to the time it went down was six minutes. Those who say it disappeared in a few seconds are speaking rubbish.

Specialist divers will continue the hunt for Hannah Lynch on Friday. She had joined her father, along with other guests, to celebrate the British tech tycoons court victory after he was acquitted of fraud in San Francisco.

Massimo Mariani, an interior ministry official, said that she may still be inside the ship or could have been tossed into the sea when the superyacht sank. Vincenzo Zagarola, a spokesman from the Italian coastguard, said the working theory was still that she was inside the boat.

A decision on whether to raise the yacht from the seabed is not on the agenda but will be in future, he added.

Hannah Lynch had just won a place at the University of Oxford to read English after receiving her A-level results last week at Latymer Upper School in west London.

The Telegraph understands she received an award for outstanding academic achievement last year. Her parents were also frequent donors to the school, contributing to the bursary fund in 2023, 2022 and 2021.

Her mother, Angela Bacares, 57, survived the disaster but was seen using a wheelchair after suffering lacerations to her feet. Of the 22 passengers and crew on board, 15 were rescued after escaping on to a lifeboat.
Hannah Lynch was a gifted student who had won a place at the University of Oxford to study English - Family handout

Teenager Hannah Lynch had promised her parents she would save them if anything happened while they were swimming, a crew member of the superyacht Bayesian has revealed.

Hannah, 18, died along with six others, including her father, the multimillionaire tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, when the Bayesian sank off the coast of Porticello in Sicily on Monday.

On Saturday, Sasha Murray, the yachts chief stewardess, issued an emotional statement speaking of the teenagers deep and loving connection with her father and with her mother, Angela Bacares.

Hannah Lynch, who 'adored her parents more than anything', with her father Mike - Family handout

Ms Murray, the first survivor of the sinking to comment publicly, described the teenager, whose body was the last to be recovered from the wreckage of the boat on Friday, as a diamond.

She said: Those who knew her will know that Hannah was a diamond in a sea of stars. Bright, beautiful and always shining.

What most people may not have seen was the extraordinarily strong, deep and loving relationship she shared with her parents, whom she adored more than anything.

While swimming with them, she often said if anything ever happened she would save them. I have no doubt that the Irish, Latina fire that burns in her soul kept that spirited determination alive.

Mother survived yacht sinking

Ms Bacares, who also had an older daughter, Esme, with Mr Lynch, was among the 15 survivors of the sinking and is being treated in hospital.

A talented student, Ms Lynch scored 100 per cent in her English Literature GCSE and was a scholar at Latymer Upper School, west London, where she was a regular prize-winner.

She had won a place at the University of Oxford to read English and joined friends and family on the Bayesian after receiving her A-level results last week.

She and other guests had gathered on board the superyacht to celebrate Mr Lynchs acquittal on fraud charges in a long-running case in San Francisco.

The seven people who died on the Bayesian were (clockwise from top left) Mike Lynch, Hannah Lynch, Judy Bloomer, Jonathan Bloomer, Recaldo Thomas, Neda Morvillo, and Chris Morvillo - PA/Handout/Getty

Italian investigators revealed on Saturday that five of the passengers who died on the superyacht were found in one cabin where they had gathered in an apparent attempt to escape.

The five were Mr Lynch, Jonathan Bloomer, the chairman of Morgan Stanley International bank, his wife Judy Bloomer, Chris Morvillo, a partner at Clifford Chance, the legal firm who represented Mr Lynch, and his wife Neda Morvillo.

Ms Lynchs body was found in another cabin.

The seventh victim was Recaldo Thomas, the Canadian boat cook, whose body was recovered at the scene on Monday.

Mike Lynch was riveting

In a tribute to Mr Lynch, a close family friend from Suffolk recalled being daunted the first time she met him.

Susannah Gurdun said: I first met Mike at a dinner party in Suffolk. I knew in advance that I was being placed next to some important big tech corporate alpha male and frankly I was daunted. The man sounded terrifying. What on earth would we talk about?

Within a minute of sitting down, however, all my fears evaporated. Because of course I discovered that Mike is so much more than the corporate cliche. He was riveting. He was funny, and kind, and endlessly interesting; capable of talking about anything and everything.

Sadly, I cannot actually remember what we discussed that night  but I know that it had nothing whatsoever to do with technology or companies or stocks or litigation. It would have been ideas. Ideas and people  and what makes a person tick.

She said Mr Lynch was wonderful with children and recalled him explaining to her children the physics of why the sky went pink at sunset, and telling them stories while on holiday with her family in Spain.

A vibrant, loving family

I am not surprised to learn that, more recently, Hannah was showing serious literary promise. It is beyond tragic that we will never know where her own particular brilliance might have led, but I still feel blessed to have shared that time with them in Spain, she said.

Not just because I witnessed Mikes incredible storytelling; but because I was given a chance of understanding what that moment said about all four of them as a united vibrant loving family.

To those of us who knew him in that way, this family achievement  in partnership with Angela  was every bit as special and beautiful as the ones he pulled off in the world of tech and science.

Perhaps even more so in that he did it all simultaneously. He was an extraordinary human being and it was  truly  a privilege to have known him.

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FALLS MILLS, VA (WVNS)  A suspect was airlifted to a hospital after a shooting in the Falls Mills area of Tazewell County.

According to a press release from the Tazewell County Sheriffs Office, 30-year-old Cody Dailey, of Bluefield, West Virginia, was airlifted after being shot by a good Samaritan after an alleged carjacking attempt at Lees Kar-Go in Falls Mills, Virginia.

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The press release stated that the Tazewell County 911 Center received a call between 1:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. about a man near a church on Mudfork Road who allegedly tried to stab another person.

According to the press release, members of the Tazewell County Sheriffs Office heard a gunshot while they were talking to the victim of the alleged stabbing attempt, which resulted in another 911 call coming in.

In the press release from the Tazewell County Sheriffs Office, they stated that members of the Sheriffs Office responded to Lees Kar-Go in the Falls Mills area of Tazewell County, which was around a quarter mile from the other reported incident.

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According to the press release, once the members of the Tazewell County Sheriffs Office arrived on scene, they found Dailey with a gunshot wound to the chest. An on-duty and an off-duty member of the Tazewell County Sheriffs Office gave first-aid to Dailey and put him in handcuffs.

The press release stated that during the reported incident at Lees Kar-Go, Dailey allegedly tried to carjack a truck. It also says he allegedly attacked a woman while her child was in the vehicle. People nearby, one of whom carried a handgun, heard the victims screams and the commotion from the incident and went to help.

According to the Tazewell County Sheriffs Office press release, the good Samaritan approached and gave commands to Dailey, who then allegedly proceeded to charge, shove, and knock the good Samaritan down. The press release stated that the good Samaritan fired the handgun, hitting Dailey in the chest, when Dailey continued to approach them.

Man arrested in Summers County on drug-related charges

Thank goodness for the good Samaritans that came to the victims aid during her time of need. We are grateful for their desire to intercede on her behalf, had they not acted this could have been a very different outcome. Sheriff Brian Hieatt | Tazewell County Sheriffs Office

The Tazewell County Sheriffs Office stated that Dailey was later airlifted to a hospital, and was last known to be in stable condition.

The press release stated that Dailey was wanted out of the Tazewell County Circuit Court for two outstanding felony capias warrants, and that law enforcement in the area were informed about the charges against Dailey, as well as working on adding further charges against him that include abduction, carjacking, assault and battery, and more.

The Tazewell County Sheriffs Office stated that no further information will be given due to the incidents status as an active 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 WVNS.
Maria Malmer Stenergard, the minister for migration, blames large-scale immigration and poor integration for a string of social issues - Getty/Thierry Monasse

Sweden must drive down immigration and improve integration to tackle its drug gangs problem, the minister responsible for cutting asylum seeker numbers to the lowest since 1997 has said.

The country now has more emigrants than immigrants for the first time in 50 years after toughening asylum rules since a conservative-led coalition took power in 2022.

Maria Malmer Stenergard, the minister for migration, blamed large-scale immigration and poor integration for a string of social issues, including the violent crime epidemic that has tarnished the Scandinavian countrys once peaceful image.

Large-scale immigration, combined with a lack of efficient integration, has led to widespread social exclusion, with many people suffering as a result. This includes overcrowded housing, poor educational outcomes, honour-related oppression, and crime, said Ms Malmer Stenergard.

This year, police warned that 62,000 people are linked to gangs in Sweden, which now has the highest gun-crime death rate in the EU and has witnessed bombings and shootings spread to the suburbs from its cities.

Ms Malmer Stenergard said: Unfortunately, we observe higher crime rates among those born abroad and second-generation immigrants. We want to take responsibility for the shortcomings in integration. However, we cannot do so if high levels of immigration continue.

She added: We do not have a specific numerical target, but asylum immigration must remain at low levels for an extended period if we are to reverse the trend of widespread social exclusion.

People burn branches to block a road during riots in Norrkoping, Sweden, April 2022 - Shutterstock/Stefan Jerrevang

Ms Malmer Stenergard is a member of the centre-Right Moderate Party, which has led a coalition government since 2022, when the 43-year-old was named migration minister.

Her department said this month that while asylum applications in other EU countries had stabilised at a high level, they had continued to decline in Sweden.

By July 28 this year, 5,600 asylum claims were made, a drop of 27 per cent compared to the same period last year. This means Sweden is on track for its lowest number of claims in about 26 years.

Ms Malmer Stenergard said: From day one, we have been clear that those who come to Sweden with the intention of staying must learn the language as quickly as possible, become self-sufficient, and respect Swedish values.

We have tightened regulations regarding family reunification and citizenship, instructed authorities to prioritise returns and revocations, and are currently reviewing our entire legislation.

Ms Malmer Stenergard denied the crackdown was excessive and said all legislation was carefully scrutinised to ensure it complied with EU law and the European Convention on Human Rights.

Sweden has no plans for the offshore processing of migrants, similar to the UKs ditched Rwanda plan, an idea supported by some other EU countries.

Too generous in the past

Ms Malmer Stenergard said Swedens asylum offer was too generous in the past.

We have a humane and legally sound policy, but our goal is to align ourselves with other countries. In the past, we have stood out, which has resulted in a disproportionately high number of people seeking asylum in Sweden specifically, she added.

Now, we must focus on integration if we are to remain an open country that can continue to help those fleeing conflict.

Ms Malmer Stenergard said the government still had much work to do, including reforming the asylum reception system, establishing return centres and tightening citizenship laws.

Other policies being considered include revoking citizenship for people with dual citizenship if they commit serious crimes such as terrorism, or lied when applying.

Naturalised citizens and families of migrants could also be offered money to leave the country as part of a voluntary return scheme that already offers refugees about 720 and travel costs.

The welfare system also needs to be overhauled, the minister said, with new caps and qualification requirements on benefits,

Currently, one-third of foreign-born individuals are not self-sufficient  this is not sustainable in the long run if we are to maintain our welfare model, Ms Malmer Stenergard said.

Ulf Kristersson, the prime minister and Moderate leader, governs with the support of the hard-Right Sweden Democrats, which was partly founded by Nazi sympathisers.

It became the second-largest party after the 2022 elections, which ousted the Left-wing government in a campaign dominated by concerns over migration and crime but is not part of the coalition of Moderates, Liberals and Christian Democrats.

Asked how much influence the Sweden Democrats wielded, Ms Malmer Stenergard said: We are four parties united in our agreement to tighten immigration and improve integration. This is a significant strength.

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U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will visit China from August 27 to 29.

Sullivan's visit is at the invitation of Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Saturday.

According to Mao, the two sides will hold a new round of China-U.S. strategic communication.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Kendra King sits on her sofa in her home in Philadelphia on July 26, 2024. Credit: Deenah J. Leh via AP

Now that she's working from home, Kendra King takes an early afternoon nap on most days, typically for about 20 to 30 minutes.

"A lot of times, I don't go in with the intention of taking a nap, but instead to lay down and rest," said King, a writer in Philadelphia. "Then I end up drifting off and wake up feeling energized and fresh to continue on my day."

King didn't realize she had settled naturally into the napping routine that sleep experts recommend. Or that researchers say short naps improve motor skills, enhance memory and boost creativity, even though she has felt it.

"I'm definitely more creative after napping," she said.

That's because so-called power naps lasting less than 30 minutes allow the brain to rest in a way that makes you more alert, experts say. The naps are not so long that you slip into deeper sleep that would leave you groggy after waking up.

"We know it's an easy, helpful way to quickly boost your alertness, your concentration, your productivity, your creativity and your mood. It's a royal flush," said James Maas, who spent 48 years studying sleep as a Cornell University professor.

Where naps fit into the circadian rhythm

Sleep researcher James Maas sits in his office in Charlevoix, Michigan, on July 27, 2024. Credit: Nancy N. Maas via AP

Maas, author of "Sleep for Success! Everything You Must Know About Sleep But are Too Tired to Ask," said nearly everyone experiences an afternoon lull in their energy. It comes down to the body's circadian rhythm, which includes two periods of drowsiness every 24 hours, once at night and again between about 2 and 4 p.m.

In a typical night, people go through several 90-minute sleep cycles spread over five stages, from light to deep sleep, with the deepest falling toward the middle. Daytime sleep follows the same cycle, which is why Maas doesn't recommend hourlong naps. Waking up from such deep sleep can take up to an hour to return to normal, thanks to what's called sleep inertia.

Shorter naps only include stage-two sleep, which is particularly helpful for alertness and memory, said Sara Mednick, a sleep researcher at University of California-Irvine.

"It's like putting yourself into low-power mode just for a little bit and letting your body recuperate," said Mednick, author of "Take a Nap! Change Your Life."

Her research has found that naps work better than caffeine and a placebo to improve cognitive functioning. In fact, that afternoon cup of coffee is the least effective of all three.

"We showed better effects with the placebo on performance than with the caffeine," she said. "So if you think you're getting caffeine, you're going to perform better than if you actually get caffeine."

A beachgoer takes a nap on Fort Lauderdale beach, Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Credit: AP Photo/Marta Lavandier, File

How to start

Find a quiet, dark and cool space and set a timer for 15 or 20 minutes, which is a good starting point until you see how your body adjusts.

Even if you feel like you haven't slept, you still get benefits, Mednick said. People don't feel like they are asleep until they have reached deeper, slow-wave sleep in stage three.

"Your brain is still alerting you to the world around you when you're in stage-two sleep," she said. "But that doesn't necessarily mean that you're not getting the benefits of sleep."

Experts say short naps don't interfere with nighttime sleep, as long as they're not too late in the day. Aim for taking a nap around 6 or 7 hours after waking up, and try to nap at the same time every day.

Mednick recommended saving longer naps for the weekends, or when you have time to sleep a full 90 minutes. After about half an hour, you enter slow-wave sleep, which helps the body repair muscle tissue. REM, or rapid-eye movement, sleep comes at the end of the cycle; it's associated with fanciful dreams and helps process emotions.

The only people who should avoid napping are those who have trouble sleeping at night, Maas said. Senior citizens in particular should be vigilant because they tend to nap for too long during the day.

People lie sprawled out at the base of the iconic Monument to the Revolution to take a nap, in Mexico City on March 15, 2024, in commemoration of World Sleep Day. Credit: AP Photo/Fernando Llano, File

A traveler takes a nap as he waits for a ride outside Miami International Airport, Friday, July 1, 2022, in Miami. Credit: AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File

Don't like napping?

Mednick's research also has shown that napping is not for everyone. About half the people she has tested didn't get anything out of it.

"I'd say to those people who really don't like to nap, 'Listen to your body.'"

 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Who cant vote in the 2024 U.S. presidential election?

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV)  The 2024 General Election is on Nov. 5, but not everyone in Georgia will be allowed to vote.

According to the United States Government, and the state of Georgia, the following will not be able to register to vote in the upcoming election:

Non-Citizens

Non-citizens, including permanent legal residents, cannot vote in federal, state, and most local elections.

Convicted Felons

In Georgia, you generally lose your voting rights if you are convicted of a felony. You can

register to vote again once you complete your sentence, including probation, parole, and paying

fines, fees, and restitution.

Some felony sentences do not restrict your voting rights. Pretrial detention and misdemeanors do not restrict your voting rights.

Key dates for the 2024 election in Georgia and South Carolina

Mentally Disabled

In Georgia, those who have been found mentally incompetent by a judge may not be allowed to vote.

U.S. Territory Residents

U.S. citizens residing in U.S. territories cannot vote for president in the general election.

Under 17 1/2 years old

Voters must be at least 17 1/2 years of age to register and 18 years of age to vote.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
TAUNTON, Mass. (WPRI)  The investigation continues into a deadly fire that damaged a Taunton home Thursday afternoon.

Massachusetts State Fire Marshal Jon Davine announced Friday that there were no working smoke detectors in the home.

Firefighters rushed to North Walker Street after a passerby reported seeing smoke coming from a residence.

Taunton Fire Chief Steven Lavigne told 12 News firefighters knocked down the flames within 10 minutes.

Lavigne said the firefighters found a resident inside the home while fighting the flames. That resident, only identified as an older adult, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The residents two dogs also died in the fire, according to the chief.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time, however, Davine said it appears accidental in nature.

Investigators also discovered two out-of-date smoke detectors without batteries inside the home.

Smoke alarms are like any other appliance, Davine said. They dont last forever. Take a few minutes to check the manufacturing date printed on the back of your smoke alarms and replace them if theyre more than 10 years old.

If theres no date, replace it right away, he continued. When choosing a new alarm, select one from a well-known, national brand that has a sealed, long-life battery and a hush feature.

Davine said residents should never disable their smoke or carbon monoxide detectors.

Theyre your first line of defense against an emergency at home, he added.

The residents exact cause of death will be determined by the state medical examiner.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com.
When former President Donald Trump reposted a fake image of Taylor Swift striking a pose like the iconic Uncle Sam recruiting poster, it pushed to the forefront a topic that goes beyond politics: unauthorized digital replicas.

Concerned by the proliferation of AI tools, state and federal legislators have recently launched or pushed for efforts to protect anyone against the misuse of their name, voice, image and likeness in the digital era. For experts, Trumps social media post highlights why those broad legislative efforts are taking place, in addition to being one of the most visible bogus claims in the 2024 campaign.

Trump reposted last weekend on his Truth Social platform several images including the one depicting Taylor Swift as Uncle Sam. The image included the text, Taylor wants you to vote for Donald Trump. In response to the fake endorsement, Trump posted a carousel of (Swift) images, along with the comment, I accept!

A representative for Swift did not immediately respond to CNNs request for comment. The pop icon has not made an endorsement in this presidential race.

In an interview with Fox Business on Wednesday, Trump denied creating the images when asked if he was worried about a potential lawsuit.

I dont know anything about them, other than somebody else generated them, I didnt generate them, Trump said. These were all made up by other people. AI is always very dangerous in that way.

ELVIS Act enters the building

Tennessee is among the latest states to enact a law aimed at protecting people from unauthorized use of content that mimics their image or voice.

The Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security Act or ELVIS Act, which went into effect last month, expands the states existing right-of-publicity law to specifically protect artists, including a persons voice, and make unlawful the use of content in any medium.

The law could be a vehicle for Swift  who started her career in Nashville where she is part-time resident  to sue.

Tennessee Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, a Republican who sponsored the bill, has said the misuse of AI-generated content and the impact it has on artists were part of the reasons why the law was updated.

The rapid advancement of AI is exciting in many ways, but it also presents new challenges  especially for singers, songwriters, and other music professionals, Johnson said in a news release when Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed the ELVIS Act into law. CNN has reached out to the governors office for comment.

Joseph Fishman, a law professor at Vanderbilt University whose research has centered on intellectual property and entertainment law, said one of the issues with the law is that its so broad that it covers just about any unauthorized use of a persons likeness or voice that the distributor of the image or video or sound knows wasnt authorized.

Since 2019, several states have passed legislation related to the use of fake content. In the 2024 session, at least 40 states have pending legislation, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. While the laws do not exclusively apply to content created by AI, many laws are intended to target sexually explicit content and some focus on content meant to deceive voters, the group said.

When it comes to political campaigns, more than a dozen states have enacted legislation to regulate the use of so-called deepfakes  realistic fake video, audio and other content created with AI. Depending on the state, violators could face prison time and hefty fines; candidates could be required to forfeit their office or nomination, CNN previously reported.

Many laws, but no federal statute

While there appears to be a wave of new AI-centered legislation, the unauthorized use of digital replicas could be punishable under other existing laws, said Corynne McSherry, legal director at the nonprofit Electronic Frontier Foundation, who specializes in intellectual property, open access and free speech issues.

If youre worried that theres a use of an image of you, or your face and you think its in a way thats defamatory or implies false endorsement, you probably already got rights under defamation law, potentially even under trademark law, like we have lots of long standing doctrines to address that kind of situation, McSherry said.

At the federal level, Congress has yet to pass a nationwide framework to regulate AI, including AI-generated replicas. However, the Federal Communications Commission has sought fines after an AI-generated robocall imitating President Joe Bidens voice urged voters not to participate in New Hampshires primary election. The robocalls used call-spoofing technology that violated federal caller-ID laws, the FCC said.

The carrier that transmitted the robocalls, Lingo Telecom, agreed Wednesday to pay a $1 million fine. Steven Kramer, the political consultant behind the call, is facing a $6 million fine.

Last month, the US Copyright Office released a report urging lawmakers to pass a federal law to address unauthorized digital replicas.

It has become clear that the distribution of unauthorized digital replicas poses a serious threat not only in the entertainment and political arenas but also for private citizens, Shira Perlmutter, register of copyrights and director of the US Copyright Office, said in a statement. We believe there is an urgent need for effective nationwide protection against the harms that can be caused to reputations and livelihoods.

For Darrel Mottley, a patent attorney and faculty director of the intellectual property and entrepreneurship clinic at Suffolk University, its important to remember that regulation should focus on how AI is used and not the technology itself.

We dont regulate the technology, per se, we want to regulate the human behavior of using the technology in a way thats not what we think is appropriate. Thats kind of what the regulations should be doing, Mottley said.

Could Taylor Swift sue Trump?

Taylor Swift performs at Wembley Stadium in London. - Kate Green/Getty Images

Legal experts agree that Swift could file a lawsuit under the ELVIS Act, thanks to her ties to the Southern state, but the outcome is unclear.

The ELVIS Act could be among the laws that apply to what Trump did and under which he could be liable, Fishman said.

In a potential lawsuit against Trump, attorneys for the former President could argue the post was satire or parody, which is protected under the First Amendment, Fishman and McSherry said.

The ELVIS Act has an exemption for uses protected by the First Amendment, including criticism, satire and parody. Fishman noted the boundaries of that exemption were not detailed in the statue so nobody really knows how courts are going to draw those lines.

Theres a lot of murkiness around how this would actually play out if there were a lawsuit but if that exemption doesnt apply, it certainly seems like posting these images is covered by this Tennessee law, Fishman said.

The fact that some of the images were generated by AI made the situation a lot more provocative, Fishman says, but Trump could face an equal legal risk if he had photoshopped a photograph (or if) he was a really good drawer and drew something. The problem would still be the same.

In McSherrys view, Swift could simply opt to address it outside the court system.

Given Taylor Swifts reach as a celebrity, I think she could feel a lot more effective, frankly, if she just used her own platform to repudiate it, and that would accomplish as much as any lawsuit, McSherry said.

With or without the rise of AI-generated content, legal experts agreed that you dont have to be a celebrity to hold people accountable if your voice, likeness or image is misused to imply false endorsement.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating after a teenager was shot in Southeast D.C. on Friday evening.

MPD received a call about the shooting at around 6 p.m. It happened in the 5000 block of Hunt Street NE.

Court documents: Mamta Kafle Bhatts husband accused of murdering her, dragging her from home

Police said a teenage boy had been hurt. He was taken to the hospital while conscious and breathing.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder and CEO of Telegram, was arrested at Le Bourget airport outside of Paris while traveling on his private jet.



Reports by French network TF1 suggest that he was wanted in France due to an investigation into Telegram's lack of moderation, which authorities believe has enabled criminal activities to continue on the platform.



Telegram representatives did not immediately comment on the situation, and neither did French authorities.



Durov, who has a net worth estimated at $15.5 billion, left Russia in 2014 after refusing to comply with government demands to shut down opposition communities on his VK social media platform, which he subsequently sold.



He has stated that Telegram should remain a neutral platform, resisting various governmental pressures.



According to Durov, Telegram blocks accounts and chatbots that collect data aiding strikes or call for violence.

Ukraine's military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said in March that Telegram poses risks because "any person can create a channel and start writing whatever he wants on it," but it also presents certain benefits, namely, in communicating with people from occupied regions.

Read also: Ukrainian hackers launch large-scale cyberattack on Russian Internet providers, military-related companies, source says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Tennessee children continue to be harmed by gun violence. When will enough be enough?

Recently, I sat next to a physician who the night before had performed surgery on a 4-year-old who accidentally shot himself with a loaded gun in his home; a 13-year-old was fatally shot with a gun stolen from someones car in a park where my young children played frequently; and a young woman who had just graduated high school in my community was killed by a peer who found a high power weapon that was not safely secured in a home and assumed it wasnt loaded when he shot it.

These awful tragedies  and many others that did not make the news  are indicative of what the data shows in Tennessee: that our children are dying from firearm-related events more than any other reason, and that firearm tragedies continue to trend in the wrong direction.

I support the Second Amendment, and I am a person who is largely persuaded by facts. I am not persuaded by the argument that our neighborhoods will be safer if more people have more guns. If that were true, our country and our state would be the safest places in the world. Factually, they simply are not.

Three solutions for dealing with firearms safety

Throughout my life, Ive been told by the wisest of people that insanity is to continue doing the same thing over and over and to expect a different outcome. Those same people have said to me that sometimes if you want to change the outcome, you should try something different.

Participants stand together during the Linking Arms for Change, event at Centennial Park in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, March 27, 2024. The event was in remembrance of the Covenant school shooting where 6 people- three children and three adults- were killed last year.

The outcome currently achieved in our state by lessening firearm safety regulation and policy is deadly. To reiterate, firearms are the number-one contributor to death for children ages 1 to 17.

Thats correct, its not fentanyl, traffic accidents or cancer. Its firearms. Now is the time to try something different, like:

Temporarily restricting access to firearms for people whom law enforcement determines pose a danger to themselves or others;

Require firearm owners to provide secure storage and report lost or stolen weapons;

Implement consistent background check requirements across all firearm transactions.

Tennessee Three lawmakers put state in the spotlight at the DNC. Here's how they got there

Reasonable steps are possible to reduce gun violence

Other states have had success with these measures. Perhaps we could improve Tennessees shooting death rates per 100 people, which are currently 53% higher than the U.S. average.

People from both major political parties tell me these seem like reasonable steps toward improving our outcomes.

John Bumpus

Lets make Tennessee safer. By the way, after three more surgeries the four-year-old is now a gunshot survivor.

John Bumpus is a retired healthcare executive and Williamson County resident.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Gun violence in Tennessee: Pass laws to protect children from harm
This coverage is made possible through Votebeat, a nonpartisan news organization covering local election administration and voting access. Sign up for Votebeat Texas free newsletters here.

The Secretary of States Office will again assign state inspectors to observe the handling and counting of ballots and monitor election records in Harris County, the state agency said while releasing a new audit outlining problems with the countys elections in 2021 and 2022.

The audit, released late Friday, found that in those years, Harris County election officials did not follow state-mandated rules related to voter registration list maintenance; failed to adequately train election workers, which led to problems at the polls; and violated the law when it failed to estimate and issue the required ballot paper at some polling locations.

Harris County failed to adequately train election workers on how to properly set up and operate the voting system, the audit found, which may have impacted the high percentage of equipment malfunctions in the November 2021 constitutional amendment election. The county then did not adequately address these training issues prior to the March 2022 primary, the state said.

Former Harris County Elections Administrator Clifford Tatum did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the audits findings. Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth, who took over running elections last September after state lawmakers passed a law eliminating the election administrator position in the states most populous county, said in a statement that her office will continue to ensure that the concerns that plagued the now-defunct Elections Administrators Office are not revisited.

In the audit report, the Secretary of States Office said current Harris County election officials, who didnt oversee the elections included in the audit, have worked to address the problems and correct the countys procedures.

Other counties audited for the 2021-22 election cycle included Cameron, Eastland and Guadalupe. The report says election officials in those counties have improved recordkeeping, chain of custody procedures and election worker training.

The House Elections Committee is set to discuss the audits findings and the management of voter registration data in the state on Monday.

Last fall, a preliminary report of an audit specifically about Harris Countys November 2022 election found the county had different numbers of registered voters than the state, and different numbers of absentee ballots sent out, though it didnt detail the causes of the discrepancies or suggest they influenced the election outcome. That report also said the county failed to adequately train election workers and failed to supply some polling locations with enough ballot paper.

The final audit released Friday echoed the findings in the earlier report.

Audits began after the 2020 presidential election

The state began auditing counties after the 2020 presidential election, in response to baseless claims of voter fraud. The audits aim to examine counties election procedures and evaluate whether election laws are being properly followed.

Harris County is dominated by Democrats and often the focus of election conspiracy theories. Its been audited twice so far. The first time was in 2021, when the Secretary of States Office ordered a full forensic audit of the states two largest Democratic counties  Harris and Dallas  and the two largest Republican counties  Collin and Tarrant. That same year, lawmakers passed a sweeping overhaul of voting laws that included a provision requiring the Texas secretary of state to conduct an audit of four randomly selected counties elections.

In 2022, officials with the agency drew four county names out of a bucket  and Harris came up again.

Although the audit has found no evidence of widespread fraud in any of the counties reviewed, auditors have twice flagged problems in Harris. The audit report covering the 2020 election said the county had improper chain of custody procedures at some of its polling locations, and discrepancies in electronic poll book data.

Last week, during an annual training of election officials from across the state, Secretary of State Jane Nelson conducted the drawing of the four counties to be audited for the 2023-24 election cycle: Brazoria, Bell, Val Verde and Real.

No evidence of fraud, but other problems with elections surface

As for Harris, the heavily Democratic countys handling of elections has made it a target for years. The problems with the 2022 election prompted Texas Republican lawmakers to pass a law that abolished the elections administrator position in Harris County. The county challenged the law in court, and lost. Last fall, election administration duties were transferred to the county clerk, and voter registration duties are now the responsibility of the tax assessor-collectors office.

Those problems also prompted 21 losing Republican candidates to go to court seeking a redo of the November election. A judge did order a new election in response to a challenge of a single judicial race. He found that more than 1,000 votes in Harris should not have been counted because, in most cases, there were deficiencies with two types of forms that some voters have to fill out at the polls.

Three candidates dropped their lawsuits, and a judge, dismissing the remaining challenges, said that, although the county did make errors, there was not enough evidence to order a new election.

Last week, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said an investigation by the Texas Rangers found no evidence of fraud in the November 2022 election. One former county elections department employee now faces charges for theft and tampering with government documents. Ogg said investigators found the employee, whose responsibility at the elections department was distributing supplies, improperly worked two full-time jobs during the election.

Put a process in place

Hudspeth has presided over multiple county-wide and municipal elections, including a primary and a runoff election, since taking over last September. Although a storm left at least a dozen locations without power during the primary runoff election in May, voting wasnt disrupted.

Speaking on a panel at the annual training for election officials hosted by the Secretary of States Office in Austin earlier this month, Hudspeth said her office has created a compliance team made up of roughly four people familiar with every step of the election process and responsible for properly documenting it. After each election, that team also digitizes election records and labels them to be used for auditing purposes or during election challenges, if necessary.

It makes it easier for us to identify when the audit comes, what we need to pull together, Hudspeth told hundreds of Texas election officials who gathered at the event. Not every audit is exactly the same. It doesn't always look the same. It isn't always the same exact information, but what we have learned over time, is to put a process in place.

Natalia Contreras covers election administration and voting access for Votebeat in partnership with The Texas Tribune. Contact Natalia at ncontreras@votebeat.org

TribFest Keynotes Announced!

Be there when Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin take the keynote stage at The Texas Tribune Festival! Whitmer will talk with Texas Tribune co-founder Evan Smith about her memoir, her key victories in Michigan and the importance of every vote. Youngkin and Smith will close out TribFest with a conversation about his record, the state of his party and a conservative policy agenda for America. Explore the full program of 300+ speakers and 100+ events.

Get tickets today.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  The third annual Veterans Day Parade is coming back to Rochester on November 9!

The parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the corner of South Goodman Street and Highland Avenue and will continue up Highland Avenue to the Greater Rochester Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Gary Beikirch Park on South Avenue.

The Grand Marshal of this years parade will be The Vietnam Veteran to recognize the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. The parade will include a float that will carry members of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 20 as the centerpiece of the parade.

Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter and radio host Alan Brother Wease Levin served as the parades Grand Marshal in the past.

The parade will also include musical marching units, veterans service organizations, law enforcement, military-style vehicles, high ranking active-duty service members and groups representing veterans of all eras and military branches.

An Honor Ceremony will take place immediately after the parade at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

If anyone is interested in registering to participate in the parade and honor ceremony you can visit this website for more information.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

The WHO has declared the current Mpox outbreaks are of "International Concern," but how does the situation differ from previous public health emergencies?

This week World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr. Tedros has declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) following the ongoing upsurge of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and in a growing number of countries.

Within the African region, 13 countries have reported cases, this with current active outbreaks in 11 countries, including countries who had not reported cases before.

But what do we know about the virus driving the latest outbreaks, and what is the current public health response?

In a Q&A session, WHO experts including Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, an Honorary Lecturer at Imperial College London's MRC Center for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, responded to key questions on the current outbreaks.

What is mpox?

Mpox is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus which is a species of Orthopoxvirus.

Most common symptoms are fever, swelling of lymph nodes, mucosal lesions and skin rash. Most people recover, but some people develop more severe disease.

Mpox spreads from contact with infected people through touch (skin to skin contact), kissing or sex, but also contact with infected animals when hunting, skinning or cooking, or infected materials such as contaminated sheets, clothes or needles.

What is a 'public health emergency of international concern'?

The International Health Regulations (IHR) is an international agreement between 196 countries across the globe, including all the Member States of WHO.

IHR defines a public health emergency of international concern when it meets certain criteria including:

An extraordinary event: a new strain of mpox (clade 1b) was identified and we see an upsurge of mpox cases in DRC and a growing number of countries. Constituting a public health risk to other States through the international spread of disease: This new strain has spread to neighboring countries, including those that have never reported mpox before. Limited testing and surveillance may mean there are cases we do not yet know about. Requiring coordinated international response: To scale up ongoing efforts along with resources is needed to stop outbreaks and save lives.

What can I do to protect myself?

Dr. Van Kerkhove, advised, "First and foremost is to understand the risk that is there and if you have mpox yourself to avoid contact with others, cover lesions if you have and to seek medical care.

"The other thing is if someone has lesions or they are symptomatic to avoid having sex."

Is the mpox outbreak comparable to COVID-19?

Offering reassuring insights in response to questions of whether mpox "is the new COVID," Dr. Van Kerkhove said, "mpox is not the same virus, it does not spread the same way. We are not seeing the same situation unfold.

"Anyone can get infected with mpox if they are in contact with an infected individual, but that does not mean everyone will get infected with mpox. That is an important distinction. This is not the 'new' anything.

"We have experience with mpox, and right now with the declaration of PHEIC, there needs to be a concentrated, global effort to support the countries that are seeing this upsurge.

"There is a lot that we can do, we are all in this together and everyone has a role to play. It is about having that right information, make sure countries have the right resources, diagnostics and therapeutics that are available are used and vaccines are used in a targeted way."

Imperial College London and mpox

As a WHO collaborating center for Infectious Disease Modeling, the MRC Center for Global Infectious Disease Analysis at Imperial College London is actively supporting the response to mpox. The MRC Center collaborates with researchers and health organizations in affected regions to help provide robust analytical and modeling support.

As part of this real-time response, the MRC Center released two preprint publications on mpox in recent months, focusing on the burden of mpox among MSM in South Africa and age patterns of severity of clade I mpox.

Dr. Lilith Whittles of the MRC Center said, "The severity of mpox varies in different people. Exploring this helps to understand the burden of disease at population level, which will help identify where interventions such as vaccination are best targeted.

"In countries where zoonotic transmission has historically occurred, children under 15 who become infected with mpox are more likely to experience severe outcomes. We quantified the severity of infection by age and by smallpox vaccination status to assist with future vaccine prioritization."

For more information on the work of the MRC Center for Global Infectious Disease Analysis and their work on infectious disease outbreaks, visit the website.

More information: Ruth McCabe et al, Estimating the burden of mpox among MSM in South Africa, medRxiv (2024). DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.13.24311919 Lilith K Whittles et al, Age-patterns of severity of clade I mpox in historically endemic countries, medRxiv (2024). DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.23.24306209 Journal information: medRxiv
Thousands of Asda George orders hit by IT chaos ahead of return to school

The George clothing problems mark the second IT issue at Asda this year - PAL Stock

Thousands of orders for Asdas George clothing range have been plunged into chaos ahead of the new school year after a botched IT upgrade.

Swathes of customers have been left out of pocket because of problems at the troubled grocers fashion brand. Money was taken from some shoppers but their orders were not sent, while others were unable to return items bought online.

It has fuelled a wave of customer complaints at Asda, which attempted to upgrade Georges online system earlier this month.

The changeover took place as part of an 800m IT project dubbed Project Future, which is being overseen by Asda co-owner Mohsin Issa. It is the second IT update to go wrong under the project, after a previous payroll software update left thousands of staff without the correct wages.

One Asda worker said up to 7,000 George orders had been affected by the IT meltdown, sparking anger among parents who have not received school uniforms for their children.

They said: The changeover came into effect for George orders earlier this month and since then it has been absolute chaos. At one point, they told us that there were over 7,000 George orders where money was taken but it wasnt put through.

It has taken up to 10 hours for some customers to get any response to their complaints.

Mohsin Issa has been urged to step back from day-to-day operations by Asda's chairman - Jamie Lorriman

The employee in question heaped blame solely at the door of Asdas management, criticising the decision to pursue a changeover at the most popular time of year.

They said: Its just such poor management because this is the time of the year when George makes the most sales.

And ones that need to be done at a certain time, whether it be people going on holiday or school uniforms. There were so many people complaining, saying Ive ordered my school uniform and the order hasnt gone through.

From a planning point of view, they should have really anticipated doing this at a time when there were less George sales, rather than at this time of year.

Evidence of the chaos is clear on social media, where Asdas customer service team has been inundated with complaints.

One customer said: Whats going on with the George customer service? I returned some items but [have] not been refunded for them all. No one answers the phone and there is no other way to contact?

Another asked: Is there a reason my George Asda orders are not showing on my account this evening please? Made six different orders but none are showing and have not been sent a email but money taken?

It marks the latest setback for Mohsin Issas Project Future, following the payroll crisis earlier this year.

Asdas chairman Lord Rose told The Telegraph earlier this month that Project Future was mission critical to its turnaround plan, although he admitted there have been some glitches along the way. The company is replacing a host of computer systems operated until now by its previous owner, Walmart.

The latest disruption will increase pressure on Mr Issa, who is fighting to turn around the companys fortunes amid a rapid decline in its market share.

Lord Rose said earlier this month that he had been embarrassed by Asdas performance and urged Mr Issa to step back from running its day-to-day operations.

Asdas market share has fallen from 14.8pc when Mr Issa and his brother Zuber acquired it for 6.8bn in 2021 to 12.7pc in July. Meanwhile, the German discounters Aldi and Lidl have gained ground.

Zuber Issa sold his stake in Asda this year as part of a separation of some of the Issas business interests.

George, which is the UKs leading childrens wear retailer, has so far been one of the few positives for Asda this year.

Bosses said just weeks ago that its clothing revenues rose 3.9pc in the second quarter, although this was before the latest disruption.

Asda said it was working to resolve the IT problems at George as quickly as possible.

A spokesman said: As part of building a bigger and better Asda, we are delivering Europes largest IT transformation, involving the separation and upgrade of over 2,500 systems from Walmart.

Earlier this month, as part of this process we migrated 9.6m historic George orders onto our new George.com platform. The overwhelming majority of these were completed successfully and the platform is trading well.

However, we are aware of a number of issues with some historic customer orders. We sincerely apologise for this and any inconvenience caused and are working hard to resolve them as quickly as possible.

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.




photo gallery 2023 National Trans Visibility March

Courtesy National Trans Visibility March

The 2023 National Trans Visibility March

Thousands of transgender and nonbinary people  and their allies  will gather in Washington, D.C., Saturday for the National Trans Visibility March.

The march, which has been held annually since 2019, focuses on the need for trans visibility in politics as well as society at large. Trans people need to support politicians who support them, contact elected officials, and get involved in grassroots campaigns, the march website notes.

This years march will also highlight the need for intersectionality of HIV prevention and education with broader social justice concerns. Participants will emphasize the need for comprehensive sex education that includes HIV prevention as well as culturally competent, trans-inclusive health care services.

The first National Trans Visibility March was held in 2019 in Washington. The march was held virtually in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but picked back up in 2021 in Orlando. In 2022, it was held in West Hollywood, and in 2023, in New York City.

This year, participants will start arriving at noon at the Human Rights Campaign headquarters, 1640 Rhode Island Ave. NW. There will be an opening ceremony at 1 p.m., and the march starts at 1:30 p.m. It will come back to the HRC headquarters at the end.

Speakers will include Hope Giselle, executive director, president, and CEO of the march; Kelley Robinson, president of HRC; Elijah Nicholas, founder and chairman of the Global Trans Equity Project; Ollie Henry, a storyteller and activist with the National Black Justice Coalition and American Association of People with Disabilities; Iya Dammons, founding executive director of DC and MD Safe Haven; Louis Shackelford, director of external relations for the HIV Vaccine Trials Network; and Lee Blinder, founding executive director of Trans Maryland.

There will be a post-march party from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Moxy Hotel, 1011 K St. NW.

Scroll down for photos from last year's march.

photo gallery 2023 National Trans Visibility March

Courtesy National Trans Visibility March

photo gallery 2023 National Trans Visibility March

Courtesy National Trans Visibility March

photo gallery 2023 National Trans Visibility March

Courtesy National Trans Visibility March

photo gallery 2023 National Trans Visibility March

Courtesy National Trans Visibility March
Thousands turn out to Pride marches in Jena, Magdeburg and Bremen

Federal Chairwoman of Alliance 90/The Greens (Bundnis 90/Die Grunen) Ricarda Lang (C) walks through the city centre on Christopher Street Day (CSD). Bodo Schackow/dpa

Thousands of people took to the streets in several German cities for the rights of lesbian, gay and the broader queer community (LGBTQ), with around 22,000 showing up to a Pride parade in the northern port city of Bremen, police said on Saturday.

In eastern Germany, 2,500 people joined the protest march for tolerance and diversity in Magdeburg, while in Jena, about 1,700 people turned out to march, according to the police. Organizers in Jena said the crowd was 3,000 strong.

In both cities, far-right counter-protests were planned, prompting concerns after past counter-gatherings led to violence.

In Bremen, numerous politicians were among the participants of the march through the city centre. The police said there were no incidents to report.

In Jena, the organizers in Jena had hoped for over 5,000 people beforehand. A spokeswoman said the heat apparently caused people to stay at home.

She added, "Furthermore, we know that many people travelled to Magdeburg or Plauen to support the CSDs there."

In Germany, the marches are known as Christopher Street Day (CSD), in honour of the 1969 protest against police discrimination that occurred at the Stonewall Inn on Christopher Street in New York City which helped spark the modern LGBT+ movement.

In Magdeburg, many participants carried colourful umbrellas or wrapped themselves in rainbow flags, as temperatures soared above 30 degrees Celsius.

Loud music blared from loudspeakers on several vehicles and people blew soap bubbles, sang and some were clad in costumes, wearing angel wings.

Around 250 people joined a registered counter-demonstration in Magdeburg, the latest in a spate of far-right protests, held in the eastern cities of Bautzen and Leipzig on the occasion of Pride marches.

The counter gatherings were marked by aggression and violence directed towards the LGBT community.

People stand on Eichplatz during the Christopher Street Day (CSD). Bodo Schackow/dpa

People wearing puppy masks parade through the city center on Christopher Street Day (CSD). Heiko Rebsch/dpa
Thousands without electricity as outage knocks out power in SLO County

This is a developing story. Check back to sanluisobispo.com for updates.

To get breaking news alerts, click here

More than 3,300 PG&E customers in northern San Luis Obispo County were without power early Saturday morning.

According to PG&Es outage map, an electrical outage was reported in the Cambria and Highway 46 area at 8:41 a.m.

As of 9:25 a.m., it was impacting an estimated 3,389 customers, according to PG&Es map.

The utility company had crews en route to asses the damage. A cause was not yet known.

Power was expected to be restored by 4:30 p.m.

To view PG&Es map of the outage area, visit pge.com or check out our interactive map below. Note: If the outage is not showing up on the map below, wait up to 15 minutes and then refresh.

Power Outages in San Luis Obispo County and California

This map shows current California power outages and is automatically updated every 15 minutes. It shows the total number of customers impacted by county (in black), the general location of the outages with red (not planned) and orange (planned) circles, and more detailed power outage areas from PG&E when zoomed into the map (other utilities are not available for power outage areas). Tap on the locations for the number of customers affected and estimated power restoration in the left-hand column.

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SOURCES: California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, Pacific Gas and Electric, Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas and Electric, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Los Angeles Water & Power, ESRI
Three McLane High students arrested following shooting near the school, deputies say

Three McLane High students were arrested following a shooting near the school this week.

The arrests came after police arrested a 16-year-old gunman in a nearby neighborhood.

The shooting happened at 3:40 p.m. Wednesday near an Auto Zone, located at Clinton and Cedar avenues. Deputies arrived and found no shooting victims.

Deputies learned there was a disturbance between a large group of students who attended the school before shots were fired.

Some of these bullets struck a vehicle and a nearby restaurant, deputies said.

The 16-year-old alleged shooter was arrested in a neighborhood, deputies said.

Detectives with the Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium followed with the arrest of two suspects who are both 15-year-old.

Deputies arrested one 15-year-old boy who allegedly pistol whipped another person and also arrested another 15-year-old boy who helped both gunmen dispose of their firearms, deputies said.

The guns have not been recovered.

Deputies said witnesses helped deputies by giving them descriptions of the people involved, including the gunman. Video surveillance also captured the shooting.

MAGEC, Fresno Police Department, a School Resource Officer (SRO) and Violent Criminal Apprehension Team worked the case.

The teens were booked into juvenile hall and each are facing gun related charges, deputies said.

The Fresno County Sheriffs Office and Fresno Police Department hope these arrests bring a sense of relief to the McLane High School community as it heads into its next week of session, deputies said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriffs office at 559-600-3111 or Valley Crime Stoppers at 559-498-7867, www.valleycrimestoppers.org and will remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward. Reference case# 24-9575.
Len Fatica is a member of a political species that's practically extinct in deep red Statesboro, Georgia -- a rural Democrat.

ABC News traveled to the biggest city in Georgia's southeastern Bulloch County, with a population of around 34,000. It boasts four different Main Streets (one for each point of the compass) and a persistent gnat problem.

PHOTO: Len Fatica leading an initiative to attract rural voters to Georgia's Democratic Party. (ABC News)

"People are, for the most part, very friendly," Fatica, the Georgia Democratic Party's rural council chair, told ABC News. "They will sit down and have a conversation with you even if they disagree with you."

Plenty of people disagree with Fatica, who's running for county commission and leading an initiative to attract rural voters to the state Democratic Party. They meet each week at a local coffee shop to talk strategy, and he acknowledged how difficult it is for Democrats to make inroads in rural areas.

"If you look at Bulloch County down here, we're probably close to 70% that is Republican," he said. "This is a deep Republican area."

Fatica accepted the persistent criticism that Democrats left rural voters behind long ago in favor of urban populations, but he believes locals might be gradually drawn back -- a possibility suggested when Joe Biden narrowly won the swing state in the 2020 presidential election.

"At one time, it was a Democratic county," he said. "Talking to Republicans, they feel within 10 years, with the manufacturing jobs that are being moved in, this could become a Democratic county again."

Fatica highlighted the importance of Democrats taking on Trump's rhetoric, even when talking to deep red voters.

"We've got to punch back, and we've got to punch back on the falsehoods that are told," he said.

Vice President Kamala Harris' choice of running mate might also move the needle, according to Fatica. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who formally accepted the nomination at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday, regularly highlights his rural roots in speeches and rallies.

"Growing up I spent the summers working on the family farm," Walz said on Aug. 6. "My mom and dad taught us -- show generosity toward your neighbors and work for the common good."

PHOTO: Robin Hutcheson and her daughter Aliya are hopeful that the Harris-Walz ticket could be a step in bringing more rural Americans back to the Democrats. (ABC News)

Lifelong Democrats Robin Hutcheson and her daughter Aliya Johnson highlighted how unusual they are, living in Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's northwest Georgia congressional district.

"You see a lot of trucks with Trump flags and a lot of Trump flags in the yard, and we are like little blue dots in a big red sea," Hutcheson said.

They agreed that Walz could appeal to rural Americans.

"I feel like Tim is genuinely a person who has high morals, who is a good, upstanding person," Johnson said. "That kind of represents the older style of respectability that I think older voters got used to and that newer voters still want to lean on and believe is the right thing, and a good thing."

The mother and daughter agreed that Democrats haven't been this excited since Obama's bids for the White House.

"This is the first time that we really feel like change is possible," Johnson said.

Political strategist Fred Hicks noted his belief that Georgia has become competitive because many of the culture wars that defined America for generations have subsided -- there are multiple issues rather than a single issue driving people to vote.

"The economic issue is really what's, I think, pushing people because you have not had the economic growth outside of these urban nodes," Hicks said of the rural areas.

Peter Fuller is the chair of the northeastern Jackson County's Democratic Party and knows flipping any rural part of Georgia is a tall order. Trump won 78% of the Jackson County vote in 2020.

"These are counties that have been like this for a while. They are long-term projects," he said. "Most of these communities are agriculture based. We have issues of either not having population growth, or loss in some cases. Health care is a big one."

PHOTO: Flipping Georgia Jackson County toward the Democrats is a tall order-- Donald Trump got 78% of the vote there in 2020. (ABC News)

Fuller noted that translating some national policies into something relatable for Jackson County voters can be challenging.

"It's a lot easier to do with somebody like Tim Walz," he said.

What remains to be seen is whether the hope and excitement around the Harris-Walz ticket can translate into votes and victory for the Democratic Party in rural America.

Tim Walz gives rural Democrats hope for winning swing states originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Prominent members of Gateway Church continue to resign or step down following child sex abuse allegations against former senior pastor Robert Morris, who publicly admitted to having "inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady" 35 years ago.

Morris resigned from the Texas megachurch in June, four days after 54-year-old Cindy Clemishire went public with allegations that the pastor began molesting her when she was 12 and he was 21. Though he downplayed them, Morris acknowledged the allegations.

A month after Morris' resignation, his son and daughter-in-law, James and Bridget Morris, stepped down as pastors of the Dallas-based church. And on Wednesday, the church's leadership announced that executive pastor Kemtal Glasgow resigned due to an unspecified "moral issue" that "disqualifies him from serving."

Here is what we know about the turnover and allegations at Gateway Church.

The now-former Pastor Robert Morris of Gateway Church, who was preaching to more than 100,000 active attendees in Dallas and was once a spiritual adviser to former President Donald Trump, resigned on June 18, 2024, two days after admitting to "inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady" decades ago. The "young lady" in question was 12 and the "behavior" as she described it would amount to criminal sexual abuse.

Cindy Clemishire alleges Robert Morris abused her in 1982

Clemishire first shared her story with the Wartburg Watch, a blog about sexual abuse within the church, and said that Morris began sexually abusing her on Christmas in 1982. She said the abuse continued in Oklahoma and Texas until 1987.

After Clemishire's accusations went public, Morris and Gateway responded in separate statements.

"It was kissing and petting and not intercourse, but it was wrong," Morris, 62, said in a statement to local Dallas news station WFAA-TV. "This behavior happened on several occasions over the next few years. ... Since that time, I have walked in purity and accountability in this area."

In a statement issued to members of the news media in June, the church's board of elders said they previously understood that Morris had an "extramarital relationship" with a "young lady," citing the pastor's words  "not abuse of a 12-year-old child."

"We are heartbroken and appalled by what has come to light over the past few days, and we express our deep sympathy to the victim and her family," according to the statement, obtained by CBS News and NBC News.

Cindy Clemishire, left, is pictured at the age of 12 with her sister in 1982. Provided by Cindy Clemishire

Robert Morris resigns from Gateway Church

Days after the church and Morris released statements, the pastor announced his resignation amid a public outcry.

In a follow-up statement, the church elders said that they "regret that we did not have the information that we now have."

"For the sake of the victim, we are thankful this situation has been exposed," the church said. "We know many have been affected by this, we understand that you are hurting, and we are very sorry. It is our prayer that, in time, healing for all those affected can occur."

Before Morris' resignation, Clemishire told USA TODAY that she shared her story with leadership in "very large and high-profile" churches and organizations for decades. Despite her openness, no one took Morris out of the ministry or pulpit.

Clemshire also said she came forward publicly to encourage others who may be victims of Morris to tell their stories.

"Any and all victims, come forward  I just don't believe that I'm the only person," she said.

James and Bridget Morris step down from Gateway

Gateway announced James and Bridget Morris' departures in July when it released the following statement to WFAA-TV:

We as Elders affirm and believe that God has placed a desire in both Pastors James and Bridgettes hearts to serve as senior pastors of a church at some point in the future," the statement said. "We love Pastors James and Bridgette and their children  we deeply care about them and sincerely thank them for investing their lives here at Gateway Church. They have faithfully and honorably served our congregation and this community through all the years that they have been part of Gateway Church.

James Morris' resignation came a year before Robert Morris intended to turn over the leadership of the church to him, according to the TV station. The younger Morris has been employed by the church in various positions since 2012.

Before stepping down, the church's elders asked James Morris to take a temporary leave of absence. The church's suggestion came on June 28 and was under the advice of their attorneys at the Haynes and Boone law firm.

"Pastor James Morris is a man of integrity, and he has clearly stated that he had no knowledge of the true facts of this situation," the church said in a Facebook post. "However, because Pastor James Morris is related to Robert Morris, Haynes and Boone has recommended that Pastor James also take a temporary leave of absence from the Board of Elders and Pastor James has volunteered to do so to demonstrate his commitment to a truly independent and unbiased inquiry."

Pastor Kemtal Glasgow leaves Gateway

Gateway Church elder Tra Willbanks announced that executive pastor Kemtal Glasgow's departure Wednesday in a statement posted on the church's YouTube page.

"It recently came to light that Kemtal Glasgow had a moral failure so we've asked him to step down as a pastor at Gateway and devote time to his marriage and family," the megachurch said. "Although his employment is ending, we are devoted to still caring for Kemtal and his family."

Glasgow's information is no longer visible on Gateway's website, but an archive biography page says he was head of leadership and oversight at all of the church's campuses. In a statement to CBS News Texas, Gateway said that "it's our deepest desire for every staff member to lead a life of integrity, both in their personal and professional lives."

The church's statement continued to say that "this decision regarding Kemtal had nothing to with the departure of Robert Morris nor related to those circumstances."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gateway Church in Dallas continues to face resignations, allegations
A timeline of the investigation into the missing Virginia mother whose husband is now accused of killing her in their home

Editors Note: This story includes graphic descriptions some readers may find disturbing.

The week after Naresh Bhatt told news reporters he was suffering as authorities searched for his missing Virginia wife, he stood before a judge on Friday morning facing accusations he killed her inside their home and dragged her body outside in late July.

Naresh Bhatt has not been formally charged with murder in connection with the alleged killing of Mamta Kafle Bhatt, a 28-year-old mother, court documents obtained by CNN affiliate WJLA show. He faces a felony charge of prohibition against concealment of a body and he was taken away in handcuffs Thursday after authorities executed a search warrant at the couples home.

In an interview with WUSA last week, Bhatt said he was worried about where his wife may be and it was not the first time she had gone missing.

Im the one who is suffering, he told WUSA. She is my babys mom. She is my wife. Im the one suffering, so I dont know what Im supposed to say.

Bhatt was in court Friday morning for arraignment. The preliminary criminal complaint obtained by WJLA states, on or about July 30, 2024, the accused, Naresh Bhatt, murdered his wife, Mamta Bhatt.

CNN has reached out to the prosecutors office for comment on whether Bhatt faces upgraded charges to reflect the murder allegation made by police.

Bhatt is a former US Army Reserve automated logistics specialist who served from June 2017 to February 2024, Army spokeswoman Heather Hagan told CNN Friday. He had no deployments and left the Army in the rank of specialist, she said.

Heres a timeline of what we know about the investigation and Mamta Bhatts disappearance:

Naresh Bhatt is taken into custody on August 22. He has been charged with concealing a body in connection with the disappearance of his wife, Kafle Bhatt, police say. - WJLA

July 27

Kafle Bhatt was last seen on July 27 at UVA Health Prince William Medical Center in Manassas, according to police. She worked there as a registered nurse in the medical surgical unit, the center told CNN.

July 28

Mamta Bhatt last spoke to a friend on July 28, the same day she posted a final video on her TikTok account showing herself and her daughter, according to CNN affiliate WJLA.

I last heard from her personally on July 28. She called me a couple times, but I was asleep. And I got a call from someone I met at Mamtas baby shower and she asked me if I knew where Mamta was, said Mamtas former roommate, Nadia Navarro, according to WUSA.

Mamta is not an impulsive person, shes a very responsible person, shes a very calm person. So to hear that she might be missing, I really doubt she would run away, Navarro continued.

July 30

The criminal complaint says Naresh Bhatt murdered his wife on or about July 30 at their home in Manassas Park.

Investigators say Bhatt was seen at a Walmart on July 30 buying a pack of three knives, two of which were unaccounted for after the search warrant, according to WJLA. A day later, he was seen at another Walmart location buying cleaning supplies.

July 31

Naresh Bhatt says he last saw his wife on July 31, he told investigators in a later interview.

August 2

Police visited the couples home on August 2 after her co-workers at the UVA Health Prince William Medical Center called for a wellness check on August 1. Officials said Kafle Bhatt worked two days a week at the hospital and was expected to work on August 1 and 2 but got concerned after she did not call or show up to work.

When police spoke with Bhatt, he provided additional information and told investigators he did not want to report her as missing at the time, police said.

The wellness check request came from Kafle Bhatts work colleagues, CNN affiliate WUSA reported.

August 5-8

Three days after the police welfare check, Bhatt reported his wife missing and told police he last saw her at the dinner table on July 31. He said he had not seen her since and stopped cooperating with investigators, according to Manassas Park Police.

Detectives conducted an exhaustive investigation from August 5-8, they said, and found there was significant lack of recent contact between Kafle Bhatt and her family, friends, employer and on social media, so they elevated her missing status to involuntary/critical missing person status.

August 14

In an interview with WUSA on August 14, Bhatt said he ate dinner with Kafle Bhatt on July 31 when he last saw her. Its like, very tough, he said.

We ate on the evening of Wednesday. She was the one who cooked and do the kitchen stuff. We do not have any specific conversation. We do not have any argument or something like that, said Bhatt.

Bhatt said his wife of three years is a special person who is caring and loving. She had gone missing three times before, he said, but it had never been such a long period of time.

She did not come back and I just searched around. The next day, police came and police told me she was not at work and I was very serious because shes the one who would never leave her work, he said, according to WUSA.

In an interview with WUSA, Bhatt shared a message to his wife: Hey, just come back. Im myself and my baby, we are waiting like every second, every minute we are waiting. If you are listening, just, we are waiting here for you. We need you, he said.

August 15

The Manassas Park Police Department sent out a news release asking for the publics help in locating Mamta Kafle, releasing details about the August 2 wellness check at the couples home and Kafle Bhatt subsequently reporting her missing.

While investigating the incident, officers initially determined that Mamtas disappearance did not meet the Virginia State Police criteria for more than a missing person, the release said.

Officers then followed standard operating procedures and Mamta was entered as missing with Virginia State Police who operate the state-wide missing persons list and detectives then continued to investigate her disappearance.

The state police then distributed the list to all law enforcement agencies in Virginia and other US states for assistance in finding Kafle Bhatt.

Detectives elevated Kafle Bhatts missing status to involuntary/critical missing person status after finding there was significant lack of recent contact between Kafle Bhatt and her family, friends, employer and on social media.

August 21

The couples home was searched by detectives on August 21, police said, though no details were provided at the time about evidence leading to Bhatts arrest.

Naresh Bhatt - Prince William-Manassas Regional Adult Detention Center

Investigators have executed 10 search warrants and conducted hundreds of interviews related to this case, Manassas Park Police Chief Mario Lugo said during a news conference the same day, as a search warrant on the Bhatt residence was underway.

When asked Wednesday if there was a person of interest in Kafle Bhatts disappearance, Lugo said her husband has been a point of interest and everybody knows that.

The chief said Bhatt has not been cooperative with police, a departure from the departments initial release on August 15, where they said, the husband, friends and co-workers have all been cooperative throughout the investigation and detectives will continue to follow up on all investigative leads to locate Mamta Kafle.

August 22

Bhatt was taken away in handcuffs outside the couples home the following morning, on August 22, according to video from CNN affiliate WJLA.

An infant was also carried out of the home under a yellow blanket, video shows, and police say the couples young daughter is being looked after by a caregiver approved by the Department of Social Services.

In a news release from August 21, Manassas Park Police Chief Lugo said: While I acknowledge and respect the public concern for answers, I assure each of you that although these answers are limited by this continuing to be an active and ongoing process, this investigation remains a top priority, and our agency remains committed to providing details as we are able.

Lugo also encouraged the community to continue providing any and all information that may assist us with this investigation.

August 23

Court documents obtained by CNN affiliate WJLA show Kafle Bhatt is accused of killing his wife, citing evidence in the residence indicating the body was inside the residence and dragged out of the residence, a handwritten addition to the statement says, signed with what appeared to be the charging law enforcement officers initials.

During the course of this investigation, a substantial amount of digital and forensic evidence consistent with her death was recovered, the complaint says.

During his arraignment on August 23, the judge didnt change the terms of Bhatts bail and he will continue to be held without it, according to WJLA. Bhatt is scheduled to appear in court for a bond hearing on August 26, online court records show.

The defense told the judge Naresh does not have a history of violence. His attorney noted Naresh has not confessed and argued there is insufficient evidence to prove his guilt, WJLA reported.

The Prince William County Office of the Commonwealths Attorney revealed details during the arraignment about what investigators found inside the couples home while executing a search warrant.

Investigators say Bhatt made a number of inconsistent statements about his wifes whereabouts, WJLA reported, and claimed she destroyed her own cell phone before disappearing.

After completing their search warrant, investigators found what appeared to be blood pooling and blood splatter in the homes main bedroom; the bed appeared to be moved, blocking a closet; and light pink stains were found on bedroom carpeting after the bed was removed, WJLA reported.

Additionally, pools of blood were found in the bathroom as if something was dragged across the floor, along with blood pooling on the shower floor, WJLA reported from Fridays arraignment.

When investigators removed the bathtub, they saw what they believed to be blood in the caulking of the bathtub, WJLA reported.

A number of the cleaning supplies Bhatt purchased were also found in the home, which appeared to be in disarray, according to law enforcement details revealed at the arraignment, WJLA said.

Authorities said Bhatt sold his Tesla on August 19, and the house appeared to be disheveled, with a suitcase packed, items missing from hangers, WJLA reported.

August 26

Naresh Bhatt ordered to be held without bond during a hearing, CNN affiliate WUSA has reported.

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When politicians talk about immigration, they have a tendency to speak as if it only matters because the public cares about it. That shouldnt be how politics works. Of course it matters that people want to bring immigration down  but I think people also want to hear a politician who understands why, and who (dare I say it) actually agrees with them.

I think that is partly why people like Nigel Farage have such cut-through on the issue. He says what he thinks and he is not awkward about it. And who can blame people for listening when they see that the Conservative Party, for all its achievements in government, repeatedly failed to deliver on promises to bring the numbers down.

The latest figures show that some of the measures we put in place are starting to have an impact. But we must not let Labour think this is job done  stronger steps are needed urgently. It isnt reasonable to expect communities to take people in the numbers we have been experiencing. It can put huge pressure on local infrastructure, on schools, on GPs and hospitals. And too often employers are pulling the migration lever without looking to the potential of British talent right here.

I would like us to look to introduce a hard cap on the net numbers coming in, below the 100,000 level. Given the high levels of recent net migration, there is even an argument for setting that cap very low indeed for a period of time.

A particular concern I have is the impact on housing. To accommodate the numbers coming in, we would need to be building vast numbers of homes, and we have not even been delivering the housebuilding targets we set. That drives demand for housing up and prices younger people in particular out of the market. We have been putting the cart before the horse. We have been letting people in and then failing to build more houses to accommodate them. But you dont take in a lodger if you dont have a spare room. The target of 300,000 houses per year we have been trying to reach was based on an assumption that net migration would be 170,000. Last years figure came in at 685,000. And that target of 300,000 houses? It has not been met since 1970.

It is misguided to think extra demand will drive the market to build more. The UKs housing market and planning system are particularly unresponsive to increases in demand. So I would look to incorporate a Housing Lock of sorts into the migration cap, with a binding requirement on ministers to bring forward urgent measures to reduce the numbers coming in if the housing stock is not adjusting sufficiently quickly to accommodate them.

We must also think about how we adjust our economic model to wean ourselves off relying so much on migrant labour. As work and pensions secretary, I saw this as a crucial missing link in the migration puzzle. Before leaving office, I launched a cross-government taskforce to look at how we fill vacancies with British workers, focused on shortage hotspots and emulating the work that was done during the HGV driver shortage. I launched a campaign alongside the British Chambers of Commerce to link up employers facing staff shortages with British talent. I even wanted to brand our plans as Recruit Britain, although some in government were squeamish.

Some of this should be simple stuff. For example, there used to be a requirement for companies to show they have advertised a job domestically and failed to fill the vacancy before they could look to bring in someone from abroad. For some reason, that was scrapped. It should be reintroduced.

I also think we could look at more creative ways to help employers make better decisions. We have a very flexible labour market and workers move around more frequently than in many countries  which has many positives. But I worry that it does mean firms can be more reluctant to invest in skills. Why spend money training someone up if they then up sticks to one of your rivals, when you could instead bring in a skilled worker from abroad who is reliant on you for their visa? So we could look at tax incentives for companies who invest in skills and apprenticeships for British workers. You might call it the Business Rebate for Investment in Training and Skills  the BRITS scheme.

We have to be honest and say that the Conservatives in government simply did not deliver the changes we needed on migration. People are angry and they want to see the numbers come drastically down  and I agree with them. We need to show the public we understand that if we are to have any hope of winning back their trust.

Mel Stride is running to be leader of the Conservative Party

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Traffic stop on I-15 results in over 80 pounds of cocaine found in SUV

Traffic stop on I-15 results in over 80 pounds of cocaine found in SUV

TEMECULA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI)  Authorities on Tuesday found over a half a million dollars of cocaine in a vehicle after a traffic stop on Interstate 15 in Temecula, border officials said.

Around 10:30 a.m., Newton-Azrak Border Patrol Station agents with the San Diego Sector pulled over a SUV on the freeway and conducted a search of the vehicle with their canine team, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a news release Friday.

The canine detected what appeared to be cellophane wrapped packages consistent with narcotics smuggling, CBP said.

The findings resulted in the occupants being placed under arrest and taken to a nearby station.

Man suspected of wounding mother, killing two others in Point Loma shooting identified

When authorities searched the vehicle at the Newton-Azrak Border Patrol Station, they also found a total of 31 bundles of cocaine, weighing 81 pounds, per CBP.

U.S. Border Patrol seized the vehicle, while the driver, passenger and drugs were turned over to the Riverside County Southwest Investigations Bureau for prosecution under state charges.

I am proud to say that men and women of the United States Border Patrol are out there day and night protecting our communities, said Chief Patrol Agent Patricia McGurk-Daniel. With each successful narcotic interdiction, I know for a fact that weve saved someones life.

San Diego Sector Border Patrol agents have seen a 300-pound increase of cocaine seized from the previous fiscal year at 2,437 pounds, according to CBP.

To report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol, contact the San Diego Sector at 619-498-9900.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Starting Tuesday, transgender Texans are no longer able to change the sex on their drivers license, according to a new state Department of Public Safety (DPS) policy.

As of Aug. 20, 2024, DPS has stopped accepting these court orders as a basis to change sex identification in department records  including driver licenses, a spokesperson with the department wrote to The Hill.

KUT Texas first reported on the change announced through an internal policy email within the Department of Public Safety.

Before the policy change, Texans could change the sex on their drivers license if they had a valid court order. However, the DPS spokesperson wrote that state Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) raised concerns regarding the validity of court orders being issued.

The spokesperson added that DPS and other government agencies are not parties to the proceedings that result in the issuance of these court orders and that the lack of legislative authority and evidentiary standards for the Courts to issue these orders has resulted in the need for a comprehensive legal review by DPS and the OAG.

Under the new rule, the department has also asked employees to send copies of documentation requesting the names of those seeking updates to a special email address with the subject line Sex Change Court order.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ALCU) of Texas slammed the decision, with ACLU of Texas LGBTQIA+ Rights staffer Ash Hall saying the policy jeopardizes trans peoples health and safety.

The Department of Public Safety has a responsibility, as stated in its own name, to keep all Texans safe. This policy does the opposite. Not having accurate drivers licenses jeopardizes trans peoples health and safety  by potentially outing us and exposing us to discrimination, harassment, and violence, Hall wrote in a statement. State agencies cant ignore court orders nor is DPS allowed to collect or share peoples personal information for political aims.



This relentless targeting of transgender Texans is yet another alarming attack on our privacy, safety, and dignity. Trans people deserve to live free from persecution in Texas and everywhere else, they added.

According to the ACLU of Texass media team, the organization is monitoring the situation at the time and considering all options, which may include a lawsuit to block the policy.

Equality Texas also denounced the decision with the organizations communications director, Johnathan Gooch, saying that Paxtons efforts to scrape data about trans people are concerning.

Accurate identification is such a vital part of anybodys life, we use IDs to drive, to vote, to open a bank account. So having an ID that reflects your identity is a basic dignity that a lot of people take for granted, he said.

Paxton has tried to get data from DPS about trans Texans before. In 2022, Paxton sought information from the agency about trans Texans and requested changes to their licenses, according to The Washington Post.

Texas and other conservative states have increased legislation targeting trans people. Earlier this year, Texass top court upheld a law that bans parents from seeking gender-affirming care for minors.

According to the Movement Advancement Project, a nonprofit organization that tracks LGBTQ laws, 24 other Republican-led states have passed laws similarly restricting care. Courts in some states  like Montana, Ohio, Arkansas and Florida  have blocked those laws.

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GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP)  Ten years ago this month, the Ice Bucket Challenge took the nation by storm.

Participants would record themselves pouring ice water over their heads, share the videos and challenge others to join in. Many also pledged to donate to an ALS organization.

Its very cool to see whats happened in that ten years, Development Director for ALS United North Carolina Amy Lynn Clark. Weve had 12 new genes that have been identified. Two new treatments have come out.

At the time, it was the first time many Americans had heard about the particulars of the disease, which is otherwise known as Lou Gehrigs Disease.

People were talking about ALS who had never talked about it before, Clark said.

Debbie Dickerson was one of them.

At the time, I didnt know anything about ALS, she said.

That changed about two-and-a-half years ago when Dickerson was officially diagnosed with it.

One of the first things I thought was, I may never know what its like to be a grandmother, Dickerson said.

In the years since, shes used her diagnosis as a platform for advocacy. Shes gone to national events, participated in local walks and detailed her progression for FOX8 every step of the way to create more awareness.

Thankfully, that progression has been a slow one.

I still have the exhaustion and the muscle spasms. Muscle twitches are constant, she said.

Unfortunately, the ALS family Dickerson formed during her battle has both grown and diminished.

28 people that Ive met and talked to either in person or online  have now lost the battle with ALS, she said

Dickerson did, however, find out what life is like as a grandmother. She is awaiting the arrival of a grandson and has been spending much of her time with her one-year-old granddaughter who is now in the early stages of learning the things Dickerson wants to keep doing.

Im still walking. Im still talking, she said.

This month, Debbie traveled to First National Bank Field, which is the home of the Greensboro Grasshoppers, in the hope of reviving the challenge that helped gather so much momentum in the fight against ALS.

Were not going to do ice today. Were going to do something even more special, Dickerson said while holding a bucket of string confetti.

With her granddaughter in the arm in which Debbie suffers from whats described as frozen shoulder, which she can only lift to about shoulder height, she lifted the bucket and poured the confetti over the head of the Grasshoppers Mascot Guilford.

Say, End ALS, Dickerson said as she and her granddaughter clapped. Right?

Its a gesture she and the rest of the ALS community hope will reignite the movement that started with ice ten years ago.

You cant do things year after year, but you can do things in a ten-year interval, Clark said.

First National Bank Field will host this years Walk ALS Greensboro event on Oct. 26. For more information on how to join, click here.

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Triumph Gulf Coast received $25 million grant, creating at least 500 new jobs

BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  One of the Bay County Economic Development Alliances key projects received a big boost this week.

Triumph Gulf Coast board members approved $25 million in funding for project Spinner.

Project Spinner is a maintenance, repair, and operations, or MRO facility. The grant will go to Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, where the MRO facility will be built.

Walton County Public Works announced upcoming closure on Lakewood Drive

It will handle commercial jet aircraft engine repair. A second building will house a jet engine testing center and a third facility in Lynn Haven will be used to test and distribute aircraft parts.

Project Spinner will create at least 500 high-wage jobs. There is also a potential partnership with Space Florida.

Triumph also advanced a Franklin County grant proposal for $750,000 to hire a consultant for a county-wide first responder communication system.

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HONOLULU (KHON2)  Hone was upgraded to a hurricane at 11 p.m. due to the maximum sustained winds reaching 75 mph.

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The NWS said Hone is passing just south of South Point on the Big Island, approximately 115 miles south of Hilo as it continues moving westward at 12 mph.

The Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for Hawaii County, indicating that tropical storm conditions are imminent or occurring somewhere within the warning area. A red flag warning was dropped for all islands Saturday evening.

Hone approaches the Hawaiian islands on Aug. 24, 2024. (Courtesy NOAA)

Hurricane Hone is expected to maintain strength before it gradually weakens Sunday afternoon.

Take this seriously, officials urge ahead of Hone impacts

Hurricane-force winds extend up to 125 miles from the center of the storm. Key hazards include:

WIND: Tropical Storm conditions are expected on the Big Island through early Sunday. Winds are expected to be strongest downslope of higher terrain, over headlands, and through passes.

RAINFALL: Hone is expected to produce storm total rainfall of 6 to 12 inches over mainly windward and southeast facing slopes of the Big Island, with locally higher amounts possible. Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches will be possible over portions of the smaller islands, mainly windward.

SURF: Surf associated with large swells generated by Hone will continue through Sunday as Hone continues westward. Expect dangerous conditions with life-threatening surf and rip currents.

Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news

For further details, visit the NWS Tropical Cyclone Discussion, click here.

Governor Josh Green, M.D., has issued an Emergency Proclamation Relating to Tropical Storm Hone, to make state resources available as needed.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
In a recent interview, Donald Trumps attorney and senior campaign adviser, Alina Habba, railed against former Rep. Adam Kinzinger, who spoke out against Trump as a weak man . . . who cant stop playing the victim at the Democratic National Convention.

The former Republican congressman, who has previously spoken out against the party after Trumps 2020 loss and attempts to overturn the election, and spilled secrets about Trump allegedly "smelling like a butt," addressed the convention on Thursday, speaking just hours before Vice President Kamala Harris took the stage.

You want to speak about values? You dont know where the hell you stand, Habba said in an appearance on Newsmax on Thursday night. You are calling a man that just took a bullet to the ear weak! And you are saying that he is small and he is soft?

The rift between Kinzinger and the MAGA wing of the party has only grown since he took a central role in the second impeachment inquiry against Trump, and the subsequent January 6th investigation in Congress.

While each day of the DNC shattered even the most-watched moments of the Republican convention last month, Thursday drew in an average of 26.2 million viewers. But Habba seemed unimpressed by the coalition the Harris campaign assembled to speak against Trump.

You are worse than a RINO, you are pathetic, Habba said about Kinzinger.

It wasnt just the right that criticized Kinzingers appearance. Palestinian-American Georgia lawmaker Ruwa Romman, who was denied an opportunity to speak on the DNC stage despite the pleas of Uncommitted Movement leaders, questioned why our tent can fit anti-choice Republicans, but it can't fit an elected official like me, in a speech outside the convention.
Donald Trump attempted to strike a new tone on the issue of abortion this week, saying he would be great for women and their reproductive rights  to the frustration of anti-abortion advocates.

The former president invoked the phrase in a post on Truth Social on Friday, reflecting his campaigns frenzied attempt to reset the narrative in the race against Vice President Kamala Harris and present more moderately on the issue of abortion, which has plagued Republicans electorally since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022.

Democrats frequently use the phrase reproductive rights as a stand-in for abortion but also to refer more broadly to a range of medical practices related to child-bearing, such as birth control and in vitro fertilization. Support for reproductive rights, when invoked by Democrats, almost always means support for access to abortion. In contrast, Republicans rarely talk about abortion in that way, and anti-abortion advocates quickly took notice of Trumps tonal shift.

Lila Rose, founder of the anti-abortion group Live Action, speaking on her podcast on Friday, criticized Trump for trying to ingratiate himself with those that are pro-abortion with his use of the phrase.

Not only is it not principled, it's not going to help the Trump campaign to be trying to sound like a Democrat right now, Rose said.



Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life Action, said on X that the Truth Social post had understandably upset many within the pro-life movement. National Review editor Philip Klein wrote that, in the battle over abortion, it increasingly looks like Trump is joining the other side.

Trump's campaign suggested the Truth Social post was aligned with his previous positions on abortion and other reproductive issues.

"As President Trump has consistently stated, he supports the rights of individuals in their respective states to determine their laws on abortion. President Trump also strongly supports ensuring women have access to the care they need to create healthy families, including widespread access to IVF, birth control, and contraception, and he always will," said Karoline Leavitt, the campaign's national press secretary.

The Truth Social post came after a week where Democrats repeatedly went after Trump on the issue of abortion at the Democratic National Convention, which featured stories of women who struggled to receive adequate health care in the post-Roe era. Harris, in her Thursday address, sought to tie restrictive state abortion laws directly to the former president, saying victims of sexual assault were being denied abortions because of Donald Trump.

But Trump has also repeatedly frustrated anti-abortion advocates over the course of his campaign by declining to go further in limiting abortion access. In an interview earlier this week, Trump said he would not use the Comstock Act to ban mail delivery of abortion drugs, something anti-abortion advocates had pushed for. And earlier this year, he opted not to call for a nationwide abortion ban or restriction as some Republicans have advocated for, instead saying the question of legal abortion should continue to be decided at the state level.

Anti-abortion advocacy groups have backed Trump in spite of those disagreements, and the former president continues to describe the appointing of Supreme Court justices who would go on to overturn Roe v. Wade as one of the key achievements of his first administration.

But Trump, who attended the March for Life as president, has also appeared mindful that the politics of abortion have shifted since Roe was overturned, particularly as the abortion rights side has won referendums even in red states in the past two years. He blamed anti-abortion advocates for the GOPs 2022 midterm losses and his campaign pushed for language calling for a national abortion ban to be removed from the Republican Partys official platform, replacing it with language mirroring his own stated position that the issue should be left up to the states.

Trump has declined to say so far how he would vote in an upcoming referendum in his home state of Florida that would restore the right to abortion until viability, replacing the states current 6-week ban.
Trump promises to deport all undocumented immigrants, resurrecting a 1950s strategy  but it didnt work then and is less likely to do so now

While campaigning in Iowa last September, former President Donald Trump made a promise to voters if he were elected again: Following the Eisenhower model, we will carry out the largest domestic deportation operation in American history, he said. Trump, who made a similar pledge during his first presidential campaign, has recently repeated this promise at rallies across the country.

Trump was referring to Operation Wetback, a military-style campaign launched by the Eisenhower administration in the summer of 1954 to end undocumented immigration by deporting hundreds of thousands of Mexicans. Wetback was a widely used ethnic slur for Mexicans who illegally crossed the Rio Grande, the river dividing Mexico and the U.S.

Trump says that he can replicate Operation Wetback on a much grander scale by setting up temporary immigration detention centers and relying on local, state and federal authorities, including National Guard troops, to remove the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants now living in the U.S.

As a migration scholar, I find Trumps proposal to be both disturbing and misleading. Besides playing to unfounded and dehumanizing fears of an immigrant invasion, it misrepresents the context and impact of Eisenhowers policy while ignoring the vastly changed landscape of U.S. immigration today.

Border Patrol agents track footprints in the desert along the California-Mexico border in August 1950. Associated Press

Operation Wetback

In May 1954, U.S. Attorney General Harold Brownell appointed Joseph Swing, a retired general, to lead the Immigration and Naturalization Service, or INS, in a special program to apprehend and deport aliens illegally in this country from areas along the southern border. Until 2003, the INS was responsible for immigration and border control, now handled by multiple federal agencies, including Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Swing ramped up a decade-long practice of using special task forces composed of INS agents who could be rapidly deployed where needed in order to locate and deport undocumented workers. The operation began in California and then spread to Arizona and Texas. INS agents set up roadblocks and raided fields, factories, neighborhoods and saloons where immigrants were working or socializing. The INS also built a vast wire-fenced security camp, according to the Los Angeles Times, in order to detain apprehended immigrants in Los Angeles before sending them to the border.

Captured immigrants were put on hot, overcrowded buses or rickety boats and sent to designated border crossings in Arizona and Texas, where they were forced to cross back into Mexico. Some found themselves stranded in the Mexican desert just over the border. In one incident, 88 migrants died of sunstroke before the Red Cross arrived with water and medical attention. Others were delivered to Mexican authorities, who loaded them onto trains headed deeper into Mexico.

By mid-August, INS agents had deported more than 100,000 immigrants across the U.S. Southwest. Fearing apprehension, thousands more reportedly fled back to Mexico on their own. Most of these immigrants were young Mexican men, but the INS also targeted families, removing nearly 9,000 family members, including children, from the Rio Grande Valley in August. There is also evidence of U.S. citizens getting caught up in the INS sweeps.

Operation Wetback wound down its operations a few months later, and Swing declared in January 1955 that the day of the wetback is over. The INS disbanded its special mobile task forces, and the deportation of undocumented immigrants plummeted over the next decade.

Not just about deportation

Operation Wetback made the headlines and disrupted countless lives, but it was more show than substance when it came to deportation.

The governments claim to have deported more than 1 million Mexicans during the summer of 1954 does not stand up to scrutiny. The 1.1 million figure was for the entire fiscal year, which ended in June 1954, and a sizable share of these apprehensions were repeat arrests, sometimes in a single day. Moreover, over 97% of these deportations occurred without a formal order of removal. Instead, migrants agreed, or were coerced, to leave the country after being apprehended.

Despite Trump-like rhetoric decrying a wetback invasion across the U.S.-Mexico border, Operation Wetbacks main objective was not to remove Mexican immigrants but rather to frighten U.S. farmers, especially in Texas, into hiring them legally.

This tactic largely worked. A crucial but often overlooked detail about Operation Wetback is that it happened at the same time as the Bracero Program, a massive guest-worker program between the U.S. and Mexico. Between 1942 and 1964, U.S. employers issued over 4.6 million short-term contracts to more than 400,000 Mexican farm workers. Nearly three-quarters of these contracts were issued between 1955 and 1964  after the INS carried out Operation Wetback.

Operation Wetback is unlikely to have led to a dramatic decline in undocumented immigration had Mexican workers not had a legal option for entering the United States. As one immigrant caught up in Operation Wetback commented, I will come back  legally, if possible. If not, Ill just walk across again.

The INS explicitly recognized the connection between the Bracero Program and the decline in undocumented immigration in a 1958 report, stating that should  a restriction be placed on the number of braceros allowed to enter the United States, we can look forward to a large increase in the number of illegal alien entrants into the United States.

It is no coincidence that the lull in migrants illegally crossing the U.S-Mexico border after Operation Wetback did not last once the Bracero Program ended in 1964. Mexicans still had strong incentives to migrate, but now they had to do so without visas or work contracts, contributing to a steady increase in border arrests after 1965 that surpassed 1 million in 1976 and reached nearly 2 million in 2000.

Mexican agricultural workers are seen in California in 1943. Farm Security Administration - Office of War Information photograph collection (Library of Congress)

Real lessons

If he were to win the presidency again, Trump would have the legal authority to deport undocumented immigrants, but the logistical, political and legal obstacles to doing so quickly and massively are even greater today than they were in the 1950s.

First, most undocumented immigrants now live in cities, where immigrant sweeps are more difficult to carry out. The INS learned this lesson when Operation Wetback shifted from the largely rural Southwest to urban areas in the Midwest and Pacific Northwest in September 1954. Despite transferring hundreds of agents to these locations and using similar tactics, INS agents produced far fewer apprehensions as they struggled to find and detain immigrants.

Second, the U.S. undocumented population is much more dispersed and diverse than in the 1950s. Today, Mexicans are no longer in the majority, and nearly half of undocumented immigrants live outside the six major hubs for immigrants  California, Texas, Florida, New York, New Jersey and Illinois.

Third, most undocumented immigrants in the U.S. did not sneak across the border. An estimated 42% entered the country legally but overstayed a visa illegally. Another 17% requested and received a short-term legal status that protects them from immediate deportation.

Finally, mass deportations are likely to spark a more broad-based resistance today than happened in the 1950s. Once staunchly opposed to undocumented immigration, most labor unions and Mexican-American organizations are now in the pro-immigrant camp. Likewise, the Mexican government, which helped with Operation Wetback, is unlikely to allow massive numbers of non-Mexicans to be deported to its territory without the proper documentation.

Trump has not supported a way to provide undocumented immigrants with a legal alternative, which means that migrants will keep finding ways to cross illegally.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Katrina Burgess, Tufts University

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Katrina Burgess does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Former President Donald Trump has vowed to task a presidential commission to release all the files related to the 1963 assassination of President John F Kennedy.

Trump made the announcement alongside Kennedys nephew Robert F Kennedy Jr at a campaign rally in Arizona on Friday.

The Republican presidential candidate said that if hes elected to a second term, he would establish an independent presidential commission on assassination attempts which would handle the release of the JFK files.

This comes after Trump himself was the subject of an assassination attempt in July when the bullet of a would-be assassin grazed his ear during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Trump said he would task the commission with releasing the remaining documents regarding the Kennedy assassination.

They will also conduct a rigorous review of the attack last month, Trump said about his own assassination attempt.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. greets Donald Trump during a campaign rally at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. Trump said he would establish a commission on assassination attempts if elected (Getty Images)

About 4,700 files from the JFK case remain partially or heavily redacted. Kennedy Jr is the son of the former Attorney General and New York Senator Robert F Kennedy who was himself assassinated during his 1968 presidential campaign.

Trump said RFK Jr lost his father and uncle in service to our country, and Bobby himself was subject to repeated threats to his safety during the course of his campaign.

He added: This is a tribute in honor of Bobby.

During congressional testimony last month, FBI Director Christopher Wray said the gunman who took aim at Trump, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, searched for details on the JFK assassination ahead of the shooting which took the life of one rally attendee and left two others wounded.

The FBI director revealed last month that on July 6, the same day that he registered to attend the rally, Crooks searched for how far Lee Harvey Oswald was from Kennedy when he took the shot that killed the president in November 1963.

On July 6, he did a Google search for: how far away was Oswald from Kennedy, Wray said in front of the House Judiciary Committee.

Thats a search thats obviously significant in terms of his state of mind, the director added. That is the same day that it appears that he registered for the Butler rally.

Trumps announcement that his re-election would lead to the establishment of a new commission came after Kennedy Jr ended his presidential campaign and endorsed the former president.

The independent candidate and vaccine conspiracy theorist announced the suspension of his campaign on Friday.

The mainstream of American politics and journalism derided my decision [to run], the 70-year-old said at a press conference, during which he spoke about chronic disease, and criticized the corruption in health agencies as well as the Democratic Party.

In an honest system, I believe that I would have won the election, he claimed. Without sharing any evidence, he said the media was tainted by government propaganda.

On Friday, Trump said, Soon after I was  I cant even believe I have to say this  nearly assassinated in Pennsylvania last month, Bobby called me to express his best wishes.

He knows firsthand the risks incurred by leaders who stand up to the corrupt political establishment, the former president added. When you stand up, you bring on some trouble for yourself. But you have to do whats right.

Trump went on to say that Bobby himself was subject to repeated threats to his safety during the course of his campaign.
Trump says Caracas is safer than most U.S. cities. Heres what the numbers show

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 Trump has said on different occasions that Caracas, the Venezuelan capital with a reputation for a sky-high crime rate, has now become a safe city because most of its criminals have entered illegally into the United States.

On Thursday night he repeated the claim in an interview with Newsmax. Well go to Caracas, because it will be safer than any place in our country, he said.

On Aug. 5, he told livestreamer Adin Ross that If you look at Caracas, it was known for being a very dangerous city and now its very safe, he said. In fact, the next interview we do, well do it in Caracas, Venezuela, because its safer than many of our cities.

But is Caracas, which just a few years ago was considered one of the most dangerous cities in the Western Hemisphere, safer now than large American cities?

The Nicolas Maduro regime has not broken out numbers for crime in Venezuelan cities for years. But there are organizations that keep track of the figures  and they show the Venezuelan capital is still significantly less safe than most American cities.

Those numbers show that while crime has come down in recent years, a visit to the Venezuelan capital still is not recommended for the fainthearted. According to the Venezuelan Observatory of Violence, a Caracas-based non-profit group widely regarded as the authority on the nations homicide rate, Caracas had a rate of 50.8 homicides per 100,000 people.

Thats more than six times the U.S. national average of 7.8 registered in 2020, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, a unit of the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The national homicide average for Venezuela in 2023 was 26.8, almost four times higher than the rate in the U.S.

According to the group, the Caracas homicide rate rate for 2023 came down a bit from previous years. Part of the reason is that 7.7 million Venezuelans have fled the country in the past few years, and among them are a comparatively small numbers of criminals, according to experts on Venezuelan crime. In 2020, for example, Caracas closed the year with a homicide rate rate of 56.2 per 100,000 people.

Caracas 2023 homicide rate is surpassed by only two large U.S. cities: New Orleans, at 58.4, and St. Louis, at 57.2, according to 2022 numbers from the CDC.

Most large American cities have numbers between the mid single digits and the low double digits. In 2022, for example, the city of Miamis homicide rate was 8.6, while Jacksonville stood at 15.3, according to the CDC numbers.

Despite their high rates, New Orleans and St. Louis could be considered relatively peaceful in comparison with Venezuelas most violent cities, all located in the mining region of the southern state of Bolivar. These are El Callao, with 424 violent death victims for 100,000 people, Sifontes, with 151, and Roscio, with 134, according to the violence observatory.

Concerns about the lack of security in Venezuela led the U.S. State Department to maintain a level 4 Do Not Travel advisory on Venezuela, originally issued on January 2023, warning Americans that they would be at risk in the South American country given its high crime, civil unrest and the risk of becoming victims to kidnappings or ill treatment from local police.

Violent crimes, such as homicide, armed robbery, kidnapping, and carjacking, are common in Venezuela. Political rallies and demonstrations occur, often with little notice. Anti-Maduro demonstrations have elicited a strong police and security force response, including the use of tear gas, pepper spray, and rubber bullets against participants, and occasionally devolve into looting and vandalism, the State Department warned in its advisory.

How U.S. cities rate

Here are the homicide rates per 100,000 inhabitants in the 10 largest U.S. cities in 2022, according to the CDC:

 Philadelphia, 34.1

 Chicago, 18.2

 Houston, 13

 Dallas, 11

 New York, 9.7

 San Antonio, 9.4

 Phoenix, 8.5

 Los Angeles, 7.3

 San Diego, 3.4

 San Jose, 2.2
Trump cant stop attacking Harris as he hates her so much

Donald Trump has confided to two people that he cannot help himself because of how much 'animosity' he feels to Kamala Harris - AP/Julia Nikhinson

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Donald Trump has reportedly claimed he struggles to stop personally attacking Kamala Harris because he feels so much hostility towards her.

The former president has repeatedly been advised by his campaign team to focus on bread-and-butter issues such as the economy and immigration, rather than slurs against Ms Harris, which data shows puts off swing voters.

But Trump, 78, has confided to two people that he cannot help himself because of how much animosity he feels to Ms Harris, 59, and other rivals, according to the New York Times.

In recent weeks, he has come under fire for racially charged comments about Ms Harriss dual heritage, claiming she only happened to turn black in recent years, and frequently mispronouncing her first name.

He made similar personal attacks against his 2016 rivals, nicknaming Hillary Clinton crooked, and his Republican primary opponents low energy, lying and bird-brain.

The Republican candidate has been urged to show greater restraint by campaign strategists and allies, including Steve Wynn, GOP mega-donor, as Trump falls behind Ms Harris in most swing states.

Mr Wynn, a casino magnate who has known Trump for years, recently shared private polling with him that showed independent voters wanted a candidate who sticks to substantive policy issues, the New York Times reported.

Kamala Harris's campaign has been buoyed by the party's convention - Getty/Robyn Beck

With the race a virtual dead-heat between Ms Harris and Trump, it is independent voters in a handful of swing states that will be likely to determine the next occupant of the White House.

Trump alluded to his difficulty in heeding his campaigns advice this week, when he retaliated to barbs made by Michelle and Barack Obama in their addresses to the Democratic National Convention (DNC).

The former president and first lady repeatedly ridiculed Trump, who succeeded them in the White House in 2017, in televised prime-time speeches in a marked shift from their previous entreaties to Democrats to avoid denigrating opponents.

Mrs Obama accused Trump of ugly, misogynistic, racist lies, while her husband mocked Trump for having a weird obsession with crowd sizes, while making a crudely suggestive hand gesture.

Trump hit back at the couple for taking shots at him during a rally, and argued it justified his own behaviour on the campaign trail.

He impersonated his campaign advisers warnings to him, adding: Do I still have to stick to policy?

His campaign devised a schedule of events over the last week to undercut the Democrats four-day gathering in Chicago, including an immigration-focused trip to the US-Mexico border.

Fever pitch

However, insiders said some of those efforts were hampered by Trumps off-the-cuff remarks during his rallies and torrent of posts on social media platforms.

The outpouring reached a fever pitch on Thursday, as Ms Harris delivered her closing address to the convention.

Trump reacted to the 35-minute speech in real time on Truth Social, accusing Ms Harris of lying and being all talk, no action.

He later called into Fox News to complain but was unceremoniously cut off by the Right-leaning cable network 10 minutes into his lengthy tirade.

Ms Harriss campaign has been buoyed by the partys convention, which saw a stream of party grandees and celebrities take the stage to boost enthusiasm for the 59-year-old just over a month after Joe Bidens withdrawal from the 2024 race.

It won the ratings battle against the Republicans own convention in Milwaukee last month, bringing in an average of 21.8 million viewers over the four days, according to the media data company Neilsen.

The figures eclipsed the average television audience for the Republican national convention  19.1 million  by 15 per cent. It is unclear how many people watched either of the conventions online.

The highest TV audience for both conventions was their party nominees acceptance speeches. Trumps address, just days after his attempted assassination, drew 28.4 million viewers. Ms Harris narrowly beat that figure, drawing 28.9 million viewers.

Polling bounce

Ms Harris and her running mate Tim Walz hope to build on the momentum with a bus tour through the battleground state of Georgia in the coming days.

Tony Fabrizio, the Trump campaigns pollster, said the team expected the vice-president to gain another small but temporary post-convention polling bounce of two to three points, noting it is a common phenomenon.

However, he pointed out the Democratic candidate Michael Dukakis enjoyed a 17-point lead on George HW Bush in 1988 following that years DNC, while Hillary Clinton held a seven-point lead over Trump after her convention in 2016. We all know how those ended up. These bumps do not last, Mr Fabrizio said.

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Donald Trump is finally recognizing hes at risk of losing the election unless he makes some changes.

As Democrats convened this week in Chicago, the former presidents campaign advisers reached out to people who are allies of both Trump and Brian Kemp, the popular governor of Georgia he was publicly attacking just weeks ago, to smooth things over between the two Republicans.

Trumps advisers, meanwhile, have been privately strategizing about how to broaden his appeal with voters and shore up support among top allies. They convened a stakeholders call last week with a small group of influential Trump supporters and unofficial advisers to provide an update on the election.

Privately, Trump has suggested he understands that he could lose in November if he does not dramatically change his approach to the race, according to a person with knowledge of his thinking who was granted anonymity to discuss the situation.

Trumps prospects of reclaiming the White House are nowhere near as bright as they were just over a month ago, when he and Republicans were celebrating at their convention in Milwaukee. After surviving an assassination attempt days earlier  and as an unpopular Biden said he was remaining in the race  many in the GOP believed a Trump win was inevitable.

Weeks later, after a month of Harris glistening poll numbers and positive news coverage of her candidacy, Trump and his team are fretting. His allies have been blanketing the airwaves calling for him to stop his obsession over crowd sizes and personal attacks on Harris and focus instead on policy and the vice presidents record.

As Harris prepared to take the stage in Chicago on Thursday, Trump was praising Kemp on social media, the latest in a series of steps the former president has taken in recent days to try to course-correct as Harris has started to pull ahead in polls.



This week, Trump announced he would not enforce the Comstock Act to ban mail delivery of abortion pills, something he had previously declined to specify. On Friday, he wrote on his Truth Social website that his administration will be great for women and their reproductive rights, using a term that is popular with abortion rights activists, in an apparent effort to appeal to moderate voters, even though it was immediately panned by anti-abortion leaders.

After being implored by advisers and allies to focus more on policy, he embarked on a weeklong tour of battleground states with events focused on different issues each day. Behind the scenes, he worked to earn the endorsement of independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who announced Friday that hes suspending his campaign for president.

Kennedy Jr.s endorsement, in particular, appeared to give Trumps campaign a new jolt of energy and they welcomed him on stage at a rally in Arizona with pyrotechnics and My Hero by the Foo Fighters.

While the ultimate impact is unclear, Trumps pollster, Tony Fabrizio claimed in a memo that Kennedy Jr.s votes broke for Trump in every state. This is good news for President Trump and his campaign  plain and simple, Fabrizio wrote.

Despite the endorsement and moments of discipline, the past weeks showed how Trump is most often guided by his own political instincts that are beyond the scope of what his advisers or allies can influence.

The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

While he read closely from teleprompters at some of his policy speeches this week, he veered off at times  particularly during a rally in North Carolina on Wednesday, when he joked that he was going to fire his advisers for telling him to stay away from personal attacks on Harris. And in addition to a team of advisers who just joined the campaign from his affiliated super PAC MAGA Inc., Trump  who is often nostalgic for 2016  brought on a controversial adviser, his former 2016 campaign manager Corey Lewandowski.

His public burying of the hatchet with Kemp, however, was the most notable of the steps Trump has taken in recent days to try to right the ship.

Trumps post late on Thursday night praising Kemp brought a sigh of relief in Republican circles here, said Stephen Lawson, a veteran Republican operative based in Georgia. Its the best message to come out of Donald Trumps campaign in the last month. Its that plain and simple. I dont think its an exaggeration to say that Brian Kemp is critical to Donald Trump winning the White House again.



Republican strategist Josh Holmes wrote on X that Trump extending an olive branch to Kemp was far more significant than anything in Chicago tonight.

Trumps public bashing of Kemp sparked serious concerns among Georgia Republicans that the former president was jeopardizing his chances in a critical battleground state with 16 electoral college votes up for grabs. And over the last week, Kemp and his team received an uptick in calls from Trump-aligned donors, according to a person with knowledge of the outreach, granted anonymity to speak freely.

Kemp, who is widely seen as having his own future political ambitions after he completes his second term as governor  ranging from a potential run for president in 2028 to a possible Senate bid in 2026  has an interest in being seen as a GOP team player. And more immediately, Kemp is invested in ensuring Republicans in the state legislature maintain their majority, as Democrats are working to erode that buffer by targeting swing district voters.

Trumps public reckoning with Kemp started after the governor was invited on Sean Hannitys show Thursday night. Trump watched live as Kemp stressed the importance of Republicans getting out the vote from the top to bottom of the ticket. It was nearly identical to what hed said in recent months elsewhere.

But Trump was pleased that Kemp mentioned his name and complimented his policies several times during the interview  something Kemp has also done publicly during recent interviews. While much of the interview was Kemp reiterating his usual message about not taking votes for granted in the swing state and working to get Republicans elected at all levels there, on Thursday he specifically said, We need to send Donald Trump back to the White House.

Kemp was also asked by Hannity, who is close to Trump, about his election integrity efforts in the state. Kemp said elections would be secure, accessible, and fair. Since the 2020 election, Trump has been frustrated with Kemp for refusing to go along with his baseless claims about the election being rigged and stolen.

The moment came after Hannity, Sen. Lindsey Graham, and others made the case on television that Trump needed to refocus.

Were 40 days away from early voting, we dont have time for this, Hannity said on his show about Trumps feud with Kemp.

Kellyanne Conway made the case on Fox Business that the winning formula is fewer insults, more insights. Vivek Ramaswamy told POLITICO he has also advised the former president to shift the focus to policy.



Bill White, a donor and friend of Trumps who has been critical of Kemp, on Friday said he made a $1,000 contribution to Kemps federal political action committee as a gesture of good will. He said he and other donors and officials who were involved with the Trump-Kemp peace talks would continue to help make the relationship a smooth and an enjoyable one.

I think the testosterone levels are all back to normal and we're now unified, White said. And the message is that Gov. Kemp wants President Trump to win and save our country from World War III.

Among those involved in the back and forth between the two camps, or who spoke to Trump or Kemp, were former Sen. Kelly Loeffler and her husband, Jeff Sprecher; Brian Jack, a Republican congressional candidate in Georgia and former Trump adviser; Georgia GOP chair Josh McKoon; Graham; Lt. Gov. Burt Jones; and Sonny Perdue, the former Georgia governor and Trumps agriculture secretary, according to four people aware of the efforts.

Outreach to Kemp also came from Trumps running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, who campaigned in Georgia on Thursday.

I read the headlines, Vance told reporters during a campaign stop. Brian Kemp and Donald Trump have had some disagreements. I 100 percent, guarantee you, that Brian Kemp is behind this ticket.

On Thursday, Kemp and Vance had a text exchange, which came on the heels of a phone call between the two men, initiated by Vance, according to a person with knowledge of their communication. Kemp and Vance, according to another person familiar, have a good relationship.

Republican voters want Donald Trump to show that he cares more about the cause than his personal grievances, said Cole Muzio, the president of Frontline Policy Action in Georgia and a Kemp ally. This was a basic hurdle Trump needed to clear.
Donald Trump has a phrase he likes to use to describe people he believes are in weak, pitiful or even servile positions: Like a dog.

As my colleague Steve Benen pointed out in 2020, Trump has used the phrase to attack a host of people, from retired four-star Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal (who was fired like a dog) to former Trump adviser Steve Bannon (who was dumped like a dog) and conservative activist Brent Bozell (who was once begging for money like a dog).

It seems fitting to revive the phrase now that the tables have turned on Trump, whos exhibited some canine qualities of his own recently by nuzzling up to some of the men hes barked at in the past. With Kamala Harris atop the Democratic ticket, and an election victory more in doubt, Trump now appears more willing to roll over for people who previously drew his ire.

Take Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, for example.

For years now, Trump has publicly attacked Kemp for refusing to help overturn Joe Bidens 2020 election victory in Georgia, and he publicly bashed the governor and his wife earlier this month, prompting Kemp to tell Trump to leave my family out of it. Many Republicans said Trumps outburst might hurt his election chances in Georgia. And whether it was that, the palpable energy of Georgias Democratic National Convention delegation, or recent polling data forecasting a close race in Georgia, Trump's tweet touting Kemp suggests hes feeling the heat.

He said:

Thank you to @BrianKempGA for all of your help and support in Georgia, where a win is so important to the success of our Party and, most importantly, our Country. I look forward to working with you, your team, and all of my friends in Georgia to help MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

Thats a good boy who's learned to muzzle himself ... for now. Perhaps some belly scratches are on the way. Trumps running mate, Sen. JD Vance, spoke with Kemp the night before Trump praised him, CNN reported. (Neither NBC News nor MSNBC has independently confirmed that report.) Perhaps Vance's reported visit was meant to smooth things over? Either way, weve seen a similar about-face from Trump when it comes to Trumps stance on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Earlier this year, Trumps strategy for combating Kennedys independent presidential bid, and its appeal to some Trump voters, involved lobbing personal attacks at Kennedy and his family. But since entering the race, polling suggests Harris is winning over some independent voters, making Kennedys candidacy all the more perilous for Trumps campaign. That likely explains why Trump reportedly spoke with Kennedy recently to discuss a potential Cabinet position should Kennedy drop out of the race.

On Friday, Kennedy withdrew from the race, stating in a speech that Trump had asked to "enlist me in his administration." He went on endorse Trump in his speech. A day earlier, Trump called into Fox News and heaped praise on Kennedy:

Ive known [Kennedy] for a long time. Hes, as you know, hes a little different kind of a guy, very smart guy, a very good person. If he endorsed me, I would be honored by it. I would be very honored by it. He really has his heart in the right place. He is a respected person. Women love some of his policies, and I guess some people dont like some of his policies.

These are the kinds of fawning statements one might expect from a candidate who  much like the dogs he despises  has been brought to heel.





This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
The twins are here! A second set of giant panda cubs has been born in Berlin

BERLIN (AP)  The Berlin Zoo announced Friday that longtime resident giant panda Meng Meng has given birth to twins  for a second time.

The cubs were born on Thursday, the zoo said in a statement. They were born only 11 days after ultrasound scans showed that Meng Meng, 11, was pregnant. Their sex has not yet been determined with certainty.

FILE -In this April 5, 2019 file photo taken through a window female panda Meng Meng eats bamboo at its enclosure at the zoo in Berlin, Germany. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, file)

Now its time to keep your fingers crossed for the critical first few days, the zoo said. The cubs are tiny, weighing just 169 grams and 136 grams (about 6 ounces and 4.8 ounces) respectively, and are about 14 centimeters (5.5 inches) long.

How to participate in pollinator census

As with other large bears, giant pandas are born deaf, blind and pink. Their black-and-white panda markings only develop later.

I am relieved that the two were born healthy, zoo director Andreas Knieriem said. The little ones make a lively impression and mom Meng Meng takes great care of her offspring.

The zoo said that giant pandas usually only raise one cub when they give birth to twins, so it will actively support Meng Mengs child care in cooperation with two experts from Chinas Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding who are in the German capital.

With around 20 births a year, they have much more experience and are better able to assess development, panda curator Florian Sicks said.

The cubs will alternate being with their mother every two to three hours to drink milk and are otherwise being cared for in an incubator donated by a Berlin hospital.

Meng Meng and male panda Jiao Qing arrived in Berlin in 2017. In August 2019, Meng Meng gave birth to male twins Pit and Paule, also known by the Chinese names Meng Xiang and Meng Yuan, the first giant pandas born in Germany.

The twins were a star attraction in Berlin, but they were flown to China in December  a trip that was contractually agreed from the start but delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. China gifted friendly nations with its unofficial mascot for decades as part of a panda diplomacy policy. The country now loans pandas to zoos on commercial terms.

Giant pandas have difficulty breeding and births are particularly welcomed. There are about 1,800 pandas living in the wild in China and a few hundred in captivity worldwide.

Meng Meng was artificially inseminated on March 26. Female pandas are fertile only for a few days per year at the most.

The new arrivals and their mother wont be on show to the public for the time being  but visitors can still see Jiao Qing, 14, as male pandas dont get involved in rearing cubs.

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Two arrested for stealing puppies in Guntersville

GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  The Marshall County Sheriffs Office (MCSO) says two women have been arrested on theft charges for stealing puppies in Guntersville.

MCSO said Heather Nicole Evans of Albertville and Telisha Snodgrass, of Madison have been arrested and charged with theft of property and burglary.

Forensic evidence examined on Day 4 of Seven Deadly Sins capital murder trial

According to the sheriffs office, Snodgrass and Evans are charged with breaking into a Guntersville home and taking French Bulldog puppies. MCSO said the puppies are reported by the owner to be worth $6,000 each.

According to jail records, Snodgrass is charged with third-degree burglary and first-degree theft of property. Evans is charged with third-degree burglary, theft from a residence and a probation violation.

Both are being held on a $45,000 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 WHNT.com.
Mike Kelley and Ron Lynch run are in the primary runoff election to fill the seat of outgoing state Rep. Rhonda Baker, a Republican from Yukon.

Lynch said the ranking of Oklahomas schools overall was disappointing, adding, Our school system is a trainwreck.

He said he wants students to be taught better so they can become successful adults. That comes from getting more transparency in how the Oklahoma State Department of Education allocates its funds. Lynch said the department keeps asking for more money, but already has received large amounts of funding, especially from property taxes and lotteries.

Its just a broken machine, he said. Thats why I was in favor of the voucher program, because if this public school system isnt going to change and become a good system for the students, then youve got to have other resources for your child to get a better education.

Lynch said he supports having a county school district system that puts one superintendent and one principal in charge of the school district.

More: Are you registered to vote? What to know about Oklahoma election dates, ballots

Kelley said he wasnt impressed by the low ranking either, adding that everybody has to do better and thats an expectation. The change wont happen overnight, though, he said.

We need to get the key players in a room, and we need to develop a plan to work towards improving our education system, he said. That may look completely different than what were currently doing, and if thats the case, then thats what well do.

Economy, taxes, infrastructure

Yukon Mayor Brian Pillmore said the citys primary concern is investing in core infrastructure for a growing city. That includes streets, water systems, wastewater treatment and more, he told The Oklahoman. All of their legislators have been a phone call away, he said.

One critical area where the state Legislature can assist us, and other communities, is in securing clean, drinkable water, he said. Our aquifer has higher-than-allowable levels of arsenic, forcing us to purchase water from Oklahoma City.

Both candidates said they were aware of Yukons needs for infrastructure, though Lynch said he wasnt aware of the water issue, but hes willing to work with the city, and that Yukon is growing like a weed.

Kelley said he believes legislators should right size government, which means concentrating on the core services of government  infrastructure, education and public safety. Hes in favor of helping cities figure out their needs and continuing relationships that past legislators have built.

More: What to know about the contentious primary runoff for Oklahoma House District 32

Im a consensus builder just by nature as an emergency responder for nearly 34 years. You have to be able to build consensus, he said. A good idea is a good idea. It doesnt matter whose idea it is. Conversely, a bad idea is a bad idea, and Ill work to promote the ideas that best serve my district in our state.

On taxes, Pillmore said the local economy thrives when hard-working families have more dollars to spend locally, benefiting their family, friends and neighbors.

If the state of Oklahoma can responsibly manage taxpayer funds and limit government growth, tax reductions are achievable. It is only when the government expands  and the appetite for authority and larger programs increases  that tax levels need to rise, he said.

Lynch said he likes the concept of cutting sales tax and personal income tax, but hes cautious about carelessness because its usually property taxes that increase.

Kelley said hed favor more tax cuts, but it will only be achieved by improving efficiency, eliminating redundant systems within the state government, then dollars can be freed up to potentially cut taxes. Hes also concerned about rising property taxes.

I can promise you, most of the people in the district I represent couldnt afford their property taxes to go up that much to fund services. I think theres a balance there, he said. As a lifelong conservative Republican, Im always looking for ways that we can cut taxes and return the peoples money" to them.

Mike Kelley is a candidate for House District 60. Photo provided by Mike Kelley.

About the candidates

Kelley was born and raised in Bethany. He has a wife, four daughters and four grandchildren. He is the executive director of the Oklahoma State Firefighters Association and represents about 15,000 firefighters and their families. He and his wife spend time with their family and attend school and sporting events and they look forward to traveling. Church has always been a priority and even though campaigning is hectic, they dont miss a service.

Thats what grounds us. Its actually not our campaign, its Gods, he said. He also attributes his decision to run to the advocacy work hes done on behalf of firefighters and to members of the House Veterans Caucus encouraging him to run.

Ron Lynch, Oklahoma House candidate.

Lynch is originally from Iowa but moved to Oklahoma in 1979 when he visited his family who lived here and ended up staying. He has a wife and five kids, with six grandchildren. Ron and his wife own Kernels and Kandies, located on Northwest Expressway, where they sell gourmet popcorn, candy and Sweet Home Prairie Fudge.

Lynch said hes thought about running for the Legislature for a long time, but his family and business have kept him busy. If elected, hes looking forward to changes.

We have to stop funding things that need to be fixed. I want to fund things, but you need to fix things, he said.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: What to know about Oklahoma House District 60 runoff candidates
Two dozen lawsuits now filed against Hereford House after alleged food contamination

Four more former customers of Hereford House in Leawood have filed lawsuits against the restaurants parent company, as the troubled steakhouse group continues to grapple with the fallout of alleged food contamination by a former employee.

Caleb McDonald and Lexie Shrock, a Johnson County couple; James Wantland Jr., of Overland Park; and Ariel Parnell of Kansas City, Missouri, all filed lawsuits against Hereford House Restaurant Company of Kansas this week.

As of Friday, 24 lawsuits have been filed against the restaurant company in Johnson County court.

Jace Christian Hanson, a 21-year-old former employee of Hereford Houses Leawood location, faces 22 federal charges of criminal threat for allegedly contaminating restaurant food between April 1 and 23. The former employee allegedly posted videos of a man urinating in restaurant food and rubbing food on his buttocks and genitals in the Hereford House kitchen. FBI investigators traced the videos back to Hansons cellphone.

Hanson also faces one charge of criminal damage and 10 federal charges of sexual exploitation of a minor, all at the federal level, after child pornography was found on his personal device.

Like previous plaintiffs, McDonald, Shrock, Wantland and Parnell all allege experiencing combinations of nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and cramps, as well as emotional and psychological distress, after eating at the Leawood restaurant while Hanson was employed there.

Hanson was arrested on April 26. According to an affidavit filed in Johnson County Court, Hanson has since admitted to contaminating the food, attributing his behavior to a dislike of his job.

The now two dozen lawsuits filed after Hansons alleged behavior came to light all claim that the restaurant was negligent toward customers and served them a defective product.

The Leawood location of Hereford House, where the alleged contamination took place, closed Aug. 3 amid significant community backlash. The restaurant group maintains three locations in Independence, Shawnee and Zona Rosa.

Wantland and Parnells lawsuits were filed by Matthew Birch of Shamberg, Johnson and Bergman, a Kansas City personal injury law group that has handled several similar claims against Hereford House. McDonalds lawsuit was filed by Jerry Wallentine of Martin & Wallentine, a personal injury firm based in Olathe.

Hanson is being held on a $500,000 bond and will next appear in court in September.
Two wrong-way drivers facing OUI charges after arrests in New Hampshire hours apart, police say

Two drivers were recently arrested for driving the wrong way on the highway just hours apart, New Hampshire State Police say.

Troopers first received a report of a driver traveling the wrong way on I-93 in Salem, NH around 11:45 p.m. A trooper was able to stop Julio Florentino, 65, of Lawrence, Massachusetts just parts the Exit 2 off-ramp.

Florentinos breathalyzer test came back positive for more than double the legal limit according to New Hampshire State Police. Florentino was arrested on charges of aggravated driving while intoxicated and reckless conduct with a deadly weapon.

Less than three hours later, troopers received another report of a wrong-way car traveling northbound in Londonderry. Callers told police the vehicle had gone off the road near mile marker 16 after nearly colliding with another vehicle.

A trooper found the vehicle in the highways median and determined the driver, Alexis Rodriguez, 26, of Loudon, was impaired.

Rodriguez was arrested on charges of driving while intoxicated and reckless conduct with a deadly weapon.

Both Florentino and Rodriguez are slated to appear in court in September.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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U.S. citizens can now legalize status of noncitizen spouses or stepchildren. Heres how

Approximately 500,000 noncitizen spouses and 50,000 noncitizen stepchildren of U.S. citizens could be eligible to access President Bidens Keeping Families Together program, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

This is an extension of an existing program known as parole in place, said Matias Bernal, executive director of the Fresno-based Educational Foundation, adding that the executive order that President Joe Biden announced on June 17, extends the program to those two new categories.

Federal officials announced the specifics of the program on Monday.

This program helps create and close the gap where families dont have to be separated, said Xavier Vazquez Baez, immigration services program manager with Centro La Familia Advocacy Services Inc. in Fresno. This is not immigration reform. This just helps close the gap from doing consular process and reducing wait times.

Its a little Band-Aid, Vazquez Baez said.

If granted parole, noncitizen spouses and noncitizen stepchildren of U.S. citizens, if eligible, could apply for lawful permanent residence without leaving the country.

Too often, noncitizen spouses of U.S. citizens  many of them mothers and fathers  live with uncertainty due to undue barriers in our immigration system, said Ur M. Jaddou, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in a statement.

This process to keep U.S. families together will remove these undue barriers for those who would otherwise qualify to live and work lawfully in the U.S.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published on Aug. 20 a Federal Register notice to implement Keeping Families Together, a process for certain noncitizen spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens to request parole in place under existing statutory authority.

USCIS began accepting requests from eligible individuals for this process on Aug. 19.

Bernal said, there are some risks to consider, to think about for folks to know if they want to make an important decision of how to apply and not apply.

There is some risk there because we dont know whats going to happen in the future if theres a change of presidency. We dont know how this information is going to be used in the future, because you are self-reporting to the Department of Homeland Security all your information, Bernal said.

Individuals must file Form I-131F, Application for Parole in Place for Certain Noncitizen Spouses and Stepchildren of U.S. Citizens, online after creating a myUSCIS account. USCIS does not accept any other form for Keeping Families Together.

Eleazar Valdez, with the Central Valley Immigrant Integration Collaborative (CVIIC), said the online application process can bring challenges to people who want to apply but are not computer savvy.

We had to basically help the community create an email if they dont have it. Once they have the email, we had to help and create an account with USCIS, said Valdez.

So that be a little bit challenging, but not impossible, Valdez said.

Vazquez Baez agrees with Valdez about online-only applications can become an issue for people in the Valley who dont have the technology at home to file online.

That is where we come in and try to help folks, Vazquez Baez said.

Bernal said it is important for people to have documentation to prove they have been in the U.S. for 10 years.

That can look like a lot of different documents  bank records, invoices or receipts from paying rent or paying utilities  those kinds of documents that show that you have a physical presence in the United States, Bernal said.

Bernal reminds people that any physical application will be rejected.

The filing fee is $580. Fee waiver requests for Form I-131F will not be accepted. USCIS published a Filing Guide for Form I-131F on the Keeping Families Together webpage to help individuals prepare to file a request for parole in place through the online process.

Vazquez Baez said the filing fee and attorneys fees can also be a challenge for families in the Valley.

Bernal said the Education and Leadership Foundation is going to have presentations either once or twice a week for people to determine if they are eligible, understand some of the risk and to start gathering all the documentation to apply for the Keeping Families Together.

Who is eligible

Noncitizen spouses of U.S. citizens must:

 Be present in the United States without admission or parole;

 Have been continuously physically present in the United States since at least June 17, 2014, through the date of filing your request;

 Have a legally valid marriage to a U.S. citizen on or before June 17, 2024;

 Have no disqualifying criminal history and otherwise not deemed to be a threat to public safety, national security, or border security; and

 Submit biometrics and undergo required background checks and national security and public safety vetting.

Noncitizen stepchildren of U.S. citizens must:

 Have been under the age of 21 and unmarried on June 17, 2024;

 Be present in the United States without admission or parole;

 Have been continuously physically present in the United States since at least June 17, 2024, through the date of filing your request;

 Have a noncitizen parent who entered into a legally valid marriage with a U.S. citizen on or before June 17, 2024, and before their 18th birthday;

 Have no disqualifying criminal history and otherwise not deemed to be a threat to public safety, national security, or border security; and

 Submit biometrics and undergo required background checks and national security and public safety vetting.

Protecting yourself from immigration scams

Federal immigration officials and local immigrant advocates ask people to be vigilant to avoid becoming a victim of an immigration scam.

Vazquez Baez said a challenge in the Valley will be combating notario fraud.

We dont want people to be taken advantage of, both from notarios and also attorneys that are charging so much money, Vazquez Baez said, adding that organizations like Centro La Familia will help families that qualify for a low fee.

Just be aware of notario fraud, unscrupulous players in the area, and always double-check prices before you commit because our families in the Valley are hardworking families that dont necessarily have the funds to pay for an attorney

As with all the other providers, we caution folks to be very careful in not going to the notarios or the tax and immigration services forums that are not accredited by the Department of Justice, Bernal said.

The Education Leadership Foundation is offering free immigration legal services. People can call (559) 291-5428 for an appointment or more information.

We want to caution every single individual thinking to apply to be really careful about going to the wrong person to submit this information. Weve seen it time and time again, where folks come to us after having gone to someone whos not accredited, whos charging them high amounts of money to pay for services, and then they end up with no service, said Bernal.

Sadly, he said, some face potential deportation orders.

Only an attorney admitted to practice law in the U.S. or an accredited representative working for a Department of Justice-recognized organization can give you legal advice on immigration matters.

Some common scams to be aware

 Government impersonators: Look out for individuals who pretend to be USCIS officials. USCIS will only use official government channels and will not contact you through your personal social media accounts (such as Facebook, X, LinkedIn, etc.).

 Scam websites: Some websites claim to be affiliated with USCIS and offer step-by-step guidance on completing a USCIS application or petition. Make sure your information is from uscis.gov or dhs.gov or is affiliated with uscis.gov. Make sure the website address ends with .gov.

 Payments by phone or email: Never transfer money to an individual. The government does not accept Western Union, MoneyGram, PayPal, or gift cards as payment for immigration fees. Nor does it ask you to pay fees to a person on the phone or by email.

 Notarios publicos and unauthorized practitioners of immigration law: In the United States, a notario publico is not authorized to provide you with any legal services related to immigration benefits.
Some officials in Washington have told Kyiv the U.S. is keeping its restrictions on Ukraine using U.S.-made long-range weapons against Russian territory in order to not upend any future reset with Moscow, Politico reported, citing unnamed officials in the Biden administration.

However, one senior Ukrainian advisor also told Politico that there are signs that Biden may want to do something big in Ukraine, and possibly lift some restrictions before the election.



Kyiv has long argued that restrictions on the use of long-range weapons are stifling its war effort, while Washington has claimed that allowing Ukraine to hit deep into Russian territory with its weapons could be a cause for escalation.



Ukraine has dismissed these arguments and has amped up pressure to lift the ban in recent weeks following the Kursk incursion on Aug. 6. The White House has not budged on its position despite some U.S. politicians backing Kyivs demands.



Mike Pompeo, a former U.S. State Secretary in Donald Trump's administration, said U.S. President Joe Biden should not restrict Kyiv but instead send Ukraine the weapons it needs to win, in an X post on Aug. 24. He added that the Kursk incursion shows that a Ukrainian "defeat is not inevitable."



The U.S. permitted Ukraine in June to strike Russian military targets just across the border but maintained its ban on attacks deep inside Russia with long-range arms like ATACMS.



President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraines capture of the Russian town of Sudzha, near Ukraines Sumy Oblast, shows that there are no red lines when it comes to Russian escalation. Ukraine has advanced some 35 kilometers into Russias Kursk Oblast and so far Moscow has not escalated the war.



Ukraine's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Heorhii Tykhyi, said on Aug. 13 that the incursion aims to prevent Moscow from sending reinforcements to the front in Donetsk Oblast. It is also designed to disrupt Russian logistics and halt cross-border attacks in lieu of restriction on long-range strikes with Western arms.



Tykhyi said that the incursion would be "less necessary" if Kyiv were allowed to "fully utilize (its) long-range capabilities" against Russia.



The Pentagon said that Ukraine can use U.S. weapons in the incursion. However, the U.K. has reportedly not allowed Ukraine to use British-supplied Storm Shadow as part of the incursion, maintaining their policy of only permitting strikes within Ukrainian sovereign territory.

Read also: Biden announces new $125 million aid package for Kyiv ahead of Ukraines Independence Day

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT)  The University of Evansville and Toyota Indiana announce a new partnership supporting K-12 science, tech, engineering and math education.

Toyota will give $2 million to help UE teach and mentor the STEM professionals of tomorrow.

Some call this an education access breakthrough for children wishing to learn more about STEM. Hopefully in a couple months, children, teachers and college students wishing to become teachers will be able to get some hands-on training to inspire and prepare them for their futures.

Its that shared value and that shared passion to make things better in the communities where we live, work and play, Toyota Indiana President Tim Hollander says. Thats what makes us just a natural partnership.

Through its Driving Possibilities program, Toyota is giving $2 million to help UE with program development and investing in Tri-State K-12 students.

Eyewitness News is told UE will provide labds and techologies accessible to children beginning at a young age.

These activities include learning block coding and Java coding.

Building a STEM classroom on our campus that allows teachers to be able to come here not only learning STEM, but learning how to collaborate with one another, University of Evansville President Chris Pietruszkiewicz says. IF we think about the work that we can do individually as a university, it gets magnified when we have community partners to do that.

The universitys Center for Innovation and Change (CIC) will lead the charge not only for children, but educators too.

We get to come in and support those partners doing that through a couple of initiatives, including building a STEM lab to train teachers here right on our campus, CIC Executive Director Erin Lewis says. Anyone who wants to come and learn how to get better at STEM education can do so right here in Evansville.

UE hopes to open the STEM services by the end of the year.

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KAMPALA (Reuters) - Uganda has confirmed two more mpox virus infections, bringing the number of cases in the east African country to four, according to the health ministry.

The two new patients were infected with the clade 1b strain of the virus, health ministry director general of health services Henry Mwebesa told Reuters, a new offshoot that has triggered global concern.

The World Health Organization declared the recent outbreak of the disease a public health emergency after the new variant, which appears to spread more easily between people, was identified.

Health authorities in Uganda first reported an outbreak of the disease in the country on July 24 when lab tests of samples from two patients at a hospital near the border with Democratic Republic of Congo returned positive for mpox virus.

The latest two cases were confirmed this week, health ministry spokesperson Emmanuel Ainebyoona said, adding that one of the patients was a truck driver. He did not give details of the second patient.

Both patients were isolated at a hospital at Entebbe, a town about 50 km (31 miles) south of the capital Kampala.

Mpox infections cause flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions, and transmit through close physical contact. While usually mild, the disease can be fatal.

Uganda borders Congo, where the current outbreak began in January 2023.

(Reporting by Elias Biryabarema; Editing by Jan Harvey)
UK intelligence says Russia is still calling for destruction of Ukraine, despite claiming it is willing to negotiate

UK Defence Intelligence has noted that although top Russian officials claim they are willing to negotiate, Russia has not abandoned its original goals regarding Ukraine.

Source: UK Defence Intelligence review dated 24 August on Twitter (X), as reported by European Pravda

Details: The UK Defence Ministry cites Dmitry Rogozin, a former Russian deputy prime minister and "senator" for the occupied part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, who recently boasted of having destroyed Ukrainian books, called for all 'Ukrainian-ness to be burnt out at the root", and said that any truce with Ukraine would mean "certain death for our children".

Quote from UK Defence Intelligence: "These comments are the latest in a long line of Ukrainophobic sentiments by senior Russian officials that undermine and threaten Ukrainian identity and culture. There are likely many individuals within the Russian state who retain maximalist objectives for the war, including the destruction of Ukrainian culture, identity and statehood. This is despite the alleged Russian willingness to negotiate, as repeated by presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on 1 July 2024."

The review also recalled Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin's statement in 2017 that "not many countries have sovereignty".

Background:

John Healey, UK Secretary of State for Defence, published an op-ed on Ukraine's Independence Day stating that the Kursk operation proved that Ukraine's victory in the war is realistic.

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(Bloomberg) -- Ukrainian officials are growing wary over delays in finalizing a deal that would unlock $50 billion in support by harnessing the profits of frozen Russian central bank assets, according to people familiar with the matter.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Those funds are intended to flow to Kyiv by the end of the year, according to a Group of Seven agreement in June that foresaw a loan syndicate to be paid back by profits generated over time by some $280 billion in frozen Russian funds.

But the implementation of the plan has been snarled by demands made by the US and the risk of Hungary slowing down any EU-wide decision on support for Ukraine or sanctions against Russia, according to the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity as talks take place behind closed doors.

The financing would provide badly needed support for Ukraine as the war reaches the 2-1/2 year mark. Ukrainian forces are struggling to halt a grinding Russian advance in the east while moving resources to a new front in Russias western Kursk region after its surprise incursion this month.

While the timeframe for the G-7 deal stretches to the end of the year, Ukraine will require a decision next month, when a funding review by the International Monetary Fund will entail assurances that Kyivs budget requirements are met, one of the people said.

We need a real mechanism, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Wednesday. The relevant discussions have been ongoing for too long, and we finally need decisions.

Ukraines allies froze the Central Bank of Russia assets, most of which are held in Europe, after the Kremlins forces invaded in February 2022, with the West demanding that the funds be used to compensate for damages and to help rebuild Ukraine after the war.

Implementation of G-7 arrangement has hit a snag over US concerns about the fact that the EU needs to renew the asset freeze every six months along with broader sanctions targeting Moscow. The US has asked for more durable assurances that would ease concerns in President Joe Bidens administration over signing off on the loan without approval by Congress.

A senior Biden administration official, who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations, said the US wants assurances from allies that the Russian assets will remain immobilized until theres a just peace deal and Russia pays for damage caused in the invasion. If that happens, the official said, the US is confident the money could start being distributed by the end of the year.

Moving Up the Agenda

Last month, the EU presented member states with two options to freeze the assets for a longer period, Bloomberg reported last month. The 27-member bloc has failed to lock up an agreement so far  and some officials are skeptical a solution will be found given Hungarys track record of blocking efforts to renew sanctions measures for more than six months.

Some officials have argued that a standing commitment by the EU and G-7 to freeze the funds until Russia agrees to pay Ukraine for damages should assuage US concerns.

A European Commission spokesperson said work is ongoing, and further discussions will be needed and will resume in the coming weeks. A spokesperson for the Hungarian foreign ministry didnt reply to a request for comment.

As official Brussels returns from the summer break, the central bank funds are likely to move up the agenda for EU diplomats, according to another person.

The issue is already front and center in the latest political fight in Germany. Pushing back on a report that Berlin has capped military funding for Ukraine beyond funds already earmarked in budget negotiations, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Germany will continue to deliver aid  and pointed to the G-7 deal as a main new source of funding.

The German leader brushed off the complexities around delivering the deal, telling reporters in Moldova Wednesday that the arrangement is technically difficult but clarified politically  as he stood by the year-end time frame.

The central bank proceeds are estimated to be worth as much as 5 billion ($5.6 billion) annually  and each G-7 member would be responsible for covering their portion of the loans if the assets were to be unfrozen. The G-7 pact envisions the EU and the US providing loans of around $20 billion or more each, with the UK, Canada and Japan contributing with smaller loans.

Some 173 billion in sanctioned assets are held through the Belgium-based Euroclear clearing house as of June, according to its first-half results. The EU has separately agreed to provide Kyiv profits generated by those funds, with an initial 1.6 billion installment released at the end of July.

The funds have so far earned about 3.4 billion since they were immobilized, although profits generated before Feb. 15 will be retained by Euroclear as a buffer to handle current and future risks, such as litigation.

--With assistance from Viktoria Dendrinou.

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Ukraine liberates 115 more prisoners of war from Russian captivity  photos, video

Ukraine has liberated 115 more Ukrainian prisoners of war from Russian captivity.

Source: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy; Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War

Quote: "Today, 115 more of our defenders have been brought back home. These are soldiers from the National Guard, the Armed Forces, the Navy and the State Border Guard Service."

      115  .



:   pic.twitter.com/oZbPnENl1d     (@ukrpravda_news) August 24, 2024

Details: The president also expressed gratitude to all units replenishing the prisoners-of-war exchange pool.

"This brings the liberation of our soldiers and civilians from Russian captivity closer. I am thankful to our team, our partners and the UAE for helping bring our people home," Zelenskyy added.

Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine

The Coordination Headquarters noted that all those freed in the 55th POW swap are conscripts, including some who were captured by Russian forces in the early months of the full-scale invasion in 2022.

Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine

Among those released are 9 Ukrainian soldiers illegally convicted by Russia, sailors, 3 border guards, and 82 defenders of Mariupol (fifty of whom defended Azovstal Steelworks).

Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine

Additionally, six officers from Ukraine's National Guard, who were part of the garrison guarding the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, along with soldiers who defended Kyiv, Donetsk, Kherson, and Luhansk oblasts, are coming back home.

Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine

Quote from the Coordination Headquarters: "Many of the liberated Ukrainian soldiers are facing health issues due to injuries and Russia's disregard for international humanitarian law during their captivity. All of them will undergo medical examinations, receive necessary treatment and psychological support, reintegrate into society, and receive their rightful payments."

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Away from the frontlines, Ukraine is waging a different battle against Russia as it seeks to remove Moscows influence from religious institutions.

President Volodymyr Zelensky signed into law a bill banning religious groups with ties to Russia Saturday, Ukraines Independence Day. The bills main target is the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) which has historically been linked to the Russian Orthodox Church, also known as the Moscow Patriarchate.

Zelensky referenced the bill in his nightly address, saying Ukrainian orthodoxy today is taking a step toward liberation from the devils of Moscow.

The new law gives the UOC and other religious groups nine months to cut ties with Russia or risk being shut down by court order. The law passed Ukraines parliament on August 20, with 265 lawmakers voting for and 29 voting against.

While the UOC claims to have cut ties with the Russian Orthodox Church in 2022, Ukraines State Service for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience says the links are still intact and the church remains in Moscows orbit.

Ukraines Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has accused the UOC of spreading pro-Moscow propaganda. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the SBU has opened criminal proceedings against more than 100 clergymen of the UOC. Nearly 50 have already been charged and 26 have received sentences, according to the SBU.

One of the clerics convicted used his sermons to defend the full-scale invasion of Russia and the seizure of parts of Ukraine. In conversations with parishioners, the cleric tried to persuade them to go to Russia or occupied regions to help Russians. He was sentenced to five years.

The purpose of this law is to ban the activities of the Moscow Patriarchate in Ukraine which is an instrument of Russian influence and propaganda according to Mykyta Poturaiev, a Ukrainian member of Parliament who sponsored the bill.

The Moscow Patriarchate is not an inspiration but a participant in the war, Poturaiev said.

The majority of Ukrainians are Orthodox. For centuries, Ukrainian churches were subordinate to and administered by the Moscow Patriarchate. But with Russias annexation of Crimea in 2014, Ukraines Orthodox churches split. In 2019, the spiritual leader of the Orthodox world Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople officially recognized an independent Kyiv-based Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

For the leader of Ukraines Kyiv-based church Metropolitan Epiphanius, the law provides an opportunity to protect the Ukrainian spiritual space from the yoke of the Russian world.

Everyone can see that in Russia, religious centers, not only the Moscow Patriarchate, but also the centers of Muslims, Protestants, and Buddhists, are under the full control of the Kremlin. They spread the ideology of the Russian world, justify the war against Ukraine, and say that it is a so-called holy war. That the destruction of Ukraine is a morally justified goal and even a duty of Russian troops, he said.

According to a survey conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) in April 2024, 83% of Ukrainians believed that the state should intervene in the activities of the UOC to one degree or another. In particular, 63% believe that Ukrainian Orthodox Church should be completely banned in Ukraine.

Metropolitan Clement, spokesperson of the UOC criticized the bill in a statement on Facebook, calling the law as an attempt to divide people into right and wrong citizens.

Outside a UOC church in Kyiv, a 47-year-old parishioner said recent moves against his church were stifling. The government is now creeping into my soul. It is up to me to decide how I pray. They have gone completely crazy, the parishioner  who refused to give his name for fear of reprisal  told CNN.

Ihor, a Ukrainian officer, used to worship in the UOC but said he has stopped going to church altogether.

While he doesnt think politics should get involved with religion, he acknowledges there are many priests in Ukrainian Orthodox Church who support Russia and war in Ukraine. For this they must answer for before God.

Kosta Gak contributed reporting.

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Drone described by Ukraine as a completely new class of weapon hits Russia for the first time

The Palianytsia is a highly manoeuvrable, fast drone fitted with a jet engine and powerful warhead

Ukraine has used a new class of domestically-produced drone to attack Russia for the first time, Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on Saturday.

The Ukrainian president described the Palianytsia drone-missile as a completely new class of weapon that will pound targets inside Russia until Vladimir Putin withdraws his troops from Ukraine.

Palianytsia, which means a loaf of bread in Ukrainian and is hard for Russians to pronounce properly, is described as a highly manoeuvrable, fast drone that has been fitted with a jet engine and a powerful warhead.

The word Palianytsia has been used as a password at Ukrainian checkpoints, given Russian soldiers struggles to enunciate the term.

Jet propulsion makes the Palianytsia missile-drone superfast and deadly quiet - Max Glushak

Kyiv, which has been investing heavily in domestic drone production, hopes the weapon will now similarly befuddle Russian defences.

This is our new method of retaliation against the aggressor, Mr Zelensky said, as he thanked the developers behind the project in a speech to mark Ukraines Independence Day. The enemy will be defeated.

Overnight, witnesses of a Ukrainian drone strike on an ammunition depot in the Voronezh border region of Russia recorded hearing the rumble of a jet engine rather than the usual whirr of a propeller.

Oleksandr Kamyshin, Ukraines minister of strategic industries, confirmed that this was the Palianytsia drone missile making its debut.

We eagerly awaited the moment when we could demonstrate its effectiveness to the enemy. Finally, this moment has arrived, he said.

While little is yet known about the exact specifications of the drone, Ukrainian engineers have been developing the Palianytsia all year as the next-generation weapon of their drone programme.

Ukrainian drones have been credited with helping to turn the momentum of the war by pounding Russias Black Sea Fleet in occupied Crimea, sending back battlefield images of the Donbas front line and striking targets across Russia from the Arctic to Siberia.

In his speech on Saturday, Mr Zelensky once again said Ukraine would only agree to peace with Russia if it regained all its lost territory.

Reports had speculated that Kyiv might agree to cede some of the four regions currently occupied by Moscow in exchange for peace.

But Mr Zelensky was defiant, as his army continued to hold a large swathe of Russian land in the Kursk region.

'The enemy will be defeated,' said Volodymyr Zelensky during the 33rd Independence Day ceremony at Saint Sophia Square, Kyiv - Sergei Chuzavkov/AFP via Getty

Lets say, our partners lose heart and do not stand firmly and steadfastly against Putins aggression and against him as a thief, we will do everything we can to ensure that our armed forces are ready to rightfully push Putin out of our country, he said.

Mr Zelensky also hailed a prisoner swap deal with Russia on Saturday, the first since his forces invasion of Kursk Russian and Ukrainian officials swapped 115 prisoners each in a deal negotiated by the United Arab Emirates.

We are searching and doing our best to get everyone back, he said.

Ukrainian servicemen gather round a pickup truck in Pokrovsk as they prepare to defend the town from Russian forces - Thomas Peter/Reuters

On Saturday, social media videos showed Ukrainian soldiers raising their flag in another village in the Kursk region, backing up Ukrainian estimates that they have now captured around 500 square miles of Russian territory and 93 settlements since Aug 6, when it launched the first invasion of Russia since the Second World War.

But while Ukrainian forces are taking ground in the Kursk region, reports from the front line in the eastern Donbas region showed Russian forces on the offensive.

Russian military bloggers said that Putins armies were closing in on the town of Pokrovsk which is considered a key logistics hub for the Ukrainian army as it lies on railway and road intersections.

The Two Majors, a well-connected Russian military blogging Telegram channel, said that they were close to capturing a village close to Pokrovsk.

The Ukrainian armed forces are losing positions in Karlovka. The Russian army is moving towards Mirnograd and Pokrovsk, it said.

There have also been reports for the first time in a few months that frontline Ukrainian forces are running low on ammunition and have reintroduced rationing.

Mr Zelensky used his nightly Telegram message to Ukrainians on Friday to admonish allies for being slow to deliver military aid because his armies need shells and ammunition now, not tomorrow or soon.

Ukrainian officials also said that a Russian missile attack on the town of Kostiantynivka, near Bakmut, killed five civilians on Saturday.

04:59 PM BST

Thanks for following todays live blog

Thank you for following todays live coverage of the war in Ukraine.

Well be back soon with more updates and analysis from the conflict.

04:47 PM BST

Ukraine and Russia exchange first prisoners since Kursk invasion

Russia and Ukraine announced Saturday they had exchanged 115 prisoners of war each, just over two weeks after Kyiv launched a surprise incursion into Russias Kursk region.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said another 115 of our defenders have returned home today, while Moscows defence ministry said: As a result of a negotiation process, 115 Russian servicemen taken prisoner in the Kursk region have been returned from territories controlled by the Kyiv regime.

Mr Zelensky previously said the Russian soldiers captured in the Kursk region are considered an exchange fund, and that he hopes they can be swapped for some of the roughly 6,5000 Ukrainian soldiers that Moscow says it holds.

The majority of those taken are also understood to be young Russian conscripts. Conscription is a politically sensitive issue in Russia  particularly as Vladimir Putin previously promised conscripts would not take part in active combat  and it appears that Ukraine is now leveraging the thorny issue to its advantage.

04:43 PM BST

Hungarys foreign minister accuses EU of disrupting oil supplies from Russia

Hungarys foreign minister has said that the European Commissions decision not to mediate in a dispute over blocked oil supplies from Russia via Ukraine suggested that Brussels was behind the stoppage.

Hungary and its neighbour Slovakia have been protesting since Ukraine put Russian oil producer Lukoil on a sanctions list in June, stopping that companys oil from passing through Ukrainian territory to Slovak and Hungarian refineries.

The assertion from Hungarys Peter Szijjarto, which he made without providing evidence, came a day after the European Commission declined a request from Hungary and Slovakia for it to mediate between them and Ukraine over the sanctions.

The fact that the European Commission declared that it was unwilling to help to secure the energy supply of Hungary and Slovakia suggests that the order was sent from Brussels to Kyiv to cause challenges and problems in the energy supply of Hungary and Slovakia, Mr Szijjarto said.

04:34 PM BST

Scholz reaffirms Germanys unwavering solidarity to Ukraine

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has reaffirmed Berlins continued and unwavering solidarity with Ukraine in spite of a budget reduction for military aid to Kyiv next year, his office said.

In a telephone call with Volodymyr Zelensky, Mr Scholz reaffirmed the continued and unwavering solidarity with Ukraine in the face of Russias ongoing aggression, according to a readout of the phone call released by his office.

04:21 PM BST

War can only end with restoration of Ukraines territorial integrity, says Zelensky

President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Russias invasion can only end with the restoration of Ukraines territorial integrity and the prevention of future Russian aggression.

Speaking on the countrys thirty-third Independence Day, Mr Zelensky said: The war can only end with the restoration of Ukraines territorial integrity and the prevention of further aggression from Putin and Russia.

He continued: We will do everything in our power to compel Putin to end this war diplomatically in order to minimise our losses, first and foremost in terms of people and time. But if we are unable to do so we will do everything we can to ensure that our Armed Forces are ready to rightfully push Putin out of our country.

His statement comes after some recent reports had suggested that the Ukrainian president was beginning to consider negotiations with Moscow.

04:13 PM BST

Pictured: Ukraines Independence Day

Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky gives a speech to mark the country's 33rd Independence Day - Ukrainian Presidential Press Servic

The names of fallen service members at the Independence Square - REUTERS/Gleb Garanich TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Independence Square in Kyiv - REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

03:48 PM BST

Zelensky briefs Germanys Scholz on battlefield situation

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he briefed Germanys Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday on the battlefield situation after Ukraines incursion into Russias Kursk region and that they discussed the need for air defence and armored vehicles.

03:11 PM BST

Polish president says Ukraine will soon win war against Russia

Polish president Andrzej Duda speaks during a joint press conference with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky - REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

In his speech on Ukraines Independence Day in Kyiv, Polish president Andrzej Duda expressed confidence that Ukraine would be able to defend its freedom and that the war will soon end in [Ukraines] victory.

I have never had, and do not have, the slightest doubt that, through their united efforts and struggle, the courageous Ukrainian people will uphold their independence. Although Ukraine is currently battling the Russian aggressor, fiercely fighting for its independence, I am confident that the war will soon conclude with the triumph of freedom over tyranny. Out of the darkness of war and the devastation of scorched territories, a new world will emerge, Mr Duda said.

02:45 PM BST

Watch: Ukraine and Russia exchange first prisoners since Kursk invasion

02:32 PM BST

50 soldiers captured from Azovstal steelworks among freed Ukrainian POWs

Ukraine said the 115 servicemen who were freed were conscripts, many of whom were taken prisoner in the first months of Russias invasion.

Among them are nearly 50 soldiers captured by Russian forces from the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol.

Another 115 of our defenders have returned home today. These are warriors of the National Guard, the Armed Forces, the Navy, and the State Border Guard Service.



We remember everyone. We are searching for them and making every effort to bring them all back.



I am grateful to each pic.twitter.com/XiMAeANsOd  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) August 24, 2024

02:17 PM BST

Zelensky says Kyiv seeks to force Putin to end the war through diplomacy

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that Ukraine would do everything to force Russian president Vladimir Putin to end the war through diplomacy.

Asked how he sees the end of the war with Russia which is nearing its 30th month, Mr Zelensky reiterated his position that Ukraines territorial integrity should be restored.

01:41 PM BST

Kyiv says struck ammunition depot in Russias Voronezh region

Ukraine said Saturday it had carried out an attack on a Russian ammunition depot in the southern Russian region of Voronezh.

On August 24, the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) servicemen successfully struck a field ammunition depot located near Ostrogozk, Voronezh region of Russia, Ukraines military intelligence agency said.

01:36 PM BST

Kursk operation was to prevent Russian attacks on Sumy, Zelensky says

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that Ukraines operation in the Kursk region was a preventive strike to stop Russian attacks in the north and towards the regional city of Sumy.

Mr Zelensky told a news conference the operation in Kursk was difficult but he viewed its progress positively.

01:36 PM BST

Watch: Russians pay respect to mercenary leader Prigozhin one year after his death in aircrash

01:23 PM BST

Ukraine will soon be able to attack any part of Russia, says Zelensky

Volodymyr Zelensky addressing the nation on the Independence Day of Ukraine - UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/AFP via Getty Images



Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Ukraine will soon be able to attack any point of the Russian federation that is a source of danger to his country and people.

Speaking in a 13-minute Ukrainian Independence Day video address  that was said to be recorded in the border area from where Kyiv launched its surprise incursion into Russia  Mr Zelensky said that Russia wanted to destroy Ukraine but war has returned to its home.

Our enemy will know what the Ukrainian way of retaliation is. They will know that, sooner or later, a Ukrainian response will reach any point in the Russian federation that is a source of danger to the life of our state or our people, he said.

Mr Zelensky continued: And the one who wanted to turn our land into a buffer zone should think about preventing his country from becoming a buffer federation.

12:40 PM BST

Pictured: Zelensky on Independence Day

Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife Olena attending an interfaith service on the occasion of Independence Day of Ukraine - Ukrainian Presidential Press Service

Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife Olena walking along an alley dedicated to the memory of the fallen warriors to lay flowers at the Wall of Remembrance - UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/AFP via Getty Images

12:34 PM BST

More on prisoner exchange

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said another 115 of our defenders have returned home today, while Moscows defence ministry said: As a result of a negotiation process, 115 Russian servicemen taken prisoner in the Kursk region have been returned from territories controlled by the Kyiv regime.

12:01 PM BST

Russia and Ukraine exchange 115 prisoners each

Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 115 prisoners of war from each side after the United Arab Emirates acted as an intermediary, the Russian state-run news agency has reported.

The exchanged Russian servicemen, captured by Ukraine during its incursion into the Kursk region, are now on the territory of Belarus, the Russian Defence ministry said.

It is the seventh such exchange the UAE has mediated since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Abu Dhabi, a close security partner of the United States, has maintained warm relations with Moscow throughout the war, frustrating some Western officials. It has also strengthened ties with Kyiv.

Posting on social media, the UAE foreign ministry said: 230 captives released following the seventh UAE mediation effort between Russia and Ukraine.

Ukraine has not yet commented.

11:48 AM BST

Russian attack kills five people in eastern Ukraine town, governor says

A Russian attack killed at least five civilians and wounded five others on Saturday in the eastern Ukrainian town of Kostiantynivka, a regional governor said.

Vadym Filashkin, governor of the Donetsk region, said rescuers and police were working at the scene of the attack, which took place early on Saturday.

I urge you all again: take care of yourselves, evacuate, Mr Filashkin wrote on the Telegram messaging app, without giving further details about the attack.

Kostiantynivka is located close to the active combat zone in Donetsk, where Russian forces have been inching forward for months.

The Russian advance quickened in recent weeks as Moscows troops are mounting relentless attacks in the direction of the strategic logistics hub of Pokrovsk.

11:41 AM BST

Ukraine uses new domestic-made drone missile for first time

The Ukrainian army has attacked the Russian army with a new weapon, the Palianytsia drone missile, for the first time.

Speaking about the weapon on Ukrainian Independence Day, Volodymyr Zelensky said: This is our new method of retaliation against the aggressor. The enemy has been defeated. I thank everyone who made it possible. All developers, manufacturers and our soldiers. I am proud of you.

11:23 AM BST

Pictured: Ukrainian servicemen train with FPV drones

Ukrainian servicemen conduct a training flight with a first-person view drone - GENYA SAVILOV/AFP via Getty Images

11:10 AM BST

Russia destroys museum of Ukrainian anarchist revolutionary

Russia has destroyed the memorial museum of Nestor Makhno, a Ukrainian anarchist revolutionary and the commander of the Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine during the Ukrainian War of Independence, according to the countrys Ministry of Interior.

The building caught fire and burned to the ground as a result of a missile strike, in Huliaipole, Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

10:52 AM BST

Russia and Ukraine set to swap 115 prisoners

Russia and Ukraine are set to exchange 115 prisoners today following mediation from the United Arab Emirates, an Emirati official told Reuters.

It would be the first such prisoner swap between the countries since the Ukrainian military launched its offensive inside Russia on August 6.

10:39 AM BST

Pictured: Fire at ammunition depot in Russian city

Fire at an ammunition depot in the Russian city of Ostrogozhsk - X

10:28 AM BST

Pentagon reveals details of new US military aid package to Ukraine

The US Department of Defense has announced details of a new $125 million package of US aid for Ukraine, which includes air defence equipment, ammunition for missile systems and artillery, and anti-tank weapons.

This announcement is the Biden Administrations sixty-fourth tranche of equipment to be provided from Department of Defense inventories for Ukraine since August 2021.

As Ukraine prepares to celebrate its Independence Day on August 24  more than two and a half years since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion  the United States and the international coalition of some 50 Allies and partners remain committed to supporting Ukraines brave defenders that continue to fight against Russian aggression, the Pentagon statement said.

10:15 AM BST

Ukrainian forces continue to advance near Sudzha

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has confirmed the advance of Ukrainian troops near the town of Sudzha in Russias Kursk Oblast.

Ukrainian forces continued to marginally advance near Sudzha amid continued Ukrainian operations in Kursk Oblast on 23 August, the ISW said in a statement.

10:00 AM BST

Watch: Zelenskys Independence Day address

Ukraine. Our land. Given by God. Kissed by the sun. Rocked by the winds. Tempered by fire. Defended by its sons and daughters.

It cannot be mistaken for anything else.

It can never be given away to anyone.

Happy Independence Day of Ukraine! pic.twitter.com/LwnRAjnZnc  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) August 24, 2024

09:48 AM BST

Zelensky signs law on Ukraine ratifying Rome Statute

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has signed a law on Ukraine ratifying the Rome Statute, allowing the country to join the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The law published on the parliaments website was also a key to Ukraines efforts to move closer to the European Union.

09:41 AM BST

Zelensky signs law banning Russia-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday signed a law banning the Moscow-linked Orthodox Church in Ukraine with the decision published on Ukraines parliament website.

The bill approved by parliament earlier this month created the legal tools for the government to ban activities of a Russia-linked branch of the Orthodox church and paved the way for a historic rupture with an institution that Kyiv has accused of complicity in Moscows invasion of Ukraine.

Mr Zelensky approved the bill, slammed by Russia, on Kyivs independence day from the Soviet Union and two and a half years into Russias invasion of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian leader said the move will strengthen his countrys independence and in an address on Saturday declared: Ukrainian Orthodox (church) today is taking a step towards liberation from Moscows devils.

09:33 AM BST

Keir Starmer tells Ukrainians the UK will back them today and always

Sir Keir Starmer has told Ukrainians the UK will back them "today and always", as Kyiv marks 33 years since it declared independence from the Soviet Union - Richard Pohle/The Times

Sir Keir Starmer has told Ukrainians the UK will back them today and always, as Kyiv marks 33 years since it declared independence from the Soviet Union.

My message to all Ukrainians, whether on the front line or here in your second home in the UK, is crystal clear: we are with you today and always, Sir Keir said.

That is what I told President Zelensky when he sat at our Cabinet table and where, on behalf of the British people, I outlined that it is not just the British government thats behind Ukraine  its all of us.

We are with you for as long as it takes.

Slava Ukraini, he said, a national salute in the country, which translates to glory to Ukraine.

09:12 AM BST

EU review does not recommend sending military trainers to Ukraine for now

The EUs diplomatic service has called on member states to better adapt a military training mission for Ukraine to Kyivs needs but stopped short of recommending the bloc send military instructors to the war-torn country, German weekly Welt am Sonntag reported on Saturday.

The EUMAM mission, launched in November 2022, has trained some 60,000 Ukrainian troops mainly in Poland and Germany and is set to be extended by another two years once the current mandate runs out in mid-November.

It is imperative to train AFU (Ukraine) soldiers on the same equipment that they will use later in combat, the report cited a review of the mission by the EUs diplomatic service as saying.

Kyiv asked the EU in May to conduct some training on Ukrainian soil but member states are divided with sceptics warning that the bloc could be drawn into the war and raising doubts about Kyivs ability to protect training sites against Russian attacks.

The EU review said Kyivs request could be met by opening the possibility to deploy some EUMAM instructors to Ukrainian training facilities, in a discrete form, far from the battlefield and possibly in the western part of the country, although it did not recommend that they be sent.

09:09 AM BST

Russia declares emergency in part of Voronezh region after drone attack

Russia has declared a state of emergency in part of the Voronezh region bordering Ukraine after an overnight drone attack, local governor Alexander Gusev said in his Telegram channel.

According to Mr Gusev, Russian forces intercepted five drones. Falling debris ignited a fire, leading to the detonation of explosive materials.

The incident damaged no civilian buildings, but prompted authorities to impose emergency measures in three settlements in the Ostrogozhsky district and evacuate 200 people, he said.

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Russian soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces during the recent military incursion into the Kursk region wait inside their cells somewhere in Ukraine on Aug. 23. Photo by Maria Senovilla/EPA-EFE

Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Ukraine and Russia each released 115 prisoners of war for a total of 230 exchanged Saturday after officials in the United Arab Emirates brokered the swap.

Eighty-two of the Ukrainian prisoners were captured by Russian forces during the defense of Mariupol while all of the Russian POWs were captured during Ukraine's recent attacks in Russia's Kursk region.

"Another 115 of our defenders have returned home today," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a post on X. "These are warriors of the National Guard, the Armed Forces, the Navy and the State Border Guard Service."

Zelensky said Ukrainian officials are "making every effort to bring them all back" from captivity in Russia.

The exchange occurred on the 33rd anniversary of Ukraine's independence from the Soviet Union, which included Russia. The independence on Aug. 24, 1991, preceded the dissolution of the USSR on Dec. 26, 1991.

Ukraine and Russia also exchanged prisoners several months ago as the war in Ukraine enters its third year. Saturday's prisoner exchange is the seventh prisoner swap between the two warring nations.

The Russian Defense Ministry said the prisoners released by Ukraine have been moved to Belarus while the Ukrainian prisoners released are in an unreported location but in Ukrainian hands.

Ukrainian forces attacked the Kursk region on Aug. 6, which forced Russia to transfer troops from fighting in Ukraine to prevent additional losses near Kursk.

President Joe Biden since Aug. 6 announced a new military aid package for Ukraine that includes air-defense missiles, counter-drone equipment and mobile rocket systems.

Biden said the military aid affirms the United States' "unwavering support for the people of Ukraine."
Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief confers awards upon paratroopers fighting in Kursk Oblast for saving thousands of lives  photos

Syrskyi decorates paratroopers. Photo: Command of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

General Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has conferred awards upon paratroopers who are fighting in Kursk Oblast, Russia.

Source: Command of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

   , :  -  

Syrskyi decorating paratroopers.

Photo: Command of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Quote: "Today, on 24 August, on the occasion of the Independence Day of Ukraine, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine General Oleksandr Syrskyi conferred state awards and departmental insignia upon paratroopers of several brigades of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who are conducting combat operations in Kursk Oblast of the Russian Federation.

Speaking to the paratroopers, he emphasised on the important role played by the brigades of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in conducting assault and offensive operations and stressed the importance of the Kursk operation for Ukrainians and the international community."

   , :  -  

Syrskyi decorating paratroopers.

Photo: Command of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Quote from Syrskyi: "Thanks to you, thousands of civilian lives in the border areas [of Ukraine  ed.] have been saved."

Background: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the Ukrainian operation in Kursk Oblast helped prevent the occupation of part of Sumy Oblast and the city of Sumy.

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Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umierov has reported that he discussed strengthening the Drone Coalition with his Latvian counterpart, Andris Spruds.

Source: Umierov on Facebook

Quote from Umierov: "Had a productive meeting with the Latvian delegation headed by Defence Minister Andris Spruds."

"We discussed ways to further strengthen our powerful partnership.

A particular focus was on strengthening the Drone Coalition, where Latvia plays one of the leading roles.

Within this international coalition, the process of transferring Latvian-made drones to the defence forces continues. In total, Latvia will transfer several thousand drones to Ukraine to repel large-scale Russian aggression.

We discussed the next steps to strengthen the Coalition, which has already united almost twenty countries."

Details: Umierov noted that Latvia will provide Ukraine with military support worth about 112 million this year and will continue to provide defence assistance at the level of 0.25% of its GDP annually.

Background:

Earlier, Spruds announced the transfer of about 500 Latvian-made drones to Ukraine.

Prior to that, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Latvia would work with Ukraine to increase the production of drones as part of the drone coalition.

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Ukraine's Energy Minister comments on information about supposedly disrupted talks with Russia on halting attacks on energy infrastructure

Asked to comment on media reports of supposedly disrupted negotiations with Russia through intermediaries to suspend attacks on Ukraine's energy sector, the country's Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said that his government does not negotiate with terrorists.

Source: Halushchenko in an interview with Ukraines TV channel TSN, broadcast during the national joint 24/7 newscast

Quote: "We do not hold negotiations with terrorists, that's for sure, especially not any behind-the-scenes negotiations. This is impossible... Of course, we did not hold these negotiations with the Russians.

Details: At the same time, Halushchenko said that an online summit on the third point of the Peace Formula, which is energy security, was held on Thursday, 22 August and attended by more than 40 countries and many international organisations.

"We have adopted a joint communique for this summit... The key position in this document is that apart from rebuilding Ukraine's energy system, there are no attacks on the energy system. It clearly states that attacks on the civilian power grid are a violation of international humanitarian law and a violation of the UN Charter. And everyone supported this," the minister said.

In his opinion, this document can be presented to the Russians, and several states can act as mediators in this process.

Background:

On 17 August, The Washington Post journalists reported that Ukraine and Russia were to send delegations to Doha, Qatar, this month to negotiate a historic agreement that would end the attacks on power infrastructure on both sides.

The article said that the indirect talks, in which Qatars officials acted as mediators and met separately with Ukrainian and Russian delegations, were disrupted by Ukraine's surprise invasion of Russia's Kursk Oblast.

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How Ukraine's military has changed since it last paraded through the streets of Kyiv

On Aug. 24, 2021, Ukraine's military finest paraded through the streets of Kyiv in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the country's Independence Day.

It would be the last time such an event was held, with Russia's full-scale invasion meaning everything on display would be put to the test, with the fate of the entire country resting on the shoulders of those who took part.

Ukraine successfully resisted the Kremlin's original plans  what Russian President Vladimir Putin envisaged as a swift campaign to enter Kyiv turned into a grinding war now well into its third year.

In order to defend itself against Russia over the longer term, Ukraine has had to both adapt to rapid advances in battlefield technology, as well as rely on the continued military support of its Western allies.

Both of these factors mean Ukraine's military today looks vastly different to that which paraded through the streets of Kyiv in 2021.

Drones

In terms of illustrating just how much Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has changed the rules of warfare, one of the best examples is the Bayraktar TB2 drone.

Proudly presented as one of the most modern weapons in Ukraine's arsenal, the Bayraktar is already largely obsolete.

A Bayraktar TB2 on a military vehicle along Khreshchatyk street during the military parade marking the 30th anniversary of Ukraine's independence on August 24, 2021 in Kyiv, Ukraine (Yevhenii Zavhorodnii/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

Ukraine began buying small numbers of the Turkish-made reconnaissance and attack drones in 2019, and in the early weeks of the full-scale invasion they were highly-effective, destroying Russian tanks, patrol boats, and even troops as they disembarked from a helicopter.

Such was the scale of the successes that the Bayraktar became a Ukrainian national symbol of resistance, and was even honored with its own song, and millions of dollars were raised around the world to buy as many as possible for Ukraine's Armed Forces.

But by the early summer of 2022, the Bayraktar was already becoming increasingly ineffective as Russian air defenses and electronic warfare (EW) countermeasures became more organized.

By June 2023, Ukraine's remaining drones were being used solely for reconnaissance, as they were being shot down with increasing frequency whenever they ventured near front-line positions.

"For the (Bayraktar) TB2, I dont want to use the word useless, but it is hard to find situations where to use them," an official from Ukraine's defense intelligence (HUR) said in October 2023.

Ukrainian serviceman of the 28th brigade Maksym, 20, conducts a training flight with an FPV drone in Donetsk Oblast on April 29, 2024, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Genya Savilov /AFP via Getty Images)

Of course, drones haven't disappeared  they're now one of the most crucial weapons on the battlefield.

But large, expensive models like the Bayraktar  each unit costs around $5 million  have fallen out of favor, replaced by cheap, kamikaze FPV drones that can cost as little as $300.

And the low cost belies their effectiveness  Ukraine has recently used them to take out Russian Mi-8 transport helicopters that cost millions.

Tanks

In 2021, Ukraine's entire tank contingent consisted of Soviet-era models, albeit in modern digital camouflage like the T-64 pictured below.

Three years later, Ukraine's tank army looks very different. The majority are still Soviet-era machines of various models  T-80s, T-72s, T-64s and others.

Tanks move along Khreshchatyk Street during the rehearsal of the Kyiv Independence Day Parade ahead of the 30th anniversary of Ukraine's independence, Kyiv, Aug. 2021 (Yevhen Liubimov/ Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

But there are some notable additions. Firstly, there are a sizeable number of Russian tanks captured by Ukraine and then redeployed to fight against their previous owners.

Most notably, a T-90, which Russian President Vladimir Putin once described as "the best tank in the world," was seen manned by Ukrainian soldiers near the border with Russia in Sumy Oblast.

But most significantly are the plethora of models donated by Ukraine's western allies since the start of the full-scale invasion.

The majority are hundreds of German-made Leopard 1 and Leopard 2 tanks that have been sent from several countries including Germany, Poland, Norway, Denmark and Spain.

Ukraine also fields much smaller numbers of U.K.-made Challenger 2 tanks, and U.S.-made Abrams.

Kyiv's requests for heavy armor peaked in the run-up to its planned counteroffensive in 2023, but despite the Western weaponry, they would eventually fail to pierce the defensive positions of the Russian forces, with huge minefields being one of the major factors in stalling the advance.

But they're still playing their part  British Challenger 2 tanks were used during Ukraine's cross-border incursion into Kursk Oblast, the BBC and Sky News reported on Aug. 15, citing undisclosed sources.

Artillery

The story of Ukraine's artillery situation during the full-scale invasion has been, at best, mixed.

On the one hand, Western allies provided Ukraine with hundreds of new units.

These ranged from towed pieces like the British-made L118 and the U.S.-made M114 howitzer, to self-propelled versions such as the Czech-made DITA, and the French Caesar.

They even have a handful of Archers, made by Sweden and considered one of the world's most advanced artillery systems, capable of rapidly firing projectiles at a distance of up to 50 kilometers.

Artillery seen during the Independence Day military parade on the Independence Square in downtown Kyiv, Aug. 24, 2021.(Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

But there was a major problem  not enough NATO-standard 155mm shells to fire from all the artillery pieces Ukraine now found itself with.

Over the winter months, Ukraine's Armed Forces suffered a critical shortage of artillery shells, in large part due to delays in U.S. military aid, as well as Western production levels simply not being geared up for a land war in Europe.

In January, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said Ukraine was unable to fire more than 2,000 shells per day, around a third of what Russia was firing.

Europe raced to step up production, as well as source existing shells. Czech President Petr Pavel announced on July 12 that Ukraine would receive 50,000 shells under Prague's ammunition initiative in July, with the deliveries rising to 100,000 rounds monthly from September.

Ukraine will also begin domestic production of NATO-standard 155 mm shells in the second half of 2024 at the earliest, according to a report in the Washington Post.

Infantry fighting vehicles

Ukraine's 2021 fleet of Soviet-era infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) has received a significant boost during the course of the war, meaning on today's battlefield, Russia's decades-old models regularly come up against some of the finest military vehicles on the planet.

The U.S. in particular was far less hesitant about sending their latest IFVs than they were about sending their latest tanks, and they have arrived in much larger numbers.

Whereas Ukraine received 31 Abrams tanks, Washington has sent more than 300 Bradleys, a vehicle that has proven itself to be absolutely formidable  even taking on Russia's most advanced tank on the battlefield, the T-90.

Servicemen of the 95th Air Assault Brigade drive BTR-3DA APCs along Khreshchatyk Street during the Kyiv Independence Day Parade on the 30th anniversary of Ukraine's independence, Kyiv, Aug. 24, 2021 (Volodymyr Tarasov/ Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

These have been accompanied by German-made Marders, as well as Swedish-made CV90s, of which 1,000 will be produced in a joint manufacturing deal between Stockholm and Kyiv.

And not to mention, the "entire stock" of Sweden's older Pansarbandvagn 302, which is currently on its way to Ukraine.

Read also: Swedens Pansarbandvagn 302 approved by Ukraine  but is it any good?

Aircraft

Despite its supposed military might, Russia has never been able to establish air superiority over Ukraine.

Vastly smaller than Russia's, Ukraine's Soviet-era air force, bolstered by Western-supplied air defense systems, has been able to retain a critical fighting capacity during the war, though not enough to dislodge Moscow's forces from occupied territory.

Statistic: Comparison of air forces of Russia and Ukraine as of 2024, by type | Statista



Find more statistics at Statista

After a very long wait, F-16 fighter jets have recently arrived in Ukraine, though it's too early to tell what effect they will have on the battlefield.

A special mention should go to one of the stars of the 2021 parade  the Mriya.

The world's largest transport aircraft, Ukrainian Antonov An-225 Mriya at the Independence Day military parade in Kyiv on August 24, 2021 ( Anatolii STEPANOV / AFP) (Photo by ANATOLII STEPANOV/AFP via Getty Images)

The Antonov An-225 Mriya was an engineering marvel  it was the heaviest aircraft ever built, and once held the record for the longest wingspan of any operational aircraft in the world.

It first flew in 1988 and was designed specifically to carry Soviet-era space shuttles.

And to get a sense of just how big it was, check out this video of it landing in Hostemel in 2021.

But just a few months after this video was filmed, the plane  the only one of its kind  was destroyed.

During January and February 2022 as the prospect of war grew, NATO officials advised Ukraine to redeploy the Mriya to the Leipzig Airport in Germany.

On Feb. 24 it was ready to go, but Russia's full-scale invasion put paid to any plans of moving the plane to a safe country.

The Antonov An-225 Mriya, the world's largest cargo plane, destroyed by Russian troops is pictured in Hostomel, Kyiv Oblast, northern Ukraine (Volodymyr Tarasov / Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

The Antonov airport was one of Russia's primary targets, and capturing it would have allowed Moscow's forces to land reinforcements and launch a larger attack on Kyiv, just 10 kilometers away.

Ukraine repelled the attack but the Mriya was destroyed in the fighting.

Read also: Morning in Sudzha: Inside Ukrainian-occupied Russia as Kursk operation continues

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KYIV (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has promoted his top army commander to a four-star general, his office said on Saturday, just weeks after Kyiv's surprise incursion into Russia's Kursk region.

Commander-in-Chief Oleksander Syrskyi, 59, who had held the military rank of colonel general, was promoted to a general, the decree published on the presidential website said.

Ukraine launched an offensive into Russia's Kursk region on Aug. 6. Kyiv has claimed control of more than 90 settlements and set up a military commandant office.

While the incursion into Kursk is an embarrassment for Russia, Moscow's forces have inched forward in recent months against Ukrainian troops in the eastern Donetsk region.

Syrskyi, who was born in 1965 in Russia's Vladimir region, has lived in Ukraine since the 1980s. He was appointed as Ukraine's army chief in February.

(Reporting by Olena Harmash; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
FILE PHOTO: Ukraine's President Zelenskiy speaks next to service members next to F-16 fighting aircrafts during marking the Day of the Ukrainian Air Forces in an undisclosed location in Ukraine

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has signed a law banning Moscow-linked religious organisations, the parliament website said on Saturday.

The bill approved by parliament earlier this month created the legal tools for the government to ban activities of a Russia-linked branch of the Orthodox church and paved the way for a historic rupture with an institution that Kyiv has accused of complicity in Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

(Reporting by Olena Harmash; Editing by Jan Harvey)
Ukrainian forces continue to advance near Sudzha in Russia's Kursk Oblast  ISW

Experts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), having analysed the data collected, have confirmed the advance of Ukrainian troops near the town of Sudzha in Russias Kursk Oblast.

Source: ISW

Quote: "Ukrainian forces continued to marginally advance near Sudzha amid continued Ukrainian operations in Kursk Oblast on 23 August."

Details: Geolocation footage released on 22 August indicated that Ukrainian forces had recently advanced further in the southern part of Russkaya Konopelka (east of Sudzha).

A Russian military blogger claimed that Ukrainian forces had also advanced north of Martynovka (northeast of Sudzha) along the R-200 Sudzha-Sukhodolovka road.

Russian sources also stated that there were conflicting reports of fighting east of Sudzha in the area of Samoryadovo and Kozyrevka, but that mobile groups of Ukrainian troops were likely operating in the area.

Some Russian bloggers claimed that Ukrainian troops had also advanced north of Martynovka (northeast of Sudzha).

They also noted that Russian troops had retaken Spalnoye and Krupets (both southeast of Sudzha), although the situation in the area remains unclear.

The same bloggers said that Russian troops had repelled a Ukrainian platoon-sized mechanised attack near Alexandrovka (northeast of Korenevo).

One of these bloggers claimed that on 23 August, Russian troops recaptured positions west of Korenevo, suggesting that Ukrainian forces had recently operated west of the village.

At the same time, Russian sources stressed that on 22 and 23 August, fighting continued along the entire line of contact in Kursk Oblast.

Sabrina Singh, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary, said that the US is gaining a better understanding of Ukraine's goals in Kursk Oblast and noted that Ukraine wants to establish a buffer zone there.

Singh added that the US is still working to determine how the buffer zone meets Ukraine's strategic objectives and that the US continues to provide materiel to support Ukraine's needs on the battlefield.

She explained that the current US restrictions on Ukraine's ability to use US-provided weapons to strike military targets in the Russian border area allow Ukrainian forces to return fire in defence against Russian attacks across the border, including in Kursk Oblast.

To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 23 August:

Ukrainian forces continued to marginally advance near Sudzha amid continued Ukrainian operations in Kursk Oblast on 23 August.

Ukrainian officials continue to highlight how Ukrainian forces can leverage tactical and technological advantages to offset Russian materiel advantages.

US President Joe Biden announced a new military assistance package for Ukraine following a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on 23 August.

Ukrainian forces reportedly conducted another drone strike against the oil depot in Proletarsk, Russias Rostov Oblast, on 23 August.

Islamic State (IS)-affiliated inmates took prison employees and other inmates hostage at a penal colony in Surovikino, Russias Volgograd Oblast, on 23 August.

Russian milbloggers reacted to the hostage crisis with criticisms of the Russian prison system and migration policy.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed India's support for peace in Ukraine on the basis of India's participation in Ukraine's July 2024 peace summit and signed several bilateral cooperation agreements during a visit to Ukraine.

Russian forces recently advanced near Kreminna, Toretsk, Pokrovsk, and the city of Donetsk.

Russian authorities continue efforts to leverage conscripts to free up manpower elsewhere for combat operations in Ukraine.

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Hackers of Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) carried out on Aug. 24 a mass cyberattack on the servers of Russian Internet providers and blocked "dozens" of online platforms of industrial facilities in Russia, a military intelligence source told the Kyiv Independent.

The recent attack affected at least 33 servers and 283 office computers at industrial facilities, took down 21 websites, and destroyed 15 cloud and file storages. Ukrainian hackers also left pro-Ukrainian messages on the affected online platforms, according to the source.

Russian users were complaining about malfunctions of Rostelecom, a digital service provider, and unstable Internet connection at MTC and Beeline mobile operators, as well as at Yandex, a multinational technology company, and its services.

Russian platforms that suffered cyberattacks support and finance Russia's war against Ukraine, the source added.

Dozens of services belonging to industrial facilities that support the Russian military-industrial complex were also attacked.

Ukrainian hackers targeted the network infrastructure of factories and companies that produce equipment for Russian law enforcement agencies, aircraft and helicopter components, as well as supply hardware and software, servers, and processors, among other products.

The cloud and file storages of Russian Internet providers, including Mail.ru, one of the most visited Russian Internet portals, were under attack. At least two dozen websites of companies that manufacture lighting equipment, diesel power plants, hosting providers, and ballistic protection products were also affected, according to the source.

Ukrainian hackers have been attacking Russian online platforms on a regular basis since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022.

A large-scale cyberattack in late June left at least 250,000 consumers in occupied Crimea and other Russian-controlled territories without communication, a military intelligence source told the Kyiv Independent.

The June attack reportedly affected both the networks of consumers and operators that used the impacted infrastructure on Russian-occupied territories. Representatives of Russian providers called it "the most powerful DDoS attack they have ever experienced," the HUR said.

In July, Ukraine's military intelligence agency carried out a cyberattack against the Russian banking system, targeting several top banks. As a result, Russian bank users were unable to withdraw cash, and when they tried to use an ATM, their debit and credit cards were immediately blocked.

Read also: Russian phishing campaign targets Kremlins enemies at home and abroad

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Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, pictured at a press conference at the Ukraine Conference. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed into law a ban on the Moscow-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), according to an entry in Ukraine's legislative database.

The ban, which was highly controversial, was justified on the basis of support from the church - also known as the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate - for the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It affects some 3 million congregants.

The church condemned the invasion and broke away from the Russian Patriarchate in 2022. Zelensky's government has nevertheless accused it of justifying Russian crimes against its own people and of disseminating Russian propaganda.

Many of its clerics are suspected of spying for Russia or observing for Russian artillery attacks.

The head of the much larger Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), Metropolitan Epiphanius I, has called for congregants of the OUC to come over to his branch.

Moscow continues to take the view that Ukraine remains part of Russia with respect to religion as well. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Sakharova said when the ban was passed by the Ukrainian parliament: "The aim is to destroy the deeply canonical true Orthodoxy."

Moscow also accused Ukraine of violating its citizens' right to freedom of worship.
Editor's note: This story is unlocked for subscribers and non-subscribers as a matter of public safety.

STEVENSVILLE  Evacuations were ordered Friday night due to a new wildfire near Stevensville that rapidly torched at least 1,600 acres of timber on the east side of St. Mary's Peak.

Just before 9 p.m., Ravalli County Sheriff Steve Holton ordered evacuations for areas near the base of St. Mary's Peak, on the west side of U.S. Highway 93.

The evacuation order covered "Kootenai Creek, west of the intersection of Timber Trail, to include residences on Timber Trail; west of the west side of Sharrott Hill Loop, to include residences on Blue Grouse Lane, Redtail Hawk Lane, and Porcupine Lane; Marmot Lane west of St. Mary's Road; (and) St. Mary's Lookout Road, west of the intersection of St. Mary's Road."

"This is the time to move out of the area IMMEDIATELY for safety reasons," the Sheriff's Office said. "This is not the time to move personal property and livestock. If you choose to ignore the order, you must understand that emergency responders MAY NOT BE ABLE TO assist you, and no other persons will be allowed into the area."

Deputies were going door-to-door to alert residents.

A map from the Sheriffs Office (see bottom of story) showed about 40 residential addresses  some with multiple structures  within the area subject to the evacuation order. The agency later stated that the Red Cross established an evacuation center in Stevensville at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 100 Middle Burnt Fork Road. The center was offering lodging and food, as well as medical and mental health resources, but no showers. There was also room for campers but no camper utility hookups.

The Sharrott Creek fire was ignited by lightning around 3:45 p.m., according to the U.S. Forest Service, as a line of powerful thunderstorms moved north up the Bitterroot Valley with strong winds and sporadic lightning. The fire ignited on the Bitterroot National Forest, 3 miles west of Highway 93 and 4.3 miles west of historic downtown Stevensville.

The fire was estimated at 1,600 acres by 8:15 p.m. after beginning to fill the valley below with smoke hours earlier as winds pushed east down the mountain. Ash rained down on the highway near Stevensville.

"Due to extreme wind and conditions caused by thunderstorms, the fire is running, torching and long-range spotting up hill and to the north," Alexandra Stuart, a public information officer for fire management, wrote in a statement Friday evening.

In a social media update, the Bitterroot National Forest stated that aerial and ground firefighting resources had been ordered for the fire. An air-attack plane, which coordinates firefighting aircraft and provides a view of the fire from above, was already circling the fire shortly after it ignited. Firefighting aircraft were initially grounded due to high winds immediately after the fire ignited.

By 6 p.m., a variety of large air tankers (LATs)  narrow-body passenger jets converted to each carry 3,000 gallons of fire retardant  were working the blaze. A very-large air tanker (VLAT), a wide-body DC-10 tri-jet with a 9,400-gallon capacity, was flying over from Helena. At least one helicopter was dropping buckets of water on the fire.

Thirty firefighters were assigned to the fire. A national-level incident management team was ordered for the fire, Stuart wrote.

Stuart also wrote that the Forest Service would close the areas around Kootenai Creek, St. Mary's Peak Trail, Big Creek and Bass Creek.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Photos: Inside the Sharrott Creek fire on Aug. 23-24
Editor's note: This is the transcript of President Volodymyr Zelensky's address released by the President's Office on Aug. 24, 2024, Ukraine's 33rd Independence Day.

"Dear people!

Ukrainians always pay back their debts. And whoever wished misery upon our land shall find it in their own home. With interest. Whoever seeks to sow evil on our land will reap its fruits on their own territory.

This is not a prophecy, not gloating, not blind revenge; it is a pattern. It is justice. A boomerang for evil. And its launch began not far from the place where I am recording this address. The Sumy region. Mohrytsya. The river of Psel. A few kilometers from our border.

The border between Ukraine and oppression, between life and death. The border between an independent European state and the number one terrorist organization in the world.

913 days ago, Russia unleashed war against us, including through the Sumy region. It violated not only our sovereign borders, but also the limits of cruelty and common sense. It was endlessly striving for one thing: to destroy us. Instead, today we celebrate the 33rd Independence Day of Ukraine. And whatever the enemy was bringing to our land has now returned to their home. And the one who wanted to turn our land into a buffer zone should think about preventing his country from becoming a buffer federation. This is how independence responds. It retaliates for our civilians, who are targeted by guided aerial bombs and Kinzhals, for our parents who have turned gray, for our children who are forced to study underground. For all our people who would prefer never to know the names of these cursed places in their lives: Savasleyka, Olenya, Engels. But unfortunately, Ukrainians know them. That is why, our enemy will also know what the Ukrainian-way retaliation is. Worthy, symmetrical, long-ranged. They will know that sooner or later a Ukrainian response will reach any point in the Russian Federation that is a source of danger to the life of our state and our people.

The faded eyes of their chief perceive the whole world as a gray zone. But we will not allow to turn into a gray zone our lands, where the blue and yellow flag rightly belongs. A sick old man from the Red Square, who constantly threatens everyone with the red button, will not dictate any of his red lines to us. Only Ukraine and Ukrainians will determine how to live, what path to take, and what choice to make. Because this is how independence works.

Ukraine astonishes once again. Russia reverts once again to its repertoire. This is how the world media generally portray the events in the Kursk region. They show how Russia treats its citizens, whom it calls the population. How Russia does not abandon their own. How their soldiers loot their local shops. This is what Putin's Russia looks like in the eyes of the world. And in the same way, the entire world sees how our warriors provide water, food, and medicine to the local people, who say: It's good that you are here now, not the Kadyrovites. This is what Ukraine's dignity looks like. Civility. The virtue of our independence.

33 years ago, Ukraine was reborn on the maps of the world, and today Ukraine wins the hearts of the entire world. It inspires with courage. It serves as an example of how not to be afraid of Putin. And it unites the world around its Ukrainian worldview: in the 21st century, terrorists should find their reckoning in The Hague, not comfort in Valday. And no one else in the world will say: Where is Ukraine? Because every continent now says: Ukraine must win. This fuels our independence. Our Ukraine. It has no lack of foreign regions. We need peace and tranquility on our lands. Along our entire 6,992-kilometer border. On land, at sea, in the air, inside the country  wherever we stand guard for our values.

Just like our warriors do. In all directions of the front line and the state border, which is symbolized by the border pillars. And our will and struggle are symbolized by our people  our defenders, our pillars. Those on whose shoulders Ukraine stands strong. It stands strong in Kharkiv, in Kupiansk, in Zaporizhzhia region, it stands strong in Kherson region. In Pokrovsk, Toretsk, Chasiv Yar. On the Lyman, Siversk, Kramatorsk, Kurakhove, Vremivka, Huliaipilske, and Orikhiv directions. This is how independence fights. And I want to say to all our warriors today: I wish you a strong one! And thank you, guys! When the need to defend Ukraine arose, you shortly said: plus. Since then, for 913 days in a row, you have been applying a "minus" to the occupiers. Only you know how much effort, sweat, blood and your extremely hard work is really hidden behind the dry statistics of enemy losses. Only you know what it really means to hold a position. What it means to be pinned down by enemy artillery and aircraft all day long. What it means to stand firm when the orcs are pushing. You have preserved and are preserving our independence.

I thank everyone who helps our warriors and our state, all those who live and work to keep our independence working and living. Our medical workers, our rescuers, our firefighters, power engineers, our volunteers and entrepreneurs, police officers and farmers, railroad workers, teachers and students. All of them. Ukrainians here, Ukrainians abroad, who help, find, send the necessary supplies, tell the world about Ukraine. And everyone who stays with Ukraine in the temporarily occupied territories. All Ukrainians whose strength has no borders, whose will is boundless. All those to whom I am immensely grateful. And today. And for each of the 913 days of this war. For the cause of each of you. For proving that independence is a cause for everyone. And it has many dimensions. Each of which must be gained to secure comprehensive independence. This is economic, this is energy independence. This is the spiritual independence of the Ukrainian people. And Ukrainian Orthodoxy today is taking a step toward liberation from the devils of Moscow. This is also the realization of justice for the awards of an independent Ukraine, which will never again be worn by those who betrayed it. This is the realization of justice for foreign heroes who defend Ukraine on the frontline and deserve Ukrainian honor  our citizenship. These are inevitable processes that have been launched by us today. This is how independence is strengthened.

And there should be a solid border between us and the enemy, and there will be no walls between Ukrainians. Because Ukraine is in each one of us. Independence is in each one of us. And united, we are able to win. It was proven by February 24. It was proven by 2022 and 2023. This year is proving it as well. We have withstood, restrained and repelled the enemy, and now we continue to do so in their swamps.

We know what independence is. How difficult it is to revive it. How difficult it is to defend it. But we know: everything depends on us.

We know what independence looks like. On the morning of Feb. 24, it was in our eyes. Today, independence is in the trenches in all directions. It is in our cities and villages: in each episode when we find the best in ourselves, find Ukraine in ourselves, and fight for it. Independence today has tired eyes that have seen it all. Independence smiles when Ukrainians succeed. Independence is silence when we lose our people. Independence is the oath to never forget the fallen heroes. Independence tastes of smoke and dust on the battlefield and in civilian life. Independence descends into the shelter during an air raid alert to survive and to rise again to tell the enemy again: you will not succeed. You will fail. You will not prevail. And you will be held accountable for everything.

This is how we feel freedom. This is what Ukraine looks like. This is what independence looks like. And this is what it sounds like.

Happy Independence Day, Ukrainians!

Glory to Ukraine!"

Read also: How well do you know modern Ukrainian history? (QUIZ)

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Lets not just achieve the American dream; lets be worthy of it.-Amanda Gorman

Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans, born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage, and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world. Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty. -John F. Kennedy

In his 1961 inaugural address, President John F. Kennedy heralded the beginning of a new era. For us baby boomers, JFK championed the cause and grabbed the baton for freedom. At 43 he was the youngest person ever elected president. He was the first Catholic to win the office. He had fought heroically in World War II but had a post-war consciousness. He was pro-civil rights and equal rights for women. Both were radical ideas at the time. He started the Apollo space program and the Peace Corp. He and his wife, Jackie, hung out with movie stars and cultural icons. They were like Camelot, the Left Bank and Super Bowl all rolled into one. For us they represented the best of what we hoped we could be.

However, we treated our beloved earth like an empty soda to be whimsically discarded. We pursued programs that poisoned the air and set in motion forces that are warming the planet past habitability. We havent yet cured ourselves of the diseases of violence, war and exploitation. We have not learned how to share our bountiful resources with those less well-situated. We are still seeking ways to protect our children from being killed by monsters at home and abroad. Though we were well instructed by our elders we have still not taught ourselves how to love our neighbors.

Last week in Chicagos aptly named United Center we watched the torch being passed once again in joyful ritual to a new generation of Americans  held high by Kamala Harris, born of Jamaican and South Indian immigrants. Standing on the shoulders of Shirley Chisholm, Sandra Day OConnor, Hillary Clinton and others she became the first woman of color to be nominated by a major party to run for President of the United States.

It happened because a boomer, Joe Biden, valued his country more than his personal ambition. He passed the baton with grace and dignity. You go, Joe. Others were honored and solemnized by their presence, the Obamas, Bill Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Rev. Al, Jesse Jackson. Even Oprah made an appearance. Rumor is that President Jimmy Carter, approaching his 100th birthday, has refused to die until he can vote for Kamala. The Democratic newbies were there to help raise the USA banner and keep democracy at the top of the podium.

The job is not done. There is still an election to be won, a planet to be saved, wars to end, rights to be expanded and restored, and, as Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said, freedom is on the ballot. We still must save the children, spread the joy and share the wealth.

We have been privileged to witness the new generation who will try. They will fail at some tasks and succeed at others. Loving and supporting their efforts, let us embrace each other with patience and kindness, roll up our sleeves like Rosie the Riveter and get to work. God bless America. May we all be worthy of the dream.

Charles Dumas is a lifetime political activist, a professor emeritus from Penn State, and was the Democratic Partys nominee for U.S. Congress in 2012. He lives with his partner and wife of 50 years in State College.
(COLORADO SPRINGS)  One of the main reasons that Colorado gets such interesting weather is because of the Rocky Mountains. The 14,400-foot rock wall tends to disrupt our atmosphere and usher in unique weather.

Friday morning featured several lenticular clouds across the Pikes Peak Region as conditions were nearly perfect for these clouds to form. The video below shows those clouds as well as a separate video from Woodland Park a few years ago.

Lenticular clouds are often considered unique due to the specific conditions needed for them to form. Typically, a significant barrier of some kind is needed to disrupt the airflow in our upper atmosphere.

In the case of Colorado, the candidate for that task is obvious: the Rocky Mountains. Other mountain barriers and even man-made structures are also capable of satisfying this requirement.

Besides a physical barrier, lenticular clouds also require a few other ingredients to form.

Here in Colorado, these clouds typically start when semi-stable air is forced up against the west side of the mountains. From there, the deflection in the atmospheres flow allows for a gravity wave to potentially form on the east side of the mountain range. Gravity waves arent necessarily visible to the naked eye, but if clouds are able to form within the ripple  the wave becomes apparent in the form of lenticular clouds.

On the left side of the mountains (the east side here in Colorado), the gravity wave sets up an oscillation of wind patterns for different dynamics to come into play. The air above the mountain range also needs to have a good amount of moisture present to help the lenticular clouds form.

As the moisture interacts with the ups and downs of the wind field over the east side of the Rockies, clouds are able to rapidly form and dissipate. This gives lenticular clouds an almost stationary appearance even as the flow of the atmosphere would push any other normal cloud into a new position.

The timelapse above showcases this stationary feature well and is also a great visual for the peaks and valleys of the gravity wave. Recall that the lenticular clouds form with the rising moist air, and where there is sinking air you see a gap in the clouds with sunshine.

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University at Buffalo releases new policies for campus protests ahead of fall semester

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  The University at Buffalo released drafts of its new policies on protests, postings and encampments on campus ahead of the fall semester, the university announced Thursday.

The drafts of its new time, place and manner policies come after students took to UBs North Campus in May to hold pro-Palestine protests, calling for ceasefire and UBs divestment from Israel, as well as protests calling for the release of hostages, amid the Israel-Hamas War.

UB started a 30-day comment and review period for both new and revised policies. The drafts have been shared with the universitys policy review group, faculty senate and students representing the Student Association and Graduate Student Association, UB said in a UBNow article.

Postings, such as flyers, leaflets, projections, letters, and more, are only allowed to be posted on general-use bulletin boards, the draft said. It stated that postings on doors, windows, trees, light poles, bus stops, vehicles, walls, and in elevators, are prohibited. Chalking on buildings, sidewalks and roadways is also not allowed.

Students who want to post on bulletin boards for certain departments, offices or organizations have to get permission from that group, UB said. UB would have the authority to remove postings if the rules arent followed.

Students caught in the middle of protest at UB North speak out

Under the assembling policy draft, protests cant interfere with building entrances, the privacy of university housing, offices or pedestrian and vehicular traffic, UB said. Outdoor assemblies in public spaces are allowed, but protests cant disturb classes, events and meetings, according to the draft.

Amplification equipment during protests is also prohibited.

The draft removed language on specific time limits for assemblies or demonstrations, UB said.

As in the previous policy, encampments or any type of camping is still strictly prohibited, besides in residence halls and apartments, the draft said.

The university also said it must remain viewpoint neutral, even if the viewpoints contradict their own.

Police make 15 arrests during protest at UB North

Along with its protesting policy drafts, UB is discussing the development of a new policy related to the use of outside law enforcement agencies. A draft policy also will be shared and reviewed with its policy group and university community, UB said.

The draft policies are open to additional revisions that can be suggested at the end of the comment and review period, UB said.

The university encourages feedback from its community during the 30-day comment period. For more information on the new policies, 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.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Benton, called on the Kentucky legislature to put more funding into improving treatment and conditions for Kentucky kids being held in detention. (LRC photo)

Sen. Danny Carroll slammed the Kentucky legislature on Friday for not funding his proposal to spend $22 million on a special mental health juvenile detention facility.

The West Kentucky Republican filed Senate Bill 242 during the 2024 session, which would have also created a process to test and treat minors with serious mental health issues in the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). The bill passed the Senate and died in the House.

By that bill dying in the house, we have left DJJ hanging, Carroll said during a meeting of the Juvenile Justice Oversight Council. We have directed them to do certain things, and we didnt give them the money to do it.

He called the bills death one of the most disappointing times in my entire career in this legislature.

We as a legislature, we have pointed fingers at DJJ. We have pointed fingers at the governor. And now, we have some culpability in this problem because we had the opportunity to finish this out. We had the opportunity to establish a mental health detention center to treat the most severe kids that are detained and we didnt do it. We let the bill die. We have a crisis in this commonwealth that everybody agreed was a crisis, until it came time to pay for it, and then all of a sudden, it wasnt a crisis.

All eight of Kentuckys youth detention centers are under federal investigation for possible abuses. Meanwhile, advocates worry about a new state law requiring more kids charged with violent offenses to be held in Kentuckys troubled juvenile jails.

Another new state law, passed in 2024, allows more minors to be tried as adults, which could also increase the number of juveniles in detention.

With (the Department of Justice) being in town, were going to probably  end up under another consent decree in the commonwealth, Carroll said. And my colleagues in the legislature, its on us.

I'm going to catch heck for this, but at this point, I really don't care. We have let our kids down, no question about it, and we've got to fix this, and we've got to fix it soon.

 Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Benton

Carrolls bill allocated $90 million for building two all-female regional detention facilities as well. Female juvenile inmates are currently being transferred to Boyd County.

Maybe this next session, we finalize how the regional centers are going to be set up, and then we also need to, once again, approach the mental health detention center that we had planned, he said.

Kentucky recently finished the fiscal year with a $2 billion General Fund surplus plumping up the Budget Reserve Trust Fund to $5 billion. Both statutory triggers were met for reducing the state income tax rate by another half percentage point in 2025 to 3.5%, which would be the third income tax reduction since 2022. Reducing the income tax is a top priority for the Republicans who control the legislature.

Republican lawmakers in recent years have repeatedly blamed Gov. Andy Beshear for violence and understaffing in juvenile detention facilities and criticized the administration for mismanagement. Sen. David Givens, R-Greensburg,in May said the federal investigation into DJJ should be a crucial wake-up call for the Beshear administration.

Beshear criticized the legislature for not funding Carrolls mental health facility, among other things.

In January, a report from Republican Auditor Allison Ball found disorganization across facilities and a lack of leadership from the Beshear Administration within DJJ. She also criticized the Beshear administration for the unacceptably poor treatment of Kentucky youth.

Carroll called for more unity in approaching solutions to the crises within DJJ.

Theres been a lot of finger pointing back and forth with this and folks, its time for that to stop. Weve got kids with mental health issues that are sitting in jail cells today and will be there a longer period of time because this legislature failed to act, and thats unacceptable, he said. We cannot point fingers. We cannot start blaming and then just let it die during the session. Were no better than who were pointing fingers at if we do that. And thats what happened last session.

Im going to catch heck for this, but at this point, I really dont care, Carroll added. We have let our kids down, no question about it, and weve got to fix this, and weve got to fix it soon.

Staffing issues improving

During the same meeting Friday, DJJ staff said the staffing issues that have plagued the department are on the mend. Still, there remain 100 funded but vacant positions, according to Myrissa Ritter, a human resource branch manager in the Justice and Public Safety Office.

From July 2023 to July 2024, DJJ detention staff increased from 344 to 448, Ritter told lawmakers. Security staff increased 274 to 329, making for the most significant growth, she said.

Mental health employees such as social workers, clinicians and psychologists increased from 217 to 241 over the past year as well. Youth workers and administrative staff numbers also improved, from 581 to 615 in the same time frame.

Ritter credited Senate Bill 162, a law passed by the legislature in 2023 that allocated millions toward improving salaries for DJJ employees. With that money, Ritter said, DJJ can now start correctional employees out at $50,000 a year instead of the previous $30,000.

While we have made significant progress in staffing, she said, we will continue to seek ways to ensure that the department remains adequately staffed.

Sen. Whitney Westerfield, who co-chairs the council, asked about the current conditions of facilities. DJJ Commissioner Randy White, who serves on the council, said that by and large, the infrastructures are okay right now.

One facility has a stuck thermostat thats being repaired, he said, and there are some drain lines in need of repair.

We are prepared for heat, but one never knows, he said, because repair needs evolve.

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US Navy supercarrier gets drone command center that will operate $136 million 'Stingray' drones

The US Navy has installed a new drone control center on the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier.

The command center will operate MQ-25 "Stingray" drones.

Drones are becoming increasingly important in modern warfare.

The US Navy has installed a new drone command center on board the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) aircraft carrier, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) said in a press release.

The Unmanned Air Warfare Center (UAWC) will operate MQ-25 "Stingray" drones  $136 million unmanned aircraft systems that will be used to refuel fighter jets such as the F/A-18 Super Hornet, the EA-18G Growler, and the F-35C in the air, extending the Navy's strike range.

Capt. Daniel Fucito, the program manager for the Unmanned Carrier Aviation Program, said the control center "lays the foundation for how the U.S. Navy will operate and control unmanned aircraft, and perhaps other unmanned vehicles."

"These systems will initially support the MQ-25 but also future unmanned systems such as Collaborative Combat Aircraft that comprise the Air Wing of the Future," he added.

The UAWC's operational networks will undergo at-sea testing early next year.

The drone control center. NAVAIR

The Boeing-made MQ-25 drone is set to hit Initial Operational Capability in 2026.

The drone, which is 51 feet long and has a range of around 580 miles, will be "the world's first operational, carrier-based unmanned aircraft," according to NAVAIR.

It comes amid a wider push by the Department of Defense to upgrade the US's drone capabilities.

Drones have become an increasingly core part of modern warfare, with the Russia-Ukraine war in particular putting the unmanned systems under the spotlight.

The US Navy has also been embroiled in a drone battle with the Houthi rebels over the Red Sea.

The Yemeni group began attacking shipping with drones and missiles in the region in October in a show of support for the Palestinian militant group Hamas in its conflict with Israel.

Bryan Clark, a former Navy submariner and a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute previously told the Associated Press that the US Navy was facing "the most sustained combat" it has seen since World War II as it battled the group's attacks.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The U.S. imposed sweeping sanctions Friday on hundreds of firms in Russia and across Europe, Asia and the Middle East, accusing them of providing products and services that enable Russias war effort and aiding its ability to evade sanctions.

Among those sanctioned by the Treasury Department were 60 Russian-based technology and defense companies, including three Russian financial tech companies. Also sanctioned were firms in Turkey, France and Hong Kong that act as suppliers to Russia-based Promtekh, a wholesale distributor of transportation equipment, and an ammunition procurement network connected to Italian and Turkish nationals, who also face sanctions.

Friday's action is the latest in a series of thousands of U.S. sanctions that have been imposed on Russian firms and their suppliers in other nations since Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The effectiveness of the sanctions has been questioned, especially as Russia has continued to support its economy by selling oil and gas on international markets.

Additionally, the State Department designated people and firms involved in Russias energy, metals and mining exports; drone production; subsidiaries of Russian state-owned nuclear energy corporation Rosatom; and people the U.S. says were involved in kidnapping Ukrainian children and making them identify as Russian.

The announcement comes one day before Ukraines independence day and as Ukrainian forces push into Russias Kursk region.

Friday's action is intended to make good on commitments that President Joe Biden made with his Group of Seven counterparts in Italy this summer to disrupt Russia's military supply chains and drive up costs for its war machine.

Russia has turned its economy into a tool in service of the Kremlins military industrial complex," Treasury Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo said in a statement announcing the sanctions. Companies, financial institutions, and governments around the world need to ensure they are not supporting Russias military-industrial supply chains.

Earlier this year, the U.S. passed an aid package for Ukraine that allows the administration to seize Russian state assets located in the U.S. and use them for the benefit of Kyiv.

Shortly thereafter, the leaders of the Group of Seven wealthy democracies agreed to engineer a $50 billion loan to help Ukraine in its fight for survival. Interest earned on profits from Russias $300 billion in frozen central bank assets mostly in Europe would be used as collateral.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox speaks at a press conference announcing a lawsuit from the state seeking to take control of to 18.5 million acres of federally managed land in Utah. (Photo by Kyle Dunphey/Utah News Dispatch)

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox speaks at a press conference announcing a lawsuit from the state seeking to take control of to 18.5 million acres of federally managed land in Utah. (Photo by Kyle Dunphey/Utah News Dispatch)

Utah is suing the federal government over how it manages public land in the state, again.

But unlike past legal challenges, which target specific national monuments or policies, the scope of the lawsuit filed with the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday is massive, questioning whether the Bureau of Land Managements claim to 18.5 million acres of land  about 34% of the entire state  is legitimate.

State politicians call it historic. Environmental and public land advocacy groups say its a land grab. Regardless, the lawsuit has the potential to upend how the Bureau of Land Management operates in Utah and possibly the Western U.S.

The lawsuit targets unappropriated public land. That doesnt include Utahs five national parks, or any of the states national monuments, national forests, or recreation or wilderness areas, which represent about half of the federal public land in the state.

The other half, which is about 34% of the entire state, according to officials, is unappropriated land that the U.S. government is simply holding on to, without properly reserving it for any designated purpose, Attorney General Sean Reyes said on Tuesday.

That deprives Utah of its sovereignty, Reyes said, by holding land regardless of how it impacts residents or state business.

Utah cannot manage, police or care for more than two thirds of its own territory because its controlled by people who dont live in Utah, who arent elected by Utah citizens and not responsive to our local needs, Reyes said.

That means the state cant impose taxes on that land, or impose eminent domain to build critical infrastructure like public roads or communication systems, Reyes said. Nor can the state exercise legislative authority over how to use the land.

The 90-plus page complaint asks the U.S. Supreme Court whether its constitutional for the federal government to hold unappropriated land in the state indefinitely.

This is a question we and many Western states have had for decades, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said on Tuesday, speaking to a room packed full of lawmakers, bureaucrats, county-level politicians and reporters. Reyes, as well as Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, and House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, also spoke.

There are only a handful of entities allowed to petition directly to the U.S. Supreme Court, including states that have a dispute with the federal government. Even though it could be a more streamlined process than filing with a lower court, the process could still take years. And thats assuming the high court agrees to hear the case.

If the Supreme Court declines to take up the case, Cox said the state will go back and file a complaint with a federal district court.

Whether its the Supreme Court or a lower district, the legal challenge will cost taxpayers money. The legislature appropriated about $20 million to fight the legal challenge, Reyes said, though he believes it wont cost nearly that much.

What weve spent currently or plan to spend is, I dont have an exact number, but its a fraction, Reyes said, telling reporters the state will save money by filing the lawsuit with the Supreme Court because it wont have to litigate in federal district courts.

In an email Tuesday, University of Utah law professor John Ruple agreed with some of the governors sentiment, telling Utah News Dispatch there is room for improvement when it comes to how federal land is managed.

However, the U.S. Constitution is clear that Congress, not the individual states, makes decisions about our federal public lands, said Ruple, a research professor of law at the universitys S.J. Quinney College of Law, and director of the Wallace Stegner Center for Land, Resources and the Environments Law and Policy Program.

To rule in Utahs favor, Ruple said the Supreme Court would have to reinterpret longstanding constitutional provisions, upsetting 150 years of settled Supreme Court law and destabilizing land ownership throughout the West.

Thats a big lift. I cant help but wonder whether a less adversarial approach would have been more effective, he said.

What if Utah wins?

If Utahs lawsuit is successful, setting forth a process where 18.5 million acres is placed under state control, it would unravel the current, decadesold structure of federal land management.

But its something state officials have anticipated for years, passing a bill in 2017 that creates the prospective Utah Department of Land Management, which would essentially become Utahs version of the BLM.

Much of that unappropriated land is offered up as parcels for grazing, oil and gas production, mining or recreation  those leases would instead be managed by the Department of Land Management.

Redge Johnson, director of the states Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office, said Utah would honor all existing leases, but instead of the BLM, lease holders would meet with state employees. Johnson, acknowledging that its very much still a hypothetical scenario, said the state would likely hire many BLM employees.

Theyre great people, we have a lot of good people at the local level that we work with. Its the decisions that come out of (Washington) D.C. that we find problematic, he said.

Other federal entities, like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which doesnt necessarily own unappropriated land but does work on it, would likely be able to operate as it did previously.

The state has long had grievances with the federal governments hold on land. It has filed lawsuits looking to repeal the Biden administrations re-designation of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments, a travel plan in Grand County that closed a number of rugged dirt roads near wilderness areas, and a recent rule allowing parcels of Bureau of Land Management land to be leased for conservation.

Those policies were all cited Tuesday as examples of federal overreach.

For the entire time that weve existed as a state, Utahs public lands have been a treasured heritage for all of us. For many years, decades even, the question of how to best manage Utahs lands has been at the forefront of our states critical issues, Cox said. The crazy thing is that all this time, we have not had control of nearly 70% of our land. I want you to think about that for just a second. Utah does not have the ability to manage over two thirds of our state.

This lawsuit isnt worth the paper its printed on: Environmental groups respond

A number of environmental groups responded to the announcement on Tuesday, calling Utahs lawsuit an attempted land grab and accusing the state of wasting taxpayer money, while threatening some of the states most iconic landscapes.

The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, a litigious nonprofit that has previously intervened in several lawsuits in opposition to Utah, called Tuesdays announcement another example of Utah being the most anti-public lands state in the country.

Utahns and visitors travel to our state to experience stunning redrock canyons, spires, and mesas; public lands that are owned by all Americans and managed on their behalf by the federal government and its expert agencies, said the groups legal director, Steve Bloch. All of that is at risk with Utahs saber rattling and insistence that many of these remarkable landscapes are instead state lands that should be developed and ultimately destroyed by short-sighted state politicians.

The Center For Western Priorities, a public lands advocacy group, said Utahs legal argument was likely to fail, telling Utah News Dispatch it isnt worth the paper its printed on.

One hundred and thirty years ago, the people of Utah agreed to forever disclaim all right and title to national public lands when Utah became a state. What part of forever isnt clear to you, governor? The property clause of the Constitution gives Congress, and only Congress, authority to transfer or dispose of federal lands. Thats the beginning, middle, and end of this lawsuit, said the groups deputy director, Aaron Weiss, who urged the governor and other state leaders to abandon the suit before they waste millions of taxpayer dollars enriching out-of-state lawyers on this pointless lawsuit.

And the Wilderness Society said the lawsuit was another example of Utah trying to undermine federal land management, pointing to the states other lawsuits.

In a statement, the groups senior legal director Alison Flint called the lawsuit a brazen and undemocratic attempt to force the handover of millions of acres of Americans public lands to the state  and ultimately to private companies planning to develop them.

The courts should reject these cynical, outrageous attempts to undermine and take control of Americas public lands, Flint said.

Utah News Dispatch originally published this article. Like the Alaska Beacon, the Utah News Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Utah News Dispatch maintains editorial independence.

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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  A West Valley City man is facing stalking charges after being accused of repeatedly calling several government offices in Salt Lake County and threatening employees, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Utah.

Ryan Gregory Bracken, 44, is being charged with five counts of stalking, as well as one count of interstate communication of threats, the attorneys office said in a press release.

READ NEXT: 3 arrested in connection to gang-related shooting that injured 2 in downtown SLC

In April 2024 alone, Bracken made about 32 calls to several Salt Lake County government offices, per information technology specialists with the county.

The attorneys office said Bracken called the Salt Lake County Recorders Office on April 1 and left a voicemail accusing employees in the office of being guilty of treason. He reportedly made a point of stating that the penalty for treason is death, according to officials.

Bracken had called the Recorders Office before, and his calls reportedly became increasingly verbally abusive and threatening, according to the attorneys office.

The next day, on April 2, officials said Bracken called the Salt Lake County Sheriffs Office and spoke with the sheriff about a fraudulent sale on his property. He reportedly threatened to open fire if someone went to his property to evict him and referenced his firearm, the attorneys office said.

In a separate call on the same day, Bracken made multiple threats that if the Sheriffs sale of his property occurred, he would hold the Sheriff responsible for treasonous acts and she would swing from a rope, the attorneys office said.

Homeland Security Investigations and the Salt Lake County Sheriffs Office are investigating the case. Bracken is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 27.

Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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NEW YORK  A vandal armed with spray paint is being sought by cops for scrawling antisemitic images along a busy Queens street, officials said Saturday.

The bearded suspect, wearing a striped shirt, gray sweat pants and a black backpack, left swastikas and other graffiti in blue paint on electrical boxes, walls, poles and other spots along in Woodhaven shortly after 12 a.m. on Aug. 14.

Local shopkeepers reported the graffiti to police, who recovered surveillance images of the man walking down the street holding a can of spray paint.

Members of the New York Police Departments Hate Crimes Task Force are investigating the swastika spree, police said.

The graffiti is being removed, City Councilwoman Joann Ariola said on X. We must stand united and send a clear message to those who wish to intimidate members of our community: nobody should be afraid to live here because of their race or religion. This kind of hate will not be tolerated.

Residents of the area noted on social media that the same paint color had been used in other graffiti that was not antisemitic and was found in the neighborhood over the summer.

Police on Saturday released images of the vandal hoping that someone recognizes him.
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  A Virginia Beach woman was sentenced on Thursday to four years in prison for two counts of wire fraud in several schemes resulting in over a million dollars in losses.

45-year-old Maria Gene Reich was president of a Virginia Beach-based business which offered bookkeeping, accounting and payroll services to small business clients. Beginning in February 2012, Reich helped with bookkeeping for a family-owned company. Reich was responsible for helping schedule and prepare checks to pay the companys bills.

Based on the agreement between Reich and the company, the maximum total compensation she should have received for services rendered to the company between January 2015 and December 2018 was $98,400.

However, Reich sent herself payments totaling $596,418 from the companys accounts, including 138 checks and 132 electronic payments. The financial analysis showed that Reich made 366 payments totaling approximately $629,265 to her Capital One personal and business credit card accounts using funds from the companys business bank accounts.

In total, Reich stole approximately $1,132,693 from the company.

In March 2020, Reich applied to the Small Business Administration (SBA) for a $150,000 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and requested a $150,000 loan.

In April 2021, Reich applied for a modification of the EIDL loan to increase the amount that Reich sent a large portion to her personal accounts.

In addition to a down payment for a house, Reich used the EIDL funds to put money into her minor childrens bank accounts and to make payments for her mortgages, credit cards, personal loan and life insurance policy.

In total, Reich illegally spent $249,102 of the EIDL funds she received.

Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.

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AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal)  A Dallas-based developer is defending a planned industrial project after two nearby Austin suburbs took legal action to stop its plans.

Velocis, a Dallas-based private equity real estate fund manager, is building a 270,000-square-foot industrial development known as the West Austin Business Park near State Highway 71 and Sweetwater Village Drive.

A Velocis spokesperson said Aug. 23 that the company wants to find an amicable way forward with the cities of Bee Cave and Lakeway, which are behind a lawsuit that alleges the project violates a 2015 development agreement that only allows for a commercial or office project to be built at the site.

Read the full story on Austin Business Journal.

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Venezuelas government said Friday it will order former opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez to provide sworn testimony in an ongoing investigation into what it considers attempts to spread panic in the South American country by contesting the results of last months presidential election.

Its the latest attempt by Nicolas Maduros government to crack down on opponents who claim they handily defeated the self-declared socialist leader.

Maduro has refused to recognize defeat and claims he won the July 28 election by more than 1 million votes, even though tally sheets by Gonzalezs campaign and published online show the president lost by a more than 2-to-1 margin. The U.S., United Nations and others said the vote lacked credibility and even some of Maduros leftist allies in Latin America have called on him to publish the voting records.

Venezuelas Attorney General Tarek William Saab at a press conference Friday accused the former candidate of trying to illegally usurp responsibilities that belong exclusively to the National Electoral Council.

Gonzalez went into hiding after the July 28 vote as security forces have rounded up more than 2,000 demonstrators and political activists for challenging the official results. Hes been joined underground by opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who picked Gonzalez as a last-minute stand-in after her own candidacy was disqualified.

Ruling party stalwarts have called for Gonzalez and Machados arrest but so far authorities have held off.

The Biden administration on Friday condemned a ruling by Venezuelas Supreme Court certifying Maduros win. The high court on Thursday said it had performed an audit of the results and found they matched the results announced by electoral authorities, adding that the tally sheets published online by the opposition were forged.

This ruling lacks all credibility, given the overwhelming evidence that Gonzalez received the most votes on July 28, U.S. State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said. Continued attempts to fraudulently claim victory for Maduro will only exacerbate the ongoing crisis.

Thanks to a superb ground game on election day, opposition volunteers managed to collect copies of voting tallies from 80 percent of the 30,000 polling booths nationwide. The tally sheets printed by each voting machine carry a QR code that makes it easy for anyone to verify the results and are almost impossible to replicate.

U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Friday called on Venezuela to act in a transparent manner and expressed concern about human rights violations.

Meanwhile, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, whose government is leading an attempt with Brazil and Colombia to resolve the dispute, said Friday that he will withhold recognizing Maduro as the winner until a breakdown of results are published.
A Vermont man who was fired from his job after he said a random drug test showed he used medical marijuana while off duty for chronic pain has lost his appeal to the Vermont Supreme Court over unemployment benefits.

Ivo Skoric, representing himself, told the justices at his hearing in May that he is legally prescribed medical cannabis by a doctor and that his work performance is not affected by the medicine. On Jan. 9, 2023, he was terminated from his part-time job cleaning and fueling buses at Marble Valley Regional Transit District in Rutland for misconduct after a drug test.

His job was a safety sensitive position, and he was required to possess a commercial drivers license and operate buses on occasion, the Supreme Court wrote. After the results of the drug test, he was terminated for violating U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Transit Administration regulation, the court wrote.

Skoric appealed to the state after he was found to be ineligible for unemployment benefits, but the Vermont Employment Security Board agreed with an administrative law judge, saying that Skoric engaged in conduct prohibited by the employers drug and alcohol policy and that because he was discharged for misconduct, he was disqualified from those benefits.

He told the Supreme Court justices in May that he should not have to choose between state benefits and the medical care the state granted him to use. The ACLU of Vermont, also representing Disability Rights Vermont and Criminal Justice Reform, also argued the benefits should not be denied.

Skoric sought a declaratory ruling on whether the misconduct disqualification applied to the off-duty use of medical cannabis, but the state declined to provide one. In its decision Friday, the Vermont Supreme Court said that the Labor Department properly declined to issue a declaratory ruling on the matter, noting that his violation of written workplace policy stood as an independent source of disqualifying misconduct.

Skoric said Friday that the Supreme Courts decision did not address the merits of his case.

It does not discuss whether an employee who is medical cannabis patient in Vermont has the right to use cannabis in the off-hours, he said by email.

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Victims son, 5 others indicted in 2020 murder of Lawtell man

Victims son, 5 others indicted in 2020 murder of Lawtell man

ST. LANDRY, La. (KLFY)  Six people were indicted in connection with the 2020 murder of a 66-year-old Lawtell man, a day after what would have been the victims 70th birthday, the St. Landry Parish District Attorney announced Friday.

District Attorney Chad Pitre said in a news release that the following people were indicted for the second-degree murder of Joseph Vallian:

Leeland Valliere, the victims son

Lester Johnson Jr.

Dennis Patrick Guillory Jr.

Dylan Young

Desmond Richard

Rasheed Zachary

Pitre said Vallian was found brutally beaten while tied up in his home in an apparent robbery homicide on Sept. 15, 2020.

Today we made progress in bringing justice to the family of this beloved gentleman while getting dangerous criminals off the street, Pitre said.

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Victims of Sicily Yacht Tragedy Formally Identified, Authorities Say Some Were Searching for Air Pockets in Final Moments

On Saturday, Aug. 24, Sicilian authorities held a press conference where the seven victims of the yacht sinking were identified

FAMILY HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Hannah (L) and Mike Lynch.

The seven victims who died after a superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily have been formally identified.

At a press conference on Saturday, Aug. 24, Termini Imerese prosecutor, Ambrogio Cartosio, shared more information on the tragedy and named the bodies that had been recovered. That included chef Recaldo Thomas and the six other victims recovered in the days after the yacht sank on Aug. 19. He also confirmed that the final body recovered on Friday, Aug. 23 was that of Hannah Lynch, daughter of the British tech entrepreneur, Mike Lynch.

"On the 22nd [of August] we recovered the body of Michael Lynch, and on the 23rd we recovered the body of his 18-year-old daughter. Michael Lynch's daughter is a young girl, who really affected everybody. Its a very serious tragedy," Cartosio said.

He also said that on Aug, 22, authorities recovered the bodies of prominent New York City attorney Christopher Morvillo and his wife, Neda, and Morgan Stanley International chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife, Judy.

Family Handout/PA Wire Jonathan (R) and Judy Bloomer.

Related: Yacht Sank in Sicily Due to Endless Chain of Errors,' Ship Maker's Owner Speculates: Everything Was Predictable

Girolamo Bentivoglio Fiandra, head of the Palermo Fire Bridgade, spoke at the press conference and shared details of the final moments of some of the victims and where they were recovered.

It was quite clear that people were trying to hide in the cabins. In the left-hand side we found the first 5 bodies in the left-hand side cabins, and the final body on the right-hand side. We found them on the highest part of the ship which was closer to the surface. The vessel had three cabins on each side.

He also said that the five who "took refuge in the cabins on the left side of the sailboat," had been "searching for air pockets."

Recaldo Thomas/Facebook Recaldo Thomas.

Lynch, 59, was acquitted of fraud and conspiracy charges just two months before he went missing. Morvillo, also 59, worked on the case, and Bloomer, 70, was a close friend to Lynch.

A source close to the survivors tells PEOPLE passengers on the yacht were celebrating Lynchs recent acquittal when the storm hit.

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.

Scott Eells/Bloomberg via Getty Christopher Morvillo, who died in the Sicily yacht tragedy alongside his wife, Neda.

Morvillo had previously worked as a federal prosecutor and "assisted in the criminal investigation arising out of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks," among other trials, according to his biography on the Clifford Chance website. His wife was said to be a fine jewelry designer.

"We are in shock and deeply saddened by this tragic incident," a spokesperson for the lawfirm says in a statement to PEOPLE.

"Our thoughts are with our Partner, Christopher Morvillo, and his wife Neda who are among the missing, and with their families," the spokesperson adds.

The Italian coast guard previously said 22 people were on the Bayesian, including 12 passengers and 10 crew, when the ship sank. Fifteen people were rescued, including Lynchs wife, Angela Bacares.

Eight people were reportedly taken to local hospitals after they were rescued.

Local news reports stated the body of a chef, Thomas, was found near the boat shortly after the storm subsided.

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Vigil to be held for woman killed in north Charlotte gas station

A candlelight vigil is being held Saturday night for a woman who was killed at a north Charlotte gas station.

Glandian Dixon died last Saturday at the QuikTrip on Trailer Drive.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said they believe Sam Roary Jr. killed Dixon with a hammer.

Roary has been arrested and charged with murder.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Woman killed at north Charlotte QuikTrip; 1 arrested, CMPD says

Police told Channel 9 that the two were in a relationship.

The vigil for Dixon will be held at Camp Greene Park on Alblegphay Street.

It is slated to begin at 7:30 p.m.

VIDEO: Police presence reported at QuikTrip in lower South End








Icelandic farmers are struggling to keep up after a viral cucumber recipe which spread on TikTok is thought to have overwhelmed the national supply.

The Nordic country is now in a pickle with supermarkets reporting a doubling of demand for the vegetable after a salad devised by famed foodie, Logan Moffitt (aka the cucumber guy) was replicated by influencers.

Icelands Horticulturists Sales Company (SFG), which represents the nations farmers, told BBC News it is not managing to keep up with surging consumer demand, adding it is hoped supply will be back to normal in a week or so.

Daniel Sigthorsson, 30, who lives in Reykjavik, told The New York Times there were no cucumbers in his local grocery stores. I was like, Thats weird, he said, laughing. Thats one of the things we never run out of in Iceland. And then I saw the news.

One man cut his finger trying to recreate the viral trend (TikTok/@paigetaylor.s and @logagm)

On TikTok, Mr Moffitt (@logagm) is widely regarded as the leader of the Cucumber Community, sharing numerous recipes for cold, crisp cucumber salads in a jar. With more than 4.8 million followers on the app, averaging 2 to 6 million views on most videos, Logan has made waves with his delectable, easy-to-make cucumber dishes.

I was about to go to sleep, but I was craving an entire cucumber, the celebrated chef said in a video posted on 19 July.

Logans trademark cooking style consists of using a whole cucumber and slicing it with a mandoline over a Tupperware container. He then adds a variety of flavours and seasonings, most notably soy sauce, chilli flakes, shaved garlic, sesame seeds, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Mr Moffitt finishes by furiously shaking the container, mixing the ingredients, and eating one cucumber slice at a time with a pair of metal chopsticks.

Kristin Linda Sveinsdottir, director of the SFG, said supermarkets had seen a boost to other ingredients used by the TikToker. Everything is happening at the same time, she said adding the social media trend remained one of the main contributing factors.

This is the first time we have experienced something like this, Ms Sveinsdottir said, saying if the trend had taken hold earlier in the year when the [cucumber] production was in full blast the stocks would have been unaffected.

Icelandic farmers pride themselves on growing potatoes, rhubarb, turnips, radishes, carrots, broad beans, peas and strawberries, despite the problematic climate on the island. They even harness geothermic energy to grow more tropical fruits and vegetables such as peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers in greenhouses.

But the trend is not only causing danger to stocks: some influencers attempting to slice the vegetable with a mandolin are injuring themselves.

TikToker Jackson Dean didnt make it past the first step when he accidentally snagged the tip of his finger in the mandoline blade.

Moments before disaster, his on-screen caption read as he revealed he rushed to the accident and emergency department shortly after.
This article was originally published in Virginia Mercury.

Virginia is moving closer to restricting cell phone use in schools after the Virginia Department of Education published a draft of its cell phone-free guidelines on Thursday after a series of public input events.

The draft defines cell phone-free education as bell-to-bell, meaning phones should be turned off and stored away from the first school bell until dismissal. This includes lunchtime and breaks between class periods.

On July 9, Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued Executive Order 33, directing his administration to create guidelines to limit students time in front of addictive cell phones and eliminate clear distractions in the classroom.

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The education department said over 600 community members, parents, teachers and school officials attended public events to provide input on the guidelines as well as other community events to understand concerns about cell phones and personal electronic devices.

The extensive input we received from Virginians was clear and direct, said Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons. They asked for cell phones and personal electronic communication devices to be removed from our childrens public schools during the school day at every level  elementary, middle and high school. By refocusing our students attention back into learning and away from their phones and social media, all our children will have a better opportunity to learn and succeed academically.

Related

So Your School Wants to Ban Cellphones. Now What?

Studies have shown that students use cell phones to browse the internet and social media apps, and message people during instructional time. Students have also used the devices to record events at schools and post them on various platforms.

The draft guidance includes age-appropriate cell phone restrictions in Virginias elementary and secondary public schools.

According to the draft, if a parent determines an elementary student needs to bring a cell phone or personal electronic communication device to school, it must be stored, off, and away from the student during the school day. Students should not use cell phones in the school building or on the school grounds before or after school.

In middle and high school, students should not have a readily available cell phone or personal electronic communication device during the bell-to-bell school day.

Middle schools should establish local policies that determine cell phone and personal electronic communication device use within the school building or on school grounds outside of bell-to-bell, including before and after school.

Cell phones and personal electronic communication devices may be used on a high school campus before or after school.

Exemptions will be permitted for students with disabilities and EL students with a documented language barrier.

Feedback on the draft guidelines closes Sept. 15. School boards must adopt the final guidance by Jan. 1.

Some of Virginias school boards have already banned or restricted cell phone use in schools.

Virginia Mercury is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Virginia Mercury maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Samantha Willis for questions: info@virginiamercury.com. Follow Virginia Mercury on Facebook and X.
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL)  Hotter N Hell is here and off to a good start. This weekend, Wichita Falls is full of thousands of excited people from all over, all expressing that the theme is the same: the hospitality and beauty of Wichita Falls keep riders coming back year after year.

Active Pacific attends 12th HHH consumer show for the people

Despite the triple digits outside, thousands of cyclists have gathered here to experience the spirit of competitiveness and camaraderie that binds riders together.

Fred and Gilda Garcia say not only is Hotter N Hell one of the best rides theyve ever done, but the food in the city is also a plus that keeps them coming back.

Weve got to go have red velvet tacos; thats on the agenda. Even people back at work were talking about them. I was telling them this weekend I was coming to Wichita Falls and they were like you got to get the tacos I mean, were all the way in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and I say, oh, no, dont worry, were having dinner there for sure. But we dont eat too much because we have to get on the bike the next morning, Garcia said.

HHH: Downtown officials expect huge boost in local economy

While the city hosts thousands of riders gearing up for the rides, Wichita Falls welcomes them with open arms and exciting routes.

As riders pedal into the weekend, one thing is clear: Hotter N Hell showcases the citys hospitality and beauty.

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Ursula von der Leyen, current President of the European Commission, speaks during the plenary session of the European Parliament. Ukraine is "moving at incredible speed towards joining the European Union," von der Leyen said in a video statement on 24 August. Philipp von Ditfurth/dpa

Ukraine is "moving at incredible speed towards joining the European Union," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a video statement on Saturday.

In a short video posted to X to mark Ukraine's independence day, von der Leyen said: "Europe will always be at Ukraine's side because Ukraine is Europe. Your freedom is our freedom. Your security is our security."

"And now you are moving at incredible speed towards joining the European Union. We have been standing with you since day one and we will continue to do so for as long as it takes. Slava Ukraini [glory to Ukraine]."

Ukraine became an official candidate for EU membership in June 2022, four months after Russia's full-scale invasion of the country and its failed attempt to topple the government in Kiev.

The first round of formal accession negotiations was held in June of this year.
The number of Wagner Group mercenary personnel is drastically reduced one year after the demise of former leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, the U.K. Defense Ministry said in an intelligence update on Aug. 23, the one-year anniversary of Prigozhin's death.

Prigozhin and other Wagner leaders died in a mysterious plane crash in Russia on Aug. 23, 2023. The crash came two months after Prigozhin led Wagner troops in a short-lived rebellion against the Kremlin.

Since the death of Prigozhin, the Wagner Group's fighting force has significantly decreased, according to the U.K. Defense Ministry.

"In comparison to its peak personnel count of around 50,000 in 2023, Wagner now likely maintains around 5,000 total personnel across its residual deployments in Belarus and Africa," the ministry said.

Several senior Wagner leaders left the organization in the wake of Prigozhin's death, taking positions in the Russian Defense Ministry, the Russian military, and the Chechen Special Forces, the ministry said.

The Wagner Group played a pivotal role in Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, leading Moscow's assault in the Battle of Bakhmut. Following Prigozhin's mutiny and death, the mercenary group withdrew from Ukraine and became fragmented, operating in Belarus and some African nations friendly to Russia.

Wagner is particularly active in Mali, where mercenary forces have clashed with anti-government rebels in recent weeks.

Read also: Prigozhins death latest in a series of unsolved murders in Putins Russia. Whats next?

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RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)  A selfie sparks a lawsuit.

While selfies are a part of daily life, its illegal in North Carolina to take a picture with your ballot. But Susan Hogarth of Wake County disagrees with the law. She wants to see it overturned, which is why shes suing both members of the Wake County Board of Elections and the State Board of Elections in federal court.

North Carolina rated toss-up for November presidential election

On March 5, Hogarth posted a selfie with her ballot on X, using an expletive to say how she felt about laws against ballot selfies. Its just a way of sort of celebrating and sharing, she said. It was not the first time shes taken a ballot selfie and posted it in an effort to get people excited about libertarians on the ballot, but it was the first time the State Board of Elections told her to take a post down. They sent her a letter saying she violated the law.

Jeff Zeman, Hogarths attorney with Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, said the law is unconstitutional. Ballot selfie bans turn innocent Americans into criminals for nothing more than showing their excitement about how they voted or even just showing that they voted, Zelman said. Thats core political speech protected by the First Amendment.

When asked about the lawsuit, both the Wake County and State Boards of Elections told CBS 17 that they dont comment on pending litigation.

RNC suing North Carolina State Board of Elections, says it blatantly ignored the law

According to FIRE, North Carolina is one of at least 14 states that prohibit pictures with a ballot. Some states explicitly allow pictures; others dont have laws that specify. The North Board of Elections has said the law exists in part because the photo could be proof of a vote for a candidate in a vote buying scheme. It purports to answer a problem that I dont think they have shown exists, Hogarth said.

Hogarth plans to post her general election ballot and hopes by then its not illegal. While I think privacy is important in society, I also think openness is important, she said. I think people are embracing that more and more.

Under state law, taking a photograph of a filled out ballot is a Class 1 Misdemeanor. Hogarth said she has not been charged with anything.

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Walz has conflated IVF and IUI when discussing his family. Whats the difference?

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks often about his familys struggle with fertility. Hes also accused his vice presidential opponent, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, and other Republicans, of wanting to end in vitro fertilization treatments, commonly known as IVF.

Vance, who opposes abortion, has said he supports continued access to IVF treatments.

IVF was thrust into the political spotlight in February after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are people and that someone could be held liable for destroying them. Amid the already heated debate about abortion rights, reproductive rights advocates worried that Republican states would also move to limit access to the treatments.

Walz has tied the IVF discussion to his familys fertility challenges.

But in speaking about IVF  a treatment that involves collecting mature eggs from ovaries and fertilizing them with sperm in a lab  Walz has at times made statements that have given the impression that he and his wife started their family using IVF, including in his remarks accepting his nomination as Vice President Kamala Harris running mate. But the Walzes used another fertility treatment called intrauterine insemination, or IUI, which is often a precursor to IVF for patients.

"Todays IVF day. Thank God for IVF, my wife and I have two beautiful children," Walz said in a July interview on MSNBCs "Inside with Jen Psaki."

"If it was up to him (Vance) I wouldnt have a family because of IVF," Walz said in a video clip shared online Aug. 9 by the Harris-Walz campaign. "My kids were born through that way," said Walz, who was speaking in an interview on the "Pod Save America" podcast in July before Harris chose him as her running mate.

The New York Times reported that in April that the Tim Walz for Governor campaign office sent out a fundraising letter in an envelope that said, "My wife and I used I.V.F. to start a family."

In Walzs March State of the State speech in Minnesota, Walz called the Alabama Supreme Courts IVF ruling that frozen embryos can be considered children "a direct attack on our family. It was a direct attack on my children."

In speeches after Harris chose him as her running mate, Walz made comments that could be read either as the couple having IVF treatments, or that they had nonspecific fertility treatments.

In Walzs first speech after Harris chose him as her running mate, Aug. 6 in Philadelphia, he said Republicans should mind their own business when it comes to peoples personal choices. "Look, that includes IVF, and this gets personal for me and my family," he said. "When my wife and I decided to have children, we spent years going through infertility treatments."

Walz made similar comments in speeches in Glendale, Arizona, Detroit and Eau Clarie, Wisconsin, saying IVF was personal to him and describing the couples experience with fertility treatments.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz celebrates with his daughter, Hope, his son, Gus, and his wife, Gwen, after accepting the Democratic vice presidential nomination Wednesday at the Democratic National Convention.

Other times, Walz has referred only to his family having fertility treatments or treatments "like IVF."

In a Feb. 25 Facebook post, Walz wrote, "Gwen and I have two beautiful children because of reproductive health care like IVF. This issue is deeply personal to our family and so many others."

In a March 13 X post, Walz wrote, "My wife and I went through fertility treatments for seven years. It's no coincidence that we named our daughter Hope. Reproductive care like IVF is personal  to our family and so many others. Were going to make sure it stays protected in Minnesota."

At an Aug. 10 Las Vegas rally, Walz said IVF and reproductive care are personal to him, and he spoke about a nurse coming over to give fertility shots to his wife. Both IVF and IUI treatments can require a patient to receive injectable medication.

At an Aug. 17 speech in Omaha, Nebraska, Walz said, "When my wife and I decided we wanted to have kids, we spent years in fertility treatments."

In two separate news interviews in March and August, Walz referred to the couple receiving fertility treatments at the Mayo Clinic, but didnt specify what kind of treatments.

In an Aug. 19 Glamour article, Gwen Walz, his wife, described the couples fertility issues and said they used IUI treatments.

How do IVF and IUI compare?

IUI is another common fertility treatment that increases the chance of pregnancy by injecting sperm directly into the uterus at the time of ovulation. Oftentimes, doctors will start patients on IUI treatments before escalating to IVF, as IUI is less invasive and less expensive.

IUI does not involve frozen embryos, as do IVF treatments. Some abortion opponents are opposed to IVF treatments because frozen embryos not used can be destroyed.

Gwen Walz said in a statement shared with PolitiFact that she and her husband had kept their fertility treatments to themselves but decided to discuss them publicly after seeing "extreme attacks on reproductive health care across the country," particularly in Alabama.

After the Glamour article was published, Vance accused Walz of lying about using IVF. "Who lies about something like that," he wrote in an Aug. 20 X post, sharing a video the Harris-Walz campaign had shared of Tim Walz speaking on the "Pod Save America" podcast.

Harris campaign spokesperson Mia Ehrenberg told PolitiFact in a statement that "Governor Walz talks how normal people talk. He was using commonly understood shorthand for fertility treatments."

Ehrenberg said, "Infertility is a deeply personal journey, but the Governor and Mrs. Walz came forward to share their story because they know that MAGA attacks on reproductive rights are putting all fertility treatments at risk."

Fertility doctors PolitiFact interviewed said patients often conflate the terms IVF and IUI.

It's "incredibly common," said Dr. Eve Feinberg, a Northwestern Medical Group Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility specialist. "And I would say especially for the male partner. Their role is the same in both, they provide sperm. So I often find that male partners use the terms interchangeably."

Dr. Leah Roberts, a reproductive specialist at Boca Fertility in Florida, also said her patients often use the term "IVF" to mean other fertility treatments.

"Most people who are not OB-GYNs even, most people who are even physicians, or people in the general United States will often conflate the two," Roberts said.

Roberts said most people undergoing IVF treatments today are actually undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection, a type of IVF treatment.

"A lot of this does come down to semantics, where the general population will use IVF to mean anything done in a reproductive endocrinologist's office for infertility care," Roberts said.

Roberts said once patients are done with their treatments, its easier to just tell people they had IVF rather than explain IUI to others.

"If you say IVF, people generally will understand that you went through infertility treatments without getting into the nitty-gritty of exactly how, when and where your children were conceived," Roberts said.

Reproductive rights advocates argue abortion restrictions could also threaten IUI availability

Ryan Stitzlein, vice president of political and government relations for Reproductive Freedom for All, an abortions rights group that supports the Harris-Walz campaign, said if IVF clinics were forced to close, access to IUI treatments could be limited.

"Theyre the same clinics; they're the same doctors they're going after," Stitzlein said, noting that some Alabama fertility clinics shut down after the court ruling.

Feinberg agreed with Stitzlein, saying that an IVF ban would limit access for IUI treatments because fertility specialists perform the majority of treatments.

"So, if IVF becomes illegal and the clinics shut down, then it's going to severely restrict access for all," Feinberg said.

Roberts said fewer fertility clinics would mean less access to IUI treatments. Whether a law banning IVF would affect IUI directly would depend on how the law was written, she said, but she warned that laws can often have broader ramifications than lawmakers intend.

Roberts added it wasnt common for people in Walzs generation to discuss fertility treatments and credited them for speaking out now.

"We should just encourage everybody to talk about it and address it and realize that 1 in 6 couples have infertility, and so it's more common than people may realize," Roberts said.

Our sources

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: IVF and IUI: Whats the difference?
RENO, Nevada (KMID/KPEJ)  The Fire Department in Reno responded to two separate vehicle fires on Thursday, August 22, with both incidents suspected to be arson.

Footage released by the Reno Fire Department showed firefighters hosing down a vehicle fire on Thursday. According to a local news report, the fires occurred about three hours apart.

WATCH: Staff provide fun commentary as endangered frogs released in Washington

The FRD said investigations are underway, and no injuries were reported.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin.
Flames and smoke rise from an explosion at the Greek-flagged oil tanker Sounion - HOUTHIS MEDIA CENTER/HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock/Shutterstock

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Three fires blazed on a Greek-flagged oil tanker in the Red Sea, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said on Friday, one day after rescuers evacuated its crew in the wake of an assault by Yemeni Houthi militants.

The Iran-aligned Houthis, who control Yemens most populous regions, said on Thursday that they had attacked the Sounion oil tanker as part of their 10-month campaign against commercial shipping to support Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

The Houthis first damaged the tanker on Wednesday with repeated attacks that caused a fire and a loss of engine power. A European warship later rescued her crew of 25. The uncrewed vessel was anchored between Yemen and Eritrea, a maritime security source told Reuters on Thursday.

On Friday, UKMTO said in an advisory that it had received reports of three fires on the vessel, which appears to be drifting. Later in the day, the Houthis posted a video on social media that purportedly showed them setting the tanker on fire.

The damaged tanker, carrying 150,000 metric tons of crude oil, poses an environmental hazard, the EUs Red Sea naval mission Aspides said.

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GRANT COUNTY, Washington (KMID/KPEJ)  Wildlife conservation staff provided some wholesome commentary as they filmed the release of nearly 400 endangered Northern Leopard Frogs, raised at the Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, into the wild on August 8.

Have fun! Make friends! a worker in the video told the frogs as they hopped toward a lake at the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge in Grant County. Remember, you are important, no matter what the bullfrog says, he said. Youre going to do great things in the frog world. I just know it! the worker added.

Over the past four years, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park in Eatonville has received northern leopard frog egg masses in the spring from the one remaining wild population at the Potholes Reservoir, collected by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists according to a release from Northwest Trek.

WATCH: Rare penguin rehabilitated at Aussie Zoo

Keepers at Northwest Trek then raise the frogs in a controlled environment, monitoring the overall condition of their tanks, including water temperature, pH levels, good bacteria, nitrogen cycle, and oxygen levels, the release said. They also protect the frogs from predators and feed them.

During summer, staff from Northwest Trek and WDFW release the frogs back into the wild with the goal of establishing a new population, according to the release.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Crews are out near Madison Lakes searching for a man that went missing Saturday.

Montgomery County Regional Dispatch confirms crews were sent out to the 300 block of Olive Road for a water rescue. Crews were first dispatched around 12:25 p.m. on reports of a missing man.

2 inmates found, 1 at large after escape from local prison

Ralph Bowman with Trotwood Fire and Rescue says the man was swimming with his friends when he disappeared.

They said their friend was swimming behind them, said Bowman. When they got to shore, they turned around and he was gone.

Multiple fire departments and EMS crews responded to the scene, as well as the Dive Team from Wright-Patt FD.

They started boat teams, all the resources right away, said Bowman.

Crews say they faced some difficulty working underwater due to dense vegetation, but are confident they have narrowed the search to an area where the swimmer was last seen.

Efforts were suspended late Saturday night as the sun set, with plans to resume at first light on Sunday morning. Trotwood crews say the water rescue has officially turned into a body recovery.

Bowman says they are often called to the lake multiple times a year, due to the lakes strong currents and entangling vegetation.

Man reunited with CareFlight 3 decades after life-saving flight

In June of last year, another swimmer, a 19-year-old from Florence, Kentucky also drowned in Madison Lakes. It took rescue crews two days to recover him.

There is no swimming at Madison Lakes, said Bowman. Theres fishing at Madison Lakes but no swimming. And every year, this is why there is no swimming.

The missing swimmer has only been identified as a male and that he and his friends traveled from Columbus.

Crews resumed the search on Sunday at first light.

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Stay with 2 NEWS as this develops.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
Wayne County commissioners plan to hold a public discussion Tuesday on a controversial plan to bring radioactive waste from New York into a Van Buren Township landfill.

The discussion is set for 1 p.m. Tuesday at 500 Griswold St. in Detroit, inside the Guardian Building, and will be livestreamed on YouTube and accessible through Zoom.

Several officials were concerned about the plan after the Detroit Free Press reported that Wayne Disposal will take 6,000 cubic yards of soil and concrete, and 4,000 gallons of groundwater contaminated with radiation from a site in New York where the Manhattan Project developed the atomic bomb during and after World War II.

Transferring nuclear waste poses a serious threat to residents in the area and throughout our county, and we want to make sure their voices are heard, Wayne County Commission Chair Alisha Bell said in a statement. We are the nations 19th most-populated county and we sit alongside the worlds largest freshwater supply. Surely, there are other, less-populated and less-risky places where this waste can be stored.

Environmental officials are expected to participate in the discussion, including Elizabeth Browne from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, and Patrick Cullen from the countys environmental services department. Van Buren Township Supervisor Kevin McNamara is also expected to participate. Commissioners aim to provide sufficient information to divert the hazardous waste elsewhere, according to the Wayne County Commission.

Wayne County Executive Warren Evans previously questioned why wastes find their way to Wayne County. Arizona-based waste giant Republic Services' Wayne Disposal and Michigan Disposal operate as among the largest hazardous waste landfills and processing facilities in the nation.

Wayne County Executive Warren Evans.

"While I understand that these materials have to go somewhere, and few if any public officials are willing to welcome toxic waste with open arms, there needs to be a solution, through new policy or legislation, that doesn't equal Wayne County as dumping ground for what no one else wants. Because that is an assignment we simply will not accept," Evans said in a statement.

State and local officials are hamstrung in regulating hazardous waste. A 1992 U.S. Supreme Court ruling on imported garbage declared out-of-state trash "articles of commerce"  essentially a commodity or good  that could not be restricted under the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution. That case arose from St. Clair County officials attempting to restrict a local landfill from accepting out-of-state waste.

State Sen. Darrin Camilleri, D-Trenton, in a statement said the plan to accept the waste is "alarming" and called for a larger discussion about hazardous waste management in the country.

"Wayne County is the most populous county in Michigan, and our state is surrounded by 20% of the worlds fresh water. We cannot continue to be Americas dumping ground for toxic waste. Our district and our community deserve so much better," Camilleri said.

The meeting will also be livestreamed on the Wayne County Commission YouTube page and available through Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/2234975895.

More: How southeast Michigan became a dumping ground for America's most dangerous chemicals

Free Press reporter Keith Matheny contributed to this story.

Dana Afana is the Detroit city hall reporter for the Free Press. Contact: dafana@freepress.com. Follow her: @DanaAfana.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Wayne County to store radioactive waste in Van Buren Township landfill
I went on British Airways' Airbus A320 planes before and after a major transformation. See how the old and new compare.

British Airways is upgrading its short-haul cabins as part of a huge investment.

I flew on one of the older A320s, then toured a brand-new A320neo at the Farnborough Airshow.

The new color scheme is sleek and modern while the passenger experience is improved too.

British Airways is spending $9 billion to lift its reputation after years of slumping popularity.

When the two-year program was announced at a March press event, the most prominent change was new seats for its short-haul aircraft.

I flew on one of its older A320s in May so I could envisage the upgrade. Then, I had the chance to see on board one of BA's brand-new A320neo jets at the Farnborough Airshow.

I was impressed by how modern it looks with a sleek navy-and-red color scheme. USB-C ports positioned on the seatbacks are also far more convenient than the old layout.

Here's what British Airways' old and new short-haul cabins are like.

In March, British Airways unveiled a new short-haul cabin as part of a $9 billion transformation.

British Airways' mockup short-haul cabin in March. Pete Syme/Business Insider

It also announced an overhaul of its glitchy app and website, a new first-class on the Airbus A380, and free on-board WiFi for loyalty members.

British Airways is spending $9 billion to help make it the world's favorite airline once again after years of slumping popularity

A couple of months later, I flew on a British Airways A320 to experience the older cabin.

A view of the aisle on flight BA1437. Pete Syme/Business Insider

My flight from Edinburgh to London was definitely better than a budget airline, but the plane's interior felt dated.

I flew on a British Airways Airbus A320 for $195. It's definitely better than flying budget, but I can see why the airline is spending $9 billion on upgrades.

And at last month's Farnborough Airshow, I went on board one of BA's brand-new Airbus A320neos.

The A320neo, as seen from the jet stairs. Pete Syme/Business Insider

2024 was the British flag carrier's first time exhibiting at the Farnborough Airshow.

Stepping on board, I could smell the new leather.

Looking down the aisle of a British Airways A320neo. Pete Syme/Business Insider

This jet only entered service on July 19  three days before the airshow started.

In business class, or Club Europe, there are new tables in the middle seats.

The new and old business-class setups. Pete Syme/Business Insider

Most European airlines have this setup for short-haul business class. There's slightly more legroom, but the main benefit is the soft product with complimentary food and drinks.

US airlines are starting to take note of this, like Spirit's upcoming "Go Comfy" option.

I thought the old cabin's all-black seats looked dull.

Rows of economy seats on a British Airways A320. Pete Syme/Business Insider

Maintaining dark colors on the new cabin means it's likely to age better than bright seats.

The new navy seats with red accents provide a needed dash of color.

Several rows of seats in the new BA cabin. Pete Syme/Business Insider

It looked far more up-to-date, especially with the chevron pattern.

There was a small improvement in terms of legroom ...

A first-person view sitting in the new and old cabins. Pete Syme/Business Insider

I'm 5-foot-9 and felt a bit cramped when I flew on the old A320. I sat in row 25, where the pitch  the distance between the same spot on a seat and the one in front  is 29 inches, per AeroLopa.

That's an inch less than ultra-low-cost carrier Ryanair.

... The new seatbacks have some more space carved out beneath the tray table.

The seatback of a new British Airways A320neo. Pete Syme/Business Insider

It's not hugely noticeable, but it adds to the comfort.

There are also conveniently placed USB-A and USB-C ports.

The charging ports on the new seatback. Pete Syme/Business Insider

Since iPhones now come with USB-C charging cables, these newer ports are becoming more common  improving the passenger experience.

I was especially pleased with this small change from the old A320.

The USB outlets on the old A320 cabin. Pete Syme/Business Insider

It might seem a minor detail, but the old A320's USB-A ports are between the seats and near the floor.

During my flight, it was a bit irritating when my neighbor had to bend down and lean over to charge his phone. It also looked uncomfortable.

The headrests slide up and down as well as folding in at the sides.

The headrest is pictured at its highest configuration and with the sides folded. Pete Syme/Business Insider

This feature makes a return from the current cabin.

Overall, I was impressed and I'm looking forward to hopefully experiencing the new version in flight.

The new A320neo looked more modern from every angle. Pete Syme/Business Insider

Having been on board, it made me more willing to pay extra to fly short-haul with BA instead of a budget airline, although there aren't many jets with the new cabin yet.

A handful of A320neos with the new cabins are already flying, but expect more soon.

The British Airways Airbus A320neo at the Farnborough Airshow. Pete Syme/Business Insider

Based on data from Ch-aviation, there are five active A320neos with the new cabin and another 14 on order. The next one is scheduled for delivery in September.

Being from the UK, it makes me happy to see the flag carrier making improvements.

A British Airways Airbus A380. JoanValls/Urbanandsport /NurPhoto via Getty Images

British Airways was named the world's best airline by Skytrax in 2006, but it hasn't reached the same heights since.

Modernization will also come from retrofitting new business-class suites on the Airbus A380.

The new seats are a more tangible improvement, but smaller things like a new app show there's more to come from the $9 billion plan.

I flew on British Airways' Club Suite from New York to London. It's a huge improvement from the carrier's old and cramped business class seat.

Read the original article on Business Insider
How it all went wrong for tourism

Protests in the streets. Graffiti warning tourists to go home. Local populations dwindling as short-term rentals mushroom and price residents out.

It feels like this was the year that tourism turned nasty  and local communities started pushing back.

Venice has started charging daytrippers an entry fee, while one busy Swiss town has announced it wants to follow suit. Locals have staged protests in Mallorca and Barcelona.

And while it has come to a head in Europe, this is a global phenomenon. A Japanese town overlooking Mount Fuji erected view-blocking barriers in May (then removed them in August). Bali introduced a tourist entry tax for foreign visitors in February. And US national parks are full to bursting  with 13 million more visits in 2023 than in 2022, according to NPS numbers. In peak season, visitors must book ahead to enter.

Increased enthusiasm doesnt seem to correlate with increased respect for the landscape, however. During the 35-day government shutdown in 2019, visitors did damage to Joshua National Park that would take centuries to rectify, officials said at the time.

The risk, as professor and environmental specialist Emily Wakild wrote for CNN in 2023, is of loving a place to death.

This isnt something new, or something which has just happened, says Noel Josephides, chairman of European tour operator Sunvil.

Josephides thinks the current chaos was predictable years ago. He says he feels ashamed of what the industry has done to destinations.

Ive lost faith in what our business is about, he says about the havoc the tourism has wreaked in Europe.

Other veterans agree. The only question is whether we can emerge from it and reset travel to become the beautiful experience weve all known and treasured.

The industry forgot about local goodwill

Overtourism to the same destinations and the same locations is making places such as Santorini a "living hell." - Aris Oikonomou/AFP/Getty Images

Justin Francis has spent his life feeling the uncomfortable effects of mass tourism.

He grew up in one of the UKs most visited cities, Bath  which he remembers as being particularly popular with Americans when he was a child in the 1970s.

I remember being astonished at these alien-like people, and how loud they were  shouting to each other, he says.

They stood around and blocked the way. I felt invisible.

It was these early experiences that led Francis to found Responsible Travel  a tour operator working with small, locally owned properties and guides  in 2000.

But his idea of travel as a halcyon experience providing one-to-one connections between cultures seems to have gone by the wayside in recent years.

Tourism has gone right in many places, but broadly [the industry] has lost the trust of local people, he says.

Its been really, really bad this year, he says of the protests and overtourism incidents. Its been brewing for a really long time  it didnt take a lot of imagination or foresight [to predict].

The tourism industry forgot about its most precious asset: the goodwill of locals. The edifice collapses without that. Its been lost in many places and will be hard to win back.

Francis puts it down to a combination of factors: the growth of low-cost airlines, vacation rentals, social media (which creates stampedes to in destinations) and expanding economies  meaning more people can afford to travel.

Now, he says, were left with the stark realization that tourism is an aggressive industry like most others, and needs regulating and controlling.

A race to the bottom

European cities such as Venice have introduced new restrictions this year. - Manuel Silvestri/Reuters

Noel Josephides  whos been sending clients from Northern Europe to the sunny Med since 1970  agrees. Much of his work has involved scouting out new locations he knows the public would love  the company was the one of the first to send package tourists to the Greek island of Skiathos in the 1980s, he says  as well as to another Greek island, Lemnos, and the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores.

The creation of a destination is relatively simple, he says. Tour operators scout it, locals invest in vacation infrastructure  often supported financially by the tour operators  and small tour operators add it to their books.

If the destination sells well, the larger tour operators swoop in.

And, he says, if one decides to put on an aircraft to that destination, the others swiftly follow suit.

Suddenly you go from one flight a day to four or five, he says.

And suddenly, tourism changes in that destination. The tour operators need to fill their planes, and with more flights going, they need to expand the market. What might have started out as a high-class destination for those in the know suddenly becomes a mass-market place.

It happens over a few years and you almost dont notice  but suddenly you have the local tourism industry complaining that nobody is eating in restaurants, or theyre eating one dish not two, or theyre not doing excursions, because the new people can afford the price of the package [but nothing else]. So you get a reaction locally, he says.

Josephides is a formidable name in European travel  hes also a former chairman of ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents), AITO (Association of Independent Tour Operators) and the Travel Foundation, the industrys sustainability charity.

And he admits his part in the process. You could say we were responsible for beginning the process [in Skiathos], but we only got so far. We appeal to a certain market. The market Id call destructive  the volume  doesnt come to us, he says.

Yet he believes the travel industry as a whole is currently out of control and a race to the bottom  one thats changing how locals feel about the visitors descending on them.

I dont think people are anti-tourism, but theyre beginning to understand finally that it has to be controlled, he says.

If its not, then what people come to see will be so degraded itll end in tears.

He cites the Greek islands of Mykonos and Santorini, which are now notoriously oversaturated. Earlier this month, a Santorini tour operator told CNN that the island is empty and this summer has been its worst season ever  because people are put off by the images of crowds  many of whom are day-trippers from cruise ships.

Once youve filled the golden goose you start a downward spiral, says Josephides. Its very difficult to get back to where you were before.

You cant expect destinations to know what will happen in 10 years  they dont know the whole thing can get out of control. The blame is very much on the travel industry that knows whats going to happen.

Out of balance

There have been multiple protests by locals in Mallorca this summer. - Stringer/Reuters

Not everyone on the ground is so negative.

Pedro Fiol, president of AVIBA  the Association of Travel Agents of the Balearic Islands, the archipelago off Spains east coast, which have been at the heart of protests this summer  says that the vast majority of society are not protesting against tourists.

The airport on Mallorca  the largest of the islands  sees up to 1,000 flights a day (either landing or departing) during the summer season, according to a spokesperson.

Yet Fiol believes that much of the issues of infrastructure, and lack of public transport and housing are down to poor political decisions as much as tourism.

One way tourism in the Balearics has changed is that people are no longer staying put on the beach  theyre using public transport to visit inland towns.

On the one hand its positive because they generate income for local commerce but on the other they can collapse basic infrastructure since these small towns are not adapted to receive so many tourists, he says.

With rising prices, some tourists try to either cut back on quality or stay less time, he says. But cutting back on tourists who spend less without increasing the higher quality spend first would cause a very negative economic impact for our islands, he says.

Residents are demanding changes, but those changes will not come without a solid economy coming from the tourism sector that can drive an improvement and modernization of our social systems and infrastructures, he says.

Fiols concern over the rural island interiors struggling to cope with increased demand is a key point for Jeremy Sampson, CEO of the Travel Foundation.

I dont think overtourism is the root cause but a symptom  were out of balance, he says.

You can host lots of people if youre intentional about how they flow through. But just one person coming at the wrong time and wrong place will outstrip the available resources.

Jaume Bauza, the Balearics minister of tourism, culture and sports, tells CNN that the government has created a committee aimed at developing a social and political blueprint for sustainable tourism.

Residents concerns are a key priority for us. We cannot forget that tourism is the main economic source for our community, but we must put locals first, and not forget their demands and concern, he says.

Enough is enough

US national parks such as Yellowstone saw a year-on-year increase of 13 million visitors in 2023. - Jonathan Newton/Getty Images

Accommodation is a major factor in how locals view tourism, say these experts.

When you ask locals about their biggest frustrations, its mainly I cant afford to live here, says Francis. Holiday rentals have taken way places people could have rented or bought.

In Venice, another hot spot, there are over 8,000 properties listed on Airbnb alone, according to data from Inside Airbnb, compared to under 50,000 residents.

Sampson says that the growth of short-term rentals is second only to that of cheap flights as a cause of tourisms problems today. The pace of growth from private sector typically outpaces planning cycles  the pace needs to be aligned with reality, he says.

Josephides says that short-term rentals prop up expanding flight routes. Big operators cant [expand] without clients going to Airbnb  one cant do without the other, he says. If it wasnt for this increase in capacity, the Airbnb market wouldnt exist.

Speaking about Mallorca and the Balearic islands, Fiol calls short-term rentals a very serious problem that have caused an unpredictable increase in the number of visitors we are having disproportionate tourist flows in some part of our territory.

Direct sales together with vacation rentals have been the cause of this uncontrolled increase of tourists, which none of our institutions knew how to foresee, he says.

Bauza has called on Airbnb and short-term rental platforms to help us in the fight against illegal rentals by only listing legitimate tourist properties on their platforms.

In February, the EU voted for more transparency around short-term rentals, something which Airbnb said it welcomed.

VRBO did not respond to a request for comment, but an Airbnb spokesperson blamed hotel-driven mass tourism overwhelming popular historic destinations.

In contrast, Airbnb accounts for a small proportion of visitors to Europe, spreads guests and benefits to more communities, and helps local families afford their homes, the spokesperson said.

Airbnb works with governments across the world to diversify tourism and make communities stronger, and we are eager to advance this work.

Josephides also has all-inclusive resorts in his firing line. Travelers like them because it means they know their costs in advance, and for the tour operators its very convenient  you control how [people] get there, how much they spend  its a bubble, almost like a cruise. But the effect in the communities can be devastating. They create ghost towns, he says.

Tour operators say theyre providing jobs for local people and sourcing food locally. What theyre not saying is that those people used to have their own [restaurant] before.

The more you look at it, the more frightening it gets. At the moment were seeing a culmination  all these problems are coming home to roost, he says.

Enough is enough.

Neither Jet2 Holidays  the UKs largest tour operator  or Tui  one of the largest in the world  responded to CNNs request for comment.

Like a vision of hell

Tourists in places such as Capri (pictured) in Italy are squeezing in  despite a lack of local infrastructure. - Ivan Romano/Getty Images

But was it ever thus? Lucy Lethbridge, journalist and author of Tourists, which traces the history of tourism from a British perspective, says there has always been a kind of snobbery about who should travel.

In the early 19th century, she says, businesses such as Thomas Cook  a tour operator which went bust in 2019 after 178 years in business  opened up the idea of travel for pleasure, which had been an exclusively aristocratic preserve, to the middle classes.

Right from the start of this Victorian mass tourism, there were complaints about crowds  but they usually came from other tourists, she says. On the whole, people who lived in places that became tourist destinations welcomed the crowds, because it changed lives of hard agricultural graft completely.

That tension between being a tourist and a traveler, or the right and wrong kind of tourist, has always been there.

People were very snobbish about group tourists  that they were lower class and didnt know anything, she says.

Its persisted today. Everyone tends to think  no matter what group theyre in  that theyre not the tourist, theyre the traveler.

She says that tourism is an interesting force  it destroys the thing it seeks.

Three years ago, she went to Santorini. Its so crowded and everyone is taking the same photo of the same sunset over the same rooftops, she says.

It was like a vision of hell.

Can we save tourism?

Visiting Yosemite National Park now entails reserving a space  and sitting in tailbacks as you approach the park. - George Rose/Getty Images

So whats the solution?

Josephides thinks any change has to be at governmental level. There has to be a collaboration between the sending and receiving countries  the power shouldnt be in the hands of [the industry], he says. Airlines will keep expanding and expanding because thats what their shareholders expect. Youll never be able to get a big tour operator to agree to a moratorium on numbers.

In 10 years time therell be destinations that have got it right and those that are past the point of no return.

Sampson says that DMOs (destination marketing organizations) should switch from encouraging tourism to balancing it.

As they grow stronger in their ability to have the right funding, governance, and the tools to do something about it, it can and will change, he says. He thinks that a shift from day-to-day firefighting to long-term planning will shift the needle.

Fiol says that those wary of worsening problems in the Balearics could visit off-season. While its still sunny in spring and fall, he says winter is the time for immersive tourism focused on food, culture, wellness and an endless number of activities that will surely surprise them.

Francis says that we can all do our bit, too. Stay in a hotel not a rental, says Francis, to avoid stripping locals of their housing. Make that a locally owned hotel, so your money stays in the community.

If you really want to rent, try a room in a house, rather than a whole property  the original vision of Airbnb, he says  and see if the person advertising the property has just the one, or multiple properties.

And once youre on the ground, hire local guides  not only can they help navigate overcrowding, but youll be leaving money in the local economy.

Tourism is a deal, says Francis. Local people let you in, in return for you providing some benefits. So you really should put as much money in genuinely local hands as possible. Youre there as a guest and the return is financial  but I dont think that should be a hardship. Youll get a different experience.

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What is West Nile, the virus that sent Dr. Anthony Fauci to the hospital?

Of all of the viruses that Dr. Anthony Fauci studied during his decades serving as the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, it was West Nile that landed him in the hospital recently.

Fauci, the former chief medical adviser to the Biden administration, was home on Saturday, according to his spokesperson. A full recovery is expected, the statement read.

What is West Nile, and how are people infected?

Its mosquitoes  particularly Culex mosquitoes  that spread the virus.Since West Nile was first detected in the U.S. in 1999, its become the most common mosquito-borne illness in the country.

The bugs become infected when they bite sick birds, then spread the virus to people through another bite.

Cases tend to peak in August and September, often following rainy seasons. The bugs lay eggs in standing water.

So far this year, 216 human cases of West Nile have been reported in 33 states, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The illness caused whats known as neuroinvasive disease, such as brain inflammation, in 142 of those patients, the CDC reported.

Culex mosquitoes that can carry West Nile are studied at a CDC lab in Fort Collins, Colo.







Thousands of people are infected with West Nile each year, though the majority never know it because they dont develop symptoms.

According to the CDC, about 1 in 5 people will experience:

Fever

Headache

Body aches

Vomiting and diarrhea

Symptoms typically appear between three and 14 days after being bitten.

Serious complications including meningitis, paralysis and death can occur, but are much more rare  affecting about 1 in 150.

People over age 60 are at higher risk. Fauci is 83 years old.

How to protect yourself against West Nile

There is no specific treatment or vaccine for West Nile.

The CDCs Roxanne Connelly studies mosquitoes that can carry West Nile virus.

Despite growing evidence that Culex mosquitoes may be becoming resistant to some insecticides, experts maintain that common repellents such as DEET and picaridin work well at keeping the bugs at bay. Other ways to avoid mosquito bites include:

Dressing in loose-fitting clothing that covers both arms and legs.

Using air conditioning when possible, or making certain that open windows and doors have screens.

Emptying standing water from common items around the exteriors of houses, such as bird baths, flower pots and toys, where mosquitoes can lay their eggs.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The flag of Ukraine flies in front of the building of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on August 24, 2023 in Kyiv. Stock photo: Getty Images

Western leaders, government members and ambassadors continue to extend their greetings to Ukraine on the occasion of its 33rd Independence Day.

Source: European Pravda

Details: From the Netherlands, greetings were recorded by Prime Minister Dick Schoof, Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp and Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans.

Quote: "Your struggle shows that independence can never be taken for granted. It is something worth fighting for. But no one can do that alone. And you dont need to. Ukraine can continue to count on the Netherlands. Not only today, on Independence Day, but every day," stated Dick Schoof.

We stand with Ukraine. 



Your struggle shows that independence can never be taken for granted. It is something worth fighting for. But no one can do that alone. And you dont need to.



Ukraine can continue to count on the Netherlands. Not only today, on Independence Day,  Dick Schoof (@MinPres) August 24, 2024

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recorded a video greeting. The day before, the European Commission building was illuminated in the colours of the Ukrainian flag.

Quote: "Europe will always be at Ukraines side, because Ukraine is Europe. Your freedom is our freedom. Your security is our security," she said.

Quote: "No one knows better than Ukrainians that values must be defended, they must be fought for. For 10 years, Ukrainians have been resisting Russias aggression, defending not only Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity but also our shared European values. Since the start of Russias full-scale invasion, Ukraine and its people have been defending the freedom of all of us. The freedom of a country to make its sovereign decision, the freedom of individuals to live and define who they are," said Katarina Mathernova, the EU Ambassador to Ukraine.

Quote: "33 years ago, the Ukrainian people chose independence from the Soviet Union. Today, Ukraine is a sovereign state, standing against Russia's attempts to destroy its national and cultural identity. The UK will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes," stated the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Quote: "We stand with you for as long as it takes with whatever it takes until victory, until a just and lasting peace," said UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Britain will always stand with Ukraine.



On your day of independence, we share a clear message:



We will continue to stand with you  because that is what the people of Ukraine deserve.



Slava Ukraini. pic.twitter.com/aB1kh1f4YH  Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) August 24, 2024

Meanwhile, the UK Defence Ministry urged citizens to publicly share greetings and words of support for the Ukrainians, and Defence Minister John Healey published an op-ed stating that the Kursk operation proved the feasibility of Ukraine's victory in the war.

#MakeNoiseForUkraine



Don't let your support for Ukraine fall silent. Post your message of support on Ukrainian Independence Day.



The louder the better! Join in: https://t.co/IZdYbYcebd#SlavaUkraini pic.twitter.com/gRXxp06ySe  Ministry of Defence  (@DefenceHQ) August 24, 2024

Quote: "Your fight for freedom is a beacon of hope for all who cherish democracy. Moldova stands with you, today and always," said Moldovan President Maia Sandu.

On Ukraines Independence Day, we celebrate the courage and resilience of the Ukrainian people. Your fight for freedom is a beacon of hope for all who cherish democracy. Moldova stands with you, today and always.



  , ! pic.twitter.com/uhgrpciMAP  Maia Sandu (@sandumaiamd) August 24, 2024

Polish Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski began his greeting with the words, "Happy Birthday, free Ukraine!"

Quote: "May your heroic defence of your borders be victorious. Poland is proud to have been the first country in the world to recognize your independence. We will continue to back you and look forward to welcoming you in the European Union," he wrote.

Austrian Ambassador Arad Benko recorded his video greeting in Ukrainian and quoted Viacheslav Chornovil's words that "independence is not just a flag and a coat of arms, but above all, faith in oneself." He wished Ukraine a future of peace and prosperity.

Quote: "Despite the current challenges, I believe that Ukraine is stronger, more united, and confident about the direction of its future than ever before. I congratulate Ukraine and its people on its national day... Ireland will continue to stand with you in partnership and friendship. And we look forward to the day when Ukraine will win this war, rebuild, and join European Union" said Irish Ambassador Therese Healy.

Background:

Among the first to extend greetings were the Presidents of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, as well as the Latvian Defence Minister.

Polish President Andrzej Duda arrived in Kyiv to participate in the celebrations. His arrival  despite standard security protocols during the full-scale war  was reported almost immediately.

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Whatever enemy was bringing to our land has now returned to their home  Zelenskyy on Ukraine's Independence Day

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has greeted Ukrainians on the 33rd anniversary of Ukraine's Independence Day.

Source: Zelenskyy on social media

Quote: "Today we celebrate the 33rd Independence Day of Ukraine. And whatever the enemy was bringing to our land has now returned to their home. And the one who wanted to turn our land into a buffer zone should think about preventing his country from becoming a buffer federation."

Details: The president noted that he had recorded his 13-minute address in Sumy Oblast, near the border with Russia.

"Sumy Oblast. Mohrytsia. The river of Psel. A few kilometres from our border.

The border between Ukraine and oppression, between life and death. The border between an independent European state and the number one terrorist organisation in the world", he said.

Zelenskyy also stressed that Ukraine had surprised the world by launching a successful military operation in Russias Kursk Oblast, while the Russian authorities had once again demonstrated their indifference to their own citizens.

"33 years ago, Ukraine was reborn on the maps of the world, and today Ukraine wins the hearts of the entire world. It inspires us with courage. It serves as an example of how not to be afraid of Putin. And it unites the world around its Ukrainian worldview: in the 21st century, terrorists should find their reckoning in The Hague, not comfort in Valday. And no one else in the world will say: Where is Ukraine? Because every continent now says: Ukraine must win. This fuels our independence. Our Ukraine", Zelenskyy stressed.

In addition, Zelenskyy thanked all Ukrainians and foreigners who defend the country's independence and promised that Russia would be held accountable for attacks on Ukrainian territory.

Quote: "Ukrainians always pay back their debts. And whoever wished misery upon our land shall find it in their own home. With interest. Whoever seeks to sow evil on our land will reap its fruits on their own territory.

This is not a prophecy, not gloating, not blind revenge; it is a pattern. It is justice. A boomerang for evil."

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(Stanford University graphic)

The desire for artificial intelligence skills in new hires has exploded over the last five years, and continues to be a priority for hiring managers across nearly every industry, data from Stanford Universitys annual AI Index Report found.

In 2023, 1.6% of all United States-based jobs required AI skills, a slight dip from the 2% posted in 2022. The decrease comes after many years of growing interest in artificial intelligence, and is likely attributed to hiring slowdowns, freezes or layoffs at major tech companies like Amazon, Deloitte and Capital One in 2023, the report said.

The numbers are still greatly up from just a few years ago, and in 2023, thousands of jobs across every industry required AI skills.

What do those AI jobs look like? And where are they based, exactly?

Generative AI skills, or the ability to build algorithms that produce text, images or other data when prompted, were sought after most, with nearly 60% of AI-related jobs requiring those skills. Large language modeling, or building technology that can generate and translate text, was second in demand, with 18% of AI jobs citing the need for those skills.

Those skills were followed by ChatGPT knowledge, prompt engineering, or training AI, and two other specific machine learning skills.

The industries that require these skills run the gamut  the information industry ranked first with 4.63% of jobs while professional, scientific and technical services came in second with 3.33%. The financial and insurance industries followed with 2.94%, and manufacturing came in fourth with 2.48%.

Public administration jobs, education jobs, management and utilities jobs all sought AI skills in 1- 2% of their open roles, while agriculture, mining, wholesale trade, real estate, transportation, warehousing, retail trade and waste management sought AI skills in 0.4-0.85% of their jobs.

Though AI jobs are concentrated in some areas of the country, nearly every U.S. state had thousands of AI-specific jobs in 2023, the report found.

California  home to Silicon Valley  had 15.3%, or 70,630 of the countrys AI-related jobs posted in 2023. It was followed by Texas at 7.9%, or 36,413 jobs. Virginia was third, with 5.3%, or 24,417 of AI jobs.

Based on population, Washington state had the highest percentage of people in AI jobs, with California in second, and New York in third.

Montana, Wyoming and West Virginia were the only states with fewer than 1,000 open roles requiring AI, but because of population sizes, AI jobs still made up 0.75%, 0.95% and 0.46% of all of the states open roles last year.

Though the number of jobs dipped from 2022 to 2023, the adoption of AI technologies across business operations has not. In 2017, 20% of businesses reported that they had begun using AI for at least one function of their work. In 2022, 50% of businesses said they had, and that number reached 55% in 2023.

For those that have incorporated AI tools into their businesses, its making their workers more productive, the report found. The report said studies have shown that AI tools have allowed workers to complete tasks more quickly and have improved the quality of their work. The research suggested that AI could be also capable of upskilling workers, the report found.

The report acknowledges that with all the technological advances that the AI industry has seen in the last five years, there are still many unknowns. The U.S. is still awaiting federal AI legislation, while states make their own regulations and laws.

The Stanford report predicts two futures for the trajectory of the technology  one in which the technology continues to develop and increase productivity, but theres a possibility that its used for good and bad uses. In another future, without proper research and development, the adoption of AI technologies could be constrained, researchers said.

They are stepping in to encourage the upside, the report said of government bodies. Such as funding university R&D and incentivizing private investment. Governments are also aiming to manage the potential downsides, such as impacts on employment, privacy concerns, misinformation, and intellectual property rights.

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(Stanford University graphic)

The desire for artificial intelligence skills in new hires has exploded over the last five years, and continues to be a priority for hiring managers across nearly every industry, data from Stanford Universitys annual AI Index Report found.

In 2023, 1.6% of all United States-based jobs required AI skills, a slight dip from the 2% posted in 2022. The decrease comes after many years of growing interest in artificial intelligence, and is likely attributed to hiring slowdowns, freezes or layoffs at major tech companies like Amazon, Deloitte and Capital One in 2023, the report said.

The numbers are still greatly up from just a few years ago, and in 2023, thousands of jobs across every industry required AI skills.

What do those AI jobs look like? And where are they based, exactly?

Generative AI skills, or the ability to build algorithms that produce text, images or other data when prompted, were sought after most, with nearly 60% of AI-related jobs requiring those skills. Large language modeling, or building technology that can generate and translate text, was second in demand, with 18% of AI jobs citing the need for those skills.

Those skills were followed by ChatGPT knowledge, prompt engineering, or training AI, and two other specific machine learning skills.

The industries that require these skills run the gamut  the information industry ranked first with 4.63% of jobs while professional, scientific and technical services came in second with 3.33%. The financial and insurance industries followed with 2.94%, and manufacturing came in fourth with 2.48%.

Public administration jobs, education jobs, management and utilities jobs all sought AI skills in 1- 2% of their open roles, while agriculture, mining, wholesale trade, real estate, transportation, warehousing, retail trade and waste management sought AI skills in 0.4-0.85% of their jobs.

Though AI jobs are concentrated in some areas of the country, nearly every U.S. state had thousands of AI-specific jobs in 2023, the report found.

California  home to Silicon Valley  had 15.3%, or 70,630 of the countrys AI-related jobs posted in 2023. It was followed by Texas at 7.9%, or 36,413 jobs. Virginia was third, with 5.3%, or 24,417 of AI jobs.

Based on population, Washington state had the highest percentage of people in AI jobs, with California in second, and New York in third.

Montana, Wyoming and West Virginia were the only states with fewer than 1,000 open roles requiring AI, but because of population sizes, AI jobs still made up 0.75%, 0.95% and 0.46% of all of the states open roles last year.

Though the number of jobs dipped from 2022 to 2023, the adoption of AI technologies across business operations has not. In 2017, 20% of businesses reported that they had begun using AI for at least one function of their work. In 2022, 50% of businesses said they had, and that number reached 55% in 2023.

For those that have incorporated AI tools into their businesses, its making their workers more productive, the report found. The report said studies have shown that AI tools have allowed workers to complete tasks more quickly and have improved the quality of their work. The research suggested that AI could be also capable of upskilling workers, the report found.

The report acknowledges that with all the technological advances that the AI industry has seen in the last five years, there are still many unknowns. The U.S. is still awaiting federal AI legislation, while states make their own regulations and laws.

The Stanford report predicts two futures for the trajectory of the technology  one in which the technology continues to develop and increase productivity, but theres a possibility that its used for good and bad uses. In another future, without proper research and development, the adoption of AI technologies could be constrained, researchers said.

They are stepping in to encourage the upside, the report said of government bodies. Such as funding university R&D and incentivizing private investment. Governments are also aiming to manage the potential downsides, such as impacts on employment, privacy concerns, misinformation, and intellectual property rights.
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Week 5 is in the books and oh my there's a lot of panic on these fantasy streets. Dalton Del Don joins Matt Harmon for another edition of the 'People's Panic Meter' to answer all of your listener submissions. The duo examines the situations for Breece Hall, Buffalo Bills, Bijan Robinson and many more.
Whooping cough in Tri-Cities area and spreading in Eastern WA. What you need to know

Washington state has seen a sharp increase in whooping cough cases this year, and the infection is spreading in Eastern Washington.

Benton County currently has two confirmed cases, Walla Walla County currently has one confirmed adult case, and Grant County has had 21 confirmed cases and seven suspected cases since June, according to the three health departments.

Public health officials in Grant County said there likely are more cases that have not been reported.

Across Washington state 555 cases of whooping cough, or pertussis, have been reported this year as of Aug. 10, up from 37 at this time last year.

Public health officials are recommending that residents make sure they and their families are up to date on whooping cough vaccinations.

Pertussis can be a deadly infection, especially for vulnerable populations such as babies, said Heather Hill, a registered nurse and deputy to the health officer for the Benton Franklin Health District.

The Benton Franklin Health District alerted doctors and other health care providers Friday to watch for whooping cough cases in the greater Tri-Cities area. It is not calling it an outbreak at this point.

Eastern WA cases

The two confirmed cases in Benton County are in people who have not traveled outside the area, indicating that local transmission may be occurring. The person in Walla Walla with whooping cough also has not traveled outside of the area recently.

The Washington state Department of Health also reported one to two cases in Franklin County this summer.

Grant County had not had a whooping cough case since 2019 until this summer, said the Grant County Health District.

Its seven suspected case this summer are people with symptoms and links to at least one of the 21 people with confirmed cases, for a total of 28 possible cases.

Most, if not all, of the 28 cases are in people who had not been vaccinated or were not up to date on their whooping cough vaccination.

At least 23 of the 28 cases were in people 16 or younger, and 22 cases can be linked to Slavic churches in the county, according to the Grant County Health District.

Whooping cough poses the highest risk to babies up to 12 months of age; pregnant people, especially those in the third trimester; and people with chronic respiratory illnesses, according to the Grant County Health District.

The Benton Franklin Health District warned that childcare workers and family members, including mothers who have recently given birth, can transmit the infection to infants.

One in three infants with whooping cough require hospital care, it said.

Watch for whooping cough symptoms

Whooping cough is highly contagious and can spread easily through droplets from coughing or sneezing.

Early symptoms can resemble a common cold, such as a congested or runny nose, low grade fever and a mild, occasional cough, according to the Walla Walla Health District.

As the infection progresses, more serious symptoms may develop.

Babies may not cough at all, but experience difficulty breathing or apnea.

Children, teenagers and adults can have sudden, intense and uncontrollable coughing spells that may be followed by a whoop. The symptoms can last for several weeks.

Whooping cough can be treated with antibiotics, which should be started as soon as possible to prevent the spread of the disease and to make the infection shorter and less severe, according to the Grant County Health district.

Some people who have been exposed to whooping cough may benefit from antibiotics to prevent them from getting sick.

Vaccinations are the most effective way to prevent pertussis infection, according to the Benton Franklin Health District and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vaccinated people can still contract pertussis but usually have milder symptoms.

Vaccinations are available for infants as young as 2 months. People who were vaccinated as teenagers do not need an additional dose as an adult, unless they are pregnant. Vaccination is recommended for each pregnancy. Any adult who has never been vaccinated should get the vaccine, according to the CDC.

Adults and children with symptoms should contact their healthcare provider, and immediate medical attention is required for breathing difficulties, according to the Tri-Cities based health district.
Why was Detroits west side choked by smoke from a mulch fire? We dont know yet.

Wednesday, much of Detroits sky was a beautiful bowl of cool blue, with some fluffy cumulus clouds.

North of I-96, though, an ugly brown and black cloud of smoke rose over Detroit Mulch Co., with flames towering over blackened piles of chips, compost and mulch. The smoke drifted over some of Detroits wonderful older neighborhoods, and reduced visibility on the Davison and I-96. Eight fire trucks fought the fire  which grew to the size of five football fields  for hours, while bulldozers helped dig the deep fire from the piles of chips.

The founders of Detroit Mulch had a good plan  gather up the old limbs and trunks from dead trees across the giant city and turn them into mulch and other products to sell to Detroits gardeners and landscapers. They found a site in an industrial area off Lyndon surrounded by the Dexter-Fenkell and Oakman Boulevard. communities.

We dont know yet what went wrong, but we do know that giant piles of wood chips can produce their own heat and fire. Was that risk understood? Were the piles of chips inspected? These are questions that need answers.

And there's a bigger question: Why is Detroit still placing risky, pollution-producing businesses amid communities struggling hard to get back on their feet? For years, Wayne State University, where I direct the Center for Urban Studies, worked with the Russell Woods and Oakman Boulevard communities to reduce crime and improve public health. Citizens invested time and energy to improve these neighborhoods  successfully.

Yet, the quest for jobs and industry in Detroit seems, at times, to outweigh citizens needs for safe, stable neighborhoods.

And events like the Detroit Mulch fire keep happening.

Firefighters work to extinguish a blaze at Detroit Mulch Co. on the city's east side on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024.

I thought my parents moved to Holly for the schools. I was wrong.

A balance between safety and jobs

On the east side, residents complain about pollution from a painting facility at a major auto assembly plant nearby. South of the Coleman A. Young International Airport, residents have mobilized to get the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and other agencies to investigate illness clusters and other health challenges. Less than four miles from the Detroit Mulch, the citys Building Department is waging a legal battle to shut down a concrete crushing facility that produces dust. Who can forget the mountains of pet coke piled up on the riverfront by the Koch Brothers?

More: Massive fire at Detroit mulch business affecting city's air quality

More: Wildfire smoke can cause health problems, even death

Detroit residents want relief from dust, smoke and pollution that rain down on their neighborhoods because of the bad decisions of the past. Detroit citizens deserve the same high quality of planning, permitting and regulation that keep other communities safe. Safety first  even amidst the demand for jobs.

Lyke Thompson.

Lyke Thompson is the director of the Center for Urban Studies at Wayne State University. 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: Detroit smoke, mulch fire shows need for balance between safety, jobs
Why are the flags in Kansas at half-staff?

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff effective immediately to honor Kansas State Representative Marvin Robinson, who died Thursday. He was 67.

A news release from the governors office said flags will remain at half-staff until sundown on the day of his interment.

Concrete truck gets stuck in downtown Wichita

Robinson represented Kansas House District 35 in Wyandotte County since 2023.

Representative Robinson showed a commitment to public service throughout his time in the Navy and the Kansas Legislature, Governor Kelly said in a news release. My thoughts go out to his friends and family during this difficult 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 KSN-TV.
One person was killed and two people were injured in a two-vehicle crash in Muscatine County on Friday, the Iowa State Patrol said.

The crash occurred at 5:54 p.m. at U.S. 61 and Taylor Avenue near Muscatine.

According to the initial crash report, a 2024 Nissan Rogue was traveling south on Taylor Avenue and failed to stop at the stop sign before getting onto U.S. 61.

A 2021 Dodge Durango that was southbound on U.S. 61 could not avoid a collision and crashed into the Rogue.

One person was killed in the crash, although police did not specify which vehicle the deceased person was in.

One of the injured people was taken by private vehicle to Trinity Hospital, Muscatine, while the other was flown to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, via AirCare Air Ambulance.

The names of the victims had not been released Saturday pending notification of family.

The crash remains under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol.
A few weeks ago, in a small, but packed hall in Waimanalo, on the East Side of Oahu, a woman in her 60s stood up and asked, Who doesnt want this to happen, raise you hands. Pretty much everyone in the hall raised their hands.

The meeting had been set by the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, also known as BOEM. They wanted community feedback on the idea of developing an offshore wind farm off the Windward Coast of Oahu, in the Kaiwi Channel between Oahu and Molokai.

Now there isnt an official project or proposal on the books, but the very idea of an offshore wind farm was met with resistance. Its very clear tonight people are passionate about how they feel about our ocean waters and the importance of it culturally, for their recreation uses, all of this, said Ann Marie Kirk, of Save Kaiwi Coalition.

The community of Waimanalo mirrored the coastal community opposition to offshore wind farms in Australia. Many of the protests were led by surfers. In August 2023, the Australian Federal Government announced the creation of six offshore wind energy zones right around the country  Newcastle, Illawarra, Gippsland, Portland, Bunbury and Perth. The new Labor government had put an 82 per cent renewable energy target by 2030. Hawaii meanwhile has set a goal of generating 100% of its energy from renewable sources by 2045.

Related: Ocean Conservationist Paul Watson Arrested, Facing Extradition to Japan

To do this, governments are going to need wind farms and offshore projects are the most efficient. Yet it seems many surfers dont want them. In Australias Illawarra region, 1,000-strong crowds gathered, including a group of 150 surfers who staged a paddle out in protest. The Sandon Point Boardriders, one of the most successful and vocal local clubs, was at the forefront.

We don't want our coast ruined, we don't want animals injured, we don't believe the information that has been provided is true, this could ruin my daughter's future," Patricia Elkerton told local news, whose seven-year-old joined the paddle out.

Many of the proposals cited a threat to wildlife - whales, dolphins and birds in particular, as well as possible effect on the waves. These potential threats have largely been debunked. Wind farms have been blamed for an unusual spate of whale strandings on Americas east coast, but when scientists looked into it they found that nearby wind farm surveying had nothing to do with the deaths, said surf and sustainability journalist Kirk Owers. Nearly half of the whales studied had boat impact injuries.

Studies in the UK, where The North Sea has the biggest scale and highest number of wind farms in the world, have also shown no threat to sea life. Most scientists, and Greenpeace, Sea Shepard, and Surfrider Foundation, agree that it is the warming and acidifying oceans as a result of climate change are a much bigger threat to whales than wind farms.

Some surfers also raised the idea that the waves will be affected negatively. If the turbines are floating structures (which was mooted for Oahu), theyll either go up and down with the swell, or the swell waves will simply wrap around. It wouldnt matter if the turbines were only 1 km offshore, there would still be no impact on the swell reaching our beaches, said Professor Rob Brander, aka Dr. Rip, coastal scientist, beach safety researcher and science communicator.

Most of the opposition also raises visual pollution as a major drawback to wind turbines. Its a valid point. Man-made objects in the ocean cant be unseen. Though Newcastle and Illawarra have been home to the coal, steel and gas industries for decades. Surfers in both towns have lived all their lives with enormous coal and steel ships lining the horizon. Look to any shot of Ryan Callinan ripping Merewether, and theres invariably a queue of ships clogging the horizon.

In Hawaii, its more understandable that locals and surfers have been scarred by the tech. The onshore wind turbines on Oahu and the controversial Kahuku wind farm have a checkered history. Residents in Kahuku said the 568-foot turbines are too big and too close to their homes, and that there was a lack of consultation. The onshore Lalamilo Wells wind farm on Oahu and the Kamaoa wind farm built in the 1980s, were some of the earliest and biggest in the world, but were all out of service by 2010. That was due to Hawaiis remote electrical grids, and turbulent winds, that caused electric frequency and voltage to fluctuate. The early adopters didn't get the results that were promised.

Yet Hawaii needs a solution for it energy. In 2023, just 31% of the state's total generation came from renewables, mainly from solar power. But the state uses almost nine times more energy than it produces. Petroleum accounts for about four-fifths of Hawaii's total energy consumption, the highest share for any state.

Like most issues, there are multiple perspectives and thoughts on where offshore wind farms go from here, but as the search for more renewable energy sources continues, this subject isn't going away any time soon.

Related: John John Florences Tribute to the Catalina Classic Paddleboard Race (Video)

Related: Coming Soon: San Franciscos Inaugural Ocean Beach Surf Film Festival
SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazil's Sao Paulo state said that wildfire outbreaks were affecting or closing in on 30 of its cities on Friday evening, adding two people had died in an industrial plant trying to hold back the flames.

The cities have been affected by dry, hot weather in recent days, the government said in a statement.

The state government also warned that forest fires could spread rapidly from gusts of wind, potentially razing large areas of natural vegetation.

For now, the government has not reported flames directly reaching the city of Sao Paulo, Latin America's largest by population with more than 11 million residents.

Still, local media reported smoke blocking out some parts of state capital's sky.

The government said two employees at an industrial plant in the city of Urupes had died on Friday while fighting a fire, without providing more details.

Earlier in the day Raizen, the world's largest sugarcane processor, said that industrial operations at a plant in Sertaozinho had been halted since Thursday due to fires in sugarcane fields around the plant.

The Sao Paulo state government has created an emergency committee to handle the fires, which had also blocked some 15 highways either fully or partially.

Brazil's wildfire season typically peaks in August and September.

This year wildfires started unusually early in Pantanal, the world's largest wetlands, in late May, while the number of fires in the Amazon rainforest surged to a two-decade high for the month of July, government data showed early this month.

(Reporting by Fabricio de Castro in Sao Paulo; Writing by Andre Romani; Editing by Sandra Maler)
WILKES-BARRE TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  A celebration 250 years in the making is underway this weekend in Wilkes-Barre Township.

Township officials honored the place many call home with a free outdoor event to mark the semi-quincentennial.

Saturday afternoon kicked off with a parade to get things started. The 250th celebration of Wilkes-Barre Township brought a celebratory crowd to the Mohegan Arena parking lot. The event also provided a way for local businesses to cash in like a Mexican food street vendor.

It helps business-wise, cause everybody comes out. I mean were stationed locally, but everybody comes out from the community so it helps business-wise, said Anthony Telatenchi the manager of Tacos La Poblanita.

Most of the vendors here are food trucks that are usually parked in one spot unless they are at an event. For those businesses outside of Wilkes-Barre, this is a way for them to expand their customer base.

Week 1 of HS football on 28/22 Friday Night Sports Show

Obviously, you know the money that it brings in, but I mean thats what were in it for you know its a living you know what Im saying so you have to go where the money is usually the event of where the money is, stated Kevin Mcneill and employee at Sho-nuff Delights.

Events like this also prove more profitable.

Oh yes, tremendously cause when were not doing events were like in a stationary position, place down in Mount Pocono and its not as busy as its gonna be here, continued Mcneill.

Overall its agreed that this is a great way to bring people together and celebrate this communitys long history.

Its its great because its a family event and everybody comes out here you come out here with your kids and everything and enjoy all these wonderful food trucks, added Telatenchi.

There are a lot of people up here that might not meet I dont know somebody like me maybe youre from a different area or different perspective on life you know what Im saying so it can only be good to bring more people together you know, explained Mcneill.

A fireworks show is planned tonight at dusk and the music is scheduled to continue until 10:00 p.m.

The event is free to attend.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
One of the women charged with murder in the death of a 3-month-old who died of hypothermia earlier this month has been granted bond.

WJBF-TV reported that Josiah Noel Seright was wrapped in a wet blanket, placed in a wet car seat and put next to an air conditioning unit set to 61 degrees inside a motel room.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

His mother, 19-year-old September Seright, 42-year-old Lamisha Diane Seright and 39-year-old Bennie Antonio Nash have all been arrested and charged with murder and child cruelty.

According to jail records, Lamisha Diane Seright has been granted a $55,400 bond. She is still in custody at the Richmond County Jail.

September Seright and Nash are still being held without bond.

TRENDING STORIES:

Its unclear how long the baby was in front of the air conditioner.

Officials say the baby died from hypothermia and respiratory failure.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Women in California prisons are being raped by guards, then punished for speaking out | Opinion

The first time Amika Mota witnessed a sexual assault by a corrections officer, it was happening to her 18-year-old bunkmate, who was serving a year-long sentence in the Orange County Jail for stealing a purse.

I know everybody has judgments about different types of women that are in (jail)  but, you know, this is one story I tell a lot, Mota said. I cannot imagine that the public associates sentencing and convicting a young woman for a crime of this type (foresaw this) repercussion.

Opinion

Today, Mota is the Executive Director of Sister Warriors Freedom Coalition, an Oakland-based nonprofit coalition of more than 5,000 formerly and currently incarcerated people of every gender. They are working to shed light on injustices faced by women and transgender people within state jails and prisons, foster care, the child welfare system, immigration and social services.

I dont know anybody in prison that has not been affected by witnessed sexual assault by staff, and unfortunately, its just one of those things that I dont think the majority of the public like thinks about  when a woman is being sentenced to prison. Mota said.

Senate Bill 898, by Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), now in front of the legislature, would extend the statute of limitations for incarcerated sexual assault victims and would ensure that correctional employees are fired from their jobs if an investigation found they sexually abused an inmate.

No person, no matter what they did to be sentenced to prison or jail, should be forced to endure the brutal crime of rape or sexual assault  and then be punished for reporting it, Sen. Skinner said.

SB 898 will provide whistleblower protections for survivors who have the courage to come forward, and will allow for a reduction in prison time for incarcerated individuals who were proven to have suffered from such assaults.

The initiative is spurred in part by the events of last year, when former prison guard Greg Rodriguez of the Central California Womens Facility in Chowchilla was accused of 96 felony charges of rape, sodomy and sexual battery on at least 22 women incarcerated inside the prison where he worked. Rodriguez allegedly lured inmates into a parole board hearing room where there were no cameras in order to sexually assault them.

More than 130 women formerly incarcerated at the Chowchilla and Chino state prisons have alleged widespread sexual assault and harassment by prison staff. In October of 2023, six of those former inmates agreed to settle their lawsuits against Rodriguez and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for $3.7 million.

And in April of this year, the federal government abruptly decided to close a prison in Dublin, commonly known as the rape club due to the rampant number of sexual assaults known to happen there; preferring instead to transfer hundreds of inmates across the country and away from their families, rather than address the institutional problems that plague the facility. (Current and former inmates also allege there are serious issues with mold, asbestos and access to healthcare at the Dublin prison.)

Its not one bad apple case, Mota said. Let me tell you how many more are still inside, still doing the same thing, with the same kind of culture that has supported it for so many years,

Mota said she spent seven years inside Californias womens prisons, where she experienced sexual harassment, assault and a normalized culture of the degradation of women. She saw prison staff regularly call the women inmates slurs to humiliate and demean them.

Its just kind of this normal thing, the way they talk to us, she said.

According to the National Institute for Health in 2023, an average of 21% of female inmates reported experiencing some form of sexual victimization by other inmates, while just 7.6% reported experiencing that behavior by staff.

However, the real numbers are likely much higher due to fear of retaliation by prison staff, Mota said.

It is really tough to speak up on sexual harassment or assault when youre on the inside, because the retaliation is real and most people do not report, she said. Officers on the inside, (they) make decisions for everything we do  they decide whether or not we access a phone call, whether or not we get to do our laundry, whether or not we get to have a visit with our family, or buy a commissary or have a bed move. They control every aspect of our life in there.

Regardless of what an incarcerated person has done, allowing inmates to be sexually assaulted by the people in charge of them is akin to state sanctioned violence.

Prisoners in this country are sentenced to serve time. They are not sentenced to repeated rape and abuse.
Zabawa festivities kick off on a high note for the annual Polish festival

Editors note: Ray Luniewskis name has been corrected in this story.

Its a celebration of Eries rich Polish heritage.

They have to come. The Polish heritage, theyre wonderful people, said Laurie Medina, attending Zabawa.

For Laurie Medina, Zabawa is more than just a festival. Its a weekend of celebrating family and passing tradition to the next generation.

My mother was Polish, full-blooded, and her parents came from Poland and my mom passed away last year and were carrying on the tradition coming here, said Medina.

Let the festivities begin! Zabawa Polish Fest returns to Holy Trinity Church this weekend

The 31st annual Zabawa festival is taking place at the Holy Trinity Parish. From food to music, the three-day festival highlights all things Polish.

Zabawa co-chairman Ray Luniewski explained that the festival is a way for the community to reunite.

People come back here by droves and reestablish old friendships, come to the church again, come to see the neighborhood, its changed a lot but they still come back here. Oh I lived over there or I went to school over there, said Luniewski.

The festival is the churchs largest fundraiser of the year.

Annual VetFest returns to the Erie Zoo after short hiatus

An obvious crowd favorite of Zabawa is the festivals famous pierogies.

Turning our pierogie line down by the church. Normally we would be standing here we couldnt even get here to talk because there would be so many people. Its opened up our food line a little bit, said Luniewski.

Luniewski said that parishioners started making all 15,000 pierogies on April 1.

From the paczki to the pierogies to the sausage to golumpki, its just a tradition for us and it means a lot, said Medina.

If you missed the action on Friday, the festival continues tomorrow from noon to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivers a speech on the occasion of Independence Day of Ukraine. -/Ukrainian Presidency/dpa

Ukraine would not allow its territory to be turned into a buffer zone, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on the country's Independence Day in clear reference to the Russian invasion.

Ukrainian's would repay the aggressor with interest, he said, warning that those seeking a Ukrainian buffer zone should take care that their own country did not become a "buffer federation." Ukrainian forces have seized a large chunk of the Russian federation in the Kursk region.

According to the Ukrainian authorities, Zelensky's address was recorded in the region around Sumy in north-eastern Ukraine, from where the Ukrainian incursion into the Kursk region was launched.

Avoiding mentioning Russian President Vladimir Putin by name, Zelensky said: "The sick old man of Red Square, who is constantly threatening with his red button, will not dictate red lines to us."

Moscow has justified its invasion of Ukraine by saying that it cannot accept possible Ukrainian membership of NATO, as this would jeopardize Russian national security.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivers a speech on the occasion of Independence Day of Ukraine. -/Ukrainian Presidency/dpa
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses a joint press conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda and Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte (not pictured) in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Saturday. In his Independence Day address earlier Saturday Zelensky said the Kursk counter-offensive has brought the invasion 'home' to Russia. Photo by Sergey Dolzhenko/EPA-EFE

Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky honored his military's surprise push into Russian territory during his Independence Day speech Saturday, declaring Russian invaders are now seeing the conflict "returned to their home."

Speaking in a pre-recorded video shot earlier this week in a forested area of the Sumy region, Zelensky marked the 33rd anniversary of Ukraine's independence from the Soviet Union by declaring this month's unexpected incursion into Russia's Kursk region has given the Kremlin a taste of the trauma endured by Ukraine in the 2 1/2 years since the start of the invasion.

"Nine hundred-thirteen days ago, Russia unleashed war against us, including through the Sumy region," the president said. "It violated not only our sovereign borders, but also the limits of cruelty and common sense. It was endlessly striving for one thing: to destroy us.

"Instead, today we celebrate the 33rd Independence Day of Ukraine. And whatever the enemy was bringing to our land has now returned to their home."

Zelensky insulted Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling him "a sick old man from the Red Square, who constantly threatens everyone with the red button," and mocked his stated ambition to subdue Ukraine by turning it into a "buffer zone" between Russia and NATO countries.

"[Putin], who wanted to turn our land into a buffer zone, should think about preventing his country from becoming a buffer federation. This is how independence responds," he said.

Ukraine's Kursk counter-offensive, which began Aug. 6, has continued in recent days, analysts said.

Citing Russian military bloggers, the Institute for the Study War estimated on Saturday that Ukrainian forces have advanced further in and around the Russian town of Russkaya Konopelka, located east of Sudzha in the Kursk Oblast, while fighting continued throughout the line of contact across the region on Thursday and Friday.

The Ukrainian military says it controls 488 square miles and 93 settlements inside Russia, including Sudzha.

Meanwhile on Saturday, Zelensky told reporters during a joint press conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda and Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte the Kursk incursion was going as planned and had in fact "stopped a Russian operation" through which the Kremlin had hoped to encircle part of Sumy Oblast.

"(Our goal is) to show (Russia's) society what is more precious to (Putin) -- the occupation of Ukraine's territory or the protection of Russian population," he said. "And I am very pleased that everything I told our partners about has now been demonstrated in practice."

Earlier in the day Zelensky announced Ukraine and Russia had each released 115 prisoners of war for a total of 230 exchanged after officials in the United Arab Emirates brokered the swap.

Eighty-two of the Ukrainian prisoners were captured by Russian forces during the defense of Mariupol while all of the Russian POWs were captured during Ukraine's Kursk incursion.
President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a bill on Aug. 24 banning activities of religious organizations connected to Russia.

The bill was passed by the parliament four days earlier.

The legislation could effectively prohibit the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP), which is legally subordinate to the Russian Orthodox Church.

The UOC-MP has been suspected of links and sympathies to Russia throughout the full-scale war. It is not to be confused with the autocephalous (autonomous) Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which is fully separate from Moscow.

A number of clergymen of the UOC-MP have been accused of collaborating with Russia and justifying Russian aggression, including bishops and other high-ranking members.

Over 100 UOC-MP clergy members have come under criminal investigation since the outbreak of the full-scale war, the Security Service of Ukraine's (SBU) press service told the Kyiv Independent. Almost 50 of them have been charged, and sentences have been issued in 26 cases, the SBU said.

The law enters into force 30 days after its publication, but UOC-MP communities will have nine months to fully break ties with the Russian church, lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak explained.

The bill was initially registered in the parliament in January 2023, shortly after extensive searches by security authorities uncovered pro-Kremlin propaganda, Russian passports, and xenophobic literature at the church's premises.

The parliament supported the bill in the first reading in October 2023.

The legislative process was associated with some controversies. Last month, several opposition lawmakers blocked the parliament's rostrum after the governing party had not brought the issue to the floor.

The UOC-MP said that it had always acted within the framework of Ukrainian legislation and claimed it had severed ties with the Russian Orthodox Church, the leading church in Russia seen as a close ally of Vladimir Putin's regime.

This declaration has been widely disputed in Ukraine as a merely symbolic step and was boycotted by the Russian church.

Read also: Trump ally debunked: Ukraine not burning Russian-linked churches

Russian propaganda has sought to portray the government's steps against the Moscow-linked church as "persecution of Christians," a narrative that has been adopted by Ukraine-skeptic voices in the U.S.

Orthodox Christianity remains the most widely spread and freely practiced religion in Ukraine, while the steps against the church are based on evidence of its collaboration with Russia.

Once a dominant religious group in Ukraine, many Moscow Patriarchate communities have switched allegiance to independent churches, namely the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, in the past few years.

Read also: Cutting ties with Moscow  What does Ukraines church bill really mean

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Zelensky warns Ukraine will soon be able to attack any part of Russia

Volodymyr Zelensky called Vladimir Putin a 'sick man from Red Square who constantly threatens everyone with the red button' - AFP

Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Ukraine will soon be able to attack any point of the Russian federation that is a source of danger to his country and people.

Speaking on Ukrainian Independence Day, Mr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, said that Russia wanted to destroy Ukraine but war has returned to its home.

Our enemy will know. that, sooner or later, a Ukrainian response will reach any point in the Russian federation that is a source of danger to the life of our state or our people, he said.

Mr Zelenskys 13-minute video address was recorded in the border area from which Kyiv launched its surprise incursion into Russia  an invasion which continues to rattle Moscow  and released to mark 33 years of independence from the Soviet Union.

He also announced that Ukrainian forces had carried out successful tests of a new drone missile, and called Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, a sick man from Red Square who constantly threatens everyone with the red button.

Mr Zelensky continued: And the one who wanted to turn our land into a buffer zone should think about preventing his country from becoming a buffer federation.

A Ukrainian military veteran pays his respects to troops - ROMAN PILIPEY/AFP

The Ukrainian president then signed several laws targeting Russia, including a law banning the Moscow branch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Ukraine has been seeking to distance itself from the Russian church since 2014 and the efforts have accelerated since Russias 2022 invasion.

Russias invasion has been backed by Patriarch Kirill, the countrys Orthodox Church leader, a staunch ally of Putin.

Russia slammed the move as illegal. Mr Zelensky said that Ukrainian Orthodox [church] today is taking a step towards liberation from Moscows devils.

Mr Zelensky also ratified the Rome Statute, which paves the way for Ukraine to join the International Criminal Court, and could increase the chances of Russia being prosecuted for war crimes since the start of Moscows invasion in February 2022.

Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, was among the international figures who sent messages of support to Ukraine to coincide with its independence day commemorations.

To the people of Ukraine from the people of Britain, we send you our warmest wishes as you mark your independence day, Sir Keir said on social media.

I want you to know that we stand with you for as long as it takes, with whatever it takes until victory, until a just and lasting peace.

Mr Zelensky later held official celebrations on Kyivs Sofia Square alongside Andrzej Duda, the Polish president, and Ingrida Simonyte, the Lithuanian prime minister.

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Zelenskyy calls for pressure on allies to lift restrictions on Ukraine's use of Western-supplied long-range weapons against Russia

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda and Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte in Kyiv on 24 August 2024. Photo: Ukrainian President's Office

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Ukraine's friends to put pressure on the allies to authorise Ukraine to use Western-supplied long-range weapons on Russian territory.

Source: Zelenskyy at a press conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda and Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte in Kyiv, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Zelenskyy said that during the meeting he had briefed the leaders on the latest successes achieved with Ukrainian-made long-range weapons.

Quote: "We need no less determination from our partners in these matters. Each of our friends who can persuade our allies to lift restrictions on Ukraines use of long-range weapons can truly help bring our shared victory closer."

More details: The Ukrainian president added that Ukraine values the military support provided by Poland, Lithuania, and all its friends and partners, emphasising that it is crucial to keep up the pace of delivering the agreed defence support packages.

Zelenskyy said the protection of Ukrainian skies from Russian strikes was also on the agenda.

"It is crucial that the countries in our region recognise the Russian terrorist threat equally and enhance cooperation to intercept Russian missiles and drones. The greater our cooperation, the sooner Moscow will understand the futility of their terrorist attacks," Zelenskyy said.

Background:

Zelenskyy has urged Ukrainian diplomats to work towards expanding the authorisation from Western powers so that long-range weapons sent to Ukraine can be used for strikes on Russian territory.

Earlier, it was reported that Washington was effectively blocking the UK's authorisation for Kyiv to use Storm Shadow missiles in Russia due to the Biden administrations concerns about escalating the war.

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On Saturday, 24 August, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to discuss, among other things, the military and humanitarian situation in Ukraine.

Source: German government; press service of the Ukrainian president; European Pravda

Details: The German chancellor reaffirmed his continued and unwavering solidarity with Ukraine in the face of ongoing Russian aggression.

"President Zelenskyy thanked the federal government for its continued military support, particularly in the field of air defence," the German government said in a statement.

The two leaders reportedly agreed on the importance of the Swiss Peace Summit process and discussed its continuation. "The inclusion of the Global South [countries] is of particular importance," the statement said.

Zelenskyy and Scholz agreed to stay in close contact.

The Ukrainian President's Office reported that Zelenskyy briefed Scholz on the situation on the battlefield and the current needs of Ukraine's defence forces, specifically regarding armoured vehicles and air defence systems.

The parties also coordinated cooperation and further contacts within the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (also known as the Ramstein Group).

The leaders discussed the continuation of funding for defence support for Ukraine and the use of frozen Russian assets for Ukraine's needs.

Background:

Last weekend German media reported that current budget planning of the German federal government did not provide for supplementary funds for the support for Ukraine, and that on the chancellors demand, additional requests from Germany's Defence Ministry concerning military assistance for Ukraine would no longer be approved.

Meanwhile, the German government denied its intentions to decrease the military aid for Ukraine. A government spokesperson stated that the German government expected that next year the international partners of Ukraine would provide it with a loan for the total amount of 50 billion, which would be paid back using profits from frozen Russian assets.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a law banning the activities of religious organisations associated with Russia in Ukraine on 24 August.

Source: website of the Ukrainian parliament

Details: The law was also published in the official parliamentary publication Holos Ukrainy (Voice of Ukraine).

It is noted that the purpose of the law is to ban the activities of the Russian Orthodox Church and religious organisations affiliated with it in Ukraine, prohibit the propaganda of the "Russian world" ideology, and prohibit the use of religious organisations to promote this ideology. [The "Russian world" is the general idea of the superiority of Russian Orthodoxy, culture, language, etc., widely promoted by pro-Kremlin figures  ed.]

The law comes into force on the day following its publication.

Background:

On 20 August, the Verkhovna Rada adopted in its entirety a bill banning religious organisations in Ukraine that are linked to Russia, which could potentially cripple the activities of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP).

In January 2023, the government registered in the Verkhovna Rada bill No. 8371 on the ban on religious organisations in Ukraine, which could result in the termination of the UOC-MP.

On 19 October 2023, the Verkhovna Rada passed the bill in the first reading.

On 23 July, MPs blocked the stand of the Verkhovna Rada because they refused to consider the bill banning the UOC-MP, thus disrupting the plenary session.

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President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed the law on the ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court adopted by the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament).

Source: European Pravda

Details: The bill's card on the Verkhovna Rada's website contains notes that on 23 August, the law was sent to the president for his signature, and on 24 August, it was returned with Volodymyr Zelenskyy's signature, and the act was sent out.

Background:

The Verkhovna Rada supported the ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Wednesday, 21 August, which will mean Ukraine's full accession to the ICC.

Ukraine signed the Rome Statute in 2000 but has not ratified it since then, even though a decision of the National Security and Defence Council in 2015 recognised the need for ratification. One reason given was the fear that the ICC could prosecute Ukrainian citizens.

Ukraine is ratifying the Rome Statute with a separate declaration, under which, for seven years after the entry into force of the ratification law, "Ukraine does not recognise the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court over its nationals for crimes under Article 8 of the Rome Statute". It is not yet clear how this provision will work, given that Ukraine has already granted the ICC the right to investigate crimes committed on its territory.

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The Ukrainian army attacked the Russian army for the first time on 24 August with a new weapon, the Palianytsia drone missile. [Palianytsia is a traditional Ukrainian bun; this word is difficult for Russians to pronounce correctly, so it is used as a shibboleth  ed.]

Source: Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the Independence Day celebrations

Quote from Zelenskyy: "This is our new method of retaliation against the aggressor. The enemy has been defeated. I thank everyone who made it possible. All developers, manufacturers and our soldiers. I am proud of you. It will be challenging for Russia, and it will be even more difficult to say exactly what [missile or drone] struck. It is difficult to counteract but very easy to understand why [it was launched]."

Details: Volodymyr Zelenskyy says these are weapons of a "completely new class".

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that the Ukrainian operation in Russia's Kursk Oblast helped prevent the occupation of part of Sumy Oblast and the city of Sumy.

Source: Zelenskyy at a press conference in Kyiv on 24 August

Quote: "I have a very positive view of how the operation is going on this front [in Kursk Oblast  ed.]. The operation is complex. It is essential that it goes according to our plan.

This operation has achieved several results, but I can't talk about all of them. First of all, the prisoner-of-war exchange pool. This is something we can talk about openly. It is being replenished, which is a good thing.

Secondly, [by launching] a preventive strike, we have succeeded in stopping the Russian operation in the north. We have prevented the encirclement of part of Sumy Oblast and [Russia's] plans to occupy the regional capital, Sumy."

Details: At the same time, Zelenskyy noted that the objectives of the operation in Kursk Oblast extend beyond what he has publicly disclosed, and he expressed confidence that these goals will be achieved.

The president also said one of the goals of the operation was "to show the reality of who Putin is".

Quote: "To show his society what he [Putin] values more  occupying Ukrainian territory or protecting his population. I am very pleased that everything I had previously told our partners, we have now demonstrated in practice. He continues to focus on holding the occupied territories while neglecting the protection of his people. He is now bombing his own villages. Hats off to him, really  his people are in shock that they ever believed in this demon. Understand the face he is showing to his society now."

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Credit: Nvidia

Prior to the start of the Hot Chips 2024 tradeshow, Nvidia showed off more elements of its Blackwell platform, including servers being installed and configured. It's a less than subtle way of saying that Blackwell is still coming  never mind the delays. It also talked about its existing Hopper H200 solutions, showed FP4 LLM optimizations using its new Quasar Quantization System, discussed warm water liquid cooling for data centers, and talked about using AI to help build even better chips for AI. It reiterated that Blackwell is more than just a GPU, it's an entire platform and ecosystem.



Much of what will be presented by Nvidia at Hot Chips 2024 is already known, like the data center and AI roadmap showing Blackwell Ultra coming next year, with Vera CPUs and Rubin GPUs in 2026, followed by Vera Ultra in 2027. Nvidia first confirmed those details at Computex back in June. But AI remains a big topic and Nvidia is more than happy to keep beating the AI drum.

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While Blackwell was reportedly delayed three months, Nvidia neither confirmed nor denied that information, instead opting to show images of Blackwell systems being installed, as well as providing photos and renders showing more of the internal hardware in the Blackwell GB200 racks and NVLink switches. There's not much to say, other than the hardware looks like it can suck down a lot of juice and has some pretty robust cooling. It also looks very expensive.



Nvidia also showed some performance results from its existing H200, running with and without NVSwitch. It says performance can be up to 1.5X higher on inference workloads compared to running point-to-point designs  that was using a Llama 3.1 70B parameter model. Blackwell doubles the NVLink bandwidth to offer further improvements, with an NVLink Switch Tray offering an aggregate 14.4 TB/s of total bandwidth.



Because data center power requirements keep increasing, Nvidia is also working with partners to boost performance and efficiency. One of the more promising results is using warm water cooling, where the heated water can potentially be recirculated for heating to further reduce costs. Nvidia claims it has seen up to a 28% reduction in data center power use using the tech, with a large portion of that coming from the removal of below ambient cooling hardware.

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Above you can see the full slide deck from Nvidia's presentation. There are a few other interesting items of note.



To prepare for Blackwell, which now adds native FP4 support that can further boost performance, Nvidia has worked to ensure it's latest software benefits from the new hardware features without sacrificing accuracy. After using its Quasar Quantization System to tune the workloads results, Nvidia is able to deliver basically the same quality as FP16 while using one quarter as much bandwidth. The two generated bunny images may very in minor ways, but that's pretty typical of text-to-image tools like Stable Diffusion.



Nvidia also talked about using AI tools to design better chips  AI building AI, with turtles all the way down. Nvidia created an LLM for internal use that helps to speed up design, debug, analysis, and optimization. It works with the Verilog language that's used to describe circuits and was a key factor in the creation of the 208 billion transistor Blackwell B200 GPU. This will then be used to create even better models to enable Nvidia to work on the next generation Rubin GPUs and beyond. [Feel free to insert your own Skynet joke at this point.]



Wrapping things up, we have a better quality image of Nvidia's AI roadmap for the next several years, which again defines the "Rubin platform" with switches and interlinks as an entire package. Nvidia will be presenting more details on the Blackwell architecture, using generative AI for computer aided engineering, and liquid cooling at the Hot Chips conference next week.
GUWAHATI: In a brutal crackdown, two journalists were reportedly among four individuals executed by Myanmars military junta during a raid on a house in Kyaikto Township, Mon State, on Wednesday.

The raid, conducted in the village of Lett Pya, was allegedly aimed at a residence suspected of harboring resistance fighters.

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Among those killed were Ko Win Htut Oo, a reporter for the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), and freelance journalist Ko Htet Myat Thu.

According to sources, more than 20 soldiers stormed the home of Ko Htet Myat Thu, resulting in the deaths of two other individuals believed to be members of the Kyaikto Revolution Force (KRF), a local resistance group.

The elderly homeowner, Ko Htet Myat Thus grandmother, sustained severe injuries during the raid, while two others managed to escape.

A friend of Ko Htet Myat Thu shared with The Irrawaddy that the military did not return the bodies to the families, instead cremating them at Taunggalay cemetery on the same day.

Pro-junta Telegram channels claimed the operation was a clearance mission, reportedly based on tips that KRF members were at the residence.

The channels asserted that the four people killed were KRF members who allegedly fired at the troops, leading to the confiscation of three pistols, 40 bullets, and four magazines.

However, local residents contradicted these claims, stating that there was no exchange of gunfire, and that the KRF members were unarmed, dressed in civilian clothes, and merely visiting the house.

Both Ko Htet Myat Thu and Ko Win Htut Oo were known for their coverage of the conflict in Mon State and the juntas atrocities against civilians.

They had faced numerous threats and were at constant risk of arrest or death due to their work.

Ko Win Htut Oo was a deeply dedicated journalist, said Ma Khin Yupar of DVB.

He always sought advice to ensure his reporting was unbiased, especially when working from liberated areas. He was a promising young journalist who was tragically killed when he returned to junta-controlled territory to continue his work.

Ko Win Htut Oo had actively participated in anti-military protests following the 2021 coup and was targeted by the junta with an arrest warrant.

He had begun contributing regular reports on Mon State for DVB last year.

Similarly, Ko Htet Myat Thu had been involved with local media outlets such as the Thanlyin Times since the coup.

In March 2021, he was shot in the leg by junta troops while photographing an anti-regime protest in Kyaikto, later spending six months in Kyaikto prison.

After his release, he continued his work as a freelance journalist, contributing to various mainstream media.

Since the 2021 military coup, over 170 media personnel have been arrested by the junta, with around 60 still imprisoned.

According to the Independent Press Council of Myanmar, at least seven journalists have been killed by the regime.

It is a war crime, said Toe Zaw Latt, secretary of the Independent Press Council.

The regime deliberately targeted and killed journalists in that house. We need more than just words of condemnation; its time for concrete, effective actions.
From horror to romance, round out summer with these 4 beach reads
Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri stated that artificial Intelligence is not a threat to the content creation economy, on the other hand, AI will help to revolutionize the creative economy or the content creating. "AI is not a threat. Instead, it offers a chance to lower costs, expand revenue streams, reach a broader audience, and access previously unreachable markets" said Puri. The minister was speaking at the launch of the 'All India Initiative on Creative Economy (AIICE)' event in Delhi on Friday which was organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce in its 100th year. However, the minister also acknowledged the challenges AI presents, particularly concerning misinformation, copyright, intellectual property, privacy, and market monopolisation. He emphasized the need for a robust regulatory framework to address these issues effectively. "The government is committed to designing and implementing policies that will safeguard intellectual property and ensure competitive markets," he stated. Puri also mentioned that India is now the content capital of the world with 100 million content creators in the country and the advent of technology and digital means are now employing 8 per cent of India's population. "The positive impact of the advent of technology and digital means over the years can also be felt in the field of creativity even as its size as a 'sector' has now grown to USD 30 billion and is responsible for providing employment to 8 per cent of India's population. In fact, a report by Goldman Sachs in 2023, which estimates that the global creative economy is set to double at USD 480 billion, indicates that India today has 100 million content creators making India the content capital of the world" said the minister. Highlighting his association with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), which has played an important role in promoting the creative economy globally, he cited its 'Creative Economy Outlook 2024' report to emphasise that the creative economy generates annual revenues of over USD 2 trillion and accounts for nearly 50 million jobs worldwide. The minister also noted that with creative exports increasing by 20 per cent last year alone, generating over USD 11 billion, the industry is expected to see remarkable growth in the coming years. Puri stated that an increasing number of Indians, especially the youth, believe creative industries to be more appealing while also offering career security. He stressed that this was an incentivising factor in boosting our creative exports. He also acknowledged the role of Bollywood and other local film industries in the creative economy of India, highlighting that Bollywood is one of India's most well-recognised soft power exports. He said, "we have the largest social media user base in the world; some of the fastest-growing social media networks find their biggest user base in India." The Minister also talked about the vibrancy of urban spaces leading to the flourishing of the creative economy further. Highlighting the potential of content creation and creative economy in Indian urban spaces, he said that the creative industries, which were once based almost exclusively in Tier-1 cities and considered exclusionary for many aspiring creative artists, are now flourishing in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. A notable aspect of this transformation is the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Puri highlighted that "AI is increasingly being utilised in newsrooms, with 41 per cent of news teams employing it to create illustrative art, 39 per cent for social media content, and 38 per cent for writing and generating articles". Puri concluded by underscoring the importance of dialogue among industry stakeholders and the government to address these challenges and leverage the opportunities that various emerging developments present. (ANI)
Nawazuddin Siddiqui continues to amaze with his on-screen versatility. In his latest role as a detective, the newly released trailer for his upcoming film, Adbhut, showcases yet another standout performance. As he delves into a gripping mystery, Siddiqui's intense portrayal promises to deliver a captivating and thrilling experience for audiences.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui shared the trailer for Adbhut on social media and captioned it: "Truth exists beyond belief - 'ADBHUT' Trailer! Releasing on 15th September only on #SonyMax."

The trailer for Adbhut is as intriguing and captivating as it is, but Nawazuddin Siddiqui undoubtedly stands out as the biggest highlight. His intense portrayal of a detective is spot-on, and as soon as the trailer was released, it had netizens buzzing with praise for his performance.

Directed and written by Sabbir Khan, the film boasts an impressive ensemble cast, featuring Diana Penty, Shreya Dhanwanthary, and Rohan Mehra in prominent roles.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui's forthcoming film 'Adbhut' is slated to premiere on September 15. Directed and written by Sabbir Khan, known for 'Munna Michael' and 'Baaghi', this film is set to enhance Siddiquis impressive portfolio. Produced by Sony Pictures Films India and Sabbir Khan Films, with cinematography by Binod Pradhan and editing by Manan Sagar, 'Adbhut' will be broadcast directly on television, airing on Sony Max at 8 PM.
Janmashtami holds a lot of importance in Hindu culture as it commemorates the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna and is celebrated by Krishna devotees from all over the world. The devotees prepare 56 food items consisting of numerous drinks, cereal, fruits, dry fruits, and sweets to offer Lord Krishna as Bhog generally known as Chappan Bhog. The efforts and love devotees put in preparing these 56 items show their immense devotion towards Lord Krishna.

What is Chappan Bhog?

Chappan Bhog is a sacred platter of sattvic foods presented to Lord Krishna during Janmashtami. This unique assortment includes dishes that encompass all five tastessweet, sour, spicy, salty, and bitteralong with umami, creating a well-balanced and divine feast.

Significance of Chappan Bhog in Janmashtami

It is said that one day Lord Indra, the god of rain and thunder started incessant rainfall due to his ire in Gokul, the native village of Lord Krishna causing floods and destruction. To protect the population Lord Krishna held the entire Govardhan Mountain on the tip of his small finger and provided shelter to everyone.

People believed that he held the mountain for 7 days which is truly a miracle that is remembered even today. Lord Indra in the end finally surrendered his ego at Lord Krishnas feet and the life gets back to normal in Gokul. As Krishna missed his 8 daily meals for 7 days, the villagers out of gratefulness and love promised to offer him a feast of 56 items. Since then, 56 food items become favorable to appease deities for ages.

Listed Below are 56 Food Items Included In the Chappan Bhog

Sweets

Makkhan mishri, Kheer, Rasgulla, Jalebi, Rabri, Malpua, mohanbhog, Moong dal ka halwa, Ghewar, Peda, Jeera ladoo, Panchamrit, Shakkarpaara, Honey, Sweet Rice

Dry Fruits

Cashews, Almonds, Pistachios, Elaichi, Supaari, Saunf, Paan

Savoury

Mathri, Chutney, Murabba, Pakoda, Saag, Curd, Rice, Dal, Kadi, Chila, Papad, Khichadi, Brinjal, Bottle gourd, Poori, Tikkis, Dalia, Ghee, Butter, Malai, Kachori, Roti, Channa, Bhujia

Fruits

Mango, Banana, Grapes, Apple, Plum, Raisins

Drinks

Coconut water, Almond milk, Butter Milk, Shikanji





(The information in this article is general information and common beliefs. Zee News does not confirm this/endorse this.)
New Delhi: Union Cabinet approves assured 50 per cent of salary as pension for govt employees under Unified Pension Scheme. The Narendra Modi-led central government has decided to replace the New Pension Scheme (NPS) with this new plan. The scheme will come into effect on April 1, 2025.

The decision was confirmed in a recent Union Cabinet meeting. According to Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) will ensure a pension of 50 per cent of the average monthly basic salary over the past 12 months, aiming to provide better financial security for government employees.

#WATCH | Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw says, "Today the Union Cabinet has approved Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) for government employees providing for the assured pension...50% assured pension is the first pillar of the scheme...second pillar will be assured family pic.twitter.com/HmYKThrCZV  ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2024

Under this scheme, a dearness allowance will be attached to the pension to help offset the impact of inflation. Further, employees will receive a lump sum payment at the time of retirement. This payment will be an accumulated amount earned during their service which will be a fixed portion of their monthly salary and will increase with every six months of service.

If an employee has worked for at least 25 years, they will receive a pension of at least 50 percent of their average salary from the last 12 months before retirement. In case of the pensioner's death, their family will receive 60 per cent of the pension amount. Further, if someone leaves their job after 10 years, they will receive a pension of Rs 10,000.

23 Million Employees To Benefit

Approximately 2.3 million central government employees will benefit from this new Unified Pension Scheme. Employees will have the option to choose between the NPS and the UPS. The Unified Pension Scheme will also include benefits linked to inflation indexing.
New Delhi: Despite being on the outskirts, the residents collectively hold fixed deposits totaling Rs 7,000 crore. Remarkably, the village hosts 17 banks which includes major names like HDFC Bank, SBI, PNB, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank and Union Bank.

When we think of villages we often imagine poverty, muddy roads and outdated transportation. However, theres a village in Gujarats Bhuj thats flipping this idea on its head. Known as Asias Richest Village this place defies traditional expectations and offers a glimpse into a different and more prosperous side of rural life in India.

Madhapur, a village of Bhuj in Gujarat is celebrated as Asias richest village. Despite being on the outskirts, the residents collectively hold fixed deposits totaling Rs 7,000 crore. Remarkably, the village hosts 17 banks which includes major names like HDFC Bank, SBI, PNB, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank and Union Bank. Even more banks are keen to set up branches in this thriving area.

How a Village in Gujarat Earned the Title of Asias Richest Village

The village has all essential amenities, including proper sanitation, water and well-maintained roads. It also has bungalows both public and private schools, lakes and temples. The village has a population of about 32,000 and a significant portion are NRIs (non-resident Indians. The wealth is largely due to 65 percent NRI population, who deposit crores of rupees annually into local banks and post offices.

Though many villagers live and work abroad, they remain attached to their village and prefer parking their money in the banks here rather than where they live, The Economic Times quoted Parulben Kara, the former president of the District Panchayat.

The village has around 20,000 houses and is home to 1,200 families many of whom live in Africa. A large portion of the villages residents run construction businesses in Central Africa. Further, some villagers have settled in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
A week after the Election Commission of India announced the schedule for the Haryana assembly elections, the BJP has written to the poll body seeking postponement of the polls slated for October 1 citing holidays. However, the opposition claimed that the saffron party has sensed impending defeat and is just trying to buy more time by making excuses. The letter to the EC was sent by the party's state unit chief, Mohan Lal Badoli.

In his letter, Badoli said that by taking a day's leave on September 30, people will have six holidays. Due to this long weekend, there is a strong possibility that several families might go on a vacation and give voting a miss, Badoli said in his letter to the EC. Badoli also noted that on October 2, 'Asoj Amavasya,' many members of the Bishnoi community from Haryana will travel to Nokha tehsil in Bikaner, Rajasthan, to attend an annual fair held in celebration of the occasion.

Varinder Garg, a member of the BJP's state election management committee, explained, "We have raised concerns that the Assembly election date of October 1 (Tuesday) is preceded by a weekend and followed by additional holidays, which could impact voter turnout as people often go on vacation during long weekends." Garg noted that September 28-29 are Saturday and Sunday, and October 1 is a polling holiday. This is followed by Gandhi Jayanti on October 2 and Maharaja Agrasen Jayanti on October 3.

While opposition parties Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) criticized the BJP, accusing it of panicking in anticipation of defeat, Abhay Chautala's INLD also called for a postponement of the elections.

Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda asserted that the BJP's request for a delay indicates it has already conceded defeat. "It has been more than a week since the Election Commission announced the poll date. The BJP's demand for a postponement reflects its acceptance of defeat," said Hooda, who is the Leader of the Opposition and a former Chief Minister of Haryana. He emphasized, "Elections should proceed as scheduled by the EC. The people of Haryana do not want the BJP government to remain in power for even a day longer."

"Haryana BJP has written a letter to the Election Commission to postpone the elections, which shows how scared BJP is of the elections. Seeing its defeat in front, the ruling party is giving childish arguments. Because it has no issue, no work or achievement to tell the public and no 90 candidates to give tickets to. That is why the BJP is conspiring to postpone the elections by making an excuse for holidays. Voters of Haryana are very aware. They will not go anywhere for a holiday, but will come to the polling booth in large numbers to vote for the BJP," said Deepender Hooda on X.

The AAP's Haryana unit said even before the elections took place, the ruling BJP had started looking for excuses as it could sense its impending defeat in the election. In a post on X, the AAP said if the BJP had done work in the state, it would not have been seeking postponement of polls. This time the BJP's defeat is certain, it said.
New Delhi: The prime accused in the rape of a minor girl in the Dhing area of Assam allegedly escaped from police custody, jumped into a pond and died on Saturday, police said.

Police have recovered the body of the prime accused of Dhing gang rape, Tafazul Islam, on Saturday morning.

Swapnaneel Deka, Superintendent of Police of Nagaon district said that that on Friday police arrested Tafazul Islam in connection with the case.

#WATCH | The body of the prime accused of the Dhing gang rape incident in Assam's Nagaon district, Tafazul Islam recovered from a pond. The police had earlier arrested him in connection with the case.



"When a police team took him last night to the spot for investigation where pic.twitter.com/ow29EJ37j7 August 24, 2024

"When a police team took him last night to the spot for investigation where the incident took place, the prime accused tried to flee and jumped into a pond located nearby the site. Our police personnel engaged in a search operation and with the help of the SDRF team we recovered his body from the pond today morning," he said, ANI reported.

The senior police official added that the operations are underway to apprehend the other two remaining accused persons.

On August 22, a 14-year-old minor girl was allegedly gang-raped by three persons in the Dhing area of Assam when she was returning to home from tuition classes.

The incident sparked widespread protests in the Dhing area, with locals and various organisations demanding stringent action against the culprits.

On Friday, Assam Director General of Police, GP Singh visited the scene met the victim's family, and conferred with senior police officials.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said, "When there is any atrocity against women, we need to take prompt action."

Speaking about the incident, according to ANI, Sarma said, "I would like to say just one thing. When there is any atrocity against women, we need to take prompt action. But the public should see that the government is taking strict action. When people feel that the government is showing laxity, they get angry. When such incidents take place, the government should take very aggressive action. The government in Bengal didn't do it, so people got angry,"
The recent child sexual abuse case at a school in Badlapur in Thane district has escalated into a political controversy following widespread violence and arson. As per reports, the school's chief trustee, Uday Kotwal, is a BJP leader, which has led the Mahavikas Aghadi to target the saffron party. However, local media has reported that while five members of the school's trustee board are associated with Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) and Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena-UBT.

In the midst of this controversy, the Bombay High Court has directed the state government to file an affidavit detailing the police investigation before the case is handed over to a Special Investigation Team (SIT). The court has set the next hearing for August 27, demanding answers to the questions raised about the investigation.

Following the incident, a flurry of accusations erupted in political circles, with various parties attempting to blame each other for the serious incident. Opposition parties initially targeted the BJP reportedly due to the presence of RSS and BJP-affiliated leaders on the school's trustee board.

The current trustee board of the Adarsh Vidya Prasarak Sanstha includes leaders from both Shiv Sena factions Eknath Shinde's group and Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena, reported local media. Of the total members, five belong to these factions, with two being independent and teacher members.

While Chairman Uday Kotwal said to have an RSS background, Vice-Chairman Janardan Dhorpade is said to a Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) leader.

Other RSS-linked board members are Ram Shete - Treasurer, Uday Kelkar - Member, BJP leader Nandkishore Patkar - Member, while Shiv Sena-Shinde faction linked board members are former Thane District Shiv Sena chief Manohar Ambawane - Member, Sanjay Gaikwad - Member, and Sena-UBT faction-linked board members are Harishchandra Bhoir - Member, and Ashok Ghorpade - Member. Thus, the school board has members not only from the RSS but also from the both factions of the Shiv Sena as well as from the BJP.

To ensure transparency in the investigation, the Bombay High Court has requested an affidavit from the state government. The next steps in this complex case will be closely watched, as political parties continue to clarify their positions on the issue.
The leaders and workers of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, including the Nationalist Congress Party - Sharad Pawar (NCP-SP), Shiv Sena (UBT), and Congress, staged protests across Maharashtra on Saturday. The prominent faces were seen wearing black bands on their foreheads and arms as they demonstrated against the alleged sexual assault of two minor girls in Maharashtras Badlapur.

"The court may have halted our bandh, but it cannot silence our voice," said Former chief minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, who joined the demonstrations outside the Shiv Sena Bhavan in Dadar.

Uddhav Thackeray emphasised the need to remove the Mahayuti government, asserting that it is crucial for ensuring the safety of women in the state. It is a pity that instead of taking action against the culprits it is standing with them, Thackeray alleged, reported PTI.

The Bombay High Court on Friday barred political parties from proceeding with the bandh called by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) on August 24 in protest against the Badlapur incident.

In response, Uddhav Thackeray directed his party workers to launch a signature campaign with the slogan "Bahin Surakshit tar Ghar Surakshit" (home is safe if sisters are secure), which will be presented to the Bombay High Court.

A male attendant has been arrested in Badlapur town, Thane district, for allegedly sexually assaulting two 4-year-old kindergarten girls at a local school. The incident triggered a large-scale protest in Badlapur on Tuesday.
Some of the wealthiest villages in Asia can be found in India, where affluence coexists with the natural beauty and cultural diversity of rural life. These communities, which frequently surprise people, demonstrate the financial potential that exists outside of the busy cities. Here are five of India's wealthiest villages.

Madhapar, Gujarat

One of the richest villages in Asia is Madhapar, which is situated in Gujarat's Kutch area. This town is incredibly wealthy, having over 7,600 bank accounts totaling over 5,000 crore in total. Madhapar's robust Non-Resident Indian (NRI) community, which has significantly contributed to the village's infrastructure, healthcare, and education systems, is primarily responsible for its development. Madhapar, a paradigm of rural development, is a rural area with well-kept roads, schools, and hospitals.

Maharashtra's Hiware Bazar

Once a community vulnerable to drought, Hiware Bazar in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district is now among the richest in the country. Popatrao Pawar's innovative leadership, which led to agricultural success by implementing water conservation practices, is credited with this amazing reversal. Over 60 billionaires live in Hiware Bazar now, and the villagers work in dairy and sustainable agriculture, among other industries. The village is renowned for both its excellent living conditions and development that is led by the community.

Punsari, Gujarat

Punsari, a little village in Gujarat's Sabarkantha district, is a model of innovative rural governance. The community rivals urban regions with its contemporary amenities, which include air-conditioned schools, CCTV cameras, and Wi-Fi. Punsari's prosperity stems from both strong local leadership and efficient utilization of government programs. The hamlet is among the wealthiest and most developed in India because of its holistic approach to development, which has also drawn attention.

Shingnapur, Shani, Maharashtra

Known for its Shani temple, Shani Shingnapur in Maharashtra is one of India's wealthiest villages and a spiritual centre. The village has a peculiar custom wherein homes are doorless, signifying faith and trust. The yearly influx of millions of followers into this community adds to its wealth. In addition to agriculture, tourism has been a major contributor to the village's economy.

Himachal Pradesh's Maraog

Because of its abundant apple orchards, Maraog, in Himachal Pradesh, is referred to as the "Apple King" of Asia and is among the wealthiest settlements. The village's economy is mostly dependent on apple growing, with premium apples being exported worldwide. Its citizens enjoy a good standard of living and great infrastructure thanks to the wealth created by apple production.
New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticized the Congress party and accused them of risking India's unity and security due to their 'greed for power.' He targeted the party for its alliance with Omar Abdullah's National Conference (NC), claiming this partnership compromises the country's integrity for political gain.

Amit Shah Criticizes Congress-NC Alliance in J&K

Following Congress's announcement of a pre-poll alliance with the National Conference (NC) ahead of the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, BJP leader Amit Shah launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, accusing it of compromising the nation's unity and security for political gain.

Accusations On Social Media

Amit Shah took to social media platform X and stated, "The Congress party, which has repeatedly risked the nation's unity and security to satiate its greed for power, has once again exposed its ulterior motives by allying with the Abdullah family's 'National Conference' in the Jammu and Kashmir elections."

NC's Manifesto

Shah questioned whether Congress supports the promises made in the NC's manifesto, including "a separate flag for Jammu and Kashmir," and the restoration of Article 370 and 35A. He suggested these promises would lead to a return of unrest and terrorism in the region.

Concerns Over Dialogue with Pakistan and LoC Trade

Further, Shah asked if Congress supports the NC's stance on engaging in dialogue with Pakistan rather than focusing on the youth of Kashmir and the proposal to resume LoC trade with Pakistan. Shah asserts that this will foster terrorism.

Reinstating Relatives of Terrorists in Government Jobs

Shah also criticized the alliance's support for reinstating the relatives of those involved in terrorism and stone-pelting into government jobs, arguing that this would bring back terrorism and extremism.

Cultural and Political Changes

The BJP leader raised additional concerns, questioning whether Congress supports renaming cultural landmarks, promoting economic corruption, and enforcing discriminatory politics between Jammu and the Valley, as suggested by the NC's platform.

The alliance announcement came after a meeting between Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, and NC chief Farooq Abdullah. The parties decided to contest all 90 seats in the upcoming assembly polls. The formal alliance was confirmed by NC patron Farooq Abdullah in Srinagar, emphasizing unity and a collective fight against divisive forces.

J&K Vidhan Sabha Elections

The assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir are scheduled to be held in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1, with results expected on October 4. This will be the first assembly election since the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.
NewsVoir New Delhi [India], August 24: The Powering Livelihoods programme has committed approximately INR 1 crore in funding to scale up new cleantech innovations in the DRE sector. The programme has on-boarded six new DRE innovators while continuing to support 11 others. The programme, spearheaded by the leading think tank Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) and Villgro, one of India's oldest and largest social enterprise incubators, has supported adopting cleantech solutions to transform rural livelihoods. Some examples of these technologies include solar refrigerators, food processing machines, solar-powered reeling and spinning machines, biomass cold storage, and solar dryers. The six newly onboarded enterprises - Temperate Technologies, Takachar, Jaljeevika InfoTech, Saptkrishi Scientific, SEMA and Oscillo Machines - will receive support from the newly created funding pool for scaling their innovations. These DRE solutions enhance productivity and promote local production and value addition in the fisheries, grain processing, and crop residue management sectors to positively impact rural livelihoods. Abhishek Jain, Fellow and Director - Powering Livelihoods, CEEW, said, "India needs to create economic opportunities at a quicker pace, given its growing young population. Urban jobs can not be the only solution. We need to enhance livelihood opportunities closer to where the bulk production happens and where most people are. But, it must be done in a sustainable and climate-resilient way - that's exactly what Powering Livelihoods does. With our experience over the years, we are now doubling down to strive for an even greater impact." Ananth Aravamudan, Chief of Programs and Strategy, Villgro, said, "We have seen DRE technologies mature over the years, in terms of reliability and proven business models. The stage is set to scale these technologies through access to markets and access to finance. Powering Livelihoods has the track record and resources to make this happen. We believe that not just the innovations, but also the ecosystem consisting of channel partners, financiers and policymakers will see a huge upside through our efforts." Powering Livelihoods currently supports a total of 17 enterprises, aiming to create 40,000 livelihoods by deploying 20,000 decentralised renewable energy (DRE) technologies across India by 2026. According to analysis by CEEW, DRE technologies have a market potential of USD 50 billion and can impact 37 million livelihoods in India alone. To enable this, Powering Livelihoods provides technical assistance to strengthen enterprise operations and enable go-to-market and financial partnerships. The initiative also facilitates end-user financing of these cleantech solutions through partnerships with microfinance institutions, Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) and rural banks. Powering Livelihoods began operations in 2020 and has already supported ~19,700 livelihoods until 2023. About 70 per cent of these users are women. Further, through ~12,500 clean technology deployments, 16,800 MT of CO2 emissions were mitigated until 2023. Between 2020 and 2023, the supported enterprises raised USD 7.3 million in follow-on funding. The programme is currently supported by the IKEA Foundation, Good Energies by Porticus, and the DOEN Foundation. The initiative will continue to support enterprises such as Devidayal Solar, Dharambir Food Processing, Rukart, Hydrogreens, Coolcrop, Resham Sutra, New Leaf Dynamic, Karmatech, Katidhan, Raheja Solar, and Khethworks. As part of the initiative, CEEW will continue to generate impact and viability evidence to inform about the sector's potential and challenges. It will also engage with policymakers and other ecosystem stakeholders to support policy convergence for DRE for livelihoods. Villgro, on the other hand, will continue to play a vital role as an enterprise incubator, providing mentoring, technical assistance, and facilitating ecosystem partnerships. Powering Livelihoods, a CEEW-Villgro initiative, aims to boost India's rural economy by scaling up the penetration of clean energy-powered appliances for livelihoods. Over three years, the initiative will cleantech enterprises to undertake large-scale commercial deployment of their solutions and use the generated evidence to catalyse the sector. The initiative also provides explicit financial and technical support to enhance gender inclusion in the clean energy for livelihoods ecosystem. Learn more about Powering Livelihoods here. The Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) is one of Asia's leading not-for-profit policy research institutions. The Council uses data, integrated analysis, and strategic outreach to explain - and change - the use, reuse, and misuse of resources. It prides itself on the independence of its high-quality research, develops partnerships with public and private institutions, and engages with the wider public. In 2021, CEEW once again featured extensively across ten categories in the 2020 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report. The Council has also been consistently ranked among the world's top climate change think tanks. Follow us on Twitter @CEEWIndia for the latest updates. Villgro is India's foremost and one of the world's largest social enterprise incubators. Established in 2001, Villgro's mission is to make innovative, impactful businesses succeed in Health, Agribusiness, and Climate Action. Since 2001, Villgro has supported 340 social enterprises that have raised over INR 4.28 billion in investments, created 5,646 jobs, and impacted over 20.8 million lives. Villgro was awarded the Top Incubator Award by the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (GoI) in 2020 and the DivHERsity Awards in 2022. (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)
Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections 2024: With just around three weeks left for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls, the political parties have intensified their campaigns. While the National Conference launched its manifesto earlier this week, the People's Democratic Party (PDP)-led by Mehbooba Mufti today released its manifesto making some crucial promises including free power. Talking to media, Mufti also bowled a googly at the Congress and National Conference Alliance.

Releasing the manifesto, Mufti said that the PDP has always worked towards resolution and reconciliation. "After the abrogation of Article 370, the situation in Jammu and Kashmir has worsened....The Kashmir issue has now been reduced to seat-sharing discussions, but it is much bigger and remains unresolved," said Mufti.

Addressing the Kashmiri Pandit community, she stated that the PDP is committed to the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits and will ensure they are provided with 2BHK flats instead of the previously offered 1BHK units. Additionally, free electricity will be provided to temples, mosques, and shrines.

Mufti promised that if voted to power, the PDP would take up the reconciliation and resolution issue, along with restoring trade across the LoC with Pakistan. The PDP reiterated its long-standing demand of the withdrawal of the PSA, the UAPA, and similar laws against civilians and journalists.

"We promise 200 units of free electricity to citizens. BPL families will receive additional rations and gas cylinders. Stamp duty fee for women, which was imposed by the LG-led administration, will be withdrawn while a 100 per cent import duty on apples will be imposed to help locals benefit," said Mufti.

Mufti announced that religious places like temples, mosques, and shrines would receive free electricity. Mufti said that the issue of Article 370 is crucial and cannot be resolved by imprisoning people. "I request the Home Minister to take note," she said.

Bowling a googly at the NC-Congress alliance, Mufti said that the elections and seat-sharing are not PDP's primary goals. "Alliance and seat sharing are faraway things. If the National Conference and Congress are ready to adopt our agenda, we will say they should contest on all seats, we will follow them because for me, solving the problem of Kashmir is more important than anything else," said Mufti, making her conditions clear for supporting the NC-Congress alliance.

Mufti said that the alliance should be on the agenda of Jammu and Kashmir and to solve its problems, not for the seat sharing.
New Delhi: Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Karnataka Police has filed a chargesheet of 2144 pages against former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna in the sexual assault and rape case.

Revanna is facing a probe by the SIT over allegations of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation following a complaint by a woman who worked as a domestic help at his house.

In June this year, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Karnataka Police, which is investigating cases of sexual assault and harassment against Prajwal Revanna, registered a fourth case against the former Janata Dal (Secular) MP from Hassan.

Unlike the three previous cases registered against Prajwal Revanna which invoked the Indian Penal Code (IPC)'s section for sexual assault, the fourth case has been registered under sections for sexual harassment, stalking, and criminal intimidation of a victim as well as clandestinely recording and sharing images of the victim.

Prajwal Revanna returned to India from Germany nearly a month after leaving the country, supposedly on the night of April 26, after several obscene videos allegedly involving him surfaced on social media platforms. He was arrested on May 31 upon arrival at Bengaluru airport.

Earlier on May 29, the SIT arrested two prime accused in connection with the case. The arrested have been identified as Naveen Gowda and Chetan. According to the officials, the accused were arrested when they appeared before the High Court seeking anticipatory bail. Chetan Gowda and Naveen Gowda allegedly distributed pen drives containing videos of Prajwal Revanna sexually assaulting women.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has officially registered an FIR against Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, in connection with a significant corruption case. The allegations include the illicit trafficking of unclaimed bodies, among other serious charges.

CBI Takes Over Investigation

The case was handed over to the CBI following a directive from the Calcutta High Court, which ordered the central agency to assume control from the state's Special Investigation Team (SIT). The CBI promptly received all relevant documents from the SIT on Saturday morning, marking the beginning of its probe into the matter.

CBI officials, along with the agencys legal representatives, presented a copy of the FIR to the Chief Judicial Magistrate at Alipore Court. The FIR encompasses various grave accusations against Sandip Ghosh, including his alleged involvement in the trafficking of unclaimed bodies.



Akhtar Ali, the former Deputy Superintendent of RG Kar Medical College, has played a crucial role in bringing these allegations to light. Ali recently approached the Calcutta High Court, requesting that the investigation be transferred to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) due to the severity of the corruption charges. He also claimed that Sanjay Roy, who is accused in a separate rape and murder case, was part of the security detail for Sandip Ghosh. Furthermore, Ali accused Ghosh of trafficking biomedical waste and medical supplies to Bangladesh.

Polygraph Test Conducted On Sandip Ghosh

As part of the ongoing investigation, Sandip Ghosh underwent a polygraph test on Saturday at the CBIs Kolkata office. Sanjay Roy, the primary accused in the Kolkata doctor rape and murder case, also underwent the test while in prison. Additionally, four other doctors and a civic volunteer, all present on the night of the alleged crime, were subjected to the polygraph test at the CBI office.
Kolkata Rape-Murder Case: A CCTV screen grab of the suspect, Sanjay Roy, entering the hospital an hour after midnight has been released. It shows the suspect entering the hospital shortly after midnight. The footage also reveals a Bluetooth earphone around the suspect's neck, similar to the one found at the crime scene, where the trainee doctors body was discovered in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

The CCTV screen grab shows Sanjay Roy entering the hospital at 1:03 am. During questioning, when presented with the CCTV evidence, Sanjay Roy confessed to the crime, according to media reports.

He entered the hospital after midnight, with CCTV footage capturing him entering and exiting the seminar hall, where the junior doctor had gone to sleep. The case has ignited widespread protests, particularly in Kolkata.

A special court in Kolkata has permitted a polygraph test to be conducted on Sanjay Roy. The court has also authorized lie-detector tests on Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of the medical college, and four other doctors who were on duty the night of August 8-9.
Kerala Lottery Results Saturday 24-08-2024 LIVE: The Kerala Lottery Department, on behalf of the Keralan government, announces the "KARUNYA KR-668" Lucky Draw Result today Karunya Kr-668, August 24, 2024. The draw will be held at Gorky Bhavan near Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram. The Kerala Lottery Result 2024 for "Karunya KR-668" will feature 12 series, with changes in series possible each week. A total of 108 lakh tickets are available for purchase weekly. The ticket prices may vary. Check the Karunya KR-668 results right here to see if youre the first-place winner of 80 Lakhs. Stay tuned to this website for the live update of Kerala Lottery Karunya KR-668 results today.

Kerala Lottery Result 24-08-2024 Aug: FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS FOR KARUNYA KR-668 Draw

LUCKY NUMBER FOR 1ST PRIZE OF RS 80 LAKHS IS: KH 579652

LUCKY NUMBER FOR 2ND PRIZE OF RS 5 LAKHS IS: KE 917459

LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 3RD PRIZE OF RS 1 Lakh ARE: KA 958177 KB 704788 KC 919475 KD 588932 KE 303090 KF 994252 KG 683571 KH 396667 KJ 598236 KK 325885 KL 399981 KM 388530

LUCKY NUMBERS FOR CONSOLATION PRIZE OF RS 8,000 ARE: KA 579652 KB 579652 KC 579652 KD 579652 KE 579652 KF 579652 KG 579652 KJ 579652 KK 579652 KL 579652 KM 579652

(For The Tickets Ending with The Following Numbers below)

LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 4TH PRIZE OF RS 5,000 ARE: 0556 0915 1021 1412 1528 1686 1860 3304 3713 4716 5742 5930 6232 6804 8175 8590 9023 9317

LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 5TH PRIZE OF RS 2,000 ARE: 2516 2539 3284 3617 3906 6044 6350 6373 8093 8700

LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 6TH PRIZE OF RS 1,000 ARE: 0016 0703 1262 1625 2208 3336 3717 3795 4458 5302 5579 6668 8363 8921

LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 7TH PRIZE OF RS 500 ARE: 0189 0237 0243 0348 0393 0682 0696 0993 1029 1049 1126 1130 1185 1490 1590 1635 1719 1862 1921 2036 2311 2393 2413 2456 2503 2807 2905 3016 3140 3162 3238 3403 3431 3448 3515 3661 3734 3770 3810 3997 4007 4109 4254 4609 5058 5260 5290 5445 5565 5595 5605 5641 6085 6102 6117 6169 6191 6925 6954 7025 7123 7233 7278 7925 8097 8306 8441 8514 8673 8927 9026 9039 9109 9215 9403 9521 9820 9925 9957 9977

LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 8TH PRIZE OF RS 100 ARE: 0006 0013 0097 0104 0192 0454 0469 0757 0768 0813 0902 1027 1042 1131 1132 1189 1215 1285 1311 1346 1378 1441 1458 1513 1542 1592 1655 1710 1711 1811 1829 1863 2020 2044 2071 2122 2133 2180 2362 2388 2397 2399 2440 2462 2480 2506 2523 2594 2680 2690 2774 2886 3001 3132 3198 3381 3520 3523 3638 3682 3715 3876 3970 4102 4192 4327 4342 4461 4840 4863 4961 5182 5192 5194 5291 5324 5370 5451 5542 5629 5909 5986 6062 6171 6380 6588 6716 6783 7152 7444 7609 7926 8050 8125 8140 8217 8292 8305 8379 8411 8464 8542 8564 8618 8770 8817 8819 8879 9001 9197 9233 9303 9430 9433 9506 9512 9604 9643 9666 9903 9906 9960 9973 9992

KERALA LOTTERY RESULT 24-08-2024 August TODAY: KARUNYA KR-668 LOTTERY PRIZE DETAILS

1st Prize: Rs 80 Lakhs

2nd Prize: Rs. 5 lakhs

3rd Prize: Rs. 1 Lakh

4th Prize: Rs. 5,000

5th Prize: Rs. 2,000

6th Prize: Rs. 1,000

7th Prize: Rs. 500

8th Prize: Rs. 100

Consolation Prize: Rs. 8,000

(NOTE: Lottery can be addictive and should be played responsibly. The data provided on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as advice or encouragement. Zee News does not promote the lottery in any way.)
Thane: The Navi Mumbai police have registered a case against a man for duping a woman of Rs 12.65 lakh under the pretext of getting her a job and hacking into her Instagram account and sharing objectionable messages, an official said on Saturday.

Quoting the complaint, an official from APMC police station said that the 20-year-old accused had promised the 25-year-old woman, a resident of Turbhegaon, to get her placed in a public sector undertaking.

Since July 2021, the accused took Rs 12.65 from the woman but she did get the job. When the woman demanded her money back, the accused allegedly said he would die by suicide and put the blame on her. He then threatened to harm her family members, the official said.

The man also hacked the womans Instagram account and shared objectionable posts. Police recently booked the man for criminal breach of trust and criminal intimidation under the Indian Penal Code and under the IT Act, the official added.
Pune: A teacher of physical education and seven others have been arrested in connection with the sexual harassment of a 12-year-old girl student at a private school in Pimpri Chinchwad in Pune, police said on Saturday.

Based on a complaint lodged by the girl's parents at Nigdi police station, the police arrested the accused on Friday, an official said.

The teacher was previously jailed on the charges of molestation, but the school reinstated him after his release, he said.

According to the complaint, the teacher had been allegedly sexually harassing the girl for the last two years, the official said.

"The accused allegedly touched the girl inappropriately during the PE classes and would wait for her outside the women's washroom. He also threatened her on multiple occasions," he said.

The accused have been booked under sections 74 (assault or use of criminal force with intent to outrage a woman's modesty), 78 (stalking), 79 (word, gesture, or act intended to insult a woman's modesty), 351 (criminal intimidation) and 115 (voluntarily causing hurt) and other relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The official said the others arrested were the school's principal, some trustees and board members.
Calling India a strong partner of the US, White House said that the United States welcomes any other country willing to be helpful in trying to end the conflict in Ukraine and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kyiv can contribute to achieving a peaceful resolution aligned with Zelenskyy's vision.

National Security Communications Advisor, John Kirby said that any conversations on the Ukraine conflict need to have Kyiv on the discussion table.

"When it comes to the Ukraine war: If there's another country out there that is willing to be helpful in terms of trying to end the war in Ukraine, we welcome that. But by being helpful, we mean it's got to include conversations with the Ukrainians, and it's got to start from an understanding of where President Zelenskyy is on this," Kirby told reporters on Friday.

"We say it all the time, and it sounds like I'm slapping a bumper sticker on it, but I don't mean to: Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine," he added.

On PM Modi's visit to Ukraine, Kirby said, "Prime Minister Modi -- India is a strong partner for the United States, and the Prime Minister is as well. And, you know, him going to Kyiv and having conversations with President Zelenskyy about where this all ends and how it ends -- if that can be helpful to getting us to an end to the conflict that comports with

President Zelenskyy's vision for a just peace, well, then we think that would be helpful."

Prime Minister Modi concluded his visit to Ukraine on Friday, the first by an Indian PM to the European nation since India established diplomatic ties with Ukraine in 1992.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Zelenskyy during their bilateral meeting that dialogue is the only solution to the conflict in Ukraine.

"India was never neutral, we have always been on the side of peace," PM Modi told Zelenskyy in their bilateral meeting.

He further said that India was ready to play an active role in the path to peace and progress.

India and Ukraine also signed four agreements during PM Modi's visit; the Agreement on Cooperation in the field of Agriculture and Food Industry; the MoU on Cooperation in the field of Medical Products Regulation; the MoU on Indian Humanitarian Grant Assistance for Implementation of High Impact Community Development Projects; and the Programme for Cultural Cooperation for 2024-2028.
A helicopter crash occurred in Pune on Saturday, amid heavy rain. Early reports indicate that all four individuals on board have survived.

According to reports by ANI, a private helicopter belonging to a private aviation company crashed near Paud village in Pune district while en route from Mumbai to Hyderabad. The incident involved four passengers. According to SP Pankaj Deshmukh of Pune Rural Police, the pilot sustained injuries and was hospitalized, while the other three passengers were in stable condition. The SP said, " Around 2:15 pm, a helicopter crashed due to air turbulence in the Paud Police Station area. It is the helicopter of a private charter company...one pilot got injured and 3 co-passengers sustained minor injuries...further probe is underway..."

Authorities are currently assessing the situation, and further details are awaited as the investigation continue
New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party government led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced the approval of an initiative for women's empowerment, the Subhadra scheme under which Rs 10,000 per annum will be provided over five years to one crore women between the ages of 21 and 60.

"I take this opportunity on this auspicious day to inform this House about the approval of a path-breaking initiative for women's empowerment, Subhadra, by the state cabinet," a press release from the CMO said on Friday.

"As decided by the state cabinet in its meeting held on August 22, 2024, at Lok Seva Bhawan, the scheme has been approved for implementation from the financial year 2024-25 to the financial year 2028-29. An outlay of Rs 55,825.00 crore has been made for this initiative," it added, ANI reported.

Each eligible woman will receive a total of Rs 50.000 over five years, with Rs 10,000 paid annually in two instalments of Rs 5,000 each. The payments will be made on Rakhi Purnima and International Women's Day (March 8), according to the CMO.

To ensure transparency in delivering assistance, payment will be made directly to the beneficiary's Aadhaar-enabled single-holder (DBT) bank account via the Aadhaar Payment Bridge System (APBS). Additionally, beneficiaries will receive a Subhadra Debit Card.

To promote digitally, 100 beneficiaries with the highest number of digital transactions will be selected in each Gram Panchayat and urban local body. Each of these top beneficiaries will receive an additional incentive of Rs 500.

"Our government is committed towards 'Antyodaya'. Hence, women from economically well-off families, government servants or Income Tax payees will not be eligible under this scheme. Besides, women who are receiving assistance of Rs 1,500 or more per month or Rs 18,000 or more per year under any other government scheme will also be ineligible for inclusion under Subhadra," the CMO's release said.

To avail of these benefits, women can apply by filling out the forms available free of charge at Anganwadi centres, block offices, Mo Seva Kendras, Jan Seva Kendras, etc.

A call centre will also be set up for the Subhadra scheme.
VMPL New Delhi [India], August 24: Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main is considered one of the toughest and most prestigious entrance exams for engineering colleges in India. It is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), which serves as a pathway for some of the best engineering colleges i.e. IITs, NITs, and other prestigious institutions. Known to be one of the toughest entrance exams globally, it is considered tough mainly because of its high level and stiff competition. JEE Main 2025 will be held in two sessions. The JEE Main 2025 first session will most probably be conducted in the last week of January 2025 and the second in the first week of April 2025. The registration process is expected to commence in the month of November 2024, hence students are advised to stay updated with the official website so as not to miss on any important dates and events. The eligibility criteria that have been set for JEE Main 2025, is to ensure that the exam is taken up by only genuine and eligible candidates. There is no age bar for aspirants and those of you who will be passing class 12th in either 2023, 2024, or 2025 can apply. However, the students who will be applying for the test should have scored a minimum of 75% in class 12th. Also, one can give this test for three consecutive years in order to score high ranking. Exam Pattern The JEE Main exam pattern is such that it tests the conceptual knowledge of a candidate in the subjects - Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Each of these subjects carries weightage, Physics (22.5%), Chemistry (22.5%), and Mathematics (35%). The test will be conducted in 13 languages including English, Hindi and other regional languages so that candidates from different states can take this test. JEE Main examination consists of multiple choice questions and numerical questions but, in JEE Advanced (the next stage of JEE), there are objective type, numerical type, and comprehension-based questions as well. The top 2,50,000 JEE Main rank holders are eligible to sit for JEE Advanced hence it is compulsory for one to do well in both stages. Preparation Tips Prepare for JEE Main smartly and put in consistent efforts. Here are some valuable tips to score high in the examination. Study Plan: To avoid stressing yourself, you must study for 6-8 hours a day with small breaks in between. Set goals weekly as it will help you keep track of the vast syllabus of IIT. Revise daily whatever you've learned. Grasping Concepts: Understanding matters, not cramming. Get the conceptual clarity of each topic so that you can solve any complex question. Keep Practicing: One should practice Regularly, Solving the previous years' question papers and taking mock tests will aid you in getting a good grip on the exam format. Practice regularly is useful in finding out weak areas that can be improved by reading the outcomes of these tests. All the official announcements and updates for JEE Main 2025 will be made on its official website: jeemain.nta.ac.in. Be sure to check the website for any announcements or changes that may come up. And don't forget to use NCERT books for JEE Main preparation. They cover all the concepts, you need. (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)
BHOPAL: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday termed the razing of the house of a man allegedly involved in a protest against a Hindu seer in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur district as "state-sponsored communalism". Owaisi was reacting to the razing of the house of Shahzad Ali on Thursday, a day after a protest called by the Muslim community against the purported anti-Islam remarks made by Ramgiri Maharaj turned violent with mob hurling stones and damaging vehicles, leaving several policemen injured.

The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president condemned stone pelting at policemen and the demolishing of the house and cars owned by Ali. He alleged stones were hurled when a delegation was handing over a representation against the anti-Islam remarks (by Ramgiri Maharaj).

"A day after the stone-pelting incident, Ali's house was demolished even though he claimed he had legal permission for the house. In the absence of valid permission, local administration should have followed due process of law on the apex court's directives," Owaisi stated in a video.

He wondered whether a notice was served to Ali before razing his house. The Hyderabad MP claimed that Chhatarpur Police paraded some alleged accused and forced them to raise slogans.

"A government is run on the rule of law and not based on mob rule. What happened there was the display of the rule of the mob. This bulldozing of the house is state-sponsored communalism," he alleged.

Owaisi alleged PM Modi does drama by showing respect to the Constitution, which is being violated by the BJP governments. The house razing incident was also condemned by Congress which questioned the "tendency" of 'bulldozer justice'.
New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has challenged the Congress party's decision to form a pre-poll alliance with the National Conference for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls. He also pointed out its election manifesto pitched for a dialogue between India and Pakistan.

Polling in Jammu and Kashmir is scheduled to take place in three phases and the first phase will begin on September 18 and followed on September 25 and October 1. The results will be announced on October 4, as per the announcement of the election schedule by the Election Commission.

"Elections have been announced for J&K assembly elections. This election is not only important for the people of Jammu and Kashmir but also for every Indian who believes in democracy," Chief Minster Adityanath said, ANI reported.

The Congress, which is leading the INDI Alliance, has formed a coalition with the National Conference of the Abdullah Family, presenting its anti-national plan before the country.

Adityanath further stated that the pre-poll alliance of the two parties raises significant concerns about national security and their commitment to the Constitution.

"Recently, the National Conference released its manifesto ... This alliance of the Congress and the National Conference raises many big questions about national security and their loyalty to the Indian Constitution," he said.

He questioned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, over the National Conference's decision to start trade across the Line of Control, one of 12 guarantees promised in its manifesto.

"I want to ask Congress leader Rahul Gandhi whether the Congress supports the announcement of the National Conference, to have a separate flag for Jammu and Kashmir...Does the Congress Party and Rahul Gandhi support the decision of the National Conference to start trade across the Line of Control and support terrorism and its ecosystem from across the border? ... Congress should answer this," Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said.
A 24-year-old woman was allegedly kidnapped, drugged and raped after being taken to a secluded place in Karkala in the district, police said on Saturday. The incident was reported from Karkala town police station limit on the night of August 23, they said.

The victim, hailing from Karkala town, was allegedly kidnapped by one Althaf and taken to a secluded place in a car, and raped, police said. According to the Udupi Superintendent of Police, Arun K, the woman and Althaf had been friends on Instagram for the last three months and both belonged to the same town (Karkala). On Friday, Althaf had come to the woman's workplace and allegedly kidnapped her in a car.

After some time, another accomplice of Althaf, identified as Richard Cardoza, joined them. Althaf was having some liquor bottles and forced the woman to drink. According to a complaint lodged by the woman and her family, Althaf had laced the drink and forced her to drink it. He later allegedly raped her and dropped her back at her house.

"We have arrested both Althaf and Cardoza and seized the vehicles used by them. Further procedures are being taken up. The victim has recorded her statement which will be submitted to the magistrate. "She has been admitted to the Kasturba Hospital in Manipal for treatment. We have arrested both Althaf and Cardoza under the relevant sections of Bharatiya Nyay Samhita (BNS), including 138 (Abduction), 64 (Rape) and registered a case," the police official said.

Replying to the queries of reporters in New Delhi, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said, "There are attempts by the BJP to paint the incident and give it a love jihad touch, but crime is a crime and the government will go to the bottom of it all to unearth the truth and bring the accused to the book, the police in Udupi district have already arrested two main accused and I have told the police to speed up the investigation." Following the incident, BJP MPs from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi alleged it to be the "most heinous act" and that the incident is a mirror to the law and order situation in Karnataka under Congress government.

MP of Dakshina Kannada Capt. Brijesh Chowta observed that the Congress government in the state has lost control over criminal elements in minority communities and has no spine to tackle them. Chowta alleged that this was not an incident that revolved around a rape, it was a "premeditated crime" involving ideology laced with drugs and evil intentions.

"I have raised my voice against the menace of drugs on the coastal region of the state, I am afraid that this dangerous combination will bring more social misery in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi district where criminal elements with religious radicalism are taking centre-stage," he further alleged.

Opposition leader in the State Legislature R Ashoka alleged that, "In a few more days the case will be closed and the accused will be released by the government by arm- twisting the police and tacitly helping the circles around the accused Althaf to destroy evidence." "I am in constant touch with the party leaders in Udupi and Karkala and I am going to raise this in the appropriate platform," he assured.

BJP's state BJP General Secretary and Karkala MLA Sunil Kumar said, "The law and order has deteriorated in the state in a big way, after this (Congress) government came to power there is a situation where there is no fear of police. Incidents of murders, extortion and rapes are increasing daily." Demanding that the government had to bear the expenses of the victim's treatment, he said the administration has to give her courage and protection to her family.

Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police-Western range Amit Singh has camped in Karkala and has been monitoring the situation, police said, adding security has been beefed up.
BARAMULLA: A terrorist was eliminated and warlike stores were recovered in an operation in Baramulla's Sopore area, Army said on Saturday. In a post on X, the Indian Army's Chinar Corps said, "OP WATARGAM, Sopore #Baramulla. One terrorist eliminated and war-like stores recovered. Operation is continuing."

Earlier today, security forces launched a search operation following a brief exchange of fire with terrorists in Baramulla's Sopore area, police said. In a post on 'X' Jammu and Kashmir police said, exchange of fire in Sopore. "Alert security forces retaliated. Area #cordoned off. Searches underway. Further details shall follow."

In the last few months, there has been a spike in terror attacks in the Jammu region, including encounters in Doda and Udhampur. Notably, Jammu and Kashmir is going to witness the elections after a gap of 10 years, as the last assembly election was held in 2014.

The polling in the UT will be held in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1, as per the Election Commission of India. The counting of the votes will take place on October 4. There are a total of 90 assembly constituencies, of which 74 are general, nine are reserved for Scheduled Tribes, and seven are for Scheduled Castes.
Janmashtami is a significant Hindu festival that commemorates the birth of Lord Krishna, marking His 5251st birth anniversary this year. Celebrated with immense enthusiasm across India, Krishna Janmashtami will take place on August 26, 2024. The occasion is observed with various rituals and festivities to honour Shri Krishna.

Explore Bollywood diva-inspired outfits perfect for celebrating Krishna Janmashtami 2024 in style!

Shehnaaz Gill

Shehnaaz Gill radiates elegance in a captivating pink sharara set. The actress dazzled in a gold-embroidered silk kurta paired with palazzo pants and a matching organza dupatta. She completed her look with pink eyeshadow, rosy lips, flushed cheeks, and a glowing smile.

Shilpa Shetty Kundra

Shilpa Shetty's vibrant pink and yellow lehenga is a must-see. It's the perfect choice for a daytime event.

Madhuri Dixit

Madhuri Dixit's fashion sense is truly enviable, with her ethnic outfits radiating joy and celebration. If you're aiming for an Indo-western look, why not opt for a semi-stitched saree, just like Madhuri?

Kiara Advani

Kiara Advani made a stunning impression in a white saree paired with an off-shoulder blouse featuring a deep neckline. She embodied regal elegance in the outfit, accentuating her natural beauty. The actress finished her look with glossy lipstick, minimal makeup, and flowing hair.

Alia Bhatt

Alia Bhatt was seen wearing a gorgeous Ashavali saree, paired with a stylish middle-parted bun decorated with a Gajra. She completed her look with studded jewelry, featuring a Mang Tika, a choker necklace, Chandbali earrings, and bangles, while her makeup provided a hint of sparkle.
MUMBAI: A murder accused out on parole allegedly raped a 15-year-old girl in Maharashtra's Sangli city, police said on Saturday. The accused, Sanjay Prakash Mane (34), was arrested in the morning, an official said.

Mane is an accused in a 2011 murder case and had come out on parole two months ago, he said. The girl had stepped out to go to a shop around 9.30 pm on Friday when the accused waylaid her, forcibly took her to his house and raped her, the official said.

The girl informed her mother about the assault on Saturday, following which a complaint was lodged, and the accused was apprehended within two hours, he said. Mane had allegedly also molested the girl last month, the official said.

The accused has been booked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, he said.
New Delhi: Amy Jackson and Ed Westwick are set to tie the knot on the Amalfi Coast in Italy. The Bollywood actress announced the news on her social media handle. After two years of dating, Amy Jackson will say 'I do' to her fiance, the "Gossip Girl" actor Ed Westwick. On Thursday, the actress shared some adorable photos from her jet on her official Instagram handle.

Have A Look At Her Post:

Amy shared some snaps ahead of the wedding, captioning them, "Let's get married, baby."

In their candid moments, the first snap shows the couple sharing an intense kiss. Other photos feature her son Andreas (from her previous relationship with George Panayiotou) and Amys in-laws. Amy's statement earrings also caught attention, hinting that their wedding is set to steal the spotlight.

Meanwhile, Ed Westwick also posted similar photos, adding his caption. He wrote, "Let's go get married baby! you're gonna need to change your IG handle. Amy Jackson...We did a little chilled Pizza and Pasta night to welcome our family and the wedding party. The temperature is perfect, the vibes (perfect emoji)."

Amy Jackson and Ed Westwick got engaged in January this year when Ed proposed to her in the scenic town of Gstaad, Switzerland.

Jackson was previously engaged to George Panayiotou, with whom she shares a son named Andreas.

Amy Jackson made her acting debut in 2010 with the Tamil film 'Madrasapattinam'. She later ventured into Hindi cinema with 'Ekk Deewana Tha'.
Mumbai: Actor-filmmaker Kunal Kemmu, who made his directorial debut with Madgaon Express, is on a break as he is enjoying a road trip on a bike with his friends in the Himalayas.

Kunal took to his Instagram and shared a video in which he could be seen taking to the roads on a bike with his friends in Ladakh. The group visited the Khardung La mountain pass in the Leh district.

Captioning the post, Kunal wrote, "Riders Inc. Maintained by the Border Roads Organisation, it is one of the world's highest motorable roads.

The video shows Kunal at the Khardungla Pass, at an altitude of 17,982 feet, posing with the Indian flag waving in the wind. Another photo captures Kunal enjoying a cosy bonfire, all smiles as he bonds with his friends.

Kunal's passion for biking is obvious as he often embarks on thrilling rides with his gang. These bike trips are not just about the adrenaline rush for him; they are also about savouring the natural beauty that surrounds him and spending quality time with his group of friends. Kunal, who has often spoken about his passion for travel, is clearly having a great time with his group of friends.

Travelling is a tradition for the actor, who has set a personal goal of visiting three international destinations a year - a goal he continues to uphold. His Ladakh adventure is just another example of how he lives by his passion, inspiring others to pack their bags and explore the world.

On the work front, Kunal Kemmu will next be seen in Prime Videos upcoming web series Gulkanda Tales directed by Raj & DK of The Family Man fame, where he will share the screen with Pankaj Tripathi and Patralekha in key roles.
Actress Parineeti Chopra, who received widespread praise for her role in the streaming biopic 'Amar Singh Chamkila', is now contemplating a return to the gym.

On Saturday, she shared a photo dump on Instagram, featuring herself in sportswear, casually sitting in a squat position.

She wrote in the caption, Found this while clearing a photodump  got a reminder to go workout #throwback.

After recently indulging in desi flavors in the UK, actress Parineeti Chopra is contemplating a return to the gym. She had shared a series of Instagram Stories showcasing her food indulgence, enjoying dishes like paneer, laccha parathas, gulab jamun, and a special paratha at a fine-dining restaurant.

Hailing from a Punjabi family, Parineeti is a true foodie who loves her meals packed with flavor and spices. During her time studying at Manchester Business School, where she earned a triple honors degree in business, finance, and economics, she often treated herself to pizzasthough she left them behind once she pursued acting.

Currently enjoying her downtime and marital bliss, Parineeti is fresh off the success of the streaming hit 'Amar Singh Chamkila', where she starred alongside Punjabi superstar Diljit Dosanjh, portraying the role of Chamkilas wife, Amarjot Kaur.
New Delhi: A fake SMS warning customers that their India Post Payments Bank account will be blocked within 24 hours unless they update their PAN card is making the rounds on social media. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check unit has confirmed that this message is not genuine and is falsely claiming to be from India Post.

They stressed that India Post does not send notifications about PAN card updates and urged the public to be vigilant and cautious about these deceptive messages.

In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), PIB Fact Check stated, Claim: The customers India Post Payments bank account will be blocked within 24 hours if their Pan card is not updated. #PIBFactCheck: This claim is #Fake @IndiaPostOffice never sends any such messages Never share your personal & bank details with anyone.

Claim: The customer's India Post Payments bank account will be blocked within 24 hours if their Pan card is not updated. #PIBFactCheck:



This claim is #Fake



@IndiaPostOffice never sends any such messages



Never share your personal & bank details with anyone pic.twitter.com/EgLaXXarOw  PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) August 19, 2024

What Is the Fake SMS Spreading on Social Media?

India Post Payment Bank KYC Login Dear user your India post payment bank account has been blocked today please updated your PAN Card immediately click here the link- http//surl.li/iccpf. PIB Fact Check, the government agency that debunks fake news and misinformation, has confirmed that this message is false.

To protect yourself from scams, follow these precautions:

- Verify Information Through Official Channels: Contact the company directly via their official website or phone number if you receive a message that seems to be from them.

- Avoid Clicking on Links: Do not click on links in unexpected or suspicious messages, as they could be phishing attempts.

- Exercise Caution with Unexpected Messages: Be wary of texts from unknown senders or organisations you don't usually interact with.

- Never Share Personal Information via SMS: Do not share sensitive details like bank account numbers or passwords through text messages.

- Report Suspicious Messages: Report any fraudulent SMS to your mobile service provider and relevant authorities.
The agreements were signed on Saturday at C-DAC's Vellayambalam Campus. During the event, S. Krishnan, Secretary of MeitY, also inaugurated a Hardware Emulation Facility at the campus.

According to an official statement, "S. Krishnan IAS, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), inaugurated the Hardware Emulation Facility at C-DAC's Vellayambalam Campus. The facility is designed to advance indigenous development, testing, and validation of hardware designs in VLSI and SoC technologies."

The statement added "During the inauguration, a series of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed to further strengthen collaboration between C-DAC and various industry partners".

The MoU with Tata EV focuses on Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G), Vehicle-to-Home (V2H), and Vehicle-to-Building (V2B) grid technologies, aiming to drive the development, deployment, testing, and commercialization of these technologies.

A similar MoU was signed with Hykon Group, emphasizing the same grid technologies and their commercialization.

Another agreement with JMVLPS Limited targets the advancement of smart metering technologies for Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). The partnership with Larsen & Toubro focuses on developing indigenous VEGA processor-based System on Chips (SoCs).

Additionally, the MoU with Aheesa Digital Innovations will facilitate the testing, validation, and commercialization of C-DAC's CDAC-Rakshak and Darpan VNS systems, which are aimed at enhancing cybersecurity and forensic capabilities.

S. Krishnan also launched a range of Microgrids developed by Hykon Group in collaboration with C-DAC. These microgrids are designed to support the integration of renewable energy sources into the grid. (ANI)
California: Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp has said that its security teams had blocked a small cluster of accounts on the WhatsApp messaging platform, who were posing as support agents for tech companies.

The WhatsApp accounts were linked to a group of hackers affiliated with Iran and the same group has also attempted email phishing attacks targeting people connected with US President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and former US President Donald Trump along with political and diplomatic officials among others, Meta said in a statement on August 23.

Meta said it has not seen evidence the targeted WhatsApp accounts were successfully compromised, but said it has shared information with law enforcement and other tech companies.

Earlier, the US formally accused Iran of attempting to undermine the US presidential elections. In a joint statement on August 19, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the FBI, and the federal cybersecurity agency CISA said, "Iran perceives this year's elections to be particularly consequential in terms of the impact they could have on its national security interests, increasing Tehran's inclination to try to shape the outcome."

"We have observed increasingly aggressive Iranian activity during this election cycle, specifically involving influence operations targeting the American public and cyber operations targeting Presidential campaigns," the statement read.

The US presidential polls are scheduled for this November with a face-off between US Vice President Kamala Harris who is the Democratic candidate with former US President and Republican candidate Donald Trump. Meta in its statement on August 23 said that the recent "malicious activity" originated in Iran and attempted to target individuals in Israel, Palestine, Iran, the United States and the UK.

It said that the hackers on WhatsApp pretended to be technical support for AOL, Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft. The tech company said that a small cluster of "likely social engineering activity" on WhatsApp was blocked by its security teams after investigating user reports.

They attempted to trick targets into revealing sensitive information, such as account passwords, the company said, adding that it identified the campaign after some of the targets reported suspicious messages to WhatsApp.

Meta said that its investigation linked the hacking attempts to APT42 (also known as UNC788 and Mint Sandstorm), an Iranian threat actor known for its persistent adversarial campaigns using basic phishing tactics across the internet to steal credentials to people's online accounts.

The US company said that they had previously shared threat research related to the group targeting people in West Asia, including Saudi military, dissidents and human rights activists from Israel and Iran, politicians in the US, and Iran-focused academics, activists and journalists around the world.
Cognizant vs Infosys In US Court: US-based software company Cognizant TriZetto has filed a lawsuit against Indian tech giant Infosys in a Texas federal court, accusing Infosys of stealing confidential information related to its healthcare insurance software.

This comes 8 months after Infosys sent a missive to Cognizant accusing the US-based IT firm of unfair employee poaching. However, Infosys has denied all allegations levelled by Teaneck-based rival Cognizant's subsidiary Cognizant TriZetto in Texas federal court.

Cognizant, headquartered in New Jersey and with 70% of its employees in India, claims that Infosys unlawfully extracted data from its databases and used this information to develop and market competing software.

Cognizant's software includes TriZetto's Facets and QNXT, used by healthcare insurance companies to automate administrative tasks. According to the complaint by Cognizant, Infosys misused TriZetto's software to create "Test Cases for Facets," which improperly repackaged TriZetto's data into an Infosys product. Notably, the companies are locked in a closed combat even in the market with both companies approaching $20 billion in revenue.

Cognizant has requested the court to award an unspecified amount in monetary damages and to issue an order directing Infosys to cease the misuse of its trade secrets. Moreover, you will be surprised to know that the Cognizant's Chief Executive Officer Ravi Kumar S is an Infosys veteran, having served as its president and deputy Chief Operating Officer for over nine years, with the stint ending in October 2022.



Just two before this saga, Cognizant appointed Rajesh Varrier to replace former Cognizant India Chairman and Managing Director Rajesh Nambiar, who will assume the role from October 1, 2024.
NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are waiting to return from space while officials urgently investigate the anomalies found in Boeing's Starliner during its launch. As NASA seeks safe solutions for bringing the astronauts back to Earth, could the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) provide any assistance in this matter?

According to NASA, a final decision is expected on Saturday regarding whether Sunita Williams will return to Earth aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft or SpaceX's Dragon capsule.

NASA's press conference is set for 1 pm EDT, which corresponds to 10:30 pm IST. The conference will feature NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and other key leaders, who are currently discussing the return of Boeing's Starliner. According to reports, Bill Nelson and NASA leaders will review the flight rationale during an internal Agency Test Flight Readiness Review at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, prior to the press conference.

What started as an eight-day mission on the International Space Station (ISS) has now stretched to over two months in space for Williams and Wilmorethe first astronauts to travel on the long-delayed Starliner.

Since the astronauts have been stranded on the ISS, NASA has been evaluating different options for their safe return. Last week, reports indicated that NASA was weighing the possibility of using the Starliner as originally planned or opting to bring them back aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore were the first astronauts to journey aboard Boeing's Starliner Crew Test mission, which began on June 5.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday urged New Delhi to play a more active role in supporting Kyiv's ongoing peace initiatives. Zelenskyy stated that a Russian strike on Ukraine's largest children's hospital that happened on the same day Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Moscow last month, demonstrated Russian President Vladimir Putin does not respect India or you (PM Modi). Zelensky made these remarks during a media briefing following his talks with Modi.

Increasing his criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Zelenskyy stated, "If he (PM Modi) has ideas (on peace) we will be happy to speak about it. But we don't change our territories on any propositions... PM Modi wants peace more than Putin... The problem is that Putin doesn't want it. I don't know what they spoke about when they had a meeting... If during the official visit of PM, you attack the children in hospital... So, he had to recognise that he (Russian President) doesn't respect India or doesn't control his Army... It means that he doesn't respect the Indian PM...So, for me, he is very clear. He is not so smart as his Russian TV shows," reported ANI.

Zelenskyy emphasised India's significant global influence as a big country, noting that while many export avenues for Russia are closed, India remains open. "India holds a substantial influence," he remarked. Zelenskyy also mentioned that he had a candid discussion with Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding India's oil purchases from Russia, which are generating billions of dollars to support Russia's military efforts.

On question regarding Ukraines direct involvement in buying Made-in-India products, and allowing Indian companies to get established on his ground, Zelenskyy said, "Yeah, we are ready (to directly engage with India and buy products made in India in the near future). I gave these all messages to your productions. As I said, we are ready to exchange...We are ready to buy. We are ready to produce. We are ready to open your companies here or we are ready to open our companies in India. So, we are very ready for such dialogue and for such work," reported ANI.

Following their meeting, Zelenskyy took to social media and said that India and Ukraine had finalised four agreements. These agreements span various fields, such as medical cooperation, agricultural collaboration, humanitarian aid, and cultural exchanges.

"India supports Ukraine's national sovereignty and territorial integrity. This support is crucial, as it aligns with the global principle of respecting the UN Charter," Zelenskyy stated.
VMPL New Delhi [India], August 24: Cellecor Gadgets Limited proudly announces its recognition as the Fastest Growing Consumer Electronics Brand of 2024 at the prestigious 3rd DEVICENEXT Summit & Awards, held at the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel in Delhi. The award was presented to Bindu Gupta, CFO of Cellecor Gadgets Limited, in acknowledgment of the brand's exceptional growth, innovation, and commitment to delivering high-quality products that resonate with today's tech-savvy consumers Since its inception, Cellecor has rapidly gained a reputation for its extensive range of consumer electronics, Appliances and Lifestyle Smart Gadgets including wearables, audio devices, and accessories. The brand's emphasis on affordability, quality, and design has enabled it to capture a significant share of the market, driving its rapid expansion and solidifying its position as a frontrunner in the industry. The 3rd edition of the DeviceNext Summit served as a premier convergence point for leading brands, manufacturers, channel partners, service providers, and visionary investors within the consumer devices and gadgets industry. The event featured over 30 distinguished speakers and attracted more than 200 attendees, all focused on shaping the future of the industry. In an era where Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) are reshaping our technological landscape, the DeviceNext Summit 2024 was dedicated to exploring how these revolutionary technologies are influencing consumer technology. Under the theme "AIoT Shaping Wearable & Consumer Tech," the summit delved into innovative gadgets and devices that are poised to make consumers' lives smarter and more efficient. Device Next is one of the fastest-growing B2B online media platforms for technology, operational since 2018. It is quickly becoming the most trusted online portal in the technology space, covering a wide array of sectors including mobile handsets, telecom, auto technologies, home appliances, lifestyle gadgets, accessories, and more. This expansive coverage has turned Device Next into a prime destination for promoting products and services, making it an invaluable platform in the technology industry. As Cellecor Gadgets Limited continues its journey, this recognition serves as a testament to its commitment to excellence and its vision of making advanced technology accessible to all. About Cellecor Gadgets Limited: Cellecor Gadgets journey in the electronics device business, and selling products in its own brand, including mobile feature phones, smartwatches, TWS (True Wireless Stereo) earbuds, neckbands, and LED TVs -outsource from various electronic assemblers and manufacturers, started in 2012 as M/s Unity Communications-its founder Mr. Ravi Agarwal's proprietorship firm. The company is promoted and managed with an enduring sustainable business strategy, wherein the company aims to synergetic amalgamate business potential embedded in the ever-growing demand for electronic products with a modern business approach of sourcing, producing, and marketing with an objective to provide quality products at affordable prices. Today, Cellecor Gadgets Ltd is a leading name in the consumer electronics industry, known for its innovative and cutting-edge technology. With a commitment to making happiness affordable, Cellecor offers a diverse range of products, including mobile phones, smart TVs, speakers, neckbands, TWS, soundbars, smartwatches, Washing Machines, and many more. (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 Bangalore (Karnataka) [India], August 24: In a world too often divided by conflict, the International Youth Day conference in Iraq emerged as a strong reminder that the seeds of peace can still be sown, especially when the youth lead the way. The two-day gathering, graced by His Excellency Ahmed Al-Mubarqa, Minister of Youth and Sport, brought together a vibrant mix of voices, each adding to a message of hope and resilience. Focus areas included peace, security, and climate change, with The Art of Living, represented by Prasana Prabhu, Chairman of Social Projects, bringing valuable contributions to the table. His presentation on the organisation's global initiatives in peacebuilding, environmental restoration, water sustainability, renewable energy, waste management and general social welfare brought a unique and essential perspective to the discussions. Youth: Building Peace and Mitigating Climate Change The conference kicked off with a compelling session on "The Role of Youth in Promoting Peace and Security in Local Communities". It was impossible not to feel a surge of optimism as young Iraqis shared their stories of how they've become pillars of peace in their communities. These are young people who have lived through tumultuous times and yet, instead of succumbing to despair, they've found ways to foster understanding and security around them. Dr. Abdullah Al-Kamil, Director of the Reproductive Health Programme, delivered a sobering session on how climate change is affecting reproductive health in Iraq - a stark reminder that environmental issues are deeply intertwined with social challenges. Strategies and digital tools driving their impact were examined, demonstrating how technology - often criticised for deepening divides - can actually be a powerful force for unity and peace. The energy in the room was palpable during the "Discussion Panel: The Role of Youth in Enhancing Environmental Awareness through Green Technology". Young innovators demonstrated how they're leveraging technology not only to mitigate climate impacts but also to transform community perspectives and interactions with the environment. The Art of Living: A Powerful Force for Global Change Amidst the dynamic youth-driven discussions, Prasana Prabhu's presentation on behalf of The Art of Living offered a crucial perspective. Guided by the visionary leadership of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a spiritual leader and humanitarian admired by millions worldwide, The Art of Living has long upheld the belief that true peace is nurtured from within and radiates outward into the world. At the conference, Prasana Prabhu shared insights into how this philosophy translates into action: Peace Initiatives: The Art of Living promotes global harmony by celebrating diversity and embracing differences. Through its trauma relief programmes and meditation workshops, the organisation has helped people in conflict zones across the world find inner tranquillity. By fostering collaboration, the organisation aims to build a more peaceful world, with its impact reverberating across the Middle East as well. Environmental Projects: Recognising the critical link between a healthy environment and overall well-being, The Art of Living has engaged in significant environmental initiatives. From planting trees to restoring water resources, their projects stabilise ecosystems and create new opportunities for communities affected by environmental degradation. The organisation's water sustainability projects, in particular, have been transformative, aiding communities in reclaiming traditional water sources and adopting new management techniques. Community Empowerment: Beyond peace and environmental work, The Art of Living is deeply committed to uplifting communities. By providing education, healthcare, and sustainable farming practices, the organisation is helping people build better lives. These initiatives are particularly impactful in regions where resources are scarce, offering not just immediate relief but long term solutions. A Path Forward The Iraq Conference has highlighted the importance of global collaboration in tackling the world's most pressing issues. Prasana Prabhu's presentation reaffirmed that organisations like The Art of Living are vital allies in the global quest for peace and sustainability. By combining inner transformation with concrete action, The Art of Living has shown that peace is not just the absence of conflict but the presence of harmony in every facet of life. Participants were left with more than just ideas - they were armed with actionable recommendations and a renewed sense of purpose. And as the youth of Iraq continue to rise to the challenges of their time, they do so with the knowledge that they are supported by the tireless efforts of The Art of Living. Together, they are forging a path toward a future where peace, sustainability, and cooperation are not just aspirations, but realities. Inspired by the world renowned humanitarian and spiritual leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar; The Art of Living is a global non-profit organisation dedicated to peace, well-being, and humanitarian service. Committed to holistic development, The Art of Living champions various initiatives, including water conservation, sustainable agriculture, afforestation, free education, skill development, women empowerment, integrated village development, renewable energy and waste management. Through these multifaceted efforts, The Art of Living strives to create positive social and environmental impact, fostering a more sustainable and harmonious future for all. Follow at: www.instagram.com/artofliving.sp Like at: www.facebook.com/artoflivingsocialprojects Tweet at: twitter.com/artofliving_sp Message at: www.linkedin.com/showcase/artofliving-sp (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
PNN New Delhi [India], August 24: Mintage, a leader in the corporate gifting industry, is thrilled to announce the launch of its new line of stainless steel utensils for the upcoming festive season. This innovative product range, proudly manufactured in India, underscores their commitment to sustainability and quality. With the increasing demand for environmentally conscious products, Mintage is taking a significant step towards reducing plastic waste and promoting a healthier lifestyle. Their latest collection of Stainless Steel Cookware, Tableware, Thermoware, Kitchenware, Cutlery, Water Bottles, and combines durability, reusability, and 100% recyclability with elegant design, making it the ideal corporate gifting range for companies that value their employees and the environment. This collection also serves as a memorable gift for weddings. Key Features of Mintage's Stainless Steel Houseware: - Eco-Friendly: Made from high-quality, food-grade stainless steel, these utensils are a sustainable alternative to single-use plastic. - Durable and Long-Lasting: Engineered for longevity, the stainless steel utensils are resistant to rust and corrosion, ensuring they can be used for years. - Customizable: Companies can personalize the products with their logos and brand colors, making them an ideal promotional gift. - Health-Conscious: Stainless steel is an excellent material for food contact products due to its non-toxic properties and absence of harmful chemicals found in traditional plastics. - Lifetime Warranty: The company proudly offers a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects and cracking of stainless steel on the entire range of products. "We are excited to introduce our new Corporate Gifting Collection that align perfectly with our mission to provide high-quality, eco-friendly products," said Mr. Rajeev Bansal, CEO of Mintage Steels. "These Gifting collections are not only a great way for companies to show appreciation to their employees and clients but also a step towards a more sustainable future." Mintage has always been dedicated to innovation and customer satisfaction. With the launch of these corporate gifting products, we continue to uphold our values while responding to the growing environmental concerns of today's world. About Mintage Steel: Founded in 1985, Mintage Steel has been a trusted name in the corporate gifting industry for stainless steel houseware / kitchenware, offering a wide range of premium products tailored to meet the unique needs of businesses. Their commitment to quality, innovation, and customer service has made them a preferred choice for corporate gifts across India. For more information about Mintage steel home and corporate gifting products, visit www.mintagesteel.com or contact at 18008901404 (toll-free) or info@mintagesteel.com. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
VMPL Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], August 24: Beauty Garage Professional, a true "Made in India" brand, has achieved a significant milestone by successfully celebrating nine unique events across India in a single day. This remarkable feat was undertaken to promote hair care awareness and extend support to salons nationwide, further cementing Beauty Garage Professional's reputation as a key player in the beauty industry. The brand's initiative included events such as the Beauty Garage Day, dedicated to Botoplexx and Shea treatments, and the Shea/Scalp Sense Day, which was celebrated in four different locations. Additionally, Botoliss Day was recognized twice during the day, showcasing Beauty Garage Professional's commitment to introducing a wide range of specialized hair care treatments. These events took place across a variety of locations, including major cities such as South Kolkata (near Ganguly Bagan), Gurugram, Patiala, Amritsar, Sangrur, Faridabad, Raipur, and Kandivali West in Mumbai. The salons that participated in these remarkable events include Jewel Tones Makeover (Kolkata), Headmasters Salon & Spa (Amritsar, Gurugram & Jalandhar), Cut and Style (Gurugram), VTC Salon (Raipur), and Seema's Salon (Mumbai), Lakme Salon (Kanpur)ensuring that Beauty Garage Professional's message of high-quality hair care reached a diverse audience across the country. Beauty Garage Professional demonstrated its unwavering dedication to the salon industry by offering free sampling and complimentary services in all participating salons. This unique gesture was not only aimed at bolstering the business of salon owners but also focused on educating the public about the importance of high-quality hair care routines. The brand's goal is to promote healthy hair practices and bring awareness to the effectiveness of its products in delivering superior hair care solutions across the country. Through this initiative, Beauty Garage Professional emphasized that their brand goes beyond just business--it is deeply committed to promoting hair care education and offering support to salons, particularly in a market where professional hair care treatments are increasingly sought after. By connecting with salons across various cities, the brand ensured that its products reached a wider audience, effectively supporting salon businesses while fostering a culture of quality hair care services. Speaking on the initiative, Mahesh Ravaria, Co-Founder and CEO of Beauty Garage Professional, expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "At Beauty Garage Professional, we are committed to supporting the salon industry across India. Our brand is not only focused on business but also on spreading awareness of the importance of hair care. We proudly promote quality hair care treatments in salons, ensuring that salon owners have access to the best products and services. As a true Made in India brand, we strive to be deeply connected with salon owners, providing free sampling and support to elevate hair care standards in our country." The record-setting day highlighted Beauty Garage Professional's dedication to revolutionizing India's beauty and hair care industry. By empowering salon owners with superior products and encouraging widespread hair care awareness, the brand is setting new standards for the industry. This initiative underlines Beauty Garage Professional's role as a leader in fostering growth and quality in India's salon sector while ensuring that the importance of hair care continues to be promoted nationally. About Beauty Garage Professional Beauty Garage Professional is transforming a multi-million dollar Hair Care Sector and reinventing hair and scalp health with groundbreaking products and a top-notch distribution network. It's a truly Made in India success story with the only Indian company manufacturing products and introducing innovative treatments such as Hair Botox. With a dedicated team engaged in continuous product research and technology exploration, the company has a remarkable growth story in the thriving Indian haircare market. Beauty Garage is a dynamic and influential player in the beauty industry, poised for continued success on both domestic and international fronts led by dynamic founders, Mahesh and Jigar Ravaria who established the company in 2017. The company stands out with a compelling competitive edge in the hair treatment market with strategic expansion plans of establishing a global presence with a focus on key regions such as the Middle East and the United States. The company's strong network comprises over 100 distributors, supported by a dedicated team of 150 field Professionals, including both sales and technicians. Beauty Garage Professional is at the forefront of innovation, delivering high-end quality products in more than 32 countries. Its worldwide distribution and FDA approval positions it as a winning player in the market revolutionising the Indian Salon Industry with flawless rich hair care products. The remarkable R&D teams are tirelessly working to develop innovative products for hair care and treatment. The company's primary focus is on reinventing hair care, and collaborating with hairdressers to develop solutions and services at the forefront of the industry. With the core ethos centered around a profound love for hair, the company aims to provide comprehensive hair care solutions that repair and restyle hair post-treatment damage. At Beauty Garage Professional, the absolute dedication to the art of hair care shines through, empowering Professionals and customers alike to achieve their hair goals with confidence and flair. Today, Beauty Garage Professional showcases a diverse collection of 100+ SKUs and six distinctive series, including K9 Botoplexx, Botoliss, Botosmart, Shea, Shea Curls, and ScalpSense using the high-end, advanced technology to create all the products designed to satisfy the customers. The safest ingredients are curated and treated in the safest environment to obtain the best results. With strong partnerships with salons across India, Beauty Garage caters to the rising beauty consciousness as people are investing more in hair & scalp care, and solutions to enhance their appearance and wellbeing. Website: https://beautygarage.com/about-us/ For further media queries, please contact: Sonia Kulkarni | 9820184099 sonia.kulkarni@hunkgolden.in (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 24: Oriental Trimex Ltd (BSE - 532817), a leading processor and trader of natural stones in India announces a series of strategic developments that are set to redefine its operational capabilities, expand its market presence, and solidify its financial standing. These initiatives underscore the company's unwavering commitment to innovation, growth, and customer satisfaction. Highlights: Company announces significant debt reduction and path to become debt-free. Company announces revolutionary leap forward for processing in the stone industry. Company is coming up with a 21,000 sq ft showroom in the Building Materials Market in Greater Noida. Secures Jet Black Granite Quarry in Orissa, Boosting Revenue and Profitability Prospects. Expands Product Portfolio with Related Product Lines, Enhancing Customer Offerings. 1. Revolutionary Leap in Stone Processing with Wire-Based Gangsaw Machine Oriental Trimex Limited is poised to revolutionize the stone industry with the importation and installation of a cutting-edge wire-based gangsaw machine, commonly referred to as a "Cable Machine for Slab Cutting." This state-of-the-art technology, sourced from Changsha Beto New Material Technology Co. Ltd. in China, will be the first of its kind in India and is set to be installed at OTL's plant in Gummidipoondi, near Chennai. Unlike traditional gangsaws that utilize multiple blades, this advanced machine employs a series of diamond-coated cables with diameters of 0.4-0.6mm, enabling precise cuts and setting a new benchmark for accuracy and efficiency. With features such as pneumatic wire tensioning, hydraulic cylinder support, and bellow-protected linear rails, the wire-based gangsaw significantly reduces waste, enhances durability, and speeds up the cutting process by approximately three times compared to conventional machines. This strategic investment, expected to be operational by December 2024, is a testament to OTL's dedication to embracing innovative technologies that enhance operational excellence. It will allow the company to deliver unparalleled quality to its clients, particularly in the high-end residential and commercial construction segments. 2. Expansion in Greater Noida with a 21,000 Sq. Ft. Showroom In a move to strengthen its market presence, Oriental Trimex Limited is excited to announce the upcoming launch of a sprawling 21,000 sq. ft. showroom in the building materials market at Site-4, Greater Noida. Strategically located in the heart of Gautam Budh Nagar District, this showroom-cum-warehouse is poised to become a one-stop destination for all flooring solutions. Scheduled to be operational by the end of September 2024, the showroom will showcase an extensive range of finished marbles sourced from OTL's state-of-the-art processing plant in Chennai. In addition, the company will procure high-quality granites from processors in Rajasthan and Southern India, ensuring a comprehensive portfolio of flooring solutions. The location of this showroom is particularly strategic, given the upcoming Jewar Airport and the envisioned Aerocity in Greater Noida. These developments are expected to drive exponential growth in the region, and OTL is committed to catering to the increasing demands of the area. The company also plans to expand its footprint with a new showroom in Delhi, post-raising funds through a Right Issue, further reinforcing its position in the market. 3. Securing a 30-Year Lease for Jet Black Granite Quarry in Orissa Oriental Trimex Limited is pleased to announce the securing of a 30-year lease for a Jet Black Granite Quarry spanning 12.260 acres (4.961 hectares) in Village Poteru, Malkangiri district, Orissa. This quarry, allocated by the Government of Orissa, is a significant addition to OTL's portfolio, boasting a massive deposit of decorative stones and Jet Black-colored granite with substantial export potential. The mining plan for the quarry has been approved by the state government, with an independent valuation by Er M K Mehta estimating the total mineral deposit value at approximately INR 258.77 crores. With the Environmental Clearance (EC) expected by November 2024, OTL plans to operationalize the quarry shortly thereafter. This development is expected to significantly boost the company's revenue and profitability, further cementing its leadership in the natural stone industry. 4. Diversification of Product Portfolio In an effort to enhance its customer offerings and create new revenue streams, Oriental Trimex Limited announces plans to diversify its product portfolio by venturing into additional related product lines. Starting from December 2024, the company will introduce: Low-cost Indian granites Designed porcelain tiles in similar colors to imported marbles Nano stones from China Marble-designed quartz stones and quartzites This expanded product mix will cater to a broader customer base, including various socioeconomic groups, and provide more options to suit different budgets. OTL's strong sourcing abilities, deep understanding of local customer preferences, and established infrastructure will support the marketing of these new products. The company's presence in Greater Noida and focus on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, particularly in Uttar Pradesh under the Central Government's 'Smart City' plan, positions it for significant growth. 5. Significant Debt Reduction and Path to Becoming Debt-Free Oriental Trimex Limited is pleased to announce a significant milestone in its financial journey. The company has successfully made a payment of INR 38.25 crores to Edelweiss Asset Reconstruction Company Limited ("Edelweiss ARC") as part of a One-Time Settlement ("OTS") agreement entered into on January 30, 2024. This payment has substantially reduced OTL's debt obligations, putting the company on the path to becoming debt-free. With only a nominal interest amount remaining, which is expected to be paid by September 2024, Oriental Trimex Limited is on the verge of achieving debt-free status. This development is expected to enhance the company's credibility and reputation among stakeholders, further strengthening its position in the industry. (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)
NITI Aayog conducted a study to make Mumbai and its adjacent areas a "global financial hub" and double the metropolis' GDP in the next five years, the policy body said on Saturday. The policy body said in a post on the social media platform "X" that a team led by NITI Aayog CEO B V R Subramaniam made a presentation of the study to Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. In a post, NITI Aayog said, " NITI Aayog conducted a study to make Mumbai metropolis and its environs a global financial hub. A presentation of the study was made by Team NITI led by Shri BVR Subrahmanyam, CEO, NITI Aayog to the Maharashtra Chief Minister @mieknathshinde. According to the study, NITI Aayog has set a target of doubling Mumbai's GDP in the next five years, with special emphasis on seven key sectors. The CM highlighted the new direction provided by the initiatives to the development of the state along with improving the communication infrastructure." As per the policy body, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, and Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik were also present on the occasion. The Maharashtra CMO also posted on social media X about the development saying," The report of the study conducted by NITIAayog to make Mumbai metropolis and its environs a global financial hub was handed over to the Chief Minister." "NITI Aayog has set a target of doubling Mumbai's GDP in the next five years, with special emphasis on seven key sectors. These initiatives will give a new direction to the development of the state and improve the communication and communication infrastructure, said Chief Minister Shinde" the post added. In July last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he aims to use "the power of Maharashtra to transform it into an economic powerhouse of the world and make Mumbai the fintech capital of the world". The Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said in May that Maharashtra has kept its pace by attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) for the second consecutive year, quoting Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) data. According to the figures released by DPIIT, Maharashtra attracted more FDI this year than the last year. The DPIIT report, quoted by Fadnavis on X shows that the state has received Rs 1,14,964 crore of investments from foreign investors. (ANI)
Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan interacted with farmers in Nanded on the issues of pending insurance of their soyabean crop, on Saturday, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare said in a statement on Saturday. During the interaction, farmers of the Parbhani district informed the Union Minister about the problem of pending insurance claims of their soyabean crop, as per the ministry's statement. In this regard, Chouhan gave instructions to the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Officials to immediately resolve the problem. Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare held a meeting of the National Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) in this regard on 22 August 2024. During the meeting, the TAC denied the insurance company's protest about crop-cutting trials and instructed the company to settle the outstanding claims. Owing to this ruling, about 2,000,000 farmers in the Parbhani district will get unpaid claims of between Rs 200 and Rs 225 crores. The Central Technical Advisory Committee has ordered the concerned insurance company to pay the due claim within one week in this regard as of today, August 24, 2024. The government has been actively working towards the farmer's issues. To ease the farmers in the country, the government has been implementing Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) since 2016. The Government has made several interventions to ensure better transparency, accountability, timely payment of claims to the farmers and to make the scheme more farmer friendly, as a result of which the area and farmers covered under the scheme in 2023-24 is at an all-time high. The scheme is now the largest in the world in terms of farmer applications insured. As per provisions of PMFBY guidelines, the premium share of the farmer is capped at 2 per cent for Kharif crops, 1.5 per cent for Rabi Crops and 5 per cent for commercial/Horticultural crops. Some States have further waived off farmer's share of premiums due to which there is very less burden on the farmers. As against the total reported claims of Rs.1,67,475 crore under the scheme, Rs.1,63,519 crore (98 per cent) have already been paid, the ministry informed on August 6 earlier this month. (ANI)
Kerala Cultural and Youth Affairs Minister Saji Cherian on Saturday said that action is "assured" if allegations of innapropriate behaviour against a woman actor by director and Kerala State Chalachitra Academy Ranjith are proven. "The government will not protect whoever does the mistake. Action assured if the allegations against Film Academy Chairman Ranjith are proved," he wrote on Facebook. Earlier, filmmaker Biju had demanded the removal of Ranjith from the position of Chalachitra Academy chairman. In his post on Facebook, the filmmkaker said "For the past three years, several allegations have been leveled against the Chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy. There were complaints that the Chairman directly influenced jury members to grant awards to certain individuals and to deny them to some films. This was openly stated by director Vinayan and two other jury members." "Similarly, there were complaints regarding the selection of films for the IFFK (International Film Festival of Kerala), where several filmmakers presented digital evidence claiming that films were selected without being watched," filmmaker Biju said. "The Chairman also stirred controversy by comparing the audience to dogs during the closing ceremony of the film festival. Additionally, during the last film festival, this same Chairman made defamatory remarks in public media against me and other film professionals," the post continued. "General Council members of the Chalachitra Academy themselves have issued public statements calling for the Chairman's removal. While the Cultural Minister has made statements saying that these issues will be investigated and explanations sought, no action has been taken so far," wrote filmmaker Biju on the social media platform. Referring to the row over the Hema committee report, the filmmaker said in his post, "Now, following the Hema Committee report, a revelation from an actress has also surfaced against the Academy Chairman. If there is any sense of morality left, the Chairman should be immediately removed. A public sexual harassment allegation against someone in a position of responsibility cannot be taken lightly. The Cultural Minister might consider this person a legend--that is his personal freedom--but when someone is accused of inappropriate behavior towards women, they are no longer fit to hold the position of Academy Chairman, not for even a moment." "If Ranjith has any doubts about my relevance in this matter, let me clarify that I have previously written a lengthy note on this subject. I won't repeat that now. I will only state one point of relevance: the salary you receive, the money for your car, and your house rent all come from taxpayers like me. As a taxpaying citizen of the state, I am using my relevance to say that in the light of these accusations, the government must immediately remove the Chairman. Considering the government's silence on the various allegations against the Chairman and the secrecy surrounding the Hema Committee report, I know there is little chance that the Chairman will voluntarily resign or be removed. However, I must express my dismay that the state of Kerala has to bear the burden of entrusting responsible positions to these disgraceful individuals." Meanwhile, the Youth Congress has filed a complaint demanding investigation against the Film Academy chairman Ranjith. The complaint has been filed with the Kerala Director General of Police (DGP) demanding an investigation against the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy Chairman. Youth Congress Vice President Abin Varkey lodged the complaint, urging an inquiry in light of recent revelations made by a Bengali actress. The complaint calls for a thorough investigation into Ranjith's actions, emphasizing the need for accountability. This complaint follows an earlier demand by the Youth Congress for action based on the findings of the Justice Hema Committee report, which highlighted issues within the Malayalam film industry. Last week, a redacted version of the Justice Hema Committee report was made public which revealed several instances of sexual harassment of female actors in the Malayalam film industry. On the Hema Committee report, Kerala Assembly Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan said that the Kerala Culture Minister should tender his resignation. "Kerala Culture Minister Saji Cherian is trying to avoid an investigation into the recommendations and revelations of the Hema Committee. He has been trying to make some changes to the report...He is now violating his oath and trying to protect all the culprits in this case. So he has to resign," Satheesan said. "The opposition UDF demands his resignation...The government know the fact that a series of offences have been committed. Despite knowing all this, the government is not taking any action. They are not ready to make an investigation team. We demand the government to constitute an investigation team..." he said. (ANI)
Actor Nagarjuna expressed his disappointment with the demolition of his N Convention hall by HYDRAA on Saturday. Nagarjuna wrote on his X handle," Pained by the unlawful manner of demolition carried out in respect of N Convention, contrary to existing stay orders and Court cases. I thought it fit to issue this statement to place on record certain facts for protecting my reputation and to indicate that we have not done any actions in violation of law." He clarified that the land on which the N Convention Centre stands is private property (Patta land) and asserted that no part of the structure encroaches upon any tank plan. And also shared there was already a stay order in place preventing any demolition, issued in response to an earlier notice deemed illegal by his legal team. "The land is a Patta land, and not even an inch of tank plan is encroached. In respect of the building constructed inside the private land, there is a stay order granted against any earlier illegal notice for demolition. Today clearly, the demolition was carried out wrongfully based on misinformation. No notice was issued prior to carrying out the demolition this morning. As a law-abiding citizen, if the Court before which the matter is pending, had decided against me, I would have carried out the demolition myself," Nagarjuna added. The actor revealed that he would seek appropriate legal remedies in response to what he views as wrongful actions by the authorities. His post read, "I am placing this on record for the purpose of correcting any public misimpression about wrongful constructions or encroachment by us. We would be seeking appropriate relief from the Court in relation to the wrong actions carried out by the authorities." Officials of Hyderabad Disaster Management and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), along with the police, carry out a demolition drive at N Convention Hall near Shilparamam in Rangareddy district. "HYDRAA officials have started demolishing the N Convention Hall this morning and we have deployed police force to ensure the demolition is carried out smoothly, as the land comes under the FTL zone," said Madhapur DCP. (ANI)
Dan Fogler, best known for his role in 'Fantastic Beasts', is taking on a new challenge by stepping into the world of Batman. The 'Fantastic Beast' actor will play longtime Batman executive producer Michael Uslan in a stage play based on Uslan's 2011 memoir, The Boy Who Loved Batman. The play is produced by Nederlander Worldwide Productions and will run from October 1 to November 10 at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa, Florida, with hopes of eventually making it to Broadway. The memoir, which was published in 2011, tells Uslan's journey from a comic book enthusiast to becoming a key figure in the world of Batman movies. Uslan started out teaching a comic book class at Indiana University and worked at DC Comics during his summers. After law school, he landed a job at United Artists and became closely involved with the rise of early comic book movies, particularly those featuring Batman. Uslan has been credited on every Batman-related movie since Tim Burton's 1989 Batman, including films like Joker and Justice League. Uslan expressed his excitement about Fogler taking on the role, praising his talent and passion, as per The Hollywood Reporter. "Dan's exceptional talent, comic timing, impressive stage presence and deep, enthusiastic roots as an unabashed fanboy make him the perfect actor to take on the obviously challenging, complicated role of Michael Uslan," Uslan quips. "From the first moment he was given the script, Dan has been spot-on in his approach to the material, and I could not be happier that he agreed to join us on this journey." Fogler, who won a Tony Award in 2005 for his role in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, is thrilled to return to the stage. "I can't wait to be back on stage again, and Batman and comic books are two of my favorite subjects," Fogler said. "I was 12 in 1989 and seeing Batman on screen -- how he was meant to be in all his dark brooding glory -- was a life-changing experience. It was electric, and I can't wait to tell the story of how it all came to be," he added. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Fogler also said that the play has something for everyone, tapping into the heart of pop culture. "You will laugh and you will cry and you'll walk away loving Batman even more than you do now," he said. (ANI)
Bollywood actors Arjun Rampal and Bipasha Basu have expressed their deep sorrow over the death of veteran journalist and film producer Nari Hira. Taking to his Instagram account on Saturday, Arjun shared his grief as he posted a series of pictures with Hira. The pictures included memories of their time together, including events and portraits of the late media mogul. Along with the pictures, Arjun added a heartfelt caption that read, "Heartbroken. A legend in publishing left us today. Dear Nari Hira, who revolutionized publishing in India from Stardust to Society. Magna publishing into an institution. Who was the heart of media, yet still managed to keep away from all the show biz. You will truly be missed my dear friend. Rest in peace. You will live on in our hearts. #RIPNariHira" https://www.instagram.com/p/C_CyHt8Tlb8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Bipasha Basu also expressed her shock and sadness upon hearing the news. She shared a picture on her Instagram stories from an event where she stood alongside Hira. Her simple message read, "RIP #narihari Om Shanti." Actor-turned-politician Hema Malini also shared her condolences on social media. https://www.instagram.com/p/C_DaOTRoUaC/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Remembering Hira, the actress wrote, "I am saddened to hear about the sudden demise of media baron Mr Nari Hira, the founder of Magna Publishing. He has been extremely kind and supportive. He was a well wisher and always supported young talents from the film industry. I have been featured in many cover stories of Stardust magazine and even won awards at Stardust and Society Achivers Awards. He was very fond of me, and respected me always. My sincere condolences to his family, may his soul rest in peace." (ANI)
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of two separate incidents of food poisoning in Andhra Pradesh that claimed the lives of three children and left several others sick. NHRC has taken cognizance of media reports carried on August 19th and 21st about the two alleged incidents of food poisoning causing serious health problems in Andhra Pradesh. According to an NHRC release, in one incident, reportedly, the health of 70 students was seriously affected due to food poisoning at Chittoor Apollo Health University. They are undergoing treatment at Chittoor Government Hospital. In the other incident, three children died and 37 fell ill after food poisoning at an orphanage in Anakapalli district. They are admitted to different hospitals in Anakapalli and Vishakhapatnam. The Commission has observed that the contents of the news reports, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of the human rights of the victims. It noted that both incidents indicate negligence of the concerned authorities towards ensuring proper food quality and the health of the inmates. Accordingly, the Commission has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, Andhra Pradesh calling for a detailed report on both matters within two weeks. It is expected to include the status of the FIRs and the health status of the victims. The report should also mention the steps taken/ proposed to ensure that such painful incidents do not recur, the release mentioned. (ANI)
BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal expressed deep concern over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital and takes on the West Bengal government and the state police. While speaking to ANI regarding the case, Jaiswal urged the Supreme Court to take separate cognizance into the matter. "The RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder case is very sad and unfortunate. CBI has informed the court that the crime scene has been altered. The role of the West Bengal government and police is doubtful. The Supreme Court should take separate cognizance into this matter," the BJP leader said. On August 23, Bengal's Sealdah Court sent the main accused Sanjay Roy to 14 days of judicial custody. Roy will remain in judicial custody until September 6, 2024, under the supervision of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The Calcutta High Court earlier granted permission to the CBI to conduct a polygraph test on Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, and five others who had dinner with the deceased doctor on the day of the incident and one civic volunteer. Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging to bring in central legalisation and set up fast-track courts for "sensitive" issues to ensure fast speedy trials. The rape and murder of the trainee doctor have triggered widespread outrage and protests in cities including Delhi, Chandigarh, Mumbai, and Kolkata, with calls for justice for the victim and punishment for the accused. The postgraduate trainee doctor was found dead in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. (ANI)
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of deaths in a reactor blast at a pharma company in Andhra Pradesh's Anakapalli. NHRC took cognizance of media reports that at least 17 workers died and 50 others were injured in a reactor blast at a private industrial unit at Atchutapuram Special Economic Zone in Anakapalli on August 21. The reasons behind the explosion are still not clear. The Commission has observed that the contents of the media reports indicate violations of the victims' right to life due to the concerned authorities' negligence. Accordingly, it has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, Andhra Pradesh directing a thorough investigation to check whether all the safety norms and legal provisions were being strictly followed by the owner of the industrial unit and supervised by the authorities concerned and submit a detailed report within two weeks. Reportedly, the State Disasters Response Force teams are searching for any survivors in the debris after the blast. However, it is apprehended that the death toll may increase as bodies are feared trapped. It is not clear how many workers were on duty at the time of the blast. It is expected to include the status of the FIR, updated information on the health and medical treatment of the injured, disbursement of the compensation, and any other relief/ rehabilitation provided to the injured as well as the families of the dead workers. The Commission has also directed to update regarding action taken against the delinquent officers, responsible for the tragedy. (ANI)
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced the approval of an initiative for women's empowerment, Subhadra, in the state legislative assembly. "I take this opportunity on this auspicious day to inform this House about the approval of a path-breaking initiative for women's empowerment, Subhadra, by the state cabinet. As decided by the state cabinet in its meeting held on August 22, 2024, at Lok Seva Bhawan, the scheme has been approved for implementation from the financial year 2024-25 to the financial year 2028-29. An outlay of Rs 55,825.00 crore has been made for this initiative," a press release from the CMO said on Friday. According to the CMO, Subhadra will transform the lives of more than 1 crore women in the state. It will cover all eligible women aged 21 years or above and less than 60 years old. A total of Rs 10,000 per annum will be paid in two instalments of Rs 5000 each on Rakhi Purnima Day and International Women's Day (March 8). Thus, an eligible woman beneficiary will get Rs 50,000 in total in five years, the CMO added. In order to ensure transparency in providing assistance, the payment will be made directly to the beneficiary's Aadhaar-enabled single-holder (DBT) bank account through the Aadhaar Payment Bridge System (APBS). A Subhadra Debit Card will also be issued to the beneficiaries. In order to encourage digital transactions, 100 beneficiaries with maximum digital transactions will be identified in each Gram Panchayat and Urban Local Body and an additional incentive of Rs 500 shall be given to each of them. "Our government is committed towards 'Antyodaya'. Hence, women from economically well-off families, government servants or Income Tax payees will not be eligible under this scheme. Besides, women who are receiving assistance of Rs 1,500 or more per month or Rs 18,000 or more per year under any other government scheme will also be ineligible for inclusion under Subhadra," the CMO's release said. To avail themselves of the benefits under this scheme, women can apply by filling out the forms available free of charge at anganwadi centres, block offices, Mo Seva Kendras, Jan Seva Kendras, etc. A call centre will also be set up for Subhadra. "The Women and Child Development Department will establish a Subhadra Society for the implementation and monitoring of the programme. Our government is taking steps to launch "Subhadra" at the earliest," the CMO said. "This far-sighted and far-reaching decision of the state cabinet will fulfil the assurance made by the government to the people of Odisha. In this august house, I seek your active cooperation for the successful implementation of Subhadra and to ensure that no deserving woman is left out," it added. (ANI)
According to officials, the incident occurred at around 11:15 pm on Friday when unknown persons fired bullets at Singla's Sweets shop. The bullets hit the front glass of the shop.

Following information, the crime team and the district operations unit responded immediately and arrived at the spot.

Delhi Police said that an FIR has been filed under relevant provisions of law, and an investigation is underway.

As per preliminary investigation, two persons had come on a bike, fired multiple shots at the shop's front glass, and then fled the spot on the same bike, officials said.

Four empty cartridges were recovered from the spot.

"No person has been hit by the bullets," they said.

They also added that multiple teams have been formed to gather information and check the assailants' route.

Further details are awaited. (ANI)
Police have recovered the body of the prime accused in the alleged gang rape of a minor girl in the Dhing area of Assam. The prime accused in the case, Tafazul Islam, allegedly escaped from police custody, jumped into a pond and died, said police on Saturday morning. Swapnaneel Deka, Superintendent of Police of Nagaon district told ANI over the phone that on Friday police arrested Tafazul Islam in connection with the case. "When a police team took him last night to the spot for investigation where the incident took place, the prime accused tried to flee and jumped into a pond located nearby the site. Our police personnel engaged in a search operation and with the help of the SDRF team we recovered his body from the pond today morning," he said. The senior police official said that operations are underway to nab the other two accused persons. A 14-year-old minor girl was allegedly gang-raped by three persons in the Dhing area on August 22 evening while she was returning to home from tuition classes. The incident triggered massive protests in the Dhing area where locals and various organisations demanded stringent action against the culprits. Assam Director General of Police, GP Singh on Friday visited the site and met the victim's family members and also spoke with the senior police officials. Speaking on the incident, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Friday, "When there is any atrocity against women, we need to take prompt action." Addressing the media, Sarma said, "I would like to say just one thing. When there is any atrocity against women, we need to take prompt action. But the public should see that the government is taking strict action. When people feel that the government is showing laxity, they get angry. When such incidents take place, the government should take very aggressive action. The government in Bengal didn't do it, so people got angry." He further stated that after the Lok Sabha elections this year, "we are seeing a specific community of people indulging in criminal activities." "The perpetrators of the incident at Dhing, involving a Hindu minor, will be punished," he added. According to reports, locals found the girl in a semi-conscious state by the side of a road and immediately admitted her to a hospital. (ANI)
Candidates were seen standing in long queues outside the exam centres in Moradabad and Kanpur, where the exam is being held.

The Uttar Pradesh Police Constable Recruitment Exam 2024 is being held on August 23, 24, 25, 30, and 31 at 67 exam centres across the state. It will be conducted in two shifts daily on the said dates.

About five lakh candidates will appearing for the exam in each shift.

Uttar Pradesh police have made extensive security and support measures to ensure the smooth conduct of the exam.

Speaking to ANI regarding the arrangements, Joint Commissioner (Law & Order) Amit Verma said, "Teams would be deployed at the exam centres. Not just security, arrangements have been made to facilitate the students."

Government Railway Police (GRP) SP Prashant Verma said that a dedicated help desk has been set up to assist candidates with any issues they might encounter.

"A lot of candidates will come from other districts. A help desk has been made so that the students don't face any problems and they can be informed about the facilities being provided by the administration," Prashant Verma said while speaking to ANI on Thursday.

In addition, a comprehensive security presence has been set up, including deployments from the Rapid Action Force (RAF), police, civil defence, Government Railway Police (GRP), and Railway Protection Force (RPF).

In February, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered to conduct the re-examination after the paper was leaked. (ANI)
Assam Minister Pijush Hazarika met the Nagaon rape survivor at a hospital on August 23 and enquired about her health condition. He also assured the family that strict action would be taken against the perpetrators. He said that the victim is recovering, quoting the doctors. On August 22, the Minister visited the residence of the rape survivor and took stock of the situation. https://x.com/Pijush_hazarika/status/1826988772338332050 In a post on X on Friday evening, Hazarika said, "Enquired about the health condition of the young victim of Dhing who is undergoing treatment in Nagaon. Doctor informed the victim is recovering. Promised everyone that our government will not spare the criminals who committed such heinous crimes." In another post, he said, "Visited the residence of the victim of Dhing incident and took stock of the situation. Ensured the family that under the leadership of HCM Dr @himantabiswa strictest action will soon be taken against the perpetrators." A minor was allegedly gang-raped on her way home from tuition on August 22 in the Dhing area of Assam. According to reports, locals found the girl in a semi-conscious state by the side of a road and immediately admitted her to a hospital. Meanwhile, police said they have recovered the body of the prime accused from a pond on August 23 a day after allegedly escaping from police custody. Swapnaneel Deka, Superintendent of Police of Nagaon district told ANI over the phone that on Friday police arrested Tafazul Islam in connection with the case. "When a police team took him last night to the spot for investigation where the incident took place, the prime accused tried to flee and jumped into a pond located nearby the site. Our police personnel engaged in a search operation and with the help of the SDRF team we recovered his body from the pond today morning," he said. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Friday, "When there is any atrocity against women, we need to take prompt action." Assam Congress MLA Abdur Rashid Mandal told ANI on August 23, "It is a shameful matter. I demand that the government and the police administration arrest the culprit, put them in jail and they should be hanged till death." Assam Director General of Police GP Singh said on August 23 that a case has been registered under the POCSO Act. "The victim girl is 14 years old." Following the directions of CM Sarma, DGP visited the site and later visited the house of the rape survivor and spoke with the family members. This comes amid nationwide outrage over the murder and alleged sexual assault of a female trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9 in Kolkata. (ANI)
People's Democratic Party candidate for the Anantnag constituency, Mehboob Beg, filed his nominations for the Assembly elections on August 23 scheduled to start in the third week of September. Speaking with ANI on August 23, Baig, who is a senior PDP leader said, "PDP under the leadership of Mehboba Mufti continuously raised the issues of the people of Jammu and Kashmir." He also said that the INDIA Alliance is a "national-level concept." He said that the special status was given to Jammu and Kashmir when the Congress was in power at the Centre. "If they (Congress) have courage, they should write in their manifesto, that they will give special status, but they cannot do this ...," he added. He appreciated the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi for standing with the minorities. "I salute Rahul Gandhi for raising the voice of minorities...," the PDP leader added. Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases on September 18, 25 and October 1. The results will be announced on October 4. Ahead of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, the Congress and the National Conference announced a pre-poll alliance and said that "they have reached a consensus on most of the seats." The Congress and the NC had fought the Lok Sabha elections in alliance with each other. The National Conference won two seats - Anantnag and Srinagar. The Congress could not win any seat. 24 Assembly seats will go to polls in the first phase on September 18. The seats, that will go to polls in the first phase, are Pampore, Tral, Pulwama, Rajpora, Zainapora, Shopian, D H Pora, Kulgam, Devsar, Dooru, Kokernag (ST), Anantnag West, Anantnag, Srigufwara-Bijbehara, Shangus-Anantnag East, Pahalgam, Inderwal, Kishtwar, Padder-Nagseni, Bhadarwah, Doda, Doda West, Ramban, and Banihal. A total of 90 assembly constituencies will go to the polls in Jammu and Kashmir. The last assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir was held in 2014. The counting will take place on October 4. (ANI)
The accused were arrested on Friday evening, police said.

According to officials, the PT teacher, who is the main accused, allegedly sexually harassed the girl student repeatedly over the past two years.

"This is not the first time the PT teacher has faced such accusations. He was previously booked and arrested on charges of molestation and under the POCSO Act and had served time in jail," the police said.

"Despite being a convicted offender, the school authorities retained him, which led to the arrest of the six other staff members, including the Principal and trustee, for their negligence and complicity in the case," they added.

Following a formal complaint from the victim's father, the police have registered a case under the POCSO Act and Sections 74, 78, 79, 351(2), and 115(2) of the BNS at the Nigdi police station, under the Pimpri Chinchwad Police Commissionerate.

Further investigation is underway, they added. (ANI)
Hamas announces killing of Israeli soldiers in Gaza City

Xinhua) 11:19, August 24, 2024

GAZA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Hamas on Friday said its fighters killed and wounded some Israeli soldiers during clashes in the south of the Zeitoun neighborhood in Gaza City.

"Our fighters clashed intensely with the Israeli army forces that had advanced south of Zeitoun in Gaza City," causing casualties among the soldiers, Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said in a press statement.

It noted that the Israeli casualties were evacuated by a military aircraft, without providing further details.

The Israeli army has not commented on the incident yet.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army reported that its 98th Division had killed dozens of militants over the past 24 hours and destroyed numerous infrastructures in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip and the outskirts of Deir al-Balah in the central region.

The army's statement said its drone detected a militant posing threats to its forces, which led to an Israeli Air Force helicopter attacking to neutralize him.

In addition, the 162nd Division continued operations in the Tel al-Sultan area of Rafah, south of Gaza, killing dozens of militants in coordination with the Air Force over the past 24 hours.

According to the statement, the Israel Defense Forces operating in the central sector killed a militant carrying explosive materials and targeted a rocket-launching site.

The statement also noted that the Israeli Air Force had struck around 30 sites in the strip over the past 24 hours, including military sites, weapon storage facilities, and rocket-launching sites, in coordination with the Southern Command.

Israel has been waging a large-scale offensive against Hamas in Gaza to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 others were taken hostage.

The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks has risen to 40,265, the Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Thursday.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liu Ning)
The Hazratgant Police has registered an FIR against Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee Chief, Ajay Rai and former state president Ajay Kumar Lallu among 100 other unknown people for creating disruptions near Raj Bhawan in Lucknow. Congress had on August 22, led by Rai staged a protest outside Raj Bhawan in Lucknow for a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the Hindenburg Report on Adani group and Madhabi Puri Buch. The complaint against Rai was filed by Hazratganj sub-inspector, Rahul Singh. Others who have been named in the FIR include Tanuj Poonia, Congress MP from Barabanki, Dheeraj Gurjar, the party's national general secretary, Shiv Pandey the party's treasurer, and Akhilesh Pratap Singh a former MLA/spokesperson. A similar FIR was also filed in Gautam Palli police station against the Congress leaders. Sub Inspector Singh, in his complaint, said that on August 22, at around 3 pm, information was received that a crowd of 100 people was moving from Raj Bhavan Gate No-1 towards Gate No-2. He also mentioned that when he tried to stop the crowd, they pushed him, obstructing the police work. "Along with the police force already present at Gate No-2, I tried to stop the crowd, but the crowd pushed the police force, obstructing official work, and unlawfully some people started shouting slogans and sat down in front of Raj Bhavan Gates. These people said that they knew all the laws but would do whatever they wanted right there. Saying this, they started getting aggressive and began protesting," the police official said. "This caused significant inconvenience to school children, women, traders, and people coming and going to government institutions, completely disrupting traffic and security arrangements at Raj Bhavan Gates, creating an atmosphere of fear and disturbing public order," the police sub-inspector said. (ANI)
Assam Cabinet Minister, Keshab Mahanta, on Saturday met the family member of Dhing gang rape victim's the Nagaon district and said that the government will protect every woman and will find other accused as well. The minor girl was allegedly gang-raped by three persons in the Dhing area on August 22 evening while she was returning to home from tuition classes. He said, "I spoke with the public, women. Our government will protect every woman and no compromise will be made. We will find other accused as well." He also said that he will meet the public and will speak to the Chief Minister about whatever is their needs. Assam Minister Pijush Hazarika also met the rape survivor at a hospital and enquired about her health condition. He also assured the family that strict action would be taken against the perpetrators. In a post on X, Hazarika said, "Enquired about the health condition of the young victim of Dhing who is undergoing treatment in Nagaon. Doctor informed the victim is recovering. Promised everyone that our government will not spare the criminals who committed such heinous crimes." According to reports, locals found the girl in a semi-conscious state by the side of a road and immediately admitted her to a hospital. Meanwhile, police said they have recovered the body of the prime accused from a pond on August 23 a day after allegedly escaping from police custody. Swapnaneel Deka, Superintendent of Police of Nagaon district told ANI over the phone that on Friday police arrested Tafazul Islam in connection with the case. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Friday, "When there is any atrocity against women, we need to take prompt action." (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has questioned the decision of the Congress party to forge a pre-poll alliance for the upcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir with the National Conference, which in its election manifesto pitched for a dialogue between India and Pakistan. Polling will be held in three phases in Jammu and Kashmir with the first phase starting from September 18 following annoucement of election schedule by the Election Commisision. Reacting to their announcement, chief minster Adityanath told ANI on Saturday, "Elections have been announced for J&K assembly elections. This election is not only important for the people of Jammu and Kashmir but also for every Indian who believes in democracy. The Congress, which is leading the INDI Alliance, has formed a coalition with the National Conference of the Abdullah Family and once again placed its anti-national plan before the country." Adityanath said that the pre-poll alliance of the two parties gives rise to big questions about national security and committment to the Constitution. "Recently, the National Conference released its manifesto ... This alliance of the Congress and the National Conference raises many big questions about national security and their loyalty to the Indian Constitution," the Uttar Pradesh chief minister said. He questioned the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, over the National Confrence's decision to start trade across the Line of Control, one of 12 guarantees promised in its manifesto. The Uttar Pradesh minister said, "I want to ask Congress leader Rahul Gandhi whether the Congress supports the announcement of the National Conference, to have a separate flag for Jammu and Kashmir...Does the Congress Party and Rahul Gandhi support the decision of the National Conference to start trade across the Line of Control and support terrorism and its ecosystem from across the border? ... Congress should answer this ... " Ahead of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, the Congress and the National Conference announced a pre-poll alliance and said that "they have reached a consensus on most of the seats." "We said we will encourage it (Dialogue between India and Pakistan)...We have always been in favour of dialogue, and in future also we will remain in favour...As a responsible party, and being in government we will do everything in our power to encourage that dialogue...What is wrong in encouraging a dialogue." Omar Abdullah told reporters on August 19 in Srinagar after releasing the party manifesto. The Congress and the NC had fought the Lok Sabha elections in alliance with each other. The National Conference won two seats - Anantnag and Srinagar. The Congress could not win any seat. The last date for filing the nomination papers is August 27. Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases on September 18, 25 and October 1. The results will be announced on October 4. 24 Assembly seats will go to polls in the first phase on September 18. The seats, that will go to polls in the first phase, are Pampore, Tral, ulwama, Rajpora, Zainapora, Shopian, D H Pora, Kulgam, Devsar, Dooru, Kokernag (ST), Anantnag West, Anantnag, Srigufwara-Bijbehara, Shangus-Anantnag East, Pahalgam, Inderwal, Kishtwar, Padder-Nagseni, Bhadarwah, Doda, Doda West, Ramban, and Banihal. A total of 90 assembly constituencies will go to the polls in Jammu and Kashmir. The last assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir was held in 2014. The counting will take place on October 4. (ANI)
After police recovered the body of the prime accused in a minor girl gang rape case in Nagaon district, Congress MLA Abdur Rashid Mandal said on Saturday that he has no sympathy for the accused and people like him should die but the question arises that how he died in police custody. Speaking to ANI, Abdur Rashid said that he was not supporting the accused but his death raises questions for police. "There is no sympathy for such a man. He must die. It is not right for them to live in society. This is a disgrace to the whole community. But the question arises of how does this death happen in police custody. Legally he should have been punished. I am not supporting him but this raises questions on the performance of the police," he said. The prime accused in the case, Tafazul Islam, allegedly escaped from police custody, jumped into a pond and died, according to police. Swapnaneel Deka, Superintendent of Police of Nagaon district told ANI over the phone that on Friday police arrested Tafazul Islam in connection with the case. "When a police team took him last night to the spot for investigation where the incident took place, the prime accused tried to flee and jumped into a pond located nearby the site. Our police personnel engaged in a search operation and with the help of the SDRF team we recovered his body from the pond today morning," he said. The senior police official said that operations are underway to nab the other two accused persons. Meanwhile, BJP leader Manab Deka slammed Congress and said that it always speaks in favour of such people. "Maybe that girl has got justice. The problem is that Congress leaders speak in favour of such people. These 'Miya' people consider Congress as their guardian. The Congress should understand its responsibility. These Miya people do not trust us," Deka said. A 14-year-old minor girl was allegedly gang-raped by three persons in the Dhing area on August 22 evening while she was returning to home from tuition classes. According to reports, locals found the girl in a semi-conscious state by the side of a road and immediately admitted her to a hospital. (ANI)
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, along with party leaders and workers, staged a protest in Mumbai against the Badlapur incident, where two minor girls were allegedly sexually assaulted at a local school. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said, "The atrocities that are happening against women and daughters--12 incidents have happened in 10 days. One case is being registered every day under the POCSO Act in Thane. We are protesting against all this. After Uttar Pradesh, heinous crimes are happening in Maharashtra. Women of Maharashtra are asking about Shakti law." Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant said that the way the Maharashtra government is working is increasing the anger of the people. "The whole of Maharashtra is angry and the way the Maharashtra government is working is increasing the anger of the people. The behaviour of the court is also increasing the anger," he said. Meanwhile, the Nationalist Congress Party (SCP) chief Sharad Pawar, along with Maha Vikas Aghadi party leaders and workers donning black bands on their arms, also staged a protest on Saturday in Pune against the Badlapur incident. The NCP-SCP leaders protested amid rainfall against the Badlapur incident. During the protest, Sharad Pawar said, "There is not a day in Maharashtra when there is no news of atrocities against women ... The government should take this incident seriously. The government is saying that the opposition is doing politics, calling it politics shows how insensitive the government is." NCP (SCP) MP Supriya Sule also participated in the protest and said that they'll not stop protesting until the accused are arrested. "Incidents of atrocities against women are increasing in the state...There is no fear of the police among people. I condemn the government. Some said that those who had gathered in Badlapur were from outside. I want to say that they were all Indians. I have never seen such an insensitive government ... We will not stop protesting until the accused are arrested," Sule said. Earlier, the special investigation team (SIT) for Badlapur sexual assault against minors has registered an FIR against the school authorities, for not complying with the provisions of section 19 of the POCSO Act which mandates that every authority when they come to know about any such kind of sexual assault against minors are obligated to report this to police authorities for further action. The alleged sexual assault of two fourth-grade girls at a school in Maharashtra's Badlapur has sparked outrage. On August 17, police arrested an attendant of the school for allegedly abusing the girls. (ANI)
Targeting the pre-poll alliance between the National Conference (NC) and Congress for the upcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir (J-K), Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Saturday that the NC has fostered terrorism and 'jihad,' and that the Congress's intentions have now become clear to the public. CM Dhami criticized the Congress for forming an alliance with the NC, accusing the party of repeatedly compromising the security, unity, and integrity of the country in its pursuit of power. "The National Conference has continuously pushed Kashmir backwards for three decades. This party promoted separatism and divisive forces in Kashmir. National Conference has nurtured terrorism and jihad; the intentions of Congress have become clear to the public that it wants to throw Kashmir into the fire of violence by allying with them," he said. "Does Congress support promoting separatism again by talking to Pakistan in exchange for the youth of Kashmir?" he asked. The Uttarakhand CM, further asked the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, whether his party supports the promise of a 'separate flag' with the National Conference. "Do they want to push Kashmir back into the era of terrorism-separatism? Does the Congress Party agree with the National Conference's decision to resume trade with Pakistan? Does the Congress support the National Conference's decision to resume 'LoC Trade' which will give a boost to cross-border terrorism and its machinery?" he said. He also asked the Congress about their stand on the National Conference's agenda of reintroducing Article 370, promoting separatism and depriving Dalits, Gujjars and Pahari communities of reservation. "Does the Congress support the promise made by the National Conference to rename prominent places in Jammu and Kashmir like Shankaracharya Hill and Hari Hill with names having Islamic meaning?" he said. The National Conference in its manifesto has, among other things, pitched for a dialogue between India and Pakistan. Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases on September 18, 25 and October 1. The results will be announced on October 4. The Congress and the NC had fought the Lok Sabha elections in alliance with each other. The National Conference won two seats - Anantnag and Srinagar. The Congress could not win any seat. A total of 90 assembly constituencies will go to the polls in Jammu and Kashmir. The last assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir was held in 2014. (ANI)
Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Saturday slammed the state government over the Badlapur sexual assault case and said that such kinds of incidents are continuous in the state, adding that the government has been completely failed. "The High Court has scolded the government. This assault on the girls was going on for 15 days. Our allegation was that the board of directors belonged to the RSS and BJP and hence the government was trying to protect them. These kinds of incidents are continuously happening in the state. This government has completely failed," Patole said. The Congress leader said that the entire government is answerable for the incident, so everyone in the government should resign. "No one fears this government and the administration. This government doesn't understand but there is anger among the people. They can do all the self-praise but it won't last long. Not only Devendra Fadnavis but also the CM, Eknath Shinde, is answerable as such incidents are on the rise in his district and hence the entire government should resign," he said. Congress leader Varsha Gaikwad said that efforts are being made to suppress their voices but they will continue to fight. "We don't want 'Laadli Behna', we want 'Surakshit Behna'. Many incidents are happening in Maharashtra. When we raise our voice against it, the government tries to suppress our voice in various ways, but will we continue our fight," she said. Meanwhile, the Nationalist Congress Party (SCP) chief Sharad Pawar, along with Maha Vikas Aghadi party leaders and workers donning black bands on their arms, staged a protest on Saturday in Pune against the Badlapur incident. During the protest, Sharad Pawar said, "There is not a day in Maharashtra when there is no news of atrocities against women ... The government should take this incident seriously. The government is saying that the opposition is doing politics, calling it politics shows how insensitive the government is." The special investigation team (SIT) for Badlapur sexual assault against minors has registered an FIR against the school authorities, for not complying with the provisions of section 19 of the POCSO Act which mandates that every authority when they come to know about any such kind of sexual assault against minors are obligated to report this to police authorities for further action, said SIT. The alleged sexual assault of two fourth-grade girls at a school in Maharashtra's Badlapur has sparked outrage. On August 17, police arrested an attendant of the school for allegedly abusing the girls. (ANI)
The Supreme Court ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the allegations against Chandigarh police personnel of abducting a dentist. A bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Ahsanuddin Amanullah in its August 6 order said an inquiry into the matter may be entrusted to the CBI for an independent probe. The order of the apex court came on a petition filed by the Union Territory of Chandigarh against the March 2023 order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court constituting a special investigation team (SIT) of the Punjab police to examine, among others, the alleged abduction of dentist Mohit Dhawan by Chandigarh police personnel. The top court said it was not inclined to interfere with a Punjab and Haryana high court order that directed for the registration of an FIR and setting up of SIT to probe the issue. The case stems out from allegations made by foreign nationals against Dhawan, accusing him of charging excessive fees for treatment. These allegations led to the registration of FIR by the Chandigarh police. He had then approached the High Court seeking anticipatory bail. The High Court had granted him interim bail and also asked the Punjab police chief to constitute a SIT to examine his alleged abduction by UT police personnel. Dhawan had alleged that when went to mark his presence before a magistrate's court, he was allegedly abducted by a Chandigarh Police team, which claimed that he was arrested in connection with another case. It was claimed by him that he was being harassed at the behest of former Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special director Rakesh Asthana and other police officers. The top court while passing the order of preliminary enquiry by the CBI said that the matter had taken a course in "utter violation of the Constitution and the laws" and that allegations pertained to personal liberty. "We think that although this matter springs from a complaint at the hands of the foreign nationals who were at one time patients of the respondent but thereafter it may have taken a course in utter violation of the Constitution and the laws and therefore an independent investigation is indeed required to clear all doubts as to the allegations as they relate to personal liberty of a citizen. To that extent, we are not inclined to interfere with the impugned order," the order stated. It also asked CBI to enquire whether Dhawan was produced before the local Magistrate within 24 hours of his detention/arrest and whether his "detention/arrest" by police officials amounted to abduction. (ANI)
A delegation of resident doctors met with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials on Friday regarding the alleged sexual assault and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in West Bengal's Kolkata. Speaking to ANI on Saturday, a member of the delegation expressed dissatisfaction with the responses provided by the investigative agency. Dr. Kinjal, a representative of the delegation, said that they asked for a time limit from the CBI to find out the people involved in the case but it said that it is not possible to set a time limit. "Our delegation of five people who went to meet the CBI at CGO Complex yesterday, did not get any satisfactory answer even from there. Our only demand is justice. We told the CBI that the motive behind our ongoing protest is justice, which is in your hands because all of you are investigating officers. So the sooner you can tell us who were involved, we can set the direction our protest. They told us to just keep faith in them. We also asked about the time limit, the CBI said it is not possible but as soon as possible," he said. Dr. Kinjal also mentioned that outpatient departments (OPDs) at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital are currently not operational due to the protest, although emergency services continue to function with senior doctors attending to patients. Meanwhile, a team of experts from Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), Delhi reached Kolkata for a polygraph test that will be conducted today on former RG Kar Medical College principal Sandip Ghosh and others over the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor, sources said on Saturday. Sources said that the polygraph test will be held on Sandip Ghosh, Sanjay Roy, the main accused, four doctors and one volunteer. Earlier in the day, Kolkata police said that as per the order of the court, all documents about the alleged financial irregularities in RG Kar have been handed over to CBI by SIT. The Court has granted the CBI three weeks to submit a progress report on the investigation, which is to be presented on September 17. The trainee doctor was found dead in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9. (ANI)
Kerala Assembly Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan on Saturday demanded an investigation into the shocking allegations about the Malayalam film industry detailed in the Justice Hema Committee Report. Justice Hema Committee report, based on testimonies from 51 industry professionals has revealed details about the exploitation of women, including the existence of casting couches and poor working conditions in the Malayalam film industry. Speaking to ANI, LoP VD Satheesan, said, "The government knows the fact that a series of offences have been committed. Despite knowing all this, the government is not taking any action. They are not ready to make an investigation team. We demand the government to constitute an investigation team." Congress leader Satheesan also alleged that Kerala Culture Minister Saji Charan was "trying to avoid" an investigation and demanded that he resign immediately. "Kerala Culture Minister Saji Cherian is trying to avoid an investigation into the recommendations and revelations of the Hema Committee. He has been trying to make some changes to the report. He is now violating his oath and trying to protect all the culprits in this case. So he has to resign. The opposition UDF demands his resignation," Satheesan said. Last week a redacted version on the Justice Hema Committee report on harassment faced by women in Malayalam cinema industry was made public. It has recorded shocking accounts of harassment, exploitation and ill-treatment of women professionals. The 235-page report, published after redacting the names of the witnesses as well as the accused, notes that the Malayalam film industry is under the clutches of the about 10 to 15 male producers, directors and actors who are in the forefront and control the industry. The committee's report confirms the rumoured existence of the practice of "casting couch" in the industry. It is based on testimonies from 51 industry professionals, reveals shocking details about the exploitation of women, including the existence of casting couches and poor working conditions. It states that harassment begins at the outset, with women being asked to make "adjustments" and "compromises"-euphemisms for sexual favours-to secure roles. The Committee also found that women are denied basic human rights, such as access to toilets and changing rooms, even on sets. Women often have to find secluded spots to change or use the bathroom during outdoor shoots, with no access to water or basic facilities. The Hema Committee was formed in response to a 2017 sexual assault case involving an actor and submitted its report to the Chief Minister on December 31, 2019. (ANI)
Maharashtra Mahila Morcha BJP President, Chitra Kishor Wagh, lashed out at the Maha Vikas Aghadi over the Badlapur incident where two minor girls were allegedly sexually assaulted at a local school, saying that MVA is doing politics over the incident. The development comes as Maharashtra BJP Mahila Morcha held a protest against Maha Vikas Aghadi in Mumbai over the Badlapur incident. "The incident that happened in Badlapur is a very sensitive matter. We can understand the mental condition of the victim's families. But, MahaVikas Aghadi is doing politics over the issue. Today, we are here to show the incidents that have taken place during their tenure and to show what they did... This is a conspiracy to malign Maharashtra, but the people will not let them do this. The government is in action mode," Wagh said. Meanwhile, the Nationalist Congress Party (SCP) chief Sharad Pawar, along with Maha Vikas Aghadi party leaders and workers donning black bands on their arms, staged a protest on Saturday in Pune against the Badlapur incident. During the protest, Sharad Pawar said, "There is not a day in Maharashtra when there is no news of atrocities against women ... The government should take this incident seriously. The government is saying that the opposition is doing politics, calling it politics shows how insensitive the government is." NCP (SCP) MP Supriya Sule also participated in the protest and said that they'll not stop protesting until the accused are arrested. "Incidents of atrocities against women are increasing in the state...There is no fear of the police among people. I condemn the government. Some said that those who had gathered in Badlapur were from outside. I want to say that they were all Indians. I have never seen such an insensitive government ... We will not stop protesting until the accused are arrested," Sule said. The special investigation team (SIT) for Badlapur sexual assault against minors has registered an FIR against the school authorities, for not complying with the provisions of section 19 of the POCSO Act which mandates that every authority when they come to know about any such kind of sexual assault against minors are obligated to report this to police authorities for further action, said SIT. The alleged sexual assault of two fourth-grade girls at a school in Maharashtra's Badlapur has sparked outrage. On August 17, police arrested an attendant of the school for allegedly abusing the girls. (ANI)
After the release of Ramakrishna Reddy, former YSRCP Minister Kakani Govardhan Reddy criticized the Telugu Desham Party-led government for "foisting false cases" on Macherla's MLA

"He (Ramakrishna Reddy) is people's leader who had won four times from Macharla, and putting him in jail is atrocious." Govardhan Reddy said.

Govardhan Reddy further accused Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu of "intimidating" those who criticized him by filing cases against them.

Govardhan Reddy alleged that while EVMs were destroyed in many places, only Ramakrishna Reddy was booked.

"If Chandrababu continues like this, there will be severe consequences in the future, the same will happen with him in the future, and no one's power is permanent." Govardhan Reddy said.

Reddy further criticised Naidu saying people are "ridiculing him" as he failed to fulfil his promise of good governance within 100 days.

The YSRCP leader also declared that he will boldly face any cases, arrests, and jail terms, and criticized the government for law and order problems in the state.

Reddy expressed relief that the High Court granted bail to Ramakrishna Reddy. He was arrested for the destruction of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and an attack on police at a polling centre in the Macharla constituency of Palnadu district in the recent Andhra Pradesh general elections.

The actions of YSRCP MLA were allegedly caught on the web camera upon which the Election Commission of India launched a probe against him, resulting in his arrest.

Ramakrishna Reddy was granted conditional bail on August 23.(ANI)
Goa Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant held a Janta Darbar on Saturday to redress the grievances of state residents. The event was held in Sanquelim (Sankhali), in the presence of several officials. A large gathering of people was seen at the venue to present their grievances and queries to the Chief Minister. The people met the Chief Minister one by one and put forward their various complaints to him. The CM patiently addressed each grievance and query of the large gathering of people, greeting them and trying to give a resolution to the problem presented. In the presence of various officials, the CM asked the citizens about their problems and directed them to the concerned official for a speedy resolution. Waiting rooms were made available to the people and queues were formed to facilitate listening to each problem and to make sure that no query goes unaddressed. The practice of holding a janta darbar, a platform for the people to directly present their problems to officials has been a regular occurrence in Goa. Chief Minister Sawant has held multiple such events for the state's people. The janta darbar has been held for multiple months in the state, including in February and May of this year. In September of last year, the Goa CM held the janta darbar at Ravindra Bhavan in Sankhali, with other officials also being present to address the various queries of the people. Apart from the Chief Minister of Goa himself attending the various darbars in the state, other state ministers are also instructed to hold similar meetings to make sure the ministers also regularly interact with their constituents and understand the daily problems of the people. Additionally, the Chief Ministers of different states have also held a janta darbar to address citizen's problems, including in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Haryana, and Delhi. (ANI)
Training guns at Amit Shah for his remarks on the Congress-National Conference alliance in Jammu and Kashmir, RJD leader Manoj Kumar Jha on Saturday said that the Home Minister is "troubled" by the coalition. "This same NC was in existence when there was NDA government and BJP was in alliance with PDP (People's Democratic Party). Some things are non-negotiable at the national level. You are troubled by the coalition," Jha told ANI. Referring to the recent attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, Jha said, "Today our soldiers are being killed in Jammu. The localites are being killed in the valley. Look at the condition of the Union territory". Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday launched a scathing attack on the Congress party over its alliance with the National Conference (NC) for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, questioning its stance on key issues outlined in the NC's poll manifesto.Taking to X, Shah said, "The Modi government ended years of discrimination against Dalits, tribes, Pahadis, and backward communities by granting them reservations after the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A."He questioned Rahul Gandhi if he supports the NC's manifesto, "which calls for abolishing reservations for Dalits, Gujjars, Bakerwals, and Pahadis." "After allying with the National Conference, he should now clarify the Congress Party's stand on reservation policy," Shah further stated. BJP leader Devendra Rana stressed that the BJP would not allow the alliance to win, alluding to the possibility that the party would form the government in the Union Territory."National Conference has released an election manifesto. A manifesto to consolidate anti-national forces," he told reporters at a press conference. He added, "But, they have said that they will end the reservation in Jammu and Kashmir after coming to power. The reservation belongs to our Dalits, Gujjars, Paharis, and Other Backward Classes (OBC)." On Thursday, Congress and the NC announced a pre-poll alliance and said that seat-sharing talks are currently underway. The pre-poll alliance was announced soon after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge met NC chief Farooq Abdullah. After the meeting, Farooq said that the Congress-NC would fight for all 90 seats in the assembly polls.The formal announcement of the tie-up was made by NC patron Farooq Abdullah in Srinagar. "United, we stand," JKNC posted on X. (ANI)
The area has been cordoned off and the search operation is going on, police added.

In a post on 'X' Jammu and Kashmir police said, "Exchange of fire at Watergam area of #Sopore. Alert security forces retaliated. Area #cordoned off. Searches underway. Further details shall follow."

More details are awaited.

In the last few months, there has been a spike in terror attacks in the Jammu region, including encounters in Doda and Udhampur.

Notably, Jammu and Kashmir is going to witness the elections after a gap of 10 years, as the last assembly election was held in 2014.

The polling in the UT will be held in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1, as per the Election Commission of India. The counting of the votes will take place on October 4. There are a total of 90 assembly constituencies, of which 74 are general, nine are reserved for Scheduled Tribes, and seven for Scheduled Castes. (ANI)
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday expressed his concern at "educated people increasingly becoming casteists" and said that protectors of caste inequality killed the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. "Due to the caste system, many people were deprived of education. It is a tragedy that educated people are increasingly becoming casteists. Protectors of caste inequality killed Mahatma Gandhi," Siddaramaiah said. He was addressing an international seminar titled 'Mahatma Gandhi for the 21st Century' held at Gandhi Bhavan in Bengaluru in memory of the 75th year of the Gandhi Memorial Fund. The Chief Minister said that Gandhiji's ideas and guidance given to society are not limited to the 20th century. They are relevant even today. Gandhiji celebrated peace, truth, justice and brotherhood throughout his life. Citing Stephen Hawking's statement that humanity should not be forced to seek other planets for survival, the Chief Minister warned that if tolerance is not instilled among people, there will be destruction. He said that if communal sentiments continue to grow, the vision of 'Vishwamanava' (universal brotherhood) by Kuvempu will be difficult to realise. The Chief Minister said Gandhiji believed that nature fulfils our needs but not our greed. Human greed is the reason for environmental disasters like Kerala's Wayanad landslide, he said. Siddaramaiah said that when he became Chief Minister, some public figures made insidious attempts to spread superstition by claiming that his tenure would bring drought to the state. "Karnataka is experiencing abundant rainfall," the Chief Minister said. The Chief Minister said that many educated people still practice superstition, blind faith, and the doctrine of Karma, which is a result of a lack of proper scientific education. He said that 850 years ago, Basavadi Sharana had outrightly rejected the doctrine of karma, but some educated individuals today still believe in it. The Chief Minister also praised India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru for "leading the country in a scientific and rational way". He said 85 percent of the country's wealth is owned by the richest 1 percent. Gandhiji's teachings will help address this issue of huge wealth inequality existing in the country, he said. (ANI)
The meeting will be held at the party headquarters in New Delhi.

The Election Commission has issued notification for the first phase of assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir. Polling will be held on 24 seats on September 18. The Union Territory will go for election in three phases.

The elections to the 90 assembly constituencies in Haryana will be held on October 1. Votes will be counted in J-K and Haryana on October 4.

Meanwhile, BJP held a two-day brainstorming session in Gurugram to finalize its candidates for the Haryana polls.

Sources said discussions were held on potential candidates for all 90 assembly seats.

The BJP's Haryana unit is learnt to have prepared a list of over 300 candidates for the assembly. This list will be presented before the Central Election Committee. Some constituencies have two or three names while a few have up to five names. (ANI)
Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Karnataka Police has filed a chargesheet of 2144 pages against former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna in the sexual assault and rape case. Revanna is facing a probe by the SIT over allegations of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation following a complaint by a woman who worked as a domestic help at his house. In June this year, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Karnataka Police, which is investigating cases of sexual assault and harassment against Prajwal Revanna, registered a fourth case against the former Janata Dal (Secular) MP from Hassan. Unlike the three previous cases registered against Prajwal Revanna which invoked the Indian Penal Code (IPC)'s section for sexual assault, the fourth case has been registered under sections for sexual harassment, stalking, and criminal intimidation of a victim as well as clandestinely recording and sharing images of the victim Prajwal Revanna returned to India from Germany nearly a month after leaving the country, supposedly on the night of April 26, after several obscene videos allegedly involving him surfaced on social media platforms. He was arrested on May 31 upon arrival at Bengaluru airport. Earlier on May 29, the SIT arrested two prime accused in connection with the case. The arrested have been identified as Naveen Gowda and Chetan. According to the officials, the accused were arrested when they appeared before the High Court seeking anticipatory bail. Chetan Gowda and Naveen Gowda allegedly distributed pen drives containing videos of Prajwal Revanna sexually assaulting women. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Saturday took a potshot at the Congress party for making an alliance with National Conference (NC) in Jammu and Kashmir for the upcoming Assembly elections saying the grand old party wanted to create anarchy in the country. The Congress party and the National Conference announced a tie-up for all 90 assembly seats in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday and said that "they have reached a consensus on most of the seats." Reacting to the alliance, CM Yadav said, "This alliance signifies whether the Congress supports the promise of a separate flag as per the manifesto of National Conference? Does Congress want to bring back Article 370 and 35A in Kashmir? It is very unfortunate to say that Congress wants to create anarchy in the country by associating with the National Conference just for vote bank. They want to talk to Pakistan again." "I hope that the Congress should remember all those things which have killed more than 40,000 people in Kashmir so far. Kashmir has reached a new phase of development today, it wants to walk hand in hand with the whole country, but Congress wants to end the reservation of Dalits, Gujjars, Bakarwals and Paharis only because of vote bank politics," CM said. "Does Congress want 'Shankaracharya Parvat' to be known as 'Takht-e-Sulaiman' and 'Hari Parvat' as 'Koh-i-Maran'? Does Congress want to put Baba Amarnath Yatra in trouble again? Because these were the reasons due to which unrest continued in Kashmir. I hope that Congress should answer these things," CM Yadav asked. He further alleged that Congress had kept Jammu and Kashmir separated for a long time, and the National Conference played a big role in it. "I hope that in the changing times of Kashmir today, Congress is again joining hands with those anarchist elements, for which Rahul Gandhi should answer. I hope that parties may have their limits in electoral politics but Congress should think about national issues. Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge should give it a second thought why he had to stand with the National Conference? The public wants to know," he added. (ANI)
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha on Saturday criticised Tejashwi Yadav, leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, for not speaking out against attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh. Sinha attributed Yadav's silence to "appeasement politics" and questioned his ability to be a responsible social leader. Hitting out the RJD leader, the Deputy CM said, "Tejashwi Yadav did not react to the atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh due to the appeasement politics. He was not able to see the shops being looted, and houses and buildings being burnt...Such people can never be social beings..." The Deputy CM also offered his prayers at Vishnupad Temple in Gaya. During his interaction with journalists outside the temple, Sinha also responded to Yadav's comments on police officer transfers, encouraging him to fulfill his duties as Leader of the Opposition beyond just tweeting. "When I was LoP, I used to inform the government about the ground reality and the flaws of the government...The government doesn't run through tweets. But Tejashwi Yadav ji is always tweeting while sitting in Delhi, or Singapore, or Patna. You can't run a government with just tweets", added the Deputy CM. Sinha further added that if evidence of wrongdoing in police transfers is presented, the government would investigate accordingly. "If there is anyone who is involved in transfer postings then he should come up with the proof. The government will take the matter into its cognisance. But just making bogus allegations will not help...If there is any flaw then the opposition is also a part of the government. They can make us aware," said Sinha. (ANI)
UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Namibia is experiencing its worst drought in 100 years, with 84 percent of its food reserves already exhausted, UN humanitarians said on Friday.

About 1.4 million people, or nearly half of the country's population, is expected to experience high levels of food insecurity between July and September, said the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), citing the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification.

OCHA said the drought is also contributing to an increase in severe acute malnutrition amongst children under five, with deaths already reported in some regions. "As women and girls are required to walk longer distances to collect food and water, their risk of being subjected to gender-based violence also increases."

To support the Namibian government-led response, acting UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Joyce Msuya has allocated 3 million U.S. dollars from the Central Emergency Response Fund, Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN secretary-general, said at a daily briefing.

With these funds, the World Food Programme, the UN Children's Fund, and the UN Population Fund will provide life-saving support to more than 163,000 people, including cash assistance, treatment of acute malnutrition, rehabilitation of water supply points, and assistance to survivors of gender-based violence, he said.

Namibia, an arid and disaster-prone country in southern Africa, declared a state of emergency in May, after the country experienced below-average rainfall during the 2023/2024 rainy season due to the El Nino phenomenon, which has led to substantial delays in rainfall, poor agricultural production, and low dam levels. 
A case of animal cruelty has been reported from the Rangareddy district of Telangana and the police have booked the accused "who tied a dog to a pole and beat him with metal wires". The complaint was filed by animal activist Mudavath Preethi and she said the accused has been arrested by the police. According to the complaint filed on August 22 at Moinabad Police Station, the accused "tied the stray dog by its neck to an electric pole and beat it with wires". The activist said that after the dog's death, the accused tied the lifeless body to his bike, dragged it, and discarded it in an agricultural field near his house. The FIR has been filed regarding the incident under Section 325 of Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) and Section 11 (1) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Mudavath Preethi is a Prevention of Cruelty to Animals activist working for the Stray Animal Foundation of India. She filed the complaint according to information received by a local resident, identified as Kranthi. "On August 22, my manager Adulapuram Goutham and I visited the Moinabad Police Station to lodge a formal complaint and requested the registration of an FIR against the accused. We accompanied Sub-Inspector Kishan Singh to the crime scene for further investigation, after which we received the FIR copy," Madhuvath Preethi said in a release. The animal activist said there is an urgent need for stronger enforcement of animal protection laws. (ANI)
Preparations for Krishna Janmashtami in Gujarat's Vadodara are in full swing. The puja shops of Vadodara are stocked up with materials to decorate Lord Krishna idols and many varieties are available. A shopkeeper in the Vadodara said "Devotees can decorate their God in any way they want. A variety of decorative things are available in the market. This year a special trend is that the devotees wanted to decorate Krishna Lalla similar to Ram Lalla in Ayodhya". He added, "A complete set similar to the idol of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya is available to decorate Krishna Lalla. Decorative materials including crowns, Tilaks, earrings, armlets, tilaks have come for the Janmashtami this year". "Along with Bhagwan's Wagah, his jewellery also includes jewellery like pearl, zardozi, karachali, golden and silver is also available in the shops this year". The shopkeeper said that devotees are coming in large numbers this year despite the prices are higher this year. "Devotees have flocked the market this year despite the rates being slightly higher, the devotees are not feeling any difference. The price of the decorative materials starts from rupees 50. These decorative things are mostly made in Kolkata and then come here" he said. Barsha Parikh a customer said "The best thing about coming here is when you come here you decide to buy something from here. Most of the decorative things are available here. All the materials required to decorate the Krishna Lalla is available here". The city of Ayodhya is also all set to grandly celebrate the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna. The markets of Ayodhya are adorned with cradles, swings, garments, and jewellery dedicated to Lord Krishna. This is the first Janmashtami after the completion of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Krishna Janmashtami will be celebrated on August 26 this year across the country. Devotees traditionally fast and decorate temples and homes with flowers, diyas, and lights. The occasion is particularly grand in Mathura and Vrindavan, where it is believed that Krishna spent his youth and childhood. (ANI)
Two Bangladeshi nationals, including one minor girl, were apprehended at Badarpur railway station by Assam Police and Assam Border Security Force (BSF) on Saturday. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma posted about the two apprehended nationals and congratulated the efforts of Assam Police and BSF on X. According to the Assam Chief Minister's post, the two individuals reportedly entered India illegally through the Madhoppur (BD)-Agartala route and planned to travel further in India to reach Bangalore, Karnataka. The Bangladeshi nationals, identified as 36-year-old Mausum Khan, and 15-year-old Sonia Akhtar were from the area of Modelganj Police station and Dhaka respectively. The CM confirmed that due to the collaboration with BSF and Assam Police, the nationals were successfully pushed back across the border last night. On Monday, Assam Police apprehended three other Bangladeshi nationals who entered India from the Tripura side. The three individuals were later successfully pushed back to the Bangladesh side. In Assam, four districts - Cachar, Karimganj, Dhubri, and South Salmara, share their border with Bangladesh. Earlier in Wednesday, BSF Meghalaya had thwarted an infiltration attempt in the West Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya. During the Meghalaya operation, three Bangaldeshi nationals, two males and one female, along with three Indian facilitators were apprehended. Amidst the ongoing unrest in Bangladesh, BSF Meghalaya has heightened surveillance and intensified border domination along the Indo-Bangladesh border to prevent illegal crossings and to ensure national security. Additionally, BSF Assam is also on high alert along the Indo-Bangladesh border. Apart from apprehending illegal crossings of people across the border, the security forces have also intensified operations to crack down on the smuggling of contraband items in various states bordering Bangladesh. The protests in Bangladesh 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. (ANI)
In a post on X, the Indian Army's Chinar Corps said, "OP WATARGAM, Sopore #Baramulla. One terrorist eliminated and war-like stores recovered. Operation is continuing."

https://x.com/ChinarcorpsIA/status/1827341401266516222

More details are awaited.

Earlier today, security forces launched a search operation following a brief exchange of fire with terrorists in Baramulla's Sopore area, police said.

In a post on 'X' Jammu and Kashmir police said, exchange of fire in Sopore. "Alert security forces retaliated. Area #cordoned off. Searches underway. Further details shall follow."

In the last few months, there has been a spike in terror attacks in the Jammu region, including encounters in Doda and Udhampur.

Notably, Jammu and Kashmir is going to witness the elections after a gap of 10 years, as the last assembly election was held in 2014.

The polling in the UT will be held in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1, as per the Election Commission of India. The counting of the votes will take place on October 4. There are a total of 90 assembly constituencies, of which 74 are general, nine are reserved for Scheduled Tribes, and seven are for Scheduled Castes. (ANI)
Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Saturday slammed the "inaction" of the Left Democratic Front government in Kerala over the Hema Committee report that revealed rampant sexual exploitation, illegal bans and inhuman working conditions in the Malayalam film industry. "After the publication of the Hema Committee report, the film industry in Kerala is under cloud. I don't think that everyone working in the film field is guilty but from the inaction by the Kerala government for 4 years, it is very clear that they want to hide something and protect some people involved in it," Chennithala told ANI. The report was submitted to the government in December 2019 but made public only this week. Chennithala demanded the constitution of a Special Investigation Team to investigate the issues raised in the report. "My request to the state government is to go ahead with an inquiry. After the revelation of this report, the government wanted to cover up the whole issue. As opposition, we demand to constitute an SIT and probe the whole issue," he said. Earlier in the day, Kerala Assembly Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan demanded an investigation into the shocking allegations about the Malayalam film industry detailed in the Hema Committee Report. Justice Hema Committee report, based on testimonies from 51 industry professionals has revealed details about the exploitation of women, including the existence of casting couches and poor working conditions in the Malayalam film industry. Speaking to ANI, LoP VD Satheesan, said, "The government knows the fact that a series of offences have been committed. Despite knowing all this, the government is not taking any action. They are not ready to make an investigation team. We demand the government to constitute an investigation team."Congress leader Satheesan also alleged that Kerala Culture Minister Saji Charan was "trying to avoid" an investigation and demanded that he resign immediately. "Kerala Culture Minister Saji Cherian is trying to avoid an investigation into the recommendations and revelations of the Hema Committee. He has been trying to make some changes to the report. He is now violating his oath and trying to protect all the culprits in this case. So he has to resign. The opposition UDF demands his resignation," Satheesan said. Last week a redacted version on the Justice Hema Committee report on harassment faced by women in Malayalam cinema industry was made public. It has recorded shocking accounts of harassment, exploitation and ill-treatment of women professionals. The 235-page report, published after redacting the names of the witnesses as well as the accused, notes that the Malayalam film industry is under the clutches of the about 10 to 15 male producers, directors and actors who are in the forefront and control the industry. The committee's report confirms the rumoured existence of the practice of "casting couch" in the industry. It is based on testimonies from 51 industry professionals, reveals shocking details about the exploitation of women, including the existence of casting couches and poor working conditions. It states that harassment begins at the outset, with women being asked to make "adjustments" and "compromises"-euphemisms for sexual favours-to secure roles. The Committee also found that women are denied basic human rights, such as access to toilets and changing rooms, even on sets. Women often have to find secluded spots to change or use the bathroom during outdoor shoots, with no access to water or basic facilities. The Hema Committee was formed in response to a 2017 sexual assault case involving an actor and submitted its report to the Chief Minister on December 31, 2019. (ANI)
BJP leader and former Deputy CM of Jammu and Kashmir Kavinder Gupta on Saturday criticised the Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) election manifesto, calling it a "copy-paste" of the National Conference's (NC) manifesto. Speaking to ANI, Gupta said they (NC and PDP) are traitors and they want to make Jammu and Kashmir hell again. "This is a copy-paste of the National Conference manifesto. They are from the same group, they are traitors. Congress is also supporting them. We should think about all these issues that they want to make Jammu and Kashmir hell again," he said. PDP released its manifesto today, which mentions efforts to restore Articles 370 and 35A and diplomatic initiatives between India and Pakistan and ensure dignified return of Kashmiri Pandits to the valley. Gupta specifically opposed their promises to restore Articles 370 and 35A, release stone-pelters from jail, and initiate diplomatic talks with Pakistan. "They want to release those people from jail who used to pelt stones... They are dependent on each other. Congress was wiped out; they are trying to save themselves," he added. Gupta argued that these issues are outside their jurisdiction and that the parties are trying to deceive voters. Meanwhile, after releasing the manifesto, Peoples Democratic Party Chief Mehbooba Mufti held a press conference and emphasised that her party will only consider alliances with parties that share their agenda for resolving the Kashmir issue. "We will not do any alliance in which there is only talk of seat sharing. The alliance should be on agenda and our agenda is to solve the problem of Jammu and Kashmir, said the PDP chief. She stated that seat sharing alone is not enough, and that any potential alliance must prioritize a common goal of addressing the region's problems. Mufti highlighted that previous alliances, including one with the BJP, were based on a shared agenda, but expressed skepticism about the National Conference and Congress's current alliance, which she believes is focused solely on seat sharing. "Alliance and seat sharing are faraway things. If the National Conference and Congress are ready to adopt our agenda, we will say they should contest on all seats, we will follow them because for me solving the problem of Kashmir is more important than anything else... When we allied earlier also, we had an agenda, when we allied with the BJP, we had an agenda which they agreed to but the alliance between the National Conference and Congress is not happening on the agenda, it is happening on seat sharing," said Mufti. Earlier on August 19, the NC released their manifesto, which includes some huge promises like the restoration of Article 370, 35-A and statehood; redrawing the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019; and the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits. "The things that they have said, nothing is in their hands. How will they release the prisoners and restore Article 370? Even today, they are deviating people. That's the way they exploited people and spread nepotism and terrorism. To hold talks with Pakistan is also not their prerogative... People of J&K now understand more about security, unity and integrity, and they will not go for the politics of freebies," Gupta said on NC's manifesto on Monday. The polling in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1, as per the Election Commission of India. The counting of the votes will take place on October 4. These are the first assembly elections to be held in Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370. The PDP-BJP coalition government fell in June 2018 when the latter withdrew support for the then-Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti. In December of last year, the Supreme Court directed the Centre to conclude the election process by September 30, 2024. (ANI)
The Rouse Avenue Court on Saturday deferred the order on summoning former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, Bihar former Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav and others in the land for job money laundering case. Meanwhile, the court has directed the ED to file the death certificate of a co-accused, Lallan Chaudhary, who has expired. Special judge (CBI) Vishal Gogne deferred the order and listed the matter on September 7. "Since the matter is at the stage of considering the summoning of additional accused persons, the ED is directed to file the death certificate of accused No. 10 (Lallan Chaudhary) bythe next date," the court ordered on Saturday. The present supplementary complaint pertains to proposed additional accused Nos. 8 to 16 whereas accused No. 17 (Kisun Deo Rai) and 18 (Lal Babu Rai) are stated to have expired. Their death certificates have been filed with the supplementary complaint, the court said in the today's order. However, a perusal of the supplementary complaint reveals that proposed additional accused No.10 (LallanChaudhary) is also known to have expired. Yet, no death certificate has been filed and only a report from the police authorities regarding the purported demise of Lallan Chaudhary has been filed, the court noted in the order. The Rouse Avenue court on August 17 reserved order on summoning to former Railway Minister and Bihar's former Deputy CM Tejaswi Yadav and others in Land for Job Money Laundering case under PMLA. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has recently filed a supplementary charge sheet. The ED on August 6, filed a supplementary charge sheet against Former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, former deputy CM Tejaswi Yadav and other accused in land for job scam. This supplementary charge sheet has name of Lallan Chaudhary, Hazari Rai, Dharmender Kumar, Akhileshwar Singh, Ravinder Kumar, Late Lal Babu Rai, Sonmatia Devi, Late Kishun Dev Rai and Sanjay Rai. It also has 96 relied upon documents. On July 6, the Rouse Avenue court had granted time and directed that ED shall file additional/ concluding charge sheet by the next date of hearing. Joint director of Enforcement Director had also appeared pursuant to direction of the court. He apprised the court about the status of investigation and steps taken by the agency. Former Bihar CM Rabri Devi, Misa Bharti and Hema alongwith other accused had already been charge sheeted by the ED in this case. ED's SPP Manish Jain alongwith Snehal Sharda appeared for ED before the court. Special public prosecutor (SPP) clarified that it is a supplementary charge sheet based on the evidence and material agency has till now. Earlier, the court had directed the ED to expedite the investigation, it had directed that ED shall file additional/concluding charge sheet by the next date. In April,.the court had directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to finalise the conclusion of pending investigation in Land for Job money laundering case within two weeks. In this case Bihar's former CM Rabri Devi, her daughters Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav have been charge sheeted along with Amit Katyal and Hridyanand Chaudhary. All accused except Amit Katyal appeared through video conferencing. On February 28, court had granted regular bail to Rabri Devi, Misa Bharti, Hema Yadav and Hridyanand Chaudhary. On January 27, the court had issued summons to former Bihar CM Rabri Devi, Misa Bharti, Hema Yadav, Hridyanand Chaudhary and other accused in the Land for Job money laundering case. Amit Katyal was arrested by the ED during the investigation. Two firms namely A K Infosystem and A B Export, have also been accused in this case. ED had submitted that in 2006-07, A K Infosystem was formed by Amit Katyal and its business was IT data analysis. No real business was done. Instead, several land parcels were bought by the company. One land parcel pertains to the main predicate offence, which is land for a job. This company was transferred in the name of Rabri Devi and Tejaswi Yadav in 2014 for the consideration of one lakh rupees, ED submitted. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on January 9, 2024 filed a Prosecution Complaint (Charge sheet) in Land for job scam money laundering case. ED submitted that A B Export was supposed to be in the business of export. It was incorporated in 1996. In 2007, Rs. five crore came through five companies and a property in the New Friends colony was purchased. In this case, seven land parcels are involved. Out of these, Rabri, Hema Yadav, and Misa Bharti got land parcels. Later on, they sold out their land parcels. ED's Special Public Prosecutor had apprised the court that the Yadav family members are beneficiaries of the proceeds of crime. Katyal is said to be a close aide of former railways minister Lalu Prasad Yadav. The Delhi High Court had refused to quash Enforcement Directorate (ED) proceedings against Amit Katyal, who is accused of engaging in transactions with the family members of former railways minister Lalu Prasad Yadav. According to the ED in March, based on the specific intelligence inputs, searches were conducted at 24 locations at various places in Delhi NCR, Patna, Mumbai and Ranchi in the Railways Land for Job Scam, which resulted in the recovery of unaccounted cash of Rs 1 crore, foreign currency including USD 1900, 540 grammes of gold bullion and more than 1.5 kg of gold jewellery (worth approximately Rs 1.25 e), as well as several other incriminating documents, including various property documents, sale deeds, etc., held in the names of family members and benamidaars, indicating illegal accretion of huge land bank and electronic devices. Searches resulted in the detection of proceeds of crime amounting to approximately Rs 600 crore at this point in time, which are in the form of immovable properties of Rs 350 crore and transactions of Rs 250 crore routed through various benamidars, ED stated. According to the ED PMLA investigation conducted so far, it has been revealed that several pieces of land at prominent locations in Patna and other areas were illegally acquired by the family of the then Rail Mantri, Lalu Prasad Yadav, in lieu of jobs provided by the railways. The current market value of these land parcels is more than Rs 200 crore. In this regard, several benamidars, shell entities and beneficial owners of these lands have been identified. Further, investigation under PMLA revealed that the property situated at New Friends Colony, Delhi (an independent 4-story bungalow, registered in the name of M/s A B Exports Private Limited, a company owned and controlled by Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and family) was shown to have been acquired at a value of mere Rs 4 Lakhs, the present market value of which is approximately Rs 150 Crore. It is suspected that a huge amount of cash of Crime has been infused in purchasing this property and few Mumbai based entities, dealing in the gems and jewellery sector were used to channel ill-gotten proceeds of crime in this regard. The property has been, on paper, declared as the offices of M/s A B Exports Private Limited and M/s AK Infosystems Pvt. Ltd. It is being exclusively used as residential premises by Tejasvi Prasad Yadav, son of Lalu Prasad Yadav. During the searches, Tejasvi Prasad Yadav was found to be staying at this house and was found to be using this house as his residential property. ED investigation has found that 4 parcels of land acquired by the family of Lalu Yadav for just Rs 7.5 lakhs from poor Group-D applicants were sold to Syed Abu Dojana, Ex-RJD MLA by Mrs. Rabri Devi with huge gains of Rs 3.5 crore in a collusive deal. The ED investigation further revealed that a major portion of the amount thus received, was transferred to the account of Tejashwi Prasad Yadav.Investigations revealed that, in a similar fashion, lands were taken from several poor parents and candidates in lieu of Group D jobs in the railways. It has been revealed during the investigation that in many railway Zones, more than 50% of recruited candidates were from Lalu Yadav families' constituencies, stated ED. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav participated in the Raksha Bandhan programme organised in the Huzur assembly constituency area in Bhopal on Saturday and addressed the gathering of the women. Despite the rainy weather in the state capital, a substantial number of women participated in the event. They tied Rakhi to the chief minister and also presented a grand Rakhi to him, adding to the festive spirit on the occasion. "The Madhya Pradesh government is committed to women's empowerment. The state is actively running numerous welfare programmes to support women. To celebrate and honour women, Raksha Bandhan festivities are being organised across communities and government levels. There will be a significant increase in women's representation in the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and local bodies in the future. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is spearheading a nationwide campaign for women's empowerment," CM Yadav said. The chief minister highlighted that in Indian culture, the mind holds greater value than material wealth. While Lakshmi is worshipped once a year during Diwali with hopes for prosperity, the numerous festivals throughout the year honour various deities with heartfelt reverence. "Following Raksha Bandhan, we eagerly anticipate Janmashtami, which celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna. Approximately 5,000 years ago, Lord Krishna honoured Draupadi as his sister, underscoring the sacred bond between brothers and sisters. Each of our festivals carries profound significance and Raksha Bandhan is a time to honour and respect our sisters, a sentiment that continues as we approach Janmashtami," the CM said. He also noted that some individuals (referring to Congress) opposed to cultural traditions were criticising the celebration of Janmashtami. Meanwhile, BJP MLA from Huzur constituency Rameshwar Sharma has remarked that CM Yadav is immensely popular among women, often presenting them with gifts. He highlighted that CM Yadav implemented various welfare programmes benefiting not just women but all segments of society. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav addressed a general body meeting of CRISP (Center for Research and Industrial Staff Performance) at Samatva Bhawan at CM House in Bhopal on Saturday. He emphasised that CRISP should "design and implement versatile training programmes" as per the requirements of new industrial units in the state so that the training programmes are employment-oriented. "CRISP should design and implement versatile training programmes tailored to the needs of new industrial units being established in the state. These programmes should be focused on employment opportunities and should also benefit students from engineering colleges and ITIs. CRISP should become the premier organisation for supplying skilled human resources to industries," CM Yadav said. He stated that CRISP should focus on providing training in specific, carefully selected fields. He also stressed the need to design courses that cater to the youth and acknowledged CRISP's significant role in improving the efficiency of staff in central and state government departments. The CM further encouraged CRISP to conduct employment-oriented training programmes that benefit the state. He also highlighted the growing demand for training in areas such as pharmaceuticals and mobile repair, urging CRISP to address these requirements. Additionally, he emphasised the need for a large-scale, time-bound training programme. During the meeting, Secretary of Technical Education M Raghuraj presented details, noting that this autonomous institute was established in 1997 under the Department of Technical Education, Skill Development, and Employment of the Madhya Pradesh Government with support from the Government of India and the German Government. The institute operates in various areas, including training, skill development, consultancy, training-cum-production centres, ICT/software development, and e-governance. In addition to training, the institute has provided support in establishing and operating Shramodaya Adarsh ITI in Bhopal for government officers and employees. Youth have also been trained under the PM Vishwakarma Yojana, and training programmes have been conducted for major industrial institutions across the country. (ANI)
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma slammed the Congress party for its alliance with the National Conference ahead of the assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday. Speaking at a press conference in Jaipur, Sharma said, "Today the real character of Congress has come to the fore. Congress party, which has repeatedly played with the unity and security of the country in the greed of power, has again put its beloved in front of the country by allying with the National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir." Sharma questioned Rahul Gandhi if he supports NC's stance of a separate flag in Jammu and Kashmir and also the restoration of sections 370 and 35A. "Yesterday you saw that Congress is allying with Rahul Gandhi and Farooq Abdullah. Many kinds of questions are arising in the minds of the people of the country regarding this, and they are arising because the statements given by the leaders of the National Conference in the past were not in the interest of the country. We want to ask the Congress that today Congress is going to contest the elections with the National Conference, which had said that if it comes to power, it will restore Article 370 and Article 35A, so does the Congress agree with this statement of the National Conference?" he said. He further questioned the Congress party if they want to bring back corruption in the system by supporting NC's stance. "The abrogation of Article 370 has put an end to corruption. Does the Congress party want to bring back corruption in the system? The National Conference misguided the youth of Kashmir. Now that the youth are coming into the mainstream, why is Congress hindering their growth?" he said. The pre-poll alliance was announced soon after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge met NC chief Farooq Abdullah. After the meeting, Farooq said that the Congress-NC would fight for all 90 seats in the assembly polls. The formal announcement of the tieup was made by NC patron Farooq Abdullah in Srinagar. "United we stand," JKNC posted on X. The announcement was made after Farooq Abdullah and his son, Omar, met Kharge and Rahul Gandhi. "Congress and we (NC) are together. Tarigami sahab (CPM's M.Y. Tarigami) is also with us. I hope that our people are with us so that we can win and do better for the people. The alliance has been finalised and by this evening, the details of seat-sharing will be announced. The Alliance is for 90 seats," Farooq Abdullah said. The Congress and the NC had fought the Lok Sabha elections in alliance with each other. The National Conference won two seats--Anantnag and Srinagar. The Congress could not win any seats. Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases on September 18, 25 and October 1. The results will be announced on October 4. The Election Commission has issued notification for the first phase of assembly seats for 24 seats. This is the first assembly poll in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370. (ANI)
Abdukhakimov Aziz Abdukaxarovich, minister of ecology, environmental protection and climate change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, gives a speech at the kick-off ceremony of a joint scientific expedition in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Aug. 23, 2024.

A joint scientific expedition on the ecological environment of the Aral Sea aimed at addressing the ecological crisis of the Aral Sea and jointly promoting green innovation cooperation in the region kicked off Friday in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. (Xinhua/Li Ao)

TASHKENT, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- A joint scientific expedition on the ecological environment of the Aral Sea aimed at addressing the ecological crisis of the Aral Sea and jointly promoting green innovation cooperation in the region kicked off Friday in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Abdukhakimov Aziz Abdukaxarovich, minister of ecology, environmental protection and climate change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, expressed gratitude to the Chinese government for its continuous support for scientific cooperation between the two countries at the launching ceremony.

He said that the expedition not only holds significant scientific value but will also play an important role in the future development of the Aral Sea region and the lives of local residents.

Chinese Ambassador to Uzbekistan Yu Jun described the ecological protection and restoration efforts in the Aral Sea region as an important part of practical cooperation between China and Uzbekistan, as well as between China and Central Asia.

He said that these efforts have been included in bilateral and multilateral documents multiple times and have become a consensus at the leadership level.

The joint scientific expedition will lay a solid research foundation for the comprehensive management of the Aral Sea, he said.

Zhang Yuanming, director of the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (XIEG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), noted that the expedition, which is led by Chinese scientists, will conduct field studies on the biodiversity, soil, hydrology, and geomorphology of the dried-up lakebed to explore the mechanisms of ecological degradation in the Aral Sea.

The expedition also aims to propose "a roadmap for restoration and green development for the Aral Sea," he said.

Shakhlokhon Turdikulova, vice president of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, said that China's experience in large-scale environmental management and restoration is very valuable to Uzbekistan.

The expedition, running from Aug. 24 to Sept. 5, is initiated by the XIEG of the CAS in collaboration with scientists from Uzbekistan, Russia and other countries.

Since 2013, the institute has carried out experiments and demonstrations of green innovation technology in the Aral Sea region, including efficient water-saving agriculture and the selection and promotion of salt-tolerant plants. An ecological environment monitoring network covering the entire basin has also been preliminarily established. 

Minister of ecology, environmental protection and climate change of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdukhakimov Aziz Abdukaxarovich (2nd L), Chinese Ambassador to Uzbekistan Yu Jun (2nd R), director of the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (XIEG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Zhang Yuanming (1st R) and vice president of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shakhlokhon Turdikulova pose for a group photo at the kick-off ceremony of a joint scientific expedition in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Aug. 23, 2024.

A joint scientific expedition on the ecological environment of the Aral Sea aimed at addressing the ecological crisis of the Aral Sea and jointly promoting green innovation cooperation in the region kicked off Friday in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. (Xinhua/Li Ao)

Shakhlokhon Turdikulova, vice president of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, gives a speech at the kick-off ceremony of a joint scientific expedition in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Aug. 23, 2024.

A joint scientific expedition on the ecological environment of the Aral Sea aimed at addressing the ecological crisis of the Aral Sea and jointly promoting green innovation cooperation in the region kicked off Friday in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. (Xinhua/Li Ao)
A Non-Resident Indian (NRI) from the US was allegedly shot at by two youths after barging into his house in the Daburji area in Amritsar, police said on Saturday. According to Additional Deputy Commissioner Harpal Singh, two youths came on a bike and entered the victim's house at around 7 am today while he was getting ready to go to the gym. The two accused entered the victim's house on the pretext of enquiring about the registration papers of his luxury car. They fired three shots with the intention to kill him. Out of these three, two bullets hit the victim and the weapon got stuck, after which the accused fled from the scene, the officer said. On the incident, Sukhchain's wife, Amandeep Kaur, said that at the time there were five people in the house, including two children and an elderly mother. "The children kept pleading to the accused to leave their father, but they came with an intention to kill him. When the weapon got stuck after three shots, the accused fled from the house," she said. Amritsar Commissioner of Police Ranjit Singh Dhillon said, "Sukhchain belongs to the Daburji area in Amritsar... Two men entered Singh's residence on the pretext of enquiring about his car's registration certificate and then started firing at him. A total of three men arrived at the residence. Two of them entered the residence and they fired at Sukchain... Sukhchain Singh lives in America and he arrived in Punjab a month ago." Sukhchain Singh was taken to the hospital immediately, where he was treated and is now out of danger. "He is under treatment in the hospital... Sukhchain Singh's family has lodged an FIR against five family members of his ex-wife. The family members of Sukchain Singh allege the role of family members of his ex-wife in this shooting incident. Investigation is underway... As per doctors, he is out of danger," the CP added. The NRI's family suspects the involvement of family members of Sukchain Singh's ex-wife and filed an FIR against them, Dhillon added. Singh's father-in-law Sukhdev Singh said, "They entered our residence and took Sukchain Singh inside at gunpoint... We have doubts regarding the involvement of Sukchain Singh's ex-wife's family members in this incident... Justice should be served." Doctor Krishnan Srinivasan, who treated Sukhchain Singh, said, "When the patient was admitted to the hospital, he was bleeding severely... The patient is stable... He has received injuries on the face and hand." (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met with a delegation from staff side of the Joint Consultative Machinery for Central Government employees. The meeting coincided with the BJP-led central government's approval of the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), which includes Assured Pension and Assured Family Pension. National Council (Joint Consultative Machinery) Secretary (Staff Side) Shiv Gopal Mishra, while speaking about their meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said that after days of protest, PM Modi acknowledged the concerns of the National Council and called a meeting with the Standing Committee. "Overall, after many days of protest, our Prime Minister has acknowledged our concerns and today called a meeting with our National Council Standing Committee... He also assured that in the future, whenever there is a need, the entire government will be available for its employees," he said. "Today... for the first time in India, a Prime Minister has invited the National Council Joint Consultative Machinery Staff Side for a discussion. This is a very proud moment for the 3.2 million central government employees we represent," he added. "In the future, those who retire or have already retired will receive 50 per cent of their salary, and Dearness Allowance will also be provided. The family pension will also see a 60 percent Dearness Allowance. Additionally, there is a proposal to increase the minimum pension to Rs 10,000," he said. Earlier today, briefing the media after a meeting of the union cabinet, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday said about 23 lakh employees of the central government would benefit from the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS). The cabinet meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The employees will have the choice to continue with the National Pension Scheme or UPS. "Today the Union Cabinet has approved Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) for government employees providing for the assured pension...50 per cent assured pension is the first pillar of the scheme...second pillar will be assured family pension...About 23 lakh employees of the central government would benefit from the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS)...There will be an option for the employees to opt between NPS and UPS," he said. Referring to Assured Pension, he said it will be 50 per cent of the average basic pay drawn over the last 12 months prior to superannuation for a minimum qualifying service of 25 years. It will be proportionate for a shorter service period upto a minimum of 10 years of service. The Assured Family Pension would be calculated at the rate of 60 per cent of pension of the employee immediately before her or his demise. Assured Minimum Pension will be Rs 10,000 per month on superannuation after minimum 10 years of service. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the introduction of the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) by the Central Government on Saturday, emphasising its role in securing the financial future of government employees. Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X, "We are proud of all the government employees who work hard for the progress of the country. The Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) ensures dignity and financial security for these employees. This step reflects our government's commitment to their welfare and secure future."In a significant decision impacting lakhs of employees, the BJP-led central government on Saturday approved the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) which provides for Assured Pension and Assured Family Pension.Briefing the media after a meeting of the union cabinet, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said about 23 lakh employees of the central government would benefit from the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS).The cabinet meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi."Today the Union Cabinet has approved Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) for government employees providing for the assured pension...50 per cent assured pension is the first pillar of the scheme...second pillar will be assured family pension...About 23 lakh employees of the central government would benefit from the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS)...There will be an option for the employees to opt between NPS and UPS," Union Minister Ashwini Viahsnaw said. Referring to Assured Pension, he said it will be 50 per cent of the average basic pay drawn over the last 12 months prior to superannuation for a minimum qualifying service of 25 years. It will be proportionate for a shorter service period upto a minimum of 10 years of service.The Assured Family Pension would be calculated at the rate of 60 per cent of pension of the employee immediately before her or his demise.Assured Minimum Pension will be Rs 10,000 per month on superannuation after minimum 10 years of service. (ANI)
Jammu Police have successfully resolved the case of abduction and murder of Mangal Singh, a cab driver from Jammu, by apprehending a gang of interstate criminals from Ratia Fatehbad, Haryana, the police said. The police were able to recover Mangal Singh's body from the Bajalta Morh area in Nagrota following the gang's disclosure. The case began when a missing report was filed on August 19, 2024, by Mangal Singh's brother after he failed to return home from Katra. On August 21, the case was escalated with the filing of an FIR No. 228/2024 under Section 140 BNS, when it was suspected that Mangal Singh had been abducted, based on CCTV footage. Jammu Police, led by SHO Nagrota and SHO Jhajjar Kotli and closely supervised by SP Rural Jammu, meticulously collected and analysed CCTV footage from various locations, along with call data records and hotel records in Katra. This investigation led them to a crucial technical lead, said the police. Following this, the police team led by SHO Nagrota travelled to Sirsa, Haryana, where they, with the assistance of the local police and counter-intelligence unit, conducted raids at multiple locations. They successfully apprehended 11 accused involved in the crime and also recovered the snatched vehicle from their possession. The gang conspired in Katra to abduct Mangal Singh and, with criminal intent, brutally murdered him near Bajalta, where they later disposed of his body. The body was recovered in the presence of the victim's family and prominent local members. Following the postmortem, the body was handed over to his legal heirs for the last rites, said the police. (ANI)
The BJP on Saturday held nationwide press conferences against the "unholy alliance" of Congress and the National Conference and their "anti-national" promises. The party asked the Congress and Rahul Gandhi to answer 10 questions posed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday. Do Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party want to push Jammu and Kashmir back into the era of terror and separatism by restoring Article 370 and Article 35A? Does the Congress party intend to promote separatism by talking to Pakistan at the behest of the National Conference? Does the Congress party want to revive the ecosystem of terrorism and cross-border trade by starting 'LoC trade' with Pakistan? Does the Congress party support the reinstatement of government jobs for family members of those involved in terrorism and stone-pelting incidents? Is the Congress party in favour of abolishing reservations for Dalits, Gujjars, Bakerwals, and Paharis? . Does the Congress party want to rename 'Shankaracharya Hill' as 'Takht-e-Sulaiman' and 'Hari Parbat' as 'Koh-e-Maran'?. Does the Congress party support the divisive politics of the National Conference between Jammu and the Valley?. Do Congress and Rahul Gandhi support the National Conference's idea of autonomy for Kashmir? Does the Congress party support the National Conference's promise to bring back the separate flag in Jammu and Kashmir? Does the Congress party want to destroy Jammu and Kashmir's economy? asked the party. In BJP-ruled states, Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers addressed the media, while in other states, state BJP presidents and senior party leaders attacked Congress and Rahul Gandhi, asking them tough questions on their intentions to restore Article 370 and 35A, bring back the separate flag, abolish reservation, and cosy up to Pakistan. (ANI)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed a press conference in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, on Saturday, stating that the delayed decadal census will take place at an appropriate time. He assured that the details of the census, including the timing, would be announced once they were decided. " It will done at the appropriate time...once decided, I will announce how it will happen and when it will happen," said the Union Home Minister. Shah's statement comes after the census, initially scheduled for 2021, has yet to commence. During the press conference, Shah also discussed the government's efforts to combat Naxalism, asserting that the country will be free from Naxalism by March 2026. "In the first 10 years, 6617 security personnel and citizens were killed and now there has been a 70 per cent reduction. Similarly, we have witnessed a 69 per cent reduction in the deaths of citizens. I believe that our fight has reached the end phase and by March 2026, we will be able to free the country completely from naxalism," Shah added. He took part in an inter-state coordination meeting with Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Chief Secretaries and Director Generals of Police of Chhattisgarh and neighbouring states over the left-wing extremism in the area. Union Home Minister assessed both the measures taken against Naxal insurgency and the advancement of infrastructure projects in regions known as Red corridors within nine states troubled by Left Wing Extremism (LWE). "100pc saturation of Central govt and Chhattisgarh govt's schemes in the naxal affected areas, the progress of infrastructure projects in such areas and to remove the challenges faced during such projects, this meeting was for that. Time has come to carry out the final assault along with ruthless politics to tackle leftism and naxalism," Union Home Minister Amit Shah said. On August 25, the Home Minister will inaugurate the Raipur Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) office following a review meeting in the morning. Notably, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is on a three-day visit to Chhattisgarh starting on Friday, August 23. Earlier today, Home Minister Amit Shah visited Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya Ashram in Raipur Chhattisgarh. Shah was accompanied by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Deputy CM Vijay Sharma. (ANI)
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday criticised the Congress party and its leader, Rahul Gandhi, for their alliance with the National Conference in the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls. Majhi accused the Congress of being "blind for power" and creating "anarchy, disorder, instability, and enmity" in the country. He also stated that the Congress has endangered national security and sovereignty by partnering with "divisive and anti-national elements." In a video message posted on social media platform X, Majhi said, "Rahul Gandhi should clarify his party's stance on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. Congress party is blind for power." He further accused the Congress party of creating "anarchy, disorder, instability and enmity in the country for power." He further stated that the Congress party had "repeatedly endangered the interests of the people and the security of the nation by joining hands with divisive and anti-national elements. It has even threatened the security, sovereignty and unity of the country." "In order to protect their own interests, the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections have created a lot of questions by colluding with the 'National Conference' run by the Abdullah family. Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi should clarify to the people about the promises made by the National Conference in its election manifesto," he said. The pre-poll alliance was announced soon after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge met NC chief Farooq Abdullah. After the meeting, Farooq said that the Congress-NC would fight for all 90 seats in the assembly polls. The formal announcement of the tieup was made by NC patron Farooq Abdullah in Srinagar. "United we stand," JKNC posted on X. The announcement was made after Farooq Abdullah and his son, Omar, met Kharge and Rahul Gandhi. "Congress and we (NC) are together. Tarigami sahab (CPM's M.Y. Tarigami) is also with us. I hope that our people are with us so that we can win and do better for the people. The alliance has been finalised and by this evening, the details of seat-sharing will be announced. The Alliance is for 90 seats," Farooq Abdullah said. The Congress and the NC had fought the Lok Sabha elections in alliance with each other. The National Conference won two seats--Anantnag and Srinagar. The Congress could not win any seats. Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases on September 18, 25 and October 1. The results will be announced on October 4. The Election Commission has issued notification for the first phase of assembly seats for 24 seats. This is the first assembly poll in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370. (ANI)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his "heartfelt gratitude" to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the approval of the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) by the Union Cabinet on Saturday. Taking to social media site X, Adityanath said, "The approval given to the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) by the Union Cabinet today, under the successful leadership of respected Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, who is continuously dedicated to making the life of 140 crore countrymen easier, is commendable." He further stated that it was a "revolutionary decision benefiting lakhs of Central Government employees" and has brought a "new sunrise in their lives with the assurance of economic security and a happy future." https://x.com/myogiadityanath/status/1827371114643038271?t=0i0f1sXoDCayAGZ7ggMqCQ&s=19 Earlier today, in a significant decision impacting lakhs of employees, the BJP-led central government approved the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), which provides for Assured Pension and Assured Family Pension. Briefing the media after a meeting of the union cabinet, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said about 23 lakh employees of the central government would benefit from the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS). The cabinet meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The employees will have the choice to continue with the National Pension Scheme or UPS. "Today the Union Cabinet has approved Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) for government employees providing for the assured pension... 50 per cent assured pension is the first pillar of the scheme...second pillar will be assured family pension...About 23 lakh employees of the central government would benefit from the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS)...There will be an option for the employees to opt between NPS and UPS," he said. Referring to Assured Pension, he said it will be 50 per cent of the average basic pay drawn over the last 12 months prior to superannuation for a minimum qualifying service of 25 years. It will be proportionate for a shorter service period up to a minimum of 10 years of service. The Assured Family Pension would be calculated at the rate of 60 per cent of the pension of the employee immediately before her or his demise. Assured Minimum Pension will be Rs 10,000 per month on superannuation after minimum 10 years of service. (ANI)
Lambasting the People's Democratic Party over its manifesto for the upcoming elections in the valley, Jammu-Kashmir BJP President Ravinder Raina on Saturday accused the PDP, along with the National Conference (NC) and Congress, of attempting to "incite violence" in the region. PDP released its manifesto today, which mentions efforts to restore Articles 370 and 35A and diplomatic initiatives between India and Pakistan and ensure a dignified return of Kashmiri Pandits to the valley. "The manifesto of the National Conference and PDP is aimed at inciting violence in Jammu and Kashmir. The National Conference, PDP, and Congress want the sounds of bombs, guns, bullets, and grenades to continue echoing in Jammu and Kashmir, and they have always played politics with this issue," Raina stated. He further alleged that the opposition parties are uncomfortable with the peace that is gradually being restored in Jammu and Kashmir. "Today, when Jammu and Kashmir is moving towards peace, perhaps the NC, Congress, and PDP are having a problem with it. One thing is clear: these parties don't have any agenda for the upliftment of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Now that they are not in power, they remember bringing in the manifesto, and even in that, they remember Pakistan," Raina added. BJP leader and former Deputy CM of Jammu and Kashmir Kavinder Gupta also criticised the Peoples Democratic Party's manifesto, calling it a "copy-paste" of the National Conference's (NC) manifesto. Speaking to ANI, Gupta said they (NC and PDP) are traitors and they want to make Jammu and Kashmir hell again."This is a copy-paste of the National Conference manifesto. They are from the same group, they are traitors. Congress is also supporting them. We should think about all these issues that they want to make Jammu and Kashmir hell again," he said. Gupta specifically opposed their promises to restore Articles 370 and 35A, release stone-pelters from jail, and initiate diplomatic talks with Pakistan."They want to release those people from jail who used to pelt stones... They are dependent on each other. Congress was wiped out; they are trying to save themselves," he added.Gupta argued that these issues are outside their jurisdiction and that the parties are trying to deceive voters. Meanwhile, after releasing the manifesto, Peoples Democratic Party Chief Mehbooba Mufti held a press conference and emphasised that her party will only consider alliances with parties that share their agenda for resolving the Kashmir issue."We will not do any alliance in which there is only talk of seat sharing. The alliance should be on agenda and our agenda is to solve the problem of Jammu and Kashmir, said the PDP chief.Mufti highlighted that previous alliances, including one with the BJP, were based on a shared agenda, but expressed skepticism about the National Conference and Congress' current alliance, which she believes is focused solely on seat sharing."Alliance and seat sharing are faraway things. If the National Conference and Congress are ready to adopt our agenda, we will say they should contest on all seats, we will follow them because for me solving the problem of Kashmir is more important than anything else... When we allied earlier also, we had an agenda, when we allied with the BJP, we had an agenda which they agreed to but the alliance between the National Conference and Congress is not happening on the agenda, it is happening on seat sharing," said Mufti.Notably, in the 2014 Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the PDP won 28 votes, Bharatiya Janata Party won 25 votes, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference won 15 votes and the Congress won 12 votes.The PDP and BJP formed a coalition Government led by Mufti Mohammed Sayeed. However, in 2018, the BJP withdrew its support from the alliance after Mehbooba Mufti took over following Mufti Mohammed Sayeed's demise.The polling in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1, as per the Election Commission of India. The counting of the votes will take place on October 4.These are the first assembly elections to be held in Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370. (ANI)
Left-wing extremism is the biggest challenge before the democratic system of the country and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government is committed to eradicating it, said Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Raipur, Chhattisgarh today. Addressing the press conference, Amit Shah said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the fight against left-wing extremism is in its last phase. He said that now is the time to strike the final blow against LWE with a strong strategy and ruthless approach. He said, "Left-wing extremism will be completely eradicated from the country before March 2026". Amit Shah said "the Modi government has worked to instil confidence among the people in development instead of the ideology of left-wing extremism. The Union Home Minister called upon the youth involved in left-wing extremism to shun violence and join the Mahayagya of development of the country being led by Prime Minister Modi". "Modi government is moving ahead with the belief of development shunning the ideology of Left Wing Extremism," he added. He said that the Central Government is making every effort to bridge the gap of lack of development created due to Left Wing Extremism. Shri Shah pointed out that due to the steadfastness of the Modi government, many states have been almost completely liberated from left-wing extremism from 2019 to 2024. Shah said that in 2022, for the first time in 4 decades, the number of deaths due to left-wing violence has come down below 100. He pointed out that the lowest number of LWE-related violent incidents have been reported between 2022 and 2024. Shah said that while the highest number of deaths was recorded in 2010 at 1005, this number has come down to 138 in 2023. He said filling the security vacuum has dealt a severe blow to LWE's financing ecosystem. Limiting left-wing extremism is a victory for the country's security forces and democracy, he said. Shah said that the 'Bastariya Battalion' was raised in CRPF in 2017 in which all the jawans were from the Bastar region. He said that after obtaining approval from the Union Cabinet, 400 tribal soldiers from Dantewada, Sukma and Bijapur were recruited in this battalion under a special campaign in 2022. Union Home Minister said that along with fighting this problem, the security forces are also monitoring the development works in the left extremism-affected areas. He said that in the last 10 years of the Modi government, a lot of work has been done in Chhattisgarh towards connectivity, road construction and financial adjustment. Shah said that the Chhattisgarh government will soon bring a new surrender policy so that the youth will be able to give up arms and join the mainstream of development in an effective manner. He said that the Chhattisgarh government has set a target of March 2025 to achieve 100 per cent saturation of all government schemes. Shah said that the Home Ministry and the Chhattisgarh Government will jointly run a campaign to educate the people who have remained illiterate due to left-wing extremism. (ANI)
People perform during the International Festival of Grapes and Winemaking in Tashkent region, Uzbekistan, Aug. 23, 2024. Uzbekistan hosted the International Festival of Grapes and Winemaking in the Parkent district of Tashkent region from Friday to Saturday to raise industry awareness and boost tourism.

The festival included agricultural fairs, exhibitions of international wine industry brands, and international conferences on viticulture. Scientific and practical seminars with the participation of leading experts, competitions, handicraft exhibitions and other cultural events were also organized during the festival. (Photo by Zafar Khalilov/Xinhua)

TASHKENT, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Uzbekistan hosted the International Festival of Grapes and Winemaking in the Parkent district of Tashkent region from Friday to Saturday to raise industry awareness and boost tourism.

The event, organized jointly by the country's Tourism Committee and the government of the Tashkent region, aims to increase the flow of tourists, exchange experience in viticulture and winemaking, bring ecotourism products to the world market and attract foreign investment to the republic.

The festival included agricultural fairs, exhibitions of international wine industry brands, and international conferences on viticulture. Scientific and practical seminars with the participation of leading experts, competitions, handicraft exhibitions and other cultural events were also organized during the festival.

Askar Ismailov, an employee with the Tashkent regional government, said participants from more than 30 countries attended the festival, a higher number than last year.

Representatives of farms from various regions of the country, wineries and enterprises producing natural drinks, juices and juice concentrates also took part in the festival.

"The main goal of the festival is to support entrepreneurs," said Rahmatullaeva Umida, an employee with the Tashkent regional department of the country's Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Ismailov said that more than 70 percent of the inhabitants of Parkent district are engaged in viticulture, and their primary income comes from grape cultivation and processing.

"Our aim is to attract enterprises, firms, and entrepreneurs specializing in viticulture in our district, unite them with partners from foreign countries, and increase exports to foreign countries," said Umida. 

Local fruits are displayed during the International Festival of Grapes and Winemaking in Tashkent region, Uzbekistan, Aug. 23, 2024. Uzbekistan hosted the International Festival of Grapes and Winemaking in the Parkent district of Tashkent region from Friday to Saturday to raise industry awareness and boost tourism.

The festival included agricultural fairs, exhibitions of international wine industry brands, and international conferences on viticulture. Scientific and practical seminars with the participation of leading experts, competitions, handicraft exhibitions and other cultural events were also organized during the festival. (Photo by Zafar Khalilov/Xinhua)

Local fruits are displayed during the International Festival of Grapes and Winemaking in Tashkent region, Uzbekistan, Aug. 23, 2024. Uzbekistan hosted the International Festival of Grapes and Winemaking in the Parkent district of Tashkent region from Friday to Saturday to raise industry awareness and boost tourism.

The festival included agricultural fairs, exhibitions of international wine industry brands, and international conferences on viticulture. Scientific and practical seminars with the participation of leading experts, competitions, handicraft exhibitions and other cultural events were also organized during the festival. (Photo by Zafar Khalilov/Xinhua)

Girls in folk costumes are pictured during the International Festival of Grapes and Winemaking in Tashkent region, Uzbekistan, Aug. 23, 2024. Uzbekistan hosted the International Festival of Grapes and Winemaking in the Parkent district of Tashkent region from Friday to Saturday to raise industry awareness and boost tourism.

The festival included agricultural fairs, exhibitions of international wine industry brands, and international conferences on viticulture. Scientific and practical seminars with the participation of leading experts, competitions, handicraft exhibitions and other cultural events were also organized during the festival. (Photo by Zafar Khalilov/Xinhua)

Local fruits are displayed during the International Festival of Grapes and Winemaking in Tashkent region, Uzbekistan, Aug. 23, 2024. Uzbekistan hosted the International Festival of Grapes and Winemaking in the Parkent district of Tashkent region from Friday to Saturday to raise industry awareness and boost tourism.

The festival included agricultural fairs, exhibitions of international wine industry brands, and international conferences on viticulture. Scientific and practical seminars with the participation of leading experts, competitions, handicraft exhibitions and other cultural events were also organized during the festival. (Photo by Zafar Khalilov/Xinhua)

Local grapes are displayed during the International Festival of Grapes and Winemaking in Tashkent region, Uzbekistan, Aug. 23, 2024. Uzbekistan hosted the International Festival of Grapes and Winemaking in the Parkent district of Tashkent region from Friday to Saturday to raise industry awareness and boost tourism.

The festival included agricultural fairs, exhibitions of international wine industry brands, and international conferences on viticulture. Scientific and practical seminars with the participation of leading experts, competitions, handicraft exhibitions and other cultural events were also organized during the festival. (Photo by Zafar Khalilov/Xinhua)

This photo taken on Aug. 23, 2024 shows a scene of the International Festival of Grapes and Winemaking in Tashkent region, Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan hosted the International Festival of Grapes and Winemaking in the Parkent district of Tashkent region from Friday to Saturday to raise industry awareness and boost tourism.

The festival included agricultural fairs, exhibitions of international wine industry brands, and international conferences on viticulture. Scientific and practical seminars with the participation of leading experts, competitions, handicraft exhibitions and other cultural events were also organized during the festival. (Photo by Zafar Khalilov/Xinhua)

Local fruits are displayed during the International Festival of Grapes and Winemaking in Tashkent region, Uzbekistan, Aug. 23, 2024. Uzbekistan hosted the International Festival of Grapes and Winemaking in the Parkent district of Tashkent region from Friday to Saturday to raise industry awareness and boost tourism.

The festival included agricultural fairs, exhibitions of international wine industry brands, and international conferences on viticulture. Scientific and practical seminars with the participation of leading experts, competitions, handicraft exhibitions and other cultural events were also organized during the festival. (Photo by Zafar Khalilov/Xinhua)

Wines are displayed during the International Festival of Grapes and Winemaking in Tashkent region, Uzbekistan, Aug. 23, 2024. Uzbekistan hosted the International Festival of Grapes and Winemaking in the Parkent district of Tashkent region from Friday to Saturday to raise industry awareness and boost tourism.

The festival included agricultural fairs, exhibitions of international wine industry brands, and international conferences on viticulture. Scientific and practical seminars with the participation of leading experts, competitions, handicraft exhibitions and other cultural events were also organized during the festival. (Photo by Zafar Khalilov/Xinhua)

Local fruits are displayed during the International Festival of Grapes and Winemaking in Tashkent region, Uzbekistan, Aug. 23, 2024. Uzbekistan hosted the International Festival of Grapes and Winemaking in the Parkent district of Tashkent region from Friday to Saturday to raise industry awareness and boost tourism.

The festival included agricultural fairs, exhibitions of international wine industry brands, and international conferences on viticulture. Scientific and practical seminars with the participation of leading experts, competitions, handicraft exhibitions and other cultural events were also organized during the festival. (Photo by Zafar Khalilov/Xinhua)

People perform during the International Festival of Grapes and Winemaking in Tashkent region, Uzbekistan, Aug. 23, 2024. Uzbekistan hosted the International Festival of Grapes and Winemaking in the Parkent district of Tashkent region from Friday to Saturday to raise industry awareness and boost tourism.

The festival included agricultural fairs, exhibitions of international wine industry brands, and international conferences on viticulture. Scientific and practical seminars with the participation of leading experts, competitions, handicraft exhibitions and other cultural events were also organized during the festival. (Photo by Zafar Khalilov/Xinhua)
Amid the outrage over the alleged Badlapur sexual assault case, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar on Saturday said those guilty of offences against women should be "castrated." Speaking at a programme about the Mahayuti government's flagship 'Ladki Bahin' scheme for women at Yavatmal in eastern Maharashtra, Pawar said that the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP government in the state would not spare anyone accused of offences against women. "Those who put hands on our girls, they should be shown the wrath of the law in such a way that they don't even think about that for a second time. In my language, I would say that they should be castrated, so that there will be no repeat of the offence. This must be done to these people who are so useless," Pawar said. Meanwhile, the Nationalist Congress Party (SCP) chief Sharad Pawar, along with Maha Vikas Aghadi party leaders and workers donning black bands on their arms, staged a protest on Saturday in Pune against the Badlapur incident. During the protest, Sharad Pawar said, "There is not a day in Maharashtra when there is no news of atrocities against women ... The government should take this incident seriously. The government is saying that the opposition is doing politics, calling it politics shows how insensitive the government is." Earlier, the special investigation team (SIT) for Badlapur sexual assault against minors registered an FIR against the school authorities, for not complying with the provisions of section 19 of the POCSO Act which mandates that every authority when they come to know about any such kind of sexual assault against minors are obligated to report this to police authorities for further action. The alleged sexual assault of two fourth-grade girls at a school in Maharashtra's Badlapur has sparked outrage. On August 17, police arrested an attendant of the school for allegedly abusing the girls. (ANI)
Positive outcomes from a novel treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer include the occasional full avoidance of surgery. The chance of a recurrence is also decreased. According to a thorough study done at Uppsala University and published in eClinicalMedicine, the approach is beneficial. "The tumour disappears completely more often, thereby increasing the chance of avoiding surgery and retaining normal rectum and rectal function. Moreover, there are fewer metastases," said Bengt Glimelius, Professor of Oncology at Uppsala University and Senior Consultantat Uppsala University Hospital, about the new method. Rectal cancer affects around 2,000 people in Sweden every year. Of these, a third have a high risk of recurrence. When a person is diagnosed with rectal cancer, part of the bowel is often removed, which could lead to the need for a stoma or problems controlling one's bowels. Patients often first receive radiotherapy or a combination of radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy for five weeks, followed by surgery and usually an additional round of chemotherapy for up to six months. A study conducted by Uppsala University in everyday healthcare shows that it is possible to double the chance of eliminating the need to surgically remove part of the bowel if all radiotherapy and chemotherapy are given first and then the patient undergoes surgery, if necessary. "If the tumour disappears completely during treatment, surgery is not required. This means that the rectum is preserved and the need for a stoma and a new rectum is eliminated. When part of the rectum is surgically removed, the new rectum does not quite understand that it should be able to refrain from frequently sending a signal to the brain that you need to use the toilet," said Bengt Glimelius. A large number of doctors, researchers and research nurses have contributed to the study. Patient data was collected for a large number of patients via the Swedish Colorectal Cancer Registry (SCRCR), with 461 patients included. Locally advanced rectal cancer has traditionally been treated with a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, followed by surgery and further chemotherapy. Four years ago, a randomised study showed that an alternative approach of one week of radiotherapy followed by just over four months of chemotherapy resulted in more tumours disappearing completely and fewer having distant metastases. Later on, however, slightly more local recurrences were observed. Uppsala was the first region to choose to introduce this treatment, but with a shortened chemotherapy period of three months. Several other regions later followed suit. The new study confirms the results of the previous randomised study, but also that the noted increase in local recurrences was not observed here. "With the old treatment, the randomised study failed to find any tumour in 14 percent of patients who underwent surgery. The new model doubled that figure to 28 per cent. The new Swedish study had the same results, but without an increase in local recurrence rate after almost five years of follow-up. It is important to show that experimental treatments also work in everyday healthcare," said Bengt Glimelius. (ANI)
Welcoming Rajnath Singh to the Pentagon on Friday, Lloyd Austin discussed ongoing efforts to deepen the Major Defence Partnership between the United States and India in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, the US Department of Defence said in a statement.

Secretary Austin and Minister Singh celebrated progress across several bilateral defence initiatives, including efforts to increase supply chain security, enhance maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region, and leverage a new agreement to strengthen operational coordination through Indian liaison officers at U.S. commands.

They agreed to advance priority co-production projects, including jet engines, unmanned platforms, munitions, and ground mobility systems, under the US-India Roadmap for Defence Industrial Cooperation.

They further held advanced discussions to expand cooperation in the undersea and space domains and welcomed ongoing implementation of the India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X), which will convene its third summit in Silicon Valley this September.

Lloyd Austin and Rajnath Singh applauded the conclusion of a Security of Supply Arrangement, which will further integrate the defence industrial ecosystems of both countries while strengthening supply chain resilience.

Secretary Austin lauded the Indian Navy's robust contributions to upholding freedom of navigation and regional security through its participation in the Combined Maritime Forces and welcomed India assuming a leadership role in Combined Task Force 150 in 2025, the statement read.

Secretary Austin and Minister Singh reviewed mutual efforts through the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness Initiative to provide Indian Ocean Region partners with unclassified, commercial satellite data to enhance their maritime security and ability to detect illicit activity.

Both officials looked forward to the opportunity to meet again at the next 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, the statement added.

The Defence Minister is on a four-day visit to the US.

Taking to social media platform X, Rajnath Singh said the two sides reviewed the existing defence cooperation activities.

"Excellent meeting with my dear friend Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin. We reviewed the existing defence cooperation activities and discussed ways to deepen them further. The signing of Security of Supply Arrangements and the agreement for positioning of Indian officers at key US commands are pathbreaking developments," he stated. (ANI)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked US President Joe Biden for the wishes on Ukraine's National Flag Day as well as for the new military package announced by the Pentagon. This comes after the US announced a USD 125 million defence package for Ukraine to meet its "critical security and defence needs." This is the Biden Administration's 64th tranche of equipment to be provided from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021. "This Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) package, which has an estimated value of USD 125 million, will provide Ukraine additional capabilities to meet its most urgent needs, including: air defence capabilities; munitions for rocket systems and artillery; and anti-tank weapons," US Department of Defence stated. Some of the major equipments announced in the package are; Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (c-UAS) equipment and munitions, 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition, and High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) ambulances. Appreciating the US' "unwavering support" for Ukraine, President Zelenskyy also welcomed fresh US sanctions targeting around 400 entities for allegedly aiding Russia. The US Department of State has targeted around 400 individuals and entities both in Russia and outside its borders whose products and services enable Russia to "sustain its war effort and evade sanctions," the US Treasury Department said. https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1827066087545987121 Taking to X, Zelenskyy said, "I spoke with @POTUS Joe Biden and thanked him for his warm congratulations on Ukraine's National Flag Day and the upcoming Independence Day. The Ukrainian people are grateful to President Biden, his administration, Congress, and the entire American people for their unwavering support since the first days of the full-scale war. It enables us to endure and protect our statehood." "I also thanked the United States for approving another round of sanctions today, this time targeting Russia's fuel and energy sectors, metallurgy, finance, and military-industrial complex. I emphasized the need for continued sanctions pressure on Russia. I welcomed the new US military aid package and emphasized that Ukraine urgently requires the delivery of weapons from the announced packages, particularly additional air defense systems, to reliably protect our cities, communities, and critical infrastructure," he added. Earlier, US President Joe Biden spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart and reaffirmed Washington's "unwavering support" for Kyiv. "When Russia's senseless war began, Ukraine was a free country. Today, it is still a free country. And the war will end with Ukraine remaining a free, sovereign, and independent country," Biden said in his statement. "I spoke with President Zelenskyy today to reaffirm this message, and to express America's unwavering support for the people of Ukraine," he added. (ANI)
The bodies of Yagav Buchstab, Chaim Perry, Nadav Popwell, Avraham Monder, Alex Danzig and Yoram Metzger were turned over to the Israel Institute of Forensic Medicine in Abu Kabir for examination. According to the report, marks indicating shooting were found on all six bodies.

Four other bodies found with the hostages in the tunnel beneath Khan Yunis were also taken to Abu Kabir. The four -- assumed to be terrorists -- did not show any signs of gunshots.

It isn't clear if gunshots were fatal.

All six hostages were previously confirmed as alive and in good health at various times after October 7, with some even appearing in Hamas hostage propaganda videos.

At least 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas's attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 105 remaining hostages, more than 30 have been declared dead. Hamas has also been holding captive two Israeli civilians since 2014 and 2015, and the bodies of two soldiers killed in 2014. (ANI/TPS)
This came during a virtual meeting the Group's board held via video conference today, according to a disclosure published by ADX Friday.

The move will be subject to obtaining approval from the Securities and Commodities Authority and the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. The Company will announce the details of the public subscription once the necessary approvals are obtained.

NMDC Energy (formerly National Petroleum Construction Company) specialises in harnessing the power of innovation to address the energy sector's evolving needs. (ANI/WAM)
The Taiwan High Court on Thursday sentenced eight Taiwanese military officers to prison on spying charges for China in exchange for financial gain, Voice of America reported. The report stated, citing experts, that the case shows a shift in China's espionage tactics in Taiwan. The sentences range from 18 months to 13 years in prison, making it one of Taiwan's largest espionage cases in years. The court said the defendants were "willing to collect intelligence for China that caused the leak of important secrets" and that "they were seduced by money." An individual named Chen Yuxin was found to have contacted and recruited the defendants at key military sites to form a spy network for China. Chen was believed to have fled to China and remained there, according to VOA. The defendants were also accused of planning to fly a CH-47 Chinook military helicopter to a Chinese aircraft carrier in the Taiwan Strait and of shooting a video indicating they would surrender to Beijing in the event of war, according to Taiwan's official Central News Agency. "The impact could have been severe if Taiwan's authorities did not stop the espionage and defection of military assets like a helicopter in time," Timothy Heath, a senior international defence researcher with the RAND Corporation said. "It is demoralizing to read of Taiwan soldiers voluntarily making videos that advertise their willingness to surrender to China," he added. Notably, this sentencing of eight military officers is the latest in a growing number of espionage cases carried out by China on the democratically ruled island, according to Taiwanese authorities. Russell Hsiao, executive director of the Global Taiwan Institute and senior fellow at the Jamestown Foundation, said the latest sentences reflect a shift in tactics by Chinese intelligence. "This group of convicted agents involves relatively younger persons than in prior cases that have often targeted older retirees from the military," he said. Hsiao said that while the older targets in previous cases were more driven by a mix of ideology reinforced by financial gains, "the motivation of these recent cases appears to be primarily financial." He also noted that while the sentences handed down by the court are arguably more severe than in prior cases, given the relatively limited value of the intelligence collected and passed on by these agents, this may be intended to send a deterrent signal to would-be spies. China claims democratic Taiwan as its territory and has ramped up military and political pressure in the Taiwan Strait in recent years. The two sides have been spying on each other for decades. Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said, "This is not a foreign policy issue, but a question concerning the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, which belong to the one and same China." Hsiao said there has been an upward trend in espionage cases involving Taiwan military personnel over the past decade. Taiwan's Control Yuan, the government's oversight branch, also confirmed this. He said that in recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of espionage-related cases uncovered by Taiwan's military security units, and the targets and forms of infiltration are different from those in the past. The Control Yuan statement said that from 2011 to 2023, there were 40 espionage cases, three times the number from 2001 to 2010. Those cases involved a total of 113 military and civilian personnel, and many "top secrets" were leaked. "This certainly shows that Beijing is intent on penetrating Taiwan's military and security services, so Taipei will have to stay vigilant against these efforts in the years ahead," Zack Cooper, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, told VOA in an email. A Taiwanese sergeant who worked at a navy training centre was indicted last month for allegedly photographing and leaking confidential defence information to Beijing. In June, the court upheld the sentences given to two retired Taiwanese Air Force officers for helping or attempting to help China recruit intelligence assets in Taiwan. "The cases show that Chinese-directed subversion and espionage remain major threats to Taiwan," Heath said. "The biggest impact is the continued erosion of the public's trust and even US. trust in Taiwan's government and military to control the threat of Chinese subversion and espionage." The Control Yuan has urged Taiwan's government to increase its defence budget to help prevent China's espionage activities. Taiwan's Cabinet announced Thursday that defence spending for 2025 would increase by 7.7 per cent to USD 20.25 billion, VOA reported. (ANI)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has reiterated building on the defence cooperation and elevating the strategic partnership through deeper defense engagements at multiple levels, a statement by US-India Strategic Partnership Forum said. The statement said that at a luncheon roundtable with USISPF Board members, and leaders from the defence industry, the Defence Minister touched on the evolution of the US-India defence relationship, its phenomenal growth, and how the defence sector and investments from American companies will play a central part in India's growth story and vision 2047. In a post on X, the US-India Partnership Forum stated, "USISPF was pleased to host Shri @rajnathsingh, the Hon. Minister of Defence in Washington, DC. At a luncheon roundtable with USISPF Board members, and leaders from the defense industry, the Defence Minister touched on the evolution of the US-India defense relationship, its phenomenal growth, and how the defense sector and investments from American companies will play a central part in India's growth story and vision 2047. Minister Singh echoed building on the defence cooperation and elevating the strategic partnership through deeper defence engagements at multiple levels." https://x.com/USISPForum/status/1827072545675227162 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met the National Security Advisor of the United States, Jake Sullivan and shared perspectives on key strategic matters of mutual interest. In a post on X, he said, "Delighted to meet the National Security Advisor of the United States @jakesullivan and share perspectives on key strategic matters of mutual interest." https://x.com/rajnathsingh/status/1827155997556928617 Mukesh Aghi, the President and CEO of the USISP Forum, said that Singh touched on the evolution of the US-India defence relationship and the strategic depth. In a post on X, Aghi said, "A pleasure to host Shri Rajnath Singh, the Hon. Minister of Defence, in Washington, DC. The Defence Minister engaged with USISP Forum's Board members and leaders from the defense industry in a closed-door luncheon. Minister Singh touched on the evolution of the US-India defense relationship and the strategic depth, where the private sector now plays an epochal role in driving deep defense synergy in new areas of critical and emerging technology, such as cyber, drones, AI, space, and quantum. Thank you to our members, and partners, Defence Minister of India and Indian Embassy in US for a productive and engaging discussion." https://x.com/MukeshAghi/status/1827119143952216205 Earlier this day, Singh met US Secretary of Defence, Lloyd Austin. The Defence Minister is on an official visit to the US from August 23 to 26, 2024, at the invitation of Austin. (ANI)
With the enactment of new laws on "vice and virtue" by a government ministry that forbids women's voices and bare faces from public life, women's lives in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan have become even more limited, Global News reported. The Ministry for the "Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice," which was founded in 2021 following the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, released the legislation on Wednesday. That was the year that the military of the United States and other Western nations, including Canada, left the country, leaving a power vacuum that the militant group swiftly filled. According to The Associated Press, which has reviewed the 114-page document, the new rules encompass many aspects of daily public life. This is the first official statement of "virtue laws" in Afghanistan since the takeover. On Thursday, ministry spokesman Maulvi Abdul Ghafar Farooq stated, "Inshallah, we assure you that this Islamic law will be of great help in the promotion of virtue and the elimination of vice." The laws were endorsed by supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada the previous day. Article 13 of the document addresses women, detailing how they should dress and behave in public. Women are now required to cover their entire bodies, including their faces, in public to prevent temptation and avoid tempting others. As a result, the commonly worn hijab, which covers only the hair and neck without covering the face, is no longer deemed acceptable, Global News reported. Women are now prohibited from singing, reciting, or reading aloud in public, as a woman's voice is considered "intimate" and should not be heard. It is not clear whether speaking is also prohibited. Additionally, the laws state that women are not allowed to look at men who are not related to them by blood or marriage, and vice versa. Violating these rules could lead to warnings, property confiscation, or detention for up to three days. The ministry has already been implementing similar morality standards and reports having detained thousands for breaches. Heather Barr, associate director of Human Rights Watch's women's rights division, commented, "A lot of these rules were in place already but less formally and now they are being formalized. I think this is a sign of what we've been seeing over the last three years which is a steady and gradual escalation of the crackdown." These new laws follow the Taliban's imposition of severe restrictions on women's freedoms since their takeover. In 2022, the group prohibited women from attending school beyond the sixth grade, whereas previously, women were allowed to attend high schools and universities. An Afghan woman, who was just a year away from completing her law degree, told Global News last year that she "couldn't speak for a few minutes" upon learning she would have to forgo her education. "Home is like jail for us and we will fight until we legalize our basic human rights without any discrimination," she said. In 2022, the Taliban also prohibited women from working at non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Another woman who spoke to Global News shared that her family was plunged into poverty after she lost her job at an NGO. "I am the breadwinner of my family. We are just four persons in my family: me, my sister and my parents. My father is sick now. We don't have anything in our kitchen to prepare for dinner or for our night," she said. "It's so hard for me. I don't know how I can continue my life." In addition to the new restrictions on women, the laws passed on Wednesday also prohibit the playing of music, forbid men from shaving their beards, and require adherence to prayer and religious fasts. The laws mandate that drivers must not transport women without a male guardian, and both passengers and drivers are required to perform prayers at specified times. Media in Afghanistan are now required to follow Sharia law, which bans the publication of images of living beings, in accordance with the Islamic prohibition against idolatry. A UN report from last month indicated that the ministry was fostering a climate of fear and intimidation among Afghans through its edicts and enforcement methods. Fiona Frazer, head of the human rights service at the UN mission in Afghanistan, said, "Given the multiple issues outlined in the report, the position expressed by the de facto authorities that this oversight will be increasing and expanding gives cause for significant concern for all Afghans, especially women and girls." The Taliban dismissed the UN report. (ANI)
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp has said that its security teams had blocked a small cluster of accounts on the WhatsApp messaging platform, who were posing as support agents for tech companies. The WhatsApp accounts were linked to a group of hackers affiliated with Iran and the same group has also attempted email phishing attacks targeting people connected with US President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and former US President Donald Trump along with political and diplomatic officials among others, Meta said in a statement on August 23. Meta said it has not seen evidence the targeted WhatsApp accounts were successfully compromised, but said it has shared information with law enforcement and other tech companies. Earlier, the US formally accused Iran of attempting to undermine the US presidential elections. In a joint statement on August 19, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the FBI, and the federal cybersecurity agency CISA said, "Iran perceives this year's elections to be particularly consequential in terms of the impact they could have on its national security interests, increasing Tehran's inclination to try to shape the outcome." "We have observed increasingly aggressive Iranian activity during this election cycle, specifically involving influence operations targeting the American public and cyber operations targeting Presidential campaigns," the statement read. The US presidential polls are scheduled for this November with a face off between US Vice President Kamala Harris who is the Democratic candidate with former US President and Republican candidate Donald Trump.Meta in its statement on August 23 said that the recent "malicious activity" originated in Iran and attempted to target individuals in Israel, Palestine, Iran, the United States and the UK. It said that the hackers on WhatsApp pretended to be technical support for AOL, Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft. The tech company said that a small cluster of "likely social engineering activity" on WhatsApp was blocked by its security teams after investigating user reports. They attempted to trick targets into revealing sensitive information, such as account passwords, the company said, adding that it identified the campaign after some of the targets reported suspicious messages to WhatsApp. Meta said that its investigation linked the hacking attempts to APT42 (also known as UNC788 and Mint Sandstorm), an Iranian threat actor known for its persistent adversarial campaigns using basic phishing tactics across the internet to steal credentials to people's online accounts. The US company said that they had previously shared threat research related to the group targeting people in West Asia, including Saudi military, dissidents and human rights activists from Israel and Iran, politicians in the US, and Iran-focused academics, activists and journalists around the world. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at Palam airport in Delhi on Saturday after concluding his two-nation visit to Poland and Ukraine. Prime Minister Modi's visit to Poland was the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 45 years. It was also the first Prime Ministerial visit from India to Ukraine. During his visit to Ukraine, PM Modi and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated their readiness for further cooperation in upholding principles of international law, including the UN Charter, such as respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of states. They agreed on the desirability of closer bilateral dialogue in this regard. The Indian side reiterated its principled position and focus on peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy, as a part of which, India has attended the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, held in Burgenstock, Switzerland, in June 2024. The Ukrainian side welcomed such participation by India and highlighted the importance of high-level Indian participation in the next Peace Summit. India and Ukraine signed four agreements during the visit. During his visit to Poland, PM Modi held bilateral discussions with his counterpart Donald Tusk. The two countries decided to elevate their ties to "Strategic Partnership". The two leaders expressed their deepest concern over the war raging in Ukraine including its terrible and tragic humanitarian consequences. They reiterated the need for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in line with international law, consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. They also noted the negative impacts of the war in Ukraine with regard to global food and energy security, especially for the Global South. In the context of this war, they shared the view that the use, or threat of use, of nuclear weapons is unacceptable. They underscored the importance of upholding international law, and in line with the UN Charter, reiterated that all states must refrain from the threat of or use of force against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state. Russia and Ukraine have been engaged in a conflict for nearly two-and-a-half years. India and Poland also reiterated their unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and emphasised that no country should provide a safe haven to those who finance, plan, support or commit terrorist acts. Both sides stressed the need for firm implementation of relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, the UN General Assembly, as well as the implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. They also reaffirmed on the early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT). The two sides reinforced their commitment to a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific in accordance with the international law of the sea as reflected in UNCLOS and with full respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and freedom of navigation to the benefit of the maritime security and international peace and stability. (ANI)
The Pakistani armed forces have reportedly detained a Baloch youth from the Kalat district of Balochistan and shifted him to an unknown place The Balochistan Post reported. The youth, identified as Sarfaraz Ahmed the son of Zahoor Ahmed Langova, a resident doctor from Khaliqabad detained by Pakistan armed forces at Johan Cross in Kalat district's Manguchar Balochistan, The Balochistan Post reported. The TBP report further stated the family of Sarfaraz confirmed that he was detained on August 18 and since then, his whereabouts continue to remain unknown. The victim's family expressed deep concern for his well-being and urged the Pakistan authorities to release him unconditionally. The kidnapping came amid the alleged enforced disappearances and atrocities on Baloch activists by Pakistani security forces for raising their voices against these human rights abuses. Earlier this month Banda Khan, the son of Nazar Ali Bugti, was apprehended in the satellite town area of Quetta. He was reportedly arrested shortly after leaving a mosque behind Bugti's house, where he was performing prayers. Since then, his whereabouts have remained unknown. In Balochistan, the enforced disappearances of innocent Baloch individuals are a major issue in the area. Several Baloch activists, leaders and Human rights groups have criticized that these disappearances are a collective punishment. They claim that such action not only affects the person but also causes significant distress to their families. Human rights organizations, such as the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP), have been campaigning for more than a decade to end these disappearances and ensure the safe return of those missing. According to the VBMP, thousands of people are missing from Balochistan, and the number continues to grow. The regions in Balochistan that are mostly affected by disappearances include Quetta, Kech, Mashkay and Awaran. In July, several individuals were reported missing and enforced abductions are part of a trend known as the "kill and dump" Policy. These tactics used by Pakistan security forces involve enforced disappearance, often including activists or nationalists and then executing them. (ANI)
Using its influence, India can intervene and stop the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, said foreign affairs expert Robinder Sachdev on Saturday, adding that New Delhi is not a mere audience to the war, but it is on the side of peace. Repeating Prime Minister Modi's recent statement that India is not neutral in the war and that the only side the country is favour of is the side of peace, Sachdev said. "As the Prime Minister said, we are not supporting either side in any war. The only side we are supporting is the side of peace. So when Zelenskyy says that India should support Ukraine and not Russia, I think he is very mistaken. Prime minister has clearly said, and that has been India's position, that we are not neutral in this war. We are not taking sides in this war. We are taking the side of peace," Sachdev added. "Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that India can stop this war and can put the Russian economy in the right place. Certainly, India has influence, trust and an honest friendship with Russia and Putin, as Zelenskyy says. But he wants India to use its influence to create an outcome that is favourable to Zelenskyy. They want to settle a war but on their own terms. Russia has its own terms and conditions for ending the war. The issue is that India can play the role of an honest broker between the two, as well as the Western NATO and American allies. But both sides will have to adjust their positions," he said. This, however, isn't the first time that Prime Minister Modi has strongly put forward the country's stance on the conflict between Moscow and Kyiv, earlier too PM Modi had said that this is "not an era of war", added Sachdev. "This is the era to live and let live. And that philosophy comes from India's civilizational legacy of Gautam Buddha, Tagore, Mahatma Gandhi, Swami Vivekananda. And the world knows that. So when prime minister says in Poland or in Ukraine that we come from the land of Buddha and Gandhi, the world notices. And also let us remember one thing. In this world of today, no nation, no big power country is talking about a middle path, a common sense like India is doing," he added. The Foreign Affairs expert said that the world is talking in terms of power struggles and violence, but India is suggesting the path of peace. "Be it America, China, European countries, Russia all of them are talking the language of dominance and competition. None of them is talking in the language of coexistence and peace. India is the only big power that is talking the language of peace. And therefore the world listens [to India]," he said. Sachdev added that the recent visits to Poland and Ukraine by PM Modi are crucial to our foreign policy. "This visit by Prime Minister Modi is gear-changing for India and our foreign policy. Prime Minister Modi has decided that we will play a proactive role in helping to end this conflict," he said. "Russia understands India very well. Russia is a mature country and we have immense trust between Russia and India. Prime Minister's first visit outside India in his third term was to Russia. Russia in a way also looks forward to India's role in this conflict because it would also want this conflict to end at some time. But, it will want the conflict to end on its own terms which is the essential dispute. In any case, Russia also wants an end to this conflict in some time. Russia also does not want to become so weak that it becomes fully dependent upon China. So it is in Russia's and India's interest that this conflict end as soon as possible so that Russia does not become so weak that it has to become dependent upon China," he said. Sachdev added that the US and other countries want India to stop oil imports from Russia. But we continue nevertheless to support our oil needs. "The US asks India to influence Russia to act per its terms. If we stop importing oil from Russia, its economy will fall. But, the West must understand that if we stop importing oil from Russia, how will our oil needs be met? Ukraine must understand that we aren't taking oil from Russia for the benefit of their economy, but for our needs," he said. Sachdev said that India has maintained its stance on peace and ceasefire. "Across all wars that have taken place in the world- even the case of Israel and Gaza- India has maintained its stance of siding with peace and ceasefire. Even if Zelenskyy says that we must be on his side, we will be on the side of peace. Zelenskyy must understand that Russia and India are strategic partners. We only promote peace," he said. "In the US, after the election, it might be possible that the world will usher into a new era where everyone wants to end this war and India will have a big role to play here," he said. (ANI)
The Planning Commission's District Education Performance Index Report 2023 revealed that Pakistan's education delivery system has become dysfunctional and people are entering into job markets either with no or low education, reported The Express Tribune. The report was launched by the United Kingdom High's Commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott, and the Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Friday. The report revealed that all 134 districts, excluding Islamabad, are falling short on various indicators, including learning outcomes and public financing, according to The Express Tribune report. The report showed that Pakistan's map was red on the performance indicators of education learning outcomes and public financing. For many, this issue is viewed as even more critical than the economic crisis. All districts in the country are categorized as either medium or low-performing, struggling to achieve effective results. The report attributes these challenges to poor governance, substandard learning outcomes, and inadequate budget allocations by the Pakistani administration. As per the report none of Pakistan's 134 districts achieved a high-performing rating in the education sector, The Express Tribune reported. Instead, 133 districts were classified as having medium to low performance. The average score of 53.46 indicates that all districts are grappling with a dysfunctional education delivery system that requires urgent attention to address fundamental gaps in educational outcomes. Districts with medium scores are facing notable deficiencies, leading to diminished educational outcomes and necessitating substantial improvements in service delivery. Additionally, 80 per cent of out-of-school children have never attended school, and parents have a strong perception of poor quality in public sector education. The report also highlighted the country's most deficient areas are internet connectivity, numeracy and reading skills, the tenure of the education secretary, the proportion of the education budget within the development budget, and the availability of schools and related facilities. The underperforming districts are primarily located in Balochistan and Sindh, with 33 in Balochistan and 22 in Sindh, highlighting significant inter-provincial disparities. Particularly concerning is that all districts in Balochistan fall into the low-performance category, reflecting severe challenges throughout the province. Currently, Balochistan faces severe difficulties across nearly all areas, ranking lowest in most domains except learning, where it performed only marginally better than the worst-performing province. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday congratulated Ukraine on its Independence Day and expressed his desire to further develop bilateral ties between the two nations. Congratulating his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba on the occasion, Jaishankar posted on X, "Felicitations to FM Dmytro Kuleba and the Government and people of Ukraine on the occasion of their Independence Day. Look forward to the further development of our bilateral ties." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1827248052840599959 He underscored the strengthening ties between India and Ukraine, sharing key milestones of bilateral cooperation achieved over the past year. Jaishankar's post highlighted several milestones that reflected the deepening of India-Ukraine relations. These include the 9th India-Ukraine Foreign Office Consultations held in Kyiv in July 2023, a review meeting of the India-Ukraine Inter-Governmental Commission in March 2024, and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in August 2024 focused on implementing High Impact Community Development Projects. The presentation also highlighted India's commitment to health cooperation, with the Indian government gifting four BHISHM cubes--comprising essential medicines and equipment--for first-line care during medical emergencies. This contribution is part of a broader effort that has seen Indian pharmaceutical companies donate over USD 10 million in medical aid and financial assistance to Ukraine. The areas of cooperation outlined by Jaishankar extend beyond health. An MoU on the regulation of medical products was signed in August 2024, along with an agreement on cooperation in agriculture and the food industry. These agreements are expected to play a pivotal role in boosting Ukraine's agricultural sector and ensuring food security, an area of strategic importance given the ongoing conflict in the region. Cultural diplomacy has also been a focal point of India-Ukraine relations. A Programme for Cultural Cooperation for 2024-28 was signed in August 2024, which includes activities such as the celebration of the 10th International Day of Yoga and the 153rd birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in Kyiv. Jaishankar's message follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic visit to Kyiv. PM Modi undertook a visit to Ukraine at the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine. This was the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine since diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in the year 1991. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further developing bilateral ties for the benefit of the peoples of both countries. (ANI)
A delegation of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) held a meeting with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman to seek cooperation once again, Pakistan-based ARY News reported citing sources. The two parties are thinking of ending their differences and exploring possibilities of cooperation, ARY News reported, citing sources aware of the development. During the meeting, the members of PTI and JUI-F held discussions regarding the formation of committees to facilitate joint efforts. Reportedly, PTI requested in-house cooperation within the Parliament, stressing that the two parties could give a tough time to the government if they work together. In response, JUI-F representatives said that any decision would be made only after thorough talks within the party. Speaking to reporters, PTI and JUI-F spokespersons confirmed the ongoing talks and the constitution of committees to oversee parliamentary affairs. PTI spokesperson Raoof Hasan said that the talks included cooperation on important legislation within the parliament. He further said that the parties agreed to continue their discussions, to work together on parliamentary matters, according to ARY News report. Expressing similar sentiments, JUI-F spokesperson Aslam Ghauri said that committees have been formed to facilitate further meetings and collaboration. He stressed that talks would be an ongoing process, mainly regarding legislative matters and that these committees would play an important part in overseeing parliamentary affairs. He called the meeting a crucial step towards potential cooperation between JUI-F and PTI, as they navigate the complex political landscape of Pakistan's parliament, ARY News reported. Earlier on August 10, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi criticised Pakistan's incumbent government's alleged tactics to suppress the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. He said that Pakistan might not achieve political stability without the recognition of the party's founder Imran Khan's role, Geo News reported. "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 the 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 was registered against him in the last 39 years. The former ruling party has been facing a 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, as reported by Geo News. He said that slain Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Bugti was "not anti-Pakistan" and became a victim of "cruelty".The former foreign minister claimed that the trend of labelling everyone "traitor" for the last 75 years should be stopped. He urged stakeholders to resolve Balochistan issues via dialogue. Responding to criticism against the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chairman's nomination as the opposition's mediator, Qureshi said that Mahmood Khan Achakzai "is a democrat and an individual having democratic and constitutional ideology cannot be labelled 'traitor'." (ANI)
Anti-terror authorities have started an investigation into a suspected arson attack on a synagogue in the southern French town of La Grande-Motte on Saturday morning (local time) in which a police officer was injured, CNN reported. The incident is the latest in a series of attacks in recent months that have unsettled France's Jews. Jews typically visit synagogues on Saturday morning to celebrate the Sabbath. In an email to CNN, French anti-terrorism prosecutors said that they had taken charge of the probe. Outgoing French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal stated that a municipal police officer had been injured in the "anti-Semitic act." In a post on X, Attal stated, "An attack targeted the synagogue of La Grande Motte this morning. An anti-Semitic act. Once again, our Jewish fellow citizens are being targeted. I extend my full support to them in this new ordeal. We are at their side. Recognition to the firefighters for their mobilization. Solidarity with the municipal police officer injured in the attack." "I have been informed that the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office has taken charge of the investigation. Security forces are currently hunting the suspect. We will not give up. In the face of anti-Semitism, in the face of violence, we will never let ourselves be intimidated. I will go there this afternoon with @GDarmanin and we will immediately strengthen the protection of Jewish places of worship," he added. https://x.com/GabrielAttal/status/1827291450138136703 Gerald Darmanin stated that an "attempted arson attack" hit the synagogue of La Grande Motte. He assured full support to the Jewish citizens and municipality. Taking to X, Darmanin stated, "An attempted arson attack, clearly criminal, hit the synagogue of La Grande Motte this morning. I want to assure our Jewish fellow citizens and the municipality of my full support and say that at the request of the President of the Republic @EmmanuelMacron, all means are being mobilized to find the perpetrator." https://x.com/GDarmanin/status/1827256669270581463 The Jewish community in France, the largest in Europe, has been facing harassment and violence since the Hamas attack against Israel on October 7 and the ensuing war in Gaza, CNN reported. Earlier this month, Gerald Darmanin said anti-Jewish incidents in Israel nearly tripled in the first half of 2024 in comparison to 2023, according to CNN report. Francois-Xavier Lauch, the prefect of the Herault department where La Grande-Motte is located, said that he denounced the incident in "the strongest possible terms" and was heading to the site of the incident. (ANI)
The second round of the India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR) will be held in Singapore on August 26, the Ministry of External Affairs said here on Saturday. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw will participate in the meeting, the MEA said in a press release. During their visit, the ministers will interact with their counterparts and will also call on Singaporean leadership, it said. "ISMR is a unique mechanism established to set a new agenda for India-Singapore bilateral relations. Its inaugural meeting was held in New Delhi in September 2022," the MEA stated "This meeting will enable both sides to review various aspects of their Strategic Partnership and identify new avenues to further elevate and broaden it," it added. Notably, the relations between India and Singapore are based on shared values and approaches, economic opportunities and convergence of interests on key issues. There are more than 20 regular bilateral mechanisms, dialogues and exercises, according to the High Commission of India in Singapore. There is great convergence on various international issues and the two nations are members of a number of forums, including the East Asia Summit, G20, Commonwealth, Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS). Earlier on August 19, Secretary East, Ministry of External Affairs Jaideep Mazumdar held a meeting with the Permanent Secretary for Law and Second Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Singapore, Luke Goh in Delhi. The two sides held discussions on bilateral, regional and important international issues of mutual interest. Taking to X, Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, "Secy (East) @JaideepMazumder met Permanent Secretary for Law and Second Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Singapore, Luke Goh in New Delhi today. Discussions covered bilateral, regional and important international issues of mutual interest." In July, EAM S Jaishankar held a meeting with his Singapore counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan on the sidelines of the ASEAN meeting in Vientiane, Laos, and spoke about creating a new agenda for the bilateral ties. "Great conversation with dear friend FM @VivianBala of Singapore. Thank Singapore for steering ASEAN-India relations in the last three years as Country Coordinator. We spoke about creating a new agenda for our bilateral ties. Also appreciated his thoughts on the current geopolitical situation," Jaishankar posted on X. (ANI)
Pakistan on Thursday approved PKR 60 billion additional funds to carry out Operation Azm-e-Istehkam and would immediately release PKR 20 billion to combat rising violence and terrorism in two provinces, The Express Tribune reported. The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet approved PKR 20 billion as a special allocation for Operation Azm-e-Istehkam during the current fiscal year 2024-25, according to an official announcement by the Ministry of Finance. An official of the ministry said that the remaining nearly PKR 40 billion will be disbursed during the second half of the fiscal year and will be utilised for procurement of advanced military gadgets. The decision was made during a meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on Thursday, chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb in Islamabad, according to a report by The Express Tribune. However, several human rights organizations have previously highlighted that such military operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan could worsen the human rights situation. Last month, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) raised serious concerns about Operation Azm-e-Istehkam by the Pakistan Army and called for the protection of citizens' rights due to significant opposition to the military operation in these regions. HRCP Chairperson Asad Iqbal Butt stressed that the state must balance political considerations with security needs and urged Parliament to deliberate on the operation transparently. In a press statement, the HRCP said, "The state must not forget that such measures are as political as they are security-driven, The Tribune reported. The Free Balochistan Movement (FBM) had also condemned Pakistan's 'Operation Azm-e-Istehkam' as a "widened terror plan" by the establishment aimed at carrying out genocide against the Baloch and Pashtun peoples. The FBM said in a statement that the "occupying Pakistani Army" has announced another military operation in "Balochistan and Pashtunistan," ostensibly to safeguard Chinese interests and pursue expansionist ambitions. The statement noted a significant mobilisation of military units equipped with heavy weaponry across various areas of Balochistan. It highlighted that, while such operations have occurred in occupied Balochistan in the past, the direct involvement of China marks a new dimension. The FBM further asserted that this large-scale military operation aims to secure Chinese investments in occupied Balochistan, thereby eliminating opposition from Baloch and Pashtun communities to Chinese exploitation. Both nations oppose foreign investment and infrastructure on their lands without their consent, the statement read. (ANI)
An Indian Air Force aircraft has airlifted 25 bodies of Indian pilgrims killed in a road accident in Western Nepal on Saturday evening. The military aircraft flew into Bharatpur city of Chitwan district, near the Tanahun district, where an India-registered bus had crashed on Friday. The aircraft which had taken off from West Bengal, India flew back to Maharashtra carrying 25 bodies of the deceased in the Aanbu Khaireni bus accident. A total of 27 people were killed in the bus accident which had veered off the road into the river basin. "Out of 27 killed in the accident, two of the bodies were sent to Gorakhpur by road, to their hometown. They were the driver and the assistant of the bus. The remaining 25 bodies are carried by the Indian Air Force aircraft which flew in this late afternoon at the Bharatpur Airport. The remaining 25 bodies are destined for Jalgaon district in Maharashtra and the aircraft is said to land at Mumbai this evening," Indradev Yadav, Chief District Officer of Chitwan confirmed ANI over phone. Autopsies of the body were performed at Bharatpur Hospital and handed over to the Indian authorities for transportation. Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Raksha Nikhil Khadse, and Maharashtra legislator, Sanjay Shubhakar, arrived in Nepal on Saturday morning to inquire about the health condition of the injured Indian nationals. Both the officials returned on the same aircraft. Khadse met all the 16 injured undergoing treatment at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu and received updates. Khadse also met with the Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak and took a briefing from the ministry officials about the rescue operation that took place on Friday. "Met 16 Indian nationals who were injured in the road accident yesterday and currently undergoing treatment at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (Kathmandu) along with Home Minister of Nepal Ramesh Lekhak," she wrote on X after the hospital visit. Raksha Nikhil Khadse also thanked the minister and the Nepal government for the prompt and timely assistance provided for the search and rescue operations as also for the treatment of the injured. She appreciated the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu for providing necessary assistance and coordination on the ground with Nepalese authorities. At least 27 Indian nationals were killed and 16 others injured when a bus with an Indian registration number plunged into Marsyangdi River at Anbukhaireni Rural Municipality in Tanahun district on Friday. The bus was en route to Kathmandu from Pokhara when it skidded off the road at Ainapahara in ward 2 of the rural municipality and fell about 150 metres into the river at around 11:30 am (local time) on Friday. While 26 people died at the crash site, one more succumbed to injuries at Old Medical College in Chitwan, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police Santosh Paudel of the District Traffic Police Office, Tanahun. (ANI)
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China is increasingly suspected of involving "white hat" hackers--who typically identify cybersecurity weaknesses--in cyberattacks. This development is believed to be boosting China's offensive capabilities by utilising its top private hackers, according to a report by Nikkei Asia. The investigation conducted by Nikkei Asia and other organisations, reveals that since the introduction of mandatory vulnerability reporting to the Chinese government in 2021, the number of attacks with suspected Chinese involvement has witnessed a sharp rise. White hats, who work for security companies or as freelancers, are responsible for bug hunting. They identify vulnerabilities, report them to developers, and receive compensation. Nikkei Asia further reported that developers issue patches and request users to install them to enhance security. In September 2021, concerns emerged in Europe and the US about the exploitation of vulnerabilities before patches could be deployed. Later that year, Chinese media reported that the Ministry of Information and Technology had suspended Alibaba Group Holding's cloud computing operations from participating in a cybersecurity partnership for six months due to a failure to report issues. In collaboration with cybersecurity firm Trend Micro, Nikkei Asia collected data on 222 software vulnerabilities identified by the US government and others as being exploited by hacker groups believed to be linked to the Chinese government. These groups are suspected of using these vulnerabilities to infiltrate networks. Katsuyuki Okamoto, a cybersecurity expert at Trend Micro, told Nikkei Asia, "In the past, the main method of cyberattack was phishing, involving tricking victims into downloading malware via email. Now, vulnerability attacks are mainstream." A search on OTX (Open Threat Exchange), a collaborative platform developed by AlienVault (now part of AT&T Cybersecurity) for sharing and accessing threat intelligence, found a total of 1,047 attacks exploiting these vulnerabilities. Chinese white hats, known for their bug-hunting skills, are highly regarded worldwide. In 2021, when the vulnerability reporting obligation was introduced, there were 16 reported cases. This number surged to 267 in 2022 and nearly doubled again to 502 in 2023. The current year is following a similar trend, with 242 cases reported in the first half. Taiwan-based cybersecurity firm TeamT5, which examined the leaked files, reports that i-Soon has employed numerous self-identified white hat hackers. However, a significant portion of their work has been commissioned by Chinese state security. (ANI)
More than 50 devotees of Lord Murugan from Japan participated in the Global Muthamizh Murugan Conference, which is being held in Palani, Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu, on August 24-25. The conference aims to bring together the devotees and harness the philosophy of Lord Murugan. Shri Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple in Palani has been adorned with colourful lights. According to District PRO, over 50 devotees from Japan participated in the Global Muthamizh Murugan Conference. Sekar Babu and Minister R Sakkarapani inaugurated the two-day 'Global Muthamizh Murugan Conference'. The event is expected to draw lakhs of attendees, including VIPs, scholars, devotees, and the general public, from India and around the world. Entry is free. The conference will feature a range of events, such as seminars, photo exhibitions, and 3D exhibitions. The conference is being held at Palani, as it is the third adobe of the six adobes of Lord Murugan. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin extended greetings on the first day of the Global Muthamizh Murugan Conference through video conferencing on Saturday in Palani in the Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu. CM Stalin said that the Dravidian government aims to benefit all faiths and has never hindered any religious belief. "Everyone has different beliefs. The Dravidian government has never been a hindrance to those beliefs and is a government that can benefit all faiths. The Dravidian model is based on the concept of everything for everyone," CM Stalin said. Stalin further appreciated the efforts of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister PK Sekar Babu for organising the two-day conference that aims to bring together the devotees and harness the philosophy of Lord Murugan. "It was only after Shekharbabu became the Minister of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department that the department has been working brilliantly. I gave him this department to take care of the temple but he stays in the temple and performs the services," the Tamil Nadu CM said. Stalin emphasised the message of equality. "In temple worship, Tamil should be accorded prime importance. Furthermore, within the sacred precincts of the temple, there should be no discrimination among humans based on caste," Stalin said. The objectives of the conference are to spread the core principles of Murugan globally, to enable easy understanding of philosophical doctrines of Murugan, to unite devotees of Murugan on a global scale, to propagate the valuable gems of Murugan worship drawn from Puranas, literature, Thirumurais, and Shaiva Siddhanta scriptures and to instill the renowned Murugan doctrines of the precious heritage in the minds of the youth, paving the way for a prosperous and harmonious divine world. (ANI)
Imran Khan's medical examination was conducted after his lawyers made the request on August 8, seeking a medical examination of former Pakistan PM. The court directed the authorities to conduct a medical checkup of Imran Khan, with a report to be submitted afterwards.

Earlier in March, Imran Khan's personal physician, Dr Samina Niazi, conducted his dental examination and gave her findings to Imran Khan's sister, Aleema Khan.

Niazi, accompanied by the Khan's lawyers, Khalid Yusuf Chaudhry and Shiraz Ranjha, conducted Imran Khan's dental check-up at Adiala Jail under the orders issued by the court.

Lawyer Khalid Yusuf Chaudhry reported that the dental examination was successfully completed and that the PTI founder's overall health remains stable, ARY News reported.

He mentioned that Aleema Khan has been authorized to make any health-related decisions, including a potential transfer from jail to a hospital if necessary.

The jail superintendent facilitated the medical examination, which was conducted in the presence of both government and personal doctors, according to ARY News report. Khan (71), who served as Pakistan's Prime Minister from 2018 to 2022, has been incarcerated in Adiala Jail since August 2023 on multiple charges, including the Toshakhana case, the cypher case, and the unlawful marriage case. His wife has also been behind bars for months, Geo News reported.

The court, however, suspended Imran Khan's sentence in the Toshakhana case, while other courts overturned his convictions in the cypher and iddat cases, respectively, Geo News reported.

The chances of Imran Khan's release from prison further dimmed after the Lahore Police declared his arrest in various cases related to the May 9, 2023, riots, that started after his arrest from Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises last year. (ANI)
People in Pakistan's Karachi staged a protest, blocking lanes of the road near Nasir Jump and burning tyres, setting up barriers to express their displeasure over a 10-day disruption in water supply, The Express Tribune reported. According to the report, the demonstrators were frustrated by the scarcity of water in Nasir Colony and surrounding areas in Karachi. The residents stated they had been deprived of water for the past 10 days, forcing them to struggle for every drop of water. They further stated that the situation has worsened by rising prices of water, making it difficult for Karachi's residents to purchase water bottles. The residents said that they were often met with refusals from hydrant operators when they tried to buy water privately. Quoting local sources from Karachi, The Express Tribune reported that the protest, which began late on Friday night, resulted in severe traffic disruptions, affecting commuters travelling between Korangi and Landhi. The blockage caused significant traffic congestion on the surrounding streets. The protesters asserted that despite filing numerous complaints with the water board, they had received no response, prompting them to take to the streets. They cautioned that if the water supply was not reinstated, they would persist with their protests. Police officials arrived and began discussions with the demonstrators, promising to coordinate with water board officials to address the problem. Many regions in Pakistan, particularly in urban areas like Karachi, face severe water shortages due to a combination of factors including population growth, poor infrastructure, and climate change. Karachi is experiencing severe water shortages due to a significant gap between water supply and demand. With increased consumption and inadequate infrastructure, the city's water system is struggling to keep up, Dawn reported. Efforts by local authorities and utility companies to address the issue are ongoing but have yet to fully resolve the crisis. As a result, residents face serious hardships, including unreliable access to water and heightened frustration. (ANI)
Around 10 million Pakistanis have left the country in search of better opportunities abroad over the last 17 years, with the highest number of emigrants recorded during the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's (PML-N) tenure from 2013 to 2018, ARY News reported, citing a report by the Pulse Consultant. According to the report titled 'An Overview of Pakistani Emigration Patterns', a total of 95,56,507 people emigrated from Pakistan over the last 17 years. The peak of migration wave was seen in 2015, when over 9,00,000 individuals left Pakistan in search of jobs. However, by 2018, this number sharply declined by 60 per cent, with only around 3,00,000 people emigrating for jobs. The Covid-19 pandemic significantly impacted migration trends, with a surge in numbers observed in 2022 as restrictions eased. The number of emigrants rose to around 8,00,000 in 2022 and 2023, ARY News reported. Notably, the proportion of highly skilled individuals emigrating has risen to 5 per cent since 2022, compared to the previous rate of 2 per cent. However, the majority of those leaving the country in the last two years have been blue-collar workers and labour class, with 46 per cent being unskilled labourers, up from 41 per cent during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) tenure. Significant shifts have also been observed in migration destinations and job opportunities. While Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, and Qatar have traditionally been the top destinations for Pakistani job seekers, a significant shift has been seen in the post-COVID landscape. The UAE saw a sharp decline in Pakistani workers, while a substantial growth was seen in Saudi Arabia. The UK, Iraq, and Romania have also gained prominence as attractive destinations for Pakistani emigrants during the post-COVID period. This mass exodus raises concerns about the brain drain and the impact on Pakistan's economy and workforce, according to ARY News. (ANI)
A Chinese blockade of Taiwan would be risky, but it is a possibility.

China experts at CSIS assessed three possible blockade scenarios and how they'd play out.

One of the biggest challenges China faces is the threat of intervention from the US and its allies.

A Chinese blockade of Taiwan aimed at cutting the island off from the rest of the world and forcing Beijing's control onto its people would be a significant undertaking, one that would be risky and far from a guaranteed success.

Experts at the Center for Strategic and International Studies published a paper this week on three scenarios in which China could blockade Taiwan, potential options designed to isolate it and break the willingness to resist among the people without risking an amphibious assault operation. The paper also assessed the potential for that situation to escalate into an invasion or a broader conflict in which the US and its allies get involved.

The CSIS report relies on Chinese military doctrine, tabletop exercises, and expert assessments to support its findings and notes that the three blockade scenarios presented aren't the only options for China to take control of Taiwan.

The Taiwan M109 speed boats maneuver on the sea during a military drill in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Annabelle Chih/Getty Images

A quarantine or, taking things a step further, blockade of Taiwan has long been discussed by Chinese military planners and various officials and experts as an option for China to achieve unification with Taiwan. A blockade is a high-risk operation, though, raising the chance of a broader, longer conflict, as it is an act of war.

In recent years, there has been growing concern that China will pursue non-peaceful means to achieve unification as Beijing engages in aggression at sea and in the air around Taiwan.

This trend has been well documented by the US Department of Defense, which noted in its 2023 report on China's military that the year prior saw "amplified" pressure from China against Taiwan, including what it identified as "increased provocative and destabilizing actions in and around the Taiwan Strait," as well as significant acts of political, economic, and military coercion.

Cross-strait tensions spiked, though, in January 2024 when Taiwan elected its new president, Lai Ching-te, much to Beijing's disapproval.

Lai's win prompted China to brand him a separatist and pursue a series of actions aimed at punishing Taiwan, including military actions around its most vulnerable islands near mainland China and more massive drills that showed how easily China could surround Taiwan and potentially pull off something like a blockade.

A screen grab captured from a video shows the Chinese People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theater Command launching large-scale joint military exercises around Taiwan with naval vessels and military aircraft in China. Feng Hao/PLA/China Military/Anadolu via Getty Images

The new CSIS report presents three potential blockade scenarios. The first, an all-out kinetic blockade, is the harshest option and is very closely aligned with Chinese military doctrine.

A complex operation, it could begin with China announcing live-fire exercises around Taiwan, which would quickly become large-scale military operations against it.

Per the CSIS paper, China could opt to conduct strikes against hundreds of military, government, and infrastructure targets on Taiwan while also cutting off its internet and communication access. It would covertly lay mines at Taiwan's major ports, implement a no-fly zone over it, and close the entire Taiwan Strait off.

There's a risk of escalation as kinetic strikes risk a kinetic response that could ignite a conflict.

The second scenario presented, a mining blockade, has similar foundations but focuses on laying sea mines around Taiwan's ports to intimidate Taiwan's military and commercial shipping.

In this scenario, experts noted China could launch cyberattacks that shut down military and civilian communication systems, as well as internet access, instead of coordinated kinetic strikes. Some of Taiwan's defenses would still be active, though, preserving its ability to fight back, potentially by targeting China's air force with its air defenses. As with the first scenario, there's a risk of further escalation.

The second situation, however, puts the US and its allies in much more of a gray area than the first one, as a controlled, partial blockade is less likely to prompt the same kind of international outrage and military involvement, the experts wrote.

An outdoor screen shows a news coverage of China's military drills around Taiwan, in Beijing. JADE GAO/AFP via Getty Images

And the third scenario, a limited blockade, is a variation of the second but excludes sea mining. By avoiding laying mines and kinetic attacks, Beijing would likely be in control of how the conflict escalates and would be able to maintain a more restrained narrative on the global stage, possibly raising questions about whether intervention from the US is warranted at all.

In this situation, China would potentially be relying primarily on the force presence provided by its navy and air force. This option carries less risk, but the potential for escalation is there regardless.

For Taiwan, all three scenarios represent serious challenges. Its economy is heavily reliant on trade, with the new CSIS report noting that its imports and exports were 61 and 69 percent, respectively, of its GDP in 2022. It is believed to have only a few months of energy and food stockpiles to sustain itself.

A screen grab captured from a video shows the Taiwan army conduct military exercise following China's large-scale joint military drill around Taiwan. TAIWAN Military News Agency, Ministry of National Defense, R. O. C. / HANDOUT

It's unclear if Taiwan's military could stand against major Chinese military operations, especially if the US and its allies don't come to its aid. And in that situation, it is also unclear how long Taiwan would hold out, how long it would resist.

For China, there are plenty of unknowns, too, though.

Per the CSIS report, "the success or failure of a Chinese blockade depends on many factors," including "Taiwan's resilience and willingness to defend itself and the extent to which Washington and its allies intervene." It says these are "critical."

Other considerations are how well-prepared the People's Liberation Army is, how Beijing controls its front-line forces, and how it manages escalation. The CSIS experts say these "are important not only to a successful blockade but also to ensure that a blockade does not unintentionally escalate into an invasion or war."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Taliban security personnel ride a vehicle in front of the former US Embassy - WAKIL KOHSAR/AFP

In this episode of Battle Lines we speak to Tony Diver about his conversation with families of the Israeli hostages who are desperate for a ceasefire deal. Then we speak to Akhtar Makoii who reports on the Taliban soldiers longing for a battle.

Across the world, from Europe to Asia, from the Americas to the Middle East, tensions are rising between nation states as the traditional alliances and alignments evolve in the 21st century.

This year sees war in Europe and the Middle East, and elections in major economies, from the US and the UK to Taiwan. Insurgencies flare in Yemen and Burma, tensions escalate in East Africa, and all around the world the international security architecture buckles under increasing pressure.

Battle Lines, a new podcast from The Telegraph, combines on-the-ground reporting with analytical expertise to help the listener to better understand the course of world politics, wars and tensions, as fault lines grind and slip in an increasingly dangerous and confusing multipolar world.

Listen to Battle Lines using the audio player in this article or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or your favourite podcast app.

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.
Elina Valtonen, Finland's foreign minister, said the law would only be used against migrants who had been 'weaponised' by Moscow - David Rose for The Telegraph

Finland has defended a new law allowing migrants to be pushed back over its border with Russia.

The controversial law, passed over the summer, will allow Finnish border guards to force migrants and asylum seekers back into Russia  but only in limited cases where national security is at risk.

It was adopted in response to attempts by Moscow to send large numbers of people over the frontier in 2023, including some who may have been ordered by Russian security services to carry out sabotage attacks.

Amnesty International has warned that the new law grants a green light to violence at the Finland-Russia border, and has also argued that it is illegal under EU migration and human rights law.

Experts say the wider tension between Nato and Russia is forcing Finland to confront ethical dilemmas over how it can protect its own security interests without lowering itself to Russian techniques of destabilisation.

Finnish border police escort asylum seekers at the Russian frontier - Janna Kuronen/Shutterstock

In an interview with The Telegraph in Helsinki, Elina Valtonen, the foreign minister, defended the law as a national security measure that would only be used against migrants who have been weaponised by Moscow.

This has nothing to do with the normal asylum seeker process, she said. We as a sovereign nation cant have a country which has declared itself hostile to us, as in Russia, to decide on our behalf which people enter our country.

If the law were to be used it would only be with limited scope, which means there are always border crossings open in which you can seek asylum based on international treaties.

The law is only designed to tackle hostile weaponising of people or the cynical use of people against us. In many cases if we did not have such a law in place, it could be that Russia could for instance empty a prison and send everybody over to Finland.

The new law also reflects a larger moral maze than Finland has been navigating since it joined Nato in response to the Russia invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The Nordic state prides itself on being one of the worlds least corrupt countries, with a deep respect for a rules-based international order. But increased Russian aggression has forced Finland to seek new ways of defending itself.

Finnish Border Guard officials patrol off the demilitarised Baltic archipelago of Aland - David Rose, for The Telegraph

Finland is wrestling with the threat of Russian sabotage attacks in the Baltic Sea, such as the recent Balticonnector incident in October last year, when the gas pipeline was ruptured.

The Finnish coast guard has also stepped up patrols around the strategically important Aland Islands, which are demilitarised under a Soviet-era security pact.

Some Finnish defence and intelligence forces have suggested it may be time to rearm the islands, which would probably require Helsinki unilaterally to withdraw from the agreement with Russia.

As for the new border rules, Finnish experts acknowledge that they risk creating a conflict between its national laws and overarching EU laws on migration and asylum seekers.

The Russian objective here is to present this dilemma, to an extent make Finland choose between the immediate border security and the values and rules that are the basis of our state and society, said Minna Alander, one of Finlands top security experts, from the Finnish Institute of International Affairs.

It can make Finland look bad and underline alleged Western hypocrisy, as well as cause costs, should Finland be sued by the EU. It would also result in a legal hassle if an EU court rules this law and the pushback procedure illegal.

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.
Update, 7:18 p.m.:

TOOELE COUNTY, Utah (ABC4)  The Boulter Fire has now grown to 3000 acres in size, according to Utah Fire Info.

Five Mile Pass has also been evacuated as the fire approaches the area.

Avoid SR-73 at the Utah County/Tooele County line, a post from Utah Fire Info states. Five Mile Pass is being evacuated because of the #BoulterFire that is approaching that area. SR-36 in Tooele County is already closed.

Update, 5:45 p.m.:

TOOELE COUNTY, Utah (ABC4)  A wind shift from the west is now pushing the Boulter Fire into the Tintic Mountain Range, north of Eureka, according to Utah Fire Info.

The Northern Utah Type 3 incident management team has reportedly been ordered.

Update, 4:33 p.m.:

TOOELE COUNTY, Utah (ABC4)  The Boulter Fire in Tooele County has rapidly grown and is now estimated to be over 1,000 acres.

Erratic, high winds are causing the fire to grow rapidly. Additionally, officials said the winds have made it hard to get an accurate acreage on the blaze.

The wildfire is estimated to be 6-8 miles from Five Mile Pass  a popular trail for biking, motocross, and all terrain vehicles in Cedar Valley, Utah.

Authorities are using bulldozers to build out the fire line at this time. Federal, state, and local resources are on scene.

Courtesy of Utah Fire Info

Original Story:

TOOELE COUNTY, Utah (ABC4)  A new fire has kicked up near the Juab-Tooele county line, prompting authorities to issue evacuations in the area, according to Utah Fire Info.

The Boulter Fire is currently located along SR-36. It is sized at over 50 acres and growing, with high and erratic winds driving the blaze, officials said.

Both directions of SR-39 at milepost 9 (three miles from county line) are closed at this time.

Daughter details 2-week search for Utah man who went missing in a slot canyon

Authorities have reportedly ordered evacuations between Vernon and Eureka.

Multiple ground resources on scene & more ordered, Utah Fire Info posted on social media. Avoid the area. Under investigation.

This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post 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 ABC4 Utah.
San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association Chief Negotiator Richard Poulson and Deputy City Manager Maria Villagomez shake hands at the outset of Fridays negotiation session. The city and union reached a tentative contract just before midnight. Robin Jerstad Richard Poulson, chief negotiator for the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association, looks over the latest contract proposal as negotiations continue for a new contract between the city of San Antonio and the association Friday morning. Robin Jerstad Deputy City Manager Maria Villagomez and her negotiating team arrive as negotiations continue for a new contract between the city of San Antonio and the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association Friday morning. Robin Jerstad Deputy City Manager Maria Villagomez goes over her notes as negotiations continue for a new contract between the city of San Antonio and the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association Friday morning. Robin Jerstad Richard Poulson, chief negotiator for the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association, leaves to caucaus with his team about the latest contract proposal as negotiations continue for a new contract between the city of San Antonio and the association Friday morning. Robin Jerstad Deputy City Manager Maria Villagomez presents the latest city proposal to the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association as negotiations continue for a new contract between the city of San Antonio and the union on Friday. Robin Jerstad Negotiations continue for a new contract between the city of San Antonio and the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association Friday morning. The two sides signed a tentative agreement after more than 13 hours. Robin Jerstad Deputy City Manager Maria Villagomez goes over her notes as negotiations for a new contract between the city of San Antonio and the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association resume Friday morning. Robin Jerstad Deputy City Manager Maria Villagomez presents the citys latest contract proposal to the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association on Friday morning. At right is First Assistant City Attorney Elizabeth Provencio. Robin Jerstad San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association President Joe Jones looks over the latest city proposal as contract negotiations resumed Friday morning. Robin Jerstad Richard Poulson, chief negotiator for the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association, discusses the latest contract proposal as negotiations resumed Friday morning. Robin Jerstad San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association President Joe Jones and Chief Negotiator Richard Poulson listen as the city presents its latest contract proposal on Friday morning. The city and union signed a tentative agreement shortly before midnight that will now go before union members for a vote. Robin Jerstad

The firefighters union and the city of San Antonio have reached a tentative deal that would raise firefighter and paramedic base pay by 20% over the next three years.

The agreement  which hasnt been finalized  comes six months after labor contract talks kicked off, and just in time for the raises to make it into the new city budget.

That means that firefighters and paramedics could see a pay boost on Oct. 1, when the new fiscal year starts. The San Antonio Professional Firefighters Associations current five-year contract expires on Dec. 31.

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Union members will have to vote on the tentative agreement. If approved, it will then head to the City Council for the final OK.

We think this is a good contract for our firefighters and our paramedics, said Deputy City Manager Maria Villagomez. It keeps us competitive with other cities in Texas, which was the goal.

Union President Joe Jones said many members doubted these negotiations would go well. The last time the union and the city agreed to a contract at the bargaining table was 2009. The current contract was handed down by a panel of arbitrators in 2020 after a six-year stalemate.

Is it perfect? Its not perfect. Its never perfect, Jones said. Thats part of collaboration, thats part of compromise. But we stuck to it, we continued to work on it collectively, at the table, and we appreciate that.

Fridays negotiation talks stretched nearly 14 hours, mostly behind closed doors. The final agreement was reached shortly before midnight.

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The 20% raise is what the citys negotiating team initially offered in March  but it was to be spread out over a five-year period. Union members found that offer underwhelming and insufficient to make up for the seven years their base pay remained stagnant during the previous contract stalemate under then-union head Chris Steele and then-City Manager Sheryl Sculley.

The union initially proposed a nearly 34% wage increase over three years.

Under the tentative agreement reached Friday, the first year of the contract will shift $2,400 of incentive and uniform pay over to base salary, which would then rise 7%. That would raise entry-level firefighter pay from $57,576 to $64,174 by Oct. 1.

Maintaining that 7% increase in year one of the contract was critical for city negotiators. Its the offer that city staff built into the proposed budget that City Manager Erik Walsh shared with the City Council on Aug. 15. That proposal included millions of dollars in cuts because of sagging revenues and rising expenses.

Any increase to the 7% pay raise would require further cuts  something the council is keen to avoid as they jockey to fund their own projects and priorities.

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Year two of the deal would come with an 8% raise followed by 5% in year three. By Oct. 1, 2027, an entry-level firefighter would earn a base salary of $72,774.

The total cost of the contract is $109.6 million over three years. How the city will pay for that remains to be seen.

More cuts will be needed to next years budget proposal, and to future years budgets, Villagomez said. That means reductions in spending and further increasing city fees.

Thats because the city had planned for a 15.5% salary increase over three years, at a cost of $81.9 million  a difference of almost $28 million from where they ultimately landed.
The Greek-flagged oil tanker Sounion, pictured on November 29, 2017 in the United Kingdom, has been one of dozens of ships targeted by the Houthis in the Red Sea. - David Mackinnon/AP

A Greek-flagged oil tanker carrying 150,000 tons of crude oil poses an environmental hazard after it came under attack from projectiles and arms fire in the Red Sea.

The 25-person crew of the Sounion oil tanker was rescued after the attack by a vessel from Eunavfor Aspides, a European Union defensive maritime security operation aimed at protecting merchant and commercial vessels in the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Gulf.

The vessel, damaged and without engine power, is now anchored between Yemen and Eritrea, a maritime security source told Reuters on Thursday. Delta Tankers said it is working on a plan to move the tanker to a safer destination for further checks and repairs.

The vessel was approached at around 3 a.m. local time Wednesday morning by two small craft with around 13 to 15 people on board, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported. There was a brief exchange of small arms fire before the vessel was struck by at least three projectiles, the report added.

All Sounion crew members are in good health, Greeces shipping ministry said in a statement, but the boat has suffered material damage.

The 150,000 tons of crude oil on board the ship now pose a navigational and environmental hazard in the region, Eunavfor Aspides said in a statement. It is essential that everyone in the area exercises caution and refrains from any actions that could lead to a deterioration of the current situation, the naval force added.

Eunavfor Aspides said all those on board the boat were transported to Djibouti, in east Africa, which was the nearest safe port of call. Before it reached the Sounion, the EUs navy crew destroyed an Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) that it said posed an imminent threat to the ship and the crew. The naval force did not say who was behind the attack.

Greeces shipping ministry called the attack on the oil tanker a flagrant violation of international law and a serious threat to the safety of international navigation.

Attacks on container vessels in the Red Sea have been wreaking havoc on one of the worlds most important trade routes for months. Iran-backed Houthi militants stepped up their attacks on ships in late November last year, in retaliation for Israels war against Hamas.

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Trump Friday criticized Harris support for legislation in 2021 to raise the federal minimum wage to $15, noting that legislation also would have eliminated the federal tip credit provision. That provision allows employers to pay tipped workers less than the federal minimum wage. (Photo: Jeniffer Solis/Nevada Current)

Former president Donald Trumps first campaign event in Nevada since his Democratic rival Joe Biden dropped out was billed as an event to tout Trumps no tax on tips policy.

But that message was overshadowed by Arizona independent candidate Robert F Kennedys announcement that he was dropping out of the race and endorsing Trump.

We just had a very nice endorsement from RFK, Trump said at the Las Vegas campaign event Friday.

Trump said it was a great honor to receive Kennedys endorsement, adding he would be meeting with him soon to discuss his support. Despite Kennedys declining polling numbers and past controversies, Trump praised him and his endorsement.

Not everyone agrees with everything he says. Thats true of everybody, but hes a very respected person. Hes a very beloved person in many ways, Trump said.

Kennedy joined Trump during a campaign event in Arizona on Friday following Trumps Las Vegas event.

With Kennedy no longer campaigning in critical battleground states, his voters are up for grabs in tight swing states. Following the endorsement, Trumps campaign team said they believe a majority of Kennedys Nevada voters will break for Trump based on their own internal modeling, making his exit a net positive for Trump in major swing states.

The latest The New York Times and Siena College poll shows Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, his new rival for the presidency, neck-and-neck in Nevada  a state Biden won four years ago  with Trump leading Harris 48% to 47%.

Were going to win. The state is looking very good, Trump said Friday.

Its far from clear what if any impact Kennedys departure from the race will have in Nevada. Trumps lead over Harris was actually larger when the NYT-Siena poll included Kennedy in the mix, putting Trump at 45%, Harris at 42%, and Kennedy garnering 6%.

Fridays campaign event was Trumps first Nevada appearance since rival Joe Biden dropped out of the race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris earlier last month.

The low-profile affair held in a Las Vegas restaurant also came within 24 hours of the last night of a raucous Democratic National Convention that officially nominated Harris.

Trump declares support for subminimum wage

Trump delivered remarks pushing his no tax on tips policy proposal at the Toro E La Capra restaurant, located near Sunset Road and Decatur Boulevard. The proposal would abolish federal income taxes on tips.

Trump first unveiled the policy during a campaign rally in Las Vegas in June. The policy was quickly endorsed by the politically connected Culinary Workers Union in Las Vegas.

At Fridays event, Trump suggested his declaration to end the federal taxation of tipped income would earn him voters from Culinary workers.

We want to get the Culinary Union, Trump said. A lot of them are voting for us, I can tell you that.

The Culinary, however, has endorsed Harris, and prior to Trumps remarks Friday, Culinary officials held an event and issued a statement slamming Trump.

Kamala Harris has promised to raise the minimum wage for all workers  including tipped workers  and eliminate tax on tips, said Culinary Vice President Leain Vashon.

Vashon said Trump didnt help tipped workers while he was president, so Why would we trust him? Kamala has a plan, Trump has a slogan.

While details on Trumps tax policy are scant, the policy proposal quickly gained steam, leading Nevada Democratic Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen to back a no tax on tips, bill introduced by Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz.

Harris later proposed her own no tax on tips policy.

Kamala Harris is now pretending to endorse my policy, Trump said. Shes a copycat. Shes a flip flopper.

Harris position  similar to legislation Nevada Democratic Rep. Steven Horsford said he will sponsor  eliminates federal taxation on tips, but would also eliminate the federal subminimum wage on tipped incomes, which can be as low as $2.13 an hour.

Trump Friday criticized Harris support for legislation in 2021 to raise the federal minimum wage to $15, noting that legislation also would have eliminated the federal tip credit provision.

That is the provision in federal law that allows employers to pay tipped workers less than the federal minimum wage.

Kamala supports a bill to eliminate the federal tip credit, which would force restaurants to impose large service charges on diners, meaning customers will not leave tips at all, and youll be stuck with a minimum wage, Trump said. I will never let that happen under the Trump administration.

Horsford has said his legislation would also include guardrails designed to prevent employers or high-end earners from exploiting the elimination of federal taxation of tips.

The policy may have some appeal in the Silver State. Nevada has one of the largest shares of tipped workers in the nation. Nevada is also one of only seven states that have abolished the subminimum wage for tipped workers altogether.

Nationally, as many as 4.3 million people work in predominantly tipped occupations in the United States, according to the National Employment Law Project. Women also make up more than two-thirds of the tipped workforce, according to the National Womans Center. Tipped workers are also more than twice as likely to live in poverty compared to the overall workforce.

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.

Harris and Trump are set to debate Sept. 10.
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  Officials with Mammoth Cave respond to being ranked the 3rd most disappointing tourist attraction in the United States.

This response comes after a recent study found this Kentucky Cave amongst the most disappointing tourist attractions in the country.

In a post on Facebook, officials with Mammoth Cave poke fun at the negative comments:

Come experience what has disappointed millions of people for over 225 years! Mammoth Cave National Park recently rated as one of the most disappointing U.S. tourist attractions! While we think the worlds longest cave system and over 4,000 years of human history is AMAZING, others find that the cave is very dark and there is nothing cool here to see. If you would like to experience the disappointment of Mammoth Cave, visit our website and choose from one of our many activities that will leave you unfulfilled! You can be disappointed by a dry hole with very few stalagmites and stalactites or discover nothing other than trees on over 80+ miles of hiking, biking, horseback riding, and water trails. (Fair warning  there are bugs in the outdoors, cellular phone service is spotty, and there are stairs on some of our cave tours.) A world of regret awaits you at Mammoth Cave! Mammoth Cave National Park

To view the full post, 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 Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
Vladimir Putin holds a video conference to discuss the latest Ukrainian attacks. Western figures believe he is facing growing dissension - Gavriil GRIGOROV / POOL / AFP

Ukraines surprise ground assault in Russia has sown doubt inside the country about Vladimir Putin, the Defence Secretary has said.

In an article for The Telegraph, John Healey says that the Russian presidents cabal may be facing growing internal pressure.

The intervention comes after Volodymyr Zelensky sent thousands of troops into Russia as part of a surprise ground assault which captured almost 500 sq miles of enemy territory.

John Healey said the Kursk operation on Aug 6, which is the largest foreign attack on Russian territory since the Second World War, had caused the Russian people to question their president, in turn exposing his increasingly fragile grip on the country.

It has led to a crackdown on social media and messaging apps by the Kremlin, to stop dissenting voices over Ukraines counter-strike.

In what are the first comments by a senior government figure on the impact of Kyivs counter-strike within Russia, Mr Healey writes in The Telegraph: Ukraines defensive operation in Kursk is a reminder to all Ukraines supporters that wars can shift at short notice, and continued military support for Ukraine remains as crucial as ever. It has sown doubt inside Russia, exposing Putins Kremlin cabal to the consequences of their aggression.

Earlier this week, Kyiv bombarded Russia with its largest ever drone attack, forcing Moscow to close airports out of fear of further attacks.

Western officials told The Telegraph that Ukraines ability to enter western Russia in a complete tactical surprise had undermined the Russian narrative that had been taking hold in which the country had limitless resources, and Russian victory was inevitable.

One official said: This has been a success for President Zelensky and the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Putin has not formally addressed the Russian nation about Ukraines invasion, instead dismissing it as a new normal, which the officials added showed the pressure Putin was feeling over what he called Ukraines provocation.

Despite Putins reluctance to give credence to Ukraines advance, defence sources told The Telegraph that intelligence showed the wider Russian population was increasingly concerned with the unfolding situation.

As such, the Kremlin has clamped down on social media and messaging apps in order to keep a stranglehold on the flow of information within Russia.

Its telecommunications regulator has reportedly blocked the use of the messaging service Signal, which is favoured by independent Russian journalists and opposition activists to evade the Russian governments pervasive system of electronic monitoring, notably the FSBs System of Operational Investigative Measures.

Rocket strikes on Russian position in eastern Ukraine. Putin is struggling to find enough recruits to fill gaps created by casualties, Western analysts say - Reuters TV

It follows the disruption of WhatsApp and YouTube in Russia.

Earlier this week Mr Zelensky complained that British aid to Kyiv had begun to wane. Referring to UK military assistance he said the situation has slowed down recently.

It comes as the US, UK and France have been engulfed in a row with the Ukrainian president over a ban imposed by Britain that prevents him from using Storm Shadow missiles outside of his own territory.

Sir Keir Starmer has upheld the Conservative-era ban on using UK-made Storm Shadows to strike targets inside Russia, amid concerns it could lead to escalation with Moscow, despite Mr Zelenskys repeated requests following his countrys incursion into Kursk.

The long-range missiles were originally sent to Ukraine by the UK to help push Russian troops out of Crimea.

Writing as Ukraine marks 33 years since its Declaration of Independence, Mr Healey says: Putins complaints that Ukraines offensive is a provocation are akin to a playground bully protesting because his smaller victim has had the temerity to fight back.

He adds: Ukraine has the right to defend itself against Russias illegal attacks, including the option to carry out incursions within Russia, as long as they are compliant with international law. And we can be proud that British weapons are helping Ukraine protect itself and push back Putins forces. Russia can have no objections.

Mr Healey also writes that Ukraine must prevail in its war with Russia.

All of us who support Ukraine should not shy away from helping them to do so, despite Putins threats, he says.

This isnt just critically important for the people of Ukraine. The defence of Europe, and ultimately the UK, starts on the front lines that run through Ukraine, because if Putin succeeds in his aims there, he will not stop.

According to Kyiv, its forces have continued to advance in the Kursk region and have destroyed key bridges and pontoons.

Western officials said that Russia was suffering 1,000 casualties a day, which is higher than the rate it can replace them.

Russia is essentially losing now more than it is able to recruit, and there is no sign of being able to scale up contract recruitment, they said.

Lets make some noise for Ukraine

By John Healey

Thirty-three years ago today, Ukraine issued their Declaration of Independence. It was a promise of a brighter, more prosperous future as a sovereign democracy, free from the control of Soviet Russia.

On Saturday, the Ukrainians mark their independence day with war. This is an existential fight. A fight to remain a free and independent nation in the face of Putins brutal illegal invasion.

Ukraine has always been the underdog against Russias massively bigger forces and resources. Today, we salute the Ukrainian people. They continue to fight with huge courage, military and civilians alike. They fight for freedoms that we ourselves must never take for granted.

We must ensure our Ukrainian friends know that we will stand steadfast by their side for as long as it takes. And we will not be silent in the face of Putins aggression.

Thats why today, the UK is leading a campaign calling on people across Britain, and beyond, to let Ukrainians know they have our support. On social media we ask you to make noise for Ukraine. and share those posts that do so.

Because alongside the military and economic support that we offer to Ukraine, we have also offered our friendship and solidarity. Including the thousands of British families who have welcomed Ukrainians into their homes.

I am proud the UK is still united for Ukraine, over 900 days after Putins full-scale invasion.

As President Zelensky and his people continue their fight, our new UK Government has stepped up Britains support and made clear our unwavering commitment to stand by Ukraine for however long it takes.

At the Nato summit in Washington, Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed we will provide 3 billion a year in support to Ukraine for as long as it takes. We are supplying anti-tank missiles, artillery and armoured vehicles to help push back Putin.

John Healey signs an agreement with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov watched by Keir Starmer and Volodomyr Zelensky in No 10 last month - Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street

On a visit to Ukraine shortly after becoming Defence Secretary, I ordered a new package of military kit to be sent from Britain, together with the faster delivery of existing orders. A few weeks later, we welcomed President Zelensky to the UK  the first foreign leader in decades to sit at the UK Cabinet table  while I signed a new defence export treaty with Ukrainian defence minister Rustem Umerov. And we remain in ongoing dialogue with the Ukrainians and our allies about how best to support Ukraines military effort.

Ukraine must prevail in this war. And all of us who support Ukraine should not shy away from helping them to do so  despite Putins threats.

This isnt just critically important for the people of Ukraine. The defence of Europe, and ultimately the UK, starts on the front lines that run through Ukraine, because if Putin succeeds in his aims there, he will not stop.

Ukraines defensive operation in Kursk is a reminder to all Ukraines supporters that wars can shift at short notice, and continued military support for Ukraine remains as crucial as ever. It has sown doubt inside Russia, exposing Putins Kremlin cabal to the consequences of their aggression.

And it has boosted morale among the Ukrainian people, whose extraordinary resilience over the past two and half years has earned the admiration of the world.

Putins complaints that Ukraines offensive is a provocation are akin to a playground bully protesting because his smaller victim has had the temerity to fight back.

Ukraine has the right to defend itself against Russias illegal attacks, including the option to carry out incursions within Russia, as long as they are compliant with international law. And we can be proud that British weapons are helping Ukraine protect itself and push back Putins forces. Russia can have no objections.

On Ukrainian Independence Day, we send a message that the UK will never forget the heroic people and brave armed forces of Ukraine. That Britain and our Nato allies will stand together with the Ukrainian nation against Putins unprovoked invasion. And that our national security begins on Ukraines front line.

Until Russian guns are silent, we will make noise for Ukraine. We will stand by Ukraine. For as long as it takes. Slava Ukraini.

John Healey is the Defence Secretary

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Handout/Rosgvardia

Four prisoners are dead after a riot at a maximum security penal colony in Russias Volgograd region escalated into hostages being taken and a stand off with state security services.

The prisoners, who described themselves as Islamic State militants, fatally stabbed four staff members before overtaking the facility, reported Reuters. The Russian National Guard told state media outlet RIA Novosti that snipers killed the prisoners with four precise shots.

The criminals inflicted stab wounds of varying severity on the four employees, the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) said in a statement. Three of the staff died on-site while one died of his wounds in hospital, according to RIA Novosti. Eight people, including four prisoners at the IK-19 facility, were held hostage.

Russia Planning to Build New Prison Colonies in Occupied Ukraine: Report

Unverified videos posted to social media show three staffers of IK-19 on the ground immobile and surrounded by blood. Multiple purported hostage-takers can be seen holding knives and one of them is holding an Islamic State (IS) flag.

Several Russian Telegram channels identified the perpetrators seen in the videos as four men in their mid-to-late twenties, all nationals of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. RIA Novosti reported that three of them were serving drug trafficking sentences.

Mash, a news outlet friendly to Russian President Vladimir Putin, reported that one of the attackers is accomplished in taekwondo, but did not have radical views, describing him as quiet and calm. The outlet said that three other hostage-takers were proteges of a radical Islamist group in the penal colony. Putin, meanwhile, was made aware of the incident, according to RIA Novosti.

The IK-19 colony, located in Surovikino, can accommodate roughly 1,200 people, according to the FSIN website.

If IS involvement were confirmed, it would mark the second grisly prison uprising linked to the transnational Salafi jihadist group in Russia since June, when six inmates took hostages at a prison in the southern Rostov region.

Last year, the Islamic StateKhorasan Province, an IS affiliate in central Asia, said it was responsible for a terrorist attack on a Moscow concert hall that killed 145 people, making it the deadliest terrorist attack in Russia since the 2004 Beslan school siege in 2004.

IS has repeatedly promised to strike Russia over its support of Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian dictator whose forces waged a campaign to drive the group out of Syria.

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Sixth suspect in Muncie murder investigation taken into custody

Flowers, balloons and stuffed animals on Aug. 20 marked the location, outside the clubhouse at Latitude apartments in northeast Muncie, where a 15-year-old local youth was fatally shot on the evening of Aug. 14.

MUNCIE, Ind.  A sixth suspect has been arrested in connection with the Aug. 14 slaying of a 15-year-old Muncie boy.

Atrevion Lamar Nathan, 21, was taken into custody Thursday by Muncie police.

Preliminarily charged with conspiracy to commit robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, Nathan continued to be held in the Delaware County Jail on Saturday under a $30,000 bond.

According to an affidavit, Nathan is the brother of 19-year-old Ricky Riheed Nathan, one of five Muncie teenagers taken into custody soon after 15-year-old Latajohne Phillips was found mortally wounded outside the clubhouse at the Latitude apartment complex at 2901 N. Elgin St.

More: 2nd teen charged with murder in 15-year-old Muncie boy's slaying

Phillips, shot in the head and left leg, later died at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.

Investigators were aware from viewing surveillance video that six people walked from Elgin Manor Apartments in the direction of the shooting scene, and then returned to Elgin Manor, about the time of the homicide.

Two of those arrested, 17-year-old Robert "Tre" Graham III and K-Shaun English, 16, in recent days have been charged with related counts of murder, robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, conspiracy to commit robbery and obstruction of justice.

Dasha Lanise Eckford, 19, and Ricky Nathan are each charged with conspiracy to commit robbery, obstruction of justice and aiding, inducing or causing robbery.

The Delaware County prosecutor's office is also pursuing having a 14-year-old boy waived into adult court so he can face charges stemming from the homicide.

According to an affidavit, Atrevion Nathan acknowledged he was among the six people who walked from Elgin Manor to Latitude apartments.

He said they had earlier been at English's home at Elgin Manor when Graham "told everyone to mask up," a Muncie police officer wrote.

According to the court document, Atrevion Nathan said he "didn't know what they were doing, but knew they were going to trade guns."

Nathan reportedly said he was told to "stay back" as the group approached Latitude apartments, and a short time later "ran away after he heard the first shot."

The prosecutor's office will determine what formal charges might be filed against Atrevion Nathan.

He already faced a count of domestic battery resulting in moderate bodily injury filed in Delaware Circuit Court 5 in November 2023.

Douglas Walker is a news reporter for The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Sixth suspect arrested in Muncie murder investigation
The U.S. on Friday sanctioned a long list of Chinese and Russian companies over their support for Moscows war in Ukraine, as the Biden administration looks to sharpen its tools aimed at crippling Moscows war machine.

The sanctions list, targeting nearly 400 entities and individuals, is among the most sweeping actions taken yet against Chinese companies for their support in the war against Ukraine.

Also hit with sanctions are companies from the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Hong Kong, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.

The U.S. sanctions are trying to disrupt the flow of microelectronics and computer numerical control items, or machine tools, to Russia  nonlethal technology that the Biden administration has said for months China is supplying to Moscow to use in the war in Ukraine.

We remain concerned by the magnitude of dual-use goods exports from the PRC to Russia, the State Department said in a Friday release, using the acronym for the Peoples Republic of China. Imports from the PRC are filling critical gaps in Russias defense production cycle, thereby enabling it to produce weapons, ramp up defense production, and bolster its military-industrial base.

The sanctions come as White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan will travel to Beijing next week to meet with Chinas Foreign Affairs minister. The two are expected to discuss the war in Ukraine.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has increasingly warned that Chinese support for Russias war is posing a major problem. The western security alliance NATO for the first time called China a decisive enabler of the war in Ukraine during a July summit.

The companies on the list include two major Chinese machine tool suppliers and six Chinese electronic component suppliers.

Several Chinese or Hong Kong companies were also sanctioned for their support of the Russian company Special Technology Center, which makes surveillance and reconnaissance drones, along with businesses from Russia, the UAE and Turkey.

Hong Kong, Turkey and Russian business affiliates of Russian national Maxim Marchenko, who was arrested by the FBI in September 2023 for smuggling microelectronics out of the U.S., were also targeted in the Friday sanctions package.

And the U.S. announced sanctions against Turkish, Russian and UAE companies that supply microelectronic components and targeted mostly Russian companies in the sectors of energy production, air transport, heavy machinery, diamonds and titanium, bullet-proof glass and armor and Belarusian companies and individuals supplying armored vehicle components to Russia.

Washington also imposed sanctions on three leaders of the Russian organization Movement of the First, which is funded by the government of Russia, and which the U.S. accused of militarizing and pushing pro-Russian ideals on Ukrainian children.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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A 32-year-old woman is dead after she grabbed hold of a man's vehicle and fell to the ground, striking her head. mbbirdy/Getty Images

A quarrel between a man and woman near La Cantera turned deadly early Saturday morning, when the woman grabbed hold of the mans vehicle and he drove off.

As the man pulled away, the 32-year-old woman fell to the ground and hit her head, San Antonio police said. She was rushed to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

It happened around 1:30 a.m. Saturday in front of the Eilan Apartments, a luxury complex in the 17000 block of La Cantera Terrace.

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Witnesses told police the man and woman were embroiled in an argument, and the man got into his truck to leave.

According to a preliminary police report, the woman grabbed onto the vehicle as the man drove away.

Police said the driver, if identified and arrested, faces a charge of failure to stop and render aid causing death, a second-degree felony.

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NAGOYA, Aug 25 (News On Japan) - An 18-year-old man has been arrested in Nagoya for allegedly attempting to kill his grandmother by strangling her with an electrical cord and stabbing her with a knife. The grandmother, who was 78 years old, was later confirmed dead.

According to the police, the suspect, an 18-year-old company employee living in Nagoya's Nakagawa Ward, is accused of attacking his grandmother at around 9:30 a.m. on the 23rd of this month. The young man allegedly strangled his grandmother, who lived with him, and stabbed her in the chest with a knife.

During questioning, the suspect admitted to the charges.

The grandmother was pronounced dead shortly after the attack.

The incident came to light when the suspect's younger sister posted in a group chat on social media, stating, 'My brother killed someone.' A friend of the sister who saw the message reported it to the police just before 4:00 p.m. on the 23rd.

The police have since reclassified the case as murder and are conducting a detailed investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crime.

Source: ANN
By Justina Otio

Former Kogi West senator, Dino Melaye, has disclosed that three political stakeholders in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have irredeemably destroyed the party.

Speaking via his X account, Melaye accused PDP National Chairman, Iliya Damagum; the partys Natioanl Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu; and Organizing Secretary, Umar Bature of destroying the former ruling party.

He also hinted at the commercialisation and privatisation of the party.

According to Melaye: End of the road for PDP as Damagum, Bature and Anyanwu irredeemably destroyed the party. We will talk about the commercialisation and privatisation of PDP. PDP is now once upon a time.

Naija News reports that there have been indications that the PDP National Working Committee, (NWC) might sanction Damagum and the National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu for an alleged letter to the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt.

The letter was seen as an anti-party activity, and some party leaders, including members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) pushed for action against Damagum and Anyanwu.

However, Damagum warned that nobody can intimidate him into resigning from his position.

He said those calling for his resignation are only enhancing his popularity.

Speaking at the inauguration of the National Reconciliation and Disciplinary Committees, the acting chairman berated those spreading misinformation about NWC operations.
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The separatist Polisario Front caused uproar during the preparatory ministerial meeting for the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), scheduled for August 24-25, 2024, in Tokyo, after some of its members infiltrated the meeting despite not being invited.

Japan did not invite the so-called SADR or the Polisario, and the official list of participating countries does not include any mention of the fictitious entity. Besides, Japan did not issue visas to the so-called representatives of this entity and categorically refused to accept visa applications or their alleged travel documents.

However, the Polisario elements managed to enter Japanese territory using false identities and Algerian passports, posing as members of the Algerian delegation, the Algerian embassy having submitted verbal notes to the Japanese authorities requesting visas for these separatists as Algerians, just like the rest of the Algerian delegation.

Japan did not plan for the participation of the separatists when preparing the meeting rooms, the nameplates of participants were those of African countries duly invited by Japan and members of the United Nations, with no mention of the so-called SADR.

The separatists infiltrated the meeting room using Algerian badges and pretending to be members of the Algerian delegation. According to sources present at the meeting, and as shown by a video footage, one of the separatists secretly pulled out from his bag a nameplate bearing the name of the fictitious entity and placed it on the table.

This prompted a protest from the Moroccan delegation, which rejected this act and demanded the removal of the sign. The Japanese Foreign Ministry then intervened, affirming to those present that it had not extended any invitation to the Polisario to participate in the meeting and that it only invites states recognized by the UN.

The senior Japanese official chairing the meeting affirmed clearly and formally that his country does not recognize the so-called SADR.

The incident is widely considered a breach of protocol, particularly in light of Japans clear stance on the issue. The Japanese government, which is hosting TICAD IX in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank, does not recognize the SADR.

Japans position mirrors that of the United Nations, European countries, and all permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, none of whom recognize the SADR as a legitimate state.

This infiltration again demonstrates, if need be, that Algeria is the sponsor and creator of the Polisario and that Algeria, which created and maintains the regional conflict over the Moroccan Sahara, is the main party, as recognized by the UN Security Council.

This deceitful new action on the part of Algeria and its puppet was relayed by Algerian media outlets in an attempt to circumvent the recent decision made by the African Union to prevent non-UN member states from participating in international meetings and summits involving the pan-African organization with its international partners such as Japan, Russia, and Korea.

The AU Executive Council decided to exclude the Polisario from participating in the international meetings gathering African countries and superpowers after some major international meetings, which were intended to bring in major investment to the African continent, were derailed into chaos and sparked a diplomatic crisis over the participation of a non-state entity which is becoming persona non-grata worldwide.

The Tokyo incident recalls one of the most prominent episodes of forgery practiced by the Polisario, following its leaders entry into Spanish territory with forged identity documents in 2021, which at the time sparked a diplomatic crisis between Rabat and Madrid, eventually leading the Spanish government to express clearly its support for the autonomy plan in the Sahara as the only solution to the regional dispute.

The incident also highlights the photo diplomacy mastered by the enemies of the Kingdoms territorial integrity and their repeated attempts to obscure the truth from the Sahrawis in the Tindouf camps and to convince them that the separatist project in the Sahara still resonates on the regional and international scene, as well as to cover up the diplomatic and military failures accumulated by the Polisario leadership.
Algeria, a country notorious for its inaccessibility to filmmakers and foreign journalists, has surprisingly allowed the shooting of Goat Life, an Indian movie that paints a very derogatory image of Saudi society.

The film was banned by the Saudis because it tells a one-sided story depicting the Saudis as slave owners.

While the movie has triggered mixed reactions, it is interesting to focus on Algeria as a closed-off country that has been shunned by filmmakers because of its censorship and lack of prerequisites for filmmaking. However, it has opened its arms to a movie that depicts Saudi Arabia negatively.

Surprisingly, after checking the anti-Saudi content of the plot, Algerian authorities allowed the crew to film.

The movie was shot against the backdrop of worsening ties between Algiers and Ryadh, following Saudi outright support for Moroccos sovereignty over the Sahara territory, where Algeria nurtures a separatist chimera.

The next episode in the Saudi-Algerian diplomatic frost was the Saudi strong man Mohamad Bin Salman giving cold shoulder to Algerias military regime, shunning the Arab summit in Algiers.

Last year, Saudi Arabia did not invite Algeria, which held the rotating presidency of the Arab League, to a meeting bringing together nine Arab states to discuss Syrias return to the league.
Rhyma Castillo is a trending reporter for the Express-News and a member of its Digital Go Team. She can be reached at rhyma.castillo@express-news.net.

A native of San Antonio and a Texas A&M University graduate, she is a journalist with nearly a decade of experience. She has reported on politics, immigration, climate change, gun violence, and workers rights. Additionally, she excels in lifestyle and entertainment writing, covering music, television, video games, technology, and relationships.

In her free time, she enjoys painting, drawing, cooking, hiking, climbing, gardening, playing video games, cuddling with her cats, and making music with her band.
Turkey is following in the footsteps of China and Russia in seeking to strengthen its foothold in the continent focusing mainly on oil and gold.

Next month, Turkey will send the research vessel Oruc Reis to explore offshore oil blocks in Somalia, where Ankara has its largest overseas military base and manages key infrastructure.

Turkish drones have supported Somalias fight against al-Shabaab, and the Turkish parliament has approved naval support for Somali waters.

Turkeys engagement with Somalia is part of a broader strategy to deepen ties across Africa. Over the past decade, Turkey has provided over $1 billion in aid to Somalia.

Recently, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan visited Niger, signing deals after the country expelled US and French troops.

Turkish mining company MTA is exploring for gold in Niger. Turkey has held talks with Algeria, Cote dIvoire, and Zimbabwe in the past three months.

Meanwhile, Afro Turk SA has made efforts to enter Burkina Fasos gold market while Turkish Airlines now flies to dozens of remote locations on the continent.
Photo: Mark Peterson/Redux for New York Magazine

One of the most striking themes of the Democratic National Convention was the way the message flipped back and forth between grim warnings that democracy is under attack and playful invitations to engage in a politics of joy. Democrats at times seemed to be attempting a tricky tightrope act, akin to inviting people to dance their way out of a burning house.

For most of the convention, the message seemed to be: Join the fight to save democracyand lets have some fun while we do it. Its an audacious strategy that President Biden could have never pulled off.

The address by ex-President Bill Clinton was a perfect example. Weve seen more than one election slip away from us when we thought it couldnt happen, when people got distracted by phony issues or overconfident. This is a brutal, tough business, he told the crowd, before concluding a few minutes later: We need Kamala Harris, the president of joy, to lead us.

Over and over, joy and happiness were the theme of cheerful celebrities and upbeat optimists who took the stage at the United Center in Chicago, including comedians Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, Kennan Thompson and Mindy Kahling, poet Amanda Gorman and songsters John Legend, Stevie Wonder and Sheila E. But alongside the fun and funny artistic voices were plenty of speakers like Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, who solemnly invoked the January 6 insurrection and the need to take seriously threats by Donald Trump to terminate the Constitution, be a dictator on Day One and pardon convicted January 6 rioters if elected.

In this life, my father never cast a vote because of Jim Crow, so I dedicated my career to protecting the votes against violence and discrimination. You can imagine what I felt on Jan. 6 when I saw with my own eyes those insurrectionists trying to take that away, Thompson told the crowd. They did it to rob millions of Americans of their votes.

Trump tried to destroy our democracy by lying about the election and inciting a violent mob to attack the Capitol, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries said from the podium, before shifting into a preachers cadence and drawing cheers: In the Old Testament Book of Psalms, the scripture tells us that weeping may endure during the long night, but joy will come in the morning.

The Rev. Al Sharpton quoted the same Biblical passage in his remarks. Weve endured lies and areas of darkness, he said. But if we stay together, Black, white, Latina, Asian, Indian American, if we stay together, joy, joy, joy, joy coming in the morning.

And surprise guest Oprah Winfrey saluted podium speakers whod told wrenching personal stories about rape, incest and medical trauma caused by restricted access to abortion before doing the pivot. We wont go back. We wont be sent back, pushed back, bullied back, kicked back. Were not going back,  she said, before singing out the J-word: So let us choose. Let us choose truth, let us choose honor, and let us choose joooooooy!

So which is it? Are Democrats waging a desperate fight against a would-be dictator, or trying to have a good time? Its not a campaign theme, Quentin Fulks, deputy campaign manager for the Harris-Walz ticket, told columnist Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun-Times about the j-word. Its just something that theyre doing, that theyre bringing to the table. I think if you try to manufacture something like joy, it can go wrong because its fake. I think the reason why its resonating with people is because its authentic.

Harris notably did not utter the world joy even once in her prime-time address that concluded the convention. Instead, she listed Trumps attacks on democracy. Consider not only the chaos and calamity when he was in office, but also the gravity of what has happened since he lost the last election, Harris said in the stern, persuasive tones of the courtroom prosecutor she once was. Donald Trump tried to throw away your votes. When he failed, he sent an armed mob to the U.S. Capitol, where they assaulted law enforcement officers. When politicians in his own party begged him to call off the mob and send help, he did the opposite  he fanned the flames.

Harris, it seems, is not going to downplay or ignore the reality that America in the age of Trump has been flirting with open attacks on democracy. But she should consider embracing the politics of joynot only because her followers like it, but because expressions of love and happiness have a proven track record of dissolving the dark power of dictatorship.

I recently talked about the phenomenon with Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a historian at New York University whose book Strongmen examines how authoritarian strongmen gain power  and how they lose it. While Trump is an uncomfortably good fit with the likes of Hungarys Viktor Orban, Indias Narendra Modi and Russias Vladimir Putin, says Ben-Ghiat, many of todays strongmen are encountering a wave of popular resistance around the world.

Theres a big movement of anti-authoritarianism building around the world, and we are in the middle of a renaissance of nonviolent protest around the world. And there are places that have had the biggest protests theyve ever had, or in the last 40 years, like in Poland, in Chile, in Israel, she told me. You could name 10 other countries that have the biggest protests theyve ever had, because there is something changing in the world. And so one of my maxims is to always have hope.

In Turkey, says Ben-Ghiat, the politics of love was the most potent weapon available to push back against the creeping authoritarianism of that countrys strongman, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. One of my Democratic heroes is Ekrem Imamoglu, she said, referring to the Mayor of Istanbul. He ran for office in 2019 on a platform of love. And instead of having rallies, he walked around and hugged people. The total opposite of Erdogan. And he won.

Its possible that the new politics of joy will continue the activism of the recent past  the womens march in 2017, the Black Lives Matter demonstrations following the killing of George Floyd in 2020, and this years elections  as part of a larger movement to invigorate democracy.

Never give up on the American people. Theres a lot of decency. Theres a lot of people we dont hear, Ben-Ghiat says. A lot of its behind the scenes. There are a lot of people working to safeguard our democracy right now.
RFK Jr. goes over the brink into MAGA-land. Photo: Rebecca Noble/Getty Images

At a Phoenix press conference on Friday, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. confirmed several days of rumors by suspending his presidential campaign and endorsing Donald Trump, lending Americas most famous Democratic name to a man nearly all contemporary Democrats loathe. He will remain on the ballot in blue states where, as he made clear, he couldnt really help Trump. But it appears he will actively campaign for the former president, perhaps beginning with a Trump rally later in the day.

Kennedys reasoning was relatively clear, if not necessarily compelling. He said he had broken with Democrats over the existential issues of censorship, war, and chronic disease. But its that first item he dwelled on in talking about his former party, accusing them bitterly of working with big tech to warn people of his anti-vaxx views during and since the COVID pandemic, and rigging the 2024 primaries to keep potentials rivals like Kennedy out while hiding the cognitive decline of President Biden. He repeatedly asserted he would have won a fair fight, in both the primaries and the general election. He seemed to equate DNC legal efforts to challenge his ballot petitions with authoritarianism in general and with supposed Democratic lawfare against Trump in particular. And yes, he did go on to accuse Democrats of being in the grip of neocon warmongers and of Big Ag and Big Pharma and other evil corporate forces who are poisoning the country and particularly its children.

Well over halfway through his presser, Kennedy finally pivoted to the positive case for endorsing Trump, asserting that they were in agreement on the key issues of free speech, the Ukraine War, and the war on children. Again, it seems Trumps free-speech commitment amounts to little more than being the enemy of Kennedys enemies, particularly those who have mocked his subscription to an array of conspiracy theories. He made the most sense in accurately describing the 45th president as lukewarm at best toward Ukraine. As for whether Trump will act on the prime concern of the Kennedy-Shanahan ticket  the alleged government-corporate plot to kill, sicken and fatten up kids to make money for Big Pharma and Big Ag  RFK Jr. seems to be relying mostly on blind faith. He said he hoped that Trump would keep his promises in this case, recognizing that hadnt been a very good bet in the past, along with an acknowledgement that they dont agree on a lot of issues. (Thats an understatement; in April Trump accused Kennedy of being far more LIBERAL than anyone running as a Democrat, and more liberal than Jill Stein or Cornel West.)

And so, this deeply alienated man will form a strange partnership with the Republican candidate for president based mostly on a common sense of grievance with Democrats and other elites, and a common lust for vengeance. As for what his endorsement will be worth, thats unclear. Hes been dropping like a rock in the polls, especially since Kamala Harris became the Democratic candidate; the most recent national survey, by RMG Research, put him at three percent of the vote. And it is not at all clear how many of his remaining supporters will follow him over the brink into MAGA-land, which some correctly perceive as a place where environmentalists and those who fret about military spending (a particular preoccupation of Kennedys running mate, Nicole Shanahan, who wasnt at the presser but was apparently in on the decision) and childhood health are often treated as hippies and suspected Marxists. The timing of the move was convenient in that many pollsters already in the field to figure out if Harris will get a post-convention bounce will also be able to discern whether Kennedys move swayed any actual voters.

Well also see what, if any, effect RFK Jr.s support has on Trump, surely the most narcissistic and hard-to-influence presidential candidate ever. At his presser, RFK Jr. said he wanted to introduce a culture of kindness into the Trump campaign. Good luck with that, Bobby. Probably should stick to the script of whining and plotting vengeance.
Modi's visit aims to strengthen economic cooperation between India and Ukraine, particularly in agriculture, aviation, pharmaceuticals, and industrial sectors.

India maintains a neutral stance on the Russia-Ukraine war, relying on Russia for weapons and oil while seeking closer ties with the West.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Ukraine to balance India's relations with Russia and the West.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Ukraine on August 23 in a trip seen as a diplomatic balancing act following Modis meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow last month, which raised eyebrows in Kyiv and in the West.

Modis visit is the first trip by an Indian leader to Kyiv since the countries established bilateral relations more than 30 years ago.

The United States was particularly concerned with Modis two-day visit to Russia as it sees New Delhi as an important pillar in its strategy to contain an ascendant China.

Indian analysts say a primary reason for Modi's visit is to offset the damage from the July 8-9 Moscow trip, which coincided with a deadly Russian missile attack on a childrens hospital in Kyiv that elicited harsh international condemnation.

In a rebuke to the Kremlin, Modi said the death of innocent children is painful, reiterating India's stated stance that political problems cannot be resolved "on the battlefield."

More importantly, Modi's visit to Ukraine should be viewed as part of Indias multifaceted foreign policy of "strategic autonomy."

In pursuing that goal, New Delhi treads a fine line courting a closer security partnership with the West -- such as its Quad security grouping with Australia, Japan, and the United States -- as a bulwark against leading foe China.

At the same time, India maintains historically warm relations with Russia, relying on weapons and oil from Moscow at a discounted price. For that reason India has taken a neutral stance and neither condemned nor condoned Russias war in Ukraine, stating that the conflict should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.

New Delhi fears that if it condemned Russia and joined Western sanctions against Moscow it would alienate the Kremlin and push it closer to China and Pakistan, Indias archrivals.

By the same token, India doesnt want to alienate Ukraine but rather position itself as an impartial stakeholder. In its carefully crafted balancing act, Modi has ruled out the role of India as a mediator aimed at ending the war, Bloomberg reported, citing an inside source. New Delhi has agreed to relay messages between Putin and Zelenskiy, it said.

From Ukraine's vantage point, India has been instrumental in luring some states from the so-called Global South to either remain neutral toward the war or show support for Ukraine, according to Bloomberg.

Expanding Economic Cooperation

Modi and Zelenskiy last met in June on the sidelines of the Group of Seven meeting in Italy. They have also spoken several times by phone since the start of the war.

Apart from talks on geopolitics, which is set against the backdrop of Ukraines recent incursion into the Kursk region of Russia, the leaders are due to focus on expanding economic cooperation.

Bilateral trade between India and Ukraine reached $3.3 billion in the 2021-2022 financial year, according to the Indian Foreign Ministry, a fraction of the $65 billion annual trade turnover between India and Russia.

Ukraine wants to strengthen economic ties with India, particularly in the agriculture, aviation, pharmaceutical, and industrial spheres, Zelenskiy said earlier this year.

In turn, India needs defense products from Ukraine, especially aircraft and marine engines.

Modis visit to Ukraine could evoke a negative reaction from Russia in a manner similar to how his visit to Moscow drew Washingtons ire.

The challenge for Indian diplomacy is to calibrate its private messaging to assuage concerns from both countries, while also portraying the trip as a bold new initiative, wrote Shashi Tharoor, a former Indian minister and diplomat.

"Pulling this off would be a geopolitical triumph. But if the visit goes awry, it could cause incalculable damage to Indias global standing," Tharoor said in an August 13 commentary for Project Syndicate.

Before Ukraine, Modi visited Poland, a strong ally of Kyiv, on August 22, the first trip by an Indian leader to Warsaw in more than 40 years.

By RFE/RL

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Washington, Hawaii, and Oregon follow California as EV adoption hotspots, while Mississippi and North Dakota lag behind.

California leads the nation in electric vehicle adoption, with over 1.1 million EVs and the highest per capita ownership.

In 2023, sales of electric vehicles (EVs) passed the 1.6 million mark.

To visualize where EVs are the most popular, Visual Capitalist's Bruno Venditti maps the number of registered EVs per 100,000 people by state as of June 2024.

The vehicle registration data is sourced from the U.S. Department of Energy, while population data is from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Only all-electric vehicles are included on the map.

California Leads EV Adoption

California has the highest number of electric vehicles, with 1.1 million. Florida follows with 231,000 EVs, and Texas ranks third with 210,000.

When considering EVs per 100,000 people, California also leads with 3,026 cars per 100,000 people, followed by Washington, Hawaii, and Oregon.

U.S. State EVs per 100k people California 3026 Washington 1805 Hawaii 1686 Oregon 1422 Colorado 1405 Nevada 1379 New Jersey 1349 Arizona 1139 Vermont 1129 District of Columbia 1115 Utah 1078 Maryland 1050 Florida 1024 Massachusetts 983 Connecticut 818 Georgia 771 Delaware 745 Illinois 741 Texas 690 New Hampshire 660 New York 622 Minnesota 591 North Carolina 589 Oklahoma 564 Rhode Island 542 Pennsylvania 499 Maine 489 Michigan 454 New Mexico 452 Tennessee 428 Idaho 406 Missouri 398 Ohio 391 Montana 373 South Carolina 358 Kansas 354 Indiana 350 Alaska 346 Nebraska 319 Iowa 260 Kentucky 238 Alabama 232 Arkansas 214 South Dakota 169 Louisiana 165 North Dakota 112 Mississippi 110

Mississippi has the fewest electric vehicles proportionally, with only 110 EVs per 100,000 people. North Dakota has a similar lack of EVs, with 112 per 100,000 people in the state.

Additionally, California has the highest number of EV charging stations, with over 15,000, making up 29% of all charging stations in America. As of 2022, the Golden State had nearly double the number of chargers compared to the next three states combined: New York, Florida, and Texas.

If you liked this post, check out Ranked: The Top 10 EV Battery Manufacturers in 2023. In this graphic we rank the top 10 EV battery manufacturers by total battery deployment (measured in megawatt-hours) in 2023.

By Zerohedge.com

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After years of stagnation, the U.K.s green transition finally appears to be underway, with great support from the countrys recently elected Labour government. Plans for an electricity superhighway between Scotland and England have been approved, supported by new wind and solar energy projects across the U.K. This month, the U.K.s energy regulator, Ofgem, approved a $5.6 billion electricity superhighway project, which will transport renewable power 300 miles between north-east Scotland and the north of England. The Eastern Green Link subsea power cable will be the largest in the country to date, with phase one expected to transport enough energy to power around 2 million homes in England. This will be the biggest single investment in the U.S. grid to date, to be funded by energy bills. Work on the project by SSE and National Grid is expected to commence later this year, with phase one to be completed by 2029.

Ofgem aims to accelerate the rollout of 26 major energy grid projects to connect households with new wind farms across the country. The regulator stated, the plans are vital to upgrade the energy system and allow more renewable energy to be brought on to the grid and represent a big step towards the new governments aim to establish a net-zero electricity system by the end of the decade. Ofgem's fast-track scheme has helped speed up the Eastern Green Link by up to two years. The regulator also hopes to cut project costs, having called on developers to find savings of almost $103 million.

In recent years, the U.K. has battled to get new renewable energy projects online. As more investors have funded wind and solar projects, the need to modernise the countrys grid system has become evident. However, due to a lack of government support and private funding, this was not previously happening fast enough. Last year, several renewable energy project operators were told that connecting their projects to the grid could take between 10 and 15 years. According to the National Grid CEO John Pettigrew, the queue of green projects increased by 50 GW in Q3 of 2023 to a total of 400 GW, which was far higher than the U.K.s existing power capacity of 65 GW.

The failure to develop transmission infrastructure quickly enough has dampened the mood of investors looking to develop renewable energy projects in the U.K. in recent years. However, with the new Labour Party approving several green energy plans within its first month in government, the investment sentiment is expected to improve in the coming years.

Last November, National Grid announced plans to invest more than $52 billion in the U.K. and the U.S. by 2026, via its five-year spending framework, which is nearly $2.5 billion more than it had stated in May. The regulator highlighted the need for fundamental reform of the U.K.s electricity network planning to address some of the main transmission issues. Ofgem is now expected to approve record levels of power cable projects over the next few years, aimed at upgrading the grid to carry higher levels of renewable electricity. This will support job creation across the country, improve energy security and help the U.K. meet its climate goals.

The new Labour government is ambitious in its plans to accelerate the U.K.s green transition, following years of stagnation, which led experts to doubt whether the country would be successful in meeting its climate pledges. The government now aims to create a net-zero electricity system by 2030, which it will achieve by doubling the countrys onshore wind capacity, tripling its solar power, and quadrupling its offshore wind capacity.

However, getting these projects off the ground is not always easy due to a not in my backyard (nimby) backlash from towns and rural communities across the country. While there are high levels of public consultation taking place, the government has made it clear that developing the U.K.s renewable energy capacity is its main priority. For example, discussions are currently being held to determine whether large windfarms could be classified as nationally significant infrastructure projects, which would allow for them to be green-lit by the energy secretary, Ed Miliband, without approval needed from local councils.

One industry source explained, As a country, we are trying to put as much of this new transmission as possible out at sea. The source added, But these cables do need to come ashore somewhere, and there needs to be the infrastructure in place to carry the power from the coast into peoples homes. This means substations, pylons and cables. It means more power lines and poles. And people dont seem prepared for the fact that this infrastructure is both very necessary and very visible.

There is finally, once again, great optimism around the potential for the U.K.s renewable energy sector, following a month of bold moves from the new Labour government, with support from Ofgem. Large investments from National Grid and SSE are expected to support the modernisation of the U.K.s electricity grid, helping to transport large amounts of green energy to homes across the country. This is an indicator of whats to come, as the U.K. follows in the footsteps of the U.S. and other European powers in pursuit of a green transition.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

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Cambodia grateful to China for granting university-level scholarships to students

Xinhua) 13:34, August 24, 2024

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia is so grateful to China for providing annual university-level scholarships to students, a senior official here said, adding that the assistance is crucial to help develop human capital in the Southeast Asian country.

Speaking during a farewell ceremony for students winning the Chinese government scholarship on Friday, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Youth and Sport Hang Chuon Naron said they will become valuable assets for Cambodia and messengers of friendship between Cambodia and China.

For 2024, the Chinese government has granted full scholarships to about 200 Cambodian students to pursue their bachelor's, master's and doctor's degrees in China.

"I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Chinese embassy to Cambodia and the Chinese government and people for their strong support for Cambodia's human resources development, which is a catalyst for socio-economic development," he said, noting that human capital development is essential to help the kingdom achieve its ambitious goals of becoming an upper-middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income nation by 2050.

The deputy prime minister also advised them to behave well and to strictly abide by Chinese laws and school regulations during their studies.

"I believe that studying in China will be the most valuable experience in your lives," Chuon Naron told the students. "You will not only learn professional skills, but also gain insights into Chinese traditional culture and daily lives in the new era."

Um Vuty, founder and chairman of the Association of Cambodian Students in China (ACSC), said the scholarship winners will study at various universities in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Tianjin, and Kunming, among others.

"Excellent Cambodia-China relations have created favorable conditions for Cambodian students to win scholarships for studying in China," he told Xinhua.

Vuty, who is also an assistant to Cambodian Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen, said most of the scholarship recipients have chosen to study in the majors of economy and trade, engineering, public administration, law, and Chinese literature, among others.

"I hope that the students will not only broaden their horizons, but also become key contributors to the promotion of Cambodia-China friendship," he said.

Ly Sivfong, a 28-year-old scholarship winner for a master's degree study at the Kunming Medical University in Kunming City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, said the scholarships have offered hope for him and other students to realize their dreams.

"When I graduate my study in China, I aspire to become a nephrologist, hoping to help further develop the health sector in Cambodia," he told Xinhua.

As 2024 is the people-to-people exchange year between Cambodia and China, he believes that the exchange year will help promote cultural ties, people-to-people contact, tourism, trade and investment between the two countries.

"As a young generation, I will help boost Cambodia-China relations through promoting mutual cultures and people-to-people exchange," Sivfong said.

Tang Muyly, a 19-year-old scholarship winner for a bachelor's degree study at the Beijing Technology and Business University, said the scholarship has motivated her to excel in her studies and pursue her dream of becoming an economist.

"China's quality of education is high and technology is also modern. This is why I want to pursue my study in China, so I can bring knowledge to help develop Cambodia," she told Xinhua.

"I would like to thank the Chinese government for having provided a lot of scholarships to Cambodian students for studying in China and for taking good care of them during their studies in China," Muyly said.

At the event, artists also performed various traditional dances and songs to celebrate the Cambodia-China people-to-people exchange year 2024.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liu Ning)
Michael Anthony Morales is escorted from the Bexar County Sheriff's Office shortly after his arrest Feb. 11, 2020. Billy Calzada/Staff Photographer

A San Antonio man accused of stabbing a man to death in 2020 with a screwdriver and fatally shooting his common-law wife with a high-powered rifle has been sentenced to 48 years in prison.

Michael Anthony Morales was 36 when he was arrested and charged with murder in the stabbing death of Felix Pacheco Garcia, 37, and Mary Sanchez, 45. The two separate attacks occurred between 11 p.m. on Feb. 10, 2020, and sometime on Feb. 11, 2020, two miles apart from each other in south Bexar County.

Reports indicate that Morales and Sanchez owned M&M Shaved Ice, founded in 2004, according to its Facebook page. At the time, the popular South Side business locations sold shaved ice, fried foods and other snacks.

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Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said at the time of the slayings that detectives initially thought the deaths were unrelated and a coincidence, but they linked them together on a hunch.

The charges against Morales were upgraded to capital murder.

But on Wednesday, Morales pleaded guilty to the lesser offense of murder. He was sentenced to 48 years in prison on each charge as part of an agreement reached between Bexar County prosecutors Bridgett Clay and Alexandra Jackson, and defense attorney Scott Simpson. The terms are to be served at the same time.

State District Judge Frank J. Castro accepted the plea and sentenced Morales on Wednesday.

Michael Anthony Morales got sentenced to 48 years in prison Friday for stabbing a man to death with a screwdriver and fatally shooting his common-law wife in 2020. Courtesy Bexar County Sheriff's Office

Morales has been held accountable for his brutal actions, and justice has been served for the families of Mary Sanchez and Felix Garcia, Bexar County District Attorney Joe D. Gonzales said in a statement released Friday morning. Our office remains committed to fighting for all victims of crime in Bexar County.

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Deputies and investigators determined that Garcia and Morales began arguing over a drug debt while at Garcias home in the 1900 block of Sandy Circle.

Salazar, who spoke to media following Morales arrest, said their argument turned into a violent struggle that resulted in jostled appliances and water pipes being broken at the home.

Investigators said the mens fight spilled outside the home, and Morales took a screwdriver from his pocket and stabbed Garcia several times.

Salazar said a 6-year-old child found Garcias body in the back yard of the home around 8 a.m., when Garcias estranged wife, the child who found him and other children went to the residence to check on him.

Around the same time, Morales went to his home in the 900 block of Mogford Road and called 911 to be taken to the hospital for his injuries. Deputies said he lied about how he obtained a wound to one of his eyes and a bite mark on his chest, according to reports.

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After returning to his home, Morales told Sanchez about the fight with Garcia.

Obviously, the victim in the case became irate, Salazar said at the time. There was an argument over the fact that he was telling her that he caused somebodys death, Salazar said after the slayings.

After the confrontation, Salazar said Morales grabbed a high-powered rifle and shot Sanchez once in the upper body. She died at the scene.

Salazar said that Sanchezs daughter, who was 25 at the time, was at the home when the shooting happened and told deputies that they had been fighting Monday night into Tuesday.

Morales fled the scene, ramming a gate at the home, Salazar said. Deputies later captured him several miles from the home. The sheriff said Morales later confessed to the crimes.

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Morales, now 40, must serve half of his time before he will become eligible for parole.
How Time Flies is a daily feature looking back at Pantagraph archives to revisit what was happening in our community and region.

100 years ago

Aug. 24, 1924: Bearing a huge silver loving cup, Company H, 130th Infantry Illinois National Guard, returned to Delavan on Saturday (Aug. 23) having been recognized as winning company of the 2nd battalion after two weeks at Camp Grant in Rockford. Advance information about the company's arrival was telegraphed to Delavan, which blocked off Locust Street for two blocks to welcome the company of 82 soldiers and three officers.

75 years ago

Aug. 24, 1949: Sixteen civic, church and fraternal organizations in Normal have been granted concession space for the second annual Tomato Festival set for Sept. 15-17, said John J. Watchinski Jr., chairman of the festival. Most of the organizations had similar concessions last year, he said. "They proved to be profitable for their organizations and added to the general festival atmosphere."

50 years ago

Aug. 24, 1974: Two tracts of land comprising 381 acres at Funks Grove have been designated as a natural landmark by Secretary of the Interior Rogers C.B. Morton. Funks Grove was among eight forests and wetlands in four states to be added to the natural registry of natural landmarks. The land, owned by the Funk family and University of Illinois, was selected from a nationwide inventory of natural areas.

25 years ago

Aug. 24, 1999: Bloomington may be able to shop at its own Famous-Barr even sooner than previously estimated. The new 120,000-square-foot store at Eastland Mall has moved up its opening day by nearly two weeks. A charity day benefitting Bloomington-Normal organizations will kick off the store's grand opening Nov. 7.

From stilettos to sneakers, Pantagraph shoe ads through the years  Moore & Lain's - Sept. 8, 1891 Boston Shoe Store - July 3, 1896 McLean Moore - April 2, 1909 W.H. Roland - April 5, 1909 Gerhart Shoe Co. - April 13, 1909 William Fahey - Aug. 31, 1923 Gerhart's - Oct. 6, 1926 Carl's - March 4, 1938 Hanger Boot Shop - April 26, 1938 Bunnell Bros. - May 6, 1938 Penney's - May 31, 1946 Town & Country Shoes - Dec. 17, 1948 War Surplus Store - March 29, 1949 Schiff's Shoe Store - April 4, 1949 Schiff's Shoes - April 26, 1949 Kinney's - June 2, 1949 Schiff's Shoe Store - June 2, 1949 Schiff's Shoe Store - June 3, 1949 The Bootery - June 5, 1949 Livingston's - June 5, 1949 Carl's - June 5, 1949 Gerhart's - June 5, 1949 Gerhart's - Sept. 19, 1954 Schiff's Shoe Store - Sept. 19, 1954 Livingston's - Jan. 2, 1956 Roland's - Feb. 22, 1957 Schiff's Shoe Store - Sept. 5, 1958 Branom's Junior Boot Shop - Sept. 7, 1958 The Bootery - Sept. 7, 1958 Livingston's - Aug. 7, 1959 Carl's - Sept. 3, 1959 Barkers - Dec. 1, 1960 Roland's - June 6, 1963 Livingston's - June 6, 1963 Marben's - May 5, 1967 Murray's - Sept. 3, 1973 Roland's - Sept. 3, 1973 Mary Jane Shoes - Sept. 6, 1973 Bergner's - March 30, 1980 Read's of Normal - Aug. 21, 1981 Brown's Sporting Goods - June 3, 1982 Hush Puppies - Feb. 2, 1984 Brown's Sporting Goods - Aug. 9, 1984 Bergener's - Nov. 10, 1985 JC Penney - April 10, 1992 Bergner's - May 26, 1999 Murray's Shoes - June 2, 1999 Bergner's - June 3, 1999
PONTIAC  After a decade-long wait, Dal Estes, a World War II veteran who was among the second wave of soldiers that landed on Omaha Beach during D-Day, finally achieved his dream of opening a war museum in 2004.

At the time, Estes looked upon the empty space on the third floor of the Route 66 Museum in Pontiac and believed he'd never be able fill all of it.

But over the last 20 years, volunteer veterans and historians have managed to fill the Livingston County War Museum with uniforms, books, weapons and other artifacts that help illustrate the service and sacrifices of nearly 300 local veterans involved in more than a century of U.S.-involved military conflicts.

Volunteers have stated the intent has never been to glorify these conflicts but rather to show the best attributes of the people who may have been involved in them.

"They all did something unique, they all did something in support of their country and it all helped for the betterment of the United States," said museum president Ed Long.

Although Dal Estes died a year after the museum's soft opening on Veterans Day in 2004, his dream has lived on for the last 20 years through his son and many other volunteers.

This fall, the museum will host a celebration on Veterans Day to mark 20 years in the community.

Since opening, the Livingston County War Museum, located at 321 N. Main St., has been visited by guests from every U.S. state and from 72 countries.

The doors are open to visitors for free, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays.

Initial growth

After landing on Omaha Beach, Dal Estes captured a Nazi flag from a German bunker, which he would return to France 50 years later.

Dal's son David, a Vietnam War veteran who serves as education director for the Livingston County War Museum, said his father was discouraged by the lack of recognition local veterans were receiving in Pontiac compared to the treatment he received in Europe.

In France, kids would ask for his father's autograph and shake his hand. But when he stood outside the Livingston County Courthouse in his military khakis, the younger Estes said most people simply walked past his father.

This inspired Dal Estes to open a museum to honor these veterans.

He and his wife, Betty, who opened the Route 66 Museum, spent years writing to politicians and other groups for support. Despite being told by many people that Pontiac didn't need tourism or museums, Estes persevered.

"He tried for 10 years with very little help, but he wouldn't give up like those men on Omaha Beach," David Estes said.

Long, the museum president, said when the museum opened, there were only three uniforms on display. Since then, volunteers have collected close to 300 uniforms from veterans within a 35-mile radius that are on display using mannequins.

"This was a very heavily recruited area during World War II, and because of that, that's the vast quantity we have of uniforms," Long said. "Most of these were farmers, lawyers, doctors (and) store owners that ran all the businesses in town."

Each uniform includes authentic medals and awards the veteran received for their service. Most include a photo of the veteran with a brief biography and a QR code that links to additional information about that veteran's accomplishments. Many also include video clips from the veteran or their family.

Veterans' stories told

One of the veterans whose uniform is on display is that of Lt. Col. Iceal Hambleton, an Air Force navigator whose aircraft, which went by the call sign "Bat 21," was shot down over South Vietnam in 1972. He survived behind enemy lines for more than 11 days before his rescue, which was believed to be the longest and most costly search and rescue mission in the entirety of the Vietnam War.

His story was the basis for the 1988 Gene Hackman film "Bat 21."

There is also a display dedicated to Albert D.J. Cashier, a Civil War soldier who was born Jennie Irene Hodgers in Ireland but grew up in Belvidere. In the display, the war museum refers to the veteran using male pronouns.

With limited job opportunities available for women, Hodgers dressed as a man to find work. He enlisted in the 95th Illinois Infantry under the Cashier name. During his service, Cashier escaped Confederate forces during the siege of Vicksburg, secured a Union flag that had been shot down in battle while avoiding sniper fire and was involved in the siege of Mobile, Alabama, which didn't end until General Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox.

Cashier's sex was eventually discovered in his old age, and he was accused of fraud by the veteran's pension board. However, Cashier's fellow veterans vouched for him, and he was able to keep veteran benefits until his death in 1915.

He was buried in Saunemin, which is just east of Pontiac, under the Cashier name, but the Hodgers name was later added.

The museum has also worked with schools to arrange Zoom calls between students and local veterans. The "Zoom in the Classroom" program has connected veterans to classrooms all across the world.

"It's about building up hope for a future where the world collaborates for the greater good," according to handouts for the program. "It's about bridging the gulf between worlds far and wide so that our similarities can outweigh the differences."

Long said about a year and a half ago, the head of a war museum in New Orleans visited the Livingston County War Museum and told the volunteers they had one of the best war museums in the country.

"He literally stopped and said 'You people have no idea what you've got,'" Long said. "'This is the best World War II collection in the United States. You have something of everything.'"

Future plans

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Long said the museum brought in about 60,000 visitors a year. But today, that number is down to around 10,000 to 15,000 a year.

But as foreign travel increases and tour buses return to town, Long said he is hopeful to return to pre-pandemic numbers.

"I'd like to see that because it's fun to be busy," Long said.

To aid in this, the museum is in the process of setting up a new kiosk for the Korean War, which has not had as much representation in the museum as the two world wars and Vietnam.

However, expansion plans would also require new homes for the museum's collection of books about World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

One potential setback is a lack of volunteers to work as tour guides.

Long said there used to be enough tour guides to aid each person that came through the door. But over the last three years, the museum has lost 12 tour guides. And as he approaches 80, Long said he's not sure how much longer he'll be able to assist visitors.

"I like touring people around and I don't think anyone walks out of here without being a little smarter or a little more wise about what's going on, especially the younger groups," Long said. "They don't teach this in school anymore, or at least I don't feel they do, like they should."

Livingston County War Museum Where: 321 N. Main St., third floor Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday; noon to 4 p.m. Sunday Admission: Free Website: livingstoncountywarmuseum.com Contact: 815-842-0301

A history of US military ships  from the Revolutionary War to today A history of US military shipsfrom the Revolutionary War to today The Katy The Hannah The Andrew Doria The Cabot The Alliance The Original Six USS Constitution USS Essex USS Independence The Demologos USS Peacock USS Sea Gull USS Jamestown USS Mississippi USS Merrimack/CSS Virginia USS Monitor The H.L. Hunley USS Tecumseh CSS David CSS Shenandoah USS Puritan USS Chicago USS Texas USS Maine USS Nashville USS Bainbridge USS San Diego USS North Carolina USS Lapwing USS Langley USS Enterprise USS North Carolina USS Drum USS Niblack USS Arizona USS Juneau USS St. Lo USS Indianapolis USS Missouri USS Midway USS Nautilus USS George Washington USS Enterprise USS Iwo Jima USS Nimitz USS Los Angeles USS Cole USS Bainbridge USS Zumwalt USS Gerald Ford
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has charged the various universities to strengthen ties with the industrial sector, the government and the communities in which they operate.



By doing so, he said they would be able to align their research and teaching with the needs of the society to contribute directly to the realisation of national development goals.



It is very imperative for universities to remain active and engage in the development process of the country because they are the breeding grounds for the ideas, research and innovations that drive our nation's progress.



They are the institutions that train our agriculturalists, computer scientists and programmers, doctors, engineers, lawyers, teachers, political scientists and leaders, he added.



Promise



President Akufo-Addo made the call at the inauguration of a multipurpose building for the University for Development Studies (UDS), Nyankpala Campus, yesterday.



Named the Silver Jubilee Building, the three-storey facility consists of lecture halls, offices, library, computer laboratory, conference halls, among others.



Constructed in fulfilment of a promise made by the President during the 25th-anniversary celebration of UDS in 2018, the facility is expected to provide a conducive environment for students and faculty members to improve educational outcomes.



Shared vision



President Akufo-Addo said the building was not just a structure of brick and mortar, but it symbolised the shared vision for a brighter future and commitment to the pursuit of knowledge and development of the country.



I vividly recall standing here in 2018 during the celebration of UDS' 25th anniversary, my first time as President of the Republic. it was then that I made a pledge to support this university by providing a three-storey building complex.



When I make a promise, it is essential that I follow through; this fulfilment is not just about the building but about upholding the trust you have placed in me and demonstrating that when I make a pledge, I keep it, he said.



Quality education



Given the crucial role education contributed towards national development, President Akufo-Addo said the government was investing massively in it at all levels to ensure that every Ghanaian child, no matter their background or circumstance, had access to quality education.



He added that the government had spent huge resources on the education sector for the past years, as it recognised it as the most powerful tool to transform the nation, stating that, Indeed, the considerable budgetary allocations within the period, totalling some GH12.8 billion, amply demonstrate the shared determination of the Akufo-Addo government to ensure that education becomes a catalyst around which the transformation of our nation revolves.



Commitment



For his part, the Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, reiterated the governments commitment towards promoting quality tertiary education in the country.



He said, the Northern Region has responded more to the Free Senior High School intervention because about 90 per cent of the youth are moving to secondary schools, followed by the North East and Upper East regions.

Source: graphiconline









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
One of the greatest banes of Ghana over the years has been the issue of corruption with millions of dollars going down the drain by various corrupt acts.



Over the years, successive governments have expressed desire to tackle the issue but the canker keeps festering as the approach to fighting it has always been the same.



In view to this, NPP Flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has devised a new way in the fight against corruption using digitalization which has already prevented several age-old corrupt practices and saved the nation millions of dollars.



At the launch of his manifesto over the weekend, Dr. Bawumia reiterated his commitment and passion to continue fighting corruption.



Also, one of the many ways Dr. Bawumia has adopted to curb this menace is his Ghana Card initiative which has helped to remove ghost names on government payroll.



Dr. Bawumia, in his manifesto, detailed his effective method at fighting corruption and below is how he will deal with it under his Presidency:



Ladies and Gentlemen, one of the most potent weapons against corruption is transparency. Many corrupt activities are cash-based.



Apart from the obvious economic benefits of moving in the direction of a cashless society, the literature does indicate that the more electronic payments are used in transactions as opposed to cash, the more there is traceability and therefore the less the corruption.



I would like to bring Ghana close to a cashless economy in the shortest possible time. So far the Bank of Ghana, has made a lot of progress in this direction by putting in place a lot of the systems and infrastructure required.



These include mobile money interoperability, merchant interoperability, Universal QRCode payment system, Gh-Link, debit cards, Ezwich, and GhanaPay. We have put in place the necessary infrastructure for Ghana to go cashless.



Recently the Bank of Ghana has completed a pilot of a digital version of the Ghana cedi in Sefwi Wiawso. This is known as central bank digital currency (CBDC) or e-cedi. The e-cedi is designed to work online and offline and will be launched by the Bank of Ghana in due course.



The e-cedi, will be the ultimate weapon in our fight against corruption because it will provide transparency, reduce the risk of fraud, robbery, tax avoidance, and money laundering since it will be easy to track the movement of money and identify suspicious activity. The e-cedi will quicken the pace of Ghanas move towards a cashless or near cashless society.



We will also implement blockchain technology and smart contracts for secure data exchange and transparent e-government services.



Employing a distributed ledger technology improves transparency and efficiency. This will make all government transactions permanently traceable and not subject to alteration

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The National Democratic Congress (NDC) believes Ghana is moving in a direction that needs an experienced leader to manage its affairs before the worst happens.



In doing so, the party said its flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama is the only hope for Ghana to transform the country from its current state.



Launching its 2024 manifesto ahead of the December 7, presidential election, the NDC said they aim to reset Ghana to a better place.



The party has outlined some key interests the Mahama-led government will undertake when elected as president.



Jobs, accountability, prosperity, are some focuses of the NDC.



Attached is the 2024 manifesto  the Abridged version

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Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman/Peacefmonline.com









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Bird species richness in Angurai (1012 August 2004), Busia (1415 August 2004) and Lambwe Valley (1720 August 1997) sites. Credit: Scientific Reports (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-52107-2

Sub-Saharan Africa has a vast amount of uncultivated, arable landabout 2 million km2, accounting for about 50% of the global total. This land is a critical habitat for many animal species, including birds.

I was part of a team that carried out a study which assessed how changes to land useincluding the expansion of settlements, livestock production, pest removal and cultivationwere affecting bird populations in the Lake Victoria Basin, in south-western Kenya.

We found that these changes degraded and destroyed natural landscapes at all three of our study sites. This caused a significant loss of bird biodiversity, including rare, threatened or unique species.

Comparing undisturbed and disturbed sites, diversity dropped from 71 bird species to just seven in Angurai, the most disturbed site. In Busia, it dropped from 63 to 15 and in Lambwe Valley, the least disturbed site, it dropped from 32 to 22 species.

Our findings are particularly worrying because the African continent is home to 20% of the world's bird species, totaling over 2,000 species. Of these, 90% are endemics, found only in Africa. The rest are seasonal visitors, coming from parts of Europe, northern Asia, the Middle East and north Africa.

Our work highlights the urgent need to protect these habitats from increasing agricultural and developmental pressures.

The study

We compared bird species richness, diversity and composition at three sites in the Lake Victoria Basin in western Kenya, following the removal of a pestthe tsetse flyand subsequent changes to the land. Tsetse flies, found in most parts of Africa, are one of the main reasons why land isn't converted to agriculture. They carry diseases that are fatal to both people and animals. So eradicating them, typically using chemicals, is the first step before agriculture or development can happen.

At each of the three sites, there were natural and disturbed landscapes which we used for comparison. In the Lambwe Valley site, for instance, we compared transects within the Ruma national park with others in adjacent human settlement areas.

Birds were detected, identified and counted by sight or their calls. To ensure consistency and minimize observer biases, the same observer and recorder did all the surveys at each site.

A total of 168 different bird species were detected. In Busia and Angurai, there were 68 and 61 species respectively. In Lambwe valley, there were 53. Some species were detected in both the disturbed and natural areas at each site.

Impact of land use change

Land use changes had several adverse effects on bird habitats and species richness.

First, land use changes altered the size and quality of habitats.

Conversion to cultivation and natural cover removal meant the remaining vegetation wasn't enough to support certain bird species, like woodland savanna birds, with the resources they needed to survive.

Natural vegetation, including fruit trees, was sometimes replaced by invasive plants. This also led to the loss of food (seeds or insects) for certain bird species.

In some areas, an increase in invasive plants favored opportunistic and generalist bird species, as opposed to bird species that rely on native plants and specific habitat conditions.

Second, bird species richness and diversity decreased strikingly in disturbed areas compared to natural ones.

Disturbed areas had far fewer feeding guildsgroups of bird species that share similar feeding behaviors and food resources. For instance, in Angurai's altered site, there were only seven species in disturbed areas compared to 66 in natural areas.

Third, some specialized feeding guilds, like insect or grain feeders, were found exclusively in natural habitats, indicating they're more susceptible to habitat disturbances. Their food is abundant only in natural habitats.

Fourth, habitat changes don't affect all birds in the same way. Some species can exploit disturbed habitats while others are more sensitive to changes. For instance, though their overall diversity decreased, estrildid finches were more prevalent in disturbed landscapes.

Non-migratory bird species showed adaptability or resilience to human-altered landscapes, but faced greater riskssuch as reduced food availability, increased predation, and loss of nesting sitesas their habitats degraded.

Migratory bird species generally avoided disturbed areas, preferring natural habitats.

Specialized species, like ground-foraging birds, were more affected in disturbed landscapes.

Ultimately, high-quality, larger habitats are crucial for maintaining bird species diversity. Degraded and smaller habitats tend to support lower diversity.

Conservation efforts

Given the magnitude and pace of the land conversions, urgent steps are needed to slow down, stop or reverse biodiversity loss.

We suggest the following.

Land-use planning in sub-Saharan Africa needs to incorporate conservation principles that maintain essential habitat qualitieslike food resources, space, shelter and connectivityneeded by various bird species.

It is crucial to preserve pristine habitats and restore degraded ones. This can be done, for example, through payment for ecosystem services. For example, in Mexico a program compensates landowners who maintain and restore ecosystems on their property. This provides an incentive for conservation while allowing sustainable agricultural practices.

More needs to be done to monitor changes in bird species richness and diversity. This will help to inform interventions and flag which species are at risk and need enhanced protection.

It is crucial to expand and support protected areas as much as possible. This requires adopting strategies to balance agricultural development and the expansion of protected areas. For instance, Costa Rica has successfully increased its forest cover through strategic zoning and sustainable agricultural practices. Another approach is using agroforestry. In Kenya's western highlands, practices combining tree planting with agricultural crops have helped conserve biodiversity while boosting agricultural productivity.

Achieving these objectives will likely be extremely difficult due to the surging human population in sub-Saharan Africa, which intensifies competition for limited resources.

It is therefore necessary to focus on present and future development efforts that promote more intensive agriculture as opposed to extensive land clearing for cultivation and boost productivity within existing farming systems to promote environmental sustainability.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Annasofia Scheve covers trending news for the Express-News. She can be reached at Annasofia.Scheve@express-news.net.

Annasofia has bachelor's degrees in journalism and political science from the University of Missouri. She is an Ohio native, and wrote for Cincinnati Magazine and the Cincinnati Enquirer before joining the Express-News in 2023.
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

The Australian parliament will conduct a national inquiry into the dangers of "forever chemicals."

The move comes after a string of revelations about the potential dangers of the substances, including news this week that Sydney Water has detected the chemicals in the city's drinking water sources. Independent senator Lidia Thorpe, who led the push for a parliamentary inquiry, described these chemicals as the "asbestos of the 21st centuryfar more prevalent and far less understood."

Forever chemicals, technically known as per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), have been linked to cancer. This makes their widespread presence in our water particularly alarming.

But what types of chemicals are actually considered "forever chemicals"? And how should we deal with the escalating threat they pose?

An expansive group

The term "forever chemicals" refers to an expansive group of chemical compounds with an evolving definition. They are used in a range of everyday products, such as makeup, cookware and clothing, for their water, oil and stain-resistant properties.

In 2011, American chemist Robert Buck and his colleagues defined more than 200 substances in the PFAS group.

In 2018, a group led by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) updated the definition, adding roughly 5,000 chemical substances.

In 2021, scientists published yet another new definition, which broadened the PFAS universe to include millions of chemicals.

However, the phrase "forever chemicals" is often used to refer to different groups of substances in different contexts.

In January 2023, a proposal to ban the whole class of PFAS from five European countries included more than 10,000 chemicals.

However, Sydney Water's recent report mainly covers three well-known types of "forever chemicals."

Therefore, using "forever chemicals"or PFASomits many complexities.

Current analytical methods can only detect around 50 types of PFASa tiny proportion of the whole PFAS universe.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) are the most well-known.

There are devils we knowand devils we don't know.

Local contamination versus background contamination

To understand the risks of PFAS in drinking water, it's important to differentiate between background contamination and local contamination.

Local contamination includes legacy contamination from aqueous firefighting foam and industrial manufacturing pollution. It is often mainly confined to local areas and often has higher concentrations of contaminants.

Background contamination is related to exposure to everyday products containing PFAS, such as cookware, carpets, masks and makeup. The general public's exposure to background PFAS contamination differs from the risks of heavily contaminated communities.

For example, the mean concentration of PFOS in the blood of Australian firefighters during 2018-2019 was 27 nanograms per milliliter. This is because of the presence of PFOS in firefighting foam.

These are relatively high figures compared to the concentration of PFOA in Sydney's water: 0.1 nanograms per liter.

PFAS chemicals are so mobile they can show up in drinking water even without a clear source of contamination, such as an industrial spill or the use of firefighting foam. Unlike localized pollution, they spread widely, complicating our fight against them.

Risks related to environmental health are always controversial and tricky to address.

As for PFAS, on the one hand, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has listed PFOA as carcinogenic and PFOS as possibly carcinogenic.

On the other hand, the long-term health impacts of background exposures remain uncertain.

Many other substances in the PFAS universe are still not fully understood.

A looming threat

The ubiquitous existence of forever chemicals as background contamination may not immediately kill us. But it's a looming threat to our future.

As their name suggests, these substances are notorious for their inability to break down and degrade. This means they can accumulate in our bodies and in the environment, and don't disappear.

This was spotlighted this week by a study which discovered high levels of PFOS in the livers of deceased platypus throughout eastern New South Wales.

The warning of Rachel Carson, the late American marine biologist and writer, in Silent Spring still remains powerful 60 years later: the chemicals we use in attempts to control nature are pushing its fragile limits beyond what it can handle.

Beyond 'forever chemicals'

From July 2025, the federal government plans to effectively ban the use, manufacture, import and export of some of the most prominent PFAS chemicals.

This is a good step towards tackling the PFAS issue and could lead to more investigations and potential government action. The challenge of these forever chemicals already being in our environment, including in our drinking water, still remains.

And even if we all started simply buying bottled water, we still risk being exposed to PFAS.

For one, bottled water may still contain PFAS. Secondly, even if we avoided PFAS in our drinking water, we're still exposed to it through popular everyday items such as non-stick pans and waterproof jackets.

We need to expand our focus from just the presence of PFAS in our drinking water to how these chemicals have woven themselves into our daily lives.

With countless products designed to resist water and stains, it's time to ask: do we truly need these chemicals to stay dry, keep our cosmetics water-resistant or make our cookware non-stick?

It's time to think more responsibly about the choices we make that affect us in small and big waysand innovate beyond PFAS. There are alternatives to these dangerous chemicalsalternatives that are technically feasible and offer a pathway to a more sustainable society.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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A frog and a tarantula make good housemates. Credit: Francesco Tomasinelli and Emanuel Biggi

So much science news this week. It's like a torrential deluge of information bursting explosively through a levee of ignorance. Who built that levee, anyway? How did they get that through the legislature? Anyway, of the hundreds of stories we reported this week, here are capsules of three interesting ones. Two of them involve bugs.

Housemates unlikely

People tend to have one of two reactions to tarantulas: a sharp, primal terror that author David Foster Wallace described as "the howling fantods," or the kind of attachment more commonly associated with kittens and puppies. People are just not indifferent to tarantulas.

A study from the University of Turku describes newly discovered ecological relationships between the gentle, hairy spiders and amphibians, reptiles and insects. The report includes the actually astounding fact that small frogs often cohabitate with tarantulas, benefiting from the shelter of tarantula burrows and providing a service to their hosts by eating insects that can be harmful to the spider or its eggs.

Additionally, the study proposes that tarantulas became hairy as a defense mechanism against predatory ants. The researchers observed army ants entering a tarantula burrow and cleaning away food remains, leaving the burrow tidier than they found it. A few of the ants that attempted to attack the tarantula were repelled by the fringe of stiff, protective hair on the tarantula's legs.

"The dense hair covering the tarantula's body makes it difficult for the ants to bite or sting the spider. Therefore, we believe that the hairiness may have evolved as a defense mechanism. This hypothesis is supported by findings that many burrowing New World tarantulas cover their egg sacs with urticating hairs," says first author Alireza Zamani from the University of Turku.

Chaos quantified

Black holes can only be observed indirectly, via X-ray emissions from accretion disk flares. Many black holes have companion stars, and over time, draw matter from their companions into equatorially orbiting rings. These accretion disks are highly dynamic and poorly understood, and astronomers have been attempting to model them for decades. Researchers at the University of Helsinki wanted to know specifically how opaque hot zones and transparent cold zones develop within the accretion disk and lead to detectable outbursts.

They developed supercomputer simulations to model the interactions of radiation, plasma and magnetic fields around black holes, including quantum interactions, and determined that the turbulence within the accretion disk is caused by the magnetic fields heating local plasma and causing it to emit X-ray radiation. It represents the first plasma physics model to incorporate quantum interactions between radiation and plasma and answers questions about black hole dynamics that physicists first began asking in the 1970s.

The study describes how electrons and positrons, which are mutually annihilating antiparticles, can occur in the same location in proximity to the extreme conditions around black holes, and explains how the plasma comprising the accretion disk can have both hot and cold regions.

'Get to da choppah!'

How do mosquitoes target their hosts so accurately? They actually integrate information from multiple sensory sources, including the odor of exhaled CO 2 , inputs that can vary with distance to their prey. But according to a study by researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara, one of these senses is infrared vision similar to the HUD overlay used by the alien hunter in the 1987 film "Predator" to target its human prey. The study found that in combination with CO 2 detection, infrared radiation from a source with the temperature of human skin would prompt mosquitoes to double their host-seeking behavior.

In a laboratory setting, the researchers exposed female mosquitoes to human odors and CO 2 . In a separate zone, they were also exposed to infrared radiation from a skin-temperature source. The mosquitoes with IR exposure displayed twice the probing behavior as the mosquitoes from the first zone.

Nicolas DeBeaubien, a postdoctoral researcher at UCSB, said, "What struck me most about this work was just how strong of a cue IR ended up being. Once we got all the parameters just right, the results were undeniably clear." However, it is still unclear whether rolling in a muddy riverbank to suppress IR is as effective against mosquitoes as alien predators.

 2024 Science X Network
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A humpback whale off Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil in June 2024.

The detention in Greenland of anti-whaling campaigner Paul Watson pending possible extradition to Japan has turned the spotlight on the widely condemned practice of hunting whales.

A 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling allowed numbers to recover following centuries of hunting that decimated the population to near-extinction.

Today three countries still permit the practiceJapan, Norway and Iceland.

Beyond the moral case against whaling, as made in campaigns such Watson's, what is the science driving the arguments both for and against the practice?

'Scientific' whaling?

In 2019 Japan quit the International Whaling Commission moratorium and resumed commercial whaling inside its territorial waters and exclusive economic zone.

Before this, Japan had been pursuing "scientific research" whaling since 1987, arguing some data could only be collected from dead carcasses.

But the evidence to support the claim was thin, Paul Rodhouse, fellow of the Marine Biological Association in Britain, told AFP.

"There seems to be very little justification for scientific whaling and few worthwhile scientific studies," he said.

A study published in Marine Policy in 2016 found that whaling and non-whaling countries had produced similar numbers of scientific papers on whales between 1986 and 2013.

View of a gray whale in the Pacific Ocean in Los Cabos, Baja California state, Mexico on February 21, 2024.

If we consider all the whales captured "and compare them to the very, very small number of scientific publications produced, we say to ourselves it really wasn't worth it and the scientific objectives were certainly not the priority of this activity", Vincent Ridoux, a marine megafauna researcher at La Rochelle university in France, told AFP.

There is also plenty of non-invasive research being carried out on living whales using increasingly sophisticated technology.

Those tools include satellite transmitters attached to the mammals, passive acoustic devices in submarine vessels, satellite imagery and artificial intelligence.

Are whales still endangered?

Overall, the moratorium has been successful in enabling the whale population to recover.

But there remain sharp variations between regions and species.

Japan hunts Bryde's, minke and sei whales, and wants to expand its list to include fin whales as well.

The government says the species are "abundant" and that catching them around Japan in limited numbers is sustainable.

Japan launched a new whaling flagship in May.

The Bryde's and common minke are listed as being of "least concern" on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's Red List, but globally the sei is "endangered", and fin whales are listed as "vulnerable".

Whales also face other threats besides hunting, including ship collisions, entanglements with fishing nets and rising ocean temperatures.

Whales and ecosystems

"Conserving biodiversity is not just a case of saving 'charismatic macrofauna' but maintaining balanced ecosystems for the continued health of nature and humans," Rodhouse said.

Abundant whales in an ecosystem "contribute to enriching the surface layers with mineral salts and mineral elements such as iron", said Ridoux.

Those elements are a key source of nutrients for some organisms.

Because whales breathe at the surface, they release much of what they consume there, providing a food source for surface-dwelling marine organisms.

Blocks of whale meat on display at a Japanese fish market.

'Disturbing' development

In May, Japan launched a new "mothership" for its whaling fleet to replace its previous lead vessel, retired in 2023.

Weighing in at nearly 9,300 tonnes, the "Kangei Maru" is a substantial upgrade and has raised alarm in the scientific community.

"It is very disturbing because it is a ship of large dimensions, it can go very far and therefore has probably very high operating costs," said Ridoux.

"If you want to use a boat like this in a commercial logic, you need big quotas to balance the operating costs and there has to be a market for that."

Tokyo argues that eating whale is part of Japanese culture and an issue of "food security" in the resource-poor country, which imports large amounts of animal meat.

But whether or not there is a big appetite in Japan for the meat is an open question.

Consumption has declined significantly in recent decades to around 1,000 or 2,000 tonnes per year compared to around 200 times that in the 1960s.

 2024 AFP
Hudson Falls duo arrested on drug charges in Queensbury

QUEENSBURY  A man and women from Hudson Falls were arrested after a traffic stop in Queensbury discovered what authorities are calling a large quantity of cocaine.

The Warren County Sheriffs Office conducted a traffic stop on Lower Warren Street in Queensbury around 12:50 p.m. Tuesday when the officer saw a driver John N. Rowland, 46, committing a traffic offence. The Sheriffs Office reported that Rowland was found with a large quantity of crack cocaine as well as a smaller quantities of methamphetamine and psilocybin mushrooms as well as scales and packaging equipment indicative of narcotics sales and a switchblade knife.

Rowland was arrested and charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, both felonies and one count of second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, both misdemeanors.

Rowland was arraigned in Warren County CAP Court and remanded to the Warren County Correctional Facility without bail.

A passenger in the vehicle, Brittany M. Columbetti, 38, was also found in possession of crack cocaine and arrested. She was processed at the Sheriffs Office for one misdemeanor count of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and released pending arraignment in Queensbury Town County at a later date.

Corinth Man arrested last week for sexual abuse

GREENFIELD  A Corinth man was arrested last week on multiple felony charges related to a sexual assault report.

The Saratoga County Sheriffs Office reported Tuesday that they received a call of a sexual assault that allegedly occurred on Spier Falls Toad in Greenfield on Aug. 15 shortly before 2 p.m.

Investigation into the complaint led to the arrest of David R. Bodenstab, 64, the following day. He was arrested on one count of first-degree criminal sexual act, a class B felony and one count of first-degree sexual abuse, a class D felony.

Mr. Bodenstab is accused of engaging in oral sexual conduct with another person by forcible compulsion and of subjecting another person to sexual contact by forcible compulsion, a press release from the Saratoga County Sheriffs Office stated.

Bodenstab was arraigned by Judge Michael Ginley in Greenfield Town Court and released on his own recognizance pending further proceedings.

The victim was transported to Albany Medical Center for evaluation and treatment, the Sheriffs Office reported.

State Police arrest Ballston Spa man for stealing from employer

SARATOGA  A Ballston Spa man was arrested earlier this month for grand larceny after allegedly stealing more than $3,000 worth of metal from his employer.

State Police of Saratoga arrested Thomas E. Crandall, 29, Aug. 11 after receiving a complaint week prior that a business in Malta was missing a large quantity of metal.

State Police reported Thursday that the investigation determined the company had employed Crandall since July 2023, and without permission, he allegedly removed a large quantity of metal valued at more than $3,000 from the business property on July 5, 2024. Police said it was later discovered he had brought the stolen property to a scrap yard and exchanged it for cash.

Crandall was arrested in his home in Ballston Spa, and arraigned in Malta Town Court. He was released on his own recognizance and will be scheduled to appear in court at a later date.

Brant Lake man arrested after distributing intimate image

QUEENSBURY  State Police arrested a man from Brant Lake after he allegedly distributed intimate images of an individual without their knowledge or permission.

Darren V. Alvaro, 47, was arrested by State Police of Queensbury Aug. 15 for one count of unlawful dissemination of publication. The investigation came after Troopers received a complaint from a Saratoga Couty resident the day prior.

Authorities reported that due to a medical issue, Alvaro could not be processed at State Police Queensbury, and the following day he arrived at State Police Chestertown to be processed.

The following day, Alvaro arrived at SP Chestertown to be processed on the original charge, State Police reported in a press release. Troopers witnessed Alvaro drive his vehicle into the barracks parking lot and observed signs of impairment while being taken into custody.

Alvaro was arrested again, and charged with driving while intoxicated. He was then processed for both arrests. At the time, authorities reported that he recorded a 0.26% BAC.

Alvaro was issued appearance tickets returnable to the courts at a later date and released to a sober third party.
BRIGANTINE  City officials don't plan to extend the city's minimum stay for short-term rentals, despite a call-to-action from some residents.

Mayor Vince Sera said the city has seen major improvements and compliance from property owners since new regulations took effect Jan. 1.

But "seven was heaven" for 20th Street resident Andrea Sullivan, who's been a proponent for seven-day minimum rental stays on the island.

"So far this summer, like I've been saying all along, seven is heaven. Most of these short-term rentals in our corridor have been weekly rentals for the summer, they're capitalizing on the summer, we're seeing plenty of families coming in," Sullivan said Wednesday. "But as we're gearing up, what's now seven-day heaven will be two-day weekend party rentals."

With Labor Day fast approaching, marking the end of tourist season, many residents, like Sullivan, are concerned an offseason spike of rental woes will happen if certain rules aren't strengthened.

In October last year, the city made changes to its short-term rental ordinance, including increased licensing fees, a 1.25% digital lodging tax per online booking, posting owners' name and contact information on site, and more.

The city spent $560,000 on increased staffing, legal resources and enforcement tools as a result of the update, an expenditure that was covered by the licensing fee and tax.

Short-term rental owners have hired local property managers who can help address issues before they become a problem for the neighbors.

The city also gained the ability to revoke short-term rental property licenses that get five strikes for violating the law.

In May, the city hired Stephen DeSario to fill the supervisory role as the new code enforcement supervisor and William Brooks as a part-time inspector to help with rental property issues, as well as maintenance complaints.

Since then, Sera said, the city has seen greater success with mitigating the problems of short-term rentals.

In June, there were 911 known short-term rental properties, according to data from the city.

The citys new code enforcement officials have been working with both the short-term rental owners and neighboring homeowners to address the issues that were ongoing at the time. Residents can also email code enforcement officials about their complaints, with an online portal in the works that could facilitate that process.

But residents like Anne Phillips said the ordinance language needs more work, in particular the city's definition of a resort house, which essentially allows the short-term rental businesses to operate in residential zones.

Phillips questioned the legality of short-term rental properties located in the island's residential zones.

"So, our attorneys tell us, by definition, that they are legal, yes, " Sera said at the meeting.

Phillips also inquired about the city's pending litigation with some of the owners of short-term rental properties. Sera said the litigation was still active.

"So I'm just saying, maybe you can start to imagine what it's going to be like after Labor Day, where we're going to see an influx of the party busses Friday nights throughout the winter," Sullivan said. "We a beautiful island. I wanted to keep it that way and not see it turn into a party destination this season."
The Sara and Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center of Stockton University will present a screening of the documentary JAccuse! A Cry from the Killing Pits of Lithuania on Tuesday.

The film, which has won awards at the Berlin Indie Film Festival and the Australian Jewish Film Festival, among others, examines the Lithuanian governments role in protecting individuals who perpetrated crimes against Jews during the Holocaust.

The screening is free and open to the public and will take place starting at 5 p.m. in the Fannie Lou Hamer Event Room at Stockton's Atlantic City campus, 3711 Atlantic Ave.

After the film, there will be a panel discussion featuring Holocaust survivor Daniel Kochavi and Leo Schoffer, a member of the Holocaust Resource Centers Executive Committee and the son of Sara and Sam Schoffer, who are Holocaust survivors from what is now Lithuania.

Kochavi was a hidden child in Paris, and his mother, Judith, grew up in the Lithuanian village of Vilkija.

The discussion will be moderated by Michael Hayse, a Stockton associate professor of history and director of the centers Holocaust Survivors of South Jersey project.

Michael Kretzmers film focuses on Jonas Noreika, a Lithuanian military officer and Nazi collaborator who was complicit in the murder of an estimated 14,500 Jews. Today, Noreika is celebrated as a national hero by the Lithuanian government. The film further examines the governments role in downplaying the mass murder of about 220,000 Lithuanian Jews during the Holocaust  96% of the countrys total Jewish population.
Abby Church is a City Hall reporter for the Houston Chronicle. She can be reached at abby.church@houstonchronicle.com.

Before coming to the Chronicle, Abby covered Tarrant County government at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. As an Air Force brat, she spent her childhood everywhere, but she claims Virginia as home. She graduated from James Madison University with a bachelor's degree in journalism and creative writing.
Editor's note: This is Part 4 of a 10-part series, "The Last Rung," that tells the stories of people in the Quad-Cities living in the margins. Part 5 will be published on Sunday.

The morning of Feb. 13, 2017, started like most others for Chris Wood.

He was up early, getting ready for work. His daughter, Dakotah Smith, had been staying with him and his wife, Kay, for the last three months at their home in LeClaire after being released from jail.

Smith was addicted to heroin and did jail time in Scott County for theft related to her heroin habit.

"Dakotah was staying in the guest room in the basement, and she came upstairs and asked me if I was going to take a shower," Chris Wood said. "I said I was, so she went back downstairs and on my way to the shower down there, I thought I heard Dakotah snoring in her room."

As Chris Wood got ready for his shower, something about Smith's snoring didn't seem right.

"Something told me to check on her," he said. "I knocked on the door and called her name several times. There was no reply, so I opened the door. What I saw I'll never forget."

Smith was sprawled across the bed and her legs were dangling off one side. Her skin was a pale white and she was covered in sweat. There was an empty needle next to her.

"I was not there when Dakotah was born. Technically, I'm her stepfather, but I have always loved her. I wasn't there to see her first breaths," Chris Wood said. "But I was there to see her last. I saw her die."

Smith was not dead. Her breaths were coming in one-to-two-minute intervals and were ragged. Heroin users have a name for the sound: a death rattle.

A history with heroin

Dakotah Smith survived the overdose. Today she is 33 years old and has been clean for seven years.

She first tried heroin when she was 19.

"I did it with some people I knew, people from the drug scene," she said. "But that was a one-time thing. I thought heroin was so dirty and so gross. I told everyone, especially myself, that I would never be an IV drug user.

"I actually looked down on people who used heroin."

Smith's world changed forever when one day she called a friend and asked him to help her try heroin.

"I was single and had co-dependency issues," she said. "My friend said to come on over and I did. He injected me. I did the one thing I swore I would never do when using drugs."

Smith's reaction to heroin was immediate and life changing.

"I went outside on the porch and puked," she said. "And you know what? I went back the next day and the day after that. And the day after that. And I went back to heroin every single chance I got."

Smith explained why she returned, over and over, to the drug.

"After I threw up that first time, and then I felt really good. It was totally numbing, totally relaxing," she said.

Like others interviewed for this series, Smith explained that for drug users, the first high is always the best. Every time a person uses after that is an attempt to find that original high.

"Heroin addicts will hear about someone overdosing, someone dying from a batch, and that's the heroin you want," she said. "You're just looking to get that first high back.

"But you never do."

Calm through the panic

Chris and Kay Wood are trained paramedics. Chris Wood started as a volunteer after getting his EMT license in 2015. He then became full-time and works out of Scott County today.

Kay is a part-time volunteer. Both have seen their share of overdose victims.

"I sound really calm on the 911 call," Chris Wood said. "But my mind was racing. The only reason I didn't panic was because of my training. I got on the phone, then Kay and I started trying to keep Dakotah alive until the paramedics could get to us."

Chris Wood gave Smith a sternum rub, while Kay Wood delivered mouth-to-mouth.

"Kay was basically breathing for Dakotah," Chris Wood said. "And the person on the phone would ask me if she was breathing. Every one or two minutes, Dakotah would inhale and then gag.

"It was loud. It was the death rattle. The operator on the phone could hear it."

'I was going under'

Smith said when she got out of jail in December of 2016 she had a simple plan.

"I figured I was going to get a job, get a car, get my own place and then I would dabble in heroin and everything would be fine because I was being responsible, and I wasn't being a burden on anyone," she said.

Smith said she had used heroin after she returned home. She injected the drug on the morning of Feb. 13, 2017, to get high before driving her father to work.

"I had been using a month to that point, and I was concealing," she said. "The moment I injected that morning, I just knew exactly what was happening. I was going under.

"There's this kind of falling feeling, where you are swallowed in this warmth and darkness. It is very peaceful and very calm. I can remember saying to myself 'This is an overdose' but I didn't even care."

Smith said the next thing she remembers is waking up on the stretcher outside her parent's home. She said she was angry.

"I remember thinking 'Why did they even bother, at least my struggle was over.' And then I remember feeling like I didn't ever think an overdose would happen to me," she said. "I had been using for so long. I was OK with it because I never considered dying."

Smith said she remembers feeling ice cold after waking up. Her ears were ringing.

"For a while, I thought I was going to be deaf," she said.

Smith then experienced what many overdose victims go through after being revived by Narcan. The life-saving measure put her in immediate withdrawal, but when the Narcan wore off, Smith was high.

"I went right home and used again," she said. "I was lucky because I didn't have a secondary overdose."

Smith would go on to continue using heroin. And she had a second overdose.

A false sense of family

Heroin users, Smith explained, often form small communities. They think of themselves as more than friends because they think they share the bond of the struggle to get high.

"That was another allure to me  the idea that I could be part of this tight-knit group of people like me," she said. "It was almost like a second family. Loyalty is really, really important in that community.

"Really, you're already willing to do drugs. So, when you're with other addicts, it's like there are no boundaries within the relationships."

But the ideas of family and loyalty in the drug scene are an illusion, she said.

"More often than not, the bonds don't hold up," Smith said. "A lot of times people get in trouble, they become informants. People ripping each other off is pretty common.

"My second overdose, the people I was with threw me in an ice-cold shower and I woke up to them freaking out and screaming. But they didn't call for an ambulance. They didn't want to be caught. They didn't want to lose their heroin."

Supporting a habit

Supporting a heroin habit requires cash. And it becomes increasingly difficult for addicts to remain employed.

The need for heroin and other drugs leads people to desperation. Some men and women choose sex work. Others resort to other criminal activity, like dealing drugs.

Theft is a popular choice.

"I didn't have to resort to sex work, but I can't say that addiction wouldn't have led me there," Smith said. "I said I would never use heroin. And I said I would never inject it.

"I did those things, so I can't say I wouldn't have resorted to sex work."

Smith established a relationship with her dealer. His name was Matt Serra.

"He was a big Italian guy, and he was 12, maybe 13 years older than me," Smith said. "It was totally weird, but I justified it because he didn't hit me."

Smith and Serra lived in hotels, mainly sticking to the old Twin Bridges Motor Inn in Bettendorf. Before it was torn down in 2017, the Twin Bridges was site of over 500 police calls in multiple years.

"When we weren't in the Twin Bridges, we tried to stay in some of the places up on North Brady Street," she said.

Serra sold drugs, but the money went right back into the couple's heroin habit. Retail theft became a way of life, Smith said.

"He taught me. I would get large purses and line them with tin foil," Smith explained. "That would protect against the theft-protection devices on the electronics."

"I would steal any electronics I could get my hands on. We hit Walmarts and Target. We would even do Lowe's and Home Depot."

Smith said home improvement stores gave her access to tools.

"Drills were big items. You could always sell a drill," she said. "There was a pawn shop that would take them and not register them, then sell them on the internet for us. We stole tons and tons of drills. The prices stayed high on the drills."

Smith said a theft ring developed around their efforts. It was part of the heroin community she thought of as family.

"We had quite a few people involved, and we would spread out," she said. "After we burned Davenport and the Quad-Cities, we would go to places like Iowa City and further into Illinois."

Smith was arrested four times.

"I was arrested in LaSalle County and spent three months in jail," she said. "Then the detectives from Rock Island County came with warrants and I spent two months in jail there. Then the Scott County detectives came, and I ended up with three months in Scott County in the jail.

"That's how it went. I was arrested another time in Rock Island, and I had multiple warrants. It just stacked up."

Three outcomes of opioid addiction

Smith said opioid addiction leads to three outcomes: rehabilitation, prison or death.

Smith found her way out. Today she is the director of operations for One Eighty, an intensive, faith-based rehabilitation program in Davenport that works with adult addicts.

She is a recovering addict who helps others find recovery.

Serra was not as fortunate. Smith declined to say much about her former boyfriend.

"I know he had a very hard time," she said.

In February of 2018, Serra was arrested after an investigation by the Scott County Sheriffs Department, Bettendorf Police and the Quad-City Metropolitan Enforcement Group. He was charged with two counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin.

Serra was found near the intersection of Harrison and West Third streets and taken into custody. According to the arrest affidavits, Serra was in possession of six individual bags of heroin, 10 prescription pill medications without a prescription and a used syringe.

The prescription medications were clonazepam, used to treat anxiety and panic attacks, and alprazolam, a tranquilizer known by the brand name Xanax.

Inside Serras apartment, at the time officers searched, were four people who admitted they purchased heroin from Serra multiple times in the past, including that morning, according to the arrest affidavits.

Serra admitted to selling heroin to support his own habit, according to the affidavits.

He also was wanted in Rock Island County on felony theft charges that were filed by Rock Island County authorities Dec. 14, 2017.

Serra's life ended the day after Christmas, 2019. He did not die of an overdose, but an illness. He had just turned 41.
IOWA CITY  In an unassuming building on the University of Iowa campus that could easily be mistaken for a residence hall, aerospace engineers, graduate research assistants and professors are recreating the conditions of space as they build and test miniaturized sensors and instruments to help NASA better understand and explore the cosmos.

Wow, Iowa Republican U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks said after peering inside what looks like a giant iron lung.

The thermal vacuum chamber can simulate extreme temperatures, from minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit to 120 degrees, and a hard vacuum with atmospheric pressure about 10 billion times less than atmospheric pressure, mimicking space conditions.

The chamber is used for testing spacecraft components under extreme conditions, with cycles of heating and cooling to simulate real-world conditions.

Miller-Meeks was led to another room where she stood in front of what UI researcher Jasper Halekas, a professor in the physics and astronomy department, playfully called the worlds largest subwoofer.

The vibration table is used for testing spacecraft components under a simulated controlled environment to reproduce events such as a rocket launch.

STEM funding

Miller-Meeks visited the University of Iowa on Friday to highlight $1.5 million in federal dollars she helped secure for STEM development and space research within the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

The funding will be used for the purchase of advanced manufacturing equipment, new semiconductor fabrication tooling and satellite communications hardware to enable technology development and research in support of NASAs exploration missions.

I just think it's a great opportunity for the University of Iowa, for Iowa City and for our state, Miller-Meeks told reporters after touring the top floor at Van Allen Hall, which is being renovated into a single, unified space flight laboratory for instrument design and build spaces.

Additionally, the University of Iowa will augment an existing educational program giving undergraduates in STEM fields  science, technology, engineering and math  hands-on experience with flight hardware.

Miller-Meeks said the investment will enable the UI to produce graduates with the engineering, mathematics, programming and data analysis skills needed to support Iowas continued growth in technical sectors like advanced manufacturing and aerospace/defense.

It's an ability for us to attract talent to the University of Iowa, she said. I think being able to give that opportunity to people to see space not just way out there, but here, I think, is really important to attracting scientists here.

Miller-Meeks, who is running for re-election to a third term representing southeast Iowas 1st Congressional District, secured the earmarked funding through the annual process in which members of Congress apply for funding for community projects back in their district.

Each House member can submit up to 15 eligible projects to receive federal funding for fiscal year 2025.

NASA mission

Miller-Meeks spoke with engineers and researches working on NASAs TRACERS mission. The mission, which is being led by the university, will launch a pair of small satellites to study interactions between the sun and Earths magnetosphere.

UI researchers and other participating institutions have been designing, building and assembling the instruments, hardware and software in preparation for a scheduled launch in April 2025.

Antonio Washington, a UI aerospace project engineer, is among those working on the mission.

Washington is part of the team creating and testing miniature sensors crucial to studying how Earth's magnetic field interacts with external forces in low Earth orbit. The instruments will determine how powerful winds from the sun are able to cleave through the Earths magnetic field and potentially affect satellites, telecommunications and energy grids.

He called the federal funding essential for expanding the research beyond specific mission deadlines, enhancing innovation and efficiency.

Van Allen legacy

Casey DeRoo, associate professor in the physics/astronomy department, said the federal investment recognizes Iowa as a national leader in space instrumentation since before NASA was founded.

That legacy originated with James Van Allen, the Iowa physicist and space pioneer whose successful launch of the first American satellite into space in 1958 is generally recognized as the beginning of U.S. space exploration.

You see students who come (into the classroom) who think of space essentially as this abstract concept, DeRoo said. And you're able to essentially, through the unique position of University of Iowa and our state, show them this science was born here.

Space physics was born at the University of Iowa through the legacy of James Van Allen. And you can let them hold and touch that history, which is really a special thing to be able to do.

Applications

DeRoo said the new federal funding will lead to new equipment that can fulfill a host of needs for future space missions  furthering NASA's mission and supporting STEM education and the training of future scientists.

Both he and Miller-Meeks highlighted the potential of broader applications of the Iowa-made equipment beyond specific research areas, and the opportunity to partner with commercial aerospace and advanced manufacturing companies in the state, such as Collins Aerospace, SpaceX and Blue Origin.

Advanced manufacturing is a major component of the state economy, and the kind of area that we'd like to grow, DeRoo said. Those businesses are going to need STEM-educated individuals coming out of places like, you know, the University of Iowa to be able to essentially expand and grow their workforce and do the work that they need to do.

Photos: Northern Lights dance across Montana's Big Sky
Every day after work Chance White Eagle and his father, Chris, walked around Rapid Citys northside looking for Shamar Bennett, a man wanted in connection with the death of Chances 7-week-old daughter, Aiko.

In the year and 10 months since Aiko Storm White Eagles death, her family has continued to fight for justice and for answers to what happened to the Cheyenne River Lakota infant in November 2022.

Traveling up and down streets, across apartment complexes, beside Rapid Creek and all over Memorial Park  all under the unforgiving South Dakota summer sun  the White Eagle family wasnt going to go one more day without justice.

When a warrant for murder suspect Shamar Bennetts arrest was posted Aug. 14, the White Eagle family finally had the opportunity to take matters into their own hands. After one year and 10 months, there was finally movement in Aikos case.

Shamar Bennett and White Eagles maternal aunt, Courtney Martinez, were indicted with second-degree murder and abuse or cruelty of a minor less than seven years of age in connection to White Eagles 2022 death.

Martinez was apprehended soon after the warrant was issued, but Bennett remained free.

Once the clock hit 5 p.m. and work was done Aug. 14, Aikos father, Chance, and grandfather, Chris, took off, establishing a routine theyd continue every day until Bennett was in police custody. With the go-ahead from the Pennington County Sheriffs Department, the family went around knocking on doors, handing out fliers and asking around about Bennetts whereabouts.

Joined by other community members, the group would make several stops on the northside at the Sage Apartments, ABC Apartments and anywhere else they thought theyd find the man wanted in connection with the death of Chances seven-week-old daughter Aiko nearly two years ago.

Throughout 90-degree days and a heatwave, the White Eagles continued to search for Bennett.

The family had already gone months without answers for what happened the day Aiko was killed.

She only got to see the world for two weeks, said Chris White Eagle.

As a premature baby, Aiko was released from the neonatal intensive care unit only two weeks prior to her death.

Martinez and boyfriend Bennett were babysitting Aiko on Nov. 13, 2022. While at their Rapid City home, Aiko experienced multiple trauma blows which she died of six days later, Chris White Eagle said.

Theres 101 different stories (about what happened), Chance White Eagle said. We know what the doctors told us. We want to get the story out. This has been pushed under the rug. We want the true story out.

On the morning of Aug. 20, the White Eagles received word that Bennett had been apprehended by law enforcement outside apartments at 1122 Anamosa Street in Rapid City.

For them, Bennetts arrest isnt a complete relief, Chris White Eagle said.

Theyre probably going to go back and forth, see whoever wants to make a deal to collaborate, said Chris White Eagle. But I told the state, I want justice. In order for us to get justice, I want everybody who fabricated the story, who covered up the story, to be charged.

This incident was not Bennetts first encounter with law enforcement.

Bennett is a convicted felon stemming from a 2018 third-degree burglary case followed by another felony charge in January 2020 for possession and intent to distribute drugs. The 2020 charge was dismissed in December 2022 after Bennett completed a diversion program.

In July 2022, Bennett faced one charge of domestic violence that was later dropped. Following that charge, he was charged with violating his bond but this charge was dismissed as well. In 2023, he was again charged with domestic violence with a strangulation modification, but this charge was again dismissed.

Most notably, in August 2020, Bennett assisted Arnson Absolu of the Bronx, New York, in disposing of a body in a shallow grave near Sheridan Lake in the Black Hills.

On January 26, 2023, Absolu was found guilty of three counts of first-degree murder. Bennett testified on January 12, two weeks prior to Absolus guilty verdict.

In exchange for his testimony, Bennett did not serve jail time for his role in burying the body.

If he had been in jail, Aiko might still be here, said Chris White Eagle.

Over the past year and 10 months, White Eagles family made sure she was never forgotten.

On Nov. 21, 2023, the White Eagle family and several community members staged a sit-in protest at the Pennington County Administration Building in Rapid City. The group called for Pennington County States Attorney Lara Roetzel to resign over a lack of justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People.

The group eventually grew to 30 people and traveled to the buildings fourth floor to present its petition and speak about the deaths of 14-year-old Nevaeh Brave Heart, Aiko White Eagle, Kyle Whiting, Kasey Arehart and Abbey Steele.

The family felt they couldnt hold a proper memorial for White Eagle without justice for her death, so instead, they held a sit-in.

Now, the family said they no longer hold any hard feelings against the State's Attorneys office.

Were happy with the way things have played out, Chris White Eagle said.

Since November 2022, the family has worked with the South Dakota Attorney Generals Office Missing and Murdered Indigenous People coordinator Allison Morrisette. Aikos death was Morrisettes very first case as MMIP Coordinator.

We want to say thank you to the DCI (Department of Criminal Investigation) and Allie, Chris White Eagle said. Without them, none of this wouldve happened.

To memorialize Aiko, the White Eagles named their new business, Sacred Storm Buffalo, a new workforce development enterprise in Rapid City providing an apprenticeship program to Indigenous youth, after her. Local youth are provided an opportunity to learn traditional harvest techniques while processing buffalo meat.

He could have fallen off, he could have started drinking or gone to jail, but he (Chance) used all of his strength to try and be there for others, Chris White Eagle said. So I got the idea to name this plant after my grandbaby.

As co-defendants, Bennett and Martinezs arraignments are scheduled for Sept. 23.

I dont think well actually get the real story, Chris White Eagle said. As much as I want to be hateful, I dont wish this on anyone. The last year and 10 months have been hell.
Tribes nationwide are reporting delivery delays on federally provided food packages after a spring consolidation of all U.S. Department of Agriculture warehouses into one.

Imagine going to your grocery store, and the trucks just didn't show up. You might get some of your items, but thats it, said Mary Greene-Trottier, director of the Spirit Lake Nation food distribution program in North Dakota. The government has an agreement with tribal nations. They need to uphold their agreements.

Greene-Trottier said more than 50,000 Native American families rely on these food package deliveries.

The Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations works as an alternative to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, often called food stamps or SNAP. The Food Distribution Program is intended for tribal citizens who live in food deserts so those far from grocery stores can go to the warehouse store locations on their reservations and get a package of essential foods  known colloquially to many Natives as commods." Those foods include: eggs, milk, cheese, bread, cereal, canned goods, and fresh and frozen vegetables.

Several treaties and the federal-tribal trust relationship state that the government is responsible for supplying Indigenous nations with food.

As of 2023, 48,489 Native people depended on the Food Distribution Program. Specifically, a 1791 treaty with the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma outlines that the government must furnish gratuitously the said nation with useful implements of husbandry. Later, this was upheld by an 1832 treaty with the Sac and Fox tribes stating the government would provide rations to tribes.

The current program is run by the USDA, which previously operated through three major warehouses. From those warehouses, contracted delivery services would pick up the food to haul to reservations across the United States.

Following the consolidation, tribes across the country have been experiencing significant delays. Some tribes have even received expired shipments or shipments meant for other tribes, said Shakopee Mdewakanton Chairman Cole Miller.

As co-chair of the Native Farm Bill Coalition, Miller heard about the struggles other tribes were experiencing following the consolidation.

Miller said throughout the past year tribal leaders had expressed concern about merging the three nationwide distribution centers into one, and their fears ultimately came to fruition.

Theyre (the USDA) not fulfilling their treaty obligations, Miller said. This is about putting pressure on the USDA to get a permanent solution in place here. Take care of your treaty obligations.

Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon stated in a recent letter to USDA Secretary Thomas Vilsack that the USDA must swiftly and fully address this self-inflicted crisis. There can be no more excuses for food delays, missed deliveries, or delivery of expired products.

The letter urging Vilsack to address the delays was signed by Merkley, as well as Republican senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer from North Dakota, Markwayne Mullin (Cherokee) from Oklahoma, and Democrats Martin Heinrich from New Mexico, Roy Wyden from Oregon, and Tina Smith from Minnesota.

In a statement to ICT, the USDA said its taking an all-hands-on-deck approach to resume regular, on-time deliveries to communities that depend on the Food Distribution Program and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program.

We recognize the impact these delays are having on the daily lives of (Food Distribution Program and Commodity Supplemental Food Program) participants, including their families and communities, and we are deeply committed to finding solutions for the immediate term while addressing underlying issues, a representative said in an email.

Meanwhile, the Shakopee Mdewakanton tribe decided to take matters into its own hands.

We dont want to make this about us, but when we see a need, we go out and try to help, said Miller.

The tribe is offering a total of $1 million in assistance to other Oceti Sakowin tribes in South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota and Montana who are affected by USDA shipment delays.

With funds, tribes can go out and purchase the food they need from grocery stores and bring that food back to their communities to distribute. The funds are available to 18 tribes, which Miller said have been contacted.

The closest distribution center for Oceti Sakowin tribes was in North Dakota. Now, all three national distribution centers have been combined into just one in Kansas City, Mo.

Over 7,000 reservation families in South Dakota alone use the program.

Most tribes operate their own Food Distribution Program on Indian reservations' warehouses, and each of them have different storage capacities, so some may be out of a few items, while others are left bare. Greene-Trottier said her warehouse in North Dakota is empty and shes only able to get people by with bare essentials and the lack of information on shipments isnt there.

I just can't imagine having to turn someone away. I can't imagine being in Mary Greenes shoes, having to think about what we do next and how to stretch everything out and make sure people don't go hungry. As a mom, I just cannot imagine having to do that, said Mary Belle Zook, communications director for the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative.

Greene-Trottier said tribes were warned about potential changes in the warehouse consolidation back in February during a consultation with the USDA in Washington, but tribes were assured there would be minimal disruption.

They asked that we all bulk up our warehouses, and some warehouses dont have the infrastructure to do that, Greene-Trottier said. Reaching out to another program for some stock might be a possibility for some of the tribes in various parts of the country. Some of the warehouses might have more capacity to hold the food, so they can share, but in reality, it is not that program's responsibility to provide another program with the food. Its Food Nutrition Services' responsibility.

In July, Greene-Trottier and other tribal officials wrote a letter to Secretary Vilsack, explaining their concern about the short amount of time Paris Brothers Inc. in Kansas City, Mo., would have to transition to being the only warehouse remaining. The warehouse only had four weeks to prepare for the tripled workload.

The USDA said its reason for consolidating all three warehouses into the Paris Brothers Inc. location was because of a competitive bidding process, and the Kansas City warehouse was the only one the USDA felt could meet that need.

To assist the tribes in the transition period, the USDA has offered $11 million to tribal nations to address the shortages while the one remaining contracted warehouse catches up.

Greene-Trottier was quoted in a recent AP article, saying the money likely wont go far enough, and tribal leaders have been told they wont be eligible for reimbursement of any additional costs.

In Oklahoma, the Cherokee Nation has experienced delays on 12 different food package deliveries since the consolidation in May.

Cherokee Nation Secretary of State Shella Bowlin said the tribe operates eight food distribution centers.

Our food distribution centers are very fortunate that they plan for emergencies and keep at least a month of stocked food, said Bowlin. We do have the essentials we need to keep our families fed.

Even with some emergency stock, however, Bowlin said the best if used by dates on groceries from the national warehouses are sometimes very short, which could make items held for emergencies go bad before being picked up.

Some of our warehouses are smaller than others and have small freezer and refrigerator space, so we can only order what we can hold, she said.

Bowlin said its difficult to know what to order when a delivery is on the way, but you dont know when it will get there, or if the items will still be good by the time it gets there.

Greene-Trottier and Bowlin both said before the consolidation, they never had issues with the contracted delivery services being late. She said the Paris Brothers warehouse in Kansas City, Mo., had been an outstanding company to work with.

Any time we have a disruption, we feel that impact, but we know some tribes are affected more heavily than we are, said Bowlin. I think (the USDA) should just take some time to reassess the situation. Can the contractor manage through this and get up to speed? Or do they need to just go back to their original plan?

*Correction: A previous version of this story misspelled Mary Belle Zook's last name as Bell Zook.
Manuel Medina, former Bexar County Democratic Party chair sits with his supporters, the "Manuelistas" in the Bexar County Courthouse for a civil suit against current Chair Monica Alcantara, on Monday, April 22, 2019. Bob Owen, STAFF-photographer / Staff photographer

Longtime Bexar County political consultant Manuel Medina was among a group of Latino Democrats whose homes were raided Tuesday as part of a voter fraud investigation by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Agents forcibly entered Medinas home early Tuesday morning, waking up his family, including two young daughters, and proceeded to search the home for about seven hours, according to court documents. They seized documents, 65 cellphones and 41 computers (and) digital and other storage devices.

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Medina chairs Tejano Democrats, the largest Latino Democratic political organization in Texas, and is the former head of the Bexar County Democratic Party. He is currently working on the campaign of House District 80 Democratic candidate Cecilia Castellano. Castellanos home was also raided Tuesday.

Medina blasted the effort as a politically motivated attempt to hurt Castellano, whose Republican and pro-school vouchers opponent Don McLaughlin has been endorsed by all of the states top Republicans, including Paxton. McLaughlin is also the former mayor of Uvalde and led the city at the time of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School.

Medina said he knows of at least 13 search warrants that have been executed over the last few months to people involved in the House District 80 race.

It's clearly evident there's a coordinated effort by the (Office of the Attorney General) to influence voter registrars, senior advocates and campaign workers on contested races for the state legislature, Medina said. It's meant to suppress the vote of young voters and seniors who only vote by mail, two constituencies that are overwhelmingly Democrat.

Paxton has not outlined the specific claims his office is looking into. He said on Wednesday that his office had executed multiple search warrants on Tuesday in Frio, Atascosa and Bexar counties as part of an investigation into alleged election fraud and vote harvesting during the 2022 elections. He said a two-year review had provided sufficient evidence to obtain the search warrants.

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The announcement came on the same day that Paxton said his office was looking into allegations that groups could be registering to vote noncitizens outside of Department of Public Safety offices. The insinuation, made without any evidence, picked up on a similar claim about Parker County in North Texas by Fox News host Maria Bartiromo, which the Parker County Republican Party Brady Gray chair quickly refuted. Gray later added that he supports the attorney general investigating the broader claims, saying he could only speak for what he researched in his county.

A copy of the search warrant executed on Medina shows the state is looking into whether Medina violated laws pertaining to mail ballot fraud and obtaining or possessing identifying information about other people without their consent.

The warrant instructed agents to search for financial, business, organization and/or election-related items and records. The election-related items included applications for ballots by mail and lists of voters.

Gabriel Rosales, state director of the League of United Latin American Citizens, said Friday that the people searched  many of whom were elderly and members of the group  would only have had legally obtained voter registration data. Rosales said he believes the raids were an effort to intimidate and harass Latino Democrats.

Medina said he is fighting back and put in a request for a temporary restraining order that would seal the seized information and block the state from searching through that data and from conducting any further searches. It was granted late Friday afternoon by Bexar County Judge Ron Rangel, and a hearing was set for Sept. 12, court records show.

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Medinas attorney, Gerry Goldstein, declined to discuss the pending case.

Goldstein wrote in the motion for the restraining order that it was needed because the search involved sensitive and private and confidential information regarding contested elections," which would prove valuable and provide an unfair and illegal advantage to the prying eyes of opposing political foes.

The search warrant was grossly overbroad, and the description of items to be seized lacks specificity, Goldstein wrote.

In brief comments Friday, Castellano told Hearst Newspapers that agents also raided her home about 6 a.m. Tuesday and confiscated her cellphone. She said they did not tell her the subject of the investigation, but she, like Medina, believes the raid was politically motivated.

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I believe that I'm being targeted because two of the three counties fall in my House district, Castellano said, referring to the counties Paxton had identified earlier in the week: Atascosa, Frio and Bexar. Atascosa and Frio fall within the far-flung district, which stretches from Uvalde County, splinters east toward Pearsall and Pleasanton, then dips toward Laredo.
On a cold night in January 1978, 22-year-old Dana Merryday walked through downtown Richmond with a duffel bag containing all of his belongings for the next three weeks.

Merryday, a resident of Tallahassee, Florida, had never been to Virginia and found himself in Richmond only after his professor had drawn the citys name out of a hat. Dr. William Matthews, an instructor at High Point College (High Point University today) in North Carolina, taught Merryday in a course called Urban Survival, which took place during the three-week winter break period.

Dr. Matthews founded the Urban Survival course in 1975 because he believed there was a need for students to be exposed to society the way it really wasa perspective he felt could not be gained through textbooks or lectures. Prerequisites for a student interested in the course were:

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1) Get the green light from your major advisor.

2) Pay for your transportation to the assigned location.

3) Sign a release that states the college is not responsible for you while you are taking this course.

The course began at High Point College at the beginning of the interim semester in January. Each student received $35 and a duffel bag that could weigh no more than 20 lbs. For three weeks, the student had to find their own food, lodging, job, and anything else they might need to survive. Each student was required to keep a diary as well.

With $35 in his pocket and a green stuff sack packed with a couple changes of clothes, soap, a razor, and an extra pair of shoes, Merryday chose to hitch-hike to Richmond from High Point, North Carolina. He had never hitch-hiked before. Braving lows temperatures in the 20s, he said the first night was his hardest because when he arrived in Richmond, it was both dark and cold. Merryday first checked in with city police who directed him to the Salvation Army, which gave him lodging and a free meal, but only for one night. On his second night, Richmond police offered Merryday lodging in the city jail. By day three, the High Point student found a boarding house and a job loading and unloading dairy crates. He then found a better job helping out at the Virginia State Library.

At the end of the three weeks Merryday said he learned how to manage his money better and that you dont need cash to have fun. Merryday said he spent a lot of his time off attending free events that he found out about in the newspaper.

The Urban Survival course lasted for three years at High Point College and received immense national attention. Reportedly, Virginia Commonwealth University even reached out to Dr. Matthews in 1978, asking for more information about the course.
AMLO calls Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazars statement unfortunate and reckless

Mexico City, Mexico  President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said the statement by the United States ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, on the reform of the Judicial Branch was unfortunate and reckless.

During his Friday morning press conference, Lopez Obrador said Salazars comments disrespect national sovereignty.

A diplomatic note has already been issued, a warning, and I certainly support what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced because we do not accept interference. We do not accept that any representative of foreign governments intervene in matters that only we Mexicans are responsible for resolving and settling. () I hope that this does not happen again, he said.

On Thursday, Salazar shared his thoughts on the possible approval of a judicial reform. In his publicly addressed letter, Salazar warned of the risks to the functioning of democracy and the integration of economies due to the popular election of judges.

Salazar went on to say that any judicial reform must ensure that the judiciary is strengthened and not subject to the corruption of politics.

Salazar was issued a warning by the Government of Mexico for interference. Photo: Ken Salazar

The President reiterated that his government conducts foreign policy based on what is established in Article 89 of the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States, calling the situation internal issues and matters of full national sovereignty.

Mexico is an independent and sovereign country. We are in favor of non-intervention, self-determination of peoples, peaceful resolution of disputes and cooperation for development, he said.

Therefore, the statement by the ambassador of the United States of America expressing a position on this issue, which is strictly internal to the Mexican State, represents an unacceptable act of interference, contravenes the sovereignty of the United Mexican States and does not reflect the degree of mutual respect that characterizes the relations between our governments, the Government of Mexico wrote in a diplomatic note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Embassy of the United States.

Letter released by Ambassador Ken Salazar August 22, 2024.

Lopez Obrador said that the United States has shown understanding of Mexicos independence and sovereignty, but he noted that lately there have been acts of disrespect for sovereignty, such as the U.S. embassy financing the opposition organization Mexicans Against Corruption and Impunity .

The United States has applied an interventionist policy throughout the Americas since they defined the Monroe Doctrine and maintained that America is for the Americans, understanding that America is the United States of America, not the rest of the American continent. So they decided on the policies in the countries of the continent: they appointed and removed presidents at will, invaded countries, created new countries, protectorates, he added.
Imoveqroo reports 20 units impounded between Cancun and PDC for overcharging

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  Quintana Roo Mobility Institute (Imoveqroo) inspectors continue with operations in both Cancun and Playa del Carmen. Imoveqroo head Rodrigo Alcazar Urrutia reported that surveillance and inspection operations have been reinforced in both cities against the illegal increase in public transportation fares.

He said out of the 10 units towed Friday in Playa del Carmen, nine were sent to the impound lot for overcharging passengers. He says drivers will have to pay around 70,000 pesos to have their units returned.

So far we have sent more than 20 units to the impound lot and we will continue until the approved rates set by Imoveqroo are returned, he said. They will have to pay a fine of up to 70,000 pesos to be able to remove their vehicles. We will continue with these operations every day, he added.

Routes being inspected include routes 6, 78, 237, 100, 234, 225, 227, 97-99, 69, 259 and 71, among others in Cancun and Plaza de las Americas-Centro, Villas del Sol-Centro, and Guadalupana-Centro in Playa del Carmen.

Taxis, which are also state-licensed, are also being stopped and inspected for fair rate charges. At the stop point, inspectors ask the passenger what they paid. Photo: Imoveqroo August 23, 2024.

He explained that more routes will be covered with the inspection operations, which will be permanent as long as there are complaints from passengers. Public transport passengers who were overcharged were refunded.

During the inspections where overcharging was found, citizens were informed that the rate was not legal. They were given their money back, transported to their destination by an ADO vehicle and the public units were towed to the impound lot, he said.

These operations will be carried out in different municipalities where we will be ensuring that there are no abuses for the daily public transport users. We will be vigilant to ensure that the law is complied with, he said.

A public collectivo is inspected by Imoveqroo in Cancun August 23, 2024 in support of Marina and State Police.

Alcazar Urrutia stressed that no unit with a state concession (license) is authorized to increase their fares and if they do, they incur a serious offense based on the Mobility Law of the State of Quintana Roo.
Playa del Carmen braille block project along Fifth Avenue estimated complete mid-September

Playa del Carmen, Q.R.  Braille blocks being installed in central Playa del Carmen are expected to be finished by mid-September. The city is installing tactile flooring along Quinta Avenue (Fifth Avenue) in the citys busy pedestrian shopping area.

According to Dagoberto Holguin, a local politician who heads the Unit for Persons with Disabilities, the tactile flooring will benefit around 6,000 Playa del Carmen residents with visual impairments.

The installed braille will provide information about the surroundings of the street such as the location of stairs, curves, intersections and where crosswalks begin and end, as well as where a sidewalk ends and a road begins.

Municipal workers are currently removing a strip of street pavers and replacing them with the marked tactile flooring to help the visually impaired. The braille blocks are being installed from Paseos del Carmen shopping plaza toward 6 and 8 Streets North.
Anthony Franze is a native Texan and very passionate about covering any weather that is thrown at him. He can be reached at anthony.franze@express-news.net.

Anthony earned a degree in Meteorology from Valparaiso University in 2017. He has worked as a broadcast meteorologist for six years, one at NBC Montana and the next five at NewsWest 9 in Midland before joining the Express-News in July 2023.

In his free time, Anthony enjoys watching sports, checking out local restaurants and breweries, and getting outside whenever the heat allows for it. If you have any story ideas, questions about the weather or restaurant suggestions, drop him a line.
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A man who was still bleeding from a hair transplant ended up in jail after refusing to get off of a plane at the Miami airport.

Eugenio Hernandez and his wife had boarded an American Airlines flight to head home to Las Vegas. He was bleeding from his forehead and the back of his head was wrapped in bandages.

Other passengers noticed the blood and alerted the flight attendants.

They asked him to leave the plane for health reasons but he refused, saying his doctor cleared him to fly.

He told WTVJ-TV that the flight attendant said she didn't care.

"You need to go out because somebody don't like what you have on your head," Hernandez said he was told.

"She tells me you either go out, or I'm gonna call the police."

The crew did just that.

When he refused their request to leave the plane they stood Hernandez up and his wife, Yusleydis Blanca Loyola started yelling and was escorted off the plane as well.

Police told WTVJ-TV the couple was arrested for refusing to comply with their orders..

"This could have all been avoided if they would have just followed the commands or the request of the officers to vacate the aircraft," Miami-Dade County police spokesperson Argemis Colome said.

American Airlines said in a statement to the news outlet: "We thank our crewmembers for their professionalism and apologize to our customers for the inconvenience."

The couple was charged with trespassing and resisting arrest.

Hernandez and Loyola were booked into the Miami-Dade jail. They have since been released.
This quest began, like so many, with a crisis in the aisle of a CVS. However, in a twist, it did not involve the need to jailbreak a bodywash or toothpaste from a maximum-security plastic prison. In this case, the product I was seeking was freely available, technically. The crisis was the brand on offer. You see, I had ventured to this drugstore in search of tonic water to top off my evening gin and tonic. And if you know anything about tonic, you know that what spills out from a bottle can just as easily be a mephitic swamp-syrup as a bracing, citrusy blast of mountaintop refreshment. I had been expecting the wares of a mysterious Q, it having been stocked by this location for some months. I was taking home, under duress, one Mr. Owens rendition of the mixer. How would this harrowing episode end?

In truth, with a heavy pour of London dry, it ended fine. Pretty good, even. But the melodrama of my problem may tip you off to the fact that I take my tonic seriously. This was not always so. Like most Americans, my first encounter with a G&T at my local college bar did not inspire great affection. Made with piney well gin and flat, soapy soda-gun tonic, the drink was functional, but no more memorable to me than the vodka-crans, tequila-sodas, and other low-rent hyphenates I cycled through in those days.

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It took a trip to Spain, to Barcelona, before I would learn what a G&T could really be. There, on the sultry shores of the Mediterranean, they worship the cocktail with a fervor that approaches camp. On that first visit, I marveled that the cheap hotel my boyfriend and I had rented did not offer food, but did boast a placard in every room advertising five or six different G&T preparations. This was a mini version of the variety available at regular bars across the city, not to mention famous temples boasting legions of craft gins, carefully chosen tonic pairings, and whimsical garnishes.

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What is the true essence of this peculiar, bittersweet soda, and why has it proven so sticky to so many of us for so long?

I will always remember going to a sort of hipster gay bar in the Raval neighborhood and ordering the houses take. The bartender proffered a balloon glass and filled it with cylindrical ice cubes; he then decanted a measure of Bombay Sapphire and placed a freshly popped bottle of Fever-Tree beside the glass (in Spain, you add the tonic yourselftake note). Then he produced a bouquet of garnishes: a sprig of rosemary, a handful of pink peppercorns, a slash of grapefruit peel, and more besides, which he carefully arranged in the little gin vase. I was invited to add my preferred amount of tonic, which glowed slightly blue under the black lights as it rose in the glass. The bartender gently agitated everything with his spiral spoon, I took a sip, and a love affair was born.

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Since then, Ive been devoted to the gin and tonic, and have certainly drunk more of them over my 15 or so legal years than any other cocktail. But recently, somethings been nagging at me, a concern that crystalized under those harsh CVS lights where I was forced to choose a new stranger over one of my regulars. We live in an era of dizzying options when it comes to tonic, with a growing roster of premium options supplementing (if not supplanting) the old standbys like Schweppes and Canada Dry. Many of these newer brands offer not only a standard version, but also an array of alluring flavors like elderflower and pink rhubarb. According to some estimates, the global tonic water market is projected to reach $1.1 billion by 2027, with growth driven primarily by these premium offerings. But what, in this fizz of innovation and choice, are we really searching for? What is the true essence of this peculiar, bittersweet soda, and why has it proven so sticky to so many of us for so long? Is there a brand, style, or approach that stands above the rest? Is thereit must be askeda Platonic Tonic?

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The defining feature of tonic is an earthy bitterness that comes from quinine, a compound that occurs naturally in the bark of the cinchona tree. It is this bitterness that must be tempered with sweetener of some kind and against which any other flavors (citrus, herbal, etc.) must play. Its worth remembering, before we continue, that the wider worlds love of this bark has a particularly bitter history.

Much has been written about quinine as a tool of imperialism in European colonialism, but the thumbnail story, which Im drawing from Kim Walker and Mark Nesbitts definitive book Just the Tonic, has Catholic missionaries first observing the ability of local preparations of cinchona bark to treat the fevers, chills, and other symptoms associated with malaria around 1600, give or take a few decades, in the Loja region of Ecuador, or perhaps Peru. People indigenous to those countries and the larger region favorable to the treewhich stretched along the Andes range through Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, and Chilehad long been aware of the barks medicinal properties, leading some to refer to the cinchona as the fever tree.

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Explorers and traders began sending sheaves of the bark back to Europe, where, once powdered and processed, it saw its renown as a treatment steadily grow. Eventually, Robert Talbor, an English apothecarist, formulated his own remedy that dissolved the powder in sweet wine along with a few other salutary elements and a dash of opium, as a treat. This English Remedy garnered the attention of European kings and exploded in popularity (malaria was a common ailment even in cooler climates), and by the 18th century, Walker and Nesbitt write, imports of cinchona dominated the drugs trade, making up forty percent of the total drugs imported to England from the Americas.

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In his article on the history of tonic for Imbibe, Nick Kokonas underscores the fact that this skyrocketing demand for quinine in Europe was highly detrimental to Indigenous people back west. Workers tasked with collecting barkmany of them enslaved or indenturedwere called cascarilleros, he writes, and were forced to traverse the mountainous regions of the Amazon for months with minimal provisions in atrocious conditions, searching for elusive clusters of trees. The quinine that resulted from their labor would in turn enable the colonization of India, Southeast Asia, and parts of Africa.

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Theres one more aspect of this history that ought to leave a bad taste in your mouth. In the early 1800s, a number of South American countries gained independence, and when those countries moved to preserve and monetize their own resources for tradeincluding the cinchona treescolonial powers conspired against them. As Kokonas notes, plans were implemented to smuggle cinchona seeds and use them on remaining colonial plantations. Walker and Nesbitt relate one such (thwarted) covert mission:

In 1851, Justus Karl Hasskarl travelled to Peru to obtain seeds at the behest of the Dutch Minister of Colonies. Disguised as Dr. Jose Carlos Muller to hide his true purpose from the authorities, he set about capturing cinchona. He obtained 500 live plants and sent them off, though all but 75 died before reaching the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia).

It was later claimed that Hasskarls assistant, a man named Henriquez, had poisoned the soil  with arsenic.

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Despite such delicious acts of rebellion, successful plantations and refining operations were ultimately established, and quinine became an essential tool of colonial expansion in the 19th century. Cinchona bark remained the primary source for the drug until the mid-20th century, when a synthetic antimalarial analog was produced in the United States.

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The path of quinine from world-changing medicine to 2-for-1 special is somewhat hazy. A popular myth goes that British soldiers occupying India were required to take prophylactic rations of quinine each day, and since they were also provided a dram of gin, they mixed the two, and added a bit sugar to help the medicine go down. While its a tidy story, the details dont quite add upthese soldiers were apparently more likely to be drinking rum, for one thing. As Walker and Nesbitt show, its more plausible that the cocktail emerged organically back in the metropole out of a confluence of a few trends around the turn of the century, including the vogue for health-giving tonics in pharmacies and the rise of carbonation. In any case, we know that the first real tonic water was patented in 1858 (Pitts Aerated Tonic Water), others soon followed, and that, according to Kokonas, Schweppes was running a successful ad campaign on the tasty Gin and Tonic at the start of the 20th century.

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At that moment, putting its sordid history aside, what can we glean about the drinks ideals? What made it work and catch on so strongly in the U.K. and, after the cultural shakeup of the world wars, in the U.S.? Because its star ingredient came from India and the tropics, the G&T was tied to the summer and to heatit was meant to be crisp and refreshing, a respite at the end (or perhaps in the middle of) of a sweaty day. Its medicinal history and flavor lent it a vaguely healthy vibe (though the amount of quinine in tonic water is too low to have any clinical effect). And, as Kokonas puts it, the G&T was meant to feel exotic, a bubbly, bracing departure from the everyday, finished with a squeeze of tropical lemon or lime. Sounds pretty good, right? But then something went wrongand, sorry to say, its Americas fault.

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I asked cocktail expert Robert Chirico, author of the Field Guide to Cocktails, to reflect on the drinks doldrum years. (Rob is my partners father; weve enjoyed enough quality drinks together by this point that I trust his libational wisdom completely.) Who among us has not had an appalling G&T? he said. With the glut of tonic waters now available, just a few decades ago, there were only a few brands available in the U.S., all of them mediocre. My epiphany came on my first trip to Europe, where I tasted Schweppes Indian Tonic. It was nothing like its American cousinbrisk and appealingly bitter rather than overly fruity or sweet. And why? Just reading the label on the back of each shows that American Schweppes has more than twice the total sugar content. The real culprit behind it all is none other than one of the countys most despicableyet commonadditives: high-fructose corn syrup.

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There are those poor individuals out thereI know and love some of themwho think all gin tastes like Christmas trees (much in the way that cilantro for an unlucky cohort tastes like Dial), and thus abjure the G&T. But I suspect there are far more drinkers who dislike the cocktail for the reason Chirico citesthe most common brands of tonic, like Schweppes and Canada Dry, are (in most formats) cloyingly sweet, like quaffing bitter melted candy, especially as they lose their carbonation. Indeed, Chirico now largely avoids the drink at everyday bars, especially if they (paging Barcelona) dont serve a fresh bottle with each order: Sadly, most bars gush gallons of tonic from a multi-beverage hose, and residue of Coke or ginger ale can linger. Thats nastiness in a glass.

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Which brings us back to my college bar and that sad, soapy G&T with its desiccated lime wedge. What I didnt know then, in the mid-aughts, was that already, disruptors were starting to shake things up in the mixer space, and that soon, wed be living through a full-fledged tonic renaissance.

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Fever-Tree, with a brand name hearkening back to the mixers literal roots, is usually credited as the instigator of the tonic revival, entering the scene as it did in 2005 with its Indian tonic, bearing quinine sourced from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mexican bitter orange, and, most importantly, a fraction of the sugar of the standard brands and no HFCS. Fever-Trees motto remains compelling: If  of your drink is the mixer, mix with the best. Why, as the companys founders regularly put it in interviews, would you ruin your premium gin and other spirits with a subpar mixer? Chirico would agree.

Other brands have emerged in Fever-Trees wake, such as Q, Owens American, and many smaller-batch operations. Older brands like Fentimans (better known for its ginger ale) have revamped their offerings for the times. Overall, todays tonic gestalt centers on intriguing botanicals, cutesy flavor combinations (some of which, Ill admit, I have a hard time detecting), and sugar controlas Kokonas notes, premium tonics have moved to heathier sweeteners and reduced the total amount of sugar, among them cane sugar, agave, and honey.

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This sugar shift is a true sea change, and has done much to resurrect a G&T with those early qualities we just distilled: crisp and bright, bitter and tart. The mouthfeel no longer need be like swigging a bottle of Karo syrup; aromatics beyond concentrated quinine extract are free to dance across the mouth and tongue. And, perhaps best of all, you can actually taste the gineven the relatively reserved London dry styles I favor for the drink, like Beefeater.

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When I began this little sojourn, I had to acknowledge certain biases going in. For a few years now, Ive been of the opinion that Fever-Trees Mediterranean Tonic (which features notes of rosemary & lemon thyme and is particularly brisk) was the idealprobably because it gets me as close as I can be to that Barcelona gay bar without needing a plane ticket. It can be harder to find, though, and so Im often cracking open a can of Q, and once CVS changed alliances, Owens American. But as I pondered all this, I wanted to compare notes with othersand so I organized a friendly taste test. Wed do a qualitative, semi-blind, not-at-all-scientific ranking of the most common tonic waters available in our area, and I would see how far the light of the tonic renaissance had actually spread.

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At the actual taste test, a group of six friends and I sampled five brands. The results were striking.

Before that, though, I was drawn on a brief side quest by YouTubes algorithm. While I was doing preliminary research for this piece, I came upon a video suggesting that the best tonic was the tonic you make yourself. The man in the video had a funny accent and a fancy mustache, and so naturally I trusted him; soon, vacuum-sealed sacks of cinchona powder and citric and malic acid were on their way to my door. I followed the recipe (which creates a dense tonic syrup infused with citrus peel that you then mix with carbonated water), and while it results in an oddly brown concoction, the flavor is remarkablebright, punchy, and perfectly bitter, with an undertow of tamarind and warm spice. A friend described it as autumnal tonic, and I think thats right. Its not something Id use in my workaday G&Ts necessarily, but its worth making at least once; my guess is that its much closer in experience to the original meaning of a tonic than anything we usually encounter today.

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At the actual taste test, a group of six friends and I sampled five brands: Schweppes, Q, Owens, Fever-Tree, and Fentimans. (We sampled the DIY version for fun, but I left it off the final ranking.) Most of us were regular or occasional G&T drinkers; one is currently trying to learn to like gin (bless him), while another does not really drink and had only maybe encountered tonic once at an aunts wedding.

The results were striking: Schweppes was the clear winner with two No. 1 rankings and two No. 2s. Owens, Fever-Tree, and Q tussled in the middle, while Fentimans was roundly dismissed. One tester described Fever-Tree as a brightly lit empty apartment, while another called it forgettable. Owens bore hints of Crystal Lite. Poor Fentimans was wan and tasted of rocks and pee. Of Schweppes, my testers praised the tonics balance, roundness, lemon-forward citrus, and tang, while acknowledging that it was sweeter and tasted more mass market. Indeed.

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So, is that it? Is Schweppes the Platonic Tonic?

Other taste tests I found online had good or mixed things to say about this. But I knew how I felt. With gratitude to my testing team and comrades in tonic, I am going to claim executive privilege here and say that Schweppes is definitely not better than the premium contenders. (Except for FentimansFents is a flop.) Instead, what I think we witnessed here was, for one thing, the impact of habit and familiarityas Chirico put it, Americans do like their G&T a little more citrusy and sweet. But more importantly, this result confirms a suspicion I have harbored for some time nowthat its not so much the formulation of the tonic that matters, as it is its packaging and size, and what that has to do with carbonation.

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For this test, I thought it was only fair to compare the premium brandswhich all come in cute little glass bottles or aluminum canswith the same format of Schweppes, even though one most often encounters the latter in larger plastic liter bottles. In my experience, the difference between these two formats is night and day: The larger tastes syrupy and bland (and goes almost immediately flat), while the smaller onesespecially the small glass bottle, if you can find itare brighter and lively and retain their carbonation for a few pours.

I checked with Dr. Joe Schwarcz, a chemist and the director of McGill Universitys Office for Science and Society, about my anecdotal observations, and he told me I wasnt totally nuts. If there is indeed a difference, it would have to be due to the amount of carbonation. There is no question that glass is the least gas-permeable and retains carbonation the best. Aluminum would lag behind, and plastic is certainly more permeable. That would especially be the case with large plastic bottles, because loss of carbonation is related to surface area.

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Building on this, I asked him about a laymans theory Ive been developing about how carbonation impacts flavor: My guess was that carbonation helps deliver whatever flavor compounds are in the liquid to your nose and tonguethat is, with increased or better-retained carbonation, whatever notes of quinine, citrus, etc. that are in the tonic will be more pronounced or clearer as the bubbles pop and distribute those chemicals. And in terms of viscosity or mouthfeel, it seemed plausible to me that better bubblage would serve to break up some of that unpleasant syrupiness on the tongue. Schwarcz agreed that at least the first effect is likely: As the CO2 evaporates, it may push some flavor components out of the solution.

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So! I am also a chemist. (I am not.) As a practical matter, the platonic tonic may simply be the one you can buy in the smallest container (ideally glass) and, following on the idea of bubble retention, serve over large ice cubes in a smaller glass. This will give your tonic the best chance to express itself and convey whatever positive attributes it has to your sensorium. That said, I think it is still well worth steering clear of high-fructose corn syrup when you can, and getting curious about novel botanicals and other infusions is part of what makes drinking fun.

The real lesson here, I think, is that tonic is far more than a mere mixer. It is an unlikely concoction with a complex and troubling history that has somehow stood the test of time, bringing the bitter, lifesaving bark of a South American tree through the horrors of colonialism, across the wasteland of midcentury American drinking culture, and into the hip, fizzy cocktail hours of today. We should treat it with respect and a little bit of awe each time we splash it into our cupfor in the case of the G&T, its clear that the mixer, and not the booze, is the real spirit of the drink.
Slovak historiography has made significant progress in understanding events related to the year 1968 that were previously taboo.

KSC leader Antonin Novotny (l), who served as the First Secretary from 1953 to 1968 and as President of Czechoslovakia from 1957 to 1968, and Slovak politician Alexander Dubcek (r), who succeeded him as the KSC leader in 1968. (Source: Wikimedia/Fortepan/Szalay Zoltan)

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Miroslav Londak is a Slovak historian who studies recent Slovak history. He works at the Slovak Academy of Sciences.

Just as many people abroad still do not know that Dubcek was Slovak or the circumstances under which he became leader of the so-called Prague Spring, there is also little known about the role of the Slovak intelligentsia and political elites in the period preceding the Prague Spring, which directly initiated it, as its foundations were being formed. Slovak historians have therefore called this period the Pre-Spring (19631967).

After the crash comes a willingness to listen

In Czech and Slovak society, starting practically from the early 1950s, a critical perspective began to mature as the communist regime, relatively quickly after taking power in February 1948, demonstrated its iron fist rule. As a result of fabricated political trials, censorship, restrictions on human rights, the terror policy imported from the Soviet Union against landowners during forced collectivisation, private owners/craftsmen, small business owners, churches, ideological opponentsthe regime gradually sank into a deepening moral crisis and growing distrust, not only among the population but even among its own party members.

While in the 1950s, the regimes leadership managed to silence this first crisis through authoritarian means (according to historian Karel Kaplan), it continued to ferment beneath the surface. It began to manifest more intensely when, at the start of the 1960s, Czechoslovakia unexpectedly and incomprehensibly, for the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSC) leadership, found itself on the brink of a second, this time political, moral, and economic crisis, which had existential implications for the regime. The premature collapse of the Third Five-Year Plan (19611965), a centralised national economic programme, in its second year led the conservative communist leadership under Antonin Novotny to make a desperate move: he was forced to seek help from experts and intellectuals, whom the workers party had never trusted and had kept out of leadership positions.

Novotny, the leader of the KSC, reached out to the economist Ota Sik (they knew each other personally from a concentration camp during the war), who had caught attention by publishing a critical article on the current economic problems. Soon after, in 1963, Sik became the director of the Economic Institute of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences and was given free rein to form a team of progressive economists with the goal of preparing economic reforms. Siks team was not only tasked with stopping the economic recession, but was also given the challenging responsibility of creating a manual for future economic growth in the socialist economy.

Awakening in Slovakia

It soon became evident, that Slovakias traditional perception as a region somewhat removed from the real decision-making processes and events in the Prague centre within the shared state could, paradoxically, sometimes be an advantage. For instance, no Slovak economist was included in Siks team to ensure that the needs, conditions, possibilities, and potential consequences of the reform on Slovakia were considered.

In the spring of 1963, Alexander Dubcek, a politician of a new generation unburdened by the grim past of the Communist Party, became the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Slovakia (UV KSS). Although he was, at that time, a typical communist official produced by the party apparatus, he preferred constructive dialogue in his political work over the convenient authoritarian tools of power.

Under Dubceks leadership, the KSS was once again able to reconstruct Slovak political interests aimed at achieving equal status within the state compared to the Czech lands. This was not only due to Dubceks position within the KSS, but also because of the intellectuals who articulated these interests. It was a mutually beneficial relationship: Dubcek not only tolerated the criticism of the intellectuals within the limits of his power, but also established contacts with them and surrounded himself with them. Feeling their support, he gradually began to share their views.

Another significant factor in the political movement in Slovakia was Dubceks prioritisation of rehabilitating the victims of the campaign against the so-called Slovak bourgeois nationalists (19511954) and its consequences. The physical elimination of part of the post-war generation of Slovak intellectuals and resistance fighters, who were executed or sentenced to long prison terms in staged trials, along with the unprecedented intimidation and instillation of a permanent sense of fear within the cultural community, traumatised Slovak society with a sense of injustice and also damaged Czech-Slovak relations.

At the beginning of the 1960s, Slovak society was confronted with the testimonies of people who returned from prisons after partial amnesties. Dubcek himself, a member of the so-called Kolder Commission, which was focused on investigating these trials, recalled how the documents he encountered literally shook him. He stated that after the commissions work was completed, he was no longer the same person as before.

Rehabilitation  a leitmotif of the 1960s

The rehabilitation of representatives of the Slovak cultural intelligentsia became one of the key themes in the collective efforts of the Slovak elite. The priority was to fully exonerate those who had been unjustly convicted and imprisoned in fabricated show trials, where they not only lost their freedom but also their civil rights, property, and, for many, their health and families, which often fell apart due to separation. Another political priority for Dubcek was the rehabilitation of Slovak historical milestones, events, and personalities that had been trivialized or misrepresented. This agenda was positively received in Slovakia, along with the emergence of a high-ranking official of a new generation and type on the Slovak political scene.

A political accelerator of developments in Czechoslovakia during the 1960s was the growing criticism of the bureaucratic and totalitarian methods of governance by the Communist Party. In Slovakia, this included long-standing dissatisfaction with the countrys status within the shared state, which had been accumulating since the early days of post-war recoverywhen the systematic curtailment of the powers and competencies of the Slovak national institutions began. This centralisation peaked in 1960 with the introduction of a new constitution, which further entrenched the formation of a centralised communist state. Although Slovaks were officially recognised as a distinct nation, the role of Slovak national institutions was minimised, and their influence on real political life or the management of economic processes was merely symbolic, in reality negligible. Communist Czechoslovakia was unequivocally built as a centralised state. Due to the orthodox stance of the KSC leader, Antonin Novotny, the demand for an adjustment of Slovakias state-legal status within the structure of the shared state remained unacceptable.

Disconcerting disparity and criticism of centralism

Critical voices during the Pre-Spring period also emerged from Slovak economists. Their analyses, which appeared more frequently in the second half of 1966 and in the spring of 1967, focused on objectively mapping the development of the Slovak economy after February 1948, including the results of socialist industrialisation. They highlighted the negative consequences of Siks economic reforms on Slovakia. Dubcek, who collaborated with the economists, was particularly irritated by the outcomes of long-term investments managed from the Prague-based state centre, which barely reflected or considered the different demographic processes occurring in Slovakia compared to the Czech lands. The results of these analyses are documented in the attached table.

Of course, although Dubcek did not have access to such a table, he was well aware of the key data and trends. The figures clearly indicate that despite the implementation of a planned economy in Czechoslovakia and the support of socialist industrialisation in Slovakia from nationwide resources, after the 20 years that had passed since February 1948, the situation was such that, although Slovakia contributed over 70 percent to the nationwide increase in the working-age population, it only accounted for 25 percent of the increase in employment opportunities in the national economy. At the same time, Slovakia contributed less than 35 percent to the nationwide increase in industrial jobs, despite the fact that the Czech lands were already at a much higher level of industrialisation after World War II.

Moreover, during the summer of 1967, Antonin Novotny, the First Secretary of the KSC, prepared a document for approval stating that the industrialisation of Slovakia was essentially complete and that efforts should be made to increase the transfer of the Slovak workforce to Czech factories and production plants. By 1980, this was expected to involve the relocation of 100,000 people to the Czech lands in search of work, bringing the total migration from Slovakia to the Czech Republic to half a million people.

Prologue to the year 1968

Based on these facts, Dubcek delivered a significant critique of the situation at a meeting of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (UV KSC) in September 1967. This intensified the ongoing conflict between him and Novotny, foreshadowing Novotnys eventual fall from the highest party position.

The economic developments that Slovakia underwent since February 1948, the campaign against the so-called Slovak nationalists, their subsequent rehabilitation, and the growing dissatisfaction with Slovakias position within the shared state were key factors that, along with many others, propelled Czechoslovakia into the reform-oriented year of 1968. Proposals for significantly increasing the powers of Slovak national institutions in economic management, the formation of a group of reform-minded communists within the highest echelons of the state who sought to end the Novotny era, Dubceks speech at the end of October 1967, in which he pointed out the inappropriate concentration of power in Novotnys hands as both the First Secretary of the UV KSC and the President of the Republic, and the critical atmosphere in both Czech and Slovak societyall of these factors accelerated the developments leading to the events of 1968.

The piece was originally published in Slovak in August 2023.

 Historicka revue
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240824/hamas-delegation-heads-to-cairo-to-assess-results-of-gaza-talks--1119896162.html

Hamas Delegation Heads to Cairo to Assess Results of Gaza Talks

Hamas Delegation Heads to Cairo to Assess Results of Gaza Talks

Sputnik International

Palestinian movement Hamas said that its delegation would arrive in Cairo on Saturday to learn about the results of the mediated Gaza talks.

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"This evening, a Hamas delegation led by [deputy political leader in Gaza] Khalil al-Hayya will arrive in Cairo at the invitation o the mediating brothers from Egypt and Qatar. The purpose of the visit is to hear the results of the negotiations that will take place in Cairo," Hamas said in a statement. Hamas said it had not changed its stance and would stick to the proposal submitted on July 2, which is based on the initiative from US President Joe Biden and the UN Security Council's decision. "Hamas confirms its readiness to adhere to the conditions under which the agreements were reached [on July 2] and demands that pressure be put on [Israel] so that they fulfill the conditions and stop obstructing the negotiations," the statement read. A new round of negotiations on a deal between Israel and Hamas on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages may take place on August 25 in Cairo, media reported on Friday. Participants are expected to include CIA director Bill Burns, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, as well as senior officials from Israel and Egypt.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240824/hamas-agreed-to-ceasefire-conditions-in-may-but-netanyahu-deliberately-jeopardized-deal---reports-1119895942.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240824/israels-attacks-are-now-part-of-day-to-day-1119891617.html

Israel's Attacks Are Now Part of 'Day to Day'

Israel's Attacks Are Now Part of 'Day to Day'

Sputnik International

In response to Israels attacks, Hezbollah has reportedly fired rockets and drones into northern Israel with at least 180 rockets launched within 48 hours as reported on Wednesday, and reportedly struck a number of private homes in the Israel-annexed Golan Heights.

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Khalil al-Maqdah, a senior official in the Palestinian Fatah Movement, was reportedly killed by an Israeli airstrike in the southern Lebanon city of Sidon on Wednesday in the first direct attack on a Fatah member since the Gaza conflict first broke out in October. The attack will undoubtedly worsen the tension between Hezbollah and Israel.Israel made a claim that al-Maqdah had been working with the Iranian Revolutionary Guards in helping to transfer weapons and funds to militants in the West Bank. But senior Fatah member Tawfiq Tirawy criticized the attack as further proof that Israel wants to ignite a full scale war in the region, a US-based, anti-war outlet reported.Esteban Carrillo, an Ecuadorian journalist and editor of The Cradle based in Beirut, spoke to Sputniks The Backstory on Thursday. Carrillo explained that the situation in Lebanon has not seemed to have shaken the confidence of the people living there, but may be causing the foreign embassies there to be fearful.So, here in Lebanon, what is happening is [...] these attacks are becoming part of almost everyday life, and this is something kind of horrible to say, honestly. But, everything's in a holding pattern and Israel just keeps trying to poke, right? To poke at Hezbollah, to poke at Hamas, to poke at Fatah, which is, Fatah are their allies, essentially, Carrillo explained. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade, the armed wing of Fatah, do fight against Israeli occupation. But the political side of Fatah, led by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, is very close to Israel. They have been for years now.Hostage deal negotiations between Israel and Hamas have come to a standstill after the new US proposal that was submitted last week showed too much favorability towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus demands, a US-based, anti-war outlet reported. However US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Netanyahu had accepted the US proposal and the ball was now in Hamas court to agree to.Two Arab officials from a mediating country and another official involved in the talks said that the talks have reached a standstill, and that negotiators likely wont convene in another meeting unless the US puts pressure on Israel to fall back on some of their demands. Israeli negotiators believe Netanyahu is trying to sabotage the ceasefire deal by refusing to back down from his demands, Israeli media reported.I don't see any hope for a [ceasefire] deal, honestly, because you need to take what both sides are saying, not what the US is trying to portray. Because for the US, this has really just become kind of a PR issue, right? A public relations thing. Just about optics. It's about the headlines,[Israels] objective is to wipe out the Palestinian population in Gaza. And they've done a pretty good job at it. although the official death toll continues to stand around 40,000, that doesn't account for everyone who's under the rubble, he added. It doesn't account for the polio spreading in the street. That doesn't account for the famine, the malnourishment that these children are going to have to live with for the rest of their lives. So, I think they've done a really good job of making Gaza uninhabitable.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240822/lebanon-develops-plan-of-action-in-case-of-escalation-of-conflict-with-israel---minister-1119870032.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240824/russia-ukraine-swap-230-prisoners-after-uae-mediation-1119895196.html

Russia, Ukraine Swap 230 Prisoners After UAE Mediation

Russia, Ukraine Swap 230 Prisoners After UAE Mediation

Sputnik International

The Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday it had secured the release of 115 Russian military personnel captured in Ukraine-controlled territories with the help of UAE mediators in return for 115 Ukrainian troops.

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"Following negotiations, 115 Russian prisoners of war were returned from Ukraine-controlled territories after they were captured in Kursk region. In return, 115 Ukrainian prisoners of war were released," the ministry said in a statement. The released Russian prisoners are in neighboring Belarus where they are receiving medical assistance and awaiting return to Russia. The exchange was facilitated by the United Arab Emirates, the statement read.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240813/ukrainian-prisoners-say-they-were-captured-in-kursk-region-on-2nd-day-of-invasion-1119744969.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240824/taiwans-local-administration-embarks-on-military-buildup-incited-by-us-hawks-1119893848.html

Taiwan's Local Administration Embarks on Military Buildup Incited by US Hawks

Taiwan's Local Administration Embarks on Military Buildup Incited by US Hawks

Sputnik International

Taiwan's local authorities proposed increasing the island's defense spending to a record NT$647 billion ($20.2 billion) next year, an increase of 7.7% from 2023 that accounts for 2.45% of estimated GDP in 2025.

2024-08-24T08:52+0000

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The defense spending hike, proposed by the island's local leader, Lai Ching Te, is the continuation of a trend set by his predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen. During her tenure between 2016 and 2024, Tsai pushed through seven consecutive increases, almost doubling the island's defense budget.The US is forcing the island to step up its military spending, citing an alleged threat" of China's "invasion." China considers the island as its inalienable territory.While the US had stayed deliberately ambiguous in its vows to defend the island since 1979, the Trump and Biden administrations appeared to voice nothing short of clear deterrence commitments.The Taiwan Enhancement Resilience Act (TERA), signed by President Biden on 23 December 2022, authorized $2 billion of annual military grant assistance to the island from 2023 to 2027. The US even attempted to designate the island a "major non-NATO ally."In April 2024, the US authorized another $8 billion in military aid for Taiwan and other allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific. US weapons are now directly transferred from the Pentagon stockpiles to the island under the Presidential Drawdown Authority.Over the past several years, Taiwan has, in particular, acquired 108 General Dynamics' M1A2T Abrams tanks ($2.2 billion), 66 Lockheed Martin's F-16V fighter jets ($8 billion) and 29 M142 HIMARS systems ($1.06 billion) from the US. US Big Five arm-makers have boasted of increased profits stemming from the US-driven tensions in Europe, Middle East and Asia-Pacific.China strongly opposes Washington's push for Taiwan's militarization, saying this "sends a wrong signal to the Taiwan separatist forces."

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240809/us-military-exports-skyrocketing-as-washington-continues-to-fuel-global-conflicts-1119698216.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240427/big-five-us-arms-makers-profit-from-ukraine-conflict-and-overcharge-pentagon-1118144973.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240824/ukraine-loses-over-5500-troops-71-tanks-in-kursk-region-since-august-6--1119895710.html

Ukraine Loses Over 5,500 Troops, 71 Tanks in Kursk Region Since August 6

Ukraine Loses Over 5,500 Troops, 71 Tanks in Kursk Region Since August 6

Sputnik International

Ukraine has lost over 5,500 troops, 71 tanks, 57 armored personnel carriers and other military equipment in the Russian region of Kursk since early August, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

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"Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk region, the [Ukrainian] losses amounted to more than 5,500 troops, 71 tanks, 30 infantry fighting vehicles, 57 armoured personnel carriers, 372 armoured fighting vehicles," the defense ministry said. The Ukrainian army lost 170 motor vehicles, 36 artillery guns, five anti-aircraft missile systems, 11 multiple launch rocket launchers, including three HIMARS systems and one multiple launch rocket system, seven electronic warfare stations, a counter-battery warfare station, four units of engineering vehicles, including two counterobstacle vehicles and one UR-77 mine clearing vehicle. In the attack on the Kursk Region alone, Ukraine lost more than 360 troops and 29 armored vehicles over the past 24 hours, the ministry estimated. "Over the past 24 hours, the [Ukrainian] losses amounted to more than 360 troops and 29 units of hardware including two tanks, three infantry fighting vehicles, two armoured personnel carriers, 22 armoured fighting vehicles, two artillery guns, 12 motor vehicles, one Bukovel-AD electronic warfare stations, and one counter-battery warfare station," the bulletin read. Russian warplanes struck Ukrainian forces in 11 settlements of the Kursk Region: Apanasovka, Vishnyovka, Borki, Krasnooktyabrsky, Kruglenkoye, Mikhaylovka, Lyubimovka, Malaya Loknya, Plekhovo, Snagost, and Yuzhny. Clusters of enemy manpower and hardware were targeted near Atinskoye, Glukhov, Druzhba, Zhuravka, Zapseliye, Kalinov, Novaya Sloboda, Pervomayskoye, Pavlovka, Sadki, Svessa, Sumy, Surovatka, Chuikova, and Yampol, the ministry said. In the past 24 hours, Russian troops continued to comb woods for Ukrainian sabotage groups trying to push deeper into western Russia. "The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue reconnaissance and search operations to locate and eliminate the enemy small sabotage and reconnaissance groups attempting to get to the depth of the Russian territory," the Russian ministry said.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240824/russian-military-briefs-putin-on-special-military-operation-kursk-situation-1119895348.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240824/ukraine-lost-2100-troops-in-special-operation-zone-in-past-day-1119894756.html

Ukraine Loses 2,100 Troops in Special Operation Zone in Past Day

Ukraine Loses 2,100 Troops in Special Operation Zone in Past Day

Sputnik International

The Ukrainian armed forces have lost approximately 2,100 servicepeople in the special operation zone over the past day, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

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Russian troops of the West grouping inflicted losses on four Ukrainian brigades, eliminating up to 520 enemy soldiers. Meanwhile, the South grouping of Russian troops repelled a Ukrainian counterattack and progressed to more advantageous positions, with Ukrainian forces losing up to 690 personnel during this period, the ministry said in a bulletin. Three Ukrainian ammunition depots were destroyed. In the operational zones of the North grouping in the Sumy and Kharkov regions, Ukrainian forces lost up to 135 servicepeople and a German-supplied Marder infantry fighting vehicle. Ukraine also lost around 130 servicepeople and a French Caesar howitzer in the area under the East grouping's responsibility, the bulletin said. Units of the Center grouping improved their tactical position and repelled seven counterattacks from Ukrainian forces, leading to enemy losses of over 580 personnel, one tank and two armored vehicles, according to the bulletin. Russias Dnepr Group defeated Ukrainian troops in the southern Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, eliminating more than 65 Ukrainian soldiers. During the same period, Russian air defenses downed three US-supplied ATACMS ballistic missiles fired by Ukraine as well as five French-made Hammer precision-guided bombs, 12 HIMARS rockets and 44 Ukrainian drones.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240824/us-military-veteran-putin-outplayed-us-neocon-plan-to-balkanize-russia-1119896668.html

US Military Veteran: Putin Outplayed US Neocon Plan to Balkanize Russia

US Military Veteran: Putin Outplayed US Neocon Plan to Balkanize Russia

Sputnik International

While announcing his decision to leave the presidential race, Robert F Kennedy Jr. accused the US neo-conservative establishment of deliberately drawing Russia into the Ukraine conflict and derailing the 2022 Istanbul peace agreement between Moscow and Kiev.

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During his August 23 speech in Arizona Robert F Kennedy Jr., a nephew of President John F. Kennedy, endorsed Republican nominee Donald Trump and accused the Biden administration and the US foreign policy establishment of provoking the Ukraine conflict."Tiny Ukraine is a proxy in a geopolitical struggle initiated by the ambitions of the US neocons for American global hegemony," Kennedy said."In April 2022, we wanted the war. President Biden sent [then-British prime minister] Boris Johnson to Ukraine to force President [Volodymyr] Zelensky to tear up a peace agreement that he and the Russians had already signed," he added. "That peace agreement would have brought peace to the region."Kennedy noted that Donald Trump's decision to reopen peace negotiations with President Vladimir Putin on Ukraine "alone would justify my support for [Trump's] campaign."The commentatior said Kennedy has a real grasp on the ongoing situation and the historical background of the unfolding conflict.Washington made preparations for the proxy war with Russia in Ukraine for years, the retired lieutenant colonel argued. He said the scheme probably originated in the 1990s, when the infamous 'Wolfowitz doctrine', aimed at retaining Washington's sole superpower status, was formulated.The US-backed 2014 coup d'etat in Kiev was the continuation of this policy, the expert said."Now that we know that Minsk agreements were never meant to be implemented based on statements made by [former German chancellor Angela] Merkel and [former French president Francois] Hollande," Rasmussen said."We also know up to 50,000 Ukrainian troops were trained by NATO during that eight year period," he added. "So this is a planned thing."Anti-Russia sanctions, intended to halt Moscow's energy cooperation with Western Europe, and the Nord Stream sabotage were not formulated overnight, the pundit said. The end goal was to foment regime change in Moscow and then "balkanize Russia," he believes.Rasmussen condemned the arrogance of US foreign policy: "They feel that they're in the position they were 30 years ago. And the world has changed."

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240823/ukraine-loses-5137-troops-during-operation-in-kursk-area---mod-1119883866.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240824/us-to-continue-supporting-israel-under-next-us-administration---abbas-adviser-1119894132.html

US to Continue Supporting Israel Under Next US Administration - Abbas' Adviser

US to Continue Supporting Israel Under Next US Administration - Abbas' Adviser

Sputnik International

The United States will continue supporting Israel under both current and next US administrations and will not impose sanctions against the Jewish country, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' adviser on international relations and his special envoy, Riyad al-Maliki, said in an interview with Sputnik.

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The United States is committed to supporting Israel with weapons and financial assistance "regardless of what Israel really does in terms of freely crimes committed, in terms of violations of international law," the official also said.The US presidential election will take place on November 5. Arrest Warrants Against Israeli OfficialsRiyad al-Maliki also told Sputnik that the International Criminal Court (ICC) should issue arrest warrants against all Israeli officials involved in the alleged crimes against the Palestinian people committed since last October.On May 20, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan filed arrest warrant requests for top Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as for several senior Hamas officials.The envoy said that the ICC had documented such statements from Israeli officials who "dehumanized" the Palestinian people and could issue more arrest warrants, adding that such a scenario was unlikely, however."I believe that the ICC has been following, observing, you know, monitoring and documenting such statements coming from such Israeli officials. And I believe that they can always start with the first list, and then they could move to the second, third and continue until putting in prison all these Israeli officials who dared to dehumanize the Palestinians and calling for the death of the Palestinian people," al-Maliki added.In December 2023, South Africa filed a lawsuit accusing Israel of genocidal intent in Gaza with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in response to a rising civilian death toll in the besieged Palestinian enclave.In January, the ICJ ruled provisional measures ordering Israel to take urgent steps to prevent acts of genocide and ensure the flow of humanitarian aid to the enclave. At the same time, the ICJ did not order an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. In early March, the African nation went back to the ICJ to call for additional provisional measures against Israel that would address widespread starvation among Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.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 hostages. Israeli authorities say that about 1,200 people were killed during the raid. The IDF launched Operation Iron Swords in the Gaza Strip and announced a complete blockade of the enclave. The enclave's health ministry says that the death toll from Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip since October 7 has exceeded 40,000.

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Kamala Harris electrified the crowd Thursday night as she accepted the Democratic presidential nomination with a vow to bring American to a fairer, brighter future while evoking an ominous alternative world with Donald Trump.

"On behalf of everyone whose story could only be written in the greatest nation on Earth, I accept your nomination for president of the United States of America," Harris said to thunderous applause to the rapt thousands at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

Harris promised: "Our nation, with this election, has a precious, fleeting opportunity to move past the bitterness, cynicism and divisive battles of the past, a chance to chart a new way forward  not as members of any one party or faction, but as Americans.

She vowed to create an "opportunity economy" and an end the nation's housing shortage.

Harris also zeroed in on the dangerous attack on women's reproductive rights in the wake of the fall of Roe v. Wade in a U.S. Supreme Court now heavily influenced by Trump.

She recounted stories of pregnant women getting sepsis and miscarrying in parking lots, and placed the blame on Trump, who nominated three of the justices. Harris warned that Trump and his allies would next limit access to birth control and enact a nationwide abortion ban, adding: "Simply put, they are out of their minds."

On the world front, Harris vowed to continue to provide staunch support Ukraine in the face of Russia's invasion of the country, and "always stand up for Israel's right to defend itself." But she also decried the tremendous Palestinian death toll in the ongoing Hamas-Israeli war, and called for Palestinian self-determination.

She also slammed Trump's admiration for the dictators of the world.

"I will not cozy up to tyrants and dictators like Kim Jong-un, who are rooting for Trump because they know he is easy to manipulate with flattery and favors," Harris said. "In the enduring struggle between democracy and tyranny, I know where I stand and where the United States of America belongs."

She painted a dramatic difference between a Harris administration and a future with Donald Trump in the White House with "no guardrails" and the tremendous power to forever alter the nation.

"Consider the power he will have, especially after the United States Supreme Court just ruled that he would be immune from criminal prosecution," Harris warned.

"Just imagine Donald Trump with no guardrails and how he would use the immense powers of the presidency of the United States  not to improve your life, not to strengthen our national security, but to serve the only client he has ever had: himself."
Three-year-old pacing filly Its A Love Thing earned her fifth straight victory in stakes action with a dominating performance in the fourth Gold Series leg of the Ontario Sires Stakes on Friday night, Aug. 23 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Its A Love Thing was followed by Pass Line, giving trainer Dave Menary a swept of the exactor in the $140,000 event.

Driver James MacDonald made the winning move with Its A Love Thing once Lightning Lizzie (Brett MacDonald) and Odds On Platinum (Sylvain Filion) traded turns on the lead through a :56 first half. On the move from fifth midway down the backstretch, Its A Love Thing went head-to-head with the front-striding Odds On Platinum as they raced by three-quarters in 1:22.4 and swept by off the final turn with stablemate, Pass Line, chasing her cover and taking over second-place through the stretch for Doug McNair. Its A Love Thing was victorious in 1:50 flat by 1-3/4 lengths over Pass Line, with One More Bet (Louis-Philippe Roy) getting up in the battle for third.

"She loves to race horses and she sees that horse on front and it's hard to throttle her back when you get her out there," said MacDonald in a post-race interview. "She just wants to go so fast and run them into the ground. She's been a lot of fun to drive and hopefully it's just the tip of the iceberg with her."

"She's just special," added Menary. "James always puts her in the right spot and even when she's not in the right spot, she seems to be able to overcome it. She gives me tingles."

The O'Brien Award runner-up to Pass Line as a freshman, Its A Love Thing has stepped out of her stablemate's shadow in her sophomore season, winning seven stakes with her only losses being second-place finishes in a pair of elimination events. Among her victories this year, the one-eyed filly has conquered Grand Circuit foes in the Fan Hanover and Jerry Silverman Memorial and is perfect in three Ontario Sires Stakes starts, including the Mid-Season Gold Final last month.

"Early on, there were two starts when she was second and third -- and should have won by six -- from running out. We corrected that steering last year and this year it's kind of been clear sailing," said Menary. "She matured and kind of grew into herself and she just loves to do it."

The Ontario-sired three-year-old pacing fillies will meet again for the final preliminary leg on Sept. 26 before the Super Final on Oct. 12. Its A Love Thing is also scheduled to compete in the Simcoe Stakes and Kentucky Sire Stakes final before her next Gold appearance.

Sent postward as the 3-5 favourite, Its A Love Thing paid $3.40 to win and $2.30 to place. There was no show wagering.

The millionaire daughter of Bettors Delight and Love For Sail is owned by Eric Good, Thomas Biederman, Joshua Green and Rich Lombardo Racing.

The win was one of four on Friday's Grand Circuit stakes undercard for MacDonald, who also completed a sweep of a Pop-Up Series for conditioned pacers with the Garry Merner-trained Tyga Hanover ($2.30) winning the $20,000 final in 1:51. Palladium Hanover took the $12,000 consolation in 1:52.1 for the mother and son, trainer and driver team Jodie and Travis Cullen.

To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.

(Standardbred Canada)
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

A California bill seeks to regulate the development of AI models though critics say the measure can threaten innovation in the nascent field.

A bill aimed at regulating powerful artificial intelligence models is under consideration in California's legislature, despite outcry that it could kill the technology it seeks to control.

"With Congress gridlocked over AI regulation... California must act to get ahead of the foreseeable risks presented by rapidly advancing AI while also fostering innovation," said Democratic state senator Scott Wiener of San Francisco, the bill's sponsor.

But critics, including Democratic members of US Congress, argue that threats of punitive measures against developers in a nascent field can throttle innovation.

"The view of many of us in Congress is that SB 1047 is well-intentioned but ill-informed," influential Democratic congresswoman Nancy Pelosi of California said in a release, noting that top party members have shared their concerns with Wiener.

"While we want California to lead in AI in a way that protects consumers, data, intellectual property and more, SB 1047 is more harmful than helpful in that pursuit," Pelosi said.

Pelosi pointed out that Stanford University computer science professor Fei-Fei Li, whom she referred to as the "Godmother of AI" for her status in the field, is among those opposing the bill.

Harm or help?

The bill, called the Safe and Secure Innovation for Frontier Artificial Intelligence Models Act, will not solve what it is meant to fix and will "deeply harm AI academia, little tech and the open-source community," Li wrote earlier this month on X. Little tech refers to startups and small companies, as well as researchers and entrepreneurs.

Weiner said the legislation is intended to ensure safe development of large-scale AI models by establishing safety standards for developers of systems costing more than $100 million to train.

The bill requires developers of large "frontier" AI models to take precautions such as pre-deployment testing, simulating hacker attacks, installing cyber security safeguards, as well as providing protection for whistleblowers.

Recent changes to the bill include replacing criminal penalties for violations with civil penalties such as fines.

OpenAI and its chief Sam Altman have also come out against the bill, saying national rules would make more sense.

Wiener argues that AI safety and innovation are not mutually exclusive, and that tweaks to the bill have addressed some concerns of critics.

OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, has also come out against the bill, saying it would prefer national rules, fearing a chaotic patchwork of AI regulations across the US states.

At least 40 states have introduced bills this year to regulate AI, and a half dozen have adopted resolutions or enacted legislation aimed at the technology, according to The National Conference of State Legislatures.

OpenAI said the California bill could also chase innovators out of the state, home to Silicon Valley.

But Anthropic, another generative AI player that would be potentially affected by the measure, has said that after some welcome modifications, the bill has more benefits than flaws.

The bill also has high-profile backers from the AI community.

"Powerful AI systems bring incredible promise, but the risks are also very real and should be taken extremely seriously," computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton the "Godfather of AI," said in a Fortune op-ed piece cited by Wiener.

"SB 1047 takes a very sensible approach to balance those concerns."

AI regulation with "real teeth" is critical, and California is a natural place to start since it has been a launch pad for the technology, according to Hinton.

Meanwhile, professors and students at the California Institute of Technology are urging people to sign a letter against the bill.

"We believe that this proposed legislation poses a significant threat to our ability to advance research by imposing burdensome and unrealistic regulations on AI development," CalTech professor Anima Anandkumar said on X.

 2024 AFP
Former President Donald Trump appeared to admit the 2020 election he lost wasn't "rigged" after all as he has long claimed, but that he came up "just a little bit short" of votes.

He made his comments during a press conference Thursday in Cochise County, Arizona, after a visit to the border where he claimed other countries were "emptying their prisons," and flying in "hundreds of thousands" of murderers" along with people from "insane asylums" into the U.S., a claim for which he has yet to provide any evidence.

He boasted about the low numbers of immigrants entering the nation his "last week" in office, noting he lost the White House because of a "horrible, horrible election."

Trump noted: "I got many millions more votes than I got the first time, but didn't quite make it, just a little bit short."

The comment was a dramatic contrast to his repeated, baseless claim that the vote was somehow rigged against him, even though many other Republican won their races on the same ballots.

Trump also appeared to inadvertently praise his opponent Kamala Harris when he said San Francisco was the "best city in the country" 15 years ago. That's when Gavin Newsom was mayor and Harris was his district attorney.

Since then, Harris has somehow "absolutely ... destroyed" the city and all of California, Trump also insisted after forgetting who was running the city when it was the "best."

Fox News is taking Trump's rally live and subjecting their viewers to the entirety of this unhinged rant. I can't imagine this is actually helping him at all because he sounds unglued. Note the silence of his audience in North Carolina as he goes on and on and on. pic.twitter.com/jE6ptELXBy  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 21, 2024

This story originally appeared on the International Business Times
(TBTCO) - Nhung tiem nang nao cua ban than ma ban chua kham pha ra? Lam the nao e nam bat nhung co hoi, trai nghiem moi trong su nghiep cua minh? ang ky tham gia ngay su kien Mega Livestream "Mo tiem nang- Vuot gioi han" uoc Prudential lan au tien to chuc, hua hen mang en nhieu thong tin thu vi, co hoi nghe nghiep hap dan va nhung phan qua gia tri cho nguoi tham gia.
(TBTCO) - Ket thuc quy III/2024, toan he thong Kho bac Nha nuoc a ieu hanh ngan quy ap ung ay u, kip thoi cac nhu cau chi cua ngan sach nha nuoc va cac on vi co giao dich voi Kho bac Nha nuoc. ac biet, cac nguon chi a kip thoi en cac oi tuong thu huong an toan, chinh xac. Trong quy cuoi cung cua nam, Kho bac Nha nuoc se tiep tuc tap trung vao nhung nhiem vu trong tam, trong o co cong tac quan ly ngan quy, kiem soat chi e tiep tuc ua nguon von ngan sach phat trien kinh te - xa hoi.
Because blood pressure numbers can fluctuate so dramatically, it is important to determine your personal normal numbers. Dreamstime, HO / TNS

Q: I have been confused about what normal blood pressure is for me (or anyone). I know there are some issues on what normal is today, but let us say that normal is 120/80 mm Hg. Does this mean that 110/90 mm Hg, 130/70 mm Hg, or 150/50 mm Hg is also normal? Is there any significance of the ratio of systolic/diastolic blood pressure?

A: Because so many people have high blood pressure, and the consequences of untreated or poorly treated high blood pressure include a risk for heart attack and stroke, its critically important to understand this thoroughly.

For a young, healthy person, the lower the blood pressure, the lower the risk of blood vessel damage that leads to these dreaded complications of heart attack and stroke. I routinely see people with blood pressures of 90/60 mm Hg who are just fine (although they are a bit more likely to faint).

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But for middle-aged and older people, we define normal blood pressure as when the systolic (first or top number) pressure is less than 120 mm Hg and the diastolic (the second or bottom number) is less than 80 mm Hg. Elevated blood pressure is when the systolic pressure is between 120-129 mm Hg and the diastolic pressure is less than 80 mm Hg. Its considered hypertension when the systolic number is 130 mm Hg or greater, or the diastolic number is 80 mm Hg or greater. So, all of the readings you proposed are hypertension, not just elevated blood pressure.

Of course, the higher the reading (in general), the higher the risk of damage to the blood vessels, and after some years, the higher the risk of heart attack or stroke. Its not the ratio of the systolic and diastolic numbers that is of interest; its the difference between them (also called the pulse pressure). So, with the numbers you gave, the pulse pressures are 20, 60 and 100. Independent of blood pressure levels, a higher pulse pressure confers additional risk to the person, mostly because very stiff blood vessels cause a high pulse pressure. Different types of blood pressure medicines affect pulse pressure differently.



Q: Is a platelet count of 135,000 low or in the normal range for a 76-year-old male in good health with no signs of abnormal bruising or bleeding?

A: The normal range for a platelet count is 150,000-450,000 per microliter, so 135,000 is just below the lower limit of normal. However, its quite rare to have abnormal bleeding with a platelet count like this, even under stress like a surgical procedure. About 2.5% of the healthy population will have a platelet count below 150,000, so a level of 135,000 may not represent disease at all. Typically, the risk of spontaneous major bleeding becomes high when platelet levels drop below 30,000.

The most common cause of low platelets in older adults is an immune-mediated condition called immune thrombocytopenia, but there are many possible causes, including medications, bone marrow diseases and liver disease. For a 76-year-old, if repeat blood counts show that the platelet count is stable in the 100,000 range, most experts would not do further testing in absence of any symptoms.



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Q: My sister has a real problem with alcohol. I have tried to get her into a rehab program, but she is resistant. I have read that medications like Ozempic might have some benefit in getting people to stop drinking alcohol. Is there an answer?

A: Alcohol use disorder is a huge problem worldwide, and basic and clinical scientists are constantly searching for new treatments. I found several trials showing initial promise with GLP-1 inhibitors helping to curb cravings, not only for alcohol but for nicotine and opioids as well. Most of these trials use the older drugs: liraglutide, dulaglutide and exenatide. But I found potential benefit for semaglutide (Ozempic) and tirzepatide as well.

However, these are preliminary studies. I cant recommend these as initial treatment, based on the limited data. Furthermore, they are extremely expensive and subject to drug shortages. There are other medications that are much less expensive, more available and better tested when it comes to alcohol use disorder. Natrexone and acamprosate both have strong evidence of benefit, and neither are used as often as they should be. There are second-line treatments available as well. By themselves, though, medicines are not the answer.

As it sounds like it might be the case with your sister, a major barrier is when a person isnt ready to change. A skilled clinician, such as an expert in addiction medicine, sees this frequently and helps get a person motivated to change. Without motivation, treatment is unlikely to succeed.



Q: My wife and I contracted COVID recently. All those expired COVID tests worked fine. I called my doctor to get a script for Paxlovid and uploaded all of the positive test results. Last year, we both had COVID, and Paxlovid worked extremely well for us. Still, our doctor said he did not believe in Paxlovid and sent scripts to my pharmacy for azithromycin and dexamethasone instead.

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I called back and said I did not want an antibiotic for a viral infection. He reluctantly agreed, but said that because of a new law in Florida, we would have to drive to his office and wait in the parking lot for the nurse to have us sign release forms of some sort.

Do you know why its so hard to get Paxlovid now? You dont even need to sign release forms for narcotics, as far as I know.

A: The data are abundantly clear that Paxlovid reduces the risk of hospitalization and death in people with risk factors. In young, healthy people with no risk factors, Paxlovid really doesnt have much benefit. However, the data are pretty strong that azithromycin is of no help and dexamethasone is only appropriate for those who have severe COVID with low oxygen levels.

I couldnt find any requirement in Florida (or anywhere else) to have patients sign a release form. I am very uncomfortable with your doctors behavior.

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According to new guidance from the Food and Drug Administration, state-licensed pharmacists can prescribe Paxlovid as long as they have the necessary information, including recent health records, which are often available on smartphones now.
The Bureau of Land Management has issued its final proposal for the long-anticipated and fiercely controversial Rock Springs Resource Management Plan.

The plan will guide decisions for a diverse and coveted swath of public lands in Wyomings southwest  more than 3.6 million acres, to be exact  and will impact everything from mineral exploration and development, renewable energy, wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation, wild horses, livestock grazing and historic trails.

It comes more than 30 years after the current management standards were established by the Green River Resource Management Plan in 1997, since which an abundance of new science and information has changed the way decision makers think about land-use policy. But more information hasnt translated to more consensus.

Controversy

The plans initial draft proposal sparked outrage with its release in Aug. 2023, when the agency revealed its intention to vastly expand conservation areas in Wyomings southwest. Shortly after, a viral spread of misinformation put the BLM on the receiving end of accusations and threats. The agency itself was then scandalized after spreading misinformation of its own by publishing sections of a retired draft plan, which it later said was accidental.

The controversy led BLM Director Tracy Stone Manning to extend the public comment period. During that time, she met with Gov. Mark Gordons special Rock Springs RMP Task Force who included representatives from a host of sectors and interest groups with stakes in Wyomings southwest.

The agency responded to the task force and made significant changes before releasing its latest iteration today, which now begins a 30-day public protest period. Despite more compromise, the plan is still a far cry from popularity, and public figures have quickly lined up to denounce it.

Unfortunately, but not surprisingly  the proposed Rock Springs RMP does not meet Wyomings expectations of durable, multiple use of public lands. One-quarter of the Field Office remains slated for areas of critical environmental concern, Gov. Gordon said in a statement.

Critical areas

At the heart of the controversy has been the agencys emphasis on conservation and areas of critical environmental concern, a designation which precludes oil and gas development and other extractive enterprises.

Initially the bureau proposed 16 areas of critical environmental concern designations amounting to 1.6 acres of hyper-protected lands. The latest plan includes 12 critical areas and shrinks that protected acreage to 936,193 acres. This still marks a major jump from the existing plan in which only 286,470 acres were designated, an increase unwelcomed by some fossil energy advocates.

When we put our regional lens on this plan along with plans from other western states, we see the Biden/Harris Administration using the BLM land use planning process to all but enact a leasing and fracking ban by other means. Kathleen Sgamma, president of Western Energy Alliance, told the Star-Tribune via email.

Greater Little Mountain

Designating some places as having critical environmental concern was strongly supported for some areas, however, especially the Greater Little Mountain area, a swath of Sweetwater County cherished for its big-game hunts and wildlife. Wyomingites across the political spectrum favored the BLMs expanded protection of the area, according to a poll conducted by Muley Fanatic Foundation and New Bridge Strategy.

Trona

The agency insists the plan reflects a balanced compromise and points to its treatment of trona as an example.

The initial preferred alternative would have allowed trona development on only 46% of the management area. In response to substantive comments and working group discussions, the agencys latest proposal allows trona development on up to 85% of the total management area.

After getting feedback, going through all those details, responding to people, we ultimately decided to open that aperture up a ton, said Micky Fisher, an information officer with the BLM Wyoming.

Another big change in the latest iteration relates to rights of way, which apply to recreation as well as industry, including right of ways for fossil energy pipelines or utility transmission. The August 2023 draft would have excluded rights of way on 69% of the federal lands in the management area; in the current proposal, only 24% of lands are excluded.

Even as the BLM-Wyoming has found itself in the crosshairs, it says the intensity of the discussion is a good sign.

Contrary to popular belief, we are appreciative of the public engagement thus far. We love the fact that the public has been so engaged. Wyomingites have taken tremendous pride in the state, as we should, and that was abundantly clear throughout this entire process, who added that the process is not quite over yet.

Changes can still be made up until a final record of decision, up until the very last inning. So its still very much open to change.
On Saturday, the National Interagency Fire Center was reporting on five wildfires in Wyoming, including the 174,691-acre House Draw Fire in Johnson County, the 130,000-acre Remington Fire spanning the Montana-Wyoming line in Sheridan County, 1,966-acre Clearwater Fire in the Shoshone National Forest near Cody, and the 103,000-acre Fish Creek and 780-acre Leeds Creek fires in Bridger-Teton National Forest which was reported to be 75 percent contained.

In addition, Gov. Mark Gordon named two additional Campbell County blazes in a prepared statement Friday afternoon: the Flat Rock Fire, which covers 45,000 acres, and the Constitution Fire, which covers 20,000 acres.

Gordon said the state is focused on the preservation of life, property and containment.

Confronting fires of this size and battling against Mother Natures forces takes significant dedication from those on the frontlines. Thank you to all who are fighting these fires  both volunteer and full-time firefighters  you are protecting our livelihoods, homes, and landscapes, Gordon said. Jennie and I send our prayers to everyone impacted.

According to the statement, fire crews are utilizing extensive ground and aerial resources to attack each of these fires, slowing their growth and protecting threatened structures.

Gordon is urging Wyoming residents near active wildfires to monitor the fires status through local communication channels, follow all emergency guidance, stay clear of the fire to allow firefighters to safely access and suppress the fires.

The state has deployed Wyoming State Forestry helicopter and helitack firefighters, two single-engine air tankers, the Wyoming Smokebusters and numerous state staff providing operational and administrative support.

Additionally, the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management are providing additional air resources, including tankers and scooper planes.

On the ground, Wyoming is coordinating with all local fire districts and emergency personnel, state, federal and county engines, county and private dozers and blades, all working these fires on the frontline protecting their communities, according to the statement.

Wyoming is also relying on state resources from other western states and additional federal resources from across the nation.

So far, according to Gordons release, the state has not activated the National Guard for the currently burning fires. The guard did assist with the Pleasant Valley Fire that burned near Camp Guernsey in early August.

Gordons statement attributed the guards limited role this season to federal restrictions, all federal, state, and county firefighting resources must be exhausted before National Guard firefighting resources can be requested.

Currently, Wyoming is experiencing an average number of wildfires but an above average amount of acres burned, the statement reads.

As of Friday, Wyoming has seen 522 wildfires that have burned 327,700 acres.
RIGHT TO RE-ENTRY: Bailiffs Ramkarran Ramparas, left, and Vidal Ramparas outside the corporate offices of MovieTowne, Port of Spain, yesterday as they carried out a right to re-entry exercise, which they did on behalf of the Port of Spain Infrastructure Company (POSINCO) over an outstanding $10 million debt. Photo: JERMAINE CRUICKSHANK
Hyatt farse and outta place. The audacity of them. Saying that in this country they are not 
FILE: The "We Love Houston" sign at 8th Wonder Brewery & Distillery, just east of downtown Houston. The Houston metro region is again experiencing significant population growth. Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Houston is the second fastest-growing major metro area in the U.S., seeing its largest population increase in the past six years, according to a recent census analysis.

Between July 2021 and July 2022, the nine-county Houston metro area, which includes The Woodlands and Sugar Land, added 125,000 residents to its population. The region's population now stands at 7.34 million, according to an analysis of U.S. Census data conducted by the Greater Houston Partnership. Dallas-Fort Worth was the fastest-growing major metro area during the same period.

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The new figure, exceeding the 20-year average of 119,000 residents per year, signaled a recovery from the pandemic-induced growth slowdown, the Greater Houston Partnership report said. During 2020 and 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic hindered population increases in the Houston area, leading to the lowest growth rates in the past two decades, with only about 75,000 people added each year.

"There was a sizeable uptick in population growth last year compared to the prior year's historically low increase," Kristie Wilder, a demographer with the Census Bureau's population division, previously told the Chronicle. "A rebound in net international migration, coupled with the largest year-over-year increase in total births since 2007, is behind this increase."

Two-thirds of Houston's population gains in 2022 resulted from new residents moving to the area, while the rest came from births surpassing deaths. The steady influx of foreign-born residents remains crucial for the region's growth, analysts at the Greater Houston Partnership found, with international migration contributing to more than one-third of the region's overall population rise.

A high net increase in migration typically signals a region's economic prosperity, the report said. In this regard, Houston stands out as an exception, as 12 of the nation's 20 largest metros saw more people moving out than in during 2022, exacerbating their population declines.

Houston performed exceptionally well last year, the Greater Houston Partnership report said. Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and St. Louis lost a combined 600,000 residents to outmigration last year. If not for births exceeding deaths in these metros, their overall population losses would have been even greater.

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More from this author: Houston urges residents to conserve water for potential shortage due to population boom

Mayor Sylvester Turner emphasized the city's commitment to enhancing infrastructure and resilience, especially in response to severe weather challenges, in order to accommodate the growing population. He said the report underscores Houston's position as an ideal location to live, work and play, highlighting its many strengths and achievements.

"We are the most diverse city in the nation, the home of the Port of Houston, where we rank first in the U.S in foreign waterborne tonnage, the largest medical center in the world, have two world-class international airports, are the energy capital of the world and last year led every major city in violent crime reduction," Turner said. "And Houston is still more affordable than many, if not all, major cities on the East or West Coast. What's not to love?"

According to the report, the strong population upswing could help explain Houstons surge in jobs, housing demand, and traffic. In the 12 months ending July 1, 2022, the city saw an additional 176,000 jobs, 108,000 single-family homes, 21,000 apartment units and 280,000 vehicles, according to census data.

Houston now solidifies its position as the fifth most populated metro in the nation, trailing behind New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Dallas-Fort Worth. Analysts said that Houston is unlikely to surpass Dallas-Fort Worth in the near future  as the latter experienced the largest population increase last year  and might face pressure from Washington, D.C., which currently ranks sixth.

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At current growth rates, the rankings of the 10 most populous metros are unlikely to shift anytime soon, the report said.

TEXAS POPULATION: Texas is now the only state other than California with a population of 30 million

Meanwhile, Texas, with six of the nations top 10 fastest-growing counties, saw the highest population increase of any state, with about 471,000 new residents in 2020. It has now joined California as the only two states in the nation with a population of more than 30 million.
A New York City-based hedge fund spent $100 million to buy farmland and water rights in Western Arizona, stirring concerns about a future water grab from that rural area and of corporate control over a major groundwater source.

Water Asset Management LLC recently bought 12,793 acres  nearly 20 square miles  in La Paz Countys McMullen Valley Basin, County Assessor Anna Camacho said Friday. The company paid cash for the land, a county record shows.

This is an area that already rightfully believes it has been exploited by international companies. Now weve got Wall Street swooping in, to take that water, with an obvious intent to sell it to cities in the (Phoenix) valley so they can continue to grow in an unfettered way, Attorney General Kris Mayes told the Star.

The purchase may well have been the biggest water deal in Arizona history, Mayes said, adding it happened without a single public comment session being held to examine it.

We know why they are buying it, said La Paz County Supervisor Holly Irwin. They are not buying it for the land. They are buying it for the water. It is a natural resource they will probably be marketing to a lot of cities.

I feel like we are the sacrificial lamb, Irwin said.

But Robert Glennon, a retired University of Arizona law professor who has long been critical of water overuse and an advocate for water conservation, defended Water Asset Management.

Since we have brokers in every other aspect of life, whats different about water? he asked.

The groundwater basin, already declining from pumping, lies nearly 100 miles west of Phoenix and a bit more than 200 miles northwest of Tucson.

Water rights across SW

The purchase is the latest of many moves by Water Asset Management to acquire water rights across the arid Southwest, both for farming purposes and to sell the lands water rights to other entities, including cities.

In Arizona, the company had already bought land and water rights in another rural valley just west of Phoenix, and land near the Colorado River in Mohave County. The company tried to sell water rights coming with that land to the Central Arizona Projects governing agency to serve growth in urban areas, but the agency eventually killed that deal after it generated a storm of protest from county residents and leaders.

The hedge fund has also invested in land in California and Colorado, and at times has been a vocal advocate of what it calls free market solutions to the regions ongoing water crisis.

In La Paz County, the $100 million purchase, which closed July 19, was officially made by Delaware-based company Emporia III LLC, county records show. But that company provided a New York City address that belongs to Water Asset Management.

The outline of the deal was first reported by Arizona Public Media.

The land was purchased from Arizona Valley Farm, which was owned by a Raleigh, North Carolina-based farm investment company called International Farming Corp. It had bought that land for $30 million from the city of Phoenix in 2012. The purchased land covers a swath of farmland lying along U.S. 60 including in and around the unincorporated rural communities of Wenden and Salome.

The purchase drew deep concern from Mayes and Irwin. Among their concerns is the very real possibility the groundwater now owned by the New York firm could be legally transferred to rapidly growing cities in the Phoenix area as their supplies grow increasingly scarce.

This basin was approved for groundwater transfers by a 1991 state law. The law allows the sale of groundwater rights from the McMullen Basin and three others to entities in urban areas, whose groundwater use is controlled by state-run water Active Management Areas. Such transfers are banned elsewhere in the state.

Theyre also concerned because the land purchase lies in an area where foreign companies already engaged in heavy, unregulated groundwater pumping. The United Arab Emirates-based Al Dahra for some time was growing alfalfa on 3,000 of the acres just purchased by Water Asset Management, and the Saudi-based Fondomonte was until recently pumping groundwater for alfalfa-growing on state land in the neighboring Butler Valley basin in La Paz County.

Gary Saiter, board chair and general manager of a public water district in the area of the land purchase, called Water Asset Managements move into the area terrifying. For him, Mayes and Irwin, the prospect of a large, out-of-state company taking over what they see as an already imperiled water supply is particularly concerning.

Obviously Im concerned because of the amount of property they purchased and the amount of money  $100 million is a lot of money for an area thats not a wealthy area, said Irwin, a longtime crusader against groundwater over-pumping in rural areas.

Mayes office has sent investigators to that area to talk with people about wells drying up from over-pumping. She has also held a town hall to hear residents concerns about the pumping.

She is looking into the possibility of legal action to try to combat it, with one possible theory being that the over-pumping creates a public nuisance, she said.

If Water Asset Managements plan is to transfer even more water out of there to Phoenix, one can only imagine damage is going to grow exponentially, Mayes said.

Asset performance

But Glennon, the retired UA water expert, countered: What I have advocated is that in the urban areas, even if its through surrogates like asset funds and brokers, if you have sensible policies where the urban areas pay for installation of modern farm infrastructure, modern irrigation equipment, farmers can continue to grow as much products as they are growing now with slightly less water, and the differential would be for water used for non-agricultural purposes,

He said he thinks that in general, Water Asset Management is trying to do good and do well at the same time.

They say Were trying to bring added value to rural areas. They own farms in a number of areas and they arent selling. They are modernizing their infrastructure and making farms more efficient, said Glennon, who spoke at an event sponsored by the company three years ago for a fee.

They come at it from the perspective of finance guys. They say, Heres an asset. Its not performing in the way it could. How can we make it perform better? That has the potential to be a life preserver for rural areas.

Exactly how Water Asset Management intends to manage its new holdings in La Paz County isnt clear. The Star left two phone messages requesting an interview with Vince Vasquez, a company official who lives in Tucson. He hasnt returned those calls. Calls to the companys New York City offices also havent been returned.

On its website, the company describes itself as a global investor in companies and assets that ensure water quality and supply. (Its) two distinct teams invest in global water public equities and private equity in Southwest U.S. water resources and farmland.

On a section about its mission, Water Asset Management says it invests in companies and assets that ensure water quality and availability for communities, agriculture and the environment. WAMs team-oriented culture, based on integrity, innovation, and transparency, is focused on solving water problems. WAM places the interests of its investors above its own and our teams are incentivized on long-term returns.

A groundwater basin on the edge

Whats clear is that the company is moving into an area where groundwater supplies reachable with existing wells have already grown increasingly scarce, and where controversy has already been fierce over out-of-state companies moving in to pump those water resources with no state oversight.

The valley covers about 720 square miles and goes into Maricopa and Yavapai counties as well as La Paz County. Barely 3,200 people live there, and crops are grown on about 32,000 acres in the basin, a 2023 Arizona Department of Water Resources report found.

From 1990 through 2022, three acre-feet of groundwater left the basin through pumping for every acre-foot of water that entered the basin through rainfall-driven natural recharge and other means. That rate has steadily increased since 2008, and in 2022 five acre-feet left the basin for every acre-foot that came in, ADWR said.

By 2022, the amount of groundwater stored in the basin at its average well depth of 573 feet had fallen by more than half to about 1.3 million acre-feet. By 2075, the basins entire water table is expected to fall below 573 feet under any of five different scenarios affecting water use. if that were to happen, 46% of the areas wells would go dry, ADWRs report said.

To continue mining groundwater within the basin, well owners would have to deepen wells or drill new wells at a significant financial cost, ADWR said.

One result of this over-pumping is that the ground is sinking due to land subsidence. At one spot thats been measured in the basin, the ground has fallen 5.6 feet since 1991 and currently drops about one-quarter of a foot yearly, said ADWRs Brian Conway, a hydrogeologist and land subsidence expert.

Back in the 1970s the water table where Im sitting was about 170 some feet deep. Right now today, its at 545 feet, said Saiter, general manager for the Wenden Domestic Water Improvement District. It sells drinking water to some of the farming operations that Water Asset Management just bought. Thats the result of farming in this valley.

But taking it out of agriculture to sell to the metropolitan market, thats terrifying, Saiter said. Eventually, that means there wont be water for the people that live here.

Agriculture still produces an economic benefit there for its water use, but I dont see an economic benefit for us if water is taken out and sent to Phoenix. How does it preserve life in the McMullen Valley? he said.

Saudi, UAE controversies

For several years, this area was aflame with controversy over unregulated pumping for alfalfa grown on state land in the neighboring Butler Valley by the Saudi-based Fondomonte. It shipped it back to the home country where groundwater use for alfalfa growing is forbidden due to limited supplies.

But in March, Gov. Katie Hobbs announced the company is no longer pumping on state land because the State Land Department canceled one of its leases and didnt renew three others whose terms had expired. Fondomonte continues to pump groundwater for alfalfa on private land in the region, however.

The United Arab Emirates-based firm Al Dahra Farms until very recently grew alfalfa on about 3,000 acres it leases of the farmland that was sold to Water Asset Management, Saiter said. Its one of six farms on 30,000 acres in Arizona and Southern California where the company grows alfalfa and other grains, Al Dahra said on its website.

Last summer, controversy erupted when it became known that the Arizona State Retirement System, the states largest public pension fund, had invested $175 million in 2012 into International Farming Corp. The fund announced at the time it was selling its interest in that company.

Saiter said Al Dahra has recently stopped growing alfalfa and now plans to convert its land to growing agave until its lease runs out next year.

Al Dahra officials couldnt be reached for comment. International Farming declined to comment, saying through a spokeswoman, Due to confidentiality requirements, we are unable to share additional information about tenants or the sale.

Magnet for exploiters

For Mayes, this sale is a symptom of the statewide problems in rural areas caused by a lack of regulation of groundwater pumping there.

I think the lack of groundwater regulations with teeth is absolutely acting as a magnet for these exploiters, she said. Whether it is Water Asset Management or the Saudis, theres no doubt about it that they see our states failure to protect itself as an open season.

The Legislature has failed after years of trying to enact rural groundwater legislation allowing for some sort of regulation in those areas. In its last session, the Legislature failed to enact a law allowing creation of rural groundwater management districts that would have the power to regulate groundwater pumping  after Democrats, Republicans and rural interest groups on both sides of the issue couldnt agree on a compromise. Both sides are continuing to discuss the issue in hopes of reaching a deal.

Given the timing of the Water Asset Management purchase, Mayes acknowledged she doesnt know if a new law this year could have prevented such a deal, unless it had an emergency clause that made it take effect immediately. But having state-run Active Management Areas in this area  I know for sure it would have prevented the kind of exploitation that happened with Fondomonte and the UAE farm, she said.

Rep. Tim Dunn, a Yuma Republican who has been active in water issues, acknowledged that Water Asset Management is the poster child of what people are concerned with when people come here to buy water.

But they are buying water in an appropriate spot that was designed to transfer water out of the valley. Thats a natural progression of things, he said.

Noting the company also owns land in the Harquahala Valley, another legal water transfer basin, he said these are long-term holds. You buy something now and that doesnt mean you are going to start transferring the water immediately.

The process takes awhile. The hedge fund has long-term investments. Theyre looking 20 years down the road. Eventually, that water probably will transfer.

I dont know the deal itself. I do know they are buying the land. I assume theyll keep the employees and La Paz County will still get a tax base from those wells. Nothing should change in the interim, Dunn said.

Finally, he noted that the state law authorizing these transfers puts limits on how much groundwater can be transferred to another groundwater basin. The law says it has to be shown that the transfer doesnt harm other existing wells in the vicinity.

I would rather hedge funds buy from a transfer basin than go to Yuma or somewhere else on the Colorado River, Dunn said.
After losing his wife and three children to a drunken driver, Allen Lynn found himself in a serious battle with anger.

It tore me up, he said. I had so much anger and hate for that guy and people who do that. I still feel it sometimes.

Eleven years since the tragedy, Lynn has come a long way in the healing process. But health problems that followed it  including multiple heart attacks and a double bypass  have made his life anything but simple.

Lynn is proud to still be standing, though. And hes hopeful that he can be an inspiration to others down on their luck  especially those, like him, who are experiencing homelessness.

Lynn, who is currently staying at the Tulsa Day Center shelter, has been homeless for the past eight months.

And hes among a growing number of Tulsans who depend on the center for shelter and other services.

Through the first half of 2024, Tulsa Day Center received about 800 more visits  about a 17% increase  over the first half of last year.

Like other providers that serve the homeless, Day Center CEO Mack Haltom expected to see the increase.

Its not surprising, Haltom said, indicating that this years Point in Time count, reporting 1,427 homeless individuals in Tulsa, a 26% increase over last years total of 1,133, gave them fair warning. Conducted over one night in January, the annual count of Tulsas homeless community is a strong indicator when homelessness is increasing across the area.

With the increase in Day Center traffic, its proving to be accurate so far.

Through the end of June, the center had received 56,000 visits, at an average of 223 clients per day and 84 per night. The center had over 48,000 visits through June 2023.

A visit includes anyone who comes in for services, both first-time and repeat visitors.

The main driver of the increase, in Haltoms view, still hasnt changed.

People get tired of me saying it, he said of Tulsas lack of affordable housing. But Im going to keep saying it.

A lot of people are paying 50% to 60% of their income on rent, because rent is so high. And one little life change, like an automobile breaking down, or a health event or a mental health breakdown or something, can can throw them into homelessness pretty quick, for lack of a rent payment.

The Day Center is not alone in seeing numbers rise.

Other providers that serve the homeless are also on pace for an increase in demand for the year.

Sarah Grounds, executive director of City Lights Foundation of Oklahoma, said, As Mack mentioned, we expected it with the increase in the PIT count and with the struggles around housing and supports to maintain housing.

Bad timing

Salvation Army Center of Hope officials say theyve also had an uptick in traffic.

The shelter is currently on pace to provide 88,750 nights of shelter this year, a 4% increase over 2023.

Among their current residents, Amanda White and her three children have been homeless for about three weeks.

They are staying at the center as they try to figure out their next step.

White said its her first time being homeless.

As a mom, its super hard, she said.

My car also broke down. The transmission went out. So really bad timing for everything.

White said two of her children are autistic and she is unable to work because of the daily care one daughter requires.

I try, she said. Thats all I can do. My kids come first.

Back at the Day Center, Ashtin Raybourn is among the many residents hopeful that the assistance can help them put their lives back together.

She had a good thing going once as a travel nurse, Raybourn said.

But a year and a half ago, she was involved in a freak accident. The resulting head injury, which required several staples, was the beginning of a series of misfortunes.

Raybourn, whos been at the shelter about three months, said her goal is to somehow get back to her nursing career. She loved the work, especially providing care to the elderly.

All grandmas and grandpas need love and care, she said.

But right now the shorter-term goal is to find housing, either in Tulsa or Joplin, where she lived previously. Then, she can focus on regaining her health and footing.

Theres always hope

Haltom and center employees hear stories like these all the time.

And with the increase in numbers expected to continue, they should only hear more of them.

Still, no ones story is quite as tragic as Lynns.

Lynn said at the time he lost his family he was living in Indiana.

The accident with the drunken driver happened on a Christmas morning, he said. His children were ages 11, 7 and 5 at the time of their deaths, he said.

Since he arrived at the shelter, Lynn has picked up the nickname uncle from his fellow residents.

Its a token of respect for his positive outlook and supportive words.

I tell everyone Dont give up, he said. Theres always hope on the other side. Look at me. Look at what I went through.

Lynn is working with a case manager to try to secure permanent housing. Then he can better focus on his heart and overall health.

There are good people here, Lynn said of the Day Center. They really try to help.

While every day now brings more and more people through the centers front door, Haltom is focused on the positives in it.

We look at it as an opportunity to make connections, to really get people connected to services, Haltom said, adding that every time the door opens, thats another person coming into the system.

Whatever they come in for, once they are here, we can start working on solutions  on getting them off the streets, out of the shelters, into housing.

Were going to go full-bore ahead with this whole thing and keep doing what we can, he added.
Felix Clary Tulsa World Indigenous Affairs Reporter Follow Felix Clary Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

A sexual assault charge has been dismissed against noted Oklahoma artist Bunky Echo-Hawk.

Walter Bunky Echo-Hawk Jr., a renowned Yakama and Pawnee artist in the Indigenous community, was accused of sexual assault of a minor under 16. His Oct. 28 trial was cancelled after a Pawnee County judge dismissed the case Friday.

The case was transferred to Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler in March after Pawnee County District Attorney Mike Fisher withdrew, citing a conflict of interest. Kunzweiler allowed the dismissal of the case Friday due to a lack of evidence and a need for additional investigation.

For more than two and a half years, Bunky has maintained his complete innocence against every single charge and allegation ever made against him, said Tommy Adler, who along with Dan Good served as Echo-Hawks defense attorneys. Our belief in his innocence has never wavered.

Following the allegations, social media users were outraged over Echo-Hawks alleged crimes. The case became relevant in discussions of missing and murdered Indigenous people, a movement that advocates for young Native people who have suffered sexual assault.

The sad truth is that much of the world immediately canceled Bunky Echo-Hawk in response to the mere allegations in this case, Adler stated.

A well-known missing and murdered Indigenous women advocate on social media, Frances Danger, Muscogee and Seminole, tweeted updates about the case when Echo-Hawk was first arrested in January 2022.

Im disappointed in the outcome because I believe every survivor deserves justice, Danger said Friday.

The Tulsa World is where your story lives
Melissa Jacques Tulsa World Capitol Bureau Staff Writer Follow Melissa Jacques Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

OKLAHOMA CITY  The resignation of the director of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services is not related to a high-profile custody case nor any pending cases, according to the governors office.

Deborah Shropshire, who served as the agencys director since January 2023, will leave the role Sept. 13. She also will step away from her position as chief human services adviser to Gov. Kevin Stitt.

Dr. (Deborah) Shropshire has been a relentless fighter for Oklahoma families throughout her decade long career at Human Services, Stitt said in a statement. Dr. Shropshire wants government to work better for the people  and she delivered. During her tenure, Oklahomans benefited from simplified and modernized programs, and weve become a national leader in providing developmental disability services. Im grateful for Dr. Shropshires leadership, and I wish her best in her next chapter.

Concerns have been raised about specific cases handled by the Department of Human Services, including criticism of their handling of the Clayton Woolley case.

Clayton Woolley, who is now 12 years old, was taken away from his grandparents by Child Protective Services after his younger brother, Elijah, died unexpectedly.

Elijahs death was originally attributed to abuse, but the charges against his primary caregivers, his grandparents, have since been dropped. Clayton has not been returned to his grandparents custody even after the charges were dropped.

There has been intense criticism of DHS because of the Woolley case. Recently, Rep. Dana Prieto, R-Tulsa, said, Really, in reality, DHS needs to be burned to the ground and then built back up.

The Rev. John Stitt  the governors father  joined Prieto, Woolley family members and others at a recent press conference to call for reform of the agency and the removal of Clayton from his current foster home.

But none of these concerns are why Shropshire decided to resign, according to the governors office.

The governor is thankful for Dr. Shropshires service and knows shell bring that expertise to her next endeavor, Abegail Cave, communications director for the governor, said in an email. He is looking forward to getting a fresh set of eyes at DHS and working to build on the success weve seen in getting disability services to those who need it, working to keep kids safe, and ensuring the Oklahoma Standard is on full display across our state.

The Tulsa World is where your story lives
FRANKFURT -- German police said on Saturday that they were still searching for an unknown assailant hours after he killed three people and wounded others in a stabbing attack at a festival in the western city of Solingen.

Eight were injured, five of them seriously, the police said in a statement early on Saturday. That is up from the four serious injuries the police reported earlier.

"Both victims and witnesses are currently being questioned. The police are currently searching for the perpetrator with a large team," police said.

The incident occurred around 9:40 pm (1940 GMT) on Friday, when the man attacked multiple people with a knife, the police said.

Police members work following an incident in which several individuals were killed on Friday night when a man randomly stabbed passers-by with a knife at a city festival, in Solingen, Germany, August 24, 2024. Photo: Reuters

Fatal stabbings and shootings are relatively uncommon in Germany. The government wants to toughen rules on knives that can be carried in public by reducing the maximum length allowed.

In June a 29-year-old policeman died after being stabbed in Mannheim during an attack on a right-wing demonstration. A stabbing attack on a train in 2021 injured several.

Friday's attack occurred at a festival marking the 650th anniversary of Solingen in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's most populous state, which borders the Netherlands.

Authorities cancelled the remainder of the weekend event.

The state's interior minister, Herbert Reul, visited the scene early on Saturday, telling reporters it was a targeted attack on human life but declining to speculate on the motive.

A police spokesperson said they were unable to provide any details about the alleged perpetrator.

The attack occurred at the Fronhof, a market square where live bands were playing.

Police officers secure the area of an incident, after several individuals were killed on Friday night when a man randomly stabbed passers-by with a knife, at a city festival in Solingen, Germany, August 23, 2024. Photo: Reuters

Police vehicles are parked at the area of an incident, after several individuals were killed on Friday night when a man randomly stabbed passers-by with a knife, at a city festival in Solingen, Germany, August 24, 2024. Photo: Reuters

Forensic experts work following an incident in which several individuals were killed on Friday night when a man randomly stabbed passers-by with a knife at a city festival, in Solingen, Germany, August 24, 2024. Photo: Reuters

Special police forces work following an incident in which several individuals were killed on Friday night when a man randomly stabbed passers-by with a knife at a city festival, in Solingen, Germany, August 24, 2024. Photo: Reuters
Fruitful, dynamic cooperation with China promotes Africa's independent development

Xinhua) 13:37, August 24, 2024

BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- As leaders from China and African nations are scheduled to gather in Beijing for a summit in early September, expectations are high that the event will chart the course for enhancing bilateral cooperation and advancing Africa's independent and sustainable development.

Through joint efforts under the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) as well as the Belt and Road Initiative, continuous and solid progress has been made in cooperation in such fields as industry, agriculture and health, epitomizing the unique resilience and dynamism of China-Africa relations. Such cooperation has helped improve the well-being of the people and promote the industrialization of the continent that is home to the world's largest number of developing countries.

Recent data highlight the vigorous momentum of China-Africa relations. China has been Africa's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years, with bilateral trade reaching a record 282.1 billion U.S. dollars last year. African exports of agricultural products to China have increased for seven straight years. In the first half of this year alone, China imported goods worth 60.1 billion dollars from Africa, up 14 percent year on year.

China is one of the major sources of foreign investment in Africa. By the end of 2023, China's stock of direct investment in Africa had exceeded 40 billion U.S. dollars. Chinese companies have created 1.1 million jobs in Africa over the past three years, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

China has also promoted the development and transformation of Africa's industrial chains through capacity cooperation, technology transfer and talent cultivation. China has trained more than 220,000 personnel of various types for African countries, taking into account their actual needs. This also enhances African countries' capacity for independent development.

Furthermore, China-Africa agricultural cooperation has flourished, producing fruitful results in terms of technical assistance and training of agricultural experts, transfer of advanced agricultural technologies, and the building of agricultural parks, thereby helping modernize agriculture in Africa.

Chinese hybrid rice technology, for example, has assisted countries such as Madagascar and Liberia in increasing their rice output. China's Juncao, also known as "magic grass," has been successfully planted and promoted in countries including the Central African Republic, Rwanda and South Africa, increasing the income of local people and contributing to their green development.

China advocates for win-win cooperation, striving to integrate its own development with that of Africa and align the interests of the Chinese and African peoples. Relying on its strengths in industry, investment and infrastructure construction as the world's second-largest economy, China has cooperated with a number of African countries to build railways, ports, roads, industrial zones and energy projects, driving the industrialization of the continent.

Developing solidarity and cooperation with African countries has been the cornerstone of China's foreign policy. The phrase "a friend in need is a friend indeed" aptly describes China-Africa cooperation, as it is a partnership founded on mutual respect and support, targeting shared development and win-win outcomes and creating tangible benefits for people in China and Africa.

With its solid foundation of unbreakable friendship, China-Africa cooperation will surely reach new heights in the course of building a high-level community with a shared future. Through such cooperation, African countries will secure even greater progress in their independent and sustainable development.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liu Ning)
Scarface performs at Warehouse Live Midtown, Wednesday, March 20, 2024, in Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer

Beloved Houston rapper, record producer and Geto Boys member Scarface was in an intensive care unit Saturday being treated for an unknown ailment or illness.

Scarface, whose real name is Brad Terrence Jordan, posted a picture on his Instagram Saturday morning showing himself from the nose down with electrode wires across his bare chest and a breathing tube in his nose. A cardiovascular intensive care unit badge can be seen on a medical worker helping Jordan in the photo.

Ouch ... Grateful, reads the caption, emphasized with folded prayer hand emojis.

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With more than 39,000 likes and 7,200 comments, a slew of musicians, producers, comedians and other celebrity friends have sent well wishes for Scarfaces health.

Prayers for a full recovery, said stand-up comedian Cedric the Entertainer, whose real name is Cedric Antonia Kyles.

No additional information on Scarfaces condition had been released.

Who is Scarface the rapper?

Scarface is a 53-year-old rapper and music producer native to Houston. Born and raised in the South Acres neighborhood, Scarface dropped out of high school and worked as a drug dealer before breaking into the rap scene under the name DJ Akshun.

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In 1986, he signed with the label Rap-A-Lot Records and joined the group Geto Boys, from which he and the group gained recognition in the Southern hip-hop scene.

Scarface broke from the group with his solo career in 1991. His 2000 album The Last of a Dying Breed earned him the "Lyricist of the Year" award at the 2001 The Source Hip Hop Music Awards.

The difficulties he experienced growing up on Houstons South Side inspired a common theme of street struggles in many of his well-known songs, including I Seen a Man Die and Mind Playing Tricks on Me.

In 2019, Scarface returned to the public eye under his real name to take a pivot from his rapper persona to be a politician. He made a run to represent District D on Houston City Council but lost his bid for the seat.

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Scarface gained viral attention after he appeared on NPR Tiny Desk concert in December.

LOVE AND SUPPORT: Fellow musicians share support for Houston rapper Scarface after hospitalization

Does Scarface have any medical conditions?

In 2021, the rapper received a kidney from his son Chris Jordan after complications resulting from Covid-19.

Scarface contracted Covid-19 in March of 2020, and suffered from the disease for over a year and a half, resulting in organ failure. In October of 2020, he took to Twitter to ask for a kidney donation.

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Eleven months later, J Prince from Rap-A-Lot Records, a record label Geto Boys was signed to, posted on Instagram announcing Scarfaces son answered his fathers call for a new kidney.
Check out the latest news in Vietnam today:

Society

-- Alexandra Smith, the new British Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, unveiled a host of important trade and economic events scheduled to take place between the two countries in the upcoming period during her recent meeting with the press in the southern Vietnamese city.

-- Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has issued a directive asking ministries and relevant agencies to beef up efforts in strengthening high-quality workforce training in the fields of semiconductor, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing.

-- Rescuers on Friday night recovered the body of a 53-year-old construction worker who died after being buried in a landslide-hit foundation pit dug up for a rainwater drainage project in Can Tho City, southern Vietnam.

-- A three-kilometer section of the coastline in Hoang Hoa District, Thanh Hoa Province, north-central Vietnam has been swallowed by the sea since late July, taking a heavy toll on daily activities of local inhabitants.

-- The People's Committee of Lam Dong Province on Friday asked the administration of Da Lat City, a popular tourist destination in this Central Highlands province, to swiftly address issues related to using dogs for paid photography services, unlicensed street vending and other services in public locations.

-- Around three million Vietnamese children aged between five and 15 are suffering from refractive errors, according to statistics released at a scientific workshop held in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday.

Business

-- Work started on a US$260-million automotive engine manufacturing plant at the Chan May  Lang Co Economic Zone in Thua Thien  Hue Province, central Vietnam on Friday by Kim Long Motor Hue and China's Yuchai Corporation, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

World News

-- A team of trained dogs has been lending their towing strength, swimming endurance and current-detection ability to rescue people from drowning at a popular beach in southern Spain, according to Reuters.

-- Reuters cited police sources as saying that three people were killed and three others seriously wounded in a stabbing attack at a festival on Friday night in the western German city of Solingen.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
The Vietnam Navy Region 3 Command reported on Saturday morning that the Chinese Navy had handed over two Vietnamese fishermen to the unit after their boat sank off Tri Ton Island in Vietnams Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago.

Ship 952 under the Vietnam Navy Region 3 Command received the two Vietnamese fishermen in distress - Pham Tan Thanh, 59, and Nguyen Kinh, 52, both from Nha Trang City in Khanh Hoa Province - from the Chinese Navys Coast Guard Ship 4110.

Both fishermen are currently in stable condition and good health.

Ship 952 is expected to return the two rescued fishermen to Da Nang City port in central Vietnam on Sunday morning.

On August 14, Thanh and Kinh departed on a fishing boat numbered KH 93159 TS.

They had not reported their departure and were en route to a South Korean cargo ship for repair work, but they could not recall the vessels name or location.

Due to bad weather, their fishing boat sank 68 nautical miles south of Tri Ton Island, belonging to the Paracel archipelago in the East Vietnam Sea, at 8:00 am on August 18.

The fishermen managed to escape on a small boat.

Upon sighting Tri Ton Island, they rowed toward it and reached the beach by noon on August 22.

The Chinese Coast Guard later transferred them to Vietnamese authorities.

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A three-kilometer section of the coastline in Hoang Hoa District, Thanh Hoa Province, north-central Vietnam has been swallowed by the sea since late July, taking a heavy toll on daily activities of local inhabitants.

Residents of Hoang Hoas Hoang Truong Commune elaborated that they had previously walked for more than 500 meters through a casuarina coastal forest to reach the coast in the commune.

Recently, as the tide comes in, the waters edge is just some two meters away from a coastal road there due to severe erosion.

Some coastal communes like Hoang Truong, Hoang Thanh, and Hoang Phu have been affected by rapid and dangerous erosion since the end of last month, with several sections of the sea dyke being destroyed by sea waves.

Severe erosion has hit the coast of Hoang Truong Commune, Hoang Hoa District, Thanh Hoa Province, north-central Vietnam. Photo: Ha Dong / Tuoi Tre

The sea has encroached by between 15 and 20 meters in these locations.

In Hoang Phu alone, the sea has come approximately 100 meters inside, with eroded spots stretching more than 1.7 kilometers.

The administration of Hoang Hoa explained that the rapid and complex erosion and encroachment along the coast have been exacerbated by high tides, large waves with high frequency, floods and rain since the end of last month.

Coastal erosion has been creeping inland, wreaking havoc on some 25 hectares of land for farming and business purposes, 205 local homes, an anti-erosion embankment at the Hai Tien tourist site, coastal roads, and other public structures.

The situation is forecast to keep worsening in the upcoming time.

The concrete embankment along the coast of Hoang Truong Commune, Hoang Hoa District, Thanh Hoa Province, north-central Vietnam cracked and collapsed due to erosion. Photo: Ha Dong / Tuoi Tre

The administration of Hoang Hoa recently proposed that the provincial Peoples Committee develop a project to build a coastal embankment in response to further encroachment and erosion.

Authorities in the district also erected warning signs, banning people and vehicles from entering the eroded areas.

The chairman of the provincial administration on Friday signed a decision declaring a state of emergency over the coastal erosion across the communes of Hoang Truong, Hoang Thanh, and Hoang Phu.

Several concrete slabs at the coastal embankment of Hoang Truong Commune, Hoang Hoa District, Thanh Hoa Province, north-central Vietnam collapsed after being hit by sea waves amid severe sea encroachment. Photo: Ha Dong / Tuoi Tre

The chairman asked Hoang Hoa District to keep a close watch on the situation and promptly report any dangerous developments to upper authorities.

The districts administration was told to urgently develop a disaster prevention and control plan for the coastal locations in these communes to ensure safety of residents and property; stay ready for evacuation operations; and take measures to avoid further erosion.

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Cows roaming freely on major roads in Hoa Khanh Industrial Park, Lien Chieu District, Da Nang City, central Vietnam, have badely affected urban aesthetics and posed a traffic hazard.

According to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspapers observations, free-range cows are frequently spotted on major routes like the extended Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, Me Linh Street, Road No. 4, and Road No. 11B in Hoa Khanh Industrial Park.

The herds, ranging from a few to several dozen cows, boldly cross roads and climb onto medians in search of grass in vacant lots.

They often engage in aggressive behavior such as butting and chasing each other, creating sudden hazards for drivers who must brake sharply or maneuver quickly to avoid collisions.

A free-roaming cow crosses a road in Hoa Khanh Industrial Park, Lien Chieu District, Da Nang City, central Vietnam. Photo: Thanh Nguyen / Tuoi Tre

Pham Thi Thuong, a worker at Hoa Khanh Industrial Park and resident of Hoa Lien Commune in Hoa Vang District, Da Nang City, described near-miss incidents where she almost fell off her bike to avoid cows crossing the road.

I frequently see herds of cows roaming freely, especially around 5:00-6:00 pm, Thuong shared.

Their sudden crossings pose a significant danger to road users, particularly those with less driving experience.

Free-roaming cows cross a road in Hoa Lien Commune, Hoa Vang District, Da Nang City, central Vietnam. Photo: Thanh Nguyen / Tuoi Tre

Local residents report that this issue has persisted for years, leading to several traffic accidents.

The presence of roaming cows and their defecation in residential areas also detracts from urban aesthetics and contributes to environmental pollution.

In response, Le Van Loc, head of the Finance and Planning Department of the Lien Chieu District Peoples Committee, stated that the district has issued directives to functional units, including the urban management team and local residential groups, to promote and enforce regulations against free-range cattle.

Free-roaming cows cross the extended Nguyen Tat Thanh Street in Hoa Lien Commune, Hoa Vang District, Da Nang City, central Vietnam. Photo: Thanh Nguyen / Tuoi Tre

The district is also instructing local wards to visit households and secure commitments from residents to prevent their livestock from roaming freely.

Violations will result in penalties for the cow owners.

A motorcyclist rides past free-roaming cows in Hoa Khanh Industrial Park, Lien Chieu District, Da Nang City, central Vietnam. Photo: Thanh Nguyen / Tuoi Tre

Loc further mentioned that the Peoples Committee of Lien Chieu District will intensify efforts to address the issue and collaborate with the management board of the high-tech parks and industrial parks of Da Nang to develop timely solutions that ensure environmental hygiene and traffic safety.

This problem is not only prevalent in Hoa Khanh Industrial Park but also affects other areas in Da Nang City, such as Hoa Lien Commune in Hoa Vang District, raising concerns for traffic participants.

A motorcyclist rides past free-roaming cows in Hoa Khanh Industrial Park, Lien Chieu District, Da Nang City, central Vietnam. Photo: Thanh Nguyen / Tuoi Tre

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The new British Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, Alexandra Smith, has laid emphasis on bolstering trade with Vietnam and affirmed the UKs continued support for sustainable development of the Southeast Asian country.

Consul General Smith was speaking at her first meeting with local media on Thursday after she recently commenced her four-year term in the city, a southern economic hub of Vietnam.

The diplomat reiterated the UKs commitments to the Asia-Pacific region and especially to the diplomatic and trade partnership with Vietnam.

Vietnam has become one of the UKs leading trading partners in Southeast Asia, with two-way trade reaching US$7.14 billion in 2023, up 4.47 percent from a year before, according to official figures.

In the first half of 2024, the bilateral amounted to $3.9 billion, a 21.7-percent surge year on year.

In addition to the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA), the potential to enhance bilateral trade relations is also fueled by new mechanisms such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), to which Vietnam is a member, Smith commented.

In June this year, Vietnam ratified the UKs accession to the CPTPP after the European country got approval from the CPTPP Council to be admitted to this multilateral free trade agreement in July 2023.

In addition to beefing up trade cooperation, the UK will continue supporting Vietnam in sustainable development, with a focus on education, finance, and energy transition, said Smith.

As of May 20, British investors had operated 567 direct investment projects in Vietnam, with a total investment of US$4.36 billion, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment.

The UK Consulate General also highlighted a series of major trade and economic events that will take place in the coming time.

Specifically, the Mayor of London will visit Vietnam next month to strengthen the financial cooperation relationship between the two countries.

A British delegation will also attend the 2024 Ho Chi Minh City Economic Forum scheduled on September 25, with the theme of Industrial Transformation: New Driving Force for Sustainable Development in Ho Chi Minh City, which is aimed to promote initiatives and economic cooperation opportunities between the UK and the metropolis.

In November, another UK delegation will attend the Green Economy Forum and Exhibition (GEFE) 2024 in Ho Chi Minh City to discuss solutions for sustainable energy transition.

Two more events in late 2024 will be the British King Charles IIIs birthday celebration, also in November, and a UK seafood fair that will kick off in December, centering on promoting high-quality British seafood products to the Vietnamese market.

In early 2025, the UK-Southeast Asia Tech Week 2024 will be conducted.

Vietnam and the UK established diplomatic relations in 1973, and celebrated 50 years of their ties last year.

The two countries upgraded their relationship to a strategic partnership in 2010.

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Authorities in Dong Nai Province, southern Vietnam, held a ceremony on Friday afternoon to launch a campaign against the illegal use of wildlife.

Speaking at the ceremony, Le Van Goi, deputy director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Dong Nai Province, highlighted the ongoing demand for wildlife, which fuels illegal hunting.

He emphasized that the new campaign aims to enhance law enforcement and inter-sectoral coordination to combat illegal wildlife trading and hunting.

The campaign will also involve media efforts to raise public awareness about not buying, selling, transporting, or slaughtering wild animals.

Nguyen Van Thai, director of Save Vietnams Wildlife, a not-for-profit acting for wildlifes sake, warned that rare species once found in Vietnams forests, such as Indochinese tigers, rhinos, and saola, have not been seen for decades.

Thai stressed the importance of involving Party committees, authorities, and community members in wildlife conservation efforts.

Dong Nai Province, home to the Cat Tien National Park and Dong Nai Cultural Nature Reserve - both recognized as world biosphere reserves with high biodiversity, has implemented various measures to patrol and protect these areas.

Despite these efforts, wildlife hunting persists.

According to rangers at Cat Tien National Park, 42 cases involving 62 individuals were addressed in the first half of the year, with many caught setting traps and using firearms.

However, the enforcement is uneffective due to a lack of authority, equipment, and appropriate regulations.

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The Hanoi Days in Ho Chi Minh City festival kicked off on Friday evening at Nguyen Hue Walking Street in District 1, marking the beginning of a three-day cultural event designed to showcase Hanoi as a vibrant political and administrative center with rich cultural and traditional values.

Titled Hanois Marks, the event is a key part of the 70th anniversary celebrations of Hanois Liberation Day (October 10, 1954  2024).

Leaders of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi conduct the opening ceremony of the Hanoi Days in Ho Chi Minh City festival at Nguyen Hue Walking Street in District 1, August 23, 2024. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

Speaking at Fridays opening ceremony, Vu Thu Ha, deputy chairwoman of the Hanoi Peoples Committee, explained that the event aims to enhance Hanois image and strengthen the connection between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the two largest cities in Vietnam.

Additionally, the event contributes to the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of National Reunification Day (April 30, 1975  2025).

Vu Thu Ha, deputy chairwoman of the Hanoi Peoples Committee, speaks at the opening ceremony of the Hanoi Days in Ho Chi Minh City festival at Nguyen Hue Walking Street in District 1, August 23, 2024. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

As part of the festival, which runs until Sunday evening, the Ho Chi Minh City Museum, located on Ly Tu Trong Street in District 1, is showcasing a range of valuable artifacts, including national treasures.

In addition, over 30 food stalls offering traditional dishes that reflect the rustic lifestyle of Hanoi residents are set up along Nguyen Hue Walking Street.

Performers stage a performance at the opening ceremony of the Hanoi Days in Ho Chi Minh City festival at Nguyen Hue Walking Street in District 1, August 23, 2024. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

Women prepare 'banh cuon' (steamed rice rolls) at the opening ceremony of the Hanoi Days in Ho Chi Minh City festival at Nguyen Hue Walking Street in District 1, August 23, 2024. Photo: Dang Khuong / Tuoi Tre

Visitors enjoy Hanoi food at the opening ceremony of the Hanoi Days in Ho Chi Minh City festival at Nguyen Hue Walking Street in District 1, August 23, 2024. Photo: Dang Khuong / Tuoi Tre

Three of the national treasures is on display at the Ho Chi Minh City Museum, located on Ly Tu Trong Street in District 1, as part of the Hanoi Days in Ho Chi Minh City festival, August 23, 2024. Photo: Hoai Phuong / Tuoi Tre

One of the national treasures is on display at the Ho Chi Minh City Museum, located on Ly Tu Trong Street in District 1, as part of the Hanoi Days in Ho Chi Minh City festival, August 23, 2024. Photo: Hoai Phuong / Tuoi Tre

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Mondays Four Corners story The Big War is reported by John Lyons.

With the Middle East on the brink of war, Four Corners travels to Iran, Lebanon and Israel to investigate why a new regional war is looming.

Global Affairs Editor John Lyons and the Four Corners team gain rare access to Iran.

There they witness the fault lines of a repressive regime, and how its power extends through proxy groups in the region  Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis.

Lyons travels to Hezbollahs heartland in Lebanon, then to Israel, now facing war on multiple fronts. He speaks with key figures, politicians and military insiders to unravel the challenge of defusing this geopolitical timebomb.

Monday 26 August at 8.30pm on ABC.
Microsoft heeft versie 128 van Edge uitgebracht. Deze op Chromium gebaseerde browser is beschikbaar voor Windows 10 en hoger, Linux en macOS. Ook zijn er versies voor Android en iOS. In deze uitgave heeft Microsoft onder meer het probleem verholpen met Selenium, laat de browser een waarschuwing zien wanneer er bestanden over een onveilige http-verbinding worden gedownload en is ondersteuning voor processors zonder sse3-instructieset komen te vervallen. De complete changelog voor deze uitgave, die verspreid over verscheidene dagen wordt uitgerold, ziet er als volgt uit:

Fixes Fixed an issue that caused high CPU usage of renderer processes when running Selenium tests and calling driver.quit() to end the testing session. SSE3 Requirement. Microsoft Edge stopped supporting CPUs that lack SSE3. Devices with such CPUs won't receive any more updates. For more information, see Microsoft Edge Supported Operating Systems.

Copilot browser Context Policies. The DiscoverPageContextEnabled policy is obsoleted in Microsoft Edge version 128 and doesn't work after Microsoft Edge 127.

To summarize and answer questions based on browser context in Microsoft Edge, Copilot needs to be able to access the browser context. We're providing two new policies to offer more flexibility for admins to customize Edge browser context access across Copilot chats in Edge sidebar. CopilotPageContext - Control Copilot access to browser context for Microsoft Entra ID profiles. CopilotCDPPageContext - Control Copilot with Commercial Data Protection access to browser context for Microsoft Entra ID profiles.

To summarize and answer questions based on browser context in Microsoft Edge, Copilot needs to be able to access the browser context. We're providing two new policies to offer more flexibility for admins to customize Edge browser context access across Copilot chats in Edge sidebar. Deprecation of the followable web feature. To improve end user experience, the followable web feature is deprecated. The EdgeFollowEnabled policy is also obsolete.

EnforceLocalAnchorConstraintsEnabled policy obsoletion. The EnforceLocalAnchorConstraintsEnabled policy was previously deprecated and is now obsolete in Edge version 128. Since Microsoft Edge 112, constraints in certificates loaded from the platform certificate store are enforced. The EnforceLocalAnchorConstraintsEnabled policy existed as a temporary opt-out in case an enterprise encountered issues with the constraints encoded in their private roots.

New Policy for Insecure Downloads over HTTP. Users that download potentially dangerous content on HTTP sites will receive a UI warning in a future Microsoft Edge version. To prepare for this change, the ShowDownloadsInsecureWarningsEnabled policy is now available for admins to enable or disable the warnings related to insecure downloads

Edge Bar improvements. Edge Bar, the detachable version of the Edge sidebar in Windows 10, has a changed entry point from the gear icon at the bottom of the Edge sidebar's fly out menu to the edge://settings/sidebar page. For Windows 11 and Windows 10 users, clicking the gear icon will now automatically open the edge://settings/sidebar page.

Also, the ability for Edge Bar to start automatically when starting a Windows 10 device has been enabled again, the Close "X" icon has been moved below the ellipsis menu at the bottom right corner of Edge Bar, and Copilot in Edge will remain within the browser not in Edge Bar. Note: These features are a controlled feature rollout. If you don't see these features, check back as we continue our rollout.

Disabling Edge Bar through the StandaloneHubsSidebarEnabled policy continues to work, there's a fix to make the UI and briefcase icon appear on the edge://settings/sidebar page coming soon. New policies ApplicationBoundEncryptionEnabled - Enable Application Bound Encryption

DynamicCodeSettings - Dynamic Code Settings

ExtensionDeveloperModeSettings - Control the availability of developer mode on extensions page

ExtensionExtendedBackgroundLifetimeForPortConnectionsToUrls - Configure a list of origins that grant an extended background lifetime to connecting extensions.

KeyboardFocusableScrollersEnabled - Enable keyboard focusable scrollers

ShowDownloadsInsecureWarningsEnabled - Enable insecure download warnings Obsoleted policies DiscoverPageContextEnabled - Enable Discover access to page contents for AAD profiles (obsolete)

EnforceLocalAnchorConstraintsEnabled - Determines whether the built-in certificate verifier will enforce constraints encoded into trust anchors loaded from the platform trust store (deprecated)

SiteSafetyServicesEnabled - Allow users to configure Site safety services (obsolete)
By IANS

Lucknow : A red alert was sounded in several parts of Uttar Pradesh after explosives were recovered from the Faizabad railway station in the wee hours of Wednesday, a day after three low intensity blasts ripped through Gorakhpur town.

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As security was beefed up in all vulnerable cities and towns including Ayodhya, Varanasi and Mathura, Chief Minister Mayawati termed the Gorakhpur blasts as a "plot" by her political adversaries Samajwadi Party and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"Both the Samajwadi Party and BJP were out to incite communal trouble in the state and I have reason to believe that the Gorakhpur incident was a result of such a conspiracy hatched with the sole intention to vitiate the atmosphere," she told reporters here.

While state police chief G.L. Sharma air -dashed to Gorakhpur Wednesday morning along with the new Special Task Force (STF) chief Shailja Kant Misra to take stock of the situation, a team of explosives experts was rushed to Faizabad to assess the lethal potential of the explosives recovered.

Faizabad Superintendent of Police B.P. Tripathi said: "Just as our men spread out to keep a vigil on all public places in the wake of the Gorakhpur blasts, an airbag containing about 10 kg of some powder and nearly 10 litres of a liquid -suspected to be the deadly ammonium nitrate  was found abandoned under a bench outside the reservation counters at the railway station.

"We do not rule out the possibility of some connection between the recovery of these explosives and the blasts in Gorakhpur," Rai told IANS over telephone from Faizabad, about 120 km from here.

The high-level team led by the state police chief said it had found some clues to the serial blasts in Gorakhpur. "We are confident of getting on to the right trail, but we would not like to disclose the details at this juncture," Sharma told mediapersons.

Heavy police deployment was made in different parts of the eastern Uttar Pradesh town that is 90 km from the India-Nepal border. Special care was being taken to ensure security of the Gorakhdham temple, a popular Hindu shrine headed by BJP MP Yogi Adityanath.

Three timer-device bombs that went off at intervals of five minutes from 7 p.m. Tuesday in Golghar area in the heart of Gorakhpur were kept inside tiffin boxes on bicycles abandoned at three places  near a petrol pump, a restaurant and outside some shops.

The state's Principal Home Secretary K. Chandramauli said the incident was "a possible handiwork of mischief-mongers intending to incite religious violence in the communally sensitive town".
From left, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free, NASA Associate Administrator for the Space Operations Mission Directorate Ken Bowersox, NASA's Commercial Crew Program Manager Steve Stich and NASA International Space Station Program Manager Dana Weigel respond to questions regarding the status and return of the Starliner spacecraft and crew during a press briefing Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024 at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer From left, Barry Butch Wilmore, selected as commander, and Sunita Suni Williams, selected as pilot, respond to questions during a media briefing after the pair is identified to be the first crew to fly the Boeing CFT-100 Starliner spacecraft tentatively set to lift off in early summer of 2024. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer From left, NASA Associate Administrator for the Space Operations Mission Directorate Ken Bowersox, Deputy Director Engineering - Johnson Space Center Steve Stich and NASA International Space Station Program Manager Dana Weigel respond to questions regarding the status and return of the Starliner spacecraft and crew during a press briefing Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024 at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer NASA Administrator Bill Nelson comments regarding the status and return of the Starliner spacecraft and crew during a press briefing Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024 at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer From left, Barry Butch Wilmore, selected as commander, and Sunita Suni Williams, selected as pilot, respond to questions during a media briefing after the pair is identified to be the first crew to fly the Boeing CFT-100 Starliner spacecraft tentatively set to lift off in early summer of 2024. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer From left, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free, NASA Associate Administrator for the Space Operations Mission Directorate Ken Bowersox, Deputy Director Engineering - Johnson Space Center Steve Stich, NASA International Space Station Program Manager Dana Weigel, and NASA Director of the Flight Operations Directorate Norm Knight respond to questions regarding the status and return of the Starliner spacecraft and crew during a press briefing Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024 at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free comments regarding the status and return of the Starliner spacecraft and crew during a press briefing Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024 at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer From left, NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free, NASA Associate Administrator for the Space Operations Mission Directorate Ken Bowersox and NASA Commercial Crew Program Manager Steve Stich respond to questions regarding the status and return of the Starliner spacecraft and crew during a press briefing Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024 at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer From left, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free and NASA Associate Administrator for the Space Operations Mission Directorate Ken Bowersox, respond to questions regarding the status and return of the Starliner spacecraft and crew during a press briefing Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024 at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer NASA Administrator Bill Nelson comments regarding the status and return of the Starliner spacecraft and crew during a press briefing Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024 at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer From left, Barry Butch Wilmore, selected as commander, and Sunita Suni Williams, selected as pilot, respond to questions during a media briefing after the pair is identified to be the first crew to fly the Boeing CFT-100 Starliner spacecraft tentatively set to lift off in early summer of 2024. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer

The Boeing Starliner crew, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, are to return to Earth on a SpaceX Crew Dragon vehicle in February, NASA officials announced Saturday.

The Starliner spacecraft itself will be unmanned when it returns in early September.

NASA announced the decision at Johnson Space Center following a test flight readiness review meeting. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said the decision was due to a commitment to safety.

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Spaceflight is risky, even at its safest and even at its most routine, Nelson said. A test flight, by nature, is neither safe nor routine.

The decision comes more than two-and-a-half months after the Boeing Starliner Crew Test Flight mission launched June 5. Starliner docked at the International Space Station one day later although it was anything but a smooth ride.

Thruster issues and helium leaks during the journey gave pause to officials on the ground. NASA continued to push back the return of Wilmore and Williams as NASA and Boeing personnel conducted research and did testing on thrusters at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico.

While Boeing believed its spacecraft would get the job done, the uncertainty around the thruster issues was too much for NASA to commit to returning Wilmore and Williams on Starliner.

NASA held a poll within its organization about the decision and the final result was unanimous.

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I would call it a technical disagreement, where we get a group of engineers together and they disagree on the risk level of what could potentially happen to the thrusters, said Steve Stich, manager of NASAs Commercial Crew Program. Theres just a little disagreement in terms of the level of risk, and thats kind of where it got down to. I would say, its close. Its very close, and it just depends on how you evaluate the risk. We did it a little differently with our crew than Boeing did.

Two tragedies were in the back of Nelsons mind as he weighed the decision: the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster and the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster.

The Challenger disaster occurred Jan. 28, 1986, when the spacecraft broke apart after launch, killing all seven members on board. The Columbia disaster happened 17 years later on Feb. 1, 2003, when the Columbia spacecraft broke during re-entry. Once again, all seven members on board were killed.

We have had mistakes done in the past, Nelson said. We lost two space shuttles as a result of there not being a culture in which information could come forward.

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He cited instances before those previous disasters when people who expressed important opinions werent heard and their thoughts werent sent up the chain to decision-makers. Nelson said NASA has worked for years following the disasters to create a culture in which people can freely express their thoughts.

This decision is an example of that, Nelson said.

A full evaluation of the mission wont be completed until the spacecraft is back on Earth but the officials noted they have been able to gather a lot of important information, even if the capsule is returning without a crew.

I probably cant express in words what its like when you commit to a mission, you work on a mission so long, and then we make a fairly dramatic change, which we have not done in human spaceflight in a long time, Stich said. Theres a feeling of loss.

SpaceX Crew-9, which was scheduled to be a four-person mission as part of NASAs Commerical Crew Program, will leave two seats open on its flight to the space station so Wilmore and Williams can join them on the return flight in February. Crew-9 is scheduled to launch no earlier than Sept. 24.

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Officials are still working on a decision on who will fly on Crew-9.

Wilmore and Williams were originally scheduled to spend only a week on the space station. Now they will be there for over eight months. A typical stay for a NASA astronaut on the space station is six months. But people have spent over a year in space and NASA is not worried about them spending the extra time on the space station.

Norman Knight, the NASA flight operations directorate, said he talked with the duo on Friday and Saturday before the presser.

They support the agencys decision fully, Knight said.

No one from Boeing attended the press conference because it was a NASA decision, said Ken Bowersox, the associate administrator for NASAs Space Operations Mission Directorate.

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Boeing released a statement Saturday saying it will "continue to focus, first and foremost, on the safety of the crew and spacecraft."

This is the first crewed mission for Boeing, which has had a rough go of it the past few months.

While its problems extend outside the space realm, Starliner hadnt been perfect before its launch to the space station, either. There had been numerous delays over the years and in the months leading up to the launch, including two delays on the runway about an hour or less before the projected lift-off time.

Despite Saturdays decision, it doesnt appear that Boeing is going to give up their ambitions for Starliner.

Nelson said he talked with new Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, who started in the role earlier this month, before the news conference. Ortberg told Nelson the company intends to fly Starliner in the future.

As for Nelson, he was emphatic that Starliner would 100% fly a crewed mission again.
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Cong calls inhumane and barbarism demolition of homes in BJP ruled states

The Congress Party Saturday called inhumane and barbarism the demolitions of homes and properties of Muslims in the BJP ruled states

Saturday August 24, 2024 7:49 PM , ummid.com News Network

New Delhi: The Congress Party Saturday called inhumane and barbarism the demolitions of homes and properties of Muslims in the BJP ruled states.

Demolishing someone's home and rendering their family homeless is both inhumane and unjust, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said.

The Congress Party and Leader of Opposition Rajya Sabha further said that the repeated targeting of minorities in the BJP ruled states is troubling.

The repeated targeting of minorities in BJP-ruled states is deeply troubling. Such actions have no place in a society governed by the Rule of Law, Kharge wrote in a post on social media platform X.

Condemning the demolitions of Muslims in the BJP ruled states, made famous as bulldozer action, Kharge termed it tactic to instil fear.

The Congress Party strongly condemns the BJP state governments for their blatant disregard of the Constitution, using bulldozing as a tactic to instil fear among citizens, Kharge said.

"Anarchy"

Kharge also called the brazen use of bulldozers to demolish the homes of the people belonging to minorities anarchy.

Anarchy cannot replace natural justiceoffences must be adjudicated in courts, not through state-sponsored coercion, Kharge said.

The Congress stand against "bulldozer justice" came a day after the authorities in Madhya Pradesh demolished the palatial home of local leader Shahzad Ali.

The action followed after stones were allegedly pelted on police personnel on August 21 when a delegation of Muslims visited Chhatarpur Police Station to submit memorandum demanding action against a Hindu saint accused of making blasphemous statements.

128 Demolitions

Demolition of the bungalow of Shazad Ali is not an isolated incident. Amnesty International in a report released in February this year documented 128 cases of demolition affecting 617 people, calling it unjust.

The unlawful demolition of Muslim properties by the Indian authorities, peddled as bulldozer justice, is cruel and appalling. Such displacement and dispossession are deeply unjust, unlawful, and discriminatory. They are destroying families and must stop immediately, Agnes Callamard, Amnesty Internationals Secretary General said.

"Barbarism"

Slamming the repeated demolitions of homes and razing to ground properties of Muslims and other minorities, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi called barbarism and grave injustice.

It is the height of barbarism and injustice. There should be a difference between the law makers, the law keepers and the law breakers. Governments cannot behave like criminals, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra wrote on X.

Priyanka also said that if some crimes take place then there are courts and justice system to deal with them.

But punishing the accuseds family as soon as the accusation is made, taking away the roof from over their heads, not following the law, disobeying the court, demolishing the house of the accused as soon as the accusation is made  this is not justice, she said in a post on X.

Congress MP and Lok Sabha whip Mohammad Jawed also slammed the bulldozer action saying such actions show hatred against Muslims.

Jawed also appealed to the Supreme Court to take cognizance of the issue and take appropriate action.

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Ukraine and Hiroshima: Geopolitical Parallel

In 1945, the US sent a message to the Soviet Union. In Ukraine, tactical nuclear weapons will send a message to the US that continuing its strategy of incremental conflict escalation risks full-blown nuclear war.

Saturday August 24, 2024 9:58 AM , Dr Thomas Palley

In August 1945, the US atom bombed the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Since then, nuclear weapons have never been used in conflict. That may soon change as Ukraine faces the increasing likelihood of a Hiroshima moment.

Conditions in Ukraine increasingly give Russia military and geopolitical cause to use tactical nuclear weapons. Though Russia will use them, the US and NATO are deeply implicated in the process. They are in the grip of Neocon madness which casually dismisses potentially catastrophic consequences and blocks all off-ramps.

Lessons from Hiroshima and Nagasaki

One way to understand the current moment is via the history of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. Those attacks also had military and geopolitical motivations. The former is widely recognized, the latter is not.

According to standard history, in August 1945, Japan was de facto defeated and had signaled willingness to conditionally surrender. However, the US wanted unconditional surrender.

It also estimated conquest of Japan might cost a million US casualties. Consequently, it elected to destroy Hiroshima and Nagasaki, thereby achieving unconditional surrender without such casualties.

The geopolitical motivation concerned the Soviet Union. It had declared war on Japan the day after the Hiroshima attack, and the US feared it would conquer Japans lightly defended north. The Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs prevented that by abruptly ending the war. They also sent the Soviet Union a chilling message about US power.

The Ukraine Parallel

The Ukraine war has spawned a logic which echoes 1945. The military parallel is clear. Russia wants to bring the war to an acceptable close. Even after it has conquered the Donbass oblasts, it will confront continued attacks from long-range weaponry provided by the US and its NATO junior partners. The resulting loss of Russian lives and damage will be unacceptable. Tactical nuclear weapons can surgically end the conflict, with Ukraine compelled to accept the outcome or face further destruction.

The geopolitical parallel is also clear. In 1945 , the US sent a message to the Soviet Union. In Ukraine, tactical nuclear weapons will send a message to the US that continuing its strategy of incremental conflict escalation risks full-blown nuclear war.

Neocon Madness: Incremental escalation and the straw that breaks the camels back

Neoconservatism is a political doctrine which holds never again shall there be a foreign power, like the former Soviet Union, which can challenge US supremacy. The doctrine gives the US the right to impose its will anywhere in the world, which explains US intervention in Ukraine long before Russias 2022 invasion. The doctrine initially seeded itself among hardline Republicans, but it has since been adopted by Democrats and is now politically hegemonic.

Since the late 1990s, the Neocon project has driven a slow-motion war against Russia based on a strategy of incremental escalation.

The first step was incorporation of Central European countries into NATO, which was followed by incorporating the former Soviet Baltic Republics.

Thereafter, the US began fomenting anti-Russian sentiment in the former Republics of Georgia and Ukraine. Longer term, it seeks to foster Russias disintegration, as advocated by US National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski in the 1990s.

A similar incremental escalation strategy has marked US/NATO involvement in Ukraine. In the decade prior to the war, Ukraine was the largest recipient of US military aid in Europe and NATO members stalled the Minsk peace process.

Thereafter, engagement has been steadily ratcheted up, turning assistance into a proxy war and then into a tacit direct conflict with Russia. The time-line includes sabotaging peace negotiations in early 2022, providing Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, Javelin anti-tank missiles, and artillery ordinance; providing Patriot missile air defense systems; transferring MIG-29 jets from former Warsaw Pact countries; providing ultra-long-range artillery, advanced infantry carriers, and tanks; providing long-range HIMARS rocket systems, and longer-range ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles; and providing modernized F-16 jets.

Side-by side, the US has provided satellite information, while under-cover advisers have assisted long-range missile attacks deep inside Russia which include attacking the Kerch bridge, Russian naval vessels at sea, naval yards in Crimea and in Novorossiysk, Russias high altitude AWACS defense system, and an attack on Russias anti-ballistic missile defense system.

The incremental escalation strategy aims to tighten the noose, with each tightening supposedly small enough to deny Russia grounds for invoking the nuclear option. However, the strategy risks blindness to the straw that breaks the camels back.

Ending the war, ending incremental escalation, and restoring deterrence

Walking in the others shoes can be enlightening. Russias goals are threefold. First, it wants to end the war on acceptable terms. Second, it wants to blunt the US strategy of incremental escalation. Third, it wants to restore credibility of its nuclear deterrent which has been compromised by escalations that have blurred red lines which should not be crossed.

Using tactical nuclear weapons has become increasingly rational as it would achieve all three goals, which is why the situation is dire. The great paradox is deterrence aims to prevent nuclear war, yet restoration of deterrence may require using nuclear weapons as it proves willingness to do so.

Many Neocon supporters have casually talked of Putins nuclear bluff. The reality is it is the US threat of nuclear retaliation that is a bluff. No sane US politician or general would risk thermo-nuclear war for the sake of Ukraine.

A Grim Prognosis

There is still time to freeze the sequence. The problem is peace cannot get a hearing. Ukraines flawed democracy is suspended, the Azov extremists are in control, and any Ukrainian opposing the war faces imprisonment or worse.

In the US, the Neocons are in charge and the public is fed a Manichean narrative that paints the West as good and Russia as evil. That false narrative is constantly reinforced, and it makes compromise politically and ethically harder.

The prognosis is grim. Ironically, the thing that may prevent a Hiroshima moment is Russian success on the battlefield.

[The writer, Dr Thomas Palley, is an economist living in Washington DC. He holds a B.A. degree from Oxford University, and a M.A. degree in International Relations and Ph.D. in Economics, both from Yale University. He has published in numerous academic journals, and written for The Atlantic Monthly, American Prospect and Nation magazines.]

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The absence of plans for electricity export and the necessity to resolve regulatory issues underscore challenges in advancing offshore wind energy in Viet Nam.

The sole offshore wind project authorised by the Prime Minister for survey and pre-feasibility study is a collaboration between PetroVietnam Technical Services Corporation (PTSC) and its Singaporean counterpart Sembcorp Utilities Pte Ltd.

Given the constraints on renewable energy sources, the Energy Market Authority of Singapore (EMA) has approved importing 4GW of clean electricity by 2025 from neighbouring countries, including 1.2GW from Viet Nam.

Sembcorp will import this clean electricity from Viet Nam to Singapore, generated from offshore wind farms in collaboration with PTSC and transmitted through new underwater cables spanning about 1,000km.

Following full approval from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Viet Nam for marine resource surveys and assessments in August 2023, PTSC is set to conduct offshore surveys in 2024 for its project aimed at exporting clean electricity to Singapore.

In March, a Singaporean government delegation visited PTSC's facilities to witness the advanced infrastructure invested by PTSC in global offshore renewable energy projects.

The Singaporean authorities pledged continued support to PTSC, reinforcing bilateral ties and mutual goals, including Singapore's emissions targets and economic partnerships with Viet Nam.

This strengthened Singapore's trust in Viet Nam as the key partner for importing 4GW of clean electricity by 2030. PTSC and Sembcorp are progressing with the necessary approvals and activities for the successful implementation of the project.

Prior to its involvement in the offshore wind farm project for exporting electricity to Singapore, PTSC stood out as the only Vietnamese firm to win international bids for erecting offshore wind turbine foundations and transformer stations for foreign investors.

Over the years, PTSC has successfully exported numerous foundations and mechanical components to Taiwan (China) and various northern European countries.

"Offshore wind power is a key focus in the corporation's strategic realignment," Le Manh Hung, chairman of Petrovietnam, told baodautu.vn.

"Petrovietnam is developing a portfolio of offshore wind energy projects, seeking approvals, training its workforce, partnering with major global firms, investing directly, engaging in global offshore wind energy supply chains and working towards self-reliance in offshore wind power development."

While Viet Nam possesses great offshore wind energy potential, the lack of a legal framework has impeded its development.

"Under the National Power Development Plan VIII, the target capacity for wind power is set to reach 6,000MW by 2030 and aims for between 70,000 and 91,000MW by 2050," Nguyen Quoc Thap, chairman of Viet Nam Petroleum Association (VNPA), said in a statement.

However, challenges persist in approving the direction and selecting investors in the wind power sector due to inconsistencies among current legal management documents, according to Thap.

The laws on bidding, investment and locations lack clear definitions regarding the approval authority for wind power projects at different levels.

Guidelines for investigations, surveys, exploration and sea area allocation for wind power investments lack specific procedures in legal documents. Additionally, a pricing policy framework and mechanisms for wind power are absent, while the investment conditions for foreign investors in wind power projects remain unclear.

Proposed solutions

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has recently proposed a pilot project to explore offshore wind power for domestic electricity needs, omitting mention of projects for electricity export.

Even for meeting domestic demand, the ministry has identified regulatory issues that need addressing to advance this energy source.

To address this, Le Manh Cuong, general director of PTSC, proposed that, prior to establishing long-term policy mechanisms, the Government should enable Petrovietnam, PTSC and other capable enterprises to implement offshore wind projects through pilot programmes and tailored policies.

Domestic enterprises, state-owned corporations and groups should be prioritised for involvement in this sector, Cuong said.

VNPA chairman Thap also proposed six solution groups for the development of LNG and offshore wind projects.

The first group focuses on legal frameworks and policy mechanisms. He suggested the need for coherent amendments and additions to relevant laws.

Meanwhile, boosting research on electricity market development closely aligned with the objectives of Power Development Plan VIII.

The third group addresses management mechanisms and enforcement. Thap highlighted the importance of revising the operational statutes and financial regulations of state-owned economic entities in the energy sector, like Petrovietnam, Vietnam Electricity (EVN) and Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group (TKV).

The three other groups emphasise the need for consultation and learning from experiences, shifting perspectives and attitudes towards LNG and offshore wind power and innovative solutions. VNS
A NANG  The central city will host the first ever semiconductor forum, Semicon Day a Nang 2024 on August 29-30, promoting their strategically ambitious plan for the development of the semiconductor and AI industries.

Part of a Nang's Master Plan 2030-45, the Director of the citys Investment Promotion Agency, Huynh Lien Phuong said the event would host 600 participants and businesses working in the semiconductor and AI industries, electronic manufacturing, information technology and chip design, along with human resources training bases and investment funds.

The event will include an investment conference on business matching, a field trip and networking among enterprises and training institutions.

There will be a series of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on semiconductor and AI co-operation, manpower training and working spaces, signed among investors in the globally booming industry.

a Nang City developed the country's first semiconductor Research, Design Training & AI Centre (DSAC) to catch the wave of the new industry, within its Master Plan 2030, with a vision to 2050.

Director of DSAC, Le Hoang Phuc said a Nang would mark August 30 as the Semicon Day  an annual official event in building semiconductor and AI as a core industry for future green and sustainable growth.

The a Nang Software Park No 2 (SP2) will be recognised as a centralised information technology (CIT) zone by the Government and the certification will be handed at the event, the citys Information and Communications Department said.

Three CIT Zones have already been recognised in 2017-24, including the a Nang Software Park, the a Nang Information Technology Park (DITP)  the central Viet Nams Silicon Valley design  and the FPT Complex.

The city will present an investment proposal to local investor Sovico at the event.

A networking session on human resources supply will be joined by local software exporter FPT Group, Viet Nam-Korea Information and Technology University, Arizona State University, K&H MFG company from Taiwan, Infineon Technologies, FCC Partners, Tecotec Group, Qorvo Viet Nam Inc, Viet Nam National Innovation Centre, the Viet Nam Semiconductor Community and local universities in science and technology.

K&H MFG company from Taiwan will introduce proposals on co-operation between a Nang and Chung Yuan Christian University, Lunghwa University of Science and Technology from Taiwan for future manpower supply in the semiconductor space.

Arizona State University, in cooperation with a Nang's DSAC will announce the enrollment in the first training sessions in Assembling, Testing and Packaging (ATP).

Meanwhile, certificates will be given to the first trainees from a training course in chip design, which was organised by DSAC, Synopsys and the Viet Nam-Korea Information and Technology University.

a Nang has hosted paid investment promotion tours to Intel, Marvell Technology Group and Synopsys, the US, Japan, Taiwan, Korea and Europe in 2024, inviting semiconductor investment into the city.

The citys leadership also urged the US to support a Nang in building a centre of ATP and semiconductor industry development.

South Korea's Samsung and a Nang Citys Duy Tan University established a Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC), and is supporting two businesses  Trung Nam Group and Tan Long Paper and Package company  in building the first smart factories in a Nang.

The citys hi-tech park and industrial zones authority, in cooperation with Sun Education company and Duy Tan University, also agreed on education of semiconductor design with international standard.

Partners from Viet Nam and Korea inked five deals on cooperation and development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in medical, healthcare and becoming a smart city in a Nang.

South Koreas LG Electronics will soon introduce its R&D centre  the second in Viet Nam  in a Nang.  VNS
HA NOI  Making breakthroughs in institutions, infrastructure and governance is the key task for Viet Nam in the coming time, Politburo member and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said while concluding the third meeting of the sub-committee for socio-economic affairs of the 14th National Party Congress in Ha Noi on August 23.

The sub-committee must highlight the task in its socio-economic report, said PM Chinh, who is also head of the sub-committee.

The meeting reviewed the sub-committees working results since the last sitting. It also gave opinions on a draft report on five years of implementing the socio-economic development strategy for 2021 - 2030. Also tabled for discussion were the draft orientations and tasks for socio-economic development during 2026 - 2030 before they are submitted to the Politburo and the 10th session of the 13th-tenure Party Central Committee.

PM Chinh urged the sub-committee's members to thoroughly grasp the viewpoint breakthrough development paves the way for stability and then stability helps speed up the renewal process."

He requested that the draft report should highlight the task of making stronger breakthroughs to develop more transparent institutions, sufficient infrastructure and smart governance.

The PM highly appreciated the team who is drafting the report on the assessment of 5 years of implementing the 10-year socio-economic development strategy 2021 - 2030, the direction and tasks of socio-economic development for the 2026  2030 period.

With their proactiveness and efforts, the draft report features the overall situation, the general development trend of the country and the world, according to the Prime Minister. It also highlights new features in the leadership, direction, implementation and the results of carrying out the socio-economic development strategy in the last five years in the context of many unexpected difficulties and challenges.

The draft report also defines the causes and lessons, and forecasts the situation in the coming time. On that basis, it sets out orientations, viewpoints, tasks, and solutions for the coming period.

The PM said that the draft report must correctly assess the existing problems, limitations, difficulties, and challenges to identify the main causes, draw lessons for breakthrough development in the coming period.

He requested the report drafting team to further clarify, supplement, and promote theoretical awareness of socialism and the path to socialism in the country.

In that spirit, PM Chinh asked for a thorough and convincing analysis of the goals, the basis for achieving the goals, the scenarios, the tasks, and the solutions to achieve those goals. In particular, the goals must be both feasible and ambitious to mobilise all parties to achieve them, he noted. VNA/VNS
HA NOI  Party General Secretary and President To Lam received 60 outstanding overseas Vietnamese (OV) out of more than 400 from 42 countries and territories attending the 4th World Conference of OV and the 2024 forum of OV intellectuals and experts in Ha Noi on August 23.

The OVs expressed their honour to meet the top leader, saying that the meeting demonstrated the attention of the Party, the State and the General Secretary and President personally to overseas Vietnamese. On this occasion, they raised their opinions, assessments, comments, recommendations and proposals on a number of OV-related issues.

Reporting to the General Secretary and President about the congress, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son affirmed that OV associations always receive special attention and affection from the Party and State leaders, ministries, sectors, localities and people at home as well as OV communities in countries.

Their policy recommendations have been recognised by domestic authorities, translated into policies and legal regulations and appreciated by the people, Son said.

Warmly welcoming the OV delegates, Party General Secretary and President Lam emphasised that for the country and the Vietnamese people, the OV community is always an inseparable part.

Informing the delegates about the countrys current situation, the leader said that after nearly 40 years of renewal, the country had achieved great results. Viet Nam had become a world leading food exporter. It was now the 40th largest economy globally, with import and export turnover in the top 20. The country's role and position were increasingly consolidated.

"These achievements were made partly thanks to the valuable contributions of overseas Vietnamese," Lam noted.

Remittances and investments of OVs had contributed significantly to promoting production, business and socio-economic development, and improving the lives of people in the country, he said, adding many OV experts and intellectuals had made important contributions to training high-quality human resources for and transferring technology to Viet Nam.

The leaders also acknowledged and appreciated the wholehearted and valuable advice and consultations of OVs on high-tech development, green and sustainable development, preserving and promoting Vietnamese culture, language, and upholding the great national unity at this year's conference.

He also said the overseas Vietnamese community also made very important contributions to the success of Viet Nams people-to-people diplomacy in the renewal process.

Through cultural and religious exchange activities, OVs had been contributing to preserving and promoting national cultural values, building the image of a beautiful and hospitable Viet Nam, and enhancing the position and prestige of the country in the international arena.

He called on OV experts, intellectuals, scientists, and those who can gain fast access to modern technology and advanced knowledge to continue to contribute to the homelands construction and development. VNA/VNS
Members of United Steelworkers union Anthony Emanuel, left, Lance Spurlock, center, and George Simpson pose at USW Union Hall in Pasadena, Texas. Steelworkers have long been a mainstay of the labor movement. Go Nakamura/Contributor

Time spent with family over a barbecue or shopping probably capture most Labor Day traditions in the U.S, which is held on the first Monday of September. It might be a far cry from the roots that the holiday's founders envisioned in the late 1800s.

The founders, who started the holiday with a parade in New York City in 1882, wanted to use Labor Day to unify workers across many small unions to help find shared interests. The day became a federal holiday in 1894.

Overall, rates of unionization are on a decline. More than one third of 1950s private sector workers were unionized compared to just over 5 percent today. Texas laws that restrict unionization may make it a difficult place to organize, said Hany Khalil, executive director of the Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation.

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But the numbers might start to increase.

Laborers from across the U.S have organized over the last few years at a growing rate after the 2008 recession and, later, the COVID-19 pandemic came together to form a new awareness and desire to advocate for workers rights, Khalil said. Since then, workers from Starbucks employees to flight attendants and Amazon workers have joined unions in huge numbers to challenge the ways workers are treated in Texas and across the country.

According to a Gallop Poll last year, 71 percent of Americans approve of labor unions, the highest percentage Gallup has recorded on this topic since 1965.

Texas unions like those that advocate for teachers, fire departments or others may be gaining strength from the momentum seen in other parts of the country, according to Rick Levy, president of the Texas AFL-CIO.

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Younger generations are also becoming more union-friendly and are more likely to want representation, he said.

"We're at this really amazing moment in this country where there's just such an upsurge in interest and agreement with the principles of labor unions," Levy said. "Over this weekend maybe people can reflect on that and appreciate all the struggle and sacrifice that has brought us to this moment."

The Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative-leaning think tank in Austin, notes that Texas has been a right-to-work state since 1947. That means state laws prohibit security agreements between employers and labor unions that require employees who are not union members to help pay the costs of the union's representation.
HA NOI  The visit to Viet Nam from August 24-30 by President of the Australian Senate Sue Lines is of important significance, contributing to a deeper and more practical relationship between the two legislative bodies and making it a key pillar in the Viet Nam-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership, said Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly's Committee for Foreign Affairs Le Thu Ha.

Talking with a Viet Nam News Agency (VNA) reporter, Ha said it would be the first official visit to Viet Nam by the Senate President at the invitation of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man.

The visit would demonstrate Australia's interest and commitment to its relationship with Viet Nam and affirm its desire to strengthen ties between the Vietnamese NA and the Australian Parliament. It would also concretise the cooperation agreement between the two legislatures in the new phase, with broader contents aimed at increasing practical and effective collaboration, she said.

Regarding the Senate President's agenda, Ha said Lines would hold talks with NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man, meet with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and pay a courtesy call to Party General Secretary and President To Lam. She would also attend the Vietnam-Australia Forum to be co-organised by the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and the Australian Embassy in Viet Nam, and pay working trips to the northern provinces of Ninh Binh and Bac Ninh, and HCM City.

Through the visit, she believed that both sides would continue to effectively implement existing cooperation mechanisms and enhance coordination across all areas. The focus would be placed on greater political and diplomatic trust; more comprehensive, practical and effective economic, trade and investment cooperation; stronger collaboration in sci-tech, innovation, digital transformation and green transition; more profound links in culture, education-training, environment, and climate change response; broader and more sincere people-to-people exchanges and connections between generations; and enhanced understanding and sharing of national defence-security issues.

Through parliamentary diplomacy, a cooperation agreement signed between the Vietnamese NA and the Australian Parliament would elevate and deepen their relationship, making it a key pillar in the overall bilateral relationship between the two countries, Ha said.

Reflecting on the strides made in the bilateral ties since the establishment of diplomatic relations on February 26, 1973, Ha highlighted the robust exchange of delegations at all levels, as well as significant cooperation in economy-trade, national defence-security, agriculture, education, labour, and people-to-people exchanges.

Looking ahead, the official sees ample potential for collaboration in emerging areas such as climate change response, digital transformation, and energy transition. VNA/VNS
HA NOI  President of the Australian Senate Sue Lines arrived in Ha Noi at noon on August 24, starting her official visit to Vietnam that will last until August 30, at the invitation of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man.

Her first official visit to Viet Nam in her position as the President of the Australian Senate is taking place in the context that the Viet Nam  Australia comprehensive strategic partnership is developing in a fine way.

It holds an important significance, marking the journey of more than 50 years after the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations, helping make the relations between the two legislative bodies more profound and substantive, turning them into an important pillar in the Viet Nam  Australia comprehensive strategic partnership, and meeting the practical interests and desires of the two peoples, for peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world at large. VNA/VNS
Nguyen Duy Cuong, deputy head of the Social Insurance Department under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, speaks to the Vietnam News Agency about the key changes in the revised Law on Social Insurance 2024.

Could you elaborate on the new changes in the revised law?

The amended Social Insurance Law, comprising 11 chapters and 141 articles, introduces significant revisions aimed at enhancing social security in line with the Constitution. These changes institutionalise reform guidelines outlined in Resolution 28 of the Viet Nam Communist Party Central Committee and related documents, addressing actual challenges while expanding rights and benefits to encourage greater participation in social insurance.

One of the major changes in the revised law is the introduction of social pension benefits, establishing a multi-layered social insurance system. This new benefit is funded by the State and builds on existing provisions for elderly individuals who do not receive pensions or monthly social insurance benefits. The eligibility age for social pension benefits has been lowered from 80 to 75 years. Additionally, individuals aged 70 to 75 from poor and near-poor households will also qualify for these benefits.

Another key revision strengthens the connection between social pension benefits and basic social insurance. The revised law introduces a monthly subsidy for employees who do not qualify for pensions and are not yet old enough to receive social pension benefits. Specifically, those who retire without meeting the 15-year contribution requirement can receive this monthly subsidy, with their health insurance costs covered by the State budget during this period. This change aims to provide more comprehensive support for workers who have contributed to the social insurance system but are not yet eligible for full pension benefits.

The revised law also expands the scope of compulsory social insurance to cover new groups. These include business owners of registered households, non-professional workers at the commune, village, and residential group levels, part-time workers, and unpaid business and cooperative managers. By including these groups, the law aims to extend social insurance coverage to a broader segment of the population, ensuring that more individuals can access the benefits and protections offered by the system.

In addition to expanding coverage, the law enhances benefits for non-professional workers at the commune level. These workers will now be eligible for sick leave and maternity benefits, in addition to the retirement and death benefits they currently receive. This change recognises the valuable contributions of non-professional workers and seeks to provide them with a more comprehensive range of social insurance benefits.

Voluntary social insurance participants are also set to benefit from the revised law. Those who meet certain conditions will be entitled to a maternity allowance of VN2 million per newborn child, funded by the State budget. Importantly, this allowance does not require participants to pay more than the current rate set by regulations, making it an accessible benefit for voluntary contributors.

To make pensions more accessible, the minimum required contribution period for pension eligibility has been reduced to 15 years from 20 years. This change allows more individuals to qualify for pension benefits, especially those who may have had interruptions in their careers or contributions.

The law also introduces measures to encourage employees to reserve their contributions rather than opting for a lump-sum payment. Employees who stop participating in social insurance can still request a lump-sum payment under specific conditions. However, those who choose to reserve their contributions instead of taking a lump sum will benefit from improved pension conditions, health insurance coverage, and monthly allowances. These incentives are designed to promote long-term participation in the social insurance system, ensuring that employees can maximise the benefits they receive upon retirement.

The law also takes steps to protect the rights of Vietnamese citizens working abroad and foreigners working in Viet Nam. It aligns the duration of social insurance participation with international treaties to which Viet Nam is a member, ensuring that these working people's rights are safeguarded under the revised legal framework.

To further improve the management of social insurance funds, the revised law expands the portfolio and methods of investment. This change aims to enhance the efficiency of social insurance fund investments, ensuring that the funds are managed effectively and sustainably to support the long-term viability of the social insurance system.

Additionally, the revised law introduces a chapter on supplementary pension insurance. This new provision stipulates the subjects, principles, and policies related to supplementary pension insurance, providing employers and employees with more options to contribute and receive higher pensions. By offering these additional choices, the law aims to enhance the overall pension system, making it more flexible and responsive to the needs of participants.

One of the significant changes in the revised law is the replacement of the "base salary" with a "reference level". The reference level is a government-prescribed monetary amount used to calculate social insurance premiums and benefits. It will be adjusted based on economic indicators such as the consumer price index and economic growth, as well as the capacity of the State budget and the social insurance fund. This change is intended to ensure that social insurance calculations remain fair and reflective of the economic context.

The law also includes provisions to strengthen legal compliance and protect the legitimate rights and interests of employees. A dedicated chapter has been added to regulate the management of social insurance collection and payment, including the handling of late payments and evasion. These measures are designed to enhance the enforcement of social insurance obligations, ensuring that employees receive the benefits they are entitled to.

In an effort to simplify procedures and improve accessibility, the revised law includes provisions for electronic transactions in social insurance. It also reduces and simplifies the required records and procedures for implementing social insurance. These changes aim to make it easier for participants to access social insurance benefits and for employers to comply with their obligations.

Finally, the law amends and supplements existing regulations to better align with current realities and ensure the rights of employees are more comprehensively protected. By inheriting and developing current regulations while amending those that are inappropriate, the law aims to ensure feasibility, consistency, and unity within the legal system.

The Labour Code has adjusted the retirement age for men and women to be closer  62 for men and 60 for women. Why were there no changes in the new law to reduce the difference in pension rates between men and women?

No changes were made to the pension calculation formula due to considerations regarding the balance of the social insurance fund. The revised law inherits the formula from the 2014 law. However, the drafting committee did include provisions to calculate pension rates for male employees who have paid between 15 and 20 years of contributions, as this group was not previously covered.

Globally, the average pension rate per year of social insurance participation is about 1.7 per cent. In Viet Nam, this rate is 2.14 per cent for men and 2.5 per cent for women. Based on these ratios, it was proposed to set the rate at 2.25 per cent per year for men, with a 40 per cent pension level for 15 years of participation, which is an increase from the previous proposal.

When the amended social insurance law takes effect, will the implementation guidance be issued promptly?

Yes, the Government will promptly issue specific decrees to implement the new law, which takes effect on July 1, 2025.

In total, 11 decrees will be issued: seven by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, three by the Ministry of Finance, and one by the Ministry of National Defence. Additionally, three circulars detailing the law's implementation will be issued by relevant ministries and sectors. VNS
PARIS - Immediately following the Paris Court of Appeal's decision on August 22 to reject the civil lawsuit filed by Tran To Nga, an 82-year-old French-Vietnamese, against 14 US chemical companies for supplying Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin to the US army during the Vietnam War, many French media outlets have reiterated her decades-long arduous and challenging fight for justice.

On August 23, the support committee for Ngas lawsuit held an online press conference, with Nga participating from Viet Nam. Lawyers William Bourdon and Bertrand Repolt, along with representatives from various associations and individuals, expressed their regret over the court's decision. However, their resolve to continue supporting Nga in her ongoing struggle for justice remained unshaken.

Nguyen Van Bon, a senior leader of the Association of Vietnamese in France (UGVF), highlighted the association's long-standing tradition of advocating for Agent Orange victims since the 1960s.

This commitment is why UGVF, along with 13 other associations, established the support committee for Ngas lawsuit from the outset, he said.

Bui Kim Tuyet, a UGVF member, pledged to continue supporting Nga alongside Bon and the Vietnamese community in the long-term fight for justice.

Kim Vo Dinh, representing the Collectif Vietnam Dioxine organisation, vowed to stand side by side with Nga, pool all possible resources to support her and Vietnamese AO victims, and raise public awareness about their plight and the fight.

In a letter shared with the Vietnam News Agency, Honorary Senator Helene Luc asserted that the court's conservative decision would not deter Nga and her supporters. On the contrary, it would only strengthen their resolve to ensure that the truth prevails.

As a member of the support committee, she assured that the committee would dedicate all its efforts to raise awareness among the French public about the atrocities that occurred in Viet Nam.

This justice fight is crucial for all those who have died, for those who are suffering from disabilities that prevent them from enjoying life, for children born with defects, and ultimately to prevent such horrors from happening again to humanity, she wrote. VNA/VNS
VINH - Nghe An Province has recently initiated an intensified campaign to combat human trafficking, in response to the ongoing efforts by local authorities and functional agencies to prevent and control such crimes.

This effort is particularly focused on raising awareness and cracking down on human trafficking until September 30, in conjunction with the "National Day Against Human Trafficking."

Over recent years, Nghe An has seen significant socio-economic development, yet certain challenges persist, especially in remote areas where living conditions remain difficult. The awareness of legal matters among the population is still limited, and the issue of unemployment, particularly among young people, remains prevalent. These factors have been exploited by human traffickers, who often target women and children from these vulnerable communities.

Lieutenant Colonel Bui La Son, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Nghe An Provincial Police Department, highlighted the tactics commonly used by human traffickers in the region. These criminals typically exploit acquaintanceships or intermediaries to approach potential victims, luring them with promises of high-paying jobs or better lives abroad, often involving sham marriages. The perpetrators often prey on individuals from impoverished or remote areas with limited legal awareness, where unemployment is high, particularly among the youth. Areas such as Yen Thanh, Dien Chau, Con Cuong, Tuong Duong, Ky Son, and Que Phong are particularly affected.

In addition, traffickers have increasingly turned to social media platforms including Zalo and Facebook to entice and deceive their victims. Many of these operations are highly organised, involving tight-knit networks that recruit, transport, house, transfer, and exploit victims. The Nghe An police have uncovered cases where victims were trafficked through Laos and Cambodia and then sold to Chinese or Chinese-origin criminal groups. Traffickers can earn between 15 million to 70 million VN for each Vietnamese victim they smuggle abroad.

Once in Laos or Cambodia, victims are often forced into fraudulent activities using high-tech methods to scam other Vietnamese nationals or coerced into working for illegal online gambling operations. Those who refuse to comply with the traffickers' demands are subjected to physical abuse, imprisonment, and ransom demands, with some victims having to pay hundreds of millions of VN for their release. In some cases, trafficked victims are manipulated into becoming perpetrators themselves, recruiting new victims in exchange for payment or promotion within the criminal organisations.

In response to this situation, the Nghe An Provincial Police have partnered with local authorities and other relevant agencies to enhance their forecasting capabilities, particularly in key areas and online spaces. They are also advising local governments to mobilise the entire political system and public to implement comprehensive measures against human trafficking. This includes bolstering legal education and awareness campaigns and expanding existing anti-trafficking models in key areas.

The police have compiled lists of suspected human trafficking rings and individuals in the region for investigation and prosecution. They are also tracking long-term absences from the local area, as these individuals may be trafficking victims, and are conducting personalised outreach to those at risk.

Additionally, the Nghe An police are scrutinising cases of individuals travelling abroad for work, particularly to China, Laos, and Cambodia. Regular inspections of businesses with security concerns, as well as border areas where trafficking activities are common, are also being intensified. The authorities are strengthening international cooperation in human trafficking prevention, ensuring timely information exchange, maintaining hotlines, and coordinating efforts to investigate, apprehend, and extradite traffickers, while providing support and assistance to Nghe An residents who have been trafficked.

On the border, the Provincial Border Guard Command is working with other agencies to implement effective programmes and models to prevent human trafficking. This force, in coordination with various police levels, is also stepping up patrols, tightening border and coastal security, and closely monitoring immigration to prevent illegal crossings.

In the first six months of 2024, the Nghe An Provincial Police uncovered and arrested suspects in eight human trafficking cases, apprehending 17 individuals and rescuing 17 victims. Between July 1 and July 31, 2024, they detected and arrested suspects in five additional cases involving eight individuals, rescuing 19 victims of human and child trafficking. VNS
KUALA LUMPUR - The Malaysia-Viet Nam Friendship Association (MVFA) and the University of Malaya (Universiti Malaya  UM) organised an international conference on cultural exchange, economic cooperation, and friendship connection between Viet Nam and Malaysia on August 23.

In her opening speech, Professor Dr Yvonne Lim Ai Lian, Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International) at the UM, emphasised the power of cultural exchange in promoting understanding and solidarity between the two countries.

She noted that the event introduced traditional dishes, art performances from both Viet Nam and Malaysia, and featured interactions with cultural experts, thus helping participants share similarities and explore the unique aspects of each other's culture.

Deputy Ambassador of Viet Nam to Malaysia Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh said that after more than half a century of diplomatic relations, the two countries have been building a special and close friendship based on mutual trust and understanding. Cooperation has been developed across various fields, including cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

She expressed her hope that in the coming time, the Faculty of Language and Linguistics (FLL) in particular and the UM in general will maintain traditional cultural exchange activities to promote and preserve the image, culture, and people of each country, and create opportunities for further collaboration. VNS
HA NOI  President of the Australian Senate Sue Lines visited the special national relic Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature Complex) in Ha Noi on Saturday afternoon, as part of her ongoing official visit to Viet Nam.

The Australian top legislator was briefed on the history of formation and development of Viet Nam's first university, which is deeply connected to the nation's tradition of studiousness.

Lines toured ancient architectural sites such as the ai Trung Gate, Khue Van Cac, ai Thanh Palace, doctoral stelae, and explored places dedicated to preserving and honouring the values of Vietnamese education and showcasing the prominent cultural heritage of Viet Nam.

The Australian guest was presented the book "Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam Thang Long" by the Centre for Cultural and Scientific Activities of the Temple of Literature-Imperial Academy.

The Temple of Literature was established in 1070-1076 under the Ly Dynasty (1010-1225). It is the place that witnessed and retained the development of the countrys education, and a historical and cultural relic that promotes its cultural values. With its ancient architecture and unique humanistic values, the relic contributes to enriching the nation's cultural treasure. In recent years, the site has become an attractive cultural destination, attracting crowds of domestic and international tourists.  VNA/VNS
The unique concept combined team building, a music festival, and camping, offering an extraordinary series of activities over 24 hours and creating unforgettable experiences and new records for the employees.

The event highlighted the company's impressive corporate culture and introduced a new way of creating value within the business in the context of its transformation.

The 3,200 employees were divided into 30 teams to compete in more than 50 challenges throughout the 24-hour event, including running races, music video production, adventure sports, water park challenges, and team-building exercises.

Each team had a captain, and was structured like a startup company with members from various departments, all connected and adhering to the rules and scoring system.

With unprecedented scale and complexity, all the activities, information, and interactions were operated through an event app - FIS 30 The Next, developed by the FPT IS team. Real-time updates on team and individual rankings created a competitive and exciting atmosphere throughout the event.

Professionalism was a key focus of the entire event and a core value that FPT IS aims to instil in its business culture.

Professionalism in every action will be the guiding principle for FPT IS to effectively accompany domestic customers and strive to meet world-class standards as we expand globally, shared Nguyen Hoang Minh, CEO of FPT IS.

The company is currently focusing on developing markets in Japan, Malaysia, and Indonesia, and investing heavily in enhancing the global mindset and capabilities of each employee through specialised training courses in expertise, skills, and language proficiency to prepare for the new phase.

The explosive music night at FPT IS

Semiconductors, AI, green transformation, products, and services are creating a new dawn" for FPT IS to contribute to the transformation of Vietnam and its organisations and enterprises, bringing value to millions of people. FPT IS will also leverage these capabilities to advance in the global market, stated Tran Dang Hoa, chairman of FPT IS.

More than 3200 FPT IS employees covered the Uoc Nguyen Hill in orange to attend the flag ceremony and listen to the inspiring call of 'The Next'

On this new journey, the FPT IS leadership team and all employees have adopted a new mission, Co-create the Next, to collaborate and create together.

The company has set its transition path from a technology solutions and services provider, inheriting and elevating values, to become a comprehensive partner on every customer's development journey, collaborating with them to shape the future.

FPT IS deeply believes that technology will create 'The NEXT' of the world, bringing superior values, and enhancing modern, higher-quality, and happier life. We are committed to partnering with our customers to solve critical challenges, become a leader, and co-create The NEXT, the FPT IS leader said.

The 30-year journey has witnessed significant transformations at FPT IS, rooted in historical values and market adaptability.

The establishment context bestowed upon FPT IS a crucial mission: to utilise IT to serve core industries, and create the opportunity to participate in and lead the development of national backbone systems.

In 2007, at a customer conference event, Do Cao Bao, member of the Board of Directors of FPT and former chairman of FPT IS, noted, FPT IS aspires to be the main contractor for large projects. We do not want to be subcontractors, we want to show that Vietnamese enterprises can fully meet the requirements of large domestic technology projects.

That statement elevated FPT IS to an entirely new position in the market - being a distinct entity compared to its competitors. In 2008, FPT IS became a general contractor for the first time with a project to provide a personal income tax management application system for the General Department of Taxation, worth $14.5 million.

Subsequently, large-scale and high-value management systems for Petrolimex, financial switching systems, technology systems for major banks such as Vietcombank, BIDV, Agribank, and critical national systems for Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, and more have become the pride of FPT IS and FPT employees.

The ability to execute large, complex, and national-scale projects is in the blood of FPT IS employees, with new milestones such as the 100-day rescue of the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange and pioneering the implementation of the D06 project across various sectors.

The next significant shift occurred five years ago with the milestone of "A New Day".

At the event, nearly 3,000 people marched and welcomed the dawn on Canh Duong beach. Nguyen Hoang Minh, CEO of FPT IS, called for the development of Made by FPT IS products, opening a new development phase to meet market demands.

Understanding the challenges facing various industries and sectors has driven FPT IS to innovate and create its own products, rather than relying on other providers.

FPT IS products are developed based on real-world customer problems and needs, capturing market trends, and are trusted by over 3,000 customers, matching the quality of international products and meeting comprehensive needs in the banking, enterprise, government, and healthcare sectors.

In 2023, revenue from FPT IS products reached $54.2 million, affirming the strategy's vision as well as spreading the new spirit among all FPT IS employees.

The Next event marked a new milestone on the foundation of 30 years of inherited values. With those important core values and internal readiness, FPT IS expects to continue affirming its mark in the next wave of technology in Vietnam and globally, as a trusted partner with enterprises and organisations to explore the power of technology.

Vietnam aims to make its mark on the semiconductor industry Professor Nguyen Dinh Duc, Vietnam's pre-eminent scientist and the only one recognised among the world's top 100 influential figures in engineering and technology, spoke with VIR's Manh Bon about how semiconductor manufacturing represents a pivotal opportunity for Vietnam.

FPT sees strong growth in first quarter FPT recorded revenue of VND14.09 trillion ($587.08 million), and profit before tax of $105.41 million in the first quarter of 2024, up by 20.6 per cent and 19.5 per cent, respectively over the same period last year, on the back of good performance overseas and at home.
At the end of July, six selected Vietnamese deep-tech startups gathered at the fourth Inno Vietnam-Japan Meetup, co-organised by the Japan External Trade Organisations Ho Chi Minh office. They pitched ideas while seeking funding as well as business collaboration opportunities with Japanese companies.

Among them was Realtime Robotics, a company specialising in drones and related solutions.

The landscape for deep-tech startups in Vietnam is marked by a scarcity of such ventures, and consequently, very few success stories. Realtime Robotics is perhaps the only deep-tech startup in Vietnam with inventions, patents, and manufacturing know-how to produce patented products like drones and export them to the United States at a premium price, said the companys founder Luong Viet Quoc.

Realtime Robotics is maintaining a belief in the capabilities of Vietnamese engineers to create breakthrough inventions in deep tech, particularly within the drone industry. The startup has also embraced crowdfunding to counter the lack of investment institutions.

Our plan is to provide investors with an opportunity to achieve global success with two of the best patented drone products in the world: the Hera drone and the OmniSight gimbal. These products together have the potential to more than double data-capturing productivity in the global drone industry, Quoc said, adding that Realtime Robotics is seeking a partner who can offer not only financial support but also access to international drone markets, including Japan.

Another deep-tech startup, Vulcan Augmetics, is developing affordable and advanced robotic prosthetics and sensors for emerging markets. Vulcan Augmetics has raised around $1 million over the last four years, and is currently seeking Series A funding to support international expansion. The startup is already active and selling in Vietnam and aims to expand into other markets such as India, Malaysia, Egypt, and Ukraine.

Vulcan Augmetics co-founder and CEO Rafael Masters said, The greatest advantage in Vietnam is access to technical expertise combined with affordable labour costs. We have been able to design, develop, license, and bring to market a complex medical device and biometric control software for under $1 million. This would cost at least 10 times more in the west or even Singapore, he said.

He noted that the Vietnamese population was highly connected, with some of the highest smartphone penetration rates globally, and is receptive to new ideas and technologies. Furthermore, Vietnams proactive efforts in establishing relations and free trade agreements with global markets make it an ideal location for manufacturing and exporting hardware.

Vulcan Augmetics already has some Japanese corporate investors, and is particularly interested in finding Japanese strategic partners to develop teleoperated robotics and remote biometric monitoring technology for applications in elderly care and manufacturing, he added.

According to Do Ventures, Japans potential in deep tech is driven by a combination of advanced technological capabilities, a robust industrial base, a strong research and development (R&D) ecosystem, and proactive government policies. Japans significant investment in R&D across universities, research institutes, and corporate labs fosters innovation in areas such as robotics, AI, nanotechnology, and materials science.

Japans global leadership in robotics and AI, exemplified by companies like Softbank Robotics and Fanuc, drives innovation in deep tech applications, enhancing automation, efficiency, and capabilities across industries.

Japan-based Reazon Holdings is actively investing in the deep-tech sector, and has already invested in a Vietnamese deep-tech startup.

Satoshi Kuriga, head of Global Investments at Reazon Holdings, said having cutting-edge technology by global standards is the most straightforward path to success. However, succeeding by this approach alone is quite challenging for Vietnamese deep-tech startups. They would need to compete directly with players from the US and China, who have significant advantages.

Kuriga explained that when considering Vietnamese deep-tech startups, Reazon focuses on additional aspects beyond tech superiority. These include whether they are addressing problems not present in advanced countries, whether they are developing tech difficult to implement in advanced countries due to environmental factors, and whether they can establish a long-term advantage.

To foster development of Vietnams deep-tech startups, Kuriga said, Grants for deep-tech startups are crucial. They require long-term funding, yet there are few long-term investors in Vietnam. If the government wishes to support Vietnamese deep-tech startups, it should consider providing long-term grants.

Japanese see potential with startup initiatives Amid slow capital flow into frontier financial markets, Japanese funding continues to flow into local startups to strengthen market footprint.

Vietnam and Japan startups collaborate to tackle common challenges Considered the second most promising investment market after the United States, Vietnam is continuing to attract Japanese companies wishing to foster development.
This marks the ninth time Nam Long Group (HSX: NLG) has been recognised in this way, affirming the companys position and sustainable development in the market.

Van Viet Son, managing director of Nam Long Land, Nam Long Group receiving the award

Nam Long Group has consistently strived to maintain and develop high-quality projects to meet the growing market demand. By the end of the first half of this year, Nam Long recorded pre-sales revenue of VND2.68 trillion ($111.5 million) and net revenue of VND457 billion ($19 million).

For the remaining months of the year, in addition to handing over the second phase of the Akari City project and the component projects of Waterpoint on schedule, Nam Long will continue to focus on developing projects and subprojects within integrated townships, including the 26-hectare Mizuki Park (Binh Chanh district), the 165-hectare phase 1 of Waterpoint (Ben Luc, Long An province), and the 43-hectare Nam Long Central Lake (Can Tho city).

"This recognition affirms our strategic approach in developing projects that align with the real needs of the market, enabling us to overcome recent challenges and recover more quickly alongside Vietnams post-Covid economy. We will continue to formulate sustainable development strategies to ensure growth and share our positive outcomes with shareholders, customers, and the community," said Lucas Loh, CEO of Nam Long Group.

This year's list of Forbes Vietnam's Top 50 Best Listed Companies includes seven real estate enterprises.

Among them, Nam Long is one of two developers honoured in the residential real estate sector, alongside Khang Dien. The other companies recognised are Kinh Bac, IDICO, VRG, Sonadezi Chau Duc (industrial real estate), and Vincom Retail (commercial real estate).

The Vietnamese housing market has been gradually warming up in 2024 and according to the Ministry of Construction, real estate transactions saw an on-year increase of 20 per cent in the first half of the year, indicating that investor and consumer confidence is gradually returning.
Texas State Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mount, talks with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick as the 87th legislature reconvenes in 2021. Nelson promised her office would have an enhanced presence in Harris County for the upcoming election. Jerry Lara, Staff / San Antonio Express-News

Voters can expect an "enhanced presence" of monitors in Harris County for the upcoming 2024 general election, Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson said Friday evening.

The news came after an election audit found multiple deficiencies in the countys voting process during the 2022 election. Nelson, who announced the results of the audit in a news release, accused county officials of failing to provide poll workers adequate training, improperly handling paperwork and failing to maintain a sufficient amount of election-related materials.

"Although Harris County has since made changes to its election administration, the findings highlighted in this audit and the prior audit show that an enhanced presence by the Secretarys office is necessary for the November 2024 election," according to the news release. "The Secretary of State will assign state inspectors to Harris County to perform checks on election records, including tapes and chain-of-custody, and will observe the handling and counting of ballots and electronic media during the November 2024 election period."

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Staff from the secretarys Elections Division will also assist Harris County from the early voting period through tabulation, according to the statement.

Conservatives have long called on the state to investigate Harris County after several voting locations ran out of ballot paper during the November 2022 election. The problem impacted 20 of the countys 782 polls and spawned immediate outcry.

Later, Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth said in a statement on Facebook that her office was committed to addressing the issues that impacted elections in 2022. Hudspeth, whose office has since assumed responsibility for overseeing elections in Harris County, said the deficiencies outlined in the audit have already been addressed.

We will continue to ensure that the concerns that plagued the now-defunct Elections Administrators office are not revisited, Hudspeth said. The Harris County Clerks Office remains committed to upholding the highest standards of transparency, efficiency and accuracy.

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Hudspeth took over election duties in Harris County after state legislators passed Senate Bill 1750. The bill stripped the Harris County elections administrator of all voting-related responsibilities and transferred them to offices of the county clerk and tax assessor.
Shame that the badge of honor in the USA is to be called a terrorist, by the number one terrorist country in the world. USA = Terrorist. They are very scared of Tulsi Gabbard and her truths

WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  US House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer sent a letter on Friday to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) chief David Pekoske regarding whistleblower allegations that the agency placed former US Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard on a terror watchlist.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240823/us-house-oversight-panel-asks-tsa-about-placing-tulsi-gabbard-on-terror-watchlistletter-1119889581.html

Amazing and the witch hunt goes on

Gonna get real bad on the home front USA

WtR
The Lyon County Sheriff's Office is looking for a missing and endangered woman last seen on Sunday.

37-year-old Julie Ricciardi was last seen at her home on August 18. At around 9:30 that night she told a family member she was going to 7-Eleven in Fernley before leaving on foot, according to a post on the Lyon County Sheriff's Office Facebook page.

She is five foot seven, white, and weighs between 180 and 200 pounds. She was last seen wearing a gray shirt, black cargo pants, and a white Disney backpack.

Authorities believe she could be headed to Reno or Sacramento.

Ricciardi has a history of leaving residences for long periods and avoiding contact with family members according to the Sheriff's Office.

If you see her or know of her whereabouts, contact the Lyon County Sheriffs Office at (775) 463-6620.
Public relations and brand reputation have seen a dramatic transformation, with traditional PR marketing giving way to dynamic narratives that better connect with younger audiences. Social media has enabled brands to forge stronger, more personal relationships, driving deeper engagement. This shift is particularly evident in real estate, where PR and social media are reshaping the industry and driving transformative changes.

Adgullys exclusive column showcases how leading brands are adopting proactive strategies and crafting distinctive narratives to stand out in the market.

One of the most notable examples of this shift is the collaboration between IM Buildcon, Insomniacs, and Rafique Merchant, which has redefined real estate marketing. IM Buildcon, known for constructing one of the tallest buildings in Goregaon East with premium features in a standalone tower, launched a groundbreaking campaign titled Christmas is Coming Early by SKYFUSION. This campaign, created with the strategic expertise of Insomniacs, Indias largest real estate marketing agency, has set new benchmarks in the industry.

The campaign focused on the challenges faced by Mumbai residentscramped spaces, long commutes, and pollutionand presented SKYFUSION, IM Buildcons premium residential project, as the ideal solution. By smartly leveraging the anticipation of the festive season, the campaign captured the attention of Mumbais discerning homebuyers.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by IM Buildcon (@imbuildcon)

The association proved highly successful with the campaign achieving 1 million views across all SM landscape and significantly boosting customer engagements. IM Buildcons strong brand reputation was further enhanced, demonstrating their commitment to understanding homebuyer needs. Insomniacs, as the creative force behind the campaign, solidified its position as the leader in real estate marketing. Rafique Merchant, with his satirical approach, gave the campaign an added edge.

This partnership exemplifies how a well-crafted, customer-centric strategy can turn obstacles into opportunities, ultimately redefining brand positioning even in a competitive market. The combined strengths of IM Buildcon and Insomniacs have not only changed the narrative but also left a lasting impact on the real estate landscape.

Also Read: The Most Unexpected Ad Campaigns That Will Make You Think Twice!
Senior journalist and founder of Stardust magazine, Nari Hira, passed away on Friday, August 23, at the age of 86. Known for revolutionizing the Indian magazine industry, Hira was the owner of Mumbai-based Magna Publishing Co. Ltd., which publishes prominent magazines such as Stardust, Savvy, Showtime, Society, and Health. He was also involved in film production through Magna Films, a subsidiary of his publishing company.

In a heartfelt statement, Hira's family expressed their deep sorrow and shared their fond memories of him. They described him as a "pioneer in print media, a family man, and a father beyond compare."

Born in Karachi in 1938, Hira and his family moved to Mumbai after the partition of India in 1947. He embarked on his journalistic journey in the 1960s and eventually ventured into publishing. His magazine, Stardust, quickly gained immense popularity, known for its sensationalized stories, gossip, and revelations about Bollywood celebrities.

The magazine often found itself embroiled in legal battles due to its controversial content, facing defamation cases from several prominent actors including Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Salman Khan. Despite the controversies, Hira's magazine played a significant role in shaping Indian popular culture, and he was widely regarded as the "King of Indian Magazines."

Hira's contributions to Indian publishing were recognized with numerous awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Indian Magazine Congress. While details about his personal life remain private, his son, Vikram Hira, has taken over as the managing director of Magna Publishing.

The passing of Nari Hira leaves a void in the Indian media industry, and his legacy as a trailblazer and visionary will continue to inspire generations to come.

Also Read: SuperGaming's Indus Battle Royale Enters Open Beta
The grand launch ceremony of Live Times, Indias first global multicast news hub, was a resounding success, marked by the presence of Honorable Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath and a host of other distinguished guests. Held on August 23, 2024, this event celebrated the inauguration of a new chapter in journalism, with Live Times set to provide factual, unfiltered, and unbiased news to a digitally connected global audience.

In his keynote address, Honorable Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath elaborated on the role of the media as the fourth pillar of democracy, emphasizing its responsibility to reflect the sentiments and needs of the common people. He also highlighted that India is moving rapidly towards development, and in such times, news with facts reaches the world with clarity and strength. Live Times is uniquely positioned to fulfill this need by providing news that is both truthful and impartial. He congratulated the Live Times team for launching Indias first global multicast news hub, which not only meets today's demand but also upholds the highest standards of journalistic integrity.

The event was further graced by the presence of Deepa Malik, the first Indian woman to win a medal in the Paralympic Games, along with other prominent Industry leaders. Their participation highlighted the event's significance and the broad support for Live Times' mission to uphold the highest standards of journalistic integrity.

Mr. Dilip Singh, Founder, CEO, and Editor-in-Chief of Live Times, expressed his gratitude and shared his vision for the channel, stating, "In a world where misinformation often overshadows truth, Live Times stands firm as a beacon of reliable journalism. The overwhelming support we've received at this launch reinforces our belief that there is a strong demand for unbiased and factual news. Our commitment is to deliver news that mattersnews that is factual, unbiased, and serves the public interest.

Live Times aims to redefine the news landscape with its multiscreen-multi-stream capabilities, allowing for a highly personalized and engaging viewer experience. The channels commitment to providing unadulterated news is further strengthened by partnerships with top-tier technology providers such as Grass Valley, Ross, Panasonic, Live U, Octopus, NewTek, Sony, Sennheiser, Harmonic, Blackmagic Design, Adobe, Planetcast, Juniper, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and RiverSilica. Content partnerships with PTI and Reuters, along with service collaborations with Tata Communications, Airtel, BSNL, and Jio, ensure a robust and reliable distribution network, which includes Tata Play, Digital TV, and GTPL. The presence of the Voice of Specially Abled People as a special partner reflects Live Times' commitment to inclusivity and giving a voice to all sections of society.

As Live Times steps onto the global stage, it is set to revolutionize the way news is delivered, focusing on authenticity, relevance, and public interest. The launch event has not only marked the beginning of a new channel but has also set a new benchmark in the media industry for truth-based journalism.

Also Read: India Gate unveils Grains of Hope to nourish young lives & combat hunger
In a heartwarming episode, Sony SAB's popular mythological series, "Shrimad Ramayan," witnessed the triumphant return of Lord Ram and Sita to Ayodhya after their fourteen-year exile. The occasion marked the first-ever Diwali celebration in the city, a joyous event that was filled with hope, relief, and festivity.

As Lord Ram and Sita approached Ayodhya, Hanuman, the loyal devotee, was sent ahead to prepare the city for their arrival. However, he found the residents shrouded in sadness and anxiety, longing for their divine rulers' return. To dispel the gloom and bring joy back to Ayodhya, Hanuman and Bharat suggested lighting diyas, a tradition that would not only illuminate the city but also symbolize the triumph of light over darkness.

The city of Ayodhya was transformed into a sea of light as residents eagerly awaited the arrival of their beloved Lord Ram and Sita. The divine couple's homecoming was a momentous occasion, filling the hearts of the people with immense joy and relief.

Sujay Reu, who portrays the role of Lord Ram, expressed his deep connection to the emotions of Ayodhya's residents. "I feel honored to be part of this iconic story and to share the joy of Lord Ram and Sita's homecoming with our audience," he said. "This moment symbolizes hope and the triumph of light over darkness, which is the true essence of Diwali."

Don't miss the episode of Sony SAB's "Shrimad Ramayan" every Monday to Saturday at 7:30 PM.

Also Read: Banijay Asia announces partnership with Sony Pictures Television
Heres a collection of some of the most innovative and engaging campaigns in recent times. From exploring the humorous dynamics of modern relationships and celebrating the fast-paced world of smart investors, to highlighting the dignity of professions often overlooked, these campaigns captivate audiences with unique storytelling. We also see initiatives that focus on safety awareness, redefine brand missions, and encourage equal parenting through creative tools. Each campaign presents a fresh perspective, aiming to resonate deeply with viewers and make a lasting impact

BlueStone

The campaign follows the life of a modern married couple and the husband's childhood best friend. Their relationship forms the crux of the narrative, exploring the amusing dynamics of being a third wheel in a marriage. With every video, viewers are taken on a journey filled with laughter and heartwarming moments, culminating in transforming a love-hate relationship between the wife and the best friend into a bond that mirrors the sibling connection.

Kotak Securities

Kotak Securities has launched an exciting new ad campaign for Kotak Neo, titled Tez, aimed at the fast, smart, and intelligent investor who enjoys trading on the go. This campaign celebrates the growing community of Tez investors passionate about investing and actively contributing to Indias transformation from a nation of savers to a nation of investors.

"Tez is a step towards staying connected with todays smart, informed investors and traders who prefer a fast-paced life. The campaign focuses on these Tez investors who like to stay ahead using Kotak Neo for a seamless investment experience,

Urban company

The short film is set as an engaging conversation between a female customer and a plumber. While solving the problem the customer faces, the plumber takes the customer on a flashback, or as we call it flushback, of Indias water management marvels, starting 5000 years ago in the Indus Valley Civilization. The film not only brings dignity and pride to the plumbers profession but also elucidates how plumbing was the critical foundation for the formation of mankinds civilisation. In this 7-minute film, each important historical and technological innovation has been captured with a unique style of animation, music and treatment relevant to the contemporary style of the times.

RR Kabel

R R Kabel Limited, one of India's leading wire and cable manufacturers, has launched its much-anticipated TVC campaign, #FireSeJyaadaJaanleva, starring Bollywood icon Akshay Kumar. This campaign, showcases RR Kabel's ongoing efforts to promote safety and awareness, underscores the critical importance of choosing high-quality wires for the safety of homes and families.

Aditya Birla Group

The Aditya Birla Group has significantly influenced millions globally. The Group is now enhancing its vision with a fresh brand positioning: "Aditya Birla Group: A Force for Good." This new positioning is connected to the Group's core mission at a deeper level, highlighting its enduring influence across various industries. It also underscores the Group's strategic goal to leverage its scale, resources, and leadership to create exceptional outcomes for all stakeholdersemployees, consumers, partners, investors, and society.

Britannia Milk Bikis

Britannia Milk Bikis has launched a campaign speaking to the dads of Tamil Nadu, as part of their ongoing platform of equal parenting. Conceptualised by Talented, Adengappa Kadhaigal (loosely translated to wow! stories) is a Gen AI powered storytelling resource that equips dads to be better storytellers for their kids.

Originating from the thought of everything around you can tell a story, this first-of-its-kind platform uses objects commonly found in households to aid storytime. Scan any Britannia Milk Bikis pack to generate stories, both in English and Tamil. Each story comes with prompts on how to use that object as a prop to narrate stories to kids.

Also Read: Thangalaan Hindi Release Date Announced: Set to Hit Theaters on 30th August!
Building momentum on its digital-first strategy, Thomas Cook (India) Limited - Indias leading omnichannel travel services company and its Group Company, SOTC Travel, have launched a Customer Self-Service (CSS) holiday app. Available for both iOS and Android users, the app offers customers a seamless end-to-end post-booking experience.

Traditionally, the post booking process was time-consuming and stressful for customers  involving coordinating for various elements including visas (getting details on documents required, visa forms, processing time and tracking), flights, hotel vouchers, itinerary, attractions, invoices and receipts. Hence, Thomas Cook and SOTCs innovative CSS app will now serve to empower customers with a convenient, easy-to-access interface - making their post-booking experience simple and intuitive.

Having piloted the CSS app in April 2024, the app has seen significant enhancements and currently enjoys a strong customer adoption of 50%.

Key features of the Customer Self-Service app:

Comprehensive Booking Details: Customers can view all aspects of their booked trips, including flights, hotel reservations, sightseeing schedules, transportation, guides, and meal preferences

Customers can view all aspects of their booked trips, including flights, hotel reservations, sightseeing schedules, transportation, guides, and meal preferences Instant Accessibility: Round-the-clock access from any location

Round-the-clock access from any location Travel Documentation: Customers can now access important travel documents such as flight tickets, visa document requirements, process and downloadable forms, hotel vouchers, and insurance details on the go

Customers can now access important travel documents such as flight tickets, visa document requirements, process and downloadable forms, hotel vouchers, and insurance details on the go Real-Time Updates: invaluable visa status tracker, updates on weather conditions and other critical travel information significantly reducing the turnaround time for customers

invaluable visa status tracker, updates on weather conditions and other critical travel information significantly reducing the turnaround time for customers Omnichannel advantage: The app is channel agnostic and hence available to customers who have booked online, offline or a combination thereof

Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head  Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Limited said, We are consistently exploring ways to deliver a truly seamless experience for our customers. I am hence delighted with the launch of our CSS app - that empowers our customers with simplified post-booking services at their fingertips. With the festive season approaching, this launch is perfectly timed to elevate our customers experience for their upcoming holidays.

Daniel DSouza, President & Country Head - Holidays, SOTC Travel said, With a legacy of 75 years of being an Indian-entrepreneurial brand, SOTC believes that no one understands the Indian traveller better than SOTC. Whether customers book their trips online or through our stores, we understand that the post-booking phase can be a stressful period. Through the launch of our innovative CSS app, we look forward to providing our customers with the comfort and convenience of a smooth post-booking experience.

Also Read: Varghese Thomas joins Tata Electronics as Global Head of Communications
A destructive insect capable of devastating timber harvests is at epidemic level in Alabama, with the states forest management agency saying the problem is the worst its been in more than 20 years.

The Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) has issued an alert about the Southern pine beetle. The AFC said it has identified almost 5,000 trouble spots, with an average of 191 trees killed at each spot.

Unfortunately, this is the highest number of beetle spots weve experienced in the state in the last 23 years, State Forester Rick Oates said in a recently issued statement. The agency has conducted aerial surveys in 51 counties so far, with more counties anticipated over the next couple weeks. Both Mississippi and Georgia are also counting numerous spots. So, it looks as if this is an especially active pine beetle year not just here in Alabama, but across the Southeast.

The beetles use trees as nurseries, with larvae doing fatal damage as they grow and tunnel under the bark. According to the U.S. Forest Service, annual tree loss attributed to the beetle often exceeds 100 million board feet of sawtimber and 30 million cubic feet of pulpwood, and a severe outbreak in 1999-2002 caused more than a billion dollars is losses for the timber industry.

According to the AFC, Counties with significant SPB activity (more than 100 spots) are Bibb, Calhoun, Choctaw, Clay, Colbert, Coosa, Franklin, Lamar, Lawrence, Marion, Perry, Randolph, Talladega, and Winston. The announcement said that the worst infestations are located within and around Bankhead National Forest and the Oakmulgee District of the Talladega National Forest. This data is relevant to landowners because a large number of beetle spots exist on adjacent private lands as well.

The AFC announcement said that the commission expects the number of infested spots and the number of affected trees per spot to increase. It will continue to map spots by aerial survey, with the results shown on an online map at https://forestry.alabama.gov/.

The agency is also conducting ground checks and notifying forest landowners by mail, according to the announcement. By locating their property on this map, forest landowners and land managers can begin treating the spots.

Alabamas timber industry is a driver of our economy, and these pine beetles can pose a real threat, Gov. Kay Ivey said in the AFC news release. Landowners should take care to identify these beetles to protect their own harvest, as well as to help prevent the spread to other timber.  The Alabama Forestry Commission is working hard to locate the beetle spots and notify landowners of the potential problem.

Southern pine beetles usually attack weakened trees, but in an epidemic they can attack and rapidly kill trees that appeared healthy. Management measures include cutting down trees in infested areas and burning what cannot be used.
Eighteen new Birmingham police officers will hit the streets following graduation of the largest rookie class in four years.

The class began with 20 recruits, 18 of those making it through the 880 hours of training to walk up on the stage at the Bill Harris Area Friday to receive their badges.

They will each spend the next 16 weeks under a field training officer.

Though the department in the past has had much larger class sizes  50 or 60 graduates at a time police officials said its no secret that law enforcement agencies everywhere have struggled with recruiting in recent years, and they are encouraged by their recruiting efforts.

Weve been working really hard to recruit, Police Chief Scott Thurmond said.

A second class of 11 rookies is underway, and the department is taking applications for a third class to start in November.

The department  which Birmingham City Council President Darryl OQuinn has previously said is down nearly 300 officers  has beefed up recruiting, with a recruiting team and a hiring team.

Rookies can join the department as young as age 19. Benefits include a 20-year City of Birmingham pension retirement, health, dental, vision and life insurance, 12-week paid parental leave, and a $1,200 annual clothing allowance.

All new recruits receive a $5,000 signing bonus.

Weve been focused on getting our name out there, Thurmond said. Weve been thinking outside the box.

If you really want to be a police officer, Birmingham is the place' the chief said. If you really want to get out and do police work, this is where youre going to see and do it all.

The graduating class consists of two women and 16 men, including 53-year-old Officer Marvin Jones Jr., who won the Physical Fitness Award with 46 sit-ups in one minute, 62 pushups in one minute and 1  mile run in 11 minutes and 24 seconds.

The class, Thurmond said, is the future of the department and the future of law enforcement.

They are future detectives, and sergeants and lieutenants, captains and maybe even deputy chiefs or the chief of police, he said. I have the utmost confidence in this group and look forward to what they will accomplish in their careers.

Keynote speaker City of Birmingham Chief Accountability Officer Melissa Smiley said she was honored to stand before the new officers.

We want to celebrate you, we want to congratulate you and we want you to know you are not alone in this journey, Smiley said. I can imagine blood sweat and tears have gone into getting you where you are today.

The work you are about to do is pivotal to the safety and well-being of these communities that we serve, she said.

The new police officers are Jackson Bartle, Gabriel Dagnesses, Robert Eubanks, Maliek Evans, Siddell Freeman, Willie Hill, Kyle Hood, Antwun Johnson, Jayson Jones, Marvin Jones. Jr, Joshua LeBlanc, Devonta Parnell, Jessyka Patterson, Ronald Raines, Casey Reitz, Elijah Schultz, Austin Smith and Miracle Pearl-Wilson.

In addition to Jones physical fitness award, two others also received recognition.

Hood received the Firearms Award and the Defensive Driving Award, and Reitz received the Academic Award and the In Their Spirit Award, which is given in memory of fallen officers and voted on by the recruits as someone who best exemplifies the spirit of a police officer.

Officer Jessyka Patterson moved to Alabama from Chicago and said she fell in love with Birmingham.

I just want to serve and protect, she said. I want to be an example of a good officer and get more involved with the community.

Officer Marvin Jones Jr., who previously worked for the Alabama Department of Corrections and most recently as a truck driver, said he wants to be a positive influence.

I want to be an example for the ones who arent doing good out there. he said, I want to be a role model for professionalism.
An Irondale man has pleaded guilty to detonating an explosive device outside the Alabama Attorney Generals Office.

Kyle Benjamin Douglas Calvert, 26, pleaded guilty Friday to malicious use of an explosive device.

According to the plea agreement and other court documents, Calvert in the predawn hours of Feb. 24 detonated an explosive device outside of the AG Steve Marshalls office in downtown Montgomery.

No one was injured.

Calvert admitted during the plea hearing to manufacturing the device. He used, nails and screws as shrapnel and accelerants to cause an explosion.

Prior to planting the device, Calvert placed stickers on various downtown buildings.

The stickers had graphics advocating for various political ideologies. Some stickers included the phrase Support your local antifa.

Calvert claimed in his plea that he has no affiliation with antifa.

After placing the explosive device near the Attorney Generals Office, Calvert lit its fuse and fled the scene.

He was taken into custody on April 10.

Kyle Benjamin Douglas Calvert, 26, is charged with malicious use of an explosive and possession of an unregistered destructive device.(Federal Court Documents)

This defendant built a bomb using nails and screws as shrapnel and detonated it outside the Alabama Attorney Generals Office, endangering a public institution and members of the community, said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.

Public servants should never be targeted for doing their jobs. The Justice Department will not tolerate such conduct, and we will use every resource at our disposal to prevent these attacks and hold perpetrators accountable.

The defendant pleaded guilty today to setting off a powerful, shrapnel-filled explosive at public offices in the middle of downtown Montgomery, said FBI Director Christopher Wray.

Violence and destruction of property will never be tolerated, and the FBI and our partners will continue to work together to ensure anyone who attempts to harm or intimidate the community will be held accountable.

A sentencing date has not yet been set. Calvert faces a minimum of five years in federal prison and a maximum of 20 years in prison with no possibility of parole.

This attack on the Alabama Attorney Generals Office was an attack on the American justice system, said ATF Director Steven Dettelbach. Violent, targeted attacks like this, aim to harm, whether physically or through fear and intimidation, the civil servants and public officials who serve our communities and country.

The FBI is investigating the case with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

Assistant United States Attorneys Russell T. Duraski and Brett J. Talley for the Middle District of Alabama are prosecuting the case.

Calverts offense was a very serious one and todays plea ensures that he will face significant consequences, said Middle District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Ross. Calvert would not have been held accountable had it not been for the thorough and painstaking investigation conducted by federal, state, and local law enforcement agents working together. I am grateful for the efforts of everyone involved.
A motorcyclist died after he crashed into a car on Highway 31 in central Alabama, authorities said Friday.

Bradley D. Channell, 29, of Deatsville, was operating a 2024 Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle around 6:10 p.m. Tuesday when he struck a 2004 Lexus RX330 about five miles south of Prattville, in Autauga County, said Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Lt. Jeremy Burkett.

Channell was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

Authorities did not say whether anyone in the Lexus was injured.

Further information was unavailable as state troopers continued to investigate the wreck.
Three people have been charged in a deadly shooting at a Birmingham apartment complex that was captured live in Facebook videos.

Two men - Justin Jamond Hendrix, 20, and Taylor McCloud, 22 - are charged with murder in the killing of 21-year-old Asia Alyce Poole and the attempted murder of her best friend, a man who survived the barrage of gunfire.

Justin Jamond Hendrix was booked into the Jefferson County Jail at 4:33 p.m. Friday, and McCloud at 5:07 p.m. Both are being held without bond.

Janiyah Hendrix, 19, who was fighting with Poole before the shots rang out, is charged with first-degree auto theft after authorities say she fled the chaotic scene in Pooles co.

She was booked into the county jail 4:51 p.m. Her bond is set at $30,000.

Janiyah Hendrix and Justin Hendrix are siblings. Both were taken into custody Wednesday night at a family members home.

Pooles acquaintances said there was an ongoing dispute between her and Janiyah Hendrix over a man.

It culminated Tuesday night when the two women got into a fight in the parking lot.

The fight escalated into a brawl and a shootout at the Monarch Ridge apartment complex on Gallant Drive, which was formerly known as Valley Brook.

The video showed Poole in a brawl that began with Janiyah Hendrix and later involved multiple people.

It appeared to start near Pooles vehicle in the parking lot and then moved to a breezeway in one of the apartment buildings before a hail of gunfire erupted.

The fight and subsequent shooting were captured on Facebook live videos.

Birmingham police responded to Monarch Ridge about 10 p.m. The initial calls were of shots fired, and then officers were updated that someone had been shot, said Sgt. LaQuitta Wade.

When officers arrived, they found Poole unresponsive near in the breezeway of her own apartment building. Birmingham firefighters pronounced her dead on the scene at 10:31 p.m.

Poole, a Monarch Ridge resident, left behind a daughter who started pre-kindergarten this week. The childs 21-year-old father died on July 26.

Poole had posted her own live video from the parking lot shortly before the fight.

After the shooting, the heartbreaking cries of Pooles brother and sister could be heard on the videos.

Pooles friend was taken to UAB Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. He was shot in the leg, and has since been released from the hospital.

Wade said investigators learned that after the fight moved to the breezeway, it appeared to have been broken up. Moments later, the shots rang out.

After the shooting, Janiyah Hendrix reportedly fled in Pooles Ford sedan. That, too, was captured on video. Witnesses said Pooles car was already running when Poole jumped in and sped away.

The stolen vehicle was found abandoned in the parking lot of J Wings on Center Point Parkway.

The stolen car was found abandoned in the parking lot of J Wings on Center Point Parkway a short time later.

Police said they documented 168 rounds fired.

Its likely police werent able to recover all of the shell casings. On Wednesday, a spent bullet was seen outside of the breezeway where Poole died.

Residents and witnesses said described the shooting as something out of a movie and said it appeared to be premeditated.

There were multiple shooters, they said, some wearing masks and armed with assault-type rifles and guns with Glock switches.

They came for this, said one resident, who asked that her name not be used for fear of retaliation. They were so organized. They had everything blocked off, everyone corralled in.

Resident Shannin Ross said there were at least three people initially shooting directly toward the breezeway where Poole was ultimately killed.

Poole and her friend hit the ground, and then her friend picked her up and they were able to make it to the breezeway.

After the initial shots were fired, witnesses said, somebody came from another breezeway and opened fire.

Then, residents said, shots came from every direction.

A woman was shot to death Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, following a fight in the parking lot of Monarch Ridge apartments. Her car was stolen but later recovered.(Carol Robinson)

Police said it appeared once the shooting started, multiple people not included in the original fight began firing weapons as well.

Police and witnesses said Poole was struck at least twice.

A couple of nurses, Ross said, checked for her pulse and found none.

She was gone Ross said.

That shit is stuck in my head, she said. This little girl is gone because of a fight.

The spray of bullets hit multiple cars and several apartments.

One resident, who also asked not to be identified, showed the bullet holes that entered her apartment, one of which shattered a glass table.

The investigation is ongoing.

We do believe there were more than just these two shooting so well see where that leads us,' Thurmond said.

Police ask anyone with information or additional videos of the incident to call detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
CHICAGO - All week at the Democratic National Convention, Alabama delegates who spoke to AL.com said they looked forward to Shomari Figures Thursday night address, describing it as a moment of optimism for Alabama Democrats.

I think we in Alabama are at a deficit of capable, qualified elected officials, delegate Jamie Lowe said, citing Sen. Tommy Tuberville and Gov. Kay Ivey. Having a young, energized Democrat who looks like me in Shomari Figures  I think that for the first time in a very, very, very long time, Alabama Democrats have something to celebrate.

A state in which incumbent Democratic Sen. Doug Jones was unseated and former President Donald Trump won by over 25 percentage points in 2020, Alabama, delegates said, is often disregarded as a red state. Figures speech suggested otherwise, they said.

I think Shomari is running in such a way that his momentum, his enthusiasm and the enthusiasm surrounding him will have a trickle-down effect and a trickle-around effect in some of our more red districts, like the one I live in, Lowe, Alabamas youngest delegate and the chair of the Lee County Democratic Party, said.

In his Thursday speech , Figures honored his late father, former State Sen. Micheal Figures, and his mother State Sen. Vivian Figures  a delegate who attended her 11th DNC in Chicago. Pointing to Harris as a fighter for freedoms, Figures urged listeners to pop out and vote.

Listen, all of America, all of us; All of us owe a debt to courageous freedom fighters, both known and unknown, a debt that can never be re-paid, he said. But what we can do is ensure that the work of those fighters that came before us continues.

Figures is running against Republican Caroleene Dobson in the race to send a representative from the newly redrawn district , which includes Montgomery and Mobile, to Congress in November. The winner between the two first-time candidates could tip the balance for control over the House of Representatives.

Were excited about getting another congressman in [Alabamas second district], Randy Kelley, the chair of the states Democratic Party, said. Hes very intelligent, and we thank God for him, and for him offering himself for public service.

Alongside Figures speech, the delegations lodging and seats on the floor of the United Center were cause for excitement. The delegation spent the week in the Palmer House with a handful of other delegations, including Kentucky and Pennsylvania.

During breakfasts and around the hotel, District 7 delegate Sheila Smoot said members of the Alabama delegation saw heavy hitters in Gov. Andy Beshear and Gov. Josh Shapiro. In meetings, they heard from union leaders who spoke about issues in her state, including unionizing Amazon workers .

Weve heard many powerful women, powerful black women, here, Smoot said. Weve been very fortunate that Congresswoman Sewell has brought in some of those powerful voices to our breakfasts.

Among those voices was Vanessa Pettway, wife of Sheriff Mark Pettway, who delivered the benediction at the delegations Thursday breakfast.

As they watched convention programming from their seats, members of the Alabama delegation soon realized just above their seats, near the Utah and Alaska delegations to the left of the stage, was Gov. Tim Walzs booth.

After being seated far from the stage in past conventions, Alabamas spot in Chicago  just to the left of the stage in the 110s sections at the United Center  was the result of the DNC listening to the delegations requests to be closer, Smoot said.

With their signs in the air, Alabama delegates noticed photographers and press moving toward their section and pointing above them. Delegates turned around and saw a booth containing the Walz family and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, who waved to them.

Ive never seen the energy of the DNC like Ive seen it this week, Smoot said.

Sofia Abdullina, a Syracuse University senior from Boston studying magazine, news and digital journalism and international relations, and Griffin Uribe Brown, a junior from Chicago studying magazine, news and digital journalism and policy studies, are reporting for AL.com during the Democratic National Convention. They are covering the DNC as part of a program with Syracuse Universitys S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.




An Alabama man who contracted a listeria infection that has left him incapacitated and hospitalized for more than a month has filed a federal lawsuit against Boars Head, claiming the companys since-recalled deli meat led to his condition.

Jeffrey Scott Cox, who became ill after consuming Boars Head bologna bought at a Publix in Huntsville in late July, is unable to communicate, and it is currently unclear if he will survive, the lawsuit states.

As of early August, more than 40 people have been sickened due to the outbreak and three people have died, the Associated Press reported.

Cox, according to the lawsuit filed Monday on his behalf by his mother, Elvira Cox, went to Crestwood Hospital after he had trouble breathing, began exhibiting weakness and one side of his face began to droop.

He eventually needed to be placed on a ventilator, and he was transferred to Huntsville Hospital.

On Aug. 7, Cox tested positive for listeria. For two weeks, he had a significantly elevated temperature.

Throughout the course of his hospitalization, the lawsuit states, Cox has remained incapacitated...

He is unable to communicate, and it is currently unclear if he will survive, according to the suit.

Efforts to reach Boars Head were not immediately successful.

According to the companys timeline of its recall, Boars Head began voluntarily recalling its Strassburger Brand Liverwurst product on July 25 after learning it had potentially been contaminated by listeria. Nine other products made on the same line as the liverwurst were also recalled.

Four days later, after tests confirmed that the liverwurst was connected to a listeria outbreak, Boars Head expanded the recall to every product made in the same facility as the liverwurst.

We enacted this broad and precautionary recall totaling seven million pounds because we believed it was the right thing to do, the company said.

Several varieties of bologna were included in the recall.

Coxs lawsuit accuses Boars Head of violating Alabamas product liability law along with negligence and breach of implied warranty and merchantability.
Its clear the Democrat convention hasnt lived up to the buzzword their machine used. Lets face it, when anger and negativity towards Trump becomes the focus, you cant call that "joy." When they parade their important issues, these are not joyful. The violence outside and implied violence toward those who disagree isnt either. With the backdrop of the mobile van to give free live abortions and vasectomies, they move their emphasis to what is one of the most unusual single issues of all time. Abortion. Even the Happy Warrior Hubert Humphrey would have a hard time being happy at this kind of focus.

My brother asked me if I watched the first day of the liars, freaks and demons at the DNC (from his text). For me, the decision not to watch was easy. I knew that video and truthful, full reports would be easy to find. One thing for sure, my brothers characterization was accurate. It seemed to be a renewed culture of death coming out into the open, baring itself for anyone with eyes to see.

Back in the 1980s Pope John Paul II coined the phrase the culture of death. He pointed at abortion but spoke of the much deeper context of being anti-God, anti-human, and anti-life. Ronald Reagan understood this, and how it diminished our nation and pointed it out as a major obstacle to greatness. He communicated his passion about this issue to the public, swaying opinion in a substantial way. Together, Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, and John Paul had a major impact on history and the fall of the Soviet empire.

The concurrent and awesome renewal of the 1980s made America a great nation again. Once again, people could live fairly normal yet exciting lives. Business thrived, wealth was created, people grew intellectually and spiritually. The peace was won, we were moving towards a culture of life. Goodness was elevated.

Early in The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien describes how evil had gone underground after losing a great battle long before his new story. Retreated so it could become stronger again for another time. We are not living in Middle Earth, but we figuratively face the same situation. Evils rising anew from this death culture. Openly displayed by the liars, freaks and demons as normal life. Here is what this death culture stands for:

Abortion on demand until the moment of birth including babies breathing and out of the womb. Belief in the mandate of abortion that borders on the ancient practice of child sacrifice. Their abortion van belies the Clinton phrase of safe, legal, and rare, attempting to make it into the most important issue of our day. Which it is not. Far from it.

Democrats have also made themselves into the party of endless war. Killing off a generation of Ukrainians. Sending billions upon billions of dollars to Ukraines corrupt dictator without a way to carefully trace how it is used. They have allowed Iran to sell oil, released them from the sanctions put on by Trump. Allowing that terrorist nation to fund Hamas, finish its ability to become a nation with a nuclear bomb, and continue funding global terrorism everywhere. Mass death has historically followed the Left. Jack Posobiec and Tucker Carlson have suggested maybe thats the point of their beloved system of communism.

They have become the hate America as founded party. The only surprise: They didnt chant Death to America before every speaker. Its clear they have incorporated this hatred into their platform, wanting America to pay forever and always for the sins of slavery, whiteness, capitalism, homophobia, and female subjugation. Nonsensical, yes, but thats what Obama meant by transforming America. Its what they all mean on that subject. They intend to make us a DEI nation rather than one nation under God. A nation championing victimhood, whiners, freaks, and deviants. All a necessary part of a death culture.

Their newest death culture invention is that of gender confusion. Men can be women; women can be men. Both can take hormone therapy to help this transition. Both can have body parts removed as well. All this in your teen years without parental knowledge or permission. Parents can have their children taken away in certain places if they dont consent. Men can give birth, nurse, wear tampons. These gender ideas are insanity gone amok at best. Yet this deconstruction of gender has become a focal point for them. Pushed by their governors as normal, applauded by so many who should know better, this is farce with a demonic grin. Parade after parade celebrates those who made that choice. The idea that men in dresses participating in womens sports, or openly in the military ought to have been laughed off the stage when Obama mandated gender-neutral bathrooms. We have had two mass shootings by trans women recently, paying homage to the death culture that spawned this insanity. And our wonderful media tries to hide that fact.

The convention is mercifully now over. RFK has just given the case against this version of the Democrat party and has endorsed Trump. He eviscerated them without calling them demonic, and Trump has done so in his own way for years. We are turning into the final stretch, heading into the start of voting season. The culture of death has shown itself anew and wants to remake America into its image. It is so much more ghastly than I have painted so far. That it thinks it is time to openly parade itself as we go down this last stretch is a testimony to how unstable, and self-unaware it is. Yes, much of the hard Left of the party believes in it, but the rest of America is waking up and seeing it as a ghoulish nightmare. It is being rejected.

President Trump has run a great campaign to date. His opponents are in disarray, and the debate where Kamala must finally answer questions is coming soon. She will not be able to hide, even behind moderators who will do all in their power to give her the edge. As Tulsi Gabbard has shared, she is an empty suit who will have nothing but canned answers to any questions. She will look fake to a large majority, because she is. And she may cackle.

As we participate in this countdown to casting votes, remember as we watch the death culture try to hide her. Also remember, through their media complex, the truth of the culture of death will hide itself as best it can. This is an issue we must see clearly. The current DNC represents an ethos that is grotesque. Its violent. Its deviant. Its beyond the edge of sanity.

John Paul II said it best: Its the culture of death. It has renewed itself, and its coming for us all. Fight it while you still can.

Image: AT via Magic Studio
The Harris/Walz economic agenda might be called Free Stuff Socialism where government taxes the "super-rich" to provide ordinary Americans with free stuff, or at least stuff at sharply reduced prices. Obviously, the aim is to secure votes and, no doubt, many Americans will find these lures convincing. Unfortunately, as is often the case with too good to be true proposals, this free or drastically reduced stuff may prove to be a terrible bargain. What makes this pandering particularly odious is that it does not take much to see through the deception.

Consider, for example, the proposal to pay 400,000 first-generations home buyers $25,000 towards their down payment and a $10,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers. All told, this plan is to help one million first-time home buyers per year while simultaneously boosting the home construction industry. The estimated cost of the program would be $200 billion over four years. (Note: These numbers are fuzzy but, they still reflect official pronouncements. The proposal is clearly a work in progress.)

Her proposal anticipates the construction of three million new homes per year and to encourage ordinary people to become homeowners, Wall Street investors would also be forbidden to purchase large numbers of homes as rental properties. Finally, the government will create a $40 billion innovation fund to assist local communities solve the housing shortage while opening certain federal lands for home construction. Home ownership, the great engine of asset accumulation to advance up the economic ladder, will be supercharged and thousands of workers will find jobs building these homes.

What could possibly go wrong? Lots. The law of supply and demand obviously poses a serious problem: increasing the pool of those trying to buy homes will boost home prices, and even with government funds in ones pocket, home ownership may still be beyond reach. Perhaps a Harris administration will then ban builders from price gouging as they intend to bar supermarkets from overcharging shoppers, but this response will fail for the simple reason that, as in all consumer pricing, who can determine the real price of anything? Even professional home appraisers routinely differ on a homes value. Will government bureaucrats decide the price of Americas homes?

Equally important, these government subsidies are a pittance in the quest for home ownership, especially for those who struggle to manage their finances. A few back-of-the-envelope calculations demonstrate how President Harriss generosity is inadequate.

In 2024 the average American home on the market cost $425,000, clearly a figure beyond many. But lets assume that a first-generation would-be homeowner, tempted by the $25,000 subsidy, now entered the market. Assuming a middling credit score, he would discover that buying a house with a low $40,000 down payment, a 30-year mortgage at 6.4% would mean paying $3110 a month (this included interest, principle, property tax and insurance). Further add closing costs that typically run between 2% and 6% of the mortgage.

Then add home maintenance tasks like painting that experts figure at about one percent of the homes cost per year. For this average home, this adds $354 per month, bringing the total monthly cost of $3964 or $46,368 per year, and these expenses are after state and federal taxes. In other words, if the homeowner earned $100,000 per year, even with his $25,000 gift from the Harris administration, half (or more) of his income would go to his new house.

Nevertheless, might this income-draining house be a good investment to build wealth across generations? The good news is that the homes increased value can be extracted via home equity loans or a second mortgage.

The reality, however, is that exploiting this increased value depends on maintaining the house and skimping maintenance or not paying the mortgage will preclude this option. Banks will refuse home equity loans or second mortgages if the appraised value of the property cannot justify the risk. If accumulating wealth via home ownership is the aim, one must continue to pay the bills and maintain the property, even if this requires sacrifices.

This is about culture. One may crave a Disneyworld vacation, but if its a choice between Disneyworld or a new roof, pay for the roof. But not everybody can resist the desire for immediate consumption. Building home equity is not akin to passively collecting interest on a bond. Absent the hard work, the home you bought for $425,000 might eventually sell for only $400,000. It is no wonder that homeowners often feel like slaves of their homes -- endless expenses are unavoidable.

The cost of home ownership goes beyond just cutting the grass and making the mortgage payments. A homes value reflects its neighborhood, and identical buildings in different locations will vary greatly in price. If the new homeowner wants to increase his homes value, he must ensure the quality of his neighborhood. That means guaranteeing that his neighbors keep up their properties and public places remain neat and clean. No decrepit washing machines on front porches or drunks congregating in local parks. Nearby vandalism and graffiti may make a property unsellable.

Combatting crime is vital since few want a house where one cannot walk the streets after dark. Preserving home value may require forgoing having large boisterous parties where friends park their cars in nearby driveways, get drunk and play loud music. Few want to invest their life savings where local stores have iron bars on their windows and lawn signs announce, Defund the Police.

Educational quality has a major impact on home equity. Good schools can add tens of thousands to home value, and local school quality affects all homeowners even if they are childless. Schools must be safe, drug free, and provide quality education if homes are to increase in value. This means following school politics and acting if schools begin to decline. Sad to say, only a handful of disorderly students or violent gang members can destroy a schools reputation, and that ruined reputation may significantly reduce home equity.

Kamala Harriss plan to promote greater home ownership is demagoguery. In todays housing market, a $25,000 handout doesnt get you very much but more importantly, using ones home to increase wealth and then pass this on the next generation required far more than possessing a property deed. The cultural element is inescapable, and government cannot re-engineer deeply held cultural values. If the government were able to change peoples values, poverty would have vanished decades ago. Some people might be given a home free and clear, but if they refuse to maintain it and turn their neighborhood into a crime-ridden slum, the home becomes financially worthless.

The city of Baltimore recently created a program whereby city-owned vacant homes will be sold for $1.00 each and there is a good selection since Baltimore has 13,500 vacant properties, of which 900 are owned by the city Department of Housing and Community Development. Baltimore is also just one of five cities with such free housing programs. No doubt, these one-dollar or free homes were once owned by people who paid sizable sums for them but lost everywhere when they failed to pay their mortgages, maintain them or allowed the neighborhood to deteriorate. Banks regularly repossess homes and sell them at auction for a fraction of their original cost. In fact, there were 95,349 home foreclosures in the first quarter of 2024. Homes, like all investments, are never sure-fire. Home ownership is not a magic device to boost wealth.

Image: Chris Hunkeler via Wikipedia
Joe Biden said that the protesters outside the Democrat convention had a point. What point is he talking about? Sorry, but it's hard to defend people who want Hamas to win.

I agree with Eli Lake:

President Joe Biden, in his Chicago swan song, offered a sop to the forces that seek to spoil the Democratic National Convention. In a section of his speech calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, Biden said, Those protesters out on the street, they have a point. A lot of innocent people are being killed on both sides.

Really? Maybe some protesters are genuinely concerned with the toll the Gaza war has taken on both Israelis and Palestinians. But the leaders of the organizations trying to cause trouble this week are concerned only with the casualties on the Palestinian side. We know this because the groups behind the agitations since October 7 have praised the bloody massacre that kicked off the war.

To take one of dozens of examples, just peruse a letter sent to Columbia Universitys administration on October 9 from its chapters of Jewish Voice for Peace and Students for Justice in Palestine. It said, Yesterday was an unprecedented historic moment for the Palestinians of Gaza, who tore through the wall that has been suffocating them in one of the most densely populated areas on Earth for the past 16 years.

Thats certainly one take. But most American voters after October 7 felt nothing but contempt and scorn for the perpetrators of the mass murder of 1,200 people in Israel that day. In this respect, its just wrong to say the masked troublemakers screaming about genocide in Gaza are anti-war. They are not. They want Hamas to win.
The Biden-Harris administration recently began taking applications for its Parole-in-Place program (PIP).

Under this new scheme an illegal alien who: has lived in the U.S. for 10 years or more; married a U.S. citizen prior to June 17, 2024; and can show that his/her deportation would cause extreme hardship to their citizen spouse can apply for PIP.

If this whole setup sounds fishy, thats because it is.

To begin with, there is absolutely nothing in the immigration laws of the United States that says illegal aliens can magically obtain lawful status simply by marrying a U.S. citizen. In fact, the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)  the statute that establishes who may lawfully enter and remain in the U.S.  clearly states that foreign nationals who wish to obtain a green card must: 1) enter the country lawfully; and 2) maintain lawful status until they are approved as lawful permanent residents. Accordingly, this is nothing short of a Biden administration plot to create an immigration amnesty  something no president has been able to achieve properly, through legislation.

Additionally, immigration parole is a legal fiction under which an alien is considered, as a matter of law, to be outside of America, while being physically within the U.S. Parole was established for the convenience of the United States government. It is supposed to be used sparingly, on a case-by-case basis. And it only applies in cases of urgent humanitarian reasons or where it results in significant public benefit to the United States.

Illegal aliens, who cut the line and unlawfully jumped the border, wanting a path to citizenship isnt a case of urgent humanitarian need. And rewarding illegal aliens for breaking our laws certainly doesnt create any significant public benefit for American citizens or law-abiding aliens. In fact, it does exactly the opposite, undermining the integrity of our entire border security regime.

But aside from encouraging more immigration violations, the PIP program will also inspire both illegal aliens and U.S. citizens to break other laws. It is both a crime and a deportable offense to transact a bogus marriage in order to obtain a matrimonially-based immigration status. But marriage to an American citizen is now the magic key that grants illegal aliens a pathway to lawful status and eventual citizenship. And the incentive to engage in a fraudulent marriage to game the immigration system may now be too hard to resist.

In the United States, civil marriage is subject to very few legal bars. Unlike a religious marriage, there is no scrutiny of the motives underlying a civilly sanctioned matrimonial union. And virtually anyone who is of age, single, and not related to their prospective spouse, can transact a marriage. Two strangers who meet in a Las Vegas casino, and who have known each other for less than two hours, can subsequently transact a legally binding marriage after completing simple forms and paying a nominal registration fee. And, except for situations involving incest, bigamy and the exploitation of minors, the penalties for violating state marriage laws are few and irregularly enforced.

While the penalties for immigration marriage fraud are high  five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine  theyre not enforced frequently enough. Part of this is due to the difficulty of proving that a marriage was entered into expressly for the purpose of defrauding the government.

However, it also has to do with the narrative pushed in popular media products such as the films Green Card and The Proposal. Therein, illegal aliens are portrayed as victims and Americans who marry them to confer immigration status are lauded as outlaw folk heroes bucking an oppressive system.

Inevitably, illegal aliens are going to start paying Americans for a quickie marriage. For U.S. citizens a $25,000 (or larger payout) for showing up and saying, I do, coupled with a low risk of being arrested and tried may be too tempting to resist. For illegal aliens, the calculus is even easier. Virtually nothing is worth more than the right to live and work in the U.S., as well as petition for family members to immigrate here.

And not everyone who applies for PIP is going to be Joe Average from Tegucigalpa looking to fulfill his dream of owning a construction company in El Norte. Foreign criminals, terrorists, and intelligence operators are going to be crawling out of the woodwork to sign up for this program. Five years in prison and a $250,000 fine doesnt even trigger a warning alarm in the risk matrix under which these groups operate.

So, in order to accommodate trespassers, our current political leaders have deliberately undermined two of the key institutions upon which American society is built  respect for the rule of law and marriage. But theyre ignoring a fundamental rule that every parent, teacher, corporate manager and law enforcement professional knows intuitively  if you reward bad behavior, youre only going to encourage more bad behavior. And we should all be asking, just how many more badly behaving foreigners can the U.S. handle?

Matt OBrien is the Director of Investigations at the Immigration Reform Law Institute and the co-host of IRLIs podcast No Border, No Country. Immediately prior to working for IRLI he served as an immigration judge. He has nearly 30 years of experience in immigration law and policy, having held numerous positions within the Department of Homeland Security.

Image: RawPixel // CC0 public domain
At the Democrat National Convention, Democrats made a big deal about Joe Biden being all selfless for his 'decision' to pull out of the race and hand his delegates and apparently, campaign money, to Kamala Harris.

According to The Guardian, House Speaker emerita Nancy Pelosi, who ousted Biden, led that wretched charge, having also let the effort to give Joe the boot:

A great sacrifice was made here, said Pelosi, who will seek another term  her 20th  in Novembers elections.

It filtered down to the groundlings in the pits. According to WisPolitics, one Wisconsin delegate said:

Racine resident Rey Villar said he thought Bidens speech was the perfect farewell. He really did sacrifice himself for the good of the country. Hes been a great president, but he knew that he had to step down and let Kamala move forward in order to save the country, Villar said. Thats the big difference between him and Trump. He always puts the country before himself.

Bill Clinton went into full glurge mode, all tears and flapdoodle straight out of Mark Twain with this narrative, biting his lip and practically wiping a tear from the corner of his eye:

Perhaps the greatest test of anyone in power is whether theyre willing to relinquish it. George Washington knew that and it enhanced his legacy. The same is now true for Joe Biden. Mr. President, thank you for your courage, compassion, and class; for your service and your sacrifice. You have not only kept the faithyou are spreading the faith.

Try not to vomit.

Then there was Harris, who had a lot of such fake flattery, too:

To our president, Joe Biden. When I think about the path that we have traveled together, Joe, I am filled with gratitude. Your record is extraordinary, as history will show, and your character is inspiring. And Doug and I love you and Jill, and are forever thankful to you both.

Selfless, sacrificing, inspiring. Sound like the Joe Biden you know?

It came into sharp relief when independent former Democrat-turned-independent Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. stole the convention's thunder by suspending his own campaign one day after Democrats ended their convention, pulling his name off the ballot in swing states, and explicitly endorsing President Trump in an amazingly moving decision:

Here's the daming-to-Democrats pullout, a very powerful speech:

The rumors were true! The rumors werent true! To find out whats really true about my next steps in service to the mission that launched my campaign, in my own words, please watch this video of my press conference today. pic.twitter.com/9WyNrFAlq3  Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) August 23, 2024

And here's the thundrous response to his endorsement of Trump that he received in return:

 President Trump just made an EPIC intro for RFK Jr.



GAME CHANGER!!! pic.twitter.com/CGcBpEoLa8  Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) August 23, 2024

Here's the transcript.

That was where the real unselfishness happened. He gave up his party, took flak from his family, even upset his wife to embrace Trump, because as he stated, the Democrats had become the party of corruption, big donors, big tech, lawfare and rigging, which was a powerful statement indeed.

It had to have been hard for him, given that his family name for many defines Democrats; he has many liberal views that do not match those of most MAGA supporters, and ... it was so unlike anything seen in politics.

That's sacrifice. I feel for him in that what he doing is so different from what he was raised to do, but he's doing it for a higher purpose, for a principle, and knows that joining the other guy who's been abused by Democrats beyond any human endurance might just be the guy to make space for him.

Trump, to his credit, was extremely cordial and respectful, recognizing full well the significance of the moment, and all the good that RFK, Jr. can do for advancing a system premised on fairness and rule of law and actual freedom. He could also be very effective in a cabinet or commission post -- hosing out the CIA files, and as he stated, going after Big Ag and Big Pharma for all the bad things they are foisting on the public, from harmful additives in food to untested vaccines. Someone needs to do that.

Hard as it was, it was heroic, it was like he was avenging his assassinated father and uncle who largely stood on these principles, too, and certainly did not resemble the Democrats of today.

For Trump the exit from the Democrats was amazing, wondrous, news.

Possibly the greatest walk-out energy in the history of politics.



DTJ + RFK = nightmare for the LEFT



pic.twitter.com/nfM7IASFlx  Patrick Bet-David (@patrickbetdavid) August 24, 2024

As Kennedy's speeches indicated, it was a strong blow at the Democrats and what they have become, not a liberal party, but a totalitarian party, part Chicago machine politics and part Hugo Chavez, its only objective to win.

But instead of slinking off into the shadows, he went FAFO on them with a big punch to their corrupt faces. He surprised them by refusing to be on the receiving end of their dirty tricks, premised on anti-democratic practices against their own -- doing numbers on Bernie Sanders first and then RFK, Jr. after him, and directing lawfare, cheating, fraud, and rigging against their exterior opponent who is Trump, all the while oozing hypocrisy about 'democracy' and projecting incompetence; constantly gaslighting the public as if to pee down its leg and say it's raining.

Embracing Trump, Kennedy joined forces with the MAGA outsiders as a force magnifier against the fraudsters, gaslighters, and riggers who have become the Democrats now. That takes guts -- and a lot of self-sacrifice, since his wing of the party is clearly the most storied and prestigious. He chose principle instead, though, not wanting to go along with the constant cheating ways of this party which was so personally directed at him. Unlike Bernie, and for that matter Hillary Clinton who got rigged out in 2008 in favor of Obama, RFK, Jr. obviously had some self-respect. They didn't know who they were dealing with, did they?

The 4% to 9% of Kennedy's voting base will move in significant numbers to Trump simply on the grounds of common discontent with the cynical behavior of the Democrats and perhaps the possibility that Kennedy can begin a third party in 2028 with 5% of the vote this time (numbers that are sure to swell) rendering Democrats on the run.

What it reminded me of was the day when Patricia Bullrich, a longtime Argentinian center-right conservative, put aside political differences with libertarian candidate Javier Milei, and combined forces with him to ensure that he won the 2023 election in Argentina in a landslide. Her relatively low support was just enough to ensure that victory which actually multiplied its impact as voters could see the unity.

Like Trump, Milei gave Bullrich the cabinet position of her choice -- she chose justice in order to combat criminals -- and the result is music to Argentinians' ears:

.

Que error tuvimos en criticar a la ministra Bullrich el ano pasado, hoy en dia ha demostrado ser una persona leal y que esta desarrollando un trabajo impecable. pic.twitter.com/ntVSScnvyv  Escuela Austriaca de Economia  (@DiegoMac227) August 22, 2024

It makes me think the fusion of Trump and Kennedy can intensify the focus of the campaign on Democrat rigging and win-at-all-costs dishonesty and truly take on the swamp, which is what voters are looking for most in a Trump presidency. If that happens, the country will be the better for it. RFK, Jr. who selflessly gave up a lot, will rightly be one of its founding fathers.

Image: Twitter screen shot
The first Android 15 stable build is yet to reach the latest Pixel 9 series and other eligible Pixel devices. Meanwhile, Android 15 QPR1 Beta is already available for those who want to get a sneak peek at the upcoming Pixel Feature Drop. It seems that Google wants to bring more dynamic animations as it is integrating the predictive back gesture into more apps. Recently, the company released Android 15 beta 4.2 as a prelude to the stable rollout.

Android QPR (Quarterly Platform Release) updates are the foundation of the so-called Pixel Feature Drops. These updates are different from the monthly ones as they pack several new features instead of just bug fixes and minor tweaks. The next stable QPR update is coming in December, weeks after the first stable Android 15 build.

Keyboards getting more dynamic in Android 15 QPR1 Beta 1 with predictive back gesture

That said, Google integrated its predictive back gesture into more apps with the Android 15 QPR1 beta. If youre not aware, the feature shows a preview of the app or section youll be returning to after performing the back gesture. Normally, the UI would just show an arrow at the edge of the screen. Google debuted the feature in Android 14, but its not yet present in all apps. That said, as spotted by Google News on Telegram, Android 15 QPR1 Beta 1 integrates the predictive back gesture into keyboards.

Since keyboards use a pop-up overlay, the gesture acts differently than when you navigate between sections of a predictive back-supported app. Basically, instead of showing a preview of another app section while you perform the back gesture, the keyboard will simply start hiding. This makes sense, since the goal of the feature is to show you what will happen after you complete the gesture.

Google already has some apps that support the predictive back gesture. For example, when you open a Gmail message and then try to go back, the UI shows a glimpse of your inbox before completing the gesture. While its not a life-changing tweak, it does make the UI more dynamic and responsive to your actions. In fact, it seems that Google is preparing some similar tweaks for Android 15 QPR1. The beta also includes new Quick Settings tile animations, a new reboot animation, and more.
Some parts of the UK could see between 50mm and 70mm of rain on Saturday, with the Met Office issuing a yellow weather warning for much of the south east of England.

The warning, which came into force at 6am and lasts until 1pm, stretches from Portsmouth, Hampshire, up to Ipswich in Suffolk.

It follows widespread travel disruption caused by Storm Lilian on Friday.

The warning comes ahead of what could be the busiest August bank holiday on the roads on record.

The RAC estimates 19.2 million leisure trips by car will be made over the weekend, with 3.2 million on Friday alone.

This is the highest since the motoring services company began recording data for the summer bank holiday in 2015.

Liam Eslick, a meteorologist at the Met Office, told the PA news agency: With that yellow warning, expect some small travel disruption.

I know its the start of the bank holiday so people may be out and about trying to get to their holiday destinations.

A tree branch blocks a cycle path in Leeds city centre as Storm Lilian hit the UK on Friday (Danny Lawson/PA)

We do say take care when driving on roads, stick to the main roads where you can because more local tracks could see some surface water.

So do take care when travelling around through Saturday morning.

The heaviest of the rain is expected to move away around mid-afternoon, but showers will linger around central and south east England, as well as western Scotland.

A wind warning was in place across northern England and North Wales until 11am on Friday, with Storm Lilian bringing widespread travel disruption including delayed and cancelled flights.

Winds arent expected to be too much of an issue on Saturday though, said Mr Eslick.

Its mainly going to be the rain.

Winds will be pretty light in the south of England, though you may get the odd gust around the very far South East through the English Channel.

But mainland is going to be pretty light.

Moving into Sunday, conditions are expected to ease  though some showers are forecast in the east, Northern England and southern Scotland.

Winds will pick up once again and it will be blustery for much of the UK.

But, according to the Met Office, this will not be as strong as the winds on Friday morning.

Looking ahead to the Bank Holiday Monday, Mr Eslick said: Monday looks like the best of the days.

There will be more in the way of some sunshine and winds are expected to ease.

It will be a lot calmer coming into the Bank Holiday Monday and it will be nice to have that extra day this weekend to enjoy.
Emma Raducanu insists the tennis world moves on quickly as life after Andy Murray begins at the US Open.

Murray called time on his glittering career after the Olympic Games and the New York tournament is the first grand slam in the post-Murray era.

Raducanu was due to play with the Scot in the mixed doubles at Wimbledon but pulled out on the eve of their first-round match, which ended Murrays SW19 career.

Emma Raducanu on new era without Andy Murray It doesnt feel different at all. Tennis is unforgiving in that sense. No matter who you are, it just moves on. Of courseI watched him win this tournament but yeah, its fast paced like life  its old news the next day. : USTA pic.twitter.com/OnsjzKoaCj  TennisONE App (@TennisONEApp) August 24, 2024

Asked whether anything felt different in New York without Murray around, she said: It doesnt feel different at all. Tennis is unforgiving in that sense.

No matter who you are, it just moves on. There is always another match, there is always another tournament.

Of course Andy has achieved amazing things and I watched him win this tournament but it is a fast pace, just like life is. Its old news the next day kind of thing.

Andy Murrays career ended after the recent Olympic Games (Martin Rickett/PA)

I think the Brits are doing really well right now. I think overall, we are all kind of pushing each other, we are all competitive.

You see other ones doing well and you want to do the same. I think, especially with the guys, there are a lot more guys in qualifying this year which is really cool.

Because when I came three years ago, there were barely any players. Now I feel there are lot more who have chances to do well even in the main.

Raducanu says she is returning to Flushing Meadows with a different outlook this year.

The 21-year-old stunned the world when she won three years ago in what was just her fourth senior-level tournament.

She has not won a match in New York since as she suffered a first-round exit in 2022 and was injured last season.

Raducanu, who plays former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin in Tuesdays first round, says she has now come to terms with her famous victory and feels pride.

I feel a lot better. I feel very proud when I come here, she said.

Walking past my photo every day. Walking past my name on the trophy every day. I think that is such an epic achievement and these two weeks, I completed it.

For me, coming back here now, I come back with such a different outlook. Just joy and pride and it inspires me to want to do more.

I would say I was a lot more nervous and I think I felt pressure more (in 2022). It is natural. I still didnt come to terms with it.

Raducanu stunned the world when she won the US Open in 2021 (Zuma/PA)

I think overall now, I am in a much more solid and consistent state than I was when I came back last time.

Raducanu comes into the tournament fresh from a two-week training block after deciding not to enter qualification for recent events in Toronto and Cincinnati as she carefully manages her schedule following double wrist and ankle surgery last year.

She accepts she intends to play more frequently than she has this year, but will never play every tournament.

I dont think I will ever be the player who is playing close to 30 events a year, she added.

It is not my style  it never has been. When I was playing juniors even, I would just play a few tournaments, play the slams and go to school.

I have kind of always done it that way. Even when I won the US Open, I only played a few tournaments that year. Yes, they were closer together.

I am not in any big rush to play loads. I would rather target tournaments and be ready to play the tournaments that I am entered in.
Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick as Manchester City put Ipswich to the sword with a 4-1 victory at Etihad Stadium.

Ipswich, back in the top flight for the first time in 22 years, had a dream start against the Premier League champions as Sammie Szmodics scored on his full debut after seven minutes.

But the joy was short-lived as City struck three times in four minutes by the 16th minute, the ruthless Haaland scoring either side of a Kevin De Bruyne strike.

Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna must have feared a real drubbing at that point, but the goal avalanche did not come.

Ilkay Gundogan received a heros welcome after coming on as a second-half substitute following his midweek return from Barcelona, with City only scoring once more as Haaland completed his 10th treble for the club two minutes from time.

Arsenal also claimed a second win of the season by beating bogey side Aston Villa 2-0 away.

Villa defeated Arsenal twice last season in games that effectively cost the Gunners the title and Unai Emerys side had their chances again.

Winning together on the road  pic.twitter.com/UtyYyKz4uc  Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 24, 2024

David Raya produced a miraculous second-half save to deny Ollie Watkins  who also missed a gilt-edged chance in the first half  with the scoreline goalless.

Arsenal punished the hosts as substitute Leandro Trossard scored with his first touch after 67 minutes before Thomas Parteys shot squirmed through Emiliano Martinezs grasp.

Brighton also made it two wins from two games as Joao Pedro gave new boss Fabian Hurzeler a winning start at the Amex Stadium with his late header securing a 2-1 win over Manchester United.

Brazilian striker Pedro nodded home Simon Adingras cross five minutes in added time as United lost for the first time this season.

Brighton had led at the break through former United forward Danny Welbeck  his 100th career club goal  but the visitors levelled via Amad Diallos deflected strike.

Brighton striker Joao Pedro, right, celebrates after the final whistle following the 2-1 victory over Manchester United (Gareth Fuller/PA)

United thought they had taken the lead but Joshua Zirkzee  who scored their opening-day winner against Fulham  was in an offside position on the goal-line when Alejandro Garnachos shot flew in off his knee.

Tottenham romped to a 4-0 win over Everton as Son Heung-min scored twice against their lack-lustre visitors.

Yves Bissouma, back after being suspended for one match by the club for taking laughing gas, gave Spurs an early lead  his first goal for the North London outfit  and Cristian Romero headed home either side of Sons double as Everton caved in during the final 20 minutes.

Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen were on target to give West Ham a 2-0 success over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Both goals came in close proximity midway through the second half as Julien Lopetegui celebrated his first win as Hammers boss.

Nottingham Forest won 1-0 at newly-promoted Southampton  Morgan Gibbs-White settling a forgettable meeting at St Marys 20 minutes from time  while Fulham beat Leicester drew 2-1 at Craven Cottage.

Emile Smith Rowe scored on his home debut after 18 minutes.

Alex Iwobi grabbed the winner 20 minutes from time after Wout Faes had headed the Foxes level before the interval.
Lando Norris reminded Max Verstappen of his world championship credentials by taking a brilliant pole position for the Dutch Grand Prix.

The British driver, who trails Verstappen by 78 points in the standings with 10 rounds still to play, saw off his rival by 0.356 seconds to silence the 100,000 spectators hoping to see the Dutchman start the Zandvoort race from the front.

Verstappen, without a win from his last four appearances, will start alongside Norris on the front row. Oscar Piastri took third, half a second down on McLaren team-mate Norris.

Mercedes George Russell finished fourth as Lewis Hamilton endured an afternoon to forget after he failed to make it out of Q2. He will line up from 12th for Sundays 72-lap race.

Norris might have been much closer to Verstappen in the title race but for a catalogue of mistakes by driver and team.

However, the 24-year-old brought his A-game to qualifying with a scintillating final effort to provide himself with the best shot of kicking off the second half of the season with just the second win of his career.

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen was pipped for pole (Patrick Post/AP)

Verstappen temporarily bumped Norris off the summit to huge cheers, only for Norris to knock the home favourite, who had taken three poles and three wins since the sport returned to the Netherlands in 2021, off his perch.

It is nice to be back, and start with pole, said Norris. I am happy with today.

The car was feeling amazing. We have got upgrades on the car for the first time in a while and everything is working well so thank you to the team.

Max is going to be quick, and he will put up a good fight, especially as it is his home race, so I am excited for tomorrow.

Hamilton headed into the summer break with his second win of the campaign after Russell was disqualified in Belgium.

But the seven-time world champion was no match for Russell here after qualifying four-tenths behind his team-mate to leave him way down the order for Sundays race.

OK, Lewis, I am afraid, mate, that is P12 so we have been bumped, said Hamiltons race engineer Peter Bonnington. Just four-and-a-half tenths to P1 so very tight in that mid-pack.

It marked the second successive year that Hamilton has been eliminated in Q2 in Zandvoort, and the first time since China  a streak of 10 races  that he has failed to make the concluding part of qualifying. Hamilton is also under investigation for impeding Sergio Perez.

American driver Logan Sargeant watched from the sidelines after he was involved in a heavy crash in final practice which saw him jump out of his burning Williams.

Sargeant lost control of his car through the banked third corner in the wet conditions as he bounced off the barrier and back on to the track.

The 23-year-old suffered extensive damage to his car, as his right-rear tyre came loose and bounced along the asphalt, before it suddenly caught fire.

Sargeant emerged from his wrecked machine before slumping over the barriers. He was taken to the medical centre for precautionary checks but Williams were unable to repair his car in time.
A Notting Hill Carnival attendee has reflected on the amazing memories she has had at the event over the years, including meeting her husband at an after-party.

Sheyi Martins-Allen, 36, met her husband  Simon, 39  on August 26 2012 at a Notting Hill Carnival after-party hosted by one of her friends in Maida Vale.

She was 24 at the time and he was 27 and the pair bonded over London life as Mr Martins-Allen was about to start teaching in Tottenham and Mrs Martins-Allen had lived in the city all her life.

Sheyi Martins-Allen met her husband at a Notting Hill Carnival after-party in 2012 (Sheyi Martins-Allen/PA)

She said it was a twist of fate they met, as although she was a seasoned Notting Hill Carnival-goer, the same could not be said for her husband.

My husband grew up on a farm in Winchester and happened to be in London because he was about to start his first teaching job in Tottenham, Mrs Martins-Allen, who runs a tutoring business with her husband and lives in Acton, west London, told the PA news agency.

That is why he was in London in the summer of 2012 and his friends said he had to come to the carnival and then he happened to end up at the party I was at.

In 2015, the pair married and now have two children  Isabella, who is five, and Noah, who is nearly five months old.

Isabella enjoys going to the Notting Hill Carnival (Sheyi Martins-Allen/PA)

On August 28 2022, the couple took their daughter to the carnivals childrens day.

It was the first time Isabella had been to the event and Mrs Martins-Allen said the youngster was really excited after hearing about how special the Notting Hill Carnival has been for her parents, and has been to the London-based event each year since.

We told her how we met at the time, but she was three turning four, so how much of it actually went in, God knows, she said.

Now, when we tell her, she understands as she is about to turn six.

She wore a flower crown that year and she fell in love with lots of things on the different stalls and was really excited to go, and each time shes gone since shes had such a good time.

Mrs Martins-Allen said she has amazing memories from the Notting Hill Carnival (Sheyi Martins-Allen/PA)

Mrs Martins-Allen recalled going to the childrens day of the carnival pretty much every year since she was a child, except for when it was online due to Covid or when she was heavily pregnant.

I remember the first time I was taken to the carnival by my aunt actually, when I was about 10, she said.

I was really fascinated by and loved the dancing, atmosphere, food and music and I have always had core childhood memories from it as well and then I obviously met my husband there and then got to take my daughter there.

I always use it as a place to take my friends who are not British and weve always had an amazing time.

Mrs Martins-Allen plans to attend the carnival on Sunday alongside her husband and daughter, where they intend to visit a friend in the area, enjoy the food on offer including patties and watch the floats.

She added she is aware the carnival sometimes gets bad press, but has applauded the police and the councils for Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea for their efforts in ensuring safety is a priority.

Ive always found the policing pretty good, especially in the past five to six years, Mrs Martins-Allen said.

I think the councils in charge take really good care of the area and really help to make the carnival an enjoyable experience.

I have amazing memories there and in general I think its a really great way to celebrate black culture.
Energy retailers, including AGL, used Centrepay to continue to deduct money from the welfare payments of low-income Australians long after they had ceased being customers. Photograph: David Mariuz/AAP

AGL breached Australian energy rules more than 16,000 times through its use of the government-run Centrepay system to wrongly take welfare money from almost 500 people years after they ceased being customers, a court has ruled.

The landmark federal court judgment could trigger proceedings against three other energy retailers, which were referred to the regulator following a Guardian investigation into failures of the Centrepay system.

Centrepay, a payment system administered by Services Australia, gives government-approved businesses early access to a persons welfare payments with the aim of ensuring funds first go towards necessities like energy bills, rent, and school fees.

But the Guardian has revealed how the system is facilitating financial harm to some of the countrys most vulnerable.

Centrepay has been used by home appliance rental companies to massively overcharge Indigenous Australians for low-value goods and by an extreme Christian rehabilitation centre to prop itself up financially while subjecting residents to gay conversion therapy and forced exorcisms.

Related: Consumer watchdog urges crackdown on businesses using Centrepay to cause financial harm

Energy retailers, including AGL, have used Centrepay to continue to deduct money from the welfare payments of low-income Australians long after they had ceased being customers.

AGL is the first company to face legal action over Centrepay misuse.

The Australian Energy Regulator alleged about 483 customers were overcharged over a period of five years and took AGL to the federal court. Court documents suggest the customers were overcharged a total of $700,000.

In one case, court documents show AGL became aware that a Centrepay user had ceased being a customer on 12 January 2017 but used Centrepay to make 100 subsequent deductions worth $4,111 from the persons welfare over almost four years.

The company had disputed liability, saying it had limited control over Centrepay deductions.

But on Friday the federal court found in the regulators favour, ruling AGL had breached the national energy retail rules 16,156 times. It found 3,531 contraventions through AGLs failure to notify affected customers. The remaining 12,625 breaches related to AGLs failure to refund the money.

The court also found the company had broken retail law by failing to implement policies, systems and procedures to ensure they were complying with the energy retail rules.

Centrepay was established in 1998 under the Howard government as a voluntary bill-paying service for people receiving Centrelink payments to make automatic deductions for essentials like rent and utilities.

It currently has more than 620,000 users. A large percentage of them are receiving disability support payments. Almost a third are Aboriginal people, predominantly women, from remote areas, receiving jobseeker or parenting payments.



Over time Centrepay has expanded to include a range of businesses and services.



There are now more than 15,000 companies approved to access Centrepay, which facilitated 23.7 million transactions last year worth $2.7bn. Each transaction incurs a 99c fee, paid to the government by businesses using the system.

Over the past decade, consumer advocates have raised concerns that several of the businesses registered to access Centrepay may be causing financial harm to vulnerable customers.



The corporate regulator is investigating dozens of companies. At least four that it has already penalised remain on the system.



In May 2024, the government announced a full review of the system to increase compliance, transparency and strengthen auditing processes.



Services Australia, which operates the system, says it is working towards improving delivery.

In 2022-23, contracts ended for 12 Centrepay businesses due to non-compliance.

Justice Kylie Downes found that AGL had no entitlement to receive and retain these amounts.

The AGL Entities received, processed and retained payments for amounts that exceeded the amount that they were entitled to charge the customers, Downes found. AGL, through a deliberate design  treated each deduction as a payment for a bill, even when the final bill had been paid.

Then rather than refunding that excess money to the affected customer at that point, AGL, through its payment methodology, applied the amount as a credit to a future bill, even when there was not going to be one.

The AER welcomed the decision late on Friday, saying retailers were expected to have systems in place to ensure they refunded money to overcharged customers.

Related: Guardian Australia wins award for series exposing economic abuse at Centrepay

Its vital that retailers identify and respond as required when consumers are adversely impacted. We will continue to investigate conduct that harms consumers and take enforcement action where warranted, AERs chair, Clare Savage, said in a statement.

AGL said it was considering the ruling.

AGL is considering the judgment handed down earlier today, a spokesperson said. AGL received no benefit from these overpayments and all those impacted have been refunded.

The federal government has already referred three other energy retailers to the AER.

Parliament has previously heard that Origin Energy is accused of receiving $2.5m from the welfare payments of almost 3,000 former customers via Centrepay.

Ergon Energy has also previously confirmed it was refunding funds wrongly received from welfare recipients via Centrepay.

In a previous statement, the AER said it would wait on the outcome of its case against AGL before deciding whether to act on the three other referrals it has received from government.
Anthony Fauci testifies during a House hearing on the Covid response in June. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

Anthony Fauci is recovering at home from a West Nile virus infection, a spokesperson told news outlets on Saturday.

The former head of the National Institutes of Healths (NIH) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease was hospitalized for six days with the virus. Fauci, 83, is expected to make a full recovery.

Tony Fauci has been hospitalized with a case of West Nile virus. He is now home and is recovering. A full recovery is expected, a spokesperson told multiple outlets.

Related: Anthony Fauci says he turned down $7m jobs because I cared about US

Fauci retired from his role at the NIH in 2022 after achieving widespread recognition for his role in public health communication during the Covid-19 pandemic. He now serves as a distinguished professor at Georgetown Universitys School of Medicine.

Despite his retirement from the NIH, House Republicans in June called Fauci for a heated hearing about his response to Covid-19. Republican lawmakers accused Fauci of covering up the origins of the virus. Fauci said the claims were simply preposterous.

Fauci told Congress at the time that he and his family still receive death threats. In 2022, a man was sentenced to three years in federal prison after sending a series of emails threatening Fauci and his family.

The West Nile virus is often transferred to humans through mosquito bites and is non-symptomatic for 80% of those who are infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). One in five who are infected develop fever and other symptoms, including body aches, diarrhea and rash. About 1,000 Americans are hospitalized with the virus each year.

While there are no vaccines or treatments for the virus, the CDC recommends protective measures like using insect repellant to avoid contracting the virus. The virus is mostly spread during the warmer months in the summer and early fall.

A study published in April that looked at the blood samples of 250 people who went to the hospital in 2020 and 2021 for other reasons found that nearly 20% of the samples had antibodies for the virus.

 This article was amended on 24 August 2024. Anthony Fauci was the head of the National Institutes of Healths (NIH) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, not the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The aged care star rating systems ability to deliver informed decision-making for older people is being independently evaluated. Photograph: AAP

The star rating system of aged care homes was introduced in December 2022 to help older people and their families compare the quality and safety of services and providers.

Developed as a recommendation of the royal commission, the system has repeatedly come under scrutiny. Experts and unions have questioned why so few homes are rated substandard, given the commission found one in three residents experience neglect, abuse or poor care; and how homes on the non-compliance register manage ratings of three stars and above.

The government in August said the greater levels of transparency were driving improvements across the sector, with increasing numbers of four- and five-star homes and fewer one- and two-star homes.

Nearly two years on, the ratings ability to deliver on a promise of informed decision-making for older people is now being independently evaluated. As it stands, do the ratings help people choose the right aged care facility? And what other resources might be useful in making a decision?

Are the ratings helpful?

Prof Tracy Comans, the director of the National Ageing Research Institute, says the main criticism is how compliance calculations have been conflated with overall star ratings.

Comans emphasises compliance is only one component of the star ratings. Homes receive an overall rating between one and five stars based on performance across four key areas: residents experience, staffing (care time with staff), quality measures (data on health issues such as injuries, unexpected weight loss and medication management) and compliance with government standards.

The residents experience rating, based on a face-to-face survey of at least 10% of residents carried out by independent experts, is weighted most heavily (33%) in the overall rating, followed by compliance (30%), staffing (22%) and quality measures (15%).

Comans advises people to look beyond a homes overall rating. Drill into each of those four components and look for yourself because you may value different aspects differently to how the overall weighting works, she says.

Prof Joseph Ibrahim, from La Trobe Universitys centre for evidence-based aged care, and a practising specialist in geriatric medicine, says he is sceptical of any rating system in health and aged care. It tends to be too blunt and generic when people have very specific needs, he says.

Dr Kaele Stokes, the executive director of advocacy and research at Dementia Australia, says the star ratings are an important component of building transparency in the sector. But, she says, as the vast majority of services sit in the middle bracket, it requires families to have further conversations with services to determine if its the right place for themselves or a loved one.

Related: Aged care in the home improves lives and saves money. So why are Australians being made to wait?

Does non-compliance to government standards affect a services star rating?

Peter Edwards, the executive director of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissions compliance management group, acknowledges there may be some confusion about how identified non-compliance impacts a services star rating.

When homes dont meet the ACQSCs quality standards, they are listed on its non-compliance register, but those breaches dont affect a services star rating. The rating is only affected when the commission uses its formal powers to require a service to take corrective action.

Edwards says the reason for that approach is to create an environment where providers are incentivised to actively engage with us and demonstrate that they are willing to take necessary action to self-correct as soon as possible when things go wrong.

Rodney Jilek, an adjunct professor at the University of Canberra, who also runs his own aged care consultancy firm, found hundreds of homes on the non-compliance register receiving ratings between three and five stars.

Comans emphasises many of these non-compliance breaches will be unrelated to clinical care, and instead related to an organisational governance issue, such as a policy being out of date.

Craig Gear, the chief executive of the Older Persons Advocacy Network, says the system needs to evolve to give greater understanding when its something thats serious in non-compliance versus something that might be more procedural.

What other resources or actions can help in choosing an aged care facility?

Stokes encourages people to talk about their end-of-life and advanced age care plan early so there can be more input of their wishes, and to avoid the situation many families find themselves  looking for an aged care home at a time of crisis when they can no longer able to care for their loved one.

Ibrahim emphasises the star ratings care time measures dont detail what kind of quality the care was or whether the care was kind  only how much time was spent. Ibrahim recommends visiting the aged care home, ask to sit and have a meal there, talk to residents, families and staff. See for yourself whether its clean or smells, how friendly the staff are, and the range of things to do.

For individuals or families affected by dementia, Stokes recommends asking management if staff are educated in dementia. The NSW Nurses and Midwives Association together with other doctors and experts in aged care have developed a series of leaflets called 10 Questions to Ask to help families ask the right questions on a range of issues in residential aged care.

For more information beyond the ratings, Gear says people can read a homes latest accreditation report and look at its finances, which are also listed on the My Aged Care website. Gear says seeing what money is being spent on food and nutrition gives a good picture.

People can check if a home is listed on the non-compliance register and ask a home why the breach occurred, what they are doing in response and whether they see any continuing risks of recurrence, Gear says.

Dementia Australia and OPAN have hotlines staffed by advocates who can help people with their choices.

Under Labors proposed new aged care act, Gear says his understanding is that the star ratings will be updated with the acts enhanced quality standards. Currently accreditation is pass/fail, meaning homes that only just meet the standards are rated the same as those which have the highest performance. The new system will allow for gradation to better reflect homes that are exceeding standards, he said.
The female Asian tiger mosquito could be able to thrive in much of the UK in the coming years because of climate change - Micro Discovery/Corbis Documentary RF

Disease-carrying bugs from Europe are increasingly crossing the Channel and arriving in Britain as a result of climate change, government scientists have warned.

Insects that once only survived in the warmer climes of the Mediterranean or further south are now migrating to northern Europe. They are then blown over the Channel on the wind or hitch a lift on ferries or trains.

Studies show that the pests are now also able to flourish in the UK as temperatures rise and winters become less intense.

The Governments leading in-house experts are dedicating millions of pounds of taxpayer money to tackling the issue of foreign species landing in the UK.

Plant, animal and human health scientists are all grappling with the same issue and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is increasingly alarmed at the prospect of dengue fever (better known as break-bone fever) carried by the tiger mosquito. Cases are rising in northern France, with evidence suggesting it is becoming entrenched in the area.

Models predict that much of the UK will be hospitable to this mosquito in coming years as a result of climate change.

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Last year, Dr Jolyon Medlock, the head of medical entomology and zoonoses ecology at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said the tiger mosquito could be embedded in the UK within less than a decade.

Dr Isabel Oliver, the chief scientific officer at UKHSA, told The Telegraph: The majority of illness and deaths caused by mosquito-borne diseases occur in the tropics. However, there is an increasing risk posed by mosquitoes invasive to the UK.

Factors behind this increasing risk include climate and environmental change, the globalisation of travel and trade as well as changes in land use.

The UKHSA runs a surveillance scheme with a range of traps in Kent, Sussex and elsewhere in the south of England which are regularly checked by entomologists for signs of the tiger mosquito (Aedes aegypti).

As well as monitoring infections in people, the UK Health Security Agency undertakes surveillance of mosquitoes and other vectors of infection to monitor risks to the health of the population so we can identify any changes promptly and effectively, Dr Oliver added.

Tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease are also being watched closely by public health experts as they head to the UK from abroad, along with West Nile virus, chikungunya virus and malaria.

We cant stop it at the border

Experts in the Government are also working on the issue of protecting the UKs flora and fauna from invaders.

Native spruce trees are at risk from a European beetle and scientists are urging the public to keep an eye out for signs of disease on trees and report it for study.

The spruce bark beetle, Ips typographus, is becoming a worry with much of the south-east, including Norfolk, Suffolk, London and Kent, now subject to a proactive spruce removal area. Landowners are being encouraged to replace the tree with other species.

Prof Nicola Spence, the UKs chief plant health officer at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), said stopping the beetles arrival is almost impossible.

I cant regulate that. I cant stop it at the border because its going to come anyway on wind events, she told The Telegraph.

Whilst were finding it in the south east, whats at risk is all the spruce forests in Scotland, Wales, the south west. We are very much managing that in the south east to protect the rest of the UK.

Pest and pathogens present a great risk for UK biosecurity and our ecosystems. The number and diversity we are exposed to have rapidly increased in recent years as a result of climate change and globalisation.

In recent years we have seen damaging pests, such as Ips Typographus, which has the potential to cause significant damage to Great Britains forestry and timber industries, enter the UK through strong winds and survive due to warmer weather.

We have robust surveillance and eradication measures in place to tackle outbreaks, but it is crucial we continue to adapt to a changing climate and build the resilience of our trees and plants if they are to survive.

Meanwhile, this summer veterinarians at Defra were preparing for a deluge of tests for bluetongue, an infection that affects farm animals such as cattle and sheep, and is characterised by a blue tongue in infected animals.

Midges, belonging to the culicoides species, spread the virus to anything they bite, which includes sheep, deer, llamas and goats. It does not affect people or food security, experts say.

Farmers, vets and Government scientists up and down the country have been put on high alert for bluetongue, with the latest Government guidance saying infected culicoides may be spread to Great Britain via the wind from the coastal clusters in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium.

There is a medium risk of incursion of a midge that carries a disease for which there is no vaccine, experts say.

Ele Brown, the UK deputy chief veterinary officer, said: Vector-borne diseases account for more than 17 per cent of all infectious diseases in humans around the world, with mosquitoes and ticks representing a growing threat to the UK due to the fact that they are both established and invasive.

Climate change, in the form of warmer summer temperatures and milder wetter winters, could increase the abundance of the native mosquito populations, prolong the active vector season and enable invasive mosquito species to establish in the UK and increase their ability to transmit diseases.

Defra and UKRI are investing more than 7 million in a series of research proposals to improve our capacity and capability to forecast, understand, mitigate and avoid animal and human vector-borne disease threats.

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Jury is still out on Oleksandr Syrsky

Meat general, sovok, the Butcher of Bakhmut...

Many unpleasant things were said about Oleksandr Syrsky when he succeeded Valery Zaluzhny as commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armed forces in February.

He was too conservative, too controlling, too willing to spend his mens lives  above all, some Ukrainian soldiers grumbled, too Soviet.

Now, the 59-year-olds daring invasion of Russias Kursk region has shifted that view  up to a point.

Instead of berating him for being stubborn, unimaginative, and sacrificing lives for pointless tactical gains, he is being praised for planning and executing one of the biggest, most audacious, and, so far, most successful surprises of the war.

Ukrainian commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky - PRESS SERVICE OF OPERATIONAL-STRATEGIC COMMAND KHORTYTSYA/AFP via GETTY IMAGES

But this bold, meticulously organised and extremely risky gambit has drawn both admiration and unease.

Mariana Bezuhla, a Ukrainian member of parliament, this week called Colonel General Syrsky the Ukrainian Zhukov  a reference to the general Georgy who led the Red Army to victory over the Nazis.

The compliment was deliberately ambivalent: Syrsky brings the war to some new level of manoeuvres of the Second World War, where the bets are on the loss or acquisition of entire regions, but what is the price and what are the prospects? she wrote on X. I am sure that even he does not have clear answers. Its a game of all-or-nothing. The surprises are not over.

Success in Kursk is not free. Ukraine is losing some of its best men in combat there. In Donbas, the Russians have accelerated their advance and are knocking on the door of Pokrovsk.

The coming weeks will tell whether Kursk is a tide-turning masterstroke, or a final, terrible blunder.

The outcome may decide the war. It will certainly decide how history remembers Oleksandr Syrsky.

Kursk has already shifted some views of him.

One veteran soldier said: Among the infantry he is known as a very conservative, straight tactics guy. I had the same opinion of him as I did before Kursk.

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Im positively surprised how he managed to keep preparations and first strikes out of the news and Telegram channels.

His decision to keep the plans secret from western allies, but also much of the Ukrainian military and government, appears to have been vindicated.

Col Gen Syrsky, like all officers of his generation, is a product of the Soviet military.

Born in 1965 in Vladimir, east of Moscow, he moved to Ukraine as a teenager and studied at Moscows Higher MIlitary Command School before starting a military career. On independence his unit was absorbed into the Ukrainian military.

He was a commander during the Donbas war of 2014, when Russia launched its first invasion, and has been fighting Russians ever since.

By the time of the fall scale invasion of 2022 he was head of the ground forces  effectively a second-in-command to Valery Zaluzhny, the big, grinning, bear-like commander-in-chief beloved of the Ukrainian rank and file.

Under General Zaluzhny he ran both the successful defence of Kyiv in 2022 and the shock blitzkrieg that recaptured Kharkiv region that autumn, two of Ukraines greatest victories of the war so far.

So when Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraines president, fell out with Gen Zaluzhny and fired him in February, Col Gen Syrsky was the logical replacement.

But the costly 10-month defence of Bakhmut, which finally fell to Russia in May last year, was also his.

The high casualties of that battle, and his insistence on trying to retake it with a counter offensive last summer, drew bitter criticism.

Infantrymen felt he was too willing to sacrifice their lives. Strategists felt he was pulling too many valuable resources, including some of Ukraines best assault units, away from the main counter offensive in Zaporizhzhia.

Anecdotes abound of battalion and even company commanders being refused permission to retreat from impossibly exposed positions, and taking heavy casualties, because of orders from Col Gen Syrsky.

Micromanagement; disregard for the lives of his own men; a tendency to issue impossible orders; reluctance to trust officers on the ground. Above all, a refusal to say no to political masters demanding unrealistic goals.

For his bitterest critics, those are the traits of a sovok (an insulting term for an old-fashioned Soviet-minded person) or worse, Russian, general.

His defenders, however, say those grumbles are wildly unfair.

Col Gen Syrsky is viewed by those who have worked with him  all the sources for this story insisted on anonymity  as a good manager, methodical in his reasoning and deliberate in his decisions.

He has a reputation for hanging around at the front, and for being a hands-on general with direct experience of organising and fighting battles.

No one, his defenders say, has a better understanding of what it takes to make the Russians fail  and if they dont fail, then to minimise the damage they can do.

They insist that he is no less concerned about his men than any other general. All commanders have had to make decisions that cost lives.

The Ukrainian military is indeed horribly disorganised, one source said, and the charge of Soviet thinking is often just cover for resisting his attempts to enforce even the most modest degree of coherence.

He is also much sterner than his predecessor, with a firm belief in the virtue of hierarchy and chain of command.

He has a reputation as a workaholic who sleeps little, sets meetings at horribly early hours, has subordinates rather than friends and has no interest in getting people to like him.

In other words, he can be a difficult boss. It is no wonder some people gripe about him.

As for Bakhmut, it was Mr Zelensky who ultimately insisted on holding on there despite the increasing costs.

Col Gen Syrskys respect for hierarchy may have made him more pliable to the presidents wishes than others  and is believed to be one reason Mr Zelensky preferred him to Gen Zaluzhny  but you cant fault a general for following the instructions of the civilian leadership.

Russian troops fire howitzer at Ukrainian forces - RUSSIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY PRESS SERVICE/EPA-EFE/SHUTTERST0CK

He has defied the critics who call him afraid of innovation. The frontline soldier, who referred to Col Gen Syrsky as a bald player in reference to his thinning hair and conservative tactics, added: I also know for the past six months to a year he has been actively engaged in the development of drone systems.

He is in personal touch with the chiefs of the most effective drone units apparently he listens to them. Thats one good thing about him.

Callous, unimaginative meat general, or steely master of manoeuvre? Which of these two wildly different reputations sticks will depend largely on the outcome of the battles in Kursk and Donbas.

What is not in dispute is that Col Gen Syrsky inherited a bad hand when he took over in February.

The army was exhausted by the failed offensive in Zaporizhzhia, American military aid was frozen and a political failure to grasp the nettle of conscription had left the armed forces dangerously outnumbered and outgunned by the Russians.

His first big decision was the retreat from Avdiivka in late winter. He has presided over a grinding and demoralising retreat across the Donetsk region ever since.

Until Kursk, the nearest thing he could point to as a victory was the containment of the Russian offensive in Kharkiv region in May.

Even that was marred by the ease with which the Russians crossed the border at the start of that attack. Col Gen Syrsky faced calls for his resignation as a result.

That adds a political aspect to the current offensive: rumour in Kyiv has it Andri Yermak, Mr Zelenskys powerful chief-of-staff, was behind the effort to oust him. Some speculate Kursk is partly Col Gen Syrskys attempt to redeem himself.

But even now, he is basically running a damage control operation. The Russians advancing in the east have air superiority that allows them to pound the front with glide bombs, and vast numbers of men to sacrifice in assaults on the ground.

Ukraine was hoping to receive F-16s and air defences to tackle the former, and more artillery to resist the latter. Neither have yet arrived in sufficient numbers to turn the tide.

It is a predicament Gen Zhukov might recognise.

Col Gen Syrsky and his men, like the Red Army 80 years ago, rely heavily on Western support to keep up the fight against the invaders.

Not everything can be blamed on Western kit, however. The decision to divert top units to Kursk has clearly weakened the front in Donbas. The risks are huge, and obvious.

Georgy Zhukov also took risks. His triumphs were also costly.

He once told Dwight Eisenhower that on encountering a minefield, he just ordered his infantry to attack as if it wasnt there. Eisenhower was at once appalled and fascinated: no British or American general would get away with that, he noted.

But he won.

History will judge Col Gen Syrsky on the same set of scales.

His legacy may be decided in the next few weeks.
Chief prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio reveals he has opened an investigation into multiple manslaughter and causing a shipwreck through negligence - Igor Petyx/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Prosecutors are investigating whether the captain and crew of Mike Lynchs superyacht failed to alert passengers that the vessel was sinking when it was hit by a violent storm.

A manslaughter investigation was announced on Saturday amid questions about how six passengers  including the British tech tycoon and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah  died in the disaster off the coast of Sicily, while all but one of the crew survived.

Investigators in Italy will scrutinise whether the Bayesian crew did enough to alert passengers who were sleeping in cabins below deck when a storm hit the yacht in the early hours of Monday.

The Bayesian seen off Porticello, Palermo, before the lethal storm arrived - Fabio la Bianca/BAIA Santa Nicolicchia/AFP via Getty

They said that five of the victims were found huddled together in a cabin on the port side of the ship, closest to the surface, suggesting that they may have been searching for the last pockets of air as the yacht started to submerge.

Raffaele Cammarano, one of two prosecutors leading the case, said that the passengers were asleep below deck and the others werent.

Asked if Mr Lynch and his guests were warned of the approaching storm, he said: Thats precisely what were trying to ascertain from the statements made by the survivors.

Data from the ships Automatic Identification System reportedly showed a 16-minute period between the storm hitting the 184ft-long Bayesian at 3.50am on Monday as it was anchored off Porticello, on Sicilys north coast, and the vessel sinking at 4.06am.

Ambrogio Cartosio, the chief prosecutor in the case, announced at a press conference on Saturday that he had opened an investigation into multiple manslaughter and causing a shipwreck through negligence, although he stressed that no individual has yet been charged.

Calling the sinking a very grave disaster, the prosecutor said it would be even more serious if the investigation showed it was caused by behaviours that were not aligned to the responsibilities that everyone needs to take in shipping.

He added: For me, it is probable that offences were committed, that it could be a case of manslaughter, but we can only establish that if you give us the time to investigate.

James Cutfield, the skipper of the Bayesian, has been questioned this week - pixel8000

James Cutfield, the yachts New Zealander skipper, and the other survivors have been questioned this week by authorities.

Mr Cutfield was described by his brother as a very good sailor who was very well respected throughout the Mediterranean.

Divers return to port after recovering the first two bodies, above, while a third body is later brought in from the sunken yacht, below - Francesco Bellina

Third body recovered

Marine experts have been puzzled by the speed with which the superyacht, which was constructed in 2008 by Italian manufacturer Perini Navi, sank after being hit by the intense storm.

A large yacht that was anchored nearby escaped the storm unscathed and helped in rescuing the Bayesians survivors.

Prosecutors said that as part of their investigation, the yacht would be recovered from where it lies on the seabed at a depth of 165ft, about half a mile off the coast.

On Saturday, Sasha Murray, the chief stewardess on the Bayesian, paid tribute to Hannah, saying she had a deep and loving connection to her parents.

She said: While swimming with them she often said, if anything ever happened she would save them.
Hull-born comic Amy Gledhill won the top prize for her show Make Me Look Fit on the Poster - Jane Barlow/PA

The Edinburgh Comedy Awards have been announced today and as a judge on the panel I can happily say that 36-year-old Hull-born comic Amy Gledhill absolutely deserves the main prize. Her feelgood hour of mirth exemplified a buzzy year of Fringe comedy. Still, its an inconvenient truth that this years collective effort got somewhat upstaged by the furore surrounding one single, now-notorious gig by the American comedian Reginald D Hunter.

At the Hunter gig some of the tension and dissension around Israel and Gaza current in the UK at the moment surfaced in a lecture theatre. In the wake of my ensuing one-star review  Id happened to pop into his show on the spur of the moment  the incident went viral. To recap: Hunter made a glib allusion to Israel as a domestic abuser who feigns being abused themselves, a couple in the front-row (who announced themselves as Israeli) sharply objected and for about five minutes, there was a weird, horrible stand-off in which the pair became subjected to cat-calls, sustained booing and slow-clapping.

No one deserves that level of intimidating animosity at a show, yet a week later on stage Hunter brushed the incident aside: It seems to me that if you have the stones [balls] to commit genocide  and you further have the stones to make the world watch you do it, then I cant understand why you cant take a joke.

Thankfully that nightmare gig wasnt typical of the festival. If one criticism that could be levelled at comics was that they tended to shy away from politics, the counter-argument is that the majority have intuited that, amid grisly times, we need laughter as a safety-valve. So far as the audience experience goes, where the Hunter debacle illustrated how stand-up can potentially foster division, the comedians shortlisted for the Comedy Award affirmed their idiosyncrasies and identities while reaching for warm communality.

This year's festival got somewhat upstaged by the furore surrounding the now-notorious gig by the American comedian Reginald D Hunter - David Bagnall/Alamy Stock Photo

The stand-outs for me  and, as a judge, I advocated for them, and agonised as to who to vote for  were Gledhill and Sarah Keyworth, 31, both of whom could become national treasures.

Keyworths most succinct one-liner, about being an emotionally unstable non-binary person, whose pronouns are there/ there, has been widely touted but almost every line uttered by the Nottingham-born comic in My Eyes Are Up Here betrayed a cherishable wit. Whether its the cheeky grins, knowing looks or the arch eyebrow-work, there are joyous shades of Victoria Wood in Keyworths well-mannered, middle-class shtick as the discussion roves across relatable family foibles, reductive generalisations and the stand-ups recent top-surgery, recounted with droll candour and celebratory inclusivity.

If Keyworths keynote style is smirking self-possession, Gledhill is the antithesis  larger than life, gleeful, salacious and as warm as any heatwave. Her show Make Me Look Fit on the Poster enlists conviviality at the start by dispensing knickers to be flung in her direction. Thereafter are tales at her own expense, not least the relived embarrassment of a disastrous visit to an outdoor activities centre, rendered with immaculate, toe-curling physicality. What emerges through the hilarity, though, is a sense of someone facing self-esteem issues, our laughter in itself becoming an invitation to make us consider our assumptions.

Another instance of difficult home truths arriving through a haze of convivial chatter is found in Easily Swayed, by Gledhills pal and comedy partner Chris Cantrill. What begins as a natter about his mates, and an oddball decision to introduce a cape-flourishing sense of medieval mission to his mid-life, craftily arrives at ambushing reflections about unspoken male mental health issues.

Not to bang that drum too loudly, but elsewhere the stresses of the age have borne nutritious fruit. With its constant re-starts, reprised songs and deflection from getting on with the show, watching the award-nominated Family Man by Australian comic Josh Glanc (pronounced Glance) feels a bit like being inside a breakdown, where the overload is hypnotically carnivalesque not blokily crushing.

Its impossible to do justice to the Fringe in all its mad glory  but among the most memorably, therapeutically bonkers hours Id hail Best Newcomer winner Joe Kent-Walters in demented, Sudocrem-plastered character as Frankie Monroe, the growling old-school emcee of an infernal working-mens club in Rotherham; the spirit of the fringe panel prize winner Rob Copland, who bundled mind-expanding zaniness into a cramped basement  oh, and Elf Lyons prancingly (and brilliantly) evoking equine experience in Horses.

Richard Osman  co-hosting the awards ceremony on Saturday  recently warned that, owing to the decline of the TV comedy industry, Edinburgh is no longer the springboard for comic talent that it used to be. Even if thats true, its not so much a case of more fool hundreds of comics for trying their luck there, as more fool anyone daft enough to ignore the UKs creatively supercharged comedy central.
German police on Saturday arrested the man suspected of killing three people and wounding eight others in a stabbing rampage at a festival in Solingen.

We have just arrested the true suspect, the states interior minister Herbert Reul said on Saturday night.

Officers said the man being held is 26 and admitted to carrying out the attack.

Hours earlier, Islamic State claimed responsibility for the stabbings in which the suspect deliberately cut at his victims throats.

In a statement on its official mouthpiece Amaq, IS said the attack targeted a gathering of Christians for the cause of Palestinians and Muslims.

Minister-president of the German State of North Rhine Westphalia Hendrik Wust described the attack as an act of terror against the security and freedom of this country.

A man is detained by police in Solingen - DPA

But German interior minister Nancy Faeser, the countrys top security official, has not classified it as a terror attack.

Some 24 hours after the attack, police said they made a second arrest on Saturday evening as part of a police operation at a home for refugees in Solingen. Police said they could not provide more details on the individual or its connection to the incident.

Earlier on Saturday officers arrested a 15-year-old boy in connection to the case after he was allegedly heard talking to the suspect ahead of the brutal attack.

Police have not ruled out terrorism as the motive behind the death of two men, aged 67 and 56, and a woman, aged 56. Five of the eight people wounded in the attack are in serious condition, police said at a press conference on Saturday afternoon.

Elite officers in Germany stormed a refugee shelter, with the Bild newspaper reporting that a Syrian was arrested in the raid.

The newspaper stressed that information was initial and unconfirmed but reported the asylum seeker accommodation was just 300 metres from the Fronhof, the market square which was the site of the attack.

Police carry out searches after the knife attack, which was claimed by Islamic State - Christoph Reichwein/DPA

It was also just 150 metres from where investigators found the suspected murder weapon on Saturday afternoon.

Police tracking dogs led officers from where the knife was found to the refugee shelter. Special units surrounded the building before storming it at 8.18pm local time.

Terror expert Peter Neumann from Londons Kings College told Bild that claims on Amaq were 95 per cent credible.

The next 12 hours will be very relevant, he said.

Officers said they had reviewed social media footage of the bloody attack and that the killer could also face eight charges of attempted murder.

After evaluating the initial images, we are assuming that it was a very targeted attack on the neck, said Thorsten Flei, the police director at the press conference.

Police and ambulances near the scene of the knife attack in Soligen - GIANNI GATTUS/DPA

Markus Caspers, the chief public prosecutor, said investigators currently see no other motive than terrorism.

Mr Caspers said two witnesses had overheard a conversation between the youth who was arrested on Saturday morning and another person shortly before the stabbings.

It is unclear if the other person was the suspect but police acted after the witnesses reported what they had heard to investigators.

Mourners embrace each other after three people were killed in a knife attack - VOLKER HARTMANN/SHUTTERSTOCK

Officers have seized several knives and are investigating whether they are the murder weapon. The Bild newspaper reported the murder weapon had been found about 200 metres from where the attack took place.

Police said the situation was fluid and they were chasing many leads.

Dusseldorf Police said: Various police measures, including searches at various locations, are being carried out in parallel.

Investigations and searches for possible further perpetrators and reasons for the offence are in full swing.

A young woman lights a candle at a makeshift memorial to the victims - ROBERTO PFEIL/AFP

A memorial service was held for the victims in Solingen - Sascha Schuermann/Getty Images Europe

Markus Rohrl, the Wuppertal police chief, said he would not recommend the public locking themselves up at home.

Everyone has to decide for themselves whether they go to festivities, whether they go to football matches, whether they use public transport. The consequence of saying no to all of this would be that they would have to lock themselves in their homes. I cant recommend that to anyone. Quite the opposite. he said.

The incident occurred at about 9.40pm local time (8.40pm UK) on Friday when the man attacked multiple people with a knife, the police said.

Police and fire department tents pitched in front of the market square stage - CHRISTOPH REICHWEIN/AVALON

Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, said on X: The perpetrator must be quickly caught and punished to the fullest extent of the law.

Ms Faeser said earlier that security authorities were doing everything they could to catch the perpetrator and investigate the background of the attack.

The attack occurred at the Fronhof, where live bands were playing. It was during a festival marking the 650th anniversary of the city in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, which borders the Netherlands.

The German musician, who goes by the name Topic, said he was playing on a nearby stage when the incident occurred. He was told about what happened but was asked to continue to avoid causing a mass panic attack, he posted on Instagram.

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He was eventually told to stop, and since the attacker was still on the run, we hid in a nearby store while police helicopters circled above us, Topic wrote.

Authorities cancelled the remainder of the weekend festival.

The perpetrator aimed specifically for peoples throats, one police spokesman said. A second spokesman later would not confirm or deny that detail and pointed to a news conference scheduled for the afternoon.

Fatal stabbings and shootings are relatively uncommon in Germany. The government said earlier this month it wanted to toughen rules on knives that can be carried in public by reducing the maximum length allowed.

In June, a 29-year-old policeman died after being stabbed in Mannheim during an attack on a right-wing demonstration. A stabbing attack on a train in 2021 injured several.

Herbert Reul, the interior minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, visited the scene early on Saturday. He told reporters it was a targeted attack on human life but declined to speculate on the motive.
Shotwick solar farm in Deeside, Wales. The government plans to triple the UKs solar energy capacity by the end of the decade. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Great Britain is on track to generate record levels of solar power this summer, according to expert forecasts, as the government pushes forward plans to triple the countrys solar energy capacity by the end of the decade.

Solar power output between June and August is likely to climb by almost a quarter compared with the same period last year.

The forecasts, compiled for the Guardian by the energy market data company ICIS, show solar power output climbing 16% above the previous summer record from 2022.

Solar power generation in the meteorological summer is likely to reach 5.86 terawatt hours by the end of August, according to the figures, after monthly output climbed just above 2TWh for the first time in June.

Despite the relatively poor weather this summer, it is still possible to generate significant solar power during the months with more daylight hours. The photovoltaic cells in solar panels do not need direct sunlight to operate, they work even on cloudy days and are actually less efficient when they get too hot.

Britains solar generation is on track to increase further in the years ahead after the Labour government approved three major solar farms in the east of England within weeks of coming to power. Tory ministers had blocked the projects because of local opposition.

Once built the sites at Gate Burton in Lincolnshire, Mallard Pass on the border between Lincolnshire and Rutland and Sunnicas energy farm on the Suffolk-Cambridgeshire border will deliver the equivalent of two-thirds of the solar power capacity installed on rooftops and on the ground in the whole of last year.

The government is expected to make another decision within weeks on whether to defy local opposition by giving the green light to Britains biggest solar farm at the Cottam site on the Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire border, which would cover an area eight times the size of Hyde Park in central London.

As part of the governments rooftop revolution Keir Starmer has promised that millions more homes will be fitted with solar panels in order to bring down domestic energy bills and help meet the manifesto pledge to make the UK a clean energy superpower.

The government has promised to triple the UKs solar power capacity by 2030, while doubling its onshore wind and quadrupling its offshore wind capacity. Local communities, however, are expected to oppose major developments in rural areas that could include large substations, pylons and overhead power lines.

The chief executive of Solar Energy UK, Chris Hewett, said the summer record demonstrates how the UKs solar generation capacity is growing at remarkable pace, both on rooftops and on the ground.

With Ed Milibands promise of a solar revolution, his approval of three large-scale solar farms this summer and expectations that new homes and buildings will be effectively required to have solar panels, growth is only going to accelerate, driving down bills and emissions along the way, he said.

A spokesperson for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: Solar power is at the heart of our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower and more energy independent.

In one week, the energy secretary consented to more solar power than has been installed in the past year and more widely, we are going further and faster with a solar rooftop revolution to ensure new homes are fit for a net zero future.
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris

It is now absolutely imperative that Kamala Harris wins the US presidential election. This is essential for the survival of Americas sense of itself as a rational nation, as well as for its continued role in Nato and the free world which relies on it. But, paradoxically, the most immediate and necessary effect of her victory would be to cause the Republican Party to begin the post-Trump reconstruction which will be needed if it is to return to its proper role as a responsible opposition.

That implosion of the Trump phenomenon and the consequent revival of the Republicans as a legitimate player in the constitutional dialogue which is the basis of democratic life in the United States may turn out to be the greatest achievement of a Harris administration. Because only unambiguous, definitive defeat can undermine the bizarre Trumpite delusion that he is somehow the anointed saviour of a nation whose founding principles he does not appear to appreciate or even understand.

That cataclysmic event  which Trump himself now seems to be anticipating in his rambling, self-pitying public outpourings  will put an end to what will be seen by future generations as one of the ugliest aberrations in the nations history. (In his bitter desperation, Trump has now taken to referring to his predecessor in the White House as Barack Hussein Obama. What is this supposed to mean? That the ex-president is a secret Islamist?)

So forget about the dangers that a Left-wing Harris administration is supposed to represent. If the fears prove realistic, it will become even more necessary for the Republicans to force themselves out of the Trump miasma and start engaging in serious political argument again.

And they will do that, I promise you. The implementation of what the American Right sees as alarmingly progressive measures will bring about a resurgence of tough-minded, well-argued Republican critique  as opposed to Trumps obnoxious bluster  much of it quite possibly from new players on the scene who are as yet unheard of. They will pull themselves together and regroup in good time for the midterm elections in two years, and then, if the Harris White House really has tried to trample over sacred economic freedoms and governmental principles, it will be blocked by a Republican-controlled Congress. But I am getting ahead of myself.

At the moment, the anti-Harris rhetoric seems to be making two contradictory claims. One is that she has yet to make any substantive policy pronouncements. Her acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention, it is noted, was lacking in any specific promises or detailed plans for her presidency. It consisted almost entirely of sentimental autobiography and vague gestures to both sides of contentious issues like the Israel-Palestine conflict. Therefore we must conclude that she is an empty vessel with no actual programme for government.

Speaking as one who has listened to more presidential nominee speeches than I can count, I would say that this is pretty much par for the course. The orations may vary in their eloquence and their effectiveness at rousing inspiration  John Kennedys the torch has been passed to a new generation has yet to be beaten  but they almost never commit the candidate to concrete objectives. And given the circumstances of Harriss nomination, using her convention address to introduce herself and describe her personal background seems perfectly appropriate. Presenting herself as being prepared to listen to both sides of a deeply divisive subject like the war in the Middle East does not seem unreasonable either, given the diplomatic delicacy of that crisis.

But then there are the domestic proposals which she appears to endorse. Surely these are outrageously Left-wing (or communist in Donald Trumps assessment). The least credible of them, which addresses supposed profiteering (price gouging) on the part of retailers, seems to amount to price fixing, so that will never get off the ground. Market forces always win through in the United States for good reason  because everyone wants them to work.

Then there are some suggestions which would only appear alarming to a peculiarly reactionary American audience: the right for employees to take medical and maternity leave is shocking only by its present absence. There is virtually no modern democracy which does not offer working people such rights.

And what of her suggestion that seniors (pensioners) should get a better deal on the price of their prescription medications? Where else in the developed world would this be considered controversial? There are almost no other Western countries which would expect elderly people to pay the full market price for the medicines they need to sustain their lives. Note that Ms Harris is not even suggesting anything as radical (communist in Trumps parlance) as having the federal government subsidise the purchase of such drugs. All that she proposes is that the state Medicare programme negotiate a better bargain with the pharmaceutical companies to bring the price of their products down  which is a perfectly sound market-based approach.

At the heart of all this noise and fake controversy is something real: a fight for the most fundamental sense of what American politics is about and the beliefs on which it relies. America reinvents itself all the time by finding new ways to present its founding principles. Among those inextinguishable beliefs is the idea that everyone is entitled to self-determination. That is what this extraordinary Democratic convention meant by endlessly repeating its commitment to hope.

This can be rather difficult for the sardonic British  who regard optimism as rather gauche  to understand, but the idea that life offers possibilities which you are morally obliged to embrace is essential to the American dream. Having no hope for the future, failing to take advantage of the opportunities that are available to you, is a sin against the national faith. It is a betrayal of your forebears who risked everything to come to a new world so that you could escape from the limitations with which you might have been born. The message may sound absurd to an Old World audience but it reaches the hearts of American voters for whom hope is a sacred duty.
China-led int'l consortium to operate new large terminal at Egypt's Dekheila Port

Xinhua) 13:41, August 24, 2024

This photo taken on Aug. 22, 2024 shows a large container terminal under construction at Dekheila Port in Alexandria, Egypt. A new large container terminal at Egypt's Dekheila Port on the Mediterranean Sea will be handed over to an international consortium led by China's Hutchison Ports for operation by the end of the year, according to an Egyptian official. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- A new large container terminal at Egypt's Dekheila Port on the Mediterranean Sea will be handed over to an international consortium led by China's Hutchison Ports for operation by the end of the year, according to an Egyptian official.

"1,200 meters of the 1,680-meter-long terminal will be operated by the international consortium led by China's Hutchison Ports," Ahmed Hawash, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Alexandria Port Authority, told Xinhua on Thursday.

The backyard used at this terminal is 1 million square meters, with a container capacity of 1.5 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit), he said.

"The aim of establishing the terminal is to increase the capacity for handling goods, whether general goods or containers," Hawash added.

He noted that they have gained experience in terminal operations through cooperation with the international consortium.

"We have succeeded in operating many terminals completely because we have gained experience through partnerships with experienced foreign partners," the Egyptian official said.

The Alexandria Port Authority, in charge of Alexandria Port and Dekheila Port, provides all operational and logistical services related to maritime transport activities.

Workers are pictured at the construction site of a large container terminal at Dekheila Port in Alexandria, Egypt, Aug. 22, 2024.

A new large container terminal at Egypt's Dekheila Port on the Mediterranean Sea will be handed over to an international consortium led by China's Hutchison Ports for operation by the end of the year, according to an Egyptian official. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

This photo taken on Aug. 22, 2024 shows a large container terminal under construction at Dekheila Port in Alexandria, Egypt.

A new large container terminal at Egypt's Dekheila Port on the Mediterranean Sea will be handed over to an international consortium led by China's Hutchison Ports for operation by the end of the year, according to an Egyptian official. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

This photo taken on Aug. 22, 2024 shows a large container terminal under construction at Dekheila Port in Alexandria, Egypt.

A new large container terminal at Egypt's Dekheila Port on the Mediterranean Sea will be handed over to an international consortium led by China's Hutchison Ports for operation by the end of the year, according to an Egyptian official. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liu Ning)
Handcuffed Collins Jumaisi Khalusha is escorted to the Kiambu court in Kenya - Simon Maina/AFP via Getty

He is, if the police are to be believed, the most prolific serial killer in Kenyas history, butchering and dismembering 42 women over two blood-soaked years, the most recent just last month.

For many Kenyans, it is a big if. So mistrusted are the police that when the suspect accused of the killings vanished from his cell on Tuesday, few seemed surprised.

On paper at least, the case against Collins Jumaisi Khalusha, a 33-year-old itinerant SIM-card peddler, looks like a textbook police operation.

Within 72 hours of the first of several corpses being found in a disused Nairobi quarry on July 12, the police had identified their man, arrested him and purportedly extracted a full confession.

Collins Jumaisi Khalusha is accused of the murder and dismemberment of 42 women - Simon Maina/AFP via Getty

At a triumphant press conference three days later, Mohamed Amin, who heads the directorate of criminal investigations, praised the brilliance of his team in hunting down a vampire who had a weakness for beautiful women.

Not everyone is convinced. Kenyas police force has a reputation for corruption, brutality and ineptitude.

High-profile murders, including those of several British nationals, have remained unsolved for decades.

This kind of speedy efficiency in the Khalusha investigation therefore raised eyebrows.

It also spawned conspiracy theories. At the same time as female corpses were being pulled out of the quarry in Mukuru, a slum in Nairobis southeast, the Kenyan capital was reeling from violently suppressed anti-government demonstrations that had erupted the previous month.

The suspect appears in a court in Kiambu  but his lawyer says he confessed under torture - Simon Maina/AFP via Getty

Scores of protesters had been killed by the police. Others had disappeared.

There were unsubstantiated rumours that demonstrators had been massacred in Githurai, a suburb 10 miles north of Mukuru, and their bodies hidden by the police.

The suspects disappearance has only served to fuel such theories.

Having retracted his confession in court, which his lawyer said had been obtained under torture, Mr Khalusha was being held at a police station in Gigiri, Nairobis diplomatic district.

He had been due to enter a plea in September.

But on Tuesday morning, warders discovered that Mr Khalusha had disappeared from a communal cell overnight along with 12 Eritreans being held on suspicion of immigration offences.

Four men arrested for being drunk and disorderly the previous night remained in the cell.

Eight officers at the police station were subsequently suspended, five of whom have been charged with helping Mr Khalusha escape for financial gain.

Troubling questions surrounding his disappearance remain unanswered.

Why, for instance, was the man accused of being Kenyas worst ever serial killer being held in the same cell as revellers picked up after a rowdy night out?

Mr Khalusha gave every appearance of living a life of absolute penury, inhabiting a single-room 10ft by 10ft hovel in a squalid tenement block for which, according to neighbours, he paid 12 a month in rent.

Several bodies were found in a water-filled former quarry, now strewn with rubbish - Adrian Massie-Blomfield

This guy is a poor boy from a poor family, says Vincent Okwero, a fellow Mukuru resident who has known Mr Khalusha for the past two years.

He eked out a living selling SIM cards on the streets, for which he earned tiny commissions. Where would he have got the money to bribe the police and mastermind an escape like this?

How, too, did Mr Khalusha escape? Contradictory accounts from the police have emerged, with one saying he and his fellow fugitives cut through a mesh window and another that his cell door was simply unlocked.

It is unclear what light, if any, has been shed on the matter by Mr Khalushas four drunk and disorderly cellmates.

Gigiri is also home to numerous diplomatic missions including the American embassy and regional headquarters of the United Nations.

Yet so far no CCTV footage of 13 men creeping furtively through the night has emerged, while security guards stationed near the police station say they saw nothing untoward on the night in question.

Crowds gather on the edge of the former quarry to watch the search for human remains - Tony Karumba/AFP via Getty

Bungling is not an impossible answer to these questions.

Suspects have certainly escaped police custody before, among them Kevin Kangethe, who allegedly left the body of his murdered girlfriend in the boot of his car at Bostons Logan Airport last year before fleeing to Kenya.

Mr Kangethe disappeared from another police station while he was meeting his lawyer in January  the same lawyer, by coincidence, who is representing Mr Khalusha.

Mr Kangethe was later recaptured. A judge ordered his extradition to the United States this month.

It is not surprising given the low confidence many Kenyans have in the police that there are those who suspect something more sinister.

For them, it is entirely possible that Mr Khalusha was a dupe, framed by the police or persuaded to confess in the promise of monetary compensation, escape and a new identity.

We are lied to about everything

Some fear that, having served his purpose, Mr Khalusha may even be at risk of his life.

The truth in Kenya can never come out, said Dixon Babu, a Mukuru acquaintance of Mr Khalusha.

We are lied to about everything. We know he didnt escape. He was abducted and that will probably be the last time he is heard of again.

So pervasive is the mistrust in the police that it is virtually impossible to find anyone in the Kwa Njenga area of Mukuru where Mr Khalusha lived who believes he is guilty.

Mr Khalushas dwelling is at the end of a narrow corridor in a ramshackle building. Most of the flats in it are separated by partitions of aluminium sheeting.

It is a place, residents say, where every argument is heard, every secret known.

In the ghetto, there is no such thing as privacy, said Joel Tyson, a resident.

We knew everything about his daily routine. There is no way he could have killed 42 women and we didnt know.

Janae Aketch, a neighbour of the suspect, says she saw women leaving his home alive - Adrian Massie-Blomfield

Neighbour Janae Aketch described Mr Khalusha as a shy man who over the two years he lived in the area had certainly brought a number of women home.

But the thing is I always saw them leave again, the hairdresser said.

I never heard any screams. I never heard anything and I can tell you I would have heard.

There is mystery too about where the bodies of most of the 42 women Mr Khalusha allegedly killed are.

Police say he dumped all his victims in the water-filled quarry which has long served as a rubbish dump.

Since most of the corpses recovered from the quarry had been cut into at least three and divided into nylon sacks, police say they do not know how many bodies they have collected so far  although they are unlikely to be more than nine.

We have collected 17 body parts in total, said Resila Onyango, a police spokesman.

The bodies were dismembered and have decomposed at different levels of decomposition making identification a challenge.

Local area chief Evans Munene reckons there are no more bodies to be found at the site - Adrian Massie-Blomfield

Those who eke a precarious living scavenging rubbish in the quarry and who helped recover the bodies say it is impossible that they have not located all the corpses.

The quarry is a popular suicide spot, but corpses all return to the surface within days because of the churn of the water, according to Enoch Kimanzi, one of the scavengers.

I can assure you we have searched everywhere, he said. There are no more bodies here.

It is a view shared by the local area chief, Evans Munene, who also points out that only one woman was registered as missing in the Mukuru area.

What then, has happened to the remaining corpses? Or did Mr Khalusha, for reasons known to himself, confess to killing more people than he did.

Yet if there are troubling questions about the case, the suggestion that the police killed the victims seems equally implausible, given that all the victims  unlike most of the dead protesters  were women and that none bore gunshot wounds.

It is more likely, activists and protest organisers suggest, that if there was a conspiracy, the police framed Mr Khalusha because they were under government pressure to solve the case quickly in order not to fan protester anger further.

During the recovery of the bodies, police had to fire into the air to ward off protesters around the quarry and a nearby police station.

There are at least two other theories that need to be considered, says Eric Ambuche, a community activist in Mukuru.

The way the bodies were dismembered could point either to cult killings or to organ-harvesting gangs. Such things are not unknown in Nairobi slums and should be investigated.

This is Kenya though. I fear we will never learn the answer.
Lucy Letby started working at the Countess of Chester hospital in 2012 - Christopher Furlong

The Countess of Chester baby unit where Lucy Letby worked was an accident waiting to happen after a decade of redundancies, resignations and cuts, it has been claimed.

Last August, Letby was convicted of the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of six others at the hospitals neonatal unit in 2015 and 2016.

A retrial earlier this year found her guilty of the attempted murder of another child, known as Baby K.

However in the years leading up to the deaths, nurses had written to the NHS Trust warning of their grave concerns about unsatisfactory staffing levels on the neonatal unit which were 30-40 per cent lower than guideline levels.

A letter signed by 12 senior nurses written in 2004 warned of continual excessive workload which is causing serious concerns about the increased risk of clinical incidents.

It is a constant worry that working in such a compromised setting could increase the risk of unintentional professional negligence, they warned.

Further cuts made

Despite the concerns, further cuts were made in the following years including the loss of two Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioners (ANNP) or super nurses who had been employed to take on some of the roles of junior doctors.

Michele Worden, an ANNP at the unit who had worked in the NHS for 28 years, was made redundant in 2007 after refusing to be downgraded amid ongoing cost-cutting and restructuring at the unit.

She told The Telegraph: The hospital said they would no longer need ANNPs because they would not be caring for really sick babies. At the time I told management that was ludicrous but it fell on deaf ears.

I told them that you cannot run a neonatal intensive care unit with no senior nursing staff. This is an accident waiting to happen, but they were not interested.

By 2011, eight registered nurses had left the unit, and eight unregulated nursery nurses were employed to plug the gap. The following year, the hospital employed two nurses straight out of university, one of whom was Letby.

Lucy Letby was employed at the Countess of Chester hospital straight out of university - Cheshire Constabulary/PA

At the time Ms Worden wrote to the Chester Chronicle, repeating her concerns about the unit.

During my final year at the Countess of Chester hospital I was appalled to observe the decimation of the nursing and midwifery service, she wrote in the newspaper.

The decision to dramatically increase the ratio of unqualified to qualified has forced those unqualified staff into performing or rather attempting to perform tasks beyond their capabilities

The repercussions of all of this, for the depleted numbers of qualified staff and ultimately for their patients, is profoundly worrying.

Around 2013-2014, junior trainee paediatricians from the School of Medicine at Liverpool University were also pulled from the unit, further depleting medical staff.

The situation had not improved by 2015, and in December of that year, Dr Alison Timmis, a paediatrician emailed Tony Chambers, the hospitals chief executive, reporting that staff were in tears because they were being forced to look after more babies than they could safely accommodate.

They get upset as they know that the care they are providing falls below their high standards, she said, warning nurses were chronically overworked and felt no one is listening.

At several points we ran out of vital equipment such as incubators, she added. This is not an exceptionally busy week. This is now our normal working pattern and it is not safe.

Things are stretched thinner and thinner and at breaking point. When things snap, the casualties will either be childrens lives or the mental and physical health of our staff.

Perfect storm

At the trial, it was said that Letby capitalised on the difficulties faced by the neonatal unit to target her victims and request more shifts so she could have more time to carry out her killing spree.

But Ms Worden said the mortality spike seen at the Countess of Chester neonatal unit during 2015 and 2016 could be explained by a perfect storm of poor staffing and other problems on the unit.

The hospital had struggled to get rid of a dangerous bacteria which had colonised taps in the neonatal unit, during the period when deaths spiked, and there was a problem with raw sewage entering the ward from poor plumbing.

Ms Worden said: There were always problems with the sinks being blocked. One year there was an outbreak of tiny black insects and they had to get an exterminator in to remove them.

They were short staffed, too many inexperienced nurses, too few rounds by consultants, and a culture of not seeking help when they were out of their depth. It all came together to create a perfect storm.

Even Letby, who was deemed to be a senior nurse, had only been qualified for three years. You cant run a unit without qualified staff. It was a drip, drip, drip effect.

Speaking of Letbys conviction, she added: I am so sad about the deaths and collapses of babies since I left, whether those in 2015 and 2016 or otherwise.

However I also now feel that Countess of Chester did me a favour making me redundant. I was the senior nurse and I was always with the sickest babies. There but for the grace of God go I.

A sketch of Letby during her retrial at Manchester Crown Court in June - Elizabeth Cook/PA

An investigation by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) found that between 2015 and 2016 there were organisational and environmental issues with the ward and major issues with understaffing, but the report was never shown to the jury.

The RCPCH review team found serious concerns with the unit, uncovering a pattern of insufficient senior cover and a reluctance to seek advice from consultants.

Reviewers warned that senior doctors should have been more available, given the vulnerable nature of the premature babies on the ward, while the number of nurses on the unit was frequently less than the recommended levels.

There was a 21 per cent shortfall in nurses between 2014 and 2015 and agency staff were often drafted in to plug the gaps.

The RCPCH report also recommended that two Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioners (ANNP) be employed at the unit.

An inquiry led by Lady Justice Thirlwall is due to look into issues at the hospital and will begin next month.

A spokesman at the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: Due to the ongoing police investigations and the pending public inquiry, it would not be appropriate to answer or provide advice on the questions asked at this time.
SpaceX founder Elon Musk is to come to the rescue of the trapped astronauts - Philip Pacheco/AFP via Getty

Elon Musk will help bring two astronauts trapped on the International Space Station back to Earth early next year.

Commander Barry Butch Wilmore and pilot Sunita Suni Williams have been left stranded on the ISS because of problems with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft in which they arrived for an eight-day mission in June.

Nasa said on Saturday that the astronauts are now expected to return in February on a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.

The spacecraft, which is manufactured by SpaceX, Boeings rival founded by Mr Musk, is due to launch next month as part of a routine astronaut rotation mission.

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are trapped on the ISS but will be brought back via SpaceX - Nasa via AP

Mr Wilmore and Ms Williams, both former military test pilots, became the first crew to ride Starliner on June 5 when they were launched to the ISS.

But Starliners propulsion system suffered a series of glitches beginning in the first 24 hours of its flight to the ISS, triggering delays lasting until next year.

Five of its 28 thrusters failed and several leaks of helium, which is used to pressurise the small rockets, were detected, with Nasa deeming the issues too risky to carry its first crew home.

SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft will be launched on a Falcon 9 rocket - SpaceX/Zuma/Shutterstock

Following Nasas decision, Boeings Starliner chief Mark Nappi said in an email to company employees: I know this is not the decision we had hoped for, but we stand ready to carry out the actions necessary to support Nasas decision.

The focus remains first and foremost on ensuring the safety of the crew and spacecraft.

Starliner will undock from the ISS without a crew and attempt to return to Earth as it would have with astronauts aboard, while two of the Crew Dragons four astronaut seats will be kept empty for Mr Wilmore and Ms Williams.

Starliner will undock from the ISS without a crew - NASA via AP

In July, following news of the initial delays, Mr Williams said in a news conference: Its great to be up here, so Im not complaining.

Boeing had hoped the test mission would redeem the Starliner program after years of development problems and over $1.6 billion (1.2 billion) in budget overruns since 2016.

The company is also struggling with quality issues on production of commercial planes, its most important products.

Nasa administrators reveal plans to return two astronauts stranded on the ISS - Mark Felix/AFP via Getty

Boeing struggled for years to develop Starliner, a gumdrop-shaped capsule designed to compete with Crew Dragon as a second US option for sending astronaut crews to and from Earths orbit.

Starliner failed a 2019 test to launch to the ISS uncrewed, but mostly succeeded in a 2022 attempt where it also encountered thruster problems.

Its June mission with its first crew was required for Nasa to certify the capsule for routine flights, meaning Starliners path to certification path has been disrupted.

Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore with Expedition 71 flight engineers Mike Barratt, left, and Tracy Dyson, aboard the International Space Station's Quest airlock in June - Nasa via AP

Since Starliner docked to the ISS in June, Boeing has scrambled to investigate what caused its thruster mishaps and helium leaks.

The company arranged tests and simulations on Earth to gather data that it has used to try and convince Nasa officials that Starliner is safe to fly the crew back home.

But the results raised more difficult engineering questions and failed to quell Nasa officials concerns about Starliners ability to make its crewed return trip  the most daunting and complex part of the test mission.

Nasas decision and Starliners now-uncertain path to certification will add to the crises faced by Kelly Ortberg, the new Boeing chief executive, who started this month with the goal to rebuild the planemakers reputation after a door panel blew off a 737 Max passenger jet in midair in January.
Salvator Mundi, believed to be held in a secure vault in Geneva. Photograph: agefotostock/Alamy

The dirt and thick over-paint coating a Renaissance masterpiece can obscure the true shape of what lies beneath. But when it comes to Salvator Mundi, that infamous study of Jesus Christ attributed by many to Leonardo da Vinci, the layers of intrigue covering the picture now match the murky stages of its lengthy restoration.

Last week another hidden layer of the story was uncovered, with fresh evidence of the likely destiny of the missing, record-breaking $450m (360m) work of art.

The blank, beatific portrait dates to 1500 and might not initially be suspected of having, so far, cast a shadow over the reputation of two great European museums  the Louvre in Paris and Londons National Gallery  or of prompting lawsuits and rows between art historians and leading auction houses.

Now, according to revelations in a BBC documentary about Saudi Arabia, Salvator Mundi is about to be deployed by a Gulf potentate as the centrepiece of a grand new museum, designed specifically, some say, to art-wash away a bad name for human rights.

The works notoriety since its staggering sale in 2017 and immediate disappearance, together with its association with Leonardos great Mona Lisa, are being banked upon, it seems, to put a new Louvre in Saudi Arabia on the cultural map.

For Renaissance art expert Alison Cole, the Art Newspapers editor-at-large, new clues about the paintings whereabouts have confirmed her suspicions. The revelation that the Salvator Mundi is planned as the anchor exhibit of a new very large museum in Riyadh  in the expectation that it will have the same extraordinary pulling power as the Mona Lisa  comes as no surprise, she told the Observer.

It was described as the male Mona Lisa by Leonardo expert Martin Kemp and the term was enthusiastically adopted by Christies when the painting was consigned to auction in 2017. Ahead of the sale, Francois de Poortere of Christies New York said: This is the holy grail of Old Master paintings: some people call it the male Mona Lisa. People are deeply taken by this work. You could buy it and just build an entire museum around it.

Cole wonders, as does the Leonardo scholar Margaret Dalivalle, if De Poortere already knew something the rest of the world did not.

In the 19 August episode of the documentary The Kingdom: The Worlds Most Powerful Prince, a Princeton University professor spoke of plans for a big museum discussed with Saudi Arabias crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman. The prince was the secret bidder who took the painting to its world-beating price in New York in 2017 and now the Princeton academic Bernard Haykel is suggesting the missing portrait is secure inside a vault in Geneva, ready to step into the limelight as a key part of Prince Mohammeds bold cultural strategy, known as Saudi Vision 2030.

Haykel claims he was also told by the Saudi culture minister, Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan al-Saud, that the picture has been there since its purchase. Its waiting for the museum to be completed and then itll hang in the museum, he added.

A new Louvre in Riyadh would be a second Gulf outlet for the Paris museum. The neighbouring United Arab Emirates opened up its own Louvre in Abu Dhabi at the time of the Salvator Mundis auction, so some had expected the painting to reappear there first.

If the painting is instead to become the anchor of a Riyadh institution, that might be a fittingly nautical term: only five years ago the art writer and dealer Kenny Schachter claimed a scoop when he wrote that the portrait was being kept on Prince Mohammeds 134-metre superyacht, the Serene.

That the Salvator Mundi is planned as the anchor exhibit of a new very large museum in Riyadh comes as no surprise Alison Cole, The Art Newspaper

Speaking this weekend, Schachter was characteristically blunt, restating the bulletproof status of his source. He claimed the princes yacht had been a safe hideaway because, like anywhere he rests his royal ass, it would be climate-controlled. He still believes the painting is within arms reach, arguing: Theres no way a brat as spoiled as him does not have the work at his fingertips. Schachter justifies his disdain for the prince by pointing to Saudis murderous treatment of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.

If you want a reproduction of Salvator Mundi for yourself, you could go to a small museum in New York, dedicated to the controversial artwork and reopening this weekend after a break-in. Some of the branded memorabilia on sale  from underpants and playing cards to a Barbie-fied pink poster  are clearly ironic. All the same, this image of an impassive saviour raising his hand in benediction has by now reached the merchandisable heights of the face of the late rapper Tupac Shakur, or an outline of Che Guevara in a beret, if not of the Mona Lisa herself.

Someone with a much bigger wallet could instead track down one of around 27 early copies of Leonardos design for the portrait, all made in his workshop. Or it might be quicker to just get hold of one of the convincing later fakes that pop up. The genuine 500-year-old painting, known as the Cook version and now attributed at the very least to Leonardos assistants, remains much harder to locate.

It is called the Cook because in 1900 it was sold for 120 to Sir Francis Cook, a British merchant and collector, who accepted its attribution to the painter Bernardino Luini. It then made a splash in the modern world in 2005, when it was rediscovered and bought by a consortium of art dealers for $1,000, before being painstakingly restored over three years by the husband and wife team Mario and Dianne Modestini. A new television series, starring Julianne Moore as Dianne, is soon to tell this story. The drama, also produced by Moore, is largely based on the 2021 documentary The Lost Leonardo, in which both Cole and Schachter appeared.

Salvator Mundi became a household name when the National Gallery included it in a 2011 blockbuster show devoted to its putative creator. The London curators had moved in quickly, following the excitement of the first attribution of a painting to Leonardo for more than a century. The gallery has since claimed it had no knowledge of any upcoming sale, although disputes continue about the internal process of attribution and, in particular, about the wording of the shows catalogue, which left little room for doubt about the level of Leonardos input.

A National Gallery spokesperson said recently that decisions about showing such a loaned work follow a period of weighing up the advantage in including it  the benefit to the public in seeing the work, the advantage to the argument and scholarship of the exhibition as a whole. But that defence is not persuasive enough for Ben Lewis, author of The Last Leonardo, an incendiary book that questions the gallerys methods and notes that Londons prestigious rubber-stamping of it as a full Leonardo proved quite useful to Christies come auction time.

Meanwhile, legal wrangles have rumbled on involving Sothebys, a Swiss art dealer called Yves Bouvier and a Russian billionaire, Dmitry Rybolovlev, a former owner of Salvator Mundi, who this year lost one of these ongoing claims. This suit was against Sothebys, which he had accused of a fraud linked to his purchase of the painting and other works via Bouvier in 2013. Rybolovlev, by the way, is also thought to have kept Salvator Mundi in storage in Geneva until its spectacular auction in 2017.

The Louvre may have struck lucrative franchise deals in the Gulf, but it too has not escaped controversy. In 2019, Salvator Mundi was to have been displayed in Paris for the first time since its sale. Prince Mohammed had wanted his work hung next to the Mona Lisa, it was claimed in a French documentary  and, despite the museums denials, Cole and the Art Newspaper later got sight of a suppressed booklet, produced by the Louvre, that detailed a scientific examination of the painting, looking at similarities with sketch lines visible behind the enigmatic smile of La Gioconda.

At the last minute, though, the painting was withdrawn from the show. It is now thought President Macron had refused to place the works side by side.

Tainted with dishonour and doubt, perhaps Salvator Mundi might prove just the right anchor object for a museum in Riyadh intended to distract international attention from a chequered human rights record.

And while the portraits financial value remains disputed, by now the number of words of conjecture, criticism and academic analysis it has generated make it worth at least its own small library.
Emergency services in Soligen on Friday night. Police are still trying to establish a motive for the attack.

Emergency services in Soligen on Friday night. Police are still trying to establish a motive for the attack. Photograph: Christopher Neundorf/EPA

A man suspected of killing three and injuring eight more in the city of Solingen was arrested late on Saturday, according to regional interior minister Herbert Reul, following Friday nights attack at a festival.

Here is what we know so far:

North Rhine-Westphalias interior minister, Herbert Reul, told the ARD broadcaster that authorities spent the day following a hot lead that led to the latest arrest, the third police have made.

Police had previously made two arrests that were likely not the perpetrator, Reul said. The real suspect is the one that weve arrested just now, he said. The individual was being questioned and evidence was seized, he said. Police declined to immediately comment.

Terrorism has not been ruled out as a motive. The prosecutor Markus Caspers said police were looking at terror as a possibility, saying there was no other obvious motive and that the alleged attacker appeared to be unknown to the victims.

The Islamic State (IS) group on Saturday claimed responsibility for the Solingen stabbings but did not immediately provide any evidence for its assertion. Accounts claiming to speak for IS have falsely claimed responsibility for atrocities in the past.

Earlier, police detained a 15-year-old at his parents home in the early hours of Saturday, which prosecutors said was on suspicion of failing to report a crime. Public prosecutor Markus Caspers said of the 15-year-old that he was alleged to have spoken to the perpetrator shortly before the crime.

A second arrest was made following a police operation at a home for refugees in Solingen, a police spokesperson said. They said they could not provide any more details on the individual or the connection to the alleged incident.

Police have found at least one weapon that may have been used in the alleged assault and are analysing it for DNA traces. They said they had had no indication in the run-up to the festival that there was a security threat.
Higher-mileage Tesla Model 3s with long-range batteries can be bought for less than 15,000. Photograph: William Barton/Alamy

If your current car is on the way out and you think an electric replacement is too expensive, think again. Three-year-old Tesla Model 3s and Kia e-Niros that will do 250-300 miles on a single charge can now be bought for as little as 14,000.

In the last year, forecourt prices for used electric cars have tumbled to the extent that previously unaffordable models are now within the reach of many families for the first time.

Values have fallen so much that two weeks ago Auto Trader said they had reached near-parity with petrol cars. The average price of a three- to five-year-old EV in July was 18,964, compared with 18,076 for petrol models of the same age, it said.

Three or four years ago, some gamechanging, super-efficient models were being snapped up new by buyers in large numbers. They typically cost 40,000-50,000 new, but three years on these vehicles are now appearing on the used car market with 60,000-75,000 miles on the clock, at much more affordable prices.

There are some spectacular bargains out there, says David Smith of Cheltenham-based Cleevely Electric Vehicles, one of the UKs highest regarded independent sellers and servicers of EVs.

Cars that have proved reliable, with batteries offering close to the range that they had when new  many with several years warranty left  can be bought for a fraction of their new price.

Asked which electric car he would recommend to a family for under 15,000, hes unequivocal in his recommendation of the 64kWh-batteried Kia e-Niro.

These cars are really efficient, have a good range  of about 250 miles, depending on conditions  and have proved reliable both mechanically and for battery life, he says.

Many will have the balance of the original seven-year warranty. If you do a lot of long journeys and will have to rely on the public chargers away from home, then you may want to opt for a Tesla, which gains you access to its fast-charging network. But for those looking for the maximum car for the money, the e-Niro really delivers.

Smith says another model for the price-conscious EV buyer to consider is the MG5, which is a traditional-looking estate car. Cleevely Electric Vehicles has seven mobile mechanics who tour the UK in these models servicing cars, and he says they have proved very reliable  in several cases doing more than 200,000 miles without any major problem.

He says buyers need not be put off by relatively higher mileage EVs even though there is a perception they are a risk because the batteries can fail or degrade. Smith says his company has seen plenty of 60,000-mile cars showing very little range loss from new.

One advantage of opting for a used high-mileage EV is that any gremlins that can dog new electric cars will have been ironed out.

This week, Guardian Money found several Kia e-Niros with the 64kWh battery for sale on Auto Trader for 14,000-15,000, some with as few as 37,000 miles on the clock. If you are prepared to buy privately  without the consumer protection of buying from a dealer  the cars are significantly cheaper.

Used, long-range Tesla Model 3s with about 100,000 miles on the clock can be bought for less than 15,000, while 20,000 buys you a more recent model with 55,000 miles on the dashboard. There are several cars for sale with 170,000 miles on the clock, and some Teslas being used as taxis have clocked up 440,000 miles, suggesting they are good for big mileages.

Unless you only drive short trips from home, wed opt for the longest-range model you can afford  one that will do 250-300 real-world miles on a single charge.

If 14,000 is above budget, used MG5s with a 61kWh battery can now be had for 10,000, with 75,000 miles on the clock. These will do about 200 miles on a single charge in real-world use. The more recently launched MG4s with a 64kWh battery and a 250-mile range start at 16,345 used, with 20,000 miles on the clock.

Richard Symons, who set up R Symons, a specialist EV dealer way back (in EV terms) in 2010, is another fan of the e-Niro if you need a family-type car that offers good internal space. If a standard saloon fits the bill, he says Tesla Model 3s are now fantastic used buys. We sell them and run them ourselves, he says. We have a white Model 3 that we use on a daily basis and now has over 100,000 miles on the clock. In that time, the only thing that it required was some new suspension bushes at a cost of about 1,500, some wiper blades, and tyres.

These are high-performance cars packed with technology  if thats your thing  and they cost peanuts to recharge at home.

Related: Making the switch to electric vehicles: The biggest shock was the huge savings

About 38% of its charging has been done using the Tesla fast-charging network, which is supposed to be harder on the batteries. The cars battery is still running at just under 90% of its original capacity. If the battery has problems in the future this is now easily fixed. Its possible to replace the damaged cells  it takes a couple of hours. Much easier than replacing an engine on a conventional car.

If you are still not convinced, consider his parting shot. He says buyers who can charge at home using an off-peak EV tariff will pay as little as 150 for every 10,000 miles travelled, a fraction of the 1,600 or so it would cost to fuel a petrol or diesel car over the same distance.

Darren Cassey, website reviews editor at the secondhand sales website Carwow, says the drop in used electric car prices means those who were hoping to buy new should consider the secondhand market first.

With the number of electric models on sale growing all the time, theres now plenty of choice with a 15,000 budget. You could go for the cool, quirky BMW i3, which is a brilliant city car, or perhaps a Citroen e-C4, which is comfortable and suitable for family life, he says.



Even if youre already considering a new EV, dont discount the used market  for the price of a new, mainstream electric vehicle youve a wide choice of hi-tech and luxurious models from premium brands which are a couple of years old and barely run in.

What do I need to know about buying?

The biggest thing to weigh up is how you will charge the car. EVs still make the most financial sense for those with a home charger. Buyers will need to shift their electricity supply to a specialist EV tariff; these typically offer night-time charging for about 8p a kWh  or 5 for a 60kWh recharge  making the car very cheap to run.

However, its a completely different story if you are going to rely on public superchargers, which are quick, but now very expensive. Which? said in July these chargers typically cost 79p a kWh  10 times home-charging rates, and more expensive than running a petrol model.

You also need to consider insurance. As a general rule, we reckon EV owners will pay twice as much to insure a like-for-like model than they now pay for a petrol or diesel version. It can really vary, so we would strongly recommend you get a full quotation before you make the purchase.

The next thing to consider is what kind of warranty is left on the car. Kias come with a seven-year warranty up to 100,000 miles, while Tesla Model 3s get eight years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first. Make sure that the previous owner has complied with the servicing regime and that the warranty is valid. Your local dealer will be able to tell you this. Dont just take the sellers word for it.

One of the advantages of buying from one of the dealers that now specialise in used EVs is that you have the Consumer Rights Act on your side if the car turns out not to be as described. They will often offer some kind of warranty independent of the manufacturers.

Dont forget to factor in the cost of charging cables  which, at 200-300 a go, can add up. Some sellers will throw in the cables, others wont. Tyre wear on EVs is not the issue that some people would have you believe, although replacements may cost a bit more than on your old Ford Focus. Servicing should be cheaper though.
Keir Starmer and Volodymyr Zelensky shake hands at a meeting of the UK cabinet last month Photograph: Richard Pohle/The Times/PA

Keir Starmer has told Ukrainians that the UK will back them today and always as Kyiv marks 33 years since it declared independence from the Soviet Union.

The prime minister described his message to frontline fighters and people who have sought refuge in Britain as crystal clear as community groups, councils and parishes around the UK plan to mark the anniversary on Saturday.

Ukraines supreme soviet agreed the state should leave the Moscow-based Soviet Union on 24 August 1991, a decision which Ukrainian voters backed at a referendum in December the same year.

Starmer said: My message to all Ukrainians, whether on the frontline or here in your second home in the UK, is crystal clear: we are with you today and always.

That is what I told President Zelenskiy when he sat at our cabinet table and where, on behalf of the British people, I outlined that it is not just the British government thats behind Ukraine  its all of us.

We are with you for as long as it takes.

Starmer added Slava Ukraini, a national salute in the country, which translates to glory to Ukraine.

The government said more than 45,000 Ukrainian recruits have received training on British soil since Russias invasion in February 2022.

The UKs minister of defence, John Healey, has also urged social media users to share videos of them clapping, cheering, playing music, singing or ringing bells with the hashtag #MakeNoiseForUkraine on Saturday.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph on Saturday, Healey said Ukraines offensive in Kursk had exposed Putins Kremlin cabal to the consequences of their aggression and sown doubt inside Russia.

And it has boosted morale among the Ukrainian people, whose extraordinary resilience over the past two and a half years has earned the admiration of the world, he added.

Putins complaints that Ukraines offensive is a provocation are akin to a playground bully protesting because his smaller victim has had the temerity to fight back.

Friday marked national flag day in Ukraine with Zelenskiy participating in a flag-raising ceremony near the Verkhovna Rada parliament building.

We are pushing the occupier out of Ukraine and will give no rest to their tricolours, Zelenskiy said in a statement released on his website, a reference to Russias white, blue and red flag.

We must rebuild Ukraine, our home, after this war so that our Ukrainian blue and yellow flies as it deserves  over proud land and amid safe, free, and European life.

Zelenskiy met Narendra Modi in Kyiv on Friday, the first visit by an Indian prime minister since Ukraine gained its independence.

Modi told Ukraines president that he is personally ready to play a role as a friend to bring peace to the country.
Sharon Graham, general secretary of the Unite trade union, leads steel workers down Whitehall last year to demand more support for the industry. She says the British economy is broken. Photograph: Guy Smallman/Getty Images

Britains second biggest trade union is calling on the new Labour government to introduce an emergency 1% wealth tax on the assets of the super-rich to pay for 10% pay rises for public sector workers and fill more than 100,000 NHS vacancies.

The demand from Unite is in one of several motions to the Trades Union Congress, which meets in Brighton next month, that will expose tensions between Keir Starmers government and sections of the union movement. It comes as Rachel Reeves is preparing for her first budget as chancellor, on 30 October.

Labour MPs and ministers believe that the TUC conference could mark the moment when an effective truce between many unions and Labour  helping Starmers general election campaign  may begin to break down as the prime minister and Reeves double down on their commitment to fiscal responsibility and stress the need for hard choices if the economy is to be restored to health.

Other key trade unions are preparing to press for further policy changes from Labour, including abandoning the two-child benefit cap, which Starmer has so far resisted, and the reversal of the recent decision to end winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners, which has been causing a serious backlash among Labour backbenchers.

While Reeves is understood to be considering increases in capital gains and inheritance taxes in the budget, Unites motion to the TUC conference goes much further, saying that, with local authorities in financial peril, an urgently needed boost to public investment cannot wait for economic growth to materialise at an unspecified point in the future.

Unites plan is for a tax of 1% to be applied on the assets of those worth more than 4m, which it says would raise 25bn a year to fund investment in public services and avoid a return to austerity. Under the plan, someone with assets worth 6m would face a 1% tax on the 2m above the 4m threshold. These assets would include property, shares and bank accounts but would not include mortgaged property.

Unite points to research showing that the richest 50 families in the UK now have assets worth nearly 500bn.

Sharon Graham, the general secretary of Unite, said: Unites resolution to the TUC on the economy calls things by their real name. The British economy is broken.

Britain led the worlds first industrial revolution. But due to decades of underinvestment in manufacturing and national infrastructure, we are now falling disastrously behind other countries in the new technological age and the transition to net zero.

We need serious investment in our crippled public services and in industry to ensure a prosperous future for Britains workers and their communities. We wont get the money needed for that just by waiting for growth.

Unite was a big donor to the Labour party in 2019 but did not contribute to this years election efforts, saying the election manifesto did not go far enough on protecting workers rights and jobs in the oil and gas industry.

The RMT transport union has also tabled a motion to the conference calling for a wealth tax to fund public investment, and the abandonment of what it describes as unnecessarily restrictive and arbitrary fiscal rules which limit the governments ability to borrow.

A motion from the shop workers union, Usdaw, calls for an end to the two-child benefit cap, and an amendment to the same motion from the PCS civil service union calls on the TUC to oppose cuts to the winter fuel allowance and demands appropriate taxation of corporations and the super-rich to fund the social security improvements identified in this motion.

The TUC is also expected to press for pay restoration to make up for a decade of real-terms salary cuts for public sector workers.

Such demands will further add to the strains between Labour and its union backers after a series of pay deals between the Starmer-led government and striking workers in sectors ranging from healthcare to the railways.
Joseph Emerson in court in Oregon in October. Photograph: Dave Killen/Reuters

An Alaska Airlines pilot who attempted to shut off the engines of a passenger plane mid-flight after ingesting magic mushrooms said his actions were unfathomable, in some of his first public remarks after he was indicted on 83 counts of reckless endangerment.

In an interview with ABCs Good Morning America, Joseph Emerson described the events of 22 October as 30 seconds of my life that I wish I could change, and I cant.

Emerson, who as an off-duty pilot was authorized to ride in the cockpits jump seat, tried to disable the planes engines by deploying the fire-suppression system, according to the federal complaint.

Related: Massachusetts judge rules Karen Read can be retried for murder after mistrial

The plane, flight number 2059 operated by Horizon Air traveling from Everett, Washington, bound for San Francisco, was diverted to Portland, where it landed safely with more than 80 people on board.

After his arrest in Oregon on state counts of attempted murder, Emerson told police he believed he was having a nervous breakdown, thought he was dreaming when he pulled fire handles in the cockpit, and said he had experimented with psychedelic mushrooms recently as his mental health had worsened.

Emerson said he had taken psychedelic mushrooms two days earlier while commemorating the death of his best friend, thinking they might help with his depression.

He said he believes he was still hallucinating and that nothing felt real as he was sitting on the plane. There was a feeling of being trapped, like: Am I trapped in this airplane? he said. This is not real, I need to wake up.

Emerson said he reached up and grabbed two red handles in front of him that would have activated the planes fire-suppression system and cut off fuel to its engines at 30,000 feet.

What I thought is: This is going to wake me up, Emerson said. I know what those levers do in a real airplane, and I need to wake up from this.

The crew was able to able to subdue Emerson and remove him from the flight deck, but even as the plane descended he said he tried to grab another lever operating the cabin door. According to an affidavit, Emerson warned a flight attendant: You need to cuff me right now, or its going to be bad.

In December, he was indicted on one count of endangering aircraft in the first degree and 83 counts of recklessly endangering another person  one for each person aboard the aircraft at the time of the incident. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is awaiting trial.

I did something unfathomable to me, something I have to take responsibility for and I regret, he said.
Weather van found in a scrapyard

A weather vane that was bought in a salvage yard helped to reunite the families of a Lancaster bomber crew that were all killed on their way home from a raid on Nazi Germany.

Helen Theron bought the weather vane, which was fashioned into the shape of a Second World War Lancaster bomber, with her late husband John from a scrapyard in Epsom, Surrey, in 2009.

Upon closer inspection, she discovered that on the side of the weathervane was what appeared to be a serial number JB453F.

She established that this number was the identifying marker for a Lancaster bomber that had crashed in Blankenburg, in Germanys Harz mountains, on its return from a bombing raid in January 1944, killing all onboard.

As part of her research, Mrs Theron traced and contacted descendants of the Lancasters crew.

Helen and John with the weather vane sitting atop their timber-framed workshop - ADRIAN SHERRATT/TIMES NEWSPAPERS LTD

Now those young men, who came from Britain, Ireland, South Africa and Canada, are to be remembered at a wreath-laying ceremony in Berlin.

She told The Telegraph: Its been a huge privilege to be able to pass on what I found out about the mens last mission to relatives who didnt know much of what had happened. We filled in a lot of gaps for them.

The wreath-laying ceremony to commemorate those who flew in the ill-fated bomber is being organised at the British war ceremony in Berlin on Sept 13 by Mrs Theron and her friend Tony Aston, the author of The Bomber and the Weathervane, with the help of the Royal British Legion.

The following day a plaque paying tribute to the men will be unveiled at the site of the crash and a tree planted in their memory.

Attending the ceremonies will be the defence attaches for the British Army and Canadian Air Force, alongside the mens families.

The crew of JB453 were typically young, all in their early 20s, when they carried out their last fatal mission.

Over the course of the Second World War, 44 per cent of Bomber Command crews were killed while serving, the highest rate of attrition of any Allied unit. Each man was a volunteer.

The sacrifice did much to shape the outcome of the war, with Allied bombing raids fatally depleting the Nazis military industrial capacity.

The weathervane  itself thought to have been made out of metal used to patch up damaged RAF bombers during the war  has since been classified by the International Bomber Command Centre as a war memorial and was officially unveiled at Mrs Therons home in September 2021.

Mrs Theron, of Westhope, Herefordshire, plans to leave the weathervane,in her will to RAF Wyton, in Cambridgeshire, where JB453 was based.

She said: If wed put it straight on the roof as soon as we moved house we wouldnt have noticed the engraved serial number. I immediately wondered what it meant.

Serial number on the weather vane - ADRIAN SHERRATT/TIMES NEWSPAPERS LTD

Mrs Theron, a retired scientific researcher, entered the serial number into Google and discovered it belonged to the Avro Lancaster III bomber, whose crew were part of 83 Squadron, of the elite Pathfinder Force.

The men had set off from RAF Wyton at 12.05am on January 3, 1944, on a mission to drop flares over targets in Berlin to light the way for the following bombers.

Flying Officer William Horace Dyke, 22, the bomb aimer, had a young son and a pregnant wife, while Sergeant John McIntyre Dunlop, 21, the mid upper gunner, had married his girlfriend just 13 weeks before his death.

The other crew members who will be honoured at next months ceremony were Flying Officer Ernest Blair Stiles, 22, the Canadian pilot, Flying Officer Ian Godfrey Allan, 22, the air gunner, Sergeant Joseph Banks, 22, the wireless operator, Pilot Officer Denis Charles James McKendry, 22, the navigator, and Flight Sergeant Patrick Traynor, 24, the flight engineer.

Only Dykes remains were identifiable, but all seven were buried alongside each other in the British war cemetery, one of two Commonwealth war cemeteries in Berlin.

Among the relatives traced by Mrs Theron and her late husband was Dykes younger sister Patricia Donetta.

The men were all so young. Their average age was just 22, said Mrs Theron. They had hardly lived a life at all before they were killed.

Their story is so sad, but in truth they represent thousands of young men whose individual stories have never been researched.

As to the origins of the steel weathervane, they remain a mystery.

It was originally bought in Norfolk by a dealer who believed it came from a local farmhouse. But who made the weathervane in the shape of a Lancaster bomber  and who engraved that particular serial number on it  has yet to be established.

Thats one thing Ive never been able to find out, said Mrs Theron.
Workers at a Kazan factory

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The process starts with lumps of scrap metal  mostly car parts like gearbox casings, radiators, wheels and body panels  stacked high in the yard outside the workshop.

Piece by piece they are melted down into ingots in a ramshackle furnace that spews thick, black smoke into the air over the factory in the province of Ghor in central Afghanistan.

The workers here have little more than scarves to protect themselves against the pollutants  many do not even have gloves to wear as they carry crucibles of molten metal across the to the waiting moulds.

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Firooz Ahmad has worked at the factory for eight years and spends 10 hours a day at his workstation turning the cast aluminium hulls into the pressure cookers that almost every Afghan family uses to prepare their daily meals.

The 39-year-old has no idea that he is being slowly poisoned by the metal cooking pots, called kazans, that he makes every day.

Is it dangerous? he says when asked if he is worried about lead poisoning.

I have headaches and persistent pains in my joints and sometimes its difficult to breathe  maybe I am poisoned! he says, laughing.

He is not alone. Afghanistan has one of the worlds highest rates of lead exposure, with an average blood lead level nearly three times that of nearby India and almost five times that of China, according to the best available data.

A mounting body of evidence suggests that kazans and other cooking pots made of low-quality recycled aluminium could be to blame. The ubiquitous pots are often given as wedding gifts and can be found in every corner of the country.

In recent years, researchers have been trying to find out why they were seeing dramatically elevated blood lead levels among Afghan refugee children who had arrived in the United States.

In 2022, researchers in Washington state screened dozens of imported aluminium and stainless steel cooking pots and simulated [the] cooking and storage of food.

They found that every single piece of aluminium cookware donated by Afghan refugee families exceeded the US Food and Drug Administrations limit for the maximum lead intake from food.

The worst offenders were the kazans  one of which leached sufficient lead to exceed the childhood limit by 650-fold.

By contrast, none of the pressure cookers made from stainless steel were found to exceed the safety levels.

Soon after the report was published, several US states put out health advisories warning of the dangers of the Afghan pressure cookers. And earlier this year Washington became the first US state to ban the manufacturing, sale or distribution of cooking pots contaminated with lead.

But news of the danger posed by the kazans does not appear to have reached Afghanistan.

A kazan on top of a traditional stove - Jackie Ellis / Alamy Stock Photo

The Telegraph understands that there was a furtive attempt to focus on cooking equipment contaminated with lead under the US-backed government of Hamid Karzai, but it petered out when he lost power in 2014.

Ten years on, none of the Taliban health ministry officials The Telegraph spoke to were familiar with the problem or of any plans to deal with it.

If it is not dealt with, however, the consequences for Afghanistan could be severe and long-lasting.

Lead poisoning contributes to some five-and-a-half million premature deaths around the world every year and accounts for a significant global disease burden due to the long-term damage it causes, including an increased risk of high blood pressure and kidney damage later in life.

There is no safe level of exposure, according to the World Health Organisation, and some 800 million children are believed to be affected globally, including almost every child in Afghanistan.

The pernicious effects the heavy metal can have on health are particularly acute for young children and mothers.

Lead builds up in the body over time and is stored in the teeth and in the bones.

Cookware made from low-quality recycled aluminium could also be the culprit - Alamy Stock Photo

High levels of exposure can severely damage the brain and central nervous system, causing convulsions, comas, and even death.

Even in smaller doses, lead can cause severe learning disabilities. It has also been linked to a greater incidence of violence and criminality in adulthood.

The evidence is that lead poisoning just hurts kids cognitive development, said Dr Alice Evans, a Senior Lecturer in the Social Science of Development at Kings College London.

Its not like youll have a sick day, so to speak, but rather it affects how the brain is developing, and the way that economists have been able to show this is that kids who are affected have worse progression in school, she told The Telegraph. Theyre more likely to be suspended, and it seems theyre more likely to be associated with violent crime.

The sudden decline of crime rates across the industrialised world, but particularly in America in the 1990s, has been attributed to the removal of lead from paint and petrol.

While some scientists are still sceptical of a causal link between lead and crime rates  the lead-crime hypothesis  the correlation between falling levels of lead in the blood of young children and violent crime is startling, as this graph shows:

There have been several other apparent success stories.

Most recently, researchers in Bangladesh managed to identify turmeric enhanced with vibrant yellow lead chromate as a major cause of the sky-high blood lead levels they were seeing.

The discovery prompted the countrys Food Safety Authority to start a highly successful two-pronged campaign, warning the public of the dangers of contaminated spices and patrolling the markets with X-ray fluorescence analysers to detect lead.

It may be harder to pin Afghanistans problem on a single culprit like the kazans, said Rachel Bonnifield, a Senior Fellow at the Centre for Global Development.

Countries that have suffered decades of conflict like Afghanistan also tend to have much higher levels of lead in the environment, she said, adding that Kohl, or surma  the traditional eyeliner worn by many Afghans from extremely young ages  has also been identified as a potential source.

The antimony it is usually made from is often mistaken for, and found alongside, galena, or lead sulfide.

Traditional eyeliner known as kohl has also been identified as a possible cause of lead poisoning - ADEK BERRY/AFP via Getty Images

More broadly, understanding the true extent of Afghanistans lead poisoning problem is complicated by the lack of data, she said. But what is clear is the severity of the impact it can have.

The consequences of lead poisoning for global health, for childrens education and for overall development and economic growth are, frankly, staggering, she told a recent conference.

The Telegraph confronted the owner of a kazan factory about the potential danger of his products.

Enayat, who owns a factory producing cooking pots in the western province of Herat, said he had heard of rumours about lead poisoning.

These are just rumours, he told The Telegraph. We now have European customers, and our competitors are spreading these false rumours about poisoning.

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Ive been in this business for 20 years and have never encountered a case, he said, adding that in his factory they only use pure aluminium to make their pots.

Convincing Afghans of the dangers of lead poisoning may too be an uphill battle.

Mr Ahmad, the craftsman from Ghor who gets paid about 4 a day, said he and his co-workers had only one priority.

We only care about bread and how to fill our stomachs here, thats the challenge and nothing else, he said.

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A pro-Palestine demonstration has been held in Dublin to criticise US support for Israels military offensive in Gaza and call on the Irish government to do more to help Palestinians.

Large red banners were stretched out around Barnardo Square on Dame Street to symbolise US President Joe Bidens non-existent red line in relation to Rafah in southern Gaza, where thousands of Palestinians have sought refuge.

Mr Biden said in March it would be a red line for his administration if the Israeli military were to invade Rafah, then adding  but Im never going to leave Israel.

Zoe Lawlor, of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said that after Mr Bidens red line comment, Israel proceeded to bomb the refugee camps, burning dozens of Palestinians alive, and destroyed hospitals and murdered medical staff.

Protesters in Dublin chanted There never was a red line, Ireland stands with Palestine and held signs saying No arms through Shannon, Gaza is not just devastating, it is a crime, and Is there any crime by which our government will punish Israel?

Joe McGuinness, from Kilcoole in Co Wicklow, said his son-in-laws father, aged in his 80s, was killed in November last year by a US bomb.

My grandchildren, who are proudly Irish and proudly Palestinian, have only one grandfather now, so I have a responsibility to them, he told the PA news agency.

Its for all the other families, the thousands of children who have been maimed, the thousands of children who are victims of amputations. My son-in-laws nephew was (waiting) four months before he had shrapnel taken from his legs.

Let that sink in.

He said of Irelands relationship with the US: (This is) frustration with our government who are full of fine words but no actions. We do not want to upset our friends.

Aine Hayden, who was handing out leaflets saying End US complicity in Israels genocide in Gaza, said the protest was about raising awareness of US involvement.

Pro-Palestine protesters in Dublin (Grainne Niaodha/PA)

She said: Theyre talking ceasefire while at the same time sending billions to fund the genocide.

Among the passers-by on Dame Street that Ms Hayden offered leaflets to were US tourists.

Youd love to think you could raise awareness with the Americans but you do find that theyre quite brainwashed.

I have had many Americans calling me a terrorist supporter (at previous protests).

Where is the humanity? Because thats what its about. We cannot look at these children and babies being targeted and slaughtered every single day.

Claire Ni Dhonnchu, from Limerick, said she and her friends were at the protest because they are pro-human.

Pro-Palestine protesters at an event in Dublin (Grainne Niaodha/PA)

She said: We believe the people of Palestine should be allowed to live, to exist. Its ethnic cleansing whats happening there and its absolutely disgusting.

I think Irish people are really starting to question that relationship with the US and begin to see through it a bit more. The US is basically just a war machine and theyre funding all of this genocide. Its despicable.

Des, from Co Wicklow, who was at the protest with his young son, said he was there to be on the right side of history.

He said: People arent doing enough. America isnt doing enough and even our own government isnt doing enough.

Its just disgusting whats going on, the amount of innocent people dying.

Speakers at the protest included Palestinian journalist Eman Mohammed, who told the crowd that journalists had been targeted, killed and hunted down by the IDF.

We call on the Irish government to shut down every lane of complicity, she said.

Former RTE producer Betty Purcell at a Dublin pro-Palestine demonstration held in Barnardo Square (Grainne Niaodha/PA)

Former RTE producer Betty Purcell, who also addressed the crowd, told PA that Ireland can do more through enforcing boycotts and sanctions.

She said: We have a Taoiseach who said he spends every single day wondering what more he can do for Palestine.

Its very simple, he can start by passing the Occupied Territories Bill, the arms embargo Bill, the Israeli divestment settlements Bill.

If he was to do this, it would be a clear message both to the US and to Europe that Ireland really wants to do something. Not just stand around looking anguished. Weve done that long enough.

It will influence America.
Rishi Sunak has backed proposals for a Commons vote on the winter fuel payment.

The former prime minister is one of several MPs to have signed an Early Day Motion (EDM), urging the Government to back down on its policy to end the universal winter fuel payment for pensioners.

Winter fuel payments of up to 300 were previously paid to all pensioners, regardless of their income or benefits.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

But Chancellor Rachel Reeves claimed Labour had inherited a 22 billion black hole in this years budget when she arrived in Number 11 Downing Street, made up of allegedly unfunded spending pledges by the previous Conservative government, so declared she would limit winter fuel payments to people on income-related benefits or tax credits to ease fiscal pressures.

That policy is expected to reduce the number of pensioners in receipt of the payment by 10 million, from 11.4 million to 1.5 million, saving some 1.4 billion this financial year.

The Tories in opposition have begun efforts to block the move after Work and Pensions Minister Emma Reynolds laid the legislation designed to set it in motion on Thursday.

The new rules are due to come into force on September 16.

This Labour government has tried to avoid scrutiny in Parliament for the consequences of their actions, but the public deserve better, Conservative shadow treasury minister Laura Trott said.

Laura Trott (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

The Government has used its powers to lay secondary legislation, which does not require a debate in the House of Commons chamber.

MPs who have signed the Conservatives motion, including Mr Sunak, shadow chancellor Jeremy Hunt, shadow work and pensions secretary Mel Stride, and shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho, have bid for the new rules to be annulled.

Ms Trott added: Labours disastrous decision to scrap Winter Fuel Payments must be held to account.

Tabling an EDM could put pressure on the Government to allow MPs to vote on the winter fuel payment proposals, but a vote is not guaranteed and the Government does not have to find time for a debate.

Conservative Party sources unveiled their EDM as news broke that the average household bill would rise by 149 from October after the regulator Ofgem said it would increase its price cap this winter.

The regulator announced it is hiking its cap by 10% from the current 1,568 for a typical household in England, Scotland and Wales to 1,717.

It is around 117 cheaper than the cap in October last year, which was 1,834.

Ofgem said rising prices in the international energy market, due to heightened political tensions and extreme weather events, were the main driver behind the decision.

Asked about the EDM, Labour backbencher Rachael Maskell did not say whether she would sign it, but she called on the Government to rethink its legislation.

Coronavirus  Tue Oct 6, 2020
A lonely donkey has found a new life at the Home for Hooves Farm Sanctuary in Duncan, British Columbia. Earl Grey was in rough shape after his owner died. When he was brought to the sanctuary, it seemed like the donkey had been through the worst. But the love and care the animal has received since coming to the shelter has been incredible. His transformation was day and night.

Early Grey's old owner was the only person the animal knew in the world.

The donkey was brought to Home for Hooves six weeks after his owner died. President and founder of the Sanctuary, Michelle Singleton, told Global News that Earl Grey had some physical and mental concerns that needed immediate addressing.

Related: Donkey 'Steals' New Calf As His Baby & Immediately Goes Into Dad Mode

He was by himself," Singleton said. "Also, his hooves hadnt been looked after, so it was almost like wearing shoes that were five times too big."

"He wasnt able to run or do anything like that because they were so overgrown and also the space that he was in as well was just a backyard, essentially," he added. "So he didnt have space to run and graze and do all the things that donkeys should be doing."

Donkeys really need to be with other donkeys, Singleton explained, they're very social. After he was rescued the sanctuary did everything in their power to try and give the donk a social outlet.

"We actually had one of our foster moms over here kind of visiting with him and getting to meet him, and she had the idea of giving him a yoga ball because shes used them for her horses," Singleton said.

They also cleaned up his hooves, making it easier for the animal to get around.

"So [the foster mom] brought it over, gave him the ball, and he was like ecstatic because he had his new hooves, he was able to run around and rip around his pen. And then this ball was just like pure joy for him," she added.

At first, Early Grey would cry anytime that his new caretakers would leave them, but the ball changed him. When the object accidentally broke, Earl Grey was heartbroken. Home for Hooves put out a call on social media asking for yoga balls and were inundated with offers. At one point Singleton had to ask people to stop sending them in. The generosity totally touched Singleton's heart.

"Honestly, hes just this donkey who came from a backyard. Nobody knew him," she explained. "And you know, hes nippy and he has some manners and stuff that we need to teach him, but its just nice to see that he has such a fan club."

Early Grey has since made three friends since coming to Home for Hooves. Singleton said he doesn't cry anymore.

"They sleep at the gate together, they eat together," she said. "And he has friends and hes not by himself."

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England found Sri Lanka in stubborn mood as they chased victory on day four of the first Test, with the tourists refusing to roll over at Emirates Old Trafford.

A fine 113 from Kamindu Mendis, who shared a century stand with Dinesh Chandimal, left the home side needing a tricky 205 to win the series opener.

They went on to lose both openers and stand-in captain Ollie Pope as they reached tea on 82 for three with Joe Root and Harry Brook in charge of an increasingly nervy chase.

The initial omens favoured England, Vishwa Fernandos second ball careering past second slip for five wides and Ben Duckett surviving what looked an outstanding catch from replacement wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis, who scraped the ball along the ground he dived one-handed.

Dan Lawrence welcomed Prabath Jayasuriya to the attack by skipping down the pitch and launching him for six but the pursuit was not destined to run smoothly.

Duckett was first to go for 11, caught behind off Asitha Fernando, and Pope followed cheaply for the second time in the match. Aiming a reverse sweep at the spinner, he got a toe-end on it and lobbed a catch to slip.

It took a third wicket to reinforce the idea that England were entering a genuinely tricky period, Lawrence sprung lbw by Milan Rathnayake after a busy 34.

The burden now lay with Root and Brook but both had scares before the tea break.

Root looked to be struggling when a close lbw shout went upstairs, but UltraEdge showed the tiniest graze off the bat. Brook then came perilously close to giving a catching opportunity when his sweep just beat square-leg.

Dan Lawrence (left) failed to make a big score (Nick Potts/PA)

England started the day with hopes of a hustling their way to a quick finish, 82 behind but needing just four more wickets.

Mark Woods absence with a thigh injury tied their hands a little, stripping the team of its fastest bowler and most intimidating weapon, but they would still count themselves disappointed to go through the entire morning session without creating a genuine chance.

Resuming on 204 for six, Sri Lanka added another 87 runs before the break as Kamindu and Chandimal (79) did enough to get under the home sides skin.

Kamindu was making full use of a second chance, having been dropped by Gus Atkinson on 39 on the third evening, while Chandimal thrived in Woods absence.

A 90mph blow to the hand from the Durham quick had forced him to retire hurt on Friday but he avoided a fracture and was back at the crease with the aid of some painkillers.

Kamindu Mendis century gave Sri Lanka a chance (Nick Potts/PA)

The pair shared eight boundaries in the first hour, ticking the lead into three figures before stretching it towards more worrying territory.

Chris Woakes was the pick of the bowlers but things had fallen flat elsewhere, Gus Atkinson shipping 25 off two overs at one point and Shoaib Bashir finishing the innings wicketless.

Kamindu was delayed 10 short of his century by a rain shower but still managed to get there before lunch with a sharp cut for four.

The partnership went on to reach 117, the best of the match, but when Englands response finally came it was decisive  taking all four wickets in 26 balls.

Atkinson finally drew an error from Kamindu, edging a drive to slip, and the tail fell quickly into line. Matthew Potts took two to partially salvage a middling Test comeback and Woakes collected his sixth of the match.
Seven people died after a luxury superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily, with their bodies recovered less than a week after the shipwreck.

British tech mogul Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah were among those recovered after the Bayesian sank near Porticello early Monday morning.

Recaldo Thomas, who was working as a chef on the vessel, along with Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy Bloomer, Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo were also recovered at the scene.

Hannah Lynch, daughter of Mike Lynch, was among those who died (Family Handout/PA)

Italian prosecutors have opened a manslaughter investigation into their deaths and here the PA news agency provides a timeline of events leading up to that announcement.

 Monday August 19

The Bayesian yacht, flying a British flag, sinks at around 5am local time when the area was hit by a tornado.

Fifteen people are rescued from the 55m (180ft) vessel  including a mother and baby  but another seven remain missing.

A body, believed to be that of a chef on the boat, is later found near the wreck.

It emerges that British technology tycoon Mike Lynch and his daughter are among six tourists that remain missing.

 Tuesday August 20

The search continues for the six tourists missing.

It is reported that among those missing are Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer; his wife, Judy Bloomer; Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo; and his wife, Neda Morvillo.

Police divers try to reach the hull of the ship, resting at a depth of 50 metres.

Italys fire brigade Vigili del Fuoco say early inspections of the wreck were unsuccessful because of limited access to the bridge and furniture obstructing passages.

The operation is later described as complex, with divers limited to 12-minute underwater shifts.

The Italian Coastguard tell PA they fear the six missing tourists have died, with their bodies trapped inside the luxury yacht.

It is confirmed that the body recovered at the scene of the sinking on Monday was that of Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, who was working as a chef on the yacht.

Tributes pour in for the cook, with his friend Gareth Williams telling the BBC: I can talk for everyone that knew him when I say he was a well-loved, kind human being with a calm spirit.

The Bayesian sank off the coast of Sicily (Jonathan Brady/PA)

 Wednesday August 21

The search for the six people unaccounted for enters a third day, with crews carrying out inspections of the yachts internal hull.

A team of four British inspectors from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) arrive in Porticello to look at the site of the sinking.

A helicopter is drafted in to help with the search effort and remotely controlled underwater vehicles are being used, with naval units and cave divers also taking part in the search.

Five bodies are found inside the yacht on Wednesday afternoon. Only four of them are brought to shore.

Body bags are seen being taken to the port of Porticello in the afternoon where dozens of emergency services staff wait.

Searches finish for the day just before 7.30pm.

 Thursday August 22

The search resumes for the remaining missing person.

The body of the fifth missing person, found but not recovered the previous day, is brought to shore.

A fire service boat with flashing blue lights returns with a blue body bag to the port of Porticello just after 8.45am local time on Thursday.

Tributes pour in for Mr Lynch and Mr and Mrs Bloomer after they are identified as having died.

The search is called off at around 8pm in Sicily, with divers expected to begin again at 6.30am on Friday.

A press conference was held by Italian officials on Saturday (Jonathan Brady/PA)

 Friday August 23

The search continues for the final person missing from the wreck of the Bayesian, later confirmed to be 18-year-old Hannah.

Vincenzo Zagarola, of the Italian Coastguard, says the search for Hannah has not been easy or quick, comparing the sunken yacht to an 18-storey building full of water.

The coastguard confirms in the late morning that her body has been found.

A green body bag is seen being brought to the port of Porticello from the site of the sinking.

A spokesperson announces on behalf of her family that they are devastated and in shock after the bodies of Hannah and her father were recovered.

Hannahs sister Esme pays tribute to her little angel.

 Saturday August 24

A press conference is held in the court of an Italian town  Termini Imerese.

Public prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio tells reporters that his office has opened an initial investigation against unknown persons into manslaughter and negligent shipwreck, according to a translation.

The press conference also hears from the prosecutor in charge of the case, Raffaele Cammarano, maritime director of western Sicily Rear Admiral Raffaele Macauda, the fire brigade chief of Palermo, Bentivoglio Fiandra, and the brigades chief diver, Giuseppe Petrone.
Engineers have identified a very unusual oxygen fire in a turbopump as the reason a rocket engine exploded during a test at the spaceport in Shetland earlier this week.

The blast on Monday has delayed a German companys efforts to carry out the first vertical satellite launch from European soil.

Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) said launching in the coming weeks or months was no longer possible.

Nobody was hurt during the incident at the privately-owned SaxaVord Spaceport on Unst, the most northerly inhabited island in the UK.

UPDATE on our S1 test anomaly! Our first stage is gone  but we have collected a significant amount of data and film footage. After reviewing it, we want to share some insights into the technical analysis, preliminary conclusions and our next steps  pic.twitter.com/FnGHjTCS2g  Rocket Factory Augsburg (@rfa_space) August 23, 2024

However the first stage of the RFA One rocket was destroyed in the blast, meaning a replacement will need to be brought from Germany.

In a video posted on social media, a spokesman for the company said they had collected a significant amount of data and footage from the blast.

The video shows a plume of fire extending horizontally from the base of the rocket, indicating a problem with one of the engines.

He said: We actually ignited eight motors, unfortunately one of these motors has developed an anomaly.

We know now from the debris analysis that we have conducted that this anomaly was a very unusual one.

It was most likely a fire in the oxygen pump.

Thats really difficult to contain, that spread on to neighbouring engines.

The first stage of the rocket was destroyed (Rocket Factory Augsburg/PA)

An emergency stop and fire suppression systems were simply not enough to contain the fire, he said, and the remaining fuel and liquid oxygen on board the vehicle ignited.

The spokesman said: Unfortunately this has happened in that very important stage test and unfortunately this has taken out the entire stage.

This comes at a really critical time, we wanted to launch within the next few weeks and months and this is unfortunately no longer possible.

He said that no major parts of the launch site infrastructure were damaged in the explosion, and RFA are confident their engine design is very sound.

A SaxaVord spokesman said earlier: This was a test and test campaigns are designed to identify issues prior to the next stage.

We will work with RFA to understand and learn from the causes and support them as they move forward to the next phase of their preparations.

RFA are confident in the design of their Helix engine (Rocket Factory Augsburg/PA)

RFA is not the only company that hopes to achieve an orbital satellite launch from the UK, though its plans are thought to be the most advanced.

Another German company, HyImpulse, also has plans to launch from SaxaVord, as well as the US-based ABL Space Systems.

A company called Orbex hopes to launch from a different spaceport in Sutherland.

Professor Malcolm Macdonald of Strathclyde University, an expert in space technology, has told the PA news agency that failures on new designs of rockets are not uncommon.

He said: Obviously things like this get quite high profile and get a lot of interest, but I think most people within the space sector would be expecting setbacks.

We build the capability over a number of years, and launch is just a small part of the overall space sector.
Former White House communications director Alyssa Farah Griffin argued that while Democrats had a well-orchestrated convention this past week, Vice President Harris is right to see herself as the underdog in the White House race.

Farah Griffin also cautioned that despite the Democrats 4-day event bringing a large viewership, the election is still a toss-up between Harris and former President Trump.

But 75 days is a long time. Donald Trump is a master at reclaiming the spotlight and getting eyeballs, back on him, he obviously got the RFK Jr. endorsement today, which theres some pros to that, she told host Wolf Blitzer Friday on CNNs The Situation Room.

And theres some real cons, but this is an incredibly tight race, and I come from the David Axelrod school of thought on this, Farah Griffin continued. She should be running two points ahead. Democrats need to be, if they think theyre going to win. Shes right, to see herself as the underdog.

Harris, who officially became the partys nominee Thursday at the Democratic National Convention, told reporters last week that she does view herself as the underdog, despite momentum in the polls which have put her ahead of the former president.

I very much consider us the underdog. We have a lot of work to do to earn the vote of the American people, she said while on a bus tour with her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), adding, Thats why were on this bus tour today, and were going to be traveling this country as weve been, and talking with folks, listening to folks and hopefully earning their votes over the next 79 days.

Farah Griffin said Harris, who replaced President Biden following his decision to withdraw from the race in late July, is running a campaign that is aware of needing to reach beyond her base.

Despite her outreach toward independents and some Republicans, the vice president will now need to clarify her policy positions and do it before Trumps campaign inserts their own view of them, the CNN commentator stressed.

I think she is running knowing that she needs to bring in some folks who wouldnt traditionally necessarily be with her, she said on Friday. I thought it was a very smart message, but now shes going to have to answer some really tough questions around policy.

Luckily, Donald Trump also has some weaknesses around policy, she added. So, I think who can first define where theyre going to stand and moderate toward the middle is the person whos going to win.

Her comments come after independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Friday that he would suspend his campaign and back Trump. The two later appeared together at a rally in Glendale, Ariz., a suburb of Phoenix.

Kennedy said his name would remain on the ballot in most states, but he would withdraw from the battleground states, where his candidacy could make a difference.

The Hill/Decision Desk HQs national polling index shows Harris leading Trump by 3.6 percentage points  49.5 percent to 45.9 percent.

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A potential endorsement from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters in the 2024 race remains an open question following this weeks Democratic convention.

The Teamsters union said it has historically waited until after the party conventions to endorse, making this week a pivotal milestone in the highly anticipated endorsement timeline. But joining its fellow large unions in endorsing the Democratic ticket is not a guarantee.

The Teamsters are still working through their endorsement process, according to spokesperson Kara Deniz, with member polling continuing through the end of the month and a yet-to-be scheduled roundtable with Vice President Harris on the horizon.

Were going to work not on anyone elses but on our timeline, and that means that this is going to be a deliberative, thoughtful, engaging process that our members are going to be and are directly engaged in, Deniz told The Hill.

Despite the organizations endorsement of the Biden-Harris ticket in 2020 and past support for Democrats, Teamsters President Sean OBrien took an unprecedented step in approaching both the Republican and Democratic national committees to request a speaking slot at their gatherings.

OBrien took a lot of heat before taking the stage at the Republican National Convention last month, during which he slammed elites whose only loyalty is to the balance sheet.

He also challenged the notion that unions should fall in line with Democratic endorsements, saying we have an obligation to do our due diligence and not just automatically support one side. He noted that the unions membership is made up of many Democrats, Republicans and independents.

His speech even partially spurred a top Teamsters executive to mount a bid to run against him for president when OBriens current term is up in 2026. The executive, Teamsters Vice President At-Large John Palmer, said it was naive to believe that those who attended the Republican convention would support unions in any way, shape, form or matter.

A Fox News poll released last week found Harris led former President Trump by 10 points among union households.

But just 11 percent of Teamsters opposed OBrien speaking at the Republican convention, and 68 percent thought it was important for him to speak at both parties conventions, according to Democratic pollsters employed by the Teamsters political department.

A lot of our society nowadays, its far left, far right, arguments by pundits, opinions formed out the gate, Deniz said. Its an important point to be able to actually stop and listen and engage with something that we need more of, and [OBrien] is a firm believer in that.

While OBrien praised Trump as one tough SOB on the Republican convention stage, the labor leader criticized the former president after he floated firing striking workers  which is illegal  during an interview with Elon Musk, calling such a proposal economic terrorism.

OBrien was not ultimately included in the speaking schedule for the Democrats this past week, which he implied Wednesday was because of corporate elitists during a Fox News interview.

But OBrien also joked that he could take it personal, but I honestly think maybe my invitation got lost in the U.S. Postal Service and next time they should try to ship it [by] UPS, itll guarantee delivery.

UPS is the largest employer in the Teamsters union, which negotiated a historic agreement with the shipping giant during last years so-called Summer of Strikes, further raising the profile of unions and labor ahead of the upcoming election.

Deniz also said the endorsement is not going to come down to personal stuff.

Its going to come down to the issues and what our members want, she said.

Issues of importance to the Teamsters include opposition to a national right to work and support for some version of the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which would strengthen workers ability to form a union and bargain with their employers.

The PRO Act currently has 217 co-sponsors in the House and 48 in the Senate. Only three Republicans have signed on as co-sponsors on the House version of the bill, and there are no Republican co-sponsors on the Senate version.

Harris has been supportive of the PRO Act on the campaign trail, saying in Detroit earlier this month, We who believe in the freedom to organize will pass the PRO Act and put an end to union-busting once and for all.

The Trump campaign declined to comment on his position on the two policies.

Harris and Trump have both courted union and labor support throughout their campaigns, although the endorsements have largely gone to the Democrat.

An endorsement from the Teamsters, the countrys largest union, could make Trump competitive in the contest for organized labor, while a Harris endorsement could put the contest to bed.

Major unions and labor organizations including the United Auto Workers; the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, or AFL-CIO; and even the Teamsters National Black Caucus have endorsed Harris since President Biden dropped out last month.

But Republican National Committee spokesperson Anna Kelly told The Hill that Trump is making lasting inroads with union leaders and broadening the Republican tent in a historic way.

Republicans were the only party to accept Sean OBriens request to speak because Republicans are the party of working families, Kelly said. President Trump has always supported working class families with his America First Policies, and he will deliver again when we send him back to the White House.

To be sure, large swaths of union membership may still vote for Trump even if the leaders of those unions back Harris.

Exit polls from the 2020 race found about 40 percent of voters with a union member in their household voted for Trump, and polls had shown President Biden leading among union households before he dropped out, but by a smaller margin than four years ago, one of several groups he was struggling with.

Democratic strategist Mike Mikus said OBrien reaching out to both parties makes sense as a labor union is likely strongest when it has relationships with both sides, but he argued OBrien made a strategic error in the extent of his approach to Republicans.

He said OBriens actions angered many given the Biden administrations protection of 600,000 Teamsters pensions from cuts through the American Rescue Plan.

The things always been you reward your friends and punish your enemies, Mikus said. Well, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris showed that they were friends when they shored up the pension fund.

He said he doesnt know if a formal endorsement for Harris would be as impactful at this stage of the race but believes Harris is perfectly situated to win over not just union members but union households, especially in his own state of Pennsylvania, a critical battleground state that will likely help decide the election.

About 13 percent of wage and salary workers were union members in Pennsylvania last year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, above the national average by a few points.

Republican strategist Saul Anuzis agreed that approaching both parties is wise as the head of an organization of diverse viewpoints but noted that OBriens speech was far from an endorsement.

He challenged Republicans on a lot of issues and a lot of traditional issues that are important to conservatives and Republicans, but he made the case that labor has a lot of members that are in both parties, and so I think thats a smart way of handling it, he said.

He added that Democrats not including him in their speaker lineup was a mistake.

Anuzis, who is a member of the Teamsters, said often the majority of members of a specific union for the group support a Republican candidate for president, even if the leadership tends to lean toward the Democrats as other unions do.

But he said an endorsement would be more influential if money or political organizing comes with it, rather than just the symbolic announcement.

The endorsement is more functional if theres money that comes with it or if they actually engage in anything politically, Anuzis said. Then it would be different. But the endorsement itself is more checking the box.

Whether an endorsement is a checked box or windfall for either campaign, it is a tool the Teamsters can wield to build a coalition around the issues that are important to them and their members.

As long as workers are in the news and their issues are being paid attention to, I think thats important and thats the goal here, Deniz 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.
Months of feverish negotiations, in different cities and at multiple levels, have gotten Israel and Hamas closer to striking a ceasefire deal. But even if an agreement is reached  still far from certain  it could end up lasting only weeks before it collapses and the war in Gaza resumes.

As senior negotiators prepare to meet this weekend in Cairo, there are still several sticking points in the talks over the potential three-phase agreement. But Israel has made it clear that following the initial six-week phase, a break in the fighting may be just that and it is not ready to agree to a permanent ceasefire.

I am ready to do a partial deal, it is no secret, that will bring back some of the people, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Israels Channel 14 in late June. But we are committed to continue the war after the pause in order to achieve the goal of destroying Hamas. I will not give up on this.

Theres no indication that Israels position has changed and the fact this stance doesnt violate the agreement being discussed represents a breakthrough for Israel in the negotiations. It essentially allows Israel  and Hamas  to abandon discussions after the six-week first phase and resume the war.

That breakthrough was a concession by the Palestinian militant group, which has been pushing for the temporary pause to seamlessly transition to a permanent ceasefire and the war to end.

The sister-in-law of a deceased Israeli hostage who met with Netanyahu this week, Riki Baruch, told CNN her takeaway from the meeting was the prime ministers promise to defeat Hamas, and to continue fighting until the last of the hostages returns.

The sister-in-law of a deceased Israeli hostage who met with Netanyahu this week, Riki Baruch, told CNN her takeaway from the meeting was the Prime Ministers promise to defeat Hamas, and to continue fighting until the last of the hostages returns.

Knowing that the long-sought-after agreement wouldnt guarantee an end to the war, US officials have lowered their expectations and focused on getting first to a period of calm, even if its technically just temporary, hoping that enough pressure would build on multiple fronts during the pause to prevent the reignition of violence.

What were focused on right now is getting a ceasefire deal in place, getting those hostages home, getting six weeks of calm, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said last week. Thats really what our goal is right now.

A ceasefire deal that leads to a pause in fighting would be welcomed by countless people on both sides. Palestinians in Gaza, almost all of whom have been displaced, would get a respite after almost a year of continuous Israeli bombing, along with desperately needed aid. Israeli families would get hostages or their remains home after 10 painful months of waiting.

Huge challenges remain if initial deal is reached

But as complicated as the hurdles are to reaching this first stage of an agreement, even tougher challenges loom before Israel will agree to end the war.

The way the agreement is laid out, that permanent end to the fighting is set to begin in the second phase, at which point Hamas would release all remaining hostages and all Israeli troops would withdraw from Gaza. In the third phase, reconstruction in the enclave would begin and the final remains of hostages would be returned.

In announcing the framework on May 31  which both Hamas and Israel agreed to  President Joe Biden admitted there would be considerable issues left to negotiate after the temporary pause started. Hamas had hoped the only remaining discussion would be about how many Palestinian prisoners would be released for the Israeli hostages, but Israel pushed for that topic  known as the keys  to just be one of the topics the sides could discuss during the transition from the first phase to secure the second.

As long as those discussions continue, Biden had said, the ceasefire from the first phase would also continue, past the six-week mark. As hard as the mediators  the US, Egypt and Qatar  could try to keep those conversations on track to prevent a return to fighting, they could simply fall apart and both sides could once again take up arms.

Hours after Biden laid out the May 31 framework, Netanyahus office posted on X that Israels conditions for ending the war have not changed.

The destruction of Hamas military and governing capabilities, the freeing of all hostages and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel, he said.

Hamas leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, is believed to still be alive despite fierce Israeli efforts to hunt him down. Thousands of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad fighters also remain on the battlefield.

Only around 30 of the more than 100 remaining Israeli hostages would be expected to be released by Hamas in the first part of a truce and its still unclear how many of those would be alive, sources familiar the talks say.

Negotiators are still discussing how many and which Palestinian prisoners would be released in exchange, how many vetoes Israel would have over the names Hamas would put forward of those serving longer sentences for more violent crimes, and where they would be released to.

New Philadelphi Corridor proposal

Much attention recently has been focused on the question of Israeli troop presence along the Egypt-Gaza border, known as the Philadelphi corridor. In the agreement being discussed, IDF forces are supposed to withdraw from densely populated areas, but Israel has argued that the border isnt one and is vital to preventing weapons smuggling into Gaza.

On Wednesday Netanyahus office denied an Israeli report that he had agreed to withdraw from the corridor.

Achievement of all of [Israels] objectives for the war, a statement said, requires securing the southern border.

Holding onto Philadelphi during the six-week first phase, even if were in a more limited way with fewer forces, would give Israel flexibility and more options militarily for later scenarios.

CNN reported on Friday that Israel has come up with a new proposal on the corridor, which Egypt is set to deliver to Hamas. Israel submitted the revised plan on Thursday diplomat and an Israeli source familiar with the talks said.

The new Israeli proposal, which includes a map of where Israeli troops would be deployed, reduces the number of troops and military posts along the strategic corridor bordering Egypt from Israels previous position, the Israeli source said. Egyptian negotiators had rejected the previous Israeli map days earlier and declined to transfer it to Hamas, calling it a non-starter.

CNN reported on Friday that Israel has come up with a new proposal on the corridor which Egypt is set to deliver to Hamas. Israel submitted the revised plan on Thursday diplomat and an Israeli source familiar with the talks said.

The new Israeli proposal, which includes a map of where Israeli troops would be deployed, reduces the number of troops and military posts along the strategic corridor bordering Egypt from Israels previous position, the Israeli source said. Egyptian negotiators had rejected the previous Israeli map days earlier and declined to transfer it to Hamas, calling it a non-starter.

Hamas response to the new proposal will be critical to determining whether it sends negotiators to an expected negotiating summit in Cairo on Sunday. If they attend, the two sides could hold true negotiations  with each sides delegation occupying a room, and Egyptian and Qatari mediators going back-and-forth between the two.

The new proposal was the product of an hours-long meeting between Netanyahu and his negotiating team on Thursday at which Netanyahu agreed to reduce troop levels. That meeting came a day after Netanyahu spoke with President Joe Biden, who pushed Netanyahu to show more flexibility on the Philadelphi corridor.

Deep divisions among Israeli leadership

There are deep divisions and differences of opinion among the Israeli security officials and the Netanyahu government. Far-right members of his cabinet have blasted any ceasefire agreement while Israeli reports cite security officials who accuse Netanyahu of sabotaging the negotiations.

The (Israeli) military would like a ceasefire now, a ceasefire that achieves objectives of getting hostages out, a senior American official said. All issues outstanding are manageable. Not perfect but manageable.

The lead negotiator for the Biden administration, CIA Director Bill Burns, has landed in Cairo for the latest round of talks on Friday.

To try to finalize an agreement, the US, along with co-mediators Qatar and Egypt, put forward a proposal to bridge the final disagreements.

Earlier this week, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was visiting Israel, said Netanyahu had agreed to the proposal while Hamas had not yet.

Hamas has accused Israel in recent days of changing the terms, while reports have said that Netanyahu has changed and reneged on a number of positions.

A senior Biden administration official recently called Israels changes clarifications, while US officials have publicly and persistently maintained that a deal is close and that mere implementation issues remain to be discussed.

But many involved are not as optimistic.

One source familiar with all the discussions since the last temporary truce fell apart almost nine months ago called the situation near hopeless, adding that that this weeks negotiations following last weeks round in Doha have failed to produce positive developments.

One major unknown is what Hamas leader Sinwar wants: a break for his fighters and the Palestinians suffering immensely or a larger regional conflict driven by Iran and Hezbollah that would further engulf Israel.

Some observers believe Sinwar is waiting to see how Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran retaliate against Israel for recent assassinations of a top Hezbollah commander in Beirut and Hamas political leader in Tehran.

Whatever the outcome of the weekends talks, all signs suggest that the most Israel is willing to consider right now is 42 days of quiet. After that, all bets are off.

Its easy to be pessimistic because its gone on a long time, the senior American official conceded. They could have closed this many times but didnt.

CNNs Jeremy Diamond and Jennifer Hansler contributed to this report.

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By Luc Cohen

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former Donald Trump advisor Steve Bannon must face trial in New York on criminal-fraud charges over a push to fund the former U.S. president's signature wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, a judge ruled on Friday.

Justice April Newbauer's decision to deny Bannon's motion to dismiss the charges paves the way for a trial set to start on Dec. 9, just six weeks after he is scheduled to be released from federal prison. Bannon is serving a four-month sentence for defying a congressional subpoena.

Bannon, 70, was charged by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office in September 2022 with money laundering and conspiracy for allegedly deceiving donors who contributed more than $15 million to the private fundraising drive, known as "We Build the Wall."

Construction of a border wall was a key element of Trump's immigration policies during his presidency, supported by his fellow Republicans but opposed by Democrats and immigrant advocacy groups.

According to the indictment, Bannon promised donors that all their money would go toward building Trump's wall, but he concealed his role in diverting hundreds of thousands of dollars to the drive's chief executive Brian Kolfage, a decorated U.S. Air Force veteran who had promised to take no salary.

Bannon pleaded not guilty. In his lawyers' motion to dismiss, filed on Dec. 6, 2023, they argued that Bannon transferred some funds to entities Kolfage controlled to reimburse him for reasonable expenses. They also said the organization built more than three miles (4.8 km) of the border wall in New Mexico and Texas.

"Prospective donors to WeBuildTheWall did not care whether Kolfage or his entities received a small percentage of their donations," his lawyers wrote. "WeBuildTheWall donors simply wanted a border wall to be built. And, WeBuildTheWall did as it promised - it built miles of wall on the southern border."

In a Jan. 5 response, Bragg's office said Bannon's text messages and emails made clear he knew money from We Build the Wall was being funneled to Kolfage despite Kolfage's statements to donors that he would "not take a penny of compensation."

The 2022 indictment concerned some of the same conduct underlying a 2020 federal prosecution of Bannon, Kolfage and two other men.

Bannon pleaded not guilty in that case, which ended abruptly in January 2021 when Trump pardoned him in the final hours of his presidency.

Presidential pardons do not prohibit state prosecutions.

Kolfage, 42, pleaded guilty in April 2023 to federal fraud and tax charges. He admitted to using more than $350,000 in donor money for expenses such as a boat, a luxury SUV, jewelry and cosmetic surgery. He is serving a 4-1/4 year prison sentence.

Bannon was a key adviser to Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, then served as his chief White House strategist in 2017 before a falling-out between them that was later patched up. He also has played an instrumental role in right-wing media.

In a separate federal case, Bannon was convicted at trial in 2022 of two misdemeanor counts of contempt of Congress after refusing to turn over documents or testify to a Democratic-led House of Representatives committee that probed the Jan. 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol attack.

Bannon has called himself a "political prisoner."

(Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Rod Nickel)
If a loved one has named you as a beneficiary of their 401(k), knowing how to make the best use of the bequest is another way to honor them. How to best use an inherited 401(k) depends on a number of factors  first and foremost your relationship with the primary account holder.

Here are the key rules to know when inheriting a 401(k) and how to avoid some major penalties.

What is an inherited 401(k)?

A 401(k) is an employer-sponsored retirement plan that workers can contribute to during their working life. If theres money left in the account, it can be passed on to heirs, and you can inherit a 401(k) directly from a spouse or any account holder who has listed you as a primary beneficiary or a contingent beneficiary on the account. If listed as a contingent beneficiary, you would inherit the 401(k) if the primary beneficiary has passed away or cannot be located.

This article does not address options for heirs who end up with a retirement account as a result of asset distribution through probate, as different rules apply.

What are the rules when you inherit a 401(k)?

The rules for an inherited 401(k) differ, depending on whether the money was inherited from a spouse or a non-spouse. Depending on your relationship, youll have different options for what you can do with the money and how those options affect your tax situation.

Additionally, if youve inherited a 401(k) and youre a minor child, chronically ill or disabled, or not more than 10 years younger than the decedent, you have different distribution rules. You can take distributions based on your own life expectancy and not be subject to the 10-year rule, which is described in further detail below.

Rules and options for distribution when inheriting an account from your spouse

Surviving spouses have four options to consider:

Take a lump sum distribution: Taking a lump sum distribution will not incur an early withdrawal penalty, but the distribution will be taxed as ordinary income and could put you into a higher tax bracket. Withdrawing the money all at one time is a good option only if you really need to access the full value of the account as quickly as possible.

Roll the inherited 401(k) directly into your own 401(k) or IRA: This choice gives the inherited money more time to grow. Regular 401(k) rules apply for withdrawals prior to retirement age, meaning youll pay a 10 percent penalty for early withdrawals before age 59 . When you reach age 73, you must start making required minimum distributions (RMDs) based on your life expectancy. More can be withdrawn, but never less than the minimum without incurring a penalty. Rollovers do not incur penalties, but youll likely owe tax if you convert a traditional 401(k) to a Roth 401(k) or a Roth IRA.

Transfer the funds directly from the 401(k) account into a new inherited IRA: If you rolled the inherited 401(k) into a new inherited IRA, you are allowed to make withdrawals without incurring an early withdrawal penalty, a move that may be helpful for spouses who have not reached age 59 . Inside the inherited IRA, the plan operates according to the distribution rules for inherited IRAs.

Leave the inherited 401(k) where it is: If you leave the 401(k) in the plan you inherited, you are required to take RMDs based on life expectancy. This method allows you to minimize taxes by withdrawing money over time. If you are over 59  and your spouse was taking RMDs when they passed, you have the option of continuing that payment or delaying it until you reach 73. If youre already 73, taking RMDs is required. If you are between 59  and 73 and your spouse is not yet 73, you can take RMDs based on when your spouse would have reached RMD age.

For any of these options, if youre over age 59 , you wont be subject to any penalty tax for early withdrawal.

Rules and options for distribution when inheriting an account from a non-spouse

Non-spousal beneficiaries have three choices, with the associated withdrawal rules below:

Transfer funds directly from the 401(k) account into an inherited IRA: In an inherited IRA all money must be withdrawn within 10 years. If the money was in a pre-tax 401(k), youll owe tax on any withdrawals from the inherited traditional IRA. If you are withdrawing from a Roth 401(k) or converting it into a Roth IRA, there will be no tax implications as the money was contributed on an after-tax basis. If you convert a pre-tax 401(k) into a Roth IRA, youll generally owe taxes on the conversion.

Take a lump sum distribution: This action provides you with immediate access to the money. If you take a lump sum distribution, you may incur hefty taxes, if you realize a significant income or the money may push you into a higher tax bracket. If the inherited 401(k) is pre-tax, youll pay taxes at ordinary income rates. If the account is a Roth 401(k), then you wont owe any income taxes on the withdrawal.

Leave the money in the 401(k) and withdraw it over 10 years: You can also leave the money in the 401(k) account, but youll still need to withdraw it within 10 years, to meet the 401(k)s 10-year rule.

The 401(k) 10-year rule and how it works

Prior to the passing of the 2019 SECURE Act, non-spouse beneficiaries had more options for the timing of withdrawals, particularly required minimum distributions. Now, most non-spouse beneficiaries have 10 years to deplete the inherited account, called the 10-year rule.

If the account owner died in 2020 or later, non-spouse beneficiaries must withdraw all funds by the end of the 10th year of the account owners passing or be subject to a 50 percent penalty on any remaining account assets. For account owners who passed in 2019 or earlier, beneficiaries also had the option to withdraw all the money by the end of the fifth year from passing. If the account owner passed in 2019 or earlier, RMDs could be based on your life expectancy.

For non-spouse beneficiaries inheriting in 2020 or later, only minor children of the account owner, disabled or chronically ill individuals, or those not more than ten years younger than the account owner at the time of their death can take RMDs based on their life expectancy. Once the minor child reaches the age of maturity based on their own state rules, then the 10-year rule kicks in. The 10-year rule will not kick in for the other two categories of beneficiaries.

Currently, the IRS does not require those subject to the 10-year rule for 401(k)s to take minimum annual distributions. So account owners could wait until the last year and take out the lump sum.

Bottom line

Dealing with an inherited 401(k) can bring a lot of complications, and your choices depend a lot on your relationship to the decedent, your age at inheritance, the account owners age when they passed and whether the account you inherited is pre- or post-tax. So it can be valuable to consult with a trusted financial advisor before making any decisions.

Editorial Disclaimer: All investors are advised to conduct their own independent research into investment strategies before making an investment decision. In addition, investors are advised that past investment product performance is no guarantee of future price appreciation.

 Bankrates Rachel Christian contributed to an update of this story.
TERMINI IMERESE, Italy (Reuters) -An Italian prosecutor has opened a manslaughter investigation into the deaths of British tech magnate Mike Lynch and six other people who were killed when a luxury yacht sank in stormy weather off Sicily this week.

The head of the public prosecutor's office of Termini Imerese, Ambrogio Cartosio, said that while the yacht had been hit by a very sudden meteorological event, it was "plausible" that crimes of multiple manslaughter and causing a shipwreck through negligence had been committed.

So far the investigation was not aimed at any individual person, he told a news conference.

Lynch's 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, was also among those who died when the family's 56-metre-long (184-foot) boat, the Bayesian, capsized during a fierce, pre-dawn storm on Monday off Porticello, near Palermo.

Fifteen people survived, including Lynch's wife, whose company owned the Bayesian, and the yacht's captain.

The disaster would be even more painful if the investigation showed it was caused "by behaviours that were not aligned to the responsibilities that everyone needs to take in shipping," Cartosio said.

The captain James Cutfield and the other survivors have been questioned this week by authorities. None of them have commented publicly on how the ship went down.

Raffaele Cammarano, another prosecutor speaking at the same news conference, said that when authorities questioned Cutfield he had been "extremely cooperative".

The sinking has puzzled naval marine experts who say a boat like the Bayesian, built by Italian high-end yacht manufacturer Perini, should have withstood the storm and in any case should not have sunk as quickly as it did.

Pulling the Bayesian out of the sea will help investigators determine what happened, but the operation is likely to be complex and costly. The wreck is lying apparently intact on its side at a depth of 50 metres (164 feet).

"It's in the interests of the owners and managers of the ship to salvage it," Cartosio said, adding "they have assured their full cooperation".

Giovanni Costantino, CEO of The Italian Sea Group, which owns Perini, told Reuters this week the shipwreck was the result of a string of "indescribable, unreasonable errors" made by the crew, and ruled out any design or construction failings.

Cammarano said the meteorological event that hit the vessel was most likely a "downburst", a very strong downward wind that is an intense but relatively frequent event at sea, rather than a water spout which involves rotating winds like a whirlwind or tornado.

He said that the passengers were all probably asleep at the time of the storm which was why they failed to escape.

Palermo's Coast Guard Chief Raffaele Macauda, who attended the press conference, said there was no specific ban for the ship to be anchored where it was struck by the storm, as weather bulletins at the time were not reporting a major storm alert for the wide area of the southwestern Tyrrhenian Sea.

SEARCH FOR BODIES

Cartosio did not rule out that someone could be put under investigation before the ship is salvaged, on the basis of other evidence.

He said there was no legal obligation for the captain, crew and passengers to remain in Italy but authorities expected them to cooperate with the probe.

The prosecutor said it had not been possible to carry out alcohol or drug tests on the survivors as they were in a state of shock and needed treatments for injuries.

In the yacht, the bodies of the dead were found in the cabins on the left-hand side of the boat, where the passengers may have tried to search for remaining bubbles of air, the head of Palermo's Fire Brigade, Girolamo Bentivoglio Fiandra, said during Saturday's news conference.

Divers scoured the submerged vessel all week to recover bodies, with Hannah Lynch's the last to be recovered on Friday. The five other dead passengers were recovered on Wednesday and Thursday, while the body of the only crew member who died, onboard chef Recaldo Thomas, was found on Monday.

Mike Lynch, 59, was one of the UK's best-known tech entrepreneurs and had invited friends to join him on the yacht to celebrate his acquittal in June in a U.S. fraud trial.

Among those who also died in the wreck were Lynch's lawyer Chris Morvillo and Jonathan Bloomer, a Morgan Stanley banker who had appeared as a character witness in the case on his behalf.

(Reporting by Giulio Piovaccari and Gavin JonesEditing by Kirsten Donovan and Frances Kerry)
Several Los Angeles Chargers players and staff got stuck in a hotel elevator on Friday and had to be rescued by the Dallas fire department, the team announced later that day.

When Dallas Fire-Rescue arrived on the scene, they helped everyone escape from the inoperable elevator  through its ceiling panel and into an adjacent elevator, the Chargers said in a statement posted on their social media platforms.

The Los Angeles Chargers thank Dallas Fire-Rescue for their quick response, professionalism and substantial efforts in ensuring everyones safety, they added.

Videos posted on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, by a local reporter showed several fire engines with their lights still flashing, parked outside One Main Place in Dallas  a 33-story building skyscraper that contains a Westin Hotel as well as other facilities.

An elevator technician initially attempted to repair the elevator, Dallas Fire-Rescue told CNN affiliate WFAA, before the fire department deployed its Urban Search and Rescue team.

WFAA added that a total of 15 people were stuck in the elevator in a blind shaft somewhere between the third and 15th floors of the hotel.

The Los Angeles Chargers have travelled to Dallas for their preseason finale against the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday. So far, the Chargers have lost both their preseason games, succumbing 16-3 against the Seattle Seahawks and 13-9 against the Los Angeles Rams.

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Despite the panic being generated on social media, "WHO has made it painfully clear that this is not the new COVID in their announcement of this as an emergency alert," Dr. Karl Minges tells PEOPLE

Getty mpox

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared this month that the increasing spread of the mpox virus is a global health emergency, warning that the virus might ultimately spill from Africa  where it is currently spreading  to other parts of the world.

But public health officials and medical professionals are quick to note that mpox (which was renamed by the WHO from "monkeypox" in 2022) is very different from COVID-19.

In an effort to separate fact from fiction, PEOPLE spoke with Karl Minges, Ph.D. MPH, associate professor of public health at the University of New Haven, about the virus and how it is spreading now.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Is mpox the new COVID-19?

In a word: no. "WHO has made it painfully clear that this is not the new COVID in their announcement of this as an emergency alert," Minges tells PEOPLE.

As Minges explains, the WHO issues these types of emergency alerts in order to "prompt the acceleration of vaccine access for lower income countries."

In other words, the declaration of a "global health emergency" isn't necessarily a means of warning people across the globe that they might come in contact with the virus  but to allow entities like UNICEF "to procure vaccines for distribution."

"It's a way to get more tools to support those in the more heavily affected areas," Minges adds.

Unlike COVID-19 in its early days, much more is known about mpox, which "was first identified in the late 1950s in laboratory monkeys," Minges says.

"Human cases have been documented since the 1970s and a lot more is known about it," he adds.

The reason more people are talking about mpox on TikTok, Instagram and in news articles, is due to a new variant.

"Like most viruses, it mutated," Minges notes. "But we understand the value of disease surveillance, monitoring and prevention efforts  and it's also important to note that a vaccine is available, and is FDA approved. There is a lot more fidelity in the treatment of this than in [COVID-19 back when the pandemic first started]."

Related: Mpox Will No Longer Be Declared a Public Health Emergency in January

Is mpox an emergency in the U.S.?

Not currently. The Biden administration declared the virus a public health emergency in August 2022, following criticism over the government's lack of response. At the time, the government announced it would increase testing for the virus and stretch the nation's limited supply of an mpox vaccine.

By January 2023, though, the U.S. government announced it was ending its public health emergency for mpox, citing a significant decline in cases.

Since then, the virus has continued to spread in other parts of the world, with the WHO estimating more than 14,000 cases in Africa this year  a number that exceeds last year's figures by 160%. What's perhaps more concerning is that the virus has mutated, though no cases of the new mutation (known as Clade I) have been reported in the U.S.

What makes the new variant of the virus different that the one that spread in 2022?

The Clade I variant, says Minges, is "more serious, with a higher mortality rate"  but, again, reported cases have almost entirely been in Africa and Asia (other than one recently reported case in Sweden).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that Clade I "causes more severe illness and deaths" and that "some outbreaks have killed up to 10% of the people who get sick"  though the agency notes that recent outbreaks have had lower death rates. Clade I is endemic to Central Africa.

The variant that spread in 2022 is known as Clade II, which causes less severe infections (per the CDC, more than 99.9% of people with Clade II mpox survive). Clade II has spread in the U.S., though the spread has since leveled.

The way the variant spread may also be different, though the virus is still being studied as it evolves.

The Clade II virus predominately affected gay and bisexual men.According to a CDC report, children have accounted for some two-thirds of the estimated 20,000 suspected cases of the newer Clade I variant in the Democratic Republic of Congo since Jan. 2023.

As Minges notes, both variants also have "an element of zoonotic transmission," meaning it can spread between animals and people (either by ingesting the uncooked meat of an affected animal or by touching an affected animal).

Human-to-human contact, and mostly within households, though, remains of the biggest concern with the current spread of the virus in Africa.

Related: The Majority of Monkeypox Patients Who Were Hospitalized Were HIV-Positive, CDC Says

Should people be worried about contracting the virus if traveling to an affected area?

Minges says that the most important thing to do when traveling internationally to places with known mpox outbreaks is to get vaccinated.

"There is an approved vaccine [and that offers the] best protection you can have," he says. "It's two doses, delivered four weeks apart. And if someone has already had mpox, they don't need the vaccine, as the body has developed resistance."

If traveling to a country with an mpox outbreak, it's also important to lower your risk during sexual encounters or any type of close personal contact with someone who may have the virus or appears to have a rash. But protection goes beyond sex, he notes.



"If you're traveling and going to raves, parties, clubs, or areas where there's minimal clothing, there could be direct skin-to-skin contact where you might not even be able to see a rash on someone or be aware of it," he says. "Avoid risky social gatherings in an area where an mpox outbreak is occurring."

As with any virus, disinfecting and washing hands should also be a priority.



"As always, people who are compromised, children, and older adults are the ones who should think about getting the vaccine, if they will be around high-risk groups, with a higher rate of transmission," he adds. "The new variant has indicated it is more highly-transmissible but, again, there have been no documented cases in North America at this time."



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Robert F. Kennedy Jr., left, waves to the crowd at a campaign rally with former President Donald Trump in Glendale, Ariz., on Friday.

Donald Trump welcomed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. onstage during his rally in Arizona on Friday night, saying the independent ran an "extraordinary campaign" hours after Kennedy endorsed the former president.

"With all those votes he was getting, he has a lot of votes that he could have gotten ... I think he's going to have a huge influence on this campaign," Trump said near the beginning of his event in Glendale, a suburb of Phoenix.

Trump went on to say that if elected, he would establish a commission on assassination attempts in honor of Kennedy. Kennedys father, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy Sr., and uncle, President John F. Kennedy, were both assassinated. The commission, Trump said, would be tasked with releasing remaining documents on the 1963 presidential assassination  records that Trump didn't release when he was in office.

In his remarks, Kennedy recounted having talked with Trump about issues that he said "bind us together," including "having safe food and ending the chronic disease epidemic."

"Don't you want a president that's going to make America healthy again?" asked Kennedy, a longtime anti-vaccine advocate who suspended his presidential campaign Friday.

The alliance between the Trump and Kennedy marks a new phase in their relationship after years of criticizing each other.

Trump has called Kennedy a "phony radical left fool," a "Democratic 'plant,'" and a "liberal lunatic," despite many of Kennedy's views conflicting with those of Democrats.

Kennedy said in a 2018 Newsweek op-ed that the Trump "presidency has not just discredited our nation, but the entire American experiment in self government."

In a separate op-ed that year published by NBC News, Kennedy called Trump's policies a "discredit to democracy."

"President Trumps policies have been not to actively encourage democracy abroad, but to reach out to some of the most tyrannical governments in the world and to give them sustenance and encouragement," he wrote at the time.

Those views appeared to take a back seat on Friday when Kennedy endorsed Trump at an event in Phoenix. Kennedy said he would remove his name from the ballot in "about 10 battleground states where my presence would be a spoiler." However, he encouraged voters in states where he remains on the ballot to still vote for him this fall.

Some Kennedy supporters in Arizona who spoke with NBC News said they're throwing their support behind Trump.

Bruce Brimacombe, a resident of Scottsdale, said that he now plans to vote for Trump because of Kennedy's involvement.

"Its not that Im not going to vote for Trump for being Trump," said Brimacombe. "Im going to vote for Trump because if Bobby is able to do what hes been asked to do, Ill be behind it. Because thats going to build a platform."

Casey Westerman, a Trump voter in 2016 and 2020 who was going to back Kennedy in November, now plans to support Trump. The Chandler resident is going to back Trump again because "I trust Bobby."
Former President Trump took to social media early Saturday to continue his attacks on Vice President Harris, targeting the vice president on immigration policies put in place under the Biden administration.

Kamala Harris is the Weakest Presidential Candidate in History on Crime, Trump posted to his Truth Social platform.

Shes allowed millions of people to pour through our Borders, many from prisons, mental institutions and, indeed, terrorists, coming in at levels never seen before, he added, claims that have not been substantiated.

The latest hits come as the Trump campaign has often criticized President Bidens immigration policies and tried to paint Harris as the administrations failed border czar. The term is in reference to the vice presidents work addressing the root causes of migration in the Northern Triangle region  El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.

Harriss momentum has picked up in recent weeks, after she rose to the top of the ticket following Bidens exit from the race. Since joining the fray, the vice president has broken fundraising records, soared in the polls, packed rallies across the country and secured key endorsements.

Earlier this week, Harris officially accepted the Democratic Partys presidential nomination at the convention in Chicago. The former president has had to grapple with that enthusiasm, though hes largely brushed off concerns.

Trump slammed Harris  who ran against Biden in 2020  in his late-night rant, arguing that voters casted their primary ballots for Biden, not her.

What gives her the right to run for President? She got no votes to Bidens 14 Million, the former president said. She failed in her previous attempt, was the first one out of 22 people to quit, never made it to Iowa, and now shes a Presidential Candidate?

This is a threat to Democracy! he added.

In a separate post, the GOP nominee weighed in on the unusual circumstances of the race.

Trump, who was the incumbent during the 2020 race, said Harriss campaign was attempting to deflect what he called failures of the Biden administration onto him.

Kamala and her handlers are trying to make it sound like I am the Incumbent President, so that they can blame me for the failure of the past four years, he said. No, it was their failure!

It is one of the worst Presidencies in History, and she is definitely the Worst Vice President, he added.

The criticism comes as Republicans have pressed Trump to focus less on personal insults and more on policy with the election less than three months away.

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by Stefano Caprio

The attempted coup that led to the end of the Soviet Union in 1991, the consecration of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in 2000, the 2004 Beslan children's massacre:Three summer anniversaries that are forcing Russians to rethink the uncertain evolution of their destiny.

The month of August, which manifests the first autumn weather uncertainties in Russia, is fraught with memories that are decisive for the course of events in recent decades, which relate back to the upheavals of recent times.

On August 19, 1991, the attempted coup by the KGB against President Mikhail Gorbacev took place in Moscow, marking the beginning of the disintegration of the Soviet empire.

The referendum had been held five months earlier, with an overwhelming majority of the citizens of the fifteen republics voting to keep the Soviet Union standing, and the empire still seemed to be able to overcome contradictions and divisions, remaining a superpower with a mighty atomic arsenal, capable of controlling half the countries of the world as its satellites.

The failure of the attempt to eliminate Gorbacev, with a tank assault in front of the White House on the Moskva riverfront and the triumph of Boris Yeltsin waving the flag of Russia amidst a jubilant crowd, with no casualties or destruction, opened wide a completely different scenario: the strong men were now powerless, and only five days later, on August 24, 1991, Ukraine proclaimed its independence and de facto end of the empire, which was dissolved four months later, on December 25.

From the towers of the Kremlin the red flags with the hammer and sickle were removed forever (now preserved in a museum), replaced by the tricolor of the Russian republic, which shortly thereafter became the Federation, and the first and last Soviet president retired.

However much one tries to attribute responsibility for those events to the individual personalities of Gorbacev, Yeltsin or the failed coup plotters, it is clear that a reality as gigantic and mighty as the Soviet Union could not depend only on the incapabilities of some, or the audacity of others.

Many factors then determined Russia's subsequent evolution: economic and administrative problems, the limitless spread of corruption, wartime failures, ecological catastrophes such as the Cernobyl power plant explosion, the crisis of Marxist-Leninist ideology, the growth of national identity claims, and much more.

The effect of the collapse has left in the memory of Russians mostly resentment toward the West, but the truth is that historical opponents did not seek the complete dissolution of the Soviet monster in order to maintain a two-faced world order.

Time and again, Westerners saved the empire, such as in World War II, despite Stalin's initial alliance with Hitler, or in the Cuban Missile Crisis, which ended with hugs between John Kennedy and Nikita Khruscev, to the catastrophic invasion of Afghanistan, which was resolved regionally without transcending into a new global war.

Even the 1989 collapse of the Berlin Wall did not foresee the Union's demise, despite the reunification of the two Germanies and the decisive push for breakaway by the other Eastern European countries, including the Baltics and eventually Ukraine.

After 1991, the stages of disintegration continued with the Chechen War, and again the West sided with Moscow, without supporting the independence of the smaller peoples of the federation.

Now we have reached the next phase of the process that began 33 years ago, with the war in Ukraine and upheavals in the entire global geopolitical order, but we still cannot see what the conclusion will be, whether an effective multipolar order or just a new iron curtain between East and West.

Moscow Orthodox Patriarch Kirill (Gundjaev) attempted to turn the August memory into a new celebration of the rebirth of Greater Russia, recalling the solemn consecration of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, which took place precisely on Aug.

19 of the Jubilee Year 2000, hosting the Council that declared the canonization of the last Tsar Nicholas II, and approved the document on the Social Doctrine of the Church, the manifesto of Orthodox sovereignty that guided the policies of the new President Vladimir Putin over the next quarter century. Russia's largest Orthodox church, built over several decades to celebrate the victory over Napoleon in 1812, had then been blown up by Stalin in 1931, by which time the Georgian dictator had assumed absolute power.

After the collapse of the USSR, the reconstruction of the cathedral next to the Kremlin constituted the first symbolic act of the recovery of imperial identity, and the work began thanks to the agreement between Patriarch Aleksij II (Ridiger) and the then all-powerful Moscow mayor Jurij Luzkov, in anticipation of the celebrations of the 850th anniversary of the founding of the capital, with a view to the replacement of Kiev as the mother city of all the Russias.

As early as August 1996, a few months before the following jubilee year, Aleksij celebrated the first liturgy in the lower chapel of the Transfiguration, and the work was completed in 1999, by which time power was passing into the hands of Vladimir Putin.

Kirill was then the metropolitan-oligarch seeking to lift the fortunes of Russia and its Church, humiliated by accusations of collaborationism with atheist power and undermined by waves of proselytizing by Catholics and Protestants from all over the West in the convulsive religious revival of the 1990s.

Fifteen years into his patriarchate, Kirill today has no doubts in crediting himself with the rebuilding of the cathedral and all of Russia's ecclesiastical power, recalling during the celebration how back then I had explained to Mayor Luzkov the colossal lack of churches in the capital, which was on the margins of the statistics of church space in relation to the number of worshippers.

Now instead he proudly extols the extraordinary monument that stands in the center of Moscow, whose significance lies in the fact that even people who seem far from the faith have understood its necessity, as they are nonetheless bound to the faith by their origin, education and belonging to the Russian people.

From the cathedral we then turned to the plan of Two Hundred Churches to be rebuilt in Moscow, which was realized and passed thanks largely to Luzkov's successor, the current mayor Sergey Sobjanin in office since 2010, in tandem with the patriarch himself.

Kirill recalls that Moscow is the only megalopolis in the world where so many churches are being built, while in the rest of the world they are being closed, and this testifies to the growth of faith in our people; even though statistics state that in Moscow, and throughout Russia, the more churches are built, the fewer people visit them. Indeed, the patriarch insists that we should not limit our preaching to the confines of the churches, but make the entire people more involved in church life.

The memory of August thus turns from dissolution to rebirth, but another event forced Russians to rethink in these days the uncertain evolution of their destiny. Indeed, on the morning of September 1, 2004, the most tragic terrorist act in recent Russian history took place, the Beslan school massacre in North Ossetia at the start of the new school year, with 1,100 hostages held by terrorists for three days, with explosions and furious gunfights leaving 27 terrorists dead and 314 hostage casualties, including 186 children, on the ground.

President Putin, for the first time in 20 years, visited the Mothers of Beslan in recent days, making a propaganda tour in Chechnya as well, right during the Ukrainian offensive in the Kursk region.

Putin intended to show his superiority over Ukrainian claims, recalling the very motives that had brought him to power, when he had promised as early as prime minister in 1999 that he would take out all terrorists. The Caucasian crowd bath was reminiscent of the one following Evgenij Prigozin's coup attempt last year, when Putin (or a look-alike) indulged in hugs from the Ingush to celebrate his unbreakable union with all the peoples of Russia.

To the mothers of the children murdered in Beslan he had promised then to tell the whole truth about the massacre, but their representatives complained that they had not actually had any satisfaction in this regard. The president, in a dialogue that was not shown on television, embarrassedly replied that he would ask Aleksandr Bastrykin, head of the Investigative Committee, to resolve the issue as soon as possible.

n obvious confusion, Putin then inaccurately recalled the number of victims of the attack, speaking of 334 people, including 136 children, fifty fewer than those who actually died. He then hysterically tried to blame the forces from abroad that tried to justify and help terrorists, even on moral grounds, linking back to current events, as our enemies continue to disrupt our country, instigating and provoking the criminal actions in the Kursk region, in the Donbass and throughout

Novorossija, i.e., Ukraine. By seeking help in the memory of past events, Putin and Kirill hope to shine the face of the new victorious Russia, making the confusion and impotence of an increasingly uncertain and contradictory system even more apparent.

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Today's news: eight Taiwanese soldiers jailed for pro-China espionage; Hundreds of migrants from Asia stranded at Sao Paulo airport in Brazil; At least 15 dead and 4.5 million affected by floods in Bangladesh; It is less dangerous for airlines to fly over Afghanistan than the Middle East, security and screening concerns remain; Delegation from Laos to Moscow for International Buddhist Forum visits Orthodox Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

GAZA

In Gaza, in the 11th month of war between Israel and Hamas, a 10-month-old child has been semi-paralyzed after contracting polio, now in stable condition. For the UN, it is the first confirmed case in 25 years, although poliovirus type 2 was detected in sewage in June. The WHO director-general says he is gravely concerned and revives vaccination. Today, meanwhile, at least 12 Palestinians including two children and a woman were killed in Israeli raids east of Khan Younis.

TAIWAN - CHINA

A court jailed eight Taiwanese soldiers for pro-Beijing espionage in exchange for money. The leader of the group, key to recruiting the soldiers, is to serve 13 years, a lieutenant colonel nine years for attempting to defect to China aboard a helicopter. Last month, a sergeant was indicted for photographing and leaking classified defense data. Taipei has also raised concerns about the increasing frequency of Chinese fighter jets. Yesterday, President Ha William Lai recalled the duty to defend national sovereignty to safeguard democracy.

ASIA - BRAZIL.

Hundreds of migrants from India, Nepal and Vietnam have been stranded at Sao Paulo International Airport for weeks in alarming conditions, sleeping on the floor as they wait to enter Brazil. At least 666 without visas are waiting at Guarulhos airport as Brasilia plans to tighten entry rules to stem the flow of foreigners using the country to reach the United States and Canada.

BANGLADESH

At least 15 people have died and 4.5 million been affected by floods triggered by heavy rains in eastern Bangladesh, with rescuers busy evacuating large portions of flooded areas (11 out of 64 districts affected). About 190,000 people have been transported to emergency shelters. The South Asian nation of 170 million people, crossed by hundreds of rivers, has seen frequent flooding. Climate change is increasing the number of extreme weather events.

AFGHANISTAN - MIDDLE EAST

It is less dangerous for airlines to fly over the Taliban ruled Afghanistan than the Middle East, with its theaters of war from Gaza to Lebanon to the Houthis in the Red Sea mirroring the latent conflict between Israel and Iran. The number of flights in the second week of August was more than seven times higher than in the same period a year ago. Safety concerns remain over the small number of air traffic controllers and poor preparation in emergencies. In the background is Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, which was shot down over Ukraine, and the few international rules to determine which airspaces are safe (and at the discretion of individual carriers).

RUSSIA-LAOS.

A delegation from the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary People's Party, in Moscow to attend the 2nd International Buddhist Forum on Traditional Buddhism and Contemporary Challenges, visited the Orthodox Cathedral of Christ the Savior. The representatives then discussed with patriarchate representatives the possibility of registering Orthodox communities in Laos.

KYRGYZSTAN - TURKEY

A scandal has broken out in Kyrgyzstan about the activities of the Yjman Foundation, which provides religious education, with financial audits and arrest of the administrator. There are also suspicions of illicit political initiatives by former director Nurzigit Kadyrbekov, who allegedly used more than five million dollars received from Turkey to bribe officials for his own benefit.
At the center of criticism in the UN experts' report is the trial of about 100 members of the Christian minority. The proceedings allegedly failed to meet standards and showed summary charges, torture and mistreatment. Also in the crosshairs are the stages of the trial and the role of the media. No comment from the government.

Hanoi (AsiaNews) - In a report sent to Hanoi on June 14, which was only made public in recent days, UN experts address Vietnam with concern over a trial of 100 Montagnards last January, in which clear human rights violations emerge.

The proceedings, in fact, allegedly failed to meet international standards for a fair and equitable trial, while the defendants were allegedly subjected to illegal arrests and detentions in connection with the case, in which incidents of torture and ill-treatment also emerge.

Added to this are summary charges of terrorism, unexplained deaths in cells and restrictions on freedom of expression and media participation, as well as discrimination against indigenous peoples and religious minorities, in this case Christians.

Montagnard is a term coined by French colonialists to describe a group of about 30 ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.

Since 1975, after the Vietnam War, the government has implemented a migration policy, bringing more than three million people to the region; according to government statistics dating back to 2019, they accounted for 39 percent of Dak Lak province's total population of 5.8 million.

Last January, 100 worshippers from Dak Lak province-an area populated by some 30 minority tribes-were put on trial for a June 11, 2023 attack on two People's Commune headquarters that left nine people dead on the ground.

Of these, at least 10 were sentenced to life in prison on terrorism charges. The remainder received sentences ranging from three and a half to 20 years in prison, mostly on terrorism-related charges, while six were tried in absentia without legal protection in the courtroom.

The U.N. report to Hanoi states that senior Vietnamese government officials allegedly commented on the proceedings even before they began with highly prejudicial words about the defendants' alleged responsibility for terrorist crimes.

In addition, the state-controlled media (including television) referred to the defendants as terrorists and published pictures of some of the defendants after their capture.

The speakers also questioned the use of a mobile court for Dak Lak's trial, the use of which would not be regulated in the country's criminal law and lacks a proper legal basis as well as being characterized by arbitrariness. We are concerned, the note stressed, that the proceedings did not serve a legitimate educational function, but resulted in publicly embarrassing, shaming, humiliating or degrading the defendants and their families.

On Aug. 15, Vietnam's permanent mission to the United Nations requested a two-month extension to respond to questions, findings and criticisms contained in the report, while the Foreign Ministry in Hanoi declined to comment in the face of requests for clarification or explanation made by Radio Free Asia (Rfa), which was met with strict press silence.

The excessive response to the June 11, 2023 attack; the unjust mass trial in January 2024; the inclusion of Msfj (the activist movement Montagnards Stand for Justice) on the terrorist list in March 2024; and the alleged intimidation of Vietnamese refugees in Thailand in March 2024 appear to be part of a larger and growing pattern, the UN report concludes, of discriminatory and repressive surveillance, security checks, harassment and intimidation against the Montagnard minority.

For years the Montagnard tribes have suffered religious persecution by the government, a legacy from the days of the Vietnam War when the Montagnards sided with the United States in an attempt to establish an autonomous nation. Over time, authorities in Hanoi have continued to repress them, accusing them of secession and expropriating their land under that pretext.

Their Christian faith also represents an additional element of suspicion, which combines ethno-political attacks with denominational persecution although in the recent period the authorities have begun a path of rapprochement with the Church.

Against this backdrop came the recent visit of Msgr. Paul Richard Gallagher, Vatican secretary for Relations with States, and the not-so-distant hope of welcoming Pope Francis for an apostolic trip.
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24 August 2024 16:19 (UTC+04:00)

Yalchin Rafiyev, the Lead Negotiator for COP29 and Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, noted a constructive approach from all participating states during the "29 Climate Conversations: Road to COP29" media workshop in Baku, Azernews reports.

Rafiyev acknowledged the complexities of the ongoing international negotiations, emphasizing the additional challenge posed by financial issues this year. The climate issue is inherently complex, and states have diverse attitudes toward climate change. This year, the situation is further complicated by the inclusion of financial considerations. Combining climate and finance issues has made the negotiation process even more intricate, he explained.

Despite these challenges, Rafiyev highlighted a positive trend: We have observed a constructive approach from all countries involved. There have been no significant issues or disagreements, which is encouraging. Currently, we see a movement towards mutual cooperation among states.

The 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) will be held in Azerbaijan this November. The decision was made during the COP28 plenary meeting in Dubai on December 11, 2023. Baku is set to become a global hub, hosting approximately 70,000 to 80,000 international guests over the two-week event.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, established at the Rio Earth Summit in June 1992, aims to prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system. The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of this convention, with 198 countries as parties. The first COP took place in Berlin in March 1995, with its secretariat located in Bonn.

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24 August 2024 22:17 (UTC+04:00)

Fatima Latifova Read more

Recently, some Western representatives, particularly Toivo Klaar, the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus, have intensified their contacts with elements trying to revive Armenian separatist tendencies. For instance, Armenia's former Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan has recently held meetings with Toivo Klaar and other Western circles. The stopped peace talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Oskanyan's continued baseless accusations and threats against Azerbaijan, and Toyvo Klaar's overt bias towards the "Garabagh Armenians" while dealing with official Baku raise questions about the objectives of these discussions. In a region where issues such as landmine discussions and Armenia's territorial claims against Azerbaijan are pertinent, Klaar's meetings with incompetent politicians like Oskanyan, who has been involved in dubious activities, cast doubt on his professional ethics and competence.

It should be noted that Toivo Klaars biased stance against Azerbaijan not only tarnishes the reputation of the European Union but also reveals his unprofessional and unethical values. Denying the fact of the occupation of historical Azerbaijani lands, and supporting Armenian groups that have occupied Garabagh, raises questions about the true objectives of this individual.

Is Toivo Klaar representing the European Union or bringing it into disrepute?

Earlier this month, during an interview with the media resources Toivo Klaar made statements suggesting that the return of the Garabagh Armenians was Azerbaijans obligation, while the return of Azerbaijanis forcibly expelled from Armenia depended on the outcome of the Azerbaijan-Armenia normalization process. His views on treating the issue of Garabagh Armenians as a special case demonstrate that he is not suited for the role of EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus.

His consideration of the return of Armenians who migrated to Armenia and other countries from Garabagh voluntarily as a special case, while conditioning the right of forcibly expelled Azerbaijanis to return, is particularly unacceptable.

It is worth recalling that the genocide and crimes perpetrated by the Armenian army against Azerbaijanis led to 1 million Azerbaijanis becoming refugees and nearly 4,000 people going missing. When Armenians occupied 20% of Azerbaijani territory, individuals like Toivo Klaar showed no reaction, but now, as Garabagh has been liberated, they reveal their pro-Armenian positions.

Unlike the Armenian government, which has repeatedly made appeals for Armenians to stay in their homes and return, Toivo Klaar, who has been appointed ambassador, is well aware that Armenians have no intention of returning to sovereign Azerbaijani territories.

Now, Toivo Klaars meetings with individuals like Oskanyan, who is involved in dirty dealings and chairs some commission created by the fictitious Nagorno-Karabakh Republic to act against Azerbaijans territorial integrity, seem to indicate a recent focus on drawing attention to Klaars activities. Unfortunately, contacts between Western circles and fraudsters like Oskanyan are a glaring example of political hypocrisy.

It should be recalled that former Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan has been repeatedly mentioned in connection with money laundering and other crimes. Regrettably, Klaars activities seem to serve to creation of new sources of tension against Azerbaijan.

Claims by policymakers like Toivo Klaar that human rights only apply to Armenians, while those who occasionally speak of democracy and human rights, actually view issues through a lens of religious and ethnic bias, further demonstrate this. Obviously, Toivo Klaars active collaboration with separatist tendencies in the region should be investigated for its alignment with the official policies of the European Union.

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24 August 2024 11:47 (UTC+04:00)

In preparation for the extraordinary elections to the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan, scheduled for September 1, the Central Election Commission has commenced the distribution of ballot papers to district election commissions, Azernews reports.

The process is being conducted openly and transparently, with oversight from Central Election Commission members, Secretariat staff, and district election commission chairs and secretaries. This provides a comprehensive opportunity for international and local observers, media representatives, and interested parties to closely monitor the proceedings.

Media coverage has detailed the preparation of the ballots in compliance with legal requirements and the logistics of their distribution. Journalists were given thorough briefings and had their questions addressed during this period.

The ballot distribution will span three days, concluding on August 26. On the first day, August 24, ballots will be distributed to 40 constituencies, including those in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, areas with polling stations in recently liberated territories, and remote regions. Over the following two days, the remaining constituencies will receive their ballots.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs is responsible for ensuring the security of the transportation, storage, and distribution of the ballots.

The Central Election Commission approved the specifications for the ballots on August 15, with a total of 6,516,567 ballots printed. After distribution to district election commissions, the ballots will be transferred to precinct election commissions at least three days before the election day.

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24 August 2024 11:54 (UTC+04:00)

President Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky on the occasion of the national holiday of this country - Independence Day, Azernews reports.

"Dear Mr. President,

On the occasion of Ukraine's national holiday  Independence Day, I sincerely congratulate you and, through you, the entire people of Ukraine on behalf of myself and the people of Azerbaijan, and extend my best wishes.

Azerbaijan and Ukraine share a strong bond of friendship rooted in rich traditions. The will of our peoples, who have historically supported one another, forms the foundation of our interstate relations today. The current level of relations between our countries, based on mutual trust and support, as well as our effective cooperation in various areas, particularly in the energy sector, is gratifying.

Azerbaijan and Ukraine demonstrate mutual support and solidarity on issues of territorial integrity and sovereignty in accordance with the UN Charter, norms, and principles of international law. We express our intention to continue making every effort to provide the necessary humanitarian support and assistance to the friendly people of Ukraine.

I greatly value our recent meeting in the United Kingdom and the exchange of views we had. I am confident that we will continue our joint efforts to strengthen Azerbaijani-Ukrainian friendship and reliable partnership, as well as expand our cooperation.

On this significant day, I wish you good health, happiness, success in your endeavors, and peace and tranquillity to the friendly people of Ukraine," the letter reads.

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24 August 2024 15:40 (UTC+04:00)

The State Examination Center has reported that Garabagh Universitys undergraduate admission plan for the 2024-2025 academic year is nearing full capacity, Azernews reports citing Garabagh University's press service.

A total of 290 students have been admitted in the first group across six majors: Mathematics Teaching, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Logistics and Transport Technology Engineering, and Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering. The average acceptance score for this group was 475.5, with the highest score of 659.9 achieved in Mathematics Teaching. Notably, one applicant who excelled in the Olympiad was admitted to Electrical and Electronics Engineering without competition.

In the second group, 330 students were admitted across seven specialties: International Trade and Logistics, State and Municipal Administration, Economy, Finance, Management, Accounting, and Tourism Management. The average acceptance score was 396.7, with the highest score of 641.7 recorded in Finance. The passing score for the Finance major was 500.5.

The third group saw 330 admissions in six specialties: Teaching Azerbaijani Language and Literature, Primary School Teaching, Foreign Language Teaching (English), International Relations, Jurisprudence, and History. The average acceptance score was 531.3, with Jurisprudence achieving the highest score of 683.8. The passing scores for Jurisprudence and Foreign Language Teaching (English) were 609.4 and 538.7, respectively.

In the fourth group, 30 students were admitted to the Psychology program, with an average acceptance score of 470.0 and the highest score being 570.6.

Overall, 980 students were admitted across the first four specialty groups, with an average acceptance score of 467.6. Additionally, 124 students were admitted in the fifth specialty group, which includes programs requiring special ability exams such as Music Teaching, Decorative Applied Art, Design, and Vocal Art.

In total, Garabagh University welcomed 1,104 new students this year, including 124 who passed special ability exams. Among the admitted students, 101 achieved scores higher than 600 points. The university will offer undergraduate programs in 27 specialties during the upcoming academic year.

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24 August 2024 17:22 (UTC+04:00)

By Mazahir Afandiyev

The entire Azerbaijani people hold great affection for every part of our country, including its cities, provinces, and villages, with their diverse geographical and climatic qualities, rich natural beauty, and unique features.

With the great leader Heydar Aliyev's appeal for unification, the grateful Azerbaijani people laid the groundwork for our nation to achieve independence a second time, and our intelligent, patriotic, and devoted youth provided the inspiration for the broad popular movement.

For nearly 35 years, the Republic of Azerbaijanwhich joined the UN in 1992has been steadily growing. During this period, our nation has made significant strides in the social, economic, and international spheres, ensuring its overall development.

But the Armenian state, which claimed our land and occupied our territory during the early years of our freedom, waged military aggression against Karabakh, an essential part of Azerbaijan. Our cultural treasure - Shusha, Lachin, Kelbajar, and other cities were taken over as a result of the aggression, and the enemy also gained control of a portion of our territory through individuals that sought and obtained power. The Azerbaijani people have endured unimaginable suffering due to this occupation for thirty years.

In 2020, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Great Commander-in-Chief, President Ilham Aliyev, guided by the will of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev, gave an order to the victorious army of Azerbaijan, crowned with the liberation of our lands from occupation by valiant sons of our heroic people during the 44-day Second Karabakh - Patriotic War and transition to a qualitatively new stage of governance of our regions.

Our people are commemorating the second anniversary of Lachin's liberation these days. The Armenian Armed Forces took control of the strategically significant Lachin area on May 18, 1992. After our victory in 2020, the Lachin region was given to Azerbaijan on December 1 of the same year, following the trilateral statement of November 10, and on August 26, 2022, the city of Lachin and the villages of Zabukh and Sus were taken under control. Thus, without any violence, we were able to regain our sovereignty.

With immense pride, the Azerbaijani people are already making their way back to their homeland. In 2023, as part of the Great Return, Lachin residents made the first return to their hometown following a 31-year absence. The president of Azerbaijan met with these residents and gave them the keys to their homes in person. In addition, the president has made seven trips to Lachin in the last three years and has attended the opening of several infrastructure projects. This proves that the construction and reconstruction of our liberated lands are priorities, and also demonstrates Azerbaijan's resolve to maintain peace and calm in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur.

Large-scale creative projects are now produced in Lachin with excellent taste and quality. Here, the settlement strategy is being effectively carried out, and all the prerequisites have been established for the large-scale industrial, transportation, and tourism infrastructure, as well as the return of our compatriots to their ancestral lands. "If there is an image of paradise, then this is it. Spectacular nature, majestic mountains, beautiful buildings and houseseverything is being done with great taste so that both people can live comfortably here, and the modern appearance of the city of Lachin corresponds to Azerbaijans achievements, President Ilham Aliyev said, and his remarks are confirmed by actual actions.

In particular, the United Nations, which responds to the challenges of global settlement policy and the Sustainable Development Goals set out in the 2030 Agenda and oversees the implementation of the Goals, must be closely involved and persistent in this process. This has the potential to enable Azerbaijan to maintain its operations in the liberated areas at a new, globally compliant level.

It is no accident that the greatest worldwide forum for examining rapidly increasing urbanization and its effects on urban development, the World Urban Development Forum, will be held in Azerbaijan in 2026, which constantly hosts globally prestigious events.

This event will provide our nation with the chance to implement as a national concept the cutting-edge, technologically rich urban planning regulations, significant settlement policy procedures, and the national idea of historical heritage protection that is being applied in our native Karabakh.

Mazahir Afandiyev is the Member of the Milli Majlis (the Azerbaijani Parliament).

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24 August 2024 17:32 (UTC+04:00)

On September 1, during the upcoming snap elections for the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Nizami Safarov, the candidate from the 106th Tovuz electoral district, nominated by the New Azerbaijan Party, visited the families of martyrs Royal Aslanov and Emin Mahmudov in the village of Abulbeyli, Tovuz district, Azernews reports.

During his visit, Safarov expressed his deep concern for the families' well-being, listened to their challenges, and assured them that their needs would remain a top priority.

Safarov emphasized that under the leadership of the victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief, President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan's territorial integrity was restored after 30 long years. He noted that the martyrs, whose names are etched in golden letters in the history of the nation, are eternally honored and respected, serving as enduring examples for future generations.

The fathers of the martyrs, Elzar Aslanov and Punhan Mahmudov, voiced their gratitude for the unwavering attention and care provided by the state. They also conveyed their profound respect and admiration for President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva, expressing their heartfelt appreciation for their leadership and support.

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25 August 2024 00:39 (UTC+04:00)

"Frank Schwabe's opinions about Azerbaijan and the country's leadership, whose name is known in a number of corruption cases and dark business relationships, show how biased, fake, and hypocritical a politician this person is."

Azernews reports that the head of the press service department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Aykhan Hajizade, said this in response to the media's questions about the opinions expressed against Azerbaijan by Peter Stano, the press secretary of the European Union (EU) for foreign policy and security issues, and Frank Schwabe, a member of the German Parliament.

Aykhan Hajizadeh said that opinions voiced against the political leadership of Azerbaijan, which is one of the leading countries in terms of political stability, economic development, and progress indicators, are first of all evaluated as prejudice against the success of the country. He said that the steps taken towards the liberation of Azerbaijan's lands, which have been under occupation for nearly 30 years, and the independent policy carried out do not coincide with the insidious intentions of people like Schwabe, and it worries them.

"Frank Schwabe is well aware that the only reason why the observers of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) were not invited to observe the elections to the Milli Majlis is that despite the promises given to our country at the political level, including by German officials, the mandate of the Azerbaijani delegation has not yet been restored. Expressing concern about Azerbaijan-Russia relations, it would be appropriate for Schwabe to talk about people who cooperate with Russia in Germany and PACE, and who even today closely cooperate with Russia's "Gazprom" company.

At the same time, Azerbaijan's presiding over the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) was conditioned by political motives not related to this process, expressing opinions contrary to the essence of the fight against climate change, including the commitment of our country, once again demonstrated Schwabe's bias against Azerbaijan.

Regarding Schwabe's intention to visit our country within the framework of COP29, let's note that those who voted against the Azerbaijani delegation at PACE were included in the list of "undesirable persons". If the said persons come to Azerbaijan until the mandate of our delegation in PACE is restored, they will not be allowed to enter the territory of the country. Azerbaijan is committed to its obligations at the international level, it understands these obligations well. At the same time, we emphasize once again that applying these obligations only on the basis of unilateral and bilateral standards, misusing them, and applying biased approaches to our country will not be allowed," Aykhan Hajizade said.

It should be recalled that during the interview published on August 23 on "Radio Liberty", the member of the German Parliament, Frank Schwabe, stated that Azerbaijan is not interested in membership in the Council of Europe, accused Azerbaijan of not being loyal to the values promoted by the Council of Europe, and that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe was not invited as an observer in the elections to the Milli Majlis. He also made insulting statements against Azerbaijan's authorities.

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24 August 2024 18:21 (UTC+04:00)

Atadjan Movlamov, Ambassador of Turkmenistan and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Islamabad, recently conducted courtesy meetings with Alexandra Berg Von Linde, the Swedish ambassador, and Mary ONeill, the newly appointed Irish ambassador to Pakistan, Azernews reports citing the Turkmen embassy.

During their separate discussions, both ambassadors were briefed on the activities and initiatives of the Diplomatic Corps in Islamabad. Ambassador Movlamov provided insights into regional energy projects, emphasizing their crucial role in economic development and regional stability.

Ambassador ONeill, who had recently presented her credentials to Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari, expressed gratitude for Turkmenistans leadership in these key initiatives and praised its positive impact on the regions economic landscape.

The conversations between Ambassador Movlamov and Ambassador ONeill also covered broader regional and international topics, highlighting a mutual interest in strengthening diplomatic and economic relations.

These meetings reflect ongoing efforts to enhance international cooperation and foster collaborative opportunities within the region.

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24 August 2024 18:46 (UTC+04:00)

Recent heavy rainfall in Chinas northeastern Liaoning Province has resulted in 11 fatalities and 14 missing persons, according to state broadcaster CCTV, Azernews reports citing NDTV.

On the evening of August 23, a press conference in Huludao City, Liaoning, addressed the flood prevention, control measures, and disaster relief efforts. CCTV reported that the severe weather has caused extensive damage across Huludao City, particularly in Jianchang County and Suizhong County. The heavy rains have severely impacted infrastructure, including roads, electricity, communications, housing, and crops.

Following multiple rounds of inspections, authorities confirmed that the disaster has claimed 10 lives, with 14 individuals still missing. Tragically, an official involved in rescue operations also lost their life.

Search and rescue operations are ongoing as efforts continue to locate and assist those affected by the devastating floods.

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24 August 2024 19:22 (UTC+04:00)

Uzbekistans National Interbank Processing Center (HUMO) and South Koreas BC Card have signed an agreement to integrate their payment systems, Azernews reports.

This agreement will enable cardholders from both systems to make transactions seamlessly using their domestic cards in both Korea and Uzbekistan. HUMO announced that this partnership will enhance international relations in the field of cashless payments and provide greater convenience for users of both HUMO and BC Card.

Maqsad Mukhitdinov, First Deputy Chairman of the Board of the National Interbank Processing Center, stated, This collaboration supports the advancement of international payment relations and offers HUMO and BC Card holders the ability to use their local cards across both countries.

Additionally, Uzbekistan has initiated the privatization of the National Interbank Processing Center (HUMO), offering 100 percent of the state-owned shares for public negotiation, in accordance with Article 22 of the Law of Uzbekistan on Privatization of State Property.

The National Interbank Processing Center holds the necessary license from the Central Bank of Uzbekistan to operate as a payment system operator.

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24 August 2024 20:52 (UTC+04:00)

Turkmenistan's Foreign Minister, Rashid Meredov, recently met with Farrukh Shahzad Rao, Director General of Pakistan's National Logistics Corporation (NLC), to discuss strengthening transportation and logistics cooperation, Azernews reports citing foreign media.

The meeting, held at the Turkmen Foreign Ministry, focused on deepening the well-established partnership between Turkmenistan and Pakistan through improved logistics and transit capabilities.

Key topics included the development of international transport corridors, increasing transit cargo volumes, streamlining customs procedures, and enhancing port infrastructure to support regional economic integration.

On August 22, Foreign Minister Meredov also engaged with Kashif Nazir, President and Chief Engineer of Pakistan's Frontier Works Organization (FWO). Their discussions centered on potential collaborations in urban development, road and transportation infrastructure, and irrigation systems. The meeting explored how FWOs extensive experience could support major projects in Turkmenistan.

These discussions underscore the commitment of both nations to advance their collaborative efforts in critical sectors, paving the way for significant economic and infrastructural development.

The National Logistics Corporation (NLC) is Pakistans premier multimodal logistics provider, offering comprehensive transport solutions across road, rail, sea, and air. With an extensive fleet and infrastructure network, including dry ports and warehousing, NLC is dedicated to digital transformation and sustainable growth.

Frontier Works Organization (FWO), established in 1966, is Pakistans leading engineering and construction firm, renowned for projects like the Karakoram Highway. FWO specializes in major infrastructure projects, including urban development, road construction, and irrigation systems.

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Now that Kamala Harris has been coronated the Democratic Socialist designee for nomination as their candidate for President of these United States, after that political party's contrived primary process "democratically" elected Joseph R. Biden: What are your feelings about this party's progressive posture within their self-styled exercise of "Saving Democracy for America," and how truly critical the outcome of this presidential election will be?

8.7% I am ecstatic that this "Democracy's" First partially Black, First partially Indian, First female Co-Parent, and this nation's primary necessity is to her elect our First woman president.26.09% I really do not care about all these "Firsts." I will continue to pray, and work for this Representative Republic to elect someone competent, and brilliantly patriotic to be our next president.65.22% I will never vote for any politician that "first" does not have the core values to understand how dire this Constitutional Republic's situation has become.
The parents of a young child who fell ill at a Co Antrim leisure complex have thanked those who came to his aid.

Benjamin Trela was taken to hospital after an incident at the Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre in Ballymoney.

Today his family said he is recovering well and expected to be released from hospital tomorrow.

In a statement released via a local councillor, his parents said Benjamin is full of life this morning.

Benjamins parents, Eliza and Lukasz, told the Causeway Coast Community Facebook page they wanted to express their deep gratitude to all medical staff, the lifeguards, and the Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre staff.

Eliza is incredibly thankful for the support following the traumatic experience, and both parents sincerely thank the staff at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, they added.

Benjamin is expected to be discharged from the hospital tomorrow.

Emergency services attended the scene at the Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre after the child got into difficulty in the water on Friday night.

The swimming pools at the centre were subsequently closed,

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) said they responded promptly and despatched two Rapid Response Paramedics and an Emergency Crew to the scene shortly after 3.52pm.

The Air Ambulance, equipped with a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) crew, was also deployed.

Medical teams immediately assessed the child and provided urgent care.

Subsequently, the young patient was transferred by ambulance to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children for further treatment.

Local UUP councillor Darryl Wilson said: "We are thankful for the positive news regarding the child involved in the pool incident at the Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre.

While it is still early in his recovery, we are encouraged by his progress and grateful for the excellent care provided by our health services."

Mr Wilson added: "I would like to once again extend my gratitude to the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, first responders, council staff, and everyone who responded swiftly and professionally to this serious incident."
Some residents paid for hotels because the emergency response centre was unsuitable

Controlled explosion seen at location of Second World War-era bomb in Co Down

Residents who have been left out of pocket after being forced to evacuate their homes following the discovery of a massive WW2 bomb in Newtownards say they are frustrated by the lack of government support.

It comes as the Department for Communities (DfC) and Ards and North Down Borough Council confirmed no financial support is available for residents who fled their homes in the Rivenwood area following the discovery of a 1,100lb munition.

Some of the 1,500 people affected have complained about the unexpected expenses they accrued during the complex security operation which resulted in Ards Blair Mayne Wellbeing and Leisure Complex being opened up as an emergency shelter.

The overnight facility was only used by one person on one occasion before a controlled explosion was carried out on Tuesday afternoon, causing damage to solar panels, roof tiles and windows.

I believe the leisure centre wasnt used because it wasnt suitable, one local resident told the Belfast Telegraph.

Until Tuesday there was no food other than biscuits provided, residents had to purchase meals themselves as there was nowhere for them to store food.

Lots of families had just done their weekly food shop at the current extortionate prices, to then have to provide meals for their families all over again.

But no food vouchers or anything like that was offered.

The occupants of around 450 homes were instructed to leave the residential area last Saturday after an air-dropped SC-500 German bomb was found on a development site. Displaced residents were allowed to return on Tuesday after a controlled explosion caused a big bang and sent black smoke billowing into the sky.

Police had previously warned those who refused to leave their homes that there was a risk of death or serious injury.

More than 1,500 residents were evacuated across the wider area with little to no support from the local council or relevant authorities, the local resident claimed.

The leisure centre was completely unsuitable and the council was underprepared for a community crisis. An emergency response centre  but bring your own towel? Most people had to pay for hotels and Airbnbs  Ive even been made aware of pensioners having to borrow money to pay for alternative accommodation as a camp bed wasnt suitable for their needs.

According to Jim Shannons office the council dont have funds readily available for emergency response.

There are huge frustrations amongst residents with how poor communication was throughout the incident.

With regards to assessing damage, it has been left to residents to check their property and contact utility suppliers if necessary. It has all caused a lot of stress regarding insurance policies and whether they cover properties left empty with windows on the latch.

A spokesperson for AXA Insurance has confirmed it is making contact with customers in the area. We understand that this may be a very stressful time for those impacted, they said.

We are actively reaching out to each of our customers in the area concerned to see if and how we can be of assistance.

However the Association of British Insurers (ABI) told this newspaper that any loss or damage as a result of war is a general exclusion in both domestic and commercial property insurance.

It is important to understand what you are covered for and any exclusions that may apply, which should be clearly explained, a spokesperson added.

If there are concerns about damage to property caused by controlled explosions of WW2 unexploded ordinance then you should speak to your insurer.

Litigation expert William McSorley previously told this newspaper policy providers often include a war exclusion in contracts.

The partner at Millar McCall Wylie Solicitors referred to the notable case of Allianz Insurance plc v University of Exeter, when the court ruled that damage from a controlled explosion of a WWII bomb was not covered due to the clause.

A spokesperson for Ards and North Down Borough Council said its support hub remained open until Wednesday afternoon for anyone seeking help or advice and that a small number of families accessed information from the relevant agencies including health trusts and the Housing Executive.

They insisted light refreshments were available free of charge adding: The councils role in the process was to provide a support centre for shelter, support and advice services.

The spokesperson said DfC has the authority to provide financial assistance if it is available and urged residents with concerns to contact their housing insurance providers to determine if they qualify for assistance.

The department confirmed that communities minister Gordon Lyons has activated the scheme of emergency financial assistance (SEFA) for non-flooding incidents. But it said the scheme provides financial support to the local authority for direct costs incurred by the council and services contracted out by the council. A spokesperson added: This scheme does not provide any financial support to householders.
Joe Kennedy III shares family statement which condemns move as betrayal

ST CLOUD, MINNESOTA - JULY 27: U.S. Republican Presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives to speak during a rally at Herb Brooks National Hockey Center on July 27, 2024 in St Cloud, Minnesota. Trump hopes to flip the state of Minnesota this November, which hasn't been carried by a Republican in a presidential election since 1972. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

Independent Presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr speaks to reporters at the Nassau County Supreme Court in Mineola, New York (Stefan Jeremiah, AP)

Americas top diplomat in Northern Ireland has joined the criticism of his uncles decision to back Donald Trump in the US presidential race.

Robert F Kennedy Jr  the uncle of US Special Envoy Joe Kennedy III  announced that he was dropping out of the contest and endorsing the former president.

Mr Kennedy (70), a Democrat for most of his life and a member of Americas most famous political dynasty, had been standing for the presidency as an independent candidate.

But he said he would seek to remove his name from the ballot in 10 battleground states, later joining Mr Trump on stage at a rally in Arizona after dropping out of the race.

It could give the former president a modest boost from Mr Kennedy's supporters in the race against the Democrat ticket of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.

But members of the Kennedy family called the move a "betrayal".

"We want an America filled with hope and bound together by a shared vision of a brighter future, a future defined by individual freedom, economic promise and national pride," a statement signed by five of the former independent presidential candidate's siblings said.

"We believe in Harris and Walz," the statement continued. "Our brother Bobby's decision to endorse Trump today is a betrayal of the values that our father and our family hold most dear. It is a sad ending to a sad story."

The statement includes signatures from Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Courtney Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, Chris Kennedy and Rory Kennedy.

Joe Kennedy III, a grandson of Robert F. Kennedy, reacted to the statement, sharing it on X and writing that it was "well said.

Mr Kennedy was appointed US Special Envoy to NI in 2022.

The US State Department said he would concentrate on "advancing economic development and investment opportunities in Northern Ireland".

US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland Joe Kennedy. Pic: Niall Carson/PA Wire

In April 2023 Mr Kennedy made clear he would not be supporting his uncles White House bid, and would be backing Joe Biden, at the time the presumptive Democrat nominee.

He told the Belfast Telegraph at the time: I love my uncle, and nothings ever going to come between that. I am honoured that the president selected me for this position. I support the president and look forward to supporting him in the next few years.

Yesterday, Robert Kennedy Jr said his internal polls had shown that his presence in the race would hurt Mr Trump and help Ms Harris, though recent public polls do not provide a clear indication that he is having a key impact on support for either major-party candidate.

Mr Kennedy cited free speech, the war in Ukraine and a "war on our children" as among the reasons he would try to remove his name from the ballot in battleground US states.

"These are the principal causes that persuaded me to leave the Democratic Party and run as an independent, and now to throw my support to President Trump," Mr Kennedy said.

However, he made clear that he was not formally ending his bid and said his supporters could continue to back him in the majority of states where they are unlikely to sway the outcome.

Donald Trump

Mr Kennedy said his actions followed conversations with Mr Trump over the past few weeks. He cast their alliance as "a unity party" - an arrangement that would "allow us to disagree publicly and privately and seriously".

Hours after Mr Kennedy made his announcement in Phoenix, Mr Trump held a rally in neighbouring Glendale.

Mr Trump praised Mr Kennedy as "phenomenal" and "brilliant" as he welcomed him on stage at the rally

Even in recent months, Mr Kennedy has accused Mr Trump of betraying his followers, while Trump has criticised Mr Kennedy as "the most radical left candidate in the race".

Mr Kennedy, the son of murdered senator Robert Kennedy and the nephew of president John F Kennedy, acknowledged his decision had caused tension with his immediate family. He is married to actress Cheryl Hines.

"This decision is agonising for me because of the difficulties it causes my wife and my children and my friends," Mr Kennedy said. "But I have the certainty that this is what I'm meant to do. And that certainty gives me internal peace, even in storms."

The Kennedy and Trump campaigns have ramped up their compliments of each other and engaged in behind-the-scenes discussions in recent weeks, according to those familiar with the efforts.

Both campaigns have spent months accusing Democrats of weaponising the legal system for their own benefit. And both have hinted publicly that they could be open to joining forces, with the shared goal of limiting Ms Harris' chances.

Mr Trump told CNN on Tuesday that he would "love" an endorsement from Mr Kennedy, whom he called a "brilliant guy".

He also said he would "certainly" be open to Mr Kennedy playing a role in his administration if he dropped out and endorsed him.

Recent polls put his support in the mid-single digits. And it is unclear if he would get even that in a general election, since third-party candidates frequently do not live up to their early poll numbers when voters actually cast their ballots.
Seven bodies were recovered after the Bayesian yacht sank (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Seven people died after a luxury superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily, with their bodies recovered less than a week after the shipwreck.

British tech mogul Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah were among those recovered after the Bayesian sank near Porticello early Monday morning.

Recaldo Thomas, who was working as a chef on the vessel, along with Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy Bloomer, Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo were also recovered at the scene.

Hannah Lynch, daughter of Mike Lynch, was among those who died (Family Handout/PA)

Italian prosecutors have opened a manslaughter investigation into their deaths and here the PA news agency provides a timeline of events leading up to that announcement.

 Monday August 19

The Bayesian yacht, flying a British flag, sinks at around 5am local time when the area was hit by a tornado.

Fifteen people are rescued from the 55m (180ft) vessel  including a mother and baby  but another seven remain missing.

A body, believed to be that of a chef on the boat, is later found near the wreck.

It emerges that British technology tycoon Mike Lynch and his daughter are among six tourists that remain missing.

 Tuesday August 20

The search continues for the six tourists missing.

It is reported that among those missing are Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer; his wife, Judy Bloomer; Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo; and his wife, Neda Morvillo.

Police divers try to reach the hull of the ship, resting at a depth of 50 metres.

Italys fire brigade Vigili del Fuoco say early inspections of the wreck were unsuccessful because of limited access to the bridge and furniture obstructing passages.

The operation is later described as complex, with divers limited to 12-minute underwater shifts.

The Italian Coastguard tell PA they fear the six missing tourists have died, with their bodies trapped inside the luxury yacht.

It is confirmed that the body recovered at the scene of the sinking on Monday was that of Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, who was working as a chef on the yacht.

Tributes pour in for the cook, with his friend Gareth Williams telling the BBC: I can talk for everyone that knew him when I say he was a well-loved, kind human being with a calm spirit.

The Bayesian sank off the coast of Sicily (Jonathan Brady/PA)

 Wednesday August 21

The search for the six people unaccounted for enters a third day, with crews carrying out inspections of the yachts internal hull.

A team of four British inspectors from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) arrive in Porticello to look at the site of the sinking.

A helicopter is drafted in to help with the search effort and remotely controlled underwater vehicles are being used, with naval units and cave divers also taking part in the search.

Five bodies are found inside the yacht on Wednesday afternoon. Only four of them are brought to shore.

Body bags are seen being taken to the port of Porticello in the afternoon where dozens of emergency services staff wait.

Searches finish for the day just before 7.30pm.

 Thursday August 22

The search resumes for the remaining missing person.

The body of the fifth missing person, found but not recovered the previous day, is brought to shore.

A fire service boat with flashing blue lights returns with a blue body bag to the port of Porticello just after 8.45am local time on Thursday.

Tributes pour in for Mr Lynch and Mr and Mrs Bloomer after they are identified as having died.

The search is called off at around 8pm in Sicily, with divers expected to begin again at 6.30am on Friday.

A press conference was held by Italian officials on Saturday (Jonathan Brady/PA)

 Friday August 23

The search continues for the final person missing from the wreck of the Bayesian, later confirmed to be 18-year-old Hannah.

Vincenzo Zagarola, of the Italian Coastguard, says the search for Hannah has not been easy or quick, comparing the sunken yacht to an 18-storey building full of water.

The coastguard confirms in the late morning that her body has been found.

A green body bag is seen being brought to the port of Porticello from the site of the sinking.

A spokesperson announces on behalf of her family that they are devastated and in shock after the bodies of Hannah and her father were recovered.

Hannahs sister Esme pays tribute to her little angel.

 Saturday August 24

A press conference is held in the court of an Italian town  Termini Imerese.

Public prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio tells reporters that his office has opened an initial investigation against unknown persons into manslaughter and negligent shipwreck, according to a translation.

The press conference also hears from the prosecutor in charge of the case, Raffaele Cammarano, maritime director of western Sicily Rear Admiral Raffaele Macauda, the fire brigade chief of Palermo, Bentivoglio Fiandra, and the brigades chief diver, Giuseppe Petrone.
People lay flowers near the scene of the knife attack (Henning Kaiser/dpa/AP)

Special police units on Saturday joined the search for an unknown man who carried out a stabbing attack at a crowded festival in the western German city of Solingen, killing three people and wounding at least eight others, four of them seriously.

A 15-year-old boy was arrested early on Saturday.

Police said he was suspected of knowing about the planned attack and not informing authorities, but he was not the attacker.

Markus Caspers, from the counterterrorism section of the public prosecutors office, told a news conference on Saturday that authorities have not found the perpetrator.

So far we have not been able to identify a motive, but looking at the overall circumstances, we cannot rule out the possibility of terrorism, Mr Caspers said, though he did not offer further details.

The three people who died were two men aged 67 and 56 and a woman aged 56, authorities said.

Police said the attacker appeared to have deliberately aimed for his victims throats.

Thorsten Fleiss from the German police, who was the chief of operations on Friday, said police are conducting various searches and investigations in the entire state of North Rhine Westphalia that will continue throughout the day.

He said that it is a big challenge to bring together available evidence and testimony from witnesses in order to come up with a overall picture.

Mr Fleiss also said police have found several knives but added that he was unable to confirm whether any of them had been used as a weapon by the perpetrator during the attack.

Police told people to stay vigilant even as wellwishers started to leave flowers at the scene.

Police cars at a cordon after several people were killed and injured in an attack at Solingens 650th anniversary celebrations (Christoph Reichwein/dpa via AP)

Authorities established an online portal where witnesses could upload footage and any other information relevant to the attack.

German interior minister Nancy Faeser paid a visit to Solingen on Saturday evening.

She said that the government would do everything possible to support the city and the people of Solingen.

We will not allow that such an attack divides our society, she said, appearing alongside minister-president of the German State of North Rhine Westphalia Hendrik Wust and state minister for internal affairs Herbert Reul.

Mr Wust described the attack as an act of terror against the security and freedom of this country.

But Ms Faeser, the countrys top security official, has not classified it as a terror attack.

Mr Reul announced that the planned visit of the interior minister to the crime scene would not take place because of the ongoing police operation in the affected areas of the city.

He pleaded with the public to give time to the police so that they can do their work.

Emergency services tents in front of the stage in Solingen (Christoph Reichwein/dpa/AP)

He also said that the police presence would be increased at larger events, especially because the perpetrator has not been caught yet.

People alerted police shortly after 9.30pm on Friday to an unknown attacker having wounded several people with a knife on a central square, the Fronhof.

Police said they believe the stabbings were carried out by a lone attacker and gave no information about the identities of the victims.

Last night our hearts were torn apart. We in Solingen are full of horror and grief. What happened yesterday in our city has hardly let any of us sleep, the mayor of Solingen, Tim Kurzbach, said, speaking to reporters on Saturday near the scene of the attack.

The Festival of Diversity, marking the citys 650th anniversary, began on Friday and was supposed to run until Sunday, with several stages in central streets offering attractions such as live music, cabaret and acrobatics.

The attack took place in the crowd in front of one stage. Hours after the attack, the stage lights were still on as police and forensic investigators looked for clues in the cordoned-off square.

One of the festival organisers, Philipp Muller, appeared on stage on Friday and asked festivalgoers to go calmly, please keep your eyes open, because unfortunately the perpetrator hasnt been caught.

Solingen has about 160,000 residents and is near the bigger cities of Cologne and Dusseldorf.

Police near the scene of the attack (Gianni Gattus/dpa/AP)

The rest of the festival was cancelled.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Saturday that the perpetrator of the attack must be caught quickly and punished with the full force of the law.

The attack in Solingen is a terrible event that has shocked me greatly. An attacker has brutally killed several people. I have just spoken to Solingens mayor, Tim Kurzbach. We mourn the victims and stand by their families, Mr Scholz said on X, formerly Twitter.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also spoke to the mayor of Solingen on Saturday.

The heinous act in Solingen shocks me and our country. We mourn those killed and worry about those injured and I wish them strength and a speedy recovery from all my heart, Mr Steinmeier said in a statement on Saturday.

The perpetrator needs to be brought to justice. Lets stand together  against hatred and violence.

There has been concern about increased knife violence in Germany, and interior minister Nancy Faeser recently proposed toughening weapons laws to allow only knives with a blade measuring up to six centimetres to be carried in public, rather than the 12 centimetres that is currently allowed.
The same Iranian hacking group believed to have targeted both the Democratic and Republican presidential campaigns tried to go after the WhatsApp accounts of staffers in the administrations of President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump, Meta Platforms said on Friday.

Meta said it discovered the network of hackers, who posed as tech support agents for companies including AOL, Microsoft, Yahoo and Google after individuals who received the suspicious WhatsApp messages reported them.

Metas investigators linked the activity to the same network blamed for the hacking incident reported by Donald Trumps campaign.

The FBI this week said a hack by Iran of the Trump campaign and an attempted breach of the Biden-Harris campaign was part of a broader Iranian effort to interfere with the US presidential election.

A statement on Friday from Meta, the parent of Facebook and Instagram, said that the hackers had tried to target the WhatsApp accounts of individuals in the Middle East, the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as political and diplomatic officials  including unidentified officials associated with the Trump and Biden administrations.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump spoke at a campaign rally at the Mohegan Sun Arena on August 17 (Carolyn Kaster/AP)

A small cluster of accounts was blocked by Meta, the company said.

We have not seen evidence of the targeted WhatsApp accounts being compromised, but out of an abundance of caution, were sharing our findings publicly, in addition to sharing information with law enforcement and our industry peers, Meta said in a statement.

In a report this month, Googles threat intelligence arm said the same Iranian group, which it linked to the countrys Revolutionary Guard, had tried to infiltrate the personal email accounts of roughly a dozen people linked to Joe Biden and Donald Trump since May.

That report expanded on a separate study released days earlier by Microsoft that revealed suspected Iranian cyber intrusion in this years presidential election.

US intelligence officials say Irans increasingly aggressive use of cyberattacks and disinformation has several motives: to confuse and polarise voters to undermine confidence in US democracy, to erode support for Israel, and to oppose candidates that it believes will increase tension between Washington and Iran.

Iran has vowed revenge against Mr Trump, whose administration ended a nuclear deal with Iran, reimposed sanctions and ordered the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.

President Joe Biden checks out the stage before the Democratic National Convention on August 19 (Paul Sancya/AP)

In July, director of national intelligence Avril Haines said Irans government gave covert support to American protests against Israels war against Hamas in Gaza.

Groups linked to Iran posed as online activists encouraged campus protests and provided financial support to some protest groups, Ms Haines said.

Messages left with the Trump and Harris campaigns by the Associated Press were not immediately returned on Friday.
Police officers stand at a cordon in the city centre in Solingen, Germany (Christoph Reichwein/dpa via AP)

The so-called Islamic State militant group has claimed responsibility for a knife attack in Solingen, Germany, that killed three people and wounded eight others at a crowded festival marking the citys 650th anniversary.

The group said on its news site that the attacker targeted Christians and is a soldier of the Islamic State who carried out the assaults on Friday night to avenge Muslims in Palestine and everywhere.

The IS claim could not immediately be verified.

No evidence for the groups assertions was provided.

Police began raiding a home for asylum seekers in Solingens city centre, including with special forces, the German news agency DPA reported.

Police told DPA later that they detained a man in the home and were looking into a possible connection to the knife attack.

There was no official statement from police.

A 15-year-old boy was arrested early on Saturday.

Police said he was suspected of knowing about the planned attack and failing to inform authorities, but he was not the attacker.

Markus Caspers, senior public prosecutor from the counterterrorism section of the public prosecutors office, told a news conference earlier on Saturday that authorities have not found the perpetrator.

Special police forces carry out an operation at a refugee shelter in Solingen, Germany (Christoph Reichwein/dpa via AP)

So far we have not been able to identify a motive, but looking at the overall circumstances, we cannot rule out the possibility of terrorism, Mr Caspers said, though he did not offer further details.

The three people who died were two men aged 67 and 56 and a 56-year-old woman, authorities said.

Police said the attacker appeared to have deliberately aimed for his victims throats.

We are seeing the first signs of a new wave of terrorist attacks, said Peter Neumann, a professor of security studies at Kings College London.

IS is trying to capitalise on the huge mobilisation resulting from Hamass terror offensive on October 7 2023, even though strictly speaking it had nothing to do with it, he said.

The kind of attack we saw in Solingen is exactly the kind of attack that (IS) is trying to inspire. Its calling on people over the internet to attack unbelievers using simple methods. like cars and knives. That way, it is trying to create an impression that (IS) is everywhere and could strike anytime, Prof Neumann told the Associated Press.

Police cars at a cordon after several people were killed and injured in an attack at Solingens 650th anniversary celebrations (Christoph Reichwein/dpa via AP)

Thorsten Fleiss, from the German police, who was the chief of operations on Friday night, said police are conducting various searches and investigations in the entire state of North Rhine Westphalia that will continue throughout the day.

He said it is a big challenge to bring together available evidence and testimony from witnesses in order to come up with an overall picture.

Mr Fleiss also said that police have found several knives but added that he was unable to confirm whether any of them had been used as a weapon by the perpetrator during the attack.

Police warned people to stay vigilant even as well-wishers started to leave flowers at the scene.

Authorities established an online portal where witnesses could upload footage and any other information relevant to the attack.

Churches in Solingen have opened their doors to offer a space for prayer and emergency pastoral care.

German interior minister Nancy Faeser paid a visit to Solingen on Saturday evening.

She said that the government would do everything possible to support the city and the people of Solingen.

Emergency services tents in front of the stage in Solingen (Christoph Reichwein/dpa/AP)

We will not allow that such an awful attack divides our society, she said, appearing alongside minister-president of the German state of North Rhine Westphalia Hendrik Wust and state minister for internal affairs Herbert Reul.

Mr Wust described the attack as an act of terror against the security and freedom of this country.

But Ms Faeser, the countrys top security official, has not classified it as a terror attack.

Mr Reul announced that the planned visit of the interior minister to the crime scene would not take place because of the ongoing police operation in the affected areas of the city.

He pleaded with the public to give time to the police so that they can do their work.

Mr Reul also said that the police presence would be increased at larger events, especially because the perpetrator has not been caught yet.

People alerted police shortly after 9.30pm local time on Friday to an unknown attacker having wounded several people with a knife on a central square, the Fronhof.

Last night our hearts were torn apart. We in Solingen are full of horror and grief. What happened yesterday in our city has hardly let any of us sleep, the mayor of Solingen Tim Kurzbach said, speaking to reporters on Saturday near the scene of the attack.

Police near the scene of the attack (Gianni Gattus/dpa/AP)

The Festival of Diversity, marking the citys 650th anniversary, began on Friday and was supposed to run until Sunday, with several stages in central streets offering attractions such as live music, cabaret and acrobatics.

The attack took place in the crowd in front of one stage.

Hours after the attack, the stage lights were still on as police and forensic investigators looked for clues in the cordoned-off square.

The rest of the festival was cancelled.

Solingen has about 160,000 residents and is located near the bigger cities of Cologne and Dusseldorf.

Mr Caspers told the news conference that the 15-year-old boy was arrested after two female witnesses contacted police.

They said they had listened to a conversation between the boy and an unknown person before the attack, speaking about intentions that corresponded to the events that followed.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Saturday that the perpetrator must be caught quickly and punished with the full force of the law.

The attack in Solingen is a terrible event that has shocked me greatly. An attacker has brutally killed several people. I have just spoken to Solingens mayor, Tim Kurzbach. We mourn the victims and stand by their families, Mr Scholz said on X.

German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier also spoke to Mr Kurzbach on Saturday morning.

The heinous act in Solingen shocks me and our country. We mourn those killed and worry about those injured and I wish them strength and a speedy recovery from all my heart, Mr Steinmeier said in a statement on Saturday.

The perpetrator needs to be brought to justice. Lets stand together  against hatred and violence.

There has been concern about increased knife violence in Germany, and Ms Faeser recently proposed toughening weapons laws to allow only knives with a blade measuring up to 6cm (nearly 2.4in) to be carried in public, rather than the length of 12cm (4.7in) that is currently allowed.
A Russian soldier fires from a D-30 howitzer towards Ukrainian positions in an undisclosed location in Ukraine (Russian Defence Ministry Press Service via AP)

By Illia Novikov and Elise Morton, Associated Press

By Illia Novikov and Elise Morton, Associated Press

Russia and Ukraine have exchanged more than 100 prisoners of war each as Kyiv marked its third Independence Day since Moscows full-scale invasion.

Ukraine said the 115 Ukrainian servicemen who were freed were conscripts, many of whom were taken prisoner in the first months of Russias invasion.

Among them are nearly 50 soldiers captured by Russian forces from the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol.

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The Russian Defence Ministry said the 115 Russian soldiers had been captured in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces launched their surprise offensive into Russia two weeks ago.

The ministry said the soldiers were currently in Belarus, but would be taken to Russia for medical treatment and rehabilitation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a post on X that the United Arab Emirates had again brokered the exchange, the 55th since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbour in February 2022.

Photos attached to Mr Zelenskys post show gaunt servicemen with shaven heads and wrapped in Ukrainian flags.

We remember each and every one. We are searching and doing our best to get everyone back, Mr Zelensky said in the post.

Officials from the two sides meet only when they swap their dead and prisoners of war, after lengthy preparation and diplomacy.

Neither Ukraine nor Russia discloses how many prisoners of war there are in total.

According to the UN, most Ukrainian prisoners of war suffer routine medical neglect, severe and systematic mistreatment and even torture while in detention.

A Russian soldier fires from a D-30 howitzer towards Ukrainian positions in an undisclosed location in Ukraine (Russian Defence Ministry Press Service via AP)

There have also been isolated reports of abuse of Russian soldiers, mostly during capture or transit to internment sites.

Last January, Russia and Ukraine exchanged hundreds of prisoners of war in the biggest single release.

Five people were killed and five others wounded on Saturday in Russian shelling of the centre of the city of Kostiantynivka in Ukraines partially occupied eastern Donetsk region, local officials said.

In the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, Russian shelling killed two people and wounded four on Saturday, including a baby, officials said.

Two people were killed in a Russian drone attack, and one further person in shelling, in the northeastern Sumy region.

Ukraines air force said it had intercepted and destroyed seven drones over the countrys south.

Russian long-range bombers also attacked the area of Zmiinyi (Snake) Island overnight with four cruise missiles, while the wider Kherson region was also struck by aerial bombs.

In Russia, the Defence Ministry said on Saturday that air defences had shot down seven drones overnight.

Servicemen of the 24th Mechanised Brigade fire a howitzer towards Russian positions near Chasiv Yar town, in Donetsk (Oleg Petrasiuk/Ukrainian 24th Mechanised Brigade/AP)

Five drones were downed over the southwestern Voronezh region bordering Ukraine, wounding two people, regional governor Aleksandr Gusev said.

Ukraines Military Intelligence Directorate claimed to have blown up a warehouse storing 5,000 tonnes of ammunition in the regions Ostrogozhsky district.

News outlet Astra published videos appearing to show explosions at the ammunition depot after being hit by a drone.

The videos could not be independently verified.

Two people were wounded in a drone attack in the Belgorod region, also bordering Ukraine, regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said.

Local authorities did not report any casualties in the Bryansk region, where the fifth drone was intercepted.

In the Kursk region, regional governor Alexei Smirnov said on Saturday that three missiles were shot down overnight and another four on Saturday morning.

Russian air defences shot down two more drones on Saturday morning, Russias Defence Ministry said  one over the Kursk region and one over the Bryansk region.

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Ukraine marked its 33rd Independence Day on Saturday as its war against Russias aggression reaches a 30-month milestone.

No festivities are planned and instead Ukrainians will mark the day with commemorations for civilians and soldiers killed in the war.

Speaking at a ceremony marking the anniversary, Mr Zelensky announced on Saturday that Ukraine has successfully used a new domestically produced drone for the first time against Russian forces.

Today, we had the first and successful combat use of our new weapon  a completely new class of weapon, the Ukrainian missile drone Palyanitsa, Mr Zelensky said.

He did not give further details, but added that the enemy was struck, and thanked the developers and manufacturers.

Mr Zelensky also said that Ukraines offensive in the Kursk region was a preventive strike that made it possible to avoid encirclement of part of Ukraines Sumy region.

Polish President Andrzej Duda arrived in Kyiv by train early on Saturday in a symbolic show of support from one of Ukraines key allies.

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Videos posted by his office showed him being greeted by Ukrainian officials and later paying his respects in a ceremony at the Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen for Ukraine.

Mr Dudas visit to Kyiv, his fifth since February 2022, sends a message that Warsaws support for Ukraine remains strong as the war drags on for the third year.

Poland, located to Ukraines west, has donated arms and become a hub for Western weapons destined for Ukraine.

It has also welcomed tens of thousands of Ukrainians who fled the war.

It hosts the most Ukrainian refugees outside of the country after Germany.

A trade dispute over Ukrainian grain that dragged down ties last year, and historical grievances between the two countries, sometimes provoke bad feelings, particularly among Poles who remember a Second World War-era massacre by Ukrainian nationalists.
Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez attends a campaign event before the election in Caracas, Venezuela (Ariana Cubillos/AP)

Venezuelas government has said it will order former opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez to provide sworn testimony in an ongoing investigation into what it considers attempts to spread panic in the South American country by contesting the results of last months presidential election.

The attempt on Friday is the latest by Nicolas Maduros government to crack down on opponents who claim they handily defeated the self-declared socialist leader.

Mr Maduro has refused to recognise defeat and claims he won the July 28 election by more than one million votes, even though tally sheets by Mr Gonzalezs campaign and published online show the president lost by a more than 2-to-1 margin.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro flashes victory hand signs at supporters during a pro-government rally in Caracas, Venezuela (Cristian Hernandez/AP)

The US, United Nations and others said the vote lacked credibility and even some of Mr Maduros leftist allies in Latin America have called on him to publish the voting records.

Venezuelas Attorney General Tarek William Saab at a press conference on Friday accused the former candidate of trying to illegally usurp responsibilities that belong exclusively to the National Electoral Council.

Mr Gonzalez went into hiding after the July 28 vote as security forces have rounded up more than 2,000 demonstrators and political activists for challenging the official results.

He has been joined underground by opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who picked Mr Gonzalez as a last minute stand-in after her own candidacy was disqualified.

Ruling party stalwarts have called for their arrest but so far authorities have held off.

The Biden administration in the US condemned a ruling by Venezuelas Supreme Court certifying Mr Maduros win on Friday.

The high court on Thursday said it had performed an audit of the results and found they matched the results announced by electoral authorities, adding that the tally sheets published online by the opposition were forged.

This ruling lacks all credibility, given the overwhelming evidence that Gonzalez received the most votes on July 28, US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said.

Continued attempts to fraudulently claim victory for Maduro will only exacerbate the ongoing crisis.

Thanks to a superb ground game on election day, opposition volunteers managed to collect copies of voting tallies from 80% of the 30,000 polling booths nationwide.

The tally sheets printed by each voting machine carry a QR code that makes it easy for anyone to verify the results and are almost impossible to replicate.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called on Venezuela to act in a transparent manner and expressed concern about human rights violations on Friday.

Meanwhile, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, whose government is leading an attempt with Brazil and Colombia to resolve the dispute, said that he will withhold recognising Mr Maduro as the winner until a breakdown of results are published.
Football

Levi Colwill hopes England players back up the belief of their boss Lee Carsley
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Have you ever met an atheist? I dont just mean someone who doesnt go to church or a non-Christian, but someone who doesnt believe in God at all.

Ive met a few in my life. Some have been coworkers and others fellow students, and it can be challenging to navigate a relationship between two people with opposing belief systems. But Ive learned there are ways to engage with an atheist friend that can be healthy and life-giving  and hopefully, ultimately point to Jesus.

What makes someone an Atheist?

First, its helpful to understand what it means to be an atheist. An atheist is someone who does not believe in God or in any deities. This person rejects the notion that God, or any gods, created the world, the universe, time itself, or the people and creatures that inhabit this earth. Its a lack of belief, rather than a belief in something. Instead, its a rejection of the assertion that there is a God (or gods), period.

An atheist is different from an agnostic, who believes that whether God exists is not known, and is possibly even unknowable. Some call agnosticism a belief in the unknown. They might think or hope that God is out there, but they dont know for sure, and they dont believe human reason or other evidence can prove the existence of a deity, or the supernatural in general, in any way.

Atheism, then, is not a religion or a belief system. Its a rejection of belief in God.

Second, its helpful to understand why someone is an atheist. People have different reasons for their belief systems, or lack thereof, and atheists do, too:

Some cite lack of evidence for God, or what they call reliable evidence.

Some say the arguments for Gods existence dont adequately prove it.

Some say the existence of evil contradicts the notion of an all-powerful God, especially if he cant or wont do anything about it.

Some say science explains everything people used to attribute to God, so there is no God.

Some consider God to be a psychological crutch humans created because they sought meaning.

Some simply havent heard the Gospel, perhaps because of their cultural or family upbringing.

There are other reasons beyond this. According to a 2023 Pew Research Center survey, atheists comprise about 4 percent of adults in the United States. Sociologists estimate about 7 percent of the population worldwide is atheistic.

If you are a Christian who has found yourself engaging with an atheist friend, here are 10 tips.

1. Love Them

Jesus said to love others (Matthew 22:39). He didnt say we should only love people who think like us, or only people who worship God. In fact, he said, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5:44).

Later, he told us how we can love others: by caring for their needs, feeding them, clothing them, tending to their wounds, visiting them in prison, etc.

Atheists are people created by God and beloved by God, and as such, they are deserving of your love. Do what it takes to love them in the name of Jesus, whatever that looks like.

2. Respect Their Conviction

Dont dismiss an atheist as ignorant or stupid. Many atheists know quite a lot about Christianity and other religions. Some were raised in the church and ultimately rejected it, or have studied it from a philosophical standpoint in school or through literature.

In fact, according to the Pew Research Center, people who identified as atheists were among the groups that performed best on their 2019 religious knowledge survey, answering more than half the questions correctly and scoring higher than most American adults. They also knew just as much about Christianity as most Christians on the survey.

There is a reason why they ascribe to non-belief. The reason might be incorrect, but it doesnt mean they should be treated with a lack of respect. Again, love is key here.

3. Ask Questions and Listen

Try to understand why your friend is an atheist. Lack of evidence? Existence of evil? Cultural norms? Anger or other pain? Get to know them as a person. Ask them about it if they are willing to talk. Asking questions indicates care, and care walks in tandem with love. Care about them as a person by striving to understand.

4. Dont Assume Atheism Equals Satanism or Make Other Assumptions about Morality

Someone who is an atheist simply doesnt believe in God (or any idea of gods). It doesnt mean they worship Satan, the enemy of God. It also doesnt mean they lack a moral compass or dont respect basic laws of goodness and compassion.

Many people who are atheists consider kindness and good values to be extremely important. Those values simply dont include God.

5. Know That God Can Soften Their Heart

God gives us free will. But God also wants us all to choose him. Thats why the concept of Jesus leaving the 99 sheep to go after the one lost sheep is such a powerful metaphor (Matthew 18:10-14). For instance, Jonah ran from God. But God loved Jonah and didnt let him off easily. He sent a storm and then enabled Jonah to be swallowed by a fish in order to soften Jonahs heart and ultimately change his mind about running from the mission God laid upon him (Jonah 3:1-3).

Similarly, Saul was an enemy of the church, arresting and throwing Christians in jail and otherwise persecuting them. But God wanted his heart, so he sent his son to beseech Saul. Jesus appeared to the man, asking, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?  I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting (Acts 9:4-5). Saul was struck with blindness, and when the scales fell from his eyes, his heart had changed. He eventually changed his name to Paul and became the apostle responsible for spreading Christianity to most of Asia Minor.

God can soften anyones heart.

6. Allow the Holy Spirit to Speak Through You

Christianity grew through the power of the Holy Spirit igniting in the heart of believers and spreading from person to person. Trust the Holy Spirit, alive in your heart, to do the work for you. Remember: You have God living inside you! God can do anything, including giving you the words to say to your atheist friend.

As Jesus says in Luke 12:11-12, When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.

7. Pray for Them

Prayer is powerful. Jesus said we should ask and seek in faith, and the door will be opened to us (Matthew 7:7-8).

Indeed, Jesus said, If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer (Matthew 21:22).

8. Consider the Root

Understand an atheists lack of belief might stem from deep anger or hurt, or a sense of betrayal. A lot of atheists have been hurt by the church, whether theology they disagree with or because of other Christians who have behaved in un-Christlike ways.

Others have lost someone very close to thema parent, spouse, or young childand are angry with God, thinking that if God exists he wouldnt possibly take their loved one away, or cause natural disasters or allow other evil and devastating circumstances.

Many are very upset about the way human beings have used religion to hurt other people. For example, people used the Bible to advocate for slavery at one point in history, or they point to the violence of the Crusades or other conquests that cla

imed land and took over communities or nations, supposedly in the name of God. They look around at the polarization and the fighting among Christians and have a negative opinion about God based on this.

9. Ask What It Would Take for Them to Believe in God

Sometimes, the solution is simpler than we think. Try asking your atheist friend what would need to happen in order for them to believe. Often, this will indicate the state of their heart, and whether or not they are open to the Lord.

Then step back and watch God do the work.

10. Get Personal

Get to know them and try to understand the best way to reach them. Perhaps God will use you to reach them through intellectual facts, a heartfelt testimony, or your own witness of Christian love as you model a life of love. Or perhaps hell use them to teach you something, and he has a different plan for how to soften their heart and show them the way.

Remember: Atheists are people, too. And some atheists are future Christians  only, they dont know it yet. Let God use you to show the way if that is what God intends.

This article originally appeared on Bible Study Tools. Jessica Brodie is an award-winning Christian novelist, journalist, editor, blogger, and writing coach and the recipient of the 2018 American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis Award for her novel, The Memory Garden. She is also the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism. Her newest release is an Advent daily devotional for those seeking true closeness with God, which you can find at www.jessicabrodie.com/advent. Learn more about Jessicas fiction and read her faith blog at jessicabrodie.com. She has a weekly YouTube devotional and podcast. You can also connect with her on Facebook,Twitter, and more. Shes also produced a free eBook, A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices When Youre Feeling Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed
BENNINGTON  The eighteen-year-old defendant charged with second-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of Casey Gras in Pownal in early February was granted a defense motion by a Bennington judge to transfer the case to Family Court to determine whether he will eventually be tried as either a youthful offender or an adult.

Eliza Coppedge, 18, attended the two-part hearing in person after being transported from the Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility in Rutland, an adult correctional facility, where he has been held since he was transferred to Vermont after being arrested on a warrant in South Carolina. Both Coppedges mother and family members of the victim were in the courtroom for the Friday morning hearing at the Bennington Courthouse.

The first part of the hearing was slated for Judge Kerry McDonald-Cady to determine if it is still in the interest of justice to hold Coppedge in an adult facility.

A voluntary Federal law, which Vermont participates in after accepting funding from the Federal Government, provides that a criminal defendant under a certain age, between 12 and 22, shall have a mandatory hearing for the sole purpose of determining whether a young defendant can or should be held within an adult correctional facility in the interest of justice.

That Federal statute can and frequently is interpreted differently by different states and judges.

Part of the requirements of the Federal law is for the presiding judge to hold reviews every 30-45 days to determine whether it is or isnt in the interest of justice to keep the offender in an adult facility.

Judge McDonald-Cady determined back in July that holding Coppedge at the adult facility was indeed in the interest of justice due to the seriousness of the crime and the danger to the community and that Coppedge stipulated he was ok with being held at the facility.

Once it is determined whether it is in the interest of justice to hold the defendant at the adult facility, it then needs to be determined whether the youth can and should be within the sight and sound of adult inmates.

During the hearing, Coppedge, through his defense lawyer, as he did back in July, told the judge that he preferred to be within sight and sound and not be isolated from the general population. After going through the criteria in the interest of justice statute, Judge McDonald decided that it was indeed still in the interest of justice that Coppedge be held in the adult facility within sight and sound.

There is no longer a working facility to house youthful offenders charged with serious crimes here in Vermont. The last operating juvenile facility, Woodside, in Essex, Vermont, closed its doors in the fall of 2020 after allegations of abuse surfaced. In 2019, there was a federal lawsuit that alleged that Woodside staff excessively used restraints against the children being held at the facility. Since then, Vermont has been faced with either putting these young defendants into adult facilities, keeping them isolated, or releasing them. There are currently no other choices.

The second part of the hearing was to determine whether the judge would grant a defense motion to transfer the murder case to family court to decide whether Coppedge would face the murder charge as a youthful offender or an adult.

Vermont state law allows a defendant to petition for youthful offender status if they are under 22, no matter what the charged crime. If Coppedge is granted youthful offender status, it would mean that he would then be tried, not by a jury, but by a Family Court judge on the murder charge.

There is a theoretical chance that if Coppedge is granted youthful offender status by a family court judge, or if the judge feels it is not in the interest of justice to continue to hold him at an adult facility, he might be released while he awaits his trial, even though he fled Vermont to avoid prosecution after the murder occurred.

There is also a chance that Coppedge, if granted youthful offender status in Family Court, would not serve any jail time for the murder, even if found guilty by a Family Court Judge. The longest a youthful offender defendant can be legally held in the family court system is up to the age of 22.

That would mean Coppedge would, even if found guilty of murder, be most likely given a four-year probationary sentence under the direction of Vermonts Department of Children and Families in concert with the Department of Corrections. He would then serve no jail time and be released upon his 22nd birthday. His criminal record would also be expunged.

If Coppedge is tried as an adult, he would then face a possible life sentence if found guilty.

It should be noted that under Vermont law, it was mandatory for Judge McDonald-Cady to grant the motion to transfer the case if requested by the defense. The presiding family court judge will determine whether the youthful offender label will be applied to Coppedge.

It should also be noted that Judge McDonald-Cady, currently Bennington Countys criminal judge, will be part of a regularly scheduled judicial rotation this coming September. McDonald-Cady will end her term as the criminal judge in Bennington and then be transferred to Benningtons family division, where she will most likely preside over whether Coppedge is granted youthful offender status.

If he is not granted youthful offender status, Coppedge would be tried in the criminal division as an adult under the new incoming criminal judge.

According to a criminal affidavit in the case, on February 6th, 2024, a resident on Chickadee Drive in the Pownal Estates on Route 7 in Pownal called 911 to report a male lying in the roadway and appearing to be beaten up. The male was reportedly not breathing. Upon arriving, police located the male and provided emergency aid. The male was pronounced dead soon after first aid was initiated.

Officers noted stab wounds to the victim and were able to determine the deceased as Casey Gras, 36, of Bennington. An autopsy later revealed the cause of death was stab wounds to the abdomen and upper body. The manner of death was soon determined to be a homicide.

Video surveillance taken minutes after the incident from a neighboring property showed two individuals, a male, and a female, wearing hoods that concealed their faces, walking quickly away from the trailer, followed by another male wearing a mask and carrying a backpack lagging behind. Police believe those individuals to be the female resident of the trailer, Misty Chandler, Coppedge, and another individual believed to be involved named Jacob Lundy.

At about 9 p.m. the same day, Massachusetts State Police executed a motor vehicle stop in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Four individuals were inside the vehicle, including Misty Chandler, Jacob Lundy, and Elizah Coppedge. The fourth was an Uber driver. Police found suspected controlled substances and drug paraphernalia inside, as well as outstanding warrants for Coppedge, who was taken into custody. As he was being processed after his arrest, a wallet allegedly fell out of Coppedges clothes. Inside the wallet was a Vermont identification card belonging to Nathan Gray.

The Massachusetts court system released Coppedge after his arrest.

According to the affidavit, seized cellphone data and interviews with several suspects and acquaintances later revealed that Nathan Gray told police he had given Gras the wallet just before the two entered the Pownal trailer and that Gras had put the wallet inside his backpack. Gras, allegedly a drug user, and Gray had allegedly driven to Pownal to purchase drugs. When they got there, several individuals appeared from a back room of the residence and assaulted Gras and Gray, stripping Gras down to his underwear and socks. Gray, at some point in the beating, was able to escape the trailer and fled in the vehicle they arrived in.

Judge McDonald-Cady will schedule the subsequent interest of justice hearing for some time in the next 30-45 days as Federal law mandates. Prosecutor Jared Bianchi affirmed to the Banner that the state would most likely oppose any youthful offender status being applied to Coppedge in the murder case. He also requested an expedited conclusion from the judge in the family court proceeding. It is likely that once the case is officially under the family courts jurisdiction, all proceedings will be confidential until and if the case comes back to criminal court.
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Solomons Furniture on Brown Street in Pittsfield is having a Labor Day Sales promotion now with select Simmons Mattress models savings from $100 to $1,200, said owner Jim Solomon.
Theres a new change in the farm community. And theres much more recognition and support of agriculture, I think, in a different way. Its exciting to see younger farmers out doing what we need to be doing.
In 2022, Pete Steimer describes the automation used in growing and harvesting cannabis at Temescal Wellness' cultivation center in the former Crane Stationery building in North Adams. The company's CEO says problems including faulty grow lights led to debts, and the difficult decision to close the facility.
How do you mitigate the effects of 'all-consuming' cellphones in the lives of children? A group of local experts weigh in An event at the Berkshire Athenaeum explored the negative effects of cellphone use among children and how to best address it at home and in our schools.

From the local to the national level, theres a growing conversation about how to prevent  or at least blunt  the pernicious effects of cellphones on kids classroom time.

Across the Berkshires, school districts are implementing more muscular rules regarding student phone use. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has encouraged those proactive attempts to mitigate device-driven distractions in the classroom, even signaling that statewide policies on student phone use might be on the table soon. A recent New York Times report on the recent rapid rise of school phone bans suggests the concern runs both deep and wide among educators in every corner of the country  more than 70 percent of high school teachers say student phone use is a major problem, per Pew Research.

That heightened focus on this very real issue for kids and the teachers fighting for their attention is the good news.

The bad news is that, by our lights, even the experts dont seem to have much in the way of workable solutions to this wicked problem.

Take, for instance, a recent forum at the Berkshire Athenaeum organized by Pittsfield School Committee member Sara Hathaway that featured input from Pittsfield Public Schools teachers, parents and specialists in the fields of child mental and behavioral health. We applaud the initiative on the part of Ms. Hathaway and others to bring together various stakeholders and experts to hone in on a matter of considerable educational concern. Still, its worth noting that these folks with relevant expertise and palpable care for kids and classrooms could not highlight or produce a significant set of concrete prescriptions to this increasingly ubiquitous social ill.

Were not knocking them. Were simply recognizing the same thing they are: This is a hard problem to crack that demands more dialogue, more data and more determination to put a dent in it.

With in-school rules, were running a sort of natural experiment as different districts develop policies. State education officials seem to be encouraging that let-a-thousand-flowers-bloom approach as a sort of laboratory approach to identifying ones that might work at a statewide level. We should closely observe those results. What are the observed effects on student behavior and attention? How do they weigh against inevitable drawbacks like blowback from families or added administrative bandwidth for teachers and administrators with already full plates?

Were starting to get some of that data. In Pittsfield Public Schools, one data point jumps off the page from a more stringent cellphone policy adopted over the last school year: The district logged 6,358 disciplinary referrals related to the policy. Thats about 35 per day across the citys schools. Consider how that figure multiplies the dire effects educators are observing on their classrooms productivity and their students well-being. Wed be deeply concerned if the city saw more than 6,000 disciplinary referrals per school year for fighting or drug possession. Given the growing number of experts who point to the dangerous and addictive qualities of youth cellphone overuse, we should be similarly concerned here.

City education officials certainly seem to be. This week, the Pittsfield School Committee unanimously approved a revised policy to go into effect this coming school year that streamlines the disciplinary process and toughens consequences for offending students. Thats a wise direction to move in, given both the frequency of the targeted behavior as well as the opportunity costs that overly complex disciplinary protocols carry for already stretched teachers and administrators. We are eager to see if this newly updated policy makes a marked difference in the coming school year, but we might suggest going even simpler. Some schools, for instance, have very straightforward policies like making every student place their phone in a caddy at the start of class. Instead of waiting to react to students engaging in behavior we now know is ubiquitous as it is disruptive, attacking the problem more directly leaves less wiggle room for device-tempted students and could spare educators additional administrative headaches.

We get why some school officials want to move a bit more gingerly. In addition to the administrative hurdles of tasking teachers with more rigorous phone-policing, theres also the possibility of significant pushback from students  and adults. Inevitably, some parents are going to complain about the confiscation of the pricy device they bought for their kid or the inability to be in constant remote contact with their kid.

But parents should be listening to the alarms raised by their kids teachers  and be willing to do their part. Like so many outcomes in the classroom we want to improve, it deeply depends on social factors outside the classroom. While that implies a limit on what school policies alone can accomplish, it also evokes a greater social responsibility we all share for the mental and emotional health of our youth.

Like every single behavioral standard we have in our schools, even the smartest rules cant have the desired effect if the appropriate behavior isnt modeled outside the classroom. The unavoidable reality is that our youngest citizens have poor phone hygiene because most of the adults in their lives do, too. Its easy to summon righteous indignation at kids these days for their undisciplined device behavior in and out of school; its much harder  but necessary  to ask ourselves how often we model that behavior among our peers, including our youth.

The most concrete proposal that came out of the discussion at the Athenaeum was the so-called Wait Until 8th pledge, a nationwide advocacy effort to encourage families to delay giving kids a smartphone until after eighth grade. Thats not a silver-bullet solution to this technological epidemic, because there isnt one. But it should remind us that, like all wicked problems, this one is going to take holistic attention and a sizable dose of humility.
A pro-Palestine demonstration in Dublin has criticised US support for Israels military offensive in Gaza and called on the Irish government to do more to help Palestinians.

Large red banners were stretched out around Barnardo Square on Dame Street to symbolise US President Joe Bidens non-existent red line in relation to Rafah in southern Gaza, where thousands of Palestinians have been seeking refuge.

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Mr Biden said in March it would be a red line for his administration if the Israeli military were to invade Rafah, but then added  but Im never going to leave Israel.

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Zoe Lawlor, of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said that after Mr Bidens red line comment, Israel proceeded to bomb the refugee camps, burning dozens of Palestinians alive, and destroyed hospitals and murdered medical staff.

Protesters in Dublin chanted There never was a red line and held signs saying No arms through Israel, Gaza is not just devastating, it is a crime, and Is there any crime by which our government will punish Israel?

Aine Hayden, who was handing out leaflets saying End US complicity in Israels genocide in Gaza, said the protest was about raising awareness of US involvement.

She said: Theyre talking ceasefire while at the same time sending billions to fund the genocide.

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Amongst the passers-by on Dame Street that Ms Hayden offered leaflets to were US tourists.

Youd love to think you could raise awareness with the Americans but you do find that theyre quite brainwashed.

I have had many Americans calling me a terrorist supporter (at previous protests).

Where is the humanity? Because thats what its about. We cannot look at these children and babies being targeted and slaughtered every single day.

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Des, from Co Wicklow, who was at the protest with his young son, said he was there to be on the right side of history.

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He said: People arent doing enough. America isnt doing enough, and even our own government isnt doing enough.

Its just disgusting whats going on, the amount of innocent people dying.

Former RTE producer Betty Purcell told the PA news agency that Ireland can do more through boycotts and sanctions.

She said: We have a Taoiseach who said he spends every single day wondering what more he can do for Palestine. Its very simple, he can start by passing the Occupied Territories Bill, the arms embargo Bill, the Israeli divestment settlements Bill.

If he was to do this, it would be a clear message both to the US and to Europe that Ireland really wants to do something. Not just stand around looking anguished. Weve done that long enough.

It will influence America.
Two men were arrested following public order, criminal damage and dangerous driving incidents that occurred between Tallaght, Dublin 24, and the M50 southbound on Saturday morning, August 24th.

A number of vehicles were set on fire in the Brookfield Rd area of Tallaght, and a number of Garda units responded to incidents there.

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Public order units were deployed to manage the situation, and no injuries were reported at the time.

During an incident of dangerous driving, an attempt was made to ram an official Garda vehicle, a statement said.

The air support unit, public order unit, divisional traffic and several units from the south and east Dublin metropolitan regions provided assistance in finding the vehicle, which was located in the Co Wicklow area.

The two arrested men are currently detained at a Garda station in the Dublin area.

Investigations are ongoing.
A sombre atmosphere pervaded Ukraines 33rd Independence Day on Saturday, as its war against Russias aggression reaches a 30-month milestone.

No fireworks, parades or concerts are planned and instead Ukrainians will mark the day with commemorations for civilians and soldiers killed in the war.

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Ukrainians have flooded social media with messages of gratitude and support, greeting each other and thanking the soldiers on the front lines.

In the outpouring of unity, there is a shared acknowledgment that the two and a half years have been tough, with fatigue increasingly setting in.





Ukraine. Our land. Given by God. Kissed by the sun. Rocked by the winds. Tempered by fire. Defended by its sons and daughters.

It cannot be mistaken for anything else.

It can never be given away to anyone.

Happy Independence Day of Ukraine! pic.twitter.com/LwnRAjnZnc Advertisement  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) August 24, 2024

Independence is the silence we experience when we lose our people, President Volodymyr Zelensky said to the nation.

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Independence descends into the shelter during an air raid, only to endure and rise again and again to tell the enemy: You will achieve nothing.

Mr Zelensky pointed out that the war started by Russia has now spread to its own territory.

Those who seek to sow evil on our land will reap its fruits on their own soil, he said, referring to Ukraines incursion earlier this month into Russias Kursk region.



Servicemen of the 24th Mechanised Brigade fire a howitzer towards Russian positions near Chasiv Yar town, in Donetsk (Oleg Petrasiuk/Ukrainian 24th Mechanised Brigade/AP)

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The president symbolically chose to record his address in the north-eastern town of Sumy, just a few miles from the Russian border, where Ukrainian forces crossed into Russia on August 6.

Nine hundred and thirteen days ago, Russia launched its war against us, partly through Sumy region, Mr Zelensky said.

They violated not only sovereign borders but also the boundaries of cruelty and common sense, driven by an insatiable desire to destroy us.

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Ukraines surprise incursion into Russias Kursk region gave the war a startling turn, adding a new front to the conflict to counter Russias grinding advances in eastern Ukraines Donetsk region.





We will always remember our heroes and remain grateful to everyone who defended our statehood and independence.



May the memory of our defenders, who fought for a free Ukraine, be eternal and bright. pic.twitter.com/N3DBOgWFyy  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) August 24, 2024

Ukraine quickly seized considerable Russian territory, including scores of small towns, and captured hundreds of Russian soldiers, moves that may influence the wars trajectory.

And those who sought to turn our lands into a buffer zone should now worry that their own country doesnt become a buffer federation, he said. This is how independence responds.

Ukraines military claims to hold 480 square miles of Russian territory in Kursk, and in the past week it has also launched drone attacks that have struck strategic bridges and Russian airfields and drone bases.

Even as Ukraine presses its offensive into Russia, however, it is also evacuating residents from Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine, as Russian forces are now six miles from the strategic city.



Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office/AP)

Residents of Pokrovsk, once a city of 60,000, on Friday registered for evacuation at a central school and then, carrying bundles of belongings, boarded trains to take them to areas further from the conflict.

Also on Friday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the capital, Kyiv.

After hugging Mr Zelensky, Mr Modi offered as a friend to help bring peace to Ukraine.

The Indian leaders visit, although brief, raised hopes among many in the war-battered country that he will help pave the way for an Indian role in peace mediation.
Special police units on Saturday joined the search for an unknown man who carried out a stabbing attack at a crowded festival in the western German city of Solingen, killing three people and wounding at least eight others, four of them seriously.

A 15-year-old boy was arrested early on Saturday.

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Police said he was suspected of knowing about the planned attack and not informing authorities, but he was not the attacker.

Markus Caspers, from the counterterrorism section of the public prosecutors office, told a news conference on Saturday that authorities have not found the perpetrator.



Emergency services tents in front of the stage in Solingen (Christoph Reichwein/dpa/AP)

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So far we have not been able to identify a motive, but looking at the overall circumstances, we cannot rule out the possibility of terrorism, Mr Caspers said, though he did not offer further details.

Thorsten Fleiss from the German police, who was the chief of operations on Friday, said police are conducting various searches and investigations in the entire state of North Rhine Westphalia that will continue throughout the day.

He said that it is a big challenge to bring together available evidence and testimony from witnesses in order to come up with a overall picture.

The three people who died were two men aged 67 and 56 and a woman aged 56, authorities said.

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Police told people to stay vigilant even as wellwishers started to leave flowers at the scene.





Der Anschlag in Solingen ist ein schreckliches Ereignis, das mich sehr besturzt. Ein Attentater hat mehrere Menschen brutal getotet. Gerade habe ich mit Solingens Oberburgermeister Tim Kurzbach telefoniert. Wir trauern um die Opfer und stehen an der Seite der Angehorigen. (1/2)  Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) August 24, 2024 Advertisement

Authorities established an online portal where witnesses could upload footage and any other information relevant to the attack.

People alerted police shortly after 9.30pm on Friday to an unknown attacker having wounded several people with a knife on a central square, the Fronhof.

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Police said they believe the stabbings were carried out by a lone attacker and gave no information about the identities of the victims.

Last night our hearts were torn apart. We in Solingen are full of horror and grief. What happened yesterday in our city has hardly let any of us sleep, the mayor of Solingen, Tim Kurzbach, said, speaking to reporters on Saturday near the scene of the attack.

The Festival of Diversity, marking the citys 650th anniversary, began on Friday and was supposed to run until Sunday, with several stages in central streets offering attractions such as live music, cabaret and acrobatics.



Police near the scene of the attack (Gianni Gattus/dpa/AP)

The attack took place in the crowd in front of one stage. Hours after the attack, the stage lights were still on as police and forensic investigators looked for clues in the cordoned-off square.

One of the festival organisers, Philipp Muller, appeared on stage on Friday and asked festivalgoers to go calmly, please keep your eyes open, because unfortunately the perpetrator hasnt been caught.

Solingen has about 160,000 residents and is near the bigger cities of Cologne and Dusseldorf.

The rest of the festival was cancelled.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Saturday that the perpetrator of the attack must be caught quickly and punished with the full force of the law.

The attack in Solingen is a terrible event that has shocked me greatly. An attacker has brutally killed several people. I have just spoken to Solingens mayor, Tim Kurzbach. We mourn the victims and stand by their families, Mr Scholz said on X, formerly Twitter.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also spoke to the mayor of Solingen on Saturday.

The heinous act in Solingen shocks me and our country. We mourn those killed and worry about those injured and I wish them strength and a speedy recovery from all my heart, Mr Steinmeier said in a statement on Saturday.

The perpetrator needs to be brought to justice. Lets stand together  against hatred and violence.

There has been concern about increased knife violence in Germany, and interior minister Nancy Faeser recently proposed toughening weapons laws to allow only knives with a blade measuring up to six centimetres to be carried in public, rather than the 12 centimetres that is currently allowed.
The same Iranian hacking group believed to have targeted both the Democratic and Republican presidential campaigns tried to go after the WhatsApp accounts of staffers in the administrations of US president Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump, Meta Platforms said on Friday.

Meta said it discovered the network of hackers, who posed as tech support agents for companies including AOL, Microsoft, Yahoo and Google after individuals who received the suspicious WhatsApp messages reported them.

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Metas investigators linked the activity to the same network blamed for the hacking incident reported by Donald Trumps campaign.

The FBI this week said a hack by Iran of the Trump campaign and an attempted breach of the Biden-Harris campaign was part of a broader Iranian effort to interfere with the US presidential election.

A statement on Friday from Meta, the parent of Facebook and Instagram, said that the hackers had tried to target the WhatsApp accounts of individuals in the Middle East, the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as political and diplomatic officials  including unidentified officials associated with the Trump and Biden administrations.

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Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump spoke at a campaign rally at the Mohegan Sun Arena on August 17 (Carolyn Kaster/AP)

A small cluster of accounts was blocked by Meta, the company said.

We have not seen evidence of the targeted WhatsApp accounts being compromised, but out of an abundance of caution, were sharing our findings publicly, in addition to sharing information with law enforcement and our industry peers, Meta said in a statement.

In a report this month, Googles threat intelligence arm said the same Iranian group, which it linked to the countrys Revolutionary Guard, had tried to infiltrate the personal email accounts of roughly a dozen people linked to Joe Biden and Donald Trump since May.

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That report expanded on a separate study released days earlier by Microsoft that revealed suspected Iranian cyber intrusion in this years presidential election.

US intelligence officials say Irans increasingly aggressive use of cyberattacks and disinformation has several motives: to confuse and polarise voters to undermine confidence in US democracy, to erode support for Israel, and to oppose candidates that it believes will increase tension between Washington and Iran.

Iran has vowed revenge against Mr Trump, whose administration ended a nuclear deal with Iran, reimposed sanctions and ordered the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.

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President Joe Biden checks out the stage before the Democratic National Convention on August 19 (Paul Sancya/AP)

In July, director of national intelligence Avril Haines said Irans government gave covert support to American protests against Israels war against Hamas in Gaza.

Groups linked to Iran posed as online activists encouraged campus protests and provided financial support to some protest groups, Ms Haines said.

Messages left with the Trump and Harris campaigns by the Associated Press were not immediately returned on Friday.
Multiple Israeli air strikes have killed at least three dozen Palestinians in southern Gaza, health workers said, as officials including a Hamas delegation gathered for high-level ceasefire talks in neighbouring Egypt.

Among the dead were 11 members of a family, including two children, after an air strike hit their home in Khan Younis, according to Nasser Hospital, which received a total of 33 bodies from three strikes in and around the city that also hit tuk-tuks and passers-by.

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Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital said it received three bodies from another strike.





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The Israeli military said it was looking into the reports.

First responders also recovered 16 bodies from the Hamad City area of Khan Younis after a partial pullout of Israeli forces, 10 bodies from a residential block west of Khan Younis and two farther south in Rafah.

The circumstances of their deaths were not immediately clear, but the areas were repeatedly bombed by the Israeli military over the past week.

An Associated Press (AP) journalist counted the bodies.

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Some residents returned to Hamad City, walking between destroyed apartment buildings.

There is nothing, no apartment, no furniture, no homes, only destruction, said one woman, Neveen Kheder.

We are dying slowly. You know what, if they gave a mercy bullet it would be better than what is happening to us.

The war in Gaza began when Hamas and other militants staged a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, killing some 1,200 people, primarily civilians.

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Displaced Palestinians line up to collect water in Deir al Balah, central Gaza Strip (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

More than 100 hostages were released during a ceasefire last year, but Hamas is still believed to be holding around 110.

Israeli authorities estimate about a third are dead.

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Israels retaliatory offensive has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count.

The ministry said on Saturday a total of 69 dead and 212 wounded had been brought to hospitals across the strip over the past 24 hours.

Israels military announced the deaths of three more soldiers in combat in central Gaza on Friday.

The conflict has caused widespread destruction and forced the vast majority of Gazas 2.3 million residents to flee their homes, with many cramming into shrinking humanitarian zones.

Experts were meeting on Saturday on technical issues ahead of Sundays high-level talks in Cairo on a possible ceasefire mediated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar.

CIA director William Burns, Qatars foreign minister and Egypts spy chief were meeting on Saturday evening in Cairo, according to an Egyptian official with direct knowledge of the talks.

A Hamas delegation arrived on Saturday in Cairo to meet Egyptian and Qatari officials, senior Hamas official Mahmoud Merdawy told the AP.

He stressed that Hamas will not take part directly in Sundays talks but will be briefed by Egypt and Qatar.



Displaced Palestinians line up for water in Deir al Balah, central Gaza Strip (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

An Israeli delegation that arrived on Thursday included the heads of the Mossad foreign intelligence service and Shin Bet security service and top general Major General Eliezer Toledano.

The CIA director and Brett McGurk, a senior adviser to President Joe Biden on the Middle East, are leading the US side of negotiations amid major differences between Israel and Hamas over Israels insistence that it maintain forces in two strategic corridors in Gaza.

The US has been pushing a proposal that aims at closing the gaps between Israel and Hamas as fears grow over a wider regional war after the recent targeted killings of leaders of the militant Hamas and Hezbollah groups, both blamed on Israel.

The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General CQ Brown Jr, was visiting Egypt, Jordan and Israel over the next few days to stress the importance of deterring further escalation of hostilities, a statement said.

Mr Biden called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday to stress the urgency of reaching a deal and discussed developments with the leaders of Qatar and Egypt on Friday.

A major impasse has been the Philadelphi corridor along Gazas border with Egypt and the Netzarim east-west corridor across the territory.

Mr Netanyahu has insisted that Israel retain control of the corridors to prevent smuggling and catch militants.

Merdawy said Hamass position had not changed from accepting an earlier draft that would include the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
Russia and Ukraine have exchanged more than 100 prisoners of war each as Kyiv marked its third Independence Day since Moscows full-scale invasion.

Ukraine said the 115 Ukrainian servicemen who were freed were conscripts, many of whom were taken prisoner in the first months of Russias invasion.

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Among them are nearly 50 soldiers captured by Russian forces from the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol.





Another 115 of our defenders have returned home today. These are warriors of the National Guard, the Armed Forces, the Navy, and the State Border Guard Service.



We remember everyone. We are searching for them and making every effort to bring them all back.



I am grateful to each pic.twitter.com/XiMAeANsOd  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) August 24, 2024 Advertisement

The Russian Defence Ministry said the 115 Russian soldiers had been captured in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces launched their surprise offensive into Russia two weeks ago.

The ministry said the soldiers were currently in Belarus, but would be taken to Russia for medical treatment and rehabilitation.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a post on X that the United Arab Emirates had again brokered the exchange, the 55th since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbour in February 2022.

Photos attached to Mr Zelenskys post show gaunt servicemen with shaven heads and wrapped in Ukrainian flags.

We remember each and every one. We are searching and doing our best to get everyone back, Mr Zelensky said in the post.

Officials from the two sides meet only when they swap their dead and prisoners of war, after lengthy preparation and diplomacy.

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Neither Ukraine nor Russia discloses how many prisoners of war there are in total.

According to the UN, most Ukrainian prisoners of war suffer routine medical neglect, severe and systematic mistreatment and even torture while in detention.



A Russian soldier fires from a D-30 howitzer towards Ukrainian positions in an undisclosed location in Ukraine (Russian Defence Ministry Press Service via AP)

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There have also been isolated reports of abuse of Russian soldiers, mostly during capture or transit to internment sites.

Last January, Russia and Ukraine exchanged hundreds of prisoners of war in the biggest single release.

Five people were killed and five others wounded on Saturday in Russian shelling of the centre of the city of Kostiantynivka in Ukraines partially occupied eastern Donetsk region, local officials said.

In the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, Russian shelling killed two people and wounded four on Saturday, including a baby, officials said.

Two people were killed in a Russian drone attack, and one further person in shelling, in the northeastern Sumy region.

Ukraines air force said it had intercepted and destroyed seven drones over the countrys south.

Russian long-range bombers also attacked the area of Zmiinyi (Snake) Island overnight with four cruise missiles, while the wider Kherson region was also struck by aerial bombs.

In Russia, the Defence Ministry said on Saturday that air defences had shot down seven drones overnight.



Servicemen of the 24th Mechanised Brigade fire a howitzer towards Russian positions near Chasiv Yar town, in Donetsk (Oleg Petrasiuk/Ukrainian 24th Mechanised Brigade/AP)

Five drones were downed over the southwestern Voronezh region bordering Ukraine, wounding two people, regional governor Aleksandr Gusev said.

Ukraines Military Intelligence Directorate claimed to have blown up a warehouse storing 5,000 tonnes of ammunition in the regions Ostrogozhsky district.

News outlet Astra published videos appearing to show explosions at the ammunition depot after being hit by a drone.

The videos could not be independently verified.

Two people were wounded in a drone attack in the Belgorod region, also bordering Ukraine, regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said.

Local authorities did not report any casualties in the Bryansk region, where the fifth drone was intercepted.

In the Kursk region, regional governor Alexei Smirnov said on Saturday that three missiles were shot down overnight and another four on Saturday morning.

Russian air defences shot down two more drones on Saturday morning, Russias Defence Ministry said  one over the Kursk region and one over the Bryansk region.





Today, we celebrate the 33rd Independence Day of Ukraine. We are confident that Ukrainians will always celebrate this holiday in their free capital and within their own sovereign state.



Ukraine will always remain independentthis is beyond question. Together, we have given a pic.twitter.com/yf4zNaBOah  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) August 24, 2024

Ukraine marked its 33rd Independence Day on Saturday as its war against Russias aggression reaches a 30-month milestone.

No festivities are planned and instead Ukrainians will mark the day with commemorations for civilians and soldiers killed in the war.

Speaking at a ceremony marking the anniversary, Mr Zelensky announced on Saturday that Ukraine has successfully used a new domestically produced drone for the first time against Russian forces.

Today, we had the first and successful combat use of our new weapon  a completely new class of weapon, the Ukrainian missile drone Palyanitsa, Mr Zelensky said.

He did not give further details, but added that the enemy was struck, and thanked the developers and manufacturers.

Mr Zelensky also said that Ukraines offensive in the Kursk region was a preventive strike that made it possible to avoid encirclement of part of Ukraines Sumy region.

Polish President Andrzej Duda arrived in Kyiv by train early on Saturday in a symbolic show of support from one of Ukraines key allies.





I am pleased to welcome President of Poland Andrzej Duda @andrzejduda to Ukraine. From the very first days of this war, we have been actively cooperating, and this strengthens both Ukraine and all of Europe.



I thank Poland for its comprehensive support in our struggle. When pic.twitter.com/kwPYdZOWsI  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) August 24, 2024

Videos posted by his office showed him being greeted by Ukrainian officials and later paying his respects in a ceremony at the Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen for Ukraine.

Mr Dudas visit to Kyiv, his fifth since February 2022, sends a message that Warsaws support for Ukraine remains strong as the war drags on for the third year.

Poland, located to Ukraines west, has donated arms and become a hub for Western weapons destined for Ukraine.

It has also welcomed tens of thousands of Ukrainians who fled the war.

It hosts the most Ukrainian refugees outside of the country after Germany.

A trade dispute over Ukrainian grain that dragged down ties last year, and historical grievances between the two countries, sometimes provoke bad feelings, particularly among Poles who remember a Second World War-era massacre by Ukrainian nationalists.
Hundreds of mourners in various parts of Pakistan attended funerals for 28 Shiite pilgrims who were killed in a bus crash in Iran this week while heading to Iraq, community leaders and officials said.

The victims of the crash were later buried in various graveyards in the Sindh province, local Shiite leader Jaafar Hussain said.

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The funerals took place hours after a military aircraft took home the bodies and the injured on orders from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. All the victims were from Sindh province, where the plane landed.

Authorities have not announced the cause of the crash near the city of Taft, some 310 miles southeast of the Iranian capital, Tehran.



Officials pray after some coffins arrived at an airbase in Jacobabad (Pakistan Air Force/AP)

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In southern Pakistan, Zawaar Javed, the father of a man who died, said his son minutes before the crash sent him a message on WhatsApp, saying the brakes of bus had failed, and later he heard news about the accident.

In a state TV report, Mohammad Ali Malekzadeh, a local Iranian emergency official, also blamed the crash on the bus brakes failing and a lack of attention by the driver.

The Pakistani pilgrims had been on their way to Iraqs holy city of Karbala, to commemorate Arbaeen, Arabic for the number 40, marking the end of the annual 40-day mourning period after the date of the seventh century death of the Prophet Muhammads grandson, Hussein, a central figure in Shiite Islam.

Hussein died at the hands of the Muslim Umayyad forces in the Battle of Karbala, during the tumultuous first century of Islams history.
Jack Zhang, co-founder and chief executive officer of Airwaller, says Australia will be cashless within 10 to 20 years. Credit: Bloomberg I have travelled to 30 countries this year and Ive had no cash whatsoever. Ive never needed to use it. Airwallex, which was most recently valued at $US5.5 billion in late 2022, knocked back a billion-dollar takeover bid from Stripe in 2018, an offer Zhang now says was not about money. Collison declined to comment. Statistics from the Commonwealth Bank, Australias largest bank, back up Stripe and Airwallexs assertions. Its customers withdraw 51 per cent less cash from ATMs now than they did in 2019, and make 85 per cent more of their payments digitally than they did five years ago. In the last year, Australians made $126 billion in payments with their mobile wallets, overtaking total ATM cash withdrawals for the first time.

While the vast majority of payments across Australia are now made via card and digital means, many people still want access to cash. Cash is, and will remain, an important part of the economy, Angus Sullivan, the banks group executive in charge of retail banking, told this masthead. Loading We spend around $400 million a year to support the distribution of cash across Australia and we are committed to making sure cash is available to our customers who need it. There are concerns that vulnerable Australians would be most affected by a shift away from notes and coins, with lobby group CashWelcome.org arguing that moves by banks to limit access to cash could leave millions of vulnerable people stranded. Collison said, however, that India and China are strong examples of near-cashless economies that have successfully looked after their most vulnerable in the process.

Cash is also getting more expensive to move and distribute: cash transit business Armaguard in June received a $50 million bailout from big banks, retail giants and Australia Post after warning its future was at risk. Another serious concern is resiliency, and that an overreliance on technology for payments will leave businesses and consumers exposed in the event of a mass outage, such as the recent CrowdStrike incident that crippled supermarkets and businesses globally. Some estimates put the damage bill from the outage at more than $1 billion in Australia alone. With a business operating at scale, it is fundamentally reliability that matters, Collison said. We spend enormous amounts of effort and attention on this, making sure we have geographically redundant data centres so that an earthquake someplace would not interrupt processing. We just approved a significant unnecessary expenditure this year in order to further enhance our reliability. Thatll make our 2024 financials look very slightly worse, but we think its just the right thing to do given the position we occupy.

These fundamental infrastructure platforms have to operate with that attitude. Stripe founders and brothers Patrick and John Collison used payment orchestration to create a fintech worth billions. Over the past decade, Australia has built a strong pedigree in fintech and payments innovation, birthing Airwallex as well as fellow heavyweights Afterpay and Zip. For Collison, Australia is punching above its weight in fintech just as it did in the Paris Olympics. If you look at it on a per capita basis, I feel like the US actually punches below its weight, and everywhere else punches above, and Australia is a good example of that, Collison said.

Loading Australia is a savvy, sophisticated, well-educated and digitally adept. Maybe theres something about the distances that almost force the country to adapt quickly, and to take advantage of things like the internet and e-commerce. There is clearly something innately entrepreneurial about folks here, I mean Atlassian and Canva are two of the most successful software companies in the world and they were founded here. Patrick Collison started Stripe with his brother John in 2010, with the pair re-locating from Ireland to California to secure venture capital funding for their start-up, which is dual-headquartered in San Francisco and Dublin. In 2016, they became the worlds youngest self-made billionaires. Patrick said he would not hesitate in recommending anyone starting a business with their brother. Theres the idea that you shouldnt work with your friends. I think thats a conspiracy to deprive people of some of lifes most fulfilling experiences, he said.
Drug experts have warned substances more potent than those driving the United States fentanyl crisis are landing on Australian shores, as the number of unintentional opioid overdose deaths continues to grow.

The Penington Institutes Annual Overdose Report, released on Sunday, found the number of Australians who died from a drug overdose each year had once again hit a record high, with 2356 deaths in 2022, up by 79 from the year prior.

Eighty per cent of the deaths were unintentional, and opioids accounted for nearly half of these deaths.

Metonitazene, a type of nitazene, intercepted by law enforcement officers in a parcel bound for the Northern Territory. Credit: AFP

Penington Institute CEO John Ryan said lab-produced opioids, including nitazene  a substance hundreds of times stronger than heroin  were a key concern.
Houthis Intensify Attacks on US and Israeli Ships in Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Amid Gaza War Fallout (Photo: Military Media Yemen/Wikimedia Commons/CC-BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0))

The Red Sea has become the latest flashpoint in the ongoing geopolitical tensions, as a Greek-flagged oil tanker, the Sounion, was engulfed in flames on Friday, following an attack earlier this week by Yemen's Houthi rebels. The vessel, which had been abandoned by its crew, now drifts perilously, threatening both navigation and the environment in one of the world's most critical maritime corridors.

The fires aboard the Sounion erupted just days after the Houthis, a Yemen-based militant group aligned with Iran, launched a series of assaults on the vessel as part of their broader campaign against shipping in the Red Sea. This campaign, ostensibly in support of Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, has targeted over 80 vessels since October, disrupting a vital trade route that handles approximately $1 trillion in goods annually.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that three distinct fires were observed on the Sounion late Friday. The fires have led to the tanker drifting in the Red Sea, raising alarms over a potential environmental disaster. The Sounion carries 150,000 tons of crude oil, making the situation increasingly dire as experts warn of the catastrophic impact of a possible oil spill in the region.

YEMEN | VIDEO | #Houthi forces attacked and destroyed Thursday 22, using a missile, the Greek oil tanker "Sounion" in the Red Sea (capacity of 150,000 tonnes of oil). The crew of the Tanker was evacuated by the French navy which came under fire from a Houthi kamikaze drone. pic.twitter.com/2Uj8xZ3bxg  Nanana365 (@nanana365media) August 23, 2024

The Sounion's predicament has drawn significant concern from international authorities. The European Union's Aspides naval mission in the Red Sea labeled the vessel a "navigational and environmental hazard," urging all maritime operators in the vicinity to exercise extreme caution. The vessel had been anchored between Yemen and Eritrea after its crew of 25, including Filipinos and Russians, along with four private security personnel, were evacuated by a French destroyer to Djibouti.

Djibouti's Ports & Free Zones Authority echoed these concerns, stating on social media, "A potential spill could lead to disastrous consequences for the region's marine environment." Comparisons are being drawn to the 1979 Atlantic Empress spill, one of the largest recorded ship-source spills, which saw 287,000 tons of oil leak into the Caribbean Sea.

The Houthis have yet to publicly acknowledge the fires aboard the Sounion, but they released footage late Friday showing an explosion on the tanker's deck, accompanied by chants of their militant slogans. An analysis of the footage suggests that the fires were likely caused by planted explosives, rather than a missile or drone strike, indicating a deliberate act of sabotage.

This attack on the Sounion is the latest in a string of aggressive moves by the Houthis, who have targeted ships linked to Israel, the U.S., and the U.K. as part of their protest against Israel's actions in Gaza. However, the Houthis' campaign has also affected vessels with no direct connection to the conflict, exacerbating the risk to international shipping and raising tensions across the region.

In response to the increasing threat posed by the Houthis, the U.S. has ramped up its military presence in the region. The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group has been expedited to the area, joining other U.S. naval forces, including the USS Georgia-guided missile submarine and the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group. Additional F-22 fighter jets have also been deployed to reinforce the U.S. military's posture in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, the U.S. military's Central Command announced early Saturday that it had destroyed a Houthi missile system in Yemen, signaling a more aggressive stance against the rebel group's escalating attacks.
IT major Cognizant's subsidiary TriZetto has slapped a lawsuit on Infosys in a US federal court, accusing the Bengaluru-headquartered company of stealing trade secrets and information related to healthcare insurance software. Infosys, in a statement, denied all allegations. The company asserted it is aware of the lawsuit and will defend its position in the court. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp Cognizant in a lawsuit filed in Texas federal court has accused Infosys of illegally accessing data from TriZetto's software -- Facets and QNXT -- and using the same to develop and market a competing product. Cognizant offerings include TriZetto's Facets and QNXT, which healthcare insurance firms use to automate tasks. Teaneck, New Jersey-based Cognizant has the bulk of its employees in India.

Cognizant has reportedly alleged that Infosys misused TriZetto's software to create "Test Cases for Facets," which repackaged its data into an Infosys product.

Further, it has reportedly alleged that Infosys created software to extract data from QNXT, that contained confidential TriZetto information.

It is interesting to note that just this week, Cognizant named former Infosys executive Rajesh Varrier as global head of operations and India Chairman and Managing Director, following the resignation of Rajesh Nambiar, who is set to take over as Nasscom president.

Moreover, Cognizant's Chief Executive Officer Ravi Kumar S is also an Infosys veteran, whose 20-year career at the Bengaluru-based firm saw him holding various leadership roles, including as President from January 2016 through October 2022.
New York, US (PANA) - The UN Deputy Secretary-General has called for stronger efforts in womens empowerment, gender equality, and climate action in remarks to the World Women's Forum in Mongolia this week
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Libyan Interior Ministry announced on Saturday that it has assumed the responsibility of securing the headquarters of the Central Bank of Libya (CBL) in fulfilment of an agreement reached between the various security and military bodies on Friday
Soren noted that there are frequent demands for some cases to be handed over to the CBI or ED. | Photo: PTI

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Saturday said his government will provide all required support to increase the participation of women in state police up to 50 per cent in the coming days. Addressing the concluding ceremony of two-day state-level women police conference, he emphasised the need for framing a rule in a bid to promote women as in-charge of police stations. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp "Women are capable of contributing equally as men not only in the police department but in all aspects of society. We need to bridge the gap. I want women police personnel to progress in such a way that their participation increases up to 50 per cent from the existing 5-6 per cent in state police. The government will provide support for this," he said.

Soren highlighted that when a woman who has been harassed visits a police station, her case diary is often written by a male officer. He questioned, "Why shouldn't it be handled by a woman officer?"



He suggested that in environments predominantly occupied by women, such as women colleges, nursing schools, and medical colleges with women hostels, interactions should be directly with women police officers. This would ensure that women can more comfortably present their concerns, he added.

The Chief Minister also proposed that such conferences should be held every six months and recommended organising separate conferences for male police officers to address their issues.

Soren noted that there are frequent demands for some cases to be handed over to the CBI or ED.

He questioned, "What special technology or training do these agencies have that cannot be provided to our state police? If we strengthen our own mechanisms and basic structures, our police could also resolve major cases."



Jharkhand DGP Anurag Gupta said several recommendations emerged from the two-day conference. He noted that some issues could be addressed at the headquarters level, while others involve policy matters.

Gupta identified five key areas where improvements are needed in the police department to address women police issues - posting, promotion, transfer, treatment, and harassment. He assured that efforts would be made to resolve these issues as quickly as possible.
Two persons have been killed during rescue operations in flood-hit Tripura, officials said on Saturday. Tripura State Rifles (TSR) jawan Asish Bose was washed away in a river during a rescue operation in South Tripura's Belonia while jeep driver Chiranjit Deb drowned while rescuing three persons in Indranagar in West Tripura district on Friday. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp With the fresh fatalities, the toll in the state due to the floods rose to 26, while 128,000 people have been rendered homeless in the worst deluge in the northeastern state in the last three decades. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi condoled the deaths during rescue operations.

"Extremely pained to learn about the tragic loss of two brave jawans during the rescue operation in flood-hit Tripura. Their selfless service, courage and sacrifice will always be remembered. My deepest condolences to their bereaved families. The nation stands with them in this difficult time," Gandhi wrote on X.

Chief Minister Manik Saha also expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of two persons.

"Deeply saddened by the loss of Ashish Bose (TSR Jawan from Belonia) & Chiranjit Dey (from Indranagar), two brave fighters who made the ultimate sacrifice while saving others during #TripuraFloods. My deepest condolences to their families & friends. May their sacrifice continue to inspire us to strive for greater heights of courage and bravery. Their selfless act will never be forgotten," he said in a post on Facebook.

Senior Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman also condoled the deaths of two persons.

"The devastating floods have claimed many lives. Two brave hearts also lost their lives while rescuing people. I convey my deepest condolences to those who lost their lives during the floods," he wrote on Facebook.
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Ashoka Buildcon has emerged as the lowest bidder for project of Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority entailing the design and construction of Elevated Road from KalyanMurbad Road (Palms Water Resort) to Badlapur Road (Jagdish Dughdhalaya) to Pune Link Road parallel to Waldhuni River Crossing Over Karjat- Kasara Railway Line Including Slip Road. The company's quoted bid price is Rs 478 crore.
Israels subsequent air and ground offensive on Gaza has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians. | Photo: Reuters

By Fadwa Hodali



Hamas said a delegation will travel to Cairo on Saturday evening to receive an update on negotiations aimed at achieving a cease-fire in Gaza.

In a statement, Hamas spokesman Izzat Al-Rishq said the team, led by senior official Khalil Al-Hayya, is traveling at the invitation of the mediators in Egypt and Qatar. He confirmed Hamass readiness to implement the terms agreed upon in July, based on a declaration from US President Joe Biden and a UN Security Council resolution. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp

Israeli negotiators, led by the head of the Mossad intelligence agency, were in Egypts capital on Friday in the latest effort to craft a truce in the war, now into its 11th month. Theyve since departed. Cease-fire talks may begin on Sunday but that could still change, an Israeli official said on Friday. Hamas wont directly participate in the talks, AFP reported, citing a senior official who wasnt identified.

On the table in Cairo is a proposal backed by the US, Egypt and Qatar that provides for a phased cessation of hostilities, the release of hostages held by Hamas, the freeing of many Palestinians in Israeli jails, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from areas of Gaza.

One key point of tension is over Israel wanting to keep troops stationed along the strategic Philadelphi corridor, the southern portion of Gaza that runs along the border with Egypt, to prevent arms smuggling from the Arab nation. Hamas opposes that, while Egypt is also wary of Israeli troops remaining.

Another sticking point is that Hamas  designated a terrorist organization by the US and European Union  wants a truce to amount to a permanent end to the war, while Israel says it needs to retain the right to restart fighting to achieve its aim of destroying the group.
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We need to get down to the brass tacks of locking in these details and that's what we're focused on here: John Kirby | Photo: ANI Twitter

The White House said on Friday that cease-fire talks in Cairo have been constructive and will continue over the weekend as the US and Mideast allies continue to press Israel and Hamas to forge an agreement. CIA Director William Burns and Brett McGurk, a senior adviser on the Middle East to President Joe Biden, are leading the US side of negotiations that began on Thursday amid major differences between Israel and Hamas over Israel's insistence that it maintain forces in two strategic corridors in Gaza. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp There has been progress made, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said, We need now for both sides to come together and work towards implementation.

Kirby did not detail where progress had been made, but he did insist that there's been momentum in the conversations among the mediators from the US, Israel and Hamas's interlocutors Egypt and Qatar.

Diplomatic efforts have redoubled as fears grow of a wider regional war after the recent targeted killings of leaders of the militant Hamas and Hezbollah groups, both blamed on Israel, and threats of retaliation.

Israel and Hamas have been at loggerheads over the Philadelphi corridor alongside Gaza's border with Egypt and the Netzarim east-west corridor across the territory. Hamas is demanding a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

Netanyahu insists on the principle that Israel will control the Philadelphi corridor, with the aim of preventing the rearming of Hamas and a repeat of the atrocities of the October 7 attack on Israel. He also denied reports that Israel would be willing to accept an international force in the corridor.

Hamas on Friday pushed back that Netanyahu was blocking any chance to reach a cease-fire deal".

Asked whether Netanyahu was negotiating in good faith, Kirby noted that Biden had a constructive conversation on Wednesday with Netanyahu.

We're in Cairo. They're in Cairo, Kirby said. We need Hamas to participate. We need to get down to the brass tacks of locking in these details. And that's what we're focused on here."



The war began with the October 7 attack as Hamas and other militants stormed Israel, killing around 1,200 people mostly civilians and abducting around 250. The Israeli offensive launched in response has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the local Health Ministry, which doesn't distinguish between militants and civilians.

Biden last week said he was optimistic that an agreement could be reached after he spoke by phone with Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. That conversation came after a round of negotiations in Doha that White House officials said showed promise that a deal was close.

But by Tuesday, Biden was notably more muted about the prospects of the two sides coming to an agreement soon. He told reporters after delivering an address at the Democratic convention that Hamas was now backing off, but that the US is going to keep pushing to land a cease-fire deal.

Biden took a break on Wednesday from his vacation with family in Santa Ynez, California, to speak with Netanyahu. The White House said that Biden stressed the urgency of bringing the ceasefire and hostage release deal to closure.

Biden made clear to Netanyahu that both Hamas and Israel will need to compromise, according to a person familiar with the leaders' call who spoke on the condition of anonymity about the private conversation.

Meanwhile, the families of the Israeli hostages said they met with Netanyahu on Friday to understand what could still be more important than freeing their loved ones, venting their anger at his failure to seal a cease-fire deal that would lead to their loved ones' release from Hamas captivity.

Representatives from the Hostages Family Forum, a group representing relatives of hostages, said Netanyahu reiterated his commitment to do everything in his power to bring their family members back alive. More than 100 Israeli hostages remain in Gaza, including dozens who are presumed dead.

The word alive' limits this to a certain time frame, said Yizhar Lifshitz, son of hostage Oded Lifshitz, whose mother was kidnapped and freed by Hamas last October. The revelation on Thursday that the autopsies of six captives which Israeli troops recovered from an underground tunnel in southern Gaza were riddled with bullet wounds has escalated domestic pressure on Netanyahu to agree to a cease-fire that might save captives' lives.

Ella Ben Ami, daughter of hostage Israeli Ohad Ben Ami, said she left her meeting with Netanyahu with a heavy and difficult feeling that this isn't going to happen soon, and I fear for my father's life, for the girls who are there, and for everyone.
By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA

A pro-Palestine demonstration in Dublin has criticised US support for Israels military offensive in Gaza and called on the Irish government to do more to help Palestinians.

Large red banners were stretched out around Barnardo Square on Dame Street to symbolise US President Joe Bidens non-existent red line in relation to Rafah in southern Gaza, where thousands of Palestinians have been seeking refuge.

Mr Biden said in March it would be a red line for his administration if the Israeli military were to invade Rafah, but then added  but Im never going to leave Israel.

Zoe Lawlor, of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said that after Mr Bidens red line comment, Israel proceeded to bomb the refugee camps, burning dozens of Palestinians alive, and destroyed hospitals and murdered medical staff.

Protesters in Dublin chanted There never was a red line and held signs saying No arms through Israel, Gaza is not just devastating, it is a crime, and Is there any crime by which our government will punish Israel?

Aine Hayden, who was handing out leaflets saying End US complicity in Israels genocide in Gaza, said the protest was about raising awareness of US involvement.

She said: Theyre talking ceasefire while at the same time sending billions to fund the genocide.

Amongst the passers-by on Dame Street that Ms Hayden offered leaflets to were US tourists.

Youd love to think you could raise awareness with the Americans but you do find that theyre quite brainwashed.

I have had many Americans calling me a terrorist supporter (at previous protests).

Where is the humanity? Because thats what its about. We cannot look at these children and babies being targeted and slaughtered every single day.

Des, from Co Wicklow, who was at the protest with his young son, said he was there to be on the right side of history.

He said: People arent doing enough. America isnt doing enough, and even our own government isnt doing enough.

Its just disgusting whats going on, the amount of innocent people dying.

Former RTE producer Betty Purcell told the PA news agency that Ireland can do more through boycotts and sanctions.

She said: We have a Taoiseach who said he spends every single day wondering what more he can do for Palestine. Its very simple, he can start by passing the Occupied Territories Bill, the arms embargo Bill, the Israeli divestment settlements Bill.

If he was to do this, it would be a clear message both to the US and to Europe that Ireland really wants to do something. Not just stand around looking anguished. Weve done that long enough.

It will influence America.
By SA Commercial Prop News - Ortneil Kutama

SA REIT Association Chairman, Laurence Rapp said: Despite a tough operating environment and the brutal turmoil that hit local markets in December, the SA REIT sector continued its excellent track record of outperformance for investors in 2015.



While being the best performing asset class of 2015, South African Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) are having to weather many challenges which have prevailed for the past four to five months.

South African listed property once again outclassed bonds, cash and equities in 2015. Listed property returned 7.99% to its investors, outstripping cashs 6.46%, equities 5.13% and bonds -3.93%, according to figures from Catalyst Fund Managers.

Speaking on the sectors top performance, SA REIT Association Chairman, Laurence Rapp said: Despite a tough operating environment and the brutal turmoil that hit local markets in December, the SA REIT sector continued its excellent track record of outperformance for investors in 2015.

Listed propertys returns were somewhat lower than in recent years after it took a nasty knock in December, with other sectors, as capital markets responded to what has been coined Nenegate. As the market was rocked by the news, listed property dropped around 10% in two days. It later recovered to some extent. Despite these gains, in December listed property still lost 6.12%. Before then, listed property wasnt only leading other asset classes but outperforming market expectations.

Developing markets including SA are experiencing capital flight. This is placing companies growth in these countries, including South Africa, under pressure.

Mostly offshore listed funds have performed well. They were the top performers in 2015 and South African investors have enjoyed dollar based income pay-outs which are then converted into rands. The Rand has been poor performing currency for months.

At least 6 of the top 10 performing property funds on the JSE last year, had exposure to offshore assets or were totally offshore. This is likely to persist in 2016 as the South African market looks competitive and the economy struggles to grow. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) earlier this month cut its economic growth forecast for South Africa by almost half to 0.7% because of weak commodity prices and high borrowing costs.

Intu Properties which is listed on the JSE and owns major malls in the UK, achieved a return of 24.86% last year. Capital and Counties, also a property owner in the UK, achieved an overall return of 56%. SAs largest South African based fund, Growthpoint Properties total return fell nearly 10%.

The IMF's forecast is a full percentage point lower than the economic growth rate forecast which was made by the National Treasury for 2016.

Nevertheless, investors should not only invest in offshore based or exposed companies. Some smaller and not necessarily high quality companies are listing on the JSE from abroad largely because they are so hyped.

A number of analysts believe that Schroder European Real Estate will be a top performer this year. Schroder offers local investors exposure to European markets which are expected to gain pace in 2016.

Some South African funds will look to invest abroad this year too. Tower Property Fund, for example is expanding its operations in East Europes Croatia.

Evan Robins, the head of Old Mutual Investment Groups Macrosolutions Boutique says investors must be wary of the companies that do operate abroad and see the JSE as a good place to list.

Investors who are keen to buy offshore shares on the JSE should know exactly what they are buying. There has been a plethora of inward listed property companies on the JSE catering for this demand pf different quality. You must ask questions about seemingly opportunistic companies raising money in SA because they cant raise it in their home market or are trying to access much cheaper capital in SA which then implies that South African investors would be paying too much, he said.

Investors must also be aware that while by investing in offshore or exposed companies, they protect themselves against rand weakness, the rand could recover and then they will be hurt so they must think longer term and diversify. This means they should invest locally and offshore.

Grindrod Asset Managements Ian Anderson said people should buy into locally based property funds now while their share prices are depressed and even if they find 2016 difficult amid weak economic growth and few acquisition opportunities.

The long term should see listed property recover in SA. Listed property remains a sector with much growth potential and there will be a period of consolidation again. Listed property was the most active of any sector on the JSE last year in terms of capital raises and new listings.
Mayor Tim Kelly announced on Friday that Mande Green will be named the new permanent Chief Operating Officer (COO) of city government.

Ms. Green first joined the City as Chief Human Resources Officer in December 2021 after holding several leadership positions for the government of Clark County, Wa. She has served as interim COO since June 2024.

Mande has been excellent in the COO role since she came on as interim in June, and its great news for Chattanooga that shell be staying in the role long term, said Mayor Kelly.

Under her leadership, weve already seen increased urgency in delivering city services and making improvements to key city infrastructure. And I know the best is yet to come now that shes taking the job on a permanent basis.

I want to thank Mayor Kelly and the more than 2,000 employees of city government for trusting me with this responsibility, said Ms. Green. I believe in the mayors vision for One Chattanooga, and Im committed to doing my part to see it implemented. In particular as COO, Ill work to make more progress toward providing responsive and effective local government, which is the foundation of everything else we do.

Mayor Kelly also congratulated the UTC Research Institute on its hiring of Chattanooga Deputy COO Julia Bursch as the Research Institutes new COO.

While were sad to be losing Julia at City Hall, this is a well-deserved step up for her and shell continue to help move our city forward in her new role, said Mayor Kelly. UTCs success is Chattanoogas success. This brilliant hire by Dr. Mina Sartipi at the Research Institute gives me confidence that UTC is on its way to fulfilling its potential as a top tier research university.

Ms. Bursch started with Mayor Kelly as deputy chief of staff when he took office in April 2021, before being named Deputy COO when the mayor re-organized his senior staff in November 2021. Her last day with city government will be Sept. 5.

While I am thrilled to be returning to my alma mater, its hard to leave Mayor Kelly, Mande, and the entire team at city government at a time when were seeing years of hard work pay off, said Ms. Bursch. But in my role at the city, Ive seen how vital UTCs success is to Chattanoogas success. The Research Institute is doing innovative work to cement Chattanooga as a leader in quantum and mobility technologies. I leave city government filled with pride for everything weve been able to accomplish as a team, and I look forward to working with Mayor Kellys administration as a supportive community partner.

According to UTC, the Research Institute was established to advance R&D and experiential learning profiles in key cross-disciplinary areas like transportation and quantum. The Institute bolsters the Universitys focus on building cross-disciplinary teams and catalyzing partnerships to establish enduring programs of excellence for R&D areas that cant be solved using a single-discipline approach.




Salvatore Sal Augustine Giunta is a native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He is the oldest of three children and was instilled with the spirit of patriotism by his parents, Steven and Rosemary.





His childhood was full of the typical adventures, and in high school, his parents said he was more interested in socializing and goofing off than in grades.





He was a junior at Kennedy High School when our nation suffered the 9/11 Islamist attack.His mother recalls he instinctually checked on the family, wanted everyone together, and she told him, If the world falls part, I guess I can count on you.





At age 17, working a job at a fast food outlet, like many young Americans after the 9/11 attack, he decided to enlist in the Army  the first in his family to serve in the Armed Forces since his grandparents emigrated from Italy. He completed basic training and infantry school at Fort Benning, Ga.





He deployed to Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom and did a 12-month tour starting in March 2005. During that deployment, he was shot and witnessed four of his friends killed by an IED.





His second tour in Afghanistan began in May 2007 and extended to 14 months.





In October 2007, Sal was stationed at Firebase Vegas in the Korengal Valley close to the AfghanistanPakistan border  an area soldiers nicknamed the Valley of Death. In late October, his company began Operation Rock Avalanche, a six-day mission to root out Taliban insurgents in the region. The first casualty of that mission was SSG Larry Rougle, KIA on 23 October. Two days later, his company commander, CPT Dan Kearney, sent 2nd and 3rd Platoon back to recover equipment village elders had collected after Rougle was killed.





Then 22-year-old Sal Giunta was B Company, 1st Platoons rifle team leader, and his team was tasked with overwatch and enemy interdiction from a nearby ridge. On a night patrol on 25 October, Giunta and his platoon were working their way back to Combat Outpost Vimoto when they were ambushed by Taliban fighters. The insurgents were heavily armed with AK-47s, 10 rocket-propelled grenade launchers, and four belt-fed PKM machine guns.





Sal recalled: There were more bullets in the air than stars in the sky. A wall of bullets at everyone at the same time with one crack and then a million other cracks afterwards. Theyre above you, in front of you, behind you, below you. Theyre hitting in the dirt early. Theyre going over your head. Just all over the place. They were close  as close as Ive ever seen.





For his actions on that deadly night, he would be nominated for a Medal of Honor by his commanding officer. He was promoted to Staff Sergeant in August 2009 and, on approval by the Army, was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2010, becoming the first living Medal of Honor recipient in nearly 40 years.





SPC Giuntas actions under intense fire that night, to rescue and protect his brothers at arms, are described in his Medal of Honor citation:





Specialist Salvatore A. Giunta distinguished himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action with an armed enemy in the Korengal Valley, Afghanistan, on October 25, 2007. While conducting a patrol as team leader with Company B, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry Regiment, Specialist Giunta and his team were navigating through harsh terrain when they were ambushed by a well-armed and well-coordinated insurgent force. While under heavy enemy fire, Specialist Giunta immediately sprinted towards cover and engaged the enemy. Seeing that his squad leader had fallen and believing that he had been injured, Specialist Giunta exposed himself to withering enemy fire and raced towards his squad leader, helped him to cover, and administered medical aid. While administering first aid, enemy fire struck Specialist Giuntas body armor and his secondary weapon.





His citation continues:





Without regard to the ongoing fire, Specialist Giunta engaged the enemy before prepping and throwing grenades, using the explosions for cover in order to conceal his position. Attempting to reach additional wounded fellow soldiers who were separated from the squad, Specialist Giunta and his team encountered a barrage of enemy fire that forced them to the ground. The team continued forward and upon reaching the wounded soldiers, Specialist Giunta realized that another soldier was still separated from the element. Specialist Giunta then advanced forward on his own initiative. As he crested the top of a hill, he observed two insurgents carrying away an American soldier. He immediately engaged the enemy, killing one and wounding the other. Upon reaching the wounded soldier, he began to provide medical aid, as his squad caught up and provided security. Specialist Giuntas unwavering courage, selflessness, and decisive leadership while under extreme enemy fire were integral to his platoons ability to defeat an enemy ambush and recover a fellow American soldier from the enemy.





In conclusion, Specialist Salvatore A. Giuntas extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, Company B, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry Regiment, and the United States Army.





Of his actions, Sal, in typical humility honoring his fellow recipients, says: This was a situation we were put into. By no means did I do anything that everyone else wouldnt have done. There wasnt a whole lot of thinking I needed to do. Looking at it like a picture, Im just another brushstroke in the picture.  I didnt run up to do anything heroic. Everybodys been shot at, and I might as well run forward.  This respect that people are giving to me? This was one moment. In my battalion, I am mediocre at best. This shows how great the rest of them are. If Im a hero, then every man that stands round me, every woman in the military, everyone who goes into the unknown is a hero.





He adds, The medal [Medal of Honor] should go to the guy on the right of me and the guy on the left of me. We were all in the fight. Having spent some time with Sal, his humility, as with other recipients, shines.





I have also heard many recipients observe Sals experience about the difficulty of wearing a Medal of Honor: It was one of the worst days of my life, and when I revisit it, it kind of guts me a little bit more every time. Its a huge honor  but it does bring back memories of all the people Id love to share this moment with who are no longer with us.





He would later give his Medal to his 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, honoring those with whom he served. Sal said of them: Im not here because Im a great soldier; Im here because I served with great soldiers.





It should be noted that Veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom suffered many wounds, some seen and some unseen, but the last devastating wound they suffered was Joe Bidens disgraceful and deadly surrender and retreat from Afghanistan.





SSG Salvatore Giunta: Your example of valor  a humble American Patriot defending Liberty for all above and beyond the call of duty, and in disregard for the peril to your own life  is eternal.





Greater love has no one than this, to lay down ones life for his friends. (John 15:13)





Live your life worthy of his sacrifice.





Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis

Pro Deo et Libertate -- 1776





Join us in daily prayer for our Patriots in uniform  Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen -- standing in harms way in defense of American Liberty, and for Veterans, First Responders, and their families.





Please consider a tax-deductible gift to support our hometown National Medal of Honor Sustaining Fund. Make a check payable to NMoH Sustaining Fund and mail to: Patriot Foundation Trust, PO Box 407, Chattanooga, TN 37401-0407. Visit the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center at Aquarium Plaza. ( https://www.MOHHC.org




The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission unanimously approved the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agencys 2025-26 operational budget which will begin July 2025. The Commission also heard an overview of the new deer management framework and seasons at its August meeting which concluded Friday. The two-day meeting was held at the Tennessee Farm Bureau headquarters for the first time since May 2000.

A review of the new science driven deer management framework that uses stakeholder objectives and additional data sources was provided by the Wildlife and Forestry Division. While the majority of the deer hunting regulations are very similar, there are new units and changes related to chronic wasting disease (CWD) hunting regulations and antlerless bag limits in East Tennessee.

The new units were created by grouping counties where biological and environmental factors that influence deer populations were similar. This will allow improved monitoring and management of deer. With the changes, there is no longer a Unit CWD in West Tennessee. The regulations there will revert to the normal statewide seasons, and rifles are not allowed during the August velvet hunt and the muzzleloader season. The CWD Management Zone, (feeding and transport regulations) remain the same. The Earn-a-Buck program applies in CWD positive counties. Additionally, there are increased antlerless bag limits in parts of East Tennessee, and TWRA will closely be monitoring the area over the next two years. For a full review of the new process and how these regulations were approved, visit the Commission page on tnwildlife.org to view the March and April meetings.

There will also be a new feature where deer hunters can voluntarily report specific locations of their deer harvests. This data will help to improve the Agencys understanding of the spatial distribution of deer and deer harvests in order to improve monitoring and understanding of population dynamics over time.

The Wildlife and Forestry Division also presented amendments and clarifications to the Gatlinburg Bear Feeding Proclamation. The proclamation now clearly includes unintentional feeding after final notice has been given. Changes also realigned the proclamation with the expanded city limits from growth. The proclamation reinforces commitment from TWRA and the city of Gatlinburg for public safety. Amendments and clarifications were also made to Oak Ridge WMA, Happy Hollow WMA, youth participation in quail quota hunts at Bridgestone Centennial Wilderness, verbiage for the Catoosa WMA turkey hunts, and dates of North Cherokee bear archery hunts.

An update on TWRAs Private Lands and Sharecrop Program was given. The crop lease program is utilized in all four regions and has a community impact to local producers across the state. The 96 leases cover just shy of 16,000 acres. There is a service lease where a percentage of a crop is left unharvested for wildlife and a cash lease or a cash payment to the Agency for services in-lieu of cash.

Communications and Marketing Director Emily Buck recognized Cash Daniels for his work in promoting conservation, in particular efforts to prevent plastic pollution in Tennessee waterways. A resident of Hamilton County, he recently turned 15-years-old and has picked up 45,000 pounds of trash and an estimated 5,000 miles of fishing line.

Buck provided an update on how TWRA is involved in many outreach efforts with Tennessee Farm Bureau, 4-H, and FFA to support rural youth and youth in agriculture. TWRA has supported these organizations through summer camp programming, wildlife education, shooting sports, and other outdoor recreation opportunities.

TDOT presented a North American Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC) Award Copy to the TWRA Biodiversity Division for pollinator work. TWRA has partnered with TDEC and TDOT to support the work in Tennessee.

Montana Michelson, who was earlier announced as the TWRA Boating Officer of the Year, was introduced to the Commission. He is assigned to Sumner County and his boating duties are primarily on Old Hickory Lake.

Col. Darren Rider, who is retiring as the head of the Boating and Law Enforcement Division, at the end of the month was honored by Executive Director Jason Maxedon and the Commission. He served the Agency for 38 years.
Entrepreneur and faith leader Anna Golladay has announced her candidacy for the City Council District 8 seat.

Ms. Golladay said, Chattanooga is more than just the city where I live. It is a community home to a diverse tapestry of humanity, one that is talented and worthy of a fair allocation of resources.

"Suppose Chattanooga is to be a city for all. In that case, it must be a place where we meet the needs of its residents, agree to a collective contract around safety and security, afford opportunity and possibility in all facets, and maintain a curiosity around creative solutions.

Ms. Golladay said she "believes unquestionably in that vision. If abundance is attainable for some, it must be possible for all.

She said her campaign is anchored by five priorities  economic equity and opportunity, affordable and accessible housing, infrastructure and fiscal responsibility, public safety, and practical resource allocation.

Anna and her husband, Dr. Michael Krigbaum, make their home in the Park Central neighborhood of Chattanooga. Dr. Krigbaum is an accomplished veterinarian and avid runner. Anna has an undergraduate degree from Shepherd University, a Masters in Integrated Marketing & Communications from West Virginia University, and a Masters in Theological Studies from Iliff School of Theology, University of Denver.

She owns and operates Biased Apparel, a clothing company she started in 2011. She is the CEO of Work of Place, a consulting firm that assists faith communities in understanding how their buildings and assets can be utilized to improve the economic stability of the neighbors that live around them.

She is the senior director of Communications and Marketing for Convergence, an organization committed to the reshaping of non-profits, congregations, and leaders engaged in theology by creating a more just world for all.

Before joining Convergence, she served as a pastor at St. Elmo United Methodist Church and St. Marks Church, and as the director of Creative and Marketing for Top Flight, Inc.

She is a 2016 Causeways Co-Starters for Causes graduate and an alumna of the Holmberg Arts Leadership Institute. She is highly trained in strategic planning, community development, graphic design, and marketing, and serves as a protest/conflict chaplain.

The District 8 seat is currently held by Marvene Noel.
A Criminal Court jury on Friday deadlocked on a second-degree murder charge against Marvin Fallins after 15 hours of deliberation.

However, the panel came back within 10 minutes on a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. That conviction carries 8-12 years. The exact sentence will be set later by Judge Barry Steelman.

The judge revoked his bonds and ordered him into custody finding that he posed a danger to the community.

Fallins was initially charged with criminal homicide in the slaying of Frank Usher in March 2021. Police at the time said Fallins admitted to shooting him.



Police had responded to a shot person report on East 48th Street and located the victim, who had been shot in the neck. He was pronounced deceased after being transported to Erlanger Hospital. Police began to review video footage from the Chattanooga Housing Authority and from the area.



Police said one camera showed the victim entering the back door of the residence, and Fallins, who was 51 at the time, also entering through the same door. This video showed Usher exiting through the front door while also holding his neck. He was seen running around the side of the building and toward the street where he collapsed on the ground.



Police said Fallins could be viewed exiting the front door with a witness, and that the two could be seen standing next to the victim. The witness grabbed a firearm away from Fallins, and then Fallins left the area and walked to a residence on East 49th Street.



Later that day, police interviewed Fallins, and they said he admitted to the shooting. The witness also corroborated that story.



After hearing the proof, Judge Steelman found there was not enough proof of premeditation for a first-degree murder conviction.

Fallins did not testify, but his defense claimed that the victim had a gun and was reaching for it in his waistband when he was shot.




Having gotten over the initial shock that the Hamilton County Mayor (WW) on Aug. 13 released a 14-page report with charts titled, County Mayor Says Latest Hamilton County Report Shows Drug Deaths Down, Murders Up in City . My first step as a concerned citizen was to immediately print the full report from a website that explained that the percentage of murders of the community with a population of 374,682 had increased only 20 percent during the years 2022-2024 (Jan 1-June 30) (chart, page 4) whereas its little brother/sister, etc. with a population of 184,086 had upped its killings percentage during the same two-year time period to 41.67 percent on chart page 5. (Two other murders on Rossville Boulevard and Crestway Drive on Saturday, Aug. 17, will up the percent).

To simplify the complexity of reproducing the long link to the county mayors website the following excerpt from page 3 titled A Message from Mayor W_ _ _ _ is attached. Of course a call to the friendly staff at (423) 209-6100 will quickly result in the caller receiving the full 14-page report with the attached crime reports:

For example, while overall crime is down across Hamilton County, murders within the city of Chattanooga have risen. Throughout the first half of 2024, murders have increased nearly 42 percent when compared to 2022, while nonfatal shootings in Chattanooga have remained steady year-over-year. The harsh reality of violent crime in our community should serve as a challenge to those of us in leadership positions to continue to pursue pathways to productive futures for our young men.

While some naysayers out to embarrass the 1989 Columbia University alumnus (TK) who has a degree in Comparative German Literature on behalf of UTK 2009 graduate (WW) who has a degree in Communication Studies, the impact on the citizens of both communities is disturbing to Republicans, Democrats, or Independents in 2024.

The interlocking of government services and taxpayer funds between Hamilton County and the city of Chattanooga involving millions/billions of dollars cannot be disregarded by a congenial photo session or self serving press releases by friendly news media sources to both written and viewing audiences.

Murder statistics and crime are just part of the obvious underlying friction between the elected officials that affects the rights of citizens in the areas of education, air, water, and ground pollution, uncontrolled development, traffic problems, etc. that are regularly pitched to a public with beautiful colored charts and rosy predictions of billions of dollars of benefits to a populace that is shackled with the challenge of being able to pay for groceries, to feed their families and to provide shelter, etc.

(The Hatfield-McCoy feuds dealt with physical violence. The Wamp-Kelly conflict deals with economic violence!)

----

If you have additional information about one of Mr. Summers' articles or have suggestions or ideas about a future Chattanooga area historical piece, please contact him at jsummers@summersfirm.com)

* * *

I'm glad to see Jerry Summers write about violent crime  and especially murders  in Chattanooga, a city located in Hamilton County, Tn. where Weston Wamp is county mayor and Tim Kelly is city mayor. Its hard to understand, however, the umbrage Mr. Summers seems to take with Mr. Wamps press release regarding Hamilton County crime statistics and how they relate to where the crimes occur. Its also difficult to follow Mr. Summers insinuation that dissemination of fact somehow is part of a competition between Wamp and Kelly.

Facts are facts. Lord knows, I'm no fan of County Mayor Wamp. However, regarding the issue of public safety, he correctly indicates that increases in Hamilton County murders occurred within the city limits of Chattanooga -- where Mr. Kelly is charged with public safety. So Wamp is right to lay blame for Hamilton Countys shocking murder and violent crime surge where it belongs -- with Tim Kelly.

It cannot be argued that Kelly has struggled to find the correct person to lead the city police department. Kellys advisory panel, named to recommend a replacement for his last failed police chief -- a person of epic shortcomings who ticked the boxes Kelly wanted to check when he made the hire  is made up of real law enforcement professionals mixed with community leaders. Hopefully, this group will give Kelly the cover he needs to pick someone skilled in and committed to safety for everyone, not just those in Chattanoogas most affluent areas. (In this case, and to be fair should a competition between mayors really exist as Mr. Summers suggests, Wamp has an advantage over Kelly in that the countys chief law enforcement official  Sheriff Garrett  is competent and honest.)

Bluntly, Mr. Kellys ineffectiveness concerning violent crime is getting his own constituency killed. As long as North Chattanooga is safe, and he is able to attend the Democratic National Convention to support DEI presidential candidate Harris, all seems well as far as he is concerned. Kelly is the third straight liberal mayor Chattanooga has elected, and, nearly unbelievably, crime seems even worse than it was under his two immediate predecessors.

When it comes election time again, will the local groups who supported Kelly initially, and whose safety his policies jeopardize, choose the same path? History sadly indicates that they will.

Morgan Smith
'The royal family will not be able to match that in any way that I can foresee,' a commentator said of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's skill they can't compete with.

The British royal family needs one skill Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have: the ability to attract lots of attention to their events. A commentator says the royal family cant deliver in that department. At least not on the same level as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Ahead, when Harry and Meghan likely discovered their unique skill. Plus, what upcoming event theres no way the royal family will be able to outshine.

Royal family events struggle to get the same level of attention as Harry and Meghans

Following the announcement of Harry and Meghans trip to Colombia, commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told The Sun the pair could very well upstage the royal family. The reason, he explained, is because the Duke and Duchess of Sussex can draw attention to their events in a way the royal family cant.

The royal familys not able to do something which attracts attention on the same level, and attention is important if youre royal, he said. The institution does need this oxygen.

I think when you have former senior working members of the royal family do what the royal family would like to do, I do think it will create difficulties. Because the problem is that the Sussexes are so unpredictable.

Harry and Meghan likely discovered the skill in Nigeria

As for when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex mightve realized they could attract more attention that their royal counterparts, Fitzwilliams looked at the pairs three-day visit to Nigeria in May.

Theres also no doubt that Harry and Meghan discovered this in what I would describe as their faux royal tour to Nigeria, he told the outlet.

While King Charles III and Kate Middleton dealt with their cancer diagnoses a vacuum was left which other working royals couldnt fill. Theres little doubt there is a vacuum. Ones really talking about really high-profile royals.

Of course, [Princess Anne] the Princess Royal and [Prince Edward and Sophie] the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and others do sterling work and carry out visits abroad. But they are not particularly high profile, and I dont think they particularly want to be.

Given the success of Harry and Meghans Nigeria trip, their upcoming visit to Colombiaexact dates have yet to be announcedwill presumably draw a considerable amount of attention.

Its going to take an enormous amount of publicity, he said. And the royal family will not be able to match that in any way that I can foresee.

Harry and Meghan further draw attention by referring to the royal family rift

Fitzwilliams continued, referencing Harry and Meghans CBS Sunday Morning interview. The pre-recorded sit down with anchor Jane Pauley, which aired on Aug. 4, 2024, Meghans birthday, was about launching The Archewell Foundation Parents Network.

At one point, Pauley mentioned Meghans comments in the pairs 2021 Oprah interview relating to the duchesss mental health. Meghan, in turn, replied she hadnt really scraped the surface of sharing her experience.

This, according to Fitzwilliams, proved telling. Theyve shown in the last couple of weeks theyre not afraid to bring up material that would embarrass the royal family or refer to rifts with it. And thats only a step away from overtly criticising [sic] it.

Meghan memorably told Oprah she hadnt wanted to be alive anymore in early 2019 while pregnant with now 5-year-old Prince Archie. The realization, which she shared with Harry the night of an official appearance, led her to seek help via the Firms HR department, which turned her down because she wasnt an employee.

They [Harry and Meghan] would say that theyre doing their own thing in a way they feel they are best able to do it, Fitzwilliams explained. What it will do, however, will be to draw attention to the Sussexes and not to the royal family. At least not to the royal family in a positive way because the Sussexes and the royal family have a very deep rift. Thats the problem.

How to get help: In the U.S., call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Or text HOME to 741-741 to speak with a trained crisis counselor at the free Crisis Text Line.
Images from a missing persons poster show Jessie Peterson. The poster was issued by the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office after Petersons family reported her missing. Sacramento Superior Court Mercy San Juan Medical Center in Sacramento County. Google Street View

The family of a 31-year-old California woman who died at a Sacramento-area hospital believed for a year that she was alive and missing because the hospital failed to notify it of the death, according to a lawsuit filed in Sacramento Superior Court.

Jessie Peterson was admitted to Mercy San Juan Medical Center in Carmichael on April 6, 2023, after suffering a diabetic episode. Peterson, who had been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 10 years old, died of cardiac arrest two days later. The next day the hospital moved her body to an off-site cold storage facility without telling the family that she had died, the suit states.

When Petersons mother, Ginger Congi, called the hospital on April 11, 2023, to ask to be transferred to her daughters room, she was told that her daughter had left against medical advice, according to the lawsuit.

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For the next year, Petersons sisters and mother tirelessly tried to locate Jessie, and filed a missing persons report with the sheriffs office, the suit said. It wasnt until this past April that the family learned Peterson had died at the hospital a year earlier  after the family received a phone call from the sheriffs office.

According to the suit, the hospital failed to issue a death certificate within 15 hours of Petersons dying as required by law  and instead issued the certificate a year later  on April 4. The family believes the hospital forgot about Petersons corpse after moving it to cold storage.

While a patient that doesnt survive may be just another lifeless body to Mercy San Juan hospital, Jessie was a family member, daughter, and sister, all of whom deserved the dignity and respect Mercy San Juan grossly failed to provide, the filing said.

Dignity Health, which operates Mercy San Juan, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Attorneys for the family did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit.

Petersons family alleges that the hospital was negligent in its handling of Jessies corpse, caused the family emotional distress and violated the states health and safety code. The family is requesting a jury trial, seeking over $5 million in compensation for damages, in addition to other compensation, according to the filing.

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At the time of her death, Peterson was a prosecuting attorney for Placer Countys peer court, according to the filing. A Sacramento native, she attended Roseville High School where she was a member of the water polo team and dance team, the filing said. She went on to attend Sierra College in Placer County, according to the filing.

The filing said that Petersons remains had been stored in an off-site warehouse morgue and her body decomposed so much that an open-casket funeral was not possible and her fingerprints were not able to be obtained.

Because her death was reported so late, Petersons family was unable to have an autopsy performed to determine whether medical malpractice was a factor in her death, the filing said.

Mercy San Juan hospital advertises that at our care facilities, we take pride in treating all people with dignity and respect, the filing said. In this case, there was no dignity and no respect. Mercy San Juan hospital failed in its most fundamental duty to notify Jessies family of her death.
We live in unprecedented, uncertain times, and this precariousness is felt more and more every day. As a result, some people have turned to the stars to seek comfort and guidance. As such, astrology has become a growing sector on social media.

Astrology is the study of the positions and movements of celestial objects and what influence they have on human affairs.

When something goes wrong, the misfortune can be blamed on the stars or planets being out of alignment. Astrology can also determine what kind of partner you should choose or the best time to ask for a pay raise.

According to a 2017 survey taken by the Pew Research Center, nearly 30 percent of Americans believe in astrology.

However, a new study has found that there is really no evidence to support the validity of astrologers readings. Ultimately, astrologers are confident in their predictions but are no better at it than random chance.

Earlier this year, a team of scientists examined several characteristics of 308 people, such as religiousness and political persuasion, and their various life outcomes, such as their achievements, mental well-being, and how busy their social lives were.

They used the Sun signs in the zodiac to measure these traits and found no connection. However, they received criticism from astrologers who said that they factored in entire astrological charts when doing their readings.

So, the team decided to partner with six astrologers to come up with a better test to see whether astrologers could match people with their corresponding charts.

The test was given to 152 astrologers to see if they could perform better than random chance. The results revealed that more experienced astrologers had higher levels of confidence about how many of the 12 people they had accurately assigned to their star sign.

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A century ago, hundreds of glass objects were lost at sea off the coast of Burgas, Bulgaria. Underwater archaeologists first became aware of them in 2020.

Throughout that year and the next, divers retrieved over 300 glass vessels from the seafloor of Chengene Skele Bay, located in the Black Sea.

According to the Regional Historical Museum Burgas (RHM Burgas), a more recent dive in 2024 yielded 112 more artifacts. The expedition was led by Ivan Hristov of RHM Burgas. Divers explored five different parts of the bay.

The glass artifacts were found at a depth of 6.5 to eight feet. Researchers believe the glass vessels were likely manufactured sometime in the late 16th century or early 17th century in a workshop on the Venetian island of Murano.

The process of making Murano glass was painstaking, intricate work that required great accuracy. Glass workers had to train for years to master the craft.

They also were considered to have a higher social status than other craftspeople due to their skill. Today, the island is still regarded as a producer of fine, high-quality glassware.

The glass vessels provide some insight into the consumption, trade, and production of glass in the Balkans during the Late Ottoman Period, which are topics that have been poorly researched in the past. They may have been used as fancy glassware or cups.

It is speculated that the glass vessels fell to the bottom of the bay after the ship that was carrying them went down in a storm. They expect to find the shipwreck in the surrounding area. Although no shipwreck has been discovered yet, there seems to be plenty of evidence that points to its existence nearby.

Archaeologists have come across iron fragments from anchor chains and pieces of ceramic vessels dating back to the Late Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The research team also stumbled upon a variety of artifacts from different historical time periods.

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The youngest mother in the history of the world was just five-years-old when she gave birth to a baby boy. In 1939, Lina Medina had a swollen belly that her parents feared was a tumor.

After taking her from their home in the remote Peruvian village of Ticrapo to see a doctor in Lima, they found out that their daughter was seven months pregnant.

Lina was born into a family of nine children on September 23, 1933. Her pregnancy at such an early age took everyone by surprise and attracted a lot of media attention.

On May 14, 1939, Lina gave birth to her son, Gerardo, via C-section. She became the youngest mom in the world at the age of five years, seven months, and 21 days.

Experts believe that Lina had a rare genetic condition that causes a childs body to change into that of an adult soon.

Boys with the condition will develop a deeper voice and facial hair. Girls will grow in their chest and gain the ability to have a baby. About one in 10,000 children are affected by the condition, with girls ten times more likely to develop the condition than boys.

Most of the time, the cause of this condition is unknown.

In the case of Lina, physical examinations showed that at just five-years-old, she had already developed a chest, wide hips, and advanced bone growth for her age.

Lina never told the authorities who the father of her child was. It is possible that she might not have even known exactly what happened due to her young age. The doctor who discovered her pregnancy said that she was unable to answer his questions about the father clearly.

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Home News Harris-Walz 'far leftism' will drive Christian turnout despite weakened GOP platform, conservative leaders say

Editors' note: This is part 12 of The Christian Post's year-long articles series "Politics in the Pews: Evangelical Christian engagement in elections from the Moral Majority to today." In this series, we look at issues pertaining to election integrity and new ways of getting out the vote, including churches participating in ballot collection. We'll also look at issues Evangelicals say matter most to them ahead of the presidential election, along with the political engagement of diverse groups, politically and ethnically. Read other articles in the series by clicking here.

Christians will be emboldened to vote in November because of the far leftism of the Democratic ticket despite a GOP platform that some believe has been softened on social issues important to Christian conservatives, political activists say.

The Republican Party garnered mixed reactions from social conservatives over its 2024 platform, which softens the partys opposition to abortion and omits any mention of banning same-sex marriage.

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Chad Connelly, founder of Faith Wins and the Republican National Committees first-ever national director of Faith Engagement, told The Christian Post that while many social conservatives might take issue with the softened platform, I dont know anybody in my orbit who will go out there and not vote for Trump.

GOP or pastor, even if they are upset about the platform and the way we were treated by the consultants, theyre going to vote for the most conservative candidate. I think theres such a contrast now, Connelly said.

Connelly contends that Harris and "her far-leftism, as well as the selection of Democrat Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, probably helps the Christian vote, honestly.

I mean, it looks like probably the most radical ticket ever nominated in all of American political history, he continued. A lot of our folks, pastors that we work with in Wisconsin and in the Minneapolis area who were very involved in trying to minister to some of the victims of rioting and some of the rioters, actually.

So, they saw what Walz did, and, of course, Kamala Harris was paying for the bail money for some of the people who were doing the destruction. I think all this nomination thing is going to help that.

Connelly said Walz was nobodys moderate and took issue with the governors recent comment that one persons socialism is another persons neighborliness, responding that you can be biblically neighborly without forcibly taking money from people at the governments behest.

Timothy Head, executive director of the Faith & Freedom Coalition, an organization that spends millions each election mobilizing conservative Christian voters, told CP that he doesn't believe many conservative Christians will stay home on Election Day due to controversies surrounding the Republican Party's platform.

I think, first of all, the contrast between what we now know to be the Democrat candidate, top of the ticket, and the Republican ticket is stark and clear, said Head. I dont think that the platform unto itself is really top of mind for those average voters.

Walker Wildmon, vice president of the American Family Association, believes that in spite of the disappointing party platform changes, it remains true that the most pro-life candidates exist in the Republican Party.

To the contrary, the Democratic Party hardly has a pro-life candidate remaining, Wildmon said. Instead, the party as a whole has shifted to supporting abortion through all stages of pregnancy, and they cant define what a woman is. The difference between the two parties is still quite stark.

A betrayal of Christian voters

Last month, ahead of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Republican National Committees Platform Committee unveiled the 2024 platform.

Said to be heavily influenced by former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, the platform was noted for being more scaled back compared to past election year platforms and took a softer stance on social issues, especially abortion.

Unfortunately, this platform fell short in its steadfast support of the lives of the unborn, said Chris Sadler, acting CEO of My Faith Votes, an organization that seeks to mobilize Christian voters, in comments to CP.

My Faith Votes believes life begins at conception and its disappointing to see the Republican Party weaken on their defense of the unborn and betray the Christian voters that make up much of their base.

Sadler also told CP that he considered the new platform a betrayal of Christian voters and evidence that the RNC failed to listen to the activists and voices of the Republican Party and created a platform that betrayed their pro-life base.

The party platform doesnt reflect laws or actions we pray that Republican and Democrat candidates will advocate for and work to protect life, beginning at conception, he added.

Nicole Hunt, an issues analyst with Focus on the Family, said her organization was disappointed to see the changes made to the GOP platform related to the sanctity of human life.

"Indeed, we are dissatisfied with any political party platform that moves away from explicitly protecting preborn babies and their mothers from the tragedy of abortion, Hunt told CP.

"Focus on the Family has always been unashamedly pro-life. Its one of our foundational principles. Our commitment to fight for the lives of the preborn started when the organization was founded 47 years ago, in 1977, and it continues today.

Not only was there much disappointment among conservative Christian groups, but also a sense among some that the process that led to the revisions for the GOP platform was not a fair one.

Connelly recounted to CP about how the first GOP convention he attended was in 2004, and he remembered there being consultants who wished to water down the platform even then.

This time, the way they rolled the process, was very different, he told CP. I was actually elected by my own delegation, and consultants removed me because I was too pro-life and too conservative.

So, I wasnt in the room, but once I found out they had done that in 20 some other states, I realized what was going on. They wanted to bake that cake before they got to the convention. I dont think there was much discussion.

Perkins also decried the platform revision process, telling CP there was no discussion, no debate, no amendments, and it was unprecedented.

I have been a part of about five platform committees in the past, and it was very heavy-handed, Perkins said. Very disturbing what took place in a locked room when the media was not allowed in.

Sadler said the revised platform was forced upon platform committee members without the normal process of debate, discussion and committee decisions, adding that he felt the GOP should have a process driven by the people, the activists and the members of the party.

Wildmon of AFA told CP that he felt the platform revision process was not deliberative and considerate of the dozens of delegates who traveled in to debate the issues and find consensus on the platform.

For his part, Head told CP that while he preferred the previous platform, he felt like it was good to acknowledge some pro-life views and some other important issues for religious voters.

We do still believe that a federal approach would be great, but were certainly very comfortable with the state-by-state approach in line with the Dobbs decision at this point, Head said, referencing the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade.

I think a lot of significantly less, probably three or four, maybe even, platform processes have all been a little bit unusual. This one was different also, in that you have a former president who technically is not the sitting president but was the presumed nominee, etc. So I think there were some unusual dynamics through the process.

Head told CP that the process did allow for input, with his group, the Faith & Freedom Coalition, having input earlier in the process, though not at the platform committee itself.

We certainly felt heard and included in the process, he continued. I cant speak to the other organizations, but at least we certainly felt like we were solicited and our input was integrated in.

A diminished intensity?

Last month, conservative author and Newsmax host Todd Starnes posted to his X account reports that Republican Party leadership had dismissed the concerns that social conservatives had about the platform.

According to Starnes, one Evangelical Christian leader who addressed party officials was rebuffed and told, Where else will your people go?

When posed the same question by CP, Perkins of FRC said it was not a matter of where we go, but rather a lot of people wont go anywhere, as the intensity of involvement might diminish.

Ive already gotten calls from people who do track this, who said, Look, I cant volunteer for the Republican Party anymore. I cant volunteer for the Trump campaign, Perkins said, adding that this doesnt mean theyre not going to vote. Im encouraging people to vote. Im going to vote.

We believe its very important that we communicate were here for the policies, for the issues. As long as theres a party thats championing them, were with them. If they drop them or deprioritize them or move away from them, were not with you.

Connelly told CP that he speaks with pastors on a weekly basis and noted that they were upset, disappointed and felt that the GOP was trying to ride the fence on the social issues.

My dad said, If you ride the fence, youre going to get splinters where they really hurt, Connelly said. And people are going to come at you from both sides.

Connelly added that he knew people who were so disappointed they didnt come to the convention and felt that while they will turn out to vote, things like the revised platform works to depress peoples enthusiasm.

Hunt was optimistic that Christians will continue to engage in the political process because we know it's the only way to secure the freedoms and values we cherish.

The pro-life movement must continue to advocate for life within all political parties if we want to see the party platforms embrace a more life-affirming ethic, she told CP.

The longitudinal approach

Regarding longer-term reactions, Perkins told CP that the FRC had changed its usual election year practice of comparing the Democrat and Republican platforms and instead have taken to contrasting the new GOP platform with its earlier incarnation.

According to Perkins, this platform comparison campaign includes a video that has been played in thousands of churches and has been downloaded more than a million times by individuals.

Normally, we do a comparison between the Democratic and the Republican Party platforms, but weve done a comparison between the previous Republican platform and the current platform, he explained. A lot was left out. The life issue, obviously, of greatest concern, religious freedom internationally, the family, Israel, so a lot that was just left undefined.

In addition to the campaign to show churches all the ways that the platform has changed, Perkins told CP that, in Tennessee, his organization was overseeing efforts to hold Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn accountable for her involvement in the platform committee.

Were running ads in Tennessee asking people, voters in Tennessee, to call her and ask her why she was a part of this secretive effort to weaken the partys stand on life, Israel, marriage, Perkins noted.

Most people dont know what happened yet, and they dont know how it happened. But as pro-lifers, as those who have come into this process because of their faith, were not going to drop these issues because one party says theyre no longer important.

Other conservative Christian leaders were optimistic that the revisions done to the platform could be reversed in 2028, with Head telling CP that we definitely take a long-term, longitudinal approach.

We suspect that it will remain a feature, a central feature in 2028 and beyond, because were particularly focused on federal and state legislation, he added.

I guess our emphasis is more on legislation than the platform itself. As long as the [Republican] Party is continuing to move forward in some form or fashion, we will be engaged and look forward to being a part of that evolution in the coming cycles.

Wildmon of AFA told CP he was hopeful that the 2028 Republican Party platform will reflect the party, including the millions of Evangelical Christians who consider themselves politically conservative and traditionally vote Republican.

Staying home and disengaging from society and government shouldnt be a part of our playbook as Christians, Wildmon declared. We should seek to be salt and light and transform culture in every way possible and that includes during election season.

Connelly told CP that he felt most people consider the problem to be consultants within the GOP who just dont share our biblical worldview, but noted that well get another bite at that apple.

Theres no doubt about it. Its not going to change anybodys view. But I also dont know anybody that wants to have a Kamala Harris administration, either, he concluded.
Home News Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspends campaign, endorses Trump

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. suspended his independent presidential campaign and endorsed former President Donald Trump but remains on the ballot of states that aren't considered tossups as he doesn't want to help Democrats.

At an announcement made Friday afternoon, the son of former U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy said that he was suspending his campaign but was not officially dropping out.

He praised the efforts of his campaign volunteers, saying that they "pulled off a miracle" by getting so many signatures to advance his campaign on state ballots.

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Kennedy accused the Democratic Party of "dismantling" democracy, citing as examples Vice President Kamala Harris getting the nomination without getting any primary votes and "lawfare" efforts against himself and Republican presidential hopeful Trump.

RFK Jr. called the Democratic National Convention "a highly produced Chicago circus" more about hating Trump than laying out a candidate with a clear agenda.

"Are we really still a role model for democracy in this country?" Kennedy asked, saying he did not want to be a "spoiler" who would help Democrats win states in November.

Kennedy said that he did support Trump's campaign, having met with the Republican nominee in Florida and engaged in extensive conversations about policies.

Kennedy said he is "aligned on many key issues" like protecting free speech, securing the border, fighting chronic disease among children, and antiwar efforts.

Kennedy said he attempted to reach out to Harris to find similar common ground efforts. However, the Democrat's campaign refused to meet with him.

Shortly before he made his speech, The Associated Press reported that Kennedy stated in a court filing in Pennsylvania that he was endorsing Trump and was asking to be removed from the state ballot.

Before running for president, the nephew of President John F. Kennedy was well-known for his environmental activism and advocating for transparency regarding the long-term safety of vaccines.

Kennedy originally planned to run as a primary challenger to incumbent Democrat President Joe Biden. Last October, he decided to run as an independent candidate instead.

In March, Kennedy announced that Nicole Shanahan, a 38-year-old California-based technology entrepreneur and patent attorney, would be his vice presidential running mate.

During his campaign, Kennedy expressed pro-choice views on abortion, although the extent to which he wanted abortion to be legal has changed in recent times.

In May, for example, Kennedy had initially stated support for abortions throughout the term of a pregnancy, only to later walk back such a stance to include more limits on the procedure.

"I support the emerging consensus that abortion should be unrestricted up until a certain point. I believe that point should be when the baby is viable outside the womb," he tweeted at the time.

"We can reduce abortion across the board by supporting motherhood, supporting parents, and supporting families. Soon, we'll unveil our plan for universally affordable child care, which will cap child care expenses at 10% for most families."

Earlier this week, reports surfaced that Kennedy was planning to drop out and that he would endorse Trump, possibly in return for receiving a position in his administration should he win.

In a story published Wednesday, for example, ABC News cited "sources familiar with the decision," which indicated that he was "planning to drop out of the presidential race by the end of this week" and "plans to endorse Donald Trump."

On Friday morning, The Associated Press reported that Kennedy withdrew from the Arizona ballot, with the possibility that he would join Trump at a campaign event.

According to a report by NBC News released in advance of the announcement, RFK Jr. leaving the race would benefit Trump more than Harris, as polling indicated that Republican voters viewed him more positively than Democrats or independents.
Home News 6 women detained, imprisoned amid Nicaraguas crackdown on Christians

In Nicaragua, a systematic crackdown on Christians has led to the detention and imprisonment of six women over the past year, according to a persecution watchdog, which says these incidents, involving five Catholics and one Protestant, reveal a pattern of religious persecution under President Daniel Ortegas regime.

Ortega, who secured a controversial fifth term in 2021, and his regime of the far-left Sandinista National Liberation Front, have been criticized for suppressing religious groups, opposition, journalists and activists for opposing human rights abuses. The regime arrests them under ambiguous national security laws and other charges.

Maria Asuncion Salgado, a Catholic, was arrested on Oct. 7, 2023, while attending a service at Nuestra Senora de Asuncion parish in the Diocese of Esteli. She, along with two others, was detained for religious belief, activity and association, says the U.S.-based group International Christian Concern.

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Similarly, Evelyn Guillen was taken into custody on Aug. 5, 2023, for her religious activity and expression, specifically after displaying a poster advocating for the release of Bishop Rolando Alvarez, an outspoken critic of the regime.

Alvarez, who was detained and later exiled to the Vatican, had been vocal about liberties being divine rights, a stance that led to his arrest. During her detention, Guillen has been denied medical treatment.

On Aug. 19, 2023, Adela Tercero and Gabriela Morales were arrested for allegedly spreading false information and undermining national security. Although these charges were eventually dropped, both were convicted of drug trafficking after allegedly being found with marijuana. Their affiliations with Jesuit educational institutions, known for their active role in anti-regime protests, seemingly made them targets.

Maricarmen Espinosa Segura, another detainee, was arrested in December 2023 on charges of money laundering, a common accusation used by the Ortega regime to imprison political opponents. She received a 10-year sentence and an $80 million fine on March 19, for her involvement with Puerta de la Montana Ministry, part of the U.S.-based Mountain Gateway Christian group. The group, known for organizing large evangelical events, is viewed by the Nicaraguan government as a threat to its authority.

Marisela de Fatima Mejia Ruiz, associated with the same ministry, faced similar charges and was sentenced to 15 years in prison and fined $80 million for money laundering.

Seven detained Catholic priests were recently exiled to Rome.

The clergy, detained by the National Police in the Diocese of Matagalpa under Bishop Alvarez, were held under house arrest and at the National Inter-Diocesan Seminary of Our Lady of Fatima before their expulsion. The exiled group includes senior diocese leaders Fathers Rene Vega Matamoros and Edgard Sacasa, who led the diocese following Bishop Alvarez's earlier exile.

The crackdown has not only affected individuals but also religious institutions.

The Nicaraguan government has also canceled the legal registration of 1,500 nonprofit organizations, including 695 religious groups spanning Catholic, Evangelical and Pentecostal denominations. The move, published in the government Gazette, La Gaceta, ostensibly targets organizations for failing to comply with financial reporting requirements, but is widely seen as a further clampdown on religious freedom.

Legal experts and activists within Nicaragua have condemned these actions.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has documented the increasing repression against religious communities in Nicaragua, noting threats and surveillance of church services. Ortegas government has repeatedly been criticized for its heavy-handed tactics against opposition, including the suppression of protests and arbitrary detentions.
Home News Supreme Court of Pakistan bows to Islamist threats in religious freedom case

Islamist death threats compelled the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday to remove part of a ruling recognizing an Ahmadis religious freedom, a move that will lead to more persecution of religious minorities, sources said.

The courts surrender to Islamist demands came in an appeal by Mubarak Sani, a member of the Ahmadi Muslim group that Islamists consider heretical in the Muslim-majority country. Sani had been convicted under the Punjab Holy Quran (Printing and Recording) (Amendment) Act enforced in 2021, though hed claimed the accusation related to an incident in 2019 before the law came into effect.

In its verdict, the court noted that Article 20 of Pakistans Constitution guaranteed citizens the right to profess, practice and propagate their religion, and that Sani had not committed a crime by publishing religious literature. The Supreme Court then ordered Sanis release on bail.

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The verdict led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa infuriated Islamist groups, particularly the extremist Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), which started a campaign against Isa. Some TLP leaders announced bounties of up to 10 million rupees ($35,790 USD) for any Muslim who killed the chief justice.

Fearing unrest, the Punjab provincial government filed a review petition under Article 188 of the constitution, but on July 24 the Supreme Court declared it had not deviated in any way from the decisions of Federal Shariat Court and Supreme Court in approving the bail.

The verdict favoring Sani led to outrage in Islamist circles and a debate in the National Assemblys Standing Committee on Law and Justice, where both the treasury and opposition benches agreed that the federal government should file a petition in the Supreme Court.

Besides the Punjab governments plea seeking omissions of certain portions from the courts July 24 revised verdict, the federal government also filed a miscellaneous plea on Aug. 17 under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharifs directives. In the Punjab governments petition, it maintained that some leading Islamic clerics and members of parliament requested the federal government to approach the top court and highlight some portions of the verdict that they said merited correction. It further maintained that certain conclusions and observations made in other parts of the judgment seemed to be a mistake and were inconsistent with previous rulings of the highest court.

Under immense pressure and threats, the Supreme Court announced that it was ready to review its verdict for a second time, a first in the countrys judicial history.

On Tuesday, hundreds of activists belonging to Islamic extremist parties, including the TLP and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), breached security and reached the Supreme Court building, where speakers openly threatened judges to withdraw the verdict. They said the judgment had hurt the sentiments of the entire nation and pledged that they were ready to render any sacrifice for the protection and sanctity of Islam and the finality of the prophethood of Muhammad.

Surrendering to the Islamists demand, the three-member bench headed by Isa and including Justice Irfan Saadat Khan and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan on Wednesday ordered the exclusion of the paragraphs from the verdict, including the one related to freedom of religion, asserting that the deleted portions cannot be cited as precedent in any judgment.

I dont want to say [it] but am helpless; I pray in every prayer that may God prevent me from making any wrong decisions, Isa said during the hearing in Islamabad, according to media reports.

Some veteran reporters who attended the hearing said that all three judges were visibly fearful and under immense pressure. Many people in Pakistan, including a former governor and a high court judge, have been murdered for speaking in favor of those falsely charged with blasphemy, they said.

No hope left

The Supreme Courts second review of its verdict shocked rights activists and church leaders, who said the surrender to Islamist pressure does not bode well for Christians and other minorities.

We were not expecting the Supreme Court to capitulate to extremist forces in this manner, said Church of Pakistan President Bishop Azad Marshall. When the highest court of the country fails to protect the guarantees given by the constitution regarding religious freedom for all citizens irrespective of their faith affiliations, there is no hope left for any improvement in our situation.

The church leader expressed fears of an increase in blasphemy cases and violence against Christians.

Religious forces have instilled more fear in the judiciary, he said. In such circumstances, I doubt we can expect any justice for those falsely accused of blasphemy.

Marshall said that by deleting its observations regarding the freedom to profess any religion, the Supreme Court has shown its helplessness in safeguarding the constitution.

Minorities Alliance Pakistan Chairman Akmal Bhatti termed the courts decision a big blow to freedom of religion in Pakistan.

It's very sad, he said. The extremist forces first successfully harassed trial courts, then high courts, and now the Supreme Court. Who would take the bails of Christians and others charged with blasphemy now?

Attorney Yasser Latif Hamdani, a progressive Muslim rights activist and author, said he had lost faith in Pakistan.

Jinnah [the countrys founder] certainly didnt imagine that one day the same people who called him Kafir-e-Azam [infidel] would be forcing the Supreme Court to change its decision  a simple decision that says that a citizen of Pakistan can pray how he or she likes within the confines of his/her home or place of worship, Hamdani wrote on his Facebook page. If Qazi Faez Isa can be forced to change his decision, this country will never go forward. It seems that Jinnah made a terrible mistake giving these idiots a country.

Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors 2024 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian, as it was the previous year.

This article was originally published by Christian Daily InternationalMorning Star News.
Home Opinion The antisemitic unraveling of Candace Owens

Over the last year or so, Candace Owens has made an increasing number of deeply concerning comments about the Jewish people and Israel, leading to the question: What kind of antisemitic Kool-Aid is she drinking? In light of her most recent comments, the answer is: One of the worst kinds of antisemitic Kool-Aid, the kind that espouses the most ridiculous (and malicious) conspiracy theories. Her statements have now become completely unhinged, leading to bizarre headlines like this on an antisemitic website: Candace Owens digs in, calling out Israels Frankist pedo-protection cult. What?

In her rant, Owens informs us that the horrors of the Holocaust did not help give birth to the modern State of Israel. Instead, many moons before this, Catholics and Christians went missing around Passover, and when their bodies were found, they were able to trace them back to the Jews.

But, she tells us, she is not repeating the infamous blood libel, which alleges that Jews kidnap and kill Christians during Passover, using their blood to bake matzoh. Not at all! These people werent actually Jews at all. They were Frankists, Owens says, referring to a sex cult led by the notorious Polish Jew Jacob Frank (1726-1791).

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The only problem with this unhinged theory is everything. First, this is the same fictitious blood libel, just blamed on Frankists rather than Jews. Second, the Frankists, with all their perverted practices, did not kidnap and kill Catholics and Christians, using their blood for Passover. Third, the Frankists actually were Jews, although some of them eventually converted to Catholicism. But I quibble. Why should we trip over historical facts?

According to Owens, Leo Frank killed Mary Phagan during Passover (in 1913) for these same nefarious, bloody purposes. (Apparently, he must have been a Frankist too, since his last name was Frank!) And, she states firmly, this Frankist cult, which is masquerading behind Jews, still participates in this s--- to this day.

We will soon find out that it is these fake Jews who helped found Israel, which is why, she tells us, Israel is a sanctuary state for pedophiles. Surely, nothing antisemitic here! And surely, we shouldnt stumble over the fact that most legal scholars believe that Leo Frank was falsely accused and wrongly convicted of the crime. Tragically, he was dragged from jail by an angry mob and lynched. But not to worry. After all, Frank was a Jew, right?

Owens claims that the nation of Israel may have been established by some Frankists, which is why Zionists defend pedophiles and criminals. But of course! How did we miss that? Yes, we are told, this is why Israel allows pedophiles from America to flee and receive protection from their state. (BTW, Owens jokes that she will punch you in the face if you dare say that Israel is our ally. They are anything but an ally and friend. All clear?)

What is Owenss proof about the founding of Israel? It is looking like Theodor Herzls family came from the exact same area in Moravia and Bohemia where the Frankist cult was founded. And while Owens says maybe about her theory, she has read a ton of books and is quite sure about it. She also informs us that Herzl said that he didnt care how many Jews had to die in order to establish the Jewish state. How did all the Herzl scholars miss this?

And why quibble over the fact that the Frankist cult originated primarily in Podolia, which is in modern-day Ukraine. After all, Ukraine, Moravia, and Bohemia are all in Europe, right? Thats pretty close! And, at some point in time, some Frankists were located in the same country where Herzl was born. So, obviously, he himself was a Frankist sex pervert, and as the founder of Israel, that explains why the Jewish state is a sanctuary for pedophiles. Candace is on a roll! And since no one questions whether Herzl was Jewish, it appears that the Frankists masquerading as Jews were Jews after all. Got it!

As for the fact that the Frankists had largely disappeared by the time of Herzls birth, again, why split hairs over things like chronology and history and dates and facts? Owens has a theory!

Not only so, but Owens wants us to know that Israel was involved in the assassination of JFK. It was a Mossad job!

But no one dared speak about these things. Thats because America is being held hostage by a foreign country  Israel! And so she fearlessly proclaims, We are an occupied nation!

But it gets darker still. Owens informs us that the first Jewish Supreme Court justice, Louis Brandeis, was a Frankist. Dont believe her? She has an ironclad answer: Look it up!

Unfortunately, not even my AI bots could figure out where this nonsensical and diabolical theory came from, with AI Claude pointing out that: 1. The Frankist movement was primarily active in the 18th century, while Brandeis lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. 2. Brandeis was known for his strong ethical standards and progressive reforms, which seem at odds with what is known about Frankist beliefs and practices. 3. There are no reputable historical sources that suggest Brandeis had any connection to Frankism. (These are just some of the points Claude raised, which also noted, This myth might have originated from anti-Semitic conspiracy theories ...)

But Owens has still more to say. She alleges that every person who speaks about Israel has to basically say a statement like, I dont want to get killed. Yes, of course! No one in America or abroad would dare say anything negative about Israel or the Jewish people for fear of being killed by the Israelis. And if anything happens to her? Blame the Zionists, like 1,000%, blame the Zionists ...

Thankfully, she provides an easy litmus test by which you can judge any commentator. If they dont condemn Israels defense of pedophiles and acknowledge that Louis Brandeis was a Frankist, then they, too, are evil, psychopathic Zionists.

Sarcasm aside, Owens is peddling some really sick, terribly dangerous stuff, given her popularity and influence.

May she awaken from this antisemitic stupor, may she spit out the poisonous Kool-Aid she is drinking, and may she become an advocate for righteousness and truth. And as much as her statements deserve ridicule and scorn, she needs our prayers. (I say this out of concern, not condescension.)

May the Lord deliver Candace Owens from deception!



Authors note: As for Louis Brandeis allegedly being a Frankist  and therefore, somehow involved in sexual perversion  by the time of Brandeis, the Frankists were simply a part of the Catholic Church with no connection to the earlier sexual rites. It is true that his parents were Frankists, but not in the sense that Owens alleges, which is where the confusion lies. It's fairly easy to verify this.
Barnabas Aid founder Patrick Sookhdeo suspended amid reports of 'chaos' in the organisation

There are reports of internal turmoil at Barnabas Aid after the suspension of its founder Patrick Sookhdeo, his wife Rosemarie and two trustees, Caroline Kerslake and Dr Prasad Phillips.

Barnabas Aid is one of the biggest Christian charities in the UK and supports persecuted believers around the world.

Premier Christian News reports that the suspension of senior figures in the organisation follows allegations of financial mismanagement and fostering a toxic work environment.

After complaints were made by whistleblowers, trustees of the charity's international board commissioned an independent investigation into the management of the charity and how donations have been spent.

The investigation is being carried out by London law firm Crowell & Moring and its final report is due out in the autumn.

Barnabas Aid said in a statement to Premier that it had "identified examples of serious and repeated contraventions of internal policies; policies that were established to ensure the proper distribution of charitable donations".

"It further appears that the founders, and others, are identified in the interim report as having failed to comply with those policies. Moreover, objectively the founders created a toxic work environment which resulted in staff feeling entirely unable to routinely voice concerns," it states.

"In addition, we have also identified significant payments made to the founders (and to others close to them  including some Board Members/Trustees) which cannot be readily explained. Ample opportunity has been provided to the founders to explain those transactions but sadly they have refused to cooperate.

"We have let our supporters down, we have let the Lord down and we have let the suffering and persecuted Church down."

The four suspended leaders have denied the allegations and Kerslake said they are refusing to participate in the independent investigation because they disagree with the appointment of Crowell & Moring to lead it.

"In order to ensure that the investigation is independent, and can be seen to be so, we believe that another firm should conduct the investigation, at least so far as it relates to Barnabas Aid," said Kerslake.

The Charity Commission said it is currently assessing concerns raised about operations at Barnabas Aid and what, if any, action it will take.

Barnabas Aid trustee Andrew Carey admitted in a statement to Premier that the organisation was in "chaos" and "crisis" but insisted donations were being used to support Christians in need.

"We do have great staff, and we are partnering with some wonderful churches and communities throughout the world in some of the places in the world where Christians are persecuted are really suffering," he said.

"So I'd like to assure supporters that though there are things we need to put right, our brilliant staff are making sure that the funds they've been entrusted with are being spent in the service of the suffering and persecuted Church."
First Bible translation for indigenous ethnic people groups completed in Colombia

The Colombian Bible Society has unveiled the first complete translation of the Bible into an indigenous language - Wayuunaiki, which will serve two indigenous ethnic groups in Colombia. The Wayu ethnic community constitutes 20% of the indigenous population. The Nasa people, another native group, represent approximately 12.8%, according to data from the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE) in 2019.

"We work hand in hand with indigenous communities in Colombia with two main purposes: to preserve their native language and to speak the language of their heart through the Word of God. For this reason, together with the Wayu and Nasa communities, we are translating the Bible into Wayuunaiki and Nasa Yuwe, while strengthening ties with the population," the Colombian Bible Society says.

This marks the first time a complete Bible translation has been achieved in a native language within the country. The project required the expertise of biblical scholars, native translators, and language specialists to ensure that the meaning and interpretation of the sacred text remained intact. "Those of us who cannot read in Spanish found it difficult to complete the translation, but now, with this resource available in all our churches, we can advance not only in urban areas but also in rural communities," said Deinles Epieyu, a Wayu Christian leader, in an interview with Caracol News.

The translation, which took about 13 years to complete, is being celebrated as it will aid thousands of people who struggle with the Spanish language. The indigenous communities hope it will provide significant spiritual support and further enhance community relations.

"For us, the Bible translation signifies development and progress for the Wayu people. It advances both the linguistic development and grammar of our Wayuunaiki language as well as spiritual growth," said Ramon Uriana Epieyu, a member of the Wayu community.

Alexander Gomez, head of the Colombian Bible Society, said, "It is a great satisfaction because we know there will be transformations at personal, community, and socio-cultural levels. Each Wayu brother and sister who hears the Word of God in their native language will experience the love that God expresses to us."

During the presentation to the Wayu community, the organization distributed 1,600 Wayuunaiki Bibles free of charge. The goal is to provide at least 10,000 copies this year. The translation project cost 4.5 billion Colombian pesos (approximately 1.12 million US dollars) and was supported by donations from around the world.

The Wayu are indigenous people from the Guajira Peninsula on the Caribbean Sea, primarily residing in the northern part of Colombia's La Guajira department and the northern region of Venezuela's Zulia state.

While 97% of the Wayu population speaks their traditional language, Wayuunaiki, and 32% speak Spanish, 66% have not received formal education. Despite efforts to integrate the Spanish alphabet, the Wayu maintain a strong oral tradition and prioritize collective values over individual ones in their social interactions.

Originally published by Diario Cristiano, Christian Daily International's Spanish edition.
The office of San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins cut ties with the MacArthur Foundation, which runs a grant program aimed at funding criminal justice reform. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle

The San Francisco District Attorneys Office will cease working with a major foundation to implement a criminal justice reform grant, alleging that the foundation was biased against DA leadership and misunderstood the DAs approach to reforms, according to documents obtained by Mission Local.

The decision by DA Brooke Jenkins office to cut ties came after the MacArthur Foundation said in an Aug. 5 memo that it would withhold $625,000 in grant funding from the office, alleging that the DA had lagged in fulfilling agreed-upon criminal justice reform goals, like reducing the citys inmate population.

The Foundation is particularly concerned about the increases in (the citys) jail population and racial and ethnic disparities, lack of progress on (Safety and Justice Challenge) strategies, and underspending of grant funds, Laurie Garduque, MacArthurs Criminal Justice Director wrote in the memo, first reported by Mission Local.

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In a scathing response, the DAs office claimed that the MacArthur Foundations approach to criminal justice reform was too narrowly focused on reducing inmate populations, and that Foundation leadership were biased against the DA.

Our office will not be used as sharecroppers to a Foundations vision of criminal justice reform, Monifa Willis, the DAs chief of staff, wrote in an Aug. 21 letter. Nor will we sit silently and allow structural racism to play out through a grant process.

The MacArthur Foundation, a Chicago-based foundation that awards grants for social justice causes, granted San Francisco $2 million in 2018 to help the city implement criminal justice reforms as a site in the foundation-supported Safety and Justice Challenge Network, a group of cities and counties committed to reducing jail populations and eliminating racial inequities. The DAs Office took the lead in meeting SJC goals.

In 2021, the Foundation renewed the grant for another $2 million, and in 2023 granted a $1.2 million sustainability grant, the final $625,000 installment still outstanding.

According to the Foundation, San Francisco has lagged on its criminal justice reform goals: the average daily population in the county jail is well above its target of 800, and racial disparities among the inmate population have increased, Garduque wrote in her memo.

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In order to receive the $625,000, Garduque wrote that the DA would have to provide evidence of progress on three benchmarks: identifying action steps to reduce the jail population, planning to implement a pre-arraignment program, and launching a fellowship program to connect DA staff to people who have personal experience in the criminal justice system.

In response, the DA attributed some delays in meeting program goals to a change in DA administration and staffing shortages and also criticized the Foundations benchmarks as too narrowly focused.

The Foundations simple focus on jail population numbers, not holding people accountable, and/or offering no consequences for unsafe behavior is irresponsible and not trauma informed for the individual or the community we serve, Willis wrote. While we believe in the mission of identifying alternatives to incarceration, we must achieve it in a manner that does not come at the expense of the safety of our city.

Willis also implied that Garduque was racist in doubting the DAs approach to criminal justice reform, emphasizing that Willis and Jenkins are Black. On multiple occasions you have sat in meetings with two Black women, lecturing to us about your concern for jail population increases.  This is not a social experiment to us, or an obligation to meet the expectations of grants, its our real lives, Willis wrote.

Based on this fundamental difference in criminal justice reform approach, Willis wrote, the San Francisco District Attorneys Office hereby relinquishes our role as Grant administrator on the Safety Justice Challenge grant.

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A man takes a photo of sea lions at San Carlos Beach in Monterey. Federal law requires people to remain at least 150 away from the animals. Nic Coury/Special to the Chronicle Sea lions look up from lounging on San Carlos Beach in Monterey. Nic Coury/Special to the Chronicle A man points to a sea lion on a rock at San Carlos Beach in Monterey. Nic Coury/Special to the Chronicle A sign warns spectators to keep distance from a mass of sea lions at San Carlos Beach in Monterey. Nic Coury/Special to the Chronicle Hundreds of sea lions carpet San Carlos Beach in Monterey. Nic Coury/Special to the Chronicle San Carlos Beach in Monterey is closed to humans during the sea lion infiltration. Nic Coury/Special to the Chronicle A sea lion naps on another at San Carlos Beach in Monterey. Nic Coury/Special to the Chronicle

A beach in the tourist heart of Monterey remained closed Saturday as a huge cluster of sea lions camped out on the sand during their yearly journey north.

The city closed San Carlos Beach, on the south end of Cannery Row, on Monday after hundreds of the rotund pinnipeds carpeted the sand and created a spectacle for visitors, who were warned to keep a safe distance.

The beach will remain closed until most of the sea lions leave, said Laurie Huelga, spokesperson for the city. The marine mammals, which began to arrive about two weeks ago, generally stay about four weeks, she said.

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The city posted a video on social media Friday of the annual phenomenon, which usually occurs closer to Fishermans Wharf in Monterey. The region provides a resting point between the sea lions breeding grounds in Southern California and the waters of Northern California, the video explained.

The pinnipeds are taking advantage of the fish-rich waters of Monterey Bay before continuing their journey. They generally follow food along the shoreline during the day and camp out on the beach at night, according to Lisa Uttal, spokesperson for the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Sea lions are camped out at Montereys San Carlos Beach in search of food during their journey to Northern California. Nic Coury/Special to the Chronicle

Though the sea lions have attracted large crowds of spectators, federal law requires visitors to stay at least 150 feet away from them for the protection of both the animals and their admirers.

People who harass, feed or harm any marine mammals could face a hefty fine or even jail time, the citys video warned.

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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Joe Biden speak on the sidelines of the NATO's 75th anniversary summit in Washington, U.S. July 11, 2024.

U.S. President Joe Biden spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday and announced a new military aid package ahead of Ukraine's Independence Day on Saturday, their offices said.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who also spoke with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov on Friday, said on social media the package was worth $125 million.

In the call with Zelenskyy, Biden reaffirmed Washington's support, which the White House called "unwavering", for Ukraine in its war with Russia.

The aid package includes air-defense missiles, counter-drone equipment, anti-armor missiles and ammunition, the White House said in its statement.

The calls came ahead of Ukraine's independence day.

"Ukraine critically needs the supply of weapons from the announced packages, particularly additional air defense systems for the reliable protection of cities, communities, and critical infrastructure," Zelenskyy said in a statement after call released by his office.

After seizing Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbor in February 2022. The United States has since provided military assistance and aid to Ukraine while also imposing sanctions on Moscow over the invasion.

Washington has provided Ukraine with more than $50 billion worth of military aid since 2022.

The war escalated on Aug. 6 when Ukraine sent thousands of soldiers over the border into Russia's western Kursk region. Kyiv has since announced a string of battlefield successes, but Russian forces continue to steadily inch forward in eastern Ukraine.

Separately on Friday, the United States imposed sanctions on more than 400 entities and individuals for supporting Russia's war effort in Ukraine, including Chinese companies that U.S. officials believe are helping Moscow skirt Western sanctions and build up its military.
Police officers secure access to the crime scene after the Solingen city festival on August 24, 2024 in Solingen, Germany.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility on Saturday for a knife attack in the German city of Solingen that killed three people and wounded eight others.

Police have detained a teenager who may be connected with a knife attack, but the perpetrator was still at large on Saturday.

Describing the man who carried out the attack as a "soldier of the Islamic State", the militant group said in a statement on its Telegram account: "He carried out the attack in revenge for Muslims in Palestine and everywhere."

It did not immediately provide any evidence for its assertion and it was not clear how close any relationship between the attacker and Islamic State was.

Hendrik Wuest, premier of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, described Friday evening's attack during a festival in the city as an act of terror.

Police were conducting a manhunt for the assailant. They said they had detained a 15-year-old and were investigating whether this person was linked to the attacker.

"This attack has struck at the heart of our country," Wuest told reporters.

Interior minister Nancy Faeser said authorities were doing all they could to catch the assailant.

The attack took place in the Fronhof, a market square in the western German city where live bands were playing as part of a festival marking the its 650th anniversary.

Markus Caspers, an official with the public prosecutor's office in Duesseldorf, said authorities were treating the attack as a possible terrorist incident because there was no other known motive and the victims seemed unrelated.

A police official, Thorsten Fleiss, said the assailant appeared to aim for his victims' throats.

"The perpetrator must be quickly caught and punished to the fullest extent of the law," Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a post on X.

Police cordoned off the square on Saturday and passers-by placed candles and flowers outside the barriers.

"We are full of shock and grief," Solingen Mayor Tim-Oliver Kurzbach told journalists.

A German musician who goes by the name Topic said he was playing on a nearby stage when the incident occurred. He was told about what had happened but was asked to keep playing "to avoid causing a mass panic attack", he posted on Instagram.

He was eventually told to stop, and "since the attacker was still on the run, we hid in a nearby store while police helicopters circled above us," Topic wrote.

Authorities cancelled the remainder of the weekend festival.

Fatal stabbings and shootings are relatively rare in Germany. The government said earlier this month it wanted to toughen rules on knives that can be carried in public by reducing the maximum length allowed.

In June, a 29-year-old policeman was fatally stabbed in Mannheim during an attack on a right-wing demonstration. A stabbing attack on a train in 2021 injured several people.

North Rhine-Westphalia's interior minister, Herbert Reul, visited the scene in Solingen early on Saturday. He told reporters it was a targeted attack on human life.

Solingen, well known for its knife manufacturing industry, is a city of some 165,000 people.

The episode comes ahead of three state elections next month in Thuringia, Saxony and Brandenburg, in which the anti-immigrant far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has a chance of winning.

Though the motive and identity of the assailant were not known, a top AfD candidate for one of the state elections, Bjoern Hoecke, seized on Friday's attack, posting on X: "Do you really want to get used to this? Free yourselves and end this insanity of forced multiculturalism".
An Italian Coast Guard vessel and rib during search operations for the luxury yacht Bayesian which sank off the coast of Porticello, Sicily, on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024.

An Italian prosecutor has opened a manslaughter investigation into the deaths of British tech magnate Mike Lynch and six other people who were killed when a luxury yacht sank off Sicily this week.

The public prosecutor's office of Termini Imerese, headed by Ambrogio Cartosio, announced the investigation, saying the probe was not aimed at any individual person.

Lynch's 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, was also among those who died when the family's 56-metre-long (184-foot) boat, the Bayesian, capsized during a fierce, pre-dawn storm on Monday off Porticello, near Palermo.

Fifteen people survived, including Lynch's wife, whose company owned the Bayesian, and the yacht's captain.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris delivers remarks, as President Joe Biden stands, at an event on Medicare drug price negotiations, in Prince George's County, Maryland, U.S., August 15, 2024.

A 37-year-old Tennessee man was charged over alleged social media threats against President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Barack Obama, according to a press release from the Department of Justice.

Kyl Alton Hall was indicted Tuesday on two counts of threatening a sitting president or vice president and one count of a threat to a former president. Each charge could carry a penalty of up to five years in prison, according to the DOJ.

Authorities say the threats originated on the social media platform X. The Memphis-area man allegedly threatened to "kill, assassinate, shoot, and crash the plane" of Biden. He also threatened to assassinate Harris and Obama.

The U.S. Secret Service investigated the case, which will be prosecuted by the national security and civil rights unit in the local U.S. attorney's office.

A spokesperson for the Secret Service did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The charges come the same week that all three officials  Biden, Harris and Obama  appeared in Chicago to speak at the Democratic National Convention, where Harris accepted her party's presidential nomination.
Stefanie Kiser Book: "Wanted: Toddler's Personal Assistant". Cover design by Jillian Rahn/Sourcebooks. Courtesy: Stefanie Kiser

Stephanie Kiser came to New York City in 2014 as a new college graduate, hoping to become a screenwriter. Instead, she spent the next seven years as a nanny for wealthy families. Kiser's new memoir, "Wanted: Toddler's Personal Assistant: How Nannying for the 1% Taught Me about the Myths of Equality, Motherhood, and Upward Mobility in America," details her unexpected career detour. Her seven years as a nanny saw her escorting one client's daughter to $500-per-lesson literacy tutors on the Upper East Side, driving Porsches and Mercedes for everyday errands and sheltering in place at a family's home in the Hamptons during the Covid-19 pandemic. Her clients included families with dynastic wealth as well as those with high-paying jobs such as doctors and lawyers. More from Personal Finance:

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Here's how Tim Walz could help shape the child tax credit In Kiser's first nannying job, she was paid $20 an hour, far more than the $14 an hour she estimates she would have made as a production assistant under a short-term contract. Plus, she often ended up working extra hours. "It usually ended up being like $1,000 a week with everything that I was doing," Kiser said. That first job opened doors for higher-paid positions through nanny agencies. In Kiser's final year as a nanny during the pandemic, she estimates she took home about $110,000. "Even though I had the least respected job of my friends, I definitely was making the most," said Kiser, who is now 32 and works at an ad-tech company in New York City. CNBC spoke with Kiser about some of the financial lessons she learned during her time as a nanny, and why she ultimately left the role. (This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity).

No prospects for job growth: 'I was very stationary'

Scarlett Johansson on Location for "The Nanny Diaries" on May 1, 2006 at Upper East Side in New York City, New York, United States. James Devaney | Wireimage | Getty Images

Ana Teresa Sola: When I first saw this book, I thought of "The Nanny Diaries," a novel published in the early 2000s and then adapted into a movie. What made you decide to turn your story into a memoir instead of a novel? Stephanie Kiser: I read "The Nanny Diaries" when I started my first job. It definitely hit home at the time, but I did feel like it was sort of a satire. I didn't want to villainize the rich or the poor because I have people I love very dearly on both sides. The intention of my book was to make a social commentary. It was my hope that I could bridge this understanding a bit between the two sides because there's this thought that poor people just aren't working hard enough and rich people are just inherently bad. I don't think that's necessarily true, but I think that people who are wealthy, who are employing these people who really need these jobs, they do have privilege and an opportunity to either make someone's life better or worse.

A contract as a nanny is important because there's no HR. Stephanie Kiser author

ATS: You mention that you could not afford to work in a professional job in New York because the pay was much lower than you were making as a nanny. Did you feel trapped? SK: When my last boss read this book, she felt sad and was like, 'I didn't realize you were so miserable doing the job.' I said, 'No, I wasn't miserable doing the job. I loved your kids so much, but this was not the job I wanted.' I did feel trapped. I felt like there's nothing else I could possibly do, and it got a little bit worse as time went on. All my friends were growing in these jobs and they were getting more experience in their resume, and I wasn't. I was very stationary in this position. It wasn't a good feeling to feel like there's nothing else I could possibly do. Now I have a different job and this is the first year that I'm earning more than I did nannying, which is great, but the first couple of years after nannying were definitely really hard financially, making that shift.

'There's no HR ... the contract is really all you have'

ATS: A family offered you a salary of $125,000, plus full health and dental, a monthly metro card and an annual bonus. But you went with a different family for less pay. You mentioned you were waiting on a contract. Why is that so important in the business? SK: A contract as a nanny is important because there's no human resources; there's no laws protecting you. Your employers are fully in charge of everything and they determine everything. [New York State does have a "Domestic Workers Bill of Rights" with a few protections.] At a regular job, you can be like, 'I worked 60 hours already this week, and I'm not going to work more.' You can't do that here [with a nanny position.] The contract is really all you have, and to not get the contract was really worrisome. Your whole life was going to be a nanny for this family. And I was coming off of a job where that had been really tricky, feeling like I wasn't really a person, and I didn't want to accept a job where that was the case again.

Stefanie Kiser Book: "Wanted: Toddler's Personal Assistant". Cover design by Jillian Rahn/Sourcebooks. Courtesy: Stefanie Kiser

ATS: Can you describe the differences between an au pair and a nanny? SK: An au pair is allowed to work a certain number of hours, like up to 30 hours a week or 40 hours a week, but there is a clear boundary because they often work for an agency. The agency that has sent them has told you very clearly they cannot work more than this. They get a very small stipend, but they do get specific accommodations, maybe they have their own room. They have all their meals paid for, transportation. An au pair has more things in place to make sure that they're not taken advantage of. Nannies often don't have these protections. Nannies who come from agencies are slightly more protected and those are typically the ones who get contracts. But these are the best of the best nannies; these are career nannies who have been doing this for 50 years; they've raised so many kids and they have amazing references. Or it's a young nanny that just got here after graduating from a great university and has like 10 skills that they are able to offer. So this is a luxury, honestly.

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ATS: You also describe the uncertainty associated with this job. It seems like nannying work can have a low barrier to entry, with salary growth potential, but then there are all these other risks. SK: I've known nannies who've gotten pregnant and they tell their boss. There's no, 'We're going to pay you three months maternity.' there's no, 'We're gonna let you leave on month eight so you can rest.' There's none of that. You can never really feel safe in the job. If you have a medical emergency, if anything goes wrong  I'm sure there's exceptions, but for the most part, you're sort of just out of luck. It is a really risky career in that sense.

'That's how you know they're wealthy'

ATS: According to the Pew Research Center, about 47% of childless adults under 50 in 2023 said they are unlikely to ever have children. What would that mean for nannies? SK: I wonder if that applies to the sort of people that I'm writing about. I wonder if for them this is a decline we'll see or if they're sort of outliers. If it is the case, I think it's a really serious problem. There are a lot of people in New York who come here and they need something to get by, who babysit, maybe it's their after work job and that's how they do it. Or there's people who don't have papers that are really limited in what they can do, and a lot of times, housekeeping and nannying is the only option. ATS: At the end of the book, you write that you received an offer as a personal assistant for a CEO with a $90,000 salary and benefits. Was that starting point below what you had been earning as a nanny at the time? SK: For sure. As a nanny, I had made $110,000 ... So it was a significant decrease. I had to work very quickly and very hard to get promoted. I was a personal assistant and I was an executive assistant, I changed companies last July and I became a senior assistant, and that was the role where I finally made more than I did nannying. And I don't think I could have done this, made this transition, if my student loan payments weren't paused because of Covid. ATS: You write in your book that some families signal their wealth by having many children. I'm curious to hear more about that. SK: I think about where I was born and where I came from, and anytime there was a family that had like five or six kids, it was sort of like, 'Well that makes sense, because they weren't wealthy.' And then you come to New York and you see someone on Park Avenue that has five or six kids, and it's like, 'That's how you know they're wealthy.'
The Tourism Board is positioning the city as a year-round destination with major events and festivals, Kumar said and highlighted the ease of travel, noting that Hong Kong is well-connected to major Indian cities and offers visa-free entry for Indian travellers, who only need to complete a pre-arrival registration online, which takes about 10 minutes. (Image: Reuters)



From Singapore, to Dubai, to Oman, Thailand and Tajikistan, all of these countries are betting on Indian travellers to boost tourism. The latest destination to join this bandwagon is Hong Kong. The special administrative region of China is setting ambitious goals to double the number of Indian visitors this year, by organising a series of festivals and events to attract them.A senior official from the Hong Kong Tourism Board told PTI that in 2023, 2.8 lakh Indian travellers visited Hong Kong and now the country is looking to double that number by end 2024. PTI quoted Puneet Kumar, Director for South Asia and the Middle East at the Hong Kong Tourism Board as saying, "Our goal is to double this figure [2.8 lakh visitors] this year. We have an array of festivals and events planned to enhance tourism. By the end of the first half of 2024, Hong Kong welcomed 181,000 visitors from India, which is 89% of pre-Covid levels."Given the upward trend, the tourism board hopes to surpass the pre-Covid arrival figures from 2018, Kumar added.The year 2018 is used as a benchmark since 2019 saw a significant decline in tourism due to widespread protests in Hong Kong over a proposed amendment to the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance, which led to numerous flight cancellations," he added.In 2018, approximately 400,000 Indians and a total of 33 million international travellers visited the special administrative region of the Republic of China. The city saw 34 million international visitors in 2023, and year to date, 21 million travellers have already visited Hong Kong.He noted that Indian travellers are among the top spenders in Hong Kong, with an average expenditure of HKD 9,139 (1 lakh) per person. Additionally, the average length of stay for Indian visitors has increased from three days in 2018 to 4.5 days in 2024.The Tourism Board is positioning the city as a year-round destination with major events and festivals, Kumar said and highlighted the ease of travel, noting that Hong Kong is well-connected to major Indian cities and offers visa-free entry for Indian travellers, who only need to complete a pre-arrival registration online, which takes about 10 minutes.Targeting primarily Gen Z and Millennials, the tourism board aims to foster frequent and repeat visits. "We are promoting Hong Kong as the event capital of Asia, catering to an age group that is highly interested in concerts and festivals, thus encouraging them to visit Hong Kong regularly," Kumar was quoted as saying.The board is focusing on both leisure and meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) segments. For leisure, Hong Kong is looking at families who would like to enjoy cruise holidays. India is a key market for incentive group travel for Hong Kong as well, Kumar said.(With inputs from PTI)
Vineyards are seen next to the Russian River in Healdsburg in 2023. In the Russian River basin, agricultural wells sometimes pull water not just from the ground but ultimately from adjacent rivers and creeks, where water seeps into the soil. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle

As Californians pump increasing amounts of water from the ground, sometimes siphoning flows from the rivers above and hurting fish, wildlife and other water users, an old state law is proving to be a new and successful means of reining in excessive pumping.

A Superior Court judge ruled last week that Sonoma County must do more to ensure responsible groundwater pumping under the states Public Trust Doctrine. The historical doctrine holds that rivers, creeks and other waterways must be protected for the public.

Groundwater has only recently been considered part of the Public Trust Doctrine, as the hydrological connection between waterways and below-ground water supplies has become clear. The new court decision is likely the first to enforce this.

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The ruling will not only require Sonoma County to revisit and perhaps rewrite its ordinance for permitting groundwater wells, but it could set the stage for other counties to similarly step up regulation for groundwater pumping. With aquifers being overdrawn across the state as above-ground supplies get squeezed, environmentalists are optimistic that this will be the case.

This ruling is particularly welcome given steadily growing groundwater pumping, declining natural resources and a changing climate that is making droughts deeper and longer, said Barry Nelson, founder of the consulting company Western Water Strategies. We hope this decision will be followed by counties statewide so that they start considering impacts on surface flows more seriously when permitting groundwater pumping.

The case was brought to Sonoma County Superior Court last year by the environmental groups California Coastkeeper Alliance and Russian Riverkeeper.

The organizations claimed that Sonoma Countys well ordinance did not adequately consider the impacts of new wells on rivers and creeks, which were running low and threatening salmon and steelhead runs, according to the groups. Their lawsuit said the county had a public trust obligation to protect the waterways.

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The challenge followed litigation two years earlier, which prompted the county to establish its well ordinance. The environmental groups, however, said the ordinance fell short.

The main concern has been the Russian River basin. Wells on vineyards that drive the countys booming wine industry pull water not just from the ground but sometimes from adjacent rivers and creeks, where water seeps into the soil.

Pumpers could just pump as much as they wanted, said Sean Bothwell, executive director of California Coastkeeper Alliance. There was nothing to make sure they were pumping sustainably. We felt like this (lawsuit) was a way to bring things into balance.

A statewide groundwater law, called the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, was passed in 2014 to help shore up diminishing aquifers across California, but the law doesnt fully take effect until the early 2040s. Bothwell said this was too long to wait.

We hope counties will heed this decision, and proactively do the right  and legally required  step of evaluating groundwater pumping to ensure pumpers are not taking excessive water to the detriment of our rivers and the aquatic life, he said.

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While Sonoma County, and potentially other counties, will have to better evaluate and mitigate the impacts of new wells per the new ruling, the Public Trust Doctrine does not detail when a county must approve or deny a well proposal. This remains subject to local discretion.

The Sonoma County Administrators Office said Friday it was still reviewing the court decision and wasnt prepared to comment.

But County Supervisor David Rabbitt, who was involved in the adoption of the well ordinance, criticized the ruling, saying the countys current rules were sufficient to protect waterways. Asking more of the county, he said, was burdensome and would likely prevent needed wells from being put in.

Are we going to require conditional use permits and environmental impact reports for every well that is drilled? he said.

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Youd think historical figures would be too busy to really get a good grip on a meaty grudge, as full as their schedules were with historical stuff. Some of them refused to let renown get in the way of a big sip of haterade, however, even for the silliest reasons.

5 Mark Twain Hated the Post Office If youd lived in Twains time, you definitely would have known about his vendetta against the post office. Every time a new postmaster was elected or a new regulation was adopted, there he was, writing editorials, essentially shaking his fist at clouds. His gripe mostly came down to thinking it was expensive and inefficient, which we all do, but we dont make careers out of it.

4 Charles Waterton Ostracized John James Audubon Over Vultures In 1826, famous bird guy Audubon got it into his head that maybe vultures scavenge by sight rather than smell, apparently with no idea how much he was about to offend naturalist Waterton. He declared that Audubon ought to be whipped, wrote 19 letters in five years to the Magazine of Natural History smearing him and began publishing them himself when the magazine stopped returning his calls. Does it even matter if he was right?

3 Sir Isaac Newton Relentlessly Pursued a Counterfeiter Advertisement In 1696, the Royal Mint took a shot in the dark, asked Newton if he knew how to solve their counterfeiting problem, and was so impressed with his answer they appointed him Warden. Part of his duties were investigating counterfeiters, which he wasnt thrilled about until he found out that one of Londons biggest anti-counterfeiting crusaders, William Chaloner, was one of its biggest practitioners. He was so pissed at the mans audacity that he went all Javert on him for three years until Chaloner was arrested, convicted and hanged. They took counterfeiting really seriously back then.

2 King Louis Philippe I Went to War Over a Pastry Shop Advertisement In the 1820s and 1830s, Mexico was rather unrested, what with the War of Independence and all, and some French business owners operating in Mexico got caught in the crossfire. Mexico was already deep in debt to France, but when a particular pastry shop owner came to King Louis Philippe I to complain that they had refused to pay for damages to his storefront, it was the straw that broke le chameaus back. He sent troops to invade Mexico and didnt let up until they agreed to pay. Not even their entire debt  just for the pastry shop. They must have been good-ass pastries.
One challenge for Oscar-winning documentarian Morgan Neville when it came time to tackle the story of childhood comedy hero Steve Martin? That was keeping his journalist cap on without falling into fandom. Youre building a relationship, and Im understanding how he sees his own story and everything else, Neville told The Hollywood Reporter. But the fan part of it doesnt totally go away because occasionally youre like, Tell me about the first time you were on SNL.

Neville avoided the fanboy approach entirely while making Apples Emmy-nominated STEVE! (martin) a Documentary in 2 Pieces. Any young comic would have been happy to gush about Martins influence. So would the veterans. Any SNL person, (Jimmy) Kimmel, Conan (OBrien), (Jimmy) Fallon, (John) Mulaney, they all would have talked, he said. Judd Apatow and Patton Oswalt are obsessed with Steve. But I dont love that kind of doc, where somebody is telling me why somebodys great.

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Instead, Neville was trying to get more inside with him. The comic made it easy by not playing up his prestige. The person I meet when I start the film is just Steve, he said. Its not Steve Martin, the superstar. From the beginning, Steve was like, Okay, if Im going to do this, Im really going to do it. We started by having these conversations where I went to his house and recorded us talking for hours.

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Conversations that last for hours? Neville agreed that the whole process is a little like therapy. Being a documentarian is often a para-therapeutic relationship, he explained, where youre asking people about the most important things in their lives and trying to make sense of them.

In the 90s  as discussed in the second part of STEVE!  Martin spent a lot of time working with therapists. The comedian famously had issues with his father, as comedians famously do, and Martin turned to writing plays as a way of working through the strain with his parents. Sitting down for the documentary was one more way for Martin to find catharsis.

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But like reading an old journal full of ones anguished thoughts, Martin wasnt nuts about revisiting the conversations once he was done spilling his guts. (Neville actually did go through Martins old journals as preparation for the job. Assistants scanned 5,000 pages of Martins diary from 1975, the year before he first got wild and crazy on Saturday Night Live.)

Revisit all the pain? Martin said he had no interest in watching the final documentary. But when Neville didnt send Martin a finished copy, the comedian reached out immediately. Hey, I never got the link!

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So I sent it to him, Neville said. He wrote me that afternoon and said, I loved it. Then Martin gave the greatest compliment one can give to a stand-in therapist. He wrote back 10 minutes later and said, Can I show it to my shrink?
Why is Ann Coulter here tonight? Rob Lowe asked at his Comedy Central roast in 2016. Because the right-to-lifers wanted everyone to see what an abortion looks like up close.

If you can believe it, Lowes low blow was actually one of the evenings mildest burns of the conservative author and commentator who once called for Jews to be perfected, as they say in order for America to become a true Christian nation. Seeing as Coulters provocative public persona (and, thus, her entire career) is mainly a collection of explosive and hateful sound bites such as the above quote, hitting Coulter with some ruthlessly prejudicial punchlines was the only appropriate course of action when the perennial Fox News guest confusingly agreed to serve as a celebrity roaster on the Comedy Central special.

As such, Coulters fellow guest stars spent the entire evening attacking the inflammatory pundit with equally incendiary jokes that are still searing some eight years after Parks and Recreation star Lowe found himself to be a side dish at his own roast.

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This week, Coulter again managed to make herself the center of attention in the most masochistic way possible by posting a tweet in which she mocked the son of vice presidential candidate Tim Walz for becoming emotional during his dads speech at the Democratic National Convention. When numerous nonprofit organizations dedicated to supporting the differently abled criticized Coulters attacks on 17-year-old Gus Walz as heartless, on the grounds that the younger Walz is both neurodivergent and a literal child, Coulter deleted the tweet  but not before the internet decided to make the most merciless and hilarious critiques of Coulters character go viral once again.

For instance, many Twitter users (including actor Billy Baldwin) are currently cackling at Jimmy Carrs iconic burn, Ann Coulter is one of the most repugnant, hateful, hatchet-faced bitches alive. But its not too late to change Ann  you could kill yourself.

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The Comedy Central Roast of Rob Lowe is, to date, the only instance wherein one of the celebrity roasters earned more numerous and viciously hilarious assaults on their character than the honoree themselves. Of course, Lowe didn't escape completely unscathed from his own roast. Comics like Nikki Glaser, David Spade, Pete Davidson and, of course, Jeff Ross brought plenty of A+ punchlines about Lowes career-damaging 1988 sex tape, which he shot with a then-16-year-old girl. However, with Peyton Manning, Ralph Macchio and Jewel adding their own barbs, Coulter was the entire casts bony, bleach-blonde punching bag, and their haymakers are still some of the funniest burns on the internet.

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Nevertheless, if any neutral observers who feel that the piling-on of Coulter both in 2016 and today is distasteful  even considering her long history of deliberate unpleasantness  know that you are not alone. As a feminist, I cant support everything being said up here tonight, Jewel said of Coulters treatment during her time at the podium. But as somebody that hates Ann Coulter, Im delighted.
Proposition K asks San Francisco voters whether they want to ban private cars on the Upper Great Highway and turn the roadway into public recreational space. Daymond Gascon/The Chronicle

In 2005, the city of Atlanta began work to transform 22-miles of abandoned railway running through the heart of the city. Today, the Beltline, as that project is called, is a bustling system of trails and parks that has become an international tourist draw that has spurred billions in citywide economic development.

In New York City, meanwhile, the Highline turned an abandoned elevated freight rail line into a beloved public park that has become one of the top tourist attractions in a city brimming with them.

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Proposition K offers San Francisco the chance to begin the process of doing something similarly transformative on the Upper Great Highway along Ocean Beach.

The Upper Great Highway was closed to private vehicular traffic during the pandemic lockdown in 2020 to give people more open space. The road was reopened to traffic on weekdays in 2021, and in 2022 the Board of Supervisors voted to keep the weekend restriction as a pilot study through 2025.

Prop K asks voters to decide whether they want a full-time closure, and for the span between Lincoln Way and Sloat Boulevard to become a permanent public recreational space. The measure doesnt explicitly lay out a grand park makeover plan, but closing the road to traffic opens possibilities.

Supervisor Joel Engardio, who represents the Sunset District, and four other supervisors, with the support of Mayor London Breed, placed Prop K on the ballot.

When do we have a chance to create something so iconic that it is a magnet for people from all over the world to come to San Francisco? Engardio told the editorial board.

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We agree  and believe voters should support Prop K accordingly.

An average of 4,000 people per day on the weekends now visit what is essentially 2 miles of car-free Great Highway asphalt, according to data from the Recreation and Park Department.

Phil Ginsburg, general manager of that department, said that while completely reimagining the highway will take years, a permanent closure will allow his department to draw more people immediately by programming the space with art and activities, similar to the approach taken on the now-closed John F. Kennedy Drive in Golden Gate Park.

Of course, as enticing as the possibilities may be for the Upper Great Highway, any change to city streets that could affect traffic is divisive.

Opponents of Prop K argue that closing one of the few north-south thruways on the west side of the city will increase traffic congestion and make commutes longer for drivers in the Sunset and Richmond districts.

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Traffic data from the city shows that closures of the Upper Great Highway (sand blown from the Ocean Beach dunes often forces closures) add an average of only 3 minutes to peak-hour weekday trips that are diverted to other roads such as Sunset Boulevard, the nearest major north-south street in the Sunset.

Regardless, there will surely be times when traffic will be heavier. Some residents will no doubt be inconvenienced.

Yet needed improvements to ease the flow of traffic along Lincoln, Sunset and Sloat  where traffic diverted from the Great Highway usually goes  are already underway. Thats because the section of the Great Highway south of Sloat to Skyline is set to close in 2026 due to erosion, cutting off the route to Daly City.

If Prop K passes, there will be a planning and approval process, and the Upper Great Highway wont close immediately, offering time for street improvements to be completed.

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What would be left after 2026 if Prop K fails is an Upper Great Highway that effectively dead-ends at Sloat.

Its greatest utility was a direct connection from the Richmond to Daly City and the Peninsula  now weve lost the greatest utility for the highway, Engardio said.

Understandably, some small-business owners in the Sunset are concerned that traffic problems from closing the Upper Great Highway could keep customers away.

Engardio countered that making Ocean Beach more attractive with a park will lure customers and create an economic boon for area businesses.

Indeed, San Francisco has to achieve only a fraction of Atlantas or New Yorks success to realize the potential economic benefits here.

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Opponents of Prop K, many of whom have also opposed the weekend closures, contend that keeping the road open is better for the environment (fewer people trampling dunes) and enables better access to the beach.

However, the California Coastal Commission refuted these claims in denying an appeal of its approval of San Franciscos weekend closures. The Recreation and Park Department is piloting a dune conservation program, and the commission said weekend closures did not impede public beach access.

In our endorsement interview, opponents of Prop K told us, We need to serve our existing community before making a generational change for a future generation.

While we vehemently disagree with that sentiment  great cities cant sacrifice once-in-a-lifetime opportunities on the altar of convenience  the bigger backdrop here is that changes are coming to San Franciscos west side regardless of whether Prop K passes. Thanks to state housing mandates, the city is obligated to plan for 82,000 new units of housing over the next few years. Much of that housing is targeted for the Sunset and the Richmond.

About Opinion The editorial positions of The Chronicle, including election recommendations, represent the consensus of the editorial board, consisting of the publisher, the editorial page editor and staff members of the opinion pages. Its judgments are made independent of the news operation, which covers the news without consideration of our editorial positions.

Closing Great Highway will allow those plans to be made in conjunction with the development of a new park, better connecting parkgoers to local businesses and providing breathing room and needed open space for residents as neighborhoods add density.
Photo: Peter Spiro/Getty

On Friday, August 23, the Justice Department filed an antitrust lawsuit against software company RealPage, which provides a rental-price-setting service to landlords. Its not the first lawsuit against the company (states like Arizona and some cities have filed similar cases), and earlier reports, such as a ProPublica investigation from 2022, laid out how landlords and property managers used RealPages software, YieldStar, to drive up rents. YieldStar, the government argues, did much more than provide price recommendations; it enabled landlords to collude to raise rents across the country. Its one of the first major federal cases involving algorithmic AI, and could potentially affect other industries that rely on similar software to generate prices, like hotels and airlines.

If you live in a major metropolitan area where rent has gone crazy in the past few years, RealPage may be why, according to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland. Below, we explain just what RealPage is, what it has been alleged to have done to raise the rent, and what it could mean for your bills.

What is RealPage?

RealPage is a Texas-based company that offers revenue management software called YieldStar, which has a proprietary algorithm that the company says can help landlords set rental amounts. Since 2004, when the software was developed, company executives and property managers who use the product have said that the software has enabled landlords to push rents higher and higher, helping them to outperform the market (this is also how the company markets itself to landlords). After a merger in 2017, RealPage became the most dominant provider of this kind of software  its competitors include Yardi, which is also involved in similar lawsuits, although not at the federal level. In 2020, the company said the software was being used to manage 19.7 million rental units, including multifamily apartments and single-family homes. RealPage is owned by a private equity firm called Thoma Bravo, which also invests in other software and cybersecurity companies, and was an investor in FTX.

How does the YieldStar algorithm supposedly work?

RealPage gathers internal data on rents and occupancy from its many landlord clients, who are required to submit the data to use the product, and analyzes it. Then, the algorithm, which the company touts as proprietary, spits out a new rental price for each unit every day that it thinks a landlord should charge based on that data, including real-time prices (meaning not just advertised amounts, but what renters actually paid), leasing data, upcoming vacancies, and other inputs. The idea is that, using all this information, landlords get an inside view of their competitors rates and other data points, and it enables them to charge more than they would have if they only had the information that is publicly available about rental averages or trends. For the landlord, in addition to the higher price, the benefit of the software is that this computer-generated price is quantitative and empirical, and eliminates any of the more squishy, human factors that might impact how a landlord determines what to charge for rent.

Whats the problem?

The danger of the YieldStar software is that it could potentially create what is essentially a cabal of landlords working together to override market forces to collectively set prices higher, which, in turn, fuels a cycle that continues to push rents even higher. The information RealPage has is otherwise confidential and not available elsewhere, and many landlords use the software in an auto accept setting, which allows the company to be the sole arbiter of rental markets around the country, with zero oversight. Coordinating pricing like that is a potential violation of federal law. Because RealPage is so large, many landlords and property-management companies in certain areas use it  for example, according to ProPublica, 70 percent of apartments in one neighborhood in Seattle are overseen by RealPage clients. Not only that, but RealPage allegedly created work groups that brought rival landlords together to meet privately about rental prices, and encouraged would-be competitors to communicate on their online forum. According to the Justice Departments complaint, one landlord approvingly called YieldStar classic price fixing.

How does all of this impact tenants?

Lack of competition in pricing means that landlords have less of an incentive to respond to actual market conditions that might otherwise cause them to lower their rents  like, say, slower demand in cold winter months or climate conditions that might cause people to move elsewhere. And according to some reports, using YieldStar increased revenue for the landlords who used it but created an incredible turnover rate for tenants  i.e., no one could afford the algorithmically recommended rate hikes. One client said their turnover rates increased by 15 percent after they implemented YieldStar  but that wasnt a problem. As the CEO said, the profit they were still able to make showed keeping the heads in the beds above all else is not always the best strategy (he later disavowed the comments to ProPublica). All of this, one could argue, leads to skyrocketing rents that dont feel at all related to the real world of what people are willing to pay, or the conditions of housing stock and availability. In some places where the software is used, rents have increased by double digits in just a few years. The Justice Departments suit claims that RealPage goes even further than suggesting higher rents  it actually polices its landlord clients when they try to lower them.

Who else has sued RealPage?

In 2022, law firms began filing suits against RealPage on behalf of tenants in several cities like Seattle and Austin, attempting to form a class-action lawsuit. The attorney general in Washington, D.C., then sued RealPage in November 2023, along with 14 landlords, and called it a housing cartel. Arizonas AG followed in February of this year. The Justice Departments suit filed on August 23, joined by eight states (though not New York), is a major escalation. The governments lawsuit not only accused the company of price fixing but also of monopolizing the competition. Representatives of the attorney general have framed the action as part of a broader regulatory move to rein in the use of tech by companies like Amazon and Uber, and even Vice-President Kamala Harris referenced RealPage in her recently released suite of housing proposals, when she promised to ban the use of algorithmic price-setting tools.

Does this mean rents could go down?!

The implications of the Justice Departments suit could be enormous. Some of the countrys largest landlords use RealPage. Its not clear exactly what could happen if the Justice Departments suit is successful, but it could mean that, yes, rents at least stop getting hiked in the places where RealPage has driven them up.
A crowd gathers for the Chinatown Night Market in April. San Franciscos night markets are well-attended but fees and paperwork make it harder for vendors to serve hot food or make money. Felix Uribe/Special to the Chronicle

On a recent Saturday in a small park in northern Stockton, dozens of Hmong and Cambodian vendors lined up along the perimeter selling sausages, beef skewers and noodle-stuffed chicken wings fresh off charcoal grills. Others dried trays of tiny freshwater clams, tossed with salt and birds eye chiles, in the hot Central Valley sun to make a popular Cambodian snack. Its hard to find many of these dishes, cooked to this level of quality, elsewhere in the area. For vendors, its good money, with some making enough to support relatives back home.

It took me an hour and change to drive to the market. That kind of trek is often what it takes to find serious street food. Because despite the hype and good vibes surrounding the recent officially sanctioned night markets in San Francisco, the citys food game is weak.

Last November, I joined the throngs crushed along Chinatowns Grant Avenue, lured by the promise of a new night market. I wanted to wander through the neighborhood and people-watch while holding a stick of grilled something-or-other. Not much to ask, I thought.

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I quickly discovered that nothing was really appealing. It was all cold or lukewarm-and-getting-colder food in takeout containers: chow mein, desserts and pre-made milk teas. The biggest crowds, aching for a spectacle, gathered around a bakery stall to watch a baker pipe frosting onto cupcakes. As the night went on, the trash cans along Grant Avenue were besieged with takeout containers.

Like the Sunset Night Market before it, the Chinatown event was meant to celebrate a city that seemed to be on the ropes, battered by a flagging post-lockdown economy and conservative media reports that read high-profile shoplifting incidents as signs of a blue state apocalypse.

In terms of foot traffic, it worked. The Chinatown market was packed, and an estimated 10,000 people showed up to the first market in the Sunset. Supervisor Joel Engardio, the mastermind of the Sunset event, called the attendees 10,000 doom loop antidotes who reclaimed the narrative of our city. Similar happenings in the Fillmore, South of Market and Richmond District have followed with the same, Were back, baby! bombast.

The city can and should be proud of doing something different here, and night market organizers and vendors are doing their best with the resources they have. That said, the several night market events Ive attended still largely feel like theyre missing something important: Wheres the fire?

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Engardio often cites Taipeis night markets, which he frequents with his Taiwanese husband, as the inspiration for his novel doom loop antidote. In Taipeis Shilin District, vendors keep cooking until 1 a.m. I havent been to Taiwan, but I have fond memories of the sensory overload of similar night markets in Vietnam, Japan and Thailand.

Sprawling night markets like these have also thrived in places like Auckland, New Zealand, and Queens, N.Y., which landed a spot on the 100 Best Restaurants list in the New York Times last year.

This could be us. But its not. And, unsurprisingly, bureaucracy is largely to blame.

Food vendors are technically allowed to cook hot food at San Franciscos night markets, but theres a catch. Calvin Yan, a legislative aide to Supervisor Aaron Peskin, whose district includes Chinatown, told me that upfront costs for each event, especially for permits from the Department of Public Health and the Fire Department, escalate significantly when you cook hot food on-site.

Lets say youre going to sell pre-packaged cookies at the Sunset night market. The basic booth fee paid to organizers is $300 (or $255 if you or the business are in the neighborhood), plus a $25 application fee. An annual operating permit paid to the Health Department is $353, plus an application fee of $401. Youll also need an annual catering permit to actually sell food, period, which is $456. Thats $1,535.

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On the other hand, if you want to make yakitori on-site, the Health Department application and catering fees are the same, but the annual operating permit is $588. The basic booth fee is higher, at $500 ($425 for locals). Youll need a permit from the Fire Department, plus a $462 application fee. Fire permits start at $409 and could change depending on what your heat source is. For example, if you need a charcoal grill and a generator for a cash register, thats $504. The total in that scenario would be $2,911.

These fees add up fast. Chinatowns night market uses a grant to subsidize some of them, but organizer Lily Lo estimates a difference of $600 more per vendor if they opt to cook something.

Then theres the paperwork.

Until recently, Health Department fees were site-specific, meaning vendors would have to apply and pay for a new one for each market. Notably, Fire Department permits are specific to the location, so youll need to reapply if you do another market in the city. Fees also arent always transparent: One vendor told me that she paid $1,147.50 to get permits for a generator and open flame at a night market last year.

On top of all that, markets like the one in the Richmond ask vendors to keep prices from $5 to $10 so the events are accessible to more people. That, plus the relatively short hours of the markets, put more pressure on vendors to make as many sales as possible.

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Vendors dont want to touch all that, Yan said.

And so, San Franciscos night market attendees are largely stuck with pre-packed food.

At that first Sunset night market, Smokin Ds BBQ was swamped with customers, selling out of everything in two hours. It was a great night, all told, but owner Daniel Ramirez noted that it just wasnt worth their while to serve a big menu.

After it was all said and done, we paid $1,000 for the fees alone, he told me.

Smokin Ds now just sticks to selling brisket-filled bao, which the team pre-bakes and warms on a hot plate. Delicious as they are, theyre not as sexy as a full-on plate of brisket with sides. But it makes more financial sense.

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This past month, some relief finally came in the form of a new ordinance that created an annual Health Department permit for food vendors that covers multiple events.

But its going to take a lot more work from the city to make night markets really pop if Taipei is the brass ring here. So far, the night markets have mostly been helpful to existing businesses: According to Lo, some Chinatown restaurants were able to make rent through night market sales alone. But they could also be effective incubators for smaller operations  true job creators. The Queens Night Market encourages first-timers to participate by subsidizing fees.

Despite the legalization of street food vending at the state level, San Francisco continues to lag behind other California cities in creating a viable pathway for street food vendors to get inspected and go aboveboard. Entry into one of the night markets, a potential game-changer for street vendors, requires so much paperwork and upfront money that it limits access to the chosen few. I doubt folks like the Cambodian ladies at the Stockton market would bother, and San Franciscos food scene is poorer for it. Notably, New York Citys equivalent to San Franciscos annual event vendor fee is just $70.

That said, Its not just about waiving permitting fees for vendors, noted Cynthia Huie, president of San Franciscos Small Business Commission.

For instance, she told me, that markets like the one in Chinatown rely heavily on volunteer labor, which isnt sustainable. Couldnt the city help neighborhoods like Chinatown with funding to staff these events?

San Franciscos night markets likely will never be as raw as Stocktons street food scene, but making them more accessible to a wider variety of legitimately great food vendors would be a worthy fight.

About Opinion Guest opinions in Open Forum and Insight are produced by writers with expertise, personal experience or original insights on a subject of interest to our readers. Their views do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Chronicle editorial board, which is committed to providing a diversity of ideas to our readership. Read more about our transparency and ethics policies

It all comes down to, what are the goals of the night markets? Huie said. Is it just to bring life back? Or can it be a real economic driver for these communities?
While Colin Germaine, 49, says he feels disenchanted with both major presidential candidates, he plans to vote for Democrat Kamala Harris in November. I despise Trump, and I do not trust Kamala one bit, says the Michigan tradesman, who lives in Interlochen and travels to Petoskey for work. Brittany Greeson/Special to the Chronicle

PETOSKEY, Mich.  Colin Germaine clocked out late on the fifth day of another seven-day workweek and drove home, winding down a narrow two-lane that leads through rolling orchards and stands of pine where cell coverage is scant.

Here in Emmet County, near the notch on Lower Michigans northwest side, armies of Donald Trump lawn signs march up embankments, guard mile-long fences, and stand sentry on every corner of four-way stops. Colin  looking equal parts scarecrow, Gen X grunge band drummer and part-time bum  rumbled down the dirt drive and threw the F250 into park as the sun dipped below the tree line and the temperature started to fall.

Editors note During the run-up to Election Day, Marya Hornbacher, a New York Times bestselling author and Walnut Creek native who travels the country writing about politics and culture, will profile swing state residents whose votes will have outsize influence in the presidential election.

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Colin emerged from the truck cab  leg, arm, crooked grin, one squinting eye, a battered porkpie hat  as if he werent fully assembled. He crossed a field, sat at the very end of a picnic table, and folded himself into a narrow origami bird. I was dusting a Han Dynasty horse today, he said, when I realized it was original.

The recent national surge of support for Vice President Kamala Harris that might feel, especially to voters in California, like a complete reversal of fortune in the U.S. presidential race  it has not reached Emmet County. Colin, an adamant never Trumper who said he will definitely vote for Harris, is a window into why. He agrees with other Democrats here who say the party has lost sight of what matters most to blue-collar families in Michigan. Like them, he supports Harris but blames her party for not easing the pains of globalization that led to manufacturing jobs moving overseas.

I despise Trump, Colin says, and I do not trust Kamala one bit.

Colin Germaine rewires a cord that his father lent him in his workshop in Interlochen, Mich. Germaine works seven days a week, living paycheck to paycheck. Brittany Greeson/Special to the Chronicle

For Harris, a successful run for the White House probably depends on six swing states. Michigan is one of those, and the folks in Emmet County will play a much bigger role in deciding the election than any Bay Area voter. As of Aug. 21, Harris led Trump in Michigan by 2.9 percentage points, according to the 538 sites average of polls; a month ago, before he bowed out of the race, President Joe Biden was trailing Trump by 5 points in some state polls.

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Bounded on the north by the Straits of Mackinac and on the west by Lake Michigan, Emmet County is nearly 95% white and just over 3% Native American; all other races make up the remaining 2%. Its lakeshore location and affordable labor and land make it a haven for vacation homes and seasonal income.

Colin has just started helping his girlfriend with her cleaning business. Nearing 50, a skilled tradesman  hes a welder and fabricator; theres a bunch of steel sticking out of his truck  and single father of three, he waxes and wanes in his battle with substance abuse. His years in the addiction recovery community, especially a sober motorcycle club he helped found, have given him friendship, connection and support; theyve also immersed him in the politics of people whose views he doesnt share.

Bridging divides to put personal healing before anything else is central to many recovery programs. But in Emmet County, which has voted Republican in 19 of the past 20 national elections, those divides can make Colin, and other left and center-left locals, feel like they are surrounded on all sides.

I dont feel safe expressing my views and opinions hardly ever, he said, opening a tin of tobacco. People will cut you right out. It is really cutthroat up here.

Colin Germaine grinds pieces of metal while working on a small project for a friend at his workshop. As a Harris backer, he says he feels isolated from others in northwest Lower Michigan, a bastion of Trump support. Brittany Greeson/Special to the Chronicle

There was a time people were excited to talk and debate and discuss. That doesnt exist anymore, at least not here. Its disheartening.

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He patted the pockets of his work jacket and pulled out his pipe. Over his shoulder, a yellow moon began to rise.

A gifted sculptor, Colin went to high school at nearby Interlochen Arts Academy and won scholarships to three collegiate art schools, graduating from the Maryland Institute College of Art. But today, like 60% of Americans, hes living paycheck to paycheck. Working seven days a week for a family-run metal shop doesnt quite keep the bills paid.

I have this rinky-dink little triplex. I dont have any life savings. I didnt expect to live this long. Im always behind on the mortgage and everything else, Colin said, then snorted at himself. Yeah, justify that while youre wearing $700 boots. He stuck his foot out. I got sick of paying $300 for mystery boots. The leather is crap, they werent made here, they fall apart in two months.

He packed his pipe with dried-out tobacco. I think I represent an average person that has really lost faith in our government as a whole, he said. I had this elaborate construct of what it was, what it was meant to be. That all fell apart in the last five years.

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As Colin lit his pipe, the tobacco crackled like tinder, then finally took. He said he knows very little about Harris. I do view her as a very efficient chameleon, just like I view Trump, just like I view almost all these people. They do and say what they need to do. Its inefficient and self-serving. The political machine, he says, serves the people within it, not the people who voted them in. He shrugged. Its probably always been that way. There are those that will rise to the top by any means and will profit off the labor of others.

Cars travel on a main road toward Interlochen, Mich., one of six swing states that could be key for the winner of the next presidential race. Brittany Greeson/Special to the Chronicle

The pipe went out. He didnt seem to notice, just held it in his left hand, which, along with his wrist, was wrapped in white medical tape, dirty from days of work. There was no cast, no splint; he suspected a few tarsals or metatarsals were broken, but hadnt had it seen. Several crooked fingers suggested that the home-wrapped wrist and hand were not a first. Colin had written a reminder to the bodys occupant  Fragile!!  in thin-tipped Sharpie pen.

I have zero faith in any of it right now, he said. Its the same scam.

His alienation doesnt point to a lack of political engagement or interest. Hes a dedicated and critical consumer of news and information from a wide range of sources, none of which he wholesale believes. His concerns  and the things hed like to see local, state, and national politicians address  range from the way the local school district seems content to pass his kids even when he knows they need more academic support, to the cronyism at work in local and state business, politics and courts, to the sorrow he feels in watching the war rage on in Ukraine.

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Irritably, Colin ran a hand over his face, leaving a black streak of something  soot, ash, oil  across his left cheek.

This is the first time Im going to vote feeling this pessimistic and not expecting anything, he said. And Im coming from a place of fear because of what my kids are going to inherit.

A sign supporting Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is displayed on a lawn in Interlochen, Mich. Brittany Greeson/Special to the Chronicle

Neither the mother of Colins two youngest children, from whom he is divorced, nor the mother of his eldest son is in the picture due to struggles of their own.

While meth use is rampant in California, Michigan has the second-highest overall drug use in the country. Michigan is one of several Midwestern states known to produce a huge amount of meth, and a crackdown on labs there dampened the market and brought down meth-related fatalities for a few years. But a recent report shows that while state officials deliberate over how to use the $1.5 billion Michigan will receive in opioid settlements over the next 18 years, meth use has skyrocketed again, especially here in the northern part of the state.

Colin, who had various minor brushes with the law as a youth, has steered clear of meth for years, but used it long enough that the drug ruined his teeth. I lost all my top ones, he said, tapping the roof of his mouth with a thumb. Its great when you sneeze and they fly out. He grins. Its really attractive, getting older. You dont just have to worry about peeing your pants. You can worry about your teeth flying across the room.

Substance abuse, and the amount of time he spent at work to make ends meet, cost him time and patience with his kids. I swore I would never act like my father. But when my kids pushed me a few times, I lost it, he said. That holds me back from even trying to parent now. I feel like I dont have any business doing it.

I did try really hard, he said. But the past few years, it was just like dominoes. I was raising all three kids and doing a good job of it. I had a handful of people that were very important to me. Then one person in particular, a friend, she committed suicide. And thats when I started drinking again.

Colins youngest child, assigned female at birth and now navigating her gender identity, is 13; she currently lives with Colins mom. His middle child, a 16-year-old boy, is staying with his maternal grandparents, Colins former in-laws. His oldest son, born six months before Colin went to rehab in 2003, is serving a six-month sentence in Grand Traverse Jail.

Green Lake flows outside of Interlochen, Mich. Colin Germaine lives in Interlochen and travels to Petoskey for work. Brittany Greeson/Special to the Chronicle

Not a year. Six months, Colin murmured, as if to reassure himself.

He studied his hands, steel shavings visible in the nail beds and under the nails, in the prints of his fingers and the lines of his palms. Who knows how many layers deep the steel has burrowed in.

I was trying so hard to raise those kids by myself, he said.

Colin gave up on the pipe and went back to his truck to dig up a pack of cigarettes. The sound of the doors slam bounced around the hills. This far north, this time of year, the last of the daylight hangs in the sky long after the suns gone down. He walked across the field, head tipped back, looking up at the lingering violet blue.

He perched on the very edge of the bench and neatly folded into himself.

None of us plan on ending up where we end up, he said, shaking an unfiltered Camel out of his pack. And Im the reason I ended up where I ended up.

Born and raised nearby, Colin lives in a place that now feels radically different to him than the northern Michigan he knew growing up. Today, he said, there are two definitive groups that cannot mesh in any way. People cling to their views at all costs, on both sides. You either accept them or you dont, and if you dont, youre out.

Colin Germaine shows the tattoos on his knuckles spelling know hope. Germaine, who feels a deep ambivalence about the upcoming presidential election, knows that hes far from alone in having lost a significant measure of hope. Brittany Greeson/Special to the Chronicle

He traces the shift back to the 2016 election. The combined effect of the Trump administration, the pandemic and ongoing social and political fallout have damaged businesses and livelihoods, and torn communities and friendships apart.

Its baffling to me, Colin said. People bought into the whole Make America Great Again propaganda, as if there was this time when everything was just great for everyone.

Dude, he said, leaning forward. That was Leave It to Beaver. That was Hollywood. It never existed.

But those on the left strike him as equally prone to accepting what theyre told without question. I used to naively think my more educated friends would look more critically at the information, he said. But most of them are being spoon-fed what they believe, too. And if you dont agree, youre a hillbilly.

Colins friend Anthony, who moved to Michigan from his native Northern California two decades ago. said he withholds or obscures his own views from neighbors, colleagues and most friends  not just to keep the peace, but to ensure his safety.

Over fried pickles on the back patio of a bar in a one-bar town west of Petoskey, Anthony said, There is a lot of hate. Hate is a thing. Fuck those queers. Fuck those  whatever, you know, racial slurs. Theres guns and hate and violence, and its part of their daily life. They genuinely think Trumps, like, smart. Hes gonna change the country. But with Kamala, its all, Shes a liar. You cant trust her. Shes stupid.  And about Trumps recent slide in the polls? People just say, Thats fake news. Im not worried about it. Hes gonna be fine.

Support for Trump, Anthony says, is driven more by emotion than reason. Supporters, he says, dont throw facts out, they dont throw numbers out. They rant  about taxes, the cost of living, mortgage rates, gas prices, student loans they dont want forgiven, universal health care they see as a gateway to socialism. Half of them are on Medicaid, he says. I feel like they really dont understand.

A few years back, another friend of Colins happened to call him moments after Colin had decided that because he was out of pain pills, heroin was next. The friend told him to stay put, he was on his way. An hour later, the friend took him to a 12-step meeting.

But now, We dont talk anymore, Colin said. He was convinced antifa was this highly coordinated, international movement. Im like, dude, thats not it. If you dont dig fascism, youre anti-fascist. Its not this coordinated militia thats coming to take everything away. I dont even think people are intelligent enough to orchestrate anything as a manipulative tactic to control populations, he added grimly. They cant even take care of potholes.

Colin is estranged from most of his fellow members in the motorcycle club and misses the camaraderie, the community, and the men he still calls his brothers. But, he said, We cant agree on any issue, and he cannot leave it alone. He was hell-bent on convincing me that I needed to think like him. Hes an intelligent guy, but he drank all the Kool-Aid. Like, all of it.

The tone of the rhetoric Colin hears worries him. Its not just the same old bitching. Its more like, Theyre a threat to our way of life.  The left, he pointed out, employs nearly identical language in claiming Trump voters pose an existential threat to theirs.

There is this mentality up here that if it does come to civil war, you liberals arent armed that well. Thats a common thing people throw around, to be funny, but they also believe it. Theres a prideful mentality that if it comes to that, theyre gonna overthrow it all anyway. And Im like, I dont think the government would let that happen. We got drones now. Your AR is not such a big threat. Colin scoffed, leaned his elbows on the table, and tugged on the sides of his porkpie hat.

I dont even like my AR, he said. I like my M1.

Another friend  a veteran who was wounded in Afghanistan  told Colin, If it comes down to civil war and youve got what I need, Im coming to take it. Im sorry. Thats just how it is.

Colin tried to laugh. Im like, Really? Well, I guess Ill be ready for it. Were still friends, but I havent talked to him in a long time.

It was coming on midnight and cold, save for the seeming warmth of a yellow moon. Out in the countryside, the dark was thick and dense, and seemed to swallow shapes: The road was gone, and the hills, and the edge of the table, and the surrounding woods. Colins face was sharply etched, the way the moons terrain is visible on nights dark and clear.

Colin spoke of both his own sense of personal disorientation and a larger, more amorphous grief, the source of which he couldnt pin down. But, he says, he cant abandon all hope.

I have not given up, but Im struggling to see anything good anywhere, in any of it, he said. Ill vote for Kamala because what I value and would like to see is far more likely to happen with her.

Colin deconstructed the cigarette butts hed saved in the lid of his pipe tobacco tin. Bits of tobacco scattered across the table, stuck to his fingers, clung to his jacket sleeve.

Ive always been pretty intense, he said, even when I was wrong. The things I believed, I believed firmly. Now I dont know what I believe. I really dont. I dont know whats truth and what isnt. I dont know what to fight for, I dont know what to defend.

Colin is aware that hes far from alone in having lost a significant measure of hope. He, Anthony and other voters in Michigan voice a deep ambivalence about this election  about whether their vote will matter, about who they are to this country, and what this country is to them.

I thought COVID would make it abundantly clear were a part of the world economy, he said. Were dependent on other nations to survive. We got rid of all the railroads. Nobodys bringing those back. We got rid of all our industry. Nobodys bringing that back. Our steel industry will never come back. Generations of people died young for that industry. As a tradesperson in a trade that is so desperately needed, thats essential  its dying. We gave it away. We gave away our future.

He took off his hat and scratched the tufts of his salt and pepper hair. Hed cut it himself the other day.

I just want a simple life, a simple place. And a few animals to take care of, because they take care of me, too. Im going to aim for a small hobby farm, with a few animals. I just recently started volunteering at a ranch. Im in love with this donkey named Deuce. I always have a bandana in my back pocket. If Im grooming a horse, Deuce will come up and bite me in the ass, steal my bandana. Right eye squinting, mouth bent in half a smile, Colin put his hat back on.

And I play tapes in my head about my kids  not just what could potentially go wrong, or what has gone wrong, but what could go right. I think thats what gives me hope.

He burst into an unexpected, impish giggle. Youre gonna laugh your ass off, he said. When I got out of rehab, I got this. He held out his hands, knuckles facing outward. His long bony forearms stuck out of his shirt cuffs, revealing the faded lines of a 20-year-old tattoo.

Know hope, he said, reading the phrase inked into his knuckles. Two words, four letters each, one letter per knuckle, one word per hand. I need to get those removed, he said, smiling at his hands. Theyre so cheesy. It was a reminder to myself.
When my mother suffered a stroke and lay close to death in our local hospital, I rushed to see her. At the reception desk, I introduced myself to the nurse with the words: 'I'm Frank Furedi, I'm Clara's son.'

The woman looked up at me and said: 'Are you her "carer"?'

'No, her son,' I responded. But she was insistent: 'No, you are her carer.'

Later, a hospital administrator explained to me that they now use the word 'carer' because it is a more 'inclusive' word than any that defined a family relationship, such as mother and son.

That was 2007 and, for me, it was the first shot I heard fired in the Culture War that has engulfed the Western world. Language defying all our history and traditions is imposed on us, denying and decrying everything we hold dear  stripping even our most intimate family relationships of their unique status.

Words like 'husband' and 'wife' no longer possess the cultural authority they once enjoyed. Some of the everyday expressions that we took for granted in the past are now excluded.

Titles like 'mum' and 'dad', 'homeless', 'ladies and gentlemen', 'ex-pat'  and terms like 'deprived neighbourhoods', 'second generation', 'lifestyle choices', and 'economic migrant'  are deemed unacceptable by the authors of the Inclusive Language Guide, published by the Local Government Association (LGA) of England.

A National Trust report portrays Winston Churchill as a mean-spirited politician with no redeeming features

As a 'positive' alternative to 'mum' or 'dad', the LGA suggests using 'birthing parent'.

When this Culture War erupted, there was no formal declaration. But at some point at the turn of the 21st century, a frenetic moral crusade was launched, seeking to make people feel ashamed about their origins and who they are.

The main driver of this crusade (another 'unacceptable' word) is a War Against the Past. Culture War combatants regard this perilous territory  human history, its physical symbols, values and achievements  as a menace to the contemporary world.

History is reframed as a tale of human degradation. Anyone visiting a gallery or a museum will be browbeaten with warnings about the malevolent influence of the past. There is a veritable army of grievance archaeologists whose role is to indict the objects on display with some kind of offence. I call this Presentism, judging all history as though it happened today.

Precious and historically significant objects are deemed 'troublesome' and presented to the public with a note of disparagement. The British Museum is so worried about the impact of its 'troublesome' collection that it has decided to give 'emotional support' to its staff and to add trigger warnings to its archive to protect them.

Every artwork or object is likely to be directly or indirectly linked to colonialism or the slave trade. In Glasgow's Burrell Collection, a note attached to a 2,000-year-old bronze bust of a young Roman man states: 'Roman artists copied Greek sculptors, who used mathematical formulas to work out what they thought were people's perfect proportions. This has been wrongly used to promote racist ideas about the ideal proportions of faces.'

The absurd attribution of racist motives to the sculpting of facial proportions in ancient times speaks to a veritable cultural addiction to shaming the achievements of the past.

Accusations of racism against Charles Dickens are based on a letter he wrote in the wake of the Indian Mutiny of 1857 and his treatment of the character of Fagin in Oliver Twist

Grievance archaeology aims to repackage the past according to the values and objectives of present-day identity politics. Through reading history backwards, people who inhabited the world hundreds and even thousands of years ago are cast in the role of offenders against present-day sensibilities.

The National Trust is one of the most egregious proponents. Founded in 1895, it has recently committed itself to challenging British heritage. Its 2020 report, Connections Between Colonialism and Properties Now in the Care of the National Trust, Including Links with Historic Slavery, is typical of its mission to turn the past into a story of shame.

Superficially about the historical association of heritage sites with colonialism and slavery, the report's main accomplishment is to call into question the legitimacy of British identity  judging the past, finding it guilty and casting it in a negative light, while guilt-tripping British people for the sins of their forebears.

One of the properties in the National Trust's care is Winston Churchill's former home, Chartwell, in Kent. It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that the purpose of the report's account of Chartwell is to discredit the reputation of Churchill. Its tendentious and highly selective account of his life emphasises his role in 'the devastating Bengal Famine of 1943', and his opposition to independence for India.

The Churchill portrayed is that of a mean-spirited politician with no redeeming features. Nothing is said of his inspiring global leadership in the Second World War and positive deeds, only his misdeeds.

Schools have been swept up into the Culture War too. British schoolchildren as young as five are offered US-style lessons about 'white privilege'. Teachers are instructed to avoid teaching 'white saviour narratives' during lessons on slavery by de-emphasising the role of abolitionists such as William Wilberforce.

Some culture warriors would cancel philosophers such as Plato (pictured) and Kant because they are too white

Participants in the War Against the Past behave as if they can cross over into a different century and confront historical figures in person. A banal illustration of this behaviour occurred in Broadstairs in Kent, where Ian Driver, a former local councillor for the Green Party, defaced the Charles Dickens House Museum, scrawling graffiti that screamed 'Dickens Racist, Dickens Racist' on the walls of the Victorian cottage.

Such accusations are based on a letter Dickens wrote in the wake of the Indian Mutiny of 1857 and his treatment of the character of Fagin in Oliver Twist.

Driver was so proud of his deed that he published photos of himself online carrying out this damage  and insisted that, under current equality legislation, his action was justified because it was brought about by 'informed duress': he feared minority groups would suffer immediate threat unless he acted.

The claim that the museum constitutes a clear and present danger to the lives of minorities is absurd. Still, such absurdities inevitably flourish when the sight of temporal boundaries is lost.

In 2019, the International Society of Anglo-Saxonists changed its name to the International Society for the Study of Early Medieval England, 'in recognition of the problematic connotations that are widely associated with the terms 'Anglo-Saxon'.

This change followed Canadian academic Mary Rambaran-Olm's resignation from the society. She later condemned the field as one of 'inherent whiteness'.

The sexual preferences of Queen Elizabeth I are the subject of constant speculation

'The Anglo-Saxon myth perpetuates a false idea of what it means to be 'native' to Britain,' she wrote in the Smithsonian magazine. She claimed the term 'Anglo-Saxon' evokes 'an imagined medieval past that justifies beliefs in white, Western superiority'.

The racialisation of the past often vents its fury at the influence of that very strange contemporary phenomenon, 'Dead White Men'.

Numerous sources insist that classical music is 'too white'. Some culture warriors would cancel philosophers such as Plato and Kant, because they are too white. In fact, virtually every university discipline  from music to mathematics through to history  has been condemned for being 'too white'.

History is also too heterosexual, they believe, and it must be 'queered'. This means historical figures are cast in the role of potential, possible, or proven homosexuals. At the Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth, curators decided to attribute LGBTQ+ meanings to objects retrieved from Henry VIII's flagship. Items found aboard, such as mirrors and nit combs, have been presented in a way that suggests that the sailors who owned them were gay.

And take the case of Queen Elizabeth I, whose sexual preferences are the subject of constant speculation. An exhibition staged by the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford asked, 'Was she a lesbian?', before replying: 'The truth may never be known, but one thing is certain  Elizabeth was definitely not straight.'

Gender  at least in its modern sense  does not have a long history. The word was first used in 1955 by the sexologist John Money to refer to sexual identity.

France's national heroine Joan of Arc is frequently cast as a confused young woman 'questioning the gender binary' as she sported a cropped hairstyle and wore armour

But now it is used to interpret the behaviour of historical figures through the narrative of 21st-century concerns with identity.

France's national heroine Joan of Arc is frequently cast as a confused young woman 'questioning the gender binary' as she sported a cropped hairstyle and wore armour and men's clothing. In fact, her appearance had nothing to do with pursuing a non-binary lifestyle but arose from her allegedly divinely inspired mission to defeat the English army. In this instance, anachronism does not merely distort the past but also retrospectively denies a female hero her right to be a woman.

Advocates of 'queer archaeology' assert that ancient human remains should be labelled non-binary. They insist ancient bones should not be classified as male or female because, regardless of the physical differences in their bone structure, we do not know how these people would have identified themselves.

Queer archaeologists are so wrapped up in the present day that they can take the recently emergent concept of 'I identify as' and apply it to a world where it simply would not make any sense.

In this spirit, the North Hertfordshire Museum decided to be 'sensitive' to the 'pronoun preferences' of the 3rd-century Roman emperor Elagabalus, treating him as a transgender woman and referring to him as 'she'.

The museum claimed that, according to one classical text, the emperor asked to be referred to as a 'lady'. It seems likely that this is misinterpreting a slur by the emperor's political enemies. Classics professor Shushma Malik explained: 'There are many examples in Roman literature of times where effeminate language and words were used as a way of criticising or weakening a political figure'.

The theologian Joshua Heath has declared that Jesus could have been transgender, based on paintings of Christ that suggested, he said, that He had a trans body

However, councillor Keith Hoskins, an executive member for Enterprise and Arts at North Herts Council, had no doubt that 'Elagabalus most definitely preferred the "she" pronoun. We know that Elagabalus identified as a woman and was explicit about which pronouns to use, which shows that pronouns are not a new thing.'

Many commentators cannot avoid the temptation of projecting modern identity issues into the distant past. Some go as far back as human prehistory to claim very early sightings of queer identity.

'A possible example of homosexual eroticism in the art of the European Mesolithic might be a drawing found in the Cave of Addaura in Sicily,' asserts blogger Marion Gerlinger in an online commentary on 'The Queer History of Art'.

In the current presentist climate, the mere mention of the term 'possible' almost seamlessly turns into 'probable', before it mutates into an 'historic fact'. In this way, the Mesolithic Age (10,000 BC to 8,000 BC) is updated to fall in line with the outlook of 21st-century queer ideology.

Speculation has transformed into magical thinking. The theologian Joshua Heath has declared that Jesus could have been transgender, based on paintings of Christ that suggested, he said, that He had a trans body.

And, according to the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, the opening words of the Lord's Prayer, recited by Christians all over the world for 2,000 years, may be 'problematic' because of their patriarchal association. Consequently, he questions the use of the words 'Our Father', to avoid any association with abusive earthly fathers.

The unremitting focus on human evil that is advanced by culture warriors  to the exclusion of all else  threatens to overwhelm us. Worse, it deprives us of our capacity even to imagine the human potential for altruism, heroism, or simply doing good.

In its most extreme form, humanity's history becomes a self-loathing story with humans as the destroyers of all things good.

This warped perspective transmits the message that there is very little that people can do to influence their future: we have created a Hell that cannot be escaped.
The founder of a company which charters private jets has revealed some of the shopping habits of the super rich - describing some of the eye-watering amounts of money they spend on clothes, wine, and other luxury goods.

Ameerh Naran is the founder and CEO of Vimana Private Jets, according to the Times. His company works for 'ultra high net worth individuals', brokering opulent private planes for them.

Speaking to the outlet, he discussed how these wealthy individuals spend their money - and where.

According to Ameerh, more and more high net worth people are choosing to splash the cash abroad, meaning fewer are spending it in the UK.

And the sums of money he is discussing are significant, with Vimana's average client spending a staggering around $1,000,000 monthly on 'personal family travel'.

Extremely high net worth individuals can charter private jets to go shopping - and splash out on millions (stock image)

The extravagance does not stop there, according to Ameerh, who said: 'We focus on the very, very top end of private jet travel. The amount they spend on shopping is far in excess of what they pay to travel there.'

One major change Ameerh spoke about when it comes to the spending habits of the super rich is not what they splash the cash out on - but where.

According to the CEO, Paris and Geneva are among the top destinations for Vimana clients, who mainly come from Asia, the Middle East and the US.

This marks a departure from another popular shopping destination - London.

In 2021, then-chancellor Rishi Sunak scrapped tax-free shopping for foreign visitors, which meant that many of these big spenders decided to do their luxury shopping elsewhere.

This decision, The Office of Budget Responsibility estimated, would cost the exchequer 2 billion.

However, according to the Centre for Economics and Business Research, the cost of the loss of high-spending shoppers was 11 billion annually.

According to Ameerh, because 'it's very easy to travel to another destination where you can get the tax back', he knew this move would likely affect where high net worth individuals would choose to shop.

Members of the private jetterati who come to shop in London are often enticed by upmarket department stores like Harrods (pictured)

However, there is a solution for the uber wealthy, which Ameerh offers to his clients who are members of the private jetterati.

Using a freight forwarding licence to transport clients' purchases means that while shoppers pay VAT on goods as they buy them, when the items are taken to their destination outside the European Economic Area, the tax is reimbursed by a company called SkyBlue Exports, which earns a percentage of the VAT as a fee.

Vimana works with a number of luxury brands, offering the kind of lavish goods that the ultra wealthy are likely to purchase.

Among the companies the private airline broker works with are top-end jewellers like Ferrara Diamonds and Catherine Best among others, as well as pricy department store Harrods and British stalwart Asprey London, which sells luxury versions of items like jewellery, home wear, and handbags.

While customers can have purchases directly shipped, and then reclaim the VAT, using the freight forwarding licence option means that shoppers do not have to wait for their new treats to arrive, and instead can take them immediately.

While forwarding the purchases via freight may appear like a convoluted way to save 20 per cent, the eye-watering sums of money spent by individuals who use services like Ameerh's makes the service financially worthwhile for them.

According to Ameerh, he has one client who receives a monthly budget from her husband to spend on clothes of $2,000,000.

While describing the kind of clients who use private jobs to fly to shopping destinations, a flight broker revealed one client has a monthly $2 million budget for clothes (stock image)

As he explained, 20 per cent of that figure is $400,000, so if a wealthy shopper opts to splash out in Paris instead of London, without using this kind of service, they would save hundreds of thousands of dollars - an amount the majority of people do not earn in a year.

In addition to the tax implications of shopping, Ameerh also discussed some of the types of purchases these uber wealthy individuals buy.

As well as designer clothing, watches are popular, and he described the ones his clients buy as costing 'a quarter of a million to tens of million of dollars'.

In addition to accessories, he revealed that people also charter private jets to shop for home wear, like home movie systems, sound equipment, and furnishings.

Expensive wine also featured on the list, with the CEO name checking Petrus - a prestige brand which usually costs between 2,000 to upwards of 6,000 a bottle.

Speaking about its services, Ben Amri, CEO of SkyBlue, told the Times that the company's service is 'most beneficial to customers living outside the EEA' as it saves time on shipping goods to those areas.

Among the purchases made by some of these uber wealthy shoppers are high-end wine, like Petrus - a prestige brand which usually costs between 2,000 to upwards of 6,000 per bottle

He added: 'The SBE service was set up to give customers the choice on how they export the goods they buy in the UK. Our service allows the customer to retain possession and control of their goods, whilst still benefiting from having the VAT they have paid reimbursed.'

In addition to clothing brands, jewellers, wine shops and other retailers feeling the downturn in foreign high-end purchases, service providers like hotels, restaurants, theatres and museums have also reportedly seen lowered footfall.

Among the luxury brands who have complained about loss of revenue due to tax-free shopping for international visitors being scrapped are shoe giant Christian Louboutin and fashion house Burberry.

Meanwhile celebrated theatre producer Sonia Friedman, known for The Book of Mormon and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child among other major shows, has also criticised how the tax-free scheme has been scrapped, describing it using theatre parlance, and branding it 'a flop'.

While Ameeth has pledged to fly his uber wealthy clients to whatever shopping destination they want, he too lamented the end of the scheme, saying he wants to see the private jettari splashing their millions in London, describing it as 'the best city in the world'.
When Geraldine James got the news that she'd been offered the part of 20-something Rosalind in Shakespeare's As You Like It she called the decision 'insane'.

But despite her reservations, she took the role and went on to charm audiences with during her debut Royal Shakespeare Company performance at the age of 72.

Geraldine's Rosalind role, performed at the RSC in Stratford-Upon-Avon, is another example of age-blind casting - a concept that's happening more and more on stage and screen.

While age-blind casting may be less common, colour-blind casting (casting roles without regarding the actor's ethnicity or race) and gender-blind casting (where the gender of the performer has no bearing on the plot) have become normalised in theatre.

Geraldine's casting followed the casting of 68-year-old Imelda Staunton in Hello, Dolly! as Dolly Levi, a character widely described as being in her 'middle years'.

Imelda landed the role in 2020 and is still performing as Dolly on stage, winning rave reviews from critics.

Ian McKellen famously played Hamlet at the Theatre Royal Windsor aged 86, but as Geraldine James points out, age diversity is less common with women on stage.

'Diversity goes in every direction,' Geraldine James explained in an interview with the Guardian. 'We've got to keep creating roles for older actresses because we do represent more and more of society.'

Filmmakers are also waving goodbye to prescriptive ideas when it comes to casting and ageing, with the much-hyped Didi featuring a 63-year-old woman playing the mother of a young teenager.

Joaquin Phoenix also famously played the role of a 24-year-old Napoleon in the 2023 film, filming the scenes when he was 48. Though at the conclusion of the film character and actor are roughly the same age.

FEMAIL takes a closer look at the rise of age-blind casting and the actors that are pioneering the trend.

GERALDINE JAMES, 74, PLAYED ROSALIND, 20, IN AS YOU LIKE IT

Geraldine's Rosalind role, performed at the RSC in Stratford-Upon-Avon, is another example of age-blind casting

Geraldine James's role as Rosalind in Omar Elerian's As You Like It was announced when the actor was 72 - a far cry from the much-loved character's suggested twenty-something age

Geraldine, 74, is known for her role as an elderly Queen Mary in the Downton Abbey film

Vanessa Redgrave was only 24 when she played the role of Rosalind in 1961

Geraldine James's role as Rosalind in Omar Elerian's As You Like It was announced when the actor was 72 - a far cry from the much-loved character's suggested twenty-something age.

In contrast, Vanessa Redgrave was only 24 when she played the role at the same theatre in 1961.

Geraldine, 74, who is known for her role as an elderly Queen Mary in the Downton Abbey film was initially shocked to be given the role, which marked her first appearance on the RSC stage.

'I was on the train to Birmingham,' the 74-year-old told the Guardian. 'And I got a text that said, 'The RSC have offered you Rosalind at Stratford'  you know, As You Like It.

'I said: Well that's insane. What on earth are they talking about?'

While the character's age isn't specified exactly, it's widely regarded that As You Like It's Rosalind is a twenty-something woman, with some suggesting she could be a teenager.

'I remember, in the middle of rehearsals, thinking: How are an audience going to relate to this?' Geraldine continued.

'What's a teenager going to make of a 70-year-old skipping about pretending to be 20?'

Geraldine needn't have worried though, as the response from critics was glowing, with theatre critic Dominic Cavendish calling the production a 'commendable take on Shakespeare's comedy', while theatre writer Philip Low says the actor 'sparkles in her RSC debut as a playful Rosalind'.

IMELDA STAUNTON, 68, PLAYS DOLLY LEVI I HELLO, DOLLY!(40s/50s)

At 68 years old, Imelda Staunton is currently wowing audiences at the London Palladium with her performance of Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly!

Imelda plays meddling New York widow Dolly Levi, who is described as a 'woman in her middle years'

In contrast, the role was famously played by Barbara Streisand when she was just 25 before her role in Funny Girl (and 27 when the film was released)

Imelda is already a celebrated actor, receiving much praise for her portrayal of an elderly Queen Elizabeth in the final season of The Crown

At 68 years old, Imelda Staunton is currently wowing audiences at the London Palladium with her performance of Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly!

Imelda plays meddling New York widow Dolly Levi, who is described as a 'woman in her middle years'.

In contrast, the role was famously played by Barbara Streisand when she was just 25 before her role in Funny Girl (and 27 when the film was released).

Chief Guardian theatre critic Arifa Akbar gave the show a rave review, spotlighting Imedla's performance in particular. 'Staunton masters singing with feeling, never overacting or sentimentalising Dolly,' she wrote in the five-star review.

Of course, Imelda is already a celebrated actor, receiving much praise for her portrayal of an elderly Queen Elizabeth in the final season of The Crown.

Imelda, who has taken on a number of iconic roles throughout her career from Dolores Umbridge in the Harry Potter franchise to Martha in Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? has spoken before of her unwavering work ethic.

'I respect the job enormously,' she told the Guardian in an interview with the Guardian. 'I don't just turn up. I work really, really hard. I wake up every morning at 4.30, thinking about it all.

'But wherever you are on the ladder, there's always someone above you, and there's always someone below you.

'You can either get off the ladder completely, or you can accept that you go up and down. Work: it's what you are.'

JOAN CHEN, 63, PLAYED CHUNGSING WANG IN DIDI (30s/40s)

In 2024 film Didi, the character of Chungsing Wang is mother to a 13-year-old boy

There's already some Oscars buzz around Didi, which was released in the UK on 2 August and is a moving coming-of-age tale exploring he impact of immigration

Joan revealed to the Guardian that initially she worried that she was too old for the role

In the 2024 film Didi, the character of Chungsing Wang is mother to a 13-year-old boy, which would typically put her in her 30s or 40s, or early 50s.

There's already some Oscars buzz around Didi, which was released in the UK on 2 August and is a moving coming-of-age tale exploring the impact of immigration on a family.

The early reviews have been glowing, with critics praising its thoughtful and tender approach to growing up in the early days of the internet.

But despite the success of the film, Joan needed some convincing to take the role when approached by director Sean Wang.

Joan revealed to the Guardian that initially she worried that she was too old for the role, but director Sean's 'enthusiasm' won her round.

She told the publication: 'Sean was very enthusiastic about me being a part of the film, but I was hesitant. He said: I know there won't be a problem

'He was right. You just imbue the character with humanity and complexity, and no one even thinks about that other thing.'

The chemistry between Joan and her on-screen son Chris Wang (played by Izaac Wang) transcended age brackets, with the pair instantly in sync on set.

'From the first time we met, there was chemistry - in the first scene we did. He is a natural actor and he's conscientious and understands,' Joan told Very Asia.

Joan continued: 'A lot of credit goes to the whole casting team who put together a family who really felt like a family.

'There were so many scenes when I was speaking to him and I was actually telling my children. Like the scene where I was telling him I wanted to be an artist.

'And in the last scene when I was looking at him, that's how I would look at my children. It was very emotionally true between us and it felt really natural.'

SIAN PHILLIPS, 91, PLAYED JULIET IN ROMEO & JULIET (13)

Sian Phillips is the oldest actor to have played the role of 13-year-old Juliet at 76 years old

The casting came as a huge surprise to Sian, who had become accustomed to playing older roles

Sian Phillips is the oldest actor to have played the role of 13-year-old Juliet at 76 years old.

Appearing alongside a 66-year-old Michael Byrn, Sian was asked by Tom Morris, Bristol Old Vic's new artistic director at the time in 2010, to appear in a reimagining of the Shakespearean love story where the two protagonists are 80 years old.

Sian told the Guardian that prior to the meeting with Tom Morris that her assistant had quipped on the way to the meeting: 'Well, at least he's not going to offer you Juliet.'

However, that's exactly what he did; a turn of events that came as a huge surprise to Sian, who had become accustomed to playing older roles.

'I never looked young enough,' she told the publication. 'Even at 19, I could pass for 30. I've always played above my age.'

Though it's worth mentioning that the 2010 production was by no means totally faithful to Shakespeare's work and more a retelling of the well-known story in a care home - a concept that went down well with critics.

Arts critic Michael Billington praised Sian's take on the role, writing at the time, 'If any one performance justifies the experiment, it is Sian Phillips's remarkable Juliet.

'Like Judi Dench, she defies time and knows how to weight every syllable to communicate meaning: when she cries 'Give me my Romeo' it is with the intensity of a woman enslaved by love.'

JANE ASHER, 78, TO PLAY MARIA IN TWELFT NIGHT (30s/40s)

78-year-old Jane Asher has been cast as Maria in an upcoming production of the Twelfth Night

While the age of Maria, Olivia's Lady in Waiting in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night isn't specified, it's generally though that the character could be in her 30s or 40s and the role is often played by an actor of that age range or younger.

However, in an upcoming production of the play with artistic director Tom Littler at the helm, 78-year-old Jane Asher has been cast the part.

Speaking of the choice to cast an older actor, Tom Littler told the Guardian: 'I don't know whether there's enough of a pattern to say casting is changing.

'But it definitely should  because there is a huge wealth of talent among older female actors.'

Ian McKellen, 85, as Hamlet in Hamlet (30)

Hamlet is thought to be around 30 years old at the beginning of the Shakespeare play, in comparison to Ian McKellen's 82 years

Ian originally played the role in 1971, reprising the rose again half a century later.

Hamlet is thought to be around 30 years old at the beginning of the Shakespeare play, in comparison to Ian McKellen's 82 years.

Not everyone was impressed by the performance, however, with reviewer Sam Marlowe saying he found the play to be 'incoherent' and 'a haphazard mess' at the time.

He commented: 'Gender-swapping is routine nowadays. A Hamlet played by a veteran of 82, however, is bold, and Sir Ian, for all his skill and charisma, never persuades us to forget his age.

'Nor does he access some elusive essence or fresh insight - though he's too fine an actor for his performance to be without interest.'

Ian originally played the role in 1971, reprising the role again half a century later.

JOAQUIN PHOENIX, 49, PLAYED NAPOLEON (24)

Joaquin Phoenix starred in Napoleon in 2023, which documented the historical figure's life throughout his life

While the character and the actor may be a similar age by the time the film ends, it's more of a stretch when Napoleon is meant to be 24 years old in the initial scenes

Joaquin Phoenix starred in Napoleon in 2023, which documented the historical figure's life throughout his life.

While the character and the actor may be a similar age by the time the film ends, it's more of a stretch when Napoleon is meant to be 24 years old in the initial scenes.

Joaquin Phoenix said of the role (via GMA News Online): 'I found him to be a much more complex person than I initially imagined, especially the dynamic between him and Josephine (his first wife),' Joaquin said.

'I found him mysterious, and that mystery is something that is always interesting to explore.'

To confuse matters further, director Ridley Scott cast 35-year-old Vanessa Kirby as his lover Josephine, who was actually six years old than Napoleon in reality.
The families of two 11-year-old boys who were brutally killed in 1980 worry they might never find the killer.

John Greenwood and his best friend Gary Miller went missing in Whiston, Merseyside, in August 1980 after they went out to play after tea on a sunny summer evening.

But just 15 minutes later, a dog walker would come across the boys - brutally beaten and partially buried under a mattress, and called 999. The killer was never brought to justice.

John's sister Debbie Turrell, 46, who was only two when he was killed, has fought for justice for her brother and his friend most of her life.

She now hopes to shine a light on the case again 44 years after they were found dead.

Speaking to the Liverpool Echo she said: 'I haven't got my own memories of John, so my memories of him are what people tell me. He used to sing to me and follow me around to make sure I was okay.

John Greenwood (left) and his best friend Gary Miller (right) went missing in Whiston, Merseyside, in August 1980 after they went out to play after tea on a sunny summer evening

'We lost my mum in 2021 and that was heartbreaking. But another level of heartbreak was added knowing that she's not seen justice done.'

Debbie added that her father is now in his 70s and Gary's mother is in her 80s and she worries that they might also not see justice for the young boys.

After the boys were discovered they were rushed to hospital and underwent surgery but John died in the early hours of the following morning and Gary died a few days later.

Both suffered fractured skulls and never regained consciousness. Police believed their killer banged their heads on the ground.

A milkman, John Cheeseman, confessed to the crime while in police custody but was acquitted at Liverpool Crown Court in May 1981.

His lawyers pointed out he was mentally deficient and should have had a solicitor or guardian present when he was interviewed by police.

The Sunday Times said detectives had unearthed allegations pointing towards Robert Fisher, who died in 1991, aged 73.

His wife, Ethel, reportedly died by suicide in 1999 after telling friends she could no live with the guilt of knowing her husband had killed the boys.

Both suffered fractured skulls and never regained consciousness. Police believed their killer banged their heads on the ground (Picture shows Alma Miller, mother of Gary Miller)

Unemployed milkman John Cheeseman with his solicitor Alison Clarkson in Liverpool after he had been cleared of the murders of John Greenwood and Gary Miller at Liverpool Crown Court

A dog walker would come across the boys - brutally beaten and partially buried under a mattress, and called 999. The killer was never brought to justice. (Police officers at the murder scene in 1980)

At the time detective Chief Superintendent Paul Richardson said: 'We are particularly interested in talking to anyone who may have seen a man with three young boys, aged between 12 and 14 years, near to the church hall on Dragon Lane, Whiston, between 6.45pm and 7.20pm on Saturday 16 August 1980.

'Two of the boys who were seen with the man were stood on the wall of the church hall and one was in the grounds of the church hall. Were you one of the three boys? If so please come forward and talk to us.'

In 2016, detectives reopened an investigation into the murders but frustrations over the original investigation remained.

In 2019, then Chief Constable Andy Cooke issued a statement, apologising 'inadequacies and failings of the original investigation', after a meeting with the families.

He added: 'The investigation team at the time provided sufficient evidence to charge a man with the murder of the boys and he stood trial and was subsequently acquitted.

In 2019, then Chief Constable Andy Cooke issued a statement, apologising 'inadequacies and failings of the original investigation', after a meeting with the families (Police searching for evidence in 1980)

The heartbroken Miller family at Gary's funeral on the September 3 in 1980

'Having carried out a number of cold case reviews and following the reinvestigation of the murder, it is fair to say that the investigation was not as thorough as it could have been, or in line with the investigation standards expected of policing today.'

He added the force offered their 'sincere apologies to the families of John and Gary' and remained 'committed' to finding whoever killed them.

However, he said the force had submitted a file containing the new evidence it had found to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), but after 'careful consideration, the DPP made the decision not to authorise the next steps'.

He said: 'The DPP acknowledges that this is a tragic case and has said that in the event that the ongoing police investigation yields sufficient compelling new evidence, he would reconsider his decision'.

Merseyside Police is barred from questioning the original suspect as part of its investigations due to double jeopardy laws.

The families argue that 'makes a mockery of the fair and open justice system that we pride ourselves in'.

Debbie said: 'We still have hope and will never give up; I want to see the right person found guilty in court and for everyone to know.'

If you have any information contact Merseyside Police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
His coronation was more contemporary than his mother's, Queen Elizabeth II's, with just 2,000 guests rather than 8,000, no tiaras for the Royal Family members and a 'daywear' dress code.

So perhaps it's no surprise that King Charles' reign is shaping up to be quite the modern affair.

His Majesty, 75, hasn't been afraid to take a stand on humanitarian issues - from the UK riots to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and has also adopted an approachable, 'informal formality' with members of the public during his walkabouts.

Elsewhere, the King has made some royal residences 'more accessible to the public' as 'part of acknowledging the need for the monarchy to evolve', according to one royal expert.

Here, FEMAIL delves into some of the ways King Charles has modernised the monarchy...

TAKES A STAND ON HUMANITARIAN ISSUES

UK Riots

Britain's King Charles III reacts as he views tributes outside Southport Town Hall, during his visit to meet with members of the local community, following the July 29 attack at a childrens' dance party, in Southport

The King asked for daily updates on the riots which broke out after the fatal attack in Southport

The King has proven he's not one for shying away from standing up for important humanitarian issues and supporting communities across the UK.

Following the riots that swept across the nation this summer, the King praised ordinary Brits who rose up against the far-right hate in the wake of the Southport stabbings.

His Majesty commended the way in which 'the aggression and criminality from a few' had been met by 'the compassion and resilience of the many'.

King Charles spoke warmly of the 'many examples of community spirit' that have thwarted attempts to instil hate and fear in communities across Britain during a call with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer earlier this month in the wake of the rioting.

He also spoke to police chiefs about the strain their officers have been under as more than 100 are thought to have been injured attempting to keep the peace amid hate riots stoked online by the far-right.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said his calls with the Prime Minister and police leaders came after a series of 'private calls throughout the week concerning recent events - and in particular the impact they have had on affected communities'.

While details of such calls are normally recorded in the court circular, the official record of royal engagements, it is unusual for so much detail to be given and underlines the seriousness of the national crisis.

The Palace spokesperson continued: 'This evening The King held a phone audience with the Prime Minister, and additionally had a joint call with the Chair of the National Police Chiefs' Council, Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, and UK Gold Commander Ben Harrington, Chief Constable of Essex.

'In these calls, His Majesty was updated on the current situation and expressed his heartfelt thanks to the police and emergency services for all they are doing to restore peace in those areas that have been affected by violent disorder.

'Additionally, The King shared how he had been greatly encouraged by the many examples of community spirit that had countered the aggression and criminality from a few with the compassion and resilience of the many.

'It remains His Majesty's hope that shared values of mutual respect and understanding will continue to strengthen and unite the nation.'

Earlier, the Mail had reported that Charles had been keeping a keen eye on unfolding events but would not be speaking publicly given the extreme political discourse around them.

While there have been calls for the King to make a public statement, it has been noted that the late Queen chose not to make a public comment in the immediate aftermath of the 2011 riots.

As is usual, the monarch would only say anything on government advice.

Southport

King Charles (pictured) visited Southport to pay tribute to the victims of the horrific stabbings which killed three young girls at the end of July

Britain's King Charles III meets with representatives from Merseyside's emergency services and local community groups at the Community Fire Station in Southport

King Charles appeared moved when he saw the scale of the tributes left for those killed in the attack

Earlier this month, it was revealed that the King had asked for 'daily updates' on the riots and hoped to visit affected communities in the future on government advice - which he has now done.

On Tuesday, Charles paused his holiday in Scotland to visit the grieving town of Southport to express his concern for those affected by the horrific killing last month of three young girls and the subsequent riots that rocked their community.

He also held a private audience at Clarence House on Wednesday with the families of Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar.

Bebe, Elsie and Alice were killed after a knifeman burst into a Taylor-Swift themed dance class and began stabbing attendees on July 29.

The 17-year-old suspect was arrested soon after as ten others were left injured, but false information on social media claiming he was a Muslim asylum seeker led to the outbreak of riots by far-right thugs throughout England and Belfast.

Axel Rudakubana was actually born in Cardiff to Christian parents. He remains in custody charged with three counts of murder and ten of attempted murder.

Buckingham Palace confirmed that the King had met with the families of the three girls, but said no further details would be published.

Visiting Southport the day before, Charles spoke of his heartfelt appreciation of the way in which the local community rallied around its own as he met with emergency services personnel, faith leaders and some of those who opened their doors in acts of kindness.

The King suspended his traditional Balmoral break to hold a private meeting with some of the injured young children and their families and also looked at floral tributes left to the three victims.

In the wake of the riots, it was understood that the King was keen to be kept updated on the rapidly evolving situation.

He was also said to be engaging 'privately' around the issues that the shocking national unrest and violence had generated.

Buckingham Palace declined to go into detail of what form that engagement is taking.

But sources stressed that that His Majesty has spent much of his life, both as King and as Prince of Wales, working to encourage community cohesion and interfaith dialogue.

It came amid calls by some for the Royal Family to take a lead amid the national crisis.

However others pointed out that the King must be seen to be impartial, particularly given the vitriolic and hugely divisive level of political discourse around the rioting.

Queen Elizabeth, notably, did not intervene by issuing any public message during the equally explosive summer 2011 riots, sparked by the killing of Mark Duggan by the Metropolitan Police.

She would also have refrained from speaking publicly around the issue on official advice.

Sources stressed that His Majesty was acutely conscious any immediate reaction to the trouble should by led by the Government.

Axel Rudakubana, 18, from Banks, Lancashire, will stand trial next year after being charged with three counts of murder, 10 counts of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article in a public place.

Ukraine

The King (pictured meeting President Zelensky) paid tribute to Ukraine's strength on the second anniversary of Russia's invasion

He said: 'The determination and strength of the Ukrainian people continues to inspire, as the unprovoked attack on their land, their lives and livelihoods enters a third, tragic, year'

It's not the first time the King has taken a stand on humanitarian issues. In February 2024, he offered his praise to the people of Ukraine over their remarkable resilience.

Marking the second anniversary of Russia's invasion, Charles applauded the 'determination and strength' of the Ukrainian people.

He added that he was 'greatly encouraged' by the efforts of the UK and its allies in supporting Ukraine 'at this time of such great suffering and need'.

He said: 'The determination and strength of the Ukrainian people continues to inspire, as the unprovoked attack on their land, their lives and livelihoods enters a third, tragic, year.

'Despite the tremendous hardship and pain inflicted upon them, Ukrainians continue to show the heroism with which the world associates them so closely.

'Theirs is true valour, in the face of indescribable aggression. I have felt this personally in the many meetings I have had with Ukrainians since the start of the war, from President Zelensky and Mrs Zelenska, to new army recruits training here in the United Kingdom.

'I continue to be greatly encouraged that the United Kingdom and our allies remain at the forefront of international efforts to support Ukraine at this time of such great suffering and need.

'My heart goes out to all those affected, as I remember them in my thoughts and prayers.'

The King has undertaken many engagements in the UK linked to Ukraine since the war began, including visiting a training site for military recruits in Wiltshire.

He has met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky several times, including during his visit to the UK in February last year.

INCLUSIVE LEADER

King Charles III and The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby at a reception of faith leaders in November 2023

King Charles III speaks with faith leaders at a reception of faith leaders during a visit to the new Lambeth Palace Library to mark Inter Faith Week in November 2023

The King has long made his openness to other cultures apparent, welcoming with open arms those from other races, religions, and cultures.

Before he was officially crowned, the royal delivered a speech in 2022 in which he emphasised the need to protect other religions, later addressing this directly during his coronation.

Charles addressed religious leaders from across many faiths during the reception at Buckingham Palace, assuring them of his aims to protect, religions, cultures, traditions and beliefs to which our hearts and minds direct us as individuals.

While he acknowledged that while he is committed to Anglican Christian beliefs, he insisted that he feels a responsibility to protect the diversity of our country.

Charles - who took over the position of supreme governor of the Church of England after his mother - said he believed his role as sovereign must include protecting the space for faith itself.'

He said he was determined to carry out his duty as sovereign of all communities around this country and the Commonwealth and in a way which reflects the world in which we now live.

At the time of his speech two years ago, the King also went on to say he saw the nation as a community of communities while pledging his commitment to the additional duty of securing a fair and equal country.

King Charles III (pictured) wore traditional dress to visit the newly built Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Luton in December 2022

The monarch was snapped making the traditional Sat Sri Akal gesture as a traditional shawl for meditation was placed around his shoulders in the prayer hall

He said: It is the duty to protect the diversity of our country, including by protecting the space for faith itself and its practice through the religions, cultures, traditions and beliefs to which our hearts and minds direct us as individuals.

I am determined, as King, to preserve and promote those principles across all communities, and for all beliefs, with all my heart.

During the address, Charles also confirmed that his Coronation Oath would still read that he was a defender of all Faith, following reports that the wording would be changed to Faiths.

The now King had considered tweaking the wording as part of his long-standing commitment to promoting diversity.

Instead, Charles pledged his responsibility to nurture and welcome all faiths including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism, and others, while at a reception of over 30 faith leaders.

Later in 2022, before the Coronation, Charles visited the Guru Nanak Gurdwara, a Sikh temple in Luton, even covering his head with a white, grey and blue check cloth, as a gesture of humility and respect.

The King followed tradition and was seen making the traditional Sat Sri Akal gesture, which he used as a greeting frequently during the pandemic instead of shaking hands, as he was greeted by Professor Gurch Randhawa, member of the Sikh Congregation at the Gurdwara.

When the King's Coronation arrived in May 2023, the event included a procession of faith leaders.

During the oath, Charles was behind the additional line which spoke of an established church that will seek to foster an environment in which people of all faiths and beliefs will live freely.

The CEO of the race equality Runnymede Trust, Halima Begum, told the Guardian: In the context of a ceremony that traces its roots back to medieval times, it was lovely to see the diversity and representation that the King really insisted on building.

She also complemented the care and respect for the plurality of faiths.

APPROACHABLE WITH THE PUBLIC

After his mother died in September 2022, the new King put on a brave face for the country as he shook the hands of well-wishers at Buckingham Palace. In an outpouring of affection, one woman leaned over to kiss his hand, while another landed one on his cheek

Meanwhile, during the King's trip to the Channel Islands in July, one mischievous 91-year-old local, Kathleen Moriarty, planted a kiss on the monarch's cheek, much to the delight of onlookers

Meanwhile, King Charles has also proved himself as an affable leader and has often been dubbed 'approachable'.

The well-earned label is often proven through his sweet and compassionate interactions with the public.

After his mother died in September 2022, the new King put on a brave face for the country as he shook the hands of well-wishers at Buckingham Palace.

In an outpouring of affection, one woman leaned over to kiss his hand, while another landed one on his cheek.

It was the first sign of what has been dubbed the 'informal formality' of King Charles's reign, reflecting his chilled-out approach to enthusiastic members of the public.

Meanwhile, during the King's trip to the Channel Islands in July, one mischievous 91-year-old local, Kathleen Moriarty, planted a kiss on the monarch's cheek, much to the delight of onlookers.

The loud smooch was picked up by nearby cameras, cutting through the noise of the crowd that was gathered in the small town of St Peter Port in Guernsey.

Again, King Charles took it in his stride, shaking Kathleen's hand and giving her a wry smile.

Yet an act of such intimacy may have provoked a very different response during the reign of the late Queen.

Royal biographers such as Andrew Morton have said Queen Elizabeth would 'never' have allowed a member of the public to kiss her, noting that she had a 'different kind of style' from her son.

Elsewhere, royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith previously told The Washington Post that Charles is a more open leader and a 'very good extemporaneous speaker, much better than his mother.

OVERHAULED THE USES OF THE ROYAL RESIDENCES

Earlier this year, in an unprecedented move, His Majesty, announced that Balmoral Castle (pictured) - the late Queen's favourite retreat in Scotland, would be open to the public

Final preparations are made in the Centre Room, where members of Royal Collection Trust staff tend to a chandelier, in the East Wing of Buckingham Palace, London, which is being opened to visitors for the first time this summer

Further showing his contemporary approach, King Charles has modernised the uses of the royal residences since his accession to the throne.

Not only does he not live in Buckingham Palace full-time, he's also offered up more of the London residence to the public, so people from in and around the world could have peak at the renowned Palace.

King Charles' decision to open his royal residences to the public suggests he has realised 'the need for the monarchy to evolve', according to one royal expert.

Not only that, but Charles also instigated the selling of tours around Balmoral estate which is the first time this has ever been done.

Earlier this year, in an unprecedented move, His Majesty, announced that Balmoral Castle - the late Queen's favourite retreat in Scotland, would be open to the public.

Days later, news landed that Buckingham Palace's famous centre room, where the Royal Family gather before appearances on the balcony, would also to open to the public for the first time.

A leading royal expert has since told FEMAIL that the move is due to Charles wanting the Royal Family to be 'more transparent and cost effective'.

Writer and broadcaster Robert Jobson, author of Our King: Charles III - The Man And The Monarch Revealed, said the King has been 'mulling over' the decision for some time.

Balmoral's Drawing Room is where the last photograph of Queen Elizabeth II was taken, as she appointed Liz Truss as Prime Minister two days before her death. The King is much more keen to open up palaces than she was, experts have said, as people can now visit Balmoral

King Charles III waves from the Buckingham Palace balcony on his Coronation Day - but insiders insist he is no fan of it

Prince William and Catherine, now the Princess of Wales, shared a kiss on the balcony when they married in 2011

He said: 'The King has been mulling over these plans to open up the royal residences to the public for some time.

'It has even been mooted that Balmoral Castle might one day become a museum. This is a good compromise.

'Making these buildings more accessible to the public is just part of acknowledging the need for the monarchy to evolve.

'These historic buildings need to be cost effective as they are very expensive to run too. This helps that. The King has always wanted the Royal Family to be more transparent and cost effective.

'This is all part of that and will generate money for the local communities around the royal residence too by bringing in more tourists.'

While Balmoral and Buckingham Palace's centre room are the latest buildings to open to the public, they join a list of others offering public observation, including Windsor Castle, Kensington Palace, Kew Palace, Palace of Holyroodhouse, and Tower of London.

After news broke that Balmoral would welcome members of the public, royal fans went wild, with tickets to the Scottish estate, which cost between 100 and 150, selling out in less than a day, causing the website to crash.

The King calls Buckingham Palace 'The Big House', and he intends to move there in 2027 when its 369million refurbishment is complete.

The late Queen watches Charles driving around in a toy car on the grounds of Balmoral Castle

Charles looked smart in traditional Highlands wear as he arrived at Balmoral before taking up his summer residence in the castle

But his decision to open up the houses reflects his emotional detachment from them - and a need to bring in money for their upkeep, royal experts told MailOnline in April.

The King is said to be a firm believer in 'the living tradition', namely that a house which is not lived in becomes a museum. But some believe tours costing up to 100 suggest both are heading that way.

The Queen rarely stayed at her London home after the pandemic - preferring Windsor Castle - and before then only used six of Buckingham Palace's 775 rooms.

Former BBC royal correspondent Michael Cole has said Charles' decision to open up Buckingham Palace and Balmoral after just a year on the throne shows he is inclined to dislike the royal homes.

He said The King dislikes Buckingham Palace and wants to open it up more to visitors. He is not comfortable living there and goes there only to conduct official business - for instance for the Prime Minister's "audience of the King" usually on Tuesday evenings.

He also has no great affection for Balmoral, hence his decision to make it more accessible to the paying public. He always stays at Birkhall, his late grandmother's cosy, comfy home on the Balmoral Estate.

He added: It is the King's instinct and wish to make the monarchy more accessible, making changes that would not have been contemplated while his mother was alive and on the throne'.

Charles does his best to avoid the property and reportedly only visits Buckingham Palace once a week.

Many believe that Charles will do all he can to stay at Clarence House - just a five minute walk from Buckingham Palace.

His home on The Mall has been revamped and furnished by Charles and Queen Camilla with their own pictures, artworks and priceless antiques. He is unlikely to relish moving in 2027, when he will be 78.

One source said recently: 'Charles is no fan of "the big house", as he calls Buckingham Palace. He doesnt see it as a viable future home or a house thats fit for purpose in the modern world. He feels its upkeep, both from a cost and environmental perspective, is not sustainable'.

It is also no secret that he and Queen Camilla prefer living at Birkhall, the late Queen Mother's home seven miles from Balmoral.

Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire has been the Scottish home of the Royal Family since it was purchased for Queen Victoria by Prince Albert in 1852, having been first leased in 1848.

The King has ordered workers to construct a giant thistle-themed maze in the grounds - only the second new Royal maze in 300 years, the other having been built at Dumfries House in Ayrshire.
I was excited to use my brand-new air fryer until I plugged it in, switched it on  and the whole house went dark.

The mains had tripped. I switched off all my other kitchen appliances, reset the fuse and tried again. The same thing happened.

Perhaps I shouldn't have been surprised. The air fryer had cost only 36 from Shein, the Chinese fast-fashion juggernaut which exploded on to the shopping scene in the early days of the pandemic, and is now valued at a staggering $60 billion.

Shein (pronounced She-In, short for its original name of SheInside) has become synonymous with ultra-cheap  and ultra-fast  fashion, selling dresses for as little as 3, and it has become a staple brand for the young.

Earlier this year, a study found that more than 25 per cent of Gen Z consumers in the U.S. and UK had used the Shein app over the previous month.

The company is the world's most-Googled clothing brand, the largest fast-fashion retailer by sales in the US and one of the most popular shopping apps in the world.

Shein is now on manoeuvres, planning to expand its empire beyond fashion and accessories into sectors such as home, beauty and toys. Its quest is to overtake Amazon and embed itself further into the British market.

Are the products worth it even at their rock-bottom prices? To find out, writer Clara Gaspar braved the website to hunt for bargains

WHAT CLARA THOUGHT OF HER SHEIN GOODS

1. Air Fryer  35.99 Single-handedly tripped the electrical circuit in my kitchen. Avoid! 2. Pair of trainers  14.66 Good quality, thick soles and a nice design, but they were way too small. 3. An ice cube tray  2.33 Awful. The two plastic halves of the mould dont click together  meaning that water leaks out. 4. And 5. A yoga top  6.24 and tummy control leggings  6.03 These are great  aside from the fact the leggings have a disturbing bum sculpting quality. 6. Set of 6 earrings  1.93 These bargain earrings are fair quality, but one set didnt match. 7. A pair of black heels  7.97 A sturdy pair of shoes for the price and Ill definitely wear them. 8. A gym bag  6.97 This gym bag was much smaller than it looked online, but is fairly sturdy. Plus, it has a pocket to put trainers in. 9. Bracelet  a dupe for the 4,500 Van Cleef clover  1.45 Its a good knock-off of the designer version, but it has five-leaf clovers (the original design has four leaves). 10. jewellery box  2.40 The faux leather is decent quality and its small size will be useful for trips. 11. A set of five hair clips  1.93 These are far flimsier than other clips and feel like theyd break easily. 12. SHEGLAM concealer  6.17 Im not sure whose skin tone Shein are aiming for here. Its yellow, greasy and slips off the skin. 13. A bath towel  5.60 Its like a dog blanket and repels water, rather than absorbing it. 14. A pair of sunglasses  1.92 These feel like any other glasses Id order from ASOS or H&M. Advertisement

This month, it was reported the company is looking for a site of 300,000 sq ft to 400,000 sq ft in the Midlands for its first ever UK warehouse.

And all this is going on as Shein is deep in negotiations about a blockbuster 50 billion listing on the London Stock Exchange. But these plans appeared to suffer a setback yesterday with the shocking admission from Shein that its suppliers had employed child labour in 2023.

So what is the truth about Shein, which stoutly defends its business practices and denies the allegations. How come its products are so cheap? Are they worth it even at their rock-bottom prices?

To find out, I braved the Shein website to hunt for bargains.

The experience was the digital equivalent of walking through a hectic bazaar. With bright banners, non-stop pop-ups offering discounts, 'countdown deals' and seemingly endless pages of products, browsing Shein was an assault on the senses.

Many pictures advertising the brand's clothing are clearly created by AI or poorly Photoshopped, while customer reviews on products are mixed.

Glowing praise sits beside warnings about poor stitching, odd fits and colours that don't match the pictures  suggesting the use of 'bots' to write fake reviews.

Eventually I selected my items, a mixture of clothing, accessories and homeware goods that came in at just over 100 for 14 products  among them a pair of trainers for 14.66, a jewellery box for 2.40, a 1.45 copy of a 4,500 Van Cleef 'clover bracelet', a concealer kit from Shein's own SheGlam make-up range for 6.17, a pair of sunglasses for 1.92, a set of 6 pairs of earrings for 1.93 and a pair of black heels for just 7.97.

Every item was less than half the price of its Amazon equivalent.

I was told to wait between six and eight business days for my wares to arrive. Just two days later, however, the first parcel was delivered. It contained the air fryer  and a gym top.

Receiving the rest of the order wasn't so straightforward. I received three bizarre and poorly worded emails from Shein a few days later. It seemed as if the message had been translated from another language.

'Dear customer, It is a pity that your order delivery has attempted failure. The main reason is due to insufficient address/phone number/no one at home when delivery . . . If you do not sign for a receipt soon, the package may be returned to the sender. We are always at your service if you need any help.'

A pity indeed! I had provided the correct address and phone number and ordered the parcel to be delivered to a building with a 24/7 concierge service.

But I waited patiently after reading posts on chat forums from people who had received the same message then subsequently received their parcels.

Lo and behold, on the eighth day, a large box arrived containing the rest of the items.

My haul was a mixed bag. While the black heels and gym gear were surprisingly good quality for the price, the ice tray leaked  rendering it useless, the concealers felt like oily face paint and the trainers were not the size I had ordered.

When taking delivery of goods from Shein, which counts fashion label Missguided among its stable, it is common for them to arrive in multiple parcels.

Given that the company does not yet own or operate any warehouses in Britain, orders are usually sent direct from outlets the company owns in China. Which means Shein can legally avoid paying UK import duties applied to all packages from overseas worth more than 135.

This is because the vast majority of orders placed with Shein are below this threshold, and any that exceed it are broken into smaller orders to avoid paying the tax. The Tax Policy Associates (TPA) think tank calculates the company avoided paying 150 million in import duties last year.

Shein sends its parcels via air cargo. Indeed, earlier this year it was reported that Shein and its rival e-commerce site Temu are sending so many parcels by air  the equivalent of 88 Boeing 777 freighters full every day  that they have upended the global air cargo industry, pushing up prices and causing capacity shortages.

Every item Clara purchased was less than half the price of its Amazon equivalent

Of course, there's an environmental price to pay  the company leaves about 6.3 million tons of carbon dioxide a year in its trail, the same as a small nation.

Shein's story begins in 2008 when entrepreneur Chris Xu, the whizkid son of two poor factory workers, who's been called 'the world's most anonymous CEO', founded a small online business in Nanjing, China.

The company initially focused on selling wedding dresses to Western consumers at shockingly low prices. The name was shortened from 'SheInside' to 'Shein' as the brand's reach expanded to other fashion items.

What set it apart from its competitors was its ability to turn fashion trends into clothing at breakneck speed. Fast fashion, but faster than ever before.

Shein's secret was an elaborate supply chain that allowed the company to design, manufacture, and ship products in just three days. While traditional fashion retailers take weeks, if not months, to get the latest trends into stores, you could order them on Shein almost instantly.

As well as tracking general fashion trends, Shein is also following its users' buying habits constantly. By downloading its app, you're opening up your phone to be constantly surveilled by Shein office workers in China.

As for the CEO Xu, he is still so little-known that many Shein workers don't know what he looks like and reports about his character are hard to come by.

In a bid to expand into the West, Xu pursued a marketing strategy based on the relentless and aggressive use of social media. The tag #Sheinhaul  referring to splurges on vast amounts of cheap clobber  has been viewed a collective 14.2billion times on TikTok. But the glossy outfits on Instagram and TikTok come at a cost.

A series of exposes has painted a picture of grim working conditions in the factories that produce Shein's vast array of products.

Among the items she purchased was a set of 6 pairs of earrings - for just 1.93

For a 2022 Channel 4 documentary, an undercover reporter filmed factory workers. They were reportedly working 17-hour shifts in cramped, poorly ventilated spaces. In one factory, the workers were paid a base salary of $20 per day, docked by a ruinous $14 if any garments were incorrectly made. In another sinister revelation, workers reported an increase in surveillance cameras within the factories. Another investigation by the human-rights group Public Eye reported 'toddlers and young people in the workshops' and young teenagers packaging items. For its part, Shein stresses its 'strict zero tolerance' for the use of child labour or forced labour, and denies it has any access to the surveillance footage of its suppliers.

But the bad news just keeps coming for the company. Last week, an investigation by South Korean authorities revealed that Shein clothing contained toxic substances sometimes hundreds of times above acceptable levels. Shoes from Shein were found to contain significantly high levels of phthalates  chemicals used to make plastics more flexible  with one pair 229 times above the legal limit.

Meanwhile, among the interviewees in that Channel 4 documentary about the brand was Fern Davey, an underwear designer from Bournemouth.

In 2020, Shein started selling a lingerie set that looked identical to one of Davey's designs. But instead of costing 65, the imitation was just 4. It was removed from sale when Davey drew attention to the similarity.

Earlier this year, Japanese clothing brand Uniqlo sued Shein over claims that the Chinese fast fashion giant is selling copycats of its viral banana-shaped shoulder bag. Shein has also been sued by major brands including Dr. Martens, Ralph Lauren, Levi Strauss, Puma and Adidas.

Whatever the truth about all these claims, the string of controversies associated with Shein is hampering its mission to take over the American market. Its original plans to list on the New York Stock Exchange have been stalled by heightening tensions between Beijing and Washington.

Which explains why the company is seeking a listing in London. Labour Party MPs met with the retailer ahead of the General Election. Will Labour, the party which led its manifesto with a promise to 'make work pay', overlook the ethical storm and welcome in Shein? Only time will tell.
Back in the days when she was a hardworking schoolgirl with a bright future, Jasveen Sangha had a few words of advice for her fellow pupils at Calabasas High School.

'It isn't what they say about you, it's what they whisper,' the British-born teenager wrote in the Californian school's 2001 yearbook, quoting Hollywood actor Errol Flynn.

She added another cheesy line, this time taken from Italian director Luciano De Crescezno: 'We are each of us angels with only one wing. We can only fly by embracing one another.'

Who could believe that the rather plain, teenager, smiling demurely alongside her fellow pupils more than two decades ago, would grow up to be Los Angeles' so-called Ketamine Queen, the 41-year-old alleged to have supplied Friends star Matthew Perry with the lethal drug dose which killed him in October last year?

Sangha is one of five people charged with involvement in 54-year-old Perry's ketamine death, including his personal assistant and two doctors. She was charged on August 15 with conspiracy to distribute ketamine, maintaining a drug-involved premises, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute ketamine, and five counts of distribution of ketamine.

If found guilty, she could face life in prison. How on earth did a doctor's daughter born into a respectable British Sikh family from Loughton in Essex get caught up in the sordid death of one of the most famous TV actors in the world and allegedly become part of a 'broad criminal network' supplying drugs to celebrities  a network, many fear, she could now expose?

British-born Jasveen Sangha is one of five people charged with involvement in 54-year-old Matthew Perry's ketamine death

Her transformation from student to a woman with a moneyed lifestyle, whose appearance has been altered by blonde hair dye, blue contact lenses and, say associates, the rhinoplasty beloved by so many Californian women, is documented in her social media posts.

Many of the photographs on her Instagram account also feature her 66-year-old thrice-married British mother, Nilem, who used to run KFC restaurant franchises in California before being taken to court by the fast food giant around a decade ago.

Jasveen's flamboyant uncle, Paul Singh, 64, a former associate of the late British nightclub owner Peter Stringfellow, is also frequently photographed alongside his niece at Los Angeles clubs.

There is no suggestion that either relative is involved in any of the crimes with which Sangha has been charged.

This week, an investigation by the Mail has uncovered Sangha's past in both the UK and the US.

Her North Hollywood home, according to prosecutors in court last week, was even known as the 'Sangha Stash House' and used to 'store, package and distribute narcotics'. More, in a moment, of the precise accusations made in court against Sangha in relation to Perry's death in the hot tub at his home in Pacific Palisades.

She pleaded not guilty to the charges against her last week but a judge refused bail, calling her a 'flight risk'.

All in all, a jaw-dropping turn of events for a woman born in Essex in July 1983.

Jasveen's mother, Nilem, also born in Ilford, was the daughter of a hosiery wholesaler who set up a fashion company with London showrooms. Her first marriage, aged 24, in 1982 to a medical doctor was short-lived but produced Jasveen.

By 1986 she had married again and changed her daughter's name to that of her second husband, Dr Ajmel Sangha.

The family, along with Jasveen's maternal grandparents, moved to California and set up home in Tujunga in north-western LA.

Jasveen's mother Nilem divorced and remarried again.

Jasveen was sent to school in nearby Calabasas, one of LA's wealthiest neighbourhoods, an area made famous by the Kardashians on reality TV. This, then, was the glitzy world into which Jasveen Sangha stepped as an impressionable young girl.

Who could believe that the rather plain teenager would grow up to be Los Angeles' so-called Ketamine Queen

She was a member of a state-wide academic organisation called CSF, The California Scholarship Federation, which encourages academic achievement and community service among students.

No one was surprised when she won a place at UC Irvine, one of the US's top public universities.

At home, life was rather more tumultuous for Sangha's family.

With her third husband, Ashok Sahadevan, Sangha's mother Nilem ran a group of KFC fast food franchises in California via a company called Tasty Birds Management. They were sued by both employees and the takeaway chain over failure to pay wages and royalties for the use of the KFC logo.

California's Department of Industrial Relations issued a decision in December 2010 demanding the couple pay $12,000 to the employees.

In 2013, a judge ordered the couple to pay KFC $52,526.65, an amount which by 2015 had swelled to $62,877.

Nilem's husband declared bankruptcy before the case was over, leaving Nilem to shoulder the entire sum. It is unclear whether she has ever paid the amount owed but the family's four-bed $1,250,000 home is up for sale.

Against the backdrop of this strife, Jasveen returned to the UK in 2010 on her British passport and studied for an MBA at London's Hult Business School.

Old friends says she was a changed woman when she returned to LA.

She looked 'completely different than when she was in high school,' a former associate told the New York Post this week.

'It looked like she got a nose job and maybe other things done to her face.'

Back in LA, Jasveen tried to launch her own business, setting up a nail salon called the Stiletto Nail Bar. The business was a flop and she and her business partner were sued for non payment of rent two years after opening.

It was around this time, say contemporaries, that Sangha's life appeared to diverge from theirs.

Matthew Perry in 2023 out shopping for clothes

While many of them were settling down, she was 'partying a lot and being excessive on the weekends'.

For a while she had a serious boyfriend, but the breakdown of their relationship in around 2014 signalled a change in her character. A male friend who spoke to the New York Post this week attributed her move into the party world to her loneliness.

Was Sangha's head turned by the wealthy crowd she rubbed shoulders with?

She dyed her hair blonde, began wearing heavy make-up and started dressing in designer clothes. She developed a penchant for flashy Van Cleef & Arpels jewellery and clothes by Versace, Louis Vuitton and Chanel.

She also remodelled herself as a party planner for the rich and famous, using the name 'Jazzy Productions' and began making appearances at Golden Globe and Oscar events.

'She developed a lot of connections and hung with a clan of girls,' the friend said.

Among them was Perla Hudson, who until 2018 was married to Guns N' Roses guitarist, Slash.

Photos show Sangha and Hudson standing next to a private jet and at an event at Sotheby's in Beverly Hills. She was also photographed, with her mother and uncle, alongside actor Charlie Sheen, who has been in and out of drug rehab for years.

The image appeared on her uncle Paul's Instagram with the caption: 'It's always a family affair when we do it'.

The friend who spoke to the New York Post this week said Sangha would host parties at her North Hollywood apartment. 'I've never been to a party at Jasveen's where drugs were out of the ordinary. She had access to drugs and it started to look like a viable option. She could get liquid ketamine.'

Sangha's life certainly appears to have been in stark contrast to that of her former stepfather, Dr Ajmel Sangha, who gave her his surname as a child.

As a Chief Medical Officer for California Correctional Health Care Services, Dr Sangha devotes his time to getting prisoners off drugs and reducing deaths. In the past, he has had the heart-breaking task of notifying family members that their loved ones had died in prison from overdoses.

'I used to think, what a waste, what a waste of life,' he said in an interview with an in-house CCHCS magazine.

Under his watch, overdose hospitalisations at the prison decreased by 50 per cent. He said much of his success came from important conversations.

'Are you listening to the patients. Are you treating them with the dignity and respect they deserve, that everybody deserves?'

When the Mail spoke to Dr Sangha this week he simply said: 'She is not my daughter.'

US website TMZ claims Sangha met Matthew Perry, who had struggled with drug addiction for decades, in rehab. Later she referred to him as 'Chandler', the name of his Friends character.

Just two weeks after Perry's death in October last year, she was enjoying lychee martinis at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Tokyo where suites cost 1,500 a night.

In February she and her mother travelled to London together. The family is believed still to own property in Loughton.

Back in LA, Sangha was arrested in March on drugs charges after federal agents found a stash of thousands of pills, three pounds of meth, mushrooms, cocaine and vials of ketamine at her home.

On that occasion, her mother put up $100,000 bail money.

Sangha seemed unperturbed by the charges. Just hours before she was re-arrested on August 15 by LA police in connection with Perry's death, she was showing off a new hair cut on social media.

She is also implicated in the ketamine death of another victim, Cody McLaury in 2019.

She has pleaded not guilty to the charges against her but her bail has been revoked and she is currently behind bars.

'Hollywood celebrities should be quaking in their boots,' said former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani this week, after warning that Sangha may well try to strike a deal and get a lighter sentence by handing over the names of some of her celebrity clients.

'Anyone who has anything to do with Jasveen Sangha should be really concerned right now.'

Legal sources believe she may hold the key to exposing who is dealing and buying in Hollywood, if she takes a plea deal.

Mr Rahmani added: 'There is overwhelming evidence against her. She's in a world of hurt right now.'

While this saga is far from over, what an extraordinary state of affairs for a woman born in a small Essex town whose family moved to the US in search of a better life.
Queen Camilla put on an animated display as she attended Ebor Festival at York Racecourse today for the first time since becoming patron.

The royal, 77, cut an elegant figure in a light blue coat dress with floral embellishment.

Camilla paired her outerwear with a tan hat and opted for minimal makeup for the occasion.

The Queen completed her race day ensemble with a blush pink leather bag and nude high heels.

During today's visit, Camilla opened the Bustardthorpe Stand, which has been designed to improve racegoers' experience and has rainwater harvest tanks, solar panels and a living roof.

Pictured: Queen Camilla in the York Racecourse royal box as she watches the Ebor Festival with a pair of binoculars

After cutting the ceremonial ribbon, Camilla was taken on a tour of the grounds before taking her spot in the royal box to watch the action.

The royal - who has a lifelong love of horses - was seen holding a pair of binoculars as she paid close attention to the races.

The Queen's facial expressions varied between utter delight and frustration as the races unfolded below.

Later, the royal will also present the trophy to the winner of the Ebor Handicap, which is the oldest race in the organisation's history and dates back to 1843.

Today marks the first time Camilla has visited the racecourse in her capacity as royal patron - a role which used to belong to Prince Andrew.

Camilla's engagement comes after her surprise appearance at the racecourse yesterday.

The royal was seen with William Derby - who is York Racecourse's chief executive - and wearing her ruby, diamond and sapphire horseshoe brooch.

The brooch is also set with letters spelling out the name 'Minoru', who was one of King Edward VII's most successful horses.

The royal put on an animated display in the Royal Box and was joined by racing manager John Warren (left)

The Queen's facial expressions varied between utter delight and frustration as the races unfolded below

The royal - who has a lifelong love of horses - was seen holding a pair of binoculars as she paid close attention to the races

Queen Camilla seen grimacing as she watched the action at the Ebor Festival from the Royal Box

During today's visit, Camilla opened the Bustardthorpe Stand, which has been designed to improve racegoers' experience and has rainwater harvest tanks, solar panels and a living roof

Pictured: Queen Camilla appeared in high spirits as she arrived at Ebor Festival at York Racecourse

The royal, 77, who is patron of York Racecourse, cut an elegant figure in a light blue coat dress with floral embellishment

Pictured: Queen Camilla smiles as she prepares to cut a ceremonial ribbon to open a new stand at York Racecourse

Queen Camilla, as Patron of York Racecourse, meets racegoers at the Ebor Festival at York this afternoon

During today's visit, Camilla opened the Bustardthorpe Development, which has been designed to improve racegoers' experience

Pictured: The royal seen shaking hands with members of the parachute display team during day four of the Sky Bet Ebor Festival at York Racecourse

During today's visit, Camilla will open the Bustardthorpe Development, which has been designed to improve racegoers' experience

Pictured: Queen Camilla made a surprise appearance at Ebor Festival at York Racecourse yesterday

Camilla's brooch is also set with letters spelling out the name 'Minoru', who was one of King Edward VII's most successful horses.

The royal was seen with William Derby - who is York Racecourse's chief executive - and wearing her ruby, diamond and sapphire horseshoe brooch

The royal will also present the trophy to the winner of the Ebor Handicap, which is the oldest race in the organisation's history and dates back to 1843

In 1909, the thoroughbred won the Epsom Derby - making King Edward VII the first monarch to win during their reign.

The late Queen's fondness for horses began when she was just four after her grandfather, King George V, gave her a little Shetland pony.

By the age of six she had fallen in love with riding, becoming an accomplished equestrian in her teenage years and has continued to ride for pleasure throughout her life.

Like her late mother-in-law, Camilla is also known for her love of horses. She has even reportedly taken over the day-to-day running of the late Queens stables rather than the King.

John Warren, the late Queens Royal bloodstock and racing advisor, has previously said that it is Camilla, rather than her husband, who has the greatest passion for horses.

He said: He has always followed it, but it has been his mothers interest so it has been at arms length. He owns a few horses himself, in particular with the [then] Duchess of Cornwall. She is absolutely besotted by racing.

She also has a life-long association with equestrian charities. As the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla supported the Ebony Horse Club, the British Equestrian Federation and the Brooke Hospital for Animals.

In 2013, she joined Queen Elizabeth II on a joint visit to the Ebony Horse Club in Brixton, south London, where children learn to ride in an urban setting.

Camilla has also often spoken about her childhood spent riding ponies along with her other great passion  reading.

In a recent interview with Childrens Laureate Joseph Coelho, Camilla said: I think I have to admit, in the end, I ended up probably being a sort of pony-mad child with Black Beauty, which I howled over, night after night after night.
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Prince Daniel have shared rare family holiday photos with their children Estelle and Oscar.

The royal couple - who have been married 14 years - did not specify where exactly they went with their young family but hinted they remained in Sweden this summer.

The Royal Family's Instagram caption read: 'Summer is short, but there is still time to enjoy sunny August days around Sweden.

'Here the Crown Princess family shares some private photographs from the past summer holiday.'

The accompanying Instagram Reel opened with a photo of the family-of-four posing on a balcony in front of a sunset.

Pictured: Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Daniel, Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar of Sweden pose for a family photo

The future Queen, 47, cut a casual figure in low-rise jeans, a white ribbed cardigan and trainers.

Meanwhile, Daniel, 50, looked equally relaxed in grey jeans and a navy-and-white Varsity jacket.

The Reel then jumps to a photo of Victoria posing for a photo with Oscar, eight, while they visiting some ruins.

The mother-of-two - who was wearing a Levi denim jacket and jeans - is pictured cuddling her son as they beam at the camera.

The post also included a selfie of Victoria, Estelle, 12, and the family's cavapoo - which is a mix between a poodle and King Charles spaniel - on a beach.

The future Queen looked casual for the dog walk in a navy sweatshirt and swept her hair back into a ponytail like her daughter.

The Reel also included several photos of the family picking fruit and vegetables - with Victoria posing for a selfie with a jug full of hand-picked blueberries while her children gathered peppers.

The final family photo shows Crown Princess Victoria curled up in a blanket with her two children and Rio as a lantern flickers behind them.

The post also included a selfie of Victoria, Estelle and the family's cavapoo - which is a mix between a poodle and King Charles spaniel - on a beach

The Reel then jumps to a photo of Victoria posing for a photo with Oscar while they visiting some ruins

The final family photo shows Crown Princess Victoria curled up in a blanket with her two children and Rio as a lantern flickers behind them

Pictured: Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar pose with some peppers they'd picked on their holiday

The Reel also included several photos of the family picking fruit and vegetables - with Victoria posing for a selfie with a jug full of hand-picked blueberries

The post has amassed over 77,000 'likes' within 24 hours and royal fans gushed over the more candid images.

One wrote: 'Wonderful!! I'm glad to see these "everyday pictures" of an otherwise so watched family. Nice that they get to live a little "ordinary" too.'

'Beautiful,' another added: 'Such a happy family!'

Meanwhile, a third said:'The sweetest family ever!!!'

A fourth added: 'You are a fantastic family and equally fantastic representatives of Sweden.'

Earlier this year, it was announced that Crown Princess Victoria would be completing more military training.

The training is part of preparations for her future role as head of state, the Royal Court said in a statement in April.

'The Crown Princess will during autumn 2024 begin special officer training to acquire a deeper understanding of tactics, military science and military strategy,' it said.

The course involves both theoretical and practical learning. Sweden joined NATO in March, after Russia's invasion of Ukraine forced it to rethink its national security policy.
The NHS must prepare for a future where Alzheimer's is treatable and even curable, experts say.

New treatments being developed mean patients' outcomes will get 'better and better' and the disease could even be 'eradicated', according to leading researchers.

The first-ever treatment found to slow the disease was given the green light in the UK  only for it to be refused on the NHS.

In a blow to tens of thousands of patients, lecanemab was deemed to deliver benefits 'too small to justify the significant cost to the NHS' by drugs watchdog NICE. Independent estimates put the annual cost at around 30,000 per patient.

New treatments being developed mean patients' outcomes will get 'better and better' (stock image)

The first-ever treatment found to slow the disease was given the green light in the UK  only for it to be refused on the NHS (stock image)

The devastating disease could even be 'eradicated', according to leading researchers (stock photo)

Sir John Hardy, of the UK Dementia Research Institute, said: 'These drugs  lecanemab and donanemab and others coming down the line  show that we can alter the disease.

'That is why researchers are so excited. Every year from now, things are going to get better and better.

'I don't want to kick the NHS  but we have to lobby the government to help the NHS get organised so patients can benefit, starting now.'

Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS National Medical Director, said it would await a final decision from NICE, which is expected next month.
Doctors overseas are allowing people with eating disorders to end their lives, a shocking report has claimed.

The study revealed that at least 60 people with eating disorders  such as anorexia  had ended their lives in the last ten years in countries that allow assisted dying.

Researchers said that included parts of the US  even though assisted dying there is only permissible after a diagnosis of terminal illness.

The warnings come amid growing momentum for assisted dying to be made legal in this country after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he would allow Commons time to debate the issue.

Earlier this year, he said he was 'personally committed' to the change, telling campaigner Dame Esther Rantzen  who has terminal lung cancer  that he would let MPs have a free vote.

A shocking report has claimed doctors in the US, Belgium and the Netherlands are allowing people with eating disorders to end their lives (stock image)

The warnings come amid growing momentum for assisted dying to be made legal in this country after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told campaigner Dame Esther Rantzen (seen, right, in 2020)  who has terminal lung cancer  that he would let MPs have a free vote on it

Labour peer Lord Falconer has unveiled his own proposals that restrict the right to die to people with a terminal illness and six months or less to live, and campaign group Dignity In Dying said Lord Falconer's proposals say 'safety is woven into' his bill

Leading Labour peer Lord Falconer has already unveiled his own detailed proposals that restrict the right to die to people with a terminal illness and six months or less to live.

But last night, eating disorder expert Chelsea Roff, lead author on the Assisted Death in Eating Disorders report, raised fears that the new law could be abused.

She told the MoS: 'Our study identified at least 60 cases where physicians helped patients with eating disorders to end their lives using lethal medications  including cases in the US.

'These findings should set off alarm bells for MPs as this law may put some of the most vulnerable groups in our society  individuals with disabilities, eating disorders and other mental illnesses  at risk.'

Her report found at least three cases in the US, 22 in Belgium and over 30 in the Netherlands where an eating disorder was given as the primary reason for a request for an assisted death.

However, campaign group Dignity In Dying said Lord Falconer's proposals would prevent that.

Chief executive Sarah Wootton said: 'Safety is woven into this Bill, introducing practical measures to assess eligibility, ensure rigorous medical oversight, and monitor every part of the process.'

For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit samaritans.org
Patients have been warned against going private for a new 'miracle' Alzheimer's drug after reports emerged that two people in the US have died of suspected side effects in the past year.

The drug, lecanemab, has been shown to slow the decline in the degenerative brain disease by around six months.

Last week, the infusion drug was rejected by the NHS spending watchdog, as the benefits were 'too small to justify the cost'.

The National Institute for Health and Social Care Excellence (NICE) also added there were concerns that patients would need to be monitored for 'serious side effects'.

Last week, the infusion drug was rejected by the NHS spending watchdog, as the benefits were 'too small to justify the cost' (stock photo)

Experts say that around 3,000 patients have started taking the drug since it was approved by US health officials in July 2023 (stock photo)

Around one in ten trial participants experienced swelling in the brain and one in six had small brain bleeds, which in rare cases led to life-threatening symptoms. Three patients died in the 1,800 participant trial of suspected side effects.

However, lecanemab, which costs an estimated 20,000 a year, will now be available privately in the UK. Experts predict thousands of desperate patients will turn to private providers for lecanemab, but warn that they could be putting their health at risk.

Earlier this month, it was reported at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference, in Philadelphia, that two patients had died of suspected side effects after taking lecanemab in the US.

Experts say that around 3,000 patients have started taking the drug since it was approved by US health officials in July 2023.

One death was confirmed by Dr Lawrence Honig, a neurologist at Columbia University, New York. A second death was reported by the science news website Alzforum. Neither patient has been identified but, according to Dr Honig, one carried a gene  called APOE4  which research shows puts patients at greater risk of brain bleeds. Around 15 per cent of Alzheimer's patients carry this gene.

Lecanemab, which costs an estimated 20,000 a year, will now be available privately in the UK (stock photo)

Lecanemab and donanemab work by attacking a toxic protein in the brain called amyloid which is linked to dementia symptoms

'Anybody who has the money to afford to get this drug privately needs to carefully consider the benefits and risks and decide whether it's worth taking lecanemab,' says Robert Howard, professor of old age psychiatry at University College London's Institute of Mental Health.

'People think it will buy them more time, but the data shows only a marginal benefit. Meanwhile, the risks are very real.'

There are one million Alzheimer's sufferers in the UK and there are currently no NHS treatments capable of slowing the disease. Lecanemab  and a similar drug called donanemab  are the first treatments to be shown in trials to combat the loss of brain function triggered by Alzheimer's.

The drugs are given every fortnight as an infusion. Lecanemab and donanemab work by attacking a toxic protein in the brain called amyloid which is linked to dementia symptoms.

Last year, when trial results for both drugs were announced, experts said the findings marked the 'beginning of the end' for Alzheimer's. However, since then, the treatments have been dogged by controversy. The MoS was first to report the death of lecanemab trial participant Genevieve Lane, 79, from Florida, who had a fatal seizure in 2022, just a week after her third dose. An autopsy concluded that lecanemab was likely to have triggered the burst blood vessel in Genevieve's brain that led to her death. Two other deaths in the trial were linked to side effects. Earlier this year, this newspaper also revealed that senior NHS figures had raised concerns that rolling out the treatments could cost the taxpayer 1billion a year as well as endangering the lives of Alzheimer's patients.

Lecanemab, sold under the brand name Leqembi, is a monoclonal antibody medication used for the treatment of Alzheimer's diseas

There are one million Alzheimer's sufferers in the UK and there are currently no NHS treatments capable of slowing the disease

According to an NHS report, the drugs were effective only when given in the very earliest stage of the disease. It also suggested that monitoring patients for potential side effects could take up a significant amount of resources.

Last week, when NICE ruled against rolling out lecanemab on the NHS, it referenced these concerns. Dr Samantha Roberts, head of NICE, said: 'It is an intensive treatment to give to patients involving a hospital visit every two weeks with skilled staff needed to monitor them for signs of serious side effects, plus the cost of purchasing the drug.'

A spokesman for Eisai, the firm that manufactures lecanemab, said: 'The second death described in the media was acknowledged as rumour by the news outlet that first reported it.

'Eisai is not in a position to respond to rumours. Eisai continues to meet our adverse event monitoring and reporting obligations consistent with the global regulatory requirements.'
Toklas, a Mediterranean restaurant just off Londons Strand, is nearly every food critics favourite hotspot. Regular guest Nigella Lawson says she leaves with a smile in my heart whenever she visits; food writer Marina OLoughlin has a blazing infatuation with the place. The menu is a roll call of luxurious dishes: rabbit saltimbocca with Amalfi lemon; wild sea bass crudo; native lobster that travels from coast to plate within 15 hours. Yet according to head chef Chris Shaw, All anyone wants to talk about are the crisps.

He is referring to Toklass homemade crisps, served as a 9 starter with mussel escabeche. Its only meant to be a snack before the meal, Shaw explains, but Ive lost count of the people who walk up after eating, say, wild sea bass, only to talk about how amazing the crisps are. People, especially British people, love crisps.

The chef is on to something. From restaurants to fancy department stores, bougie crisps are having a moment. Oxfordshire foodie pub The Harcourt Arms serves homemade lattice crisps with its beef tartare. At swanky cocktail bar Seed Library in Londons Shoreditch, 15 cocktails come with Wotsits accompanied by caviar.

Meanwhile, at Gordon Ramsays Savoy Grill, executive head chef Arnaud Stevens has swapped the bread accompanying the 24 steak tartare starter for Torres black truffle crisps, which you can pick up in Selfridges for 4.99 a 125g bag. We tested 20 varieties of brands and flavours when creating the steak tartare dish, Stevens says, and it was clear that Torres black truffle crisps were the best. Pairing them with tartare is the same as enjoying gaufrette potatoes with a venison tartare during game season. Its the perfect garnish, while adding texture and flavour.

But 5 a bag is relatively mid-range in the new luxury-crisp market. Real aficionados opt for Bonilla a la Vistas extra virgin olive oil and sea-salt crisps, sold at Fortnum & Mason plus a handful of artisan wine shops and cheesemongers. Depending on the store, a tin can set you back 32.99 for 500g  equal to roughly 100 bags of Walkers salt and vinegar.

The 9 crisp and mussel escabeche at Toklas

What justifies the price? For starters, chef Shaw at Toklas explains, its the potatoes. Bonilla crisps are made in the northern Spanish city of A Coruna, wherever possible using local Galician potatoes, which have the starch removed before frying  not the process with corner-shop crisps. Shaw does the same at Toklas, otherwise the crisps dont get crispy: when its fried, starch goes soggy and turns brown. Bonilla even employs someone to examine (by tasting and snapping) the crispiness of each batch before the crisps make it into the tin.

Then theres the oil. Regular crisps are fried in blends of sunflower and rapeseed  cheap but relatively flavourless, so they need to be enhanced with all sorts of additives. Fancy brands such as Bonilla and Torres use mild or extra virgin olive oil, which is much more expensive but lends sweet and fruity notes before you even move on to added flavours. Olive oil is also better for you because it has heaps more vitamins and fewer chemicals than cheaper alternatives.

As for flavours, gourmet crisps tend towards natural ingredients rather than the artificial kind made in a lab. The Torres black-truffle variety uses authentic dried black summer truffle shavings, priced at around 200 a kilogram. Top-end brands use sea salt, which is less processed than the table salt that cheaper crisps are tossed in.

Restaurant versions will often be made with fresh, rather than artificial, herbs, which is why the flavour is so much stronger. Toklas crisps feature dried oregano  a snack so delicious that one customer asked for a bucket of them with their meal.

If youre looking to up your crisp game, Torres and Bonilla are great places to start. Stevens also recommends Yorkshire Crisps (35 for 12 bags; yorkshirecrisps.co.uk), again created with sea salt and natural seasoning but fried in sunflower oil to make them a bit more budget-friendly.

Olive oil crisps are cheaper on the continent, so next time youre in France, fill your suitcase with Stevenss favourite, the insanely good Brets pesto mozzarella crisps, made in Brittany (3.25 a 125g bag plus shipping; my-french-grocery.com).

Shaw agrees, saying that he hunts down Ruffles jamon crisps on Euro jaunts (or ifoodsuk.com; 5 per 150g plus shipping) because theyre pretty much as cheap as Walkers to us. But he isnt enough of a crisp snob to pay 33 for a tin of Bonilla crisps here. When Im at home, he says, I just have Monster Munch.
This weeks drinks will boost that summer feeling through the Bank Holiday weekend and beyond. Chardonnay fans will love my crowd-pleasing choice. If youre in the mood for a red with a difference, this one is vibrant and smooth. For those who like their rose pale and pretty, theres a Sicilian pick thats easy on the palate  and the eye. Lastly, to get the party started, crack open this premium canned espresso martini.

Discovery Collection Teroldego 2022 (12.5%), 7.75, Sainsburys.

The Teroldego grape, from the mountains of Northern Italy, gives a red thats intensely fragrant with wild cherry and blueberry notes. Serve chilled at barbecues.

Le Bijou de Sophie Valrose Chardonnay 2023 (13%), 10.99, Waitrose.

Heres a fuss-free new Chardonnay from the sunny South of France, by the much-loved rose brand Le Bijou. Expect white peach flavours and a pithy mineral finish.

W/O Organic Nero dAvola Rosato 2023 (12.5%), 13.99, laithwaites.co.uk.

Evoking stone fruits, white flowers and raspberry, this crisp Sicilian rose pairs with locally inspired dishes such as pasta alla norma and arancini.

Cafe Solo Espresso Martini (15%), 3.99, amazon.co.uk.

Deep-chill, shake and serve this decadent cocktail in a can as a pick-me-up after dinner. Its rich, woody, chocolatey  and a great alternative to dessert.
Tragedy: Jonathan Bloomer died when the Bayesian was hit by a water tornado

Insurance giant Hiscox has appointed a new chairman after Jonathan Bloomer died on the Bayesian superyacht.

Senior independent director Colin Keogh will take the reins on an interim basis.

Bloomer, 70, died when the boat belonging to British tech tycoon Mike Lynch was hit by a water tornado off Sicily.

A further six people died including Bloomer's wife Judy, Lynch and his teenage daughter Hannah, Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda, and yacht chef Recaldo Thomas.

The trip was planned as a celebration after Lynch was acquitted of fraud allegations in the US.

Bloomer, who was also chairman of Morgan Stanley, had served on the Hiscox' board for a year. He was chief executive of Prudential between 2000 and 2005, having joined as finance director in 2015.

He also served as a director at investment platform Hargreaves Lansdown and Autonomy, where he became friends with Lynch.

Hiscox chief executive Aki Hussain said: 'We are deeply shocked and saddened by Jonathan and Judy's deaths.

'It was a privilege to have known Jonathan and to have benefited from his generosity and wisdom over the last year in his role as chair of Hiscox.'

Prudential said yesterday: 'We wouldn't be the company we are today if it wasn't for him  we owe a lot to Jonathan.'

Italian authorities have launched a manslaughter probe into Monday's tragedy.

In total 15 people were rescued including Lynch's wife Angela.
The third-largest bank in France will stop dealing on the London Metal Exchange (LME) next week in a blow for the open-outcry trading floor.

Societe Generale's exit on Tuesday will leave the LME Ring, which sets global prices for metals such as aluminium, copper and nickel, with just seven members.

Others who deal include Marex, Sigma Broking and GF Financial Markets (UK). The trading floor, renowned for its lively atmosphere, could shut permanently if it has fewer than six members.

Something to shout about: Societe Generale's will leave the LME Ring with just seven members

Societe Generale will stay on as a clearing member.

Each metal is traded in five-minute sessions, which produce a daily cash-settlement price.

It is then embedded into physical supply contracts.

The LME, set up in 1877, is the world's oldest metal exchange.

It was bought for 1.4billion by Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Limited in 2012.
The City watchdog chairman is under fire for revealing a whistleblower's identity.

Ashley Alder has been accused of breaking the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) code of conduct by reportedly breaching the confidentiality of a former employee who complained related to opaque hiring practices.

He forwarded emails that revealed their name, address or concerns, the Financial Times reported.

Pointing the finger: Ashley Alder has been accused of breaking the Financial Conduct Authority code of conduct

The worker was dismissed for alleged misconduct and lost an employment tribunal  but is appealing  and has accused the FCA of 'incompetence'.

An FCA probe is looking at whether misconduct allegations should be formally internally investigated.

The regulator said: 'This is an exceptional case. The senior independent director will review how it was handled.'
The Government may be about to wage a war on wealth by raising taxes on capital gains and inheritance but Labour seems relaxed about fat cat pay in Britains boardrooms.

As unions flex their wage-bargaining muscles, top pay continues to rise and the gap widens between the earnings of chief executives and their workers.

That growing gulf  431 times in the case of Tesco  was described in 2017 by then Prime Minister Theresa May as damaging the social fabric of our country.

Growing gulf: Top pay continues to rise and the gap widens between the earnings of chief executives and their workers

The pay divide may add fuel to industrial unrest, with union barons confronting employers with spiralling pay demands, especially in the public sector.

Labour says it is for investors to decide what top pay levels are appropriate at the private sector companies in which they hold shares.

Shareholders have a number of tools to scrutinise executive pay and hold companies to account, a Department for Business and Trade spokesperson said.

These include a detailed breakdown of pay reported each year, and a binding vote on pay policy.

While levels of executive pay were a matter for companies and their shareholders it was clearly important that pay matches performance, the spokesperson added.

Thats a far cry from when former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn threatened a cap on executives earning more than 20 times the wage of their lowest paid worker if they wanted to bid for public sector contracts.

Equally, it remains to be seen if Chancellor Rachel Reeves will be intensely relaxed about people getting filthy rich if they paid their taxes, as Labour grandee Lord Mandelson once famously put it.

Pascal Soriot, AstraZeneca SHARES UP 22% in 12 months

Turnaround: Soriot has presided over a dramatic turnaround in AZs fortunes

Soriot has presided over a dramatic turnaround in AZs fortunes.

One of his first tasks was to see off a 68billion bid from rival US drugmaker Pfizer a decade ago.

Today AZ is Britains most valuable company with a stock market price tag of more than 200billion, fuelled by a series of blockbuster drugs and the Covid-19 vaccine developed with Oxford University.

Soriot has made 135million since he took over. Shares have risen nearly 600 per cent over that time.

However, more than a third of shareholders protested at plans to pay him almost 19million this year  even more than his recent 16.9million chart-topping pay package.

Tufan Erginbilgic, Rolls-Royce SHARES UP 147%

Share boost: Erginbilgic has worked wonders for Rolls-Royces share price

Erginbilgic has worked wonders for Rolls-Royces share price since taking the cockpit seat at the Britains flagship engineering company in January 2023.

He described the firm  whose engines drive passenger jets, fighter planes and submarines  as a burning platform and set about examining every aspect of the business.

His 13.7million pay packet reflects the successful turnaround he has led. It also includes 7.5million that came from Rolls-Royce buying him out of his previous contract at oil giant BP.

Charles Woodburn, BAE Systems SHARES UP 34%

Pay: Woodburns 13.5m package is lower than bosses of US defence companies

BAE Systems is going gangbusters and recently raised its earnings guidance for the year as heightened geopolitical tensions cause countries to increase their defence spending.

The shares have more than doubled since Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The defence contractor has also been boosted by the 4.4billion purchase of Ball Aerospace in the US, where BAE Systems now does 40 per cent of its business.

Woodburns 13.5million package is lower than bosses of US defence companies.

Ken Murphy, Tesco SHARES UP 38%

Difference: Tescos 260,000 mostly shopfloor workers in the UK earned an average of 23,010. Murphy's more than doubled to 9.9m

The Irishmans pay more than doubled to 9.9million after Britains biggest grocer gained market share from rivals and saw its share price rally.

His bumper pay packet is thought to be the highest-ever awarded to a UK supermarket boss and easily eclipses the 6.3million his predecessor Sir Dave Lewis earned in his final year at Tesco in 2020.

But it is still a lot less than the 21million his counterpart Doug McMillon made at WalMart in the US.

Tescos 260,000 mostly shopfloor workers in the UK earned an average of 23,010, an increase of 2.1 per cent on the previous year.

Murphy has made a stand on behalf of his staff campaigning for better protection against abuse.

Erik Engstrom, RELX SHARES UP 40%

Highly paid: Erik Engstrom is the boss of RELX

The media-shy Swede is credited with being the driving force behind the remarkable rise of the data and analytics firm.

He took the reins at RELX in 2009 after running Dutch unit Elsevier for five years. The former McKinsey management consultant eschews the usual perks of a high-flying executive.

He eats lunch at the local branch of Asian fast food chain Itsu and regularly travels economy class on his frequent trips abroad.

Along with AZs Soriot, he is one of only a handful of FTSE 100 chief executives to have earned more than 100million in their time at the top.

Chris OShea, Centrica SHARES DOWN 11%

Hard to justify? OShea has said his pay is impossible to justify while customers were struggling

The boss of the British Gas owner is a new entry in our list after his pay soared by 82 per cent to 8.2million last year.

OShea has said his pay is impossible to justify while customers were struggling to pay their energy bills and described the combination of salary, bonus and shares as a huge amount of money.

But he pointed out that he does not set his own pay.

In the past, he has done the honourable thing, turning down bonuses in 2021 in solidarity with customers and in the two previous years due to the pandemic. Now he is making up for lost time.

Centricas adjusted profit fell to 2.8billion last year, compared with 3.2billion the year before.

Its retail arm, which is mainly made up of British Gas, saw profits soar from 94million in 2022 to 799million last year.
Tesco is Britains most unequal blue chip company, The Mail on Sundays annual audit of boardroom pay reveals today.

Ken Murphy, chief executive of the countrys biggest supermarket, made 10million in 2023, which is 431 times the sum received by a typical Tesco worker. He made more in a day than Tescos UK staff did on average all year.

The size of the pay gap at the grocery chain dwarfs that of other FTSE 100 companies.

Audit: Tesco is Britains most unequal blue chip company, The Mail on Sundays annual audit of boardroom pay reveals today

Compass, whose boss Dominic Blakemore was paid 303 times the sum paid to the average employee at the contract catering business, came next on the list.

Others with large pay gaps between the boss and the rest include retailers Sainsburys, B&Q-owner Kingfisher and clothing giant Next.

The findings form part of The Mail on Sundays Fat Cat Files, which chart the millions of pounds handed out each year in salary, bonuses and perks to the bosses of Britains biggest companies.

The audit shows that in 2023:

- FTSE 100 chief executives were paid an average of 4.7million  a 300,000 rise on the previous year

- AstraZenecas Pascal Soriot was again the highest paid FTSE 100 boss, taking home 16.9million

- The best paid female FTSE 100 boss was Emma Walmsley at rival drugs group GSK on 12.7million

- The number of bosses paid more than 10million doubled to eight

- Finance directors also fared well, pocketing more than 2.2million each on average

- The highest paid finance chiefs were defence giant BAEs Brad Greve and Nick Luff at the information and analytics company Relx. They both got 7.1million

- Almost a quarter of FTSE 100 finance directors  often a stepping stone to the chief executives job  are now female, raising hopes that women may finally break through the glass ceiling

In the money: Ken Murphy, chief executive of Tesco, made 10m in 2023

Our findings will fuel the debate about ballooning boardroom pay. They come as top firms push for even bigger rewards for their leaders, saying they need to be paid more to compete with US rivals.

The typical FTSE 100 chief executive earns 120 times more than their employees median pay, according to the High Pay Centre think-tank, but soon they could be taking home even more.

Sixteen of the top 100 firms are looking to revamp their pay policies, according to business consultancy Deloitte.

Nine of the companies have drawn up radical plans to boost their bosss pay this year, compared with four before.

Among those leading calls to pay bosses based in Britain even more is Rupert Soames, president of the Confederation of British Industry lobby group.

He has dubbed many companies in the FTSE 100 as Brilos  British in Listing Only  because most of their revenue come from overseas.

Soames also chairs Smith & Nephew, the medical equipment group, where nearly half of its shareholders voted against plans to give chief executive Deepak Nath a huge pay rise.

It was the biggest investor revolt at a major company last year, the Fat Cat Files found.

Also leading the charge on chief executive pay is Julia Hoggett. The London Stock Exchange chief executive has warned that a lack of a level playing field is driving a brain drain from the City to New York and beyond.

Shareholders backed plans to more than double the pay of her boss, David Schwimmer, to 13.2million.

Companies such as chipmaker Arm Holdings, plumbing giant Ferguson and Tarmac-owner CRH have already moved their main listing from London to Wall Street, where sky-high boardroom pay is more widely tolerated.

The vast sums on offer to US chief executives was highlighted this month when Brian Niccol, new boss of Seattle-based coffee chain Starbucks, was given a pay package potentially worth more than 78million  with permission to work remotely from California.

US-style: Brian Niccol, the new boss of Seattle-based coffee chain Starbucks, was given a pay package potentially worth more than 78m

Not all top bosses made pay hay last year. NatWests Alison Rose missed out on 5.1million after she was ousted over the de-banking of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.

But her loss was minor compared with Bernard Looneys at BP. He was docked 3million in pay and forfeited up to 29million in share awards after he was found to have lied to the board about his personal relationships with other staff.

Tesco defended Murphys award. Alison Platt, chair of the remuneration committee that sets executive pay, said at the time it recognised the strong performance of the business and the fact Tesco had delivered for all of its stakeholders over the last year, including record investment in colleague pay.

Additional research by Angus Ritchie
A top UFO debunker has revealed the bizarre case that still puzzles him to this day.

Scores of people, including military experts, have recorded eerie videos appearing to show UAPs - unidentified aerial phenomena - over the years and often seek answers by posting them online.

Mick West, of Sacramento, California, uses a range of tools to help explain these mysteries - but has been stumped by one Navy video of a UFO that was leaked by The New York Times.

The footage released in 2017 had been taken by a Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet pilot two years earlier and appears to show a UFO following the jet from the USS Theodore Roosevelt after the object had been detected by radar off the East Coast.

In the infrared cockpit video, the incredible high-speed object seemingly breaks the laws of physics - with the two pilots heard debating whether or not it was a drone.

Mick West, of Sacramento, California, uses several tools to debunk random flying objects, including FlightAware, Flight Radar 24, and Invisor. But his biggest help is Sitrec that integrates flight data, video, and satellite imagery

One case that piqued West's interest is footage taken by Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet pilot Ryan Graves. West wants to review the original video files himself to better understand their data

Combing over the footage, West, who often relies on data surrounding the video to debunk recorded events, investigated the clip and tried to work out the rotation of the camera and the glare on the lens. Still, he was left with no answers.

West is now hoping to gain access to the original radar data instead of the analysis the government released so he can recreate the phenomenon - and rule out any reasonable explanations.

As part of his approach, West uses multiple tools including FlightAware, Flight Radar 24 and Invisor, an app that gives information on video, audio, and photos such as resolutions and the date they were taken.

But his biggest resource is Sitrec - a tool he designed himself that stands for 'situation recreation' - which integrates flight data, video and satellite imagery to paint a full picture, he told Popular Mechanics.

'You have to be very careful about what you're looking at...for me, that's the very first step in investigating a case,' West, who has investigated around 1,000 UFO cases, told the outlet.

Last month, the former video game programmer spotted a white, elongated object from a plane window while he was flying to Pasadena and took a quick video of it.

'Its not an intuitive thing, and if you dont delve too deeply into it, [youll be wrong],' said West, who programmed Tony Hawk's Pro Series games

'It can be very difficult to figure outbut you have no choice,' he added (Pictured: Sitrec)

He thought was just another airplane - a conclusion he would be right about - but he found himself needing to investigate the matter personally, he told Popular Mechanics.

When he got to his hotel room, he used Photoshop to closely look at the image and downloaded the GPS routes from his flight and a few others in the area from FlightAware.com.

In order for West to find an answer, he has to look at simultaneous events and see how they all fit into the bigger picture.

His plane wasn't the only in the air, so he had to look at other flight paths, as well as weather phenomenon and satellite data.

He also looks closely at the video angle, In his case, he knew the video he took was several thousand feet above ground and the object was below him.

He used Flight Aware 24 to configure where other nearby planes were so he could 'figure out whats actually in the air at a particular time,' he told Popular Mechanics.

West then zoomed in on his own flight and found the exact location of his plane when he took the video.

'I knew I was sitting on the right side of the plane,' he told the outlet.

The map showed him a 'likely contender' - a plane that had taken off from LA's Van Nuys Airport.

'That matches what we see in the video,' he told Popular Mechanics.

He then used Sitrec - which an unidentified organization paid him to develop and make publicly accessible - to point the camera from his plane directly down onto where the other plane was traveling.

'I set the camera to point from my plane to the other two. One of them matched exactly. It was a small Cessna,' he told the outlet. 'This confirms that this was the plane I was actually looking at.'

One Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UPA) - the term that took over for UFO in 2023 - that piqued West's interest appeared in footage the Chilean Navy caught of a black blob leaving streaks behind it in 2014, he told Popular Mechanics.

The Chilean military investigated the footage for roughly two years and boldly determined it to be aliens.

He determined the black blob seen by Chilean authorities was just a plane that had just departed from Santiago Airport, and the reason it appeared black in the footage their Navy had captured was because it was taken on a thermal camera and the plane was hotter than the surrounding area

However, West, thanks to Sitrec, came to a more reasonable conclusion and documented his investigation on YouTube.

He determined the black blob to be a plane that had just departed from Santiago Airport. He claimed the reason it appeared black in the footage captured by the Navy was because it was taken on a thermal camera and the plane was hotter than the surrounding area.

'Its not an intuitive thing, and if you dont delve too deeply into it, [youll be wrong],' West, who programmed Tony Hawk's Pro Series games, told the outlet.

As for the streaks the Navy recorded, he explained that these were just the airplane's engines leaving contrails.

West claimed that the Chilean Navy also got the flight path wrong.

'They thought they were looking at an object that was moving left to right.

'In fact, what they were looking at was this plane, just departed from Santiago Airport that had looped around to gain height over the mountains,' he said.

Using his program, he was able to successfully simulate the plane's movements by accounting for the camera angle and matched it to flight records.

West thinks his video game programming days helped condition him for the life of debunking UFOs as he spent 'an inordinate amount of time on this trivial little thing, this one intractable little bug that is just causing this problem' during his former profession.

West thinks his video game programming days helped condition him for the life of debunking UFOs as he spent 'an inordinate amount of time on this trivial little thing, this one intractable little bug that is just causing this problem' during his former profession

UFO sightings over America's nuclear arsenal appeared to shift their interest from the making of the bombs to silos and bomber bases as the Cold War arms race grew (above)

'It can be very difficult to figure out but you have no choice,' he told Popular Mechanics.

He finds debunking claims of alien sightings has the same rigor as programming a game and tied with his fascination with conspiracy theories, it ignited his passion for investigating UAP.

However, other experts remain convinced that UFO activity is real and seemingly has some connection to nuclear sites.

The former head of the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program, Lue Elizondo, agreed that there 'seems to be a lot of correlation' between UFO appearances and nuclear sites.

And independent researcher Robert Hastings, who has been working toward full government disclosure of UAP activity, said in 2010, 'Declassified US government documents and witness testimony from former or retired US military personnel confirm beyond any doubt the reality of ongoing UFO incursions at nuclear weapons sites.'

Now, new research  in the form of three studies helmed by a retired US Air Force staff sergeant, Larry Hancock, and a data analyst affiliate with Harvard's UFO-hunting Galileo Project, Ian Porritt  shows that not only has there been unusual activity around nuclear weapons and facilities, it has shifted over the years.

At first seemingly interested in the production of nuclear weapons, UFO sightings later sprang up around silos and bomber bases.

'You would see this interest at silos when they were being installed before 'the activity would drop off,' Porritt previously told the DailyMail.com.

Eerily similar to these encounters are the instances of UAPs following fighter jets that were disclosed by the UAP Task Force, including a 'giant Tic Tac' UFO witnessed by Navy veteran fighter pilot Commander David Fravor in 2004.

Fravor's fellow co-pilot Chad Underwood witnessed the 'perfectly white' wingless oblong captured by his cockpit's in-flight video.
Nightmare neighbours who make a fuss of a shared space are the bane of many Brits across the UK.

One such issue is how to divide the shared space of a fence? Can you paint your side a different colour to your neighbour? How much of it can they paint? Are they even allowed to do so in the first place?

Fortunately for anyone struggling with the answers to those questions, a fencing firm has shared what to do if your neighbour gets the paint brush out.

Nightmare neighbours who make a fuss of a shared space are the bane of many Brits across the UK (File image)

Timber, building and fencing supply company Lawsons has shares information on who is allowed to paint a fence when it comes to neighbours (File image)

Timber, building and fencing supply company Lawsons has shares information on who is allowed to paint a fence when it comes to neighbours.

The company said: 'Only the owner of the fence may make any changes to it, even where the other side of the fence is on neighbouring property.

'As the owner, you must keep the fence in good repair and ensure that it is safe and does not present any danger to those around it.'

Citizens Advice also warns that you are not permitted to alter your side of your neighbour's fence without their permission.

Your neighbour is also under no obligation to change their wall or fence - such as altering its height for extra privacy - just because you want them to.

If you believe the fence is dangerous, you should point this out to them as they may not be aware of the risk.

This is because your local authority has the power to order them to repair a dangerous wall or fence if they do not do so themselves.

There is no legal basis for claims that owners are always responsible for a certain side of their boundary.

The same applies to whether the fence posts are on someone's side.

Citizens Advice also warns that you are not permitted to alter your side of your neighbour's fence without their permission (File image)

Instead, the first place to start is the Land Registry to obtain a copy of the title register, title plan and any 'filed' deeds for both your own property and your neighbour's property.

These documents can be obtained for 3 from Gov.uk for homes in England and Wales and Scotland's Land Information Service for those in Scotland.

If you pay for a fence to be replaced and it wasn't your fence, The Land Registry explains that while you own the materials, your responsibility for the boundary remains dependent on the agreement with your neighbour.

This can change over time, for instance if you get a new neighbour - or if you change your mind.
An American woman living in the UK has revealed the classic British sweets she cannot stand - much to the consternation of her followers online.

Lisa Dollan is originally from Georgia in the United States but moved to Yorkshire after falling in love with her now-husband Paul after they met at a business conference in 2009.

Taking to TikTok, where she has amassed over 1.2million followers under her handle Yorkshire Peach, Lisa shared common British confectionary items that she disliked.

Since she posted the clip in May, it has been viewed over one million times on the platform.

Despite proving to be a popular hit with viewers, there was an extremely mixed reaction in the comments as Lisa revealed which sweets she would not eat again.

Lisa Dollan shared common British confectionary items that she disliked - one of which was a Kinder Bueno (File image)

First up, she said that she would not be rushing to eat a Kinder Bueno in the future - or any other Kinder-made chocolate for that matter.

Upon trying the popular nutty chocolate bar, she remarked: 'Is this even British? I'd never heard of it before I moved here. People seem to be nuts about it. I don't like any of it.'

Next, Lisa expressed a strong distaste for Maynard Bassetts Jelly Babies, noting: 'You guys are mad about these, I can't stand them! I love sweets, I love jelly beans, I love chewy sweets but the consistency of these is just wrong. I can't explain it.'

Third on the list, Lisa revealed that she could not stand the combination of mint and chocolate having tried an After Eight.

She said: 'Mint and chocolate. No, again, they don't belong. They don't belong in ice cream together, it's like toothpaste in a chocolate bar. You just wouldn't?'

Lastly the American shared that should could not cope with a national favourite that is extremely popular to eat at Christmas.

Lisa said that she would not be sad to miss out on eating a Terry's Chocolate Orange during the festive period.

She stated: 'When I tell you orange and chocolate should never be in the same room together. I said what I said. I even retried it a few months ago to see if my palette had converted, because I identify as British now, but no.'

Her list drew a mixed reaction in the comments section, with some users expressing their support for her choices while others were in disbelief.

Lisa also said that she would not be sad to miss out on eating a Terry's Chocolate Orange during the festive period

They wrote: 'Never liked jelly babies but I harshly judge people who dont like a Kinder Bueno'.

'Back off the chocolate oranges. They are my favourite'.

'Hate Kinder Bueno. Jelly Babies are the last option for me.'

'Not Buenos please for the love of god leave them out of this'.

'NOT THE TERRYS CHOCOLATE ORANGE. How my jaw hit the floor'.

'they're all good, Terry's orange and After Eights are my favourite.'
Every day, Irma Grese would strut across the concentration camp courtyard wielding her three weapons of choice: a pistol, a horse whip and her polished jackboots.

Famed for her 'Hollywood filmstar' looks, history remembers the Nazi 'Hyena of Auschwitz' for her callous, arbitrary use of these weapons on emaciated prisoners at the death camp.

But equally disturbing was her perverted fascination with suffering at the expense of countless human lives.

Grese, described by one Auschwitz prisoner as 'the most depraved, cruel, imaginative pervert I ever came across', committed a vast array of atrocities in the five short years she worked as a prison guard for concentration camps.

She whipped women to death, arbitrarily shot and killed innocent people, and would half-starve vicious dogs before letting them savage prisoners. Grese would also incessantly watch unmedicated operations with such intensity that saliva dripped 'from the corner of her mouth.'

The Hyena also had a penchant for depraved, sexual violence, and seemingly chose partners who were as twisted as she was. She is reported to have been a lover of Josef Mengele, the Nazi doctor who commissioned countless barbaric human experiments.

Irma Grese (pictured) worked at the Ravensbruck, Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen concentration camps

Grese, pictured with Auschwitz commandant Josef Kramer, was known for her cruelty

Crematorium III at Auschwitz concentration camp, Poland, January 1945.

Grese made her way up the food chain at Auschwitz

At Belsen, she was known for making prisoners kneel for hours at a time, severely straining their muscles

Though no one but Grese herself can explain her rapid descent into state-backed cruelty, clues lie in her early life, which was marked by poverty and tragedy.

Her mother committed suicide when she was just 13 after finding out her father was having an affair with a local pub landlord's daughter.

She was also a timid girl, according to her family. Her sister, Helene, told the Belsen Trials: 'In our schooldays when, as it sometimes happens, girls were quarrelling and fighting, my sister had never the courage to fight, but on the contrary she ran away.'

It's hard to imagine how Grese, described by the Daily Mirror in 1945 as 'an attractive blonde who looks like a Hollywood filmstar', would go on to commit twisted acts of violence, given her diffidence.

But perhaps, as war crimes prosecutor Colonel Backhouse put it at her trial, it was her diffidence, and how easily it fell away while wearing the Swastika, that turned her into the Hyena of Auschwitz.

Backhouse said at the time: 'When she was a child, she was a frightened child and a little coward who ran away, and she adopted this doctrine of Nazism which turns the coward into a bully.

'She went to Ravensbruck and there she found her courage, because people dared not hit back.'

Hitting back was the last thing the emaciated prisoners at Ravensbruck, Auschwitz, and Bergen-Belsen, the three camps she worked at over her five-year career as a Nazi guard, would ever dream of.

And Grese, like countless other fascists at the time, took full advantage of that.

Grese, wearing the number 9 in this photo, was put on trial for her horrific war crimes

Victims of the Auschwitz concentration camp stand on the platform in Birkenau station, awaiting selection for either the gas chambers or forced labour

Grese was tried under British law following the end of the Second World War

Countless prisoners were starved to death at concentration camps

The railway tracks where hundred thousands of people arrived to be directed to the gas chambers inside the former Nazi death camp of Auschwitz Birkenau

She admitted at her war crimes trial that even though Josef Kramer, the Commandant of Auschwitz-Birkenau, forbade her from using a whip on prisoners, she continued to liberally strike them with it.

The whip itself was a plaited horse riding whip, and Grese often used it to administer lethal punishments.

According to testimony shared at Nuremberg, 'She beat some of the women to death and whipped others mercilessly using a plaited whip.'

Particularly sickening was her deriving sexual pleasure from using the whip to violently beat people.

According to Fania Fenelon, a member of Auschwitzs womens inmate orchestra, Grese had a habit of lashing well-endowed women across their breasts with her whip, often hitting them so hard that their skin would break and they would suffer severe infections.

'The women had learned to dread the penalty of her attentions, the least of which meant a whip lash on the nipple', Fenelon said.

It wasn't just the act of committing violence that got her off. Grese was said to have derived near-sexual pleasure from watching prisoners in agony.

Gisella Perl, a trained doctor who was a prisoner at Auschwitz-Birkenau, recalled after the Second World War that the Hyena would often watch medical operations, which were almost always performed without anaesthesia.

Perl said: 'Irma Grese invariably arrived to watch the operation, kicking the victim if her screams interfered with her pleasure and giving herself completely to the orgasmic spasms which shook her entire body and made saliva run down from the corner of her mouth.

'Irma Grese was enjoying the sight of this human suffering. Her tense body swung back and forth in a revealing, rhythmical motion. Her cheeks were flushed and her wide-open eyes had the rigid, staring look of complete sexual paroxysm.

'She did this on multiple occasions so she could relive this sadistic moment repeatedly. She always came to watch the operations of these women whose breasts had been slashed open and had become infected with the lice and dirt which pervaded the womens camp.'

The site is now used to remember the Holocaust

The world was sickened by her crimes, which were uncovered at the Belsen Trials

Women in the barracks at Auschwitz, Poland, January 1945

The Liberation of Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp located in the German state of Lower Saxony in April 1945

Grese's perversions didn't end there - she is rumoured to have been sleeping with Nazi doctor Josef Mengele, as well as Josef Kramer, the commandant of Birkenau and later Bergen-Belsen.

Grese is said to have stood with Mengele, the Nazi doctor best known for his human experiments, to decide which prisoners would live or die each day. Survivors recalled that she killed at least 30 people a day, claims which she weakly denied.

She also took satisfaction in forcing both male and female prisoners into having sex with her.

Author Olga Lengyel, a Hungarian Jewish prisoner at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, recounted an incident where she was seen dragging a naked woman by her hair and whipping her.

The pair were followed closely by a Georgian man, who was sleeping with the tortured woman at the time.

The man was forced to watch his lover, one of his few comforts in the wretched camp, get tortured because he had refused Grese's advances.

Lengyel said she later discovered that Grese had the man shot, and sent the woman to work at the camp's brothel for SS officers.

Beyond her sexual degeneracy, and her affinity for violence, she was more than happy to carry out standard methods of torture for Nazis.

'Works sets you free', reads the sign above the entrance to Auschwitz

Few could believe the depths of her cruelty, with one witness telling the court that she was 'the worst of them women guards'

Floral wreaths lie over the entrance to death chambers in Auschwitz

Jewish prisoners in concentration camp uniform at Auschwitz

At Belsen, she was known for making prisoners kneel for hours at a time, severely straining their muscles.

She also made them hold heavy rocks over their heads, punishing them if they did not stand up straight.

Prisoners were also made to stand upright in snow, ice and rain between 3am and 9am. Failure to do so properly would result in severe beatings.

Her trial shook the world to its core. Few could believe the depths of her cruelty, with one witness telling the court that she was 'the worst of them women guards.'

Fewer still could believe how unrepentant she was for her sick crimes. Following her arrest by British forces at the end of the war, she nonchalantly said of her war crimes: 'It was our duty to exterminate anti-social elements so that Germanys future would be assured.'

For a woman known for her perverse attraction to prolonged violence and suffering, it was the last thing she wanted for her own execution, which was carried out by the hangman Albert Pierrepoint in December 1945.

Pierrepoint, known as Britain's last hangman, was seemingly left stunned by how she approached her own death, writing in his autobiography: 'She walked into the execution chamber, gazed for a moment at the officials standing around it, then walked to the centre of the trap where I had made a chalk mark.

'She stood on this mark very firmly and, as I placed the white cap over her head, she said in a languid voice, "Schnell".'
The Democratic National Convention had the usual political fanfare from prominent Democrats making thunderous speeches and attendees decked out in patriotic red, white and blue.

But it also featured one unusual standout element for such a massive blue celebration: Republicans.

Between remarks from the most beloved and powerful Democrats in the country over four days was a parade of current and former Republicans all speaking in support of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.

'If you vote for Kamala Harris in 2024, youre not a Democrat, youre a patriot,' declared former Republican Georgia Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan taking the stage at the DNC to wild cheering.

Former national security official in the Trump White House Olivia Troye said in her remarks 'you're arent voting for a Democrat, youre voting for democracy.'

Former GOP Congressman Adam Kinzinger declared Democrats 'love this country just as much as we do' as the crowd chanted 'USA!'

And former top Melania Trump aide and White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham claimed Trump calls his supporters 'basement dwellers' behind closed doors.

A series of former GOP lawmakers, Trump officials and state Republicans spoke throughout the Democratic National Convention as Democrats try to build a coalition with anti-Trump Republicans to beat the ex-president. From left to right: former Rep. Adam Kinzinger, ex-Trump official Olivia Troye, former GA Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan and former White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham

Republican strategist Kevin Madden said the speakers themselves won't have a major impact because few voters know who they are, but he believes 'they are an avatar for a lot of Republicans who describe themselves as "conscientious objectors" to Trump's vision of their party.'

'There are enough of them in battleground states to make a difference,' Madden said.

The Harris campaign has been making a concerted effort to engage Republican and Independent voters ready to reject the former Republican president and have recruited Republicans to help.

It was on full display at the United Center in Chicago and a stark contrast from the Republican National Convention a month earlier where no Democrats took the stage in Milwaukee.

After her speech, Grisham said she was terrified to make an appearance at the DNC but that everyone was welcoming. She said even if it only changes the minds of just a few Republicans and Independents, her appearance would have been worth it.

'The winning strategy for Kamala Harris is to reanimate and remobilize the anti-Trump coalition that defeated Donald Trump in 2020 and in that coalition on the margins are the center right swing voters who have historically identified as Republicans,' said John Conway from Republicans Voters against Trump. He argued the inclusion gave others 'permission' to vote blue.

Conway's group has been conducting focus groups and outreach to such voters and noted the convention did not just include 'elite' Republicans but everyday GOP voters.

Throughout the four day event were a series of videos featuring former Trump voters playing on big screen as millions of Americans tuned in to the convention from home.

Two-time Trump voter Kyle Sweetser speaking at the Democratic National Convention. Democrats are looking to remobilize the anti-Trump coalition that helped Biden win in 2020 and expand on it with the help of Republicans telling their stories in 2024

Mesa, AZ Mayor John Giles spoke at the DNC. He is part of the group Republicans for Harris

Former Trump voter Kyle Sweetser, a Republican from Alabama, also walked on stage and shared that he was voting for a Democrat for the first time in his life in front of thousands of Democrats.

'I feel more at home here than in today's Republican party,' said John Giles, GOP Mayor of Mesa, Arizona, who also spoke at a recent Harris rally in his battleground state.

Giles invoked late Republican Senator and GOP presidential nominee John McCain during his speech when he declared 'Country First.'

The push to flip Republicans started while Biden was still running for reelection.

The Biden-Harris campaign jumped on welcoming dejected Nikki Haley primary voters into the fold as Trump attacked her candidacy earlier this year.

Haley has since announced she would vote for Trump but that has not stopped Democrats from seeking support from her voters.

Democrats are going after the support of voters who cast ballots for Nikki Haley in the GOP primary despite the former U.N. ambassador saying she would vote for Trump in November

In June, the campaign announced the addition of a full-time National Republican Engagement Director dedicated to furthering outreach to Independents and moderate Republicans.

Virginian Austin Weatherford was the former chief of staff for Kinzinger with 25 years of GOP political experience.

He said the convention programming was just a latest effort to 'reach out to anti-Trump Republicans,' and they will continue to remind Republican and Independent voters 'Donald Trump doesnt represent their values.'

The campaign has also been regularly in touch with GOP leaders and organizations that want to combat Trump's vision for the country, according to a campaign official and will continue to work behind the scenes to help secure support.

It has spent more than seven figures on ads targeting swing voters and earlier this month launched Republicans for Harris, a grassroots program to conduct outreach efforts to millions of GOP voters.

Former Republican Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan holding up a note from his son at the DNC that said 'doing the right thing is never the wrong thing'

Critics have questioned whether convention organizers should have given so much time to Republicans during the event. Some of the speakers acknowledged they were still Republicans and didn't agree with Harris on policy.

Questions have also been raised over whether the GOP voters who split for Biden in 2020 would also vote for the vice president, a black woman who ran to the left of Biden in the 2020 primary and Republicans have attacked as more liberal.

But Conway's research has found those Republican voters who broke for Biden in 2020 had more concerns about the president than the vice president heading into November.

'It was clear that Joe Biden was facing issues from these voters, but those were Joe Biden specific problems,' he said.

Conway said they really 'saw the bottom drop out' after the president's disastrous June debate, but with Harris at the top of the ticket, they've seen a 'sharp rebound' with Harris at the top of the ticket including among 2016 Trump, 2020 Biden voters.
The family of murdered schoolgirl Charlise Mutten have spoken of their mental torture over the nine-year-old's brutal death and the abuse they get from strangers

Grandfather Clinton Mutten tearfully read out a victim impact statement on behalf of himself and his wife Deborah before the sentencing of Charlise's killer stepdad Justin Stein on Friday.

Mr Mutten's emotional plea to the court revealed how their lives have been torn apart since their beloved granddaughter was murdered when Stein shot her in the face at point blank range in January, 2022.

Stein, 33, was their drug addict daughter Kallista Mutten's fiance at the time of the heartbreaking tragedy, which took place at Stein's family home at Mount Wilson in Sydney's Blue Mountains.

Stein was convicted of the murder in June and appeared in the NSW Supreme Court on Friday for a sentencing hearing where Mr Mutten told Justice Helen Wilson of the living hell the family has endured in the wake of the killing.

Charlise's grandmother is suffering 'much mental anguish and sadness,' he said. 'It affects her mental and physical health (causing) depression and anxiety.

'The failure to protect Charlise will haunt our consciences for the rest of our lives, causing depression and sometimes suicidal thoughts.

'We trusted our daughter and her partner to provide care for Charlise and in hindsight this trust was misplaced ... family members have become estranged.

Charlise's murder had caused her grandmother and legal guardian Deborah Mutten (above the two together) 'much mental anguish and sadness, depression and anxiety'

Since Charlise (above at her last Christmas, in 2021) was murdered people have blamed her grandparents, Clinton Mutten said, for failing to protect her

'Since Charlise was murdered, there have been accusations against us that as grandparents we failed [her].

'As her legal guardians we didn't give her adequate protection.'

With his voice wavering as he spoke to a packed court room, Mr Mutten described the last moment he saw his 'caring, respectful, smart, thoughtful' granddaughter.

Mr Mutten's final conversation with Charlise was at Coolangatta Airport on the Gold Coast in December 2021, just days before her murder.

She was leaving her grandparents to board a flight to Sydney to spend Christmas with her mother and Stein.

'My last words to Charlise were "be a good girl and make us proud" and Charlise said, "I will Pop",' he told the court.

'Charlise was a special little girl who aspired to be a vet, an aspiration that can now never be.

'We took Charlise to school on time every day. The ring of the school bell - we can hear it from our house - now reminds us of our loss, as does back-to-school stationery [ad campaigns], and uniforms.

Clinton Mutten, pictured leaving the sentencing hearing on Friday, said he and his wife Deborah had been blamed for failing to protect their beloved granddaughter

Mr Mutten, pictured above with his son, also called Clinton, said their trust in their daughter Kallista and her then-partner Justin Stein to look after Charlise had been 'misplaced'

'Never again will I hear the rush of Charlise's footsteps after school. Never again will I teach Charlise how to solve a maths problem.

'Why was Charlise murdered while alone with a person my daughter trusted? Was she hunted down, incapacitated ... murdered pleading for her life?

'Did she call out mine or anybody else's name? These are questions I believe will never be answered and will be a burden for the rest of my life.'

Mr Mutten said that his granddaughter had been honoured in an annual literacy award named after her at Tweed Heads Public School.

He also disclosed that although he and his wife had become estranged 'until recently' from their daughter following Charlise's murder, they now realised that 'Charlises mother is also a victim of this crime,' he said.

He said Stein killing Charlise while the child was with 'her beloved mother and a person she considered a potential father ... breaches all sense of decency and trust'.

Kallista Mutten appeared by videolink to also read out a victim impact statement, which described how she has been abused by strangers on public transport after Charlise's murder.

Tweed Heads Public School has named a literacy prize after Charlise Mutten (above with a school award in 2021), to honour the 'bookworm' who loved reading

One of the last pictures of Charlise Mutten, with her mother Kallista, just over two weeks before she was murdered

'My whole life has been uncovered and under the microscope for all the world to see,' Ms Mutten said. 'I had no voice, just rumours and fingers being pointed at me.

'I can't handle getting a job, people saying that I'm not a good mother.

'Charlise was my biggest fan. And would always say I was the best mummy in the world.

'I miss hearing her voice. More than anything I miss being Charlises mum and having her to say to that I love her.

'She was such a kind, smart and good child and wasnt afraid to say kind things to people.

'My life is never going to be the same. I won't get to see her grow up, go to high school, have her first boyfriend or get married.

'I'm forced to live with the fact I trusted someone and because of my trust I put my daughter in harms way. I blame myself a lot.'

Stein will be sentenced on Monday. Crown prosecutors have asked for him to be jailed for life without parole.

His defence counsel has asked for a non-parole period of 25 years, meaning a possible release date in 2047 when he is 56 years old.
Manchester police will not take part in Pride parade this year, with officers ordered not to decorate their uniforms with rainbows.

Officers on-duty for the colourful procession through the city tomorrow were told not to customise their uniforms with any emblems, badges or pride flags.

This is because of a 'overall focus on professional standards' and for the presentation of officers to 'remain consistent', according to the Manchester Evening News.

Assistant Chief Constable Wasim Chaudhry told the MEN that this year, there was 'insufficient time' to finalise arrangements for their involvement in the parade due to 'national disorder' - likely referring to the widespread rioting.

Off-duty officers in the force's LGBTQ+ network were originally intending to participate.

Police officers walk down Deansgate during Manchester's 2018 Pride parade

A police officer wearing a sequin police helmet during the Manchester Pride Parade 2018

A police officer providing security at Manchester Pride 2016

Greater Manchester Mounted Police Officers showing their support for the LGBT community as they take part in the 2018 Manchester Pride Parade

Police officers walk down Deansgate during Manchester's Pride event in 2018

More than 5000 took part in 'Glasgow's Pride Mardi Gla' parade from Glasgow Green in 2022

The MEN previously reported that there would likely be officer 'redeployments' during the busy pride weekend and that off-duty officers would likely 'not be available' to take part.

A force spokesperson said: 'As in previous years, we have asked officers not to customise their uniform as we continue our overall focus on professional standards across Greater Manchester Police.

'It is important that the presentation of our officers remains consistent, and they are appropriately and best equipped to respond to any incident or emergency.'

Officers were told they could not adorn their uniforms with Pride badges last year.

Manchester Pride initially told GMP it did not want off-duty officers marching in uniform at all at the parade part of the event in uniform, after organisers warned of 'increased levels of concern' about their presence on some members of the LGBT+ community.

A source within the force claimed that Chief Constable Stephen Watson's 'old-fashioned' approach meant he refers to the uniform as 'the King's cloth', and it shouldn't be tampered with.

A spokesperson for Manchester Pride said: 'Manchester Pride welcomes the involvement of Greater Manchester Police in our events and values their commitment to the safety and inclusivity of the community. However, this year, they did not apply to take part in the Parade and will therefore not be participating.'

Police officers during pride parade Manchester Pride Festival, 2017

A Police Scotland officer waves a Pride flag in Glasgow's 2022 parade

Rainbow coloured balloons attached to a police car where two police officers stand at the side of the Glasgow Pride march in Scotland

Police officers take part in the Pride Glasgow parade through the city centre

In July, police in Leeds came out in force as the city's Pride event took place days after streets were left burning by violent riots.

Thousands of people, marshalled by officers from West Yorkshire Police, descended on Leeds for the annual celebration of the LGBTQ+ community.

The one-day festival, which last year saw 75,000 people attend, featured live music, drag artists and a giant rainbow flag as a parade moved through the city before finishing near the Corn Exchange.

While a large proportion of those taking part were members of the public, members of the emergency services, including the police, firefighters and paramedics, as well as Armed Forces personnel, were also involved.

Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin, along with Leeds North West MP Katie White, were among those present for the event which appeared to take place with few problems.

The same month, the Mail revealed that Scotland's police officers will be paid to take part in Pride parades despite the force cutting back on fighting crime.

Uniformed officers were being urged to represent the overstretched force at LGBTI marches in exchange for pay or a day off in lieu.

While hundreds were on active duty policing the marches, senior officers requested that other staff join the parades to show support for the marchers.

The 'astonishing' move also saw plain-clothed officers on light duties given special Pride badges.

It came after Police Scotland shelved inquiries into minor crimes as it battles a financial black hole and the lowest number of officers in 16 years.
A 20-year-old British woman who underwent a string of cosmetic procedures in Turkey says she nearly died after contracting a rare flesh-eating bacterial infection.

Isabella Crawford, a make-up artist from Newcastle, secretly flew to Turkey in February after getting in touch with a popular plastic surgeon who recommended she have a 'mummy makeover' - which included a tummy tuck, a breast uplift, a Brazilian butt lift and a liposuction, despite not having any children.

Speaking to ITV, Isabella said she was low on confidence and wanted to 'try to fix how I felt' after having been swayed by numerous online ads she received for cosmetic surgery abroad.

'It wasn't about an image I was trying to achieve, I just felt so bad inside', she said.

'I thought going somewhere like that would make me happy, because on social media that's what they tell you'.

20-year-old makeup artist Isabella Crawford from Newcastle said she suffered from complications after undergoing cosmetic surgery in Turkey earlier this year

Isabella says she woke to find that she had been left disfigured from a botched surgery

Isabella recalled waking up from her procedure to surgical wounds

After getting in touch with the unnamed surgeon, she said he recommended 'quite a bit of surgery for a 20-year-old girl to receive'.

'I just told myself, he knows what he's doing', adding that 'I was just really naive and trusted him'.

Isabella was put to sleep at 9am and was not returned to her room until the early evening.

'I don't know where I went, who touched us, or what happened.'

But Isabella woke to find that she had been left disfigured from a botched surgery.

She recalled waking up to surgical wounds and various bags attached to her body which were filling up with blood.

'I was black and blue', she said, adding that she felt like 'an experiment to see how far the body can be pushed'.

Only a few days after her surgery, Isabella flew back to the UK, but said she spent the entirety of the flight in the toilet as blood and liquid poured out of her open wounds.

'I thought, I'm going to die on this flight', she said.

Once she made it home, Isabella's mother, who thought she had been away on a girls' trip, rushed her to the hospital, where she was treated for a rare flesh-eating bacteria and severe open wounds.

'The nurses on the ward couldn't believe anyone would perform that amount of surgery at once,' Isabella recalled.

'I was black and blue', she said, adding that she felt like 'an experiment to see how far the body can be pushed'

Isabella had various bags attached to her body which were filling up with blood

But despite wanting to change her appearance, Isabella now regrets pushing to extremes to 'feel better about myself'.

'Please don't fall for it. There's so much more to life than being beautiful', a teary Isabella said.

Her story comes just after it was reported yesterday that a British woman is currently trapped in Turkey after suffering from serious complications from botches cosmetic procedures, including two bouts of sepsis.

28-year-old mother of one Cennet Lo flew to Bodrum in April to receive a tummy tuck, liposuction and Brazilian butt lift.

Four months later, however, she remains in Turkey in recovery after her cosmetic procedures went catastrophically wrong.

Since she first went under the knife a few months ago, Lo has had to undergo four major surgeries to remove skin infections.

But even the corrective surgeries have caused Lo distress.

Isabella now regrets pushing to extremes to 'feel better about myself'

She claimed that after contracting sepsis for the second time, she went into surgery to close the open wound, but woke up to find out her surgeon had given her a whole new tummy tuck without her consent.

She also recalled how she had dead tissue removed from a wound without any anaesthetic.

The number of complications from cosmetic surgeries in Turkey have been on the rise, as procedures like these tend to cost significantly less than in some Western countries.

According to the Foreign Office, 28 Brits have died after having cosmetic surgery in Turkey since 2019.

Meanwhile, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), those needing hospital treatment in the UK after cosmetic surgery abroad has shot up 94 per cent in three years  from 57 in 2020 to 111 in 2022, with 124 cases so far this year  with procedures carried out in Turkey accounting for more than three-quarters of those in the past six months alone.
As parties go, this one was glitzy, slick, star-studded and electric.

It was also terrifying.

By the time Kamala Harris took the stage at the DNC on Thursday evening, we had been told by the Obamas, Oprah, the Clintons, Hollywood and Harris herself that there is no one better to be the next American president, because

After a week of this, I still can't tell you. After a week of the mainstream media insisting the same, I'm at a loss.

I doubt I'm alone.

We just witnessed not so much a convention as a coronation. This entire production, created to sell a product named Kamala, was utterly Orwellian.

Had you awoken from a coma, or alighted from Mars, you'd have no idea that Harris, just months ago, was considered the Democratic party's biggest liability: Unserious, unprepared, unlikable.

We just witnessed not so much a convention as a coronation. This entire production, created to sell a product named Kamala, was utterly Orwellian.

Nancy Pelosi, historically, has not been a fan. Speaking to Anderson Cooper on CNN in September last year, Joe Biden still the nominee, Pelosi was characteristically slippery.

Cooper: 'Is Vice President Kamala Harris the best running mate for this president?'

Pelosi: 'He thinks so. And that's what matters.'

Cooper: 'But do you think she's the best running mate, though?'

Pelosi: 'She's the Vice President of the United States.'

Ouch.

Harris's mentor and one-time lover, the nonagenarian former San Francisco mayor Willie Brown, recently told Politico that she suffers from 'Hillary syndrome'  that 'people don't like her'.

And, of course, there's that unforgettable Washington Post expose from December 2021, not quite a year into Harris's tenure as Vice President, in which multiple ex-staffers alleged she was a cruel boss who never buckled down, or read her briefing notes, or took responsibility for her own lack of preparedness.

'It's clear that you're not working with somebody who is willing to do the prep and the work,' one ex-staffer said. 'With Kamala, you have to put up with a constant amount of soul-destroying criticism and also her own lack of confidence. So you're constantly sort of propping up a bully.'

Yet all we heard, this DNC, was how kind and decent Harris is  the epitome of compassion!

Oh, the left's endless capacity for moral hypocrisy.

That hypocrisy extends to facts: Until Biden dropped out, we were told that so-called 'Bidenomics' has led to the greatest era of American prosperity ever. As of last week, not so.

Harris now says she wants to create an 'opportunity economy'  as if she hasn't been in the White House the past four years  by instituting federal price controls at grocery stores and offering $25,000 in down payments for first-time homebuyers.

It's all very Communist-adjacent, the kind of limousine liberalism that has led to the new proposal, out of Gavin Newsom's California, that would allow undocumented migrants to buy homes with interest-free state loans.

Where, oh where, is the actual media? Why do I feel like I'm reading Pravda and watching state-sponsored TV?

Scant outlets are being honest about Harris's ineptitude, about her policy-free acceptance speech, about yet another Democratic campaign run from the metaphorical basement.

Had you awoken from a coma, or alighted from Mars, you'd have no idea that Harris, just months ago, was considered the Democratic party's biggest liability: Unserious, unprepared, unlikable. (Pictured: Pelosi and Newsom at the DNC, Thursday).

Scant outlets are being honest about Harris's ineptitude, about her policy-free acceptance speech, about yet another Democratic campaign run from the metaphorical basement. (Pictured: The Obamas at the DNC on Tuesday).

Here was CBS's Gayle King, officially a national embarrassment, in an actual interview with Nancy Pelosi on Thursday: 'How hard is it to campaign while having the burden of making history at the same time?'

Harrisworld still doesn't get it, their fervor now evoking extreme religiosity  despite their false idolatry, rebranding and worshiping this most flippant, frivolous woman as someone who just wants to spread 'joy'.

No matter that Harris has yet to sit for a single interview or give one presser, despite all the welcoming options: King, Oprah, Rachel Maddow, all of whom would give her soft-focus lighting and leave a mint on her pillow.

'The path that led me here these past few weeks,' Harris told the crowd, 'was unexpected.'

Was it, really? It's become increasingly apparent that Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama orchestrated a weeks-long coup after that disastrous June debate, plunging the long knives into Biden's back.

Everyone knew Biden was done. And that includes Harris, who callously stepped over his body in her eagerness to reach the presidential on-ramp.

So don't be fooled. This party of unity  and joy!  is still brawling.

Jill and Joe Biden's hasty endorsement of Kamala, a candidate Pelosi and Obama reportedly did not want, didn't feel genuine at all  just a final f-you to their backstabbers.

No open primary, as Pelosi and Obama hoped. As democracy requires. But it's the Dems who are to save us from a 'dictator', right?

It was amazing to hear DNC speakers bang on in this vein  Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaking of Donald Trump's 'attempted coup' when we just saw the Dems execute a real one, then yelling 'Who the hell is in charge?' as a frail, vacant Biden takes a long vacation in California.

Is Kamala, as sitting VP, the one running things? We have no idea, because she won't tell us.

Meanwhile, Michelle Obama, the party's biggest star  who reportedly agreed to speak only after Biden had dropped out  is still said to be angry at Hunter Biden's treatment of his ex-wife, her close friend Kathleen Buhle.

Kamala made herself scarce on Tuesday night as Michelle and Barack spoke in Chicago, reportedly in solidarity with the Bidens who remain furious with the Obamas  and Pelosi  over their White House ouster.

It's all so tawdry.

Harrisworld still doesn't get it, their fervor now evoking extreme religiosity - despite their false idolatry, rebranding and worshiping this most flippant, frivolous woman as someone who just wants to spread 'joy'. (Pictured: Eva Longoria at the DNC, Thursday).

Don't be fooled. This party of unity is still brawling. Jill and Joe Biden's hasty endorsement of Kamala, a candidate Pelosi and Obama reportedly did not want, didn't feel genuine at all, just a final f-you to their backstabbers.

More cynical than Harris trotting out the friend who was, as a teenage girl, sexually abused by her stepfather  a story that exists only to valorize Harris  were the survivors of our nation's worst mass shootings, Sandy Hook and Uvalde among them, dragged onto the DNC stage.

And again, hasn't Kamala been in a position to do something about gun violence for the past four years? These survivors, their grief abiding and profound, were used as mere props.

But the Dems are the good guys, or so we're told  over and over and over, by a media that covered up Biden's frailties and is now doing the same thing yet again.

This time they're not just covering for Kamala but shoving propaganda down our throats, telling us how cogent and smart she is  characteristics she conveniently displays only behind the scenes, just as Joe was outpacing all those young whippersnappers on his staff.

It's pure fiction.

'Happy anniversary, Dougie!' Harris trilled.

Yes, she began the most important speech of her life by shouting out her husband, who we all now know cheated on his first wife with the nanny and got her pregnant.

But sure, happy anniversary!

It was as disingenuous as Harris claiming unequivocal support of Israel before pivoting to the plight of Gazans, then demanding all hostages be released.

Harris likes to claim her foreign policy bona fides as the last person in the room before Biden decided to withdraw from Afghanistan  a full-scale failure that left 13 American servicemembers dead, that saw desperate Afghan parents tossing their babies over barbed wire, that signaled to the world that America is in retreat, on the run, and undoubtedly led to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the October 7 terror attacks.

We are in upside-down world now  the idea that dictators and terrorists fear Kamala Harris! Not Donald Trump, whose presidency saw the eruption of zero foreign wars.

'I love our country with all my heart,' Harris said. 'You know, our opponents are out there every day denigrating America, talking about how terrible everything is.'

What? It's Harris's own woke left that hates America, that aligns with Hamas and Hezbollah, and thinks this nation is intractably racist, that we are the worst colonizers on the planet.

The same woke left whose soft-on-crime policies have led to the destruction of major American cities, whose absolute abdication of the border  Harris, yes, the one-time border czar  has created a direct threat to homeland security.

Not that any of this mattered. All anybody really wanted to know was: Is Beyonce in the house?

Yet another distraction, a metaphor for Harris herself: All everybody remembers is the big thing that didn't happen.

Trump's candidacy, to be sure, has taken a hit since Harris was anointed.

Polls are tightening, especially in battleground states, and he has been struggling to stay on message.

Yet anyone who heard his speech at the RNC last month can recall that riveting beginning, delivered just days after he was hit by a would-be assassin's bullet.

Anyone who heard Trump's speech at the RNC last month can recall that riveting beginning, delivered just days after he was hit by a would-be assassin's bullet. Trump, for all his faults, doesn't need supporting players.

'I will tell you exactly what happened,' Trump said, 'and you'll never hear it from me a second time, because it's actually too painful to tell.'

Indelible.

Harris had Eva Longoria, Kerry Washington, Morgan Freeman, Stevie Wonder, Steph Curry, Pink, John Legend  to name a few.

But rather than be buoyed by such star power, she was diminished by it, lacking the gravitas and force to command her own convention.

Trump, for all his faults, doesn't need supporting players. He strode out like a late-stage Elvis against his name in lights, the star of his own show, the crowd there not for Hollywood but for him.

Let that be a warning to Harris, the Dems, and their media enablers, because after the high of this week, they are in for a very big letdown.
Just before midday yesterday, the bells of the Church of Santa Maria del Lume rang out once again over the Sicilian fishing town of Porticello.

They had sounded for every one of the bodies discovered in the Bayesian wreck in recent days. This, though, was the saddest toll of all.

Hannah Lynch, just 18, was the youngest and most tragic victim of this immense disaster. She was also the last to be recovered from the hull of her father's capsized superyacht, 150 feet beneath the surface and half a mile out to sea.

The body of Mike Lynch, the devoted Dad who had apparently gone looking for her in his final moments, had been recovered the day before. Only now could his poor widow Angela and surviving daughter Esme look towards some sort of closure, after a week of unimaginable pain.

Robert Hardman witnesses the recovery operation from the offshore sinking of the British yacht Bayesian on August 21, 2024

This undated photo provided by the Lynch family shows Hannah Lynch. Her body was recovered yesterday after the Bayesian sank off the coast of Sicily early on Monday morning

The investigation can now head off in a clinical and possibly prosecutorial direction. (Rescue personnel and divers operate in search for the missing)

Rescue personnel of the special unit of divers of the National Fire Brigade and divers of the Italian fire brigade preparing resuming inspections of the Bayesian

Italian divers onboard the boat, ready to inspect the sunken wreck of the superyacht Bayesian

A few minutes later, patrol boat VFR17 of the Italian fire brigade, the Vigili del Fuoco, came alongside, two divers accompanying the green bodybag on the back. All week, the brigade's specialist cave-diving unit had been out there in their orange wetsuits combing the inside of the yacht.

As they carefully lifted Hannah ashore, they had the forlorn, respectful look of professionals whose grim task was now completed. But there was also something desperately poignant about their demeanour.

For with some of the other recoveries, it had been a struggle lifting the bodybags up off the transom and into the registration tent onshore. Some had needed ropes.

This one was much lighter and no trouble at all, an awful reminder of that youthful life lost, of the luminous talent who had just been celebrating last week's A-level results. Oxford University beckoned. Clearly as bright as her parents, Hannah had  as a teacher revealed yesterday  previously scored 100 per cent in her English Literature GCSE.

Soon after the discovery, the family issued a statement thanking the rescue teams at a time of 'unspeakable grief', along with the sweetest photographs of Hannah with her father and dog.

They also released some of the heartbreaking tributes to her from close friends. 'Growing up with her and being best friends has been the greatest privilege of my life,' wrote Angelica Read, 17. 'She had so much love for poetry and for the natural world, and I really believe she will live on in these things and in our hearts forever.'

Hannah and British tycoon Mike Lynch pictured together. They sadly died when their yacht sank

The investigation can now head off in a clinical and possibly prosecutorial direction, as the authorities in Italy and Britain establish what caused the 183ft superyacht to capsize and sink in a storm in the early hours of Monday morning. As more details have come to light this week, so the questions keep piling up: why did Bayesian go down at anchor when a smaller, older yacht nearby turned on the engines and survived? Why did all the regular crew escape when six passengers died, along with visiting chef Recaldo Thomas?

Why was the retractable keel partially lifted? Crucially, was a door in the hull compartment for the yacht's tender (support boat) left open, as has been reported by the divers and others? That could have let in a catastrophic flood of water when the yacht was blown on its side by a waterspout.

Meanwhile, the boss of the yard which built the boat has insisted that Bayesian  formerly known as Salute  was 'unsinkable' and the victim of 'human error'. The same claim was made about the Titanic in 1912. Nature has no time for such hubris.

Nor, I am sure, would Mike Lynch, whose grasp of probabilities, physics and maths has earned him glowing tributes from some of the finest brains on the planet, including the British Nobel prizewinner Sir Paul Nurse.

As more details have come to light this week, so the questions keep piling up. (Pictured, a member of the Italian Coast Guard dives into the water as part of rescue operations)

Mr Lynch adored his yacht and, even more, being surrounded by loved ones. After the conclusion in June of a 12-year legal battle which could have meant spending the rest of his days in a US jail, he wanted to celebrate with those who stuck with him through thick and thin (unlike the pusillanimous British government). That is why some of his legal team and inner circle were with him when he died.

This was not a business trip but a heartfelt thank you, amid the stunning islands off the coast of north Sicily

Bayesian might have had the tallest aluminium mast in the world, but she was also the epitome of understated elegance at sea. There were no gold taps or whirlpool baths or helipads. While sailing in the same waters myself this summer, I saw one vast, floating excresence of steel and tinted glass with an outdoor cinema and pool.

The Bayesian (pictured) overturned during a severe thunderstorm on Monday morning

The superyacht (pictured) was docked off the coast of Porticello, near Palermo, when it was hit by an over-sea tornado, known as a waterspout

Mike Lynch's boat was designed along the lines of a traditional sloop. It just happened to be a very big one. Days would begin with a served breakfast (no buffet) beneath the awning on the forward deck.

Former guests have told me of the well-run informality on board. The Lynches did not want to be addressed as 'Sir' or 'Madam' by the crew of nine, led by Kiwi skipper James Cutfield, 51. It included long-serving British engineer Tim Parker-Eaton, and a team of younger deck hands and stewards. Lunches would be simple  fish, perhaps, with salads  while dinner might run to two or three courses and wide-ranging conversations about pretty much anything. There might be a glass of champagne before dinner and excellent wine with it but this was no party boat.

As so many of his friends have testified to me, Mr Lynch was nothing like the shy number-cruncher depicted in some profiles. Rather, he was a lively, engaging host with a genuine interest in people, one who enjoyed talking to friends and guests of all ages.

A fire service helicopter flies in the air above Porticello on Wednesday as the search operation takes place

He loved opera, music (he played the saxophone) and art. Trips ashore would not be to glitzy boutiques or casinos but to some interesting landmark or a gallery or a pretty village. There would be a lot of stops for swimming and for fun and games with the 'toys' kept in a locker under the stern.

These included windsurfers, a sailing dinghy and an inflatable 'banana boat' for towing at speed behind the ship's tender. It all sounds closer to Swallows And Amazons than Succession.

And then, with the sudden (though not unexpected) arrival of that short, torrential maelstrom on Monday morning, this idyll turned to a nightmare.

There are theories galore doing the rounds in yachting circles this weekend, even if much of it is informed speculation. Different state agencies have given conflicting briefings to different outlets.

At one point, I counted more than half a dozen different uniformed units on the same jetty  including both police forces (the Polizia and the Carabinieri), the Coast Guard, the Fire Brigade, the Guardia di Finanza (financial law enforcement) and the Red Cross. But why no sign of the Italian Navy? With no clear chain of command or information, rumours have been rife.

They have been compounded by the fact that this was the ground-breaking yacht of a rich and brilliant man who had only just won a Herculean victory over an American corporate giant. As if the deaths of Mr Lynch, his daughter and five others were not shocking enough, they came on the same day as the death of his former business colleague and co-defendant.

Tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch was on board the Bayesian (pictured at his renovated mill at his Suffolk farm in 2021)

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Stephen Chamberlain had also been acquitted on all charges of fraud dating to the sale of Mr Lynch's company, Autonomy, to Hewlett-Packard, in 2011. Last Saturday, he was out running when he was involved in what police called a 'tragic collision' with a car. The driver remained at the scene and assisted the police with their inquiries.

Inevitably, there are those unable to accept that this was a grotesque coincidence.

However, as so many aspects of this tragedy have become more baffling, others have become very much clearer. Chief among them is the loss to this country of a patriotic genius whose extraordinary talents were about to deliver new breakthoughs. For, make no mistake, words such as 'tycoon' and 'entrepreneur' do not begin to describe Mike Lynch.

We are not talking about some run-of-the-mill hedge-funder or private equity buccaneer whose wealth derived from creaming off a percentage on a deal.

Nor was this Ilford-raised son of an Irish fireman born with a silver spoon. Rather, he was the innovator who could not stop coming up with new ideas so complex that much of the business world found it hard to keep up.

And he made a demonstrable contribution to the scurity of this country as Jonathan Evans, the former director of MI5 (and now Lord Evans), recalls.

'When we were looking at the new data challenges facing this country but didn't know how to do it, Mike and the team from Autonomy worked with us. And it was extremely important work,' he tells me.

Lord Evans recalls the day when he asked Mike Lynch to address the spooks at MI5. 'Everyone was gripped. You had the tech guys almost worshipping at his feet,' he says fondly.

'Because Mike understood the science of getting meaning out of data and how to use data to safeguard the country. Like all good entrepreneurs, he enjoyed giving his people new problems to solve. But he was also a great patriot.'

And Mr Lynch also went on to employ many former members of the intelligence community in the subsequent businesses which he set up after the sale of Autonomy.

'He believed that Britain needed to grow technically innovative companies in the defence and security space, just like America has done,' says Lord Evans, who himself became an adviser to Mr Lynch's cybersecurity creation, Darktrace.

It is notable that whereas other owners of superyachts often register them in tax havens for tax purposes, Mike Lynch registered Bayesian as a British yacht flying the British flag and named her after the theorem of the 18th Century English mathematician, Thomas Bayes.

He was as proud of receiving his OBE, in 2006, as he was of being appointed one of the Queen's Deputy Lieutenants of his beloved home county of Suffolk. There, he gave much of his time (and money) to local causes and his rare breeds of cattle. He was also devoted to Christ's College, Cambridge. The college flag was at half-mast this week.

Not that the British establishment did much to help Mike Lynch when corporate America sought revenge after Hewlett-Packard's disastrous purchase of Autonomy. The 2011 deal had been signed off by the board of directors, not just by Mr Lynch.

As he argued in court, the problem was that HP did not understand the complex data analytics it was buying.

In its desperate quest to reinvent itself as a leader in cutting edge digital technology, this elderly US manufacturer of laptops and ink printers had lost billions through its own ineptitude. In 2015, Britain's Serious Fraud Office said there was no case to answer. But America spent years fighting for Mr Lynch's extradition, using a one-way treaty signed by Tony Blair in 2003.

As the British government stood idly by, Home Secretary Priti Patel approved his extradition in 2022 and, after a year under house arrest, he went on trial in March. Given the nativist, political bias in previous cases of this sort, the odds of him walking free were minuscule.

Yet, rather than enter a plea bargain, whereby he would plead guilty, serve a few years and then go home, Mr Lynch risked all by pleading not guilty.

'He was phenomenally brave, especially given that he understood probabilities better than anyone,' says the Tory MP, Sir David Davis, who helped lead the campaign against Mr Lynch's extradition.

'He wasn't a gambler  he kept cattle, not racehorses. And the odds of acquittal were less than one per cent. As he said to me afterwards: 'We have to stop this extradition treaty'.'

Whenever Mike Lynch had a new idea, he would act on it. He had already invited Sir David to lunch to devise a strategy. The date had been fixed for this Thursday. Now, the MP for Goole and Pocklington, is determined to push for a change in the law in memory of his friend.

In doing so, he will have the full support of one of Britain's most illustrious scientists. 'The way Mike was treated by the last government was a national disgrace. We were pathetic,' says Sir Paul Nurse, Nobel Prize-winner, former president of the Royal Society and chief executive of the Francis Crick Institute FCI.

'He was a staunch defender of science as a driver of societal good and a generous philanthropist. Mike Lynch was a great family man. But we have all experienced a great loss.' We have indeed.
Investigations are underway in both Melbourne and Sydney after bodies were found in suburban parks overnight.

In Melbourne a man was found injured at Lennon Parkway, Derrimut, in Melbourne's west at 4.20am on Saturday.

'Emergency services performed CPR on the man, however he died at the scene,' Victoria Police said in a statement.

'The exact circumstances surrounding the incident are yet to be determined and a crime scene has been established.

'Homicide Squad detectives will also attend the scene.'

Anyone who witnessed the incident, has CCTV, dashcam footage or any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

In Sydney emergency services were called to a park on Rawson Street, Auburn, following reports a man was found unconscious at about 6.50am on Saturday.

Officers attached to Auburn Police Area Command attended the scene and performed CPR on the man  who is believed to be aged in his 30s - but he could not be revived.

The man is yet to be formally identified.

Police established a crime scene and commenced inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Robert Kennedy Jr. cemented his full devotion to Donald Trump before a raucous crowd of adoring supporters in Arizona Friday evening, finalizing his defection from the Democratic party.

The nephew of Democratic President John F. Kennedy joined the former president on stage to a barrage of raucous cheers.

The Trump campaign previously announced a 'special guest' would attend the rally, and the mysterious allure drew thousands to the Desert Diamond Arena - capacity nearly 20,000 - in Glendale, Arizona.

Earlier in the day in Phoenix, Kennedy pushed supporters who live in 10 swing states to back Republican nominee Donald Trump, but said his name would remain on the ballots in traditional red or blue states.

'Tonight I am very pleased to welcome a man who has been an incredible champion, Trump said of Kennedy. 'We're both in this to do what's right for the country.'

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., left, shakes hands with Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally Friday, Aug. 23, 2024, in Glendale, Arizona. Earlier in the day RFK endorsed Trump

'Bobby! Booby! Bobby!' the crowd erupted in cheer.

'I don't think I have ever introduced anyone that has gotten the applause he got,' Trump said, still in control of the audience.

He then launched some new policy ideas with Kennedy in mind.

'In honor of Bobby .. I will establish a new independent commission on assassination attempts,' Trump - an assassination survivor himself - said.

The panel would also investigate Trump's July 13 shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania.

'And we will release all the documents pertaining to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.'

'I have never had more people ask me, please, sir, release the documents on the Kennedy assassination, and we're going to do that,' he said.

The independent presidential candidate received a massive applause, with supporters cheering 'Bobby! Bobby! Bobby!'

Trump called Kennedy a very respected environmentalist that at times frustrated the former president because of his independent presidential bid

The ex-president committed to releasing all of the documents pertaining to Democratic President John F. Kennedy's assassination

The former president then lauded the Kennedy heir for his environmental efforts - and he said he would appoint the independent candidate to an ecological study panel to examine the effects of climate change.

Then he turned over the microphone.

Kennedy began talking about the things he and the former president both believe in.

'We're spending billions in Ukraine and we could use that money back here in the United States,' Kennedy said. 'Don't you want a president whose going to get us out of the wars?'

He then spoke about censorship - something he has said has been a major issue for his campaign as a third party candidate, calling it 'the first step to totalitarianism.'

The former Democrat also touched on making American foods less processed and unhealthy.'

'President Trump is going to make America healthy again!' Kennedy concluded his remarks.

Kennedy explained that his agenda aligns well with Trump, and that led him to endorse the former president

'Wow,' Trump remarked regaining control of the podium, who explained that the two had long been friends.

He also floated a new policy after seeing demonstrators burn U.S. flags at protests in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention.

'They outta make it illegal to burn the American flag,' Trump said, before suggesting a new law.

'You burn the American flag, you go to jail for one year,' he said to cheers.

The ex-president also bashed Vice President Kamala Harris's campaign - ripping her border policies.

'325,000 migrant children are missing, they are gone,' he said. 'She allowed them to be trafficked into this country.'

Trump slammed Kamala Harris for being against fracking and strict immigration initiatives

'They will never see their homes or parents again,' he said.

'Kamala has set loose thousands of Venezuelan gang members.'

'She supports deadly sanctuary cities,' he continued on about the Biden-Harris immigration policies.

'I look forward to the debate.'
Kemi Badenoch is the frontrunner to win the Tory leadership contest, a poll of party members shows.

The party's housing spokesman was backed by 24 per cent of the 910 Conservatives surveyed by YouGov.

But the pollster said there was 'some encouragement' for her rivals as the 'field remains open'.

Shadow security minister Tom Tugendhat, seen as the establishment candidate, came second on 16 per cent.

James Cleverly, the centrist former home secretary, was third on 14 per cent followed closely by Robert Jenrick, favoured by the Right of the party, on 12 and Dame Priti Patel on 11.

The party's housing spokesman was backed by 24 per cent of the 910 Conservatives surveyed by YouGov

Shadow work and pensions secretary Mel Stride, a close ally of Rishi Sunak, came last  backed by just 2 per cent of those polled.

YouGov said Mrs Badenoch also fared best when party members were asked to choose between her and each of the other hopefuls.

She won all five head-to-heads put to a random selection of Tory members, beating Mr Tugendhat by 18 points, Mr Jenrick by 15 and Mr Cleverly by nine.

Mrs Badenoch has so far been backed publicly by eight serving Tory MPs, including those on both the Left and Right of the party who believe she would be a strong leader who could take the fight to Labour, as well as seeing off Reform UK.

Shadow security minister Tom Tugendhat, seen as the establishment candidate, came second on 16 per cent

James Cleverly , the centrist former home secretary, was third on 14 per cent

He was followed closely by Robert Jenrick, favoured by the Right of the party, on 12

Next month MPs will whittle down the field to the final four, who will make their pitch to party members in a conference 'beauty pageant'.

MPs will then choose the final two candidates before members cast the decisive votes, with the winner announced on November 2.

One supporter of Mrs Badenoch said: 'While the other campaigns are wasting money skewing the betting markets, or commissioning dubious polling that puts their guys first, in independent YouGov surveys and ConservativeHome readers' polls, Kemi persistently has a big lead with Tory members. It confirms she is the person the party wants to take the fight to Labour.'
An historic 100-year-old country pub has erupted in flames, forcing the emergency evacuation of patrons.

The Baralaba Hotel about 150km south-west of Rockhampton in Queensland was consumed by fire in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Paramedics assessing 13 patients at the scene, reported the Courier Mail.

A Queensland Fire Department spokeswoman told the publication that 11 people were evacuated from the hotel and that all guests had been accounted for.

'They searched the rooms and they were all clear,' she said.

Video of the blaze shows the front part of the pub and the roof well alight. It was reported the structure's roof subsequently collapsed.

Fire crews took three hours to extinguish the blaze after they were called to the scene shortly after 2am.

Businesses in the area have been affected by power outages and smoke as a result of the fire.

Video of the blaze shows the front part of the pub and the roof well alight. It was reported the structure's roof subsequently collapsed

The pub's Facebook page informs visitors the hotel was originally licensed on April 3, 1929 and was originally known as Mclellans Hotel

The Baralaba Foodworks is closed for now and the business has told Facebook followers it will reopen once power has been restored.

The pub's Facebook page informs visitors the hotel was originally licensed on April 3, 1929 and was originally known as Mclellans Hotel.

These days it is well known as a stop for travellers for pub grub and also hosts a popular 'street party'.
Scotland Yard yesterday announced it has dropped its criminal investigation into allegations of insider betting on the date of the general election.

One of Rishi Sunaks aides and other senior party figures were alleged in June to have bet on the election date before it was formally announced by the Prime Minister.

The claims saw the Conservatives mired in controversy in the early days of the campaign and led the party to withdraw support from several candidates who were alleged to have made bets.

The Metropolitan Police launched a criminal investigation and arrested one police officer, believed to be part of Mr Sunaks close protection team, on suspicion of misconduct in public office. A total of seven officers were alleged to have placed bets.

Yesterday, the force said its investigation had concluded that the bar for misconduct in public office had not been met and the matter now lay with the Gambling Commission. The commission is still undertaking a separate investigation into whether the alleged bets broke laws on cheating.

One of Rishi Sunak 's aides and other senior Conservatives were accused in June of betting on the date of the election before it was announced

The Met said it would take no further criminal action, including against the officer who had been arrested.

But those embroiled in the scandal could still face criminal charges as a result of the Gambling Commissions inquiry.

The Mets Directorate of Professional Standards is likewise continuing to investigate the seven officers alleged to have placed bets on the election date.

Det Supt Katherine Goodwin said: These allegations caused a significant dent in public confidence during the election campaign and it was right that they were investigated to explore all possible offences.

While our involvement in the criminal investigation now ceases, its important that is not misinterpreted as an all-clear for those whose cases were looked at.

There are still Gambling Act offences to consider and it is appropriate that they are taken forward by investigators from the Gambling Commission who have particular expertise in this field.

Gambling Commission chief executive Andrew Rhodes said his organisation had already interviewed several suspects under caution and continued to speak to witnesses and gather documentary and electronic evidence.

Craig Williams (pictured) admitted having a flutter on the election date shortly before it was announced

The gambling scandal was triggered by revelations Mr Sunaks former parliamentary private secretary Craig Williams admitted having a flutter on the election date shortly before it was announced.

The Conservatives eventually withdrew support for Mr Williams as their candidate for Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr, along with Bristol North West candidate Laura Saunders, who was also alleged to have placed a bet.

Ms Saunders husband, Tony Lee, the Conservative Partys director of campaigning, and Tory chief data officer Nick Mason took leaves of absence during the campaign after being implicated in the scandal, while Senedd member Russell George stepped back from the shadow cabinet in the Welsh Parliament after being placed under investigation.
A desperate search has been launched after a woman was swept away in a devastating flash food at the Grand Canyon.

The National Park Service is looking for Chenoa Nickerson, 33, after she went missing while caught in floodwaters at Havasu Creek on Thursday.

Nickerson and her husband Andrew had been hiking the Havasupai area when the flood struck, causing the couple to split up.

Family members have since confirmed that her husband was found by local rafters, while she has not been located.

'My daughter Chenoa Nickerson is still missing. Please pray for her safe return home,' her mother wrote on social media.

The National Park Service is looking for Chenoa Nickerson, 33, after she went missing while caught in floodwaters at Havasu Creek on Thursday

Nickerson and her husband Andrew had been hiking the Havasupai area, seen here, when the flood struck, causing the couple to split up

Several other hikers were left stranded in the area due to the floodwaters, while Nickerson was swept away. She was not wearing a life jacket.

Nickerson is described as a 58 woman, 190 pounds with brown hair, blue eyes and tattoos.

Anyone with information regarding Nickerson, is urged to contact the NPS ISB Tip Line at (888) 653-0009.

The National Park Service said: 'The National Park Service is working closely with the Havasupai Tribe to coordinate these rescue efforts and ensure the safety of all those involved.'

The Havasupai Tribe, which gives hikers access to the area where the falls are, said on social media the area is closed through Sunday.

The tribe said it is still working to evacuate the hikers affected by the flash flooding.

They said: 'The Council is actively engaged in safely evacuating those tourists that were in Supai at the time of the flooding.

'We kindly ask for your patience as we see to the health and safety of the tourists and the Tribal members.

According to their website: 'If you hear the flood waters approaching or if you are caught in a rain storm, climb to high ground immediately and wait until it clears.

'Do not enter the narrow part of the canyon where you might not be able to climb the canyon walls in the event of an unexpected flood.'

Family members have since confirmed that her husband Andrew, seen here with Nickerson, was found by local rafters, while she remains missing

The Havasupai Tribe, which gives hikers access to the area where the falls are, said on social media the area is closed through Sunday

On social media, Nickerson's mother and sister have been appealing for information about her whereabouts.

In one post, her mom wrote: 'Does anyone have a list of names of the hikers that are with the SAR after the flash floods yesterday?

Her sister Dena Ramdorsingh meanwhile said: 'Chenoa and her husband Andrew Nickerson were hiking in the Havasupai area on 08/22/24.

'Andrew reached out to his father via satellite phone on 08/22/2024 at 18:16 reporting that Chenoa and him were caught in a flash flood and that they were both swept away and that Andrew was rescued.

'He said he is at a safe spot camping with a rafting crew who rescued him and that NPS SAR was on sight as of last night. Please help us. We are desperate.'
Following the lifting of Covid restrictions and Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine, gas and electricity bills inevitably skyrocketed.

But from the comfort of opposition, Sir Keir Starmer sought to reassure Britain that if he were prime minister, things would be very different. 'Labour has a fully costed plan to freeze energy bills,' he intoned, 'meaning people won't pay a penny more.'

We can now file that alongside all his other broken promises. Energy regulator Ofgem yesterday announced the price cap will rise in October by 10 per cent.

This will be painful for many families. But millions of pensioners, stripped of their winter fuel payments by Rachel Reeves, will have to find an extra 500 to warm their homes this winter. Some will be forced to choose between heating and eating.

What makes this more grating is the fact that while pleading poverty, the Chancellor has found billions to reward Labour's union donors with lavish public sector pay rises.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband (pictured) blames the Tories' 'failed energy policies' for the price cap increase

Predictably, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband blames the Tories' 'failed energy policies' for the price cap increase. But his reckless and unfathomably expensive promise to fully decarbonise the electricity grid by 2030 is likely to make things far worse.

If we are dependent on unreliable renewables and imports of oil and gas, we will be vulnerable to dizzying price spikes.

His claims that Net Zero zealotry will lower our bills may prove to be total fantasy  leaving us all colder and poorer.

Free speech at risk

Britain has always prided itself on the Enlightenment ideal of free expression.

So it is deeply worrying that Labour, in power for just seven weeks, is already training its guns on freedom of speech.

One of its first acts was to scrap a new law to end cancel culture at universities. This would have prevented students and academics being hounded and even sacked for expressing views that challenge Left-wing orthodoxies.

There are now fears that ministers will use the recent riots as an excuse to introduce an 'Islamophobia' law and beef up the Online Safety Act, both of which could stop people from speaking out.

The Left has always been shamefully relaxed about the idea of shutting down legitimate viewpoints it considers uncomfortable or a political threat.

Boris Johnson today writes that Britain has, rightly, 'wagged our fingers at regimes where they suppress free speech'.

With Labour so enthusiastic about woke censorship, the danger of becoming such a regime has never been so acute.

Boris Johnson today writes that Britain has, rightly, 'wagged our fingers at regimes where they suppress free speech'

A lesson in spite

Once again, the excellence of Britain's independent schools shone in this week's GCSE results.

Which makes it all the more absurd that Labour should want to make private education more, not less, expensive and accessible. But where class war is concerned, there's no room for logic.

By imposing VAT on them, the Government will push fees beyond the reach of many ordinary families, forcing countless children into the already overburdened state system, where evidence suggests they'll do worse.

Meanwhile, private schools will become the preserve of the super-rich  exacerbating the problem Labour claims to be tackling.

Rather than attacking them, shouldn't ministers instead ponder why independent schools are so attractive to parents  and how to level up the state sector so millions of youngsters can benefit?